2025 Home Run Derby: Five sluggers we want to see debut and hit dingers

2025 Home Run Derby: Five sluggers we want to see debut and hit dingers

Major League Baseball's annual celebration of longballs is fast approaching, with the 2025 Home Run Derby set for Monday, July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta and sluggers dreaming of joining the exclusive list of winners. This year's participants are not yet official, but a handful of stars are already voicing their desire to swing for the fences. While we should expect some veterans in the field like two-time winnerPete Alonso, the Home Run Derby can be a showcase for the game's up-and-coming young hitters. There was a stretch in the 21st century where a lot of top players would shy away from taking part, largely due to a long-running fear of the "Home Run Derby Curse" and the notion that the contest can negatively impact your swing long-term. Thedata is still outthat on that. But that's changed in recent years, with young players eager to put on a show – even if they aren't pure home run hitters. Here's a look at five rising sluggers we want to see make their Home Run Derby debuts in Atlanta: Could "The Big Dumper" become the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby? Leading the majors with 32 homers, Raleigh should smash Salvador Perez's single-season record for catchers and is on pace to top Aaron Judge's American League record 62 homers. Seattle's 28-year-old backstop already countsJohnny Bench among his biggest fansand told USA TODAY Sports he'd jump at the chance to participate in the Derby if he were invited: "Why wouldn't you want to do something like that?" As of June 24, the Mariners still have 19 games left before the All-Star break and Raleigh has a chance to become just the seventh player in history to reach 35 in the first half. HE. IS. HIM.🌟https://t.co/Q16mvWt8m4🌟pic.twitter.com/J99GeOpMGW — Seattle Mariners (@Mariners)June 24, 2025 One of the tallest players in baseball at 6-foot-7, Washington's 22-year-old slugger is tied for third in baseball with 12 "no-doubters" – homers that would be gone in all 30 stadiums according to Baseball Savant. Wood is averaging 415 feet per home run, second among all players with at least 13 homers entering play on June 23. "I mean, it's been brought up,"Wood told reportersabout his potential participation. "But I mean, I don't know. We'll see. That'd be cool if I'm invited. So let's try to get that first." Said Wood: "I've heard all of it. Like, 'It'll mess up your swing.' But I'm sure there's a whole lot of stuff it's good for. ... "You're taking as many swings as you can in, like, 2½ minutes. That's a lot." James Wood leaves us speechless 😮This majestic shot just went 451 feet 💥pic.twitter.com/FTb9nIRVfm — MLB (@MLB)June 22, 2025 Cincinnati's unicorn shortstop has declined to participate the past two years, but hinted in 2024 that his time would come eventually. "It's not my time to do it yet,"De La Cruz told reporterslast season. "It's too many swings, and I want to rest on those days," he said, having talked with other Dominican players who participated in the past. The 23-year-old has 18 home runs in 79 games, on track to blow past the 25 he hit as a first-time All-Star last year. Said De La Cruz's agent Scott Boras in 2024: "I guess it'll happen someday. ... Elly is an athlete. The Home Run Derby requires a visceral strength to repeat something which is very different than being an elite baseball player. "Like Pete Alonso (of the Mets) and those kind of guys with those kind of bodies and strength, you can understand why they can endure a home run contest." THIS MAN SHOULD BE THE STARTING SS AT THE ALL-STAR GAME@ellylacocoa18⭐️https://t.co/HKf2mrrBhtpic.twitter.com/EvJlVDy5FH — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds)June 24, 2025 In his second year, Los Angeles' 24-year-old outfielder overcame a slow start and has hit .330 with 14 homers and 47 RBIs in 55 games from April 22-June 22. His 16 home runs are second on the Dodgers behind Shohei Ohtani and he's playing his way into consideration for a spot on the All-Star team – managed by Los Angeles skipper Dave Roberts. AND THAT'S WHO ANDY PAGES IS!pic.twitter.com/oMfImbUf1m — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers)June 18, 2025 Tampa Bay's 21-year-old third baseman has found his power stroke in his first full season, clubbing 19 homers through 73 games in 2025, quickly becoming one of the top young hitters in the game. He's also totally down for the Derby, which has never been won by a Rays player. "If I get selected, and they give me the opportunity, yes," Caminero said in an appearance onFoul Territory. "I'm not going to say that I'm going to win, but I'm going to put on a great show for the fans, and it's going to be entertaining." Junior Caminero is on a 162 game pace for:• 41 Home Runs• 109 RBI• 76 Extra Base HitsHe is 21 Years Old… Kiss that Bat Junior.pic.twitter.com/w1HoejPHVo — The Wizard of Baz (@cowboyaroza)June 21, 2025 The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments bysubscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Home Run Derby 2025: 5 young sluggers we want to see hit dingers

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

2025 Home Run Derby: Five sluggers we want to see debut and hit dingers

2025 Home Run Derby: Five sluggers we want to see debut and hit dingers Major League Baseball's annual celebration of longballs is fast ...

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IMG Academy CEO: Why colleges should more sports teams after NCAA House settlement

IMG Academy CEO: Why colleges should more sports teams after NCAA House settlement

College sports face a tipping point — one that impacts millions of future student-athletes. On the heels ofthe recent House v. NCAA settlement, universities must grapple with an evolving economic model for sports. The knee-jerk reaction too often is to consider reducing rosters and teams. It doesn't have to be this way. Here's the counterintuitive truth: universities should add student-athletes and sports teams, not cut them. Sports education — without any media rights or ticket sales — can be economically self-sustainingandwildly successful for students. That's not sentimental optimism. It's a sound strategic play. Universities are grappling with the fact that they want to be in the "business of education." Yet, a (small) fraction of their sports teams and student-athletes are exceptionally good at entertaining adults. Entertaining adults is the "business of sport." WHAT'S NEXT?:NCAA commissioners pledge to follow NIL rules after settlement We need to turn over every available stone before we let the "entertaining adults" side of sports come at the cost of educating fewer students through sports. In fact, we should use this moment to tip the conversation in a positive direction: add student-athletes and teams. The mission-aligned case for a university is this — student-athletes improve the educational makeup of a university, add to culture and graduate as tomorrow's leaders. According to Education Week,57% of all high school studentshave played a sport, and student-athletes are the largest affinity group entering college by a wide margin; serving this group (varsity or otherwise) well serves a university's goals. Student-athletes also represent a future shift in education: with AI emerging, top skills of tomorrow include resilience teamwork, and self-motivationaccording to global hiring managerssurveyed by the World Economic Forum. These are "sports skills" and can be taught just like math and science. Student-athlete graduates have an outsized impact in the workforce, as demonstrated by the fact that52% of C-suite women executivesplayed sports in college, according to the EY Women Athletes Business Network and ESPN. While all of that should carry the day, it often doesn't. Why? The simple truth is that even non-profit universities need a business case — profits and losses — as the leading qualifier. There is also a strong economic case. Sports education — without any media rights or ticket sales — can be economically self-sustaining and wildly successful for students. The proven key to the model working for a university is to add more tuition-paying student-athletes and teams. SETTLEMENT FAQS:What you need to know about the college sports landscape Universities should understand the model, but it requires a shift in historical thinking. The first shift is to count tuition (tuition from paying student-athletes often exceeds scholarships) in the financial equation for sports. Case in point, sports are often called "non-revenue" sports, even when most of the athletes are in fact tuition paying. Any aspect of a university would fall short of profit and loss goals if tuition was not counted. The second is to add more student-athletes — leveraging fixed facility investments and semi-fixed staffing costs — to improve the overall discount rate for the student-athlete population. For many universities, the discount rate for student-athletes can be more attractive than the university average. This is not a new concept but rather applies an existing concept to sports. Public universities support lower in-state tuition and financial aid by enrolling higher paying out-of-state applicants. Universities support domestic student financial aid and academic program expansion by enrolling high-pay international applicants. Universities willing to reframe the conversation and consider adding student-athletes will find great success, great students, great athletes and great economics. Right now, high school student-athletes are being squeezed out of college athletics by the trifecta of roster caps, longer eligibility for existing NCAA athletes and the transfer portal allowing college coaches to recruit college players over high school players. This is bad for millions of high school athletes, and it is adding to an already massive supply-demand imbalance in market (only 3% of high school student-athletes can find Division I rosters, and 5-7% find rosters of any kind). The upshot for universities: there are so many more tuition paying student-athletes that want to play, if offered a varsity or varsity-like student-athlete experience. A more detailed framework can be read at IMGAcademy.com. This framework is already circulating in universities, picking up steam, and outlines a "Varsity Club" model and clear action plan that any university can run with, immediately. Let's not allow the business of entertaining adults to come at the cost of educating students through sports. This is a tipping point. A few voices can tip this in the right direction. Brent Richard is a career investor, operator and entrepreneur in sports and education, the CEO of IMG Academy, and a former Division I soccer player. This op-ed was developed in collaboration with Drew Weatherford, founder of Weatherford Capital, co-founder of Collegiate Athletic Solutions, and former Florida State starting quarterback. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Colleges should add sports teams after NCAA House settlement

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

IMG Academy CEO: Why colleges should more sports teams after NCAA House settlement

IMG Academy CEO: Why colleges should more sports teams after NCAA House settlement College sports face a tipping point — one that impacts mi...

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GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says What Many in Washington Won’t: “There Is No Known Path Here”

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says What Many in Washington Won't: "There Is No Known Path Here"

As one of the few Republicans in Congress willing to publicly challenge President Trump, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is used to going her own way. But her most recent criticism didn't come in a floor speech or a press release. It came quietly, at a meeting with nonprofit leaders in Alaskaearlier this year— and it struck a chord. Asked how to respond to the fear many are feeling in today's political climate, Murkowski didn't hesitate: "We are all afraid," she said. That moment — widely shared online — stood out not just for its bluntness, but for who said it: a senior Republican senator, someone who has weathered political backlash and survived a MAGA-fueled primary challenge. In a subsequent interview with Katie Couric on herNext Questionpodcast, Murkowski expanded on the remark. "We're all experiencing the uncertainty of what's coming next," she said. "Because there is no known path here." The "here," as Murkowski described it, is the second Trump administration, which she sees as much more organized and aggressive than the first. "You have a president who is much more keenly focused on what he wants to achieve," she said. "I don't think that he had that targeted and directed focus the first time around, or if he did, he wasn't quite sure how to implement it. I think it's different now." Murkowski also reflects on that shift in her new memoir,Far from Home: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, D.C.In it, she writes bluntly that "it was evident that he could not have planned his own rise or engineered the transformation of the Supreme Court. He isn't that smart." But this time, she believes, he knows exactly what he wants — and that shift is already having serious consequences. She described federal employees losing jobs or funding for political reasons, nonprofits stuck in limbo, and law firms targeted by executive order — not for misconduct, but for representing Jan. 6 defendants "the administration did not think should be defended." "That, to me, is political retaliation that has economic consequences," she said. When asked if she believes Trump is more dangerous this time around, Murkowski pointed to Congress — and whether lawmakers are willing to step in. "It could be dangerous if Congress — particularly the Republican majority in the House and Senate — decides that the ends justify the means and they're comfortable with the goals," she said. "If we're willing to overlook how he's using emergency powers, and choose not to hold him accountable, then I think yes." She's not alone in her concerns. Legal experts and civil rights organizations have spent months warning of a growing erosion of democratic norms — from expanded emergency powers and mass deportation efforts to the use of federal forces in response to protests and the continued politicization of the courts. Murkowski says the question she hears more than any other is: "Is our democracy still safe?" She doesn't give a simple yes. Instead, she points to Congress's failure to act — and says plainly, "We have not been the check." Whether that changes under Republican control of both chambers is unclear. According to Murkowski, the silence in her party isn't so much about agreement — it's about survival. Some lawmakers support Trump's agenda. Others don't — but stay quiet, afraid of the political fallout. Murkowski has felt that pressure firsthand: After voting against Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation and refusing to endorse Trump, he vowed to "find anyone with a pulse" to run against her. He did — and she still won. But she knows not everyone can survive that kind of test. "Alaskans are very cognizant of some of the challenges that we face in our state when it comes to matters of domestic violence and sexual assault," she told Katie. "I wish that I could tell you that we are turning the corner and eliminating this within our own society. We're making headway, but we're not doing enough. I think that there were concerns from many about whether or not Justice Kavanaugh would be able to understand the lived experiences of many women — not only in Alaska, but around the country." That same willingness to speak from experience — even when it's politically risky — shapes how she views the broader health of American democracy. When asked whether she believes it can still be preserved, Murkowski didn't offer certainty, but she did offer resolve. "If we are trending toward a constitutional meltdown, we have the ability — as one of the three separate but equal branches of government — to weigh in and try to right things," she said. "Is it possible? I don't know. Some people have suggested it's gone too far. I don't know." "But I do know it's worth fighting for. We have to. We don't have any other choice," she added. To hear more of her unfiltered take on the GOP and where bipartisanship goes from here, check outour full interview. The postGOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says What Many in Washington Won't: "There Is No Known Path Here"appeared first onKatie Couric Media.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says What Many in Washington Won’t: “There Is No Known Path Here”

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Says What Many in Washington Won't: "There Is No Known Path Here" As one of the few Republicans in Con...

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NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24originally appeared onParade. Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already playWordle,Connections,Strandsand theMini Crosswordnow have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, you've come to the right place. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread." Related:The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings. Yellow:C-Suite. Green:Orange juice. Blue:Not quite the big league. Purple:TV station. OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below! Yellow:HEADS OF AN ORGANIZATION Green:FLORIDA COLLEGE TEAMS Blue:TRIPLE-A BASEBALL TEAMS Purple:LAST WORDS OF ESPN SHOWS If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #274 are coming up next.Related:15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day HEADS OF AN ORGANIZATION: BRASS, LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, TEAM OFFICIALS FLORIDA COLLEGE TEAMS: BULLS, GATORS, HURRICANES, SEMINOLES TRIPLE-A BASEBALL TEAMS: BATS, RAILRIDERS, SOUNDS, TIDES LAST WORDS OF ESPN SHOWS: HORN, INTERRUPTION, TAKE, UP Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.Up next,catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles. Related: Fred Smith, Founder of FedEx and 'Source of Inspiration to All,' Dead at 80 NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24first appeared on Parade on Jun 24, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24 NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for June 24origi...

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Red Sox manager Alex Cora ejected after another shaky start by Walker Buehler in loss to Angels

Red Sox manager Alex Cora ejected after another shaky start by Walker Buehler in loss to Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alex Cora is 0 for 2 in arguing obstruction calls with umpire Alan Porter after the Boston Red Sox manager was ejected Monday night in the fifth inning ofa 9-5 lossto the Los Angeles Angels, the second straight game in which Cora was tossed. Boston was trailing 5-4 when Jarren Duran doubled to lead off the fifth. Abraham Toro grounded to shortstop, but Duran hesitated before breaking for third and was tagged out in a rundown by Angels second baseman Christian Moore. Moore then spun and threw to second base, where Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo was covering, to nail Toro trying to advance. Cora argued that Rengifo blocked the bag with his knee and was ejected after a long argument with Porter, who made the out call. Porter ejected Cora for arguing a similar play in a game against Minnesota last Sept. 22 after Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta threw to second baseman Vaughn Grissom in an attempt to pick off Byron Buxton. Buxton was safe, but the Twins argued that Grissom blocked Buxton's path to the bag with his knee. The umpires ultimately agreed, and Buxton was awarded third base. "Our point of view was that he was blocking the bag," Cora said, referring to Monday night's play. "I guess the rule is if he's going to be out easy, they can do that. But we had a similar situation last year with the same (umpiring) crew … and Alan reversed the call. "That was the whole point I was trying to make — it happened six months ago, the same situation, and it was reversed. Maybe he's right, you know, if he was going to be safe, but I wanted to make sure." Major League Baseball Rule 6.00(h) awards the base to the runner when the fielder is ruled to have impeded the runner's progress while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball. Porter, however, told a pool reporter there was an extenuating circumstance — mainly, that Moore's throw arrived well before Toro, who was out by several feet, essentially making an obstruction call moot. "Did the fielder obstruct, or was the runner just out?" Porter said. "We felt that the runner, no matter what the fielder had done in that situation, was out. He was out by a lot. And that's part of also not calling the obstruction. "And the other side of it is that it's a very quick developing play there. So we're able to give them a little bit of leeway when they don't have time to set up because it was the rundown, and (Rengifo) is running back (toward second base)." Cora wasn't around to see the Angels score four runs in the eighth to snap a 5-all tie, but he saw enough of Walker Buehler's shaky start to acknowledge the veteran right-hander might be losing his grip on a rotation spot. Handed a 3-0 lead before he took the mound, Buehler walked four and hit two batters during a five-run first inning in which he threw 39 pitches. He finished with a career-high seven walks in four innings. The Red Sox rallied to tie the score in the sixth, taking Buehler off the hook for a loss, but he is 5-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts. In his previous outing, he gave up eight runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings in a loss at Seattle last week. "You can't walk seven guys in a major league baseball game and expect to be successful," Buehler said. "I think we keep trying different things and looking at different stuff, this (pitch) mix or that mix, but at the end of the day, if you don't execute and throw strikes, you really don't have a chance. "I feel like a broken record. It's embarrassing. It's not who I want to be as a baseball player, obviously. I'd rather get whacked around than do that." Buehler struggled in his return from a second Tommy John surgery last season, going 1-6 with a 5.95 ERA in 16 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he recovered in October to play an integral part in the team's run to a World Series title. He even came out of the bullpen to get the final three outs of the series-clinching win over the New York Yankees. Asked if he was sure Buehler is 100% healthy, Cora said: "One hundred percent." When Buehler was asked if he's pitching through anything right now, he said, "I don't want to talk about that." Buehler recovered from his brutal first inning to blank the Angels on one hit over his final three frames, perhaps earning a longer leash in the team's rotation. "The second, third and fourth innings were really good," Cora said. "The velocity was up and the movement on his pitches were great. There's a few things mechanically that he feels he needs to do better, but he'll be ready for the next one." Buehler was a postseason star for the Dodgers as they won three National League pennants and a World Series crown from 2017-20. But is he worried about his spot in the Boston rotation? "Yeah, I think you have to be," Buehler said. "At some point, there's 26 guys that are going to help this team hopefully make the playoffs and if you're not one of them, I don't really think it matters what you've done in years past. "At some point, I've got to put some results out there for myself, but also for this organization. … It just sucks, man. I want to contribute to this team so badly. I've enjoyed playing here so much outside of my own performance, so it's just really frustrating." ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

Red Sox manager Alex Cora ejected after another shaky start by Walker Buehler in loss to Angels

Red Sox manager Alex Cora ejected after another shaky start by Walker Buehler in loss to Angels ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alex Cora is 0 for 2 ...

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Clippers star James Harden sued for alleged negligence in sexual assault case

Clippers star James Harden sued for alleged negligence in sexual assault case

Los Angeles Clippersguard James Harden was named a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that he was negligent due to the conduct of his security team after a woman says she was sexually assaulted by Harden's nephew following a New Year's Eve party in 2024 at the NBA All-Star's mansion in Houston. The lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, was filed in Harris County, Texas. The plaintiff, Marisa Watley, demands a jury trial and economic, compensatory, and punitive damages. According to the 18-page filing, Watley says she attended the New Year's Eve party with two of her friends and that she was sexually assaulted while unconscious by Justice Armani Blackburn, who is Harden's nephew. Watley says her friends were later removed by Harden's security, even though she was still inside the residence. The friends then contacted Watley's sister, who in turn contacted Harden's sister, who is the mother of Blackburn. The lawsuit says the sister submitted a photo of Watley to Harden's security, who said that the woman inside was not Marisa Watley, despite the lawsuit alleging that Watley was indeed in the mansion at that time. The negligence claim against Harden stems from the complaint alleging the conduct of Harden's in-home security, which they say failed to act responsibly in response to outside calls for help and could have prevented the sexual assault. The lawsuit also says that Harden is "vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer," who were also named as defendants in the case. "Since New Year's Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden's security behaved that day—it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time. I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger," Watley said in astatement. Harden, 35, a 11-time NBA All-Star and six-time first-team All-NBA selection, just completed his second season with the Clippers, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. "Ms. Watley has shown great strength and courage in coming forward to hold Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden accountable for what happened to her on New Year's Day 2025 in Mr. Harden's mansion.  This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system," Watley attorneys, Michael J. Willemin, John S. Crain, and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts said in a statement. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Clippers' James Harden accused of negligence in sexual assault case

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

Clippers star James Harden sued for alleged negligence in sexual assault case

Clippers star James Harden sued for alleged negligence in sexual assault case Los Angeles Clippersguard James Harden was named a defendant i...

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Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Later

Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Later

Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Lateroriginally appeared onParade. It's been over two decades since Blink-182 released their iconic albumEnema of the State, featuring a memorable cover that became as famous as the songs themselves. At the time, the band consisted ofMark Hoppus,Tom DeLongeandTravis Barker— a trio that helped shape the pop-punk sound of the late '90s and early 2000s. The 1999 album showcased adult film starJanine Lindemulderdressed as a nurse, wearing bright blue eyeshadow and red lipstick — a look that has since become legendary in music history (and for Halloween costumes). Now, 20 years later, fans are curious about what Lindemulder, 56, has been up to — and she looks nearly unrecognizable since her cover days. Ditching her signature blonde hair from the album cover, she's recently been seen with long brown locks and arm sleeve tattoos, in photos obtained byThe Mirror. Lindemulder remains active onX, where she shares updates to her 89,000 followers and promotes her 18+ OnlyFans profile. After her success in the early 2000s, Lindemulder largely stepped away from the public eye as her personal life took a turn. In 2002, the year she was inducted into the Adult Video News Hall of Fame, she marriedJesse James, founder of West Coast Choppers. They had a daughter, Sunny, before ultimately divorcing two years later. Lindemulder served six months in prison for unpaid taxes in 2008. After her release, she became involved in a custody dispute with James and his then-wife,Sandra Bullock. In a 2009 interview withABC News, Lindemulder addressed the situation, saying, "Sandy doesn't know what goes on in my house. I'd love for her to. Please come over, you know, I'll make dinner. Let's sit down, two women." James and Bullock divorced in 2010, the same year Lindemulder's brief second marriage came to an end. Despite some ups and downs in her personal life, the model's role appearance on the album cover played a memorable role in theEnema of the State's success. Originally titledTurn Around and Cough, the record went on to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. PhotographerDavid Goldman, who shot the iconic cover, explained that the hospital theme was essential to the album's look. "That's why I came up with the idea of the glove," he said toHuffPost Entertainment. "Obviously, an enema isn't really a glove-type thing, but I thought it was a good visual." The album featured massive hits like "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things" and "Adam's Song" — securing its place in pop-punk history. Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Laterfirst appeared on Parade on Jun 24, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Later

Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 20 Years Later Iconic '90s Album Cover Model Looks Nearly Unrecognizable 2...

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Legendary '70s-'80s Band's Fans Surprised With an Unexpected Moment During Concert

Legendary '70s-'80s Band's Fans Surprised With an Unexpected Moment During Concert

Legendary '70s-'80s Band's Fans Surprised With an Unexpected Moment During Concertoriginally appeared onParade. Let fans tell it, Kool & The Gang is "Still Kool as ever." The legendary band recently put on a show-stopping performance, leaving supporters—both in person and online—in awe of how their iconic hits transcend time. On June 15, the musical ensemble—including founding and sole surviving original memberRobert "Kool" Bell, along withMichael Ray,Curtis "Curt" Williams, and more—brought their timeless funk and soul to Paris, delivering a vibrant, 2½‑hour performance at La Seine Musicale that had fans dancing from start to finish. The group, whose career stretches back to 1969 and includes hits like "Celebration," "Jungle Boogie," "Summer Madness," and "Cherish," proved they still know how to command a stage. Related:'80s Funk Icon, 72, Dazzles With Rare Red Carpet Appearance During one part of the show, lead vocalistShawn "Shawny Mac" McQuiller, who joined the crew in 1991, can be seen getting the crowd hyped up and gaining even more participation by extending the mic down to a nearby security guard to sing along with the smash 1981 track, "Get Down On It." First apprehensive, the venue's personnel got into the musical spirit and obliged the artist by singing a few lines of the track's chorus, bashfully shaking his head and smiling afterward. In the comment section of a clip of the moment posted on TikTok, glowing reactions reflected widespread admiration for not only the show, but also the notable and fun gesture of inclusion. "Good vibes," one said, while another commended, "Absolutely love Kool and Gang and his gesture and the way he treated the security." A third presumed, "you made his day," as an additional comment dubbed the band "Still Kool as ever, wow wow 🔥🔥." Yet another fan insisted the show was rated a "20/20." Paris was just one stop on theSummer Madness 2025tour, which continues across Europe throughout the season. With shows lined up in Prague, Madrid, Milan, Lyon, and more, the band is riding a wave of renewed interest and cross-generational excitement. Next:Fans Say Iconic Hitmaker 'Did Exactly the Right Thing' After Concertgoer Threw Item on Stage During Show Legendary '70s-'80s Band's Fans Surprised With an Unexpected Moment During Concertfirst appeared on Parade on Jun 24, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 24, 2025

Legendary '70s-'80s Band's Fans Surprised With an Unexpected Moment During Concert

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NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket: Drivers, seedings, matchups, races, dates

NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket: Drivers, seedings, matchups, races, dates

TheNASCAR Cup Seriesis set todebut its inaugural In-Season Challenge, in which 32 drivers are seeded and bracketed into a tournament, like March Madness or a tennis draw. The In-Season Challenge, which will run for five weeks, is actually a series of individual races within five larger races. The drivers will not only be competing to win the weekly race as they normally would, but they will also be facing off in head-to-head matchups with the goal of finishing better than their opponent in the race and advancing to the next round. The drivers were seeded based on their finishes at three previous races – atMichigan,Mexico CityandPocono– with the bracket placing the top two seeds on opposite halves of the draw. That means if the tournament holds to form, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds would not meet up until the final, presuming they both advanced through each round. The winner of the inaugural In-Season Challenge will take home $1 million. The first round begins Saturday, June 28 at Echo Park Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) and features 16 head-to-head matchups among the 32 drivers. Beat your head-to-head opponent and you advance to the second round. Sixteen drivers will be eliminated after the first round. Does that sound complicated? If so, we have you covered with the list of seeds, how the rounds work, every first-round matchup and where and when each of the five In-Season Challenge races will take place. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Ryan Blaney,No. 12 Team Penske Ford Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet The NASCAR In-Season Challenge puts the 32 drivers in a bracket, which begins with 16 first-round matchups. The No. 1 seed faces the No. 32 seed in the first round, the No. 2 seed takes on the No. 31 seed, No. 3 matches up with the. No. 30 seed, etc. The losers of the head-to-head matchups will be eliminated, and the 16 winners will advance to the second round, where the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 32 matchup will face the winner of the No. 16 vs. No. 17 matchup, the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 31 matchup takes on the winner of the No. 15 vs. No. 18 matchup, etc. Like March Madness, the tournament will move from a Round of 32 to a Sweet 16 to an Elite Eight to a Final Four and finally a championship race. First round:32 drivers in 16 head-to-head matchups; 16 drivers eliminated at end of race. Second round:16 drivers in eight head-to-head matchups; eight drivers eliminated at end of race. Third round:Eight drivers in four head-to-head matchups; four drivers eliminated at end of race. Fourth round:Four drivers in two head-to-head matchups; two drivers eliminated at end of race. Fifth round:Two drivers in a head-to-head matchup; winner wins the in-season challenge. TOURNAMENT:Full visual NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket Here are the pairings for the first-round race at Echo Park Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) on Saturday, June 28. The winner of each head-to-head matchup advances to the next round. Top halfof draw No. 1 Denny Hamlin vs. No. 32 Ty Dillon No. 16 Kyle Busch vs. No. 17 Brad Keselowski No. 8 Alex Bowman vs. No. 25 Joey Logano No. 9 Bubba Wallace vs. No. 24 Daniel Suarez No. 12 John Hunter Nemechek vs. No. 21 Josh Berry No. 5 Chase Elliott vs. No. 28 Austin Dillon No. 13 Ross Chastain vs. No. 20 Erik Jones No. 4 Christopher Bell vs. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Bottom half of draw No. 2 Chase Briscoe vs. No. 31 Noah Gragson No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 18 William Byron No. 7 Ryan Blaney vs. No. 26 Carson Hocevar No. 10 Kyle Larson vs. No. 23 Tyler Reddick No. 11 Michael McDowell vs. No. 22 AJ Allmendinger No. 6 Ty Gibbs vs. No. 27 Justin Haley No. 14 Zane Smith vs. No. 19 Austin Cindric No. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 30 Todd Gilliland All times Eastern Echo Park Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) Saturday, June 28 | 7 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast Chicago street race Sunday, July 6 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast Sonoma Raceway Sunday, July 13 | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast Dover Motor Speedway Sunday, July 20 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, July 27 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket: Drivers, seedings, matchups, races

byLiam Oneel

in

June 23, 2025

NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket: Drivers, seedings, matchups, races, dates

NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket: Drivers, seedings, matchups, races, dates TheNASCAR Cup Seriesis set todebut its inaugural In-Season Cha...

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Reds designate Jeimer Candelario for assignment, still owing him $22.5 million through 2026

Reds designate Jeimer Candelario for assignment, still owing him $22.5 million through 2026

TheCincinnati Redsannounced on Monday that infielderJeimer Candelariohas been designated for assignment by the team. In doing so, the Reds will still be on the hook to pay the 10-year major leaguer the remaining $22.5 million he's owed on the final year and a half on his contract Candelario, 31, is batting .113/.198/.213 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in 91 plate appearances this season. He had just finished a minor-league rehab assignment while finishing out an injured list stint for a lumbar spine strain. Rather than add him back to the active roster, the Reds decided to cut ties with the underperforming veteran. "At the end of the day, you have to look at it as a sunk cost because you can't bring a player that's not going to help his team win," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Kralltold The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans. While Cincinnati isn't getting impactful production fromSpencer Steer(.230/.287/.352, 6 HR) at first base orSantiago Espinal(.244/.295/.290) andChristian Encarnacion-Strand(.202/.229/.384, 5 HR) at third base, all three players are less expensive and younger. Steer and Encarnacion-Strand started at their positions forMonday's matchupwith theNew York Yankees. Candelario signeda three-year, $45 million free agent dealwith the Reds in December 2023 after hitting .251 with an .807 OPS and 22 home runs for theWashington NationalsandChicago Cubs. The $22.5 million he's owed by Cincinnati comes from the remainder of his $16 million salary for this season, next year's $13 million and a $3 million buyout from an $18 million mutual option for 2027. That total surpassesthe $22 million that Cincinnati still owed Mike Moustakaswhen he was released in January 2023. The Reds have five days to explore a trade, but no MLB team will likely want to pick up that $22.5 million. Especially when Candelario wasn't hitting well on his rehab assignment, batting just .211/.318/.333 in 15 games. The same applies if a team were to claim Candelario on waivers. So he will likely opt for free agency and look for a team that needs infield depth for the prorated major league minimum salary. Or the Reds could release him before that five-day period finishes. In his 10 MLB seasons, Candelario has batted .237/.315/.411 with 190 doubles, 110 home runs and 384 RBI with the Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Nationals and Reds. That includes a .207/.265/.394 slash average with 22 homers and 66 RBI for Cincinnati.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 23, 2025

Reds designate Jeimer Candelario for assignment, still owing him $22.5 million through 2026

Reds designate Jeimer Candelario for assignment, still owing him $22.5 million through 2026 TheCincinnati Redsannounced on Monday that infie...

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