Liverpool reportedly reaches deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for record-breaking $176 million fee

Liverpool reportedly reaches deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for record-breaking $176 million fee

Alexander Isak is headed to Liverpool. The club reached a £130 million deal ($176 million) to sign the Newcastle star on Sunday night, according toThe Athletic's David Ornstein. That deal would break the Premier League transfer record set earlier this summer when Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for $153 million. Sunday's deal took place just in time before Monday's transfer deadline. Isak made it clear that he wanteded out of Newcastle. He has not played in any of the club's first three Premier League games this season. Isak posted earlier this month that his relationship with Newcastle "can't continue," though Newcastle appeared to reject his requests to leave at every step. Isak missed the team's trip to Asia and didn't play in a preseason friendly, either. The striker has been training with Real Sociedad, his former club, since July and has been away from Newcastle. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Liverpool intially sent Newcastle a £110 million offer for Isak, which Newcastle rejected. Now, having raised the price, Liverpool secured their latest record-breaking addition. Isak has spent the past three seasons with Newcastle, which marked his first stint in the Premier League in his career. He had a career-high 23 goals and six assists in 34 matches last season. He's previously spent time with Real Sociedad in La Liga and Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Liverpool, fresh off its Premier League title last season, opened the year with three straight wins, including a 3-2 victory over Newcastle on Monday. The franchise has spent more than £250 million this offseason, bringing in other big names like Hugo Ekitike, Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni. It's unclear when Isak will make his debut with the club. Liverpool will be back in action Sept. 14 on the road against Burnley.

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Liverpool reportedly reaches deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for record-breaking $176 million fee

Liverpool reportedly reaches deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for record-breaking $176 million fee Alexander Isak is headed to Liv...

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Jarren Duran hits inside-the-park homer for Red Sox against Pirates at Fenway Park

Jarren Duran hits inside-the-park homer for Red Sox against Pirates at Fenway Park

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran was running to third base when he realized he needed to pick up the pace again and head for home. Duran's inside-the-park homerSunday, a three-run shot, gave Boston the lead in the fifth inning and helped the Red Sox avert a three-game sweep witha 5-2 victoryover the Pittsburgh Pirates at Fenway Park. With Carlos Narváez on third and Alex Bregman on first, Duran lined the first pitch from starter Mitch Keller into the right-center gap. The ball got past right fielder Alexander Canario, who tried to cut it off, and rolled into the Fenway triangle. Then it caromed off the side wall of Boston's bullpen and briefly got past center fielder Oneil Cruz near the 420-foot sign in right-center. As the crowd roared,the speedy Duran raced around thirdand easily beat a wide relay throw to the plate standing up. "When I was starting to round second, I was like, OK, I've got to make sure I get to three," he said. "I thought I was going to be standing up (at third). I found myself kind of lay back a little bit, then (third base coach Kyle Hudson) came back to me waving and I was like, I've got to get going again." It was the second inside-the-park homer by the Red Sox at Fenway Park this season.Wilyer Abreu hit one on June 30and became the sixth player in major league history with a grand slam and an inside-the-park homer in the same game. "I was just happy I didn't have to slide after all," Duran said. "I was like, this is going to be more of a fall than a slide." Duran's inside-the-park shot was the first of his career. "Everybody's doing the same thing in the dugout," Boston manager Alex Cora said, comparing his players and coaches to the cheering crowd. "We become fans," he explained. "Everybody's loud, everybody's sending him." ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Jarren Duran hits inside-the-park homer for Red Sox against Pirates at Fenway Park

Jarren Duran hits inside-the-park homer for Red Sox against Pirates at Fenway Park BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran was running to third base when...

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Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Robin Wright is opening up about her choice to leave the U.S. and rent a house on the English seaside "America is a s---show," she said in a new interview withThe Times. "There's a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They're living" The actress also opened up about her new relationship with architect Henry Smith, saying: "He is a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult" Robin Wrighthas a new country to call home — and she isn't regretting her decision to move in the slightest. In a new interview withThe Times, published on Sunday, Aug. 31, the actress, 59, shared that she and her boyfriend, architect Henry Smith, are renting a home on the English seaside. "It's liberating to be done," Wright told the outlet. "Be done with searching, looking and getting 60 percent of what you wanted." TheHouse of Cardsalum, who was born in Texas and raised in California, was candid about wanting to get out of the U.S., telling the newspaper: "America is a s---show." "I love being in this country," she added of England. "There's a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They're living. They're not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That's most of America. Everything's rush, competition and speed." Pascal Le Segretain/Getty According to theForrest Gumpstar, her decision to move was partially influenced by the noise of Los Angeles. "Everyone's building a huge house, and I'm just done with all that — I love the quiet. And I've met my person. Finally," she added, referring to 52-year-old Smith. Wright recalled meeting her now-boyfriend — and joked that they had some choice words for each other the first time they crossed paths. According to the model, she was sitting in a pub at the time, and asked a man if she could feed his dog when the man directed his attention to her now-boyfriend. "He goes, 'No, it's not my dog, it's his dog,' " she recalled of their first meeting. Darren Gerrish/WireImage Getty "Henry was standing at the bar, 6'2", and he put his pint down, came over to me and grabbed my shoulders," theHereactress recalled. "He goes, 'Who the f--- are you?' And I said, 'Who the f--- are you?' And that was it." "He is a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He's a man," she continued of Smith. According toTheTimes,Wright said it was "so relaxing" to be "seen and loved for who I am" after she began her relationship with Smith. 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. "That's exactly what I wanted," she shared. "I'm turning 60 and I'm, like, 'Is this it?' I love being alone and I've done that many times. But I'm, like, 'I want to grow old with somebody, and travel and see the world.' " ThePrincess Brideactress was previously married toSean Pennfrom 1996 to 2010. The former couple share two children: daughter Dylan, 34, and son Hopper, 32. Wright later wedClement Giraudetin 2018, beforefiling for divorcefrom the fashion executive in the summer of 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. She also had a brief marriage to thelateSanta Barbaraactor Dane Witherspoonfrom 1986 until their divorce two years later. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show' VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Rob...

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Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt McLain went deep for the second consecutive game to back a solid start by Brady Singer as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Sunday to snap a five-game skid and avoid a series sweep. Elly De La Cruz hit his 28th double leading off the fifth inning against Andre Pallante (6-13), and Hays followed with his 12th homer for a 5-3 lead. Hays doubled and scored on Ke'Bryan Hayes' two-out single for a 6-4 lead in the seventh, and McLain capped the scoring with his 13th homer — a solo shot off Andre Granillo in the eighth. Singer (12-9) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Tony Santillan struck out the side in the eighth and Emilio Pagán did the same in the ninth for his 26th save. TWINS 7, PADRES 2 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Byron Buxton set a career best with his 29th home run and Joe Ryan pitched seven scoreless innings as Minnesota beat San Diego. Buxton and Royce Lewis each had two hits for the Twins, who took two of three games in the series. San Diego began the day a game behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Ryan (13-7) scattered five hits and struck out eight. He threw a season-high 104 pitches while bouncing back from a pair of rough outings. The All-Star right-hander allowed 11 earned runs in nine innings over his previous two starts. Buxton sent a changeup from Kyle Hart (3-3) three rows deep into the left-field seats for a two-run shot that gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the third. It was his fourth homer in four games, surpassing his previous season best of 28 home runs in 2022. Recalled from Triple-A El Paso earlier in the day, Hart permitted three runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief as the Padres went with a bullpen game. He hit Luke Keaschall with a pitch to start the Minnesota fourth, and he scored on a single by James Outman. Keaschall and Lewis had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to make it 6-0. RED SOX 5, PIRATES 2 BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit an inside-the-park homer, Lucas Giolito pitched six effective innings and Boston beat Pittsburgh to avert a three-game sweep. In a tight race for one of three American League wild cards, the Red Sox won for the eighth time in 11 games. Alexander Canario hit a solo homer over the Green Monster for Pittsburgh, which had won nine of 12. Duran's three-run homer into the Fenway Park triangle in right-center field capped a four-run fifthagainst starter Mitch Keller (6-13), pushing Boston ahead 4-1. Coming off his best start of the season, when he went eight shutout innings last Tuesday in a victory over Baltimore, Giolito (10-2) gave up a run and three hits. He struck out six and walked five. Aroldis Chapman got three outs for his 27th save. RAYS 7, NATIONALS 4 WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam in Tampa Bay's six-run second inning, Everson Pereira drove in two runs and the Rays beat Washington to sweep the three-game series. Tampa Bay starter Ian Seymour (3-0) gave up four runs — one earned — and four hits with eight strikeouts. Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save this season. Dylan Crews singled to lead off the ninth and moved to third on a single by Daylen Lile, who tried to stretch it into a double but was thrown out by Pereira at second before Brady House struck out swinging to end the game. Josh Lowe tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pereira to make 7-0 in the third. Jacob Young doubled to drive in House in the third. Riley Adams walked to lead off the fourth and scored when Crews reached on a fielding error by third baseman Junior Caminero. House singled to drive in two runs that made it 7-4. Nationals starter Brad Lord (4-8) allowed seven runs and five hits in three innings. BLUE JAYS 8, BREWERS 4 TORONTO (AP) — Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes each drove in two runs, George Springer reached base three times and scored twice and Toronto beat Milwaukee to avoid a three-game sweep. Tommy Nance (2-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning as Toronto improved to 59-4 when scoring at least five runs. Nance was one of five relievers who combined for five shutout innings in relief of a shaky Max Scherzer. William Contreras hit a two-run home run, his 17th, and Brice Turang added a solo shot, his 16th, but the Brewers failed to set a club record with a 22nd win in August. Milwaukee went 21-9 this month. The Brewers still own the best record in baseball at 85-53. Scherzer allowed four runs and a season-high nine hits in four innings. MARINERS 4, GUARDIANS 2 CLEVELAND (AP) - Julio Rodríguez drove in two runs with an infield hit and Seattle snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a victory over Cleveland to salvage the three-game series finale. With a combined two-hitter, the Mariners extended their lead to three games over the Guardians for the third AL wild-card spot. Seattle entered play two games up on Kansas City. Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who got six strong innings from Bryce Miller (4-5). The right-hander gave up just two hits — on consecutive pitches in the third. Gabe Speier and Matt Brash each pitched a perfect inning and Andrés Muñoz worked the ninth for his 32nd save. MARLINS 5, METS 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched seven strong innings, Agustín Ramírez hit a two-run homer and Miami defeated New York in a game that got testy. The scappy Marlins took three of four from New York after losing their previous seven series. The Mets finished 11-17 in August despite scoring 177 runs and hitting 53 homers — both franchise records for a calendar month. New York leads Cincinnati by four games in the race for the last National League wild card. Alcantara (7-11) allowed four hits and struck out six. He carried a shutout into the seventh, when he gave up a leadoff single to Jeff McNeil and plunked Mark Vientos with a pitch. Alcantara and Vientos stared each other down before the benches and bullpens emptied, though no punches were thrown as players milled around the mound. Alcantara induced a pair of forceouts, the second of which scored McNeil, before striking out Starling Marte to end the inning. The right-hander has a 2.82 ERA in his past eight starts after opening the season with a 7.14 ERA through 19 outings. Senga allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings. He has a 5.90 ERA in nine starts since coming off the injured list July 11. ANGELS 3, ASTROS 0 HOUSTON (AP) — José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead Los Angeles to a win over the Houston. Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save. There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid. Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018. TIGERS 5, ROYALS 0 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tarik Skubal pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, the Tigers scored four times off Michael Wacha in the fifth inning, and Detroit went on to beat Kansas City in the rubber game of its three-game set. Skubal (12-4) struck out four and walked one while bouncing back from his first loss in more than six weeks. Jake Rogers drove in two runs for Detroit, while Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres also drove in runs. It was a crucial game between AL Central rivals. The Tigers began the day with a half-game lead over East-leading Toronto for the best record in the American League, while Kansas City had climbed within two games of Seattle in the wild-card race. Wacha (8-11) was matching Skubal into the fifth, allowing a single baserunner while striking out four. But things suddenly went awry, beginning with a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson and a one-out single by Zach McKinstry. Rogers followed with a fly ball that center fielder Tyler Tolbert badly misplayed, resulting in a two-run triple. Keith added a line drive that found a gap for a two-run double, and Torres a grounder that got through the infield to make it 4-0. Wacha left after 4 2/3 innings. He was charged with four runs and four hits and a walk. WHITE SOX 3, YANKEES 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Lenyn Sosa hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning and Chicago cooled off New York with a victory. Sosa drove a 1-2 sinker from Tim Hill over the wall in center field for his 18th homer, extending his career high. Hill (4-4) retired his first two batters before Sosa went deep. Cam Booser (2-4) got one out for the win. After Booser issued a leadoff walk to Trent Grisham in the ninth, Mike Vasil retired Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for his third save. New York had won a season-high seven in a row. It also had a nine-game road win streak. The Yankees fell three games back of AL East-leading Toronto, which held off Milwaukee for an 8-4 win. ROCKIES 6, CUBS 5 DENVER (AP) — Pinch-hitter Mickey Moniak hit a walk-off RBI triple, Tanner Gordon struck out a career-high nine and Colorado beat Chicago to avoid a series sweep. The major league-worst Rockies snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 39-98. They finished August with 11 wins, their most in any month this season. Orlando Arcia had three hits and an RBI for Colorado, and Braxton Fulford added two hits and an RBI. Ryan Ritter had two hits and scored the winning run, and Brenton Doyle drove in two runs. Gordon allowed two earned runs in six innings. Juan Mejia (2-1) picked up the win, striking out two in a perfect ninth. Daniel Palencia (1-5) took the loss. DODGERS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pinch-hitter Will Smith homered leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a victory over Arizona that prevented a three-game sweep. Los Angeles took a two-game lead in the NL West over rival San Diego,which lost 7-2 at Minnesota. Smith sent the second pitch he saw from reliever John Curtiss (2-1) a projected 420 feet into the left-center stands. His 17th home run of the season saved the Dodgers after they blew a late lead. Corbin Carroll tied it 4-all by launching a three-run homer off Tanner Scott with two outs in the eighth. Blake Treinen (1-2) pitched a perfect inning for the win. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run in seven innings and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts for the Dodgers. He retired his first 10 batters before Ketel Marte bunted for a single. RANGERS 9, ATHLETICS 6 WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Joc Pederson homered, doubled and drove in three runs, Jacob deGrom struck out six in five scoreless innings, and Texas beat the Athletics to sweep the three-game series. DeGrom (10-6) allowed two hits and walked one to help the Rangers win their fifth straight game. Josh Smith walked to leadoff the game, Wyatt Langford struck out and Pederson hit a 3-2 pitch from J.T. Ginn (2-6) down the line and over the wall in right field to make it 2-0. Josh Jung homered off Ginn to lead off the second and doubled to drive in Adolis García in the ninth. Smith hit an RBI double and scored when Pederson doubled with two out in the fifth to give the Rangers a 5-0 lead. Langford drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Ezequiel Duran before Helman singled to drive in Smith and make it 7-0. GIANTS 13, ORIOLES 2 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rafael Devers homered, doubled and drove in two runs to help Justin Verlander earn career win No. 265 as San Francisco beat Baltimore to take two of three games in their series. Verlander (3-10) struck out a season-high 10 in five shutout innings. He threw 121 pitches — his most since June 2018. He allowed three hits and walked four. The 42-year-old Verlander reached 10 strikeouts for the 73rd time and first since he had 10 against Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 2022. He tied Jim McCormick for 39th place in wins and pulled within four strikeouts of Gaylord Perry (3,534) for eighth on the career list. Devers homered off Tomoyuki Sagano (10-7) for a 1-0 lead in the first. It was his 28th of the season and 13th for the Giants. Drew Gilbert, Heliot Ramos and Devers had consecutive singles in the third for a two-run lead, and Willy Adames added a sacrifice fly. Gilbert hit a two-run triple before scoring on Ramos' single for a 7-0 advantage in the fourth. Devers doubled to chase Sugano, who allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Dominic Smith had an RBI single off Corbin Martin in a three-run sixth. Devers, Ramos and Gilbert each had three of the Giants' 16 hits. Spencer Bivens allowed two runs in the ninth but pitched the final three innings for his first career save. BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Drake Baldwin broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run homer and Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep with a win over Philadelphia. Braves rookie Hurston Waldrep pitched 5 2/3 strong innings. Jake Fraley came off the bench in the seventh and went 2 for 2. Michael Harris II also had two hits for Atlanta. Brandon Marsh homered for the Phillies, who lead the NL East by six games over the New York Mets heading into September. Matt Olson tied it at 1 with an RBI groundout for the Braves in the eighth. Fraley started the ninth with an infield single off José Alvarado (4-2) and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Vidal Bruján struck out, but Baldwin drove Alvarado's first pitch, a 98 mph sinker, over the wall in left field. Baldwin walked as a pinch hitter in the eighth and remained in the game at catcher. Tyler Kinley (4-3) tossed a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 28 chances. Waldrep continued to impress, giving up one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and four walks. After starting two games in 2024, the 23-year-old right-hander, the No. 24 overall draft pick in 2023, was called up to the Braves on Aug. 2 and has a 1.01 ERA in six outings, including five starts. Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out seven and walking one.

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt ...

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Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees' career homers list

Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees' career homers list

CHICAGO (AP) — When Aaron Judge returned to the dugout after his first-inning homer, Yankees manager Aaron Boone yelled "Yogi!" in the direction of his star slugger. Yogi indeed. Judge moved into a tie with Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra for fifth in franchise history when he hit his 358th career homer duringSunday's 3-2 lossto the Chicago White Sox. "Not getting (the win) kind of stings," Judge said, "but you know, get a chance to tie one of the greatest if not the greatest Yankee in homers is, it's pretty special. The way Yogi played the game, what he meant to these pinstripes, you knew how much it meant being a New York Yankee to him. I feel the same way. "I'm honored to wear this jersey, so it's pretty cool to be on that list with him." Judge drove an 0-2 cutter from Martín Pérez deep to center for a one-out solo shot. Judge's 43rd homer of the season had a 112.6 mph exit velocity and traveled 426 feet. He made a bid for another homer in the third, but his drive went off the wall in center for a double. He also singled in the fifth and popped out for the final out of the seventh. Batting with a runner aboard with one out in the ninth, he flied to center. "Just missed the last one," Boone said. "I thought he made the right move on the pitch. Looked like he got a hanger there that I thought he put a great swing on. He got under it a little bit and hit it straight up in the air. So those things happen." The 33-year-old Judge also connected for a solo homer inNew York's 11-inning victoryat Chicago on Saturday night. The two-time AL MVP and seven-time All-Star batted .241 (20 for 83) with six homers, 12 RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 24 games in August. Next up for Judge and the Yankees is four consecutive series against playoff contenders, beginning with the opener of a three-game set at Houston on Tuesday night. "That's what we want," said Judge, who signeda $360 million, nine-year contractwith New York in December 2022. "It's coming down to the wire. We want to play the best teams and especially getting down the stretch here into the postseason, this is what it's all about." Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (659 homers), Mickey Mantle (536), Lou Gehrig (493) and Joe DiMaggio (361) are on top of the Yankees' career homers list. Judge's drive produced the first change in the franchise's top five since Mantle hit his 203rd career homer on Aug. 7, 1957, snapping a tie with Bill Dickey. Judge was selected by New York in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft and made his debut with the Yankees in 2016. Berra was 90 when he died in 2015. "Didn't get to see him too much. He was definitely around over at big league camp," Judge said. "But he was a special individual. A lot of the veteran guys talk highly of him. It was probably some of their favorite memories, you know, coming to spring training was having a chance to talk with him during camp, just hear some of his stories." Judge was activated from the 10-day injured list on Aug. 5 after being sidelined by a flexor strain in his right elbow. He has been serving as the team's designated hitter, buthe could return to the outfieldat some point this season. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees' career homers list

Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees' career homers list CHICAGO (AP) — When Aaron Judge returned to the dugout after hi...

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Tennis star Kamil Majchrzak meets young fan who had hat snatched from him in viral US Open video

Tennis star Kamil Majchrzak meets young fan who had hat snatched from him in viral US Open video

Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak has met the young fan who had a hat snatched from him in a viral video clip after one of Majchrzak's matches at theUS Open. Majchrzak gave the boy aUS Open-branded bag of gifts, including another cap, and posed for photos alongside him, posting the encounter to his Instagram stories on Saturday. "Today after warm up, I had a nice meeting," he wrote. "Do you recognize (cap emoji)?" "Hello world, together with Brock, we wish you a great day," he wrote in another story. The two first encountered each other when Majchrzak was signing souvenirs for the crowd, after Majchrzak's second round win against Karen Khachanov on Thursday. The Pole took off his cap and appeared to pass it to the boy who was clutching a giant tennis ball with both hands. As the boy reached out to take the cap, a man standing next to him snatched it away and gave it to a woman who put it in her handbag despite the boy's visible protestations. The boy and the man appeared not to know each other. The clip subsequently went viral on social media, with one X post alone gathering 10 million views. Social media users identified the man as a Polish CEO, whose company was review-bombed with hundreds of one-star reviews on Trustpilot, all referencing the incident. CNN has not been able to independently verify the man's identity and has reached out to the company for comment. After seeing the incident, Majchrzak launched a search for the boy, posting on his Instagram story, per Sky News, "Hey guys, could you help me find the kid from my match." He later posted, according to Sky News, "I am impressed by the power of the Internet. We got it! All good now." After defeating No. 9 seed Khachanov, Majchrzak was forced to retire during his third round match against Leandro Riedi due to a torn intercostal muscle. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Tennis star Kamil Majchrzak meets young fan who had hat snatched from him in viral US Open video

Tennis star Kamil Majchrzak meets young fan who had hat snatched from him in viral US Open video Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak has met ...

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‘SNL’ Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels’ Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as ‘Weekend Update’

'SNL' Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels' Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as 'Weekend Update'

At "Saturday Night Live," there's drama before you get to the comedy. Every year at about this time, credulous observers of the venerable late-night NBC showcase get flustered by a series of cast changes that roll out about four to six weeks ahead of the next season premiere of the program. Sometimes, "SNL" just adds a few featured players. In other years, a good chunk of cast veterans opt to depart. At some points in time, cost constraints or network edicts have forced executive producer Lorne Michaels to make personnel moves he might not otherwise wish to put into practice. More from Variety Devon Walker Responds to Fan Support After 'SNL' Exit: 'Y'all Acting Like We Died' Michael Longfellow Exits 'SNL' After Three Seasons Emil Wakim Exits 'SNL' in Season 51 Shake Up The increase in hand-wringing around the process, which has become an ingrained element of the "SNL" calendar, is more humorous than some of "SNL's" skits. In recent days, three young members of the "SNL" cast —featured player Emil Wakimand early-tenured Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow — have announced their exits from the show, and it seems pretty clear the departures weren't made by choice. What's more, veteran Heidi Gardner,who seemed to devise a new voice for every sketch character she playedon "SNL" over eight seasons, is leaving, presumably opting to exit after a period of time that seems suitable for most people who join the show. Some media outlets have referred to the exodus as a "bloodbath" or "earthquake." It's really anything but. Simply put, Michaels has raised his expectations for cast members –particularly featured players — since 2000. Michaela Watkins and Jenny Slate were each ousted from the program after a single season despite gaining traction with characters such as Angie Tempura and Tina-Tina Cheneuse. So too in recent years were people like Rob Riggle, Noel Wells, Brooks Whelan, Luke Null, Chloe Troast, Tim Robinson and John Milhiser. Even some who make the jump to regular cast, like Punkie Johnson, leave unexpectedly. While there has been no backlash to Wakim, Walker or Longfellow, there is an argument that can be made that none of the trio has truly "broken out" during their time on air in ways that contemporary cast members such as Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang or Ego Nwodim have. In an era when much of "SNL" is consumed by its youngest viewers via social media or streaming video hours after the show runs on late Saturdays, Michaels may have little choice but to put his resources behind talent that generates more viral pass-along. And while the impresariorecently gave the news outlet Puck a wide-ranging interview about "SNL" matters great and small, it's interesting he wasn't asked (at least not for print purposes) about whether his show has come underthe same economic scrutiny as the rest of NBC's late-night schedule (and late-night TV in general.) NBC hasscaled Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" down to four original telecasts a week, versus its previous five (no doubt, a second year of Fallon doing a handful bespoke post-"Sunday Night Football" shows is part of the network's calculus) andtaken away the live band that boosted Seth Meyers' "Late Night."Does any of that mean "SNL" is limited in how many cast members it can accommodate each season? Does the show have to cut down on its many extras, such as the live "backstage llama" that often turns up whenever cameras take viewers backstage (to this reporter's eye, the animal hasn't surfaced on camera since Aubrey Plaza hosted the show in 2023)? Only Michaels and NBC late-night chief Katie Hockmeyer know for sure. Meanwhile, people who stay at the show for years are eventually going to leave — and "SNL" will continue until the senior executives at NBCU and parent Comcast determine its costs outweigh the benefits of having it on air. Over the years, the program has weathered the exits of Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig. Chances are it will absorb a few others. To be certain, more "SNL" changes may lie in the offing. How many more years can Kenan Thompson continue on cast after 22 seasons? Do "Weekend Update" co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, each of whom has tested projects outside the show in recent years, have other ideas in the works? And, certainly, there have beenmoments when cast departures truly rattled the show. In the early part of last decade, "SNL" bid farewell to Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, all roughly a season after the exits of Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig. In 2022, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Pete Davidsonall left at the same time,followed afew months later by Cecily Strong.Too many cast farewells at once may leave the remaining members of the "SNL" troupe with many of shoes to fill, sometimes without a full pipeline of developing players. For the most part, however, people who are animated by every year's late-August burst of "SNL" personnel news ought to see it for what it is: a well-devised promotional tactic from Michaels and NBC that gets people talking about the show after it has been on hiatus for a few months. Consider the fact that there hasn't been a fresh episode of "SNL" since Scarlett Johansson hosted in mid-May, and yet dozens of news stories and reams of online chatter about the program continue to surface. Bloodbath? Earthquake? Shocker? Sure, you can call the cast announcements any of these things. Something may happen in coming days that truly warrants such colorful words. But the smarter "SNL" aficionado might do well to quote the catchphrase of Emily Litella, the popular "Weekend Update" character played by early cast member Gilda Radner: "Never mind." Best of Variety Samsung, Sonos, Criterion Collection Among Top Brands on Sale for Labor Day - See Running List Here What's Coming to Disney+ in September 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

‘SNL’ Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels’ Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as ‘Weekend Update’

'SNL' Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels' Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as 'Weekend Update' At "Saturday Nigh...

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'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

Will a "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" film starringDaniel Radcliffe,Emma WatsonandRupert Grintever happen? Don't hold your breath, director Chris Columbus says. Columbus, who directed the first two movies in the "Harry Potter" franchise, has previously expressed interest in turning the "Cursed Child" stage play into a film that would bring back the original cast. But ina new interview with The Sunday Timespublished on Saturday, Aug. 30, the filmmaker said this is no longer possible due to authorJ.K. Rowling's anti-trans controversy. "It's never going to happen," he said. "It's gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible." Columbus added, "I haven't spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what's going on with her, but I keep very close contact with Daniel Radcliffe and I just spoke to him a few days ago. I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast." Rowling, the author of the "Harry Potter" books, has become a divisive figure in recent years due to heranti-trans views. In April, sheagain drew backlashwhen she celebrated a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman refers to biological sex under equality legislation. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have all made it known that they disagree with the author's views on the transgender community. J.K. Rowlingsays 'Harry Potter' stars who've criticized her anti-trans views 'can save their apologies' "Transgender women are women," Radcliffesaid in 2020. "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either (Rowling) or I." "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," which opened on the West End in 2016, takes place 19 years after "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and features the return of an older Harry, Hermione and Ron. In a 2021 interviewwith The Hollywood Reporter, Columbus revealed he wanted to bring the play to the big screen with the original film trio. J.K. Rowlingcelebrated UK Supreme Court ruling with a cigar. Backlash was swift. "A version of 'Cursed Child' with Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it's cinematic bliss," he said at the time. "If you're a film nerd or cinephile, it's kind of like what J.J. (Abrams) did with 'Star Wars.' ... I think that would be the same situation for 'Harry Potter' fans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films." Since then, HBO announced a new"Harry Potter" televisionseries, which will adapt the original books starring young actors in the lead roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Rowling is a producer on the show,and she says she"worked closely" with the writers. In arecent appearance on the "Rest Is Entertainment"podcast, Columbus said that while he's "excited" to see the HBO show, he was surprised when he saw a photo of Nick Frost as Hagrid, adding that the costume looked quite similar to the way Hagrid appeared in his "Potter" films. "He's wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid," Columbus said. "Part of me was like, 'What's the point?' I thought everything was going to be different, but it's more of the same." Though a "Cursed Child" movie may not be in the cards,Tom Felton announced in Junethat he will reprise his film role of Draco Malfoy in the play beginning in November. Feltontold Varietyhe is "not really that attuned to" the controversy surrounding Rowling, adding, "I have not seen anything bring the world together more than 'Potter,' and she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." Contributing: Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Harry Potter' director rules out 'Cursed Child' film over J.K. Rowling

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy Will a "Harry Potter and the Cursed Chi...

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DaRon Bland contract: Cowboys extend CB on four-year deal

DaRon Bland contract: Cowboys extend CB on four-year deal

TheDallas Cowboyshave agreed to terms on a contract extension for a key, All-Pro defensive player. Obviously, it's notMicah Parsons. Instead, cornerbackDaRon Blandgets his deal, according tomultiplereportsSunday: a four-year, $92 million extension with $50 million in guaranteed money. Bland earned his first Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods in 2023 after leading the NFL with nine interceptions, including five that he returned for a touchdown. It was an excellent follow-up to something of a breakout rookie year with his five interceptions in 2022. The All-Pro corner missed the first 10 games of the 2024 season while recovering from a stress fracture he suffered during training camp. Bland did not record an interception in his seven appearances after his return. 1989: Cowboys trade Herschel Walker to Vikings for picks haul Now, after an offseason that already included an extension for tight end Jake Ferguson and, notably,not one for Parsons, theCowboyshave locked up their former fifth-rounder four days before the start of the season. Here's what to know about Bland's extension: MICAH PARSONS TRADE:Cowboys deal 4x Pro Bowler to Packers in blockbuster Length:Four years Value:$92 million ($50 million guaranteed) Average annual value (AAV):$23 million Bland's four-year, $92 million extension includes $50 million in guaranteed money, the 12th-most money in guarantees at the position and notably ahead of fellow Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs' $42.3 million in guarantees. The deal's $23 million average annual value (AAV) is the sixth-highest of all cornerbacks, just behind Broncos cornerback – and reigning Defensive Player of the Year – Patrick Surtain II. The Cowboys' decision to extend Bland instead of Parsons will be even more notable given its timing. Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay on Thursday and extended Bland three days later. The value of each player is obviously different, a statement backed up by the fact that the AAV on Parsons' new deal with the Packers is more than twice that of Bland's. Still, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has certainly put more of a microscope on how Bland performs after receiving his new extension, given its timing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DaRon Bland contract details after Cowboys grant CB four-year deal

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

DaRon Bland contract: Cowboys extend CB on four-year deal

DaRon Bland contract: Cowboys extend CB on four-year deal TheDallas Cowboyshave agreed to terms on a contract extension for a key, All-Pro d...

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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid probe

Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid probe

Major League Baseball and its players association extended the non-disciplinary paid leave of Cleveland Guardians right-handers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz "until further notice" amid an ongoing sports betting investigation. Ortiz and Clase were placed on leave July 3 and July 28, respectively. The leave had been set to expire on Sunday prior to the extension. "We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation," the Guardians said in a statement. The regular season ends Sept. 28. Clase, 27, is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 24 saves in 48 appearances this season. He led the American League in saves and made the All-Star team in each of the three previous campaigns and had a career-high 47 saves in 2024. Clase is 21-26 with 182 saves and a 1.88 ERA in 366 career games (one start) with the Texas Rangers (2019) and the Guardians. According to reports, Ortiz's investigation focuses on in-game prop bets involving two pitches that garnered higher activity than usual. One was tossed in a June 15 game against the Seattle Mariners, and another on June 27 versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Ortiz, 26, is 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts this season. The native of the Dominican Republic was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a three-team trade that included the Toronto Blue Jays on Dec. 10. --Field Level Media

byLiam Oneel

in

August 31, 2025

Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid probe

Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid probe Major League Baseball and its players association extended the non-disc...

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