Colchester United manager Danny Cowley has said "recruitment is really tough at the moment" after his side were beaten 2-0 by Charlton Athletic in a pre-season friendly.
First-half goals from Matty Godden and Karlan Grant secured the victory for the Championship club, but after the match Cowley was happy with his side's performance.
"We didn't plan the pre-season to be easy, that's why we've played Norwich, West Ham twice, Peterborough, Charlton - so we always understood that it was going to be tough for the players. That's how we like it," Cowley told BBC Essex.
"Off the back of the goals, I was really pleased with how the team responded. Recruitment is really tough at the moment, there's no hiding place from that.
"We know what we want. We're not willing to compromise at the moment but we are trying to stay as brave as we can to get the players that we want.

#cowley

Tennessee ***** ans coach Robert Saleh had the following message to share with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan before the start of training camp as Shanahan is dealing with non-life-threatening injuries sustained in a car crash earlier this month that are keeping him away from the 49ers facility on a limited basis.
Saleh said he has spoken with Shanahan since the accident.
"I talked to him a couple days after it happened," Saleh said. "He's very fortunate. We're all very fortunate that he's still here. I know just talking to him and his wife Mandy. (What) you see now, isn't what it was two weeks ago.
"Thank God he's OK. Thank God his family is in tact. He's doing great. He looks great. Saw him on FaceTime a couple days ago. The surgeon did a great job. Not easy for him to go through what he went through."
Shanahan and Saleh have a history that dates back to 2006 when Saleh was a quality control coach with the Houston Texans and Shanahan was the team's wide receivers coach. Shanahan hired Saleh as his first defensive coordinator upon becoming San Francisco's coach in 2017, then re-hired Saleh ahead of the 2025 season for a second stint with the 49ers. In total, Saleh and Shanahan have worked together across nine NFL seasons.

#great #couple #hired

The Brandon Aiyuk saga has gone on for far too long. A contract dispute that eventually landed in his favor hasn't gone swimmingly for the San Francisco 49ers. Tearing his ACL and MCL just seven games into that deal, he hasn't been around the franchise since.
Last year, they placed him on the PUP list. From there, they voided his guaranteed money for 2026 and added him to the reserve/left squad list. Since then, it's been all downhill for the former first-round pick who remains employed with the team.
While he remained quiet for most of his time away from the 49ers, that trend has changed in recent months. Making multiple videos on social media, Aiyuk has gone on lengthy tirades against the organization.
Calling out everyone, from the coaching staff to the general manager, the former All-Pro selection has left no stone unturned. But while he has made his desire to play for the Washington Commanders abundantly clear, it hasn't led to major changes.
Mike Florio of NBC Sports, though, believes the way forward for Aiyuk is relatively simple. On the latest "Pro Football Talk" alongside co-host Chris Simms, he expressed his frustration over the choices the former Pro Bowler was making.

#aiyuk #brandon #francisco

Alejandro Kirk completely lost his grip on Monday night and managed to shatter a glass window inside of Nationals Park.
The Toronto Blue Jays catcher, in the fifth inning of their 3-2 win over Washington, missed on a swing and sent his bat flying behind him after letting it go accidentally. The bat went straight into the camera well in the Toronto dugout behind him and smashed a window.
Thankfully, everyone in the area was fine and the glass didn't go flying — though the bat did go directly over MLB's Hazel Mae's head.
Kirk ended up striking out in the at-bat, though the Blue Jays were up 3-1 at the time. The Nationals cut it to a one-run game in the bottom of the inning after a Andres Chaparro homer, but that was as close as they got.
Kirk did not get a hit in his three at-bats in the win. He's holding a .224 batting average with three home runs and 12 RBI.

#toronto

TROON, Scotland — South Korea's Jenny Shin led the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open by five strokes after two rounds at Dundonald Links on Friday.
Shin started the second round with a bogey and shrugged it off with six birdies, including on her final hole, for a 5-under 67. She's at 11 under overall.
"Tried really hard not to make any three-putts," Shin said.
Shin was co-leader with American Lauren Coughlin on 6 under after day one of the tournament co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour. But Coughlin, who won the Aramco Championship in April and the Scottish Open in 2024, hit 2 over on Friday and dropped to 4 under and a tie for fourth with ****** an's Erika Hara.
The closest to Shin was German golfer Esther Henseleit, who carded 4-under 68 with two birdies and an eagle.

#tour #birdies #south

Michigan football writer Tony Garcia ranks the five most important players on the Wolverines' defense in 2026.
Michigan had to replace a pair of starters in the secondary last season when Will Johnson and Makari Paige left for the 2025 NFL Draft and while it brought in veterans like TJ Metcalf and Wesley Walker to fill in as experienced pieces, the DBs clearly missed their leader.
Shortly after former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale arrived in 2024, he compared Rod Moore to NFL All-Pro Eric Weddle in terms of his cognitive ability. While he doesn't wear the "green dot" with the headset to the defensive coordinator, Moore is the quarterback of the back end and ensures his running mates are on the same page and in the right positions.
THE OFFENSE: Ranking Michigan football's 5 most important offensive players in 2026
It was sorely missed the past two seasons, but he's said to be on track for a full return this year. While it remains to be seen where he is athletically after he comes back from multiple knee procedures, Moore's impact on the defense will be felt if he's even able to return to 80% of what he was when he was an All-Big Ten secondary piece in 2023.

#defensive

New Mexico offensive ****** yst Kiel McDonald is leaving to coach Texas State's running backs, head coach Jason Eck confirmed to the Journal on Thursday.
McDonald, 43, will coach the Bobcats' running backs after joining the Lobos' staff earlier this season as a volunteer offensive ****** istant. Prior to UNM, he served as the running backs coach at Southern Cal, Utah and the Los Angeles Chargers.
A former cornerback at Sacramento State and Idaho, McDonald played under Eck for one season with the Vandals in 2006. The latter served as Idaho's tight ends coach and run game coordinator at the time.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreiderabqjournal.com or via X at lenaweereider.

#coach #mcdonald #running

Following the 2025 season, 31 players departed from the Oregon Ducks roster via the transfer portal, seeking more opportunity elsewhere. Reserve quarterback Austin Novosad was one of the more prominent names to do so.
Rated as a four-star and the No. 13 quarterback in the 2023 class, Oregon managed to flip Novosad from Baylor after five-star Dante Moore spurned the Ducks and himself flipped to UCLA. A top 200 prospect, the flip was considered a significant win for Oregon especially how quickly it came after losing Moore.
But the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Novosad never could quite carve out a role with the Ducks. He saw his most action in 2023 as a freshman, completing 9-of-11 passes for 52 yards in garbage time. That ended up being the peak, as he was the third-string quarterback in 2024 and once again in 2025.
Having transferred to Bowling Green of the MAC, where he's projected to be the starter this fall, intrigue is following the former Oregon passer. While The Athletic ranked Novosad as a Tier 7 (113th out of 138 overall) quarterback in college football, the lowest tier, he was named among seven of the most fascinating signal-callers to keep an eye on in 2026.
"We never saw much of Novosad at Oregon," The Athletic's Antonio Morales wrote. "He spent the 2023 season behind Bo Nix, 2024 behind Dillon Gabriel and Moore, who joined the program after a season at UCLA, and 2025 behind Moore and Brock Thomas, who appeared to unseat Novosad for the backup role last year. Novosad has attempted 15 career passes, and 11 of those came in 2023. It's been a while since he's received extended playing time. For a former top 150 recruit, he's a relative mystery — one we'll learn more about this fall at Bowling Green."

#novosad #season

Barcelona signed forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund on Thursday for a reported fee of 29 million euros ($33 million) including potential add-ons.
"Adeyemi becomes a new Barca player for the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031," said Barcelona in a statement.
The versatile 24-year-old is Barca's second signing after they splashed out on England international Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
Lightning quick, Adeyemi, who can play up front or on either flank, bolsters Barca's attacking options after the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona also lost Marcus Rashford after his loan from Manchester United ended, leaving them short in attack.

#june

Grizzlies point guard D’Angelo Russell is not believed to be a long-term piece in Memphis, with both sides expected to work together toward a resolution that would allow the 30-year-old to find a new home at some point this offseason — whether via a buyout agreement or a trade — sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Russell, who appeared in just 25 games last season in Dallas, arrived in Memphis earlier this month as part of an expansive six-team deal involving Milwaukee, Washington, Dallas, the LA Clippers and Detroit. The trade also sent center Isaiah Stewart, guard AJ Johnson, three future second-round picks, a conditional first-round pick and a second-round swap to the Grizzlies.
The veteran guard was ****** umed to be part of a ball-handling group in Dallas last season designed to ****** ist in the development of then-rookie Cooper Flagg, but started just three games — seemingly falling out of favor with former head coach Jason Kidd amid options like Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams. Russell, who was later traded to the Wizards at the February trade deadline and opted into the final year of his contract ($6 million) in June, would be potentially joining his fourth team in a span of two years.
Russell’s timeline — an experienced player with over 30 playoff games — simply doesn’t align with a rebuilding Grizzlies franchise seeking young, developmental talent centered around a core of Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and recent No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. Coward and Boozer impressed in Vegas during summer league, with Coward averaging 19 points, 7 ****** ists and 4 rebounds and Boozer finishing the campaign earning first-team honors — and with the Grizzlies reaching the championship game. Memphis is also dealing with a roster crunch after an eventful summer, with 21 players currently on the roster (including Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack who are on two-way contracts).
The next question for Russell at this stage of the offseason will be finding a situation outside of Memphis where his skill set fits with an already established ecosystem. At a glance, his career stats paint the picture of a more-than-capable floor general — 17 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.6 ****** ists on .427/.363/.793 splits — but his recent inconsistency requires a larger lens. When Russell has dominated the ball, he’s been shown to be a quality creator who threads the needle well between usage, playmaking and scoring prowess. The challenge for him, at least over the course of his recent stops with the Lakers, Nets and Mavericks has been dealing with efficiency under the umbrella of shot distribution and overall pecking order — along with remaining effective on the defensive end.

#memphis #dallas #boozer

LAWRENCE — The alumni teams for Kansas basketball and Kansas State will play again Wednesday, during the 2026 The Basketball Tournament event.
A three-game series began Tuesday, with Kansas State's Purple Reign team collecting an 80-61 victory. Kansas' JHX Hoops struggled offensively over the course of the matchup, only shooting 38.5% from the field. Purple Reign shot 51.7% from the field.
RELATED: Kansas State's Michael Beasley puts on show, kisses KU opponent in TBT debut
This second game will take place at 7 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FS2. It'll be played at Lee Arena in Topeka. If necessary, there'll a a third game Friday back at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, where the first game was played.
TV channel: FS2

#Basketball #played #wednesday

Hamburg have officially confirmed the signing of Zambia striker Patson Daka. Multiple sources report that another addition is set to be unveiled shortly. Moroccan midfielder Bilal Nadir will also join the Bundesliga outfit on free transfer. Kicker, Sport Bild, and the Hamburger Morgenpost all confirm that a deal to acquire Nadir is effetely done. Nadir arrives from French first division side Olympique Marseille.
Nadir – an €8m-valuced player- is said to have a profile similar to that of departed leading goalscorer Fabio Vieira. The fact that the 22-year-old is nevertheless limited to a more centralized role nevertheless means that he is not intended to serve as a direct replacement for the departed Portuguese international. Kicker reports that Hamburg remain committed to signing Vieira permanently.
“In signing Patson, we’ve specifically strengthened ourselves at the center-forward position,” newly appointed HSV Board Member for Sport Kathleen Krüger noted in a club statement. “With him, we’re gaining a center forward who meets our expectations quite clearly.”
“Patson brings many qualities that are essential to our style of play,” HSV sporting director Claus Costa added. “He combines energy, speed, and deep runs of the highest intensity.”
“I’m happy to be here now and can’t wait to get started,” the player himself said. “I’m a passionate and energetic player whose job is to score goals. I think that’s exactly how I can help the team.”

#kicker #sport #departed

If you are waiting for LeBron James to make his free agency decision, you might want to get comfortable.
The basketball universe is waiting for James to decide where he will play the final year(s) of his NBA career after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
There are several potential suitors including former homes like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. There's also the possibility he could link up with stars in Golden State or even Philadelphia or Minnesota.
But on the latest edition of his Game Overpodcast with Max Kellerman, James' agent Rich Paul said that only LeBron James knows when that decision will come and that any reports or information being circulated in the media is pure guesswork.
"I'll say it again, none of these people know anything. **** ody knows nothing. And I say that respectfully because we haven't made it to where anybody knows anything," Paul said. "I think it's important for people to understand, we're not making this about attention and a spectacle. It's not about a decision or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make. We're not going to sit here and decide or allow someone else to decide when he makes that decision or that choice. It's a business choice that he's making. And I think as an athlete, why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice."

#james #decision #lebron

Wrote about the best of us, and wrote about … the rest of us.
The best of us? Indiana's state championship basketball team from Special Olympics Boone County, who went to Minnesota last month and won bronze at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
The rest of us? Those of us arguing about politics, if our goal is to hurt – not help. Those of us who are part of this wall of sound where everyone's shouting and ***** ody's listening, and using all that noise as cover for cruelty.
Now then, my job is to have opinions and share them, so I'll keep at it, hoping to make a small difference for good even knowing some people see me as something entirely different. My goal is to help, not hurt – not to insult folks who disagree, but to invite them to see things another way. I fall short, at times. I'm sure of it.
Columns about Special Olympics, the culture wars around Fever star Caitlin Clark, and President Trump's phone to call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino? All in the same week? Makes for an interesting Mailbagg™.

Florida State football has landed a commitment from recently reclassified 4-star prospect Za'Kari Johnson; he announced on his social media.
The Miami Carol City athlete will come to Tallahassee as a defensive back after playing both offense and defense in high school.
He had over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns while recording 10 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception for Plantation.
He is the 14th overall commitment for the program in the class of 2027, and the fourth 4-star commitment and second defensive back to join the program.
With Johnson's commitment, the Seminoles' class ranks 53rd overall in the nation.

PHILADELPHIA — The opening ceremony for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is now exactly two years away, but the MLB players’ potential participation in those Games is still very much an open question.
There has long been conceptual agreement between MLB and MLB Players **** ociation that big leaguers should be there, and that the Olympics being in the United States provides a unique opportunity to raise baseball’s profile. From there, though, the negotiations have remained bogged down on a series of contractual details. Beyond these two entities, the LA28 organizing committee, the IOC, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation are involved in the talks.
The still-unresolved issues vary widely, including player accommodations, insurance, tickets, and service-time implications, among others. More broadly, there are ramifications—both known and unknown—of shutting down MLB play for roughly two weeks in the heart of the season, something that heretofore has precluded big leaguers from being in the Olympics.
Another major sticking point between the league and union surrounds mandatory player participation for those selected to play—an issue that also has roiled throughout this week’s All-Star Game.
“It is a disruptive undertaking for us,” league commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday. “If we’re disrupting an entire season, and we’re going to undertake that effort, we want our very best out there so that people see how great our game really is.”

As it gets closer to the 2026 Arizona high school football season, The Arizona Republic ranks the top 10 stadiums.
They don't have to be the best teams. They feature an ambiance, a prestige, a history, a look that stands out among the 200-plus schools in the state.
Named after deceased former coach Tot Workman, this was the first football domed stadium built in America on a high school campus. It opened in 1991 at a cost of $11 million and has been used for several sports, including track and field. It's got a majestic look 8,000 feet above sea level in the White Mountains. It's worked out well because of the harsh cold weather that can come through in the fall and winter. It seats about 5,500 fans.
It's no longer Cesar Chavez on the stadium in Laveen (the school has been renamed), but Cactus Canyon has that old-school look that stands out. It was obviously modeled after Montgomery Stadium, which was demolished in 1987 and was once the home field for Phoenix Union, which closed in 1982.
Cromer Stadium is something out of the 1940s, tucked in the pines in Flagstaff. The school opened in 1967, but the grandstands were built in the 1940s. In 2018, Flagstaff and Coconino played their rivalry game at Cromer, marking the 50th anniversary of Coconino's first state football championship. Usually, the big rivalry game is played at Northern Arizona's Walkup Skydome.

Manchester United’s proposed transfer for Atalanta midfielder Ederson is not entirely dead, as the club has not ruled out finalising a deal for the Brazilian international. Michael Carrick is at Old Trafford. Although complications have slowed progress, United are actively seeking to resurrect the marquee move by restructuring the originally agreed terms.
United had previously reached a full agreement with Atalanta for an initial £35 million, plus £3.8 million in performance-related add-ons, along with a four-year contract for the player. However, after Ederson completed his international duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, United’s medical team conducted comprehensive evaluations. The scans reportedly raised concerns about a pre-existing knee injury, specifically a meniscus issue sustained during the previous domestic campaign—prompting speculation that the deal was off.
Despite the speculation, United are still keen to secure the 27-year-old midfielder to strengthen their midfield, even with the impending arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, for whom a deal has recently been agreed. Rather than abandoning their pursuit of Ederson, the Old Trafford hierarchy are exploring a revised financial package. United aim to renegotiate the deal to mitigate risk, potentially shifting the structure more towards appearance-based variables rather than upfront payments.
Atalanta, for their part, have adopted a relaxed stance. Head coach Maurizio Sarri and the club’s board remain convinced that Ederson is fully fit, citing his active involvement for Brazil off the bench during the World Cup knockout stages as evidence.
If Manchester United fail to reach a restructured agreement soon, the Serie A side are prepared to welcome Ederson back to pre-season training, with a lucrative new five-year contract already on the table.

Kevin O'Connell sets one standard for Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell appeared on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday and addressed the quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy by directing the conversation away from who has an edge and toward what the organization needs from whoever wins the job.
"The goal going into this offseason was to elevate the quarterback position because when we have a certain standard of play that we feel like we have multiple guys in that room that we feel are capable of reaching that standard, the Minnesota Vikings win football games," O'Connell said. "The best way to achieve that is having a daily attempt to have guys push each other and not just always need the outside noise or not always need what the narratives may be. Let's roll the ball out there, and let's try to help the Minnesota Vikings get better."
He was direct about where the competition stands while declining to show any preference.
"I'm not really familiar with a closed competition," O'Connell said. On the specific players: "Kyler has come in and done a great job. J.J., I think, has benefited from it; he's had a really good spring. Carson Wentz is this veteran quarterback in the room."

MIAMI GARDENS — England star Jude Bellingham has brought the "Three Lions" level against Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal at Hard Rock Stadium.
Bellingham scored a superb goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time on Saturday, July 11 to make the score 1-1.
Watch the World Cup live on Fubo (free trial)
This is Norway's first appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals, while England is here for the third straight tournament, eyeing a return to its semifinal form from 2018.
Today's winner will wait around to learn their semifinal opponent: Lionel Messi and Argentina, or Granit Xhaka and Switzerland.

The 2026 MLB Draft has arrived and many current and possible future LSU baseball players hope to receive a phone call from a team's executives over the next two days.
Sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel has been the top prospect for LSU coach Jay Johnson's Tigers this entire draft cycle and that has not changed over this past year. Curiel has been projected to come off the board in the first round, anywhere from No. 10 to mid-20s.
As part of MLB's All-Star Weekend festivities, the two-day, 20-round MLB Draft begins July 11 when the first 10 picks will air on NBC and stream in Peacock. The rest of the draft will take place on MLB Network and MLB.com through July 12 until it's finished.
MOCK DRAFTS FOR LSU PLAYERS Latest MLB Draft projections for Derek Curiel, LSU baseball players
Here is every LSU player and high school signee taken in the 2026 MLB Draft.

India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill added another memorable moment to his England tour after receiving an invitation to watch the ongoing Wimbledon 2026 Championships from the iconic Royal Box.

With the invitation, Gill became only the fourth Indian cricket captain to be hosted in the prestigious enclosure, joining the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Reserved for distinguished guests from sport, entertainment, politics and public life, the Royal Box is among the most exclusive seating areas at the All England Club and is regarded as one of Wimbledon's highest honours for visiting personalities.
Gill's visit has also generated significant buzz on social media. A video showing the India captain in conversation with tennis great Roger Federer has gone viral, with fans delighted to see two sporting icons sharing a moment at the Championships.
The 26-year-old was also spotted watching the action alongside Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali Tendulkar, adding another high-profile moment to his Wimbledon appearance.

Gill is currently in England with the Indian team ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. Despite a busy international schedule, he has managed to attend two of Britain's biggest sporting events during the tour.

Earlier this week, Gill experienced his first Formula 1 race after attending the British Grand Prix at Silverstone as a VIP guest.

The Indian skipper enjoyed behind-the-scenes access throughout the race weekend, visiting the paddock, interacting with members of the Formula 1 fraternity and getting a close look at areas typically reserved for teams, drivers and special invitees.

On the field, Gill has been in excellent touch during the bilateral series. He remained unbeaten on 84 in the opening match before producing a commanding 154 in the second game. In the third and final fixture, the opener moved himself down the batting order as India sealed a comfortable nine-wicket victory.

India will now take on England in the fifth and final T20I at Southampton on Saturday before shifting focus to the three-match ODI series.

The OKC Thunder will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a Las Vegas Summer League game at 9 p.m. CT Friday.
This is the first of four Las Vegas Summer League games for OKC, which went 0-3 during Salt Lake City Summer League play. Meanwhile, Los Angeles went 2-1 during the California Classic.
Here's everything you need to know about Friday's game between the Thunder and Lakers:
TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder drops Summer League game to Jazz as Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz sit

Australia's Cruz Hewitt has reached the Wimbledon boys' final - 24 years after his father, Lleyton, claimed the men's singles **** le.
The 17-year-old beat Dutch player Thijs Boogaard 6-4 6-4 to set up a **** le-decider on Sunday against American Jordan Lee.
It is his fifth successive straight-set win at this year's championships, and he has been taken to a tie-break just once in that impressive run.
Hewitt has been supported court-side during the tournament by Lleyton, who beat David Nalbandian in the 2002 Wimbledon final.
Former world number one Lleyton also won the 2001 US Open and reached the final of the 2005 Australian Open.

What time is Spain vs. Belgium? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Spain's stingy defense goes up against Belgium's red-hot attack in a World Cup quarterfinal clash between an impenetrable force and a nearly unstoppable one.
Spain is chasing its first semifinal berth since winning it all in 2010, punching its ticket with a 91st-minute Mikel Merino winner over Portugal. La Roja still haven't conceded a goal all tournament and became the first team to reach this stage to do so since Italy in 1990.
Belgium arrives just as hot, having routed the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16 behind a two-goal game from Charles De Ketelaere and single tallies from Romelu Lukaku and Hans Vanaken, extending a streak of three straight matches with three-plus goals.
It's Belgium's first quarterfinal since a third-place finish in 2018, and they're looking to push toward a first-ever World Cup ***** le, though the history is lopsided: Spain is 5-0 all-time against Belgium, including a 5-0 rout in 2009 World Cup qualifying.

Lakers' trade attempt for two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard reportedly blocked originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kawhi Leonard is a bona fide Hall of Fame forward who has remained consistent as a mid-range extraordinaire, three-point sniper, and menacing on-and off-ball defender.
Back in 2018, the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to secure the two-way superstar’s polished two-way services to position themselves perfectly for regular championship runs. According to a former Spurs staffer, the Lakers inquired about a potential blockbuster trade for the seven-time All-Star, but former head coach Greg Popovich quickly put the kibosh on the idea.
“Don’t trade great players to your rivals,” the staffer told the Ringer’s Bill Simmons last Thursday. “I remember the Lakers were calling us in 2018, ‘Can we get Kawhi Leonard from you?’ And Pop was like, (expletive) no.”
“We’re not trading our best player to the team we think is a real threat to our championship hopes over here.’ So we sent him to the Eastern Conference to Toronto (Raptors) for many reasons, but one of them was like we’re not here to help our rivals in Los Angeles.”

We might actually be able to win this thing.
From the fans to the players, that's what everyone must be thinking after England's epic win over Mexico - I know I am - when I genuinely didn't feel that was the case before the game.
There was hope, of course. There's always hope with England at a major tournament, but that performance has pushed us all further forward and given everyone, including me, confidence and belief too.
Before I went to the Azteca Stadium, and watched us deal with everything that was thrown at us, I didn't truly believe England could win this World Cup - but I've changed my mind, and I think everyone else has too.
I still don't know if we will win it but everything about the way we played against Mexico showed why we can.

Geovany Quenda has said he is excited by the challenge of the Premier League after Chelsea confirmed the arrival of the winger from Sporting CP.
Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Quenda from the Portuguese side in 2025, with the move becoming official this week.
The 19-year-old arrives as one of Portugal's most exciting young talents and was named Primeira Liga Young Player of the Season as Sporting won the ****** le in 2024/25. Last season, he scored six times in 32 senior appearances.
Speaking at his unveiling, Quenda said he's excited about testing himself in English football and said a transfer to thePremier League is the fulfilment of a childhood goal. He named former Chelsea favourite Eden Hazard as one of his core memories of his new side.
"Obviously, it is the best league. It is the best league and us players always have the dream of reaching the highest level. So obviously I have dreamed of playing in the Premier League," the teenager toldchelseafc.com.

We'll keep track of every time a Dodgers player is optioned to the minor leagues during the 2026 season.
Details on these transactions can also be found on our 40-man roster tracker, but here we will chronicle every specific time a player gets sent down, relative to the limits set by MLB.
Major League rule 7(d) states that a player cannot be optioned to the minors more than five times during a single season. If a player who has been optioned five times is called back to the majors, they cannot be sent back down to the minors without being placed on waivers first.
For purposes of this rule, only options after opening day count. So anyone sent down during spring training won't have that count against the limit of five.
In 2025, as one example, reliever Will Klein was optioned to the minors five times during the regular season, first with the Seattle Mariners and then with the Dodgers.

Liverpool need to get a bit busier than they currently are this summer.
Almost every area of their squad could do with a new player being added to it but, without getting rid of some of their own players, they won't be able to afford to do this.
Of course, if they didn't spend over £450 million last summer, they'd be in a much better place but, they unfortunately did so now they have to pay the price and get rid of even more members of their squad.
Several players have already been linked with an exit but, for one Liverpool star, his future seems to have gotten a little bit more cloudy.
Before Arne Slot was relieved of his duties, it felt like Curtis Jones already had one foot out of the Anfield doors.