Freddy, the Germany superfan who stole the hearts of Americans by live-tweeting his experience in the United States for the first time, will still be heading to the White House despite receiving backlash that ultimately led to him deactivating social media. 

Ambassador Nick Adams, who is the Special Presidential Envoy for American, Tourism, Exceptionalism and Values in the Trump administration, confirmed to Fox News Digital last month that Freddy had been invited to the White House.

Now, Adams released a statement to Fox News Digital saying that, “despite the hateful and angry radical Left’s vicious attempts to doxx Freddy,” he will still attend his visit to the West Wing. 

“Freddy’s only ‘crime’ was loving America and documenting his travels in a completely non-partisan way. This is what they do. They try to scare and silence anyone who doesn’t conform,” Adams’ statement read. “As the Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism, I am proud that Freddy enjoyed his trip here. I refused to let the radical left turn something positive for our country into another victory for their politics of hate. 

“In the true spirit of 250, I lifted Freddy up and made sure their mob tactics would not win. The visit will go ahead as planned. America remains open for business and open to visitors who simply want to experience the greatest country on Earth. We will never let the mob dictate who gets to enjoy it.”

This is a developing story. More to come.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has been on a heater over his last 10 games. He used another big outing against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday to beat a 24-year team record last set by Sammy Sosa.

Swanson finished the blowout win against the Padres 3 for 5 with three home runs and eight RBI. The shortstop now has an impressive 26 RBI over his last 10 games.

Have you heard the one about Kyler Murray? The guy loves video games so much that it interferes with his daytime job, playing in the NFL as a starting quarterback? If you’ve ever found merit in that rumor, Murray’s former teammate, Trey McBride, has a message for you.

McBride spoke with Bussin’ with the Boys this week and laid the video game talker to rest. It isn’t true.

McBride Gives Vikings Fans a Cleaner Read on Murray

McBride: Murray Never Said a Single Word about Video Games

McBride played alongside Murray for four years — so the same amount that Justin Jefferson played with Kirk Cousins — enough to know about his habits.

Bussin’ with the Boys asked McBride about Murray’s alleged ardor for Call of Duty, and he replied, “It was never really a thing. He never talked about playing video games, but every single week he was in the media…he never talked about gaming or anything. I think they were just finding any stat to get on him.”

McBride added about Murray’s on-the-field tools, “Kyler’s not the tallest guy. He’s a baseball guy, so he throws from every different arm angle. He’s scrambling around so he’s a very different quarterback than I’ve played with. It was cool, we had a lot of success together.”

An Internet Rumor with a Life of Its Own

Somewhere along the line, approximately five to six years ago, NFL fans collectively decided that Murray loved video games and that hobby prevented him from reaching his full potential. It was almost like the Mandela Effect. It showed up online, and folks decided to remember it without fact-checking.

People even constructed Reddit threads to study Murray’s efficiency around video game release dates, unreal behavior for folks with too much time on their hands.

Zone Coverage‘s Tom Schreier noted earlier in the offseason, “Four years ago, a Reddit poster discovered that Kyler Murray played worse in games that coincided with Call of Duty ‘double experience’ weekends. In Call of Duty’s multiplayer mode, players compete online to rack up the most “kills” in the military shooter. On certain weekends, players get double the experience points, which lets them improve their weapons and gives them an edge over the competition.:

“Many athletes play video games. They’re a healthy way to relax after a tough game or hard practice. Professional athletes are naturally competitive and want to dominate a popular game that anyone with a console and internet connection can play.”

Then, when the Cardinals extended Murray’s contract four years ago, they initially built in the infamous “study hall clause,” and those tracking Murray’s video game enjoyment lost their minds while feeling vindicated.

Since then, the joke/theory just stuck: Murray prefers video games to real life.

… and Who Cares about Video Games Anyway?

Listen, the Vikings have a wide receiver named Jordan Addison who has been arrested three times since joining the franchise. If video games were his problem, fans would rejoice because it would imply his worst deed is playing too many.

There are worse problems to have than Murray playing video games — if that narrative is quasi-true in the first place. If Murray likes to play them, and he just so happens to throw for 3,900+ passing yards, post 30 total touchdowns, and bank 600+ rushing yards every 17 starts — those are his career numbers — let him have his hobby. Mind ‘ya business.

A Chance to Be the Vikings’ Long-Term QB

If Murray performs at his usual level, the situation in Minnesota simplifies quickly: the Vikings would undoubtedly retain him next offseason. Having already let Sam Darnold depart once, they won’t make the same mistake with a quarterback who effectively ran Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

This presents an ideal scenario for Murray. He could leverage 2026 as a stepping stone to a long-term future with the Vikings, securing a significant extension and the QB1 position well into his thirties. With Minnesota’s infrastructure and Murray’s track record, this is his prime opportunity to transform a fresh start into a permanent role.

Conversely, if Murray underperforms, the Vikings can thank him for his one year of service and move on in 2027. He would then enter free agency as a recognizable quarterback but with more questions than answers. A team like the New York Jets might be a fit, but it would require Murray to rebuild his reputation elsewhere.

Thus, this season is pivotal. Murray could either establish himself as Minnesota’s long-term signal-caller or embark on the next phase of his career as a high-profile journeyman. The stakes are skyhigh.

All he has to do is ball out. If he happens to play video games along the way, all the power to him. Who cares? McBride says the narrative isn’t even true.

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

The brother of a perennial Pro Bowl defensive lineman was arrested and charged with his mother’s murder after she was found dead.

Calais Campbell’s brother, Ciarre, is accused of killing his 71-year-old mother, Nateal, in Atlanta.

Police said officers responded to a welfare check call when they spotted a man who “appeared to have barricaded himself inside the home.”

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Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell against the Las Vegas Raiders during “Monday Night Football” at Allegiant Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

The male was then detained by police before officers found the “unresponsive elderly female” inside the home, prompting homicide investigators to report to the scene.

Ciarre Campbell now faces two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit a felony, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

Calais Campbell’s family released a statement to the NFL Network.

Calais Campbell poses for a photo after winning the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award during NFL Honors at the Symphony Hall on Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO NFL ANALYST DEFENDS STREAMING SERVICES BROADCASTING BUT UNDERSTANDS FAN FRUSTRATION

“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell. While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the statement said. “We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family.”

Calais Campbell is getting ready to play in his 19th NFL season after signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. He has spent 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in two different stints and had stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and also the Ravens.

Calais Campbell talks to the media after Baltimore Ravens Mandatory Minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center on June 9, 2026, in Owings Mills, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

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He has made six Pro Bowls in a seven-season span from 2014 through 2020, is the active leader in games started with 259 and has 117.0 total sacks.

Teofimo Lopez has revealed who he believes is capable of handing Shakur Stevenson his first career defeat.

Stevenson has won all 25 of his fights to date, claiming world honours at featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and super lightweight since making his debut back in April 2017.

His last triumph came against Lopez himself, earning a one-sided unanimous decision victory at Madison Square Garden in New York back in January to win the WBO title at 140lbs.

While Lopez was unable to get the better of Stevenson, he has now named the man who he feels has what it takes to end that unbeaten record.

In a feature with Daily Mail Sport, Lopez was discussing several possible match-ups in the welterweight division, where he was asked to predict who would win in a battle between Stevenson and current WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.

“I think Devin Haney.”

Haney previously reigned as undisputed lightweight champion before then holding the WBC super-lightweight title, and he became a three-division world champion in November when he earned the WBO welterweight strap with a dominant points win over Brian Norman Jr.

Stevenson and Haney have been linked to a fight with one another for several months, but one sticking point appears to be the 144lb catchweight offer that has been bandied about the two camps.

It still remains to be seen whether or not a bout will come to fruition anytime soon, with Haney instead reportedly in talks for a showdown against fellow multi-weight world champion Gervonta Davis.

If you believe Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the top defensive coaches in football, you are not alone. NFL writer Daniel Rios ranked all playcallers on defense this week, and unsurprisingly, Flores got his flowers.

Rankings for defensive coaches are rare, but this go-around, Flores checked in at No. 4.

Vikings Defense Keeps Its Loudest Advantage

Flores Earns 4th-Best Defensive Playcaller Ranking

Flores grabbed No. 4 on Rios’s list, and he explained the placement: “Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has completely transformed the team’s defensive identity since arriving. His aggressive approach forces offenses to play on his terms, using pressure packages and constantly changing looks to keep quarterbacks uncomfortable.”

“Few coordinators disguise pressure as effectively as Flores. His defenses often show six or seven potential rushers before dropping multiple defenders into coverage, creating hesitation and forcing quarterbacks into rushed decisions.”

Flores basically has a 100% approval rating among fans.

“Flores deserves credit for maximizing his personnel. Minnesota doesn’t always feature the league’s most talented defense, but its scheme consistently elevates players by putting them in a position to succeed,” Rios continued.

“The aggressiveness occasionally leaves his defenders vulnerable to explosive plays, but the overall results speak for themselves. Week after week, Flores creates game plans that completely alter how opposing offenses operate, cementing himself among the league’s elite playcallers.”

Deservedly So

The ranking won’t get any shade from any reasonable people, and if anything, it could be too low.

Since Flores took over the Vikings’ defense, it has fundamentally changed for the better. Here’s the money stat to know:

Only the Cleveland Browns have a better defense since 2023, mainly because former Brown Myles Garrett is such a tyrant. Minnesota’s 2022 campaign was undone by a strangely poor defense, marshaled by Ed Donatell, but it put its foot down during the 2023 offseason and onboarded Flores. Since then, defense has become the team’s calling card, a sweet perk for a team with an offense-first head coach in Kevin O’Connell.

He’ll Have an Offense Next to Him in 2026

Suddenly, the Vikings can be a serious team again. The offense might be back. In 2025, Minnesota finished with a 9-8 record despite showcasing the NFL’s fifth-least-efficient quarterback play, courtesy of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski signed Kyler Murray in March for $1.3 million, and he has the chance and the physical tools to unlock an offense that floundered last season and prevented a playoff berth. The Vikings were also a win away from taking the NFC North. That’s in play again with Murray in the house.

Minnesota will also showcase these weapons, an upgrade from last year due to the Jennings free-agent addition:

• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Addison
• Jauan Jennings
• T.J. Hockenson
• Aaron Jones
• Jordan Mason
• Demond Claiborne

That revised group of playmakers could feast in 2026 if Murray lives up to his first overall draft stock in 2019. Flores’s defense won’t be asked to do it all — like last year.

Who’s the Best?

The league’s best defensive mind? Rios capitalized on Seattle Seahawks’ skipper Mike Macdonald’s Super Bowl triumph, naming him the top dog.

He wrote, “It’s hard not to have Mike Macdonald in the top spot after what he did last season with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s quickly become the NFL’s premier defensive playcaller after leading dominant defenses in Baltimore and Seattle.”

“He’s established himself as the coach every franchise hopes to find when building a championship defense. Macdonald’s greatest strength is unpredictability. His defense rarely shows quarterbacks the same picture before and after the snap, using disguised coverages, simulated pressures and changing personnel groupings to create confusion. Unlike aggressive coordinators, Macdonald generates pressure without relying on a ton of blitzes.”

Former Vikings Sam Darnold received much of the credit for the Seahawks’ unforeseen Super Bowl sprint, but the defense really did most of the heavy lifting.

Rios added, “He uses creative fronts and pressure packages to create one-on-one opportunities for pass rushers while keeping seven defenders available in coverage. What may be even more impressive is his adaptability.”

“Whether facing a run-heavy offense or an elite passing attack, Macdonald consistently adjusts his scheme to eliminate the opponent’s biggest strength. Combined with elite player development and good in-game adjustments, he enters the 2026 season as the NFL’s best defensive playcaller.”

Vic Fangio of the Philadelphia Eagles and Steve Spagnuolo from the Kansas City Chiefs checked in at No. 2 and 3, respectively.

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

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates her victory against McCartney Kessler of the United States in their second round women’s singles match, at Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

LONDON–World number one Aryna Sabalenka battled through a tough second set against American McCartney Kessler to reach the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has reached 14 successive major quarter-finals, won 6-1, 7-6 (11/9) on Court One to secure a last-32 meeting with former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko.

READ: Wimbledon rolls out stars in strong opening days

“That was a true battle and I’m super happy that I was able to stay in that second set to get into that tie-break,” said Sabalenka.

“She really tested me and I’m super happy to pass the test.”

Sabalenka has never won Wimbledon, losing in the semi-finals on each of her past three visits.

Kessler missed two set points when serving for the second set at 5-3 ahead, before Sabalenka fought back and took a tie-break, in which her 57th-ranked opponent saw another two set points come and go.