Sports
Overlooked Vikings Trenchman Sounds Like a Man on a Mission
Recent weeks and months have featured a youth movement along the defensive line in the Twin Cities. Newcomer Eric Johnson II therefore looks like an outlier.
The overlooked Vikings trenchman is an imposing presence at 6’4″ and 320 pounds. Originally a Colt, Johnson is a Viking after spending the seasons from 2022-2025 either in Indianapolis or in New England. Some of his recent reflections at TCO Performance Center make it sound as though he’s a man on a mission.
Vikings Trenchman Eric Johnson Sounds Motivated
The chat took place with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.
Johnson’s initial reflections rested on being more of a veteran since he’s going into his fifth NFL season. But then he swerved into how he’s thinking of the upcoming challenge in Minnesota: “I feel like this is just a good opportunity for me to be able to build up myself. And I’m reaching the point in my career where I gotta show stuff on the field.”
Part of what made Johnson’s free agency difficult is that he needed to wait around for a little while. He put pen to paper in Minnesota on April 29th, well after the frenzy had fizzled.
The player himself described a feeling of “floating a little bit” since he wasn’t involved in the earliest portions of the offseason: “Wherever you’re going to end up, you’re going to end up. You’ve gotta be able to perform regardless.”
He’s now able to fully get to work since he’s a Vikings employee. And, for whatever it’s worth, I did notice him out there during Vikings minicamp. Not knowing some of the broader background of how the roster is built may have led to the conclusion that Johnson is working toward a beefy workload.
Johnson is an elder statesman despite being just 27. All of Jalen Redmond (27), Levi Drake Rodriguez (25), Elijah Williams (23), Caleb Banks (23), and Domonique Orange (22) appear higher on the depth chart. None are as experienced, though.
Quite possibly, the job ahead for Johnson is to become Minnesota’s next Jonathan Bullard. Essentially, a rough and rugged Vikings trenchman who can function like a bottom-six forward in hockey. Kill penalties, go full-tilt on the forecheck, and stick up for teammates. Do those things well and the team more broadly can shine in whatever the football version of “all guts, no glory” is for a d-lineman (wrangle multiple blockers, be the forgotten man in stunts, and so on).
Since being chosen at No. 159 in the 2022 NFL Draft, Eric Johnson has been involved 700 snaps on defense across his 51 career games. He has mostly been a 3T within these snaps. Johnson’s stats show a single, lonely sack across his four seasons, so don’t expect the second coming of John Randle. Rather, look for a sturdy veteran who may shine a bit brighter in a new environment.
Every so often, a veteran needs some time to get polished up before sparkling as the best version of himself. Maybe that’s true of Eric Johnson, especially since the ultra-detailed Ryan Nielsen is doing the polishing (Johnson likes working under the tutelage of Nielsen).
Part of what made the timing of signing Eric Johnson notable was that Minnesota had just brought Banks and Orange to town (which is to say nothing of the UDFA help). Was there really a need for more d-line help after using a 1st and 3rd on promising young lads?
By no means does that timing point toward a locked-in job. Rather, the suggestion is that Johnson was a priority despite getting ample draft reinforcements, pointing toward some level of belief in what he could do to help the team.
Per Over the Cap, Johnson’s contract is for a single season and carries a cap charge sitting at $1,262,500. Only $93,750 will hang back as dead money if a cut does occur. Johnson’s task therefore involves proving his value to the team in the coming months. He appears ready to take on the challenge.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Lionel Messi has broken the World Cup top scorer record after scoring his 17th goal in the tournament’s history for Argentina in their Group J match against Austria.
The Argentina captain added to his tally this year, having already scored three with his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Algeria, and the Inter Miami forward continued his fine form against Austria in Dallas.
Messi stroked a tidy finish into the bottom corner in the 39th minute, after teammate Thiago Almada cleverly left a cutback from Facundo Medina.
The goal, for a 1-0 lead, actually came after Messi missed a penalty inside the first 10 minutes to spurn an early opportunity to break the record, before two other misses from decent chances.
Entering the contest in a tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16), Messi moved one clear in just the latest historic mark left on the game.
The record has stood for 12 years since Klose’s last goal at World Cup 2014 in Brazil. Messi has taken 28 games, the most appearances in World Cup history, to reach 17 goals, and also took three more appearances to draw level with Klose’s final tally.
The record is unlikely to last as long, though, with France captain Kylian Mbappe, still just 27 years of age, only three behind Messi on 14 goals, having broken the French all-time top scorer record with a brace against Senegal in this tournament.
While England’s Harry Kane already has 12 World Cup goals, after a double in the 4-2 win over Croatia, which matched Gary Lineker’s England World Cup record and positioned himself to rise yet further up the rankings with Thomas Tuchel’s side starting to produce free-flowing attacking football that could help him replicate his Bayern Munich exploits.
Messi, 38, is attempting to guide Argentina to a fourth crown and back-to-back titles after their triumph in Qatar. Argentina face Jordan in their final group stage match on Saturday 27 June.
Watch Live: New Maple Leafs defenceman Darren Raddysh talks trade to Toronto
Srixon revealed its new ZXi RKT driver lineup at the Travelers Championship.
There’s been no tech information given yet, and when I reached out for comment on the new lineup, I got a fun “no comment…yet” response from the team.
However, it’s my job to know how to make inferences on equipment just from photos, so let’s dive in.
Here are 3 things we know or can safely assume from the photos.
1) Three models in the new family
Srixon has photos of three models in the new ZXi RKT family. The LS appears to be a nice compact pear shape that players love with two adjustable weights from front to back for launch and spin control.
The ZXi RKT (core) has two weights this time around for heel-to-toe CG movement, and would presumably be the most fittable model in the lineup, which is a trend we’re starting to see from more and more OEMs. Interestingly, they don’t have a back weight in this model, though. They might be using the “chassis” as a fixed weight in the back that allows for an MOI number they may be chasing that then stays consistent regardless of weight movement from the toe and heel positions. We’ll have to keep an eye on the information for that!
ZXi RKT MAX only has one weight port in the very back, which would make me guess that it’s built for stability and ease of launch. This is a pretty standard three-model lineup, but there are some significant changes compared to the last generation of Srixon drivers.
2) There’s a lot they can do with that much carbon fiber
;)
Srixon Golf
Compared to the last generation product, there’s a significant increase in carbon fiber. Combined with each model getting a lovely new “player’s” shape, this allows them to improve their adjustable weighting. You’ll notice that the weights themselves are pushed further out to the edges on each model, which allows for great CG changes and more stability regardless of final weight setting. Having the carbon fiber take over on the sole allows that weight to be moved to the edges for a higher overall MOI value.
Carbon fiber unlocking more stability? Great. Carbon fiber unlocking stability and what looks to be the best Srixon driver shape ever? Phenomenal.
3) They’re addressing the big complaint
;)
Srixon Golf
It’s safe to say that the one universal complaint or criticism of the Srixon ZXi driver lineup was the sound. Most of the guys on tour are hotmelting the heads to address this, but the retail consumer doesn’t get that benefit. The ZXi stuff was a bit more high-pitched than I think most people would want, and it felt a bit firm off the face, thanks to that louder, harsher noise. It was by no means a Nike Sumo, but compared to the increase in carbon fiber and an overall dampening of noise from other OEMs, it really stood out.
If you look closely at the photos, there’s a marking on the sole that says “Acousticore”. One can only assume, and hope, that this means they have specifically targeted the sound and feel of these drivers and that they’ve passed through player testing with flying colors.
4) (BONUS) They’re still rockin’ hard for their guys on Tour.
;)
Srixon Golf / USGA
We’ve also found four more models from Srixon on the conforming list. These line up with similarly named models in the past that were created specifically for certain tour players. Hideki Matsuyama and Shane usually get something with a little bit of tour sauce, and I’d be shocked if one of these wasn’t for Ryan Fox or Sepp Straka. Maybe something in here is trying to bring a Srixon driver into the bag for JJ Spaun as well.
That ZXi RKT LS+ sure looks fun.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final match against Jessica Pegula of the US at the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open tournament in Berlin on June 21, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Czech world number 13 Linda Noskova overcame American world number four Jessica Pegula to claim the Wimbledon warm-up WTA tournament in Berlin 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday.
The players took the court almost six hours late after a day of wild weather in the German capital, which forced the tournament to be evacuated for several hours.
The 21-year-old claimed the opening set and maintained control in the match despite losing the second set against the 2024 champion to claim a second career title and a first at WTA 500 level.
READ: Alex Eala stopped by Linda Noskova in Berlin Open semifinals
It’s Linda’s time in Berlin 👏
She comes through a three-set classic against Pegula to claim the title!#BTO26 pic.twitter.com/W475ubqb27
— wta (@WTA) June 21, 2026
Czech Noskova is set to climb into the WTA top 10 for the first time in her career when the new rankings are released next week.
“(This is) very incredible and unforgettable for me,” Noskova said.
“It’s my second title, so like I said, you never forget the first ones, but you always never forget the second ones as well.”
The result was a setback for 32-year-old Pegula, who has never won a Grand Slam, just a week out from the start of Wimbledon.
Pegula eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals on Saturday to reach the final in Berlin for a second time.
Noskova breezed past Filipina qualifer Alex Eala in the semis and continued her strong form to break Pegula twice and claim the opening set.
Pegula found her feet in the second, breaking her opponent once to take it 6-4, the first time Noskova had dropped a set so far this tournament.
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The American looked to have a footing in the match but Noskova broke early in the deciding set to drag the match back into her favour.
Noskova is set to remain in Germany in the coming week to take part in the Bad Homburg tournament, another key Wimbledon preparation event, before travelling to England.
Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox reinstated catcher Kyle Teel from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.
Teel, 24, opened the season on the IL. After straining his right hamstring during Team Italy’s World Baseball Classic game against the United States on March 10, he sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee during a rehab stint at Triple-A Charlotte on May 16.
Teel just completed a four-game rehab stint at Charlotte, where he batted .500 (8-for-16) with one home run, four RBIs and five runs. He posted a five-hit game at Buffalo on Friday.
A first-round draft pick (14th overall) by Boston in 2023, Teel came to Chicago in the December 2024 deal that sent left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox. Teel made his major league debut last season and batted .273 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 78 games for the White Sox.
Chicago optioned catcher Edgar Quero, 23, to Charlotte in a corresponding move Monday. Quero is batting .187 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 55 games this season.
–Field Level Media
Iran’s national team left a touching message calling for peace, respect and friendship after their World Cup group match against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.
The handwritten note was found in the team’s dressing room after a goalless draw in their second Group G game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the message released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI), the players thanked the people of Los Angeles for their hospitality and expressed pride in representing their country during a difficult period.
“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” the note read.
“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity.”
The team also thanked Iranian supporters for their backing during the tournament and ended the message with a call for unity among nations.
“May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations,” the statement added.
The note also paid tribute to the victims of an attack on a girls’ school in Minab, where at least 168 people reportedly lost their lives on the opening day of the conflict involving Iran.
Iran’s participation at the World Cup has been affected by ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, one of the tournament’s co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico.
Several members of Iran’s backroom staff were denied entry visas into the United States, while the Iranian Football Federation also raised concerns after its ticket allocation was withdrawn shortly before the competition began.
As a result, Iran moved their tournament base from Arizona in the United States to Tijuana in Mexico. The team has also faced strict travel rules, allowing them to enter the United States only a day before matches and leave immediately after games.
Iran began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand before holding Belgium to another draw. They will complete their group-stage matches against Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
Despite the challenges, Iran remain hopeful of progressing to the knockout stage as they prepare for their final Group G encounter.
Naoya Inoue scored one of the standout victories of 2026 against Junto Nakatani, and now his promoter has confirmed that talks for another blockbuster clash are ‘in motion’.
Last month, Inoue got the better of fellow Japanese superstar Nakatani, in what was both the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history and one of the most anticipated bouts of the 2026 boxing calendar.
Attention has since turned to Jesse Rodriguez’, who held three super-flyweight world titles at the time of Inoue’s recent win. ‘Bam’ has vacated his belts and secured the WBA bantamweight world title with a knockout win over Antonio Vargas. The American’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has suggested that they will have one more fight at the weight before moving up again to challenge Inoue.
Speaking with Yahoo Japan, Inoue’s promoter, Hideyuki Ohasi, all but confirmed that Inoue will face Rodriguez in February next year, and that, despite ‘Bam’ looking for an interim fight, it may be the Japanese icon’s next outing.
“He will have a big fight in February next year, I am sure you can guess which one. That’s also in motion right now. Once that’s done, the next one will be in an extraordinary place.”
Rodriguez is expected to either defend his WBA bantamweight crown against Seiya Tsutsumi or attempt to unify the 118lb titles with WBO champion Christian Medina later this year ahead of a jump up to 122lbs.
Sports
Argentina vs Austria LIVE SCORE FIFA WC 2026: Argentina look to stay unbeaten; kick-off at 10:30 PM | FIFA World Cup 2026
Defending champions Argentina and Austria will be looking to keep their winning runs going in the FIFA World Cup 2026 when they take on each other in a Group J match today at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
Argentina, in their campaign opener, beat Algeria 3-0 thanks to skipper Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. A win against Austria today means they are likely to keep their title defence alive at least until the Round of 32.
On the other hand, Austria beat Jordan 3-1 in their first game and will leave no stone unturned to create a major upset by beating Argentina in their second game. A win for them will also almost secure their place in the next round, while a loss will make their final group-stage game a do-or-die encounter.
But will Argentina extend their winning streak, or will Austria cause an upset? Stay tuned to find out.
Argentina look to maintain momentum
Argentina produced a statement performance against Algeria, with Messi once again demonstrating why he remains the focal point of Lionel Scaloni’s side. The Inter Miami forward scored all three goals as La Albiceleste began their campaign with a comfortable victory.
Scaloni is expected to make at least one change after Gonzalo Montiel was ruled out through injury, with Nahuel Molina likely to slot in at right-back. Julian Alvarez is also pushing for a starting berth after beginning the opening match on the bench, potentially replacing Lautaro Martinez alongside Messi in attack.
With six points enough to guarantee progress to the Round of 32, Argentina will be eager to avoid any slip-up and strengthen their grip on top spot in Group J before facing Iran in their final group-stage fixture.
Austria seek another statement result
Austria announced their return to the World Cup in style by defeating Jordan 3-1 to join Argentina on three points at the top of Group J.
Ralf Rangnick’s side relied on goals from Christoph Baumgartner, Michael Gregoritsch and substitute Marko Arnautovic to overcome the tournament debutants and will now attempt to test the reigning champions.
Changes could be on the cards, with Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso pushing for a place in the starting XI. His inclusion could allow captain David Alaba to shift to left-back, while veteran striker Arnautovic will hope his late goal against Jordan is enough to earn a start.
Austria have not reached the knockout stage since 1954, but another positive result in Dallas would put them on course to end that wait and potentially emerge as one of the surprise packages of FIFA World Cup 2026.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina vs Austria: Starting 11
Argentina starting 11: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada
Austria starting 11: Alexander Schlager; Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, David Alaba; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch
FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina vs Austria live telecast:
The live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Argentina and Austria will be available on the Unite8 Sports Network.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina vs Austria live streaming:
The live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Argentina and Austria will be available on the ZEE5 app and website.
Check all the live updates of the Argentina vs Austria match in FIFA World Cup 2026 here
Sports
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova handed four-year ban – here’s why | Tennis News
NEW DELHI: Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been handed a four-year ban after refusing to take an anti-doping test at her home in December 2025. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said an independent tribunal found the Czech player guilty of violating anti-doping rules. Her suspension will run until June 21, 2030, although she has the option to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Vondrousova, who made history by becoming the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in 2023, said the incident happened during a difficult period in her life and linked her actions to struggles with her mental health.“It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health,” Vondrousova said. “The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.”The 26-year-old had earlier said she refused the test because of “mental stress” and fear when the testing official “rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves.”According to the ITIA, Vondrousova “did not submit a sample when notified by a Doping Control Officer (DCO) during an out-of-competition test attempt at her home at around 8 p.m. on 3 December 2025.”Vondrousova was represented by lawyer Howard Jacobs, who previously helped Simona Halep reduce her own four-year ban. The Czech star now joins a list of leading players linked to doping cases in recent years, including Halep, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.The decision comes just days before the start of Wimbledon.
England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into a nightclub incident that occurred after their team’s victory over New Zealand earlier this month. The pair had already been handed written warnings by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching a team curfew and were omitted from the second Test against New Zealand. However, both players are expected to return for the series-deciding third Test, which begins on Thursday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. On Monday, the independent Cricket Regulator confirmed that no disciplinary action would be taken against either player after completing its review of the matter. The controversy stemmed from events following England’s win in the opening Test, when Stokes and Atkinson stayed out beyond the team’s midnight curfew and visited a London nightclub. During the same evening, a team security official was reportedly struck by a rugby player from Premiership club Saracens. The Cricket Regulator launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and said it examined a range of evidence before reaching its conclusion. “Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred,” the body said in a statement. According to the regulator, investigators pursued “multiple lines of inquiry to gather and assess evidence” before deciding that the case did not warrant further action. The episode reignited debate around the culture within the England men’s setup, particularly after criticism that followed the team’s unsuccessful Ashes tour of Australia, where reports of excessive drinking and unprofessional behaviour had attracted widespread attention. While the off-field issue has now been resolved, attention will quickly shift back to cricket. England and New Zealand head into the third and final Test with the series level at 1-1, setting up a decisive showdown at Trent Bridge.
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