Texas A&M continues to collect postseason recognition even after its playoff exit, and this time one of the youngest Aggies is in the spotlight. On Monday, true freshman third baseman Nico Partida was named to the Freshman All‑American First Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), adding another major accolade to his breakout debut season.
After the Aggies reshuffled the infield following the 2025 campaign, Partida seized the starting third‑base job from day one an important development that allowed Gavin Grahovac to shift to first base, a preseason concern for the coaching staff. Partida not only stabilized the position but thrived in it, remaining a fixture in the lineup until suffering an injury late in the year.
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That injury ultimately derailed his chances at national Freshman of the Year, but up to that point he was widely viewed as a frontrunner. He earned Perfect Game’s Midseason Freshman of the Year, received an invitation to the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, and was named to the Freshman All‑SEC Team.
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The numbers back up the praise. In 49 games, Partida slashed .306/.408/.550 with 55 hits, eight doubles, 12 home runs, and 43 RBI. He recorded 17 multi‑hit games and 12 multi‑RBI performances, highlighted by a dominant outing against Georgia in which he tallied four hits, six RBI, and a grand slam.
The Freshman All-American team is voted upon by members of the NCBWA. The 2026 NCBWA National Freshman Player of the Year and National Freshman Pitcher of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, June 9.
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“I’m still very blurry. That’s the whole problem.”
That’s how Victor Wembanyama described himself in the immediate aftermath of Game 2, trying to get his head around the disastrous final few possessions that put the Spurs in an 0-2 hole. He said at the time he needed to slow his mind down and get some clarity.
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“The Playoffs, it’s like a — I don’t know how to say that word — a whirlwind. It’s hard to put your head out of the water,” Wembanyama said of his headspace. “Sometimes I don’t even go to watch the game back right away. I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind.”
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Wembanyama took that time off before Game 3 and found his clarity sitting in Gramercy Park in New York on Sunday, sketching a picture of a statue (of Edwin Booth, legendary Shakespearean actor of the mid-1800s, although unfortunately for him, he is better remembered as the brother of John Wilkes Booth).
“I drew the statue in that park…” Wemby said.
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Was the drawing any good?
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“Not bad. Pretty good,” Wembanyama said with a smile.
His performance in Game 3 was more than pretty good.
A clear-headed Wembanyama went out and scored 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, had eight rebounds and six assists, plus three blocks. He was the best player on the court. Because of Wembanyama — and 23 from Stephon Castle on a bounce-back night for him, too — the Spurs have their first win in this Finals series, beating the Knicks 115-111 on Monday night. New York still leads the series 2-1, and Game 4 on Wednesday night becomes massive.
“Wemby played great,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “He had probably seven lob dunks because we didn’t follow attention to detail and try to take that away.”
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Getting to the rim
Mental clarity was part of it, but for San Antonio, it was also something simple (but not always easy to do): Getting back to what they see as their style of basketball.
“I thought we made some strides in terms of the ball movement and playing with our teammates, setting screens, trusting the basketball would find the right guy for our shot,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I thought we showed better poise at times.”
San Antonio made a point of getting Wembanyama going at the rim early — his first four baskets came within four feet of the rim. However, it wasn’t just him — Castle, Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox all were touching paint on drives.
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“Just us playing to our strengths, not allowing [New York packing the paint] to stop our aggressiveness getting to the paint,” Johnson said. “Just understanding when we’re being aggressive and touching the paint, it’s not always for us to score. I feel like that opens up passing lanes and puts them in rotations. I feel like when we change sides and move the ball like that, especially after a paint touch, I feel like we’re pretty hard to stop.”
Where Wembanyama really took over was in the fourth quarter, when he scored 10 points and had a key block on Landry Shamet at the rim.
Jalen Brunson has dominated the court quarters in this series, and he had a dozen in the fourth in this one, but the difference in Game 3 was that Wemby had help, and Brunson did not. De’Aaron Fox had six points in the fourth quarter and hit the dagger jumper with 12.2 seconds left, while Dylan Harper scored five points and hit clutch free throws. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby scored six in the fourth quarter, but the rest of the team shot 1-of-15.
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With his clear head and big game, Wembanyama earned a vulgar chant from the Knicks faithful, one usually reserved for the Knicks’ biggest villains, including Reggie Miller and, more recently, Trae Young. Is that now becoming Wembanyama?
“I guess,” he said with a shrug, and then joked, “I’m nowhere near Trae Young level, though.”
Another clear-headed performance like this one and another win on Wednesday night and Wemby will reach Young’s lofty level, and more.
In the latest edition of WWE RAW, Rey Mysterio and Penta locked horns in an Intercontinental Championship match. The Hall of Famer failed to dethrone the masked man.
However, in the post-match, Rusev and Ethan Page attacked them. The Bulgarian Brute unmasked the Master of 619 on live television. Even in public appearances, Rey had rarely been spotted without a mask and always maintained his culture.
Thanks for the submission!
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Getting unmasked by Rusev on the red brand is indeed a big moment on the show. In this article, let’s discuss three possible reasons why the legendary star got unmasked on RAW this week.
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#3. WWE wants to put over Chad Gable
Since the Mask vs. Mask match, Chad Gable has been the talk of the town among the fans. During SmackDown last week, he appeared on the show and apologized to Rey Fenix for his actions.
On the latest episode of the Monday Night show, Gable confronted Penta, Rey Mysterio, and Dragon Lee backstage and apologized for disrespecting their culture.
When Rusev and Ethan Page launched the post-match assault, the former Alpha Academy member rescued the IC Champion, Mysterio, and Lee. Gable also grabbed Rey’s mask in his hand and handed it over to Penta and Dragon Lee.
In this segment, Gable got a massive pop from the live crowd, particularly when he saved the lucha stars. A major reason Mysterio got unmasked on RAW could be linked to Chad Gable.
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WWE may want to capitalize on the 40-year-old star buzz. By adding the unmasked angle, the company not only heated the entire segment but also added more relevance to Gable’s El Grande Americano gimmick and his apologies to the luchadores.
#2. To set the stage for a tag team match at WWE Night of Champions 2026
WWE Night of Champions 2026 is the next premium live event of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. As of now, the company is building the PLE primarily around King & Queen of the Ring winners.
However, some more matches are expected to be part of the show. The reason Rey Mysterio got unmasked on the red brand could be connected to this. The Triple H-led creative regime likely wants to add tag team matches to the card.
As a result, they prefer to add this unmasked angle on RAW as it will instantly escalate the heat and set the stage for a tag team match at the Saudi Arabia show. The former El Grande Americano and Rey may pair as allies against Rusev and Ethan Page. If not Chad Gable, then Penta might team up with the Hall of Famer.
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#1. To add a significant moment on RAW
Rusev has unmasked Rey Mysterio.
Controversial angles on live television usually attract big numbers online. Rey Mysterio getting unmasked isn’t usual for the WWE Universe. Such an angle allows World Wrestling Entertainment to generate significant buzz.
Getting massive numbers online could explain the unmasked angle on the red brand. The rest remains to be seen; what plans WWE has in store for the Hall of Famer after what happened on Monday Night RAW.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores patrols the sideline during an international matchup against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Flores remained engaged throughout the contest, overseeing defensive adjustments and communication from the coaching area. On Oct. 6, 2024, Minnesota continued its strong early-season run while showcasing its aggressive defensive identity abroad. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
After trading Jonathan Greenard in late April to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings arguably need another outside linebacker for additional depth — and that man may already be in-house. A rookie from last year, defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, is flirting with a switch to OLB, or at least some form of hybrid duty.
If the experiment clicks, Minnesota won’t need any more free-agent power from the open market.
Vikings Defensive Depth Chart Gets a New Summer Experiment
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins works through on-field testing at the NFL Combine, showcasing his athletic traits in front of league evaluators. On Feb. 27, 2025, Ingram-Dawkins participated in drills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as teams gathered information ahead of the NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Ingram-Dawkins on the Change
Ingram-Dawnkins filled an EDGE role at organized team activities, and KSTP’s Darren Wolfson asked him about it.
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“I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line,” he replied.
“The main focus was to just clean up my body. You know, I feel like that could only help me with how versatile I’m using, I’m being used across the line with all positions. You know, I just feel like I can play all around the line and wherever they wanna plug me and play me. That’s, I’m gonna just put my all into that.”
One of the perks of drafting Ingram-Dawkins was this very possibility — tweener capabilities between DT and OLB.
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Kevin O’Connell Breaks It Down
The Vikings skipper also commented on Ingram-Dawkins’ OLB snaps: “One of the things we really liked about him was his versatility. He did a lot of different things at Georgia, and he’s a really heavy presence on the edge. When we’re trying to run the ball out at that Christian Darrisaw gap out there, and then he’s out there setting the edge, that’s different.”
“And then his versatility to get kick inside, I don’t know if we’ll see him get much tighter than maybe a three, but from the 3T all the way out to the edge, that’s a really versatile player. And then you pair that with what Caleb Banks can be from a versatile standpoint, really being kind of from that 4i/5T on down; it’s exciting. And he’s had a really good sprint, and that kind of year to jump; we’re hoping that it’s happening right now.”
At least from a summer perspective, the plan is in motion.
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What the EDGEs Might Look Like
Examining Minnesota’s OLBs used to be the fun part of roster analysis — until Greenard was traded. Now, the group seems to be missing a link unless Turner erupts into a full-blown star.
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins finishes a series of workouts and testing exercises during a pivotal pre-draft showcase. On Feb. 27, 2025, Ingram-Dawkins took part in combine activities at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, meeting with scouts and demonstrating his physical tools before the NFL Draft process intensified. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
But pretend momentarily that the Vikings convert Ingram-Dawkins. The EDGE room would look like this:
OLB1: Andrew Van Ginkel OLB2: Dallas Turner OLB3: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins OLB4: Bo Richter OLB5: Tyler Batty OLB6: Chaz Chambliss OLB7: Cam’Ron Stewart OLB8: Arden Walker
It’s unclear if Ingram-Dawkins can morph into a stud OLB3, but his versatility alleviates the depth concerns, if only a little bit.
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Richter, Batty, or a Free Agent? Jake Golday?
Now — pretend Ingram-Dawkings doesn’t play much at OLB in 2026, and in hindsight, that was just a summer theory that didn’t go far. Richter and Batty may be ready for expanded roles, and Jake Golday could emerge as an intriguing inside-outside linebacker.
But the speculation forms a shaky OLB foundation for a team aiming to win playoff games.
While Golday could impress at training camp, Richter could evolve beyond a special teams ace, Batty might quickly prove his capabilities, and Flores could deploy Ingram-Dawkins in a pressure package, much of this remains hypothetical. The Vikings shouldn’t equate such conjecture with genuine roster depth.
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Minnesota’s roster is otherwise solid, making the third outside linebacker spot arguably their biggest remaining question mark before the season. The starting positions are secure; the real concern is potential injuries or whether younger players need more development time.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter tracks the football while dropping into coverage during preseason action against Philadelphia. On Aug. 24, 2024, Richter attempted to come away with an interception in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field, displaying versatility as Minnesota evaluated young defenders before roster decisions. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.
If Richter, Batty, Ingram-Dawkins, and Golday are not the OLB3 answer, here’s the external list of options from free agency:
Cameron Jordan
Derek Barnett
Haason Reddick
Jadeveon Clowney
Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Leonard Floyd
Marcus Davenport
Von Miller
Yannick Ngakoue
The Vikings have about $13-14 million in cap space if they need an extra outside linebacker.
Ingram-Dawkins’s role will become clearer at training camp, which is seven weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
That was it for the Spurs. They all knew it. At a minimum, they needed a big Victor Wembanyama performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. He delivered. They needed someone else to do so as well. Down 2-0 against the Knicks. At Madison Square Garden. Do or die. Stephon Castle did. The Spurs didn’t die.
You could point out any number of massive moments for Castle in what has been a series of endless pressure for both teams, but his big bucket and free throws late in the fourth quarter of Game 3 were the stuff that you’d expect from veterans, not a 21-year-old. He wasn’t fazed. If anything, Castle seemed to welcome the responsibility.
The Spurs were clinging to a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter and were desperate to find another bucket, to avoid blowing a lead yet again, as they had in the first two games. The shot clock was winding down. Wembanyama tried to take Karl-Anthony Towns off the dribble, then had second thoughts. Instead, Wemby threw an awkward, twisting pass to Castle and all but begged him to bail out the Spurs. Castle obliged.
That 3 alone would have been reason enough for his teammates to throw him a salute and thank him for his service. But with 6.8 seconds remaining and the Spurs lead cut to two points, Castle went to the line for two critical free throws. He shot 73.4% there this season, and he’s upped that to 81.1% in the playoffs. Pretty good. But improved numbers only get you so far. Imagine the weight of being that young and knowing that knocking down both gets you another game, and doing anything short of that might very well end your season with the way the Spurs have struggled to close out the first two games. If Castle was thinking about any of that, he didn’t let the MSG crowd or anyone else see him sweat.
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Castle played it cool after the game, too. He went for 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. He committed just two turnovers. He made 8 of his 14 shots, including two 3s, and drained 5 of 6 free throws. And then after all that he sat on the courtside set with the Inside the NBA guys — all of them legends — and calmly answered questions like he didn’t just make three of the biggest shots of his life when his storied franchise needed it most and all eyes everywhere were firmly fixed on him. The postgame poise alone was impressive.
Without Castle having the most important game of his young career at such a critical moment, the Spurs would be cooked. Maybe they still will fall short in this series, but, at the very least, they prevented the Knicks from feasting on them late for a third straight game. That’s not nothing. Here’s something else: however this series ultimately resolves itself, San Antonio knows that it has a killer young core that will make the Spurs a living nightmare for the rest of the league for the foreseeable future. Dylan Harper, at 20, is already so far ahead of the curve that it almost feels unfair. And Wembanyama is Wembanyama. But Castle emerging as a monster two-way force — a guy who has All-Defense-level talent in him along with a developing no-fear offensive game — is perhaps the secret sauce. What he’ll be two or three years from now boggles the mind. What he already is isn’t much easier to process.
When the Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox a little over a year ago, the idea was to pair him with Wemby and fast-track the San Antonio rebuild. But with respect to Fox — who hit the biggest shot of his career in the fourth quarter on Monday evening — he’s already been supplanted by his two young teammates. Maybe Harper ends up being the better of the two, and he’s certainly had plenty of big moments this postseason, but in Game 3 it was Castle who picked up as much weight as he could carry and helped Wembanyama lift the Spurs to a victory. Together, they became the first teammates in NBA history 22 years old or younger to both go for 20 or more points in the NBA Finals.
Castle played through contact to find Wemby several times. And he made some contact of his own when he steamrolled Jalen Brunson, much to the displeasure of Knicks fans. Through it all, throughout the game, he looked like a veteran in both body and mindset. And when it was all done, he shrugged it off the way you’d want from a professional who’s going about his business and knows the job is far from over. The Spurs had just won a massive game on the road to climb back into the series and make the Knicks think twice about their pending parade, and this kid who is barely out of college said he felt “like we haven’t done anything yet.” Castle was right. The Spurs still have plenty to do — but that’s only the case because Castle did plenty in Game 3.
New York Giants defensive end Chauncey Golston brings down Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during a road matchup late in the regular season. On Dec. 21, 2025, Golston recorded the sack in the first half at MetLife Stadium, applying pressure as Minnesota battled the Giants in East Rutherford. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
Because Kyler Murray appears to be the runaway frontrunner to win the Minnesota Vikings’ QB1 job this summer, some NFL-themed media outlets believe Murray’s competition, J.J. McCarthy, could be traded.
A to Z Sports sized up landing spots for McCarthy, landing on the New York Jets as the wisest option from the Vikings’ standpoint.
Vikings QB Plan Still Points toward Keeping the Young Passer
A themed Gotham City rivalry helmet sits on the field before kickoff, adding a unique visual element to the pregame atmosphere at MetLife Stadium. On Dec. 7, 2025, the display was positioned before the New York Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins, highlighting one of the AFC East’s longstanding rivalries. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
A to Z Sports Lands on Jets as Top McCarthy Trade Partner
Rob Gregson led the charge for McCarthy to the Jets, writing, “Jets receive: J.J. McCarthy. Vikings receive: 2027 5th-round pick (conditional pick that rises to a 3rd with 70% snaps played). Let’s be honest, the New York Jets aren’t going to field a very competitive team in 2026, or at least not on the offensive side of the ball.”
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“After his career resurgence in Seattle, Geno Smith has regressed to the mean over the past couple of seasons, including a year to forget in Vegas last year. Even if he recaptures the magic of his 2022-2023 campaigns in Seattle, Smith turns 36 in October.”
New York also has rookie passer Cade Klubnik in the mix.
Gregson continued, “The Jets are searching for their quarterback of the future, and they are well-positioned to do so in the 2027 class with three 1st-rounders. But why delay the process? Let’s say you trade for J.J. McCarthy, he wins the backup job, and then at some point during the season, you turn to him. Now, let’s say he plays well.”
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“Suddenly, you have a bridge quarterback at the very least, if not a long-term backup. Plus, you will still have all of your premier draft capital, because McCarthy isn’t fetching anything close to a 1st-rounder. A low-risk, high-reward proposition for the Jets here.”
The panel at A to Z Sports also mentioned the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals as trade partners but settled on the Jets as the smartest: “Vikings should select trade proposal from Jets. There are two things at play here: getting proper draft capital back for McCarthy, but also getting him an opportunity to potentially be a starting quarterback somewhere.”
“The Dolphins offered the best package from a guaranteed draft pick standpoint, but the Jets offering a condition on the fifth-round pick to improve it into a third-round pick, while only having Geno Smith in his way makes it the smartest move.”
Destined to Fail?
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The Jets — especially right now — would not be the best situation for any quarterback, especially McCarthy, who must hone his consistency to catch on as a long-term starter. Foremost, he’d be trapped in a QB2 role behind Smith because, for some reason or another, the Jets just love Smith.
McCarthy would also have Klubnik breathing down his neck, notable because the current front office regime hand-picked him in the draft a month and a half ago.
And — it’s the Jets. How many times in recent memory or NFL history has New York hosted a successful redemption story — or a long-term quarterback at all? McCarthy could hand the ball off to Breece Hall and sling it to Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq, but the Jets aren’t the dream setup for the youngster.
The only thing he might have going for him, down the road, is playing time.
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Vikings Likely to Keep McCarthy
Minnesota’s 2025 quarterback strategy faced a critical flaw: a lack of viable alternatives. The Vikings could have retained Sam Darnold after a 14-3 season. They could have brought in Daniel Jones for another year or pursued Aaron Rodgers. They could even have eased McCarthy into the starting role, making his rookie year smoother.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes through pregame warm-ups ahead of a key NFC North road matchup against Detroit. On Nov. 2, 2025, McCarthy prepared at Ford Field before Minnesota’s showdown with the Lions, continuing his first season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images.
Instead, they bypassed these options and immediately entrusted McCarthy with the starting position, accepting the consequences. He didn’t fully excel, and the Vikings missed the playoffs. By February, their quarterback situation was back to square one.
And this is where Murray becomes a pivotal addition. He provides the Vikings with something they lacked last year: a genuine Plan B. McCarthy can still earn the starting job, but so can Murray. Minnesota is no longer forced to put all its hopes on a single young quarterback to develop under pressure.
While this doesn’t guarantee perfect quarterback play — nothing does — having two strong contenders for QB1 is a significant improvement over relying on one uncertain prospect.
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Given Murray and McCarthy as long-term possibilities, trading the younger player makes little sense. Two of the last three Vikings seasons have been derailed by quarterback injuries. It would be unwise to discard a quarterback option so soon.
Chargers Make Most Sense Otherwise
Suppose McCarthy is traded. The Chargers are the one spot that makes sense — because of Jim Harbaugh. He nurtured McCarthy at Michigan and seems to “get him.” The two won a National Championship together in 2023.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with quarterback J.J. McCarthy after a touchdown pass during a rivalry game against Michigan State. On Oct. 21, 2023, McCarthy helped power the Wolverines at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, adding another highlight to a season that eventually ended with a national championship. Mandatory Credit: Nick King-USA TODAY NETWORK.
Of course, McCarthy would sit behind Justin Herbert, and he won’t surrender the QB1 job. But Herbert has missed five games in the last three seasons. Perhaps living under Harbaugh’s tutelage would work wonders for McCarthy. Any time Harbaugh is asked about McCarthy, he just raves about him.
Generally speaking, a McCarthy trade is unlikely to come to fruition this summer unless he demands one.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden is set to be named head coach of the European T20 Premier League’s Glasgow franchise.
BBC Sport understands Hayden has signed up to coach Glasgow Cosmic for the inaugural tournament between 26 August and 20 September.
Hayden has split his time between commentary work and coaching since retiring from playing in 2012.
The 54-year-old’s most recent coaching job was as the Gujarat Titans’ batting coach for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Hayden previously held batting and mentoring roles as part of Pakistan’s coaching staff from 2021 until after the 2022 T20 World Cup.
He played 103 Tests, 161 one-day internationals and nine T20s for Australia between 1993 and 2009 scoring 15,066 runs across all formats.
Hayden’s assistant at Cosmic will be fellow Queenslander Matthew Mott, who coached England’s white-ball team between 2022 and 2024.
New Zealand opener Finn Allen, South Africa quick Lungi Ngidi and former England all-rounder Liam Livingstone are among the players to have agreed deals to play for Cosmic in the ETPL.
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The ETPL is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands with teams based out of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Glasgow Cosmic are backed by the Mugafi Group, an India-based entertainment business, while former Australia captain Steve Waugh and India legend Rahul Dravid are among those to invest in other ETPL franchises.
Bollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan is a part-owner of the league in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech, a private Indian company.
The first edition of the tournament will be staged in The Hague and Dublin.
Les Bleus won 3-1 in their final match ahead of the World Cup. Michael Olise scored a hat-trick, the first of his career.
The Netherlands beat Uzbekistan but failed to put their minds at ease. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US. Olivier Giroud has extended his contract with Lille, whilst Ibrahima Konaté is set to sign for Real Madrid. Monaco have qualified for their fifth consecutive Betclic Élite final. Serena Williams is making her return to the courts.
Guela Doue scored a goal and set up the winning strike as Ivory Coast surprised France – and Doue’s brother in the French dugout – with a 2-1 victory in a World Cup warmup match.
Amad Diallo fired home Doue’s low cross from the right six minutes from time at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes Thursday.
Rayan Cherki had put France ahead in the final minute of the first half when he left two defenders behind and beat goalkeeper Yahia Fofana with a low shot.
Fofana was frequently in action, saving the chances of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and again Cherki.
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But Doue – whose brother Desire Doue plays for France – received a through ball from Nicolas Pepe to equalize eight minutes into the second half.
Many fans waved posters with a photo of Didier Deschamps to thank the coach for a successful reign that began in 2012 and saw France win the 2018 World Cup and reach the 2022 final and will come to an end after this edition.
Deschamps had all six players involved in the Champions League final – Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez and William Saliba – on the bench. He used Hernandez, Zaire-Emery and Barcola as substitutes in the second half.
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France will play one more warmup – against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille – before heading to the United States.
France opens its campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
Ivory Coast meets Ecuador in its opener in Philadelphia on June 14.
Spain held by IraqSpain – another World Cup favorite – was held 1-1 at home by Iraq in La Coruna.
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Playing without forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on Ferran Torres’ goal.
Merchas Doski’s left-footed strike from just outside the box beat goalkeeper Joan Garcia to equalize before the half-hour mark.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he expects Yamal to be fit to face Cape Verde in the team’s World Cup opener in Atlanta on June 15.
De la Fuente rested David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Fabian Ruiz – who all participated in the Champions League’s final. Recently injured Mikel Merino came on as a substitute.
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Spain is scheduled to play one more warmup game – against Peru in Mexico on Monday.
Iraq meets Norway in its World Cup opener in Massachusetts on June 16.
England’s national football team will use a new high-carbohydrate liquid pouch this summer, designed to help cope with the World Cup rigours this summer.
The Football Association has meticulously prepared for the tournament’s unique stresses, including travel, time zones, heat, and humidity in North America.
This groundwork involved England’s performance nutritionists collaborating with sports drinks partner Lucozade’s research and development team to develop a product for hydration, fuelling, and recovery in North America.
Lucozade Elite, a high-carbohydrate electrolyte solution, is being used by Thomas Tuchel’s side at the World Cup. It is not commercially available, having been exclusively developed for use by the national teams.
Lucozade Elite (not pictured) is a high-carbohydrate electrolyte solution (Bradley Collyer/PA)
England midfielder Jude Bellingham said: “Football is demanding enough on its own, but when you’re playing regularly and at the highest level, the small details become even more important.
“Everything around preparation, hydration and fuelling has to be right so you can perform consistently throughout a game. The right preparation can make a big difference.”
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England have been in Florida since last Monday acclimatising to the heat and humidity during a warm weather training camp, which ends with Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando.
The Three Lions played their first of two warm-up matches on Saturday evening, beating the World Cup’s lowest-ranked side New Zealand 1-0 – and while Tuchel was unhappy with some of the “freestyle” football shown in the first half against New Zealand, emerging unscathed from the patchwork pitch was a boost.
Kane admitted the surface was “a bit sticky” as they were made to sweat in 33 degrees Celsius heat, but the skipper feels talk about the conditions have been overblown.
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“To be honest, I don’t think the heat’s been too bad,” the striker, who played at last year’s Club World Cup in America, added.
“Obviously, we’ve been getting used to it in training. After the first couple of days, I felt like most of the lads were used to it.
“Today actually didn’t feel terrible out there, so I think there’s a talking point that might get over spoke about, to be honest.
“We’re all professional athletes. We all have done the right preparation to get ready for this tournament between us and the staff as well.
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“We have another 10 days or so until that first game, training in this environment, so I think come the tournament, it won’t be a factor.”
Kane scored the winner against the All Whites, a sublime first-half header, to take his tally to 67 for the season for club and country.
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