President Donald Trump hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Thursday, celebrating the team’s remarkable achievement of securing a second consecutive title. During a Rose Garden event, Trump hailed the Dodgers as “one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” acknowledging their recent triumph.

He specifically referenced their thrilling Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, calling it “a hell of a series.” Trump expressed his surprise upon learning that the Dodgers had never before won consecutive championships, before playfully speculating about the prospect of a third straight title.

The president extended a warm welcome, stating, “I’m thrilled to say welcome back to the White House. And maybe I’ll see you again next year.” He also revealed his particular anticipation for meeting star player Shohei Ohtani, whom he extensively compared to baseball icon Babe Ruth, even suggesting Ohtani was arguably the best hitter and pitcher in the sport.

This celebration followed a previous occasion where the president had saluted the team in the East Room in April 2025, marking their 2024 World Series championship over the New York Yankees.

“It’s truly a great — when you talk about a brand — it’s one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” Trump said of the Dodgers. He spoke in front of a table with two World Series trophies and a Trump 47 jersey, which the team presented to him.

The Dodgers also gave Trump what looked like a replica of a World Series ring. That prompted Trump to exclaim: “Wow. Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this” before slipping the ring into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

Trump says Iran war has kept him from following baseball closely

Those in the crowd wore blue Dodgers caps to guard against bright overhead sun, and the band played a jazzy instrumental version of Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” before Trump took the stage.

Trump described last year’s World Series’ epic Game 3 during which the Dodgers won 6-5 in 18 innings. Trump said he stayed up until around 3 a.m. to watch, noting that “it was a long one, but it was amazing.”

“I thought it was a game that you were going to lose about four or five times, and you ended up winning,” he said, adding, “Luck is OK, too, right?” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed: “Luck is OK.”

“But with talent you get a lot of luck,” Trump continued.

The president said he spoke briefly with Roberts before the event and learned that his team currently has the best record in baseball, noting, “I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things.”

That was his only reference during the event to fighting in the Middle East, which has escalated on both sides in recent days.

Roberts also spoke briefly, saying, “We’re going for a three-peat.”

Championship baseball teams have been coming to the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings. They were the first fully professional team to visit the White House and went undefeated that season, though the World Series wasn’t established in its modern form until 1903.

Sports teams’ visits to the Trump White House have sometimes been a source of controversy. In 2018, the president rescinded an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after many players suggested they might skip such a trip.

Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts wasn’t at Thursday’s Rose Garden event, though he did make the 2025 visit. He said he prefers to spend the team’s scheduled days off with his family.

The Dodgers originally considered coming to the White House this past April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but a crowded early season schedule didn’t permit that. Instead, they’re in the nation’s capital during the off-day between a just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.

The White House has changed since the Dodgers’ last visit

Over the past year, Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. At Thursday’s event for the Dodgers, he referenced the “ Walk of Fame ” installed on the colonnade, which features plaques of past presidents along with partisan insults against Joe Biden and other Democrats.

“I could put some of the great Dodgers on the wall,” Trump joked, “but I figured maybe it’s more appropriate that we put the presidents.”

Trump, a baseball fan and New York native, has for years been closely associated with the Yankees, whose late, longtime owner George Steinbrenner was a close friend. Trump referenced Steinbrenner on Thursday, saying, “He would do anything to win” before telling the Dodgers’ team owners, “But you’re doing the same thing.”

The president isn’t always so complimentary of teams, though. During a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, he praised the ownership of the local Atlanta Braves and slammed the Mets for their sky-high payroll and losing record.

Trump was joined on stage during that event by former Braves manager Brian Snitker, and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.

”You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time,” Trump said then. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”

“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.”

Hull FC interim coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

“Really disappointed, it would have been great to get two points. Unbelievable crowd came in on the back of a season where we have really struggled. The loyalty of the supporters is second to none.

“We got off to a great start. We felt the start was important for us to get that engagement with the supporters and we thought Rovers were a bit fragile after their last two performances, so it couldn’t have gone any better.

“The tries we conceded were real soft ones and that was down to fatigue.

“Second half, Rovers just did what they do which is suffocate you of field position. I ended up with a bit of a neck ache because I was looking to my left all the time. That pressure they put you under forced us into some uncharacteristic errors.”

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Humberside:

“I’m really proud. The first 10 minutes was a nervous start, 12 [points] down, it could have got ugly but we fought.

“I thought Tom Amone and Kyle Lawton were outstanding. They made a big difference when they came on. I say it every week but what Dean Hadley brings to our team is incredible.”

[On Elliot Minchella and Jez Litten] “When times get a little bit tough you want your leaders to stand up and that is what I thought both of those guys did tonight and put in great performances.

“I said before the game that I thought this was the perfect game for us to show we’ve still got that fight. Being 12-0 down at your rivals to be able to kick on at the back end was what we needed.”

Hull FC: Moy; Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Briscoe; Arthur, Sezer; Salabio, Cust, Hill, Batchelor, O’Neill, Bell.

Interchanges: Bourouh, Clark, Ese’ese, Wood.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Mourgue, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Lawton, Dezaria.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Not too often, folks, does the world’s best golfer offer his thoughts on the Vikings’ passer battle. Scottie Scheffler could be breaking new ground.

Recently, Mr. Scheffler played a round of golf with Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell. The golfer then jumped in front of the media, commenting on how the round went. Part of what made Scheffler’s response notable was his admission about not wanting to hassle Coach O’Connell too much since football is soon going to take over the coach’s life. He can drive, putt, and read the room.

Scottie Scheffler Tosses in a Quick Comment on QB Battle

“Yeah, I love the NFL” Scheffler explained, “I definitely wasn’t going to just start hammering him with questions about football. He’s about to start the season, so he’s going to be thinking about football for quite a long period of time.”

Scheffler then had a follow-up question about who is going to start: “That was one of the first things he said. I was like, ‘You guys about to start getting going?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah […] we’ve got a couple of quarterbacks and so there will be some competition.’”

At one point, Scheffler said that O’Connell is “an impressive guy to be able to talk to and spend some time with.” In fact, Scheffler even made a prophecy about O’Connell needing to fend off quarterback questions as things get going at Vikings training camp.

So, Scheffler can drive, putt, read the room, and tell the future. Not too shabby.

— READ MORE: Irksome Injury Hits Vikings Defender Ahead of Training Camp —
— READ MORE: Vikings Fans Got Bad News Today —
— READ MORE: 8 Other Questions to Ask Before Vikings Training Camp —

In reality, Minnesota Vikings football goes beyond Kevin O’Connell and what’s taking place at quarterback. Sometimes, the coverage can suggest otherwise, but that’s mostly the fault of the coverage.

These past several months have involved the Vikings making some noticeable changes within the trenches, with the DT and C spots standing out as particularly notable. The secondary has received some needed reinforcements and the receiver room looks deeper due to the presence of Jauan Jennings. There’s even optimism about some of the coaching tweaks.

But while all of these stories are worth monitoring, none are nearly as consequential as the battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Scottie Scheffler even jumped into the debate, albeit in a miniature manner.

Sunday, July 26th is going to be an important day for sports in the Twin Cities. Rookies will arrive at TCO Performance Center to get to work in training camp.

Meanwhile, Scheffler will be looking to add another trophy to his collection. The PGA Tour website clarified that he went -6 in his opening round at the 3M Open.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

The remarkable act of Joe Root (Image: AI Generated)

NEW DELHI: Joe Root finished the ODI series against India unbeaten, scoring 249 runs in three innings to guide England to a 2-1 series victory. At 36, while many of his contemporaries have retired, Root continues to redefine consistency across formats. All of Root’s scores in this series 76, 99, and 74 came when the team needed him most, and he was deservedly named Player of the Series.Across the three-match ODI series against India, Root was England’s batting backbone. He scored 76 in the first ODI to help England recover to 258 from 107/6, followed it up with a match-winning 99 in the second ODI while chasing 234, and finished with an unbeaten 74 in the third ODI, anchoring England’s record 387-run total, supporting Ben Duckett’s 141, and accelerating in the death overs.

India had no answer to Joe Root

Joe Root breathed fire against India on his home soil and denied India a fairytale comeback after their 0-4 T20I series loss. In the presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India fought well, but they could not stop the home hero, Root, who remained a headache for the visitors.Remember the bat-drop celebration by Root against India in 2018? That was the last time England won an ODI series against India, and the hero then was also none other than Root. He had scored 113* and 100 in that series and was named the Player of the Series.

Joe Root’s bat drop celebration

For over a decade, Root has been England’s most dependable batter across Tests and ODIs, consistently delivering when the team needed him the most. Now 36, he continues to thrive despite many of his contemporaries, such as Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen, and most recently Ben Stokes, having already retired from international cricket.The moot point is how Root continues to compete with youngsters the same way he did a decade ago. What is the secret behind his longevity? Former England spinner Monty Panesar, who once shared the dressing room with Root, revealed the secret.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Monty Panesar pointed out Root’s hunger for runs and how he continues to evolve with every match, making every ground feel like his own den.

‘England’s Greatest to Ever Play’

“I think he’s simply hungry. He loves playing cricket and is still hungry to score runs. He still has that passion, and he probably wants to cement his status as one of England’s greatest cricketers. With an ODI average above 50 and a Test average over 50, he probably feels he still has a few years left. When he retires, he wants to be remembered as England’s greatest batter,” Monty Panesar told TimesofIndia.com.In the modern T20 era, where batters look to come in, smash the ball, and walk away, Root prefers to stay at the crease and plays like an old-school batter who believes in building an innings rather than throwing away his wicket to a reckless shot.“When I played with him, he had a very solid defence. He was always comfortable playing reverse sweeps, paddle sweeps, and those little scoring shots. He made them look very easy. You can see how his game has evolved, even in Test cricket, where he now plays the lap sweep over the slips for six. But on pitches like Cardiff, where there’s extra bounce, you have to play a more traditional style of cricket. That’s why his game is so effective. That’s the difference between Joe Root and many of the younger players today,” Monty Panesar added.

The many careers of Joe Root

There is another story that defines Joe Root’s career – his journey before, during, and after captaincy.Before becoming captain (2012–January 2017), he scored 8,211 runs in 152 matches at an average of 48.58.During his Test captaincy (2017–April 2022), Root accumulated 8,680 runs in 149 matches at an average of 49.31. And since stepping down as captain in 2022, Root has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. He has amassed 5,942 runs in 89 matches at an average of 53.05, scoring 20 centuries while rediscovering his best form in both Tests and ODIs.

JOE ROOT

‘Captaincy Changed Root, But It Didn’t Break Him’

“I think his captaincy period was extremely tough. England went through a difficult phase where they won only one of 17 Test matches, and eventually he had to step down. Those difficult moments probably made him stronger. Now he’s enjoying the freedom that comes without the burden of captaincy, and he’s making the most of it because he knows how hard things were during that period. I think those experiences have increased his hunger even further. He wants to continue playing for as long as possible because he’s genuinely enjoying scoring runs for England again,” Monty Panesar stated.

Why Didn’t Root Conquer T20 Cricket?

Whenever Joe Root is compared with the Fab Four, one question is always asked: Why did he fail to dominate T20Is?There is Virat Kohli, who excelled in every format he played. Kane Williamson showcased his class across formats. Steve Smith did the same. But Root has always believed in elegant batting over power-hitting.“I think his game is naturally more suited to the longer formats than T20 cricket, and that’s probably why he hasn’t been as successful in the shortest format. If you compare him with today’s younger batters, their games are built around T20 cricket. Joe Root’s strengths are more suited to Test cricket and ODIs. T20 is probably the hardest format for him because it demands explosive scoring and high-risk shots. On the other hand, his technique and temperament are perfectly suited to Test cricket and ODIs,” Panesar explained.

‘Root is to England what Virat-Rohit are to India’: Kumble

England’s Answer to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

India have heavily relied on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for years. England, meanwhile, have relied on just one man whenever the batting has been under pressure: Joseph Edward Root. After Root’s unbeaten 99 against India in the second ODI, former India captain Anil Kumble said: “What Virat and Rohit are for India, Root is for England.”That statement perfectly justifies how far Root has come in his career.“Joe Root gives someone like Harry Brook a lot of comfort. Harry Brook can go out there and play his attacking shots because he knows Joe Root is at the other end. When Root eventually retires, Brook may have to become more responsible, but right now Root allows the younger players to express themselves. The players know that if things become difficult, Joe Root is still there. It’s similar to what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have meant for India,” Monty Panesar said.That is probably the biggest compliment any batter can receive. When 10 other players and the coaching staff believe that, as long as you are at the crease, anything is possible, you know you have earned that respect. That is exactly what Root has built throughout his career.If Root goes on to break Sachin Tendulkar‘s all-time Test run record, he needs only 1,807 more runs, wins another ICC title, and helps England reclaim the Ashes at home, there will be very little left for him to achieve in international cricket.As Panesar rightly pointed out: “If he does that, it would be the icing on the cake for Joe Root. Winning a World Cup in South Africa would be absolutely massive for him.”For now, Root continues to do what he has done for more than a decade: score runs, frustrate bowlers, and prove that classical batting still has a place in the modern game.

Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) is tended to by medical staff after injuring his leg against the New York Jets during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images

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Jimmie Johnson has opened up about the unique rivalry he shared with Jeff Gordon and explained how his mindset changed from being a young fan to competing against him.

Johnson earned his opportunity in the Cup Series after making his way through off-road racing and two years in the Nationwide (O’Reilly) Series. Gordon helped bring him into the Hendrick Motorsports‘ No. 48 team for the 2002 Cup Series season.

During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Johnson described how his relationship with Gordon changed over time.

“I was the biggest Jeff Gordon fan growing up. That’s the one die-cast car, like collectible thing I bought was his. And the fact that one day he knew who I was, wow, that’s awesome. And then I get handpicked by him to drive, you know, under the roof of a team that he co-owned,” he said.

“I introduced him to my wife. He mentored me along the way. And first indirectly, and then directly, as we, as I got up to speed, I was more concerned about where he was on track, what he was doing and all for good reason.”

Gordon and Johnson finished 1-2 11 times before Gordon retired from the Cup Series in 2015, after 24 full-time Cup Seasons with Hendrick.

Meanwhile, Johnson became one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. He won seven Cup Series championships, including five straight titles from 2006 through 2010.

“He was so kind to share” – Jimmie Johnson on rivaling Jeff Gordon with his ‘lessons’

Jimmie Johnson also shared the lessons Jeff Gordon taught him during their run at Hendrick between 2002 and 2015.

“Through a large part of my journey, he was the benchmark. And I had the inside look at all of his data and he was so kind to share with me all of his lessons, not only on the track, but off the track,” Johnson said.

“He’s like, ‘You’ve been racing your whole life. That part’s going to make sense. But when you come to the cup level and drive for this company, the spotlight’s going to hit you. And here’s how we need to build your schedule. Here’s where you need to focus.’ So I’d say the longest rivalry was Jeff.”

Johnson finished his full-time Cup career with Hendrick after the 2020 season. He recorded 83 Cup Series wins. He is now the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club.

The team currently fields two cars for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones. Johnson has also confirmed plans for Legacy Motor Club to expand to three Cup cars next season.