Sophie Cunningham has won a lot of supporters away from the hardwood this month thanks to her comments on transgender athletes, but just as she has doubled-down, one of her closest friends since childhood in Columbia, Missouri has declared he isn't on her bandwagon.
West Wilson, Cunningham's friend since high school, serves as her co-host on the Show Me Something podcast. Over the weekend, he posted a viral TikTok video in defense of trans athletes.
"Transgender athletes in American sports is such a borderline non-existent issue. Right-wingers have convinced a massive portion of people in our country that these people are, like, a threat to sports in America, when mathematically it's not the case at all," said Wilson, 31. Fans of the reality show Summer House may remember Wilson as one of the housemates. And just like on TV, he's not shy about his opinion on this divisive issue.
"By continuing to platform this, ***** politicians, athletes, journalists, news outlets, you're only isolating transgender people even more by making them seem like this giant group of people is a threat to society, a threat to sports, when that's just not proportionately the truth in any capacity."
While not addressing Cunningham directly, he made it clear he thinks rants like hers are "dumb."

#like #show

The MLB season is nearing the trade deadline and entering the playoff push. With under 60 games left, teams are making final pushes for playoff berths. Player production has become vital, and improved play has helped specific teams join the playoff race. Entering the week, here are the top 10 first basemen.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
Jul 8, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Alec Burleson has played a pivotal role for St. Louis. His production has helped the team make a push for a Wild Card spot. Entering the week, he leads the Cardinals in hits.
Alonso had a slow start in his first season with Baltimore. However, he's increased his production over the past few months. Entering the week, he leads the Orioles in hits, home runs, RBI, and total bases.

#cardinals

Eric Bieniemy wife shooting updates: Latest news on Mia Bieniemy hospitalized after 'serious injuries' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The wife of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was shot multiple times in the family's Virginia home on Sunday night, ESPN's Nate Taylor reports.
Mia Bieniemy was hospitalized with "serious injuries," ESPN reported Monday, citing police. Eric was with the Chiefs in Missouri earlier Sunday as the team practiced on its second day of training camp.
The Chiefs released a statement Monday morning confirming they are "aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy's family" but did not offer any additional details. Pass-game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will be serving as the Chiefs' interim offensive coordinator while Bieniemy is away from the team.
Here are the latest updates on the shooting involving Bieniemy's wife.

#coordinator #Monday

Tennessee football is one of four finalists in the recruitment of three-star running back Asa Barnes.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound prospect will announce his commitment decision between the Vols, Arkansas, USC and Florida State at 5 p.m. EDT on the Rivals YouTube channel.
Barnes is an in-state target from Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 41 running back in the class and No. 24 player in Tennessee.
Tennessee offered Barnes a scholarship during an unofficial visit on June 5, 2025. He has visited the Vols three times since then, most recently for an official visit on June 19.
Florida State was the first school to offer Barnes a scholarship on Jan. 19, 2025. Other schools to offer him a scholarship include Ohio State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Purdue, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Louisville, Northwestern, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech.

#tennessee #june

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Matt Chapman #26 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates while trotting around the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 21: Matt Chapman #26 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates his home in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Matt Chapman #26 of the San Francisco Giants trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 08, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 20: Manager Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the bench against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Chase Field on May 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 6-3. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
On Monday night, the San Francisco Giants opened up a series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park.

#california #september #arizona #chapman

The Wisconsin Badgers recently received an expert prediction to land class of 2028 offensive lineman Brock Barrows.
Barrows stands 6-foor-2, 277 pounds, and is an unranked recruit, according to 247Sports.
Back on July 21, Badger247's Nick Osen logged an expert prediction that the Missouri native will commit to Wisconsin.
"I think it really solidified them as my top school even more than they already were. I just loved being able to get coached by Coach Mateos, Coach Rabach, and just everybody," Barrows told Osen (subscription required).
The Badgers made a big splash by securing a huge commitment from 2028 linebacker Cale Britt out of Florida. Britt marked the team's first class of 2028 commitment back on July 15.

#osen

While talking season is in full swing, only 40 days remain before the preseason predictions cease and SEC football officially begins.
Five head coaches in the league are set to make their debuts with their new respective squads, as they attempt to usher in a new era by rebuilding and revamping. Others, like Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, are on the hot seat if they can't turn things around and improve from last season's efforts.
Outside of coaching headlines, major quarterback battles are occurring at Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama, as they look to find their starter for the upcoming campaign. Meanwhile, established gunslingers like Trinidad Chambliss and Arch Manning are looking to exceed expectations and bring hardware to the SEC once again.
That's just a small glimpse of all the storylines set to unfold in a few short weeks. The time for talking is almost over, with Missouri opening the season for the SEC against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on September 3.
Based on talent, coaching staff and scheduling, here are my predictions of where each SEC team will finish the 2026-27 season:

#head #predictions #like

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs watches the action with son, Bronze, during the first inning between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) Getty
The Kansas City Chiefs officially kicked off training camp on July 24 with quarterbacks and rookies reporting to Missouri Western State's campus.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid started the day with incredible news during his press conference, revealing Patrick Mahomes was cleared to be a full participant in practice. After Mahomes tore his ACL and MCL against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, the normal timeline for recovery would force the three-time Super Bowl MVP to miss the start of the 2026 NFL season.
However, starting Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football seems to be in play. "I feel stronger than I've ever felt, as far as strength and lifting [weights]," Mahomes told reporters. "I feel amazing."
"I'm excited just to be able to play football," he continued. "I've been seeing cinderblock walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City. Now, to be on that practice field with my teammates, it's going to be a lot of fun."

#patrick #getty #i 've

Jul. 24—SIOUX FALLS — 'Week 0' isn't a new frontier in college football.
But teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference are embracing the first chance to get on the field for 2026, which means the opening games of the new season are coming sooner on the calendar.
Eight of the nine Missouri Valley teams are playing on the first weekend of the season, a week before the traditional Labor Day weekend start as in past seasons. (Only Northern Iowa is not in action for Week 0 this year.) Seven of the eight MVFC schools in action on the opening weekend are playing fellow Division I schools.
"I'm a huge supporter of not only starting earlier but getting the season done earlier," UND coach Eric Schmidt said. "There's no reason not to. Especially with everything that happens at the end of the season with championship games and trying to get kids into school. College football has always been a New Year's Day-ish postseason sport, where the season is coming to a close. I think it makes sense for these (players) as far as their schedules go, as well."
Schmidt noted that the last weekend in August is expected to become the new opening week for both FBS and FCS college football in the future, so FCS teams are getting a taste of what the schedule is expected to be going forward. That is a potential downside for the FCS: whatever standalone spotlight they've gotten in the past with their games is likely to be short lived as the FBS moves more games to Week 0, as well, making room for the expanded postseason at the end of the year.

#Football #games #opening

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been cleared to return to full practice as he recovers from tearing knee ligaments late last season.
The three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is "extremely optimistic" about lining up for the first game of regular season in September, said his coach Andy Reid.
"Right now he's been cleared to go ahead and participate fully" in practice, Reid told reporters Friday at the team's Missouri pre-season training camp.
The 30-year-old star, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, led the Chiefs to five Super Bowls in six seasons and three crowns.
A disappointing season for the Chiefs last year was capped in December when Mahomes tore left knee ligaments, requiring surgery for the first major injury in his nine-year NFL career.

#mahomes #reid #quarterback #practice

The Kansas City Chiefs always seem to get their tight ends involved in the passing game, and as Patrick Mahomes returns to the field after suffering a serious lower-body injury last season, head coach Andy Reid is sure to be scheming up new and exciting ways to get all of his pass-catchers involved in the air attack.
Take a look at these brief profiles of Travis Kelce and every other tight end currently on Kansas City's 90-man roster before training camp kicks off in St. Joseph, Missouri, later this month:
One of the Chiefs' most recognizable stars, Kelce is widely regarded as a top tight end in NFL history. After re-signing with Kansas City as a free agent earlier this year, the former Cincinnati Bearcat is set to play a key role in the Chiefs' offense next season and should be expected to be one of Patrick Mahomes' favorite targets during every game the pair competes in.
2026 cap number: $4,896,667
Pline is likely to be featured in Kansas City's game plans during the preseason, but his chances of making the Chiefs' 53-man roster are extremely slim. A former San Francisco 49er and New Orleans Saint, Pline entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after a collegiate career with the Ferris State Bulldogs and Furman Paladins.

#chiefs #city #patrick #involved

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs unofficially opened training camp as quarterbacks, rookies and select veterans arrived at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Head coach Andy Reid began his opening remarks with a rundown of the team's initial injury situation.
At the start of camp, injured players can be played on the Active/Physically-Unable-to-Perform list (PUP). This gives players time to work back to health before being activated to practice. Players remaining on the list at the end of camp can be kept on the Reserve/PUP list to start the season — but they are then ruled out for the first four games of the season.
Starting in Week 5, teams have five weeks to open a 21-day practice window to the return to the active roster before the players are moved to season-ending injured reserve.
Once a player practices in training camp, he is no longer eligible for the PUP list.

#season #reserve #start #injured

You won't need a time machine and Siegfried and Roy tickets to see Tigers in Las Vegas this year.
Missouri basketball has announced that it will play an exhibition game against UNLV on Thursday, Oct. 29, in Sin City, adding a preseason road trip to precede a nonconference schedule already packed with road and neutral site matchups.
The exhibition likely will be Missouri's final tune-up game before the official beginning of the 2026-27 season, which can begin Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Mizzou has not officially announced who it will face to open its new campaign this year, although reports have suggested the Tigers will play Cleveland State — head coach Dennis Gates' former team — at Mizzou Arena on opening day.
The first officially announced game on MU's schedule is Nov. 6 against Saint Louis at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, the first of five expected neutral-site nonconference games this coming season.

#road

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on Thursday's episode of 'Get Up' to share an update on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ahead of training camp.
"I don't think there's any question he's going to be ready for the opening Monday night game against the Denver Broncos. The real question is how effective he'll be, how close to 100 percent he'll be. ****** ody expects realistically that he'll be at 100 percent," said Schefter, "But 70 percent of Patrick Mahomes, 80 percent, 90 percent, whatever he is on opening night is still better than most every quarterback in the league. But I think the feeling is he'll be out there. But how healthy will he be?"
Schefter added that a crucial move this offseason will strengthen the Chiefs around a recovering Mahomes.
"This is why you break the bank and sign Kenneth Walker III. This is why you bring in Eric Bieniemy as your offensive coordinator," Schefter said. "This is why you plan to have the ground game, the rushing attack, as much a part of your offense as it has been in any recent season."
Mahomes and the quarterback room, along with the Chiefs' rookie class, get training camp underway this weekend at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.

#mahomes #percent #missouri #training

RAGBRAI 2026 already was challenging, starting with two days of nearly 100-degree heat and thousands of feet of elevation gain as it ascended from the Missouri River valley.
Even the cooler Day 3 on Tuesday, July 21, was a challenge on the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, with a stiff headwind pushing back on the riders during the second half.
But an even bigger challenge lay ahead on Day 5, Thursday, July 23, for a self-selected few.
Near the end of Thursday's 87.1 miles ― already the longest of the week ― lay the annual Karras Century Loop, an optional chance to turn the day into a more than 100-mile trek. And for those seeking the ultimate feat, the ride organizers had mapped out a second, add-on loop that would bring the day's total for anyone completing it to 160 miles ― roughly 250 kilometers in honor of America's 250th birthday year.
By the time those who accepted the challenge arrived in the overnight town of Independence, they had ridden the longest one-day route in RAGBRAI's 53-year history.

#challenge #annual #already #longest

Iowa women's basketball continued its quest to attract some of the nation's top talent to Iowa City. On Wednesday, the Hawkeyes offered four-star small forward and the top player out of Arizona in the 2028 class, Taylor Morris.
Morris is rated as the nation's No. 20 player per 2028 SportsCenter NEXT - Super 60 rankings. According to Prep Girls Hoops' 2028 Arizona rankings, Morris is the No. 1 prospect in the state.
A 6-foot-4 prospect, Morris has averaged 14.7 points per game during her 55 games played at the varsity level in two seasons at Mesa High School, per MaxPreps. Morris also plays for Mountain West Premier, which is the same Nike EYBL program as fellow Hawkeyes prospect Sienna Williams.
Along with Iowa, Morris already has a long list of offers from premier college basketball programs such as Texas Tech, BYU, Missouri, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, and Big Ten foes Oregon, Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and UCLA.
Here's a look at Morris' highlights:

#morris #prospect #hawkeyes #premier

Rookies for the Kansas City Chiefs will be reporting to the team’s training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph later today. When we are able to see the full squad next week, rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane will be among the players under the most scrutiny. Because of the price the Chiefs gave up moving up three slots to sixth overall for Delane, there will be little patience for talk of a rookie curve.
When **** sing his camp, we will need to remember that cornerback mistakes are often magnified, and the position is rarely noticed when a player is performing well. That said, Delane needs to establish himself as one of the best in the league at his position quickly.
Five Chiefs players with something to prove in training camp | The Athletic
Mansoor Delane
There are two truths when it comes to rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane:

#mansoor #camp #training #rookies

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, quarterback Marcel Reed, linebacker Daymion Sanford, and safety Marcus Ratcliffe spoke to the local and national media during SEC Media Days, previewing the 2026 season at length, especially for those outside the Aggie media sphere who have not paid attention until now.
Entering his second full starting season, Marcel Reed is on track to match his career-high 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025, while his 12 interceptions were tied for the second most in the SEC; but after adding former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton this offseason, Reed is well equipped to take more shots down the field given Horton's size advantage, especially in the red zone.
However, after offensive coordinator Collin Klein departed to take over as Kansas State's head coach, and instead of hiring outside the program, Mike Elko elevated wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins, who, despite his lack of play-calling experience, served as Klein's Co-OC over the last two seasons, and was former Alabama head coach Nick Saban's long-time WR coach and AHC before making his way to College Station.
On Wednesday, Austin, Texas-based reporter Cory Mose asked Marcel Reed how the transition from Collin Klein to Holmon Wiggins has been just over 40 days before Texas A&M's season-opener vs. Missouri State, citing his strong relationship with new quarterbacks coach Joey Lynch and Wiggins' experience in the program.
"Hasn't been a crazy transition...I'm in the room with coach Wiggins and my quarterbacks coach, coach Lynch a lot this offseason. Just trying to pick their brains a little bit, let them pick mine. So we're on the when it comes to each and every weekend"

#texas #elko

On Wednesday, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, linebacker Daymion Sanford, safety Marcus Ratcliffe, and quarterback Marcel Reed spoke to the local and national media during SEC Media Days ahead of the 2026 season, which is now just a mere 43 days away as the Aggies will host Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, to kick off the new campaign.
Elko's quote regarding the Aggies' lack of hardware, stating, "I show them our trophy case, and it's empty," when discussing what continues to motivate the roster after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season, received national attention but was widely misinterpreted, which is never surprising in today's social-media-driven landscape.
After passing for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season, Marcel Reed, entering his second full starting season, can always rely on Mike Elko to be honest about his need to improve after the Aggies' back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the CFP, which included four turnovers.
Against top-35 ranked defenses, Reed threw six touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing just 59% of his passes while throwing 19 touchdowns and four interceptions the rest of the way, which is truly the definition of a "high variance" quarterback with the potential to be much more consistent.
"The narrative around Marcel (Reed) has been pretty fair," Elko said. "At his highs, he can be an elite quarterback… We know if he can play at his best consistently, he has an opportunity to have a really, really high ceiling."

#reed #elko #season #quarterback

Mississippi has, to put it mildly, a complicated history when it comes to race relations. Even as times have changed and attitudes have modernized, a number of the all-time best athletes to compete in college sports did so at schools other than the state’s flagship campuses.
From our perspective, however, it has made the task of choosing the 10 greatest college players more fun. Six different schools are represented on this list, including some hall-of-fame gridiron talents from the state’s trio of HBCU’s. The Magnolia State’s two SEC schools are also represented, of course, and though football is a rather big deal there we’ve found some worthy candidates in other sports as well.
The Football Championship Subdivision player of the year award bears Payton’s name with good reason. Before becoming a household name with the Chicago Bears and the NFL's all-time leading rusher (now No. 2 on the list), ‘Sweetness’ was rewriting the record book with the Jackson State Tigers, where he scored a total of 464 points and rushed for 3,563 yards.
USA 250 LISTS: Alaska | Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri
The greatest pass catcher ever to take the field NFL first made his mark on the college game at Mississippi Valley State. From 1981-84 he caught 301 ***** for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns for the Delta Devils. Along the way he set records for most catches (102) and yards (1,454) in a season and in a game (24) while earning first-team All-America honors.

#college #schools #bears

Another tournament, another triumph for local baseball players.
The Mafia Baseball Club, a Pacific Northwest team, won their ticket to play in the Babe Ruth World Series. On July 13-17, the Mafia Baseball Club was the top finishing team in the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament in Calgary, Alberta. Now, they're going to Branson, Missouri. The Babe Ruth World Series is scheduled to begin on July 27 and run through August 5.
The Mafia Baseball Club of Oregon was formed in the summer of 2025 and is coached by Luke Roth and Mateo Vodjansky. Many of the Clatsop County athletes are familiar with Roth since his company, Mid-Major Media, that publishes on social media, covers many of the 4A-1A athletes throughout the state of Oregon. Roth said he started Mid-Major Media with the intention of highlighting the underrepresented athletes in smaller schools and communities across the state. His company is also a sponsor of the Mafia Baseball Club.
Mafia Baseball Club has roots in both Toledo, Washington and Northwest Oregon. The 2026 team features local athletes from Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Knappa, among others. Oliver Stevens (Knappa), Zephan Pierce (Warrenton), Sam Schacher (Astoria), Dallas Norris (Astoria) and Hayden Halsen (Seaside) all have spent parts of their summer playing with the team.
The graduated senior Pierce from Warrenton High School and incoming Knappa High School senior Stevens, had strong regional performances as both a pitcher and catcher. At the regional tournament in Calgary, Stevens spun a total of 7.2 innings and struck out 8, while Pierce hit .333 and had a .429 on base percentage.

#mafia #athletes

Basketball star and internet sensation Sophie Cunningham has become a lightning rod in the debate over transgender athletes in women's sports after her call to "protect young girls" in locker rooms drew White House praise.
WNBA guard Cunningham first soared to popularity last year as the so-called "enforcer" for her Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark, frequently exacting physical on-court retribution against opponents who mess with the league's most famous player.
Footage of Cunningham coolly staring down and pointing mockingly at one such foe for 22 unflinching seconds following a scuffle last month went viral, launching countless memes.
But the 6-foot-1 blonde from Missouri -- nicknamed "MAGA Barbie" by some observers in a league increasingly riven by racial tensions and stereotypes -- is drawing headlines this week for her views on trans athletes.
"I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men," she told ESPN in an interview published Tuesday.

#cunningham #last #Basketball

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 26: Karl Ravech of ESPN speaks on set the day before Game 1 of the 2015 World Series between the Royals and Mets at Kauffman Stadium on October 26, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)
For more than three decades, Karl Ravech became one of the most recognizable voices in baseball broadcasting, anchoring “Baseball Tonight” and serving as ESPN's lead MLB play-by-play caller.
His broadcasts spanned virtually every high-profile baseball event at the network, making him synonymous with the sport for many viewers. But that iconic run came to a sudden end on Monday night, when Ravech called the nationally televised matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time, though, he and his colleagues were unaware that it would be their last time working for the broadcaster together.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Cubs’ Craig Counsell Sends Front Office Message Shortly Before Trade Deadline
The stunning layoffs that swept through ESPN this week caught many employees off guard, including Ravech himself.

#Baseball #city #espn #many

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 02: Owner Steve Cohen of the New York Mets talks with members of the media prior to a game between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
For much of the 2026 season, the New York Mets have found themselves at the center of trade speculation, front-office scrutiny and one of the most disappointing stretches in franchise history. With one of baseball's highest payrolls failing to produce consistent results, frustration has followed the club into the second half.
That backdrop unexpectedly spilled into politics this week, when President Donald Trump used the Mets as the punchline while praising a longtime Atlanta Braves executive during a public appearance in Georgia. The remark came as the Mets continue battling through a historic losing streak and questions surrounding the direction of owner Steve Cohen's high-priced roster.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Mets’ Former Southpaw Leaves MLB After Latest Cut
During an appearance in Marietta, Trump praised both former Braves manager and Hall of Famer Brian Snitker and Braves Development Company CEO Mike Plant, joking that he'd found a better option than Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has failed to **** emble a winning team this season.

#city #steve #missouri #august

With the conclusion of Texas A&M's appearance at SEC Media Days on Wednesday afternoon, the Aggies are full speed ahead towards the 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, and for third-year coach Mike Elko, building on last season's immense success after making it to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history remains the primary focus.
Already establishing a strong culture, Elko's decision to elevate wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins as the new offensive coordinator received plenty of skepticism from both the fan base and national media alike, but during Wednesday's press conference, Elko continued to cheerlead his decision, which should pay off given that Marcel Reed returns at quarterback for his second full starting season.
Among the national media, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video college football and NFL ****** yst Kirk Herbstreit, one of the hardest-working men in the sports broadcasting landscape, shares a history with Marcel Reed after his sons played with the redshirt junior signal-caller at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.
However, that doesn't mean Herbstreit has avoided criticizing the Aggie QB when warranted, especially after his poor performance against Texas and Miami in the first round of the CFP, but he remains one of the few, now including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who fully believe Marcel Reed, similar to Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, to be one of the best overall athletes in the country.
During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Herbstreit stated that he believes Texas A&M could "make a run" towards a national ****** le this season with Marcel Reed leading the way.

#herbstreit

Earlier this week, Indiana Fever superstar Sophie Cunningham sparked controversy when she spoke out against transgender athletes during a recent interview. When given the chance to address or clarify her comments on Wednesday, Cunningham refused to apologize. In fact, she doubled down.
Before Wednesday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun, Cunningham made it clear that she was standing by her comments from the ESPN article, saying that her words were “kind of common sense.”
During a recent interview with ESPN, Cunningham was asked about her political beliefs and the “MAGA Barbie” nickname she has recently been given. While Cunningham says that label is a projection, given that she is a white girl from Missouri, she did go on to speak out on how to “protect women’s sports.”
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” she told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Despite these anti-trans comments, Cunningham claims that her political views are “very much in the middle.”

#political

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is proposing legislation that would withhold bonuses for U.S. Postal Service executives, citing years of staggering financial losses for the agency and its overall on-time delivery record.
Hawley, who has launched an investigation into the Postal Service over its service record, will name the legislation the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act, Fox News Digital has learned.
The bill would prohibit the USPS Board of Governors from approving any additional compensation for the postmaster general and deputy postmaster general for a fiscal year in which the agency doesn't meet or exceed an on-time delivery rate of 95% for all mail products.
"While Missourians don't receive their mail on time, the Postmaster General receives a hefty bonus each year," Hawley wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I am introducing the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act to ensure postal service leadership isn't receiving bonuses while Americans' mail goes undelivered. It's time for the Postmaster General to do his job and put Americans first."
Senator Josh Hawley Demands Answers From Mlb On 'Pattern Of Discrimination' Over Warnings To Giants Players

#postmaster #time #mail #digital

Kansas City, Missouri-based Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) is a regulated electric utility providing clean, safe, and reliable electricity to 1.7 million customers through its operating subsidiaries. With a market capitalization of about $19.7 billion, the company invests in renewable energy, grid modernization, and innovative technologies while supporting electric vehicle infrastructure and delivering long-term value to customers and shareholders.
EVRG is set to report its Q2 earnings on Thursday, August 6, 2026, before the market opens. Ahead of the release, ******* ysts expect the company to report diluted EPS of $0.87, up 6.1% from $0.82 in the year-ago quarter. EVRG has surpassed Wall Street's EPS estimates in two of the past four trailing quarters while missing estimates in the other two.
Huge, Unusual Intel Options Volume Today Ahead of Earnings This Week
Intel Stock Is Down, But Put Premiums are High - Put Short Sellers Love the High Yields
Billionaire Mark Cuban Says If CEOs Get 10% of Pay in Stock, Janitors Deserve the Same Percentage — 'That Will Change the Game'

#ahead #market

Connections matter in the NBA. It's become commonplace for former teammates and friends to join forces in the **** ociation (just look at the reigning champion New York Knicks). These bonds don't always lead to an NBA reunion, but they have to at least be considered during the offseason, especially in the case of the Boston Celtics and 3-time All-Star Bradley Beal.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report insider Jake Fischer discussed how Beal's next landing spot could be tied to his friendship with Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Beal, who's about 5 years older than Tatum, was a mentor for the eventual 2024 NBA champion and the two grew up in St. Louis and both attended the same high school, Chaminade. That relationship that began in Missouri continued in the NBA and beyond, as Tatum even attended Beal's wedding last summer.
"Bradley Beal has got several options," Fischer reported. "I do think there is some Miami (Heat) interest...I wouldn't rule out Boston for Beal because of the connection with Jayson Tatum. I even asked about that today and I was told not to rule out Boston."
Beal played in just 6 games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season before opting out of his player option. A season-ending hip injury prevented the 33-year-old from seeing the court much with L.A. and he hasn't played in more than 60 games in a single season since the 2018-19 campaign.
These injury concerns and the Celtics' current financial situation — the front office could only offer Beal a veteran's minimum contract or the bi-annual exception — make a St. Louis get-together less likely.

#star

Chiefs release first renderings of new, closed-roof stadium set to replace Arrowhead Stadium originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Arrowhead Stadium has arguably been the center of the NFL since Patrick Mahomes debuted, hosting numerous AFC championship games and critical primetime matchups.
As the Chiefs try to get their dynasty back on track in the short-term, they are preparing for a move in the long term.
A new stadium is on the horizon, as announced by the franchise in December. That includes a move from Missouri to Kansas after decades at Arrowhead.
Here's a first look at the Chiefs' new stadium after the team released its first renderings on Wednesday.

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