Game 1 heroes Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Many see a different RJ Abarrientos in his return to the PBA Finals—a huge contrast from his two previous trips, when he was a rookie who often kept second-guessing things.

This time, Abarrientos looks more like a confident and secure sophomore who has emerged as arguably the team’s main man and, without doubt, one of the best in his position in the league.

Abarrientos finished with 24 points and seven rebounds to help the Gin Kings to a 102-100 victory over TNT on Wednesday in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But even he had a mature outlook on his late-game heroics, where he knocked down two huge four-point shots that paved the way for Justin Brownlee’s game-winner.

“Those two four-point shots that I made are not sustainable, so we need to be better,” Abarrientos said, while also admitting that he has a lot of things to tidy up if he and his teammates want to double their series edge in Game 2 on Friday.

On top of those things is his defense.

“Coach Tim (Cone) got mad at me,” Abarrientos said, noting how TNT erased an 18-point Ginebra lead and even went ahead courtesy of Rey Nambatac, the Finals Most Valuable Player from last season’s Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

“My defense against Nambatac, especially in this Finals, is unacceptable. So I need to be better and I have to embrace that,” Abarrientos said.

Abarrientos hit two four-pointers late—the first gave Ginebra a one-point lead and the second put the Kings ahead, 100-97, with 20 seconds remaining.

“He hit some huge shots, we were down both times and got the leads on both shots, which were gigantic,” Cone said.

The Tropang 5G again tied the game courtesy of a Roger Pogoy triple but Brownlee secured the win for the Gin Kings, hitting a jumper with six-tenths of a second remaining.

The midseason conference has become Abarrientos’ breakout campaign, one where the team and its faithful legion watched him knocking down big shot after big shot from Ginebra’s opening assignment all the way through the hard-fought semifinal series with Rain or Shine.

He is the league’s top local scorer at 21.4 points per game, hitting 49-percent of his shots, on top of 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals through 19 games of the second conference.

His rise in the ongoing conference has also made Abarrientos the front-runner for the Best Player of the Conference award, which could only be a mere formality given that other candidates from the early part of the tournament, NLEX’s Robert Bolick and San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota.

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans.

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So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Film

Background Info

• 3-Star prospect according to 247 Sports

• Top 3 rusher in Tennessee high school football history in yards and touchdowns

• All-State honors in high school

• Second-team All-SEC in 2025

Notable career stats heading into 2026

• Received 44.9% of the carries out of the backfield in 2025

Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026

• 3.68 Yards per carry after contact

Strengths

• Shows quickness at the line

• Explosiveness getting to the second level of the defense

• Vision to find running lanes

• Speed to cut outside and turn up the field

• Doesn’t shy away from contact

Player Summary

DeSean Bishop has some potential to be something based on the traits he flashed on film. The quickness is there, he is explosive as a runner getting to the second level. On top of it all, for someone with his speed, he showcases some serious power in his style, where he isn’t afraid to meet defenders in space. He has a chance to really showcase some new skills as the Vols have a change at quarterback, so they will need the run game to bring him along slowly.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report on Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop

Kyler Murray left the Arizona Cardinals in March — they kicked him out — and now that franchise is embroiled in a contractual standoff with Jacoby Brissett, a man viewed by most as a decent backup quarterback in the NFL.

The Cardinals are no stranger to messy operations, but even this situation feels bizarre by their standards.

Cardinals QB Room Gets Stranger

Brissett Holds Out

ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss wrote late last month, “After months of negotiating, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals are still not close to reaching an agreement on a reworked deal for this season. A source told ESPN that the two sides are ‘significantly’ far apart. Brissett has not attended any of the Cardinals’ voluntary OTAs or the voluntary offseason program as he waits for a new contract for 2026, the second year of a two-year deal he signed in March 2025.”

“His deal currently pays him $4.88 million, with the potential to grow to $5.39 million, of which just $1.5 million is guaranteed. By comparison, Gardner Minshew II, whom Arizona signed as a free agent in March, had $5.14 million guaranteed by the team for 2026.”

Fast forward to June, and Brissett wholly skipped the first week of organized team activities (OTAs), confirming the holdout. It’s ugly in the desert.

This Would Be Like Carson Wentz Playing Hardball

To give you an example of how embarrassing this situation comes off for the Cardinals, consider a Vikings example. Pretend Carson Wentz was under contract on a two-year agreement for $6 million. All of a sudden, he tells the Vikings he wants $10 million. The Vikings’ front office and coaching staff would look at each other and say, “Who does this guy think he is? Do we even need him?”

That’s what’s happening in Arizona — except Brissett projects to be the Cardinals’ QB1 in 2026. And it’s worth noting that this is shaking out is because general manager Monti Ossenfort opted to conclude the Murray era.

Brissett is not among the league’s best quarterbacks, and for a guy who would be a backup quarterback on almost every other squad, it’s bizarre to witness a hardball holdout.

SI.com‘s Donnie Druin noted on the holdout, “Brissett, 33, is likely staring down at his last opportunity to earn more than slightly above minimum money. The Cardinals reportedly have known about Brissett’s desire for a raise through the offseason and have been willing to work with Brissett — though ESPN reported last week the two are significantly far apart in their negotiations.”

“While Brissett’s contract doesn’t reflect that of a starting quarterback, it feels as if the veteran has little leverage with two other capable passers in the room with him.”

The World Nudging ARI toward Carson Beck

The Cardinals should tread carefully before handing Brissett a fat contract. He’s 33 and hasn’t been a consistent starter in his career. The odds of him forging a Rich Gannon-like career arc are low. That hardly happens to anybody.

Arizona did, however, draft Miami’s Carson Beck in Round 3 five weeks ago. He’s hungry and waiting for his marching orders. If the Brissett standoff persists, the Cardinals should entertain telling Brissett “thanks but no thanks” while giving Beck a full audition for the QB1 job.

Most don’t expect Arizona to do much of anything in 2026, especially in a division with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals can learn about Beck’s skill set and know that if he doesn’t have “it,” well, they’d be in line for a high draft pick next April, which could land Texas’s Arch Manning or Oregon’s Dante Moore.

The main takeaway? Arizona should examine Beck’s readiness, the longer Brissett continues the unorthodox holdout.

Brissett’s Career Resume

Brissett has essentially authored the blueprint for a top-tier NFL bridge quarterback. Across a ten-season career, he’s started 85 games, accumulating 14,766 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 45 interceptions, with a 61.9% completion rate. His career passer rating of 86.4 encapsulates his performance: solid, dependable, rarely erratic, and seldom spectacular.

His most statistically efficient year came with Washington in 2023, albeit in limited action, where he achieved an impressive 146.8 passer rating. His most extensive playing time was with Indianapolis and Cleveland, demonstrating his capacity to sustain an offense over prolonged periods.

Beyond his passing, Brissett has added 1,224 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, proving his ability to convert crucial first downs. While Brissett won’t transform a struggling team into a championship contender, he also won’t be the reason for its downfall. His reliability and stability are valuable, which is precisely why teams in search of a credible, patient, and mature quarterback have kept him employed.

It’s just that he’s not the type of dude who should a team hostage via holdout.

Maybe the Cardinals should’ve kept Murray?

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

Manchester United are looking to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad this summer

Manchester United are targeting five new signings this summer following an agreement for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is set to become the first arrival of the Michael Carrick era.

The Red Devils have just secured their return to the Champions League and, having played only 40 matches across all competitions last term, are aware their squad will face greater demands over the next 12 months.

Consequently, they’re looking at a number of new recruits, with The Times reporting that several midfielders are on their shortlist. An agreement worth an initial £35million has been reached with Atalanta to bring in their Brazilian star.

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In addition to this, they hold an interest in Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Elliot Anderson has also been mentioned, though it appears Manchester City are frontrunners to secure his signature.

A striker is also on their agenda, with the club already confirming that Rasmus Hojlund has departed Old Trafford on a permanent basis. A left-back is another position under consideration, with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall a potential target.

Despite their ambition to recruit, the United hierarchy has made clear, and Michael Carrick firmly agrees, that the pathway into the first-team for young players must not be completely blocked. The former United player turned manager is a strong advocate of utilising the academy.

Carrick is familiar with the club’s heritage and swiftly reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo following his appointment in January.

The midfielder rediscovered his best form, and the club are keen to see more homegrown talent emerge, with players such as Shea Lacey receiving chances last term.

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Ruben Amorim faced criticism for neglecting the club’s young prospects while also relegating Mainoo to the substitutes’ bench, deploying the midfielder only intermittently. Carrick’s arrival was warmly welcomed by families of academy players, who believed he would prove far more receptive to their development.

United are also poised to witness further high-profile departures, which will create space within their squad and generate revenue for their recruitment strategy.

Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana are available for transfer, while Casemiro has departed after his contract expired.

Jadon Sancho, who has endured an underwhelming loan spell at Aston Villa, is another player set to leave without a fee.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The Rome Golden Gala in the Diamond League features some of the best athletes in the world in an action-packed night at the Stadio Olimpico.

Keely Hodgkinson begins her quest for a 800m world record, opening up her outdoor season in the 400m, which is also the start of a career-long quest to break three elite time barriers.

Noah Lyles is also in action with fellow Team USA superstar and indoor world champion Jordan Anthony, with Team GB’s Jeremiah Azu and former Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in the men’s 100m.

Georgia Hunter Bell goes in the women’s 1500m, while Amy Hunt and Dina Asher Smith are up against superstar duo Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Julien Alfred in the women’s 200m.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is the Rome Diamond League?

The meeting in Rome will be held on Thursday 4 June at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the meeting live on BBC Three, with coverage on the channel from 8pm BST. A live stream will be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Rome Diamond League Schedule (all times BST)

18:10 Men’s javelin throw

18:15 Women’s pole vault

18:48 Men’s triple jump

20:04 Women’s 400m hurdles

20:07 Men’s high jump

20:27 Men’s shot put

20:28 Women’s 100m hurdles

20:35 Men’s long jump

20:38 Women’s 5000m

21:04 Men’s 110m hurdles

21:15 Women’s 400m

21:27 Women’s 200m

21:37 Women’s 1500m

21:52 Men’s 100m

Full live results can be found here

Diamond League Calendar 2026

16 May: Shanghai, China

23 May: Xiamen, China

31 May: Rabat, Morocco

4 June: Rome, Italy

7 June: Stockholm, Sweden

10 June: Oslo, Norway

19 June: Doha, Qatar

28 June: Paris, France

4 July: Eugene, United States

10 July: Monaco

18 July: London, United Kingdom

21 August: Lausanne, Switzerland

23 August: Chorzow, Poland

27 August: Zurich, Switzerland

4-5 September: Diamond League finals (Brussels, Belgium)

Nearly 900 people have been arrested in riots that broke out after Paris Saint-Germain club won the coveted Champions League for a second consecutive year over the weekend. Speaking with FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen, Mateusz Grodecki, Associate Professor at The Maria Grzegorzewska University, says that football violence “is about proving one’s masculinity and the excitement that violence provides to one’s life”.

Many golfers struggle with slices, blocks and inconsistent contact without realizing that the real issue is often the clubface, not the swing path.

When the clubface is in a poor position during the downswing, golfers are forced to make last-second compensations to square it before impact. Sometimes those compensations work, but they can also lead to inconsistency and poor ball striking.

One interesting observation from studying elite players is how quickly many of them begin closing the clubface during transition. In fact, some of the best players in the world make this move within the first few inches of the downswing. The challenge is that doing so requires tremendous skill, awareness and timing.

For most recreational golfers, I prefer a simpler approach, which you can watch in the video below.

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How to fix your clubface

One of my favorite drills uses a short club, such as a wedge. Grip the club normally with your lead hand, then place your trail thumb on the toe of the clubhead. As you make slow-motion practice swings, feel your lead hand twisting the grip while your trail thumb provides light resistance.

The goal isn’t to aggressively roll the clubface closed. Instead, the drill helps create awareness of how the clubface is moving throughout the downswing.

As golfers develop this skill, they begin to understand that clubface control is largely a timing equation. For a right-handed golfer, if the face closes too early, the ball tends to start left. If it closes too late, the face remains open and the ball starts right.

By improving awareness and learning to square the face earlier, golfers often find they can rotate more freely, strike the ball more solidly and eliminate many of the compensations that lead to inconsistent shots.

Sometimes better golf starts with a better understanding of what the clubface is doing rather than making wholesale swing changes. So if you’re struggling with your ball striking, check what your clubface is doing during the downswing. If you fix it, you will start making better contact in a hurry.

Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler (ANI Photo)

Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 final defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru featured several moments that attracted attention, but one of the biggest talking points came early in their innings when youngster Nishant Sindhu was promoted ahead of Jos Buttler.Now, the former England captain has revealed that the unexpected move was a tactical decision made by Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra.The Titans entered the final hoping to claim a second IPL title after defeating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. However, they ran into a dominant RCB side that had already beaten them in Qualifier 1 and once again found themselves second best on the biggest stage.Their chase for the trophy suffered an early setback when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for 10 in the third over. With Gujarat needing stability, many expected Buttler to walk in at No. 3. Instead, Nishant Sindhu was sent to the crease in a move that surprised many observers.Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket Podcast, Buttler disclosed that he was preparing to bat before Nehra informed him of the change in plans.“When the first wicket went down, I got up to put my helmet on. But Ashish Nehra said, ‘You sit back down, we are going to send Nishant in at 3’. I did ask him after the game, and he just said it felt reactive at that point, and it was a good chance to get Nishant in the game as he’s a top-order batter,” Buttler said.The tactical call did not deliver the desired result. Sai Sudharsan fell soon after, increasing the pressure on the batting unit, while Nishant scored 20 before being dismissed in the eighth over. By the time Buttler eventually arrived at the crease, Gujarat were already struggling to build momentum.The England batter explained that the decision was partly influenced by Gujarat’s desire to give Nishant a bigger role after a season in which opportunities had often been limited.“He has been sometimes on that slippery slope where the team gets going, and he has ended up not batting or batting at 7. So it was a decision to get him in the game. He had batted ahead of me in another game against KKR. Right or wrong, it just didn’t work out for us,” he added.With wickets falling around him, Buttler attempted to guide the innings deep into the chase. However, he was unable to produce the acceleration Gujarat desperately needed, scoring 19 from 23 deliveries before being dismissed by Krunal Pandya.Looking back on his own contribution, Buttler admitted he was disappointed with the way his innings unfolded.“When I did bat, I wanted to take it deep as we had lost a few wickets. I just never got the boundaries and got done in by a good piece of bowling from a smart operator, Krunal Pandya. It’s disappointing when you go worse than a run-a-ball in an IPL final. It’s not a great look,” Buttler added.Gujarat eventually finished on 155, a total that never seriously threatened RCB. The defending champions completed a comfortable chase to secure a second consecutive IPL title, while the Titans were left reflecting on a final where several key decisions, including the promotion of Nishant Sindhu, failed to produce the outcome they had hoped for.

Picking a winner for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes seems simple. After all, Golden Tempo is coming off a win in the Kentucky Derby. In that race, he beat four rivals whom he will see again on Saturday. And the Beyer Speed Figure he earned in Louisville, Ky., five weeks ago is tied for the highest last-out speed figure of any horse in the Belmont.

If handicapping horses were only that simple.

In fact, Golden Tempo is a bad bet for the Belmont at Saratoga Race Course and is exactly the kind of horse that professional bettors salivate over fading. Instead, there are more intriguing options that offer better value in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Bet the Belmont at TwinSpires, where you can use the promo code CBSSPORTS to get $400 in bonus bets, double what’s available to the general public:

Why Golden Tempo is a must fade

There are two main reasons why the Derby winner is a play-against: pace and odds.

In the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago, Golden Tempo got a dream pace setup. In that 18-horse field, 10 horses entered having led or were within 1 3/4 lengths of the lead at the first call in their most recent start. The result was an incendiary pace meltdown in the Derby in which the top three finishers — Golden Tempo, Renegade and Ocelli — were last, fourth to last and second to last, respectively.

By contrast, the nine-horse Belmont Stakes field features a dearth of speed horses. The horse with the highest TimeformUS early pace figure (111), Powershift, has never set the pace in his three career starts. In fact, the nine horses in the Belmont have combined for 41 career starts, and only once has a horse set the pace (Ottinho in a maiden race on Dec. 31).

The projected slow early pace does not suit Golden Tempo, a dead closer who has been either last or next to last in all five of his career starts. To be fair, he has won races before with slow early paces, but those victories did not come against the quality of rivals he will see on Saturday.

In addition, the expected odds on Golden Tempo make him an unattractive play. After going off at 23-1 in the Kentucky Derby, he is listed at 9-2 on the morning line for the Belmont Stakes. And there’s a good chance that he will leave the starting gate shorter than that. Casual bettors love putting their money on popular storylines, and Cherie DeVaux becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winne — as well as the media blitz that followed the race — have made her and the horse overnight sensations.

Could Golden Tempo win the Belmont Stakes? Sure. But he’ll need another pace meltdown that he’s not likely to get, and Golden Tempo believers will get less than 20% of the payout that they got five weeks ago in Louisville. Bet or fade Golden Tempo with the TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS, which gives new users $400 in bonus bets, double the standard offer:

Get Menez’s full Belmont Stakes wagering strategy at SportsLine. Check out Michelle Yu’s full Belmont Stakes wagering strategy at SportsLine.

Revisiting the Kentucky Derby

With five of the nine horses in the Belmont Stakes coming out of the Kentucky Derby, handicapping the Belmont requires looking back at the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Golden Tempo (first by a neck)
He showed no speed early and raced last of the 18, started picking up steam around the far turn, swung out wide at the top of the stretch and outkicked Renegade down the lane, getting up just before the wire. Relative to the other horses in the field, Golden Tempo got a clean trip and an enormous pace setup. Without one of those, a very strong case can be made that he doesn’t win the blanket of roses.

Renegade (second by a neck)
His rough trip in the Kentucky Derby has been well documented. Leaving from the dreaded No. 1 post, Renegade was pointed to the right by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. out of the gate, got bumped and then knocked almost sideways in the first sixteenth of a mile. But the early trouble may have benefited him as it prevented him from getting dragged into the hot early pace. Like Golden Tempo, Renegade made his move around the far turn, swung out wide at the top of the stretch and rallied strongly down the lane, beaten only by Golden Tempo.

But because of Renegade’s well publicized trouble in the Derby, there is a possibility that he will be overbet in the Belmont Stakes.

Find Jody Demling’s full Belmont Stakes wagering strategy at SportsLine.

Chief Wallabee (fourth by 3 lengths)
He was just 3 3/4 lengths off the brutal three-quarter mile pace (1:10.90), and just as he was trying to split horses in the stretch, he was bumped, ending all chances of victory. To his credit, he kept running to finish just 3 lengths back of Golden Tempo.

He was the only horse to be in the first 10 early to finish in the top four. For comparison, the top three finisher — Golden Tempo, Renegade and Ocelli — were 18th, 16th and 15th, respectively, after three-quarters of a mile.

With a much more favorable pace scenario in the Belmont Stakes, Chief Wallabee figures to have a big chance on Saturday.

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Commandment (seventh by 5 1/4 lengths)
The first mile of his Derby was largely uneventful; he raced at the back of the first pack of horses, about 10 lengths off the early lead, enjoying a clean trip. The pace meltdown should’ve have set up perfectly for his late kick, but down the stretch he didn’t show the kick he had shown at Gulfstream Park. Perhaps he was too close to a hot pace or perhaps he was just not good enough.

Commandment apologists say that he was bumped by Ocelli in the stretch, but Commandment’s trouble down the lane has been overblown. By that time, he was already beaten.

Emerging Market (10th by 7 3/4 lengths)
Arguably only Golden Tempo got a cleaner trip than Emerging Market in the Kentucky Derby. He broke sharply, raced in sixth early and had a chance to pounce on the early leaders at the top of the stretch but didn’t kick in and faded to 10th, losing by almost 8 lengths.

Trainer Chad Brown later revealed that the horse lost the shoe on his left front foot in the first turn. Also, Brown said jockey Flavien Prat positioning Emerging Market that close to the early pace was a strategy agreed upon by jockey and trainer prior to the race, based on how the Churchill Downs track had been playing all week. Brown admitted that was a mistake in hindsight.

So there are excuses to explain his 10th place finish.

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Who to bet in the Belmont Stakes

In the end, my most likely winner in the Belmont Stakes is Chief Wallabee. I think he was too close to the hot pace in the Kentucky Derby and will appreciate the much more favorable fractions in the Belmont much better. 

But in horse racing, there’s an important distinction between the horse to beat and the horse to bet. Just because Chief Wallabee is my “top pick” doesn’t automatically make him the one to bet. His odds may not reflect fair value.

So for the Belmont Stakes, I created a fair odds line. These are the odds that I would need to bet each horse in the race to win. My fair odds on Chief Wallabee is 3-1, which is exactly what his morning-line odds are. However, if his live odds drop below 3-1, I’ll pivot to another horse.

That alternative could be Powershift. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Powershift is coming off a win on the Kentucky Derby day undercard, which earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, the co-best highest last-race Beyer in the field.

Most importantly, he holds a key tactical edge over the rest of the field: He’s the projected lone speed horse in a race full of off-the-pace horses.