MLB investigating incident involving Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Braves' Eddie Perez

MLB investigating incident involving Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Braves' Eddie Perez

The MLB is looking into potential threats thatAtlanta Bravesassistant coach Eddie Perez may have made towardNew York YankeesinfielderJazz Chisholm Jr. The incident is said to have stemmed froma moment when Perez pointed at his headwhile talking with Chisholm during a game on Saturday that ended with the Yankees earninga 12-9 victoryover theBraves. Perez, who was seen jawing with the infielder while standing on the steps of the home dugout at Truist Park, had become upset that Chisholm appeared to be relaying signs from second base to his teammateAnthony Volpe, who was at the plate during the sixth inning against pitcherRafael Montero. Volpe hit a sacrifice flyball to center field that allowedGiancarlo Stantonto score and movedTrent Grishamto advance to second base and Chisholm to third. Chisholm was seen making a crying gesture with his hands before waving off Perez. Chisholm was seen during the game's broadcast in the dugout, still talking about the verbal exchange that had taken place. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was jawing with Braves coach Eddie PerezYankees broadcasters Michael Kay and Joe Girardi believe Perez was threatening to have Jazz hit in the headpic.twitter.com/Se7KU4tY5U — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia)July 20, 2025 Eddie Perez had told MLB.com that he wanted the Yankees star to think about his actions, which could've been viewed as a threat and insinuated as a potential warning that he may get hit with a pitch the next time Chisholm was at the plate. "I was just saying, 'Be smart.' I like that guy. He's one of my favorites," The Braves assistant coachtold MLB.comabout the incident with Chisholm. "And he got mad about it. I don't know why he got mad about it. So, I was like, 'Take it easy,' and he started doing some (stuff)." It is legal to relay signals as long as it is done naturally and without assistance from electronic communication. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also addressed the situation beforethe Yankees-Braves gameonSunday. "Every team now, from the start of the year to the end, you're trying to find little advantages out there," Boone said. "You're trying to find little ways to help you win a ballgame. "That's all within the parameters of the rules. Every team we play against is no different and we're not either. So you're constantly trying to find advantages where you can and where they present themselves in a certain game. That's all good." Chisholm did not have a comment on Sunday regarding the situation with Perez. 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:MLB investigating incident involving Jazz Chisholm Jr., Braves coach

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

MLB investigating incident involving Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Braves' Eddie Perez

MLB investigating incident involving Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Braves' Eddie Perez The MLB is looking into potential threats th...

Read More

NASCAR: Denny Hamlin holds on for chaotic overtime win at Dover after hour-long rain delay with 14 scheduled laps to go

NASCAR: Denny Hamlin holds on for chaotic overtime win at Dover after hour-long rain delay with 14 scheduled laps to go

Denny Hamlin's victory Sunday at Dover looked pretty safe with 14 laps to go. Ross Chastain's crash brought out a late caution flag and rain started to pour not long after the yellow was thrown. Hamlin was leading teammate Christopher Bell and likely thought he had his fourth win in the bag. Not so fast. With the heavy rain being fairly brief, NASCAR immediately worked to dry the track. Roughly an hour after the race was red-flagged, it resumed for eight scheduled green-flag laps. The actual number ended up being far fewer than that. Bell spun to trigger a multi-car crash while racing with Hamlin for the lead on the first restart, and then Hamlin had to hold on for two more restarts to get his Cup Series-leading fourth win of the season as he kept teammate Chase Briscoe at bay over the final two laps. It ended up being a stellar day for Hamlin on the track after a less than ideal week in the courtroom. Hamlin's 23XI Racing team lost its charters along with Front Row Motorsports as a federal judge refused to grant the teams a temporary restraining order to keep them. The ruling was part of the teams' months-long battle with NASCAR over the sanctioning body's franchising agreement. Both 23XI and FRM sued NASCAR, claiming that NASCAR was monopolistic as it gave its teams just hours to sign a new charter agreement in the fall of 2024. Sunday's race ended up going seven laps over its scheduled distance thanks to the two crashes after the rain delay. After Bell spun to start a crash that included Noah Gragson and William Byron, Zane Smith and Ryan Preece crashed after that restart. Briscoe, meanwhile, worked his way through the field after pitting for two fresh tires immediately after the rain delay. Hamlin, Bell and others at the front of the field opted to stay out on older tires knowing that passing was incredibly difficult all day at Dover thanks to the aerodynamic deficiencies of the current Cup Series car. The rain delay put NASCAR in a unique situation. In most instances, a red flag for rain with less than 20 laps to go equals an automatic end to the race. You can understand why. It's a lot of track drying work for little payoff. Eight laps of green-flag racing at Dover is less than four minutes. But the quickness of the rain — and the concrete track surface — gave NASCAR a reason to think it could finish the race. And sure enough, it ended on a mostly dry track. It was an eventful payoff for the fans who stuck around both at the track and on TNT. On a slow sports afternoon followingScottie Scheffler's dominant British Open victory, NASCAR didn't have much competition for viewers' attention. And restart highlights make for great social media clips. But you can also see the argument against restarting the race. Especially if you're a fan of Bell, Byron or anyone else who saw their days go south after the rain delay. It would have been surprising had a crash or two not happened over the final eight scheduled laps. Drivers know restarts are their best chances to gain track position even when passing isn't as difficult as it was at Dover on Sunday. The myriad tire strategies only added to that likelihood as the speed discrepancies between drivers on older and newer tires can easily create contact. Crashes, of course, increase costs for teams. And this is a NASCAR that has cut track time in recent years in the name of cost savings for its competitors. Even as the sun quickly shined following the rain, cutting the race short by just 14 laps is an easily defensible situation. This is, after all, a regular-season race in the middle of the summer. It's not a playoff race. Had Chastain not crashed and the rain hit with less than 10 laps to go, it's very easy to see how NASCAR calls the race early. But the final 20-plus actual laps produced more action than the first 386 laps did combined to provide a notable end to what had been a snoozer of a race. Had someone like Briscoe, Kyle Larson or another driver who hardly led a lap all day ended up winning after the rain, the outcome might be hard to stomach. Instead, the guy who was winning when the rain fell ended up showing why he's a title contender yet again by getting the winner's trophy over an hour later than he might have expected.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

NASCAR: Denny Hamlin holds on for chaotic overtime win at Dover after hour-long rain delay with 14 scheduled laps to go

NASCAR: Denny Hamlin holds on for chaotic overtime win at Dover after hour-long rain delay with 14 scheduled laps to go Denny Hamlin's v...

Read More

Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play

Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play

Linkin Parkhas been through the rock 'n' roll gauntlet, but the musical warriors are forging ahead. The Grammy-winning alt-rock group, previously fronted by lead singerChester Bennington, opened up about its latest lineup with co-lead singerEmily Armstrongin an interview withThe Guardianpublished Friday, July 18. The Dead Sara frontwoman was enlisted by Linkin Park after the band ended its indefinite hiatus following Bennington's 2017 death. However, Linkin's changing of the guard was not without controversy. The group's selection of Armstrong sparked backlash among fans, in part due to Armstrong'salleged ties to the Church of Scientologyand convicted "That '70s Show" actorDanny Masterson. Even Bennington's family, namely mother Susan Eubanks and son Jaime Bennington, criticized the lineup change. "I was a little bit naive about it, to be honest," Armstrong, 39, told the British outlet of the controversy. "But I'm old enough to know the difference between real life and the internet." Offering his take on the backlash, co-lead singer and rhythm guitarist Mike Shinoda suggested that the selection of a female vocalist may have drawn the ire of fans because listeners were "used to Linkin Park being six guys and the voice of a guy leading this song." "There were people who lashed out at Emily, and it was really because she wasn't a guy," Shinoda, 48, said. "They were just so uncomfortable with what it was that they chose a ton of things to complain about. They're pointing in 10 different directions, saying: 'This is why I'm mad, this is why the band sucks.'" "From Zero,"Linkin Park's first album with Armstrong, was released in November and peaked at No. 1 onBillboard's Top Rock Albums chart. The band is currently playing on theFrom Zero World Tour, which is expected toreturn to North America on July 29with a show in Brooklyn, New York. Linkin Park album review:Rockers roar back as they start 'From Zero' with singer Emily Armstrong Linkin Park is honoring its musical legacy on the road, but there are some boundaries. The band, whose early hits "In the End," "Crawling," "Numb" and "Breaking the Habit" helped define 2000s alternative rock, pays tribute to its iconic catalog in thesetlist for the From Zero World Tour. "We all wanted our show to be really good vibes," Shinoda told The Guardian. "I want you walking away feeling like, this was such a wonderful, special, fun night." Chester Bennington's mom 'repelled'by Linkin Park performing with new singer To that end, the band is refraining from performing a handful of songs that Shinoda explained would "feel weird playing" onstage, such as"One More Light."The song serves as the title track for Bennington's final album with the band (Benningtondied by suicidetwo months after the album's May 2017 release). Shinoda said the song was originally written "for a woman at the label that we worked with who passed away," but fans have since dedicated it as a tribute to Bennington. "After Chester passed, the world decided that it was about him," Shinoda said. "And so, that's just too sad to play." Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Linkin Park on Emily Armstrong backlash, playing 'One More Light'

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play

Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play Linkin Parkhas been through the rock 'n'...

Read More

Jennifer Love Hewitt Addresses Sarah Michelle Gellar Feud, Says They Haven’t Talked Since 1997

Jennifer Love Hewitt Addresses Sarah Michelle Gellar Feud, Says They Haven't Talked Since 1997

Jennifer Love Hewittis making it clear there is no bad blood between her and fellow '90s iconSarah Michelle Gellar. Hewitt, 46, put the rumors to rest regarding a feud between her and Gellar, 48, in a profile forVulture, published on Friday, July 18 — the same day the fourth installment of theI Know What You Did Last Summerfranchise comes out. The two beloved actresses co-starred in the original 1997 horror film together, and Hewitt admitted they haven't communicated since. "I honestly don't even know what that was or how that all came to be. I just think people don't want the narrative to be easy," Hewitt told the outlet. "Why do we always have to be against each other and out for each other?" "I haven't seen Sarah. Literally, we've not talked since I saw her at 18 years old when the first movie came out," she added. "That's why it's so funny to me. People were like, 'Say something back.' And I'm like, 'What am I going to say? I've not seen her.' On my side, we're good. I have no idea where this is coming from." TheCan't Hardly Waitactress shared anInstagram poston Thursday, July 17, in honor of the new slasher movie and gave a shout-out to her former castmates from the first film — which includesRyan Phillippe, and Gellar's husband,Freddie Prinze Jr. "It's time! The wait is over! 27 years ago I said what I thought was goodbye to Southport and good bye to an incredible experience," Hewitt wrote in her caption. "To everyone in the original cast you hold a special place in my teenage heart." On Monday, July 14, both theGhost Whispereralum and theCruel Intentionsactressattended the Los Angeles premiereof the film. However, they did not get a chance to chat — and Gellar explained why. "For everyone asking – I never got to see @jenniferlovehewitt who is fantastic in the movie," theBuffy the Vampire Slayer starwrote in acomment on Instagram. "I was inside with my kids when the big carpet happened. And unfortunately JLH didn't come to the after party." "If you have ever been to one of these it's crazy. I sadly didn't get pics with most of the cast," she added. "But that doesn't change how amazing I think they all are. Unfortunately some things happen only in real life and not online."

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Jennifer Love Hewitt Addresses Sarah Michelle Gellar Feud, Says They Haven’t Talked Since 1997

Jennifer Love Hewitt Addresses Sarah Michelle Gellar Feud, Says They Haven't Talked Since 1997 Jennifer Love Hewittis making it clear th...

Read More

Germany running out of defenders to face tournament favorite Spain at Euro 2025

Germany running out of defenders to face tournament favorite Spain at Euro 2025

ZURICH (AP) — Germany defender Sarai Linder has been ruled out of her team's Women's European Championship semifinal against Spain, leaving the eight-time champion short of defenders against the tournament favorites. Linder "sustained a capsular ligament injury to her left ankle" in thequarterfinal win over France, the German soccer federation said late Sunday. The Wolfsburg left back was injured in a tussle with French forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto. She received lengthy treatment and tried continuing with a bandage around the ankle but had to go off in the 20th minute in obvious pain. The federation said it wasn't clear if Linder could return for the potential final. Germany was already without injured right back Giulia Gwinn, the team captain who sustained aknee injury in the team's opening game, while defender Kathrin Hendrich'sred card against France for pulling Griedge Mbock Bathy's hairmeans she's suspended for the match against Spain. Midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken is also suspended after receiving her second yellow card of the tournament against France. Bayer Leverkusen defender Carlotta Wamser, who was sent off in thefinal group game against Sweden, could return after serving her suspension against France. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Germany running out of defenders to face tournament favorite Spain at Euro 2025

Germany running out of defenders to face tournament favorite Spain at Euro 2025 ZURICH (AP) — Germany defender Sarai Linder has been ruled o...

Read More

MLB power rankings: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leave big-bucks LA in the dust

MLB power rankings: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leave big-bucks LA in the dust

The amazingMilwaukee Brewersare the worst thing to happen to major league owners crying poor. With commissionerRob Manfredand a chorus of aggrieved billionairesinsisting the game needs a salary capand shutting down the industry to get one is inevitable, the Brewers simply went out and beat the Los Angeles Dodgerssix consecutive times in a two-week span. That run was capped by a weekend sweep at Dodger Stadium, which lifted Milwaukee into a first-place tie with Chicago in the NL Central and vaulted them over the Dodgers in overall record. And it boosted them to a season-best No. 3 position in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings. They supplanted the Dodgers in that spot, a battle that would seem an unfair fight on paper. After all, the Brewers tote a payroll of around $120 million; that's far less than the mere tax penalty - right now, anestimated$157 million - the Dodgers will pay on top of a payroll exceeding $400 million. It's a scenario that's not supposed to happen, at least among the ownership side of the looming 2026 labor fight that believes payroll most correlates with success. But rich teams have their problems, too - look at the Dodgers' pitcher IL list - and competence and desire have proven about as important as investment. And now the Brewers - winners of 10 in a row - are looking like locks for their seventh playoff berth in the past eight seasons. A look at our updated rankings: Tarik Skubal singlehandedly keeping their precarious hold on the top spot. All they do is hit bombs – and that's been more than enough. A fella named Isaac Collins went 5-for-12 in Dodgers sweep. Vlad Jr.'s first homer since June 29 powers sweep of Giants, 10th straight home win. Freddie Freeman dodges bullet, apparently, after getting struck on wrist by pitch. Isaac Paredes to IL with hamstring injury as five opening-day starters are shelved. Signing David Robertson off the street preferable to burning trade chip on a bullpen arm. Sure, everyone needs bullpen help, but these guys really do. Manage to win two of three at Atlanta without using Carlos Rodón or Max Fried. Jose Iglesias on a 10-for-21 streak. Yep, it's getting to be his time of year. And just like that: Garrett Crochet equals Tarik Skubal in ERA (2.19) and has one more strikeout (165). AfterAll-Star hubbub, Cal Raleighhas a quiet weekend, with two singles in 13 at-bats. New owner looks like a far surer bet than new stadium. They finally hit – 27 knocks in three games – yet are still swept at Toronto. Noelvi Marte moved to outfield in effort to keep Santiago Espinal's bat in lineup. Getting swept at Arizona just might put crimp in contention dreams. If they're near .500, would be stunning to see them sell at deadline. Ketel Marte misses first series afterbreak-in at home. Don't look now, but they just won a series at Philly, are a game below .500. You wonder how much they could restock farm system by trading off best bullpen pieces Joe Ryan saves them from ignominious sweep at Coors Field. Rich Hill, 45, just might emerge as rotation option. Have won six of their last eight series, split another. Might be last week as an O for Cedric Mullins, who debuted in August 2018. "If he's going to be here, he's not going to rot," says Brian Snitker of Marcell Ozuna. Their "ballpark construction cam" just shows a few piles of dirt, not unlike the mound back home in Yolo County. Interim GM says they won't trade pieces acquired from the most recent rebuild. Don't look now, but they're just four games better than the White Sox after getting swept. They're final team to complete a sweep this season. Ryan McMahon heating up a bit as trade deadline lurks. 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:MLB power rankings: Brewers rise in NL Central standings with LA sweep

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

MLB power rankings: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leave big-bucks LA in the dust

MLB power rankings: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leave big-bucks LA in the dust The amazingMilwaukee Brewersare the worst thing to happen to...

Read More

HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upset

HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upset

HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upsetoriginally appeared onParade. Christina Haackis carrying on with life afterHGTVcanceled her popular show,Christina on the Coast. "Summer so far. Basically just eating and laughing. Canceled looks good on me…. Only kidding only kidding," Haack, 42,captioned an Instagram poston July 19. It didn't take long for fans to comment on the post, letting Haack know that they're upset that her show won't be back for another season. "HGTV Has Lost Their Mind. I love Christina on The Coast. And Farmhouse Fixer. Im so upset they canceled your show. Now what?"one person wrote. "I am so bummed they cancelled COTC!!! I love it! Your kids are so cute, wow Taylor is just beautiful,"someone else said. "I sooo loved "Christina on the Coast"!!! HGTV made a very bad decision,"a third comment read. "Someone needs to start a new network to compete against HGTV. Get some people together and start a new one. The replies here including myself would welcome it,"a fourth Instagram user added. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 On July 15,Us WeeklyreportedthatChristina on the CoastandFlipping El Moussashad not been renewed by HGTV. The network also confirmed thatBargain Block, Married to Real Estate, Farmhouse Fixer, Izzy Does ItandBattle on the Beachhave also been canceled. Fans have expressed their feelings on the cancellations, withmany calling for an explanation from the network. HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upsetfirst appeared on Parade on Jul 20, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upset

HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation & Fans Are Still Upset HGTV Star Makes Comment About Shocking Show Cancelation ...

Read More

Janet Jackson Supports Her Brothers Jackie and Marlon at Their Concert in Rare Public Family Moment

Janet Jackson Supports Her Brothers Jackie and Marlon at Their Concert in Rare Public Family Moment

Heritage Live/Instagram Janet Jackson made a surprise onstage appearance to support her brothers Jackie and Marlon Jackson at their performance in England on Saturday, July 19 The singer stopped by for The Jacksons' set at the Heritage Live festivals in Reading "Words can't express how much your nephew and I enjoyed tonite," Janet wrote of watching her brothers perform Janet Jacksonmade a surprise appearance in England when she stepped out onstage to support her brothers, who were performing as The Jacksons. On Saturday, July 19, the musician, 59, attended her brothers Jackie and Marlon Jackson's performance at the Heritage Live festivals in Reading. Videos shared on Janet's Instagram Stories and photos taken at the festival show her watching from the wings with her rarely seen8-year-old son, Eissa. During their performance, Jackie, 74, and Marlon, 68, also brought Janet out onstage for a quick guest appearance. The "Together Again" singer wore a green jacket and flared jeans, and styled her in a tight bun. Heritage Live/Instagram Following the concert, Janet posted a series of clips of the concert filmed from backstage. In one video, the proud sister shared just how excited she was to see her older brothers perform. "Words can't express how much your nephew and I enjoyed tonite," Janet wrote. "It was so good seeing both of you as usual." "God bless you on your journey," she added. "We love you so much." In apostshared by the British music festival's official Instagram account, Janet could be seen grinning as she stood onstage alongside her brothers. "What a privilege it was to have a very rare appearance by @JanetJackson when she joined her brothers on stage last night at the @EnglefieldEstate and what a performance @TheJacksons gave us!" the caption read. "A real treat!" Janet Jackson/Instagram The iconicJackson family treealso includes siblings Rebbie, 75, Jackie,Jermaine, 70,La Toya, 69, Marlon, Brandon (who died after birth in 1957), Randy, 62, and the lateMichaeland Tito. Members of the Jackson familygathered on Nov. 4 to mourn Tito, whodied at age 70on Sept. 15, 2024. Michael's children,ParisandBigi (formerly known as Blanket), were in attendance at their uncle's memorial, according to photos obtained by PEOPLE at the time. La Toya and Marlon, along with Jermaine's children,Jaafar JacksonandJermajesty Jackson, were also present, per theDaily Mail. The memorial was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Janet Jackson/Instagram Janet also recently celebrated her sisters La Toya and Rebbie on their birthday by sharing a sweet childhood photo of the trio. "I miss you both tremendously and love you incredibly!!!! Have an amazing special day!!! 😘😘😘 your little sister 🥰," Janet captioned the May 29Instagrampost. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the photo, the three sisters are wearing matching black and gold ensembles. Rebbie and La Toya share a birthday, but were born six years apart. Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty One of Janet's most recent public appearances came just two weeks ago, when the singer stepped out with R&B starMaxwellon July 7, sporting an all-white pantsuit with a slicked-back bun. Photographs andfan videosshared on social media showed Janet smiling as she and Maxwell, 52, walked hand-in-hand into the Playhouse Theatre to catch the 1,500th performance ofCabaret —though Janet later confirmed to PEOPLE thatshe and the musician are "just two friends." The "Nasty" artist is set to wrap her current concert residency at Resorts World Las Vegas in September. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Janet Jackson Supports Her Brothers Jackie and Marlon at Their Concert in Rare Public Family Moment

Janet Jackson Supports Her Brothers Jackie and Marlon at Their Concert in Rare Public Family Moment Heritage Live/Instagram Janet Jackson ma...

Read More

Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV

Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) —Owen Farrellwill lead the British and Irish Lions in their last midweek game of the Australian tour on Tuesday against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. It will be the 20th time Farrell has played for the Lions and his first starting appearance since being drafted into the 2025 squad late as injury cover by his father Andy Farrell, the head coach. The former England captain went on as a second-half replacement against the AUNZ invitational XV on July 12 in his first game since early May. It'll be the first time on four tours that he'll be captaining the Lions in a game. The Lions are 6-0 so far on the tour Down Under, including a27-19 victoryover the Wallabies in the first test at Brisbane on Saturday night. Leading into the test series, the Lions beat Super Rugby franchisesWestern Force,Queensland Reds,WaratahsandBrumbiesand an Australia-New Zealand invitational XV. After the First Nations and Pasifika XV game, the Lions will turn their attention back to trying to clinch the test series in Melbourne on Saturday night. The third test is in Sydney on Aug. 2. Owen Farrell will play at inside center in a midfield partnership with Jamie Osborne of Ireland. Scotland scrumhalf Ben White will combine with England flyhalf Fin Smith in the halves. Blair Kinghorn will return from injury to play fullback in an all-Scotland back three with Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Jac Morgan, the only Welshman left in the 44-man squad, will start on the blindside flank in the tour game in a backrow that also includes young England No. 8 Henry Pollock. Three days after being involved in the 23-man squad for the first test, backrower Ben Earl and inside backs Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith will sit on the bench for the tour game. Garry Ringrose is returning from injury to take a spot on the replacements bench. Andy Farrell said the match gave all Lions players "another opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the final two tests." "The coaches' minds are open when it comes to selection, they have to be with so many players performing and pushing for places." The First Nations and Pasifika squad was selected from players with Indigenous, Fijiian, Samoan, Tongan, Maori and Cook Islands heritage and will be guided by Toutai Kefu, who won a World Cup with Australia and is head coach of Tonga. Flyhalf Kurtley Beale, who played for Australia against the Lions in the 2013 series, will lead the team which also includes Wallabies contenders Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, Filipo Daugunu and Andy Muirhead. ___ Squad: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Darcy Graham (Scotland), Jamie Osborne (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England, captain), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Ben White (Scotland); Henry Pollock (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Scott Cummings (Scotland), James Ryan (Ireland), Finlay Bealham (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland). Reserves: Ewan Ashman (Scotland), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Tom Clarkson (Ireland), Gregor Brown (Scotland), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England), Garry Ringrose (Ireland). __ AP rugby:https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV

Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) —Owen Farrellwill lead the British and Irish L...

Read More

NBA Summer League winners and losers: Charlotte Hornets win title, Kon Knueppel game MVP

NBA Summer League winners and losers: Charlotte Hornets win title, Kon Knueppel game MVP

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. The NBA Summer League is over. TheCharlotte Hornetswon the popular and essential summer league event with an 83-78 victory against theSacramento Kingson Sunday, July 20. TheNBAoffseason is officially here, though there are unresolved issues, such as the restricted free agency of Golden State'sJonathan Kuminga, Chicago'sJosh Giddeyand Brooklyn'sCam Thomas. Plus, theLos Angeles Lakersplan to finalize a deal withMarcus Smart, and theLos Angeles Clipperscould make a deal that bringsChris Paulback to the franchise. Let's take a look at what happened atSummer Leaguein Las Vegas and what the next couple of months hold for the NBA: Kon Knueppel and theCharlotte Hornetswent 6-0 on their way to securing the franchise's first Summer League title. It was also their first Summer League playoff appearance. TheSacramento Kingsfinish the season 5-1 after failing to secure their Summer League crown. The franchise did win Summer League titles in 2014 and 2021. NO. 4 PICK KON KNUEPPEL LEADS THE@hornetsTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN VEGAS 🏆🐝 21 PTS🐝 5 REB🐝 4 3PM#NBA2KSummerLeaguepic.twitter.com/MaIfk73GF9 — NBA (@NBA)July 21, 2025 Kon Knueppel was named as the MVP for the Summer League title game. He shot 8-for-21 from the field and finished with 21 points. He also shot 4-for-11 from the 3-point line. Knueppel, who was the fourth overall pick inthe 2025 NBA Draft, played with a bandage over his right eye after taking a hard fall during a game on Saturday, July 19. The wound required five stitches. The rookie told the ESPN broadcast that the biggest takeaways from playing in the Summer League was getting familiar with the NBA game and spacing. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft played in just two games, scoring 31 points on 10-for-21 shooting in his second game. Clifford had a strong Summer League in Vegas, averaging 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals, while shooting 55.4% from the field and 50% on 3-pointers. Clifford, 23, moved up draft boards as the college season progressed, and the Kings acquired him with the No. 24 pick in June. He had 19 points, 12 rebounds in five assists against Chicago. Johnson, the No. 6 selection in June, played in just two games, but averaged 19.5 points and shot 58.3% from the field and 45.5% on 3-pointers. Queen, who had surgery on his left wrist Friday and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds. Topic, a 6-6 guard who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, contributed 11 points and 7.3 assists. The Thunder drafted him No. 12 in 2024 and could be even deeper and more dangerous with his development. In a good sign for the rebuilding Jazz, Filipowski, the 32nd pick in the 2024 draft, averaged 29.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while shooting 56.1% from the field and 39.1% on 3s in three games. He scored 32 points on 12-for-17 shooting against Charlotte. Holland, the fifth pick in 2024, posted 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 4.0 steals per game and shot 52.8% from the field and 46.7% on 3s – just what the improving Pistons need in 2025-26. Shannon is pushing for a bigger role in Minnesota's rotation after solid but limited playoff minutes. The No. 27 pick in 2024, Shannon averaged 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals and shot 47.6% from the field and 38.5 on 3s. In three games, Timme, who was not drafted coming out of Gonzaga in 2023, averaged 25.3 points and 8.0 rebounds, while shooting 55.4% from the field. He dropped 30 points against Washington. The 5-8 Kawamura spent last season on a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, and his Vegas play earned him another two-way contract with the Bulls. He averaged 10.2 points and 6.2 assists and shot 41.7% on 3s. Jones, an undrafted rookie, agreed on a two-way contract with the Nuggets after averaging 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists and shooting 54.9% from the field and 46.7 on 3s. Aside from those aforementioned restricted free-agent situations and lingering deals that need to be signed, it's quiet time in the NBA for the most part. There might the other deals, and of course, teams will still be plotting to improve rosters before training camps open in October. In an NBA-adjacent event, the 2025 Eurobasket is August 27-September 14 in Cyprus, Finland, Poland and Latvia, with the knockout stage (round of 16 through the final) in Riga, Latvia. Several NBA players will participate, including the growing likelihood that Luka Dončić will play for Slovenia. The 2025-26 NBA schedule will likely will be unveiled in August. Last year, the league and teams released detailed schedule and TV information on August 15. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA Summer League winners, losers: Hornets win 2025 title

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

NBA Summer League winners and losers: Charlotte Hornets win title, Kon Knueppel game MVP

NBA Summer League winners and losers: Charlotte Hornets win title, Kon Knueppel game MVP USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links ...

Read More