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3lazy
4 hours ago
Real Madrid signed talented Moroccan playmaker Brahim Diaz from Manchester City in 2019, and the youngster arrived with a lot of promise.
Since then, Brahim has established himself as an important squad player for Los Blancos without ever exploding into the star he threatened to become.
This summer, the 26-year-old had a very good tournament for Morocco at the World Cup, where he was at his creative best.
Now, according to Abraham P. Romero, speaking on Ramon Alvarez de Mon's channel, Brahim wants to remain at Real Madrid, even though he understands that he may not become one of the biggest stars in Jose Mourinho's squad.
The Morocco international is comfortable with both his current role and his situation at the Bernabeu.

#squad
3lazy
10 hours ago
Joao Cancelo is set to link back up with Al-Hilal this week as the Saudi Pro League club continue pre-season preparations in Austria.
The defender has been enjoying some time off after World Cup 2026 but is due back on Wednesday, according to the latest from Arriyadiyah.
Barcelona are still hoping to complete a permanent deal for Cancelo, following another successful loan stint last season, but are yet to reach an agreement with Al-Hilal.
The report adds that Al-Hilal are open to offers to buy out Cancelo's contract which still has a year left to run.
Cancelo is also keen to move on and has made no secret of his affection for Barcelona. He arrived back at Barcelona for a second stint last winter and went on to play 23 matches, scoring twice and adding three ****** ists.

#Barcelona #back #season #last
3lazy
4 days ago
As a league source, granted anonymity to discuss negotiations freely, told The Athletic on Friday morning, the 76ers became the chosen ones because they became the team best equipped to help James win a fifth NBA ***** le.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The 76ers became the chosen ones because they became …

#Athletic #james #hype #source
3lazy
4 days ago
On Thursday (23), Goiás beat Ceará in a thrilling penalty shootout and won the 2026 Brasileirão U-20 B **** le. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, and Esmeraldino secured the victory on penalties by 11-10. In a match played at Estádio Presidente Vargas, in Fortaleza (CE), Hallerrandrio opened the scoring for the Goiás side, and Amaral leveled things for Vozão.
During the first half, Ceará were dominant. While the home side tried to find the right **** es, Goiás relied on defending and counterattacks. In the 10th minute, Esmeraldino's strategy paid off. After a misplaced pass by Ceará, the Goiás side recovered the ball and, in a quick move, Hallerrandrio opened the scoring. Alvinegro did not lose heart and remained determined to find the net. In the 35th minute, from a cross by Janderson, Amaral scored with a header to level it for Ceará.
Goiás are the 2026 Brasileirão U-20 B championsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
The second half resumed evenly matched and was even more hard-fought. With the score level, both teams gave everything to try to secure the **** le in regulation time, but without success. In the 49th minute, Ceará even found the net through Victor The, but the referee signaled offside at the start of the move.
The penalty shootout was even more dramatic. Neither team wanted to give up the **** le, and both performed very well from the spot. In the end, Goiás came out on top and won 11-10.

#side #minute
3lazy
5 days ago
Brayan Bello continues to thrive in relief as Red Sox face another roster decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Boston Red Sox were unable to make franchise history last night, they were able to learn two good things: they're truly a playoff team when hot, and Brayan Bello is back.
Bello was great in his latest appearance, and has become a solid option for the Red Sox in his new role as a reliever.
© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Due to Ranger Suarez being under the weather, the Red Sox opted to throw a bullpen game in the final game to break their franchise record for longest winning streak. They started Eduardo Rivera, who normally is a solid opener; then, he gave up four runs before even making it out of the first inning.

#solid #game #preferred #brian
3lazy
5 days ago
Hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, and pretzels have long been staples of the ballpark experience. Yet in Seattle, baseball fans have embraced a snack that surprises many first-time visitors: toasted grasshoppers. What began as a specialty dish at a local restaurant quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about concessions at Seattle Mariners games. The unusual offering not only challenged expectations about stadium food but also introduced thousands of people to a traditional ingredient that has been enjoyed in parts of the world for centuries.
The story begins at Poquitos, a Mexican-inspired restaurant in Seattle led by executive chef Manny Arce. When the restaurant first opened, Arce added toasted grasshoppers, known in Mexican cuisine as chapulines, to the menu as a novelty. Chapulines have been eaten for generations, particularly in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where they are considered a popular street food and a rich source of protein. Seasoned simply with salt, lime, and chili, they offer a crunchy texture and a savory flavor that many diners compare to roasted sunflower seeds with a hint of spice.
Although the snack attracted curious customers at the restaurant, its popularity reached an entirely new level when the Seattle Mariners expressed interest in featuring it at what is now known as T-Mobile Park, formerly Safeco Field. After sampling the product, the organization decided it would make a unique addition to the stadium's food lineup. The response exceeded every expectation. Fans eager to try something different lined up to buy the toasted grasshoppers, and supplies disappeared almost immediately during games.
What initially seemed like a niche offering quickly became a stadium sensation. Chef Arce expected that his first shipment of approximately 50 pounds would last several weeks. Instead, it sold out in a single day. As demand continued to grow, the numbers became astonishing. More than 300,000 individual servings were eventually sold, requiring well over 1,000 pounds of grasshoppers to keep up with fan interest. On many game days, vendors ran out before the first inning had even ended.
The success of the snack reflects changing attitudes toward food and the growing willingness of consumers to explore unfamiliar culinary traditions. Around the world, edible insects are recognized as nutritious, environmentally sustainable sources of protein that require fewer natural resources than conventional livestock. While many people still view the idea with hesitation, others appreciate the opportunity to experience flavors that are common in different cultures.

#many #first #mexican
3lazy
6 days ago
Pete Golding was in attendance at SEC Media Days on Wednesday and spoke with reporters.
He gave a passionate speech about tampering in college football, but his more interesting answer was about how he approached quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy about staying with the Rebels after former head coach Lane Kiffin infamously left for LSU.
Golding’s quote was targeted at Kiffin, but more in the eyes of creating a legacy and what it means for the players’ future, per ESPN’s David Hale.
“Football’s gonna end. What are you going to use? You gotta use an alumni base to be able to get you a job. Where are you gonna bring your kids to? What jersey are they wearing?
Y’all two created a legacy in one season that’s gonna be hard for anybody to overtake, and for what’s going on now, for Coach Kiffin to leave — go Google Lane Kiffin. I had them both do it in my office. Google Lane Kiffin, the dude they’d have built a statue of here three days ago. Google his name right now. They wouldn’t ******* on him if he was on fire.

#lane #golding
3lazy
6 days ago
A former Georgia Bulldogs basketball forward has sued the NCAA for more eligibility. Former Georgia and Clemson forward RJ Godfrey is part of a lawsuit against the NCAA filed July 9 to gain a fifth year of eligibility, according to Derrian Carter of Greenville News. If his lawsuit is successful, he will more than likely be looking for a new transfer destination.
Carter wrote that in the complaint, 16 players, including Godfrey, argued that the NCAA "unfairly" limited the number of games those athletes can participate in during their five-year eligibility window and "unjustifiably (restrained)" their ability to earn money through name, image and likeness (NIL).
The group is seeking an immediate injunctive relief that will allow them to sign scholarship and revenue-sharing agreements with the schools, along with third-party agreements for NIL compensation to play in the 2026-27 season. This comes from the NCAA approving a change to its eligibility rules on June 23, giving all athletes five years of eligibility over five seasons instead of five years to play four seasons.
Under the new rules, there will be no more redshirts, and waivers will only be granted in the case of pregnancy, military service or religious missions. However, no athlete who has already played four seasons, like RJ Godfrey, didn't get an extra season, according to the rule.
Godfrey started out his collegiate career at Clemson, where he played for two seasons. He transferred to the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2024 offseason, where he racked up 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 ******* ists per game. He transferred back to the Clemson Tigers in 2025, where he scored 12.0 points and earned 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 ******* ists per game.

#bulldogs
3lazy
7 days ago
Karl Ravech, as well as a slew of other ESPN broadcasters and ***** ysts, are expected to be impacted by the network's latest round of layoffs, sources told The Athletic Tuesday.
Ravech, a 31-year veteran of the network, served as ESPN's lead MLB play-by-play announcer, covered college basketball and anchored SportsCenter. He called the Dodgers-Phillies game Monday before reportedly learning his position was in jeopardy. When contacted by The Athletic Tuesday morning, Ravech said he had not yet been informed of his status.
The reported list of cuts extends across ESPN and NFL Network, reportedly including NFL MVP Cam Newton, longtime SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, injury ***** yst Stephania Bell, former All-Pro linebacker and studio host Bart Scott and NFL Network ***** yst Charles Davis, according to The Athletic.
The layoffs follow ESPN's decision Monday to part ways with NFL ***** yst Ryan Clark , with additional cuts expected among behind-the-scenes staff. Many of the reductions are reportedly connected to ESPN's integration with NFL Network, including the expected departure of NFL insider Tom Pelissero, one of the network's top reporters, according to the outlet.
A memo from ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro to employees Tuesday morning, obtained by The Independent, did not identify those impacted by the layoffs but said the cuts followed a review of the company's teams, resources and structure after integrating acquired NFL ***** ets.

#network #ravech #tuesday #reportedly
3lazy
13 days ago
The Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct four former state champions and a person behind the Beast of the East's growth this fall.
State champions Paul Antonio and Kanamti Solomon from William Penn, Randy Brown, who wrestled at Laurel and Delmar, and Smyrna's Brent Fleetwood will be joined by contributor Dr. Michael Axe.
They'll be honored Oct. 16 at a 7 p.m. banquet at the Chase Center, preceded by a 5 p.m. unveiling at the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame across the street at Frawley Stadium. Tickets are $50.
The 2026 inductees:
Antonio won state championships at 160 pounds in 1989 and 1991 and at 171 pounds in 1990 after placing third as a freshman at 152 for William Penn. He also was runner-up in the national high school championships before becoming a 4-year starter, 2-time NCAA Tournament qualifier and 1996 Eastern Wrestling League 158-pound champion at Clarion.
3lazy
14 days ago
Forward Kylian Mbappé has dispelled doubts about his fitness on the eve of the decisive clash between France and Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, the No. 10 trained without showing any discomfort in the French national team’s latest session.
Mbappé finished the 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco with ankle pain and even wore protection on the area, causing concern behind the scenes.
In the session ahead of the match, held at the same time as kickoff and under intense 30°C heat in Dallas, the star trained normally and confirmed he is available to coach Didier Deschamps.
3lazy
15 days ago
ESPN has ended the syndicated version of Good Morning Football.
The syndicated program, GMFB: Overtime, launched in August 2024, but will cease production now that NFL Network is operating under ESPN ownership, according to a report by Front Office Sports. The show was distributed by Sony Pictures to many over-the-air affiliates across the country, in addition to the free Roku Sports Channel.
Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt and Manti Te'o served as hosts of the show, joined by Sherree Burruss as the news reader.
The regular edition of Good Morning Football on NFL Network will continue. That show was shortened from three hours to two when the syndicated show was announced in 2024. It is not clear whether that change will be reversed as a result of this news.
NFL Network was acquired by ESPN as part of an August 2025 deal that also resulted in the NFL acquiring a 10% equity stake in ESPN. The deal closed in January 2026.
3lazy
15 days ago
World Cup games on TV today: Schedule and start times for all matches on Monday, July 13 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to electrify soccer fans not only across the three host nations USA, Canada, and Mexico, but across the globe as the biggest sporting event on the planet descends upon North America.
For five weeks in June and July, the greatest football tournament will be played throughout the three host nations, as 48 qualifiers do battle for the most famous trophy in the sport.
In the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, and the first-ever expanded edition of the competition, top teams from around the world will push to write their name in soccer history.
The Sporting News brings you a look at what games are on the docket today, and what the schedule looks like throughout the entire World Cup so you can plan your viewing experience accordingly.
3lazy
16 days ago
FARGO, N.D. — Day 3 of the 16U and Junior Freestyle National Championships concludes June 12 at the FargoDome on the campus of North Dakota State University.
The three-day tournament features the best from across the nation as they battle for the coveted trophy in the shape of a stop sign.
Follow along here for live updates from best high school wrestling the U.S. has to offer:
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
100: Ryker Leonard, St. Edward; 120: Loc Webber, Dublin Coffman 132: Blaze Van Gundy, Dublin Coffman; 138: Urijah Lopez, Perrysburg; 138: Blaze Van Gundy, Dublin Coffman; 144: Cole Speer, Brecksville;175: Zack Aquila, Brecksville; Jakob Hoke, St. Paris Graham
3lazy
16 days ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James McCann hit his first two home runs of the season and had four RBIs, Brandon Pfaadt made it three wins in three starts since returning to the rotation, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-2 on Saturday night.
McCann hit a three-run shot in a five-run sixth inning as the Diamondbacks won for the fourth time in nine games against the Dodgers.
Pfaadt (3-1) allowed two runs on six hits with no walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Andy Pages and Mookie Betts had RBI singles for the Dodgers, who lost consecutive games at home for the second time since May 13. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-6) matched a career high by allowing six runs on five hits and four walks in six innings.
Manager Dave Roberts announced Saturday that Yamamoto will not pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Philadelphia. Shohei Ohtani also not will appear in Tuesday’s game.
3lazy
17 days ago
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — EchoPark Speedway may be the perfect setting for Tyler Reddick to reclaim his momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series points race.
Reddick won five of the first nine stops on this year's Cup Series schedule, including at EchoPark Speedway on Feb. 22, one week after winning the Daytona 500, to take a dominant lead in the points race.
Reddick’s points lead has disappeared in recent weeks. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, enters Sunday night’s race leading Reddick by 44 points.
Overall, Reddick has two wins in three starts on drafting tracks this season in his 23XI Racing Toyota, giving him reason for optimism. Reddick said Saturday he is “extremely” confident he can enjoy more success in his return to the track formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“In my opinion, we’re stronger when we come back here in the summer race,” Reddick said. “We’re still plenty good in the spring, but what we do well at EchoPark Speedway really shows up in the summer. ... Our strength typically is handling and I feel like the more that’s in play the better I do with these kind of races.”
3lazy
17 days ago
Liverpool and Manchester United have both made contact with Wolves over a possible move for Joao Gomes, according to Globo Esporte. The Brazil international is emerging as one of the more interesting midfield situations in the market, particularly after Wolves' relegation and the collapse of a proposed switch to Atletico Madrid.
The report indicates that both Premier League clubs have enquired about the likely cost of a deal and how any transfer could be structured. That development comes at a time when Manchester United are reassessing midfield plans after their attempt to sign Ederson from Atalanta hit a major issue. Liverpool, meanwhile, appear to be revisiting a long-standing admiration that predates Gomes' move from Flamengo to Molineux.
Liverpool's awareness of Joao Gomes is far from new. The 25-year-old was tracked earlier in his career and has since built a strong reputation in English football, even during a difficult campaign for Wolves. Relegation often forces hard decisions, and Gomes looks one of the most obvious candidates to generate a substantial fee.
Atletico Madrid had been close to securing him for around €45m, which is £38.3m, before that move broke down. That number now provides a useful reference point for any club looking to test Wolves' resolve. For Liverpool, it places Gomes in a bracket that feels significant yet still manageable in a market where elite midfielders can quickly move beyond £50m.
Photo: IMAGO
3lazy
17 days ago
Roma continues to press for Alejandro Garnacho. The Chelsea winger's name remains at the center of the Giallorossi's work to strengthen their attack, with the club actively working behind the scenes through intermediaries.
The most significant news concerns the player's status.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Garnacho has not only opened his heart to Roma, but has also made it clear he's convinced by the Italian destination.
The Argentine would like to play in the Champions League and considers Italy a suitable option for the next stage of his career. The sticking point, however, remains the formula.
Chelsea considers Garnacho for sale, but for now, isn't open to a loan.
3lazy
18 days ago
Sophie Cunningham has fans talking about latest outfit just 24 hours later originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just 24 hours can make a big difference. On Wednesday, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was making headlines because of her status heading into a game after dealing with back spasms during pregame warmups. By Thursday evening, however, the conversation had shifted entirely.
Instead of fans wondering whether she'd be on the court, many were talking about Cunningham's latest pregame outfit.
Ahead of the Fever's matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham shared her arrival outfit on Instagram, embracing a bold biker-inspired aesthetic. The look featured black leather-style pants, a coordinating jacket worn off her shoulders and a bikini-inspired black top that completed the edgy ensemble.
She paired the outfit with the caption:
3lazy
18 days ago
Find one glowing review of the Minnesota Vikings' addition of quarterback Kyler Murray — and there are plenty — that doesn't mention Murray's salary as the foremost reason to love it. We'll wait.
Of course Murray's veteran's minimum salary is a great financial deal for the Vikings. He's making $1.3 million, the same as a backup linebacker who contributes on special teams or swing offensive tackle. A cheap salary alone doesn't mean Murray will bring the Vikings back to the playoffs.
Murray has played a lot of football. He has logged 87 career games. Terrell Davis had a Hall of Fame career and played just 78. And Murray has never truly broken out. His 92.2 career passer rating puts him in the middle of the pack of current NFL quarterbacks. The Cardinals made the playoffs one time with Murray and got blown out in their only postseason game.
This offseason, the woebegone Cardinals decided they'd rather have Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback and pay a dead cap hit of $54.7 million to simply be done with Murray. Does that sound like a savior? Murray has consistently shown that his level is average, and that's over a sample size of seven NFL seasons.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
3lazy
18 days ago
The Los Angeles Lakers still want free agent forward Jonathan ****** inga, and according to a recent report by Khobi Price of the California Post, ****** inga also wants to join the Lakers. But the math doesn't seem to be mathing for either side.
The Lakers are thought to prefer to give ****** inga a two-year contract for a total of $20 million. They could either clear the requisite salary cap ****** e by trading away a couple of players, such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, and not taking any salary back, or they could execute a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, the team ****** inga finished this past season with.
But it looks like ****** inga is looking for much more than the Lakers may be able or willing to offer him. During a livestream in Las Vegas, where the NBA's main summer league is being held, insider Jake Fischer revealed the dollar amount ****** inga and his agent are seeking (h/t Heavy Sports).
“I do believe that ****** inga is looking for something more than that $25 million ballpark that he landed last year from Golden State,” Fischer said.
That would be a dollar amount that would probably not be feasible for Los Angeles. However, Fischer also added that it may not be a feasible dollar amount for ****** inga himself.
3lazy
19 days ago
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes on Thursday before Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday.
African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
But Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
3lazy
19 days ago
Last week, the Los Angeles Lakers seemingly struck gold when they agreed to send two future first-round draft picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz for 24-year-old, 7-foot-2 Walker Kessler, one of the best defensive centers in the NBA. They had been linked to Kessler for a couple of years, and he is now officially a member of their roster, which fulfills the biggest item on their offseason wish list.
But with backup center Jaxson Hayes' departure and the trade that sent Deandre Ayton, their starting center this past season, to the Washington Wizards, the Lakers needed a serviceable backup center. To that end, they got Kevon Looney to agree to a veteran minimum deal with them.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Looney chose the Lakers because the 30-year-old feels some of the offensive sets they plan to run resemble the ones the Golden State Warriors ran to spring Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry loose.
"They needed a backup center, right?" McMenamin said. "He had some opportunities around the league. I spoke to someone close to him today who said that he saw it as a clear opportunity. He saw a parallel between some of the half-court sets that they're going to run, the way he can free up Luka [Doncic] and AR (Austin Reaves) the same way he freed up Klay and Steph with screens -- multi-time champion.
"And then let's talk off the court. He's a UCLA guy. He spends the offseasons in L.A. He's getting married this weekend to his bride, who is also a hooper at Cal State. So it's a happy time for the Looney family, and I've spent some time around Kevon — he's a good guy to have among this group as a veteran leader as well."
3lazy
19 days ago
Scotland have been boosted by the availability of fly half Finn Russell as they take on world champions South Africa in Pretoria.
Russell missed the win over Argentina with a calf injury but is fit to start at No 10 against the Springboks.
Zander ***** erson and Gregor Brown are promoted into the starting tight five in the other two changes to Gregor Townsend's side, with the Scotland head coach favouring a six forwards to two backs bench split. Jamie Dobie, who starts on the wing, will cover scrum half.
Rory Hutchinson retains his place at outside centre alongside captain Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, with Kyle Rowe again stationed at full-back.
Scotland will take on the Springboks on South African soil for the first time in 12 years as they face a daunting challenge at Loftus Versfeld.
3lazy
19 days ago
Despite getting completely and totally blanked for the first six innings of this contest, the Atlanta Braves eventually broke through and ended up pulling off a 3-0 victory in an excellent pitching performance from Grant Holmes and Atlanta's bullpen.
It would be an understatement to call this one a pitchers' duel, as both starters were dominant for the period of time where they were out there. Grant Holmes successfully navigated his way through two trips through the order as he finished with just three hits allowed and one walk conceded across five innings of work and five strikeouts. The slider and cutter were both working pretty effectively for Holmes — everything was working, really, as Holmes picked up two strikeouts on the four-seamer and three on the slider.
The only time that Holmes ran into trouble was in the third inning, which is when he found himself with two runners in scoring position with two outs after he led off the inning hitting Henry Davis and then gave up a two-out single to Bryan Reynolds. Fortunately, Holmes was able to get Esmerlyn Valdez to pop up on a four-seamer and that was that for the scoring chance. That was as close as Pittsburgh got to scoring off of Holmes before he eventually exited the game with 90 pitches after five innings.
As good as Homes was, Jared Jones was better. Jones was just about untouchable against the Braves tonight, as he struck out eight batters without giving up a hit or a walk through six innings of work. Atlanta's lineup couldn't handle him at all, which is why it was probably a huge relief for the Braves once they saw Mason Montgomery walk out for the seventh inning.
The crowd in Pittsburgh disagreed with the decision and they voiced their disapproval after Ozzie Albies ended the combined perfect game bid with a looping single out to left to give the Braves their first hit and baserunner of the game. While Jones has been kind of easing back into things following elbow issues, it certainly took a lot of the neutral intrigue out of the game once it was clear that the Pirates weren't going to let him go for the perfect game.
3lazy
20 days ago
Several NFC teams have a reason to feel optimistic this coming NFL season. Some of these teams fell just short of making the playoffs, while others fell just short in the playoffs.
Regardless, these are the most promising teams in the NFC that have a chance to make some noise in the upcoming season.
The Carolina Panthers came out of nowhere last year to not only win their division but also make the playoffs and almost knock off the Los Angeles Rams. We finally saw Bryce Young emerge as the leader of this team and look like the Bryce Young we saw at Alabama. The defense also stepped up at times, but it was the Panthers' offense that carried this team, and it would not be shocking if they win this division again and make some noise.
Now, I know people say this every year, but this really could be the year for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones has finally loosened the purse strings and gone after a few players in free agency and through trades. Jones came to his senses and realized the Cowboys will not win a Super Bowl with just a great offense. If they can stay healthy, the Cowboys may actually make a serious run this year.
The team that everyone needs to keep an eye on is the Chicago Bears. The Bears are a dangerous team behind Caleb Williams, and like Bryce Young, the former Heisman winner, he has finally proved that he is the real deal. The wild playoff run they had last year had everyone taking notice that you cannot sleep on these new Monsters of the Midway. They are in a tough division with some very good teams, but don't be surprised if they end up on top.
3lazy
20 days ago
The story of basketball in America can’t be told without mentioning North Carolina.
Affectionately known as the “Hoop State” for its love of the sport created by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, North Carolina has produced some all-time hoopers.
As the United States celebrates the year of its 250th birthday, The Fayetteville Observer/USA TODAY Network takes a look at 25 of the best basketball players from North Carolina. Six of those players were represented on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021, and 11 of them are in the Naismith Hall of Fame, as of 2026.
The list includes a starting five, second team, third team, fourth team and fifth team (a small-ball lineup) from hoopers who spent significant time growing up and playing high school basketball in North Carolina.
'SKYWALKER': NC State basketball’s David Thompson honored with statue, lauded by legends
3lazy
21 days ago
The Detroit Pistons continue to reshape a roster that won 60 games last season as they battle for supremacy in a suddenly stacked and formidable Eastern Conference.
The Pistons swung a trade Tuesday, July 7, with their Central Division foe Milwaukee Bucks in a salary swap, sending Caris LeVert and two second-round picks for forward Taurean Prince and ex-Michigan State guard Gary Harris.
The Pistons save roughly $7.2 million in the deal and get a trade exception worth that amount that expires in one year, ESPN reported.
Prince, 32, is on an expiring $3.8 million contract. Harris, who turns 32 in September, is on an expiring $3.8 million contract.
LeVert, 31, is on a $14.8 million expiring.
3lazy
21 days ago
Donovan Mitchell has done it again.
Mitchell backed up his affectionate words about the Cavaliers with actions, agreeing to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension on Tuesday, July 7. A league source confirmed the deal for the Beacon Journal.
A seven-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA guard, Mitchell could have forced the Cavs to wait for another year. He would have been eligible to sign an extension next summer worth an additional $80 million. It's possible the team could have balked in 2027, yet its partnership with Mitchell has been pristine through his first four seasons in Cleveland.
Save the contractual drama for other star players. It doesn't fit Mitchell. Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez is the face of Cleveland sports, yet Mitchell continues to remind everyone he is the clear runner-up.
Mitchell proved what he has repeatedly insisted remains true: He has fully embraced Cleveland since the Cavs acquired him in September 2022 through a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz, and he is committed to continuing to serve as a cornerstone of the franchise.
3lazy
22 days ago
We are almost a week into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that means it is the perfect time to start looking at one of the big stories from this tournament every four years.
The chase for the Golden Boot.
The 2026 World Cup could see history, given the presence of Kylian Mbappe. In the history of this event, no player has ever won the Golden Boot twice. After winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe could become the first player to achieve that feat, if he were to win again this year.
Mbappe’s brace against Senegal got his campaign for a second Golden Boot off to a strong start, but Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria put the Argentina legend atop the list after his opening match.
Here are the current standings in the chase for the Golden Boot. You will note that ******* ists and minutes played are listed, as those are the two tiebreakers in determining the winner of the Golden Boot. In the case of ties, the player with the most ******* ists is ranked ahead.