Ben Simmons continues to make major strides amid his NBA comeback bid, reportedly participating "with zero restrictions at a player-led private minicamp for the Australian men's basketball team" this week.
However, Simmons' latest offseason highlights did little to win over the NBA world, instead reigniting familiar mockery of the 2016 No. 1 pick.
At his peak, Simmons was viewed as one of the NBA's premier defenders and facilitators, with his 6-foot-10 frame placing him among the league's most unique players. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, a combination of injuries and mental confidence blocks amid mounting scrutiny contributed to his sharp decline.
Amid Simmons' up-and-down basketball journey, 3-point shooting has remained a constant weakness, as he has shot a meager 5-for-36 (13.9%) for his career. While the three-time All-Star has struggled to demonstrate in-game shooting improvements, his ability to thrive in offseason settings has long been a source of confusion and irritation.
After sitting out the entire 2025-26 season with a back injury, Simmons is angling to make a comeback. Per ESPN's Marc J. Spears, "several NBA teams have expressed interest in Simmons, who is open to signing a minimum contract." Spears added that "one source said he has a non-guaranteed offer on the table for training camp with a Western Conference team."

#amid #Basketball #team

LAS VEGAS – Sin City is no stranger to seeing a hot streak come to an end.
The Washington Mystics weren't in Vegas long before theirs went cold. Riding a WNBA-best run of seven straight victories into the home of the defending champions, the Aces (23-11) dealt their visitors a bad hand Tuesday night, extinguishing the sizzling Mystics in an 86-76 win — in turn snapping a two-game losing skid of their own.
In a nutshell, this young Mystics (19-13) squad is really good. However, there is only so much you can do when A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young have it going.
Wilson led all scorers with 26 points and added 13 rebounds to notch another double-double (17). She went 10-for-18 from the field and racked up six stocks (four blocks, two steals). Young kept pace with the four-time MVP, pouring in 25 points (4-9 3PT, 7-7 FT) to go along with eight clean ******* ists (no turnovers).
"I needed a game with no turnovers," she said. "I [always] like to keep them low, so it feels good to go out there and make the right reads and still be able to be aggressive and get to my spots."

#mystics #young #vegas #double

Revealed: Why Hardik Pandya's return to Gujarat ****** ans is impossible ahead of IPL 2027 season originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hardik Pandya's captaincy demand blocks Gujarat ****** ans return talks.
MI are evaluating Pandya's role after a ninth-place finish and ten losses.
Fan relationship remains strained since his 2022 switch to MI.
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya reportedly opened discussions with Gujarat ****** ans about a potential comeback to the franchise, but those talks fell apart after he insisted on being reinstated as captain.

#talks #preferred #source

Indiana Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark publicly backed Stephanie White after Indiana's second-year head coach was booed on the team's home court at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The boo birds rained down on White ahead of a 106-92 win over the New York Liberty, which marked the Fever's first game since Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington's hard foul on Sophie Cunningham and subsequent "White Privilege" post Aug. 8 reignited conversations about player safety and race. Some Fever fans felt White didn't adequately defend Cunningham, with Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith going as far as calling for White to be fired.
"I told (Stephanie White) that before the game, there was no way we were losing this game for her. And it's tough. That's my head coach. I hated that our fans booed her before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest," Clark said in her postgame remarks. "It's professional sports, people are going to boo, but at the end of the day... we're going to ride for her and we're always going to have her back and that's never going to tear our locker room apart."
Clark added, "I just love her and I feel for her because I know it can be a lot at times and she does a great job a lot of times blocking it out, but there's other moments where it can get under your skin and that's just being human and that's just life."
“There was no way we were losing this game for [Stephanie White]. … I hated that our fans booed her before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest.”

Caitlin Clark on the Indiana Fever’s motivation heading into tonight’s game against the Liberty. pic.twitter.com/NlIR1Umxkz

#going #fever #booed #caitlin

Tuesday, Aug.11
Eastwood def. Americas 25-8, 25-17, 25-14
Eastwood: Katia Valerio 11 kills 6 digs, 3 aces, Jovane Estebane 6 digs, 2 kills, Mia Lopez 10 kills, 5 digs, Kaylee Armendariz 8 kills, 2 digs, Belle Sanchez 6 kills, 2 ******* ists, 10 digs, 4 blocks, Ariana Aranda 6 ******* ists, Kessia Valerio 9 digs, 4 aces
Pebble Hills defeated Del Valle 25-21, 25-14, 25-15
Pebble Hills: Kylah D. 16 kills, 4 digs, 2 aces, Camila M. 7 kills,4 blocks,1 ace, Addison P. 7 kills, 5 digs,3 aces,2 blocks, Raelyn S.34 ******* t,4 digs

#blocks #valerio #hills #tuesday

US-based investment company McIntyre Partnerships delivered flat performance in H1 2026, returning 0% gross and -1% net compared to the Russell 2000 Value Index's 23% return. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter results were a complete reversal of Q1 results, with the portfolio appreciating 23.0% (gross) and 23.3% (net), outperforming the index's 17.3%. The overall market surge contributed to this performance, alongside several positive developments related to the firm's holdings. Since inception, the fund has returned ~16% gross and ~12% net per annum, surpassing the benchmark's return of ~9% per annum. The portfolio is highly concentrated, with QDEL as the largest holding, creating volatility. Despite mixed results, the firm remains confident in the portfolio, particularly with QDEL viewed as a key investment opportunity. Potential for further growth is expected from several large investments with promising catalysts. In addition, you can check the Strategy's top 5 holdings to determine its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, McIntyre Partnerships highlighted Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC). Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC) is a US-based company that provides sterilization solutions, lab testing, and advisory services for the healthcare industry. On August 7, 2026, Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC) closed at $18.86 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $5.38 billion. Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC) posted a one-month return of 5.04%, while its shares gained 25.61% over the past 52 weeks.
McIntyre Partnerships stated the following regarding Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ:SHC) saw positive Q1 results, with the key Sterigenics segment continuing its return to HSD organic growth following the COVID destocking in 2023 and 2024. Further, SHC also had positive legal news regarding its Georgia litigation, where the judge threw out 5 lawsuits with reasoning that implies the remaining 450 cases are likely to be rejected as well. While I believe the judge's ruling implies current liability is sub-$50MM, I estimate a worst-case $400k per case settlement, or $180MM, even if appeals reverse the decision. This compares to SHC's 2026 EBITDA of ~$640MM. The company also saw a CEO transition, with its long-time CEO transitioning to Executive Chairman and the hiring of CEO Shader from Viant, a medical device services company where he served as CEO. We are encouraged that former CEO Petras remains on the board and intends to play an active role in ensuring a smooth transition.
Finally, and most importantly, following Q1 earnings, SHC's former private equity owners sold the last of their shares. I believe the PE firms' selling pressure, via predictable quarterly block trades, has been a considerable overhang on SHC's shares over the past year. With this overhang gone, I believe SHC is well positioned to reweight towards peers. I es

Chargers center Tyler Biadasz was ranked as one of the better players at his position heading into the 2026 season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Biadasz ranks as the ninth-best center ahead of the season.
"Biadasz didn't spend long on the open market following his surprise release in February before the Chargers scooped him up to solidify one of their biggest offseason needs," Mason Cameron of PFF wrote.
"New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel knows the value of stability on the interior, and Biadasz fits that bill. While he isn't the most dynamic blocker, Biadasz continues to raise his upside after posting the highest overall PFF grade (70.8) of his career in 2025."
Cardinals' Hjalte Froholdt, Bills' Connor McGovern and Saints' Erik McCoy all rank above Biadasz.

#center #according #focus #mason

Aug. 11—PULLMAN — When it's at its best, when players are zigging and zagging and swimming and powering through, Washington State's defensive line can look like a tidal wave. The Cougars can overwhelm anyone in their way, offensive linemen from the first or second team, tight ends staying in for extra protection, poor running backs trying their best to chip block to buy their quarterback a half-second of time.
They come crashing from all angles. Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk from the edges, Paul Hutson and Kaden Beatty and Jirah Leaupepetele from the interior, all surging forward to crash toward the quarterback like a tsunami leveling a city square. It isn't so much about if they'll force the offense into a mistake. It's more about when.
That group made its presence felt in Tuesday's fall camp practice, WSU's fifth of the slate, terrorizing all manner of offensive counterparts in the second half of practice, which unfolded at Gesa Field. Highlights belonged to all kinds of linemen: Leaupepetele beat his matchup to stack up several inside runs, as did fellow lineman Malachi Wrice, and on one sequence, a sea of Cougars converged to drive running back Leo Pulalasi backward for a loss.
And that's to say nothing of one succession of plays in particular. On three straight plays in 11-on-11 settings, quarterback Julian Dugger took three straight sacks: one from cornerback Ishmael Gibbs, who cashed in on a well-designed cornerback blitz; one from emerging defensive tackle Josh Wedel; and one from redshirt freshman defensive tackle Malijah Tucker. Each defender beat his matchups up front to surge into the backfield for simulated tackles.
It was by far the best day of fall camp for WSU's defensive front, which might be the deepest position on the team. On Tuesday, the Cougars got big plays from Leaupepetele, Wrice, Wedel and Tucker, but as camp unfolds and the season approaches, they've gotten the same from Hutson, SMU transfer Damarjhe Lewis, Balaam Miller and others.

#camp #plays #wrice

Tyrese Maxey admits he has to sacrifice to play with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the offseason moves they have made, the Philadelphia 76ers have entered a new era. They are now among the favorites in the Eastern Conference because they now have recent All-NBA Second Team member Jaylen Brown and the iconic LeBron James.
This 76ers team now has one of the most intimidating squads in the league, which could propel them to **** le contention. However, this will require some big-time adjustments from the 76ers players who have gotten used to their roles, like Tyrese Maxey.
As the newest contender on the block, the 76ers are ready to shock the rest of the league. The 76ers are the most exciting team in the league now because of the new additions, but that does not mean that they are automatically the favorites to win the championship.
Philadelphia will have to play against the likes of the New York Knicks, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs, who are deemed the best teams in the league. Despite the 76ers having this amazing starting lineup, they might still struggle against those teams.

#league #tyrese

Last Saturday, Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington elbowed Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham in the face while attempting a chase-down block. Carrington was ******* sed a Flagrant 2 and ejected from the game.
After the Fever beat the Sky, Fever head coach Stephanie White commented on the controversial play.
"I mean, look, it was a hard foul," White said at her postgame press conference. "I don't think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did, but it did happen, and I thought it was the right call. But one of the things about [Carrington] is that she's gonna play her ******* off, man. She's gonna compete. ******* ody's gonna go walking in for a layup. I don't oppose the hard foul, but I also don't think she intentionally went for the neck."
Before returning home to Indiana to become the Fever's head coach in November 2024, White was head coach of the Connecticut Sun for the 2023 and '24 WNBA seasons, winning the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year award. She coached Carrington on the Sun for those two years. So, if anyone not named DiJonai Carrington has the authority to speak on her playing style, it's White.
But, as with all matters of the WNBA, people who otherwise don't care about women's basketball latched onto this and blew it out of proportion. Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith publicly called for White's job. Beckwith wasn't alone in criticizing White, as the likes of Linda Cohn and Jason Whitlock joined the chorus.

#carrington #indiana

Wayne Barrow granted summary judgment on two claims in a court case against Faith Evans over control of The Notorious B.I.G.'s intellectual property
Barrow was named sole trustee by the rapper's mother Voletta Wallace before her death, replacing Evans' son C.J.
Evans allegedly blocked Barrow's rights to the trust, but the court ruled in his favor to manage the legacy
The Notorious B.I.G.'s former manager Wayne Barrow has secured a win in court over the rapper's widow Faith Evans, who he claims has tried to block him from his rightful share of the late star's trust.
A Delaware judge sided with Barrow in a judgment published on Aug. 7 that centers on management of the rapper's intellectual property and trustee appointments made by his mother Voletta Wallace before her death in 2025.

#claims

The Atlanta Falcons are just three days away from making their 2026 NFL season preseason debut against the Denver Broncos. While we don't know how many of the team's starters will play in Friday's opener, the players have been putting in some serious work at practice.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Tua Tagovailoa heats up, Michael Penix Jr. draws praise from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, Atlanta signs two more players to the roster and Avieon Terrell is held out of practice due to injury.
The Falcons claimed former Alabama guard Jaeden Roberts off of waivers from the Eagles on Tuesday afternoon. Roberts, an undrafted free agent, signed with Philadelphia following the 2026 NFL Draft but was waived on Monday. Atlanta could use the extra depth up front after waiving former seventh-round pick Jack Nelson earlier this week.
"Roberts is a powerful guard-only prospect with elite body composition but technique that falls below the NFL mark," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Roberts' pre-draft scouting report. "He has legendary weight-room strength that will flash on tape, but he struggles to play under control and cleanly fit blocks."
The Falcons signed veteran tight end Nick Muse to their 90-man roster on Tuesday morning. The team also placed undrafted free agent wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington and linebacker Malik Verdon on the waived/injured list in corresponding moves.

#play #roster

Morgan Fairchild stepped out for a night of live music — and kept her mask on while doing it.
The actress, 76, shared a photo from a concert featuring singer Sarah McLachlan at the Greek Theatre on Instagram on Friday, August 7. "#OnMyWalk to see the incomparable officialsarahmclachlan at greek_theatre with my fabulous friend galeannehurd who was so kind to include me AND is a fellow masker," Fairchild wrote in the caption. "A great show & a great friend! #BeKind Sending Love To You All!"
The "fabulous friend" she referenced is Gale Anne Hurd, 70, the veteran Hollywood producer behind blockbusters including The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss and Armageddon, as well as AMC's hit series The Walking Dead.
Her Instagram post drew hundreds of reactions, with many followers praising Fairchild in the comment section for continuing to mask up in public settings. "Love seeing you still masking to protect yourself and others. You're an incredible woman and human being," one person commented. Another wrote, "Thank you for masking! Protect yourselves AND others! Who likes backwash air?"
Mega

#love #greek

New York Giants fullback Patrick Ricard left little doubt about the identity head coach John Harbaugh is installing in East Rutherford.
Appearing on NFL Network's Inside Training Camp Live, the veteran lead blocker said the message was clear from the moment Harbaugh recruited him.
"You know, when Harbaugh was recruiting me to come up here, he told me that he's building a bully in New York, and I think that's exactly what we're trying to do," Ricard said. "We're trying to be the bullies in this area. And if you come to MetLife Stadium, you're gonna get bullied, and that's exactly what we want to be."
Ricard spent his entire previous career with the Baltimore Ravens under Harbaugh before signing with the Giants this offseason. The coach's pitch about constructing a physical, imposing roster proved decisive. That same emphasis on toughness has been visible throughout training camp, where Ricard and other newcomers have set a more violent tone in the trenches and on the edges.
The fullback stressed that the goal extends beyond mere toughness. The Giants aim to field physical teams that play harder than anyone else and seek to dominate every game.

#ricard #harbaugh #come

The dollar index (DXY00) is up by +0.22% today. The dollar is climbing today amid higher T-note yields, which are strengthening the dollar's interest rate differentials. Also, today's more than +2% increase in WTI crude oil prices is raising inflation expectations and may persuade the Fed to tighten monetary policy, a supportive factor for the dollar.
President Trump on Sunday signaled he's prepared to let economic pressure on Iran build rather than launch additional military strikes, saying the US was only "semi-negotiating" with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and that the US blockade of Iran was deepening the country's financial woes.
Complacency in Gold May Be Hiding the Next Big Move
Dollar Pushes Higher as Crude Oil Surges and T-Note Yields Rise
Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today!

#today #note

At the trade deadline, the Phillies traded pitching prospect Ramon Marquez in the midst of a breakout season. Marquez had quickly ascended the Phillies prospect ranks with a strong season split between Single-A and High-A. Over 12 games, he pitched to a 1.68 ERA and struck out 41.9% of batters faced.
With one of the Phillies' top pitching prospects gone, who could be the next to emerge as a future building block? The Phillies have recently drafted pitchers with big strikeout stuff like Marquez, and many have shown flashes of their potential.
Some of these players are still a couple of years away from reaching the major leagues. However, they give the organization solid depth for the future or potential pieces for bigger trades.
Drafted in consecutive rounds in 2025, Cade Obermueller and Cody Bowker have both shown elite swing-and-miss potential. Obermueller (PHI #7 ) got out to a late start due to a bout of mononucleosis. Upon returning, he dominated A ball with a 2.78 ERA over 11 starts, though he never topped four innings in a game. Obermueller struck out 35.3% of batters and picked up ground ****** at a 43.8% clip. However, his promotion to High-A has been a struggle (2 games, 7 innings, 10 hits, 9 runs, 6 walks).
Bowker (PHI #13 ), on the other hand, struggled more at surface level in Single-A. In 12 games, he posted a 5.90 ERA despite an excellent 37.9 K%. Batters struggled to make significant contact against him regularly, holding opponents to an average exit velocity of 84.4 MPH. His 15.5% swinging strike rate and 33.2 Whiff% were above-average for his level, too. His walk rate wasn't particularly strong (11.8%), but where he struggled the most was leaving runners on base. While not a perfect measurement, the MLB average for LOB% is at 72.3%. Bowker, meanwhile, struggled mightily in that regard with a 54.2 LOB%.

#Phillies #batters

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Defensive end Myles Garrett was held out of the Los Angeles Rams' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, while wide receiver Puka Nacua left the workout early because of an apparent injury.
Sean McVay said Garrett did not participate as a precaution because of swelling in his knee, which has the two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year who was acquired in a blockbuster trade in June feeling 85% healthy, according to his new head coach. Garrett missed time earlier in training camp because of what McVay described as lower body soreness.
The Rams are still learning how to manage Garrett's workload in practice. The Cleveland Browns limited reps for Garrett later on in his tenure, allowing him to play in 83 of a possible 85 games over his final five seasons there.
"I don't know what 100% is going to look like, but it must be pretty good if that's 85%," McVay said. "He's so tough, he wanted to be able to be out there. ... There's nothing to be concerned about. It was just kind of us erring on the side of caution. There wasn't any setbacks, anything like that."
Nacua came out of practice accompanied by team trainers, but McVay did not have an update on what happened to his No. 1 receiver who had 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

#practice

With Jaguars coach Liam Coen announcing that he won't play his starters in the first preseason game every one of these practice reps becomes that much more valuable. This is the Saints' first chance to pit their best against their opponent's best. And with that in mind, here are four matchups we'll be watching closely:
Hunter has secured his place on top of Jacksonville's depth chart at cornerback, and he's looking to build off of a rookie year full of encouraging moments but short on game tape after he was shut down with a knee injury after Week 7. Similarly, Saints fans had to wait to see Tyson until the Saints opened up training camp because they kept him on ice throughout the spring to rest an injured hamstring. Now both young pros are playing well. Seeing who comes out ahead should be one of Thursday's biggest draws.
Harrison started the last three seasons at right tackle, and he has looked like the Jags' best blocker regardless of position. But now he's lining up on the left side (where he played in college at Oklahoma) while projected starter Cole Van Lanen deals with an injury. This is a great test for Young against one of the league's better young tackles. The Saints are eager to see Young take the next step after breaking out with ten sacks last season. He's talked a lot of trash and taken on a more vocal role as a leader during practice. Winning his battles with Harrison would be tremendous.
Walker has caught some heat for not being as effective a pass rusher as the guy drafted right behind him (Aidan Hutchinson), but he's consistently won his matchups with the Jaguars' right tackles at training camp and is exactly the type of high-end athlete who gave Fuaga trouble last season. Fuaga did have to fight through a couple of different injuries last season so proving he can stand up to one of the Jags' top edge rushers would inspire real confidence. Josh Hines-Allen is one to watch, too, but it sounds like he's mainly rushing off the right side of the formation (and against Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.).
Washington broke out last season with 65 catches for 954 yards and six touchdowns (including thee playoffs), quickly ****** erting himself as one of Trevor Lawrence's favorite targets. He split time in the slot with Jakobi Meyers but was targeted more often when he did line up inside, leading Jacksonville in yards (458) and touchdowns (3) by healthy margins. He'll be the one to watch when the Saints roll out their nickel personnel with safety Jonas Sanker manning the slot. He's had his hands full with Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson rotating into the slot throughout training camp, but getting to work against another team's talent will show us if he's ready to hold it down when the season starts.

#last

Cavaliers, Hawks, Bucks, Clippers battling for $11M NBA champion, 3-and-D breakout star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA offseason has been an exciting one, with everything that has taken place, from blockbuster trades to massive signings. There are still several names on the market who are being heavily pursued by teams around the league.
One of those players is Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, who has already won an NBA championship. He could be on his way out of Denver, as the Nuggets have been unable to meet his contract demands.
"The Nuggets' offer for Peyton Watson remains in the $16-18 million per year range, per The Stein Line. Denver and Watson's representatives, Klutch Sports, are dug in on their value. If Denver doesn't want to cooperate on a sign-and-trade, Watson could take the qualifying offer," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
A team that appears to be all in on Watson is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are looking for a starting wing. The 23-year-old has emerged as one of their top priorities.

#nuggets #cavaliers #hawks

Good luck finding any Big 12 season previews that don't spend 1/3 of their ****** e talking about Brandon Sorsby. That subject has been covered to death, so I'm limiting myself to merely mentioning that he will not be the QB for Texas Tech this season. The gap he leaves creates one of the bigger question marks in a conference. Even with that uncertainty, the Red Raiders will enter the season as favorites to defend their conference championship and make it back to the CFP. Who are the teams best situated to challenge Texas Tech for the conference ****** le and possibly make the Big 12 a two-bid league?
Texas Tech
Texas Tech has arguably adapted to the NIL/Transfer Portal era better than any team in the country, unsavory as it may be. Alum/Benefactor/Oil Tycoon/Slimeball Cody Campbell has given the team one of the top NIL budgets in the country and they have used it to elevate their talent level a clear cut above their in-conference competition. Last year, they last a single conference game, hammered the next two teams consistently over three combined meetings (BYU and Utah), finished in the top 10 in Offensive and Defensive SP+, and made a run to the CFP Quarterfinals. This year, Will Hammond looks like the starting QB, once he fully recovers from a torn ACL suffered early last season. Hammond is unspectacular, but gets the job done. The rest of the roster is loaded. RB Cameron ****** ey might be the biggest star, but the offensive line is probably the best overall unit. Even WR looks great with four big-time transfers coming in. They also took in basically an entire starting-quality defensive lineup through the transfer portal despite having decent returning production. They might not have anyone as dominant as DE David Bailey, but they are incredibly deep with proven players everywhere on the depth chart. Like Miami in the ACC, something would have to go horribly wrong to offset the talent advantage they have over the rest of the conference.
BYU
The Cougars once again fought to retain Kalani Sitake after another season where they performed above expectations. QB Bear Bachmeier was good as a true freshman, which usually means there is room to grow into being a true star. They reloaded their offensive line, including UW tackle prospect Paki Finau, who was blocked on the depth chart in Seattle. There are two question marks related to departures They have to replace their top three receivers from a season ago without obvious backfills. They also lost their DC, Jay Hill, to Michigan. Despite the loss of Hill, the defense returns lots of experience and production, which should ease the transition for promoted LB coach Kelly Poppinga. As is often the case with BYU teams under Sitake, the question will be about the offensive explosiveness. If Bachmeier has the receivers to make enough big plays, it looks like the defense and the running game should support a real contender.

#offensive #make #teams

The Washington Huskies have turned the majority of their attention on the recruiting trail to the 2028 class, and Jedd Fisch's coaching staff is beginning to set game-day visits for some of its top targets.
Among that group is three-star defensive lineman Elijah Willis, who is reportedly set to take an unofficial visit to Seattle on November 7 when the Huskies take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound product of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Michigan, is ranked as the No. 474 overall prospect and No. 48 defensive lineman in the 2028 class by 247Sports, and is also expected to visit Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, and Wisconsin during the season.
Willis holds ten offers, with the Badgers, Cornhuskers, and Hawkeyes all among the interested parties, as his recruitment could see a major uptick ahead of his junior year.
On film, Willis is an impressive athlete who plays on both sides of the ball, thriving along the offensive line as well while mainly playing right tackle. He routinely fires out of his stance and is asked to pull across the formation frequently as a lead blocker, which he does with good speed and fluidity.
On the defensive side, where he's expected to fit at the college level, that athleticism could help him develop into a disruptive pass rusher in the Big Ten, as defensive coordinator Ryan Walters most likely views him as a fit for his five-man front look, which is advantageous for explosive interior linemen against heavier guards.

#penn #lineman

On this week's Out of the Blue podcast, the boys continue their 2026 Michigan football preview! Jared and Andrew take a 20,000-foot view of Michigan's Week 7-9 opponents: Indiana, Rutgers and Michigan State. Next, they kick off their defensive preview, discussing linebackers, corners and safeties.
Be sure to submit any mailbag questions to OOTBsports23gmail.com.
This is far from the only place you can listen to our podcasts covering the Michigan Wolverines. You can also stream them from your iPhone or Android device by subscribing to The Block M Podcast Network on iTunes, Google Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify. Never miss an episode, and be sure to subscribe, rate, tell your friends, and drop us a five-star review.
Wherever you go, Go Blue!
A big thank you as always to Wes Anderson for providing music to this podcast and all Maize n Brew podcasts. You can listen to Wes below and be sure to support and follow him on Twitter SongsByWes.

#michigan #preview #week

Black bishop and author Earl Walker Jackson, a descendant of enslaved ancestors, is criticizing the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for what he said amounts to anti-American "indoctrination" against the "greatest nation on earth."
Although his great-grandparents were enslaved, Jackson believes that "if you were born an American, you hit the proverbial lottery because you have more opportunity and hope than any people living anywhere else on the planet."
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jackson said the latest controversy over what the White House described as the Smithsonian's woke "ideological capture" angered him because of what he views as smears against the U.S.
"It makes me angry when people do this to our country, but it's sad too because what it tells me is that the indoctrination machine is hard at work convincing people [of] this narrative," he said. "This is a wonderful country; it's the greatest nation on earth. And you've got people so indoctrinated into seeing our country sliced and diced into race and ethnicity and class and income and so forth that they fail to understand the blessing of the United States of America."
Smithsonian's Taxpayer Funds Face Chopping Block As Gop Demands Accountability For 'Woke' History

#jackson #country

MoneyGram has launched its crypto on- and off-ramp service on Solana, letting people on the network move between digital ****** ets and physical cash through the payments company's global network.
MoneyGram is a payments firm with more than 85 years of experience, serving over 60 million customers through nearly half a million retail locations worldwide.
Its product, MoneyGram Ramps, is a tool that lets apps connect users to cash-to-crypto and crypto-to-cash services, a "ramp" being the bridge between traditional money and digital ****** ets.
Solana is a blockchain network built for fast, low-cost transactions, which has made it one of the most active networks for payments, trading, and stablecoins.
"By connecting our ecosystem to MoneyGram's global payments network through MoneyGram Ramps, developers are able to more easily build financial applications with real-world utility at global scale," said Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, the nonprofit that supports the network.

#moneygram #payments #digital

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off one of the noisiest offseasons in all of college football. Head coach Sherrone Moore was dismissed from the program after the Univeristy determined that he had been involved in an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer.
"U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately," the university announced in December. "Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member."
The university then hired Jenner & Block, a Chicago-based law firm, to launch a full investigation into the practices and culture of its athletic department and the scandals that have impacted it recently. Ultimately, the investigation led to the school and athletic director Warde Manuel agreeing to mutually part ways at the end of the year.
Now, the school and football program are looking to turn the corner, a process that started with the hire of the well-respected Kyle Whittingham as the football program's new head coach. Whittingham is inheriting a team that went 9-4 last season, including a loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. For Whittingham to get the Wolverines back to ****** le contention, he'll have to unlock the full potential of quarterback Bryce Underwood, the number-one overall in the 2025 recruiting class.
Luckily for Michigan fans, he's poised to do just that.

#coach #head #sherrone

Willem Dafoe has never stopped working long enough to be rediscovered. And yet, each generation seems to find him anew.
That's the intriguing juxtaposition at the center of Late Fame, out now, a wry new film in which Dafoe plays Ed Saxberger, a onetime poet whose long-forgotten work is suddenly embraced by a group of young artists (The Enthusiasm Society). Unlike Ed, who left poetry behind for a tranquil life, Dafoe has steadily kept creating. Still, he understands the seduction of having a younger generation turn your past work into its own mythology.
He experienced it firsthand while making the film. Dafoe's young costars asked him about To Live and Die in L.A. and other projects from earlier in his career, mirroring the way their characters idolize Ed.
"I get sucked into telling stories, entertaining them and playing 'the old dude,' when I don't feel like the old dude," he tells Yahoo for the latest Off the Cuff. "But in this context, I was."
Dafoe has experienced that rediscovery on a much larger scale through Spider-Man. More than two decades after he first played Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's 2002 blockbuster, the franchise continues to introduce him to new fans — sometimes literally. When he's stopped on the street, he reveals, more often than not, it's because of Green Goblin.

#dafoe #long #dude #willem

Detroit — The NBA announced on Tuesday morning a tripleheader that will kick off the 2026-27 season on NBC and Peacock. As part of this event, the Detroit Pistons will begin their season and the league's schedule on Oct. 20, facing the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena. The game is scheduled for tip-off at 3 p.m.
The game will feature the top two teams from the Eastern Conference last season. The Pistons finished with the top overall record at 60-22, while the Celtics finished second at 56-26. The Pistons and the Celtics had a close battle for the conference's top seed, but Detroit was able to maintain its distance after winning the four-game regular-season series 3-1.
The game will serve as the official debut for several new players, most notably Isaiah Joe, who was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder in June. Other newcomers making their debut for the Pistons include John Collins, Elijah Harkless, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince. Additionally, first-round pick Ebuka Okorie — whom the Pistons traded up to select with the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — will also be making his official debut.
With six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum leading the way, the Celtics will debut a new look on the Pistons' home floor, with Paul George making his first appearance for the franchise following the blockbuster trade that sent former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in July. The 76ers will open their season inside Madison Square Garden, taking on the defending champion New York Knicks with a tip-off at 7 p.m.
After the 76ers-Knicks game, the league's opening day will conclude with a rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center at 9:30 p.m.

#season #game #city

It didn't take Nasir Wyatt far into his freshman season with the Oregon Ducks before he began impressing, as he recorded his first career sack in the Ducks' second game against the Montana State Bobcats. He logged only 39 snaps but made the absolute most of them, finishing the year third on the team with three sacks, a forced fumble and 11 total tackles.
Primarily deployed on third-down blitzes and various pressures, Wyatt used his 6-foot-2, 228-pound frame to blast past would-be blocker and get to the quarterback in a flash. But what proved to be his superpower also turned out to be his downfall, as a sub-230-pound edge rusher had to be schemed into action. If he were to be on the field on early downs, teams would likely target his side and run the ball right at him, capitalizing on his lean frame.
No more in 2026. With his newly-chiseled, bulky frame, Wyatt arrived at fall camp already impressing and has continued that sentiment through one week, with CBS Sports' Brad Crawford tabbing him as one of the biggest risers thus far infall camp.
"From failing to bulk up early in his career to now tipping the scales at a muscular 245 pounds, Wyatt finally looks the part as one of the Ducks' outside linebackers," Crawford wrote. "Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton said after Oregon's second day of fall camp that Wyatt has a chance to be an "every-down player" this fall, which speaks to his offseason body makeover and what he's shown on the field early. That level of consistency must continue, Hampton says, to warrant extended reps at an uber-talented position group for one of the Big Ten's frontrunners."
Reps won't come easy for Wyatt, who, as a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher, is behind starters Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, two players garnering early-round buzz in the 2027 NFL Draft class.

#camp

Long before she was finishing opponents inside the cage, Magdalena "The Powerpuff Girl" Czaban was a shy little girl in Krakow, Poland, who simply needed a gentle nudge out of her shell. That nudge ultimately came in the form of sports, and it completely changed the entire trajectory of her life.
The 26-year-old rising star now stands at a flawless 4-0, with every single one of her professional victories coming by way of an early finish. On Friday, August 14, she makes her highly anticipated ONE Championship debut against American veteran Natalie Salcedo in an atomweight MMA showcase at ONE Fight Night 46 on Prime Video. The blockbuster event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Before she steps into the ring for the very first time, here is everything you need to know about the CTRL Fight standout — from her active childhood in southern Poland to the deeply personal battles that successfully shaped her into the martial artist she is today.
Czaban was born and raised in Krakow, a historic city in southern Poland renowned for its stunning architecture, vibrant arts, and rich culture. She grew up alongside her mother, father, and younger brother in a busy household where sitting still was never really an option.
As a child, Czaban was naturally reserved, and her parents recognized early on that structured physical activity might help draw her out of her profound shyness. What began as a well-meaning attempt to build her confidence blossomed into a family lifestyle built almost entirely around constant movement, adventure, and the great outdoors. Weekends and summers were rarely spent indoors.

#czaban #krakow #girl

Tight end is a difficult NFL position to predict. Players who make the leap to the pros have to juggle blocking and receiving duties in more complex schemes, against faster defenders, than they've ever faced before. Years of wear and tear can break an All-Pro candidate into an also-ran in a single play.
Thus, it's incredibly difficult to accurately rank each team's tight end units in the preseason. In 2019, I ranked the Raiders 32nd out of 32 teams... only for Darren Waller to suddenly and explosively reach his potential, kicking off a wave of angry/satisfied emails and social media mentions from Raiders fans that continues to this day (I apologized to Waller for the disrespect on Radio Row four years later. He seemed OK with it!).
This is all to say, these rankings are not only subjective, but immensely subject to change. Young prospects will rise up and claim their potential. Veterans will see a dropoff or stage impressive revivals. But going off the data we currently have, here's how the preseason 2026 tight end unit rankings look. Stats are from NFL Pro and Sumer Sports where applicable.
Gesicki turns 31 this season. He hasn't had a positive yards after catch over expected (YACOE) since 2020 and saw his numbers drop off after a successful Bengals debut in 2024. Sample is an unexciting but useful piece who gets where he needs to be even if he offers modest returns as a receiver.
All could be the guy who boosts this group into the top 20, but he's also the guy who's played only nine NFL games in two seasons. Until he proves he can fulfill his potential, Cincinnati is stuck here.

#tight #waller #difficult #preseason