A simple question from Pat McAfee led Pittsburgh Steelers four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to unload on Dr. Anthony Fauci, mocking the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for recently invoking the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing this past week.

“Can you tell us about your mindset coming into your last season?” McAfee asked.

The ESPN personality couldn’t have guessed where the four-time NFL MVP was about to take this.

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Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands for the national anthem before the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Getty Images)

“I’m gonna plead the Fifth,” Rodgers said, as McAfee and the Steelers fans watching at training camp laughed in unison, “like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward. Are you kidding me? You get a pardon and you’re and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science,’ and you get up there and can’t answer a question? What are we doing?”

Rodgers is referencing an infamous remark by Fauci during a 2021 interview, where he defended his public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying “I am the science.”

PAT MCAFEE POKES FUN AT ANTHONY FAUCI PLEADING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT LIVE ON ESPN

Fauci pled the Fifth 111 times during a Senate hearing, on the advice of his attorneys, to answer questions from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. He was questioned over his response to the pandemic and his policy decisions, where the former White House COVID advisor was accused of funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.

Paul argued Fauci using the Fifth Amendment was unsupported because former President Joe Biden, whom Fauci advised during the pandemic, pardoned him. Paul said the committee will vote this week on a resolution to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.

“Spending the entire time writing in his diary about how fun it is to be famous. You gotta be kidding me,” Rodgers’ diatribe continued. “What are you going to say about me now? Seriously, what are they going to say about me now? Now, you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China. That’s like not even questionable anymore. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal.

“It’s been a great life and a great career, and it’s nice to be sitting on this side now especially after that coward pled the Fifth over 100 times. I thought you had a pardon there, Tony. Why couldn’t you answer one question the entire time?”

Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci listens during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Fauci declined to answer questions, asserting his Fifth Amendment right. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

But Rodgers wasn’t just airing out his grievances with Fauci, which he’s had many since the days of the pandemic. He pointed the finger directly at the network he was being interviewed on.

No matter how McAfee and his supporting cast tried to get the conversation back on track, Rodgers took aim at ESPN, the sports network giant which airs “The Pat McAfee Show” daily.

Rodgers was vilified for his own 2021 COVID saga, where his “immunized” remark in August, months prior to testing positive for COVID-19 in November of that season, led to immediate backlash in the media.

SEN RAND PAUL QUESTIONS WHETHER FAUCI’S INVOKING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT WAS VALID AFTER BIDEN PARDON

“How much time did the network spend on that? How much time did they spend on my responses every week? On my vaccination status? On Taylor’s [Swift] and Travis’ [Kelce] wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci? No, I bet they didn’t,” Rodgers said on Monday.

Rodgers even mentioned his recent reconciliation with his family, as he shared pictures with his parents, as well as his brother Luke and his children, after a decade-long estrangement. 

“I’m on good terms with my family – what are you going to say now?” Rodgers said right into the ESPN camera lense. 

Rodgers even brought up the Dianna Russini scandal and the lack of coverage from ESPN with it. Russini, who worked for ESPN before joining The Athletic, was entrenched in a scandal as an inappropriate relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was exposed this offseason, ultimately leading to her exit from The Athletic and Vrabel leaving the Patriots during the NFL Draft to enter counseling.

In 2021, Rodgers was asked by reporters if he was vaccinated, to which the then-Green Bay Packers signal caller said he was “immunized”. He later sought an appeal from the NFL and the NFLPA to treat his alternative antibody treatment as equivalent to being vaccinated for COVID-19. The league denied it.

Rodgers was officially classified an unvaccinated player, and then he tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 3, 2021, leading to a mandatory 10-day quarantine period that forced him to miss a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Two days later, he used McAfee’s show to explain his stance, stating he had an allergy to an ingredient in mRNA vaccines, and explained his alternative treatment. Rodgers later admitted on another episode of the show that he “misled people” by calling himself immunized, though he doubled down that he did not lie.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Now, Fauci’s refusal to answer has Rodgers going full tilt years after dealing with constant scrutiny, whether it’s the man himself or the network he has issues with. Rodgers has never shied away from sharing his feelings about certain individuals, media networks, or anything in between.

This season marks 22 years Rodgers has starred in the NFL, and he doubled down recently saying this will be his final year.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to acquire outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals minutes before Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, ESPN reports. The Cardinals are receiving two pitching prospects, right-hander Daniel Eagen and left-hander Sandro Santana, the Athletic reports, as well as a player to be named later. 

Nootbaar, 28, underwent offseason surgery to correct a congenital deformity on both heels and didn’t make his 2026 debut until early June. Since being activated, he’s put up a 96 OPS+, albeit with much better quality-of-contact metrics and with time spent at all three outfield positions. For his career, the lefty-swinging Nootbaar has an OPS of .764 against right-handed pitching with 212 walks in 1,601 plate appearances in such situations. He’s not eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season, and he’s owed the balance of a $5.35 million salary for this year. 

Nootbaar in Arizona will join former Cardinals teammates Nolan Arenado, who was traded to the Diamondbacks this past offseason. 

On the Cardinals’ side of the trade, Eagen is the most notable addition. The 23-year-old former third-rounder out of Presbyterian College in South Carolina has made 20 starts for Amarillo in the hitter-friendly Texas League this season. He has a 4.95 ERA for them, but he’s also struck out 109 batters in 87 ⅓ innings. Eagen has a four-pitch repertoire fronted by a mid-90s fastball with good carry at the top of the zone. Santana, 21, has a 3.46 ERA and a 2.30 K/BB ratio over 71 relief appearances and four starts spread over parts of four minor-league seasons. In 2026, he’s taken a step forward at the Double-A level, with an 0.57 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings since his promotion. 

Now for some grades. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: B+

Injury history makes Nootbaar a risk, but he’s a boon regardless

Nootbaar isn’t a star by any means, and his offensive numbers have been down across the last two seasons. He does have a long history of very strong batted-ball metrics, and perhaps on Arizona’s watch, his outputs will rise to match those. Even if they don’t, the Diamondbacks badly needed help against right-handed pitching as they strive to remain in wild-card position in the NL. This season, the Arizona offense has an OPS of .784 against lefties, but that figure falls to .677 against right-handers. Nootbaar should help that figure increase, and his OBP-first, patient approach at the plate can have some cascading positive effects that don’t show up in his numbers. As noted, the D-backs are also getting Nootbaar for the 2027 season. 

St. Louis Cardinals: B+

Chaim Bloom has a vision

It’s not a massive return, but it wasn’t expected to be given Nootbaar’s substantial injury history and merely okay offensive numbers this season. As has been the case since Chaim Bloom assumed the big chair in St. Louis, they’ve continued to add arms and swing-and-miss to a system that needed it. Eagen has real potential to be a bat-misser at the highest level, and the Cardinals under Bloom have built out the player-development system to help pitchers like him reach their full potential. The trade of Nootbaar also clears the decks for the call-up of power prospect Joshua Báez at some point down the stretch.

Lennox Lewis suspects one man is closer to his prime as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remain on a turbulent collision course.

The two British heavyweights are expected to lock horns later this year, though there has been no announcement regarding a specific date and location.

Nevertheless, they both completed their respective warm-up fights last weekend, with ‘AJ’ coming through a tougher-than-expected shootout against Kristian Prenga.

While far from a formidable contender on paper, Prenga managed to floor Joshua in the first 20 seconds of their contest, landing an unassuming right uppercut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The 36-year-old then scrambled back to his feet but was dropped a second time in the opening round, before ultimately stopping his man in the following three minutes.

Fury, on the other hand, was afforded a straightforward night’s work against the 46-year-old Mariusz Wach, who he stopped in seven rounds in Pattaya, Thailand.

This followed his unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, when the ‘Gypsy King’ ended 16 months of inactivity after suffering back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.

Based on their recent performances, former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis has told The Ring that he wonders whether Joshua should even still be fighting, let alone preparing for arguably the biggest showdown of his career.

“Does he really belong in the ring right now? A virtual novice put him on the ground twice in the first round. Is that it, have we seen the last of him? It’s not like he’s his old self.

“Fury is closer [to his prime] but both are shadows of their former selves. I’d side with Fury – he showed me more in his two fights [against Makhmudov and Wach] than Joshua has recently.

“He boxed a YouTuber [Jake Paul in December], now boxed a guy who knocked him down twice and next faces Fury? That’s a big step up.”

With Joshua’s punch resistance having been plunged into serious doubt, many will be agreeing with Lewis and backing his 37-year-old domestic rival.

The modest home of an agricultural daily wage worker in Settisathiram here erupted in celebration as Indian athlete Praveen Chithravel secured the silver medal in the men’s triple jump at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Praveen’s father, Chithravel, expressed immense pride in his son’s international achievement while reflecting on the family’s humble beginnings.

“I am an agricultural daily wage worker,” he told PTI Videos.

“We educated our children and supported their dreams with the income I earned through daily wage work,” he said.

Recalling the early days of Praveen’s athletic journey, he said, “Wherever I went, I took him on my bicycle. I showed him the world little by little, and step by step, he improved and went on to compete at the international level.” 
Praveen clinched the silver medal on Saturday with a best leap of 16.58 metres in freezing conditions, narrowly missing the gold medal.

Acknowledging the close finish, his father said the family had hoped for gold but was immensely proud of his achievement.

“He missed it by a hair’s breadth, but that’s okay,” he said, adding, “Next time, my son will certainly win the gold medal and bring greater pride to India and Tamil Nadu.” 
The father, whose daughter works as a teacher and whose two sons are athletes, credited the entire community for Praveen’s success.

“The youth of this village encouraged him as though he were their own child,” he said.

“Teachers, relatives, and the entire village guided me in ways I did not know and helped my son progress to the next level,” Chithravel added.

He also expressed gratitude to the authorities.

“I am deeply indebted to both the State and Central governments for extending all the assistance and support we needed,” he said.

The family and villagers watched the event unfold on television, celebrating Praveen’s latest international medal.

The athlete had earlier won a bronze medal at the Asian Games.

Looking ahead, Praveen’s father said he hoped his son’s achievements would inspire the next generation.

“I pray that my son wins the gold medal next time,” he said.

“More importantly, I hope his success brings immense pride to this village and inspires at least ten more youngsters from here to take up sports and excel,” he added.

Manu Bhaker (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has urged young people to avoid using abusive language, saying that “using bad language is not cool” and that the words people use reflect their personality.The 23-year-old shooter, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics, shared a long message on X on Sunday. She did not mention any particular incident but spoke about the increasing use of abusive language in everyday conversations.

‘Choose your words wisely’

Bhaker said people should be careful about the words they use because they shape a person’s character over time.“The language we choose reflects our personality and the kind of person we are. Choose your words wisely, because over time, you become what you think, what you speak, and what you practice.”“Using bad language is not cool. Abusing is not cool,” she said.Bhaker also said that being “cool” has nothing to do with abusive language.“Let’s keep the definition of cool simple: being hardworking, kind, respectful towards others and yourself, striving to be successful through honesty, and making your parents and your country proud. That’s cool,” the Indian shooter said.Bhaker later explained why she decided to speak about the issue. She said abusive language has slowly become normalised, especially among youngsters.

“I’m speaking about this because, over the past few years, the way we perceive abusive language has changed. For many, using such words has become so normal that it’s even considered ‘cool’. Without realising it, people casually use degrading and disrespectful language in everyday conversations,” Bhaker said.Manu created history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games. She won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

Sigrid Haugset of Norway won stage three of the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, seizing the overall lead and the yellow jersey from Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes in the Jura region.

Haugset, of the Uno-X Mobility team, launched a gutsy solo attack less than halfway into the hilly 156.6km route between Geneva and Poligny, and held off Belgium‘s Lotte Kopecky.

Kopecky dropped back in the closing stages after failing to reel in Haugset, crossing the line 1 minute 24 seconds behind as the Norwegian became the first rider from her country to win a Tour stage and wear the yellow jersey.

“I haven’t been thinking about it because I never thought it was possible. So standing here, it’s unreal,” said Haugset, who built her her win by attacking on the third of the day’s four climbs, the Côte de la Savine.

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“When I went, it wasn’t many seconds and I thought she (Kopecky) would catch me. Then I thought I should just drop down to her … Second is good. But I kept on. The team car was amazing, pushing me.

“I was thinking about all my team-mates, everyone cheering from home and so I had to give it my all. I can’t believe that Lotte didn’t catch me. All done in the Norwegian jersey too, it’s fantastic.”

The main favourites for overall victory on August 9 in Nice, such as reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Demi Vollering, all finished together, almost three minutes behind Haugset.

Wiebes, who won the opening two stages, was dropped as soon as the road began to rise on the Col de la Faucille early in the race. She ended more than 20 minutes off the pace.

Tuesday’s fourth stage should provide a first real shake-up among the overall contenders, with a 21km time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at age 34, the UFC announced Monday.

Nascimento was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, according to a statement released by the organization.

Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the UFC said.

In a post shared on X, the UFC said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Ryan Garcia has insisted that he will never rematch Devin Haney, unless his welterweight rival agrees to make an unlikely admission.

The pair squared off in April 2024, back when Garcia weighed 3lbs above the super-lightweight limit and edged a majority decision after scoring three knockdowns.

That result was then ruled a no-contest after it emerged that ‘King Ry’ had tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, before producing one of his standout performances.

Since then, the 27-year-old has served a year-long ban but maintains his innocence, albeit with wild accusations of an ‘inside job’ orchestrated by Team Haney and the late Victor Conte.

Such baseless allegations were made under the suspicion that Conte, a former doping facilitator, had used his relationship with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to tamper with Garcia’s samples.

The boxer then attempted to strengthen his claim by highlighting Conte’s partnership with Haney, who continues to work with the doping expert’s SNAC Nutrition.

In response, the former steroid distributor-turned-anti-doping advocate dismissed Garcia’s assessment as nothing more than a conspiracy theory, yet the American continues to suggest that he was sabotaged by Team Haney.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, the WBC welterweight champion said he would not rematch Haney unless he admits to this alleged wrongdoing.

“Until [Haney] admits that they [his team] f**ked with my s**t, or something was going on, I’m never going to fight him.

“His little brother supposedly knew I was going to get caught with steroids. Why would his little brother go on his [social media] story and say ‘Ryan Garcia is going to get caught for steroids’?

“How the f**k did you know? I tested for four months straight [and every result came back] clean.”

While his previous results may have come back negative, the fact of the matter is that Garcia did test positive for a banned substance.