Florida football enters the 2026 season unranked in the US LBM preseason Top 25 coaches poll.
That's news to first-year Florida Gators coach Jon Sumrall, who claims he doesn't pay attention to preseason polls.
Florida was the second-highest in the others receiving votes category, making the Gators 27th entering their season opener on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic.
Sumrall votes in the US LBM coaches poll and says he gets help from other staff members in selecting teams.
"I have somebody help me make sure that we know how to fill out the form the right way," Sumrall said. "But no, I look at it and talk through it with who helps me."

#preseason #poll

The Commanders receiver corps obviously got better with the Stefon Diggs acquisition. The veteran is a top-tier route runner and a steady producer with a long track record of success. While he's 32 years old, Diggs can still move and make important catches in the clutch.
Head coach Dan Quinn has established a competitive Commanders training camp, but it's safe to say Diggs will eventually slot into the No. 2 receiver slot opposite Terry McLaurin. He's expected play significant time and get targeted a ton, even though he may not be a true every-down player after playing 55% of the offensive snaps in New England last season.
He'll also impact his position group just by joining it. A roster spot just got harder to earn at the position with Terry McLaurin, Diggs and third-round pick Antonio Williams as roster locks. Jaylin Lane's punt-return ability makes him darn-close to one, with maybe two more roster spots available. Fierce battles will be waged for those, among talented individuals.
A few thoughts on how the Diggs addition might impact the receiver corps.
Terry will remain scary while continuing to move around the formation as new coordinator David Blough always intended. McLaurin is the alpha around here, on a long-term deal and one of the longest-tenured players on the Commanders roster. He also has an even-keeled leadership vibe that will hold his position group together and help it improve with all the extra behind-the-scenes work he does.

#diggs #Commanders #position #corps

Tarik Skubal pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time on Tuesday, and many fans loved watching Dansby Swanson hit a homer off him.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' Tuesday night matchup against the Chicago Cubs was the big draw of the week's MLB games. The reason for this is obvious, it marked Tarik Skubal's debut for his new team.
Skubal going to LA in a trade angered many baseball fans. With the Dodgers already boasting a team stacked with superstars, this move only added to the feelings of unfairness that already existed.
It's no surprise, then, that fans were 'hate-watching' the 2-time Cy Young Award winner when he made his debut. And for his haters, there was one perfect moment that they absolutely loved.
Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images

#skubal #tuesday

As the umpire called the winning point, Alexandra Eala collapsed to the ground in tears - knowing her country had been with her for every step of the tournament.
She overcame weather delays, and the loss of the first set, to defeat world number three Jessica Pegula in the Washington Open final, becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA ****** le.
"To the Filipino community, here in DC and back home, wherever you are in the world. I really feel all the love."
Even Pegula was impressed by the turnout on Monday, for the continuation of Sunday's final.
"I can definitely confirm this is the best Monday final crowd I've seen," the American said. "I'm sure some people took off work. I won't tell them where you guys were."

#pegula

A season after beating the rival Guardians in the wild-card round of their second consecutive trip to the playoffs, the Detroit Tigers were hoping to build on their postseason success in 2026.
Instead, on Monday, they confirmed the waving of their white flag by trading their second All-Star pitcher in three days.
The Tigers and Padres beat the trade-deadline buzzer Monday in a deal that sent All-Star starter Casey Mize to San Diego for a package to Detroit featuring the Padres' top pitching prospect, Kash Mayfield.
The move arrived on the heels of Saturday's blockbuster that sent two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package of prospects in a deal that shook the baseball world.
Tigers fans watched Detroit part with another All-Star pitcher in Casey Mize on Monday.

#detroit #tigers #star #second

Former Xavier men's basketball star Naji Marshall has signed an eight-figure contract extension to remain with his current NBA team until 2030.
Marshall, who played for the Musketeers from 2017 to 2020, inked a three-year, $52 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Sunday. Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, it is worth an average annual value of $17.33 million.
Currently, Marshall is on a three-year, $27 million deal with Dallas signed in 2024, so he is getting his paycheck nearly doubled for the 2027-28 NBA season.
In 2025-26, Marshall averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game, as well as 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 ***** ists on 51% shooting. The small forward started 47 of the Mavericks' 74 contests while averaging 29.5 minutes per game. His scoring ranked third on the team, behind Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis.
Only two players on Dallas's 2025-26 roster, Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington, have contracts with an average annual value worth than Marshall's extension, according to data from Spotrac.

#marshall #dallas

The results are in from our SB Nation Reacts survey for this week, ladies and gentlemen, so let's take a look at what everyone thinks about our Minnesota Vikings topic for this week.
We asked you, with training camp just having gotten underway, whether or not you feel our favorite squad will be making a return to the postseason this year. 'Tis, apparently, the season for positivity around here, as the local gentry feels the purple will be playing into mid-January rather than just the early portions of it.
Of those who responded to our survey, a full 80% feel that the Vikings will make a return to the playoffs this season after a one-year hiatus. More of you feel that they'll be joining the playoff field as a Wild Card team than as the NFC North division champion, with 44% of our respondents saying the Vikings will make the postseason as a Wild Card team and 36% saying they'll win the NFC North for the first time since 2022. And there are 20% of you who responded that believe the Vikings will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
I do think the Vikings will make their way back to the playoffs this season, and I do think it's more likely they'll be there as a Wild Card than as a division champ. I expect the NFC North to, once again, be among the toughest divisions in the NFL this season, and even though the Vikings were. . .in theory. . .one botched kickoff return away from winning the NFC North last season, the margin for error is going to be pretty slim again this year. Have the Vikings made enough of the necessary changes to get over the hump and get to the top of the division? Obviously, we don't know what role injuries are going to play around the division yet, either.
Here's hoping that our optimism isn't misplaced when it comes to our postseason hopes for the 2026 season. We're a little less than two weeks away from seeing an actual football game involving our favorite team, albeit one that doesn't count for anything other than seeing who will take some of the spots at the bottom of the roster. I, for one, will just be happy to see it.

#card #division #postseason

Photo via Blackburn Rovers on Twitter
Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon that ****** nal are preparing to close a deal for Blackburn Rovers youngster Igor Tyjon.
The Gunners are reportedly hoping to agree a fee of around £2m plus add-ons for the 18-year-old striker, after failing with multiple bids to bring him in last summer.
Rumours from the former owner of Rovers' fan account RoversXtra suggested earlier this week that the club rejected a bid from ****** nal around two weeks ago, but that another was expected this weekend.
Photo via Rovers.co.uk

#arsenal #around

The Oklahoma City Thunder have developed their team over the decades via the usual ways most teams in the NBA have, finding special success through the NBA draft since their founding as the Seattle SuperSonics. Many of the franchise's top players have joined the team either through direct selections in the annual draft or via trades executed on that day.
On top of this, the Thunder have selected not only several star players through the draft but also a number of notable alumni each offseason. A few colleges have been more prominently represented than others in sourcing those prospects, though OKC has always cast a wide net as well. Both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have consistently contributed high-caliber talent to the Thunder's roster over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Thunder out of Alabama State University.
Draft year and position: 4th round (8th pick, 74th overall), 1977 NBA Draft
Seasons at Alabama State University: nknown

#draft #thunder #team #players

Generally speaking, when a headline asks a yes or no question, the answer is "no." It's called Betteridge's law of headlines, and it's a consistent guide in the journalism world.
If we apply it here, the law tells us that no, Davante Adams won't recreate his 2025 production in 2026.
OK, so it's unlikely that Adams leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns in his age-34 season. But what can we expect from the veteran receiver?
It's not impossible, but it would be somewhat shocking to see him completely fall off a cliff. Adams's game is built to last, as it's based far more on technique and precision than it is on raw, physical gifts. He's been an elite route runner with a top-tier release for the balance of his career, and it's a career with legitimate Hall of Fame credentials. Those kinds of players generally age more gracefully at the position.
That said, his transformation last year into the best red zone weapon in the league probably won't continue. It could, certainly, but the odds don't favor it. Again, he'll turn 34 this season (albeit quite late in the year) and individual red zone production can be a volatile statistic. Even if he's able to separate at nearly the same clip as 2025 near the goal line, there are numerous reasons why he might not score at the same level as he did a year ago.

#year #generally #last #Career

Three-time ISKA Kickboxing World Champion Akram "La Pepite" Hamidi made sure his hotly anticipated return to the global stage was one to remember, as he outpointed Watcharaphon Laochokcharoen in the headline attraction of ONE Friday Fights 164.
Their three-round battle capped a massive double-header Asia primetime weekend for ONE Championship, which also saw undefeated star Elbek Alyshov claim the ONE Bantamweight MMA World ******* le in the main event of The Inner Circle 24.
Action erupted almost immediately when Watcharaphon dropped the returning French-Algerian striker with a sharp left hook. The Thai, who vowed to tap into his trademark finishing power for this clash, kept his fists loaded while the referee initiated the count.
However, "La Pepite" quickly regained his footing and answered in kind, flooring the PK Saenchai Muaythaigym athlete with a right hook of his own to level the contest during a frantic opening round. With momentum on his side, Hamidi took the opportunity to display his full ******* nal in the second frame.
The French-Algerian warrior disrupted Watcharaphon's rhythm with slick sweeps, spearing knees, and well-timed teeps, while his opponent continued relying on heavy boxing. Those diverse attacks made the Team Valente representative increasingly difficult to read, and he punctuated one exchange by landing a right hand behind a knee.

#pepite #watcharaphon

As starts and innings build for Colt Keith as the Detroit Tigers' primary third baseman, he is feeling increasingly comfortable with his glove at the far left corner of the infield.
Keith has grown from a negative defensive player at third base in 2025, according to defensive metrics such as outs above average (OAA), defensive runs saved (DRS) and fielding run value (FRV), to slightly positive in those three metrics in 2026.
His improvements have given manager A.J. Hinch more options to mix and match players in other positions. When Javier Báez, Detroit's ultimate defensive chess piece, came off the 60-day IL on Tuesday, July 28, Hinch mentioned the solid defense on the left side of the infield from Keith and rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle would allow him to use Báez primarily as a center fielder, a position of weakness for the team all summer.
"I'm looking at a much-improved Colt Keith at third base, Kevin at shortstop, which makes center field more of a decision point," Hinch said before Tuesday's win over the Baltimore Orioles.
It hasn't been a jump to the top of the league leaderboards in third base defensive metrics, but Keith now sits 14th in the FRV leaderboard at his position, compared to 63rd in 2025.

#hinch #metrics

Jul. 30—VERMILLION, S.D. — Plenty of questions surround the University of South Dakota football's offense as the Coyotes officially opened fall camp Wednesday, July 29.
Who wins the starting quarterback job? Who are the five offensive linemen that will protect him? Which receivers emerge as the top targets? Who becomes the primary tight end?
But through all of the uncertainty, there is one position group that enters camp with absolutely no question marks: Running back.
If anything, the Coyotes may have the deepest and most talented running back room not only in the Missouri Valley Football Conference but across the entire FCS. While the offense develops a new quarterback, rebuilt offensive line and receiving corps, USD's experienced ball carriers are expected to shoulder much of the offensive load early in the season.
"If people are saying we're the best in the country, that just motivates us even more," USD running back Keyondray Jones-Logan said. "We never take a step backwards, and we are always fighting to be better each and every day. If everybody says we could be the best, let's prove we're the best."

#running #offense #camp #quarterback

Fifa has been strongly criticised by Concacaf, football's governing body for the Caribbean and North America, along with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for failing to consult on its shock plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
On Tuesday, Fifa said it plans to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the ⁠World Cup and its other ⁠events and will offer stakes of up to 20 per cent in it ⁠to external investors – a move that provoked a ⁠furious response from Uefa, which accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of putting the game's "soul" up for sale.
Under ‌the plan, Fifa would establish a new entity called Fifa Forward Enterprise to oversee "commercial and event operations".
Fifa, which just held a 48-team World Cup ⁠across North America that was the biggest in the tournament's history, would retain control of the enterprise, but offer minority stakes in it to private investors to raise up to $4.2bn.
"Concacaf was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release," a statement read. "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.

#enterprise #investors

Another ranking, and another list where the Chargers find themselves just outside the top 10.
ESPN recently ranked NFL teams based on their under-25 talent, and the Chargers came in at No. 11, narrowly missing out on a spot among the league's top young cores.
"The top young player for the Chargers is Alt, who is 23 years old and tasked with protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. Running back Omarion Hampton and tight end Oronde Gadsden (both 23) performed well for the Chargers in 2025. Wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are all 24.
"On defense, the underrated slot cornerback Tarheeb Still is still just 24 years old, while edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu will turn 24 on Sept. 3. However, rookie first-rounder Mesidor does not qualify for this ranking, as he turned 25 in April."
The Chargers dropped one spot in the list compared to last year. Notable teams ahead of Los Angeles in this category are the Raiders, Browns and the Texans.

#teams #spot #espn

WESTFIELD – Colts general manager Chris Ballard admit to any concern that the team's new No. 1 wideout, Alec Pierce, could miss Week 1 after undergoing surgery in late-March on a nagging ankle injury. But six weeks away from the first practices of the regular season with Pierce starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Ballard wouldn't eliminate the possibility either.
"He's not active right now. He's on PUP and that's kinda a day-by-day thing," Ballard told reporters Tuesday. "I'm not gonna make a prediction one way or another. I learned a long time ago with another certain player (in reference to retired Colts QB Andrew Luck) that you don't make predictions.
"I'm not a doctor so we'll just play it by ear and see how it goes."
For now, Ballard said, the 26-year-old wideout is still "a week or two away."
"He's making great progress. He's worked at it, and I don't foresee it being a major issue," Ballard continued. "Of course, we'd like to have him right now but Pierce is working his ******* off, and he'll be ready to go when he's completely cleared."

#week

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever open their post‑All‑Star slate of games against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, July 28.
The Fever are coming off a five‑day break and are on a three‑game winning streak in which they outscored opponents by an average of 19 points per game.
Indiana, 17-10, sent three players to Chicago for All-Star weekend: Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston and Clark, with the latter helping Teresa Weatherspoon's team to a 129-122 win over fellow women's basketball legend Cynthia Cooper.
Here's how to watch the Fever's 28th regular-season game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information.
Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. CT at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, and fans can watch on ESPN, WOI Local 5 in Des Moines and WQAD in the Quad Cities.

#clark

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians activated outfielder Angel Martinez from the 10-day injured list and left-handed reliever Tim Herrin from the 15-day IL on Friday before the start of a series against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
To make room on the roster, left-hander Will Dion and utility man Daniel Schneemann were optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
Cleveland (54-50) enters the weekend series against Tampa Bay 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central.
Martinez, slotted in the leadoff spot to open the series against the Rays, missed 32 games with a fracture in his left foot after fouling a ball off the foot against Detroit on June 13. Martinez was placed on the injured list on June 16 with a non-displaced fracture and missed 32 games. The 24-year-old is hitting .239 with 33 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with 11 home runs.
Martinez appeared in four games on a rehab ******* ignment, playing twice with Double-A Akron and two games with Columbus, combining to go 5 for 12 with a home run and two doubles before joining the Guardians for a pregame workout on Thursday.

#martinez #series #rays #columbus

Jürgen Klopp is known for an intense style of football with high pressing and a direct approach to goal. His style has often been described as heavy-metal football. But is this way of playing also possible with the German national team? At his unveiling, the new head coach gave an initial outline of his plan.
"I want to improve everything. Present the German national team in a positive light so that we can eventually rise to the top again," he announced. Above all, his football should be exciting: "It’s been a while since I watched internationals outside of major tournaments. I’d really love for all of us to watch every international again. We all agree that successful football can change a country."
He sees the fans and their enthusiasm as an important aspect of achieving success, because a certain level of emotion is needed to get through difficult moments as well.
And tactically? Klopp: "Counter-pressing will be an important topic, a stable formation, a clear footballing idea. With all the uncertainties that come with it. We won’t play man-marking," even though Bayern Munich play with man-marking. He also said he gained important impressions from the World Cup: "The teams that could have won the tournament played with a back four. We’ll do that too. We’ll also play with wingers. The playmakers of today’s generation are out wide."
He also hopes to be given time to develop things. Success cannot be guaranteed immediately, but he wants to deliver a kind of football that gives the fans a good feeling. Football that gives you the sense that the team has given everything. If that succeeds, then success is possible too.

#play #klopp

With the Los Angeles Dodgers off on Thursday, the team celebrated last year's World Series championship with a visit to the White House in Washington, D.C.
It marked the Dodgers' second consecutive White House visit and their third in the past six years after also winning the World Series in 2020.
President Donald Trump praised the team and several individual players during his remarks before welcoming the Dodgers into the Oval Office for the second straight year.
While the entire team posed for a photo with Trump behind the Resolute Desk, Shohei Ohtani shared a viral moment of his own with the President.
The two took a separate photo together, with Ohtani holding up USA apparel. As Ohtani walked away, cameras caught the pair shaking hands before Trump told him, "Good luck, I'll see you soon," as the Dodgers pursue a third straight World Series ***** le.

#Dodgers #president

Bailey Phillips got to live one of the best days of her life all over again, this time watching it on a screen surrounded by the people who love her most.
Her eight-minute segment aired nationally on July 23 for the first time as part of ESPN's "My Wish" series, chronicling her ultimate Tennessee football gameday with the Vols. Make-A-Wish East Tennessee marked the moment with a watch party at The Wishing Place powered by JTV.
"It was good," Bailey said of having her family and friends there to watch it with her.
It was the first wish UT athletics had ever granted, according to her grandfather, John Rosser.
"A lot of tears are running out of my eyes," Rosser said. "But it brought back some very good memories of what she was able to go through."

#wish

Not too long ago, Aurelien Tchouameni was reportedly close to signing a contract extension at Real Madrid that would have sealed his long-term future at the club.
There were widespread rumours that Tchouameni had already agreed a deal with Real Madrid, especially amid interest from Manchester United.
But as it stands, Real Madrid have yet to officiate the deal while Man United have continued to push for the signing of the Frenchman.
Tchouameni’s injury derailed his World Cup campaign, though he featured in the semis. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Now, according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst, it appears Real Madrid have made a crucial decision in regard to Tchouameni’s future.

#tchouameni #real

Michigan State baseball is going to rely heavily on Logan Pikur next season. Over his first three seasons in East Lansing, he appeared in 64 games on the mound, making eight starts. When his senior year begins in 2027, he will be one of the most highly relied upon pitchers for the Spartans.
In preparation for his senior season, the West Bloomfield (MI) native is competing in the highly regarded Cape Cod League for the Falmouth Commodores. Through nine appearances with the team, Pikur has been solid, holding a 3.45 ERA, but he may have just had his best appearance.
Pikur worked six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to go along with two walks and three strike outs. With the Spartans needing starting pitching, this is the type of outing that shows what Pikur could be in his senior year.
Contact/Follow us The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X Rex_Linzy
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Spartan pitcher shines in collegiate summer league

#senior #season

Every new offensive coordinator wants to leave his own imprint on the unit he inherits. Sean Mannion almost certainly will for the Philadelphia Eagles. This team is expected to feature new wrinkles, different concepts, and a fresh perspective in 2026. That's part of the natural evolution of any offense after a coaching change.
Still, successful coordinators don't rebuild from scratch. They identify what already works, preserve it, and then find ways to make it even better. Philadelphia's 2025 offense, despite its inconsistencies, established several trends that deserve to remain part of the Eagles' identity moving forward.
Consistency has quietly become one of Jalen Hurts' greatest strengths. Over the past three seasons, he's completed approximately a combined 66 percent of his passes while continuing to protect the football and make sound decisions.
There is still room for growth. Anticipation, timing, and attacking the middle of the field more consistently remain areas the Eagles hope to improve.
Even so, Mannion inherits a quarterback who has already established an efficient baseline. The goal shouldn't be changing Hurts. It should be helping him become even more explosive.

#mannion #still #inherits #already

The 21st century has featured extreme highs and lows for Auburn football, but the highs have been something to behold.
The Tigers won a national championship in 2010 behind arguably the single greatest individual season in the sport's history from Cam Newton, played for another in 2013 and nearly cracked the four-team College Football Playoff in 2017. However, since the 2020s began, it's been a rough time on the Plains.
AU has only finished above .500 once in this decade, and it came amid a 6-5 pandemic-shortened 2020 season that culminated in coach Gus Malzahn's dismissal. The program is now on its third coach since then after it hired Alex Golesh this offseason.
Speaking at his first SEC media days on Tuesday, Golesh said the goal at Auburn is clear: return the program to national prominence.
"This was a top-5 program in the country for a long time — like 10 years ago," Golesh said, per ESPN's David Hale. "We've got to get it back to that. And that's where all the time and energy has been getting kids around us. ... It's been changing a mindset even in our own state."

#golesh #national #since

Looking to strengthen their attack, Borussia Dortmund have made contact over the possibility of signing Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian transfer journalist claims that the Black and Yellows have reached out to enquire about the situation of the 18-year-old winger.
Mbaye has also been linked with a move to the Premier League, where Aston Villa have been mentioned as one of the clubs interested in the teenager.
The 18-year-old has made a total of 42 appearances for PSG, racking up four goals and four ****** ists.
His contract with PSG runs until 2028.

After the firing of Seattle Storm head coach Noelle Quinn in 2025, no Black woman remained in the WNBA's head coaching ranks despite five head coach vacancies heading into the 2026 WNBA season.
The league has experienced record growth and expansion, but representation in leadership has moved in the opposite direction. In 2022, seven of the league's 12 head coaches were Black, including three women. By 2023, that number dropped to only three Black women head coaches. This season, there are two Black head coaches currently in the WNBA, but neither is a woman.
"(Black women) should get the same equal opportunity as a white woman, as a white man to be an important piece of this league," Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers said on Sunday after a win over the Chicago Sky. "(The league) was built on a lot of black women... So it's definitely right for them to get the same equal opportunity as everybody else."
"I grew up with a lot of prominent Black women in my life that were very important to me... my stepmom, my AAU coach," Bueckers added. "So I understand how amazing they are."
More: Candace Parker, Women's Leadership Council address coaching gaps in women's sports

Manchester United have signed veteran goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from rivals Leeds United.
The 35-year-old Wales international turned down a new deal at Elland Road, instead signing a two-year contract with an option for a further 12 months at Old Trafford, where he will serve as Senne Lammens’ back-up.
Darlow expressed his pride in the move, stating: "I am extremely proud to sign for Manchester United. I’m joining an excellent group of goalkeepers and I’m really looking forward to all pushing each other to ensure that we maintain the highest standards, which this club demands.
“This is a really special opportunity; everyone can see what an exciting time it is for the club and I cannot wait to play my part in supporting my team mates and helping to drive the group forwards."
Darlow’s arrival comes as Lammens’ current back-up Altay Bayindir is expected to leave United, having been linked with a return to his native Turkey. United also opted to send Andre Onana back out on loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor earlier this month. Veteran Tom Heaton, 40, signed a new one-year deal earlier this summer.

With the baseball season at its All-Star Break, let's take a look at how some of the stars with Central Mass. ties are doing in Major League Baseball.
Central Mass. has had its share of local stars living out their dreams in The Show over the years, and have a few more just a phone call away from joining them. Jennifer Toland took a look at how Sean Burke, Ian Seymour, Matt Shaw and Ryan Ward are doing this year on the big stage.
It has so far been a resurgent season for Burke and the White Sox.
In his final start before the All-Star break, Burke, the former St. John's High star from Sutton, dazzled against the Athletics. In seven innings, Burke allowed 1 run on 4 hits and struck out 9.
Burke (6-4, 3.41 ERA) has played an important role in helping the White Sox, who lost 102 games last season, to first place in the AL Central.

Jose Mourinho’s first pre-season back as the manager of Real Madrid begins today, and the Portuguese coach has some clear objectives to meet.
While he does not have most of the first-team players at his command from day one, he is tasked with making decisions on the futures of the few players who are in Madrid.
The manager will thus keep a close eye on every single player currently in pre-season and draw up a blueprint of his plans next season including an estimate on how much he counts on every player.
One such player whose immediate future depends on Mourinho’s evaluation is Franco Mastantuono.
As reported by Miguel Serrano in a recent update, there is a clear-cut condition that will decide whether or not the Argentine protege stays at Real Madrid next season – and the matter is not entirely in his hands.