2 hours ago
Ten NFL teams changed head coaches during the last cycle. That tied the record for the most in a single hiring cycle.
Since 2020, the league has averaged more than six head coaching changes per offseason. So the job comes with a short shelf life. Owners want playoff berths quickly, and they stop waiting once the losses pile up.
Five coaches enter 2026 who appear to be on the hot seat. Each one runs a team that enters the year with varying degrees of expectation. Ultimately, they are the frontrunners for who might be first fired this year.
Let's break down which coaches are at risk and close with my prediction for which NFL head coach will be fired first this season.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat and could be fired. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
#cycle #seat #year #first
Since 2020, the league has averaged more than six head coaching changes per offseason. So the job comes with a short shelf life. Owners want playoff berths quickly, and they stop waiting once the losses pile up.
Five coaches enter 2026 who appear to be on the hot seat. Each one runs a team that enters the year with varying degrees of expectation. Ultimately, they are the frontrunners for who might be first fired this year.
Let's break down which coaches are at risk and close with my prediction for which NFL head coach will be fired first this season.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat and could be fired. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
#cycle #seat #year #first
3 hours ago
The Kansas City Chiefs were unsuccessful in trying to end their preseason losing streak with Saturday's 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The loss raised concerns, as head coach Andy Reid told reporters that an offensive lineman went down with an injury during the game.
"As far as injuries go, it was just Chu Godrick had an ankle sprain," said Reid, "So, other than that, there were no other injuries."
The reserve offensive lineman left the game with the injury as the Chiefs were unable to overcome the Rams at Arrowhead Stadium. Godrick, a product of the NFL's International Player Pathway program since 2022, signed with the Chiefs as part of their developmental plans. He spent the next few years on the practice squad before being called up to the active roster last season.
"It was good to get a preseason game under our belt and play against somebody else. There were some good things, and some things we need to clean up," said Reid. "Obviously, penalties would be the number one thing we need to clean up. But we're able to get a good look at some of our young guys, and I thought there was some real production there on both sides of the ball from the young guys."
Another concern for both teams was the weather, as extremely hot temperatures opened the door to potential cramping and dehydration issues. Both were avoided, as Reid detailed the planning to prepare for extreme temperatures over 90 degrees on the field.
#chiefs
"As far as injuries go, it was just Chu Godrick had an ankle sprain," said Reid, "So, other than that, there were no other injuries."
The reserve offensive lineman left the game with the injury as the Chiefs were unable to overcome the Rams at Arrowhead Stadium. Godrick, a product of the NFL's International Player Pathway program since 2022, signed with the Chiefs as part of their developmental plans. He spent the next few years on the practice squad before being called up to the active roster last season.
"It was good to get a preseason game under our belt and play against somebody else. There were some good things, and some things we need to clean up," said Reid. "Obviously, penalties would be the number one thing we need to clean up. But we're able to get a good look at some of our young guys, and I thought there was some real production there on both sides of the ball from the young guys."
Another concern for both teams was the weather, as extremely hot temperatures opened the door to potential cramping and dehydration issues. Both were avoided, as Reid detailed the planning to prepare for extreme temperatures over 90 degrees on the field.
#chiefs
15 hours ago
When the Tennessee **** ans took the practice field on Aug. 15 just a shade before 2:30 p.m., the AccuWeather "RealFeel" was 110 degrees and the heat index was a much-milder 104 in Nashville. So let's start off **** ans observations by highlighting the real heroes of the day: the hydration squad.
By The Tennessean's count, the **** ans had at least a dozen water runners on the field at all times. After practice, one of the staffers estimated for The Tennessean that they went through the equivalent of 20-30 bags of ice to make everything work. This is part of an **** embly-line process wherein the water runners bring caddies of four-to-six squeeze-top water bottles over to a golf cart with three multi-gallon coolers filled with ice water and a big green ladle. Some of the squeeze bottles are marked off with tape or elastic wristbands to signify they're the ones to be spiked with electrolyte powders and packets from companies like LMNT (specifically the raspberry flavor) and DripDrop. The cart is also stocked with dozens of fresh towels and mini bottles of Gatorade on ice to be used as needed.
During the 10 minutes of the opening team period alone, staffers refilled 29 water bottles.
The all-hands-on-deck mentality was evident. One staffer joking asked media in the middle of practice to hop over the ropes and help "water the players." The **** ans even took a 10-minute halftime in practice so players could go into the cold room and cool off.
"You acclimate yourself to this weather," coach Robert Saleh said. "The first couple of weeks of September you don't know what the heck you're going to get. It could be 93 degrees with 90% humidity or it could be a cool fall day in the upper Midwest. You just don't know."
#took #degrees #staffers
By The Tennessean's count, the **** ans had at least a dozen water runners on the field at all times. After practice, one of the staffers estimated for The Tennessean that they went through the equivalent of 20-30 bags of ice to make everything work. This is part of an **** embly-line process wherein the water runners bring caddies of four-to-six squeeze-top water bottles over to a golf cart with three multi-gallon coolers filled with ice water and a big green ladle. Some of the squeeze bottles are marked off with tape or elastic wristbands to signify they're the ones to be spiked with electrolyte powders and packets from companies like LMNT (specifically the raspberry flavor) and DripDrop. The cart is also stocked with dozens of fresh towels and mini bottles of Gatorade on ice to be used as needed.
During the 10 minutes of the opening team period alone, staffers refilled 29 water bottles.
The all-hands-on-deck mentality was evident. One staffer joking asked media in the middle of practice to hop over the ropes and help "water the players." The **** ans even took a 10-minute halftime in practice so players could go into the cold room and cool off.
"You acclimate yourself to this weather," coach Robert Saleh said. "The first couple of weeks of September you don't know what the heck you're going to get. It could be 93 degrees with 90% humidity or it could be a cool fall day in the upper Midwest. You just don't know."
#took #degrees #staffers
15 hours ago
When the Tennessee ******* ans took the practice field on Aug. 15 just a shade before 2:30 p.m., the AccuWeather "RealFeel" was 110 degrees and the heat index was a much-milder 104 in Nashville. So let's start off ******* ans observations by highlighting the real heroes of the day: the hydration squad.
By The Tennessean's count, the ******* ans had at least a dozen water runners on the field at all times. After practice, one of the staffers estimated for The Tennessean that they went through the equivalent of 20-30 bags of ice to make everything work. This is part of an ******* embly-line process wherein the water runners bring caddies of four-to-six squeeze-top water bottles over to a golf cart with three multi-gallon coolers filled with ice water and a big green ladle. Some of the squeeze bottles are marked off with tape or elastic wristbands to signify they're the ones to be spiked with electrolyte powders and packets from companies like LMNT (specifically the raspberry flavor) and DripDrop. The cart is also stocked with dozens of fresh towels and mini bottles of Gatorade on ice to be used as needed.
During the 10 minutes of the opening team period alone, staffers refilled 29 water bottles.
The all-hands-on-deck mentality was evident. One staffer joking asked media in the middle of practice to hop over the ropes and help "water the players." The ******* ans even took a 10-minute halftime in practice so players could go into the cold room and cool off.
"You acclimate yourself to this weather," coach Robert Saleh said. "The first couple of weeks of September you don't know what the heck you're going to get. It could be 93 degrees with 90% humidity or it could be a cool fall day in the upper Midwest. You just don't know."
#water #Titans
By The Tennessean's count, the ******* ans had at least a dozen water runners on the field at all times. After practice, one of the staffers estimated for The Tennessean that they went through the equivalent of 20-30 bags of ice to make everything work. This is part of an ******* embly-line process wherein the water runners bring caddies of four-to-six squeeze-top water bottles over to a golf cart with three multi-gallon coolers filled with ice water and a big green ladle. Some of the squeeze bottles are marked off with tape or elastic wristbands to signify they're the ones to be spiked with electrolyte powders and packets from companies like LMNT (specifically the raspberry flavor) and DripDrop. The cart is also stocked with dozens of fresh towels and mini bottles of Gatorade on ice to be used as needed.
During the 10 minutes of the opening team period alone, staffers refilled 29 water bottles.
The all-hands-on-deck mentality was evident. One staffer joking asked media in the middle of practice to hop over the ropes and help "water the players." The ******* ans even took a 10-minute halftime in practice so players could go into the cold room and cool off.
"You acclimate yourself to this weather," coach Robert Saleh said. "The first couple of weeks of September you don't know what the heck you're going to get. It could be 93 degrees with 90% humidity or it could be a cool fall day in the upper Midwest. You just don't know."
#water #Titans
7 days ago
The Cincinnati Bengals returned to the practice fields on Aug. 9 for a two-hour practice in the thick of the summer heat.
It was one of, if not, the hottest days of training camp so far with temperatures reaching a high of 90 degrees.
This practice was supposed to be one of the most challenging days of camp because of the upcoming preseason schedule. Cincinnati will have one more practice before hosting the Detroit Lions for the first preseason game of the season at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. ET.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the starters will play some in the first preseason game but didn't expand on how much. Taylor will speak to reporters in Cincinnati on Aug. 11 ahead of the preseason opener.
Bengals training game Cashius Howell Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal'
#bengals #cincinnati #practice #howell
It was one of, if not, the hottest days of training camp so far with temperatures reaching a high of 90 degrees.
This practice was supposed to be one of the most challenging days of camp because of the upcoming preseason schedule. Cincinnati will have one more practice before hosting the Detroit Lions for the first preseason game of the season at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. ET.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the starters will play some in the first preseason game but didn't expand on how much. Taylor will speak to reporters in Cincinnati on Aug. 11 ahead of the preseason opener.
Bengals training game Cashius Howell Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal'
#bengals #cincinnati #practice #howell
7 days ago
The Cincinnati Bengals returned to the practice fields on Aug. 9 for a two-hour practice in the thick of the summer heat.
It was one of, if not, the hottest days of training camp so far with temperatures reaching a high of 90 degrees.
This practice was supposed to be one of the most challenging days of camp because of the upcoming preseason schedule. Cincinnati will have one more practice before hosting the Detroit Lions for the first preseason game of the season at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. ET.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the starters will play some in the first preseason game but didn't expand on how much. Taylor will speak to reporters in Cincinnati on Aug. 11 ahead of the preseason opener.
Bengals training game Cashius Howell Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal'
#preseason #game
It was one of, if not, the hottest days of training camp so far with temperatures reaching a high of 90 degrees.
This practice was supposed to be one of the most challenging days of camp because of the upcoming preseason schedule. Cincinnati will have one more practice before hosting the Detroit Lions for the first preseason game of the season at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. ET.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the starters will play some in the first preseason game but didn't expand on how much. Taylor will speak to reporters in Cincinnati on Aug. 11 ahead of the preseason opener.
Bengals training game Cashius Howell Bengals rookie Cashius Howell earning high praise as 'real deal'
#preseason #game
10 days ago
By Crispian Balmer and Krisztina Than
ROME/BUDAPEST, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Italy took the unprecedented step of placing all its major cities on the highest level of health alert due to high temperatures on Thursday while Hungary turned off the lights at some of its best-known buildings to save energy as a heatwave maintained its grip on large parts of Europe.
Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, has been ravaged by record-breaking heat and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain particularly hard hit in recent weeks.
The focus of the heatwave has since moved further east, with temperatures in Austria hitting successive national records this week, peaking at 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.
Italy is accustomed to hot summers, but the red alert issued by the Health Ministry stretches from Palermo on the southern island of Sicily to Bolzano in the mountainous north. Such a warning indicates a potential health emergency with prolonged high temperatures posing a serious health risk to the entire population.
#Health #temperatures
ROME/BUDAPEST, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Italy took the unprecedented step of placing all its major cities on the highest level of health alert due to high temperatures on Thursday while Hungary turned off the lights at some of its best-known buildings to save energy as a heatwave maintained its grip on large parts of Europe.
Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, has been ravaged by record-breaking heat and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain particularly hard hit in recent weeks.
The focus of the heatwave has since moved further east, with temperatures in Austria hitting successive national records this week, peaking at 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.
Italy is accustomed to hot summers, but the red alert issued by the Health Ministry stretches from Palermo on the southern island of Sicily to Bolzano in the mountainous north. Such a warning indicates a potential health emergency with prolonged high temperatures posing a serious health risk to the entire population.
#Health #temperatures
11 days ago
By now, you've heard the same advice a thousand times: "Stop purchasing packs. Buy singles!" But what if your nearest "local" card shop is hours away or you're searching for a chase card for sale located across the country? That's where eBay comes in.
From cards to Funko Pops, eBay has been a vital lifeline for collectors for decades. As the worldwide brand continues to adapt to meet the needs of its users, Mantel met with Luci Yang, eBay's GM of U.S. Collectibles, at The National to learn more about how the marketplace's latest changes. Here's what she had to say about her career, the importance of community, and how eBay is putting powerful data into the hands of collectors.
Luci Yang, eBay's GM of U.S. Collectibles
You've got undergrad degrees from Harvard, and both an MBA and a JD from Yale. How did you end up working for eBay?
Everyone's path is a little windier than people expect, and mine was too. I spent a long time earlier in my career in business and management consulting. I joined eBay about five years ago, right as the company was leaning hard into its focus-category strategy—you've probably heard our CEO talk about that.
At the time, I joined the automotive parts and accessories team, since that was one of the focus categories then. Over the last five years, I've worked in parts and accessories, electronics, and heavy equipment, another focus area for eBay. This past January, I moved into collectibles. So I come from more of a corporate background, but I'm excited to tap into the childhood passion of collecting. Right now my role is head of U.S. collectibles, with trading cards a big piece of it, along with comics, toys, coins and more.
#collectibles #luci #yang #heard
From cards to Funko Pops, eBay has been a vital lifeline for collectors for decades. As the worldwide brand continues to adapt to meet the needs of its users, Mantel met with Luci Yang, eBay's GM of U.S. Collectibles, at The National to learn more about how the marketplace's latest changes. Here's what she had to say about her career, the importance of community, and how eBay is putting powerful data into the hands of collectors.
Luci Yang, eBay's GM of U.S. Collectibles
You've got undergrad degrees from Harvard, and both an MBA and a JD from Yale. How did you end up working for eBay?
Everyone's path is a little windier than people expect, and mine was too. I spent a long time earlier in my career in business and management consulting. I joined eBay about five years ago, right as the company was leaning hard into its focus-category strategy—you've probably heard our CEO talk about that.
At the time, I joined the automotive parts and accessories team, since that was one of the focus categories then. Over the last five years, I've worked in parts and accessories, electronics, and heavy equipment, another focus area for eBay. This past January, I moved into collectibles. So I come from more of a corporate background, but I'm excited to tap into the childhood passion of collecting. Right now my role is head of U.S. collectibles, with trading cards a big piece of it, along with comics, toys, coins and more.
#collectibles #luci #yang #heard
17 days ago
It was a uniquely Seattle, Pacific Northwest Seahawks day.
The fifth day of training camp was the first day the players were in full pads. Full, real football, for the first time since they won Super Bowl 60 five months ago.
It was the first morning practice of camp. A blue, crystal clear sky. Sun and 74 degrees. Eagles soared from their nests next to the fields. The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels roared over practice on the lush, green grass fields along Lake Washington.
"I don't know if it gets much better than this," coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday, grinning proudly at what he gets to do. "Beautiful weather. Training camp. Pads on. Playing football. We've got bald eagles flying. We've got the Blue Angels in the sky. It's pretty awesome.
"We're very blessed. Pretty awesome day. Great practice. Guys were after it.
#camp
The fifth day of training camp was the first day the players were in full pads. Full, real football, for the first time since they won Super Bowl 60 five months ago.
It was the first morning practice of camp. A blue, crystal clear sky. Sun and 74 degrees. Eagles soared from their nests next to the fields. The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels roared over practice on the lush, green grass fields along Lake Washington.
"I don't know if it gets much better than this," coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday, grinning proudly at what he gets to do. "Beautiful weather. Training camp. Pads on. Playing football. We've got bald eagles flying. We've got the Blue Angels in the sky. It's pretty awesome.
"We're very blessed. Pretty awesome day. Great practice. Guys were after it.
#camp
17 days ago
Scale AI announced Thursday that its board of directors has appointed Francis deSouza as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 10, 2026. At Google Cloud, deSouza held the roles of chief operating officer and president of security products before taking on the CEO position at Scale.
Before joining Google Cloud, deSouza served as president and CEO of Illumina, a publicly traded genomics company, where the company's revenue grew to more than $4.5 billion and its operations expanded across more than 150 countries, Scale said. His earlier career included a stint as president of products and services at Symantec, and he founded two startups that Microsoft and Symantec each went on to acquire. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
deSouza replaces Jason Droege, who has led Scale as interim CEO since June 2025. Droege will work with deSouza over the coming months to ****** ist with the transition, the company said.
"Scale sits at a rare intersection of frontier model development and real-world deployment, and the opportunity for continued growth and success is enormous," deSouza said in a statement. "My focus will be getting Scale's solutions into more businesses and governments, delivering the best data for AI labs, and showing our value through provable outcomes."
Scale AI founder Alexandr ****** , who now serves as chairman of the board, said in a statement that deSouza "has led and scaled complex, technical businesses, and understands what it takes to serve both enterprises and governments at the highest level of trust and reliability."
#scale
Before joining Google Cloud, deSouza served as president and CEO of Illumina, a publicly traded genomics company, where the company's revenue grew to more than $4.5 billion and its operations expanded across more than 150 countries, Scale said. His earlier career included a stint as president of products and services at Symantec, and he founded two startups that Microsoft and Symantec each went on to acquire. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
deSouza replaces Jason Droege, who has led Scale as interim CEO since June 2025. Droege will work with deSouza over the coming months to ****** ist with the transition, the company said.
"Scale sits at a rare intersection of frontier model development and real-world deployment, and the opportunity for continued growth and success is enormous," deSouza said in a statement. "My focus will be getting Scale's solutions into more businesses and governments, delivering the best data for AI labs, and showing our value through provable outcomes."
Scale AI founder Alexandr ****** , who now serves as chairman of the board, said in a statement that deSouza "has led and scaled complex, technical businesses, and understands what it takes to serve both enterprises and governments at the highest level of trust and reliability."
#scale
18 days ago
TORRINGTON - Sara Brewer, Torrington's new athletic director, played three sports while attending the MacDuffie School in Massachusetts, but her No. 1 athletic love was always equestrian.
She took her first horse-riding lesson at age 6, got her first horse at 12 and competed in horse shows along the Eastern Seaboard from New England down to Virginia until she left for college. The then Suffield resident won her circuit championship several times and was even high-point champion in Massachusetts and reserve high-point champion in Connecticut.
"I was successful," Brewer said, "but it wasn't about the ribbons, though I do love blue. It was about the camaraderie. It was about working with this 2,000-pound animal and trying to convince him that he wanted to do what I wanted him to do. It was a lot of fun."
She will bring the lessons learned in the horse ring, along with plenty of others gleaned from years in sports, to the new position she took over July 1 from retired Torrington athletic director Mike McKenna. Certainly, she has already shown a knack for adaptability in 15 years at the high school.
After graduating from MacDuffie, Brewer earned a degree in athletic training from Endicott College in Massachusetts and a teaching certificate from Central Connecticut (and later advanced degrees online from Canisius and the University of New England). Like McKenna before her, she was originally an athletic trainer for Torrington before joining the faculty as an allied health and sports medicine teacher.
#Athletic #torrington #sports
She took her first horse-riding lesson at age 6, got her first horse at 12 and competed in horse shows along the Eastern Seaboard from New England down to Virginia until she left for college. The then Suffield resident won her circuit championship several times and was even high-point champion in Massachusetts and reserve high-point champion in Connecticut.
"I was successful," Brewer said, "but it wasn't about the ribbons, though I do love blue. It was about the camaraderie. It was about working with this 2,000-pound animal and trying to convince him that he wanted to do what I wanted him to do. It was a lot of fun."
She will bring the lessons learned in the horse ring, along with plenty of others gleaned from years in sports, to the new position she took over July 1 from retired Torrington athletic director Mike McKenna. Certainly, she has already shown a knack for adaptability in 15 years at the high school.
After graduating from MacDuffie, Brewer earned a degree in athletic training from Endicott College in Massachusetts and a teaching certificate from Central Connecticut (and later advanced degrees online from Canisius and the University of New England). Like McKenna before her, she was originally an athletic trainer for Torrington before joining the faculty as an allied health and sports medicine teacher.
#Athletic #torrington #sports
18 days ago
It's time for the annual post to highlight how the Mountain West Conference compares to the American Athletic Conference in a variety of important categories. Since this yearly post began, the American has had the advantage overall, although the MW narrowed the gap in 2024. Which one was the top Group of 5 conference in 2024? Read below to find out.
The Mountain West and American don't have many opportunities to play each other from season to season, and it's sad that that hasn't changed over the years. In 2024, the conferences played one another four times, with two of those being the CIC Trophy games, Air Force battling Army and Navy. The other two were Boise State opening against South Florida and Colorado State taking on Texas-San Antonio. Last season, all of those games ended in losses for the Mountain West teams, which is extremely disappointing. They have now lost head-to-head matchups to the American two seasons in a row.
The American's top tier enjoyed a successful season and has been seen as a top-heavy conference for years, with this year being no different. Memphis led the way with a 12-2 record (good for a winning percentage of .857). Behind them was Navy at 11-2 (.846), and Tulane at 11-3 (.786). The three-team average ends up being a .829 score for the American. On the other side of things, UNLV was the top Mountain West team with a 10-4 record (.714 winning percentage). Then, New Mexico, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Hawaii all finished with identical 9-4 records (.692). Taking the three-team average, and it comes out to a .699 winning percentage, which is a drop from 2025. Unfortunately for the Mountain West, even a good season and a top-heavy bunch of teams, the conference couldn't measure up to the American, which takes this one once again.
Playing games against Power 4 teams is usually a great measuring stick for any mid-major conference. The Mountain West continues to have a poor showing in this category, but improved in 2025, going 4-12 in 2025. That is an increase of one win from 2024, though they played four fewer games this past season. The wins over Stanford, Cal, and UCLA (twice) represent a 25% winning percentage for the conference.
The American ended up improving as well, going from 1-14 to 6-13, which amounts to a 32% winning percentage. The additional five games against P4 teams should be noted as well. Beating Northwestern, Army, and Oklahoma State last year may not mean much, but wins over Florida, Duke, and Arkansas look impressive to varying degrees. It's nice to see both conferences improve, but the American takes this category back in 2025.
#american #mountain #season #percentage
The Mountain West and American don't have many opportunities to play each other from season to season, and it's sad that that hasn't changed over the years. In 2024, the conferences played one another four times, with two of those being the CIC Trophy games, Air Force battling Army and Navy. The other two were Boise State opening against South Florida and Colorado State taking on Texas-San Antonio. Last season, all of those games ended in losses for the Mountain West teams, which is extremely disappointing. They have now lost head-to-head matchups to the American two seasons in a row.
The American's top tier enjoyed a successful season and has been seen as a top-heavy conference for years, with this year being no different. Memphis led the way with a 12-2 record (good for a winning percentage of .857). Behind them was Navy at 11-2 (.846), and Tulane at 11-3 (.786). The three-team average ends up being a .829 score for the American. On the other side of things, UNLV was the top Mountain West team with a 10-4 record (.714 winning percentage). Then, New Mexico, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Hawaii all finished with identical 9-4 records (.692). Taking the three-team average, and it comes out to a .699 winning percentage, which is a drop from 2025. Unfortunately for the Mountain West, even a good season and a top-heavy bunch of teams, the conference couldn't measure up to the American, which takes this one once again.
Playing games against Power 4 teams is usually a great measuring stick for any mid-major conference. The Mountain West continues to have a poor showing in this category, but improved in 2025, going 4-12 in 2025. That is an increase of one win from 2024, though they played four fewer games this past season. The wins over Stanford, Cal, and UCLA (twice) represent a 25% winning percentage for the conference.
The American ended up improving as well, going from 1-14 to 6-13, which amounts to a 32% winning percentage. The additional five games against P4 teams should be noted as well. Beating Northwestern, Army, and Oklahoma State last year may not mean much, but wins over Florida, Duke, and Arkansas look impressive to varying degrees. It's nice to see both conferences improve, but the American takes this category back in 2025.
#american #mountain #season #percentage
19 days ago
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Patrick Surtain II felt like he was in a maze. Quinn Meinerz was glad his truck wasn't baking in the Colorado sun.
The Denver Broncos prepared to open training camp this week from their new $175 million headquarters, which was designed with players in mind.
"Oh, this is incredible," said Meinerz, the Broncos' perennial All-Pro guard. "I'm finding new things every time. I've just stayed on the first floor. I got to park underground. When I get done with practice my truck's not going to be 150 degrees. That's a nice little thing."
The Broncos will hold their first practice of their acclimation period Wednesday in the shadows of the new state-of-the-art facility funded by owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner.
It was designed to keep players from having to exert extra energy in a superfluous manner, such as long walks to their weight room like they had to make in their old headquarters across the football fields, buildings that will be torn down after training camp next month.
#Broncos #headquarters #first
The Denver Broncos prepared to open training camp this week from their new $175 million headquarters, which was designed with players in mind.
"Oh, this is incredible," said Meinerz, the Broncos' perennial All-Pro guard. "I'm finding new things every time. I've just stayed on the first floor. I got to park underground. When I get done with practice my truck's not going to be 150 degrees. That's a nice little thing."
The Broncos will hold their first practice of their acclimation period Wednesday in the shadows of the new state-of-the-art facility funded by owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner.
It was designed to keep players from having to exert extra energy in a superfluous manner, such as long walks to their weight room like they had to make in their old headquarters across the football fields, buildings that will be torn down after training camp next month.
#Broncos #headquarters #first
23 days ago
If you've ever spent a Saturday afternoon in the north of Rome, you'll know that the air feels different when Lazio are playing at home. It's a mixture of nervous energy, the scent of roasting meat from street stalls, and a very specific kind of quiet tension that hums through the crowds heading toward the Stadio Olimpico.
For the Biancocelesti faithful, a match isn't just ninety minutes of football; it's a complex dance with fate. In Italy, they have a word for this that goes beyond simple superstition: Scaramanzia. It's the art of fending off bad luck. It's the belief that if you wear the wrong socks, take the wrong bridge over the Tiber, or speak too confidently about a win, you'll personally be responsible for a last-minute goal from the opposition. While some might call it irrational, for those in the Curva Nord, it's a science.
The journey to the stadium usually starts at the Ponte Milvio. This ancient bridge, famous for its history and more recently for its "love locks," serves as the psychological gateway for Lazio fans. You'll see thousands of supporters gathered here, and if you look closely, you'll notice the patterns. It isn't just about getting a drink before the game; it's about the repetition of specific actions that have "worked" in the past.
I've spoken to fans who have worn the same faded shirt to every home game for a decade. It doesn't matter if it's thirty degrees in August or freezing in January; that shirt is a lucky charm. If they wash it, they're washing the luck away. It sounds absurd to an outsider, but when you're standing in the middle of a crowd of passionate Italians, you start to believe it too.
The food rituals are just as strict. Many fans won't dream of entering the stadium without a specific meal at a specific stall near the bridge. Whether it's a porchetta sandwich or a simple slice of pizza, the consistency provides a sense of control over an outcome that is, in reality, entirely out of their hands. It's a way of grounding themselves before the emotional rollercoaster begins.
#fans #lazio #isn 't #luck
For the Biancocelesti faithful, a match isn't just ninety minutes of football; it's a complex dance with fate. In Italy, they have a word for this that goes beyond simple superstition: Scaramanzia. It's the art of fending off bad luck. It's the belief that if you wear the wrong socks, take the wrong bridge over the Tiber, or speak too confidently about a win, you'll personally be responsible for a last-minute goal from the opposition. While some might call it irrational, for those in the Curva Nord, it's a science.
The journey to the stadium usually starts at the Ponte Milvio. This ancient bridge, famous for its history and more recently for its "love locks," serves as the psychological gateway for Lazio fans. You'll see thousands of supporters gathered here, and if you look closely, you'll notice the patterns. It isn't just about getting a drink before the game; it's about the repetition of specific actions that have "worked" in the past.
I've spoken to fans who have worn the same faded shirt to every home game for a decade. It doesn't matter if it's thirty degrees in August or freezing in January; that shirt is a lucky charm. If they wash it, they're washing the luck away. It sounds absurd to an outsider, but when you're standing in the middle of a crowd of passionate Italians, you start to believe it too.
The food rituals are just as strict. Many fans won't dream of entering the stadium without a specific meal at a specific stall near the bridge. Whether it's a porchetta sandwich or a simple slice of pizza, the consistency provides a sense of control over an outcome that is, in reality, entirely out of their hands. It's a way of grounding themselves before the emotional rollercoaster begins.
#fans #lazio #isn 't #luck
24 days ago
A friend of mine offered an interesting question, mostly just to chat about for a little and move on but it’s been sticking in my mind for a while now. The question was who will be in last place in the Eastern Conference next season?
It’s been an interesting point to ponder on in the dead of summer. Not all the teams are particularly good, but no one is currently trying to be bad by punting the season through a long-term rebuilding strategy these days that has made themselves a poor team either. There are no Chicago’s or Calgary’s in the East these days that will drop far behind the pack and await what they hope will be a brighter future. All 16 teams in the East, to varying degrees, have the goal, desire and something of an expectation to make the playoffs next season.
That shapes up to mean chaos and fun. Take a look at last season – the three worst teams in the Eastern Conference ended up being Florida (the 2x defending Stanley Cup champions), Toronto (the team that finished second in points for the conference the year prior in 2024-25) and the New York Rangers (who were first in the East as recently as 2023-24).
That’s probably three teams that this time 12 months ago almost no one would have guessed would be at the bottom of the conference, although there were some warning signs with NYR and Aleksander Barkov’s preseason injury did impact the Panthers in a predictable way before the year started. If anything in the modern NHL, you might as well throw out the results of the prior year when attempting to forecast the future. The base of what has happened isn’t going to be a roadmap for what is to come, by and large for many teams.
Going off my preseason predictions, I would have had Philadelphia, Boston and Pittsburgh as the bottom-three teams in 2025-26, all of which you might notice made the playoffs. That’s pretty humbling to undertake the projection of who could be the worst in 2026-27.
#east #going
It’s been an interesting point to ponder on in the dead of summer. Not all the teams are particularly good, but no one is currently trying to be bad by punting the season through a long-term rebuilding strategy these days that has made themselves a poor team either. There are no Chicago’s or Calgary’s in the East these days that will drop far behind the pack and await what they hope will be a brighter future. All 16 teams in the East, to varying degrees, have the goal, desire and something of an expectation to make the playoffs next season.
That shapes up to mean chaos and fun. Take a look at last season – the three worst teams in the Eastern Conference ended up being Florida (the 2x defending Stanley Cup champions), Toronto (the team that finished second in points for the conference the year prior in 2024-25) and the New York Rangers (who were first in the East as recently as 2023-24).
That’s probably three teams that this time 12 months ago almost no one would have guessed would be at the bottom of the conference, although there were some warning signs with NYR and Aleksander Barkov’s preseason injury did impact the Panthers in a predictable way before the year started. If anything in the modern NHL, you might as well throw out the results of the prior year when attempting to forecast the future. The base of what has happened isn’t going to be a roadmap for what is to come, by and large for many teams.
Going off my preseason predictions, I would have had Philadelphia, Boston and Pittsburgh as the bottom-three teams in 2025-26, all of which you might notice made the playoffs. That’s pretty humbling to undertake the projection of who could be the worst in 2026-27.
#east #going
25 days ago
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about taking stock of where the Buckeyes are compared to where they were. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Then vs. Now” articles here.
With the start of preseason camp now just a few weeks away, for our article theme this week, we are looking back at previous Buckeye squads to compare them to the team that will be on the field this season. So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know which position group you think has improved the most since last season.
Now, SB Nation’s polling technology only allows for six options, so I had to make some executive decisions on what would and would not be included. So, if the group you think should be No. 1 isn’t included, please feel free to write them in via the comment section at the bottom of the article.
So, take a look at the options below, then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Over the weekend or early next week, we will share the results, so make sure to check back in with us in a few days. And if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down.
#theme
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about taking stock of where the Buckeyes are compared to where they were. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Then vs. Now” articles here.
With the start of preseason camp now just a few weeks away, for our article theme this week, we are looking back at previous Buckeye squads to compare them to the team that will be on the field this season. So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know which position group you think has improved the most since last season.
Now, SB Nation’s polling technology only allows for six options, so I had to make some executive decisions on what would and would not be included. So, if the group you think should be No. 1 isn’t included, please feel free to write them in via the comment section at the bottom of the article.
So, take a look at the options below, then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Over the weekend or early next week, we will share the results, so make sure to check back in with us in a few days. And if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down.
#theme
26 days ago
As the ultra-successful agent of Akron native LeBron James and many other NBA players, Rich Paul knows how to read the room, and it's an important quality to have as the James sweepstakes reaches three weeks in duration.
On the "Game Over" podcast Paul co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Paul acknowledged a reality of James' free agency. When James eventually chooses his next team, the other franchises vying for him — and their fan bases — will be left disappointed to varying degrees. In an apparent effort to preemptively soften the blow, Paul wanted to make it known neither he nor James have been "leading on" teams by intentionally creating false hope.
"We've done this purposefully that there's no leading on for anybody," Paul said during an episode of his podcast released on Monday, July 20. "I've had everyone from ownership to general managers and presidents of teams, they've all asked, 'Is there any more we should be doing? What else could we do?' So on and so forth, and it's been, 'No, you've done all you needed to do, and that's it, right?' So, there's no leading on for anybody in that capacity."
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are widely considered the top contenders to win the James sweepstakes. The competition for James' services tipped off after Paul informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 the NBA's all-time leading scorer would leave LA in free agency after spending the past eight seasons there.
Since then, speculation about which team the 41-year-old James will choose has been relentless. The guesswork has also extended to when James will render a verdict.
#paul
On the "Game Over" podcast Paul co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Paul acknowledged a reality of James' free agency. When James eventually chooses his next team, the other franchises vying for him — and their fan bases — will be left disappointed to varying degrees. In an apparent effort to preemptively soften the blow, Paul wanted to make it known neither he nor James have been "leading on" teams by intentionally creating false hope.
"We've done this purposefully that there's no leading on for anybody," Paul said during an episode of his podcast released on Monday, July 20. "I've had everyone from ownership to general managers and presidents of teams, they've all asked, 'Is there any more we should be doing? What else could we do?' So on and so forth, and it's been, 'No, you've done all you needed to do, and that's it, right?' So, there's no leading on for anybody in that capacity."
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are widely considered the top contenders to win the James sweepstakes. The competition for James' services tipped off after Paul informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 the NBA's all-time leading scorer would leave LA in free agency after spending the past eight seasons there.
Since then, speculation about which team the 41-year-old James will choose has been relentless. The guesswork has also extended to when James will render a verdict.
#paul
1 month ago
(Corrects dateline to Ejea)
By Guillermo Martinez and Violeta Santos Moura
EJEA DE LOS CABALLEROS, Spain, July 17 (Reuters) - Firefighters backed by 30 aircraft struggled on Friday to contain a wildfire in northeastern Spain that has ripped through an area the size of San Francisco, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 people, as recent heatwaves left vegetation tinder-dry across much of Europe.
Successive early summer heatwaves, which many scientists blame on human-driven climate change, have pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels in large swathes of the continent, causing water shortages, crop damage, wildfires, and thousands more deaths than normal.
According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, the average high across Western Europe on Friday was forecast to be 27.5 degrees Celsius (81.5 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 4.2 C above the normal high for July 17 from 1961-1990.
By Guillermo Martinez and Violeta Santos Moura
EJEA DE LOS CABALLEROS, Spain, July 17 (Reuters) - Firefighters backed by 30 aircraft struggled on Friday to contain a wildfire in northeastern Spain that has ripped through an area the size of San Francisco, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 people, as recent heatwaves left vegetation tinder-dry across much of Europe.
Successive early summer heatwaves, which many scientists blame on human-driven climate change, have pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels in large swathes of the continent, causing water shortages, crop damage, wildfires, and thousands more deaths than normal.
According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, the average high across Western Europe on Friday was forecast to be 27.5 degrees Celsius (81.5 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 4.2 C above the normal high for July 17 from 1961-1990.
1 month ago
England’s golf coast is experiencing a heat wave, which means firm and fast conditions for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The weather forecast for the week calls for warm temperatures, little to no rain and mild to moderate wind.
Here is a day-by-day look:
TUESDAY – Temperature: 57/80; Wind: E, 12-18 mph, gusts up to 28 mph; Rain: 0%
WEDNESDAY – Temperature: 59/82; Wind: E, 10-16 mph, gusts up to 24 mph; Rain: 10%
THURSDAY – Temperature: 62/82; Wind: E to NE, 8-14 mph winds, gusts up to 20 mph; Rain: 10%
FRIDAY – Temperature: 62/77; Wind: N, 8-14 mph winds; Rain: 20%
SATURDAY – Temperature: 62/75; Wind: N, 8-14 mph winds; Rain: 20%
SUNDAY – High of 73 degrees, NW winds of 8-14 mph, low chance of rain
The weather forecast for the week calls for warm temperatures, little to no rain and mild to moderate wind.
Here is a day-by-day look:
TUESDAY – Temperature: 57/80; Wind: E, 12-18 mph, gusts up to 28 mph; Rain: 0%
WEDNESDAY – Temperature: 59/82; Wind: E, 10-16 mph, gusts up to 24 mph; Rain: 10%
THURSDAY – Temperature: 62/82; Wind: E to NE, 8-14 mph winds, gusts up to 20 mph; Rain: 10%
FRIDAY – Temperature: 62/77; Wind: N, 8-14 mph winds; Rain: 20%
SATURDAY – Temperature: 62/75; Wind: N, 8-14 mph winds; Rain: 20%
SUNDAY – High of 73 degrees, NW winds of 8-14 mph, low chance of rain
1 month ago
The ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday is being shortened due to a heatwave, race organizers said.
A red heat alert level has been declared for the Corrèze department, through which the stage is due to pass.
As a result, the stage through the Massif Central will be shortened to 155.5 kilometres from the originally planned 185.5km, a statement said on Saturday.
Temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius are expected at the start in Malemort and 35 degrees at the finish in Ussel.
The stage is also demanding in terms of climbs.
A red heat alert level has been declared for the Corrèze department, through which the stage is due to pass.
As a result, the stage through the Massif Central will be shortened to 155.5 kilometres from the originally planned 185.5km, a statement said on Saturday.
Temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius are expected at the start in Malemort and 35 degrees at the finish in Ussel.
The stage is also demanding in terms of climbs.
1 month ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fast-spreading blaze prompted evacuation orders Friday afternoon in a sparsely populated area of Los Angeles County.
The brush fire sparked around 1 p.m. under dry and scorching hot conditions in a remote high desert region about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of LA, according to the LA County Fire Department. Temperatures in the area soared to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
The fire reached about 2,700 acres (1,092 hectares) by evening, Angeles National Forest officials said on the social media platform X. It's unclear how many buildings are threatened by the blaze.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at a YMCA in Los Angeles County.
The nearest town to its east is Piñon Hills, a census-designated community of about 7,200 people in San Bernardino County. Parts of the town were under an evacuation warning by Friday evening.
The brush fire sparked around 1 p.m. under dry and scorching hot conditions in a remote high desert region about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of LA, according to the LA County Fire Department. Temperatures in the area soared to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
The fire reached about 2,700 acres (1,092 hectares) by evening, Angeles National Forest officials said on the social media platform X. It's unclear how many buildings are threatened by the blaze.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at a YMCA in Los Angeles County.
The nearest town to its east is Piñon Hills, a census-designated community of about 7,200 people in San Bernardino County. Parts of the town were under an evacuation warning by Friday evening.
1 month ago
AJ Dybantsa gets upper hand over Darryn Peterson in Las Vegas Summer League debuts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LAS VEGAS — Fans began lining up outside of Thomas and Mack arena for first-come, first-serve seating starting at around 7 in the morning, braving temperatures of up to 110 degrees before the doors opened at 11:30 am.
And they weren't there for the Hunter ****** inson vs. Rocco Zikarsky matchup that started off the day's games.
The buzz all day was around No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa facing off against No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson at 6pm local time. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George were on the sidelines, jumping onto the floor during big plays. Deandre Ayton and Anthony Davis were among the Wizards who came to cheer on Dybantsa. Paul Pierce roamed along the baseline, schmoozing his way into baseline seats. Jalen Williams took them over as Pierce wandered off after the first quarter. Kings coach Doug Christie couldn't find a seat, so he watched the whole game standing to the side of press row.
MORE: The best and worst contracts of NBA Free Agency so far
LAS VEGAS — Fans began lining up outside of Thomas and Mack arena for first-come, first-serve seating starting at around 7 in the morning, braving temperatures of up to 110 degrees before the doors opened at 11:30 am.
And they weren't there for the Hunter ****** inson vs. Rocco Zikarsky matchup that started off the day's games.
The buzz all day was around No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa facing off against No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson at 6pm local time. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George were on the sidelines, jumping onto the floor during big plays. Deandre Ayton and Anthony Davis were among the Wizards who came to cheer on Dybantsa. Paul Pierce roamed along the baseline, schmoozing his way into baseline seats. Jalen Williams took them over as Pierce wandered off after the first quarter. Kings coach Doug Christie couldn't find a seat, so he watched the whole game standing to the side of press row.
MORE: The best and worst contracts of NBA Free Agency so far
1 month ago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Zuby Ejiofor #20 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Only 16 days separate players from NBA Draft Night to the Summer League. Hoopers end up travelling from the cityscapes and bridges of Brooklyn to the desert heat of 43 degrees Celsius and pumping air conditioning units of Las Vegas. Today, the first slew of 76 games kicked off spanning 11 days that will feature the 2026 NBA rookie class and undrafted talent that will be vying for final spots on an NBA roster.
Summer League is a breeding ground of hope. It’s where players are proving their worth one last time before final rosters are locked. It's where, with any luck, questions get answered – or perhaps not. Will an x-factor be unearthed? Which team will show the most promise? Which teams can find an extra edge?
Most of the intrigue will be centred around: who’s going to deliver this year in Las Vegas? For the basketball fan, there's usually something in it for everyone.
Here’s what we'll be watching:
Only 16 days separate players from NBA Draft Night to the Summer League. Hoopers end up travelling from the cityscapes and bridges of Brooklyn to the desert heat of 43 degrees Celsius and pumping air conditioning units of Las Vegas. Today, the first slew of 76 games kicked off spanning 11 days that will feature the 2026 NBA rookie class and undrafted talent that will be vying for final spots on an NBA roster.
Summer League is a breeding ground of hope. It’s where players are proving their worth one last time before final rosters are locked. It's where, with any luck, questions get answered – or perhaps not. Will an x-factor be unearthed? Which team will show the most promise? Which teams can find an extra edge?
Most of the intrigue will be centred around: who’s going to deliver this year in Las Vegas? For the basketball fan, there's usually something in it for everyone.
Here’s what we'll be watching:
1 month ago
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our "Burning Questions" articles here.
Last week, we gave Ohio State fans a list of burning questions surrounding this year's football team and asked them to pick the one that they thought was the most important to be answered if the Buckeyes were going to have a successful 2026 campaign.
Despite the fact that many national pundits expect the OSU offensive line to be one of the best in the country, the recent lack of reliability — especially in crucial situations — that Buckeye Nation has witnessed from the unit in recent years apparently has the fanbase spooked.
The winner, going away, was "Can the offensive line be one of the best units in the country in November and the postseason?" I think we all expect the veteran unit of Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Phillip Daniels to be solid, but with the gauntlet schedule that OSU has on tap, will they be able to withstand their regular-season murderer's row in order to be playing their best when it comes time for the postseason?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our "Burning Questions" articles here.
Last week, we gave Ohio State fans a list of burning questions surrounding this year's football team and asked them to pick the one that they thought was the most important to be answered if the Buckeyes were going to have a successful 2026 campaign.
Despite the fact that many national pundits expect the OSU offensive line to be one of the best in the country, the recent lack of reliability — especially in crucial situations — that Buckeye Nation has witnessed from the unit in recent years apparently has the fanbase spooked.
The winner, going away, was "Can the offensive line be one of the best units in the country in November and the postseason?" I think we all expect the veteran unit of Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Phillip Daniels to be solid, but with the gauntlet schedule that OSU has on tap, will they be able to withstand their regular-season murderer's row in order to be playing their best when it comes time for the postseason?
1 month ago
PAU, France (AP) — Dutch rider Olav Kooij won the fifth stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish on Wednesday, while Norwegian rider Torstein Traeen kept the yellow jersey on a day when the peloton largely took it easy.
Kooij was put in a strong position to attack by his Decathlon CMA CGM teammates and held off German Max Kanter and Belgian Tim Merlier in a dash to the line. They all finished in just under 3 1/2 hours.
Traeen rolled over the line 14 seconds later in a big main group containing defending champion Tadej Pogacar and fellow Tour contender Jonas Vingegaard. They both trail Traeen by about eight minutes in the standings. But Traeen, who took the yellow jersey on Stage 4, is not considered a contender for overall victory.
After a testing team time trial, an early mountain stage, raging wildfires and sweltering temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), riders appreciated Wednesday's flatter fifth stage.
The 158.3-kilometer route from Lannemezan to Pau in southwestern France was made for sprinters.
Kooij was put in a strong position to attack by his Decathlon CMA CGM teammates and held off German Max Kanter and Belgian Tim Merlier in a dash to the line. They all finished in just under 3 1/2 hours.
Traeen rolled over the line 14 seconds later in a big main group containing defending champion Tadej Pogacar and fellow Tour contender Jonas Vingegaard. They both trail Traeen by about eight minutes in the standings. But Traeen, who took the yellow jersey on Stage 4, is not considered a contender for overall victory.
After a testing team time trial, an early mountain stage, raging wildfires and sweltering temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), riders appreciated Wednesday's flatter fifth stage.
The 158.3-kilometer route from Lannemezan to Pau in southwestern France was made for sprinters.
1 month ago
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Friends, Buckeyes, countrymen, we are less than one month from the start of Ohio State’s preseason practice, meaning that it’s time to start locking in. With just weeks remaining until Ryan Day gets his crew back on the field for fall camp, we need to be thinking about what this season could possibly bring. So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know what bold prediction you think is actually possible this season.
Of course, you could make a bold prediction and say that Ohio State is going to go undefeated and win every game 100-0, but even the most ardent of Buckeye fans know that’s just barely on this side of impossible.
So, take a look at the options below, then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Over the weekend or early next week, we will share the results, so make sure to check back in with us in a few days. And if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Friends, Buckeyes, countrymen, we are less than one month from the start of Ohio State’s preseason practice, meaning that it’s time to start locking in. With just weeks remaining until Ryan Day gets his crew back on the field for fall camp, we need to be thinking about what this season could possibly bring. So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know what bold prediction you think is actually possible this season.
Of course, you could make a bold prediction and say that Ohio State is going to go undefeated and win every game 100-0, but even the most ardent of Buckeye fans know that’s just barely on this side of impossible.
So, take a look at the options below, then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. Over the weekend or early next week, we will share the results, so make sure to check back in with us in a few days. And if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down.
1 month ago
Success stories rarely follow a straight path, and several of today's biggest stars once imagined futures in courtrooms rather than on movie sets or concert stages. Before becoming household names, many pursued law degrees, legal training, or seriously considered careers in the legal profession. Their journeys demonstrate that education can open many doors, but passion often leads people in unexpected directions. By choosing careers in entertainment instead of law, these celebrities reshaped not only their own lives but also the industries they entered.
Gemma Chan came remarkably close to becoming a corporate lawyer after studying law at the University of Oxford and securing a prestigious training contract with the renowned London law firm Slaughter and May. Instead, she chose drama school, a decision that eventually led to acclaimed performances in films such as Crazy Rich Asians and Eternals. Similarly, Gerard Butler earned a law degree from the University of Glasgow and worked as a trainee lawyer before deciding that acting was his true calling. Leaving the legal profession proved to be a defining moment, launching him into a successful career that includes blockbuster films such as the Has Fallen series.
Several other stars also balanced legal ambitions with creative dreams before making life-changing decisions. Kim Kardashian pursued California's legal apprenticeship program, inspired by her father, attorney Robert Kardashian, while becoming an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform. Rebel Wilson completed a double degree in law and arts before comedy ultimately won her over, later explaining that her legal education sharpened her ability to **** yze characters and human behavior. John Legend also considered attending law school after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, but instead followed his passion for music, eventually becoming one of the few entertainers to achieve the prestigious EGOT, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
Another notable example is Matthew McConaughey, who originally planned to become a criminal defense lawyer while studying at the University of Texas. Shortly before applying to law school, he reevaluated his goals, switched to film studies, and embarked on the acting career that would eventually earn him an Academy Award. Although each of these celebrities followed a different path, their stories share a common message: career plans are not set in stone. Whether they completed legal studies or simply explored the profession, they proved that success often comes from having the courage to pursue what truly inspires you, even when it means leaving a promising career behind.
Gemma Chan came remarkably close to becoming a corporate lawyer after studying law at the University of Oxford and securing a prestigious training contract with the renowned London law firm Slaughter and May. Instead, she chose drama school, a decision that eventually led to acclaimed performances in films such as Crazy Rich Asians and Eternals. Similarly, Gerard Butler earned a law degree from the University of Glasgow and worked as a trainee lawyer before deciding that acting was his true calling. Leaving the legal profession proved to be a defining moment, launching him into a successful career that includes blockbuster films such as the Has Fallen series.
Several other stars also balanced legal ambitions with creative dreams before making life-changing decisions. Kim Kardashian pursued California's legal apprenticeship program, inspired by her father, attorney Robert Kardashian, while becoming an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform. Rebel Wilson completed a double degree in law and arts before comedy ultimately won her over, later explaining that her legal education sharpened her ability to **** yze characters and human behavior. John Legend also considered attending law school after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, but instead followed his passion for music, eventually becoming one of the few entertainers to achieve the prestigious EGOT, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
Another notable example is Matthew McConaughey, who originally planned to become a criminal defense lawyer while studying at the University of Texas. Shortly before applying to law school, he reevaluated his goals, switched to film studies, and embarked on the acting career that would eventually earn him an Academy Award. Although each of these celebrities followed a different path, their stories share a common message: career plans are not set in stone. Whether they completed legal studies or simply explored the profession, they proved that success often comes from having the courage to pursue what truly inspires you, even when it means leaving a promising career behind.
1 month ago
LES ANGLES, France (AP) — A large wildfire in the south of France prompted Tour de France organizers to ban fans from attending the finale of the third stage of cycling's showpiece race on Monday.
After a couple of days in Spain, the race enters France with a stage to the Pyrenees town of Les Angles, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from a fire that has burned almost 4,000 acres of land.
"The exceptionally large wildfire currently raging in the Pyrénées-Orientales is requiring a massive mobilization of wildfire-fighting resources, internal security forces, and all government agencies," Tour de France organizers said. "The top priority remains the protection of people, property, and natural areas, as well as bringing the fire under control."
As a result, organizers decided that once the peloton reaches France for the last 40 kilometers, the publicity caravan — a 10-kilometer-long procession of sponsor vehicles that precedes the race — will not operate. Only riders and vehicles essential to the race will be allowed on the route, and spectators have been asked not to gather on the roadside or at the finish area.
Stage 3 started from the Spanish town of Granollers, where temperatures reached around 35 degrees Celsius, race organizers said, quoting the Spanish Meteorological Agency. It features a 9.3-kilometer (5.8-mile) ascent up Col de Toses at an average gradient of 6.5%. The climb is ranked as Category 1, the second-hardest level behind Hors Categorie (which means beyond classification).
After a couple of days in Spain, the race enters France with a stage to the Pyrenees town of Les Angles, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from a fire that has burned almost 4,000 acres of land.
"The exceptionally large wildfire currently raging in the Pyrénées-Orientales is requiring a massive mobilization of wildfire-fighting resources, internal security forces, and all government agencies," Tour de France organizers said. "The top priority remains the protection of people, property, and natural areas, as well as bringing the fire under control."
As a result, organizers decided that once the peloton reaches France for the last 40 kilometers, the publicity caravan — a 10-kilometer-long procession of sponsor vehicles that precedes the race — will not operate. Only riders and vehicles essential to the race will be allowed on the route, and spectators have been asked not to gather on the roadside or at the finish area.
Stage 3 started from the Spanish town of Granollers, where temperatures reached around 35 degrees Celsius, race organizers said, quoting the Spanish Meteorological Agency. It features a 9.3-kilometer (5.8-mile) ascent up Col de Toses at an average gradient of 6.5%. The climb is ranked as Category 1, the second-hardest level behind Hors Categorie (which means beyond classification).
1 month ago
PHILDELPHIA (AP) — Martin Meissner is a staff photographer for The ******* ociated Press. He is based in Germany, near Duesseldorf. Meissner has been with the AP for more than 25 years and is covering his sixth World Cup.
I was covering the match between France and Paraguay on Saturday from the right far corner. At the final whistle signaling the end of the match, an emotional Kylian Mbappe shouts out, expressing his joy after France won on his penalty kick and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals.
I flew to the match in Philadelphia from Boston on Saturday, the morning of America's birthday, which also happens to be my birthday. The temperatures in the stadium for the July 4 afternoon match were almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) — and that was in the shadows. For me, there was no shade. My position for more than three hours was in the far right corner, under the bright hot sun. Due to the extreme heat, a photographer two seats beside me who couldn't stand it anymore and was led out of the pitch position. For a soccer match on this level, especially when it comes down to just one goal, you have to stay focused until the very end. One moment could have changed the whole story of this hard-fought match. After 10 minutes of additional time, I stayed on the key player of the match — Mbappe — and waited for his reaction using a 400mm long lens.
The moment Mbappe shouts out, his joy encapsulates the entire match in a single image. Paraguay played the entire match using question tactics, repeatedly provoking Mbappe. The physical play was so rough that after the match when the Paraguay goalkeeper extended his hand to congratulate Mbappe, the French superstar swatted it away. This photo at the final whistle captures the sense of satisfaction that came pouring out after winning the match despite the questionable tactics.
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I was covering the match between France and Paraguay on Saturday from the right far corner. At the final whistle signaling the end of the match, an emotional Kylian Mbappe shouts out, expressing his joy after France won on his penalty kick and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals.
I flew to the match in Philadelphia from Boston on Saturday, the morning of America's birthday, which also happens to be my birthday. The temperatures in the stadium for the July 4 afternoon match were almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) — and that was in the shadows. For me, there was no shade. My position for more than three hours was in the far right corner, under the bright hot sun. Due to the extreme heat, a photographer two seats beside me who couldn't stand it anymore and was led out of the pitch position. For a soccer match on this level, especially when it comes down to just one goal, you have to stay focused until the very end. One moment could have changed the whole story of this hard-fought match. After 10 minutes of additional time, I stayed on the key player of the match — Mbappe — and waited for his reaction using a 400mm long lens.
The moment Mbappe shouts out, his joy encapsulates the entire match in a single image. Paraguay played the entire match using question tactics, repeatedly provoking Mbappe. The physical play was so rough that after the match when the Paraguay goalkeeper extended his hand to congratulate Mbappe, the French superstar swatted it away. This photo at the final whistle captures the sense of satisfaction that came pouring out after winning the match despite the questionable tactics.
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1 month ago
PHILADELPHIA — In the birthplace of the U.S. on its 250th anniversary, France and Paraguay battled in a blisteringly hot World Cup knockout match.
France knocked out Paraguay with a 1–0 win in the round of 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday evening. The players, and the official sell-out crowd of 68,324 people, endured one of the all-time hottest World Cup matches, with many fans baking in sun for the entire game.
The temperature was 99 degrees at kickoff at 5 p.m. ET. The sun was strong and the air felt thick in the seats that got direct sunlight, though it was breezy in the upper levels of the stadium. By the start of the second half, around 6:10 p.m., most of the field was shaded. The temperature was 97 degrees.
FIFA put large paper cards, or tifos, on each seat ahead of the match that it created to use as a patriotic display for the Fourth of July, but the sheets also doubled as a paper fan—and for some in attendance, sun shades and even hats. Fans sat in the shaded concourse before the match began, and many waited in a long line for Italian ice. Some had electronic fans around their necks, others wore towels on their heads.
Like most World Cup matches, the price for tickets to the match climbed on secondary markets after the tournament began, then fell in the past weeks. The get-in price is about the same as it was a month ago, but 68% lower than it was two weeks ago, according to resale market tracker TicketData. Throughout the past three days, the get-in price rose 8% to $1,040 in the hours before the game, according to the company. Marie Pierre, a Philadelphian originally from Paris, told Front Office Sports she bought tickets for her family of four at close to $2,000 apiece this week.
France knocked out Paraguay with a 1–0 win in the round of 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday evening. The players, and the official sell-out crowd of 68,324 people, endured one of the all-time hottest World Cup matches, with many fans baking in sun for the entire game.
The temperature was 99 degrees at kickoff at 5 p.m. ET. The sun was strong and the air felt thick in the seats that got direct sunlight, though it was breezy in the upper levels of the stadium. By the start of the second half, around 6:10 p.m., most of the field was shaded. The temperature was 97 degrees.
FIFA put large paper cards, or tifos, on each seat ahead of the match that it created to use as a patriotic display for the Fourth of July, but the sheets also doubled as a paper fan—and for some in attendance, sun shades and even hats. Fans sat in the shaded concourse before the match began, and many waited in a long line for Italian ice. Some had electronic fans around their necks, others wore towels on their heads.
Like most World Cup matches, the price for tickets to the match climbed on secondary markets after the tournament began, then fell in the past weeks. The get-in price is about the same as it was a month ago, but 68% lower than it was two weeks ago, according to resale market tracker TicketData. Throughout the past three days, the get-in price rose 8% to $1,040 in the hours before the game, according to the company. Marie Pierre, a Philadelphian originally from Paris, told Front Office Sports she bought tickets for her family of four at close to $2,000 apiece this week.
