J.J. McCarthy may not have won the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback job, but that didn't mean he didn't have a chance to cement himself as the team's primary backup. However, his uneven performance in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Giants raises questions about his development.
After Kyler Murray and the Vikings' first-team offense drove 54 yards for a field goal on the game's opening drive, McCarthy and the second-team offense got off to a bad start. On his first snap under center, McCarthy mistimed a handoff on a jet-sweep to Jeshaun Jones. Two plays later, McCarthy overthrew Jones on an out-route that would have picked up a first down with an accurate pass.
McCarthy finished the day 4/7 for 34 yards, providing the same up-and-down performance that ailed him throughout the 2025 season.
"Experiencing pressure in the pocket should only help his calmness," Alec Lewis wrote in The Athletic on Saturday. "Visualizing coverages should only speed up his on-field awareness. The Vikings entered training camp with hope that they would see growth from their former first-rounder. Although O'Connell has talked positively about McCarthy's development, many of the themes that torpedoed the 2025 season were on display Saturday."
McCarthy's erratic play was accentuated after Carson Wentz entered the game in the second half. Wentz went 9/14 passing for 81 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he displayed the calming presence one would expect of an 11th-year veteran.

#saturday #wentz

Harry Kane is prepared to open discussions with Bayern Munich over a contract extension with the reigning Bundesliga champions.
The England captain has entered the final 12 months of the original four-year agreement he signed after transferring from Tottenham Hotspur for £86.4 million back in August 2023.
In a video broadcast by Kicker, Kane said: "We obviously said we wanted to talk after the World Cup and after my holiday. So I'm not sure exactly when, but they'll start this week, next week… we'll start those talks.
"Like I've said before, we're calm, I think they're calm with the situation.
"Obviously now is the time to start talking, because there's only a year left. That's important. But both sides are relaxed, and I'm pretty sure there'll be some talks this week or next week."

#obviously #year #calm

Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza's preseason debut was highly anticipated, and he didn't disappoint in the affair. Mendoza was one of the brightest spots for the Raiders in their 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and played up to expectations after getting his feet under him.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter gave Mendoza a "B+" for his performance in the Raiders' loss.
"The 22-year-old quarterback threw the ball like a future NFL starter when calmly operating, though, threading the needle over the middle for 19 yards and hitting a back-side route for 14 yards later on. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner's first NFL touchdown was an expertly thrown low pass to WR Jack Bech; he nearly had another TD on his final pass of the night, accurately throwing over a defender in the end zone, but 5-foot-8 receiver Deven Thompkinswas unable to make the play."
Despite receiving positive marks, other rookie were given higher marks than Mendoza for their preseason Week 1 performances. Los Angeles Rams QB Ty Simpson received an "A" after completing 21-25 passes for 190 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, while San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling received an "A-" after logging seven receptions for 63 receiving yards in a 19-13 loss to the Tennessee **** ans.
Mendoza completed 10-16 passes for 97 yards and a passing touchdown. The Indiana product got into a groove after his first couple of throws, as he showed the ability to convert on third down, execute out of play action, and make decisive reads.

#yards #rookie #first

By Niket Nishant and Gregor Stuart Hunter
Aug 18 (Reuters) - A selloff in U.S. government bonds picked up pace on Tuesday, sending the 30-year Treasury yield to a near two-decade high as fears of ‌an escalation in the Middle East war fuelled inflation worries and pressured stocks.
Oil prices also climbed ‌for the third consecutive day, with Brent crude hitting its highest since late last month after the latest signals from Washington and Tehran crushed hopes of an imminent end to the conflict.
The market's reaction shows that tensions in the Middle East remain a potent source of risk, with a renewed escalation capable of reverberating across oil, bonds, currencies and equities.
It has also shattered the calm after a recent run of soft data in the U.S. eased jitters about rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

#east #gregor #reuters

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A high school student carrying two firearms shot to death a fellow student before killing himself Tuesday in a high school in a university campus in the southern Philippines where hundreds of students were evacuated to safety, officials said.
Zamboanga city Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the suspect apparently wore a body camera to livestream the attack at the high school on the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in his city. Two other people were injured, he said.
The suspect initially fired at a teacher but it was not clear if the teacher was hit. He then shot a fellow student, who died, before shooting himself, Olaso told DZBB radio network.
Hundreds of students were evacuated to safety after the gunshots rang out in the high school building, which is in a secured campus, separate from a larger campus of the Catholic university, where its colleges and professional schools are located in the port city of Zamboanga.
A few hours after the shooting, police said the situation was under control. They asked parents and guardians of students to remain calm and follow the high school's advice and arrangements to pick up their children.

#school #campus #university #philippines

US stock futures wavered on Monday as investors weighed the Federal Reserve's next policy move and awaited a slate of retail earnings this week.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) slipped 0.2%. Those on the S&P 500 (ES=F) gained 0.1% after the benchmark index posted its third straight weekly gain. Contracts for the Nasdaq-100 (NQ=F) rose 0.5% after a relatively calm week on Wall Street.
Investor attention turns toward retail earnings and oil prices this week, with fewer market-moving economic data releases on the calendar. Big-box stores, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Lowe's (LOW), and Home Depot (HD), report quarterly results this week, providing insights into consumer health during the important back-to-school shopping season.
Traders, meanwhile, pulled back the odds of a September rate hike at the Fed's Jackson Hole meeting to less than one-third, as inflation and jobs data have created a mixed economic picture.
Oil prices remain a key factor for markets and the Fed as the US takes an economic approach to the war in the Middle East. Brent crude (BZ=F) futures, the international benchmark, edged up to $89 per barrel on Monday. At the same time, financial markets have tightened, with the 10-year (^TNX) and 30-year (^TYX) Treasury yields rising 5 basis points as of Friday's close.

#prices

Curating these pieces is a juxtaposing activity. Because I put them together the day after the game in question, usually my own personal emotions have calmed down a little. But essentially, I then relive the experience all again going through the reaction.
That is a very nice feeling after a win – not so much after a result like Saturday's. While imperfect, the first half was electric, and a faraway cry from what we experienced last season in the best way possible.
The second however was nothing short of unacceptable, and it was film we'd all seen too many times before. Here's how you reacted to the key talking points.
The worst part of that second-half performance was the fact that, after a summer of progress and seeming positive steps, the same cracks we saw so painfully often last season were still there.
Countless comical defensive errors, a midfield all at sea that the opposition played through with ease and a jarringly blunt attacking showing – particularly once Jack Marriott was subbed off.

#half #season #marriott #juxtaposing

Guadalajara made its dominance count at TSM Stadium, defeating Santos Laguna 1-0 in Matchday 4 of the Apertura 2026. With the victory, the Rojiblancos picked up three valuable points and continued their climb up the Liga MX standings.
True to their style, the Rebaño Sagrado came out looking to take control from the opening whistle. Gabriel Milito's side pushed forward and looked to create danger in the final third. Although Guadalajara went into halftime without finding the breakthrough, the team maintained its intensity and continued searching for the opening goal.
The reward for that persistence came in the second half. Santiago Sandoval produced a brilliant individual play inside the box, using a feint to beat his marker before drawing a foul that resulted in a penalty. Ricardo Marín stepped up from the spot and calmly converted to score the goal that secured Guadalajara's victory in the Comarca Lagunera.
Guadalajara's next match will be at home. On Saturday, August 22, the Rojiblancos will welcome Tijuana to Estadio AKRON, where they will look to claim another victory in front of the entire Rojiblanco Nation.The Goal
- MARÍN PUT THE ROJIBLANCO DOMINANCE ON THE SCOREBOARD IN THE 74TH! Ricardo Marínstepped up with confidence from the penalty spot, sent Acevedo the wrong way and calmly buried his effort to put the ball in the back of the net!Chances of Note

#victory #ricardo #rojiblanco #came

Super Giants have their maiden trophy: Jos **** ler gives priceless reaction as Manchester Super Giants win The Hundred 2026 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Manchester Super Giants won their maiden Hundred **** le at Lord's.
Jos **** ler turned away and could not watch the final deliveries of the chase.
Liam Dawson sealed the win with a six off Ben Sanderson with three **** to spare.
Captains are supposed to project calm in the tightest moments, but Jos **** ler abandoned that pretence entirely as Manchester Super Giants closed in on their first Hundred **** le. With the match hanging on the final few deliveries at Lord's, the England wicketkeeper simply could not bring himself to look.

#manchester #title

World number one Aryna Sabalenka needed six match points to subdue Talia Gibson on Sunday and join reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.
Australia's Gibson saved five match points in the 12th game of the second set before Sabalenka came through in the tiebreaker, managing a final winner to get the job done 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) in just under two hours on a windswept Grandstand Court.
"I'm super tired, this is crazy weather," Sabalenka said. "Talia played great tennis and was more aggressive in the second set.
"She put more pressure on my service games. I'm glad I stayed calm and pulled it out in straight sets."
Sabalenka won Cincinnati in 2024 and is hoping for a deep run to carry her into the US Open, where she'll be seeking her first Grand Slam ****** le of the year.

#talia #grand #match

Down 6-2 in the final set, the Trailblazers of Sierra Canyon got Lucky.
Lucky Fasavalu, their poised senior setter, came through with two key aces during a pivotal rally as Sierra Canyon, the nation's top-ranked team, battled back for an 18-25, 25-11, 15-9 win over 'Iolani for the Ann Kang Invitational championship on Saturday afternoon.
'Iolani, the No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10, forced the talented Trailblazers into adversity. Their five future Division I players regrouped after set one and went to another level. Kendall Omuruyi went into overdrive with five of her six blocks in the second-set comeback. The Nebraska commit also had five kills.
"We decided that we needed to play calm. The crowd was loud and we had to focus," Omuruyi said. "In between the first and second set, I prayed and the Lord gave."
'Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey is glad his team never backed off, even with Omuruyi doing incredible things.

#team #five #lucky #went

As Hurricane Lala drenched parts of the Hawaiian Islands, the calm remained at sunny Father Bray Athletic Complex.
By 1:30 p.m., Edison kicked off to host 'Iolani, and the Chargers from Huntington Beach, Calif., put a jolt into the Raiders with a 41-27 win at Eddie Hamada Field. Sam Thomson threw three touchdown passes, while running backs Brett Dempsen and Gavyn Degiacomo combined for 183 yards and three TDs on 21 carries.
It was a 27-0 lead before the home team began to find its footing. Edison played a mix of reserves and starters from beginning to end. 'Iolani coach Patrick Samsonas found solace in his team's in-game resilience.
"I feel wet. It's a wet game," he said of the gusty, rainy conditions by game's end. We battled in the second and that was the test. They answered some of the calls. That's a really good team in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). I'm proud of our guys for battling. We've got a bye week before we get another mainland team."
'Iolani (1-1) hosts Westview (San Diego) on Aug. 29.

#edison #three #hawaiian #islands

Only two weeks ago, Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh said markets had done "quite a bit" of the Fed's tightening. Wall Street has since taken it all back — and then some.
A gauge of US market conditions published by Bloomberg rose Thursday to its easiest level since 1996, capping a remarkable reversal from late July.
"Financial conditions" is Wall Street shorthand for how easy or hard markets are making it to take risk and raise money. Rising stocks, calmer markets, and cheaper corporate borrowing make them easier. Falling stocks and rising borrowing costs tighten the screws.
The index in the chart is especially geared toward those market signals, so this isn't saying mortgages or credit cards are suddenly cheap. It's saying Wall Street itself is unusually loose.
Between Warsh's first Fed meeting on June 17 and his next on July 29, Treasury yields rose, stocks slipped, volatility jumped, and corporate borrowing got more expensive. The Fed left its benchmark rate untouched at 3.5% to 3.75%, but markets tightened around it.

#street

On Saturday, Rocco Reitz was rewarded for his hard work in pre-season. In the 58th minute of the Telekom-Cup, our summer signing was brought on for Nicolas Seiwald and played his first half an hour in an RBL jersey.
Rocco's debut was a highlight of the match which ultimately ended in a 3-1 defeat for the Red Bulls. "I was really happy to be back on the pitch and doing what I love," said the 24-year-old after the final whistle in an interview with MagentaTV.
The midfielder who joined Leipzig from Borussia Mönchengladbach had a delayed start to his first pre-season at RBL due to an illness. In the past few weeks, he's been gradually making up ground. His cameo against Bayern was his first real test. "The half an hour was quite a challenge, it went back and forth a lot," explained Rocco, before adding, "It's always good to go toe-to-toe with the best in the business."
Our number 20 has seen a lot of progress with a week to go before the start of the season, but also recognised that there is room for improvement. "We did a lot of things better compared to the previous friendlies. We were calm in possession and our gegenpressing was a bit better. There are still a couple of areas where we can improve, like our decision making among other things. But we're on the right track."
This Saturday, the first competitive fixture of the new season is on the agenda for Leipzig. At 18:00 CEST, RBL will travel to take on Regionalliga outfit Eintracht Trier in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Unlike the match on Saturday, the Red Bulls are heading into the cup clash as clear favourites. Rocco called for "grit" in the match and stressed that, "We're the better side and have to make that clear in the game."

#match #we 're

Drew Gilbert had never hit lead-off before. The vast majority of his plate appearances this season have come out of the 8th and 9th spots in the batting order. There's plenty of reasons why Gilbert wouldn't be seriously considered to bat first when constructing a Major League line-up. Mainly, he doesn't hit for average, he doesn't hit for power, nor does he inflate his on-base percentage with walks. Gilbert's barely the same species as a Kyle Schwarber or Shohei Ohtani, the 21st century take on the top spot. Considering he's swiped only 2 bases in 137 Major League games, Gilbert is pretty far from Vince Coleman and the more old-school, light-and-fast model too, aimed at wrecking havoc on the bases after beating out an infield single.
The lead-off man has been a revolving door for the Giants all season. It's been dependent on the opposing starter's arm, who's healthy, or the hot hand. No one has been particularly good at it. San Francisco's lead-off men have posted a .279 OBP — by far the lowest in the Majors. Their overall production, with a 89 wRC+, is well below league average.
The point of the offensive spear being not that pointy could explain some of the team's frustrating inconsistencies and overall struggles.
Game 123 of this doomed season, Tony Vitello is throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. Dating back to July 30th, in which the Giants have gone 4-10 while dropping four straight series, seven different players have hit lead-off. Pencilling Gilbert's name into the top spot — because why not? — made him the 13th player to serve in the role this year, which is the most in any Giants season since 1901.
13 might be a lucky number because Gilbert transformed himself to fit into the role. The middle schooler hyped-up on Mountain Dew Baja Blast energy he typically emanates at the plate was completely gone. In its place, a stoic figure, a discerning eye. The new number-1 went 3-for-4, with a walk, 3 runs batted in, and 2 runs scored. He worked a lead-off walk, taking six straight pitches, and didn't lift his bat off his shoulder. The Number- 9 hitter Gilbert probably would've swung a dozen times. But that Gilbert is dead now; or at least, repressed, stuffed in the locker of his subconsciousness (for the day at least), because when he came up again in the 3rd, nothing had changed. Gilbert was just as calm and disciplined. He took a first pitch fastball in the dirt for ball one, and an elevated curveball at the letters for ball two. Being ahead in the count matters, and Gilbert specifically needs that breathing room. He's hitting .300 with a 1.014 OPS (70 AB) when he's swinging with count leverage. When he's backed into a corner: .224 with a .585 OPS (85 AB).

#gilbert #major #doesn 't

Emilie Kiser has apologized after footage from a family trip showed her 16-month-old son, Teddy, briefly sitting on a boat without a life jacket.
In a TikTok video posted Friday, Aug. 14, the 27-year-old influencer said she and her husband, Brady Kiser, made a mistake. She also said she believes the public discussion is important because it holds people accountable.
Kiser said the moment occurred during a June trip to Mallorca, Spain. Teddy had become fussy, she explained, so she and Brady removed his life jacket for a few moments while they tried to calm him. The footage appeared in a since-deleted vacation video shared by fellow influencer Madi Curtis.
The response has been especially sensitive because Kiser's older son, Trigg, died at age 3 following a drowning in the family's backyard pool in Chandler, Arizona, in May 2025. Since returning to social media after his death, Kiser has repeatedly discussed water safety and the precautions she believes families should take around pools and open water.
"I understand this conversation. I think it is important. It holds people accountable," Kiser said. "I know that I am not perfect. I know that we make mistakes, and all I can say is that I'm sorry, and that I know we made a mistake."

#know #teddy

Jersey Bulls were knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Hayes and Yeading United.
The London side progressed 4-1 on penalties to advance from the preliminary round in an entertaining tie.
A young island side made an excellent start as Sammy Henia-Kamau calmly put the Bulls 1-0 up having been put through by debutant Luke Lister's precision pass in the eighth minute.
Hayes and Yeading, who were hosting the game owing to ongoing building work at Springfield, almost equalised four minutes later when Amari Fashanu crashed an effort off the post.
Impressive former Swansea City and Hull City youngster Henia-Kama spurned number of efforts to extend the lead as the first half went on.

#hayes #henia #united

Emilie Kiser apologized after her son Teddy was seen without a life jacket on a boat
She said Teddy was briefly out of the life jacket because he was fussy and needed to be calmed down
Kiser also addressed Teddy's infant swimming lessons and confirmed the family has a pool fence
Emilie Kiser is addressing the recent controversy surrounding footage of her 16-month-old son, Teddy, sitting on a boat without a life jacket.
In a video posted on Friday, Aug. 14, the influencer, 27, acknowledged that she and her husband, Brady Kiser, 29, made a mistake and apologized for the incident.

#Friday

On July 28, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) reported its second-quarter financial results, delivering strong core operational performance and showcasing steady commercial momentum. The firm's total Q2 turnover reached £8.4 billion, marking a 5% increase year-over-year at constant exchange rates (CER), while Core operating profit climbed 7% CER to £2.80 billion and Core EPS rose 9% CER to 50.5p. Growth was primarily fueled by double-digit gains in Specialty Medicines (+14% CER to £3.8 billion) and robust momentum in Vaccines (+8% CER to £2.3 billion). However, Total operating profit dropped 75% CER to £481 million, hit by a £1.3 billion non-cash impairment charge following the decision to discontinue camlipixant after CALM-1/2 Phase III trial results.
Alongside earnings, GSK outlined major strategic plans to accelerate its R&D roadmap. Management announced it expects 20+ Phase III trial starts in 2026, up from its previous projection of 10, focusing on 7 key **** et accelerations across 18 indications in oncology, respiratory, hepatology, and vaccines.
To support this pipeline expansion and fund late-stage development, GSK initiated its new 'Accelerate Growth' restructuring program. The three-year initiative aims to generate £1.9 billion in annual cost savings by 2029 for total costs of £2.4 billion, with savings earmarked for pipeline reinvestment and supporting operating margins through the dolutegravir loss-of-exclusivity period (2028–2030). Additionally, ViiV Healthcare, GSK's majority-owned HIV business, presented positive Phase IIIb VOGUE study data, reinforcing the efficacy and real-world utility of its long-acting HIV regimen portfolio.
This brings up a key question: Is GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)'s pipeline acceleration and core business growth enough to offset upcoming patent expiries, or does statutory margin volatility signal deeper pipeline execution risks ahead?
Bullish **** ysts highlight that GSK plc's core business model continues to show high execution efficiency, supported by key product launches and pipeline catalysts over the next 12 months that build confidence in reaching its £40 billion sales target by 2031. A critical driver is GSK plc's active business development strategy, illustrated by the acquisition of efimosfermin, which expands its hepatology portfolio, provides optionality for related liver diseases, and seamlessly aligns with corporate M&A goals.

#phase #business #operating

US stocks climbed on Thursday, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) posting a record high after another inflation reading that eased September rate-hike bets and a slew of earnings reports.
The broad-based index rose roughly 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) moved up 0.8% after a calm day on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI), meanwhile, gained 0.1%.
Cisco (CSCO) and Cerebras (CBRS) stocks tanked on Thursday morning after the two AI-related companies reported earnings. Applied Materials (AMAT), which makes chipmaking equipment, reports results after the market close following a whopping 190% gain for its stock over the past year.
Data from the Producer Price Index, which tracks inflation from the sellers' perspective, showed prices rising by less than expected, another positive sign for investors after Wednesday's Consumer Price Index report showed inflation easing in July. So-called core readings showed slowdowns of both monthly and annual price appreciation.
Though cooling CPI and PPI data prompted traders to fade bets of a September rate hike, it likely wasn't enough to settle the divide among policymakers, and Fed watchers still expect at least one rate hike by the end of the year.

#rate #hike #thursday #september

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua provided an early scare on Tuesday, leaving joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys alongside head athletic trainer Reggie Scott. The star wideout did not return to finish the day's session and head coach Sean McVay wasn't sure what happened.
While any early exit for a franchise cornerstone brings a certain level of anxiety, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn't appear to be hitting the panic ****** on just yet. Speaking to reporters after practice, Stafford projected a calm, business-as-usual attitude regarding his top target's departure.
"I did not [see what happened]," Stafford said when asked about Nacua's exit. "I'm not really sure what the issue was, but ****** ody ran up to me in a panic, so I don't think it was anything too major."
Stafford's laid-back reaction is a welcome sign for a fan base that holds its breath whenever Nacua steps off the field. The 25-year-old receiver has developed a reputation for his relentless, physical playing style, but that same trait has occasionally sidelined him. After avoiding injury during his record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign, Nacua dealt with a right knee PCL sprain in 2024 and missed a game due to an ankle sprain in 2025.
Despite the occasional ****** p in the road, Nacua's production has been nothing short of historic. He is coming off a staggering 2025 campaign where he led the entire NFL with 129 receptions, racking up 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. Over his first three professional seasons, he has accumulated 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 scores.

#practice #sure #happened #exit

Charissa Thompson reveals painful wardrobe malfunction at Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce wedding originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Charissa Thompson revealed why her dress at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding last month left her in pain.
Thompson arrived at Swift and Kelce's wedding at Madison Square Garden on July 3 alongside her boyfriend Steven Cundari. During her and Erin Andrews' "Calm Down" podcast, she revealed that the jeweled dress she chose to wear for the couple's nuptials left her with some wounds.
"The dress was great; however, you know there's **** gs on the jewel?" Thompson told Andrews. "Like a ring — like a setting.
While Thompson loved how the dress looked, she quickly realized that it was scraping her skin.

#thompson #dress #sporting #like

AXT has surged 351% YTD but is pausing as traders de-risk ahead of Lumentum's closely watched earnings after tonight's close.
Coherent, up 76% YTD, plans to double internal InP wafer output by year-end 2026, a direct demand signal for AXT substrates.
Lumentum has beaten EPS four straight quarters, with past beats averaging a 7% day-of gain and 15% one-week gain.
It sounds nuts, but SoFi1 is giving new Active Invest users up to $3,000 in stock for a limited time, and all it takes is a $50 deposit to get started.2 See for yourself (Sponsor)
Shares of AXT (NASDAQ:AXTI) are drifting lower midday Tuesday, changing hands near $74 and roughly flat on the session. The relatively calm day follows a whip saw previous week that saw shares spike and then drop nearly 17% yesterday. Overall, AXT has rebounded from trading down to $36.97 on July 29th's close.

#coherent #sofi1

With a crowd of more than 10,000 fans at Toyota Arena Tokyo,Rizin Fighting Federation put on Rizin54 on Tuesday in Tokyo. The card was headlined by afeatherweight ****** le eliminator between top MMA prospect KyomaAkimoto and former Rizin champion KleberKoike Erbst.

After three hard-fought rounds, Akimoto (13-1, 8-1 Rizin) emergedvictorious, while Erbst (35-10-1, 1 NC; 10-5, 1 NC Rizin) may haveseen his path back to the ****** le derailed.

Koike was active with kicks in the first round and landed dozens toAkimoto's legs and midsection during the first two minutes alone.Akimoto stayed calm as Koike chased him with punches. A counterleft hook rocked Koike and backed him into a corner, but herecovered quickly and took Akimoto's back. Akimoto remained on hisfeet and wobbled Koike again with punches during the final 30seconds.

Koike pressed forward with punches in the second round, but Akimotobegan to time his strikes and snapped Koike's head back with jabsand crosses. Koike bled from his nose and tried unsuccessfully topull guard. Akimoto prevented Koike from taking him down from backcontrol and backed Koike into a corner with jabs as more cutsopened on Koike's face.

Akimoto jabbed Koike in the nose and easily avoided his takedownattempts in the final round. Koike dropped to his back and daredAkimoto to follow him to the ground, but the 20-year-old declined.Koike's left eye swelled and blood began to cover his face asAkimoto's jabs forced him to retreat. The bout went to thescorecards, and all three judges sided with Akimoto for a unanimousdecision victory. He is expected to challenge for Rizin'sfeatherweight ****** le by the end of the year.
The only other bout on the card to go the distance was the co-mainevent between Shoko Sato(39-17-2, 1 NC; 5-2 Rizin) and Patrick"Patchy" Mix (20-5, 1-2 Rizin), who came in more than sixpounds over the bantamweight limit. As a result, Mix was penalizedwith a two-point deduction, which proved to be the difference after15 minutes of fighting.

The fighters exchanged inside leg kicks in the opening minutebefore "Patchy" took Sato down directly into back control. Mixsecured a tight rear-naked choke, but Sato refused to submit andbroke Mix's grip. Sato hurt Mix with two leg kicks to begin thesecond round, and Mix immediately began to favor his right leg.Sato kept his distance and continued to throw kicks as Mix slowed.Mix was unable to take Sato down, and Sato repeatedly punished himwith leg kicks.

Mix caught a kick and took Sato down early in the final round. Hepassed to side control and struck Sato's face with hammerfists.Sato attempted a modified buggy choke from the bottom before thebout went to the scorecards. Because of Mix's point deductions, allthree judges scored the fight 28-27 for Sato, giving him aunanimous decision victory. Mix has lost four straight fights.

The second Heavyweight Grand Prix ****** an semifinal between KingEdokpolo (4-0, 3-0 Rizin) and Mikio Ueda(5-4, 4-4 Rizin) got o

Charissa Thompson said the dress she chose for the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding last month left her with some ****** wounds.
The "Thursday Night Football" host revealed on the most recent episode of her and Erin Andrews' "Calm Down" podcast that the jewel-adorned, golden gown she wore for the big event at Madison Square Garden ended up cutting her arms as she danced the night away.
Charissa Thompson and Steven Cundari are seen on Friday, July 3, 2026, in New York City. (GC Images) GC Images
"The dress was great, however, you know there's ****** gs on the jewel?" Thompson told Andrews on the show. "Like a ring — like a setting.
Travis Kelce (left) and Taylor Swift attend the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Getty Images North America) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

#taylor #kelce #thursday

CHEBOYGAN — Jon Micoff is simply a beast at the Northern Michigan Open.
In the almost 80-year history of Cheboygan's prestigious golf tournament in August, no one has earned glory in the championship flight more than the Indian River native.
NM OPEN PREVIEW: What to watch for at Cheboygan's 79th annual Northern Michigan Open
MICOFF BUILDS LEAD: Jon Micoff has big lead for last round of Northern Michigan Open
On Sunday, in front of a packed crowd on the 18th hole at the Cheboygan Golf & Country Club, Micoff calmly tapped in his final putt and won a record fifth Open championship, making it victories in 2009, 2011, 2017, 2024 and 2026.

#open #cheboygan #championship

Liverpool surrendered a two goal advantage for the second successive match as AS Monaco recovered to win 3-2 at Anfield, leaving Andoni Iraola with plenty to consider following his first home appearance as head coach.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz had put Liverpool firmly in control, both delivering performances that suggested the attacking structure is beginning to take shape. Yet the defensive instability that surfaced against Leeds returned, with Monaco exploiting errors before completing an impressive turnaround.
For a pre season fixture, results only tell part of the story.
Isak was excellent during his 45 minutes. His movement repeatedly unsettled the AS Monaco defence and his finish for Liverpool's opener was outstanding, calmly converting after Ryan Gravenberch's clever **** ist.
Wirtz was similarly influential. Given licence to operate closer to Isak, the German found **** es between Monaco's midfield and defence and looked considerably more dangerous. His goal, following another lively attacking move, made it two goals in successive pre season matches.

#Liverpool #wirtz #attacking #season

Playing some catch-up on roster moves in a busy week, we had resolution for three players were designated for ****** ignment by the Dodgers in the last week.
Wyatt Mills was designated for ****** ignment on Monday when the Dodgers needed to clear 40-man roster ****** e after a flurry of trade deadline deals. On Thursday the right-hander was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals, who simultaneously optioned Mills to Triple-A Rochester.
The 31-year-old Mills pitched in six games for the Dodgers this season, his first time in the majors since 2022, after Tommy John surgery wiped out 2023 and 2024.
"A long road, it's never a guarantee that you get fully healthy after that," Mills told me after his call-up in May. "So it was more like a deep breath, kind of peaceful. I felt calm. I put in a lot of work, and my confidence came from that."
Mills struggled in his stints with the Dodgers, with nine walks and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, with five runs allowed, four of them earned. He had a 2.41 ERA and six saves in 33 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 1/3 innings.

#roster #games #five

Kansas City Chiefs training camp turned heated after Kenneth Walker and Alohi Gilman clashed twice during the same practice.
Imagine the moment so intense that separating them seemed like a task itself.
The two teammates were involved in separate confrontations, with both incidents needing others to step in and calm things down.
That comes during an intense period of preparation as the Chiefs build towards the new NFL season, with competition for places clearly high.
Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

#walker #gilman

Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa scored twice to give head coach Matthias Jaissle a 2-1 win against Valencia in his first pre-season friendly in charge.
Filip Ugrinic opened the scoring for Valencia with a curling effort at the Mestalla Stadium, before captain Jose Gaya was sent off for a bad tackle on Anthony Elanga.
Substitute Wissa equalised with a calm finish from close range and then went on to put the visitors in front after new signing Bazoumana Toure unselfishly squared the ball to him to slot home.
How did the Newcastle players perform against the Spanish side?
Lukas Hornicek: Comfortable in possession and made a couple of decent saves. But needs to be more ***** ertive with his communication to his centre-backs and command his area. 7

#united