The NASCAR Cup Series circuit heads to the World Wide Technology Raceway, also known as Gateway, for the second race of the Cup Series Chase this weekend. Earlier this week, NASCAR released the full entry list for Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 as 36 drivers and teams are entered for the race.
Absent from this week's entry list are Corey Heim and Chad Finchum, who both raced in last Sunday's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Heim, the defending Craftsman Truck Series champion and two-time Cup winner in 2026, is on a part-time basis in the Cup Series for 23XI Racing in the No. 67 Toyota.
Finchum and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford also competes on a part-time basis and did not enter Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300.
Here is a look at the full 36-car entry list for the Enjoy Illinois 300.
Ross Chastain — No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

#enjoy #entry

Not every noteworthy look in Venice Film Festival comes with a photocall or red carpet. Between festival duties and premieres, Matilda De Angelis, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern have been giving us another side of their Venice wardrobes.
Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Matilda De Angelis, who is at the festival to promote her new film, Balcanica, wore Bottega Veneta, and I love how this feels smart without being overly formal.
The Bottega Veneta sunglasses and silver brooch at the collar are cool. However, I am on the fence about the yellow Baby Veneta bag, only because it feels at odds with the burgundy Sofia pumps. One says spring, the other says autumn. For me, it was a case of either/or, but not both.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Finch & Partners and Creative Artists Agency

#venice

Amal Clooney turned the waterways of Venice into her own personal catwalk as she stepped out hand-in-hand with husband George Clooney on Friday.
The 48-year-old human rights lawyer looked sensational in a figure-hugging cream Stella McCartney dress decorated with a playful raspberry print as the couple arrived by water taxi for "The Future Of... Creativity" event during the Venice Film Festival.
The romantic off-the-shoulder design hugged Amal's figure before falling to her ankles, with its raspberry motif providing a playful twist on the classic polka dot. According to Vogue Italia, the print was hand-painted in Stella McCartney's London atelier.
Amal completed her look with nude Aquazzura mule heels, oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses and statement gold earrings, carrying a small cream beaded bag with a chain handle.
Amal Clooney turned the waterways of Venice into her own personal catwalk as she stepped out hand-in-hand with husband George Clooney (@ Getty Images for Finch & Partner)

#hand #venice #stella #turned

Everton's pursuit of Folarin Balogun has collapsed at the final stage, leaving David Moyes and the club's recruitment team with a major problem after a dramatic deadline day twist. According to The Athletic, the United States international decided against completing the move after late complications, despite Everton having already pushed deep into the process with Monaco.
This was far from a routine transfer that simply ran out of time. Everton had worked to renegotiate terms with Monaco after concerns emerged during Balogun's medical. They then filed a dealsheet with the Premier League in an attempt to secure the extra window needed to finish the paperwork beyond the 11pm BST deadline. Even then, the expectation around Finch Farm was that a route remained open. Instead, Balogun chose not to continue and left without signing.
For Everton, that detail matters. This was not a case of Monaco pulling away or the numbers becoming impossible. The club had stayed at the table, tried to reshape the structure and remained hopeful that an agreement could still be salvaged. In the end, the player made the call.
The timing makes the setback even more severe. Everton had already allowed Beto to leave for Fiorentina, a significant decision in itself given the need for reliable depth in attacking areas. Iliman Ndiaye has also moved on to Manchester City, further reducing the options in the final third. Tyrique George has arrived permanently from Chelsea, while Jack Grealish has returned on loan from Manchester City, but neither development truly addresses the obvious need for a central striker ready to carry the line.
Photo IMAGO

#monaco #city #already

AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun (25) has turned down a move to Everton, scuppering his transfer to the Toffees, according to reports in The Athletic.
This is an unexpected turn of events, given that the two clubs had reached a renegotiated agreement worth around €50m, after the English club had expressed their doubts to their French counterparts about the deal going through.
Everton, who were looking to strengthen their attack following the sales of Iliman Ndiaye (26) to Manchester City and Beto (28) to Fiorentina, had earlier on Tuesday tried unsuccessfully to persuade Manchester United to grant them a loan for Joshua Zirkzee (25).
Balogun, who was at the Finch Farm training ground, has ultimately decided not to sign for the Premier League club and to return to Monaco. A major blow for both Everton and ASM, who were counting on the sale of the US international to boost their finances, after cancelling Lamine Camara's (22) transfer to Chelsea earlier in the evening.
GFFN | Léo Aschi

#transfer

8am GMT – Welcome
Alan Myers is already in position bright and early on a sunny day at Finch Farm.
Welcome to RBM's transfer deadline day live blog where we'll be keeping you posted on all the latest news and rumours on this tracker, with separate detailed pieces as we get more solid confirmations.
Late last night the status was that Iliman Ndiaye was heading to Manchester City, Beto to Fiorentina and Tim Iroegbunam to Hull City – those moves should all be confirmed today. There might yet be another outgoing, we'll see – Nathan Patterson still needs a home, and West Ham want Michael Keane. A sale of Jake O'Brien has previously been mentioned too.
Jack Grealish was coming to the Blues on loan from City with a medical scheduled for this morning. Folarin Balogun should be good to go too with Everton and Monaco having reached a formal agreement yesterday evening.

#welcome #alan #finch

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, November 1985. She is wearing an evening dress by Murray Arbeid and the Queen Mary tiara. (Photo by Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
I was in the eighth grade, preparing to enter high school, when Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles.
Some of the girls from my junior high softball team spent the night at our house because we had the big television—the kind not every family had in 1981. My mother woke us at around five o'clock in the morning so we could watch the royal wedding live from London.
She made tea and crumpets, little tea sandwiches and all kinds of treats. We gathered around that television, sleepy and excited, waiting to see the prince, the carriage and the beautiful young woman in the enormous ivory dress.
There were no smartphones, no social media, and no livestreams we could replay later. There was simply the television and the shared experience of watching a real-life fairy tale unfold before our eyes.

#diana #around #wales #embassy

Everton have called off a proposed deal to sell midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest following a backlash from the club's supporters.
Forest made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years.
The news enraged Everton supporters, who sang Armstrong's name throughout Saturday's draw at Bournemouth and said there would be a "riot" if he was sold.
The Toffees board have now unanimously decided that the 19-year-old will remain at Hill ******* inson Stadium.
'Supporters aren't always wrong' - Moyes on Everton fans' anger

#forest

Thirty years after the U.S. women's national team won the gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, going 2-1 over China, and a month after the 2026 World Cup ended its run across the American continents, soccer has returned to the heart of the Classic City at Sanford Stadium.
A record-breaking 25,433 fans packed the metal bleacher seats under the blistering 93-degree setting sun, curving around the west end zone and north side of the stadium to watch the Georgia Bulldogs face the James Madison Dukes to open their home schedule.
Georgia has been a hotbed for soccer since Tiffeny Milbrett broke the deadlock created by China's Sun Wen in the 68th minute of the biggest match on grass and made history for America in front of approximately 76,000 people.
Three decades of all-aged girls have come through the Peach State, which has produced the fourth-most NWSL players. Three of 23 women on the 2019 World Cup roster hailed from the metro-Atlanta area, including Emily Sonnett, who currently plays with the NJ/NY Gotham FC; Morgan Gautrat née Brian; and Kelley O'Hara.
Which made Thursday night something special to witness, especially for this next generation of girls soccer players. Girls like Emerson Finch, Harper Eubanks, Mattie Raborn and Charlotte Peyton, who all play for Augusta ****** nal.

#thirty

According to Finch, Gobert's mistakes attract disproportionate attention, while much of his defensive work goes unnoticed. "All the things Rudy does at a very high level in the background aren't always recognized. His mistakes, on the other hand, are very visible, so it's easy for people to point them out. I think it's unfortunate how much criticism he receives."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: According to Finch, Gobert's mistakes attract …

#mistakes #according #rudy #hype

Rudy Gobert's teammates have helped him embrace the role Minnesota needs him to play, while his pride and confidence continue to drive him. "He's driven by pride," Chris Finch concluded. "He's confident, and he has every reason to believe he's a good player because he really is. He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Timberwolves coach Chris Finch: Rudy Gobert is a first-ballot Hall of Famer

#hall

When NBA free agency opened in early June, no one expected the Minnesota Timberwolves to be major players. Surprisingly, they were in the chase to sign LeBron James right up until the moment he decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers instead.
While James would have been a bargain-bin signing, now that the Wolves missed out on their top target, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has moved on to his next obsession.
The Timberwolves weren't able to reel James into the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but head coach Chris Finch still needs a new starting power forward.
All-Star Julius Randle was traded, which opened the door for former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. But the Timberwolves promptly traded the fan favorite to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for LaMelo Ball instead.
So, who's next?

#timberwolves #james #traded #minnesota

Take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about The Open:
What you call it has historically depended on where you were. If you were in the U.S., you called it the British Open, just as Europeans refer to the PGA Championship as the U.S. PGA. Outside the U.S. it generally has been referred to as The Open Championship. The preferred name of the organizers is The Open.
It's the oldest golf championship, dating back to 1860.
There is a rotation – or "rota" – of courses used. Currently there are nine: Royal Birkdale, Royal St. George's, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham and St. Annes, all in England; Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland and St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon and Muirfield, all in Scotland. Muirfield was removed from the rota in 2016 when members voted against allowing female members, but when the vote was reversed in 2017 it was allowed back in. Turnberry, site of Tom Watson's 1977 "Duel in the Sun" win over Jack Nicklaus and Watson's loss to Stewart Cink in 2009, is effectively not part of the rota. Then-R&A chief Martin Slumbers said in 2021 that The Open would not return to Turnberry "under current circumstances" (with Donald Trump as its owner).
Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. Birkdale has previously hosted 10 Opens. The winners have been: Jordan Spieth (2017), Padraig Harrington (2008), Mark O'Meara (1998), Ian Baker-Finch (1991), Tom Watson (1983), Johnny Miller (1976), Lee Trevino (1971), Arnold Palmer (1961), Peter Thomson (1954 and 1965).

The Everton players not involved with their national teams returned to Finch Farm to start their preseason fitness conditioning and training on Friday. Jordan Pickford remains with the England side while Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Nathan Patterson are taking extended breaks following their World Cup efforts.
Attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was the life of the dressing room last season and looks like that hasn’t changed.
Blues will be encouraged to see defensive lynchpin Jarrad Branthwaite back on his feet and training again, and it appears he has switched to the more conventional squad number 4.
New signing and Everton’s first addition of the summer midfielder Hayden Hackney was also present at the training.
Merlin Rohl saw his loan-to-buy from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg completed last week.

Jarrad Branthwaite's last appearance, against Liverpool at Hill ******* inson Stadium on 19 April 2026
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Jarrad Branthwaite showed signs of making good progress in recovery from his latest hamstring injury nightmare when he participated in various training drills and physical tests with other players returning to Finch Farm for the first day of pre-season training yesterday.
There is no doubt the club view Branthwaite as the bedrock of our future, which made last season's heartbreak all the more difficult to stomach. A devastating hamstring injury on the eve of the campaign kept him out until late January.
When he finally returned, he transformed the side, spearheading a brilliant run of form that dragged Everton into the European conversation. Yet, in typical Everton fashion, his cruel injury against Liverpool in the first derby at Hill ******* inson Stadium left the team bereft of its quiet and unassuming fulcrum, precipitating a horrendous collapse in form over the final seven matches of the season, leaving us to wonder what might have been as a golden opportunity slipped through our fingers.

ESPN Cleveland: "The only rightful farewell tour would be with the Cleveland Cavaliers," - Charles Barkley on LeBron James.
x.com
Jake Fischer: Chris Finch confirmed, from the Wolves' perspective, what we've been reporting all week, that Klutch Sports has not yet told any team interested in LeBron James they're out of the bidding for his free agency. — 7/10/2026 x.com
Dru Star: "We definitely believe that there is some real affinity for going back to Miami and kind of making things right."- JakeLFischer on LeBron James — 7/10/2026 x.com

Former NBA champion believes LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are the NBA's best backcourt originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the sudden blockbuster trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are now playing in the same backcourt. This is a big deal because they were the top players from the 2020 class.
Back in the 2020-21 season, Ball and Edwards were the candidates for Rookie of the Year. Since then, there have been varying levels of success between the two players, which could improve now that they are in the same backcourt.
From being rivals to being in the same backcourt now, Ball and Edwards seem destined to play alongside each other. They don't play the same position, so they can co-exist on the same roster.
With Chris Finch spearheading the system, he will build plenty of sets that will take advantage of the talent he has in his backcourt. He is not the only excited one because the rest of the league is well aware of this budding duo in Minnesota.

LONDON — What once had scales and sharp teeth is now fluffy with hooves. Lacoste honored Novak Djokovic by replacing its crocodile logo with a goat on an exclusive collection ahead of next week's Wimbledon.
The transformation was unveiled at an intimate panel talk at Lacoste's flagship on Regent Street, where the tennis legend sat down with fans to discuss the new campaign and the philosophies behind his success.
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In Minnesota, where the Timberwolves have won five playoff series over the past three years, Finch entrusted Nori with handling the details of the game. "He is elite in what I call the small pieces of the game," Finch said. "Small not that they are unimportant, but small in that they are often overlooked. He's elite with lineup combinations. Elite with rotations. Elite with special situations, whether it's ATOs (after timeouts), end of game or just understanding how to maximize possessions. He's just been huge for us here in that regard."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "He is elite in what I call the small pieces of the …

"I think he's come late to the (head-coaching) party, but that doesn't mean he's not more than ready and won't be successful," Minnesota coach Chris Finch told The Athletic. Added Timberwolves **** istant Elston Turner: "A good pick. He's worked for a lot of teams, been in a lot of positions, been with some big-name players. A good, good pick."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I think he's come late to the (head-coaching) party, …

Coby Ebere during the Vertu Trophy match between Bradford City and Everton U21 in October 2025
(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Everton say goodbye to another young player from the Academy as Coby Ebere leaves Finch Farm having secured a 3-year deal with Serbian side FK Cukaricki.
Coby Ebere is a fast, powerful, and highly skillful attacker who joined the Everton Academy at the age of 11. Born in Germany, he moved to England in 2017 and steadily progressed through the Finch Farm youth ranks. Though he predominantly operates out wide as an inverted left winger, his physical stature and finishing ability also allow him to lead the line as a central striker.
Everton tied Ebere down to his first professional contract in September 2022. Following consistent development and a transition into the Under-21 setup, the club announced a subsequent two-year contract extension in July 2025, securing his future at Goodison Park/Finch Farm until June 2027.

One of Everton's star young teen prodigies has 'deregistered' himself from the Academy and appears set to make the switch to Liverpool.
Everton's 14-year-old attacking midfielder and winger, Josh Chigwada, has been with Everton Academy since... and is considered one of Finch Farm's most highly-rated prospects. He stepped up to the U18s for a single sub appearance at the end of last season — a rare feat for someone his age. He is also an England U15 international.
At the age of 14 years, 8 months, and 1 day, he made his U18s debut against Sunderland and that makes him the second-youngest debutant in the team's history after Francis Broggan. But it does not seem to have been enough to convince him that there is a reasonable pathway for such a prodigious talent to make fast enough progress through the ranks at Everton.
This week, the news has broken that he has 'deregistered' from Everton to become a free agent, with every indication that he could be snapped up by Liverpool's academy. Wherever he goes, his new club will be required to pay a modest development fee to cover his time with The Toffees, but this will count as nothing against the terrible record Everton's Academy has for losing young players to the competition.
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Kate Middleton reportedly crossed paths with ex Rupert Finch at Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling's wedding. The ceremony was held on June 6 at All Saints' Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire. Netizens raised their eyebrows when Middleton's former boyfriend attended the event with his wife, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs.
Kate Middleton ended up crossing paths with her ex-boyfriend, Rupert Finch, at Peter Phillips' wedding. Finch showed up at the ceremony with his wife, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs. The couple was dressed to the nines, with Finch donning a traditional black suit and Issacs looking gorgeous in a breezy floral dress with a white hat and toe pumps.
Meanwhile, Vogue reported that Middleton wore a blush-hued, knee-length dress from Roland Mouret that had drop-waist pleating and a ******* on-down notched collar. The princess paired it with drop earrings by Kiki McDonough, a hat by Jane Taylor, Gianvito Rossi shoes, and a Nigel Milne Birthright three-strand pearl bracelet that previously belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
For the unversed, Middleton and Finch reportedly dated for under a year in 2001. However, they always remained tight-lipped about their relationship. "It's not something I'll ever talk about. It's between Kate and me and was a long time ago," Finch once stated (via Daily Mail). Despite the breakup, the pair reportedly never had bad blood between them. Moreover, Finch attended Middleton's wedding with Prince William in 2011. Their romance was also shown onscreen in the final season of "The Crown." Oli Green and Meg Bellamy played Finch and Middleton, respectively.
Tatler gave details about the relationship in 2023 during the release of the Netflix show's final season. "Finch was considered the ultimate catch by Kate's friends," the outlet said. "At the time of the fashion show, he was reportedly her casual boyfriend and a tall, dark and handsome aspiring lawyer in his fourth year at St Andrews. The pair had reportedly met as students in the St Andrews' halls of residence and were together for just under a year in 2001."