FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager hit a solo homer and made a nifty defensive play in a rehab appearance for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday night after being sidelined all this month because of lower back inflammation.
Seager is on the injured list for the third time this season, and has missed 52 games for Texas — one more than he has played for the AL West-leading Rangers. They are 24-28 without the two-time World Series MVP.
Seager went 1 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout against Corpus Christi, homering in the fifth before being replaced in the field after that inning. The top of the third ended when the shortstop made a backhanded stop in the hole and made a strong throw to first for the out.
His last game had been June 30 at Toronto, when he was removed in the first inning because of back discomfort. The rehab appearance came after Seager took live batting practice the previous two days before Rangers home games.
It wasn't immediately clear when he would rejoin the big league club.

#appearance

File it as today's "what the actual **** " moment in the sports world. The Times is reporting that FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been in talks with private investors about selling stakes in the World Cup. It's a move that would take complete control of the global tournament out of FIFA's hands, and give a seat at the table to private entities with their own agendas. Moreover, the report added that a key figure in brokering these deals is U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Infantino cozied up to during the 2026 World Cup by presenting him with the inaugural FIFA peace prize and then sitting next to the president at games he attended.
FIFA has since confirmed the report, adding that Josh Kushner is positioned to be the lead investor in the plan, should Infantino elect to sell shares in the World Cup. Josh is the brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son in law.
Details of the plan are nebulous, but according to the report, the World Cup would ostensibly be split off from FIFA and into a new corporation, with Infantino as its commissioner as soon as his term as FIFA president ends in 2031. In his role as commissioner of this new company he would oversee the men's and women's World Cup, as well as the Club World Cup — with plans to run tournaments more frequently than every four years. It would be the most staggering pivot in the history of the World Cup, drastically altering the future of the tournament in order to squeeze more money out of the event.
Infantino can't privatize the World Cup unilaterally, requiring the 211 member nations to vote on the proposal. The selling point for these members is that each of them would get a stake in the new company worth approximately $20M — putting a valuation on the entity at $4.22B. If that $20M sum for each nation seems paltry, it's because it is, and it appears that is the plan by design.
Member nations would have the freedom to keep or sell their stakes in the World Cup corporation at their will under the Infantino plan. $20M is a pittance for the richest nations competing in global soccer, but for the dozens of nations dealing with budgetary issues it would enable them to sell out of the World Cup in desperation, putting their stakes in the hands of private ownership. It's easy to envision a scenario where enough FIFA member countries sell their shares for profit to a point where the controlling interest of the World Cup is no longer under the control of a true democratic body, but private equity.

#World #private #stakes

Real Madrid are a couple of signings away from building a squad that Jose Mourinho will be content with taking into the new season, which gets underway in a few weeks' time. The hope is that Yan Diomande will be done in the next 48 hours, after which the club can turn their full attention to the pursuit of Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Real Madrid had originally ruled out signing Rodri this summer, but after being priced out of a move for Enzo Fernandez, they have decided to go after the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner. An agreement on personal terms is already in place, with the 30-year-old very keen on a return to the Spanish capital, where he was previously with Atletico Madrid.
There is no doubt that Real Madrid are favourites to sign Rodri, who is looking more and more likely to leave Man City this summer. His unwillingness to extend his stay beyond 2027 – when his current contract expires – has alerted several clubs' attention, and while Paris Saint-Germain has been one of them, it's now been reported by Le Parisien (via Diario AS) that the reigning back-to-back European champions have ended their interest.
PSG had recognised that Rodri would be a market opportunity, but ultimately, they have decided that midfield is an area that they do not need to address this summer. That leaves Real Madrid with a free run at the world champion, although there is no guarantee that an agreement with Man City is reached in the coming weeks.
The latest is that Real Madrid are ready to pay up to €60m to sign Rodri this summer, but Man City's current stance is that any offers below €80m will not be considered. Bernabeu officials must now hope that the Premier League giants relax their stance in the coming weeks, otherwise they may need to wait until 2027 to secure his services.

#real #summer #attention #decided

After Leon Goretzka's departure, questions were raised over who would take his spot in the midfield. Following an impressive season on loan at Hannover, many thought Noël Aséko Nkili would be the man for the job. However, the 20-year-old midfielder was sold to Eintracht Frankfurt — leaving many scratching their heads.
It seems as though Bayern had Goretzka's replacement lined up since the start of the year.
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye impressed in his cameo appearances towards the end of Bayern's season. So much so that Die Rekordmeister decided to sign the 18-year-old talent from Gambian academy Gambino Stars Africa permanently.
Bayern Munich Sporting Director Christoph Freund confirmed the signing on Saturday, reports two days later confirming that Ndiaye signed a five-year contract.
Now according to Florian Plettenberg (as captured by iMiaSanMia), we know how much Bayern paid for Ndiaye.

#much

LeBron James certainly took his time when it came to choosing his next NBA team in free agency after the Los Angeles Lakers were informed on June 30 that he wouldn't be staying with them. On Friday, July 23, he finally decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option on the second year.
There was some speculation about why he was prolonging the process and taking so long. Now that he's walking into what has to be the most stacked roster he has ever joined, fans have had a wide range of reactions, especially on X (formerly Twitter).
Some Lakers fans felt that if James came back on a veteran minimum contract, he would be a perfect fit for an L.A. squad that lacks a starting-level forward. This fan feels the superstar simply didn't believe in the roster L.A. now has.
In response, this fan feels James is creating a built-in excuse in the event the 76ers don't win the NBA championship this coming season.
These fans feel James' decision is typical of his moves over the years to join frontrunning teams. Philly traded for five-time All-Star wing and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown a few weeks ago, and it will now have what many will likely consider a superteam with Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey alongside James.

#roster

Charlotte could one day host a Super Bowl, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the city will need more hotel rooms before it can make that happen. Goodell made the comments to Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper on Thursday night.
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority said the Charlotte region currently has more than 46,000 hotel rooms across 442 properties, including more than 32,000 rooms at 263 hotels in Mecklenburg County. The city's urban core includes nearly 3,900 luxury and upscale hotel rooms.
ALSO READ: Renderings show what Bank of America Stadium will look like in the future
CRVA Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer Gina Sheridan said attracting a major event like the Super Bowl requires more than just increasing the number of hotel rooms.
"When you look at destinations that regularly host events of this scale, success isn't measured by room count alone," Sheridan said. "It's about having the right mix of hotels in the right locations to meet the needs of visitors, event organizers, sponsors and media while creating a seamless experience."

#sheridan

Celtic’s new signing Camilo Duran poses for pictures at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Thursday 23rd July 2026. Photo Andy Buchanan IMAGO/ Shutterstock
That review of course will never happen, until perhaps there is structural changes at Celtic but it is the least of our worries as we are just ten more sleeps away from Flag Day against Dundee with just Camilo Duran added to the squad.
And today we are likely to officially lose the services of talisman Daizen Maeda will is set to complete his £10m move to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
Camilo Duran scored in his two pre-season matches against Sporting CP and Middlesbrough and looks like the better late than never replacement for Kyogo who has played for both Rennes and Birmingham and then moved to Los Angeles Galaxy in the time that it took Celtic to officially unveil his replacement to the mainstream hacks.
Celtic’s new signing Camilo Duran speaks at a mainstream media press conference at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Thursday 23rd July 2026. Photo Andy Buchanan IMAGO/ Shutterstock

#thursday #buchanan

Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders have a deal.
Mendoza, a Miami native, signed his rookie contract with the Raiders, the team announced Thursday, July 23. Mendoza signed a four-year, $57. 2 million fully guaranteed contract. The deal also includes a fifth-year option.
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza's rookie deal was slotted and predetermined, but top draft picks, especially quarterbacks, have some leverage. Signing bonus cash flow, guaranteed money details and offset language are negotiable terms in rookie contracts.
The top four quarterbacks selected in this year's draft – Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck and Drew Allar – were all unsigned as of Wednesday morning.
The Arizona Cardinals signed Beck to his rookie deal Wednesday afternoon. Cardinals rookies reported to training camp on Wednesday, so there was a sense of urgency to sign Beck. The same can be said for Mendoza as Raiders rookies reported to camp on Thursday.

#beck #draft #thursday

On the 572nd Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a breakdown of two very wealthy families that have sprawling sports ownership portfolios.
First, however, they discuss layoffs this week at ESPN. Many of the reductions were a direct result of the group’s $3 billion NFL Network deal, according to a memo sent to staff. The hosts break down the changes in ESPN economics, and the correlated shift in why fans watch the so-called “Worldwide Leader in Sports.” The cuts included some prominent on-air talent, like NFL ******* yst Ryan Clark, who was reportedly informed in the middle of filming NFL Live.
More from Sportico.com
NFL 2025 National Revenue Tops $14B, Teams Get $450M
ESPN Layoffs Hit On-Air Talent After $3B NFL Network Deal

#espn #layoffs #week #sporticast

The popular theory around the league is that LeBron has been slow-playing his decision to see if any of his suitors could find a way to land Irving or Davis. If a team proved capable of acquiring one of his championship teammates, sources say, it might sway him in that direction.
Yahoo! Sports
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James taking his time to see if his next team can land Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis?

#irving #land

Juventus remain at a standstill in negotiations with Aston Villa for Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, which could force the Old Lady to turn to either Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur or Noah Atubolu from SC Freiburg according to the latest updates.
The Bianconeri have been hoping to strengthen their goalkeeping department this summer after an uninspiring season from Michele Di Gregorio in 2025-26, and for several weeks, World Cup runner-up Dibu Martinez has been the club's first choice.
However, despite the fact that there is an agreement in principle on personal terms in place with Martinez, Juventus have been unable to negotiate a fee with Aston Villa.
The Premier League side are adamant that they want at least €12m for the 33-year-old, while La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus are unwilling to match these demands.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juventus's only remaining hope is that Martinez himself is able to persuade Aston Villa into accepting a bid from Turin once he returns from World Cup duty.

#dello

Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as one of the biggest social media winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing fourth among the tournament’s top Instagram gainers. The Portugal star added 11.4 million followers despite his country failing to reach the latter stages.
Ronaldo also sparked controversy after his verified account appeared to endorse a post accusing FIFA of favoring Argentina at the competition.
Overall, Norway striker Erling Haaland led all other players at the World Cup in growth of IG numbers, as he added a whopping 32.1 million followers to his audience.
Cristiano Ronaldo may already be the most-followed athlete on Instagram, but the Portuguese icon still proved the FIFA World Cup could grow even the biggest global brands.
At the just-concluded global soccer showpiece, Ronaldo finished fourth among the tournament’s biggest Instagram gainers. According to a Sportico ***** ysis of social media growth during the World Cup, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner added 11.4 million followers during the 38-day competition to climb from 665.6 million to a staggering 677 million.

#ronaldo #World #biggest #added

L.J. Cason is headed home.
Cason, the the former Michigan guard from Lakeland, Florida, announced Tuesday he is transferring to Miami (Florida).
Cason spent two seasons at Michigan, after committing to Florida Atlantic, where Dusty May was head coach. He followed May to Michigan, where he cracked the rotation as a freshman and was a key contributor as a sophomore. As the team's backup point guard, he averaged 8.4 points and 2.4 ******* ists in 18.6 minutes and shot 40.2% from 3-point range across 28 games last season.
Cason was playing his best basketball and was having a breakout campaign when he went down with a torn ACL in late February. He held off having surgery until April 9 — three days after Michigan beat UConn in the national ******* le game — so he could still be with the team during the NCAA Tournament.
Cason was the lone holdover Michigan was unable to hang on to following May's departure to the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. The other 13 players on the roster previously announced their plans to stay at Michigan for the 2026-27 season and play for former ******* istant Mike Boynton Jr., who agreed to a two-year deal as the Wolverines' head coach this month.

#coach

Editor's note: This is Part 13 of 26 in Art Stapleton's New York Giants summer series Q&A
The New York Giants have a Super Bowl winner and possible Hall of Famer at head coach in John Harbaugh, with whom the entire team can strive for a championship standard the franchise has failed to meet for far too long now.
The standing ovation for Harbaugh from the ****** embled Giants fans inside Beacon Theatre back in May for the team's Town Hall event was only just the beginning.
And Harbaugh, their head coach set to usher in yet another new era for the franchise in its 102nd year, certainly knew how to play to his audience moments later.
With chants of "Cowboys suck" ringing out around him, Harbaugh was asked by a fan if he could promise the Giants were done being kicked around by their NFC rivals and most hated foes: the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.

PHILADELPHIA – The involvement from the team with the second-best record in baseball during the All-Star Game was sparse.
With Jacob Misiorowski not pitching and Brice Turang, despite being 10th in baseball in WAR, not selected, William Contreras was the lone representative from the Milwaukee Brewers to take the field July 14 at Citizens Bank Park.
Contreras entered the game on defense in the top of the fourth, replacing Braves backstop and Madison native Drake Baldwin.
His lone at-bat came in the bottom of the sixth against Cleveland closer Cade Smith. Contreras saw three pitches, swung at each of them and flew out to right.
Misiorowski did take the field as part of a segment between innings in which kids took the field on bikes and went to a spot on the diamond. Misiorowski was stationed at home plate, where he showed the kid he was paired with each of his pitch grips while Ray Charles' "America the Beautiful" played in the back.

Israel Adesanya is not keen on the Max Holloway trilogy for Conor McGregor.
McGregor (22-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) had a disappointing return after he blew out his right knee in just 69 seconds against Holloway (28-9 MMA, 24-9 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He will undergo surgery, which could keep him out for a year.
Although McGregor injured his knee on the first kick he threw, Adesanya thinks Holloway is a tall order to return against after such a long layoff. He suggests McGregor finish his business with Michael Chandler (23-11 MMA, 2-6 UFC) for the final bout on his contract after "The Notorious" pulled out of their UFC 303 fight due to a broken pinky toe.
"He looked distraught, like a lot of weight on him," Adesanya told Demetrious Johnson of McGregor. "He kind of picked at his glove for a second, so I thought, is he going to retire? I don't think so. But a fight with Max again after a five-year layoff, you're fighting at the top of the heap, you're fighting one of the best to do it, that's a hard fight to come back against.
"I say if he does decide to come back later on, Chandler would be the only fight that makes sense because he kind of owes Chandler that fight. He honey-d*cked him for two or three years while Chandler was waiting for the big-money fight. So now after 'The Ultimate Fighter,' after all this time, it would be good for them to finally settle the score because they even have a little bit of – not beef, but they got some heat there."

Ayyoub Bouaddi’s decision on his future is in the offing as Manchester City “push hard” to secure the Lille midfielder’s signature, as per new reports.
The Moroccan has been a sensation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and played a starring role in his nation’s impressive run to the quarter-final stage, which saw them bow out at the hands of favourites France.
His performances have garnered attention from clubs across Europe during this summer’s window, with City’s director of football Hugo Viana a huge admirer of the 18-year-old, who has already appeared 63 times for LOSC Lille in France’s top-tier.
Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi poised for major position change at Manchester City
Manchester City‘s interest in Bouaddi comes as we await formalities to be completed on Elliot Anderson‘s £116 million move from Nottingham Forest after he returns from World Cup action with semi-finalists England – and with murmurs of moves for Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders, a new look midfield may be favourable for new City boss Enzo Maresca.

Norway team doctor Ola Sand has dismissed claims that Erling Haaland was unwell ahead of their game against England. The two nations squared off in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, with the Three Lions punching their ticket to the semifinals via a 2-1 win after extra time.
The matchup was hyped as a Harry Kane vs. Haaland showdown, yet neither forward managed to find the back of the net. It was Jude Bellingham who commanded the spotlight, his brace across the first half of normal time and extra time proving decisive in overcoming a first-half opener from Andreas Schjelderup.
Throughout the contest, Haaland was effectively neutralized by the England backline, and was notably hauled off at the break of extra time with Norway desperately chasing an equalizer. This prompted widespread speculation that an underlying issue may have been at play, via The Mirror.
World Cup fans furious as they claim tournament 'rigged' amid Argentina VAR win
Norway star 'irritated' by role ahead of World Cup quarterfinal against England

Ryan Blaney dominated before and after a 3-hour weather delay on July 12 and 13 at EchoPark Speedway.
But he still had to make a final-lap pass for the win on the drafting track via a major push from Christopher Bell to claim the Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.
Carson Hocevar held the lead at the white flag, but Blaney and Bubba Wallace made runs into turns 3 and 4 to create a 3-wide race to the line.
Blaney won, while Wallace was penalized for going below the yellow line on the backstretch. Hocevar finished 3rd, singing on the radio before the overtime finish and during his post-race interview.
Here are the winners and losers from the NASCAR Atlanta race:

Connor Fennell, Vanderbilt baseball's Friday night starter in 2026, was drafted in the 20th round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox.
It was not immediately clear if Fennell would sign or return to the Commodores for his senior season.
Fennell started 15 games in 2026, putting up a 4.96 ERA. He struck out 102 batters and walked just 20 in 85⅓ innings but he was ***** e to getting hit hard at times, allowing 17 home runs and 15 doubles.
Despite that, Fennell was Vanderbilt's only consistent starting pitcher for most of the year. Though he gave up at least one run in every appearance, he recorded six quality starts, five of which came in SEC play, and gave up three or fewer runs in 10 of his 15 starts, with his ERA heavily impacted by allowing seven runs against LSU and nine against Texas.
The 6-1, 183-pounder originally transferred to Vanderbilt from Dayton in 2024. In 2025, he excelled in a swing role, with a 2.53 ERA in 17 appearances.

The French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is one of the players with his future at Real Madrid highly uncertain. He has not been able to meet the expectations that the Merengue club had put on him when they signed him as a highly promising youngster from Rennes, and the club believes his growth has stunted in the last few years.
In fact, he was directly at fault as Los Blancos saw their UEFA Champions League hopes end last season. The Frenchman's haggling with the ball for a couple of seconds after a whistle caused the referee to shown him a second yellow card in the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, which made it impossible for Real Madrid to compete in a highly demanding game.
As a result, he has been put on the market by the Madrid club, but the new coach Jose Mourinho would make a final decision about him. Meanwhile, the player looks committed to impress the new coach and continue at the Merengue club.
As SPORT has reported, citing the journalist Alvaro Esteban, a clear indication of this was his presence at Valdebebas on Friday, the same day as Mourinho visited the club facilities in the first day of his second stint as the Los Blancos' manager. Thus, the Frenchman returned to train at the club a few days before the team is set to begin its preseason training, i.e., on Monday, 13th July.
The French midfielder also enjoys quite a lot of demand in the market. Big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all been closely watching him lately.

The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open is far from over.
Dense fog rolled over the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, on Saturday, forcing two separate suspensions in play. Most players in contention will have to return to the golf course early Sunday morning, as the second round resumes at 7 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET). Then, the final round will commence.
World No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick was tied at the top of the leaderboard with Michael Thorbjornsen when play was suspended Saturday, but there are dozens still within striking distance, including defending champ Chris Gotterup, reigning U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark and crowd-favorite Robert MacIntyre, who's looking to win his native national open for the second time in three years.
You won't want to miss the action Sunday. Check out the TV and streaming schedule for the final round of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open.
ESPN+, 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will contest the first all-Czech women's singles Wimbledon final in history on Saturday.
Jul 9, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic returns a shot during her match against Coco Gauff of the United States on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 11 AM EDT
Channel: ESPN

Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham on same team: Revisiting the bromance from 2020-22 Borussia Dortmund originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham are two of the most prominent talents in all of world soccer. For those only recently introduced to the sport, they seem diametrically opposed to one another.
Haaland is the spindly center-forward, a star for Manchester City and Norway who has been misrepresented as a goal-scoring phenom with little in the way of all-around play.
Bellingham, meanwhile, wears different hats. The England midfielder is anything but one-dimensional, shining across the midfield for Real Madrid and the Three Lions.
Surely, the two have little in common, right?

Victor Wembanyama has signed what will be the richest contract in San Antonio Spurs history, a five-year extension that could exceed $250 million if the player option in the final season is picked up, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The **** ociated Press because the financial figures were not disclosed by either side. The Spurs, who went to the NBA Finals this past season behind the All-NBA center and unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, announced that Wembanyama had signed, simply saying the sides agreed on "a multi-year contract extension."
The agreement comes at a discount; Wembanyama could have agreed to a deal that topped $300 million — but chose a lesser amount to help give the Spurs flexibility going forward with their young core and in anticipation of the contracts some of those budding stars will be eligible for in coming years, the person said.
ESPN first reported the agreement.
___

Kylian Mbappe says this France side still have a lot to prove before they can be considered the strongest French team of all time.
Mbappe scored his eighth goal of this World Cup to help his side into the semi-finals of the competiting after beating Morocco 2-0.
But he insists this current French team still have a lot left to achieve before they can be considered among the greatest ever France teams.
"It's not the strongest team," he said. "I've been world champion and I've been runner-up (in a World Cup final). This team is neither world champion nor runner-up. So, as things stand, it's not the strongest.
"It's the one with the most potential, the one we can most easily envisage a future with, one with so much quality and it's letting us dream, of course. But as for the strongest? I've always said that the strongest teams are the ones that win, and until proven otherwise, I don't see a gold trophy sitting next to me, so it isn't the strongest team.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have done a considerable job turning the franchise into a perennial contender during their time together. However, former NFL offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth revealed one area the duo lacks that could hurt their club's long-term future: Investing premium draft capital in the offensive line.
The Lynch-Shanahan braintrust hasn't used a first- or second-round pick on a lineman since Aaron Banks went No. 48 overall in 2021. The only other lineman taken in the first round since 2017 was Mike McGlinchey in 2018, who also departed in free agency after seven season.
While this hasn't hurt the 49ers' offensive line as a whole (the team still fields a top-eight unit by consensus rankings), Whitworth believes NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco that the 49ers' reluctance to use high-end draft capital underscores a lack of faith in their ability to identify top-tier talent. And, the former three-time Pro Bowl tackle and Super Bowl champion believes that decision will ultimately become a problem for the franchise when their star tackle Trent Williams is no longer protecting the blindside.
“When you’re going to allocate a first-round pick or second-round pick to an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ****** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it can be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams. But when you miss on a high pick like that … you draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you’re getting a second, third, fourth-tier lineman who’s going to have to play."
The 49ers have deployed a different approach in their offensive line construction. Their anchor player is Williams, who was a seven-time Pro Bowler before San Francisco traded for him in 2020. The rest of the unit was added with Day 2 or Day 3 picks, while centerJake Brendel was a free agent who went undrafted in 2016 before joining the team in 2021.

The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team struck early in recruiting for the 2027 class, getting an early commitment from top 25 player Ryan Hampton. They are also in the running for several other elite members of the class, including many of the top ten. However, one of them is no longer in play.
On Thursday, Marcus Spears Jr. announced that he would be reclassifying to the 2026 class and was committing to the Texas Longhorns. It will be a two-year commitment due to his age.
Spears is a 6'9", 210 lb power forward out of Texas, and the son of former NFL player Marcus Spears. He is rated five stars by 247Sports and is now ranked as the No. 8 overall player in the 2026 class. He is joining a Longhorns team loaded with talent and expected to be a top team in the SEC.
The Wildcats offered Spears last summer, and even went to see him in person. They were considered serious contenders to land him, but he becomes a miss for Pope. Kentucky could have potentially landed him next year, but with his switch to 2026, it didn't make much sense. Pope has already added multiple forwards including Milan Momcilovic, who will be the starter.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: A 2027 Kentucky recruiting target reclassifies and commits elsewhere

Why is Morocco called MAR? Explaining country code for 2026 World Cup team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Morocco loudly announced itself as one of the world's finest footballing sides during the 2022 World Cup, striking down Spain and Portugal en route to a fourth-place finish in Qatar — the best-ever World Cup showing by an African and Arab nation.
Four years on, the Atlas Lions look well-equipped to repeat their feat — or perhaps go one step further. Led by a handful of noteworthy stalwarts, including Brahim Diaz, Ibrahim Saibari and youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi, Morocco finds itself in prime position to make another deep run in the famous tournament.
After drawing the ire of much of the African continent with its antics during the latest African Cup of Nations, Mohamed Ouahbi's side has taken a step forward, spraying the ball around the field while striking fear in opposition's back lines.
Morocco's name carries weight at the international level. So why, exactly, is the country's code "MAR" rather than the "MOR" acronym conventional wisdom would suggest for Morocco to bear?

Marta Kostyuk is on the cusp of being a Wimbledon finalist. Linda Noskova stands in her path, but the 24-year-old Ukranian tennis star is enjoying a career year.
She defeated Mirra Andreeva to win the Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 **** le, earlier this spring. Kostyuk defeated Iga Swiatek and her Ukrainian counterpart Elina Svitolina at the French Open.
Kostyuk was known for her emotional ups and downs in matches, but she has learned to keep her emotions in check. Her tennis was always great, but fixing the emotional part of her game has made the difference.
MORE: When is Carlos Alcaraz returning to ATP Tour
She has a female coach. That is an anomally on the WTA Tour. Women supporting each other at the highest level of competitive sports is always admirable.