Nikolaj Ehlers made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old, who signed a six-year, $51 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) as a free agent on July 3, was minus-3 and had four shots in 17:02 of ice time.
Daniil Tarasov made 48 saves for the Panthers (1-2-0). Ben Harpur and Mike Benning, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida on Aug. 14, each had a goal and an assist.
Ryan Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for the Hurricanes (0-2-0). Frederik Andersen stopped all eight shots he faced before being replaced by Amir Miftakhov, who allowed three goals on seven shots in the third period.
Suzuki gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 10:07 of the first period, redirecting Mike Reilly’s shot from the left point.
Kotkaniemi made it 2-0 at 16:20. Following a turnover by Florida below its own goal line, Kotkaniemi took a short pass from Andrei Svechnikov and scored under the glove of Tarasov from the right hash marks.
Harpur, who is attending camp on a professional tryout agreement, cut it to 2-1 at 3:56 of the third period. He scored through a screen with a shot from the right point.
Noah Gregor, who is also attending camp on a PTO, tied it 2-2 at 16:02. He poked the puck away from Miftakhov behind the net, skated out front, and took a pass from Gracyn Sawchyn before quickly scoring into the open cage.
Sept. 24: NHL Preseason Roundup
Three questions the Clippers must answer to make a playoff run
For the majority of the summer, the news was really good for the Los Angeles Clippers. They restocked the team with two former All-Stars in Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez. The Clippers will host the All-Star Game in their new arena, the Intuit Dome. The team got a real power forward by trading for John Collins and brought back the franchise’s greatest player, point guard Chris Paul.
But then Pablo Torre reported on the highly suspicious endorsement deal between superstar Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a Clippers jersey sponsor that received highly suspicious investments from owner Steve Ballmer and co-owner Dennis Wong. Now the NBA is investigating, and a promising Clippers season is starting under a cloud. Here are three big questions the Clippers need to answer to get their season on track.
1. What is going to happen with the NBA’s investigation?
The NBA reportedly won’t conclude its investigation of the Clippers and Leonard until after the All-Star Game in February, which means the team will have the scandal hanging over its head for at least four months. Expect questions from the media all season long, even if Leonard himself is notoriously quiet. Meanwhile, the Clippers won’t know if they’ll face severe penalties from the NBA or what those penalties might be.
If they determine the Clippers circumvented the salary cap, the NBA could suspend Ballmer, assess fines or take away the Clippers’ future draft picks. Could the Clippers try to preemptively trade some of the picks they do have — swaps with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers in 2027 and 2029, plus their own picks from 2030-32 — before the NBA takes them away?
2. How much do the Clippers’ older players have left?
There are five former All-Stars on this Clippers team, but the key word is
All-time All-NBA Defensive First Team: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans has been home to the Hornets and Pelicans for 24 seasons and along the way, some terrific defenders have suited up in the Big Easy. Four different players, including a current one, have made First Team All-Defensive teams while with the franchise. Read on to see more on the best individual defensive seasons in New Orleans’ history.
Herbert Jones – 2024
Jones is off to a terrific start to his career. He finished top six in Kia Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and by the end of his third season, he had a First Team All-Defense accolade to his name. That came in 2024 when Jones averaged 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while playing a level of lockdown defense that doesn’t always show up in the box score.
Jones missed much of the following season due to injury but the future is bright for Jones.
Anthony Davis – 2018
Davis was one of two Pelicans to be named First Team All-Defense in 2018 along with Jrue Holiday. Davis patrolled the paint while Holiday hounded the perimeter. That season, Davis led the league in blocks (2.6) for the third time in his career and finished third in both Kia Defensive Player of the Year and Kia MVP voting.
Davis was a two-way force that year in particular as he also averaged 28.1 points per game, which still stands as his career-high. In all, Davis made three All-Defense teams during his seven seasons with the Pelicans.
Jrue Holiday – 2018
While Davis was dominating the paint, Holiday was locking down ball-handlers on the perimeter. Holiday played in 81 games that season and averaged 19.0 points, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting just under 50% from the floor.
The combination of Holiday and Davis helped lead the Pelicans to the No.6 seed in the Western Conference. They made it to the Western Conference semifinals but ran into a juggernaut of a Golden State Warriors team, which would go on to win the NBA championship.
Chris Paul – 2009
Paul is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. A 12-time All-Star and six-time steals champ with nine All-Defensive honors to his name, Paul had some incredible seasons with the franchise. He started to find his footing at age 22 in his third season (2008) with his first All-Star nod.
In 2009, he finished fifth in MVP voting, sixth in DPOY voting, and made the first of seven First Team All-Defensive teams in his career. Paul led the league in steals per game for the second straight year (2.8) while also leading the league in assists. Paul spent two more seasons in New Orleans, earning an All-Star nod in each before moving onto the Clippers.
Jazz prospect learns refusing draft workouts often backfires
Bailey parted ways with his agent, Omar Cooper, the man behind his controversial strategy of refusing workouts with teams at the top of this year’s NBA draft, to get Bailey to the Washington Wizards at No. 6. That didn’t stop the Jazz from drafting Bailey with the No. 5 pick.
But Bailey ended up in a solid situation in Utah, with a talented young head coach in Will Hardy, ample available playing time and plenty of future draft picks and salary cap space. He’s not the first player who may have erred in trying to pick his team, rather than the reverse.
2020: Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
Why did Tyrese Haliburton fall to the No. 12 pick in the 2020 draft? It’s because if he didn’t go to the Golden State Warriors, who selected James Wiseman at No. 2, Haliburton wanted to go to the Sacramento Kings — and his agent asked other teams not to draft him.
Haliburton wanted to be in Sacramento long-term, but his new team didn’t feel the same. Midway through his sophomore season, the Kings traded him to the Indiana Pacers for Domantas Sabonis. It worked out for Haliburton and the Pacers, who came within a game of an NBA title last season. The Kings still haven’t won a playoff series since 2004.
2017: Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
Ball grew up in the L.A. area, went to college at UCLA and only wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, who held the No. 2 pick in 2017. He refused to work out for the Boston Celtics, who had No. 1, so they ended up trading down to No. 3 and selecting Jayson Tatum.
Trading down was amazing for the Celtics, who won a title with Tatum in 2024, and not so amazing for Ball. After two seasons with the Lakers, they sent him to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade, which led to the Lakers winning the 2020 title without their hometown guard.
2014: Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
Parker wouldn’t work out for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft. They selected Andrew Wiggins instead, then traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love before Wiggins ever played a game in Cleveland.
The Bucks swooped up Parker at No. 2, one pick ahead of future MVP Joel Embiid. Parker and the Bucks never got to see what he could become, as he suffered ACL tears in both his first and third seasons. Even without the injuries, Parker may never have thrived in Milwaukee, thanks to a forward drafted one year ahead of him named Giannis Antetokounmpo.
2009: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
By all accounts, Steph Curry wanted to be drafted by the New York Knicks in 2009 at No. 8, not the Warriors at No. 7. But the Warriors snapped up Curry anyway, despite having a similar small scoring guard in Monta Ellis. Going to the Warriors led to four championships, two MVP awards and the greatest shooting career in NBA history.
Had Curry gone to the chaotic Knicks, he likely would have been included in their 2011 trade for Carmelo Anthony. The New York media wouldn’t have been patient with his frequent early ankle injuries. And, like most Knicks picks from that era, he probably wouldn’t have developed into a good player, let alone a Hall of Famer.
Matthew Stafford says nothing to worry about after off game
No reset necessary. No reason to make more of some rare misfires.
After 16-plus seasons, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford knows how to put less-than-efficient performances behind.
So the passes he missed in last Sunday’s defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles are not cause for concern as he prepares for Sunday’s game against the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.
“It happens,” Stafford said Wednesday before practice. “I’m not too worried about it.”
Stafford completed 19 of 33 passes (57.6%) for 198 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Despite missing on some passes he usually completes, he finished the game by directing a two-minute drive that positioned the Rams to win the game. The Eagles blocked a last-second field-goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown.
Stafford compared a rare off day to those sometimes experienced by NBA players.
“You go to an NBA game, you watch guys shoot the ball, the best shooters in the world, the guys that can make it every time,” Stafford said, “and sometimes they have nights where it doesn’t go down.”
On Sunday, Stafford will go against a surprising Colts team led by quarterback Daniel Jones.
Stafford, 37, has completed 63 of 95 passes (66.3%) for 739 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. He has been sacked five times. Stafford’s longest touchdown pass play covered 44 yards.
Jones, 28, has completed 63 of 88 passes (71.6%) for 816 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He has been sacked twice. Jones’ longest touchdown pass play covered 44 yards.
It has been a renaissance of sorts for Jones, the sixth pick in the 2019 NFL draft, after six-plus seasons with the New York Giants and a short late-season stint with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
In two losses to the Rams when he played for the Giants, Jones passed for zero touchdowns with four interceptions.
But he has not committed a turnover this season.
“He’s seeing the field well,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He’s playing in rhythm. He’s playing on time. … He’s obviously got the mobility to make you pay as a runner, but I think he’s reading well. … He throws the ball with great accuracy and anticipation.”
That has been Stafford’s trademark during his four-plus seasons with the Rams.
Despite being sidelined all of training camp and most preseason practices because of a back issue, Stafford opened the season strong. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown in a 14-9 victory over the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium. He also eclipsed 60,000 career yards passing in the win.
The next week, he completed 23 of 33 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in a 33-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
But Stafford’s ball placement and efficiency fell off against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field as the Rams converted only three of 10 third downs.
“Those kind of days are going to happen,” Stafford said. “Frustrating when it happens, but was able to kind of get it going. … That two-minute drive, was putting the ball right where I wanted to every time for the most part.
“So just continue to throw, trust the process.”
Jones has thrived with the Colts since beating out Anthony Richardson for the starting role.
In the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, Jones led scoring drives on all seven of his team’s possessions. He passed for 272 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for two touchdowns in a 33-8 victory.
The next week, he passed for 316 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a touchdown in a 29-28 victory over the Denver Broncos.
And last week, he passed for 228 yards and a touchdown in a 41-20 victory over the Titans.
The Colts, with star running back Jonathan Jones and receiver Michael Pittman Jr. among others, rank second in the NFL in total offense.
“It’s been impressive to watch their overall operation,”’McVay said, “with Daniel leading the way.”
Jayson Tatum flames the Lakers again for regrettable blunder
Jayson Tatum is exactly what fans of the Los Angeles Lakers hate: a bona fide superstar playing for the Boston Celtics. He led them to a championship just over a year ago and the Celtics have been consistently a better team than the Lakers for the entirety of Tatum’s career. And he refuses to let the Lakers forget that he could have worn purple and gold this entire time.
The year was 2017, and the NBA Draft featured a number of future stars. For the teams picking at the top of the draft, it was an opportunity to secure franchise-changing cornerstone players. Unfortunately, those teams missed out on finding those future stars.
Donovan Mitchell just finished fifth in MVP voting and is a six-time All-Star; he fell to 13th. One pick later Bam Adebayo, a three-time All-Star and five-time All-Defense selection, went to the Miami Heat. Jarrett Allen came off the board at pick No. 22, while Derrick White, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart all went even later in the first round.
The Top 10 had its fair share of stars as well. De’Aaron Fox went fifth overall to the Sacramento Kings. Lauri Markkanen went No. 7. And the unquestioned best player in the draft, Jayson Tatum, went third overall to the Boston Celtics.
The story of the Celtics’ move in that draft is legendary. They originally held the No. 1 pick, courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets, and were so confident in their intel on what other teams would do in the draft that they felt confident moving back from No. 1 to No. 3, trusting Jayson Tatum to still be available.
He was, as the Philadelphia 76ers traded up to No. 1 to draft point guard Markelle Fultz. Injuries and some sort of mental yips destroyed Fultz’s career and he turned into a gargantuan bust for the 76ers — and that’s saying something for the franchise that also took Jahlil Okafor and Ben Simmons in the Top 3.
The Lakers passed on Jayson Tatum
At No. 2, the Los Angeles Lakers came onto the board. They had a decision to make between taking Lonzo Ball, a California native who played his freshman season at UCLA, or Tatum, a Missouri kid who played for Duke. They went with Ball, who has been a solid player but never attained stardom, either before or after the Lakers traded him away.
Tatum hasn’t let go of the fact that the Lakers passed on him. In a recent appearance on First Take, Stephen A. Smith asked Tatum about how he has felt since being passed over by the 76ers and Lakers. A diehard Lakers fan growing up, Tatum’s favorite player in NBA history is Kobe Bryant. When the 2017 NBA Draft was approaching, he dreamed of playing for his favorite team. He shared that it
Jonathan Kuminga Faces Rejection From 29 NBA Teams After Warriors Call Agent’s Bluff
The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are stuck in a high-stakes game of chicken. With an October 1 deadline to accept a $7.9 million qualifying offer, the young forward and his agent, Aaron Turner, are pushing for a better long-term deal. The Warriors have already increased their offer significantly, putting a three-year, $75.2 million contract on the table. However, the catch is the third year, which is a team option, not the player option Kuminga desires. This standoff has frozen the Warriors’ entire offseason, preventing them from officially signing veterans like Al Horford and Seth Curry as they wait for a resolution.
The situation is tense, with Turner publicly stating, “There’s a lot of upside if he wants to pick where he wants to go and the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent.” Reports now suggest this public negotiation strategy has backfired spectacularly. Instead of forcing the Warriors to cave, the very public threats from Kuminga’s camp have reportedly alarmed the rest of the NBA. According to insider reports, the Warriors have effectively called Turner’s bluff, refusing to grant the player option. More importantly, the fallout is not limited to the Bay Area. The agent’s aggressive tactics have seemingly damaged Kuminga’s standing across the league.
The main angle is clear from league insiders: Turner’s methods have caused a cold reaction from the other 29 NBA teams. “From what I hear around the league, no team, including the Warriors, would want to give Turner the power to keep negotiating in public even after signing a deal,“ Tim Kawakami of The SF Standard revealed. The concern is that granting the player option would set a precedent, allowing Turner to leverage public pressure again next summer when Kuminga would have even less time left on his contract. This fear of perpetual drama has caused a reported cooling of interest from potential trade partners, leaving Kuminga with fewer options than anticipated.
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This leaves Kuminga and Turner leveraging implied tension as their last bargaining chip. The idea is that the Warriors would not want an unhappy player on a one-year deal, especially one who could block trades. However, the Warriors’ front office, led by Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob, appears ready to face that awkwardness. Their primary goal is protecting Kuminga’s trade value, not necessarily ensuring his happiness as a role player.
The financial reality also heavily favors the Warriors’ offer; by choosing the qualifying offer, Kuminga would be turning down nearly $67 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons, a massive gamble for a player yet to secure a full-time starting role.
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This stalemate is concluding with the Warriors holding firm, and the rest of the league seemingly backing their play by distancing themselves from the situation. This firm stance from the Warriors serves as a strong warning to Kuminga’s camp about the risks of their current path- about which let’s now talk.
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A Costly Gamble For Jonathan Kuminga’s Future
Accepting the one-year qualifying offer is far from a guaranteed victory for Jonathan Kuminga. While it offers a path to unrestricted free agency, it comes with immense financial risk and potential professional consequences. Analyst Sam Vecenie laid out the brutal math, noting, “Let’s call it 67 million over the next two seasons, which means you need Jonathan Kuminga to make $35 million a year basically in free agency after taking the qualifying offer.” This would be an incredibly high bar for any player, let alone one whose fit in Golden State has been inconsistent.
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Furthermore, choosing the qualifying offer could backfire on the court. The Warriors would have little incentive to feature a player who is essentially a lame duck and who has openly challenged the organization. Vecenie added, “They will have no reason to like, really give you the chance to like, go out and go nuts and ball”. This could hurt Kuminga’s ability to put up the kind of stats needed to justify a massive contract in free agency next summer, creating a vicious cycle that devalues him.
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Jordan Clarkson adds much-needed flavor, scoring to Knicks bench
Jordan Clarkson’s reputation precedes itself. He lets it fly.
“I know it’s the first day of training camp, but definitely I feel like down the line, all the guys know,” Clarkson, fresh off his first practice Wednesday with the Knicks, said as he cracked a smile, “throw it to me and it’s getting in the air.
“Majority of the time, I feel like I’m open.”
For most of his 11 NBA years, Clarkson brought this no-conscience shooting mindset off the bench. He once averaged about 16 field goal attempts and 18.4 points in 26.7 minutes as a reserve. That season, Clarkson won Sixth Man of the Year.
Magic Johnson Finally Shares True Feelings on Canelo-Crawford Ten Days After Record-Breaking Bout
The sports world has been buzzing nonstop about the night Terence Crawford toppled Canelo Alvarez under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium. The fight wasn’t just another clash between two champions; it became a cultural event, a spectacle that grabbed the attention of millions around the globe.
Yet through all the noise, one voice remained quiet, until now. Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, the NBA legend whose opinion still carries weight in every corner of sports media, finally revealed how he felt about the record-shattering showdown. And when Magic speaks, fans tend to listen. So, what exactly did he see that night in Las Vegas?
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Magic Johnson reveals how Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez “revitalized” boxing
The Lakers legend didn’t hold back as he wrote on X, “I had the great pleasure of attending the Crawford vs. Canelo fight and it blew my mind that over 70,000 fans were in attendance at Allegiant Stadium generating over $47 million in live gate revenue – the third highest in boxing history!”
For a man who’s seen plenty of historic sporting moments, that says something. He went further, pointing out the sheer reach of the event. According to him, “There were over 41 million global viewers on Netflix, making it the most viewed men’s championship boxing match of the century. “
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Let’s pause here for a second, as the backdrop is already etched in boxing history. Terence Crawford became the first male boxer in the four-belt era to claim undisputed titles in three divisions. At nearly 38, he made the leap from 154 pounds to 168 to dethrone boxing’s biggest star. Judges scored it 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, but anyone watching knew Crawford looked firmly in control.
Canelo Alvarez had entered the bout as the heavy favorite. Size was meant to be his trump card. But when the bell rang, Crawford’s quickness, timing, and jab dismantled that narrative.
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And even Magic Johnson pointed it out as he further wrote, “Crawford did a great job of commanding the fight and winning with his quickness, endurance, masterful movement, and strong jabs.” And perhaps the most telling part? Johnson ended his post with, “I was entertained from beginning to end. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to witness this historic fight in-person! The Crawford vs. Canelo fight revitalized boxing.”
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That’s a bold statement, but one that echoes the sentiment many fans felt as they watched a new era unfold. Over 41 million tuned in on Netflix, making it the most-watched men’s title fight of this century. While it didn’t surpass Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson’s jaw-dropping 108 million from last year, it still crushed every traditional championship fight in recent memory.
Add to that the record-setting live gate revenue, which was also pointed out by Magic Johnson, and you get a night that blended spectacle with sport in perfect fashion. For Terence Crawford, the victory adds another jewel to his crown, but the question now becomes, what’s next for ‘Bud’?
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Sebastian Fundora ready to roll out the red-carpet if Crawford moves to super welterweight
The question of Terence Crawford’s next move looms larger than ever. Fresh off dethroning Canelo Alvarez and cementing himself as a three-division undisputed champion, ‘Bud’ stands at a crossroads. Fans and fighters alike are already speculating.
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One man who isn’t shying away from the conversation is Sebastian Fundora. The towering WBC super welterweight champion has made it clear that if Crawford decides to return to 154 pounds, the door is open. Speaking to FightHype.com, Fundora admitted uncertainty about Crawford’s plans but still extended the invitation as he stated, “I don’t know [if Crawford will return to super welterweight]. From what I saw, he’s going back to 160. But, yeah, we welcome him.”
For now, Fundora has business of his own. On October 25, he’ll defend his WBC strap against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas. A victory would mark his third successful defense, further solidifying his reign. Meanwhile, the other belts in the division sit with Abass Baraou (WBA), Xander Zayas (WBO), and Bakhram Murtazaliev (IBF). The path is crowded, but for a fighter of Crawford’s stature, doors tend to open quickly.
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Still, there’s a wrinkle. The WBA already stripped Crawford of his super welterweight title, and he hasn’t shown much interest in reclaiming it. Instead, whispers of a middleweight run have grown louder. At 160, Terence Crawford could chase an unprecedented sixth division crown, something that would add another layer to his already historic career!
LeBron James Gave a Brutally Honest Take on his 2011 NBA Finals Loss
LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time, depending on who you ask. The Akron, Ohio native came into the NBA with an absurd amount of hype out of high school, and he somehow exceeded all of it.
James has played with three teams in his career in four separate stints. And in each of these stints, the transcendent small forward has put together a Hall of Fame resume.
But LeBron’s decorated career still has had several low moments where there was serious doubt about where he was going to stand in the all-time pecking order. That trepidation may have peaked in the 2011 NBA Finals.
James made the controversial decision to take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat. Now having a roster with three superstars in their prime, Miami was expected to dominate the NBA for years to come.
And LeBron added fuel to the fire when he made the
Michael Porter Jr. Says He Split Rent with Ex-Girlfriend During His $200 Million NBA Contract
Michael Porter Jr. revealed that he won’t foot every bill in his relationships.
The Brooklyn Nets forward, 27, appeared on the Tuesday, Sept. 23, episode of Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show and said that he chose to split rent with his ex-girlfriend because he wanted to know if the women he dates are
Jayden Nelson Exclusive: Beating Cancer, Vancouver Whitecaps and World Cup Dream
Vancouver Whitecaps star Jayden Nelson was warned by doctors that the possibility of him becoming a professional footballer was close to non-existent when he was fighting for his life as a child, having been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but he overcame those odds and is now aiming to represent Canada at a much-anticipated home World Cup next year.
The winger headed back to his homeland in February, after a spell on the books of Norwegian giants Rosenborg and a loan stint with German outfit SSV Ulm, and he has played a key role in Jesper Sorensen’s Caps challenging to win Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
Although he has long-term aspirations to eventually test himself in the Premier League – and even secure a move to Arsenal after supporting the north Londoners growing up – Nelson is desperate for his current form to propel him into the forefront of Canada head coach Jesse Marsch’s plans.
Nelson Grateful for Opportunities After Cancer Battle
Nelson has been on an inspirational journey to the top. When he was just 18 months old, he was diagnosed with a form of testicular cancer. There were fears this would significantly impact his life, especially when the cancer spread to his lungs.
But now, at the age of 22, Nelson is dreaming of helping the Vancouver Whitecaps to honours at the same time as improving his personal chances of earning a call-up to the fast-approaching 2026 World Cup. The 10-cap Canada international is proud to have defied the odds and be in a position to tell his story.
In an exclusive interview with GIVEMESPORT, Nelson said:
‘You have to pay’: UFC owners detail how site fees decide which cities and states land marquee events
UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago set a new record with a live gate totaling more than $11 million for a sold out show that welcomed over 20,000 fans into the arena.
The success of that card already has the city clamoring for another event with hopes of bringing a fight card back to Chicago in 2026 but the message from ownership is clear — if you want the UFC, you’ve got to pony up a hefty site fee. That’s according to TKO Group Holdings president and COO Mark Shapiro, who detailed how the company is making travel plans moving forward into 2026 with 13 pay-per-view level events up for grabs as well as 30 UFC Fight Night cards per year.
“UFC is breaking records everywhere they go,” Shapiro said during the Goldman-Sachs Communicopia and Technology conference. “The last numbered event in Chicago was the highest grossing event in the history of the United Center. Dating back through the Michael Jordan days. The highest grossing event and they’re already at the table trying to get another fight for next year. We’re just a couple weeks post [event].
“We still have 30 Fight Nights to sell for UFC and they can be smaller but if we’ve got a St. Louis up against a Des Moines, Iowa, if you want us back there and you’ve sold out and broken records in both your arenas, you have to pay for us to come back or else we’ll take it to another town. That goes for NXT and Raw and Smackdown on the WWE side.”
Site fees are payments made by cities, states or local governments to bring high profile events to a particular place. For instance, Saudi Arabia reportedly paid around $20 million to bring a UFC card there for the first time in 2024.
Shapiro specifically mentioned U.S. cities like Atlanta, Charlotte and Detroit all vying to host UFC events in the near future.
The same goes internationally with the UFC just recently visiting Paris while continuing to expand its footprint in the Middle East through a partnership with the government in Abu Dhabi as well as a growing relationship with the powers-that-be in Saudi Arabia.
“Even in the Middle East where we’re breaking out of just the Middle East, we’re in conversations right now with the Saudis and with Abu Dhabi on bringing a UFC Fight Night to Saudi,” Shapiro revealed. “We’ve done one before but we’re embarking on bringing a second one there and that should be financially a very good story for everyone involved.”
The traveling UFC show isn’t slowing down any time soon and Shapiro made it clear that price really is going to drive the demand when it comes to landing a fight card.
“No shortage of countries similar to F1 that want to see is bring our show to town,” Shapiro said. “We’re going to maximize those opportunities in kind but most important to me is cash. Cash kills. That’s where we are.”
As further proof that TKO is all about site fees determining where events take place, WWE announced just days ago that for the first time ever the company’s biggest, marquee event WrestleMania would happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027. While no financial figures were disclosed, it’s safe to assume Saudi Arabia more than likely broke the bank to get the biggest WWE event of the year to take place in the Middle East.
Andretti Global hires Ron Ruzewski as team principal, reuniting him with driver Will Power
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — TWG Motorsports made yet another power move for Andretti Global on Wednesday by naming Ron Ruzewski, one of three Team Penske executives fired during an Indianapolis 500 scandal, team principal of its IndyCar team.
Ruzewski will start in January, per the Andretti announcement, and take over for Rob Edwards, who will transition into chief performance officer for TWG Motorsports. The motorsports division is an arm of TWG Global, which owns the new Cadillac F1 team that will debut in 2026.
The hiring of Ruzewski will reunite him with driver Will Power, who after a full season of not being told by Roger Penske if he would return in 2026 for an 18th season instead signed with Andretti Global after last month’s season finale.
Power’s contractual rights are being held by Penske through the remainder of the year — a flashpoint amongst Penske critics who believe the two-time IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was not treated fairly by an organization the Australian was extremely loyal to for his entire career.
Many believe that since David Malukas has already been hired to replace Power in the No. 12, has a merchandise line up on the Penske website and is free to get a start on his new job, that Power should be afforded the same luxury since Team Penske didn’t want him anyway. Questions about Penske’s ability to maintain separation between ownership of the IndyCar Series and a three-car team are being asked because in holding on to Power through the end of December, Penske is prohibiting a rival team from a competing manufacturer to get a start on its 2026 season while Team Penske is able to do so with Malukas.
In the case of Ruzewski, who was IndyCar managing director for Penske, his contract likely held a clause that prohibited him from working within the series for a specified amount of time following his May dismissal. Penske fired team president Tim Cindric, Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer in the wake of the Indianapolis 500 scandal.
The firings were the result of the discovery that two-time defending Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and Power had an illegally modified spec part on their cars ahead of the final round of qualifications for the 109th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” It was the second major checks-and-balances failure at Team Penske in just over a year.
Moyer was hired by McLaren Racing midseason and worked the entire second half of the schedule. Cindric, a member of the Team Penske Hall of Fame, has not yet landed anywhere after working for Penske since 2000 as President of Penske Racing Inc. He was long assumed to be Penske’s successor on the racing part of Penske’s empire.
Cindric was elevated to the role of President of Penske Performance in 2005 and, until February, essentially ran the day-to-day operations of all of Penske’s racing properties.
But Penske’s right-hand man in February was stripped of most of his roles although he said he chose to step back as the overall leader of the organization. He remained president of the IndyCar program until his May dismissal.
The hirings of Power and Ruzewski come as Dan Towriss, who took over as majority owner from Michael Andretti after the 2024 season, shows his commitment to rebuilding the Andretti organization into a powerhouse. Penske and Andretti feuded all of the 2024 season over Andretti’s criticism of how Penske was running IndyCar, and many speculated that was partly what led to Towriss taking control of the entire operation.
Towriss has been aggressive in both successfully pushing the Cadillac F1 team across the finish line after three years of rejections from Formula 1, and now he’s charging hard at making big hires for the IndyCar program.
On Tuesday, Andretti Global announced a technical partnership with Dale Coyne Racing for 2026 that will place reigning INDY NXT champion Dennis Hauger in one of the Coyne cars. The Norwegian driver earned six wins, five additional podium finishes, 13 top-10 finishes and seven poles in 14 races en route to winning the development series championship in 2025 as a rookie with Andretti.
He clinched the title at the penultimate race of the season, at the Milwaukee Mile.
The Honda-powered IndyCar team at Andretti in 2026 will consist of Power, Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood. Colton Herta will become Cadillac’s test and reserve driver and potentially compete in F2 as a way to gain the super license needed to compete in F1.
Herta’s move opened the seat for Power, who turns 45 in March but was the most consistent of the three Penske drivers in what was a terrible 2025 season for the organization. Power’s late-season win at Portland and Newgarden’s victory in the season finale were the only two wins for Penske in IndyCar this year.
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Motorsports industry education coming to mid-Michigan university
MIDLAND, MI — Northwood University officials announced new academic programming designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the global motorsports industry, with courses beginning this fall.
The Midland-based university developed the programming in collaboration with leading motorsports professionals and industry organizations, combining business education with motorsports management training and real-world experience at motorsports events, organizers said
“Motorsports is not only an exciting spectacle to watch, it’s one of the fastest-growing global industries, expected to double its economic impact by 2035,” Northwood University President Kent MacDonald said in a statement. “Competing in this dynamic field requires sharp commercial insight, bold strategic vision and relentless innovation.”
Starting this fall, current students can enroll in a three-part motorsports-focused workshop series as part of a new Motorsports Essentials digital badge. Students can earn the badge through existing degree programs, including the Automotive Marketing and Management as well as the Automotive Aftermarket Management programs.
To earn the badge, students will complete Northwood courses, experiential learning opportunities at motorsports industry events and the workshop series.
In fall 2026, the university will offer a new Fundamentals of Motorsports course for current and new students. Enrollment for this course opens in spring 2026.
The university appointed motorsports industry pioneer and alumnus Steve Madincea to lead the program. Madincea has created commercial activities in Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and IMSA, and will use his global motorsport network to provide students with industry case studies, professional engagement and work experience at motorsport events worldwide.
“Spanning Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, World Rally, MotoGP, World Superbike, AMA Motocross and Supercross, as well as a host of other racing organizations, the motorsports industry is an international business that blends innovation, sponsorship, media and technology,” David Oventhal, Subaru of New England Professor of Automotive Strategy at Northwood University, said in a statement.
Oventhal said global motorsport fan surveys reveal a shift toward a younger and more diverse audience with increased female engagement.
“Recent global motorsport fan surveys reveal a significant shift toward a younger and more diverse audience, with increased female engagement, and these fans expect fresh, innovative activations from teams and sponsors,” he said.
The courses will be taught by Northwood faculty and guest lecturers from the motorsports and sports management industries, including executives, media personalities, engineers and team principals.
“We are honored to have the support of so many different motorsports entities from around the globe helping us shape our programming,” Matthew Bennett, vice president of Enrollment, Strategic Partnerships, and the Center for Automotive and Mobility Studies at Northwood University, said in a statement. “Students will greatly benefit from this invaluable input as well as the practical experiences being offered.”
Academic Vice President and Provost Kristin Stehouwer in a statement said the programming reinforces Northwood’s educational leadership in automotive and mobility sectors.
“Northwood has always been a place where students learn by doing, and where values like free enterprise, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation guide every program,” Stehouwer said. “By offering programming to prepare students for business careers in the motorsports sector, we’re expanding opportunities for students while reinforcing Northwood’s role as an educational leader at the forefront of automotive and mobility.”
Information about enrolling in the fall 2025 Motorsports Essentials workshop series or the fall 2026 Fundamentals of Motorsports course is available at northwood.edu/cams/motorsports-workshop-series/.
Generative AI was used to organize and structure information for this story, based on data provided by Northwood University. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff.
Former Cup champion crew chief Rodney Childers to join JR Motorsports in 2026
Cup championship winning crew chief Rodney Childers will join JR Motorsports and serve as crew chief for the the team’s No. 1 car with Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch in 2026, the team announced Wednesday.
“Rodney’s resume and career speak for itself,” said JRM team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a statement from the team. “Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That’s a relationship that has always been close and has remained close to this day. We’ve always had interest in working together in motorsports and I’m thankful that this opportunity came about and we could bring him into the JRM family.”
Childers has 40 career Cup victories and won the 2014 series title with Kevin Harvick. Childers moved to Spire Motorsports this season after Stewart-Haas Racing closed at the end of the 2024 campaign. Childers and Spire Motorsports parted ways after nine races this year.
“I’m so excited to be joining the JRM family,” said Childers in a statement from JRM. “To see what Dale, Kelley and (Rick Hendrick) have built here is quite amazing and their results show for themselves. Dale and Kelley have meant a lot to me for some 30 years and I can’t wait to be part of this group. Plus, I get to be the lucky guy to lead two amazing young men that have a huge amount of talent and a big future in our sport.”
JR Motorsports stated that Andrew Oversteet, who is the crew chief on the No. 1 car with Kvapil, will remain with the organization in 2026.
JR Motorsports stated that announcements on its 2026 driver and crew chief lineup for all its cars in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will come at a later date.
JR Motorsports Announces Massive Crew Chief Upgrade for 2026 season
When Rodney Childers left his job at Spire Motorsports in April, in the middle of the ongoing season, there were a lot of questions about where he might end up. The iconic crew chief courted the idea of getting to spend more time with his family and left it to god to show him the path ahead.
Well, the man above appears to have done a great job at it. JR Motorsports has announced that Childers will be joining them as the crew chief of the No. 1 team beginning in 2026. The team’s current driver, Carson Kvapil, and Connor Zilisch, who is bound for the Cup Series next year, will share a ride and be his drivers.
JR Motorsports team owner and NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. said about the signing, “Rodney’s resume and career speak for themselves. Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That’s a relationship that has always been close and has remained close to this day.”
“We’ve always had an interest in working together in motorsports, and I’m thankful that this opportunity came about and we could bring him into the JRM family.” A 40-time race winner in the Cup Series, 2026 will be Childers’ first season in the NASCAR’s second highest level of competition.
Childers’ Excitement Over the Big Step
Childers’ most successful stint in the show was with Stewart-Haas Racing as the crew chief of the 2014 Cup Series champion, Kevin Harvick. The pairing was one of the most successful in NASCAR history and secured 37 wins, 148 top-5s, 230 top-10s, and five Championship 4 appearances.
For such a legend to team up with one of the most iconic franchises in recent history is a groundbreaking development. He said in the team statement, “To see what Dale, Kelley and Mr. H [Rick Hendrick] have built here is quite amazing and their results show for themselves.”
“Dale and Kelley have meant a lot to me for some 30 years and I can’t wait to be part of this group. Plus, I get to be the lucky guy to lead two amazing young men that have a huge amount of talent and a big future in our sport.”
Childers will be replacing Andrew Overstreet, who is the current crew chief of Kvapil. It has been confirmed that Overstreet, having been with the team since 2020, will continue to be a crucial part of the organization in a different role.
Ravichandran Ashwin set for historic Big Bash League (BBL) debut
In a move that has captured global attention, legendary Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to make his maiden appearance in the Big Bash League (BBL). This historic step will see one of India’s greatest modern-day cricketers feature in Australia’s flagship T20 tournament—an unprecedented moment that marks a shift in the participation of Indian stars in foreign leagues.
Ravichandran Ashwin set to become first major Indian star in BBL
For decades, the idea of active or recently retired Indian cricketers playing in international franchise leagues remained a distant dream, largely due to the BCCI’s restrictions. Ashwin’s retirement from international and IPL cricket has created an opening, enabling him to pursue this groundbreaking opportunity. His entry into the BBL paves the way for other Indian veterans to follow suit, setting a precedent that could reshape global T20 dynamics.
What Ashwin offers his new franchise
Ashwin will be donning the colors of Sydney Thunder for the 2025-26 season. His inclusion is not just about adding another overseas recruit; it’s about bringing in a cricketing brain trusted worldwide. With over 700 international wickets to his name, Ashwin’s variations—ranging from the subtle slider to the tricky carrom ball—are bound to test even the most seasoned BBL batters.
For the Thunder, who endured a poor campaign last season with only one win in ten games, his arrival is a massive boost. Skipper David Warner led their batting charts with 405 runs, while Chris Green managed 12 wickets with the ball. Ashwin’s expertise in the spin department adds the missing link, offering both skill and leadership in high-pressure moments.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin set for double stint in ILT20 and BBL
The ‘Ashwin Effect’: A boost for the BBL
Ashwin’s presence is expected to transcend on-field impact. Known as a global icon of the sport, his participation is likely to bring thousands of Indian fans into stadiums across Australia and millions more to TV screens worldwide. This surge in viewership, dubbed the ‘Ashwin Effect,’ could propel the BBL into new markets and significantly enhance its global profile. For Sydney Thunder, it also means a stronger fan base, greater ticket sales, and a buzz around their games that few overseas signings could generate.
Reports suggest that Ashwin will link up with the Thunder in January 2026, after completing his stint in the International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE. Although he wasn’t part of the official BBL overseas draft, Cricket Australia is expected to provide a special exemption for this signing, recognizing its historical importance.
If confirmed, Ashwin will become one of the marquee names of the upcoming season. His presence offers Sydney Thunder a chance to turn their fortunes around as they chase a second title, having last lifted the BBL trophy in the 2015-16 season.
Why is doing ‘The Wave’ frowned upon at Wrigley Field?
As the Chicago Cubs face a potential playoff matchup against the San Diego Padres, a common sight in sports stadiums could feel slightly more distasteful than usual.
That celebratory movement known as “The Wave” has been duplicated across the sports world over the years, but it’s a rare sight indeed to see it at Wrigley Field, and the reason why has plenty to do with those Padres.
While the origins of “The Wave,” which sees fans mimic the rolling nature of a wave around a stadium, are disputed, an account of its invention compiled by ESPN in 2013 pins the first recorded “Wave” as occurring during a game between the Athletics and Yankees in Oakland in 1981.
Professional cheerleader “Krazy George” Henderson helped to spearhead the move, and became a legend in the process.
For Cubs fans however, “The Wave” has a far more annoying place in the history of the franchise, and one that represents the frequent pain that accompanies being a supporter of the team.
In 1984, the Cubs reached the National League Championship Series, clinching a playoff spot for the first time in 39 years. They then promptly won the first two games of their series against the Padres at Wrigley Field, with the scene then shifting to San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium, with the team playing its first home games in franchise history.
Already the annoyance level of Cubs fans was undoubtedly piqued by the fact that the Cubs, despite winning four more regular season games than the Padres, would potentially have to play a deciding Game 5 in San Diego because Major League Baseball alternated home-field advantage between the divisions at that time (though a popular urban legend remains that the Cubs lost hosting duties for that pivotal Game 5 because Wrigley Field lacked lights in 1984).
Chicago Cubs
It was during those three games that Cubs fans, and baseball fans in general, were exposed to San Diego fans doing “The Wave” at every given opportunity, and the image became associated with the downfall of the Cubs, who lost the final three games of the series by a combined score of 20-9 and missed out on a trip to the World Series.
It wasn’t just Cubs fans who ended up being disgusted by “The Wave” after that series, with this excerpt from legendary baseball scribe Thomas Boswell describing a common feeling:
Since then, fans who come to Wrigley Field in all likelihood have noticed that “The Wave” rarely occurs at the Friendly Confines, and when fans try to start it, they are typically met with derisive boos or even shouted insults.
In fact, the idea of doing “The Wave” at Wrigley Field is so hated that it has spawned many a ballpark argument, blog post, and even a t-shirt produced by the folks at Obvious Shirts that simply says “No Wave at Wrigley.”
Now, Cubs fans are potentially going to have to deal with their first playoff series against the Padres since that infamous 1984 NLCS, and if anyone tries to do “The Wave” at Wrigley Field, they may have to “wave” goodbye to their fan card in the process.
St. George Theatre announces 2025 fundraiser with golf, tennis options
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The St. George Theatre will host its ninth annual “Laughs on the Links” Golf, Bocce, Tennis & Pickleball Outing to raise funds for the historic venue’s non-profit organization.
The fundraising event will take place on Monday, Oct. 6, at Richmond County Country Club. Dinner and an open bar will follow the sporting events.
The event benefits St. George Theatre Restoration Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to restoring one of Staten Island’s most iconic venues and developing it as a cultural and arts center for New York City through community outreach, educational programs and public performances.
This year’s honorees, who have made a lasting impact on Staten Island’s cultural landscape, are Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, led by Iphigenia Romanos and Albert C. Corhan, Sr.; A.F. Bennett Salon & Wellness Spa; and Lynne Persing.
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone to our ninth annual golf, bocce, tennis, and pickleball outing and to celebrate this year’s remarkable honorees,” said St. George Theatre President & CEO Doreen Cugno.
Co-Founder Luanne Sorrentino emphasized the event’s community atmosphere. “This event is full of fun and sunshine! As always, we look forward to seeing everyone enjoying the outdoors, participating in a sport, and mingling with friends and colleagues,” she said. “We are so thankful for everyone coming out to support the St. George Theatre.”
The event chairpersons include Ron J. Scimone, John Tardy, and Vincent Tardy for golf; Katherine Conners, Celeste Holmes-Bute, and Dr. Thomas Petrone for tennis; and Diana Boland, Joanne Caridi, Linda Clemenza, and Leslie Kasegrande, Esq. for bocce.
Tickets are priced at $475 for individual golfers ($1,800 per foursome), $350 for individual bocce players ($1,300 per foursome), and $335 for tennis and pickleball players.
All tickets include breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour, and dinner. Cocktail and dinner-only tickets are available for $265. Sponsorships start at $200.
The headline sponsors include the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Lynne Persing.
The Marquee sponsors include Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, Empire State Bank, Staten Island Advance, Staten Island University Hospital, and The Law Office of Victoria Wickman.
“The growth and success of the theatre are made possible by the dedication of our community, and gatherings like this play a vital role in helping us continue our mission of preserving the historic theatre while delivering exceptional programming and meaningful community initiatives,” said Cugno.
How Top Tennis Coaches Keep Pros Strong, Fast, and Fresh
In any sport, going from good to great takes more than talent—it takes a relentless work ethic and a coach who knows how to push an athlete past their limits. In tennis, few coaches have earned the reputation of taking top players to the next level quite like Patrick Mouratoglou. While the sport has plenty of renowned names, his track record with champions like Serena Williams speaks for itself.
What sets Mouratoglou apart is that his coaching doesn’t stop at the baseline. He hones every off-court element that gives players an edge, from optimizing recovery and sharpening mental focus to fine-tuning the small, often overlooked details that turn great athletes into champions.
“The coach also plays an important role,” he says. “You have to know your players’ psychology—what drives them and how they respond. As an example, a coach should challenge their player, [which] can reinforce their motivation.”
Why Recovery and Mental Focus Are Non-Negotiable for Elite Players
Beyond understanding what drives a player, Mouratoglou says recovery is one of the most critical elements he can add to their routine—especially for athletes who rarely slow down (after all, they didn’t reach the top by sitting still). He emphasizes that for real progress to manifest, rest is just as important for the mind as it is for the body.
“Recovery is a very important component when it comes to building champions,” he says. “The body needs it, and the mind needs it just as much. We saw last year with Carlos Alcaraz—he came into the US swing exhausted and couldn’t perform at his best. This year, he adjusted, skipped Toronto, gave himself more rest, and arrived much fresher.”
Precision, Preparation, and Tech in Elite Tennis
Mouratoglou also stresses that success is in the details. Just as NFL and NBA players break down game tape, tennis players and their coaches analyze every swing, serve, and movement to gain an edge.
“For me, coaching at the highest level is about precision, preparation, and performance, and technology plays a big role in making that possible,” he says.
As part of Motorola’s new campaign, Icons Behind the Icons, Mouratoglou has integrated the AI-powered Razr Ultra into his coaching workflow. The device allows him to elevate training without adding extra gear or complexity.
“I use it to review match footage, capture training sessions, and share tactical breakdowns on the spot,” he says. “The Flex View mode is especially useful—I can set it up hands-free, record, and immediately analyze everything, no extra equipment required.”
Whether it’s helping players dial in on recovery or tweak their form, Mouratoglou leverages every tool available to keep his players performing at the highest level.
Top tennis players push Grand Slams again for more money, more say
A collection of top-10 tennis players sent a second letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments to push for a greater share of revenues — aiming to rise from the current 16% to 22% by 2030 — contributions to pension, health and maternity benefits that would go from zero to $12 million annually by that same year, and greater say via a new player council.
This letter, signed by stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper — but not, unlike the original letter sent by players to the Slam events in March, Novak Djokovic — was dated July 30.
The second letter, which was seen this week by The Associated Press, set out specific benchmarks for ways in which the sport’s four most prestigious, and profitable, tournaments could offer more money and influence to the athletes.
The players are working with Larry Scott as a consultant; he used to be the chairman and CEO of the WTA women’s tennis tour and, later, ran the Pac-12 conference in American college sports.
There have been meetings among Scott, some players and the leaders of the All England Club, which runs Wimbledon; the French Tennis Federation, which runs Roland-Garros; Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open; and the U.S. Tennis Association, which runs the U.S. Open.
All four were asked to reply to the July 30 letter, and all four did.
The USTA’s response, dated Aug. 18 and obtained this week by the AP, was signed by Brian Vahaly, the group’s interim co-CEO, and Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief executive of professional tennis who just completed her last U.S. Open as tournament director.
“As you are aware, we have always been willing to increase compensation for players — as evidenced by the 57% growth of the U.S. Open purse over the past five years — particularly when additional collaboration on the part of the players helps to create additional revenue,” Vahaly and Allaster wrote. “For example, this year’s significant increase in compensation to $90 million reflects the addition of an extra day to the main draw singles competition and the resulting contribution made by players.”
U.S. Open singles champions Sabalenka and Alcaraz each received a record $5 million this month.
Vahaly and Allaster also wrote that they wanted “to reiterate our commitment to engaging in direct, honest and transparent discussions with the players to build a stronger future for the entire tennis ecosystem — including a healthier calendar, enhanced player consultation, and greater financial value for all involved.”
The March letter from players to the four Slam hosts came not long after the players’ association co-founded by Djokovic — the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) — filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women’s and men’s professional tours in federal court in New York. Djokovic was not listed as one of the plaintiffs.
That antitrust filing seeks more money for players, saying too little of the revenues end up in the athletes’ hands, and lays out a series of other complaints about the way the sport is run. In May, the WTA and ATP tours jointly filed a motion to dismiss the case against them.
The original case did not list the four Grand Slam tournament organizers as defendants, but they have been added, the PTPA announced this week.
“This is a necessary next step to guarantee accountability from all parties,” the PTPA said, “and accelerate long-overdue reform across the entire tennis ecosystem.”
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Chris Evert Honors Billie Jean King & WTA’s 55th Anniversary of Biggest Revolution
The year 1970 was a turning point in women’s tennis history. The official tour of professional women’s tennis players came into existence when the Original 9—Peaches Bartkowicz, Rosie Casals, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman, Billie Jean King, Kristy Pigeon, Kerry Melville, Nancy Richey and Valerie Ziegenfuss—collectively signed a $1 contract. The movement was led by none other than Billie Jean King, who was the pioneer for women’s rights in tennis. Three years later, this movement led to the foundation of the WTA, and women’s tennis has been on the rise ever since. With the professional women’s tennis tour completing 55 years of its inception, Chris Evert celebrated this occasion in a special way.
Evert took to her official Instagram handle and shared a glimpse of the Original 9, with a message that read “55 years of rallying the world.” The American legend paid tribute to those involved in the foundation of the women’s tour while celebrating 55 years of its inception. Additionally, Evert wrote, “@wta it’s been an amazing 55 years!”
Although Evert wasn’t a part of the Original 9, her contribution to women’s tennis during those early days will never be forgotten. She committed to the early professional tournaments on the women’s tour and became a dominant force in it. Her successes in the Virginia Slims Circuit were crucial to the foundation of the WTA, and they helped legitimize women’s tennis.
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Reflecting on those days, Evert said, “The culture at that time was that women athletes were frowned upon. They were strong. That was everything the culture dictated that a woman wasn’t. I came along, a teenager who was trying to be feminine. I wasn’t a Billie Jean King or Martina Navratilova with these big messages, but after I showed up it was OK. `Oh, those are beautiful tennis dresses and those are pretty ribbons. She wears nail polish.’”
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While Evert was an important member of that movement, Billie Jean King led the pack to form the women’s tour. The legendary figure in women’s tennis recalled the meeting that led to the foundation of the professional women’s tennis tour.
Billie Jean King shares interesting details of the inception of the women’s tour
Be it fighting for women’s rights or matters of equal pay, Billie Jean King was at the forefront of all. Not only did she identify the concerning areas in women’s tennis, but she also fought for them to get them resolved. One such incident was the meeting among the founding members of the WTA before the launch of the women’s tour.
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Recalling the details of that event, Billie Jean King said, “Standing at that podium and telling them, ‘This is it. We have to do this. I’m not going to spend any more time on it if we don’t make it happen now. But I know we’re going to make it.’ I said, ‘This is our moment of truth. It’s probably the most important decision we’re ever going to make for our sport. So let’s get it right. I kept saying, ‘We have to do this. We’ve got to be together.’”
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SB-L sweeps SL/O to earn spot in 1A regional finals
SERGEANT BLUFF — It’s been quite an evolution for the Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School tennis program.
The school didn’t even field a team prior to the 2021 season.
In its first season of existence, the SB-L boys and girls teams combined for nine points between them at the 2021 Missouri River Activities Conference Championships.
Now, both are the two-time defending MRAC champions and are coming off bids to the team state tournaments, and the program has a brand new athletic complex to host matches in Sergeant Bluff for the first time as the school district broke ground on a baseball, softball and tennis facility.
Novak Djokovic Pays Tribute to ‘Tennis Father’ Nikola Pilic
This week, the ‘tennis father’ of Novak Djokovic, former French Open finalist and world No. 6 Nikola Pilic, died at the age of 86.
Players and fans alike immediately began to share tributes in honor of the five-time Davis Cup captain.
Now, Novak Djokovic, who was accepted to Pilic’s academy in Germany when he was 12, despite the academy only allowing students over 14, paid tribute to his ‘tennis father’ in a series of posts on social media.
Editor’s Note: These posts have been condensed into cohesive paragraphs for readability.
“Dear Mr. Niko, I received sad news today while I was on the court, finishing my training. A feeling of emptiness and sorrow overwhelmed me. I hope you felt how much you meant to me in my career and life. Your impact on my development as a person and a tennis player remains indelible.
“I feel eternal gratitude to you and your wonderful wife Mia for accepting me as your own son when I was 12 years old. My parents and brothers have always felt you as a member of the family. When almost everyone turned their backs on us and while our country was being devastated by bombing, Mija and you extended a hand of support to us and did everything in your power so that my brothers and I could continue to live our dream and engage in the sport we love.”
“Thank you for all the moments that relived in my mind today and that will remain etched in my memory for as long as I. Alongside the sadness and mixed emotions I feel, your image and memories of our shared moments bring joy and gratitude to my heart.”
“Your legacy will endure for a long time, and will look back on your persona and achievements with great admiration. All your accomplishments as a player, coach, and selector are inscribed in golden letters in the books of Balkan and world tennis history. For me, however, the most important thing is that I can proudly call you “Sjor Niko, my tennis Father”. Rest in peace ”
(Translations via X/Twitter)
Monica Seles Pays Tribute to Nikola Pilic
Of the many tributes that were shared for Pilic over the past few days, one that stands out is Monica Seles.
Selesa, who had a stellar career in her own right, winning nine Grand Slam titles and three tour finals, is someone Djokovic has looked up to since childhood.
When he was young and training under his ‘tennis mother’ Jelena Gencic, Djokovic did everything he could to emulate the training of Seles, whom Gencic had also worked with.
At the US Open this year, Seles notably sat in Djokovic’s player box after the 24-time Grand Slam champ teased a potential coaching partnership.
In a post on her Instagram story this week, Seles paid tribute to Pilic:
“Remembering Nikki Pilic, a tennis legend whose incredible talent and sportsmanship inspired me and my dad so much. His contributions to the sport will never be forgotten, and he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, Nikki.”
Davis Cup Pays Tribute to Nikola Pilic
Another notable tribute to Nikola Pilic was shared by the Davis Cup’s official page.
Back in 2010, after captaining four Davis Cup teams to titles, Pilic began serving as an advisor to the Serbian team.
Heading into the tournament, the players had a bet. If they won, they would all shave their heads.
Pilic then decided to join them, as seen in the photos shared by the Davis Cup on Tuesday.
Hershey tennis takes down Mechanicsburg in MPC-Keystone action
Hershey tennis earned a close 3-2 home victory over Mechanicsburg on Wednesday in Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division action.
Annaliese Tsyapa and Riley Sprecher picked up singles wins for the Trojans while Avni Desai and Navya Mathur teamed up to take down Lindsay Cameron and Rosslyn Gingrich-Brown in doubles play.
Ryma Saha earned a singles win for the Wildcats while Anna Krueger and Rachel Yeager defeated Asa Wang and Tess Mariano in doubles action.
Hershey improves to 12-3 on the season with the victory while Mechanicsburg drops to 6-8 with the loss.
Frances Tiafoe Calls for Immediate Change in Tennis That Novak Djokovic Cannot Fulfil
Right now, the scope of men’s tennis belongs to World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, making his debut at the Japan Open, and World No. 2 Jannik Sinner. The 2025 season proves it. Jim Courier even dubbed them the “New Two” at the US Open. They have clashed in five finals this year: Italian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and the US Open. In that, Alcaraz has won four of those, but Sinner stole Wimbledon, taking the crown from the defending champion. The rivalry is fierce, and the big question lingers: who will come between them? Frances Tiafoe thinks he has an answer.
So far, Alcaraz and Sinner have swept every Grand Slam in 2024 and 2025. The U.S. has waited since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open for a men’s major champion. But Tiafoe isn’t backing down. He’s throwing them a challenge. “There’s a couple more guys who’ve got to join them. I’m not saying beat them, but there’s got to be (other) guys—and that motivates me,” Tiafoe told Olympics.com. He recalled their last meeting, at Wimbledon last year, when Alcaraz edged him in five sets. “I’m like, yo, who’s that third guy? Who’s that fourth guy?”
One player Tiafoe refuses to count in this mix is Novak Djokovic. “Novak doesn’t count. He’s 40. I love him, but doesn’t count. He’s 40. He’s a GOAT, he’s the best player of all time. He’s not with those guys,” Tiafoe said with a grin. He knows exactly what Alcaraz and Sinner bring, but he’s eager to unsettle their rhythm. And he wants more players to jump in, to shake up the story.
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But why not Novak? The Serb’s 2025 season saw him maintain a high level of performance, particularly in Grand Slam tournaments, despite the rise of younger rivals. He finished the season with a 31–10 record and one title. In his H2H matchups against his two main rivals in 2025, Djokovic holds a 1-1 record against Alcaraz and a 0-2 record against Sinner. His win over the Spaniard at the Australian Open marked his only victory against either player in a Grand Slam this season. He’s been the only player to truly challenge the new two.
Not to mention, Frances’ call echoes what Alexander Zverev said a few months ago: he wanted to “spoil” the Alcaraz and Sinner party. But the truth? The top two look a league apart from the rest. Alcaraz has racked up seven titles this year. Sinner owns two Slam trophies in 2025 and held No. 1 for 65 weeks before being dethroned in New York. Even now, he sits close behind Alcaraz, ready to reclaim the top spot with a few big wins.
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Frances Tiafoe believes he sees what separates the two. “With Jannik, you know what product you’re going to get from him every single day. Alcaraz is more similar to me, as in the flashier talent or whatever, but still, his effort and what he brings out is the same every day,” he said. He even thinks he can close the gap. If he can “bring in a high-intensity effort to practice, I’ll be all right.”
But Tiafoe’s own results remind him how steep the climb is. He hasn’t lifted a title since Stuttgart 2023. This year, he reached one final in Houston, an ATP 250. His best Slam run came at Roland Garros, where he broke through to the quarterfinals for the first time, becoming the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe to do so. He also made the quarters in Washington. But at the US Open, where he was a semifinalist last year, his run ended in the third round. And in the Asian swing, his first tournament started badly.
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Frances Tiafoe sees an unfortunate end to his Japan Open run
On September 24, Tiafoe’s run at the Japan Open ended with a shocker. Up against qualifier Marton Fucsovics in Tokyo, he grabbed the first set 6-3 but couldn’t hang on. Fucsovics stormed back to take it 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, handing Tiafoe his first opening-round hard-court loss of the year (10-1). The 2022 Tokyo finalist fought through a tense decider with three breaks of serve, but the Hungarian outlasted him in heavy baseline rallies to clinch it. The win gave Fucsovics a 3-2 lead in their H2H and pushed him up seven spots to No. 51 in the ATP Live Rankings.
The frustration poured out instantly. After losing match point, Frances Tiafoe walked to the net and smashed his racket again and again until nothing was left. The clip spread fast online, showing just how much the loss stung.
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From once being a top face of U.S. men’s tennis, Tiafoe now sits at No. 29 in the ATP Rankings. Reflecting on the year, he admitted it hasn’t gone as planned. “I lost a lot of tough ones, struggled to put matches together like the three, four in a row that you kind of need to sit on top of the game. And I didn’t have a couple of big results that I normally have every year. I have a chance to end strong and put some things together. But ultimately, it’s been a very up-and-down year,” he said.
Last month brought a third-round exit at the US Open and a late Laver Cup withdrawal. Now, a stinging first-round loss in Tokyo adds to the struggles. He’s still in the doubles draw this week, but the bigger question hovers: what comes next for Frances Tiafoe? Will he follow through on his own words, commit to the grind in practice, and return ready to battle Alcaraz and Sinner? Share your takes in the comments below!
Top tennis players push Grand Slam tournaments again in bid for more money and more say
A collection of top-10 tennis players sent a second letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments to push for a greater share of revenues — aiming to rise from the current 16% to 22% by 2030 — contributions to pension, health and maternity benefits that would go from zero to $12 million annually by that same year, and greater say via a new player council.
This letter, signed by stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper — but not, unlike the original letter sent by players to the Slam events in March, Novak Djokovic — was dated July 30.
The second letter, which was seen this week by The Associated Press, set out specific benchmarks for ways in which the sport’s four most prestigious, and profitable, tournaments could offer more money and influence to the athletes.
The players are working with Larry Scott as a consultant; he used to be the chairman and CEO of the WTA women’s tennis tour and, later, ran the Pac-12 conference in American college sports.
There have been meetings among Scott, some players and the leaders of the All England Club, which runs Wimbledon; the French Tennis Federation, which runs Roland-Garros; Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open; and the U.S. Tennis Association, which runs the U.S. Open.
All four were asked to reply to the July 30 letter, and all four did.
The USTA’s response, dated Aug. 18 and obtained this week by the AP, was signed by Brian Vahaly, the group’s interim co-CEO, and Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief executive of professional tennis who just completed her last U.S. Open as tournament director.
“As you are aware, we have always been willing to increase compensation for players — as evidenced by the 57% growth of the U.S. Open purse over the past five years — particularly when additional collaboration on the part of the players helps to create additional revenue,” Vahaly and Allaster wrote. “For example, this year’s significant increase in compensation to $90 million reflects the addition of an extra day to the main draw singles competition and the resulting contribution made by players.”
U.S. Open singles champions Sabalenka and Alcaraz each received a record $5 million this month.
Vahaly and Allaster also wrote that they wanted “to reiterate our commitment to engaging in direct, honest and transparent discussions with the players to build a stronger future for the entire tennis ecosystem — including a healthier calendar, enhanced player consultation, and greater financial value for all involved.”
The March letter from players to the four Slam hosts came not long after the players’ association co-founded by Djokovic — the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) — filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women’s and men’s professional tours in federal court in New York. Djokovic was not listed as one of the plaintiffs.
That antitrust filing seeks more money for players, saying too little of the revenues end up in the athletes’ hands, and lays out a series of other complaints about the way the sport is run. In May, the WTA and ATP tours jointly filed a motion to dismiss the case against them.
The original case did not list the four Grand Slam tournament organizers as defendants, but they have been added, the PTPA announced this week.
“This is a necessary next step to guarantee accountability from all parties,” the PTPA said, “and accelerate long-overdue reform across the entire tennis ecosystem.”
Donald Trump will arrive for Ryder Cup opening day in the afternoon
His attendance at a recent U.S. Open tennis match caused significant delays for fans entering the stadium.
Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald both expressed appreciation for the president’s support of golf.
FARMINGDALE, NY — Donald Trump arriving at a golf course on the weekend during his presidency is not unusual.
Trump spending time at a course and not playing … that is rare.
The president will make an appearance at Bethpage Black Sept. 26, the opening day of the Ryder Cup, but he is not expected to arrive until the afternoon, according to reports.
Trump was invited to the event by the PGA of America, the governing body of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, but it was not clear early on if he would show up for the opening foursomes session, which starts at 7:10 a.m.
The issue was heightened when Trump attended the U.S. Open men’s single final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Sept. 7 at Arthur Ashe Stadium and chaos ensued.
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With strict security measures in place for the biggest tennis event in this country, the match was delayed by about 40 minutes and there were several thousand empty seats when play started with thousands of fans still in line to enter the stadium.
With the Ryder Cup expected to draw at least 50,000 per day, more than twice the crowd for the Alcaraz-Sinner final, and the first tee shot being hit so early, reports are that Trump will delay his arrival until the afternoon.
Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald appreciate Donald Trump’s passion for golf
Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley of the U.S. and Europe’s Luke Donald were asked about the president attending the Ryder Cup.
Bradley said he was
You might want to rethink your plans
Who’s buying?
If you’re planning to attend the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, think about pregaming.
While double-digit beer prices are nothing new to those who flock to Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden, the PGA of America has taken a sledgehammer to the ethos of “The People’s Country Club” by charging fans a minimum price of $15 per beer.
A “premium beer” costs $19 (plus tax and tip) and a hard seltzer is listed for $16, while a non-alcoholic Michelob Ultra Zero runs $12.
The cost of four 16-ounce Bud Lights, plus tax, will cost about as much as a New York State resident pays to play a weekday round at the legendary course ($70).
Things don’t get any cheaper if you want a mixed drink, with an All-American Transfusion costing spectators $19.50.
But there was no sticker shock for the many who walked away with beer cans before 9 a.m., nor should it be expected amongst a crowd that coughed up $255 to attend practice rounds and $750 per day of official play, which includes food and non-alcoholic beverages.
More than 500,000 fans applied for Ryder Cup tickets, which sold out in 48 hours, and featured a premium hospitality package for $10,000 per day.
The massive merchandise tent, located just beyond the main entrance of the event, features polo shirts for $145, sweatshirts for $245 and commemorative coins signed by U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, listed for as much as $7,500.
Tickets to this year’s Masters cost $140 per day, while tickets to the U.S. Open at Oakmont could be purchased for $150.
Prop bets and vice captains highlight week for U.S. Ryder Cup team
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Collin Morikawa added some much-needed levity to a week that has been dominated by talk of player stipends and perceived greed.
After deftly sidestepping the issue of stipends – which are being given to U.S. Ryder Cup players this week at Bethpage – Morikawa was asked if there was anyone in the U.S. team room who was particularly motivating.
“It’s actually been great. The vice captains we have are definitely trying to get into our wallets and in our heads, and that’s like something you normally don’t get,” Morikawa said.
Morikawa explained that during practice rounds on the Black Course the vice captains, led by Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Kisner, have been challenging players with an assortment of prop bets.
“I’ve had a lot of prop bets. I’ve had a lot of fairway bets, birdie bets,” Morikawa explained. “I’m up on [Snedeker] but not by much. Xander [Schauffele] is taking the cake this week [from Kisner]. I’m positive on Sneds. Sneds is the main one that I think we all love to pick on and we love to have him as our bank.”
As for the “other” financial questions this week and the $200,000 stipend U.S. players are receiving from the PGA of America for their participation, Morikawa had a more nuanced answer to what has become a complicated and polarizing issue.
“There’s no number. It could be zero. It could be one dollar. There isn’t a right or a wrong amount,” Morikawa said when asked if he thought the team was being “fairly” compensated. “All 12 of us here playing, when we tee it up on Friday, and before this all started, we just want to win the Ryder Cup. We want to win it for ourselves. We want to win it for our country.
“When we stood out [on the first tee] two days ago and we got speeches from the Nassau Players Club and we got speeches from the firefighter and his son, look, I’m not an emotional guy, but like there was emotions. And sometimes it just hits home.”
The PGA of America altered its policy for Ryder Cup player compensation last December, increasing the amount given to each player for charity to $300,000 and adding the $200,000 stipend that can be used however the player wants.
The move has been questioned by those from Europe who have been quick to point out that those playing for the Continent are not compensated.
How Is Bryson DeChambeau Playing in the Ryder Cup Despite Being a LIV Golf Player? His Eligibility Explored
Brooks Koepka, who joined LIV in 2022, was part of the 2023 American team. Until now, he’s been the only one who has done so. But this year, Bryson DeChambeau will play alongside Scottie Scheffler and the company. The PGA Tour has banned LIV Golf players from participating in its events. These golfers are suspended and have to end their association and wait out the suspension before playing PGA Tour events again. So why is Bryson DeChambeau playing in the Ryder Cup? Did he leave LIV Golf, or were the rules changed just for him?
Bryson DeChambeau’s 2025 Ryder Cup status
The two-time U.S. Open champion has appeared in two Ryder Cup tournaments. He was on the 2018 team that faced defeat, and then on the 2021 team that beat Europe with a score of 19-9. But both appearances were before he started playing in LIV Golf events. He was not part of the 2023 biennial event, but this time, Bryson is playing in the 2025 Ryder Cup despite his affiliation with LIV Golf.
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Bryson’s journey was challenging because the PGA Tour barred him from its events. The scores achieved in these events play a significant role in helping a golfer become automatically qualified for the Ryder Cup. Therefore, Bryson’s only option was to outperform others in major tournaments. He achieved six top-10 finishes in eight majors over the qualifying period, one of them being his second U.S. Open victory in 2024.
The British Open was Bryson’s last major before the Ryder Cup. He finished tied for 10th in the event, thanks to his final-round 64. He was in the top 6 rankings. However, there were four other PGA Tour events, the 3M Open, Wyndham Championship, FedEx St. Jude Championship, and BMW Championship, before the completion of the qualifying period. These were the events Bryson could not play. So his standings at the end of the British Open did not confirm his position on the team.
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Despite his position in the rankings, Bryson was bound to make it to the team, as confirmed by captain Keegan Bradley.
“Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said to Sports Illustrated via a text message. “He brings so much. He brings energy, passion, but most importantly, he’s one of the best players on the planet,” he continued.
So, while Bryson couldn’t earn points after the British Open, his place on the team was certain. Captain Keegan Bradley would have eventually selected him as one of the captain’s picks. This could have resulted in backlash at Bradley for picking a golfer associated with LIV Golf. However, none of it happened because Bryson ended in the sixth position after calculating the BMW Championship points. Thus, he was automatically qualified as a member of Team America.
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Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf Ryder Cup eligibility
The confusion about Bryson’s eligibility arises because of the PGA Tour’s ban on LIV Golf players. However, the Ryder Cup is managed by the PGA of America, which is a distinct entity. The PGA of America has no specific regulations barring LIV Golf players from participation. Even the captain can choose any LIV Golf player as one of the six picks he gets.
Like the American team, the European team also has six members who automatically qualify based on points and another six who are the captain’s picks. And LIV Golf players from Europe can also take part in the Ryder Cup. However, the rules are a little different for them. They must maintain an active DP World Tour membership. Additionally, they also have to pay fines to remain eligible for selection.
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Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm are two golfers associated with LIV Golf but are part of the European team.
Since the PGA of America organizes the Ryder Cup and it doesn’t have any bans, Bryson DeChambeau is eligible despite his LIV Golf affiliation.
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Team USA’s perspective on Bryson DeChambeau
Many golf fans and even some star European players are criticizing Bryson DeChambeau.
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“I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people,” said McIlroy to The Guardian. The 2025 Masters Tournament winner said this when asked about Bryson’s comment, “chirp in the ear,” about playing him at Bethpage. McIlroy said, “That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”
Brandel Chamblee, an American golfer and commentator, even titled Bryson as a ‘captain’s nightmare.’
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However, his teammates have backed DeChambeau. To begin with, Keegan Bradley has branded him as the X-factor for his team.
“I think Bryson, just his golfing ability alone, is an X-factor for our team, but also, he’s a really fiery player. When you come to a Ryder Cup, you don’t want guys to try to be something they’re not. We have a lot of calm, mellow guys, so we need the energy from Bryson, and he brings that every day in practice rounds, in the team room, and hopefully in the tournament competition too.”
It’s not just Bradley; however, his teammates are also backing Bryson and sticking it to Brandel Chamblee. Scottie Scheffler also praised DeChambeau.
“I think Bryson is a tremendous competitor. He’s a great partner as well. I partnered with him in 2021 at Whistling Straits. And he was a tremendous guy to be out there on the golf course with. He’s a great guy. He’s a good friend. And, he’s been great in our team room,” said the World No.1.
It does not end there. Xander Schauffele said, “I was telling Keegan, I was like, I feel Bryson could be the difference for us in a strange way.” He even called him a gladiator. “This is his arena. If he views himself as a gladiator golfer, this is as good as it gets,” Xander reflected.
Patrick Cantlay, the veteran who will play his third consecutive Ryder Cup in 2025, is happy that he won’t face Bryson as an opponent. “We’ve played in a few team events together, Presidents Cups and the [2021] Ryder Cup. He’s great in team events. I was watching him hit drivers on the range the other day, and I’m glad he’s on our side. He’s a showman out there. I think he’s going to get the crowd fired up. It’s really great anytime he’s on these teams because he’s such a fantastic player,” said Patrick.
Other players, like Russell Henley and J.J. Spaun, have also backed their teammate. Many of the US team members believe he can be the key differentiator because of the energy he brings in. Even fans are backing Bryson after he faced criticism from Brandel Chamblee.
Following the 2023 Ryder Cup victory, European team members attributed their success to the strong bond they formed off the golf course. Bryson can do the same for the American team.
How public gem Bethpage Black became iconic Ryder Cup home
They come in darkness, adrenaline surging, imagination unchained. They drive through silent suburban streets, equipped with beer, snacks and childlike enthusiasm. They curl up in discomfort, in cars turned cots, accepting what little sleep they get before the 4:30 a.m. wake-up knock — presenting a ticket to their dream.
“I needed to check Bethpage Black off the bucket list,” Missouri native Ben Czarnacki said. “When you decide to fly from out of state, you have no idea if you’re even gonna get a tee time. We knew we were gonna have to sleep in the car to ensure we did. … We woke up around 1:30 a.m. because cars were piling in. Every spot was filled.
“When you get that ticket and you walk in, the butterflies in your stomach, I can’t explain it. There’s no other golf experience like it.”
A fixture on lists of the world’s top 100 golf courses, Bethpage Black is open to all. It is the rare truly public course deemed worthy of hosting golf’s grandest events — made incalculably more iconic by the sign affixed to the railing behind the first tee, where all pose for photos before embarking on an 8-mile trek (carts are prohibited) down a track that’s vexed the world’s best:
PGA Tour Pro Points Fingers at Extreme Actions Taken for Donald Trump’s Bethpage Black Appearance
It’s confirmed! The 47th POTUS, Donald Trump, will be attending the first round of the Ryder Cup on Friday, September 26. With his presence, special arrangements and security concerns have already been raised. With that being added, Byeong Hun An has already shared his thoughts on X.
After the news of Trump’s presence was out, Hun An wrote, “US Open Tennis final 🤝 1st rd at Ryder cup.” Trump attended the US Open men’s final at the beginning of September. However, with his attendance, the fans had to undergo an additional security check, creating an extra delay. Even the fans seemed frustrated at times due to the extra effort. Given the ongoing security risk, the president must follow security protocols, and the same will be in place at the Ryder Cup as well.
In fact, for fans, the list of prohibited items is already shared for the 1st tee and clubhouse area. The list includes portable folding chairs, torch-style lighters, and metal/ hard plastic insulated beverage containers, range finders, laptops, tablets, and more. Additionally, all personal items will be thoroughly inspected before access is granted. Organizers have already shared tips for fans.
According to the Ryder Cup organizers, it is advisable to arrive at the course as early as possible to avoid potential delays and plan accordingly to allow for extra time. Further, they even shared, “Temporary delays moving around publicly accessible areas inside and outside of the Bethpage Black Golf Course. These areas may briefly become restricted or frozen spaces before, during, or after the event.”
Fans will have to pass through TSA-style security screenings at the entrance gates to the ground, and if they leave those areas or travel to other parts of the course, the screening might happen again. But with the president’s estimated arrival time being 7:10 AM, the PGA of America has made a special request to the president.
PGA of America requested a delay for Donald Trump
At the men’s tennis final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Trump was the one who came in early, causing a delay for fans and long queues due to security reasons. But unlike a tennis match, a golf match cannot be delayed, which is why a special request has been made.
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The Ryder Cup director, Bryan Karns, said, “We actually won’t be able to delay the tee times because we don’t have the evening. At Arthur Ashe Stadium, you can flip those lights on, you can go late. Whereas we don’t have that luxury of doing that, and you obviously want to make sure, if possible, you’re finishing both sessions on the day we start them so the fans can see it from start to finish,”
The US Open tennis finals started after a 48-minute delay, with the artificial lights that could have been addressed. However, in the case of golf, it will become tough to complete. In fact, the tour has already faced situations like this. In 2014, the PGA Championship’s final round was delayed by two hours due to rain. As a result, players had to complete the remaining round in the dark, which led to a decline in their performance.
Crucial Jordan Spieth Update Surfaces 45 Days After His PGA Tour Season Ended on a Sour Note
Jordan Spieth’s tough season saw missed cuts and poor finishes, but a recent viral video shows him back in the spotlight, sparking fresh buzz. In an update shared by the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA players were seen sharing a poignant moment with the golf star, Jordan Spieth.
The post first appeared on Clutch Points, where a “special guest” joined the Mavericks’ gym. The athletes shared memorabilia, with Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Max Christie giving some Mavericks’ gear to the 13-time PGA Tour champ. Spieth exchanged merch with the team, too. Moreover, the group captured the moment on the court with a basketball as a prop.
The Mavericks team will kick off their 2025-26 season against the San Antonio Spurs in less than a month. They will be expecting some of Spieth’s golfing caliber to leave an impression on them in the October rivalry. While this moment in itself is touching and prides strong cross-sports bonds, the undertones are more profound.
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For Spieth, as a Dallas native, his appearance at the gym reinforces his ties to the city. However, not only does it highlight hometown pride, but it also shines a light on Spieth’s relevance to the sports community. Being on the court, smiling, giving gear, and receiving Mavericks swag frames Spieth as still in the game, still relevant, still respected. Given his underwhelming season, this moment becomes all the more profound.
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The PGA Tour pro failed to make it past the St. Jude Championship in this year’s playoffs. Entering the first week with a 48th in the FedExCup standings, the golfer grinded through the rounds in an attempt to improve the rankings. However, after a 1-under first round, even pars on the second and third, and a 2-under on the final day, Spieth dropped 6 rankings, down to 54th. That placed just outside of the Top 50 players who advance to the following BMW Championship. That brief stint in the playoffs marked a heartbreaking season-ending, leaving him out of the Bethpage squad.
After five straight appearances at the Ryder Cup, the US team overlooked Spieth due to his struggling form. With a record of 8-9-5 at the Ryder Cup, the 32-year-old failed to make a case for Captain Keegan Bradley with his struggling driver. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Spieth’s struggles this year.
The PGA Tour pro faced heavy criticism for receiving sponsor exemptions into major events instead of working his way in. These exemptions included signature PGA Tour events, such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Moreover, despite an 80th-place finish in the FedExCup standings last year, Spieth received a free pass to the Genesis Invitational earlier this year. Add to that the Memorial Tournament, and Spieth seems to have enjoyed his reputation more than a convincing performance.
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His visit to the Dallas Mavericks’ gym, trading gear and sharing moments with stars like Anthony Davis, hints at Spieth regrouping and aiming for a comeback. However, Spieth’s falling form highlights a major underlying issue.
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Jordan Spieth’s health battles this year
Jordan Spieth’s form has seen a general downward trend since 2024. However, that was not a mere turn of events. Spieth, who had been battling a nagging pain in his wrist since May 2023, underwent an injury to his tendon sheath. The golfer noted that the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon would often pop out of the sheath, causing agonizing pain and weakness. That nudged him to go with the surgery in August last year. That placed him out of the golfing scene until February this year, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
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However, his performances have been mixed throughout the year, with rare T4 finishes threatening almost-victories. Entering the playoffs this year, Spieth noted that he was in a better place than earlier. While not fully recovered, Spieth had made considerable progress. “I’m super, super happy about everything that’s happened [surgically],” Spieth quipped. “Structurally, whether it was making a difference or not, it was a reset and a chance to try to position things a little bit better and for the long-term going forward.”
However, more recently, Spieth withdrew from the Travelers Championship due to a neck and upper back injury. This marked the first time the PGA Tour pro withdrew due to an injury, out of 297 starts. That brings forward the disturbing season Spieth had. However, his return to the sports media hints at his relevance in the athletic bubble. Whether that will show up in his 2026 season or not, that’s up for debate.
Corey LaJoie Speaks Out on NASCAR Future Amid Media Interest
Corey LaJoie managed to secure four Cup Series race starts with Rick Ware Racing this year, after parting ways with Spire Motorsports, for whom he had been racing full-time last year. Amid his media role interest, LaJoie has spoken about his NASCAR future and the possibility of his return to stock car racing.
LaJoie returned with Spire Motorsports this season, but to race in the Craftsman Truck Series. However, that might not seem very appealing to the 33-year-old driver at this stage of his career.
He explained that he had
Veteran Journalist Pushes Back on Fan Criticism Over NASCAR’s Dropping Views
The first race of the 2025 Cup Series Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ended with a dominating win by Ryan Blaney. But a few moments, like Joey Logano’s solid P4 with his playoff capabilities and on-track confrontation between Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, made it even more interesting. However, under the racing arose a greater issue regarding the sport’s popularity, as the event attracted a new low of 1.29 million viewers as opposed to higher ratings earlier in the season.
That sharp difference is noticeable in the regular-season finale at Daytona, which attracted the largest summer rating in seven years. In the meantime, viewership in the playoffs is declining, and the total number of 2025 Cup Series viewership, regardless of race, has fallen by 13.436% since 2024, equating to a loss of 12.787 million. Kyle Busch had expressed his concern, saying, “I just think the problem we’re running into is there’s not a lot of race fans anymore.” These trends are controversial, but some input coming in through an insider like Jeff Gluck can help illuminate certain factors at work.
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Jeff Gluck justifies NHMS viewership dip
NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck, known for his coverage at The Athletic, created a discussion with an X post that attributes the poor attendance at the New Hampshire race to external factors. He wrote, “I saw one report that said Fox News alone averaged 5.2 million viewers during the Charlie Kirk memorial service, so I would certainly think that had some impact on NASCAR’s viewership for New Hampshire.”
I saw one report that said Fox News alone averaged 5.2 million viewers during the Charlie Kirk memorial service, so I would certainly think that had some impact on NASCAR’s viewership for New Hampshire. https://t.co/VlRhByZcej
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— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 24, 2025
Charlie Kirk‘s memorial service event was held on the same day (September 21), around the same time as the race at 3 p.m. ET. The point that Gluck makes is how the broadcasting of competing events, including high-profile political events like these, could affect the USA Network on which NASCAR airs.
Fans soon countered, claiming that Gluck is trying to whitewash more underlying problems in the NASCAR product, and he is being a sport activist who never criticizes structural issues such as the lack of Next Gen car performance in short track racing or the playoff structure. This criticism echoes broader frustrations, with 1.29 million viewers of Sunday’s Loudon race facing a 31.4 percent decline in comparison to the 1.88 million viewers of the 2024 NHMS event. Moreover, it was also a 28 percent decline compared to last year’s Round of 12 opener at Kansas with 1.79 million viewers.
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To that, Gluck responded in a subsequent post, “The comments here are making it out like I’m excusing NASCAR’s low viewership for other races. Give me a freaking break. I’m just saying on Sunday, you would think they lost a few hundred thousand viewers because of the memorial. Has nothing to do with any other low viewership,” emphasizing his point was race-specific amid a season where playoff races alone are down 16.853%.
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Fellow content creator Eric Estepp chimed in on X, listing more fundamental issues: “1. NFL is hitting new viewership highs every year. It’s widening the gap to almost everything. 2. Cable subscriptions hit new lows every year. There are more Cup races on cable this year than ever before. 3. NASCAR’s demo has always been one of the oldest in pro sports. Many are aging out or are more interested in politics. 4. 20 year olds aren’t watching cable or sitting through 3+ hour races. Even the NBA commissioner admitted they’re a “highlight league.””
These arguments point to bigger trends, such as the weakening reach of the cable, aging fanbase, and youth’s impatience, among other things. So while insiders Jeff Gluck and Eric Estepp highlight the specifics, the fans are right on their end, pointing out the overall downfall.
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Meanwhile, as these discussions highlight immediate hurdles, some in the sport are looking ahead with concrete ideas to turn things around.
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Brad Keselowski’s fixes for NASCAR revival
A recent interview with Brad Keselowski, 2012 Cup winner and RFK Racing’s co-owner, presented practical measures to consider for NASCAR growth, beginning with reconsidering the way the tracks are operated. He stated, “The first one is the tracks, in general, need to find more ways to generate revenue outside of NASCAR. A lot of these tracks you go to, if you come to them on a Tuesday, three weeks before or after the race, there’s like three people that work there. There’s nobody around…,” he said.
This expands upon the use of race weekends as a primary source of revenue, which suggests the need to diversify such events or facilities to increase annual revenue and fan interest, given the economic pressure of reducing attendance since the 2008 recession.
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The playoff system is another area that received the attention of Keselowski, claiming that it’s not in the sport’s favor. “The whole playoff thing has to go away.” As the RFK co-owner claims, “very unhealthy for the sport.” This, he believes, is an insult to their tracks, races, and the drivers who do not make it to the playoffs. “It muddies the water; it’s not working for the sport,” he explained.
Introduced in 2004 to spike excitement, the format has faced backlash for overshadowing consistent performers, and Keselowski’s view aligns with calls for a return to season-long points to restore fairness and broader appeal.
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Finally, he stressed bringing in more manufacturers: “Third, I’d look at new OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) as very important — a high tide that raises all ships. They’ll invest in the teams while concurrently investing in the tracks through advertising, along with our media rights holders. A new OEM is right there behind it.”
NASCAR Today: Vice President JD Vance Visits Richard Childress Ahead of Key North Carolina Speech
Politicians and motorsports have a long, colorful history, where the roar of engines meets the roar of crowds in ways that blend policy with passion. In 2004, President George W. Bush turned heads at the Daytona 500, stepping into the spotlight as grand marshal and delivering the timeless “Gentlemen, start your engines!” to a sea of 180,000 fans. It was a savvy re-election play, tapping into NASCAR’s massive Southern and swing-state pull, where the sport’s blue-collar vibe and high-stakes drama made it a perfect stage for connecting with everyday Americans.
Fast-forward to 2020, President Donald Trump followed suit, serving as grand marshal for that year’s Daytona 500. He led a ceremonial lap in the presidential motorcade, gave the start-your-engines command, and praised the fans and the “spectacle of speed and competition.” These visits weren’t random. Now, in 2025, Vice President JD Vance is stepping into that tradition, visiting Richard Childress Racing in North Carolina on September 24 ahead of a key speech in Concord.
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Vance met Richard Childress
The stop was a private event, with Vance’s 25-vehicle motorcade rolling up to RCR’s shop, flanked by local first responders like North Carolina state troopers, Greensboro firefighters, and Forsyth County paramedics.
It wasn’t Vance’s first brush with NASCAR. Richard Childress hosted him at the October 2024 Charlotte ROVAL and Trump at the May 2024 Coca-Cola 600, plus a pre-2025 Daytona 500 meetup.
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RCR, with its storied No. 3 legacy from Dale Earnhardt and over 200 wins across NASCAR’s top three series, plus 14 championships, made for a fitting backdrop. The team fields two full-time Cup cars, No. 3 with Austin Dillon and No. 8 with Kyle Busch, and two in Xfinity, a powerhouse that aligns with Vance’s North Carolina swing.
Earlier this month, RCR dipped into politics with tribute stickers for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on their Cup and Xfinity cars after his death on September 10 in Utah. It’s a move that fits Childress’ history of blending racing with personal beliefs, from his 2017 anthem protest stance to hosting Trump and Vance.
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The visit comes amid a packed playoff weekend, with the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway setting the Round of 12 opener. For Vance, it’s a chance to rally in a racing hotbed, connecting with fans and teams like RCR that embody NASCAR’s grit.
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Vance’s RCR visit lands amid big news for the team: Randall Burnett, Kyle Busch’s crew chief since 2023, is heading to Trackhouse Racing for 2026 to lead Connor Zilisch’s No. 99.
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Who’s going to crew chief Kyle Busch now?
The split, confirmed September 23, ends a partnership with three wins but no playoff berths in two years, Busch’s longest drought. Busch’s 2025 has been rough, with career-low top-fives (two), laps led (62), and 22nd in points, leaving him on the verge of setting marks he’d rather forget.
At 40, he’s not washed up like some say; Harvick won a title at that age, and Johnson won his seventh at 41. But RCR has to find a new boss to unlock Kyle Busch’s fire. Burnett’s a steal for Zilisch, the 19-year-old phenom with 10 Xfinity wins in 30 starts.
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Burnett’s résumé includes six Busch wins with Tyler Reddick and Allmendinger’s best Cup year in 2016, making him underrated gold. For RCR, it’s a scramble. Social media is wild with trades like Ty Gibbs’ seat, but Busch’s contract ties him to the No. 8 through 2026.
The smart play? An in-house vet or a free agent like Rodney Childers, Harvick’s ex-champ with 40 Cup wins. RCR’s pattern of value hires, like Justin Alexander for Dillon, leans toward Brian Pattie, who meshed with Busch in Trucks. Whatever the pick, it has to reignite Busch’s legacy before time runs out.
Fayetteville Motor Speedway closing after sale of land
This season of racing will be the last at Fayetteville Motor Speedway.
The 500-acre property on which the speedway sits has been sold by Broadwell Land Company
Kevin Harvick’s Former Crew Chief Powers Dale Jr.’s Xfinity Squad Igniting Championship Ambitions
After Justin Allgaier won the 2024 championship, Dale Jr. has been on a roll. The veteran’s Xfinity Series team, JR Motorsports, has an eclectic set of unstoppable drivers in 2025. Connor Zilisch has set the golden standard, winning nine races already in his rookie season. Allgaier has been on a similarly stellar run with 3 wins, while Carson Kvapil, another rookie, is riding high in 4th rank in points. Dale Jr. does not want to let go of this glittering streak for 2026. So he tapped Kevin Harvick’s former colleague.
The 2014 Cup Series champion hung up his helmet at the end of 2023. But we all remember the golden years of Kevin Harvick. During his 11-year tenure in Stewart-Haas Racing, he won a title and 37 trophies. And Dale Jr. is focusing on the crew chief who helped Harvick fetch these wins.
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Dale Jr. redeems a future Hall of Famer
Well, Rodney Childers was briefly out of a role. His golden times with Kevin Harvick far behind him, Childers’ position after SHR shut down was uncertain. Childers joined Spire Motorsports to be Justin Haley’s crew chief, but unfortunately, had to part ways in April after just nine races. Yet Childers had that itch to win, so he joined Harvick’s CARS Tour, going back to his Late Model Stock Car roots. Childers conjured his magic again, helping driver Landen Lewis win four times and become the championship contender. So when Dale Jr. caught Childers talking to Truck Series teams about opportunities, he was surprised that such a high-flyer did not have a NASCAR role yet.
So Dale Jr. capitalized on that. He called Kevin Harvick‘s former colleague to join JRM for the 2026 season. And with the prospect of working as the crew chief for the No. 1 car, Rodney Childers is excited. He told Sirius XM NASCAR, “Obviously, the last 12 months haven’t been the way that we wanted to go, but everything happens for a reason. And when Dale called me, we sat down and talked about this. I was blown away. What Dale means to me, what Kelly means to me, what Mr. H means to me. It’s just a dream come true. When you can have talent in the seed with Carson and Connor both, it’s going to be a ton of fun. To be in the building with so many racers, so many people that I’ve already worked with, already have relationships with, and I have a ton of respect for. It’s just going to mean a lot.”
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Despite his fallout with Spire Motorsports, Rodney Childers remains dedicated to his work. After all, the 40-time Cup race-winning veteran is currently the most successful crew chief in the NASCAR garage. Childers continued, “To me, it’s really about winning races. You know, I’m just at that point in my life, especially after working with Kevin Harvick for the amount of time that I did. I said that before Kevin retired, it’s gonna be hard to ever replace this. And I really feel like what we have for 2026 is one of those situations that’s just gonna be a lot of fun. Really competitive, and just something that you wake up every single morning ready to do.”
Evidently, Kevin Harvick’s brother-in-arms is ready to take up the next challenge in his NASCAR career. In the meantime, Harvick broods over another veteran in the Cup Series.
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Lamenting about a lost spectacle
Notice anything missing in NASCAR headlines this year? Or rather, over the last two years? Yeah, Kyle Busch is almost non-existent in Victory Lane narratives. The two-time Cup Series champion, who was once a source of intimidation to his rivals, is now merely an afterthought every weekend. The last time Busch won was during the June 2023 Gateway race. And the last time Busch was in the Championship 4 race while running for Joe Gibbs Racing was in 2019, when he won the title. Six years later, it seems unimaginable that the Richard Childress Racing driver can be a threat to his competitors. This fall of a star concerns not only Rowdy fans, but one of his former rivals as well.
The conflicts between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are very well-known. Yet the latter downplayed all of that while worrying about his rival’s present state. “We all want to see Kyle Busch win,” Harvick stated on the podcast. “As much as I’ve gone through moments where I hate Kyle Busch. I’ve hated Kyle Busch with a passion at moments. That’s all come full circle, and we’re very much able to communicate and have a good relationship.” He continued, “But I can’t imagine Kyle Busch going out like this. It’s bad for everything, bad for the sport. It’s bad for him, bad for everything that says Kyle Busch. I hate to see where it’s at.”
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Evidently, Kevin Harvick worries about veterans in the Cup Series. He must be happy now that Rodney Childers has got a 2026 role – let’s wait and see how the stellar crew chief performs!
Former NASCAR Executive Exposes the Chaotic Downfall of Car of Tomorrow’s Failed Wing Design
The Next-Gen car’s troubles reign supreme in today’s NASCAR. From passing problems to increased parity on the racetrack, the problems are plenty. When it first debuted in 2022, safety problems emerged with Cup Series drivers like Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin incurring concussions in crashes. While that has been resolved, the lack of aerodynamic advantages has amplified the demand for more horsepower. But complaints about the Next-Gen hardly compare to those of its predecessor.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s fatal crash in 2001 spurred a safety revolution in NASCAR. But in the process of achieving the most secure race car, the sport hit lows. The most significant of those low points was probably the Car of Tomorrow, as a former executive recalled recently.
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How NASCAR threw out the ‘flying brick’
Robin Pemberton’s career in the sport spanned 37 years. He worked with stellar drivers like Richard Petty and Mark Martin, scoring 26 wins in 17 seasons as a crew chief. However, Pemberton entered a new phase in 2004, becoming a top NASCAR executive. He spent 11 years as senior vice president of competition – and consequently, bore the brunt of controversy when the Car of Tomorrow surfaced. Introduced in March 2007, the COT had many flaws – an unusual front-shelf design, foam attached to the right side to absorb the impact of crashes, and the massive expenses. But the topmost point of controversy was the rear wing.
And Robin Pemberton revealed in a recent Dale Jr Download episode that he had a big hand in it. He revealed, “When I was there, we were now down into the aero part of it, which is the wing. You know the roof.” And that left Dale Jr. curious, as he asked Pemberton why it could not stay. The rear wing was not well-received. Tony Stewart called the car a ‘flying brick’. It made even Kyle Busch, who won the first COT race in Bristol, say that the cars “suck.” NASCAR officials eventually replaced the wing with a spoiler in 2012.
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So Pemberton delved into the nitty-gritty of the COT’s pros and cons. The former NASCAR official said, “The wing was good for a number of reasons, and it was bad for a number of reasons. It was good for traffic, less weight. And they got blamed for cars getting upside down. One of the reasons is with the wing, it’s not a lot of drag. So when I turned sideways, the drag didn’t go up as fast as it did with a spoiler. So lift-off speeds were wrong. There was that part of it, and then some people weighed in that said stock cars don’t have wings. They don’t have wings. Yeah, that was part of it, I hate that because we put a lot of development in.”
Despite the regret involved with scrapping a high-effort enterprise, Robin Pemberton had to take the tough call eventually. He recalled his interaction with Mike Helton, former president of NASCAR. “I’ll never forget. Mike comes up for lunch one day, and he goes, Well, I gotta tell you. We need to get rid of the wing, like we just spent a year on it. Yeah, okay. Well, I will go work on it…What do you mean? Like, asap. It took my breath. Like if you got a month or six weeks, whatever, in like it came in a hurry, you know.” Eventually, the COT went out of business. Recently, Denny Hamlin referred to its flaws to highlight the Next-Gen’s defects.
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Well, Pemberton chafed about the loss of the wing, but in the long run, it was a good call. While Dale Jr. brooded over the resolution of a crisis almost 13 years ago, he is also concerned with a crisis in the present day.
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Urging the offender to take action
Fireworks broke out in New Hampshire last Sunday. More precisely, the fireworks of Joe Gibbs Racing’s in-house drama. On lap 110, Ty Gibbs would not leave room for Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, both playoff contenders. And Gibbs, who could not crack the postseason, fell prey to Hamlin’s aggression and spun out. Although no face-to-face encounter happened, there has been an online exchange of barbs. Hamlin called out JGR’s leadership to teach Gibbs a lesson, while the latter delivered a subtle jab. However, Dale Jr. pointed out how the first step needs to be taken by Ty. As he started the whole ordeal, he should step up.
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What is more, if Ty Gibbs does not speak up, then JGR’s unity can be in jeopardy. “This is a big teaching moment for Ty, well beyond like next week and his racing career and all of that. like how they managed this little hiccup,” Dale Jr. said. “What happened on the racetrack? It sucks. He shouldn’t have raced him like he did. He got wrecked by his teammate, Denny. All that sucks…You go into the meeting. You talk about it. Ty should, I think, stand up and say, ‘I f*cked up. Should let y’all guys go. I don’t know what I was thinking. That was foolish of me. Won’t happen again going forward in these playoffs. You got my word. I’m gonna be a good teammate.’”
With things at a standstill at present, we can only wait and see what comes of the JGR fallout. Meanwhile, NASCAR could work on the Next-Gen like they did on the Car of Tomorrow.
Roger Penske’s Star Downplays Kansas Threats While Eyeing Strong NASCAR Playoff Run
Team Penske put on a clinic at New Hampshire right from qualifying to race day. Joey Logano snagged the pole position, his first ever at the track, and led a race high 147 laps, even winning a stage. Right beside him, Ryan Blaney qualified second and went on to steal the show, leading 116 laps and clinching the victory that locked him into the Round of 8. The dominance didn’t stop there. Josh Berry, part of Penske’s extended Ford family, recovered from an early spin to rally to a runner-up finish. But while most of the camp burst in glory, not every car in the Penske camp left with reason to celebrate. And heading into Kansas, that margin for error has vanished for one.
At Kansas Speedway this season, Team Penske showed flashes of strength but also revealed tracks that need patching. Ryan Blaney, for example, managed a solid finish; he placed fifth in the May Kansas race, starting from 10th. Joey Logano, meanwhile, didn’t break into the top five in the same Kansas outing, finishing ninth after starting fifth. However, while Penske is an upper-tier team, drivers continue to salvage points and avoid disaster; there is clearly a gap between their potential and what they’ve consistently delivered at Kansas. And as for Austin Cindric, he is raising alarms on his next stint in the Round of 12 to keep his playoff hopes alive.
Speaking to Bob Pockrass, Cindric didn’t waste time in giving a brutal reality check: “So, you know, Kansas is definitely one of those tracks that the teams, you know, push, push it right to the edge. And so I don’t think that’s, that’s going to be any different this weekend. Yeah. I don’t expect it to be too much different. You know, I think it’s a little bit of a construction change that we’ve ran before, I believe a couple of times this year on different intermediate tracks. So, you know, the fall off might change a little bit, but you know, really a lot of that time week to week, we kind of judge off of practise and see, cause I mean the weather changes it, the track conditions that, you know, what, what all the series are there a particular weekend can have a little bit of effect on that.”
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At Kansas, Austin Cindric’s record is a mixed bag. His best finish has been 11th place; he has hit that mark twice, including earlier this season. His worst outings, by contrast, have seen him finish in the low 30s or suffer accidents. 2024 and 2023 saw some of those less-than-ideal results. On average, over his eight Kansas starts, Cindric finishes around 23.6th place. So while he is shown he can run decently there, consistency and higher-tier point-earning finishes have largely eluded him at that track. And this could have serious implications for his playoff hopes.
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He currently sits 10th in the driver standings with 3,028 points. He has one win, zero pole positions, two top fives, and five top 10 finishes so far this season. After New Hampshire, Austin Cindric had a rough day. He missed out on stage points, ending the race in 17th place, and dropped a 19-point deficit from safety in the playoff cut line. Moreover, he hasn’t quite hit the mark yet, and for several reasons. A surprise fire at Bristol nearly cost him a playoff spot, though he squeezed past Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports to stay in. At New Hampshire last weekend, Cedric had a chance to grab some crucial points, ones that could have set him up nicely heading into Kansas and the Roval, but it simply didn’t click.
Meanwhile, his Penske teammates delivered much stronger runs. Blaney took the win at New Hampshire, Logano grabbed fourth, and Josh Berry, tied in the extended Penske family, grabbed second place. Austin Cindric has to put in the work and pull up his socks to keep himself in contention. Meanwhile, his teammate, Ryan Blaney, has pulled back the curtain on the team’s playoff mindset.
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Ryan Blaney spills the beans on Team Penske’s playoff teamwork
Ryan Blaney walked out of New Hampshire with more than just a trophy; he walked out with a spotlight. While the rest of the NASCAR world buzzed over fiery tempers and teammate drama within Joe Gibbs Racing at Loudon, Blaney’s win carried a different kind of headline: the strength of Team Penske’s unity. On the Dale Junior download, he didn’t just bask in his victory; he pulled fans behind the curtain to explain why Penske‘s garage isn’t imploding like so many others amid the playoffs.
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They revealed that the magic isn’t complicated. There are no backdoor schemes, no rigged finishes. The one rule that Roger Penske drills into his drivers is brutally simple: do not wreck each other. Ryan Blaney said, “And I’d say the racing around each other—there’s never team orders. Ever. The only thing Roger has ever said is, ‘Just don’t wreck each other trying to win the race.’ Don’t be foolish and run one-two and wreck each other out of first and second. He has an expectation: race as hard as you want. Have at it. I don’t care who runs first or second. But please do not wreck each other doing it, because then we just look like a bunch of fools.”
That philosophy has turned Blaney, Joey Logano, and the extended Penske family into a rare breed in NASCAR. Teammates who can duel at full tilt without letting grudges poison the garage. It is why Blaney has risen for championship glory and why Joey Logano’s consistency shines, and why Penske’s banner keeps flying high. In a spot where ego clashes can derail entire seasons, Blaney’s New Hampshire win felt like proof that Blaney’s trust-first code isn’t just talk; it is a winning formula.
Veteran Insider Gives Blunt Reality Check to NASCAR Fans Over Broadcast Ratings Meltdown
Remember when Amazon Prime rolled out NASCAR streaming for the first time and fans went wild? From the Coca-Cola 600 to the Great American Gateway 400, Prime kept viewers hooked with post-race coverage, a slick double-box format, and plenty of extra features. The payoff? An impressive 2.16 viewers per race on average. Unfortunately, the story has been very different for NASCAR’s current broadcast partner, NBC. And as the playoffs roll on, the most exciting segment in NASCAR, the TV viewership has done a 360, and the fans have sounded off on it. But a NASCAR veteran has put his foot down on the number of complaints that are flying in.
NASCAR is facing a stubborn itch it just can’t scratch: TV ratings. Throughout the 2025 season, audiences have been drifting away, and the Cup Series playoffs have felt the burn hardest. Viewership for Cup Series races has slipped over 13% from last year, and playoff events — this supposed crown jewel meant to draw eyeballs — plunged nearly 17%. And with a whirlwind of talks about the role of TV in deciding the 2026 NASCAR playoff and the dipping viewership, Kenny Wallace is here to reassure the community to sit tight.
Kenny Wallace rolled no punches, saying, ” NASCAR is already announced that they’re gonna change the point system. And next year, the racing is going to be different. They’re going to give you 3 or 4 races to determine the champion. What the f— don’t you understand? I said, this reminds me of a friend I had. I said, ‘Oh, you sure you b—- a lot?’ Because yeah, I just, I just want to b—-. Let me b—- for a little bit. I said, ‘Charlie, is that what you want to do? You just want to bitch?’ So, that’s what I would say to all of you. Get the b——- out of your system.”
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NBC Sports’ addition to the Cup Series schedule hasn’t reversed the trend. When USA Network, NBC’s partner, covered Watkins Glen, it dipped to 1,850,000, marking the Cup series’ third-lowest audience of the year and the smallest on the USA Network since 1.03 million watched New Hampshire in 2023. Richmond averaged just 1,390,000 viewers, and Gateway followed suit with disappointing numbers: a 0.82 rating and 1.525 million viewers, down sharply from both last year’s race at Watkins Glen and the June 24 event at the same track on FS1. Even with Denny Hamlin leading for 75 laps to claim his first Gateway victory, the ratings for the Enjoy Illinois 300 are a stark reminder that spectacular wheels don’t always translate to TV audiences.
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Another debate about how TV has a hold on deciding which direction the NASCAR playoff system should head in has been heating up. As Jeff Burton sounded off on it, NASCAR analyst and reporter Jeff Gluck has confirmed that NBC has no say in the changing playoff system. 2026 brings fresh hopes and new expectations as fans hope they get what they want.
Kenny Wallace wants the community to quit its whining and give NASCAR a chance. He added, “I’m with Jeff Burton, and a lot of us agree that, you know, you gotta earn everything right now. I know another Charlie said nobody likes the car. I’m like, ‘OK, well, they’re gonna change that.’ It gets to be where it’s exhausting. I said OK, so really what the deal is, Everybody just wants to keep this. Yeah, I guess so. But I want the automatic ball to strike count starting tonight on the first baseball game. So in the end, everybody, you all are gonna get what you want. You’re just gonna get it next year. Not right f—— now.”
Moreover, Burton had shut down the conspiracy by saying, “I hear that all the time… I’m in these meetings, and NASCAR takes all the information from all the people… and they make a decision. TV is not when… this format that we are currently racing under was created. I was in every damn meeting. TV didn’t make this decision…” But as hope prevails, last weekend’s New Hampshire race faced similar problems.
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TV viewership takes another hit during the New Hampshire weekend
New Hampshire stands as a glaring example of NASCAR’s growing dilemma. While the grandstands were packed with passionate local fans, that same fire didn’t translate to national viewership. Last fall, NASCAR’s playoff races boosted steady midtier TV numbers, solidifying its space as a beloved American motorsport with millions of viewers. But this fall, the combination of broadcast shifts and fierce competition from the NFL raised alarms about NASCAR’s national visibility. And the fans are urging NASCAR to take things more seriously.
A shift away from traditional TV broadcasts to cable networks and streaming platforms like Amazon Prime has only added to the confusion. The latest ratings for the Cup Series race at New Hampshire exposed the depth of the decline. 0.70 rating and 1.2 million viewers, a far cry from the 1.0 rating and the 1.88 million viewers for last year’s race. To make matters worse, the dip mirrors a broad trend, including a drop from the 1.79 million viewers in last year’s fourth playoff race at Kansas.
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When comparing this year’s New Hampshire race to the same event in 2024, NASCAR nearly lost 600,000 viewers, a huge blow, especially given the sellout at Loudon. The 0.70 rating is one of the weakest for a playoff race in recent years, sparking serious concerns over the NASCAR community. Typically, the postseason draws a larger audience, making this downturn all the more worrying.
Tyler Reddick Exposes Daytona 500’s Declining Allure Amid NASCAR Next Gen Controversy
Tyler Reddick is fighting it out in the playoffs. Despite not being able to match up to his three-win, regular-season championship 2024 season, Reddick still cracked the postseason. What is more, he survived the Round of 16 with three top 20 finishes, including a runner-up spot in Darlington. However, the 23XI Racing driver still has reasons to lament.
NASCAR’s Next-Gen car, ever since its debut in 2022, has caused ripples of discontent in the community. From expenses involved in single-spec parts to increased parity on the racetrack, its flaws are plenty. But what stands out for Tyler Reddick is the car’s impact on superspeedway racing.
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Tyler Reddick abandons credit for runner-up
Entering the 2025 Daytona 500 race, the No. 45 Toyota was in a tough spot. Tyler Reddick had a 30.8 average result, and his best finish was 27th in 6 previous bids. With five laps remaining, Reddick was sure that he would get a similarly bleak result, running 25th. But right then, Christopher Bell’s barrel-rolling wreck allowed him to move up to 20th. Then, on the restart, he went up to 13th place. But the final harrowing crash on the final lap, involving several cars, allowed Reddick to speed up ahead right behind eventual race winner William Byron. The utterly chaotic nature of events made Reddick admit in a recent ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ episode: “I did nothing to get second place.”
In the age of the Next-Gen era, the allure of the Daytona 500 has dropped. Gone are the days when legends like Dale Earnhardt or Tony Stewart could seamlessly pass their competitors en route to victories. Now, since drivers cannot pass each other in the Next-Gen cars, they resort to fuel saving to extract track positions – just like William Byron did. So when Freddie Kraft asked Tyler Reddick if the Great American Race had lost its appeal, the Toyota driver had his answer. “I hate to even answer that question. But if I’m being honest, yes. For me, it has lost some of it because of the way racing plays out,” he said.
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Then there comes the sheer unpredictability of superspeedway racing. Previously, the more skilled drivers could stand apart from their rivals. But the increased parity and lack of aerodynamic control have made it a chaotic mess. Even Tony Stewart does not like the Daytona 500 anymore because “anybody can win.” Kraft also chimed with this opinion: “Before this car, you would know on Thursday, I’ve got a shot to win the Daytona 500. And you go into Sunday, it doesn’t matter. As long as we were there at the end, we’ve got a shot at this thing. And now it’s like I don’t know. We’ll see what happens at the last pit stop.”
While Tyler Reddick laments about superspeedway racing in the Next-Gen era, he also feels dejected about his ongoing season.
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Owning up to a drab streak
At this time last year, Tyler Reddick was one of the top contenders for the 2024 Cup Series title. He won three races, clinched the regular season championship, and was in the Championship 4 race. But this year, the 23XI Racing driver has yet to fetch his first victory through 30 races. He led just 156 laps this season, tallying 10 top 10s and six top 5s. Despite cracking the Round of 12, Reddick sits 11th in the playoff standings heading into Kansas Speedway, -23 below the cutline.
So, Tyler Reddick owned up to his season’s faults. He said, “I think when you really look at the details of it, it is not an improvement over last year, yes. Yeah, we haven’t performed quite like what we did last year. But it’s not like to an astronomical level. When you don’t execute, when you don’t have a clean race, you’re not going to have the opportunity to win races, and you’re not going to get those top 10s and top 5s that you’re able to get when you have those clean days. I think when I was looking at it last, we scored like 50 or 60 less points than we did last year. It just shows the top teams have had cleaner years.”
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At the same time, Tyler Reddick is fifth in passing, ninth in defense, sixth in speed, and fifth in restarts. The No. 45 Toyota pit crew is notably ranked 19th in the Cup Series. What is more, if not for brake issues impeding his pace, Reddick would have finished better than 21st in last week’s New Hampshire race. So Reddick is not giving up: “I know [23XI co-owner] Michael [Jordan] feels this way, I know a lot of people at 23XI feel this way — we don’t show up just to run 10th. I don’t do this just to run 10th; I show up to make a difference and take a car that’s capable of winning and get it to Victory Lane. We have days just get away when we’re capable of winning [and] it’s frustrating, for sure.”
Evidently, Tyler Reddick is grappling with a number of challenges. If he can wade through the Next-Gen car’s faults and focus on winning, then miracles can still happen this season.
Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh hits MLB-leading 59th home run against Rockies
SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 59th homer on Wednesday night, a solo shot for the Seattle Mariners in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies.
Raleigh, batting left-handed, connected off Tanner Gordon for his home run to right field that reached the top deck at T-Mobile Park.
With four games remaining in the Mariners’ regular season, Raleigh has a chance to pass Yankees star Aaron Judge for the American League single-season home run record. Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022 to break the previous record set by Roger Maris, which stood since 1961.
Raleigh’s shot came just four days after he passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise’s single-season home run record with his 57th homer. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.
Raleigh has also surpassed Mickey Mantle’s previous MLB record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961. He also set the MLB record for homers by a catcher this season, eclipsing the 48 hit by Salvador Perez in 2021.
Raleigh is three home runs ahead of Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and six home runs ahead of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
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Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh hits MLB
SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 59th homer on Wednesday night, a solo shot for the Seattle Mariners in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies.
Raleigh, batting left-handed, connected off Tanner Gordon for his home run to right field that reached the top deck at T-Mobile Park.
With four games remaining in the Mariners’ regular season, Raleigh has a chance to pass Yankees star Aaron Judge for the American League single-season home run record. Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022 to break the previous record set by Roger Maris, which stood since 1961.
Raleigh’s shot came just four days after he passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise’s single-season home run record with his 57th homer. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.
Raleigh has also surpassed Mickey Mantle’s previous MLB record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961. He also set the MLB record for homers by a catcher this season, eclipsing the 48 hit by Salvador Perez in 2021.
Raleigh is three home runs ahead of Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and six home runs ahead of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
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Aaron Judge ties MLB record by hitting 50 home runs for the 4th time, matching Ruth, McGwire and Sosa
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge tied a major-league record by reaching 50 home runs for the fourth time, hitting a three-run drive for the New York Yankees in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
The seven-time All-Star added his 51st of the season in the eighth.
Judge drove a 96.6 mph sinker from Jonathan Cannon (4-10) into the Yankees bullpen in right-center field for a 3-1 lead in an 8-1 victory. He hit a solo shot six innings later against Cam Booser for his 46th multi-homer game.
Judge hit 52 homers as a rookie in 2017, an AL-record 62 in 2022 and 58 last year. The only other players with four 50-homer seasons were Babe Ruth (1920, ‘21, ’27, ’28), Mark McGwire (1996-99) and Sammy Sosa (1998-2001).
A two-time AL MVP, the 33-year-old Judge leads the major leagues in batting average (.328) and OPS (1.136). He has 109 RBIs.
Judge became the fourth player to hit 50 homers this year, joining Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (58), Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber (56) and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (53). The only prior seasons with a quartet reaching that mark came during the Steroids Era: by McGwire, Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Vaughn in 1998, and by Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez and Sosa in 2001.
Judge made an 85.8 mph throw to second base on Colson Montgomery’s second-inning drive that went off the right-field wall on a hop, Judge’s hardest throw since hurting his right elbow in late July.
Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber sets record in multi-homer game
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber did much more than just blast two mammoth home runs on Wednesday night. He did it while breaking an obscure MLB record in the process.
Schwarber’s two-homer performance as part of the Phillies’ 11-1 win over the Miami Marlins now gives him 56 on the year.
That mark includes 23 home runs off left-handed pitching, which means he now holds the record for the most home runs by a left-handed hitter off left-handed pitching in a season.
Phillies star Kyle Schwarber close to making more history
But while making MLB history only adds to his monster season, he’s now just two more long balls away from an accomplishment that will make his 2025 season even more special for Phillies fans.
With two more home runs, Schwarber will reach Ryan Howard’s Phillies record of 58. Then, with one more, Schwarber will stand alone as the franchise’s single-season home run king.
And based on Schwarber’s ability to crush home runs in bunches, he could end up with three home runs by the end of the week. Schwarber’s multi-homer night on Wednesday was his seventh game with at least two home runs this season.
Looking even beyond just his home runs, Schwarber now has 136 RBI, 110 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .370, a slugging percentage of .576 and an OPS of .946.
The question now becomes if Schwarber’s power can be enough for him to capture the National League MVP over Los Angeles Dodgers unicorn Shohei Ohtani.
While most still predict Ohtani to repeat as NL MVP and win his fourth overall — he also has two American MVPs as well — Schwarber is surely doing all he can to impress voters in the final days of the season.
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh becomes first MLB player with 60-homer season since Yankees’ Aaron Judge
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered for the 60th time on Wednesday against the Colorado, crossing a new threshold as he puts the finishing touches on his historic season. Raleigh is just the fourth player in American League history to clear 60 home runs, and the first who wasn’t a member of the New York Yankees at the time.
Indeed, Raleigh is the first player to homer 60 or more times since Yankees slugger Aaron Judge broke the American League and franchise single-season record with 62 home runs in 2022. Prior to Judge, no player had cleared 60 home runs since 2001.
PlayerTeamSeasonHR
Aaron Judge
Yankees
2022
62
Roger Maris
Yankees
1961
61
Cal Raleigh
Mariners
2025
60 and counting
Babe Ruth
Yankees
1927
60
Additionally, Raleigh set the single-season record for most home runs by a primary catcher (previously 48) back in late August, and he’s since toppled the single-season record for most home runs by a switch hitter (55) and Mariners player (56) in September. It’s been that kind of magical, historic season.
Raleigh, 28, entered Wednesday hitting .245/.359/.586 (168 OPS+) with 58 home runs, 121 runs batted in, and 14 stolen bases. His contributions had been worth an estimated 6.9 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference’s calculations. Yet Raleigh is also an above-average framer behind the plate, something not incorporated in Baseball Reference’s WAR model. As such, it’s fair to suggest Raleigh has been worth even more to the Mariners throughout the year.
No wonder Raleigh is considered to be one of the favorites to win the AL Most Valuable Player Award, with the aforementioned Judge serving as his stiffest competition.
The Mariners were on the verge of clinching the American League West on Wednesday, securing their first division title since 2001. Previously, the Mariners had ensured they would make it to the playoffs for just the second time in the last 24 years. Seattle snapped a 21-year drought in 2022, advancing to the Division Series before being swept in three games by the Houston Astros.
Seattle Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh joins an exclusive list of MLB sluggers
SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 59th and 60th homers on Wednesday night, solo shots for the Seattle Mariners in the first and eighth innings against the Colorado Rockies.
Raleigh, batting left-handed, connected off Tanner Gordon in the first inning for his first home run to right field that reached the top deck at T-Mobile Park. Then in the eighth inning, Raleigh, batting left-handed again, connected off Angel Chivilli.
Raleigh has 11 multihome run games this season, tied with Aaron Judge (2022), Hank Greenberg (1938) and Sammy Sosa for the MLB record.
With four games remaining in the Mariners’ regular season, Raleigh has a chance to pass Yankees star Aaron Judge for the American League single-season home run record. Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022 to break the previous record set by Roger Maris, which stood since 1961.
Raleigh is one of seven players to hit 60 or more home runs during a season in MLB history.
Raleigh’s latest homers came just four days after he passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise’s single-season home run record with his 57th homer. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.
Raleigh has also surpassed Mickey Mantle’s previous MLB record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961. He also set the MLB record for homers by a catcher this season, eclipsing the 48 hit by Salvador Perez in 2021.
Cal Raleigh hits MLB-leading 59th and 60th homers to help the Mariners wrap up AL West
SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his major league-leading 59th and 60th home runs of the season and the Seattle Mariners won their fourth AL West title with a 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
Raleigh opened the scoring in the first inning off Tanner Gordon with a shot to the top deck in right field, and capped it in the eighth with a two-out blast to right off Angel Chivilli. Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco also homered off Gordon (6-8) in the first.
With four games remaining, Raleigh has a chance to break the AL record of 62 set by Yankees star Aaron Judge in 2022.
Luis Castillo (11-8) threw 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball to help the Mariners — the only team in the major that has never reached the World Series — win for the 16th time in 17 games. Castillo didn’t give up at hit until Blaine Crim hit a solo shot in the fourth.
Eugenio Suárez hit his 48th homer in the seventh.
Key moment
Rodríguez hit a no-doubt, solo shot to left field in the first inning immediately after Raleigh’s blast.
Key stat
Raleigh has 11 multi-home run games this season, tied with Aaron Judge (2022), Hank Greenberg (1938) and Sammy Sosa for the MLB record.
Up next
Rockies right-hander Bradley Blalock (2-5, 9.16) was set to start Thursday night. The Mariners had not announced a starter.
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Kansas City usher, 66, ruthlessly beaten by teen who was asked to change seats during NBA YoungBoy concert at T-Mobile Center
An elderly usher was thrown to the ground and ruthlessly attacked by a teen as concertgoers watched the disturbing assault unfold in front of them during an NBA YoungBoy gig.
Thomas Schlange, 66, was working the rap concert at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Sunday night when he asked the teen to move because he wasn’t sitting in his assigned seat, Fox 4 News reported.
Footage recorded by a bystander shows the teen going berserk on Schlange and throwing him into a row of seats.
The disoriented usher then tries to get to his feet, but the teen stands over him. Schlange raised an arm to defend himself, but the teen repeatedly slapped it aside.
The teen then angrily delivered a series of violent punches to the 66-year-old victim’s head as a crowd of other concert-goers stood by.
Schlange said all he remembers from the assault was the teen’s rage and needing to get away to safety.
“I mean, it is serious; I went down and had blows to my head,” Schlange told Fox 4 News. “He was so enraged, so we were just, in essence, trying to protect the fans.”
Police arrested the teen after the violent outburst on Sunday night, but he was later released to his parents while authorities continue to investigate.
The Kansas City Police Department confirmed the teen was under 16, and it’s unclear what charges the juvenile may face.
The attack put Schlange in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Schlange said after nearly two decades on the job, he never imagined he would become a victim of such a violent assault at work.
“The message is: we, as young adults or people growing into adulthood, we need to learn how to control our anger,” he said.
Schlange is expected to meet with police on Friday as they continue their investigation.
A spokesperson for the T-Mobile Center, Shani Tate Ross, told the outlet that the attack on the employee was “horrific” and unacceptable.
“This isolated incident does not reflect our venue, our city or the thousands of guests of all ages who enjoyed the show without incident,” Ross said. “Violence of any kind is unacceptable at T-Mobile Center.”
The video of the assault, which has gone viral across social media, has heightened public concern regarding youth violence and event safety.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’s office condemned the violence and asked the public to share any information about violent assaults during the concert with police.
“Concerts, sporting events and community gatherings should be safe places of joy and connection, not fear or harm,” the mayor’s office told Fox 4 News.
“The venue will work with KCPD, our prosecutors and our employees to ensure the assailants are identified and charged for the criminal conduct that occurred Sunday evening.”
Following the violence that broke out at the T-Mobile Center, the United Center in Chicago announced it had canceled an NBA YoungBoy concert set to be held on Wednesday night.
The venue did not provide a specific reason for canceling the show, but no other shows scheduled at the venue have been canceled.
The Baton Rouge-based rapper, currently on his “MASA Tour,” is on his first tour in five years.
Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia end their tennis seasons early
Former No. 3-ranked Elina Svitolina said she will end her tennis season early because she is “not in the right emotional space.”
“I haven’t been feeling like myself lately,” Svitolina said in a social media post on Instagram which was followed by a statement on the WTA Tour’s website. “I don’t feel ready to play, so I am therefore ending my season here.”
Svitolina, now ranked 13th, said she needed time to rest and recharge.
“When I step back on the court,” she said, “I want to fight with everything I’ve got and put my best self on the court for the fans, for the game and for myself.”
Svitolina had a strong 2025, finishing with a 35-14 record and one title, the WTA 250 clay tournament in Rouen, France in April. She also had quarterfinal showings at the Australian and French Opens.
But after reaching the quarterfinals in Montreal, she lost her first match in Cincinnati and her first-round match at the U.S. Open.
After her loss to Naomi Osaka in Montreal, Svitolina spoke out about receiving hateful online abuse from frustrated gamblers.
Last week Svitolina helped lead Ukraine to the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup in China before losing to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
The 31-year-old Svitolina married French veteran Gael Monfils in 2021 and they have a daughter, Skai, who was born in 2022.
Fellow player Beatriz Haddad Maia also said that she needs an extended period of rest time and will end her 2025 season.
“I am posting this to share with you that I am wrapping up my 2025 season a little ahead of schedule so that I can rest my body and mind for a longer period,” the Brazilian player said. ”…Rest assured that I will come back stronger and the best is yet to come!”
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Elina Svitolina ‘not in the right emotional space,’ ends season
Former No. 3-ranked Elina Svitolina said she will end her tennis season early because she is
MLB wild card standings, bracket, playoff picture, 2025 predictions
Major League Baseball’s playoff race is going down to the wire with multiple postseason spots still up for grabs as the 2025 season approaches the final weekend.
The Cleveland Guardians have run down the Tigers atop the American League Central, a shocking comeback that may go down as one of the biggest collapses in baseball history for Detroit. The rivals face off in Cleveland this week while scoreboard-watching the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in the wild-card race.
In the National League, the New York Mets fell out of a playoff spot for the first time since the beginning of April and have nearly completed an impressive meltdown of their own, now fighting with the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot.
Here’s the latest look at the playoff race:
Standings entering play Wednesday, Sept. 24
MLB playoff bracket if season ended today
American League
Byes: Blue Jays, Mariners
AL wild card series
Tigers at Guardians
Red Sox at Yankees
National League
Byes: Brewers, Phillies
NL wild card series
Mets at Dodgers
Padres at Cubs
AL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
New York Yankees (89-68): +4 games
Boston Red Sox (86-71) + 1 game
Detroit Tigers (85-72)
Houston Astros (84-73): 1 GB
NL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
Chicago Cubs (88-69): +7 games // clinched postseason berth
San Diego Padres (87-71): +5½ games // clinched postseason berth
New York Mets (81–76)
Cincinnati Reds (80-77): 1 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks (80-77): 1 GB
St. Louis Cardinals (78-80): 3.5 GB
Miami Marlins (77-80): 4 GB
San Francisco Giants (77-81): 4.5 GB
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays (90-67) – clinched postseason berth
New York Yankees (89-68): 1 game back // clinched postseason berth
Boston Red Sox (86-71): 4 GB
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians (85-72) – holds head-to-head tiebreaker vs Tigers
Detroit Tigers (85-72)
AL West
Seattle Mariners (88-69) – clinched postseason berth
Houston Astros (84-73): 4 GB
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (92-65) – clinched NL East title
New York Mets (81-76)
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (95-63) – clinched NL Central title
Chicago Cubs (88-69)
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (88-69) – clinched postseason berth
San Diego Padres (87-71): 1½ GB – clinched postseason berth
NY Yankees 2025 MLB playoff ticket prices at Yankee Stadium
The Yankees are officially playoff bound.
Following a dramatic, 3-2 walk-off win over the White Sox on Tuesday night, the Yankees punched their ticket to the postseason for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
Buy New York Yankees playoff tickets
The Yankees are still in search of their 28th World Series championship, as the franchise has now gone 16 years since winning their last Fall Classic in 2009 against the Phillies.
Here’s everything you need to know on how to get Yankees playoff tickets this postseason:
Yankees playoff tickets
Here are the current lowest ticket prices on StubHub.
StubHub: Two tickets starting at $258 (including taxes and fees) in Section 434B, Row 5, Seats 18-19
Buy Yankees tickets on StubHub
La rica historia de Croke Park incluye el ‘Bloody Sunday’, pelea de Ali y visita de la reina
El Croke Park será el escenario del primer partido de temporada regular de la NFL en Irlanda cuando los Steelers de Pittsburgh se enfrenten a los Vikings de Minnesota el domingo.
El “Croker” es más que solo un estadio nacional. Es el hogar de la Asociación Atlética Gaélica, que está profundamente arraigada en la cultura e historia irlandesa.
El estadio de Dublín, con capacidad para 82.300 personas —Páirc an Chrócaigh en irlandés— alberga las muy populares finales de fútbol gaélico y hurling cada verano. Son el equivalente irlandés de un Super Bowl.
La capacidad para el partido de la NFL del domingo será de alrededor de 75.000, en parte porque una sección de pie será equipada con asientos.
“Es difícil exagerar lo que significa para muchas personas en Irlanda”, dijo Alan Milton, jefe de comunicaciones de la GAA, sobre el estadio. “Estamos emocionados por lo que podría llegar a significar para personas fuera de Irlanda también”.
Aquí hay algunos momentos clave en la historia de Croke Park:
El ‘Bloody Sunday’ ocurrió en medio de la lucha de Irlanda por la independencia
Catorce personas fueron asesinadas cuando las fuerzas de seguridad británicas dispararon contra la multitud en un partido de fútbol gaélico entre Tipperary y Dublín el 21 de noviembre de 1920. Un parlamento irlandés separatista había declarado la independencia de Gran Bretaña en 1919, respaldado por el recién formado Ejército Republicano Irlandés al inicio de la guerra de independencia de Irlanda (1919-21).
El sitio web de la GAA describe cómo las fuerzas de seguridad británicas llegaron al Croke Park horas después de que el ERI hubiera llevado a cabo tiroteos en Dublín contra agentes de inteligencia británicos, resultando en 14 muertes. Alrededor de 10.000 aficionados asistieron al partido. Después del inicio, las fuerzas de seguridad “irrumpieron en el Croke Park y abrieron fuego contra la multitud”, explica el sitio de la GAA. Un jugador de Tipperary y 13 seguidores, incluido un niño de diez años, fueron asesinados mientras docenas más resultaron heridos en la estampida hacia las salidas. Una de las gradas de Croke Park lleva el nombre del jugador que fue asesinado: Michael Hogan.
No se debe con el ‘Bloody Sunday’ del 30 de enero de 1972 en Irlanda del Norte.
La reina británica visita el Croke Park durante una histórica visita de estado
La reina Isabel II realizó una visita de estado a la República de Irlanda en mayo de 2011 — la primera de un monarca británico desde la independencia irlandesa. Habría sido impensable décadas antes en medio de la violencia sectaria en Irlanda del Norte conocida como “Los Problemas”. Ella y el príncipe Felipe visitaron el Croke Park, donde Felipe recibió un hurley (palo de hurling) y un sliotar (pelota de hurling).
Cuatro años antes, un partido de rugby entre Irlanda e Inglaterra en Croke Park ayudó a sentar las bases para la visita. El estadio principal de rugby de Irlanda en Landsdowne Road estaba siendo remodelado, por lo que la GAA levantó provisionalmente su Regla 42 que prohibía el rugby y el fútbol en Croke Park para permitir partidos internacionales en el estadio. La visita de Inglaterra para el torneo de rugby de las Seis Naciones de 2007 causó inquietud ante el temor de lo que podría suceder cuando se tocara “God Save the Queen” en el Croke Park antes del partido. Pero una recepción respetuosa del himno fue considerada un hito importante de reconciliación en la turbulenta relación de los países. La visita del monarca británico fue otra.
Muhammad Ali gana por nocaut en el Croke Park
“El Más Grande” llegó a la Isla Esmeralda en julio de 1972 para una pelea de 12 asaltos sin título contra Alvin “Blue” Lewis. Ali tenía 30 años y la pelea en Croke Park tuvo lugar 16 meses después de su derrota ante Joe Frazier en el Madison Square Garden.
Ali noqueó a Lewis en el undécimo asalto frente a unos 20.000 aficionados. Cuando Ali llegó al aeropuerto, se le presentó un shillelagh — un bastón irlandés que también puede usarse para un poco de autodefensa en ocasiones. Ali regresó a Irlanda en 2009 después de que los historiadores descubrieran que su bisabuelo era originario de la ciudad de Ennis en el condado de Clare. La AP estuvo allí para informar sobre el viaje.
Los Steelers jugaron un partido de pretemporada en el Croke Park en 1997
Los Steelers y los Bears de Chicago se enfrentaron en el Croke Park en un partido de pretemporada en 1997 como parte de la serie “American Bowl” de la NFL. Kordell Stewart acababa de asumir como mariscal de campo titular y lideró dos series de anotación en el único cuarto que jugó. Pittsburgh ganó 30-17.
NFL Week 3 betting recap, trends, line movement: Texans flailing, Bills a massive favorite
Week 3 is in the books.
With six undefeated and six winless teams, teams are starting to sort themselves out.
Let’s take a look at some NFL betting trends and storylines ahead of Week 4.
The disappointing Texans
No team has played further below its preseason expectations than the Texans.
After making the playoffs in each of the past two seasons and coming into the year as the favorite in the AFC South, the Texans’ chances in 2025 are already teetering.
Houston is 0-3 with one-score losses to the Rams, Buccaneers, and Jaguars ahead of their matchup against the Titans next week.
The Texans came into the season at -150 to make the playoffs at FanDuel Sportsbook — they’re now just +300 to make the postseason for the third straight year.
Eagles deliver brutal bad beat
We already may have the worst beat of the year.
Rams bettors were sitting pretty through the first half against the Eagles with Los Angeles seemingly pulling away with a 26-7 lead as 3.5-point underdogs in Philadelphia.
It went sideways from there.
The Eagles stormed back, taking a 27-26 lead before the Rams marched down the field to set themselves up for a 44-yard game-winning field goal with three seconds left in the game.
Even if Rams kicker Joshua Karty simply kicked the ball wide of the uprights, his team would have covered the spread.
Of course, that’s not how it turned out.
Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis jumped the offensive line to block the field goal and returned the ball for a touchdown to widen Philadelphia’s lead to 33-26 as the time expired, securing the win and covering the spread in a terrible loss for those who put their money on the Rams.
Dart time
Jaxson Dart is taking over in New York.
After being named the Giants’ starting quarterback to replace Russell Wilson, Dart’s odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award skyrocketed to +750, which is tied for the third-best odds at FanDuel.
If Dart plays anywhere near how he did during the preseason, when he completed 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while also running the ball six times for 52 yards and a touchdown, look for those odds to get even better.
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A wild spread in Buffalo
We might get our biggest mismatch of the season on Sunday.
The Super Bowl favorite Bills will welcome the lowly Saints to Buffalo, and oddsmakers are expecting it to get ugly.
Josh Allen and Co. are currently a 16.5-point favorite – the largest spread of the year thus far.
It would have been the second-largest spread of the season last year, trailing only an early January contest between the Ravens and Browns in Baltimore when the former was a 19.5 favorite.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
Eagles denied appeal of $75K fine for Big Dom using cellphone in prohibited area
The NFL fined the Philadelphia Eagles $75,000 because team official Dom DiSandro used his cellphone in a prohibited area during a preseason game on Aug. 22, two people with knowledge of the punishment told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Both people, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t disclosed the fine, said an appeal was denied. The NFL declined comment.
DiSandro, affectionately known as “Big Dom” throughout Philadelphia and across the NFL, is the senior adviser to general manager Howie Roseman, chief security officer and gameday coaching operations executive.
Use of cellphones and smart watches are not permitted in the locker room, coaches’ booth and team bench areas. DiSandro was spotted using his cellphone inside the bench area, both people said.
In 2023, the league fined the Eagles $100,000 and banned DiSandro from the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was involved in a sideline altercation with Dre Greenlaw during a game against San Francisco on Dec. 3.
NFL reporter Derrick Gunn was the first to report the recent fine.
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Eagles denied appeal of $75K fine for Big Dom using a cellphone in a prohibited area
The NFL fined the Philadelphia Eagles $75,000 because team official Dom DiSandro used his cellphone in a prohibited area during a preseason game on Aug. 22, two people with knowledge of the punishment told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Both people, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t disclosed the fine, said an appeal was denied. The NFL declined comment.
DiSandro, affectionately known as “Big Dom” throughout Philadelphia and across the NFL, is the senior adviser to general manager Howie Roseman, chief security officer and gameday coaching operations executive.
Use of cellphones and smart watches are not permitted in the locker room, coaches’ booth and team bench areas. DiSandro was spotted using his cellphone inside the bench area, both people said.
In 2023, the league fined the Eagles $100,000 and banned DiSandro from the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was involved in a sideline altercation with Dre Greenlaw during a game against San Francisco on Dec. 3.
NFL reporter Derrick Gunn was the first to report the recent fine.
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NFL Pathetic-O-Meter: Predicting which 0-3 teams will get their first win in Week 4
There are six winless teams in the NFL entering Week 4 of the 2025 season, and based on the matchups, somebody out of that group is going to have to win a game this week. Let’s take a look at the six teams still vying for their first win and try to assess which ones have the best chance to get it this week.
Somebody has to win: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
More specifically, two of these teams are going to win this week because they are all playing each other. And if none of them get a win, that means a nearly unprecedented week of two ties, which might actually be kind of fitting given the way things have gone for this group.
The Texans seem to be the best bet out of this group to get a win for two reasons. The first is they have the best quarterback out of the four in C.J. Stroud.
They are also at home against a bad Titans team that is still playing with a rookie quarterback (Cam Ward) that is still trying to find his way in the NFL. Of the six win-less teams the Texans have by far the best roster on paper and are the most likely team to rebound and stay competitive. Whether or not they can actually do that remains to be seen. But they have the talent at some of the key positions. By default, that should leave the Titans as the least-likely out of this group.
The Jets and Dolphins, meanwhile, will subject the entire nation to their brand of football on Monday night, and it’s sure to go poorly for everybody. Miami put together a valiant effort against the Buffalo Bills last week and is coming in with some extra rest. That could help. It’s also a team that should be better than this.
The Jets are still trying to get rookie head coach Aaron Glenn his first win and are not that far away from being 2-1 as opposed to 0-3. They lost on a 60-yard field goal in Week 1, and then lost a crushing game in Tampa Bay this past Sunday. This one might be a coin-flip.
Not very likely to win: New York Giants
Maybe the Giants get the
Sean Payton Poaches NFL Employee After Broncos’ Back-to-Back Losses
Looks like Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are doing everything they can to get back to winning ways after two back-to-back losses.
As Seth Walder reported, “The Broncos hired Meyappan Subbaiah as a Senior Data Scientist, per sources. Subbaiah had been a data scientist in the NFL league office and previously worked for Zelus Analytics.”
With his experience at the league office and Zelus Analytics, Subbaiah can analyze player performance, tendencies, and opponent strategies using advanced statistics and can help in several areas.
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This is a developing story…
Younghoe Koo lands an opportunity with new NFL team
The signing comes after Giants kicker Graham Gano suffered a groin injury in warmups before New York’s Sunday night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Punter Jamie Gillan, who took Gano’s place to start the game, had his extra point try blocked after the Giants scored the game’s first touchdown.
Gano later returned to kick a 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 22-9 loss to the Chiefs.
Koo took over as the Falcons’ primary kicker midway through the 2019 season. He became the full-time starter in 2020, which was when he earned a Pro Bowl nod for converting on a career-best 94.9% of his field goal attempts. He remained an above-average kicker through the 2023 campaign.
Pro DE After Nick Bosa Injur…
The San Francisco 49ers began the year with one of the more intimidating defensive fronts in the NFL.
But that unit got a little less threatening after the season-ending ACL injury to former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa in Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s the second time in the last six seasons that Bosa’s year was ended before Week 4 due to an ACL injury. He missed 14 games during the 2020 season after tearing his other ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.
But the 49ers are in a precarious position.
They’re 3-0 and sit atop the NFC West, and despite injuries to quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, they still have a good shot of making some noise in the playoffs.
But they acquired edge-rusher Bryce Huff in the offseason to work opposite Bosa along the defensive line, not replace him.
The 28-year-old Huff likely isn’t ready to step into Bosa’s shoes, which is why Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard believes they should turn their attention toward the trade market — more specifically the Cincinnati Bengals.
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“There’s one trade scenario that stands out far above other possibilities,” Kawakami wrote. “What about checking with the Cincinnati Bengals about Trey Hendrickson?
“… Hendrickson isn’t likely to cost the multiple first-round picks it took for the Packers to get Parsons from Dallas this month…I’ll put it this way: I don’t think that’s what it’d cost if Cincinnati is ready to trade Hendrickson.”
Kawakami posed a trade package that could pique the Bengals interest with several tiers that only sweeten the deal for Cincinnati provided Hendrickson hits certain thresholds.
His proposal would send first- and third-round picks in 2026 and a second-rounder in 2027 if Hendrickson plays at least 60% of the team’s remaining defensive snaps, the 49ers make it to the playoffs, and they sign him to a contract extension.
More NFL: Chiefs’ Andy Reid Doesn’t Hold Back on His Sideline Confrontation With Travis Kelce
He then poses a scenario where San Francisco parts with just its 2026 first-rounder if Hendrickson plays at least 60% of the snaps and the team reached the postseason but he doesn’t sign an extension, and another one where the 49ers surrender a 2026 second-rounder if Hendrickson plays less than 60% of the snaps or the team misses the playoffs.
“If the 49ers and Bengals can find a way to do something like this, it would get the Bengals the shot at quality compensation in a lost season for a player they’re likely losing anyway,” Kawakami reasoned.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did tell reporters earlier this week that filling Bosa’s spot via trade is something the team is exploring.
Rams Urged To Sign Recently Released Super Bowl Winner
The Houston Texans have released defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson after acquiring the player in the trade back in March.
Gardner-Johnson was released due to “friction behind the scenes,” according to Aaron Wilson. The defender was reportedly complaining about his role, wanting to blitz and mentioned being traded.
Now, the safety is without a team and should have several teams calling his camp about his talents. One NFL writer believes the Los Angeles Rams should go after CJ Gardner-Johnson as the team deals with blows to the secondary.
CJ Gardner-Johnson To LA?
The Los Angeles Rams lost one of their starting cornerbacks, Ahkello Witherspoon, to a broken collarbone. While Witherspoon has the opportunity to return late in the season, the Rams need assistance in the secondary regardless of position.
Sports Illustrated’s Brock Vierra believes the Rams should sign CJ Gardner-Johnson after his release.
“Gardner-Johnson is a proven winner who is willing to die on the field for his team as long as he’s emotionally invested in the cause and in my opinion, the cause in Houston was not a fit for him. Is Gardner-Johnson outspoken? Yes. Is he violent on the field? Yes. Does he voice his opinions, sometimes not in the best of ways? Yes,” Vierra wrote for Sports Illustrated. “When push comes to shove, Gardner-Johnson is the exact person anyone wants beside them on the wall when the invaders are at the gate. He’s perfect for the aggressive nature of this defense, his personality should assimilate well within the Rams.
“Gardner-Johnson is weird differently. That’s why he’s a great player. Teams also don’t win Super Bowls through the power of friendship. Plus, if the Rams don’t sign him, the [Philadelphia] Eagles probably will.”
CJGJ logged 15 tackles in his short stint with the Texans, with 11 of those tackles being solo takedowns.
Before being traded to Houston, Gardner-Johnson was a member of the 2025 Super Bowl-winning Eagles squad. In that season, the DB had 6 interceptions and 12 pass deflections.
Restructure of Secondary Room
The Los Angeles Rams have a solid safety group, led by Quentin Lake, who was voted a captain this season.
Lake has been receiving snaps at the nickel corner spot. If the Rams were to sign CJ Gardner-Johnson, Lake could make a switch to cornerback to deal with the injuries woes to the team and have CJGJ play in one of the safety spots.
In the recent matchup with the Eagles, Lake had a game high of 4 pass deflections, being a positive cover player against Devonta Smith and AJ Brown.
The Rams could benefit if Lake were to make a one-time season switch to corner, with a player knowing the defensive scheme Chris Shula runs instead of a whole new CB.
CJ Gardner-Johnson has Super Bowl-winning experience and could be a benefit to the defense at the safety position.
NFL Vet Makes Big Dante Moore Admission but Oregon Nation Learns Harsh Dillon Gabriel Truth
Before Bo Nix got to Eugene, he had already had experience of winning games in historic CFB cathedrals like Tiger Stadium (LSU) and Kyle Field (Texas A&M). His successor, Dillon Gabriel, won at Georgia Tech as Central Florida’s starter and beat BYU as a visitor with Oklahoma. Dante Moore will only play his first ranked team this weekend. So should he really be seated on the same table? An eight-year NFL veteran thinks so.
Former Oregon Ducks lineman and ex-Panther Geoff Schwartz is here with his hot take. “Dante Moore is better than Gabriel. It’s not debatable. He connects on throws that Gabriel only wishes he could make.” He posted on X. His reasoning? The kid’s outside throws. Schwartz even pulled out the receipts, posting a clip from the Oregon St. game where Moore uncorked a 45-yard beauty down the sideline. When Oregon fans pushed back, Schwartz doubled down. “Ppl arguing with me who don’t watch Oregon play is just peak Twitter. Gabriel made this throw zero times.”
That’s the sort of a bold claim that lights up message boards. And to be fair, Dante Moore does have a special knack for working the edges of the field. The arm talent is evident. Throwing velocity, placement, and a willingness to test the boundary windows Gabriel often left untouched during his Ducks run. It’s not all roses. Moore still struggles in the middle of the pocket. Reading coverage across the middle isn’t his strength yet, and defenses that disguise looks can bait him into hesitation. He has shown efficiency in his passing game, but on a relatively light workload compared to what Gabriel shouldered in 2023.
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The sample size is small, and the stage has been relatively forgiving. #5’s only road wins as a starter? San Diego State, back when he was a UCLA freshman, and Northwestern three weeks ago in front of about 12,000 people at a pop-up stadium built on a lacrosse field. This week? Add 94,000 more voices, dressed in white, breathing down on him at Beaver Stadium.
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Plus, Penn State isn’t just about atmosphere. James Franklin’s defense is giving up only 224 yards/game and already has seven interceptions in three contests. They’re athletic, disciplined, and also the exact type of group that exposes a young QB. It’s why Saturday feels like the first true test for QB1. Still, none of that erases Moore’s bright start. The 20-year-old has given the right amount of production required to win games. And win them well. He’s already thrown 11 touchdowns, matching what he did across nine appearances at UCLA. Penn State will be the perfect game to prove he belongs in the conversation that Schwartz insists Moore already owns.
But Moore needs to walk out of Happy Valley with either a win or show a heroic effort in the ensuing loss. Then Ducks fans can start whispering “Heisman” again. Maybe AD Rob Mullens really does need to save an extra December flight to New York. But if Moore falters, it will give the critics enough material to last the entire week.
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Franklin sizes up Dante Moore vs. Gabriel ahead of White Out
Even James Franklin isn’t ready to paint Dante Moore as a drastic departure from Dillon Gabriel, but he knows PSU’s defense will have its hands full. Breaking down the QBs this week, Franklin pointed out that Oregon’s system hasn’t skipped a beat despite the change under center.
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“I don’t think it’s a whole lot different,” Franklin said. “He’s a throw-first guy. Very accurate, can extend plays. Obviously, has a ton of playmakers around him. They both had the ability to extend plays. I would say that Dante runs a little bit more. You know, runs a little bit more than maybe they had in the past. But the other guy was a really good athlete as well.”
Oregon currently boasts the nation’s seventh-ranked scoring offense, averaging 50.8 points per game. But it is also true that they are yet to face an opponent the likes of Penn State.
Shane Doan’s Wife Reveals Secret Help Pushing Arizona to Revive NHL Team
You can’t always just connect with a new place like Shane Doan did when he came to Arizona. But there is actually a deep reason behind everything just clicking from the get-go. “I think Shane being like a cowboy and a ranch guy, coming to Arizona was just the perfect fit for him,” Rich Nairn, the former Coyotes executive vice president, said in 2019 while talking about the winger’s legacy to AZ Central. “He was a great player but also he fell in love with this place. It was his second home. It became his new home.”
But as his legacy was getting more and more intertwined with Arizona, the Arizona people also fell in love with hockey, and the Coyotes became the symbol for the desert state. Though the Coyotes left Arizona last year, efforts to bring the team back have continued. But now those efforts have received a huge boost: Andrea Doan, Shane Doan’s wife, and the face of a fresh new endeavor to bring the team back, will play probably the most important role in bringing the NHL back to Arizona. But she won’t be alone. She already has big help come her way.
On September 23, Cameron Cox, the 12 News anchor, shared a clip on X from the interview they did with Andrea Doan and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas Galvin. There, she spoke about all the various aspects she is focusing on to make it a successful return for the Coyotes. And more importantly, she is adamant they will revive the Arizona Coyotes. Why? Because this is where passion meets the profit.
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“I know people love hockey here and are huge Coyotes fans,” Andrea said in the clip. And being the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the nation comes with a vast market for the NHL to explore. Having a team here is a no-brainer. They just have to sort out the ownership and Arena problems. Talking about the support, she said, “The alumni here also is unbelievable. There are so many players that come back here.”
And they are ready to lend Andrea all the support she needs. “They all want to be involved, like they all want to get the team back.” In fact, one ex-Coyote is already making a big show of support. “Keith Yandle’s texting us this morning like, ‘I can’t wait. Come on Spittin’ Chicklets, this is so awesome.’” Well, it wouldn’t be surprising given Yandle’s first team was the Coyotes, and he spent 9 seasons there.
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The Spittin’ Chicklets platform would be huge for them to showcase their bid, to connect with a massive NHL fanbase, and get the revival movement proper on track. Mind you, the Spittin’ Chicklets will want the Coyotes to be back; their very own Paul Bissonnette was a Coyotes winger for 4 years. They have so many connections to this operation.
And with her intentions to not just bring the team back but also the Stanley Cup to Arizona, it would get so much mileage on the podcast; it won’t be long before candidates line up for ownership and being the host arena for the Coyotes. That’s the power of broadcast. But Andrea Doan has to spearhead it till the end. She has the all-important Doan connection.
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The Shane and Andrea Doan link that has gotten things started
Tom Galvin had made the key decision to set up a committee that would orchestrate the NHL Arizona revival plans. That was almost 9 months ago. Only on Monday, September 22, did he officially decide to make Andrea Doan the chair of that committee. Her connection to being Shane Doan’s wife doesn’t exactly explain her importance in this revival mission. But how she has lived and breathed this sport in Arizona for the last 20+ years puts her in the perfect position to helm this project.
In fact, even Shane Doan himself believes his wife is the person who can successfully oversee this in a way that fulfills the community’s needs while making it a successful business venture for the stakeholders. “She not only saw the game from the professional level, she sees it as a parent and for people that played or got to experience hockey with all the good that it can provide for a family and teaching kids and helping kids and giving them a community outside of just their family or their school. She has the ability to connect all of that,” the Coyotes legend said, according to Arizona Insider.
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Andrea Doan had seen her husband go from a fan favorite to a hockey legend for the state. Then she raised her son, Josh Doan, to become a Coyote player. She had lived the previous history of the Coyotes. She knows why it all fell apart. So, Andrea Doan knows what ownership dynamics she needs to look for and which locale would provide the best host arena experience.
Now, it’s all about fast-tracking the process to bring the Arizona Coyotes back in the least possible time, especially with multiple cities vying to be the next franchise that enters the NHL.
Patrik Allvin weighs in on Braeden Cootes, Canucks’ recent signings, and more
The NHL season might be less than a week old, but Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin already had a lot to say when he met with reporters on Tuesday.
Looking on during the team’s practice at UBC, Allvin took stock of what he saw across the week of training camp in Penticton and his club’s preseason opening loss to the Kraken in Seattle.
“I thought the pace was good through the three days up [in Penticton]. A lot of young guys got a taste of it here, and the older guys picked it up too,” Allvin said. “It was a significantly higher pace in the drills that Adam and his staff was running here over the last couple days.”
“I thought we struggled a little bit earlier there in Seattle with a fairly young lineup. Tolopilo kept us in the game, played really well. I did like that there was no quit. The guys were playing hard to the end there, so good for them to have a day off yesterday and back at it here today.”
When it comes to how they want the Canucks to play, Allvin and Foote are on the same page about pace of play. Last season, the Canucks struggled to strike the right balance between attacking and defending, and Allvin knows that has to change for them to find success this season.
“The game is so fast now, and I think that’s [where] the eye test with the data test comes in, that the pace is higher,” Allvin said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can skate, and Adam is running with simple, basic drills that you play fast, predictable hockey, so good for the players buying in there.”
If there was one topic Allvin knew he’d be asked about Tuesday, it was always going to be the impressive play of Braeden Cootes. The GM had a pretty glowing review of his top pick from June’s draft, calling Cootes’ early returns a ‘pleasant surprise’.
“We talked about his character and compete leading up to the draft. He’s taking an opportunity and earning another day, really fitting in well here and continue to practice with us.”
But Allvin was quick to sidestep any discussion about Cootes’ staying with the NHL club long term, seeing this more as a learning opportunity for him and the other prospects still skating with the team.
“For all the young players here, the mindset of earning another day, I don’t think they should look too far ahead of themselves,” Allvin said. “We all know that the veteran guys are picking it up here once we get closer to the opening night, so for them it’s just to learn every day, and I thought in this group practice today was hard.”
“So far, he’s definitely earned his way, and based on his performance in the first game, I would be hoping that he earned another game here.”
Tuesday’s scrum also marked the first availability since the Canucks signed draft picks Riley Patterson and Gabriel Chiarot to entry-level contracts. Both forwards were officially assigned back to their respective junior teams on Sunday, but Allvin noted the development he’s already seen – particularly from the older Patterson – in the short time since they each joined the organization.
“It’s more of a long-term commitment with a guy like Riley, and Gabe here as well,” Allvin said of his two newest signings. “My message to the players as of yesterday, nothing really changed. It’s actually getting harder now.
“We want to continue to work with both of them. But both of them were, in my opinion, really impressive in different ways. Obviously different style of players. Hopefully they feel good about themselves, but it’s just the start of the journey.”
Ahead of Wednesday night’s tilt in Abbotsford with the Calgary Flames, Allvin confirmed the first skating group would be ones in the lineup. Among them is Max Sasson, who’s expected to centre a line of Abbotsford legends with Arshdeep Bains and Linus Karlsson on his wings.
But that decision is a slight change of pace for Sasson, who’s spent most of his time with the NHL club as a winger himself. Allvin sees that two-position skillset as a part of the ‘adaptable’ game plan Foote is constructing.
“I think Max with his speed gives us a good opportunity to play as a center,” Allvin said. “I think this line played together last year in Abbotsford and played well here. With most of our guys, their ability to play two positions really helps us as well with the depth.”
Running the third line down the middle will be Aatu Räty, centering a line between Vitali Kravtsov and Chase Stillman. The 22-year-old Räty is entering a make or break year of sorts, as he looks to crack the NHL roster full time after being a key part of Abbotsford’s regular season success last season.
Allvin feels that he’s seen a more learned version of Räty so far. “I think he’s more confident coming in here this year. And I know it’s early here, but he’s a really talented player and I think he looks good so far in camp.”
With Räty (and Sasson) vying to fill the roster gap down the middle, Allvin thinks it’ll only serve to make him a stronger and more NHL-capable player. “It definitely helps the internal competition and helps the coaches with different options. And a center-ice man like [Räty], strong on faceoffs, strong two-way game, and his ability to produce as well definitely helps.”
San Jose Sharks’ John Klingberg out with upper body injury
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks have their first notable injury of training camp, as veteran defenseman John Klingberg is now considered day-to-day with an upper body ailment.
Klingberg sustained the injury in the Sharks’ 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at SAP Center in the preseason opener for both teams. Klingberg played over 21 minutes and scored a second period power play goal.
Coach Ryan Warsofsky said it appears unlikely that Klingberg will be available Friday when the Sharks again host the Golden Knights. The Sharks are scheduled to practice Wednesday and Thursday with a team day off on Saturday.
Warsofsky said Klingberg’s injury is not related to the double hip resurfacing surgery he had in Dec. 2023 and kept him out for over a year. In January, Klingberg signed with the Edmonton Oilers and was part of the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring.
Klingberg signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Sharks as a free agent in July.
Klingberg said at the start of camp last week that, “there’s no pain in the joint anymore, which is really nice, but (it’s) still a work in progress. It’s just going to be week by week here. But it’s better than it’s been in the past, but it’s just getting used to the new normal.”
Klingberg, 33, figures to be a big part of the Sharks power play this season. Of his 416 career NHL points, 160 have come with the man advantage.
Sam Dickinson, the Sharks’ top prospect on defense, took Klinbgerg’s spot on the first power play unit during Tuesday’s drills. Other skaters on that unit were forwards Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, and Tyler Toffoli.
Blues tinker with lineup to bring NHL look to training camp
On the fifth day of training camp, the Blues presented a first look at what could be molded into an NHL lineup on opening night in less than three weeks.
During practice Tuesday morning, the Blues ran out forward lines and defensive pairings that could — with some slight adjustments — become the ones that face the Wild on Oct. 9. Here were the NHL-relevant combinations:
Pavel Buchnevich — Robert Thomas — Jimmy Snuggerud
Dylan Holloway — Pius Suter — Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours — Brayden Schenn — Mathieu Joseph
Alexandre Texier — Nick Bjugstad — Justin Carbonneau
Alexey Toropchenko — Oskar Sundqvist — Nathan Walker
Milan Lucic — Dalibor Dvorsky — Otto Stenberg
Cam Fowler — Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg — Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker — Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein — Matthew Kessel
“We want to put guys back together that have played together before or see some guys that are new with other players that have been here,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “That was a little bit (of the thinking) behind it. We’re starting to get people together that we think might be part of our lineup.”
Previously in training camp, the Blues mixed and matched their lines and pairs. On the first two days of camp, they placed a young prospect with two veterans in order to give them an opportunity to show themselves and also to ask experienced players to elevate others. Then came jumbled groups due to preseason games on Saturday in Dallas and Sunday in Columbus and an off-day Monday.
Tuesday offered a look into the ongoing battles in training camp.
The biggest one is the race for the final spot in the bottom six, notably on the wing of the third line, which could impact what happens on the fourth line, of course.
The Blues used newcomer Pius Suter as the second-line center between Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou, pushing captain Brayden Schenn to third-line duty.
It was Jake Neighbours’ first day back skating with the club after missing the first three days due to personal reasons, and he took his position on Schenn’s wing. That Mathieu Joseph was the player that joined them was a mild surprise.
“I think his habits and his details have been better,” Montgomery said of Joseph. “He’s really made an effort to be really good with his stick on the forecheck, his stick in the D-zone, in tracking situations. He’s playing fast. He’s hitting holes with his speed, which is always very noticeable. But now he’s having time and space with the puck because of those things.”
If the fourth line ends up as it was in practice, with Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker flanking Oskar Sundqvist, that leaves Nick Bjugstad without a home. He could be an easy fit at right wing on the third line, even if he has played exclusively center during training camp.
The three recent first-round forwards (Justin Carbonneau, Dalibor Dvorsky and Otto Stenberg) remain in notable positions to battle for a roster spot, though it might appear that Carbonneau could be more highly regarded at this moment as at least one player on his line (Bjugstad) is guaranteed to be in the NHL this fall.
“We have a lot of guys,” Montgomery said. “Camp is only five days going or six days going. We have a lot of days left here before (the regular season). Everyone’s going to be moved around here, right wing and center, and seeing different people with different combinations.”
On the back end, the defense unfurled as anticipated on Tuesday morning.
The top pair of Cam Fowler and Colton Parayko remained steady, as did the second pair of Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk. Tyler Tucker and Logan Mailloux formed a new third pair that should be physical and balanced between Tucker’s defensive skills and Mailloux’s offensive ones.
Lucic leaves practice early
Forward Milan Lucic, trying to earn an NHL contract in St. Louis, left the ice early during the late group on Tuesday. Montgomery said Lucic tweaked his groin on a rut in the ice and is 50-50 to participate in practice on Wednesday.
When Lucic was first injured, he whacked his stick on the top of the boards in front of the bench in frustration.
If the injury hampers Lucic throughout the remainder of camp, it will hurt his chances of making the team. The 37-year-old winger has not played professionally in almost two years.
AHL-contracted forward Matthew Peca was not on the ice for practice Tuesday after getting injured late in Sunday’s practice. Montgomery said he was also 50-50 to practice on Wednesday.
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Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin releases new cereal to celebrate making NHL history
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is celebrating his historic, record-breaking season with a new cereal called “Ovi’s Great Crunch.”
“It’s crunch time,” Ovechkin said. “The most important thing is my kids love it.”
The NHL’s all-time goals leader surprised grocery shoppers on Tuesday at a Giant Food store on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest D.C. Ovechkin handed out boxes of cereal, worked the checkout line and poured the milk at a cereal bar. He also joined a group of kids trying their first bowls of Ovi’s Great Crunch.
One boy said the cereal “tastes like winning.” Another person joked that he hopes the classic cornflakes make him better at hockey.
A box costs $2.99, with a portion of sales going to charity, including Ovechkin’s THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer fund.
Ovi’s Great Crunch is available for a limited time, only at Giant Food. It’s their second cereal collaboration with the Russian hockey star — you may remember “Ovi O’s” in 2019.
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NHL writer explains reasons for Rangers’ optimism in 2025-26 season
The New York Rangers have reasons for optimism for the 2025-26 season, despite having missed the playoffs in the previous NHL campaign.
The Athletic’s Vince Mercogliano argued that things cannot go worse than last year for the Rangers, and that the hiring of new coach Mike Sullivan, the appointment of a new captain and new reinforcements can only be positive.
Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis headline the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame class of 2025
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis headline the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Bowman, the NHL’s all-time winningest coach, and Francis, the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer, were both important members of the Pittsburgh teams of the early 1990s that claimed the franchise’s first two Stanley Cups.
The duo, both of whom are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, will be joined by forward Kevin Stevens and former coach/general manager Eddie Johnston during an on-ice ceremony when the Penguins host Columbus on Oct. 25.
All four inductees played a role in Pittsburgh becoming one of the league’s marquee attractions during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Johnston was the general manager when the Penguins drafted Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in 1984 and later served as the club’s head coach from 1993-97.
Bowman was Pittsburgh’s director of player personnel during the 1990-91 season, during which he helped the club bring in a series of veterans — including Francis — to round out a roster ready to compete for a title. Bowman took over as head coach in 1991 after Bob Johnson was forced to step down because of a brain cancer diagnosis shortly after leading the Penguins to a championship.
Pittsburgh won its second straight Stanley Cup in 1992 with Bowman behind the bench. He then guided the Penguins to the Presidents’ Trophy in 1992-93 but exited the following offseason in a contract dispute.
Francis spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh after coming over in a trade with the Hartford Whalers. He scored 164 goals to go with 449 assists with the Penguins, adding another 100 points in the playoffs.
Stevens was a three-time All-Star across his two stints in Pittsburgh, scoring 260 goals and adding 295 assists in 522 games with the club.
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Scotty Bowman, Ron Francis make Penguins’ Hall of Fame class
PITTSBURGH — Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis headline the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Bowman, the NHL’s all-time winningest coach, and Francis, the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer, were both important members of the Pittsburgh teams of the early 1990s that claimed the franchise’s first two Stanley Cups.
The duo, both of whom are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, will be joined by forward Kevin Stevens and former coach/general manager Eddie Johnston during an on-ice ceremony when the Penguins host Columbus on Oct. 25.
All four inductees played a role in Pittsburgh becoming one of the league’s marquee attractions during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Johnston was the general manager when the Penguins drafted Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in 1984 and later served as the club’s head coach from 1993-97.
Bowman was Pittsburgh’s director of player personnel during the 1990-91 season, during which he helped the club bring in a series of veterans — including Francis — to round out a roster ready to compete for a title. Bowman took over as head coach in 1991 after Bob Johnson was forced to step down because of a brain cancer diagnosis shortly after leading the Penguins to a championship.
Pittsburgh won its second straight Stanley Cup in 1992 with Bowman behind the bench. He then guided the Penguins to the Presidents’ Trophy in 1992-93 but exited the following offseason in a contract dispute.
Francis spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh after coming over in a trade with the Hartford Whalers. He scored 164 goals to go with 449 assists with the Penguins, adding another 100 points in the playoffs.
Stevens was a three-time All-Star across his two stints in Pittsburgh, scoring 260 goals and adding 295 assists in 522 games with the club.
Sept. 23: NHL Preseason Roundup
Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each had a goal and an assist, and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 at Bell Centre in Montreal on Tuesday.
Defenseman Arber Xhekaj and forward Florian Xhekaj, brothers playing as teammates for the first time, also scored for Montreal (2-0-0). Jakub Dobes stopped all nine shots he faced, and Kaapo Kahkonen made 10 saves on 12 shots in relief after entering midway through the second period.
Kahkonen was making his Canadiens debut after signing a one-year contract July 1.
Anthony Richard and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia (1-1-0). Samuel Ersson made seven saves on nine shots before being replaced by Aleksei Kolosov (12 saves) to start the second.
Caufield gave Montreal a 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the first period, scoring on the rush with a one-timer from the left face-off circle.
Florian Xhekaj then made it 2-0 at 9:58 with a wrist shot from the right circle. The 21-year-old, who has not played in an NHL regular-season game, played with Laval, the Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate, last season.
Richard pulled the Flyers within 2-1 on a breakaway at 11:11 of the second period, beating Kahkonen to the blocker side.
Suzuki extended the lead to 3-1 at 16:05. He scored with a wrist shot from the right dot off a pass from Juraj Slafkovsky.
Tippett cut it to 3-2 with a power-play goal at 17:35, putting a shot from low in the left circle inside the near post.
Arber Xhekaj scored a short-handed goal into an empty net with 14 seconds remaining for the 4-2 final.
Bruins 5, Rangers 4 (OT): Nikita Zadorov scored at 3:25 of overtime to give the Boston Bruins a comeback win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Zadorov took a pass up ice from Marat Khusnutdinov, curled past the Rangers net and into the right circle before firing a wrist shot past Talyn Boyko.
Michael Eyssimont had two goals and an assist for the Bruins (1-1-0) and Khusnutdinov had a goal and an assist. Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves on 34 shots.
Trey Fix-Wolansky, Gabe Perreault, Sam Carrick and Vladislav Gavrikov scored for the Rangers (1-0-1). Igor Shesterkin made 10 saves before being relieved halfway through the second period by Boyko, who made 20 saves.
Matej Blumel tapped in a pass from Casey Mittelstadt in front of the net to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 8:30 of the first period.
Just 44 seconds later, Fix-Wolansky tied the game 1-1 for the Rangers, scoring off his own rebound at 9:14.
Perreault scored for the second time in two preseason games with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle for a 2-1 Rangers lead at 3:25 of the second period.
Carrick controlled a loose puck when the Bruins turned it over trying to clear the zone and skated down the slot to score from the netfront on Korpisalo for a 3-1 lead at 9:53.
Gavrikov, who signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Rangers on July 1, scored a short-handed goal put the Rangers up 4-1 at 11:07.
Eyssimont swiped the puck from Adam Fox and beat Boyko high to the glove side with a backhand to cut the lead to 4-2 at 7:05 of the third period.
Eyssimont went top shelf from the right circle at 11:11 to make it 4-3.
With the Boston net empty, Khusnutdinov tied the game 4-4 with 1:05 remaining.
Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2: Connor Bedard scored for the Chicago Blackhawks in their loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
It was the preseason opener for each team.
It was also the first game as Chicago coach for Jeff Blashill, who was hired May 22. He coached Detroit for seven seasons from 2015-22.
Arvid Soderblom made 40 saves for the Blackhawks.
Emmitt Finnie scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and had an assist, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had two assists for the Red Wings, also playing their first preseason game. Sebastian Cossa made 15 saves.
Carter Mazur made it 1-0 for Detroit with a power-play goal at 14:26 of the first period, scoring from the low slot off a no-look, between-the-legs pass by Finnie.
Bedard tied it 1-1 on the power play at 2:41 of the second period. He took a feed from Sam Rinzel and scored with a one-timer from the top of the left face-off circle.
The Red Wings went back ahead 2-1 at 4:21 on Nate Danielson’s redirection of William Wallinder’s shot.
Wyatt Kaiser tied it 2-2 at 6:23 of the third with a wrist shot through traffic.
Finnie made it 3-2 at 12:38 when he put in a rebound at the side of the net after Soderblom stopped a Brandsegg-Nygard shot from the slot.
Devils 6, Islanders 2: Jack Hughes had two assists in his first game since March 2 for the New Jersey Devils against the New York Islanders at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Hughes missed the final 19 games of last season after undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury on March 5.
Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov each scored in his Devils debut, and Dawson Mercer and Dougie Hamilton each had a goal and an assist.
Brown (four-year, $12 million contract), and Dadonov (one year, $1 million) both signed with New Jersey (1-1-0) on July 1.
Jacob Markstrom allowed one goal on three shots for the Devils before being replaced by Georgi Romanov with 16 seconds remaining in the first period. Romanov stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief.
Emil Heineman and Calum Ritchie each scored in his Islanders (0-1-1) debut. Marcus Hogberg stopped 22 of 25 shots before he was replaced midway through the second period by Tristan Lennox, who allowed three goals on 13 shots.
Hamilton’s power-play goal gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 13:52 of the first period, a one-timer from just behind the left face-off circle off a cross-ice pass from Hughes.
Heineman tied it 1-1 at 15:56 with a wrist shot from the slot after New Jersey recorded the first 14 shots on goal. He was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on June 27, along with two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, in the trade for defenseman Noah Dobson.
Nico Hischier put the Devils back in front 2-1 with a power-play goal 44 seconds into the second period on a one-timer from the right circle.
Brown extended it to 3-1 at 9:31 of the second period, scoring on a wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
Mercer’s one-timer 1:08 later pushed it to 4-1 at 10:39 off an assist from Timo Meier.
Ethan Edwards made it 5-1 at 4:52 of the third period before Dadonov extended it to 5-1 at 6:53.
Ritchie scored a power-play goal at 10:09 to cut it to 6-2. The 20-year-old forward, who was the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6 as part of the trade for Brock Nelson.
Senators 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT): Shane Pinto scored twice, including the overtime winner, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for the win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Pinto slipped behind the defense, skated in alone and sent a wrist shot past Artur Akhtyamov 16 seconds into overtime.
Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann scored, and Matias Maccelli had two assists for the Maple Leafs (1-0-1). Dennis Hildeby made 23 saves in two periods and Akhtyamov stopped 15 of 18 shots in relief.
Fabian Zetterlund scored, and Leevi Merilainen allowed two goals on 25 shots in the first two periods for the Senators (1-1-0). Hunter Shepard stopped all eight shots he faced.
Matthews opened the scoring 4:24 into the first period, finishing off a give-and-go with Oliver Ekman-Larsson with a wrist shot from the slot.
McMann pushed it to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 18:23.
Zetterlund cut the lead to 2-1 at 7:33 of the third period with a short-handed goal when he tapped in a rebound in front off a Donovan Sebrango shot.
Pinto tied it at 2-2 on the power play at 17:58 with Shepard pulled for the extra attacker.
Sabres 2, Blue Jackets 1: Jason Zucker scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help the Buffalo Sabres to the win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Zucker gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead at 11:57 of the third. Konsta Helenius couldn’t get a shot off in front, but the puck went to Zucker to the right of the net for the goal.
Alex Lyon, who signed a two-year contract with Buffalo on July 1, allowed a goal on 14 shots in two periods in his debut with the Sabres (2-0-0). Devon Levi made five saves in relief.
Ivan Fedotov made 24 saves in two periods and Zach Sawchenko allowed a goal on nine shots in relief for the Blue Jackets (1-2-0).
Miles Wood gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 8:37 of the second period on the power play when he deflected Daemon Hunt’s point shot past Lyon.
Tage Thompson tied it 1-1 for the Sabres at 17:54, scoring on a one-timer off a Zach Benson feed from behind the net.
Oilers 3, Jets 2: Jonathan Toews made his debut for the Winnipeg Jets in a loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Canada Life Centre.
The 37-year-old-forward, who signed a one-year contract with the Jets on July 1, was minus-1 in 18:36 of ice time. He left the NHL following the 2022-23 season after battling ongoing health issues through his final few seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Quinn Hutson and Isaac Howard scored for the Oilers (2-0-1), and Calvin Pickard stopped all eight shots before being replaced midway in the second period by Matt Tomkins. Tomkins made 13 saves. Noah Philp had two assists.
Colin Miller and Colby Barlow scored, and Brad Lambert had two assists for the Jets (0-1-1). Eric Comrie allowed three goals on 17 shots.
Hutson put the Oilers up 1-0 at 7:39 of the second period when his backhander deflected in off the skate of Jets defenseman Kale Clague.
Miller tied it 1-1 at 15:23 with a wrist shot through traffic from the left point.
Howard put Edmonton back up 2-1 at 17:28 on the power play. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sent a cross-ice pass to Howard in the right circle, who one-timed it past Comrie.
Howard, a 21-year-old forward, had 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games at Michigan State University and won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA last season. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract after being traded to Edmonton from the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 8.
Ty Emberson increased the lead to 3-1 at 11:57 of the third period with a wrist shot from the right circle that went in off the far post.
Barlow scored on a deflection at 18:49 for the 3-2 final.
Stars 3, Wild 2 (OT): Tyler Seguin scored at 1:52 of overtime to give the Dallas Stars the win against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Seguin tapped in a cross-ice pass from Miro Heiskanen on the rush for the winning goal.
Seguin and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (2-0-0) and Jake Oettinger made 19 saves.
David Jiricek and Ben Gleason scored for the Wild (1-0-1) and Cal Petersen made 34 saves.
Jiricek scored on the power play to give the Wild a 1-0 lead at 9:35 of the first period.
Mikko Rantanen scored with a wrist shot on the rush from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Robertson 17 seconds into the third period, tying the game 1-1.
Robertson then scored at 3:18, jamming in a loose puck to give Dallas a 2-1 lead.
Gleason scored off a snap shot at the top of the slot to tie the game 2-2 at 7:39.
Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis headline the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame class of 2025
PITTSBURGH — Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis headline the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Bowman, the NHL’s all-time winningest coach, and Francis, the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer, were both important members of the Pittsburgh teams of the early 1990s that claimed the franchise’s first two Stanley Cups.
The duo, both of whom are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, will be joined by forward Kevin Stevens and former coach/general manager Eddie Johnston during an on-ice ceremony when the Penguins host Columbus on Oct. 25.
All four inductees played a role in Pittsburgh becoming one of the league’s marquee attractions during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Johnston was the general manager when the Penguins drafted Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in 1984 and later served as the club’s head coach from 1993-97.
Bowman was Pittsburgh’s director of player personnel during the 1990-91 season, during which he helped the club bring in a series of veterans – including Francis – to round out a roster ready to compete for a title. Bowman took over as head coach in 1991 after Bob Johnson was forced to step down because of a brain cancer diagnosis shortly after leading the Penguins to a championship.
Pittsburgh won its second straight Stanley Cup in 1992 with Bowman behind the bench. He then guided the Penguins to the Presidents’ Trophy in 1992-93 but exited the following offseason in a contract dispute.
Francis spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh after coming over in a trade with the Hartford Whalers. He scored 164 goals to go with 449 assists with the Penguins, adding another 100 points in the playoffs.
Stevens was a three-time All-Star across his two stints in Pittsburgh, scoring 260 goals and adding 295 assists in 522 games with the club.
Cavs extend training camp invite to Killian Hayes and four other prospects, searching for final two-way play
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Charge, the Cavs’ G League affiliate, made a quiet but meaningful move this week, acquiring the player rights to Killian Hayes from the Long Island Nets in exchange for a first- and second-round pick in the 2026 G League Draft.
On its own, the transaction might have blended into the long list of offseason roster shuffling, but the Cavs quickly made it clear this was about more than the G League.
Hayes, once the No. 7 overall pick in the NBA Draft, is among five players invited to Florida next week for Cavaliers training camp at IMG Academy, sources told cleveland.com.
For Hayes, the invitation represents a chance at revival.
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At 6-foot-5 with the ball-handling and vision that once made him a prized lottery pick, his career has yet to stabilize. He spent four uneven seasons with the Detroit Pistons before a brief stint in Brooklyn last year, logging just six games for the Nets.
The flashes are still there. The size, the passing, the defensive versatility. But the consistency has never caught up.
Now, at 24 years old, Hayes will try to prove he belongs in an NBA rotation again, starting with the Cavs.
Cleveland’s investment in him is a mix of timing, fit, and necessity.
Training camp this year doubles as an audition stage, with the Cavs still holding one two-way contract spot alongside Luke Travers and Nae’Qwan Tomlin. They chose not to tender a qualifying offer to Emoni Bates, who has since signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving the door open for someone else to climb through. Hayes will have to battle for it, not only against the expectations of his draft pedigree but also against a group of fellow camp invitees hungry for the same opportunity.
Those other invitees who will potentially join Hayes at IMG are Norchad Omier, Tristan Enaruna, Chaney Johnson, and Jaxson Robinson. Many of them already have experience with the Cavs through summer league. Together, they form a patchwork group of long shots and hopefuls, all eyeing that same sliver of daylight on the Cavs’ roster.
Hayes’ case carries a different weight. He’s not just another invite, but a former lottery pick with over 200 NBA games under his belt. That experience matters, especially with Cleveland bracing for life without Darius Garland, who could be out until Thanksgiving or longer as he recovers from toe surgery.
In his absence, the Cavs will lean heavily on Donovan Mitchell, but the guard rotation behind him will also have to carry its weight.
Rookie Tyrese Proctor, Cleveland’s 49th pick this summer, has promise but will need time to adapt. Craig Porter Jr. showed toughness and poise in flashes last season but still has to prove he can be counted on night after night.
That’s where Hayes could fit, in spurts. As a stabilizer, someone who can initiate offense, defend across the backcourt, and buy time while Garland works his way back. He doesn’t need to be the savior Detroit once hoped he’d become. He just needs to be reliable, a floor-raiser who can keep the second unit organized and occasionally lighten the playmaking load on Mitchell. And if the shot ever steadies, if the confidence ever clicks, the Cavs could find themselves with a bargain reclamation project.
For now, the equation is simple. The Charge control his G League rights. The Cavs have a camp invite in his hand and a two-way slot open. The rest is up to Hayes.
A strong showing at IMG could pave the way for him to secure that final deal and put himself back on the NBA floor. A stumble could send him back to the waiting game, a cautionary tale of a prospect who never quite figured it out.
Either way, the opportunity is there. Cleveland has opened the door. For Hayes and for a handful of other hungry hopefuls, the challenge begins next week.
Porter adjusting to Brooklyn after trade to Nets
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. has a familiar face helping ease his transition from Denver to Brooklyn.
The 6-foot-10 forward felt overwhelmed by the demands that come with playing in New York during the Nuggets’ yearly visits to face the city’s two NBA clubs.
But his reunion with Nets coach Jordi Fernandez — a former Nuggets assistant coach — has eased the 27-year-old Midwestern sharpshooter’s acclimation to the Big Apple.
“I think that has been big for me,” Porter said Tuesday. “Just coming to a new city and feeling a little bit of being overwhelmed, just to have a guy as a head coach that I am working with every day, somebody like Jordi.”
The Nets acquired Porter and a 2032 first-round pick for forward Cam Johnson in July and already are planning on making him a focal point of a team that will feature five rookies taken in the first round of the NBA draft.
Porter was third behind three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in scoring in Denver last season, averaging 18.2 points on 50.4% shooting from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.
“He’s an elite shooter … great rebounder and great cutter,” said Fernandez, who was a member of the Denver coaching staff in Porter’s first four seasons in the league. “The good thing is I have a previous relationship with him and that makes it a little easier for me. But I am going to ask him to do things he’s never done before and for those reasons I think he’s up for the challenge.”
The Brooklyn newcomer recalled stepping up his offensive game while playing pickup in the summer whenever Jokic and Murray were not on the floor and saw how he could flourish in a primary role with the Nets.
And he is willing to share the spotlight with Cam Thomas, who led Brooklyn with 24 points per game while being limited to only 25 games last season due to a left hamstring injury.
As a restricted free agent, the 6-4 guard and his agent were unable to land the long-term deal they were seeking and settled for a one-year qualifying offer for $6 million.
“I think he is one guy that has been severely underappreciated in his ability to put a team on his back and score the ball,” Porter said. “I experienced it in Denver when we played the Nets. Cam, he’s a tough cover.”
Nets general manager Sean Marks was impressed with Thomas’ offseason work ethic as the team looks to rebound after finishing 26-56 and missing the postseason for the second consecutive year.
“He’s approached this in a very mature manner,” Marks said of the negotiations with Thomas. “That’s part of the business; maybe the ugly part of the business when you can’t find a common ground. But at the same time he’s developed and the hours he’s put in the gym, not in here but on his own speak volumes. So, he’s a Net. He knows that.”
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NBA YoungBoy’s Chicago MASA Tour Date Canceled By Venue
As YoungBoy Never Broke Again travels the country on his first-ever headlining arena tour, the MASA Tour’s Chicago stop set for Wednesday has been canceled by the United Center.
The venue announced that YB’s Chicago show was canceled on Tuesday (Sept. 23) without much of an explanation.
“The United Center has made the decision to cancel the NBA YoungBoy show scheduled for Wednesday, September 24 in Chicago,” the United Center wrote in a message posted to its website. “If you purchased through Ticketmaster, refunds will be issued automatically. If you purchased from a third-party reseller, please reach out to your point of purchase.”
Ticketmaster added that refunds would be issued to all fans at the point of purchase. “You don’t need to do a thing,” the ticket giant said. “We’ll issue a refund to the original method of payment used at time of purchase, as soon as funds are received from the Event Organizer.”
The cancellation comes on the heels of the United Center implementing a stricter bag policy, which was set to ban fans from bringing bags of any kind to the YoungBoy show.
YoungBoy’s manager, Alex Junnier, called out the United Center for the last-minute cancellation on his IG Story.
“@UnitedCenter bitched out. Shoutout to Joe Myhra @UnitedCenter. He didn’t want us to have fun. scary,” he wrote, attacking Myhra, who appears to be the SVP of operations at the venue. “It’s ok everyone Joe just sits behind a desk and got nervous.”
Footage recently emerged of a fan involved in a physical altercation with an elderly security guard at YoungBoy’s Kansas City show. Per KCTV 5, a 14-year-old was detained for allegedly assaulting the T-Mobile Center employee.
“We are aware of an incident at last night’s NBA YoungBoy concert in which multiple T-Mobile Center team members were assaulted by a fan,” Shani Ross, VP Sales and Marketing for the T-Mobile Center, said in a statement to KCTV 5. “The incident was captured on video and has been provided to local law enforcement. Our immediate concern is the well-being of our staff who sustained serious injuries. After receiving prompt attention from on-site First Aid personnel, they were later treated at a local hospital.”
YoungBoy’s MASA Tour is slated to continue this week with shows in Columbus, Brooklyn and Boston. Billboard has reached out to reps for YoungBoy, Ticketmaster and the United Center for comment.
NBA YoungBoy Fan Pulverizes Elderly Man During Kansas City Concert
NBA YoungBoy has some rabid fans … but one took it all too far when he went totally ballistic and beat the living piss out of an elderly man working the rapper’s concert in Kansas City last weekend.
Video posted on X captured every moment of Sunday’s beatdown in the crowd inside KC’s T-Mobile Center during NBA’s sold-out
NBA top 100: See where ESPN ranks Cooper Flagg, other Mavericks among NBA’s best players
The NBA season tips off in just under a month, and it should be a season of intrigue for the Dallas Mavericks and their fans.
Dallas enters the season with high expectations even with the number of new faces on their roster, not the least of which is No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg.
In anticipation of the new season, ESPN and NBA insider Tim MacMahon are ranking the top 100 players in the NBA entering 2025-26, starting with Nos. 100-51.
Three Mavericks appeared in the first half of ESPN’s list, including what is perhaps a surprisingly high ranking for the rookie Flagg.
Check out where the Mavs’ fall on the list below.
Related
95. P.J. Washington, F
Washington’s role on the 2025-26 team is flexible, but uncertain at the moment. Fresh off signing a four-year extension, the 27-year-old could be in the starting lineup or come off the bench this season. Either way, as MacMahon writes, Washington is still expected to be a key piece in Dallas, and the emotional pulse of the Mavericks team.
MacMahon:
Charles Barkley Named His 5 Toughest NBA Opponents Ever – Snubbed Michael Jordan
Charles Barkley is one of the most underrated superstars in NBA history. He was a huge figure in the association throughout the 1990s and won an MVP award in 1993, but his failure to ever get his hands on a championship has led to many younger fans not truly appreciating how great he was on a basketball court.
He could compete with the very best of them, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some stars who he found it tough playing against. In fact, considering some of the talent that was in the NBA throughout his career, it would have been miraculous if that wasn’t the case. Michael Jordan, the greatest player in basketball history, dominated the association during Barkley’s time on the court, among other all-time greats.
With that said, during an interview with House of Highlights, Barkley was asked to name the five toughest opponents he ever faced and he surprisingly didn’t include Jordan on his list.
Kevin McHale
The first player that Barkley named is Boston Celtics icon, Kevin McHale. The two faced off multiple times over the years and he left a lasting impression on the former Phoenix Suns man. So much so, in fact, that Chuck didn’t just name McHale as one of his toughest ever opponents, but as the best player he ever faced off against. In the House of Highlights video, he said:
Kevin Love’s NBA Future Faces New Update Amid Buyout Rumors
The Utah Jazz are bracing for training camp with Kevin Love still expected to be in uniform, a sign that the long-anticipated buyout has yet to take shape.
Despite weeks of speculation that Love and the Jazz would quickly separate after his arrival in July, the veteran forward has not advanced into buyout talks with the team, according to league sources who spoke with RG.org. For now, the plan is straightforward: Utah is preparing for him to report at the end of the month.
Love, 37, has been linked to multiple contenders since the deal that sent him to Utah from Miami in a three-team trade involving John Collins. Around the league, there was an assumption that the move was temporary and that he would soon be cut loose to join a playoff-caliber roster. That has not happened.
Read more: Wizards’ Bilal Coulibaly Faces New Update on Injury Timetable
The delay means Love is on track to join his new teammates on the floor next week. Utah sits at 16 standard contracts, one over the NBA’s roster limit, and will be required to make at least one cut before the regular season begins. Love could be in that conversation, though there has been no clear signal that his contract is the one the team will shed.
Love has been in the league for 18 seasons, winning a championship with Cleveland in 2016 and making five All-Star appearances. In his last two and a half seasons with the Heat, he averaged 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 41.3 percent in 99 games. His statistical output has declined, but he is still valued for his leadership and ability to space the floor.
Read more: Ex-NBA Player Trey Lyles Makes Bold Real Madrid Promise
The uncertainty has left teams around the league keeping a close eye on Utah’s next steps. A buyout would immediately make Love a target for contenders, while holding his contract could give the Jazz flexibility as a salary-matching piece in potential trades.
Until then, the expectation remains unchanged: Love is headed to camp. Whether that leads to him breaking camp as part of the Jazz rotation or eventually joining another team remains to be seen, but the timeline for his next move is stretching out far longer than many expected.
ESPN Under Fire After Cooper Flagg Announcement as Multiple NBA Stars Face Injustice
With NBA training camps in full swing and the regular season just weeks away, the league is buzzing with optimism. The San Antonio Spurs, for instance, are riding high on last year’s 34-win jump, with newfound veteran leadership and the full clearance of superstar Victor Wembanyama after a scary bout with deep vein thrombosis. But while teams are getting ready for tip-off, a familiar debate is already heating up: the annual player rankings from outlets like ESPN, especially when promising rookies and young sophomores are thrown into the mix.
These lists often prioritize breakout potential and offseason headlines. This year, the list starts from 100 to 51, featuring Spurs guard Stephon Castle at No. 99, marking his debut on the list after an unranked 2024. The No. 4 pick in 2024 started 47 games, notched 26 games with 20-plus points, and became the fourth Spur to win Rookie of the Year, joining David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama. ESPN’s Michael C. Wright noted Castle’s defensive prowess and fantasy projection of 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
NBA Retweet posted on X: “ESPN has ranked Stephon Castle, the reigning ROTY, 99th in the NBA. 😳 Notable players ranked above Castle: • Devin Vassell – 94th • Mitchell Robinson – 92nd • Zach Edey – 88th • Jonas Valanciunas – 87th • Josh Hart – 69th • Paul George – 54th • Cooper Flagg – 52nd”. Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks’ rookie, lands at No. 52, the only rookie listed. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon called Flagg “the most anticipated American prospect since LeBron James,” highlighting his role as a point forward under Jason Kidd.
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Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 assists on 42.8% shooting, leading his class in points with 1,190 points and 74 steals. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick, brings hype as a 6-foot-9 point forward with Wooden Award credentials from Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. ESPN’s latest Top 100 list for 2025-26, released today, stirs controversy by placing these young talents in unexpected spots.
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Devin Vassell, San Antonio’s second-longest tenured player, lands at No. 94. The sixth-year veteran has averaged up to 19.5 points per game. The list also includes Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg at No. 52, the only rookie ranked, ahead of veterans like Paul George and Zion Williamson. Flagg’s placement draws comparisons to Jason Kidd’s development of Giannis Antetokounmpo as Kidd plans to use the 18-year-old as a point forward on a playoff-aspiring roster.
With De’Aaron Fox acquired at the deadline, Castle’s sophomore leap could build on his versatility, Dylan Harper drafted as No. 2, and Flagg, hailed as the most anticipated American prospect since LeBron James, joins a veteran Mavericks squad with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
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Fans react to Cooper Flagg’s ranking
By placing Cooper Flagg at No. 52, above proven players like Paul George, Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball at 63rd, Tyler Herro at 68th, Bradley Beal at 86th, and Jrue Holiday at 91st, ESPN has ignited backlash in the basketball community. Fans and analysts decry the perceived injustice to veterans. One user said, “Coop at 52 over proven NBA players? 🤨 what sense that make“.
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One netizen stated, “Ranking hype levels at an all-time high 😅 Let the kid play first!” Flagg’s Duke stats of 19.2 points on 38.5% from three, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists earned him the Wooden Award, joining elites like Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson. His Summer League averages of 20.5 points and 4 assists showcase potential, but critics question ranking him over NBA champions like Draymond Green and Alex Caruso. Stephon Castle’s No. 99 ranking draws similar ire from Spurs fans. A netizen said, “castle way too low he should be top 60“.
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Another Spurs fan echoed, “castle too low”. Minnesota Timberwolves players Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid also suffer, ranked below Flagg despite Reid’s 14.2 points and Sixth Man award extension. ESPN labels Flagg a “generational talent,” but the list overlooks playoff performers like Myles Turner and Isaiah Hartenstein.
One exclaimed, “Wow this Castle and Devin disrespect!!” Castle’s efficiency, 42.8% field goal, 28.5% from three, needs work, but his defensive impact and 1,190 rookie points merit higher placement, especially above unproven talents.
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Cooper Flagg’s arrival is undoubtedly a moment of electric hype, but ESPN’s list is a reminder that there’s a growing disconnect between what the media anoints and what proven players earn. While the NBA’s future is about tantalizing potential, the value of playoff-tested veterans like Paul George and championship-winners like Jrue Holiday remains in the numbers that matter most—the ones in the win column.
NBA Analyst Sounds Alarm on Kevin Durant Risk Amid Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Setback
Rockets nation, how are we doing after that offseason gut punch? If that’s not hurting enough, here comes Bill Simmons. Now the analyst has never been the ‘yay Rockets’ kind of guy. You’d even think he’s hyped that Houston lost Fred VanVleet as an option. By his own admission, he felt VanVleet was a hurdle to Houston’s title chances. This time he’s doing a u-turn. But is he giving the Rockets the benefit of the doubt? Never.
For those who didn’t get their afternoon ruined, Rockets point guard, Fred VanVleet is out indefinitely from the 2025-26 season after suffering a torn ACL. VanVleet, who signed a $50 Million extension in June, a price worth the turnaround he brought to the team despite what Simmons says.
With Amen Thompson and now Kevin Durant, the Rockets were the frontrunners for a championship. That’s completely changed. Simmons very bluntly laid it out on his podcast immediately after the news. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this injury by itself takes the Rockets from a team that could plausibly win the championship to a team that might not be able to win, slash maybe can’t win, the championship. Like he’s that important.”
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The Rockets still has its young core and now veteran leadership in KD. But without VanVleet, the dynamic shifts in a way that will amp the pressure on Slim. “I just think they have just nobody like Fred VanVleet and no sort of traditional point guard who can calm you down. They have Durant now, and I think one of the ripple effects of this is like the risk of overtaking Durant in the first 40 games of the season, like running a bunch of pick and rolls, all that stuff. So I think it’s like, I think it’s a disaster for the Rockets.”
This is a developing story.
Jazz’s Ace Bailey parts ways with controversial manager Omar Cooper after dramatic NBA Draft saga, per report
Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey is in search of a new manager. The No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has parted ways with Omar Cooper, according to The Athletic, and is seeking new representation about three months after a saga that largely defined the draft. During a pre-draft process that was not light on drama, Bailey’s camp — led by Cooper — reportedly told at least one team near the top of the order that the former Rutgers star would not report if they selected him.
Cooper’s involvement in Bailey’s pre-draft process fell under the microscope because he was not a certified agent with the NBPA and therefore barred from officially representing his client in contract negotiations.
Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, the latter of whom played college basketball with Bailey at Rutgers, were long viewed as locks to be the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively. Bailey entered the draft as highly regarded as any prospect outside the top two, but his representation seemed to be steering him out of the top five. According to Marc Stein, the Washington Wizards were the target destination at pick No. 6.
The Conversation: Is Ace Bailey going to make the Jazz look brilliant or boneheaded?
James Herbert
Bailey canceled a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who held the No. 3 pick and there was speculation whether or not the Charlotte Hornets (No. 4) and Jazz (No. 5) were willing to select the former five-star recruit.
The Jazz did, in fact, scoop Bailey off the board with their first-round selection. But the drama surrounding Cooper did not stop after the draft.
Utah initially planned on having Cooper’s son, Omar Cooper Jr., serve as a guest coach on its Summer League staff. The NBA reportedly contacted the Jazz with concerns, and the team called off the plan.
All indications from Bailey himself suggest he is locked in with the Jazz and happy to be part of the franchise.
Nebraska starts championship chase
The race for the Big Ten championship in volleyball may be a 10-week, 20-match marathon, but the thin margin of error makes for a pressure-packed run.
Consider that, in each of the past three seasons, just a second league loss eliminated a team from Big Ten title contention. So if you have thoughts of winning it all, you have to both win the big matches — for Nebraska this year, that’s two matches against Penn State and one against Wisconsin — and avoid a bad loss, which in the Big Ten could still be against a top 25 team.
“I think it’s going to be really hard, and we’re going to have to win really big matches and be consistent,” Nebraska senior Taylor Landfair said.
Top-ranked Nebraska gets started on Wednesday by hosting Michigan (9-1). Last year, the Wolverines were 10th in the league.
Last year, Nebraska made it all the way to the final week of the Big Ten season before losing against Penn State. Penn State and Nebraska were co-champions at 19-1 in the league.
Nebraska’s roster is full of players who have already celebrated a Big Ten title, and they’re focused on doing that again.
“It’s starting to get real, and you know we want to win three Big Ten championships in a row,” junior Harper Murray said. “So we have to take that seriously. Big Ten is fun, but it can be a lot.”
While Nebraska (10-0) is still undefeated, coach Dani Busboom Kelly knows Nebraska will have to continue to improve to achieve its goals.
“I think we have to be on a mission to continue to get better and to understand that each game is really important for who we want to be in December,” she said.
Busboom Kelly is back in the Big Ten after spending the previous eight years in the ACC while at Louisville. She was an assistant at Nebraska from 2012 to 2016, a stretch that included one Big Ten title in 2016.
She’s looking forward to playing a Big Ten schedule again and traveling to some of the cities in the Big Ten.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the gyms,” she said. “I’ve never played at USC or UCLA, and there’s some places that I have great memories of that we get to go back to that I haven’t been to in a long time. So I’m excited for some of those road trips.”
It’s one of the smallest arenas, at Purdue, that Busboom Kelly is most excited for. Nebraska goes to West Lafayette on Oct. 12.
“I think it’s really loud and small and their student section is one of the best,” Busboom Kelly said. “So I’m excited to go back there. And I’m not sure I ever won at Wisconsin as an assistant, so I’m looking forward to going to Wisconsin.”
After Nebraska’s last match, Busboom Kelly was disappointed with Nebraska’s defense, with Arizona hitting .250 against the Huskers’ No. 1-ranked defense. But overall, she’s proud that Nebraska has gotten this far without a loss.
“It’s really hard to win,” she said. “We’ve been saying that all year. I don’t care who you are, it’s hard to win. There are so many great teams now, and great players all over the country.”
When Nebraska is getting kills at every spot at the net, and from the back row, it’s difficult for the defense to have an answer.
The Huskers’ offense ranks sixth nationally with a .308 hitting percentage.
“I can imagine it’s really hard for other teams,” Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson said. “When you’re playing a team and all of their hitters are clicking, it’s really, really tough because you have to honor every single one of them.”
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
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Yes, People Are Getting Caught on Camera Making Bad Choices in Stadiums. But That Doesn’t Mean You Should Be Worse on the Internet
Ed Sheeran is definitely taking the title of his newly released album “Play” as a self-command. One of the top-selling concert artists in the world, the singer will be returning to North America in the summer and fall of 2026 for a massive tour of stadiums, touching down in 22 cities in the biggest venues they have to offer.
The North American leg of his “Loop Tour” will begin on June 13, 2026 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona — a venue where his friend Taylor Swift and a number of others have also chosen to kick off their stadium tours. It will include stops at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, Rogers Centre in Toronto and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The final date will be Nov. 7, 2026 in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium.
The only cities so far scheduled for two-night stands on the tour are Toronto, where he’ll play Aug. 21-22, East Rutherford, where he’s scheduled Sept. 4-5, Foxborough, which has him booked Sept. 25-26, and Hollywood, FL, where he’s set for Oct. 29-30 dates.
Other cities on the routing include Nashville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, San Diego, Santa Clara, Seattle, Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Charlotte and Arlington.
The announcement of these dates in the U.S. and Canada follows news from this summer that he would be commencing his international touring in New Zealand and Australia in January 2026.
Fans are invited to register now at EdSheeran.com for early access to tickets, with presale registrations set up with Seated. Registered fans will receive a one-time code before the artist presale starts on on Tuesday of next week at 9 a.m. local time.
An American Express cardholder presale will also begin this coming Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time.
Staten Island HS girls’ tennis: Staten Island Academy ends Hill’s long league win skein
Staten Island Academy ended St. Joseph Hill’s 34-match S.I. CHSAA winning streak Monday, dating back to the end of 2019, with a stunning 3-2 victory at the College of Staten Island.
The match came down to — as it usually does — the second doubles where Sarah Belushin and Kylie Gonzales (SIA) held off the comeback efforts of Mary Scarangello and Sara Demiri (Hill) 10-8 in a third-set master tiebreaker.
Belushin/Gonzales looked all business as they blanketed the net in the early going. However, Demiri/Scarangello surged late in the first set to even thins at 5-5. However, the Tiger duo ran off the last two games for a 7-5 win.
Novak Djokovic-Led PTPA Expands Landmark Lawsuit to Grand Slams in Bold Push for Tennis Reform
A few months ago the PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2019, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the ATP and WTA Tours, accusing them of monopolistic practices that exploit players, suppress earnings, and impose unfair schedules with an anthem that “tennis is broken.” Since then, the tours have moved to dismiss the case, but the PTPA continues to push for reforms to improve player rights and welfare in professional tennis. Now, it’s coming after the next big thing!
On September 23, 2025, the PTPA made a bold move in their ongoing legal battle. They asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for permission to officially add the governing bodies of tennis’ famed four Grand Slams, Tennis Australia, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, French Tennis Federation, and the USTA, as defendants alongside the ATP and WTA tours. This ramps up the stakes in the fight over control and fairness in tennis.
The PTPA took to their X account to explain their latest move. They said, “For years, professional tennis players and the PTPA have raised concerns about the systemic issues plaguing the sport. In March, we filed a landmark case challenging the status quo and demanding lasting reform.” They believe the time has come to pull all key players, including the Grand Slams, into the suit to ensure accountability and push through much-needed changes that will reshape tennis for generations.
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In March, Novak Djokovic’s PTPA shook the tennis world by suing the ATP and WTA, accusing them of monopolizing and stifling player opportunities. The Grand Slams were surprisingly left out as official defendants, only named as co-conspirators. But two months later, the lawsuit expanded to include them, broadening the legal battlefield.
By July, the powerhouses of tennis were pulled into talks. Wimbledon and the other Slams opened doors to negotiation, discussing a player council for scheduling input, plus pensions and healthcare support. Similar moves came from the Australian, French, and US Opens. With the US Open looming, players prepared a formal proposal to shake things up.
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Last week in New York, the PTPA dropped a bombshell with a 180-page amended complaint—then held back on naming the Slams as co-defendants, at least for now. CEO Ahmad Nassar explained, “Ninety days is the timeline in the letter we filed with the court that said that we’re holding off on naming the grand slams as defendants. We’ve been having productive discussions… The one page to me means far more than 180 pages.”
This pause opens a critical window to address issues like scheduling, player representation, and pay without immediate court battles. The players are ready to roll up their sleeves and fix the system, turning legal fire into serious reform.
This is a big deal, the first time the Grand Slams are formally named as defendants in this legal saga. The push to include them signals how serious the PTPA is about shaking up tennis’s old guard and forcing major reforms. Last month, they came down hard on the US Open’s prize money this year!
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Novak Djokovic’s PTPA sends stern warning after the US Open’s prize money boost
The US Open made headlines this season with a record-smashing prize money pool of $90 million. That’s a jaw-dropping 20 percent jump from last year, locking its status as the richest paycheck in tennis. A big win for the sport, and a clear sign that this Slam is leading the way.
What makes it even sweeter is how the money trickled down. From champs holding the trophy to first-round exits packing early, everyone saw a bump. And with equal pay already the standard in New York, men and women will pocket the same amount for identical results. A real cause for celebration, at least for some.
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Not everyone is clinking glasses, though. The PTPA quickly reminded fans that bigger prize pots don’t cover up deeper cracks. On X, they wrote: “A relentless, year-round schedule that pushes players to the brink, an opaque, inconsistent anti-doping program, A lack of player benefits and stagnant prize money across most tour-level events, and A disregard for player voices on matters directly impacting their livelihoods.”
Their message didn’t stop there. The statement ended with a sharp closer: “Piecemeal solutions are not enough. As our legal work continues, the PTPA continues fighting for the holistic solutions that players, fans, and the sport deserve.” With battles brewing behind the scenes, the bigger question now is what real change we’ll actually see in the months ahead. What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Atlantic City sweeps singles to beat Pleasantville, plus other tennis, cross country results from Monday
The Atlantic City High School girls tennis team defeated Pleasantville 3-2 in a Cape-Atlantic League match Monday.
Atlantic City (2-7) won all threes singles matches, and Pleasantville (0-4) won both doubles.
Summer Stevenson defeated Keyana Osoria 6-2, 6-1 in first singles. Rana Rabayah beat Ayanna Hubbard 6-2, 6-1 in second singles. Chelsea Pham defeated Saliah Bell-Payne 6-0, 6-0 in third singles.
Yareni Ortiz and Angie Reyes beat Sharptarshi Chowdhurry and Kendal Mejia 6-4, 7-5 in first doubles. Nancy Ceballos and Jalessa Croker defeated Crystal Nguyen and Dua Touqeer 6-4, 6-2 in second doubles.
Mainland Reg. 3, Ocean City 2: The Mustangs (5-1) won both doubles matches.
Turner and Yasmine Saloum won 6-1, 2-6, 10-6 in first doubles. Dilana Erenler and Daisy Turner won second doubles 6-1, 6-1. The Mustangs’ Hana Saloum beat Sydney Halliday 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in third singles.
The Red Raiders’ Cecelia Mirsky beat Jessica Wise 6-1, 6-0 in first singles. Ocean City’s Anna Wisnefski defeated Riya Dabas 7-6, 4-6, 10-6 in second singles.
Buena Reg. 3, Holy Spirit 2: The Chiefs won both doubles matches.
Kiara Hobdy and Makenna Feaster won 6-4, 6-2 in first doubles. Julie Tomasso and Alondra Lausell won 7-5, 1-6, 10-4 in second doubles. The Chiefs’ Kara Horton defeated Ava Palladinetti 6-3, 6-0 in third singles.
The Spartans’ Sydney Hullings beat Caroline Futty 6-2, 6-2 in first singles. Holy Spirit’s defeated Tiffany Chen 6-7, 6-2, 10-8 in second singles.
Lower Cape May Reg. 5, Wildwood 0: Ainsley Reed beat Angela Wilber 7-6, 6-2 in first singles.
Bryn Popdan beat Killian Cyndee 6-0, 6-0 in second singles. Mia Gilbert beat Kiana D’Antuono 6-0, 6-1 in thord singles.
Reilly Fitzpatrick and Kayla Heinold won 6-1, 6-2 in first doubles. Grace Dematteis and Leah Harkins won 6-3, 7-5 in second doubles.
Pinelands Reg. 5, New Egypt 0: Kiera Kaszuba won 6-1, 6-0 in first singles.
Sibylla Acosta won 6-2, 6-2 in second singles. Brielle Hartley won third singles 6-2, 6-0.
Kelsey Wersinger and Emma Schoen won first doubles 6-0, 6-4. Keira Jones and Jocelyn Schults won 6-2, 6-2 in second doubles.
Hammonton 4, Absegami 1: The Blie Devils won all three singles matcjes.
Laila Palmore defeated Ssu-Yu Chen 6-2, 6-1 in first singles. Julializ DeJesus defeated Brei Klawitter 6-0, 6-1 in second singles. Abby Penza beat Elizabeth Bell 6-0, 6-0 in thord singles.
Hammonton’s Nicole Loder and Gabriella Polito defeated Ella Sanders and Madison Alejandro 6-0, 6-2 in first doubles. The Braves’ Naya Howey and Brianna Sacdalan beat Myranda Matricardi and Jae’Lyn Holmes-Williams 6-0, 6-1 in second doubles.
Boys cross county
Buena Regional defeated Cape May Tech 27-29 at the Cape May County Park.
Cape May Tech’s Evan Feliciano won in 18 minutes, 51 seconds.
Buena teammates Kyle Chinnici (20:03) and Sean Mimler (21:15) were second and third, respectively. Cape May Tech’s Zach Ryan (21L45) and Harry Clark (22:06) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Girls cross country
Cape May Tech defeated Buena 15-50.
Buena’s Hailey Bellone won in 21:08.
Contact Patrick Mulranen: 609-272-7217
PMulranen@pressofac.com
Twitter @ACPressMulranen
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5 Reasons Why Americans Dominate Tennis’ Hardest Element That Alcaraz, Sabalenka, and Others Couldn’t
When it comes to American tennis, we’re used to looking back at legends who owned the game. But the new wave is making plenty of noise of its own. The ATP and WTA top 10s are packed with stars like Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and more waving the U.S. flag high. And if there’s one shot they’ve absolutely made their own, it’s the ace. The numbers right now? They’re wild. Let’s find out why:
1. Serve strength & power among Americans vs top non-Americans
Based on the tennisstats website, when it comes to aces, no one’s doing it like the Americans! On the men’s side, Americans are absolutely smashing the ace stats, and their physical attributes play a huge role in it. Ranked No.1 on the list, Reilly Opelka stands at an imposing 6’11” (211 cm), giving him the perfect height advantage for a steep serving angle and powerful reach. This helps him slam down 14.64 aces per match, win most aces in 92% of matches, and maintain a 62% first serve success.
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Then there’s Taylor Fritz, ranked at No. 5, who’s 6’4” (193 cm), combines his height with smooth, precise mechanics to hit 10.86 aces per match, dominate 72% most aces, and land 66% first serves. Then ranked no.11 on the list, Ben Shelton, at 6’4” (193 cm) as well, uses his explosive power backed by his athletic build and strength to produce 9.06 aces per match, lead in 75% most aces, and nail 62% first serves.
On the other hand, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz may sit at No.1 and No.2 in the world rankings, but when it comes to serving aces, they’re nowhere near the top. On the list of ace leaders, Sinner is down at No.44, averaging 5.79 aces per match with a first-serve percentage of 64% and a peak “most aces” mark of 47%. Alcaraz is even lower at No.72, landing 4.36 aces per match with a 66% first-serve rate and a 46% high in most aces. It’s a telling stat line: The very best players don’t always rely on raw aces to dominate.
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American women are lighting up the WTA ace charts, proving the serve is their signature weapon. Alycia Parks, ranked No. 2 in aces, cracks 6.23 per match, winning the most aces 90% of the time with a 57% first-serve rate. At 6’1”, her reach and power create vicious angles that overwhelm returners. Hailey Baptiste, sitting at No. 9, uses her explosive strength to deliver 4.58 aces per match and leads in 66% of service games. Danielle Collins, at No. 10, adds precision to her punchy motion for 4.44 aces per match, while Madison Keys, ranked No. 15, strikes clean and tall, averaging 4.15 with an impressive 83% lead in most aces and 67% on first-serve success.
The contrast with the wider WTA field is striking. Aryna Sabalenka, ranked No. 25 in aces, lands 3.50 per match, and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek stands at No. 44 with 2.75. Both boast strong serves, but their smaller numbers in “most aces” highlight how much harder they work for points compared to the Americans.
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That edge comes from more than raw power. U.S. players combine height, athleticism, and years of coaching that push aggressive serving from the start.
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2. Surface familiarity and repetition
American players have a built-in edge when it comes to serving aces, they grow up on hard courts. Out of roughly 270,000 tennis courts in the country, the vast majority are hard, giving players endless chances to groove powerful, precise serves. From juniors to college to the pros, the medium-to-fast bounce favors flat, aggressive serving. Years of repetition sharpen mechanics, placement, and timing, while players raised on clay or grass often face a steeper climb when adjusting.
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That huge supply of hard courts also builds a sense of comfort under pressure. With thousands spread across public parks and private clubs, Americans learn to serve in every condition: fast courts, slow courts, humid days, dry heat. All that variety turns practice into performance, translating directly to match toughness. The sheer access creates players conditioned to unleash aces, transforming one of tennis’s trickiest shots into a true American weapon.
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3. Strategic serve emphasis in US coaching & junior programs
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has put the serve front and center in its junior and coaching programs, treating it as the ultimate weapon in today’s game. Through the American Development Model (ADM), the USTA leans on long-term athletic development principles to shape young players. The idea is simple — build age-appropriate training that lays a proper technical base so every player grows up with serving strength as a natural part of their game.
That focus shows up in the way the USTA invests in coaches, too. The launch of USTA Coaching, Inc. is designed to lift the coaching culture nationwide, giving pros the tools to be better mentors and protect the athletes they guide. Safe Play certification is now part of the package, making sure every coach is prepared to create a safe, supportive training space. It’s a bold move to mix professional growth with player welfare, and it’s reshaping the coaching landscape.
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Together, these efforts highlight how seriously the USTA treats serve development. By pairing smarter coaching with a serve-first approach, the organization is raising a new wave of players who are both technically sharp and strategically savvy. It’s not just about hitting big serves anymore, it’s about using them as a competitive edge that can turn the tide of a match.
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4. Locking in under pressure with a mental edge, energy from the crowd
The U.S. squad has made mental toughness their calling card this season, often feeding off the crowd to lift their game in the clutch. Taylor Fritz showed it at the 2025 Laver Cup, stunning world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6–3, 6–2 in just 71 minutes. He jumped on Alcaraz’s 19 unforced errors, kept his level high, and held an 80% first-serve win rate. That statement win not only toppled the No. 1 but also pushed Team World to a 15–9 victory over Team Europe.
Frances Tiafoe brought the same fire, taking out Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets 6–3, 7–6(6), 6–3. In under two and a half hours, he hammered 19 aces and 51 winners, showing off a blend of thunderous serves and fearless baseline strikes.
And Madison Keys delivered one of the season’s biggest shocks at the 2025 Australian Open. On January 25 at Rod Laver Arena, she downed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 to claim her first Slam. Against the defending champion’s raw power and 20-match Melbourne streak, Keys stayed composed and seized the big points late.
These moments capture what defines American tennis right now, the ability to stay calm, stay focused, and let the crowd become an extra weapon.
5. Match experience and competitive exposure
American players don’t show up on tour with big serves by accident — they grind for it. From juniors to college wars to national championships, they grow up in nonstop competition. Every match forces them to test power, spin, and placement under pressure. So by the time they walk into the U.S. Open, Miami, or Indian Wells, blasting serves in front of massive crowds feels natural. That constant exposure makes aggressive serving their comfort zone, giving them an edge over players without that same hard-court schooling.
Taylor Fritz proves the point. His serve matured with him, shaped by countless matches where timing was everything. Now it’s not only heavy but tactical. He knows when to blast and when to thread the needle. At Wimbledon 2025, he showed it again — 16 aces, nerves of steel, and calm in the fire. His game is where raw power meets sharp tennis IQ.
Ben Shelton’s story is just as telling. His college serve once touched 145 mph, pure firepower that constant competition at Florida sharpened into something smarter. On tour, the arsenal keeps expanding — spins, body serves, wide angles, all lethal in tie-breaks. He’s also evolving on the fly, tweaking patterns with his coach mid-match. That mix of guts, heat, and match reps makes his serve as unpredictable as it is explosive.
The women fit the mold, too. Alycia Parks tied Venus Williams’ fastest-serve record at the U.S. Open in 2021, forged through years of juniors, qualifiers, and WTA 125 battles. Coached by her dad, her rhythmic motion has become muscle memory, tested over and over under pressure. Add Hailey Baptiste and Danielle Collins, both hardened by U.S. hard-court duels, and the pattern is clear. The grind shapes their serves into weapons built for arenas where the scoreboard and crowd demand an ace on cue!
WTA Beijing: How Much Prize Money Can Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Others Earn After Winning the Event?
Finally, the big day has arrived. Excitement is in the air as the action kicks off on the hard courts of Beijing’s iconic China National Tennis Center. Running from September 24 to October 5, the 12-day tournament brings together the world’s best players in pursuit of glory. With defending champion Coco Gauff among the top seeds, the draw features 96 singles players and 32 doubles teams, along with a prize purse of $8.96 million, and 1000 ranking points. So who are the other WTA players slated to compete in Beijing?
At the front of the field is six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, joined by Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Chinese star Zheng Qinwen, who returns after Wimbledon. They’ll be joined by Elena Rybakina, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Clara Tauson, adding even more depth to an already loaded lineup. But the star power doesn’t end there.
Paula Badosa makes her long-awaited return, while Montreal champion Victoria Mboko are also in the spotlight. The field is further packed with former Grand Slam champions, including Jelena Ostapenko, Sofia Kenin, Emma Raducanu, Bianca Andreescu, and Barbora Krejcikova. With so many top names in the mix, the big question now is, just how much cash incentives will the winners take home? Let’s take a look.
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How big is the WTA Beijing 2025 prize pool?
In case you already didn’t know, WTA Beijing, which will be broadcasted worldwide across a wide range of networks, has $8,963,700 in prize money up for grabs, the fourth-richest purse among the 10 WTA 1000 stops, trailing only Madrid, Miami, and Indian Wells. The champion will walk away with more than $1 million and 1,000 valuable ranking points. Here’s a look at how the prize money and points break down in the singles draw.
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WTA Beijing singles purse evolution: 2024 compared to 2025
Unlike the US Open 2025, which saw a hefty 20% boost to its overall purse, WTA Beijing 2025 didn’t deliver quite that kind of jump, but the increase was still generous. So how much did the prize money actually rise from last year?
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The WTA Beijing continues to show its commitment to rewarding players, ensuring their hard work on court is recognized with solid compensation. While the prize money increase may not be as dramatic as other events, it doesn’t take away from the tournament’s spark or prestige. Why, you ask?
After defending Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa, and then Karolina Muchova, who is also back in the field this year, in the final to become just the second American, after Serena Williams, to capture the China Open title, Coco Gauff returns as the defending singles champion in Beijing. But can the USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under champion repeat in China?
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The challenge is clear, especially since Gauff isn’t entering the Asian swing in peak form. She fell to Osaka in the US Open’s Round of 16 and continues to search for consistency in her serve. Now working with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan in her second tournament, it will be interesting to see whether her service game finds the stability she needs to contend. But that’s not the only storyline to follow.
Iga Swiatek, the 2023 champion, is also back, as is Osaka, who lifted the trophy in 2019. Adding depth to the field are Jasmine Paolini and her countrywoman Sara Errani, who won the US Open mixed doubles title last year and this year. Of course, eyes will be on what Coco Gauff brings to the table, but what are your thoughts on the prize money?
Classroom Champions: Charleston teacher wants to teach her students tennis skills
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – A Charleston County physical education teacher hopes to expand her students’ sports skills.
Jenna Lamb teaches Physical Education at Julian Mitchell Math and Science School.
“I love the impact that the students have on me coming to school each day with a learning mind and wanting to learn new things in my classroom,” Lamb says.
She teaches the majority of her lessons outside.
“We do not have a gym here at Mitchell Elementary. So, I teach on a basketball court outside,” Lamb says. “I just adapt to that environment. I do have an empty classroom for rainy days or when it is too cold here in Charleston. I think just adapting to being outside and giving those kids fresh air during my time has also improved with their mental health and learning throughout the day.”
While outside, Lamb says she enjoys teaching her students new skills within sports, something she looks forward to with every new class.
“I like to introduce new things every single year to my students and with pickleball becoming very popular, I thought tennis would be a good opportunity to show my students a lifelong activity that they can do once they leave my classroom,” Lamb says.
She is looking for a set of tennis rackets for her classroom, hoping to create a space that encourages teamwork, physical skill and friendship.
“I think that it will enhance their skills, not only to learn tennis skills, but then they can also just work as a team or individual and just really build a community once they go on in life,” Lamb says.
Click here to become a Live 5 Classroom Champion by donating to help fund this project.
Donors Choose collects the money, purchases the items the teacher has requested, and sends them directly to the teacher. That way, you know that your donation is used appropriately, and all donations are tax-deductible.
If you are a teacher who would like to be featured on Classroom Champions, please email us at classchamp@live5news.com.
Hammonton tennis pulls out close win
The Hammonton High School girls tennis team defeated Our Lady of Mercy Academy 3-2 in a Cape-Atlantic League match Tuesday.
The Blue Devils’ Julializ DeJesus defeated Erin Malixi 6-1, 6-2 in second singles.
Hammonton’s Abby Penza beat Sophia Terry 6-0, 6-4 in third singles. The Blue Devils’ Addison DeNafo and Carly Lam won second doubles 7-6, 3-6, 10-6.
The Villagers’ Evangeline Catanese defeated Laila Palmore 6-4, 6-3 in first singles. Lily Mayo and Erin McMahon won 6-0, 6-3 in second doubles.
Barnegat 4, Central Reg. 1: The Bengals won all three singles matches.
Ivy Lu beat Brooke Norton 6-4, 6-0 in first singles. Kiyana Afflick defeated Lana King 6-0, 6-4 in second singles. Hannah Manlulu beat Samantha Farrell 6-1, 6-4 in third singles.
Barnegat’s Robyn Buenaventura and Avangeline O’Neal won 6-4, 6-2 in first doubles.
Delsea Reg. 5, Cumberland Reg. 0: Isabelle McKeever defeated Emma Kelly 6-7, 6-4, 10-7 in second singles.
Julia Harper beat Mollie Willis 6-7, 6-1, 10-6 in third singles.
Girls cross country
Cedar Creek 22, Hammonton 37;
Cedar Creek 15, Millville 50;
Hammonton 15, Millville 50
The Blue Devils’ Ava Salita won in 22 minutes, 26 seconds.
The Pirates’ Lisette Echevarria (22:29), Lacie Denmead (23:19) and Maya Kelley (23:25) placed second, third and fourth, respectively. Hammonton’s Riley Raffensperger was fifth (24:35).
Boys cross county
Cedar Creek 18, Hammonton 40;
Cedar Creek 15, Millville 50;
Hammonton 15, Millville 48
Cedar Creek runners took the first three places.
Sean Martino won in 16:35. Vincenzo Vecchio (16:46) and Ryan McCann (17:48) placed second and third, respectively.
The Blue Devils’ Stephen Mahon finished fourth (18:55). Cedar Creek’s Francesco Maione was fifth (19:13).
Contact Patrick Mulranen: 609-272-7217
PMulranen@pressofac.com
Twitter @ACPressMulranen
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Dixon volleyball and tennis win: Tuesday’s Sauk Valley Media Sports Roundup
Girls volleyball
Dixon d. North Boone 25-19, 25-18: At Dixon, the Duchesses won their third straight match while remaining perfect in the Big Northern Conference. Dixon is now 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the BNC.
Byron d. Oregon 26-24, 25-15: At Byron, Skylar Bishop had three kills, four blocks and two digs as the Hawks fell to the Tigers in the Big Northern Conference. Lola Schwarz had eight digs for Oregon (2-10, 1-1).
Princeton d. Erie-Prophetstown 25-21, 25-20: At Erie, the Panthers fell to the Tigers in a TRAC match.
Fulton d. Amboy 25-21, 25-18: At Amboy, Jessa Read and Kerby Germann had 17 assist each as the Steamers won in the NUIC. Read added nine kills and Haley Smither added five for Fulton (12-6, 4-1).
Hall d. Newman Central Catholic 17-25, 25-17, 25-18: At Spring Valley, the Comets dropped the Three Rivers Athletic Conference match to the Red Devils falling to 4-11 overall and 2-3 in the TRAC.
Eastland d. Ashton-Franklin Center 25-7, 25-2: At Lanark, Trixie Carroll had 13 kills and Keara Kaus had 19 assists as the Cougars won the Northwest Upstate Illini match. Vanessa Allen added eight service aces for Eastland (13-3, 4-0).
Boys soccer
Oregon 2, Pecatonica 1: At Oregon, Steven Guardado and Eduardo Garcia scored and Brian Wallace had a pair of assists as the Hawks (8-6) won the nonconference match.
Boys golf
Three Rivers Athletic Conference Championships: At Princeton, Newman Central Catholic finished fifth in the team race behind champion Riverdale. Erie Placed seventh. Grayson Johnston was the top finisher for Erie placing in a tie for ninth shooting an 83. Freshman Joe Morse shot an 86 to lead Newman.
Fulton 144, Warren 175, Galena 188: At Galena, Jacob Voss and Owen Van Zuiden each shot a one under 34 to lead the Steamers in the NUIC match. Dawson Price and Chase Dykstra each shot 38 for Fulton.
Pecatonica 182, West Carroll 213: At Winnebago, Thomas Krontz shot a 46 to lead the way for the Thunder placing third. Max Knuth shot a 49 finishing eighth.
Girls golf
Erie-Prophetstown 185, Cambridge 193, Rockridge 195, Morrison 214: At Erie, Michelle Naftzger shot a 44 placing fourth for Erie. Ava Grawe finished with a 45 and Isabella Johnson carded a 47 for the Panthers.
Girls tennis
Dixon 4, Princeton 1: At Princeton, Jenna Mustapha won at No. 1 singles as the Duchesses improved to 11-2 on the season with the win over the Tigers. Brooklyn Arjes and Rachel Lance won at No. 1 doubles and Lily Herrera and Joely Ortgiesen took Np. 2 doubles and Ella Dobie and Margaret Atkinson won at No. 3 doubles for Dixon.
Girls swimming
Newark volleyball beats Somonauk: Tuesday’s Record Newspapers sports roundup
Girls Volleyball
Newark d. Somonauk 25-20, 25-20
Heather Buhle had 10 kills, seven digs and two aces, Rylie Carlson seven kills, six digs and three aces and Taylor Jeffers 14 assists for Newark (16-3, 5-0).
Earlville d. Plano 19-25, 25-15, 25-17
Camila Nunez had 13 digs and seven assists, Natalia Olson six kills and Abigale Lind four aces for Plano.
Girls Tennis
Yorkville 4, Minooka 3
Charlotte Chaloka’s 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 1 singles was the deciding factor in the Foxes’ win.
Sarah Baise and Audry Converse at No. 1 doubles pulled off a 7-5, 7-5 win, Callie Ferko and Alana Hogan followed suit at No. 2 doubles to win 6-1, 6-2 and Macie Jones and Sofia Perez won by forfeit 6-4, 2-2.
Taylor Townsend and Caroline Wozniacki Speak Out as Serena Williams Turns Heads in Gucci Black
Even at 43, Serena Williams can turn heads, and she has been doing it throughout this week. Firstly, the former World No.1 and 23-time slam queen stunned with her slender build in an exclusive promotional video for NikeSKIMS. Her body transformation was absolutely marvellous. And she was pleased with it too. “I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally.” But guess what? The tennis mom just unleashed another captivating and awe-inspiring look of herself while embracing the fashion aesthetics at a Gucci event. Not to mention, the comments section has been flooded with flowery compliments.
At Milan Fashion Week, Williams made heads turn with an all-black outfit, specifically a semi-sheer black gown. She was there to attend the premiere of Gucci’s short film The Tiger, directed by Spike Jonze and Halina Reijn. Williams stole the spotlight irrespective of the presence other celebrities wearing fashionable attire at the Spring/Summer 2026 show. Sharing a glimpse of her dress on Tuesday, the tennis legend wrote, “Only playing the cards I was dealt. @gucci”
The moment she dropped the picture on her Instagram, fellow tennis icons couldn’t help but take notice. World No.1 doubles player and American tennis star Taylor Townsend admired Williams, saying, “Snatched my breath away👏🙌❤️” while former Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki wrote, “Mama Mia 👌🏻🔥🔥🔥”
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But wait – there’s more to the compliments. American gymnast and Olympian Simone Biles also couldn’t resist appreciating the tennis queen. “damn ma !!!! 🔥🔥🔥😍😍”, wrote the 11-time Olympic medalist.
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Serena also shared her stunning look on X, where she wrote about her experience of the event. “GUCCI fashion show was a movie✨”, she revealed while sharing a compilation of her photos in that impressive black gown. However, this is not the first time that Williams has stunned the internet in a black attire.
When Serena Williams’ TIME100 met gala look made headlines
Even after retiring in 2022, Serena Williams has extended her presence in other realms while making a mark. Apart from being a loving mother of two little angels, Olympia and Adira, she is also a businesswoman, sports team owner, and a movie producer. Plus, she has been an advocate for equality and representation too.
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Back in April, the former WTA icon, due to her impressive accomplishments on and off the court, found a place on TIME’s list of 100 most influential people in the world. Undoubtedly, she was elated while admitting, “I’ve given my whole life to tennis, and I would gladly give another two years if I had time. But it’s nice to do something different,”
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Later, she attended the TIME 100 gala inside the N.Y.C. concert hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center. While there were celebrities like Blake Lively, Demi Moore, and Snoop Dogg, it was Serena who became the talk of the town, eventually. All thanks to her irresistible outfit. She sported a stunning off-shoulder dress designed by Stella McCartney. A sleek, modern outfit perfect for the occasion. Not to mention the gloves Williams was wearing alongside the De Beers diamond necklace, earrings, and a diamond watch. These accessories truly completed her overall look in the best way possible.
“Mom’s night out ♥️ @time #Time100”, she wrote in the caption of her Instagram post while sharing the pictures from the gala. It was obvious that she received a few star-studded compliments as well. In the comments, Paris Hilton admired her with a “😍” emoji while American singer and songwriter Stephanie Mills dropped “🔥🔥🔥🔥”
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What do you have to say about Williams’s fashion sense? Isn’t it simply mind-boggling? Let us know in the comments below.
Poor forecast forces Ryder Cup opening ceremony to be moved to Wednesday
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – With inclement weather in the forecast for Thursday the PGA of America moved the Ryder Cup opening ceremony to Wednesday at Bethpage.
The current forecast for Thursday calls for an 80 percent chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and wind gusts to 28 mph.
The opening ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. ET and the PGA of America announced Ryder Cup+ ticket holders for both Wednesday and Thursday will be allowed to attend the opening ceremony.
Despite the change, the captains for each team will announce the Day 1 foursome pairings at 4 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled.
Ryder Cup opening ceremony rescheduled to Wednesday
The opening ceremony of the 45th Ryder Cup has been rescheduled to Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET due to inclement weather in the forecast in Farmingdale, N.Y., PGA of America announced Tuesday.
The ceremony initially was slated to take place on Thursday at Bethpage Black Course.
United States captain Keegan Bradley and European captain Luke Donald will announce the pairings for Friday’s action on Thursday at 4 p.m. as planned.
The most storied international competition in golf, the Ryder Cup is played biennially but only held on American soil once every four years as the teams trade off hosting duties. Rosters of 12 will square off in five sessions across three days for the right to hoist the trophy.
Who Are Patrick Cantlay’s Parents? PGA Tour Star’s Support Pillars Explored
It is rare to find someone who is only 33 years old but has already played golf for 30 years. But that’s what Patrick Cantlay has done. Having started playing at just three, he has made a name for himself in golf’s elite. His dedication, calm focus, and steady play are qualities he has developed while growing up. It all comes from the environment he grew up in and the support he received from his parents. Patrick Cantlay’s parents, Steve and Colleen, are his biggest fans.
The 8 PGA Tour victories holder was born to Steve and Colleen on March 17, 1992, in Long Beach, California. His journey from a golf-loving child to a world-class athlete hasn’t been in isolation. His parents have been a part of it since he was introduced to the game at three, and they continue to support him now that he has become a household name.
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Meet Steve Cantlay: Patrick’s father
Steve Cantley has played a significant role in his son’s career, as he was the one who introduced three-year-old Patrick. The 2021 FedEx Cup champion’s father has his own athletic background. He played baseball at UCLA before turning his attention to golf. After turning his attention to golf, Steve became a club champion golfer at Virginia Country Club. And it was at this very club that Patrick was exposed to the game at a young age. Steve’s strong sports background helped him instill competitive and ethical values in Patrick and his siblings.
It won’t be wrong to say that Steve was the one who mentored his son during his earliest days of learning. During these days, Patrick Cantlay also observed many other golfers, such as John Merrick, who helped him improve his game.
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In fact, in an interview after his son’s SCGA win in 2011, Steve said, “It’s been a dream. We’ve got one of his buddies back at the Virginia Country Club who has given him a lot of advice over the years. John Merrick won this event several years back.”
This exposure and environment are something Patrick’s sister, Caroline Cantlay, has also witnessed.
“We all pretty much grew up at the golf course, but I actually really didn’t like golf at first because it’s what my brothers did. Once I started, it was really nice having people around the house to rely on and learn from,” Caroline said during an interview with gopoly.com.
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This shows how having access to golfers who have played many tournaments and simply being able to observe them has helped shape Patrick’s early career.
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Steve has publicly praised the values and ethics Patrick has developed over the years.
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“We’ve all been inspired by Patrick and especially by his work ethic,” said the family’s head.
Steve, along with his wife, Colleen, now runs a real estate settlement company, Westport Escrow. It is one of Southern California’s biggest real estate settlement companies.
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Colleen Cantlay: Patrick’s mother and pillar of support
Colleen Naylan Cantlay is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she met Steve Cantlay. While Steve gave their kids early exposure, Colleen has been a support system to them. The mother of four, she has emphasized creating a culture of equal opportunities. It is thanks to her that Patrick and his siblings, who are all playing golf, focus on steady progress.
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She has also emphasized the same during her interview with gopoly.com. “We feel extremely blessed to be able to play golf in our family, but none of my children were born playing. Each one has worked consistently to make it happen. All we provided was a culture of opportunity and encouragement. Each day you have one little win in the right direction, string them together and you can create a force of momentum that will carry you to places you never imagined,” Colleen reflected.
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Patrick Cantlay’s golf career: From amateur to PGA Tour star
Patrick Cantlay’s parents introduced him to golf at the young age of three, when he studied at the Servite High School, where his golfing skills became clear quickly. In an interview with the PGA, his school’s PE teacher,
Dane Jako revealed that he broke the course record during a varsity match at Western Hills Country Club. “He broke the course record, shot 31 on the front nine,” said Jako. “He beat a senior from Long Beach Wilson, a good school that Paul Goydos had gone to. The kid was committed to go to Loyola-Marymount.”
Once the school and his team saw his skills, Patrick earned leadership roles. By the time he was a senior, he had won the California State High School Championship. Like his parents, the consistent star went to the University of California. During his time at UCLA, Patrick won many awards, including the Haskins Award and the GCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year. He was part of the 2011 American Walker Cup team and holds the record of 54 consecutive weeks as World No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
After his days as an amateur, Patrick turned professional in June 2012, debuting in the 2012 Travelers Championship. However, his first win came in 2013 at the Colombia Championship. His PGA Tour success started with the Shriners Children’s Open in 2017. He then won the Zozo Championship (2020) and Memorial Tournament (2019 and 2021) before finally making the headlines with his 2021 FedEx Cup Championship victory, which also increased his net worth.
Cantlay started the championship at 10 under par and maintained the lead wire-to-wire, finishing 21 under par over 72 holes. What made this victory more special was his runner-up opponent, Jon Rahm, who was World No.1 back then. The 2021 FedEx Cup champion hit a crucial 6-iron shot on the 18th hole to set up a birdie and leave Rahm behind just one stroke in the end.
By now, Patrick has collected 8 PGA Tour victories, four of which came in the 2020-2021 season alone. He has also played in many team events, like the Ryder Cup. He was part of the 2021 American team that defeated Europe 19-9 in the Ryder Cup.
Patrick Cantlay’s PGA Tour success results from the many years of discipline and exposure he has had, thanks to his parents. His father’s athletic background and his mother’s philosophy of focusing on slow progress have shaped Patrick’s career.
Who Are Patrick Cantlay’s Parents? PGA Tour Star’s Support Pillars Explored
It is rare to find someone who is only 33 years old but has already played golf for 30 years. But that’s what Patrick Cantlay has done. Having started playing at just three, he has made a name for himself in golf’s elite. His dedication, calm focus, and steady play are qualities he has developed while growing up. It all comes from the environment he grew up in and the support he received from his parents. Patrick Cantlay’s parents, Steve and Colleen, are his biggest fans.
The 8 PGA Tour victories holder was born to Steve and Colleen on March 17, 1992, in Long Beach, California. His journey from a golf-loving child to a world-class athlete hasn’t been in isolation. His parents have been a part of it since he was introduced to the game at three, and they continue to support him now that he has become a household name.
Meet Steve Cantlay: Patrick’s father
Steve Cantley has played a significant role in his son’s career, as he was the one who introduced three-year-old Patrick. The 2021 FedEx Cup champion’s father has his own athletic background. He played baseball at UCLA before turning his attention to golf. After turning his attention to golf, Steve became a club champion golfer at Virginia Country Club. And it was at this very club that Patrick was exposed to the game at a young age. Steve’s strong sports background helped him instill competitive and ethical values in Patrick and his siblings.
It won’t be wrong to say that Steve was the one who mentored his son during his earliest days of learning. During these days, Patrick Cantlay also observed many other golfers, such as John Merrick, who helped him improve his game.
In fact, in an interview after his son’s SCGA win in 2011, Steve said, “It’s been a dream. We’ve got one of his buddies back at the Virginia Country Club who has given him a lot of advice over the years. John Merrick won this event several years back.”
This exposure and environment are something Patrick’s sister, Caroline Cantlay, has also witnessed.
“We all pretty much grew up at the golf course, but I actually really didn’t like golf at first because it’s what my brothers did. Once I started, it was really nice having people around the house to rely on and learn from,” Caroline said during an interview with gopoly.com.
This shows how having access to golfers who have played many tournaments and simply being able to observe them has helped shape Patrick’s early career.
Steve has publicly praised the values and ethics Patrick has developed over the years.
“We’ve all been inspired by Patrick and especially by his work ethic,” said the family’s head.
Steve, along with his wife, Colleen, now runs a real estate settlement company, Westport Escrow. It is one of Southern California’s biggest real estate settlement companies.
Colleen Cantlay: Patrick’s mother and pillar of support
Colleen Naylan Cantlay is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she met Steve Cantlay. While Steve gave their kids early exposure, Colleen has been a support system to them. The mother of four, she has emphasized creating a culture of equal opportunities. It is thanks to her that Patrick and his siblings, who are all playing golf, focus on steady progress.
She has also emphasized the same during her interview with gopoly.com. “We feel extremely blessed to be able to play golf in our family, but none of my children were born playing. Each one has worked consistently to make it happen. All we provided was a culture of opportunity and encouragement. Each day you have one little win in the right direction, string them together and you can create a force of momentum that will carry you to places you never imagined,” Colleen reflected.
Patrick Cantlay’s golf career: From amateur to PGA Tour star
Patrick Cantlay’s parents introduced him to golf at the young age of three, when he studied at the Servite High School, where his golfing skills became clear quickly. In an interview with the PGA, his school’s PE teacher,
Dane Jako revealed that he broke the course record during a varsity match at Western Hills Country Club. “He broke the course record, shot 31 on the front nine,” said Jako. “He beat a senior from Long Beach Wilson, a good school that Paul Goydos had gone to. The kid was committed to go to Loyola-Marymount.”
Once the school and his team saw his skills, Patrick earned leadership roles. By the time he was a senior, he had won the California State High School Championship. Like his parents, the consistent star went to the University of California. During his time at UCLA, Patrick won many awards, including the Haskins Award and the GCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year. He was part of the 2011 American Walker Cup team and holds the record of 54 consecutive weeks as World No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
After his days as an amateur, Patrick turned professional in June 2012, debuting in the 2012 Travelers Championship. However, his first win came in 2013 at the Colombia Championship. His PGA Tour success started with the Shriners Children’s Open in 2017. He then won the Zozo Championship (2020) and Memorial Tournament (2019 and 2021) before finally making the headlines with his 2021 FedEx Cup Championship victory, which also increased his net worth.
Cantlay started the championship at 10 under par and maintained the lead wire-to-wire, finishing 21 under par over 72 holes. What made this victory more special was his runner-up opponent, Jon Rahm, who was World No.1 back then. The 2021 FedEx Cup champion hit a crucial 6-iron shot on the 18th hole to set up a birdie and leave Rahm behind just one stroke in the end.
By now, Patrick has collected 8 PGA Tour victories, four of which came in the 2020-2021 season alone. He has also played in many team events, like the Ryder Cup. He was part of the 2021 American team that defeated Europe 19-9 in the Ryder Cup.
Patrick Cantlay’s PGA Tour success results from the many years of discipline and exposure he has had, thanks to his parents. His father’s athletic background and his mother’s philosophy of focusing on slow progress have shaped Patrick’s career.
Amanda Balionis Joins PGA Tour Pros to Protect Bryson DeChambeau as NBC Reporter Targets Golfer
There are moments in sports that don’t just test individual resolve but lay bare how tightly woven team dynamics really are. As the U.S. Ryder Cup team assembles in the build-up to Bethpage Black, one such moment has arisen: golf analyst Brandel Chamblee has launched what many consider a scathing critique of Bryson DeChambeau, and instead of silence, critics and teammates have responded loudly.
In the middle of that storm, reporter Amanda Balionis jumped into the fray to defend Bryson, joining voices like Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler. On her Instagram story, Balionis shared a video of Schauffele complimenting Bryson DeChambeau.
With it, Balionis wrote: “I’m loving how team USA is rallying around Bryson and fighting the external narrative. Chemistry and unity are high this year and its cool to see.”
In that video, Schauffele had said, “Bryson could be the difference for us, in a strange way. From the standpoint of feeding into these fans, the style of golf he plays…This is Bryson’s Arena…if he views himself as a gladiator golfer. This is as good as it gets.”
The narrative has shifted: what started as criticism has crystallized into a display of team loyalty and unity. On Golf Channel, Chamblee called Bryson DeChambeau a “circus-barker” and a “captain’s nightmare” in the Ryder Cup context. His criticism hinges on several claims: that Bryson frequently discusses his YouTube metrics instead of emphasizing the team, that his online content (which Bryson has promoted) may have inflated numbers (Chamblee suggested bots might be involved), and that these actions might indicate he prioritizes self-promotion over team chemistry.
Chamblee also seized on earlier comments by Rory McIlroy, who said that Bryson sometimes only gains attention by “mentioning other people.” Chamblee and others have used these as springboards to question how well Bryson fits in the team setting, especially from the standpoint of pairs/foursomes matchups. In response, several of Bryson’s compatriots have publicly defended him.
In a press conference, when asked about Bryson’s role in the team, Patrick Cantlay said, “We’ve played on a few team events together, Presidents Cups and Whistling Straits Ryder Cup. He’s great in team events. I was watching him hit drivers on the range the other day, and I’m glad he’s on our side. He’s a showman out there. I think he’s going to get the crowd fired up. It’s really great anytime he’s on these teams because he’s such a fantastic player.”
This positions Bryson not as a distraction but as someone who amplifies the energy of the group.
Echoing similar sentiments, Scheffler said, “I think Bryson is a tremendous competitor. He’s a great partner as well. I partnered with him in 2021 at Whistling Straits and he was a tremendous guy to be out on the golf course with. He’s a great guy and a good friend, and he’s been great in our team room. He brings a lot of energy, the people love him, and I think he loves the opportunity to be able to represent his country. He’s a multiple-time U.S. Open winner, and that means a lot to him. Being an American I think means a lot to him as well. I’m excited to kind of unleash him this week.”
Team USA seems not only to expect Bryson’s golf ability, but they also expect his personality and energy to matter on their side. In an event like the Ryder Cup, that kind of unity, chemistry, and shared purpose can be the difference between winning and going home. Bryson’s performance, yes, but also how he is woven into the fabric of the team now, under scrutiny, that may matter as much.
That groundswell of support sets the stage for a deeper look at why DeChambeau’s presence matters so much to Team USA, and why Brandel Chamblee’s critique hit such a nerve. To understand the stakes behind this public defense, it helps to step back and examine the context, the numbers, and the questions his inclusion raises.
The story of Bryson DeChambeau’s criticism and success
Bryson DeChambeau’s place on Team USA wasn’t always guaranteed. Because LIV Golf events don’t count toward Ryder Cup qualification points, there was early concern about whether he would earn an automatic spot or need a captain’s pick. Yet Captain Keegan Bradley publicly assured that Bryson would be an important piece of the squad, praising his energy and passion while noting that he remains one of the game’s elite players. In team formats like foursomes and four-balls, chemistry and momentum can swing matches, and a player who thrives under the spotlight can become a pivotal asset.
The numbers back that up. DeChambeau captured the 2024 U.S. Open and followed with a LIV Golf win in Korea in 2025. He averaged 322–323 yards off the tee on LIV this season and even eclipsed 332 yards at the 2024 PGA Championship, out-driving the field by double-digit yards. His driving accuracy and greens-in-regulation numbers have quietly improved to around 65% and 70%, showing a more complete game. Ryder Cup history also favors him: at Whistling Straits 2021, he went 2-0-1, partnering with Scottie Scheffler for a win over Tommy Fleetwood/Viktor Hovland and halving a match against Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton. That 2.5-point haul was one of the best pair records on the U.S. side.
Even his critics acknowledge the talent. Brandel Chamblee’s attack isn’t about skill but personality: questioning whether Bryson’s bold presence and active social-media persona might disrupt team chemistry. Taken together, the questions write themselves. Is Chamblee’s claim fair given Bryson’s openness about YouTube and content creation? Could his presence complicate pairings, or will it lift the room as Patrick Cantlay and Scottie Scheffler insist? Is the outside noise hurting the team or, as Amanda Balionis suggests, galvanizing them? And finally, what power do media voices like Chamblee really wield when a united locker room decides to push back?
Billy Horschel Calls Out Outdated Ryder Cup Myth That Once Favored Team USA: ‘Doesn’t Hold Any Water’
For over two decades, American golf fans have clung to a comforting advantage that supposedly gave Team USA the upper hand in golf’s biggest team competition—but one PGA Tour veteran just shattered that illusion.
Billy Horschel fired back at golf’s most persistent myth this week. The eight-time PGA Tour winner took to X to challenge the tired belief that faster green speeds favor American players in Ryder Cup competition.
“Been watching the coverage of the Ryder Cup the last couple of days, and the old adage of faster green speeds is an advantage for the Americans does my head in,” Horschel wrote on X. “Yes, back 20+ years ago it was, but nowadays with the majority of European players in American and many more tournaments on @DPWorldTour playing at better courses with faster greens, that old adage doesn’t hold any water anymore.”
Twenty years ago, this belief actually made sense. American courses dominated the speed game at the time. Meanwhile, European venues kept their greens slower and more forgiving. Most European players rarely experienced lightning-fast putting surfaces. However, the golf world has undergone a complete transformation since those days. European players now compete regularly on American soil. Additionally, the DP World Tour has revolutionized its course conditions to match American standards.
Today’s DP World Tour venues routinely target green speeds of 11-13 feet. These speeds match what players face at American major championships. Furthermore, modern European courses use the same grass types as their American counterparts. The technological revolution has eliminated the maintenance disparities that once created meaningful differences.
Horschel brings unique credibility to this argument. As the only American regularly competing on the DP World Tour with 20-plus events annually, he experiences both tour conditions firsthand. His victories at the BMW PGA Championship in 2021 and 2024 demonstrate that he has a deep understanding of European golf.
“I’m not afraid of the moment,” Horschel declared confidently when discussing his Ryder Cup aspirations earlier this year. His perspective carries weight because he has witnessed the evolution of both tours firsthand.
Globalized golf eliminates traditional advantages
The most compelling evidence against the green speed myth comes from European success stories. Rory McIlroy has captured four major championships, mostly on American soil. Jon Rahm claimed his Masters victory while dominating fast Augusta National greens.
All twelve members of Europe’s current Ryder Cup team competed on the PGA Tour during the 2025 season. Eight possess previous Ryder Cup experience. These players have entirely adapted to American conditions. Cross-tour movement now defines modern professional golf. European stars regularly test themselves against American setups. Simultaneously, course maintenance has become standardized worldwide through the use of shared technology and best practices.
Equipment standardization further reduces regional advantages. Modern golf balls and clubs perform identically regardless of continent. The R&A and USGA coordinate regulations to ensure consistent performance standards globally.
Contemporary Ryder Cup strategy emphasizes team chemistry over course manipulation. Recent captain strategies emphasize player compatibility and psychological preparation. The 2018 European victory in France highlighted thick, rough, and narrow fairways instead of green speed considerations.
Modern tournament directors prioritize fair, challenging conditions over gamesmanship. This shift toward sporting integrity has rendered traditional advantage-seeking strategies largely obsolete.
Environmental regulations accelerate this convergence. European courses face similar sustainability mandates as American venues. Economic globalization creates international markets for identical supplies and expertise.
Horschel’s challenge reflects the truly globalized nature of golf. The myth persists essentially because golf holds such reverence for tradition. Modern European players excel in all conditions, while European venues closely match American standards. “Can’t wait to watch this week, though. As I’ve said, this could possibly be the best Ryder Cup in history to date,” Horschel concluded, recognizing that today’s competition transcends outdated technical considerations.
NASCAR’s Ryan Blaney clinches spot in Round of 8 and Max Verstappen closes gap in F1 standings
All Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Hollywood Casino 400
Playoffs — Round of 12
Site: Kansas City, Kansas.
Track: Kansas Speedway.
Race distance: 267 laps, 400.5 miles.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 1 p.m., qualifying, 2:10 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (USA).
Last year: The second race of 2024’s Round of 12 at Talladega saw Ricky Stenhouse Jr. claim an overtime win in a three-wide photo finish.
Last race: Ryan Blaney clinched a Round of 8 spot while keeping a surging Josh Berry at bay in the first race of Round of 12.
Next race: Oct. 5, Concord, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Kansas Lottery 300
Playoffs — Round of 12
Site: Kansas City, Kansas.
Track: Kansas Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 10:30 a.m., qualifying, 11:23 a.m., race, 4 p.m. (CW).
Last year: Sammy Smith’s last-lap pass of Chandler Smith was enough to secure him the win in the second race of Round of 12 at Talladega.
Last race: Aric Almirola earned the victory in Bristol as the decision to skip a late-race tire swap turned out to be enough to secure his second win of the season in the playoff opener.
Next race: Oct. 4, Concord, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Last race: Pole-sitter Corey Heim tied the series record with his ninth win of the season, leading 124 of 175 laps at New Hampshire.
Next race: Oct. 3, Concord, North Carolina.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA 1
Last race: Claiming back-to-back victories, Max Verstappen holds on as a contender for the Formula 1 title, leading every single lap in a dominant win at Baku.
Next race: Oct. 5, Marina Bay, Singapore.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Season Wrap: Alex Palou won his third consecutive series championship, securing the title in four of the last five seasons.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals
Site: Madison, Illinois.
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway.
Race distance: 1/4 mile.
Next race: October 12, Ennis, Texas.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Summer Cup Clash
Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS Energy Drink
Summer Cup Clash
Federated Auto Parts Showdown
Next race: Oct. 3-4.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com
_____
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Kevin Harvick Urges Cuts in NASCAR Schedule as Tracks Suffer Grandstand Crisis
You ever walk into a NASCAR race and think, “Man, this place used to be packed to the rafters—what happened?” That’s the reality staring the sport in the face right now. Tracks that once bragged about sellouts—Bristol Motor Speedway had 55 in a row at one point—are now staring at empty rows, tarped-off sections, and a vibe that doesn’t quite match the glory days.
And this isn’t just an “oh, the stands don’t look full” thing. No, the economics are shifting hard. Talladega literally ripped out 18,000 seats. Michigan used to flex with 130,000-plus capacity, and now they’ve scaled it way back because, frankly, the demand just isn’t there anymore. Rising travel costs, changing fan habits, and the comfort of watching from home are all playing their part.
But here’s where it gets spicy: Kevin Harvick has had enough. On his Happy Hour podcast, the former Cup champ laid it down—trim the schedule, stop oversaturating the calendar, and bring back that raw passion. And if you’ve ever seen Harvick, you know he doesn’t sugarcoat.
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Harvick’s call to trim the fat
On the latest Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick laid out his frustration with NASCAR’s packed calendar. “For my fan base, it was always one of the better fan bases… very passionate… some of that passion comes from the fact that they know in about 2 months won’t be able to come out of their house,”
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He said, spotlighting New Hampshire’s die-hard Northeast crowd. Loudon’s July race has been a summer lifeline for New England fans, pulling over 90,000 in the early 2000s when winters kept them cooped up. Harvick’s point is spot-on. These folks show up big because it’s one of their few chances, making the Magic Mile feel electric.
He pushed for quality over quantity, “I love the fact that it’s a one race… making one great race instead of two mediocre races… Kansas will be subpar in the grandstands this week, and the first one subpar… a one-race town is loud in Kansas, those types of places.” Kansas Speedway’s double-header days saw crowds thin out, with grandstands that once held 82,000 looking sparse by the late 2010s.
Cutting one date to the playoffs helped, but Harvick wants more, focusing on venues where fans pack the place, like Bristol’s Night Race or New Hampshire’s summer show. “A one-race town is loud,” he said, meaning single-date tracks like Kansas or Chicagoland draw fiercer crowds than split weekends that dilute the hype.
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Harvick’s fix isn’t just about seats. It’s about keeping the fire burning. Empty grandstands hurt more than attendance numbers; they dampen the energy that makes NASCAR special. As tracks like Michigan tarp off sections and Phoenix end its sellout streak, Harvick is urging NASCAR to prune the calendar to prioritize passion over filler dates.
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Harvick and son hit the dirt
Five Flags Speedway announced Friday that the four-time Cup champ and his son Keelan will race at the Pensacola, Florida, half-mile during the regular season finale on September 27. In the Blizzard Series, Cole Butcher leads Stephen Nasse by 26 points, while Jake Finch tops the Allen Turner Pro Late Models over Seth Christensen by 21.
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Five Flags crowns its local champs on September 20 with Harvesters Credit Union Night of Champions for the Faith Chapel Outlaws, Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen, Gulf Real Estate Pro Trucks, and Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks, starting at 7:15 p.m. CT.
The September 27 Blizzard and Pro Late Model finale, with the Story and Bleich Roofing Crown Stocks, kicks off at 5 p.m. CT gates, racing at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch on RacingAmerica.TV.
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Harvick’s dirt run with Keelan ties to his schedule-cutting call. Short tracks like Five Flags keep the sport’s soul alive, packing grandstands with passionate locals. As NASCAR eyes a leaner calendar, Harvick is urging a focus on these community gems, where the roar is real and the seats fill up because the racing matters.
NASCAR Penalty: Denny Hamlin & Team Forced to Undergo Major Changes for Kansas
During the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 12, 2025, Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry experienced a significant setback. On Lap 384, a right-front wheel detached from the vehicle, causing Hamlin to make contact with AJ Allmendinger’s car and bringing out the 13th caution of the race. This incident led to a two-lap penalty for Hamlin, who ultimately finished 5 laps down in 31st place. But the consequences are worse.
In the aftermath of the race, Hamlin addressed the situation with a pragmatic perspective. He acknowledged the challenges faced by his team but emphasized the importance of concentrating on aspects within their control. Hamlin stated, “I have no idea who’s sitting on the bench or who’s ready, and it’s not even my concern… because that’s the crew chief. He handles the people. My concern needs to be on the things that I can control.” But now, just ahead of the Kansas race, a few changes in the No. 11 pit crew have stirred up the JGR garage.
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Denny Hamlin relies on experienced substitutes for the NASCAR Playoffs’ Kansas race
In a strategic move to address recent personnel changes, Joe Gibbs Racing has assigned pit crew members to the No. 11 car of Denny Hamlin. Thomas Hatcher, who typically serves as the front tire changer for the No. 43 car, and Nate McBride, the jackman for the No. 4 Front Row Motorsports car driven by Noah Gragson, have been temporarily reassigned to Hamlin’s team. This decision comes after two of Hamlin’s regular crew members were suspended following a wheel-related violation during the Bristol Night race.
Thomas Hatcher brings a wealth of experience to the No. 11 team. Having spent the 2-24 season as the front tire changer for Martin Truex Jr.‘s No. 19 car, Hatcher’s expertise is well-established. His tenure with JGR includes a notable stint in 2022 when he was part of a crew swap between the No. 18 and No. 11 teams during the playoffs. He started as a mechanic at Roush Yates in 2004, before eventually becoming a tire changer at Roush Fenway Racing in 2007. He then moved to Team Penske in 2012 and stayed there until moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2021. These prior collaborations with Hamlin highlight Hatcher’s adaptability and familiarity with the specific demands of the No. 11 car.
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Nate McBride’s journey from the football field to the pit crew exemplifies a unique transition into motorsports. A former linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs, McBride has leveraged his athletic background to excel as a jackman in NASCAR. His first significant assignment with Hamlin occurred in 2022 when he filled in for a suspended crew member during the Coca-Cola 600, a race that culminated in a victory for Hamlin. This success story underscored McBride’s capability to perform under pressure and contribute to the team’s achievements.
Adam Riley, a former wide receiver at Wingate University, is another integral member of the No. 4 crew and has also been called upon for substitute duties in the past. Notably, during a suspension in 2022, Riley stepped in as a rear tire changer for Bubba Wallace‘s team, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of the FRM’s pit crew members. These reflect the collaborative nature of NASCAR teams and the importance of having a deep bench of skilled personnel ready to step into critical roles when needed.
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This strategic move underscored the depth of talent within JGR’s extended pit crew network and its ability to maintain performance standards even in the absence of regular crew members. The No. 4 pit crew at FRM is renowned within the NASCAR community for its proficiency and reliability. Often regarded as JGR’s premier non-house pit crew, it served as a critical resource for backup assignments across various teams. But what about the suspended crew members?
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Denny Hamlin uses NASCAR’s new deferment rule to keep crew for playoffs
Denny Hamlin‘s No. 11 Toyota faced scrutiny after Bristol, after triggering a caution. In response to NASCAR’s revised 2025 rules, Hamlin made a strategic decision to defer the suspensions of key crew members Austin Maloney and Joel Bouagnon. “It’s obvious the timing mattered. Losing them at this moment would hit us harder than at a later race,” Hamlin explained, highlighting the importance of continuity and experience during critical playoff events.
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NASCAR’s new deferment rule allows teams to manage non-behavioral suspensions more efficiently, particularly when penalties occur mid-week. As Bob Pockrass noted, “Starting this year, for any non-behavioral suspension, teams can defer suspension for a week. In past, they’d file notice of appeal so suspension then deferred. NASCAR then arranged panelists, their travel and appeal defense, and then teams withdrew appeal, wasting NASCAR time.” Hamlin’s decision demonstrates how the rule helps teams avoid logistical headaches while preserving race preparation.
By deferring the suspension, JGR ensures its experienced crew will be available for critical playoff races at Kansas and Charlotte, while serving the penalties at less consequential events later in the season. Hamlin emphasized the challenge of certain tracks, noting, “Especially on the ROVAL, the pit crew’s execution can make or break your track position. We needed them at full strength.” This move underscores the value of strategic planning and timing in maintaining a competitive edge during the high-stakes NASCAR playoffs.
NASCAR Rivals Fume Over Roger Penske’s Hidden Phoenix Power After NHMS Reality Check
In NASCAR, the driver’s championship might grab the headlines, but behind the scenes, the owner’s championship has become its own grudge match. Teams aren’t just racing for trophies, but racing for bragging rights, sponsor dollars, and the kind of clout that reshapes the garage. And here’s the kicker: sometimes the owner’s fight runs even hotter than the drivers’.
After all, when one organization figures out how to squeeze a little extra speed out of the same rulebook everyone else has, the ripple effect is huge. Rivals notice. Whispers start flying. And frustration bubbles over. Coming out of New Hampshire, that tension is boiling to the surface again, with competitors pointing fingers at Roger Penske’s team, who just might have a secret edge.
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Roger Penske’s edge over other teams
Team Penske once again showcased their dominance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this past Sunday, with Ryan Blaney securing a commanding win, his third of the season, and leading 116 laps in the process. As Tommy Baldwin observed, “They were pretty good… when you go tire test in any place, you’re gonna gain a lot,” hinting that Penske’s meticulous preparation paid big dividends at Loudon.
Freddie Kraft echoed that sentiment, noting, “They were legitimately untouchable yesterday,” as Penske’s cars powered past rivals mid-corner and accelerated away with ease. Other Roger Penske drivers, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, too, looked a class apart from other drivers. Logano managed to finish fourth, whereas Cindric clawed his way up to 17th position after starting 22nd.
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Rumors of politicking by rival crew chiefs, such as Chris Gabehart, swirl as teams try to nudge NASCAR into scrutinizing Penske’s technical package, though both Baldwin and Reddick see this as a blend of gamesmanship and real frustration. “How much is this just politicking on Gabehart’s part?” Kraft asked. With no major aero or tire rules expected for the season finale, the advantage currently lies squarely with Penske, especially heading to tracks like Phoenix.
Penske’s dominance of Phoenix has been noted by all. Blaney claimed the championship there in 2023, and Logano did it in 2022 and 2024. Overall, Team Penske has won four of the last seven Cup seasons. Roger Penske’s team continues to excel at flat tracks, building what rivals call a “hidden edge” into their program. Reddick captured a sense of collective frustration. “Whatever it is, that’s working, works at all of these places… I hear the politicking, but I also see this. I’m feeling a sense of frustration.”
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The latest owner standings reflect Roger Penske’s strategic prowess. The No. 12 Penske Ford leads the pack, with a consistent cushion over powerhouse rivals from Hendrick and Gibbs. As the playoffs move toward Phoenix, the paddock’s gaze will sharpen. Can anyone crack Penske’s code before another title slips away? The margin for innovation grows narrower, and emotions run high, setting the stage for an electrifying championship battle, as noted by Ryan Blaney.
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Ryan Blaney talks about the ‘pressure’ of NASCAR playoffs
Following his decisive win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney offered candid insight into handling the relentless pressure of the NASCAR Playoffs. Clinching an automatic berth in the Round of 8, Blaney noted the strategic freedom now at his disposal. “It opens up your box a little bit, and it makes you feel a little bit better if it doesn’t work out. If it backfires on you, it’s not as big of a deal if you’re fighting for your life for points, every point you can get,” he said.
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Blaney emphasized the importance of momentum and confidence, stating, “Anytime you can win in the playoffs, it’s just momentum… I’m a big believer in momentum and confidence.” Rather than relaxing after Loudon, he asserted that the team would stay aggressive through Kansas and the Roval, with the goal of winning every week: “We’re not going to go kick our feet up and just ride around. Like, we’ll go try to win two more races. Got to stay in that mode. Got to stay in that on-kill mode. That’s super important.”
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The Roger Penske driver highlighted the ability to play with race strategy, an advantage earned by not having to worry about elimination in the next two events. This relief enables Blaney and his No. 12 crew to experiment with pit stops and race setups, potentially gaining more playoff points to help in the later rounds.
Blaney’s playoff outlook is shaped by recent adversity: seven DNFs earlier in the year forced his team to adapt and sharpen execution, making their resurgence at Loudon even more impressive. He maintained perspective, crediting his crew for the turnaround and expressing gratitude for the chance to compete without immediate pressure.
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As the playoffs push forward, Blaney’s mindset sets a tone for his team. Relentless effort, strategic risk-taking, and unwavering focus. All the ingredients he characterizes as vital for a championship run in NASCAR’s fiercest postseason battles.
Richard Petty Rejects NASCAR’s Modernization as New Hampshire Brings Back “Pure Racing”
In the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21, 2025, Ryan Blaney delivered a masterclass in racecraft. But NHMS turned into a battleground where tire management became the linchpin of victory. Unlike high-banked superspeedways, where drivers can maintain speed with minimal tire degradation, the Magic Mile’s flat, 1.058-mile oval demands constant attention to tire wear. In 2025, Goodyear introduced a softer compound tire at NHMS, designed to create more tire wear and falloff, aiming to enhance racing dynamics. But despite this, the race was a success not just for Blaney but even for NASCAR veterans watching on their screens.
Blaney clinched victory at the Mobil 1 301, holding off Josh Berry in a nail-biting finish. Blaney described the final 20 laps as “probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove,” highlighting the intense pressure of managing tire wear while defending his position. His restraint was evident when he praised Berry’s clean racing, stating, “Appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have.” And with Blaney’s victory, even NASCAR legend Richard Petty could enjoy the ‘pure racing’ that NHMS displayed.
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Richard Petty analyzes what made NHMS a driver’s track
In his Petty Racing Family podcast, NHMS was lauded for its clean racing, with Petty noting, “I like to see a race like yesterday because the cars that really run good, they paid off for it. There wasn’t no strategy. The tires were not wearing that bad, but they wore some. And so the tires weren’t really the problem. And you didn’t have to worry about the gas mileage. So it was a pure race when I look at it from my standpoint.”
Blaney’s ability to maintain speed and control throughout the race exemplified the qualities of a championship contender and Team Penske‘s playoff prowess. Richard Petty’s former crew chief, Dale Inman, emphasized Blaney’s strategic approach, stating, “I think the race was decided Saturday. During practice, I think the 12 car just kind of had everybody covered in… I believe Blaney. I think he drove a perfect race. He didn’t run it hard in the corner, but from the center of the corner, he beat that 21 car. The 21 car had to drive him deep. But the 21, just think about it. He got spun out, Richard. Didn’t nobody hit him. And then come back to run second. So that was an awful good car.”
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Blaney‘s dominance in practice translated to race day, where he led 116 laps and secured his 3rd win of the season, solidifying his position in the Round of 8. His performance highlighted the importance of preparation and consistency in securing victories.
Blaney’s tire wear management and cornering technique were crucial in his victory. Petty observed, “According to what I watched on my computer and stuff, he was the dominant car as far as long run deals. And he just kept his speed up. He knew he was going to be good.” Blaney’s performance was particularly impressive considering his qualifying position. Starting from the outside pole, he showcased his prowess by maintaining a strong pace throughout the race and avoiding teammate drama like that of the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs.
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The race was marked by intense competition, with Blaney’s teammate, Josh Berry, recovering from a mid-race spin to finish second. Reflecting on their last lap rivalry, Petty highlighted, “The 21 was the one that really showed up. You know, he’s been all kinds of bad luck. Every time he gets around, it spins him out. But the deal was he ran a good race. And at last, I think that the 12 car was the dominant car. And no matter, even if the 21 would have had new tires, I don’t think he would have been able to do anything with it.”
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Teammate Joey Logano also praised Blaney’s speed, saying, “The 12 [Blaney] was fastest in practice, and he showed that again in the race. Our only chance to beat him was on pit road and beat him on details. But they were able to make up their track position when they put four [tires] on. That last restart I could have started behind him and finished third in the race, but if I was behind the 12 [Blaney] I wasn’t going to win.”
Blaney’s victory at NHMS was a masterclass in racing strategy and execution. But amid Team Penske’s dominance, there was also JGR’s fallout.
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Richard Petty breaks down Team Penske’s resurgence in 2025 playoffs
Roger Penske‘s teams, already dominant in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series and FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024, once again showed incredible pace in the 2025 NASCAR Cup playoffs Round of 12 opener, impressing Richard Petty and Co. The Mobil 1 301, while seeing Ryan Blaney take home Loudon the Lobster, also saw Joey Logano on the pole, leading a race-high 147 laps, showing Penske’s enduring brilliance.
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Joe Gibbs Racing, which had swept the Round of 16 races, came into New Hampshire as a formidable opponent. “They’re ridiculously fast,” Logano acknowledged about the JGR drivers. However, incidents like the Lap 111 tussle between Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs disrupted Toyota’s dominance, with the best Toyota finisher, Christopher Bell, in 6th and Gibbs registering a DNF. These developments made Petty and Co. reconsider the championship picture, noting Penske’s string performance as a potential deciding factor at upcoming tracks.
Dale Inman added perspective: “I’m gonna give it to Penske. ‘Cause the last race and the determining factor is, of the Final 4, who has got the best finish at Phoenix. And the Fords was the dominant cars yesterday. I think the two tracks are somewhat alike.” Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports quietly rebounded in NHMS after a tough Round of 16. Petty commented, “That’s gonna be a toss-up. The Chevrolets have not really dominated anything. But they’ve been right there on the verge,” emphasizing that, in the unpredictable playoffs, “It’s gonna come down to who gets the breaks and who doesn’t get the breaks.”
Ty Gibbs Under Fire From NASCAR Insider for Violent Clash With Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin clashed aggressively at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend, which caused Gibbs to get knocked out of the NASCAR Cup Series race. However, he has come under fire from The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, who stated that Gibbs placed personal interest over team interest.
Both drivers clashed for 10 laps for the eleventh spot. While the race result did not matter for Gibbs, who is not contending for the title, it did matter for Hamlin, who has been racing hard in the playoffs in an attempt to secure a championship.
Things got worse between the two drivers when Hamlin tried to pass through a gap that wasn’t wide enough, breaking the toe link on Gibbs’ car in the process. Bianchi questioned Gibbs’ intention behind his aggressive actions, stressing that they were completely unwarranted. Speaking on The Teardown podcast, he said:
NASCAR Driver Toni Breidinger Says Racing Comes Before Modeling in Her Life
NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger has opened up about her love for racing and how that comes first over her modeling career. The 26-year-old is racing her first full-time season in the Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage.
The Victoria’s Secret model is often questioned about her interest in motorsports, given the huge contrast between the two careers. Her struggles in her rookie season haven’t made matters easier either. But Breidinger is clear that racing is her
NASCAR Takes Desperate Measures to Win Over Youth Amid Aging Fans Crisis
NASCAR has a problem: its fans are getting older. Nielsen data in 2017 placed the median age of a NASCAR viewer at 58. This was one of the oldest among major U.S. sports. Meanwhile, younger audiences continue drifting toward creators, esports, and streaming platforms. While the sanctioning body has acknowledged the issue for years, its modernization efforts have struggled to keep pace with cultural shifts. Now, the NASCAR Cup Series is preparing a significant step that could redefine its connection with the next generation.
Those within NASCAR leadership have already laid the groundwork for this pivot. Since joining the sanctioning body in 2019, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior VP of racing development and strategy, has been a key figure. He’s led initiatives like the Chicago Street Race and the Clash at the Coliseum. These were bold experiments designed to capture mainstream attention. Yet even these high-profile innovations highlight the magnitude of the challenge. A younger audience consumes sports differently, prioritizing digital-first storytelling and creator-driven content over traditional broadcasts. NASCAR’s next step suggests just how urgent it views the situation. This is proven by the willingness to take measures that would have been unthinkable in its more conservative past.
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NASCAR Cup Series to boost its reach
In 2025, NASCAR turned to Night Advisory, a new agency created by talent management firm Night, to lead a bold digital strategy shift. Night is best known for managing creators such as Kai Cenat and once guiding MrBeast during his rise to global dominance. NASCAR became one of the agency’s inaugural clients, tasking it with overhauling the league’s approach to social media content. Over the past eight months, Night has activated creators like nine-year-old “The Rizzler” and YouTuber “Agent 00.” The celebrities were brought to NASCAR’s most prestigious events, from the Daytona 500 to livestreamed fan experiences at tracks. These efforts mark a departure from sponsor-heavy promos. The focus is on a creator-driven model designed to inject NASCAR into internet culture.
This strategy was not born in a vacuum. According to Ad Age, NASCAR’s chief brand officer Tim Clark first approached Night’s founder, Reed Duchscher, seeking to “understand this new world of the internet and how [NASCAR] could start reaching a younger audience.” Ad Age confirmed the partnership in a recent tweet, writing that NASCAR hired Night Advisory “to ‘understand this new world of the internet and how (NASCAR) could start reaching a younger audience.’”. Instead of relying solely on in-house resources, NASCAR is borrowing cultural relevance from creators with millions of young fans. For a league where traditional TV audiences still make up the bulk of revenue, it represents a high-stakes gamble.
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Despite the risk, NASCAR executives, including Kennedy, believe the risk is worth taking. In earlier interviews, he emphasized the importance of creating new racing experiences. His role in pushing innovation reflects a broader recognition: NASCAR must compete in the same attention economy that has made influencers household names.
If successful, collaborations with internet stars could create viral moments that shift perceptions of stock car racing, pulling in a generation otherwise distant from the sport. But if the efforts appear forced or inauthentic, NASCAR risks alienating both younger viewers and its traditional base.
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Kennedy defends the All-Star race
NASCAR’s showcase exhibition events, The Clash and The All-Star Race, are often dismissed as non-points filler by many fans. But executive vice president Ben Kennedy seems to think otherwise. His recent comments speak actively against their “exhibition” status. In recent interviews, Kennedy emphasized both races’ distinct roles and how they contribute to NASCAR’s identity and connection with both longtime fans and newcomers. As changes to their locations and formats are announced for 2026, the importance he places on maintaining tradition while experimenting with novelty becomes impossible to ignore.
Kennedy explained that the All-Star Race and The Clash are built for different but complementary audiences. He described the All-Star Race as “more of your kind of traditional, expected tracks, but your points-paying type of facilities,” emphasizing its history and pedigree. In contrast, The Clash has been reshaped to bridge the gap between loyal NASCAR fans and newer, less seasoned viewers.
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Kennedy also offered data and venue changes to reinforce this distinction. He pointed out that at a Clash event in Los Angeles, over 70% of attendees had never been to a NASCAR event before. This signaled The Clash’s potential for reaching fresh viewers. Furthermore, the Clash will be held at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2026, reinforcing its experimental, local-flavor style. Meanwhile, the All-Star Race will move to Dover Motor Speedway. Kennedy has said both will remain on the calendar, even as NASCAR works to “widen the differences between that and The Clash.” The moves suggest NASCAR is leaning into segmentation. One event to honor racing legacy, the other to grow its fanbase.
Kennedy also stressed that these changes are not superficial but deliberate. With the All-Star Race shifting to Dover and The Clash embracing venues like Bowman Gray, the sport is balancing respect for tradition with innovation in location and audience. For NASCAR’s stakeholders, the stakes are high. Getting this right could reinforce loyalty among longtime followers while increasing relevance among new ones. If successful, the adjustments may serve as a blueprint for how NASCAR handles other marquee events in the years ahead.
Sam Mayer Teams Up With Scottish Wrestler in Hilarious NASCAR-WWE Crossover
A little over a month ago, Sam Mayer notched a big achievement. The 22-year-old driver broke off Connor Zilisch’s invincible streak, defending his crown at Iowa Speedway. After taking control following a lap 221 restart, he led all the way to clinch the first-ever victory for Haas Factory Team. This elevated HFT’s status as a young team that came into existence barely a year ago. Now, Mayer is taking the team’s fame to greater heights – in a crossover.
While Sam Mayer prepares for the highly anticipated Xfinity Series championship, he is dabbling in off-track pursuits as well. Mayer’s 3rd-place finish in Bristol marked his 13th top-five finish of the year. So, Mayer can comfortably devote time to some funny exchanges with a WWE athlete.
Sam Mayer turns a myth into reality
WWE NXT TV has hosted a unique face since last summer. That is none other than Joe Hendry, the Scottish wrestler who won the British Senior National Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Presently, he is a darling in WWE, being a big part of the TNA-WWE partnership. Fans on American soil are getting to know him for an iconic dialogue. “Say his name, and he appears.” So the legend goes that if you say Hendry’s name, he will be there for you. And NASCAR Xfinity Series star Sam Mayer wanted to test this saying – and was flabbergasted by the result.
In a video posted by The CW on X, a group of WWE stars, featuring Andre Chase and Kale Dixon, huddled together talking about an unlikely topic. Chase said, “So today I brought in two guys who know a little bit about going fast while keeping it under control.” And then, Sam Mayer and Cole Custer appeared on the screen – but mind you, Custer’s face is invisible inside his helmet. Then we heard Mayer professing his love for Joe Hendry. He said, “Dude, I’m a huge fan, I love this, it’s awesome, so honored to be here. And I loved that whole deal where you say his name like he just appears. That was awesome,” Yet Mayer held his doubts: “But I have to ask you, is it real?”
A group of NXT stars then approached Sam Mayer and his side in an intimidating manner, warning him not to say ‘the name.’ Yet even as Mayer denies knowing it, one guy slips it out. Then lo and behold! Cole Custer was not Cole Custer at all, but instead Joe Hendry donning a Haas Factory Team costume! Then Hendry uttered his iconic words, “Say his name. He appears. I believe in Joe Hendry.”
This unique crossover is only the latest of NASCAR and WWE’s prior team-ups. Cup Series stars have crashed wrestling parties many times, like when Joey Logano and Kyle Busch co-hosted an episode of “Monday Night Raw” in 2009. Then, Carl Edwards performed his signature backflip when he hosted an episode of “Monday Night Raw” in 2010. The reverse scenario has also happened – legendary WWE veterans like John Cena, Bill Goldberg, and Charlotte Flair have been guests at NASCAR races.
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While Sam Mayer bumps up his fame in his team-up with professional wrestlers, he is also diligently preparing for the Xfinity Series title run.
Mayer is placing his targets
Mostly, only one driver is dominating the Xfinity Series conversation. Connor Zilisch has collected nine trophies across the 2025 season, despite being a rookie driver. Yet in the last playoff race of Bristol, Zilisch washed up in 5th place, and Aric Almirola won. This proved that Zilisch’s glass ceiling can be broken, and Sam Mayer is all in for it. Up next is the Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway, and Mayer has some encouraging stats. He clinched a 13th-place finish in last season’s race. His two top-10 finishes in the NXS came in 2021 (8th) and 2022 (9th). His best start was P5 last season, and he holds an average starting position of 9.5.
What is more, Sam Mayer’s unbeatable drive may push him to achieve better than Connor Zilisch. “It’s the 88 (JR Motorsports Chevrolet of Zilisch) and everyone else,” he initially praised his rival. However, Mayer continued, “But I feel like we’re making a step in the right direction. With the playoff reset and the way these playoffs are, all of that stuff that you do can not matter in an instant. You want to be able to do what you can during these next three races to make it to the next round and then focus on winning a race from there to lock yourself into the champ four. We definitely aren’t good enough to be dominant like that, but I don’t think we’re too far off from that point.”
Evidently, Sam Mayer is on a mission – to be one of the frontrunners in the Xfinity title hunt. While he is at it, a humorous team-up with WWE might push him further!
Kevin Harvick Writes Off Kyle Larson from Championship Talks to Back HMS’ Rising Star
Kyle Larson’s long-standing dominance may be fading. For much of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports has relied on the firepower of its star drivers. Larson, a past champion and perennial contender, entered the season with strong momentum. Meanwhile, teammate William Byron bolstered his reputation by winning back-to-back Daytona 500s. Yet, as the postseason unfolds, cracks have emerged in Hendrick’s championship picture. So much so that insider analysis now hints that the balance of power within the team could be shifting in an unexpected direction.
The early rounds of the playoffs have only reinforced these questions. Larson, once known for his “ground-pounding speed,” has struggled to maintain his edge, leaving races where he was once a favorite without the pace expected of a title threat. Byron, meanwhile, has shown flashes of form despite inconsistency, with Harvick stressing that mistakes could ultimately decide the battle. His remarks suggest that the weight of Hendrick’s championship hopes may not rest where most anticipated at the start of the year. While Harvick still endorses an HMS NASCAR Cup Series driver, Larson isn’t that name.
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Harvick’s NASCAR Cup Series verdict
On Tuesday, September 23rd’s episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick did not hold back about Larson’s current form. “I still don’t see the same speed and dominant car out of that 5 car that we saw at the beginning of the year and that we’ve seen last year. I think Kansas should tell a good story” he said, highlighting Larson’s loss of early-season momentum.
He contrasted this with Byron, whose No. 24 car he described as “consistently better” and showing signs of life. “I’m more impressed with the 24 car, to be honest, as far as their consistency of speed, and I think they’ve been better than the 5. So, still don’t see it out of the 5, but the 24 tends to. I tend to lean towards thinking that they have a little bit of life with how close they are now.” The assessment signals Harvick’s growing confidence in Byron as a championship contender over Larson.
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While Kyle Larson remains a proven talent, Harvick’s analysis points to Byron as the driver with momentum, consistency, and team alignment to carry the HMS banner deep into the playoffs. If Byron maintains form and avoids costly mistakes, he could emerge as Hendrick’s new face of championship contention.
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Kevin Harvick Praises Penske After NHMS Weekend
Kevin Harvick didn’t hold back when talking about Team Penske’s performance at New Hampshire. The veteran driver and analyst highlighted how the yellow cars reasserted themselves after a slow start to the season. On his podcast, he praised two drivers and the strategic test sessions that helped turn things around. “It just seems like you can never count them out at this time of year. We’ve seen it multiple years in a row now,” Harvick said, setting the tone for just how formidable Penske looked.
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Harvick gave special credit to Joey Logano for his role in preparing the team. “A guy like Joey Logano, there’s not very many of them that can go do stuff like that, but he’s dug them out of a hole,” he said. Logano’s work at North Wilkesboro and during test sessions helped Penske fine-tune setups. These translated into fast practice laps and a pole-winning performance at Loudon. Harvick emphasized that taking the right driver to the test can make all the difference in performance.
The NHMS race itself confirmed the payoff from those efforts. “They show back up. All the Penske cars are fast on the pole, on the front row. Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, (and) Joey Logano leading laps,” Harvick noted. While Blaney hadn’t always turned speed into top finishes, Harvick highlighted his consistency. The combination of veteran leadership and raw speed made the Penske cars impossible to ignore.
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Harvick summed up the weekend by praising the team’s timing and execution. “Look, you haven’t seen the Penske cars. Penske cars were awful to start the season. … But it was lights out this weekend from the time those cars rolled off pit road for the 12,” he said. With Logano’s pole, Blaney’s consistent pace, and the overall speed of the yellow cars, Harvick suggested that Penske is now fully back in contention, demonstrating that experience, preparation, and strategic testing remain key to championship success.
SF Giants share thoughts on ABS Challenge System coming to MLB in ’26
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants got a preview of the automated ball-strike system, or ABS, during Cactus League games this past spring. Starting next year, the system will be making its debut in the majors.
Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday morning that ABS will be coming to the majors in 2026. Human umpires will still call balls and strikes behind the plate, but each team will have two challenges per game and extra appeals in extra innings.
Pitchers, catchers and batters are the only players who can challenge, which they do by tapping their heads. If a challenge is successful, teams retain their challenge.
“Everybody’s probably for it at this point,” said manager Bob Melvin. “You saw how many misses there were in spring training and there’s so much information now that, like anything they’ve done here recently, they’re trying to get it right and make it better.”
The Giant who stands to be impacted the most, by far, is catcher Patrick Bailey. The one-time Gold Glove Award winner has been the most valuable defender since making his debut, according to Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value, and much of his value derives from his framing.
Over the last three seasons, Bailey has been the best at turning strikes into a wide margin, leading all backstops with 64 Catcher Framing Runs. For context, the Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk ranks second in Catcher Framing Runs during that same timeframe with 33. And unlike most catchers, Bailey excels at stealing strikes on all sides of the plate — up, down, left or right.
“He’s as good as you get, and he understands (the zone) too,” Melvin said. “He knows all the numbers. He knows what his pitchers can do and where he needs to go to get these strikes. It makes a big impact. He’s a pretty cerebral player on top of it. A lot of understanding of the nuances of the position.”
Bailey said he wasn’t a fan of ABS during spring training, but he had a more measured stance when speaking with reporters on Tuesday.
“I don’t really have any thoughts on it,” Bailey said. “We’ll just have to figure out what it looks like. I’ve had experience with it in Triple-A a little bit and in spring training. It’ll be a big chance and we’ll have to figure out how to use it to the best of our ability.”
Bailey said he doesn’t believe that the system will take away the value of frame, adding that catchers still “have to get calls and keep strikes, strikes.” While Bailey will likely have a few framed strikes overturned, he’ll also have his chance to turn incorrectly-called balls into strikes.
“This past week, off the top of my head, there’s obviously times where I’m catching where it’s pretty confident that was a strike,” Bailey said. “That’s going to be able to help catchers as well. I think some of the best catchers are going to be the ones that know the zone the best. So, there’s going to be training in that and value and that. We’ll have to see what that looks like.”
“Maybe a little bit,” Melvin said when asked if Bailey’s value will be impacted. “I don’t think a good framer goes away unless it’s wholesale. I still think his value is going to be pretty high.”
While technology will now help determine balls and strikes — Hawk-Eye technology will run in the background of games and monitor the location of every pitch — the home-plate umpire will still be responsible for the majority of calls. This, in turn, maintains the human element of the game. The full ABS system, by contrast, completely removes that component.
The full ABS system was tested in the minors from 2022-24 but phased out by the end of the 2024 season in favor of the challenge system. With this system, every call was dictated by Hawk-Eye technology and took the responsibility of calling balls and strikes out of an umpire’s hands. Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray were among those fine with the challenge system but against full ABS.
“I think it’s a nightmare scenario with full ABS,” Verlander said. “I think you completely take away the art of pitching. It would just completely go away. You’d have a designated hitter sitting behind home plate (instead of a catcher) setting up on the corner. … I think the appeal system is definitely the better scenario for that.”
“I don’t really have a problem with (the challenge system). I do have a problem with the full ABS system. It just doesn’t seem right if you were to call balls and strikes off the full zone,” Ray said. “I feel like that would be taking away from the sport. … If there’s a big situation and you feel like you make your pitch — or a hitter feels like he gets a close pitch that gets called a strike — I don’t mind having the ability to challenge that.”
Texas Rangers welcoming MLB’s implementation of robot umpires in 2026 with open arms
ARLINGTON — Two things struck us Tuesday morning after hearing the revolutionary news that MLB has decided to institute an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system – or as they are otherwise known “robot umps,” – for the 2026 season.
First, because we may be a bit warped: This is really gonna hurt Bruce Bochy’s chances of catching Tony LaRussa on the all-time ejections list (to which Bochy later assured us: “Oh, I’m gonna catch him”). We’ll see, he’s four back. And this is going to tamp down ejections.
Second, Wyatt Langford, the most discerning of Rangers hitters, stands to be among baseball’s biggest beneficiaries.
“I’m definitely excited,” he said in the Rangers’ clubhouse prior to Tuesday’s game against Minnesota. “I personally feel like it’s going to help me.”
He should be even more excited than that.
Entering Tuesday, over the course of his short two-year career, umpires had called 111 pitches out of the zone strikes, according to MLB’s own Statcast system. It was the 14th most blown calls in baseball. In 15th? Baseball’s most discerning and best hitter, Aaron Judge.
He was abused so badly as a rookie, even MLB had to make amends and eventually squeeze out Angel Hernandez for perhaps the three most egregious blown strike calls — plural — in a single at-bat in Houston last year. Google it if you need a laugh.
This year, he ranks 25th in baseball with 49 blown calls. He’s the only Ranger in the top 90, which probably also says a little about the club’s plate discipline or, more accurately, the lack thereof. But, hey, that’s a story, or theme, for another day. Like the whole offseason.
In the meantime, there is this: Inaccurate ball-strike calls may be the only thing standing between Langford and an .800 OPS, which would mean the difference between this being another step in the right direction and a leap into full-fledged stardom.
Look at the most impactful of those calls. Langford had six called third strikes, two of them on full-count pitches. He had five 1-1 counts go to 1-2 on pitches when balls were actually out of the zone. And he had 19 0-0 pitches turn into 0-1 counts on mistake calls. He’s 4 for 28 in those plate appearances with two walks. Here’s the difference between Langford after 1-0 vs. 0-1: A .987 OPS vs. a .573 OPS. After 2-1 vs. 1-2: .725 vs. .494. It’s a huge swing. If even half those pitches go in Langford’s favor it stands to swing his season OPS by 15-20 points. He entered Tuesday at .778.
“The 1-1 pitch might be the most important in baseball,” Bochy said. “If it’s not, the first pitch is. This should be a huge benefit for Wyatt.”
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Bochy is in favor of the change. He was impressed by the system in spring training and he came away with a favorable view. Hasn’t changed since March. He welcomed the news on Tuesday. Well, it beat talking about the other topics, such as potential official elimination from playoff eligibility and which players are officially shut down (as of Tuesday that list included Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Sam Haggerty).
For the record, teams will start games with two challenges that can be made by pitcher, catcher or hitter. If replay overturns the call, the challenging team retains its challenge. If not, a challenge is lost. There will be some strategy to using these, similar to replay challenges. Don’t want to use them too early. Don’t want to use them on relatively meaningless pitches. Don’t want to allow them in the hands of everybody because there are guys who now ground out to shortstop and immediately cup their hands at first base to urge the dugout to challenge.
As a team, the Rangers were mixed on their input to MLB’s committee. Player rep Josh Jung said that, unsurprisingly, hitters were very much in favor of it and pitchers, not so much. Ranger pitchers entered Tuesday with 361 charitable strike calls, 14th in the majors, right around league average.
The Rangers are going to have a whole lot of offensive issues to address this offseason. For a second straight season, they’ve shown no ability to hit the fastball. They seem to hunt breaking balls too much, instead of being on time to drive fastballs and reacting to spin. They swing too often and walk too little. It will keep them busy.
But the news on Tuesday that ABS is coming is bound to help one of their best players get even better.
Every little bit helps.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
JT Realmuto injured, Jhoan Duran blows save
PHILADELPHIA − Things went from bad to worse for the Phillies.
They were cruising along with a 3-0 lead on Sept. 23 as Cristopher Sanchez was dominant through 7 innings, keeping alive their chance to clinch a bye through the wild card playoffs. The Phillies needed a win and a Dodgers loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks to clinch.
But Phillies manager Rob Thomson decided to pull Sanchez, who had thrown 91 pitches through that point. David Robertson then gave up two runs as a light rain started falling before Tanner Banks got out of the inning.
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The Phillies brought in closer Jhoan Duran to protect that one-run lead. But with one out, he gave up a game-tying homer to Heriberto Hernandez on an 0-and-2 pitch clocked at 101 mph.
Before the home run, Hernandez fouled a pitch off J.T. Realmuto’s right, throwing hand. Realmuto stayed in the game, but was pinch hit for to start the ninth by Rafael Marchan.
Marchan singled as a heavy rain started falling. That’s when play was stopped.
For the Phillies, they were playing without Bryce Harper, who was out with an illness. In addition, shortstop Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa are still on the injured list. That left Bryson Stott to play shortstop and Weston Wilson at second.
Still, the Phillies were in good shape after Kyle Schwarber hit his 54th homer in the first inning, a solo blast. Then Otto Kemp, playing first base in place of Harper, added a two-run shot in the second inning.
Sanchez was cruising. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and a walk. He struck out 6. Sanchez surpassed 200 strikeouts on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.57. Thomson has already penciled Sanchez in to start the Phillies’ first postseason game.
But Thomson decided to pull him in the eighth for Robertson.
It didn’t go well. With one out, he gave up a solo homer to Griffin Conine. Then one out later, he gave up a single to Otto Lopez. Liam Hicks followed with a single sending Lopez to third. But Harrison Bader’s errant throw from center field allowed Lopez to score.
Banks came in and struck out Jakob Marsee to end the inning, the Phillies clinging to a 3-2 lead.
Duran couldn’t hold it.
The blown save is his third in 18 save opportunities since coming to the Phillies in a July 31st trade with the Minnesota Twins.
And then the Phillies had to wait out the rain for a chance to clinch a bye for the first round of the playoffs.
Padres say MLB’s new ‘robot umps’ review system a mix of technology, human element
Mike Shildt knows better than to stand in the way of progress.
In the case of the automated ball strike (ABS) challenge system approved for the 2026 season on Tuesday by Major League Baseball’s joint competition committee, technology could very well save the Padres manager from himself.
“I think it’s also going to save managers some money,” Shildt said with a laugh. “We’re going to have to really work hard to get ejected now. With replay, you can’t argue against … New York, although I’ve tried, and that didn’t work. That’s a bigger fine. And now you can’t yell at an umpire for balls and strikes, because he’s just doing what the monitor tells him. So ejections go way down and fines are down.
“So anyway, that’s maybe a benefit from it.”
That’s not to say that Shildt isn’t a fan of the commissioner’s office doing what it can to improve the game. He lumps ABS with the three-batter minimum and pitch clock as changes that were only a matter of time. MLB has been studying fan engagement and enjoyment and is trying to make the game more appealing to a younger audience.
Getting calls right is part of that consideration, and MLB has the technology to help umpires with the strike zone just as they can use instant replay to review calls on the field.
But “robot umps,” as the ABS system is called in passing, won’t apply to every pitch.
Just contested pitches.
If a pitcher, catcher or hitter disagrees with the plate umpire’s call, he simply taps his hat or helmet and vocalizes a challenge. From there, the Hawk-Eye cameras tracking each pitch determine if the ball clipped any part of the strike zone. The review of the challenge will then be played on ballpark videoboards in a process that takes about 15 seconds.
Each team will start each game with two challenges, with successful challenges retained.
The system has been tweaked over recent years in the minors and was in use in spring training as a potential preview for the 2026 season.
“I like the challenge system,” Padres first baseman Ryan O’Hearn said. “I think it’s a good mix of the human element and guys being able to challenge pitches in big spots. I like the format of it. It’s not going to be like a first-inning, anytime challenge. It’s going to be in big spots. Guys don’t want to lose a challenge for their team.”
Indeed, a strategy will emerge when it comes to using the challenges. Guidelines will also take shape, as Triple-A El Paso manager Pete Zamora said in spring training that his catchers were in charge of challenges.
Reliever Jeremiah Estrada, who’d been part of minor league games with a version of ABS in play, sees the logic in that.
“I’ll leave it up to the catcher,” Estrada said. “He’s the one that knows. I mean, I know what will look like a strike … but he’s seen it throughout the entire game to understand where the umpire’s eyes have been at.”
As part of the move to the ABS challenge system, the strike zone will be defined in a way like never before.
Baseball rules outline what the strike zone is, but the boundaries can be inconsistent from game to game and even pitch to pitch, judging by some of the independent umpire reviews that take place on such websites as UmpScorecards.com.
The strike zone used for next year’s challenge system will be a two-dimensional rectangle set in the middle of home plate with the edges set to the width of the plate (17 inches), the top based on 53.5% of a batter’s height and the bottom based on 27% of a batter’s height.
Official heights will be measured and certified before a player may appear in an MLB game. Measurements were taken this year in spring training before the system was used on a trial basis at select parks in Cactus and Grapefruit League games.
At that point, Shildt figured implementation in the majors was only a matter of time.
“That was coming,” Shildt said.
He added: “I think it’s ultimately that you want to get it right. You want a fair game, and you don’t want a decision to be made to affect a team one way or the other.”
Yankees clinch MLB playoff berth: Bombers, led by MVP favorite Aaron Judge, still eyeing AL East title
The New York Yankees became the latest team to clinch a playoff spot on Tuesday, doing so in dramatic fashion on a walk-off win vs. the White Sox after a ninth-inning comeback. The Yankees have now made the postseason in back-to-back seasons and in eight of their last nine attempts.
Down 2-1 headed into the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Volpe scored the tying run on a wild pitch from Chicago reliever Brandon Eisert before José Caballero drove in Aaron Judge for the winning run.
The extent of New York’s playoff berth is to be determined since the Yankees remain in the hunt for both the American League’s top seed and the East division crown. The Yankees entered Tuesday trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by two games in both races. It’s worth noting the Blue Jays won the season series (8-5), meaning the Yankees will have to beat them outright to prevail.
The Yankees can credit their success to yet another terrific season from Aaron Judge, who may well win consecutive AL MVP awards. Offseason additions like slugger Cody Bellinger, lefty Max Fried, and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt also ranked among the 10 most productive players on New York’s roster, according to Baseball Reference’s metrics.
In a sense, a down year would’ve been understandable. The Yankees lost outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets through free agency, then saw ace Gerrit Cole succumb to Tommy John surgery back in the spring, before he could throw even a single regular-season pitch. Yet the Yankees were able to weather those setbacks, as well as losing months in June and July. As of Tuesday, they had the best run differential in the entire American League.
The Yankees will wrap up their regular season with two more games against the White Sox and then three against the Baltimore Orioles, one of the year’s most disappointing clubs.
Yankees beat White Sox to clinch spot in 2025 MLB playoffs
NEW YORK – By early July, the Yankees had lost their AL East lead, and by early August they had lost their way entirely.
But a late-season surge strengthened the Yanks’ wild card standing, and on Tuesday night they punched their ticket to the playoffs.
Down 2-1 to the Chicago White Sox heading into the ninth inning, the Yankees put together the rally they needed. After Anthony Volpe scored from third base on a wild pitch from pitcher Brandon Eisert, Jose Caballero played hero with a walk-off single to score Aaron Judge from second.
Down the stretch, the Yankees compiled MLB’s best record since Aug. 6, going 29-14 and putting pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays, who were coasting in first place.
Toronto holds the tiebreaker over the Yankees, based on their 2025 head-to-head record.
But the Yankees still have an outside chance to win the division.
Entering Tuesday, if the Blue Jays played .500 (3-3) in their final six games, the Yankees needed to win all their remaining six games to repeat as AL East champs.
This is the seventh time the Yankees have reached postseason in manager Aaron Boone’s eight-year tenure, winning the pennant in 2024 but still seeking the franchise’s first world title since 2009.
If the Yankees maintain their top AL wild card standing, they will host a best-of-three series against the second AL wild card starting next Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
If the Yankees were to win the division, they’d open the postseason in a best-of-five AL Division Series beginning Oct. 4.
MLB playoff picture: Red Sox get good result as Guardians beat Tigers
The Red Sox are another step closer.
Boston opened its three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-1 victory at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night. The Red Sox, who currently hold a one game lead for the second American League Wild Card spot, are another win closer to their postseason goal.
MORE RED SOX COVERAGE
Alex Cora and company received help elsewhere, too.
The Cleveland Guardians earned a 5-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers in their series opener. Cleveland now sits atop the American League Central after having won 11 of its last 12 games. Meanwhile, Detroit, which had an 11-game lead in the division earlier this month, is a half game up on the Houston Astros for the third AL Wild Card spot.
Boston should benefit from Detroit’s slide. The Red Sox host the Tigers in a three-game series this weekend and thus could have the opportunity to gain further ground in the standings.
The Red Sox remain four games back of the New York Yankees, who earned a 3-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox and thus kept a stranglehold atop the Wild Card standings.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora managed Tuesday’s game like a postseason matchup. With starting pitcher Lucas Giolito sitting at 98 pitches and allowing a two-out walk to Alejandro Kirk, Cora pulled the right-hander with two outs in the fifth inning. He went to the bullpen, and the group stepped up.
Justin Wilson, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten and Aroldis Chapman combined for the final 4.1 innings and did not allow a single hit in relief.
The Red Sox will face the Blue Jays in the middle game of the three-game set on Wednesday night.
MLB to implement robot umpires for 2026 season
Human umpires will still call games, but robots will be used if teams want to challenge up to two calls per game, plus any additional appeals in extra innings.
The MLB had tested the ABS throughout its minor-league system for years until deciding to make the leap for next season. With the move, the MLB joins the NFL and others in utilizing technology to regulate a major part of the game.
The NFL implemented Sony’s Hawk-Eye camera system to measure first downs for the 2025 system, with the traditional first down chains used as a backup.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said players’ preference for the challenge system versus the robotic umpires calling every pitch played a major role in the decision.
“Throughout this process, we have worked on deploying the system in a way that’s acceptable to players,” Manfred said in a statement. “The strong preference from players for the challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today.”
“I commend the Joint Competition Committee for striking the right balance of preserving the integral role of the umpire in the game with the ability to correct a missed call in a high-leverage situation, all while preserving the pace and rhythm of the game,” he also said.
Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen, who is on the committee, believed the change was inevitable.
“Honestly, I was pretty indifferent. I knew it was looming, just the way the vote is structured. So I tried not to get too one way or the other. I think if you were ask me, I’d probably would have leaned more against it, but I just tried to be open about it, and just kind of fell on indifference,” he added.
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The MLB playoffs take place later this month, with the season concluding in October.
Robotic umpires will make their debut with the season opener in March next year.
MLB playoff tracker 2025: Clinching scenarios, bracket, schedule
A number of teams are starting to shift their focus to October as the final month of the 2025 MLB regular season continues.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have both clinched postseason berths, with the Brewers also taking home the NL Central title. ThePhiladelphia Phillies have locked up the NL East title, the Los Angeles Dodgers are headed back to October (again) and the Toronto Blue Jays became the first AL team to secure a playoff spotand the New York Yankees followed days later.
And in the biggest twists of the 2025 season, the Cleveland Guardians have rocked the American League playoff picture with a September surge, emerging as a serious contender in both the AL Central and wild-card race while the New York Mets’ prolonged struggles have opened the door for the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL wild-card race.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and playoffs begin: Where do current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to each day leading up to October? Who will be the next team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like?
We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings
Who’s in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot for a second consecutive year on Sept. 13 and followed up by securing their third straight NL Central title.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched a spot in the postseason on Sept. 14. With a win the following night, Philadelphia clinched the NL East title for the second straight year.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs clinched their spot in the postseason on Sept. 17 and will be making their first playoff appearance in a full-length season since 2018.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers clinched their 13th consecutive playoff appearance on Friday.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays became the first AL team to secure a postseason berth with a with over the Royals on Sunday.
San Diego Padres
The Padres clinched their fourth postseason trip in six years with a walk-off win over the Brewers on Monday.
New York Yankees
The Yankees became the second AL team to clinch a playoff spot with a walk-off win over the White Sox on Tuesday.
Who can clinch a playoff spot next?
On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Colorado.
There are also a number of other clinch possibilities coming up:
The Phillies can clinch a first-round bye and home field advantage in the NLDS with a win over Miami and a Dodgers loss on Tuesday.
The Dodgers can clinch the NL West as early as Wednesday.
The Blue Jays can clinch the AL East as early as Wednesday.
The Mariners can clinch the AL West as early as Wednesday.
The Brewers can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NL as early as Wednesday.
The Cubs can clinch the No. 4 seed in the NL as early as Wednesday.
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers at (3) Guardians, (5) Red Sox at (4) Yankees
ALDS: Tigers/Guardians/ vs. (2) Mariners, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Blue Jays
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Dodgers, (5) Padres at (4) Cubs
NLDS: Mets/Dodgers vs. (2) Phillies, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers
Breaking down the AL race
The Blue Jays have taken control of the race for the AL’s No. 1 seed. While Toronto sits atop the AL East, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are duking it out for wild-card seeding. And the Seattle Marinersare attempting to separate themselves from the Houston Astros in a two-team AL West race. Meanwhile, theCleveland Guardiansare in hot pursuit of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central while also playing themselves into a tight race for the final wild-card spot.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
The Brewers were the first MLB team to seal its spot in October, and the Phillies — who then sealed an NL East title — clinched next. A group of contenders have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the New York Mets,Arizona DiamondbacksandCincinnati Redsbattling for the final playoff spot, and there is intrigue in the NL West as the Dodgers attempt to fend off the Padres for the division crown.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Game of the day
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
>Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
>Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
>Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*
Division series
>Best of five
ALDS
>Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
>Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
>Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
>Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
>Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*
NLDS
>Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
>Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
>Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
>Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
>Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
>Best of seven
ALCS
>Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 12
>Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
>Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
>Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
>Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
>Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
>Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*
NLCS
>Game 1: Monday, Oct. 13
>Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
>Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
>Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
>Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
>Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
>Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*
World Series
>Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
>Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
>Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
>Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
>Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
>Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
>Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*
* If necessary
Mariners clinch MLB playoff spot as September surge has Seattle in the hunt for first AL West title since 2001
The Seattle Mariners became the latest team to clinch a postseason berth when they defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win and improved their record to 88-69 on the season. The Mariners, who staked out a three-game advantage last weekend by sweeping the Houston Astros, are seeking their first American League West title since 2001.
The Mariners trailed 3-1 entering the eighth but a two-out, bases-clearing double from Josh Naylor turned that two-run deficit into a 4-3 lead. Andres Munoz then shut the door in the ninth for his 38th save of the season.
The Mariners haven’t had a player win the MVP award since Ichiro Suzuki did it in 2001. Catcher Cal Raleigh has a chance, however, depending on how voters weigh him against New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. For as good as Raleigh has been this season, setting a new franchise single-year record in home runs in addition to the league-wide positional mark, he hasn’t been the Mariners’ only key contributor.
Rather, the Mariners have received massive years from center fielder Julio Rodríguez, right-handed pitcher Bryan Woo, left fielder Randy Arozarena, and shortstop J.P. Crawford. Muñoz has also been excellent, and earlier this summer he earned his second All-Star Game honor.
The Mariners, after suffering through losing months in both May and June, have locked in for September. They started the month with an 0-4 mark, but have a 14-1 record in the time since, a remarkable stretch that included a 10-game winning streak.
The Mariners will complete their regular season by playing two more games against the Rockies and then three against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a potential World Series preview.
Jim Harbaugh’s Trade Statement Alerts 31 Teams After Chargers’ Najee Harris Out for the Year
Najee Harris’ Los Angeles Chargers run is already over, at least for a year. The running back tore his Achilles in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos, and with that, LA’s depth chart got flipped upside down. But Jim Harbaugh isn’t wasting time. He has already mapped out his next move for the backfield.
On Monday, the head coach announced that the 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal is going to be the “next man up” for the Chargers. Still, Harbaugh made it clear that general manager Joe Hortiz isn’t going to just sit back. “Hortiz will be scouring the market to see what is available at the position,” insider Alex Insdorf reported. That’s a message not just to LA fans but to 31 other teams as well.
For now, though, Harbaugh and Hortiz need to see what Vidal can deliver before calling in reinforcements.
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After all, the NFL trade deadline is still weeks away, and those potential external options aren’t going anywhere. Plus, Vidal isn’t just some flyer. He was one of the most productive two-way backs in the 2024 class. He had 43 carries for 155 yards and scored 1 touchdown in 10 games in his rookie season in 2024.
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In 2025, the 24-year-old RB logged 43 carries for 155 yards at 3.6 yards per attempt. He also chipped in five receptions for 62 yards and even scored a touchdown. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, but they hint at upside if given a real role in this offense.
Still, Vidal isn’t the only option on the roster. Rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton is another name to watch.
Rookie Omarion Hampton might help Jim Harbaugh
The Bolts pulled off a 23-20 comeback win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, moving to 3-0 for the first time since 2002. But the big win came with a big loss. Yes, Najee Harris, who had never missed a game since entering the league in 2021, went down in the second quarter.
He had 28 yards on six carries before his left leg gave out on a plant step. Harris was carted off, and while it was first called an ankle issue, Jim Harbaugh later confirmed it was an Achilles tear. That means Harris is likely done for the year.
So now the question is what happens next in LA’s backfield.
The Chargers still have Omarion Hampton, and on Sunday, the rookie showed why he might be the answer. He rushed for a career-best 70 yards and punched in his first touchdown. He also added 59 yards on six receptions, proving he could handle both parts of the job. That kind of breakout performance puts him right in the mix.
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But beyond Hampton, things look a little light. Hassan Haskins is the only other back on the main roster, and he has managed just 288 total yards in four seasons. On the practice squad, it’s only Vidal and undrafted rookie Amar Johnson. These are the current options available to Harbaugh.
Who Is Dexter Lawrence II’s Wife? Everything You Need to Know About Donna McCain
Dexter Lawrence’s personal life took a joyful turn in 2024 when he married his longtime partner, Donna McCain. While Dexter is widely recognized as the powerhouse nose tackle for the New York Giants, Donna has made her own mark as a supportive and loving partner who prefers to stay out of the media spotlight. The couple’s relationship reflects a balance between Dexter’s high-profile NFL career and Donna’s grounded nature, offering him strength and stability away from the field.
Who Is Donna McCain?
Donna McCain is as qualified as her husband, and she is a famous chef. She attended Johnson & Wales University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She has a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition from 2011-2015 as per her LinkedIn profile, and earned a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama, also working as a performance chef there.
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Dexter Lawrence’s wife, Donna McCain, is a skilled chef who specializes in cooking for professional athletes through her business, Elite Performance Cuisine, LLC. The culinary specialist has a lifelong passion for cooking, and therefore, she graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island with a degree in Culinary Nutrition. Lawrence and McCain’s meeting is quite interesting, like a Hollywood romantic movie.
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Donna McCain’s Career – What does Donna McCain do for a living?
McCain is now the owner and executive chef at Elite Performance Cuisine and a certified pilates instructor, according to her Instagram profile. Donna McCain is a private chef for professional athletes at Elite Performance Cuisine. She has also owned the business since March 2019, according to her LinkedIn profile. Donna has worked as an executive performance chef at Clemson University, where Dexter Lawrence played football. She has been working as a chef for many years now. She was the one who prepared well-planned meals for him, and that is when they met.
Dexter Lawrence II and Donna McCain’s Relationship: How did they meet?
They met over a well-planned cuisine that Donna created for Dexter back in 2020. In March 2020, the athlete first met McCain when she prepared meals for him and other NFL players. And obviously, there is no need to explain that the meal did the magic. They hit it off and soon began dating. Sharing their personal life, McCain keeps updating her followers frequently on social media. She often shares photos of their travels and time on Instagram.
Her extraordinary culinary skills and personality attracted him, and they have been inseparable ever since. The couple got engaged in 2024 when Dexter proposed to Donna, and she gushed about the same on Instagram. She captioned, “Today, tomorrow, and forever. You are the man I’ve prayed for, my favorite human in the world, and my absolute best friend. Let’s do this life thing.”
The couple decided to tie the knot on June 27th, 2024, at a Bradford venue located in North Carolina, announcing the marriage on their social media. Donna McCain changed her title to Lawrence after her marriage. She is not only his wife now but also takes care of his health and nutrition as his personal chef. She is the one who keeps him up and running for his important role as a New York Giants team member.
Donna McCain’s social media
Donna McCain is active on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her life and passions. Her handle is @itsdonna_law, reflecting her interest in cooking and culinary pursuits. Through her account, fans can see her creativity in the kitchen as well as moments from her personal life with Dexter Lawrence.
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Dexter Lawrence and Donna McCain have clearly built a strong partnership, weathering the usual ups and downs of life together. With Dexter back on the field and Donna supporting him through his recovery, the Giants could benefit not just from his talent but also from his renewed confidence and focus. A well-supported player often translates to better performance on the field, and having that stability at home could give Lawrence an extra edge.
How do you think the Giants will fare this season with Dexter back in action? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
How to watch the Dallas Stars’ preseason matchup with Minnesota Wild
The Dallas Stars continue their 2025 preseason schedule against the Minnesota Wild after beginning the slate with a shootout win over the St. Louis Blues.
The two Central Division foes will face off against each other as new Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan gets to see how his roster fits together again in a preseason game. This is Dallas’ last home game in the preseason slate until the Stars return to the American Airlines Center on Oct. 4 for their preseason finale against Colorado.
Here’s how to watch the game vs. Minnesota:
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
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When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
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TV/Streaming: Victory+
The Stars will play a total of six preseason contests, including three at American Airlines Center.
2025 Stars preseason schedule
Saturday, Sept. 20: Dallas 2, St. Louis 1 (OT)
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Tuesday, Sept. 23: Minnesota at Dallas (American Airlines Center), 7 p.m.
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Thursday, Sept. 25: Dallas at Minnesota (Grand Casino Arena), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27: Dallas at Colorado (Ball Arena), 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30: Dallas at St. Louis (Enterprise Center), 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 4: Colorado at Dallas (American Airlines Center), 5 p.m.
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Kevin Durant no quiso un reencuentro con Curry y los Warriors
Kevin Durant, hoy jugador de los Houston Rockets, confirmó que fue él mismo quien detuvo un intento de intercambio que lo hubiera llevado de vuelta a los Golden State Warriors en la pasada fecha límite de traspasos de la NBA.
La revelación ocurrió el 16 de septiembre en Los Ángeles, durante su participación en el Game Plan Sports Business Summit, donde compartió detalles sobre su situación contractual y sus sensaciones en torno a los rumores.
Durant explicó que, junto a su socio de negocios Rich Kleiman, logró frenar las negociaciones que vinculaban a los Warriors con un regreso inesperado del alero. El propio jugador reconoció que esas conexiones personales y su historial con Golden State fueron determinantes para evitar el movimiento.
“Escuché que Golden State estaba en la mesa alrededor de la fecha límite de traspaso, pero fue ahí cuando Rich entró en juego, y esas relaciones que construimos en la liga y también haber jugado en Golden State ayudaron. Pudimos decirles que se detuvieran un poco con eso“, señaló Durant, según declaraciones recogidas por el Arizona Republic.
Reacciones de Durant a los rumores sobre Phoenix
Más allá de la especulación sobre los Warriors, Durant también abordó las versiones que lo situaban fuera de los Phoenix Suns durante la temporada 2024-25. El jugador aseguró que la situación le generó molestia, pues sentía que había consolidado un buen vínculo con la organización.
“Al inicio estaba un poco molesto porque sentía que construimos una relación sólida, yo y los Phoenix Suns”, dijo el alero. “Escuchar eso de una parte diferente fue un poco decepcionante, pero así es este juego. Lo superé rápido y empecé a pensar cuáles eran los próximos pasos”.
Durant permaneció en Phoenix hasta el final de la campaña, aunque su salida terminó concretándose en verano, cuando fue enviado a los Rockets en un traspaso de gran impacto en la liga.
Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani lead MLB MVP poll for September 2025
There is so much to be decided in the final week of the regular season. One of the biggest must-watch items on the docket: What will Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh do in their closing arguments for American League Most Valuable Player?
While MLB.com’s latest MVP poll shows Shohei Ohtani continuing to hold a comfortable advantage in the National League, the race in the AL almost literally can’t get any closer. After 40 of our experts cast their votes, the Yankees’ captain and the Mariners’ slugging catcher were separated by only two points.
Voters ranked their top five picks in each league on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale — five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote and so on. Votes were based not just on performances to date, but also on how things are expected to go over the final few games remaining. Here are the poll results.
The choice between Judge and Raleigh is a real toss-up, even among league executives. Judge moves back into the No. 1 spot by a very narrow margin after falling to No. 2 in August. He has six homers in his past 14 games and needs just one more long ball for his third 50-homer season. Judge is also in line to lead the Majors in on-base percentage (.451), slugging percentage (.672) and FanGraphs WAR (9.2) for the third time in four years. His .326 average is the best in the bigs, meaning the 6-foot-7 Judge could become the tallest batting champion in MLB history.
Raleigh made an impact in the Mariners’ biggest series of the year this past weekend. He homered twice during Seattle’s road sweep against the Astros, putting the Mariners in a commanding spot to earn their first division title since 2001. Raleigh, with five dingers in his previous seven games, is up to a franchise-record 58 home runs this year. He could become the seventh player and first catcher to reach the 60-homer plateau — and he would achieve it while playing for a likely division winner. It’s an easy case to make for MVP.
The Guardians, 11 games out of the AL Central entering Sept. 5, are just a single game behind the faltering Tigers heading into a massive three-game showdown in Cleveland that begins Tuesday. The Guardians have gone 15-2 since that date, and, unsurprisingly, Ramírez has been driving the bus. He has a .297/.392/.593 slash line with 10 extra-base hits over the past 17 games and is putting the finishing touches on his third 30-30 campaign. He should be inside the top five in AL MVP voting for the sixth time in the past nine seasons.
While the Guardians have surged since early September, the Royals have stumbled. Kansas City was one game out of a Wild Card spot at the end of Sept. 6, but it has dropped nine of the past 14 games to turn from a postseason hopeful into an also-ran. Witt’s numbers remain a clear step down from last season, when he was the AL MVP runner-up. But with 23 homers and 37 steals, he is the first player in MLB history to record a 20-30 stat line in each of his first four seasons. His 7.7 fWAR ranks fourth in the Majors, trailing only Judge, Raleigh (8.8) and Ohtani (8.8).
There have been a handful of worthy MVP candidates on the team with the best record in the AL this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette both received consideration from our voters. Catcher Alejandro Kirk has had a 4-WAR season. But it’s the 36-year-old Springer who gets into our top five. He has 30 homers, a .953 OPS and 4.7 fWAR. Those are his best marks in each category since 2019, when he won a Silver Slugger and finished seventh in the AL MVP voting. His .307 batting average is a career best as is his 162 wRC+, which is second only to Judge (199) in the AL.
In his 13 starts and 41 innings since returning to pitching on June 16, Ohtani has recorded 54 strikeouts and only nine walks. His 2.12 FIP is third-best among pitchers with at least 40 innings while his 27.1% strikeout-minus-walk rate is tied for 12th. He has allowed only one earned run over the past 13 2/3 innings, and he has posted an extremely low 3.9% barrel rate. Ohtani would have a rock-solid MVP case if we just focused on his offense — he’s atop the NL once again in runs (141), home runs (53, tied with Kyle Schwarber), OPS (1.015) and wRC+ (172). Including his brilliance on the mound makes Ohtani a near lock to take home a fourth MVP award.
Schwarber has put together a heck of a walk year. He has produced career highs in home runs (53), RBIs (129), wRC+ (152) and fWAR (4.7). He might end up leading the Senior Circuit in those first two categories. Schwarber’s 59.7% hard-hit rate isn’t just a personal best; it’s No. 1 among all qualified hitters. However, his MVP chances have dimmed over the past few weeks. Since his momentous four-homer night on Aug. 28, Schwarber has four homers and a .395 slugging percentage across 22 games.
After all of that early-season hullabaloo about Soto’s underwhelming beginning as a Met, he’s going to end up having another special year. His OPS (.933) is above .900 for the third straight season, and he’s likely going to lead the Majors in walks (123) for the fourth time since 2021. His 42 homers are a career high, and Soto’s 35 stolen bases — nearly triple his previous high — make him the 16th player in MLB history to put up a 40-30 season. He is the only Met in that small group.
Every player in each league’s top five in this poll has seen their name on at least one MVP ballot. Well, everyone except Perdomo, who has had a tremendous breakout season at the plate. Strong defense has always made him valuable, but now with 19 home runs and a 138 wRC+, Perdomo has transformed into one of the game’s most well-rounded players and a surprising MVP candidate. His 6.9 fWAR ranks fifth in the big leagues.
Perdomo has been fantastic since the July 31 Trade Deadline, batting .322 with a .971 OPS, eight homers and 11 steals in 47 games. Although the D-backs were a seller at the Deadline, those contributions have helped them make a late-season charge, and they entered Monday just one game out of a playoff spot.
With Zack Wheeler out for the season, Skenes should run away with the NL Cy Young. He’ll get plenty of down-ballot support for MVP, too. He’s actually coming off his shortest start of the year as he allowed seven hits, three walks and three runs to the Cubs in just 3 2/3 innings on Tuesday. But no matter — Skenes still leads all qualified pitchers with a 2.03 ERA. His 23.5% K-BB walk rate and 0.96 WHIP are unmatched in the NL, and he’s right behind the Giants’ Logan Webb for the league lead in strikeouts (211 to 209).
In the Live Ball Era (since 1920), the only qualified starting pitcher to have at least 200 K’s and an ERA of 2.10 or better within his first two MLB seasons is Dwight Gooden for the 1985 Mets. After his season finale on Wednesday against Hunter Greene and the Reds, Skenes will likely double the size of that club.
MLB series to watch week of Sept. 22, 2025
Two of those clubs — the Brewers and Padres — have already begun a big series at Petco Park, with Milwaukee having clinched the National League Central but looking to wrap up the NL’s top seed and San Diego still clinging to hopes of a division crown of its own after clinching a playoff spot on Monday.
With October in sight, here’s a look at other important series to watch this week, games that will have major seeding implications for some clubs, and major implications for others who are trying to squeak into the playoffs.
The stakes are as high as they can get in this three-game set between the two teams atop the American League Central. The Tigers have had a tight grip on the division lead for most of the season, but Detroit has lost nine of 10 while the Guardians have surged with 15 wins in their last 17 games. It all adds up to a showdown with the AL Central crown on the line — Cleveland enters the series just one game back.
The Jays have clinched a postseason berth, but now they hope to hold off the Yankees to claim Toronto’s first division title in a decade. Toronto is also looking to clinch the AL’s top seed. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are still trying to scratch their way into the postseason, currently just a game ahead of the Guardians and Astros for the second AL Wild Card spot. One of those three — or perhaps even the Tigers if Cleveland overtakes them this week — will likely be the odd team out when it’s all said and done.
The Dodgers are in. Now their goal is to clinch their 12th NL West title in the past 13 seasons. They’re in a good spot, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Padres with the tiebreaker on their side. The D-backs, meanwhile, are just a game back of the Reds and Mets for the third NL Wild Card spot. Despite selling at the Trade Deadline and being streaky in the second half, Arizona is still within striking distance. But the D-backs will have to contend with Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who are lined up to pitch in the series.
The Mets need a swift turnaround in this final week of the season after being caught by the Reds for the third NL Wild Card position (Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker between the clubs). New York — which has lost 11 of its past 15 games — faces a Cubs team that has clinched a spot in the postseason with a comfortable lead over San Diego for the top NL Wild Card spot. The Mets need to win and will need a little help from the Pirates and Brewers, who play the Reds to finish out the regular season.
The Astros have been overtaken in the AL West after being swept by the Mariners at home over the weekend, and being three games behind Seattle with just six to play, it appears Houston will have to fight to get into the playoffs at all as it battles to beat out the Red Sox, Guardians or Tigers for an AL Wild Card berth. The Astros will face the A’s in Sacramento without closer Josh Hader and slugger Yordan Alvarez, though they hope they’ll get an injured Jeremy Peña back during the series.
The Reds have been hot, having won five straight following a four-game sweep of the Cubs over the weekend at Great American Ball Park. But Cincinnati will have to deal with NL Cy Young Award candidate Paul Skenes, who is slated to take the mound for the Pirates on Wednesday. Cincinnati does have the benefit of holding the tiebreaker against the Mets, with whom it is presently tied for the third NL Wild Card spot.
The Yankees still have a chance to catch the Blue Jays and win the division, but it’ll be a tall order, particularly because Toronto owns the tiebreaker between the clubs. Still, with a homestand against the White Sox and Orioles to conclude the regular season schedule, it isn’t out of the question if New York takes care of business in the Bronx this week.
The Mariners are in great shape coming off their huge sweep of the Astros at Daikin Park over the weekend. Seattle enjoys a three-game lead over Houston, as well as ownership of the tiebreaker should things get wild this week. On top of that, the M’s will host the club with baseball’s worst record this season, the Rockies, for three at T-Mobile Park. It would behoove Seattle to take care of business against Colorado before concluding the regular season with three against the Dodgers.
Padres clinch MLB playoff spot with National League postseason bracket almost complete
The San Diego Padres are returning to the playoffs. The Padres clinched their spot in the tournament with Monday night’s win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park (SD 5, MIL 4, 11 innings). This marks San Diego’s second straight postseason appearance and their fourth in the last six years. They had five postseason appearances during the franchise’s first 51 seasons of existence.
With the Padres in, five of the six National League postseason spots have been claimed. The Brewers (NL Central) and Philadelphia Phillies (NL East) have won their divisions, and Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched postseason berths. The Dodgers hold a three-game lead over the Padres in the NL West, plus they have the tiebreaker, so it’s really a four-game lead.
The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets have identical 80-76 records, though because the Reds won the season series, they hold the tiebreaker and technically occupy the third wild card spot. The Arizona Diamondbacks are nipping at the Reds’ heels in addition to the Mets. The NL postseason field is shaping up to look like this:
Bye: Brewers and Phillies
WC: WC3 at Dodgers
WC: Padres at Cubs
2025 MLB playoff picture: Baseball standings, projections, odds as Mets, Tigers, Astros fight for their lives
Kate Feldman
San Diego has leaned heavily on run prevention, particularly a bullpen that is four deep in closer-caliber relievers, to get back to the postseason. They have allowed the second-fewest runs per game this season, though they’re middle of the pack in runs scored per game, and they’re near the bottom of the league in home runs. Creating runs can be a challenge at times.
Still, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are a formidable offensive core, and Xander Bogaerts returned from a foot fracture Monday. Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Jackson Merrill, and trade deadline additions Ramón Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn could be very strong complementary pieces, though they’ve rarely been hot (or healthy) at the same time this season.
Ace right-hander Michael King has battled shoulder and knee trouble this year and has been shaky of late, though he is a safe bet to start a postseason game, likely Game 1. Nick Pivetta has been the club’s most reliable starter all season. Dylan Cease can dominate on his best days, which he has not had enough of this season. A spot in the postseason rotation is not assured.
Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and closer Robert Suarez are as good as any bullpen foursome in baseball. Righty Jason Adam went down with a season-ending quad injury earlier this month, however, taking away a high-leverage option. The plan for the Padres is simple: get good starting pitching, scratch out a few runs, and smother the opponent with the bullpen.
What to know from NFL Week 3: A.J. Brown saves the Eagles
In Week 3, the blocked field goal had a moment.
As the early window careened toward its breathtaking conclusion, three games – including a massive upset – swung on a blocked field goal in a span of 10 real-time minutes. The Cleveland Browns blocked a kick to set up a game-winning field goal. The Philadelphia Eagles blocked one to preserve a one-point lead, then returned it for a touchdown to preserve an all-time cover of the point spread. The New York Jets blocked a kick, then their resulting return touchdown changed a deficit to a one-point lead. They blew that in the final two minutes, just as a reminder that they are still the Jets.
It was another unforgettable finish in the early window. Here’s what to know.
The Eagles finally remembered they have A.J. Brown
In a rematch of last year’s divisional round, the Eagles trailed the Los Angeles Rams 26-7 and faced second and 13 from their own 29-yard line early in the second half. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, maligned this year for his lack of deep passing, dropped back and heaved a ball down the sideline to a forgotten man.
In the season’s first two weeks, A.J. Brown – one of the best wideouts in the NFL and Philadelphia’s third-highest-paid player – caught six passes for 35 yards. As their offense spiraled toward a new low Sunday, the Eagles reintroduced him. Brown’s 38-yard reception was the igniting moment of a memorable 33-26 victory.
Mammoth defensive tackle Jordan Davis sealed the victory by blocking a last-second field goal and returning it for a touchdown (a moment that broke the brains of bettors with Rams +3.5). But it was Brown, who finished the day with six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, who made the comeback possible and provided a reminder that Philadelphia functions best when its offense runs through him.
In terms of skill, Brown is far closer to Saquon Barkley than their roles in the offense suggest. On a third and 10 from the Philadelphia 9-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, he snatched a short pass from a defensive back and barreled through tacklers for a 25-yard gain.
So many times Sunday, Philadelphia seemed headed for an offensive morass with a quarterback who couldn’t throw deep. Reserve tackle Fred Johnson warrants mention – he replaced Matt Pryor, who played like a turnstile for a few series after replacing injured superstar Lane Johnson, and provided capable relief. Still, when the Eagles most needed a spark, Brown was the best player on the field.
The Browns’ defense is legitimate
While the Browns almost certainly will not be relevant to the playoff race, their fast, bruising, complex defense could make them a spoiler all season long. Cleveland claimed its first victim Sunday with a stunning, 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers, who entered as a burgeoning juggernaut on 10 days’ rest. The Browns did not score until the fourth quarter, but their defense kept them within reach. They won, ultimately, because Shelby Harris blocked the Packers’ go-ahead field goal try with 27 seconds left and then rookie Andre Szmyt nailed a 55-yarder as time expired.
No matter how the final sequence played out, Cleveland’s defense had proved it will be a force this year. Myles Garrett is an unblockable menace off the edge. Coordinator Jim Schwartz is still one of the best defensive play callers in the NFL. Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a second-round pick, is a sideline-to-sideline missile and a demon on the blitz.
The Browns have high-end individual talent, and the pieces fit together. They shut down Joe Burrow in Week 1 and mostly stifled Lamar Jackson in Week 2 despite the Baltimore Ravens’ 41 points. On Sunday, they limited the Packers to 3.8 yards per play and held Jordan Love to 183 passing yards. Cleveland may be a flaming dumpster of an organization, but its defense is – no kidding – a Super Bowl-caliber unit.
Isaiah Rodgers had a dream game
It’s not often a cornerback in the middle of a depth chart becomes one of the stars of an entire week. It happened Sunday in Minneapolis: The Carson Wentz-Jake Browning backup quarterback showdown turned into the Isaiah Rodgers Game.
In the Minnesota Vikings’ 48-10 demolition of the Cincinnati Bengals, Rodgers scored two touchdowns and forced a fumble that ultimately led to another Vikings touchdown. In the first quarter, Rodgers intercepted Browning and returned it 87 yards for a score, which provided an early theme – there were a remarkable seven non-offensive touchdowns in Sunday’s early window of games.
Rodgers’s second touchdown came shortly before halftime. After tight end Noah Fant caught a short pass and turned upfield, Rodgers drilled him right on the ball, swiped it away and sprinted 66 yards for another touchdown. For good measure, Rodgers forced another fumble on the Bengals’ next drive. On the sideline, teammates mimicked fanning Rodgers to cool him off.
The Falcons’ quarterback situation isn’t getting simpler
In a startling 30-0 loss to the previously inept Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons Coach Raheem Morris benched Michael Penix Jr. for the fourth quarter. He made the decision, he said, only because “the game was out of hand” and he wanted to keep Penix “out of harm’s way.” It’s easier to do that when the backup is not Kirk Cousins, a veteran making $40 million.
No matter what happens moving forward, Penix took a significant step back Sunday. Against one of the worst defenses in the NFL since the start of 2024, Penix completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards with two brutal interceptions, one of which Chau Smith-Wade returned 11 yards for a touchdown. Typically decisive, Penix was skittish and inaccurate.
The Falcons had a chance to assert themselves as contenders in the NFC South, and instead they fell into a tie with the Panthers at 1-2. In his first full season as a starter, one year after Atlanta drafted him eighth overall despite signing Cousins weeks earlier, Penix had a chance to cement himself. Instead, the Falcons’ quarterback situation again became an open question.
C.J. Stroud’s regression hasn’t stopped
Over the offseason, the Houston Texans overhauled their offense around C.J. Stroud. They revamped an offensive line that yielded 54 sacks. They drafted wideouts in the second and third rounds. They fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and replaced him with Sean McVay acolyte Nick Caley.
Through three games, the outcome has been the same: Stroud is unable to recapture the efficiency and excellence of his rookie season. Despite having one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Texans fell to 0-3 – already three games behind the Indianapolis Colts – with a 17-10 loss to the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Another loss fell at the feet of Stroud, who threw two interceptions and passed for 204 yards on 38 attempts, a paltry 5.4 average.
As a rookie, Stroud passed for 273.9 yards per game. In 20 games since, his average is just 216.3. The pressure he faced last year has affected him – and he has started to exacerbate his line’s shortcomings. Stroud tends to drift backward even out of clean pockets, sometimes hanging his tackles out to dry. His eyes, once locked downfield, have tended to drop to look at the pass rush. He is a cerebral quarterback playing panicked football. He needs to improve before a downward trend invites long-term questions.
The tush push discourse isn’t going away
The Eagles used two tush pushes to score on a short touchdown drive. On both conversions, after a week in which the NFL instructed officials to call false starts on the play “tight,” replays showed right guard Tyler Steen moving before the snap.
It is tempting to fault officiating incompetence, but that would an unfair scapegoat. On slow-motion replay, Steen’s early movement is obvious. In real time, among a tightly packed heap of massive bodies, it’s unrealistic – if not impossible – for an official to spot it.
Offensive linemen false start by imperceptible margins on almost every play by anticipating the snap count. It’s one reason using a silent count on the road is such a detriment. The difference is that an imperceptible head start on a short-yardage sneak, especially by a lineman at the center of the attack, can create the difference between a fourth-down defensive stand and a touchdown.
If there is an argument against the tush push, it lies somewhere in those inherent factors. The play brings an outsize benefit derived from the exploitation of the limits of human eyesight. If the NFL wants to officiate the play, it would require replay reviews of potentially missed false start and offside calls. Nobody should want to open that Pandora’s box.
The Steelers’ defense is a sneaky problem
The final score of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-14 victory over the New England Patriots concealed what has been a major issue early in the season: Their defense has not played like it needs to play.
The Steelers forced five turnovers, two of which came inside their own 5-yard line. Coach Mike Tomlin takes pride in his team forcing turnovers and insists they do not come by accident. But it’s not sustainable for Pittsburgh to let teams move the ball up and down the field. The Patriots gained 369 yards and recorded 26 first downs. The Steelers entered Sunday yielding 6.3 yards per play, fourth worst in the NFL.
The acquisitions of Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf placed the focus on Pittsburgh’s offense. For them to succeed, though, the Steelers need a big season from a defense to which they have devoted $117 million in cap space, second in the NFL. T.J. Watt – who recorded his first two sacks of the season – and Patrick Queen are among the five highest-paid players at their positions. Jalen Ramsey is still a star cornerback. Cameron Heyward is a top-10 defensive tackle in terms of cap hit. Pittsburgh’s defense is built to be elite, and it has barely been mediocre.
Brian Callahan gave a lesson in game mismanagement
Tennessee Titans Coach Brian Callahan, the author of multiple puzzling game management decisions, provided a lesson in how not to handle the end of a first half under the new kickoff rules in his team’s 41-20 loss to the smoking-hot Indianapolis Colts.
Trailing 17-6, the Titans faced fourth and one at the Indianapolis 39-yard line after a run fell short of a first down. Indianapolis called a timeout with 42 seconds left. Tennessee lined up to go for it, then called a timeout after it couldn’t draw the Colts offside. The Titans sent out big-legged Joey Slye for a 57-yard field goal, but Callahan’s disorganization led to a delay-of-game penalty, moving the spot back to 62 yards.
At this point, Callahan’s game management went from bad to worse. Slye can make a 62-yarder, but it’s less than 50-50. If he missed, Indianapolis would already be in field goal range. In the unlikely event Slye converted from 62 yards, Tennessee would have been hoping for merely a push. With 35-ish seconds left, taking possession from about the 30-yard line – a fair expectation with new kickoff rules – the Colts would have needed only a couple of first downs for a field goal attempt.
Going for it – a higher percentage by far than a 62-yard field goal – would have given the Titans a chance to run the clock out and try for a field goal without the chance of an Indianapolis answer. A punt probably would have allowed Tennessee to head into the locker room with the score unchanged. A long-shot field goal try provided most of the downside and little of the upside.
Callahan opted for the field goal. Slye’s attempt was blocked, giving the Colts possession across midfield. They made a field goal to go up two touchdowns at halftime. It was a bad result for the Titans. Even if Slye made the kick, it would have been a bad decision.
Jason Kelce Surprises Ravens Fans by Playing in the Football Team’s Band
Jason Kelce is a man of many talents.
The former Philadelphia Eagles center, 37, who, after retirement, has stayed a part of the NFL as a commentator on Monday Night Countdown, has returned to one of his other first loves — music.
Ahead of the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Detroit Lions on Monday, Sept. 22, the retired athlete suited up in a full Marching Ravens band uniform to join the group in pregame warmups, during which he played the saxophone in a rendition of the Ravens’ fight song and the
Early 2026 Mock Draft Has Rams Select 53 Pass TD Quarterback
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is off to a good start in his 17th season in the NFL, logging 739 passing yards and 5 pass touchdowns. Stafford signed an extension with the Los Angeles Rams earlier this offseason that will keep him in the City of Angels for two more years.
After worries about Stafford and his back issues during training camp and heading into the regular season, it appears those issues are no more.
The quarterback is approaching 40 years old and is near the end of his career. While signing his extension with the Rams, the player could call it quits any time, or an unfortunate injury to his back could force him into retirement.
The Super Bowl-winning QB has looked good this season, but one NFL analyst believes Los Angeles should start planning for the era after Stafford.
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner released his mock draft after the fourth week of the college football season and has the Rams selecting a quarterback.
The draft order in this mock draft is based on FanDuel’s Super Bowl odds.
Rams Select A Quarterback In Round One
In the mock draft, the Los Angeles Rams are drafting at the 25th overall pick. Renner has the Rams selecting Texas Christian redshirt junior quarterback Josh Hoover.
“The Rams have to start thinking about a quarterback of the future, and Hoover has an intriguing skillset to develop behind Matthew Stafford. He’s fearless in the pocket with a willingness to attack with anticipation down the field,” Renner wrote.
Hoover is in his third year as the starter for the Horned Frogs and led the team to a 3-0 start this collegiate season.
The quarterback has put up 1,000 passing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. In his college career, he put up 7,157 passing yards and 53 passing touchdowns.
Hoover is currently ranked as the 14th overall prospect and the 4th-best quarterback in the 2026 mock draft.
Next QB Already On Team?
The drama surrounding Matthew Stafford’s back had people questioning if he was ready for the 2025 NFL season and what would happen if he were to go down during a game.
Los Angeles re-signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a one-year deal to bring him back to the squad. Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he believes Jimmy G is a starting-caliber player and that he is grateful that he returned to Los Angeles.
If anything were to happen to Stafford and his back, Garoppolo would be the next man up for the organization. Garoppolo has put up multiple seasons with over 3,800 passing yards and has led a team to the Super Bowl.
The possibility of the Rams drafting a successor to Stafford remains iffy, but if the team were to draft Josh Hoover, he would most likely sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
FOX Sports Makes Final Tom Brady Decision on Monday
Tom Brady, following his retirement from the NFL, moved to the broadcast booth to begin the 2024 season, signing a 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX Sports. Brady replaced Greg Olsen on FOX’s lead team, joining Kevin Burkhardt and sideline reporter Erin Andrews. The former New England Patriots and Tampa BayBuccaneers quarterback finished his debut season calling Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Three weeks into his second season with FOX, Brady has called all three “America’s Game of the Weeks,” including the New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders (Week 1), the Super Bowl LIX rematch (Week 2) and the Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears (Week 3). While FOX has revealed most of Brady’s broadcast schedule for the 2025 season, the network has not announced his Week 4 game.
While FOX has not confirmed Brady’s Week 4 assignment, it may have dropped a hint. In a recent post, FOX highlighted the first three of Brady’s LFG Player of the Game awards, which recognize the top performer from the games he called. The Week 4 slot in the graphic features an Eagles vs. Buccaneers matchup, the same game Brady called in Week 4 last season.
“Who will @TomBrady crown as his #LFG Player of the Game when the undefeated @Eagles clash with the undefeated @Buccaneers in Tampa for Week 4? 🦅🏴☠️,” FOX Sports: NFL wrote on X.
Brady returning to Tampa to call Eagles vs. Buccaneers was also confirmed by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Rob Tornoe.
“Confirmed. Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt will be calling Eagles-Bucs on Fox Sunday,” Tornoe wrote.
As of Monday, FOX has confirmed nine future games Brady will be on the call for, including:
Week 5: Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 7: Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
Week 10: Detroit Lions at Washington Commanders
Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Week 13: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills
Week 15: Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams
Week 17: Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills
Week 18: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
The Eagles will take on the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Father of Miami Dolphins’ Executive Dies
Bobby Grier, a long-time New England Patriots and Houston Texans executive with more than seven decades of experience died on Monday. The 82-year had been working as a consultant with the Miami Dolphins.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bobby Grier, father of general manager Chris Grier,” the Dolphins posted on X. “Bobby was a longtime executive for the Patriots and Texans and a former consultant for the Dolphins. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Grier family.”
As the Dolphins mentioned in their post, Bobby was the father of the team’s G.M. Chris Grier. He was also the father to Chris’ brother (obviously) Mike Grier, who is the general manager of the San Jose Sharks. Mike played ice hockey at Boston University when I was there so I thought I’d mention that.
Bobby Grier was with the Patriots when they drafted Tom Brady
Grier’s last draft with the Patriots was in 2000. You may remember that was the year they took that guy Tom Brady in the sixth round. If you didn’t remember that, just watch the television coverage of Day 3 of the NFL Draft in any year and it will get mentioned upwards of one thousand times.
Chris Cwik of Yahoo! Sports has more of Grier’s background.
“Bobby Grier’s legacy in the game stretches back to at least 1961, when he was a running back at Iowa. He started coaching high school football in 1966, and slowly climbed the coaching ranks,” Cwik writes. “In 1974, he joined the college ranks, serving as a running backs coach at Eastern Michigan. A few years later, he left for Boston College.”
Grier joined the ranks of the NFL in 1981 with the Patriots, but somehow survived a mass firing that took place shortly thereafter.
“Grier eventually made his way to the NFL, joining the Patriots as an assistant coach in 1981,” Cwik continues. “The team fired the entire coaching staff after the season, but Grier was brought back on the staff as a scout. He remained with the organization through the 2000 season, working in a variety of roles on the coaching staff and in the front office. Grier served as a backfield coach and running coordinator early in that tenure before eventually working his way up the front office.”
New England Patriots remember Bobby Grier
The Patriots also released a statement expressing their condolences to the Grier family.
“The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Grier, who served the organization with distinction for nearly two decades in coaching and executive roles,” the Patriots said in a press release. “Grier passed away peacefully at the age of 82 over the weekend.”
Patriots’ chairman, CEO and owner Bob Kraft also acknowledged Grier’s many years with the team.
“Bobby Grier was a man of tremendous integrity,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “He broke barriers and built bridges, and his legacy will forever be part of our franchise’s history. We are grateful for his years of service and the impact he had on so many people within our organization and across the NFL. My thoughts are with his family and all who are mourning his loss.”
Grier joined the Dolphins in 2017, about a year after Chris was named the team’s general manager.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur explains what’s making him upset
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur isn’t happy after his team dropped a NFL Week 3 contest to the previously winless Cleveland Browns.
It was a game that the Packers should have won, by all accounts. They gave in as a favorite on the road because over the first two weeks of the season, they looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
That’s feedback the Packers were apparently taking to heart before the Cleveland game, in a bad way. This was a team that was clearly overconfident and a squad that perhaps got caught looking at the big picture rather than than the week-to-week grind of the NFL.
Heck, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker was talking about an undefeated season before the Week 3 loss.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. Emerging as Unexpected Heisman Candidate
After four weeks of the 2025 season, the Miami Hurricanes have climbed to No. 2 in the country, thanks in large part to the fast and physical defense they are boasting in Year 4 under head coach Mario Cristobal.
One of the leaders of that defense is edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. The junior has been an absolute menace this season. He has been so dominant that analysts such as Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick believe he might be the best player in the country so far.
“Rueben Bain Jr. is your Heisman through four weeks,” Chadwick wrote. “His 95.8 PFF grade is the highest of any player in the country. He has not graded below a 90 at all this season. If the trophy is really for ‘the most outstanding player,’ there’s no question who that is right now.”
Bain looks to have made a full recovery after an injury-prone 2024. He has helped make new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s job easier. Miami currently ranks 15th in both total and scoring defense and 11th in third-down conversions.
Bain himself has totaled 22 tackles, including four for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.
Rueben Bain Jr’s Draft Stock Keeps Rising
Everyone knew Bain was going to be special after his freshman season, when he tallied 44 tackles, 13 for loss, 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. But a sophomore season marred by injuries delayed him from reaching his full potential. He seems back to form — and then some — in 2025.
Through four games, Bain has become one of the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid called him the most impactful “draft-eligible prospect in the country” after Miami’s win over USF.
“Bain’s combination of power and disruption makes him arguably one of the three best defensive linemen in a loaded class at the position,” Reid said.
Mel Kiper Jr. added that if Bain stays healthy, he has “top-10 upside.”
“I just love the way he plays the game,” Kiper said. “He is constantly hustling and never takes plays off. Bain is powerful, bends well, shows speed off the edge and knows how to use his hands to get leverage. He can generate pressure inside and outside; I really like his inside moves, and he displays a reliable rip move to beat blockers. Taking the right angle to the QB is a very underrated trait for an edge rusher, and Bain does that as well as anyone.”
Rueben Bain Jr. Could Be Miami Hurricanes Third Heisman Winner
If Bain can keep up his impressive season, there is a chance he could end up in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. That said, the odds are not in his favor.
The only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman was Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. In 2024, Colorado’s Travis Hunter took home the award, but he was a two-way star who also played wide receiver and scored five offensive touchdowns.
Bain would be a true defensive player to win the Heisman, never playing an offensive snap. That would also make him the Hurricanes’ third winner of the award, joining Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta.
Patrick Mahomes Quietly Made NFL History With Chiefs Win
The Kansas City Chiefs could have been 0-3 after last weekend, but, of course, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid wouldn’t let that happen. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the New York Giants with a definitive 22-9 spread.
Even though the Chiefs were heavily favored to beat the Giants, no game in the NFL should be taken for granted, and Mahomes and company took this challenge seriously. Plus, the Chiefs have several of their important players out, so that made this win even better.
By the end of the game, not only had the Kansas City Chiefs secured an 1-2 opening record, they also made history. Actually, Mahomes made the history, but it was on behalf of the Chiefs.
Congratulations to Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs
Before the Giants game, Mahomes had 293 passing touchdowns over the course of his nine-year NFL career. Then, he threw to wide receiver Tyquan Thornton for a five-yard score.
With that score, Mahomes officially surpassed ex-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to earn the most touchdown passes in a player in the NFL’s first nine seasons, according StatMuse. Manning threw 293 scores during his first nine years with the Colts.
“Patrick Mahomes has passed Peyton Manning (293) for the most TD passes in a player’s first 9 seasons, including the playoffs,” noted Jacob Kaye of ESPN on X.
More High Marks for Patrick Mahomes
Ahead of the season starting, Fox Sports released its tally of the best quarterbacks in the league, and they named Mahomes the top pick, although he was tied with Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
“When you win two of the last three Super Bowls, you’re clearly one of the league’s best players. Statistically, it wasn’t always pretty last year, but Mahomes and the Chiefs somehow finished atop their division and conference,” Henry McKenna noted in the piece.
McKenna added of Mahomes, “This year, Kansas City’s roster might be even better-built to support Mahomes. It’s strange to think he might have a bounce-back year in 2025 when his ‘down’ years included a Super Bowl berth, but that’s the truth.”
On Jackson, Ben Arthur said, “Jackson is still getting better as a passer, and that’s a scary thought for opposing defenses considering he may already be the most talented player in the league. The two-time NFL MVP surpassed 4,000 passing yards for the first time last season, and he’s just as dynamic of a runner as he was at the start of his career.” He added that Jackson “has been great in the playoffs as of late, too,” but that “it’s just that his team hasn’t helped him get over the hump to reach a Super Bowl.”
Meanwhile, the NFL also released their roster of the best players in the league going into the 2025-26 season, and Mahomes made the top 10. Michael Baca of the NFL’s website has him at No. 5.
“Mahomes posted career-low numbers in his seventh season as a starter, but the respect he garners from his peers maintains a top-10 ranking within the Top 100 — a streak that began in 2019 after his first year as Chiefs QB1,” Baca says in the piece.
Now, the Chiefs have a huge Week 4 game ahead against Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens just lost to the Lions on Monday Night Football, so they’ll be hungry for a win.
Robert Griffin III Doesn’t Hold Back on Ravens After 38-30 Loss to Lions
The Baltimore Ravens sparked one vocal former player on Monday night. Robert Griffin III certainly wasn’t mincing words about his former team.
Griffin, who played for the team from 2018 to 2020, didn’t hold back from criticizing the AFC contenders after they took a 38-30 letdown loss to the Detroit Lions.
He even used the word “confusing” to describe the 2025 version of Baltimore.
“The Baltimore Ravens are the most confusing team in the NFL,” Griffin began on the social media website X, formerly Twitter. “Best Roster, front office and MVP QB. But they have to learn to execute in situational football at the end of games on both sides of the ball. They have to learn to FINISH to go on the Super Bowl run they are built for.”
Robert Griffin III Shared Higher Praise for Winning Lions
Baltimore dropped to a disappointing 1-2 record — with its only win over the Cleveland Browns.
Detroit, meanwhile, has created a new momentum wave. The reigning NFC North champions got dropped in the season opener against a now Micah Parsons-led Green Bay Packers. Most fans and analysts started to inch their finger toward the panic button for Detroit.
But the Lions have since tacked on 52 points against the Chicago Bears, then poured 38 on a trending AFC contender in Week 3.
And Griffin III is a believer in these Lions, especially the head coach who leads them.
“The Detroit Lions are never going back to the same ole Lions with Dan Campbell as Head Coach,” Griffin posted.
Lions Hit Feat Not Seen Since 1998
Detroit hit numerous accolades at M&T Bank Stadium. Notably the uncanny seven-sack mark against Lamar Jackson — now the most ever Baltimore has allowed with Jackson behind center.
But Campbell got the Lions to reach a feat not seen since the 1998 season — when Barry Sanders was still carrying the ball.
Per the Lions Public Relations page, the franchise produced 220+ rushing yards and four ground-based scores for the first time in 27 years. Detroit hit 224 yards after handoffs in the 34-28 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanders rushed for 185 yards that Sept. 13, 1998 day and scored three times, while Tommy Vardell added the other rush score.
The former NFL Rookie of the Year Griffin is a believer in the Lions. But he’s confused by the state of the last team he ever played for.
Ravens Make Unfortunate NFL History Following Week 3 Loss to Lions
Everyone knows the Baltimore Ravens have an electrifying offense. With dual-threat quarterback, Lamar Jackson at the helm, and running back, Derrick Henry by his side, the Ravens offense has raced its way toward the NFL record books over the past two seasons.
However, it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine for Jackson, Henry and company so far this season. The Ravens fell to the Buffalo Bills in a Week 1 thriller (41-40), despite posting over 400 yards of total offense and scoring five touchdowns. The Ravens 2024 NFL season also came to an end at the hand of the Bills in last year’s divisional round of the playoffs.
After steamrolling the Cleveland Browns 41-17 on their way to a Week 2 victory, they were hoping to keep the good times rolling as they hosted the Detroit Lions on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 3. While the Ravens offense scored 30 points for a third straight week, they fell to the Lions 38-30, after a historic offensive performance by the Lions.
Ravens Set Unfortunate NFL Record Against Lions
The Ravens will look to turn things around after leaving Week 3 with a losing record (1-2). Although they sit below .500, the Ravens actually made NFL history on Monday night.
As per @ESPNInsights on X, the Ravens 111 points through their first three games of the season are the most by any team in NFL history with a losing record.
The Ravens currently lead the league in total points scored (111). The closest teams in total points scored are the Lions (103) and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (103).
Even though the Ravens offense has looked stellar through three weeks, their chances at shedding their losing record won’t get any easier in Week 4. They’ll hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, who also sit at 1-2, this coming Sunday.
While the Ravens actually started last season 0-2 before turning their fortunes around, they have never started 1-3 in the Jackson-era.
They’ll look to tighten many aspects of their game up ahead of Week 4’s matchup with the Chiefs. The Ravens offensive-line allowed Jackson to get sacked seven times on Monday night. And the usually sure-handed, Henry fumbled for the third straight game.
Kickoff against the Chiefs is schedule for 4:25 p.m. EDT this coming Sunday inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys
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BetMGM promo code NYPDM1500: Get a 20% first deposit match up to $1,500 for NHL preseason
The 2025-26 NHL preseason is freshly underway with four games on tap Monday evening.
There are four games to wager on, including Lightning vs. Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET, which highlights the slate based on last season’s final standings.
The other three tilts include Sabres-Blue Jackets, Penguins-Canadiens and Mammoth-Ducks.
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What our Post expert thinks about Lightning vs. Hurricanes
The early preseason emphasizes prospect showcasing before the final rosters begin to take shape, but for what it’s worth, per Moneypuck, the Hurricanes were the No. 1 overall team in expected goals and shot attempts at 5-on-5 play last season.
Rod Brind’Amour looks to climb back to the Eastern Conference Final, which he has failed to conquer several times as head coach. The last time the Canes made it to the Stanley Cup Final, he was the captain when they won in 2006.
The Lightning have experienced some regression, falling to the back-to-back champion Panthers in the first round last year in five games. The two-time Cup winning Bolts over the course of the last six seasons enter 2025-26 after being ranked the No. 12 and No. 13 team in expected goals and shot attempts at 5-on-5, respectively.
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
‘It’s time to make that roster’: Canucks’ camp standout Linus Karlsson has sights firmly set on NHL
Following last season’s successful run at the Calder Cup, Linus Karlsson had one goal on his mind throughout the summer: it’s time to make the Vancouver Canucks’ roster.
Training camp posed as an opportunity for every Canucks player to prove themselves and make a solid first impression for the upcoming season. However, it was exceptionally important at this training camp because Vancouver has a brand-new coaching staff. With a new coaching staff comes new systems for players to learn and instill in their game if they want to make the roster.
“I think I did well,” Karlsson told CanucksArmy. “I tried to show them who I am and what kind of player I am, and I think I did that by battling hard. It’s gonna be fun to play some games here, to show them that I really want a spot on this team.”
The Canucks acquired Karlsson in February of 2019 from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jonathan Dahlen – who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators for fan favourite Alex Burrows. The 6’1″, 178-pound winger made the trip overseas in 2022 to pursue an NHL career.
Karlsson spent the first year playing all 72 games in Abbotsford. In the 2023-24 season, Karlsson got his first taste of NHL action, playing four regular season games and two postseason games. However, it was the 2024-25 season that proved he could be a player for this organization.
The right-shot Swede split the season between the NHL (23 games) and AHL (32 games), but did his best work in Abbotsford’s postseason run. Karlsson led the entire AHL in goals (14) and points (26) en route to the organization’s first Calder Cup in history. He clutched up when the games mattered most, scoring five goals and 10 points in the final five games of the Calder Cup Final, and left us with the infamous quote, “We’re going to be winners forever.”
Following the successful run, Karlsson had his eyes set on making the jump to the NHL for a permanent role. So, how did that change his offseason preparation from previous years?
“I mean, every offseason has been big for me,” Karlsson stated. “My skating has always been a little bit of a problem, but I think I’ve improved it last year, and I feel [it’s] even stronger this year. I just tried to work really hard to get that edge in my skating. I think I have a lot of good things in my game. I’m just trying to show them that they can’t take me out of the lineup. That’s just my goal. Like, it’s time to make that roster, now. I felt pretty good this camp. So I’ll just try to bring that recent confidence into the next coming days.”
Looking at the Canucks’ roster, there looks to be two open forward spots Karlsson could potentially earn. But ultimately, he’s just focused on proving himself day in and day out to just fit in and show the Canucks brass that he can be used wherever the team sees fit based on his playing style.
“I think I can play wherever,” Karlsson shared. “I can be a gritty player, strong on the walls, be a good net front guy. I mean, I can play whatever they want me to play. I’m just trying to fit in and try to find a spot for myself there. Then it’s up to the coaches and where they want to play me. I’m just going to do my best and show them what kind of player I am. Like, go to the net, play hard, good against the walls. I think I’ve improved my skating too, and just want to keep building on that. So now I think I’m hopefully in a good spot. We will see what’s happening in the next couple of days.”
Despite his outstanding postseason, Karlsson’s promotion is far from guaranteed. He has fellow Abbotsford teammates, Aatu Räty, Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson, as well as new faces Braeden Cootes and Viltali Kravtsov to compete with – most of whom also impressed during training camp. But how does Karlsson feel he can separate himself from that group?
“All my goals I score around the net. That’s my like, what they say over here ‘bread and butter’, you know?,” Karlsson explained. “So, I mean, that’s something I want to bring, and I can bring that too. I think they need that. They want hard drives to the net, and that’s what I do. So I’ll try to show that in practice and in the games coming up that I’m a big power forward who plays the physical game too. Be good on the walls and always good defensively. I’m going to try to be the player that they want me to.”
Karlsson shared that he enjoyed a week and a half off in the summer before he was back out on the ice to ramp up his skating for the 2025-26 season. Looking to improve his game, he turned to the Sedins for guidance on how to enhance his skills over the summer and shared some of the confidence he built during his late stint in the NHL last season.
“I talked a lot to Sedins,” Karlsson shared. “They want me to be the same player. I think the last 10 games last year, when I played up [in Vancouver], I think I played probably my best hockey. I had really good games, and I got some confidence from that, and brought down to the playoffs in Abby. So, I mean, I just tried to find that kind of game, and go hard to the net. I mean, it’s not about the points. Just try to show [that] I’m willing to do whatever it takes to to play in the NHL, right?”
The Canucks had their first preseason game on Sunday night, but Karlsson was not in the lineup. He will have his next opportunity on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. If he is in the lineup for that game, it will be his first opportunity to show the Canucks that he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL, in a rink he’s very familiar with, the Abbotsford Centre.
The power forward’s style of play, characterized by a gritty tenacity and a willingness to go hard to the net, is a strong suit of his game and something this coaching staff is looking for. But one thing is for certain: Karlsson thinks he’s ready and that it’s time for him to make that roster.
Andrea Doan named to board to bring the NHL back to Arizona
Andrea Doan, wife of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, will chair the new advisory group.
The Matt Shott Arizona Hockey Legacy Foundation was named the official community pillar for the effort.
Even though the Arizona Coyotes are gone, the Doan family is still finding ways to make an impact on Arizona’s hockey community.
The community received some hope when Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin announced in January that he intended to form an advisory committee of political, business, community and sports leaders dedicated to bringing the NHL back to the Phoenix area.
Galvin also mentioned that he had preliminary conversations with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and other interested parties about bringing an NHL team to Arizona.
Galvin delivered more positive news on Monday, Sept. 22, when he announced that Andrea Doan, the wife of Coyotes great, Shane, will be the chair of that group. Shane will not be part of the group as he is still under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as their special adviser to their general manager.
Shane Doan has been living in Arizona since 1997, when the Coyotes moved from Winnipeg. Andrea Doan earned her degree from Arizona State and raised their four children in Arizona. Their son, Josh, was a draft pick by the Coyotes in 2021 and later served as the captain at ASU.
Blackhawks want Kevin Korchinski to play to his strengths in defensive roster battle
Kevin Korchinski is walking a fine line at Blackhawks training camp. He must strike a balance between demonstrating his defensive improvements and showcasing his offensive talent.
The now-21-year-old defenseman hasn’t yet reached the lofty expectations the Hawks placed upon him — based on his prolific WHL production and elite skating ability — after drafting him seventh overall in 2022.
He has predictably been a work-in-progress defensively. And because of those defensive struggles, he hasn’t had much puck possession, which has limited his opportunities to produce. Last season, he recorded 27 points in 56 AHL games and just two points in 16 NHL games.
But there’s still plenty of time for him to put things together, especially since defensemen notoriously take longer than forwards to develop. Perhaps a new perspective from new Hawks coach Jeff Blashill will help.
“‘Korch’ has to utilize his best assets,” Blashill said. “If part of that best asset is being offensive, you can’t lose that…as you’re getting good defensively. [But] everybody has to be good defensively in order to play in this league. It’s almost impossible to outscore your mistakes.
“One thing is, when I talk to him about his strengths, he talks about his skating. I think he can use that skating offensively in a sense of beating people up the ice…but he can also use his skating defensively to shut down plays [and] gap [up]. And if you do that, you spend more time in the ‘O’-zone.”
Korchinski walked an equally fine line this summer when deciding how much weight to put on.
He has overhauled his diet in recent years, eliminating processed foods in favor of meats and vegetables, which has made it easier for him to gain weight in healthy ways. He and the Hawks both acknowledged last spring he needed to get stronger this offseason, too.
However, he ultimately leveled off at 198 pounds, just a few pounds more than he weighed entering training camp last year (195 pounds) and in 2023 (193 pounds). Familiar reasoning lay behind that decision.
“I spent a lot of time in the gym, but at the same time, I’ve got to [keep] what makes me great,” Korchinski said. “I can’t turn into a different player. I can’t get bulky and slow and turn into a shutdown ‘D.’ I’m going to play to my strengths.”
The Hawks’ six preseason games — starting Tuesday at the Red Wings — will give him an opportunity to prove he deserves an NHL roster spot. And that’s a crucial opportunity, because he currently appears to be on the outside looking in.
Three pairings have been staples in camp so far: Alex Vlasic with Connor Murphy, Ethan Del Mastro with Sam Rinzel and Wyatt Kaiser with Artyom Levshunov.
Beyond them, Louis Crevier might have an inside track on the seventh and final defensive spot since he would now require waivers to be sent to Rockford (whereas Korchinski and Nolan Allan remain waiver-exempt).
There’s also veteran Matt Grzelcyk on his PTO. Blashill implied Grzelcyk will get a contract only if some of the Hawks’ young defensemen struggle during camp, indicating they need more time in Rockford. But Grzelcyk did notably practice with the second power-play unit Monday.
Del Mastro’s placement with Rinzel, a roster lock, is probably the most surprising aspect of those pairings. Blashill has praised Del Mastro’s “way of making plays…without being high-risk.”
Crevier, meanwhile, said he strengthened his core and glutes this summer, hoping to address some back tightness he previously experienced.
And Allan said he improved his flexibility and skating edge work, rounding out his physicality-based game. Everyone is trying to make their case.
“All the young ‘D,’ we’re all friends,” Korchinski said. “It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. This competition — wherever each of us end up — is going to make us all better as individuals.”
How Tucker found his way into Blues’ plans on defense
Tyler Tucker doesn’t remember the chants.
He was just focused on getting off the ice.
When Tucker’s season ended in Game 4 against Winnipeg due to an injury, he had to be helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his right leg. He’d scored his first playoff goal earlier that evening as he’d just appeared to be finding his way in the postseason intensity.
But then he fell awkwardly in the corner after hitting Winnipeg’s Brandon Tanev, ending his playoff run and leading to the Enterprise Center crowd chanting “Tuck-er! Tuck-er! Tuck-er!” as he went down the tunnel.
“Not really, to be honest,” Tucker said when asked if he remembers the fan reaction. “I was in a lot of pain. I’ve watched it a few times, but I don’t even know if I watched it with volume. No, I don’t remember that at all. I kind of blacked out, to be honest.”
Tucker did not end up needing surgery and went through a summer of rehab to arrive fully healthy at training camp. He played his first preseason game Sunday in Columbus, logging 19:48 of ice time and throwing four hits, tied for the most on the team.
“He’s recovered well,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said earlier during training camp. “I don’t see an issue. He looks like he’s had a really good summer. His pace and his instincts, which I thought have always been really good, have been showing.”
Tucker enters the season in a position far different from where he was a year ago. Last camp, Tucker was an afterthought on the blue line as the Blues broke camp with eight defensemen, including Scott Perunovich, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Matthew Kessel. Instead, he was waived and then assigned to AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts).
But once Tucker was recalled from the AHL in December, he never went back down. He played 38 games in the NHL last season, totaling three goals and four assists as he helped the Blues navigate injuries to Colton Parayko and Nick Leddy on the back end.
When the first round opened against Winnipeg, Tucker was a healthy scratch. But in Game 2, he entered as the seventh defenseman and then took Ryan Suter’s spot in Games 3 and 4 before his injury.
“He played to his strengths,” Montgomery said. “He knows who he is. He was physical, but he’s also a hockey player. He’s around the puck. His instincts take him to where the puck’s going to be, so he’s either defensively ending plays, or offensively, he’s keeping pucks alive for us.”
Tucker: “I think confidence was a huge thing. Playing with an older veteran D-man in Sutes for the majority of my games, he was easy to play with and made me feel confident and calm and poised with the puck. Just build off last year, and hopefully things trend in the right direction.”
Over the summer, as the Blues remade their blue line, Tucker was part of the plans. They did not re-sign Suter. They waived Leddy, who was claimed by San Jose. Tucker is expected to be in the opening night lineup on the third pairing, potentially with Logan Mailloux on the right side.
Asked if this camp feels different because of his position on the depth chart, Tucker was quick to point out what happened two years ago. At training camp in 2023, Tucker was penciled into the NHL lineup (as a replacement for Niko Mikkola’s hard minutes), and then he was paired with Marco Scandella on opening night.
But then he was a healthy scratch 49 times in the NHL, and his only AHL time came in the form of a conditioning loan. Kessel and Perunovich jumped him on the Blues depth chart by the end of the season. Perunovich was traded to the Islanders, then signed as a free agent with Utah. Kessel is expected to be the seventh defenseman this season for St. Louis.
“I feel like I’ve come in two years ago and I was kind of in the same position,” Tucker said. “I feel like I just have to do what I did last year and keep building on my game and trusting myself and getting better every day. Good things will happen.”
Mailloux and Tucker knew each other personally before Mailloux’s trade from Montreal this summer, as they both attended Lucas Condotta’s wedding. Tucker said he grew up around Condotta’s family, and Mailloux played with him in Laval.
“As soon as he got here a few weeks ago, kind of hit it off right away,” Tucker said. “We’ve been hanging out quite a bit. … Played against him in the minors quite a bit. I know how he plays and what he can do. Obviously, super offensively talented. Big guy who can play a mean game as well. Excited to get to know him better and get to play with him a little bit.”
Using the off-day
To end Sunday’s practice, the Blues coaching staff put players through the first conditioning skate of the preseason as they skated laps to end practice. That was in addition to some hard-skating drills during practice, including a full-ice two-on-two drill.
“It’s a good time to push them with some skating,” Montgomery said Sunday. “It was designed a couple of weeks ago when we talk as a staff and then we talk with our managers. They give us feedback on what camp looks like, and then we talk to strength and conditioning to see how do we best get them in the best skating condition possible for day one of the season? This was planned for that.”
The Blues were off Monday and return to the ice on Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m. at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Blues send 5 back to juniors
The Blues trimmed their training camp roster by five on Monday morning when they returned a handful of players to their junior teams.
They assigned forwards Antoine Dorion (Quebec in the QMJHL) and Adam Jecho (Edmonton in the WHL), and defensemen Lukas Fischer (Sarnia in the OHL) and Will McIsaac (Spokane in the WHL) to their junior clubs. The Blues also released goaltender Matthew Koprowski from his amateur tryout and returned him to Owen Sound in the OHL.
The Blues now have 53 on-ice participants remaining at training camp.
Among the junior-eligible players that remained at camp were Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek.
Carbonneau (the team’s 2025 first-round pick) has a goal and an assist in the first two preseason games and will report to Blainville-Boisbriand if he’s returned to junior hockey. Jiricek can be sent back to Brantford in the OHL but is also AHL-eligible if the Blues choose to go that route and send him to Springfield.
The Blues did not practice Monday and will return to the ice Tuesday morning.
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Connor McDavid Taking Less Could Affect Other Stars
The Edmonton Oilers star forward Connor McDavid still remains unsigned, with no contract extension in sight. Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous reports linking him to other teams around the NHL. However, Elliotte Friedman shared some insight on the McDavid front that has Oilers fans as well as other fan bases excited.
Friedman shared that he believes McDavid’s next contract, if it is with the Oilers, could be lower than originally expected. If that is true, it will drastically affect the market for other NHL stars.
Connor McDavid Could Take Less to Stay With Oilers
After all the talk of Connor McDavid already packing his bags and planning on becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026, Friedman quieted things with his comments on the 32 Thoughts the podcast. He suggested that McDavid could take a lower number than everyone expects.
“If McDavid signs in Edmonton, if he does, it’s going to be for a lower number than we all expect. I think it’s going to surprise people where it could end up.”
There is no question that if McDavid takes less, it will affect other NHL stars immediately. This coming summer, there are a lot of big-name players who could become UFAs, and they could all be forced to take less because of what McDavid does. As of right now, there isn’t a concrete number that has been offered by the Oilers. But according to Friedman, it could surprise some based on what Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse make and how little cap flexibility the team has.
McDavid Will Set the Market for Future UFAs
There is no one in the NHL who should be making more than McDavid. He is the best hockey player in the league, consistently at the top of league scoring each season, and is due for a raise. However, if he decides to take less, whether it is with Edmonton or another NHL team, he will set the market. Right now, there are a handful of general managers keeping a close eye on what McDavid signs for.
Friedman touched on that as well on his podcast and used this as an example:
“Connor McDavid just signed three times 15.5. Do you think Minnesota goes back to Kaprizov and says, ‘Ah, McDavid signed for 15.5, we’re dropping your number down’? No, I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that happens. But I think there are some managers hopeful that if McDavid comes in at a lower number than people expect, that could help push some of these things downward.”
How to Watch Sabres vs Blue Jackets: Live Stream NHL Preseason, TV Channel
The Buffalo Sabres will open their six-game 2025-26 NHL preseason schedule on the road when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Monday at 7:00 PM ET.
How to Watch Blue Jackets vs Sabres
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Channel: MSG (Buffalo) FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (Columbus)
Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE)
Head coach Lindy Ruff enters his second season back with the Sabres, the veteran coach has emphasized a more physical, defensively responsible identity, and Monday will be an early chance to see how that message is taking hold.
The Sabres’ lineup features several intriguing newcomers, including defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan, along with depth addition Justin Danforth. Fans will also get a first look at Radim Mrtka, the club’s ninth overall pick in the 2025 draft, who is expected to log minutes on the back end.
In goal, Buffalo will split duties between Alexandar Georgiev, slated to handle the first two periods, and Devon Levi, who will close the game.
Columbus enters the matchup with a bit of preseason momentum after skating to a 4–1 win over St. Louis in their preseason opener. The Blue Jackets are expected to dress a mix of veterans and rising stars, highlighted by forwards Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Kirill Marchenko.
On defense, regulars like Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson should see ice time, while the crease will be shared between Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves as the team continues to sort out its goaltending rotation.
This will be a great night of NHL hockey, tune in and catch all the action on Fubo.
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Bobby Grier, former NFL executive and father of NFL and NHL GMs, dies
Bobby Grier, longtime NFL executive and father of Sharks general manager Mike Grier, has died. He was 82.
The Sharks released a message on social media Monday morning offering their condolences.
“The San Jose Sharks organization was extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Grier, father of Sharks General Manager Mike Grier,” the Sharks said. “We send our love and support to Mike and the entire Grier family.”
After starting out as a high school coach and college assistant, Bobby Grier first broke into the NFL in 1981 with the New England Patriots. He went back and forth between leading their backfield on the field and scouting. Grier transitioned fully to the front office in 1993 as he worked under Bill Parcells, first as director of pro scouting, then director of player personnel in 1995 and finally vice president of player personnel in 1997.
Grier’s time with the Patriots came to an end in 2000 as New England brought in a new regime under coach Bill Belichick and his top personnel executive, Scott Pioli. Grier was with the team through the 2000 draft, in which the Patriots selected all-time great quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round.
After leaving New England, Grier served as a personnel executive for the Houston Texans (2000-2016) and consultant for the Miami Dolphins (2017-2025).
Another son of Grier’s, Chris, is the general manager for the Dolphins. Chris was a scout for the Patriots under his father before joining the Dolphins in 2000, initially as a scout before rising through the ranks, eventually to GM in 2016.
Arizona Welcomes Shane Doan’s Wife Following Big Promise to NHL and Grand Canyon State
The Doan connection always brings a smile to the hockey fans in Arizona. For 21 seasons, since 1996, Shane Doan has been associated with hockey prosperity in the region, taking the desert state through management troubles and arena challenges while the fans there tried to enjoy their NHL game. And what do you know? A Doan has once again gotten Arizona fans dreaming as the future of NHL hockey in the region is at stake.
We are talking about Andrea Doan, Shane Doan’s wife. She might be the key to the NHL returning to Arizona after they were officially relocated to Salt Lake City in 2024. Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin has formed an advisory committee consisting of key political, business, community, and sports leaders who would help find the right resources for a new team to set up in Arizona. On Monday, September 22, he officially named Andrea Doan chair of that committee.
“Andrea Doan is a longstanding supporter of Arizona hockey, and is married to Shane Doan, who was instrumental in building Arizona’s hockey legacy,” Galvin said, according to Arizona Insider. “She is as much a part of the Arizona hockey story over the last 20-plus years as Shane. Andrea has dedicated much of her personal life to our community and building support for Arizona hockey. Andrea’s knowledge of the industry and her connections to Arizona and the NHL are instrumental to our mission.”
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Shane Doan, who had been the captain of the Arizona Coyotes for 13 seasons, believes his wife holds the key to helping hockey prosper from the ground up. In particular, she guided Josh Doan through his youth, helping him become a Coyote player like his dad. “Understanding what it takes to build and sustain the grassroots side of the game is so important, and Andrea understands that so much more than I even understand it because of how involved she was with Josh when he played minor hockey,” Shane Doan said.
Andrea Doan will bring more than just the business perspective of running an NHL team; her experience as a hockey mother helps her understand the best of both worlds, especially how an NHL team in Arizona can help the community come closer.
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For Andrea Doan, it’s about rectifying all the problems that previously made it difficult for an NHL team to thrive in the Grand Canyon state. And one of them is the misconception about their connection with hockey. “The Coyotes were a huge part of this community when they arrived in 1996,” Andrea Doan said. “When we were down at America West Arena, the way that the team was embraced by the city and by the fans is, to me, what this team is and what it will be.”
Unfortunately, the public perception also had to do with the dwindling fan attendance when the Coyotes relocated from American West Arena to the Glendale Arena in 2003, the brand-new home of the NHL team. Average attendance dropped from 15582 for the 2005-06 season to 11989 in 2009-10. This was because of the arena being far from the focal Coyote fanbase. Finding a suitable location is of utmost priority, and they have narrowed it down to either downtown Phoenix or east of downtown. Once they find a suitable buyer, the ball will start rolling. For Andrea Doan, the key is having an ownership dynamic that brings together the community and the NHL franchise, something numerous previous owners ignored.
Shane Doan’s family is royalty in Arizona, and the community has been indebted for the 20 amazing years the left winger has given them. In turn, Andrea Doan wants to bring more joy to the people of Arizona. “It’s just not going to feel complete until the team is back here. And I don’t care if I have to wait until I’m like 80 years old. We’re going to work hard on this and it’s gonna be back.”
The foreseeable future is one of anticipation and hope for the Arizona folks. While there is optimism for the franchise with expansion talks, Arizona’s NHL team depends on overcoming major hurdles like securing area land, ownership stability, and a sustainable financial approach. Nevertheless, the latest NHL news comes with massive promises.
Shane Doan’s legacy continues thanks to expansion plans
For Arizona, the Tom Galvin announcement coincides with a new collective bargaining agreement, inviting NHL expansion talks. Good news for Arizona, right? Well, it only puts them on a clock, especially with other cities also having franchise aspirations and Arizona somewhat trailing them.
Atlanta already has well-developed ownership and arena plans. Yes, it has competing groups, and that’s the only thing slowing them down. Moreover, Houston has an ownership prospect lined up, pushing Arizona to get things moving. “I’ve had numerous conversations over the past few months with interested parties about potential ownership and viable locations in the Valley for an arena,” Galvin said.
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And it should be easy to convince the NHL. Arizona already has a substantial local fanbase and infrastructure because of its prior NHL experience, which was not bad. It certainly gave hockey a legend in Shane Doan, a King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner in 2009-10.
Sept. 22: NHL Preseason Roundup
Noah Dobson made his debut for the Montreal Canadiens, a 2-1 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bell Centre in Montreal on Monday.
Dobson had five shots on goal in 24:16 of ice time.
The 25-year-old defenseman signed an eight-year, $76 million contract ($9.5 million average annual value) on June 27 and was then traded to Montreal from the New York Islanders, where he spent his first six NHL seasons.
Sean Farrell and Oliver Kapanen scored in the shootout for Montreal to secure victory.
Each team was playing its preseason opener.
Tristan Broz scored for the Penguins. Joel Blomqvist made 11 saves before being replaced midway through the second period by Sergei Murashov, who had 19 saves.
Owen Beck scored for the Canadiens, and Sam Montembeault stopped 20 of 21 shots. Jacob Fowler replaced him midway through the second period and stopped all 13 shots he faced.
Broz put the Penguins up 1-0 on the power play at 10:26 of the first period, finishing off a give-and-go with Valtteri Puustinen.
Beck tied it 1-1 at 2:36 of the third period, chipping in a loose puck over a sprawling Murashov during a net-mouth scramble.
Sabres 4, Blue Jackets 0: Alexandar Georgiev and Devon Levi combined for the shutout for the Buffalo Sabres in their preseason opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
Georgiev, who signed a one-year contract with Buffalo on Sept. 11, made 16 saves in two periods in his Sabres debut. Levi stopped six shots in relief.
Elvis Merzlikins allowed two goals on 10 shots before Jet Greaves came on midway through the second period to make 23 saves for the Blue Jackets (1-1-0).
Bowen Byram gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the second period.
Beck Malenstyn made it 2-0 at 8:25 when he put in the rebound of Owen Power’s shot. Michael Kesselring had the secondary assist in his Buffalo debut.
Jack Quinn scored an empty-net goal at 15:01 of the third period to make it 3-0. Josh Doan had the secondary assist in his Sabres debut. Doan and Kesselring were traded to the Sabres from the Utah Mammoth on June 26 for JJ Peterka.
Konsta Helenius scored at 19:11 for the 4-0 final.
Lightning 2, Hurricanes 1: Mitchell Chaffee had a goal and an assist for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Carolina Hurricanes in the preseason opener for each team at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Emil Lilleberg scored, and Conor Geekie had two assists for the Lightning. Jonas Johansson stopped 30 of 31 shots.
Logan Stankoven scored, and Cayden Primeau made 17 saves on 19 shots in his debut for the Hurricanes. The 26-year-old was traded to Carolina by the Montreal Canadiens on June 30 for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Lilleberg gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead with one second remaining in the first period after scoring on a snap shot from the high slot.
Chaffee extended it to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 6:08 of the second period, redirecting J.J. Moser’s shot near the blue line.
Stankoven cut it to 2-1 on the power play at 15:52 of the third period on a deflection of Kevin Labanc’s shot from above the right face-off circle.
Charges Dropped Against Ex-NBA Guard Ben Gordon, Arrested After Juice Shop Disturbance
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Multiple criminal charges were dropped Monday against former NBA guard Ben Gordon, who was arrested in 2023 after authorities say he began behaving erratically in a Connecticut juice shop.
Gordon, who also helped lead the University of Connecticut to the NCAA national championship in 2004, completed a probation program approved last year by a state judge. The weapons and threatening charges the basketball star had faced will now be erased from his record.
His lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said Gordon has been dedicated to making progress with his mental health issues since the arrest. Crosland credited the former player with teaching him about how to balance daily stresses of life.
“Mental health is really important and the court saw his commitment to doing the right thing in life and that is why they sealed his record and dismissed all of his charges,” he said in a statement.
Criminal charges dropped against ex-NBA guard Ben Gordon
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Multiple criminal charges were dropped Monday against former NBA guard Ben Gordon, who was arrested in 2023 after authorities say he began behaving erratically in a Connecticut juice shop.
Gordon, who also helped lead the University of Connecticut to the NCAA national championship in 2004, completed a probation program approved last year by a state judge. The weapons and threatening charges the basketball star had faced will now be erased from his record.
His lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said Gordon has been dedicated to making progress with his mental health issues since the arrest. Crosland credited the former player with teaching him about how to balance daily stresses of life.
“Mental health is really important and the court saw his commitment to doing the right thing in life and that is why they sealed his record and dismissed all of his charges,” he said in a statement. “I am blessed to have been his lawyer.”
Gordon was arrested at a Stamford juice shop on his 40th birthday, just hours after UConn won its fifth NCAA men’s basketball championship. Police said several 911 callers reported that Gordon was acting aggressively and bizarrely, and he continued to act erratically when officers arrived. Police forced him to the ground and handcuffed him outside the store.
Gordon has talked and written about his bipolar disorder and depression, which he said have played roles in several arrests over the years.
The third overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Gordon played 11 seasons in the league. As a rookie for the Bulls, he won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. After five seasons in Chicago, he went on to play for Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando.
NBA guard Ben Gordon, arrested after juice shop disturbance
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Multiple criminal charges were dropped Monday against former NBA guard Ben Gordon, who was arrested in 2023 after authorities say he began behaving erratically in a Connecticut juice shop.
Gordon, who also helped lead the University of Connecticut to the NCAA national championship in 2004, completed a probation program approved last year by a state judge. The weapons and threatening charges the basketball star had faced will now be erased from his record.
His lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said Gordon has been dedicated to making progress with his mental health issues since the arrest. Crosland credited the former player with teaching him about how to balance daily stresses of life.
“Mental health is really important and the court saw his commitment to doing the right thing in life and that is why they sealed his record and dismissed all of his charges,” he said in a statement. “I am blessed to have been his lawyer.”
Gordon was arrested at a Stamford juice shop on his 40th birthday, just hours after UConn won its fifth NCAA men’s basketball championship. Police said several 911 callers reported that Gordon was acting aggressively and bizarrely, and he continued to act erratically when officers arrived. Police forced him to the ground and handcuffed him outside the store.
Gordon has talked and written about his bipolar disorder and depression, which he said have played roles in several arrests over the years.
The third overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Gordon played 11 seasons in the league. As a rookie for the Bulls, he won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. After five seasons in Chicago, he went on to play for Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando.
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
LeBron James’ Agent Sends Clear Message on Lakers Future After Disrespectful Snub
LeBron James’ future with the Lakers is making headlines again, and his camp is sending a very clear message: don’t overthink it. ESPN’s Shams Charania shared what he learned from talking to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, saying, “It’s important not to worry about the future when it comes to LeBron James. Just appreciate the present and also maximizing his present. And that obviously that onus potentially falling on the Lakers and what team they put around him.” In other words, LeBron’s focus is on right now—not whether he’ll play one more season or two.
The timing of this message comes after a bit of a snub. ESPN ran a poll for the best American NBA player, and Stephen Curry, not LeBron, took the top spot—11 votes to Anthony Edwards’ eight, with Donovan Mitchell trailing at one. Before Jayson Tatum’s injury, this question probably wouldn’t have even been on the radar, given Tatum’s First-Team All-NBA honors and recent title. But with Tatum out, Curry—37 and heading into his 17th season—claimed the crown.
And while Rich Paul has clarified (in his usual cryptic way) James’ stance going into the season, would that be enough to make the Lakers a contender?
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Charles Barkley Named His All-Time NBA Starting 5 – No Magic or LeBron
Charles Barkley has never been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to discussing the NBA. He’s criticised and praised those he feels deserve it. He’s incredibly charismatic and is known these days for his antics with Inside the NBA where he analyses and discusses the current state of the league, its biggest stars and its best games.
When he is impressed by someone, though, he isn’t afraid to admit it and has praised basketball players in the past. Recently, in an interview with House of Highlights, he was asked a number of quick-fire questions and one of them was to name his all-time NBA starting five. Without deliberating, he did just that and his time is unorthodox to say the least.
Oscar Robertson
Before Russell Westbrook made history in 2017 and averaged a triple double across a whole NBA season, Oscar Robertson stood alone as the only man to have ever accomplished that feat. Over the course of his career, the point guard averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds on a nightly basis.
You won’t find him at the very top of many all-time point guard lists, but Robertson is held in high regard by most and Barkley has selected him as the point guard in his all-time NBA starting five. It’s surprising that he didn’t go with Magic Johnson or Steph Curry, but Robertson is an NBA icon.
Michael Jordan
There are no prizes for guessing who Barkley picked as his shooting guard as he selected the greatest basketball player of all time in Michael Jordan. The former Chicago Bulls man is considered the best to ever play in the NBA by the majority of fans and pundits alike and Barkley had the chance to compete against him and witness his greatness up close.
They faced off multiple times in the NBA and over the course of six NBA championships, Jordan made an impact on Barkley and, despite the fact that the two are no longer on speaking terms, he selected him in his all-time NBA starting five as the shooting guard over the likes of Kobe Bryant.
Bill Russell
From this point on, things get a little peculiar with Barkley’s team selection. While a traditional NBA lineup consists of a point guard, a shooting guard, a small forward, a power forward and a centre, the 1993 MVP picked three centres to round out his team and the first is former Boston Celtics star Bill Russell.
Considered one of the greatest defenders to ever play in the NBA, Russell was a driving force in Boston’s unprecedented success during the late 1950s and 1960s. Over the course of his 13-year career in the association, the centre won 11 NBA titles, meaning there was only two years when he didn’t win it all. That’s an incredible record that has never been replicated.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The next centre that Barkley selected is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Before LeBron James came along and broke the record, the former Los Angeles Lakers big man was the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and for a time, it seemed unfathomable that anyone would even come close to overtaking him.
His skyhook was an unbeatable move and he was phenomenal on the court for both the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks prior to his move to California. Kareem spent 20 years playing in the NBA, winning six titles and six MVP awards for his troubles. He retired in 1989, but his legacy is still remembered fondly nearly four decades later.
Wilt Chamberlain
The final player that Barkley named in his starting five is Wilt Chamberlain. The former centre is something of a basketball myth to younger fans, with his accolades being passed around among generations like ghost stories. Chamberlain holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA game ever, with 100 during a match for the San Francisco Warriors against the New York Knicks.
That’s not the only record he holds, though. If you take a look at a long list of the many records set in the NBA throughout the league’s history, his name is sure to appear more than a handful of times. He was the most dominant star the league had ever seen and Barkley couldn’t leave him out of his side.
Report: Emoni Bates signs with Philadelphia 76ers
Emoni Bates has found a new NBA home.
After spending his first two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 21-year-old has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Keith Pompey.
Bates’ Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year deal worth the league minimun and allows players the opportunity to compete for a roster spot or a two-way contract during training camp.
The 6-foot-8 forward has spent most of his two professional seasons in the G League with the Cavs’ affiliate the Cleveland Charge.
He was a G League all-star in 2024 and averaged 3.1 points and 8.3 minutes per game in 25 NBA appearances.
Bates was drafted with the 49th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after spending his sophomore season at Eastern Michigan.
The Ypsilanti native earned all-conference honors at EMU prior to spending his freshman year at Memphis.
Bates was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class but reclassified to the 2021 class and chose to attend Memphis.
Bates became a household name after leading Ypsilanti Lincoln to the Division 1 Michigan high school basketball championship as a freshman in 2019.
He then became the youngest high school basketball player to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 15.
The 76ers also signed Kennedy Chandler, Malcolm Hill, and Jaylen Martin to Exhibit 10 contracts along with Bates, Pompey reported.
NBA assistant believes Celtics will have NBA’s best player in 2030
Jayson Tatum is staring at a long road to recovery as he works his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
But even if the Celtics star forward might miss the entire 2025-26 season due to his injury, one NBA assistant coach believes that Tatum won’t miss a step once he does make his way back out on the parquet.
As part of an anonymous NBA offseason survey, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps asked who will be the best player in the NBA in 2030.
The full results?
Victor Wembanyama: 16
Luka Doncic: 2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 1
Jayson Tatum: 1
While it should come as little surprise that many expect the 21-year-old Wembanyama to continue to ascend as one of basketball’s greats, one anonymous assistant coach in the Western Conference believes the best is yet to come for Tatum.
“There’s no one that has that shot profile,” the assistant told Bontemps of Tatum’s skillset. “He’s what everyone wishes they have: A 6-foot-10 guy who shoots 3s, gets to the rim and gets fouled.”
Tatum’s versatile offensive skillset, which doesn’t necessarily revolve around explosive athleticism, should remain intact once he does return to the court.
Still, Tatum could conceivably start to enter the tail end of his prime years by 2030 — as he’ll be 32 years old that season.
Still, Kevin Durant’s recovery from a torn Achilles from 2019-20 should serve as hope that Tatum’s standing as one of the top scorers in the league will continue in 2026 and beyond.
Durant missed the entire 2019-20 season after tearing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals that June. But after getting cleared for game action, Durant has averaged 27.9 points per game over the last five years.
Tatum, who averaged 26.8 points, 6.0 assists and 8.7 rebounds per game last season with the Celtics, currently has no concrete timeline for return to game action.
NBA YoungBoy Awarded Key to Kansas City on MASA Tour Stop
NBA YoungBoy’s MASA Tour has been packing arenas with unfiltered YN energy without any of the issues, and the superstar rapper had a shiny, sparkling new key awaiting him when he touched down in Kansas City yesterday!!!
TMZ Hip Hop has learned NBA YoungBoy received a proclamation announcing September 21 will be his own day in the KC going forward.
The 25-year-old was surprised with the City Key by National Criminal Justice Advocate Donte West, on behalf of KC Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The proclamation salutes YoungBoy Never Broke Again for leveraging his presidential pardon from Donald Trump to push
NBA YoungBoy Awarded His Own Day in Kansas City on MASA Tour Stop
NBA YoungBoy’s MASA Tour has been packing arenas with unfiltered YN energy without any of the issues, and the superstar rapper had a shiny, sparkling new honor awaiting him when he touched down in Kansas City yesterday!!!
TMZ Hip Hop has learned NBA YoungBoy received a proclamation announcing September 21 will be his own day in the KC going forward.
The 25-year-old was surprised with the City Key by National Criminal Justice Advocate Donte West, on behalf of KC Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The proclamation salutes YoungBoy Never Broke Again for leveraging his presidential pardon from Donald Trump to push
New Hampshire shows Cup playoff field it has work to do to catch Team Penske cars
LOUDON, N.H. — As Ryan Blaney celebrated his New Hampshire victory Sunday, emotions varied on pit road among his competitors.
For teammate Joey Logano and crew chief Paul Wolfe, the reality was setting in on how challenging this round could be with visits to Kansas and the Charlotte Roval before the 12-driver playoff field is trimmed to eight.
Joe Gibbs Racing had a bigger issue than Denny Hamlin’s contact that wrecked Ty Gibbs — how to beat Team Penske’s cars at a short flat track with the championship a little more than a month away at Phoenix, a track similar to New Hampshire.
For regular-season champion William Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle, Sunday’s race was a step forward after many difficulties at this track but a key test loomed this weekend at Kansas for Byron and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates.
While Blaney’s victory moved him into the next round, Logano faces a more challenging path despite a fourth-place finish that put him 24 points above the cutline.
As the reigning Cup champion, Wolfe had first pick among the Penske teams on which Goodyear tire test he wanted this season. He choose the July session at New Hampshire. They were already good at New Hampshire — and Phoenix — but Wolfe wanted to make sure they held their advantage at both tracks even with Logano winning two of the last three races at Phoenix to claim championships.
But not winning Sunday, means that Logano has to win either of the next two races or advance via points. Although Logano won at Texas, a 1.5-mile track, in May, Wolfe admits they’ve not been as strong at most 1.5-mile tracks like Kansas.
“Kansas is, for sure, a concern for us,” Wolfe told NBC Sports after Sunday’s race at New Hampshire. “Just looking at it realistically, we just don’t have the speed on the mile-and-a-halves with Joey. It will be a challenge (at Kansas). We did well (at New Hampshire), and hopefully we can just try to go there and not make any mistakes and not put ourselves in a bad spot as we go to the Roval, which I feel like we can hold our own at the Roval.”
Logano was eliminated from last year’s playoffs at the Roval — until Alex Bowman’s car was disqualified in post-race inspection. That put Logano back into the playoffs. He won the following week at Las Vegas in the round of 8 to advance to the title race and won that to claim the championship.
That success by Team Penske at Phoenix — the organization has won the past three championships there — has forced other teams, particularly Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports to invest deeply in getting better at Phoenix.
Work remains after Sunday’s race at New Hampshire that saw Penske cars (including Josh Berry in an affiliate car with Wood Brothers Racing) take three of the top four spots and lead 90% of the race.
“I think the biggest thing you’ve got to take away from (Sunday) is with this aero package, with the same tire as Phoenix at a 1-mile racetrack, the Penske cars are completely untouchable again,” Chris Gabehart, competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, said after Sunday’s race.
“I know what it’s like to be untouchable. We’ve been fortunate enough to be on the right side of that, but the reality is we’ve got a lot of work to do with this package and that’s the focus.”
Joe Gibbs Racing had won the last three races at New Hampshire and had at least one car finish in the top two the previous 13 races there before Sunday. No JGR cars finished in the top five Sunday.
That’s not a good sign looking ahead to Phoenix. While Christopher Bell won the March race there and Hamlin finished second, the championship races has proven more difficult for the organization. Joe Gibbs Racing has not had a car finish in the top five at Phoenix in the past two championship races there.
Phoenix has been just as frustrating for Hendrick Motorsports. After watching a Team Penske driver win the title there for a third year in a row, Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman told NBC Sports last November: “This is not our best track, to be honest. … Those guys (Penske) don’t really show the speed until they really need to. That’s what we’ve got to figure out. Where are they find that? What are they doing different than what we’re doing to extract that and that’s what motivates us.”
Hendrick Motorsports placed all four of its cars in the top 10 in the March race at Phoenix, led by Kyle Larson’s third-place finish. Results at other tracks that hold some similarities to New Hampshire and Phoenix have been mixed.
Byron’s third-place finish Sunday was his first top-10 in eight Cup starts at New Hampshire. Chase Elliott finished fifth, marking the first time since September 2012 that Hendrick has had two cars place in the top five at New Hampshire.
“Huge, huge confidence to first, as tough as this place is, and then it’s just a big kick in the butt for all the hard work we’ve been doing since the shock … at Darlington,” Fugle said. “It gave everybody that chance to go work on our stuff and its’ starting to prove out. We’re not there yet, but it’s starting to prove out.”
While Darlington and Kansas are distinct, there are similarities. Hendrick Motorsports did not have a car finish better than 17th at Darlington in the playoff opener, raising concerns about the organization.
Byron and the No.24 team looking to capitalize on New Hampshire breakthrough
A banner day for William Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports team on Sunday in New Hampshire not only led the way for the organization but also brought a sense of accomplishment to the group.
Byron finished third, sandwiched between three fast Fords from Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing. It was not only a career-best finish for Byron at New Hampshire, but the first time the No. 24 team has finished inside the top 10 at the track in eight starts.
“It was a good day,” Byron said with a smile afterward. “It was a good day overall. I felt like a lot of things that we’ve been building on the short tracks were working for us. This place has always been tricky for me in the Cup car. I feel like the other series were good, but this place in the Cup car has been tough on us. So, yeah, just trying to build little bits here and there, and I just felt like we could really stack runs together.
“We had a couple of weak runs in Stage 1 and the start of Stage 2, but then once we kind of got that out of the way, I felt like we were really strong. The Penske guys were super-fast. They were kind of in another zip code. But I felt like, other than that, we were really competitive and just really proud of our team. If we can just build on this, I think all of our short tracks are starting to come together.”
Byron’s previous best finish at the flat one-mile track was 11th, which he achieved twice. But he and crew chief Rudy Fugle brought a dramatically improved package for the start of the second round of the postseason, which saw Byron lead practice in single-car speed and then qualify fifth.
In both stages, Byron finished third. His average running position in Sunday’s race was 4.5, which was second-best to race winner Ryan Blaney (3.4).
“Absolutely,” Fugle said of it being a ‘mission accomplished’ type day for the team. “In the five years since I’ve been here, we haven’t done well at all, and this is the first top 10, first top five. Just a solid weekend overall. We’ve been building on some things since (Kyle Larson’s) test in Gateway, and really have to give a shout-out to Kyle and Cliff [Daniels], and the whole company, to put a lot of work into that test. We’ve been working on that slowly at the short tracks; I think we have a better package. We still have more to chase to get those Penske and Wood Brothers cars. But for this place, it’s a huge step in the right direction (for us.).”
The performance came a day after Byron admitted the first three-race round in the postseason was a “shock” to his team. Although they easily advanced given their points position, the performances and race results were not up to standard.
Sunday was the team’s first top-10 finish in four playoff races. Byron leaves the weekend with a 47-point advantage on the cutline. It is not breathing room, according to the driver. Fugle, however, believes the team now has momentum back on their side.
“This was the toughest race in this round,” he said. “I could see it just being an average day and not having any momentum going into the next races. We always look forward to going to Kansas; I do fully know that Kansas could be tougher than normal. We have to keep learning from our mistakes from Darlington, which we think we’ve done, and we have to go prove it next week. But to get a good start on this round, it does give us a lot of confidence and comfort to race freely. It’s always a math calculation of how many points you need to get to the next round. You either win or math, and we got a really good start on it today. So, we can go race free, be aggressive, and do what we need to do to try to win the next few weeks.”
Tennis Pro Alycia Parks on Beauty, Confidence and Finding Her Rhythm (Exclusive)
Alycia Parks is known for her powerful serve, breakout performances and bold on-court style — and now she’s bringing her signature flair to a new kind of partnership. The record-breaking tennis star has teamed up with Batiste to celebrate the brand’s newest game-changer: a sweat-activated dry shampoo that keeps up with athletes, beauty-lovers and anyone on the go.
“For all the busy days that I have, it’s been very convenient,” Parks says of the product, which she uses both in training and in everyday life. “It keeps me fresh and smelling good on and off the court. So that was a plus for me.”
Batiste’s newest formula is designed to work with your body — not against it — activating with sweat to refresh hair and absorb oil without leaving residue. It’s an ideal match for Parks, whose days are packed with workouts, tournaments and, yes, beauty prep.
“Before the US Open, the day I actually flew in, I had about two services in my room,” she laughs of prepping for her time on the court with a few beauty services. “It looked like nine people in there trying to get organized and stuff.”
But Parks isn’t just about the glam — she’s about feeling great while doing what she loves. Her beauty rituals, she explains, are part of the confidence-building process.
“I like to be extra on court, so always hair, nails, lashes,” she says. “I like to smell good, and [Batiste] smells amazing. It does give me that confidence boost.”
The dry shampoo has become a staple in her bag — whether she’s between matches or heading out for a night with friends. “Even just going out regularly, it keeps my hair fresh,” she says. “Like I said, it’s very convenient.”
The 23-year-old is riding high after a successful season, including a show-stopping performance to upset No. 1 seed Emma Navarrro at the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico, in August, securing her seventh career Top 20 win (third of 2025). She made her US Open debut in 2021, where she tied the record for the fastest women’s serve at the event with a 129 mph delivery. At the 2025 US Open, she played her first-round singles match on Louis Armstrong Stadium
“I think I was more excited to be in the stadium,” she says. “It was the first time for me… I enjoyed the experience.”
Through it all, Parks leans on mentors like Serena Williams, who gifted her what’s now her good-luck charm — a necklace from her own jewelry line. “I put the necklace on, and I haven’t taken it off since,” she says. “Every time I need advice or guidance, I go to her.”
No matter where Parks is headed, her beauty game — and her mindset — stays strong. “First, I cry a little and be dramatic,” she jokes about handling tough losses. “And then I think about how there’s always another opportunity the next week.”
With a winning combo of confidence, drive and a fresh hair day on lock, Parks is proving that beauty and performance go hand in hand.
“I’m just going to keep continuing to use Batiste and keep killing the game,” she says. “Smelling good.”
Brazilian tennis player Haddad Maia ends season to focus on health
Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia is ending her season early to focus on her health.
The 40th-ranked Haddad Maia made the announcement in an Instagram post on Monday.
These games from the September Nintendo Direct will make 2026 amazing for Nintendo Switch 2 owners
The Nintendo Direct presentation for September 2025 had many games to showcase. It was over an hour of new insight into what Nintendo has planned now that the Switch 2 is finally out and going into its first holiday season. Not only are there a ton of great games for Nintendo Switch 2 owners to play right now, but there’s a lot more on the horizon. While most people are eagerly awaiting the release of major titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the start of 2026 is looking to be even more exciting for Nintendo fans.
Games for the Switch 2 are going to be abundant in the early part of 2026, especially as winter winds down and spring finally arrives. But the new year as a whole is going to have Nintendo games that everyone is going to want to pay attention to. A combination of games to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Super Mario franchise, as well as returning beloved Nintendo franchises, will get every Switch 2 owner excited. Here are some games from the September Nintendo Direct that are going to make 2026 an amazing year for Nintendo Switch 2 owners.
Mario Tennis Fever
Getting back on the court
There is going to be a lot happening for the Super Mario series in 2026. With the 40th anniversary of the franchise, Nintendo is looking to celebrate Mario in a big way on Nintendo Switch 2. Not only are classic games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 getting re-released with its predecessor in one bundle, but Mario is getting back on the tennis court with Mario Tennis Fever for the Switch 2. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new Mario Tennis game released, since Nintendo’s favorite plumber has been pretty busy going on different adventures for the last few years. But it was a welcome surprise for Nintendo fans to see another Mario sports title making its way to the console.
Mario Tennis Fever is not only going to give more of the easy-to-play tennis action many love from the series, but something even greater that’s a first for it. A new adventure mode, complete with cutscenes, is going to be a major part of the experience. A fun twist on this is the reveal of Mario and his friends being turned into their baby forms, and needing to embark on a grand adventure to return to normal. Gameplay-wise, Mario Tennis Fever is also adding in some new techniques for players to take advantage of, including Fever Racket abilities that can affect opponents on the court. Mario Tennis Fever will release for Nintendo Switch 2 on February 12, 2026, just before the release of a new edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Switch 2.
Resident Evil Requiem
Legendary horror comes to Switch 2
Nintendo and Capcom have a great relationship that has led to many iconic series being on Nintendo platforms. One of those series that people love is Resident Evil, which has had multiple releases across various Nintendo consoles. Luckily for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, they’ll be able to experience the next chapter of the series around the same time as everyone else on other platforms. Resident Evil Requiem was revealed to be coming to the Switch 2 in 2026, along with the previous two Resident Evil titles as well. Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27, 2026.
Although there are not a lot of details about the plot of the game, the few reveals before and during the Nintendo Direct offered some interesting nuggets for fans of the series. Not only will the story take everyone back to Raccoon City, but it will follow new characters and build upon the legacy of the franchise even further. The first-person view from Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village is back again, with even more chilling things to see. There’s going to be a lot of survival horror happening for the console next year, and Switch 2 owners are ready for it.
Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave
More strategy in a new setting
The big reveal at the end of the Nintendo Direct presentation was that a new Fire Emblem game was coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Like previous entries in the series, there’s going to be a new setting and a new cast of characters to follow in between the tactical action. The game appears to have a Roman-inspired theme to it, with various characters battling foes in a coliseum as multiple leaders and key figures look on. A young man who is seen in the trailer explains that he fights to save his father’s life, which may become a very big plot thread throughout the story. Just like other Fire Emblem games, other characters that show up in the reveal appear to have their own motivations and abilities they take with them in battle. How exactly all of this will come together and what relationships will be forged is anyone’s guess, for now.
The reveal also gave a peek at some of the gameplay, with exploration in towns and tactical combat. It’s safe to assume that the gameplay shown was running on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, which looked very good. Some moments in combat appear to have characters calling in legions of allies to fight on their behalf, which could be special battles taking place during the story. Other skirmishes between units look just as good as previous entries in the series, but with more polish and flair to make every moment of swords clashing look epic. While there is no definitive date, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave is planned to release in 2026.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Wholesome and cuddly world
It’s no secret that most Nintendo fans love Yoshi. He’s a trusted ally of Mario in various games, but has his fair share of solo adventures on Nintendo consoles. And in 2026, Yoshi is going to be going on another outing with the release of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. It’s a new 2D platformer that has Yoshi entering a mysterious book that he must put back together after it falls from the sky onto his home. Within the book is a whimsical world that has a very interesting visual style. And just like previous Yoshi games, this one is going to pull on a few heartstrings.
The gameplay shown during the Nintendo Direct presentation showcased many of the things players can expect in this new Yoshi adventure. Everything from traversing platforms and exploring obstacles for secrets, to throwing eggs to remove enemies and targets, and floating around is there. If you’ve ever played a game like Yoshi’s Island on the Super Nintendo before, then a lot of what’s in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will be familiar territory. But what makes this new game so charming at first impression is the detail in the presentation, with a lot of it being credited to the colorful and wholesome environments. Some interactions that Yoshi can have just by walking around can also aid him in manipulating obstacles and open up new paths for him. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is planned to be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2026.
Big things for Switch 2 next year
Berks high school girls tennis results for Sept. 22
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Cumberland Valley tennis still unbeaten after win over Hershey
Cumberland Valley girls tennis took down Hershey 4-1 on Monday in non-league play.
The Eagles improved to 12-0 this season with the victory.
Mia Dachinyen and Maya Satheesh picked up a doubles win for the Eagles over Avni Desai and Navya Mathur. CV’s Laaysa Nachanally and Meghana Nelluri also took down Asa Wang and Tess Mariano.
In singles play, Pragnya Joshi and Riya Datta picked up wins for the Eagles while Aaruhi Jairath scored Hershey’s lone win via forfeit.
In non-scoring district doubles action, Hershey’s Jairath and Annaliese Tsyapa defeated Joshi and Datta.
The Trojans fall to 11-3 with the loss, having an eight-match winning streak snapped in the process.
Palmyra tennis secures close win over Lower Dauphin
Palmyra tennis picked up a nail-biting 3-2 win over Lower Dauphin on Monday in Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division tennis action at Hummelstown.
Anna Rashid and Hope Reichley secured singles wins for the Cougars while the team of Claire Busher and Alana Frawley scooped up a doubles win over Grace Anspach and Kailah Shirk.
Avery Moran scored the lone singles win for the Falcons while Savannah Ogle and Sydney More took down Trini Martinez and Niyanta Patel in doubles play.
In non-scoring District 3 doubles action, Lower Dauphin’s Moran and Harper Lennox picked up a win over Mia Fair and Rashid.
The Cougars moved to 10-2 with the win, picking up their fifth consecutive victory. LD drops to 4-9 with the loss, losing its fourth in a row.
Roger Federer Called Out Over Controversial Jannik Sinner Remark at Laver Cup: “It’s Offensive”
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have taken the tennis world by storm, splitting the last eight Grand Slams between them. “I’m seeing you more than my family,” grinned Alcaraz during his victory speech after defeating Sinner in the US Open final to reclaim the World No. 1 ranking after two years. Their back-to-back finals are no coincidence: they hint at a new era of dominance. But this rivalry has sparked bigger conversations, as Roger Federer now faces bizarre backlash after calling out tournament directors over alleged Jannik Sinner bias, throwing fuel on an already blazing fire within tennis circles.
This season, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have turned tennis into a two-man show, splitting the year’s four Grand Slams and crafting one of the fiercest rivalries in recent memory. Each player won two majors, and remarkably, they faced each other in the finals of three of the four Slams. At Roland Garros, fans were treated to an instant classic, as Alcaraz fought from two sets down to defeat Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 in a five-hour marathon that now stands as the second-longest Slam final in the Open Era.
Their rivalry stayed red-hot at Wimbledon, where Sinner flipped the script and outplayed the Spaniard 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, capturing the title on the hallowed grass. The pendulum swung back at the US Open, where Alcaraz once again stood tall, overcoming the Italian 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. What makes this run more extraordinary is their consistency; they have now clashed in the final of the last five tournaments in which they both competed, a staggering display of dominance.
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Even outside the Slams, this duel has captivated fans. In Rome, Alcaraz defeated Sinner in a thrilling clay-court final, while at the Cincinnati Open, Sinner was forced to retire mid-match due to fitness concerns, handing Alcaraz another win. Their H2H battles have become appointment viewing, and naturally, the tennis world is buzzing about how this rivalry will shape the sport’s future.
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Into this heated atmosphere stepped Roger Federer, who made headlines with a bold theory about the conditions enabling this near-constant rivalry. Fresh off promoting the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco, the 20-time Grand Slam champion joined Andy Roddick on the Served podcast to discuss the state of the game. When asked about court speeds, Federer didn’t hold back.
“Yes,” Federer said emphatically when asked if there needed to be a course correction. He argued that court speeds have become too homogenized, forcing players into similar styles of play. “That’s why we, the tournament directors, we need to fix it. We need to have not only fast courts, but what we would want to see is Alcaraz or Sinner figure it out on lightning fast, and then have the same match on super slow and see how that matches up.”
Federer went further, reminiscing about how the ATP once counted only 12 tournaments toward rankings, which encouraged players to compete on their preferred surfaces, producing contrasting clashes. “That’s how the rankings points used to be, remember? Back in the day, only 12 tournaments counted, so everybody would play on their favorite surface. And then they would sometimes meet, and those were the best matches when you had the attacker against a retriever, and now everyone plays similar.”
The Swiss maestro finished with a pointed observation, suggesting that tournament directors intentionally slow down surfaces to favor baseline grinders like Sinner and Alcaraz. “It’s because the tournament directors have allowed with the ball speed and the court speed that every week is basically the same… So that’s what the tournament directors are thinking, like, ‘I kind of like Sinner-Alcaraz in the finals, you know? It kind of works for the game’.”
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The clip went viral, social media lit up, with fans accusing Federer of unfairly hinting at bias, sparking an unexpected backlash and igniting a fiery debate about whether tennis is engineering its new golden rivalry.
Bureau Valley tops Annawan in two sets: Monday’s BCR roundup
Volleyball
Bureau Valley def. Annawan 25-22, 25-17: Brynley Doty had 11 kills, a block and two aces, Mya Shipp had five kills, seven blocks and five points and Emily Wright had 10 digs and two aces to lead the Storm to a Lincoln Trail Conference victory Monday at Annawan.
Also for BV were Brooke Helms and Emma Mussche (six points) each had eight digs while Libby Endress had four digs, six assists, four points and two aces and Esther Kalapp added five digs.
Girls golf
At Orion: Hanna Clairborne, Illyana Jones and Reese Reviglio each shot a 52 for Princeton (211) who came in third behind Cambridge (180) and host Orion (198) at Hillcrest Golf Course.
Also for Princeton, Taylor Compton had a 55, Anika Hansen a 62 and Jadeyn Klingenberg a 70.
Girls tennis
Sterling 4, Princeton 1: Daphnie Grant scored a 6-0, 7-5 decision at No. 2 singles for the Tigresses lone win of the day on their home courts.
Boys soccer
PGA National was Ryder Cup’s turning point in 1983 when Europeans got game
The 1983 Ryder Cup at PGA National marked a turning point for the event, shifting it from a U.S.-dominated exhibition to a fiercely close competition.
U.S. Captain Jack Nicklaus led his team against a formidable European squad captained by Tony Jacklin, featuring stars like Seve Ballesteros.
The competition was tied 8-8 entering the final day’s singles matches, creating a dramatic and tense conclusion.
The U.S. team secured a narrow 14 ½ to 13 ½ victory after Lanny Wadkins won the final hole against José María Cañizares.
This week’s Ryder Cup at raucous Bethpage Black in New York has the potential to be one of the biggest sporting events in recent history, a spectacle that will be watched by tens of millions of fans – not just golf fans – around the world.
But when the Ryder Cup was held in Palm Beach County for the only time in 1983 at PGA National, it was just a blip on the sports radar. Tickets were plentiful and cheap, and there was plenty of room to stand next to the yellow ropes lining The Champion course.
That’s because, four decades ago, the Ryder Cup was more of an exhibition than a competition. The U.S. team held a lopsided 20-3-1 advantage in the biennial competition, had never lost on home soil and hadn’t tasted defeat since 1957.
The PGA of America – whose headquarters was about a par-5 and a par-4 distance away from the Champion — named legend Jack Nicklaus to his first U.S. team captaincy. The same Golden Bear who didn’t play in four Ryder Cups during the 1960s because he had yet to become a PGA member. When he played in his first one, in 1969, Nicklaus memorably gave Europe’s Tony Jacklin a putt on the final hole that resulted in a tie.
As fate would have it, Jacklin was serving as the European captain for the first time in 1983. He was named captain four months before the competition. But it was his team, led by veteran Seve Ballesteros, the reigning Masters champion, and emerging stars such as Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle – who would all go on to win majors – that had the American players concerned.
“We knew, even if the rest of America didn’t, we were going to have to have our absolute best if we were going to keep the Cup,” said U.S. player Ben Crenshaw, who 16 years later would lead the Americans to a miracle comeback at Brookline.
A memorable team dinner for Europeans
The different times of the Ryder Cup were evident before the first ball was struck. The Europeans were scheduled to have a team dinner at the Palm Beach Yacht Club during the week.
“We had been invited to the Palm Beach Yacht Club, a short drive from the team hotel,” said European team member Sam Torrance. “I saw (U.S. member) Fuzzy Zoeller giving directions, so I told our driver to ‘follow that car.’
“Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at a magnificent property to see Calvin Peete (another U.S. team member) emerge from the car in front. We thought nothing of it. (European teammate) Ian Woosnam and I got to the door before the Americans.”
Who answered the door? Nicklaus, at his palatial home in Lost Tree Club.
“Is this the Yacht Club?” Torrance asked.
“No, this is my home,” the Golden Bear said, smiling. “Come on inside.”
Nicklaus poured Torrance and Woosnam a drink and pointed out the window the direction of the Yacht Club on the other side of the Intracoastal. The Europeans had mistakenly gate-crashed an American team dinner.
The European team didn’t make many mistakes once the competition started. They split the four Friday morning foursomes matches and won the afternoon four-ball matches, 2 ½-1 ½ to take a 4½ -3½ lead after Day 1.
Hmmm.
The Americans responded to win Saturday morning’s four-ball matches 2½-1½, and when the teams split the afternoon foursomes matches, the Ryder Cup was tied at 8 entering Sunday’s singles.
A longer hmmmmmmm.
The captains used different strategies when setting the lineups for the 12 singles matches – Jacklin sent his top players (Ballesteros, Faldo and Langer) out early while Nicklaus saved his best players for the end (Lanny Wadkins, Raymond Floyd and Tom Watson).
Nicklaus was no Knute Rockne, but he made his intentions clear with his final words to his team. “I will not,” he said, “be the first captain to blow this thing. Now you guys show me some brass.”
Nicklaus had sent out Zoeller first, and he wasn’t thrilled when he learned he would be going against Seve, especially with his back ailing. Zoeller said he spent the previous night popping pain pills and later half-joked, “Thank God they didn’t make us take a drug test.”
Sure enough, Ballesteros quickly took a 3-up lead after 11 holes. (And we mean quickly – the Seve-Fuzzy pairing was eventually five holes ahead of the next match). Zoeller responded by winning the next four holes before Ballesteros took the 16th to tie the match. They halved the last two holes, thanks to an incredible 3-wood Seve hit from a fairway bunker at No. 18 for his third shot. The half-point Zoeller unexpectedly earned would prove to be crucial.
Another example of how times were different: When this reporter ducked into the media room after the first match, the two TVs were turned on the Miami Dolphins’ 32-14 win over the New York Jets, and Game 4 of the Baltimore Orioles’ 5-0 victory over Philadelphia to clinch the World Series. The volunteers weren’t even watching the golf.
They were missing out on some amazing drama.
Faldo beat Jay Haas, 2-and-1, and Crenshaw defeated Lyle, 3-and-1. Score still tied. Langer edged Gil Morgan, 2-up, and Bob Gilder beat Gordon Brand by the same score. Tied again. Peete won a 1-up thriller against Brian Waites, but Paul Way beat Curtis Strange. Another tie. Craig Stadler handled Woosnam, 3-and-2, and when Ken Brown beat Floyd, and Sam Torrance-Tom Kite halved their match, the Ryder Cup was tied yet again at 13-13 with two matches still on the course (Watson vs. Bernard Gallagher and Wadkins vs. Jose Maria Canizares).
Jack Nicklaus put 20 miles on his golf cart
Nicklaus must have put 20 miles on his golf cart that day, trying to keep up with the back-and-forth. But all he could control was the volume on his walkie-talkie.
“It’s the first tournament I’ve ever been to when I wasn’t playing and couldn’t do anything about what was happening,
Michelob Ultra becomes America’s top-selling beer brand for first time
Michelob Ultra notched a major milestone, surpassing all its rivals to become the top-selling beer in America, according to recent data.
Executives credited its rise to the top, which included surpassing Modelo Especial, in large part because of its heavily capitalizing on the sports industry’s biggest events.
Anheuser-Busch Chief Commercial Officer Kyle Norrington told FOX Business that the beer, one of a slew of brands under the Anheuser-Busch InBev umbrella, became the NBA’s first-ever global beer sponsor, and is the official beer sponsor of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 and LA 2028 games. It also garnered a more than 30-year partnership with the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour’s Crisis Deepens as Insiders Urgently Demand Shocking Fix to Save Golf’s Crumbling Structure
We had the Tour Championship last month. Then we saw the Amgen Irish Open. Last week, the BMW PGA Championship and the Procore Championship were held at the same time on either side of the Atlantic. In the coming days, we’ll have the Ryder Cup. In hindsight, it might look like a fan feast. Back-to-back events, marquee players on the ground, so much at stake. But in actuality, it is nothing more than chaos.
There are simply too many events on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LIV Golf, and the Korn Ferry Tour combined. And in reality, they chase too few fans, television windows, cause player fatigue, fan confusion, and a fractured structure. It requires a radical solution urgently at this point, and new CEO Brian Rolapp should consider this, among other issues.
On the Fried Egg Golf Podcast, Brendon Porath and Andy Johnson discussed the same. They offered a quick, although controversial fix: absorb the DP World Tour into the PGA Tour and create a tiered global system similar to that of Formula 1’s F1 and F2.
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“Why don’t at this point…you just absorb the European Tour?” they ask. “And then from there, you have all the players and you’re able to create like a really nice up and down system between the Korn Ferry, European tour, and you could create a cohesive schedule where you know these big worldwide events, the points all relate,” says Johnson.
Just this year, the PGA Tour added a ninth signature event with a $20 million purse and no cut, and this adds more on the back of a sport already breaking with load.
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James Hahn, when he heard about it, said, “An extra signature event without a title sponsor. This is a joke, right?”
This argument is simple. Right now, the PGA Tour is not making any real concessions to its so-called “strategic alliance” partner in Europe. But, it increased its ownership stake in European Tour Productions from 15% to 40%. So, the DPWT has arguably and effectively become a feeder circuit for the PGA Tour despite CEO Keith Pelley’s denials. And it has limited influence on the overall schedule. Events like the French Open carry no meaningful weight in PGA Tour standings.
As Johnson puts it, “Michael Kim goes over and wins the French Open. It gives him some sort of like bump in his standing on the PGA Tour, which right now it doesn’t.”
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The proposed model would formalize what is already happening in practice. It will keep the PGA Tour at the top, DPWT in the middle would act as a competitive tier, and Korn Ferry at the developmental entry level for aspiring pros. Players could move up and down between these levels depending on their performance, while also giving global events genuine relevance.
“I think it’s a sensible I think we do need some sort of consolidation and unification here and maybe it’s like F1 and F2, you know, this is F2 or something like that,” suggests Porath.
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But there is also another problem: scheduling. The PGA Tour currently runs 39 tournaments from January to August. The DPWT hosts 42, LIV Golf adds 14 more and then there’s also the Korn Ferry Tour with 26. That’s more than 95 professional tournaments a year! Rory McIlroy has already flagged this as unsustainable, saying: “I think 47 or 50 tournaments a year is definitely too many.” Jordan Spieth also highlighted the toll of the schedule on mental and physical health. He recalled how eight tournaments in 10 weeks during the 2023 Masters left him mentally drained. Recently, Jake Knapp also delivered a scathing assessment of the same idea.
There is the involvement of money as well. Sig event winners can pocket $3.6 to $4 million, whereas champions in regular tournaments earn roughly half that. So, combined with oversaturation, this incentivizes top players to cherry-pick events, which affects competitive equity. Fans, meanwhile, experience fatigue from too many options, and television ratings decline (PGA Tour final-round broadcasts average 17.78 times more viewers than LIV Golf ). All this only raises the uncomfortable truth that the DPWT may have missed its chance to remain truly independent.
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By aligning with the PGA Tour against LIV, it became more dependent instead of stronger. “They screwed up,” Johnson says.
Meanwhile, there are other solutions too for this broken system.
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Other alternative solutions
Beyond full consolidation, insiders and players have floated alternative ways to fix golf’s scheduling chaos. One of them – if the PGA Tour could focus exclusively on marquee “signature events” while building natural breaks into the calendar. Then, during those breaks, the DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour could fill complementary slots. The DPWT’s winter-heavy schedule in the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia is especially suited for this. It will offer prime-time golf when the PGA Tour would otherwise be idle.
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“These signature events and everything else gets rebranded as almost like challenge events that earn spots,” Andy Johnson ideates.
Europe could also host “coffee golf” in the fall for the US morning audience before the NFL season dominates. And the PGA Tour could relaunch in February at Pebble Beach instead of Hawaii. Rory McIlroy has also advocated for a similar principle from a different angle, suggesting that the PGA Tour cut back on overall tournaments to create scarcity like the NFL, which runs just 17 games in 18 weeks. Brian Rolapp can definitely help in this, as he has worked with the NFL before. Echoing the same sentiment, Billy Horschel had said, “We need to go away for a little bit. We need to go away, have some anticipation, let people be excited to get us back.”
And Rolapp on the helm, changes are coming for sure, but will they help structure the Tour better or not is the question.
Cameron Young’s hidden Ryder Cup pain as he now gets Bethpage shot he’s wanted more than anything
The dream was hatched more than a decade ago.
Realistic or not, it’s been a carrot that Cameron Young has been doggedly chasing ever since the PGA of America announced that Bethpage Black would be hosting the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Young was a 17-year-old high schooler from Westchester with a promising golf game, honed at Sleepy Hollow Country Club — where his father, Dave, was the head professional for two decades.
The Young family was on a plane back home to New York from Scotland after Young played in the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup when Cam brought up the 2025 Ryder Cup — being played this week at Bethpage Black — to his parents.
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley defends decision to pay American players
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – U.S. captain Keegan Bradley on Monday defended the PGA of America’s decision to pay American players a stipend to play in the Ryder Cup.
This year, for the first time, each U.S. player will receive a $200,000 stipend in addition to $300,000 that will be distributed to charity.
That’s an increase from the $200,000 that was strictly earmarked for charity previously. It’s a similar payment scheme to what the PGA Tour has for Presidents Cup participants.
Bradley has already said that he will donate the entirety of his $500,000 bonus. He did not disclose how many of the U.S. players will follow suit, saying it’s a “personal decision.”
“The PGA of America asked me to help out with this,” Bradley said, “and this is the best way we came up with to do it.”
Added PGA CEO Derek Sprague on Monday’s “Live From the Ryder Cup
US, European players’ differing use of $500,000 Ryder Cup pay emerging as point of tension
PGA of America’s decision to pay its Ryder Cup golfers and captain $500,000 each — with $300,000 going to charity and the rest a personal stipend — already has emerged as an early point of tension heading into the week at Bethpage.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald told Sky Sports on Monday that he spoke with his 12 golfers in Rome once it became clear Team USA planned to change its stance and that all of them agreed “this isn’t a week to get paid.”
Experiences from the Ryder Cup are “worth more than a couple hundred thousand dollars” to them, he added. Former Team USA golfer and captain Tom Watson said in a recent Golf Channel interview that he didn’t agree with it, either.
But American captain Keegan Bradley defended the decision when faced with numerous questions about the optics of it — that one country is willing to participate for free and another wants to get paid — during his pretournament news conference Monday.
“I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think,” Bradley said. “I’m concerned about what my team is doing. I was tasked with a job the PGA of America asked me to do, and this was what we decided. We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age, and we felt like this was the best way to do it.”
The American golfers previously received $200,000 each at Ryder Cups for donating to charities — something that had been in place since 1999. Bradley planned to donate his entire $500,000 instead of the just the required amount, but he didn’t disclose what the golfers on his roster planned to do.
“I think that’s a personal decision,” Bradley said of his donation call. “I don’t donate to charities to publicize what we’re doing. These guys on our team are incredible people, and they do a lot of incredible things with charity dollars and with their foundations. A lot of them aren’t comfortable sharing that sort of information, and I feel the same way.”
During Monday’s practice round, Bryson DeChambeau, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas and Cameron Young were paired together for Team USA. Harris English, Russell Henley, Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun formed another group, while Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele also were together.
Team Europe didn’t participate in a practice round, but the roster made a trip to Bethpage last week, playing nine holes Monday and 18 holes Tuesday.
While walking around Bethpage on Monday, European players donned salmon-colored polos with burgundy sleeves in a nod to 1987 — when they earned a road victory at Muirfield Village. They’ll follow with white polos that have yellow sleeves (1995 at Oak Hill) on Tuesday, yellow polos that have blue sleeves (2004 at Oakland Hills) on Wednesday and maroon polos with navy sleeves (2012 at Medinah) on Thursday during practice rounds.
“This is going to be a difficult challenge,” Donald said. “We haven’t come close to winning three out of the last four away Ryder Cups. It’s not been very close at all. That’s my job to bridge that gap. … I think that’s motivating to the guys that it can be done, it has been done, and again, we’re here to try and do it again.”
NASCAR Cup playoffs: Team Penske turns the tables on Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing has two drivers feuding, but another pair of teammates were the primary concern after the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
While the JGR Toyotas were struggling and spinning each other on the 1.058-mile oval, the Team Penske Fords of Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were dominating at a track with similarities to the 1-mile layout at the championship venue where Penske has won three consecutive titles, Phoenix Raceway.
“I think the biggest thing you’ve got to take away from today is that at a 1-mile racetrack, the Penske cars are completely untouchable again,” JGR director of competition Chris Gabehart said. “The reality is we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
After a virtually perfect first round of the playoffs with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing opened the second round dealing with an internal squabble of Denny Hamlin vs. Ty Gibbs and an external threat from Penske — which is familiar for championship contenders in NASCAR’s premier series.
Penske has won Cup titles on late-season surges by Blaney, who won two of the final six races in 2023, and Logano, who won two of the last four in ’22 and ’24.
With six races left this season, the team got a head start on its championship push at New Hampshire. Logano started on the pole position and took fourth after leading a race-high 147 of 301 laps. Blaney started second and led 116 laps for his third victory this year.
“We did a great job of preparing, and our cars are really fast as a whole,” Blaney said. “It’s huge anytime you can win in the playoffs. It’s just momentum. When you win in the playoffs, it’s just a confidence boost for everybody. Maybe a little weight off your shoulders.”
The burden of playoff pressure has shifted to JGR, which led only 19 laps as its three-race win streak at New Hampshire was snapped. The team’s top finisher was Christopher Bell in sixth — the first time since September 2014 that JGR left New Hampshire without a top five.
“We just didn’t have the pace to run with the top competitors,” said Bell, who has won at Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, the last two tracks in the second round. “I feel good about our performance at the next two (races), but I felt good about our performance coming into here and it didn’t turn out.”
As Blaney advanced with a victory, Bell remained a solid bet to be among the other seven contenders who will reach the third round. He is ranked fourth among the 12 playoff drivers and a spot ahead of Hamlin, who finished 12th after his dustup with Gibbs.
Hamlin had some choice words on his team radio for the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, who is out of the playoffs but seemed to impede the progress of his teammates early in the race. Gabehart downplayed the dissension, which he said would be defused in team meetings this week.
“I think there’s a reasonable etiquette to follow,” Gabehart said. “But at the same time, you can’t create an atmosphere where everybody just has to roll over and play nice all the time, either, or you won’t hang as many banners as Joe Gibbs Racing has hung over the years.”
Hamlin was focused more on his disappointing performance than patching things up.
“Certainly, we didn’t come here with our best,” Hamlin said. “Got to get a little faster, get the car handle a little better, and I certainly got to do a better job.”
Blaney suggested a new right-side tire might have dulled JGR’s edge at New Hampshire.
“I didn’t think they had the pace that I expected,” Blaney said. “This sport is just ebbs and flows, ups and downs. We just hit it really good this weekend. When you have a big tire change, it can really turn you around.”
The same tire will be used for the 2025 season’s final two races at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix, where Bell won in March.
But Logano clinched his past two titles by winning the championship race at Phoenix, and Blaney captured the 2023 title with a second in the season finale and was runner-up last year.
“The reality is it’s playoff season, and here come the (Penske) cars,” Gabehart said. “Those guys know how to get it done when it counts, and we’ll just have to race them the rest of the year and see how it goes. They’re going to be very tough.”
23XI struggles
Kansas Speedway has been a good track at 23XI Racing, which needs a boost after stumbling badly at New Hampshire. Tyler Reddick (21st) and Bubba Wallace (26th) fell to the last two spots in the playoff points standings.
Wallace, who won at Kansas in 2022, said New Hampshire was “the longest day I’ve had in a race car in a long time. To be that far off, it caught all of us by surprise. It’s just a head scratcher. I told our team we’re way better than that.”
Reddick battled brake problems from the outset en route to his third consecutive finish of 15th or worse since a second in the playoff opener at Darlington.
“I thought we were going to be able to run in the top 10 all day,” said Reddick, a 2023 winner at Kansas. “It just got away quick. Just a terrible day. There’s just a lot of question marks, honestly. We need something special to happen. I’m hoping we find the answer.”
Chasing greatness
With its playoff trio of William Byron (third), Chase Elliott (fifth) and Kyle Larson (seventh), Hendrick Motorsports had three top 10s at New Hampshire for the first time in a decade. Elliott delivered an impressive drive after qualifying 27th — his fifth consecutive start outside the top 15.
“Just hate I put us in those holes,” NASCAR’s seven-time most popular driver said. “It’s a great day for sure to battle and claw our way back up into the mix, but you hate to have to do that.”
___
Team Penske turns the tables on Joe Gibbs Racing in 2nd
Joe Gibbs Racing has two drivers feuding, but another pair of teammates were the primary concern after the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
While the JGR Toyotas were struggling and spinning each other on the 1.058-mile oval, the Team Penske Fords of Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were dominating at a track with similarities to the 1-mile layout at the championship venue where Penske has won three consecutive titles, Phoenix Raceway.
“I think the biggest thing you’ve got to take away from today is that at a 1-mile racetrack, the Penske cars are completely untouchable again,” JGR director of competition Chris Gabehart said. “The reality is we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
After a virtually perfect first round of the playoffs with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing opened the second round dealing with an internal squabble of Denny Hamlin vs. Ty Gibbs and an external threat from Penske — which is familiar for championship contenders in NASCAR’s premier series.
Penske has won Cup titles on late-season surges by Blaney, who won two of the final six races in 2023, and Logano, who won two of the last four in ’22 and ’24.
With six races left this season, the team got a head start on its championship push at New Hampshire. Logano started on the pole position and took fourth after leading a race-high 147 of 301 laps. Blaney started second and led 116 laps for his third victory this year.
“We did a great job of preparing, and our cars are really fast as a whole,” Blaney said. “It’s huge anytime you can win in the playoffs. It’s just momentum. When you win in the playoffs, it’s just a confidence boost for everybody. Maybe a little weight off your shoulders.”
The burden of playoff pressure has shifted to JGR, which led only 19 laps as its three-race win streak at New Hampshire was snapped. The team’s top finisher was Christopher Bell in sixth — the first time since September 2014 that JGR left New Hampshire without a top five.
“We just didn’t have the pace to run with the top competitors,” said Bell, who has won at Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, the last two tracks in the second round. “I feel good about our performance at the next two (races), but I felt good about our performance coming into here and it didn’t turn out.”
As Blaney advanced with a victory, Bell remained a solid bet to be among the other seven contenders who will reach the third round. He is ranked fourth among the 12 playoff drivers and a spot ahead of Hamlin, who finished 12th after his dustup with Gibbs.
Hamlin had some choice words on his team radio for the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, who is out of the playoffs but seemed to impede the progress of his teammates early in the race. Gabehart downplayed the dissension, which he said would be defused in team meetings this week.
“I think there’s a reasonable etiquette to follow,” Gabehart said. “But at the same time, you can’t create an atmosphere where everybody just has to roll over and play nice all the time, either, or you won’t hang as many banners as Joe Gibbs Racing has hung over the years.”
Hamlin was focused more on his disappointing performance than patching things up.
“Certainly, we didn’t come here with our best,” Hamlin said. “Got to get a little faster, get the car handle a little better, and I certainly got to do a better job.”
Blaney suggested a new right-side tire might have dulled JGR’s edge at New Hampshire.
“I didn’t think they had the pace that I expected,” Blaney said. “This sport is just ebbs and flows, ups and downs. We just hit it really good this weekend. When you have a big tire change, it can really turn you around.”
The same tire will be used for the 2025 season’s final two races at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix, where Bell won in March.
But Logano clinched his past two titles by winning the championship race at Phoenix, and Blaney captured the 2023 title with a second in the season finale and was runner-up last year.
“The reality is it’s playoff season, and here come the (Penske) cars,” Gabehart said. “Those guys know how to get it done when it counts, and we’ll just have to race them the rest of the year and see how it goes. They’re going to be very tough.”
23XI struggles
Kansas Speedway has been a good track at 23XI Racing, which needs a boost after stumbling badly at New Hampshire. Tyler Reddick (21st) and Bubba Wallace (26th) fell to the last two spots in the playoff points standings.
Wallace, who won at Kansas in 2022, said New Hampshire was “the longest day I’ve had in a race car in a long time. To be that far off, it caught all of us by surprise. It’s just a head scratcher. I told our team we’re way better than that.”
Reddick battled brake problems from the outset en route to his third consecutive finish of 15th or worse since a second in the playoff opener at Darlington.
“I thought we were going to be able to run in the top 10 all day,” said Reddick, a 2023 winner at Kansas. “It just got away quick. Just a terrible day. There’s just a lot of question marks, honestly. We need something special to happen. I’m hoping we find the answer.”
Chasing greatness
With its playoff trio of William Byron (third), Chase Elliott (fifth) and Kyle Larson (seventh), Hendrick Motorsports had three top 10s at New Hampshire for the first time in a decade. Elliott delivered an impressive drive after qualifying 27th — his fifth consecutive start outside the top 15.
“Just hate I put us in those holes,” NASCAR’s seven-time most popular driver said. “It’s a great day for sure to battle and claw our way back up into the mix, but you hate to have to do that.”
___
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Fans Outright Refuse as Bizarre NASCAR Schedule Suggestion Surfaces
NASCAR is reportedly considering a major shake-up to its playoff format for 2026 after repeated discussions. As per the latest reports, a four-race championship finale could potentially feature Phoenix, Talladega, Martinsville, and Homestead. This proposed setup has sparked debate about how the final races should determine the champion, balancing driver skill, strategy, and, most importantly, the unpredictability of certain tracks.
As discussions around the 2026 schedule heat up, fans and analysts are already speculating about which tracks are suitable for a finale, leading to a recent controversy over some unconventional proposals for known venues.
Talladega Superspeedway has long been one of NASCAR’s marquee venues. It has been known for its high-speed packs, unpredictable finishes, and massive live and television audiences. The venue’s legacy as a fan favorite is well-established, with races like the GEICO 500 consistently ranking among the most-watched events outside the Daytona 500. It serves as the second race in the Round of 8, which is what it will be next year, too. But any proposed alteration to the NASCAR schedule naturally draws scrutiny, as fans weigh the impact on competition and the track’s unique appeal.
Amid these discussions, a Reddit user recently came up with a bold suggestion. The idea was to create a road course layout in Talladega instead of racing on its superspeedway layout. This came out of the unpredictability inherent in superspeedway racing. Talladega Superspeedway is famous for the “Big One,” multi-car accidents that can drastically alter race outcomes. Introducing a road-course layout would still have its own randomness, but less than what the superspeedway could cause in determining a fairer winner.
If not this, then another suggestion was to swap the Talladega race with Charlotte, to include the road-course without having Talladega build its own.
While Talladega did feature a road course in its early years, it has been decades since it was used for stock car racing. Today, the track’s superspeedway configuration produces some of NASCAR’s most-watched and thrilling races. Converting it to a road course would require significant modifications costing millions. Such changes could complicate the schedule by introducing logistics and safety challenges while potentially diminishing the spectacle that draws fans year after year.
Fans and analysts argue that the track’s proven formula of high-speed, high-drama racing is what makes it successful. Hence, any major alteration could compromise both competitive integrity and viewer engagement. In the aftermath of this, fans are fuming over the idea of turning one of NASCAR’s highest-rated events into a road-course layout.
Fans do not want changes
The first fan reaction reflects the deep attachment NASCAR fans have to Talladega as it currently exists. One fan succinctly captured this sentiment. “Talladega is one of the most popular tracks on the schedule, they’ll never turn that into a road course and if they did people would freak the hell out.” This comment perfectly illustrated the unlikelihood of any change to Talladega’s configuration.
It suggested that fans see such a proposal as both unnecessary and disruptive to the track’s traditional appeal. Many fanbases value the current setup and the spectacle it produces.
Another fan focused on the technical and logistical hurdles involved in converting Talladega into a road course. Historically, Talladega did have a road-course layout, but it has been decades since it was used for stock car racing. One fan observed, “Honestly, Talladega as a road course sounds kinda wild. Yeah, they have one, but it’s old and not really NASCAR-ready. Way easier and smarter to just use the Charlotte Roval in the finale.”
This reaction emphasized the impracticality of the idea. It pointed out that existing, modern road courses such as the Charlotte Roval already serve the intended purpose of adding technical challenge without requiring major reconstruction.
Economic considerations also shaped fan reactions. Talladega generates significant revenue from infield camping and large live audiences. One fan highlighted this concern directly. “There used to be a road course layout for Talladega. But now no way. Talladega makes too much money with Infield camping.” This comment revealed how financial incentives and fan experiences are intertwined with track decisions. Modifying the layout could disrupt these revenue streams and diminish the overall fan experience.
The fourth reaction saw a consensus among the fan community. Polls and social media discussions suggest that very few fans support a road course at Talladega for the championship finale. One user bluntly stated, “Nobody except you wants a road course in the final four.” This reaction was a good example of the general resistance to altering a high-profile track. It demonstrated that fan sentiment is overwhelmingly against the idea.
The final reaction highlighted the contrast between ratings performance and the proposed rationale for the change. “So let me get this straight…. you’re asking NASCAR to take what has been their highest-rated race in the last third of the season for like 25 years straight, every year aside from the inaugural Chase in 2004 and maybe the year Jeff Gordon retired, and turn it into a road course race, which are historically ratings cancer. All for the sake of having less chaos in their championship round. Think about that for a second.”
This comment critiqued the idea on multiple levels. It undermined the business and entertainment value of the track. It also questioned whether the goal of reducing randomness justifies sacrificing fan engagement.
Overall, the reactions collectively demonstrate why the Talladega road-course proposal is widely viewed as impractical. Fans highlight the track’s cultural significance, logistical challenges, economic importance, majority opinion, and historical ratings performance. Though once a road course, Talladega has found fame in its new identity. All of this suggests that keeping Talladega in its current form looks like the preferred path for now.
NASCAR Fans Livid After Broadcaster Botches Another Key Moment
This year, we’ve seen NASCAR’s broadcasting landscape undergoing a major transformation, which has introduced multiple networks into the picture. Though the veteran broadcasters like FOX and NBC continue their longstanding coverage, new entries like USA Network, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports, and The CW have also taken the reins for select races, with NBC and USA Network covering the Round of 12 currently. This diversification, however, comes with its own challenges.
While this multiple broadcasting portfolio aims to broaden coverage, it has often led to a series of reporting misses, which surely haven’t gone unnoticed by the fans and, in fact, have faced their scrutiny. One such incident took place again in the Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which saw a key on-track moment go unshown, drawing immediate criticism and backlash from fans on social media.
The Round of 12 race at NHMS kicked off with Ryan Blaney drawing first blood to win his first at Loudon and also become the first one to lock his next round’s berth. The 301-lap race was full of action, and fans were led to believe they had seen it all.
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However, one key incident went largely unnoticed. A wreck involving Brad Keselowski and Shane van Gisbergen during a Stage 2 restart also collected drivers like Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, Justin Haley, and several others. What the broadcast cameras failed to capture was the immediate aftermath. While most drivers were able to continue, many showed visible damage. But Justin Haley, in particular, continued driving the race, missing a full front bumper and hood.
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What’s actually amazing is that this was the first time a Next Gen car completed a race while missing its entire front. The last time this happened was at the 2017 Martinsville race, when Daniel Suárez completed a race without a front bumper. Despite the damage, Suárez continued and was classified in 32nd place at the time, still managing to reach the checkered flag.
While Haley, too, had a similar finish by ending 33rd, his ability to finish under such conditions was definitely noteworthy. But the main issue about which the fans on Reddit are now howling is how NBC and USA Network missed capturing that in their live broadcast.
Fan reactions to Justin Haley’s hoodless run
Many fans expressed disbelief that such a significant moment went unnoticed. One fan was completely aghast that something like this flew under the radar. They said, “YOU MEAN TO TELL ME A CAR DIDNT HAVE ITS FRONT END AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED????”
A lot of them felt that Haley’s hoodless car was a very basic and interesting newsworthy moment that broadcasters should have certainly captured on air, but they missed. A visually striking moment like that seemed like an obvious story to cover. They didn’t appreciate finding out about it only after the race.
However, some fans did spot the car, but were amazed that they were the only ones. They said, “I saw that on TV and was just waiting for Steve or Jeff to demand production to show it and talk about it.” They were surprised that the commentators did not address it. Many even waited for the inevitable discussion about the stripped-down car, but it never came.
Of course, some fans had to draw comparisons to NASCAR on Fox, joking about how that broadcast has often been criticized. One wrote, “And people complain about Fox lol.” But in this case, they pointed out that the NBC made an even bigger blunder by missing an entire visually shocking moment like this.
While Fox has had its share of slip-ups, this was a big mistake that left fans confused and showed just how much a broadcast can miss. Admittedly, the sight of the car also brought out the comedians. Some joked, “Getting into the Modified spirit at just the right track.”
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Finally, a few fans talked about the Damaged Vehicle Policy of NASCAR. They declared, “This is what dvp took from us.” This was a reference to a rule where significantly damaged cars could be fixed on pit road.
Fans say that the DVP took away the fun or chaos of seeing badly damaged cars just running around freely. The way the crew could spend more time fixing a car earlier, they can’t do the same today, as the current DVP rules have strict time limits and safety checks. Seeing Haley’s hoodless car reminded fans of the rule, and they joked about how the policy robbed them of a classic chaotic moment.
How to buy Charlotte NASCAR tickets, Bank of America ROVAL 400 tickets
NASCAR is participating in the 2025 Cup Series playoffs, meaning the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is right around the corner. Charlotte will host its annual Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 3:00 p.m. ET. The event will represent the final race in the Round of 12.
Tickets for the 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400 are still available, but they are selling fast. Below are the different types of tickets and weekend passes available for the 2025 NASCAR weekend at the Charlotte ROVAL.
Shop Charlotte NASCAR tickets
2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte tickets
There are several ticket options for the 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400, but the most popular is a basic option. At the time of this publication, one ticket for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race is selling for as low as $60.10.
Other options include one ticket to Friday’s Truck Series event, which will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at 5:00 p.m. ET. The lowest available ticket for the Truck Series is selling for $26, while the Xfinity Series sits at $29.
Another ticket option involves all three NASCAR races over the entire weekend.
Shop Charlotte NASCAR tickets
2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400 weekend package
While the single-day tickets for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 are still available, the Weekend Package is beneficial for those looking to spend the weekend at Charlotte. In fact, this option allows you to watch all three NASCAR races, plus concerts, Fan Zone fun, and more!
NASCAR fans can purchase the Weekend Package for the 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400, which includes the Xfinity and Truck Series races. This is a great option if you plan to stay for a jammed-packed NASCAR weekend!
Other ticket options for the 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400
Outside of the main sources for tickets, there are several options for the 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte. These options include a Special Military Offer, Race Day Bundle, Kids’ Tickets, College Student Tickets, and more incredible packages.
The 2025 Bank of America ROVAL 400 is almost here, and tickets are selling fast for NASCAR’s Round of 12 finale at Charlotte!
Shop Charlotte NASCAR tickets
Joey Logano’s Blunt Admission Reveals Roger Penske’s True Championship Threat
The Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21 was where the Round of 12 kicked off with Ryan Blaney taking the checkered flag after leading 116 laps in his No. 12 Ford. Yet, amid the celebrations, Joey Logano’s consistent run caught eyes, finishing P4 while sitting sixth in the standings with a +24 cushion above the cutline. His lone win this season came at Texas in April, but recent form shows top-fives in his last three outings. This surge echoes patterns from his past campaigns, building intrigue around his timing.
It mirrors his 2015 season, where he swept the Contender Round with victories at Charlotte, Kansas, and Talladega to advance smoothly. Team Penske, meanwhile, enters this playoff phase riding high after securing the past three Cup titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Logano’s ability to push hard as the playoffs deepen often shifts dynamics for rivals. And with this backdrop, his post-race thoughts shed light on the team’s internal strengths and competition, posing a strong contention for the championship.
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Joey Logano’s candid take exposes Penske power
In the Frontstretch post-race interview following the Mobil 1 301, Joey Logano opened up about his battle with teammate Ryan Blaney, bluntly admitting, “He just had more grip. He just went faster.” This straightforward assessment highlighted Blaney’s edge, as Logano led a race-high 147 laps and won Stage 2, yet couldn’t reclaim the front after falling behind. Logano, a three-time champion with titles in 2018, 2022, and 2024, has built a reputation for peaking late, often starting seasons quietly before going hard in high-stakes moments.
His 2022 run resembles this pattern, where Garage saw him grab key playoff wins despite a quieter regular season, a pattern that underscores Penske’s strategic depth under Roger Penske‘s leadership. Logano elaborated on his efforts, saying, “I did everything I could do to try to get out of him. He had a lot of speed, and it worked out for him.” This reveals the internal competition at Penske, where Blaney’s speed, evident from practice through the finish, positions him as a formidable force in the championship hunt.
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Consider Logano‘s history: since the Next Gen car’s debut in 2022, he’s tied for most titles with two, thriving on consistency rather than dominance early on. At New Hampshire, starting from the pole at 130.622 mph and earning stage points solidified his buffer, but his admission spotlights Blaney as the immediate threat, especially after Penske’s front-row lockout.
Reflecting on the team’s turnaround, Logano noted, “I felt like we were going to be solid when we came here. The track kind of fits our wheelhouse, so I kind of expected that, and it worked out.” This confidence stems from Penske‘s track record at flat ovals like Loudon, where Logano has two prior wins in 2009 and 2014.
His broader momentum, “It’s been three top fives in a row, so I feel good about that,” signals a repeat of his clutch playoff style, potentially disrupting rivals as Penske chases a fourth straight crown.
Logano’s words also point to a bigger picture for Penske’s playoff push. But this raises questions about his overall approach to the season.
Logano’s playoff approach scrutinized
Joey Logano’s strong P4 at New Hampshire, coupled with his stage win and points haul, has fans wondering if he’s once again mastering the playoff format by conserving energy earlier in the year. One article frames it directly: “Is Joey Logano Playing the System AGAIN?” This nods to his history of advancing deep with timely performances rather than regular-season overload. In 2024, he clinched the title with four playoff victories despite modest early results, a tactic that maximizes the elimination-style setup.
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The piece highlights how Logano’s run signals renewed hopes for his title bid, asking, “What did Joey Logano’s strong run signal for his playoff hopes, and is Penske officially back in the mix?” This comes amid Penske’s resurgence, with the team shaking up the field after a surprising Round of 12 opener full of strategy plays and late battles. Logano’s pattern, quiet regular seasons followed by playoff surges, fits the system, as seen in his 2022 title, where he navigated cuts with precision wins.
Fans Call Out NASCAR Analyst’s Podcast Stunt as Playoffs Pitch Backfires
NASCAR’s playoff system has long been designed to create drama late in the season. However, it is anything but that for many fans. Criticism has been mounting over whether the system truly reflects driver performance. Analysts and drivers alike have raised concerns that the format often rewards one-off wins rather than consistent excellence. Dale Earnhardt Jr. reflected on the structure, saying, “Nobody really complained about the original 36-race point system.” To add to that, fans have questioned recent attempts to act like this is not the case amidst a decline in views.
Declining viewership has added fuel to the controversy. The second race of the postseason at World Wide Technology Raceway drew 1.525 million viewers. This was down from 1.8 million the previous year. Meanwhile, the Southern 500 dropped from 2.4 million viewers in 2024 to 1.88 million in 2025. This dip coincides with the start of the NFL season, thereby highlighting the challenge of maintaining attention. Discussions among fans, analysts, and insiders indicate that the system may be losing its appeal. Moreover, this scrutiny has only become worse with NASCAR’s thinly veiled stunts.
The discussion gained a sharper edge after a recent episode of The Teardown podcast, where Jeff Gluck mentioned that “five people called SiriusXM saying they like the playoffs.” A Twitter user captured the moment. “I made the mistake of listening to another ‘The Teardown’ playoff discussion…This is @Jordan_Bianchi face when @jeff_gluck tells him 5 people called SiriusXM saying they like the playoffs.
Followed by Jordan’s smug “I told you so” because he “talks to people”…🤦🏻♂️”
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This tweet reflected fan skepticism about the small sample size and the perceived smugness of Bianchi’s reaction. Many argued that citing just five supporters hardly represents the broader NASCAR audience, especially given the ongoing complaints from drivers and longtime fans.
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Reactions to the podcast clip quickly spread across platforms, including Twitter. Fans debated the legitimacy of the “five people” claim and discussed the broader playoff format. Many criticized the system itself, highlighting declining viewership and previous controversies as evidence that the current format may not satisfy the fan base.
The conversation shows that, beyond stats and ratings, perception and engagement remain central to NASCAR’s ongoing playoff debate, with fans actively shaping the discourse online.
Fans outraged as they see through NASCAR Cup Series stunt
The skepticism around SiriusXM callers being cited as evidence for playoff support was immediate and sharp. Many fans questioned not just the legitimacy of the sample size but also whether these voices were truly representative of the NASCAR Cup Series’ broader audience.
The first reaction pointed out a perceived lack of diversity in the callers. It highlighted the same familiar voices repeatedly dominating SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. “It’s the same losers who call in the Sirius all day every day it seems. Literally the same 10 people.” This response suggested that fans see the show’s anecdotal evidence as recycled opinions from a tiny echo chamber. This was instead of seeing a fair representation of the overall fanbase.
Others went further, questioning whether those who got through were carefully vetted before going on-air. A comment read, “You mean the 5 people that SiriusXM screened before being put on air?” The implication here was that NASCAR or the radio hosts might be filtering callers to showcase only favorable playoff opinions. This idea only further fueled suspicions of bias.
Some fans even tied personalities into the discussion. They pointed to SiriusXM’s on-air hosts. “Throw @DanielleTrotta into the mix, and you’d have a trifecta…” By invoking a well-known radio figure, the commenter implied that certain hosts are complicit in reinforcing NASCAR’s narrative. The implication framed the entire debate as one orchestrated push for legitimacy.
The fourth response took the skepticism to an extreme by suggesting corporate influence directly. “Are the callers to SiriusXM employees of NASCAR too?” While said half in jest, the accusation here was clear. The reaction shows just how little trust exists between fans and the league’s public messaging. To some, the idea of NASCAR planting callers does not feel far-fetched, given years of frustration over the playoff format’s legitimacy.
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Finally, one fan contrasted the small number of SiriusXM callers with much larger social media poll results. “So if I am reading it correctly, As per Jordan the 5 people calling are real but the 30,000 people who voted on @markmartin @jeff_gluck polls are Bots right ?” This response highlighted the tension between anecdotal evidence and data-driven fan opinion. It questioned why a handful of radio callers are given more weight than tens of thousands of poll responses.
All in all, this was a move that failed fantastically for NASCAR. The backlash shows a widening gap between NASCAR’s official or media-endorsed narratives and the sentiments of everyday fans. The playoff debate is no longer about formats alone. It has evolved into a matter of trust, transparency, and the broader fanbase is being heard at all.
NASCAR Broadcasters Corner Ty Gibbs After Bitter On-Air Altercation
The first race of the Round of 12 finished with Ryan Blaney lifting the trophy at NHMS, but it was marred by multiple incidents. One in particular got the garage buzzing. As Joe Gibbs Racing carried massive momentum after sweeping the Round of 16, an incident between teammates Hamlin and Ty Gibbs on Lap 111 shifted focus, with Hamlin’s contact spinning Gibbs and triggering frustration that echoed beyond the track. This kind of drama often draws tough questions from broadcasters, putting drivers in tight spots.
And it is very common in NASCAR for race outcomes to get overshadowed by mid-race flare-ups when journalists press for answers in raw post-race moments, much like Kurt Busch’s 2012 Richmond confrontation, where he clashed with reporters Joe Menzer and Jenna Fryer over questions about his feud with Jimmie Johnson. That’s the vibe that unfolded when broadcaster Kim Coon approached Gibbs about his tangle with Hamlin, who fumed on the radio amid his championship push.
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Ty Gibbs faces tough post-race grilling
The interview by Kim Coon captured a charged moment right after the race, where she pressed Ty Gibbs on the Lap 110 incident that saw Denny Hamlin make contact, spinning Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota into the wall. Hamlin, a veteran with 59 Cup wins and five victories in 2025, radioed sharply, “Does Ty know we’re going for a championship? What the fu-k?” and added, “Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like, they’re scared of him.” This stemmed from Gibbs holding position aggressively against teammates Bell and Hamlin in a three-wide battle exiting Turn 4, frustrating Hamlin’s championship chase in his 20th full season.
Coon opened with, “Denny Hamlin was not happy with you talking about how he was racing for a championship. As you look at the incident, was somebody in the right and somebody in the wrong, and where does that lay out?” Gibbs replied evenly, “Yeah, you know, it’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week and looking forward to it,” setting a tone of deflection that highlighted the awkwardness.
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From there, the interview intensified as Coon followed up, “Denny also mentioned that he felt like somebody from the organization should talk to you. What do you expect that conversation to look like?” Gibbs stuck to his script, saying, “Yeah, we’ll have a good race next week. We’re looking forward to it.”
This repetitive approach drew quick backlash, including from broadcaster Danielle Trotta, who tweeted, “If someone told Ty Gibbs to dodge reporter questions w a canned answer they gave him bad advice.” Trotta’s point resonates, given Gibbs’ youth at 22 and his third Cup year without a win, where learning to handle media scrutiny openly could build fan rapport. But this interview of Gibbs reflected a strategy to avoid escalating team tensions but also potentially missing a chance to show accountability, as seen in his past Xfinity wreck with teammate Brandon Jones in the 2022 run.
If someone told Ty Gibbs to dodge reporter questions w a canned answer they gave him bad advice.
— Danielle Trotta (@DanielleTrotta) September 21, 2025
Coon herself addressed the pushback in a tweet: “One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a journalist is assuming you know how someone is going to answer a question. A second mistake would be then allowing that assumption to keep you from asking the questions that have to be asked.” Her stance underscores the role of probing in NASCAR coverage, ensuring accountability in high-stakes moments.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a journalist is assuming you know how someone is going to answer a question.
A second mistake would be then allowing that assumption to keep you from asking the questions that have to be asked. https://t.co/welxpCt4eu
— kim coon (@kimmiecoon) September 22, 2025
Gibbs’ interview stint echoes Kyle Busch’s 2017 Phoenix interview, where, after a meeting with officials and Joey Logano following a race tackle in Las Vegas, he repeated like an answering machine, “Everything’s great! Looking forward to getting back to the racetrack and getting into my race car,” four times to different questions before walking away.
Amid the fallout from this altercation, attention turned to Joe Gibbs Racing‘s leadership for resolution. Their responses offered a glimpse into managing internal conflicts.
JGR leaders tackle Hamlin-Gibbs rift
Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame owner with five Cup championships, emphasized driver autonomy in resolving the clash, stating, “It’s always the drivers that have to handle that. They’re the ones that have got the wheel, and that’s always the case. So that’s what we’ll do. Those guys all are the ones driving the cars, and so those guys will get together on their own and figure it out.”
This reflects Gibbs’ hands-off philosophy, honed over decades managing stars like Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, where he prioritizes private talks to maintain focus amid playoff pressure. With three drivers advancing after the Round of 16 sweep, Gibbs’ words aim to keep the team united heading to Kansas.
Competition director Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s former crew chief, broke down the dynamics, noting, “[Denny] was probably looking for more of a break than he got. That’s what I would guess. That’s what I saw. The hard part is the 54 is trying to win races and trying to make a name for himself as well. So, everybody needs more space than they have.”
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He added balance is key, explaining, “Yeah, this is the type of conversation that, you know, when you run well, you’re fortunate enough to have to have every so often. And we’ll have to have that conversation again. But I think there’s a reasonable etiquette to follow where everybody can get what they need out of it.” Gabehart’s perspective stresses competitive edge without full concessions.
Joe Gibbs reiterated his view on the drivers’ role, saying, “I think it’s hard for me, okay. It’s not me; it’s the drivers. It’s the way I’ve always looked at this.” This public stance from the 84-year-old owner underscores JGR’s success formula, over 200 Cup victories, by letting racers hash out issues while leadership enforces overall strategy. As the playoffs heat up, these comments signal a proactive fix to avoid repeats.
Denny Hamlin Blasts NASCAR’s $2.2 Trillion Giant Partner for Controversial Step
Corey Heim made history last Saturday. Running from the pole, the Tricon Garage driver swept both stages and led a race-best 124 of the 175 laps. Eventually, he fended off Chandler Smith to clinch a 0.823-second victory, tying with Greg Biffle’s nine-win 1999 Truck season. The documentation of this fabulous moment, however, may not have been up to the mark – as fellow Toyota driver Denny Hamlin pointed out.
The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran is currently pursuing a championship in his 19th Cup Series year. But while Denny Hamlin enriches his JGR resume with 59 trophies and counting, he also keeps track of big Cup aspirants like Corey Heim. That is why FOX Sports’ latest blunder frustrated him.
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Another FOX story turned sour
Fox Sports, $2.2 trillion partner of NASCAR, has been around for two decades. However, there is no love lost between Fox and fans and drivers of the sport. From blurry checkered flag finishes to inaccurate coverage of crucial racetrack moments, the number of critical points that Fox faced in 2024 was high. The wave of criticism continued into this year as well. Although NBC and USA Network are handling Cup races at present, FS1 is covering Truck races – to the detriment of Corey Heim’s glory. Denny Hamlin broached this topic in a recent ‘Actions Detrimental’ episode, thanking a fan for bringing up a burning issue. “I’m glad I saw someone on social media bring this up. I saw someone say, ‘I’m confused,’” he said.
Then Denny Hamlin broke down the gist of the problem. He chided Fox for going against contemporary color norms of denoting failure or success. He said, “I turned to TV and on FOX it said, Corey Heim’s name is in red, others’ names are in red. And I’m like, but he’s leading the race, why is he in red? What is going on? …When you have red and green, green is good, red is bad…That’s typical, right? …They had everyone advancing in red and being eliminated in green…I couldn’t make a whole lot of sense of it. Because when I got to the racetrack, there was about 50 laps to go…At the time, there was no live figure.” He scolded the broadcaster: “I’m not really sure on FOX’s graphics department as a whole. Maybe it’s time to rethink it.”
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Denny Hamlin’s co-host, Jared Allen, pointed out that Fox may have shown a key for the symbols at some point. But the JGR veteran continued his diatribe: “I think that would have just made things worse for me. Just simply because I would have said, Now they knew it’s sc—ed up, then they have to clarify.” So he made the line of action clear for Fox. “Let’s just try to keep this uniform to what everything else is. Green is good, red is bad, okay? Eliminated, red. Advancing, green. Let’s just start there. We can work on the cartoon characters later,” he said, referring to the comic-book graphics of drivers that Fox has used since 2022.
Fox has been the subject of scrutiny by many people, including Richard Petty and Kevin Harvick. But while Denny Hamlin critiques the broadcaster’s Truck coverage, he is also addressing a more personal issue.
Drawing a parallel with Denny Hamlin’s moves
Well, Ryan Blaney grabbed the New Hampshire spotlight on Sunday, winning his season’s third race. But alongside the 2023 Cup Series champion’s achievement, a JGR drama hogged the limelight as well. On lap 111 of the Mobil 1 301 race, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell found Ty Gibbs blocking their path. After repeated warning bumps, Hamlin eventually spun out Gibbs into the wall – although the veteran denied any foul intentions. This incident sparked a massive debate about JGR’s drivers, with people questioning Gibbs’ maturity, considering that he has impeded a teammate before as well (2022 Xfinity championship, Brandon Smith).
Referring to this incident, Ryan Blaney called out both Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. The Magic Mile winner referred to his own situation, as fellow Ford drivers Joey Logano and Josh Berry were hot on his tail for the win. Blaney said about Berry, “I was never going to lay a bumper to Joey trying to get by him when he was leading.” He emphasized teamwork: “I didn’t want to do it that way — teammate or not. I didn’t want to do it that way, especially with a teammate. I’m not going to rough him up. But I fully expect to race hard. That’s what Roger [Penske] expects of us, and that’s what Eddie and Len [Wood] expect with the Wood Brothers. We’re going to go out there and race hard, but we’re going to do it in a fair way.”
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Clearly, Denny Hamlin has problems on his plate as well. While the JGR driver steers through a crisis-filled New Hampshire race, let’s hope Fox can elicit better reviews for Corey Heim’s next outing.
Ryan Blaney Unveils Michael Jordan’s Special Gift After NASCAR Breakthrough
In October 2024, Ryan Blaney succumbed to a 23XI Racing driver. Tyler Reddick passed him on the final lap to win in Homestead-Miami. Yet instead of being frustrated, Blaney chose to crack a risky joke with Reddick’s team owner. Referring to Michael Jordan’s ‘The Last Dance’ documentary, Blaney told the NBA legend, “Congrats, you b—-, f— you.” And Jordan burst out laughing. The seeds of that friendly exchange bore fruit recently.
The Team Penske racer was the star of the past weekend, winning the Mobil 1 301 race in New Hampshire. Ryan Blaney led for 116 laps and won the first stage en route to his victory. While people are drooling over his newest trophy, Blaney divulged a secret ingredient, which he got from Jordan.
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Ryan Blaney got some sweet kicks
Michael Jordan’s magnetic appeal ranges far beyond just 23XI Racing. The six-time NBA champion has a magnificent fan following in NASCAR, as people crave a few moments of interaction. What is more, his brand of shoes is also popular – in May 2024, Denny Hamlin flaunted the over 300 pairs of Jordans that he owns. But Hamlin is also 23XI’s co-owner. So Ryan Blaney, hailing from a different team and a different OEM, had to work hard for his first pair. And Blaney finally fulfilled his wish prior to his New Hampshire victory. “Yeah. I had my first pair of Jordans this weekend,” Blaney told Kevin Harvick.
Apparently, Michael Jordan had not seen the end of Ryan Blaney after their funny Homestead interaction. The 2023 Cup Series champion was after the NBA legend, as Blaney continued on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour Podcast: “I had been bugging Michael Jordan for a pair for about six months. And finally got him to send me, wore them for the first time this weekend.” He added, “Those things are one for one.”
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As we all witnessed, Ryan Blaney delivered a thumping victory at Magic Mile while wearing those shoes. While his crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, credited Joey Logano’s tire test in July, Blaney also credited Michael Jordan’s friendship for his win. He continued, “Good track record. Pretty cool to do that, pretty amazing…I’ve been really lucky to create a friendship with MJ. Just an amazing human being. Someone I admired growing up and still do to this very day. Pretty nice gesture that he got me a pair of shoes to do that stuff. So yeah, those things…got a good track record so far. We’ll see what else they can do.”
However, Ryan Blaney also added that adjusting his footwork to new shoes was not easy. He said, “In practice, the soles were a little different, so I had to spend about 10-15 minutes in practice to try and get used to the soles on.” And this topic got Blaney thinking about NASCAR’s much-debated policy recently.
Calling for more wheel time
Before 2020, a NASCAR race weekend looked vastly different than what it does now. Drivers could undertake an hour-long practice session on Friday, then qualifying, followed by two more practice sessions on Saturday before Sunday’s race. But the restrictions and dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed this wheeling freedom. Presently, teams are allowed just 15-20 minutes of practice on the track before being hurled into the arena to fend for themselves. Ryan Blaney said that this harsh scenario amounts to “pennies on the dollar.” NASCAR has made small concessions, like expanding the Daytona 500 practice time, but demands for more practice keep rising.
Ryan Blaney said that practice helped him perfect his New Hampshire strategy. So more of that would do wonders for not just him, but his competitors as well. Blaney said, “If I’m gonna pick, I like the extended practice, the 50 minutes. You get a couple of sets of tires. You’re able to go to the garage and try a few different things. They do that Champ Weekend, and then if they have a new track, that’s what they have. That’s what I like, personally. I think it just gives people a better chance to understand where their cars are and play with some more stuff than they normally could with a 20-minute practice. That would be my vote. I don’t know where it’s gonna go, but that is my favorite form of practice.”
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With new shoes and a fresh outlook, Ryan Blaney is magnificently tackling the playoffs. Let’s wait and see what magic the Team Penske star conjures next.
MLB approves Patrick Zalupski as new Rays owner
Major League Baseball owners have officially approved a group led by Patrick Zalupski as the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Topkin notes that the official transfer is still pending the formal closing of the sale, which is expected later this week. Previous reporting has indicated that the team is being sold for somewhere around $1.7B.
“It’s good to go,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says.
It was originally reported back in June that Sternberg was in “advanced” talks about a sale to the Zalupski-led group which will soon take over the majority stake of the team now. Those negotiations came on the heels of Sternberg receiving pressure to sell from both the commissioner’s office and other owners throughout the league. Sternberg will retain a minority stake in the Rays but will take a backseat after owning the club since purchasing it for $200M back in 2004.
Zalupski is the CEO of Dream Finders Homes, a publicly traded, Jacksonville-based developer that has built more than 31,000 homes across ten states. Back in June, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.4B, while his company’s valuation rested at $3.4B. It’s not entirely clear how many other investors are a part of the group. Sportico reported over the summer that Ken Babby, who owns multiple minor league teams and is the son of a prominent NBA agent, and Bill Cosgrove, CEO of the Union Home Mortgage Group, are among the others involved in the incoming ownership group.
The new ownership group is expected to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area, though Zalupski’s vision is for an eventual stadium in Tampa proper, rather than the Rays’ longtime home in St. Petersburg. That’d mean a move from Pinellas County to adjacent Hillsborough County and would also mean negotiating with a different collection of local government officials than the Pinellas County officials who regularly clashed with Sternberg throughout his quest for a new stadium.
For the time being, of course, the Rays are playing in Tampa. They’ve temporarily relocated to George M. Steinbrenner Field — the spring facility and Class-A home for the Yankees — in the wake of massive damage to Tropicana Field at the hands of Hurricane Milton last offseason. The Rays are hoping that they’ll be able to return to Tropicana Field for the 2026 season. They still have another three seasons remaining on their prior lease there, and now that new ownership is all but in place, that period could serve as a bridge to the construction of a new stadium — though there will obviously be numerous hurdles to clear as the new management commences talks with the requisite governmental bodies in Tampa and looks to secure funding.
Broader questions about what the change in ownership means for the Rays will persist for the foreseeable future. Longtime fans will dream of larger payrolls helping to fuel a club that’s managed to be near-perennially competitive despite spending less than the vast majority of the league. However, new ownership is not always a path to exponentially larger payrolls. That may be the case for Steve Cohen’s Mets, but one need only look at the Marlins, Royals and Orioles to find recently sold teams that have yet to significantly invest in bolstering player payroll. An eventual new stadium could be a major step in that direction, but that’s years down the road.
Presumably, there will be some other turnover within the organization. Rays presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld are departing once the sale is finalized, but it’s not at all clear what, if anything, a sale might mean for the baseball operations or dugout staff. (Silverman was once Tampa Bay’s head of baseball operations but has been on the business side of operations since 2017.)
President of baseball operations Erik Neander is signed through at least the 2028 season, while manager Kevin Cash’s most recent extension carries him all the way through 2030. That pair is among the most respected in the industry at their positions, and one would presume that their presence is a selling point for incoming ownership. Other changes could still ensue, but until the deal is official and Zalupski first meets with the media, there will be at least some level of uncertainty regarding matters of this nature.
Pittsburgh Pirates call up former Florida pitcher Hunter Barco
For a third time this month, Florida baseball has had another former pitcher called up. Left-hander Hunter Barco was promoted by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, Sept. 22.
Between Double-A and Triple-A Indianapolis, Barco held a 4-1 win-loss record with a 2.81 ERA, 116 strikeouts and 49 walks in 99.1 innings.
Barco, who was the No. 4 prospect in the system, was drafted No. 44 overall in the second round back in 2022.
In Triple-A, Barco recorded 82 strikeouts, 42 walks and a 3.79 ERA in 17 starts and 23 appearances.
At UF, the Jacksonville native and Bolles School alum, helped the Gators make back-to-back appearances in NCAA regionals. In his final year, Barco posted 69 strikeouts, 11 walks and a 2.50 ERA.
Last week, Philip Abner was called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Brandon Sproat made his debut with New York Mets on Sept. 7.
Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim making most of limited contributions as a rookie
LOS ANGELES — Hyeseong Kim did not sign with the Dodgers to play in the minor leagues.
“It’s not like I had the desire to go down to the minors. But if it all came down to it, I didn’t mind going down to the minors. It happened,” Kim said through his interpreter.
“I mean, just looking at our roster it’s full of great players. If worse comes to worse, I was definitely prepared to start in the minors. But my goal was to survive in Major League Baseball with the Dodgers. But if it all came down to it, I was okay with it.”
Asked to make some significant swing changes, Kim opened the season in Triple-A. He spent a month there before making his MLB debut with the Dodgers in May. He was back in Oklahoma City in August on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, returning from a shoulder injury that he tried to play through with poor results.
The result is a debut season in the United States after making the jump from an All-Star career in South Korea that has featured more plate appearances in the minors (169) than the majors (161). Since returning to the Dodgers when rosters expanded at the start of September, Kim has watched a lot of Major League Baseball – but he hasn’t played much of it. He has started just four games this month and gone 1 for 14 in limited action. With the Dodgers facing five left-handed starting pitchers last week, Kim has not seen the field since the last inning of a 10-2 win in San Francisco eight days ago.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is honest about where Kim stands as his rookie season winds down and the postseason looms.
“I don’t feel comfortable with him versus left-handed pitching. Balls that are going away from him,” Roberts said recently. “I think with Hyeseong, I love the defense. … This is his first year in the major leagues and I think he’s done a great job.
“I think right now for Hyeseong, there’s too much chase out of the hitting zone and there’s not enough contact. So for me, when you chase a lot and you don’t make a lot of contact, that is not a good spot for the postseason. I think he’s going to be a very good player. He’s helped us out a lot this year. I just think that there’s a lot more growth as a major-league hitter that needs to happen. There’s not enough walk in there, again, because there’s a lot of chase. He’s growing. He’s going to get better. But I think right now (when it comes to playing time) I’ve got to think about guys that I feel that can handle postseason pitching. But I think that this experience for Hyeseong to be on the club, to be in a pennant race, I think this is going to help him going forward.”
Roberts acknowledged that Kim’s “defense, his versatility and his speed is a big benefit for a potential (postseason) roster.” This does not come as a surprise to Kim.
“Just like any player would say, getting a chance to play every day would obviously be ideal,” Kim said. “But understanding my role – each player has a different role on the roster. So understanding that, I just prepare if I get a chance to play.
“If I do make it to the postseason roster, I’ll focus on what I’m good at – pinch-running, substituting on defense. Those are two roles that I have in my mind.”
Whether he thinks he can hit left-handed pitching or should play more is not important, Kim said.
“As a player, I’m willing to do whatever the team wants me to do,” he said. “My opinion is not important. I’m just ready to do whatever the team asks me to do.”
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes praises Kim for being a “terrific athlete, 80 human being, 80 work ethic,” using the 20-80 scouting scale that is a second language in baseball.
Despite the limited contributions, Kim’s rookie season has not been a disappointment, Gomes said.
“Not at all,” Gomes said. “I think for Hyeseong he made some meaningful strides with his swing. We feel even better about the defense, the baserunning – which we thought highly of. He’s an excellent defender, can really run the bases. We think there’s going to be versatility there with the potential to play the outfield in the future at a high level. And I think some of the hitting growing pains – we’ve seen some high highs and some low lows. I think overall with his makeup and his work ethic we’ll bet on him being able to continue to make the needed adjustments to be a successful offensive player.”
Whether he develops into an everyday player or has to be platooned against left-handed pitching “probably depends on the adjustments” Kim still has to make, the GM said. Kim has been given just 19 at-bats against left-handed pitching at the major-league level and held his own with seven hits, including one of his two home runs.
“I think we’ll see based on the continued growth in the box,” Gomes said. “Now, we do feel there is some bat-to-ball in there. He is really fast and could really wreak havoc by bunting and shooting balls the other way.
“There’s still a lot to build upon offensively. We just didn’t have that much time to work with him. Spring training is not a great environment to make adjustments and then just get thrown into games.”
Largely thanks to a .383 batting average through the end of June, Kim has hit .283 against pitching vastly superior to what he saw during his eight professional seasons in Korea.
“Definitely the pitchers,” Kim said of the biggest challenge he faced in making the jump from the KBO to MLB. “Obviously the average velocity is higher. That’s probably the biggest difference. Just seeing higher velocity every day.
“Obviously I went through a hitting change, my stance and all that, and facing different pitchers every day. As a player, I’m learning something new every day. I’ve learned a lot this year.”
After they signed Kim for three years and $12.5 million (plus two club option years), the Dodgers traded the incumbent starter at second base, Gavin Lux, to the Cincinnati Reds for a draft pick (used on Arkansas outfielder Charles Davalan) and minor-league outfielder Mike Sirota (who has hit .333 with a 1.068 OPS at two Class-A levels this year).
Lux has hit .267 with a .723 OPS, playing an everyday role in left field, second base or third base for a Reds team that enters the final week of the regular season in contention for a wild-card spot – and potentially a first-round matchup with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers would make that deal again, Gomes said.
“Yeah,” he said. “Obviously Luxie was a big part of what we did last year and he’s had another good year this year.
“It’s hard to digest now because it’s not impacting the major-league team. But we basically got an additional draft pick and got a guy we really liked in addition to Mike Sirota, who is excellent. It’s the push and pull of – there’s not many times in our position where we are able to push value forward. When we have the opportunity to do it without taking a step back on the major-league roster, it’s a prudent thing to do.”
MLB playoff update, and Cubs’ magic number for home-field
The Chicago Cubs are off Monday, but they can still take a step toward securing home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The one team that can overcome the Cubs in the wild card standings are the San Diego Padres, who enter action with a three-game deficit as they open a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park.
The Cubs are currently locked into one of the top two wild card spots in the National League, but are within striking distance of playing the best-of-three series at Wrigley Field beginning next Tuesday.
Here’s a breakdown of where things stand.
National League Wild Card Standings:
Chicago Cubs – 88-68
San Diego Padres – 85-71 (3 GB)
Cincinnati Reds – 80-76 (5 GB of Padres)
New York Mets – 80-76
Arizona Diamondbacks – 79-77 (1 GB of Padres and Mets)
The Current MLB Playoff Bracket
If the season ended today, here’s how the series would shape up in the first round in each league.
American League Byes – Toronto Blue Jays (AL East), Seattle Mariners (AL West)
Wild Card Round Series – Cleveland Guardians at Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
National League Byes – Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central), Philadelphia Phillies (NL East)
Wild Card Round Series – Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs
Notes on Tiebreakers –
According to MLB.com, the Reds hold a tiebreaker over the Mets for the wild card series. The Reds also have a tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks if those two teams finish the regular season tied in the standings.
The Diamondbacks also currently hold a tiebreaker over the Mets with a superior divisional record.
The Mets only hold a tiebreaker over the Dodgers, but lose a tiebreaker to the Padres.
The Cubs and Padres split their season series, so the team with the better divisional record would earn home-field advantage if they finished the regular season tied in the standings.
Cubs’ Magic Number for Home-Field Advantage
The Cubs are now guaranteed to finish no worse than the second National League wild card spot, and they’re still closing in on clinching home-field advantage in that series despite their four-game losing streak.
For the Cubs to host that first round series, their magic number currently stands at four, which means they will need a combination of wins and Padres losses to secure the opening series being played at Wrigley Field.
Who Would the Cubs Play if They Win the Wild Card Round?
If the Cubs can advance in the wild card series, it’s looking more likely that they would face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series, with that series opening up at American Family Field.
The Brewers hold a three-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the National League, and they also own the tiebreaker over the Phillies if the two teams end the season with identical records.
What Does the Remaining Schedule Look Like?
The Cubs have two home series left to end the season. The first is against the Mets, who are desperate to get back into a playoff spot after being jumped by the Reds this week. The Cubs then finish the regular season with three games against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
The Padres open a three-game series against the Brewers in San Diego on Monday night. They then end the season with a three-game set against the Diamondbacks, who are one game out of the last wild card spot with six games remaining in the regular season.
If the Padres hope to leap-frog the Dodgers, they’re going to be rooting for the Diamondbacks, who open a three-game series in Phoenix on Tuesday night. The Dodgers then end the season against the surging Seattle Mariners, who suddenly appear ticketed to winning the American League West crown and clinching a first-round playoff bye.
After their series with the Cubs, the Mets head down to Miami to wrap up the season against the Marlins.
The Reds have a three-game home series against the Pirates beginning Tuesday before heading to Milwaukee for the final series of the regular season against the Brewers.
Yankees must take care of business in AL East chase
The Yankees could have champagne on ice Tuesday night in The Bronx.
How many bottles they would pop, if they take the series opener against the White Sox, remains to be seen.
The Yankees need just one win to secure a postseason berth, according to MLB, though they still have much more at stake over what could be a chaotic final week of the season around the American League, including an outside shot to chase down the Blue Jays for the division, or a likelier chance to claim the top AL wild-card spot for home-field advantage in the opening playoff series.
“It’s going to be a wild week, for sure,” manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday of the playoff race at-large.
“Hard to predict what’s going to happen and who’s going to be playing who. Certainly paying attention to it all, but in the end, it’s about handling our own business day in and day out. But it should be fun to watch it all unfold.”
Around this time of year, Boone often likes to say some version of “be careful what you wish for.” But the Yankees might be about to become fans of the Red Sox — to an extent and only as long as they are taking care of their own business in The Bronx.
The reality is that the Yankees enter the final week of the season trailing the Blue Jays by two games for first place in the AL East. The Blue Jays own the tiebreaker, courtesy of going 8-5 against the Yankees this season, so Boone’s club will have to make up three games with six games left if they are going to defend their division title.
And the Blue Jays are set to host the Red Sox on Tuesday night in Toronto for three games before finishing the season against the Rays, who have nothing to play for.
So while the Red Sox are the closest team to the Yankees in the wild-card standings — trailing them by three games, with the Guardians and Astros both four games back — the Yankees need them to win at least one game against the Blue Jays to keep their division hopes alive.
That will only be useful if the Yankees take care of business against the lowly White Sox beginning Tuesday before ending the regular season with the Orioles, whom they just took three of four against in Baltimore.
“Obviously, we can only control what we can control, but I’m confident in this team,” Cam Schlittler said. “We got a chance to put ourselves in a really good spot, whether that’s a bye or not. I know the team’s going to be locked in the next six games.”
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS
The Yankees, whose 28-14 record since Aug. 6 is the best in MLB during that span, have the easiest schedule on paper among all the contending AL teams. The Red Sox play the Blue Jays and Tigers. The Guardians play the Tigers and Rangers. The Tigers play the Guardians and Red Sox. The Astros play the Athletics and Angels. The Mariners play the Rockies and Dodgers.
The matchups between the Guardians, Tigers and Red Sox mean that only two of those teams can finish with 89 wins, and one of them will be the AL Central winner, which is why the Yankees winning their 89th game on Tuesday would clinch their playoff spot.
As for seeding in the wild-card standings, the Yankees do not have the tiebreaker against the Red Sox, Guardians or Tigers, have it against the Mariners and are up in the air against the Astros — they went 3-3 against each other during the regular season, so the next tiebreaker is in-division record (the Yankees are currently 24-25 while the Astros are 22-24).
If the Yankees cannot catch up to the Blue Jays, the next priority would be securing the top wild-card spot, which would allow them to play the first-round series at home. The magic number to do that is four.
Aside from scoreboard watching and winning their own games, the Yankees still have questions to answer this week.
Will their third starter in a playoff series be Schlittler or Luis Gil? Is Anthony Volpe’s solid play on both sides of the ball since he got the cortisone injection for real, and is it enough for him to fend off José Caballero in the postseason? Is the recent momentum from the bullpen legitimate or just taking advantage of bad teams (which may not actually get answered this week considering the opponents)?
“Every day, it feels like there’s so much on the line,” Boone said. “But once it’s over with, you got to move on too. It’s great this way heading into an off day. It’s always good racking up a couple wins into an off day and guys can unplug a little bit, recharge a little bit and understand we got a real important one the next day.”
The ‘MLB 400 home runs, 200 steals’ quiz
Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are once again to miss out on the MLB postseason, but Trout will get to head into his 2026 campaign with a major milestone completed.
Trout hit his 400th-career home run in the eighth inning of an Angels 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies this weekend, making him the 59th MLB player to eclipse 400 homers.
After the accomplishment, Trout met with the fan who caught his ball on the field for a quick game of catch (and some signed memorabilia) in exchange for the piece of history.
Which brings us to today’s quiz. While age and a history of injuries will likely keep Trout from ever returning to his MVP form again, he’s one of the most accomplished all-around players in MLB history. With that being said, how many of the 15 players in Major League Baseball history to rack up at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases in their career can you name in five minutes?
Good luck!
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Shohei Ohtani Sparks MLB Rival Outrage as Dodgers Exploit Loophole for Postseason Edge
As the 2025 Major League Baseball season entered its final stretch, the Dodgers were heading towards their 12th National League West title in 13 years, holding an 88–68 record and a three-game cushion over the Padres. And the team has already secured a playoff spot for a franchise-record 13th straight year. But all this is on the surface, and beneath it, whispers are growing like rivals are pointing to a rare roster rule, one that only benefits the Dodgers. They believe LA has found an unfair edge in Shohei Ohtani‘s postseason role.
So, what is all the fuss about? It comes down to a special roster advantage. MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote, “Teams are upset that the Dodgers will have one more pitcher than everyone else on their roster since there’s a special exemption for Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player,” in his September 21 column.
Here’s how it works in simple terms. Every team can have 26 players on its postseason roster. Of those 26 players, a maximum of 13 can be pitchers. Because Ohtani qualifies as a two-way player, he doesn’t count against that pitcher limit. So, the Dodgers can carry 13 regular pitchers plus Ohtani, giving them 14 available arms. No other team gets that luxury. So Nightengale explained, “If Ohtani is a starting pitcher, he can remain in the game as a DH once he’s replaced on the mound.”
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But there’s a catch. What if they use him from the bullpen, where the team struggles mostly in the season, and he has a legendary record during the 2023 World Baseball Classic? Nightengale notes, “But if he starts the game as a DH and pitches out of the bullpen, the Dodgers would lose the DH once his relief appearance is over.” So, to avoid losing his bat, they can move Ohtani to the outfield, where he’s already shown his willingness to play. But there’s a problem. He hasn’t played a single inning in the outfield since 2021, when he made only seven —six games in right field and one in left.
So, the Dodgers have not shown their willingness to use Ohtani in relief, as Dave Roberts already said after Ohtani’s willingness to play in the outfield, “I don’t know if it’s a pipe dream, but it’s very commendable from Shohei. There are a lot of variables. But to know that he can potentially run out there, it’s great. Maybe just in theory. But again, I love him for even throwing that out there.” And as per Jack Harris, the Dodgers beat writer for the LA Times, “Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani’s next start will be Tuesday in Arizona. That would keep him on track to make a potential start in the wild card round.”
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Ohtani’s dual role boosts Dodgers, but bullpen woes remain
After signing a massive 10-year, $700 million contract, Ohtani powered Los Angeles to a World Series title last year without even throwing a pitch. And this season, he returned to the mound and looks good in both roles. At the plate, he is hitting an incredible .338 with a .769 slugging percentage, seven homers, and 13 RBIs this month alone, and is on a pace for the league lead in home runs. And on the mound, he has posted a 3.29 ERA in his 13 starts.
And of course, the defending champions are far from a one-man show. Beyond Ohtani, they have two other superstars, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, in an anchor role. Teoscar Hernández and young outfielder Andy Pages are also adding depth. And most importantly, the rotation looks untouchable for the first time in so many years, with aces like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell.
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MLB owners approve sale of Rays to Zalupski group
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously Monday to approve the sale of the Tampa Bay Rays to group headed by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski, allowing the transfer from Stu Sternberg’s group to close.
The Rays said on Sept. 17 they expected the sale to close within two weeks.
Sternberg took control of the team from founding owner Vince Naimoli in November 2005 and rebranded it the Rays from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season. The Rays won AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020, and 2021, and twice reached the World Series — losing to Philadelphia in 2008, and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
The Rays in March withdrew from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal’s cost. The team said in June it had started talks about a potential sale.
Because of damage to Tropicana Field caused by Hurricane Milton last October, the Rays played home games this season across the bay at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The Rays went 41-40 for their ninth straight winning record at home.
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Playing home games in an open-air ballpark for the first time, the Rays experienced 17 rains delays over 16 games for a total of 17 hours, 47 minutes.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that he expects, under Zalupski, the Rays will start a new search for a new ballpark site in the Tampa-St. Pete area. Under Sternberg, the Rays announced plans for and then failed to move ahead with proposed ballparks at the Al Lang Stadium site in St. Petersburg (2007), Ybor City in Tampa (2018), and the site adjacent to the Trop in downtown St. Petersburg (2023).
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Tampa Bay started this season with an $81.9 million payroll, ahead of only the Athletics and Miami.
Playing at a 10,046-capacity ballpark, Tampa Bay had 61 sellouts and drew 786,750, down from 1,337,739 in 2024, when they were 28th among the 30 teams and ahead of only Miami and Oakland.
Tampa Bay is currently 29th in home attendance this year, ahead of only the Athletics, who are playing home games at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, Calif., while a new stadium expected to open in 2028 is built in Las Vegas. The Rays have completed their home schedule while the A’s have drawn 711,609 with six home games left.
Carlos Rodon Breaks Silence on Wife Ashley’s Constant Social Media Jabs at MLB Umpires
Earlier this month in Houston, during New York’s 8-4 win over the Astros on September 4, Ashley Rodon delivered a sharp critique of the umpiring crew. “The zone is absolutely horrendous the entire series. GESH,” she wrote on X, before following up with, “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS CREW.” Her frustration mounted further, as she added, “How are you supposed to know what the zone is as a hitter….. zero consistency at all.” Seems like Carlos Rodon’s wife never hesitates to say what Yankees fans are already thinking…
Her words came right after Carlos fought through six innings with Adrian Johnson behind the plate, surrendering just two runs on three hits while working around a strike zone that shifted from pitch to pitch. Adding to that, the same night also included a disputed call at third base. It was when Ryan McMahon appeared to secure Jose Altuve’s liner before losing the ball on the transfer. Third base umpire Brian Walsh ruled no catch, keeping the inning alive and eventually helping Houston trim the lead to 4-2.
Now, the spotlight has shifted when Carlos was asked directly about his wife’s habit of weighing in online. During a joint appearance, the host of Jomboy Media broached the subject with a light tone as she asked, “I would love to know how you got started on Twitter and kind of your thoughts about uh about what some of the stuff that she has to say.” Carlos kept his answer measured but supportive.
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“She’s my biggest fan… She’s also the biggest fan of the Yankees.” But his response came way later than Ashley’s frank answers.
“Well I think oh for him, he makes fun of me all the time. He acts like he doesn’t love it, but he loves it. I know. I’m wildly opinionated. Yeah. And I feel like he gets held accountable, and I think that’s very important, right? You’re held accountable for how you play. I always got frustrated when he was younger, and I was like ‘Man, no one’s holding this umpire accountable.’,” Mrs. Rodon replied to the host first.
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She explained further that her passion comes from the perspective of a fan. And that fan spirit goes unaffected even though she is married to one of the Yankees’ starting pitchers.
“I may know him, but I love the game, and it’s so fun, and I love getting to know people. I always tell Carlos. I will sit in the Bleachers. I don’t even care. Now I get to like really make fun of him. Yeah. Because we’re in a different position than we were before.” Then the response of Carlos Rodon came in.
When the host asked what more he could want, Rodon added simply, “Not much else. Not much else.”
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Ashley, then, closed the exchange with a brief reflection, “I think it’s incredible.” But this wasn’t the first and only instance that Ashley’s bold take created a buzz.
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How Ashley Rodon did not choose silence on bad calls
Back in May this summer, the New York Yankees faced a jarring setback in Sacramento as the Athletics capitalized on the unusual setting of Sutter Health Park. After a commanding 10-2 opening victory over the A’s, the Bombers suffered a surprising defeat in the second game despite Aaron Judge hitting two home runs. The stark contrast in outcomes drew pointed attention from Ashley Rodon.
Without concealing her frustration with the venue, she unapologetically wrote on X, “Criminal to play major league games in minor league parks.” Ashley tried to highlight how the environment might affect the players’ performance and the atmosphere of the game.
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Carlos Rodon, however, performed with precision and authority. He delivered 98 pitches, struck out ten, and maintained control of the game. And then he handed the ball off with a two-run lead.
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Yet, the Sutter Health Park, which accommodates approximately 14,000 fans compared with Yankee Stadium’s 46,000-plus, suggested a subtle psychological disadvantage for the visiting team. Ashley tried to note this gap. And while the Yankees remain a formidable squad, the unexpected loss in Sacramento posed questions about their hold on the ground in unconventional venues.
Don’t count Kansas City Chiefs among NFL dead just yet
The Kansas City Chiefs secured their first win of the season against the New York Giants, showing signs of overcoming an early slump.
Patrick Mahomes received more support from the offense, with multiple players contributing to the run and pass game.
Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton had a career night, helping to fill the void left by injured and suspended players.
Now that’s more like it.
Patrick Mahomes didn’t have to throw it and run it like crazy as the Kansas City Chiefs won their first game of the season on Sunday night.
Go ahead, Chiefs Kingdom. Exhale.
Mahomes had a notable supply of HELP! from a large cast of characters as the Chiefs took down the New York Giants, 22-9, at MetLife Stadium. No, the Chiefs offense hasn’t hit a playoff level. At least not yet. But there was progress. There’s a bit more hope as the Chiefs showed signs of snapping out of a distinct funk.
Shoot, the sight of a fiery Travis Kelce yapping at his venerable coach, Andy Reid, on the sideline might have been another indication that things might ultimately get back to normal for the team that has stumbled with an apparent Super Bowl hangover after the bid for an historic three-peat was denied in February.
And hey, Mahomes, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 224 yards, with a touchdown and zero picks on Sunday, rushed for all of 2 yards! The first two games, he led all NFL quarterbacks in rushing for 57 and 66 yards, which wasn’t the ideal stat for one of the game’s most electric passers.
Considering the misfiring during the first two games – and the load that Mahomes endured as the team’s leading rusher in both losses – the formula now seemingly has taken a turn toward the direction that you’d imagine has been Reid’s plan all along.
Look at all the contributors. Tyquan Thornton – who? – had a career night with five catches for 71 yards and demonstrated his ability to supply some of the big-play punch missing without Xavier Worthy (dislocated shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension). Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt combined to rush for 79 yards, which was more significant when considering each tallied 47 yards on the ground during the 0-2 start, when Mahomes ran for 123 yards. And JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kelce and Noah Gray divided up 15 catches. There was balance and purpose.
“We just want to play better,” Mahomes said during a postgame interview on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcast. “We haven’t played up to our standard.”
We know. For the first half on Sunday night, it was ragged, too. They settled for three Harrison Butker field goals and a fourth attempt that the kicker missed. The turnaround came after halftime. Maybe it will prove to be a pivotal moment if the Chiefs are able to play themselves back in the mix to perhaps win a 10th straight AFC West crown.
Why’s that? The Chiefs took the second half kickoff and produced a crisp, 11-play, 74-yard drive capped by Mahomes’ 5-yard TD toss to Thornton. In the fourth quarter, they went 77 yards on 9 plays, capped by Hunt’s 1-yard score. Two long TD drives can do wonders for the confidence of the unit.
Said Mahomes, “We had to clean it up.”
The work is far from complete for a unit trying to survive the absence of their big-play receivers. The Chiefs (1-2) will need to be even sharper next weekend, when the Baltimore Ravens visit with Lamar Jackson and an explosive offense that will challenge Mahomes & Co. to keep pace.
That’s a measuring stick that will likely say much more about whether the Chiefs are back in the mix as a top contender.
Simone Biles Reveals Stunning Diamond Update to $7,800 Bag on Jonathan Owens Game Day
Simone Biles is seemingly having a great time at the moment. With the gymnastics GOAT enjoying her time supporting her NFL boyfriend Jonathan Owens, she is making sure that her style statement is on point. In a recent Instagram post, a fan seemed to be utterly impressed by the manner in which Biles has been dressing up for the NFL games. On being asked about where she gets her cool gear, the Olympic gold medalist mentioned a number of companies. And one of them was ‘custom bling inc.’
Clearly, this was a huge achievement for the company. They immediately shared the screenshot on Instagram and posted, “Thank you! @simonebiles” However, the next story that they shared became an instant highlight. It was a custom-made diamond handbag from ‘Shear Gear.’ While the bag itself costs $7800, the customization would surely cost Biles much more. As the picture revealed, the luxury purse had the words, ‘BILES’ embedded on it in diamonds along with the Olympic logo.
This is a developing story…
Top 10 Best Players After NFL Week 3 Games: Caleb Williams & Jordan Davis Put Up Inspiring Performances
Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season brought fireworks on both sides of the ball, with breakout stars and clutch veterans stealing the spotlight. From Caleb Williams’ four-touchdown showcase to Jordan Davis’ walk-off score, the league was buzzing. Here are the top 10 players who truly owned the week.
Top 5 offensive players in week 3
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James Cook — RB, Buffalo Bills
Just a month ago, there was drama around James Cook’s contract. But now, the Bills must be feeling good. In Week 3, he ran the ball 19 times for 108 yards and scored a short touchdown. That was his seventh straight regular-season game with a rushing touchdown, tying a team record that’s only been matched three times before, last achieved by Robb Riddick in 1988.
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Tre Tucker — WR, Washington Commanders
Tre Tucker basically made Week 3 his personal highlight reel: eight catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns as Washington rolled the Raiders 41–24. Three TD catches in a single game? Insane. His route precision was arguably the most beautiful thing to see in week 3.
Caleb Williams — QB, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams has been carrying plenty of weight this season, sometimes looking like the only Bear awake on offense. But this week? He finally got some backup, and it made all the difference. Caleb Williams put on a big-time road show, going 19-of-28 for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Oh, and the show he put on also earned him Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game.
Daniel Jones — QB, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones finally proved why he won that QB1 battle against Anthony Richardson. To be fair, he has been proving that since the very first week. But the Colts QB genuinely exploded this week. He went 18-of-25 for 228 yards and a touchdown, keeping the Colts’ unbeaten streak alive. If he keeps at this pace, the Colts heading to the playoffs might no longer be a pipe dream.
Puka Nacua — WR, Los Angeles Rams
If it wasn’t clear before, Nacua has cemented himself as the Rams’ most dependable offensive weapon. Whether it’s production or gutting it out through injuries, he rarely lets the team down. Week 3 was next-level: 11 catches for 112 yards in what was an iconic matchup with the Eagles.
Top 5 defensive players in week 3
Chau Smith-Wade — CB, Carolina Panthers
He just had to be at the top. Big plays with the games. And Chau Smith-Wade arguably made the biggest play of the week. He picked off a pass from Atlanta QB Michael Penix Jr., the former Washington Huskies standout, and took it 11 yards to the house in the third quarter, helping the Panthers cruise to a 30–0 blowout over the Falcons on Sunday.
Doing this against what was supposed to be the league’s top offense? Yeah, that’ll put you at the very top of every ranking.
Nik Bonitto — OLB/Edge, Denver Broncos
Nik Bonitto’s Week 3 stat line — 4 tackles, 2 sacks in Denver’s nail-biter loss — is exactly the kind of performance that puts an edge rusher in the “impact player” conversation. Two sacks in one game can completely mess with the other team’s play-calling, and that alone is reason enough to bump him high on the week’s top-defensive rankings.
Rashan Gary — DE, Green Bay Packers
Rashan Gary turned up the heat on Sunday, racking up two sacks in Green Bay’s nail-biter. When a guy like that is consistently breathing down a QB’s neck, third downs get messy and offenses struggle to find their rhythm. No surprise he ended up as the Packers’ sack king on the day. He made things a lot harder for Joe Flacco than they should’ve been.
Jordan Davis — DT, Philadelphia Eagles
If you need a single play to sum up Week 3, this is it: Jordan Davis stuffed a 44-yard Joshua Karty field-goal attempt as time expired, scooped it up, and rumbled 61 yards for a walk-off touchdown to cap a furious Eagles comeback. One of the best plays of the season so far.
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Bobby Wagner — LB, Washington Commanders
Insider Doubts Ty Gibbs’ Leadership Skills After Tense Clash With Teammates
“I won’t take any more crap from my teammate.” These words are not exactly becoming of a potential proprietor of Joe Gibbs’ NASCAR enterprise. Valued at roughly $230 million, Joe Gibbs Racing has five Cup Series championships to its name. Legendary racers Bobby Labonte (2000), Tony Stewart (2002, 2005), and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) clinched these titles. However, a six-year drab streak is getting more unbearable for the team – although Ty Gibbs does not seem so bothered.
The Mobil 1 301 race unfolded at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Team Penske in the spotlight. But while Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano dominated the laps, the in-house drama of JGR spilled out and grabbed the limelight as well. The consequences involved a scrutiny-filled debate, mainly pointed at Ty Gibbs.
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No bed of roses for Ty Gibbs
Well, a fight within a NASCAR Cup Series team usually does not last long. The same may be the case in JGR, but the conflict that broke out on lap 111 on Sunday’s race speaks of deeper issues. In a recent episode of ‘The Teardown’, Jordan Bianchi dug out Ty Gibbs’ past instance of ignoring his team’s needs during the 2022 Xfinity Series title run. He said, “When you step back and look at it from a 30,000-foot perspective, this is emblematic of the issues within Joe Gibbs Racing and particularly the issues with the 54 team and its driver…You can go back to the Xfinity Series race a few years ago at Martinsville, where Ty Gibbs has put himself before the team. You know, he crashes his teammate, Brandon Jones, to win that race when he didn’t need to do it.”
Three years after wrecking Brandon Jones, Ty Gibbs has apparently not learned his lesson. Despite every track position being precious for his playoff teammates, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs did not give room. Although both Hamlin and Bell have thick cushions above the playoff cutline, Bianchi stressed that Gibbs needs to be more mature for his grandfather’s organization. He continued, “To me, this is an instance where if you’re going to be that driver, the leader of a team who’s going to carry this organization forward for the next 20 years, which is what Gibbs wants him to be, then you need to look at the bigger picture and step back…That seems to be escaping from Ty Gibbs a little bit in this situation.”
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Ty Gibbs won the In-Season Tournament this year, beating Ty Dillon after a string of solid finishes. But despite 2025 being his third full-time Cup Series season, the No. 54 Toyota driver has not won a race yet. Hence, that feeling of desperation seeped into his drive, as Jeff Gluck pointed out. “It’s obviously a tough situation in that Ty Gibbs has been fast lately, and he’s out there thinking, Hey, man, I got to go. I want to go win my first race and all that stuff.”
However, Gluck agreed with Bianchi in that Ty Gibbs needs to grow up. After all, Joe Gibbs is approaching his senior years, and somebody would need to take over the reins of the organization. Gluck continued, “He’s got to have the more holistic view of the whole company and what’s good for the whole company. You don’t just roll over for him. But to hold them up in the way he did and race them as hard as he did, um, I think it’s a bridge too far.”
While Ty Gibbs is clearly receiving the lion’s share of the scrutiny, Denny Hamlin is not outside of it, either. However, the latter tried to soothe things after the race.
Stressing his allegiance
Denny Hamlin is indeed passionate about finally achieving his elusive Cup Series title. For 19 long years, the Cup Series veteran has awaited the season when he would finally hoist the Bill France trophy. However, during the same time period, Hamlin has also been a steadfast driver for Joe Gibbs’ enterprise. He has clinched 59 trophies for the stellar team, being just one trophy shy of 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick’s tally. That is why he regretted ending the New Hampshire conflict with his teammate on an aggressive note.
After Ty Gibbs did not respond to Denny Hamlin’s warning bumps, the latter used his No. 11 Toyota to spin out the No. 54 into the outside wall. This wreck eventually eliminated Gibbs with a broken toe link after a failure in repairs. Yet Hamlin said post-race that whatever he did was not intentional, considering the bond he shares with Gibbs. “I have probably had more dialogue with him than any other teammate I have,” Hamlin said. “But yeah, he’s got so much to learn, and certainly, a very high ceiling of talent, but understanding down in the distance seems to be the struggle…I certainly did not want to spin out a teammate,” Hamlin said. “I was trying to get space to race, trying to get by the 54, and just got into it.”
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Evidently, the JGR fiasco has created widespread ripples across the garage. Let’s wait and see when Ty Gibbs makes up with his teammates and improves his reputation.
For one day at least, Chicago Bears looked like a real NFL team
The Chicago Bears defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-14, giving head coach Ben Johnson his first win.
Quarterback Caleb Williams matched his career high with four touchdowns and posted his best QB rating yet.
Chicago’s defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions on Dallas’ final three drives.
CHICAGO — This game is exactly what the Chicago Bears, and their fans, hoped for when they drafted Caleb Williams and hired Ben Johnson.
An explosive offense. An offense that’s fun to watch. An offense that can grind opposing defenses into submission. A defense that’s opportunistic. A defense that doesn’t beat itself.
Most of all, a team that can win.
“We have so many guys that care,” Williams said after Sunday’s 31-14 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys.
“We always felt that our hard work, our preparation, the long-drive drill, the two-minutes, the moments, the four-minute, situational third downs — all those things, those are going to come,” Williams said. “I know we started off 0-2, but the belief was still there. The trust was still there. It’s just being able to go out there and do it.”
One game is not enough to revive a franchise or declare Williams the quarterback the Bears have been searching for since before he was born. This was against the Cowboys, after all, a team that has given up a whopping 891 yards — 720 of them in the air — and eight touchdowns in the last two games and doesn’t yet have Jadeveon Clowney.
Still, for a team and a fan base starved for any sign of progress, this was a game they desperately needed.
Williams matched his career high with four touchdowns, earning fans free hot dogs Tuesday from The Wieners Circle, while posting his best QB rating (142.6) yet. He finished a game without a sack for the first time since the Bears made him the overall No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and Chicago did not have any turnovers or pre-snap penalties.
While Rome Odunze remains Williams’ favorite target, he threw to eight different receivers. Williams was able to get rid of the ball quickly — that he was able to pull off the flea flicker that resulted in a 65-yard touchdown to Luther Burden III is a miracle — and his footwork looked better. He made better decisions and, unlike previous games, most of his misses were to the right area.
The defense, meanwhile, set the tone on Dallas’ first possession. Javonte Williams had rushed for 22 yards and was trying to get out of bounds when Tyrique Stevenson ripped the ball from his hands.
Tom Brady still causing headaches for the NFL a decade after Deflategate | Opinion
The Bears D finished the game with interceptions on each of Dallas’ last three drives, two by Tremaine Edmunds.
“It builds confidence for us, as a team and an organization, to be able to go out here and win these games and feel confident about who we’ve got on this field,” Williams said.
Chicago fans have been punked by the Bears on a regular basis since 1985. There have been some years when they resembled a real football team — Lovie Smith took the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 and had a winning record in five of his nine season — but mostly it’s been long stretches of futility.
Particularly lately.
Chicago hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020 and has had a winning record once in the last 12 years. Johnson is the fifth head coach in that time, and Williams is the third QB the Bears have drafted in the first round since 2017.
But Johnson’s success as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, coupled with Williams’ talent and savvy, gave fans optimism that the Bears had finally gotten it right.
Then the season began.
The Bears gagged up an 11-point lead in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener, then got flattened by the Detroit Lions last weekend. Things were bad enough for a players’ only meeting before the Cowboys game.
And for The Wieners Circle, a local institution that specializes in hot dogs and sides of snark, to make its bet.
“The first two weeks had not gone the way we wanted to. It’s early, but we’ve got to get the issues fixed and I thought the guys were committed to that here this week,” said Johnson, who was given a game ball for his first win as a head coach.
Again, one game doesn’t make the Bears contenders for the Super Bowl. Or even the division title.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Gets Strong 6-Word Message From RGIII
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears finally showed up in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. When all was said and done, they came through with a dominant 31-14 win to improve to 1-2 on the young season.
Entering this week’s game, Williams was facing a lot of pressure. Fans and some media members had started calling for the Bears to consider benching him.
Despite all of the outside noise, the second-year quarterback locked in and turned in the best performance of his NFL career.
Read more: Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb Revealed
Throughout the course of the game, Williams completed 19 of his 28 pass attempts for 298 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also ran for 12 yards on five attempts.
That is exactly the kind of performance that Chicago needed to see from its young franchise quarterback. After a lot of frustration, there is finally some optimism surrounding the team and its signal caller.
Following the big-time performance from Williams, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III took to X to send a strong six-word message.
Kickers, special teams play key role in wild NFL Week 3
Jordan Davis and Will McDonald IV returned blocked field goals for touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns rallied from 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to stun Green Bay Packers on Andre Szmyt’s 55-yard game-winning field goal.
The Los Angeles Chargers improved to 3-0 on Cameron Dicker’s 32-yard field goal as time expired.
We’ve heard the declaration repeatedly for so many years: Special teams makes up one-third of the game.
Did you believe it?
Well, given drama across the NFL on Sunday, that axiom came to life as tried and so true.
Or maybe it’s something better explained by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. His squad squandered a 20-point lead and fell behind the New York Jets inside the final two minutes when Will McDonald IV went 50 yards on a scoop-and-score return of his blocked field goal.
Bowles, well, didn’t want to believe it.
“Excuse my language, but you’ve got to be (bleeping) be (bleeping) me,” Bowles said of his real-time reaction to the blocked kick. “Then, after that, you see how much time is on the clock and you calm down and you try to win the game.”
The Bucs (3-0) drove 48 yards to set up Chase McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal as time expired. On the day, McLaughlin booted five field goals – including two from 50-plus yards – to help Tampa Bay escape another close call. The Bucs are the first team since the 1970 merger to win with a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation in each of their first three games. Whew.
And the tight margin at Tampa was just one reminder of the special teams mantra. Kickers: It’s like you can’t live with them and can’t win without them.
I mean, all of this also happened on Sunday:
➤ The Rams blew a 19-point second-half lead, then had a would-be, 44-yard game-winning field goal blocked by Eagles D-tackle Jordan Davis, who returned it 61 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the 33-26 thriller at the Linc.
➤ The Browns rallied from a 10-point deficit to spring a 13-10 upset of the Packers – aided by Shelby Harris’ blocked field goal, which set up Andre Szmyt’s 55-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
➤ The Broncos lost on a field goal as time expired for the second consecutive week as Cameron Dicker’s 32-yard kick kept a perfect record intact for the Chargers with a 23-20 nailbiter. A week earlier, Denver lost after flagged for leverage on a missed field goal. Moving 15 yards closer for the re-kick, the Colts converted. This time, the Broncos were stung by a division rival. Tough losses.
➤ The 49ers beat a division rival, too, with a 35-yard field goal from Eddy Pineiro – his third of the game – as time expired to topple the Cardinals, 16-15.
Talk about close calls. Or angst among the gamblers.
None of this is automatic, even in an age where 50-yard field goals are increasingly (for some) becoming chip shots. Pineiro, after all, joined the 49ers in Week 2 as the replacement for Jake Moody, who had become too shaky to be trusted.
Szmyt, the Browns’ kicker, redeemed himself on Sunday after his 36-yard field goal attempt in crunch time sailed wide right in Week 1, thwarting the chance to upset the Bengals. He made up for it with the longest walk-off field goal in franchise history. Faith restored.
“He knows who he is,” Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said during his postgame news conference. “One moment doesn’t define you. He was just waiting for this opportunity to come again. We knew he was ready.”
The one-third-of-the-game axiom works both ways in another sense. Harris, Cleveland’s veteran defensive tackle, notched the seventh block kick of his 11-year career. That’s not coincidence.
“He always does it,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Like, he’s very aware of that football and he’s got great anticipation.”
One third of the game? In crunch time, the kicking game seems to be much larger than merely that. The Rams can vouch for it. Davis’ block of Joshua Karty’s 44-yard kick was Philadelphia’s second as it followed an earlier block of a 36-yard attempt by his fellow defensive tackle, Jalen Carter.
Apparently, both of the defensive tackles took advantage of a particular matchup.
“Yeah, Kevin Dotson was …” Rams coach Sean McVay said, referring to the sixth-year guard. “The reality is, is that we’ve got to execute better and credit to them, they made the plays. I’m not going to make any excuses.”
And he won’t dispute that special teams represents a third of the game – at least.
Trae Young & Patrick Beverley Beef Spills Into NFL While Pressure Mounts on Hawks Star
Trae Young is no stranger to heat, but even by his standards, this week was spicy. The Atlanta Hawks All-Star found himself entangled in a Twitter (X) spat that mixed NBA drama with NFL trolling. The Atlanta Falcons posted a side-by-side graphic of their 1-1 record against the Panthers’ 0-2 start with the caption “Game Day Ice.” Which seems innocent for a post, right?
Not exactly. The bottom half featured Young in sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool. Patrick Beverley, ever the agitator, re-shared it with a dig, writing, “and Just like that missed Field Goals and losing. i guess yal fit @PatBevPod.” And if you are not familiar with what caused this, Beverley, the veteran known for pestering legends, critiqued All Stars’ efforts earlier, claiming stars sometimes coast. To which Trae Young replied with a classy “Relax. Let us speak for ourselves.”
Young then also shot back with an 11-minute, 56-second video titled “You know the bar…,” disassembling Beverley point by point, mocking his 2022 Play-In celebration, and asserting: “I promise you, anytime you was on the court with me, I was never scared of you. I was never scared of Patty Bev.” He even dropped Drake’s “Tuscan Leather” to close the mic-drop moment with, “Bench players talking like starters, I hate it.” Now, the Hawks’ point guard isn’t just defending pride.
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His career numbers back him with a four-time All-Star, 2024 assist leader, and career averages of 25.3 points and 9.8 assists. At 27, Young is already a cornerstone of Atlanta’s offense. But Beverley’s dig lands differently as the Hawks have yet to translate Young’s brilliance into sustained playoff success. Since the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run, Atlanta has rotated coaches twice, traded key pieces like John Collins and Dejounte Murray, and missed postseason continuity. Off the court, that pressure is just as real.
ESPN’s Sam Vecenie calls this “the most important season of Trae Young’s career,” a sentiment echoed by Bryce Simon. The roster is optimized around Young’s skill with Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and options like Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Dyson Daniels. Vecenie emphasizes Young’s opportunity to thrive as a healthy season could trigger a major contract next summer, possibly a max extension.
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“Somebody’s going to give Trae real money in the offseason next year, and they’re going to do it over term. So, if he stays healthy this year, that option’s gone. Like, there’s no way that he’s doing that,” he said.
“The other thing is here, they could just extend him at the end of the day. Like, they could very well just extend him, and that can change things. But the fact that he does not have really a deal past this year, he has a like he has a safety valve is what I would say with the player option for himself.” Now, beyond the back-and-forth, back to how the Atlanta Hawks have constructed a roster around Young designed to maximize his ceiling.
Peak performance pressure for Trae Young
Sam Vecenie points out that very factor. According to him, “This roster is built to let him live in the paint, use his ball screens, and execute floaters with ease.” Kristaps Porzingis provides spacing and pick-and-pop versatility, a weapon against defenders who don’t respect his perimeter game. Dyson Daniels and Tyson Daniels anchor perimeter defense, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker adds two-way consistency. Backup center Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson round out a group optimized for transition and efficiency.
Young’s durability is the key here. The Hawks have offered him the structure to thrive offensively, but his contract adds pressure. Signed through this year on a $215 million contract with a player option, Young is expected to command max-level money in 2026. That overshadowing decision makes this season a personal proving ground. Still, Young carries the weight of expectations.
After Atlanta’s surprise run to the 2021 Conference Finals, the league is no longer shocked by his feats. Fans and analysts alike expect a playoff-worthy season. Vecenie says, “Trae is built for this. He loves the pressure.” The stakes are personal and professional. If he stays healthy, Young could redefine his free-agent value for 2026. The player option safety net may exist, but the elite contracts that will come next summer are too tempting to ignore.
The Beverley spat only adds fuel to the fire, though. For Young, it’s both motivation and a reminder that optics matter. Atlanta’s front office has built him a team capable of highlighting his strengths. The Hawks are constructing a narrative around him, but success isn’t guaranteed. If Atlanta falters, clips of Young’s pointed rebuttal to Beverley will dominate social feeds.
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But if the Hawks meet expectations, Young will silence critics, solidify his All-NBA candidacy, and command his future contract on his terms. This tension, between individual brilliance and external critique, defines not just Trae Young’s 2025-26 campaign but potentially the trajectory of the franchise.
Fans are watching closely. Critics are talking. And Trae Young? He’s preparing to prove that both the NBA and, apparently, the NFL can’t question his dominance.
Bears’ defense holds players-only meeting after brutal performance against Lions, bounces back vs. Cowboys
Disgusted by the ugly start to the season, Bears safety Jaquan Brisker said he and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett called a players-only meeting for the defense Wednesday. It helped rally them to a 31-14 win over the Cowboys on Sunday.
The majority of that conversation was about refocusing the group on playing to its standards after blowing a 17-6 lead in the fourth quarter against the Vikings and getting battered 52-21 by the Lions.
“We’re talking about being the best defense in Bears’ history and in the league top-five — you can’t give up 50 points,” Brisker said. “We had to get everything off our chest and be on the same page.”
That same day, Ben Johnson scolded the Bears because the Lions “played a little bit harder than us” and said, “Our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team.”
The Bears held the Cowboys to 3-for-11 on third downs, 1-for-4 converting touchdowns in the red zone and got four takeaways: Stevenson’s strip, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ two interceptions and safety Kevin Byard’s interception.
Prescott completed 31 of 40 passes for 251 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception for an 80.3 passer rating. Montez Sweat and Dominique Robinson each sacked him.
NFL Week 3 announcers come through during game-winning, blocked kicks
Week 3 of the NFL season featured several exciting broadcasting moments, including game-winning calls and booth antics.
Joe Davis and Greg Olsen called another thrilling game, culminating in a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.
Tom Brady provided insightful analysis on a flea-flicker play during the Bears game.
For a minute there, Week 3 was shaping up to be a snoozer. Then somebody finally got a hold of the
Travis Kelce Fined Over $14,000 for ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ at NFL Game
Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, was officially fined $14,491 by the NFL for his actions during the Sept. 14 game against the Philadelphia Eagles that took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The 35-year-old reportedly made an “obscene gesture” after completing a 23-yard reception, which led the NFL to fine him, as reported by NFL Sports.
Sports journalist Tom Pelissero shared a video of the moment along with the NFL’s ruling on the fine, writing, “The NFL fined #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce $14,491 for unsportsmanlike conduct/obscene gestures last week. The gesture was … well, you can figure it out.”
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In the clip, after completing the run, Kelce can be seen excitedly gesturing to the lower half of his body. This specific action led to the fine from the NFL.
Kelce is reportedly allowed to repeal the decision through an official process, if he wishes, although there’s no word on whether or not Kelce intends to do so.
News of the ruling from the NFL came the day before the Chiefs’ next game on Sunday, Sept. 21, against the New York Giants.
Related: Miley Cyrus Makes Rare Comment on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship
On Sept. 14, the Chiefs ended up losing to the Eagles with a score of 17 to 20, and during the game, Kelce seemed visibly frustrated.
The football star reflected on his performance on the next episode of his podcast with his brother, Jason, called New Heights. During the episode, Kelce referred to one particular play near the end of the game, when the other team intercepted the ball.
Sharing his thoughts on how the play went wrong, Kelce said, “It’s frustrating, man. I’ve scored on that play a million times in my life.”
“It’s something that should have never happened and then it cost us big time and that s–t hurts, but we’ll get it fixed,” he concluded, ending with a positive perspective on the future for his team.
Jason also asked his brother about the expectation the Chiefs have to do well, and whether they’re putting too much pressure on themselves to win so early in the season.
Kelce earnestly replied, “You know how good you could be, and you know, when things aren’t going smooth and the plays aren’t being made, you try and turn into Superman or you try and do too much…There’s a little bit of that, at least from me. I definitely felt that.”
Russell Wilson struggles mightily as Giants fall to Chiefs
In this battle of two winless NFL teams, most certainly would have viewed the Giants as less likely to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.
They would have been correct.
After hanging with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for much of the first half, the Giants ultimately fell short yet again in a dreary 22-9 loss Sunday night in their home opener before an already-restless crowd at MetLife Stadium.
Only six teams since the 1970 merger — and one in the 2000s, the 2018 Texans — have reached the playoffs after dropping their first three games.
But to invoke that legendary quote in NFL lore, “Playoffs?!”
CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND GIANTS STATS
Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson managed just 39 of his 160 passing yards in the first half for the Giants after throwing for a career-high 450 in last week’s OT loss to the Cowboys.
He was also picked off twice, including once in the end zone in the second quarter.
Some fans in attendance at the home opener predictably chanted “We Want Dart” late in the first half for first-round pick Jaxson Dart.
The rookie got on the field for one running play (a three-yard scramble) early in the third quarter and two more handoffs in the fourth before Wilson returned to boos.
Cam Newton Salutes Cam’Ron Over Adrien Broner Interview
“Hey, Cam’Ron. Hey, real talk, bro. I appreciate what you did. It’s needed,” Newton said.
He argued that while toxic moments often go viral in the culture, acts of accountability like Cam’Ron’s should be highlighted just as much. “Number one, you got to respect people’s platform. But above that, you got to respect people’s boundaries. I don’t care who you are.”
Newton stressed that his comments weren’t rooted in animosity toward Broner, noting he remains a fan, but made clear the boxer crossed a line.
“AB, you know better than that, dog. Because if that was one of your baby mamas. If that was your sister, your cousin, your mama, your auntie… and somebody clearly told another person, ‘Hey, bro, chill,’ you’d want that respect.”
Cam Newton On Cam’Ron & Adrien Broner
“Everything ain’t a joke,” he said, pointing out that such behavior mirrors what women experience far too often.
Newton also underscored the importance of strong circles, saying friends should step in when boundaries are being ignored. “Everybody needs a tribe around them that serves their best interests,” he said, adding that accountability sometimes requires difficult truths.
Newton applauded Cam’Ron for protecting both Wilson and the integrity of his platform. “Respectfully, dog, you got to go,” Newton said, paraphrasing the moment. “Because now you disrespected me, you violating our platform.”
Malik Nabers Turns to Giants Legend Odell Beckham Jr. After Brian Daboll Addressed WR’s Struggles
Amid that quiet, damp aftermath of a 22-9 gutting by the Chiefs, a curious tableau formed outside the Giants’ locker room. According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, former greats Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Pierce stood there, two pillars of the franchise’s turbulent past, sharing what she called “a very interesting conversation” with a wide-eyed rookie, Malik Nabers. It was a post-game huddle with legends.
The thing is, the Giants’ offense had just endured an act of pure, unadulterated futility. And no one felt the sting quite like Nabers. On a night when his team couldn’t get anything going, the star WR, fresh off a Week 2 eruption, was held without a catch until the fourth quarter. It was a statistical anomaly, a blip on an otherwise explosive radar, and head coach Brian Daboll was quick to point the finger at his own unit. “We have to do a better job of that,” Daboll said, addressing Nabers’ lack of involvement. The coach’s words were a clinical diagnosis for what felt like a deeper, more existential malaise.
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The offense, Daboll would later lament, was “probably a collection of everything bad.” And the numbers back that up, Nabers, who had never logged fewer than four receptions in a game, finished the night with a measly 2 catches for 13 yds.
This is a developing story….
NHL Status Report: Schaefer to make debut in Islanders preseason opener
New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer will play for the New York Islanders in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sunday. The 18-year-old defenseman was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft despite being limited to 17 games last season with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League because of a broken collarbone sustained Dec. 27 while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and was plus-21 for Erie.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Max Domi practiced with the Maple Leafs on Sunday for the first time in training camp. The forward sustained a lower-body injury during offseason training and had been held out of practice. He will not be in the lineup for Toronto’s preseason opener at the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin has not skated at camp for precautionary reasons, but coach Rod Brind’Amour said there’s no cause for concern for the defenseman.
Where to watch the Red Wings ‘Red & White Game’ in Grand Rapids for free
Many of today’s Red Wings and future NHL stars will be in action on Sunday afternoon, as players from the Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins will combine for the Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
This will be the first time the Red Wings will take to the ice in GR since the last edition of the event, all the way back in 2011. It will be the fifth Red & White Game in the team’s history, and the fourth since the Griffins became Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate in 2002.
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The game will consist of two 20-minute periods, followed by a shootout. Stars like Patrick Kane, Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and more will be on the ice with the likes of prospects Nate Danielson and Sebastian Cossa.
It is an excellent opportunity for fans to see their current Red Wings heroes get a chance to play with future stars on the same sheet of ice in a friendly preseason contest.
RED & WHITE GAME
When: Sunday, September 21
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Channel: WXSP-TV
Check out the NHL standings and results on NHL.com
Buy Red Wings gear: Fanatics, Amazon, Lids
Buy Red Wings tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster
Stream Red Wings games live: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream
How to watch New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers: Time, TV, Channel for NHL Preseason
The New Jersey Devils begin their preseason slate on Sunday against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The game will be broadcast at 1 p.m. on MSG.
You can watch with a subscription to fuboTV or DirecTV, which both offer a free trial.
You can also watch select games this season on ESPN Ultimate. To watch national broadcasted games on TNT, you can watch via DirecTV or SlingTV.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NHL
Who: Rangers vs. Devils
When: Sept. 21, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Prudential Center
TV: MSG
Live stream: fuboTV or DirecTV
Here’s an NHL story from the AP:
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Tom Fitzgerald knows what the ultimate end result will be in the New Jersey Devils’ contract dispute with unsigned restricted free agent Luke Hughes.
“We will be signing him,” the longtime general manager said Thursday.
Eventually. Still, Hughes does not have a contract for the upcoming NHL season and, as a result, is not at training camp. The same goes for Anaheim’s Mason McTavishand Nashville’s Luke Evangelista, and while opening night is still more than two weeks away, not having young players on the ice for practice sessions is less than ideal for all parties involved.
“I do believe every day you lose, it is an impact on a player,” Fitzgerald said. “So, from our end, yeah there’s urgency to get him here or to continue to strive to that common goal of getting a deal. I believe on their end, too, there’s some urgency.”
Like Fitzgerald, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek expressed disappointment about not having McTavish around. The 22-year-old forward returned home and was reportedly skating with the junior Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League, rather than spending time at the rink with new coach Joel Quenneville and his staff.
“We have virtually a whole new coaching staff, and the group is really excited like I’ve never seen before,” Verbeek said. ”There’s a new system that’s getting implemented. There’s a lot of things to learn, and it takes a lot of reps to get it under each player’s belt. So, when Mason gets here, he’s got a lot of catching up to do.”
Evangelista might not have the high-end-prospect expectations of Hughes or McTavish, but with the Predators looking to get back to the playoffs after being arguably the biggest bust in the league last season, they’d like to have their full group on the ice as soon as possible. A deal of some sort needs to get done first.
“We’re in sort of a daily process,” GM Barry Trotz said. “Obviously we love Luke and that, so we’re going to work through that and see if we can get him here.”
Hughes, a brother of Jack, the Devils’ top center, could have a big role in New Jersey whenever he gets there. Work remains on hammering out a contract, though Fitzgerald did not express concern about fitting Hughes in with the remaining cap space the Devils have.
Fitzgerald said he and agent Pat Brisson are grinding through negotiations, and that he texted with Hughes on Wednesday, “knowing that we will get through this at some point.”
“We just don’t know when that point is,” Fitzgerald said. “The top priority is signing Luke Hughes to a long-term deal, and that’s our goal. It hasn’t changed.”
There are only two other unsigned restricted free agents. Vegas’ Alexander Holtz is in camp on a professional tryout agreement until a contract is agreed on, while Rasmus Kupari, whose rights are owned by Winnipeg, is signed to play this season in Switzerland.
Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon does not anticipate any kind of problem getting Holtz signed.
“It’s an important camp for Alex,” McCrimmon said. ”Sometimes those players don’t participate in camp. I think everybody agreed it was best for him that he did, so that’s his status.”
Hall of Famer Bernie Parent, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cup titles, dies at 80
Bernie Parent, the Hall of Famer considered one of the great goalies of all time who anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ only two Stanley Cup championships during their Broad Street Bullies heyday, has died. He was 80.
The Flyers made the announcement Sunday but provided no immediate details. Parent died overnight in his sleep, said Joe Watson, a star defenseman on their Stanley Cup teams.
Watson said by phone that he saw Parent and other former Flyers players at a function on Friday night in Delaware.
“Bernie was in such pain, he could hardly walk,” Watson said, citing Parent’s bad back. “We had a great time, but I felt bad because he was in such terrible pain. To see this happen, it’s very sad.”
Parent’s steel-eyed stare through his old-school hockey mask landed him on the cover of Time magazine in 1975 when the Flyers reigned as one of the marquee teams in sports. He won Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies in back-to-back seasons when the Flyers captured the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, the first NHL expansion team to win the championship.
“The legend of Bernie Parent reached far beyond the ice and his accolades,” the Flyers said in a statement. “Bernie had a deep love for Philadelphia and fans of the Flyers. He was passionate about his role as an ambassador for Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and inspired an entire generation of hockey fans. He dedicated his time, energy and enthusiasm to not only grow the game, but also to spread joy to anyone he encountered.”
After he made his NHL debut with Boston in 1965, Parent was left unprotected by the Bruins in the 1967 expansion draft and was selected by the Flyers. After 3 1/2 seasons, he was traded to Toronto but ended up back in Philadelphia ahead of the 1973-74 season. He won a league-high 47 games that season and led the NHL in wins again the next season with 44.
He retired with the Flyers in 1979 after 271 wins — 231 of them with the Flyers — over a 13-year career. Parent was accidentally struck in the right eye with a stick in 1979 and was temporarily blinded. He never played again.
The Flyers beat the Bruins in six games to win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and beat Buffalo in 1975. Parent had shutouts in the clinchers each season.
On the flight home from Buffalo, the Flyers plopped the Stanley Cup in the middle of the aisle. For close to 90 minutes, they couldn’t take their eyes off hockey’s ultimate prize.
“We were able to just sit back, look at the Stanley Cup and just savour it,” Parent said in 2010. “It was just a special time.”
With Parent the unstoppable force in net, “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent,” became a popular slogan in Philadelphia that stuck with him through the decades.
Parent, team captain Bobby Clarke and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz all became stars for the Flyers under owner Ed Snider in an era when the team was known for its rugged style of play that earned the Bullies nickname. They embraced their moniker as the most despised team in the NHL and pounded their way into the hearts of Flyers fans. More than 2 million fans packed Philadelphia streets for each of their championship parades.
“We always felt comfortable with Bernie in the net,” said former Flyers winger and enforcer Bob Kelly. “He would challenge the guys in practice. He’d stop the puck and throw it back at you and say, ‘go ahead, try and catch this one.’ He was the first guy to jump in line to help another teammate if they needed it. He was a real testament to what a team player is all about.”
Parent’s No. 1 jersey was retired by the Flyers and still hangs in the rafters of their arena and in 1984 he became the first Flyers player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is still the Flyers’ career leader in shutouts with 50.
Parent remained connected with the team over the years as an ambassador.
“He was so good with people,” said Watson, who first met Parent in 1963. “A lot of athletes don’t get it or don’t give fans the time of day. Bernie gave everyone the time of day. He’d always have his rings on. He’d show them to the people and people loved to see them. This past Friday in Delaware, people were coming up, they wanted to see the rings. People were so excited to see him. He had a great sense of humor. Bernie was a funny guy.”
The final career highlight came in 2011 when Parent was in the net for an alumni game outdoors at the baseball stadium Citizens Bank Park ahead of the NHL Classic. “Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!” echoed throughout the park for the affable goalie, who played 5 minutes, 32 seconds and stopped all six shots. Each save made the “Bernie!” chants return.
Parent was the second Hall of Fame goaltender to die this month following the loss of Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden. Dryden helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles in the 1970. He died at 78 after a fight with cancer.
“They’re big losses,” Watson said. “They were just prime, super goaltenders.”
Blues evaluating multiple forwards for roster spots
While the NHL preseason is for most fans a low-stakes affair as the results of games don’t matter for the standings, they are often extremely high-stakes affairs for many of the players involved – many of whom are looking to secure a spot in the NHL for the upcoming season. The competition for limited roster spots is often fierce, and one of the fiercest appears to be playing out in St. Louis, where four forwards of varying experience and talent levels are competing for three roster spots. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford indicated that PTO signee Milan Lucic, 2023 first-rounder Dalibor Dvorsky, and veterans Mathieu Joseph and Alexandre Texier are competing for a likely three roster spots between them.
Out of that group, the clear “odd one out” appears to be Lucic, who is playing in camp on a PTO. According to Rutherford, the Blues believe Lucic could help in a few specific areas they’d like to improve, namely “physicality and sticking up for teammates.” But Rutherford reports that Lucic’s start to camp has been “nondescript” and that those areas where he can make his mark aren’t really things that factor into a practice setting. With just four NHL games played since 2022-23, Lucic faces a steep uphill battle to win a roster spot, especially since Rutherford noted that two of his main competitors, Joseph and Texier, were “two of the more noticeable forwards” in the early portion of camp in St. Louis.
Some other notes from the Western Conference:
Sept. 21: NHL Preseason Roundup
The New York Rangers scored four goals in the second period in a 5-3 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday.
Dylan Roobroeck had a goal and an assist, and Jonathan Quick stopped 12 of 13 shots for the Rangers before being relieved by Dylan Garand midway through the second period. Garand made 13 saves.
Brian Halonen and Arseniy Gritsyuk each had a goal and an assist, and Jake Allen stopped nine of 10 shots in the first period for the Devils. Nico Daws allowed four goals on 13 shots in relief.
It was the preseason opener for each team.
Gabe Perreault gave New York a 1-0 lead at 3:12 of the first period with a wrist shot from the slot after a feed from Casey Fitzgerald.
Halonen tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 10:55, one-timing Dennis Cholowski’s pass from above the left face-off circle.
Roobroeck put the Rangers back in front 2-1 at 3:11 of the second period on a rebound of Matt Rempe’s backhand attempt.
A sixth-round pick (No. 178) by New York at the 2023 NHL Draft, Roobroeck had 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 72 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season, his first as a pro.
Conor Sheary gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead when he scored on a breakaway at 11:45, and Scott Morrow made it 4-1 at 13:29.
Paul Cotter cut it to 4-2 at 15:52 on a backhand, but Jonny Brodzinski scored on a rebound at 16:53 to make it 5-2.
Gritsyuk scored a power-play goal at 18:20 of the third period for the 5-3 final.
NHL news: Flyers legend Bernie Parent who won 2 Stanley Cups dead at 80
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Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent, a Philadelphia Flyers legend who backstopped the franchise to its only two Stanley Cup titles, has died at 80.
The Flyers announced Parent’s death on Sunday, though no details were released. Former teammate Joe Watson said Parent died in his sleep overnight.
NHL Top Players: Nos. 30-21
NHL Network is getting ready for this season by ranking the top 50 players in the League right now. Researchers, producers and on-air personalities compiled their list, and players 30-21 were revealed on Sunday in the seventh of a nine-part series. Here is the list:
30. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
The 25-year-old captain of the Sabres had 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists) in 73 games last season along with 21 power-play points while averaging 24:14 of ice time per game. Dahlin has had at least 50 points and 20 power-play points in four straight seasons. The defenseman had 101 hits and 98 blocked shots last season and tied his career high with a shooting percentage of 8.5 percent.
29. Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets
Over the past three seasons, Morrissey has been an offensive force with 76, 69 and 62 points, finishing in the top five in Norris Trophy voting twice. He had 14 goals, 48 assists, a plus-17 rating and 22 power-play points in 80 games last season, leading Winnipeg in ice time per game (24:23). His 113 blocked shots were second on the team behind defenseman Dylan Samberg (120). The 30-year-old defenseman helped the Jets allow an NHL-low 191 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) during the regular season in 2024-25 and has also been durable, missing only 10 games over the past four seasons.
28. Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
Suzuki had an NHL career-high 89 points (30 goals, 59 assists) in 82 games last season, the center’s fourth straight 20-goal, 60-point season. The 26-year-old Canadiens captain also has not missed a game the past five seasons and has increased his point total each of the past four seasons. He also has 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 37 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
27. Artemi Panarin, F, New York Rangers
Panarin has led the Rangers in scoring in each of his six seasons with the team. Last season the 33-year-old left wing led New York in goals (37), assists (52), points (89), power-play goals (eight) and shots on goal (237). Since joining the Rangers, he’s fourth in the NHL with 550 points (186 goals, 364 assists) in 430 games, with at least 89 points in four straight and five of the past six seasons. The only other players with four straight seasons with at least 89 points are Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
26. Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
Shesterkin’s 2.86 goals-against average and .905 save percentage last season were each the worst of his six NHL seasons, showing how dominant he has been. The 29-year-old was 27-29-5 with six shutouts (tied for second in NHL) following three straight seasons when he won at least 36 games. That included 2021-22, when he won the Vezina Trophy as the League’s best goalie and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL MVP, after leading the NHL in GAA (2.07) and save percentage (.935; minimum 20 games). Shesterkin also leads the NHL in postseason save percentage over the past four seasons (.929, minimum 15 games played).
25. Kyle Connor, F, Winnipeg Jets
Connor was seventh in the NHL with a career-high 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists) in 82 games last season. The 28-year-old left wing tied for seventh in the League in goals and set a personal best in assists, both of which led Winnipeg. It was his second 40-goal season (47, 2021-22) and his fourth consecutive 30-goal season. Since becoming a full-time NHL player in 2017-18, he’s scored at least 25 goals all eight seasons, and his 282 goals during that span are eighth in the NHL.
24. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets
Scheifele entered the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers record books when he scored 1:33 into overtime for a 2-1 home victory against the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 24. The goal was his 329th, moving him past Ilya Kovalchuk for the most in franchise history. The 32-year-old center had 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) in 82 games last season to help the Jets go a League-best 56-22-4 to win the Presidents’ Trophy.
23. Sam Reinhart, F, Florida Panthers
Reinhart helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season, leading them in goals (39) and points (81) in 79 regular-season games and tying for the Florida lead during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 21 games. The 29-year-old also was runner-up to teammate Aleksander Barkov in voting for the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the League. Reinhart has scored at least 31 goals in all four of his seasons with the Panthers after never scoring more than 25 in his first seven NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. His 160 goals since the start of 2021-22 are eighth in the NHL.
22. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
In his first season as Lightning captain, Hedman had 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) and 26 power-play points in 79 games. His 23:05 of ice time per game led the team, and his 133 blocked shots were second to defenseman Ryan McDonagh (152). Hedman, 34, won the Norris Trophy in 2017-18 and was a finalist six straight seasons from 2016-22. During that stretch, he was named to the NHL First All-Star team once and the Second All-Star team five times. He is the Lightning’s all-time leader among defensemen in games (1,131), goals (171), assists (623) and points (794), and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP in 2020, when he helped them win the Stanley Cup for the first of two straight seasons.
21. Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
Heiskanen led the Stars in ice time per game (25:10) last season although he was limited due to an injury; he didn’t play in the regular season after Jan. 28 and didn’t return until the second round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 50 regular-season games and is two seasons removed from a career-high 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) in 79 games. He has helped Dallas advance to the conference final each of the past three seasons and had 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 27 games in the 2020 playoffs, the sixth-most points by a defenseman in a single postseason.
Veteran Jack Johnson looking to stick with Wild defenders
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Some players would turn off their phone for a few hours when out to dinner for a special occasion. But when a ring from his agent interrupted Jack Johnson and his wife Kelly’s evening celebrating their 10th anniversary in early July, it turned out to be a call worth taking.
The news was that after 19 NHL seasons, Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin was wondering if the veteran defenseman was interested in a chance to try out with the Wild.
“My agent called to say ‘great conversation with Billy.’ I’ve known (Guerin) since my days in Pittsburgh, and he said he was interested,” Johnson said, after his second day of Wild training camp. “Then it just kind of came to fruition later on in the summer, and I was excited to have a great conversation with him. I know coach (John) Hynes and Billy really well, and I was really comfortable with them and excited about it, and appreciated the opportunity.”
At age 38, with more than 1,200 NHL games on his resume, Johnson has seen and done it all during stops with the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets (twice), Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche (twice), Chicago Blackhawks and now the Wild.
Johnson was one of the veterans on the ice Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the Wild opened the preseason with a 3-2 overtime win over the Jets.
Minnesota trailed 2-0 early but got two goals from Yakov Trenin — including the winner after the Wild killed an overtime penalty — and another from Hunter Haight. Jesper Wallstedt had 21 saves for the Wild, who travel to Dallas for their second preseason game on Tuesday.
“I thought (Trenin) really skated well. I think he has had a good camp,” Hynes said after the game. “He has come back in phenomenal shape. He looks more comfortable with the puck this year, and the way he scored the two goals, he was right in around the net front. He has got a very good release, and he snapped those two home.”
Johnson logged more than 17 minutes of ice time and showed Hynes both offense and defense. He zipped a pass to the net front that led to the Wild’s second period goal, and delivered a noisy rub-out check on Jets forward Brad Lambert in the third period.
“I thought Jack was solid tonight. He moved the puck well under pressure on our breakouts, and he moved it simple and effective, which is what we want,” Hynes said. “From a defensive standpoint, he was physical when he needed to be, so another good start for him.”
While he came to Minnesota with no promises or guarantees in hand, having agreed only to a professional tryout contract, the Wild have dealt with myriad injuries in the past two seasons.
With veteran Jonas Brodin working to return from offseason surgery, and rookie Zeev Buium missing early training camp practices due to injury, the window of opportunity for Johnson to earn an opening night roster spot seemed to open just a bit.
“Obviously he has great experience, so you can tell as a player that he’s attentive,” Hynes said early in training camp. “I think his details are good, because he’s coming in learning on the fly, and it’s a tryout situation. So I thought his effort in practices has been good, and I think he’s gathering the information that we’re giving these guys, and he’s able to execute it right away.”
Born in Indianapolis and raised in suburban Detroit, Johnson’s journey to elite-level hockey began in Minnesota.
He spent three seasons – eighth, ninth and 10th grades – at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, skating with teammates such as Zach Parise and Sidney Crosby, before moving to USA Hockey’s National Team Development program, then playing two seasons of college hockey at Michigan.
Johnson was the third overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft, and was a member of Colorado’s Stanley Cup-winning squad in 2022.
If things work out with the Wild, Johnson admitted he’s hoping to take an off day visit to Shattuck and reconnect with coach Troy Ward.
The tryout in Minnesota is not new territory for Johnson, who made the Colorado roster in a similar situation four years ago, and ended up with his name on the game’s most coveted trophy. He sees some parallels with the Wild, early in training camp.
“I think this team’s looking to get over a hump and contend for the Stanley Cup, and I’ve been fortunate to be on a couple of teams that go in with the expectations of going for the Stanley Cup,” he said. “I’m just looking to be a piece and help out in any way I can, whether it’s on the ice or in the locker room, off the ice, away from the rink, kind of helping with what I know that it takes to get to that place that you want to be.”
Although he was not aware of it until a reporter pointed it out, Johnson needs to play in 29 more regular season games to move ahead of former Minnesota North Stars mainstay Craig Ludwig into fifth place on the NHL’s list of career games played by an American defenseman.
The preseason games don’t count, but as Hynes and Guerin look to assemble the right mix of experience and youth on their blue line, it’s clear that Johnson has a shot to be in the mix. And for that, he is thankful.
“At the end of the day, it’s hockey. And I love to play. I’m excited, I love to compete,” Johnson said. “I’m just appreciative of the opportunity. And you know, I still feel like I’ve got some left in the tank, and I’m just excited to be out there.”
NHL top 50: See where Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen landed
The NHL season will be here before you know it.
The Stars drop the puck on their 2025-26 season on Oct. 9, looking to take the next step after three straight seasons have come up short in the Western Conference finals.
To do that, they’ll need big players, and according to NHL Network’s hockey experts, they’ve got ‘em.
The network began its annual countdown of the top 50 players in hockey, starting with Nos. 30-21 on Sunday.
Miro Heiskanen landed at No. 21. Just a couple spots below his ranking at No. 19 in 2024.
Despite missing part of the campaign with a knee injury, Heiskanen elevated Dallas when he returned in the postseason. Heiskanen appeared in 50 games during the regular season, posting 25 points (five goals, 20 assists).
“[Heiskanen] has helped Dallas advance to the conference final each of the past three seasons and had 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 27 games in the 2020 playoffs, the sixth-most points by a defenseman in a single postseason,” NHL.com said.
Who was the first Dallas Star to appear on the list? That would be Jason Robertson at No. 49. Robertson comes in one spot above the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, Alex Ovechkin at No. 50.
Robertson is coming off another stellar season for the Stars in which he played all 82 games, the third straight season he’s had perfect attendance. He led the team in goals with 35 and was second in points with 80.
Despite the nice season, Robertson sees a drop on the top 50 list, having come in at No. 23 last year. As NHL Network’s crew attested, if 35 goals and 80 points is Robertson’s “down” year, he’s doing pretty good.
“I think he was the player we think he can be in the second half [of the season],” former NHL goaltender Cory Schneider said. “He might’ve fallen down this list a bit because of the way he started, but the way he finished is who I think he is as a player.”
Robertson scored 25 of his 35 goals in the second half of last season. His heater continued into the playoffs when, after missing the first round vs. the Avalanche due to a leg injury, he came back strong with six goals over the next two rounds against the Jets and the Oilers.
His strong season paid off, as in August, Robertson was one of the 44 players to attend the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp.
“He’s good enough to be on [the Olympic team], I think he should be on that team, ”Schneider said. “If he starts the year the way he finished it, that’s the big question — but he’s got the talent for sure, on a really good team, and that always helps, too.”
This post will be updated as more Dallas Stars are announced to NHL’s top 50 players.
Nets could have the youngest roster in NBA history
After making history by becoming the first team ever to select five players in the first round of a draft, the Brooklyn Nets will begin the challenge of integrating all those new faces into the program when training camp opens this week, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Egor Demin, Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf provide a young infusion of talent that offers hope to a rebuilding franchise.
“This is great. It was a unique opportunity for us, to be quite frank,” general Sean Marks said this summer. “We’ve never had five picks in one draft. To be able to draft all of them in a draft class we just saw, that was unique. That was something we want to take advantage of, especially in our build, where we see these young men fitting into our group and into our roster. So, it was about us capitalizing on the hand we were dealt.”
The top prospect in that group is Demin, a 6-foot-9 guard out of BYU who was chosen with the No. 8 pick. The 19-year-old Russian native provided a pleasant surprise with his shooting during Summer League, but his playmaking was limited because he wasn’t featured exclusively in an on-ball role due to the number of lead guards on Brooklyn’s team in Las Vegas.
Traoré, Powell, Saraf and Wolf may see limited minutes as rookies, and it’s possible that all of them could spend time with the team’s G League affiliate in Long Island.
“The preseason with the team, getting to know everyone and making sure to know (everyone) basketball-wise (is huge),” Traoré said. “As a point guard, I’d say that it’s important to know these guys and know what they like and just start to build the team right way.”
Depending how the final roster shakes out, Lewis notes that the Nets have a chance to eclipse the 2022-23 Rockets as the youngest team in NBA history. In addition to the five first-rounders, Brooklyn recently traded for 2023 first-round pick Kobe Bufkin, who turns 22 Sunday. Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney are both 21, while Fanbo Zeng, who is expected to sign soon, is 22.
It presents another challenge for second-year head coach Jordi Fernandez, who had the third-youngest team in the league last season.
“That’s definitely on me. Player development is going to be important. We’ve been very diligent,” Fernandez said. “The coaching staff has done a great job making our guys work, and those guys have improved. And we believe (the rookies) will do the same thing.”
Fans Lose Their Minds Over Carmelo Anthony’s Shocking Lakers Statement
Often regarded as one of the most prolific scorers of his generation, Carmelo Anthony’s NBA legacy is deeply tied to both the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Drafted third overall by Denver in 2003, he immediately made an impact, leading all rookies in scoring that year. In 2011, Anthony was traded to New York, where he became the face of the franchise, finishing as the Knicks’ seventh all-time leading scorer with 10,186 points, and claiming the 2013 NBA scoring title!
Yet despite this storied history, Anthony recently made a claim that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads and reignited debates about where his “best year” really came.
“In all honesty, my best year that I’ve ever had was with the Lakers. When you look at the numbers and the efficiency and field goal percent, we’re in a game of numbers now and analytics, so if you look at analytics, the Lakers’ year was one of my best years out of 19 seasons,” Anthony revealed during an appearance on the CTRL Your Narrative podcast.
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No matter his feelings, Anthony’s dominance in both Denver and New York cemented him as a player capable of transforming a franchise. In Denver, he helped the Nuggets reach the playoffs seven straight seasons. He also became an All-NBA selection four times and twice finished in the top five in league scoring, reviving a team that had missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons.
In New York, the guy from Brooklyn averaged 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 412 games, proving himself both a scorer and a consistent leader. His impact on both franchises was undeniable, leaving fans with little doubt about where his prime years truly belonged.
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On the other hand, Anthony’s stint in Los Angeles was brief, spanning only a single season before his retirement. While his statistical efficiency with the Lakers may have been impressive, it stands in stark contrast to the years of dominance, consistency, and franchise-defining performances he delivered with the Nuggets and Knicks. And the reason why it has shocked many who associate his peak with Denver and New York.
Fans shrug off Carmelo Anthony’s audacious claim
Carmelo Anthony’s claim that his best NBA season came with the Lakers left many fans baffled, especially those who followed his prime years with Denver and New York. One fan captured the sentiment plainly: “Denver and Knicks was your best.” Indeed, Anthony spent seven full seasons with Denver, leading them to two division titles and a trip to the 2009 Western Conference Finals, before becoming the face of the New York Knicks.
Another fan suggested Anthony’s statement was more about analytics than performance: “I feel like he’s saying this to show how analytics aren’t the perfect measure for talent. Obviously he was better on other teams, but analytics say otherwise.” This reflects Anthony’s own comments on efficiency and metrics, as his one season with the Lakers may have been statistically efficient but lacked the sustained impact and scoring output he had over the years with the Nuggets and Knicks.
Some fans even crunched the numbers themselves. “Man if you ask AI what his top 3 best years are in the NBA analytically, it was the 12-13 Knicks, 13-14 Knicks, and 09-10 Nuggets—somebody get that glass out his hand 😂.” These seasons correspond to Anthony’s peak scoring years, including his 2012/13 scoring title with New York and top-five league finishes in Denver, highlighting that his greatest impact came when he consistently produced at the highest level over multiple seasons.
Knicks supporters were especially vocal, taking the omission of New York personally. “And Knicks wants to retire his jersey 🤡🤡🤡🤡,” one fan joked, pointing to the irony of Anthony being celebrated as a franchise icon while claiming his best year was elsewhere. It underscores how deeply his legacy is tied to New York, where he averaged 24.7 points per game over seven seasons.
Finally, some fans stressed the limits of analytics in capturing true impact: “This is why analytics doesn’t work imo, at a certain point the sheer output outweighs the efficiency. Sure he may have been more efficient on the Lakers, but scoring 20 less ppg makes a HUGE difference in terms of impact on winning, which everybody would most likely agree with. I understand this is a pretty extreme example, but I believe that it translates even in less glaring examples.” Anthony’s Lakers season may have been efficient, but it cannot match the decades of dominance, leadership, and scoring prowess he displayed in Denver and New York.
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Well, what do you think about Carmelo Anthony’s claims? Did he really shine during his time with the LA Lakers? Let us know in the comments down below.
When Is OKC Thunder Media Day? Date, Time & Where to Watch Shai Gligeous-Alexander & Co Before 2025-26 NBA Season
The Oklahoma City Thunder achieved everything they set out to do last season: from dominating the regular season to winning their maiden NBA championship in their new city. Now, it’s September, and after a pretty quiet offseason outside of renewing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to maximum contracts, they are all set to defend their crown in a stacked Western Conference.
However, despite almost the entire conference leveling up its game, Mike Daigneault’s men are still without a doubt the favorites to win the Larry O’Brien once again. However, before they tip off their title defense against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at Paycom Center on October 21st and raise their championship banner, they’ll have to take care of their media duties.
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When is the OKC Thunder media day?
The defending champions’ media day is set to take place on Monday, 12:00 p.m. EDT, 29th September 2025, at the OKC Thunder practice facility in Oklahoma City. Well, they won’t be alone as the majority of the NBA teams will also be having their respective media days on the same date. Nonetheless, a lot of eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co., as everyone wants to know where the franchise will go from here after having accomplished everything last season.
Well, whatever their targets might be, it’s safe to say that we’ll get all our answers with all the players, all the way from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Alex Caruso, will be present alongside the coaching staff, and the front office executives on media day. There will be several activities taking place throughout the day on media day, with players taking interviews and also team and individual photo sessions set up. However, the real action will start once OKC wraps up its media day.
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After a grueling day of questioning about what’s about to come, the players will then head to take part in their training camp at the end of the month, which will be held in Bricktown yet again. This is where we will get to see the first real glimpse of the OKC Thunder roster and also some of their rookie additions. Moreover, this will also be a chance to see if there are any significant changes in the team’s playing style. While this is pretty much all that you can expect from the media day, what are the expectations from the team?
What do the fans expect from the OKC Thunder this season?
Well, for most of the teams, the expectations for the next season are to improve upon their performances, but that doesn’t apply to the team that went all the way last season. Instead, what the fans want from Mike Daigneault’s team is to just continue performing the way they did in the last campaign. Last season, the Thunder had one of the, if not the greatest, seasons ever as they boasted a 68-14 regular season record and won the championship.
According to a survey held by the OKC Thunder Wire, in which hundreds of fans participated, they just want Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and the rest of the Thunder superstars to win another championship. In fact, they are pretty confident, as around 80 percent believe that OKC will at least have a 60-win campaign. Well, you cannot even blame them, given the roster they have, if all goes well, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they finished the regular season with close to 70 wins.
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However, it won’t be easy because not only has the conference strengthened quite heavily, but also the fact that the pressure of expectations seems to get to teams as they collapse during the latter stages of the competition while defending their title. We mean, we all saw what happened with the Boston Celtics last season. Moreover, no team has ever won back-to-back titles since the Warriors did it back in 2017-18. Nonetheless, if there’s any team that can do this, it’s the Thunder, as we’ll watch their season unfold quite closely.
When Is Timberwolves Media Day? Date, Time & Where to Watch Anthony Edwards & Co Before 2025-26 NBA Season
The new season training camp is just a few weeks away, and the excitement is building around the city of Minneapolis. After back-to-back heartbreak in the conference finals, this is finally the year Ant-Man Anthony Edwards can run for his MVP title by leading the pack of Wolves. They’ve got experience, they’ve got great young talent, and a bona fide superstar, everything you need in a championship roster.
Well, for the majority of the past two campaigns, Chris Finch’s Wolves have looked pretty convincing. They even beat a superstar-packed Lakers in the first round last year by 4-1. However, before they tip off their campaign against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, Anthony Edwards and Co. have to fulfill their media duties.
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When is the Minnesota Timberwolves media day?
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ media day is set to take place on Monday, 29th September at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Although we know that Anthony Edwards will steal the show at the Timberwolves training facility in Minneapolis, for sure, everyone, all the way from the coaching staff to the front office executives, will be present for the media day. Nonetheless, the T-Wolves won’t be alone because 25 more NBA teams will have media days on the same date.
However, it’s safe to assume that there will be a lot of questions that’ll be coming their way. That’s because reporters will be intrigued to know what changes Minnesota has made after losing in back-to-back conference finals. So, you could expect all sorts of different answers from Chris Finch, Anthony Edwards, veteran Mike Conley, and others. But as of now, the broadcasting details about this highly anticipated Wolves media day haven’t been confirmed.
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While there’s no doubt that this is a bummer, we’re going to make sure to update you once the details are revealed. Otherwise, it would be safe to assume that the media day would go live on the franchise’s or the NBA’s official YouTube channels. Now that you know when and where to catch the Minnesota Timberwolves superstars live, don’t you want to take a deeper dive and know what you can expect from this massive event just a few weeks later?
What can you expect from the Minnesota Timberwolves media day?
Well, there will be plenty to expect from the Wolves’ media day, especially from the likes of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels. Everyone wants to know how these stars have used the summer to improve themselves, most importantly McDaniels, because many consider him to be the X-Factor of the Minnesota roster due to his versatility and two-way abilities. So, it will be interesting to hear from the forward on how he will approach this new season.
However, that’s not all. After all, what’s a Wolves media day without the fan-favorite and arguably the most outspoken player in the NBA right now, Anthony Edwards? There have been plenty of reports that the 24-year-old has completely switched off social media and has been locked in the entire summer, honing his skills as he not only wants to emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate but also guide his team to the NBA Finals this season.
So, of course, it will be exciting to see whether these reports were true or not, and does Ant really think that this could finally be the year of the Timberwolves? Nonetheless, the media day won’t just be about the old faces, as you can also expect to hear from the rookies, such as Joan Beringer, for the very first time as they start their journey in the league. The first round pick from this year’s draft comes in with pretty high expectations as a big man.
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The 20 best current NBA players over the age of 35
Age: 40 years old
Did you expect someone else? The GOAT will turn 41 years old in December, but remains one of the league’s best and most complete players. After finishing sixth in MVP voting last season, the league’s oldest player will do everything in his power to make one more run at a championship. With an in-shape Luka Doncic as a running mate, he’ll have his best shot at a title in years if the Lake Show can stay healthy and make some slight upgrades to their roster.
Age: 37 years old
Checking in at second on this list is the NBA’s GOAT three-point shooter, Stephen Curry. Curry doubles as the best shot-maker and the league’s best-conditioned player, given the amount of running and moving without the ball he does on every play. His ability to make contested shots – which is pretty much all he gets these days – is something we’ll never see again. In these waning years of his prime, I urge you not to take Steph Curry for granted.
Age: 37 years old
While his health concerns have dropped him below James and Curry, Kevin Durant probably has the best chance at winning a championship of the trio after joining the NBA’s deepest team this past summer. Unlike the past few seasons in Phoenix, where he was overtaxed as one of the team’s best defenders, KD’s primary focus will be getting buckets – especially late in games – as the rest of the Rockets’ roster is loaded with tenacious, defensive-minded athletes like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason. If he is healthy come playoff time, look out!
Age: 36 years old
These next two old guys – James Harden and Jimmy Butler – are the inverse of one another. Harden is an ironman who plays every game, engineers a good offense, but seems to always lay eggs in the biggest playoff moments. Last year was no different – Harden was made third-team All-NBA, finished 10th in MVP voting, and then had seven points on two-of-eight shooting and finished with a minus-29 in a Game Seven blowout loss to the Nuggets.
Age: 36 years old
Jimmy Butler is basically the opposite of James Harden – he misses tons of games, he doesn’t put his foot on the gas much during the regular season, and then he turns into one of the better players in the NBA once the postseason begins. Had Steph Curry not pulled his hamstring in the second round against the Timberwolves, the Warriors might have had the experience and high-end talent to push the eventual champion Thunder to the brink. We’ll see if they can stay healthy for a deep playoff run this season.
Age: 35 years old
Beginning to notice a trend here? Seemingly, half of the Warriors’ anticipated opening night roster appears on this list. And deservedly so – it’s amazing that someone like Draymond Green, who is a small-ball center with a broken jump shot, is still a highly impactful player, especially on the defensive end of the court. In fact, he was a first-team All-Defensive performer last year and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Age: 36 years old
DeMar DeRozan has aged like a fine wine despite being a two-guard without a reliable three-point shot. How is that even possible in today’s NBA? Well, for one, the man has the best footwork the league has seen since Kobe Bryant, which allows him to create enough space to always get his shot off and/or draw fouls. And the other reason is because he learned how to essentially play point guard during his San Antonia years, and can elevate his teammates with his underrated distributing.
Age: 35 years old
Hopefully, last year’s falloff for Paul George can be explained away by injuries and the Sixers’ cursed season because it was a precipitous drop-off in production – 16.2 PPG on 43-36-81 shooting splits as compared to 23.3 PPG on 46-39-88 shooting splits. Nevertheless, Podcast P is still capable of generating decent secondary offense for his team and pretty high-level wing defense, and certainly belongs near the top of this list.
Age: 40 years old
The league’s third-oldest player – only LeBron and PJ Tucker (by one day) are older than him – impressively started all 82 games last season for San Antonio Spurs, averaging 8.8 PPG and 7.4 APG. While he’s no longer the Point God that drove winning to the same degree as he did for about 15 straight years, he will probably make for a very good backup point guard to James Harden this season in Los Angeles.
Age: 39 years old
Al Horford is technically still a free agent, but is rumored to be waiting for the Jonathan Kuminga saga to play out in full before he signs with the Warriors. Horford is still a very solid two-way big man who can stretch the floor on offense (40.9 percent from three the past three seasons) and more than hold his own on the defensive end. So long as he stays healthy, he should be a key rotation piece on the veteran-heavy Warriors.
Age: 35 years old
Now that he’s no longer merely a cog in a championship roster, I would expect Jrue Holiday to remain a high-level defender and improve his counting statistics a little from the past two seasons (11.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.4 APG) this year on the up-and-coming (but still years away) Blazers. That is, until he gets traded to a contender at the deadline.
Age: 35 years old
Klay Thompson is obviously a shell of the player he was before his ACL and Achilles injuries, but he remains an elite shooter and intelligent veteran for the Dallas Mavericks. With Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and, hopefully, Kyrie Irving drawing the attention of defenses this season, look for Thompson to continue to put up 15-18 PPG on 40 percent three-point shooting.
Age: 37 years old
Brook Lopez made an impressive mid-career reformation, changing from a traditional low-post player to a stretch-five. The evolution made him a perfect big man for a Giannis Antetokounmpo-centric team. On the Clippers, he’s going to be an awesome backup big man and give the team a totally different look from what starting center Ivica Zubac gives them.
Age: 35 years old
While he won’t be playing this season, Damian Lillard’s inclusion on this list is well-deserved as he made his ninth All-Star appearance and averaged 24.9 PPG and 7.1 APG before tragically rupturing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs. He’ll take this season off and return as the 36-year-old veteran on a young and talented Blazers squad next season.
Age: 38 years old
Mike Conley, a 6-foot, 175-pound guard, is about to embark on his 19th season. Read that again! His 19th season. Despite his slight stature, Conley has been an excellent two-way, table-setting point guard for the majority of his career. And while he’s started to show his age the past few seasons, the Timberwolves clearly still believe his leadership and steady play are an integral part of their recent success.
Age: 36 years old
Russell Westbrook just makes stuff happen. Most of it is detrimental to his team at this point in his career, but occasionally, the hustle plays, rebounding, and playmaking will swing the tide of a big game. He remains a free agent right now, but will likely end up on a roster before the season begins – he’s still a great athlete and tantalizingly talented enough to convince yet another franchise to pick him up. Keep an eye out for a point guard-needy, desperate team like the Bucks or Heat.
Age: 39 years old
Jeff Green is the spiritual successor to Rudy Gay – he was an elite athlete and lottery pick with superstar potential that never displayed enough consistency to be a franchise cornerstone, later became a journeyman role player, and spent his final years as a consummate professional. Uncle Jeff won’t play a ton for the Rockets this season, but will for sure posterize an unsuspecting defender at various points throughout this season.
Age: 37 years old
Kevin Love is more of a fringe rotation player these days, but he’s still a heady player who can knock down some threes and grab rebounds in small bursts of playing time. He’s also clearly one of the better teammates and locker room guys in the league – contending teams certainly value that trait – so expect Love to eventually reach a buyout with the Jazz and join a team like the Lakers at some point this year.
Age: 35 years old
The best shooter in the Curry family – from a statistical standpoint – led the league in three-point percentage for the first time in his career last season, nailing 45.6 percent of his attempts, which was also a career-best. Like a few of the other prominent free agents, Curry appears to be waiting for restricted free agency to finally play out and open up some roster spots on teams like the Warriors.
Age: 39 years old
Although he’s been washed for a couple of years now, Kyle Lowry gets the final spot on this list as a nod to him making it to his 20th season as a pro. With six All-Star appearances, one All-NBA season, and a ring, Lowry will almost certainly be making it to Springfield for a Hall of Fame induction someday.
Magic Johnson Revealed Why the Lakers Didn’t Draft Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum
Not a lot of players boast the resume Jayson Tatum has — and he’s only 27 years old. Like him or not, the Boston Celtics superstar is the definition of a winner.
An eight-year pro, Tatum has already accomplished a lot in his young career. He is an NBA champion, a six-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, including four First-Team selections, and he’s made the postseason his entire career.
Tatum is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. But there’s no doubt that, when he returns, he’ll easily reclaim his spot as one of the league’s premier forwards.
A known Kobe Bryant superfan, the Celtics’ franchise cornerstone ironically grew up as an L.A. Lakers fan.
In an alternate universe, Tatum might have worn purple and gold himself. Back in 2017, the Lakers held the No. 2 overall pick, and the former Duke University standout was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the draft. Tatum could be living in the reality where he followed in his childhood idol’s footsteps.
But as fate had written out, Tatum is building his legacy in Boston instead of Los Angeles, and Lakers legend Magic Johnson shed light on why.
Magic Johnson Explains Why Lakers Did Not Draft Jayson Tatum
At the time, Johnson was serving as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations and was responsible for overseeing the team’s draft strategy. In an interview with SiriusXM NBA back in December 2024, Magic explained his thought process about passing up on Tatum.
Tracy McGrady Named His All-Time NBA Starting 5 – No Magic or Curry at Point Guard
Tracy McGrady is one of the most underrated shooting guards in NBA history and could score with the best of them during his prime. He was relentless with the ball and if injuries hadn’t held him back, there’s no telling just how much more he could have achieved. He led the league in scoring in two years and was always prolific at putting the ball in the hoop, whether it was for the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando Magic or the Houston Rockets.
He played among some all-time greats and in a post on his Instagram profile and shared by Basketball Network, he named the greatest starting five in NBA history, but made the surprising decision to leave Magic Johnson and Steph Curry off and selected someone else as his point guard.
Jason Kidd – Point Guard
While the majority would name either Magic Johnson or Steph Curry the greatest point guard of all time, and by default select them in this team, McGrady decided to go with former New Jersey Nets star Jason Kidd instead. The now 52-year-old represented the Nets for seven years, but also shone with the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns during a 19-year stint in the NBA.
He isn’t necessarily who many would think of when it comes to the best point guards ever, but Kidd was elite and made the All-Star team on 10 occasions. He also won one championship with the Mavericks in 2011 to etch his name into the history books forever. Now a head coach, Kidd hasn’t been quite as successful as he was on the court.
Michael Jordan – Shooting Guard
While McGrady’s choice for point guard might have caught some people off guard, there are no prizes for guessing who he went with to join him in the back court as he selected Michael Jordan. Considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan dominated the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s and turned the Chicago Bulls into one of the greatest teams to ever play in the association.
He could score and defend at an unearthly level and there was no one who could stop him on the court when he got going. Jordan won six NBA titles during his career and inspired millions all over the world. Over two decades after his third and final retirement, his legacy is still as strong as it was the day he stepped away,
LeBron James – Small Forward
If you don’t think that Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, the chances are that you think LeBron James has that honour. The King has been tearing the association up for 22 years and is showing no signs of slowing down, despite being 40 years old. He’s shown a level of longevity that has never been seen before and there’s a good chance he could still be performing at a high level by the time he reaches 45.
LeBron is a true unicorn and excels in all areas of basketball, including defending, scoring and playmaking. He’s earned a reputation for his incredible passing, but is also the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. A testament to how special he is and it’s not surprising at all to see him picked by McGrady.
Tim Duncan – Power Forward
At power forward, McGrady selected one of the most underrated winners of the 21st century. Tim Duncan was at the heart of everything the San Antonio Spurs achieved during the 2000s and early 2010s. Nicknamed the Big Fundamental, he was one of the most well-rounded players in basketball and could do just about everything.
He wasn’t flashy, but Duncan always got the job done and did so at an incredibly efficient rate. Charles Barkley considers him to be the greatest power forward ever and there won’t be many who argue with that statement.
Shaquille O’Neal – Centre
To round out his all-time NBA starting five, McGrady selected Shaquille O’Neal at centre. The former Los Angeles Lakers big man is one of the most dominant figures to ever step onto a basketball court and routinely used his size and strength to bulldoze through the opposition and bully them in the paint and around the hoop. He could score at will from close and was also a defensive force that made scoring a nightmare for anyone.
NBA All-Star Calls Out Blunder in Iman Shumpert’s Claim After Surprising Revelation on LeBron James’ Cavaliers
Getting slapped with a label isn’t fun, right? Iman Shumpert knows that all too well. Throughout his decade in the NBA, he was mostly boxed in as the classic “3-and-D” guy. But there was one team that actually gave him the freedom to do more, and Iman made sure to give them their flowers. Only problem? In the middle of the praise, he accidentally called out the wrong name. Lucky for us, an NBA All-Star wasn’t about to let that slide and jumped in to correct him.
In a clip shared by NBA Central on X, Iman Shumpert gave his flowers to the Sacramento Kings during the latest episode of his No Limit podcast on the All In YouTube channel: “People don’t understand how bad I hated that three-and-D role, I hated it. I think now I’m out of the league because I wouldn’t sign up for that. When I went to Sacramento, I was playing combo guard,” Shumpert said. “David [Blatt] had me able to do my [stuff]. This is where I’m comfortable, and I’m guarding what I need to be guarding, so it’s like, I’m effective.“ Well, did you catch the mistake?
Well, De’Aaron Fox was quick to lend a hand. He reposted the clip on X with a facepalm emoji, writing: “Dave Joerger not David Blatt 🤦🏾♂️.” And honestly, if you think back to that 2018–19 Kings team, you can see exactly why Fox felt the need to clear it up.
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See, the Kings were stuck in a 16-year playoff drought, but that season under Dave Joerger felt different. They still didn’t crack the postseason, but 39 wins were the most they had since 2005–06—a legit bright spot in an otherwise rough stretch. And a mid-season trade brought Shumpert to town, shipping George Hill to Cleveland. That move sparked something fun in Sacramento, something fans hadn’t seen in years.
The roster had a young Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanović, Marvin Bagley III, Willie Cauley-Stein, plus vets like Nemanja Bjelica — and Shump quickly became the loud voice in that locker room. He even branded them with a nickname that stuck: “We’re ‘The Scores,’” Shumpert told Jordan Ramirez of NBA.com back in 2018. “We come, we try to score fast, we try to score at a high rate. We have a lot of young bodies. It’s cool to be on a team where we don’t know who’s going to score it.” That summed up their identity perfectly.
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And the numbers back up Shumpert’s point about not being just a “3-and-D” piece. In his 42 games with Sacramento, his usage rate was 15.2%, the highest since his early Knicks years, while keeping a 0.511 true shooting percentage. He still let it fly from deep (three-point attempt rate: .580), but mixed in drives, secondary playmaking (assist percentage 10.7%), and brought juice on defense too (steal rate 2.0%, block rate 1.6%).
Basically, the Kings gave him more freedom, and he showed he could handle, defend, create, and score instead of being boxed into one role. Looking back, he even admits he should’ve pushed harder for that role, saying he probably needed to be more of a “diva.”
Iman Shumpert’s battle with the 3-and-D label in Cavs and Knicks
Iman Shumpert doesn’t sugarcoat it when he looks back on his career. He’s clear about one thing he’d change — being louder, more demanding, especially in those early Knicks years. “If I could tell my younger self something, I would’ve told myself to be a diva,” Shumpert admitted. “I should’ve threw my hands up and down like, ‘Y’all need to trade me somewhere where I could play point guard.’” Instead, he kept adjusting, year after year, fitting into whatever role the team asked of him.
When New York drafted him 17th overall in 2011, the plan was for him to be a versatile combo guard — a guy who could bring the ball up but still had the size and athleticism to thrive on the wing. And in a way, that’s how it started. Mike D’Antoni slotted him in at shooting guard, and he even got a short look at point. But his defensive instincts were too good to ignore. Soon, he was tasked with locking up stars, hitting threes, and before long, the “3-and-D” tag became his identity.
Shumpert himself put it best: “And don’t get me wrong. I feel like I still had a great career. I got to play on a championship team [LeBron James’ Cavs], got to play in the championship multiple times, which don’t happen for a lot of guys. But I feel like on my personal development side, I suffered cuz, every year.”
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The numbers explain why coaches leaned so heavily on that version of him. His career steal rate was 2.3%, with a defensive box plus-minus of 0.7 overall that peaked at +1.6 as a rookie. He stacked up 11.4 defensive win shares across his career. On the offensive end, his three-point attempt rate topped 50% by 2016–17. Put all that together, and you’ve got the perfect 3-and-D profile — a guy who could hound top guards while spacing the floor. That’s exactly what earned him staying power, especially in Cleveland alongside LeBron James, where he played his role to perfection and helped deliver that unforgettable 2016 championship.
Are Shaquille O’Neal & Angel Reese Related? Everything You Need to Know About NBA Legend & WNBA Star Relationship
Imagine being a rookie but with Shaquille O’Neal by your side, to lean on, from day one. That’s the reality for Angel Reese, who had the Hall of Famer by her side throughout her rookie year in 2024 and now steps into her sophomore season with his guidance still close. That connection has sparked endless curiosity: are the Chicago Sky star and the Lakers legend related?
Their bond goes beyond the court. As Reebok’s basketball president, one of Shaq’s first moves was signing Reese. That deal led to her own signature shoes, released last year. They’ve also shared podcast mics and often field questions about each other. The closeness is apparent. Shaq even escorted Reese at LSU’s senior ceremony in March 2024, fueling talk of a family tie.
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Are Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese related? The truth
No, Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese are not related. The confusion primarily comes from their shared ties to basketball and LSU, along with O’Neal’s habit of championing Reese on social media and in interviews. To casual fans, the closeness between them might look like family ties, but their relationship is rooted in mentorship and shared experiences rather than bloodlines.
Reese herself has leaned into the closeness of their bond, often referring to Shaquille O’Neal as “Unc” and even calling him a “father figure.” “He’s super inspiring to me and a father figure.” Those words, paired with their visible connection at LSU and beyond, naturally fueled speculation that there might be a family link.
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But there are no blood ties between them. Shaq has walked Reese through the tough parts of being in the spotlight, from dealing with critics to trusting her own game. For Reese, O’Neal has become less of a distant icon and more of a guiding star, a Hall of Famer who understands the spotlight she’s under and chooses to help her navigate it.
How did their relationship develop? From LSU to the WNBA
Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese’s connection began during her time at LSU, where their shared alma mater created common ground. The ex-Laker saw a rising star who reminded him of himself, bold, confident, and misunderstood, and he embraced the mentor role. O’Neal even walked with Reese during her senior ceremony in March 2024, a public display of support that left little doubt he saw her as someone he could help mold into a better player and a stronger person.
That support didn’t stop at appearances. In April 2023, when Reese faced online bullying, O’Neal stepped in directly, calling out Barstool’s Dave Portnoy and telling him to “shut up” after his criticism of Reese went viral. It was classic Shaq, using his stature to silence detractors and protect someone he believed deserved better. To many fans, it confirmed that his investment in Reese wasn’t superficial.
Now in the WNBA, Reese says O’Neal’s guidance has carried over. “He just said, people are gonna hate me. People are not gonna like me, people are gonna feel some type of way because they wish they were me, they’re gonna judge me,” she told USA Today.
What has Shaquille O’Neal said about Angel Reese?
Shaquille O’Neal has never shied away from backing young talent. Just last month, as president of Reebok’s basketball division, he signed a six-year-old MMA fighter to a deal, underscoring how much he values investing in the next generation. With Angel Reese, that same instinct to nurture is on full display. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, O’Neal explained why he thinks she often gets misunderstood: “She’s really a nice, beautiful young lady. But when you’re in this sport of ours, you have to play a certain way and you have to be a certain way. A lot of times, if they don’t understand who you are, they misconceive. But I tell her all the time, ‘Don’t worry about that.’”
Shaq has gone further, insisting that Reese deserves recognition among the very best. “She’s as good and even better than some of the people that y’all are kissing up to. But y’all don’t know it. But she knows it. And in order to be great, you have to know you’re great,” he said. His advice to Reese is consistent: stay focused on her game, ignore the noise, and embrace her greatness. He said, “She just needs to continue to play her game, better her game, and don’t worry about the nonsense. Don’t be looking at those comments, because they don’t really have a voice, they just think they do.”
How has Angel Reese responded to Shaquille O’Neal’s mentorship?
Angel Reese has embraced O’Neal’s guidance with equal parts gratitude and humor. She hasn’t hesitated in interviews to describe the Hall of Famer as “Unc” and a father figure, telling USA TODAY Sports: “He’s super inspiring to me. He’s so genuine; he’s been there for me through tough times. He just gets it, and there’s not a more perfect person for me to be tight with. We have fun, and if I need anything, he would help me … and he would do that even if I never played basketball again. He doesn’t care about me as a player, he cares about me as a person.” Regardless of her performance, the faith that he has her back defines their bond.
At the same time, Reese isn’t afraid to poke fun at her mentor. Last October, a clip went viral when she challenged Shaq on Instagram: “$100,000 if you make this shot.” O’Neal calmly stepped to the free-throw line, dribbled twice, and swished it. Reese followed up with the caption, “I guess I owe him 100k 😭 .” The exchange showed the playful side of their relationship, proof that while she leans on him for guidance, she also enjoys treating him like family. The confidence that Shaq’s guidance has boosted in her is on full display as she goes on a world tour with her Reebok collection selling out.
Those close to both stars see why the connection works. LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey, who coached O’Neal in the ’90s and later Reese, noted the similarities: “There’s really strong parallels in their personalities. They love people, they welcome the spotlight that comes with stardom, they both have a great love for this school and an enthusiasm for life.”
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A strong bond built on respect and shared values
Angel Reese and Shaquille O’Neal aren’t blood-related, but their connection runs deep. She openly calls him “Unc” and a father figure, while he’s consistently defended her and advised her on how to handle critics.
Their relationship is less about appearances and more about guidance. O’Neal uses his platform to back young talent, and Reese has welcomed that mentorship as she adjusts to the WNBA spotlight. It’s a solid but straightforward bond built on shared LSU ties, mutual respect, and an understanding of what it takes to thrive under pressure.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Discovers Surprising Kobe Bryant Fact That Multiple NBA Legends Shared
“My biggest inspiration on the court has always been Kobe Bryant. I love every aspect of what he’s contributed to the game of basketball,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during an interview with V Magazine back in February. Well, now it makes total sense—SGA always focused on Kobe’s basketball side, and that’s why it came as a shock when he recently discovered a not-so-serious side hustle of Kobe that left him completely jaw-dropped. And here’s the kicker: that surprise wasn’t just limited to Kobe.
Everyone knows Kobe Bryant had a big love for storytelling after his basketball days. He’d sit staring at a blank page, dreaming up characters, their names, backstories, and legacies—even if most of it never made it into a final story. That creative spark eventually led him to start his own production company, Granity Studios. 2018 was huge—he put out projects and even snagged an Academy Award for Dear Basketball. But here’s the kicker: Kobe’s passion for creating didn’t start there—it goes all the way back to the ’90s, which is probably why SGA was so surprised to discover this side of him.
Shai recently had a long chat with Nardwuar on YouTube, diving into music and all things NBA-pop culture. Things got exciting fast when Nardwuar handed him an unreleased album Kobe had made back in the day with Tyra Banks. Seeing the vinyl of K.O.B.E., Shai couldn’t hide his surprise: “Nice. Wow. I didn’t know Kobe made music… I guess you learn something new every day. Uh, he’s just like a competitor and such a serious guy. I didn’t know like he’d make music on the side. I thought it was like all basketball, only basketball. But yeah, that’s cool. I’m going to listen to it tonight.”
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Back in 1999, Kobe Bryant signed with Sony Records, planning to release his own studio album. Even before it officially dropped in 2000, he had already started experimenting in music. He collaborated with Destiny’s Child, remixing their 1999 hit “Say My Name”, and made a guest appearance in Brian McKnight’s 1997 track “Hold Me.” He also brought in big names like 50 Cent, Nas, and Broady Boy for his song “Thug Poet.” At one point, Shaquille O’Neal joined the fun, featuring on his 1998 track “3X’s Dope” from Shaq’s album Respect.
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Kobe’s solo track “K.O.B.E.” made its debut at the 2000 All-Star Game, showing off his big-time baller personality straight in the lyrics. “What I live for? Basketball, beats and broads,” he rapped, adding, “From Italy to the U.S., yes, it’s raw.” But even with all his fame on the court, the song didn’t really connect with listeners, and the album Visions ended up being shelved. Sony soon cut ties, quietly closing Kobe’s music chapter—though he did pop up again in a 2011 Taiwanese Sprite commercial and got shoutouts from other musicians honoring the Black Mamba.
But even though SGA never met Kobe, the impact Kobe had on the court clearly shaped him and an entire generation of fans. SGA went on to have a standout 2024–25 season, winning MVP while leading the Thunder to 68 wins and averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. Social media videos even compared some of Kobe’s signature moves to shots SGA was making, highlighting the similarities in their games. “His legacy will be remembered forever because of the competitor and the basketball player that he was. Hopefully I’m somewhere close to that level as a basketball player one day,” SGA acknowledged.
For fans watching, it’s easy to see how SGA is carrying forward pieces of that Mamba legacy in his own game and who knows, he might even slide into music too, considering Kobe wasn’t the only baller to try his hand at it.
SGA discovers the hidden talents of NBA legends
Later in the interview, SGA learned that other NBA legends had dipped into music too. “So [Allen] Iverson made music, too. Okay. Well, everyone’s—You know what? After this, I’m going to get in studio and make music, too. This is crazy. This is the first thing I’m going to do. I’m listen to Allen Iverson’s records and then Kobe records tonight,” he admitted, clearly excited.
SGA shared how Iverson left a mark on him beyond just basketball: “Tattoos, braids. Well, I don’t have any tattoos, but the braids, the swag, um, the confidence, his style. He was he was everything back in the day.”
Fashion clearly matters to SGA too—back in 2022, he already owned 1,000 shirts, had deals with Levi’s and Canada Goose, was featured in Vogue, and had been spotted at Paris Fashion Week and the Met Gala, even walking the runway for Thom Browne. He also reflected on a personal highlight: as a senior in high school, he got to play in an Allen Iverson Classic game, meeting the legend in person and soaking in the experience firsthand.
SGA also got schooled on another surprising crossover—former Raptors player Master P. He kind of knew a bit about him already, and when the host handed him a Master P vinyl, SGA said, “Master P. See, I know this guy…I know him as a rapper, but yeah, he played for Raptors a little bit. …the rapper Raptor.”
To give you some background, Master P—real name Percy Robert Miller Sr.—has been in the music game since 1989, with his group TRU making waves in the ’90s. But he also dabbled in basketball, joining the Hornets’ training camp in 1999 for just 10 days before getting cut. He later got a brief shot with the Raptors, only making it onto the training roster and appearing in an exhibition game. For SGA, the connection is simple: the Raptors.
Another name that came up was Hakeem Olajuwon. The host handed SGA a 7-inch vinyl of “The Unbeatable Dream” album, and SGA said, “Wow. But it’s crazy. You know, I didn’t know this many basketball players made music. That’s crazy. I’m going to have to double dabble a little bit.”
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The host clarified that Hakeem only had 27 words in the whole album, but SGA still put his hand up and said, “Music is music.” Hakeem’s lyrics included lines like, “And I won’t accept defeat,” “Unbeatable,” and “Think you’re hot? Then take a shot.” The real connection? The host pointed out that Hakeem has a connection to SGA too—he was an MVP in the finals, season MVP, and even finished his career with the Raptors.
From Kobe to Iverson, Master P, and Hakeem, SGA realized just how much basketball and music overlap. Each of these legends left a lasting impression, shaping and inspiring him both on the court and beyond.
Country Singer Bailey Zimmerman Is ‘Excited’ About First Arena Tour (Exclusive)
Bailey Zimmerman is stepping up his concert game.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the country singer, 25, said he feels he has “something to prove
Mueller set for final two IMSA rounds with JDC-Miller
With his commitments in the FIA Formula E World Championship finished for now, Nico Muelller has landed an opportunity to run the final two races of the IMSA season for JDC-Miller Motorsports, one that he was really looking forward to as soon as the Formula E season ended.
Noah Gragson Net Worth in 2025 – Salary With Front Row Motorsports and Career Earnings
Noah Gragson has steadily risen through NASCAR’s ranks, making a mark with his first Truck Series win at Martinsville in 2017 and claiming multiple Xfinity Series victories, including a record-tying four consecutive wins in 2022. After tasting success in trucks and Xfinity races, he’s stepped up to take the Cup role with Front Row Motorsports. With that reputation, fans are curious to know just how valuable he really is.
What is Noah Gragson’s net worth?
As of 2025, Noah Gragson’s net worth is estimated to be between $3 to $23 million. The wide range comes from the uncertainty surrounding private endorsement deals. Very little is also known about the team contract details. While the higher estimates may assume substantial off-track earnings, a figure toward the middle of this bracket appears most realistic given his career stage.
Noah Gragson’s contract
In July 2024, Gragson signed a multi-year contract with Front Row Motorsports. This extension is set to begin in the 2025 season. The deal brought him into the team’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This was a big move that signaled FRM’s intent to strengthen its driver lineup for the long term.
While the exact duration and base salary have not been disclosed, the move marked a clear step forward in his career after a single season with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024. Multi-year contracts in NASCAR typically offer greater financial security and access to performance incentives. If this is the case, Gragson’s earnings are poised to grow significantly under this agreement.
Precise salary figures are closely guarded in NASCAR. However, industry reports suggest that a driver in Gragson’s position likely earns in the low millions annually. Factoring in base pay, bonuses, and sponsor contributions, his 2025 compensation could reasonably fall between two and five million US dollars.
While this number is less than what the sport’s superstars command, it represents the most lucrative stage of his career so far. His financial package is expected to rise if his on-track performances bring stronger results. This is mainly because contracts are structured around performance clauses and sponsor exposure.
Noah Gragson’s career earnings
Gragson’s earnings reflect his steady climb through NASCAR’s development ladder. In the Truck Series, his stock steadily rose with his team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. His income consisted mainly of modest team salaries and race winnings. Soon after, his time with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series saw a sharp rise.
His performances fueled his stock with 13 race victories and a runner-up finish in the 2022 championship. With the bonuses accounted for, this must have translated into larger prize money and bonuses. Unsurprisingly, a move to the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing followed in 2024.
This was later enhanced by the multi-year FRM contract in 2025. Overall, his steady rise has now brought him into the financial big leagues. Although exact totals are not disclosed, industry analysts estimate that his career earnings to date are comfortably in the multi-million dollar range. Moreover, 2025 is projected to be his highest-earning year yet.
Noah Gragson’s professional racing career
Gragson began racing as a teenager at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. In Nevada, his aggressive yet calculated style first drew attention. He rose through Legends cars and Late Models before making a name for himself in the K&N Pro Series West. Over here, he secured multiple wins and established himself as a prospect to watch.
His move to the Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2017 gave him a national platform. This was where he captured two victories and showcased a knack for high-pressure finishes. The leap to the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports in 2019 proved to be his breakout. Over four full seasons, he collected 13 victories. Unfortunately, he narrowly missed out on a championship in 2022, finishing second in the standings.
After short stints in the Cup Series with smaller outfits, he finally secured a full-time Cup seat with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024. Despite limited success in terms of wins, his steady improvement and ability to attract sponsorships paved the way for a move in 2025. This move to Front Row Motorsports is expected to be fundamental to continuing to build his legacy.
What are the brands endorsed by Noah Gragson?
Sponsorship has been central to Gragson’s growth, with several recognizable brands aligning with his image. Zep, a leading cleaning solutions company, has served as both a primary and associate sponsor for his 2025 campaign. Rural King, the farm and home retailer, joined for three races this season.
Meanwhile, MillerTech partnered with him for select events at Michigan, Pocono, and Dover. TitleMax added its name at Atlanta and across the season as an associate sponsor, and TrueTimber brought its camo-styled livery to his car in showcase races. These partnerships not only fund his racing program but also enhance his visibility as a marketable driver.
Noah Gragson’s house and cars
Information about Gragson’s personal assets remains limited. He has kept his real estate and vehicle collection largely private. Some outlets have reported that he owns a residence in Las Vegas, though details have not been verified. Unlike some of NASCAR’s biggest earners who flaunt luxury collections, Gragson’s public persona emphasizes his on-track performance more than his off-track lifestyle.
Conclusion
Late surge leads to McLaren 1-2 in MPC at Indianapolis
Competitors in the Grand Sport (GS) class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge left the best for last Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Michael Cooper guided the No. 44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports (formerly Accelerating Performance) McLaren Artura GT4 past Robert Noaker in the No. 60 KOHR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4 to take the lead of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 with just one minute remaining in the two-hour contest.
Cooper almost immediately took the white flag and completed one more tour of the 2.439-mile stadium road course to finish 1.279s ahead of Jesse Lazare (No. 21 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4), who also made a late pass on Noaker to claim second place and cement McLaren’s first 1-2 finish in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition.
It was the second win of the 2025 campaign for Cooper and co-driver Moisey Uretsky, who also triumphed in the four-hour BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway to open the season.
Almost every GS competitor made a pit stop for fuel, tires, and a driver change under caution just under an hour into the race. After three more laps behind the Safety Car, the Ibiza Farm team called Cooper in for an additional stop, lessening any concerns about making fuel or tires last to the finish when the race restarted with 56 minutes left on the clock.
Turned loose, Cooper moved from 17th place up to third, his cause aided by a brief caution that bunched the field and set the scene for a 17-minute sprint to the finish.
Noaker, who dominated the IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge series in 2025 and recently clinched the Dark Horse championship, held a 5s lead when the final caution flew. He maintained the lead after the restart, but was never able to pull away from Lazare, who took over the No. 21 McLaren from Alexandra Hainer.
With four minutes to go, Cooper nipped past Lazare into Turn 1 for second and immediately latched the No. 44 McLaren onto the No. 60 Mustang’s tail. Noaker held the inside line down the back stretch and held the advantage through the left-hand Turn 10. But Cooper was able to put his nose in front entering the next right-hander to take the lead, and Lazare quickly also forced his way past. He was unable to challenge Cooper on the final lap.
The victory was the second in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition for both Cooper and Uretsky.
“Credit to the team and credit to McLaren, but also a lot of credit to Cooper, because I don’t know how he pulled that out,” said Uretsky. “Fantastic job. I was having some brake issues, so I don’t know what he was doing to make it work.”
Cooper, a 36-year-old New York native, was naturally satisfied after the dramatic victory.
“I just took any opportunity I was given, whether it was inside, outside, wherever,” he said. “I was willing to try anything to get that win. We got a win at Daytona to open the season and haven’t had a podium since, so I thought it was worth risking for.
“Everyone was really struggling with braking and grip overall,” Cooper added. “So maybe I just managed that a little better early in the stint and had a bit more in the end.”
Ford Racing Junior Team pilot Noaker and Super2 Series standout McLeod, who swept the Mustang Invitational at Circuit de La Sarthe in Le Mans in June, almost pulled off a sensational debut victory in the GS class. Either way, it was the No. 60 car’s second straight new lineup podium finish (Nick Persing and Sam Paley finished second last race at VIRginia International Raceway).
“I was giving it everything I had and defending as hard as I could, but the tires were starting to give up a little bit,” Noaker said. “Those cars behind us were able to brake so much deeper. I was hoping it wasn’t going to happen, but I think it was just a matter of time before it did.”
Championship leaders Jan Heylen and Luca Mars (No 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS) battled brake problems and then lost a lap when Heylen was hit from behind and sustained a punctured tire.
They finished 19th in class, which unofficially cuts their advantage from 240 points up to now only 100 points clear of Jeff Westphal and Sean McAlister (No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4) and 120 points over Jenson Altzman (No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport Ford Mustang GT4) heading to the season concluding Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Breakthrough win for VGRT and Cupra in TCR
History was made in the Touring Car (TCR) class race with Cupra becoming the latest manufacturer to add its name to the list of IMSA winners. Co-drivers Eric Powell and Tyler Gonzalez overcame an early setback to win by 6.998s in the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Cupra Leon VZ TCR.
Cupra is the 16th of the 18 manufacturers competing in an IMSA-sanctioned series to claim a race victory in 2025. Based in Spain, Cupra joined IMSA competition this year and is the first new manufacturer to add its name to the sanctioning body’s victory list since Alfa Romeo in 2021.
“For us to prove that we can be competitive in any brand that we race is big,” said team owner Victor Gonzalez, whose operation’s two other series wins came with Honda in 2022. “Most important to bring the first win to Cupra in the U.S. is huge. … I want to say thanks to IMSA because they support always my team. It’s been two and a half weeks, really hard for us, my guy has put more than 200 hours working in the cars to prepare them. And to win at Indy, there’s no way that I can express how grateful I am.”
The victory was anything but easy. Powell qualified the No. 99 on the class pole in the morning (another Cupra first) but was penalized for incident responsibility 30 minutes into the race, dropping to the rear of the 16-car TCR field. The car was still mired in 13th place when Tyler Gonzalez took the wheel at the midpoint, but the talented 21-year-old methodically moved his way forward with help from penalties assessed other frontrunners for blocking and incident responsibilities of their own.
Gonzalez had the No. 99 in fifth place for a restart with 35 minutes to go. Less than 10 minutes later, he roared past the No. 7 Precision Racing LA Audi RS3 LMS TCR for a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. It delivered the first Michelin Pilot Challenge win for both VGRT drivers.
“I’ve been in that position many times throughout my career,” said Tyler Gonzalez, a winner in multiple other IMSA series but not in Michelin Pilot Challenge until Saturday. “Just keeping the car clean, trying to keep the tires together. It’s a lot hotter this year than it usually is in Indy, so we knew tire deg was going to play a big factor. Luckily, the Cupra is really easy on tires, so that definitely helped this out, helped us keep pace in the car in the end. Just super happy for the team and for Cupra as well.”
The TCR season standings took on a new look with the final results. Karl Wittmer completed a last-lap pass to push the No. 93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR into second place at the checkered flag. The move vaulted Wittmer and co-driver LP Montour into the points lead, unofficially 10 ahead of the driver Wittmer overtook, Harry Gottsacker in the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
“I sort of managed early on, and I knew the car would be stronger at the end of the race,” Wittmer said. “Five minutes remaining, OK, we’ve got three laps. Where can I get him? And I clearly knew it was either [Turn] 1 or 7. Last lap had come out, had a good run, committed early in the brake zone. I don’t know what happened. We connected, kept racing, it was clean apart from that and just went home with it. Pumped to be here at Indy and get on the podium.”
Co-driver Montour admitted to extreme nervousness watching Wittmer race to the finish.
“It’s my first full season in IMSA, first time in Indianapolis, we do a podium and we get the championship lead, so can’t ask for another thing,” Montour said. “I think today we played the championship race very well. We stayed patient, we stayed clean and safe to make sure we run good on points. I probably aged 10 years just watching this last lap.”
The No. 76 BHA Hyundai entered as the points leader but was classified in 11th after the race after being penalized twice late – once for blocking and another for incident responsibility. Co-drivers Preston Brown and Denis Dupont are now unofficially 100 points out of the lead heading into the season finale, the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 10.
Kyle Larson Admits Joe Gibbs & Co.’s Playoff Edge Amid HMS’ Recent Struggles
Kyle Larson started the year with big goals, saying, “Obviously you’d like to win the most races and win the championship and all that.” But as the NASCAR garage heads into race one of the Round of 12, those ambitions are hitting a wall. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing smelled opportunity, and they didn’t just strike; they dominated. Chase Briscoe conquered Darlington, Denny Hamlin powered through Gateway, and Christopher Bell wrapped up Bristol last week. Three playoff races, 3 JGR wins, and one unmistakable message: Toyota is running the show while Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports are scrambling to keep up. And if anything, the 33-year-old is in complete cognizance of his team’s struggles.
Despite entering the postseason with strong performances, Hendrick Motorsports struggled with consistency and execution. At Darlington, none of the four drivers finished inside the top 15, highlighting early issues. The subsequent race at Gateway showed limited improvement, with only three top 10 finishes across 12 starts spanning 2022-24. Moreover, Alex Bowman’s playoff hopes were shattered by pit crew issues. Overall, Hendrick Motorsports’ Round of 16 performance offered plenty of takeaways — both positive and negative — which, if incorporated, might change their playoff narrative.
Speaking to FrontStretch at New Hampshire after the qualifying session, Larson was candid about the problems HMS is facing: “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, it’s a reset. So, yeah, the first round we didn’t finish well at any of them, but we did do a good job getting stage points and whatnot the first couple races, and then actually felt like we were okay at Bristol. Just had the first stage get away from us with the caution. So, um, but yeah, I mean obviously we would wish that Hendrick Motorsports had all four into this round and have won your races last round, but yeah, the Gibbs cars, they were fast and did a great job executing.”
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And JGR is king for now! Beyond the victories, JGR’s dominance was evident in their performance metrics; the team led 870 of the 1,107 laps across the three races, accounting for 78.6% of the total laps led in the Round of 16. This level of control not only highlighted JGR’s strategic prowess but also underscored Toyota’s strength in the playoffs.
Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports have been chasing a victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for more than a decade, with Kasey Kahne the last to win there back in 2012. And in 11 starts at the 1.058-mile oval, Chase Elliott has managed just three top 10 finishes, though he did lead double-digit laps in three of his last four visits, giving a glimmer of hope. Hendrick Motorsports’ results have been far from impressive.
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Kyle Larson, a three-time runner-up at Loudon, has yet to secure a win there, leading only 22 laps in 14 starts. William Byron hasn’t cracked the top 10 at New Hampshire in seven appearances, making it the only active track where that is the case. Alex Bowman’s struggles are clear as well, with an average finish of 24.4 reflecting the difficulties the team faces. All told, Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports’ winless streak at New Hampshire stretches across 18 races and two generations of Cup Series cars. And they desperately want to turn that around.
Saturday’s action kicked off with William Byron setting the pace in practice, posting a blistering 29.795-second lap, not only the fastest in Group B but also the quickest overall across all drivers. However, that speed didn’t carry over to qualifying, as Byron had to settle for fifth in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Alex Bowman followed in seventh, Kyle Larson managed 16th, and Chase Elliott struggled in 26th. Larson’s championship hopes are also under fire, with fans blaming HMS. But things look different for JGR as a new team and manufacturer have broken their rhythm at Loudon.
Ford and Penske end Toyota-JGR dominance at NHM
Joey Logano led a Ford top-three sweep in qualifying at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ahead of Sunday’s second-round opener in the NASCAR playoffs. The three-time Cup Series champion claimed his 33rd career pole and second of the season after posting a 29.159-second lap in the No. 22 Ford on the oval. The pole marks Logano’s first at NHM, the same track where he notched his first career Cup win in June 2009. Logano, who also triumphed there in 2014, with a big grin, said after qualifying, “Man, it’s my home track. It feels so good to run well here. Hopefully, we’re able to capitalize.”
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Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney will line up alongside Logano in the No. 12 Ford, giving the team its second front-row sweep of the season and the 11th pole at New Hampshire for Penske. Josh Berry, driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford with a Penske alliance, bounced back from three consecutive last-place finishes in the first playoff round to qualify third.
NASCAR Driver’s Exit Leaves Fans Questioning Spire Motorsports
Andrés Pérez de Lara’s 2025 campaign reads like a stubborn underdog script, with flashes of promise, a few mid-season stumbles, and then a clear uptick once circumstances changed. Across the first half of the year, he made 17 Craftsman Truck Series starts for Spire Motorsports in 2025, earning a pair of top 10s, including a season-best seventh-place finish at Martinsville Speedway. By late August, his race log reflected the arc many expected from a young driver still finding his footing, with incremental gains, occasional strong runs, but not the consistent front-running pace that turns heads. But that seems to have changed drastically after he departed from the team.
Spire Motorsports officially permitted Pérez de Lara to explore other opportunities, and Niece Motorsports announced they would bring him aboard for the remainder of 2025. “Andrés has made meaningful progress this season, and we remain confident in his future,” said Spire Motorsports President Bill Anthony. “While we haven’t finalized our 2026 plans for the No. 77 team, we wanted to give him the opportunity to look ahead and pursue other options for the remainder of this year and beyond.” Niece’s announcement reiterated continuity with his sponsors like Telcel, Claro, and Infinitum, while supporting Pérez de Lara’s eagerness to build momentum before Richmond.
That change of scenery quickly became the proving ground for the 20-year-old rookie. Since the move to Niece, Pérez de Lara has shown noticeably better form as he finished 16th at Darlington, posted a top-10 at Bristol, and at New Hampshire, he ran up front for extended green-flag stints before late-race fading and ultimately being collected in the Matt Crafton/Toni Breidinger incident. The 2025 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender is currently 15th in points and third in the rookie standings. Those results aren’t just box-score improvements; they’re evidence of a driver in a car and environment that let him race near the front and be aggressive, a contrast to the conservative survival runs he was making earlier in the year.
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Meanwhile, Spire Motorsports’ Truck Series results in 2025 paint a muddled picture. Over 80 starts so far this season, Spire has managed 4 wins, 15 top-5 finishes, and 30 top-10s, but also a significant number of finishes outside the top-20. Their average finish sits around 14.4, while their average starting position is better at about 12.4, indicating that qualifying has sometimes shown promise that doesn’t translate into race day results. Rajah Caruth won the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway, leading 61 laps in that race, one of the deepest dominance moments for Spire this year.
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But in many other events, Spire trucks fade in the late stages or get hampered by aero and reliability issues that prevent them from closing aggressively. And now, Pérez de Lara’s release has raised questions and comparisons for the team.
Fans call out Spire Motorsports’ struggles
One fan critiqued, “I don’t know if anyone gets less for their money than Spire. Their ARCA cars are somehow bad, they seemingly have their engines explode the most out of all the charter teams, and their truck operation has been fairly disappointing considering they have a shit ton of money and bought out KBM.” For instance, in the Cup Series, Carson Hocevar led laps more than once, such as at Charlotte’s Coca-Cola 600, only for an engine failure to take him out of contention. In ARCA and lower-series entries, Spire hasn’t been dominant; even when Tristan McKee won at Watkins Glen for his ARCA debut, overall ARCA-West and ARCA Menards Series results show inconsistency across Spire’s stable.
Another added to that sentiment, saying, “Spire is just the VCARBs to Hendricks Red Bull. Team they can use on their up and coming talents (think hocevar and Haley or hadjar and de vries) and see if they’re any good for the big team. It’s also likely used for R&D which explains why the engines blow so much… If they’re really invested in a driver they’ll either send them to JRM or just stick them in a spire cup car to test.” Spire has been penalized multiple times for inspection failure, like the No. 71 entry at Phoenix, where the car chief was ejected, and similarly for the No. 7 entry at Talladega, which adds to the perception that they’re pushing the envelope, using cars as test beds or experiment labs rather than as perfectly polished race machines.
Some other fans echoed several observable trends, saying, “Spire as a whole is very off this season… Compare that to neice, where you have guys like Baylee currey fighting for wins and Honeycutt outrunning big teams like tricon, thorsport, and MHR, and it’s no surprise that Perez is doing better there.” Drivers at Niece Motorsports, like Kaden Honeycutt, prior to his release from the team, have put up top-10s and a win this season, and Bayley Currey has also delivered multiple good finishes, including a strong 4th at Atlanta. And now, Pérez de Lara’s results reflect that same trend.
But one fan defended the team, suggesting, “I wouldn’t call Spire being off this season when they have never really been on. They are proof that you can’t just buy speed in NASCAR.” Despite significant investments, including acquiring Kyle Busch Motorsports and fielding multiple entries, Spire’s results have been underwhelming. In contrast, teams like TRICON Garage and Front Row Motorsports have demonstrated consistent competitiveness. TRICON’s Corey Heim leads the standings with 9 wins in 2025, while FRM’s Layne Riggs has been a playoff contender. Spire’s struggles highlight that financial investment alone doesn’t guarantee success in NASCAR’s highly competitive environment.
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Another fan predicted, “Spire has basically sucked. Corey said they are way behind in aero and they don’t want to spend the time and money to fix it this late in the year. I believe that’s a hint that they will not be truck racing next year. If they are, it won’t be as much.” Spire Motorsports’ trucks have frequently experienced mid-pack finishes, with limited top-10 results. Additionally, issues such as engine failures and aerodynamic shortcomings have been noted. For instance, during the Weather Guard Truck Race at Bristol, Spire’s No. 77 entry, driven by Andrés Pérez de Lara, finished 19th after surviving late-race carnage.
The team’s ability to address its technical challenges and clarify its future plans will likely influence its standing in the NASCAR community and its relationship with the fanbase.
Chase Elliott’s Bold One-Word Confession Exposes HMS’s Playoff Struggles
Hendrick Motorsports hasn’t hit the ground running in the playoffs. While Joe Gibbs Racing has swept the Round of 16, and Team Penske has now won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR’s most successful teams haven’t gotten going just yet. There have been encouraging signs, though, such as William Byron’s third-place finish at the 2025 Mobil 1 301 and Chase Elliott’s podium finish at Gateway. But Victory Lane continues to elude Rick Hendrick’s side, and the sport’s most popular driver is issuing a warning sign.
Despite finishing fifth at the ‘Magic Mile’, Elliott couldn’t help but focus on the room for improvement in his racecraft. With Kansas Motor Speedway on the horizon, could the No. 9 Chevy driver turn his fortunes around to secure a berth in the Round of 8?
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Chase Elliott has mixed emotions after New Hampshire comeback
The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. After all, the Round of 12 was officially underway at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with teams hoping to end Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance in the playoffs. It was always going to be an uphill task for the Ford and Chevy teams, especially considering the Japanese manufacturer’s dominance at the venue in the Next-Gen era, where they’ve dominated and led laps more than anyone else. But in a surprising turn of events, Ryan Blaney ended in Victory Lane, closely followed by Josh Berry, while William Byron ended up in third place.
Meanwhile, Chase Elliott finished fifth, an impressive result after starting in 27th place. But despite his majestic run in New Hampshire, the 29-year-old couldn’t help but say in the post-race interview, “I didn’t necessarily have it circled until we got done yesterday. That was concerning. You know, I just hate I put us in these holes. It’s a great day, for sure, to battle back up through there and call our way back up into the mix, but you hate to have to do that. You know, you hate to have to put yourself in those positions. Everybody on pit road did a great job with a terrible stall. I mean, coming around the #88, #71 was coming around us. Hats off to everybody on our pit crew.”
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While Elliott redeemed himself with a top-five finish under difficult circumstances, the racer shouldn’t ideally be in such a situation to begin with. The Georgia-native didn’t end up winning stage points after the opening 70 laps because he was busy gaining track positions, and while he did end up seventh at the end of Stage 2, four points isn’t nearly enough under the circumstances. However, with the ‘win and in’ playoff structure, the No. 9 driver needs to finish consistently high or secure clutch results, but he seems to be struggling in both aspects at the moment.
Chase Elliott isn’t alone either. Kyle Larson and William Byron have struggled to secure wins as well, and while they did end up inside the top-10 in New Hampshire, the margins are thinner than they’ve ever been. With just six races remaining, Hendrick Motorsports needs to get its act together and fast, with the Georgia-native even admitting to the lack of performance by saying, “Certainly, didn’t have anything on Ryan and those guys. Congrats to him, did a great job. Got to step up a bit to catch them, but certainly competitive to the rest.”
Elliott hopes to fare better at Kansas Speedway
It’s now or never for Chase Elliott. As things stand, he’s seventh in the playoff standings, just 14 points above the cutline going into the upcoming race at Kansas Speedway. While he could potentially get a result at the 1.5-mile venue or the Charlotte Roval, there’s little margin for error, and he runs the risk of being eliminated in the Round of 12 for the first time since 2016. But his No. 9 Chevy was lightning-fast at the spring race earlier this year, and he has won at the track, even though it was back in 2018.
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Sharing his expectations from the Hollywood Casino 400, Elliott said, “Well, you’re not going to stack points until you get stage points. You know man, that’s just the truth of the matter. And the qualifying thing hurts you so bad on that front. I’m well aware of all that. Certainly looking forward to going to Kansas. Thought we had a really strong car there in the spring. Hopefully, that means we can go have a good run there. And really excited about the Roval. So, looking forward to it man. Whatever it is. We’ll fight to the end.”
The ‘spectacular’ amount of Honey Deuces sold at 2025 US Open revealed
Game, set, sip!
US Open fans went love-love for Honey Deuces this year – slamming back a record $17 million worth of the famed, $23-a-pop cocktails, the United States Tennis Association reported this week.
The Grey Goose vodka-and-lemonade concoction – topped with a skewer of honeydew melon balls – was guzzled 738,459 times during the 2025 tournament, a jaw-dropping 32% jump from last year.
But booze wasn’t the only thing breaking records.
The Open itself drew a whopping 1.14 million spectators to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7 – a 9% bump from last year and the biggest crowd in the event’s history.
The Open also served up a record-shattering $90 million purse – the largest payday in professional tennis and a 20% spike from last year’s $75 million haul.
Singles champs Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka each scored a staggering $5 million – the biggest winner’s checks in tennis history and a 39% raise from the $3.6 million that last year’s titlists took home.
And for the first time ever, the winning teams from men’s, women’s and mixed doubles took home $1 million in prize money.
Even the gift shops hit aces, as sales of merch such as US Open-branded Ralph Lauren jackets worth $268, $130 Peter Millar polos and $42 teddy bears spiked 27% year-over-year, according to the USTA.
“This year’s US Open truly embodied the spirit of ‘Spectacular,’ surpassing expectations and setting new records across the board – from fan engagement and player impact to partner success that inspired a love for tennis to grow the sport at the community level,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Pro Tennis and US Open Tournament Director.
“What we achieved together over these three incredible weeks is a reminder of the power of sport and the extraordinary potential still waiting to be unlocked in tennis,” Allaster said.
IHSAA boys tennis Saint Joseph vs. Carmel result between ranked teams
CULVER ― The top-ranked Carmel High School boys tennis team has faced many tests this season on the courts.
The undefeated Greyhounds have aced them all, including another one provided by No. 6 South Bend Saint Joseph Saturday, Sept. 20.
The pair of powers clashed at the fabulous Gable Tennis Center on the Culver Academies campus, with Carmel picking up a 4-1 win.
The Greyhounds, who were playing their fifth match in the past five days, improved to 15-0. The Huskies dropped to 11-2 with their only other loss also coming at Culver Academies to the No. 5 hosts by a 3-2 count on Sept. 13.
The two teams could see each other again back at CMA for the semi-state on Oct. 11. The pairings for the state tourney series are set for Monday, Sept. 29, and both teams will be heavy favorites to win sectional and regional championships. The semi-state matchups will be known when the draw is held.
Carmel, sporting three seniors its seven-man lineup, simply had too much for the Huskies. The Greyhounds lost 3-2 to Brebeuf in a regional semifinal match in 2024. Brebeuf went on to defeat Saint Joe, 5-0, in the state semifinals a season ago before winning the state championship.
The Huskies, who have just one senior in their lineup, picked up a win at No. 2 singles. Star sophomore Oliver Hix beat senior Andrew Kim 6-4, 6-2 in the final match to finish. Hix prevailed in the 2:15 minute match despite dealing with issues on the bottom of his feet. The match saw a short delay with Hix up 2-1 in the second set to get some treatment for his feet.
Where to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Taylor Fritz today: Laver Cup tennis free stream
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) and Taylor Fritz (United States) will represent Team Europe and Team World in their Laver Cup singles match Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Alcaraz was part of a doubles team that beat Fritz Friday night.
Alcaraz vs. Fritz will air on Tennis Channel, which you can stream on DirecTV (free trial).
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Laver Cup, Day 2 singles match
Who: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Taylor Fritz
When: Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
TV: Tennis Channel
Live stream: DirecTV (free trial), fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling
Here’s a recent tennis story, via The Associated Press:
MILAN (AP) — Italian rapper Fedez has apologized for publishing musical lyrics saying that tennis player Jannik Sinner speaks with “Adolf Hitler’s accent,” which prompted the musician to be accused of inciting racial hatred.
Fedez recently posted an Instagram story featuring lyrics of a new song that said in Italian: “Italian has a new idol named Jannik Sinner. Pure-blooded Italian with Adolf Hitler’s accent.”
A city council member in Bolzano — the capital of the German-speaking autonomous province of Alto Adige in northern Italy where Sinner is from — on Thursday filed a formal complaint with prosecutors over Fedez’s lyrics based on an article in Italy’s penal code that sanctions incitement of racial hatred and propaganda.
“I wanted to take a paradox and it came off terribly, about athletes who are born and raised in Italy but often are not considered Italian due to the color of their skin and apply it to Italy’s top athlete,” Fedez said during a concert in Milan on Friday, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I wasn’t able to pull it off and all I can do is apologize,” Fedez added. “If something like this isn’t understood, it’s because of a mistake made by whoever wrote it. So I take responsibility.”
The reference to “pure-blooded Italian” recalls Italian fascist propaganda from the 1930s, according to Giuseppe Martucci, the city council member, who added that the reference to Hitler was unacceptable.
“I felt it my duty to act and hold up the founding values of our constitution,” Martucci said. “We can’t allow language the evokes racism and hate to be normalized by public figures.”
By winning four Grand Slam titles over the last two years, Sinner has exceeded Italy’s soccer stars to become the country’s most popular athlete. He lost the U.S. Open final to Carlos Alcaraz this month and lost the No. 1 ranking to his Spanish rival.
This is not the first time that Sinner has faced an underlying sentiment that he isn’t fully Italian.
Before he won his first Grand Slam title and opted not to play Davis Cup for Italy in September 2023 — saying he hadn’t recovered in time from tournaments in North America — he was widely criticized.
“Caso Nazionale” (National Issue), said the front-page of Sportweek, the Gazzetta dello Sport’s weekly magazine, in a headline with a double meaning.
Then when Sinner won his first Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open, he was treated as a national hero on his return home and met with Premier Giorgia Meloni at the Chigi Palace.
Sinner and Meloni posed for photos as they held aloft together first the Australian Open trophy and then the Italian flag. Sinner then gave Meloni a warm embrace to end the meeting.
Roger Federer Finally Breaks Silence on Why He Started the Laver Cup
If tennis had a family reunion, it would probably look a lot like the Laver Cup: a three-day spectacle where legends and rising stars mingle, cheer, and occasionally trash-talk each other courtside. Roger Federer, ever the schemer with a heart for history, dreamed it up not just to dazzle fans but to remind players who actually paved the way. And somehow, it worked—brilliantly.
Roger Federer’s brainchild, the Laver Cup, has evolved from a modest tribute to tennis legends into a global spectacle. Launched in 2017, it pits Team Europe against Team World in a Ryder Cup-style format, emphasizing camaraderie over rankings. The event’s charm comes from mixing fierce competition with a festive vibe, thrilling fans through every moment. Spectators get rare access to world-class tennis, feeling the energy up close, as if courtside magic.
Roger Federer has always been a visionary and one of the best to ever grace the sport of tennis. The tournament itself was started as a tribute to one of the greats of tennis, Rod Laver. In a recent interview, Federer talked about why he started the Laver Cup, “In tennis, we forget the legends of our sport. We don’t see them enough, we don’t include them enough. And I’ve always been a little bit sad to see all the heroes that have paved the way for us on a frequent basis. That was always something that has lived within me.”
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Though the Laver Cup was conceptualized as a tipping of the hat to Rod Laver, Federer credits the tournament’s wide received immense success to John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg for keeping the Laver Cup afloat till now, since its inception in 2017. But now, it’s time to pass on the baton. Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi have taken over as the captains for Team Europe and Team World, respectively. By 2025, the Laver Cup has firmly established itself as a premier event on the tennis calendar. San Francisco’s Chase Center has been hosting the event since September 19.
The 2025 edition has been marked by intense matches and passionate fan engagement. On day one, Team Europe surged 3-1, fueled by Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik’s dazzling doubles performance. Alcaraz, fresh off his U.S. Open triumph, expressed pride in representing Europe, stating, “It’s an honor to be here with these legends.”
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The Laver Cup’s success underscores a shift in tennis towards events that prioritize fan experience and player interaction. Its legacy stands as a vivid testament to Federer’s vision, merging fierce competition with joyous celebration. He created a unique platform where tennis history is revered. The tournament has exceeded expectations in executing Federer’s vision: to inspire the future and to honor the past greats.
Speaking of ideas, Federer’s retirement has only fueled ideas. And this time, it is the answer to the imminent question that everyone’s been asking – Is there still a possibility of seeing Federer back on the court? But the demand isn’t for Federer alone, it’s seeing Federer and Nadal in their natural habitat. Federer’s response was hazy, yet he toyed with the idea. Maybe there will be an exhibition match by the ‘seniors,’ but the choice isn’t just his to make. His health, fitness, Rafa’s green signal, there are many layers to this than what meets the eye.
Roger Federer is trying to reignite the ‘Fedal’ rivalry, but it won’t be the same
If tennis nostalgia could be bottled, Roger Federer would be trying to sell it by the gallon. The Swiss maestro and Rafael Nadal—once gladiators on opposite sides of the net—are now negotiating a reunion tour where the stakes are smiles, not Grand Slams. Federer, who launched the Laver Cup to honor the legends who paved the way, seems eager to remind fans that even retired rivals can still generate headlines… and a little harmless drama.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two of tennis’s most iconic rivals, defined a generation with unforgettable clashes. Their careers collided in epic Grand Slam showdowns, finally merging in Federer’s 2022 Laver Cup farewell doubles. Fans remember those moments, hearts pounding, as the 20-time Grand Slam champion joked about rekindling sparks: “I mean, it would be cool… maybe a Fedal tour or something like that”. Even off-court, the pair’s camaraderie shone, from golf outings to mutual respect, cementing a legendary friendship beyond competition.
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Recent developments suggest Federer is actively exploring this playful reunion, inviting Nadal to a potential seniors series. He revealed, “I played four hours of tennis the other day here in San Francisco… I’m trying to keep in good shape.” Federer envisions the initiative as an extension of the Laver Cup’s mission, honoring past champions and the sport’s greats who paved the way. Fans can almost taste the excitement, picturing Nadal grinning at Federer’s playful challenge, stepping onto court again.
Stephen Curry Links-Up With Roger Federer at Laver Cup After Affecting Warriors Star’s Retirement Plans
Stephen Curry surprised fans with a visit to the 2025 Laver Cup at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the $1.4 billion arena that’s home to the Golden State Warriors, hosted by none other than tennis legend Roger Federer. Curry shared a snap from his meet-up with Federer on his Instagram Story, while the Chase Center also posted the moment, captioning it: “Just two legends on the black court 🐐.”
This link-up is sure to thrill fans, especially since Roger Federer has influenced Curry’s retirement plans. Years ago, a meeting with Federer left a lasting impression on Curry and the Warriors. Draymond asked Federer how he had been performing at such a high level for 20 years, and Federer’s response was simple yet profound. He explained that he loves his daily ritual—getting up, making his kids breakfast, dropping them off at school, going to train, and following the right methods to stay in top shape. He said he loves competing, and every night, as he lays his head down, he reflects, “Man, what a great day.”
That philosophy clearly resonated with Curry. Kerr added, “So I think of Steph a lot when I think of that story from Roger Federer. Very, very similar—just sort of zest for life and just joy for the process.”
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(This is a developing story…)
Eight years in, the Laver Cup tennis quandary solves itself
SAN FRANCISCO — On the eve of the Laver Cup, Yannick Noah, the French tennis legend in his first stint as the captain of Team Europe, spoke about how much tennis he watches these days.
“Not much,” Noah said in a news conference, adding he had never met three members of his team before this week.
A little while later, Pat Rafter, the Australian fixture of the late 1990s who is vice captain of Team World — the amalgam of players from Australia, the United States and South America who will take on the Europeans — was puzzling out who to match up against Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 1 and star of Team Europe.
Rafter said that with Alcaraz slated for Saturday, Team World could not pick who to face him. Except, it could. This year’s edition of the team event is in San Francisco, so Team World gets dibs on first selection for either of the weekend days. It had to choose by Friday; Rafter was speaking Thursday, in public, giving the game away to his opposition.
“Do they know that, though?” Rafter, now a bit concerned, asks Team World captain Andre Agassi. “Have I blown it?”
“They do now,” Agassi said.
“That’s how much I know what’s going on,” Rafter said a few beats later.
Taylor Fritz, Team World’s top-ranked player and de facto on-court leader, knows exactly what is going on. He is one of the fiercest competitors on the ATP Tour, and he knows that Sunday, when each win is worth 3 points as opposed to 2 on Saturday and 1 Friday, is when to pick. The Laver Cup is designed such that it always comes down to the final day.
Agassi thought Saturday was better. Rafter didn’t even know.
“That’s like the most insane thing ever,” Fritz said of Agassi’s logic.
The captains had to submit their picks for the first round of matches simultaneously, before strategizing on Day 2 and Day 3. There was an odd moment of confusion during the Friday night doubles match that pitted Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik against Fritz and Alex Michelsen. The first game went to deuce, and after the next point, Alcaraz and Mensik started to walk to the sideline because the competition follows ATP rules, which means sudden-death deuce scoring for doubles. The chair umpire had to remind the players that the Laver Cup does it the old-fashioned way.
Fritz’s Team World kit from his sponsor, Boss, is a slightly different shade of red than the rest of the team’s.
These little details and exchanges represent the quandary at the heart of the Laver Cup. It has wrestled the tennis world over its identity ever since Roger Federer, his agent and business partner Tony Godsick, the ATP Tour, Tennis Australia and U.S. Tennis Association dreamt it up eight years ago.
Organizers argue that this ATP-sanctioned event is no hit-and-giggle “exhibition,” that single-word sporting death sentence of trick shots, players wearing headsets and artificial competition designed to stretch even the most one-sided matches to their longest possible conclusion.
“I can assure you this is no exhibition,” John McEnroe, the Team World captain for the first seven years, insisted during a chat with a few journalists Friday evening.
That said, the Laver Cup matches do not come with ranking points. There are also the occasional hijinks on the sidelines, the captains exaggerating their sporting personalities to play to the gallery on controversial calls and celebrations. Or maybe that’s just how they have wanted to act all along. Agassi has been doling out chest-bumps after every win that look borderline dangerous for the 55-year-old. They seem to be working.
Team World, who were big underdogs coming in, have a commanding 9-3 lead heading into the final day.
With their other winning-or-misery tournament lives off the line for once, even the players can be at odds over how important this is. In 2023, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gaël Monfils made the two poles clear during a singles match. Auger-Aliassime of Team World was in competition mode; Monfils of Team Europe said he was there because people “called me, they told me, ‘Oh, the Laver Cup is so nice, you can be free.’”
The two philosophies clashed, with both players feeling that their idea of the tournament was being undermined by their opponent’s idea of it. Auger-Aliassime even said that “tanking in the Laver Cup is crazy,” which could be said with priestly sincerity or court-jester irony and lose none of its meaning either way.
Noah, who is succeeding Björn Borg as steward of Team Europe, sees his tennis consumption habits as no impediment to his role as the leader of Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, et al.
“I just like to listen to them, you know, get to know them and get how they feel about the game, about their journey as tennis players, and then I can find the right words to tell them when they’re playing under pressure,” he said in an interview Thursday.
And there is pressure, however much of it is peer rather than points. No matter how irreverent and goofy they act in the lead-up, once the balls are flying, players and coaches get fired up. Not Grand-Slam fired up, or even life-or-death Ryder Cup fired up, but fired up nonetheless, and the highs can come without the dread and doom that follow losing in an ATP Tour event or Grand Slam. They are competitors and really can’t help themselves.
There was Alcaraz, Friday afternoon, trying to coach Mensik on opening up the court against Michelsen.
There was Noah Saturday afternoon, at Alexander Zverev’s knees during a changeover, urging him to step back on the second serve against Alex de Minaur, wait for a high ball and crush it with a forehand.
It is a mostly self-flagellation-free week, with bloopers that will be lost in time rather than replayed in players’ minds, even though there is a good bit of money on the line. Each participant receives an appearance fee based on their singles ranking, with some latitude for players with additional star power if the situation calls for that. Each player on the winning team receives $250,000. The losing team receives nothing beyond the appearance fees.
Half the team is selected based on ranking. The captains, with assistance from the organizers who need to sell tickets, make the other selections.
“You feel like you’re playing also for your teammates and your captains,” said Ruud, who is in his fifth Laver Cup. “I’ve been on the winning side of matches here and the losing side, and winning is a much better feeling, obviously.”
Ruud led off this year’s competition against Reilly Opelka. He had one of the best serving days of his life, blasting in about 80 percent of his first serves. Opelka said he wasn’t surprised, calling Ruud one of the best servers in the world.
“Is he always like that?” Rafter asked him during the news conference after the match.
“Yeah,” Opelka told Rafter, who is more of a surfer than a tennis expert these days.
Menšík and Michelsen played a cracker of a match, decided by a 10-point tiebreaker after a rise-from-the-dead comeback from Michelsen. Flavio Cobolli’s battle with João Fonseca, the 19-year-old Brazilian phenom, had Team World surrounding the teenager on the bench and chanting “Joaoaoooooo Fonseeeeeeca…Joaoaoooooo Fonseeeeeeca…..”
Federer has been courtside from nearly the first ball to the last at every session.
“I cannot lose with Roger cheering for me,” Cobolli said to Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman in the middle of the match.
No such luck for Cobolli, who lost in straight sets.
In a tight doubles that had the newly silver-haired Alcaraz thrilling the crowd with some nasty curling forehands into the seams of open space, Michelsen nailed Mensik in the back with an overhead from close range at the net.
By day’s end, the Europeans held a 3-1 lead. However, the scoring system, with increasing points for each match each day, allowed De Minaur to draw Team World even by mid-afternoon Saturday as he had his way with Zverev, 6-1, 6-4. Zverev tossed his racket across the court midway through. He said he has practiced little the past three weeks and had two injections to treat back pain.
On paper, the Alcaraz-led Europeans should cruise, but in best-of-three sets with the third set a 10-point tiebreak, anybody can beat anybody. Everybody knows that and wants to seize the opportunities for bragging rights.
The organizers have leaned in, too. There’s a black tie gala the night before the event. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty was the featured entertainment at the Bill Graham Auditorium Thursday night. The Laver Cup itself is really a giant silver chalice.
It’s paying off. The Chase Center, home to the Golden State Warriors, is sold out and packed for all five sessions, with more than 17,000 people making lots of noise, trying to give the underdog Team World and its three Californians a home-ish court advantage.
Fonseca is soaking it all in, getting an up-close view of how his older teammates, who have all been ranked high above him, deal with a big match in a big stadium. Then there are all the tennis legends just hanging about the place, in captaincy roles or not.
“Meeting Roger, which is really fun,” was one of the highlights, he said, but seeing what Agassi and Rafter might be able to give him tips on isn’t a bad perk either.
“I’m an aggressive guy, and how do you put pressure when you’re returning?” he said in an interview Thursday. “How to understand that when to go for the shot, when to let the guy think. Those things are important coming from those guys that know a lot of tennis.”
Of course, Rafter would tell him to chip and charge. Agassi, arguably the greatest returner ever, would have some other ideas.
Rafter said he wants to be careful not to say too much — again — fearing that he might overcomplicate matters for players who have their own coaches the rest of the year. The two-time U.S. Open champ said he was a little skeptical about the competition ahead of the event. Then he arrived and found the process of getting to know players and doing a series of media appearances tense and draining. By the end of the night Friday, after sitting courtside and feeding off the players’ energy for roughly seven hours, he was a convert.
“I didn’t think I would be into it, to be honest,” he said. “I came here really open-minded, thinking, what is this event really all about? I’m sold. It’s awesome.”
(Photo of Francisco Cerundolo and Andre Agassi: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Area’s best girls tennis teams battle at the Monmouth County Tournament
Colts Neck, No. 7 in the NJ.com Top 20, outlasted several perennial powers to win the Monmouth County Tournament on Saturday at the Park Avenue Tennis Center in Oakhurst.
Colts Neck tallied 23 points over the two-day, flight-based tournament which began on Friday.
Manasquan, which was ranked earlier in the season, took second with 20 points. No. 17 Rumson-Fair Haven came in third with 18 points, No. 6 Holmdel placed fourth with 17 points, and Marlboro rounded out the top five with 15 points.
Colts Neck’s Lauren Jarmon led the way for the Cougars with an individual title at third singles. Colts Neck also had finalists at first singles and third doubles.
Jarmon cruised to her championship by downing Holmdel’s Gabby Dekhtyarav in the final, 6-1, 6-1.
Molly Martin of Rumson-Fair Haven blew past Colts Neck’s Veronika Matulskaya in the first singles final, 6-1, 6-0.
The second singles crown went to Marlboro’s Varsha Paineni, who defeated Trinity Hall’s Nessa Levine, 6-4, 6-4. Levine upset top-seeded Valentina Wagar from Colts Neck in the semifinals, 7-6(4), 3-6, (10-8).
At first doubles, Manasquan’s Ryan McCarthy and Gracyn Walsh defeated Colts Neck’s Sophia Valente and Vera Koval, 6-3, 6-2.
Manasquan’s Ella Jackwicz and Eden Amorelli also took first at second doubles as they edged Rumson-Fair Haven’s Hoi Chan (Gladys) and Lorelei Gaus, 6-4, 7-6(5).
Third doubles went to Holmdel’s Ryan Sealove and Tanvi Pentela, as they downed Manasquan’s Harley Walsh and Madison Carlie, 6-2, 6-1.
Third place winners at each flight were Marlboro’s Evalina Zerres (first singles), Wagar (second singles), Manasquan’s Jessie Snyder (third singles), Red Bank Regional’s Kylie Knipe/Summer Knipe (first doubles), Holmdel’s Vivi Zheng/Kate Shekoff (second doubles) and Manasquan’s Anella Petracco/Grace McLoughlin (third doubles).
Carlos Alcaraz Draws Rare Similarity to Soccer Legend As Andy Murray Makes Honest Confession
When it comes to standout tennis, Carlos Alcaraz is firmly on top. Fresh off his second US Open title earlier this month, the Spaniard leapfrogged rival Jannik Sinner to reclaim the No.1 crown. His 2025 season sparkles with seven trophies, pushing his career tally to 23 tour titles. His fearless game and jaw-dropping drop shots keep fans in awe. Even Andy Murray admits the 22-year-old makes him feel a little nostalgic.
The former British No.1, who won three Grand Slams and was once part of the Big Four alongside Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, is now retired. These days, you’ll more likely find him on the golf course than on a tennis court. He spoke to The Sunday Times on September 20, reflecting on life after hanging up the racket at Wimbledon and the Olympics last year.
Between school runs with his kids and playing golf, Murray also joked about Carlos Alcaraz as a golfer. He wasn’t impressed with the Spaniard’s swing. But his tennis? That left him thinking. “He’s a very average golfer, unfortunately for him, but his tennis reminds me of my favourite footballer growing up and I got to see live a few times, which was Ronaldinho,” Murray said. That’s huge praise!
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For those who didn’t follow football in the 2000s, Ronaldinho was Brazil’s magician. A legend of flair and joy, he twice won FIFA World Player of the Year and also the Ballon d’Or. He played 97 times for Brazil, scoring 33 goals. He lifted the 2002 World Cup, the 1999 Copa América, the 2005 Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores, and that Ballon d’Or. A complete trophy cabinet. He retired in 2018.
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At just 22, Carlos Alcaraz already owns six Grand Slam titles: Two each at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He’s one of the brightest stars in tennis and a global sports icon. Murray sees more than just the Spaniard’s wins. He credits his charisma and flair for entertaining crowds, much like Ronaldinho, the dazzling winger from Barcelona and AC Milan.
“They’ve got all of this skill and ability, they obviously want to win, but they play with a smile on their face. If the moment comes to do something entertaining they will, and I think that’s what makes them so absorbing because you never know what is going to happen next, so I particularly enjoy watching him.” Murray added.
Now, fresh from his US Open triumph and return to world No.1, Alcaraz pulls on the Team Europe shirt for the Laver Cup. Last year, he helped the team snap their winless streak and take the title. This year, though, looks more like a battle.
Carlos Alcaraz faces a surprise upset against Fritz
Alcaraz’s blazing 13-match winning streak finally hit a wall on Saturday night at the Laver Cup. The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh off his US Open triumph, was stopped by Team World’s Taylor Fritz in San Francisco. Playing for Team Europe, Alcaraz racked up 19 unforced errors, almost double Fritz’s 10, according to ATP’s official site.
Reflecting on the loss, Alcaraz admitted the night didn’t go his way. “It was not the match that I was expecting, but I think I have to look a little bit to him that I think he played great tennis. I just was not as solid as I wanted in the match, and I think these conditions, it is pretty slow. The balls are really big, so I had to be solid. I did not play that match today,” he said in quotes carried by ATP Tour.
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He didn’t hesitate to praise his opponent, either. “Taylor played a great match, really solid, playing aggressively when he could. I think everything went to his side, so I had to congratulate him and say that he played a much better game than I did,” Carlos Alcaraz added. For Fritz, it was a statement win. For Alcaraz, a reminder that even the world No.1 can have an off night.
Now, as the Laver Cup heads into its final day, the drama builds. Team World holds a 9-6 lead, leaving Team Europe with work to do if they want to hold onto the crown they reclaimed last year. Will Alcaraz rally his teammates for one last push before he jets off to the Tokyo Open? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
What it’s like to watch tennis with Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a busy man at the Laver Cup.
He is the founding partner of the event, the guy who, in a taxi in China a decade ago, told his longtime agent, Tony Godsick, he wanted to do something to honor Rod Laver and his generation of greats. Before long, they were mapping out creating an event that aspired to be a version of the Ryder Cup for tennis.
He played in the event for several years and now splits his time overseeing its operation, recruiting, managing and offering his wisdom to players, and entertaining sponsors and celebrities, including Stephen Curry on Saturday night.
He also watches a ton of tennis. Anyone who imagines Federer — to his loyalists, the greatest player of the modern era, even if Novak Djokovic won more — cloistering himself with masters of the universe in some luxury suite high above the court would be sadly mistaken.
At the Chase Center this week, he has likely spent more time courtside watching matches than he has anywhere else. He was there for almost the entirety of the first day, through the afternoon and evening, and for much of the sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
This is Federer’s third Laver Cup in retirement. At first, he wasn’t sure how much tennis he should watch — or how much he would want to watch.
“I guess I can do whatever I want,” he said as he sat courtside during Sunday’s match between Alex De Minaur and Jakub Menšík. “I just started to realize, that all these young players, a lot of them, like Menšík or (Joao) Fonseca, I’ve never seen them play before in my life. I also want to show them that I am actually here and I care for them so they can go home and say, ‘Roger actually watched me play.’”
Federer said he remembers vividly how important it was to him to have a past great watch him play.
“It was that one thing in life almost throughout my career that made me nervous,” he said.
At first, his parents watching made him nervous, then friends. And then it was legends, or really famous people, or people he admired in sports.
“So I just feel also a little bit of a duty and respect towards the players to be there, and I enjoy it,” he said.
Like everyone, Federer was blown away by a ridiculous drop shot Carlos Alcaraz hit during the previous match. He’d gone into the player gym after the match to chat with Alcaraz about it as he cooled down.
Alcaraz had pulled off the rarest of tricks — a drop-shot volley winner when a player was at the net already.
“He comes up with the idea that I’m going to hit a drop shot when the other guy is actually like six feet away from me,” Federer said, shaking his head. “That type of confidence and inspiration is what obviously I admire with Carlos, that he’s able to take shots on that many, many other players would never dare to do, because they know they could maybe look silly or whatever. But he doesn’t care about that fact.”
So what does Federer watch when he watches tennis? What does he think about?
“Sometimes I watch it like I would be playing,” he said. “Or sometimes I would be watching, like, how would I play against these players. And some of them I’ve played against.”
He beat De Minaur to win his final title in Basel. He played Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, in all about half of the players competing in the Laver Cup.
“Sometimes I really watch from the perspective of just a fan and just being into it and being nervous and caring for the player or the event,” he said. “So I go very much in phases.”
During this moment, early in the second set of the Menšík-De Minaur match, Federer was very much in analyst, former player mode. Menšík had just gone off court after losing the first set. Now he was back, and serving.
“I love to see him try to figure it out,” he said.
Menšík double-faulted.
“Why does it happen? You know, it shouldn’t happen, this is the last thing you want to happen, right? So he’s had almost five minutes to think about that and not to make it happen.”
Now he’s in De Minaur’s head.
“This is like exactly what we wanted,” he says, putting himself in the Aussie’s brain. “He actually broke up his own rhythm. So Demon (De Minaur’s nickname) is like extremely excited right now. “
But then, Menšík recovers and makes a couple of sturdy strokes to win a point after missing his first serve.
“It’s these little things that are how you actually might end up losing a match,” he says. “Because it’s like now you went double fault, missed the first serve. It’s second serve, love-15. If Demon hits a better passing shot, or something goes up 30 love, Menšík can’t recover. Break of serve, and he wins 6-3, 6-4, instead of going one-all, two-all, and then ends up breaking Demon, right?”
This is the little things like the junior or the rookie still has to learn,” he says. Everyone focuses on the 30-all point at 4-4. Federer is, too. But he is all obsessed with the little moments that no one will ever talk about.
Menšík goes up 30-15.
“This is like kind of a medium important point already,” he says. “You don’t want to go 30-all, just let’s, you’re going to keep rolling here. So you have to have the most extreme of focus right here in my mind. The chances to win the game at 40-15 are completely different than at 30-all.”
De Minaur hits a slice forehand. It forced Menšík to make a tough shot. He does, but Federer likes the play anyway. Force the 20-year-old to make something happen and give him a chance to miss.
He thinks De Minaur might be thinking he should have done more, especially after Menšík hits an ace.
“These incredible details are the ones that actually really interest me when I watch a young player playing,” he says. “And then seeing him today and then see him in two years. You know how much he’s improved.
Up 40-15, Menšík goes for a big second serve and double-faults. Fine, Federer says. He’s loosening up, taking his hand off the brake. He serves and volleys on the next point and holds his serve.
“So now he’s like, OK awesome, I gained a lot of information, this ended up being a really good game for me to overcome the wobble in the beginning, and at the end being able to try out a few things.”
That said, he’s very impressed with De Minaur. He last saw him at Wimbledon against Djokovic. He thinks he’s made big improvements since then. More variety. A bit stronger. De Minaur whips an inside-out forehand that breaks the sideline. That’s not a shot he used to see when he was playing De Minaur, Federer said.
He’s heard the chatter about the court being a little slow. Balls with topspin check up rather than sliding through the court, while slices stay low.
“Novak always made fun of it, like this court is built for Roger,” he recalls with a smile.
Maybe they will speed it up a bit next year, put less sand in the paint. But the surface also allows for more of a chess match, whereas a lot of indoor courts play like ice skating rinks.
His eyes drift over to the benches. It’s a moment where he thinks Team Europe might need to lift Menšík and try to give him some more belief, give him the feeling that they want this win desperately and that they believe he can do it.
He remembers the first Laver Cup, watching the American Sam Querry, John Isner and Jack Sock whooping it up like it was a college match, while Team Europe was far more subdued. Team World was outgunned. It was their best chance.
“The energy was insane from them,” he said. “I was sitting there looking over and like, wow. I mean, the creativity and the fun they were having. Sometimes I was wishing I was on the other bench.”
At this point, De Minaur is sitting on the bench, surrounded by his teammates.
“Has to also be careful that when he gets five opinions, like you should do that and you’ve just been aced on the last two points,” he says.
Then it’s back into De Minaur’s head. “There’s only so much I can do about that,” he says.
At the same time, he loves the dynamic. He wants the players to learn from each other. There is no other time in the year when players from other countries can ask each other how to play against opponents in an organic way. There’s always an edge. How much do players want to share?
“Here you get a free pass, here it’s your teammates, like what do think by the way, next time I play against Sinner, how do you think I should play? So here you can ask any question, you probably get the full answer.”
He’d be lying if he said there wasn’t a part of him that still wishes he could be on that bench now.
Just that afternoon, as Sock and De Minaur were walking out, he had the itch.
“I was thinking to myself, it would be cool to walk out right now and go play a match,” Federer said.
He knows he can’t, not with this crew. It’s their turn. And he’s got another job to do.
“I can be here and support them, you know,” he says. “It’s fun also. It’s a good role.”
(Photo: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Taylor Fritz’s First Words to Andre Agassi After Sealing Laver Cup Glory Speaks Volumes
The Chase Center in San Francisco erupted with electrifying roars as Taylor Fritz, Team World’s talisman, delivered the decisive blow against Alexander Zverev to crown his side as champions of the 2025 Laver Cup. The tension-filled clash carried all the weight of the iconic rivalry between Team Europe and Team World, but Fritz’s ice-cool composure ensured that this time, it was the red jerseys celebrating with unshakable pride.
This is Fritz’s fifth appearance at this iconic event, and before the start of the tournament, he said, “What I bring is just my very positive, confident energy, my confidence to the team. I always believe that we’re going to win and we’re going to get it done. I think that I really push that feeling onto everybody and hopefully give us that reassurance and that confidence that we’re better.” Before this incredible win against the world number 3, Fritz defeated the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, by 6-3, 6-2. After the win against the Spaniard, he said, “It’s such an amazing moment. But what really does it for me is not the win itself, it’s how I played. It’s the level. It’s taking advantage of those big moments, pulling the trigger, just going out and taking it. I’m hoping this can be a sign of things to come.” But what did he say after his stunning 6-3,7-6(4) win against Zverev?
With this victory, Taylor Fritz has now helped Team World secure the Laver Cup by 15-9. He sent a message to team captain Andre Agassi after this win. He said, “Interestingly, seeing these guys on the bench getting pumped up, seeing a veteran of the sport like Andre (Agassi) getting out of the seat and cheering… It’s impossible not to be so fired up and give it everything you have on the play.”
Fan Favorite Crushes SCPGA Championship, Earns PGA Tour Ticket
Michael Block, the fan-favorite PGA pro who shot into the national spotlight during the 2023 PGA Championship, has added another important chapter to his inspirational story. At 49, Block claimed his fifth Southern California PGA (SCPGA) Championship title in striking fashion (by four shots) earning $15,000 and, more importantly, guaranteed opportunities to re-enter the PGA Tour scene.
This isn’t just another regional win. It’s significant for several reasons: it gives Block a spot in the 2026 American Express at La Quinta Country Club, likely a return to PGA Tour level competition; it grants him a chance to qualify via the Monday qualifier for the World Wide Technology Championship in November; and it reinforces his standing among professionals who, despite not being full-time Tour members, consistently compete at high levels.
“There has been a huge insurgence of really good players into the section who can really compete on the PGA Tour level,” Block said. “They have been pushing me hard.”
How He Pulled It Off
Block’s path to this victory was steady and commanding. He carded rounds of 63-66-71 across venues like the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills and the South Course at Ironwood, leading from start to finish.
He joked about the competitiveness of the field: “I think there were 186 players … insane amount of PGA professionals who came out and played.” That level of participation shows how deep the talent runs, even outside the marquee Tour events.
Among the players who made the cut was Blake Schmitt, the head professional at Ironwood Country Club–one of the few who’ll be keeping an eye on Block and pushing him. Block needed to stay sharp, because with strong fields and local pros like Schmitt in play, margins are thin. Even though Schmitt didn’t win, his performance helps underline how deep the competition was.
“It’s a privilege having the ability to play at a high level,” Schmitt said. “But having the ability, it’s kind of a bonus to the industry, getting playing opportunities. I just look at it as a blessing.”
More Than Just Golf
Block appeals to fans not only because of what he does on the course, but how he does it. He’s someone who, despite being older than most contenders, doesn’t seem fazed by the lack of major Tour status. Instead, he puts in the work, shows up in sectional and regional events, and when given a shot, makes it count. His performances aren’t flashes in the pan–they build on each other.
His 2023 PGA Championship run raised expectations. He then parlayed that exposure into appearances at Tour events like the Charles Schwab Challenge, RBC Canadian Open, World Wide Technology Championship, and even played overseas. But in recent times, invitations have thinned out. This win restores some of that forward momentum. It’s a reminder that consistency, grit, and seizing every opportunity matter.
If Block takes advantage of the qualifier for the World Wide Technology Championship, that could come as soon as November, giving him a chance to re-enter the Tour season mix earlier than his confirmed January return.
Between now and then, staying sharp will be crucial. Whether that means playing more regional tournaments, sharpening all facets of his game, or building fitness and consistency, Block will need every tool in the box if he’s going to make the most of this second chance at Tour-level competition.
7x-PGA Tour Winner Reveals Jay Monahan’s Costly Error That Gave LIV Golf a Major Advantage
When LIV Golf came onto the scene in 2022, it took the golfing world by storm. The glitz, the money, the drama — it was all very exciting until reality set in. The league lured some of the biggest names on the PGA Tour practically overnight, and according to 7-time PGA Tour winner Peter Jacobsen, that moment marked a costly mistake — not because players left, but because the PGA Tour panicked.
Joining hosts Ryan French and Mark Baldwin, Jacobsen didn’t mince words when asked about the Tour’s current landscape on the Monday Q Info podcast. And his response came with brutal honesty. “It’s interesting. When LIV Golf came around, the PGA Tour, I think, blinked first,” Jacobsen said. “They started worrying about the players leaving to go to LIV. And that’s a valid concern. I would never criticize anybody for being afraid of that. But I also believe in the organization, the PGA Tour,” he added.
Jacobsen highlighted that instead of the PGA Tour being afraid of what was going to happen and panicking, they should have had more belief in their own system. “If I had been in charge, I would have said, ‘Look, any player that wants to go to LIV, I’ll pay for the Uber. Just go. Just take the money and leave,” Jacobsen continued. “Because we have a very strong organization that was started and founded by players like Nicklaus and Palmer back in ’68, ’69. And the PGA Tour has only gotten bigger, better, and stronger through the participation of players over the years.”
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It’s a bold statement, but one rooted in Peter Jacobsen’s deep trust in the PGA Tour’s long-term model — one that has thrived for over five decades on meritocracy, tradition, and community impact. His frustration wasn’t aimed at the players who left, but rather at the PGA Tour for not trusting its own roots. “Let’s not forget players come and players go,” he continued, stating that that’s how the tour moves forward. He believes the PGA Tour’s true power lies not in star names but in something far less glamorous as compared to LIV — its communities.
“And I think that the most important thing is to put faith in your organization and put your faith in the game. I’ve always said that the PGA tour is not about the players. The PGA Tour is about the communities where we play and the charities we support,” Jacobsen tells the hosts, that that’s where the PGA Tour holds a massive advantage over LIV. He sees LIV Golf’s guaranteed contracts and massive signing bonuses as a short-term gain that lacks the cultural and competitive backbone that the PGA Tour was built on.
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And Jacobsen’s got a point. Over the decades, PGA Tour events have poured millions into local nonprofits and charitable organizations, constantly giving back to the community that comes out to support them. He points out that regardless of who is playing that week, “those tournaments thrive based on the success of the community and the community support, not any one individual player.” Sure, big names help sell tickets and garner fans, but in Jacobsen’s eyes, they’re not enough to run the show.
This makes the current state of limbo between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf all the more complicated, because for all the talk of “growing the game,” the divide has arguably done the opposite.
Two Years on, and the LIV-PGA Merger is Yet to Happen
When the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf announced their surprise framework agreement in June 2023, the golfing world was stunned. Promising to unify men’s professional golf under one umbrella, the announcement came suddenly and felt, to many, rushed and vague. Now, nearly two years later, the landscape still remains blurry. Despite countless initiatives, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour continue to operate as separate entities, and top-tier players remain split between the two circuits.
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Hopes were briefly reignited in June when the PGA Tour announced Brian Rolapp as its new CEO in June, but even that spark came with its own drama. Behind Rolapp’s appointment, insiders revealed that negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) had already stalled months earlier. In fact, conversations reportedly stopped entirely by April’s RBC Heritage, and since then, things have only grown quieter.
Scottie Scheffler Defeat Forces PGA Tour Pro to Admit Injury’s Lasting Impact on Game
Lanto Griffin has seen a lot of adversities in his life. Losing his father, surviving penniless, and then suffering one injury after another. But through it all, he has always risen above, proving that he is a formidable force to reckon with. However, after losing his second PGA Tour trophy to Scottie Scheffler, Griffin shares how his recent dabble with injuries might have impacted not just his game, including his swings, but also his posture.
“Yeah…you are in so much pain,” Griffin told Monday Q in a recent interview.
“I talked to a friend yesterday who’s going through it, and he’s trying to decide if he’s going to have surgery. [He is] not a golfer. A lot of the memories came back yesterday. I talked to him for 30 minutes just trying to give him some advice, and it’s like, you’re in so much pain you don’t really care, and you just want to get out of it.”
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The injury that started it all traces back to early 2020, when Griffin started feeling a nagging lower back stiffness during his practice sessions. What at first seemed like a minor tightness soon enough escalated into sharp spasms that forced him to withdraw from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Upon further tests, he found out that it’s a herniated L5-S1 disc, which requires a microdiscectomy surgery. This procedure made him stay out of competitive golf for months, eventually casting serious doubts on his future.
“Once that happened, and I went through surgery, coming back was like it was kind of two golf careers. It was pre-surgery and post-surgery,” Griffin explained.
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So, returning to competition after his surgery in 2022 was never going to be simple. The California native faced a string of struggles, including a season last year with just one top-10 finish in 22 starts and a 158th-place finish in the FedEx Cup standings. But he clawed his way back, winning PGA Tour Q-School to retain full Tour membership and putting in the work to regain his form.
“I never knew if I was going to feel 100% or not ever again,” he admitted.
He kept facing inconsistency after that. “One day I feel loose, one day I feel tight. And it’s such a fine line…If I was playing at my local club, it wouldn’t matter if I shot 66 or 68 or 71 or 70, but that one shot here and there. makes, you know, between keeping your card and not.”
Griffin’s swing underwent subtle but significant changes. To protect his healing back, he tried adjusting his setup by widening his stance and shifting his weight slightly toward his heels.
Shoulder rotation and hip turn were restricted, creating compensations in the downswing that altered the timing of his release. Even putting a domain he once relied on for scoring suffered.
“I just got a couple bad habits after coming back from surgery. And it took me a couple years struggling. And then finally in May, it was kind of like, all right, I need to do something different because what I’ve been doing isn’t working.”
His struggles mirror those of other top pros recovering from major injuries. Brooks Koepka, for instance, endured stress fractures in his back in 2018 and 2019. Justin Thomas‘ rib stress fractures in 2019-20 forced swing adjustments that disrupted his shoulder and turn and release. Golden child Jordan Speith‘s injuries forced him to change his swings, which derailed him from finding his way back. There are many more such examples.
“There’s a bunch of golfers that have had it done and a lot of them hadn’t done a whole lot after their surgery. And I think a little bit of that has to do with just your body feeling different and moving different. It’s really hard to change your golf swing,” Griffin said.
In May 2025, he reunited with longtime coach Alex Bennett, phasing in core and stability exercises and controlled spinal movements.
“It’s hard to work out when you’re hurt. I just wasn’t consistent day in and day out.”
Nonetheless, within months, he reported feeling minimal back discomfort and regained steadiness in both swing and putting. He focused on tempo and balance rather than forcing power. The result could be seen at Procore, where he finished 3rd, right after Scottie Scheffler and Ben Griffin.
Although he lost, he has found a new perspective.
“The biggest thing since surgery is just trying to find what my new DNA is, like how I can be good with the way I feel now.”
Lanto Griffin’s emotions run high after the Procore Championship
Lanto Griffin’s name might not have been on everyone’s lips going into the Procore Championship, but after Sunday, the 37-year-old made it impossible to ignore him. Launching a final-round 65, Griffin climbed the leaderboard.
“Obviously, you want to win, but keeping your job …” Griffin said, while trying to hold his tears back.
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“Just proud of myself, how I handled the [back nine] … Playing good golf is so much fun, and playing bad golf is pretty brutal on your psyche. I’ve put a lot of hard work in these last five weeks since Wyndham, and it’s kind of nice to see it come together. Still got a lot of work to do this fall, but it’s a good little boost and reminder that I’m still pretty good.”
Brooks Koepka’s Comeback Failure Helps PGA Tour Pro Make American History at Open de France
Brooks Koepka could have made history! After 54 holes, he was at the top of the leaderboard and in prime position to win the FedEx Open de France. After missing two straight cuts in Europe, this was his best opportunity to win a title in 2025. After a 4-under in the front 9, he also had the perfect platform to take the title and become the first American in 53 years to win the French Open. Instead, he gifted the opportunity to Michael Kim.
After a remarkable 6-under 65 in the final round, Kim ended with -16. That was enough for him to win the 2025 Open de France. As tweeted by Justin Ray, he joined the elite list of Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, and Barry Jaeckel as one of the only four people to win the title. To think, Koepka could have achieved all this had he only performed well in the back 9 at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche.
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Either way, the Smash GC captain did deliver a remarkable performance in France. After failing to qualify for the weekend in Ireland and the U.K., not many must have expected him to perform well in the French Open. Yet, he overcame the odds and nearly won what would have been his eighth European win. While his peers will head to New York next week, he will have some time off to prepare for his next big challenge in the DP World Tour.
Phil Mickelson’s candid answer when asked about US Ryder Cup captaincy after LIV Golf switch
Phil Mickelson was in the mix to lead the 2025 Ryder Cup long before LIV Golf even existed.
He has had a remarkable career, with 45 PGA Tour wins and six majors, plus a record 12 appearances for Team USA in the Ryder Cup.
Mickelson still holds some popularity, but joining LIV Golf in 2022 certainly changed how he is viewed by many fans.
Comparing team golf on LIV to the Ryder Cup did not go down well either, raising quite a few eyebrows around the sport.
It has been reported that before LIV even started, ‘Lefty’ was already being considered for the role that eventually went to his friend Keegan Bradley.
But would he have taken it if offered? And does he still see himself leading Team USA one day?
What Phil Mickelson said when asked if he should be the US Ryder Cup captain
Mickelson’s reputation took a serious hit after he became one of the faces of LIV Golf’s launch.
He was among the first big names to leave the PGA Tour for LIV in June 2022, a move that sparked plenty of debate across the sport.
Still, if relations between LIV and the PGA Tour ever fully settle, it would seem only fair to give the player with the most Ryder Cup appearances for Team USA a chance to lead.
But Mickelson has admitted he does not see himself as the right person for that job anymore, viewing himself as too divisive.
Speaking in 2024, he explained why he felt he might not be suited for such a role.
“I don’t feel I’m the right guy to be involved with the team because I’m a very divisive character right now, if you will, and I understand that.
“The players on the PGA Tour, there’s a lot of hostilities towards me, and I don’t feel I’d be the best leader for them.
“I knew I was going to take some hits going forward. I’m OK with that. And as a divisive individual. I don’t think I’m the best unifier going forward for the Ryder Cup, and that’s fine because I’ve had so many great memories with it.”
His words reflected an honest assessment of where he stands in golf right now, and it is hard to disagree with his reasoning. The job is not just about tactics or experience – it is about uniting a team. And that may not be where Mickelson fits best at this stage in his career.
Phil Mickelson’s record at the Ryder Cup
Mickelson does not have a winning record in terms of matches played, but his impact on the event went beyond wins and losses.
Luke Donald Reveals One Thing That May Turn Fans Against Team USA Amid Backlash Over Expensive Kits
$819! That’s the cheapest ticket for the Friday of the 2025 Ryder Cup. The online ticket window doesn’t even mention if it includes parking at Bethpage. As prestigious as the transatlantic tournament is, the prices are absurdly outrageous. And that’s only the beginning of it. Fans were left even more surprised to learn about the cost of the Ryder Cup merchandise for Team U.S.. Looking at the strong reactions of the community, Luke Donald has some strong advise for his rivals.
When he was questioned about whether the high cost of tickets and fan kits may backfire against the Americans, Donald told The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster, “That could happen. We all know how high the ticket prices are, and it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four. If the US players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.”
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Jack Nicklaus Was Once Accused of Defying PGA Tour Legend With Simple Ryder Cup Gesture
The 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale is etched in golf history, not just for the fierce competition, but for a single act of sportsmanship that would echo for decades. On the 18th green, with the match between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin all square, Nicklaus faced a choice that would define his first Ryder Cup appearance. After Jacklin sank a long eagle putt on the 17th, Nicklaus missed his birdie attempt. On the final hole, he conceded Jacklin’s short putt, ensuring the match and the Ryder Cup ended in a tie. Today, ‘The Concession’ is celebrated as a hallmark of generosity and respect.
But according to veteran sportswriter Hank Gola, the gesture was far more nuanced at the time. In his book Ryder Cup Rivals: The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail, Gola notes that contemporary accounts focused less on sportsmanship and more on Nicklaus’s nerve in holing his own five-foot par putt before conceding Jacklin’s. Gola also reveals that the decision stirred frustration among Nicklaus’s teammates, particularly U.S. captain Sam Snead, who “wouldn’t have given that length putt to his mother.” Some even speculated that Nicklaus was subtly spitting on his captain by conceding.
Recently, while speaking to GolfWeek, Gola said, “I suppose that The Concession wasn’t immediately celebrated as the all-time magnanimous gesture it eventually became. No contemporary newspaper account made much of it. The emphasis was on Jack Nicklaus’ nerve in dropping the five-foot par putt before picking up Tony Jacklin’s coin.” Gola’s decades-long career covering golf and other major sports allows him to provide context often missing from traditional narratives. He highlights how the 1969 Ryder Cup was contentious in its first days, with fiery interactions between players and captains, yet it culminated in a moment of unexpected generosity.
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The veteran journalist further added, “Snead sat Nicklaus, who was making his first Ryder Cup appearance after winning seven majors and the career grand slam, in the opening session of the week. Some thought that Jack gave Jacklin the putt to spite his captain.” The act not only created a controversy or a tie, the first in Ryder Cup history, but also cemented a lifelong friendship between Nicklaus and Jacklin, a bond later commemorated through The Concession Golf Club in Florida.
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In the context of the 1969 Ryder Cup, Sam Snead’s towering legacy added extra weight to the controversy surrounding Jack Nicklaus’ concession. With 82 PGA Tour victories, tied with Tiger Woods: seven major championships, four Vardon Trophies, a 1949 PGA Player of the Year honor, and seven Ryder Cup appearances under his belt, Snead was a commanding presence whose competitive instincts were legendary. His reputation for relentless pursuit of victory made Nicklaus’s decision to concede Tony Jacklin’s putt all the more provocative, as some teammates and observers wondered if Nicklaus’s gesture subtly defied the strict, win-at-all-costs ethos that Snead embodied.
But now, as we approach the 45th Ryder Cup, Gola’s insights remind fans that the tournament’s greatest moments often lie in its subtleties. The Concession wasn’t just a put-in; it was a gesture layered with context, history, and personal dynamics. As Gola puts it, it “wasn’t immediately celebrated as the all-time magnanimous gesture it eventually became,” yet it endures as a defining lesson in sportsmanship, integrity, and the human side of competition.A
And as Hank Gola highlights, the Ryder Cup has also been shaped by rivalries and controversies that tested players and captains alike. Let’s look back on some of notable ones.
Ryder Cup controversies over the decades
Veteran sportswriter Hank Gola, in his book Ryder Cup Rivals: The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail, provides a behind-the-scenes look at these moments, revealing the tension, drama, and human dynamics that often go unnoticed.
One of the most famous controversies occurred in 1989 at The Belfry, where Seve Ballesteros clashed with American Paul Azinger. During the singles matches, Ballesteros sought to replace a scuffed ball on the second green, but Azinger opposed it. The disagreement escalated on the 18th hole over a drop from a water hazard. While both players maintained professionalism, the confrontations highlighted the cultural and strategic differences between European and American approaches. Ballesteros’ fiery passion became a hallmark of European Ryder Cup play, setting the stage for decades of spirited competition.
Then, a decade later, the 1999 ‘Battle of Brookline’ showcased both the intensity and the volatility of the Ryder Cup. The U.S. team staged a stunning comeback, winning the final six matches to clinch the Cup. But the victory was overshadowed by premature celebrations on the 17th green, after Justin Leonard had putt his hole, but Maria Olazábal was still yet to putt. Along with that rowdy crowd behavior, it drew criticism from European players and media. There was even an instance of Captain Mark James’s wife getting spat on by US spectators. It was a reminder that emotional control and decorum could be just as crucial as skill on the course.
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That same year, American golfer Payne Stewart sparked further controversy with comments implying that European rookies should serve as caddies for the U.S. team. The remark fueled outrage and added fuel to an already heated rivalry, demonstrating how words off the green could inflame tensions as much as actions on it.
So, in essence, the history of Ryder Cup controversies reminds fans and players that the tournament is as much about human drama as it is about golf. They show that the Ryder Cup’s enduring appeal lies not only in the skill of its players but in the intensity, strategy, and occasional conflicts that define the spirit of international team golf.
Luke Donald Warns of Bethpage Crowd Turning Against USA
Europe captain Luke Donald has warned that the Bethpage crowd could turn on the U.S. team if they don’t perform up to expectations. The PGA of America will pay each member of the U.S. team $500,000 to play in the Ryder Cup, and Donald believes this could backfire if the results go against them.
New Yorkers Won’t Hesitate To Make Their Feelings Known
The PGA of America —the body that oversees the U.S. arm of the Ryder Cup—confirmed last year that it will remunerate its players, breaking almost 100 years of tradition in the process. This marks a difference from Team Europe, where players will not receive any form of payment for representing their side. Donald believes this difference could shape how the crowd reacts if the competition becomes close.
The issue of money has raised several questions, with critics arguing that guaranteed payment for U.S. players could make the Ryder Cup lose some of its unique identity. Donald did not go as far as to say it would harm the Ryder Cup, but he made it clear that it places American players under more pressure than before.
The PGA of America will pay players to play at the Ryder Cup for the first time, giving each Team USA member $500,000 for the three-day match. Players must donate $300,000 of that amount to charity, while they can freely spend the remaining $200,000. In addition, Bethpage will charge a whopping $750 for each ticket.
“That could happen,” Donald said when asked if this could incite the home crowd if Team USA is losing. “We all know how high the ticket prices are, and it’s going to be an expensive trip for a family of four. If the U.S. players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could let them know about it.”
Team Europe Won’t Consider Getting Paid For Ryder Cup
At the last Ryder Cup in Rome, Donald opposed paying Team Europe, and the players fully backed him. The 47-year-old says he believes that the Ryder Cup means more than just money to the players.
“It speaks to what the Ryder Cup means to these guys,” he said. “A couple of hundred thousand dollars to these guys isn’t a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. I wanted to get ahead of this when I first heard about it last year and looked like it was likely going to happen. As I said, I reached out to all 12 guys in Rome to see how they felt. Their voices are important. Everyone was like, ‘we haven’t even considered playing for money for that event.’”
Team Europe plans to arrive at Bethpage on Monday as they look to defend their title. The team has been in the U.S. and stayed in the same time zone since a two-day visit to the course last Monday and Tuesday. The players have also trained with virtual reality headsets to simulate the noisy and hostile environment expected at Bethpage.
Hours After Snatching Win From Brooks Koepka, PGA Tour Pro Admits ‘Brutal’ Celebratory Aftermath
You know what’s rarer than a hole-in-one? An American winning the French Open. It’s been 53 years since Barry Jaeckel pulled it off back in 1972. That’s longer than most of us have been alive. Michael Kim just ended that drought, and honestly, nobody saw it coming.
Kim’s social media tells the celebration story perfectly. Victory photos came first. Then came the real talk. “I get I got the W in France but what am I going to do with 3+++ bottles of champagne? 😂” he posted six hours after his triumph. The answer revealed itself quickly. “This hangover is going to be brutal for my flight home to Dallas. I can already feel it,” Kim tweeted at 3:14 AM on September 22nd. The celebration had run its course. Reality was setting in fast.
The 32-year-old earned every drop of that champagne, though. He fired a flawless final-round 65 at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche to claim victory by one stroke. His clutch 16-foot par putt on the 72nd hole sealed the deal. Kim had found himself in a greenside bunker on the par-3 18th. One poor shot would have meant a playoff.
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Brooks Koepka entered Sunday tied for the lead alongside Min Woo Lee. The five-time major champion talked about his putting struggles throughout 2025. His Saturday 65 included five straight birdies from holes 13-17. However, Sunday brought different results.
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Koepka made the turn at 15-under and looked dangerous. Then the back nine proved costly. A crucial bogey at the 15th dropped him two behind Kim. He couldn’t recover those strokes over the final three holes. Koepka finished fourth at 14 under, missing his first victory since the LIV Golf event at the Greenbrier in August 2024.
Kim’s victory earned him $552,500 from the $3.25 million purse. Only four Americans have ever accomplished this feat. The historical significance wasn’t lost on Kim. “I kind of blacked out when that putt went in,” Kim said after holing the pressure-packed par save. “To be honest, I felt like I hit a decent bunker shot. That green slides away so much that I knew it was going to be quick.”
Elvis Smylie and Jeong Weon Ko both posted 65s to finish tied for second at 15-under. The home crowd was pulling for Ko to force a playoff. Kim’s clutch putting denied both players that opportunity. His Race to Dubai ranking jumped from 160th to 35th place instantly.
Michael Kim’s seven-year journey back to relevance
This celebration caps an incredible career resurrection story. Kim’s last victory came at the 2018 John Deere Classic. That eight-shot triumph felt like a lifetime ago after what followed. Everything fell apart immediately after that win. Technical changes destroyed his natural swing. Kim tried to eliminate the hand action that had made him successful. The golfer who once relied on feel attempted to completely modernize his technique.
“I got caught up in the trendy thing in the golf swing and tried to quote, unquote take the hands out of it,” Kim admitted. This decision cost him years of struggle. He missed 25 consecutive cuts at one point. His world ranking plummeted outside the top 1,000. The statistical collapse was devastating. Kim made just one 36-hole cut in two seasons following his Deere victory. By 2022, he had fallen to 924th in world rankings. Sean Foley eventually helped rebuild his foundation. The process required patience and persistence.
Meanwhile, Kim transformed into golf’s most engaging social media personality. His authentic approach gained him over 203,000 followers. He shared everything from swing tips to travel expenses. Kim discussed his $92,000 annual travel costs and corporate deals openly.
His content strategy resonated perfectly. Kim answered fan questions regularly. He reviewed the submitted swing videos with detailed feedback. The transparency made him relatable in ways other pros weren’t. Critics thought this made him a social media golfer rather than a serious competitor.
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The 2025 season proved them wrong completely. Kim’s runner-up at the WM Phoenix Open showed his game had returned. Five straight top-15 finishes followed that breakthrough. He ranked 35th in FedEx Cup standings before missing the Tour Championship by one spot.
“I’ve had a really good year on the PGA Tour and this feels like the perfect cherry on top,” Kim said after his French victory. The flight to Dallas would test that sentiment soon enough.
Doug Barron’s wild rally, bunker shot, land him Pure Insurance title
Doug Barron closed with three straight birdies — the last one coming after he hit into a pair of bunkers — to cap a final charge up the leaderboard and stun the field Sunday, winning the PGA Tour Champions’ Pure Insurance Championship in Monterrey, Calif.
Barron, who began the day four strokes off the lead and tied for sixth, carded a 6-under-par 66 in the final round and finished at 12-under 204 for the tournament. Fiji’s Vijay Singh finished second, one stroke back at 11 under after a final-round 69.
The $2.4 million event used both the Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill par-72 courses for Friday and Saturday. Only Pebble Beach was played on Sunday.
Sitting at 11 under heading to par-5 18, Barron hit his tee shot into a bunker to the right of the fairway. From there, he sent his ball down the fairway but to the left edge, where his ball bounced straight left and into another fairway bunker.
His third shot then landed pin-high on the green, bounced to the back of the green and rolled back a bit toward the hole. With the hole placed near the back of the green, Barron tapped his ball and let it run down the hill, finding the left edge of the cup before slowly falling in.
Barron pumped his fist repeatedly and gave out a yell after making what turned out to be the tournament-winning putt.
Ryan Blaney opens second round of NASCAR Cup playoffs with New Hampshire win
LOUDON, N.H. — Ryan Blaney opened the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with an emphatic victory for Team Penske, which flaunted its speed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion, led 116 laps, including the final 39, to beat Josh Berry by 0.937 seconds for his third victory of the season.
Blaney, who is trying to reach the Championship 4 season finale for the third consecutive year, became the first driver to advance into one of the eight available spots in the third round of the Cup playoffs.
“What a cool day, what a cool weekend, super fast car,” Blaney said. “It’s great to get a win in the first race of the round.”
William Byron finished third, and Joey Logano, Blaney’s Penske teammate, took fourth after leading a race-high 147 of 301 laps.
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After qualifying 27th, last among the 12 playoff drivers, Chase Elliott raced to a fifth-place finish.
Christopher Bell took sixth as the top finishing driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, which went undefeated in the first round of the playoffs. Bell was followed by Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain as playoff drivers took seven of the top eight spots on the 1.058-mile oval.
The Penske Fords backed up their impressive performances in Saturday’s qualifying when Logano won the pole position to cap a top-three sweep with Blaney and Berry, whose Wood Brothers Racing Ford has a competitive alliance with Penske.
The race turned awkward for Joe Gibbs Racing on Lap 110 when Denny Hamlin spun teammate Ty Gibbs into the Turn 2 wall while racing for 11th. Gibbs, the only JGR driver who failed to qualify for the playoffs, seemed to be impeding the progress of teammates Hamlin and Bell when the incident happened.
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“Does Ty know we’re running for a championship?” Hamlin said on his team radio shortly before they made contact. “What the (expletive) is he doing?”
After the wreck, Hamlin questioned whether the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs was getting preferential treatment. “Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like,” Hamlin radioed his team. “They’re just scared of him.”
Ty Gibbs briefly returned to the track before being forced to the garage with damage to his Camry. He finished 34th and refused to address the incident or what Hamlin said when asked directly about both.
“It’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week and looking forward to it,” said Gibbs, the 2022 Xfinity Series champion who remains winless through 117 starts in the Cup series.
After dominating the first round with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing surprisingly faltered in the first stage at New Hampshire, where the team had won the past three Cup races and six consecutive stages.
The team failed to earn any points in the first stage Sunday as Hamlin, Bell and Chase Briscoe finished outside the top 10 in the 70-lap segment.
The second race in the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Kyle Larson won at the 1.5-mile track on May 11.
23XI misses the mark at Loudon’s start to the second playoff round
23XI Racing finds itself at the bottom of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff grid after a rough start to the Round of 12.
Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace were not only irrelevant during Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but both finished outside the top 20. Reddick, who started the round three points below the cutline after the reseed, is now 23 points behind. Wallace, who entered one point above the cutline, is now in a 27-point deficit.
“I didn’t expect that, that’s for sure,” Reddick said after finishing 21st. “The way the race started, I thought we were going to be able to run in the top 10 all day, but between the brake issues we had and yeah… It just got away quick.
“The balance went away, and next thing I know, we were trying to battle for 20th. Just a terrible day.”
Reddick faded from a fourth-place qualifying effort and averaged a running position of 12th throughout the race. Of the two stages, he earned a total of two points.
Wallace, meanwhile, finished 26th after qualifying 14th. He earned no stage points and had an average running position of 20.7.
“Just a miss all around,” Wallace said. “We couldn’t really seem to get things going. Our best run lasted for five laps, caution came out, and then it was right back to no good. I hate it. I was actually really optimistic, marched forward at the start and never really went anywhere. We kind of plateaued on lap five, and that was it. I hate that.
“It’s just a head scratcher. I told our team, ‘We’re way better than that.’ We know it. As much of a gut punch as this one is, we move on. That’s what we got to do.”
Reddick and Wallace are both former winners at Kansas Speedway, the second race in the round. However, both were reserved about that being a welcome sight after Sunday’s disappointment.
“There are just a lot of question marks, honestly,” Reddick said. “The places we have had speed at, we don’t bring speed, and that’s been one of them for us. Yeah, we need something special to happen. I’m hoping we find the answer.”
“Not to be pessimistic but realistic: my stats there the last couple of races haven’t done much,
NASCAR Broadcaster Issues Ownership Warning to Joe Gibbs After Denny Hamlin’s NHMS Fallout
“Does Ty know we are going for a championship? What the f*ck?” Fumed Danny Hamlin over the radio. The playoff intensity boiled over at New Hampshire as Hamlin and Christopher Bell, both firmly in the title hunt, found themselves battling not only the field but also their own teammate, Ty Gibbs. He didn’t just make life difficult; he went toe-to-toe with Bell, making contact before defiantly telling the team that he “won’t take any more crap” from his teammate. The drama only escalated when Hamlin got his shot at the No. 54, aggressively shoving Gibbs up the track before finally spinning him into the outside wall. Hamlin didn’t mince words afterward, questioning whether Joe Gibbs Racing was too afraid to confront the young driver.
Gibbs, for his part, brushed off the chaos with a sharp “Game on” before returning to the track, only to brush the wall again exiting Turn 2. Outside the car center, he kept his comments short, avoiding the fallout and insisting he was focused on next week. But inside JGR, the fallout will be far harder to sidestep, especially given that Ty is not just another driver; he is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs. And now long-time NASCAR broadcaster Steve Letarte is calling on the ‘Coach’ to make the right choice while handling the feud between the two drivers.
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Steve Letarte calls on Joe Gibbs to be “really tested” as team owner amid JGR feud
Ty Gibbs isn’t a stranger to controversy with his own teammates. Back in the 2022 Xfinity Series, he sparked outrage when he wrecked Brandon Jones, his Joe Gibbs Racing stablemate, costing Jones a shot at the championship 4. That backlash was fearless, but Gibbs brushed it off in his post-race comments, showing a little remorse for the move. And now in his 3rd full-time Cup season, Gibbs is still searching for his first victory. Just last week at Bristol, he looked poised to change the narrative, leading more than 200 laps before a costly mistake on pit road under green erased his shot at the win. And now it’s like déjà vu for the youngster.
Steve Letarte, though, urged a broader perspective, pointing to the responsibility that now falls on team owner Joe Gibbs. He explained, “What I want here is I want the coach, the Super Bowl championship coach, he’s called coach for a reason. This is what owners need. Everyone always asks, what’s an owner do? Well, he raises money, and he hires the right people, but when an owner is really tested is this moment right here. Because I agree with Jeff, this is an intersection.”
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Both Denny Hamlin and Gibbs downplayed the dust-up in their post-race comments, dodging direct answers and leaving more questions than clarity. That silence only fueled speculation, as USA Network’s Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte dissected the incident on air. Hamlin’s frustration was playing after running side-by-side with Gibbs for several laps before the spin. Whether Hamlin intentionally dumped the No. 54 or tried to muscle him higher on the track, the result was the same: one of the organization’s own cars in the wall.
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Letarte added, “What makes it more complicated because it’s coach Gibbs talking about grandson, Ty Gibbs. You cannot take those layers off the onion. Those are real. Those connections are real. So it’ll be interesting to see if Denny and Ty … and just as important for (Christopher) Bell and (Chase) Briscoe. So I think it’s a real turning point or a real intersection for all of Joe Gibbs Racing.”
The incident, Steve and Burton argue, marks a turning point for JGR. It could escalate into lasting friction between the teammates, or it could be smoothed over quickly with strong leadership. The deciding factor will be how Joe Gibbs chooses to get there and whether he can balance being both a coach and a grandfather.
John Hunter Nemechek Speaks Out After Costly NASCAR Cup Crash
Legacy Motor Club driver John Hunter Nemechek has spoken out after suffering a costly crash during the NASCAR Cup Series USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The 28-year-old driver lost control of his No. 42 Toyota Camry after hitting the bumps at the entry of Turn 3, causing him to go into a spin and crash into the barriers.
Nemechek was seen by the infield medical centre before being cleared and released.
Berry comes up short at Loudon, but it was a much needed good day
Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing earned a much-needed good result Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after three weeks of playoff misery.
Berry, who was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series postseason a week ago, finished second to affiliate teammate Ryan Blaney in the Mobil 1 301. Blaney made the winning pass on Berry with 39 laps to go, the older tires on Berry’s car being the hindrance on the final run. Berry stayed out under the final caution with 48 laps to go to take the lead.
“It was definitely an awesome day,” Berry said. “We had a really good car. Hat’s off to Ryan [Blaney] at the end. All of our cars were really strong, and Ryan did a great job there. I was honestly surprised … I was a little worried when he got around me as quick as he did, but it seemed like it leveled out, and I was able to keep him honest at least at the end.
“All in all, Miles [Stanley], this whole team did a great job. We were down a set of tires after the spin, so I think it kind of forced our hand. We didn’t want to take our last rights, at least that early, with that many laps left, but we still made the most of it. So, just hats off to everybody at Wood Brothers and Team Penske, Motorcraft/Quick Lane … Yeah, it stings to finish second, but after the last couple weeks, it feels really good. This is definitely what we’re capable of, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Berry finished last in all three playoff races in the first round.
Sunday, he rebounded from another potentially disappointing day when Shane van Gisbergen spun him on lap 82. The incident came after Berry finished fourth in the first stage. It was this incident that put Berry’s team at a disadvantage on a set of tires, which led to them staying out under the final caution.
He finished 10th in the second stage. When the final caution came out, when he did not pit, Berry was running third to teammates Blaney and Logano.
The race restarted for the last time with 42 laps to go, with Berry at the front. Blaney initially gapped his teammate, but Berry rebounded with less than 15 laps to go and began mounting a challenge. The charge ended for good when he washed up in Turn 3 with 12 laps to go.
“I was going to race him, but it’s definitely a tough situation,” said Berry, who averaged an 8.3 running position in the race. “You have to take care of him, right? That’s how I try to race anyway. These restarts and stuff, I try to do the best I can and be smart, and it’s tough out there sometimes. I was going to race him hard but clean.”
Ryan Blaney shows again how clutch he is with New Hampshire playoff win
In sports, being able to perform under pressure is an invaluable trait.
Over the last three years, Ryan Blaney has become one of NASCAR’s truly elite drivers, largely in part due to his ability to perform when the lights are the brightest.
On Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Blaney passed Josh Berry for the race lead with 39 laps to go. Despite a hungry Berry making numerous charges, Blaney hung on to the lead and crossed under the checkered flag, scoring his third win of the season and securing a spot in the Round of 8.
How Ryan Blaney continues to find success
It’s the third year in a row that Blaney has won at least three races, including at least one playoff race, as he seeks his third consecutive Championship 4 appearance.
That sustained success has turned the No. 12 team into one of the most feared groups in the garage area on a weekly basis.
NASCAR’s $117 Billion Giant Partner Steps Back as Playoff Overhaul Looms Large, Claims Insider
“Has anybody’s opinion changed from the start of the year?” Tim Clark recently asked at the NASCAR meeting regarding the playoff structure. And that simple question set off a firestorm of discussion. For months, NASCAR’s top brass, TV partners, and industry insiders have been debating whether the sport should stick with its playoff format or make a seismic shift toward a full-season, 36-race championship.
And while some in the room were exploring tweaks to the current system, at least one voice pushed hard for a total overhaul. But what really raised eyebrows was the surprising stance from NASCAR’s $117 billion broadcast partner, who seemed to pull back from the decision-making table, putting the ball squarely back in NASCAR’s court.
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NASCAR’s broadcast powerhouse backs off in the playoffs decision
When you’re paying more than a billion dollars to show NASCAR races, you expect a say in how things run. And that’s exactly the seat broadcasters have. “They have a huge seat at the table. They’re paying a billion-plus dollars,” Jeff Gluck explained during a recent conversation with Jordan Bianchi. Starting in 2025, NASCAR’s races were divided between Fox, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon as part of a seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights extension. That deal alone shows just how much influence TV partners hold in the sport.
But interestingly, TV broadcasters in particular are not using that influence to push for playoff changes, as evident in the recent meeting. “And NBC, I’m paraphrasing from what I understand, essentially told them, ‘Hey, you guys do what’s best for the sport.’ Okay?” This comment from Gluck highlights how networks are stepping back. Instead, they are letting NASCAR take the wheel in shaping the sport’s future.
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NBC further added, “We’re taking a step back here. We don’t want to be blamed or whatever for whatever happens.” And their concerns are justified. Just look at the current NASCAR playoff format. A large section of the fanbase is unhappy with it and wants NASCAR to go back to the old ‘Chase’ format. NASCAR has acknowledged the backlash and is considering making changes. And NBC doesn’t want to get blamed if the new format is a miss with the fans.
So, where does all this leave the NASCAR power structure? It seems clear that despite the financial clout of broadcast partners, the ultimate decision-making authority rests with NASCAR itself. The networks may influence through negotiations and the media rights coffers. But changes, especially the NASCAR playoff overhaul, will be NASCAR’s call alone.
Ryan Blaney Lets the Lobster Loose with Playoff win at New Hampshire
For his victorious efforts in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney earned several important rewards.
After starting second, the driver of the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske led 116, of 301, laps to earn an automatic bid into the Round of 12. He matched his season best number of wins at three, which was his 16th career win, as well. It was also Blaney’s sixth career Playoff win.
And, as is tradition at NHMS, Blaney was presented with a HUGE lobster in Victory Lane…butter not included.
It Wasn’t Easy Street for Blaney
He and fellow Team Penske driver Joey Lagano occupied the front row when the initial green flag waved. Lagano and the No. 22 Ford team jumped out to the early lead, but it was Blaney earning coveted Playoff points by winning Stage 1.
Lagano would take Stage 2; but ended up fourth at the checkered flag despite leading a race high 147 laps.
In the late going, a hard charging Josh Berry started to make his presence known in the No. 21 Ford of Wood Brothers Racing leading 24 laps. During the closing laps, Berry and Blaney had a spirited battle with Berry finishing second.
“We lost control for a little bit, but then we were able to get it back before the green flag stops in stage three,” Blaney said. “We were just kind of biding our time after the green flag stop and then the caution came out and two (tires) was a great call.
“We saw two worked well in the first stage for a while and I figured if we could come out on the front row, we would have a good shot and Josh definitely didn’t make it easy on me. His car got rolling there for 10 or 15 laps and I really had to find new lanes and push harder.
“My car was going really free and then we were able to gap him there at the end with his right-rear going away. It was a great race and a cool weekend, honestly. I couldn’t be prouder of everybody.”
As far as the lobster, Blaney has had his eye on the giant crustacean for quite a while.
“I’m looking forward to it and see how it tastes,” Blaney said. “I’ve wanted a lobster ever since I was a little kid coming to watch these races. I’ve always wanted one of those things, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Logano Left to Wonder What Could Have Been
Logano is a three-time and reigning NCS champion who won his first ever series race a NHMS when he was a 19-year-old rookie in 2009. The one-mile oval located in Loudon, NH is also considered the home track for Logano, a native of Middletown, CT.
One thing for sure, he gave it his best and felt his own greed may have been costly.
“The No. 12 was wicked fast in practice, and he showed that again in the race,” Logano said afterwards. “Our only chance was beating him on pit road and beating on details, but they were able to make up their track position when they put four (tires) on.
“That last restart, I could have restarted behind him (Blaney) and probably finished third in the race. But I wanted a chance to win and if I was behind the 12, I wasn’t going to win. I went for it. and it cost us a spot,
“Overall, I’m proud of the execution. We obviously got a ton of points today. I think we got a second and a first in the first two stages and a top four finish, so we did what we needed to do.
“I’d rather win. That’s just the greed in me, especially when it’s home.”
Playoff Standings Cruising into Kansas
Next week, the NCS will have the second of three races in the Round of 12 at Kansas Speedway. Blaney is automatically qualified for the Round of 8 with the NHMS victories. Currently above the Cut Line are William Byron (+47), Kyle Larson (+41), Christopher Bell (+29), Denny Hamlin (+27), Joey Logano (+24), Chase Elliott (+14) and Chase Briscoe (+12).
Outside looking to get back in are Ross Chastain (-12), Austin Cindric (-19), Tyler Reddick (-23) and Bubba Wallace (-27).
Ryan Blaney opens 2nd round of NASCAR Cup playoffs with New Hampshire win as Penske dominates
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — In a race in which Fords were fastest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney barely was best in class for the second-round opener of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
The 2003 Cup champion led 116 laps in his No. 12 Mustang, including the final 39, but still had to fend off a furious charge by runner-up Josh Berry, who closed within a few car lengths with 10 laps left before overdriving a corner.
Blaney pulled away to win by 0.937 seconds Sunday in his third victory of the season and 16th of his career.
“That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove,” the Team Penske driver said. “I was trying to kind of bide my stuff and pull Josh a little bit, then he really started coming. It was all I could do to hold him off, trying new lanes. That was good and clean racing. I appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have.
“What a cool day, what a cool weekend. Super fast car. Really have been strong through the playoffs. It’s great to get a win in the first race of the round.”
Blaney, who is trying to reach the Championship 4 season finale for the third consecutive year, became the first driver to advance into one of the eight available spots in the third round of the Cup playoffs.
Berry, whose No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford has a competitive alliance with Penske, overcame a spin on the 82nd lap and rebounded from his first-round elimination after finishing last in each of the first three races in the playoffs.
“It was definitely an awesome day,” said Berry, who led 10 laps. “Hats off to Ryan at the end. All our cars were really strong, and Ryan did a great job there. I was honestly surprised I was able to keep him honest at the end.
“Just a shame to finish second, but after the last couple of weeks, it feels good. This is definitely what we’re capable of, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The Fords backed up their impressive performances in qualifying Saturday when Penske star Joey Logano won the pole position to cap a sweep of the top three starting spots with Blaney and Berry. The same trio led 273 of 301 laps Sunday.
William Byron was the highest-finishing Chevrolet driver in third.
“It was a good day overall,” said Byron, who is the highest-ranked driver behind Blaney in the playoff standings with two races left in the second round. “Penske guys were super fast. I felt like they were in another zip code.”
Logano took fourth after leading a race-high 147 laps in the No. 22 Ford. The Middletown, Connecticut, native started from the pole for the first time at New Hampshire, which he considers his home track.
“(Blaney) was wicked fast in practice, and he showed that again in the race,” Logano said. “We obviously got a ton of points today, so we did what we needed to do, but I’d rather win. That’s just the greed in me, especially when it’s home.”
After qualifying 27th, last among the 12 playoff drivers, Chase Elliott raced to a fifth-place finish.
Christopher Bell took sixth as the top finishing Toyota driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, which went undefeated in the first round of the playoffs.
Kyle Larson took seventh, and Ross Chastain was ninth as playoff drivers took eight of the top 10 spots on the 1.058-mile oval.
Teammates tangle
The race turned awkward for Joe Gibbs Racing on Lap 110 when Denny Hamlin spun teammate Ty Gibbs into the Turn 2 wall while racing for 11th. Gibbs, the only JGR driver who failed to qualify for the playoffs, seemed to be impeding the progress of teammates Hamlin and Christopher Bell when the incident happened.
“Does Ty know we’re running for a championship?” Hamlin said on his team radio shortly before they made contact. “What the (expletive) is he doing?”
After the wreck, Hamlin questioned whether the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs was getting preferential treatment. “Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like,” Hamlin radioed his team. “They’re just scared of him.”
Ty Gibbs briefly returned to the track before being forced to the garage with damage to his Camry. He finished 34th and refused to address the incident or what Hamlin said when asked directly about both.
“It’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week and looking forward to it,” said Gibbs, the 2022 Xfinity Series champion who remains winless through 117 starts in the Cup series.
After finishing 12th, Hamlin had a postrace conversation with Joe Gibbs and JGR director of competition Chris Gabehart before addressing the media.
“It’s super unfortunate he got spun there, and obviously the contact came from us,” Hamlin said. “I don’t have any comment other than that. We’ll work through it and all, but we’ll see how it goes. But honestly, it’s unfortunate the contact happened.”
Streaks are over
After dominating the first round with three consecutive victories, Joe Gibbs Racing surprisingly faltered in the first stage at New Hampshire, where the team had won the past three Cup races and six consecutive stages.
The team failed to earn any points in the first stage Sunday as Hamlin, Bell and Chase Briscoe finished outside the top 10 in the 70-lap segment.
Up next
The second race in the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Kyle Larson won at the 1.5-mile track on May 11.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Braves host annual 44 Classic at Truist Park
For the first time since its inception in 2019, there were two divisions — 30 high school freshmen and sophomores and 44 juniors and seniors. In years prior, the event featured just juniors and seniors but this year’s event included the freshman and sophomore junior division.
The student-athletes participated in the two-day event that featured a pro-style workout on Saturday and two games on Sunday, both of which took place at Truist Park. There was a Junior Division game (consisting of freshmen and sophomores) followed by a Senior Division game (juniors and seniors).
Braves senior director of alumni relations and growing the game Greg McMichael — who was a relief pitcher for Atlanta from 1993 to 1996 and helped the Braves to their 1995 World Series championship — has been a vital contributor to these special events in recent years.
“It’s been really exciting to see some of these kids,” McMichael said. “This year we’ve done it a little bit differently. We brought in the Junior [Division]. They consist mainly of our best RBI [Nike’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program] kids. They’re the younger kids, freshmen and sophomores. Our scouting group recommended a few players from around the [Southeast]. So we have probably the best talent we’ve had since we started this thing. From what I’m hearing there are about six potential Draft picks that [are here].”
Though he is not a Draft pick as of now, Parkview standout outfielder Malachi Washington is an LSU commit who has played in the 44 Classic the past two years.
“It’s a lot bigger,” Washington said about playing at Truist Park. “It’s huge. [There’s] a lot more grass to cover. It feels like [being a] pro almost. It feels like being in the big leagues. When you stand in right field you feel like Ronald Acuña. In center field you feel like Michael Harris. It’s really cool seeing the backdrop knowing you’re on an MLB field. It’s amazing.”
There were multiple MLB alumni coaches involved in the 44 Classic. Gerald Perry, Terry Harper and Jerome Walton were on-site coaching in partnership with the Marquis Grissom Baseball Association. Washington and his teammates were given the opportunity to learn from former MLB players.
“Getting experience from veteran guys who have played in the league and who know so much about the game, you can always learn more,” Washington said. “It’s great to get out here and just learn, every day, something new about baseball.”
“[There are] a lot of guys from my high school,” Washington said. “Joseph Mendez, CJ Woolcock. Ellis Appling, Emani Ford, all those guys go to my high school. Santos Wade [who is home schooled], just a bunch of great guys and a bunch of good names. It just makes us closer. It’s sick, all of us getting invited to such a prestigious and awesome event. It means a lot.”
“It means the world, having Matt Olson being talked about every day at our high school [and] Jeff Francoeur, names like that,” Washington said. “It’s really surreal getting to play on the same field they get to play on and hit home runs on. I was fortunate enough to be here for the whole [2025] All-Star Weekend. I got invited to the [MLB High School] Home Run Derby. I have played here a couple of times.”
“It started with Hank,” McMichael said. “We’re trying to continue his dream of seeing a lot of opportunity and access for kids who are in Atlanta and the Southeast who are able to play this game at a high level. It’s not just about playing the game, it’s about being in the game. There’s plenty of opportunities to be in the game of baseball. There are multiple who have come through The RBI program who are now working for us. We’re really excited about that.”
New York Turns On MLB Umpires After 25-Year-Old Mets Star Punished for Rare Outburst
The New York Mets entered their final home game on September 21 with an 80–75 record, clinging to the final National League Wild Card spot. The pressure was so intense after losing 11 of their last 15 games that a loss would drop them into a tie with the Cincinnati Reds, who held the tiebreaker. And across the field, the Washington Nationals had nothing to lose with a dismal 63-92 record. Their only job was to play spoiler.
The stage was set for a classic matchup, and for the Mets, one swing—or non-swing—became the flashpoint.
It happened in the bottom of the sixth inning after Francisco Lindor blasted a solo homer, cutting Washington’s lead to 3-2. So, when Mark Vientos stepped up to the plate with two runners on and two outs, the Mets had a chance to seize control. Then, on a 2-2 count, Vientos tried to check his swing at an 80.8 mph curveball from Nationals reliever Mitchell Parker. And home plate umpire John Tumpane pointed to first base for confirmation. First base umpire Chris Conroy, the crew chief, raised his fist. Strike three.
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And the rally was dead. Vientos reacted instantly, slamming his bat onto home plate. But before the bat even settled, Tumpane ejected the 25-year-old slugger. That moment proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
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Parker slammed the door, sealing a devastating 3-2 victory and a series win. For the rest of the game, Parker allowed only two hits. Though manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t comment on that particular incident, he mentioned, “We have to keep going, there’s six more games to go.” But the fact is: the team is 17 games under .500 since June 13. Even Vientos, whose batting average sat at a lowly .235 even after hitting 17 homers, also kept his silence.
Though the players and umpires moved on, the incident lit a firestorm of debate among fans.
The fans in New York weren’t happy
Many fans felt the quick ejection was a massive overreach of power. They wrote, “This umpire should be removed from the job. He might of went, but again not ejection worthy. There’s a problem in this game with these b—- umpires. @MLB you are trash. Nobody is there to see them.” That frustration doesn’t come out of nowhere. With 40 career ejections, Tumpane has a reputation, and fans remember his infamous 2022 game, where he called three balks on Miami Marlins pitcher Richard Bleier.
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But the anger didn’t stop at accountability—it boiled over into violent hyperbole. As one fan commented, “Should’ve went to 1st and beat him(umpire) to death with it.” In baseball’s early days, umpires were often physically attacked by players and mobs. While fans today aren’t serious about violence, when recourse feels nonexistent, their words echo baseball’s brutal past as another fan who just repeated the same emotion.
“Can we go back to assaulting umpires.”
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Other fans see a pattern of incompetence that is protected by the league. “F— god awful umps are the cancer to baseball.” By late September, MLB umps had issued 162 ejections on the season, and Tumpane himself has had games where he has missed more than 10 calls in a single game. And the crew chief, Chris Conroy, was once flagged for missing 24 calls in a game.
And then again, the final comment came as a call for technology. “Can we please get automated umps so we don’t have to deal with these retards on their periods when they make bad calls and players react in a Pennant race?” In spring training, MLB tested an Automated Ball-Strike System, and so many of the challenges flipped the wrong calls. And hence came another day of echoed feeling that if the human element is the problem, then remove it.
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Now, considering the Mets’ loss dropped them into a dangerous position in their pennant race, MLB should utilize technology in this high-stakes situation that offers an objective solution when human error becomes too costly.
Massive Scandal Rocks MLB as Baseball Fans Targeted by High Tech Scammers
Just a few months ago, MLB was rocked by the betting scandal that involved the suspension of a few players. And while the league is still trying to get over that hangover, a new scandal is brewing. If the latest reports are to be considered, this time, fans are directly targeted. Even though MLB acknowledged the problem, they’re still at the primary stage of understanding how it’s happening and who the culprit is.
“Bad actors are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges.” The Athletic cited MLB about how fans are getting scammed with their valid tickets to enter the ballparks.
We heard the first signs of trouble popped up in the Red Sox camp.
Reportedly, a few fans showed up to Fenway recently only to find that the tickets they bought through the MLB Ballpark app had vanished. Not just that, they have been resold without their consent! Nancy Morrisroe, a season ticket holder of the Red Sox, shared that her ticket on the Ballpark App vanished once she went to Fenway Park. “There is no recall button; it shows I forwarded them to you,” Morrisroe referred to another.
As it went to the authorities, MLB admitted they’d gotten multiple reports of this happening. They’re aware that fans are arriving at games to learn their seats are already gone. While there have been big data breach reports tied to other major platforms, MLB says there’s no sign its own systems were compromised. Still, the league issued an apology to fans for the mess.
MLB even shared a few directives asking fans to change their existing passwords and to step up their authentication step in the Ballpark App. However, fans are eager to know how MLB is investigating the case and who the main culprits are.
But this is not the first time that MLB has faced a scam.
MLB has a history of ticketing scams
This recent scam just added to MLB’s long list of similar incidents. Let’s rewind to Game 2 of the 2018 World Series between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
One fan, who had dropped $650 on his ticket, showed up at Fenway only to be shocked when it wouldn’t scan. The reason? He’d posted a picture of his ticket on Instagram to show off that he was headed to the game. That was enough for the hackers to spot it, grab the info, and use it to create a duplicate ticket that got them through the gates.
While the fan eventually got in, it was only after shelling out another $450 for a replacement seat.
Undoubtedly, it’s a tough lesson for fans. A reminder that while MLB can work on improving security, fans also have to be careful with their tickets. Unless one doesn’t mind spending an extra $500!
But this time, the scam is more organized and on a large scale. And it doesn’t target a single fan. So, we could expect a stricter, full-proof, and effective action from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred that might include an overhaul of the existing ticketing process. What do you think?
MLB Postseason Picture, Seeds for AL
The Seattle Mariners made short work of the Houston Astros this weekend with the series sweep propelling the team forward in the MLB playoff picture. Following the recent Mariners-Astros series ending on September 21, 2025, Seattle sits as the No. 2 seed in the AL standings.
As a reminder, the top three seeds in each league go to the division winners. For example, the New York Yankees have a better record than the Mariners, but Seattle would get a higher seed as the Toronto Blue Jays are the division leaders.
Here is a look at the the AL playoff standings, seeding and potential postseason matchups following the Mariners’ win against the Astros on September 21 .
MLB Playoff Picture: AL Postseason Picture
The teams listed in bold would make the MLB playoffs if the postseason started today. Toronto has already clinched a playoff berth.
Team W L GB 1. Blue Jays* 90 66 – 2. Mariners 87 69 3.5 3. Tigers 85 71 5 4. Yankees 88 68 2 5. Red Sox 85 70 4.5 6. Guardians 84 72 5.5 7. Astros 84 72 6 8. Rangers 79 77 11 9. Royals 78 78 12
Mariners Playoff Opponent: Seattle Projected to Have Bye Then Face Winner of Astros-Tigers Series
If the MLB playoffs started today, the Mariners would have a bye as the No. 2 seed. The top two teams in each league avoid the wild card round.
Seattle and Toronto would advance to the ALDS to await the wild card winners. The current playoff picture has the Mariners playing the winner of No. 6 Astros versus No. 3 Tigers series.
Projected AL Playoff Matchups as of September 21
Here’s a look at what the AL playoff matchups would be if the postseason started on September 21.
AL Wild Card matchups:
No. 6 Houston Astros vs. No. 3 Detroit Tigers
No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
The Mariners would face the winner of the Astros-Tigers series, while the Blue Jays battle the winner of the rivalry clash between the Red Sox and Yankees.
Cal Raleigh Hit 58th Home Run Against Astros
Seattle found themselves in a bit of a slump before their recent slump. Fast forward to a few weeks later and the Mariners still have a chance to chase down the Blue Jays to be the top team in the American League standings.
Cal Raleigh hit his 58th home run of the season against the Astros on September 21. During the Mariners’ previous slump, Raleigh spoke about what needed to change.
“Nobody is going to give it to us,” Raleigh said on September 3, per MLB.com. “We’ve got to go take it. We can’t sit around and just expect teams to hand it to us and that it’s going to be easy, because it’s not.
“… If you’re expecting it to be easy, expecting it to be handed to you, it’s going to be a harsh reality.”
Mariners sweep Astros, Cal Raleigh homers again as Seattle takes control of AL West amid MLB playoff race
In one of the biggest games of one of the biggest series of the season, the Seattle Mariners picked up one of their most important wins in years. The Mariners used a seven-run second inning Sunday night to complete the three-game sweep of the Houston Astros at Daikin Park (SEA 7, HOU 3), and take control of the AL West. Seattle is three games up with six to play.
Here are the AL West standings:
Mariners: 87-69
Astros: 84-72 (3 GB)
Rangers: 79-77 (already eliminated)
Athletics: 73-83 (already eliminated)
Angels: 70-86 (already eliminated)
The Mariners won the season series 8-5 and thus have the tiebreaker. That three-game lead is really a four-game lead. Seattle’s magic number to clinch the AL West is three. Any combination of Mariners wins and Astros losses totaling three the rest of the way gives the Mariners their first division title since their historic 116-win season in 2001.
Shortstop J.P. Crawford provided the big blow Sunday with a second-inning grand slam against righty Jason Alexander. Catcher and MVP candidate Cal Raleigh followed with a two-run home run later in the inning. It was his 58th of the season, extending his single-season record for a catcher, a switch-hitter, and a Mariner.
The Mariners will now head home to finish the regular season against the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers. In addition to the AL West title, they’ll also look to secure a Wild Card Series bye. The ongoing collapse of the Detroit Tigers has given Seattle a two-game lead for a bye, plus the Mariners have the tiebreaker. It’s really a three-game lead.
As for the Astros, there’s no sugarcoating it. Getting swept at home was a disaster. The AL West race is not over, but it might as well be, and the Astros are no longer in postseason position. Here are the wild card standings:
Yankees: 88-68 (+3 ½ GB)
Red Sox: 85-70 (1 GB)
Guardians: 84-72
—————————————-
Astros: 84-72
The Guardians won the season series 4-2 over the Astros, so they have the tiebreaker, and are in the third wild card spot with the Astros on the outside looking in. The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets are in the same situation in the National League. Identical records, but the Reds won the season series, so they currently sit in the third wild card spot.
The Astros will go on the road to visit the A’s and Angels the final week. Because Cleveland holds the tiebreaker, the Astros do not control their own destiny. They need help to reach the postseason, especially with Yordan Alvarez (ankle) and Josh Hader (shoulder) on the injured list and not expected back during the regular season.
Houston had a four-game lead in the AL West as recently as Sept. 3. Factor in the tiebreaker, and it’s an eight-game swing in the standings in 18 days. The Astros were in first place from June 3 to Sept. 10.
What’s at stake final week 2025 mlb season
While the Phillies and Brewers have clinched their respective divisions, things have not been settled in both the West divisions, the AL East and the AL Central. The final Wild Card spots, too, are still up for grab in each league. In fact, entering Monday, the Blue Jays are the only AL team that has clinched a playoff spot. Meanwhile, there are several intriguing individual storylines, including a slugger vying for a 60-homer season.
The Guardians could very well pull off one of the biggest late-season comebacks in MLB history. A whopping 15 1/2 games back of the Tigers in the AL Central as late as July 8, the Guardians are, stunningly, one game behind them entering the final week. Cleveland has won 15 of its last 17 games and nearly erased the 10 1/2-game deficit in the AL Central it had entering September.
As luck will have it, the Guardians and Tigers will face off in a three-game series in Cleveland starting on Tuesday. If the Guardians win just one of those games, they will hold the vital tiebreaker advantage over the Tigers, meaning Cleveland would win the division if the two clubs ended the season with the same record.
The battles for the western divisions have been consistently close for months, but we’ve gained more clarity after this past week. The Astros and Mariners have been neck-and-neck for weeks but after Seattle’s sweep of Houston over the weekend, the Mariners have a commanding three-game lead in the AL West and secured the tiebreaker advantage by winning the season series.
The Dodgers, too, are in good shape entering the week. With a three-game lead over San Diego and the tiebreaker advantage, the Dodgers are destined to win the NL West yet again. Barring a miracle, though, the Dodgers will not have a first-round bye in the Wild Card round, as the Brewers already clinched one of the top two NL spots, and Los Angeles is four games behind Philadelphia for the second seed.
Through the end of July, the Mets were seriously vying for the NL East division and were battling for the No. 1 seed in the National League. It’s been downhill since then, with the Mets going 18-29 since the beginning of August, tied for the fourth-worst record in the Majors. After the Mets lost on Sunday and the Reds won, Cincinnati has possession of the third NL Wild Card spot. Both clubs have an 80-76 record, but the Reds took the season series and therefore hold the tiebreaker advantage.
The D-backs, too, are in the mix for that final NL Wild Card spot. After winning on Sunday, Arizona is one game behind the Reds and Mets. The D-backs, however, lost the season series against the Reds and split the season series against the Mets, meaning a tie between Arizona and New York would come down to intradivision record.
It’s been a historic season for Cal Raleigh, who has crushed 58 home runs, the most by a switch-hitter in MLB history, the most in Mariners franchise history and the most by a primary catcher. Next on the list is getting to 60 home runs, a milestone reached only nine times by six different hitters. Raleigh is already firmly in the AL MVP race with Aaron Judge, but reaching 60 homers could be a deciding factor. Raleigh will need to hit two home runs in the final six games, hardly an insurmountable goal for him considering what he’s done this season.
The Brewers won the NL Central and have secured one of the top two spots in the National League, giving them a first-round bye in the Wild Card Series. The Phillies won the NL East and will likely join the Brewers shortly with a first-round bye. The Dodgers will likely take the NL West and the third NL spot, while the Cubs are poised to secure the top NL Wild Card spot.
Beyond those clubs, there’s still plenty to be determined. Entering Monday, the Blue Jays are the only AL team that has secured a postseason spot, so we could see plenty of shuffling between teams this week. That includes the extremely close races for divisions and Wild Card spots.
Raleigh (58 home runs), Kyle Schwarber (53) and Shohei Ohtani (53) have all cleared 50 home runs in 2025. Aaron Judge (49 home runs) is on the cusp of joining those three, while Eugenio Suárez (47) is three homers away. The most players to hit 50-plus home runs in a season is four, which was done in 1998 (Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Vaughn) and 2001 (Barry Bonds, Sosa, Alex Rodriguez and Luis Gonzalez).
If Judge hits one more home run, the 2025 season will be in a three-way tie for the most 50-homer players in one season. And if Suárez can also hit three more, the ‘25 season would stand alone with five 50-homer players, the most in a single season in MLB history.
Soto became a first-time member of the 30-30 club, with his 42 home runs and 35 stolen bases. Lindor is nearly there, too, with 28 home runs and 31 stolen bases. If Lindor gets to 30 homers, he and Soto would become the third pair of teammates to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season, joining Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette (1996 Rockies) and Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry (1987 Mets).
What a year it’s been for Devers. The longtime Red Sox third baseman and franchise cornerstone was traded to the Giants in a blockbuster move in mid-June and has had another ho-hum Devers season, posting an .841 OPS with 31 home runs between the two teams. After playing in 73 games with the Red Sox, Devers has played in 84 games with the Giants, giving him 157 total games. If he plays in San Francisco’s final six games, Devers will become the first player to play in more than 162 games in a season since Justin Mourneau for the Twins in 2008.
With 141 runs scored entering the final week, Ohtani is vying for a level of run-scoring that few players have ever reached. If Ohtani manages to score nine runs in the Dodgers’ final six games, he’d be the first player with 150 runs scored since Jeff Bagwell had 152 for the 2000 Astros. Before Bagwell, you have to go all the way back to Ted Williams in 1949. A 140-run season is impressive in its own right, but 150 runs is incredibly rare.
MLB magic numbers, tiebreakers: Blue Jays in; Reds pass Mets; Brewers clinch division (9/22/25)
With baseball’s regular season down to six games, four of the six divisions still haven’t been decided and there are seven playoff spots up for grabs, five in the American League.
Sunday was eventful with the AL East-leading Blue Jays clinching at least a wild card and the Brewers wrapping up a threepeat in the NL Central.
Also, the AL Central-leading Tigers’ shocking collapse continued, the surging Reds passed the slumping Mets for the last NL wild-card spot and the first-place Mariners swept the second-place Astros on the road to go three games up in the AL West.
Here is what occurred on Sunday:
In Baltimore, Ben Rice hit a tie-breaking grand slam in a six-run 10th inning in a 7-1 Yankees win over the Orioles. By taking three of four in their final road series, the Yankees hiked their lead over the Red Sox to three games for the first AL wild card and stayed two games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East.
In New York, the Mets dropped out of playoff with a 3-2 loss to the Nationals in their home finale. The Mets have loss 11 of 15 and are 35-52 since winning on June 12 to build a 5 ½-game NL East lead over the Phillies, who won the division going away last week.
In Detroit, the Tigers stayed a game up on the Guardians in the AL Central despite losing 6-2 to the Braves. On its final homestand, Detroit was 0-6 and outscored 36-14. Next up are six road games to finish the season, the first three in Cleveland.
In Kansas City, the Blue Jays beat the Blue Jays 8-5 to become the first AL club to clinch a playoff spot. They’re next goal is holding off the Yankees to win the AL East crown. Toronto has a two-game lead and owns the tiebreaker.
In Minneapolis, the Guardians’ 10-game losing streak ended with a 6-2 loss to the Twins, but they maintained their last AL wild-card spot over the Astros (on a tiebreaker) and stayed a game behind the Tigers heading in this showdown series, which begins Tuesday night in Cleveland.
In Houston, J.P. Crawford hit a grand slam in a seven-run second inning and the AL West-leading Mariners held on for a 7-3 win over the second-place Astros, who started the weekend tied for first but now are three games back and also out of a wild-card spot on a tiebreaker with the Reds.
In Tampa, the Rays scored three first-inning runs in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox, who stayed a game ahead of the Guardians and Astros for the second AL wild card.
In Chicago, Fernando Tatis Jr. homered and the Padres inched closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 3-2 win over the White Sox. San Diego holds the second NL wild-card spot and is five games ahead of the Reds and Mets, who are tied for the third.
In St. Louis, the Brewers lost to the Cardinals 5-1, but still clinched their third consecutive NL Central title with the second-place Cubs losing to the Reds. The Brewers also maintained their three-game edge over the Phillies for top seed in the NL playoffs.
In Cincinnati, the Reds extended their winning streak to five with a 1-0 win over the Cubs that has them ahead of the Mets by a game for the last NL wild-card spot. Gavin Lux drove in the only run of the game with a two-out double in the third inning.
In Los Angeles, the Giants wiped out a 1-0 deficit in a three-run seventh and beat the Dodgers 3-1 to avoid a four-game sweep and get to three games out of the last NL wild-card spot. The Dodgers, who already have clinched a playoff spot, had their NL West lead over the Padres cut to three games.
In Phoenix, Corbin Carroll capped a five-run second with a three-run homer and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings for the Diamondbacks, who slayed the Phillies 9-2 to get to with a game of the last NL wild-card spot. Arizona trails both the Reds and Mets.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules and tiebreakers for the contenders through Sunday, Sept. 21 along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Monday, Sept. 22:
AL EAST
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (90-66)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Yankees by 2 games.
Tiebreakers: Blue Jays won season series with Yankees 8-5; Blue Jays won season series with Mariners 4-2; Blue Jays trail season series with Astros 3-1. Blue Jays won season series with Tigers 4-3; Blue Jays split season series with Guardians 3-3.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 4
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 21.
Games remaining: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rays, 3:07 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rays, 3:07 p.m., EST
NEW YORK YANKEES (88-68)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 2 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Guardians and Astros by 4 games for third wild card.
Tiebreakers: Yankees lost season series with Blue Jays 8-5; Yankees lost season series with Red Sox 9-4; Yankees tied season series with Astros 3-3; Yankees won season series with Mariners 5-1; Yankees lost season series with Tigers 4-2; Yankees tied season series with Guardians 3-3, but lose tiebreaker on division record.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 4
Games remaining: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Yankees schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Orioles, 1:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Orioles, 3:05 p.m., EST
BOSTON RED SOX (85-71)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 5 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Lead Guardians and Astros by 1 game for 3rd AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Red Sox won season series with Yankees 9-4; Red Sox tied season series with Mariners 3-3; Red Sox won season series with Astros 4-2; Red Sox won season series with Guardians 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Games remaining: 6 (3 home, 3 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Tigers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Tigers, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Tigers, 3:05 p.m., EST
AL CENTRAL
DETROIT TIGERS (85-71)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 1 game.
Tiebreakers: Tigers trail season series with Guardians 6-4; Tigers lost season series with Mariners 4-2; Tigers lost season series with Blue Jays 4-3; Tigers won season series with Yankees 4-2; Tigers won season series with Astros 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 6
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Remaining games: 6 (0 home, 6 road).
Tigers schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Red Sox, 3:05 p.m., EST
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (84-72)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Tigers by 1 game. Tied with Astros for third AL wild card. Guardians hold tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers: Guardians lead season series with Tigers 6-4; Guardians lost season series with Mariners 4-2; Guardians won season series with Astros 4-2; Guardians lost season series with Red Sox 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Guardians schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rangers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rangers, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rangers, 3:10 p.m., EST
AL WEST
SEATTLE MARINERS (87-69)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead Astros by 3 games.
Tiebreakers: Mariners won season series with Astros 8-5; Mariners won season series with Tigers 4-2; Mariners won season series with Guardians 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL West: 3
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Mariners schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Dodgers, 3:10 p.m., EST
HOUSTON ASTROS (84-72)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Mariners by 3 games. Tied with Guardians for third AL wild card. Guardians have tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers: Astros lost season series with Mariners 8-5; Astros lost season series with Red Sox 4-2; Astros lost season series with Guardians 4-2; Astros lost season series with Tigers 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 6 (0 home, 6 road).
Astros schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Athletics, 10:05 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Athletics, 10:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Athletics, 3:35 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Angels, 9:38 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Angels, 9:38 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Angels, 3:07 p.m., EST
NL EAST
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (92-64)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Mets by 12 games.
Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 4-2; Phillies lost season series with Brewers 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 15.
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Phillies schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Marlins, 6:45 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Marlins, 6:45 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Marlins, 6:05 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Twins, 7:45 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Twins, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Twins, 3:05 p.m., EST
NEW YORK METS (80-76)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 12 games. Tied with Reds for third NL wild-card standings. Reds have tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers: Mets won season series with Giants 4-2; Mets lost season series with Reds 4-2; Mets tied season series with Diamondbacks 3-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 6 (0 home, 6 road).
Mets schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Cubs, 7:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Cubs, 8:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Cubs, 7:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Marlins, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Marlins, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Marlins, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (95-61)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 7 games.
Tiebreakers: Brewers won season series with Phillies 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched Sept. 21.
Remaining games: 6 (3 home, 3 road).
Brewers schedule:
Monday, Sept. 22: at Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Padres, 9:10 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Padres, 4:10 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Reds, 8:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Reds, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Reds, 3:10 p.m., EST
CHICAGO CUBS (88-68)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 7 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Reds and Mets by 8 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Cubs tied season series with Padres 3-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 16.
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Cubs schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Mets, 7:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Mets, 8:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Mets, 7:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Cardinals, 2:20 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Cardinals, 2:20 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Cardinals, 3:20 p.m., EST
CINCINNATI REDS (80-76)
Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 15 games. Tied with Mets for third in NL wild-card standings.
Tiebreakers: Reds won season series with Mets 4-2; Reds tied season series with Giants 3-3; Reds won season series with Diamondbacks 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Remaining games: 6 (3 home, 3 road).
Reds schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Pirates, 12:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Brewers, 8:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Brewers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Brewers, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (88-68)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 3 games.
Tiebreakers: Dodgers won season series with Padres 9-4; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 4-2; Dodgers lost season series with Brewers 6-0.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 3
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.
Remaining games: 6 (0 home, 6 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Diamondbacks, 3:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Mariners, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Mariners, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Mariners, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN DIEGO PADRES (85-71)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 3 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Lead Reds and Mets by 5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Padres lost season series with Dodgers 9-4; Padres won season series with Mets 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 2
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Padres schedule:
Monday, Sept. 22: Brewers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Brewers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Brewers, 4:10 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., EST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (79-77)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 9 games. Fifth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Reds and Mets by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Diamondbacks tied season series with Mets 3-3; Diamondbacks won season series with Giants 7-6; Diamondbacks lost season series with Reds 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 6 (3 home, 3 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Dodgers, 3:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Padres, 8:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Padres, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (77-79)
Standings: Fourth in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 11 games. Sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Reds and Mets by 3.5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Giants lost season series with Diamondbacks 7-6; Giants tied season series with Reds 3-3; Giants lost season series with Mets 4-
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 4
Remaining games: 6 (6 home, 0 road).
Giants schedule:
Monday, Sept. 23: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 24: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 25: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rockies, 10:15 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rockies, 4:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rockies, 3:05 p.m., EST
POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Blue Jays (1), Mariners (2), byes
Guardians (6) at Tigers (3)
Red Sox (5) at Yankees (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Brewers (1), Phillies (2), byes
Reds (6) at Dodgers (3)
Padres (5) at Cubs (4)
Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh hits MLB-leading 58th home run against Astros
HOUSTON — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 58th home run on Sunday night, a two-run shot in the second inning against the Houston Astros.
The Mariners were up 5-0 after a grand slam by J.P. Crawford in the second when Raleigh, who was batting left-handed, connected off Jason Alexander for his home run to right field to extend the lead.
The shot comes a night after he passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise’s single-season home run record with his 57th homer. Griffey hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.
Raleigh has also surpassed Mickey Mantle’s MLB record of 54 home runs by a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961. He has also set the MLB record for homers by a catcher this season, eclipsing the 48 hit by Salvador Perez in 2021.
Raleigh is five home runs ahead of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, who are tied for second place with 53 each.
MLB roundup: Despite loss, Brewers rewarded with NL Central crown
The Milwaukee Brewers may have lost Sunday’s game to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis, but they won an even bigger prize: the National League Central.
Milwaukee clinched its third straight division title after the second-place Chicago Cubs lost 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers’ divisional triumph came despite them being unable to do much against the Cardinals. Joey Ortiz had two hits, including a triple, while Jackson Chourio drove in Milwaukee’s only run of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Robert Gasser (0-1) served as the Brewers’ opener, allowing two runs on two walks and a hit over three innings. Erick Fedde struggled versus his former team, giving up three runs off three walks and a hit during his four frames.
Jose Fermin led the charge for the Cardinals with three RBIs, while Ivan Herrera hit a two-run homer to help St. Louis take two of three games from Milwaukee. Matthew Liberatore (8-12) excelled over five innings of work, giving up just one run on five hits.
Blue Jays 8, Royals 5
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez each had two RBIs, four relievers held Kansas City to one run and Toronto clinched its fourth postseason berth in six seasons with a road victory.
Guerrero and Gimenez joined George Springer and Ernie Clement with two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who broke out to snap a four-game skid in which they totaled three runs. Brendon Little, Seranthony Dominguez (4-4), Eric Lauer and Jeff Hoffman (32nd save) helped keep the Royals from sweeping this three-game set.
Salvador Perez recorded career RBI No. 1,012 to match Hal McRae for second on the all-time list for Kansas City, which finished 43-38 at home. Michael Wacha (9-13) allowed a trio of runs in both the second and fifth innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits over five innings.
Reds 1, Cubs 0
Gavin Lux hit an RBI double in the third inning and four Cincinnati pitchers combined on a six-hitter as the host Reds swept Chicago and moved into a tie for the final NL wild-card spot.
Cincinnati won its fifth straight and is tied with the New York Mets, five games behind San Diego for the No. 2 wild card. for the NL’s third and final wild-card spot. Andrew Abbott threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits while striking out two and walking one. Nick Martinez (11-13) threw 2 1/3 perfect frames in relief.
Jameson Taillon (10-7) pitched seven quality innings for the Cubs, allowing a run on five hits while striking out four and walking none. Chicago has dropped four straight since clinching a postseason berth on Wednesday.
Twins 6, Guardians 2
Brooks Lee blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and Royce Lewis added a pinch-hit three-run homer in the seventh to help Minnesota end Cleveland’s 10-game winning streak with a win in Minneapolis.
Kody Clemens contributed two hits, an RBI and run scored for the Twins, who ended a five-game skid. Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson allowed two runs and three hits over five innings, striking out three and walking two.
Steven Kwan swatted a leadoff homer for the Guardians, but they collected just three singles the rest of the way, missing an opportunity to move into a tie for first in the American League Central after trailing the Detroit Tigers by 15 1/2 games in early July.
Yankees 7, Orioles 1 (10)
Ben Rice hit a grand slam before an out was recorded in the 10th inning as New York pulled out a victory against host Baltimore.
The Yankees had five hits and scored six runs in the 10th, most notably Rice’s 24th homer of the season. He went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, accounting for nearly half of the team’s 10 hits. New York won three of four games in the series as it stayed in the AL East race, two games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.
Samuel Basallo homered for the Orioles, whose offense let down starter Kyle Bradish. He worked six innings, allowing one run on two hits. Kade Strowd (0-1), who began the 10th on the mound, took the loss. David Bednar (6-5) was the winning pitcher after throwing a scoreless ninth, improving to 4-0 since joining the Yankees this summer.
Pirates 11, Athletics 0
Joey Bart hit a three-run home run and Jared Triolo added a two-run shot as each finished with four hits in host Pittsburgh’s blowout win in its home finale.
Carmen Mlodzinski (5-8) pitched three innings for the win after Mike Burrows opened the game by giving up five hits with three strikeouts over four innings. The Pirates recorded their MLB-best 19th shutout of the season and their second straight following a five-game losing streak.
Brent Rooker had two hits for the Athletics, who were held scoreless in the final 22 innings of the series. Starter Mitch Spence (3-6) seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Padres 3, White Sox 2
Michael King pitched five-plus scoreless innings and San Diego held on to win in Chicago as the Padres reduced their magic number to two to clinch a playoff berth.
San Diego took two of three from the White Sox, who have lost eight of their last nine and played their final home game of the season.
Padres reliever Mason Miller inherited bases loaded with one in the seventh and walked in a pair of runs. But he got Lenyn Sosa to ground out to end the inning. King (5-3) allowed four hits, walked four and struck out four.
Braves 6, Tigers 2
Ha-Seong Kim homered and drove in two runs and streaking Atlanta handed host Detroit its sixth straight loss.
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Drake Baldwin each had two hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Braves in their eighth consecutive win. Spencer Strider (7-13) tossed five scoreless innings.
The Tigers didn’t get on the scoreboard until the ninth inning, squandering numerous prime scoring chances in the opening frames. Detroit stranded 13 runners on base, handing Casey Mize (14-6) the loss after he gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Nationals 3, Mets 2
Jacob Young made two incredible catches in center field and Nasim Nunez hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run second inning as visiting Washington complicated New York’s playoff chase.
Young took away extra bases from Brett Baty in the fifth inning and stole a game-tying homer from Francisco Alvarez in the ninth. Jake Irvin (9-13) earned his first win since July 27 after allowing just two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Mets now sit in a tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL wild-card spot after suffering their 15th loss in 23 games. Sean Manaea (2-4) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in three-plus innings. Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer for New York in the sixth.
Rockies 3, Angels 1
Blaine Crim homered, Kyle Freeland pitched six strong innings, and Colorado beat Los Angeles in Denver to wrap up its home schedule.
The Rockies (43-113) passed the 1962 New York Mets, whose 42 wins are the fewest in the National League in the modern era. Colorado finished the season 25-56 at Coors Field, its worst home record in franchise history. Freeland (5-16) allowed one run on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Mike Trout doubled, one of seven hits for Los Angeles. Rookie right-hander Cade Dana (0-3) allowed two runs on three hits, struck out five and walked three in a season-high six innings.
Giants 3, Dodgers 1
Patrick Bailey started a three-run rally in the eighth inning with an RBI double, rookie Trevor McDonald gave up one run over six-plus innings of his first career start and San Francisco avoided a four-game sweep with a victory over host Los Angeles.
Willy Adames had a bases-loaded walk in the eighth and Matt Chapman added an RBI groundout. McDonald gave up one run on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Spencer Bivens (4-3) did not give up a run over one inning for the Giants and right-hander Ryan Walker recorded the last two outs for his 16th save.
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan tied a career high with 10 strikeouts for the Dodgers, while Michael Conforto had an RBI single. Sheehan gave up just one hit with no walks over seven innings in the team’s regular-season home finale. Right-hander Blake Treinen (1-7) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 2
Corbin Carroll became the first Arizona player to achieve a 30-home run, 30-stolen base season and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings as the D-backs moved closer to a playoff berth with a victory over Philadelphia in Phoenix.
Carroll stole his 30th base of the campaign in the sixth inning and hit a three-run shot, his 31st of the year, in the second frame. Jorge Barrosa notched his first career home run, Ketel Marte recorded two RBIs and Eduardo Rodriguez (9-8) pitched six scoreless innings to pull Arizona within one game of both the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds for the last NL wild-card spot.
Nick Castellanos singled in a run to open the scoring for the Phillies in the eighth inning, while Weston Wilson drove in another with a two-out, bases-loaded walk. Ranger Suarez (12-7) made his shortest appearance since his season debut May 4, pitching just four innings and giving up six runs on eight hits.
Marlins 4, Rangers 2
Otto Lopez had three hits and an RBI as Miami used a balanced offensive attack and shutdown relief to beat reeling Texas in the finale of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas.
The victory was the sixth straight and the 10th in 11 games for the Marlins and finalized their second consecutive series sweep. Miami outhit the Rangers 11-5, with Graham Pauley adding a triple and a single and eight players producing hits. The Marlins did not draw a walk.
Lake Bachar (8-2) earned the win with two innings in relief of starter Eury Perez, who threw four shutout innings. Texas starter Merrill Kelly (12-9) took the loss as the Rangers fell for the seventh straight game.
Mariners 7, Astros 3
J.P. Crawford hit a grand slam and Cal Raleigh smashed his major league-leading 58th homer to help Seattle inch closer to a postseason berth with a win in Houston.
Logan Gilbert (6-6) supported the Mariners’ offense from the mound with six innings of one-run ball. Seattle is now three games up on the Astros for the AL West crown after sweeping the three-contest series and winning 14 of its last 15 games.
Houston starter Jason Alexander (4-2) failed to make it out of the second inning after surrendering seven runs on seven hits and a walk. Zach Cole hit his third home run of the season in place of Jeremy Pena, who was a late scratch due to oblique soreness. Jose Altuve also chipped in for the Astros with a double and an RBI single.
Rays 7, Red Sox 3
Christopher Morel drove in four runs, Brandon Lowe clubbed his 30th homer of the campaign and Tampa Bay drubbed Boston in the Rays’ home finale.
Morel went 2-for-4 and knocked in the first two runs with a double and two more with an eighth-inning single as Tampa Bay broke an eight-game losing streak against the Red Sox. Rays leadoff batter Chandler Simpson went 2-for-4 with a run and recorded his 43rd stolen base, while Junior Caminero had two hits, two runs and a walk. Garrett Cleavinger (2-6) tossed a perfect sixth.
Boston’s Alex Bregman and Romy Gonzalez each had two hits, an RBI and two walks. Masataka Yoshida added two hits. Starting pitcher Connelly Early (1-1), who made his major league debut on Sept. 9, suffered his first career loss by yielding three runs (two earned) on three hits in four innings. The lefty fanned four and walked two.
MLB News: Phillies Reporters Forced to Apologize After Ambushing $100M Star, Confirms Wife
Friday night celebration in Phoenix turned into something more. After a major win over the Diamondbacks, a Phillies star who had just hit his 250th career home run fielded questions in the clubhouse that hinted at tension, not triumph. What started as a normal postgame interview quickly became awkward when Nick Castellanos was asked if he was “unhappy” in Philadelphia.
The incident unfolded after the Phillies’ 8-2 win over the D-Backs. Castellanos, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal, faced reporters who shifted focus. Instead of his historic home run, there were questions about his future and satisfaction with the team. When one reporter boldly stated, “So, it sounds like you’re unhappy,” the situation reached a breaking point that would spark widespread criticism. That interview received widespread criticism across social media.
When GenZ reporter Kait tweeted, “Just listened to the interview with Casty yesterday ‘it sounds like you’re unhappy’ why are you putting words in his mouth? Nick handled it like a pro, I don’t think I would’ve been as nice,” she struck a nerve. Jess Castellanos, the wife of Nick, responded directly.
“Fact. And FYI for everyone the reporters all apologized to him because it was wrong.” This revelation confirmed what many suspected – the questioning had crossed a line serious enough to warrant apologies from the media members involved.
Yet, undeniably, Nick Castellanos handled everything “like a pro.” To the “unhappy” question, he responded to the Phillies Nation, “That would be creating a narrative.” Still, the interviewers pressed it further and asked, “OK, are you unhappy?” The slugger’s response?
“That’s … I’m here, we won a baseball game. I hit my 250th [home run]. I have a good relationship with the guys in this clubhouse.” He handled the aggressive questioning with remarkable restraint, deflecting attempts to create controversy while staying focused on team goals. However, initially, on Friday, Jess Castellanos fired back with a fierce defence that went viral.
“I know everyone wants to find a problem with Nick or bate him into a problem, but it’s time to get over it. Focus on the postseason and winning baseball games and stop crying about the pieces you have to get the job done and root for them to do well instead.” Her message amplified the conversation around whether media coverage has unfairly targeted the veteran slugger.
Support came from unexpected corners, including MLB analyst Ben Verlander, who didn’t mince words about the interview’s tone.
“I can’t stop thinking about how disrespectful this is. Just a brutal line of questioning,” Verlander posted. He praised Castellanos’ character, noting, “He’s thoughtful. He cares. He’s passionate. He hit his 250th career HR last night and the questions he was getting were about his playing time. No other way to view these interviews than disrespectful.”
What’s more is that the conversation wasn’t limited to the “unhappy” question.
In the same interview on Friday, another exchange created a bigger fuss around the front office. While much of the attention focused on Castellanos’ satisfaction with his role, his comments about communication with management also drew notice. That later led to a Saturday meeting between the player and the Phillies manager.
Castellanos’ manager acts fast after communication comments
Nick Castellanos is getting less playing time in 2025 since his offensive numbers went down (.254 AVG, .706 OPS) and his defensive numbers got worse—he is among the bottom of the outfielders with -11 Defensive Runs Saved and –12 Outs Above Average. And since the trade deadline, players like Max Kepler and Harrison Bader have played better defense and offense.
So, when reporters started asking about Castellanos’ shorter playing time, a new part of the narrative came out.
Castellanos was direct when asked about his role in the clubhouse. “Uh, I don’t really talk to Rob [Thomson] all that often, so that’s just … I play whenever he tells me to play. And then I sit whenever he tells me to sit.” It continued, and his response grew more pointed. “Uh, communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience. But also, I grew up communicating with somebody like my father, which is very blunt, direct and consistent.”
Thomson scheduled a meeting with his veteran outfielder on Saturday morning after those comments made headlines.
“I thought it was really productive. I’m not going to get into specifics of what we talked about, but I thought it was good,” the skipper told reporters afterwards. He even acknowledged the difficulty of Castellanos’ situation. “As I’ve said all along, it’s a tough thing for a guy that’s played every day throughout the minor leagues, every day in his big league career, to take this type of role.”
The Phillies manager addressed the communication concerns head-on. “As far as the communication part of it, if – not only Nick, but if anybody else in that clubhouse doesn’t think that I’m communicating enough with them, I’m probably not. I’ve got to do a better job. It’s just being accountable.” He noted that “there’s two ways of communicating, and that door is always open,” while confirming Castellanos would be in Sunday’s lineup against left-handed pitching.
New Patriots: Get to know center Garrett Bradbury better on and off the field
FOXBORO — The Patriots have a strong combination of veteran leadership and promising rookies on their offensive line this season.
One of their top leaders is center and seventh-year NFL veteran Garrett Bradbury.
Bradbury was released by the Vikings on March 17 and signed with the Patriots just one day later after they had released their own long-time center, David Andrews.
It’s early, but Bradbury hasn’t allowed a single pressure so far. He has PFF’s highest pass-blocking grade for a center through two weeks with an 88.4 mark.
Boston sports fans might not like Bradbury’s favorite athlete growing up, but they’ll appreciate his favorite movie.
Get to know Bradbury better in our new Patriots Q&A series.
First football memory: The first thing that comes to mind is middle-school conditioning. I didn’t start playing until seventh grade. I played summer baseball, but then we’d have early‑morning football conditioning. It was absolutely terrible. A bunch of my friends and I were throwing up. But then we’d hang out by the pool afterward. Those ended up being some of the best days because we had no idea what we were doing, dying at 7 a.m. during our summer off, but those are some of the best memories.
Top high school football memory: Winning states my junior year (at Charlotte Christian School). That was probably it. (Bradbury played tight end and defensive line through high school.)
Top college football memory at NC State: My last game in college — at Chapel Hill in a rivalry game. We had five rushing touchdowns. There was a fight that broke out at the end of the game. I think we won the game and the fight. I give Drake (Maye) some crap about that.
What made NC State special: Probably the people. I had really some good coaches and awesome teammates I’m still good friends with. Being not too far from home, so my family got to come up to most of the games. But, yeah, definitely the people
What you would be doing if you weren’t a football player: Oh gosh. I have no idea. I have no idea. If I hadn’t become an NFL player, I probably would’ve gotten into coaching. But I don’t know. I’d rather just keep playing for a living.
Favorite athlete growing up: First one that comes to my mind is Derek Jeter. My dad would go to New York for business and always bring back Yankees gear. I got to go to a few games. I just liked the way he led himself and led his team. Respected him from afar.
Position in baseball: Catcher and first base.
Favorite movie: “Good Will Hunting.”
Favorite musical artist: For a long time it’s been Eric Church. I’ll say Eric Church.
Best friend or best friends on the team: All the offensive linemen. Hunter Henry, and Drake Maye — I lived with Drake in the spring, so we got pretty close then. I hadn’t had a roommate in a while besides my wife. And really, the whole O‑line room.
Funniest player on the team: I’m gonna go probably Pop (DeMario Douglas). I could listen to him all day.
What you like most about New England: How accessible everything is after being in the Midwest for six years. My wife and I took a day trip this summer to the Cape, took a day trip to Newport. You can get to a lot of cool places. There’s a lot of good food. There’s a lot to explore. We haven’t even scratched the surface, but looking forward to it.
Player across the league who’s unheralded or underappreciated:I have to go with my boy in Minnesota, Brian O’Neill, right tackle. He gets some appreciation, but I don’t think enough. He does a lot for them.
8 Snapshots From Cardi B’s Personal Life
Cardi B is, once again, in the spotlight with big news and equally big music drops. The powerhouse rapper recently confirmed she is pregnant with her fourth baby, her first with NFL star Stefon Diggs. Their relationship has been gaining attention since she and ex-husband Offset split in 2024. Offset, for his part, is using music as therapy, revealing his new song “Move On” to reflect on his breakup with Cardi. Meanwhile, Cardi remains a fashion icon, skillfully concealing her baby bump with stylish ensembles before her big pregnancy reveal. Through it all, Cardi juggles motherhood and her burgeoning romance with Diggs, while dropping her next album, adding even more buzz to her eventful life.
NO. 1: CARDI B AND STEFON DIGGS’ RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE
NO. 2: CARDI B IS PREGNANT WITH BABY NO. 4, HER 1ST WITH BOYFRIEND STEFON DIGGS
NO. 3: OFFSET REVEALS NEW SONG IS ABOUT ‘MOVING ON’ FROM CARDI B DIVORCE
NO. 4: CARDI B’S FAMILY ALBUM: SEE THE CUTEST PHOTOS OF HER KIDS
NO. 5: HOW CARDI B EXPERTLY COVERED HER BABY BUMP AHEAD OF PREGNANCY NO. 4 REVEAL
NO. 6: OFFSET SEEMINGLY REACTS TO CARDI B GOING INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL WITH STEFON DIGGS
NO. 7: CARDI B LOOKS AS CHIC AS EVER WITH PLATINUM HAIR WHILE GOING TO COURT
NO. 8: CARDI B FLIPS OFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AFTER GETTING ASKED IF SHE’S PREGNANT
This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.
Browns vs. Packers: Two defensive titans set for epic clash in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Ohio — When the Browns host the Packers this Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, fans won’t just be witnessing another NFL game — they’ll be watching a masterclass between two of the league’s most dominant defensive units.
On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, the hosts couldn’t contain their excitement about this defensive showdown, with Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot highlighting the matchup as her primary storyline.
“It’s the No. 1 defense of the Cleveland Browns and the No. 3 defense of the Green Bay Packers. That’s what really stands out to me about this and which defense is going to really rise to the occasion and own this football game,” Cabot explained.
The statistics back up the hype. Host Dan Labbe broke down the remarkable defensive rankings of both teams: “When it comes to yards per game, you’ve got the Browns first and the Packers third. When it comes to yards per play, it’s 1-2 Packers-Browns. … This really is, like whatever metric you want to look at, these are two of if not the two very best defenses in the NFL.”
This isn’t just a battle of statistics — it’s a clash of defensive philosophies and elite talent. Both units have been absolutely suffocating opponents through the first two weeks of the season.
While the Packers have paired their elite defense with an effective offense, the Browns’ offensive struggles have put enormous pressure on their defense to be nearly perfect. That reality wasn’t lost on the podcast crew.
“That’s really what I’m thinking about is can the Browns defense step up and win bragging rights in this football game? Everybody’s talking about the Packers defense, the Packers defense this, the Packers defense that, their run game, their pass rush,” said Cabot. “But the Browns, as Jim Schwartz pointed out today, completely shut down Derrick Henry. They shut down Lamar Jackson from a legs standpoint.”
Film analyst Lance Reisland expects the defensive dominance to be the story of Sunday’s game: “I do think both defenses dominate and once again it’s going to come down to if the Browns offense, it’s going to be one of those things for me now I need to see it because they’re, they’re really struggling and need to see it.”
The Browns defense, led by Myles Garrett, has proven they can neutralize elite talent. But can they generate enough pressure to disrupt Jordan Love’s rhythm? Meanwhile, can the Packers defense, featuring newly-acquired Micah Parsons, completely shut down a Browns offense that has struggled mightily through two weeks?
For a Browns team looking to avoid an 0-3 start, their defense will need to not just match Green Bay’s unit — they’ll need to outperform them. With both teams featuring aggressive, attacking styles and elite talent at multiple positions, Sunday’s game could come down to which defense breaks first.
As Mary Kay Cabot put it, this matchup begs the question: which of these elite defenses will “step up and seize the moment?” For Browns fans, the answer to that question may determine whether Cleveland can salvage its season or slide further into an early-season hole.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
Listen and subscribe to the Orange and Brown Talk podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Bill Belichick-Scott Frost relationship, explained: What to know
In 1998, Bill Belichick and Scott Frost were part of a New York Jets team that snapped a six-year postseason drought by making a run to the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos.
Fast forward 27 years and the six-time Super Bowl winning coach will be on the gridiron with his former player, but on different sidelines and in a completely new atmosphere: college football.
That reunion is set for Saturday, Sept. 20 when Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels travel down to FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida, for a Week 4 non-conference matchup against Frost’s UCF Knights at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Belichick, who is coaching college football for the first time in his illustrious career, is out to a 2-1 start in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels, which included a humbling 48-14 Week 1 loss to TCU at home that ended with the Big 12 conference trolling the Super Bowl winning coach’s
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New Bruin Mikey Eyssimont ready to get to work
When the Bruins signed Mikey Eyssimont in the summer, GM Don Sweeney gave one of the highest compliments you could give a bottom-six winger, at least in hockey parlance.
Sweeney called him a “pain in the ass” to play against.
Eyssimont took it as intended and fully embraced it, though he doesn’t want anyone to shortchange his game, either.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” said Eyssimont. “It’s a big part of my game. And it’s not just grit and tenacity that gives me that kind of reputation. It’s the skill that I play with that is a pain the ass, the plays that I make are a pain in the ass. Obviously, there are times when I get under a player’s skin but a lot of times that, if you watch the film, it’s because of the plays that I made and being on guys, turning pucks over and knowing how to play.”
The Bruins signed the 29-year-old Eyssimont to a two-year deal worth $1.45 million a season. He is just one of a handful of players the B’s brought in to help them regain some of their hard-to-play-against identity that was MIA on too many nights last season. Fellow signees Tanner Jeannot and Sean Kuraly as well as trade acquisition Viktor Arvidsson are all different kind players, but all bring their own unique level of edge to their game.
Eyssimont has earned his place in the NHL. After three years at St. Cloud State, he spent the better part of four seasons in the AHL with the Ontario Reign and the Manitoba Moose. The B’s are his fifth NHL team after having played with Winnipeg, San Jose, Tampa Bay and Seattle. His most productive season was 2023-24 with the Lightning, when he had a 11-14-25 line.
Eyssimont looks back on his three seasons with the Reign as being his most formative as a pro player.
“I’m not a guy that’s going to go and run my mouth and fight everyone but I am a guy who will play harder than anyone else on the ice,” said Eyssimont. “It’s what got me here to the NHL and it’s what I learned playing in a really tough Pacific Division back in the AHL. A lot of people don’t realize that division with Ontario, San Diego, San Jose and Bakersfield and Stockton. This community of players that played in that league, you see them around – (Providence tough guy) Jeffrey Viel is one of them – they’ll attest to how tough it is to play in that division, especially as a young guy coming from college. That’s something I learned quick in my pro career.”
So far in camp, Eyssimont has been on a line with Kuraly and hard-nosed center/wing Mark Kastelic. We still have a long way to go before puck drops on opening night in Washington on Oct. 8, but it would not be a shock if that’s the fourth line that suits up for the opener.
“There’s always changes that are possible, but as of now, it’s been a blast playing with those two,” said Kastelic. “I think we compliment each other well out there. There’s a little bit of experience with those two guys. They’ve been around a bit. They both play an honest, hard game and that’s something I really respect so it’s been fun playing with them and building chemistry.”
After four years in Columbus, Kuraly is in his second tour of duty with the B’s. This Bruins’ team has a much different makeup from the one he left in 2021, but that simplifies things as well.
“You look around the room with the skill set that we have and it seems like a pretty black-and-white blueprint for this team of how we want to be successful and how we want to play,” said Kuraly. “As a player, you just want black-and-white and clear objectives, and that’s what we’re looking at right now.”
While you need high-end skill to compete in the NHL, fourth lines can play an important role in dictating the tone and the vibe for the entire team. You can expect to see a lot of the bottom six this year, whoever earns a spot on those lines, said coach Marco Sturm.
“I’m coach who relies on the (the third and fourth lines) a lot,” said Sturm. “If you look at everyone’s schedule this year because of the Olympics, it’s going to be so many games (bunched together). That’s why the third and fourth line, we need them. We need a lot of good minutes out of them, not just playing heavy and doing this and that, but they’ve got to help us out. They’ve got to help out the big guys, the veterans because we need those kind of minutes.”
After the first day of camp, Eyssimont was intrigued by the style of play that Sturm wants to play.
“It’s exciting. He has a smile on his face explaining it to us. It’s the style of play that looks like we’re going to be playing is a fast one and an offensive-minded one, a smell blood in the water and go kind of offense,” said Eyssimont. “Obviously it all starts with structure and that’s something that we’ll all have to buy in and learn here at camp. But from there, there’s a lot of speed here. I think it’’s going to be a really fun, exciting style of hockey to play.”
Wins won’t come easily for this team. The B’s will have to grind them out. Eyssimont knows the assignment and he’s ready and willing to carry it out.
NHL 26 review roundup: Be A Pro mode the lone bright spot
With FC, Madden NFL and College Football getting all the attention — and making bank — EA NHL 26 has felt overshadowed by its peers. This stagnation from iteration to iteration has been a festering wound for the community — one EA hoped to fix with NHL 26 and its reworks of the Be A Pro mode.
This attempt at course correction has seen mixed results, as far as a look at the game’s reviews is concerned.
NHL 26 has reached a critics score of 74 out of 100 at score aggregation site Metacritic based on 20 professional reviews conducted on PS5. Rival site Opencritic shows 73/100 with 27 reviews across platforms being considered, though not even half of the critics listed on the site would actually recommend the game to their readers.
The score itself is halfway decent and shows that critics have recognized the developer’s efforts to make improvements. The Be A Pro mode is generally considered the game’s crown jewel due to the changes implemented in NHL 26, thoroughly fixing weaknesses in previous versions and showing actual innovation.
However, the consensus among critics is that the Be A Pro changes alone are not enough to truly turn around the franchise’s fortune, as the rest of the game shows precious little innovation compared to past years. While real-life data integration brings NHL 26 in line with its peers from the worlds of football and soccer, helping steer its gameplay into a more authentic direction, the game’s other modes have remained stagnant, dragging down the online experience.
NHL 26 seems to be a start into the right direction, at least. With Be A Pro being a unanimous hit, the developers finally have a solid foundation and guiding light to work with.
Draisaitl trying to emulate Kopitar, win Selke Trophy with Oilers
EDMONTON — Leon Draisaitl has always admired Anze Kopitar and his complete game.
It’s a reason the Edmonton Oilers center wants to continue to develop his defensive side this season, which will be the last playing against the Los Angeles Kings captain.
“’Kopi’ was always my idol growing up, one of two guys I really looked up to,” Draisaitl said Friday. “I’ve learned so much from playing against him, from watching him. I had the privilege of playing with him at the World Cup in 2016, and he kind of took me under his wing and we’ve had a close friendship ever since.”
Kopitar announced Thursday he will retire at the end of the season, his 20th, all with the Kings. Draisaitl said he reached out to congratulate Kopitar.
“First of all, an amazing career, truly one of the best to do it,” Draisaitl said. “We’ll see maybe we still have a couple more battles against him, so I won’t let him off the hook yet, but just a fantastic career.”
Kopitar, 38, won the Stanley Cup twice with Los Angeles (2012, 2014). He ranks first in Kings history in games (1,454) and assists (838), is third in goals (440) and second in points (1,278) behind Marcel Dionne (1,307). He is also first in playoff games (103), second in assists (62) to Wayne Gretzky (65), tied for second with Luc Robitaille in points (89) and third in goals (27).
Kopitar also won the Selke Trophy in 2016 and 2018, voted as the best defensive forward in the League.
“It’s as good as it gets, it’s as good as you’ll ever see,” Draisaitl said. “And it’s the consistency part, he’s done it for a long time, he does it every day, every game and I think that’s something that I took a little bit in getting to. But I’m at a point now where I’m the same way, and hats off to truly an amazing player.”
Kopitar said he is retiring to spend more time with his family, but is looking forward to one final season with the Kings. Edmonton has eliminated Los Angeles in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past four seasons.
“He’s played for a long time and he’s won everything there is to win,” Draisaitl said. “I’m very happy for him, and I’m sure he’s excited for one more year.”
Along with winning the Stanley Cup, Draisaitl is looking to follow in Kopitar’s footsteps by being one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
The 29-year-old is already one of the top offensive players with six 100-plus point seasons. Draisaitl had 106 points (52 goals, 54 assists) in 71 games last season and 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 22 playoff games. He won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy last season as the top goalscorer.
“I’d like to be in the Selke conversation at the end of this year,” Draisaitl said. “Obviously there’s a lot of things that go into that and a lot of things that I can learn and get better at, but there are also things that I think I do really well already.”
Draisaitl was sixth in voting for the Selke last season, won by Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers. Kopitar was eighth.
Selected No. 3 by the Oilers in the 2014 NHL Draft, Draisaitl said the defensive side of his game has been a work in progress since entering the League in 2014-15.
“That’s every player coming into the League I think, especially every highly touted offensive player,” he said. “Your first couple of years you want to put up numbers, you want to establish yourself as somebody that can score and make plays and at times, even be flashy. That’s just a little bit of immaturity and every kid has that.
“With age, you just learn to grow and that the other parts of the game are actually just as much fun as scoring and assists and all those things. Stripping someone and playing good defense is a lot of fun too. It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch feels Draisaitl is already a strong defensive player and does not get enough credit for it around the League.
“I think last year, he should have had more votes,” Knoblauch said. “If anyone saw him play regularly, understands that he’s a tremendous defensive player and takes a lot of pride in that.
“You don’t usually see the best offensive players commit to defense like that. I think he should definitely have one or two Selke trophies because he is a good defensive player.”
How to Buy Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 Centennial Jerseys: Shop Officially Licensed NHL Gear
The Chicago Blackhawks have officially released their 2025-26 NHL Centennial jerseys, and they are available now for purchase.
The Blackhawks are entering the new season with renewed energy and a growing core of young talent. After a tough rebuilding year, the team made key offseason additions like Andre Burakovsky and Sam Lafferty to bring veteran stability to the lineup. With Jeff Blashill stepping in as head coach, there’s a clear focus on development and building a strong identity on both ends of the ice.
Connor Bedard is also set to take another leap as the face of the franchise. The foundation is taking shape, and while this team may still be growing, the future in Chicago is beginning to look a lot more exciting.
A new look on the ice could help them gain a little extra confidence now with this brand-new, clean design.
These jerseys are now available to the fans and can be ordered in generic style, by specific player, or with a custom name and number.
Click on any of the images or links to order now and check out the entire collection. Place your order before it is too late, as these will be in high demand. Fanatics has you covered with the officially licensed Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 Centennial Jerseys.
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Who will be the NHL’s first $20M player? Connor McDavid among the candidates
After Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov reportedly declined an offer of $16M a season on a long-term deal, fans across the NHL discussed who would be the first player in NHL history to earn $20M annually on a contract. The NHL’s revenue is increasing rapidly, thanks to rising television income, betting revenue and overall global expansion all pushing hockey-related revenue higher. With this growth, teams are more than willing to pay their star players, who drive much of the growth teams are seeing in local ticket sales, sponsorships and, most importantly, the game on the ice.
With rising revenues, fans are curious about what kind of AAV Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid could secure if he chooses to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. McDavid will be a free agent on July 1 next year, but he might not be the first to reach that milestone, even though he will be eligible to sign a deal exceeding that figure.
Could Connor McDavid get a $20M/year contract?
With the NHL salary cap rising to $104M for the 2026-27 season, McDavid could sign a deal worth 20% of the total cap, which would amount to $20.8M annually. However, based on his previous contract, it seems unlikely McDavid would do that, as it would leave the Oilers even more constrained by the cap than they already are. Earlier this summer, it was reported that McDavid would sign an extension of unspecified length, with an AAV of around $16M. This would be similar to McDavid’s previous extension, signed in 2017 for $12.5M per season, which was 15.72% of the salary cap at that time. If that $16M AAV applies to McDavid’s next contract, it would represent roughly the same percentage of the salary-cap ceiling as his 2017 extension.
Some folks in hockey circles argue that McDavid should be the first player to surpass the $20M mark, and they might be right. However, it would be tough to build a team if he consumes that much of the salary cap. People used to argue the same whenever Sidney Crosby accepted less money than he was worth, but Crosby’s three Stanley Cup wins likely justified the money he left on the table. McDavid is an interesting case because he already left money on the table last time and has no championships to show for it. He may be willing to do it again as he nears his 30s, knowing that many of the game’s greatest players — like Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr — never won a Stanley Cup after turning 30. McDavid may not be able to carry flawed teams to the Stanley Cup Final if he’s in his 30s and taking up 20% of the salary cap, and that will have to influence his decision on his next contract.
What other players could hit $20M/year?
The next batch of potential $20M players expected to hit the free-agent market next July includes the aforementioned McDavid and Kaprizov, as well as Jack Eichel. This occurs during a period when the NHL salary cap is set to rise by nearly 30% over three years. While this is excellent news for these forwards, it likely won’t come with a $20M AAV. Kaprizov is reportedly trying to get as close as possible to that figure after rejecting a long-term deal worth $16M per season. Although high, that number is expected to become typical among the NHL’s top players, with many stars poised to sign deals above $15M annually.
Eichel has developed into a top-line, two-way center with high-end offensive skills but also elite defensive metrics. He is the most complete player outside of McDavid who could be available next summer, but it is expected that he will sign a long-term extension in Vegas soon, which should be around $13M-$14M annually.
What about the summer of 2027? Are there any potential candidates to earn $20M annually? The short answer is one, possibly two: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Vancouver Canucks defender Quinn Hughes. Makar has been a Norris Trophy finalist for five consecutive seasons and is a two-time winner of the award. He has exceeded 80 points in three of his last four seasons and 90 points in each of the previous two seasons. He is an offensive powerhouse that any team in the league would want, and with a $113.5M salary-cap forecast for the 2027-28 season, he might receive a $20M offer.
Hughes is also a former Norris Trophy winner, securing the award during the 2023-24 season. He was a finalist last season but doesn’t have the same résumé as Makar and is therefore less likely than him to reach the $20M mark. Two more seasons of Norris-caliber play would go a long way toward securing that kind of money on a long-term deal, but at this stage, he would be a bit of a long shot to hit $20M annually.
Auston Matthews is another possible candidate to be the first player to earn $20M annually, but he faces several hurdles. For one, someone might have signed an extension before Matthews became a free agent. Additionally, Matthews will be 31 when his next contract begins, and it’s uncertain what his game will look like then. There’s also a chance that Matthews’ performance could decline in the coming years, and he may not be able to produce the same numbers he’s used to. Time is working against Matthews in this scenario, and given all of this, he’s probably not going to be the first player to reach $20M annually.
Finally, some of the top young draft picks have entered the NHL. Connor Bedard is a year away from becoming an RFA, and his performance this upcoming season could reveal a lot about the extension he signs, if he doesn’t sign one before the season begins. If he signs now, he’d likely secure a deal around $10M annually. However, if he erupts into a 100-plus-point player, as many expect, he might push closer to a $12M to $15M long-term deal. In any case, he isn’t going to sign for $20M this time, and even if he takes a two- or three-year bridge deal, he probably won’t be the first player to hit that $20M milestone.
Will a $20M/year contract actually happen?
Now that we’ve discussed some of the players who could be the first, we must consider whether it will happen anytime soon. The NHL has a culture of spreading money across the roster, and few teams are willing to go top-heavy because it affects their depth. The Toronto Maple Leafs tried the top-heavy approach for the past decade, and it hasn’t worked out as they hoped. Even Chicago had to adopt it eventually, with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews earning $10.5M annually, marking the start of the end for their mini-dynasty. Teams are also reluctant to allocate 20% of their salary cap to a single player, which suggests we might need a much higher cap before a player reaches $20M annually.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this develops. The NHL has never fully embraced the supermax era that other leagues have adopted, and NHL players have seldom sought the maximum salary for various reasons. The NHL was also uniquely positioned because its top star for 20 years, Crosby, never signed a market-value contract, which makes one wonder if that influenced other stars to accept lower numbers. Crosby is obviously nearing the end of his career and is no longer the top player in the league, opening the door for top talents to claim every dollar they can get. Time will tell if they do.
Evgeni Malkin may be entering his final year in Pittsburgh, but perhaps not his final one in the NHL
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin is well aware his 20th season in Pittsburgh could be his last. He doesn’t have to be told.
“I know too, trust me,” the longtime Penguins center said with a smile on Friday.
The three-time Stanley Cup winner’s current contract is up next summer, and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is in no rush to sit down at the bargaining table. Dubas said Thursday he’ll likely wait until the Olympic break before getting a feel for what might be in store for both Malkin and the team.
That’s fine by Malkin, who turned 39 in July and is coming off a season in which he managed just 50 points, by far his lowest total during a year in which he played at least 57 games.
“I’m not happy how I play last couple of years, for sure,” Malkin said.
The rebuilding Penguins likely need better if they want to contend for a postseason berth. Once a playoff fixture, Malkin and longtime running mate Sidney Crosby have watched the quest for the Stanley Cup go on without them each of the last three seasons.
While Crosby remains, even at 38, among the league’s elite, Malkin has struggled to find the consistency and energy that were the hallmarks of his prime. Considering Dubas’ commitment to the club’s methodical reset — he said Thursday he has no intention of shortcutting the process by adding aging veterans in the hopes of squeaking into the playoffs to give the club’s core of Malkin, Crosby and Kris Letang some sort of fitting send off — Malkin knows he might not be part of the team’s plans beyond next spring.
“If it’s my last year here, I want to show everything,” he said. “I want to show my best game.”
Malkin has been unable to tune out the chatter about his future, even back home in Russia.
“People start talking about me maybe coming back to play one more year in my hometown,” he said. “It’s annoying. Lots of guys speak around.”
Malkin would prefer that his play do the talking. And if it speaks loud enough, he’s not ruling out sticking around in the NHL next year even if it’s not in Pittsburgh. He pointed to Panthers forward Brad Marchand — who spent 15-plus seasons in Boston before being traded to Florida at the deadline in March and went on to help the Panthers win a second straight Stanley Cup — as proof an established star can move on and still find success.
“We see a story like Brad Marchand, it’s looking good,” Malkin said. “But, if a team trades you, and you don’t win the Cup, it’s a little bit weird, too. We’ll see what’s going on in the future.”
His preference in the short-term would for the Penguins to find a way to reach the playoffs as currently constructed. They did little to add to the roster during the summer. The biggest move was hiring Dan Muse to replace two-time Stanley Cup winning coach Mike Sullivan, who now holds the same job with the New York Rangers.
Malkin called Muse’s first few practices “crazy hard,” something Malkin believes the club needs. It might also need everything to come together quickly if Pittsburgh wants to be buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline. Malkin knows it’s not out of the question that the Penguins could be out of it by the time he and Dubas finally sit down to hash things out. How he’ll feel if that happens is a mystery to everyone, Malkin included.
“Everybody wants to try to play in playoffs, and maybe one more run for the Cup,” Malkin said. “It’s a great story when you see it on TV, but I don’t know how I feel if team wants to trade me.”
___
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Reusse: Another Pitlick returns home to Wild, much to his grandmother’s delight
The addiction to playing their game might be stronger in hockey than in any team sport. There is evidence of this in the NHL, where players enthusiastically participated in an international event for 10 days that halted the 82-game season in 2024-25.
It was remarkable to see players out there brutalizing one another in the make-believe “Four Nations Cup,” knowing they immediately would be back in the grind of a crowded regular season, and followed by perhaps as long as two months in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This season there will be dozens of star NHLers off to the Olympics during another February break, then hustling back for the playoff push and, likely, the playoffs themselves.
These hockey players — there’s something in the brain that causes them to get hammered into the boards and say, “Thank you, coach, may I have another.”
For sure, the hockey families here in Minnesota can’t stay away from it — and the Pitlicks are one of those, with some guidance is required as to the family tree.
Lance Pitlick came out of Cooper, played a full four seasons with the Gophers, played most of 5½ seasons in the minors and then had seven seasons as a defenseman in the NHL. His sons are Rem and Rhett, with Rem having a grand moment with the Wild when he scored a pure hat trick early in the 2021-22 season at Seattle.
Rem’s time with the Wild didn’t last, and the brothers are now signed to start this season with the Bakersfield (Calif.) Condors in the AHL.
John Pitlick is Lance’s brother, and his hockey players have been daughter Alli, a four-year standout for the University of St. Thomas now in the business world, and son Tyler, now in training camp with the Wild.
You know that part about “may I have another” — if and when he appears in the regular season for the Wild, they will be Tyler’s ninth NHL team, starting with Edmonton for 10 games in the 2013-14 season.
Rem played 20 games for the Wild in 2021-22 at age 24. That was a thrill for grandmother Punky Setten. And now with a chance to have Tyler, another grandson about to turn 34, skating for the home team on St. Paul ice … Punky would be over the moon.
Which is the way she lives life, according to friends and relatives who have watched Punky (nobody calls her Armella, the given name) was in action watching sons and grandkids at the rink.
I called a nephew, Joe McElroy, a former Armstrong hockey player, to get a tutorial on the Pitlick-Setten family tree. He gave a synopsis and then said: “Try calling Tyler’s grandmother, Punky. She’s the greatest. She’s hilarious.”
Punky had two sons, Lance and John, with her first marriage, and son Adam and daughter Nicole with husband Larry, renown as one of the finest skate sharpeners to be found in the west suburbs.
“I have been going to hockey rinks for 53 years, since Lance started skating, and that’s not going to end anytime soon,” Punky said Friday. ”We have a little grandson and granddaughter just starting mites, and another who will be out there in a year.
Which Sharks prospects have impressed coach Ryan Warsofsky early in camp?
SAN JOSE – Center Michael Misa hasn’t made the San Jose Sharks’ opening night roster just yet, but there is little doubt that he has impressed coach Ryan Warsofsky through the first two days of training camp.
Misa, 18, centered a line with William Eklund and Igor Chernyshov during Friday’s scrimmage as the Sharks continued to install their systems with three weeks left before the start of the regular season. So far, Misa, taken second overall by the Sharks at the NHL Draft in June, seems to be a quick learner.
“He’s probably surprised me the most,” Warsofsky said of Misa. “First year training camp in the National Hockey League, it can be (like a) deer in the headlights. The bright lights are on, the big boys are out there, the pace is high, and he doesn’t really look out of place right now.
“It’s still early, it’s two days, but I think he’s done a really good job.”
Misa said last week, before the start of the Golden State Rookie Faceoff in Anaheim, that he felt he had the offensive game to earn an NHL job out of camp, but that he needed to show the Sharks he could also take care of pucks and be responsible in the defensive zone.
Warsofsky has liked what he has seen from the skilled Misa, who was the CHL’s leading scorer last season with 134 points in 65 games with Saginaw, in that respect as well.
“Some of the defensive drills we did today, he was picking up the concepts pretty quickly,” Warsofsky said. “That was really good to see.”
“It’s going to be an adjustment, for sure,” Misa said about his defense. “Like any young player trying to make the NHL, just bigger players down low, trying to get them up against the wall and stuff like that. But each day I think I’ve been doing a better job of it.”
Warsofsky said he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen from defenseman Sam Dickinson, and forwards Quentin Musty and Carson Wetsch. Dickinson and Wetsch, both drafted last year, joined Misa on Canada’s roster for the World Junior Summer Showcase in July, and Musty, after a challenging final season in the OHL with Sudbury, is in his third camp with the Sharks.
“I think all those guys in year two or three have taken some nice steps,” Warsofsky said.
Dickinson has so far been paired with Vincent Desharnais and has caught the eye of veteran defenseman John Klingberg.
“I didn’t know much about him before,” Klingberg said. “I knew he was obviously a really good player, but just from watching him in the scrimmage (Thursday) and with all the battle drills that you’re doing on the ice, he looks really good. I’m very excited about him, so hopefully we can see more of him.”
The 19-year-old Dickinson, drafted 11th overall by the Sharks in 2024, struggled at times in his first camp with the Sharks last year but appears much more comfortable now.
Since winning the Memorial Cup with the London Knights, Dickinson has added about five pounds of muscle and is now around 215 pounds as he prepares for what he hopes will be his first season in the NHL.
“Being a year older as well obviously helps,” Dickinson said. “A goal of mine was to get bigger and stronger, to be able to handle the workload and the toughness and the things that come with playing in the NHL. So just through two days of (competing against) bigger guys and that kind of thing, I definitely think it was very beneficial for me.”
Musty has been on a line with Alexander Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli.
“I think we need (Musty) to play a power forward type of hockey game, and that’s what he’s done,” Warsofsky said. “He’s been really good without the puck.”
Best bets for the upcoming NHL season: Lightning may strike
LAS VEGAS — My NHL-betting tactics had to change. Game wagering was atrocious last season, magnified by that 21-game losing streak. Or was it 22?
The sorrowful stretch shocked disbelieving friends, but it did unfold that way. I wasn’t too concerned about my wallet because I’m a minnow, for that NHL reason.
Jeff Davis knows the feeling. The ace NHL oddsman for Circa Sports once had 13 overtimes go the wrong way. As he says, at that point, “you just gotta laugh.”
He stays anchored in the middle, never too high or two low, like a seasoned professional, and his bankroll far outweighs mine.
Halfway through the playoffs, I did scramble after having an epiphany watching the Panthers. The defending Stanley Cup champs looked like they were playing harder and hungrier than they had the previous year.
So I grabbed them to reach Lord Stanley’s final for around +300 (or risk $100 to win $300) and to win it all at around +240.
Florida beat the Oilers in six games. In 2024, the Panthers defeated Edmonton in seven games after dropping the ’23 championship to Vegas.
To attack this season differently, I simply invested in Edmonton (+800) and Florida (+600) title and conference tickets, and juicy final exactas pitting Florida over Edmonton (34-to-1), Oilers over Panthers (37-1).
I’m banking on repetition. I’ll dodge the NHL during the season, giving me more time to better handicap other sports.
Those Edmonton and Florida tickets made up my entire 2025-26 hockey portfolio until I spoke with Davis.
Been there
A Massachusetts native, Davis didn’t dismiss my Edmonton-Florida theories. You can’t ever argue, he tells me, with playing the teams that have been there. He, however, has taken a different tack.
“I might laugh at myself come Round 1, but I think the market is asleep on the Lightning,’’ he said. ‘‘We forget: Last season, Tampa Bay was one of the highest-scoring and best teams in the league.
“They played Florida in the first round and got smoked. But the series was basically a pick’em.”
Captain and defenseman Victor Hedman, Davis says, basically played in the postseason with a broken bone in his right foot, while center Anthony Cirelli had a strained ligament in his right knee.
“[The Lightning] just really had no chance in that series,” Davis said. “Florida was a buzz saw. But Tampa Bay has shored up and gotten deeper.”
Davis likes left wing Conor Geekie, Morgan’s little brother who was the 11th overall draft pick by the Coyotes in 2022 whom the Lightning acquired in a June 2024 trade.
“He will help the fourth line,” Davis said. “They got better at the bottom, and their top line is absurd.”
That features left wing Brandon Hagel, center Brayden Point and right wing Nikita Kucherov, with star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
“Coming into the season,” Davis said, “the Lightning are my highest-rated team.”
In no particular order, he pegs the Hurricanes, Panthers and Lightning as the best squads in the East, and the Avalanche, Oilers and Golden Knights in the West.
The Panthers will skate without left wing Matthew Tkachuk, who had a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia repaired from the 4 Nations Face-Off tourney, until the new year.
So Davis went heavy on Tampa Bay, betting over its projected 101.5 points and getting 16-to-1 odds on the Lightning taking the Cup, plus +275 to win the Atlantic Division.
On Saturday afternoon, I zipped to Boomer’s Sportsbook, Joe Asher’s new independent operation that has four shops in Nevada, and bought those last two tickets, respectively, at 15-1 and +300, plus +700 on Tampa Bay to win the East.
Davis also recommended that the Penguins will be the East’s worst team, so betting under their 74.5 projected total would be wise.
Viva Vegas
In the West, Davis is bullish about the Golden Knights having acquired right wing Mitch Marner from the Maple Leafs in July.
“The first thing I did was run to the phone and bet plus-600 for them to win the West,” Davis said. “That’s a weak division, too, outside Edmonton [and Vegas]. I expect a big, big season from the Golden Knights.
“For me to say that about that team is a stretch because I thought the market had them overrated for years. I’ve lost a lot of money, over the course of time, on them in the regular season.”
So I enhanced my NHL portfolio by buying Vegas to take the Pacific Division at +165 and to win the West at +525.
Basement Hawks
We saved the worst for the basement, which is where Davis expects the Blackhawks to spend the season.
He mentions centers Connor Bedard (20) and Frank Nazar (22) and defensemen Sam Rinzel (21) and Artyom Levshunov (20) as exceptional young players.
“There’s no depth,” Davis said. “There will be too many nights that they lose 6-1. It’s inevitable. They and the Sharks are similar in their makeup in that they have a lot of young kids.”
Davis nabbed a 70.5 on the Hawks’ projected season-points total and bet under. It was 67.5 at Boomer’s, so I passed, as I did on +200 on the Hawks finishing with the fewest points in the NHL
The greatest NBA 2K story modes ever – and the one that dropped the ball
When you think about sports games, especially annualized ones, the
Heat Star Tyler Herro Sends Warning to NBA After Undergoi…
Miami Heat star guard Tyler Herro sent a warning to the NBA after undergoing surgery ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Herro was dealing with foot and ankle pain throughout the summer, ultimately deciding to have surgery to deal with it. It will sideline him for at least eight weeks, meaning that he will miss several games until his probable return in November.
More news: Heat Receive Brutal Tyler Herro Injury Update Before Season
He was in a hospital bed as he took a photo of himself and published it as a story post via Instagram. It was there that he wrote a clear warning to the league when he steps back onto the court for the Heat this upcoming season.
Patrick Beverley blasts Trae Young’s leadership, NBA playoff resume
Patrick Beverley never received NBA All-Star honors and hasn’t played in the league in more than a calendar year. But the former Milwaukee Bucks player remains one of basketball’s most outspoken voices.
Atlanta Hawks guard and four-time All-Star Trae Young became Beverley’s latest target of criticism. Beverley initially questioned the level of intensity some NBA players seemingly have during the league’s annual All-Star Game. Beverley juxtaposed his theory with the perceived effort many of those same players put on display during open runs at gyms across the country during the offseason.
Cade Cunningham Draws Brandon Roy Comparisons from NBA Legends
While young NBA players are often compared to past legends, few compare him to a player who left an indelible mark on the game despite ending his career too soon.
Cade Cunningham, who is the foundation of the Detroit Pistons, is known by the name Brandon Roy. Fans and respected voices in the league, including Roy himself, drive the connection, not just a narrative.
Channing Frye, Kevin Garnett, and Richard Jefferson, among other veterans, have pointed out the resemblance between Cunningham’s poise and Roy’s calm command of the floor. When asked directly, Roy acknowledged the resemblance, revealing it to LandonBuford.com, “There are similarities.”
Cade Cunningham: A Quiet Storm in Detroit
Cunningham’s 2024-25 season has cleared up any doubts about his long-term star potential after dealing with early injuries. Cade’s 6’7″ height, traditional point guard vision, and physical strength to dominate matchups have redefined modern floor general.
Channing Frye captured this transformation on NBA TV:
“I love his game. I think now he’s finally healthy. He reminds me so much of Brandon Roy. A new age Brandon Roy, just a little bit faster, but he never gets pushed out of his own pace.”
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The word pace is a key determining factor in the Cade-Roy comparison. Roy and Cunningham share a common trait of reducing the game’s pace, distracting defenders from mistakes, and manipulating defenses with hesitations and body control. During crucial moments, his decision-making is already polished by a seasoned veteran.
Brandon Roy: The Blueprint of Composure
Brandon Roy’s stint with the Portland Trail Blazers was both short and brilliant. As a three-time All-Star, he was recognized for his smooth mid-range scoring, fearless shot-making, and unshakeable demeanor. Richard Jefferson made a statement on ESPN’s The Jump:
“When I look at Cade Cunningham, I see Brandon Roy. He was athletic but not super athletic… but he understood the game at an extremely high level.”
Roy’s legacy was built on his basketball IQ, not his explosiveness, which Cunningham echoes as he guides the Pistons through their rebuild.
Kevin Garnett’s Stamp of Approval
On his KG Certified podcast, Kevin Garnett didn’t mince words:
“He’s like Brandon Roy reincarnated… patient, and you can’t speed him up. And when you don’t think he’s strong enough—man, he’ll lay your ass. Quiet, two-way smooth.”
Garnett places more emphasis on his demeanor than his skill. Roy and Cunningham are both confident and loud, allowing their games to speak louder than their words.
Recruiting Roots and Mutual Respect
Roy and Cunningham’s connection is more than just style. Cunningham visited the University of Washington, where Roy attended, during his high school recruitment. Despite his family ties influencing his decision, the visit revealed Cade’s admiration for Roy’s legacy.
“I took a visit to Washington that I loved,” Cunningham shared.
Numbers Don’t Lie
By their third seasons, both Roy and Cunningham were 20-point scorers with substantial assist numbers.
Roy had an average of nearly six assists at his peak, while Cunningham is moving up as Detroit relies more on his decision-making. Cade’s defensive position may already be superior due to his size and instincts, which he is using to defend multiple positions.
Old School Pace in a New Age
Frye called it ‘herky-jerky’, a style shared by Roy, Luka Doncic, and James Harden. These guards not only outrun their opponents, but they also outthink them. Cunningham’s Roy-like demeanor is a result of his ability to dictate pace, which makes him an impossible opponent to defend.
Conclusion: More Than a Comparison
The Cade-Brandon Roy comparison is a reflection of spirit, not just style. Their composure, intelligence, and leadership are more than just raw athleticism. According to Garnett, Frye, and Jefferson, Cade seems to be the modern version of what Roy was meant to be.
Cunningham isn’t just a reflection of himself, but rather a new chapter. Cade Cunningham is creating a legacy that could one day inspire similar comparisons for future generations thanks to Roy’s blessing and his own evolution.
Tyler Herro Breaks Silence on Left Foot Surgery With Strong Warning to 29 NBA Teams
Tyler Herro’s latest injury news has hit Miami at the worst possible time. After his best statistical season to date, during which he made his first All-Star game, he cemented himself as one of the Heat’s cornerstones following the exit of superstar Jimmy Butler. For a team already struggling with scoring depth, this kind of setback will force head coach Erik Spoelstra to make some tough decisions.
According to reports, Herro had already tried non-surgical treatment, hoping that it would be enough to get him into shape. Unfortunately, the decision was made to go ahead with surgery to address posterior ankle impingement, which has limited his mobility. This procedure has set his timeline for a return around eight weeks, ruling him out for the opening of the 2025-26 season, leaving unanswered questions about the backcourt.
Herro himself, however, has made sure that the news isn’t coming across as just another setback. He posted on his Instagram story: “imma tear the league back down once I get off this weak a– bed.” This wasn’t an update, but a warning, and it quickly spread through social media
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Former NBA Star Reveals Why Stephen Curry is a ‘Curse’ for the NBA
Stephen Curry is not only one of the greatest players in NBA history but also among the most impactful. The Akron, Ohio native came into the league as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
After overcoming some early injury woes, Curry began to skyrocket up the league as the centerpiece of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty. The legendary point guard is the best shooter ever and revolutionized the league with his proficiency from three-point range.
Curry is still playing in the league after 16 years, and the modern-day NBA player is as skilled and versatile as ever, largely thanks to the impact Steph has had.
However, a former NBA player just gave a surprising statement about Curry’s potential negative impact, and this reason might be why league viewership has been uneven recently.
Matt Barnes Reveals Stephen Curry’s Negative Impact on the NBA
Matt Barnes played for nine different NBA franchises during his 14-year career. The former second pick out of UCLA slowly evolved with the times into a reliable
Luka Doncic open to Real Madrid return to end pro basketball career
Luka Doncic might want to end his professional basketball career right where it started.
During an interview with the Wall Street Journal this week, Doncic, 26, said he’s open to the idea of returning to Liga ACB’s Real Madrid once his career in the NBA is over.
Although Doncic said he was not sure he would be able to make the return, he likes the potential idea.
“To play with Real Madrid, you have to be so good,” Doncic told the Wall Street Journal.
“For sure,” Luka said about a reunion with Real Madrid. “They raised me.”
Real Madrid is perhaps Europe’s most renowned pro basketball team, having won 38 Spanish League championships, 29 Spanish Cups and 11 EuroLeague titles.
Doncic’s career began as a member of Real Madrid at just 13 years old while playing for the organization’s under-16 team.
Once turning 16, Doncic was moved up to Real Madrid’s Liga ACB squad, the youngest to do so in the ACB.
Doncic spent four years playing for Real Madrid between Liga ACB and the EuroLeague before being selected by the Hawks — then subsequently traded to the Mavericks on draft night — with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
After spending six seasons in Dallas, Doncic was traded to the Lakers midway through last season in a shocker, with the five-time All-Star’s weight being a part of the discourse.
Doncic, however, recently said that he has lost 31 pounds over the offseason as a part of a dramatic physical transformation.
“So every summer I try my best to work on different things,” Doncic told Men’s Health. “Obviously, I’m very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.
“Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better.”
Offseason NBA beef watch: Trae Young and Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley has never shied away from a beef. With anyone.
Enter Trae Young. Beverley and the Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star guard have been going back and forth this week, and it all started over the All-Star Game. It all began on X, when Beverley responded to a question about why players go harder in random summer pick-up games than the All-Star Game — Beverley said the All-Stars take the game for granted — then Young jumped in and said All-Stars should speak on that.
Beverley came back hard at Young on the Pat Bev Podcast. It started with Beverley saying, “I don’t think he’s won enough to even speak to me like that or tweet me like that,” and then added, “I’ve talked to people who played in Atlanta. They don’t wanna play there. Why? They don’t think he’s a good leader. They don’t think he’s a good teammate.”
Shots fired.
Young came back hard in an almost 12-minute video where he said Beverley was about seeking attention. “You don’t know what it’s like to be in my position, you don’t know what it’s like to put my shoes on. I promise you — there’s not a selfish bone in my body.”
Kevin Durant rallied to Young’s defense, calling Beverley “delusional.” The Hawks’ social media team put together a video of Young scoring on Beverley.
Beverley then came back with shots of his own, saying Young gets coaches and general managers fired because of his play.
In this beef, the ultimate score is that Young is a four-time All-Star, while Beverley played in zero.
Young, however, enters this season feeling some pressure. The Atlanta front office went out and put the best team — on paper — around Young he has ever had with Kristaps Porzingis at the five, shooting and defense in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, more shooting in Luke Kennard, plus Jalen Johnson returns healthy from a breakout year sidelined by injuries, and Zaccharie Risacher should take a step forward in his sophomore year. The Hawks are projected as a top-four team in the East.
Young did not get the contract extension he wanted this summer, and now the pressure is on him to lead this group to a high seed and maybe the second round of the playoffs, or it will not just be Beverley asking questions.
How AI is revolutionizing the challenge of pro league scheduling
There are more possible NBA schedule combinations than there are atoms in the sun. That’s not hyperbole—it’s the mathematical reality facing anyone trying to arrange 1,230 games across 30 teams over six months while satisfying TV networks, player safety rules, arena operators, and competitive fairness requirements all at once. This impossible puzzle is exactly what Fastbreak AI, a 30-person startup out of New York, has built its business around.
Fastbreak’s AI software now powers scheduling for more than 50 professional leagues globally, quietly controlling when billions of dollars in sporting events hit your calendar.
“I’m always amazed when we produce a playable schedule,” Fastbreak cofounder and CEO John Stewart says. “It’s a nearly impossible set of math problems. We’re considering billions upon billions of possibilities.”
Map Anything
Stewart’s path to sports scheduling began with a $250 million exit. His previous company, Map Anything, was acquired by Salesforce in 2019 for its field service optimization technology, which used the same mathematical principles that would later power Fastbreak.
While still running Map Anything, in 2016, Stewart began recruiting two KPMG consultants, Chris Groer and Tim Carnes, who had built the NBA’s scheduling system, with the promise that he’d eventually start a company dedicated to sports scheduling.
When that occurred in June 2022, the timing was fortuitous. The NBA needed help scheduling its new in-season tournament, but the team they had worked with at KPMG was now at Fastbreak, making it easy for Stewart to onboard the league as one of the company’s first major clients.
‘If everyone hates you equally, you’ve done your job’
What the trio of founders discovered with the NBA schedule was a system of staggering complexity. The NBA has 30 teams, and each arena has different constraints.
The San Antonio Spurs, for instance, are the fourth priority in their own building, meaning concerts can be prioritized over games. The Lakers’ venue hosts the Grammys and other marquee events each year, forcing the team to play on the road for certain stretches.
Media partners pay billions for specific matchups to be in prime time and on marquee dates. Player safety rules prevent back-to-back games over 350 miles apart. And on top of that, each team is allowed to make requests. The Miami Heat, for instance, prefer to play at home during Art Basel.
Still, not all requests can be granted.
“It’s the art of managing disappointment equally,” Stewart says. “If everyone hates you equally, you’ve done your job right.”
The challenge isn’t just mathematical—it’s diplomatic. Fastbreak’s platform gives different access to arena managers, media partners, and team executives, who can each enter requests into the system for consideration. When changes happen, the AI is designed to minimize collateral damage while accommodating whoever needs the adjustment.
Schedule repair—the logistics game changer
The traveling salesman problem is a classic mathematical and logistical challenge about finding the most efficient route through multiple cities. Computer scientists can solve that for hundreds of thousands of locations. But even a simplified sports scheduling problem featuring just 10 teams?
“People have written many PhD dissertations on it and still not solved that problem to optimality,” Groer says.
But even after clearing that mathematical hurdle, the job isn’t done. When the LA wildfires and Gulf Coast hurricanes disrupted games this year, forcing the NBA and NHL to reschedule, it triggered what experts call cascading optimization crises. A single venue change can force adjustments to hundreds of other games due to ripple effects across team travel schedules, TV contracts, and competitive balance requirements.
Fastbreak’s “schedule repair” function suggests optimal fixes in minutes using what Stewart calls “warm starting”—beginning from the current state rather than rebuilding from scratch.
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Think of it like GPS rerouting when there’s traffic, but infinitely more complex. When one game gets moved, the AI instantly recalculates how that affects every other game and the 500-plus other rules, then suggests the least disruptive solution to minimize collateral damage to uninvolved teams.
The art behind the science
Fastbreak’s breakthrough isn’t just computational power. It’s incorporating machine learning—teaching AI systems to understand the subjective art of what makes a good schedule.
League executives manually rate thousands of past road trips on a 1–10 scale, teaching the system what constitutes quality travel patterns. A trip hitting multiple East Coast cities in logical geographic order might rate an 8 or 9. A chaotic journey ping-ponging across time zones could get a 3.
“You actually have to give business users a user experience where they can train this model and teach it the meaning of ‘good,’” Groer says. “You can never just provide all these trips to an AI model because it would immediately bias to ‘this trip’s been done in the past, therefore it must be acceptable.’”
The result is that the AI has become more consistent than human experts were with each other—when multiple league officials rated the same trips, the AI’s ratings were closer to each expert’s opinion than the experts were to each other.
Fastbreak’s AI uses a sophisticated scoring system to balance competing demands, weighing different violations based on league priorities. A hard constraint—like preventing teams from playing back-to-back games over 350 miles apart—might carry infinite penalty points, essentially making such schedules impossible to generate. Softer preferences, like avoiding Monday home games, carry smaller penalties that can be traded off against other benefits when the AI is trying to optimize the overall schedule.
All told, professional schedules can have more than 500 different “rules,” each with carefully calibrated penalty weights to ensure accurate prioritization, and teams get point allocations for special requests. They might have 2,000 points to distribute across their wish list, creating a market-like system where they must prioritize what matters most.
Beyond the big leagues
Fastbreak now powers scheduling for the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and Major League Soccer, plus top college conferences like the SEC, ACC, and Big East. But Stewart sees an even bigger opportunity in youth sports—a $40 billion annual market where parents juggle multiple apps and constantly changing schedules.
“I bet on your phone you’ve got nine different apps for those different sports, and I bet you hate them all,” Stewart says, describing a frustratingly common experience for sports parents.
In June, the company launched Fastbreak Compete, which has integrated the same AI scheduling engine it offers professional leagues. As of June, the software is used by 12 youth sports organizations, with commitments from over 40 more for 2026.
Fastbreak’s strategy is to use its professional-grade technology as a hook, then expand into adjacent services. Fastbreak Compete creates schedules, but also serves as a one-stop shop for parents, as it consolidates scheduling, communications, travel booking, and payments into one platform, eliminating the app-juggling nightmare and providing real-time updates when tournaments inevitably change.
Fairness, not perfection
When the NBA season tips off, Stewart and his team will already be preparing to work on next year’s schedule, starting with arena availability collection in November. It’s the first step toward the ultimate goal of building a schedule that is not just operationally efficient, but also fair.
Fastbreak’s algorithms continuously monitor dozens of metrics: total travel miles, home weekend games, back-to-back frequency, rest advantages, and countless other factors that could create competitive imbalances. The extensive fairness metrics help ensure that when schedules are released, every team has roughly equal advantages and disadvantages across multiple dimensions.
“If you’ve done your job right, everyone will find something to complain about,” Stewart says. “But the complaints will be equally distributed.”
As leagues continue evolving—adding tournaments, managing global events, negotiating increasingly complex media deals—the optimization challenges only intensify. For an industry built on competition, perhaps the ultimate victory happens behind the scenes, in algorithms that ensure the playing field remains level, one perfectly balanced constraint at a time.
Messi watches 1v1 soccer finals as Inter Miami contract extension looms
MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi went to watch some soccer on Friday. He didn’t say a word about his own future.
The Inter Miami star — who is closing in on a contract extension that will keep him with his Major League Soccer club through at least the 2026 season and likely beyond — showed up to watch the global finals of the 1v1 soccer tournament that he helped create and is sponsored by a hydration drink that he co-founded.
His appearance came days after he and Inter Miami closed in on an extension, one that the sides have been working on for months and would assure him of being with the club when it plans to open its new stadium near Miami International Airport next year.
Messi watched both the men’s and women’s semifinals and then the finals of his event. He greeted the winners on stage and signed autographs for fans, even taking a large group selfie with the entire crowd at the end.
But there were no hints about the contract — he did not address reporters — and no news was coming from his team on Friday, either.
“I hope it happens soon, because I think it’s great news not only for the club but for MLS in general, right?” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said earlier Friday at the team’s training base in Fort Lauderdale, when asked about the extension.
“I don’t think it’s just for the team,” Mascherano said. “Obviously, for the team, for the club, for the history of this club, it’s something unique. But I think for soccer in general in the United States, it would be very, very important news. They could have the best player who has ever played this sport here for a while longer.”
Messi captained Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 and has been part of qualifying matches with the team — but has not formally said that he will play in the tournament when it comes to the U.S., Canada and Mexico next year.
The 38-year-old Messi has 20 goals — second most in the league — and 11 assists in MLS play this season.
He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 on a 2 1/2-year contract, one that was worth an estimated $150 million at the time. Messi was MLS’ MVP last season, even in a year where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or national team commitments.
He has helped the team win its first two trophies, the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield for having the best record in MLS last season.
Messi and Inter Miami will play D.C. United on Saturday. Miami opens the weekend sixth in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind first-place Philadelphia — but with three matches in hand on the conference leaders and still in the race for one of the top playoff seeds as well as the Supporters’ Shield.
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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
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