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NEW YORK -- NFL legend Tom Brady was "a little" critical of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones while speaking on a panel at Fanatics Fest on Friday at the Javits Center. Brady pulled Jones' name out of the blue when discussing a hypothetical interception while on stage with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. It drew more than a few laughs from those in the crowd. "Let's say Daniel Jones throws an interception," Brady said before being interrupted by the laughter from attendees. As Brady tried to backtrack, he seemed to realize how the comment came off. "I didn't mean to say it like that. I wasn't even being critical of Daniel Jones," he said. "Maybe I was a little." At that point, the conversation moved on. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is set to begin this season as the lead analyst for Fox. He is slated to work alongside lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. Smith and Brady...

Joshua Zirkzee hailed a "perfect" Manchester United debut after he came off the bench to score a late winner against Fulham. United won their Premier League opener 1-0 at Old Trafford after the Dutchman came off the bench to score in the 87th minute. It was Zirkzee's first United appearance following his £36.5 million ($47.3 million) summer move from Bologna and it could not have gone any better. "It's the perfect one, no?," Zirkzee told the BBC. "In front of the Stretford End. And a win as well, it couldn't be any better. "It's been very good [since I arrived]," Zirkzee continued. "The group have been amazing, I feel very comfortable and at home here. I'm having a very good time. "Of course it's a big club, but we just work hard every day and focus on what we want to achieve, and that's being the best we can be. At the moment I don't really feel any pressure." It looked like it might be a frustrating evening for United and manager Erik...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the contract stalemate between the San Francisco 49ers and receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues and the start of the regular season approaches, the Niners are beginning to feel the squeeze to find a compromise with their star wideout. "It's been a long, arduous, hard process, a hard journey," 49ers general manager John Lynch told KNBR radio in San Francisco on Friday. "We started this early and for whatever reason haven't been able to get it across the finish line. That's been frustrating. But the communication has still been really good with Brandon and his agent, and we're trying to figure out a solution. "I'm always hopeful. I'm an optimistic person [by] nature, and so I'm always hopeful that we get there and get there soon. I can tell you we feel the urgency to have him. The season is approaching." The Niners/Aiyuk saga has now lasted longer than all of their previous contract extension negotiations except for what took place with end ...

Joshua Zirkzee marked his debut for Manchester United by coming off the bench and scoring an 87th-minute goal to give his team a 1-0 victory over Fulham on the opening night of the Premier League season on Friday. The Netherlands striker poked out his left foot to guide home a cross by fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford. Zirkzee, who joined from Bologna for a reported $47 million last month, was one of three offseason signings to make their first appearances for United, along with defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt. "To win here in my first home game, and to grab a goal, it couldn't be better," Zirkzee told Sky Sports. "I've been told [scoring at the Stretford End] is one of the best feelings at Man United. I'm so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It's an amazing feeling. "Manchester United is a huge club. You should always strive for the best. That includes...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the contract stalemate between the San Francisco 49ers and receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues and the start of the regular season approaches, the Niners are beginning to feel the squeeze to find a compromise with their star wideout. "It's been a long, arduous, hard process, a hard journey," 49ers general manager John Lynch told KNBR radio in San Francisco on Friday. "We started this early and for whatever reason haven't been able to get it across the finish line. That's been frustrating. But the communication has still been really good with Brandon and his agent, and we're trying to figure out a solution. "I'm always hopeful. I'm an optimistic person (by) nature, and so I'm always hopeful that we get there and get there soon. I can tell you we feel the urgency to have him. The season is approaching." The Niners/Aiyuk saga has now lasted longer than all of their previous contract extension negotiations except for what took place with end ...

A late goal by new signing Joshua Zirkzee earned Manchester United a nervy 1-0 victory over Fulham in their Premier League season opener at Old Trafford on Friday. Home supporters were in a buoyant mood ahead of the first game of the English top-flight campaign, with four new signings unveiled on the pitch and new faces in the United boardroom also in attendance. Just as they did at home for much of last season, however, United struggled to break down their opponent in the first half, with captain Bruno Fernandes going closest to breaking the deadlock. Frustrations grew after the break as it looked like a winner would elude the hosts, only for substitute Zirkzee to arrive right on cue three minutes from time to give United the three points.  "To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn't be better," Zirkzee told Sky Sports. "I've been told [scoring at the Stretford End] is one of the best feelings at Man United. I'm so...

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez entered a plea of no contest to felony attempted murder, assault and multiple weapons charges in a California court on Friday in exchange for a lighter sentence. Velasquez, 42, was facing an attempted murder trial for a Feb. 2022 incident when he allegedly shot repeatedly at a man accused of molesting his son -- but ended up wounding the man's stepfather instead -- after a high-speed car chase. He entered the plea before Judge Arthur Bocanegra at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif. According to The Mercury News, the former champion was scheduled to begin trial on Sept. 9. A sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 18, but the actual sentencing is now expected to occur at a later date. As a result of the plea, the premeditated murder charges against him will be dropped, which means he will no longer face a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. "This defendant decided to become...

The launch of Venu Sports will be delayed after a federal judge granted FuboTV's motion for a preliminary injunction against the planned sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. United States District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in the Southern District of New York said in her 69-page ruling Friday that Fubo was likely to be successful in proving that the joint venture would violate antitrust laws and that Fubo and consumers would "face irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction." ESPN said in a statement that it disagreed with the court's ruling and would appeal. "We believe that Fubo's arguments are wrong on the facts and the law, and that Fubo has failed to prove it is legally entitled to a preliminary injunction," ESPN said. "Venu Sports is a pro-competitive option that aims to enhance consumer choice by reaching a segment of viewers who currently are not served by existing subscription options." FuboTV filed the lawsuit two weeks after ESPN,...

John Ruiz, once dubbed "Miami's NIL king" by ESPN, is struggling to keep his castle intact. Miami's mega-booster, who has spent millions on NIL deals for Hurricanes athletes in recent years, told investors this week that there is "substantial doubt" that his company, LifeWallet, will stay in business, according to an SEC filing.  In the SEC filing, Ruiz said that LifeWallet, a large-scale medical claims company, had made $7.7 million in revenue last year and suffered a net loss of $211 million. It's unclear whether the company's financial troubles will impact its NIL deals with current athletes. "The Company has concluded that, despite the aforementioned financing arrangements, there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern," Ruiz said in the SEC filing this week. "Unless we are successful in raising additional funds through the offering of debt or equity securities, we have concluded it is probable we will be unable to continue to operate as a...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle D'Ante Smith is expected to miss the upcoming season with a patellar tendon  injury, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The reserve lineman was injured in Thursday's joint practice with the Chicago Bears. MRI results are expected to confirm the exact nature of the injury. Smith was the second Bengals player to suffer a patellar injury in the joint practice. He went down roughly 10 minutes after running back Chris Evans suffered a torn patellar tendon. Evans, a fourth-year reserve, will also miss the entire season. With Smith out, Cincinnati's offensive line depth takes a considerable hit. Rookie Amarius Mims, the team's first-round pick this year, will miss several weeks with a strained pectoral muscle. Veteran Trent Brown, who took over for Mims, was replaced by Cody Ford during Thursday's joint practice because of back tightness, according to Bengals coach Zac...

Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs resigned suddenly Friday afternoon, ending the stint of the athletic director with the longest continuous tenure within the Big Ten. Hobbs will be replaced on an interim basis by deputy athletic director Ryan Pisarri as the school begins a search for a permanent replacement. Hobbs' resignation note, which was distributed internally at Rutgers, referenced his health and a recent meeting with his "cardiac team." "After meeting with my cardiac team this week and having just been apprised of the results of my latest round of testing, it is clear that I can not continue to serve as Athletic Director given the requirements of the position," Hobbs wrote in an email to school president Jonathan Holloway. "I recognize this is not the ideal timeframe to depart, however other factors need to take precedence." Hobbs had been under contract through 2028. "I want to thank Pat for his remarkable nine-year tenure at Rutgers, during which we have seen our...

Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs resigned suddenly Friday afternoon, sources told ESPN, ending the stint of the athletic director with the longest continuous tenure within the Big Ten. Hobbs will be replaced on an interim basis by deputy athletic director Ryan Pisarri, according to ESPN sources. Hobbs' resignation note, which was distributed internally at Rutgers, referenced his health and a recent meeting with his "cardiac team." He said in the internal note that the meeting indicated that it was "clear I cannot continue" in the role as athletic director. He'd been under contract through 2028. Hobbs has been the athletic director at Rutgers since 2015, and his tenure has been highlighted by the hiring of Steve Pikiell in basketball and the return of Greg Schiano as the football coach. Those hires helped lift Rutgers out of the Big Ten doldrums, as Pikiell has led the Scarlet Knights to a pair of NCAA tournament trips and Schiano led Rutgers to its first winning season last...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle D'Ante Smith is expected to miss the upcoming season with a torn patella tendon, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The reserve lineman was injured in Thursday's joint practice with the Chicago Bears. Smith was the second Bengals player to suffer that injury in the joint practice. He went down roughly 10 minutes after running back Chris Evans also suffered a torn patella tendon. Evans, a fourth-year reserve, will also miss the entire season. With Smith out, Cincinnati's offensive line depth takes a considerable hit. Rookie Amarius Mims, the team's first-round pick this year, will miss several weeks with a strained pectoral muscle. Veteran Trent Brown, who took over for Mims, was replaced by Cody Ford during Thursday's joint practice because of back tightness, according to Bengals coach Zac Taylor. Cincinnati is not expected to play its starters in Saturday's preseason game...

Two title fights are set to headline UFC 307 on Oct. 5, UFC CEO Dana White announced Friday. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will seek his third defense this year when he faces Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event at UFC 307 inside the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. A women's bantamweight title fight between champion Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña will co-headline. Pereira (11-2), of Brazil, is putting together a monster year. He has already knocked out two former champions this year, at UFC 300 and UFC 303, and teased a potential move to heavyweight in the future. He will face a fellow kickboxer in Rountree (19-5), who has not fought in 2024 but is coming off a devastating knockout win over Anthony Smith in December. Pennington (16-8) will look to extend her six-fight winning streak against Peña (10-5), a former champion who has not fought since she surrendered the title in an immediate rematch against Amanda Nunes...

Connor Stalions, the low-level analyst who was allegedly the mastermind behind Michigan's sign-stealing operation that led to former coach Jim Harbaugh's three-game suspension during the Wolverines' national championship season in 2023, is back in coaching. Mumford High coach William McMichael confirmed to ESPN on Friday that he has hired Stalions as his defensive coordinator at the Detroit school. McMichael said Stalions is working as a volunteer. "He might be the most hated man in college football, but the coaches and kids at Mumford High School love him," McMichael said. McMichael, in his first season as Mumford's coach, said a mutual friend introduced him to Stalions. He said Stalions had to go through a background check before he joined the staff. "What happened at Michigan had nothing to do with Mumford High School," McMichael said. "That's a Michigan thing. That's an NCAA thing." McMichael said the Mumford players call their new coordinator "Five-star...

Kentucky coach Mark Pope secured a top talent -- and in-state standout -- on Friday when  Malachi Moreno, a four-star center in the 2025 class, announced his commitment to the Wildcats. Moreno, a Georgetown, Kentucky, native and the No. 36 recruit in his class per ESPN, is the first commitment in the 2025 class for the new Kentucky head coach, who left BYU to replace John Calipari in April. A skilled 7-footer, Moreno is one of the few true centers in the class, as more big men covet the "positionless" label. But he is not the only target for Pope. Five-star prospect Jasper Johnson, a 6-4 guard from Lexington, is atop that list, which also includes Tounde Yessoufou, Chris Cenac Jr. and Braylon Mullins, who plays with Moreno on Indiana Elite. Moreno is best known for his scoring on both blocks with his back to the basket, and for blocking shots. The timing on his blocks is impressive; he instinctively waits until the offensive player...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. --  New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said rookie quarterback Drake Maye "definitely took a step forward" in the team's 14-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday and that the competition for the starting job "definitely isn't over." Maye has been the No. 2 option through training camp behind nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett, who Mayo has said is the team's most "pro-ready" quarterback. Mayo has left open the possibility that Maye could overtake Brissett if he "lights it up" in practice and games. After playing one series in the Patriots' preseason opener last week, Maye played four series Thursday night and finished 6-of-11 for 47 yards with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. The stats would have looked notably different had a third-quarter deep strike -- arguably Maye's best play because of the way he manipulated the pocket -- wasn't dropped by wide receiver Javon Baker. "Stepping up into pressure,...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. --  New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo says rookie quarterback Drake Maye "definitely took a step forward" in the team's 14-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday and that the competition for the starting job "definitely isn't over." Maye has been the No. 2 option through training camp behind nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett, who Mayo has said is the team's most "pro-ready" quarterback. Mayo has left open the possibility that Maye could overtake Brissett if he "lights it up" in practice and games. After playing one series in the Patriots' preseason opener last week, Maye played four series Thursday night and finished 6-of-11 for 47 yards with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. The stats would have looked notably different had a third-quarter deep strike -- arguably Maye's best play because of the way he manipulated the pocket -- wasn't dropped by wide receiver Javon Baker. "Stepping up into pressure,...

The United States women's national team has reclaimed the crown at the top of FIFA's women's world rankings following its gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The USWNT experienced a sharp decline in June when the rankings were last released, slipping from third to fifth, the team's  lowest place since the rankings were introduced. It has been 12 months since the four-time World Cup winners were at the top of the rankings. Under the charge of new head coach Emma Hayes, who has been in post only for 12 weeks, the USWNT has reclaimed their top spot after defeating Brazil in the Olympic final 1-0. This was the team's fifth gold and seventh Olympic medal overall. Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses have also changed position, now sitting second after overtaking world champions Spain, which has fallen to third following its semifinal exit during the Olympics after a 2-0 loss to Brazil. The top two ranked teams will go ...

PHILADELPHIA -- Just in case Philadelphia's  Weston Wilson needed a reminder on the hit he needed to complete the cycle -- fans chanted "Double! Double!" as a noisy cue for his at-bat -- teammate  Bryce Harper offered a helpful tip on Thursday night. "Harper was at the top stop letting me know," Wilson said, laughing. "If you hit it, keep running. Don't stop until second." With the Phillies ahead in a rout against the Washington Nationals, Wilson lined a shot to right field that was nearly caught by right fielder Alex Call. Call fell short on a diving attempt, the ball smacked off his glove and rolled toward center, giving Wilson the opening he needed to take up Harper on his advice. Wilson hustled to second in the 13-3 win, becoming the first rookie to hit for the cycle in Philadelphia Phillies history. Wilson's teammates went wild in the dugout and slapped the railing -- former Phillie John Kruk gave him a standing...

PHILADELPHIA --  Weston Wilson became the ninth Phillies player to hit for the cycle, Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos had consecutive homers in the first inning and Philadelphia overpowered the Washington Nationals 13-3 on Thursday night. Wilson tripled and singled in the fourth; homered in the seventh and, then - with fans chanting "Double! Double!" - doubled to right in the eighth, with Alex Call failing on a diving attempt. "When I was on the on-deck circle, I heard plenty of people saying it," Wilson said. "Definitely knew. What I was doing was working, so I just kind of stayed with it." Wilson had the 10th cycle in Phillies history - Chuck Klein did it twice - and became the first home player to accomplish the feat at Citizens Bank Park since David Bell in 2004. Wilson played 706 games in the minors before he was called up last season and homered in his first big-league at-bat - against the Nationals. "He's basically hit us pretty...

Iowa landed its top commit in the 2025 class Thursday night with a pledge from four-star Hawkeyes legacy Iose Epenesa, No. 21 in the ESPN 300. Epenesa, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound edge rusher from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the No. 1 defensive end in the 2025 class, per ESPN rankings. He picked the Hawkeyes over Penn State, Miami and Utah to become the 14th member of Kirk Ferentz's 2025 class and Iowa's first ESPN 300 pledge in the cycle. Epenesa's commitment comes two weeks before the start of his senior season at Edwardsville High School. "We've been in this process for a while -- almost four years now -- we were all getting tired of it so we came down, talked with the family and started getting down to business," Epenesa told ESPN. "It was time to figure it out." Epenesa is the brother of former Hawkeye and current  Buffalo Bills edge rusher AJ Epenesa, who tallied 26.5 sacks and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection at Iowa from 2017 to '19....

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Hideki Matsuyama lost his wallet, his  caddie and his coach for the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs when thieves in London snatched their bag containing passports, but none of that seemed to bother the Japanese star Thursday at the start of the PGA Tour's postseason. Chris Kirk made a hole-in-one on his way to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler and double major winner Xander Schauffele, the best two players in golf, were right in the mix as expected. The surprise in some respects was Matsuyama, the Olympic bronze medalist who has had plenty of distractions since leaving Paris and still motored around the TPC Southwind on a sweltering day for a 65. "I've forgotten it completely. It's not even an issue now," Matsuyama said through his interpreter. He stopped over in London with caddie Shota Hayato and his swing coach, Mikihito Kuromiya. They were having...

OXNARD, Calif. -- As much as Dak Prescott's contractual future has been a constant talking point in the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is not as consumed by it. "I'm not putting that much thought into hoping it gets done now, hoping it gets done in a couple of weeks, during the season or whenever it happens," Prescott said. "I just know conversations are on the right way." Prescott, entering the final year of his deal, is set to make $29 million and count $55 million against the salary cap. Without an extension, Prescott will hit free agency in March and count $40 million against the Cowboys' cap in 2025. Prescott said the sides have exchanged proposals but would say only, "a lot of good things are going on in there," and he reiterated he has confidence in both sides working out a deal, whether it be soon or before March when he would become a free agent. "I enjoy being a Cowboy 1,000 percent, enjoy living in Dallas, enjoy everything about it,"...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Vikings dodged a second significant injury loss in two days. Minnesota No. 2 wide receiver Jordan Addison is expected to miss some time with a left ankle injury sustained on Wednesday - just hours after Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for the season following knee surgery. While it's not known exactly how long Addison will be sidelined, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that the 22-year-old, who had 70 catches and 10 touchdowns last season as a rookie, isn't seriously hurt. "He'll work through the rehab process and (we) look forward to getting him back as fast as possible," O'Connell said after the second of two joint practices against the Browns. "Don't see him missing any extended time or anything like that." Addison got hurt when he appeared to step on a Cleveland defender's foot after jumping to try and catch a pass from Vikings starting quarterback Sam Darnold. He got up and...

Jordan Chiles said the decision to strip the bronze medal from her for the Paris Olympics floor exercise "feels unjust" while adding that she "will make every effort to ensure that justice is done." In a lengthy post on social media, Chiles addressed the decision by a number of organizations -- the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the International Olympic Committee -- to overturn her coach's on-floor appeal that had initially elevated her to the podium. "I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey," Chiles wrote. "To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful." USA Gymnastics officials said Monday that the CAS won't reconsider its decision but is continuing efforts to let Chiles keep the medal. The CAS had ruled that the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute...

PITTSBURGH -- Quarterback Russell Wilson will make his  Steelers preseason debut against the Bills on Saturday night, coach Mike Tomlin said. Tomlin, who spoke following the Bills-Steelers joint practice Thursday, said Wilson will "be a participant" in the team's second preseason game as long as he doesn't experience any setbacks to the calf injury he suffered on the eve of the team's first training camp practice. Wilson, who split first-team reps with Justin Fields during team periods of the joint practice, said Wednesday he wasn't concerned about aggravating his calf injury if he played in the preseason. "I don't play with fear," Wilson said. "I never have. You play smart just like a normal game. Got to know when to get down, you got to know when to slide, get out of bounds, all those things. But like I said, I know how to avoid certain things, certain hits and all that. You got to be smart out there. But also, I don't strap on the pads and just...

Jordan Chiles said the decision to strip the bronze medal from her for the Paris Olympics floor exercise "feels unjust" while adding that she "will make every effort to ensure that justice is done." In a lengthy post on social media, Chiles addressed the decision by a number of organizations -- the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the International Olympic Committee -- to overturn her coach's on-floor appeal that had initially elevated her to the podium. "I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey," Chiles wrote. "To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful." USA Gymnastics officials said Monday that the CAS won't reconsider its decision but is continuing efforts to let Chiles keep the medal. The CAS had ruled that the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- For the second straight day, the Atlanta Falcons have made a big splash -- and indicated just how serious they are about contention in 2024. The Falcons signed free agent safety Justin Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, to a one-year, $8 million contract Thursday, Athletes First, which represents Simmons, announced Thursday. He'll join fellow Pro Bowl selection Jessie Bates III to form one of the best safety combinations in the NFL. On Wednesday, Atlanta traded a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for pass rusher Matthew Judon, filling a longtime need. Simmons fills one, too. The Falcons have lost safety DeMarcco Hellams, who started last season, for a "significant amount" of time to an ankle injury, coach Raheem Morris said earlier this week. After Bates and cornerback  A.J. Terrell, Atlanta's secondary had been rife with question marks. Simmons, 30, played his first eight...

The College Football Playoff selection committee will no longer use conference championships as one of its tiebreakers because the new 12-team format guarantees bids for the five highest-ranked conference winners, the CFP announced Thursday. The change in protocol, which was approved by the FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, was implemented at this week's annual meeting of selection committee members in Laguna Niguel, California. When the commissioners decided upon the 12-team format for this fall, they also agreed to place an emphasis on the importance of winning a conference title. Because it is embedded into the model, that eliminated any need to use a conference title as a tiebreaker when comparing similar teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive a first-round bye. The other tiebreakers remain and include strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incenting margin of...

Jordan Chiles said the decision to strip the bronze medal from her for the Paris Olympics floor exercise "feels unjust" while adding that she "will make every effort to ensure that justice is done." In a lengthy post on social media, Chiles addressed the decision by a number of organizations -- the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the International Olympic Committee -- to overturn her coach's on-floor appeal that had initially elevated her to the podium. "I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey," Chiles wrote. "To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful." USA Gymnastics officials said Monday that the CAS won't reconsider its decision but is continuing efforts to let Chiles keep the medal. The CAS had ruled that the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute...

Built to win a championship, the Knicks will immediately see how they and their newest player, Mikal Bridges, stack up when they try to spoil the Celtics' championship ring celebration on opening night in Boston. The NBA unveiled its 2024-25 schedule Thursday with the Knicks-Celtics rivalry opening the season on Oct. 22. That will be followed by Olympic teammates LeBron James and Anthony Edwards squaring off on the marquee night when the Lakers host the Timberwolves. The Knicks finished second in the Eastern Conference last season -- 14 games behind the first-place Celtics -- but were plagued by injuries in the postseason and lost in the conference semifinals to the Pacers, who were then swept by the Celtics in the conference finals. In an attempt to gain ground on the reigning champion Celtics, the Knicks swung their first trade with the Nets since 1983, sending five first-round draft picks, a first-round...

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh wants to give quarterback Colin Kaepernick a job -- on his coaching staff, not his roster. "If that was ever the path he was to take, I think that would be tremendous," Harbaugh told USA Today Sports. "He'd be a tremendous coach, if that's the path he chose." Harbaugh said he reached out to Kaepernick shortly after he took over the Chargers in January about joining him in Los Angeles in a non-playing capacity. "Yeah, we talked a little bit about it," Harbaugh told USA Today Sports at training camp last week. "He's considering it. He was out of the country. He said he was going to get back to me. We haven't reconnected since then. That was early, early in the year." Kaepernick, 36, played for Harbaugh when he coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14. He has been out of the league since 2016 but recently restated his desire to resume his playing career. "We're still training, still pushing," Kaepernick said to...

Ohio State will start Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, at quarterback to open the 2024 season, coach Ryan Day announced Thursday. Howard, who started 28 games for Kansas State and helped the Wildcats to the 2022 Big 12 title, was the front-runner for the Buckeyes' starting job but had been competing in preseason camp with Devin Brown and others. Brown also competed with eventual starter Kyle McCord, who has since transferred to Syracuse, for the starting job last summer. Alabama transfer Julian Sayin and others were in the mix, but No. 2 Ohio State will go with Howard for its Aug. 31 opener against Akron. "We're really excited about Will being the starter," Day said. "He has really taken command of the offense. You feel him in the huddle, you feel his experience. He did a really good job of changing his body in the offseason, so he's become a threat, both with his legs and with his arm. The more he...

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- When the Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquise "Hollywood" Brown as a free agent during the offseason, he immediately became their most accomplished and experienced wide receiver. The Chiefs will be without him for the time being after Brown dislocated his shoulder on the first scrimmage play of last week's preseason opener. The Chiefs are expecting Brown back in their lineup early in the season but not necessarily in time for the Sept. 5 opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Patrick Mahomes said the Chiefs were feeling his absence. "I guess we're lucky that it wasn't as bad as it could have been," Mahomes said Thursday as the Chiefs concluded training camp at Missouri Western State University. "We lose a little bit of that veteran-type receiver in that room. We have other guys that can replace him a little bit, but to have that much talent and have a good understanding of what I want ... hopefully we're getting him back sooner rather than...

PITTSBURGH -- The Buffalo Bills' Matt Milano suffered a torn biceps during Tuesday's practice, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and the starting linebacker is out indefinitely, coach Sean McDermott announced Thursday. Milano will undergo surgery with the hope of trying to return possibly in December, sources told Schefter. Coach Sean McDermott confirmed Milano had a biceps injury ahead of the team's joint practice Thursday with the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not specify that it was a tear. "It's an unfortunate situation, right," McDermott said. "Matt's a strong young man. I know he's going to handle this. Certainly tough, especially coming off of the year he came off of already. "The good thing is he's got a good family behind him that are going to support him, teammates that are going to support him as well as the coaching staff and our entire football organization. He's resilient. We've got to be resilient. We've got to move forward and be focused on...

Buffalo Bills starting linebacker Matt Milano, who left Tuesday's practice injured, tore his biceps and now will be out indefinitely, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday. Milano will undergo surgery with the hope of trying to return later this season, possibly in December. This marks the second straight season that Milano has suffered a significant injury. Last year he fractured his leg in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed the remainder of the season. Milano, who is entering his eighth season with the Bills, was a first team All-Pro selection and was selected to his only Pro Bowl in 2022.

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn said the backlash she has received since competing at the Paris Olympics has been devastating and asked for privacy for herself and her family and friends. "I really appreciate the positivity, and I'm glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That's what I hoped," Gunn, who is known as B-girl Raygun, said in a video on Instagram on Thursday. "I didn't realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has, frankly, been pretty devastating." Gunn was lambasted online and in mainstream media after she lost all three of her round-robin battles in Paris, where breaking made its Olympic debut. "I went out there, and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and I gave my all. Truly," Gunn said. The Australian Olympic Committee earlier Thursday condemned an online petition calling for an investigation into Gunn's selection for the Paris Olympics, saying...

Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the new United States men's national team coach with the responsibility of leading the team into the 2026 World Cup, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this summer after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge. A source told ESPN that the former  Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter as USMNT head coach following lengthy discussions with Matt Crocker, the USSF technical director. No final agreement has been signed between the two parties, the sources added, and the USSF board of directors is yet to sign off on any deal. A regular board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 23, though a special meeting could be called before then to finalize the appointment, a source added. No special meeting has yet been scheduled. Crocker, who previously worked with Premier League team ...

Ange Postecoglou has said Tottenham have suspended Yves Bissouma for Monday's Premier League opener against Leicester City after the midfielder posted footage on social media of himself inhaling laughing gas. The Mali international apologised after clips emerged on Snapchat showing him using the Class C drug -- also known as nitrous oxide -- and Spurs released a statement stating it would be "dealt with as an internal matter." Speaking at a Thursday news conference, Postecoglou suggested Bissouma had failed in his responsibilities as a role model and had to rebuild trust in his teammates as he sits out the club's first game of the season. "I've been in the game a long time, and every time situations like this arise, and they do happen, I've always tried to look at them in a couple of different ways," Postecoglou said. "One is there's a person involved: in this case it's Biss [Bissouma], and he's made a really poor decision. You want to understand...

The Atlanta Falcons have landed the pass rusher they sought for years. The New England Patriots are trading top edge rusher Matthew Judon to the Falcons for a 2025 third-round draft pick, the teams announced Thursday. Judon had been practicing with the Patriots after a brief absence from the team. The Falcons and Judon have not hammered out a contract for 2025 but plan to work toward one before the start of the season, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano on Wednesday. The Falcons freed up some money against the salary cap Thursday by restructuring the contract of Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom, moving part of his $12.5 million base salary into a signing bonus, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Judon, who turned 32 on Thursday, is a four-time Pro Bowler who had a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022 following a 12.5-sack season in 2021. He missed most of last year with a torn biceps. The Falcons have not had a double-digit sack leader since Vic...

The Dallas Cowboys are signing former New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Lawson is the Cowboys' second addition along the defensive line in the past two days, after they traded with the New York Giants for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on Wednesday. Lawson had worked out for the Cowboys in Oxnard, California, after the team lost pass rusher Sam Williams to a torn ACL in one of the early training camp practices, but Dallas signed Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney instead. Toney has since been waived/injured with a groin injury. The 29-year-old Lawson had been trumpeted as a major addition for the Jets in 2021, when he signed a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency, but he fell short of expectations and wound up playing in only 23 games in three seasons. He missed the 2021 season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in a preseason practice with the ...

Owner of Clippers wanted Intuit Dome built to enhance the neighborhood.

The father of 17-year-old  Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal has been hospitalised after being stabbed in a parking lot near Barcelona, Spanish police have confirmed to ESPN. Officers were called at 9:10 p.m. local time on Wednesday after Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, was stabbed in the town of Mataró, which is 30 kilometers (19 miles) outside Barcelona. Nasraoui was transferred to the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital in Badalona, Can Ruti, with various injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening. He posted on Instagram on Thursday to say he is feeling better and expressed gratitude for the messages of support. Three people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the stabbing and remain in police custody, with a fourth arrest made on Thursday. Police have not ruled out making further arrests. Yamal participated in Barça training on Thursday ahead of their opening LaLiga fixture against Valencia on...

Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the new United States coach with the responsibility of leading the team into the 2026 World Cup, a source told ESPN on Thursday. Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this summer after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge. A source told ESPN that the former  Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter as USMNT head coach following lengthy discussions with Matt Crocker, the USSF technical director. Crocker, who previously worked with Premier League team Southampton and the English Football Association, had been charged with recruiting a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT goes into the 2026 World Cup -- the U.S. are joint hosts with Canada and Mexico -- as a competitive nation, capable of running into the latter stages of the competition. Efforts to recruit Jürgen Klopp following his summer exit...

Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the new United States coach with the responsibility of leading the team into the 2026 World Cup, a source told ESPN on Thursday. Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this summer after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge. A source told ESPN that the former  Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter as USMNT head coach following lengthy discussions with Matt Crocker, the USSF technical director. Crocker, who previously worked with Premier League team Southampton and the English Football Association, had been charged with recruiting a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT goes into the 2026 World Cup -- the U.S. are joint hosts with Canada and Mexico -- as a competitive nation, capable of running into the latter stages of the competition. Efforts to recruit Jürgen Klopp following his summer exit...

The Chicago White Sox are lowering season-ticket prices for 2025 by an average of 10% with the team struggling through one of the worst seasons baseball has ever seen, senior vice president Brooks Boyer said Wednesday. The White Sox are 29-93 after Wednesday night's 10-2 loss to the New York Yankees and on course for the second-worst winning percentage (.238) of the modern era. The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (.235) finished 36-117. "We understand where all the ticket prices are -- whether it's season-ticket prices, secondary market," said Boyer, the team's chief revenue and marketing officer. "After looking at that, understanding where we are organizationally, we thought it was important that it's something that we do for our season-ticket holders who have been very loyal to us." The White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol last week in his second season as a major league manager after he logged an 89-190 record. They made the move two days after beating the ...

Aaron Judge noticed his teammates dancing in the bullpen as he rounded first. He got quite the reception when he crossed the plate too. Not only did he hit his 300th homer, the New York Yankees' slugger reached that milestone faster than any other player when he connected against the Chicago White Sox during a 10-2 victory Wednesday night. "It's a great achievement," Judge said. "Like I said a couple days ago, I was hoping it would come in a win. It came in a big win for us. We were down for a little bit, couldn't get much going, so I was just excited it was there in a big moment." Judge hit the mark in his 955th game and 3,431st at-bat with a three-run drive in the eighth inning. The six-time All-Star and 2022 American League MVP drove a 3-0 up-and-in sinker from  Chad Kuhl into the White Sox bullpen in left for his major-league-leading 43rd homer. The Yankees let loose as the ball cleared the wall, jumping up, raising their arms and banging the...

Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder and three-time Bundesliga Player of the Season Marco Reus has signed with the LA Galaxy, a source told ESPN. An official announcement with contract details is expected Thursday. The 35-year-old German was out of contract this summer after closing out a lengthy run with Dortmund that began in 2012. Recently with the Bundesliga club that reached the UEFA Champions League final in June, Reus scored 171 goals in 426 appearances across league and cup matches, as well as earning two German Cup titles (2017, 2021) and two Supercup trophies (2013, 2019). At the international level, Reus has appeared 48 times for Germany, scoring 15 goals. The attack-minded midfielder could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the resurgent Galaxy, who are sitting at the top of MLS' Western Conference table. Following a dismal 2023 season that ended without a playoff spot, the Galaxy have emerged as title contenders...

Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder and three-time Bundesliga player of the season Marco Reus has signed with the LA Galaxy, a source told ESPN. An official announcement with contract details is expected Thursday. The 35-year-old German was out of contract this summer after closing out a lengthy run with Dortmund that began in 2012. Recently with the Bundesliga club that reached the UEFA Champions League final in June, Reus scored 171 goals in 426 appearances across league and cup matches, as well as earning two German Cup titles (2017, 2021) and two Supercup trophies (2013, 2019). At international level, Reus has appeared 48 times for Germany, scoring 15 goals. The attack-minded midfielder could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the resurgent Galaxy, who are currently sitting at the top of MLS' Western Conference table. Following a dismal 2023 season that ended without a playoff spot, and a decade since their last MLS Cup...