Having revealed several superstitions in his on-court interview – thanking the crowd in French, maintaining the same racquet tension no matter the conditions and keeping the same post-match routine – Cobolli was asked about them in his press conference.

“I’m a little bit [superstitious] but not crazy – this week I’m a little bit more crazy than the others,” he said. “I just go to the same restaurant, the same menu, the same shower.”

Cobolli then recalled a moment at a previous French Open when he was using the shower and Nadal knocked on the door asking him to hurry up because he was waiting to use that particular cubicle.

“He told me that it was his shower since 14 years,” continued Cobolli. “So I think the best thing that I’m doing is the shower.”

Cobolli recovered from losing the first set to beat Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 and he will make his top-10 debut on Monday if Jakub Mensik, who faces Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final, fails to win the title in Paris.

Arnaldi’s win in Wednesday’s night session means an Italian finalist is guaranteed, even after the shock second-round exit of overwhelming favourite Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti being ruled out of the tournament because of injury.

Game 1 heroes Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Many see a different RJ Abarrientos in his return to the PBA Finals—a huge contrast from his two previous trips, when he was a rookie who often kept second-guessing things.

This time, Abarrientos looks more like a confident and secure sophomore who has emerged as arguably the team’s main man and, without doubt, one of the best in his position in the league.

Abarrientos finished with 24 points and seven rebounds to help the Gin Kings to a 102-100 victory over TNT on Wednesday in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But even he had a mature outlook on his late-game heroics, where he knocked down two huge four-point shots that paved the way for Justin Brownlee’s game-winner.

“Those two four-point shots that I made are not sustainable, so we need to be better,” Abarrientos said, while also admitting that he has a lot of things to tidy up if he and his teammates want to double their series edge in Game 2 on Friday.

On top of those things is his defense.

“Coach Tim (Cone) got mad at me,” Abarrientos said, noting how TNT erased an 18-point Ginebra lead and even went ahead courtesy of Rey Nambatac, the Finals Most Valuable Player from last season’s Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

“My defense against Nambatac, especially in this Finals, is unacceptable. So I need to be better and I have to embrace that,” Abarrientos said.

Abarrientos hit two four-pointers late—the first gave Ginebra a one-point lead and the second put the Kings ahead, 100-97, with 20 seconds remaining.

“He hit some huge shots, we were down both times and got the leads on both shots, which were gigantic,” Cone said.

The Tropang 5G again tied the game courtesy of a Roger Pogoy triple but Brownlee secured the win for the Gin Kings, hitting a jumper with six-tenths of a second remaining.

The midseason conference has become Abarrientos’ breakout campaign, one where the team and its faithful legion watched him knocking down big shot after big shot from Ginebra’s opening assignment all the way through the hard-fought semifinal series with Rain or Shine.

He is the league’s top local scorer at 21.4 points per game, hitting 49-percent of his shots, on top of 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals through 19 games of the second conference.

His rise in the ongoing conference has also made Abarrientos the front-runner for the Best Player of the Conference award, which could only be a mere formality given that other candidates from the early part of the tournament, NLEX’s Robert Bolick and San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota.

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans.

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So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Film

Background Info

• 3-Star prospect according to 247 Sports

• Top 3 rusher in Tennessee high school football history in yards and touchdowns

• All-State honors in high school

• Second-team All-SEC in 2025

Notable career stats heading into 2026

• Received 44.9% of the carries out of the backfield in 2025

Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026

• 3.68 Yards per carry after contact

Strengths

• Shows quickness at the line

• Explosiveness getting to the second level of the defense

• Vision to find running lanes

• Speed to cut outside and turn up the field

• Doesn’t shy away from contact

Player Summary

DeSean Bishop has some potential to be something based on the traits he flashed on film. The quickness is there, he is explosive as a runner getting to the second level. On top of it all, for someone with his speed, he showcases some serious power in his style, where he isn’t afraid to meet defenders in space. He has a chance to really showcase some new skills as the Vols have a change at quarterback, so they will need the run game to bring him along slowly.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report on Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop

Rising U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Diego Kochen is set to leave Barcelona on loan this summer, according to reports. 

The 20-year-old shot-stopper is set for the next stage of his development with more playing time, and Danish side Lyngby Boldklub are currently the favorites to temporarily add the American goalkeeper.

What Happened

Kochen is highly rated at Barcelona and spent much of last season rotating between Barcelona’s first team and the reserves. While he did not see the field for the senior team, he did serve as the team’s third goalkeeper behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny, meaning he was part of 40 matchday squads for the Spanish giants.

Meanwhile, he featured in 20 games for Barça Athletic in the fourth tier of Spanish soccer last season. He has made one first team appearance, albeit in a friendly game against Club América back in 2023.

According to ESPN, though, the club is open to letting Kochen leave on loan this summer to earn the playing time needed to further his development.

Kochen’s US Men’s National Team Hopes

Kochen has been a regular for the U.S. on the youth level and has played for the U-16, 17, 19, 20, and 23 teams. The goalkeeper is eligible for Venezuela and Peru, but Kochen has solely been focused on playing for the USA.

He’s gotten close. Kochen was called into the USA camp twice in 2024 and is spending this summer with the senior team as a training goalkeeper alongside Philadelphia Union rising star Andrew Rick, allowing the two youngsters an up-close look at the World Cup experience.

A Potential Landing Spot

While Kochen’s future is not fully decided, Lyngby Boldklub are the reported favorites to sign him on loan this summer.

The club was promoted to the Danish Superliga after this most recent season. They are reportedly open to taking Kochen in on a season-long loan, while Kochen himself is also open to the opportunity. Kochen’s contract with Barcelona runs through 2028.

What Comes Next?

Kochen will remain with the U.S. throughout the team’s World Cup run, although he is not a member of the official roster and, as a result, is ineligible to play. 

After a win over Senegal this past weekend, the U.S. will face Germany this weekend before facing Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey in the group stage of the World Cup.

2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).

The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).

Kyler Murray left the Arizona Cardinals in March — they kicked him out — and now that franchise is embroiled in a contractual standoff with Jacoby Brissett, a man viewed by most as a decent backup quarterback in the NFL.

The Cardinals are no stranger to messy operations, but even this situation feels bizarre by their standards.

Cardinals QB Room Gets Stranger

Brissett Holds Out

ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss wrote late last month, “After months of negotiating, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals are still not close to reaching an agreement on a reworked deal for this season. A source told ESPN that the two sides are ‘significantly’ far apart. Brissett has not attended any of the Cardinals’ voluntary OTAs or the voluntary offseason program as he waits for a new contract for 2026, the second year of a two-year deal he signed in March 2025.”

“His deal currently pays him $4.88 million, with the potential to grow to $5.39 million, of which just $1.5 million is guaranteed. By comparison, Gardner Minshew II, whom Arizona signed as a free agent in March, had $5.14 million guaranteed by the team for 2026.”

Fast forward to June, and Brissett wholly skipped the first week of organized team activities (OTAs), confirming the holdout. It’s ugly in the desert.

This Would Be Like Carson Wentz Playing Hardball

To give you an example of how embarrassing this situation comes off for the Cardinals, consider a Vikings example. Pretend Carson Wentz was under contract on a two-year agreement for $6 million. All of a sudden, he tells the Vikings he wants $10 million. The Vikings’ front office and coaching staff would look at each other and say, “Who does this guy think he is? Do we even need him?”

That’s what’s happening in Arizona — except Brissett projects to be the Cardinals’ QB1 in 2026. And it’s worth noting that this is shaking out is because general manager Monti Ossenfort opted to conclude the Murray era.

Brissett is not among the league’s best quarterbacks, and for a guy who would be a backup quarterback on almost every other squad, it’s bizarre to witness a hardball holdout.

SI.com‘s Donnie Druin noted on the holdout, “Brissett, 33, is likely staring down at his last opportunity to earn more than slightly above minimum money. The Cardinals reportedly have known about Brissett’s desire for a raise through the offseason and have been willing to work with Brissett — though ESPN reported last week the two are significantly far apart in their negotiations.”

“While Brissett’s contract doesn’t reflect that of a starting quarterback, it feels as if the veteran has little leverage with two other capable passers in the room with him.”

The World Nudging ARI toward Carson Beck

The Cardinals should tread carefully before handing Brissett a fat contract. He’s 33 and hasn’t been a consistent starter in his career. The odds of him forging a Rich Gannon-like career arc are low. That hardly happens to anybody.

Arizona did, however, draft Miami’s Carson Beck in Round 3 five weeks ago. He’s hungry and waiting for his marching orders. If the Brissett standoff persists, the Cardinals should entertain telling Brissett “thanks but no thanks” while giving Beck a full audition for the QB1 job.

Most don’t expect Arizona to do much of anything in 2026, especially in a division with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals can learn about Beck’s skill set and know that if he doesn’t have “it,” well, they’d be in line for a high draft pick next April, which could land Texas’s Arch Manning or Oregon’s Dante Moore.

The main takeaway? Arizona should examine Beck’s readiness, the longer Brissett continues the unorthodox holdout.

Brissett’s Career Resume

Brissett has essentially authored the blueprint for a top-tier NFL bridge quarterback. Across a ten-season career, he’s started 85 games, accumulating 14,766 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 45 interceptions, with a 61.9% completion rate. His career passer rating of 86.4 encapsulates his performance: solid, dependable, rarely erratic, and seldom spectacular.

His most statistically efficient year came with Washington in 2023, albeit in limited action, where he achieved an impressive 146.8 passer rating. His most extensive playing time was with Indianapolis and Cleveland, demonstrating his capacity to sustain an offense over prolonged periods.

Beyond his passing, Brissett has added 1,224 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, proving his ability to convert crucial first downs. While Brissett won’t transform a struggling team into a championship contender, he also won’t be the reason for its downfall. His reliability and stability are valuable, which is precisely why teams in search of a credible, patient, and mature quarterback have kept him employed.

It’s just that he’s not the type of dude who should a team hostage via holdout.

Maybe the Cardinals should’ve kept Murray?

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Manchester United are looking to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad this summer

Manchester United are targeting five new signings this summer following an agreement for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is set to become the first arrival of the Michael Carrick era.

The Red Devils have just secured their return to the Champions League and, having played only 40 matches across all competitions last term, are aware their squad will face greater demands over the next 12 months.

Consequently, they’re looking at a number of new recruits, with The Times reporting that several midfielders are on their shortlist. An agreement worth an initial £35million has been reached with Atalanta to bring in their Brazilian star.

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In addition to this, they hold an interest in Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Elliot Anderson has also been mentioned, though it appears Manchester City are frontrunners to secure his signature.

A striker is also on their agenda, with the club already confirming that Rasmus Hojlund has departed Old Trafford on a permanent basis. A left-back is another position under consideration, with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall a potential target.

Despite their ambition to recruit, the United hierarchy has made clear, and Michael Carrick firmly agrees, that the pathway into the first-team for young players must not be completely blocked. The former United player turned manager is a strong advocate of utilising the academy.

Carrick is familiar with the club’s heritage and swiftly reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo following his appointment in January.

The midfielder rediscovered his best form, and the club are keen to see more homegrown talent emerge, with players such as Shea Lacey receiving chances last term.

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Ruben Amorim faced criticism for neglecting the club’s young prospects while also relegating Mainoo to the substitutes’ bench, deploying the midfielder only intermittently. Carrick’s arrival was warmly welcomed by families of academy players, who believed he would prove far more receptive to their development.

United are also poised to witness further high-profile departures, which will create space within their squad and generate revenue for their recruitment strategy.

Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana are available for transfer, while Casemiro has departed after his contract expired.

Jadon Sancho, who has endured an underwhelming loan spell at Aston Villa, is another player set to leave without a fee.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The Rome Golden Gala in the Diamond League features some of the best athletes in the world in an action-packed night at the Stadio Olimpico.

Keely Hodgkinson begins her quest for a 800m world record, opening up her outdoor season in the 400m, which is also the start of a career-long quest to break three elite time barriers.

Noah Lyles is also in action with fellow Team USA superstar and indoor world champion Jordan Anthony, with Team GB’s Jeremiah Azu and former Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in the men’s 100m.

Georgia Hunter Bell goes in the women’s 1500m, while Amy Hunt and Dina Asher Smith are up against superstar duo Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Julien Alfred in the women’s 200m.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is the Rome Diamond League?

The meeting in Rome will be held on Thursday 4 June at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the meeting live on BBC Three, with coverage on the channel from 8pm BST. A live stream will be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Rome Diamond League Schedule (all times BST)

18:10 Men’s javelin throw

18:15 Women’s pole vault

18:48 Men’s triple jump

20:04 Women’s 400m hurdles

20:07 Men’s high jump

20:27 Men’s shot put

20:28 Women’s 100m hurdles

20:35 Men’s long jump

20:38 Women’s 5000m

21:04 Men’s 110m hurdles

21:15 Women’s 400m

21:27 Women’s 200m

21:37 Women’s 1500m

21:52 Men’s 100m

Full live results can be found here

Diamond League Calendar 2026

16 May: Shanghai, China

23 May: Xiamen, China

31 May: Rabat, Morocco

4 June: Rome, Italy

7 June: Stockholm, Sweden

10 June: Oslo, Norway

19 June: Doha, Qatar

28 June: Paris, France

4 July: Eugene, United States

10 July: Monaco

18 July: London, United Kingdom

21 August: Lausanne, Switzerland

23 August: Chorzow, Poland

27 August: Zurich, Switzerland

4-5 September: Diamond League finals (Brussels, Belgium)

Nearly 900 people have been arrested in riots that broke out after Paris Saint-Germain club won the coveted Champions League for a second consecutive year over the weekend. Speaking with FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen, Mateusz Grodecki, Associate Professor at The Maria Grzegorzewska University, says that football violence “is about proving one’s masculinity and the excitement that violence provides to one’s life”.

Many golfers struggle with slices, blocks and inconsistent contact without realizing that the real issue is often the clubface, not the swing path.

When the clubface is in a poor position during the downswing, golfers are forced to make last-second compensations to square it before impact. Sometimes those compensations work, but they can also lead to inconsistency and poor ball striking.

One interesting observation from studying elite players is how quickly many of them begin closing the clubface during transition. In fact, some of the best players in the world make this move within the first few inches of the downswing. The challenge is that doing so requires tremendous skill, awareness and timing.

For most recreational golfers, I prefer a simpler approach, which you can watch in the video below.

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How to fix your clubface

One of my favorite drills uses a short club, such as a wedge. Grip the club normally with your lead hand, then place your trail thumb on the toe of the clubhead. As you make slow-motion practice swings, feel your lead hand twisting the grip while your trail thumb provides light resistance.

The goal isn’t to aggressively roll the clubface closed. Instead, the drill helps create awareness of how the clubface is moving throughout the downswing.

As golfers develop this skill, they begin to understand that clubface control is largely a timing equation. For a right-handed golfer, if the face closes too early, the ball tends to start left. If it closes too late, the face remains open and the ball starts right.

By improving awareness and learning to square the face earlier, golfers often find they can rotate more freely, strike the ball more solidly and eliminate many of the compensations that lead to inconsistent shots.

Sometimes better golf starts with a better understanding of what the clubface is doing rather than making wholesale swing changes. So if you’re struggling with your ball striking, check what your clubface is doing during the downswing. If you fix it, you will start making better contact in a hurry.