Nikita Shulchenco of LCW UAECycling Team in action during the Tour of Luzon. –HANDOUT PHOTO
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Barring a massive disaster, Nikita Shulchenko has the MPTC Tour of Luzon title in the bag.
The Russian rider finished second in the individual time trial on Tuesday, the summer cycling spectacle’s penultimate stage, and built a four-minute cushion against French cyclist Antoine Huby
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“It’s great for me,” said Shulchenko after crossing the finish in 26 minutes and one second amid the scorching heat and windy conditions at Lingayen Baywalk. South Korean ace Min Kyeong-ho beat him by 22 seconds.
Shulchenko crossed the finish in 26 minutes and one second amid the scorching heat and windy conditions at Lingayen Baywalk.
Min ruled the race-against-time format, but that meant little to the LCW UAE Cycle top rider, who built himself a buffer heading into the killer final stage from here to Baguio via Kennon Road, which will feature a climb that is more suitable to Huby’s talents.
Biggest threat
Huby was tagged as a potential challenger for Shulchenko, with mountain stages affording several opportunities to eat up time deficits, but he could not keep pace during the time trial, finishing at 27:21—1:42 behind Min and 1:20 slower than Shulchenko.
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Shulchenko now has an aggregate time of 36:42:22, ahead of the 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines ace by 3:50.
Huby emerged as the biggest threat to Shulchenko’s hold on the yellow jersey when he conquered the difficult climb towards Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem the previous day to move within 2:30 of the Russian.
But a poor finish in the time trial by Huby turned Wednesday’s final stage into a virtual coronation lap for Shulchenko and not the “Battle Royale” that 7-Eleven team manager Ric Rodriguez billed it to be during the Tour’s rest day in Pagudpud last week.
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Huby had beaten Shulchenko in the tough climbs, including the unforgiving Stage 10 at Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, which could have made the final stage more dramatic had the 25-year-old slashed the deficit even more or even just kept pace.
“It’s a nice gap for me, but there’s no reason for me to relax,” Shulchenko said.
The Russian rider has donned the symbolic jersey since Stage 3, and will look to secure the P1 million top prize for the best individual rider of the Tour—which would make a fitting early birthday present.
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Shulchenko will turn 27 on May 31.
His LCW teammate, Ibrahiem Alrefai, is third in the general classification (5:37 behind), while MPT DriveHub’s Nash Lim moved into fourth (8:05 behind) and is now the best Filipino rider.
Fan favorite Mervin Corpuz of 7-Eleven is fifth (+8:54), with Malaysia national team’s Muhammad Mazlin (+9:26) in sixth and 7-Eleven’s Ronnilan Quita (+9:46) seventh.
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Rounding out the top 10 are MPT’s Rustom Lim (+12:19), Seoul’s Jung Woo-ho (+13:30) and Go for Gold Philippines’ Rench Michael Bondoc (+13:54).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to strengthen their hold on a top-two finish when they face a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders side in IPL 2026. RCB climbed to the top of the table after a thrilling last-ball win over Mumbai Indians in Raipur, but they now face a KKR team that has rediscovered form at a crucial stage of the season.
KKR’s turnaround has been remarkable after managing just one point from their opening six matches. The side has bounced back with four consecutive wins to revive their playoff hopes, drawing comparisons to RCB’s memorable comeback in IPL 2024 when Bengaluru recovered from seven losses in eight games to qualify for the playoffs.
While RCB have been among the most consistent teams this season, there are signs of concern in their batting lineup. With Phil Salt sidelined due to injury, Jacob Bethell has struggled to make an impact in recent matches. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s back-to-back ducks have exposed the middle order earlier than expected. Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd have also found runs hard to come by, leaving RCB searching for greater stability at the top and through the middle overs.
For KKR, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been central to their resurgence, taking eight wickets in his last four games. However, his availability for the upcoming clash remains uncertain after suffering an apparent injury during recent matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals.
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KKR’s batting unit, though, has found much-needed rhythm, with the top order contributing consistently. Finn Allen starred in their previous outing with an unbeaten 47-ball century, further boosting the team’s confidence heading into this crucial encounter.
The pitch at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur is expected to be a balanced, black-soil surface that offers a stern test for batters. Unlike the ultra-high-scoring flat tracks seen across other venues this season, Raipur provides noticeable assistance to disciplined bowlers.
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RCB vs KKR IPL Match: Raipur Weather Update
Clear and dry conditions are forecast for tonight’s match. Despite recent unseasonal rain disrupting practice sessions earlier in the week, weather systems have fully cleared. A full 40-over game is guaranteed with 0% chance of rain during match hours. As temperatures cool down to 27°C under clear night skies, moderate dew is expected to develop during the second innings.
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RCB vs KKR: Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer/Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
The RCB vs KKR clash will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
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IPL Toss Today Timing
The toss for today’s IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at 7:00 PM IST, while the match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Oct 14, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Zylstra (15), running back CJ Ham (30), wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Moore (56) and linebacker Dennis Gardeck (92) pose for a photo following the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that superstar running back Adrian Peterson would be the next inductee into their Ring of Honor. Of course, the future Hall of Famer is a worthy candidate, and his celebration will be met with raucous applause.
Who gets the next nod has been a topic of debate since Peterson’s name was announced. Harrison Smith will get there one day, but it’s still entirely plausible that he plays for Minnesota again this season. There is also a typical waiting period post-retirement, but that shouldn’t stop either C.J. Ham or Adam Thielen from eventually getting their due.
Thielen and Ham Built Deep Minnesota Football Roots
Both Ham and Thielen played for the Vikings last season, and both opted to hang up their cleats this offseason. It can be argued what level of production they provided over the course of their careers, but there is no denying that both should be enshrined amongst Minnesota royalty.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Adam Thielen walk together following the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The postgame moment showed the two discussing plays as the stadium atmosphere settled after the AFC-NFC contest, reflecting the interaction between quarterback and veteran receiver as they exited the field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Ham, a Duluth native, spent nine seasons with the Vikings. He played the unsexiest position, fullback, and was twice named to the Pro Bowl. He scored in his final career game and logged 141 games with Minnesota, remaining incredibly durable.
Minnesota utilized Ham as a blocker for Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones. He was a captain and a fixture in the locker room. The fact that he went from an undrafted afterthought to a roster linchpin only cements his legacy in purple.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Like Ham, Thielen was an undrafted talent who forced his way onto the roster. Like Ham, he earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections and finished with over 8,400 receiving yards. The Vikings brought him back as depth to start last season, and then let him go ring chase with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Detroit Lakes native and Minnesota State Mankato product, Thielen’s story was one of great perseverance. He became a star in his own right next to Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson. He helped to keep the Vikings offense humming despite consistent quarterback turnover.
Neither Ham nor Thielen will ever sniff a call from Canton, and they shouldn’t. Being inducted among the best to ever play for the Vikings is a must, though, and while their connected ties help the case, it’s only a footnote among the reasons why they should eventually be there.
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Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — If one were to rank the seven days of a major championship week, the competition days on the weekend obviously come first. That’s when the golf matters. But when it comes to the non-competition days — Tuesday is filled by press conferences and Wednesday is the last hurdle to golf that matters — Monday is a surprising favorite. It is marked by the arrivals, newness and anticipatory energy. All of which makes a Monday evening walk around the property some of the most delightful time of the week, particularly if Mother Nature plays along.
This week, we got our first look at Aronimink during a sunny back-nine stroll with Dustin Johnson and Thomas Detry. Below are some early observations from that trek, and the 24 hours that followed.
1. The main reason this will be a proper championship
If you want a compelling championship golf test, everything starts with the greens.
Andy Johnson of the Fried Egg told me that once, and it has crystallized pro golf tournaments ever since. It’s not the tee shots, the width of fairways, the thickness of the rough or even the firmness of the fairways and how they send balls into bunkers. All those things are just window dressing to the core of what matters: the greens. If the putting surfaces are firm and challenging, they determine so much about every other decision between players and their caddies. Bunker shots, fairway shots, approaches from the rough, from behind a tree, from a tee box, etc. Good greens impact everything, and every Aronimink conversation seems to come back to its greens.
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Donald Ross designed this golf course long before Gil Hanse and Co. recently renovated it, but he seemed to understand the importance of green complexes as the central challenge of a golf hole. At Pinehurst No. 2, his most famous design, the greens are turtle-backed in shape, where players fear falling off the edge. At Aronimink, there’s some of that, but more of an understanding of complexes as full structures — the way a company’s headquarters is also a complex, all connected but with different subsections.
Take the 14th, for example, a long par 3 with a back-right hole location that is difficult to access. Players will be thrilled to reach the center of this green off the tee. But from that center-green spot, Detry raced one putt past the hole and off the green. Clearly flummoxed, he dropped another ball and hit a softer putt. It also rolled off the green.
There’s an equally difficult-to-access part of the 11th green, too, on its left side. From the center of the green, Johnson and Detry angled themselves away from the hypothetical flag, right up to the curtain of the green. Anything less than that was rolling off the green, too. There is just a lot of clear thought required to find the right spots of greens on different days, and while we won’t see pins like the above early in the championship, they’re out there and at the PGA of America’s disposal, likely over the weekend after they’ve trimmed the field.
2. The best view (isn’t) in the house
A dark, temporary fence has been erected around the property, closing off the golf course to Aronimink’s (presumably wealthy) neighbors who normally get to watch the course from their backyard. One such neighbor — who lives along the short, par-4 13th — is ahead of the game, building a platform of their own above the fence, just tall enough to see most of the entire property. It will offer the best, widest view of the PGA Championship, and I’m not sure it’s close.
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From the platform, where a trio of high schoolers hung out Monday evening, you can see the entirety of the drivable 13th and a view from above the 14th tee. You can peer through the trees and see players make putts on the 11th, 12th and 15th greens, and with a pair of binoculars, you can watch the same on the 8th and 10th greens. This private view will cost its viewers nothing, of course … besides the millions invested into acquiring the property in the first place.
This view with a pair of binoculars will be better than any other spot at Aronimink.
Sean Zak
3. Aronimink’s variety
On paper, Aronimink could appear a bit cookie-cutter. Its first four holes are all par 4s between 413 and 457 yards. But as the photos above can hopefully suggest, working your way through those holes means sliding along the edge (and eventually dropping into) a central valley. And with a routing that is as scattered as can be — it goes out, back, out some more, across, across some more, backward, then inward — the natural contours of that valley mean successive approach shots from the same distance are nothing alike.
It may seem oversimplified, but Aronimink creates differences in successive holes to the extent that players will never be on autopilot. They may hit driver just about everywhere, as Rory McIlroy suggested Tuesday morning, but if the greens are as difficult as they portend to be, solving the problem from where those drivers end up will be a helluva battle in itself.
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4. Bryson’s ratings?
Among the topics that “Live From the PGA Championship” delved into enthusiastically Monday evening was the hypothetical boost Bryson DeChambeau would offer the PGA Tour in a world where he returned. One of the panelists suggested that since he didn’t bring significant ratings juice to LIV Golf, most of what he can offer is via YouTube views.
We’ll never know for sure until he makes that hypothetical a reality, but you can really see his power in person, and I was reminded of it Monday evening. Frankly, the “Live From” panelists could have seen it themselves — Paul McGinley and Brandel Chamblee sat in their Golf Channel tower while DeChambeau played the 17th and 18th holes right beneath them.
DeChambeau enjoys a Monday afternoon walk around majors, and he was out playing the back nine, flying his driver 30 yards past Scioto club pro Jared Jones. There couldn’t have been many more than 1,000 spectators still on property, and half of them had to be following DeChambeau. Maybe that’s not surprising, but it’s through this horde that you can see his value personified. None of the shots matter, there’s no one else of substance in the group, it’s Monday evening at suppertime and the fans on site want to see him. I don’t care if that hasn’t worked out in LIV’s favor or on FOX — it would work out on the PGA Tour in a demonstrable way. Major weeks — like the 2024 U.S. Open, or even the 2024 PGA Championship — have proven that.
5. Brace for the pace
I find it extremely pleasing when spectators can stand in one spot and see a lot more than one shot, which is what makes properties like Aronimink delightful. You don’t need to build your own platform (like the one mentioned above); you just have to be choosy about where you stand.
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The only issue is that, at these century-old courses, the modern pro game has started to force courses to eat themselves, needing to lengthen holes but having no land to move back on. Look no further than the 10th tee, which has been backed up so much that it has to use the furthest extent of the 1st tee box. In the image below, the first hole moves forward, up and to the right, while the 10th hole crosses the photo (and the 1st tee) directly to the right.
The 1st and 10th tees at the PGA Championship could cause a bit of chaos.
Sean Zak
This will almost surely cause pace-of-play issues on Thursday and Friday, particularly with some rain in the forecast. But it’s not entirely new. At the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the rigid borders of the property meant that any lengthening would require tee boxes situated just off greens and criss-crossing holes as well. The 18th green at Aronimink is just a few steps off the 17th green, a par-3, which means approach shots and putts from the 17th will impact when players feel comfortable teeing off on the 18th, adding seconds and minutes to the pace of rounds. Getting through that 17 into 18 pace-of-play trap, for players who start on the 10th, will only push them toward that awkward 1st tee for their second nine. In other words, I’ll be shocked if Thursday and Friday don’t feel very slow at some point.
6. Talkative Rory
My, what a year can bring. Twelve months ago, Rory McIlroy was fresh off a Masters win and uninterested in chatting about much at all with the golf media. It was truly puzzling, it lasted longer than a month and I’m not sure we ever really earned an explanation for it. But today? McIlroy sat for a 19-minute press conference, meandered out for a sit-down with ESPN, then some time with other TV rights holders, some formal chats with Irish media, then some informal chats with Irish media, then some friendly chats about who knows what with even more media types, just outside the press conference tent.
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In total, McIlroy spent 90 minutes chatting with media members, producers and communications staffers before moving on with his Tuesday, and at one point was so jovial that his laughter was distracting from the Jon Rahm press conference that followed him. This is a small, esoteric and navel-gazing kind of information, but goodness, it’s a much different mood he is bringing to this championship than he did a year ago.
7. The Daniel Summerhays Rule
It was 10 years ago that, on the Wednesday afternoon before the PGA Championship, I watched Daniel Summerhays hit hook after hook on the Baltusrol driving range. It was about as late as it gets in the run-up to that week’s major, and it was so clear that Summerhays, then the 89th-ranked player in the world, was searching. If anyone was a surefire bet to miss the cut — I thought to myself — it was him.
Of course, Summerhays shot 70-67-67-66 to finish solo third that week, the best performance of his life and the best reminder to me that 1.) These guys are good, and 2.) What you see is not always what you get. And with that, I’d like to talk briefly about Dustin Johnson.
Johnson is by no means a betting favorite this week, but he is a two-time major-winner. He’s playing on a special invite and is, according to DataGolf, the 117th-ranked performer in the world. He’s past his prime, but he’s still a popular name and will no doubt fill the daily fantasy lineups for plenty of DraftKings sickos …
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… but he could not hit his driver on Monday. Johnson hit numerous tee shots on each hole, repeatedly blocking his drives out to the right. He even swapped out his TaylorMade driver for a different offering at times, tinkering with the club that was his greatest asset at the peak of his powers. Over and over again, the same blocky miss returned. When a shadow disturbed him, that same miss even showed up with his 3-wood.
All of which has me wondering … will Johnson do as he did Monday, which was the kind of golf that would have equated to something worse than 75? Or will the Daniel Summerhays Rule apply and serve as another reminder that practice is just practice, and observers know so little about what is really going on for these guys.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s actually only been three weeks since San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper became the youngest player in history to score 25 points off the bench in a playoff game. He did it in Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers in what was a monumental moment for these Spurs, who were tied 1-1 against the No. 7 seed and down 15 points in the third quarter.
You probably remember the game, or at least the baseline dunk Harper threw down over Robert Williams — Harper’s first of what is sure to be a long list of signature postseason moments. Portland’s Scoot Henderson, having a signature game himself, got caught up in the duel and decided it was a good idea to talk trash to Harper. It wasn’t.
Harper proceeded to score 22 of his 25 points in the second half. He hit four of five 3s and five of his seven shots as the Spurs rallied for the victory.
“I got to shout out Dylan [Harper] though,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell said after that win. “… To come in with that type of confidence, he doesn’t start. He never complains. Scoot Henderson starts talking to him and the next thing you know, it’s like he woke up a monster.”
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Those who have watched Harper all season have known that monster was bound to come out. You saw it all year. The poise. The physicality. The elite creation and transition force. The shooting coming around rapidly. Only on a team as stacked as the Spurs would he not be the starting point guard right now.
Harper only had 12 points on Tuesday, but man, was he impressive in his 25 minutes as a plus-13. The skills are one thing, but it’s Harper’s solidness, for lack of a better word, that makes it almost impossible to believe he’s a rookie. He’s poised. He’s physical. He meets you in the air as a finisher, and it’s not him who ends up going backward. If you woke up from a coma and someone told you this dude wearing No. 2 for the Spurs was a 10-year vet, you’d believe it.
Again, the bag is one thing. But this here is a man’s work.
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That is Julius Randle, a tank of a 31-year-old man, that 20-year-old Harper went right through for that put-back. Harper’s size is a big reason why he’s destined for superstardom. Think Jalen Brunson’s craft but 6-foot-6 and a give-a-damn defender.
But right now, Harper isn’t afforded the usage rate of a Brunson. Right now, he has to be a jack of all trades, and it’s his ability to contribute all over the box score and thrive off the ball that is making him such an asset in these playoffs.
Yes, Harper is going to be San Antonio’s starting point guard very soon and for a very long time, but right now he needs to coexist with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, both of whom require the ball more to make their maximum impact, in a more secondary, albeit rapidly growing role.
These three-guard lineups only work if one of them can do a bunch of ancillary stuff, and Harper is suited for the job with his ability to offensive rebound, push and finish in transition (where he’s already operating like an All-Star) and attack the paint against scattered defenses consumed by Victor Wembanyama’s multi-layered gravity and all the other threats the Spurs have on the floor.
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You need him to score? Cool. He has the most points of any bench player in these playoffs (136). You need him to rebound? No problem. He had five offensive boards on Tuesday and is the first rookie guard in history to record multiple 10-point, 10-rebound playoff games. You need him to defend? Check him out as he fights over this screen and still gets back in front of Anthony Edwards to choke off the possession.
We’re going to look back on this time in Harper’s career and compare it to James Harden on the Thunder — a no-doubt future superstar cutting his baby teeth on a contender not yet in need of his full services. That said, it is clear that Harper is already a main guy, even as a fraction of what he is going to become.
He’s probably already better than Fox, all things considered, but it still makes sense for Fox to start. Let Harper be the Spurs’ new Manu Ginobili for the time being, the laughably overqualified bench player who is fine with his role because he’s on a championship-level team and is going to play all the important minutes. What a luxury to have this kind of player, at this stage of his career, on this kind of contract, as you stare down this heavyweight bout against the Thunder.
Yeah, yeah, I realize I’m looking past the Timberwolves, and let’s be clear: This series isn’t over yet. Edwards is going to have a lot to say in Game 6 back in Minnesota, and I would not be surprised if it comes back to San Antonio for Game 7.
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But assuming this ends up with the Spurs playing the Thunder in what many would call a de facto Finals, the one team that can come close to matching Oklahoma City’s depth is San Antonio, in large part because of Harper. He’s the Spurs’ version of Ajay Mitchell, OKC’s budding star who is temporarily, and circumstantially, assigned to the support staff. With Jalen Williams out over OKC’s last six games, Mitchell has been starting and starring. Harper would do the same if a Spurs starting guard went down.
But until then, he’s playing 25 minutes a game in these playoffs and the Spurs have won those minutes by 73 points. That is not an accident. Dylan Harper has turned into a monster, and he and the Spurs are only getting scarier as this postseason rolls on.
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during warmups prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The NBA will not be taking any action after concluding its investigation into Giannis Antetokounmpo being shut down for the final month of the season, according to a report by ESPN on Tuesday.
The two-time MVP hyperextended his left knee on March 15 against the Indiana Pacers and did not play in the final 15 games of the season for the Bucks, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
However, the team and its star player had differing stories on his health and desire to return by the time the team had been eliminated from contention in late March.
Antetokounmpo told reporters in early April that he was healthy but being held out by the team.
“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo said on April 3. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.
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“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
Per the report, the Bucks told investigators that they didn’t believe Antetokounmpo actually wanted to return, citing his refusal to participate in 3-on-3 scrimmage work at practice to show his recovery progress.
Antetokounmpo also denied this claim in his exit interview with media members.
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“From my understanding, coming back to play, which I don’t think I ever had any return-to-play protocol, but to my understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play,” Antetokounmpo said. “I did that multiple times. I’ve never in my life denied participation of practice.”
ESPN reported Monday that the Bucks are once again exploring a pre-draft trade for Antetokounmpo, 31. Milwaukee also explored this option before the trade deadline before electing to hold onto its star player until at least the summer window.
Antetokounmpo has one year left on his deal before a player option for the 2027-28 season.
The 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA player has averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals over 13 seasons and 895 games (830 starts) with the Bucks, leading them to the franchise’s first NBA title in 50 years in 2021.
Clayton Douglas has his sights set on recapturing glory with talented sprinter Title Fighter bound for Flemington.
Set for the Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday, Title Fighter looks to go back-to-back after accounting for Deekay in the previous running.
Prior to last year’s win, Title Fighter filled sixth behind Dashing in Warrnambool’s Listed Wangoom (1200m), this year improving to fourth place versus Oliveanotherday in that fixture.
Extra burden awaits this campaign as Title Fighter steps up from 54kg to 60kg in the Flemington assignment, compensated by Jamie Mott aboard, the state’s top jockey on 102 wins this season and trailing Craig Williams by a pair on the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership ladder.
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The trainer revealed Title Fighter’s path to Saturday was plotted for a third-up assignment, aided by two preparatory 1200m gallops for the gelding.
Resuming, Title Fighter hit the line gamely fifth to Recon in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) held on Mornington Cup Day.
“He obviously won the race last year and it’s been a bit of a plan to keep him on a similar program this time,” Douglas said.
“These three runs have all be planned since the start of his campaign.
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“He was good first-up, was good again last week behind a nice horse and hopefully he can get the job done third-up.
“We won’t have to do much with him this week after his run on that heavy track last time.
“He had a nice enough blow after the race on that heavy ground, so he should take plenty of improvement from it.”
Title Fighter matches the 60kg topweight carried by Shawn Mathrick’s Corniche in the race drawing 21 nominations including Pop Award, De Bergerac, Losesomewinmore, Wangoom second Immortal Star and Stoli Bolli.
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The racing betting markets for the Straight Six are heating up with plenty of value on offer.
Ravichandran Ashwin has pointed out a chink in Abhishek Sharma’s armor following his early dismissal in SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) 82-run defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 12. He kicked off his knock with six off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling, but was dismissed for six runs from four balls in the same over.
The former cricketer urged Abhishek to respect the conditions instead of looking to counterattack right from the outset. He suggested that batters like Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will be more effective on pitches that offer some assistance to the bowlers.
“Abhishek Sharma needs to work on this. T20 cricket has changed. Abhishek Sharma is picked in the Indian team because he plays a fearless brand of cricket. But if T20 cricket is given these kinds of pitches tomorrow, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill will be more useful. I want T20 cricket to be played on such pitches. But not just these pitches, because the spinners were not in the game here. I want spinners to be in the game as well.”
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The 39-year-old gave a car analogy to explain his point. He noted that a car cannot be driven at the same speeds on a highway and in a traffic jam.
“Abhishek Sharma hit a six off Kagiso Rabada with extension. This means that this guy has a lot of time and is very talented. His bat swing is very good. What did he do next? He exposed all three stumps. The ball came in, hit his chest, and he was bowled. Can’t Abhishek Sharma play that shot? He can. You can drive above 100 kmph on a highway and even up to 200 kmph, but who will die if you drive at the same speed in a traffic jam? Cricket is a game where conditions are the king,” he added.
SRH were bundled out for their lowest-ever IPL total of 86 while chasing a 169-run target. Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar slammed impressive half-centuries earlier in the game, helping GT post a competitive 168/5 in 20 overs.
“Go to the other end, build a partnership” – R Ashwin wants Abhishek Sharma to learn from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
R Ashwin also pointed out that proven campaigners like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma read the conditions well and bat accordingly. He suggested that Abhishek can learn that from the senior players.
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The legendary spinner elaborated in the same video:
“I am the No. 1 fan of Abhishek Sharma, and I want to see him read these conditions and take a single. Go to the other end, build a partnership. King Kohli and Rohit Sharma are celebrated because they read the conditions well.”
Abhishek has amassed 481 runs across 12 innings at a strike rate of 209.13 in IPL 2026, currently placed third in the Orange Cap race.
Los Angeles is gearing up for the World Cup, with transportation and food provisions firmly in place, yet the crucial playing surface at SoFi Stadium remains a work in progress just 30 days before its inaugural match.
The US men’s team is scheduled to open their campaign against Paraguay on 12 June at the venue, which will be known as Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, hosting eight matches in total.
As of Tuesday, the pitch was still an expanse of dirt. However, this is set to change dramatically on Wednesday, when fresh sod, transported 1,600 miles in refrigerated lorries from Washington state, begins its two-day installation process.
Otto Benedict, SoFi Stadium’s senior vice president of facilities and campus operations, underscored its importance, stating: “This surface is the players’ stage”.
Construction on the field commenced on 13 April, following a Monster Jam event that saw 12,000-pound trucks compete.
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The stadium, home to the NFL‘s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, underwent a two-phase modification, including the removal of corner seats to create wider dimensions and auxiliary space, meeting FIFA specifications, alongside the installation of a sophisticated irrigation system.
Construction on the field began on 13 April after the stadium hosted a Monster Jam event in which 12,000-pound trucks competed in racing, skills and freestyle competitions (Associated Press)
“To be the place where the energy first ignites, where the home crowd gets to set the tone for the rest of the tournament is a responsibility we don’t take lightly,” Benedict said.
Construction, landscape, grass and engineering crews were applauded by local World Cup organizers and community ambassador Magic Johnson, who pointed out his suite where he’ll be watching.
“When you think about the financial impact it’s going to have on Los Angeles, it’s going to be amazing”, said Johnson, who is a co-owner of LAFC in Major League Soccer and the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Already coming down was signage advertising the stadium’s usual sponsors.
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Tours of the stadium during the tournament are being sold for $86.50. Still available are premium seating, suites and hospitality packages.
Construction, landscape, grass and engineering crews were applauded by local World Cup organizers and community ambassador Magic Johnson, who pointed out his suite where he will be watching. (Associated Press)
Fans can choose from a variety of food and drink options. Among the items on display Tuesday was salsa verde aguachile with lime marinated shrimp, kettle cooked crispy pickles, stone fruit panzanella, spiced lamb rack, smoked salmon mousse, petite beef burgers, tune poke and aged ribeye cap with bordelaise and mashed potatoes.
Desserts include a World Cup trophy made of chocolate mousse, raspberry, chocolate crunch and chocolate sponge and a soccer ball filled with vanilla mousse, peach, strawberry crunch and vanilla sponge.
Metro debuted special edition TAP cards featuring three FIFA-themed designs, 17 country-specific designs, four FIFA collector cards, including a light-up card, and a collector’s box.
“We want to provide a system that is safe, fast and fun”, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said.
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Fans can choose from a variety of food and drink options including salsa verde aguachile with lime marinated shrimp, kettle cooked crispy pickles, stone fruit panzanella, spiced lamb rack, smoked salmon mousse, petite beef burgers, tune poke and aged ribeye cap with bordelaise and mashed potatoes (AP)
Metro is working with 11 other transit lines in the region to offer direct-to-stadium bus service for $3.75 roundtrip from 15 park-and-ride lots in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Reserved parking lots range in price from $55 to more than $100. Fans can access 300 dedicated buses to every match in an effort to avoid disrupting service to Metro’s regular riders.
The official FIFA Fan Festival will be held June 11-14 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with big screens showing games. Ten fan zones around Los Angeles County will host activities and watch parties.
O’Leary has seen hundreds of players come and go, whether as team-mates or members of squads he has coached.
There has always been a desire, he says, to ensure those who have arrived understand what the place is about.
“Even as a player, I hated it if someone who came in had something negative to say about the club, the city, the people, anything,” O’Leary explains.
“I take it really personally. So I do all I can to make sure people who come here have the best possible experience at Swansea City, like I’ve had, and that they see it how I see it.”
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O’Leary first watched Swansea play against Manchester United in 1986, a friendly game which was played to raise money for the cash-strapped Welsh side.
It was his first experience – but certainly not the last – of a crisis at the club.
By his early teens O’Leary was involved in the Swans’ youth set-up, and by 1995-96 he was knocking on the door of the first team.
That was a season in which Swansea had no fewer than four managers – including the unknown Kevin Cullis, who lasted a week – and suffered relegation to what is now League Two.
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Jan Molby was in charge for the back-end of the campaign, and it was the former Liverpool star who gave O’Leary his debut, in a 5-1 defeat at Bradford City in March 1996.
While all Swansea’s senior pros were in tracksuits, O’Leary and another youth prospect, Damien Lacey, travelled to the game in “trousers and a polo shirt” because in those days, there was no kit dished out to youngsters.
Jacksonville Jaguars helmets sit along the sideline on Nov. 3, 2024, during a road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Jaguars entered the 2024 season attempting to solidify themselves as annual AFC contenders, leaning on a young core and offensive continuity to remain competitive within the conference playoff picture. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.
By now, former Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah has been all over the place, this time signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2026 campaign.
Abdullah has another NFL stop, and the Jaguars have another veteran in the mix.
Abdullah, a speedy and savvy veteran, will fight for a 53-man roster spot at training camp and in the preseason.
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Jacksonville Adds More Experience behind Bhayshul Tuten
Make that seven NFL teams in 11 years for the 32-year-old.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah carries the football on Oct. 18, 2020, during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Abdullah spent several seasons contributing as a reserve running back and special teams performer for Minnesota, bringing versatility and veteran reliability to the Vikings’ depth chart. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
JAX Signs Abdullah
Evidently needing another dependable RB body, Jacksonville took the plunge on Monday, and NBC Sports‘Myles Simmons wrote, “Jacksonville has added a veteran running back. The Jaguars announced on Monday that they’ve signed Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah, who turns 33 in June, spent last season with the Colts, mainly playing special teams.”
“However, he did have 60 yards rushing with one touchdown, along with 16 catches for 99 yards. Abdullah spent the previous three seasons with the Raiders, tallying 311 rushing yards with two TDs plus 40 catches for 261 yards with three touchdowns in 2024.”
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Once upon a time, Abdullah was a 2nd-Round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2015. He’s known for his game speed.
Career Production and Stop in MIN
Abdullah played in 45 games over four seasons with the Vikings, establishing himself as a versatile contributor on both offense and special teams. As a rotational back, he recorded 38 carries for 187 yards and 27 catches for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Former Vikings skipper Mike Zimmer primarily used Abdullah for kick returns and special teams, a role in which his speed and reliability were crucial to securing his roster spot for multiple seasons.
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All told, Abdullah has played 11 seasons in the big leagues, with 154 games, 2,054 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 1,567 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns. He returned a punt return touchdown, too, with the Panthers in 2021.
This is his full resume:
Detroit Lions (2015–2018)
Minnesota Vikings (2018–2021)
Carolina Panthers (2021)
Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2024)
San Francisco 49ers (2025)
Indianapolis Colts (2025)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2026-now)
The Jaguars’ RBs
The Jaguars don’t employ the league’s most elite running back corps, but the unit has potential, especially if Tuten pops off into stardom.
Here’s a look at the Jaguars’ lay of the land at RB:
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Bhayshul Tuten
LeQuint Allen
Chris Rodriguez
DeeJay Dallas
Ameer Abdullah
Ja’Quinden Jackson
J’Mari Taylor
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah scores a touchdown on Jan. 3, 2021, during a road matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. Abdullah provided rotational offense and receiving depth for Minnesota while also handling return duties and core special teams responsibilities throughout his Vikings tenure. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports.
Following the Abdullah addition, BlackandTeal.com‘sCarlos Sanchez insisted that the club needs pass-rushing help: “After trading for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro one week before the NFL Draft, the pass rush appeared to be the biggest priority for the Jaguars. However, they didn’t address it until they took Wesley Williams and later Zach Durfee in Rounds 4 and 7, respectively. Both Williams and Durfee could turn out to be solid contributors.”
“Heck, the latter got the Project X moniker because he flew under the radar during the draft process. Having said that, it may be a while before either one hits his stride. This is where it might have come in handy for Jacksonville to bring in a veteran pass rusher to round out their rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.”
The Jaguars’ defense ranked sixth in the NFL last season per DVOA.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah celebrates after a play on Nov. 3, 2019, during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Abdullah carved out a long NFL career through versatility, serving as a depth running back, return specialist, and trusted special teams contributor during his years with Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports.
Sanchez continued, “On the other hand, sophomores Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II flashed potential last year, but neither has shown enough to make you think that they could be the No. 3 pass rusher Jacksonville was missing in 2025. The good news is that it may not be too late for the Jaguars to add a proven veteran to round out their pass rush. Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney remain unsigned after the draft.”
“The former tallied 10.5 sacks with the New Orleans Saints last year, while the latter had eight for the Dallas Cowboys. Both of them remain productive, so either one could immediately step into the No. 3 role alongside Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.’
New Arrivals in JAX
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Finally, a glance at all of Jacksonville’s newcomers. These men arrived in free agency:
Ameer Abdullah, RB (IND to JAX)
Chris Rodriguez, RB (WAS to JAX)
And via the draft:
Round 2: Nate Boerkircher (TE | Texas A&M)
Round 3: Albert Regis (DT | Texas A&M)
Round 3: Emmanuel Pregnon (G | Oregon)
Round 3: Jalen Huskey (S | Maryland)
Round 4: Wesley Williams (DE | Duke)
Round 5: Tanner Koziol (TE | Houston)
Round 6: Josh Cameron (WR | Baylor)
Round 6: CJ Williams (WR | Stanford)
Round 7: Zach Durfee (DE | Washington)
Round 7: Parker Hughes (LB | Middle Tenn. St.)
Abdullah will turn 33 this summer.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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