5 days ago
Jon Heder recalls the restrictive dance belt he wore beneath his skintight Blades of Glory costumes
He helped design his character's peacock outfit, inspired by figure skater Johnny Weir's memorable swan routine
The Napoleon Dynamite star says he feels grateful that fans still embrace his beloved comedic roles
Jon Heder has very distinct — and restrictive — memories from his 2007 movie Blades of Glory.
In the film, Heder plays figure skater Jimmy MacElroy opposite Will Ferrell's Chazz Michael Michaels. His character wears a bevy of skintight, colorful figure skating costumes that would have looked right at home on retired figure skater Johnny Weir (on whom Heder's character was loosely based).
#skintight #costumes
He helped design his character's peacock outfit, inspired by figure skater Johnny Weir's memorable swan routine
The Napoleon Dynamite star says he feels grateful that fans still embrace his beloved comedic roles
Jon Heder has very distinct — and restrictive — memories from his 2007 movie Blades of Glory.
In the film, Heder plays figure skater Jimmy MacElroy opposite Will Ferrell's Chazz Michael Michaels. His character wears a bevy of skintight, colorful figure skating costumes that would have looked right at home on retired figure skater Johnny Weir (on whom Heder's character was loosely based).
#skintight #costumes
28 days ago
The Great North Run (GNR) returns to Tyneside this weekend, with 63,000 runners taking part in the world's biggest half marathon on Sunday.
Saturday's Mini and Junior events on Newcastle's Quayside are in their 40th year and saw 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles).
Gladiators Alex Gray (Apollo), Emily Steel (Dynamite) and Matty Campbell (Bionic) are ringing Saturday's starters' bell alongside GNR mascot Tyney the Tortoise, while Newcastle captain Dan Burn is Sunday's starter.
Sunday's 13.1-mile (21km) event sees runners and wheelchair users begin in Newcastle, race through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.
According to organisers, this year's Mini and Junior events are the biggest in its 40-year history.
#tyneside #junior #south #year
Saturday's Mini and Junior events on Newcastle's Quayside are in their 40th year and saw 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles).
Gladiators Alex Gray (Apollo), Emily Steel (Dynamite) and Matty Campbell (Bionic) are ringing Saturday's starters' bell alongside GNR mascot Tyney the Tortoise, while Newcastle captain Dan Burn is Sunday's starter.
Sunday's 13.1-mile (21km) event sees runners and wheelchair users begin in Newcastle, race through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.
According to organisers, this year's Mini and Junior events are the biggest in its 40-year history.
#tyneside #junior #south #year
29 days ago
25-year-old Guardians LHP Parker Messick made his MLB debut last August, and so far the results have been pretty spectacular. Even if they're helped a little by a lucky batting average on **** in play (he's at .264 for the season, the MLB average is .289). That's not a crazy outlier though, I don't think. Messick relies heavily on a 94-ish fastball and slightly slower sinker; that combo has been dynamite for him this season. He'll frequently mix in a change, less frequently some breaking stuff.
75 years ago, Bill Veeck pulled one of his signature wacky baseball stunts. He signed 3'7" Eddie Gaedel to the Browns' roster and had him pinch-hit in a game. Gaedel drew a walk — obviously his strike zone was small — and Veeck replaced him with a pinch-runner. The pinch-runner didn't score
Now, Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns at that time, not the team in Cleveland. (So this is kinda the wrong week for this post. I thought this happened in Cleveland, until I started writing it.)
But Veeck had owned the Indians for four years, selling them in 1950 when he needed money for a divorce settlement. And had done some notable things with the team, like signing the first Negro League player to join the American League, Larry Doby. (When manager Lou Boudreau introduced Doby to the team, three players refused to shake his hand — and Veeck got rid of all three.) In 1949, Veeck signed Satchel Paige, the oldest rookie to ever play in MLB at the age of 41; he'd pitch 155.2 innings over two seasons for the team (and then became a two-time All-Star with the Browns).
Veeck claimed the idea of using a small person as a pinch-hitter was his own notion… however, there'd been a 1941 story in The Saturday Evening Post called "You Could Look it Up" by James Thurber, author of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." You can read the Thurber story here, if you like. It has paintings by Norman Rockwell which are very detailed and striking, as usual:
#pinch #cleveland
75 years ago, Bill Veeck pulled one of his signature wacky baseball stunts. He signed 3'7" Eddie Gaedel to the Browns' roster and had him pinch-hit in a game. Gaedel drew a walk — obviously his strike zone was small — and Veeck replaced him with a pinch-runner. The pinch-runner didn't score
Now, Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns at that time, not the team in Cleveland. (So this is kinda the wrong week for this post. I thought this happened in Cleveland, until I started writing it.)
But Veeck had owned the Indians for four years, selling them in 1950 when he needed money for a divorce settlement. And had done some notable things with the team, like signing the first Negro League player to join the American League, Larry Doby. (When manager Lou Boudreau introduced Doby to the team, three players refused to shake his hand — and Veeck got rid of all three.) In 1949, Veeck signed Satchel Paige, the oldest rookie to ever play in MLB at the age of 41; he'd pitch 155.2 innings over two seasons for the team (and then became a two-time All-Star with the Browns).
Veeck claimed the idea of using a small person as a pinch-hitter was his own notion… however, there'd been a 1941 story in The Saturday Evening Post called "You Could Look it Up" by James Thurber, author of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." You can read the Thurber story here, if you like. It has paintings by Norman Rockwell which are very detailed and striking, as usual:
#pinch #cleveland
1 month ago
Fabio Wardley has leapt to the defence of coach Ben Davison after teammate Moses Itauma failed in his bid to become the second-youngest ever world heavyweight champion on Saturday.
Itauma punched himself out after a dominant eight rounds against Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena, appearing visibly exhausted against the Croatian in the ninth before his corner threw in the towel.
The 21-year-old had admitted pre-fight that he had never gone 12 rounds in sparring, which after the result ignited a torrent of backlash towards his gym as questions were raised about his preparations.
Wardley, who is also trained by Davison, lost his first fight to Daniel Dubois in similar fashion, gassing late on after dominating the early stages, and will now rematch "Dynamite" looking to regain his WBO ***** le on 17 October.
But when speaking about the criticism his trainer has received, Wardley dismissed the noise as "delusional" and said he is ready to prove the gym's worth by delivering greatness.
#fabio #moses
Itauma punched himself out after a dominant eight rounds against Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena, appearing visibly exhausted against the Croatian in the ninth before his corner threw in the towel.
The 21-year-old had admitted pre-fight that he had never gone 12 rounds in sparring, which after the result ignited a torrent of backlash towards his gym as questions were raised about his preparations.
Wardley, who is also trained by Davison, lost his first fight to Daniel Dubois in similar fashion, gassing late on after dominating the early stages, and will now rematch "Dynamite" looking to regain his WBO ***** le on 17 October.
But when speaking about the criticism his trainer has received, Wardley dismissed the noise as "delusional" and said he is ready to prove the gym's worth by delivering greatness.
#fabio #moses
1 month ago
After an acclaimed All Out pay-per-view, AEW Dynamite returned on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with the fallout from the show in Allen, Texas. From Will Ospreay winning the AEW World Championship to Austin Creed and Kofi making their AEW debuts, it was a night to remember, and that's not even including the other ****** le changes that took place.
While this episode of Dynamite featured plenty of fallout, it also marked the beginning of the build toward the next pay-per-view, with two ****** le matches being made official for the Sept. 26 card. What would be added to the show?
All this and more transpired on this episode of Dynamite:
A recap video of All In plays.
Justin Roberts introduces the new AEW World Champion, Will Ospreay, who comes to the ring. Ospreay says he's "been on a bender" since Sunday celebrating his win. He says All In was amazing, thanks everyone who has been with him on his journey from the beginning and thanks everyone else for their support.
Ospreay says Kenny Omega has been the best wrestler in the world for the last 10 years and still is. Ospreay says Omega is better than him 364 days of the year, except for that one day. Ospreay says they're now tied at 2-2 as the crowd chants for one more match. He says he's satisfied with that record, but if Omega isn't, he can name a time and place to settle the score.
Ospreay starts naming past AEW World Champions, some of whom he says were his heroes. He says the reality is that he's now among all of them, and all of his idols are his rivals.
Ospreay questions his confidence but realizes he's now the standard in AEW.
Ospreay shouts out the United Empire and thanks them for helping him succeed. He says while there's a United Empire in ****** an, he's going to bring the United Empire to AEW.
As Ospreay readies to leave, Ricochet, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun interrupt. Ricochet says Ospreay knows they have unfinished business and that they're forever intertwined. He also congratulates Ospreay and Omega on their match.
Ricochet understands the fans don't give him credit, but says Ospreay knows him better than they do. Ricochet says Ospreay would not have been in the All In main event without him, and he demands the first shot at the ****** le.
Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors interrupt, and Kidd says Ospreay took away his chances to become the first British IWGP Heavyweight Champion and AEW World Champion. Ricochet and Kidd trade words until they align and head to the ring to target Ospreay, but United Empire runs down to make the save. Ospreay says they can meet in the main event in a tag team match.
#empire #dynamite #title
While this episode of Dynamite featured plenty of fallout, it also marked the beginning of the build toward the next pay-per-view, with two ****** le matches being made official for the Sept. 26 card. What would be added to the show?
All this and more transpired on this episode of Dynamite:
A recap video of All In plays.
Justin Roberts introduces the new AEW World Champion, Will Ospreay, who comes to the ring. Ospreay says he's "been on a bender" since Sunday celebrating his win. He says All In was amazing, thanks everyone who has been with him on his journey from the beginning and thanks everyone else for their support.
Ospreay says Kenny Omega has been the best wrestler in the world for the last 10 years and still is. Ospreay says Omega is better than him 364 days of the year, except for that one day. Ospreay says they're now tied at 2-2 as the crowd chants for one more match. He says he's satisfied with that record, but if Omega isn't, he can name a time and place to settle the score.
Ospreay starts naming past AEW World Champions, some of whom he says were his heroes. He says the reality is that he's now among all of them, and all of his idols are his rivals.
Ospreay questions his confidence but realizes he's now the standard in AEW.
Ospreay shouts out the United Empire and thanks them for helping him succeed. He says while there's a United Empire in ****** an, he's going to bring the United Empire to AEW.
As Ospreay readies to leave, Ricochet, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun interrupt. Ricochet says Ospreay knows they have unfinished business and that they're forever intertwined. He also congratulates Ospreay and Omega on their match.
Ricochet understands the fans don't give him credit, but says Ospreay knows him better than they do. Ricochet says Ospreay would not have been in the All In main event without him, and he demands the first shot at the ****** le.
Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors interrupt, and Kidd says Ospreay took away his chances to become the first British IWGP Heavyweight Champion and AEW World Champion. Ricochet and Kidd trade words until they align and head to the ring to target Ospreay, but United Empire runs down to make the save. Ospreay says they can meet in the main event in a tag team match.
#empire #dynamite #title
1 month ago
Fabio Wardley has leapt to the defence of coach Ben Davison after teammate Moses Itauma failed in his bid to become the second-youngest ever world heavyweight champion on Saturday.
Itauma punched himself out after a dominant eight rounds against Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena, appearing visibly exhausted against the Croatian in the ninth before his corner threw in the towel.
The 21-year-old had admitted pre-fight that he had never gone 12 rounds in sparring, which after the result ignited a torrent of backlash towards his gym as questions were raised about his preparations.
Wardley, who is also trained by Davison, lost his first fight to Daniel Dubois in similar fashion, gassing late on after dominating the early stages, and will now rematch "Dynamite" looking to regain his WBO **** le on 17 October.
But when speaking about the criticism his trainer has received, Wardley dismissed the noise as "delusional" and said he is ready to prove the gym's worth by delivering greatness.
#itauma #saturday #hrgovic
Itauma punched himself out after a dominant eight rounds against Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena, appearing visibly exhausted against the Croatian in the ninth before his corner threw in the towel.
The 21-year-old had admitted pre-fight that he had never gone 12 rounds in sparring, which after the result ignited a torrent of backlash towards his gym as questions were raised about his preparations.
Wardley, who is also trained by Davison, lost his first fight to Daniel Dubois in similar fashion, gassing late on after dominating the early stages, and will now rematch "Dynamite" looking to regain his WBO **** le on 17 October.
But when speaking about the criticism his trainer has received, Wardley dismissed the noise as "delusional" and said he is ready to prove the gym's worth by delivering greatness.
#itauma #saturday #hrgovic
1 month ago
Having not been seen on AEW programming for approaching two years, it appears that Britt Baker is eager to make her AEW return, potentially as soon as All In this weekend.
After posting a picture of herself at the beach on X, Britt responded to several fans, including one who hoped D.M.D. would be at Wembley Stadium for All In on Sunday. To that fan, the former AEW Women's Champion simply stated, "Same."
Same
Same
For Britt Baker, the last time she was on AEW TV was all the way back in November 2024, when she picked up a win over Penelope Ford on an episode of Dynamite. Following that match, Baker said "nobody cares" numerous times into the camera when confronted by Serena Deeb.
#wembley #sunday #november
After posting a picture of herself at the beach on X, Britt responded to several fans, including one who hoped D.M.D. would be at Wembley Stadium for All In on Sunday. To that fan, the former AEW Women's Champion simply stated, "Same."
Same
Same
For Britt Baker, the last time she was on AEW TV was all the way back in November 2024, when she picked up a win over Penelope Ford on an episode of Dynamite. Following that match, Baker said "nobody cares" numerous times into the camera when confronted by Serena Deeb.
#wembley #sunday #november
1 month ago
AEW Dynamite
At long last, All In week has arrived. It's the biggest show on AEW's calendar, akin to WWE's WrestleMania, and is set to return to Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2024.
Before that happens, the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite took place from Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday, Aug. 26. It featured the final build for All In, including the semifinal matches of the Continental Challenge Cup and final words from the talent involved in Sunday's top matches.
So, what transpired? Let's take a look:
Will Ospreay opens the show. He says he had doubts about coming back from neck surgery to win the AEW World Championship. He says that long before AEW and NJPW, he started as a wrestler in the United Kingdom and talks about grinding there to prove it's where the best wrestle. Ospreay names a number of British wrestling greats, including some who have passed away.
Ospreay says when you think of the best in the world, it's hard to look past Kenny Omega. He says Omega isn't here tonight, but wants him to know that no one respects him more. Ospreay says that respect disappeared after Omega mentioned his son last week.
Ospreay says that on Sunday, Omega will get the Billy Goat, and he'll give everyone the performance of a lifetime.
Ospreay says it's time to bring the AEW World Championship home, and Omega will help him show that heroes are extraordinary people who can do extraordinary things.
#ospreay
At long last, All In week has arrived. It's the biggest show on AEW's calendar, akin to WWE's WrestleMania, and is set to return to Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2024.
Before that happens, the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite took place from Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday, Aug. 26. It featured the final build for All In, including the semifinal matches of the Continental Challenge Cup and final words from the talent involved in Sunday's top matches.
So, what transpired? Let's take a look:
Will Ospreay opens the show. He says he had doubts about coming back from neck surgery to win the AEW World Championship. He says that long before AEW and NJPW, he started as a wrestler in the United Kingdom and talks about grinding there to prove it's where the best wrestle. Ospreay names a number of British wrestling greats, including some who have passed away.
Ospreay says when you think of the best in the world, it's hard to look past Kenny Omega. He says Omega isn't here tonight, but wants him to know that no one respects him more. Ospreay says that respect disappeared after Omega mentioned his son last week.
Ospreay says that on Sunday, Omega will get the Billy Goat, and he'll give everyone the performance of a lifetime.
Ospreay says it's time to bring the AEW World Championship home, and Omega will help him show that heroes are extraordinary people who can do extraordinary things.
#ospreay
2 months ago
Zilla Fatu officially signed with WWE NXT on August 19, 2026.
AEW Dynamite has a Zilla Fatu problem.
For the uninitiated, Zilla Fatu is the son of the legendary Umaga. Descendent of the Anoa'i Dynasty. Future NXT champion and possible Bloodline member.
And now, an AEW Dynamite Killer?
Zilla Fatu's first advertised appearance on WWE NXT happened this week amid false claims of Bloodline Fatigue, and the result was one of NXT's best numbers of the year. WWE NXT drew 683,000 viewers with 0.14 in the 18-49 demographic. This is a surge of 16% and a whopping 56%, respectively, and NXT's best number since NXT Homecoming last September.
#zilla #dynamite #bloodline #umaga
AEW Dynamite has a Zilla Fatu problem.
For the uninitiated, Zilla Fatu is the son of the legendary Umaga. Descendent of the Anoa'i Dynasty. Future NXT champion and possible Bloodline member.
And now, an AEW Dynamite Killer?
Zilla Fatu's first advertised appearance on WWE NXT happened this week amid false claims of Bloodline Fatigue, and the result was one of NXT's best numbers of the year. WWE NXT drew 683,000 viewers with 0.14 in the 18-49 demographic. This is a surge of 16% and a whopping 56%, respectively, and NXT's best number since NXT Homecoming last September.
#zilla #dynamite #bloodline #umaga
2 months ago
Former England rugby international Joe Marler is poised to make history as the first celebrity Gladiator to join the popular BBC programme.
The 36-year-old will enter the Sheffield arena as his alter ego, Mauler, for special appearances "packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises" when the show returns in 2027.
Marler's debut marks a new chapter for the iconic game show, which pits contestants' speed, power, endurance, and agility against elite athletes.
Hosted by the father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, the upcoming series will also feature familiar Gladiators such as Apollo, Comet, Diamond, Nitro, and Dynamite.
While Marler is the first celebrity to officially join the team of elite athletes, the arena has previously welcomed famous faces. An all-star spin-off saw personalities like Vogue Williams, Joe Wicks, Rob Beckett, and Joel Dommett take on the challenges.
#marler #first #celebrity #arena
The 36-year-old will enter the Sheffield arena as his alter ego, Mauler, for special appearances "packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises" when the show returns in 2027.
Marler's debut marks a new chapter for the iconic game show, which pits contestants' speed, power, endurance, and agility against elite athletes.
Hosted by the father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, the upcoming series will also feature familiar Gladiators such as Apollo, Comet, Diamond, Nitro, and Dynamite.
While Marler is the first celebrity to officially join the team of elite athletes, the arena has previously welcomed famous faces. An all-star spin-off saw personalities like Vogue Williams, Joe Wicks, Rob Beckett, and Joel Dommett take on the challenges.
#marler #first #celebrity #arena
2 months ago
USC football needs a lot of things to happen if this season is going to come together perfectly. ESPN's Bill Connelly explored the "ifs" which need to emerge for the Trojans to achieve up to their expectations (and maybe even exceed them).
Connelly writes that USC's season can be special "If ... Jayden Maiava has pass catchers. Maiava is one of the most proven returning quarterbacks in the sport and should have a dynamite run game at his disposal thanks to backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller, and an experienced line. But of the seven players with at least 125 receiving yards last season, only sophomore wideout Tanook Hines returns. Transfer Terrell Anderson (NC State) will need to be an immediate hit, as will a few young, unproven options."
Tanook Hines is generally viewed and accepted as a USC receiver who will do well in 2026. The Terrell Anderson portal pickup has to hit. Other depth pieces in the wide receiver room have to become legitimate options who will demand attention and respect from opposing defenses. Part of the discussion here is that Dennis Simmons needs to develop depth at the wide receiver position. He has created stars at USC but not a lot of rooms in which there were four or five really good receivers. He had that in 2022 but hasn't matched that standard since. That's an important goal for USC this season. It could make the difference between this team being moderately good and very good, borderline great.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: National football experts agree that USC needs depth at wide receiver
#tanook
Connelly writes that USC's season can be special "If ... Jayden Maiava has pass catchers. Maiava is one of the most proven returning quarterbacks in the sport and should have a dynamite run game at his disposal thanks to backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller, and an experienced line. But of the seven players with at least 125 receiving yards last season, only sophomore wideout Tanook Hines returns. Transfer Terrell Anderson (NC State) will need to be an immediate hit, as will a few young, unproven options."
Tanook Hines is generally viewed and accepted as a USC receiver who will do well in 2026. The Terrell Anderson portal pickup has to hit. Other depth pieces in the wide receiver room have to become legitimate options who will demand attention and respect from opposing defenses. Part of the discussion here is that Dennis Simmons needs to develop depth at the wide receiver position. He has created stars at USC but not a lot of rooms in which there were four or five really good receivers. He had that in 2022 but hasn't matched that standard since. That's an important goal for USC this season. It could make the difference between this team being moderately good and very good, borderline great.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: National football experts agree that USC needs depth at wide receiver
#tanook
2 months ago
When the Twins selected him with the 16th overall pick last July, Marek Houston was seen by most scouts as a lock to stick shortstop with elite defensive talent, but a fringy bat that projects for below average production in the major leagues. Just 27 games into his Double-A tenure, Houston is already producing offense at a high level, boasting a .325 batting average with a 135 wRC+. As he begins to pop up on top 100 prospect lists, there is a growing belief that his bat has a chance to provide some real impact for the Twins.
Standing at 6'3", Marek is a twitchy and fluid athlete. He is a plus runner, nabbing 38 bags so far this season while being caught just 4 times. He has an excellent approach at the plate. Very patient hitter who is running a chase rate around 17% this season with above-average walk rates. His swing mechanics have remained largely unchanged from his time at Wake Forest. The pre-swing hand load and leg kick is a little loud, but he breaks it down with 2 strikes, which has helped him limit strikeouts and put together mature at-bats despite posting average zone contact rates. His raw power is below average, but Houston has continued to tap into more and more juice as the season has gone on. There is quality gap power if he can consistently elevate the ball.
While the offensive ceiling is still limited, any doubt that Marek Houston may not have a major league caliber bat is effectively gone. If he doesn't tap into any more power, his profile is similar to that of Austin Martin or Luke Keaschall, a patient hitter who makes a lot of contact and provides value on the bases. While these guys don't hit for much power and have middling offensive numbers, they do more for the offense than the stats show. Combining that with plus defense at the shortstop position makes for an extremely valuable player and a guy who will find a way to make a positive impact on every game.
Marek Houston is squarely on track for a 2027 debut with an outside chance of making his way onto the opening day roster. He looks like a perfect fit for the Twins as a long-term solution at the shortstop position, where the team's -15 FRV since the start of 2025 ranks 28th in MLB. While he doesn't have a dynamite bat like Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez, Houston is worth getting excited about as one of the system's top prospects and arguably the prospect with the highest chance to be a productive big leaguer. He has been a Minnesota Twin for just over 12 months, but fans won't have to wait much longer to see him suited up at Target Field.
#chance
Standing at 6'3", Marek is a twitchy and fluid athlete. He is a plus runner, nabbing 38 bags so far this season while being caught just 4 times. He has an excellent approach at the plate. Very patient hitter who is running a chase rate around 17% this season with above-average walk rates. His swing mechanics have remained largely unchanged from his time at Wake Forest. The pre-swing hand load and leg kick is a little loud, but he breaks it down with 2 strikes, which has helped him limit strikeouts and put together mature at-bats despite posting average zone contact rates. His raw power is below average, but Houston has continued to tap into more and more juice as the season has gone on. There is quality gap power if he can consistently elevate the ball.
While the offensive ceiling is still limited, any doubt that Marek Houston may not have a major league caliber bat is effectively gone. If he doesn't tap into any more power, his profile is similar to that of Austin Martin or Luke Keaschall, a patient hitter who makes a lot of contact and provides value on the bases. While these guys don't hit for much power and have middling offensive numbers, they do more for the offense than the stats show. Combining that with plus defense at the shortstop position makes for an extremely valuable player and a guy who will find a way to make a positive impact on every game.
Marek Houston is squarely on track for a 2027 debut with an outside chance of making his way onto the opening day roster. He looks like a perfect fit for the Twins as a long-term solution at the shortstop position, where the team's -15 FRV since the start of 2025 ranks 28th in MLB. While he doesn't have a dynamite bat like Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez, Houston is worth getting excited about as one of the system's top prospects and arguably the prospect with the highest chance to be a productive big leaguer. He has been a Minnesota Twin for just over 12 months, but fans won't have to wait much longer to see him suited up at Target Field.
#chance
2 months ago
It's trade deadline season, and though this has been a tame deadline period so far, the continuous swirl of rumors and (eventually) actual transactions will be the focus of much of the baseball world in the coming days. Yesterday, we discussed which players the Yankees were most likely to move, and today, we ask: what weakness do the Yankees most need to address, and which one are they most likely to address?
The answer to this question has been fluid throughout the year. Early on, it seemed obvious to most that the Yankees would need to make big additions to their bullpen, yet here we are at the end of July, and the Yankee relief corps has the second-best ERA in the majors. Paul Blackburn has proven to be the second coming of Luke Weaver, Brent Headrick almost never allows runs, David Bednar has been the top-tier closer the team envisioned, and Matt Blake's latest reclamation project, Angel Chivilli, has looked dynamite since his most recent call-up. Add in the fact that players like Will Warren and Ryan Weathers (and perhaps Carlos Lagrange?) could get shifted to the bullpen if they're not traded, and the unit looks like an area of strength, not weakness.
At other times, the matter of the infield appeared to be most pressing. Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each got off to nightmarish starts, and the shortstop duo of Anthony Volpe and José Caballero has had its ups and downs. But even on the dirt, things don't look nearly as shaky as they did two or three months ago. Since seeing his OPS bottom out at .498 on April 22nd, Chisholm has played exactly as expected, with a .239/.309/.463 slash line and 16 homers plus 21 steals. McMahon has run a roughly .750 OPS over the last two months while bringing his usual quality defense at third base. And despite his penchant for high-profile miscues, Volpe's combination of high-OBP and good range at short has made him a valuable contributor.
Then, there's the most obvious need now, at catcher, with Yankee backstops having combined to "hit" .181/.261/.284. But even adding a catcher comes with major complications, as most teams are loath to make significant changes to their caching room midseason. For as awful as Austin Wells and Co. have been with the bat this year, a catcher's primary job is to catch, to field his position, to manage his pitching staff. The Yankee backstops have done that portion of their job with aplomb this year (it's probably not a coincidence that the Yankees prioritize defense at catcher and have the best team ERA in baseball), and it's not trivial to just add a plus bat to that room without shaking things up on the run-prevention front.
Add it all up, and it leaves the Yankee roster in a weird spot heading into a crucial deadline. The roster has been slammed by injuries and has some seemingly clear places to upgrade, but actually making those upgrades is less straightforward than it might appear. What do you think? Where are the Yankees most likely to make moves in the next four
The answer to this question has been fluid throughout the year. Early on, it seemed obvious to most that the Yankees would need to make big additions to their bullpen, yet here we are at the end of July, and the Yankee relief corps has the second-best ERA in the majors. Paul Blackburn has proven to be the second coming of Luke Weaver, Brent Headrick almost never allows runs, David Bednar has been the top-tier closer the team envisioned, and Matt Blake's latest reclamation project, Angel Chivilli, has looked dynamite since his most recent call-up. Add in the fact that players like Will Warren and Ryan Weathers (and perhaps Carlos Lagrange?) could get shifted to the bullpen if they're not traded, and the unit looks like an area of strength, not weakness.
At other times, the matter of the infield appeared to be most pressing. Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each got off to nightmarish starts, and the shortstop duo of Anthony Volpe and José Caballero has had its ups and downs. But even on the dirt, things don't look nearly as shaky as they did two or three months ago. Since seeing his OPS bottom out at .498 on April 22nd, Chisholm has played exactly as expected, with a .239/.309/.463 slash line and 16 homers plus 21 steals. McMahon has run a roughly .750 OPS over the last two months while bringing his usual quality defense at third base. And despite his penchant for high-profile miscues, Volpe's combination of high-OBP and good range at short has made him a valuable contributor.
Then, there's the most obvious need now, at catcher, with Yankee backstops having combined to "hit" .181/.261/.284. But even adding a catcher comes with major complications, as most teams are loath to make significant changes to their caching room midseason. For as awful as Austin Wells and Co. have been with the bat this year, a catcher's primary job is to catch, to field his position, to manage his pitching staff. The Yankee backstops have done that portion of their job with aplomb this year (it's probably not a coincidence that the Yankees prioritize defense at catcher and have the best team ERA in baseball), and it's not trivial to just add a plus bat to that room without shaking things up on the run-prevention front.
Add it all up, and it leaves the Yankee roster in a weird spot heading into a crucial deadline. The roster has been slammed by injuries and has some seemingly clear places to upgrade, but actually making those upgrades is less straightforward than it might appear. What do you think? Where are the Yankees most likely to make moves in the next four
3 months ago
Even after forward Ziaire Williams agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, their pursuit of Jonathan ****** inga continues.
There have been multiple and possibly conflicting reports about what the Atlanta Hawks, ****** inga's last NBA team, are seeking in a sign-and-trade deal from the Lakers. Reportedly, ****** inga has been seeking a contract in the area of $25 million a year, but it seems unlikely that he will actually be offered that much money.
While ****** inga has yet to fulfill the tremendous potential people have seen in him ever since he was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, he could at least be a temporary solution to the Lakers' need for a legitimate starting two-way forward. Mychal Thompson, a former big man who won two NBA championships with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988, made his argument for ****** inga joining the Purple and Gold, per ESPN Los Angeles.
"I wish I had Jonathan ****** inga's phone number… He needs to sign with the Lakers. Talk about a great opportunity for him. He'd come in as a starter… Play on a high-profile team like the Lakers. Everybody around the league is gonna see you. He could run the floor. He can go out and get alley-oop dunks from Luka Doncic. This will set him up for his future if he ends up signing. I don't know what's taken him so long."
Kuminga's focus, dedication, work ethic and perhaps even his coachability have been questioned over the last few years. But as Thompson mentioned, he is a dynamite threat in transition, and he also has the ability to play defense at a high level.
There have been multiple and possibly conflicting reports about what the Atlanta Hawks, ****** inga's last NBA team, are seeking in a sign-and-trade deal from the Lakers. Reportedly, ****** inga has been seeking a contract in the area of $25 million a year, but it seems unlikely that he will actually be offered that much money.
While ****** inga has yet to fulfill the tremendous potential people have seen in him ever since he was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, he could at least be a temporary solution to the Lakers' need for a legitimate starting two-way forward. Mychal Thompson, a former big man who won two NBA championships with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988, made his argument for ****** inga joining the Purple and Gold, per ESPN Los Angeles.
"I wish I had Jonathan ****** inga's phone number… He needs to sign with the Lakers. Talk about a great opportunity for him. He'd come in as a starter… Play on a high-profile team like the Lakers. Everybody around the league is gonna see you. He could run the floor. He can go out and get alley-oop dunks from Luka Doncic. This will set him up for his future if he ends up signing. I don't know what's taken him so long."
Kuminga's focus, dedication, work ethic and perhaps even his coachability have been questioned over the last few years. But as Thompson mentioned, he is a dynamite threat in transition, and he also has the ability to play defense at a high level.
3 months ago
College basketball today is fueled by talent, NIL, and transfer portals, but nothing moves the needle quite like a fierce, deep-rooted rivalry. If there were any doubts about how new University of Michigan men's basketball head coach Mike Boynton Jr. plans to approach the legendary intra-state war with Michigan State, those doubts were emphatically erased today.
In his first major recruiting chess move since officially signing a two-year contract to succeed Dusty May—who departed for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks after leading the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship—Boynton has thrown a dynamite stick right into the heart of East Lansing. The very first scholarship offer extended under the Boynton era has gone to Glendale (AZ) Dream City Christian four-star point guard Mateen Cleaves Jr.
Yes, that Mateen Cleaves.
A Direct Shot Across the Bow
To understand the sheer audacity of this move, one must understand the history embedded in the name printed on the back of the jersey. Mateen Cleaves Sr. is not just a former college basketball player; he is the definitive icon of Michigan State basketball. A three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, and the ferocious, smiling point guard who led Tom Izzo to his first and only national championship in 2000, the elder Cleaves is Spartan royalty. His jersey hangs proudly in the Breslin Center rafters.
In his first major recruiting chess move since officially signing a two-year contract to succeed Dusty May—who departed for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks after leading the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship—Boynton has thrown a dynamite stick right into the heart of East Lansing. The very first scholarship offer extended under the Boynton era has gone to Glendale (AZ) Dream City Christian four-star point guard Mateen Cleaves Jr.
Yes, that Mateen Cleaves.
A Direct Shot Across the Bow
To understand the sheer audacity of this move, one must understand the history embedded in the name printed on the back of the jersey. Mateen Cleaves Sr. is not just a former college basketball player; he is the definitive icon of Michigan State basketball. A three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, and the ferocious, smiling point guard who led Tom Izzo to his first and only national championship in 2000, the elder Cleaves is Spartan royalty. His jersey hangs proudly in the Breslin Center rafters.
3 months ago
All Elite Wrestling
After a busy Forbidden Door pay-per-view, AEW Dynamite returned on Wednesday, July 1, from San Diego to showcase the fallout from the event.
Headlining the show was an AEW World Championship match between MJF and Mark Briscoe, who earned this opportunity after his team's victory in the Steel Cage match at Forbidden Door. Would Briscoe continue his recent success against the Devil of AEW and capture his first world championship?
Also advertised was a Survival of the Fittest Match for the vacant TBS Championship, with Hikaru Shida, Persephone, Queen Aminata, Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron and Maika all vying for the ***** le. Who would leave San Diego as champion?
That, and more, went down on this episode of Dynamite:
After a busy Forbidden Door pay-per-view, AEW Dynamite returned on Wednesday, July 1, from San Diego to showcase the fallout from the event.
Headlining the show was an AEW World Championship match between MJF and Mark Briscoe, who earned this opportunity after his team's victory in the Steel Cage match at Forbidden Door. Would Briscoe continue his recent success against the Devil of AEW and capture his first world championship?
Also advertised was a Survival of the Fittest Match for the vacant TBS Championship, with Hikaru Shida, Persephone, Queen Aminata, Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron and Maika all vying for the ***** le. Who would leave San Diego as champion?
That, and more, went down on this episode of Dynamite:
4 months ago
The Cardinals jumped the Royals for 5 runs in the top of the first inning and held on to defeat the Royals 12-10 in a Father's Day matinee, salvaging the series and avoiding the sweep.
Stephen Kolek has been dynamite for the Royals in his tenure, but he simply didn't have it today. Three pitches into the game, Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt blasted a solo shot into the right center seats. A hit batter, walk and double gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead. Masyn Winn put the exclamation point on the inning, hitting a 3-run homer into the Cardinals bullpen.
The Royals did respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, Carter Jensen led off with a single, Jac Caglianone walked, and Michael Massey hit a two-out single, to make it 5-2.
Kolek got smashed again in the top of the second, a leadoff double was followed by Wetherholt hitting an opposite field two run homer, making it 7-2. A single and RBI triple made it 8-2, Kolek did get two big outs not allowing the run to score, but Winn legged out an infield single to make it 9-2, ending Kolek's day. Connor Seabold came on to get the last out of the 2nd.
In the bottom of the inning, Kameron Misner led off with a single, and scored on Nick Loftin's two run homer, Loftin's 2nd on the year, a 416-foot blast to left center. Isaac Collins singled, and after two straight outs, he scored on Caglianone's mammoth two run shot into the second deck of fountains in right center, a 444-foot blast, making it 9-6. It was Cags 3rd straight game with a homer, and his 11th on the year.
Stephen Kolek has been dynamite for the Royals in his tenure, but he simply didn't have it today. Three pitches into the game, Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt blasted a solo shot into the right center seats. A hit batter, walk and double gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead. Masyn Winn put the exclamation point on the inning, hitting a 3-run homer into the Cardinals bullpen.
The Royals did respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, Carter Jensen led off with a single, Jac Caglianone walked, and Michael Massey hit a two-out single, to make it 5-2.
Kolek got smashed again in the top of the second, a leadoff double was followed by Wetherholt hitting an opposite field two run homer, making it 7-2. A single and RBI triple made it 8-2, Kolek did get two big outs not allowing the run to score, but Winn legged out an infield single to make it 9-2, ending Kolek's day. Connor Seabold came on to get the last out of the 2nd.
In the bottom of the inning, Kameron Misner led off with a single, and scored on Nick Loftin's two run homer, Loftin's 2nd on the year, a 416-foot blast to left center. Isaac Collins singled, and after two straight outs, he scored on Caglianone's mammoth two run shot into the second deck of fountains in right center, a 444-foot blast, making it 9-6. It was Cags 3rd straight game with a homer, and his 11th on the year.
