As absurd as it is, yes, if you Google the term “disregard” right now, you’ll get a broken search result, which is amusing to see, especially since this error comes days after the I/O 2026 keynote, where the technology giant introduced its revamped AI-powered version of Google Search. Google is misinterpreting the term “disregard” as an instruction rather than a search query, and unsurprisingly, the company is receiving criticism While standard search results, such as the term’s definition, show up at the bottom, the space under AI Overview is filled with nothing but black and white, depending on whether you […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/searching-for-disregard-breaks-google-search/
© <p>Sofia Dewolfe/Courtesy of Sun Valley Resort</p>
OpenAI is rolling out a fresh set of updates to its Ads Manager Beta, giving advertisers more control over campaign pacing, targeting, and reporting — while also quietly testing new ad experiences inside ChatGPT.
The latest updates signal continued investment in building out the platform’s advertising capabilities as OpenAI looks to make ChatGPT a more viable performance and brand advertising channel.
What’s new in Ads Manager Beta:
Daily budgets arrive. Advertisers can now choose between a daily or lifetime budget when creating new campaigns.
For now, daily budgets are limited to newly created campaigns, but the addition gives marketers more flexibility over pacing and spend management — particularly useful for advertisers running always-on activity or testing campaigns with tighter controls.
Expanded geo targeting. OpenAI is also introducing more granular location targeting options across the U.S.
Advertisers can now target campaigns by state, designated market area (DMA) and zip code
Targeting can be configured during campaign setup or adjusted later within campaign settings.
The update brings ChatGPT’s ad tools closer to the location controls advertisers are accustomed to on established platforms like Google and Meta, particularly for regional campaigns and local business targeting.
Aggregate totals in reporting views. Ads Manager table views now display aggregate totals for key metrics including impressions, clicks and spend
Totals are available across campaign, ad group, and ad-level reporting views, making it easier for advertisers to quickly assess performance without exporting data.
OpenAI begins testing new ChatGPT ad experiences. Alongside the Ads Manager updates, OpenAI confirmed it is beginning an early test of new ad experiences within ChatGPT.
A small subset of ads may now display dynamic calls-to-action (CTAs), including:
According to OpenAI, CTAs are automatically selected based on the ad creative and destination experience.
The company said advertiser controls for CTA selection could be explored in the future.
OpenAI described the feature as a lightweight enhancement intended to help users better understand and engage with ads appearing in ChatGPT.
Why we care. These updates signal that OpenAI is steadily building a more sophisticated and performance-oriented ad platform inside ChatGPT. Features like daily budgets and granular geo targeting give marketers greater control over spend and audience reach — capabilities that are considered essential on more mature advertising platforms.
The introduction of dynamic CTAs also suggests OpenAI is beginning to optimize ads for engagement and conversion actions, potentially opening the door to more performance-driven ad formats in the future. For brands experimenting with AI-native advertising, these updates indicate the platform is evolving beyond early-stage testing into a more viable media channel..
AYANEO wants to find a place in the handheld retro gaming console niche, and it plans to launch yet another Game Boy-like device called KONKR Pocket BLOCK. And as the name implies, it's a small gaming device that fits your pocket. KONKR Pocket BLOCK The company officially teased the KONKR Pocket BLOCK during a streamed event, confirming the design and form factor - a vertical, handheld gaming device with physical buttons, but without the analog stick that other AYANEO devices have. Interestingly, AYANEO markets the device as the first AI handheld gaming console, but we are not...
Despite Real Madrid’s turbulent 2025-26 season, Vinicius Junior delivered several standout performances and made key contributions across all competitions. That allowed him to match a feat previously achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo, and this weekend he could reach another milestone against Athletic Club.
This season, Vini recorded 20 or more goals for the fifth consecutive year, something only seven other players in Real Madrid history had accomplished, according to Diario AS. Cristiano Ronaldo is obviously one of them, having done it in all nine seasons he spent at the club between 2009 and 2018. Not only that, but he scored fewer than 40 goals just once — in his debut season.
The player with the record for the most consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals for Real Madrid is Alfredo Di Stefano. The Argentine legend achieved the feat in 10 straight seasons between 1953 and 1963. Only in his final year at the club did he fall short of the mark, scoring 17 goals during the 1963-64 campaign.
The other players to accomplish the same feat were Manuel Fernandez Pahino (1948-1953), Ferenc Puskas (1958-1964), Hugo Sanchez (1985-1990), Raul Gonzalez (1998-2004) and Karim Benzema, who is the only player to score 20 or more goals in at least five consecutive seasons on more than one occasion: first between 2010 and 2016, and later between 2018 and 2023.
This season, Vinicius has recorded 22 goals and 14 assists in 53 matches across La Liga, Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League. That leaves him just two goals shy of his career-best mark of 24, set during the 2023-24 season.
Real Madrid have only one game left this season. On Saturday, they will close out their La Liga campaign by hosting Athletic Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. A brace would allow the Brazilian winger to match his best scoring season, while a hat trick would give him a new personal record.
However, his current situation could work against that goal. According to Marca, Vini has missed training sessions this week after receiving permission from Real Madrid to rest before joining the Brazil national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That puts his availability for Saturday’s clash against Athletic in doubt and, therefore, also his chances of setting a new personal scoring record.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix finally brought the Saudi Pro League title back to Al-Nassr after years of frustration, but one surprising statistic from the campaign quietly highlighted how influential the younger Portuguese forward became during the club’s championship run. While Ronaldo delivered decisive goals and leadership throughout the season, Felix ended the year with a key achievement that placed him ahead of his legendary teammate in one important category.
The Riyadh club sealed the title on the final day of the season with a dominant 4-1 victory over Damac, as Ronaldo scored twice to secure the championship ahead of Al Hilal. The triumph ended Al-Nassr’s seven-year wait for the Saudi Pro League crown and handed Ronaldo his first league title since arriving in the Middle East in 2023.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the moment carried enormous significance after several painful near-misses in previous seasons. Since leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese icon had experienced squad rebuilds, coaching changes, and heartbreaking defeats despite producing extraordinary individual numbers.
His influence on Saudi soccer has been undeniable ever since his arrival opened the door for several global stars to join the league. Yet despite winning individual honors and finishing as top scorer in previous campaigns, the league title had remained elusive until now.
Under Jorge Jesus, however, Al-Nassr finally found the balance it had been missing. The Portuguese coach brought stability to the dressing room, improved the defensive structure, and built a more varied attack that no longer depended entirely on the 41-year-old ace.
Much of that attacking transformation came from the arrival of Joao Felix. The Portuguese forward quickly formed a strong understanding with Ronaldo and became one of the standout performers of the season.
«من الصعب الفوز بالدوري مع النصر في السعودية، والناس تعرف السبب.» ⚠️
— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) May 21, 2026
جواو فيليكس، لاعب النصر، مع مراسل «ثمانية» خالد العرافة @kh1900 🎙️ #النصر_ضمك | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/IgoYNfNStE
Felix finished the campaign with 20 league goals and 13 assists, while producing 44 goal contributions across all competitions in just 47 appearances. He scored in every major tournament Al-Nassr participated in, including the Saudi Pro League, King’s Cup, Saudi Super Cup, and AFC Champions League.
Alongside Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Kingsley Coman, Felix gave Al-Nassr multiple attacking options that opponents struggled to contain. His creativity between the lines and ability to decide matches in crucial moments proved vital during the title race.
🇵🇹 Joao Felix wins the #RoshnSaudiLeague Player of the Month award for May, presented by @Roshnksa 🤝 pic.twitter.com/bLH8kVc5fL
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 22, 2026
As the season came to a close, another statistic emerged that underlined Felix’s growing importance within the squad. The Portuguese attacker ended the Saudi Pro League campaign with nine Man of the Match awards, narrowly ahead of Ronaldo’s total of eight.
The award distribution showcased how consistently influential Felix had been throughout the year. Sadio Mane finished third among Al-Nassr players with five awards, while Kingsley Coman earned two. According to reports tracking official Saudi Pro League matchday recognitions, the full distribution among Al-Nassr players was:
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Joao Felix | 9 |
| 2. | Cristiano Ronaldo | 8 |
| 3. | Sadio Mane | 5 |
| 4. | Kingsley Coman | 2 |
| 5. | Inigo Martinez, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Angelo Gabriel | 1 |
Tottenham are playing for their top-flight survival this weekend as they host Everton on the final matchday of the Premier League season. For this critical fixture, Spurs will be without their captain, Cristian Romero, due to a severe injury.
However, the defender has found himself at the center of a heated debate among supporters after it was revealed he will not even be inside the stadium to support his teammates.
Amidst this turbulent period for Tottenham, the center-back returned to Argentina to continue his rehabilitation process. Controversy ignited when it was confirmed that Romero will instead be in attendance this Sunday for the Argentine league final, where his boyhood club, Belgrano, face off against River Plate—a move that has sparked immense frustration among the Spurs faithful.
Stepping into the storm, manager Roberto De Zerbi addressed the situation, firmly stating that Romero’s return to South America was strictly a medical decision. “Romero spoke with the medical staff and together they decided to go to Argentina to complete the rehab with Argentinian medical staff,” the Italian tactician stated in his pre-match press conference.
Furthermore, De Zerbi made it clear that Romero’s physical presence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday would have no bearing on the final score. “The decision was with the medical staff and I think he can’t change anything if he’s at the stadium or not. Finally, I have no time to lose energy other than on the game,” he added defensively.
Romero has been sidelined for just over a month after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee during a painful 1-0 defeat against Sunderland.
The injury undoubtedly set off alarm bells within Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff. With less than a month to go before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, Argentina can ill afford to lose one of their undisputed starting center-backs.
Recognizing the stakes, the president of Belgrano confirmed that Romero has actually been training at the Argentine club’s facilities, completely locked in on accelerating his recovery to ensure he arrives in North America at peak fitness.
“Cuti” Romero’s name was heavily featured in the rumor mill during the previous transfer window, with multiple high-profile reports positioning him as a primary target to reinforce Real Madrid’s backline.
With Sunday’s crucial match set to decide Tottenham’s top-flight future—and inevitably dictate the futures of several key players—De Zerbi admitted he is in the dark regarding what next season holds for his captain. “I don’t know,” the Italian coach responded candidly when questioned about Romero’s long-term future in North London.
“I think Cristian is a top player and with me he was a top guy. And when I say top guy, it’s because I’m sure of what I’m saying. For the future, I don’t know. Sunday is a crucial game for us, for our future, for our fans, for our club and we have to stay together,” the manager concluded.
Cristiano Ronaldo has climbed back to the summit of world sport in spectacular fashion after another extraordinary year in Saudi Arabia. In addition to finally bringing home the league trophy for the club, the iconic Portuguese hero has reached yet another milestone in his illustrious career, leading Forbes‘ list of the highest-paid sportsmen in 2026 with an incredible $300 million. Yet while Ronaldo’s dominance once again captured global attention, many fans were left wondering one thing: Where did Lionel Messi finish on the list?
At 41 years old, Ronaldo continues to rewrite expectations about longevity in elite football. The veteran forward not only guided Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title, but also matched one of the biggest financial records in sports history with earnings that tied Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 2015 figure for the highest annual income ever recorded for an active athlete by Forbes.
According to Forbes, the Portuguese superstar earned $235 million on the field through his contract in Saudi Arabia, while another $65 million arrived from endorsements, sponsorships, appearances, licensing deals, and business ventures. His enormous global influence, amplified by more than a billion followers across social media platforms, continues to make him one of the most marketable figures in sport.
Ronaldo’s latest achievement came shortly after captaining the club to its first league championship in seven years. The 41-year-old veteran scored twice in a dramatic final-day victory that sealed the title and completed another memorable chapter in his career. The triumph also marked the first time Ronaldo had won a domestic league title in the Saudi Pro League, adding yet another country to a career already filled with trophies in England, Spain, and Italy.
With a historic haul, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo leads a group of seasoned sports superstars who collectively earned $1.4 billion over the past 12 months.
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 22, 2026
See The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2026: https://t.co/3KBrENy73T (Photo: Mohammed Saad Anadolu/Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/bGsPZ8gwO5
Forbes noted that the Portuguese forward has now finished first on the publication’s rich list six times overall, placing him level with NBA legend Michael Jordan and behind only Tiger Woods, who topped the ranking 11 times. “For the fourth year in a row, and the sixth time overall, Ronaldo leads the athlete income ranking”, the report said.
The financial numbers behind his rise are staggering. Since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Ronaldo’s on-field earnings have reportedly more than tripled compared to the final years of his second spell in England. His influence stretches far beyond football, with partnerships involving brands such as Nike, Binance, Herbalife, and several technology companies.
While Ronaldo sits comfortably at No. 1, Lionel Messi also remains near the very top of the global earnings landscape. The Argentine superstar finished third overall with $140 million, behind only his Portuguese rival and boxer Canelo Alvarez.
Messi’s income was split evenly between on-field and off-field earnings, with $70 million coming from soccer and another $70 million generated commercially. His unique agreements involving Adidas and Apple TV reportedly continue to boost his earnings beyond his standard playing salary.
| Rank | Athlete | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cristiano Ronaldo | $300 million |
| 2. | Canelo Alvarez | $170 million |
| 3. | Lionel Messi | $140 million |
| 4. | LeBron James | $137.8 million |
| 5 | Shohei Ohtani | $127.6 million |
| 6. | Stephen Curry | $124.7 million |
| 7. | Jon Rahm | $107 million |
| 8. | Karim Benzema | $104 million |
| 9. | Kevin Durant | $103.8 million |
| 10. | Lewis Hamilton | $100 million |
The Inter Miami forward remains the face of soccer in the United States and recently extended his stay with the club through the 2028 MLS season. Forbes also highlighted Messi’s extraordinary impact on American soccer, revealing that his guaranteed compensation exceeds the payroll of almost every other MLS team.
“Messi reached 100 combined goals and assists in his 64th regular-season MLS match this month—31 games faster than any player in league history”, the report said. Beyond soccer, the Argentine ace has expanded his business portfolio with investments in Spain, including the purchase of lower-division side Cornella and several real-estate ventures in Barcelona.
has delivered his verdict ahead of ‘s clash with Rico Verhoeven. The Ukrainian defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza tomorrow night, in a bout that has caused controversy due to the perceived mismatch that many fans are expecting. While he may be one of the best to […]
The post Canelo makes knockout prediction for Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: “He’s going to win” appeared first on Boxing News.
believes that Richard Torrez Jr, now trained by Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, will “shock a lot of people” when he collides with Frank Sanchez. The pair are gearing up for an IBF title eliminator this Saturday, featuring on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza. Whoever emerges victorious should then […]
The post Terence Crawford predicts ‘shock’ on Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven card appeared first on Boxing News.
has urged to follow in his footsteps and move up to heavyweight, rather than risk his unbeaten record against a lower-profile champion. The 29-year-old comes off a dominant display against Gilberto Ramirez, dethroning the Mexican earlier this month to become a three-division world champion. As a result of his sixth-round stoppage victory, Benavidez claimed the […]
The post Roy Jones Jr urges David Benavidez to avoid facing one man next: “It’s not smart” appeared first on Boxing News.
Luka Modric has declared his love for life at AC Milan and expressed a desire to win a trophy with the club, as the Croatian legend makes himself available for Sunday’s crucial Champions League qualifier against Cagliari despite recovering from a fractured cheekbone.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the 40-year-old, whose contract expires on June 30, was careful to deflect questions about his future while making clear his attachment to the club runs deep.
“I am very happy in Milan but the most important thing now is the match against Cagliari on Sunday and Champions League qualification,” he said. “For the rest, we will see. I have good relationships with the club, the management and the coach.”
On his desire to contribute beyond this season, Modric was telling.
“When I chose Milan it was to help and try to win,” he said. “This year it has not happened, but it is clear that I would like to win a trophy with Milan.”
The comment will fuel hope among the Rossoneri fanbase that the Croatian could yet commit to another year, particularly given his evident enjoyment of life in the city.
“It is a spectacular city, I love it,” he said. “The food is spectacular, pasta is my favourite dish, and it is close to the mountains, the sea and the lake.”
On his physical condition, Modric was upbeat. “I feel good and I am improving physically, I have returned to training with the squad and I am already getting used to the mask,” he said. “I am ready to come back. I have a great desire to play again.”
Asked whether he could become a future assistant to Allegri, Modric was non-committal but warm. “I have a good relationship with him but we have not talked about that,” he said. “I still love playing football. When I retire I will think about it, and when will I retire? I do not know, let’s see after Sunday.”
Matteo Politano has admitted that Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup remains a painful subject, describing it as the last chance for a generation of over-30s and calling for a fundamental restructuring of Italian football’s approach to youth development.
Speaking to Radio CRC, via CalcioMercato, after Napoli sealed Champions League qualification, the winger was reflective and at times emotional as he addressed both the club’s campaign and the Azzurri’s damaging elimination.
On the national team, Politano was candid. “I find it hard to talk about,” he said.
“It was awful. For those of us over 30, it was our last chance, so there was enormous regret. I am very attached to Gattuso, I care about him a lot and I was so sorry for him and for everyone.
“I think that to restart Italian football we need to rebuild from the foundations and from the youth sectors. There are very few Italians in the academies of the top clubs. We complain that there are no Italian players, but if we do not develop them ourselves it becomes very difficult.”
On Napoli’s season, Politano acknowledged the toll of a demanding and injury-hit campaign while taking pride in what the group achieved.
“It has been a long season with many commitments and injuries, but what we have built over these two years has been clear for all to see,” he said.
“We faced difficult moments where we sometimes struggled to put 11 players on the pitch, but we always tried to give our maximum.”
Politano also hailed the impact of two new players in the Napoli camp.
On youngster Antonio Vergara, he was enthusiastic. “He has impressed me enormously, he has great desire and real character,” he said. “He must play freely and think only of himself and the team.”
On Kevin De Bruyne, Politano expressed genuine regret at how little the club saw of him. “We lost him for four months and it was a significant absence,” he said. “Having a champion of that level available is important and unfortunately we enjoyed him too little.”
Fiorentina host Atalanta this evening as both sides prepare for their final match of the season.
For the hosts, they will be looking to put this season quickly behind them.
After qualifying for Europe last season, a disastrous start to the campaign saw the Viola took some time to get going.
Under Paolo Vanoli, things have improved but the club still sit 15th in the league, avoiding relegation by just seven points.
Atalanta, meanwhile, secured their spot in next season’s Conference League after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Bologna but will feel disappointed that their end of season form saw them slip out of the race for a place in the Champions League.
Fiorentina: Christensen; Comuzzo, Rugani, Dodo; Brescianini, Fabbian, Mandragora, Gosens; Piccoli, Gudmundsson, Harrison
Atalanta: Sportiello; Bellanova, Ahanor, Scalvini, Hien; Samardzic, de Roon, Musah, Pasalic; Raspadori, Sulemana
Jonathan David has been linked with a move away from Juventus, and Premier League clubs have been offered the chance to sign the Canadian International.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Crystal Palace have all been made aware of the player’s availability this summer. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to make a move for him.
The 26-year-old was outstanding for Lille during his time in France, and there is no doubt that he has the qualities to do well in the Premier League as well. The move to Italy has not worked out for him, and he needs a fresh start. Moving to England could be ideal for the player as well.
Newcastle need to add more quality to the attacking unit. Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade have not lived up to expectations. They need to invest in another striker. The Canadian International could be a very useful option for them if he manages to discover his form.
On the other hand, Aston Villa need someone who can support Ollie Watkins in the attack. They have been overly dependent on the England international this season. They have secured Champions League qualification for the next season, and they need more quality going forward.
Leeds United and Crystal Palace will be looking to push for a place in the top half next season, and they need more cutting-edge in the final third. David could prove to be a very handy option, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the deal done.
David has 8 goals and 5 assists to his name this season.
The post Crystal Palace and Leeds join four-way tussle to sign 13-G/A Serie A star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United are interested in signing the Atalanta midfielder Ederson Dos Santos during the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old Brazilian has been a key player for the Italian club. Manchester United need more creativity, control and defensive cover in the middle of the park. The Brazilian is a complete central midfielder who could be an asset for them. He could form a solid partnership with Kobbie Mainoo.
According to journalist Michele Criscitiello, Manchester United has an agreement with the Italian club on all fronts, and the deal is almost closed. They will pay €48 million plus €5 million in bonuses for the Brazilian.
The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for the South American, and he will look to make his mark in England. Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he will look to win major trophies with them.
Manchester United have done well this season and secured Champions League qualification. They will look to push for major trophies next year, and they need quality players at their disposal. Ederson could make a huge difference for them in the middle of the park. If they can support him with a quality defensive midfielder, there is no reason why Manchester United cannot excel in the middle of the park next year.
The midfielder has scored 16 goals during his time at the Italian club, and he will look to help out at both ends of the park at Manchester United.
The investment could look steep right now, but the 26-year-old is at the peak of his powers, and he could justify the investment in the coming seasons.
The post Manchester United agree deal for 16-goal star in €53 million package appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing the Sporting CP attacker Francisco Trincao during the summer transfer window.
According to a report from Portuguese publication Record, the 26-year-old is a target for the Premier League club, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the deal done.
He has a contract with Sporting CP until 2030, with a €60 million release clause. It is highly unlikely that Liverpool will pay that kind of money for the player. They need more quality and technical ability in the final third, but they will look to sign the player for a reasonable fee.
The 26-year-old has done quite well since joining the Portuguese club, with 13 goals and 18 assists in 53 matches. He can operate as an attacking midfielder as well as on the right flank.
With Mohamed Salah leaving the club, Liverpool needs more creativity, and the 26-year-old could be the ideal acquisition. The opportunity to play in the Premier League could be exciting for him as well. He’s at the peak of his career, and this could be the right time for him to join one of the biggest clubs in the world.
It remains to be seen whether the two clubs can agree on a reasonable deal.
Meanwhile, Trincao previously played in the Premier League with Wolves but failed to make his Mark in English football. He will look to make amends this time around and prove himself in England if the move to Liverpool goes through.
The post Liverpool targeting move for €60m attacker with 13 goals and 18 assists appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Verdict: Draw Best odds: 27/10 Bookmaker: ZetBet Tottenham Hotspur face a season‑defining afternoon on Sunday as they host Everton in one of the Premier League’s headline final‑day fixtures. The Lilywhites missed the chance to secure safety during the week, but with a two‑point advantage and a superior goal difference over West Ham United, even a […]
The post Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton appeared first on Soccer News.
The NASCAR community continues to mourn ahead of the 2026 Coca-Cola 600. On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch died at 41 years old, the sport announced. Busch was hospitalized overnight, and the driver's family announced the "severe" illness in the morning.
This has been one of the darkest days in NASCAR history, as everyone mourns Busch's tragic death. From fans to drivers, everyone has been paying tribute to one of NASCAR's all-time greats. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was one of the sport's most popular drivers.
Below are some of the tributes that active and former NASCAR drivers have posted in memory of the late Kyle Busch.
I made him earn every victory and stole a few from him along the way. We took our shots at each other, in the media and on the track. But I’d like to think that somewhere deep down there was an appreciation that we pushed each other to perform at the highest level, even if… pic.twitter.com/1dAq7Eui7D
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) May 22, 2026
This is a devastating loss and one that is hard for the NASCAR community to process. Kyle was a fierce competitor who demanded the very best from himself each time he put on the helmet. As teammates, I saw firsthand the passion and intensity he brought to the sport every single… pic.twitter.com/jVQLdTXcyF
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) May 22, 2026
Kyle Busch wasn’t just one of the fiercest competitors our sport has ever seen, he was one of the most talented race car drivers I’ve ever shared a track with. We spent years as teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, and even as competitors, there was always a deep respect for what… pic.twitter.com/uAX3o2D0Nz
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 21, 2026
Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better…
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 21, 2026
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) May 22, 2026
I’m so sad and stunned to hear the news about KB. He meant so much to a lot of people, not just myself. Kyle was the best mentor you could ever have. He was incredibly unselfish, cared about his people and his family deeply. And helped shaped my career to what it is. I’m… pic.twitter.com/Y4VYaf5QNS
— William Byron (@WilliamByron) May 21, 2026
Completely heartbroken to hear the news of Kyle’s passing.
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) May 21, 2026
I have so many memories of great battles with him throughout my career that I’ll cherish forever. It’s hard to even put into words what he meant to me and my career, whether he knew it or not. He was the bar we all… pic.twitter.com/wJmFDmY7LN
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) May 22, 2026
The Petty Family is absolutely heartbroken. This is truly unbelievable. Our hearts and prayers go out to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, and the entire Busch family. pic.twitter.com/A4yjvvTLuu
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) May 21, 2026
My heart goes out to Kyle’s family, his Team and everyone that knew and supported him. Kyle was a Champion, a feared competitor, a loving husband, a great dad and he’ll truly be missed, as he made a forever impact on and off the race track. Let us pray for Samantha, Brexton,… pic.twitter.com/Pxi0u4OK9o
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) May 22, 2026
There aren’t really words for today. I’ve raced against Kyle for a long time, and anyone who’s lined up next to him knows exactly what made him special, he gave you everything he had, every single lap, and he made all of us better for it.
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) May 21, 2026
But more than the wins and the records,… https://t.co/hLS9vioUyN
I just talked to him Friday. In complete shock, as we all are. The devastation and sadness is beyond words. Praying for Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, his entire family and loved ones…🙏 pic.twitter.com/4Z98jzgWIK
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) May 21, 2026
Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB. https://t.co/cpaXg2HZGF
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) May 21, 2026
Still, it just doesn’t feel real. Our industry will never feel the same.
— Chandler Smith (@CSmith_Racing) May 22, 2026
Not only did I have such deep respect for what you could do on the track, but what you did for me off the track spoke volumes to me. You always took the time to sit down and give me honest feedback on how I… pic.twitter.com/YkLgWiaoR3
Heartbroken…. He played such a big role in so many people’s lives & careers, including mine. I’m grateful for the lessons, guidance, & support that will stay with me forever. My thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, & the entire Busch family. God speed, KFB. pic.twitter.com/Ir3YkvVDRd
— Christian Eckes (@christianeckes) May 21, 2026
Devastated by this news. My heart is broken for Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, Tom, Gaye and Kurt. When words are never enough, prayers are all you have. All of mine today are with the Busch family. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tup6snqn8L
— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) May 22, 2026
This doesn’t even feel real typing this… Easily one of the absolute greatest of all time, any track, any car, it didn’t matter he was gonna be good. Getting to race against Kyle was a true pinch me moment, I’ll never forget the first time just sharing the track with someone I… pic.twitter.com/pC2Okldg10
— Chase Briscoe (@chasebriscoe) May 21, 2026
every day is a privilege and today is a truly sad reminder of that.
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) May 21, 2026
this little boy in this picture hated you on sunday’s. but he loved to hate you, and you made it very difficult to hate and not become a fan when your passion for racing showed, when you would show up to his… pic.twitter.com/RxKignaf51
More: A tribute to Kyle Busch: One of NASCAR’s all-time greats
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR drivers post tributes after Kyle Busch's tragic death
Rachel Entrekin was already known as the “Queen of Cocodona” when she arrived in Arizona this month for one of America’s most punishing ultramarathons.
Then the 250-mile race started. Entrekin, a two-time women’s champion in the event, found herself running again with the elite males, and she began wondering: “Why not you?”
So she pulled away, crushing the course record by seven hours, beating every man and woman in the field and providing another example of how multi-day races have erased gender lines.
Now, at 34, Entrekin’s the king of Cocodona, too, or maybe something more than that.
“One of my pacers has determined that I must be from another planet,” Entrekin said in an interview, still buzzing from her historic win.
Entrekin began running in 2009, as a student at the University of Alabama, before starting a career in physical therapy. She eventually started competing in half-marathons, then full ones, before hitting longer ultramarathons in the Southeast and descending into what she called “insanity.” When she moved to Washington state and looked up at the vistas, she found her calling.
“I love running up mountains,” she told the “For the Long Run” podcast in February.
Today, Entrekin is fully sponsored and has won or placed in about 100 ultras, regularly beating men. At Cocodona, that meant finishing in 56 hours 9 minutes 48 seconds. Kilian Korth, the men’s winner, finished 78 minutes behind her.
Passing Korth and other top runners at mile 60 was a test of Entrekin’s “why not you?” philosophy.
“I thought about my résumé - that I’ve won this race twice already and that I won lots of other 200-mile races and other 100-mile races. I’m just as qualified to be at the front of this race as they are, so why can’t it be me?” she said. “I thought, ‘I think I can do this, so why not?’”
Cocodona, which debuted in 2021, begins in the Sonoran Desert and weaves north through red rocks, pine forests and mountain ranges. It has quickly become a measuring stick for some of the world’s best ultrarunners.
This year’s race featured a mind-boggling 38,791 feet of elevation gain, which translates into miles of painful ascents and descents. It’s been described as the race that “breaks you,” and many starters can’t finish it.
A female competitor died on the course this year from a “medical emergency.” Some social media posts from runners discuss feet that feel like raw hamburger, along with discussions about swollen tongues and videos of bloody foreheads. Hallucinations from lack of sleep are common. (Entrekin may or may not have seen bats.) Medics rushed in to meet one competitor who crawled across the line to the same chorus of cheers, 125 hours after starting.
Jamil Coury, the creator of the race, noted that Cocodona’s slogan is “Adventure Awaits,” not hell.
“The goal wasn’t to make the most brutal beatdown possible,” he said. “We wanted to create an adventure that takes you through historic towns and incredible landscapes.”
Coury said Entrekin’s performance this month was a “bit shocking,” and seeing her story break into mainstream media has been a joy. She has been on ESPN, Bloomberg Television and “Good Morning America” since the win.
“She’s the perfect person for this,” Coury said. “She’s been dominant for many, many years, but she’s just so energetic and positive. It’s great for the sport.”
Entrekin has some theories about why women have excelled at longer distances.
“Top-end speed is not the be all, end all in the multi-day-running endurance scene,” Entrekin said. “I think women have a lot more practice, maybe, dealing with adversity and managing our emotional state and communicating.”
She mentioned Ann Trason, arguably the most accomplished female ultrarunner of all time, and Tara Dower, who finished the 2,197-mile Appalachian Trail in 40 days, 18 hours and 6 minutes in 2024, as examples.
Entrekin, who now lives in Colorado, isn’t calling for races to end gender categories and said she’s self-assured enough not to care how her win is classified. She just wishes, as Trason did decades earlier, that the conversation would evolve.
“I hope this is a step in the direction of maybe making men less of the measuring stick,” she said.
Amy Clark, editor of UltraRunning Magazine, said Entrekin is one of a handful of elite women doing unprecedented things in the sport. She said Courtney Dauwalter won the prestigious Moab 240 Endurance Run outright in 2017 and finished sixth overall at Cocodona. Entrekin, Clark said, has an uncanny ability to push through the lows that haunt every runner in ultramarathons.
“She’s so tough, and she goes hard, but she just has such a positive attitude. She doesn’t let those lows pull her back,” Clark said.
Entrekin, Coury noted, finished the race relatively unscathed. She slept just 19 minutes total over those 56 hours. While she consumed precision-crafted electrolyte drinks and gels to hydrate, as most competitors did, she also had a Coke or two and a ton of mashed potatoes. She calls potatoes the “unsung hero” of ultrarunning.
“You just get tired of chewing,” she said.
In the past, loading up on candy and drinks at 7-Eleven was a pre-race ritual for Entrekin. She only recently started wearing a watch, and her cross-training consists of “occasional yoga,” she said. During the race - even one as serious as Cocodona - Entrekin is mostly all smiles, cracking jokes, petting dogs and chatting up fellow racers. She’s seemingly nonchalant about any setbacks, which are few.
“Uh, I fell in a hole,” she said at one aid station.
Instead of getting deep sleep and lots of real, hot meals after her finish, Entrekin hung around Flagstaff to cheer on other finishers. She’s not taking a beach vacation or any time off, really. In August, she’s racing in the highly competitive Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France.
She’s been itching to go for a run, but interviews keep getting in the way.
“I mean, running is my favorite thing in the world,” she said. “Obviously.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article omitted the name of photographer Scott Rokis on two photos.
Related Content
PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were among those paying tribute to Associated Press tennis writer Howard Fendrich as players gathered at Roland Garros for a French Open that’s now missing one of the sport’s most-respected journalists.
Fendrich, a regular at Roland Garros and all the tennis majors since 2002, died Thursday, less than three months after being diagnosed with cancer.
The news elicited a social media outpouring that included a Friday morning post from Nadal, whose record 14 French Open victories were chronicled in rich and colorful detail by Fendrich. “Tennis loses one of its great journalists,” Nadal said.
Gauff, whose title last year at Roland Garros was her second major singles championship, opened her pre-tournament news conference with a shout-out to Fendrich, the award-winning writer who spent 24 of his 33 years with AP on the tennis beat.
“I just wanted to start this off just recognizing a deep loss that I think we all have experienced as a community with Howard,” Gauff said. “He was someone I always enjoyed having conversations with. One of my favorite faces to see in the room.”
Fendrich died Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was diagnosed with cancer in February shortly after returning from Milan, where he covered his 11th Olympics. He was 55.
The Women’s Tennis Association wrote a tribute to Fendrich, recalling that “His classic opening before a question, ‘soooo, I’m curious ...’ always set a comfortable tone of kindness in interviews.”
The fifth-ranked Pegula, a member of the WTA Players’ Council, sent her condolences.
“Howard was one of the most respected journalists in our sport and someone players trusted because he always approached his work with honesty, professionalism and fairness,” she said.
Roger Federer, Billie Jean King and Patrick McEnroe, a former player and the current president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, were among those who honored Fendrich on Thursday.
Other tributes streamed in from Fendrich’s press box colleagues. Washington-based Adam Kilgore called him “the best person to see at a game, in a press room, at a dinner after an event.” They also came from across Fendrich’s home base, where, when not covering tennis, he was a regular in press boxes at Commanders, Nationals and Capitals games.
“His contributions to and impact on sports journalism extend far beyond that of the Nationals press box,” the baseball team said. “He will be dearly missed.”
Fendrich was based in Washington and the city’s football and hockey teams — the Commanders and Capitals — also extended their condolences.
Fendrich is survived by his wife, Rosanna Maietta; his mother, Renée; his brother, Alex; and two sons, Stefano and Jordan.
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
As if the opening practice session for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix wasn’t already enough of a headache for the paddock, Scuderia Ferrari just found themselves opening their wallets for the FIA. Amidst the barrage of red flags and bizarre wildlife encounters, Charles Leclerc managed to commit a completely unforced error before his tires even hit the active track.
According to official Document 18 released by the stewards, Ferrari has been slapped with a €1000 fine for a pit lane speeding violation during Free Practice 1.
At exactly 12:57 local time, the FIA’s timing loops caught Leclerc’s Car 16 clocking in at a rapid 96.3 km/h. This completely blew past the strict 80 km/h speed limit established for the Montreal pit lane this weekend, exceeding the legal threshold by a solid 16.3 km/h.
While a €1000 penalty is effectively pocket change for a team operating with Maranello’s massive budget, the fine is a glaring symptom of the desperation gripping the garages on Friday afternoon.
Because Montreal is operating as a Sprint weekend, FP1 was the one and only opportunity for teams to dial in their aerodynamic setups before the cars entered strict parc fermé conditions. Every time the session was red-flagged, whether it was Alex Albon destroying his Williams or Esteban Ocon shedding a front wing, crucial setup time evaporated into thin air.
When the pit lane finally went green between those heavy stoppages, drivers were practically crawling out of their cockpits with eagerness to get back onto the asphalt and secure baseline data. Leclerc clearly dumped the clutch and disengaged his pit limiter a fraction of a second too early in his rush to maximize the ticking clock.
For a Ferrari team that is already openly admitting they are down on straight-line engine power compared to Mercedes and Ford, throwing away focus on sloppy pit lane procedures is a deeply frustrating way to kick off a high-pressure Sprint weekend.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The roar of engines at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was briefly replaced Friday by something far more important: the battle for hot dog supremacy.
The second annual Wienie 500 returned to Carb Day at the famed oval, where six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles traded paint — or at least ketchup and mustard bragging rights — in a race for the coveted Borg-Wiener Trophy.
In the end, it was the hated New York Dog that captured the victory, holding off the Chili Dog in a race that drew cheers, laughter and boos (for New York Dog) from a packed Carb Day crowd.
What started as a playful addition to Indy 500 festivities quickly turned into one of race weekend’s most anticipated traditions, blending the pageantry of the Speedway with the unmistakable absurdity of six giant hot dogs racing wheel-to-wheel.
This year’s event marked the Wienie 500’s second appearance on Carb Day and introduced the first Borg-Wiener Trophy — a 2-foot, 3-inch-tall parody of the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy awarded to Indianapolis 500 champions.
The field featured regional favorites including Chi Dog, Slaw Dog, Chili Dog, New York Dog and Sonoran Dog, while newcomer Corn Dog earned its place through Oscar Mayer’s first “Pick Your Dog” fan bracket earlier this year.
Helping prepare the drivers were several IndyCar drivers, including Nolan Siegel, Scott McLaughlin and Sting Ray Robb, who offered racing tips and coaching to the Oscar Mayer “Hotdoggers” behind the wheel.
The Wienermobile itself has a history nearly as old as the Indy 500.
According to Oscar Mayer, company founder Carl Mayer first envisioned a hot dog-shaped vehicle in 1936 as a rolling advertisement designed to bring smiles — and attention — to neighborhoods across America. The original Wienermobile disappeared during World War II before returning to the road in 1952.
Over time, the design evolved into the modern fleet of six Wienermobiles that now travel the country year-round. In 1988, Oscar Mayer officially launched its “Hotdogger” program, hiring recent college graduates to serve as brand ambassadors and drivers.
And for a few glorious laps on Carb Day, those oversized hot dogs became race cars once again.
Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who won the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500? New York Dog wins on Carb Day at IMS
*
Save
Tippecanoe’s Nick Von Krosigk, Alter’s Michael Shope, Milton-Union’s Levi Brumbaugh and the Oakwood doubles team of Oren Watson/Ronin Boehne each booked a trip to the OHSAA state tournament after picking up a pair of wins on the opening day of the boys tennis district tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Thursday, May 21.
In the Division I tournament, Von Krosigk, the Miami Valley League’s boys tennis athlete of the year, defeated Kevin Zhou of Sycamore and Josef Alkuino of Fairfield to advance. Von Krosigk will face Janek Teply of Mason in the district semifinal round on Saturday, May 23.
Alkuino defeated Bellbrook’s Jonah Grismer in the first round before falling 6-2, 6-1 to Von Krosigk.
Centerville’s Timothy Lee defeated Tippecanoe’s Alex Darner by scores of 6-3, 6-3 in the first round but had to forfeit his second-round match.
Ryan Hunt of Beavercreek grabbed a first-round win but fell in the second.
No area teams qualified in D-I doubles, but Springboro’s Peyton Nelson/Brady Mullins and Centerville’s Luke Edwards/Jake Critchfield did record first-round victories.
In D-II singles Shope highlighted his day for Alter with a straight-set victory in his first-round match. Shope will play Milton-Union’s Brumbaugh in the district semifinals on Saturday, May 23.
Arjun Jain of Miami Valley and Noah Wildofsky of Northwestern earned first round wins but did not advance.
In D-II doubles Oakwood’s duo of Oren Watson/Ronin Boehne qualified for state with wins over Seven Hills and Wyoming. Watson and Boehne will meet Indian Hill’s Will Jordan/Vedant Buch in the district semifinals on Saturday, May 23.
PHOTOS: Boys D-I and D-II district tennis tournament in Mason
* Nick Graham
The OHSAA state tournament is returning to the Lindner Family Tennis Center this year. The facility had previously hosted the tournament from 2014-2022 before undergoing renovations. The tournament is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29.
*
Save
Setting the threshold low on a goal may get you to achieve it quicker. It doesn’t give you as much satisfaction as setting out to go for something more.
Ella Oakes did that and is reaping the boost in confidence for future seasons.
Oakes is a sophomore with Oakwood lacrosse. This season she scored 70 goals for the Lumberjills and on the way reached 100 career points.
For her efforts, Oakes was named the Dayton Daily News Athlete of the Week for May 12-18, earning the honor through reader voting at DaytonDailyNews.com.
“It just feels really cool, and I really appreciate it,” Oakes said. “I like that people are seeing what I can do, and it just makes me excited for next season too.”
She set out at the start of the season believing reaching 100 points was possible before her sophomore campaign ended. She also had decided to set a mark of 60 goals during this season for herself even though she didn’t score half of that total last year.
Oakes not only felt the confidence in herself was warranted, but proved she was spot on with her thinking toward reaching both goals.
“I thought I had a pretty good season last year, and I came into this season with a lot more confidence than I did last year,” she said. “I thought I was able to reach that number, especially because with my team I feel like we all work well together.”
That team camaraderie started early this season from the moment the team was formed, through outings at Fox Hollow rodeo line dancing together, and everyday practices.
Realizing the fulfillment that stemmed from needing to put in the work to achieve something lofty, Oakes said she’s ready to try again next season.
“I really want to try and break the goal record for our school,” she said. “I’m also hoping to hit 100 [career] goals next season, which I’m seven away from and I think will definitely happen. But overall I just want it to be a good atmosphere and I’m excited to play with my friends.”
What if she ended up reaching 100 goals in a single season?
“That would be insane. I hope I could do that,” Oakes said. “I don’t know if I could, but that would be awesome if I did.”
Should Oakes keep setting higher goals and continue reaching them, one shouldn’t put it past her to keep going higher.
*
Save
The news about two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch's death was shocking to many racing fans.
It was definitely shocking to me, as he was just 41 years old.
Early in my career I covered several NASCAR races and really enjoyed working at Kentucky Speedway and other tracks when I had the opportunity.
Kyle Busch seemed to be one of the favorites to win just about every race over the years, but that wasn't really the case at the beginning of his career.
In 2004, I was assigned to cover the NASCAR Busch series Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Kyle Busch was just 18 years old then and, although there was a lot of hype surrounding the young driver, he wasn't expected to win the race.
Another reason he wasn't expected to win was that he had wrecked his primary car in practice. Although he had qualified to start on the outside of the front row, using a backup car meant that he had to start from the back of the field in 43rd place.
Somehow, Busch gradually made his way to the front and won the race pulling away, his third victory of the season.
As soon as the race was over, another sort of race began. All the photographers hurried from their various positions to get to the winners circle and the shot everyone wanted of Busch getting out of the car to celebrate.
Media from all over the world covered these races, and there could easily be over 100 photographers trying to get the best spots for photos.
I was lucky enough to get a great spot and ended up getting one of my favorite racing photos.
*
Save
The news about two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch's death was shocking to many racing fans.
It was definitely shocking to me, as he was just 41 years old.
Early in my career I covered several NASCAR races and really enjoyed working at Kentucky Speedway and other tracks when I had the opportunity.
Kyle Busch seemed to be one of the favorites to win just about every race over the years, but that wasn't really the case at the beginning of his career.
In 2004, I was assigned to cover the NASCAR Busch series Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Kyle Busch was just 18 years old then and, although there was a lot of hype surrounding the young driver, he wasn't expected to win the race.
Another reason he wasn't expected to win was that he had wrecked his primary car in practice. Although he had qualified to start on the outside of the front row, using a backup car meant that he had to start from the back of the field in 43rd place.
Somehow, Busch gradually made his way to the front and won the race pulling away, his third victory of the season.
As soon as the race was over, another sort of race began. All the photographers hurried from their various positions to get to the winners circle and the shot everyone wanted of Busch getting out of the car to celebrate.
Media from all over the world covered these races, and there could easily be over 100 photographers trying to get the best spots for photos.
I was lucky enough to get a great spot and ended up getting one of my favorite racing photos.
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell is meeting with the media for the first time since the sport confronts one of its most stunning losses in years.
There are many questions to be answered after the shocking death of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch on Thursday, May 21. He was 41 and had raced just four days before.
Follow here for live updates from the O’Donnell press conference, on Friday, May 22.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell to speak after Kyle Busch's death
Washington has entered the mix for 2028 five-star forward Evan Willis.
The 6-foot-7, 180-pound Crossroads, California, star picked up an offer from Danny Sprinkle and company on Monday, one day after Huskies assistant coaches were on hand to see Willis at the PRO16 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Different breed. The Huskies saw it too! Thank you Coach Sprinkle, Coach Pondexter and staff for believing in me. #GoHuskies#washington#offered#blessedpic.twitter.com/7rqRV71y8D
— The.Evan.Willis (@The_Evan_Willis) May 18, 2026
Willis is ranked the No. 7 player in the 2028 class by 247Sports and the No. 30 player in the 247Sports composite rankings. He has participated in two minicamps with the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team, once in October 2025 and once at the Final Four this April.
At the latter minicamp, 247Sports analyst Eric Bossi said that Willis was the most explosive athlete in the gym, with the length and size to impact the game defensively from the three or four spot. Multiple reports have noted that his effort has waned when not involved offensively, however, and that his potential is largely in his own hands based on how engaged with the game he is on any given night.
On Sunday, Bossi wrote of Willis: "The five-star prospect took things into his own hands and showed why he's so highly regarded. He did so by ramping up the energy and turning into an absolute menace on the defensive end. There can't be many better athletes in his class, or any, and he really used that to his advantage. He's highly switchable because he can move his feet, and then his ability to explode off the floor, length, and instincts make him a big-time shot blocker for a wing. Offensively, he attacked when he could, hit a nice-looking three, and even though there were no official stats available, we wouldn't be surprised if he had a triple-double of points, rebounds, and blocks."
Willis now holds 14 offers, according to 247Sports, with Georgia, North Carolina State, Nebraska, Texas A&M, USC, and Creighton among them. A Santa Monica native, Washington will likely rely on assistant coach Quincy Pondexter's connections in the Los Angeles area to stay in the mix in his recruitment as it ramps up over the next year. Bossi reported that Baylor, Miami, Texas, Kansas, Louisville, and Oklahoma were among the schools that sent coaches to Tulsa to watch Willis this weekend.
It would be a huge win for Sprinkle and his staff, who brought in local three-star forward Lattimore Ford as their only high school signing in the 2026 class to date. Sprinkle put together a strong 2025 class, signing forward Jasir Rencher, guard JJ Mandaquit, and guard Courtland Muldrew out of the American high school ranks while bringing in Hannes Steinbach and Nikola Dzepina from overseas, but that group has splintered this offseason.
Steinbach is off to the NBA, Mandaquit transferred to Arizona, Muldrew entered the transfer portal, Rencher had a heart issue, and his timetable to return to the court remains unknown. Dzepina will return to the Huskies in 2026.
With how quickly the college basketball landscape changes each offseason, it's difficult to say who Willis might be surrounded by should he come to Montlake in 2028. Dzepina would be a senior if he stays that long, as would Rencher if he returns to basketball. Ford would be a junior, as would Brazilian import Wini Braga. But regardless of the roster around him, Washington could use the talent injection that would come with Willis' arrival to campus.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: UW basketball offers 2028 five-star SF with high-end upside
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) is in full swing with its 19th edition.
Here are the key stats from the tournament, including the full points table and previous winners of the orange and purple caps.
1. Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) - 638 runs
2. Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) - 616
3. Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 606
4. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) - 579
5. Ishan Kishan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 569
=1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) & Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) - 24 wickets
3. Anshul Kamboj (Chennai Super Kings) - 21
=4. Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans) & Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 19
Highest strike-rate
Minimum 20 balls faced
1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) - 236.32
2. Finn Allen (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 219.33
3. Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings) - 212.86
4. Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 206.22
5. Urvil Patel (Chennai Super Kings) - 201.56
Highest average
1. Venkatesh Iyer (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 79
2. Rinku Singh (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 73.75
3. Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians) - 66
4. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 50.63
5. Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 50.50
Most sixes
1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) - 53 sixes
2. Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 43
3. Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians) - 37
4. Mitchell Marsh (Lucknow Super Giants) - 36
=5. Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings), Cooper Connolly (Punjab Kings) & Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 32
Best strike-rate
1. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 6.00
2. Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians) - 8.81
3. Ashwani Kumar (Mumbai Indians) - 10.00
=4. Akash Singh (Lucknow Super Giants) & Blessing Muzarabani (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 10.50
Best average
1. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 7.00
2. Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians) - 14.27
3. Jason Holder (Gujarat Titans) - 16.00
4. Mohsin Khan (Lucknow Super Giants) - 16.36
5. Madhav Tiwari (Delhi Capitals) - 16.75
Best economy
Minimum of 24 balls bowled
1. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 6.40
2. Jason Holder (Gujarat Titans) - 7.34
=3. Mohsin Khan (Lucknow Super Giants) & Harpreet Brar (Punjab Kings) - 7.50
5. Ravindra Jadeja (Rajasthan Royals) - 7.84
The opening practice session for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix was an absolute bloodbath for the lower half of the grid. As we detailed in our previous breakdown of the Montreal Meltdown, FP1 was derailed by three separate red flags. Alex Albon’s bizarre collision with a marmot, Esteban Ocon’s late crash, and Liam Lawson’s dangerous clutch system failure. With track time severely limited by the stoppages, the pressure was immense. Yet, amidst the carnage, Kimi Antonelli completely silenced the paddock.
According to a session recap from Motorsport.com, Antonelli dominated the timing sheets, completely unbothered by the start-and-stop nature of the morning. The 19-year-old Italian set a blistering benchmark of 1m14.392s on the hard compound tires, pushing the McLaren of Oscar Piastri over half a second adrift. Lewis Hamilton slotted into third in his Ferrari, while Antonelli firmly established the Mercedes W17 as the car to beat.
What makes Antonelli’s performance so devastating is the context of the weekend. Montreal is the third Sprint event in just four rounds. This means FP1 was the one and only practice session before the cars entered parc fermé conditions for Sprint Qualifying later in the day.
Every minute of the red-flag interruptions caused by the midfield chaos burned crucial setup time. Furthermore, the FIA used the chaotic session to temporarily trial a complex new rear light system designed to signal MGU-K power derating and “super clipping”. Drivers were forced to learn a highly technical new visual system while navigating a very green, low-grip track. Antonelli adapted flawlessly, dialing in the setup with terrifying efficiency.
On the other side of the Mercedes garage, George Russell’s nightmare is only getting worse. While Antonelli was busy setting the pace, Russell suffered a spin during the heavily interrupted session.
This is a direct continuation of the exact weakness Russell admitted to following the Miami Grand Prix. He openly confessed that smooth, low-grip track surfaces completely ruin his confidence and cause him to overcook the tires. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is notoriously slippery early in the weekend, and Russell’s spin proves he is still struggling to master the basic fundamentals of the 2026 chassis.
With Toto Wolff publicly taking meetings with Jos Verstappen, Russell is already driving for his contract life. Getting comprehensively beaten by a teenager in the only practice session of a Sprint weekend, while spinning the car in the process, is the last thing the British driver needed. Kimi Antonelli isn’t just winning races; he is actively exposing his veteran teammate under the highest pressure imaginable.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State football added its 11th high school commitment to its 2027 recruiting class after landing a three-star safety out of Texas.
Bryson Dossett, a 5-10, 170-pounder, announced his commitment to the Wildcats on Friday, May 22. He also held offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Houston, North Carolina, Illinois and others.
Dossett had an official visit to Kansas State earlier this month. He also visited Oklahoma State and Duke. He was initially offered by K-State's staff under Chris Klieman in June 2025.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Dossett is ranked as the No. 113 safety in the country. The Fort Bend Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas) prospect also competes in track and field, specializing in sprinting. He finished his junior year with 23 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
Dossett's brother, Mason Dossett, is a redshirt sophomore safety at LSU. His father, Martin Dossett, was a wide receiver at Baylor and played two seasons for the Green Bay Packers.
1000% committed!! 🏠🏠 #Home#EMAWpic.twitter.com/KXxZTTO573
— Bryson Dossett (@bryson_dossett) May 22, 2026
Before Dossett's commitment, the Wildcats had the No. 32 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite, which ranks third in the Big 12.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Bryson Dossett commits to Kansas State football in 2027 class
It took only a single game for the Vegas Golden Knights to flip the Western Conference Final on its axis.
Now, the Golden Knights have an opportunity to assert themselves further in the series when they take on the Colorado Avalanche in Game Two on Friday.
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date: Friday, May 22
Time: 5:00 pm PST
How To Watch: ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM
The Avalanche made a push in the third period of Game One to keep things interesting, but the Golden Knights dominated in pockets and walked away with a victory that surprised many across the hockey world. It cemented the notion that Vegas not only had the horses to hang with the President’s Trophy winner, but that there exists a real chance that they can be the ones representing the Western Conference as the last team standing.
With the chance to change the narrative entirely in their favor, here is how the Golden Knights can take an unexpected 2-0 stranglehold on the series.
Skip the Cale
The Avalanche will have to make do without defenseman Cale Makar, as he was ruled out during morning skate for the second consecutive game.
Colorado still had moments of brilliance in the offensive zone, but the Golden Knights saw firsthand the difference that their opponent’s blue line maestro truly makes. Makar’s absence places the impetus of generating offense solely on the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, giving the Golden Knights a better sense of who to take time and space away from. They know that Colorado is vulnerable with Makar out of the lineup, and his absence creates an opportunity to take a series lead back to Vegas.
Leaders lead
The Golden Knights will only win this series if their best players continue producing, and Game One was indicative of that philosophy.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden continue to pace the NHL in goals by scoring their 10th and ninth goals of the postseason, respectively, in Game One. Elsewhere, Mitch Marner continues his redemption arc with a league-leading 19 points, while Jack Eichel paces the NHL with 15 assists. Add to that a continued run of great play in net from Carter Hart, and the end result is a team that is firing on all cylinders right now.
Channel 2023
‘It hurts to win’ was the philosophy implemented under former head coach Bruce Cassidy when the Golden Knights went on their Stanley Cup run three years ago, and that mantra needs to continue holding true.
Along with their offensive leaders, Ivan Barbashev (67), Keegan Kolesar (58) and Cole Smith (57) are the top three in the NHL in hits. The Golden Knights have shown zero issue with punishing opponents who try and challenge for open lanes to the offensive zone, and that physical toll has worn on all of their opponents so far. The Avalanche certainly felt the effects of Game One, and taking too many hits could lead to the energy reserves depleting too soon if the series continues like this.
After struggling mightily in 2025 on offense, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a dedicated effort to improving that side of the football in the offseason. New head coach Mike McCarthy got his quarterback and put the pieces around him to make Aaron Rodgers successful at 42 years old.
The three big additions are wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who came via trade, running back Rico Dowdle who the team signed in free agency and wide receiver Germie Bernard, who the team selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft. Here are our predictions for the Steelers top three newcomers.
As much as we appreciate everything Jaylen Warren brings to the offense, the run game is going to go through Dowdle this season. He's not quite the receiver Warren is but his running style and knowledge of the offense helps him to lead the team in rushing.
Rushing yards: 988
Receptions: 31
Receiving yards: 327
Total touchdowns: 11
Pittman Jr. is exactly the type of receiver the Steelers needed last season to take some heat off DK Metcalf. Pittman's addition gives Rodgers a reliable target in the short and intermediate routes and allow Metcalf to work deep. We expect Pittman to lead the Steelers in receptions and Metcalf to lead the team in receiving yards.
Receptions: 87
Receiving yards: 905
Receiving touchdowns: 5
We love the addition of Bernard and the level of versatility he brings. Bernard isn't going to put up huge numbers rushing or receiving but is going to provide a spark at multiple spots and create opportunities for other players.
Receptions: 41
Receiving yards: 506
Rushing yards: 105
Total touchdowns: 3
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Stat predictions for the Steelers newest skill players including Rico Dowdle and Michael Pittman Jr.
For all the wins Kyle Busch piled up in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, one race stood out above all others.
It was at Michigan International Speedway.
Busch, 41, died Thursday having won more races in the Xfinity series than any other driver. His cause of death has not been released.
Reflecting on his Xfinity Series career, Busch was asked which of his wins was most memorable.
It was not his first, which came in Richmond. Nor was it his record 50th victory in the series at Bristol. The 2004 Michigan race, he said in an interview with Frontstretch, stands apart.
“The one that was really, really cool that stood out to me the most,” Busch said, “it was Michigan. I think it was 2004, my rookie year. I beat Mark Martin. He was always stupid fast, right? But we were stupider fast that day.”
His victory in the 2004 Cabela’s 250 at Michigan felt like a breakthrough moment that confirmed to the young driver that he belonged among NASCAR’s elite, he said. The win came during Busch’s first full Busch Series season — now known as the Xfinity Series — and showcased the raw dominance that later helped make him the winningest driver in series history.
Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Busch started near the front and led 88 of the race’s 125 laps at Michigan International Speedway, beating future Hall of Famer Mark Martin by nearly four seconds.
“It was great to be able to come out and have a great run at Michigan Speedway,” Busch said afterward, crediting crew chief Lance McGrew and Hendrick horsepower for the dominant performance.
The victory was Busch’s fifth of the 2004 season and helped establish him as one of NASCAR’s emerging stars. At the time, he was battling drivers including Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle and Martin in a stacked Busch Series field.
The win also came during a period when Busch was rapidly building his reputation as one of NASCAR’s most naturally gifted young talents. Earlier that same season, he scored his first career Busch Series victory at Richmond and famously called that car “the best car” he had ever driven at the time.
Busch eventually amassed a record 102 Xfinity Series victories, toppling Martin's record of 49 in the series, and more than 230 combined wins across NASCAR’s top three national series.
Even among all those triumphs, the 2004 Michigan race remained special — the afternoon when a teenage Busch fully announced himself at MIS.
“That was like the defining moment where, ‘Oh, I can do this,’” Busch said. “That one probably felt the best."
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Kyle Busch felt best about NASCAR Xfinity race at MIS
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made no secret of his criticism of FIFA over its "unaffordable" World Cup tickets. On Thursday, he announced that he had secured 1,000 non-transferable tickets to be distributed to New Yorkers through online lotteries.
Mamdani was joined at Thursday afternoon's announcement by U.S. Men's National Team hopefuls Timothy Weah, son of Ballon d'Or winner and current Liberian President George Weah, and Miles Robinson.
Weah, who plays for Marseille, landed himself in trouble this past January after telling a French newspaper that World Cup tickets were "too expensive." USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino called him out at his next press conference.
"First of all, I think players need to talk on the pitch, playing football, not outside of the [pitch]," Pochettino said in January, via The Mirror US. "It is not his duty to evaluate the price of the ticket."
Weah, 26, grew up playing local soccer in New York City before relocating to France at 14 to chase professional opportunities. Standing proudly alongside Mamdani, he spoke passionately about the significance of affordable tickets.
"I think this opportunity is really healthy for the community and for New York in its whole," he told the cheering crowd. "I think as athletes it's important to have a voice because we are the pillars of this community - we're the leaders of the next generation.
"As a kid, it was a dream to be up here, to be in stadiums playing," Weah added. "If I can help the next kid get to that stage, it's a wonderful feeling. The mayor has done an amazing job of making these tickets accessible to New Yorkers."
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
MetLife Stadium, which will be rebranded as New York/New Jersey Stadium for this summer's World Cup, is set to stage several marquee games, including the final on July 19. Confirmed group stage games feature Brazil vs. Morocco, France vs. Senegal, and Panama vs. England.
"We know that there are so many New Yorkers who thought that there was no way they could afford to go to this tournament, and now there is that glimpse of an opportunity," Mamdani said of the program.
Weah, who operates as both a winger and wing-back, is expected to feature prominently for the U.S. at this summer's World Cup. He netted his country's first goal at the 2022 edition during a 1-1 draw with Wales.
Pochettino, appointed by the USMNT following an extensive European career overseeing clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, has urged his American squad to steer clear of political discourse.
"We are not politicians. We are sport people that only we can talk about our job," he said at that same January presser. "And I think if FIFA does something or takes some decision, they know why, and it is their responsibility to explain why. But it's not up to us to provide our opinion."
The Cincinnati Reds postponed their series opener May 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals because of the threat of inclement weather.
The team announced that the game will be made up as the first game of a split doubleheader Saturday, May 23, at 1:10 p.m.
Fans holding tickets for Friday's game may present their same ticket for the make-up game scheduled for Saturday at 1:10, with no exchange necessary.
Gates will open for the make-up game for season ticket members at 11:40 a.m., and the general public at 12:10 p.m.
The timing of the originally scheduled game for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. remains unchanged. Gates will open for that game for season ticket members at 5:15 p.m. and the general public at 5:45 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds postpone Cardinals series opener. Saturday doubleheader scheduled
The Cincinnati Reds postponed their series opener May 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals because of the threat of inclement weather, the team announced.
The team announced the game will be made up as the first game of a split doubleheader Saturday, May 23, at 1:10 p.m.
Fans holding tickets for Friday's game may present their same ticket for the make-up game scheduled for Saturday at 1:10, with no exchange necessary.
Gates will open for the make-up game for season ticket members at 11:40 a.m., and the general public at 12:10 p.m.
The timing of the originally scheduled game for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. remains unchanged. Gates will open for that game for season ticket members at 5:15 p.m. and the general public at 5:45 p.m.
Visit reds.com/rainout for more information.
In addition, the Reds announced the postgame fireworks show originally scheduled for Friday will be made up at a later date to be announced soon.
The Ke'Bryan Hayes Gold Glove bobblehead promotion scheduled for Saturday night will still be available to fans attending the originally scheduled night game when the gates open, while supplies last.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds postpone Cardinals series opener. Saturday doubleheader scheduled
Livingston say Cammy Palmer will add "energy, technical quality and versatility" to their squad after the midfielder agreed a pre-contract to join from Glentoran.
The 26-year-old has previously played in Scotland with Partick Thistle and Clyde on loan from Rangers. He also had a loan at Orange County and joined Linfield in 2021 and Glentoran two years later.
"Primarily a central midfielder, Palmer is also capable of operating in both attacking and defensive midfield roles," Livingston said.
At Glentoran, Livi say Palmer "became an important figure in midfield, impressing with his work rate, passing ability and composure on the ball across three strong seasons with the club, featuring 100 times".
Houston Rockets center and Turkish basketball star Alperen Şengün was seen at the EuroLeague Final Four Friday, supporting Turkish basketball club Fenerbahçe. While there, Şengün made time for an interview, expressing his support for the club that he nearly signed with before entering the 2021 NBA Draft.
Alperen Sengun supporting Fenerbahce in the EuroLeague Final Four 🗣️🇹🇷pic.twitter.com/kuRzOmgvkv
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) May 22, 2026
Despite his presence, Fenerbahce would end up falling to Greek club Olympiacos 79-61. The game featured a few notable former NBA players, including Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier, Cory Joseph, Talen Horton-Tucker, Wade Baldwin IV and Khem Birch. Looking ahead, Olympiacos will face the winner of No. 2 seed Valencia Basket and No. 3 seed Real Madrid in the EuroLeague Finals.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets star makes appearance at EuroLeague Final Four
A recap of the 2026 I/O Dialogues, where leaders discuss the future of AI, quantum computing, robotics and creativity.
Representative James Comer asked CEOs of two major prediction market companies for information on their responses to insider trading after “suspiciously timed trades” related to US military actions against Iran.
NEAR price surges 50% in a week as AI token momentum, Nvidia optimism and network upgrades fuel bullish sentiment.
The transfer was executed on ADI Chain, a layer-2 blockchain designed for institutional payments, treasury operations and trade settlement.
With the Computex 2026 trade show in Taiwan coming up, analysts from GF Securities are confident that NVIDIA will address the latest trend in the AI computing industry at the event. Following Intel's first-quarter earnings, the industry's shift towards CPUs for agentic AI computing has generated speculation that the role that GPUs play within an AI cluster could drop. However, GF Securities believes that NVIDIA will showcase the advantages of its Vera CPUs at Computex and claim that they offer as much as 1.5 times the computing performance over x86 rivals from AMD and Intel. NVIDIA Will Make Significant CPU […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/nvidias-vera-cpus-set-to-outrun-intel-and-amd-x86-chips-by-1-5x-at-computex-2026-analysts-predict/
Samsung is apparently trying to pair titanium's ruggedness with Aluminum's better thermal performance, bringing the best of both metal frames to its future lineup of foldables. Interestingly, Samsung's relatively simple approach to smartphone-geared metallurgy can serve as an effective counter to Apple's more complicated efforts with the so-called Liquidmetal. Samsung new 'dual-phase' frame fuses an outer titanium layer with an inner aluminum core, bringing superior rigidity and thermal performance to its foldables in the near future The tipster Schrödinger has just penned an interesting post on his Telegram channel, detailing Samsung's latest smartphone-related metallurgy efforts. According to the tipster, Samsung […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-working-to-fuse-titanium-and-aluminum-into-a-hybrid-foldable-frame-to-counter-apples-liquidmetal-innovation/
Playground's Fable reboot has been officially rated in South Korea and Australia, as spotted by Reddit users. Both of them have restricted the game to be only available to adults due to its mature content, and the South Korean board also shared why: An immersive open-world action RPG depicting the player's adventure to resolve the situation where villagers are turned to stone by an unidentified stranger. Therefore, in accordance with Article 21 of the Act on Promotion of the Game Industry and Article 7, Paragraph 4 of the Classification Regulations, it has been decided to classify it as 'Not suitable […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/fable-gta6-korean-rating-2026-release-window/
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War IV has finally been given a release date at Warhammer Skulls 2026, with its arrival on PC officially set for September 17, 2026. More than just a release date though, developer KING Art and publisher Deep Silver also revealed the game's post-launch roadmap for its first year which includes two paid expansions due to arrive in year one. Pre-orders for the game also went live alongside the announcement, which was revealed in a new gameplay trailer you can check out below. The base game will run you $53.99 USD if you pick it up while […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/warhammer-40k-dawn-of-war-4-release-date-post-launch-roadmap/
© <p>Travel + Leisure</p>
© <p>Wirestock/Getty Images</p>
© <p>wakr10/Getty Images</p>
Honor's mid-range 600 series will be expanding even further in the near future. According to new certifications by both the GCF and SGS, the Honor 600 Smart 5G is on its way with the model number MRK-NX1. Honor 600 Smart 5G certifications As the name implies, it has 5G support, but that's the only spec that has been outed by these certifications, unfortunately. The global certifications hint at the fact that this won't be launching in China only, so we should see it in international markets too. Unfortunately, it's unclear when it will be launching, but stay tuned and we'll...
Following the 4-1 victory by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr over Damac to clinch the Saudi Pro League title, head coach Jorge Jesus announced his departure from the club ahead of next season. With a high-profile vacancy now open, the Saudi powerhouse is already aggressively hunting for a successor, positioning Roberto Martinez as a frontrunner while hopes of landing Pep Guardiola rapidly fade.
Manchester City recently confirmed Guardiola‘s exit after 10 illustrious seasons at the helm, and reports from Al-Youm indicate that Al Nassr was ready to tempt the Spanish tactician with a record-breaking salary to secure his services.
Furthermore, Saudi media outlet Okaz Sports revealed that Guardiola’s agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, confirmed receiving an official inquiry from Al Nassr roughly a month and a half ago. However, during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Aston Villa fixture, Guardiola strongly hinted that he intends to take an extended sabbatical from coaching.
With Guardiola seemingly out of reach, the same outlet reports that Roberto Martinez has positioned himself as a highly viable alternative. The current Portugal national team manager is expected to step down from his post following the conclusion of his contract after the 2026 World Cup, paving the way for a potential blockbuster reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
The pivotal X-factor working in Martinez’s favor is his exceptional relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spanish strategist took over the Portuguese national team in early 2023 and has since overseen 38 matches, racking up an impressive record of 24 wins, four draws, and just six defeats.
Despite the formal contact between Al Nassr and Guardiola’s camp, the manager himself has heavily implied that a break from the dugout is non-negotiable after ten grueling seasons shifting the landscape of English soccer with Manchester City. “I need to step back. I will not train for a while,” the Spaniard confirmed during his press conference, effectively cooling down Al Nassr’s immediate hopes.
Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed that his remarkable era with Manchester City is coming to an end, closing one of the most dominant managerial reigns England has ever witnessed. After a decade filled with trophies, tactical revolutions, and relentless success, the Spaniard now prepares to take the next step as the soccer world wonders what comes next for the coach who changed the modern game forever.
The announcement immediately sent shockwaves across the Premier League, with rivals, supporters, and former players reflecting on Guardiola’s enormous impact. From transforming Manchester City into a global powerhouse to forcing every title challenger to raise its standards, Guardiola leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond silverware.
When he arrived in England in 2016 after successful spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, many questioned whether his style could survive the intensity of the Premier League. Ten years later, those doubts feel almost impossible to remember.
Under the Spaniard, Manchester City collected 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League crown, multiple domestic cups, and a historic continental treble in 2023. More importantly, the club became the benchmark every rival desperately tried to reach.
Beyond trophies, Guardiola’s greatest contribution may be the way he reshaped soccer thinking in England. His positional play, use of inverted full-backs, and constant tactical experimentation influenced managers across the league and even grassroots soccer.
The emotional weight of Guardiola’s departure became clear during his final press conference before facing Aston Villa. The City manager admitted the decision had been building internally for quite some time. “I am really satisfied, I don’t know the right words. Happy, proud. The experience of my life,” he said.
The Spaniard also revealed the emotional toll of coaching continuously for nearly two decades. “I need to breathe a little bit and relax. It’ll be a while, that is my feeling right now,” he explained.
The 55-year-old stressed that the club also needed a fresh voice moving forward. “I think the club needs a new manager, new energy with these incredible players that we have right now, and you start to write another chapter,” he said.
While speculation immediately linked Guardiola with several national teams and elite clubs around Europe, the Spaniard ruled out an immediate return to coaching after leaving Manchester City. Instead, he plans to step away from the constant pressure of the touchline after years of managing matches every few days. “Rest. No plans to train for a while. Otherwise, I would be here. I need to step back. I will not train for a while,” Guardiola confirmed.
At the same time, Manchester City announced that the manager will remain connected to the wider City Football Group structure as a Global Ambassador. In that role, he is expected to offer technical guidance and support projects involving clubs such as New York City, Girona, and Yokohama F. Marinos.
We see things they’ll never see 🏆🐐 pic.twitter.com/s2I6Jf7wUD
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 22, 2026
Guardiola made it clear he wanted to stay emotionally tied to the organization even if he is no longer making daily soccer decisions. “I would love to continue to be part of this club. Not manager action, I will take absolutely zero decisions in that. Just to be part of the club,” he explained.
The Citizens are already preparing major tributes to honour Guardiola’s contribution. They have officially confirmed that a stand at the Etihad Stadium will carry his name, while a statue is also planned outside the ground.
North Stand to be renamed ‘The Pep Guardiola Stand.’ 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 22, 2026
Read more 🔗 https://t.co/IcuzmBkVXV pic.twitter.com/SrUqawbHWx
This week, Cristiano Ronaldo finally ended his drought of official titles with Al Nassr by winning the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title. The achievement also brought him closer to another milestone in his professional career.
Ronaldo has now won league titles in four different countries, something not many players in soccer history have accomplished. However, that is still not enough to set a new record, as several stars have managed to win league championships in five different countries.
The only league where CR7 played without winning the title was Portugal’s Primeira Liga. He spent just one season there, during the 2002-03 campaign, when Sporting CP finished third in the standings behind Porto and Benfica.
In England, Ronaldo won the Premier League three consecutive times with Manchester United in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He later carried that success to Spain, winning two La Liga titles with Real Madrid in 2012 and 2017. Finally, with Juventus, he lifted Italy’s Serie A trophy in 2019 and 2020.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now won league titles in 4️⃣ different countries 🏆🌍
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 22, 2026
🇸🇦 #RoshnSaudiLeague 🆕 🏆
Premier League🏆🏆🏆
La Liga🏆🏆
Serie A🏆🏆
Serial winner. pic.twitter.com/umWa1JmdEV
With the Saudi Pro League title, Cristiano Ronaldo joined an exclusive group of stars who have won league championships in four different countries. Unsurprisingly, most of those cases are relatively recent, considering that rules regarding the number of foreign players clubs can sign have become more flexible over the years.
Arjen Robben won league titles in the Netherlands (PSV Eindhoven), England (Chelsea), Spain (Real Madrid) and Germany (Bayern Munich). Rivaldo achieved the feat in Brazil (Palmeiras), Spain (Barcelona), Greece (Olympiacos) and Uzbekistan (Bunyodkor). Deco also did it in Portugal (Porto), Spain (Barcelona), England (Chelsea) and Brazil (Fluminense). Other players to accomplish it include Mark van Bommel, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jiri Jarosik.
At 41 years old, and with a contract at Al Nassr running through June 30, 2027, it is difficult to imagine Cristiano Ronaldo taking on a new challenge in another country. That makes a fifth different league title — which would tie the all-time record — highly unlikely.
For now, only a select few players hold that mark. One of them is Joao Cancelo, who won league titles in Portugal (Benfica), Italy (Juventus), England (Manchester City), Germany (Bayern Munich) and Spain (Barcelona). Another active player with that record is Danilo, who achieved it in Brazil (Flamengo), Portugal (Porto), Spain (Real Madrid), Italy (Juventus) and England (Manchester City). Other examples include Robinho and Mateja Kezman.
has offered his honest thoughts on vs , interested to see how his former foe bounces back from their encounter. The pair squared off last September, with Crawford claiming a unanimous decision victory and cementing his greatness as a three-division undisputed champion. Despite moving up two weight classes, ‘Bud’ seemed comfortable with the size disparity […]
The post Terence Crawford delivers new verdict on Canelo comeback fight against Mbilli: “He wants to prove himself” appeared first on Boxing News.
is about to be dealt a major roadblock which will likely prevent an undisputed showdown against . Bivol currently holds the WBO, WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles, and returns to action on May 30 when he takes on Michael Eifert, marking the first time the Russian has been in action since his victory over […]
The post Dmitry Bivol vs David Benavidez undisputed fight in jeopardy as Bivol set for new mandatory defence appeared first on Boxing News.
“Sabah”ın baş məşqçisi Valdas Dambrauskas Premyer Liqanın sonuncu – 33-cü turunda “Turan Tovuz”a qarşı keçirdikləri oyunu şərh edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandaların bu gün Masazırda baş tutmuş görüşü “Sabah”ın 2:1 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.
Valdas Dambrauskas matçdan sonra təşkil edilmiş mətbuat konfransında bunları söyləyib:
“Mövsümün sonuncu qələbəsi münasibətilə futbolçuları, rəhbərliyi, azarkeşləri təbrik edirəm. Düzdür, o qədər də yaxşı oynamadıq. Bərabər səviyyədə oyun keçdi. Bir az baxtimiz gətirdi və qollar vurduq. Rəqibin 3-4 yaxşı qol fürsəti oldu. Qapıçımız çox yaxşı çıxış etdi. Son oyunda hamı dəqiqələri sayır. Futbolçuları motivasiya etmək çətindir. Çünki düşüncə tərzi dəyişir. Tezliklə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının təsnifat mərhələsinin oyununda görüşəcəyik. Hər zamankı yanaşmamızı davam etdirəcəyik. İyunun ortalarında toplaşacağıq və öz hədəflərimizə doğru gedəcəyik. Rəqibimiz bəlli olduqdan sonra sırf rəqibə qarşı hazırlaşacağıq. Əlbəttə, püşkün nəticəsi önəmlidir. Mövsümboyu bizə uğur gətirən yanaşmamız var idi, oyundan-oyuna hazırlaşırdıq.
Hər mövsüm çətin olur. Mənim də özümə görə istirahət planım var. Sabah Litvaya gedəcəyəm. Bir həftə sonra ailəmlə ölkə xaricinə istirahətə yollanacağıq. Daha sonra Avstriyada təlim-məşq toplanışına başlayacağıq”.
Dambrauskas Coy Lens Mikelsin klubla yeni müqavilə imzalamaq istəməməsinə də münasibət bildirib:
“Azərbaycan demokratik ölkədir. Hər kəsin müqavilə imzalamaq və ya imzalamamaq hüququ var. Bizim məşq bazamızın girişində belə bir yazı görə bilərsiniz: “Heç bir oyunçu komandadan böyük deyil”. Mikels həqiqətən də möhtəşəm mövsüm keçirdi. Ona və digər oyunçulara ən yaxşısını arzulayıram. Biz “Sabah”ıq, bir oyunçudan ibarət komanda deyilik. Mövsüm ərzində Mikelsin oynamadığı matçlarda onu əvəz edən futbolçular var idi”.
Litvalı mütəxəssis “Qarabağ”ın UEFA Çempionlar Liqasındakı çıxışının “Sabah”ın Premyer Liqadakı uğurlu performansına təsiri barədə sualı isə sərt cavablandırıb:
“Bizim stadionumuzda, çempionun, kubokun qalibinin, 33 oyun məğlub olmayan bir komandanın evində bu cür sual verirsiniz. Xahiş edirəm, bizə hörmət edin. Qurban Qurbanov belə ən yaxşı olduğumuzu qeyd edir. Amma siz həmişə bəhanələr axtarırsınız. Bunlar klubumuza, məşqçilərimizə, futbolçularımıza qarşı hörmətsizlikdir”.
Massimiliano Allegri has identified Bayer Leverkusen left wing-back Alex Grimaldo as a priority transfer target for Milan this summer, with the Spanish international understood to have been specifically requested by the coach during meetings with the club’s hierarchy.
According to journalist Luca Cohen, via MilanNews24, Allegri views Grimaldo as the ideal profile to strengthen Milan’s left flank, a position that has been a persistent weakness throughout the campaign following Theo Hernandez’s departure to Al-Hilal last summer.
The 30-year-old offers technical quality, significant European experience and the ability to contribute meaningfully in the final third, ticking several of the boxes Allegri has outlined as non-negotiable in his summer recruitment demands.
Any approach for the Spaniard is, however, entirely dependent on the Rossoneri qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The club head into the final day of the season still needing a result, and without European football of that level, the financial and sporting case for a move of this magnitude becomes considerably harder to make.
Should Allegri’s side secure their top-four place, the club are expected to open initial conversations with Leverkusen to establish the economic viability of the operation.
Grimaldo has been one of the most consistently impressive wing-backs in European football since joining the German club, and his profile would represent a significant upgrade on what Milan currently have available on the left side of defence.
Federico Dimarco has been named Serie A’s MVP for the 2025/26 season, capping a remarkable campaign in which the Inter left-back set a new all-time assist record for a single Serie A season as the Nerazzurri claimed the Scudetto and Coppa Italia double.
The full list of Serie A awards for 2025/26 is as follows:
Best Overall: Federico Dimarco (Inter);
Rising Star: Kenan Yildiz (Juventus);
Best Goalkeeper: Mile Svilar (Roma);
Best Defender: Marco Palestra (Cagliari);
Best Midfielder: Nico Paz (Como);
Best Forward: Lautaro Martinez (Inter);
Best Coach: Cristian Chivu (Inter).
Dimarco contributed six goals and 18 assists across the Serie A campaign, the highest assist tally ever recorded in a single Italian top-flight season. Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo paid tribute to the full-back’s contribution. “Dimarco has excelled for technical quality, with his exceptional left foot delivering six goals and 18 assists, an all-time record in a season of the Italian top flight,” he said.
The Nerazzurri dominated the individual honours, with Lautaro Martinez claiming the best forward award and Chivu earning the coaching prize. De Siervo praised the Romanian coach in particular.
“Chivu showed the winning DNA he had as a player, guiding his team to score more than two goals per game on average,” he said. “It took him just 48 Serie A matches as a coach to become champion of Italy, second only to Mourinho in the three-points era.”
Yildiz’s Rising Star award underlines Juventus’s faith in the young Turkish forward despite a difficult season for the club, while Svilar’s goalkeeper prize caps an outstanding campaign for Roma between the posts.
Palestra’s best defender award, earned during his loan spell at Cagliari from Atalanta, is likely to further fuel interest in the winger from Inter and other clubs this summer.
Paz, named best midfielder after a sensational season at Como, adds further context to Cesc Fabregas’s defiant insistence that the Argentine will either stay or join Real Madrid.
Gianluigi Buffon has left the door open to a return to Parma in a director role, insisting he is receptive to opportunities that genuinely excite him while stopping short of confirming any concrete discussions with the club that launched his professional career.
Speaking to Gazzetta di Parma, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the legendary goalkeeper, who began his career at Parma before his iconic spell at Juventus and returned to the club for a final season before retiring, was characteristically passionate when addressing the possibility.
“I am open to things that can excite me and that make sense,” Buffon said.
“In the people and proposals I receive there must be something that gets inside me. Because I am not the person for standard relationships or standard contracts. You have to know how to reach me. And it is very simple, because when you do know how to reach me, you know that Gigi gives you everything.
“So I am open to things that are not forced, things that make me dream and make me feel I can be a piece, a professional, a real added value in that context.”
Buffon also spoke warmly about Parma’s remarkable goalkeeping situation this season, in which all three of the club’s keepers won the MVP award at different stages.
“The Parma youth sector produces something,” he said. “Suzuki was expected to do well. Corvi deserves great credit, in a very delicate moment of the season he responded as a solid goalkeeper, which is the most important thing. And Rinaldi was a beautiful surprise. Long live the Parma goalkeepers.”
Asked about coach Carlos Cuesta, Buffon was supportive. “For the results he has brought, I think there should be no difficulty in continuing that relationship,” he said.
“Though as I always say, it depends on the expectations for next year and how the directors evaluate the work of the coach, and above all whether that work is right for the club’s ambitions going forward.”
Inter Milan are exploring the possibility of signing both Manu Koné from Roma and Curtis Jones from Liverpool this summer, as Cristian Chivu looks to reshape his midfield following the expected departure of Davide Frattesi.
According to Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, Koné is Inter’s primary domestic target. The French midfielder joined Roma from Borussia Mönchengladbach for €18 million plus €2 million in bonuses in the summer of 2024 and has made 81 appearances for the Giallorossi, contributing four goals and six assists.
Contracted until June 2029 at €2.8 million net per season, Roma may be willing to sell as part of efforts to comply with financial fair play regulations.
Inter had already attempted to sign Koné last August without success, but are ready to return with a fresh approach on Chivu’s recommendation. A potential deal could involve Roma receiving Carlos Augusto and/or Frattesi in exchange, a swap that would suit both clubs’ needs heading into the summer.
Should Koné arrive, Tuttosport reports it would not necessarily preclude a second midfield signing.
Curtis Jones is contracted to Liverpool until June 2027 at €500,000 net per season, a modest wage that would make the deal financially straightforward. The England international is viewed as a complement to rather than a replacement for Koné.
Both players share the same 2001 birth year, fitting Inter’s profile of signing players in their prime years. Jones is also seen as an alternative to the dream of signing Nico Paz, who Real Madrid are expected to repurchase from Como for €10 million at the end of the season before deciding his next destination.
Manchester United are interested in signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old Italian international has been outstanding for Newcastle since joining the club, and he’s currently one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Manchester United need more quality in that area of the pitch, and the Italian International would be outstanding for them. He could be the ideal replacement for Casemiro, who has decided to leave the club. Manchester United will need to properly replace the Brazilian.
They have been quite poor defensively, and they need someone who can win the ball back for the side and protect the back four from the middle of the park.
Tonali is at the peak of his career, and he will look to compete at a high-level as well. Manchester United will be able to provide him with Champions League football next season, and they could be challenging for trophies as well. He will be drawn to the idea of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs.
However, Newcastle will not want to lose an important player like him. Manchester United might have to pay a premium in order to get the deal done.
According to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester United are confident of getting the deal done. It remains to be seen whether they can plug the gaps in the gaps during the summer transfer window and push for major trophies next season.
They have a talented squad and will look to close the gap on Arsenal and Manchester City. Bringing in quality signings in the summer could help them do well next season.
The post Manchester United confident of landing 26-year-old fan favourite from rival club appeared first on CaughtOffside.
There’s some surprise World Cup news this afternoon as legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement to join the Germany squad.
The 40-year-old remains the number one goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, but has not featured for Germany since his side’s defeat to Spain two years ago at Euro 2024.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Still, BBC Sport now report that Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has recalled Neuer for this summer’s tournament, and that he’ll be the team’s number one in the tournament in North America.
Germany are so often among the favourites for the major international tournaments and a quick glance at the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds will show that they’re up there, even if not quite in that elite bracket with France, Spain, and England at the moment.
Including an experienced winner like Neuer will surely help, though, and there’s a great deal of quality elsewhere in that squad.
Nagelsmann has made some interesting calls with the Germany squad, as Neuer returns and other experienced big names like Leroy Sane, Leon Goretzka, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, and Kai Havertz are also there too.
There are notable players missing as well, though, with no space in the squad for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Niclas Fullkrug, Karim Adeyemi, or Kevin Schade.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
You can see the full World Cup group stage draw here as Germany are placed in Group E with Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador.
On paper at least, that looks like a decent draw for the four-time winners of this competition, who will then hope for a favourable draw in the knockout stages as they look to improve after a disappointing last few tournaments.
Germany last won the World Cup in 2014 but went out at the group stage in the following two World Cups, while they made the semi-finals of Euro 2016 but were out at the round of 16 in 2021, and the quarter-finals in 2024.
Nagelsmann’s side are in strong form going into this year’s tournament as they’re currently on a run of seven straight wins, but it’s about time they started showing what they’re capable of at the very highest level, rather than just in international friendlies and qualifying matches.
The post Surprise World Cup news as Germany legend with “aura and quality” comes out of retirement appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Newcastle United are interested in signing the Gremio defender Viery during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old is highly rated in South America, and he has a bright future ahead of himself. Multiple clubs are interested in signing him, but Newcastle have already initiated the move to secure the deal.
According to Sports Boom, Newcastle have recently sent a club representative to watch the player in action in person. They have a serious intent to sign the player, and he could cost around €20 million.
Newcastle need to improve defensively, and the 21-year-old central defender would be a quality long-term acquisition for them. Dan Burn and Fabian Schar are in the twilight stages of their careers. Newcastle need to bring younger alternatives, and the Brazilian would be an excellent acquisition for them.
The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be exciting for the players as well. The defender has a contract with Gremio until December 2029, and they are under no pressure to sell him. He also has a €50 million release clause in his contract. The Brazilian club is clearly in a position of strength when it comes to negotiations, and Newcastle will have to agree to their demands in order to get the deal done.
The €20 million investment might seem expensive right now, but the player has the quality to justify the outlay in future.
He could develop into a key player for Newcastle with the right guidance. Regular football in England could accelerate his development and help him fulfil his potential.
With multiple clubs keen on the player, the Brazilian outfit will certainly hope for a summer auction so they can recoup as much as possible from his departure.
The post Newcastle send scout to watch €50m Brazilian ahead of summer move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Boca Juniors midfielder Milton Delgado has been linked with a move away from the South American club, and Everton is keen on him.
According to SportsBoom, they will also face competition from Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Italian champions Inter Milan are monitoring his situation. It will be interesting to see if Everton can get the deal done.
The player could be sold for around €17.2 million. It would be a bargain acquisition for Everton if they could get the deal done.
Everton needs more quality in the middle of the park, and the 20-year-old defender with filler will add physicality and protection to the team. He has the technical attributes to compete at a high level, and regular football in the Premier League could bring out the best in him.
Everton has a talented team, and they will look to push for European qualification next season. They need to keep improving the team.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are looking to add more quality in the midfield as well. The 20-year-old could prove an excellent long-term investment and form a solid partnership with Adam Wharton. The England international has been outstanding in the middle of the park, but he needs more support.
The 20-year-old South American would be a future asset for the club if they can get the deal done.
The Eagles have recently won the FA Cup and the Community Shield, and they are in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League. If they win the tournament, they will secure Europa League qualification for next season, making them an attractive destination for players.
It will be interesting to see where Delgado ends up.
The post Everton ready to battle Crystal Palace for 20-year-old South American midfielder appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Aston Villa is interested in signing the Celta Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba.
The 23-year-old Guinean has done quite well for the Spanish club, and he could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for Aston Villa. According to reports from Spain, Brighton are also keen on the player.
The report claims that Aston Villa have already submitted a significant offer for the player, and it remains to be seen whether Celta Vigo is ready to sell him.
Aston Villa are prepared to spend €20 million on the player, whereas Brighton would be prepared to go up to €25 million.
Moriba could be tempted by the possibility of moving to the Premier League, and it remains to be seen where he ends up.
Aston Villa have secured Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign, and they have a quality set of players at their disposal. They could be a tempting destination for the player.
On the other hand, Brighton has an ambitious project as well. It remains to be seen where the 23-year-old ends up.
He will want to compete at a high-level and fight for trophies. The opportunity to compete in the Champions League will be exciting for him, and Aston Villa could have an edge in the transfer race.
Meanwhile, Celta Vigo will look to recoup as much as possible for an important player like him. It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa can agree on a deal with them.
The 23-year-old central midfielder has one goal and four assists to his name this season. Apart from his ability to create opportunities, he is a hard-working player who will help out defensively. He could be a complete central midfielder for Aston Villa or Brighton.
The post Aston Villa pushing hard to beat rivals in the race for 23-year-old La Liga star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Max Verstappen is arguably the most naturally gifted driver on the Formula 1 grid, but let’s be honest, he is bored by the 2026 regulations. The extreme battery management and relentless lift-and-coast driving style required by the new hybrid systems have completely drained his enthusiasm. According to a prominent paddock insider, the World Champion is so disconnected from the current state of F1 that he views the pinnacle of motorsport as a mere 9-to-5 gig.
During a recent broadcast segment (via Sky Sports F1), the commentary team unpacked Verstappen’s growing apathy toward the 2026 rulebook. Indy NXT race winner and F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick dropped a massive reality check regarding how the Dutchman currently views his seat at Red Bull Racing.
“I mean, you look at this as maybe it’s a day job, and it’s a day job that allows him to do everything else,” Chadwick explained. “And everything else can be, for example, the Nürburgring 24 Hours; you never know what could be in the future.”
Chadwick noted that while it is “crazy to think about” an F1 World Champion viewing his role as just a job to pay the bills, he remains “one of the best at it.”
Chadwick’s comments perfectly align with Verstappen’s recent extracurricular activities. While the 2026 F1 cars are heavily restricted by a controversial 50/50 electrical power split, GT3 endurance racing offers the raw, visceral thrill that Verstappen craves.
He recently competed in the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours, and Martin Brundle, who also has extensive experience at the infamous circuit, noted the stark contrast between the two disciplines. Brundle highlighted the immense physical toll, the heavy grip, and the ever-present danger of the 130-corner track, pointing out that “you can’t do it in F1 cars anymore.”
Unsurprisingly, Brundle noted that Verstappen was “blisteringly fast” in his GT3 machinery. When Verstappen is allowed to push a car to its absolute mechanical limits without worrying about a battery recharge display, his true passion for motorsport instantly returns.
Formula 1 executives know they are on the verge of losing their biggest star to the world of endurance racing. However, a massive regulatory tweak might be the only thing keeping Verstappen from triggering his exit clauses.
Simon Lazenby revealed that the FIA is actively looking at adjusting the hated 50/50 power split for the 2027 season. “We hear there’s going to be tweaks by the way,” Lazenby stated. “It’s going to move more in terms of the combustion engine next year, 60/40 as opposed to… 50/50.” Lazenby explicitly noted that this specific rule change “could be a dictating factor to keep Max staying in Formula One.”
Beyond the rulebook, Red Bull is finally giving Verstappen a reason to care again. After a brutal start to the 2026 campaign, the brand-new Red Bull Powertrains division showed a massive surge in form during the recent Miami Grand Prix sprint weekend.
“What a turnaround now by Red Bull Powertrains,” Lazenby remarked, acknowledging their sudden ability to challenge at the front. Brundle echoed the praise, stating that the engine department has done “incredibly well from a standing start,” and boldly predicted that Verstappen will still win races this year in the RB22.
If Red Bull can continue to unlock raw pace, and the FIA actually delivers a combustion-heavy 60/40 engine tweak next season, Verstappen might finally start enjoying Formula 1 again. But until then, he is just clocking in to fund his real weekend racing adventures.
Amid her ongoing battle with FIFA, Mikie Sherrill has another bold sports play on her mind: Bring the Nets back across the Hudson River.
The Nets played in New Jersey from 1977 to 2012, before moving to Brooklyn. The team struggled to draw attendance while in the Garden State and played in multiple arenas, including Rutgers Athletic Center, the since-closed Izod Center, Prudential Center, and even the Teaneck Armory.
Since moving to Brooklyn the Nets have undergone a complete rebrand, switching its colors from red and blue to black and white. The team has not played a game in New Jersey, but did maintain a practice facility in East Rutherford until 2016 while a new one was built in Brooklyn.
But a team source told Front Office Sports that there’s been no conversations between Sherrill’s administration and team ownership at all, let alone about a move. “They’re perfectly happy in Brooklyn,” the source said.
The comments come after Sherrill, at a late April live chat about her first 100 days in office as governor, was asked if she was interested in bringing the Nets back to New Jersey. It turns out, the idea was already on her radar.
“I mean, would I support it? I ask about it all the time,” Sherrill said. “I love the idea. So, I have been pressing for that. I haven’t made a lot of headway yet; you know, maybe in my second 100 days.
“But I do think there is some work being done for some — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say too much about it — but some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”
Sherrill grew up in Virginia and launched her political career in New Jersey in 2017, years after the team had already moved. The Devils are the state’s lone professional sports team amid the major sports leagues and have been the primary tenant at the Prudential Center since the Nets left after the 2012 season.
The Nets were owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov amid their move to Brooklyn, but were sold to Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai in 2019 for $2.3 billion in a deal that included Barclays Center, the team’s arena. Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, which is Tsai’s umbrella company for the Nets and their Long Island G-League affiliate, the Liberty, and Barclays Center, is in the middle of a five-year, $140 million renovation to the arena.
The post NJ Gov Says She Wants Nets Back 14 Years After Move to Brooklyn appeared first on Front Office Sports.
MURFREESBORO — TSSAA baseball state championship games for Division I are in a weather delay as more storms continue to push through Middle Tennessee.
The Eagleville-Richland, Class 1A state championship game is currently in a delay with Eagleville holding a 5-3 lead after one complete inning.
Four state baseball titlie games were removed from their customary site at Middle Tennessee State in favor of four separate sites at high schools across Murfreesboro and all four games began at 11 a.m. (CT).
The TSSAA anticipated the recent weather trend that has made the 2026 spring state championships a challenge as storms have rearranged schedules from baseball, softball and boys soccer to the state track championships in Knoxville since competition began May 19.
TSSAA softball championship games have already been pushed to Saturday, May 23. If-necessary games are currently being played for Division I softball.
The Division II-AA championship between Chattanooga Christian and Baylor that is tied 3-3 in the fifth inning is currently in a delay. The DII-A title game was played May 21 as Tipton-Rosemark knocked off Boyd Buchanan, 3-1.
The TSSAA boys soccer championships in Class AAA began at 11 a.m. The Class A game will begin at 1:30 while the AA championship is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Here are the brackets and scores as they stand during the delay. This story will be updated when play resumes.
at Riverdale High School
Eagleville 5, Richland 3. Top of 2nd.
at Middle Tennessee Christian
Milan 1, White House Heritage 0. Bottom of 3rd
at Siegel High School
Greeneville 1, Crockett County 0. Bottom of 2nd
at Oakland High School
Houston 3, Farragut 2. Top of 2nd
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Weather delays TSSAA baseball state championships
MURFREESBORO — TSSAA baseball state championship games for Division I are in a weather delay as more storms continue to push through Middle Tennessee.
The Eagleville-Richland, Class 1A state championship game is currently in a delay with Eagleville holding a 5-3 lead after one complete inning.
Four state baseball titlie games were removed from their customary site at Middle Tennessee State in favor of four separate sites at high schools across Murfreesboro and all four games began at 11 a.m. (CT).
The TSSAA anticipated the recent weather trend that has made the 2026 spring state championships a challenge as storms have rearranged schedules from baseball, softball and boys soccer to the state track championships in Knoxville since competition began May 19.
TSSAA softball championship games have already been pushed to Saturday, May 23. If-necessary games are currently being played for Division I softball.
The Division II-AA championship between Chattanooga Christian and Baylor that is tied 3-3 in the fifth inning is currently in a delay. The DII-A title game was played May 21 as Tipton-Rosemark knocked off Boyd Buchanan, 3-1.
The TSSAA boys soccer championships in Class AAA began at 11 a.m. The Class A game will begin at 1:30 while the AA championship is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Here are the brackets and scores as they stand during the delay. This story will be updated when play resumes.
at Riverdale High School
Eagleville 5, Richland 3. Top of 2nd.
at Middle Tennessee Christian
Milan 1, White House Heritage 0. Bottom of 3rd
at Siegel High School
Greeneville 1, Crockett County 0. Bottom of 2nd
at Oakland High School
Houston 3, Farragut 2. Top of 2nd
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Weather delays TSSAA baseball state championships
Florida State is one of the four schools that 2027 three-star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough is choosing from. The others are the California Bears, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Washington Huskies.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder is set to begin his official visit schedule next week when he goes to Mississippi State on May 29. On June 5, he'll go to Tallahassee to visit FSU, and he recently told Rivals what makes the Seminoles one of his standout choices.
Florida State stands out for its tradition, elite coaching, and ability to develop players for the next level,” said Yarborough. “The environment and fan base there is different—it feels big-time every day. I can see myself growing on and off the field in that program and competing at a high level. I also like how consistent they are in competing for championships and being in big games. The standard there pushes players to stay locked in every day. I feel like being around that kind of culture would bring the best out of me and help me reach my full potential as a player and teammate.
When Yarborough arrives on Florida State's campus, it will be his second time there with his first coming back in March. He'll head to California on June 11 and then Washington on June 19.
Yarborough is the nation's No. 409 recruit and the No. 31 interior offensive lineman per Rivals' industry rankings. He's also the No. 9 prospect in the state of Arizona.
This certainly a battle that FSU needs to win. They landed up three-star quarterback Logan Flaherty on Tuesday, and the Seminoles need to keep the momentum going as they look to climb back up the rankings in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: DaJohn Yarborough praises Florida State
The Buffalo Bills' upcoming 2026 NFL season weighs most on one person, according to The Ringer.
The outlet released their latest NFL power rankings poll in the midst of the 2026 offseason. Overall, the Bills land at the No. 4 position.
Buffalo is the second-best ranked AFC team in The Ringer's mind, behind only the Denver Broncos in third. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams at the top lead this poll, respectively.
In placing the Bills at the fourth position, the outlet does not put the pressure on the likes of quarterback Josh Allen like many do. Instead, it's b
Joe Brady that does. Can Brady improve the Bills and take them to a place that Sean McDermott could not?
The Ringer's breakdown on the Bills' position can be found below:
No coach is under more pressure to prove himself than new Bills head coach Joe Brady, as he inherits a perennial contender and one of the three best quarterbacks in the league. The Bills also have one of the best offensive lines, and this team is basically guaranteed four wins because of the Jets’ and Dolphins’ rebuilding efforts in the division.
Brady, who was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Sean McDermott’s surprising firing in January, has two jobs this season: get more out of Buffalo’s receiving corps than McDermott did and make sure that new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme is on the cutting edge so this defense can perform at a high level in the playoffs. If this team takes a step back in 2026—especially on offense—Brady could end up on the hot seat after only a year
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Power rankings: Bills earn top-five position in new NFL poll
The New York Jets will enter the 2026 season with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback. They reunited with Smith this past offseason to serve as a temporary solution. Quarterback contracts around the league prove why the Jets need to eventually find their rookie solution.
The Los Angeles Rams signed Matthew Stafford to a one-year extension on Thursday worth $55 million. Stafford could earn $60 million via incentives, effectively making his current contract a two-year one worth $105 million.
As quarterback contracts continue to bloat around the league, finding a franchise rookie QB has become even more important.
There are now 12 quarterbacks in the league earning more than $50 million per year on an annual average basis. Meanwhile the Tennessee Titans will pay sophomore No. 1 overall pick Cameron Ward $12 million in 2026. The Las Vegas Raiders will pay Fernando Mendoza even less than that once he officially signs his rookie contract.
The Jets are currently slated to possess three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. The 2027 draft appears loaded at quarterback, with prospects like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Drew Mestemaker, and CJ Carr all eligible following the upcoming college football season. Some of the best teams in the NFL compete for Super Bowls while having franchise quarterbacks on affordable rookie contracts because of how you can spend aggressively elsewhere.
The Jets need to become one of those teams.
ESPN sources: reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams reached agreement today on a one-year, $55 million extension worth up to $60 million with incentives. Stafford now has two years and up to $105 million remaining on his deal with the Rams. pic.twitter.com/3lMmJMhk7R
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2026
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Matthew Stafford extension proves Jets need to find rookie QB solution
The high school boys track and field sectional meets are in the books.
Hamilton Southeastern, Brownsburg, Ben Davis, North Central, Center Grove, Lawrence North and Franklin Central claimed team sectional championships on Thursday. Here is a look at the top three in each event in the local sectional meets (the boys regional meets are set for Thursday with local schools feeding into meets at Lafayette Jeff, Plainfield and Greenfield-Central). This is not a complete list of those who advanced to the regional, just those who advanced by finishing in the top three:
Now healthy, Lawrence Central senior Evan Williams wins two sectional titles
Team results: Hamilton Southeastern 110, Carmel 106.25; Fishers 103; Westfield 94.25; Noblesville 78; Lebanon 45.25; Hamilton Heights 38; Guerin Catholic 27; Lapel 19.25; University 1.
4x800 relay: Westfield 7:56.30; Carmel 8:01.19; Fishers 8:03.32
110 hurdles: Logan Tuck, Westfield, 14.44; Sam Long, Hamilton Southeastern, 14.58; Daniel Richards, Lebanon, 14.63
100: Angel Wilson, Noblesville, 10.93; Cayden Gearhart, Westfield, 10.98; Maison McCray, Westfield, 10.99
1600: Banner Barnes, Noblesville, 4:17.70; Isaiah Vohs, Noblesville, 4:18.07; Luke Moulder, Westfield, 4:18.55
4x100: Westfield 41.12; Carmel 42.02; Fishers 42.02
400: Rocky Duplessis, Fishers, 48.97; Ryd Wallerstedt, Westfield, 49.88; Kallen Hoeft, Hamilton Southeastern, 50.19
300 hurdles: Daniel Richards, Lebanon, 38.16; Sam Long, Hamilton Southeastern, 38.28; Kortez Foster, Fishers, 40.44
800: Banner Barnes, Noblesville, 1:51.66; Omar Elsayed, Hamilton Southeastern, 1:54.14; Isaiah Vohs, Noblesville, 1:54.78
200: Vincent Rozzi, Fishers, 21.84; Francisco Luyindula, Lebanon, 21.95; Caleb Terril, Westfield, 22.01
3200: Lucas Bartlett, Carmel, 9:14.23; Jonah Kaul, Carmel, 9:19.78; Liam Powers, Hamilton Southeastern, 9:21.10
4x400 relay: Fishers 3:20.14; Westfield 3:21.51; Noblesville 3:24.90
High jump: Konrad Hayden, Fishers, 6-6; Tannon Monden, Lebanon, 6-4; Seffrin Smith, Guerin Catholic, 6-3
Pole vault: Weston Kopeck, Hamilton Southeastern, 13-6; Brady Lemieux, Westfield, 12-6; Lux Foster, Noblesville, 12-6
Long jump: Gabriel Davis, Carmel, 22-10.5; Alim Broadnax, Carmel, 22-5.5; Reed Hamilton, Lapel, 21-2
Discus: Will Duncan, Hamilton Heights, 173-0; Anthony Schmidt, Fishers, 161-4; Gavin Adkins, Carmel, 157-2
Shot put: Mason Cantwell, Fishers, 54-3.5; Will Duncan, Hamilton Heights, 53-10.25; KJ Mallett, Hamilton Southeastern, 51-8.5
Team results: Brownsburg 181, Avon 141; Zionsville 78; Plainfield 66; Danville 52; Mooresville 36; Cascade 28; Western Boone 19; Monrovia 14; Tri-West 9
4x800 relay: Avon 8:02.84; Brownsburg 8:06.37; Plainfield 8:15.11
110 hurdles: Joseph Jefferson, Zionsville, 14.33; John Adebayo, Avon, 14.54; Jaden Latham, Western Boone, 14.87
100: Blake Larrison, Plainfield, 10.58; Collin Bumgardner, Danville, 10.62; Jaxson Pierson, Brownsburg, 10.71
1600: Jackson Hoaglin, Brownsburg, 4:26.46; Ryan Evans, Plainfield, 4:28.29; Aedan Aspaas, Avon, 4:28.49
4x100: Brownsburg 41.02; Plainfield 42.59; Danville 43.05
400: Trew Holbrook, Brownsburg, 48.97; Carter Hurst, Brownsburg, 49.35; Samuel Nefouse, Zionsville, 50.50
300 hurdles: David Karonwi, Brownsburg, 38.62; Joseph Jefferson, Zionsville, 39.09; Jaden Latham, Western Boone, 39.64
800: Kellan Harless, Brownsburg, 1:56.06; Mitchell Ford, Avon, 1:56.29; Colten Smith, Monrovia, 1:58.46
200: Collin Bumgardner, Danville, 21.36; Kingston Thompson, Brownsburg, 21.64; Jordan Redmon, Brownsburg, 21.83
3200: Elroe Tafese, Avon, 9:32.52; Quinn Murray, Avon, 9:32.59; Elijah Balbach, Brownsburg, 9:34.76
4x400 relay: Brownsburg 3:21.42; Avon 3:27.55; Zionsville 3:29.39
High jump: David Fleming III, Zionsville, 6-4; Darasimi Adegbeyeni, Avon, 6-3; Ja’yon Davis, Brownsburg, 6-3; Sam Omodusonu, Brownsburg, 6-3
Pole vault: Nolan Wood, Plainfield, 14-3; Will Thompson, Cascade, 14-3; Bennett Allen, Avon, 13-6
Long jump: John Adebayo, Avon, 22-10.5; Greg Thompkins III, Brownsburg, 21-8.75; Alexander Crosby, Zionsville, 21-8.25
Discus: Kaleb Rasheed, Avon, 189-1; Landon Kinser, Danville, 180-5; Connor Thomas, Brownsburg, 170-6
Shot put: Kaleb Rasheed, Avon, 60-1.25; Wrigley Matthews, Plainfield, 53-11; Connor Thomas, Brownsburg, 52-5
Team results: Ben Davis 179; Pike 166; Decatur Central 76; Southport 64; Herron 40; Cardinal Ritter 36; Covenant Christian 28; Speedway 22; Crispus Attucks 11; Providence Cristo Rey 1
4x800 relay: Pike 8:11.85; Herron 8:14.26; Ben Davis 8:16.95
110 hurdles: Kiren Oliver, Pike, 14.10; Tynell Tyler, Southport, 14.55; Kelvin Rivera, Decatur Central, 15.10
100: Graham Adams, Ben Davis, 10.68; Titus Falk, Covenant Christian, 10.80; Enoch Obisesan, Ben Davis, 10.88
1600: Aboubakar Ibrahim, Ben Davis, 4:32.95; Francis Holohan, Pike, 4:34.87; Elliott Rader, Herron, 4:38.26
4x100: Ben Davis 42.64; Pike 43.69; Southport 43.80
400: Ryder Dazey, Pike, 49.47; Jahleel Lewis, Decatur Central, 49.65; Souleymana China, Ben Davis, 51.22
300 hurdles: Kiren Oliver, Pike, 38.37; Gbolahan Danko, Ben Davis, 40.31; Tynell Tyler, Southport, 41.18
800: Christopher Boyd, Pike, 1:57.95; Ellis Swain, Decatur Central, 1:58.01; Edgar Perez, Cardinal Ritter, 2:01.55
200: Graham Adams, Ben Davis, 21.93; Titus Falk, Covenant Christian, 22.09; Ryder Dazey, Pike, 22.21
3200: Francis Holohan, Pike, 9:56.95; Fthawi Shumai, Ben Davis, 9:59.97; Tesfaldet Hailu, Ben Davis, 10:02.81
4x400 relay: Ben Davis 3:23.96; Pike 3:24.19; Decatur Central 3:24.39
High jump: Mohamed Niang, Pike, 6-0; Souleymana China, Ben Davis, 6-0; Kaden Carr, Pike, 5-10
Pole vault: Mohamed Isa, Ben Davis, 12-0; Liam Wilson, Southport, 11-6; Jayden Woods, Cardinal Ritter, 11-6
Long jump: Kelvin Rivera, Decatur Central, 22-8.5; Kendrick Kiser, Speedway, 21-0; JaKobe Ryans, Pike, 20-9.5
Discus: Isaiah Manning, Ben Davis, 166-5; Ope Gbadegesin, Ben Davis, 162-7; Alexandros Poulakis, Southport, 151-9
Shot put: Ope Gbadegesin, Ben Davis, 48-8; Kaleb Ball, Decatur Central, 48-7.5; Isaiah Manning, Ben Davis, 48-3
Team results: Center Grove 189; Whiteland 90; Perry Meridian 89.5; Franklin 86; Indian Creek 38; Shelbyville 34; Greenwood 34; Triton Central 26; Waldron 17.5; Greenwood Christian 17; Southwestern (Shelbyville) 3.
4x800 relay: Center Grove 7:57.26; Whiteland 8:03.27; Franklin 8:11.63
110 hurdles: Caison Barber, Center Grove, 14.44; Eli Williams, Center Grove, 14.52; Tevian Faulkner, Triton Central, 15.67
100: Blake Matthews, Center Grove, 10.62; Carter Chitwood-Bedolla, Franklin, 10.71; Braden Brown, Triton Central, 11.23
1600: Will Cuskaden, Center Grove, 4:25.05; Gabe Sunga, Center Grove, 4:29.19; Nolan Edens, Whiteland, 4:29.55
4x100: Center Grove 43.49; Indian Creek 44.14; Perry Meridian 44.39
400: Uriah White, Perry Meridian, 49.32; Corbin Shafer, Franklin, 50.11; Ryke Meyer, Center Grove, 50.24
300 hurdles: Eli Williams, Center Grove, 40.80; Caison Barber, Center Grove, 41.09; Kellen Shaff, Franklin, 45.09
800: Jayden Salo, Center Grove, 1:56.03; Colton Watson, Whiteland, 1:56.76; Steven Mergl, Whiteland, 1:59.27
200: Blake Matthews, Center Grove, 21.95; Carter Chitwood-Bedolla, Franklin, 22.15; Grant Dalton, Indian Creek, 22.27
3200: Liam Fennig, Franklin, 9:31.56; Michael Leavitt, Center Grove, 9:40.60; Ethan Holbrook, Center Grove, 9:53.58
4x400 relay: Franklin 3:25.46; Perry Meridian 3:25.47; Center Grove 3:26.41
High jump: Riley New, Perry Meridian, 6-2; Justin Lucas, Whiteland, 6-2; Cooper Wienhorst, Franklin, 6-1
Pole vault: Patrick Dowty, Indian Creek, 10-6; John Ferris, Center Grove, 9-6; Merrick Knight, Perry Meridian, 9-0
Long jump: Jackson Schoch, Perry Meridian, 22-5; Ethan Moody, Waldron, 21-10; Trevon Darden, Perry Meridian, 21-9.75
Discus: Levi Jones, Center Grove, 172-1; Gus Ducote, Center Grove, 147-10; Andrew Vornheder, Greenwood, 145-11
Shot put: Evan Scudder, Whiteland, 51-9; Marshall Tidd, Center Grove, 47-9; Eli Madsen, Whiteland, 45-7.5
Team results: North Central 141.5; Lawrence Central 117; Bishop Chatard 107; Brebeuf Jesuit 79.5; Heritage Christian 39, Cathedral 32; Shortridge 20; Park Tudor 19; Tech 14.5; International 4; Purdue Poly 4; Indiana Math & Science 4; Purdue Poly-Broad Ripple 2
4x800 relay: North Central 8:02.66, Lawrence Central 8:36.65, Heritage Christian 8:44.76
110 hurdles: Evan Williams, Lawrence Central, 13.86, Greg Peterson-Lee, Lawrence Central, 15.11, Tate Chesebrough, Bishop Chatard, 15.12
100: Cameron Berry, Cathedral, 10.65, Edwin Watson, Brebeuf Jesuit, 10.88, Eric Anderson, North Central, 10.94
1600: Owen Pritchard, North Central, 4:33.94, Ollie Haug, Brebeuf Jesuit, 4:34.94, Dawson Pikus, North Central, 4:36.76
4x100 relay: Lawrence Central 42.07, North Central 42.07, Cathedral 42.14
400: Phoenix Boyer, Bishop Chatard, 48.86, Abriel Harris-Sproles, North Central, 50.37, Malachi Lesnet, Brebeuf Jesuit, 51.12
300 hurdles: Tanner Sparks, Bishop Chatard, 40.75, Braylon Stallings, North Central, 41.82, Tate Bushong, Cathedral, 41.92
800: Zach Gantz, Bishop Chatard, 1:53.11, Bryson Jones, Lawrence Central, 1:59.93, Willem Hobson, Heritage Christian, 2:00.06
200: Evan Williams, Lawrence Central, 21.54, Garland Davenport, North Central, 22.41, Ethan Braden, North Central, 22.47
3200: Keegan Terry, North Central, 9:35.84, Owen Pritchard, North Central, 9:45.90, Damian Cain, Bishop Chatard, 9:58.65
4x400 relay: Bishop Chatard 3:20.37, North Central 3:26.64, Cathedral 3:29.07
High jump: Christian Brown, North Central, 6-2, LaRon Suggs, Shortridge, 6-0, Alexander Do, Lawrence Central, 6-0
Pole vault: Cohen Betz, Bishop Chatard, 12-0, Jack Duffer, Brebeuf Jesuit, 12-0, Max Whitfield, North Central, 11-6
Long jump: Cam Harden, Bishop Chatard, 23-1, Jeremiah Gillispie, North Central, 22-1.25, Cameron Kelley, Brebeuf Jesuit, 21-7.75
Discus: Mark Gates, Heritage Christian, 154-2, Javon Grandberry, Lawrence Central, 142-1, Jaden McClendon, Bishop Chatard, 138-4
Shot put: Seun Morakinya, Lawrence Central, 47-4, Oliver Coicou, Bishop Chatard, 46-6, Ko’ Moni Ford, Lawrence Central, 46-6
Team results: Lawrence North 176; Mt. Vernon 129; Anderson 71.5; Pendleton Heights 67; Blue River Valley 39; New Castle 36; Eastern Hancock 30.5; Shenandoah 28; Knightstown 21; Daleville 15; Anderson Prep 6
4x800 relay: Mt. Vernon 8:07.30; Lawrence North 8:11.62; Anderson 8:44.31
110 hurdles: Noah Virt, Mt. Vernon, 14.66; Brayden Swoveland, Blue River Valley, 14.95; Ethan Abdularheem, Lawrence North, 15.01
100: Zarion McMillian, Anderson, 10.81; Izayveon Moore, Lawrence North, 10.96; Keivon Mattox, Lawrence North, 11.03
1600: Conrad Schumacher, Lawrence North, 4:23.78; Connor Weflen, Pendleton Heights, 4:26.52; Xavier Little, Lawrence North, 4:26.85
4x100: Anderson 43.02; Lawrence North 43.73; Eastern Hancock 45.27
400: Xavier Wilson, Lawrence North, 49.43, Sebastian Sprague, Mt. Vernon, 50.08; Joel Weaver, Pendleton Heights, 50.94
300 hurdles: Noah Virt, Mt. Vernon, 39.54; Breck Mallory, Lawrence North, 40.28; Brayden Swoveland, Blue River Valley, 40.46
800: Caden Cassada, Mt. Vernon, 1:54.97; Cooper Hunziker, Mt. Vernon, 1:59.28; Ryder Engelhardt, Pendleton Heights, 1:59.89
200: Zarion McMillian, Anderson, 22.06; Xavier Wilson, Lawrence North, 22.42; Darin Reynolds, New Castle, 22.86
3200: Conrad Schumacher, Lawrence North, 9:31.03; Benson Davis, Pendleton Heights, 9:41.39; Tyler Lenze, Lawrence North, 9:56.43
4x400 relay: Mt. Vernon 3:24.30; Lawrence North 3:25.39; Pendleton Heights 3:33.73
High jump: Lucas Eaton, New Castle, 6-9; Brayden Swoveland, Blue River Valley, 6-5; Quorban Donald, Lawrence North, 6-2; Blake Smith, Lawrence North, 6-2
Pole vault: Randall Glenn, Lawrence North, 13-6; Caleb Ashley, Mt. Vernon, 11-6; Owen Barrett, New Castle, 11-6
Long jump: Quentin Collier, Anderson, 22-1.75; Breck Mallory, Lawrence North, 21-11.5; Owen Kean, Pendleton Heights, 21-5.5
Discus: Breck Mallory, Lawrence North, 164-11; Luke Manship, Eastern Hancock, 161-11; Will Davis, Knightstown, 141-6
Shot put: Luke Manship, Eastern Hancock, 48-9; Breck Mallory, Lawrence North, 48-2.5; Andre Watson, Lawrence North, 46-4
Team results: Franklin Central 170; Greenfield-Central 130; Roncalli 98; Warren Central 93; New Palestine 80; Beech Grove 30; Lutheran 7; Scecina 1
4x800 relay: Franklin Central 7:58.38; Greenfield-Central 8:22.31; Roncalli 8:29.63
110 hurdles: Rylan Hainje, Franklin Central, 13.52; RaShaud Alexander, Warren Central, 14.92; Paxton Holmes, New Palestine, 15.78
100: Kamere James, Warren Central, 10.71; Brayden Jake, Warren Central, 11.04; Dylan Keck, Franklin Central, 11.09
1600: Braylon Mumaugh, Greenfield-Central, 4:21.65; Mike Bauer, New Palestine, 4:23.73; Julius Lucero, Franklin Central, 4:33.13
4x100: Warren Central 41.55; Franklin Central 41.74; New Palestine 43.61
400: Braylon Payne, Beech Grove, 48.82; Garrett Jack, Greenfield-Central, 49.78; Braden Carman, Franklin Central, 49.80
300 hurdles: Rylan Hainje, Franklin Central, 36.98; Everett Bishop, Greenfield-Central, 39.89; Will Bardonner, New Palestine, 41.13
800: Braylon Mumaugh, Greenfield-Central 1:55.22; Andrew Wright, Franklin Central, 1:58.76; Cooper Trout, Franklin Central, 2:00.43
200: Dylan Keck, Franklin Central, 22.12; Alex Beard, Roncalli, 22.22; Braydon Russell, Warren Central, 22.54
3200: Mike Bauer, New Palestine, 9:45.87; Bryce Cotterman, Greenfield-Central, 9:53.39; Jason Decker, 9:57.58
4x400 relay: Franklin Central, 3:17.03; Greenfield-Central, 3:24.13; Roncalli, 3:24.92
High jump: Maximus Lindsey, Franklin Central, 6-0; O’Ryon Draine, Franklin Central, 5-10; Adreus Armstrong, Beech Grove, 5-8
Pole vault: Liam Taylor, Greenfield-Central, 12-6; Jonathan Tejada, Franklin Central, 12-6; Will Parker, Greenfield-Central, 11-6
Long jump: Brayden Jake, Warren Central, 21-7; Isaiah Holmes, Franklin Central, 20-10.25; Zane Smith, New Palestine, 19-9
Discus: Von Quigley, Greenfield-Central, 167-6; Jake Irwin, 146-10; T.J. Michalak, Roncalli, 142-6
Shot put: Dominic Nelson, Roncalli, 51-4.5; Von Quigley, Greenfield-Central, 51-1; Elzea Rollins, Warren Central, 49-11
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: See who advanced out of Central Indiana high school boys track sectional meets
The Texas A&M Aggies have made another addition to their top-ranked recruiting class, receiving a commitment from three-star tight end Holden Niemi on Friday, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.
Niemi is from Dexter, Michigan, and had over 20 scholarship offers from programs across the country, including the Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Georgia Bulldogs. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder was offered a scholarship by Texas A&M in January, shortly after they hired Derek Shay as their new tight ends coach.
He is ranked as the No. 850 overall player and No. 44 tight end in the Rivals industry ranking. He is also the No. 14 player from Michigan.
Niemi is Texas A&M's 15th commitment in the 2027 recruiting cycle, with a third of them being ranked as five-star prospects. While the group is loaded with talent, Niemi is just the second offensive skill player to commit to the Aggies, joining four-star wide receiver Jaden Upshaw.
With five-star offensive linemen Kennedy Brown and Mark Matthews, safety Kamarui Dorsey, cornerback Raylaun Henry, and edge Zyron Forstall already in the fold, they can now look to adding more playmakers to surround four-star quarterback commit Jayce Johnson.
Locked in🔒!! Go Aggies!! https://t.co/6M2AQGmVLU
— Holden Niemi (@NiemiHolden) May 22, 2026
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football lands commitment from three-star TE Holden Niemi
Rays vs Yankees prediction markets for Friday night AL East showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Friday night is set for a blockbuster American League East showdown as the Tampa Bay Rays bring a stellar 33-15 record and a massive .688 winning percentage into the Bronx to face off against the New York Yankees, who are putting together a formidable campaign of their own at 30-21. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET under the lights at Yankee Stadium. Before the action gets underway, follow these Rays vs Yankees prediction markets to trade on this Friday night matchup in New York.
New customers can register with the Polymarket promo code TSNEWS to claim a fantastic welcome offer to deposit $20 and get a $50 bonus.
This matchup features plenty of star power for fans and prediction market traders to monitor. New York boasts a potent lineup with heavy hitters like Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. They will, however, be navigating the absence of Giancarlo Stanton, who currently sits on the injured list. On the other side, Tampa Bay counters with exciting bats like Cedric Mullins and Junior Caminero, hoping to continue their phenomenal start to the regular season.
On the mound, Nick Martinez is the probable starting pitcher for the Rays. A critical storyline for traders keeping an eye on pre-game roster moves is that the Yankees have ace Gerrit Cole listed as their probable starter despite him currently residing on the injured list.
The prediction market clearly favors New York at 59%, signaling confidence in the home club despite both teams boasting excellent overall records. Market participants are likely weighing superior pitching metrics and home-field advantage at Yankee Stadium when taking positions on this matchup.
Analyzing the statistics reveals why the market leans toward New York. The pitching staff possesses a sturdy 3.31 team ERA, backed by a potent offense that has driven in 237 runs with 165 extra-base hits and a .752 team OPS. Tampa Bay presents a different offensive challenge. While the lineup sports a higher .261 team batting average compared to a .233 mark for New York, they rely more heavily on contact than power. They have tallied 218 runs batted in and 118 extra-base hits. On the mound, the pitching staff for Tampa Bay holds a respectable 3.57 overall ERA, but defensive metrics slightly favor New York. The fielders in the Bronx hold a .987 fielding percentage with 25 errors, compared to a .981 fielding percentage and 32 errors for Tampa Bay.
Traders must also closely monitor the injured list as both rosters navigate significant setbacks. New York is missing critical figures, including starting pitcher Max Fried and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. Meanwhile, depth for Tampa Bay is equally tested. Designated hitter Yandy Diaz is dealing with a hand injury, outfielder Gavin Lux is sidelined, and starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot remains out following hip surgery.
Both squads enter this contest with contrasting recent form. In their last outing, New York suffered a narrow 2-0 shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays. They struggled offensively with just three hits despite an error-free defensive showing. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has been on a tear since dropping a 5-3 extra-inning affair to Toronto, winning five of their last six games. That red-hot stretch only further validates the dominant 33-15 record the Rays carry into this matchup. Market traders should factor in Tampa Bay's recent surge when evaluating whether a contact-heavy lineup can overcome the 42% implied probability on the road against a formidable pitching staff in New York.
When evaluating this American League East clash on prediction platforms, the market is currently leaning heavily toward the home team by giving New York a 59% probability of victory. There is, however, substantial value in taking a position on Tampa Bay at their 42% market price.
The primary catalyst for backing Tampa Bay is the sensational form of their probable starting pitcher, Nick Martinez. Through 53.2 innings pitched this season, Martinez has been incredibly effective. He has posted a minuscule 1.509 ERA alongside a stellar 1.043 WHIP. While his strikeout rate of 5.87 per nine innings is not particularly overpowering, his elite run-prevention metrics provide a highly reliable foundation to quiet the bats of New York. Paired with a squad that has already amassed a dominant 33-15 overall record, securing a position on the road underdogs offers immense upside for traders.
That said, status as the market favorite for New York is definitely not without merit, and traders must acknowledge the potential risks. New York deploys one of the most formidable pitching staffs in Major League Baseball. As a collective unit, they boast a pristine 3.31 team ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, complemented by an impressive 8.95 strikeouts per nine innings. By comparison, the staff for Tampa Bay holds a slightly higher 3.59 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while generating a lower 7.82 strikeout rate per nine innings. If the arms for New York can successfully stifle a contact-oriented offense, home-field advantage at Yankee Stadium could easily dictate the outcome of this contest.
Despite the overarching team pitching superiority for New York, the specific form of the starting rotation for Tampa Bay tips the scales toward the visitors. The proven ability of Martinez to limit damage gives Tampa Bay a distinct edge in the early innings. With Tampa Bay playing superb baseball and the prediction market offering an appealing entry point on a 33-win juggernaut, the data suggests the visitors are well-positioned to orchestrate a road victory.
Pick/Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Mike McCarthy was hired to do more than steady the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was hired to fix the problem that has been hindering the team and frustrating Steelers fans for years.
Pittsburgh has not had an offensive-minded head coach since the Chuck Noll era, and the lack of consistent scoring and explosive plays became one of the defining complaints of Mike Tomlin’s tenure. The Steelers had strong defensive identities, physical teams, and playoff expectations, but the offense too often felt stuck in the past.
That is why Steelers insider Gerry Dulac believes it is fair to expect real improvement under McCarthy.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to argue that it’s right to expect something better, something more productive because you’re talking about a guy who not only is a proven head coach, he’s a proven play caller,” Dulac said on the May 21 episode of “The Rich Eisen Show.”
That comment came after Rich Eisen brought up Pittsburgh’s offensive decline since Bruce Arians left. Arians served as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011, a stretch that included two Super Bowl appearances and wins in Super Bowls 40 and 43.
Arians also had Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell at his disposal, so the circumstances were different. But the larger point remains: Pittsburgh has spent years under an old-school offensive approach that repeatedly failed to strike fear into defenses. The offense was consistently called out as predictable by opponents, yet nothing was ever done to remedy it.
McCarthy now gives the Steelers a head coach with a long track record of calling plays. He has done it across 16 seasons as an NFL head coach, including a dozen with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and two more with Dak Prescott in Dallas.
Brian Angelichio will coordinate the offense, and his history with McCarthy in Green Bay gives the staff some built-in familiarity. But McCarthy calling plays is the real shift.
For Steelers fans tired of stale, conservative football, Pittsburgh doesn’t need the offense to be slightly better -- it needs to become a unit that can finally help lead the team instead of holding it back.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Mike McCarthy gives Steelers offense reason for optimism
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, a winner at Michigan International Speedway and one the sport's best drivers died on Thursday, May 22, according to a news release from NASCAR.
Busch’s death at 41, which was announced by the Busch family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, was a blow to the motorsport's community.
The NASCAR legend was hospitalized earlier in the week with what the motorsport series and his family called a "severe illness." He did not recover, USA TODAY reported.
Kyle Busch's cause of death is not immediately known. He was preparing to race in the the Coca-Cola 600, which is on Sunday, May 24.
“On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch," NASCAR said in a news release.
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.
Busch was in his 22nd full-time season this year. He won two Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019, and 63 total races. He is among the top 10 drivers on the circuit’s all-time win list at No. 9.
Among those wins is one at Michigan's International Speedway, where he stole the lead from Jimmie Johnson on Lap 188 (out of 203) in the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 21, 2011. It was Busch's 23rd win of his career.
The FireKeepers Casino 400 returns to Michigan International Speedway on June 7.
Busch raced 37 times at MIS over the years, starting in 2005. He finished all but five races. In addition to his win, he had a second-place finish and a pair of thirds.
Additionally, Busch competed in the Kalamazoo Klash at the Kalamazoo Speedway in 2017.
“On that memorable night at the Kalamazoo Klash, Kyle went above and beyond, taking the time to connect, visit and share his passion with all of our local racing fans. He left an indelible mark on our track and our community,” Kalamazoo Speedway wrote on in a post on Facebook.
— USA TODAY contributed
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41. How many times did he win in Michigan
Chilling new details have emerged about the medical emergency Kyle Busch experienced in the hours before his shocking death at 41 years old.
911 audio obtained by TMZ and published on Friday, May 22, captures a frantic call placed around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, from a training facility in Concord, North Carolina. A caller is heard requesting an ambulance, telling dispatch, “I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
Per the outlet, the caller confirmed multiple times that Busch was still conscious, urgently repeating, “He is awake. He’s awake. He’s awake.” According to TMZ, Busch was lying on a bathroom floor inside the complex as employees prepared for paramedics to arrive. The caller also reportedly asked responding crews to turn off their sirens while approaching the building and indicated he would meet them at a side entrance.
As In Touch previously reported, the NASCAR star had been using a Chevrolet racing simulator at the facility when he lost consciousness and was transported to a Charlotte-area hospital. His family released a statement the following day revealing he had been hospitalized with a “severe illness” and would not compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that weekend. Just hours after that announcement, his death was confirmed.
The alarming 911 call also comes on the heels of reports that Busch had sought medical assistance less than two weeks earlier during a race weekend at Watkins Glen, where he had reportedly been battling a severe sinus-related illness, per TMZ.
Busch is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4.
This story Kyle Busch Was Found on Bathroom Floor Coughing Up Blood Before His Death, Audio Shows first appeared on InTouch Weekly. Add InTouch Weekly as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hartlepool United have agreed a new one-year deal with forward Luke Charman, with the club having the option of a further 12 months until the summer of 2028.
Charman, 28, has scored seven goals in 66 games for Pools since joining from Fylde in 2024.
He is the first player tied to a new deal under Hartlepool's new head coach Lee Clark.
Hope College tennis coach Austin Hunt has stepped down from his position.
The school announced he stepped down to "pursue other professional opportunities."
"I'd like to thank Tim Schoonveld for the opportunity to lead the men's & women's tennis programs over the past five years," Hunt said. "I feel very strongly that we've both elevated the programs to new heights and set a strong trajectory for the future of the programs through the work both our coaching staff and student-athletes have put in over the years. I will absolutely have amazing memories of my time at Hope College and leading the tennis teams. To my players, past and present, thank you so much for the work you put into these programs and for working so hard to make Hope College Tennis as special as it is."
More: USTA to host seventh annual wheelchair tennis camp at Hope College
Hunt has led Hope Tennis since the 2021-22 season, guiding the women's team to an 88-36 overall dual match record and the men's team to a 47-55 mark.
He helped the women extend their MIAA Tournament title reign to 14 seasons, a league record, and claim four of five MIAA regular-season championships. He was named the MIAA Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2025 and 2026.
The men's team finished runner-up in the MIAA Tournament four times.
"We are grateful for Austin's investment in our tennis program and the impact he has had during his time at Hope," said Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld. "We appreciate his hard work and commitment to the college and wish him the very best as he takes a new step in his career."
A national search for Hope College's next head tennis coach will begin immediately, Schoonveld said.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope College tennis coach Austin Hunt steps down
When Celtic and Dunfermline go head-to-head in Saturday's Scottish Cup final, both teams will be aiming to cap a remarkable season.
Championship Dunfermline are trying to end a 58-year wait to lift this trophy, while also claiming a fourth top-flight scalp along the way under former Celtic player and manager Neil Lennon.
Meanwhile, Celtic are aiming for an unlikely double in a season of ups and downs after Martin O'Neill masterminded yet another Scottish Premiership title last weekend.
O'Neill has taken interim charge twice this season after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, but remains coy as to whether Saturday will be his final match in charge.
Celtic - beaten finalists last season - started this campaign with a 2-0 win over sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot, thanks to goals from Johnny Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti.
They were then drawn against Dundee in the fifth round and were moments away from elimination after Ethan Hamilton's superb strike gave the visitors the lead. However, Junior Adamu scored a 97th-minute equaliser on his debut to force extra time before Tounekti won it.
Celtic were again made to dig deep in the quarter-final as they needed penalties to beat rivals Rangers at Ibrox.
O'Neill's side had just one shot in 120 minutes, but won the shootout 4-2 to make it to Hampden.
And there was more drama in the semi-final as St Mirren's Mikael Mandron made it 2-2 late on to take it to extra time. Celtic's quality shone through though as four goals in six minutes blew the Paisley side away.
Dunfermline meanwhile started with a 2-1 win over Queen of the South thanks to a Chris Kane double.
They then secured the first of three victories against top-flight opposition as an own-goal from Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa proved the difference.
Kelty Hearts were dispatched 2-0 in the fifth round, before Matty Todd's early strike and a double from Olly Thomas earned a superb 3-0 win over Aberdeen.
That booked their place at Hampden, where they beat Falkirk 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
These two managers know each other incredibly well.
O'Neill signed Lennon for Leicester City - winning the League Cup twice - before bringing him to Celtic in December 2000.
Lennon won seven major honours under O'Neill at Parkhead in a trophy-laden spell as a player, before following in his former boss' footsteps, himself becoming manager in 2010.
Across two spells, Lennon won 10 trophies as Celtic boss. After lifting the Premiership trophy last weekend, O'Neill now has eight to his name.
Lennon has proved his managerial nous plenty of times already this season, but he must down his mentor if he is to make history with Dunfermline.
Celtic have won this competition 42 times, more than any other club, but were beaten in last year's final by Aberdeen.
Their most recent triumph came in 2024 as Adam Idah's late goal helped Brendan Rodgers' side beat Rangers.
Dunfermline have been waiting considerably longer to taste Scottish Cup success.
Their most recent final appearance was in 2007, when they lost 1-0 to Celtic, while they have won the cup twice, in 1961 and 1968.
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill: "Not only did [Neil Lennon] do brilliantly as a player, but he did fabulously as a manager, his record is quite extraordinary.
"I think, yes, there's no question [he is a dangerous manager to face].
"His run this year in the cup has been terrific, knocking out three top-flight teams as well along the way.
"I know he mentioned that the game against Falkirk was a bit attritional in the semi-final, but they found a way to win, stayed through it until they got through on penalty kicks."
Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon: "It's not a day out for us.
"I've seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O'Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he'd have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble.
"I wouldn't dismiss us. We're the underdogs, but underdogs bite.
"We will come - I wouldn't say brimming full of confidence - but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here. We're under no illusions as to how difficult that's going to be."
In the 40-year history of the play-offs, never has the pre-match talk before a final been so overshadowed by a team who are not involved in the match.
Tuesday brought the news that Southampton had been expelled from the Championship play-offs for spying on opponents, with their place in the final against Hull City instead taken by Middlesbrough, who they had beaten in the semis.
Since then Saints have appealed unsuccessfully against the decision, with an independent commission ruling their boss Tonda Eckert had "specifically authorised the observations".
There is likely to be more fallout in the coming weeks but, in the meantime, it will be one of Hull or Middlesbrough who will be celebrating promotion to the Premier League on Saturday evening.
BBC Sport takes a look at the two teams who will be contesting the '£200m game' at Wembley (15:30 BST).
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic did not hold back when asked about his feelings on where the furore surrounding Southampton's activities left his own side.
"We can say everything is unfair in this last two weeks. You don't know what's going on," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"We are collateral damage because we are waiting on [an] opponent and you don't know what's going on, what's happening."
The Tigers, who beat third-placed Millwall to secure their place in the play-off final last Monday, have been the division's surprise package this season.
The East Yorkshire side survived relegation to League One on goal difference last May before appointing former Bosnia international Jakirovic as their new boss.
They were then hit with a three-window transfer embargo, which was later reduced to two after a successful appeal, and few had them down as promotion contenders.
However, they confounded those expectations and spent the vast majority of the season in the top six.
The Tigers were still in automatic contention at the end of March only for a six-game stretch in April to leave them seventh going into the final day.
Victory at home over Norwich City and Boro's draw at Wrexham meant they climbed back into the play-off spots when it mattered most and they overcame the Lions, who had finished three places and 10 points above them, to reach Wembley.
Hull, who are looking for a third win in their third Championship play-off final, will be without forward Kyle Joseph with an injury picked up in the win at Millwall.
Middlesbrough's presence at Wembley comes at the end of their own dramatic, rollercoaster season for which nobody could have written the script.
They appointed a new boss last summer in Rob Edwards, who made a great start on the pitch and behind the scenes. But when a job came up at struggling Wolves in the Premier League, Edwards scarpered to the club where he spent four years as player, just three months into his first season on Teesside and much to the displeasure of Boro fans.
In came unknown Swede Kim Hellberg, and the humble ex-teacher steered Boro to the top of the Championship by February on the back of six straight wins with eye-catching football.
But despite holding a position in the top two for 35 of the 46 match-days, Boro were undone by a loss of form and loss of key players in the run-in as they stumbled home in fifth.
That set up the play-off semi-final with in-form Southampton, who had not lost in the league since a 2-1 home defeat by Hull on 17 January.
Their preparation was infamously interrupted by finding a member of Saints' backroom team at their training ground two days before the first leg and 'Spygate' was born.
Now just over a fortnight later, having lost 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the semi-finals before being reinstated, they find themselves one game away from a Premier League return after nine years away.
Influential skipper Hayden Hackney is back after 10 games out with a groin injury, but Scotland forward Tommy Conway has been ruled out of the game - and the World Cup - with an ankle injury.
OXFORD — Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian clarified his "basket weaving" comments around Ole Miss' academic standards.
Sarkisian shared his thoughts on "inequitable" transfer standards in college football May 12. He used Ole Miss as an example, saying it made it easier for the Rebels to recruit players because all they need is to take one "basket weaving class" to get a degree. At Texas they need to take 60 credit hours to get a UT degree.
Sarkisian clarified those comments in a press conference May 21 at the Touchdown Club, the Houston chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Sarkisian coached with former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and current Ole Miss coach Pete Golding in his career.
"The only reason the Ole Miss thing came up is because two of my best friends were there, in Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding," Sarkisian said. "And so I know, when we would compete with them, that they were able to take kids and they would be able to graduate. I probably shouldn't have used basket weaving as my example for the class. Macroeconomics. I don't give a damn. Whatever the class is. Yoga. We have yoga at UT. The class part of it was irrelevant."
Sarkisian said he apologized if he offended anyone at Ole Miss.
"Ole Miss is a fine institution," Sarkisian said. "They have great degrees there."
Sarkisian said his broader point is that college football is not the NFL, where there is a standardized set of rules for all teams to follow. Colleges operate under different state laws and school policies. He pointed out other areas where non-uniformity can impact the game, like in local judicial decisions in eligibility disputes.
"We're not governed by one thing," Sarkisian said. "That's one of the major issues, and why we're striving so hard for federal intervention that we're struggling so hard to get. So we can police these things that we have in place."
Ole Miss football plays at Texas on Oct. 24.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Steve Sarkisian apologizes to Ole Miss football over basket weaving dig
Editor's note: Read the latest updates on NASCAR star Kyle Busch's death here.
Kyle Busch was coughing up blood when emergency responders were called to a General Motors facility in Concord, N.C., the day before the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died, according to the 911 call obtained by USA Today.
In the call, a man tells a dispatcher that Busch was on the bathroom floor, awake, but in distress. He said Busch was coughing up blood, short of breath and very hot. The caller asked that emergency responders turn off their sirens on arrival.
“I’ve got an individual that’s (experiencing) shortness of breath, very hot and thinks he’s going to pass out and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller told the dispatcher.
The caller identified the location as the General Motors Charlotte Technical Center off Speedway Boulevard in Concord, describing it as being next to Hendrick Motorsports. The Associated Press previously reported, citing people familiar with the situation, that Busch had become unresponsive while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on May 20.
Busch was transported to a hospital in Charlotte. His family posted a statement to his X account the following morning May 21, saying he had been hospitalized with a severe illness and would not compete that weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
That evening, NASCAR announced his death. He was 41. No cause of death has been released.
The 911 call adds new detail to what had been an increasingly alarming picture of Busch’s health in his final weeks. On May 10, during a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, Busch radioed his crew near the end of the race asking for team physician Dr. Bill Heisel to meet him at the bus afterward. He wanted a shot. The FS1 broadcast noted he had been battling a sinus cold all week. He finished eighth in the race.
A week later, at Dover, after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ECOSAVE 200 on May 15, his 69th career Truck Series win, Busch addressed his cold on video. “I’m still not great,” he said. “The cough was pretty substantial last week.”
He ran the All-Star Race at Dover on May 17 and finished 17th. It was the last race he ever started.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 911 call reveals Kyle Busch was coughing up blood before his death
The Diamondbacks’ series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night, May 21, drew an announced crowd of just 14,761. It was the smallest crowd since 2023 for a team that has seen a steep drop-off in its attendance figures compared to the first 25 games of last year.
That said, team officials believe the numbers aren’t as bad as they look, making a convincing case that a comparison against the start of last year is not an apples-to-apples assessment.
Through 25 games this year, the Diamondbacks have drawn 667,422. They were at 817,703 at this point last year. The difference of 150,281, an average of 6,011 per game, is the largest drop-off in the majors this season, according to data compiled by Baseball-Reference.com.
But team officials offer what seem like reasonable explanations for the decline.
They note that at this point last year, the Diamondbacks had played parts of five series at home on weekends, which draw far better than weekday series. So far this year, they have played only four.
One of those four was a two-game set in Mexico City in April, games that count as “home” contests since the club agreed to give up the home dates to facilitate the series. Those games, against the San Diego Padres, were played in front of crowds of around 19,600. Weekend Padres games at Chase Field have drawn an average of 37,890 fans the previous two years.
“Had we played those games here at Chase Field, we would have totaled at least 50,000 more and been in line with the last few years,” Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall wrote in a text message.
Moreover, the Diamondbacks last year hosted the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, two teams that traditionally draw big crowds. Neither of those clubs has come to town yet this season.
While the May 21 crowd was small, team officials say the crowds for the final three games of the Rockies series are expected to be in excess of 30,000 each.
“We are right on pace with our projections,” Hall said, adding that they are expecting roughly the same full-season attendance figure as last year.
The Diamondbacks’ per-game attendance of 26,967 ranks 17th among baseball’s 30 teams. Last year’s 32,708 average ranked 10th.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks say Chase Field attendance drop is no concern
The Hickory Motor Speedway held a moment of silence for Kyle Busch and his family after the two-time NASCAR champion’s sudden death Thursday.
The track confirmed Busch and his son, Braxton, were supposed to race each other there Thursday. Hours before Busch’s death, his son was in Hickory for a practice session.
The Hickory Motor Speedway is more than 70 years old. Fans say Busch has raced at the track several times over the years and had practiced with his son there within the last week.
At the race track Friday morning, Channel 9’s Dave Faherty could still see Busch’s hauler used to transport their cars.
Other drivers and families at the track are mourning the loss.
“It hit really hard, and you could tell just the atmosphere in the race track was very, very low,” one fan said. “Nobody really knew what to do.”
The track is offering its condolences and prayers to Kyle Busch and his family.
While Busch was best known for his NASCAR championships, he also had quite the short track career. Tune in to Eyewitness News at 5:30 p.m. for more.
Kyle Busch’s unexpected death this week is just another tragedy added to a long list of heartbreaking moments that have haunted NASCAR for decades — and even more so in the last six months.
The latest deaths have led to “many claiming that the sport is ‘cursed,'” according to an article on the Daily Mail on Friday, May 22.
Drivers Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki died in separate plane crashes in 1993. Seven years later, Adam Petty, the grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty, died in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway at 19 years old. The following year, racing icon Dale Earnhardt died during the 2001 Daytona 500 in the last lap.
The past six months alone have seen at least two horrifying incidents involving NASCAR drivers and their families. As Globe previously reported in December, Greg Biffle, along with his wife Christina, and his two children Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5, died in a plane crash that killed everyone on board.
Biffle’s friend Garrett Mitchell announced the news on Facebook.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Christina Grossu, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane…because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,” Mitchell wrote at the time. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Ten days later on December 28, a house fire took the life of driver Denny Hamlin‘s father, Dennis. Denny’s mom, Mary Lou, managed to pull Dennis from the house, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Denny owned the Stanley, North Carolina, home, and investigators never determined a cause of the fire.
Busch’s death is the most recent tragedy surrounding the sport. Hours before he died, Busch’s family released a statement saying that he would be canceling his appearance in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. They shared that he had come down with a “severe illness” and was hospitalized on Wednesday, May 20.
The statement didn’t reveal specifics about his ailment, but the following day, they announced Busch had died at just 41 years old.
This story Is NASCAR Cursed? Kyle Busch’s Death Most Recent Tragedy to Haunt the Sport first appeared on Globe. Add Globe as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jens Berthel Askou captured the hearts of Motherwell supporters during a whirlwind 11-month tenure.
The Dane has departed for Toulouse after implementing a slick and eye-catching possession-based style that swept the Steelmen to a fourth-place Scottish Premiership finish and European football for the first time in four years.
Motherwell finished the season on 61 points - their fourth-highest tally since three points for a win was introduced in 1994.
To get there, they scored 59 goals (the fourth most in the division) and conceded 36 - the second fewest in the Premiership and also the least Motherwell have shipped in a top-flight season since 1932.
Their 18 clean sheets was the most of any side in the league while their nine defeats were the fewest by a Motherwell team in a top-flight season since 1959.
And goalkeeper Calum Ward set a new club record of 20 clean sheets across all competitions.
Askou's side scored seven league goals from fast breaks, the joint most in the division, and had the third-highest possession with 57.97%. Their expected goals (xG) was the fourth highest (56.09) while their expected goals against was the fifth lowest (47.17).
Askou leaves with a win ratio of 46.8% and a points per game of 1.61 with an average goals scored per game of 1.51.
Thunder vs Spurs prediction markets guide for Game 3 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The stakes are massive as the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with the series tied 1-1. The Spurs took Game 1 in an overtime classic before the Thunder responded with an impressive victory in Game 2. Before the action gets underway this evening, follow this Thunder vs Spurs prediction markets guide for Game 3 to trade on the NBA Playoffs.
Sign up with the Polymarket promo code TSNEWS to skip the US waitlist and get a welcome offer to deposit $20 and unlock a $50 bonus.
The Spurs closed out the Minnesota Timberwolves with a decisive 126-97 win, where Victor Wembanyama led the charge with 27 points. Meanwhile, the Thunder eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers with a tight 115-110 victory, propelled by a 35-point masterclass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both elite superstars have been spectacular through the first two games of this series, with Wembanyama averaging 31 points and 20.5 rebounds, while Gilgeous-Alexander is posting 27 points and 10.5 assists.
A major storyline heading into tonight revolves around star player health. Backcourt issues for the home team and key wing injuries for the visitors could dramatically shift the series momentum. Game 3 is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio with national broadcast coverage provided by NBC and Peacock.
The data points to a highly competitive Game 3, with the hometown Spurs holding a statistical edge. The narrow probability gap suggests Game 3 will be a closely contested affair. While the numbers favor San Antonio, they indicate a closely matched contest that could easily swing in either direction.
How do these two teams stack up against each other? Through two games of this Western Conference Finals series, the battle reveals contrasting styles and clear mismatches.
The Spurs have utilized their massive size advantage to dominate the glass, pulling down 53 rebounds per game compared to 40.5 for the Thunder. However, the Thunder have countered that interior presence with relentless perimeter pressure, forcing an alarming 21 turnovers per game. Active defense generates 14 steals a night for the visitors, igniting a fluid offense that dishes out 29.5 assists per game to easily best the 23.5 helpers from the Spurs.
Both offenses are clicking at an elite level. The Thunder average a slight edge in scoring with 118.5 points per contest against 117.5 for the Spurs. The home team has been slightly more efficient overall from the floor (46% to 44%), but the visitors hold the perimeter advantage from beyond the arc (37% to 35%).
In Game 2, the Thunder evened the series behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30-point, 9-assist performance, as he attacked relentlessly and shot 12-of-24 from the floor. Through two matchups, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 27 points and 10.5 assists while generating 3 steals per game on the defensive end. His counterpart Stephon Castle responded with 25 points and 8 assists in Game 2 but was plagued by 9 turnovers, continuing a troubling series trend of 10 turnovers per game that the Thunder's perimeter pressure ruthlessly exploits.
In the frontcourt, Victor Wembanyama was held to a relatively quiet 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 2 after his 41-point, 24-rebound eruption in Game 1, but his series averages of 31 points and 20.5 rebounds remain staggering. Chet Holmgren bounced back with 13 points in Game 2 after managing just 8 in Game 1, but his series averages of 10.5 points and 6 rebounds suggest he's been largely overwhelmed by Wembanyama's physicality. Alex Caruso has emerged as the Thunder's unlikely X-factor, shooting a blistering 61% from the field and 61% from three-point range through two games while averaging 24 points off the bench. Cason Wallace has also been disruptive, averaging 3 steals per game. Whichever squad exploits these individual matchup advantages will likely take Game 3.
Spurs
Thunder
The day-to-day statuses of De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper present significant hurdles for the backcourt of the Spurs. Fox already missed Game 2 with his ankle injury, while Harper was unable to finish the same contest. If both remain sidelined, playmaking depth will be severely depleted. The Thunder face a critical question mark with Jalen Williams exiting Game 2 early with a hamstring issue. His potential absence would heavily test wing rotation and perimeter defense in this pivotal clash.
Both squads enter Game 3 with momentum from impressive offensive showings in this series. The Spurs took Game 1 at home (122-115) behind a jaw-dropping 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece from Victor Wembanyama, supported by Dylan Harper's 24-point, 11-rebound double-double. The Thunder responded emphatically in Game 2 (122-113), riding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30-point, 9-assist effort alongside Alex Caruso's 17 points off the bench and Cason Wallace's 4-steal defensive clinic. With both teams proving capable of explosive offensive performances and the series deadlocked 1-1, Game 3 carries enormous weight.
Despite the hometown Spurs holding a slight mathematical edge, backcourt health is the ultimate wild card tonight. With De'Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (leg) battling day-to-day injuries, ball handling for the Spurs is severely compromised. The defense of the Thunder thrives on chaos, already forcing 21 turnovers and swiping 14 steals per game in this series. Without their primary playmakers at 100%, Stephon Castle will face relentless pressure from Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the active perimeter defenders.
However, that overwhelming size advantage cannot be ignored. The Spurs are dominating the glass by pulling down 53 rebounds per game compared to 40.5 for the Thunder. If Jalen Williams (hamstring) is hampered or sidelined, the visitors will severely lack the wing depth required to collapse on Wembanyama inside, allowing the phenom to continue his physical dominance in the paint.
While perimeter pressure and turnover generation from the Thunder will keep this game incredibly tight, the massive rebounding edge and home-court energy of the Spurs should be just enough to overcome their backcourt injury woes. Expect Wembanyama to control the tempo around the rim and secure vital second-chance points down the stretch to seal a narrow victory.
Prediction: Spurs 119, Thunder 114
Longtime coach David “DG” Nelson won’t come out and say it, but the Salt Lake Community College baseball team is feeling a bit disrespected as it heads out to Grand Junction, Colorado, to defend its Junior College World Series national championship this week.
The Bruins, who were a No. 8 seed in the tournament last year before defeating No. 1 Walters State of Tennessee 9-6 in the championship game to win their first-ever national championship, were given a No. 9 seed this year.
Talk about a lack of respect.
“I won’t comment on that,” said Nelson, in his 21st season coaching the #BruCru, as the club prefers to be called.
“That’s the expectation, that’s the goal. For me, I think we’re good enough, and we are playing our best baseball of the year. But you know how it goes. You got to get a couple breaks to go your way, and I’m excited to see what these guys do.”
SLCC head coach DG Nelson on his team's goal of defending its national title
Having won seven of its last eight games, No. 9 Salt Lake opens defense of its title on Saturday at 3 p.m. MDT against No. 2 seed Blinn College of Texas at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction.
Last year, Salt Lake became the lowest-seeded team to win the Juco World Series in the seeding era, but apparently the seeding committee was not all that impressed. Just making the 10-team tournament — this is SLCC’s third appearance — is a major accomplishment, considering there are more than 560 junior college baseball teams in the country.
Salt Lake arrived in Grand Junction via bus Wednesday night, and got together Thursday to practice and take a team picture.
Can the #BruCru repeat?
“That’s the expectation, that’s the goal,” said Nelson. “For me, I think we’re good enough, and we are playing our best baseball of the year. But you know how it goes. You got to get a couple breaks to go your way, and I’m excited to see what these guys do.”
Having gone 48-11 last year with a sophomore-laden squad, Salt Lake only returned two key contributors from that team in 2026: BYU-bound outfielder Kade Gambill and pitcher Easton Davies, who has signed with Oklahoma.
Expectations this season were a bit lower, especially after they struggled in late March and early April, losing four of six games in one stretch; however, they went 4-0 at the Region 18 tournament, sweeping Utah State-Eastern and College of Southern Idaho, and then won the district playoffs to punch their ticket to nationals.
Last Saturday, they beat Central Arizona College 8-1 in the winner-take-all district championship game in Beatrice, Nebraska, after falling to the Vaqueros 6-4 earlier in the day. Freshman Drew Smith (Pleasant Grove) had a three-run homer and sophomore Kaden Hodson (Lone Peak) hit a two-run homer in the victory.
LMU transfer Nolan Tillitt of Yorba Linda, California, went 4.2 innings to get the pitching win.
#BruCru getting ready for Picture and Media Day at the @JUCOWorldSeries@slccbruins#bruinway#bruinfamilypic.twitter.com/SfQx8EYTCJ
— SLCC BASEBALL (@slccbaseball) May 21, 2026
Nelson said it isn’t a surprise that the Bruins are back in the World Series, but acknowledged that it was more difficult than last year.
“I knew we were really talented, and we possessed what we needed to have to get here,” he said. “But we are a very, very young, new team. We definitely had our ups and downs throughout the year. We were learning to play, and had a couple injuries, so we had to kind of move people around. But it’s a very talented group, and they’re driven, and man, do they play hard.”
Nelson said the hard-throwing Davies, who prepped at Orem High, heads a deep pitching staff that includes four or five other guys who are being recruited and will likely move on to four-year programs. Davies, who committed to OU before the season started, is the SWAC Pitcher of the Year and has an earned-run-average of 2.58, the third-lowest in NJCAA Division I baseball.
“Last year, he just threw hard, so we used him mainly out of the bullpen,” Nelson said. “This year he’s executing pitches and sequences much better.”
Smith, catcher AJ Thomas, second baseman Gage Wareham, third baseman Riley Brown and outfielder Lute Chavez also made the all-region first team.
Hodson, Gambill, outfielder Tyler West and outfielder Willy Roberts made the all-region second team.
West, who prepped at St. George’s Crimson Cliffs before walking on to the BYU football team last fall, is a speedster who has committed to Texas A&M.
“He’s freakishly fast,” Nelson said.
Smith, the shortstop, and Chavez are headed to Utah Valley University, while Wareham is going to Colorado Mesa.
“As far as taking leadership roles, you have Kade Gambill and Gage Wareham, two very mature kids that get the game,” Nelson said. “They have done a great job of keeping the group together and focused on what we’re here to do throughout the year. It is hard to (name) an MVP. It is a different guy in the lineup every time that gets it done.”
Warhammer Survivors now has a free Demo on Steam A demo version of Warhammer Survivors, a Warhammer-themed pixel-art “Bullet Heaven” game, has been released on Steam. This demo acts as a “first taste” for the full game, featuring two levels. The game spans both the Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar universes, with the […]
The post Warhammer Survivors now has a free demo version on Steam appeared first on OC3D.
Institutional crypto adoption accelerates as Tether expands Bitcoin holdings, miners pivot to AI and Polymarket joins Nasdaq amid $1 billion fund outflows.
Bitcoin headed lower as Wall Street trading began with new record highs for the Dow Jones, while traders warned of weak US demand.
Forza Horizon 6 launched earlier this week (or at the end of last week if you bought the Premium Edition), and according to a new report from Alinea Analytics, the latest driving game from developer Playground Games is, unsurprisingly, a massive hit as it nears an estimated 5 million copies sold and $325 million earned in gross revenue in its first week on store shelves. According to the report, Playground Games' trip to Japan had no problem selling millions of copies off the jump despite its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass right at launch for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. More […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/forza-horizon-6-estimated-5-million-copies-sold-325-million-gross-revenue/
AIO coolers are more about displays these days, and Lian Li just brought its Hydroshift series to the next level. Lian Li Launches Hydroshift II Curved 360 AIO Cooler, Boasting Motorized Dual-Axis Curved OLED Display With 2288x1048 Resolution AIO coolers have come a long way. We no longer see the same boring radiator and RGB block combos, as most manufacturers have transitioned to dedicated displays on the block. Various innovative measures are taken to ensure a cleaner look, and the coolers bring enhanced performance via improved designs. Lian Li's Hydroshift series has received another such addition as the company has […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/lian-li-launches-hydroshift-ii-curved-360-aio-cooler/
It has been a long time since Devil May Cry 5 launched on PC and previous generation consoles, and, besides getting Vergil as a new playable character, the original versions of the game did not get any of the other improvements featured in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S Special Edition release. However, some very interesting discoveries made by Reddit user Maarten PeTeRS suggest that CAPCOM may finally end its snubbing of the PC release. The user recently took a good look at the SteamDB Update History page of Devil May Cry 5, highlighting that, since January 9, ChangeNumber […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/capcom-end-devil-may-cry-5-pc-snub-special-edition-content-update/
Samsung's new pay deal is creating more headaches than the ones it purports to solve, especially after a nearly 100x difference in implied bonuses between various divisions of the tech conglomerate has caused something of an all-out revolt, with the union that caters to Samsung's employees working in its home appliances and mobile division now vowing to seek a court injunction. Samsung's internal cohesion is ripping at the seams in the wake of a new pay deal that is proving to be particularly lucrative for its memory-focused workers As we reported recently, to resolve the threat of debilitating strike, Samsung […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-mobile-workers-revolt-over-4000-bonus-while-memory-employees-pocket-400000-each-vowing-court-injunction-to-block-the-deal/
For a first-time attendee, Google I/O’s energetic, optimistic atmosphere felt almost like a coronation.
Last year’s bets are now growth pillars because they worked. Ask Maps became the playbook for rolling out Ask YouTube. Gemini 3.5 Flash powers Antigravity — think Claude Code, but Google — and Googlers are already using it to build the features demoed on stage.
Everything shipped fast, and everything felt confident.
There was something for everyone.
But I haven’t even gotten to the part that’s most curious.
There are now features across both products that serve the same intent: monitoring the web and proactively notifying you when something relevant appears.
In Search, it’s information agents. In Gemini, it’s Spark or Daily Brief. The overlap is obvious.
So I asked one of the product managers directly: “How are you thinking about long-term feature management and the bloat of utilities that largely overlap?”
The answer: “Right now, it’s all about velocity.”
They’re shipping relentlessly. Three other PMs behind flagship I/O features said the same thing. Every one of those features was started and shipped this year, in 2026. That was mind-blowing.
The PM added: “The way velocity is achieved is less managerial overhead.”
I took that to mean: get on the board now and figure it out later.
With that framing, the rest of the day looked different. I saw plenty of impressive demos, but kept wondering: what do I actually do with these next?
I now have Gemma on my phone, but one of the developers couldn’t offer much of a day-to-day use case. I got a demo of AI Mode’s monitoring capabilities by prompting “keep me updated” and saw how the pieces connected. But when I asked a follow-up — “How will I manage these alerts alongside everything else? What happens when they go stale?” — there wasn’t an answer. Granted, it’s still a demo, but the non-answer was telling.
The second-order effects of many of these features don’t seem fully considered. It gave me the sense that engineers dogfood these models from the command line, not the front end.
One small but revealing example: as of this writing, I still can’t delete old Gemini chats in the web browser, even though I can in the Mac app.
One feature that came up repeatedly in conversations with both engineers and users was Universal Cart, Google’s new cross-surface shopping protocol.
When people asked what I thought, I said: “If you’re Google, you should be very excited, because if this gets adopted, you own more of the end-to-end experience. If you’re everyone else, you’re probably worried.”
That didn’t seem to concern the group I spoke with, many of whom felt oddly detached from the growing anti-AI sentiment in the U.S.
Later, I spoke with an SEO professional at a large ecommerce brand already implementing Universal Cart. When I mentioned the velocity comment, they said: “That sounds like what we experienced during implementation. It feels rushed.”
The velocity-over-oversight mindset also helps explain why Google’s AI content guidelines have been so controversial.
Four days before I/O, Google’s Search quality team told publishers to “write for humans, not AI.” Then the AI agent team took the stage and demonstrated a future where Google’s own agents browse, interpret, transact on, and generate content across the web.
If the future is increasingly AI Mode — with agents building, fetching, and acting on users’ behalf — the guidance to publishers starts to ring hollow.
I don’t want to diminish the work these engineers are doing. I told them that directly. As someone building products for search and for our clients, I empathize. You mostly hear criticism, not praise.
But I can’t help wondering what happens when all these overlapping features — the bloat, the inability to delete, manage, or reconcile things cleanly — become technical debt that has to be unwound. Right now, the AI playbook seems to be: feature utilization first, fix it later.
Still, I honestly respect that a company as large and established as Google is moving this fast, and I’m genuinely excited to see how some of this plays out. With their cash flow and their ability to manufacture their own TPU chips, they can afford to place multiple bets and see what sticks.
I wanted to keep talking with that PM, but we were unceremoniously kicked out of the area.
Google reported that last quarter saw an all-time high in search queries. They’re taking authentication and provenance seriously, with SynthID expanding into Search and Chrome, new adoption partners like OpenAI, and C2PA content credential verification for crawl.
Those are meaningful steps forward.
But this pace will likely create unintended consequences. My hope is that the rush to move fast doesn’t further destabilize an already-rattled web ecosystem by breaking too many things along the way.
All of this is to say: it’s an exciting time to be in search.
Dig deeper.
Every time Google ships a new Search Central document, two camps in our industry move at the speed of light. The first camp screenshots their favorite paragraph, posts it to LinkedIn with “SEE? IT’S JUST SEO” in the caption, and goes back to doing exactly what they were already doing. The second camp screenshots a different paragraph and posts it with “see, here’s the proof they’re lying to us.” Both camps treat Google’s guidance like scripture, depending on which verse confirms what they already believed.
Google’s recently updated guide on Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search was a feast for the first camp. The “it’s just SEO” folks ate well that week. AEO and GEO got declared “still SEO.” Chunking got dismissed. llms.txt got dissed. Rewriting for AI got nullified. If you’ve spent the last two years on LinkedIn telling everyone that nothing has changed, Google handed you a gold star and a victory lap.
But I want to remind everyone of something the first camp likes to forget: two years ago, we held thousands of pages of Google’s internal Search ranking documentation in our hands. The leaked Content Warehouse documents showed, in Google’s own words, how the public guidance and the internal reality diverge. The same company that publicly insisted certain signals didn’t exist had them named, weighted, and documented inside their own engineering wiki. That wasn’t a leak from an enemy of search. That was Google’s own engineering documentation, and it showed exactly how much we should trust public guidance about what is and isn’t important.
I’m not saying every line of Google’s new guide is a lie. I am saying that Google has a long, well-documented history of nudging the industry in directions that benefit Google first and the open web maybe. It’s to Google’s benefit for SEOs to remain the janitors of the web cleaning up technical debt, formatting structured data, and politely waiting for the next algorithm update rather than evolving into a discipline that operates across multiple platforms and influences how content is engineered for systems Google does not control.
As I argued in my refutation of the misinformation about chunking, the influence Google has spent two decades accumulating is finally fragmenting. Competitive AI platforms are stealing attention. Referral traffic is shrinking. Investment is moving to channels Google doesn’t own. The leverage Google had to define what “good content” means is weaker than it has been in twenty years — and you can hear it in how protective the language has gotten.
For a clean contrast, look at what’s been coming out of Bing.
Krishna Madhavan and his team have spent the last several months publishing posts that read like the opposite of Google’s guide. Keep in mind that there is near parity in both platforms’ offerings.
Where Google’s posture is “trust us, keep doing what you were doing,” Bing has been publicly explaining how their index is changing, what grounding actually requires, and giving publishers tools to measure how their content participates in AI answers.
In Elevating the Role of Grounding on the AI Web, Jordi Ribas openly names what’s happening: agents are doing the browsing now, they’re drawn to structured and verifiable content, and a new optimization discipline called Generative Engine Optimization is emerging in response. No dismissive air quotes. No “it’s all still SEO.” They just call it what it is.
Introducing AI Performance in Bing Webmaster Tools goes further. It is, in Microsoft’s own words, “an early step toward Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tooling in Bing Webmaster Tools.” Citations across Copilot and Bing’s AI summaries. Page-level citation activity and Grounding queries, you know, the actual phrases AI used when retrieving your content. The thing every working AI Search practitioner has been asking for, Bing shipped it.
Then, in Evolving role of the index: From ranking pages to supporting answers, Krishna’s team explains in plain detail that “the unit of value shifts from documents to groundable information — discrete, supportable facts with clear provenance.” They state directly that “chunking/transformations must preserve meaning and claims used in the answer.” They acknowledge that the metrics, the unit of analysis, and the responsibility of the system have all changed.
Read those three posts in order, then go re-read Google’s “mythbusting” section. You will struggle to believe you’re reading documents about the same technology.
With that framing, let’s walk through Google’s claims.
“What about ‘AEO’ and ‘GEO’? ‘AEO’ stands for ‘answer engine optimization’ and ‘GEO’ for ‘generative engine optimization’. These are both terms you may see used to describe work specifically focused on improving visibility in AI search experiences. From Google Search’s perspective, optimizing for generative AI search is optimizing for the search experience, and thus still SEO.”
“It’s just SEO” is naive, and it’s naive for the same reason it has been naive every previous time someone trotted it out.
SEO as a discipline is not a list of tactics. It’s a mindset, a set of organizational expectations, a budget line, and a reporting structure. SEOs have been trying to expand that mindset for years to bring in content engineering, to influence product, to own technical architecture, to participate in video, brand, and design. We mostly haven’t won those fights, because the org charts in most companies treat SEO as a downstream cleanup function.
This is also the same trick the industry has played on us for fifteen years. Mobile was “just SEO.” Voice was “just SEO.” Schema was “just SEO.” AMP was “just SEO,” and we ate years of implementation work for a system Google quietly deprecated. Every time a new surface appears, the discipline absorbs the work, and every time, the line item that pays for it doesn’t grow proportionally. Folding AI Search into “SEO” isn’t a clarification. It’s the continuation of a pattern that has been excellent for Google and lousy for the people doing the work.
When AI Search lands in an organization with a different name, it gets different expectations and a different budget. It gets cross-functional sponsorship. It gets executive attention. It gets the cross-discipline collaboration SEOs have been requesting since I started in this industry two decades ago. “AEO” and “GEO” are not magical incantations, but the labels create the room SEO has not been able to create for itself.
Meanwhile, the practitioners doing this work keep getting handed more responsibility. More platforms to optimize for. More systems to understand. More research papers to read. More tooling to build. None of that comes with new headcount or higher salaries when leadership sees it as “still SEO.” Google reframing this work as the same old discipline isn’t a neutral observation. It is the rhetorical move that keeps the work uncompensated.
And note: Google itself doesn’t actually run on “it’s just Search.” AI Mode, AI Overviews, and classic ranking are different systems run by different teams on different infrastructure with different evaluation criteria. The leaked Content Warehouse docs made those distinctions visible. Their public posture flattens the inside of their own org for the benefit of the outside narrative. We don’t have to accept the flattening.
That’s what “it’s just SEO” actually delivers to organizations: more scope, same budget, no new authority. That’s a fantastic outcome for the platforms that benefit from our unpaid labor. It is a terrible outcome for the people doing the work.
“Create valuable, non-commodity content for your audience”
This part is fine. Make good, unique content with a real point of view. Nobody serious disagrees. Moving on.
“You don’t need to create new machine readable files, AI text files, markup, or Markdown to appear in generative AI search.”
True for Google. Also missing the point.
llms.txt is genuinely useful for Claude and a handful of other systems that have explicitly committed to reading it. Anthropic has documentation suggesting it. There are observable benefits to publishing it in environments where it’s actually consumed. Telling people to ignore it because Google doesn’t read it is exactly the kind of single-platform myopia I keep pointing at. Google’s guide describes one ecosystem. Your strategy needs to account for several.
The honest version of this guidance would be: “Google doesn’t process llms.txt in any special way. Other systems may. Make your own call.” Instead, Google quietly conflates “we don’t use it” with “you don’t need it.”
“There’s no requirement to break your content into tiny pieces for AI to better understand it. Google systems are able to understand the nuance of multiple topics on a page and show the relevant piece to users.”
I wrote 4,500 words on this in January and I’d rather not relitigate the whole thing here. The short version is this: chunking is what RAG systems do to your content, whether you optimize for it or not. The question is whether your content survives the chunking process with its meaning intact, or whether it shatters into incoherent fragments. The vector math doesn’t care about Google’s preferences. A passage that focuses on one idea will, in nearly every measurable case, retrieve better than a passage that tries to cover three.
Bing acknowledges this directly: “chunking/transformations must preserve meaning and claims used in the answer.” Google’s own MUVERA research, their work on passage indexing, their patents on pairwise passage selection — none of it is consistent with the guidance that chunking doesn’t matter. The systems retrieve passages. Treat your passages like they matter, because the systems do.
“You don’t need to write in a specific way just for generative AI search. AI systems can understand synonyms and general meanings of what someone is seeking, in order to connect them with content that might not use the same precise words. This means you don’t have to worry that you don’t have enough ‘long-tail’ keywords or haven’t captured every variation of how someone might seek content like yours.”
This is the line that bothers me most, because it is antithetical to how these systems actually decide what to use.
A retrieval system selects passages by computing vector distance against the query embedding. A synthesis pipeline then performs pairwise comparisons between candidate passages to decide which ones get sent to the model. The system is not “understanding” your content in the human sense — it’s computing a similarity score, ranking by it, and making committed selections. Specificity, entity salience, semantic coherence, and structural clarity all show up in those scores. Write loose, generic, multi-topic prose and your passages lose those comparisons to passages that are tight, specific, and self-contained.
“Just write naturally for humans” sounds like good advice until you realize the systems have a measurable preference, and you can win or lose on the margins by writing for both. We have empirical evidence that adjusting passages improves their retrieval scores. We have access to public APIs that let us verify this on the content we publish. The guidance to ignore all of that and trust the systems to figure it out is asking you to compete with one hand tied behind your back.
I want to be careful here because this discourse gets reduced to extremes:
But “SEO best practices” was always shorthand for “what Google likes.” That was a fine proxy when Google was 90% of the traffic, and the rest didn’t matter. It is not a fine proxy in a world where ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, and a long tail of vertical agents are all making their own retrieval decisions on different infrastructure with different priorities. Some of those systems use Bing as their grounding layer. Some build their own indices. Some lean on llms.txt. Some don’t. Some are shipping webmaster tooling. Some are publishing the math behind their retrieval. The shared layer is shrinking, and the surface area you have to actually optimize is growing.
The thing Google’s guide doesn’t say — because it can’t — is that the systems competing with Google have different opinions, different infrastructure, and different incentives. Optimizing for all of them at once requires a broader practice than what’s described in any Search Central document. That practice is being built right now, in public, by people who refuse to accept that the only opinion that counts is Google’s.
Google’s guidance on AI Search is one opinion. It is the opinion of the company with the most to lose from a multi-platform world. Read it. Take what is useful. Apply it where it applies. Don’t mistake it for the truth.
The truth is that we are in a new world. The infrastructure for how information is retrieved and presented is being rewritten across multiple platforms simultaneously, and the consensus we once had about how to optimize it no longer exists. Bing is publishing what they’re doing. Anthropic is publishing what they’re doing. The research community is publishing what they’re doing. Google is publishing what it wants you to do.
That last one is not the same as the others. Treat it accordingly.
This article was originally published on the iPullRank blog and is republished with permission.
Xiaomi recently launched the Xiaomi 17 Max smartphone, which highlights strong camera performance. Along with several powerful features, it comes with Samsung’s advanced 200MP imaging sensor, which is used in the primary rear camera. This sensor helps the phone capture extremely detailed and sharp images with high clarity.
Samsung’s 200MP HPB sensor is built to improve image quality in mobile phones. It can take photos with a very high level of detail because it contains 200 million pixels.
Moreover, it also supports features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a large ƒ/1.65 aperture. These help improve photo quality in both bright and low-light conditions. A reliable tipster, Ice Universe, shared some images taken via Xiaomi 17 Max.
Aside from this, Xiaomi 17 Max pairs this 200MP Samsung camera with a complete triple-camera setup, including a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom and macro capability, and a 50MP ultrawide lens for wider shots. This makes the phone more flexible for different photography styles.
The device also brings a strong overall package. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and comes with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. It features a large 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and very high brightness levels.
Samsung’s advanced sensor improves the camera experience, while Xiaomi combines it with strong hardware to create a powerful and modern phone.
The post Xiaomi 17 Max integrates Samsung’s advanced 200MP imaging sensor appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Samsung is getting ready to launch a new foldable phone that could become one of the best in the market. The phone is being called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, and according to the famous tech leaker Ice Universe, it will be unbeatable in terms of thinness and weight.
The tipster did not share many details, but the claim of a slimmer design of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide has already created excitement among smartphone fans. Samsung is expected to focus on making the device slimmer, lighter, and easier to carry compared to older foldable phones.
Based on early leaked renders, the phone may measure 4.9mm when opened and 9.8mm when folded. Even though these numbers are impressive, the device may not become the thinnest foldable phone ever. Reports suggest that the upcoming OPPO Find N6 could still be thinner.
Image via Android Headlines
Samsung is also expected to improve the overall design and make the phone more comfortable for everyday use. A lighter foldable device would be easier to hold, carry, and use for long periods.
The company is likely to launch the phone in July during its big Galaxy event. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are also expected to be announced at the same event. If the rumors are correct, Samsung’s new wide foldable could bring a big improvement to foldable phone design and portability.
The post Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide may be incredibly thin and light appeared first on Sammy Fans.
For quite a while now, Oppo's upcoming Find X10 family has been rumored to include the Find X10 Pro Max. However, a new rumor from the prolific Digital Chat Station on Weibo today says things may not be looking up for this model. Specifically, DCS thinks the Find X10 Pro Max could get delayed or cancelled altogether. The problem, according to him, is that not a lot of people in China would be willing to pay the rumored price of CNY 7,000 ($1,028) for a device powered by a Dimensity chipset (the Find X10 Pro Max would be using the Dimensity 9600). Oppo Find X9 Pro That's a rather...
The iQOO 15 launched last October, and the brand is now already busy working on its successor, which unsurprisingly will be called iQOO 16. The name is now confirmed courtesy of the GSM Association's IMEI database, which lists the device alongside its model number, I2601. [#InlinePriceWidget,14198,1#] It's unclear exactly when the iQOO 16 will make its debut, but since it should be using Qualcomm's next top of the line chipset, it will have to launch after that becomes official. September at the earliest, we assume. Rumor has it the iQOO 16 will be launching in China as well as...
Cesc Fabregas has issued a firm and pointed response to Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti’s public admiration for Nico Paz, insisting the Argentine will not be joining the Nerazzurri and that only Real Madrid have any say over his future beyond Como.
Zanetti had recently stated openly that he was a great admirer of his compatriot, who has been one of the standout players in Serie A this season. Fabregas, speaking at his pre-match press conference, via TMW, was unimpressed, and made his feelings known with unusual directness.
“I am sorry,” Fabregas said.
“Zanetti has been a very important person in football, he knows the dynamics well. I know Ausilio and Baccin well and I know they are the ones who make decisions. In the end, Nico is a Como player at 50%, but he is ours.
“The only club that can say anything is Real Madrid. I know that Zanetti does not work for Madrid or Como, so respect must be shown. There are also small messages I do not like. If I can say, and I know this for certain, Nico Paz will not play for Inter. He will either return to Real Madrid or play for Como next season.”
The Como coach also addressed Paz’s fitness ahead of the final day of the season and, potentially, the World Cup with Argentina.
“We are trying to see if he can play on Sunday, he deserves to, he has helped us enormously,” Fabregas said. “Between 24 and 48 hours a player can recover enormously, there are many miracles between physios and others that did not exist before. We will see on matchday, I cannot say yes or no right now.”
Nico Paz joined Como on a permanent basis from Real Madrid in 2024, with Los Blancos retaining a buy-back clause for the next two summers.
His 19 goal involvements this season have made him one of the most coveted players in Italian football, and Fabregas’s intervention makes clear that Como will not be steamrolled into losing their prized asset without a fight.
Liverpool director Richard Hughes has reportedly made contact over a potential move for Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to replace Arne Slot.
The Reds have endured a difficult second season under Slot, despite the Dutch tactician doing a tremendous job to win the Premier League title last term.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
It now seems Slot could be in danger, with Foot Mercato reporting that Hughes has begun the process of bringing in Iraola to replace him at Anfield.
The claim is that Hughes has ‘discreetly activated a lead’, perhaps using his contacts at his former club Bournemouth to register an interest in Iraola.
It has already been confirmed that the Spanish tactician will be leaving at the end of his contract, and it’s slightly surprising that he hasn’t been snapped up yet.
Iraola has done a superb job with the Cherries, guiding them into Europe for the first time, while there’s even still the chance that they could be playing Champions League football next season if results go their way on the final day of the Premier League this weekend.
Still, despite Chelsea and Manchester United recently being in need of new managers, they have officially announced the decision to hire Xabi Alonso and Michael Carrick, respectively.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Iraola could surely have been a fine appointment for those clubs, and he also looks like an ideal option to give LFC an upgrade on Slot.
Football is unpredictable, of course, but it’s hard to foresee a future without Iraola enjoying great success at a bigger club.
Even if it’s not Iraola, Liverpool surely need to think hard about making a change this summer after such a dramatic drop-off in form in Slot’s second season.
The post Contact made: Liverpool chief has started the process of replacing Arne Slot with superb manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Having taken Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, Arne Slot has congratulated Arsenal on winning it this time around and praised the work of Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta. Arne Slot congratulates Arsenal after they won the Premier League 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9IzR5KlJXp — Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) May 22, 2026
The post Liverpool boss Arne Slot congratulates Arsenal on winning the Premier League (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Liverpool boss Arne Slot congratulates Arsenal on winning the Premier League (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
As per Ben Jacobs, Manchester United are making progress in their efforts to sign Ederson from Atalanta. No formal offer has been made as of yet, but one could be submitted very quickly. At this point, United are in discussions with the player’s representatives over personal terms for a five-year contract that is being prepared. […]
The post Manchester United make progress in Ederson pursuit appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Manchester United make progress in Ederson pursuit appeared first on Soccer News.
It has now been officially confirmed – Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. He will lead his team one last time on Sunday, when City host Aston Villa in the final round of the Premier League campaign. “What a time we have had together.” pic.twitter.com/WpkFecBYT4 — Manchester City (@ManCity) […]
The post “Nothing is eternal” – Pep Guardiola says goodbye ahead of imminent Manchester City departure (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
The post “Nothing is eternal” – Pep Guardiola says goodbye ahead of imminent Manchester City departure (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
As per Ben Jacobs, Manchester United are making progress in their efforts to sign Ederson from Atalanta. No formal offer has been made as of yet, but one could be submitted very quickly. At this point, United are in discussions with the player’s representatives over personal terms for a five-year contract that is being prepared. […]
The post Manchester United make progress in Ederson pursuit appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Manchester United make progress in Ederson pursuit appeared first on Soccer News.
Detroit — Voting is now open for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The MSHOF's ballot committee has finalized the list of candidates in five categories — amateur, professional, coach, media and contributor — and fan voting now is under way at MichiganSportsHOF.org.
Fan voting is open through June 12, with the 2026 inductees set to be announced this summer.
The 2026 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be Thursday, Dec. 17, at MotorCity Casino Hotel. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Here are the finalists for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 featured Chris Chelios, Rasheed Wallace, Claressa Shields, Jason Richardson, Mark Dantonio, John Lowe and Dave Dombrowski.
Lowe, the former Tigers beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, was unable to attend the 2025 ceremony and will be formally inducted as part of the Class of 2026.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame finalists for Class of 2026: How to vote
CARMEL — Indiana basketball players arriving for summer workouts better be ready to get to work.
The Hoosiers' offseason calendar will look a little different this year after coach Darian DeVries’ program signed up to participate in the FISU America Games from July 20 to Aug. 1 in Peru. DeVries will get near unlimited practice times in the weeks to come as they prepare for the trip.
Last year, Indiana received 10 additional practices ahead of its international tour in Puerto Rico, but those had to be taken in a more compressed time period.
“You're not really restricted at all like those previous trips,” DeVries said ahead of a recent speaking engagement. “We get more of an opportunity to spend time with them. And especially in the film, that side of it where you can really sit down and break down, individual workouts, what you're doing, team workouts, those types of things.”
It’s a huge benefit for a team that is bringing back just one scholarship player (Trent Sisley) from last year’s roster. DeVries signed the No. 4-ranked transfer class in the country — Notre Dame’s Markus Burton (No. 24 overall) and Alabama’s Aiden Sherrell (No. 12) headline the group — and three freshmen.
The coaching staff placed a premium on Power Four experience, more size in the front court and more balanced approach as opposed to 3-point dependent roster DeVries assembled in his first season.
“I think the thing you've got to be most careful of is still summertime, but it just allows us just more time to do a lot more teaching and coaching because you're not so constricted by time,” DeVries said. “You can really take your time and, you know, really, you know, for a new group, really kind of install all the details of everything you're wanting to do.”
This is the fourth straight season DeVries has taken his team on an international trip.
Indiana players are expected on campus June 1 with workouts scheduled to start that same week. The FISU tournament provides the group a “great learning opportunity” as the program hopes to end a three-year tournament drought.
The Hoosiers plan on announcing additional details about the trip later this summer.
Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball gets extra practices for FISU America Games trip to Peru
Now that we know the Indianapolis Colts' full 2026 NFL schedule, let's take an early look ahead at each opponent.
This season, the Colts open up the season at home against the Baltimore Ravens, kicking off a difficult stretch of games to start the season.
The Colts and Ravens have met 18 times previously, with Indianapolis holding an 11-7 record in these matchups.
The last time these two met was early in the 2023 season. The Colts won that game in overtime by a score of 22-19.
According to ESPN's analytics, the Colts have just a 39% chance of winning this matchup.
The Ravens finished the 2025 season with an 8-9 record, losing the season finale to Pittsburgh, which kept Baltimore out of the playoffs. That then led to the Ravens moving on from longtime head coach John Harbaugh and hiring LA Chargers' defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
Baltimore's roster saw some turnover as well. Keaton Mitchell, Isaiah Likely, Tyler Linderbaum, Alohi Gilman, and others landed with new teams during free agency. The Ravens would sign John Simpson, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Trey Hendrickson.
Still leading the way for Baltimore will be quarterback Lamar Jackson. In 13 games last season, Jackson completed 64% of his passes for 2,549 yards with 21 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
As a unit, the Baltimore offense ranked 10th in points per game last season, and the defense ranked 18th in scoring. The offensive line unit ranked seventh in ESPN's pass-block win rate metric, while the Baltimore pass rush unit ranked 28th in win rate.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL schedule: Previewing Colts vs. Ravens Week 1 game
CAIRO – Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn isn't entirely ruling out Rico Verhoeven's chances of pulling off an all-time upset vs. Oleksandr Usyk.
Former GLORY Kickboxing champion Verhoeven (1-0) takes on undisputed boxing heavyweight champion Usyk (24-0) on Saturday (DAZN) in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Caesars Sportsbook has Usyk as high as a -5000 favorite, which gives Verhoeven little to no chance in the oddsmakers' eyes. Hearn knows it's a tall task for Verhoeven, especially after watching Anthony Joshua train with Usyk.
"The fight on paper is an impossible mountain to climb for Rico Verhoeven," Hearn said during Thursday's press conference. "No, I'll re-phrase that: for the normal man. But the reason that he's accomplished what he's accomplished and the reason he's done what he's done is because he's not a normal man. Oleksandr Usyk is one of the greatest not just fighters of our generation, but greatest examples to any young fighter, to any young athlete in terms of the work ethic and the mindset. I thank (Oleksandr) and his team for allowing AJ (Joshua) into that camp because what I've seen up close is the reason that he's undefeated, the reason he's still top of the game.
"Tomorrow night, this guy (Verhoeven), this giant of a man whose arms are like the normal man's thighs, has an opportunity to, let's be honest, forge one of the greatest upsets in the history of boxing. It might not be to him, but it will be on paper if he was to do it. He's coming in not just to fight the best in the division; he's coming in to fight the pound-for-pound No. 1. But I'll tell you something: If there was ever anything dramatic, ever anything strange to happen, it's going to happen at the foot of the Pyramids in Egypt. So, it's a mountain to climb for this man, but I'll tell you what: He is a mountain. He's a man mountain, and he's full of heart, he's full of power, and I know how bad he wants it."
Verhoeven is one of the most decorated kickboxers of all time but has just one professional boxing bout to his name – a second-round knockout win over Janos Finfera in 2014.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Oleksandr Usyk an 'impossible mountain to climb' for Rico Verhoeven
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori was outstanding throughout his rookie season en route to winning Super Bowl 60. A true freak athlete, Emmanwori played a versatile do-it-all-role. It seems like he's just found the perfect comparison for himself.
The NBA playoffs are currently in its semi-final round. The Western Conference Finals series between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder has the makings of a legendary series. The Spurs are being powered forward by third-year superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Wembenyama is a genetic rarity as a lanky 7-foot-4, 235-pound player who is capable of literally doing everything on a basketball court. Sorta like Emmanwori did everything for the Seahawks in 2025. In Game 1 of the West Finals, Wembanyama scored 41 points and registered 24 rebounds.
Finding a tweet that said 'there's no Wemby [Wembanyama] in the NFL, Emmanwori responded on social media with a photo of himself.
https://t.co/lVkT5E425fpic.twitter.com/IIhjqgMLGr
— Nick Emmanwori (@3mmanwori) May 20, 2026
Emmanwori is a freak at his specific position. He possesses 97th-percentile height at 6-foot-3 and 96th-percentile weight at 220 pounds. Emmanwori also has an 85th-percentile wingspan (78") and posted a 99th-percentile result in the broad jump (138 inches) and 98th-percentile result in the vertical jump (43 inches).
There's no Wemby in the NFL, but Emmanwori might be the closest thing.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks DB Nick Emmanwori compares himself to Victor Wembanyama
CARLSBAD, Calif. — The 2026 NCAA Women's Golf Championship is underway.
The best teams in women's college golf are at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's North Course for the third straight year battling it out for a national title. Northwestern is the defending national champion, but Stanford is the No. 1 team in the field this week. Play started Friday morning, kicking off four rounds of stroke play.
Follow along below for live updates from the opening round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championship:
Follow along here for live scores from the 2026 NCAA Women's Golf Championship.
Golf Channel is the TV home for the NCAA Championships. All times ET.
Finals play for both championships consist of three days of stroke play on Friday thru Sunday (54 holes), after which the top-15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will be determined. That is followed by a final day of 18 holes of stroke play (Monday) to determine the top eight teams that will advance to match play as well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday.
Fans must have tickets to attend this year's NCAA Golf Championships. Here's how to buy them.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: NCAA Women's Golf live updates: Scores, results for 2026 first round
We like to keep up on former Minnesota Vikings here on Vikings Wire. We touch base on Kirk Cousins an awful lot, something we are sure everyone unanimously loves, but we also keep up on some other notable Vikings. The one we wanted to touch base on today was former wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
The man who was one half of the Minneapolis Miracle finds himself without a team after a decent 2025 season. Bleacher Report is just as baffled that he remains unsigned as they included him in their list of notable players who they can't believe are still on the market.
Alex Kay writes, "Diggs may understandably be taking his time choosing his next team. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2020 All-Pro has racked up many individual accolades during his decorated NFL tenure, but the Lombardi Trophy has thus far eluded him. A chance to win a championship could be the key factor in his free agency decision."
Diggs accumulated 85 receptions, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns. He played a pivotal part in his New England Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye, making a big leap, the same way he helped so many Vikings quarterbacks during his time.
In the piece, Kay suggests that the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Commanders are all fits for him, but not the Minnesota Vikings.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Stefon Diggs remains unsigned deep into the offseason
The Los Angeles Angels had two different opportunities to cash in on superstar Shohei Ohtani before he left the club in free agency in December 2023. But owner Arte Moreno ultimately declined trade deadline deals with the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays that could have given the Angels some rising talent.
First, the Angels were reportedly discussing a trade deadline deal with the Padres during the 2022 season.
After Moreno turned down the trade, the Padres sent outfielder James Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams and left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Washington National for Juan Soto. The Angels likely would have received a similar or better package, as All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill was also reportedly in the mix, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Then, ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, the Angels were negotiating a deal with the Rays for Ohtani. This would have given the Angels third baseman Junior Caminero and shortstop Carson Williams.
At the time, Caminero was 19 years old in Double-A, while Williams was 20 years old in High-A. Caminero became an American League All-Star in 2025, and Williams was the minor league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Moreno again declined the deal with the Rays. The Angels did not get much more out of Ohtani that season. He tore his UCL in his right elbow on Aug. 23 then was ruled out for the remainder of the season with an oblique strain on Sept. 3.
Three months later, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, the Angels have the worst record across MLB this season and are on track for an 11th straight losing season.
If Moreno would have traded Ohtani to the Rays at the 2023 deadline, the Angels would have had an All-Star third baseman who could have replaced Anthony Rendon. Meanwhile, trading Ohtani to the Padres would have given the Angels multiple players who all became All-Stars in either the 2024 or 2025 season.
Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The post Angels Passed on Superstar Return Before Losing Shohei Ohtani in Free Agency appeared first on LA Sports Report.
The NFL offseason is in its final stages, and teams across the league are in the final phase of offseason team activities (OTAs).
The Tennessee Titans are no different and just wrapped up the first week of phase three of OTAs with a spirited open practice session. While some veterans were absent, including Jeffery Simmons and Calvin Rid, Tennessee still put in some quality work. With that, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports broke down his biggest observations of the Titans’ OTAs.
Cam Ward getting early reps with Carnell Tate
There's optimism in Nashville these days, with Cam Ward entering Year 2 and an entirely new cast around him to help him reach his highest potential. On top of a new head coach and offensive coordinator, the Titans used the No. 4 overall pick to bring in Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate, who is looking to become the go-to target for Ward in the passing game. The duo has started to build rapport during these OTA sessions, with the team's official X account posting one of the first (of many) connections between the two.
If Ward and Tate can build a strong relationship over the course of the summer, it'll do wonders for this offense to come out firing in September.
The chemistry developed between Cam Ward and Carnell Tate (as well as Wan’Dale Robinson) will pay huge dividends once the season starts in September. The Titans' offense must take a step forward in 2026 if the team wants to move forward in its rebuild. So far, the process appears to be trending in the right direction.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward and Carnell Tate building rapport at OTAs
There are not a lot of positive things you can say about what happened to the 2025 Atlanta Braves. It seemed like every time there was news, it was bad – suspensions, injuries, and then more injuries, followed by pitchers brought in who we’d have to Google to find out where they came from.
“Who is this guy,” was probably something not only said by the fans, but by the coaches who saw a revolving door of new players brought in to finish (or more like survive) the season.
As much went wrong last year, it seems nothing can go wrong this season. The Braves approach the all-important Memorial Day checkpoint as the best team in baseball.
That success is filtering down into the minor league system. Long believed to have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, the Braves continue to fight that narrative and churn out talent. Last year it was Drake Baldwin, who was the Rookie of the Year, and this year it’s JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes, two pitchers helping the staff put up the lowest ERA in the sport.
Pitching has been the priority with this organization for four decades, dating back to when the late Bobby Cox, then the general manager, changed the emphasis from power hitters to pitching. A little over a decade ago, which was the next time the Braves went through a rebuild, pitching was also at the forefront.
Now, all of a sudden, position players have emerged in the Atlanta farm system. The first six weeks of the minor league season has produced a solid number of hitters grabbing the attention of the Atlanta front office and analysts everywhere.
Eric Hartman has led the way. Rome’s outfielder in High-A is as much of a story because of where he was drafted two years ago – in the 20th round out of a Canadian high school. The draft only has 20 rounds, so he was four picks away from being the very last player selected in 2024.
Hartman is performing like a first rounder. He’s hit .320 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI, 16 stolen bases and a .397 on-base percentage in his first 153 at-bats. A left-handed hitter, Hartman jumped into Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list earlier this week landing at No. 98.
Fellow outfielder Isaiah Drake is also off to a great start. Drake was a fifth round pick three years ago out of North Atlanta High School. He’s struggled offensively at times, but not this season. Through Thursday, Drake was hitting .274 with 7 home runs, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases and a .357 OBP.
Shortstop John Gil has continued his development from last year in Low-A Augusta with a great start in Rome. He’s at .268, 6 home runs, 21 RBI, 23 stolen bases and a .380 OBP. Gil had 54 stolen bases a year ago.
Gil and Drake are both 20 years old, while Hartman will join them at 20 on June 16.
In Augusta, the headliner has been another infielder. Tate Southisene was drafted in the first round last year out of a Nevada high school as a shortstop, but he’s mainly played second base for the GreenJackets. Southisene leads all of minor league baseball with 32 stolen bases, which compliments his .288 batting average, 7 home runs, 24 RBI and a dazzling .425 OBP.
Alex Lodise is playing more at shortstop, which is not a surprise since he established himself at Florida State the last few years as a solid fielder. Lodise was drafted right behind Southisene last year in the second round. Lodise has hit .259 with 8 home runs, 24 RBI and nine stolen bases in his first 174 at bats.
And outfielder Luis Guanipa has been solid, hitting .308 with 8 home runs, 29 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Guanipa signed a few years as an international free agent for $2.5 million, and the 20-year-old is finally healthy and showing his full potential.
There are others. Rome has Dixon Williams, last year’s fourth round pick out of East Carolina, who has 24 RBI and nine stolen bases in his first 25 games. Augusta has just received Michael Martinez, a big, 19-year-old outfielder who had four home runs in the Florida Complex League.
Atlanta will also have four of the top 84 picks in July’s amateur draft, which will benefit the farm system even more. Plus, reports indicate the Braves are poised to sign Alfredo Sena, a shortstop believed to be the top international free agent for the 2027 signing cycle. Sena has reportedly agreed to a $5.8 million signing bonus that he will sign next January.
Why is this important? Well, there are two purposes of a farm system. First, and obviously, to get talent directly to the big league club. But the other reason can be just as important. Minor league talent can be used in trades to help the MLB club. The better the farm system, the easier it is to compete for players who are on the trade market.
The Braves would never admit this, but you have to wonder with the farm system being down the last few years if that has hurt their chances in trade discussions. But as general manager Alex Anthopoulos draws closer to the August 3 deadline this summer, he should have no trouble acquiring talent to help Atlanta prepare for the playoffs.
Anthopoulos’ six trades over a two-week span leading up to the 2021 trade deadline was what made the Braves world champions. So, this could once again be very important if the Braves are going to be serious contenders in October.
Many believed Baldwin came out of nowhere last season when he was the National League’s top rookie. But the prospects off to great starts are demanding our attention now, since we know from experience how quickly young players can make a difference in the Major Leagues.
Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on 104.3 FM in Savannah and online everywhere at TheSuperStations.com. You can email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Position players at the forefront in Atlanta Braves' farm system
Will "electric" Daizen Maeda be the difference-maker again for Celtic as they bid to complete the double?
The Japan international has scored eight goals in his past six games and is eyeing Scottish Cup glory over Dunfermline after inspiring his side to the title.
"I think he's proven to be the not just a matchwinner for them this season, but probably the title winner for them as well," former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"He was stepping up at crucial times, getting big goals.
"You could clearly see he did go off the boil a bit. I don't know if it's Martin O'Neill has got something out of him and got a spark back at his game. He's been crucial the last maybe five or six weeks.
"If the season was 90 minutes, he's come alive at around the 70/75 minute mark.
"If you're Neil Lennon, you want him to have one of his off days. He's a strange player where his off days are really off, but when it clicks for him, he's electric."
Despite a turbulent campaign, Celtic are within touching distance of a domestic double under Martin O'Neill.
"They have shown an incredible way of winning games, not just this season, but for decades now," former Premiership striker Rory Loy said.
"I think from now on you write them off at your peril, regardless of their form, regardless of their league position.
"As long as they're still in touch, they are mentality monsters."
Pirates Slugger Notches Impressive Feat Team Hasn't Seen In 4 Years originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In a rubber match against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates earned a resounding 6-2 victory, improving to a 26-24 record.
The Pirates got on the board early in their victory, scoring in the first inning in an extremely surprising way. In his first plate appearance of the game, All-Star slugger Brandon Lowe opened the scoring with an inside-the-park home run.
The 31-year-old slugger's inside-the-park home run is the first one that Pittsburgh has scored in exactly four years, and oddly enough, it was also the first St. Louis has surrendered in four years to the day.
"Whether the ball managed to sneak over the wall or not, nothing was coming between Brandon Lowe and touching home plate," MLB.com's Jeff Jones wrote on Thursday. "A tailing fly ball into the left-field corner against Cardinals starter Dustin May caught the right gust of wind to stay just barely fair, and José Fermín’s leaping attempt did little more than harmlessly deflect the ball back toward the left-center gap. That left Lowe to race around for his 13th homer on the season -- and the first of his career that didn’t go over the wall.
"Bizarrely enough, the last inside-the-park round tripper both hit by the Pirates and surrendered by the Cardinals came four years ago to the day. It was hit by today’s Pittsburgh left fielder, Bryan Reynolds, at PNC Park against Matthew Liberatore. Thursday’s scampering blast was the sixth in the Majors this season not to clear the fence, and the third inside-the-park homer in Busch Stadium history."
Lowe is off to a hot start in his tenure with the Pirates, slashing .256/.348/.558 with 13 home runs and 32 runs batted in. The star second baseman will look to continue his impressive season as Pittsburgh takes on the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.
More MLB: Former MLB General Manager Claims Struggling Pirates Veteran Is 'Done'
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are picking up the pieces following a Round 2 sweep by the New York Knicks. The Sixers made history in Round 1 as they rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a series for the first time ever in franchise history while also beating the Boston Celtics in a playoff series for the first time since 1982.
With that being said, the Sixers were able to see some positives in the 2025-26 season. They went 45-37, won a playoff series for the first time since 2023, and bounced back from a miserable season the year before. As Tyrese Maxey and Co. move forward, the next steps are staying together and building off this.
"I think the biggest thing is, like, this was a step in the right direction," Maxey stated. "From going from last year where we didn't even make the playoffs, to this year where we get to the second round, we, you know, again, no more victories, but at some point, you got to take away something positive, and like I said we got a lot of experience."
The Sixers were able to get VJ Edgecombe, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona, and others some real playoff experience. That run was important for those youngsters to really understand what it takes to win in the postseason. Now, they have to build off of it heading into the summer. The Sixers don't want to take any steps backward. It's all about now finally breaking through to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001.
"You got the VJs, you got the Justins," Maxey added. "You got all those guys who haven't played in the playoffs before, they get a whole taste of, like, playoff experience, and once you get this taste of playoff experience, you don't want to go backwards. I was in the playoffs my first, my second, my third, my fourth year, and like, that's all I know. Like, I was telling Trendon (Watford), like he made a comment, like, ‘Man, it's May 10, I think, or something like that right now, and like, guys are working out and already got back in the gym and we still playing. Like, this is crazy.’ And I'm telling, like, ‘This is what you want to be used to.’ So, that's one thing that we're going to try to take away from this."
This was a tight-knit group all season long. The Sixers genuinely enjoyed being around each other, and that's the biggest thing for this group. As they move forward, the goal is to build. Maxey will undoubtedly be keeping in touch with his teammates and inviting them to workouts and continuing to grow and build.
"Then, just staying together, man," Maxey finished. "Keeping the camaraderie high, keeping the vibes high. The vibes within the group is really good, especially with the young guys. Like, we really liked each other, really did things together. The camaraderie was really good. So, we got to keep that vibe going and just keep that culture building. If we keep building that culture, then I think the sky's the limit for this team."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey reveals next steps for Sixers following Round 2 loss
ICE and OKX plan to launch oil-linked perpetual futures based on Brent and WTI benchmarks, bringing crypto derivatives further into traditional energy markets under licensing restrictions.
MARA spent $4.3 million on CEO Fred Thiel’s security in 2025, including vehicle armoring, as crypto wrench attacks increased globally.
SpaceX’s IPO could turn the Mag 7 into a Mag 8, with Tesla and SpaceX comprising 25% of the group's Bitcoin balance-sheet exposure.
Repeated bridge exploits and shrinking yields are making institutions question whether DeFi’s risks still justify the returns, says Symbiotic’s Putiatin.
The $10.7 million THORChain exploit was caused by a GG20 vulnerability, which allowed a malicious node to reconstruct a full private key to one of its vaults.
The Canadian Game Awards 2026 have come and gone to finally close out the awards season for 2025, and while its regional restrictions meant this was one awards show that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 couldn't run away with, it did have a singular game dominating the night. South of Midnight was the clear winner of the evening, taking home seven awards, including the biggest award of the night. Compulsion Games' story-driven adventure won in almost every category it was nominated in, save for Innovation in Accessibility, which Assassin's Creed Shadows took home as its singular win of the night. Compulsion […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/south-of-midnight-dominates-canadian-game-awards-2026-with-a-near-perfect-sweep-including-goty/
Call of Duty is one of the biggest annual franchises in the video game industry, but that hasn't stopped it from going through a recent rough patch. Activision admitted the series was having an identity crisis and that the company's structural approach to releases contributed to its recent decline, but now it looks to put things back on track, as Infinity Ward claims 2026's release will be "the definitive Modern Warfare" game that kicks off "a new chapter" for the series. A video from the official Call of Duty YouTube account interviewing the co-studio heads of Infinity Ward, Mark Grigsby […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/call-of-duty-2026-modern-warfare-infinity-ward/
Apple has incessantly faced overwhelming odds against local brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and others in China, and there’s an ongoing belief that customers would pick these Android devices over an overseas company to fuel the nationalist sentiment. However, slap on a discount on the latest iPhone 17 lineup and see how that exact sentiment changes. Leading up to China’s “618” shopping festival, which is the region’s second-largest e-commerce sales event, price cuts on various Apple handsets have resulted in millions of activations, according to one tipster. The data shows that consumers will pick value over everything else, especially when there’s […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/iphone-17-price-cuts-china-618-sale-has-resulted-in-30-million-activations/
Spain’s Imserso senior travel programme still has spare places on 36 cultural tours scheduled for the final days of May and throughout June, as operator Turismo Social races to fill unsold capacity before the current […]Heavy traffic brought parts of Turkey’s Anadolu Motorway to a standstill as millions of people began travelling for the country’s extended Eid al-Adha holiday break. Long queues formed on the Ankara-bound lanes through Bolu, particularly […]The oneworld Alliance is expanding its presence at London Heathrow Airport as Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop flights between Seattle and London from 22 May 2026. The new service increases oneworld’s Heathrow membership to 14 […]
© <p>Margot Cavin/Travel + Leisure</p>
© <p>Alessandra Amodio/Travel+Leisure</p>
Google introduced a new update for Wear OS smartwatches at Google I/O 2026. The company announced that Wear OS Tiles will now be Wear Widgets. This is Google’s plan to make widgets look and work similarly across Android phones, tablets, smartwatches, and cars.
The new Wear Widgets are made to improve the smartwatch experience. Google showed new widget designs in different sizes, such as 2×1 and 2×2 layouts. These widgets can show more information on the screen and are easier to use. They also have smoother animations and faster performance.
Google explained that some popular apps will support Wear Widgets first. These apps include Spotify, WhatsApp, Peloton, and Todoist. With these widgets, users can quickly check messages, control music, track workouts, or view tasks directly from their smartwatch screen without opening full apps.
The biggest improvement is battery saving. Google explained that the new widgets use a technology, Remote Compose. This system allows widgets to work smoothly without running apps in the background all the time. Because of this, smartwatches can use less battery power and last longer during the day.
Google also confirmed that the new Wear Widgets will work on devices running Wear OS 4 and newer versions. This means many older smartwatches can also get the new features without needing new hardware.
Samsung Galaxy Watch users may also get more customization options. Google said that third-party Wear Widgets can now appear inside Samsung’s Multi-Info Tiles, which earlier only supported Samsung’s own widgets.
In addition, Google previewed widgets for Android Auto, which will arrive later this year. The new Wear Widgets are designed to make smartwatches simpler, faster, more useful, and better for battery life. Stay tuned for more information.
The post Samsung Galaxy Watches to support new wear widgets in Wear OS 7 appeared first on Sammy Fans.
An interesting report from Korea emerged last week, claiming that BOE is actively trying to enter Samsung’s supply chain as a secondary display supplier for the Galaxy S27 series. A new report from ZDNET Korea shares more details on the matter, including BOE’s offer to Samsung and the possible implications of the deal. Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX) division has requested information from BOE regarding OLED panel development for the Galaxy S27 and has been evaluating samples for over a month. According to unnamed industry insiders, BOE is on track to meet the requirements for the Galaxy...
Alongside the launch of the Realme 16T in India, the company also unveiled the new Realme Watch S5 smartwatch in the country. The watch comes in two colors, a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, and is claimed to deliver up to 20 days of battery life. The Realme Watch S5 features a circular 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a 466x466 pixel resolution and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness. The smartwatch comes with an aluminum alloy case and Panda Glass protection on the front. It is paired with silica gel straps and weighs 49.6 grams, including the strap. Meanwhile, the bottom housing, which...
has described one half of the potential showdown between and as “free meat”, believing that he would suffer a dislocated jaw. ‘Rolly’ defeated Garcia by scoring a sizable upset in May 2025, when a second-round knockdown contributed to his convincing unanimous decision victory. Prior to that, ‘King Ry’ was handed a year-long ban after testing […]
The post Rolly Romero sees only one winner in Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn: “Dislocate his jaw” appeared first on Boxing News.
“Latsio”nun veteran sağ vingeri, 38 yaşlı ispan futbolçu Pedro Rodriges cari mövsümün sonunda İtaliya klubundan ayrılacaq.
Arena.az bu barədə A Seriyası təmsilçisinin rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.
Pedronun “Latsio” ilə mövcud müqaviləsinin müddəti bu yay başa çatacaq. Tərəflərin bundan sonra əməkdaşlığa son verəcəyi bildirilib.
38 yaşlı futbolçu azarkeşlərlə vidalaşarkən emosional açıqlama verib: “Piza”ya qarşı oyun mənim “Latsio” forması ilə son matçım olacaq. Ümid edirəm ki, hamınızı stadionda görəcəyəm. İnanıram ki, mənim üçün orada ola biləcəksiniz. Amma başa düşürəm ki, bu il hər kəs üçün çox çətin və ağır keçib. Bu üzdən də hər birinizin qərarına hörmətlə yanaşıram. Bu klubun formasını geyinməkdən qürur duydum. Mən həmişə sizdən biri olaraq qalacağam. İrəli, “Latsio”!
Pedro Rodriges futbola “San-İsidoro” klubunda qədəm qoyub və böyük futbolda debüt edib. Buradan “Barsleona”ya yol tapmış ispan futbolçu, ardınca “Çelsi” və “Roma”da çıxış edib.
Pedro “Roma”nın düşərgəsindən “Latsio”ya 2021-ci ilin avqustunda azad agent qismində qoşulub. O vaxt “canavarlar” ispan hücumçunun xidmətinə ehtiyac görməyiblər.
Cari mövsümdə Pedro “Latsio”nun heyətində 32 oyuna çıxıb, 4 qol və 2 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə fərqlənib.
Pedronun “qartallar”ın heyətində çıxışının ümumi mənzərəsi 208 oyun, 38 qol və 19 məhsuldar ötürmədən ibarətdir.
Pedro Rodriges 2010-cu ilin may ayında debüt etdiyi İspaniya yığmasının heyətində 65 oyun keçirib, 17 qol vurub və 11 məhsudlar ötürmə verib.
Pedronun qənimətlər muzeyində “Barselona” ilə 5 İspaniya çempionluğu, 3 İspaniya Kuboku, 5 İspaniya Super Kuboku, 3 Çempionlar Liqası, 3 UEFA Super Kuboku, 2 FIFA Klub Dünya Kuboku, həmçinin “Çelsi” ilə İngiltərə çempionluğu, İngiltərə Kuboku və Avropa Liqası var.
İspaniya yığması ilə Pedro 2010-cu il dünya çempionatının və 2012-ci il Avropa çempionatının qalibi olub.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 38 yaşlı ispan veteran sağ cinah hücumçusunun transfer dəyərini 1 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
Friday’s reports claim that Real Madrid are the latest club to explore the possibility of signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer this summer, following reported interest from the likes of Milan, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Vlahovic’s contract in Turin will expire on June 30, and he is free to discuss opportunities away from Juventus. The Bianconeri have been attempting to offer Vlahovic a new deal on reduced wages for the majority of the 2025-26 season with no success thus far.
There have been plenty of ups and downs for Vlahovic in the four-and-a-half years since he joined Juventus in a staggering €80m deal from Fiorentina, but this hasn’t put off a list of Europe’s elite clubs, who still consider Vlahovic to be a valuable asset, particularly on a free transfer.
Milan had attempted to sign Vlahovic last summer when Juventus were pushing for a sale, aware of the fact that he was into the final year of his contract. The move didn’t come off, but recent reports indicate that the Rossoneri remain interested.
Reports in Italy claim that Vlahovic has also been offered to Barcelona as a potential replacement for the veteran Robert Lewandowski, and to Bayern Munich as a potential option to rotate and compete with Harry Kane.
Reports earlier this week claimed that there could also be an option for Vlahovic at Atletico Madrid, and now, the latest updates from TMW claim that Real Madrid have held discussions about the possibility of signing the Serbian as well.
Manchester City have formally announced that Pep Guardiola will be stepping down from his role as head coach at the end of the 2025-26 season, but despite the suggestions that he could be tempted by an offer from the Italy national team, it appears that the Spaniard already has a new role lined up.
Guardiola will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season following 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium, in which time he won the Premier League six times, the FA Cup three times, the EFL Cup five times and the Champions League, UEFA Super Cub and Club World Cup in 2023.
There have been suggestions in the Italian press over the last few months that Guardiola could be tempted to return to Italy, where he previously played for Brescia and Roma, to fill the vacant national team head coach role.
The CT position has been left vacant since the departure of Gennaro Gattuso shortly after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March. A replacement is expected to be appointed after the FIGC Presidential election takes place on June 22.
Guardiola, along with Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Simone Inzaghi and Roberto Mancini are among the names that have most regularly been mentioned in connection with the Italy job in the press over the last few weeks.
However, the statement that Manchester City released confirming Guardiola’s departure also mentioned that he will step into an global ambassadorial role with the City Group, the network that owns the club along with Melbourne City, Montevideo City, Troyes, the majority of New York City FC, Palermo and Lommel and holds significant stakes in Girona and Yokohama F. Marinos.
“Pep Guardiola will step down as Manager of Manchester City this summer,” read Manchester City’s statement.
“The Catalan, who joined City in July 2016, has had a transformative effect during his ten years in charge, and will leave having won 20 major trophies – making him the most successful Manager in our history.
“Despite his departure as Manager of Manchester City, Pep will continue his relationship with the City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador. The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to have a busy summer away from Milan, but the Swede is not expected to step into the ring with former boxing heavyweight champion of the World Tyson Fury, despite appearing to announce a bout with the Gypsy King on social media.
Ibrahimovic is a senior advisor to RedBird Capital Partners, the investment management firm that owns Milan. Technically, Ibrahimovic is not directly employed by the club, despite his role being largely on the ground in Italy.
That means, that despite the club’s plans for a busy summer of transfer activity, Ibrahimovic is not obliged to be in the building at Milanello, which is why he is available for punditry duty with FOX Sports for the duration of the 2026 World Cup.
On Thursday, Ibrahimovic took to Instagram, and appeared to announce some sort of fight against Fury. The pair posed for pictures together and posted to social media with the caption: “Breaking news! It’s on August 1! Dublin, Ireland.”
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, however, there is no chance of Ibrahimovic and Fury stepping into the ring and fighting each other, even in some form of exhibition.
Instead, Zlatan’s post is more likely to reference the IBO World super-lightweight title fight between Pierce O’Leary and Mark Chamberlain, which is taking place in Dublin on August 1. O’Leary is represented by Frank Warren, who also represents Fury.
Meanwhile, back in Milan, RedBird’s managing director Gerry Cardinale is expected to visit in the coming days to assess the 2025-26 season, sit down for talks with Massimiliano Allegri and potentially to restructure the senior management of the club.
The managerial merry-go-round is in full swing in Serie A, and amidst the reports that Atalanta are trying to snatch Maurizio Sarri away from Lazio and Napoli, a new scenario is emerging that could see the Biancocelesti head coach ‘swap’ jobs with Raffaele Palladino.
Sarri is currently under contract with Lazio, but is among the coaches identified by Napoli as a potential replacement for Antonio Conte, who will leave the Partenopei after the 2025-26 comes to an end.
Despite his previous connections to Napoli, recent reports indicate that Sarri is more tempted by an offer from Atalanta, where he would work alongside his former Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli. La Dea are said to be ‘pushing’ to beat Napoli to the coach’s signature.
Lazio are left looking at potential replacements for Sarri, and now, reports from the Corriere dello Sport suggest that there could be a potential ‘swap’ involving Atalanta’s Palladino on the cards. Palladino is among the lengthy list of Serie A coaches expected to leave their current roles at the end of the season.
Lazio have reportedly been exploring options surrounding former Bologna and Juventus head coach Thiago Motta, but Friday’s report indicates that Motta is more likely to start again with a new job abroad rather than in Serie A.
On the other hand, Palladino and Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane are among the options that Lazio seem to like best.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford appeared to aim a dig at the club after being called up for England’s World Cup squad.
Rashford is part of Thomas Tuchel’s side for the upcoming tournament after an impressive spell on loan at Barcelona this season, despite struggling for some time towards the end of his spell with Man Utd.
Although technically still a United player, Rashford hasn’t featured for the club since the first half of last season, as he spent the second part of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Aston Villa before then leaving for another loan to Barca in the summer.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
It seems Rashford really didn’t leave Old Trafford on great terms, as he has now posted on Instagram thanking his managers at Villa, Barcelona, and England, and making no mention of United at all…
Rashford has done well to turn his career around after struggling at United, so it seems he really made the right choice to leave for a new challenge.
UPDATE: Rashford has now posted again to clarify that this post wasn’t intended as a dig at United, and that he remains a fan of the club:
To make my IG story clear. It's not a dig of any sort! I'm a MU supporter, and that remains. I was showing gratitude to the clubs and coaches that I have worked with over the past 18 months, they have played a big role in this ??????? call up.
— MR14 (@MarcusRashford) May 22, 2026
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Rashford can play out wide or up front so looks like he has the potential to be a key player for England this summer.
The 28-year-old has just won La Liga with Barcelona, contributing a total of 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
It remains to be seen if he’ll stay at the Nou Camp permanently, but he looks back to his best and fully deserving of a place in the England squad.
While it’s perhaps not guaranteed, it seems likely that Rashford will be in Tuchel’s starting line up for most games, playing on the left of a front three alongside Harry Kane as the central striker, and Bukayo Saka on the right.
The post Marcus Rashford clarifies apparent dig at Man United after World Cup call-up appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Pep Guardiola will be stepping down as Manchester City manager, it has today been confirmed, and some interesting details about his decision have emerged.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
According to well-connected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague on X, formerly Twitter, Guardiola was keen to keep his decision to leave under wraps for as long as possible.
It seems Guardiola knew he would be leaving at the end of this season a few weeks ago, but decided he wouldn’t announce it early in case Man City ended up struggling like Liverpool did when Jurgen Klopp confirmed his exit months ahead of the end of his final season.
See below for details from Balague, with the key line being: “Once he decided to leave — and this is important, because that decision was only taken seven or eight weeks ago — he wanted to keep control of the situation so it would not influence matters on the pitch. He remembers Klopp’s experience and what happened after he announced his departure in January: after the initial positive reaction, Liverpool’s form tailed off badly during the run-in.”
The decision and timing of Pep Guardiola’s announcement is TOTALLY his!!
There is not a single person at the club who is happy about him going and, if Khaldoon had found a way to convince him to stay, he would have tried it.
Pep has given everything. In year five, in year… pic.twitter.com/xtTnjk3qVJ
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) May 22, 2026
Balague also praised Guardiola as an “obsessive genius”, whilst adding that the Spanish tactician’s plan for now is to rest.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Interestingly, Balague also provided some insight into the thinking behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola will be almost impossible to replace, regardless of the vast resources of the club, with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss up there with the very best managers of all time.
It remains to be seen how City will recover from this, but Balague pointed out that there isn’t anyone behind the scenes who’s happy with the news that Pep is moving on.
As reported by BBC Sport and others, it looks like former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be Guardiola’s replacement.
? Surely the GOAT Premier League manager? ? pic.twitter.com/56QF7wAAgR
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 22, 2026
Still, the Italian tactician has nowhere near the same kind of CV as Guardiola, who leaves Manchester after winning a stunning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, and five League Cups.
The post How Pep Guardiola wanted to avoid Liverpool mistake when deciding his future appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United have officially confirmed that Michael Carrick will be staying on as the club’s manager permanently after his successful interim spell.
The Red Devils have made the announcement today in what has been a huge few hours of football news as Thomas Tuchel announced his England World Cup squad and Pep Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City was also confirmed.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Carrick has been confirmed as the new full time Man Utd manager on the club’s official site, with director Jason Wilcox explaining some of the key reasons they decided to give him the job.
Speaking to the club’s official site, Wilcox praised the work done by Carrick since replacing Ruben Amorim a few months ago, whilst also stressing how important it is that he has a good relationship with the players.
“Michael has thoroughly earned the opportunity to continue leading our men’s team. In the time he has been doing the role, we have seen positive results on the pitch, but more than that, an approach which aligns with the club’s values, traditions and history,” Wilcox said.
“Michael’s achievements in leading the club back to the Champions League should not be understated. He has forged a strong bond with the players and can be proud of the winning culture at Carrington and in the dressing room, which we are continuing to build.”
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
MUFC fans will be delighted to see a legendary former player back at Old Trafford doing so well, and it seems like the 44-year-old’s strong understanding of the culture of the club has helped him a lot.
Carrick himself also released a statement expressing his joy at landing the job permanently, in what is undoubtedly a huge moment in his career after his only previous experience came as manager of Championship side Middlesbrough.
“From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United,” Carrick said.
“Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride.
“Throughout the past five months, this group of players have shown they can reach the standards of resilience, togetherness and determination that we demand here.
“Now it’s time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose. Manchester United and our incredible supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honours again.”
The post “Winning culture” and “strong bond” with players – why Carrick has landed the Man United job permanently appeared first on CaughtOffside.
The NBA has always been driven by superstar players. Great players win games, entertain fans, and create outstanding moments. Still, winning championships usually takes more than talent alone. The best teams often succeed because a great coach and a great player work perfectly together.
Some partnerships were built on trust and teamwork. Others succeeded because of strong leadership, discipline, and smart coaching. A few duos even changed how basketball is played.
Many NBA dynasties started with one coach and one superstar leading the way. Their connection helped teams stay successful during tough moments and big playoff games. It also helped players improve and reach legendary status.
MORE: Greatest NBA player rivalries of all time
Several famous coaches became legends because of the stars they coached. At the same time, many all-time great players achieved more success because the right coach guided them. Together, they built winning cultures that lasted for years.
From the Boston Celtics dynasty to the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, these coach-player partnerships shaped NBA history.
Few coach-player pairings showed more toughness than Larry Brown and Allen Iverson in Philadelphia.
Brown built one of the NBA’s strongest defensive teams. Meanwhile, Iverson carried almost all of the scoring load. Their personalities often clashed, but the results were still impressive.
The partnership reached its peak during the 2000-01 season. Iverson won the NBA MVP award after averaging 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Philadelphia finished 56-26 and reached the NBA Finals.
That playoff run became one of the most memorable in league history. Iverson played through injuries and constant pressure. Brown later admitted Iverson was one of the toughest players he ever coached both mentally and physically.
Although the Lakers defeated the Sixers in the Finals, their partnership remains unforgettable.
Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry completely changed modern basketball.
Kerr became Golden State’s head coach in 2014 and unlocked Curry’s full potential. The offense focused on movement, spacing, and three-point shooting. Soon, the Warriors became the defining team of the 2010s.
Together, they won four NBA championships and reached six NBA Finals. Their best regular season came in 2015-16 when Golden State finished with a historic 73 wins.
Curry became the greatest shooter in NBA history under Kerr’s system. During this era, he won two MVP awards and later added a Finals MVP. He also made more than 10 All-Star teams during the partnership.
Golden State’s style changed the entire league. Teams everywhere started building offenses around three-point shooting and ball movement because of their success.
Chuck Daly and Isiah Thomas led one of the toughest dynasties the NBA has ever seen.
The Detroit Pistons became famous for their physical defense and fearless attitude. Known as the “Bad Boys,” they battled through some of the greatest teams in basketball history.
Daly handled strong personalities perfectly. At the same time, Thomas became the emotional leader of the roster. His scoring, passing, and toughness pushed Detroit to another level.
Together they won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. The Pistons also reached three straight NBA Finals.
Their road to titles was never easy. Detroit had to beat teams led by Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird during their run.
Thomas finished his career averaging 19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game. Daly’s leadership helped turn the Pistons into one of the league’s most feared teams.
Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James started with questions and ended with dominance.
When LeBron joined Miami in 2010, many people doubted Spoelstra’s ability to manage a superstar roster. The Heat also featured Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, which created huge expectations immediately.
Over time, Spoelstra proved himself as one of basketball’s smartest coaches. He adjusted lineups, improved the defense, and helped create a fast and aggressive playing style.
Miami reached four straight NBA Finals during this partnership. The team also won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
One of their biggest achievements came during the 2012-13 season. The Heat won 66 games and produced a 27-game winning streak.
LeBron played some of the best basketball of his career in Miami. Between 2011 and 2014, he averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while winning two MVP awards and two Finals MVPs.
MORE: Top-selling NBA jerseys of 2025-26 season
Red Auerbach and Bill Russell built the NBA’s first true dynasty.
Russell changed basketball with his defense, rebounding, and shot blocking. Auerbach created a team-first system that focused on winning over individual numbers.
Their success was unmatched during the 1960s. Together, they won nine NBA championships, including eight straight titles from 1959 to 1966.
Russell finished his legendary career with 11 championships and five MVP awards. He also averaged an incredible 22.5 rebounds per game.
Auerbach became one of the most respected coaches in sports because of this dynasty.
Pat Riley and Magic Johnson made “Showtime” basketball famous around the world.
The Lakers played fast, exciting basketball during the 1980s. Magic was the perfect leader for that style because of his passing ability and basketball IQ.
Under Riley, Los Angeles became the team of the decade. Together, they won four NBA championships and reached seven NBA Finals.
Magic’s numbers during his career were outstanding. He averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game.
The Lakers also helped save the NBA’s popularity during the 1980s. Their rivalry with the Celtics became one of the biggest storylines in sports.
Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson had a complicated relationship, but their success was undeniable.
Jackson first coached Kobe during the Lakers’ early-2000s dynasty with Shaquille O’Neal. Later, he returned in 2005 and helped Kobe grow into a complete leader.
Together they won five NBA championships and seven Western Conference titles.
Their second run together became especially important for Kobe’s legacy. After Shaq left Los Angeles, many questioned whether Kobe could win another title as the main star.
Kobe answered those questions by leading the Lakers to championships in 2009 and 2010.
Jackson’s triangle offense fit Kobe’s footwork, scoring ability, and competitive mindset perfectly. Meanwhile, Kobe finished his career averaging 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Jackson later retired with a record 11 NBA championships as a head coach.
Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan became the definition of consistency in the NBA.
The Spurs stayed elite for nearly two decades because both men adapted constantly. Early on, San Antonio won with defense and physical play. Later, the team evolved into one of the smartest offensive groups in basketball.
Together they won five NBA championships and reached six NBA Finals.
Their consistency was unbelievable. The Spurs also made the playoffs for 22 straight seasons and won at least 50 games year after year.
Duncan finished his career with 15 All-Star appearances, two MVP awards, and 15 All-NBA selections.
Popovich eventually became the winningest coach in NBA history. More importantly, he helped create one of the most respected cultures in sports.
Red Auerbach and Bob Cousy helped shape modern basketball long before today’s fast-paced game.
Cousy became the league’s first great playmaker. His passing and creativity changed how offenses operated during the 1950s.
Auerbach encouraged that freedom and built an exciting fast-break attack around him. At the time, most teams played a much slower style.
Together they won six NBA championships and dominated their era.
Cousy also led the NBA in assists for eight straight seasons. His impact on the point guard position can still be seen today.
Their Celtics teams created the foundation for Boston’s future dynasty years before Bill Russell arrived.
MORE: NBA athletes with the most All-Star selections
No coach-player partnership in NBA history matches Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan.
Jackson became the Bulls’ head coach in 1989 and convinced Jordan to trust the triangle offense. That decision changed everything for Chicago.
Together they won six NBA championships and completed two separate three-peats. The Bulls also produced a historic 72-win season in 1995-96.
Jordan dominated during this era. He finished his career averaging 30.1 points per game while winning five MVP awards, 10 scoring titles, and six Finals MVP trophies.
Jackson’s calm personality balanced Jordan’s intensity perfectly. Their partnership turned the Bulls into a global sports phenomenon.
Because of their success, the NBA exploded in popularity around the world during the 1990s.
The Ravens are still early in the Jesse Minter era, but one thing already stands out from listening to players and coaches talk this offseason: the emphasis on culture, accountability, and consistency feels very intentional.
During Ravens OTA media availability, Minter discussed the mindset he wants this team to develop throughout the offseason program. Instead of focusing on offense-versus-defense battles every day, Minter explained that the bigger priority is competing against the standard Baltimore wants to set internally.
The message sounds simple, but it's clear the Ravens want daily habits and preparation to define this football team long before Week 1 arrives. Speaking to reporters during OTA media availability, Minter explained:
“You really get a chance to kind of take what we've been learning, put it out into action, get some real reps, really compete against yourself, really compete against the standard that you're trying to create for yourself on a consistent basis – that's the main thing. Try to avoid the one-on-one competition, the 'O-D' competition, but also get reps and get better by doing it. I love the guy's attitude and work ethic. We've had an unbelievable offseason program so far.”
For a team with championship expectations, the Ravens appear focused on building the foundation first.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jesse Minter explains vision for Ravens culture shift
Thumb through the dictionary and it’s easy to find a slew of adjectives to describe Kyle Busch.
Polarizing? Absolutely. Fearless? Check. Exceptional? Yes. Unapologetic? Also yes.
Some called him a jerk, aggressive and controversial. Indeed, Busch could be all those things on and off the racetrack.
But the word that described him the best was the nickname bestowed upon him when he broke into NASCAR and started dominating tracks with an unabashed style: Rowdy.
It came from the character Rowdy Burns, the villain in Tony Scott’s 1990 racing film “Days of Thunder” portrayed by Michael Rooker. It was a persona that Busch fully embraced as his career started taking off, and after rivalries with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rochester Hills' Brad Keselowski went from simmering to boiling. Busch even drove the No. 51 in the Truck Series, the same number Rowdy had plastered on his door in the Hollywood movie.
“You come to the point where you're like, 'Okay, I'm going to wear this black hat. They want me to be the villain? Let's do it.' I went full in just being Rowdy,” Busch said. “I’m not going to say it wasn’t fun being the villain, because I was also winning. I don’t care. I’m going home with the trophy and I’m going home with the check.”
Ultimately, professional sports are drama and entertainment. They need heroes and they need villains. They need good guys and they need bad guys. And during an era when NASCAR’s popularity was waning in the late 2000s and 2010s, it needed unique personalities.
It needed rowdiness. It needed Kyle Busch.
At just 41 years old, Busch died on Thursday after he had been hospitalized with an unspecified severe illness. He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a singular impactful legacy in NASCAR that was full of winning.
If someone were building a Mount Rushmore of the greatest stock car drivers of all-time, there’s a compelling case to be made that Busch should be on it.
He is ninth all-time in wins in NASCAR’s top-tier Cup Series and captured a pair of championships while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. One of those titles, in 2015, came after Busch missed the first 11 races of the season due to a broken leg. He returned and won five races and placed inside the top 10 in 11 others to secure his first Cup Series title, showing off the determination that made him one of the greatest ever to get behind the wheel.
More: Relive Kyle Busch's most memorable NASCAR victories. Watch key moments
Busch is also NASCAR’s all-time leader in victories in the Truck Series with 69 wins and the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 102. Combined across all three of NASCAR’s national touring competitions, no driver in the history of the sport has as many victories as Busch’s 234. The only other driver with 200 is The King, Richard Petty. That’s pretty good company.
He’s also the only driver to win at least one Cup Series race in 19 consecutive seasons, doing so from 2005 through 2023.
In another example of the pure, raw racing talent that Busch possessed, he is the only driver ever to win each of the three races — the trucks, the O’Reilly Series and the Cup Series — in the same weekend. Busch did it twice, in 2010 and 2017, at Bristol.
While Busch was piling up all those wins, he made a lot of enemies.
He turned Dale Jr. at Richmond. He clashed with Kevin Harvick at Darlington. He spun Martin Truex Jr. at Bristol. He got bloody in an attempt to fight Joey Logano in Las Vegas. He tangled with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at North Wilkesboro. He battled Brad Keselowski on tracks and in the press. He was longtime frenemies with Denny Hamlin. He gave NASCAR officials the double birds from pit road at Texas.
These are the moments that made some NASCAR fans love to hate Busch — the same way some of them loved to hate Dale Earnhardt Sr. in previous decades. Busch was aware of that sentiment and never shied away from it. He embraced the jeers as he took his celebratory bows after each victory. If NASCAR was a theatre, Busch was often its headlining act, sporting a sarcastic grin through it all.
Busch was a throwback to the drivers of the 1970s, 80s and 90s — drivers like Earnhardt — who only cared about winning and didn’t care whose feelings they hurt or whose cars they wrecked along the way. But Busch was also perfect for this new era where internet memes and social media soundbytes rule the day.
During driver introductions one year at Bristol, Busch told the crowd, “If you love you some Rowdy, let me hear you go BOOOOOO!”
After sending Kyle Larson into a slide to pave the way for his victory in the 2018 race at Chicagoland, Busch hopped out of his car, grabbed the checkered flag, balled his hand up and rubbed his eye to look like a baby crying as he looked into the camera, taunting his haters.
“I don’t know what y’all are whining about,” Busch told the crowd. “If you don’t like that kind of racing, don’t even watch.”
While some of the drivers Busch competed with across a NASCAR career that spanned more than two decades detested him, they also not only respected him — but chased him. When it came to driving a race car, Busch was the standard for a long period of time. Just ask those drivers.
“What people may not realize is how much that rivalry drove us both,” Harvick said. “Kyle made me better because you had to be at your absolute best to beat him.”
“I’d like to think that somewhere deep down there was an appreciation that we pushed each other to perform at the highest level, even if neither of us would’ve admitted it,” Keselowski said. “Tonight, I feel a little like the coyote with no more roadrunner to chase.”
“Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history,” Dale Jr. said. “No one can deny that.”
Indeed.
When NASCAR needed highlights, Busch was there waving the checkered flag. When it needed storylines and ratings, Busch was there, holding a microphone. And when NASCAR needed a villain, Busch was there, pushing his car into someone else’s, then laughing all the way to victory lane after racing away from his competition.
Whether Busch was more loved or hated is debatable. What’s inarguable is that he was one of the best racecar drivers to ever do it, and a one-of-a-kind talent and personality that racing may never see again.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Kyle Busch embraced being ‘Rowdy’ — and NASCAR needed him | Opinion
The controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark's presence (or lack thereof) on the injury report has reached a Fever pitch.
The WNBA reportedly issued a warning to the Indiana Fever after Clark missed Wednesday's game against the Portland Fire after not appearing on the injury report. Clark was dealing with back soreness, coach Stephanie White revealed after the win over Portland.
It's been tough for Clark to stay on the court at the WNBA level. She missed 31 games a season ago and is already having health concerns in 2026. Her mysterious absence against the Fire led many to believe Indiana has her on some sort of a load management plan, but White insists that's not the case.
What we do know is the WNBA's warning will affect the Fever in some fashion. Here's how.
You'd have to imagine the team is more transparent about its injury report going forward. Operating in secrecy has only brought criticism to this point. Load management or not, expect Indiana to be more cautious with its handling of the injury report, particularly Clark's status as she's the league's biggest name brand. Clark has been phenomenal in the four games she's played so far, averaging 24.2 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: WNBA issues warning amid Caitlin Clark injury controversy, per report: What it means for Fever
When Ray Didinger speaks about the Philadelphia Eagles, most fans still do the same thing they’ve done for decades. They listen. That’s because he has never built his reputation on hot takes, manufactured outrage, or shouting louder than everyone else in the room. He's a hall-of-fame sportswriter, one whose football opinions lean on perspective.
With Didinger, there is always context and just enough restraint to make them feel more trustworthy than the average offseason optimism. That said, when he sounds hopeful about the Eagles, it’s worth paying attention. During a recent appearance on SportsRadio 94WIP, he was so again.
During his recent appearance on 94 WIP-FM, Didinger offered a measured but encouraging take on Philadelphia’s outlook entering the 2026 season. He made it clear that while he isn’t ready to declare anything in May, he sees legitimate reasons for optimism.
Ray Didinger explains why he is very optimistic about the Eagles in 2026. pic.twitter.com/sNQv6lxXtX
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) May 21, 2026
This isn’t the kind of blind confidence fans often talk themselves into during the spring, when every rookie looks like a future star and every free-agent addition feels like a masterstroke. Didinger’s optimism tends to come with caveats, which honestly makes it more believable.
And if you’re an Eagles fan, there are reasons to understand his angle. Philadelphia remains one of the NFL’s better-run organizations. Howie Roseman continues to approach roster construction like a man playing chess while others are arguing over checkers. The Eagles have talent in the trenches, a quarterback who has already proven he can win at the highest level, and enough offensive intrigue to keep opposing defensive coordinators uncomfortable.
That doesn’t mean concerns don’t exist. Questions remain about offensive evolution, and where offensive coordinator Sean Mannion might take it. Expectations surrounding DeVonta Smith’s expanded role will grow louder if the A.J. Brown chatter continues.
The NFC East won’t be handing out favors, and repeating division titles in that neighborhood has historically been anything but easy. Mannion won a lot of people over with his first press conference. In it, he discussed blending what the Eagles already do that works with fresh ideas. Still, cautious optimism feels like the appropriate lane.
That’s especially true when it comes from someone who has seen enough Eagles seasons to know the difference between genuine promise and offseason fantasy. Didinger’s message, if you read between the lines, feels fairly simple. The Eagles look like a team capable of doing something meaningful again.
Still, even with that being said, he won't follow the path of people who speak in a louder tone. He’s a legend, and he's smart enough to understand that capability and inevitability are two very different conversations.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Hall of Fame sportswriter offers some cautious Eagles optimism
The Cleveland Browns selected WR Denzel Boston in the second round of the NFL draft. What is his realistic 2026 fantasy outlook, and how might his presence impact Jerry Jeudy, K.C. Conception, and other Cleveland wideouts?
This franchise is probably one very good quarterback away from a winning record and playoff contention. Similarly, they’re probably one very good quarterback away from elevating Jeudy and their two high-priced rookie receivers: Boston and Conception.
But the reality is that they’re all long shots to finish in the top 40. The market seems to agree, as Conception leads the team with a WR55 ADP, followed by Boston (WR64) and Jeudy (WR68). In other words, managers drafting this early in the offseason are steering clear of this packed corps.
Had Boston landed elsewhere, Jeudy and Conception easily would have been top-45 targets. But by drafting two rookies and opting not to trade Jeudy at near-peak value, the Browns have forced fantasy managers to look away.
There is, of course, and outside chance that one of this team’s QBs could shock the world and look like a franchise-elevating player. Strangely (but not that strangely), Deshaun Watson is the best candidate, because he has the highest proven ceiling. If you’re looking for the best floor, that would probably be Shedeur Sanders.
Whatever happens at QB, it’s not likely to change the fact that -- for fantasy purposes -- this team has too many wide receivers.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: WR Denzel Boston rookie fantasy outlook and impact on WR teammates
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's must-win Premier League game against Leeds United at London Stadium (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Listen to live action from the London Stadium on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Got a question about West Ham? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts
Thomas Tuchel has responded to Harry Maguire’s reaction after the Manchester United defender was left out of England’s World Cup squad.
Maguire, who has been a consistent presence in England squads for years, said he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision. Tuchel, however, was surprised by the public nature of the statement, especially after he had already discussed the decision privately with the player.
The key detail here is that Tuchel had not simply omitted Maguire without explanation. The England manager had reportedly spoken with him directly, outlining the reasons behind the decision before it became public knowledge.
Maguire has earned respect over a long international career, and Tuchel appeared to acknowledge that by having the conversation before the news broke.
But once the statement was released, the dynamic shifted. The focus was no longer just on Maguire’s disappointment. It also raised questions about whether the private explanation had resonated.
Tuchel was not questioning Maguire’s right to feel disappointed. Instead, he was reacting to the issue becoming public after it had already been addressed behind closed doors.
That is a fair position. Senior players deserve honesty, but managers are also entitled to expect difficult private conversations to stay controlled.
Maguire’s reaction was understandable. He believed he still had something to offer England, and his statement reflected how much playing for his country means to him.
He has faced criticism before, returned to the squad, and remained one of the more recognisable defenders of the Gareth Southgate era.
But Tuchel’s squad was not about rewarding past service. Maguire being left out of England’s World Cup squad was part of a wider set of bold selections.
That is where the public response complicated things. Both perspectives have validity: Maguire’s disappointment was genuine, and Tuchel’s surprise at the public reaction was reasonable.
Maguire was not the only big name left out. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were also among the other high-profile omissions, underlining that reputation alone did not guarantee selection.
Tuchel was clear that he wanted the best team rather than the 26 most talented players. That stance fits with the Maguire decision.
Maguire remains a Manchester United player with significant tournament experience and is still contracted to the club beyond this season.
This was not about a player fading from the game. It was a football decision, and Tuchel expected the private conversation to stand.
Maguire was entitled to feel hurt. But if the decision had already been explained to him directly, Tuchel’s surprise at the public statement was understandable.
The omission was a football story. The reaction turned it into something bigger.
Read more:
WARWICK — The Division I boys volleyball tournament hasn’t been this open in years.
Title contenders lurk in every round, teams are peaking at the right time, and it’ll all play out for our enjoyment over the following weeks. Cranston East and North Kingstown’s dominance last year left little doubt on the championship finalists. And the Skippers and La Salle were the same way a couple times in previous seasons.
The Rams looked like heavy front runners this spring before Barrington went into Providence and left with a sweep. The Eagles spot at the top only lasted four days before East Greenwich handed Barrington a four-set loss.
Hendricken returned the favor over the Avengers with a 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 25-14 victory in Warwick on Thursday, May 21. The Hawks flashed their potential in that fourth set as they finished off the season with their 14th win of the spring. Hendricken, with the triumph, matched its best win total since the 2018 season when it finished runner-up.
“These past few years, last year and the year before, it’s been two teams and everyone knew that,” Roebuck said. “Everyone knew … it wasn’t going to happen. It’s just a whole different level this year.”
Hendricken enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind La Salle. It’s easy to see how Hendricken built its contending season with Roebuck, Andrew Ramos and Ryan Yin setting the table.
“I think we saw it in the fourth set,” Roebuck said of Hendricken’s strengths. “We just have to wake up from the beginning, no lows or anything, just kind of play how we know we can and go right at them.”
East Greenwich battled through two close sets, lost some key points in bad spots, but owned the third frame. It swung with purpose — like it did against Barrington — and settled into a groove. Milo Sy and Cameron Gates provided the outside presence that every successful team boasts. Zion Sun was the energetic libero and EG has plenty in the middle to make a run.
The Avengers, despite the loss, are playing with confidence and they should.
“I think our hitters have been swinging more aggressively,” Sun said. “I really like that, and for me personally, I took a dip with my passing, but I’ve regained it a bit. I think that’s what has contributed to some of our recent success.
“I think all of us are playing a lot better than we did in the middle stretch of the season. I think we can be dangerous going into the playoffs.”
The Avengers (9-9) meet Cranston East in the quarterfinal round. It’s a tough matchup against the defending champions — the Thunderbolts are a top team when they have their full lineup. But there isn’t a comforting opponent in this tournament. East Providence (9-9) is likely starting in the preliminary round, and the Townies took the Thunderbolts, Skippers and Eagles to five sets.
“It’s so much more fun, every matchup we’re going in expecting to win,” Sun said. “I feel like I can see the matchup and I see that we can win. I think that’s the most fun state of volleyball right now. I’m really glad that it’s my senior year.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hendricken volleyball vs East Greenwich final score
The two-day PIAA track and field championships will be held Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23 at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.
Click here to follow live updates from Friday's action in Shippensburg.
Results for the boys' and girls' Class 3A events will be posted here as events go final and qualifying ends. Check back often for updates.
Click here for live updates from Class 2A.
Results will be added as the finals of each event are completed.
Results will be added as the finals of each event are completed.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 2026 PIAA 3A state track and field championship results
Disciplinary investigations have been launched into Motherwell v Celtic and Celtic v Hearts in the Scottish Premiership as well as two end-of-season lower league play-off fixtures, the SPFL has announced.
Spectators entered the pitch following late goals at Fir Park on 13 May and Celtic Park on 16 May as Celtic won their final two league fixtures of the season to retain the Premiership title.
Conduct is also being reviewed following Hamilton Academical's League 1 play-off second-leg win against Clyde at Broadwood on 15 May and Stenhousemuir's Championship play-off second leg defeat by Alloa Athletic on 16 May.
Hamilton and Stenny both won their ties on aggregate and there were spectators on the pitch following both games.
"In recent seasons, there have been a number of incidents at SPFL matches where objects have been thrown at players or members of staff, orchestrated pyrotechnic displays have taken place, and/or mass pitch incursions have occurred," the SPFL said in a statement.
"In season 2025-26 the SPFL concluded 11 disciplinary processes against eight clubs for such incidents.
"These statistics do not include the final match days of the season and the SPFL can confirm that the [matches being investigated] are being investigated under SPFL Rules H36 and H37.
"In addition to these disciplinary processes, there is a continuing need for all stakeholders to work together to address the challenges of unacceptable conduct at matches, including pitch encroachments and pyrotechnic use.
"The SPFL has engaged fully in the Scottish government's consultation on football banning orders and awaits the next steps in that process."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says allegations Hearts players were assaulted amid Saturday's pitch invasion "has not been proved".
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom claimed on Wednesday Hearts players were assaulted by Celtic supporters as they ran on the pitch.
Police Scotland are investigating whether there was any criminality involved, and O'Neill says if proof emerges then "apologies are due".
The SPFL say "Rules H36 and H37 states:
"H36 The home club in any official batch must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, H36.1 good order and security; H36.2 that policies and procedures have been adopted and are implemented to prevent incidents of unacceptable conduct; and H36.3 that any incidents of unacceptable conduct are effectively dealt with, all at its stadium on the occasion of an official match.
"H37 Each Club must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that: H37.1 its Players, officials, supporters and any person exercising a function for or connected with the club do not engage in unacceptable conduct at a stadium on the occasion of an official match; H37.2 it identifies any of its supporters who engage in unacceptable conduct at an official match; and H37.3 it takes proportionate disciplinary measures in respect of supporters so identified in terms of Rule H37.2."
England have announced their squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel named his 26-man squad on Friday, with England's tournament getting under way against Croatia on 17 June, before further group games against Ghana and Panama.
Now that the squad has been announced, it is time to pick the line-up you want to see Tuchel deploy in the United States.
The World Cup, which takes place across the US, Mexico and Canada, starts on 11 June.
Soon enough, the Chicago Bears won't be playing in Chicago anymore.
The Bears reiterated in a statement released May 21 they are planning to leave the city as they look to build a new stadium in either Arlington Heights – an Illinois suburb located 25 miles Northwest of Chicago – or Hammond, Indiana.
"The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal," the team said in a statement obtained May 21 by the Associated Press. "There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond."
The Bears have been primarily located in Chicago since 1921, when the Decatur Staleys relocated to the city. The franchise spent its early years playing at Wrigley Field – an arrangement that lasted through the 1970 season – before moving to Soldier Field.
The Bears have played at Soldier Field for all but one NFL season since 1971. The lone exception was the 2002 season, when the Bears played at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium while Soldier Field underwent significant renovations.
The Bears do not own Soldier Field. The team leases the facility, which is owned and operated by the Chicago Park District.
Currently, the Bears are locked into a lease agreement through the 2033 NFL season. They can, however, exit the lease early if they are willing to pay a penalty – which would be about $90 million if the team did so in 2026, according to calculations performed by the Chicago Sun-Times in 2021.
It isn't clear how much that penalty figure will drop if the Bears continue to play at Soldier Field until their new construction is complete.
It also isn't yet clear exactly when the Bears will announce their choice for a new stadium location. Team president and CEO Kevin Warren provided a tentative timeline about a decision during the NFL's owners meetings in March.
"We don't have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring-slash-summer, we'll know," Warren told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and Chris Simms. "I mean, we have to know because we will have completed the due diligence in Indiana and we'll see what happens in Illinois."
Warren is confident that Bears fans will be happy with the new stadium regardless of whether it ends up in Arlington Heights or in Hammond.
"Fortunately, both of those sites are great locations," Warren said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bears plan to leave Chicago with stadium options in city 'exhausted'
The two-day PIAA track and field championships will be held Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23 at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.
Click here to follow live updates from Friday's action at Shippensburg.
Results for the boys' and girls' Class 2A events will be posted here as events go final and qualifying ends. Check back often for updates.
Click here for live results from Class 3A.
Results will be added as the finals of each event are completed.
Results will be added as the finals of each event are completed.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: 2026 PIAA 2A state track and field championship results
On Saturday, Charlton Athletic have the opportunity to seal promotion to the Women's Super League as it expands to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season.
Standing in their way are Leicester City, who finished bottom of the WSL and travel to The Valley needing to win to avoid relegation.
But can you remember all the other sides that have made it to the WSL over the past 12 seasons?
Try our quiz below.
Join Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie on the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed
XRP Ledger activity surges with 4,300 new wallets created in 24 hours, but strong resistance keeps XRP price capped.
Bloomberg reports today that Nintendo is quietly raising its Switch 2 production quota to 20 million units for this fiscal year, a 20% increase over the 16.5 million units publicly outlined in the latest financial report that was released earlier this month. Nintendo is used to sharing very conservative estimates that are then handily beaten by the actual results. Dr. Serkan Toto, a renowned industry analyst, said as much to Bloomberg; he also believes that even the higher Switch 2 price won't stop consumers from buying the console. For them, there is no real downside in lowballing numbers first and […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/switch-2-demand-holds-firm-price-hike-nintendo-orders-20-million-units/
The Intel Razor Lake isn't coming anytime soon, but it's great to see display manufacturers already working on products that are Razor Lake-ready. Intel's Razor Lake Platforms Gets Early Display Support As Tianma Shows a 14-inch 2.8K In-Cell Touch Panel The Intel 2026 Client Ecosystem Symposium that was held in Shanghai had some interesting stuff going on, particularly for Intel's future generation CPUs. While we wait for Intel to drop the Nova Lake series later this year, it has already been working on next-generation CPU families, including the Razor Lake, which is one of the most interesting product stacks by […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/tianma-shows-2-8k-in-cell-touch-display-for-intel-razor-lake/
GIGABYTE has launched its latest budget OLED gaming monitor, which brings excellent specifications at an affordable price tag. GIGABYTE Debuts GO27Q24G 27-inch WOLED Gaming Monitor at $399 on Amazon; 0.03 ms Response Time, 240Hz, DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certification, and AMD FreeSync Premium Support Popular hardware and peripheral maker, GIGABYTE, has launched its latest and one of the most affordable OLED gaming monitors. The company has also announced the availability of the GO27Q24G 27-inch WOLED monitor on major retailers such as Amazon at a price tag of $399, which puts it against the most affordable 27-inch OLED monitor on the […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/gigabyte-launches-go27q24g-woled/
Google launched the May core update, redesigned Search around AI at I/O, released its first AI Mode usage data, and sent mixed signals on llms.txt.
The post Google Launches Core Update Amid I/O AI Search Overhaul – SEO Pulse appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
Fly Khiva will launch direct scheduled flights between Istanbul Airport and the Uzbek city of Termez from 30 May 2026, expanding air links between Turkey and Central Asia. The new service will operate twice weekly […]Price charts are one of the most important tools for you as a trader or investor. Whether you’re starting out or you’ve been watching the markets for a while, knowing how to read a chart […]I’ve attended many AI conferences and training events over the past few years. I’ve seen people doing innovative work, but I’ve also seen many spinning their wheels.
After working hands-on with AI automation across multiple businesses, I’ve done both. So I want to share what I’ve learned to help you avoid wasting time, energy, and money — and instead use AI strategically to increase revenue and reduce expenses.
More often than not, I see entrepreneurs reinventing the wheel with AI. I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve seen brag about using AI to build a new CRM when hundreds of solid platforms already exist. It makes no sense to build a new CRM when existing platforms already offer nearly every feature you need — and have full development teams keeping them updated and running smoothly.
The same goes for apps and software that are just clones of existing tools. I’ve made that mistake myself, but the reality is no one needs another version of the same tool that already exists a hundred times over.
Now, there are a few rare cases where building an app or software platform makes sense — mainly when you can launch it quickly and offer a proprietary approach. That could include a unique formula or algorithm, a specific process, or access to exclusive data. In other words, it needs to be something core to how you do business.
Otherwise, you risk spending time and money on technology that doesn’t materially improve the business.
The businesses seeing the strongest results from AI are using it to solve measurable operational problems.
The key is to apply it in ways that directly improve revenue and productivity.
For example, you might use AI to build a highly targeted prospect list and automate outreach to move leads into your marketing funnel. You can even take it further by using AI for part — or all — of the sales process. Many companies are already doing this and generating fresh, targeted leads on autopilot every day.
This is a highly effective, scalable way to increase revenue at a fraction of the cost of hiring people to do the work. There’s one caveat: you need to be certain your company can handle the increase in business. While this creates an opportunity to scale, it also means more people will be affected if you drop the ball — and that can damage your reputation quickly.
Implementation still requires oversight, testing, and operational discipline. Poorly implemented AI can create just as many problems as it solves.
Another approach is to use AI to handle your workload more efficiently, reducing both time and costs. One way I’ve used it is to quickly analyze market conditions so I can make more accurate pricing decisions when buying and selling properties.
This is where AI really shines. It can compile, analyze, and generate insights from large datasets far faster than a person can manually, while surfacing patterns and opportunities that might otherwise be missed.
Using AI this way helps me identify the deals that make the most sense and make accurate offers faster than my competitors, which can be the difference between winning a deal and losing it.
Another smart approach I’ve seen came from the PR firm I work with. They use AI to monitor their clients’ media interview calendars, and once an interview is completed, the system automatically finds the Zoom recording, sends it for transcription, and queues an email with the video and transcript to the journalist.
This saves the firm roughly 30 minutes per interview and delivers everything within minutes, rather than waiting for an employee to handle it. Beyond the time and cost savings, it also makes the publicity far more valuable to journalists by making their job faster and easier.
There are many other strategic ways to use AI to measurably improve revenue and productivity. Some of the ways I’ve helped entrepreneurs do this include:
One of the biggest opportunities I see right now is helping service businesses stop losing revenue from missed opportunities.
Most small businesses don’t need another complicated platform or custom AI app. What they need is a system that responds faster than they can manually. That might be an AI-powered phone assistant answering calls and booking appointments 24/7, or a website assistant trained on the business that can answer questions and capture leads instantly. Used strategically, AI becomes less about replacing people and more about making sure opportunities stop slipping through the cracks.
Businesses that implement AI effectively will likely outperform competitors that are slower to improve operational efficiency and response times.
The most effective AI implementations are usually the least flashy. They solve specific operational problems: reducing missed calls, improving response times, accelerating analysis, qualifying leads faster, or eliminating repetitive administrative work.
If an AI system doesn’t measurably improve revenue, efficiency, customer experience, or decision-making, it’s worth questioning whether it needs to exist at all.
Using AI this way creates a major opportunity to get ahead and outperform slower-moving competitors.
So the only question is: will you invest the time to use AI strategically?
© <p>Travel + Leisure</p>
© <p>Visit Ocracoke NC</p>
© <p>Getty Images</p>
One UI 8.5 is literally a feature-packed update, but it looks like Samsung has unintentionally removed camera filters from the video mode.
Samsung users report missing video filters after updating their phone to the One UI 8.5 update. It’s a big blow to those who often utilized the feature. Samsung did not clarify any such change during the Beta Program.
Galaxy phones running One UI 8.0 still have at least ten preinstalled video filters. Next to the last filter, there’s a download button, which redirects right to the Camera and photo effects page on the Galaxy Store app.
Like the Photo mode, Samsung phones support filters in the Video mode too. However, the official One UI 8.5 update has entirely removed that tool. Users now have no option but to make custom edits after recording the video.
There are plenty of reports on the web (Reddit and TikTok, via PiunikaWeb) regarding the removal of video filters. Users say the filters are no longer there in the camera app, where they existed before updating to the One UI 8.5.
We checked our phones, and the filters are still available in the One UI 8.0 version. However, the Filters don’t work with every resolution and frame rate either.
In the video mode, the Quick controls icon that appears in the viewfinder showcases the Filter icon. It’s next to the stabilization and before the smoothness options. In One UI 8.5, the interface remains the same, but the icon of Filters isn’t there.
This was a basic yet useful section in the Galaxy Camera app. If the removal is intentional, Samsung should formally inform users about the changes. If it’s driven by a bug, the filters section should be reinstated on Galaxy devices.
The post Samsung users are unhappy about missing video filters in One UI 8.5 appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Flipkart is at it again, teasing the upcoming Motorola Edge 70 Pro+ ahead of its Indian launch. The phone is expected to launch in early June, and the latest teasers give us a better idea of its design and cameras. The Motorola Edge 70 Pro+ will have three color and finish combos - Pantone Zinfandel, Pantone Stormy Sea, and Pantone Chicory Coffee. The Zintandel is a burgundy (Motorola calls it wine red) with a smooth satin-like finish. The light blue Stormy Sea is a textured finish that's twill-inspired. Finally, the Chicory Coffee is a sculpted wood finish. Three...
Gervonta Davis could be forced to adjust his comeback strategy, with his targeted opponent reportedly ruling himself out of their mooted showdown. The 31-year-old has not fought since March 2025, back when he retained his WBA world lightweight title with a controversial draw against Lamont Roach. Many felt Roach was unfortunate not to emerge victorious, […]
The post Gervonta Davis targeted comeback fight reportedly now off as opponent looks elsewhere appeared first on Boxing News.
has shared his verdict ahead of this weekend’s vs Rico Verhoeven battle. After years of dominating the heavyweight landscape and defeating fellow top stars like Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk will defend his WBC title in a controversial showcase bout against Dutch kickboxer Verhoeven. The fight will take place at the Pyramids of […]
The post Anthony Joshua makes honest prediction for Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: “That’s my opinion” appeared first on Boxing News.
Danimarkalı futbol mütəxəssisi Yens Bertel Asku 2026/2027-ci illər mövsümündən etibarın Fransanın “Tuluza” komandasını çalışdıracaq.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Liqa 1 təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
43 yaşlı məşqçi ilə 2 illik müqavilə imzalanıb. O, yeni işinə iyulun 1-dən etibarən başlayacaq.
Asku “Tuluza”nın sükanı arxasında ispaniyalı mütəxəssis Karles Martinesi əvəz edəcək. 42 yaşlı ispan məşqçi 2023-cü ildən bu komandaya rəhbərlik edirdi. “Tuluza” Karles Martinesin rəhbərliyi altında bütövlükdə 120 oyuna çıxıb, 44 qələbə qazanıb, 30 heç-heçə edib, 46 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Yens Bertel Asku isə daha öncə “Vendsissel”, “HB Torshavn”, “Horsens”, “Göteborq”, “Motervell” kimi komandaları çalışdırıb.
Danimarkalı mütəxəssis son olaraq “Motervell”i çalışdırıb. Şotlandiya klubu onun rəhbərliyi altında bütün turnirlərdə 47 oyun keçirib, 23 qələbə qazanıb, 11 dəfə məğlub olub və 13 oyunda heç-heçə edib. “Motervell” mövsümü turnir cədvəlinin 4-cü pilləsində başa vurub.
“Tuluza” isə Liqa 1-də 33 turdan sonra topladığı 44 xalla 10-cu yerdə qərarlaşıb.
Coy Lens Mikelsin “Sabah”la davam etmək ehtimalı azdır. “Futbolpress.az”ın əldə etdiyi məlumata görə, “bayquşlar”ın ruandalı legioneri ilə maliyyə məsələsində anlaşma əldə olunmur.
Klub ona məvacibini iki dəfəyədək artırmağı təklif etsə də, qoleador hələ də razılıq verməyib.
Tərəflər arasında danışığın hələ yekunlaşmadığı bildirilir.
Mikels 2021-2023-cü illərdə “Sabah”da forma geyindikdən sonra Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı klubu “Əl Faysal”a keçib. Bir mövsüm sonra “futuristlər”ə qayıdan forvard 2024-cü ilin iyulundan komandadadır. O, bu mövsüm çempionatda 19 qolla bombardirdir.
Kamil Əhməd
Atalanta have officially revealed their newly redesigned club crest, which they will wear from the 2026-27 onwards: ‘La Dea back in the spotlight’.
In keeping with many clubs across Europe in recent years, Atalanta have changed their club crest to a more circular shape. The club says that this is inspired by the circular logo that the players wore on their strips from 1984-1993.
The new Atalanta emblem still features the iconic silhouette of La Dea, the heroine of Greek mythology from which the club took its name. The silhouette appears on a blue background encompassed by a black and white border in fitting with the club’s colours.
“La Dea takes centre stage once again,” began a statement on the club website.
“It was in the 1960s that the silhouette of La Dea first appeared in Atalanta’s club crest. Since then, it has remained the defining symbol of the Club, evolving over time to adapt to different needs — from embroidery and print to digital applications and merchandise — leading up to the redesign unveiled today.
“The new crest draws inspiration from the circular shape introduced in the 1980s, reimagined through a precise geometric construction. Its guiding principle is subtraction: removing unnecessary elements to give greater prominence to La Dea, who once again becomes the visual focal point of the badge. The hair has been redesigned into five strands, a deliberate tribute to the five founders who gave life to the Club in 1907. The background is entirely blue, enclosed within a black circle.
“The result is an identity designed to work seamlessly across every platform and remain instantly recognisable at all times — just like the Dea it represents.”
Details of a new era
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 22, 2026
Gerry Cardinale will be in Milan for the final Serie A match of the season against Cagliari on Sunday, and the Rossoneri owner is expected to conduct talks with head coach Massimiliano Allegri, seal a deal for Leon Goretzka and discuss the club’s plans to bring in a new striker during his visit to Italy.
Milan are on the verge of sealing their qualification for next season’s Champions League. The team are in third place heading into the final round of 2025-26 fixtures and have a two-point buffer between themselves and fifth place.
Qualifying for the Champions League is a goal that Allegri has referenced on countless occasions this season, and once Milan’s top four status is confirmed, the coach will have his contract automatically extended by a further year until the summer of 2028.
Amid reports of interest from Napoli as well as being a rumoured candidate for the vacant Italy national team job, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Cardinale will do everything in his powers to convince Allegri to stay with Milan for 2026-27.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that if Milan beat Cagliari in Serie A this weekend, it is difficult to envisage Allegri leaving San Siro this summer.
When Allegri and Cardinale speak in the coming days, the coach is expected to ask for certain guarantees on the transfer market.
The first recruit is expected to be Germany international Leon Goretzka, who will be leaving Bayern Munich on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract in June. The 31-year-old has reportedly already spoken to the Rossoneri management and is ‘convinced’ by the project.
The next priority will be the search for a new striker. Among the names to be linked with Milan in recent weeks are Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, Jean-Phillipe Mateta from Crystal Palace, Goncalo Ramos from PSG and Serhou Guirassy from Borussia Dortmund.
Reports in Italy claim that Manchester United and Atalanta have agreed upon a price for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who could potentially raise up to €53m in funds for La Dea.
An exclusive from SportItalia claims that United and Atalanta have ‘concluded’ negotiations and that the permanent transfer of Ederson is now just a step away.
Friday’s report claims that United are willing to pay a guaranteed sum of €48m plus up to €5m in bonuses for a potential total of €53m. Other outlets suggest that the agreement is for €45m plus €5m in bonuses for a total €50m package.
If this does prove to be the case, Atalanta will become one of the most expensive sales in Atalanta’s history. The most expensive Dea departure remains that of Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United in a deal reported to be worth €75m plus up to €10m in bonuses. Mateo Retegui joined Al-Qadsiah in a €62m deal last summer, Teun Koopmeiners joined Juventus for a total of €58m and Cristian Romero joined Tottenham for around €53m.
Ederson has 30 appearances to his name in Serie A this season with two goals and an assist on his record, on top of another goal and assist from his nine outings in the Champions League this term.
He has been on Atalanta’s books for the last four seasons, having joined the club from Salernitana in 2022.
Manchester City have officially announced that manager Pep Guardiola will be stepping down at the end of the season.
The Spanish tactician will take charge of his final game with the club in this weekend’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Guardiola’s exit has looked like it’s been coming for some time, and now it has been confirmed on the club’s website this morning.
According to BBC Sport, it’s widely expected that former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is in line to replace Guardiola as Man City boss.
The Italian tactician left his position at Chelsea earlier this season, and has previously worked under Guardiola on his coaching staff at City.
In truth, though, it will be close to impossible for the club to replace Guardiola, who leaves with six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, and five Carabao Cups.
The 55-year-old, who has also previously managed and enjoyed great success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, is widely regarded as being up there with the very greatest football managers of all time.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Guardiola took over at City in the summer of 2016 and has turned them into a winning machine, playing a sophisticated brand of football that has led not only to silverware, but record-breaking points totals and the first ever run of four Premier League title victories in a row.
This season has also yielded a domestic double of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, even if City ultimately missed out to Arsenal in a close Premier League title race.
The post Official: Manchester City announce Pep Guardiola to step down as manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves Best Odds: 4/7 Bookmaker: Luckster Signing off the 2025/26 Premier League campaign on Sunday afternoon, Manchester United will travel to the Amex when they meet Brighton. Brighton Starting with the hosts, suffering last-gasp heartbreak away at Leeds last time out as they eventually fell to a 1-0 […]
The post Prediction: Brighton vs Manchester United – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Prediction: Brighton vs Manchester United – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.
Polymarket is reportedly seeking entry into Japan amid falling trading volumes and rising regulatory scrutiny, targeting approval by 2030.
Polymarket said user funds and market resolution were safe after a suspected private key compromise tied to top-up operations.
It’s never too early to talk about NFL Rookie of the Year odds.
Sites like Vegasinsider, Bettingpros, Gamblinginsider.com, and others have either already posted their odds or will do so later.
So far, the consensus seems to be that Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiah Love will be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Right now, Love is leading the pack at +250. That might be a shock to some, but if you look at it closely, it shouldn’t be.
Love may be called on a lot to carry this Arizona Cardinals team, so that may explain why his odds are the highest right now.
Right behind him is Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza at +350. Like Love, Mendoza will probably be called on a lot to carry his team in his rookie season.
The last rookie quarterback to win the award was LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
Daniels not only won rookie of the year in his first season as a pro, but also led his team to the playoffs.
Other names in the running are Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
The good news for both Tate and Tyson is that a wide receiver won the award this past year. Carolina Panthers Tetairoa McMillian won the award last year, leading all rookie wideouts in yards and touchdowns.
McMillian wasn’t on many people's radar, even as a favorite last year. While the odds may be in their favor, it wouldn’t be a shocker if an unknown may come out of nowhere to take the award.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Jeremiah Love leads offensive Rookie of the Year odds for the NFL
Back by popular demand, the Indiana Fever is relaunching its university hat promotion with a five-game slate that starts May 22 with an Iowa Hawkeyes-themed night in celebration of Caitlin Clark's collegiate following.
The Fever recently announced the return of the unique offer, which gives fans a team-and-university co-branded hat with discounted tickets to select home games during the 2026 season. Like many other WNBA franchises, Indiana has implemented similar concepts over the past few years, the most recent being in September 2025 for the Fever's final home game of the season.
With the specially designed headwear likely a hot commodity, here's how fans can get the custom Iowa Hawkeyes–Indiana Fever hat:
Hawkeye fans, May 22 is your night 🦅
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 12, 2026
every ticket purchased at https://t.co/pOUuoy721q for our matchup vs. Golden State includes an exclusive Fever x Iowa hat 🧢 pic.twitter.com/KUhXrJpliG
Fans can get the Iowa co-branded hat by purchasing tickets to Indiana's May 22 home game against the Golden State Valkyries at go.feverbasketball.com/university. The hat is a bright gold baseball cap with the Indiana Fever logo in black on the front and the black Iowa "Tigerhawk" logo on the side.
While there was the prospect ahead of the season that Clark and the Fever could face former Hawkeye star Kate Martin in this matchup, that will unfortunately not be the case after the Valkyries cut Martin on May 7. Martin would subsequently join the Los Angeles Sparks on a Player Development Contract on May 10.
Specialty tickets featuring the Iowa hat giveaway start at a subtotal of $32.05 on the Fever's website and are limited and subject to availability.
As with the four other co-branded hats nights, the Iowa-themed headwear is only available through this ticket promotion and will not be sold on the team's merchandise website or throughout the in-arena store at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever and Valkyries will tip off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. CT, with the game nationally broadcast on ION.
Other schools a part of the Fever's include:
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: How to get the 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes–Indiana Fever themed hat
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a two-run RBI single with the bases loaded against the Athletics in the top of the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. The hit and RBI's were the first Bazzana's major league career. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesDespite the month of June being right around the corner, there are still some appealing fantasy baseball options that haven’t been scooped up in most leagues yet. Let’s dig into the waiver wire options for Week 10 and highlight five players to consider adding who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.
Bazzana has caught fire at the plate, hitting 13-for-32 (.406) over his last eight games. He only had one home run during that span, but power production isn’t his forte. He can steal bases, already racking up seven of them over 21 games. What you like to see for his prospects moving forward is that he has 13 walks to go along with his 14 strikeouts. He can hit for average and steal bases, making him someone to add for those who need help a second base.
Bohm has a career .275 batting average, so seeing him slump to begin the season was rare. It was only a matter of time before he got back on track, and he seems to finally be hitting his stride. He is currently on an 11-game hitting streak in which he is 17-for-42 (.405) with four home runs and four doubles. During that span, he only struck out five times. Ignore his current .631 OPS. Better days are already here.
Miller battled an elbow injury last year that limited him to 18 starts. He didn’t look like himself when he was on the mound, posting a 5.68 ERA. He gave up 1.7 HR/9 and saw his strikeout rate fall to 18.9%. An oblique strain has limited him to two starts this year, but he has only given up two runs over 11 innings since returning. He also has 10 strikeouts and has given up just one home run. When he made 31 starts in 2024, he had a 3.68 xERA, 0.98 WHIP and 24.3% strikeout rate. Now that he’s healthy again, he’s well worth the risk in 12-team leagues.
Like Bohm, Steer is also on an 11-game hitting streak. During his hot stretch, he is 16-for-46 (.348) with one home run and three doubles. The 27-year-old has been hitting the ball hard, posting a 14.1% barrel rate this season that is on pace to be the highest mark of his career. What makes Steer even more appealing is fantasy is that he is eligible at both first base and outfield on Yahoo. He has even played some second base, so if he gains eligibility there, his positional flexibility will make him stand out even more.
Brown has mostly pitched in relief this year, but he has been moved into the starting rotation recently because of injuries. He threw 82 pitches in his last outing, allowing three runs and recording six strikeouts against the Brewers. He has a career 26.5% strikeout rate, so his move into the starting rotation makes him intriguing. Another reason to add him is that he is projected for two starts during Week 10. He will face the Pirates in Pittsburgh, followed by a road outing against the Cardinals.
Bazzana, Bohm, and Steer are three hot hitters that fantasy managers should target on the waiver wire. Miller and Brown can help those who need starting pitching, especially with Brown lined up for two starts during Week 10. Be sure to check back throughout the season as we provide the top waiver wire options to help you win your fantasy baseball league.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
By the time the England World Cup squad was officially announced on Friday morning there had been more plot twists than an Agatha Christie novel.
While the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire had that feeling of a rug being pulled out from under them, Ivan Toney represents one of manager Thomas Tuchel's big reveals.
The 30-year-old Al-Ahli forward has not featured for England for almost 12 months since making his only appearance under the German - and that was as an 88th-minute substitute in a defeat by Senegal at the City Ground.
So having been left out of the past four squads, why has Tuchel decided to bring the forward back in from the international wilderness?
The former Brentford striker was part of Gareth Southgate's squad at Euro 2024, when England lost in the final to Spain.
And he is expected to play a similar role this time, as a back-up to Harry Kane, with all three of his appearances in that tournament coming as a late substitute when England were chasing the game.
He also showcased his formidable penalty-taking qualities in the last eight, scoring from the spot in the shootout victory over Switzerland, when he found the net without looking at the ball as he stared down the keeper.
Toney's record of 36 goals in 85 Premier League games equates to almost a goal every other game and he has been even more prolific in the Saudi Pro League, where he has plundered 55 goals in 62 matches over two seasons.
For context, Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 53 times in 60 appearances in the same competition.
"[It was] also a bit of a surprise to us [his inclusion]," said Tuchel. "When it came down to all different kinds of scenarios he was back in the picture.
"I had fantastic feedback from his club coach, who was my player, and I have a close connection with him, always fantastic feedback about his role there, about his ability, his fitness."
This season, Toney finished second in the domestic scoring charts with 32 goals in 32 games - he evens boasts more assists and a better shot conversion rate than Bayern Munich forward Kane.
Just what those goals are worth outside Europe's top five leagues is yet to be seen, but on numbers alone his record stands up to scrutiny against any English striker around.
Given he is also one of only three centre-forwards selected by Tuchel, with Ollie Watkins also in the squad, it does not feel like a position that is overmanned given that 26 squad places were up for grabs.
Previous Three Lions squads at major tournaments have at times included four or five personnel for the exact same position.
The argument against his inclusion would ask why England need another forward aside from Kane and Watkins, given modern-day formational switches and a dearth of top-quality options for that position?
Detractors would also argue Toney's place should be used to accomodate another of those multi-talented number 10s who have been left behind.
However, former Chelsea and Paris St-Germain boss Tuchel could make a viable case for leaving behind Palmer and Foden, who have not hit previous heights in 2025-26.
Instead he has gone for a player brimming with confidence and one that is accustomed to dealing with the intense temperatures that England will encounter this summer at the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
"We could see that he still collects the numbers. I think he has very special skills that could help us, the situations, scenarios when we are chasing a result," added Tuchel.
"I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane, he can be present in the box when we are pushing for a goal.
"He can take attention off other strikers, he has a natural presence within the box, he is a natural finisher, he can help us with set-pieces - he is very strong in there. Very good in using his body and not to forget, he is a world class penalty taker. He ticks some boxes that we wanted to be ticked."
The Three Lions, who reached the semi-finals in Russia in 2018 and the quarter-finals in Qatar four years ago, face Croatia in their opening Group L fixture on Wednesday, 17 June (21:00 BST).
Starting at Northampton, Toney moved to Newcastle but was sent out on six different loan spells before joining Peterborough. He scored in all four of the top divisions in English football before settling at Brentford in 2020.
Toney scored as Brentford beat Swansea 2-0 at Wembley to win promotion to the Premier League in 2021. And it was at the Bees where he peaked, with 20 league goals in the 2022-23 season.
Toney has, however, been a bit of a late bloomer. He was 27 years old when he won his first England cap. In comparison, Kane had 46 caps by that stage - while Wayne Rooney had 78.
His career has also been marked with controversy. In May 2023 he was banned from playing for eight months for 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.
Toney scored on his return from his ban in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in January 2024 and then netted for the Three Lions in a March friendly draw with Belgium.
He was included in the England squad for Euro 2024 and played in the final against Spain, but was left out of the Brentford squad on his return because of transfer speculation.
Toney opted to join Al-Ahli in August 2024 for £40m. It was reported that his four-year-deal with the Saudi side would earn him £400,000 per week after tax.
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and racing icon, died suddenly on Thursday. He was 41.
Busch was supposed to race Friday night in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Sunday night in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
But Busch’s family announced on Thursday that he had been hospitalized with an undisclosed severe illness. He died later that evening. A cause of death will be determined in the days ahead.
Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein will be following this story and bring you any new developments, on Channel 2 Action News starting at 3:00 p.m.
Busch has a winning history across the country, including at metro Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway.
He made his Atlanta Cup Series debut 22 years ago, but that didn’t quite go as planned. He completed just 44 laps and finished 43rd out of 43 cars on the track.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
That didn’t affect his love for the track and the Atlanta fans who showed up to cheer him on.
Throughout his career, Busch racked up 14 wins at EchoPark Speedway, previously known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
His most recent win was in February 2026 in the Truck Series. Of his Atlanta victories, two were in the Cup Series: one in 2008 and the other in 2013.
Channel 2 Action News got to hang out with Busch earlier this year as he gave back to the community by surprising Ms. Smallwood and her 5th grade class at Lanier Elementary School.
Ms. Smallwood had gone viral for her NASCAR themed classroom and lesson plans, which helped the students learn in new and exciting ways.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Here’s a full list of all of Busch’s wins in metro Atlanta:
Scotland internationals Lee Gibson and Amy Muir have signed one-year contract extensions with Glasgow City.
Goalkeeper Gibson, who made her 300th City appearance earlier this season, lifted her 21st trophy for the club when they won the League Cup in December.
Gibson returned for a second spell with City in 2017 after two years with Swedish side Mallbackens IF.
"I'm delighted to extend my stay," she said.
"I've been here a long, long time and I love the club. I've got a second family here."
Head coach Leanne Ross added: "Lee has always been a top-level goalkeeper but this season she has pushed herself to new heights.
"She is already a club legend I'm delighted that she has chosen to extend her stay with us.''
Full-back Muir joined City in 2022 and has gone on to play more than 100 games while cementing herself as a key member of the Scotland side.
"I've really enjoyed my time at the club for the last four years and I've still got more to give," said Muir.
Ross added: "We have watched Any develop into a senior figure amongst the squad and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow at Glasgow City.''
The Rochester Red Wings rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Worcester Red Sox 9-4 on Thursday, securing their 11th victory in their last 12 games and maintaining their lead in the International League East Division.
Rochester starter Riley Cornelio struggled in the first inning, allowing Worcester to load the bases with a hit-by-pitch and two walks. Anthony Seigler cleared the bases with a three-run double, followed by an RBI single from Allan Castro, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.
However, the Red Wings' bullpen took control from there. Seth Shuman, Andre Granillo, Zach Penrod, Erik Tolman and Zak Kent combined for 8⅓ shutout innings, allowing just three hits and five walks while striking out five. Shuman, who entered in the first inning, earned the win to improve to 4-0.
The Red Wings began their comeback in the third inning. Tres Barrera doubled and scored on Seaver King's sacrifice fly, followed by another sacrifice fly from Abimelec Ortiz and an RBI single from Andrew Pinckney, cutting Worcester's lead to 4-3.
Rochester took the lead in the fourth inning. Barrera singled, and Glasser reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a fielding error. Christian Franklin's RBI single tied the game, and King followed with a run-scoring single to give the Red Wings a 5-4 lead.
The Red Wings extended their lead in the seventh and ninth innings. Robert Hassell III lined an RBI single in the seventh, and Trey Lipscomb added a two-run double in the ninth, sealing the 9-4 victory.
Rochester spread the production across the lineup, with eight of nine starters either scoring or driving in a run. Lipscomb finished with two RBI, King also drove in two, and Franklin, Ortiz, Hassell and Pinckney each added an RBI. Barrera and Glasser combined for three hits and four runs scored.
Worcester's offense was limited to its four-run first inning, finishing 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 runners. Seigler's three-run double and Castro's RBI single accounted for all of the Red Sox's scoring.Information gathered from milb.com.
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.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Red Wings rally past Worcester Red Sox
'My job not necessarily to select the 26 most talented players' - Tuchel on England squad
Rage in the Cage makes an ambitious return on May 23. Live from the Desert Diamond Casino Event Center in Tucson, Arizona, fans will be treated to a showcase of the sport's next big names when RITC 6 is broadcast worldwide on FIGHT.TV.
The event signifies a highly anticipated revival of the legendary Arizona-based combat sports promotion, whose last show was almost three years ago. Founded by Roland Sarria in 1998, Rage in the Cage is one of MMA's longest-running companies. Unlike other major outlets, the organization presents mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, providing viewers with a mix of flavours to devour over the course of each show.
For some time, Rage in the Cage has been at a standstill. However, hoping to force its way back into the public eye, RITC has sought the help of PRIDE veteran Shannon 'The Cannon' Ritch, who promises to return the brand to its glory days.
Those making the trip down to the Desert Diamond Casino Event Center for the fights will be granted entry at 6:00 pm, with the first bout of the night getting underway at 7:00 pm.
Rage in the Cage's grand return will be met with a monumental 17 MMA bouts and a further 6 Muay Thai clashes, so viewers both attending the show or sitting at home watching along on FIGHT.TV will have no shortage of violence and potential viral moments in the cage. Alongside the monstrous 21-fight event, several MMA and UFC legends will make appearances, with Don Frye and Mark Coleman blessing fans with their presence to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their all-timer war from UFC 10.
Get ready for a thrilling night highlighting emerging MMA stars, special guests, and meet-and-greets, all while paying tribute to the rich history of Arizona's combat sports scene.
Pep Guardiola will have a stand at the Etihad Stadium named in his honour after announcing his decision to leave Manchester City after 10 years at the helm.
The club have confirmed that the North Stand will become 'The Pep Guardiola Stand' after the Spanish tactician, who led the club to their first Champions League title.
The expanded section of Etihad Stadium is set to open fully for the first time on Sunday when City host Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.
Guardiola statement after he steps down as Man City boss - reaction
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight supports all major controllers on PC, including the DualSense controller. Support for the PlayStation 5 controller is among the best we have seen in recent times, as the controller's haptic feedback is also supported via a wireless Bluetooth connection. However, some players may not be able to enjoy these features or even see the correct DualSense icons when playing the game on PC via Steam. As there are no settings to change in the game's options menu, you will need to tweak your Steam settings to fix this issue. Disabling Steam Input If […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/how-to/lego-batman-legacy-of-the-dark-knight-how-to-fix-playstation-controller-icons-on-pc/
Everyone was waiting for Take-Two Interactive's Q4 2026 report with bated breath, as it could have brought gamers news of a third GTA 6 delay. Luckily, that was not the case: the publisher confirmed that the November 19 date announced a full year in advance still stands. Marketing is also still slated to begin in the Summer, though Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick customarily declined to comment any further on marketing details, reiterating that more information will come straight from the label (that is to say, Rockstar Games). For the first time, the executive also answered a direct question about the […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/gta-6-november-19-date-holds-take-two-beats-earnings-zelnick-pc-port/
[UPDATE] The South Korean and Australian rating boards have rated Fable, making it even more likely that it will launch this year. [ORIGINAL STORY] Fable has been confirmed for a 2026 release earlier this year, but with Xbox's packed release schedule for the remainder of the year, and the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in late November, the long silence on a precise release date is making more than a few wonder if the game will slip into 2027. While the chances of this happening are very real, developer Playground Games recently reaffirmed its commitment to the 2026 release […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/fable-still-scheduled-2026-playground-games-commitment/
WordPress 7.0 exposes AI API keys worth thousands of dollars. Security researcher says there "will be an absolute rush by hackers to steal" them.
The post Security Researcher: WordPress 7.0 Could Trigger Rush To Steal AI API Keys appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Madrid on 6 June 2026 for a four-day stay as part of a landmark apostolic journey across Spain, the first papal visit to the country since Benedict XVI attended […]MediaTek may allocate some of chip production work from TSMC to Samsung Foundry, with speculations started to emerge as the latter firm’s boss had a business trip to the former’s headquarters in Taiwan.
Shortly after the wage deal with company unions, Samsung boss touched down in Taiwan and headed straight to MediaTek HQ for a closed-door meeting with CEO Rick Tsai and senior management.
After landing foundry deals with Tesla and Qualcomm last year, Samsung is now eyeing a significant contract in Taiwan, and MediaTek is the obvious target.
SEDaily sources close to the situation suggest the talks also touched on MediaTek shifting some production away from TSMC to Samsung Foundry, which would be a serious blow to the world’s dominant chip manufacturer.
Samsung has quietly been loading more MediaTek Dimensity processors into Galaxy phones and tablets, a cost-cutting move that also builds mutual dependency. So when Lee walks into that boardroom, he isn’t just a customer.
The yield problems on Samsung’s advanced nodes are real. The geopolitical exposure of building in Korea isn’t nothing. Lee flew to Taiwan himself, the day after settling a near-strike, because he knows the window won’t stay open.
The post Samsung boss snatched TSMC’s MediaTek chip production share? appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Earlier this week, Xiaomi announced that it would unveil the Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 17T Pro on May 28. Today, the Chinese brand announced that the Xiaomi 17T will launch in India on June 4, marking the T lineup's return to the Asian country after a long time. Xiaomi has only mentioned the 17T in its promo campaign, suggesting either that the 17T Pro won't launch in India alongside the 17T on June 4, or that it won't come to India at all. We'll find out on June 4. Xiaomi hasn't detailed the specs sheets for the 17T and 17T Pro either, but the brand shared an image on its official X...
We’ve already seen several rumors about the upcoming Honor Magic9 series and the latest one suggests all three phones in the series will feature upgraded batteries compared to their predecessors. According to tipster Smart Pikachu, the Magic9 series, which will consist of three phones, will also bring 8,000 mAh batteries. For reference, last year’s Magic8 series ranged between 7,000mAh on the Magic8 and 7,200mAh on the Magic8 Pro RSR. This is actually not the first time we’re seeing rumors of 8,000mAh cells for the Magic9 series. A tip from March also mentioned that the vanilla...
Manager Spencer Brown has revealed that a controversial opponent was explored for , ahead of his expected clash with later this year. While gearing up for his long-awaited showdown with ‘AJ’, ‘The Gypsy King’ is planning to enter another warm-up fight, this time in August, following his unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov last month. […]
The post Tyson Fury wanted to face one man before Anthony Joshua fight: “They were both up for it” appeared first on Boxing News.
Reports in Italy indicate that Roma and Milan could be set to battle it out for the services of both Gianluca Scamacca from Atalanta and Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United once the summer transfer window gets underway.
Both Roma and Milan are looking to reshape their attacking departments in the summer transfer window. Gian Piero Gasperini found success with Donyell Malen in the second half of the season but is in need of more options, particularly if the Giallorossi return to the Champions League in 2026-27.
Massimiliano Allegri prefers a two-man strike partnership, but has constantly chopped and changed between Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Christpoher Nkunku, Santiago Gimenez and Niclas Fullkrug this season and could seek to rebuild the department this summer.
Tuttosport and Calciomercato.com report that both sides could make offers for Atalanta’s Scamacca this summer. The 22-time Italy international will be into the final year of his contract in 2026-27, but Atalanta are said to be seeking a fee in the region of €30m for his services, despite the fact that they paid €28m to sign him from West Ham in 2023.
Both Roma and Milan have previously expressed an interest in signing former Bologna forward Zirkzee from Manchester United, and could reignite their interest this coming transfer window.
There have been claims that Manchester United are keen on the idea of signing Rafael Leao from Milan this summer, and Friday’s report suggests that Milan could potentially seek to involve Zirkzee in a player-plus-cash deal. Roma remain interested too.
Other strikers linked with a potential summer move to Milan include Juventus’s Dusan Vlahovic and Tottenham loanee Randal Kolo Muani, while for Roma, the list includes RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, Porto’s Pepe and Marseille’s Mason Greenwood.
There was excitement among Juventus supporters online when footage emerged of Alessandro Del Piero paying a visit to the club’s training facility on Thursday, but despite the calls for him to return to the club in some form of directorial role, there was a specific reason as to why the legendary former no.10 was back in Turin.
Juventus are facing a massively disappointing end to the 2025-26 season following their 2-0 defeat at home against Fiorentina last weekend. The team finds themselves in sixth place in the Serie A table, two points shy of the top four and requiring favours from multiple teams if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The situation has left several members of Juve’s senior management structure with uncertain futures, especially directors Damien Comolli and Francois Modesto, and even potentially head coach Luciano Spalletti, who was only appointed midway through the 2025-26 season.
Amidst the scrutiny of the current Bianconeri leadership, there have been calls for Del Piero to return the club in some capacity. His former teammate Alessio Tacchinardi spoke to Tuttosport recently, insisting: “I don’t see any other solution than to call Alex, right now, he’s the only one who can change Juventus’s destiny.”
This opinion has been shared by plenty of supporters across social media as well.
That is why there was speculative excitement when Del Piero was spotted arriving at JMedical on Thursday, but Tuttosport have since confirmed that the visit was connected to the 30th anniversary of Juve’s 1996 Champions League win.
Del Piero was reportedly in town to film content, some of which includes current Juventus no.10 Kenan Yildiz.
Fiorentina and Atalanta will kick off the final round of 2025-26 Serie A fixtures on Friday evening when they take each other on at the Stadio Franchi, but the visitors are the only one of the two sides who can improve on their current league position.
Atalanta are guaranteed to finish the season in seventh place, unable to catch Juventus 10 points above them in sixth, and unable to be overtaken by Bologna in eighth on account of their head-to-head record.
Fiorentina find themselves in 15th place ahead of kick-off after a complicated start to the 2025-26 campaign, but could potentially lift themselves up to 12th with a victory on Friday.
The Viola are coming in off the back of a surprise 2-0 victory away against Juventus last weekend, while La Dea were beaten 1-0 by the aforementioned Bologna in their most recent league fixture.
Moise Kean is not expected to return to the starting line-up having missed the last six league matches with a shin injury, Roberto Piccoli is expected to lead the line instead. Manor Solomon could also keep his place in the Fiorentina attack.
For Atalanta, this is an opportunity to move things around: Marco Sportiello is in line for a rare opportunity in goal, and there could be several alterations to the midfield and attack, with Raoul Bellanova, Yunus Musa, Lazar Samardzic, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Gianluca Scamacca hoping for starts.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST.
Fiorentina (4-3-3): De Gea; Dodo, Pongracic, Comuzzo, Gosens; Ndour, Fagioli, Mandragora; Solomon, Piccoli, Gudmundsson.
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Sportiello; Scalvini, Hien, Ahanor; Bellanova, Pasalic, Musah, Zalewski; Samardzic, Sulemana; Scamacca.
Tonight’s fixture will be available to watch live and exclusively on DAZN in the UK. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+.
Liverpool may be in luck as Bayern Munich are currently working on Anthony Gordon despite also making Yan Diomande a dream target.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
That’s according to Christian Falk in his CF Bayern Insider column, with the German journalist providing some insight into the Bundesliga giants’ interest in RB Leipzig’s Diomande.
The exciting young Ivory Coast international has been a joy to watch this season, contributing a total of 13 goals and eight assists for Leipzig.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
It’s easy to imagine Diomande, who’s still only 19 years of age, having a great career ahead of him, so it’s no wonder there’s been so much speculation about Europe’s biggest clubs snapping him up.
Liverpool have been linked with Diomande by the Telegraph, and Falk’s latest update could be positive for the Reds.
According to Falk, Bayern’s current focus is on doing a deal for Newcastle star Gordon, despite Diomande also being described as a ‘dream’ target for the club.
Still, it may be that Bayern would be willing to wait until 2027 to sign the 19-year-old, which could perhaps be the most tempting option for Leipzig.
“It is TRUE: Bayern Munich will try and bring Yan Diomande to Bavaria in 2027 – if they have the chance!” Falk wrote.
“These aren’t concrete plans at the moment, given that they’re pushing for Anthony Gordon at the moment. But if he’s still on the market in 2027 in the Bundesliga (if this happens, he’ll sign a new contract with RB Leipzig with a release clause included, which Bayern can trigger), it raises an opportunity.
“I also talked with other clubs in the Premier League and everyone thinks that Diomande is the next big thing. Whether it happens this summer – that remains the big question! The boss at Leipzig, Oliver Mintzlaff, has already insisted he won’t sell Diomande this summer. If he were to instead sign a new contract, then this could be a big chance for Bayern to go again for him.
“One thing his clear: he’s the absolute dream signing for Bayern Munich, as they expect he’s going to become really, really good. If he’s on the German market, it’s always easier for Bayern to sign him. That would become a different case if he were to sign for a Premier League club.”
Liverpool and Bayern are both huge clubs, and it’s not an easy choice for Diomande as it looks like those two could be his main options.
The Merseyside giants urgently need to bring in someone to replace Mohamed Salah, who is leaving at the end of this season, and Diomande looks like one of the best options out there.
Still, given that Diomande has done so well in Germany, he might be tempted to continue there, as he could form an exciting combination with stars like Harry Kane and Michael Olise.
He might need to think about his playing time, though, as LFC might be better able to guarantee him regular minutes, whereas the potential signing of Gordon would mean there’s so much quality competition in Vincent Kompany’s squad.
The post Boost for Liverpool as club busy working on another transfer deal alongside dream target appeared first on CaughtOffside.
CF Bayern Insider journalist Christian Falk has provided an update on Harry Kane’s contract situation amid some PSG interest in the Bayern Munich striker.
The England international is one of the best players in the world, and has enjoyed another superb season for Bayern, scoring a stunning 58 goals in 50 games in all competitions.
Bayern surely won’t want to let Kane go, and Falk says talks have not yet started over a new contract, which could be of interest to PSG.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Falk recently reported in another of his columns that PSG were in the market for a striker like Kane, so that could be something to watch out for in the weeks and months ahead.
Still, it doesn’t sound like a desperate situation at the moment, with all sides relaxed about the former Tottenham man’s future.
“It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich and Harry Kane disagree over the contract length on the table,” Falk wrote.
“The rumours were that Kane is demanding a contract until 2030, while Bayern Munich are just offering a one-year deal. But no, at the moment, the negotiations have not really started.
“Of course, when they’re at the table, this will be the big question. Will it be one year more or two years more? I think it could be a one-year contract with the option of an additional year.
“But Harry Kane wants to concentrate on his next title, which is the DFB Pokal in Berlin. It won’t be a big topic before then.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
“On the England international’s end, he’s very relaxed. He’s said he can sign a contract before the World Cup and also after the World Cup.
“So, nobody is in a rush. Herbert Hainer also made it clear that Kane will get a new contract from Bayern Munich. Everything is relaxed.”
As Falk mentions, Kane has the World Cup to look forward to this summer, and all eyes will be on whether he can replicate his Bayern form for his country.
The 32-year-old is already the Three Lions’ all-time leading scorer, and he’ll be hungry to add to his tally for what could quite likely be his last chance of playing at a World Cup.
Of course, it might be that Kane will be like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and able to carry on playing for his national team until his late 30s and even early 40s, but there aren’t many that can continue to perform at such a high level for that long.
With Kane leading the line, and with top attacking midfielders like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka around him, this could be one of England’s best chances to finally end their long wait for a second World Cup final victory.
The post Christian Falk clarifies Harry Kane contract situation amid PSG transfer interest appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liverpool may reportedly have made a bid for the transfer of Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, but Christian Falk says he’s unconvinced.
Writing in his latest exclusive column for CF Bayern Insider, Falk played down the prospect of Bayern letting Olise go, even for as much as £147m.
The France international has been in world class form this season, contributing 22 goals and 25 assists to help Bayern win the Bundesliga title again.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Needless to say, Olise looks like the perfect profile of player to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, but it’s also very hard to see it happening.
Discussing the recent transfer rumours, Falk suggested he didn’t think it was true that LFC had made a bid for Olise, and even if they did, Bayern would just tell them to keep their money.
“To be honest, Bayern don’t care about any potential outside interest in Michael Olise. He’s not for sale,” Falk wrote.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
“Spanish outlet Fichajes reported that Liverpool could come to the table with a €170m [£147m] bid – but I don’t think it’s true! Even if it was on the money, Bayern Munich would say, ‘Keep your money, and we’ll keep Olise’.”
It sounds like there’s not much to this story, so Liverpool fans would probably do well not to get their hopes up over what would admittedly be a superb signing.
Olise previously shone in the Premier League with Crystal Palace as well, and it’s hard to think of someone better suited to being the long-term successor to Salah.
As we previously posted here, Olise to Liverpool is a superb fit, but unfortunately that doesn’t make it anymore realistic.
The post “Keep your money” – Expert on response to reported £147m Liverpool transfer bid appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Today’s major World Cup news has broken as England manager Thomas Tuchel has officially announced his squad for the upcoming tournament in North America.
As expected, one big name to be left out is Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, as had previously been reported by BBC Sport ahead of the official confirmation.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The 33-year-old posted to social media last night to express his surprise and disappointment at Tuchel’s decision, while his mother Zoe also put out a post on X saying she was “disgusted”.
See below for the full official England squad that will be heading to this summer’s World Cup…
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
According to the Times, there could be multiple reasons for Maguire ultimately failing to make the England squad, with one of them tactical, and the other to do with his mentality.
The report suggests Tuchel wants to play a high line with more ‘mobile’ defenders, so it’s probably fair to say that Maguire wouldn’t be the best fit for that kind of system, though some might argue that he’d still have an important role to play off the field, even if he didn’t make it into the starting XI.
Another issue is supposedly the player’s ego, according to the Times, with the reaction of Maguire and his family perhaps illustrating precisely why there are some question-marks over his character.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
England will also be without some big names in Cole Palmer and Phil Foden this summer – two elite talents capable of influencing the biggest games.
And yet, you could probably just about argue that they don’t deserve to be included based on their recent form, even if it’s a gamble that could really backfire if the Three Lions look like lacking spark in the final third.
Arguably more surprising are snubs for in-form players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton, whilst old favourites like Jordan Henderson continue to make it in.
Arsenal’s Noni Madueke is also one of the more surprising inclusions after a pretty underwhelming season at the Emirates Stadium, so it seems perhaps hard to justify him being in there ahead of Palmer and Foden, even if they haven’t been at their best.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has also missed out, having suffered a dip in form since leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid last summer.
The post England squad confirmed: Man United & Chelsea stars among big names to miss the World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.
The hacker behind the Verus bridge exploit returned 75% of the stolen funds as part of a recovery deal negotiated with the protocol days after the incident.
Bitcoin rallied for 90 days after its dip below $60,000, breaking the record for the longest uptrend within a bear market in BTC price history.
Whether or not Tua Tagovailoa wins the starting quarterback job for the Atlanta Falcons this season, he was a steal for the team at just $1.2 million. The former top-five pick has something to prove after the way his time with the Miami Dolphins ended.
Tagovailoa will battle third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is also looking to prove himself as he works his way back from ACL surgery. The two lefty signal-callers have already started their competition at the team's offseason training facility.
While Tagovailoa is still getting to know his new Falcons teammates, he looked comfortable this week at OTAs. Here's a look at the latest highlights, as shared by the team's social media account.
Here's Tagovailoa connecting with Falcons wide receiver Drake London down the field.
London calling 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/fSoHNS4AaS
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 21, 2026
Here's another clip of Tagovailoa. This time, he finds Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts for the score.
KP
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 21, 2026
TD
🔥 pic.twitter.com/EHl1AV7Yn2
According to NFL.com, the Falcons will resume OTAs on Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, then they will return again on May 29.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons OTAs: Tua Tagovailoa highlights
The Carolina Panthers' best defender has come to the defense of his quarterback.
Defensive lineman Derrick Brown joined the latest episode of Green Light with Chris Long. And when talking about teammate Bryce Young, the Pro Bowler called out the fourth-year passer's critics—who he believes may be timid to admit their misses.
"He's our guy, and we ride with 9 all the way through," Brown stated. "People don't wanna admit how good he's becoming, because they have to go back and admit how wrong they were. As we all know, people don't like doing that."
Those people might've thought they were right two games into the 2024 campaign, when Young was abruptly benched by first-year head coach Dave Canales. But Young didn't fold, as he reentered the starting lineup in Week 8 of that season and never looked back.
Since then, Young has thrown for 5,115 yards, 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over 26 starts. He also helped guide the Panthers to their first playoff appearance since 2017 and their first NFC South title since 2015 this past year.
Brown went on to credit Young for his perseverance through that tough time.
"He took the benching and, man, he just came in to work every single day, and killed it," he added. "He didn't care. He went right back to doing what he does and to him, it was about playing football."
With the prospect of a long-term extension looming, 2026 could prove to be Young's most important season yet. He'll be under contract in Carolina through 2027, the fifth and final year of his rookie deal.
So while it seems that he's done enough to win over Brown and the rest of the locker room, Young might still have something to prove to the rest of the organization.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers DL Derrick Brown calls out critics of QB Bryce Young
The Tennessee Titans took the field for Day 3 of phase three of offseason team activities, and those in attendance noticed something different with quarterback Cam Ward: his weight.
Multiple reporters commented that the second-year quarterback looked leaner, and possibly, a step quicker. This was also something that Ward touched on during his media availability.
“I am trying to get leaner, then just try and stay durable for the long season." Ward said, "Just continue watching my diet more, have more cardio. Continue working on my body here, and when I'm away from building."
#Titans QB Cam Ward says he’s been doing more cardio and closely monitoring his calorie, carb, and protein intake this offseason with the goal of getting leaner.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 21, 2026
Ward later said he’s lost 10 pounds. https://t.co/3TO29pXANOpic.twitter.com/nY62sQjcrP
He was later asked about any possible changes to his diet, and he had a detailed response.
"Like cut out fried foods, snacks. It's really just watching the calorie limit, then watching the amount of protein and carbs that I need to put in. Then what is best for my body, how I feel eating different things when I come into practice?"
While he eventually indicated he was about 10 pounds lighter, he didn’t mention whether or not the Titans' change in the nutrition program, cutting out seed oils, made a difference in his transformation.
This is an interesting twist, as earlier in the day, head coach Robert Saleh told the media about the organization's dietary changes. Something that has stirred up a bit of a stir on social media over the past few hours.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Leaner Cam Ward is preparing to take the next step
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is confident his health will hold up this season.
Following the team's third practice of organized team activities on Thursday, Dart expressed regret over missing two games in the 2025 season while voicing the confidence he is carrying into the upcoming year.
“I just hated that time of not being out there with my teammates,” Dart said. “So obviously, I understand the most important thing is to be out there. So, you just grow and learn from things. And I think I'm going to do a good job at it this year for sure.”
Dart took over as the Giants’ starting quarterback in Week 4 of last season. The Ole Miss product missed Weeks 11 and 12 due to a concussion. He returned in Week 13, however, and started every game for the remainder of the season.
"I mean, my competitiveness isn't going to change at all. I think, just like I said, it just goes into situationally. Just what times it's worth it and what times it's not. And just making those mature decisions," he said.
With Russell Wilson no longer in New York, Dart enters the 2026 season as the Week 1 starter with full control of the Giants’ offense. He faces major expectations to lead the team to more wins, with Jameis Winston serving as his backup.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Jaxson Dart: Availability 'most important thing' in 2026
The stakes weren’t as high for the Bay Port baseball team against Sheboygan North on May 19 as they will be in tournament play, but Pirates coach Harvey Knutson got another peek at how his group deals with pressure.
Bay Port, which has clinched the Fox River Classic Conference title in dominant fashion, was down 3-0 after a half inning against a Golden Raiders team it beat by 10 runs last month.
A leadoff double. A single. An RBI double. An error that helped score two more runs.
This did not look like a team that’s one of the favorites to reach the WIAA state tournament and hasn’t lost in a month.
The Pirates flexed enough muscle to come back and win 5-4, thanks to a game-tying two-run homer deep to center by Artie Adams on a 2-1 pitch in the sixth inning and a game-winning homer to right from Eli Hart with one out in the seventh.
A junior and sophomore helped make the Senior Night banquet following the game a lot more enjoyable for their veteran teammates.
“I always joke with the team that I will always take a one-run game where every little spot in the game matters and you have to be on point and playing good competition,” Knutson said. “Pulling out a game like that, I will take that over a blowout any day.
“But, then, I always say, I think you guys know that’s BS. I’d rather just get eight or 10 quick runs and be comfortable through the game. But in the big picture, a game like that, being tested, having to stay in the game, that has been what these boys have done all season. If you get down, and maybe the other team is outplaying you or the ball is not bouncing your way, that you still stay in it and fight and just keep the fire going. Hopefully, something happens. That’s what happened.”
Bay Port enters a game at West De Pere on May 22 putting together one of the best seasons in FRCC history since the league’s first year in 2008.
The Pirates held at least a six-game lead over the other nine teams in the conference with two contests remaining.
There have been only three previous instances in which an FRCC team won conference by five or more games.
Bay Port won by five in 2013 and six in 2015, while Green Bay Preble won by six in 2018.
That Hornets team, along with the Pirates’ 2013 squad, are the only two to go undefeated in league play.
Bay Port was supposed to be good this season, but it’s difficult to predict going 21-2 out of the gate and having the seventh best run differential of any Division 1 team in the state.
The players projected to do well have done so, while many of the unproven but talented ones are playing to their potential.
“I would say I wouldn’t have necessarily expected 21-2, and we haven’t lost a game in conference yet against pretty good teams,” Knutson said. “I guess I didn’t think we’d kind of roll through things the way we have been. … I thought this group was going to be good. They have all responded well. Just kind of really deep and have quite a few players you can plug in there. We are getting the same results from them.”
The Pirates often have some of the top pitchers in the conference.
The rotation featured Cole Bensen and Craig Kabat in 2022. The following season was future LSU left-hander Ethan Plog, before Plog and Kabat were both dominant as seniors in 2024. It had Parker Lawson and Keagan Wheeler last season.
The offense?
That’s been hit and miss in recent years, and often more on the miss side.
Not this year.
Bay Port has scored five or more runs 14 times entering its game against the Phantoms, including 10 or more eight times.
Six regulars in the lineup are hitting .333 or better, including a trio in Ethan Orlando (.433), Cayden Heier (.418) and Hart (.406) who are hitting over .400.
Nobody with more than 50 plate appearances last season hit better than .279.
Bay Port had three home runs in 2025 and hit .237 as a team. It has 24 home runs this season and is hitting .336 with a 1.036 OPS.
Adams leads the Pirates with seven homers and 25 RBI. Carson Hawley has four home runs, 23 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Orlando has four homers, a team-high 1.321 OPS and is tied with Hart with a team-high three triples. Hart leads the team with nine doubles, 27 runs and .558 on-base percentage.
Tommy Berg has a team-high 10 stolen bases.
There is so much explosiveness everywhere in the lineup.
“It’s been that all year,” Knutson said. “We are pretty strong in the pitching department every year, and then when you can put some offense into the game as well, that has a lot to do with our success.
“You can win a lot of baseball games with pitching and defense and finding a way to score a couple runs, but this year we have found ways to score a lot of runs. Whether you need them all to win a game, or just to give you that cushion to make the game go a little smoother and take a lot of pressure off the pitching and defense, is nice.”
Just like the comeback against North, not every game is a blowout.
Bay Port beat Green Bay Notre Dame 3-2 in eight innings and played two-run games against De Pere, West Pere, Fond du Lac and Manitowoc.
But it almost always has found a way to win. Its only loss to a team from the state came in a 13-3 defeat at Kaukauna, although it has responded with a 13-game winning streak.
The pitching also has been good again with Lawson leading the way.
The senior right-hander is 7-1 with a 0.56 earned-run average, striking out 61 in 50 innings.
Quinn Boeckman is 5-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 35⅓ innings and has struck out 37, while Searin Mueller has 27 strikeouts in 19⅔ innings, Hawley 35 strikeouts in 17⅔ innings and Parker Broehm 34 in 17 frames.
The Pirates have gone from No. 14 in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association state rankings to start the season to No. 2 behind only Germantown.
Knutson believes Bay Port’s sectional, which features several ranked teams, is the most difficult in the state.
Not only does the bracket have most of the other FRCC teams including No. 12 De Pere, it also has No. 5 Kimberly, No. 13 Hortonville and No. 17 Kaukauna along with an Appleton North squad that only recently fell out of the rankings.
Bay Port is hoping to make state for the 15th time in program history and the first since back-to-back D1 runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022.
Its 14 trips to the big stage easily are the most by any local school, ahead of the six from Sevastopol and the five each by Preble, De Pere, West De Pere, Denmark, Oconto and Shawano.
“There isn’t any easy game in this sectional,” Knutson said. “I just think there are so many good teams from the top to bottom, not just the few at the top of rankings right now. It’s a tough sectional.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Bay Port baseball hopes dominant season leads to tournament success
Q: I recall Bam Adebayo wanting to play power forward instead of center. The fans also wanted a “true” center next to Bam. Instead, it seems like we’re going to trade away our only true center for another power forward. I get the team would be theoretically better, but with the size in Cleveland and New York, and not to mention the West Coast with Denver and San Antonio, is that wise? I can already see Erik Spoelstra playing three point guards with those two guys and the collective fan base groaning. – Eddie, South Bend.
A: I doubt Erik Spoelstra has concerns about groans. And Bam Adebayo-Giannis Antetokounmpo arguably would be the Heat’s best pairing of big men since Shaquille O’Neal-Alonzo Mourning. Talent, not positions, prevails. At the moment, Giannis is undeniably better than Kel’el Ware. Now, at the end of a Giannis extension, that well could be a different story. Of course, at the moment this all remains speculative.
Q: You wrote Thursday that the Heat is in Greece to scout and not to talk to Giannis Antetokounmpo. But don’t they have to receive assurances that Giannis will re-sign before they trade half their roster and all of their drafts? – Santos.
A: Such assuredly will be handled in backchannels, particularly with Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo sharing common representation. The reality is that as close as the Heat were in their negotiations with the Bucks at February’s trade deadline, there assuredly were assurances at the time of a Heat-Giannis tacit agreement on extension terms.
Q: I wonder if Kasparas Jakucionis will miss Bucks summer-league games? – Bruno.
A: I see what you did there. And, yes, Kasparas Jakucionis, who will play with Lithuania at the start of the summer, could be a potential Heat trade component in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Of all the Heat youth that might have to be included (Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Jakucionis), Kasparas might be among the most important to retain based on positional needs (with Giannis therefore taking Kel’el’s role). There is significant potential upside with Kasparas.
When the Oklahoma City Thunder is on the road during the NBA Playoffs, game days at home aren't any less exciting.
The Thunder has brought back Loud City Live, an official watch party at Paycom Center during road playoff games. Attending fans can watch the game on the big screens while still enjoying regular game-night fun, like T-shirt tosses and Thunder entertainers' performances. Concessions are also open to anyone looking for a beer or a hot dog.
Unlike last year when entrance was free, tickets will cost $10. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Thunder Community Fund, a team representative said. Loud City Live tickets for Games 3 and 4 went on sale Thursday, May 21. In case of a Game 6, they will be on sale later.
“Last year, Loud City Live showed us just how much Thunder fans want to come together and experience playoff basketball as a community,” said Erin Oldfield, vice president of Community Engagement and executive director of the Thunder Community Foundation, per a news release. “This year’s event continues to build on that atmosphere while helping support the Thunder Community Foundation’s work across Oklahoma."
The Thunder Community Foundation was established in 2009 and serves as the charitable arm of the Thunder. The foundation works with the community to provide financial resources to renovate spaces for nonprofits that serve youths to expand opportunities for academic enrichment and other essential services in underserved areas.
Over the last 17 years, the foundation has also built new or refurbished 31 basketball courts across Oklahoma.
Before the Thunder started hosting Loud City Live events in 2025, fans got to experience the popular attraction, Thunder Alley. It was an outdoor fan zone outside the arena with live music, face painting and more. The formalized watch party came to an end after a shooting in 2012 left eight people shot and another injured from the panic.
Fans can now enjoy Thunder Up in the Park before home games and Loud City Live when the team hits the road, but many still long for the return of Thunder Alley.
Plans for the new Thunder arena, expected to be ready ahead of the 2028-2029 regular season, promise a new iteration of Thunder Alley. The expansive zone contains a private parking garage entrance for teams, VIP access and grand stairways leading into the arena.
Illustrations shown in the 2025 State of the City event depict the arena’s west-facing main entrance, aligned with the Myriad Botanical Gardens. The city and the arena's architects described the conceptual design as celebrating "the universal human connection fostered through sports and live entertainment, creating a shared experience that galvanizes and unites the community."
The new arena will be built where the former Cox Convention Center previously stood between E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, Sheridan, Reno and Robinson avenues.
What: Official watch party at Paycom Center in OKC for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and Spurs in San Antonio.
When: Doors open 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, for the 7:30 p.m. game.
Tickets: Fans can claim up to six tickets per household at $10 each at okcthunder.com/loudcitylive.
Contributing: Maria Guinnip and Josh Kelly
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Loud City Live returns to OKC, with support for Thunder foundation
Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith, who now plays in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, was arrested and faces charges for speeding and reckless driving in Twiggs County, Georgia. Twiggs County is located near Macon and is between Atlanta and Savannah, which is Smith's hometown.
According to an ESPN report, Smith was reportedly driving 135 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour zone on the interstate. Following his arrest, Smith made bond and was released within an hour of being booked on May 15. Smith has a court date set for July 14, but if he pays the fines for the citations, then he would not have to appear.
Smith won back-to-back national championships to close out his Georgia football career. He was selected with the No. 30 pick in the first-round of the 2023 NFL draft. Smith went on to win a Super Bowl with Philadelphia and is NFL teammates with several of his former Georgia teammates including defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter.
Smith is far from the only current or former Georgia player to be arrested for a driving offense in the Peach State. Smith is preparing for his fourth career NFL season. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defender is coming off a 2025 season where he posted 31 tackles and three sacks. He missed the start of the season due to a triceps injury.
The Eagles' offseason training activities are set to start on Tuesday. Philadelphia exercised a $13.7 million option on Smith this offseason and are counting on him to produce.
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Former Georgia LB recorded going 135 MPH in arrest
Texas A&M's No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class is the focus heading into the summer, while several prospects in the talented 2028 cycle will also take unofficial visits in the coming months, likely including four-star blue-chip quarterback Donald Tabron II, who visited the Aggies back in early January.
Ranked as Rivals' No. 3 signal caller in the 2028 class, Tabron continues to dazzle coaching staffs due to his dual-threat ability and 6'4", 200-pound frame, possessing impressive arm strength and accuracy. After throwing for 1,656 yards and 17 touchdowns during his freshman season, the Detroit (MI) prospect is now a favorite to land with Texas A&M.
According to On3's Allen Trieu, the Aggies are on track to secure Tabron's commitment, mainly due to his strong bond with new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins and QB coach Joey Lynch, who have maintained communication since his January visit.
According to Trieu, LSU, Auburn, Ohio State, and even the Kentucky Wildcats are the programs to watch, even if the Aggies earn an early commitment from Tabron. What's important to note is that current Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed has served as the program's most consistent starter since Kellen Mond, and compared to LSU, Auburn, and Ohio State, the Aggies' QB development history is less consistent.
According to Rivals, Tabron is currently positioned as the 38th-ranked prospect in the cycle, the No. 3-ranked quarterback, and the third-ranked prospect in Michigan.
Put in a Texas A&M prediction for one of the top 2028s in the Midwest (and nationally).https://t.co/qXVoUfZJDhpic.twitter.com/OshkvTlz7a
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) May 21, 2026
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M receives prediction to land 2028 4-star QB Donald Tabron II
More than 50 years after Black players finally were allowed to join major college football teams in the American South, Black players populated about half the roster spots in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a record 9,617 participants in 2024-25, according to NCAA statistics.
Consider it proof: Racial integration worked after decades of discrimination.
Just not for coaches.
Out of 136 teams in major college football, only 13 have Black head coaches, including two former Ohio State football players, Bowling Green's Eddie George and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman. That's down from 17 out of 120 teams in 2011. Of the 34 head coaches in the NCAA's powerful Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, 33 are White. (Maryland's Mike Locksley is the only Black head coach in the two leagues.) The SEC hasn’t had a non-interim Black head coach since 2020.
To get a better understanding of this issue, USA TODAY Sports spoke with Black former NFL stars hired as head coaches at a lower-resource level of college football who are trying to break through in a different way – George, Marshall Faulk, and Michael Vick.
They have strong opinions. USA TODAY Sports compiled data to provide context.
"Football’s the only sport that players struggle to come off the field and become a coach,” said Faulk, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who now is the head coach at Southern University in Louisiana. “They look at us like if you’re successful at the game playing, then you won’t be successful at the game in any other capacity.”
It often comes down to “comfort,” a word that kept coming up with these former players.
Are school presidents and athletic directors willing to hire people who don’t look like them? Are they willing to consider candidates with backgrounds that are outside the norm in the FBS?
And what if some of these former NFL stars can show a new way?
“We gotta get those numbers up, for sure,” said Vick, the former NFL quarterback who is now the head coach at Norfolk State in Virginia.
'I bear that cross.' Why Memphis' Charles Huff hire matters beyond the field
People tend to hire those who look like them, according to numerous employment studies. Of 136 schools at the FBS level, only 22 have athletic directors who are Black. The rest are predominantly White, as are the head coaches in the FBS.
By contrast, Faulk, George (at Tennessee State) and Vick broke into college head coaching jobs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and were hired by Black athletic directors. Same goes for Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders at Jackson State in 2020 before he moved on to Colorado, as well as former NFL star receiver DeSean Jackson, now head coach at Delaware State.
All of these former NFL stars had little or no prior coaching experience. Faulk admits Southern made a “reach” when it hired him as head coach in December after he spent only one year in the profession as a running backs coach under Sanders at Colorado.
But if reach means “risk,” why shouldn’t somebody take a risk on somebody like him?
Look around pro football or even pro basketball, said Faulk, who won a Super Bowl as running back for the St. Louis Rams.
Faulk named some examples:
∎ Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was hired as the team’s “president of football” this year without any front-office or coaching experience.
∎ Former NBA player JJ Redick was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024 despite having no coaching experience.
∎ Faulk noted the NFL’s Houston Texans considered hiring quarterback Josh McCown as head coach in 2022 despite his lack of any coaching experience.
∎ He also noted how the Falcons just hired a head coach (Kevin Stefanski) with a worse record last year than the coach they fired (Raheem Morris). Stefanski was fired after a 5-12 season with Cleveland while Morris was 8-9 in Atlanta.
Morris is Black. Each of those hires involved a coach or former player who is White.
“I’m just gonna say what it is,” Faulk said. “Matt Ryan can be a GM (president of football in Atlanta, where he oversees the general manager). Why do other players kind of go through and jump through the hoops to be a GM?
“What’s the quarterback (coach) that’s now in Minnesota?” Faulk said referencing McCown. “He was in Houston. They were about to give him the (head coaching) job (in Houston)… He barely played. Played a few games in the league. But it happens. You can be JJ Redick and never have coaching experience and get the Lakers job. But can Marshall Faulk get the Rams job? Hell no. It is what it is.
“There’s a level of comfort, but we, if this is the route we have to go to show like Coach Prime (Sanders) did, that hey, I can lead an organization, I can do what I need to do,” Faulk said. “And I’ll do that. It’s no different than a lot of other coaches that went this route.
“We don’t have the opportunity of (coach Mike LaFleur) who just got the (Arizona) Cardinals head coaching job who I barely knew was with the (Los Angeles) Rams you know?” Faulk said. “That’s a hell of an opportunity. And I’m gonna say (Rams) coach (Sean) McVay, he’s done a really good job of getting guys ready to get jobs … It’s just weird that the Atlanta Falcons would fire a guy (Morris) who had a better record than the guy that they hired (Stefanski).”
Add it all up, and it’s clear the traditional way of moving up the coaching ladder hasn’t worked for Black coaches. So now some have been trying a different path, led by Sanders, who started a recent trend by showing how a former NFL star with no college coaching experience can succeed as an HBCU head coach and then move on to the FBS level. George followed Sanders to the FBS level last year as head coach after four seasons at HBCU Tennessee State.
“It’s hard for guys to go up the ladder because there’s a lot of red tape at times,” said George, the former Tennessee Titans running back now the head coach at Bowling Green State. “There’s politics being played at times and you see coaches stay at a certain position for 20 or 30 years without elevating, and that can be frustrating. So there’s one way, and another way is, ‘Hey, you know what? Our résumé speaks for itself.’”
The coaching record of these former NFL stars is mixed so far, with hits and misses among them just like with White coaches. It’s also a small sample size:
∎ George finished 4-8 in his first season last year at the FBS level after going 24-22 at Tennessee State, including 9-4 in 2024.
∎ Jackson, the former Philadelphia Eagles receiver, went 8-4 at Delaware State (HBCU) in his first season in 2025.
∎ Vick, the former Falcons and Virginia Tech quarterback, debuted at 1-11 last year at Norfolk State in Virginia (HBCU).
∎ Sanders went 27-6 at Jackson State (HBCU) before going 4-8, 9-4 and 3-9 the past three seasons at Colorado.
∎ Faulk, a New Orleans native, makes his debut at Southern Sept. 5 against Kentucky State.
“It’s connection-based,” Vick said. “Sometimes it’s more about who you know than what you know. It’s just about getting the opportunity.”
Sanders talked about this last year when he referenced the traditional way of moving up the coaching ladder, which often involves starting out as a low-level coach in college and then moving up to be a position coach and coordinator before being considered for a head coaching job. It takes connections to make those steps up the ladder. Sometimes even former NFL stars don’t have them.
“You have no idea how many phone calls I get with former NFL players that want to coach,” Sanders said last season. “Unfortunately, it’s like a system that has been implemented that they didn’t tell nobody, that we had to start here, and start here, and start here until we make it there (while) withholding our accomplishments in our tenure with the NFL.”
That traditional career path for White head coaches produces successes and failures every season. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban came up that way before winning seven national championships. But so did Charlie Weis, who never played college football and went 41-49 as head coach of Notre Dame and Kansas.
Is there any reason a different career path and background couldn’t lead to similar or better results, especially as college football evolves to a more professional model with players getting paid for their names, images and likenesses (NIL)?
Raising money, recruiting and building a team’s brand are bigger part of the job these days — duties that can be well-suited for former NFL stars, even if they have little coaching experience. Coaching details can be delegated to assistants.
“We’re gonna lean on all of our experiences,” Vick said. “And we’re going to lean on people with experience to help us.”
In all of college football history, only four HBCU head coaches have been directly hired as FBS head coaches — George, Sanders, Jay Hopson and Willie Jeffries. Hopson is White and coached at HBCU Alcorn State before getting hired at Southern Miss in 2016. Jeffries coached at HBCU South Carolina State before he became the first Black head coach at the major college level at Wichita State in 1979, 110 years since the start of college football in 1869.
Why haven’t more successful HBCU head coaches been directly hired at the FBS level?
Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Doug Williams found the answer to this question after he interviewed for the head coaching job at Kentucky in December 2002. Back then, Williams was the highly successful head coach at HBCU Grambling State, where he led his team to an 11-2 season in 2002. But Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart hired a White coach instead: Rich Brooks from Oregon.
Williams, who is Black, wrote about it in the foreword to a book about the challenges faced by Black coaches published in 2012.
“Barnhart was very honest in explaining the decision to me,” Williams wrote in the book entitled “Crackback!,” authored by former San Jose State head coach Fitz Hill. “I remember the word he used. He said that the ‘comfort’ factor was an issue in terms of me fitting in at Kentucky. It threw me for a loop.”
Williams later found out Barnhart had worked in the athletic department at Oregon when Brooks was the head coach there.
“I can’t blame coach Brooks for using any of those connections to get the Kentucky job,” Williams wrote. “But that’s how it all works.”
Coaching success at the HBCU level otherwise would seem to be a good indicator of future success. It’s the same job with more challenges and without the intense media attention of the Power 4 conferences.
“Coming from an HBCU, I can definitely say that you’re well equipped to take on any problem,” George said. “Because it’s 10 times harder because of the lack of resources.”
George, who won the Heisman Trophy at Ohio State in 1995, used the same word as Williams to describe access to coaching opportunities. Of the 13 Black head coaches in the FBS, four were hired by Black athletic directors.
“It’s not necessarily a race thing,” George said. “It’s more of a comfort thing: ‘This is who I trust in this position.’ My first (athletic director) was Black (at Tennessee State). The next AD I worked for is South African (Derek van der Merwe at BGSU), but he’s White. And it came down to him really looking beyond the resume and looking at the coach, the person and getting to know me to hire me at Bowling Green State.”
Following this pattern, there are 17 current White head coaches in the FBS who secured second or third chances after previously getting fired as an FBS head coach, including LSU’s Lane Kiffin, who was previously fired as head coach at Southern California and with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.
By contrast, only eight Black head coaches in history got second chances at the FBS level after being fired as FBS head coaches, according to USA TODAY Sports research.
This has proven to be a hard pattern to break without more Black coaches getting first chances at success.
"African-American coaches aren’t afforded (second chances), so the pressure really is 'I’ve got to be damn near perfect to get another opportunity, if this one doesn’t go well,'" George said. "It’s a longer runway for some coaches than for others."
Hill, the former San Jose State coach, said college basketball has shown that access to head coaching jobs, combined with the success of just a few coaches, can lead to a longer runway and more opportunities for Black head coaches. For example, no Black head coach in major college football has won a national title.
In college basketball, he noted how Black coaches John Thompson (Georgetown), Nolan Richardson (Arkansas) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky) won national titles.
"It changed the brand of what a national championship person looked like," Hill said. "In football, when you think of national championship coaches, who comes to your mind? I mean, that’s a normal cognitive process."
In Division I men’s basketball, about half the players were Black in 2024-25, according to NCAA data. There were 97 Black head coaches, accounting for about 27% of all teams, according to the data — a much bigger share than in FBS football.
In the meantime, Faulk, George, Vick, Sanders and Jackson hope to show the way. They didn’t have much, if any, coaching experience before, but now they’re hooked.
"It’s been entertaining, fun, exciting and a headache all in one," Faulk said of being the new head coach at Southern. "But I wouldn’t change it."
Vick acknowledged he had a lot to learn last year but is better for it heading into his second season.
"It’s a passion, man," Vick said. "I felt it during the season last year … even though we didn’t win games. I really felt it coming back into Year 2, which is why I’m doing it, why I love football."
George called coaching "God’s work" because it’s leading young men.
"Man, I’m gonna go as far as I can go, however long that is," George said. "And if it’s the rest of my life, that’s it … Everything I’ve gone through, it’s not for me – It’s for someone else. That’s what coaching is."
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why aren't Black coaches moving up in college football? Eddie George speaks
Selection day is quickly approaching as baseball teams jockey for position on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Two teams have already earned automatic bids, Yale in the Ivy League and Holy Cross in the Patriot League. Beyond those, several top seeds face elimination in losers bracket games on May 22.
The selection show will take place May 25 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN2).
This season, the selection committee is seeding all of the 2-seeds and assigning them to regionals in groups of four. That was done here, while the 3- and 4-seeds were assigned based on geography and other factors.
A trio of Sun Belt Conference teams have really helped themselves in the conference tournaments. Louisiana feels like a safe bet to be in the field now, and Texas State and Troy also picked up wins. The latter two are still very much on the bubble and might be competing for one spot. The two resumes are very similar, so it may come down to which team advances further.
Trending down is the Big Ten duo of Michigan and Purdue. Though both teams are still alive in the Big Ten Tournament, they each took a loss to a non-regional team in the double-elimination portion. They likely need to win their next game (Michigan against Nebraska and Purdue against UCLA) to get in the conversation.
NC State took a loss to last-place Duke in the ACC Tournament, but coach Elliott Avent announced his retirement on May 21. In the past, several bubble teams with retiring coaches have made the field − 2019 Florida State, 2021 LSU and 2024 Coastal Carolina are a few notable examples.
Miami (Ohio) and Kent State each took losses in the double-elimination portion of the MAC Tournament. Though both are still alive, those losses reduce the probability of a stolen bid as the two teams will face off in an elimination game on May 22. This season is setting up to have few stolen bids, good news for bubble teams.
An asterisk * denotes projected automatic bids. Automatic bids were given to the highest remaining seed in each conference tournament, even if that team is in the losers bracket.
Teams in bold have already clinched an automatic bid.
Last 4 In: Virginia Tech, East Carolina, NC State, Troy
First 4 Out: Texas State, Michigan, Kent State, Purdue
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NCAA baseball tournament projections, bubble watch as selection day approaches
The MIAA high school spring state tournaments are about to get underway.
The first brackets to be revealed is high school girls lacrosse. The pairings will be announced on Friday, May 22, at 11 a.m. (Tennis follows at 1 p.m.).
The South Shore is sure to make a lot of noise in the state tournament this spring. As of Tuesday's power rankings, seven local teams were ranked inside the top 10 of their respective divisions.
Div. 3 Norwell, which won the Div. 4 title in 2025, is the area's lone defending champion. The Clippers defeated Cohasset in the state final and those teams, who already have a ton of history, could meet later in the postseason once again.
Follow this page to see the brackets when they're announced.
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: MIAA girls lacrosse state tournament bracket
A member of the University of Dayton Track and Field team has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Junior Camryn Thompson has qualified for the NCAA East Region First Round.
According to a university spokesperson, she will compete in the high jump on May 30 in Lexington, Kentucky.
TRENDING STORIES:
Thompson earned her spot after a record-setting performance in the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
She cleared 1.76m to break the school record and finished second in the event. Thompson’s personal best mark ranked in the East Region’s Top 50.
It also helped secure the Flyers’ first-ever A-10 Outdoor Track & Field title, the spokesperson said.
Thompson is the first Dayton Flyer to qualify for the NCAA East Regional in the high jump.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United hands Michael Carrick two-year contract as head coach.
I hope you’re watching the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Actually it's the Western Conference Finals, it just feels that way because these are clearly the two best teams.
To be fair, Eastern Conference finalists New York and Cleveland are fine ballclubs, but the Spurs and the defending champs are on another level. The series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 slated for Friday night in San Antonio and the series winner will be a prohibitive favorite to win it all. These two teams are made for another. Two games in and they have played two absolute classics. It's the kind of series where real fans of the game hope for a seven-game series.
OKC, led by defending two-time league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is one of the deepest rosters in the Association but has its hands full with the Spurs, who are one of the most talented young teams in the game, though there are depth concerns at guard. Veteran guard De'Aaron Fox has missed the first two games with a high ankle sprain while Dylan Harper, the son of NBA champion Ron Harper, underwent an MRI after leaving Game 2 with a hamstring injury.
It will place some heavier pressure on others like Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell, capable 3-point shooters who aren't as adept as getting to the rim as young Harper.
MORE CED: Texas softball still hungry for repeat
While French condor Victor Wembanyama continues to make plays that no 7-foot-4 person should be making — at three years in, he’s arguably the most position-less of position-less players to ever play the game — these young guards are scary good.
Stephon Castle is 6-foot-6 and plays much bigger. He has put several Thunder players on a poster with jaw-dropping in-traffic dunks and brings to mind a young Clyde Drexler though he's primarily a point guard while the legendary Glide played on the wing. While he’s new to this playoff experience, Castle has played with tremendous poise.
BASEBALL: SEC awards Longhorn stars
Still, 20 turnovers over the first two games are problematic. He has to clean that up, but the young star has made so many plays on both ends otherwise that the Spurs are still in good shape to get this done. The biggest issue is one of health.
Sign up for Cedric Golden’s newsletter for hot takes and expert analysis each Tuesday on Texas Longhorns football and beyond. It's called Ced’s Corner, from the mind of the American-Statesman’s resident sports columnist who was named the NSMA's 2025 Texas Sportswriter of the Year.
Former Texas football star Derrick Johnson will be the special guest at the American-Statesman’s annual High School Sports Awards show June 7, but he isn’t sitting idly by at the house waiting on the date. Before I sit down with him for a chat at the University of Texas Club on a night honoring the area’s best prep athletes, Johnson has plans. He’s made it his life’s work to uplift those less fortunate than himself, particularly young students.
MORE CED: How George Strait played second fiddle to state's best track stars
Johnson — the four-time Pro Bowler who is the Kansas City Chiefs' leading tackler in franchise history — was at a pair of Austin elementary schools Wednesday to donate books and refurbish wings as part of his Defend the Dream Foundation, which has a goal of eradicating illiteracy among kids in underserved communities.
Johnson visited Overton and Palm schools Wednesday, three months after he hosted DJ's Celebrity Waiter Night, a gala fundraiser at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin featuring Texas athletes serving dinner to potential donors. The event grossed nearly $700,000.
Johnson captivated students at Palm after a wall was dedicated, featuring Johnson in a UT uniform. Johnson then read to the kids after a ribbon cutting.
“Try your best to be your best,” Johnson said to the youngsters, who asked numerous questions from how much money he earned in his career to his proudest moment, which he said was earning a bachelor’s degree at Texas after the father of six retired and moved back to Austin in 2019.
As a member of the foundation's advisory board, I've witnessed firsthand the positive results that have come from Johnson and wife Brittni's dedication to this ministry. Much work remains, but steady progress is happening under the leadership of the man guiding this ship.
Looking ahead, the foundation will donate books and build wings at Blazier and Williams elementaries in late October. Each library makeover costs $50,000.
The second DJ's Celebrity Waiter Night is also being planned for February.
To donate to Defend the Dream, go to derrickjohnsonfoundation.org.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15: Tommy Kahnle #41 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during Game 2 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty ImagesAfter returning with largely the same group of veteran stars as they had on the team last year and enjoying the emergence of some promising younger players as well, the New York Yankees are eyeing a return to the World Series.
Behind the bats of Aaron Judge and Ben Rice and with franchise ace Gerrit Cole set to join Cam Schlittler at the frontline of the rotation, the team is seeing a potent combination of youth and experience in the batting order and the starting pitcher staff.
But the bullpen has been a different story.
“Camilo Doval, looked at as a setup man before Opening Day, has a 5.19 ERA and has allowed at least one run in seven of 17 games since beginning the season with three scoreless appearances despite cutting back on his walks,” Gary Phillips wrote recently for the New York Daily News. “Fernando Cruz, while pitching to a 2.37 ERA, is a fireman walking batters at a career-high clip. One of the aforementioned projects, Brent Headrick, got off to a stellar start, but he has been used as much as anyone in the majors and has allowed a run in each of his last three outings.”
Meanwhile, closer David Bednar has struggled to a 5.14 ERA this season while veteran Jake Bird has a 4.70 ERA.
As a result, it seems the Yankees could be looking to bring in some new arms for the relief corps before the trade deadline. And old friend Tommy Kahnle, who the organization drafted in 2010, might be looking for a new home.
“After breaking out with strong seasons for the (Chicago) White Sox in 2016 and 2017, he was traded to the Yankees where he was up-and-down as a late-inning option from 2017-2019,” MassLive’s Chris Cotillo wrote in an update on the veteran reliever, who is now a member of the Boston Red Sox organization. “In 2023 and 2024, Kahnle was back in New York as one of the best relievers in the American League and posted a 2.38 ERA while striking out 94 batters in 83 and one-third regular season innings.”
All told, Kahnle spent six total seasons with the Yankees in his two stints, logging more than 195 innings with a 3.31 ERA in that span. This season, pitching for the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, Kahnle has a 1.88 ERA in 13 games and he could be on track to opt out of his contract in pursuit of a big-league opportunity elsewhere.
“Obviously, it’s in the back of my mind but I have no idea where I’m going to be,” Kahnle told Cotillo, when asked about an upcoming June 1 opt-out deadline that would allow him to test free agency. “I couldn’t tell you.”
With Kahnle’s chance to test free agency coming up in the near future and his old team in need of some new relief options, it seems as if another reunion could be in store if Kahnle feels he’s ready to exercise that option when the time comes.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Roland Garros is different from every other Grand Slam. Wimbledon rewards grass-court specialists. The US Open favors power and hard-court precision. The Australian Open is a test of fitness in January heat. But the French Open is something else entirely. The red clay of Roland Garros slows the ball down, raises the bounce, rewards heavy topspin, and punishes anyone whose legs or mental fortitude is not completely right on the day. It is the most physically demanding major, the most tactically complex, and historically, the hardest to dominate repeatedly. Which makes what happened over the last decade all the more extraordinary.
Ten years of Roland Garros men’s singles titles have been shared between just three players. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz. Three names. A combined total of titles that would be remarkable for a single player, let alone a generation. Nadal alone won six of the last ten titles before his retirement, extending a record at this tournament that nobody in the sport’s history has come close to matching. Djokovic managed to break through and win three times on a surface that gave him more trouble than any other. And Alcaraz, barely into his twenties, has already won the title twice back to back, announcing himself as the heir to the clay court throne with the kind of performances that make you wonder what the next decade at this tournament is going to look like.
MORE:Ranking the tennis greats who spent the most weeks at World No. 1
The last decade at Roland Garros is not a story about parity or surprise. It is a story about three of the greatest players who ever held a tennis racket taking turns reminding the sport who they are, on the most unforgiving surface in the game. Here is how it unfolded, year by year.
The one year in this decade that belonged to someone outside the Nadal-Djokovic axis, and it was spectacular. Stan Wawrinka beat Novak Djokovic in the final 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, denying Djokovic what would have been a career Grand Slam at the time. Wawrinka was one of the most dangerous one-week players in tennis, capable on his best days of beating anyone in the world, and his best days at Roland Garros in 2015 were genuinely exceptional. His single-handed backhand on clay is one of the great weapons the sport has produced, and he deployed it like a hammer throughout that fortnight. It remains his most celebrated Grand Slam title of the three he won in his career.
Djokovic had been knocking on the door at Roland Garros for years, reaching multiple finals and semi-finals without being able to close it out. In 2016, he finally did. He beat Andy Murray in the final 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to complete the career Grand Slam, becoming the first man in the Open Era to hold all four major titles simultaneously. The relief and emotion from Djokovic when he held the trophy was unlike anything he had shown after a title before. Roland Garros was the one that had escaped him, and when it finally arrived, the weight of what it meant was visible on his face.
Nadal came back to Roland Garros in 2017 after injuries had kept him away, and he won the title without dropping a set across the entire fortnight. He beat Stan Wawrinka in the final 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, one of the most one-sided Grand Slam final scorelines in recent memory. It was his tenth French Open title, a number so extraordinary that most people had already stopped trying to find a comparison for it. Winning Roland Garros ten times is its own category of achievement, separate from anything else in tennis. He celebrated it quietly, which in hindsight felt appropriate. Even he seemed to understand that the number required a moment of stillness.
Nadal won his eleventh. He beat Dominic Thiem in the final 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggested in the early stages before Nadal’s weight of experience and clay court mastery took over completely. Thiem was one of the few players of his generation who could genuinely trouble Nadal on clay, and he pushed hard in the first set, but the outcome was never really in doubt once Nadal settled. Eleven French Open titles at this point was so far beyond anything anyone else had achieved at a single Grand Slam that the sport had essentially stopped looking for context and started simply watching in appreciation.
The twelfth. Thiem again in the final, again unable to stop him. Nadal won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in a match that followed a similar pattern to 2018. Thiem took a set and pushed Nadal harder than most opponents could manage on this surface, but from the third set onward there was only one direction the match was going. Twelve French Open titles made Nadal the most successful player at a single Grand Slam in the history of the sport. He held that record and kept adding to it.
The pandemic had pushed the 2020 French Open to October, played in cold, slow conditions that most players found difficult to adapt to. Nadal found them perfectly suited to his game. He beat Novak Djokovic in the final 6-0, 6-2, 7-5, one of the most dominant performances ever produced in a Grand Slam final against a player of Djokovic’s quality. The 6-0 opening set against the world number one in a Grand Slam final is a scoreline that belongs in a different category from normal tennis results. Thirteen French Open titles. The record had become genuinely untouchable.
Djokovic produced one of the great comeback performances in Grand Slam history, losing the first two sets to Stefanos Tsitsipas before winning three straight to take the title 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. It was his second Roland Garros title and it completed a second career Grand Slam, making him one of only two men in history alongside Rod Laver to win all four majors at least twice. Tsitsipas had played magnificently for two sets and had the crowd behind him, but Djokovic’s ability to raise his level when facing elimination is one of the defining qualities of his career, and he demonstrated it as clearly as he ever has in that final.
The fourteenth. Nadal came to Roland Garros in 2022 with a chronic foot injury that had threatened his entire season and was openly uncertain about his future in the sport. He won the title without losing a set in the final, beating Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. Fourteen French Open titles is a record that existed so far beyond what anyone else had achieved at a single Grand Slam that the sport had no framework for discussing it anymore. Nadal simply held it, quietly, in Paris, on the court he had made his home more completely than any player in history.
Djokovic won his third Roland Garros title, beating Casper Ruud in the final 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in a performance of controlled excellence. It was his 23rd Grand Slam title overall, breaking the all-time record he had previously shared with Nadal. The significance of the number was not lost on anyone watching. Djokovic had arrived at Roland Garros needing one more major to stand alone at the top of tennis history, and he delivered it on the surface that had given him the most difficulty across his career. That made it feel like the most complete achievement of the lot.
SEE ALSO: Ranking the most watched Masters rounds in golf history
Everything changed in 2024. Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev in the final 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in a match that was genuinely contested before Alcaraz’s physical superiority and competitive intensity took over in the fourth and fifth sets. He became only the third man in the Open Era after Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal to win Roland Garros before the age of 22. He had won Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, the US Open in 2022, and now the French Open. Three different Grand Slams on three different surfaces before his 22nd birthday. The sport had found its next great champion, and he was already showing what that was going to look like.
Alcaraz defended his title in the most dramatic fashion possible, beating Jannik Sinner in a five-set final that went to a deciding tiebreak, 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). It was the highest quality final Roland Garros had produced in years, two of the best players in the world exchanging the lead across nearly four hours of tennis before Alcaraz held his nerve in the final tiebreak. Back-to-back Roland Garros titles before the age of 23, alongside Wimbledon and US Open victories, made the conversation around what Alcaraz might eventually achieve at this tournament entirely legitimate. The torch had been passed, slowly and then suddenly, and the clay court era now had a new name at the top of it.
The 2026 edition, with Alcaraz withdrawing due to a wrist injury, opens the door for Sinner and others to write a new chapter. But the decade just completed belongs to those three names, and it will be a long time before anything matches what they produced on the red clay of Paris.
Kyle Busch, one of the most gifted and combustible personalities the sport of NASCAR ever produced, has died at the age of 41. The racing world learned Thursday that Busch, who had been hospitalized earlier in the day with a severe illness, did not survive. The announcement came jointly from the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR, sending shockwaves across the motorsports community.
For more than two decades, Busch was a constant, unmistakable presence in NASCAR's Cup Series. He was the kind of driver fans either loved unconditionally or loved to hate, and he would have had it no other way. His supporters, known as "Rowdy Nation," followed his career with fierce loyalty from his teenage debut to his final laps in the No. 8 Chevrolet in 2025.
Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha, whom he married on New Year's Eve in 2010, and two children. His son Brexton just turned 11 on Monday, and his daughter Lennix is 4 years old. The grief felt across the racing community is immeasurable, but it is nothing compared to what his family is facing right now.
The sport lost a fierce competitor, a showman, and a driver who made the stands louder simply by being on the track. Whether the crowd was cheering or booing, they were engaged, and that is a gift very few athletes in any sport ever possess.
The numbers Busch put up over his career are the kind that make other drivers shake their heads. In NASCAR's top division, the Cup Series, he won 63 races, placing him ninth on the all-time wins list. He claimed Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019, both with Joe Gibbs Racing.
But the Cup numbers were almost secondary to what he did in NASCAR's other two national series. Busch racked up 102 wins in what is now called the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 victories in the Craftsman Truck Series. Those are records, full stop. Nobody in NASCAR history won more races across the national series combined, and that achievement alone would cement his legacy.
His career spanned stints with three iconic teams. He broke through with Hendrick Motorsports, became a franchise cornerstone with Joe Gibbs Racing for 15 seasons, and spent his final chapter with Richard Childress Racing starting in 2023.
Kyle Thomas Busch was born on May 2, 1985, in Las Vegas, into a family already deep in racing culture. His father Tom was a mechanic who raced locally, and his older brother Kurt, seven years his senior, was already climbing the racing ladder when Kyle was still a teenager. Kurt's famous 2001 prediction has taken on a different kind of weight today: "You think I'm a pretty good race car driver? Wait until you see my brother. He's the best driver in the family."
That bold claim turned out to be well-founded. Kyle signed with Jack Roush's organization while still in high school, though a NASCAR rule change raising the minimum age to 18 temporarily paused his ascent. He used that time to develop his own identity outside his brother's shadow, signing with Rick Hendrick's organization in 2003. By 2004 he was making Cup Series appearances, and by 2005 he was a full-time rookie who became the youngest winner in the series at the time, winning at Auto Club Speedway in just his 31st career start.
The signature bow he performed after each victory became one of the sport's most recognizable celebrations. Part Vegas showman, part magician stepping out of a cloud of tire smoke, it was a gesture that was entirely, defiantly Kyle Busch.
Racing, by its nature, is a sport that flirts with tragedy. Fans and competitors have grown accustomed to the dangers on the track, but Busch's death is a reminder that life itself carries no guarantees, no matter how fast or fearless a person is. He was 41 years old, in the middle of an active racing season, and gone without warning.
His passing also underscores the importance of the communities sports create. "Rowdy Nation" was not just a nickname for a fan base. It was a real identity that people built around watching this man drive a race car with everything he had. When an athlete like Busch is gone, something genuinely irreplaceable disappears with him.
The NASCAR community, and sports culture more broadly, can take something from this moment: appreciate the competitors who make you feel something while they are still here. Busch made millions of people feel a lot of things over 22 seasons. That is not a small thing.
Busch was not just a driver. He was also a team owner in the Craftsman Truck Series, running Kyle Busch Motorsports from 2010 to 2023. His teams won 100 races and produced two championships, with Erik Jones winning in 2015 and Christopher Bell following in 2017. Both Jones and Bell went on to become established Cup Series competitors, a direct product of the opportunities Busch gave them.
His final Cup Series win came on June 4, 2023, at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. He won three races in his first half-season with Richard Childress Racing, though a lengthy winless stretch followed. He was 22 years into his top-series career at the time of his death, still showing up, still competing, still the guy fans wanted to talk about.
NASCAR lost a giant Thursday, as the joint statement put it. That word, giant, is not an exaggeration. Kurt Busch is a Hall of Famer. Kyle Busch, who was well on his way to joining him in Canton, was the best driver in the family, just like his brother always said.
If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.The New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals don’t share the same type of rivalry history as some of New Orleans’ NFC South opponents, but the series record suggests that it’s anyone’s ballgame. The Cardinals escaped the Caesars Superdome last season with a win, spoiling Kellen Moore’s debut as the Saints' head coach. When they return to New Orleans in Week 16 this coming season, the Saints will have an opportunity to answer back in the same building.
Arizona holds a slight edge in the all-time series — a one-game lead in a matchup that has seen 32 regular-season games and one postseason game. With the series that tight, the upcoming meeting between the two teams will give the Saints a chance to even things up.
The Saints opened the 2025 season at home against the Cardinals and came up short 20-13. Arizona grabbed a 17-10 lead heading into halftime behind Kyler Murray, who threw two touchdowns. Spencer Rattler threw for 214 yards on 46 attempts, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win over a Cardinals team that finished 3-14.
This matchup appears, on paper, to be one of the easiest that the Saints will encounter all season. Last season, Arizona did not dominate New Orleans; they managed the game more effectively and made key plays when the Saints couldn’t. If Tyler Shough can continue managing games effectively, Travis Etienne Jr. helps the Saints stay balanced offensively, and the wide receivers continue to show up, New Orleans shouldn’t have any issues protecting their home turf.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 Saints schedule: Previewing home game vs. Cardinals in Week 16
With Organized team activities (OTAs) almost here for the Jacksonville Jaguars, let's take a look at the current state of the team's depth chart on offense.
Offseason workouts have already been underway for the Jaguars for roughly the last month, but OTAs begin on May 26th. In this third phase of offseason programs, no contact can take place, but teams can do competitive team periods.
From a roster construction standpoint, it's been a relatively quiet offseason for the Jaguars. However, the departures of Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne, along with the additions of Chris Rodriguez and 10 draft picks, could create some positional competitions that will take place over the summer.
Heading into the first OTA practice, here is the offensive depth chart and where things stand at each position group.
Aguilar will compete with Bradley for the third spot on the depth chart. For what it's worth, last year, Liam Coen rostered only two quarterbacks on the 53-man, while the third was on the practice squad.
With Tuten, Rodriguez, and Allen, the top of the depth chart is already established, and that trio may make up the running back room on the 53-man roster. That said, UDFA J'Mari Taylor may be a name to watch. The Jaguars often carried a fourth running back on the roster last season.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter account for four roster spots. CJ Williams and Josh Cameron, who were taken on Day 3 of the draft, potentially account for two more. Do these players make up the Jaguars' wide receiver room this season? Does Jacksonville keep a seventh wideout with Hunter playing both ways? Will Coen want some experience on the back end of the depth chart?
Boerkircher gives Coen the flexibility to utilize more three tight end sets this season. He could also push Morris for the blocking-heavy TE2 role. Koziol could push Long for playing time as a pass-catching target, and perhaps keep Long off the 53-man roster, unless the Jaguars go heavy at this position and keep five.
The addition of Pregnon adds size and competition to the offensive line. He could push either Cleveland or Mekari for playing time. This is also shaping up to be a position group where the Jaguars go heavy on the 53-man, keeping 10-plus linemen, unless there ends up being a surprise cut or trade.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars OTAs: Breaking down the depth chart on offense
It will be a momentous occasion when Apple announces its “One More Thing” during its 2027 keynote, unveiling to the masses the iPhone 20, the company’s first flagship sporting a quad-curved display. While the California-based giant has gained some notoriety for developing this futuristic design, Samsung has been quietly testing a variant of the same display, which may be outfitted in one of its Galaxy S flagships, becoming a true iPhone 20 competitor. A new rumor claims that Samsung has been developing a 3D curved display since 2025, as it readies its upcoming flagship to take on the iPhone 20 […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-quietly-developing-competitor-with-an-iphone-20-display/
Right on schedule, a new Crimson Desert patch has gone live today ahead of the weekend, continuing Pearl Abyss' mission of fulfilling community requests to deliver an experience far above anything powered by Unreal Engine with the highly requested tool equipment slot while adding new content and fixes, including the ability to have a pet baby wyvern that will become a full mount in the future. The tool equipment slot is the first major new addition mentioned in the official patch 1.08.00 notes. This was one of the most requested features by the community, as previously, tools could only be […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/crimson-desert-sneaks-ray-traced-sun-and-moon-shadows-patch-1-08-tool-slot/
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) has announced a credit guarantee of AED 1.5 million for 01Gov, an Emirati GovTech startup. The guarantee will accelerate the growth of 01Gov’s proprietary AI-powered platform, reinforcing the UAE’s agenda to lead the world in government development and excellence.
Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the UAE Ministry of Finance and the Ministry’s representative at MBRIF, said: “The Fund plays a pivotal role in advancing the national innovation strategy, reflecting the UAE’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy with strong global competitiveness. We are committed to empowering high-potential innovators and providing the necessary foundations for their growth and expansion, in a way that ensures sustainable developmental impact. Our support for (01Gov) reflects our firm commitment to fostering innovation, accelerating digital transformation, and strengthening national capabilities that can shape the future of vital sectors.”
The 01Gov Platform is a comprehensive cloud-based solution, available online and as a mobile app, designed to address challenges faced by government entities. It empowers public sector professionals by providing tools to track emerging global trends, conduct rapid benchmarking studies, and access international best practices, and helps government employees generate innovative ideas, run idea labs, and engage in continuous self-learning.
The new backing positions 01Gov to scale its operations and meet the growing demand for its intelligent, purpose-built solutions. The guarantee will fund the advancement of ‘One’, 01Gov’s agentic AI system, and deepen the capabilities of the 01Gov Platform for its existing government clients.
Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Partner, Artificial Intelligence and Future Foresight at 01Gov, said: “We are deeply honoured by the trust placed in us by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund and the UAE Ministry of Finance. This support aligns with our strategic direction to contribute to the UAE’s efforts to enhance government efficiency and strengthen foresight capabilities. The UAE has set a clear and ambitious agenda to lead globally in AI-powered government, and as an Emirati company, we take great pride in contributing to the achievement of this national ambition. We also extend our sincere thanks to our clients in the government sector and to everyone who has been part of this journey with us.”
MBRIF’s Guarantee Scheme plays a pivotal role in driving the country’s innovation ecosystem by providing affordable debt financing to groundbreaking companies, reflecting its dedication to helping drive the growth of disruptive enterprises that contribute to the country’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
The post Emirati startup, 01Gov secures AED 1.5M MBRIF backing appeared first on My Startup World - Everything About the World of Startups!.
NanoCo, the startup behind the fast‑rising secure AI agent framework NanoClaw, has raised an oversubscribed $12 million seed round, choosing independence over a lucrative acquisition offer reportedly worth around $20 million. The decision marks a bold bet by founders Gavriel and Lazer Cohen, who have watched their open‑source project explode from a couch‑coded prototype to one of the most talked‑about agentic AI tools of 2026.
The round was led by Valley Capital Partners, with participation from Docker, Vercel, Monday.com, Slow Ventures, and a roster of prominent angels including Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue. Interest surged after endorsements from Andrej Karpathy and a viral post by Singapore’s foreign minister, who described NanoClaw as his “second brain.” Within weeks, the Cohens were fielding dozens of inbound investor messages, community contributions, and unsolicited acquisition offers.
NanoClaw’s appeal stems from its security‑first architecture. Unlike traditional agent frameworks that run directly on a user’s machine with broad access, NanoClaw operates fully sandboxed inside a container, isolating credentials and services. This approach, once niche, has quickly become a model for secure agent deployment as enterprises experiment with AI‑driven automation.
The Cohens initially built NanoClaw as an internal tool for their previous AI marketing startup. But as the open‑source community grew, a founder friend offered a pivotal insight: projects like this become exponentially more valuable as their user base expands. That advice pushed the brothers to shutter their earlier venture and commit fully to NanoCo.
Momentum accelerated rapidly. Community members began experimenting with NanoClaw on robotics platforms like Reachy Mini, and early adopters—many of them senior engineers at Big Tech companies—started deploying it inside their organizations. That grassroots traction led to NanoCo’s first enterprise customers, who requested help rolling out secure AI agents across teams. In response, the company introduced forward‑deployed engineering services to support implementation and ongoing operations.
Executives at companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Gap, SentinelOne, and Accenture are already using NanoClaw, according to the founders. While NanoCo declined to name paying customers, the company says demand is accelerating as organizations seek secure, controllable alternatives to general‑purpose agent frameworks.
By turning down a buyout and opting for a seed round instead, the Cohens are signaling confidence that NanoClaw’s community‑driven momentum—and its security‑centric design—can support a much larger business. With thousands of users and growing enterprise interest, NanoCo is positioning itself as a foundational player in the next wave of agentic AI.
The post NanoClaw creator raises $12M instead of selling for $20M appeared first on My Startup World - Everything About the World of Startups!.
Azamara Cruises has announced its new cruises for the spring, summer and fall of 2028 — one of the most ambitious and destination-forward seasons in the brand’s history. The new line-up of cruise itineraries features […]Antalya Airport has been named host of Routes Europe 2027, winning the right to stage one of the aviation industry’s most influential route development forums after a record-breaking year in which the Turkish airport handled […]American Airlines has launched four new nonstop routes between the United States and Europe as part of its largest summer schedule to date, adding flights to Budapest, Prague, Athens and Zurich. The airline began the […]The post Top Altcoins To Buy When Bitcoin Price Dips Again appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
A crypto analyst remains highly bullish on several altcoins despite waiting patiently for better entry points before buying. According to the analyst, projects like Monad and Canton are among the strongest long-term plays if Bitcoin revisits lower support zones near the 200-week moving average.
One of the main projects on his radar is Monad, a heavily backed Layer-1 blockchain currently sitting near a $310 million market cap.
The analyst noted that Monad’s chart structure looks surprisingly healthy compared to many VC-backed Layer-1 launches that often collapse after launch. He compared it to projects like ICP, which saw huge post-launch crashes, while saying Monad’s price action has remained relatively organic despite launching near the end of the bull cycle.
He also highlighted Monad’s strong financial backing, with the project raising roughly $431 million, even slightly more than Sui raised before its major breakout cycle.
The Monad price today stands near $0.028240 with a 24-hour trading volume of roughly $130.8 million. The token is also up around 3.77% over the past 24 hours.
The second project he wants to stack is the Canton Network.
According to him, Canton has one of the strongest institutional backing lists in crypto right now, including support tied to Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Nasdaq Ventures, Samsung Ventures, Binance Labs, and S&P Global.
The analyst says Canton could become a major tokenization play for the next cycle, particularly as Wall Street continues pushing blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
The Canton price today stands near $0.154547 with a 24-hour trading volume of roughly $30.4 million. The token is also up around 1.10% over the past 24 hours.
The post Hyperliquid Shows Signs of Leverage Overheating—Is a Short-Term Flush Needed Before it Targets $100? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Hyperliquid has continued to expand considerably, reaching new highs at $62.14 during the previous trading day. The trading volume also doubled to $1.58 billion, signifying the rise in the traders’ participation. At the same time, the speculative activity across the derivative market has accelerated rapidly, which has pushed the Open Interest to new highs.
Despite the strong bullish momentum, signs of short-term overheating are beginning to emerge. The rise in the selling pressure, elevated leverage exposure, and euphoric funding conditions now suggest the rally may be entering a vulnerable phase. The key question now is whether the HYPE price rally has exhausted or is just undergoing a small correction before a rally to $100.
The latest Coinglass data shows Hyperliquid’s Open Interest has surged sharply above $2.7 billion while the HYPE price climbed toward the $60 range. The simultaneous rise in both price and Open Interest suggests fresh capital continues to enter the market as traders aggressively open new positions.
Rising Open Interest alongside rising price action is considered bullish because it reflects growing market participation rather than a temporary short squeeze. Besides, the OI-weighted funding rate strengthens the overheating narrative. Funding rates have recently spiked aggressively positive as HYPE approached fresh highs, indicating long traders are paying elevated premiums to maintain bullish positions.
When funding becomes excessively positive, it often reflects overcrowded long positions and rising speculative euphoria. While the aggressive funding spikes precede periods of high volatility, sharp pullbacks or temporary liquidation, the current structure does not confirm a macro bearish reversal. Instead, the market appears to be entering a late-stage momentum expansion phase where bullish sentiment remains dominant but increasingly unstable.
Despite the growing leverage concerns, Hyperliquid’s broader structural outlook continues to remain strong. Glassnode data shows HYPE’s circulating supply valuation has continued rising alongside price action, suggesting the market is still absorbing the expanding token supply relatively efficiently. In many cases, aggressive supply expansion creates strong dilution pressure that weakens price performance.
However, Hyperliquid price continues to maintain upward momentum even as circulating valuation expands, indicating that underlying demand remains strong enough to offset the increasing supply. This divergence suggests the broader market still maintains confidence in the Hyperliquid ecosystem and its long-term growth trajectory.
The data also indicates the current rally is not being driven purely by speculative leverage alone. Spot demand and broader ecosystem participation continue to support the macro bullish structure despite signs of short-term overheating.
Hyperliquid currently appears to be entering a critical phase where bullish momentum remains intact, but leverage conditions are becoming increasingly stretched. If HYPE manages to stabilize above the $55 region and reclaim the $60 resistance zone with sustained buying volume, the broader bullish continuation could target higher levels around $75 and $85 before eventually approaching the psychological $100 milestone.
However, if the leverage-heavy structure begins unwinding aggressively, the token could witness a rapid short-term correction toward support zones around $52, $48, or even the lower $40 range. Still, these downside levels may act more as leverage reset zones rather than confirmed macro reversal regions as long as broader spot demand remains strong.
The post Michael Saylor Says Bitcoin Will Outperform the S&P 500 Over Time appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Michael Saylor said during an interview with CNBC that he expects Bitcoin to continue outperforming traditional markets over the long term, despite recent volatility across crypto and macro markets.
“We think Bitcoin’s going up more than the S&P index over time,” Saylor said. “We expect 30%, but it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 or 20%.”
The Strategy founder argued that Bitcoin is entering a stronger phase after correcting from previous highs. According to him, the market now has solid support levels while investors wait for macro conditions and regulation to improve.
Saylor pointed to the potential passage of the CLARITY Act as one of the biggest catalysts for crypto markets.
“I think the passage of the CLARITY Act will be a big deal,” he said.
He also highlighted growing interest in tokenization and digital assets from regulators and financial institutions. According to Saylor, SEC guidance allowing tokenized securities and digital assets could significantly accelerate blockchain adoption across financial markets.
“The real power of tokenization is that it creates a free market in credit formation and yield for asset owners,” Saylor explained.
During the interview, Saylor revealed that Strategy continues aggressively buying Bitcoin and believes the company could theoretically absorb all newly mined BTC for decades.
“The credit market itself is absorbing all of the organic supply of Bitcoin from now to forever,” he said.
Strategy currently holds roughly $65 billion worth of Bitcoin, making it one of the largest corporate BTC holders globally. Saylor claimed the company’s long-term approach allows it to outperform traditional investment structures tied to the S&P 500.
Saylor also discussed Strategy’s “digital credit” products tied to Bitcoin appreciation. The model uses preferred stock structures to generate yields for investors while preserving long-term Bitcoin upside for shareholders.
“If you’re a crypto believer and you have working capital, you want to buy digital credit because you get paid four times the money market after tax,” Saylor said.
Despite continued skepticism from some traditional investors, Saylor remains highly bullish on Bitcoin’s future. He argued that growing adoption, tokenization, and institutional participation continue proving that crypto is becoming a permanent part of the global financial system.
The post Bitcoin ETFs See $1.63B Outflows as BlackRock Leads Selling Pressure appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continued seeing heavy outflows for the straight five days with total withdrawals reaching nearly $1.63 billion. The biggest selling came from BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, (IBIT), as institutions continued reducing exposure. Meanwhile Bitcoin price continues to struggle below the $78,000 level.
On May 21 alone, the Bitcoin ETF saw around $101 million outflow. Meanwhile, over the past few days, BlackRock Bitcoin ETF recorded as outflow of,
n total, BlackRock has now seen more than $1.15 billion leave its Bitcoin ETF in just four trading days. That represents nearly 75% of all Bitcoin ETF outflows during the recent selloff.
BREAKING :
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) May 22, 2026
Other Bitcoin ETFs also saw investors pulling money out. ARK Invest’s ARKB lost around $163 million, while Fidelity Investments’ FBTC recorded roughly $114 million in outflows during the same period.
The recent ETF outflows are mainly linked to growing market uncertainty. Higher inflation data in the U.S. has increased fears that interest rates could stay high for longer. When interest rates rise, investors usually move away from risky assets like crypto.
At the same time, global tensions and weak stock markets have also pushed institutions to reduce risk.
Despite the heavy selling from ETFs, Bitcoin prices have not collapsed. As of now BTC continued trading near $77,500 during the latest session, showing that buyers are still active around lower support levels.
Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs also continued seeing money leave the market, recording another $32.5 million in outflows.Thus, XRP and Solana ETFs continued attracting fresh inflows, showing that some investors are still actively buying select altcoins. Solana ETFs alone recorded nearly $3.86 million in daily net inflows.
The post South Korea Petition Against Crypto Tax Passes 50,000 Signatures appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
A petition in South Korea calling for the removal of a planned 22% crypto gains tax has surpassed 50,000 signatures, forcing lawmakers to review it in the National Assembly’s Finance and Economy Committee. The tax, set to begin in 2027, would apply to crypto profits above roughly $1,800. Supporters of the petition argue the policy could hurt trading activity and push investors away from local markets. The debate highlights growing tension between governments seeking tax revenue and crypto users demanding fairer treatment and stronger investor protections.
The post Pi Network News: Elf Continent Is Now Live on Pi Browser as CiDi Games Opens Virtual Farming World appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
CiDi Games has officially rolled out “Elf Continent,” a new virtual world built for Pi Network users inside the Pi Browser.
According to CiDi Games, users can access the experience directly through the Pi Browser by logging into the platform with their Pi accounts. After signing in, players can enter the Pi ELF section and begin exploring the continent.
The early gameplay experience includes:
How to start in Elf Continent:
— CiDi Games (@PlayCiDi) May 22, 2026
1. Open Pi Browser
2. Visit https://t.co/Dg2GncZzKM and sign in with Pi
3. Tap Pi ELF tab, enter Elf Continent
4. Walk around, gather resources, meet other Pi ELFs
5. Build at your own pace pic.twitter.com/Xvm7igH3Ww
The launch quickly grabbed attention across the Pi community as more users jumped in to test the new experience. The platform is designed around a casual build-and-explore concept where players progress at their own pace while participating in the growing Pi ecosystem.
Like many early-stage launches, Elf Continent also faced a few technical issues shortly after going live.
Some users reported that their progress disappeared after leaving the game, while others said their CidiScore vanished during gameplay. CiDi Games responded quickly, confirming that the team is already working on fixes for players affected by early testnet-related bugs.
A few players also experienced interface problems involving the in-game radar system. The developers suggested using the “Edit” option to manually move the radar to a better position while additional fixes are being prepared.
The community also started asking about social features, including messaging systems and world chat support. CiDi Games confirmed that these features are still being developed and are expected to arrive in future updates.
The launch shows how Pi ecosystem projects are slowly moving beyond simple mining and token discussions into gaming and interactive applications. As more developers continue building inside the Pi ecosystem, projects like Elf Continent are helping create a more active and community-driven experience for Pi users worldwide.
The post Cosmos Price Set For Breakout: Coinbase Accumulation Sparks ATOM Rally Hopes appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Cosmos price is quietly finding its way back into trader conversations after months of relentless weakness left ATOM stuck in a frustrating downtrend. But beneath the surface, something may be changing. A growing institutional narrative around Coinbase’s increasing Cosmos exposure, paired with a chart structure hinting at accumulation, has sparked fresh speculation that ATOM could be preparing for a meaningful comeback. With price hovering near a key inflection point, traders are now asking one question: Is Cosmos price finally gearing up for a breakout toward $3?
One of the biggest drivers behind the renewed attention surrounding Cosmos is growing speculation that Coinbase has been quietly increasing its involvement in the ATOM ecosystem. Recent community discussions suggest the exchange now controls a notable portion of Cosmos’ network voting power while operating multiple validators. Supporters see this as more than passive participation, arguing that such exposure reflects stronger long-term confidence in the Cosmos ecosystem at a time when ATOM continues trading significantly below previous cycle highs.
The narrative has gained traction because institutional positioning often attracts broader market attention during depressed market phases. While Coinbase has not publicly framed its activity as a direct bullish bet on ATOM’s price, market participants increasingly view the move as a potential vote of confidence in Cosmos’ long-term utility.
The timing also comes as Cosmos enters a potentially important period of ecosystem development, with ongoing upgrades and leadership shifts aimed at strengthening network participation and interoperability. For many investors, the bigger question is whether this renewed institutional interest could become the spark that finally shifts sentiment around ATOM.
Beyond institutional interest, optimism around Cosmos is also being supported by improving ecosystem fundamentals. The network continues to position itself as one of crypto’s leading interoperability ecosystems, connecting multiple independent blockchains through its interchain infrastructure. Upcoming developments, governance improvements, and leadership changes have further strengthened expectations that Cosmos may be entering a new growth phase.
After a prolonged period of underperformance, ATOM bulls argue the token may now be trading near historically undervalued levels relative to broader ecosystem potential. With sentiment slowly improving, traders are increasingly watching whether stronger fundamentals can finally translate into sustained price momentum.
Cosmos price appears to be attempting a structural recovery after spending months trapped inside a prolonged bearish trend. The weekly chart shows ATOM forming what resembles a descending wedge pattern, often associated with exhaustion in downside momentum. More importantly, price has begun consolidating inside a visible accumulation range, while volume activity shows early signs of rebuilding after a prolonged decline.
Currently trading near the $2.10–$2.20 range, Cosmos is testing an important short-term resistance zone that aligns with the upper boundary of its consolidation structure. A decisive breakout above this region could confirm strengthening momentum and trigger renewed buying interest.
If bulls manage to reclaim momentum and break above the descending trendline resistance near $2.40–$2.50, Cosmos price may begin targeting the next major resistance level near $3, a psychologically important zone that previously acted as key support before the broader downtrend accelerated.
A successful reclaim of $3 could significantly strengthen market confidence and potentially pave the way for a larger recovery move toward the $4 resistance area, highlighted on longer-term charts as the next major breakout region. However, the bullish setup remains conditional. Failure to sustain momentum above the current accumulation range may keep ATOM trapped in sideways consolidation, delaying any meaningful recovery and reinforcing broader market caution.
Cosmos is beginning to show early signs of stabilization as institutional narratives and improving chart structure slowly shift sentiment around ATOM. While confirmation is still needed, a breakout above key resistance could accelerate momentum toward $3, potentially marking the token’s strongest recovery attempt in months. Until then, traders remain focused on whether Cosmos is genuinely emerging from accumulation, or simply extending its prolonged consolidation phase.
The post Ethereum Sentiment Drops Sharply as ETH Price Holds Key Support—Will a Major Move Follow? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Bitcoin and Ethereum witnessed a strong recovery after President Donald Trump reportedly pushed the Federal Reserve to provide crypto firms with direct access to master accounts. While Bitcoin extended its gains toward new local highs, the Ethereum price failed to break decisively above the crucial $2,157 resistance zone, causing the rally to lose momentum and enter a tight consolidation phase.
At the same time, social sentiment surrounding Ethereum has declined significantly over the past few weeks, signaling weakening retail participation despite the ongoing recovery. However, ETH continues to hold firmly above the newly established $2,000 support zone, suggesting bulls are still defending the broader bullish structure.
The question now remains whether the ETH price can regain momentum to trigger a breakout above resistance or if declining market participation will weaken the rally.
Ethereum continues to trade within a tight consolidation range after facing repeated rejections from the major supply zone between $2,300 and $2,420. The latest pullback pushed the price back toward the ascending trendline support, which has been acting as the backbone of the ongoing recovery since February. The chart suggests ETH is currently trapped between rising support and a heavy overhead resistance zone, indicating growing price compression.
At the same time, the CMF indicator remains below the neutral zone, signaling weakening capital inflows, indicating the buying pressure has slowed. Additionally, the price range around $2,300 has become a strong ‘sell zone’ as it shows a significant increase in supply. This may have kept the price restricted below the ascending trend line until it reclaims levels above the range; a bearish possibility may prevail.
Ethereum’s on-chain activity continues to show signs of weakening despite the price holding above the crucial $2,000 support zone. The latest data from Santiment reveals that both daily active addresses and network growth have dropped sharply over the past few months, reflecting a notable slowdown in user participation across the ecosystem. The decline in network growth suggests fewer new addresses are interacting with Ethereum, while active address activity has also continued to trend lower.
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) May 22, 2026
At the same time, exchange flow data indicates large spikes in both inflows and outflows. This highlights rising uncertainty among market participants rather than aggressive long-term accumulation. Social sentiment surrounding Ethereum has also weakened considerably in recent weeks. Positive sentiment has steadily declined, while the positive-to-negative sentiment ratio has dropped toward local lows.
The combination of weakening network activity, softer sentiment, and slowing capital inflows suggests Ethereum’s current recovery remains fragile. Unless the network metrics begin to recover alongside price action, ETH may continue struggling below the major resistance zone near $2,300 to $2,400.
Ethereum price continues to defend the crucial $2,000 support zone despite facing repeated rejections from the major resistance range between $2,300 and $2,400. The tightening price structure suggests a decisive move could be approaching as bullish momentum and bearish pressure continue to collide near key technical levels.
A breakout above $2,300 could help Ethereum regain bullish momentum and target the resistance zone around $2,420 and beyond. Conversely, a breakdown below the ascending support trendline may increase bearish pressure and expose ETH to a deeper correction toward the lower demand zones near $2,000 and $1,920.
The post Trader Dumps Millions in HYPE to Defend Massive Short Position appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
A trader identified as loracle.hl deposited more than 616,000 Hyperliquid tokens worth about $36.7 million into Hyperliquid and quickly sold most of them to support a massive short position. The trader still holds a 1.8 million HYPE short valued at over $100 million, though unrealized losses have reportedly narrowed to around $22 million after recent moves. The situation matters because continued selling pressure from large holders could impact HYPE’s price volatility, especially if the token keeps rising toward the trader’s liquidation level near $83.33.
The post Glassnode Warns Nearly $500B in Bitcoin Could Face Future Quantum Risks appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
New research from Glassnode estimates that around 6.04 million Bitcoin — worth roughly $469 billion — may be vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks because their public keys are already exposed on-chain. The report says much of the risk comes from address reuse, with crypto exchanges alone holding about 1.66 million BTC in potentially unsafe wallets. The findings matter because advances in quantum computing could eventually threaten older Bitcoin security methods, increasing pressure on the industry to prepare stronger protections before the technology becomes practical.
© <p>Vipersniper / Getty Images</p>
On May 17, Judge Rodney Gilstrap of the Eastern District of Texas denied a request from Collision Communications to permanently ban Samsung from selling products in the US that allegedly infringe on its wireless patents.
The backstory is genuinely strange.
The patents at the center of this case trace back to military technology developed by BAE Systems, the British defense contractor, designed to keep communications stable in congested signal environments.
A small New Hampshire company called Collision Communications bought those patents roughly 15 years ago and tried to commercialize them for the cellular industry.
Collision approached Samsung around 2011. The two sides negotiated for three years, then the talks collapsed. Collision says Samsung walked away from the table and quietly baked similar technology into Galaxy phones, tablets, and laptops.
In October last year, eight jurors unanimously found that Samsung willfully infringed four Collision patents and awarded exactly what Collision asked for: $445,494,160.
After that verdict, Collision pushed harder. In December, the company asked Gilstrap to permanently ban Samsung from importing and selling infringing products in the US.
Samsung’s defense had two threads.
Collision couldn’t prove the balance of hardships favored an injunction, or that blocking Samsung sales would serve the public interest, leading to its sales ban request being denied.
Related article:
The post US court rejects ban on Samsung product sales appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Realme today expanded its 16 Series with the introduction of Realme 16T, increasing the total number of smartphones in the lineup to four. The biggest highlight of the Realme 16T is its 8,000 mAh battery, which is advertised to last 7 years and deliver 3 days of endurance on a single charge. The battery supports 45W charging and can also be used as a power bank, as it supports 15W reverse wired charging. You also get all-scenario bypass charging. Another highlight of the Realme 16T is its 50MP primary camera on the rear, joined by a 2MP monochrome unit. The primary camera uses...
Tyson Fury has weighed in on Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven, having twice fought the defending champion and shared rounds of sparring with the challenger. Needless to say, it would be a monumental upset if Verhoeven, the Dutch kickboxer, manages to dethrone Usyk at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza this Saturday. The 37-year-old has only ever […]
The post Tyson Fury sums up Verhoeven’s chances of beating Usyk after sparring Rico appeared first on Boxing News.
Moses Itauma has been urged to fight one of his fellow rising stars, with their battle potentially revealing a natural successor to Oleksandr Usyk. While Usyk is still widely regarded as the bona fide heavyweight king, many would highlight Itauma as the obvious candidate to eventually seize his throne. The 21-year-old is, after all, one […]
The post Moses Itauma called out for ‘prime vs prime’ fight: “I want to know I’m the best” appeared first on Boxing News.
“Şaxtyor”un baş məşqçisi Arda Turan adının “Beşiktaş”la hallanmasına münasibət bildirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Türkiyə mətbuatına danışan mütəxəssis xəbərlərin doğru olmadığını söyləyib:
“Adımın “Beşiktaş”la hallanması mənim üçün qürurdur. Ancaq rəhbərliklə böyük xəyallar qurmuşuq və harda olacağım dəqiqdir”.
Arda Turanın rəhbərlik etdiyi “Şaxtyor” Ukrayna Premyer Liqasında 2025/26 mövsümünün qalibi olub.
Friday’s reports claim that Luka Modric wants to continue playing for another season, but that he could then move into a coaching role on Massimiliano Allegri’s staff from the beginning of the 2027-28 season onwards.
According to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, Modric wishes to continue playing for another season after the upcoming 2026 World Cup, whether that be with Milan or elsewhere. Much depends on the final game of the season and the future plans of the head coach.
Friday’s report claims there are two conditions for Modric to stay in Milan for another season. First is securing Champions League football for 2026-27: The Rossoneri are third and have a two-point buffer between themselves and fifth place heading into the final round of fixtures on Sunday.
Secondly, Modric reportedly wishes to continue playing under Allegri, who has been linked with moves to both Napoli and the Italy national team set-up in recent weeks, but the Corriere dello Sport indicates that he is increasingly likely to stay put.
Modric is said to have enjoyed his time in Milan working under Allegri thus far and Friday’s report claims there is a great deal of mutual admiration and respect between the coach and the former Ballon d’Or winner.
That is why, when Modric begins his coaching career, potentially in 2027-28, he wishes to do so working under Allegri, again, whether that be with Milan or elsewhere.
In the meantime, the 40-year-old is pushing for a place in Milan’s starting line-up for their final Serie A match of the season against Cagliari on Sunday after making a rapid recovery from a fractured cheekbone injury sustained while playing against Juventus a few weeks ago.
The Rossoneri have reportedly gone in for a mini-training camp on Friday, and the team will stay together until the Cagliari match on Sunday.
Milan have officially dropped their new strip for the 2026-27 season, returning to significantly larger stripes compared to their recent kits, and will debut their new threads in the final round of Serie A fixtures this weekend.
The new Rossoneri kit features large red and black vertical stripes across the front and back of the shirts and it appears that Milan’s home strip will feature white shorts and largely black socks with red detailing.
2026-27 will be the ninth season of Milan’s partnership with Puma, who have designed the Diavolo strips since the beginning of the 2018-29 season.
“These are not just stripes; they are the defining mark of AC Milan,” read a statement on the club website.
“Every detail reinforces that identity. The inscription ‘From Milan to the World’ pays tribute to the millions of fans worldwide, capable of making the Club feel at home on every continent. On the back neck, a wax seal enshrines the Rossoneri crest: the essence of the club, imprinted on every shirt as its authentic signature, a timeless passage handed down from parent to child. Together, they make this shirt a love letter to all who claim it as their own.”
The new strip is available to purchase online from Friday, May 22 onwards.
The Rossoneri will debut their new threads in their final Serie A match of the 2025-26 season, at home against Cagliari in San Siro on Sunday.
— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 22, 2026
Friday’s reports claim that Damien Comolli will not voluntarily step down from his role as CEO of Juventus, and that he wishes to organise a press conference once the 2025-26 season comes to an end in order to ‘recognise his mistakes’ and to discuss his plans for the future.
Tension is rising in Bianconeri circles as Juventus look set to miss out on qualification to the Champions League for the first time in 15 years. The Old Lady is sixth in Serie A heading into the final round of fixtures this weekend, two points shy of the top four and requiring favours from multiple sides if they are to make the cut.
The situation has put the futures of all of Juve’s senior management structure in doubt: From Comolli to Modesto and even head coach Spalletti, it remains unclear as to who will still be in place come the start of the 2026-27 season. Recent reports claim that Giorgio Chiellini is the only Juventus director ‘guaranteed’ to still be there in a few months’ time.
Club owner John Elkann is expected to hold meetings with some of Juventus’s key figures once the season comes to an end, and it is expected that the picture will become a bit clearer once those happen next week.
Comolli is expected to meet with Elkann to review his 2025-26 season and to evaluate his future at the club, but despite calls for him to go from large sections of the Juventus supporter base, reports from Tuttosport claim that Comolli will not voluntarily step down, nor does he wish to give up on any of his current duties.
Friday’s report claims that Comolli recognises the mistakes that have been made in 2025-26, that already has plans for the 2026-27 season and that he wishes to discuss both topics in a post-season press conference to clear the air.
However, at the same time, Spalletti has reportedly already spoken to Elkann and requested certain guarantees, including more influence in football-related decision-making processes, which somewhat weakens Comolli’s position.
And, Tuttosport claims that the suggestion that Chiellini could take on a bigger role within the club is becoming increasingly popular in Juventus circles.
Milan turnaround
Cardinale arrives, takes Goretzka and ties down Allegri
The owner will be in San Siro, then the Diavolo want to turn the page. And now, Ibra thinks about … boxing
Napoli tempt Max but Italiano rising
Frustration with Sarri, who’s thinking about Atalanta
Inter of the derby
Marotta stings: ‘We are Milano, the only ones with two stars’
Lippi and the Champions League
That night 30 years ago. Why my Juve won
Modric in Max’s staff
Luka’s plan | The genius wants to play for another year and tie himself to the coach
Also with Allegri in the future
If the coach stays at Milan, he could renew until 2027. Otherwise, he could find another team to end his career with before becoming his assistant
Sarri to Bergamo
Maurizio has chosen Atalanta
Convinced by Percassi and Giuntoli, he now needs to free himself from his two-year deal with Lazio. Pompilio also coming in after ‘resolving’ with Juve
Spalletti: Doubts
Luciano asks for guarantees to stay
The coach doesn’t want to come back to a Juve that is less technically competitive. Possible meeting with Elkann next week
Roma, Ryan is increasingly the man
The vice-President with the Giallorossi in Verona: Playing for the Champions League
Bari angst: It’s the night of salvation
Serie B play-out
On the Sudtiriol pitch (kicking off at 19.00), the Bianconeri don’t have any alternatives: They need to win after the 0-0 in the first leg
High Juve tension
Comolli will never step aside: If he does, Elkann will have to step in. And the fans are calling for Del Piero
The CEO has no intentions of stepping back or relinquishing his powers. The team isn’t training: Spalletti hopes the players will de-stress at home. The next Club World Cup is also at risk. And even the celebrations for the ‘96 Champions League winners is becoming a problem amidst the disappointment and embarrassment
‘Cairo is fed up, he wants to sell’
Graziana, sensational revelation
‘The President told me that the protests hurt everyone, but there are no buyers. I’d ask the fans to stand close with the squad again. Ventura’s visit to Fila: Petrachi wants him in a Ranieri-style role. Tomorrow’s training session will be open to the public, and on Sunday there will be a march to the stadium.
Sarri runs to Giuntoli, increasingly closer to Atalanta
The coach is inclined to choose Bergamoe
Scamacca ignited the Milan-Roma duel
The centre-forward could leave La Dea
‘France are World Cup champions, but we’ve got Ancelotti …’
Interview with Careca, between Napoli and Brazil
Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber has suggested that there is some hope of him being fit and available for the upcoming Champions League final.
The Gunners are set to take on Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest in just over a week’s time, with Mikel Arteta hoping to add another trophy after winning this season’s Premier League title.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Timber could be key, however, with the Netherlands international proving to be one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers until an injury saw him miss much of the title run-in.
Ben White filled in for Timber for a while but is now also injured, so Arteta will be desperate to have Timber back to take on PSG.
See below as Timber spoke to the press about his fitness, with the 24-year-old seeming fairly optimistic that he could be back in time for the final…
? Jurrien Timber says there is "a chance" he could make it back for the Champions League final! ? pic.twitter.com/K4V4dSFSuT
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 22, 2026
It seems a bit early to know for sure if he’ll be able to start that game, which could give Arteta a major selection headache when it comes to naming his starting XI for the final.
Cristhian Mosquera is mostly a centre-back but can also fill in on the right, so he might be the best option, though he’s a bit young and inexperienced for a game of such magnitude.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
In truth, there aren’t too many other options for AFC, with Arteta perhaps unlikely to risk trying players like Riccardo Calafiori or Christian Norgaard in a new position for the first time in such a big game.
PSG have a lot of attacking threat on that left-hand side, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia likely to be one of the main names to watch in that final, so it’s crucial for Arsenal that they have a right-back who can handle the tricky Georgian winger.
The post “There’s hope…” – Arsenal star delivers potentially massive fitness boost for Champions League final appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly expected to miss out on a place in England’s squad for the World Cup 2026 this summer.
The 27-year-old left Liverpool for Real Madrid last summer after running down his contract, and it increasingly looks like he made a mistake to seek a move away from Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold was a beloved star player at Liverpool after rising up through the club’s academy, but things haven’t quite gone to plan for him with an underwhelming trophyless campaign at the Bernabeu this term.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
And now, it seems Trent is set to be dealt the further blow of missing out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup, according to Paul Joyce…
Trent Alexander Arnold expected to be left out of England squad
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) May 22, 2026
“Trent Alexander Arnold expected to be left out of England squad,” Joyce posted on X this morning.
This would have been unthinkable a few years ago, with Alexander-Arnold arguably one of the most naturally gifted players in the country, but this is now what we’re expected to hear when the squad is officially announced later on this morning.
According to BBC Sport, a few other big names also look set to be snubbed by Tuchel this morning.
Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are reported to be out of the squad, as well as experienced defender Harry Maguire.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
In-form Premier League midfield duo Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton are also said to have missed out on selection.
The BBC posted the below as the squad they’re expecting to see announced today:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
The post Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to left out of World Cup squad as Liverpool exit continues to backfire appeared first on CaughtOffside.
TradFi views the breakup of its previously consolidated, centralized liquidity as a “serious structural threat,” said Tiger Research director Ryan Yoon.
Galaxy Digital’s Mike Novogratz reportedly told a court the SEC made it “very difficult” to complete a planned 2021 merger with BitGo.
An executive at tokenization platforms Superstate said the stricter approach suggested by Hester Peirce would enable DeFi to expand without compromising rules in traditional capital markets.
Issy Bunyan and Carys Roy are besties - a friendship forged on basketball courts around the globe.
They've played together from club level to Great Britain - and this weekend the US-based pair will try to help Wales qualify for the 3x3 basketball tournament at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
"Being able to represent Wales is what everyone dreams of," said Roy, who like Bunyan is 21.
"My favourite memories of basketball have always been in a Wales jersey, so I'm really excited."
Both Wales' women and men will compete in a round-robin event at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester from 22-23 May.
The winner's of Saturday's finals will claim the final spots for this summer's Games in this fast-paced, half-court version of traditional basketball, which features three players on each team playing for 10 minutes with 21 points the winning target.
Roy and Bunyan have been sharing special moments on court since they were 15 years old.
However, their paths to basketball were quite different.
Roy, daughter of a Wales rugby international, is a convert from netball. Bunyan followed in family footsteps, playing since childhood at Pontypridd Panthers, the club her father - former Just Rentals Rhondda and Wales centre Jon Bunyan - set up 15 years ago.
"Izzy was only about five or six when I started the club and she was probably a little bit too young to join because we started it for under 10s," said Bunyan.
"Her older brother was in the club at the time and she just kept pestering me, 'can I come play, can I come play?'
"As a dad you say, 'yes, of course you can'. So, she came and started when she was about six and just got involved in it from there."
Standing 6ft 3in (1.9m) Roy also inherited useful sporting genes - her 6ft 6in (1.98m) father Stuart won a cap for Wales at the 1995 Rugby World Cup during a career as a lock forward with Cardiff, Pontypridd and Newport.
"Basketball began when I joined the Cowbridge secondary school team and from there I played for my local club, Vale Vipers," said Roy.
"Netball was my major focus with Celtic Dragons U17s until I came to the Panthers where I met Issy.
"They really showed me what I could do with basketball and being able to play with Issy as well was huge because she was already a very good player and the quality of the coaching as well."
The duo then moved to Cardiff Met Archers, initially to play in age group teams, before graduating to senior level in the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL).
"I continued playing netball alongside basketball for a bit and they worked quite well together," added Roy.
"But I think I enjoyed basketball more. Covid also played a part because the netball stopped whereas my basketball didn't.
"I don't regret it at all. It's such an exciting sport that can take you so many places and so many opportunities come from it."
The two women have certainly taken the opportunities the sport has presented them, both are currently on basketball rosters at US colleges competing in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Bunyan has recently finished her third season in America at Montana State University studying sociology and playing for Montana Bobcats - where she was part of the squad that won the Blue Sky Conference in a thrilling 2025 finale.
Roy is a biology student at St Peter's University, New Jersey. In the season just finished she played a key role for the Peacocks, appearing in 30 games with 23 starts.
The last few years, however, have been particularly challenging after twice sustaining anterior cruciate ligament injuries that have required three operations.
"My first one happened when I was playing a pre-season friendly at Bristol before I went into my last year at school," recalled Roy.
"After a year out I was able to play my freshman year in the US, and I came back here doing Euros prep for GB under-20s. In one of our last prep games before the tournament I hurt the same knee again."
It meant another long period on the sidelines, missing out on her second of four US college years.
""Honestly, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone," she added.
"It's mentally and physically a very tough situation because the recovery is so long. Even if you're back after a year's recovery, it took me until the second half of this season to really feel like myself again on the court.
"It takes a lot to get over it. I think especially the way I was injured both times, it was contact injury.
"A lot of people don't come back from it too, so I'm grateful to be able to be back playing again."
While many of their US based team-mates will be resting up in the post-season break, Bunyan and Roy turn their attention to some of the very best players in the UK, all hoping to reach the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
"We know a lot of the England girls, we know that they'll be strong, so we know what to expect going into that," said Bunyan.
"I think it's a mix of everything. They have a couple youngsters in their long squad, I know.
"They have a couple of seniors, really experienced, and I know a lot of them are pretty strong, so we're going up against it a bit."
She added they are also aware of what Northern Ireland has to offer but has confidence in the Wales squad.
"We've got Tia Freeman who's very physical, very strong, can get down the lane. Eleanor Bishop - she really is a sniper. And then we have Carys, who's obviously a massive presence for us.
"I love playing with Carys. It's amazing. I think we have a really good bond, and you can see that on the court as well.
"We know it's going to be a tough weekend, but we know that we're capable as well."
Women
Eleanor Bishop – Brent Bulls
Issy Bunyan – Montana State University, USA
Tia Freeman – Anglia Ruskin University
Carys Roy – Saint Peter's University, New Jersey, USA
Men
Rhys Farrell – Gloucester City Kings
Jake Kinder – Exeter Spartans
Alex Koukouravas – Oxford University
Johny McKew – Essex Rebels
All times BST
Friday, 22 May
15:10 Men – Wales v Northern Ireland
15:50 Women – Wales v Northern Ireland
16:30 Men – England v Isle of Man
19:10 Women – England v Isle of Man
19:50 Men – Northern Ireland v Isle of Man
20:30 Women – Northern Ireland v Isle of Man
Saturday, 23 May
10:10 Men – England v Wales
10:50 Women – England v Wales
11:30 Men – Wales v Isle of Man
14:10 Women – Wales v Isle of Man
14:50 Men – England v Northern Ireland
15:30 Women – England v Northern Ireland
18:10 Men's Final
18:50 Women's Final
Aston Villa are among the 25 clubs to have qualified for the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League.
With a 4-2 win over Liverpool at Villa Park last Friday, Villa became the fourth English club to seal a place in Europe's elite club competition for next term.
They join Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United in ensuring they will finish no lower than fifth in the Premier League this season.
Traditionally, England is awarded four places in the Champions League. But strong performances in Uefa club competitions this season mean the nation has been given one of two Elite Performance Spots (EPS), resulting in the top five Premier League clubs qualifying.
Joining them so far are Inter Milan, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Paris St-Germain, Lens, Lille, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Galatasaray, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague, Club Brugge and Porto.
Inter and Napoli have both secured a top-four finish in Serie A, with Italy's top flight still having two places up for grabs.
Like the Premier League, Spain's La Liga will be awarded an EPS, meaning it will also take five places in next season's Champions League.
Real Betis have taken that EPS, joining fellow La Liga sides Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico and Villarreal in next season's competition.
Bayern, PSV, Porto, Slavia Prague, Club Brugge and Galatasaray have already won league titles in Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Belgium and Turkey respectively, guaranteeing their places.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart earned top-four finishes in the Bundesliga, while Lens and Lille qualified by finishing second and third in Ligue 1.
For winning Ukraine's top flight, Shakhtar were due to enter in the second round of qualifying.
However, with this season's Champions League finalists Arsenal and Paris St-Germain already guaranteed a place in next season's competition, a replacement title holder was required.
Shakhtar were the highest-ranked domestic champions from Uefa's club coefficient list, outside the top 10 associations, not to be confirmed for the league phase.
As a result, they take the spot initially reserved for the winner of this season's Champions League.
A total of 36 teams will compete in the league phase of the Champions League, 29 of which will be decided before the end of this season.
The other seven all come from qualification, taking place in the early months of the 2026-27 campaign.
Two places for next season's Champions League league phase go to the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League.
Following that, to determine how many places each nation gets, Uefa uses its association rankings from the five-year period ending two seasons prior to that campaign.
For example, for the 2026-27 season, places are used based on Uefa rankings between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 seasons.
With England, Italy, Spain and Germany ranked first to fourth respectively, the top four teams in their leagues qualify straight to the league path.
From France, which ranks fifth, the top three teams in Ligue 1 directly qualify. Fourth place will also earn a spot in the third qualifying round of the competition.
The Netherlands is ranked sixth and is awarded spots for the top two Eredivisie sides, as well as third place entering the third qualifying round.
Portugal, Belgium, Czech Republic and Turkey, ranked seventh to 10th in order, are given two places each. The league winners from all four countries get a spot in the league phase. The league runners-up in Portugal, Belgium and Czech Republic all get a place in the third qualifying round, while Turkey are given an extra team in the second qualifying round.
Norway, Greece, Austria and Scotland are the nations ranked 11th to 14th. The winners of each league get a place in the play-off qualifying round, effectively the fourth and final round of qualifying. All four countries also get a second place in the second qualifying round.
Poland, ranked 15th, will have its top two clubs enter in the second qualifying round. All other nations only get one team each, all of which will enter in either of the first two rounds of qualifying.
Through qualifying, seven spots in the league phase are available. Teams are split into the 'champions path' and the 'league path'.
Champions path clubs, who are league winners from nations outside the top 10 during the qualifying period, will compete for five spots.
The other two spots go to league path clubs, a separate qualifying route for clubs from nations given multiple qualifying spots without winning their domestic league.
The EPS spots for next season went to teams from England and Spain.
The winners of this season's Champions League - Arsenal or Paris St-Germain - have already qualified for next season's competition because of performances in their domestic league.
Uefa has awarded the spot set aside for the holders to the league winner that has yet to directly qualify for the Champions League with the highest club coefficient ranking over a five-year period ending this season.
This spot was won by Shakhtar.
Like in the Champions League, this season's Europa League winners Aston Villa had already qualified for next season's competition prior to their final win over Freiburg.
Due to England's EPS, Villa's final Premier League position will determine how many spots England get in the competition.
If they finish in the top four, they will surrender their Europa League title-winner spot to the best-ranked team in Uefa's club coefficient rankings to only reach the qualifying rounds.
In that scenario, Portuguese side Sporting will move up from the league path of the third qualifying round to the league phase.
If Villa finish fifth in the Premier League, they will remain in the Europa League title holder spot, and the team finishing sixth in the Premier League will take England's EPS.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
Cardiff say there will be excuses when they travel to face South Africa next weekend for the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off quarter-final against Stormers.
Cardiff face an expensive and logistically challenging trip to Cape Town for the match on Saturday, 30 May.
After looking at the cost and availability to travel this weekend, Cardiff will fly on Tuesday and land in South Africa a few days before the match.
Cardiff lock Josh McNally and flanker Dan Thomas say the coaches and players will not allow the 12,000 mile round trip or the prospect of sitting in economy class distract them from their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
"We've all travelled enough now to know what's happening and what's coming," Thomas told the Scrum V podcast.
"There is no excuse when it comes to travel or the body being sore or anything like that.
"As long as your mentality is up there, your body will catch up and we need to turn up next Saturday with the right mentality.
"There are no excuses, this is a great opportunity. How many boys have played in quarter-finals before? If you're not up for it mentally, you shouldn't be on the pitch."
Cardiff cemented their quarter-final qualification with a 22-16 victory against Stormers to set up a rematch in South Africa.
The game will be played in Cape Town which means there are no issues with altitude, so Cardiff will begin the week training in Wales and finish it in South Africa.
"The beauty of it in Cape Town, it's at sea level and it's winter now," said McNally.
"So there's nothing too major to prepare for. We will do most of our training up here, then go down for a smash and grab and see where we are."
Stormers will be strong favourites as they aim for revenge.
"That is set up perfectly for us," said McNally.
"You see the best of us when we're underdogs. No one gave us a chance last Friday and we come out with a bit between our teeth.
"You can say there's a few challenges next week but we go down there and do something.
"We know exactly how we want to play. We're genuinely excited to be still playing rugby at this time of year when others are off.
"It gives boys a new experience of playing play-offs and it's an exciting time."
Cardiff will face some sort of bill for the trip with URC organisers understood to provide about £125,000 which will cover the majority of the flights.
Cardiff are not the only side facing such issues - with Munster also travelling to South Africa to play Bulls in Pretoria.
Johannesburg-based Lions have already been away from South Africa for a couple of weeks after playing their final two regular league matches away in Europe.
They have decided to stay in the Republic of Ireland for another couple of weeks and they will play Leinster in Dublin.
The shortest trip will be for west of Ireland province Connacht who will fly from Galway to Glasgow to face the Scottish top seeds on Friday, 29 May.
Mark Pope has been with the Kentucky Wildcats for two seasons now. He hasn’t had bad results, making the Round of 32 and Sweet 16 in two seasons, but it’s beneath what Kentucky fans expect from him.
The upcoming season could be Pope’s biggest and most successful. We are seeing early signs of it being his biggest season yet, based on the teams he is scheduled to face.
An analyst for KSR recently broke down the officially announced matchups for the Kentucky Wildcats and explained why it could be a make-or-break season for Pope. There has been some chatter about the pressure on Pope to deliver, but his job isn’t under threat as of now.
“Since we all agree this is going to be a huge season for Mark Pope, let’s just talk for a second about what this schedule is going to look like because I do think it’s going to be very interesting,” he said.
Pope is likely going to be coaching to keep his job next season, and the biggest challenge he’ll face will be his first big game against Kansas. The matchup with Kansas will be interesting not only because of the competition but also because of what they took away from Pope.
The Wildcats head coach tried his level best to sign Tyran Stokes, a five-star recruit and the top-ranked player of the 2026 class. Kansas jumped in and got Stokes to commit to their program over Kentucky.
The other three official matchups for Kentucky are Indiana, North Carolina, and Louisville. To make the season more competitive, Kentucky could also face Miami next season.
“You couldn’t get a more…storyline schedule,” he added.
While the challenge ahead is going to be difficult, and if Pope loses those games, he’ll be scrutinized. On the other hand, if he manages to upset every team on the lineup, he’ll shut all his naysayers up.
The Diamond Cup is going to be a new early-season tournament featuring some of the best programs in the country. The event is still in its early stages, but some teams are nearly guaranteed to participate in it.
As per KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, Kentucky is expected to be a part of the high-profile event. Other than Kentucky, the Diamond Cup will also feature North Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, UConn, Gonzaga, and Kansas.
In addition to the elite competition, the Diamond Cup will also help these programs make a lot of money. In the two-game agreement setup in 2027-28, schools will receive $2.25 million apiece. If the tournament levels up to a four-game format, schools will make $3.75 million.
Read More:
‘We the Laughing Stock’: Fans Left Unimpressed As Mark Pope Makes Bold Claim About Kentucky’s Brand
Andrej Stojakovic NBA Draft: Can Illinois Star Still Return To College Basketball?
Dusty May’s 2025 Contract Extension: How Much Does Michigan’s HC Earn?
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball,tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
EAST RUTHERFORD - Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants have been flirting with each other for nearly two months about a potential reunion.
John Harbaugh called Beckham "one of my very favorite people in the world," having coached him for a year in Baltimore. Beckham wants more than anything to bring his NFL career full circle by catching passes from Jaxson Dart and providing a generation of Giants fans who never had the chance to say thank you and good-bye with that opportunity all these years later.
All of the above makes for a great story.
But it's not solely why the second marriage of Beckham and the Giants should happen.
The time is now for the Giants to sign Beckham not for nostalgia, but because they need each other.
The Giants hope Malik Nabers is on the field and ready to go for Week 1, but it's an uncertain timetable as he recovers from ACL surgery. Darius Slayton is out until training camp after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia. A rehabbing Cam Skattebo is still working his way back from the dislocated ankle that ended his rookie season.
Tight ends Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson were Dart's most impressive targets in the third OTA (offseason team activity) on Thursday. Newcomers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin will get chances, but neither has a defined role just yet.
The Giants drafted Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round, trading a package of three picks to the Cleveland Browns for the 74th overall selection. But Fields, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, is a different physical profile and in terms of play style than Beckham, so his addition does not necessarily rule anything out.
It's only OTAs, of course, but it's clear the Giants could use more options.
That's why cashing in the lottery ticket that Beckham represents before the spring is out - even at age 33 - is worth the gamble.
"Odell wants to be the kind of player that can make a difference," Harbaugh said recently. "I'm pretty sure that he can make a team in the National Football League right now, but can he make a difference? It's something he wants to do. Is his body going to hold up in the way he wants it to? And all those things are questions that need to get answered for anybody at that age. You know Odell. He's confident, man. He's confident. He's working hard. He believes in himself."
Beckham worked out last month for the team that selected him with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, setting the stage for his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
When Beckham left the Giants, traded away by a previous regime in 2018, a return for one of the most popular yet polarizing playmakers in franchise history seemed improbable at best. That's no longer the case, and even if nothing is finalized, it won't be because of bad feelings on either side.
A source close to Beckham recently indicated to NorthJersey.com and The Record that he is "really, really hoping" to rejoin the team that drafted him and for whom he swiftly reached unexpected heights and worldwide popularity. "The Catch" created the OBJ phenomenon, with one-handed catches taking on a life of their own, and at every level of the sport.
Yet a Beckham return would not be as that OBJ, but as Harbaugh suggested, Odell 2.0.
The Giants parted ways with Beckham less than a year after he signed a massive contract extension. Co-owner and team president John Mara once compared Beckham to Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor with regard to impact he had on the franchise, and his popularity was, well, Giant.
Beckham won a Super Bowl with the Rams after the 2021 season but tore his ACL in the game. With the Ravens (2023) and Dolphins (2024), he showed only glimpses of his past greatness before not playing at all last season.
Beckham stoked the flames somewhat for a potential comeback in March at the Fanatics' Flag Football event in Los Angeles. He played with fellow NFL stars against Team USA and showed some burst and elusive athleticism, especially in the red zone. There was even a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone over a defender that brought flashbacks of OBJ the Giant.
Beckham played the first 59 games of his NFL career with the Giants, producing stats on par with some of the greatest receivers to ever suit up. His 5,476 receiving yards and 44 TDs compared to Jerry Rice (4,852 yards, 49 TDs), Larry Fitzgerald (4,373 yards, 32 TDs), Calvin Johnson (4,139 yards, 33 TDs) and Antonio Brown (4,072 yards, 20 TDs).
Beckham, the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year, missed the first four games of his first season with a hamstring issue before embarking on one of the most productive campaigns in NFL history. He played in just four games in 2017 before needing surgery to repair a fractured ankle, and came back in 2018, posting 77 receptions for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games before missing the last month with a quad contusion.
Possible Giants teammates contributed to the buzz when Dart posted a photo with Beckham on his Instagram page as part of a collage from Super Bowl week in San Francisco. Defensive star Brian Burns liked the image, while Malik Nabers' reply on Beckham's post from the flag football game drew plenty of attention, one LSU standout to another: "Let's play together!"
Then the OBJ saga took another turn when the former Pro Bowler, who has a home in the Phoenix area, stopped by the Arizona Biltmore for the league’s reception last month. One of those with whom Beckham spent time: Harbaugh.
This was a social encounter, mind you, but the timing made for undeniable intrigue.
So where does Beckham stand in terms of expectations? He wants to be a Giant, and the Giants would love to have him back. There are those in the organization that never wanted him gone. As far as financial compensation goes, Beckham would come for a contract at the league's minimum.
Beckham is back in Arizona with his son, Zydn, and he continues to train in order to be ready for if and when the call from the Giants come. He's stayed in contact with Harbaugh, and in terms of timing, getting Beckham into the building before the end of the offseason program would be beneficial for both.
Sign Beckham between now and mandatory minicamp (June 8-10). Have a news conference in which he can address his return, his expectations and that of Harbaugh and the team, and then send the players off to their abbreviated summer vacation in advance of the start of training camp in West Virginia on July 28.
There are always going to be detractors when it comes to Beckham, and he brought a lot of that upon himself when he was younger. He made mistakes out of immaturity and ego, but truth be told, at the heart of everything, Beckham was frustrated with losing and desperately wanted to win as a Giant.
Beckham can't make up for what he did not do to repair his relationship with Eli Manning after that ill-fated ESPN sit down interview next to Lil' Wayne. The kicking net. The perceived ask out of town.
This next chapter, if it were to happen, won't be about any of that, however, nor should it be.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Why NY Giants should sign Odell Beckham Jr. right now
Hayden Hackney is ready to play some part in the Championship play-off final after his fitness was confirmed by Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg.
Midfielder Hackney has not featured since 14 March because of a groin injury, missing 10 games, of which Boro have only won two.
But the 23-year-old, whose availability for the semi-final is believed to have been behind Southampton's spying mission at Boro's Rockliffe Park training ground, will be free to play at Wembley, as Hellberg assesses how to use the Championship player of the season.
"Hayden's ready," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees before Saturday's final against Hull City.
"It's a question mark of how much he's ready and how is best to solve the puzzle in terms of everything that goes around the game and what suits him best, and us best."
However, striker Tommy Conway will not play in the promotion decider after picking up an ankle injury in the second leg of the semi-final against Southampton.
Conway, also 23, left the field at St Mary's in tears with the injury also ruling him out of selection for Scotland's World Cup squad.
And Hellberg is disappointed not to be able to call upon a player who has featured in every match since the Swede's arrival in November.
"Through the season, Tommy has been very, very important," he said.
"Over the last five or six games, it's been his best spell in terms of how he has run, how dangerous he has been moving into the box, how good he's been from the left.
"Of course it's a big blow not having him in the squad, but he will do everything he can to support us. But that's football, injuries can happen and other people have to step forward."
Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -211, Canadiens +175; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Canadiens lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the fifth time this season. The Canadiens won 6-2 in the last meeting. Juraj Slafkovsky led the Canadiens with two goals.
Carolina is 33-11-2 at home and 53-22-7 overall. The Hurricanes are 30-6-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.
Montreal has a 48-24-10 record overall and a 31-10-9 record on the road. The Canadiens have a +28 scoring differential, with 279 total goals scored and 251 conceded.
TOP PERFORMERS: Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Lane Hutson has nine assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 9-1-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.4 assists, 6.2 penalties and 14.3 penalty minutes while giving up 1.6 goals per game.
Canadiens: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.9 assists, 5.3 penalties and 17.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.
Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Throughout the first three games of a four-game series, the menacing Nationals offense had wreaked havoc on a Mets' gassed pitching staff.
The Mets conceded 24 runs, and it took a historic 10-run, 12th inning on Monday to grab their only win entering Thursday.
But with a chance to secure a split, the Mets received a bounce-back effort from David Peterson in his return to the starting rotation followed by a lockdown bullpen performance by the conglomerate of Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams.
The Mets squeezed a few runs across against Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli in the early going and held on for a 2-1 victory in the series finale in front of 17,291 fans at Nationals Park.
"That's a good team over there," Williams said. "We were able to split with them and come away with two, and we got a long road ahead of us. We just got to keep stacking good days."
The win ensured that the Mets have not dropped a series in their last three. They moved back to 22-28 on the season and 12-7 in the month of May. It was far from the prettiest effort on Thursday, but it salvaged some semblance of momentum on the heels of a 5-1 homestand that included a sweep of the Tigers and series win over the Yankees.
Here were the three most encouraging things from the victory and the series on the whole:
The Mets are hoping that Thursday's effort from David Peterson represents a shift back to the pitcher he had been in the first half of last season.
There was a lot of bend-don't-break in that version of the lefty, who earned his first All-Star selection with a 3.06 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in last season's first half. Struggles early in the season had relegated Peterson to a bulk relief role behind an opener where he had flourished, but a matchup with the lefty-heavy Nationals lineup reopened the door for him to take the ball in the first inning.
He wavered early in the first inning, giving up three straight walks but was able to end the Nationals' threat there with a strikeout of Daylen Lile on a slider.
"I felt like I was a little quick," Peterson said. "Tried to kind of settle in, slow myself down within my motion and then continue to try and get ahead with the first pitch and go from there."
The lefty worked around an error and a single in the second inning before a perfect third frame. The lone run came in the fifth inning after back-to-back hits and an RBI groundout by Andres Chaparro. Mark Vientos made a diving stop to his left with a runner at first base to end the fifth and keep the Mets ahead 2-1.
Peterson finished with one earned run allowed on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. It was the same Nationals lineup that had tagged him for seven earned runs in his last start on April 29. He improved to 3-4 with his first win as a starter. In four appearances in May, Peterson is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 18 innings.
"He's a really good pitcher that went through struggles, but we believe in him," Carlos Mendoza said. "Now it's time for him to continue to do that and he will. He's a big part of this team and we're going to continue to use them."
Devin Williams believed he was tipping his pitches.
On the heels of a stretch of eight runs in four outings, Williams made an adjustment. He went from coming set with his hands at his belt to starting in a up higher near his chest and being more conscious of the early part of his delivery.
The results have followed. Following another scoreless outing on Thursday, Williams now has a streak of 10 appearances without allowing an earned run. He has only given up two hits and two walks while striking out 12 batter in 9⅔ innings to lower his ERA from 10.29 to 4.32.
"Feel like I'm on a good streak here," Williams said. "Trying to keep it going."
It could have gone south on Thursday as Williams got a soft pop-up from Lile in shallow center field to begin the ninth. A.J. Ewing sprinted forward, tumbled down but the ball shot free and Lile ended up on second base. He moved to third on a ground ball in the next at-bat but Williams managed to strikeout Jose Tena and pick up a weak ground ball to second to pin down his seventh save.
"Devin gets behind in count (to Tena) and he sticks to the changeup there. 3-1, gets a swing and miss and gets a strikeout," Mendoza said. "I think it just comes down to the (bullpen) executing, but also sticking to what makes them who they are."
The Mets are finally getting the hitter they believed they had signed as their marquee addition in the offseason.
In the series' four games, Bichette was 8-for-18 with three home runs, five runs and nine RBI. He delivered the game's biggest hit, driving in two runs on a single up the middle off Cavalli in the top of the third inning.
That held up as the game-winning hit, with the Mets pitching staff holding down the Nationals.
"We know he's one of the best hitters with runners. He's been that type of player," Mendoza said. "I think it's just a matter of time. A ground ball found a hole today, but I think you see a player that is confident. He's putting some A swings on good pitches, he's pulling the ball when he needs to. He's using the whole field, like the guy that we all know the type of hitter he is."
Despite a slow start, Bichette leads the Mets with 27 RBI and he's scored 24 runs despite a .604 OPS. But some of the underlying metrics suggest that he's hit into bad luck all season long. His .286 expected batting average is in the top 11 percent of the league. He's rarely struck out and his whiff rate is in line with MLB's top 12 percent.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets split series with Nationals with encouraging signs
George Best would have been 80 years old today.
It is six decades since he started to dazzle home audiences and over 40 years since he last played a game - but he is one of a rare breed whose legacy endures.
Either in the colours of Manchester United or Northern Ireland, the highlights of his career encapsulate why many who saw him still argue he was the best player ever.
For those who are younger, whose parents were too young to see Best play, there is a modern-day comparison.
"Lionel Messi is close to George Best in the way he plays," said another former United and Northern Ireland great, Sammy McIlroy. "He can dribble, beat people, score goals and make goals."
McIlroy counted Best as a hero when he was growing up in Belfast. Best later became his mentor and team-mate.
"Messi has this amazing dribbling ability," McIlroy added. "Best had it too, but this was in the 1960s when the conditions were much different to the way they are now. The pitches were terrible and your opponents wanted to hurt you.
"Norman Hunter, Tommy Smith and Ron Harris were good players, but they were cruel in the way they played. It didn't bother George, though.
"It didn't matter who was dishing it out. He used to take the rough stuff, get up, and say: 'Come on then, let's have some more'.
But there was more to Best than what he did on matchday.
McIlroy recounts he was a fierce competitor in training and, at odds with the devil-may-care attitude his off-field antics often portrayed, he was also a father figure to young players from Northern Ireland like him who had travelled to England with dreams of representing United.
SEOUL, May 22 (UPI) -- The coach of a North Korean women's soccer team pushed back Friday against suggestions his side plays overly physical soccer, one day before the team faces Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final of a regional tournament in South Korea.
Ri Yu Il and his Naegohyang Women's FC will play Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League on Saturday afternoon at Suwon Stadium, some 18 miles south of Seoul. The winner will receive $1 million in prize money.
When asked at a press conference how he would prepare for what was expected to be a "rough" match, Ri took exception to the question.
"I don't really understand the meaning of 'rough match,'" he said. "Since coming here, I have heard that expression from some of the opposing team's players and coaches in the semifinals."
Naegohyang defeated South Korean side Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the semifinal Wednesday evening. The match was competitive but not especially contentious, with North Korean players receiving three yellow cards and the South Korean team two.
"Are you referring to a properly physical match, a game played with high intensity?" Ri asked. "There is a referee, and if it's a foul, it's a foul, and if it's a warning, you get a warning."
"I don't think that expression is appropriate," he added.
Naegohyang captain Kim Kyong Yong, who scored the winning header against Suwon, also attended the press conference and said the team was prepared for Saturday's final.
"We have accumulated considerable experience through the matches so far," she said. "We will use the strong mental fortitude unique to North Korean women, our collective spirit and various tactical approaches to secure victory."
The North Korean team's appearance in South Korea has attracted heavy local and international attention against the backdrop of frozen inter-Korean relations and years of near-total estrangement between the neighbors.
The visit marks the first appearance by North Korean athletes in South Korea since 2018, when Pyongyang participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and later sent athletes to additional sporting events in the South, including a youth football tournament in Gangwon Province.
Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have deteriorated sharply in recent years, with North Korea recently revising its constitution to remove references to peaceful reunification with the South.
Seoul's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday he believed the Suwon-Naegohyang match would "set a good precedent in inter-Korean relations that have been effectively cut off over the past eight years."
"We need steps to build trust again," Chung said.
The ministry said last week it would provide about $200,000 in government funding to South Korean civic groups organizing cheering squads for both teams. Despite heavy rain, nearly 5,800 fans turned out Wednesday to watch the match.
Tokyo Verdy Beleza defeated Melbourne City FC 3-1 on Wednesday to book its place in the final.
The two finalists previously met during the tournament's group stage in November in Myanmar, where Tokyo defeated Naegohyang 4-0. The winner will represent Asia in the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
Today’s tennis action has in store a series of semifinal clashes, starting with America’s Tommy Paul, who is locked and loaded for his battle against Australia’s Alex De Minaur at the Hamburg Open, while Learner Tien is all set to go up against Alexander Bublik at the Geneva Open. At the Internationaux de Strasbourg, Canada’s Victoria Mboko will face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
Continuing with Geneva is the next semifinal bout, which features Norway’s Casper Ruud and Argentina’s Mariano Navone, while an all-American clash is also scheduled between Emma Navarro and Ann Li at Strasbourg.
Here are our top best picks of the day, with a brief analysis on which player will rise to the occasion.
Tommy Paul vs. Alex De Minaur (Paul +110)
At the Hamburg Open, Tommy Paul will face Alex de Minaur in their seventh meeting, with Minaur leading their head-to-head 5-1. Paul advanced to the semifinals after beating Daniel Altmaier 6-2, 7-5, while De Minaur beat Luciano Darderi 6-0, 6-3. Both players have beaten each other on clay once previously.
While Paul has achieved a title on clay in Houston this year, De Minaur is yet to bag a trophy on the red surface. Both are known for their counter-attacking skills, and while De Minaur capitalizes on his exceptional footwork, Paul has a potent loose forehand that lets him swing the wall way behind the opponent’s baseline. If Tommy Paul can contain De Minaur’s insane speed, he can leverage his explosive style and win in 2.
Learner Tien vs. Alexander Bublik (Bublik -155)
Scheduled in Geneva is the second clash between Learner Tien and Alexander Bublik after Tien beat the Kazakh star on clay in their first meeting. Tien defeated Alex Michelsen in the quarterfinals 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, and Bublik beat Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final four this week.
Tien relies on his heavy topspin, while Bublik is considered a chaotic player. He relies on unpredictable games, and if he can tie Tien’s left-handed shots with his lethal first serve, he can wear out the American and win in straight sets.
Victoria Mboko vs. Jaqueline Cristian (Mboko -295)
In Strasbourg, Victoria Mboko will face Jaqueline Cristian for the first time ever. While Mboko beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4 in an all-Canadian clash, Cristian defeated Daria Kasatkina 7-6(3), 6-3, 2-6 in the quarterfinals.
Mboko relies on her aggressive game plan that shows right from the start of the bout, while Cristian comes in with years of clay experience, which she uses to wear down her opponents with extended rallies and through her defensive game plays. If Mboko uses her raw power with good consistency, she can take the match in 3 sets.
Casper Ruud vs. Mariano Navone (Ruud -425)
The next semifinal clash is set between Casper Ruud and Mariano Navone, who will clash for the second time, as Ruud leads their head-to-head with 1-0. Ruud beat Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-3, while Navone emerged victorious against Jaume Munar 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. While Navone plays his first semifinal in Switzerland, Ruud has already won the Geneva title thrice.
Navone is known for sliding effortlessly on clay, but Ruud plays a very disciplined game on the red surface, and if he manages to counter Navone’s relentless defenses with his forehand, he can easily secure his spot in the final with a straight-set win.
Emma Navarro vs. Ann Li (Navarro +115)
The All-American clash between Emma Navarro and Ann Li is set for the second time after Navarro beat Li in their previous bout. Navarro has advanced to the Strasbourg semifinals after beating Zhang Shuai in a tightly contested battle 6-2, 6-7, 6-2, while Li defeated Marie Bouzková 6-3, 7-5.
While Li is known for her first-strike plays, Navarro relies on her exceptional footwork and the ability to extend rallies while being in control with her spinning forehand. With her latest comeback wins, Navarro is expected to wear out Li in the early stages of the match and advance with a 3-set win.
All bets and wagers sourced from BetMGM
Read more:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
Burns baseball is back in familiar territory.
For the third time in four seasons, the second-ranked Bulldogs will play for an NCHSAA state title, this after completing a sweep of their best-of-three 4A West championship series with a 16-6 victory over No. 4 Lincoln Charter. The win comes on the heels of Burns’ 3-1 win in the series opener Tuesday, May 19.
Burns (25-3) will vie for its first title since 2023 when it faces Bunn next week in the 4A state championship series. Much like the Bulldogs, Bunn swept the 4A East regional finals over Southwestern Randolph.
STANDARD IS GREAT: Names have changed for Burns baseball, but standard remains the same
PLAYING INSPIRED BASEBALL: Burns, Stuart Cramer baseball play on after Storm coach's tragic death
The Bulldogs finished with 13 unanswered runs after Lincoln Charter scored five runs to take a 6-3 lead in the second.
After a bases loaded walk trimmed Burns’ deficit to two, Drew Dixon put his team up for good with a bases clearing double. The Bulldogs all but put the game away in the fifth, taking advantage of five walks, a hit batsman and two base hits to plate seven runs and extend their lead to 14-6.
Mason Bralley capped the night with a two-run homer, part of a 2-for-5 outing with two RBIs and three total runs. He also spent extensive time on the mound, allowing one run (none earned) on six hits with five strikeouts.
Dixon was 3-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored. Lathan Peeler was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Yates Toney also contributed a two-run homer in the first inning.
With the win, Burns extended its win streak to 15 consecutive games, along with avenging a 2025 playoff loss to Lincoln Charter.
The Eagles (21-9) were led by Reed Osbourne, who was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Adam Rodgers was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Noah Brown hit a two-run homer as well.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Burns baseball sweeps Lincoln Charter in NCHSAA 4A West title series
Did you see Andrew, the Washington Commanders fan in Australia?
Andrew was on a phone call on the Rich Eisen Show on Thursday afternoon. Eisen had the Commanders' schedule displayed on the screen and went through it for the 2026 NFL season. Eisen went through each game quickly, asking Andrew whom he honestly thought would win.
Turns out Andrew is not very high on the Commanders this season. He wants to be wrong, but he thinks the team has some really serious issues, and it is going to result in a poor record again for Washington in 2026. It was so bad, the very surprised Eisen told Andrew, "I'm going to give you an international date line hug," opening his arms as if to hug Andrew all the way in Australia.
Here's the quick four-minute segment if you want to watch. If not, here's how Andrew sees the 2026 Commanders season unfolding. Here are his quick comments regarding each game.
WK 1 at Philadelphia "Yeah, we're going to lose."
WK 2 at Dallas "Yeah, we're going to lose again."
WK 3 vs Seattle "Oh, 0-3, hello."
WK 4 vs Indianapolis in London "We don't travel well; we're going to lose again."
WK 5 vs New York Giants "I love my team, but I'm not hopeful, 0-5."
WK 6 at San Francisco "Yeah, that's 0-6."
WK 7 BYE "You forgot, we might even lose the bye."
WK 8 vs Philadelphia "We do have to win eventually. It might as well be against the hated birds. Oh, we might have a new coach by then."
WK 9 vs Los Angeles Rams "Yeah, we lose."
WK 10 at New York Giants "Well, we usually split it, so we will get one back."
WK 11 vs Cincinnati "I see why people go crazy. But I'm not going to. We lose."
WK 12 at Arizona "Jacoby slash whoever, we will win that."
WK 13 at Tennessee "Uh, we should win that."
WK 14 vs Houston "No."
WK 15 at Atlanta "Well, Kirk's not there anymore. But no, we're going to lose there too."
WK 16 at Minnesota "Loss."
WK 17 at Jacksonville "We're going to lose there too."
WK 18 vs Dallas "Yeah, we're going to get a meaningless win on the last week."
A very surprised Eisen could only respond, "Andrew in Australia, calling in at 4:50 in the morning, Friday in the middle of his shift, calling in to say the Commanders are going 5-12, is really next level."
Andrew is a nurse by profession; his outlook was doomsday for Commanders fans, but Eisen liked the segment, thinking it was entertaining on television and radio. It probably was, but I sure do hope the Commanders win more than five games this upcoming season.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: One fan expects them to be bad in 2026
HILLSDALE COUNTY — Conference championship meets are in the books, and all that remains before the Hillsdale Area Best Meet on Tuesday, May 26 is MITCA weekend.
Below are the updated standings, as of May 21, for Hillsdale County girls track and field athletes. Included are the top five runners, field athletes and relay teams in each event.
More: Photos from Hillsdale and Jonesville track's battle for Region 25
This list doesn't represent the final entries for the Area Best Meet. The final entries will be published online at athletic.net.
100 Meters
200 Meters
400 Meters
800 Meters
1600 Meters
3200 Meters
100 Hurdles
300 Meter Hurdles
4x100 Relay
4x200 Relay
4x400 Relay
4x800 Relay
Shot Put
Discus
High Jump
Pole Vault
Long Jump
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale County girls track and field standings updated for Area Best
HILLSDALE COUNTY — The conference championship meets are in the books.
The conference championships are the second-to-last stop for many teams before the MHSAA finals — with just MITCA Team State events left this weekend. However, some might say that the biggest event left on the track and field calendar is the Hillsdale Area Best meet on Tuesday, May 26.
The meet will be held at Hayden Park, with field events starting in the early afternoon. One male and female athlete will earn Athlete of the Meet honors at the conclusion of the event. The event will also announce the annual Jennifer Beach Memorial Scholarship recipients.
Outside MITCA results this weekend, the final standings begin to take shape for the event. Below are the top five runners, relay teams and field event athletes as of May 21. A full list of the top 10 standings can be found at athletic.net. This list does not represent the final entries for the meet.
More: Photos from Hillsdale and Jonesville track's battle for Region 25
100 Meters
200 Meters
400 Meters
800 Meters
1600 Meters
3200 Meters
110 Hurdles
300 Hurdles
4x100 Relay
4x200 Relay
4x400 Relay
4x800 Relay
Shot Put
Discus
High Jump
Pole Vault
Long Jump
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Boys athletes earn final marks ahead of Hillsdale Area Best track meet
One Athens-area team remains in the Georgia High School Association baseball playoffs.
No. 1-seeded North Oconee (30-6) and No. 4-seeded Kell (25-15) will face off at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome, Ga., on Saturday, May 23.
Game one is slated for 5 p.m., with game two following 30ish minutes after the conclusion. An if-necessary tiebreaker is set for Monday, May 25, at 6 p.m.
The Titans are going for their third title since the turn of the decade, after back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024, while the Longhorns are going for their first title ever.
North Oconee is ranked as the No. 2 team in Georgia and No. 32 in the nation, per MaxPreps.
Here's everything you need to know before you go:
The GHSA Class 4A baseball state championships will be held Saturday, May 23, at 5 p.m. Game one is slated for 5 p.m., with game two following 30ish minutes after the conclusion.
An if-necessary tiebreaker is set for Monday, May 25, at 6 p.m.
The GHSA Class 4A baseball state championship will be held at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome, Ga. It's roughly three hours from Athens and North Oconee High School.
There is a clear bag policy and the venue is cashless.
Tickets are available for purchase on GoFan. General admission costs $22.
If you are unable to make the drive to Rome, Ga., for the GHSA Class 4A baseball state championship series, North Oconee vs. Kell will be available via the NFHS Network. A monthly subscription costs $13.99 ($168 for a year), while the annual pass is 53% off at $6.67 a month ($80 a year).
Postseason tracker: Follow all the Athens high school baseball teams in GHSA playoffs here
Region 8 Team 1
Region 6 Team 4
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: North Oconee heads back to GHSA Class 4A baseball finals
Lafayette Parish and its surrounding area has been home to phenomenal high school athletes that have become household names over the decades.
And we want to take a look at back at some of the best the area has ever seen. To do so, we need help from our readers.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
To continue our series, we are looking for the best baseball and softball players … EVER … to suit up in high schools across the 337 area. No easy task, right? That's why we're looking for help from our readers. Our goal is to narrow down the list to the five best baseball and softball players from Lafayette Parish and its surrounding areas … with your help!
So if you want to help us out as we embark on this nearly impossible venture, we want to hear from you.
Fill out the form below, sound off in our comments or email sports reporter Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com with your top 337-area high school baseball and softball players all time. We're looking to highlight those who starred at the high school level. That doesn't mean we're excluding future professionals, but we're hoping to focus on those athletes who dominated local headlines.
The Daily Advertiser thanks you for your help as we embark on this task!
REQUIRED READING: VOTE: Daily Advertiser Reader's Choice 2026 Postseason Baseball/Softball POTY
REQUIRED READING: LHSAA partners with Sugar Bowl for state championships for upcoming school year
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Finding the Lafayette-area best high school baseball/softball players ever
PORT HURON — Countless sprints, hurdles, throws and jumps have come down to this.
The 2026 MHSAA track & field state finals are May 30.
Here are the Blue Water Area athletes who qualified, listed in alphabetical order.
The Division 1 state finals will be held at Carlson-Munger Stadium in Rockford.
PORT HURON
Malencia Price: In Region 10, the senior finished second in the girls long jump at 17 feet, 2 1/4 inches.
PORT HURON NORTHERN
Samantha Langolf: In Region 10, the senior finished sixth in the girls 3,200 meters at 11:18.04.
Joey Lincoln: The junior finished third in the boys high jump at 6-2.
Lincoln Watkins: The senior was an early qualifier for the boys shot put (56 feet, 1 1/2 inches) and the discus (161-1).
The Division 2 state finals will be held at Hamilton Stadium in Hamilton.
ARMADA
Claire Albrecht: The freshman was part of the girls 4x400 relay team that placed fourth in Region 19 at 4:12.76. She was also the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay team that finished second (10:07.95).
Kamille Fitzpatrick: The freshman was part of the girls 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams.
Colin Maitland: The junior placed second in the boys high jump at 6 feet.
Allison Mansfield: The junior finished sixth in the girls 400 meters at 1:00.56. She was also part of the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams.
Addison Noteboom: The junior was part of the girls 4x800 relay team.
Helena Reiff: The junior placed second in the girls long jump at 15-3.
Valeria Ricossa: The junior was an early qualifier in the girls high jump at 5-2.
Cristina Semian: The junior finished fifth in the girls 400 meters at 1:00.12. She was also the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay team.
Chase Walker: The senior placed second in the boys discus at 146-3 feet.
CARDINAL COMEBACK: After spinal injury, Cardinal Mooney runner Stella Behnan breaks school record
CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
Matthew Cummings: The senior was part of the boys 4x800 relay team that won the Region 19 championship at 8:21.10.
Caleb Nelson: The freshman was the anchor leg of the boys 4x400 relay team that finished second at 3:32.53. He was also part of the 4x800 relay team.
Gavin Oleski: The junior won the Region 19 championship in the boys 300-meter hurdles at 40.57 seconds. He was also part of the 4x400 relay team.
Connor Pepin: The junior was part of the boys 4x400 relay team and the anchor leg of the 4x800 team.
Raleigh Stoyan: The freshman was part of the boys 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams.
IMLAY CITY
Enrique Cardenas: The senior was part of the boys 4x100 relay team that won the Region 19 championship at 44.00 seconds. He was also on the 4x200 relay team that won the regional title at 1:32.37.
Ethan Everhart: The senior was part of the boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Brett Lestage: The junior was an early qualifier for the boys 100 meters (10.78 seconds) and 200 meters (22.25 seconds). He was also the anchor leg of both the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Alan Valdovinos: The senior was part of the boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
MARYSVILLE
Ty Busen: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x200 relay team that placed second in Region 19 at 1:33.21.
Trey Cummins: The junior was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
Troy Edwards: The junior was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
Borys Grodny: The senior was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
Owen Krantz: The senior was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
Hunter Likins: The senior was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
ST. CLAIR
Colin Boullard: The senior was the Region 19 champion in the boys 110-meter hurdles at 15.30 seconds.
Braylon Frantz: The senior placed second in the boys 200 meters at 23.44 seconds.
Caleb VanSingel: The senior finished second in the boys pole vault at 12-8.
YALE
Hunter Cole: The sophomore was the Region 19 champion in the boys pole vault at 12-8.
Saige Cole: The sophomore finished third in the girls 400 meters at 59.74 seconds. She was also part of the 4x400 relay team that placed second at 4:10.25.
Brenna Cowhy: The freshman was part of the girls 4x400 relay team.
Sadie Dykstra: The senior was an early qualifier in the girls 100-meter hurdles (14.91 seconds), the 300-meter hurdles (45.46 seconds), the high jump (5-4) and the long jump (18-4). She was also part of the 4x400 relay team.
Zack Haywood: The senior was the Region 19 champion in the boys discus at 155 feet. He also placed second in the shot put at 46 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
Avery Measel: The freshman was part of the girls 4x400 relay team.
Katelyn Schweihofer: The senior was the anchor leg of the girls 4x400 relay team.
Dustin Steward: The junior placed second in the boys 100-meter hurdles at 16.23 seconds.
The Division 3 state finals will be held at Ward Memorial Field in Kent City.
ALGONAC
Jenna Dobbs: In Region 27, the sophomore finished third in the girls 400 meters 1:00.22.
ALMONT
Jacob Biolchini: The senior was the anchor leg of the boys 4x800 relay team that won the Region 27 championship at 8:38.66.
Laila Evola: The senior finished second in the girls 3,200 meters at 13:30.92. She was also part of the 4x800 relay team placed second at 11:30.41.
Serena Evola: The sophomore was part of the girls 4x800 relay team.
Colton Grzyb: The junior won the Region 27 championship in the boys 800 meters at 2:02.99. He was also part of the 4x800 relay team.
Benjamin Kline: The junior was part of the boys 4x800 relay team.
Adam SaintOnge: The senior placed second in the boys 800 meters at 2:08.52. He was also part of the 4x800 relay team.
Jamin Siewert: The junior was part of the boys 4x800 relay team.
Taylor Stanczak: The sophomore was part of the girls 4x800 relay team.
Ella Tesluk: The sophomore was part of the girls 4x800 relay team.
Charlotte Verougstraete: The senior was part of the girls 4x800 relay team.
MORE: Top Blue Water Area high school sports performers, May 11-16
MARINE CITY
Austin Brown: The senior won the Region 27 championship in the boys 100 meters at 11.36 seconds. He was also part of the 4x200 relay team that finished third at 1:33.44.
Jaben Holden: The junior finished second in the boys high jump at 5.10 feet. He was also the anchor leg of both the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams, the latter of which placed second at 3:34.09.
Landen Miller: The senior was part of the boys 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams.
Victoria Morris: The junior placed second in the girls high jump at 4-5.
Aiden Peyerk: The senior was part of the boys 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams.
Chase Ramsey: The senior placed second in the boys 110-meter hurdles at 16.11 seconds.
Luke Riehl: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x400 relay team.
Jorma Schlegel: The junior finished second in the boys pole vault at 11-3.
The Division 4 state finals will be held at Hudsonville Eagle Stadium in Hudsonville.
CAPAC
Isabella Chapa: In Region 39, the freshman was part of the girls 4x200 relay team that finished second at 2:01.45.
Madison Clark: The senior was part of the 4x200 relay team.
Ava Klink: The senior won the Region 39 championship in the girls discus at 104-3.
Natalya Sarabia: The senior was part of the 4x200 relay team.
Shaylynne Schaefer: The junior finished second in the girls high jump at 4-3. She was also part of the 4x200 relay team.
Keira Smith: The junior was part of the 4x200 relay team.
Ava Thorner: The junior was part of the 4x200 relay team.
Mylla Vigiletti: The freshman was part of the 4x200 relay team.
CARDINAL MOONEY
Micah Arlow: The junior was part of the boys 4x800 relay team that won the Region 39 championship at 9:05.44.
Stella Behnan: The senior placed second in the girls 1,600 meters at 5:39.30. She also finished third in the 3,200 meters (12:34.87).
Dominic DeVeny: In Region 39, the sophomore was part of the boys 4x200 relay team that finished second at 1:44.97.
Michael Kemp: The freshman was part of the boys 4x100 relay team that finished second at 47.84 seconds.
Cullen Knuth: The senior was part of the boys 4x800 relay team.
Liam Knuth: The sophomore won the Region 39 championship in the boys 3,200 meters at 10:44.63. He was also the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay team.
Matthew Koles: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x100 relay team.
Benjamin Sabatini: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x200 relay team.
Gavin VanTiem: The senior was the anchor leg of the boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Wyatt Welsh: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Xavier Zammit: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x800 relay team.
MARLETTE
Kaylee Byars: In Region 38, the freshman was part of the girls 4x400 relay team that placed second at 4:34.43.
Joshua Dale: The freshman finished second in the boys 110-meter hurdles at 17.25 seconds. He was also part of the boys 4x800 relay team that won the Region 38 championship.
Alexandra Findlay: The senior won the Region 38 championship in the girls 300-meter hurdles at 50.79 seconds. She also won the regional title in the pole vault at 9-6. Additionally, Findlay placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (17.79 seconds).
Ben Forbes: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x800 relay team.
Julius Johnson: The senior won the Region 38 championship in the boys shot put at 47 feet, 10 1/2 inches.
Brayden Kirkpatrick: The sophomore placed second in the boys 300-meter hurdles at 42.98 seconds. He was also part of the 4x400 relay team that won the Region 38 championship at 3:37.60, as well as the 4x800 relay team.
Avery Lefler: The senior was the anchor leg of the girls 4x400 relay team.
Miley Lemanski: The junior placed second in the girls 100 meters at 13.15 seconds. She also finished second in the 200 meters at 28.51 seconds. Additionally, Lemanski was part of the 4x400 relay team.
Gianino Perna: The senior placed second in the boys 800 meters at 2:05.90. He was also the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay team.
Mckaylea Silance: The junior was part of the girls 4x400 relay team.
Luke Thomas: The senior won the Region 38 championship in the boys 400 meters at 53.22 seconds. He was also part of the 4x400 relay team.
Ryan Thomas: The sophomore won the Region 38 championship in the boys pole vault at 12 feet.
Gabe Williams: The sophomore was part of the boys 4x400 relay team.
Kendyl Wilkins: The sophomore won the Region 38 championship in the girls 200 meters at 28.27 seconds. She also finished sixth in the high jump at 5 feet.
MEMPHIS
Kai Fisher: The senior won the Region 39 championship in the boys 100 meters (11.18 seconds), 200 meters (23.05 seconds) and 400 meters (51.07 seconds).
PECK
Aletta Jones: In Region 38, the sophomore placed second in the girls high jump at 4-11.
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Track & field state finals: Who qualified from the Blue Water Area?
The results are in for the Montgomery Advertiser's athlete of the week, presented by the Vance Law Firm, for performances during May 11-15.
The poll ran from May 17-21, with readers given the option to vote once every hour.
Trinity Presbyterian's Emma Rose Meldrum won the poll after going 1-for-2 with a homer run and three RBIs in the Wildcats 3A Central Regional tournament win.
Pelt won the poll with 56% of the total votes, beating out Prattville Christian Academy's Peyton Thrash.
Nominees come from top performers the week before. To nominate a top performer, have your team's coach or stat keeper email sports@montgomeryadvertiser.com by 11 p.m. CT each Friday. Voting opens Monday and lasts until noon Thursday. Winners are announced Fridays.
HOW SYDNEY JOHNSTON WILL HELP ST JAMES: This Saint James softball player could help Trojans win AHSAA state title
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR WETUMPKA: What we learned in Wetumpka's elimination from AHSAA softball state tournament
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery-area high school athlete of the week poll winner, May 11-15
With the pressure on, Brady Meyer was at his coolest.
The Old Bridge pitcher delivered in two big wins last week as the Knights advanced to the Jim Muldowney Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final.
More: Old Bridge baseball erupts in extra innings for GMCT semifinal win
In a first round game, the junior righthander went the distance with eight strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Sayreville. In the semifinal, Meyer allowed an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts as Old Bridge prevailed 9-3 over Middlesex in eight innings.
Fans voted Meyer as the MyCentralJersey Readers Choice Player of the Week in an online poll for his efforts.
Meyer had a breakout sophomore season in 2025 with a 3.20 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 35 innings. This season, he had to step up even more with the graduation of aces JJ Hascup and John Smith.
Other players have emerged such as two pitchers who didn’t throw an inning last season in Blake Dunleavy (three-hit shutout in GMCT quarterfinal win) and Chris Crosta, who earned the win in the semifinals with 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Meyer has done his part with a 2.95 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 42 2/3 frames this spring.
“He’s a great pitcher,” Old Bridge catcher Adrian Lutomski said. “I don’t have enough words to say about him. He’s got a great fastball, great off-speed, he’s very composed on the mound. He’s a great kid.”
The Knights fans certainly have a lot to cheer about. Old Bridge (17-8) has won eight in a row and 11 of 12 since April 28.
“It’s just the will to win,” Meyer said after Old Bridge scored six runs in the eighth inning to pull out the GMCT semifinal. “Wanting it more than the other team. These guys love playing the game, love playing the game together and that’s just something you can’t take away from us.”
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball Old Bridge's Brady Meyer voted Player of the Week
New Walsall head coach Lee Grant says he will draw on his time working with Ipswich Town's strikers to turn the Saddlers into a more dynamic and threatening side in front of goal next season.
Grant was appointed a week ago, as Mat Sadler's permanent replacement, on a three-year contract.
The 43-year-old arrives at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium with the task of reviving a club that has had two promotion challenges implode after leading League Two in each of the last two seasons.
Walsall scored 56 goals in 46 games in 2025-26 as they slipped from top in December to finish 13th, 13 points off the play-offs as Sadler, and then interim boss Darren Byfield, could not maintain their challenge.
Grant said he is aware of what he needs from his squad.
"I'm under no illusions that we've got to be really creative, we've got to work really hard when it comes to how we recruit, but we also have a lot going for us as well," he told BBC Radio WM.
"I think those are the things that really drew me to the opportunity and encouraged me to get really excited about it.
"The football club has taken really good strides forward and I know people will be frustrated because there's that sense of perhaps there was an opportunity for a bit more over the last two seasons, but I'd have to say full credit to the people that have been here prior to myself for pushing the club in the right direction."
The Walsall job is his second management position having been Huddersfield Town boss between May 2025 and January this year.
Prior to that he was part of Kieran McKenna's coaching group that helped Ipswich to successive promotions from League One to the Premier League in 2023 and 2024.
Those sides were renowned for their attacking prowess which brought a lot of goals under Grant's watch.
"I was the forwards' coach. We were the top scorers in League One with over 100 goals and we were the top scorers in the Championship with nearly 100 goals. And then we head into the Premier League and we managed to sell two of our forwards for nearly £70m - so we've done ok when it came to the brass tacks of creating and scoring," he said.
"That gave me a really good understanding and education in what is important when it comes to the principles around creating, scoring, being a threat to the opposition.
"That's certainly one of the goals for us. Can we be a more dynamic team when it comes to creating and taking opportunities? Can we be a more aggressive team when it comes to that mindset? And can we be a really constant threat to the opposition's backline?"
As Grant heads into the summer transfer window he said he "will be doing everything in my power" to bring players in that will give him "really good options off the bench" that increase the challenge and demand on the players to "hold the shirt".
The former Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and Derby goalkeeper added that his eight-month reign at Huddersfield was a "really good lesson" and will help him strive to get Walsall back into League One.
"The opportunity I have now is to apply those lessons and those reflections now as a, hopefully, new and improved version of myself.
"We all like to keep upskilling, always learning, always improving. That's certainly been the case for me over the last few months.
"I want to be winning lots of games and winning more in the second half of the season than we've done over the past 24 months so I'm going to set some lofty targets for the group and really want to lay that challenge down to the to the group on day one.
"There's absolutely no doubt that myself, the owners, certainly the supporters, want to be promoted out of this division.
"We will set our targets high, we will strive to improve everything we can around the club, squad balance, every other detail we can to try to give us the best opportunity."
When Tim Walton first arrived in Gainesville after taking the Florida softball coaching job in 2006, he had a family decision to make.
With two young children and a third on the way, Tim and his wife Samantha mulled about whether to enter the kids into the Florida prepaid college program.
“We’re like, we’ve got a five-year contract, we’re not buying Florida prepaid,” Walton said. “So probably the worst decision I made in my life.”
Samantha agreed.
"So it happens, Tim is pretty good at his job," she said.
Walton can laugh about it 20 years later. In that span, the 53-year-old Walton has coached the Florida Gators to 1,079 wins, 13 Women’s College World Series trips and two national titles, while touching the lives of hundreds of young women.
He’s also raised a family who is as invested in the program as he is, while pursuing their own athletic interests. Tim and Samantha’s eldest son, Brooks, was a former pitcher at Buchholz and Santa Fe College and now works on Walton’s softball staff. Middle daughter Camden played lacrosse at Buchholz before graduating at UF and works as a recruiting coordinator for UF’s men’s golf program. Youngest son Palmer, who was born in Gainesville, plays on Santa Fe College’s men’s basketball team.
“It’s been more than I ever dreamed it would be,” Walton said. “Not softball because we’re doing exactly what I set out to do here, but when you have a family and you bring a family along, kindergarten, high school, college, we’re doing it the exact way on the field that I thought, but off the field has been more rewarding.”
Florida (51-10) is on the cusp of its 14th WCWS trip under Walton, as the sixth-seeded Gators will host 11th-seed Texas Tech in the Gainesville Super Regional, which starts May 22 at 11 a.m. (ESPN2).
"It’s so cool to see him be so successful," Camden said. "I’m lucky because I don’t know anything else, like, they have a loss and for us it kind of feels like, super rare. We’re just lucky that he’s had so much success and that it’s been so much fun to watch.”
The job of a Division I coach, in any sport, can be all encompassing. Camden recalled growing up that she and her brothers would argue which road trips they could go on, so they could hang out with dad and the team.
"I have a ton of memories being a little kid on the bus with the team, going in the back and telling the girls to braid my hair at breakfast," Camden said.
Brooks and Palmer both had their graduation pictures taken in June at Oklahoma City on the field at the Women's College World Series.
“They are hooked on Tim, softball," Samantha said. "They can do all the other things for their respective sports, jobs, but when it comes down it, he’s the catalyst to how we all move forward."
Still, the family has found joy in the simple pleasures that Gainesville has to offer − dinners at Blue Highway pizza or summer getaways at Lake Santa Fe. Brooks recalled one day this season when Walton re-arranged the practice schedule so the family could go to Orlando to catch an NBA game between the Magic and Brooks' favorite team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I don’t know too many high-level coaches that would be like, hey, let’s on an random Tuesday make sure we go down to Orlando and make sure that as a family watch an NBA game," Brooks said. "It was nice.”
Walton said it's a lesson he hopes filters down to all of the players he coaches.
"We don’t just do softball 24/7," Walton said. "We’re going to try to be as good as we can be, but go home, see your family, go out to eat, do other things, do normal things, go out to a concert. I think that’s all important. That’s what I really want them to be more than anything."
Francesca Enea was one of several players from California that Walton convinced to travel cross-country to play for the Gators more than 20 years ago. Walton had recruited Enea's older sister when he was an assistant coach at Oklahoma.
"It was going to be far away, but I was excited to want to play for him," Enea said. "He hadn’t really developed a big name for himself but the swag that he carried with him, and just the way he spoke about the future of what the program could be, it was electrifying."
Enea was one of UF's first sluggers under Walton, belting 67 homers and 221 RBIs from 2007-10. By 2008, Florida made its first WCWS trip in school history. In 2009 and 2011, UF was the national runner up in the WCWS, still seeking the program's first national title.
"When I played there, we were a very strong offensive team," Enea said. "He wanted us to be fun to watch, that was his thing like be fun to watch, let’s hit like a whole bunch of home runs.
"With that being said, he recruited a bunch of big hitters and I would say our weakness is we weren’t probably as good defensively and because of that, when we played at the ‘09 national championship, I think that was a big reason why we came out on the losing end."
After the disappointment of 2009 and 2011, Enea said Walton evolved, prioritizing pitching and defense to complement a few sluggers in the lineup. Two-way standout Lauren Hager, who could slug two homers one day and throw a shutout the next, helped lead UF to back-to-back national titles in 2014 and 2015.
"Some of his everyday starters like Aubree Munro behind the plate and Katie Medina at shortstop, I think they were both like batting below .200," Enea said. "But they were so good defensively and they knew how to come up clutch with big hits for the team."
Three years ago, Enea returned to the program at UF's hitting coach. She's seen Walton soften some of his rough edges and adapt to players in the Name, Image and Likeness era. A few months ago, the team adopted a western wear theme during a road trip. Walton popped on a cowboy hat.
"Those girls were taking pictures of him, and making fun of him and he just eats it up because he gets to dish it and they take it and they take it right back," Camden said. "They all have such good relationships."
Still Walton hasn't lost that no-nonsense, perfectionist side, which has allowed his teams to excel through attention to detail.
"He’s going to do everything the right way," Brooks said. "He’s going to give you credit when you deserve credit and I would say that he treats everybody right. I work for him now so this is my third year on staff and anybody that ever asks, ‘Well how is it working for your dad?’ He treats me fair, he treats me like everybody else."
It's been a wild, 20-year ride but the Waltons have remained grounded. They've been fortunate to develop roots in one place in a volatile, college sports climate. Camden jokes her friends call her the "mayor of Gainesville" a moniker the 23-year-old accepts with pride.
"I literally can’t imagine my life any way else, especially now being an alumnus of UF," Camden said. "It just means that much more."
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball coach Tim Walton, family have found balance with success
ELKHART — Elkhart High School unified track coach Todd Sheely admits that the athletes in his program, like any other, like the trophy that comes with winning.
But this IHSAA sanctioned sport, in which the Lions are the two-time defending state champions in, is much, much bigger than the final results on any scoreboard.
Unified Track is an inclusive sport where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities compete together on the same team, promoting social inclusion, teamwork, and personal growth.
The sport is all about inclusion, team and culture when it comes to the Lions.
"At the end of the day, we all come together here to be a team," said Elkhart junior Ian Krempec. "I like the unity of being part of this team. It shows me that we all have our differences, but that does not matter."
From 2025: Back-to-back: Elkhart unified track and field squad claims another IHSAA state title
Krempec, who also plays soccer and basketball at EHS, is in his second year on the team. His older brother Colin was a senior last year.
"I love how this gives everyone an opportunity to participate," Krempec stated. "I enjoy playing sports and I enjoy supporting all of my teammates on this team and enjoy seeing them have the same opportunity to play that I do."
Sheely's team won sectional and regional titles a year ago before outscoring Penn 123-119 to repeat as IHSAA state champions. The Lions bested second place Fishers 124-112 in 2024 to win the state title.
Sheely, who is also the boys soccer coach at EHS, has now won three state titles, three regionals and six sectionals in the past eight years. He guided Elkhart Memorial to a state title in 2018.
"Our culture here has a lot to do with it," said Sheely of the amazing run of success in a growing sport. "Our kids know what to expect, and that makes it so much easier from a team standpoint. We never leave anyone behind. We work hard and compete, but we do it as a team. That makes things a lot easier."
More: Feathers family remembers loving mother, wife with fondness
The Lions, who are just one of three programs statewide to win multiple state championships, are set to compete Saturday, May 23 in the 11-team sectional at NorthWood High School in Nappanee. The top three teams there earn a spot in the NorthWood Regional May 30, with the top four teams in the regional advancing to the state finals on June 6 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
Sheely's team this year has 59 members. Unfortunately, only 30 can be on the sectional roster. Sheely saw his team take a big step forward at its final regular-season meet at Warsaw on May 14.
"I saw them come together and really support each other," noted Sheely. "That was really great to see. It takes some time. We had like 20-plus new kids on the team this year from last year, so it's a little different."
Olivia Baca is a junior who is also a second-year member of the team. Baca, who competes in the long jump and the relay, also plays Unified flag football.
"I like running, so I decided that I would try this and I liked it," said Baca of how she became involved with Unified track. "I love being with my teammates. Everyone is happy and laughing and I just love being around them."
Sheely also gives out immense credit to his two assistant coaches Kris Bartley and Brian Ketchum. He also credits paraprofessionals Kendall Maurer, Russ DeFord, Ray Shon Smith and Dajshiana Williams, who come to practice every day to help with the team.
"There is no way that we could operate at the level we do without all six of them," Sheely emphasized. "100 percent no way. We're very blessed to have all of them."
Krempec competes in the long jump and the 400 relay event.
"I respect all of my teammates, and there is a bond with them," Krempec said. "Our main goal is just for everyone to do their best. We rely on everyone to do that. We've done pretty well this season and now our goal is to win the sectional.
"I really respect coach Sheely. I'd say that I do this because of a combination of him and that my brother also did that."
Sheely knows his team will put its best foot forward come Saturday.
"Our kids like the trophy, but it's all about seeing them succeed," Sheely said. "We had a kid drop his time 22 seconds in his race at Warsaw and the smile on his face was what this is really all about.
"That being said, I'm always anxious and nervous for postseason. But I know that our kids will give it their best on Saturday at the sectional. Our goal is top three and advance."
Bartley, who teaches Special Education at EHS, praised both Baca and Krempec.
"Both of those kids have grown immensely," said Bartley. "Olivia has come so far. She was very quiet last year. This year, she is taking freshman under her wing.
"The thing about this sport is that you get to see kids grow as human beings. You see them take a teammates hand."
Baca was spot on when she summed up what this sport is truly all about.
"I'm excited for sectional and it's important to be close to them (my teammates)," said Baca. "But it's not about the winning or losing."
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart High School looking for third IHSAA unified track state title
The spring sports season has come to an end.
Over the past few months, you, the fans, have voted each week for the Fan Choice Athlete of the Week.
Each week, the Chieftain recognized the top student-athletes from area schools to highlight those who have performed at a high level.
This past vote, Caeden Herrera of the Pueblo South baseball team took home the Week 7 fan vote with 60.48% (10,511 votes) of the votes.
Now, Pueblo Chieftain readers, it's your time to vote for your favorite high school athletes from the spring season.
The poll is located at the bottom of the article and closes at midnight on Friday, June 5.
This is the final Athlete of the Season.
There are no voting restrictions, so vote now and vote often. Here are the Athletes of the Spring season.
More: Pueblo County advances to CHSAA Baseball State Tournament
Rowan Roman, Pueblo Central, soccer
The freshman stepped up big for the Wildcats in their 5-0 win over Pueblo South. She scored two goals and added one assist in the game as well. She has eight goals in four games to go along with six assists.
Jonathan Hernandez, Pueblo County, baseball
Hernandez had some big hits for the County Hornets as they were able to earn a victory over Fountain-Fort Carson 4-0. He went 2-4 from the plate, including a double, three RBIs, and one run scored as well.
Natalie Golden, Pueblo West, track and field
Golden performed well for the Cyclones at the Larry Pickering Centennial Invitational. She took home first place in the girls' 800-meter run.
Makenzie Franco, Pueblo Centennial, soccer
Franco came up big for the Bulldogs as they were able to get a victory over Pueblo County 2-1. She scored one goal and tallied an assist in the game. She is currently second on the team in goals scored with 10 and first in assists with 12.
Jordan Arguello, Pueblo Central, baseball
Arguello was big in the Wildcats win over Pueblo East 9-2. He went 3-4 from the plate with an RBI and a run scored to help Pueblo Central maintain its lead over Pueblo East in the South-Central League standings. Arguello leads the team in batting average with a .396.
Cole Billings, Pueblo Central, baseball
Billings came up clutch for the Wildcats as they beat the Pueblo South Colts 6-5. He went 2-4 from the plate, hitting the game-winning double in the top of the tenth inning. He leads the team in RBIs with 17 on the season.
Caeden Herrera, Pueblo South, baseball
Herrera had a solid outing for the Colts as they earned a victory over Pueblo East 9-3. He went seven innings on the mound, giving three runs, one earned, and striking out three batters, while also going 1-2 at the plate with a double and three runs scored.
More: Final results from the CHSAA track and field state championships
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo's Spring Athlete of the Season now open for Fan Voting
When Harley Brown began to look for colleges, she knew what she wanted out the experience.
The Zeeland West senior wanted a balance of faith and movement. She plans to study exercise science and potentially enter the ministry.
After a breakout junior tennis season, Brown led the Dux to their first regional championship and first trip to the state tournament.
Brown found that balance at Calvin University and committed to play tennis for the Knights.
More: Zeeland West claims first ever girls tennis regional title in thrilling fashion
More: Holland Christian's Camryn Nadig makes most of No. 1 singles power
"Calvin was one of my top school choices because it is a Christian school and faith is very important to me," Brown said. "When I met the Calvin tennis coach (George Rodriguez), I was shocked at how much I liked him. He has a blue-collar, hard working mind set and expects the best out of his players, which is a very important quality to me in a coach. Although I know I will not be anywhere near one of the best players there, I know that coach Rodriguez will make me the best player I can be and the team will push me harder than I have ever been in the past. And on top of that, one of my close friends, Cam Nadig (Holland Christian), who I intensely competed with last season, will be playing there also, and I am so excited to go from opponents to teammates."
Brown won the Division 2 regional championship at No. 2 singles for Zeeland West and leads the Dux into the state tournament June 3-4 at the Midland Tennis Center.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland West's Harley Brown commits to play college tennis at Calvin
The base model of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 series was previously rumored to feature OLED panels from BOE as the Korean giant was looking to diversify its supply chain in the hopes of keeping its margins healthy and costs low. While it would seem unheard of for this alliance to happen for Samsung’s premium smartphones, the DRAM shortage can force companies to make all sorts of decisions, and according to one tipster, the company is already evaluating the Chinese manufacturers’ OLEDs, which can be procured at lower prices. BOE could supply Galaxy S27 OLEDs at $5 less than Samsung’s own display manufacturing […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/galaxy-s27-oled-from-chinese-supplier-evaluated-by-samsung-at-lower-price/
Following the shocking news that Bungie is ending any further development for Destiny 2, Bloomberg reports that the studio is about to suffer a significant round of layoffs. That's because there is currently no new game project to reassign those employees to, and even Destiny 3 is not in active production. That refutes rumors shared in late 2025 by Bungie leakers who had claimed that the next installment in the franchise was already in early development. It is sad news for all the millions of players who are fond of the sci-fi universe created by the studio, though this is […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/destiny-3-not-in-active-production-bungie-significant-layoffs/
We heard in the past that Chinese vendors were trying to have some share in Samsung’s next-gen flagships. A new report brings more details: Chinese OLED maker BOE is attracting Samsung with $5 cheaper display panels for the Galaxy S27.
BOE, a Chinese OLED vendor, is reportedly offering Samsung display panels for the Galaxy S27 at a $5 difference from Samsung Display.
Industry assumes that Samsung is exploring the possibility of diversifying its OLED supply chain for the flagship models. China’s BOE is the strongest contender, and the standard model may debut a cheaper panel in 2027.
OLED screen is one of the cost-defying components in smartphones. With memory prices continuing to surge, smartphone makers are trying hard to save component costs by other means to stay relevant in the competition.
Reports suggest Apple has already purchased enough memory for future iPhone models. The company buys components at scale and lands deals with supply partners for the long term, giving it an edge in negotiation.
Samsung Electronics has its own subsidiaries, which help it avoid pressure. Meanwhile, the Mobile Division is looking to save some costs. That said, the standard Galaxy S27 may enter the mid-range territory in display reliability.
When it comes to OLED, Samsung Display is an undisputed leader. The company supplies OLED panels to most of its rivals, including Apple. That said, adopting a BOE made display in a flagship would ruin the image.
Samsung’s premium mid-range phone, the Galaxy A57, also features OLED displays from China’s CSOT. While the share of Samsung Display remained high, the supply chain has been diversified by including a Chinese vendor.
The post Samsung may downgrade Galaxy S27 display just to save $5 appeared first on Sammy Fans.
The Realme 16T is the first member of the new 16T series. Realme dubbed it a Portrait Star with an 8,000mAh battery. Need we say more? Alright, we will. Let's unbox the 16T. You can also check out our video on TikTok. The box features all you need - the phone, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a 45W charger, and a case. Let's talk specs. The Realme 16T flaunts a 6.8-inch 1570x720px 144Hz LCD upfront. The fingerprint scanner is moved to the right side of the frame. Ticking inside is the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC with an 8-core CPU and the Mali-G57 MC graphics processor. Our unit has 8...
After an instant heavyweight classic earlier this month, Fabio Wardley will seek to avenge his defeat to Daniel Dubois and recapture the WBO world title. Eddie Hearn, who promoted Wardley earlier in his career, has shared his thoughts on the rematch. Wardley scored two early knockdowns against Dubois in his first defence of the WBO […]
The post Eddie Hearn sums up Fabio Wardley’s chances of winning Daniel Dubois rematch appeared first on Boxing News.
So much has been written about the Sandro Tonali transfer saga since January that it can be hard to keep up, but I’ve done my best to gather the latest information on his future.
As has been widely reported, Tonali sees his future away from Newcastle United this summer, with his agent already fielding interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Having consulted sources with ties to the agents industry, I’m reliably told that initial exploratory talks have been held between Arsenal, Man City, and those close to the player.
Manchester United and Chelsea also have Tonali on their lists for this summer, while I’m also told that Jose Mourinho’s imminent arrival at Real Madrid could see them join the race for the Italy international’s signature.
However, for now the main message is that nothing is advancing with Tonali. This could change, of course, as there’s plenty of interest there, but one issue is that the player’s genuine preference is for a return to Serie A.
“Tonali is on the list of pretty much every top club,” one source explained. “He really wants to go back to Italy, though, so we’ll have to see if any club feel the deal is affordable.”
Despite links with Juventus, I’m not aware of anything concrete happening there at the moment, with Tonali’s high wages a significant issue for Serie A clubs.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
It could be that the 26-year-old will decide he’s willing to take a pay cut to head back to his home country, but for now it’s very hard to make predictions like this, with a move to another Premier League club or a European giant like Real Madrid looking the safer bet.
Obviously the other thing to consider here is that Newcastle sources insist they don’t want to sell Tonali and there are no plans to do so.
But of course we know that football doesn’t always work like that, and that even though the Magpies played hardball over Alexander Isak last summer, he did eventually end up leaving in a mega-money move to Liverpool.
Tonali will not be short of offers to make the step up to playing in the Champions League, so we’ll have to see if anyone can come in with the kind of money to test Newcastle’s resolve.
The post Sources: Sandro Tonali at centre of Arsenal & Man City transfer battle but wildcard options could emerge appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap is reportedly likely to leave the club this summer, with industry insider Mick Brown saying he can’t see him surviving under new manager Xabi Alonso.
The Blues only signed Delap from Ipswich Town last summer, but he’s had a hugely disappointing debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
With just one goal in 27 Premier League games, it’s little surprise that the 23-year-old will likely now be viewed as someone Chelsea are happy to offload.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League scout Mick Brown provided his insight into the situation, saying he could see Delap leaving Chelsea for Everton.
Delap doesn’t look like the right fit for incoming manager Alonso, with Brown admitting he can see that meaning the end of the England Under-21 international’s Stamford Bridge career already.
“Delap’s style suits Everton much more than it does Chelsea,” Brown said.
“I expect when Alonso comes in he will make that same evaluation because he’s not the type of striker who is going to involved with the ball at his feet.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
“If that’s how the new manager wants to play, then I can see him moving on.
“It’s good to have different options in the squad, but Chelsea will want to sign a new striker, and selling Delap would raise money and clear some space.
“If a good offer comes in from Everton or anybody else, I expect Chelsea will be prepared to let him go and then they will shift their focus elsewhere.”
We’ve previously reported on Delap’s Chelsea future, with our information being that he has interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Brighton, and Sunderland.
The Red Devils notably tried hard to sign Delap while he was at Ipswich Town, but Chelsea beat them to the deal at that time.
It perhaps seems surprising that United would still be interested after his struggles in his time in west London, but he remains a highly-regarded young talent in the industry.
For now, however, perhaps a move to a club like Everton seems the more likely scenario for this summer.
The post “When Alonso comes in…” – Chelsea star’s days are numbered, likely transfer destination named by insider appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Chelsea’s youth-focused project has earned them their fair share of criticism in recent times, but could it perhaps help them win the race for Eli Junior Kroupi?
The talented young Frenchman has enjoyed a superb debut season in the Premier League, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in his first season in the competition with 13 goals.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are now set to rival Arsenal for Kroupi by asking to be kept informed on the Bournemouth star’s situation this summer.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Still, the general feeling is that the Cherries don’t want to sell the 19-year-old, so it will be interesting to see how this saga pans out.
We’ve been made aware of Arsenal interest in Kroupi, and one imagines he might find it hard to turn down an approach from the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have just won the Premier League title and are looking forward to a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, so it’s easy to believe Kroupi would view them as a priority.
Still, this is where Chelsea’s project could also help them, as Kroupi could feel confident of being given a key role and plenty of playing time to develop due to the Blues’ philosophy of building around young players.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
This project hasn’t won everyone over yet, as some of Chelsea’s signings have been pretty poor, such as Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap.
But in Kroupi they’d be signing a genuine elite youngster who has already proven himself in the Premier League at a young age. The deal seems perfect for both parties.
Using our Transfer Fit rating system, we’ve scored Kroupi to Chelsea as an 18/25 fit.
| Eli Junior Kroupi | TOTAL SCORE: 18/25 |
| Transfer fee | ** |
| Performance | **** |
| Achievements | *** |
| Career phase | **** |
| Squad need | ***** |
That’s a terrific score, with the player’s likely cost and lack of experience the only real things counting against him.
Chelsea really need an upgrade on their struggling attacking players, and Kroupi could be perfect to make both an instant impact and to potentially solve that position for CFC for many years to come.
Arsenal also need to add something fresh to their front line, though, so this is sure to be one of the most intriguing transfer battles of the summer.
The post Chelsea rival Arsenal for transfer of record-breaking Premier League sensation appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has posted on X to express his disappointment and surprise at not making England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The 33-year-old has been a key player for his country down the years, winning a total of 66 caps between 2017 and 2026, and representing the team at two other World Cups, as well as two European Championships.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Still, it now looks like Maguire will not be involved this summer as BBC Sport have received some leaked information on Thomas Tuchel’s squad ahead of today’s official announcement.
Maguire is not the only big name who’ll be missing out, with the likes of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer also not making it in, but the Man United star has released a statement making it clear how unhappy he is with the decision.
Posting to his official account on X, Maguire said: “I was confident I could of played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.
I was confident I could of played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.
I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years.
I wish the players, all the… pic.twitter.com/9X7asAkCFF
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) May 21, 2026
“I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players, all the best this summer.”
Maguire has had his ups and downs over the years, but this somewhat surprising World Cup snub comes after the player’s return to form for the Red Devils this season.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
The former Leicester City man recently signed a new contract with Man Utd, as confirmed on their official site, having well and truly earned another chance to show how important he can be at Old Trafford.
It will be interesting to see how this summer’s tournament goes for England and if Tuchel ends up living to regret this decision.
While we’re still awaiting the final confirmed squad, BBC Sport have clearly received some information ahead of the announcement.
There are some big calls by Tuchel, and a lot of fans are likely to be left slightly baffled and frustrated by a few of these decisions.
While there’s no room for Maguire, it’s thought that John Stones is likely to be in despite injuries and reduced playing time for Manchester City recently. Jordan Henderson is also expected to keep his place, while Noni Madueke should also be in despite a pretty underwhelming season for Arsenal. Others like Kobbie Mainoo, Dan Burn, Eberechi Eze, and Nico O’Reilly are also likely to be in, while we can of course expect England regulars such as Harry Kane and Declan Rice to be there.
As mentioned, there’s no room for Maguire, Foden, or Palmer. Another Man United player expected to miss out is Luke Shaw, while other high-profile defenders unlikely to make it are Fikayo Tomori and Levi Colwill. Other slightly surprising omissions include in-form midfielders Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
England have been drawn in Group L alongside Ghana, Panama, and Croatia.
The post “Shocked and gutted” – Man United star hits out at England World Cup squad snub appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Uncertainty surrounding the current macro environment “appears to be pushing institutions toward hedging strategies while waiting for greater clarity,” said analyst Darkfost.
"I think Jersey showed in the last tournament in Holland last year that they should be taken seriously," a familiar Jamaican accent says when asked about his side.
Jimmy Adams knows a thing or two about cricket - the former West Indies captain played 54 Test matches, 127 One Day internationals, was head coach at Kent and played in two World Cups - reaching the semi-finals in 1996.
Now the 58-year-old is hoping to return to the game's biggest stage with one of its smallest teams - Jersey.
After losing a coach at short notice last year, former Jersey boss Paul Hutchison opened up his contacts book and asked Adams if he would help out - and he has been an assistant coach with the side ever since.
"For me it was a bit of an education. I hadn't really over the years, paid much attention to associate cricket," Adams told BBC Radio Jersey.
Associate nations - those non-Test-playing sides - make up the bulk of the ICC's international nations, and Jersey are one of Europe's best.
Despite only having a population of about 100,000 they missed out on a place at this year's T20 World Cup on net run rate as Italy went through in the Netherlands, and are one win away from making the final stages of European qualification for the 2028 event in Australia and New Zealand.
"It was it was an eye-opener for me, I didn't know what to expect, and it was really a pleasant surprise on quite a few counts," explains Adams in Cyprus, where Jersey are contesting ICC 2028 T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier A.
"Firstly it's a good bunch of lads that are very talented, also the fact that things are a little bit different at the associate level - it's refreshing to see players who, because of lack of resources, will do it themselves, whatever it is.
"You don't see much of that at a professional level, and that's not a bad thing per se, it's just different, but refreshingly so."
The island side are ranked 30th in the ICC's T20 rankings and beat Scotland last year in the qualifying stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
So far in Cyprus they have brushed aside their group opponents Switzerland, France, Croatia and the hosts - they face Channel Island rivals Guernsey in Saturday's final for the chance to keep the T20 World Cup dream alive.
"We've managed to get some good results up to now," says Adams - who first coached Jersey at last summer's T20 World Cup qualifier in the Netherlands before helping them in their 50-over ICC Challenge League tournament on home soil.
"The lads have played well, I think they've deserved every win," Adams continued.
"Every time they've been asked questions at this level, they've been able to answer positively.
"We've had good batting and bowling performances throughout the group and hopefully they can continue that form and have a good day out on Saturday as well."
For an island with such a small population they are not able to draw on the diaspora of players that other countries can.
Many of their opponents have large numbers of South Asian players in their ranks, while Italy had former Australia international Joe Burns and Emilio Gay - recently called up by England - in their squad last summer thanks to Italian heritage.
But they do have some talent - Jersey-born Wellington all-rounder Nick Greenwood is the only First Class player in their squad in Cyprus, although many of his team-mates play a good standard of club cricket in England.
However the big name that Jersey has produced is Asa Tribe. The Glamorgan and England Lions batter has won 31 caps in all formats for Jersey but is now eligible to play for England having lived in the United Kingdom for three years.
"For a country as small as Jersey with the resources that they have and don't have, relative to the counties, I think it's something Jersey should be proud of," says Adams of Tribe - whose 115 not out against Papua New Guinea in April 2023 is still the highest-ever score by a Jersey player in a formally-recognised One Day International.
"To have produced a player so young and so good I think is exceptional.
"It just goes to show that it really doesn't matter where you are in the world, if you have a young kid who loves it and somebody finds a way and means of supporting him then the sky's the limit.
"I think the whole of Jersey is sort of holding their breath at the minute just to see how far the youngster can go, we all keep our fingers crossed for him."
Adams' career took him all around the world - he scored a career-high 208 not out against New Zealand in a Test in 1995.
But since retiring from cricket in 2004 he has seen the West Indies become a shadow of the side that he played in, and one that dominated the game in the 1970s and 1980s.
They failed to qualify for the past Cricket World Cup and are ranked only above Zimbabwe by the ICC at Test level.
"The game has changed, the world has changed and things change," says Adams on the state of the game in the Caribbean.
"Before me, Hungary was a world football superpower and Hungary isn't that anymore, but football still continues to excite and people enjoy it and so on, and cricket won't be any different.
"If you want to be nostalgic you can say 'yes it's been a bit sad watching it', but the excitement of where world cricket has gone since then, that carries far more weight with me watching how the game has transformed itself through T20 cricket.
"Watching international cricket now, even Test cricket, is so much different than Test cricket in my time and I think that's that's something to be celebrated.
"Yes, when I sit down with old geezers my age we reminisce a little bit, but for me there are no tears shed."
So what about a World Cup return with Jersey, either at T20, or less likely 50-over level?
"I wouldn't rule it out," he says.
"I think the way that world cricket is encouraging associate cricket at the minute leaves the door open.
"Fingers crossed, you just never know."
Joscelyn Roberson has finally found her new home in Georgia after several trials and errors, two trips away from her own home, and a dose of injury and heartbreak. Roberson had previously traveled elsewhere to find the perfect setting to amplify her profile, but has now found the calling from the GymDogs’ locker room to chase the ultimate 2028 L.A. Olympics dream. Her entry to Georgia has been welcomed wholeheartedly by former Georgian Simone Biles and by the Landi couple.
Roberson has made a name for herself in the realm of artistic gymnastics and has secured multiple accolades at a very young age, which has already skyrocketed her profile to great heights. Since leaving Arkansas, Roberson embarked on three official trips to find the perfect space that would help her continue her dual-track career. Her first stop was at Gainesville, where she took a sneak peek at the Gators’ backyard, followed by a second trip to the turf of the UCLA Bruins.
After the two visits, Roberson made a third visit to Athens to see what they have in store. The visit successfully achieved its purpose, as Roberson took to her social media a few hours ago and made the official announcement of joining hands with the GymDogs, where she will continue her student-athlete journey.
Joining hands with Georgia has coincidentally rekindled a reunion between Roberson and the Landi couples. Cécile Canqueteau-Landi is currently the head coach of Georgia gymnastics, and her husband, Laurent Landi, recently joined as an associate head coach. The Landis had previously trained Roberson, which helped the 20-year-old achieve great feats.
Reacting to the news was the former WCC training partner and the most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, who reacted to the post, writing:
the gang is back together again🥹❤️
To which Roberson replied:
@simonebiles 🥹🤍
The Landis ‘ daughter, Juliette Landi, also shared her excitement in seeing Roberson in the GymDogs attire, writing:
GOSH I AM SO EXCITED
Alongside the announcement, Roberson posted a series of pictures where she beamed in the Georgian attire, posing with the Landi couple, while holding a sign that proudly declared, “The Gang’s All Here! GO DAWGS.” She also posed alongside other team staff members while proudly holding the Georgia placard aloft, all the while being showered with confetti.
Choosing between universities was a task in itself; however, Joscelyn Roberson took no time in declaring how comforting and fulfilling it felt to have joined hands with the GymDogs. As she declared her transfer news, Roberson wrote in her social media post:
“The minute I stepped on campus at UGA it just felt like home. I know it’s cliche but the relaxing comfort and happiness I felt while I was there was unlike anything else!!”
With this new partnership, the gymnastics community is bracing for a massive change, the effects of which are expected to be felt all the way from the floor of UGA to the international stage.
Read more:
UCLA Bruins Turn Heads at the Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, With Jordan Chiles Voted Best Dressed
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball,tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
Arizona Wildcats standouts Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, along with North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Wilson, all share the same sentiment when they are looking at what NBA team to play for. All three players are said to be chosen in this year’s NBA Draft after they had stellar college basketball tenures.
Despite all of them just playing one year in their respective programs, they have elevated their draft stock tremendously. In an interview with renowned sports agent Rich Paul on the Game Over podcast, Burries, Peat, and Wilson were all asked what matters to them more for the team that selects them: the fit or the pick.
For all three, fit was the shared answer they had, but for varying reasons. Burries and Wilson prefer a team that allows them to be the best version of themselves, while Peat would opt for a situation where he can help the team’s best player.
“ For me, it’s the fit. It don’t matter where I go. As long as, like, the coach trusts me, let me go out there and just try to just be me and play hard,” Burries said with Wilson agreeing, sharing, “For me, it’s all fit. I mean, shoot, I’ll go 50 if the team fit me, man. That’s really all I care about.” (0:06)
Peat had the same answer as his counterparts, but explained more in detail, saying, “Yeah, I think it’s fit, for sure, and knowing your role. Like, you getting picked by these teams, you know, they probably already have their best player. So I’m trying to go into it and make the best player better, and always also have the coach like you. I feel like those are two that you need to be able to like you.”
Burries, Peat, and Wilson are all looking forward to June 23 – 24, which is when the 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled. Burries and Peat are coming off the 2025-26 college basketball season, where they helped coach Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Wilson’s stellar freshman stint was unfortunately cut short due to a fractured left hand after he led the team in scoring when he played.
In its latest mock draft on May 19, ESPN projected that Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Caleb Willson will all be picked in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft.
Wilson is slated to be the highest pick, going fourth to the Chicago Bulls. Burries is then expected to be chosen by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th pick, while his teammate, Koa Peat, will be selected with the 27th pick by the Boston Celtics.
Also Read:
NBA Draft Rumors: Executives Want Koa Peat to Make Shocking U-Turn And Return to College
Arizona Face Yet Another Setback as Koa Peat’s Availability Becomes Clear for Baylor Clash
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
One game from history.
Ulster's entire season will come down to the biggest 80 minutes of their campaign when they take on Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.
After the final there are no play-offs to look forward to and no second chances.
It's win in Bilbao or bust for their campaign.
Richie Murphy's young side had to watch in despair as they slipped out of the play-off places in the United Rugby Championship for the second year in a row.
That meant they missed out on automatic qualification for the Champions Cup next year.
But they have a chance to immediately bounce back in the biggest game for the Irish province in 14 years - since Leinster beat them in a Champions Cup decider.
Not only would victory end Ulster's 20-year silverware drought, but it would also earn qualification to Europe's top tier for next season.
There's a lot on the line, but Ulster have full belief that they can shock the Top 14 side.
"We've come this far and I think we are a good enough team," said Nick Timoney, who added that it will be an "unbelievable honour" to captain the side in the absence of the suspended Iain Henderson.
"We're not just here to go out and give it a crack, we're in a place as a team where we want to go and win."
In the beautiful Basque city of Bilbao, in the north of Spain and which is hosting European rugby finals for the second time, Ulster got their first taste of the San Mames Stadium in the captain's run on Thursday.
It is a huge occasion, but the session was full of smiles and laughter, rather than any visible nerves.
Ulster may be missing key players, such as Henderson and the injured trio of Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring, and only 23 players will take to the pitch on Friday.
But there was unity as the wider group took part in the captain's run, with players playing football as well as warming up with a rugby ball.
There were no signs of lingering disappointment from Friday's late defeat by Glasgow Warriors, which ultimately led to them missing out on the top eight in the URC.
"It's a week that's not difficult to get up for," said hooker Tom Stewart.
"We've all said it, being in a cup final doesn't come around too often. It has been a special time for the boys.
"It has been special to get behind Nick and watch how he has taken the team, and watch boys grow into the opportunity that is in front of them."
With temperatures set to be 27 degrees at kick-off, Ulster will have to weather the elements as well as their opponents.
The San Mames Stadium is the home of Spanish La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, who have had a recent resurgence with silverware in recent years.
While the 1999 European Cup is the biggest honour in their history, Ulster's last trophy came in 2006 when they won the Celtic League and it has been a long wait for players and supporters alike.
"Just embrace it and love it. They are unbelievably special occasions," Timoney said on his advice to younger players.
"I've been around long enough to know that these days are rare at best, so you just have to love every second of it.
"Hopefully we have a great day and we can kick on, and use it as a platform to launch ourselves on to bigger and better things.
"It has been a long wait, and for our fans and players, we owe it to ourselves to give it everything."
Stewart echoed Timoney's thoughts. At 25 he is still in the early years of his career but he has emerged as a young leader of the team.
"Everyone thinks, and hopes, these opportunities are going to come around all the time, but they don't.
"It's special and it's not something we take lightly or take for granted. It's one we are really going to relish."
While Ulster are present in Bilbao, Stewart's heart is still in Belfast as he thinks of the pictures and history on the walls of the Affidea Stadium.
As someone who was just five when Ulster last lifted silverware, he came to Ravenhill as a child with dreams of the very moment he will have on Friday.
In short, "it means more for an Ulster team".
"Unfortunately there hasn't been lots of it [silverware] so we really do put all of our eggs in one basket when it comes to it. It would be nice to be part of history that way.
"Growing up it has been my home club. I wanted to play here and you can only dream of being in a final.
"For it to be in front of our faces, and for us to put our own stamp on Ulster, it would be incredibly special."
SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
(Games at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
Semifinals
DIVISION 1
La Habra at Etiwanda
JSerra at Norco
DIVISION 2
Whittier Christian at St. Paul
San Clemente at Mater Dei
DIVISION 3
North Torrance at Great Oak
Riverside Prep at Dos Pueblos
DIVISION 4
Oxnard at Monrovia
Burbank Burroughs at Mission Viejo
DIVISION 5
Patriot at Grace
Covina at Northwood
DIVISION 6
Granite Hills at Irvine
Hesperia Christian at Arroyo
DIVISION 7
Ramona Convent at Faith Baptist
Cathedral City at Edgewood
DIVISION 8
San Bernardino at Workman
Capistrano Valley Christian at Arroyo Valley
Note: Finals May 28-30 at Bill Barber Memorial Park, Irvine.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Montreal Canadiens finally cracked the NHL playoff armor of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, and coach Rod Brind’Amour did not hide from the reality of it.
Montreal stormed into Lenovo Center and delivered a 6-2 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, ending Carolina’s perfect 8-0 postseason run and exposing a team that looked unprepared from the opening shift.
Carolina actually scored first through Seth Jarvis just 33 seconds into the game. From there, everything unraveled. Montreal answered with four goals in the opening 11:32, the fastest four-goal stretch to start a road playoff game in franchise history. Cole Caufield, Phillip Danault, Alexandre Texier and Ivan Demidov cut through Carolina’s defensive structure with alarming ease.
MORE: Wayne Gretzky calls Sidney Crosby NHL’s Tom Brady, LeBron James
Brind’Amour pointed directly at his group afterward.
“Obviously, it was not our best,” Brind’Amour said. “They made some nice plays. You give them credit, they finished. They made plays. But I didn’t think we were very sharp, to put it bluntly. Our top guys had a tough night, and that’s not gonna work this time of the year.
“So chalk it up. I think we just tossed this game, to be honest. I hate that this time of year, that’s what we gotta do. But there wasn’t much to really grab onto there. And I think you get behind early like that, it’s tough. But we clearly were not ready for that pace.”
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) skates after the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game one of the Eastern Conferene Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
That assessment was accurate. Carolina’s identity under Brind’Amour depends on pressure, structure and clean puck support. None of it showed up consistently. Montreal beat the Hurricanes’ aggressive forecheck with quick exits and direct transition play, creating breakaways and odd-man chances against Frederik Andersen.
The rust discussion will dominate headlines because Carolina entered the series after an 11-day layoff, the longest between-round break in modern NHL playoff history. Brind’Amour refused to fully lean on that excuse, but he admitted the pace caught his team off guard.
“I’m not gonna give the layoff as an excuse, but we weren’t ready to play playoff hockey, and that caught us,” Brind’Amour said.
MORE: Canadiens’ dramatic Game 7 win leads to tear gas, fireworks, and chaos in Montreal
For Hurricanes, the concern is not only the loss. It is how badly Carolina’s defensive habits collapsed. The Hurricanes built their postseason success on layered coverage and limiting rush chances. Against Montreal, blown assignments and poor reads appeared almost immediately.
“We weren’t mentally ready to play at the level that we had been playing,” Brind’Amour said. “And everything was just a little off, and they’re a very, very talented team. Obviously, some of them were just blown coverages that I don’t know what we were thinking.
“But yeah, that’s a tough game because we’re out of it 10 minutes in, or down three or whatever. That’s a tough hill to climb against a good team.”
Meanwhile, Montreal looked battle-tested after surviving consecutive Game 7 wins. Nick Suzuki drove play with three assists, while Jakub Dobes calmly stopped 25 shots. The Canadiens carried momentum into the series, while Carolina looked disconnected.
MORE: Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon assigns blame after Game 1 loss to Vegas
Game 2 now becomes critical for a Hurricanes team carrying a troubling 1-13 record in conference final games under Brind’Amour.
After years of rumors and speculation, former two-division champion Conor McGregor will return to the octagon in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 against former BMF titleholder Max Holloway.
It’ll have been five years since McGregor last fought when he makes the walk to the cage inside T-Mobile Arena to face Holloway in a rematch during the fight promotion’s annual International Fight Week.
McGregor and Holloway first fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. The bout took place on the preliminary fight card and in the featherweight division. The Irishman defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a fight that he tore his ACL and relied on grappling. The rematch will take place in the welterweight division and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman believes McGregor only has one chance to defeat the Hawaiian.
"I'm excited (for McGregor's return). There's a lot of unanswered questions, you know, on how he's going to look on his comeback," Weidman said on Deep Waters. "Max has been so active. Obviously, he lost to [Charles] Oliveira in his last fight, but before that, I mean, he's been looking great. And he's not going to have to worry about the wrestling and jiu-jitsu, obviously, of Conor McGregor.
"And Max just gets better as the fight goes on. Conor slows down to begin with, and this is five years off. It's just a big uphill."
In his assessment of how the fight may play out, Weidman gave McGregor a 'puncher's chance' to emerge victorious.
"I think all of us are probably going to be on the same page where like the only chance Conor really has is to knock out Max. And probably in the first or second round," Weidman said. "He's also going against one of the biggest volume punchers we've ever seen. So, he's not coming back in against a guy who's going to have an easy pace to deal with. Max just keeps coming."
New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -2.5; over/under is 213.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Knicks lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 109-93 on Friday, led by 26 points from Josh Hart. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26.
The Cavaliers are 33-19 in conference games. Cleveland is eighth in the league with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.0.
The Knicks are 35-17 in conference games. New York is fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.5 points per game and is shooting 47.8%.
The 119.5 points per game the Cavaliers average are 9.4 more points than the Knicks allow (110.1). The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 1.1 more than the 115.4 the Cavaliers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Evan Mobley is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 9.0 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 27.4 points and 5.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 107.3 points, 41.7 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points per game.
Knicks: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 44.2 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: None listed.
Knicks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Sparks (2-3, 1-1 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (4-1, 1-1 Western Conference)
Las Vegas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas Aces hosts the Los Angeles Sparks after Chelsea Gray scored 21 points in the Las Vegas Aces' 85-84 win against the Atlanta Dream.
Las Vegas finished 30-14 overall and 16-8 in Western Conference action last season. The Aces allowed opponents to score 80.7 points per game and shoot 43.6% from the field last season.
Los Angeles went 21-23 overall last season while going 10-14 in Western Conference play. The Sparks averaged 85.7 points per game last season, 15.7 from the free-throw line and 25.8 from 3-point range.
INJURIES: Aces: Dana Evans: out (leg).
Sparks: Sania Feagin: out (leg).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Portland Fire (2-3) at Toronto Tempo (3-3, 0-1 Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Toronto Tempo plays the Portland Fire after Kia Nurse scored 23 points in the Toronto Tempo's 100-72 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Toronto takes the court for the seventh game in franchise history. The Tempo fell to the Minnesota Lynx 100-72 in their most recent game.
Portland takes the court for the sixth game in franchise history. The Fire fell to the Indiana Fever 90-73 in their most recent game.
INJURIES: Tempo: None listed.
Fire: Karlie Samuelson: out (foot), Teja Oblak: out (quadriceps).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Lynx (3-2, 2-0 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (3-2)
Chicago; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago Sky hosts the Minnesota Lynx after Kamilla Cardoso scored 24 points in the Chicago Sky's 99-89 loss to the Dallas Wings.
Chicago finished 10-34 overall with a 6-16 record at home during the 2025-26 season. The Sky shot 42.5% from the field and 33.0% from 3-point range last season.
Minnesota went 34-10 overall a season ago while going 14-8 on the road. The Lynx averaged 86.1 points per game last season, 12.2 on free throws and 28.8 from deep.
INJURIES: Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out (knee), Rickea Jackson: out for season (knee), DiJonai Carrington: out (foot).
Lynx: Napheesa Collier: out (ankle), Emma Cechova: out for season (knee), Dorka Juhasz: out (foot).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Golden State Valkyries (3-1, 2-0 Western Conference) at Indiana Fever (3-2, 0-1 Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Fever -7.5; over/under is 168.5
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana Fever hosts the Golden State Valkyries after Aliyah Boston scored 24 points in the Indiana Fever's 90-73 win over the Portland Fire.
Indiana went 13-9 at home last season while going 24-20 overall. The Fever averaged 84.9 points per game last season, 13.8 on free throws and 24.9 from 3-point range.
Golden State finished 9-13 on the road and 23-21 overall a season ago. The Valkyries averaged 77.7 points per game last season, 15.0 from the free-throw line and 29.1 from beyond the arc.
INJURIES: Fever: Caitlin Clark: day to day (back).
Valkyries: Cecilia Zandalasini: out (concussion), Iliana Rupert: out (pregnancy), Juste Jocyte: out (reconditioning).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Katherine Legge is in the Indianapolis 500 for the third consecutive year and fifth time overall, qualifying 26th in the No. 11 A.J. Foyt Racing/HMD Motorsports Chevrolet. Her best finish is 22nd in her rookie year of 2012.
She is also the first woman to attempt the "Double," racing in the Indy 500 and NASCAR Cup's Coke 600 on the same day.
Nine women have raced in the Indy 500, and another has practiced but didn't make the race (Desire Wilson). Janet Guthrie broke the gender barrier in 1977. Danica Patrick is the most-accomplished woman on the oval, finishing 3rd in 2009 and finishing in the top 10 on five other occasions. Sarah Fisher has the most Indy 500 starts by a woman with nine.
| Driver | Starts (years) | Best (year) |
| Janet Guthrie | 3 (1977-79) | 9 ('78) |
| Lyn St. James | 4 (1992-95) | 11 ('92) |
| Sarah Fisher | 9 (2000-04, '07-10) | 17 ('09) |
| Danica Patrick | 8 (2005-11, '18) | 3 ('09) |
| Milka Duno | 3 (2007-09) | 19 ('08) |
| Ana Beatriz | 4 (2010-13) | 15 ('13) |
| Simona de Silvestro | 6 (2010-13, '15, '21) | 14 ('10) |
| Pippa Mann | 7 (2011, '13-17, '19) | 16 ('19) |
| Katherine Legge | 4 (2012-13, '23-24) | 22 ('12) |
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 2026: 9 women have raced on Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval
© <p>Travel + Leisure</p>
Samsung Electronics will distribute 40 trillion won, roughly $26.6 billion, as a chip bonus to employees in its semiconductor division.
The company reached a last-minute agreement with its South Korean workers’ union yesterday, and the numbers are genuinely staggering. Average payout per worker: 513 million won, or about $339,000, with some estimating closer to $396,000.
Under the tentative terms, Samsung will hand over 10.5% of profits as stock bonuses, plus 1.5% in cash. The union had originally demanded 15%, close enough, as the deal narrowly killed a strike that had been scheduled to begin May 21.
The program runs for ten years, provided Samsung hits specified profit targets. Employees can sell a third of their shares immediately, with the rest distributed in installments over two years.
Samsung didn’t exactly invent this playbook. SK Hynix cut a similar deal last September, committing 10% of annual operating profit directly to employees for the next decade, with no bonus caps.
Bloomberg projects Samsung’s 2026 operating profits will multiply sevenfold to 330 trillion won, around $218 billion. The bonuses are extraordinary by any corporate standard.
Samsung’s chip workers aren’t just assembling components. They’re assembling the infrastructure layer of a technological shift that’s minting money faster than anyone projected.
The post Samsung employees to receive massive $340k chip bonus each appeared first on Sammy Fans.
One UI 8.5 rollout is in full swing, but Samsung is also expanding its May 2026 security update to Galaxy devices, with the S25 FE, A56, Fold 4, and more joining the party in the latest wave.
Over the past two days, Samsung has rolled out the One UI 8.5-based May 2026 security update to the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy A56. The update had also arrived for the Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, A26, A73, and M53 smartphones.
In addition, several flagship, mid-range, and budget phones have also received the latest patches. The list includes, but is not limited to, the Galaxy S26 series, S25 series, S23 series, A33, A53, A54, A55 and A57 smartphones.
The May 2026 update has 10 One UI-specific fixes for Samsung devices. These improvements come alongside the Android CVEs, which could 29 this month.
Here are the build versions:
As always, Samsung is rolling out these updates sequentially. Don’t panic if your device doesn’t show up in this release in the updates section. You have to wait a little longer as the software expansion takes some time.
Security patches are routine updates, and they don’t always carry new features. Still, you should install the latest update for your device’s security. To check for updates, navigate to Settings, followed by Software update > Download and install.
The post Galaxy S25 FE, A56, Fold 4 and more grab May 2026 update appeared first on Sammy Fans.
The Kaiyi KY7 is up to #7 in Panama in April.
5,312 new light vehicles hit Panama’s roads in April, a +4.1% year-on-year improvement. The year-to-date tally after four months is up 14% to 21,717. Toyota (-13.3%) remains by far the best-selling carmaker in the country despite a hefty year-on-year loss leading it to 14.7% share vs. 18.4% so far this year. Hyundai (+3.3%) almost matches the market above Kia (-0.2%) and Suzuki (-3.8%) both down. Geely (+0.8%) is stable and rounds out the Top 5. Spectacular gainers include Kaiyi (+111.3%), Changan (+56.8%), Dongfeng (+56.4%) and Ford (+47.4%).
Model-wise, the Hyundai Grand i10 (+19.8%) threepeats at #1 but it’s not enough to topples the Toyota Hilux (-33.2%), down to #5 this month, in the YTD oder. The Kia Soluto (+25.7%) also shines at #2 while the Mitsubishi L200 soars six spots on March to #4. The Kaiyi KY7 lodges its first Top 10 finish since last October at #7.
Previous month: Panama March 2026: Market surges 42.5%, Jetour, Changan, Isuzu shine
Previous year: Panama Full Year 2025: Toyota Hilux signs 5th straight win
Full April 2026 Top 67 All brands and Top 10 models below.
Panama April 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Apr-26 | % | /25 | Mar | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Toyota | 780 | 14.7% | – 13.3% | 1 | 3,993 | 18.4% | – 2.3% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Hyundai | 590 | 11.1% | + 3.3% | 2 | 2,691 | 12.4% | + 16.1% | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Kia | 584 | 11.0% | – 0.2% | 3 | 2,604 | 12.0% | + 1.5% | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Suzuki | 278 | 5.2% | – 3.8% | 4 | 1,078 | 5.0% | + 11.8% | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Geely | 263 | 5.0% | + 0.8% | 6 | 1,067 | 4.9% | + 10.1% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Changan | 243 | 4.6% | + 56.8% | 8 | 780 | 3.6% | + 42.9% | 7 | 9 |
| 7 | Mitsubishi | 228 | 4.3% | + 5.1% | 7 | 759 | 3.5% | + 19.9% | 8 | 6 |
| 8 | Jetour | 192 | 3.6% | + 12.3% | 5 | 939 | 4.3% | + 51.7% | 6 | 8 |
| 9 | Nissan | 179 | 3.4% | – 17.1% | 10 | 566 | 2.6% | – 18.3% | 10 | 7 |
| 10 | Kaiyi | 169 | 3.2% | + 111.3% | 13 | 505 | 2.3% | + 134.9% | 11 | 16 |
| 11 | Ford | 168 | 3.2% | + 47.4% | 14 | 479 | 2.2% | + 5.7% | 12 | 11 |
| 12 | Isuzu | 145 | 2.7% | – 4.6% | 9 | 591 | 2.7% | + 31.0% | 9 | 10 |
| 13 | Dongfeng | 122 | 2.3% | + 56.4% | 16 | 462 | 2.1% | + 109.0% | 14 | 18 |
| 14 | Mazda | 115 | 2.2% | – 17.9% | 11 | 465 | 2.1% | + 6.9% | 13 | 12 |
| 15 | Forthing | 99 | 1.9% | – 25.0% | 17 | 329 | 1.5% | – 20.3% | 17 | 13 |
| 16 | GAC Motors | 98 | 1.8% | – 20.3% | 12 | 417 | 1.9% | + 19.8% | 15 | 14 |
| 17 | Chevrolet | 84 | 1.6% | – 7.7% | 22 | 261 | 1.2% | + 26.7% | 20 | 19 |
| 18 | Honda | 79 | 1.5% | – 26.2% | 18 | 306 | 1.4% | – 21.5% | 18 | 15 |
| 19 | Chery | 77 | 1.4% | – 14.4% | 15 | 412 | 1.9% | + 39.7% | 16 | 17 |
| 20 | BYD | 68 | 1.3% | + 142.9% | 25 | 190 | 0.9% | + 38.7% | 24 | 22 |
| 21 | Jaecoo | 67 | 1.3% | + 2133.3% | 21 | 278 | 1.3% | + 612.8% | 19 | 24 |
| 22 | BMW | 55 | 1.0% | + 57.1% | 20 | 205 | 0.9% | + 45.4% | 23 | 20 |
| 23 | Lexus | 51 | 1.0% | + 50.0% | 24 | 207 | 1.0% | + 55.6% | 22 | 21 |
| 24 | Soueast | 45 | 0.8% | new | 19 | 241 | 1.1% | new | 21 | 29 |
| 25 | GWM | 41 | 0.8% | + 13.9% | 26 | 176 | 0.8% | + 40.8% | 25 | 23 |
| 26 | Mercedes | 31 | 0.6% | + 14.8% | 33 | 80 | 0.4% | – 12.1% | 30 | 31 |
| 27 | Audi | 30 | 0.6% | + 57.9% | 27 | 123 | 0.6% | + 51.9% | 27 | 32 |
| 28 | JAC | 30 | 0.6% | + 30.4% | 23 | 130 | 0.6% | + 136.4% | 26 | 34 |
| 29 | MG | 28 | 0.5% | + 16.7% | 34 | 82 | 0.4% | + 39.0% | 29 | 25 |
| 30 | Karry | 27 | 0.5% | + 107.7% | 29 | 63 | 0.3% | + 65.8% | 36 | 42 |
| 31 | Maxus | 27 | 0.5% | + 125.0% | 32 | 62 | 0.3% | + 19.2% | 37 | 35 |
| 32 | Foton | 25 | 0.5% | – 10.7% | 28 | 105 | 0.5% | + 72.1% | 28 | 33 |
| 33 | JMC | 22 | 0.4% | + 4.8% | 35 | 67 | 0.3% | + 9.8% | 33 | 26 |
| 34 | 212 | 20 | 0.4% | new | 45 | 37 | 0.2% | new | 42 | 50 |
| 35 | Volkswagen | 20 | 0.4% | – 20.0% | 30 | 76 | 0.3% | – 37.2% | 31 | 28 |
| 36 | Lynk & Co | 17 | 0.3% | + 240.0% | 36 | 73 | 0.3% | + 563.6% | 32 | 44 |
| 37 | Ram | 16 | 0.3% | – 5.9% | 38 | 50 | 0.2% | – 3.8% | 38 | 36 |
| 38 | Renault | 16 | 0.3% | + 700.0% | 42 | 40 | 0.2% | + 1900.0% | 41 | 61 |
| 39 | Subaru | 15 | 0.3% | – 57.1% | 31 | 67 | 0.3% | – 40.7% | 34 | 27 |
| 40 | Land Rover | 14 | 0.3% | + 16.7% | 43 | 42 | 0.2% | – 19.2% | 40 | 37 |
| 41 | Omoda | 11 | 0.2% | – 45.0% | 37 | 64 | 0.3% | – 31.2% | 35 | 30 |
| 42 | Porsche | 9 | 0.2% | – 25.0% | 39 | 46 | 0.2% | – 19.3% | 39 | 39 |
| 43 | Mini | 8 | 0.2% | + 14.3% | 40 | 31 | 0.1% | + 10.7% | 43 | 45 |
| 44 | Acura | 7 | 0.1% | – 56.3% | 48 | 26 | 0.1% | – 48.0% | 45 | 40 |
| 45 | Jeep | 6 | 0.1% | – 45.5% | 41 | 27 | 0.1% | – 18.2% | 44 | 43 |
| 46 | ZX Auto | 5 | 0.1% | + 0.0% | 53 | 12 | 0.1% | + 71.4% | 53 | 54 |
| 47 | BAIC | 4 | 0.1% | n/a | 46 | 17 | 0.1% | n/a | 48 | 69 |
| 48 | Bestune | 4 | 0.1% | – 77.8% | 50 | 20 | 0.1% | – 66.1% | 46 | 41 |
| 49 | Farizon | 4 | 0.1% | n/a | 54 | 13 | 0.1% | + 550.0% | 50 | 65 |
| 50 | JIM | 4 | 0.1% | new | 57 | 11 | 0.1% | new | 54 | 66 |
| 51 | AITO | 3 | 0.1% | new | 49 | 9 | 0.0% | new | 57 | 73 |
| 52 | Fiat | 3 | 0.1% | – 25.0% | 55 | 13 | 0.1% | – 43.5% | 51 | 47 |
| 53 | Infiniti | 3 | 0.1% | + 200.0% | 56 | 12 | 0.1% | – 45.5% | 52 | 48 |
| 54 | Rox | 3 | 0.1% | new | 52 | 9 | 0.0% | new | 58 | – |
| 55 | Tesla | 3 | 0.1% | – 70.0% | 64 | 4 | 0.0% | – 71.4% | 63 | 53 |
| 56 | Zeekr | 3 | 0.1% | new | 67 | 4 | 0.0% | new | 65 | – |
| 57 | Lincoln | 2 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 6 | 0.0% | – 53.8% | 61 | 51 |
| 58 | Shineray | 2 | 0.0% | – 60.0% | 44 | 15 | 0.1% | + 114.3% | 49 | 57 |
| 59 | Venucia | 2 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 3 | 0.0% | – 25.0% | 67 | 59 |
| 60 | Volvo | 2 | 0.0% | – 90.9% | 47 | 19 | 0.1% | – 73.2% | 47 | 38 |
| 61 | Xpeng | 2 | 0.0% | n/a | 66 | 4 | 0.0% | + 33.3% | 64 | 64 |
| 62 | Ferrari | 1 | 0.0% | n/a | – | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 75 | – |
| 63 | GMC | 1 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | – | 1 | 0.0% | – 75.0% | 76 | 60 |
| 64 | IM | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 2 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | 71 | 62 |
| 65 | Lotus | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 3 | 0.0% | – 25.0% | 66 | 67 |
| 66 | VGV | 1 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | – | 3 | 0.0% | – 25.0% | 68 | 58 |
| 67 | Xiaomi | 1 | 0.0% | new | 51 | 10 | 0.0% | new | 56 | 72 |
Panama April 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Apr-26 | % | /25 | Mar | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 290 | 5.5% | + 19.8% | 1 | 1,157 | 5.3% | + 32.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Kia Soluto | 225 | 4.2% | + 25.7% | 2 | 1,035 | 4.8% | + 26.8% | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 188 | 3.5% | – 19.7% | 4 | 862 | 4.0% | – 0.8% | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Mitsubishi L200 | 171 | 3.2% | n/a | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 13 |
| 5 | Toyota Hilux | 169 | 3.2% | – 33.2% | 3 | 1,253 | 5.8% | + 14.8% | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Isuzu D-Max | 100 | 1.9% | n/a | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 10 |
| 7 | Kaiyi KY7 | 99 | 1.9% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 8 | Kia Picanto | 98 | 1.8% | – 3.9% | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 5 |
| 9 | Mazda CX-5 | 89 | 1.7% | – 2.2% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 16 |
| 10 | Hyundai Creta | 82 | 1.5% | n/a | 5 | 482 | 2.2% | n/a | n/a | 6 |
Source: ADAP
Portuqaliyalı mütəxəssis Jorje Jezuş “Əl Nəsr”dən ayrılacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə o, çempionluqlarını elan etdikləri “Əl Damak”la matçdan sonra yerli mətbuata açıqlamasında bildirib. Jezuş gələn ay klubla yollarını ayıracağını bildirib.
71 yaşlı mütəxəssisin “Fənərbağça”ya təyinatı gözlənilir.
CertiK reported earlier this month that criminal wrench attack teams usually consist of three to five people and are often made up of amateurs, while the masterminds are outside the country.
Under the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, Bitcoin must be held for a minimum of 20 years unless used to slash national debt.
Fantasy.top, Everclear and ZERO Network announced they were winding down on Thursday, adding to a growing list of crypto companies that have closed this year.
WWE star Ludwig Kaiser has been accused of physically attacking a Florida resident who complained about the athlete allegedly kissing his female companion in an “aggressive” manner on an elevator.
The 35-year-old German pro wrestler, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge on Wednesday, May 20, Fox News reported Thursday, May 21, citing an arrest affidavit also obtained by PEOPLE.
PEOPLE reached out to the Orlando Police Department, but did not immediately receive a response.
The alleged incident took place in April at an apartment complex in Lake Eola when a male, whose identity has not been publicly released, entered an elevator with Barthel, who was with a woman, and observed the couple being “uncontrollably intimate” and "aggressively kissing," the arrest affidavit said.
As the individual exited, he asked the athlete and his companion to “please have some manners,” which allegedly led to Barthel striking the man, the individual told police.
The victim alleged he was hit and pushed until he was on the ground. When authorities arrived, they observed marks consistent with the physical attack claims, as well as surveillance footage matching the alleged victim’s version of events, per the arrest affidavit.
Barthel, who is also known as “El Grande Americano” in the ring, was booked into the Orange County Jail after turning himself in on May 20 and has since been released on $1,000 bond.
An attorney for Barthel did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
After news of his arrest broke on Thursday, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide announced changes in their upcoming events lineup involving Barthel.
“The ‘Serenata for El Grande Americano’ event scheduled for tonight in Mexico City has been canceled. We appreciate your understanding,” the organization said in a statement posted to their Instagram Stories.
PEOPLE reached out to WWE for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Read the original article on People
Nneka Ogwumike continues to etch her name into the WNBA history books as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Ogwumike returned to the Sparks this season after spending the past two seasons with the Seattle Storm. She spent the first 12 years of her career with Los Angeles, winning the Rookie of the Year in 2012 and MVP honors during the 2016 season.
Ogwumike scored 12 points in the Sparks' 97-88 victory over the Phoenix Mercury to move into fifth place on the league’s all-time scoring list with 7,383.
She entered Thursday’s game against the Mercury with 7,371 and needed 10 points to pass Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings' 7,380 career points.
Ogwumike made a 15-foot jumper, following an assist from Jihyun Park, with 4:11 left in the second quarter to reach 10 total points in the first half.
She will now chase Hall of Famer Tina Thompson, who finished her WNBA career in 2013 with 7,488 points.
After Thompson, Ogwumike will still have to chase three other players, including DeWanna Bonner, who is the only other active player on the list.
Bonner, who plays for the Mercury, also played in Thursday's game between Los Angeles and Phoenix.
She is third on the list and entered the game with 7,862 points. Bonner finished the game with nine points.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike now fifth on WNBA's all-time scoring list
WILLARD — When Lexington and Ontario square off on the softball diamond, the last one standing is going to have some bumps and bruises.
May 21’s Division III district semifinal game was proof of that as the Warriors came away with a hard fought 11-9 win over Lady Lex to advance into the district championship game at noon on May 23 at Oregon Clay against Maumee.
ALL-DISTRICT 9: Lexington's Davis, Galion's Fagan highlight All-District 9 baseball honors
After Lexington started the game with three runs in the top of the first, Ontario responded with five runs of their own. Lexington came right back with three in the second before Ontario tacked on one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings as the two teams traded haymakers early and often.
“No one will lay down in this rivalry,” Ontario coach Jamie Burke said. “We knew in the sixth inning that two wouldn’t be enough to bring this thing home and it wasn’t. We had a great inning that gave us a comfortable enough lead to win this thing.”
Leading 7-6 heading into the bottom of the fourth the Warriors needed some insurance runs and got them in a big way. Ellie Dawson slugged a solo home run, her 13th homer of the season tying the program’s single-season record in the process. Then, Brinlee Kreger added an RBI single before Sophie Schuster launched a towering two-run home run to left to give the Warriors four huge insurance runs.
“We had our opportunities,” Lexington coach Joe Thornton said. “A couple of errors, some mistakes, in the end, that was the difference.
“We had a little trouble hitting our spots and the strike zone was a little tight. But that is a great hitting team that set their program’s home run record, so we expected them to come in and put up some runs. We tried to keep the ball down, but they waited and hit their pitches.”
Lexington wasn’t about to let things go that easily. Lady Lex scored three runs in the top of the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate before Schuster buckled down with a huge strikeout to end the threat and the game.
“They never gave up,” Thornton said. “I have to give them credit. We were down five going into the seventh and put up three runs and had the go-ahead run a the plate. It speaks a lot about how proud I am of these girls.”
The Warriors collected 16 hits for the game. Kreger and Brylie Ireland had four hits apiece while Lillian Gray and Kylie Corwin had two apiece and Saylor Smith, Dawson, Morgan Pearson and Schuster had one apiece. Schuster collected three RBIs while Gray, Kreger and Ireland had two apiece and Dawson and Corwin had one. Kreger, Dawson and Schuster had one home run apiece.
“We practiced the entire week attacking the low, outside pitches because that is where she makes her living,” Kreger said. “I came in with that mindset and expectation while also looking to turn on an inside pitch. I just tried to execute and it felt good.”
Kreger’s bunt single in the first inning was a surprise for anyone who knows about the hard-hitting right hander. It’s something she believed she has never done before.
“Probably ever,” Kreger said laughing. “I just saw we had second and third and less that two outs and all I wanted to do was force a throw to first so we could get the runner in from third. They didn’t throw it, so I will take a bunt single.”
Alexis Cantrell led Lexington with four hits while Kyra Boyd had two and Kylie Thornton, Mariana Molton, Camryn McGuire, Mady Taylor and Ashton Williams had one apiece. Cantrell collected four RBIs while Quinn Patrick, Addy Williams, Molton and McGuire had one apiece. Cantrell slugged a home run in the loss.
Seniors Kylie Thornton, Boyd, Taylor, Lauren Risser and Camryn and Rylie McGuire all played their final game in a Lexington uniform. Lexington finished the season 13-11.
“It’s been a ride,” Thornton said. “We have been through a lot the last four years with a lot of amazing tournament runs. It is a special group of kids, man.”
Ontario (21-6) moves on to the district championship game, something Kreger has wanted ever since she experienced a magical run her freshman year. After a 7-3 sectional championship win over Sandusky on May 14, Kreger held her team back after the postgame meeting to express how badly she wants to make another tournament run before her career is over. She backed it up on Thursday night.
“My freshman year, I had some great leaders in Taylor Mullins, Joslynne Frazier, Kylie Snow and Alex Switaj,” Kreger said. “I remember just wanting to do everything I could to make sure their season didn’t end and I want that this year. I want to be that kind of leader for my teammates and keep this season going as long as I can.”
Burke loves seeing that out of her senior.
“Two weeks into the season, I felt like this was a special group regardless of how the season went,” Burke said. “We have 11 high school girls who genuinely care about one another. We have girls laying down sacrifice bunts when they could hit us a home run and it doesn’t affect them. We have seniors who want to win, do it the right way and care about their teammates. I don’t want to go home. I want to spend more time coaching these kids.”
The win was even more special as it gave Burke her 100th career victory between her time at Wynford and Ontario. She is now 50-28 with the Warriors.
“It is very neat,” Burke said. “I spent my first eight years building Wynford and you think that 10 years and 100 wins isn’t huge, but to take that program from what it was and win 50 games and then come here and get 50 more makes me hold my head high. I am so thankful for great, quality kids at both places.”
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ontario outlasts Lexington in epic Division III district semifinal game
PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Carroll lined a run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.
Arizona's Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven scoreless innings after suffering his first loss of the season against the Rockies last weekend.
Colorado took advantage after he left, tying it at 1 in the eighth when Juan Morrillo hit Tyler Freeman with the bases loaded.
Paul Sewald (1-4) worked a perfect ninth and Juan Mejia (0-4) walked two in the bottom half.
Carroll lined a single to right on a 2-2 count and Gabriel Moreno beat the throw to the plate for Arizona's second walk-off win in three games. Ketel Marte hit a winning two-run homer in the Diamondbacks' 5-3 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday.
Carroll also drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the sixth inning for Arizona's first five -game winning streak since June 9-14, 2025.
Rodriguez didn't allow a hit until Ezequiel Tovar's bloop double just inside the line in right. Jake McCarthy followed with a one-out infield single, but Rodriguez made a nifty play to throw out Tovar at the plate on Braxton Fulford's safety squeeze.
The left-hander got Troy Johnston to fly out to end the inning with two on and induced an inning-ending double play in the sixth after the Rockies hit two weak singles.
Zach Agnos got his first career start when the Rockies opted for a bullpen game to give right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano an extra day's rest.
The right-hander lasted a career-high five innings, allowing a hit with four strikeouts and a walk.
Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02 ERA) was set to face RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49) in the second game of the series Friday night.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
One thing Jesse Minter continues emphasizing throughout the offseason is the importance of relationships inside the building.
During Ravens OTA media availability, Minter explained that communication became one of the very first topics discussed with players after he took over as head coach. So far, he sounds extremely pleased with how the team has responded. That may not seem like a major storyline in May, but communication and accountability usually become critical once adversity arrives during the regular season.
Minter specifically praised players for consistently keeping the coaching staff informed whenever they needed to miss time during voluntary workouts. That level of professionalism appears to matter a lot to this new staff. While speaking with reporters, Minter explained:
“These guys have been unbelievable. In probably our first meeting, the main topic was just about relationships and communication. The guys that have had to be out for a day for whatever, had to be out for a day or two for something going on – the communication's been unbelievable.”
The Ravens clearly want to build a connected locker room under Minter, and early on, the head coach sounds encouraged by the buy-in he's seeing from veterans across the roster.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jesse Minter has been impressed by the Ravens' culture this offseason
RAPID CITY — O'Gorman grabbed the opening-day lead over defending champion Harriburg in the South Dakota State Class AA High School Boys Tennis Tournament on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
O'Gorman scored 360 points compared to 330 for Harrisburg. Sioux Falls Lincoln was third at 289, followed by Brandon Valley at 219, Mitchell 179.5, Rapid City Stevens 179, Yankton 176, Sioux Falls Washington 122, Watertown 120, Sioux Falls Jefferson 39.5, Aberden Central 28.5, Brookings 26.5, Rapid City Central 23 and Sioux Falls Roosevelt 13.
The tourney is set to conclude on Friday, May 22.
Here are Monday's results for area players from Watertown and Aberdeen Central:
STATE A BOYS TENNIS: Aberdeen Roncalli places ninth, Milbank 11th in state Class A boys tennis
2026 AREA BOYS TENNIS PREVIEW: State Class AA & A boys tennis tourneys slated for May at Rapid City
2026 AREA STATE BOYS TENNIS PREVIEW: State Class AA & A boys tennis tourneys slated for May at Rapid City
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Opening-day highlights from state Class AA boys tennis
Cornerstone Charter’s eighth grade pitching ace, Izzy Choquette, had high-powered Oxbridge Academy of West Palm Beach baffled for the first five innings in Thursday night’s FHSAA Class 1A softball state championship game.
After walking the first batter up, she sat down 15 in a row and had her team in control with a no-hitter possible. But the Ducks’ paid a big price for their inability to come up with clutch hits to enlarge a thin 1-0 lead.
Without any margin for error the Ducks made two dream-crushing throwing errors in the seventh inning and lost 5-1 in a game played at the Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park complex in Longwood.
The start of the game was delayed by just over an hour due to lightning in the vicinity. That didn’t chase away a big crowd of Cornerstone fans who almost completely filled the home team side of the championship stadium in the six-field complex.
“We just kept letting them hang around and that cost us,” Cornerstone head coach Dan Lobozzo said afterward. “Oxbridge earned it. They played till the end.”
Cornerstone finished 23-6 and is due to bring back seven of Thursday’s 10 starters. The Ducks lineup had two eighth graders, one freshman, three sophomores, one junior and three seniors.
Oxbridge (24-3), which came in with a .433 team batting average, managed only three hits in 6⅓ innings against Choquette and five for the game. She struck out eight.
Emma Pynes, a junior slugger who batted .500 for the season to lead Cornerstone, went 0-for-3. She had 24 extra base hits this year — including nine home runs and came close to homering twice Thursday. Both of his towering drives were flyouts to left in a spacious Boombah field that has the fence 220 feet from home plate. That’s at least 20 feet deeper than what you see at most high school fields.
After the loss, Lobozzo did his best to console players. That included a long, strong hug with standout eighth grader Bella Smith, who made a throwing error that emptied the bases.
“I just told her we wouldn’t be where we are without how well she played all year. That’s just one throw, one mistake. I reminded the girls we were not even supposed to be here (based on computer rankings),” Lobozzo said. “We defied all those odds. You just don’t want this one game to define them and the season we had. I told them we need to learn from this and try to come back next year and be a little more hungry.”
Smith had Thursday’s only extra-base hit, a double to open Cornerstone’s half of the fourth inning. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Kenzie Boisvert and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore Liany Rosario. The Ducks left four runners on base the rest of the way.
Cornerstone assistant coach Danielle Lobozzo said the girls were confident after their first at-bats that they could hit the ball against Oxbridge’s Aubrey Vital,a sophomore who came in with a 0.74 earned run average. There were some big swings but no big hits. He struck out seven.
“I think we were trying too hard to hit the long ball,” Danielle said. “Everybody was pressing.”
The Ducks were only No. 6 in the FHSAA computerized rankings, which were updated after district tournament and regional play. But only one of the top three teams got to Longwood. That was No. 1 Clearwater Calvary, which was ousted by No. 8 Oxbridge, 5-1, in a Wednesday semifinal.
Cornerstone traveled to No. 2 Montverde Academy and eliminated the Eagles with a 3-2 win in a dramatic nine-inning region semifinal.
TFA also fell in a region semi home game, losing to No. 14 Trinity Catholic of Ocala 6-3.
Cornerstone got past Trinity Catholic, 7-4, in the Region 2 final. And the Ducks ended the season of No. 4 North Bay Haven of Panama City with a 3-1 Wednesday state semifinal win that saw Choquette pitch a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts.
Cornerstone, which was a state runner-up in 2018, was attempting to be the first Orange County team to win a fastpitch softball title since TFA in 2022.
8th grader pitches Cornerstone to FHSAA 2A softball state semifinal win
Brooks Koepka has been telling us he’s been hitting the ball well.
At last week’s PGA Championship he did.
“Everything feels fine. I like the way I’m striking it.”
Two weeks ago at the One Flight Myrtle Beach Classic, he said much the same thing.
“I feel like I’m striking it as good as I ever have, driving it as good as I ever have.”
Last month at the Masters, he said something similar.
“I feel like I’m striking it exactly the way I wanted to.”
In late March at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Koepka repeated himself.
“I feel like I’ve been playing really well.”
And in March at the Valspar Championship, Koepka, you guessed it, said he felt he was hitting the ball well.
“Playing well, like the way I’m striking it.”
That all said, there are a couple ways to look at Koepka here. In his first year back on the PGA Tour after playing for four seasons with LIV Golf, he’s swinging well. If he’s felt distracted by the move back, that mostly hasn’t shown. But there’s also some thought of what could be. Because for as well as he has been swinging, his putter has confounded him. He’s been good, if not great, in all of the strokes gained stats — eighth in tee to green; 41st off the tee; third in approach the green; 48th in around the green — except putting, where he was ranked a ghastly 141st entering this week. What if he could put everything together? What would that look like?
Maybe something like Thursday.
Just look at Koepka during Thursday’s first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson event. On the 11th hole at TPC Craig Ranch, his second hole of the day after starting on the back nine, he dropped a 17-footer for birdie, then he sunk a 13-footer for eagle on the 12th hole, then a 10-footer for birdie on the 2nd hole, then a 14-footer for birdie on the 4th hole, and Koepka walked off with an eight-under 63, and just Taylor Moore was better. It was Koepka’s best score this year, and his best score on the PGA Tour since July 30, 2020, when he shot a 62 at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational. (On Aug. 18, 2024, Koepka shot a 63 at LIV Golf’s Greenbrier event.)
Few at the Byron Nelson were better on the greens. Koepka was 10th in strokes gained: putting after the first round, and a day-long session earlier this week inside “a little warehouse” at his home in Florida seems to have worked. Inside the warehouse is a putting studio, and Koepka locked himself in, leaving only to pick up his son, Crew, from school.
“So I was in there for quite a while working on some different things, trying some different putters,” Koepka said Wednesday. “Just going back to basics, I think is a huge thing, trying to make sure you’re lined up, your grip is correct, your putter is aimed where you think it’s aimed.
“Just little different things.”
He also emerged with a new putter. At the Byron Nelson, Koepka is using a Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5, which, notably, is the fourth putter he’s used this year.
“It’s something that just feels good in my hands,” Koepka said. “I feel like I’ve struggled with the toe release a little bit, kind of fighting that, kind of holding it off, and this putter seems to have a little bit more toe hang, to get kind of scientific with it or more in depth on it. It’s got a bit more toe hang than what I have been using all year, kind of similar to the blade. I know the CG [center of gravity] is up closer to the front of the face, which is kind of what I’m looking for.
“So hopefully I can just find some confidence with it and build some momentum off of it.”
Of course, Koepka has played only 18 holes this week. Three rounds are ahead. Bigger tournaments follow that, including a pair of majors. Putting is the ficklest of pursuits. What dropped in the hole today may lip out tomorrow.
But for a day, Koepka could say he was hitting AND putting well.
“Finally, I felt good with the putter,” Koepka said. “I felt good the last few days with it when I was working in my studio. Then when I got here, it felt very comfortable. Rick [caddie Ricky Elliott] said the same thing from watching. Which also kind of helps build a little confidence, what you feel versus the reality of it.
“Just happy with the way everything went today.”
The post Brooks Koepka shoots best score this year, after a day in the ‘warehouse’ appeared first on Golf.
A few Cincinnati Reds players expressed their disappointment in the crowd sizes at Great American Ball Park during the playoff push late last season.
The reason: Players feed off crowd noise, whether the cheers are for or against them. It motivates them. But what if they didn't hear the crowd at all, sold out or not? Ever? In their entire playing career? And yet still managed to produce over a long career?
Marty Brennaman wants everyone to know there was a guy who did that – William "Dummy" Hoy, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues more than a century ago, including five with the Reds. Hoy was one of the great leadoff hitters of his era. But not enough people know about Hoy, recognized as the first deaf player in the big leagues. Brennaman is trying to change that.
The legendary broadcaster is calling for Hoy to be inducted into the national Baseball Hall of Fame. And those efforts are starting now. Brennaman, in the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame, is part of organizing Dummy Hoy Day from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at The Banks near Great American Ball Park.
Umpires began signaling strike, out and safe calls with their arms and hands because of Hoy, baseball historians say. That's a major impact on the game alone. Brennaman, the Reds' radio voice for 46 seasons, believes that contribution coupled with Hoy's ability to consistently perform in the face of a disability over such a long career warrants a call from the Hall.
The event, which would be on Hoy's birthday, is free and open to the public. It's designed in part to also raise awareness for hearing impairment, which impacts about 50 million Americans, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America.
"The first step is to make more people aware of who William Ellsworth Hoy was," Brennaman told me. "This might be the single biggest untold story about the impact a player had on the game."
Brennaman is pushing for the Hall of Fame's Classic Baseball Era committee to vote Hoy in as part of the 2028 induction class. Fans can go to the website, signforhoy.com, to sign a petition in support of getting Hoy on the committee's ballot in December 2027.
A native of tiny Houcktown, Ohio, near Findlay, Hoy played from 1888 to 1902. He was with the Reds from 1894 to 1897, a stretch in which he hit .293. He stole 50 bases in each of the 1895 and 1896 seasons and only struck out a total of 21 times during those years. He also played the 1902 season, his last, in Cincinnati. Hoy's time with the Reds was the most he spent with any team, and he'd go into the national Baseball Hall of Fame as a Red. Hoy died in 1961 at 99 years old and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2003.
Hoy ranks 19th all-time in stolen bases (596), behind 10 players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hoy also is among the 126 players all-time who've drawn more than 1,000 career walks. Those were particularly important numbers during the dead-ball era, which focused on small-ball game strategies such as stolen bases and hit-and-run rather than home runs and extra-base hits.
As the leadoff batter, Hoy was the tone-setter for his teams, something that particularly amazes Brennaman.
"I was talking to somebody the other day and said, 'Could you imagine playing in a ballpark with no seat available, big game and the noise is deafening – and you hear nothing?" Brennaman said. "Your energy has to come from somewhere inside you. To me, it’s incomprehensible. I can’t imagine how you rise to the level he did as a player day in and day out – and he did it well."
And Hoy embraced his now politically incorrect nickname, which was a common moniker given to people who were deaf in the 1800s. Why are we still calling Hoy by that nickname?
"Back then, no one meant anything derogatory by that," Brennaman said. "He embraced the nickname without any animosity at all. He embraced it with a sense of pride for what he had to overcome to be the standout player he was."
Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Marty Brennaman wants Reds legend 'Dummy' Hoy in Baseball Hall of Fame
A few Cincinnati Reds players expressed their disappointment in the crowd sizes at Great American Ball Park during the playoff push late last season.
The reason: Players feed off crowd noise, whether the cheers are for or against them. It motivates them. But what if they didn't hear the crowd at all, sold out or not? Ever? In their entire playing career? And yet still managed to produce over a long career?
Marty Brennaman wants everyone to know there was a guy who did that – William "Dummy" Hoy, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues more than a century ago, including five with the Reds. Hoy was one of the great leadoff hitters of his era. But not enough people know about Hoy, recognized as the first deaf player in the big leagues. Brennaman is trying to change that.
The legendary broadcaster is calling for Hoy to be inducted into the national Baseball Hall of Fame. And those efforts are starting now. Brennaman, in the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame, is part of organizing Dummy Hoy Day from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at The Banks near Great American Ball Park.
Umpires began signaling strike, out and safe calls with their arms and hands because of Hoy, baseball historians say. That's a major impact on the game alone. Brennaman, the Reds' radio voice for 46 seasons, believes that contribution coupled with Hoy's ability to consistently perform in the face of a disability over such a long career warrants a call from the Hall.
The event, which would be on Hoy's birthday, is free and open to the public. It's designed in part to also raise awareness for hearing impairment, which impacts about 50 million Americans, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America.
"The first step is to make more people aware of who William Ellsworth Hoy was," Brennaman told me. "This might be the single biggest untold story about the impact a player had on the game."
Brennaman is pushing for the Hall of Fame's Classic Baseball Era committee to vote Hoy in as part of the 2028 induction class. Fans can go to the website, signforhoy.com, to sign a petition in support of getting Hoy on the committee's ballot in December 2027.
A native of tiny Houcktown, Ohio, near Findlay, Hoy played from 1888 to 1902. He was with the Reds from 1894 to 1897, a stretch in which he hit .293. He stole 50 bases in each of the 1895 and 1896 seasons and only struck out a total of 21 times during those years. He also played the 1902 season, his last, in Cincinnati. Hoy's time with the Reds was the most he spent with any team, and he'd go into the national Baseball Hall of Fame as a Red. Hoy died in 1961 at 99 years old and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2003.
Hoy ranks 19th all-time in stolen bases (596), behind 10 players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hoy also is among the 126 players all-time who've drawn more than 1,000 career walks. Those were particularly important numbers during the dead-ball era, which focused on small-ball game strategies such as stolen bases and hit-and-run rather than home runs and extra-base hits.
As the leadoff batter, Hoy was the tone-setter for his teams, something that particularly amazes Brennaman.
"I was talking to somebody the other day and said, 'Could you imagine playing in a ballpark with no seat available, big game and the noise is deafening – and you hear nothing?" Brennaman said. "Your energy has to come from somewhere inside you. To me, it’s incomprehensible. I can’t imagine how you rise to the level he did as a player day in and day out – and he did it well."
And Hoy embraced his now politically incorrect nickname, which was a common moniker given to people who were deaf in the 1800s. Why are we still calling Hoy by that nickname?
"Back then, no one meant anything derogatory by that," Brennaman said. "He embraced the nickname without any animosity at all. He embraced it with a sense of pride for what he had to overcome to be the standout player he was."
Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Marty Brennaman wants Reds legend 'Dummy' Hoy in Baseball Hall of Fame
House Speaker Mike Johnson is likely feeling mounting pressure after a vote on a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran was pulled.
Amid the scheduled vote on Thursday night, it was apparent that House Republicans did not have the votes to defeat the Democratic resolution, and the measure was ultimately scrapped until next month, the Associated Press reports.
Johnson has been an outspoken supporter of Trump’s military campaign in Iran, saying just last week that, “The president has declared Operation Epic Fury to have concluded, and now we’re working on the next project, which is getting the Strait of Hormuz open. We don’t expect that to be a warfare activity, so to speak. So we’ve got to allow the administration time to negotiate these things.”
Johnson later added, “I don’t think Congress needs to get in the way of the administration as they finish what is now a negotiation instead of a military conflict.”
Newsweek reached out to Johnson’s office via email on Thursday night for comment.
Robert Y. Shapiro, professor at Columbia University, told Newsweek via email late Thursday night: “This is Mike Johnson continuing to do the president’s bidding. What is unclear is whether he genuinely supports the president on everything under the sun, which includes where things are in the Iran war now, or whether he is fearful of Trump’s wrath in maintaining his political stature.”
According to The New York Times, House leadership called off the vote after an unrelated measure sparked chaos on the floor. Members were absent and instead of potentially risking the resolution passing, the war powers resolution vote was canceled. When asked if Republicans would have lost the vote, GOP House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, according to numerous outlets, “Well we just had some members that weren’t there for it who wanted to be recorded on it. So we’re going to be giving them that opportunity when we get back.”
D. Stephen Voss, political science professor at the University of Kentucky, also told Newsweek late Thursday night: “So far, congressional Republicans have sat back while Donald Trump expanded the power of the presidency at the expense of Congress. Trump’s success ending a few congressional careers has come with an unpleasant side effect for him, though, which is now Congress includes Republicans with nothing to lose, and they’re willing to join with Democrats to check executive authority. It would be silly to blame Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for any problems he’s having lining up the troops when it’s Trump who sent them scattering.”
Earlier this week, the Senate, including Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, voted alongside Democrats to force the Iran War Powers debate.
Cassidy was fresh off a primary loss against a Trump-backed opponent when he cast his vote. His support was enough to help those in favor of the resolution—which has seen multiple attempts—reach a majority.
On Thursday, Democratic lawmakers reacted to the vote being pulled, calling out Johnson.
Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, said on X, “NEWS: Republicans just pulled a vote on the Iran War Powers Resolution because they knew they were going to lose. They rigged the rules to protect the president’s historically unpopular war from a fair up or down vote.”
Representative Betty McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat, also said on X Thursday, “Speaker Johnson just cancelled a vote on the Iran War Powers resolution because he knows a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives would have voted to end President Trump’s illegal war in Iran. The Speaker’s cowardly decision is a complete failure of leadership. Republicans care more about protecting President Trump than they do about you.”
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, said: “They probably did it because they didn’t have the votes.” He voted with Democrats on a similar resolution last week and, according to the Times, planned to do so again.
“I don’t think they’re going to have the votes when we get back,” he said, per the outlet. “The next time they bring it, it’s passing.”
Johnson’s GOP holds a slim majority in the House, with 217 seats compared to 212. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats versus 47 by the Democrats.
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – D’Mario Jackson qualified for state in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes as a sophomore in 2025.
Apparently, there was more in the tank. In 2026, he will run on the big blue track in Charleston in both those races, plus the 400. He won the 100, 200 and 400 at both the Big 12 conference meet and the Monticello 2A sectional.
Jackson’s personal best times, listed below, all rank No. 1 in the state of Illinois for Class 2A, according to Athletic.net.
His speed is nearly impossible to miss for viewers, but his impact on the Vikings’ program goes beyond that, according to his coach.
“[D’Mario Jackson] makes everybody competitively practice, like every day,” Danville head boys’ track coach Tyler Arnholt said. “And if kids are gone, he’ll get on them in the hallways or he’ll text them or he’ll message them because he knows, just like everybody else does on this team, to get better, you have to be here. And he’s here every day and he’s pushing kids and kids are pushing him. And he’s a great student. He’s a great teammate, he’s a great leader. He’s someone I wish I had on the team every year.”
Jackson will run in Charleston for the state meet on Friday, May 29 for prelims, with finals set for Saturday, May 30.
WCIA has been featuring local high school track athletes daily since Mid-May, check out more recent stories below:
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
MONROE – Monroe’s softball team has a lot of big bats in its lineup.
But it was small ball that brought the Trojans a big victory on Thursday, May 21.
Soffia Elmer dropped down a squeeze bunt to plate a run that lifted the Trojans over Chelsea 7-6.
“It was a really nice win for us,” Monroe coach Mickey Moody said. “We finally came out and played with excitement and energy and executed small ball very well and made the plays on defense when we needed it.”
More: Tennis becomes latest addition to Kaily McDaniel's packed schedule
A bunt ended the game, but the Trojans were led by Sierra Daniels with her sixth home run of the season. Aly Lewis and Delaynee Miller recorded two hits each and Olivia McMahon pitched well.
Monroe dropped the second game 10-0.
“We got solid pitching from Maeve Westerlund and Cecelia Aulph but lost our focus on defense and made too many mistakes,” Moody said. “Today was a good day, saw some really good things from the team.”
BOYS GOLF
Levi Evans Dundee, and Logan Mitchey, Ida: Shot 80 to share medalist honors at the Lenawee County Athletic Association Championships with Nicholas Uckele of Blissfield. Evans and Connor Zimmerman of Ida made first-team all-league. Earning second-team honors were Mitchey and Ida teammates Devin Rhoades and Alex Faryniarz. Ida finished third Thursday and was overtaken for the overall league championship by Clinton.
Hunter Massingill, Whiteford: Captured medalist honors at the Tri-County Conference Championships with a round of 81 and led the Bobcats to the team title. Whiteford shot 343 to edge runner-up Erie Mason by 18 strokes. Summerfield finished fourth with 388. Massingill was supported by Fischer Zawacki (83), Cade Schober (86) and Brock Norman (93). Summerfield’s James Feudi shot 85 and Mason as led by Logan Doom (86), Lucas Neely (87) and Kaden Kreger (89).
BASEBALL
Steel Decator, SMCC: Carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before settling for a 1-hit 4-0 shutout of Airport. Brock Cousino drove in half of the runs for the 19-7 Falcons. “I am proud of the way our defense got behind Steel on the mound and led us to a victory.” SMCC coach Jared Janssen said.
Cash Moczdlowsky, New Boston Huron: Went 3-for-4 as Huron earned a 10-9 walk-off win over Flat Rock in eight innings. Aiden Sainato added two hits and Jackson Surma drove in three runs. Jordyn Jenkins picked up the win in relief. Evan Szalay collected three hits for Flat Rock while Alex Beaudrie and Nick Hodge added two apiece.
Gavin Albring, Ida: Notched two hits and drove in three runs from the lead-off spot in a 13-5 win over Onsted. Jacob Towne, Owen Snyder, Landon Alberts and Luke Hennessey also had two hits each for the 26-6 Blue Streaks.
Jack Foor, Dundee: Logged a hit and drove in a run during a 7-2 loss to Adrian Madison.
PREP SOFTBALL
Ella Rath, Dundee: Drove in eight runs on four hits and droved four times during a 9-3, 16-1 sweep of Hillsdale. Juliet Rouse recorded three hits and pitching wins went to Addison Cusac and Brynn Cusac as the Vikings improved to 7-18-1.
Ava Butz, Whiteford: Delivered a three-run double in the second inning to get the Bobcats rolling toward an 11-1 conquest of Milan. Alexis Williams and winning pitcher Peyton Welch also doubled and Ally Griffith went 2-for-3 for 17-10 Whiteford.
Alex Haws, Ida: Drove in seven runs to lead a 14-4, 20-6 sweep of Hudson. Lilah Derian and Adisyn Swiderski finished with five hits each. Alli Schrader and Swiderski each drove in five runs in the second game.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe wins with a bunt, Dundee, Whiteford, Ida have golf medalists
Shocking trend says Jannik Sinner could lose French Open like Rafael Nadal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jannik Sinner is an unstoppable, runaway locomotive.
The Italian boast a 29-game winning streak. He's now the second man to win all 9 Masters 1000 tournaments, joining Novak Djokovic. And his best competition, Carlos Alcaraz, is nursing a wrist injury that will sideline him indefinitely.
What could go wrong?
The French Open begins on May 24 and Sinner is an overwhelming favorite. Sportsbooks have him priced around -300 to win the tournament.
But that very fact could be the reason why Sinner may fall at Roland-Garros.
Overwhelming favorites at Roland-Garros are very rare. Two-time defending champ Alcaraz was priced around +150 to win the tournament while healthy. But without the Spaniard healthy, Sinner's competition is diluted.
Sinner is actually the heaviest French Open favorite (-300) since Rafael Nadal in 2009 (-400).
Nadal, who has won 14 French Open titles, actually lost as a 4/1 pre-tournament favorite in 2009. He fell to Robin Söderling (6-2, 6-7, 4-6, 6-7) in a shocking upset. It ended his 31-match winning streak at the tournament.
The King of Clay falling before even reaching the title game was astounding. Especially in a year he was the largest favorite in history.
Could Sinner see the same fate?
We've seen questions about the Italian's conditioning, clay is his weakest surface, and he's never won at Roland-Garros.
Tennis fans will recall the epic choke job in 2025 when Sinner had three championship points and still lost to Alcaraz. He's shown weakness on clay. However, this season he's been much stronger taking wins at Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.
Does the history of massive favorites at French Open hold up in 2026? Or is Sinner the obvious choice to complete his career Grand Slam here and now?
Questions that will soon be answered in the weeks to come.
MORE: What happened to Novak Djokovic? How aging legend lost to Dino Prizmic in Rome first round
Netflix has made no secret about it. The streaming giant wants live event content. Over the past several years, the company has invested in live events involving boxing, MMA, WWE, MLB, the NFL, and others. They even backed a production centered on a man climbing a skyscraper in Taiwan. Now, the company is entering a new content vertical: live radio programming.
Yesterday, Netflix and iHeartMedia expanded their current podcasting agreement by licensing the live video presentation of The Breakfast Club on Netflix beginning June 1. For Netflix, this marks its first venture into live weekday programming. For a company positioning itself heavily in the live event space while adding live weekday content to its platform, could Pat McAfee be next on Netflix’s target list?
Despite the headlines McAfee creates on and off the screen, his persona commands attention.
The former Colts punter has turned himself into one of sports media’s most dynamic and versatile personalities. He helped College GameDay transition away from Lee Corso and elevated WWE’s profile with ESPN. He has also curried favor with nearly every commissioner and athlete imaginable, making his program destination viewing that leagues and personalities battle to appear on.
When McAfee signed his agreement in 2023, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro called his show one of the most engaging programs in sports and all of media. He wasn’t wrong. Everything McAfee touches seems to draw more attention than almost anything else in sports. I recall speaking with ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager about the McAfee effect on sports.
“The genius of Pat McAfee is taking something that feels very serious, urgent, and newsworthy and making it fun,” said Schrager.
McAfee’s contract with ESPN runs through 2028. That’s now less than two years away, with McAfee positioned to cash in again if he chooses. That’s why Netflix’s announcement involving The Breakfast Club feels like just the first step in what could become a larger pursuit of McAfee by the streaming giant.
A couple of factors are worth considering.
Netflix already has live event agreements with several companies. One of those companies is TKO Holdings, which owns WWE, UFC, and Zuffa Boxing, among others. Ari Emanuel serves as CEO of TKO Holdings and helped architect TKO’s agreement with Netflix for WWE Raw back in 2025.
It just so happens that Emanuel also represents McAfee as his agent. Put those pieces together, and you have yourself quite a story.
However, Netflix had not tested the live weekday programming model until now.
McAfee signed with ESPN for a reported $85 million over five years. According to Yahoo Sports, the show generated one billion total social media views in September 2025 alone, while averaging 447,000 live viewers per episode. That represented an 18% year-over-year increase and pushed the show to its most-watched year on ESPN.
McAfee’s show is a juggernaut of content, attention, reach, and engagement that no other ESPN program comes close to matching. In 2025, ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus acknowledged that reality.
“Every commissioner wants to be on his show. Every athlete wants to be on the show. There’s a cool factor, a relevance factor. It’s fun and funny and entertaining. As we sit here today, I could not imagine our daytime schedule without his show,” said Magnus.
From the ThunderDome to Pittsburgh, @PatMcAfeeShow & the boys capped off a memorable month across ESPN & YouTube in April '26
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 6, 2026
More: https://t.co/0kQB3kX8XQpic.twitter.com/Ri1pxZtwjL
Netflix’s announcement on Thursday may have just increased McAfee’s chances of departing ESPN when his agreement expires in 2028. But can ESPN retain McAfee’s services beyond that point?
It would be difficult to argue that ESPN’s budget could compete with Netflix’s financial power in a bidding war for McAfee and his program. Netflix could easily outbid ESPN and Disney while also making McAfee’s show more global in reach through the audience the platform commands.
Teaming with Netflix could also create additional opportunities for McAfee in Hollywood. With Netflix funding major motion picture productions, McAfee would almost certainly become a candidate for entertainment roles that ESPN simply cannot provide. Emanuel has even stated that he envisions McAfee as the next Sylvester Stallone. A move to Netflix would likely create more avenues for that vision to materialize.
Would McAfee’s guest list become more limited with a move to Netflix? Since the streaming platform already does business with MLB and the NFL, probably not. The likelihood of ESPN talent appearing at a moment’s notice could change. But it’s difficult to imagine personalities such as Adam Schefter or Shams Charania disappearing entirely from the program.
A move to Netflix could even strengthen McAfee’s relationship with WWE, one of his personal passions. Could there be more WWE content involving McAfee’s production company? Or perhaps an expanded role with TKO Holdings based on the business relationships McAfee has helped cultivate between ESPN and Netflix?
Make no mistake, this may become the single biggest challenge facing new ESPN EVP, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment Mike Foss during the early stages of his tenure. While Foss won’t be alone in any discussions with McAfee, his new role will certainly be heavily involved in it. Mike Foss has played a key role in overseeing The Pat McAfee Show since its ESPN debut nearly three years ago. By all accounts, Foss has built a strong working relationship with Pat McAfee. He has done so by trusting McAfee’s instincts, offering feedback, and helping navigate criticism and controversy.
Now that the contract has entered its final two-year window, the next several months could become very interesting for ESPN and Pat McAfee. If Netflix’s live arrangement with The Breakfast Club succeeds like its podcast partnership has, the streaming giant will almost certainly pursue more opportunities in the space.
There is no daily studio show or sports radio program that commands more attention than Pat McAfee’s platform. The connections involved are substantial enough that a move to Netflix makes legitimate sense for both McAfee and the company.
That’s why Netflix entering the live daily programming space matters so much.
The company is no longer simply chasing events. It is chasing habit-forming personalities that audiences build their days around. Pat McAfee checks every box. He delivers sports, entertainment, controversy, virality, and cultural relevance in one package. Exactly the type of talent streaming platforms covet as they continue redefining television.
Whether McAfee ultimately stays with ESPN or eventually jumps to Netflix, one thing already feels certain.
Thursday’s announcement involving The Breakfast Club was not just about adding another program to Netflix’s library. It was a test case for something much bigger. And if the experiment succeeds, don’t be surprised if the most important personality in sports media suddenly becomes the face of Netflix’s live daytime future.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
The post If Netflix Wants Live Weekday Programming, Could Pat McAfee Leave ESPN? appeared first on Barrett Media.
Login