Every year, various media outlets provide their version of specific rankings. Defensive, offensive, positional rankings, power rankings, etc. The Athletic's Mike Sando ranks veteran quarterbacks into tiers every year with help from various NFL executives and coaches. Rookies are excluded as they haven't played a snap in the NFL.
This year's panel consisted of eight general managers, five ******* istant GMs, five former GMs and three other executives, plus nine head coaches, 10 defensive coordinators, five offensive coordinators, two offensive ******* istants, one defensive ******* istant, and two coaches that specialize in ******* ytics and game management for a grand total of 21 executives and 29 coaches.
Last year, Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels was ranked as a Tier 2 quarterback, and despite playing in only seven games in 2025, he remains a second-tier quarterback. The panel voted, and Sando ranked the quarterbacks by average vote.
Tier 1 criteria: Carries his team each week, the team wins because of him, expertly handles pure-passing situations, and has no real holes in his game. This category included Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matt Stafford, and Joe Burrow.
Tier 2 criteria: Carries his team sometimes, handles pure-passing situations in doses, or has other dimensions that elevate him above Tier 3, and has a hole or two in his game. This is where Daniels lands.

#tier #year

It's never great when you show up to play your local public golf course and find that the superintendent just had the fairways or greens punched—or both. Obviously, it's a necessary part of golf-course maintenance, otherwise you'd eventually be playing on dead grass, but it can wreak havoc on everything from putting to chipping to full-swing irons shots.
If you're new to the game, you should know that there are times when you can repair damage to a golf course. Under Rule 13.1c, for example, you can repair things such as spike marks, ball marks, old hole plugs and animal tracks on a putting green. Rule 16.1b allows you to take relief from abnormal course conditions in the general area.
But here's the thing: The definition of abnormal course conditions does not include aeration holes. If the maintenance crew created a hole after removing turf, a tree or to repair drainage pipes, you absolutely get relief. And the plugs created from punching the aeration holes are considered loose impediments and can be removed. However, the hole itself is considered just a normal part of course maintenance. If your putt is ******* py as a result, or your chip takes a sideways bounce on its way into a green, unfortunately, that is just part of the game.
More Rules Reviews from Golf Digest
Rules Review Rules of Golf Review: He rotated his golf ball without marking it. He says it's OK because he didn't lift it. True?

#course

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made clear in the immediate aftermath of the Gunners' Premier League ****** le win that they would need to be ambitious to build on their success - and the club have backed him with the move to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Arsenal won the league for the first time in 22 years last season and reached the Champions League final where they were beaten by Paris St-Germain.
But as soon as the curtain came down on that campaign and the parade to celebrate their new silverware had finished, Arteta's thoughts moved to taking ****** nal to a "different dimension".
And with Brazil's Guimaraes set to be part of a new-look ****** nal midfield, the club believe they are signing a player who will do exactly that.
Arteta has always been keen on signing players with Premier League experience and who have shown they can operate with the demands at the highest level.

#arteta #premier #signing

No, the Denver Broncos are not moving second-year cornerback Jahdae Barron to safety. Broncos coach Sean Payton made that very clear after Monday's practice.
"He's doing good," Payton said when asked about Barron earlier this week. "I read somewhere where we moved him to safety, and I don't know who wrote the article. I'm not. He's playing nickel, he's playing corner and then when we get into dime, he replaces a linebacker. So he's doing really good. There's been no position change."
Riley Moss continues to play across from Pat Surtain as the team's No. 2 outside cornerback, and Ja'Quan McMillian has been playing in the slot. Barron can rotate in with McMillian as the nickelback, and he gets on the field in "dime" packages when Denver plays with six defensive backs.
"No safety work," Payton said. "He's playing [outside] corner, nickel and dime."
PS2 is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and Moss and McMillian are both seemingly playing too well to be benched. So Barron might be looking at another season as a rotational defensive back in Denver.

#barron #denver #dime #cornerback

Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 12th annual Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series begins on Sunday, Aug. 2, commencing an eight-day slate of action from Livermore, California.
Players in the Intermediate Division range from ages 11 to 13, one step up from Little League's Majors division and one step below Junior League.
The 50/70 name comes from its field setup: a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths, larger than the standard Little League diamond but still smaller than the 60-foot-6-inch, 90-foot dimensions used at the Junior and Senior League levels.
Last year, Flor Amarillo Little League of Valencia, Venezuela defeated Central East Maui Little League of Wailuku, Hawaii for the tournament ******* le, giving Latin America its first Intermediate 50/70 championship. Neither squad returns for 2026, as a new 12-team field looks to make its mark in Livermore.

#league #intermediate #series #livermore

Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 12th annual Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series begins on Sunday, Aug. 2, commencing an eight-day slate of action from Livermore, California.
Players in the Intermediate Division range from ages 11 to 13, one step up from Little League's Majors division and one step below Junior League.
The 50/70 name comes from its field setup: a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths, larger than the standard Little League diamond but still smaller than the 60-foot-6-inch, 90-foot dimensions used at the Junior and Senior League levels.
Last year, Flor Amarillo Little League of Valencia, Venezuela defeated Central East Maui Little League of Wailuku, Hawaii for the tournament ****** le, giving Latin America its first Intermediate 50/70 championship. Neither squad returns for 2026, as a new 12-team field looks to make its mark in Livermore.

#little #series

Guard Collin ****** ton has the potential to be a significant factor in the Los Angeles Lakers' success this coming season. They signed him to a two-year, $19 million contract a few weeks ago, and he's the type of multi-faceted complementary player they have lacked for a few years.
Sexton can handle the basketball, facilitate, drop dimes, get buckets and create pace. He is also a very high-energy, highly competitive player who is nicknamed "Young Bull," and his effort should help prevent the team from flatlining as often as it did last season.
How did he originally receive the nickname "Young Bull?" On the Lakers' YouTube channel, ****** ton said it goes back to his childhood.
"Back home, always like the young one playing up," ****** ton said. "Growing up with my brother and playing maybe three-four grades up, always been like the young bull. 'Where is he at? Is he going to play?' So, I feel like that was a nickname that pretty much stuck with me from my childhood all the way up to now."
The Georgia native and University of Alabama product averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 ****** ists in 23.7 minutes a game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range last season. At age 27, he is one of several relatively young players the Lakers have brought in this offseason after losing older players such as LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard in free agency.

#young #bull #season #last

When it comes to climbing the ladder of fame, some of Hollywood's biggest names started with little more than a dream and not a dime to their name. These stars overcame humble beginnings, financial struggles and countless setbacks before building legendary careers that inspire millions. From chart-topping musicians to silver screen icons, here are remarkable celebrities who prove that with grit, resilience and talent, you really can turn rags into riches.
Steven Bergman / AFF-USA.COM / MEGA
Before Tyler Perry built his entertainment empire, he was raised in poverty in New Orleans and went through a stretch of homelessness while trying to make it as a playwright, as reported by CNN. He relied on resilience and creativity to eventually launch a string of hit plays and the now-iconic Madea franchise, turning adversity into an unstoppable force in film and television. Perry is now a billionaire, an inspiration for dreamers everywhere, and an advocate for giving back.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Dolly Parton grew up in a modest two-room log cabin in rural Tennessee that had no electricity or running water, sharing the tight quarters with her parents and eleven siblings, according to Business Insider. Her journey from her humble roots to becoming the "Queen of Country" is a story of unmatched talent, tireless work ethic and boundless generosity. Parton's philanthropic legacy is as remarkable as her legendary music career.

#bergman

During the early days of training camp, ESPN reporter John Keim caught up with Ben Sinnott to discuss how offensive coordinator David Blough plans to utilize the Commanders tight ends this season. Clearly, Sinnott was excited about the possibilities in Washington's new offense.
"It's not even close," Sinnott said. "So many different variations. Today we're lining up at number one, we're running five-step ins, we're running corners, we're running options, we're running flat [routes]. We're just doing everything. It's so much fun. It's a breath of fresh air for this offense and how it uses tight ends."
Head coach Dan Quinn has also detailed to reporters the role they see for free agent addition Chigoziem Okonkwo.
"Long play-action passing, over routes, pylon routes, things that are down the field, crossing routes that are catch-and-run to use some of his speed," Quinn said. Previously, we examined how much the Washington Commanders might run heavy personnel this season, but today we look at a couple of examples of what it might look like on the field.
Likely the personnel grouping most utilized by the Commanders offense this year, 12 personnel involves one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers. The team has emphasized the need for multi-dimensional running backs while adding Okonkwo as a big receiving threat. To gain an understanding of how Blough might use Chig out of 12 personnel, we take a look at an All-22 breakdown of Sam LaPorta with the Lions in 2023. Ben Johnson was Detroit's offensive coordinator and then-Lions quarterback David Blough was on the practice squad that year.

#sinnott #Commanders #ends #offense

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson continues his hold-in in an attempt to land a new contract that will completely reset the running back market, with an extension expected to push toward $25 million annually. He and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs seem to be colluding by both sitting out practices during training camp to put more pressure on their respective teams to get a deal done sooner rather than later. All signs indicate that the Falcons will eventually pay Robinson, but there are still some out there that would question if it's worthwhile. However, paying Robinson is the right call for the Falcons.
Certainly, a case can be made that paying running backs doesn't age particularly well given the relatively short shelf life of the position in the NFL. Given that Robinson has already gotten a high volume of touches during his first three seasons, there is an increased risk of declining production from here on, according to a June article from The Athletic's Austin Mock, who demonstrates that high-workload backs suffer a sharp drop-off after age 26.
However, the alternative to not paying Robinson and going with a cheaper running back option offers little upside to Atlanta. The idea that backs like Robinson and Gibbs can be readily replaced has been debunked recently by CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson, who argues that second-contract running back fears are overblown because elite, multi-dimensional talents like them are virtually irreplaceable and historically sustain high-level production after getting paid.
Looking closer at middle-round running backs drafted from 2018 to 2022 to gauge real 'replacement value' over a rookie contract, a typical mid-round running back produces roughly on par with Kenny Gainwell (1,185 rushing yards in four combined seasons), which pales in comparison to the 3,910 yards Robinson has put up in just his first three seasons. If you can land a player like Kyren Williams (3,824 combined rushing yards in his first four seasons), it closes the gap.
However, finding "surplus value" like Williams is a lot harder than people realize: less than 10 percent of mid-round backs in the sample produced for a combined 3,000 rushing yards over their rookie contract. And that level of production is a far cry from the over 5,000 rushing yards Robinson is on pace to achieve after four years if he has just another "average" season in 2026. It only underlines the notion that finding competent running backs like Gainwell to fill out a committee is relatively easy, but landing a true lead back like Robinson who can produce at an elite level is much more difficult.

#like

The pundits made their feelings known.
"Shocking. Terrible. Totally robbed," said former champion Richie Woodhall.
England's Dimeji ******* tu had to settle for silver at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday after a controversial defeat by India's Ankush Panghal.
Shittu, 24, was docked a point in both the second and third rounds but even without that, he would not have won after more controversial decision-making.
"The referee has cost ******* tu the contest," Woodhall said on TNT Sports. "He has been robbed. I really feel for him."

#shittu #shocking #richie

The Baltimore Ravens have ***** embled one of the NFL's deeper groups of pass rushers, but not every edge defender brings the same skill set. Some specialize in winning around the corner. Others thrive with their hand in the dirt. A select few possess the size and athleticism to create mismatches from multiple alignments.
Tavius Robinson belongs in that final category. The third-year linebacker has steadily developed into an important part of the defensive front. Baltimore's top defensive ***** istant, Anthony Weaver, believes one trait separates him from many players at his position.
It's not just his physical ability. It's his willingness to do whatever the defense asks, and do so with a team-first mindset.
Following a third Ravens training camp practice, one the defense coincidentally dominated, Coach Weaver spoke with media members. He was asked about Robinson's ability to generate pressure both on the edge and from inside alignments. Weaver made it clear the Ravens view him as far more than a traditional outside linebacker. They view him as the embodiment of unselfishness and constant work ethic.
"[Tavius Robinson] is a stud. He can do so many things because of his traits, his attitude, his body type. Not everybody is built like that. He has a mindset where he does not care where he is rushing from. Sometimes you get those edge guys who do not really want to reduce inside the tackle. He does not care. He just wants to be on the field, helping to contribute, and he is going to help us in a variety of ways."

#Ravens #weaver #edge

For the fourth consecutive day in St. Joe, Kansas City Chiefs players, coaches and fans were treated to a cool morning; this practice was breezy but sunny, and lasted roughly two hours.
The team is looking ahead to a rest day on Sunday before the pads come on Monday. Here's everything to know from Arrowhead Pride's in-person observations of Saturday's practice:
Jared Sapp has the details on rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen's mid-practice injury that drew a loud gasp from the crowd watching. It happened during punt team.
With defensive end Ashton Gillotte unavailable due to a strained hamstring he suffered during Friday's practice, fourth-year player Felix Anudike-Uzomah stepped up to play more with the starting defense on Saturday.
As practice began, the first-team unit walked through different formations. Most notable was this year's first look at Dime personnel, the defensive formation with six defensive backs, one linebacker and four pass-rushing threats up front.

#defensive #fourth #sunday

The Indiana Fever picked up their fifth straight win on Friday night, taking down the Portland Fire, 112-98 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Caitlin Clark had the fourth triple double of her career, notching 26 points, 10 ***** ist, and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. Kelsey Mitchell also had 26 points, while Monique Billings added on 15.
The Fever have moved up to fourth in the WNBA and will finish out their road trip on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx. Here's what I liked and disliked about the game:
Caitlin Clark's clutch shot: There isn't anything that Clark can't do. The Fever star, with less than five seconds left in the first quarter, sprinted down the court and three up a 3-pointer through contact. It was a shot, frankly, that looked like a desperate attempt to beat the buzzer. But it swished into the basket to give the Fever a two-point lead at the end of the quarter. Clark thought she was fouled too, but there wasn't one called.
Second-quarter takeaways: After what seemed like a lackluster first quarter, the Fever turned up their game in the second. Indiana picked up five steals in those 10 minutes, including a Sophie Cunningham steal that turned into a dime from Clark to Kelsey Mitchell, then an Aliyah Boston steal that turned into a knockdown 3-pointer from Cunningham. That helped the Fever to go on a 14-2 run throughout the quarter and extend their lead into halftime.

#clark #kelsey

The Indiana Fever picked up their fifth straight win on Friday night, taking down the Portland Fire, 112-98 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Caitlin Clark had the fourth triple double of her career, notching 26 points, 10 ****** ist, and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. Kelsey Mitchell also had 26 points, while Monique Billings added on 15.
The Fever have moved up to fourth in the WNBA and will finish out their road trip on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx. Here's what I liked and disliked about the game:
Caitlin Clark's clutch shot: There isn't anything that Clark can't do. The Fever star, with less than five seconds left in the first quarter, sprinted down the court and three up a 3-pointer through contact. It was a shot, frankly, that looked like a desperate attempt to beat the buzzer. But it swished into the basket to give the Fever a two-point lead at the end of the quarter. Clark thought she was fouled too, but there wasn't one called.
Second-quarter takeaways: After what seemed like a lackluster first quarter, the Fever turned up their game in the second. Indiana picked up five steals in those 10 minutes, including a Sophie Cunningham steal that turned into a dime from Clark to Kelsey Mitchell, then an Aliyah Boston steal that turned into a knockdown 3-pointer from Cunningham. That helped the Fever to go on a 14-2 run throughout the quarter and extend their lead into halftime.

#clark #quarter #portland #caitlin

There were fans on hand for training camp practice for the first time. And they were treated to the direct sun side of the field. The players, on the other hand, see the direct sun every day, and the 95 degree morning heat that comes with it. That didn't stop them from putting some good looking product on the field, though.
Here are a few standouts from today.
He was absolutely dealing. Perfect passes perfectly placed all day, leading to some great catches that seemed near impossible for defenders to get to. This included dime ***** in the back left corner of the end zone to Brock Bowers and the back right corner to Tre Tucker. Then a tight fit ball to Jack Bech in the back of the end zone.
Two days in a row now Brock has been among the standouts. His first great catch came on a deep crossing route from right to left, leaving Isaiah Pola-Mao with no chance at it. Later Brock gave rookie Zeke Masses a welcome to the NFL moment, beating him on a corner route for a touchdown.
The first play Bech made was a nice block on a run out to the left. Then in red zone sessions, he beat Eric Stokes in the back of the end zone for the score.

#field

Zoe Saldaña knows how to command attention without sacrificing sophistication. At the New York premiere of Lioness Season 3 on July 29, the Oscar-winning actress delivered one of her boldest fashion moments yet, stepping onto the gray carpet in a dramatic black Balmain dress that combined a dangerously high slit with an ultra-plunging neckline.
Saldaña chose a black Balmain Fall 2026 design that reinvented the classic little black dress with couture-level craftsmanship. The textured fabric featured intricate pleating throughout the bodice and skirt, creating movement and dimension from every angle.
The textured fabric featured intricate pleating throughout the bodice and skirt, creating movement and dimension from every angle (GC Images)
The gown featured a plunging V-neckline extending almost to the waist, structured shoulders that added architectural shape, long fitted sleeves, a ruched waist that highlighted her silhouette, and a dramatic tulip-style skirt with a daring center slit that climbed high up the thigh.
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#black #skirt #dramatic

By Phil Stewart
July 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases, and sources told Reuters some deployed personnel could soon be ordered to surrender their phones.
Any crackdown on mobile communications would add a new dimension to the conflict for the thousands of ‌U.S. troops in the region, many of whom still rely on phones to periodically message loved ones and **** ure them they are well.
Admiral Brad Cooper, in a previously unreported letter, said ‌Iran was benefiting from being able to see the success or failure of its strikes in near real-time by searching news reports or online posts by journalists referencing "reactions, photos, and footage from the cellphones of our troops."
"The direct, unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members and civilian residents in targeted Gulf countries," Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, wrote in his July 28 letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

#troops #american #online #phil

NavajoStirling believes KhamzatChimaev is a one-dimensional fighter.

After Chimaev suffered the first loss of his professional career,the hype surrounding the former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion has dampened. Stirlingrecently called him a "one-trick pony" and wants Chimaev to move upto light heavyweight so they can fight.
While Stirling acknowledges that Chimaev would bring much attentionto the 205-pound division, the unbeaten Kiwi wants to expose how"Borz" isn't a well-rounded fighter.

"I think he's a bit of a one-trick pony," Stirling told Full SendMMA. "I would love to fight him. I want to test my theory againstsomeone like that. I would love for some bigger names to come tothe division that could bring some hype."

Chimaev was undefeated and a massive betting favorite going intohis first middleweight ***** le defense against SeanStrickland at UFC 328 this past May. However, he visibly gassed out after afailed takedown attempt in the second round and completelyabandoned his wrestling thereafter.

Strickland then out-landed Chimaev on the feet en route to amassive upset win via split decision. UFC CEO DanaWhite later claimed that Chimaev had discussed a move up tolight heavyweight in the immediate aftermath of his firstprofessional loss. However, he has since been repeatedly callingfor a rematch against Strickland.

Meanwhile, Stirling has racked up five UFC wins, with two finishes,since making his Octagon debut in 2024. He is now scheduled tofight JanBlachowicz on less than three weeks' notice at UFC Belgrade on Aug. 1 in Serbia.

#trick

As Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers look to reload their passing attack, all eyes are on marquee addition Mike Evans. While Shanahan's offense has long been hailed as one of the NFL's premier schemes, the turnover in last season's receiving corps left a distinct void on the perimeter.
Last year, San Francisco pieced together a receiver room centered around Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. While that group offered versatility and grit through a grinding campaign, the offense frequently lacked a true boundary "X" receiver capable of consistently winning pure, unassisted one-on-one battles outside the numbers.
That is precisely where Evans changes the equation.
According to data from Sumner Sports cited by Athlon Sports' Doug Farrar, Evans has been the league's gold standard for isolation efficiency when healthy. Over the past two seasons, Evans generated an Expected Points Added (EPA) per play of +0.379 on isolation targets—the highest mark of any receiver in the NFL with at least 50 such targets. Across 180 isolation routes, he pulled in 328 yards and six touchdowns on 50 targets, boasting a remarkable 62.0% catch rate in true one-on-one scenarios.
For quarterback Brock Purdy, adding a legendary perimeter threat like Evans provides an entirely new dimension. Shanahan's system relies heavily on motion, scheme-created ****** e, and intermediate rhythm throws. But when opposing defenses load the box to stifle the run or drop safety help inside to blanket crossers, Evans becomes the ultimate counterpunch.

#targets #last #offense

Zendaya and Tom Holland are making the most of married life as they travel the world promoting their latest projects, and a source exclusively tells In Touch that the newlyweds are turning the press tour into an extended honeymoon.
According to the source, the couple has been squeezing in romantic dinners and sightseeing between stops for Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
"They've been all over the world together the last month, and they still have more stops to go," the source says. "Everywhere they go, it's the absolute best of the best, it would cost them hundreds of thousands to do this sort of trip on their own dime."
While the source says that work "does take priority" for Zendaya, 29, and Holland, 30, whenever they get a free moment, "they're out enjoying the best restaurants and going incognito to enjoy the sights."
The source continues, "They're completely wrapped up in each other and still very much in that honeymoon phase, so everything they do right now feels extra special."

#best #zendaya #they 're #World

Interested in Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Record Q2 results: Dime Community Bancshares posted record second-quarter revenue of $126 million, with core EPS up 23% year over year to $0.79. Net interest margin expanded to 3.28%, marking the bank's ninth straight quarter of margin growth.
Business lending is driving growth: Business loans grew 26% year over year, and management said the pipeline remains strong at about $1.4 billion. The bank expects low- to mid-single-digit loan growth in the second half while continuing to diversify away from multifamily exposure.
Credit, capital and buybacks: Credit trends were mixed but manageable, with nonperforming **** ets down 28% sequentially and the allowance to loans rising to 98 basis points. Capital levels improved, and management said it expects to resume share repurchases in the third quarter.
Time To Buy Regional Banks? Insider Buying Says Yes

#credit

ESPN and the rest of the sports media industry were left reeling Tuesday as the Mothership ejected approximately 10 on-air talents, while pink-slipping a large contingent of behind-the-scenes staffers at NFL Network.
After speaking with multiple sources, here are my five takeaways from the layoffs, which included ESPN dropping talents such as Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech, David Lloyd, Tom Pelissero, Cam Newton, and Bart Scott:
Chairman Jimmy Pitaro made it clear that ESPN's biggest round of layoffs in three years was tied directly to Disney's acquisition of NFL Network. Anytime two companies merge, the bean counters look at who's doing what. When they find two people doing the same job—or close to it—one goes out the door.

That's what's happening as ESPN absorbs a network it competed with for over 20 years. ESPN has made "significant progress" integrating NFLN, Pitaro wrote in an internal memo obtained by Front Office Sports. But as always with mergers, it "had to make some difficult decisions," added Pitaro.
ESPN will broadcast its first-ever Super Bowl from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027. Televising a Super Bowl has been a corporate dream of ESPN's since its founding as a scrappy wannabe in 1979. ESPN management and parent company Disney are laser-focused on creating the best, most thorough Super Bowl coverage ever. Anybody on-air during what ESPN is humbly calling its "Year of the Super Bowl" will go down in company history. The competition for those choice on-air slots will be brutal.
The game announce team of Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge are locks. Ditto for Sunday NFL Countdown regulars Mike Greenberg, Rex Ryan, Randy Moss, Alex Smith, Tedy Bruschi and Adam Schefter. And look for legendary anchor Chris Berman to play a major role as the living embodiment of ESPN's 47-year history.

#espn #network #sports #talents

FedEx is introducing, but not widely advertising, a series of new charges and fees over the next two weeks that could catch customers by surprise, building on a recent pricing strategy aimed at boosting revenue without touching base rates that shippers tend to focus on.
Over an 18-month span, FedEx (NASDAQ: FDX) has implemented or announced more than 50 pricing changes, according to parcel spend management firm LJM. On top of three general rate increases have been fuel surcharge adjustments, five changes to One Rate (a flat-rate, upfront shipping program designed to provide simplicity and predictability), delivery area surcharge updates, customs-related fees, dimensional pricing changes, peak surcharges and demand surcharges.
The surcharges are typically less visible to freight owners than base rates and can have a large impact on transportation budgets.
Shippers have experienced a significant increase in fuel surcharges from FedEx, UPS and even the U.S. Postal Service as the Iran war limited crude oil supplies, pushing up the cost of diesel and jet fuel used to power their fleets, as the TD Cowen/AFS Logistics Freight Index quantified last week. Fuel surcharges in the second quarter were two-thirds higher than the prior year. Overall, the express parcel rate per package increased 5.9% in the second quarter, while the ground parcel rate per package grew 5.2%.
"The biggest takeaway is not just that FedEx is raising rates on a continual basis, but how those increases have been distributed. Many shippers now see accessorial charges in the high-30% to low-40% range as a share of spend, with some exceeding 50%, LJM said in an article on its website. The constant micro-adjustments mean businesses should review their contracts more than once a year, it added.

#shippers

Seagrass plants making it through winter is "promising" for a restoration trial, a research officer said.
Durham Wildlife Trust carried out the plantings at the River Aln at Alnmouth at the end of November.
The trust's seagrass and seaweed research officer Dr Martina Bristow said at one point the plants appeared to have vanished, but further checks this month found them healthy and growing.
Bristow said it was "really quite promising" after facing "so many setbacks and challenges".
"That's quite important in that it tells us that they can stay anchored in the sediment and they can continue photosynthesizing," she said.

On Holding AG (NYSE:ONON) is one of the 10 Fastest Growing Consumer Stocks to Buy Now.
On July 2, 2026, JPMorgan resumed coverage of On Holding AG (NYSE:ONON) with an Overweight rating and $51 price target. JPMorgan also placed the shares on "Positive Catalyst Watch." The firm sees potential for above-consensus Q2 results and additional guidance increases, adding that On's momentum should continue. JPMorgan also said the stock's risk/reward is more attractive after the selloff over the last 12 months.
On June 26, On Holding AG (NYSE:ONON) co-founder Olivier Bernhard told Bloomberg in an interview that the company plans to expand into football.
Copyright: halfpoint / 123RF Stock Photo
In May, On Holding AG (NYSE:ONON) reported Q1 CHF 0.37, compared with CHF 0.21 last year. The company also reported Q1 CHF 831.9M, compared with CHF 726.6M last year. Founder and Co-CEO Caspar Coppetti called Q1 an "outstanding start" to the year and said it was another proof point of the company's premium strategy. Coppetti also said that On is becoming more global, more multi-dimensional, and more rooted in different communities around the world.

Submission grappling’s pound-for-pound queen Helena Crevar dazzled the world in her global stage debut, and she is already plotting an even more commanding encore.
The 19-year-old phenom squares off against American debutant Paige Ivette Clymer in a 10-minute openweight submission grappling contest at The Inner Circle 22, streaming exclusively for members on live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.
Crevar’s inaugural ONE appearance left absolutely no room for debate. The Las Vegas native needed just 100 seconds to dismantle Teshya Noelani Alo with a slick Estima lock at ONE Fight Night 39 last January, setting an impossibly high bar for her sophomore outing.
However, her upcoming adversary brings serious credentials and an imposing physical presence. A 2026 ADCC West Coast Trials winner and black belt under Keenan Cornelius at Legion American Jiu-Jitsu, Clymer is an all-action force with a game built specifically to break people.
Crevar has never shied away from a physical challenge, and Clymer’s stature adds an entirely new dimension to what is already a fascinating stylistic matchup.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Kylian Mbappe of France battles for possession with Lionel Messi of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The 2026 World Cup’s Golden Boot race has drawn growing attention as several of the world’s most prominent attackers remain close to the top of the scoring table. Recent coverage has centered on semifinal stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, with each player offering a different combination of goals, playing time and tournament opportunity.
The award itself is straightforward. The player who scores the most goals wins, with **** ists and minutes played used to separate tied scorers. Yet minutes also provide a useful way to interpret how those totals were produced. These differences make the race more **** ytically interesting. A player’s total goals reflect both scoring ability and opportunity. Looking only at goals captures **** ulative production. Looking only at goals per 90 can elevate players whose rates were established over relatively limited playing time.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Erling Haaland #9 of Norway celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Iraq and Norway at Boston Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The data allow the Golden Boot race to be examined through an economist’s lens. Goals can be treated as output and minutes played as the input required to generate that output. This framework separates scoring volume from scoring efficiency and highlights the small group of players who performed well across both dimensions. It also provides a clearer way to understand why some players lead on rate, others lead on total goals, and a select few combine high production with relatively efficient use of playing time.

Manchester United’s summer has acquired shape, purpose and, at last, a sense of football logic. In a transfer market that can often resemble a chase after noise, reputation and panic, the latest developments around Old Trafford suggest a club responding to clear need. According to The Athletic, United are moving decisively in midfield, with Youri Tielemans set to join and Andrey Santos already through the door, two deals that speak to necessity as much as ambition.
The original report was wide-ranging, taking in much of the Premier League and beyond, but the Manchester United portion stood out because it addressed the area where repair was most urgent. The line that cuts through everything is stark and revealing: “Manchester United accelerated their midfield rebuild and are now set to finalise a deal for Youri Tielemans.” It is a sentence that tells the story of a club aware of the shortages in its squad and finally acting with conviction.
Photo: IMAGO
Tielemans, available because of a “£35million release clause”, has emerged as a sharp market opportunity. United have “identified an opportunity to land the 29-year-old midfielder” and, crucially, “he favours a move to Old Trafford.” That matters. In every successful rebuild there is an emotional as well as tactical dimension. Players who want the shirt, who understand the weight of the place and who see themselves as contributors rather than mere arrivals, tend to settle faster and carry themselves better.
For too long, United’s midfield has looked either overburdened or underpowered. The latest report lays out the issue with refreshing bluntness: “Very much so. Following the departure of Casemiro as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury, Kobbie Mainoo would have been their only senior, recognised and available central midfielder heading into the new campaign.” That is not squad imbalance, that is a warning siren.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Jordan Clarkson (L) #00 and Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks celebrate after Clarkson hit a 3-pointer against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The reaction to the signing of a 10th man should be near silence, but New York celebrates a key return of a piece of the championship team. Last week, Jordan Clarkson agreed to the veteran minimum with the Knicks, which keeps adding depth to a group that was able to separate themselves from the competition with their volume of talent.
The interesting part about the story of Clarkson is that he is the embodiment of sacrifice for a team that had several players willing to play whatever the team ultimately asked of them. Walking into the season Clarkson was destined to play behind Brunson and enhance a bench that had a tendency to frustrate with stagnancy. Under Tom Thibodeau it was customary for the bench to feel underwhelming and underutilized.
Clarkson came into the season with plenty of talent and accolades— he won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2020-21 and he has averaged over 15 points per game in his career. Yet, Knicks fans may also have been a little hesitant of his arrival based on the game that the Utah Jazz had played against the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 season where his shot selection was lightly criticized by Mike Breen.
He proved his worth to the Knicks in several different ways over the past season. There are a few things that will be highly valuable to continue to showcase in order for him to maintain a consistent role in the rotation.