Kellon Deryck will never forget the day he met Megan Thee Stallion. It was 8 years ago, and the celebrity hairstylist was trying to keep it professional on his first job with the rapper. But Megan wasn't having it, he recalls, laughing.
"I'm normally pretty shy when I first meet someone, so the first day we worked together, I was quiet; I was just there to do my job," he explains. "She **** near tickled me into laughing and talking like, 'Who is this up in here? Who are you?' She made me show my personality. She pulled it out of me." And from that day forward, they were inseparable.
"Even when we're not at work, we're on FaceTime talking about what we're about to do next or how our night was, what we ate, and what TikTok we're about to do, and what food we want to try," says Deryck. "We literally do everything together."
Megan Thee Stallion on InStyle's September 2026 cover, hair styled by Kellon Deryck
The Boston-born, Atlanta-bred hair pro has been behind some of Megan's most unforgettable hair moments, from 2025's Met Gala, for which he crafted an artful, architectural copper-red ponytail inspired by Josephine Baker, to the towering, out-of-this-world sculptural updo he molded for InStyle's September cover. "I always know what story she's trying to tell with her hair," Deryck explains. And over the years, he and Megan, ever the hair chameleon, have done nearly "every kind of look." Their résumé runs the gamut from candy-colored finger waves and Marie Antoinette poufs to jet-black clouds of curls, glossy flipped bobs, Old Hollywood waves, and Rapunzel-length tumbles. His work has even made its way into Megan's lyrics: In "Don't Stop," she raps, "40-inch weave by Kellon, don't tangle."

#we 're #thee #even

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Middle class is apparently one of those terms that can stretch like an old pair of sweatpants. Ask one household and it means a paid-off car and a decent house. Ask another and it apparently means having a couple million dollars tucked away and still wondering whether two beach trips a year counts as splurging.
In a post on Reddit, a 42-year-old man said he had "always considered us middle class," but after finding a personal-finance subreddit, he started wondering if the numbers told a different story. "Maybe we are Upper Middle? You tell me," he wrote.
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#apparently

Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after he was convicted of six felonies related to dog fighting.
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, the most dogs ever seized from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. This is Johnson's second dog fighting conviction; he was also convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004.
"LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct," said Deputy **** istant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind."
The Department of Justice says Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars through his dog fighting operation, selling dogs he described as fighting champions, selling puppies he said were bred to be fighting champions, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters so that his champion males could breed with their females.
The 55-year-old Johnson was a third-round pick of the Packers in 1994 and also played for the Cardinals and Giants before finishing his pro football career with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers.

#leshon #oklahoma #federal #seized

Former UFC light heavyweight ****** le contender Anthony Smith has had his next MMA fight announced despite his recent legal troubles.
Smith was arrested on July 27 in his native Nebraska on three felony charges of first-degree domestic ****** ault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting a $500,000 bond.
Gamebred FC has announced that Smith will return to the cage against Jordan Heiderman on October 2.
"Gamebred Fighting Championship Official Statement: As we announce Anthony Smith's return to the Gamebred FC cage, I want to speak directly about where our organization stands. Anthony is facing serious allegations, and like every person in this country, he is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence while his case moves through the courts. He has pleaded not guilty, and that process deserves to play out fully and fairly, on its own timeline, without a promotion, a headline, or public opinion getting ahead of the facts. Anthony also has a family to provide for, and competing is how he does that. Taking away his ability to earn a living before he has had his day in court is not something Gamebred FC is willing to do to him or to the people who depend on him," Gamebred FC's statement read, per Uncrowned.
Despite his legal issues, Smith's MMA career continues for Gamebred FC after he defeated Chase Sherman in the promotion earlier this year as part of its heavyweight tournament.

#gamebred #Legal #first

Bayern Munich fans turned out to be quite a handful according to a recent ******* ysis on Reddit. German sports betting portal Wettfreunde scoured Bundesliga subreddits to evaluate fan behavior. The Bavarian faithful finished second behind rivals Borussia Dortmund in profanity. On the flip side, Paderborn's fans were both the best-behaved and the most positive.
Some important snaps from are presented below (captured via iMiaSanMia):
– wettfreunde ******* yzed over 130,000 comments from Bundesliga subreddits between August 2025 and August 2026 to determine the most negative, positive, vulgar and polite fan bases over there.

9.89% of comments made by Bayern fans contained swear words (in English and German),… pic.twitter.com/g8DP5IpXoZ
Over 130,000 comments between August 2025 and August of 2026 were ******* yzed from subreddits to ******* s for vulgarity, politeness, negativity and positivity. And, the results are interesting for Bayern. Despite ranking second with nearly 10 percent of the comments containing swear words in German and English, it was negativity that took center-stage. The ******* ysis revealed a sheer lack in optimism among Bayern's fans with over 54 percent of the comments being negative in nature. Only Werder Bremen's supporters beat the Bavarians in this regard by a slim margin of 0.8 percent.
Let us cut to the chase here. Bayern has two major traumas in recent history. The first being injuries tanking the squad's ability in the business end of the season. Second being a run of premature exits from the Champions League. The number of times that Bayern has been the better side only to get shipped off due to missed chances, abysmal officiating or just poor luck has left its mark on the fans. The absence of Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies due to major injuries, Thomas Müller leaving the club and a thin squad at the start of last season did not leave much room for positivity to start with.

#bundesliga

The 2026-27 Bundesliga season opened with Bayern Munich hosting Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena as they looked to begin their defence of the Bundesliga **** le and win it for the third time in a row.
Obviously, the last time these two teams met was in the final game of the German football season last year when Bayern completed their domestic double with a 3-0 win in the DFB Pokal final.
The first major chance came in the 12th minute when Grischa Prömel headed down a cross that deflected into the path of Tiago Tomas, but despite being in front of goal, the forward fired over the bar.
Bayern would be the team to open the scoring when a Joshua Kimmich corner was flicked on by Dayot Upamecano to make it 1-0. After the first game of the new season, the game opened up a lot more, and Bayern managed to gain more control of it after Stuttgart were the better side early on. Nathanial Brown and Konrad Laimer both had clear chances to double the Bundesliga champions' lead before the break.
In the second half, it looked as if Stuttgart were back in it when, in the 52nd minute, Josha Vagnoman's well-taken finish levelled it for Sebastian Hoeneß's side. However, this wouldn't last for long, and when I mean long, I mean three minutes, as Stuttgart would leave Michael Olise wide open in their box and allow him to slot past Fabian Bredlow to restore their lead.

#bayern #last #looked #time

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Note: It was 58 years ago (Aug. 27, 1968) that I first reported for work at United Press International in Chicago, five floors above the Billy Goat Tavern. I've been writing for the company continuously ever since. Sunday will be the 45th anniversary of the first horse race I covered for UPI -- the inaugural Arlington Million.
It's a good thing it's a quiet week on the international front because the North American horse racing schedule is jam packed with goodies. There are five Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races and three others that offer purses of $1 million or more.
One of those seven-figure purses is the $1.25 million Grade I Travers at Saratoga, the "Midsummer Derby" with Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo seeking a virtual lock on year-end honors.
Another is the $1.75 million Grade I Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, where the advertised purses are for Kentucky-breds. Others run for reduced amounts. The third is Friday's $1 million Grade II Charles Town Classic in West Virginia.
The Travers is one of the few remaining chances for 3-year-olds to run against their peers before trying their luck with older horses.

#million #purses #derby

It's deja vu all over again. Dillon Danis won't be fighting this weekend against Mike Perry.
Perry (15-8) announced at a pre-fight news conference Thursday that he'll instead be fighting former UFC fighter Brandon Jenkins (17-11) at Duel Arena 1 at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla.
"Let's not beat around the bush," Perry said. "This p*ssy-ass b*tch Dillon Danis didn't show the f*ck up. He's not here. He backed the f*ck out because he's a p*ssy."
It's unclear why Danis (3-0) is no longer fighting. He has not publicly spoken on the issue, but he's built a reputation for withdrawing from fights over the years.
Jenkins, 34, was in Nevada on Thursday when he got the call to compete. He is currently en route from Las Vegas to Orlando to weigh in tomorrow morning. Over the course of his nearly 17-year competitive career, Jenkins has made stops in the UFC, LFA, PFL, Gamebred Bareknuckle, Karate Combat, and most recently, MVP MMA in May, when he defeated Chris Avila by split decision.

#jenkins #dillon #orlando #mike

When IndyCar drivers roar through the streets of Washington, DC, Aug. 22 and 23, racing within sight of the White House, they'll be adding another chapter to a story that stretches back to the founding of the republic.
Presidents have been going to the races since the nation began.
Long before modern motorsports, presidents spent weekends at horse tracks and bred champion thoroughbreds. They, like America, later also took to cheering on the country's fastest automobiles.
The love of racing goes back to the nation's first president.
George Washington bred racehorses at Mount Vernon, his Virginia home, and was, according to the third president, Thomas Jefferson, "the best horseman of his age." Washington was a regular at racetracks throughout Virginia and Maryland and filled his diaries with notes from more than 150 foxhunts.

#washington #presidents #bred #white

AUBURN — The past couple weeks haven't bred much certainty for what Bryson Washington's upcoming season entails. The past couple days, however, have been a different story.
The Baylor transfer missed most of the spring, and his preseason had a complicated start. Sophomore Omar Mabson II seemingly jumped Washington in Auburn football's running back rotation, following an offseason in which head coach Alex Golesh said Washington was still getting into playing shape.
Nearing the end of fall camp, Washington's trending up after the second of Auburn's preseason scrimmages.
"Bryson, the last week, has shown why he's been able to do what he's done for the last couple of years," Golesh said Wednesday, Aug. 19. "He's taken steps."
Washington was Baylor's leading rusher last fall with 788 rushing yards, but for the entirety of his three seasons in Waco, he recorded 1,861 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns.

#bryson

After the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants in their first preseason game, we have some more tangible play on which to base early evaluations of players on the Vikings' roster. So which players helped their cause on Saturday- and which ones hurt it? Here is a stock market report for the Vikings as they head into joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens later this week. I focused on the quarterbacks, rookies, and those further down the depth chart.
Kyler Murray. Nothing spectacular here, but he was able to run the offense without any big hiccups and at least managed a scoring drive on the one drive he played. A good first trial run.
Carson Wentz. Also showed he can run the offense well after he was given a half-game of snaps. Looking more like QB2 at this point.
Jacob Thomas. Not to be confused with third-round pick Jakobe Thomas. Jacob Thomas is a safety and a UDFA rookie out of James Madison. He had the most reps of any player on both defense and special teams and had the highest PFF grade of any special teamer (82.3) and was tied for the most special teams tackles (2) and was also the second-highest PFF graded defender (92.5) with one tackle for a stop, 2 ******* ists, and an interception. He has impressed in training camp as well and all that is how an unheralded UDFA makes the roster. He was taking some first-team reps in Monday's practice.
Max Bredeson. He only had seven snaps on offense, but he showed he can be an effective role player at fullback in the Vikings' evolving offensive scheme. He also did well as a core special teamer. He looks like he'll be an upgrade over C.J. Ham.

#thomas #offense #well

WNBA forced to clarify Sophie Cunningham stance after Reddit controversy erupts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The WNBA found itself pulled into another controversy involving Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, even though the league had nothing to do with the decision that sparked the backlash. Cunningham's name reportedly was filtered by moderators of the independently operated r/WNBA subreddit, preventing some users from publishing posts or comments about the veteran guard. The restriction quickly drew criticism from fans who believed an official WNBA community was censoring discussion of one of the league's most recognizable players.
There was one major problem with that **** umption: The subreddit is not operated by the WNBA. As frustration spread across social media, a league spokesperson issued a brief statement distancing the organization from the Reddit community.
"The WNBA does not moderate or have any affiliation with the r/WNBA subreddit," the league said, according to Khristina Williams.
The clarification did not settle the broader debate, but it established that the decision came from volunteer Reddit moderators rather than league officials.

#reddit

Anthony Smith has pleaded not guilty.
Facing four felony charges, Smith entered the plea Monday as he elected for a written arraignment rather than making an in-person appearance, according to court records MMA Junkie acquired from Sarpy County (Neb.). MMA Fighting first reported the plea.
Smith, 38, initially faced three felonies: including terrostic threats (one count) and false imprisonment (two counts). The state has also charged Smith with attempt of a class 1/1A/1B/1C/1D felony.
According to the attorney's office, Smith is accused of threatening to kill his wife if she did not go home with him following an altercation at a bar in Gretna, Neb., after which he grabbed her and pushed her into the vehicle. The attorney's office further alleges that investigators concluded Smith tried multiple times to hit his wife with the vehicle when she escaped during the drive, but that she was able to maneuver out of the way and avoid physical harm. A warrant was issued, and Smith later turned himself in, according to officials.
Smith is currently out on $45,000 bail. According to a report from KETV Omaha, Smith has been permitted to travel out of the country and compete in a professional sporting event in the Dominican Republic in late September-early October (presumably Gamebred MMA).

#smith

Perhaps never before has the Utah Open had such a Utah-centric leaderboard as it does after two rounds of the annual golf tournament, celebrating its 100th year this year at Riverside Country Club.
The top 11 golfers after 36 holes of the 54-hole tournament, sponsored by Larry H. Miller Company, are all Utah born-and-bred and each of the golfers is in his 20s with most having experience playing at one of the state's colleges.
Blake Tomlinson, a 27-year-old former University of Utah golfer, who won 2022 Utah Open, fired a 10-under-par 62 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into Sunday's final round with a 16-under 128 total.
Two former BYU golfers, Carson Lundell and Simon Kwon, are tied at 130 with former Utah Tech golfer Jackson Rhees, while two more ex-Cougars, Rhett Rasmussen and Tyson Shelley, are tied for fifth, another stroke back at 131. Tied for seventh are ex-Ute Braxton Watts, former BYU golfer Keanu Akina and current BYU golfer Jackson Mauss, while another amateur, Parker Bunn, who plays for the Cougars, and Salt Lake's John Fox are tied for 10th at 133.
Tomlinson started off with two birdies and added three more to make the turn at 31. Then, on the back nine, he made five more birdies for another 31, just missing the Utah Open record of 61.

#open #year #cougars

It wasn't a particularly entertaining ordeal, but the Minnesota Vikings came away from their first preseason game with several positives. On a sunny day at MetLife Stadium, the Vikings set the tone early in a 13-10 win, offering optimism that their offseason goal of improving the run game could translate into on-field production.
Of course, improving the run game is only one factor in returning Minnesota's offense to prominence. Kevin O'Connell wanted improved quarterback play, and while Kyler Murray only threw three passes, Carson Wentz showed command of the offense that could lead one to believe that although one quarterback competition is settled, another could quietly be brewing.
Below are three instant takeaways from the Vikings' victory in their preseason opener.
Even O'Connell's most loyal defenders can't hide his team's deficiencies in the run game. Since taking over in 2022, Minnesota has ranked in the bottom 10 in rushing yards three times, never higher than 19th in 2024. The Vikings hired former Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith to emphasize a wide-zone running scheme, hoping it would make teams think twice about doubling Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota's first drive gave us a glimpse of what could be coming. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason combined for six runs for 44 yards, each breaking off a run of 15-plus yards on the drive. On top of the offensive line providing good rushing lanes, rookie fullback Max Bredeson helped Jones pop off for an 18-yard gain on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage.

#improving

Nvidia shares have shown explosive growth since ChatGPT launched in late 2022. The stock minted a lot of millionaires and retail investors rejoiced. But doubts are creeping in now and growth is not what it used to be. The logical question every long-term investor asks is this: what is the next Nvidia? Which stocks can you get in early on for the big gains?
To find out what retail investors are betting on, we went through long discussion threads on the Reddit subreddits r/Stocks_Picks and r/TheRaceTo10Million. We skipped the one-word ticker drops and the pump posts. We picked two stocks where Redditors named specific reasons for their bullishness. Let's see whether their arguments have juice.
Zeta sells enterprise marketing software. Big brands use its platform to find customers, target them, and message them through one system instead of paying five different vendors. Its moat is the data. Zeta owns its consumer dataset rather than renting it, covering more than 535 million profiles.
Redditors like the growing market Zeta is moving into and two partnerships the company signed this year. Earlier this year, Zeta partnered with OpenAI and Palantir. Under the Palantir deal, Zeta rebuilds its data cloud on Palantir's Foundry software. Redditors also point out that Zeta is expanding from marketing software into business intelligence, which is a much bigger market. One commenter gave a careful two-sided read. He flagged the shift to positive GAAP profitability and the raised fiscal 2026 guidance, but said he would not chase the stock short term unless the price holds above the post-earnings range.
Bull case. Zeta is solving a key problem for major companies. Paying five vendors costs more, and the separate systems do not share data properly, so the marketing team ends up with an incomplete picture of its own customers. Zeta's pitch is that one platform handles all of it. That pitch is working on the customers that matter most. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, super-scaled account count grew 17% year over year to 197, and the average revenue from each of those accounts grew 17%.

#Marketing #data

Who knew there would be so much drama in horse racing months after this year's Triple Crown was etched in the history books?
But quite like how we're all talking about Boston College men's basketball in August for some reason, we've also spent much of this week following along to a series of major developments regarding the Triple Crown and the future of high-level horse racing.
It all started on Monday, when the New York Racing **** ociation (NYRA) and Churchill Downs Incorporated announced a new season-long horse racing series that will pit the best three-year-old Thoroughbreds against each other in a six-race circuit with a champion crowned at Churchill Downs in September. But curiously, when the series was announced, it included the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, but not the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness.
A couple days later, Maryland Governor Wes Moore held a press conference to announce that the Preakness Stakes, which historically was run two weeks following the Kentucky Derby, would now be held three weeks and a day after the Derby. The shift was made with the hope that more Derby horses, including the Derby winner, would participate in the Preakness. In recent years, the vast majority of Derby horses have skipped the Preakness due to the quick turnaround time, instead eyeing the Belmont five weeks later.
At the press conference, Moore also announced that the Preakness would remain on NBC Sports through 2032. Various reports indicate that Fox, which owns rights for the Belmont and various other high-profile horse racing properties, had been an interested bidder in the Preakness, but NBC ultimately won out.

#crown #belmont #weeks

Jon Miller, president of acquisitions and partnerships at NBC Sports, and Gov. Wes Moore (D) announce a new six-year network television deal to broadcast the Preakness and other thoroughbred horse racing in Maryland. (Photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)
Changes lie ahead for Maryland's signature thoroughbred horse race, including a new, later race day and a new, expanded network television contract.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the changes Wednesday to the Preakness Stakes, historically the second event in racing's Triple Crown. It was the latest in a week of rapid-fire developments that saw the state buy rights to the Preakness away from Kentucky Derby owner Churchill Downs, which responded by announcing a new national thoroughbred racing series that excludes the Preakness.
Wednesday's changes mean that a race always run on the third Saturday of May — two weeks after the Kentucky Derby — will happen a week later. And on a Sunday. As part of expanded television coverage for a planned Memorial Day weekend of racing, with the state-owned Black-Eyed Susan Stakes being run on Saturday.
Moore said the new television deal and race day changes are meant to ensure the growth of the taxpayer-owned Preakness, the thoroughbred racing industry in the state and the neighboring Park Heights Community.

#moore #maryland #stakes

King Charles has headed to Scotland to start his summer break, and he was recently in Caithness in the Scottish Highlands. During his time there, he stayed at the Castle of Mey, as he traditionally does in late July and early August.
On this occasion, the King made a new addition to the home, planting the King's Rose in the gardens, which were previously cultivated by his late grandmother, the Queen Mother. Charles was pictured in the Walled Garden at the castle, which is located by the Pink Arbor.
In images from the King's Foundation, Charles was seen in a tweed jacket and kilt, while he carried a walking stick that he often employs when on the uneven ground of Scotland. He was seen standing by a vase that carried the King's Rose, which was bred by David Austin Roses and named in Charles' honour.
The semi-double, repeat-flowering shrub boasts delicately papery petals with distinct stripes in shades of fuchsia pink and white.
The King has now added the rose to the gardens (PA)

#king

With rumours circulating around Deniz Undav being named VfB Stuttgart captain, the forward spoke highly of current skipper Atakan Karazor.
"Even if I should become captain, Ata will remain my captain. He is a good player and has always given everything for VfB.
"He communicates well, creates ******* e, and takes a lot upon himself," Undav told Sky Germany at Stuttgart's pre-season camp.
As for Fabian Bredlow, who is in line to deputize for the injured Dennis Seimen, Undav always had faith in the goalkeeper's abilities.
"I've been telling him [Bredlow] for two seasons that we have the best backup goalkeeper in the entire Bundesliga.

#atakan

good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of fitzie's gaming corner. This is your opportunity to talk about whatever ******* ogue or virtual or digital games you might be playing.
The only game I've got on my phone is Archero 2. Basically you're some character with a little bow and arrow or a spear or some fighting gloves, and you defeat these beasts. There is a guild function, some player-versus-player drama and the like.
Here's what one of the characters looks like – and a beast behind it!
I've been playing it for a few months now and am sitting on the precipice of 3M power. I think that's just okay enough to challenge in some of the higher arenas, but well below what a fair amount of others have going on. It's fine, I'm not going to be spending big bucks on this to level up.
I've done a little bit of lurking on the Archero 2 subreddit and there's this whole discussion of the "meta". Sounds boring. Basically there are a couple good characters you want to level up, some specific runes and gear to help boost that little guy, and maybe some additional add-ons.

#i 've

(Original Caption) Louisville, KY: The twin spires atop the stands at Churchill Downs Race Track remind all of the magic of Thoroughbred racing.
In an effort to help elevate Thoroughbred racing among the everyday sports fan, Churchill Downs and the New York Racing ****** ociation will launch a three-year-old championship series consisting of six races beginning in 2027. Starting on the first Saturday in May with the Kentucky Derby and culminating in September with a return to Churchill Downs, the idea is to promote a familiarity with fans as the top three-year-old horses are encouraged to compete and develop those rivalries that can add to the lore of the sport of kings. A prize of $5 million in bonus cash will be awarded to the runner that accumulates the most points throughout the series.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Racing is always good at the historic Saratoga Race Course. (Skip ****** stein/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
The world's most famous race, and perhaps race track, will bat leadoff in this newly proposed racing series on May 1, 2027. The Kentucky Derby has been contested every year since 1875 on that dirt oval in Louisville, Kentucky known as Churchill Downs. Restricted to three-year-olds only, the consistency of this event and the ever-building notoriety surrounding it has made it the focal point for fans of all shapes and sizes. In an effort to continue to cultivate the massive interest generated by the Derby, the Belmont Stakes at the newly renovated Belmont Park will be the next race in the series on June 5. The Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs will follow in early July and then the series will shift to historic Saratoga for the Jim Dandy Stakes (late July, early August) and Travers Stakes (late August). A final Championship race will be run in September back beneath the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.
The dates for both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes are set and the other dates are to be finalized. ****** ing of races will be important as encouragement for participation in the six-race series in a five-month span. Of course, another encouraging factor is a proposed $5 million prize pool that will be awarded based on points accrued during the series. Each individual race will still carry its own purse as well.

#race

Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Churchill Downs and the New York Racing ****** ociation Monday a new grouping of races for 3-year-olds that includes the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, but not the third leg of the existing Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, run in Maryland.
Churchill Downs and NYRA officials topped short of saying the six-race "Thoroughbred Championship Series" is designed to replace the historic Triple Crown. But with a $5 million bonus and longer ****** ing between the races, that would be the practical effect.
"This series is designed to showcase the sport's best 2-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans," David O'Rourke, the NYRA president and CEO, said Monday.
"By connecting these premier events through one championship, we're creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing," said Bill Carstanjen, the Churchill Downs Inc. CEO.
The series is to start with the Kentucky Derby on May 1 and follow with the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 5, the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in July, the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga in late July or early August, the Travers at Saratoga in late August and a "Championship Race" in September at Churchill Downs.

#churchill #championship #series #Monday

Going into training camp, the most critical position battle for the Carolina Panthers was supposed to be the left tackle competition between veteran Rasheed Walker and first-round pick Monroe Freeling. But fate had other ideas, as longtime starting right tackle Taylor Moton was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung—a development that has kicked Freeling over to Moton's spot and, effectively, ended that battle on the blindside.
But another major injury has bred another competition.
Last Wednesday, rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II went down with an LCL tear. The third-rounder will now miss the entirety of the 2026 campaign, and his setback may have given way to a fresh matchup for the No. 3 spot in the receiver room.
ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler lists that fight—between Xavier Legette and David Moore—as Carolina's biggest position battle of the summer. Fowler writes:
Legette, a first-round pick in 2024, entered camp with heat on him after a subpar start to his pro career. This camp, Letette is well-positioned to win the third receiver job opposite Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen **** er. The Panthers view Legette at his best when playing fast, and they don't want to overload his plate as a result. But Moore has been with head coach Dave Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik every step of the way, from Seattle to Tampa Bay to Carolina. He is trusted and reliable. If Legette slips, Moore -- who should have a role regardless -- can step into a larger one.

#camp #panthers

As in all sports, NFL teams need to hit on their draft picks, as their rosters are so expansive. It is imperative to leave a draft class with at least one to two starters and to be able to find depth pieces to support. In recent years, the Minnesota Vikings have struggled to find an abundance of quality, as Minnesota has drafted 28 players since 2022, and only four have turned out to be starters.
However, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, the rookies are showing out so far in training camp, with love being given to the later-round picks as well. Here are some of Lewis' thoughts:
Early returns look promising. First-round pick Caleb Banks responded from left foot surgery and is already mixing in with the starters. Second-round linebacker Jake Golday tipped a pass Saturday, evoking shades of edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
There has been positivity from the later-round picks, too. ***** istant head coach Frank Smith spent some time after Saturday's practice reviewing techniques with fullback Max Bredeson. Cornerback Chuck Demmings blanketed Jefferson and deflected a pass. Safety Jakobe Thomas continues to show up in all areas of Brian Flores' defense, and undrafted safety Jacob Thomas tends to play right alongside him.
This was a defensive-heavy draft class, and it is a promising sign to see that the bulk of the picks are performing well so far. It will be fascinating to see them in action in the preseason to see just how far they have come.

#picks #starters #lewis

Over the last few years, the concept of winning the Triple Crown has been fading among horse racing's stakeholders.
On Monday, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing ****** ociation might have delivered its death blow.
In announcing a joint partnership for a six-race series beginning in 2027 with a $5 million bonus attached to the end of it, one entity was notably missing: The Preakness.
The six races will cover the Kentucky Derby on May 2; the Belmont Stakes on June 5; back to Churchill for the Matt Winn stakes in early July; the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late July/August; and then a newly created race to finish the series at Churchill in September.
As for the Preakness, the second jewel of the Triple Crown? Well, it still exists, but the traditional timing of the race — two weeks after the Kentucky Derby — has become incompatible with the way modern trainers manage their thoroughbreds. Golden Tempo and Sovereignty, the last two Derby winners, both skipped the Preakness, as did Rich Strike in 2022.

#churchill #preakness #last

Anthony Smith has been released from Sarpy County Jail in Nebraska.
The former UFC light heavyweight ****** le challenger, who later transitioned to the role of ****** yst for UFC broadcasts, was arrested last Monday night (July 27, 2026) on felony charges of Attempted First Degree Domestic ****** ault, Terroristic Threats, and First Degree False Imprisonment.
Smith appeared before the judge on Wednesday morning and released on $500,000 bond.
That's according to a report from MMA Fighting, though Smith's arrest affidavit remains sealed. All we know at this stage is that "Lionheart" is facing serious allegations and will return to court at some point in the near future. Neither Smith nor UFC have issued a statement at the time of this writing.
Smith, who turned 38 just a few days back, retired from UFC in early 2025 but returned to action for Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA in April, securing a submission victory over fellow UFC export Chase Sherman. If convicted, Smith (39-22) could be facing up to 20 years in prison.

#released

Former UFC light-heavyweight ***** le contender Anthony Smith has been arrested in Nebraska on three felony charges.
The American, 38, was booked into Sarpy County Jail on charges of terroristic threats, false imprisonment and first degree domestic violence ***** ault.
BBC Sport has been told Smith is in custody and will be called in front of a judge no later than Friday.
Smith last fought in the UFC in April when he lost to Zhang Mingyang, although he competed later that month in Gamebred Bareknuckle.
In 2019 Smith lost against Jon Jones for the UFC light-heavyweight ***** le.

#heavyweight #title #anthony #Nebraska

Counting Stars has been shining bright during her three-year-old season
During the Spring and Summer, most of the Thoroughbred racing focus is on events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes. All these races are restricted to three-year-olds and mostly males run in them. For every race that has colts contending for greatness and notoriety, there is a sister race for those wonderful three-year-old fillies. During the 2026 racing season, a fantastic filly named Counting Stars has been quite celestial and is shining as bright as any three-year-old currently, regardless of gender.
The grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks has long been a summer showcase for the three-year-old girls. Inaugurated in 1917, this mile and an eighth dance over the New York dirt has seen its fair share of fantastic fillies. The 2026 edition was a showdown between Kentucky Oaks (opening leg of the Triple Tiarra) winner Always A Runner and Acorn Stakes (third leg and sister to the Belmont Stakes) champ Counting Stars. As the race unfolded, it became more of a showcase for a fabulous female.
Breaking alertly under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Counting Stars immediately ******* umed the lead and rolled through some solid early fractions (23.86 opening quarter mile, 47.60 half mile). Sashaying to the top of the stretch in an almost effortless fashion, this daughter of Honor A.P. was suddenly challenged by her rival and Oaks winner Always A Runner. With an eighth of a mile to go, the two were running side by side and separated by a whisker. Suddenly, the Stars aligned and with an amazing comet-like burst of speed, this mercurial filly trained by Mark Casse left her rival eating kickback as she whisked towards the wire. At the sixteenth pole the race was over and Counting Stars cruised past the finish an emphatic 4 ¼ lengths ahead in Stakes record time (1:48.98).
"Coming into the race I was about as confident as you can be in this filly", says trainer Mark Casse. "At the eighth pole, I wondered if perhaps I was wrong and she's not as good as I think. Always a Runner is a very good horse so naturally I was a little concerned, but then she responded to the challenge with a huge effort down the lane".

#stakes #year #always #runner

Cornucopian is the morning line favorite for the Bing Crosby Stakes and is trained by bob Baffert
The Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar carries major significance as a "win and you're in" race for the Breeders' Cup. This means the winner receives an automatic entry into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland later this fall. The 81st running of this grade 1 event features a balanced nine horse field that is led by the Bob Baffert-trained Cornucopian. With every runner as Stakes placed (finished in top three) or a Stakes winner, this six-furlong dirt dash for $400,000 in cash promises to be very competitive. Named for one of the founding fathers of the Seaside Oval, the career crooner is surely smiling when he sees this lineup of talent. Last year, the California-bred Lovesick Blues shook up the world with a huge closing kick at odds of 18 to 1. Could another longshot sing in this edition of the Bing?...Let's take a look at the entrants and provide a thought on each. The horses will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey, and morning line. The Bing Crosby Stakes will be contested on July 25 and is carded as race 10 with an expected post time of 6:30 pm Pacific time.
Son of Maximum Security has three wins and a second-place finish in his last four starts. Dominated in the St. Matthews Stakes at Churchill Downs at this distance in his last start back on April 30. Could be a 100 proof player here and certainly a horse for your superfecta.
Hard-running son of Shancelot that has his pappy's speed and his grandpappy's (Hard Spun) guts. Has been in top 3 in 9 of 12 carer starts but has only found the winner's circle 3 times. Trainer has a knack for pulling off upsets, but this is a tall task. A horse to play across the board at a price and oh by the way, those three wins have all been at old Del Mar.
Highly competitive son of Ghostzapper has run in 11 Stakes races in 13 career starts at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter. Was fourth in this race a year ago and finished a non-threatening fifth in his only start this year in the Bango Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 27. He has the experience against top competition and if the price is right is an across-the-board play. Put him on your exotic tickets.

#stakes #bing #three #cornucopian