Michigan State fans got the pleasure of watching Pat Fitzgerald at Big Ten media days this past week, where the Spartans head man got to show off his personality. Now, it will be Tom Izzo's turn to get a chance to show off his personality to the nation.
On his X page, college basketball ******* yst Jon Rothstein announced that Izzo was going to be the gest on the Inside College Basketball Now podcast, run by CBS Sports. The podcast is slated to take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Izzo will join Rothstein to talk about the state of college athletics, while also previewing the upcoming Spartans season.
Contact/Follow us The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X Rex_Linzy
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Tom Izzo to guest on popular college basketball podcast

#state

WAPAKONETA — The second day of the 174th Auglaize County Fair found 4-H families at the Horse Arena for the annual Horse and Pony Show, with competitions kicking off at 9 a.m. and continuing late into the evening.
The Junior Fair showcases and competitions are organized by the Auglaize County Junior Fair Board, comprised of local youth in a 4-H club, vocational agricultural or family and consumer science group, Junior Grange, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts units or Farm Bureau Youth Council.
Monday's exhibition was organized by Horse Chair Ollie Chisholf, 18, a member of the Buckeye Beavers 4-H Club in St. Marys.
"This is the pleasure show for the junior fair horses," he explained. "A lot of people know the horse shows for the speed and the barrels and the poles, but this is showmanship, horsemanship."
Pleasure shows evaluate a horse's disposition, gait and manners, or how "pleasureable" they are to ride. 4-H members ages 6 through 18 demonstrated their showmanship and control over their horses by guiding them through a series of intricate "patterns."

#horse #auglaize #pleasure

Over the past several weeks, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has found herself at the center of some controversy after she spoke out against transgender women competing in women's sports. As a result of those comments, she did not exactly receive a warm welcome from fans on Sunday afternoon.
During Sunday afternoon's showdown with the Minnesota Lynx in Minnesota, Cunningham was heavily booed every time she touched the ball as fans in attendance expressed their displeasure.
This whole ordeal began last month when Cunningham decided to take a stand on transgender athletes.
In a recent interview as part of an ESPN profile, Cunningham was asked about her political views, including the "MAGA Barbie" nickname that has been attached to her in recent months. During her response, the Indiana Fever guard addressed the topic of transgender athletes competing in 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."

#sports

Joe Johnson: I didn't think ****** ody could beat that Lakers Kobe and Shaq. But, bro, when I tell y'all push him to the brink. Obviously, under certain circumstances, maybe y'all would have won it. But, man, that was a pleasure to watch. You know what I mean? Because I was a young buck. I was just coming into the league in 2001, bro. That was everything to me to see, to see great basketball. Mike Bibby: I think Shaquille O'Neal is the best big man that ever played the game. Kobe Bryant is top two for me. Just to be in those battles and going to LA and seeing all those movie stars and the guys that you look up to in the movies coming and cheering against you knowing we had them beat. I mean, I couldn't ask for nothing else, man.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mike Bibby: Shaquille O'Neal is the best big man that ever played the game

#coming

Growing up in the heart of Los Angeles, Zoey Deutch was surrounded by the entertainment industry from an early age, but she has worked hard to establish an identity built on her own talent rather than her family's legacy. With a natural screen presence, sharp comedic timing, and an increasingly diverse filmography, Deutch has emerged as one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses. From independent dramas to romantic comedies and major studio productions, she has consistently demonstrated an ability to move effortlessly between genres while maintaining a distinctive charm that resonates with audiences.
Born into a family deeply connected to film and television, Deutch is the daughter of actress Lea Thompson and director Howard Deutch, while her sister, Madelyn Deutch, has also built a successful career as an actress and writer. Despite these influences, Zoey has always embraced her own creative path. Proud of her Southern California roots, she often speaks fondly of growing up in the San Fernando Valley and appreciates the unique experience of living and working in the same city. Her upbringing extended beyond film sets, however. Surrounded by a wide variety of family pets, she developed an appreciation for animals that she believes helped shape her empathy and understanding of different personalities. Years of training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, and hip-hop also instilled discipline, physical awareness, and confidence that later translated naturally into her performances on screen.
Away from acting, Deutch is known for her enthusiasm for food and cooking. She enjoys experimenting with new flavors and recipes and has often spoken about the pleasure she finds in preparing meals for family and friends. Dinner, in particular, holds a special place in her routine, offering an opportunity to slow down, enjoy meaningful conversations, and connect with the people around her. Whether taking on the challenge of cooking a full holiday feast for the first time or discovering unexpected flavor combinations, she approaches food with the same curiosity and enthusiasm that she brings to her creative work.
Although Deutch is open about many of her interests, she also values maintaining a sense of privacy. She prefers allowing audiences to interpret her films for themselves rather than explaining exactly what they should take away from a performance. This thoughtful approach reflects her broader philosophy of letting the work speak for itself. As her career continues to evolve, Zoey Deutch has established herself as far more than Hollywood royalty by **** ociation. Through dedication, versatility, and an authentic passion for storytelling, she continues to earn recognition on her own merits while building a career that promises to remain one of the most exciting of her generation.

#screen

Arsenal fans were left short-changed after the live stream for the Gunners' pre-season friendly cut off during the first half of the match against Girona.
Kai Havertz had given ****** nal the lead having received a delightful pass from 16-year-old Max Dowman before slipping it past the goalkeeper with a left-footed finish.
Supporters had been able to watch the opening goal, which occured in the 16th minute, before the live stream of the game - airing on ****** nal's website and app cut off.
Refeshing the page where the match could be accessed - on ****** nal's pay-per-view tab - only yielded a message that read: "No data available."
Understandably, fans took to social media to decry their frustration with many voicing their displeasure at paying for a stream they couldn't access.

#fans #live #girona #havertz

Cristian Chivu led the tributes to Franco Baresi on the eve of Inter's pre-season friendly against Manchester City, hailing the late Milan great as "a great icon" of the game.
According to Inter's official channels, the head coach opened his press conference in Hong Kong, where the sides meet at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday, by paying his respects to Baresi, who died on Friday aged 66.
"We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi's family," Chivu said. "Everyone who loves football has lost a great icon of this sport."
Turning to matters on the pitch, Chivu said it was "truly a pleasure" to be preparing for the new campaign in such surroundings, even with both teams still short of full fitness after building up through a training camp in Germany.
John Stones signs for Inter (Source: inter.it)

#icon

HONG KONG – Everything is set at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, where Inter and Manchester City will face each other on Saturday at 19:30 local time (13:30 CEST) for an international friendly.
The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and on Sky, at no extra cost for existing subscribers, while non-subscribers will be able to watch via pay-per-view on OneFootball and DAZN.
On the eve of the friendly, Inter head coach Cristian Chivu answered questions from journalists at his pre-match press conference. Before doing so, however, the Nerazzurri coach paid tribute to Franco Baresi: "We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi's family. Everyone who loves football has lost a great icon of this sport."
How important is it for you to be here, and what message do you want to send to the fans who are here in Hong Kong?
"It's truly a pleasure to be here, in this incredible place. We are in the preparation phase for the new season, but it is special for us to have the opportunity to play here against a great team like Manchester City. Even if neither team is at 100%, everyone will certainly be happy with the level of performance we try to produce on the pitch."

#kong

Two teenage girls claimed that Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton shouted and used profanity toward them Tuesday night over signs they brought supporting Sophie Cunningham after her very public opposition to transgender women competing in women's sports. Cunningham has now responded publicly to the incident, but fans are not happy at her continued stance against transgender athletes.
In a statement shared on social media, Cunningham described Keaton's behavior as "truly embarrassing," while commending the teenage girls for standing by their beliefs and promising to send them gifts. However, fans were quick to express their displeasure at Cunningham's latest post.
Following Tuesday night's game, the two teenage fans said they were confronted by a woman they identified as Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, alleging she was "screaming and cussing" at them because of signs expressing support for Cunningham.
"Well, we were just sitting there with our signs that said like, 'We love Sophie,' like, 'Thank you Sophie for speaking up,'" one of the young girls recounted, via Brandi Kruse. "And so we were holding on, just watching the game, again, like, we were being super great, we hadn't said anything to anyone else, we were being super respectful, we were just holding our signs and cheering for both teams, and this lady, older lady comes up to us."
According to the teenager, the encounter was so upsetting that it brought her to tears.

#fans

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has thrown his weight behind Indian batting icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, insisting that both veterans still have plenty left in the tank and should be part of India's squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The legendary Pakistan batter, popularly known as the 'Asian Bradman', dismissed concerns surrounding the duo's age and said their skill, experience and continued ability to score runs make them automatic contenders for the marquee tournament, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

"Both are very, very good in terms of skill and, given their experience, I don't see any reason why they should not play the World Cup. Age should not be a factor as long as they are fit and continue scoring runs," news agency PTI quoted Zaheer as saying on a Pakistani television channel.
Zaheer, regarded as one of Pakistan's finest batters after scoring more than 100 first-class centuries during his illustrious career, believes Kohli and Rohit possess qualities that only grow stronger with time.

According to the former Pakistan skipper, scoring runs becomes second nature for players of their calibre after spending years at the highest level, while their experience remains invaluable in major ICC tournaments.

He also ******* sed the fitness of the two Indian greats, saying Kohli continues to maintain exceptional physical standards.

"Kohli is still supremely fit, while Rohit just needs to pay a little more attention to his fitness," Zaheer observed.

The Pakistan great added that India would benefit immensely from having both veterans in the dressing room during the 2027 World Cup campaign.

His remarks come at a time when speculation over the future of India's senior stars continues despite both producing match-winning performances in the ODI format.
Zaheer reserved special praise for Rohit after watching the former Indian captain's recent century against England, saying the opener's batting remains a delight to watch.

"I watched Rohit score a hundred against England, and it is still a pleasure to watch him bat. He plays so effortlessly and with such sweet timing," he said.

Rohit's knock against England once again underlined his credentials in the 50-over format, while Kohli has also continued to deliver consistently, strengthening the argument that the experienced pair could still play a crucial role at the next World Cup.

Reflecting on the changing nature of modern cricket, Zaheer acknowledged that T20 cricket has introduced several innovative strokes into the game. However, he insisted that the fundamentals remain just as important, saying every batter aspiring to succeed across formats must master traditional shots like the cover drive and the cut shot.

The former Pakistan captain also spoke about his country's cricketing future, expressing confidence that better days lie ahead.

"Hopefully, the return of Babar Azam as Test captain will turn thing

And all in four languages: Cerezo's Spanish coach answered in Spanish, Niko Kovac in German and English, and the ******* anese players in their native language. It was a multilingual affair in ******* an—yet one with a touch of home. Because as the four protagonists entered the room, "Heja BVB" blared over the loudspeakers.
The focus of attention was former Borussian player and current Cerezo player Shinji Kagawa, who had already faced BVB with his home club two years ago. "It's a great opportunity to play against Borussia Dortmund again—for me personally and also as the team. I want everyone—every fan, the Dortmund fans, the Osaka fans—to enjoy this game," said Kagawa, who was a player for Borussia Dortmund from 2010 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2019. But even seven years later, the connection hasn't been lost. "I'm very proud that the relationship continues, and I still think about the ******* les and memories from my time in Dortmund. The older I get, the more it means to me. The players and coaches I worked with will also remain in my heart forever. I really hope this relationship will continue."
"It's a pleasure for us to play against Shinji here because he's a former BVB player. That's certainly something special for all of us," emphasizes Niko Kovac, who also highlights the sporting significance of the match. "We're here to compete and prepare for our first competitive match against Bayern Munich. I hope everyone stays healthy, that we see a good game, and that the fans enjoy the match." Even though Osaka is already further along in his preseason preparation: "We're athletes. And athletes always want to win, whether it's a friendly, a cup match, or a competitive match."
For Takato Yamamoto, this match is a very special one, as he only joined BVB's U23 team a few weeks ago from his youth club and Cerezo's local rival, Gamba Osaka. "I really don't want to lose to Cerezo. I also want to show the fans in ******* an that I've grown as a player. That's my goal for tomorrow." Yamamoto was also asked about Kagawa, who was sitting next to him: "I know he's a legend. When people in Germany find out I'm from ******* an, they ask me, 'Do you know Shinji Kagawa?' Wherever I go, I hear his name."
After the joint press conference, the next reunion will take place on Wednesday on the soccer field. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ******* an Standard Time (12 p.m. CEST) at Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium and will be broadcast live on BVB-TV, Sky, and DAZN.Christina Reinke

#fans

From the autumn of 2024 until January 2026, Rúben Amorim was Manchester United's Head Coach. Fittingly, AC Milan's pre-season schedule now includes a meeting with the English side, with the two teams set to face each other on 15 August at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland. There is another intriguing reunion to come, too. Between 1999 and 2019, aside from several loan spells between 2004 and 2009, Ignazio Abate's footballing home was AC Milan. After hanging up his boots, he returned to the Club as Head Coach of the U16 side in 2021/22 before taking charge of the Primavera over the following two seasons. Now, as Torino's Head Coach, he will face his former club when the Rossoneri begin their Serie A campaign away to the Granata on23 August at 20:45 CEST. Both fixtures carry special significance. For Amorim, it will be a reunion with his most recent club. For Abate, it will be a meeting with the Club that shaped both his playing and coaching career. His father, Beniamino, also spent many years working within AC Milan's coaching structure before later joining Torino.
At his first press conference as AC Milan Head Coach, Amorim did not shy away when asked what he had learned from his spell at Manchester United. "It's difficult to explain the mistakes I made because I'd have to do so within the context of my last experience," he said. "The only thing I can say is that I learned a great deal from those mistakes. I didn't have the opportunity – which I regret – to say anything to the Manchester United supporters at the time, but I'm truly proud to have been their coach for a year. Now, at AC Milan, it will be a different story." Two days later, Abate also reflected on the opening-day meeting after taking charge of Torino. "AC Milan was my life; the Club gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level. When I saw the fixture list and noticed Torino against AC Milan, it gave me another reason to hope that I would become Torino's new Head Coach. It will be a pleasure to begin the season against them."
Match kits, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store!

#Milan #club #manchester #august

As expected, Zinédine Zidane has been appointed coach of the French men' national team in succession of Didier Deschamps, the French Football Federation (FFF) has said.
FFF president Philippe Diallo named Zidane "a legend of French football" in a news conference and said that Zidane has signed a contract until 2030.
Zidane, 54, won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 as a player of a team captained by Deschamps. His only coaching experience are two terms at Real Madrid 2016-2018 and 2019-2021 during which he won three Champions Leagues and two LaLigas.
"I've said it many times: there's nothing bigger than the French national team. So it's a pleasure and, of course, a great honour to become coach of this French national team. But it's also a responsibility," Zidane said in a federation statement.
The three-time World Player of the Year had long been considered the top contender to take over from Deschamps who stepped down after 14 years in charge after the recent World Cup.

#zidane #player #coach

by Charly Wegelius.
Tadej Pogacar won a record-equalling fifth Tour de France over the weekend. What better time, then, to read this 2013 memoir by a cyclist who won precisely nothing?
Cycling teams are built around ensuring one rider wins; teammates ride in front of the star for slipstreaming, set the pace on climbs, or even give up bike parts in case of a breakdown. Wegelius was one such "domestique." It is a "must-read," says the biking blog Velominati, and "it is a pleasure to read a book about modern cycling that is not a drug exposé." Buy Domestique from Amazon.
— Tom Chivers

#pogacar #velominati #amazon

If you've read enough of my pieces, you know that I'm a very defensive person.
Defensive end of the basketball court, defensive unit in Football, digging and blocking in volleyball, pitching and outfield in diamond sports.
Love that defense!
So it gives me great pleasure to announce that Oregon Football will, at least on paper, field one of the best defensive lines the program has ever seen. Run-stuffers, quarterback-hunters, the whole shebang.
Tackles A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander are flanked by edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.

#defensive #love #washington #bear

Paige Spiranac criticized what she termed gatekeeping in golf, where the game was being discouraged from growing and there were belittling attitudes towards newbies.
In her tweet, Spiranac argued that one who truly loves golf should embrace the development of the sport through education and community, but not exclusivity and arrogance.
“I love golf. I want everyone to play, and I’m excited about all the new people getting into the game,” Spiranac wrote. “I feel that should be the attitude everyone should have if you truly love the game.”
She also expressed displeasure at the criticism of the sport’s new generation of fans.
“I’m so tired of hearing ‘shrink’ and hating on this new culture of golf fans,” she wrote. “This condescending and belittling behavior of new golfers is gross to me. You’re not better than someone else or morally superior because you’ve played longer.”

#game #belittling #truly

The NFL draft is the lifeblood of your football team. Selecting and developing young talent is the number one job of an NFL general manager.
Adam Peters has been criticized a bit over his first two years in Washington for some of his higher draft picks. Some of those guys were expected to have a MUCH bigger impact on the team than they have had to date.
Conversely, some players who were picked a bit later shined early on. While we can make our voices heard in displeasure about some of Peter’s top 100 picks not preforming, we must be just as complementary of some guys who may have been overlooked in the draft, but came to Washington and did well. And, yes, I’m taking about BILL!
Fans want to see players perform well. Some players take more time than others to develop, but the key to success is whether said player eventually gets to that “expected” level.
With that said, below are my offensive and defensive breakout candidates for the upcoming season.

#picks #expected

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was ****** sed her seventh technical foul of the season in Wednesday’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun. She is now one technical foul away from a WNBA-mandated one-game suspension.
Clark and Sun guard Saniya Rivers were both given technical fouls during a dustup at the end of the third quarter. After Clark was fouled by Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Rivers waved her arm in Clark’s direction as she expressed displeasure with the foul call. In response, Clark appeared to yell in Rivers’ direction.
Clark has now received technical fouls in back-to-back games. She was ****** sed her sixth tech in a win over the New York Liberty last week. Asked at Monday’s practice if she needed to change her behavior with how close she is to a suspension, Clark simply said, “No.”
Clark, who has been managing a back injury all season, had her minutes restriction lifted Wednesday. She responded with 27 points and 11 ****** ists in 27 minutes to lead the Fever to a franchise-record 123 points. The three-time All-Star now has 16 games with at least 20 points and 10 ****** ists, extending her WNBA record.
Fellow Fever All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston chipped in with 23 and 22 points, respectively. Mitchell has now scored 20 points in 12 straight games, extending her franchise record.

#foul

Stephen A. Smith has never been shy about giving his take.
The star of ESPN's "First Take" was spared from the network's latest round of layoffs, but some of his colleagues weren't so lucky. That includes Ryan Clark, the former NFL safety who was a regular guest on "First Take" and a prominent figure in ESPN's NFL coverage.
It was news that came as a shock to most, including Smith, who voiced his displeasure with the company's decision on his YouTube channel on July 21.
"It hurts. It really does," Smith said. "I understand the business. I understand layoffs come. I understand that there have been other names that have been a part of it in the past and there's going to be names in the future. ***** , one of them might be mine."
Smith referred to Clark on multiple occasions as someone he considers to be "arguably the best NFL ***** yst in America."

#names #youtube

A former California reserve deputy sheriff has been identified as the person who died after a pleasure boat carrying members of an extended family capsized in the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island.
Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County, died after the three-level recreational vessel sank Tuesday afternoon with 20 people aboard, authorities said. The Sutter County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Boisa served as a reserve deputy sheriff beginning in 1987.
Three passengers remained missing Wednesday after 16 others were rescued, including three people who were taken to local hospitals.
The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday it planned to suspend its search for the three missing passengers at sunset after crews spent roughly 23 hours searching more than 950 nautical square miles of San Francisco Bay.
"We have completely saturated the search area," Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Commander Capt. Jarod Tosczko said during a Wednesday news conference, thanking Good Samaritans who helped rescue people from the water.

If Texas A&M has any chance at making it back to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed must improve in several areas, including eliminating the mental mistakes that heavily contributed to the Aggies' back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
This offseason, Reed quickly went to work on his own, spending several weeks at the D1 Training facility in Nashville, Tennessee, his hometown, adding more muscle to his frame, while sitting down for a long-form interview that has since been cut up for your viewing pleasure.
Tuesday's release centered around Reed's goals for the 2026 season, which, heading into his third year and second full starting campaign, the NFL remains in his sights, and naming all the wide receivers he'll be throwing to this fall, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, who joins Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, and, likely to crack the lineup, standout freshman Aaron Gregory, Texas A&M's offense is in good hands.
Last season, which Reed acknowledged, his personal stats skyrocketed, completing 62% of his passes for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while his 12 interceptions were the main issue, tied for second in the SEC, with four of his interceptions coming against Texas and Miami.
Eliminating turnovers is one thing, but consistency, especially completing a high percentage of his passes from start to finish, and making good decisions while avoiding passing attempts in double coverage, and taking the easy throw to move the chains, should result in late-season success and a shot at being selected in the 2027 or 2028 NFL Draft.

NASHUA — Aiden O’Connell has settled into a summer routine.
The Bedford resident and pitcher starts once a week for the defending New England Collegiate Baseball League champion Keene Swamp Bats. On his off days, O’Connell does mobility training, throwing sessions and watches baseball with his teammates.
“That’s really the best part,” said O’Connell, a lefty who pitched the Swamp Bats to a 2-1 exhibition win over the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League on Monday night at Holman Stadium. “It’s been a pleasure being here.”
The seven-inning bout was the first ever between the state’s only summer collegiate baseball teams and the inaugural game of the “Granite State Showdown.” The teams will meet again on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field in Keene.
O’Connell, who allowed one run and struck out seven over five innings against Nashua, said the routine has been beneficial.

Somehow, every game recap I write manages to be about an even more abhorrent game than the last. Tonight might take the cake for by far the worst game I have ever had the displeasure of watching. Just an unbelievably awful game start-to-finish. On the bright side, since coming to Minnesota, the Guardians seem to be at least losing a new type of game. Not just your average 1-run loss anymore, we've ascended to a new plane of suffering.
This game had everything!
Do you like lackluster starting pitching? Come on down!
Do you like walks? We've got a near unlimited supply at a discounted price!
Do you like using every single reliever in your bullpen but one? Stop on by!

Charlie Hall reveals that he thought his mom, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was famous for just "being his mom" when he was young
He said he later realized her fame came from her acting career, including her iconic role on Seinfeld, after other moms weren't being asked for autographs
Charlie has followed his mother's footsteps into acting, with roles in Veep, Moxie, and The **** Lives of College Girls
Charlie Hall was aware that his mom, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was popular at a young age — but didn't exactly know why.
The Maximum Pleasure star, 29, revealed on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle on Tuesday, July 7, at what age he figured out that his mother was "famous," but noted that he was way off the mark about where her fame came from.

CINCINNATI — Last weekend, Mike Elias said he plans on "going for it" at the MLB trade deadline.
To do that, though, his team would have to play better in the coming weeks to put the Baltimore Orioles' president of baseball operations in a position to be a buyer.
Instead, the Orioles responded with four straight losses after Elias' comments. Baltimore's back-to-back lopsided defeats to the Chicago White Sox sank the ballclub to nine below .500 — the lowest mark of the season. The Orioles have had several low moments this season, but Tuesday's defeat to the White Sox was rock bottom as fans at Camden Yards, normally not ones to loudly express their displeasure, booed the local nine.
So, naturally, they've since played some of their best baseball of the season to win three straight games, continuing the puzzling nature of a team that's been wildly inconsistent all season. Saturday, the Orioles scored early, put up a crooked number, clobbered an ace starting pitcher and had their own pitching staff buckle down en route to an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Samuel Basallo blasted a three-run homer in the first inning for his second homer in as many games after his two-run long ball led the Orioles to a 3-0 win Friday. Three innings later, shortly after the Reds took a one-run lead, Baltimore's bats teamed up to put up five runs against Cincinnati ace Hunter Greene in his season debut after he missed the three months with an elbow injury.

A recent appearance by Queen Camilla alongside J.K. Rowling has sparked strong reactions online. The photo, taken at an event to promote the importance of reading, was shared by The Royal Family on social media. Supporters of the women praised the collaboration, while critics questioned the Queen's decision to pose with the author amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling's public views.
On June 30, the last day of Pride Month, the Royal Family social media accounts posted a photo of Queen Camilla smiling for the camera alongside controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
It was taken at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, where an event was held to discuss the women's shared support for literacy and "commitment to children reading for pleasure." As the caption noted, "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations."
Although the meeting was meant to highlight reading, many online users criticized Camilla for **** ociating with Rowling, whose past comments about transgender issues generated intense public debate.
The comments section flooded with comments, many expressing disappointment and anger over Camilla and Rowling's collaboration. "As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I'm deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month," one user wrote, adding that the Queen could have chosen other "admirable individuals" for her cause.

Not everyone is applauding the royal family's latest social media moment.
A photo of Queen Camilla, 78, standing with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, 60, has sparked backlash online.
The royal family's official Instagram account shared the image on Tuesday, June 30, with the caption, "With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh."
It also added, "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations."
A few fans were supportive. "Thank you, Your Majesty for standing with, JK Rowling. Two strong & REAL women," wrote one commenter, while another praised Rowling for encouraging "a whole new generation of children to read again."

An underrated pleasure for spectators at every World Cup is observing the managers. If club football, an increasingly regimented domain of set pieces and systems, is all about structure, international soccer is much more a matter of style – and at this tournament, the theatrics of the sport's touchline strutters have been rich with emotion and figurative power.
Didier Deschamps patrols his technical area with the watchful pride of an outer-arrondissement charcutier. Luis de la Fuente is a veteran wealth manager at Banco Santander. ***** an's Hajime Moriyasu is about to go postal at his dreary office job in a Kiyoshi Kurosawa film. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic looks like he's on his way to MC a wedding at Sydney's King Tomislav Croatian Club. And Carlo Ancelotti is … well, he's just Carlo Ancelotti, a man with Champions League-winning eyebrows whose fierce allegiance to his three-piece suit, even through the worst of a North American summer, suggests he's somehow in command of his own climate.
Related: World Cup power rankings: France lead the way with Senegal and ***** an in top 10
But one man has stood hair and shoulders above the rest. On the field, through victory and defeat, Ecuador have been exactly what everyone imagined they would be before the tournament began: a team with an elite defensive and midfield spine that lacks any real punch up front. But on the sidelines and in the press conferences, they have absolutely dominated, and that's all down to the gaúcho Fabio they have leading their team. With his streaks of dirty blond hair, chinstrap of stubble, and Boeing 747 nose, Sebastián Beccacece looks like the kind of manager who should do well at the World Cup, regardless of results on the pitch. He's 45 years old, leading a country other than his native Argentina, and arrives at this tournament boasting a fairly modest coaching record, having worked as an ***** istant under Jorge Sampaoli with Chile and managed the Spanish club side Elche to no great success.
The look, the journeyman résumé, and the responsibility for a team widely seen as a tournament dark horse: the raw ingredients were all there, before this World Cup began, for Beccacece to break out as a cult managerial hero. In previous World Cups it's been the duty of middle-aged Frenchmen – exiles and vagabonds like Bruno Metsu, Philippe Troussier, and Hervé Renard, the crisp white shirt who never lets Africa down – to carry the cultural burden of being the tournament's eccentrics-in-chief; could an Argentinian ease the weight of French responsibility? Things did not start well. In the wake of Ecuador's first two matches at this tournament, Beccacece was on the brink. A last-minute defeat to a young and talented Côte d'Ivoire side was perhaps forgivable, but after La Tri suffered the humiliation of a scoreless draw against tiny Curaçao, everything about Beccacece's management – his tactics, his selections, his communication style, even his choice of dress, which saw him take

Jun. 29—Following a dominant high school senior season, Wrangell's Boomchain Loucks on Friday became the first athlete in program history to be named Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year for boys track and field.
"I've had the pleasure of getting to know this young man for the last couple years," Sitka head coach Jeremy Strong said in a statement. "He's a great kid with a good heart. He seems to make connections wherever he goes. He trains in a town without a track oval and often without any training partners. He is process and goal-driven. His times and accomplishments speak for themselves. I can't think of another athlete who has experienced his level of individual success this year."
Loucks completed the middle-distance and distance triple crown at the Division II state championship meet by winning the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He set a new personal best in the 800 with a time of 1:57.16, and cruised to a victory in the 1,600 with a mark of 4:19.55. His first-place time in the 3,200 of 9:37.24 nearly matched his season- and personal-best time of 9:31.78 from the Region V championships. He also ran Alaska's fastest 1,600 time of 2026, 4:18.62 at the Liberty Twilight meet.
This award also recognizes athletes for their academic rigor and exemplary character off the track. Loucks maintained a 3.74 GPA and volunteered locally with community clean-up days and with Tech Savvy Senior, a group that provides technology **** istance to elderly community members. He will compete in both track and field and cross-country for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Fairbanks' Landon Hafele on Saturday became the latest Alaska-born hockey player to be selected in the annual NHL Draft when he was taken in the sixth round at 167th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

Serena Williams is making a highly anticipated return to Wimbledon this year. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion received a wild card into the main draw and will also partner with sister Venus Williams in women's doubles.
The last time Serena took the court, she fell to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the 2022 US Open. Williams, 44, retired shortly thereafter as the all-time leader in women's Grand Slam ***** les (23).
So, all eyes are on Williams at the All England Club. That includes Novak Djokovic, who's seeking his 25th Grand Slam win. Djokovic explained to reporters Saturday how much an inspiration Williams has been to him and countless others.
"First and foremost, what she's doing is inspirational and it's epic. That's what I told her," Djokovic said, per ESPN. "I always admired her career, her journey, her story. Of course, Venus' as well.
"For her to come back after years of being absent from the tour, two children later, and to give so much effort to, not just for her own satisfaction or coming back on the tour, but also to give all of us a pleasure of seeing her back on the court is remarkable."