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Wyndham Clark nearly makes PGA Tour history en route to victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Sun, 24 May 2026 19:46:09 -0400

After winning the 2023 U.S. Open, it seemed like PGA Tour player Wyndham Clark was about to vault his career into a new stratosphere. But it never quite took off the way many thought it might. On Sunday, Clark won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, his first PGA Tour victory since February 2024. He shot 30-under for the event, beating Si Woo Kim by three shots.

There's a common saying in golf that "some tournaments are won and some tournaments are lost." Clark won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by shooting a ridiculous 11-under 60 in the final round. He nearly holed out on the 72nd hole, which would have been an eagle and a round of 59. Had his final approach gone into the hole, Clark would have become the 16th player to post a sub-60 round in PGA Tour history.

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Kim entered the final round with a two-shot lead over both Clark and Scottie Scheffler. Kim did his part, shooting an impressive six-under 65. But he just couldn't keep pace with Clark's near-historic performance. This was a tournament Clark won, not a tournament Kim lost.

The win represented a major turnaround for Clark, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship earlier in the month. He hadn't won an event since the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and hadn't won a 72-hole tournament since the 2023 U.S. Open.

One month prior to that major victory, Clark earned his first win on the PGA Tour, finishing first at the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship. In February 2024, Clark captured the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am by shooting a course-record 60 during the third round. The tournament's final round was rained out, the event was shortened to 54 holes and Clark was declared the winner.

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Clark nearly won the 2024 PLAYERS Championship, finishing in a tie for second. In other words, a 29-year-old player who had not won a PGA Tour event in his life captured three titles in less than one calendar year, nearly winning a fourth, and one of the wins included a major. Clark even found himself on the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

But newfound success meant newfound expectations, not just from fans but from Clark himself. Unfortunately, the run between 2023 and 2024 didn't carry over. The now-32-year-old Clark never came close to winning in 2025, posting just two top-10s in 24 tournaments. He missed the cut at the 2025 U.S. Open and made headlines after destroying a locker at the prestigious Oakmont Country Club in frustration.

WYNDHAM CLARK ACCUSED OF DAMAGING LOCKERS IN CLUBHOUSE AFTER MISSING US OPEN CUT

Clark addressed his past struggles in his post-round interview with CBS golf reporter Amanda Balionis.

This is a major step for Clark, who was left off the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team, but he needs to improve his performances during the season's biggest events. While he did post a top-5 finish at the 2025 Open Championship, Clark has missed the cut in five of his past 10 major starts. The T4 at the Open represents the only top-10 he's had in a major since the U.S. Open victory in 2023.

Clark's next opportunity to take that step comes in the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, which starts on June 18.

A screenshot has WNBA fans asking: did a player endorse a threat towards Caitlin Clark?

Sun, 24 May 2026 18:10:49 -0400

The WNBA finally got people to pay attention.

Now, some of its players seem to be learning what comes with that attention.

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, also known as Tip Hayes, created a stir on social media by interacting with fans who were trashing the league's most famous player, Caitlin Clark. Hayes even appeared to laugh at one fan’s comment that seemed to imply a potential threat toward Clark.

All of this stems from a heated on-court exchange between Clark and Hayes during Friday night’s game (and subsequent postgame comments).

Clark returned from a one-game absence due to a back injury and helped the Fever beat the Valkyries, 90-82. She finished with 22 points and nine assists, while Hayes scored 19 points off the bench for Golden State.

During the third quarter, Clark drilled a deep 3-pointer from the logo while Hayes was defending. Clark appeared to say something after the shot, and Hayes responded as the two exchanged words.

That alone isn't a major issue. Trash talk is common in sports and is part of the game. Clark is certainly no stranger to trying to get into opponents' heads with both her play and her chirps.

But this situation didn't end on the court.

Hayes was later caught on a hot mic before her post game media availability saying, "They’re never going to start calling a foul on her. If they did, she would never get to play in the games."

It was not definitively clear that Hayes was referring to Clark, but given the context of the game and the online reaction to their exchange, many fans took it that way.

Then came Hayes’ social media activity.

Screenshots circulating online appear to show Hayes interacting with fans on Threads after the game. In one exchange, a fan wrote, "I talk ish, b/c you’re nvr on my teams.... but I was READY 2 support your crashOUT."

Hayes replied, "lol that’s fair."

Another fan wrote, "Your composure was much better than mine would’ve been, I’ll tell ya that!"

Hayes responded, "My growth is a gift and a curse but mostly a gift."

Then came the post that drew the most attention from Clark fans.

A fan wrote, "Listen. I got some cousins we don’t speak about that will ride at dawn upon request. Just let me know."

Hayes replied, "😂 that’s real."

Obviously, Hayes did not directly threaten Clark. The fan didn't explicitly name Clark in the post. But it seems more likely than not that the exchange is about the Fever's star player. There seems to be a section of WNBA fans who really don't like Caitlin Clark, despite everything she has done to catapult the league into relevance.

CAITLIN CLARK IS THE 'MOST POPULAR ATHLETE IN AMERICA,' WNBA COMMISSIONER DECLARES

But will the league take action against Hayes, or at the very least investigate the behavior?

The WNBA has made a public point of taking those issues seriously. In May 2025, the league launched its "No Space for Hate" platform, which it described as an effort to "combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces," including online discourse and in-arena behavior. The league said the initiative included enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online, increased security measures, mental health resources and league-wide messaging.

The league has also shown it can move quickly when allegations are made. After a May 2025 game between the Fever and Chicago Sky, the WNBA investigated claims of racist fan behavior directed toward Angel Reese near the court. The league later said it gathered information from fans, team and arena staff, and reviewed audio and video before determining the allegations were not substantiated.

The previous season, after Connecticut Sun players spoke publicly about alleged racial comments and threatening messages during the Fever-Sun playoff series, the WNBA issued a statement saying it would not tolerate "racist, derogatory, or threatening comments" made about players, teams or anyone affiliated with the league.

So, if the WNBA is going to make "No Space for Hate" a central part of its public message, it should not be difficult to ask whether that standard applies here, too.

OutKick reached out to the WNBA to ask whether the league is aware of Hayes’ social media activity, whether it plans to review or investigate the posts and whether its social media policy applies to player interactions with fans in situations like this. The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The WNBA has benefited enormously from Clark’s fame. She drives ratings, sells tickets and jerseys and creates national conversation. She has brought mainstream attention to a league that spent years begging for people to care.

But that attention also means players’ actions are going to be scrutinized in ways they may not have been before.

The WNBA cannot have it both ways. It cannot cash in on the attention Clark brings and then shrug when players appear to encourage or laugh along with reckless commentary involving her.

The WNBA wanted the spotlight. Now it has it.

Some of its players might want to start acting like they know people are watching. Or, maybe, they are acting like people are watching and this is the kind of messaging they want to spread.

Orioles star Pete Alonso commits embarrassing error while trying to pull off sneaky double play against Tigers

Sun, 24 May 2026 16:10:22 -0400

Pete Alonso tried to pull a fast one against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, but the Baltimore Orioles first baseman ultimately turned something into absolutely nothing.

During the first game of a doubleheader between the two clubs, Detroit's Dillon Dingler flared one directly at Alonso in what should have been a very simple out in the top of the fourth inning.

Instead, with there being a runner on first, Alonso opted to pass on catching the ball and taking the one out and let it fall to the ground.

This turned out to be the incorrect decision.

Alonso misplayed the hop off the dirt before one-hopping a throw to second base. Both runners were safe on the play, and the five-time All-Star was given an error on the play.

In Alonso's defense, if he had pulled off the play, he would have been applauded for making a clever and smart decision to pull off a play that you don't see all too often. However, when you take on the risk, you can get burned, and that's what happened to the former New York Met.

Alonso's blunder did lead to Detroit scoring two runs in the fourth frame, but Baltimore was able to come back and earn a 5-3 victory to snap a three-game skid.

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Despite the win, Sunday's contest was one to forget altogether for Alonso.

On top of the woeful error at first base, Alonso went 0-for-4 at the plate. While he's been able to produce runs this season with 10 long balls and 32 RBI, it's been an up-and-down year at the plate altogether for Alonso, which is reflected by his .224 batting average.

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Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles during this past offseason, a deal that carries an average annual salary of $31 million.

MLB reporters predict Dodgers could land two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in blockbuster trade

Sun, 24 May 2026 15:27:22 -0400

There's no question that the Los Angeles Dodgers have taken over for the New York Yankees as the "bad guys" or evil empire of Major League Baseball.

They've won 12 division titles in 13 seasons, and in the one outlier, won 106 games to finish one back of the San Francisco Giants. Their 2022 team was one of the most successful ever assembled, becoming just the seventh team in baseball history to win more than 110 games. Though they were quickly bounced in the National League Division Series for their troubles.

After over three decades, they finally broke through in 2020 and won their first World Series. And they haven't stopped winning them since, beating the Yankees in five games in 2024, then closing out the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 with one of the best World Series Game 7's ever.

But what makes opposing fans most upset is that they haven't rested on their laurels. Even after winning a championship, their front office has committed to improving the roster. After 2024, they signed Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Michael Conforto, and Roki Sasaki. Then, when Scott and Sasaki struggled, they signed Edwin Diaz and replaced Conforto with Kyle Tucker.

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That led to a series of complaints in the offseason that the Dodgers were "ruining baseball." That they'd run away from the rest of the league in 2026. Fast forward a third of the way through the season and LA's division lead over the San Diego Padres is all of...half a game.

With the NL West seemingly up for grabs, and facing the typical rash of pitcher injuries, the Dodgers front office could be looking to improve ahead of the trade deadline. And who offers more improvement than one of the best pitchers in baseball, Tarik Skubal?

While Skubal is set to reach free agency after the 2026 season, the Detroit Tigers seemed to want to build around him this year to make another postseason run. They signed Framber Valdez, brought back Gleyber Torres, added Kenley Jansen for the bullpen, and took a flier on Justin Verlander.

TIGERS, FRAMBER VALDEZ AGREE TO THREE-YEAR DEAL: REPORTS

To say it hasn't worked out would be an understatement. Instead of running away with a weak AL Central, the Tigers sit 10 games back of the Cleveland Guardians. They're 1-9 in their last 10, with seven straight losses. After their impressive depth shined in 2025, the player position group has declined precipitously in 2026. They're 27th out of 30 teams offensively, per Fangraphs, struggled defensively, and in the process, saw Skubal hit the injured list with arm surgery.

Given Skubal's status as a pending free agent, the Tigers collapse has led to speculation that they could look to flip the 29-year-old superstar. Enter the Dodgers.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale posted over the weekend, "The question is not when Detroit Tigers 2-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will return, but how long he will actually remain a Tiger when he does return."

Robert Murray, another MLB reporter, then added "(Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew) Friedman could go out and get him. He ups a team's chances to win the World Series by a pretty big margin. You get two starts in that five-game series. Friedman gets him, that’s my prediction."

While not mentioning a specific team, Jon Heyman added something similar, posting: "Tarik Skubal trade chances are rising. 1. Tigers have lost 14 of 16 and are in last and 5 games out in WC race. 2. Tigers have 5 starters on IL. 3. Skubal is progressing since elbow scope. 4. Tigers chances to extend him are nil."

ESPN's Buster Olney posted on the other side of a Skubal trade, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. "The table read on Harris is that he's not going to go all-in in a long-shot effort to make the postseason if he thinks he doesn't have a good enough [team]. But Skubal could have enormous value at the deadline," he wrote.

It's still relatively early, giving the Tigers time to recover. The American League is so, well, bad, this season that they're just five games out of a wild card spot even at 20-32. A potential Skubal trade is complicated by the fact that he'll need to get back to a big league mound successfully in order to re-establish the type of value Detroit would want in return. And most teams shudder at the thought of giving up quality, cost controlled future talent for a few month rental.

All that said though, where there's smoke, there's often fire. The Tigers are realistic, knowing that Skubal is likely to get $350-400 million on the open market. If their season continues to spiral, trading him could add to their already impressive farm system and allow for a quick reload. And the Dodgers are one of the few teams with the will to win, money, and prospect capital to get a deal done.

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Snell is on the injured list with an arm surgery of his own. Tyler Glasnow is out with back problems. Sasaki, while showing signs of improvement, still has a 4.93 ERA and would likely not be trusted to start in a postseason series. Justin Wrobleski and Emmet Sheehan have also been inconsistent and would hardly stand in the way of adding Skubal.

Since the start of 2023, Skubal's put up a 2.41 ERA in 84 games, striking out nearly 11 hitters per nine innings with a 31.2% strikeout rate and just 4.5% walk rate. There are few pitchers you'd rather have starting a playoff game. And the Dodgers farm system has plenty of players that could tempt Detroit.

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Outfielders Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, and Mike Sirota are all top prospects. James Tibbs III has hit 11 home runs in 48 games in AAA with a .316/.424/.599 batting line. Alex Freeland has already shown flashes of being an above average player in the big leagues. Emil Morales has a .955 OPS in single-A as a shortstop. And Charles Davalan has looked impressive in high-A.

Would fans be happy about it? No, they certainly wouldn't. Is a trade guaranteed? Also no. But the Dodgers have the prospects, they have the money to try and entice Skubal to stay with an extension, and they have the desire to make history with a three-peat. It's hard to imagine a better October rotation than Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. If the Tigers keep losing, Dodgers fans might not have to imagine it.

Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs Game 4 best bets include a side and two player props

Sun, 24 May 2026 14:39:12 -0400

Besides the New York Knicks, who are destroying the East, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the most impressive performance so far this postseason vs. the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

The Thunder weathered the storm after the Spurs 15 points in their 123-108 Game 3 win. The foul merchant himself, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, overcame a poor shooting performance Friday to score a team-high 26 points by hitting 12-of-12 free throws.

However, Oklahoma City won Game 3 thanks to its terrific bench and by keeping Victor Wembanyama off the glass, as he grabbed the fewest rebounds (four) among San Antonio's starting 5.

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They run it back Sunday with OKC holding a 2-1 series lead. Without further ado, here are my looks for the Thunder-Spurs Game 4 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

Best Bets for Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs Game 4

San Antonio Spurs -2.5 (-110) at FanDuel, risking 1.1 units (u).
Thunder SG Jared McCain UNDER 13.5 points (-125) at DraftKings, risking 0.63u.
Spurs C Victor Wembanyama OVER 13.5 rebounds (+105) at DraftKings, risking 0.5u.

Oklahoma City's depth will be tested Sunday. The Thunder could be missing All-Star wing Jalen Williams, aka J-Dub, who is questionable for Game 4, and they will definitely be without 2025-26 NBA Sixth Man of the Year finalist, Ajay Mitchell.

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But OKC's bench stepped up in a big way for Game 3. Especially PF Jaylin Williams and SG Jared McCain. Williams scored 18 points and went 5-for-6 from behind the arc. McCain added 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting.

This leads me to my first player prop for Game 4: Jared McCain UNDER 13.5 points. Out of principle, I have to bet on a bench player's Under after a career-best playoff performance.

First of all, McCain had the unlimited green light Friday and I'm literally betting on him getting less usage despite OKC missing two rotation players. He attempted the most field goals for either team in Game 3. That's insane for a backup in a conference finals.

Also, McCain went 3-for-4 with Wemby defending him Friday. That's almost impossible and indicates just how irrationally confident he was in Game 3. Whether it's pure regression or coaching adjustments by the Spurs, McCain will come back down to earth Sunday.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

My second player prop is Victor Wembanyama OVER 13.5 rebounds (+105). He has grabbed 14+ rebounds in seven of his 13 games this postseason. Wemby was injured in and ejected from two of the games in which he fell short of 14 rebounds.

Wembanyama will be pissed after his team blew a 15-0 lead to start Game 3 and he got out-rebounded by all of San Antonio's starters and Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein. This should motivate Wemby to dominate the paint and glass more Sunday.

Finally, I'm sticking with my pre-series read that the Spurs would advance to the NBA Finals and I'm betting them to even the conference finals, and cover the -2.5, before heading back to OKC for Game 5.

Maybe it's a year or two too soon for San Antonio and I'm just wrong. But I cannot believe Oklahoma City is good enough or deep enough to beat Wembanyama without its second-best player, J-Dub.

Prediction: Spurs 113, Thunder 107

_____________________________

Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.

Charles Barkley gets into hysterical back-and-forth with Knicks star OG Anunoby about his 'real name'

Sun, 24 May 2026 09:13:01 -0400

New York Knicks star OG Anunoby spoke with the "Inside the NBA" crew following his team's blowout victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, and as is often the case with the legendary bunch, the conversation quickly went off the rails.

When it became Charles Barkley's turn to ask Anunoby a question, he wasn't concerned about learning anything at all about the game that had just taken place. Barkley instead wanted to ask the Knicks' forward a personal, albeit incredibly basic, question.

When Barkley prefaced the moment by asking Anunoby, "Can I ask you a question?" you just knew that a classic moment from Chuck was about to unfold, which is exactly what happened.

"OG, can I ask you a question? What is your real name?" Barkley asked, which is a fact he could have learned himself in approximately four seconds with a quick Google search.

The back-and-forth that then unfolded, which included Barkley joking that OG wasn't saying his own name correctly, did not disappoint.

CHARLES BARKLEY ADMONISHES SOCIETY FOR BEING HOMOPHOBIC IN VIRTUE-SIGNALING RANT ABOUT JASON COLLINS' DEATH

The Knicks-Cavaliers series hasn't exactly had too many worthwhile moments on the court with New York flexing its muscles and taking a 3-0 lead, but at least we have Chuck pumping some life into the postgame.

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Anunoby put together a very efficient performance to help lead his Knicks to a 121-108 victory in Cleveland on Saturday. The 28-year-old scored 21 points while going 3-for-4 from three-point range to go along with seven rebounds in 31 minutes of action.

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The Knicks will be looking to complete their second consecutive postseason sweep on Monday in Cleveland. If New York does go on to win the series, it would punch its ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Game Four between the Knicks and Cavaliers is set for a tip-off time of 8 p.m. ET on Monday night.

Trans track star sweeps three events, shares first-place podium and qualifies for CA state meet yet again

Sun, 24 May 2026 07:23:42 -0400

"It’s an outlier."

That’s the common argument from left-wing transgender activists.

They say that biological males taking the spotlight from girls in girls' sports isn’t the big deal that it’s made out to be by "the right" ... because it "hardly ever happens."

Tell that to the high school girls from California, like senior Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran, who are watching it happen, yet again.

Transgender track athlete AB Hernandez was standing atop multiple podiums on Saturday and is now making a beeline for the upcoming California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state championship girls' track meet — for the second straight year.

CALIFORNIA GIRLS TRACK STAR OPENS UP ON VIRAL PODIUM PROTEST OF TRANS OPPONENT AND IF SHE'LL DO IT AGAIN

The fact that this is happening at all is once too often for these girls, not because they are mean or unkind, unempathetic or uninclusive. But because they are competitive, and because they seek a level playing field, and because they have dreams, too.

Hogan, a favorite in the high jump, did not qualify for state in that event this year, and buried her head into her father’s chest as that reality hit her after her final jump.

Meanwhile, the reality for Hernandez, a frequent jumping rival of Hogan’s, is quite different. Hernandez is going to state at Buchanan High School in Clovis next weekend in high jump and two other events after a big day in the Masters (state qualifying) Meet at Moorpark High School.

PLANE FLYING 'NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS' BANNER OVER TRACK MEET GOES VIRAL AS TRANS ATHLETE DOMINATES

"This is all a farce," a retired California high school track official who calls himself a longtime track junkie told ӣ��Ƶ Digital/OutKick as he watched the girls high jump competition with careful interest. "It’s like coming up with a language to describe all of this and no matter how nonsensical it is, you make it the truth."

Hernandez, a 5-foot-9, 120-pound senior from Jurupa Valley High School, has made national headlines the last two seasons while competing for the school’s girls volleyball team and the girls track team.

Unlike a previous round of the California state track meet earlier this month, there were no protests about Hernandez from organizations such as "Save Girls Sports."

TRANS TRACK ATHLETE AB HERNANDEZ'S MOM SHARES CRITICAL POST OF SCHOOL OFFICIALS OVER PODIUM PLACEMENTS

Hernandez brushed that off and got down to business quickly, making a clean sweep of three events. Hernandez took first place in the long jump (20-feet-0.75), first place in the triple jump (40-feet-7) and first place in the high jump (5-foot-8).

Of course, Hernandez will be a favorite in all three events at state next weekend, and will look for even more hardware this time around. In 2025, with wins in the high jump (5-foot-7) and triple jump (42-02.75), Hernandez was a two-time state champ, but fell just short in the long jump.

State records have also become vulnerable during this two-year run by Hernandez. Last year, Hernandez was about two inches off from California’s all-time triple jump mark (45-04.25), set by by KeNyia Richardson of Oakland Holy Names in 2007. Hernandez will get another crack at setting state meet records next weekend.

TRANS ATHLETE QUALIFIES FOR CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AMID FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

To some, it’s surreal that opportunity even exists.

"I have a son, and I would never let my son compete against my daughter," one high jump mom told OutKick. "Especially in a sport that’s already been decided is an all-girls sport."

While the playing field seems uneven between the girls and Hernandez, the CIF attempted an intervention of sorts.

CALIFORNIA'S GIRLS' SPORTS CULTURE WAR AMPS UP WITH MASSIVE PROTEST, OUTRAGE OVER RECENT TRACK AND FIELD TITLE

Thanks to a CIF rule, Hernandez was forced, on Saturday as well as during the previous round, to physically share that top spot on the podium.

As if in a quiet acknowledgment of the problematic nature of these circumstances, the CIF requires that, in later competition rounds of the state competitions, any trans athlete who places in an event must share the podium with the next highest-placing female, standing side by side.

Riley Gaines, host of the "Riley Gaines Show" on ӣ��Ƶ, articulated that spectacle perfectly with a post on X last Sunday:

RILEY GAINES: BATTLING FOR FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S SPORTS IS RISKY BUT NECESSARY

"If you have to create a shared podium for the boy competing in the girls’ event, you’ve already admitted you know he isn’t a girl and that his participation is unfair. At that point, you're just seeking a public humiliation ritual for the girls.

Throughout Saturday, parents and fans and even the competitors themselves clapped politely for each and every performance, including those of Hernandez, showing an undeniable respect for all involved. But during the podium celebration for the high jump and triple jumps, some loud boos could be heard.

"I mean, this is a male competing against women," the former high school track official said of the podium dominance by Hernandez. "To even have a debate on this is a non-starter, unless you are pushing an agenda. It’s just not right."

CALIFORNIA TOWN RALLIES BEHIND TRUMP AS IT HOSTS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP AMID TRANS ATHLETE CONTROVERSY

While some fans and parents of the other girls are focused on the fairness of this issue, the mother of Hernandez, who spoke with ӣ��Ƶ Digital/OutKick on Saturday, but only off the record, recently told another outlet that she is concerned that her child is being used as a political pawn.

"I told AB, this is a [midterm] election year," Nereyda Hernandez said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. "They’re gonna hit us hard, because they’re using us for their campaigns."

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, certainly has not hesitated to show his willingness to clap back at the Trump administration over this issue.

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"The Governor has said discussions on this issue should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect. He rejects the right wing’s cynical attempt to weaponize this debate as an excuse to vilify individual kids. The Governor’s position is simple: stand with all kids and stand up to bullies," a statement from Newsom’s office read.

"California is one of 22 states that have laws requiring students be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and it was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown."

In February 2025, surrounded by women and girls, President Donald Trump signed an executive order called "Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports."

TRUMP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES TITLE IX PROBES INTO 2 BLUE STATES ALLEGEDLY IGNORING TRANS ATHLETE ORDER

"It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy," the order read. "It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth."

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Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. The directive establishes government-wide policies that interpret "sex" as the gender assigned at birth. It mandates federal agencies to strictly enforce Title IX and threatens to pull federal education and athletic funding from schools that allow transgender women to compete on female teams.

California has openly defied that order.

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And as has been the case all season, Hernandez continues to compete. And win.

Three more state championships, in a girls sport, are within reach next weekend.

Iranian national team to train in Mexico during World Cup after base camp switch, federation leader says

Sat, 23 May 2026 21:40:05 -0400

As next month’s highly anticipated World Cup approaches, participating nations are finalizing base camps across the tournament’s three host countries to serve as training headquarters during the competition.

The U.S., Canada and Mexico are co-hosting this year’s World Cup.

However, Iran’s national team — which has faced heightened scrutiny leading up to this summer’s World Cup — recently learned it will not be based in the United States once the tournament begins. According to the president of Iran’s soccer federation, the team will instead establish its base camp in Mexico.

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Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement released by the federation’s media relations office. FIFA did not immediately confirm the move.

Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but a move has been a possibility because of uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex declined to comment.

WORLD CUP TEAMS FINALIZE US BASE CAMPS AS HOST CITIES PREPARE FOR GLOBAL CROWDS

According to Iran's soccer federation, the team's base will now switch to south of the California border to Tijuana, Mexico.

"All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA," Taj said in his statement. "Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved."

Iran plays Group G games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The federation said Tijuana’s relatively close proximity to the Los Angeles area will benefit the team and the new location "includes all training facilities, gym, private restaurant and everything else the team needs."

Iran’s men’s national team, also commonly referred to as Team Melli, is set to appear in its fourth consecutive World Cup. The team has never advanced beyond the group stage.

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Iran’s federation said moving the base camp will resolve potential visa issues since the team will enter the U.S. through Mexico. The president said that the team "may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights."

The World Cup opens June 11 and concludes July 19 with the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Giants' Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart squash potential locker room rift over Trump event appearance

Sat, 23 May 2026 19:31:57 -0400

Despite some concerns that the New York Giants might have a locker room issue on their hands between linebacker Abdul Carter and quarterback Jaxson Dart, it appears they've buried the hatchet.

On Friday, the 23-year-old quarterback out of Ole Miss, who impressed in his rookie campaign, introduced President Donald Trump at an event in Suffern, New York.

Dart led the crowd in a chant before bringing the president on stage.

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Video of this was widespread on social media, but it was Dart's teammate, Carter, who had something to say about it.

That led to a lot of debate about athletes and politics, but there was also some concern over whether or not this could be the start of a rift in the Giants' locker room.

That would be a big problem as Dart and Carter — a 22-year-old out of Penn State who appeared in all 17 games for the G-Men last season — are widely considered key pieces as the team works to get back to some winning ways.

STOP COMPARING JAXSON DART'S NEW YORK TRUMP RALLY SPEECH TO COLIN KAEPERNICK'S ACTIVISM

Carter quickly put an end to the latter by hopping on X to let everyone know that he and Dart are on good terms.

Now that's how you do it.

No sub-tweeting, no digs in the press, just two dudes with a minor disagreement hashing it out man-to-man and then moving on.

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Hopefully, we see more things handled this way, and it looks like, at least for the time being, Giants fans can rest easy.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is putting in some pace car reps before the Indianapolis 500

Sat, 23 May 2026 18:53:20 -0400

It's always cool to say you got the chance to drive the pace car for any race, but having them toss you the keys for the Indianapolis 500?

It doesn't get any better than that, and this year, that honor goes to one of the most popular people in Indiana these days, Indiana Hoosiers head football coach Curt Cignetti.

The great thing about driving the pace car is that, unlike a ceremonial first pitch, which has no bearing on the game (although, how fun would it be if it did?), the pace car driver can impact the race.

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You've got to be going the right speed so that the cars are able to get their tires up to temperature safely.

WNBA SUPERSTAR CAITLIN CLARK WILL BE THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THIS YEAR'S INDIANAPOLIS 500

Go too slow, and you're going to irritate some drivers.

So, it makes sense that you would do some practice ahead of time, and on Saturday, IndyCar shared some pictures and videos of Cignetti getting in some reps at the Brickyard.

Cignetti is getting quite the set of wheels to pace the field. The pace car for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. It has a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers over 1,000 hp to the rear wheels, and if that wasn't good enough, it also has an electric motor that adds another 186 hp to the front axle.

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I'm not sure what Cignetti is driving day-to-day, but that's a lot of car, so it's good that he was getting some pointers from Sarah Fisher. Fisher is a former IndyCar driver with nine Indianapolis 500 appearances under her belt and has also worked for the driver as a pace car driver.

So, if there's anyone to get some pointers from, it's her.

Cignetti and the Corvette — which sports a very cool America 250 paint scheme — will lead the field on the pace laps on Sunday, with coverage beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Fox.

Vanessa Trump calls Tiger Woods her 'strength' amid breast cancer diagnosis in touching social media post

Sat, 23 May 2026 18:25:25 -0400

Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, shared a heartfelt message on social media, calling boyfriend Tiger Woods her "strength" as she navigates her recent breast cancer diagnosis.

Vanessa shared a photo of the five children she shares with Donald Trump Jr. and another with the golf legend in a series of posts on Instagram Stories on Friday.

"My strength through it all! Family and the closest people to me," she wrote in a caption on each post.

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The post came just days after Vanessa announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had recently undergone a procedure.

"I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. While this isn't news anyone expects, I'm working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan. I would like to thank my doctors for performing a procedure earlier this week on me. I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me," he post read.

"Thank you for your kindness and support. It truly means more than I can express. I kindly ask for privacy as I focus on my health and recovery.

VANESSA TRUMP REVEALS BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN EMOTIONAL STATEMENT: 'I AM STAYING FOCUSED AND HOPEFUL'

The photo posted by Vanessa on Friday was the same photo Woods shared on X when he first announced his relationship with her in March 2025.

"Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together," he wrote in an X post at the time. "At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts."

She recently posted a message supporting Woods after he was arrested on DUI charges in Florida back in March.

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Woods was spotted earlier this month getting off his private plane at Palm Beach International Airport after staying in Switzerland for several weeks. He was previously granted permission on April 1 to travel out of the country "to enter into comprehensive inpatient treatment."

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WNBA star Caitlin Clark opens up about 'mental challenge' brought on by string of injuries

Sat, 23 May 2026 18:01:53 -0400

Caitlin Clark was a late scratch on Wednesday when the Indiana Fever hosted the Portland Fire, marking her first missed game of the season.

Indiana went on to beat the Fire 90-73, but Clark’s absence raised concerns about her availability for Friday’s matchup against the Golden State Valkyries. But those concerns proved short-lived, as Clark returned to the starting lineup and scored a team-leading 22 points to help lift Indiana to a third consecutive win.

Clark admitted that the recovery process has tested her mentally as much as it has physically.

"I think, at the end of the day, it's me and my confidence," she told reporters Friday. "Coming back from injury and having however many soft tissue injuries [in 2025] is a real mental challenge."

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Clark’s promising start to her WNBA career was interrupted by injuries in 2025. After appearing in 40 games and winning Rookie of the Year in 2024, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer was limited to just 13 appearances last season due to a groin strain and ankle bone bruise.

Clark added that her confidence can still fluctuate at times, particularly as she works through the earlier part of the season. "These are the best players in the world, and if I don't feel 100% confident in my body on Game 5 of the year, I don't know if that's really worth it in that scenario," she said.

Clark logged 32 minutes in Friday's win over Golden State, adding nine assists to her stat line to finish just shy of a double-double.

She also acknowledged the difference in physical demands compared with offseason competition.

"Yes, I played USA Basketball [this offseason], but I didn't play 32 minutes, super physical," Clark said postgame. "That's the difference for me right now, but I feel great. I think a lot of the times, it's for me the next day, understanding how my body feels and understanding that a little bit better. Obviously, your adrenaline is pumping, you don't always understand right after the game. ... Overall, I feel good. It's just continuing to take care of my body."

The Fever and Valkyries will switch venues when they meet again Thursday in San Francisco.

WINGS ROOKIE PAIGE BUECKERS SAYS EXPECTATIONS ON CAITLIN CLARK AMID SHOOTING WOES ARE 'INHUMANE'

Clark said she is still learning to give herself grace while navigating the mental side of returning from injury.

"I think there's moments where maybe I get in my head a little bit, and that's understandable," she said. "I need to have a little grace with myself. I need people to give me a little bit of grace too. When you go through so many things, it becomes a little bit traumatizing too."

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Clark said she does not expect the back soreness to become a long-term concern, adding that she is "doing everything I can to put myself in the best position I can recovery-wise ... and to play the next game."

Off-the-court, Clark unveiled the cover art of her upcoming children’s picture book, "EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams."

The book, which is scheduled for release in November, draws from Clark’s life — one she said is "like few others."

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Formula 1 legend Alain Prost reportedly injured during robbery by masked gang in Switzerland

Sat, 23 May 2026 17:25:49 -0400

According to a new report out of Switzerland, four-time Formula 1 champion Alain Prost has been injured after his home was raided by a group of masked men.

Swiss outlet Blick reported that the racing legend's home in Nyon, about 25km (15.5 miles) north of Geneva, was the target of a robbery at around 8:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

While police have not officially released the names of the victims, they did confirm that a robbery took place and that a family was targeted.

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"Several masked individuals entered the house. Once inside, they threatened the occupants and slightly injured one family member in the head, under circumstances that are still being investigated," police said in a statement, per BBC Sport.

"The perpetrators then forced another family member to open a safe before fleeing," it added.

Swiss and French police are currently working to find the perpetrators.

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Prost is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1, competing from 1980 to 1993, driving for McLaren, Renault, Ferrari and Williams.

The Frenchman won World Drivers' Championships in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993, and his four wins tie him with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen on the career championships list. They trail Juan Manuel Fangio with five, and Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, who each have seven.

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Prost's most memorable stretch came at McLaren in the late 1980s when he was in some intense championship battles with his then-teammate, F1 legend Ayrton Senna.

After retiring from F1, Prost worked in television, ran his own team known as Prost Grand Prix and most recently worked as an advisor for the Alpine Formula 1 team, a role he left in 2022.

Dust-up between Mercedes teammates in Canada Sprint shows that there's a classic title fight brewing

Sat, 23 May 2026 16:27:06 -0400

It's been a few years since Formula 1 introduced the Sprint format, and I was kind of surprised when I realized that until Saturday, Canada's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve had never hosted one.

It should probably join the rotation full-time because it delivered a race that showed us a title battle for the ages between Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell is brewing.

The Silver Arrows locked out the front row of the grid — Russell on pole and Antonelli in P2 — for the 23-lap race, and that seemed to be thanks to a new upgrade package the team brought with them to Montreal.

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Russell got a better getaway when the lights went out, but Antonelli, who has really struggled with starts, hung with him, and within a couple of laps, the two were scrapping away.

And that's when things got interesting.

Antonelli tried to make a move around the outside of Turn 1 and looked like he was ahead through the apex, but Russell came inside to take the next turn and forced Antonelli off the track.

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The 19-year-old championship leader was irate and was quick to hop on the radio and let his team know how unhappy he was with his teammate.

Not long after, Antonelli tried another move and ended up cutting another corner and bouncing through the grass.

That off allowed McLaren's Lando Norris to slip by and take P2, where he stayed.

Russell ended up winning the Sprint, followed by Norris and then Antonelli.

I think the second off Antonelli had was just entering the corner too hot, and may have been because he was still fuming from the incident at Turn 1.

Speaking of which, that one seemed pretty borderline. I think you could place the blame on either driver.

And, in fact, they saw it differently themselves.

But the biggest takeaway is that both drivers are going to do whatever they can to win this championship, and that's a great thing for fans.

Not as great for the team.

In fact, team boss Toto Wolff had to give Antonelli a talking-to multiple times during the race, including once as he was pulling into the pits at the end of the race.

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If any team is familiar with an intra-team battle for a championship and how that can go sideways, it's Mercedes.

Who knows if it will get as intense as the infamous 2016 title battle between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton — which Rosberg won, but not before the two crashed into each other during the Spanish Grand Prix — but it seems like we may have just taken the first step in that direction.

Reds All-Star pitcher Andrew Abbott proposes to Cincinnati TV anchor girlfriend

Sat, 23 May 2026 16:07:19 -0400

Cincinnati Reds All-Star pitcher Andrew Abbott just threw the most important pitch of his season, and it was an absolutely perfect strike.

Abbott took to social media to announce he proposed to his girlfriend, Lindsay Stone. Like Abbott, Stone is also very familiar among Cincinnati fans, as she has worked as a TV anchor at WLWT for the past three years.

Abbott captioned the Instagram post of his proposal, "Forever." The post showed the couple on a rooftop, with the Cincinnati skyline in the background, celebrating the engagement.

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In the background, the Reds' home stadium, Great American Ball Park, can be seen.

Stone grew up about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. She began her career covering Notre Dame football as a sports reporter and anchor at WDNU in South Bend, Indiana.

Her next move was to WTTV in Indianapolis, where she stayed until she joined WLWT. On May 14, Stone announced she would be leaving WLWT when her contract ends on May 24 in a post to social media, and did not say what she would be doing next.

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Abbott, 26, has been with the Reds for his entire four-year career. He made his first All-Star team last season, when he had a 10-7 record with a 2.87 ERA in 166 1/3 innings pitched.

After his success last season, the Reds named Abbott their Opening Day starter this season. However, he hasn’t quite seen the same results as last year.

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In 11 starts, Abbott has a 4-2 record with a 3.97 ERA. He has struggled with command, as he has walked 26 batters and struck out 38.

Abbott has seemed to catch his stride of late, as he has a 4-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 19 strikeouts in his last five starts.

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New York ready to combust as NYPD shut down Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden

Sat, 23 May 2026 15:30:14 -0400

The New York Knicks are two wins away from going back to the NBA Finals for the first time this millennium, and the city that never sleeps may not know what to do with itself if they make it there.

We all saw how electric Madison Square Garden was for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, just imagine how much that place will be rocking if the Knicks can host a game with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the building.

The entire roof may cave in!

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And it's not just limited to home games either, as the fans have been clamoring to get an outdoor watch party outside of MSG organized to watch the Knicks on the road.

The NYPD, however, isn't about to let that happen.

There's a fine line between acting like a crazy fan and breaking the law, and sometimes having a preemptive plan in place is the best move.

I reached out to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for comment, and although she hasn't responded yet, I sympathize with her position.

ICONIC SPORTS VENUE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TO HOST NYPD, STAFF AT PRIVATE CONCERT AMID 'THANK YOU' EFFORT

She's between a rock and a hard place with this one.

No one wants to deny Knicks fans a watch party, but it might be a wise decision to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand.

There were a handful of arrests due to "fan rowdiness" after Game 2, which might explain the decision to pull the plug on the proposed watch party.

This makes sense too, given the recent incidents that have occurred in resort towns in nearby New Jersey, though this certainly wasn't a popular decision among fans.

With all that being said, I need to see the city of New York in the NBA Finals like I need air to breathe.

Watch party or not, the whole city might combust if the Knicks win an NBA Championship.

The ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes will be legendary, but there's business to attend to first.

The Knicks will have to buckle down and win two of the next four contests against a scrappy Cleveland Cavaliers team, but the fans will unfortunately have to watch from the comfort of their own couches.

There will be no "rowdiness" in the streets of NYC, at least not for Knicks fans.

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This may be the most absurdly juiced athlete competing in the Enhanced Games this weekend

Sat, 23 May 2026 15:12:17 -0400

What would it be like to watch a group of world-class athletes juiced to the gills, with legs the size of tree trunks and biceps big enough to need their own area code, compete on the world stage? That’s exactly what the Enhanced Games aim to find out when the controversial competition kicks off on Sunday, May 24.

The Enhanced Games, often referred to as the "Steroid Olympics," are a new Olympic-style sports competition founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza. The project was inspired by the idea that elite sports already operate in a gray area of performance enhancement, and that athletes should be allowed to openly use medically supervised enhancement technologies instead of hiding them. I’d be willing to guess that the "Steroid Era" of baseball, where Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were launching bombs left and right, was his favorite era.

ATHLETIC EVENT THAT ALLOWS STEROIDS SUES WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY, SWIMMING GOVERNING BODIES FOR $800 MILLION

Organizers frame the event as pro-science, with a hyperfocus on a "human optimization" alternative to the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency systems, arguing that modern anti-doping rules are hypocritical, outdated and restrictive. I disagree, but watching these athletes make Steve Rogers-like transformations has been wild to witness, and the games haven’t even started.

Unlike the Olympics, athletes competing in the Enhanced Games are allowed to use performance-enhancing substances such as testosterone, HGH and EPO under medical supervision, though organizers say drugs must be regulated and monitored.

As for the most juiced athlete we’ve seen so far, look no further than Australian swimmer and former Olympian "The Missile" Magnussen.

DONALD TRUMP JR INVESTS IN SPORTING EVENT THAT WILL ALLOW STEROIDS

He is easily the most significant transformation. He quite literally looks like a combination of the Michelin Man and Arnold Schwarzenegger. My goodness! Look at those traps.

Magnussen was one of the top sprint freestyle swimmers of the 2010s and one of Australia’s most accomplished male swimmers in the 100m freestyle. He became the first Australian man ever to win the 100m freestyle world title, capturing gold at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and was a three-time Olympic medalist.

For the inaugural Enhanced Games this weekend, Magnussen will also wear a full-body polyurethane super swimming suit that was banned after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Magnussen is reportedly 6’6" 250 lbs. For comparison, Michael Phelps is reportedly 6’4" 195 lbs. Dude is a walking, talking tank.

The Enhanced Games also recently released substance-use data from its clinical trial, revealing that 91% of athletes used testosterone, 79% used HGH, 62% used stimulants such as Adderall, 50% used metabolic modulators, 41% used EPO and 29% used anabolic steroids. So yes, these athletes will basically be superhuman.

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The inaugural competition is being held in Las Vegas and features track and field, swimming and weightlifting events with massive cash incentives, including reported million-dollar bonuses for breaking recognized world records.

Competitors reportedly include Olympians and former world champions such as Fred Kerley, Ben Proud, James Magnussen, Hafthor Bjornsson, Kristian Gkolomeev and Reece Prescod.

Next, I need them to set up a home run derby with baseball players juiced with special appearances by Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco. I'll tune in for that as well.

SEC fans would trade every non-revenue sport to even sniff a football national title, and they aren't wrong

Sat, 23 May 2026 15:07:51 -0400

College football in the South is basically a religion.

It makes sense since most of the programs are located in cities that aren't even close to a pro football team, but I swear some of these fanbases care more about their SEC squad than members of their own family.

That's not me trying to speak from a place of moral superiority either, because I definitely fall somewhere in that category being a diehard Florida Gators fan.

One USA Today writer found this out the hard way when she posed a simple question on X: "Would most South Carolina fans trade three women's basketball national championships for one football national title?"

HEAD BALL COACH STILL HAS IT: STEVE SPURRIER RIBS DABO SWINNEY DURING SOUTH CAROLINA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

The question was part of a larger article from Lauren Beasley that argued the merits of the Gamecocks' women's basketball team, and you can read it yourself if you have the time, but the responses to her question are what fascinated me more than anything.

It didn't surprise me, and I really hope she wasn't expecting anything different, but the nearly universal consensus was that, yes, most Gamecock fans would dismantle every non-revenue sport to even sniff a national championship in football.

Here's the thing, too: they aren't wrong.

FLORIDA COACH JON SUMRALL REVEALS EARLY CAREER STRUGGLES, LIVING IN SLUMS OF SAN DIEGO AND 'CARRYING A GLOCK'

I've had discussions with other Gator fans, and maybe it's because I'm a fan who never went to the University of Florida, but I would trade just about any other sport to see Florida win another natty in my lifetime.

Baseball, softball, those are no-brainers, but it goes even further beyond that.

There are times during mid-November over the past few years when the Gators are once again in danger of missing a bowl game when I would gladly make a deal with the Devil and trade any success all four of my pro sports franchises have experienced and ever will experience for my college football team to be relevant again.

I've witnessed two World Series (Marlins), three NBA Championships (Heat) and, most recently, back-to-back Stanley Cups (Panthers), and although the latter would be tough to give up, I'd sell them all for another Gators national championship.

I'm not a unique case, and I'm probably not even the most diehard college football fan, though I'd like to think I'm up there.

Hell, a Bama fan poisoned a bunch of trees and went to jail just because his bitter rivals won a championship, you don't think he'd tell Nate Oats to kick rocks if it meant he could witness one more Crimson Tide championship (if he were still around, that is. RIP Harvey Updyke)?

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I'm sure many people from the Northeast probably think I'm a loon, but when people say "it just means more" to SEC fans, this is what they're referring to.

I'm convinced Beasley knew exactly what she was doing when she asked this question, and she knew what the overwhelming responses would be.

Ask any SEC football fan, and you're bound to get a similar response.

They don't even need to be the Harvey Updykes of the world. They just need to love their team.

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It's not a knock on women's basketball either, it just shows how much these football programs mean to these fans.

The religion of college football is strong in the South, and everything else just plays second fiddle.

Bet on a shootout in the New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals

Sat, 23 May 2026 14:56:32 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers need Game 3 like blood. The New York Knicks won and covered the first two games of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals and no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs.

I’m zig-zagging off the Game 2 result, which I correctly bet to go Under 215.5 as New York beat Cleveland 109-93.

KNICKS WILL TAKE COMMANDING 3-0 LEAD AS CAVALIERS FACE MUST-WIN GAME 3 AT HOME IN CONFERENCE FINALS

Usually, playoff games slow down as a series progresses. But the Cavs are a jump-shooting, finesse team, and that style should translate better at home.

Cleveland’s offense should wake up at home

James Harden and Cavaliers guards Max Strus and Sam Merrill should be more comfortable in their home gym.

Cleveland’s regular-season home/road splits don’t support that, partially because one-third of the NBA was tanking, so the Cavs played well just about everywhere.

In these playoffs, though, Cleveland has been much better offensively at home.

2026 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS BEST BETS, ODDS, PICKS: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS NEW YORK KNICKS

The Cavaliers are 5-2 to the Over at home this postseason, averaging 114.6 points per game (PPG) on 49.4% field-goal shooting. On the road, they are 5-4 to the Over while scoring just 104.4 PPG on 42.8% shooting.

The Knicks have too many ways to score

Meanwhile, New York has too many offensive answers.

Jalen Brunson went from a ball-dominant, isolation-scoring guard in the second half of Game 1 — when the Knicks needed him to bail them out — to a floor-general and offensive maestro in Game 2, dishing out 14 assists.

That matters because New York doesn’t need one specific version of Brunson to put up points. He can beat teams as a scorer or as a passer.

Also, Cleveland’s defense is mid. It looked better than it really is in the first two rounds because the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons are garbage offensively.

Knicks big Karl-Anthony Towns Is Due

KAT hasn’t taken many shots so far in this series, and Cavs PF Evan Mobley and C Jarrett Allen have done a great job defending him.

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But Towns is due for a breakout scoring performance in these playoffs.

And when Towns is feeling it, he can score against anyone in the NBA.

New York has already exploded on the road

NYK’s two highest-scoring games this postseason have both come away from home.

The Knicks dropped 140 points on the Atlanta Hawks in a closeout game in the first round. Then, New York put up 144 points in Philadelphia to sweep the Sixers in the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

So, yes, playoff basketball generally slows down. However, this matchup has enough shooting, scorers and guys who can draw shooting fouls to get past this number.

Best Bet: OVER 215.5 in Knicks at Cavaliers Game 3

_____________________________

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Giants star Abdul Carter takes issue with teammate Jaxson Dart introducing Trump at New York rally

Sat, 23 May 2026 11:36:51 -0400

New York Giants star quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump before his speech in Suffern, New York, on Friday, and teammate Abdul Carter took issue with it.

Dart, 23, set the stage for Trump’s speech with a chant before welcoming the president onto the stage.

"Big Blue Nation, it’s a pleasure to be here. I got to start this off with a ‘Go Big Blue,’" Dart said, and then led the chant for a few moments before proceeding to introduce Trump.

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"What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here, and without further ado, I’m grateful, I’m honored, I'm pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th president of the United States America, President Donald J. Trump."

Trump and Dart then shook hands on the stage before the 23-year-old departed.

Carter reposted the video of his teammate introducing Trump, and expressed his frustration.

"Thought this s—t was AI, what we doing man," Carter posted to X.

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Carter and Dart were both first-round picks by the Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter was selected with the No. 3 overall pick out of Penn State, while Dart was selected with the No. 25 overall pick out of Ole Miss after the Giants traded up to get him.

Both players are being relied upon to be cornerstones of the franchise, and both showed promise in their rookie seasons.

Carter, 22, played in all 17 games and recorded 43 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks. He played his best football toward the end of the season.

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Carter did, however, face disciplinary measures for attendance and tardiness issues, as he was benched for the opening drive in one game and the first quarter in another.

Dart played in 14 games in his rookie season, starting 12 of them. The team had a 4-8 record in his starts, as he completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards, with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He was also dynamic as a runner, rushing the ball 86 times for 487 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

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WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella challenges WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham to a match

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:15:09 -0400

Athletes and celebrities get in on wrestling all the time, and now WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella is calling for WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham.

From the mere mention of that, the powers that be at the WWE are thinking about how they would swan-dive, Scrooge McDuck-style, into a pile of money if this happened.

According to ClutchPoints, late last year, Cunningham was asked which wrestlers she would like to face in a match.

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Nikki Bella's name came up, and now she's responding.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Bella didn't just accept; she called on Cunningham to round up her Indiana Fever teammate, Clark, to make this a tag match with her and her twin sister and fellow Hall of Famer, Brie Bella.

"Sophie Cunningham has said that she's wanted to take me on, so I'd like to take her and Caitlin Clark on; that'd be fun," Bella said. "She started it; we'll finish it."

FEVER'S SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM REVELS IN POSSIBILITIES WITH NEW TEAMMATE CAITLIN CLARK: 'SHE JUST WANTS TO WIN'

All right. I've heard enough. This needs to happen.

Hey, if the WNBA isn't going to capitalize on Caitlin Clark's popularity, then others are going to. IndyCar has her serving as the grand marshal for this year's Indianapolis 500, so why wouldn't the WWE want to find a way to get her in the ring?

They've thrown celebrities in matches many times over the years. Jelly Roll has wrestled a couple of times recently.

So, c'mon, let's make this happen.

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Of course, it can't happen too soon.

Last month, Nikki Bella had to step aside from the Bella Twins' match at WrestleMania and was replaced by Paige, who made her big return to the WWE. Brie Bella and Paige ended up winning the match and are currently the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.

Russian hockey team wins second-straight championship, goalie immediately drops the trophy

Fri, 22 May 2026 19:23:38 -0400

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: Russia's Kontinental Hockey League could not feel more like the bizarro NHL.

Over the years, we've had dogs attacking players after ceremonial faceoffs, dudes dropping cellphones on the ice and coaches with downright absurd haircuts.

Now, they've apparently got the heaviest trophy in all of sports, as evidenced by a goalie who tipped over as soon as he tried to lift it.

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Teams in the KHL play for the Gagarin Cup, which is, of course, named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

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That's super badass, by the way. Hey, U.S. leagues, you've all missed the boat by not naming a trophy after an astronaut.

Anyway, this year's winner of the Gagarin Cup was Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, who defeated Ak Bars Kazan in Game 6 of the final to win their second straight championship.

Just like in the NHL with the Stanley Cup, players hand off the Gagarin Cup to each other and skate it around a little.

Well, when it was Lokomotiv Neminder Alexei Melnichuk's turn to skate the Gagarin Cup, he had a bit of an issue.

After swinging the Cup above his head, he seemed to underestimate just how heavy the trophy was, and at a certain point, gravity took over.

It was very cool of Melnichuk to use himself to break the Gagarin Cup's fall.

Fortunately, the trophy was still in one piece after that tumble, and I'm sure it was only about 20 minutes from being full of beer.

Or, let's be real, vodka.

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Melnichuk played three games with the San Jose Sharks in his career, and the Lokomotiv roster has a few names that will be familiar to NHL fans.

Richard Panik, who played in more than 500 NHL games, is on the team, as is former Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov, who led the team in points this season.

For the second straight year, Wienie 500 electrifies a hungry nation as Indy 500 appetizer

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:27:00 -0400

There are just certain moments in sports that can bring a tear to your eye and make you proud to be an American.

The Wienie 500 is one of those moments.

Last year’s inaugural race — held on Carb Day, the final day of practice before the Indianapolis 500 — featured six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles racing around the Brickyard, with Slaw Dog claiming the maiden victory.

It was magic.

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Six giant motorized hot dogs racing around one of the most iconic 2.5-mile tracks on the Earth.

It's a cliché, but the European mind truly can't comprehend that. They'd probably call them "sausages" too, instead of hot dogs or wieners.

Technically, they are sausages, but hot dogs occupy their own uniquely American category.

I'll die on this hill.

The festivities got underway with comedian Andy Richter serving as Commander in Beef and singing the Oscar Mayer jingle with a barbershop quartet while dressed like Lyle Lanley from the "Marge vs. the Monorail" episode of "The Simpsons."

After that, Richter gave the command to fire up the glizzies.

All the talk going into this race centered on the new addition to the field, Corn Dog, who introduced a controversial aero package that included a stick.

Corn Dog managed to pick up a place at the start, but the action was at the sharp end of the field with a very questionable bit of defending from Chi Dog that sent the Seattle Dog off the track in an act of self-preservation.

On the final lap of the two-lap sprint, we were treated to some incredible three-wiener-wide racing down the backstretch.

FOX NEWS SPORTS HUDDLE NEWSLETTER: INDY 500 READY FOR GREEN FLAG

I mean, the stones on these wieners to send it like that.

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New York Dog was practically shot out of a cannon, and that move on the backstretch proved to be the winning one.

The crowd wasn't crazy about it, but in the annals of Wienie 500 — all two years, but I think that's enough to count as an annal — that was an instant classic.

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Corn Dog was a little underwhelming, but the added drag from that stick may have done them in.

Well, they’ve got 365 days to get that thing into the wind tunnel and roll out an upgrade package for 2027.

Kyle Busch 911 call reveals driver was coughing up blood, struggling to breathe on bathroom floor

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:04:48 -0400

Partial audio from the 911 call made for NASCAR star Kyle Busch has been released, painting a grim picture for the now-deceased driver.

In the audio, first obtained by TMZ, an unidentified man is heard explaining the situation to a dispatcher, saying Busch was coughing up "some blood" and was short of breath.

"I have got an individual that [has] shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he wants to pass out. He produces blood... coughing up some blood," the unidentified man says. "He is awake. He's on the bathroom floor right now."

Here's the full audio:

NASCAR CHAMP KYLE BUSCH HOSPITALIZED WITH UNDISCLOSED BUT "SEVERE ILLNESS," WILL MISS COCA-COLA 600

Kyle Busch death rocks NASCAR

Busch, 41, died Thursday after a brief hospitalization. He reportedly collapsed in a race simulator Wednesday and was transferred to a hospital in Charlotte, N.C.

Busch's family, along with NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, announced his passing Thursday evening.

NASCAR'S KYLE BUSCH SAYS HE WANTS TO BEAT COMPETITION 'INTO THE GROUND,' DOES NOT MAKE FRIENDS WITH DRIVERS

"Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series," the statement said.

"His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’"

Busch was a two-time Cup champion and a future Hall of Famer. He'd been in the Cup Series since 2004, making 762 career starts with 63 wins. Busch won the championship in 2015 and 2019, and had 234 victories across all three NASCAR national series.

He is the all-time record-holder for wins in both the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69).

Busch's most recent win came one week ago at Dover, when he led 147 laps in a dominating Truck Series victory.

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"You never know when the last one is," Busch said after the win.

Busch’s stunning death is the second tragic loss for NASCAR in the past six months. Former Cup driver Greg Biffle died in a plane crash last December, along with his wife and two children.

Dillon Brooks trolls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's flopping with knock-off "Operation" Game

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:42:54 -0400

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard and back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a flopper. That’s a fact, just as the sky is blue.

Doris Burke has called him a "free throw merchant" on a broadcast, ESPN’s Jay Williams is going viral ahead of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder for saying there’s "too much foul-baiting" when he watches the Thunder. Online discourse is littered with disgust in the way SGA manipulates the system that refuses to hold him accountable for it, but no one has highlighted SGA’s flopping as humorously as NBA bad boy and Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks.

Thunder hold off Victor Wembanyama as SGA puts his stamp on Western Conference Finals in game two win

In partnership with Underdog, a popular daily fantasy sports (DFS) and pick'em betting platform, Brooks revealed a one-of-a-kind board game poking fun at SGA. The game is a knock-off of the classic, popular game called "Operation" where players use tweezers to extract silly, plastic "ailments" like a "cranky knee" or "headphone headache" from a patient nicknamed Cavity Sam. The goal is to remove the pieces without touching the metal edges, which triggers a buzzer and a flashing red nose. This time, Brooks, who introduced himself in the promotional video as "The Villain", showcased the game titled "Unethical Hoops," which featured an SGA lookalike cartoon basketball player with a subtitle that states, "Don’t get baited. Steal the ball without getting whistled."

The ball is placed by different parts of SGA’s body with clever nicknames such as, "Head Snap" obviously by his head trolling the fact that he whips his head around defenders to draw fouls, "Hook and Cook" by his ball dominated arm, "Phantom Contact" on his right leg, and more.

FLOPPING IS RUINING THE NBA AND LEBRON SHOULD TAKE SOME BLAME FOR THAT

Brooks, whether you like him or not, and I’m guessing most of you are not fond of the man, plays the villain role well. He knows his role and his reputation. He leans into it by doing things such as sitting on the baseline of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder just to see LeBron James and the Lakers get swept. Plus, this move by Brooks is extra bold when you realize that these two players are on the Canadian National Team together.

As for SGA’s flopping, Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh did a deep dive into "every shot Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken this postseason and tracked how often he fell," in his recent article titled, "every shot Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken this postseason and tracked how often he fell." His research, in response to a viral video of SGA in Game 2 of the WCF, was just what you’d expect. No one falls in this year’s playoffs on non-fouled, fouled and all shots combined than SGA. He falls over 17% of the time on all shots and over 51% on called foul shots, which is drastically more than his fellow foul-baiter of the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden.

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"Unethical Hoops" is a part of an Underdog promotion where users can enter for a chance to win through their app. The promotional website UnethicalHoops.com states that only 100 games are made, which makes this a highly sought-after collector's item. The winners of the giveaway will be announced May 29.

The Thunder and MVP Gilgeous-Alexander take on the Spurs Friday night for Game 3 in San Antonio with the series locked at 1-1.

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Bet on a shootout in the New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals

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Best Bet: OVER 215.5 in Knicks at Cavaliers Game 3

Giants star Abdul Carter takes issue with teammate Jaxson Dart introducing Trump at New York rally

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Russian hockey team wins second-straight championship, goalie immediately drops the trophy

For the second straight year, Wienie 500 electrifies a hungry nation as Indy 500 appetizer

Kyle Busch 911 call reveals driver was coughing up blood, struggling to breathe on bathroom floor

Kyle Busch death rocks NASCAR

Dillon Brooks trolls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's flopping with knock-off "Operation" Game

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