Sports
Kevin O’Connell Had to Pick Between Competitive and Rebuild
Kevin O’Connell became the Minnesota Vikings head coach after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got signed to be the general manager. The HC has now outlived the GM.
Part of what’s making life tricky for the skipper is that he’s still sorting through the team-building philosophy from Mr. Adofo-Mensah. Pretty infamously, there was the desire to thread the needle by finding a way to win without fully tearing the team down. So much of what made the quarterback decision difficult was the lingering impact of that infamous competitive rebuild approach.
Kevin O’Connell
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The Lingering Effects of the Competitive Rebuild
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s approach would have worked if J.J. McCarthy was competent. Not elite, but just pretty good.
Inserting a solid passer into last year’s team would have involved doing better than just 9-8. Brian Flores had a strong defense yet again and Matt Daniels led a very good special teams effort. What was missing was an offense that could keep up. O’Connell’s side of the ball finished off at 26th in the NFL by averaging 20.2 points per game. There’s a lot of blame to spread around but a ton has been put onto McCarthy.
Kevin O’Connell has therefore had to make a tough call.
Emphasizing a rebuilding effort would mean continuing to lean on McCarthy. He’s improving but there are concerns about how fast he’s improving. After all, O’Connell has yet to win a playoff game and is already entering his fifth season as the head coach. More concerning is that Justin Jefferson is 27 and going into his seventh NFL season without any playoff success.
How long can the Vikings expect the historic WR1 to be patient?
Kevin O’Connell has therefore decided to pivot at quarterback. Doing so has led to onlookers bringing up his past comments about franchises failing quarterbacks (which is to say nothing of him referring to McCarthy as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback back in 2024). A touch awkward, right?
Rolling with Kyler Murray is very likely to be the best decision for 2026. The 29-year-old veteran still looks like a clunky fit for the scheme but each side is adjusting to the other side. By Week 1, Kevin O’Connell hopes to have sorted through a lot of the issues to create a formidable passing attack.
Murray’s task is to allow the Vikings to compete in 2026. Do so by elevating the players around him. O’Connell will then get credit as a quarterback whisperer yet again if the flawed but remarkably talented Murray shines in the Twin Cities.
Emphasizing the competitive portion of what was a competitive rebuild does have a poor aftertaste. Not long ago, J.J. McCarthy was the young QB1 but he could be seeing his roster spot on life support.
Such awkwardness wouldn’t exist with a new skipper, but Minnesota didn’t roll with a Mike Zimmer/Rick Spielman approach, a full reset that allows for a clean break with the past. Keeping half of the former leadership duo may yet prove wise but O’Connell is sorting through some tension.
The Vikings just finished off the debut preseason game of the year yesterday. A couple more await — the Ravens and Broncos — before Kevin O’Connell tries to construct a successful 2026 season that’s more about competing than rebuilding.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Jack Whaley blinked back tears as he clutched the U.S. Amateur championship trophy and could only think of the countless times his father kept encouraging him, kept playing golf with him, all to urge a promising teenager on the cusp of quitting the game to stick with it for better days ahead.
With his dad on the bag, Whaley fulfilled Andy Whaley’s unwavering belief and capped the tournament victory of his life at Merion with a father-son embrace that put an exclamation point on a career that at one point seemed destined to dry up on English soil.
“He can actually see me happy, and I can see him happy coming off the golf course,” Whaley said.
Whaley played with double gloves, needed an umbrella, was stung by a wasp at rainy Merion Golf Club and still pushed through the inconveniences to cap a tremendous tournament and hold off Jay Leng Jr. to win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday.
Whaley should keep the rain jacket.
The 22-year-old Englishman gets to soak up the spoils that come with winning amateur golf’s greatest prize.
With the sky finally clear on the rain-slogged course, Whaley sank his final putt for birdie to win the 36-hole final 4 and 3 and hugged it out with his caddie — his father. Whaley’s mother ran out to join them for a family embrace while Andy gripped the famed wicker basket flagstick.
“This week it just clicked,” Andy Whaley said. “I can’t explain it. I don’t know why.”
His son broke down in tears as he held the Havemeyer Trophy and dedicated the win to his father, who never gave up on Jack, even as he kept missing cuts as a teenager.
“As we were driving back, I was looking at my dad with some of the names that are on this thing,” Whaley said after his win. “I never thought my name would among such impressive people.”
Whaley made a rapid rise from NAIA star to Florida State to amateur champion. The college senior now has an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open and the 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews, along with the Masters, should he remain an amateur. He wore his Seminoles cap and team colors for the championship round.
Whaley won the seventh U.S. Amateur held at Merion and is the first Englishman winner since Matt Fitzpatrick at Brookline in 2013.
He shook off a wasp sting on the fourth fairway in the afternoon session before he rallied his way to the title. Leng, a Stanford junior, held a 2-up advantage through the first 18 holes after both players bogeyed the par-5 18th on an overcast and windy round.
Whaley pointed to a spot on his right ankle where the wasp got him and left him throbbing for the next two holes.
“I had to pull this stinger out,” Whaley said with a laugh.
Maybe the stinger will be immortalized down the line at Merion.
The U.S. Amateur does hold a special place in Merion history. The rock near the 11th tee box at Merion marks one of golf’s grandest holes.
It was on that hole where Bobby Jones closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final and clinched golf’s only season grand slam with a win at the U.S. Amateur.
Ben Hogan also has a plaque that honors his 1-iron on the 18th hole of the 1950 Open.
“It’s a huge honor to be part of the names of all the famous people,” Whaley said.
Aaron Rai used double gloves months earlier in his PGA Championship victory at nearby Aronimink Golf Club, just as Whaley did months later.
Whaley made the change after he sliced one out of bounds on six because the rain affected his grip.
“It seemed to work, so I kept going,” Whaley said.
Merion is set to host the U.S. Open in 2030, 2040 and 2050, alongside the U.S. Women’s Open in 2034 and 2046.
Whaley is No. 90 in the world amateur golf ranking, while Leng is at No. 23.
Leng gets pretty nice consolation prizes. He also earned a spot on the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team, in the Masters and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year, provided he remains an amateur.
The other five players named to the Walker Cup team were Kihei Akina, Ryder Cowan, Josiah Gilbert, William Jennings and Stewart Hagestad.
“It shows I can compete with the best,” Leng said. “I can compete with anyone, honestly. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Aug 15, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Despite holding a share of the lead after the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Thursday, Jordan Spieth didn’t have enough in the tank this weekend to push himself into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points race.
Instead, Sungjae Im of South Korea was the only golfer to play his way into the second leg of the PGA Tour’s three-week playoffs.
Despite a disappointing final-round 74 that took him out of contention for the victory Sunday at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Im tied for fifth (7 under par) and that was more than enough to boost him from 53rd in points to 40th. Only the top 50 players in the chase move on to the BMW Championship.
The one player to give up his spot was Keith Mitchell, who entered the week 49th overall, tied for 34th at the St. Jude at 1 under and fell two spots to 51st. Matt McCarty (T63, 7 over) slipped from 48th to the 50th and final qualifying spot.
Spieth, meanwhile, entered the week No. 54 in the standings and needed a solo 23rd finish just to have a mathematical chance of advancing. He was in fine position to achieve that after opening the tournament with rounds of 65 and 69.
But a 2-over 72 Saturday and an even-par 70 Sunday impeded his progress, and he settled for a five-way tie for 19th at 4 under. He landed No. 52 in points, the second one out.
“I needed to be almost flawless (Sunday). When the wind was blowing, it’s a hard golf course,” Spieth said.
He was 2 under for his round through 10 holes but recorded three bogeys with one birdie from Nos. 11-15.
“(Saturday) really set me back,” Spieth said. “Felt like I stayed pretty calm, got off to the start I wanted (Sunday). Then around that 11, 12, 13, 14 stretch, if you can get through there unscathed, you know you’re looking at some opportunities on the other holes. I did pretty well around those holes this week, but (Sunday) kind of caught a couple that could have gone one way or the other and ended up mis-executing the shots just barely and didn’t get away of it.”
Spieth reiterated the confidence he had in the way he was playing as his season came to an unceremonious end.
“In some ways I feel like I’m leaving some out there, and in some ways it’s a good thing because like I mentioned after the first round, this will be the last time I finish like this for a while,” Spieth said.
“I’m very, very confident in what’s coming. I just ran out of steam and maybe made a couple bad decisions over about a six-week stretch on what I was working on, and I just didn’t quite have enough time to make up for it.”
Other notable players who did not advance to the BMW Championship included Max Homa (No. 53), Harris English (No. 54), Corey Conners of Canada (No. 59), Shane Lowry of Ireland (No. 62), Brian Harman (No. 65) and rising rookie Jackson Koivun (No. 67).
Below is the full list of the 50 players to qualify for the BMW. The top 30 players in points following that tournament qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship.
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Matt Fitzpatrick
3. Cameron Young
4. Si Woo Kim
5. Wyndham Clark
6. Sam Burns
7. Chris Gotterup
8. Tommy Fleetwood
9. Collin Morikawa
10. Ludvig Aberg
11. Xander Schauffele
12. Jacob Bridgeman
13. Rory McIlroy
14. Russell Henley
15. Akshay Bhatia
16. Hideki Matsuyama
17. Ryan Gerard
18. Min Woo Lee
19. Kristoffer Reitan
20. Alex Fitzpatrick
21. J.J. Spaun
22. Viktor Hovland
23. Alex Smalley
24. Justin Rose
25. Ryan Fox
26. Tom Kim
27. Adam Scott
28. Kurt Kitayama
29. Bud Cauley
30. Rickie Fowler
31. Gary Woodland
32. J.T. Poston
33. Nicolai Hojgaard
34. Alex Noren
35. Jake Knapp
36. Robert MacIntyre
37. Aaron Rai
38. Ben Griffin
39. Sepp Straka
40. Sungjae Im
41. Michael Thorbjornsen
42. Nico Echavarria
43. Patrick Cantlay
44. Justin Thomas
45. Ryo Hisatsune
46. Sahith Theegala
47. Michael Brennan
48. Eric Cole
49. Maverick McNealy
50. Matt McCarty
–Field Level Media
Aug 16, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Yorke (38) hits a two run single against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Nick Yorke had three RBIs while playing in his first game in exactly three months, while Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe each drove in two to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates secure an 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a 2 1/2-hour rain delay between the sixth and seventh innings, the Pirates secured the series victory and have won three of their past four as they attempt to stay alive in the National League postseason race. Boston has split its past four games after losing five in a row.
Yorke was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday and played for the first time since May 16 before he was optioned to the minors. Yorke’s two-run single off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval (1-2) in the third put the Pirates ahead 6-0 and highlighted a five-run inning for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates struck for two runs in the bottom of the first after Esmerlyn Valdez hit the first of his two doubles. Reynolds and Lowe followed with back-to-back RBI singles that put Pittsburgh ahead 2-0.
The same trio kickstarted the big third inning in the same fashion. Valdez followed Jared Triolo’s single with a double, and Reynolds and Lowe followed with run-scoring singles. After Yorke’s big hit, Henry Davis pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-0 on a sacrifice fly.
Connor Wong, who finished with two hits, gave the Red Sox some hope when he belted a three-run home run off Pirates reliever Hunter Barco in the fifth inning. Barco was also recalled from Triple-A on Sunday after Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Wilber Dotel and infielder Jack Brannigan.
Kirby Yates (1-5) replaced Barco in the seventh when play resumed and pitched a scoreless inning.
Sandoval gave up seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings. Raymond Burgos, who was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Worcester, pitched four innings — and remained in the game even after the rain delay — as he allowed one run on two hits and one walk, and had one strikeout. The Pirates started Lake Bachar as they pushed ace Paul Skenes’ next start to Wednesday. Bachar threw three scoreless innings and fanned four.
The Red Sox placed designated hitter/outfielder Masataka Yoshida on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, and right-hander Justin Slaten on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
–Field Level Media
It took a little longer than most expected, but Scottie Scheffler has won with TaylorMade’s Qi4D driver.
Scheffler ran away from the field Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, earning his second win of the season and first since the American Express in January.
But for a player who rarely makes equipment changes, the big story is that for the first time in more than three years, Scheffler has won with a driver other than his trusty TaylorMade Qi10 driver. Scheffler surprised many by starting the opening round in Memphis with a new TaylorMade Qi4D driver.
“From the beginning, Scottie told us that Qi4D has been faster and it holds the spin better than his previous driver,” TaylorMade Tour Rep Adrian Rietveld said. “Since then, we have worked relentlessly based off his feedback to give him a driver that perfects every performance variable that is unique to him. To his core, Scottie is a shot maker and the look and speed of the driver he won with today enabled him to be exactly that off the tee.”
For the week, Scheffler gained more than 2 strokes off the tee, finishing 13th in the field, on his way to the eight-shot win.
This is the third time Scheffler, a noted difficult switcher of golf clubs who often forms emotional attachments with them, has attempted a switch to the Qi4D. The first was at the Hero World Challenge last December, before the driver’s release. He reverted back to the Qi10 for his first PGA Tour start of the season at the American Express — which he won. He then tried again at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, but was back in the Qi10 the following week at the Players Championship.
All three Qi4D drivers Scheffler has tried have featured a unique blue face that matches the color of his beloved Qi10 driver.
The ability of TaylorMade to create Qi4D heads with varying face optics, thanks to carbon construction, has been something the Tour team has taken advantage of frequently this season. Players like Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark use the “Light Face” option, and McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood both have reflective launch monitor markers built into their driver faces.
The driver Scheffler used this week had another key difference from the retail version: a glossy crown. Again, this matches the look of his Qi10, which was the last glossy-crown driver TaylorMade released.
For more on Scheffler’s detailed setup, keep reading below.
Scottie Scheffler’s winning clubs at the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D 8.0˚ SHAPED FOR SPEED The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations. FACE FOR DISTANCE 60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight. TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
Actual Loft: 7.8˚
FCT Setting: Standard Upright
Front Weights: 13g toe, 10g heel
Back Weights: 4g toe, 4g heel
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X
Length: 45″
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D4
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade
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3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8-X
Loft: 15 degrees @ 14.75˚
Lie: 58.25˚
Length: 42.3125″ EOG
Tipping: 1.5″
Swingweight: D3
3-iron: Srixon ZU85
Loft: 20˚
Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10 X
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TaylorMade
Irons: Srixon ZU85 (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW), MILLED GRIND SOLE DEBUT Milled Grind eliminates variances in sole geometry from head to head and ensures precision in every iron set, while the CNC machined sole geometry and a precise leading edge promote consistent turf interaction. TIGER’S FINGERPRINT Each iron has been meticulously shaped to meet Tiger’s discerning eye—longer blade length, thinner topline, progressive face height, and more.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Length: +.25″
Lie: 1 degree upright
Loft Progression: 23/26/30/34/38/42/46
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Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50.12F @ 51˚, 56.14F @ 55˚), SM9 (60-04T), For every shot, every lie, every course, there’s a grind fit for your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his tour proven grinds to fit players of all levels.Anyone can manufacture a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control. Bob’s six tour-proven grinds are designed to offer maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed through years of working with the best players in the world. PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) throughout the lofts, which optimizes ball flight, accuracy and forgiveness. Using tapered top lines and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey R&D team has raised the height of the CG in the higher lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight.The CG is also forward of the face, resulting in increased MOI, exceptional feel and a club face that simply wants to square up at impact. SPIN MILLED GROOVES SM9’s patented Spin Milled grooves are meticulously engineered through a new cutting process to maximize spin and durability. The process starts by cutting the face perfectly flat with a high-speed saw. Then every groove is individually cut based on loft and finish; low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves, while higher lofts (56°-62°) have wider, shallower grooves.Micro-grooves are individually cut in between grooves, which maximize spin on partial shots. A proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact area which doubles the durability of the groove without impacting feel, making it the most durable groove in golf. The process is only complete when every Vokey wedge is 100% inspected for utmost quality and performance.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
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TaylorMade
Putter: Spider Tour X
Hosel: L-Neck
Length: 35 1/2″ EOG
Loft: 3˚
Lie: 72˚
Sightline: Full Line
Insert: Pure Roll
Grip: Golf Pride Pro Only
TORCHED PVD FINISH The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish. THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance. CG LOCATION PROGRESSION Each Spider Torched model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting. HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
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Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Rib 58 (6 wraps of double-sided tape)
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Tour Velvet Swing Grip The most popular grip in golf today combines an exclusive, state-of-the-art rubber-blend compound, non-slip surface pattern for maximum playability, comfort, and confidence. The Tour Velvet® is the standard upon which many club manufacturers base their grip designs. ALL-WEATHER CONTROL State-of-the-art rubber-blend compound with a non-slip surface pattern for maximum playability and confidence. MODERATE SURFACE TEXTURE Scientifically designed plus sign texture created to pull moisture away from surface to allow for consistent traction. MODERATE FEEDBACK The standard in grip feel providing comfort and moderate feedback. Specifications: Grip Size: Standard, Midsize, Jumbo Core Size: 58 Round, 60 Round, 60 Round
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Ball: 2021 Titleist Pro V1
h2>THE GREATEST COMBINATION OF SPEED, SPIN AND FEEL For players who prioritize total performance. New faster high gradient core Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design Soft cast urethane elastomer cover Product Features New faster high gradient core delivers more speed and iron and wedge spin for more control Low long game spin from a speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Penetrating and consistent flight from a spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design Excellent greenside spin from a soft cast urethane elastomer cover Player Benefits Extraordinary Distance Increased Drop-and-Stop™ control Very low long game spin Penetrating trajectory Consistent flight Very soft feel What’s New – (what performance attributes have improved) 2025 Pro V1 and Pro V1x produce more speed off the tee, more control with irons, more spin with wedges and more opportunity to shoot lower scores. Player Profile For players who prioritize total performance. Available Colors and Play Numbers White golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4, 5-8, and all the same play number 00 or 1- 99. High optic yellow golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4. Not available for purchase or shipment to Australia.
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Kath-Arado, the bemedaled PLDT libero, does a selfie with fans from her hometown of Lanao del Norte. —MARLO CUETO
PLDT may have played a different format in what was supposed to be its title defense of the PVL On Tour, but the High Speed Hitters were pleased to win both games and meet fans from different provinces before beginning their season in the Invitational Conference starting Aug. 31.
PLDT fended off Akari, 25-14, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, to end its preseason campaign on a high note on Saturday at the Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium in Tubod, Lanao del Nortem as the two-time PVL champion High Speed Hitters had a perfect On Tour stint after also beating Choco Mucho in four sets in Vigan City last July 25.
The chance to see their fans in Isabela, the original venue of the Choco Mucho game, last week, didn’t happen because of foul weather. And that is the only regret the High Speed Hitters have in this offseason.
“It would’ve been nice to play in the Isabela leg, but at least in our final On Tour game, we achieved our goal of improving from our game against Choco Mucho,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino. “Credit to Akari, especially in that set when they refused to give up.
“I kept telling our players that there’s really no room for complacency,” he went on. “We’re happy that we bounced back in the fourth set and got the win.”
The High Speed Hitters won their maiden championship in the PVL during last year’s On Tour. But a pure preseason showdown was implemented this year.
Ricafort and his wards understood the situation and still took every preseason game like a regular one as they prepare for a new season.
“It’s not really something we have control over, whether it continues as a regular conference or not,” he said. “Some teams were affected because they had players with Alas Pilipinas, so their lineups were incomplete.
“That’s just how our calendar worked out this time,” Ricafort continued. “At least we have the Invitationals to look forward to, and I’m sure that won’t be easy to win. We’ll prepare well and hopefully (play well) there.”
Savi Davison, who led the High Speed Hitters with 22 points on 19 kills, two blocks and an ace, while adding 13 excellent receptions and nine digs, enjoyed her chance to visit other provinces and touch the lives of the fans.
“I think it’s just being able to adapt in other places,” said the Filipino-Canadian hitter. “I know for us, it’s hard because there are so many fans and so much support here. There’s also a lot of support in Manila, but it’s not the same here since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to come see us.
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“So, it’s really about making adjustments point by point and set by set,” she said. “I’m just happy that we were able to keep adjusting and get the win.” INQ
The waiting game on a potential Aaron Donald return continues in Los Angeles, and while Rams coach Sean McVay said he would prefer the defensive tackle make a decision before long, he declined to put a timeline on an announcement one way or another.
Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been considering a comeback since early June when the Rams traded for star edge rusher Myles Garrett. He worked out with the team on Sunday for the second time this month, suggesting he and the Rams are beginning to get a clearer picture of whether he could suit up in 2026.
“I’m hopeful that it will be sooner than later, but I also want to respect when he does feel like that clarity will come,” McVay said after Saturday’s preseason game. “I think there’s a chance that we’ll be closer to that than not, but I don’t want to say too much or put some sort of invisible deadline on something that doesn’t exist, in my mind, for him.”
Donald initially showed up at the Rams’ facility on Aug. 5. The team was required to report his activity on the NFL transaction wire because he used team equipment in their building during training camp. It was the closest thing to an official practice Donald participated in since he retired at the end of the 2023 season.
The workout videos Donald regularly posted to social media throughout his retirement showed that he remained in excellent shape during his first couple of years away from football. Still, he needs to demonstrate that, at 35, his body can withstand the rigors of playing as an elite defensive lineman. Every workout in Los Angeles is an additional data point in that regard. And if he proves to both himself and the Rams’ staff that he is up to the task, the team has made it clear they would welcome him back with open arms.
“If Aaron does decide he wants to do it, I’ve been very open that we want to try to explore that opportunity,” McVay said. “But I think he has earned the right to be able to say he knows himself in terms of ‘Am I able to stack back-to-back days? Am I able to do some of the different things?’ And some of those benchmarks that he’s set out for himself.
“What I don’t want to sit here and do is put a timeline on it, and then something comes up where I’ve got to push it back. What I have said with him; we have some loose things where we have identified dates that we would like to be able to hit. But what I don’t want to have is any sort of unnecessary pressure on him if there’s some unforeseen circumstances.”
The Rams’ defense already projects as a top-flight unit in 2026 following the Garrett trade and the additions of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Adding arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time back into the mix would only further solidify Los Angeles as the preseason Super Bowl favorite.
While it would be unfair to expect Donald to produce at the same level he did during his prime, anything close to that kind of output would be a boon to the Rams’ defensive front. The eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits he posted in his final season were far from career highs, but they were still good enough to earn Donald an eighth first-team All-Pro selection. If he could flirt with those numbers in a comeback season, the Rams would take it in a heartbeat.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said the 2026-27 season could be the final year of his playing career, offering his clearest indication yet that retirement is approaching. The 41-year-old has spent more than two decades at the highest level and, with his contract at Al Nassr running until June 2027, has now begun speaking openly about what he wants his life to look like once football is over.“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue in an interview published on Sunday.
Ronaldo opens up about life after football
Ronaldo has previously spoken about retirement without committing to a particular date. In November, he said he expected to continue playing for “one or two years” and confirmed that the 2026 World Cup would be his final tournament.Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 last month. Ronaldo scored three goals at the tournament and became the first player to score at six different World Cups, finishing his World Cup career with 11 goals from 27 appearances.He was less specific about his overall playing future after Portugal’s exit. His comments to Vogue are the closest he has come to putting a timeframe on it.Ronaldo said he has already planned for the period after football and expects to spend more time with his family, travel and play and watch padel.“I have my future all mapped out,” he said. “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.“Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one. And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned.“Because after all it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”
A final season with Al Nassr and Portugal still ahead
Ronaldo remains contracted to Al Nassr until June 2027 and has continued to play for Portugal after the World Cup.He is also 24 senior goals short of reaching 1,000, a milestone he has spoken about wanting to achieve during the latter stages of his career.Portugal’s new manager, Jorge Jesus, described Ronaldo as a “symbol of Portuguese football” after taking the job in July and said he would continue selecting him while the forward remains fit and playing.Ronaldo’s three goals at the 2026 World Cup took his international total to 146, the highest in men’s international football.His club career has continued alongside those international records. He began at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr. His most prolific spell came in Madrid, where he scored 450 goals in 438 appearances, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.
The career Ronaldo is preparing to leave behind
Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Ors and five Champions League titles, along with league championships in England, Spain and Italy. With Portugal, he won the European Championship and Nations League.His career has also produced records across club and international football, including his position as men’s international football’s leading goalscorer and his six World Cup appearances.The 2026 tournament was already established as the end of his World Cup career. Now, with the new domestic season beginning, Ronaldo has indicated that the wider playing career could have only one more season left.His comments came in an interview conducted five days before his marriage to Georgina Rodríguez in Cascais, Portugal. The couple had been together for nearly a decade before announcing their marriage with a photograph of their wedding rings.Ronaldo has also spoken about wanting to spend more time with his family after football and about the interests he intends to pursue away from the sport.
Messi has also raised questions about his future
Ronaldo’s comments came shortly after Lionel Messi expressed uncertainty over how much longer he would continue playing following the death of his father, Jorge.The pair have spent much of the past two decades at the centre of football’s defining individual rivalry, collecting major individual awards and setting scoring records while playing for Barcelona, Real Madrid and their respective national teams.Both are now 39 or older, with Ronaldo at 41 and Messi at 39, and both have recently spoken about circumstances that could bring their playing careers towards an end.For Ronaldo, there is still football to play, goals to chase and a contract that extends into 2027. But for the first time, he has put the possibility of retirement at the end of the current season into his own words.
Sports
Eala advances after Ruse retires, and Filipina wunderkind will come in fresher in clash with another top 10 foe in Anisimova
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines plays Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania during day 5 of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 15, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Alex Eala got off her Cincinnati Open debut in a manner of finish she really didn’t want as second round foe Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired while trailing because of a foot injury.
A 6-1, 3-0 win, carved out after the Filipina ace won the last six games of the first set after being broken in her first service game, had Eala advancing to the chance of taking out another Top 10 WTA player in Amanda Anisimova on Monday in Manila.
This will be the first meeting between the two, and at stake is the chance to take on reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, the Czech who will play an Eala victim, Clara Tauson of Denmark, in the third round. And Eala would just be all too willing to chalk up a win over Anisimova and add her to a list of top 10 victims that led to a maiden WTA title in Washington DC two weeks ago.
The 21-year-old Eala already has eight wins against top 10 foes this season, counting one over Iga Swiatek in England and Jessica Pegula for the Mudabala crown in DC.
“I think that I was playing well, I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone,” Eala said after bouncing back from her first loss in nine matches to Belinda Bencic in the fourth round in Toronto last week. “I think I did a good job of that.”
“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement,” she went on. “First and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery, injuries aren’t fun, so I hope she recovers soon.”
Anisomova, the No. 9-ranked player in the world seeded 10th here, also posted an authoritative victory over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3, before expressing nothing but excitement in her clash with Eala.
“I haven’t played her (Eala) before. She’s been having such an incredible season, an incredible year,” Anisimova said. “[She is a] very great player with a lot of fans, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Djoko falls early
While some of the ladies stars on the rise advanced, all-time men’s great Novak Djokovic’s stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short one. It also might be his last.
The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in a match that took 2 hours, 44 minutes in hot and humid conditions.
A 25-year-old from Argentina, Tirante is ranked No. 50 in the world. Djokovic—a three-time Cincinnati champion and No. 5 in the rankings—was playing for the first time since his loss to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Up next for Djokovic is the US Open, which starts Aug. 30 in New York.
Djokovic appeared to struggle physically in the heat and had his 10-match winning streak in Cincinnati snapped. The 39-year-old told reporters that an unspecified health condition made it difficult for him to play in hot and humid weather.
“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic said. “A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. I did anticipate it (would be humid), but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”
Djokovic has had plenty of success in Cincinnati, with a 45-13 record and titles in 2018, 2020 and 2023. But he wasn’t sure he would return.
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“I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately,” Djokovic said. “But let’s see what the future brings.”—With a report from AP INQ
Sports
Barcelona finally get Ballon d’Or winner Rodri after third offer as Man City reportedly accept €76.5m deal
Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign Rodri from Manchester City, with the Spain captain set to return to La Liga after seven trophy-filled seasons in England.The proposed deal is understood to be worth €76.5 million (about $88.4 million) in total, after Barcelona returned with a third offer for the 30-year-old midfielder. Rodri is set to sign a four-year contract with the La Liga champions. The move would bring one of the world’s most accomplished midfielders back to Spain just weeks after he captained the country to the 2026 World Cup and was named the tournament’s best player.
Barcelona return with third offer
Barcelona had already seen two approaches for Rodri rejected before returning with an improved proposal over the weekend.According to sources cited by ESPN and The Athletic, Barcelona’s third offer takes the total package to €76.5 million ($88.4m). City will receive an upfront €60 million ($68.8m), with more than €11 million in highly achievable bonuses, and the Premier League club expects to receive at least €71.5 million overall for Rodri, who has less than 12 months left on his contract.Rodri is expected to travel to Barcelona in the coming days and could be presented before Wednesday’s Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at Spotify Camp Nou.The agreement follows a summer in which Rodri’s future had become increasingly uncertain. He was entering the final year of his Manchester City contract, giving the English club a reason to consider a sale if the right offer arrived.Barcelona’s interest also developed after Frenkie de Jong suffered a long-term injury, prompting the Spanish champions to explore the midfield market more seriously.Rodri was not initially considered a priority target, but his availability changed the picture. Barcelona then moved ahead with their pursuit, while sources told ESPN that the midfielder preferred a return to Spain with Barça over a move to Real Madrid.
A statement signing for Barcelona
Barcelona see Rodri as a major addition to a squad that has won consecutive Spanish league titles and are understood to view him as a player capable of strengthening Hansi Flick’s side for the coming seasons.His arrival would also add another established leader to a summer recruitment drive that has already brought Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu to the club.João Cancelo is also set to return to Barcelona as a free agent, according to sources cited by ESPN, while the club continue to pursue a striker. Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez is their leading target following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.Rodri’s experience would be particularly valuable in a squad preparing to compete on multiple fronts. He has won at the highest level in both club and international football, while his ability to control games from midfield has made him one of the defining players in his position.
Rodri leaves City after seven seasons
Rodri joined Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019 after previously playing for Villarreal and Atlético.Across 298 appearances in seven seasons, he helped City win 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23.His time in England was interrupted by a serious knee injury that ruled him out for much of the 2024-25 campaign, while a hamstring problem also disrupted parts of last season.He returned to his best level at the 2026 World Cup, captaining Spain to the title after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina. Rodri was also awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.The World Cup triumph followed his success at Euro 2024, where he was also named player of the tournament. That performance helped him win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Rodri with the 2024 Ballon d’Or trophy
Rodri would therefore leave Manchester City having added almost every major honour available to his collection.
City prepare for life without their midfield anchor
Barcelona’s opening proposal was reportedly rejected last week, with City turning down an offer worth around €45.2 million ($52.2 million) before the Catalan club increased its bid.After Sunday’s Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, new City manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a player of Rodri’s calibre.“Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d’Or,” Maresca said. “He’s a top player, all the teams need a Rodri, so it’s not about if we miss Rodri or not.”
Manchester City’s Rodri . (AP Photo)
Rodri’s departure would bring an end to his seven-year spell at the Etihad and leave City without a midfielder who has been central to their most successful period.For Barcelona, meanwhile, the agreement would bring home a player who has already won a World Cup, European Championship and Ballon d’Or, while still being 30 years old and entering what could be several important seasons at the Camp Nou.
The Chicago Bears got a big return to their roster this weekend as it was announced that the team has activated offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo from the physically unable to perform list, and he was spotted working during Sunday’s practice.
Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon just seven months ago back in the team’s Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers in January, and is now back on the field just seven months later. Trapilo has not returned in a full capacity just yet, as he was captured on video returning to individual drills but has not yet returned to full team activities or drills.
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The Bears will certainly take a cautious approach to getting Trapilo back on the field, as they ramp him back into action, but Sunday’s return and activation off the PUP list is the first big step to getting him back on the field in a much sooner than expected time.
Chicago currently has a wide-open competition at the left tackle position, where they currently have veterans Braxton Jones, Kiran Amegadjie, and Jedrick Wills battling it out among them. Trapilo’s return to the lineup will be an interesting wrench thrown into the competition, as he took over late last season, starting at left tackle in Week 12 of the 2025 season, and was a consistent presence on the offensive line until his energy.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: LOOK: Bears LT Ozzy Trapilo back in action at training camp practice
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