Sports
‘We failed’: Raptors earn blowout loss to Suns
PHOENIX — Remember when the biggest gripe around the Toronto Raptors was when they would play good teams tough well into the fourth quarter and then stub sneakers down the stretch?
Well, it wasn’t all that long ago, to be fair. Friday night in Denver, as I recall.
But as frustrating as many of those losses were, for the most part the Raptors competed. The Raptors haven’t been blown out very often this season.
They were blown out Sunday night in Phoenix, though. And by the same Suns team that the Raptors beat in Toronto just two weeks ago, which at the time was the Raptors’ first win over a team with a winning record in nearly two months.
Toronto had followed it up with an impressive win over Detroit and a blowout win over tanking Chicago last on Wednesday to start their current five-game road trip.
Those successes seem a long way away after the loss to Denver and especially the way the Suns, missing five rotation players, having lost five straight and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, plastered Toronto from start to finish.
The Raptors were less focused, played with less effort and deserved what they got. To their credit, no one tried to excuse it.
The final score was 120-98 and other than a two-minute stretch in the second quarter where a 12-0 run cut what was then an 18-point lead by the Suns to six, the Raptors were never even in the same neighbourhood as competitive.
It was one of those nights when so many things didn’t go right that the common post-game refrain was to forget about it, the sooner the better.
“Just flush it,” said Scottie Barnes, who was one of the few regulars who looked remotely like himself on his way to 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals in an abbreviated 27 minutes as Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic pulled his starters late in the third quarter, down 30. “They did a great job of coming out with a sense of urgency. I’m sure they really want to get that one (after losing at home to Milwaukee on Saturday night) … and they came out here and played really hard. They had some guys out, but those other guys that came in, they stepped in right up. They helped them out big time.”
The Suns were led by Devin Booker, who had 25 points on 15 shots, and Jalen Green, who had 20 on his 15 shots, but more importantly, Phoenix seemed to get some kind of contribution from everyone who played. The Suns had eight different players hit at least one three and six that hit at least two as they shot 18-of-40 from deep. The Raptors had Ja’Kobe Walter hit three threes on three attempts, and only two other regulars even hit one. They shot 9-of-27 from deep, with three of those makes coming well into garbage time when the game was all but over. Take those away and take away Walter’s threes and the rest of the Raptors lineup was 3-of-21 from distance. That, along with 20 turnovers, will get you blown out almost every night.
The Raptors had everybody available, save for Collin Murray-Boyles, who missed his 11th game with his left thumb problem but was dominant in the Raptors pre-game ‘play group’ workout and is due to return to the lineup any time, perhaps even Monday night against the Utah Jazz.
But it’s not much help having an essentially full roster available and having the benefit of a full off day in sunny Scottsdale Saturday if no one is going to show up for work.
The list of the missing is long, but headed by:
• Jakob Poeltl, who struggled against the Suns’ smaller lineups defensively and didn’t take advantage of any size advantage at the other end. He finished with zero points and zero rebounds in his 17 minutes of floor time, bringing to a crashing halt his run of great play. He did manage a pair of blocked shots.
• Jamal Shead, who was 1-of-6 from the floor and was minus-22 for the game in 21 minutes, which included a three-minute stint in the first quarter when he picked up three fouls, missed two wide-open threes, made a turnover and got whistled for a technical foul for arguing the last of his foul calls. Shead is now shooting 6/25 from three over his last 12 games and 31 per cent from the floor overall. “Just keep being aggressive” was Barnes’ advice. “Our team, we believe in him, he gets downhill and creates so much for us. We know he’s going to be able to do that every single night, he’s going to come play defence now. I think that’s what our focus is on. (If the shots) don’t go in and then, all right, just go back and get it back.”
• Brandon Ingram, who finished with six points on 3-of-10 shooting and committed five turnovers as well. One was an offensive foul, three came when he got stripped on the dribble, which led to Suns fastbreak scores, and another on a poor pass out of a double team that led to another Suns fast break.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic wasn’t singling anyone out. He probably didn’t have time.
“It’s a whole team. It cannot be just one player,” he said. “We win as a team; we lose as a team. We never want to point out a player. So I thought that our whole team tonight did not have enough urgency for the game and enough respect for our opponent tonight.”
Fair. And these things do happen. It’s not the first time the Raptors have been blown out this season, but it’s probably their least competitive game since the Pistons dismantled them at home prior to the All-Star break.
After 10 seasons, Ingram wasn’t about to let one terrible game throw him into a trough of despair. And truth be told, the Raptors locker room very much had a, ‘let’s move on’ vibe afterwards. With another game in 24 hours — this time against the lowly Utah Jazz — it’s better to look forward not backwards.
And for now the Raptors remain in a strong position. Their nearest rivals in the Eastern Conference playoff race were all dormant for the night, so the Raptors remain in fifth place with their 39-31 record, but they are now only half game up on sixth-place Atlanta and seventh-place Philadelphia and a full game up on eighth-place Orlando.
“This hasn’t happened in a long time,” said Ingram when I spoke with him post-game. “It’s refreshing, but at this point of the season, all of this is learning needed for us to move forward. I think this is our last pass where we don’t come prepared and don’t have energy. We know that the standings are really, really close. We’d rather be in the playoffs than the play-in.”
If the Raptors need a reminder of how effective they can be when they commit as a full five, they can review the only 95 seconds of the game that they were competitive, the stretch early in the second quarter when they cut the Suns’ lead to six, only to watch it balloon back to 18 by halftime.
That 95-second oasis went like this: Barnes rebounded a missed RJ Barrett free throw and rifled a pass out to Walter for a three. Then Barnes stripped Suns guard Collin Gillespie and took the ball the other way for a solo fastbreak dunk. Walter then drew an offensive foul and on the next possession, was first to a loose ball and made another three, his third of the game on as many tries. Finally, the Raptors got another stop and Immanuel Quickley hit a triple. After being down from the opening tip, the Raptors had cut the Suns’ lead to six with 7:45 left in the second quarter.
And then the Raptors called it a night. It’s hard not to describe it any other way.
The Raptors didn’t show up, even if their schedule said they had a game to play and the paycheques cash no matter what. Was it too much sun? Too much Scottsdale? A day off that left them duller rather than sharper.
It’s one of those games in a season where there is no explaining and, once it starts crumbling, proves impossible to put back together.
“Oh, I wish I knew that answer,” said Rajakovic about his team’s lack of energy or purpose. “I tried everything. I tried encouraging, I tried not encouraging. I tried a lot of things tonight, and we failed. We did not have it tonight.”
You say tomato, we say rebuild: It’s not uncommon for Rajakovic — a man who is deeply committed to the process over results — to ascribe whatever issues the Raptors are having or progress they are making in the moment to his view that the Raptors are “in the second year of a rebuild”. I asked him how he defines ‘rebuild’ give the Raptors starting lineup features two players in their 10th season (Ingram and Poeltl), another in his seventh (Barrett), another in his sixth (Quickley) and Barnes, who is in his fifth. Collectively they are earning $156.4 million. “It’s applying to the moment that we parted ways with guys that were here for a long period of time [trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby in the 2023-24 season]. Because building a team is not such a thing that you can do in one year … in the NBA, it takes time to build a team that’s going to be competitive. So rebuild does not mean, ‘oh, everybody’s gonna be 20 years old and starting to shave for the first time in their life and we’re going to wait for 17 years before you’re going to be competitive.’ It’s not that. That’s a team (that) is starting kind of from scratch. For us, it’s not really from scratch because we had a big piece in Scottie Barnes that we have in place.”
A Phoenix Son: There can’t be too many job titles in the NBA better than ‘senior advisor.’ The Phoenix Suns made Canadian NBA legend Steven Nash a senior advisor heading into this season. His qualifications? A two-time MVP, 18 years of NBA experience, a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and two-plus years as an NBA head coach. What Nash does isn’t too tightly defined, but he’s been a regular presence around the Suns’ offices and practice facilities, and rookie Suns head coach Jordan Ott couldn’t be more pleased about it. “I got to know him as a head coach in Brooklyn,” said Ott, who spent two years on Nash’s staff with the Nets in 2020-21 and 2021-22. “When we got off the road trip [where the Suns lost their last four games], one of the first people I saw at the office was Steve, so this is who he is as a human, who I’ve had a chance to meet and grow in our relationship. He’s just rock steady, you’re getting high character and he cares about the Suns, so it’s a perfect opportunity for him to get involved as he wants to be.” Nash was sitting courtside and was introduced to significant applause in the second quarter as a member of the Suns ‘ring of honour.’
Fultz time? The Raptors 905 are playing in Salt Lake Monday morning against Utah’s G-League entry. It was suggested earlier this week that it might be the right time for the Raptors to use their vacant 15th roster spot on a 10-day signee. The Raptors have been carefully monitoring point guard Markelle Fultz, a former No. 1 overall pick and a veteran of eight NBA seasons and 255 games played who is working to get back into game shape with the 905. He played a total of 50 minutes in a pair of back-to-back games in Portland on Friday and Saturday and finished with 27 points on 11/22 shooting and 12 assists against four turnovers.
GIO Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 10 NRL game between Canberra Raiders and
Penrith Panthers. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canberra Raiders vs.
Penrith Panthers
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday May 10, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Where: GIO Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers Odds
Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers Preview
Canberra will attempt to continue its recent improvement when the ladder-leading Panthers travel to the capital on Sunday evening. The Raiders have quietly rediscovered some form over the past month, winning three of their last four games despite injuries to several key players. The returns of Hudson Young and Ethan Strange provide another significant boost ahead of the toughest challenge in the NRL. Penrith remains the benchmark of the competition but has shown signs of vulnerability during recent narrow wins over Manly and other contenders. Dylan Edwards continues to set the standard at fullback, while Kaeo Weekes will again be central to Canberra’s hopes after starring against the Titans. Recent clashes between these teams have typically been tight, physical contests, and the Raiders’ improved defence suggests another competitive encounter could unfold at GIO Stadium.
Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers Teams
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Jayden Brailey 14. Owen Pattie 15. Daine Laurie 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Jordan Uta 20. Ethan Alaia 21. Jake Clydsdale 22. Sione Finau
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cole 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Liam Henry 17. Izack Tago 18. Billy Phillips 19. Billy Scott 20. Kalani Going 21. Sione Fonua 22. Luron Patea
Marvel Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 9 AFL game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and
Sydney Swans. The game kicks off at 1:15 pm with Sydney Swans heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Melbourne Kangaroos vs.
Sydney Swans
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday May 9, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Where: Marvel Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans Odds
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans Preview
North Melbourne faces another difficult assignment on Saturday afternoon when Sydney travels to Marvel Stadium. The Kangaroos are still searching for a breakthrough against the Swans at Docklands, having not beaten Sydney at the venue since 2007. Sydney reinforced its dominance in this matchup with convincing wins in both meetings last season, including a huge performance from Isaac Heeney at the SCG. Heeney again starred during last week’s victory over Melbourne, while Malcolm Rosas produced a career-best seven-goal haul as the Swans extended their winning streak to five matches. North Melbourne, meanwhile, struggled badly against Geelong and continues to battle against stronger opposition. The Kangaroos have shown patches of improvement this year, but Sydney’s midfield depth and forward efficiency loom as major concerns heading into this clash.
The 2026 PGA Championship begins next week at Aronimink in Pennsylvania. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 PGA Championship schedule, including online streaming details, PGA TV times and more.
How to watch 2026 PGA Championship
It’s May, and that means major season is in full swing. Following Rory McIlroy’s historic second win at the 2026 Masters in April, the best players in the world are now prepping for the 2026 PGA Championship, their second chance at major glory this season.
The venue for this year’s PGA is Aronimink outside of Philadelphia. The famous course, designed by Donald Ross, has hosted one previous PGA Championship. But that was all the way back in 1962, when Gary Player hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy.
This year, McIlroy hopes to lift that same trophy for the third time in his career following victories in 2012 and 2014. If he were to do so, he’d increase his major total to seven and suddenly be on track for a single-season Grand Slam.
One problem with McIlroy’s march to PGA history: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler is the defending champion, having triumphed at last year’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Any path to victory must go through him.
One player has a chance to complete the career Grand Slam at Aronimink: Jordan Spieth. Spieth is playing well heading into the PGA, the only major he hasn’t won in his career.
PGA Championship TV coverage for this year’s event will air on ESPN and CBS, the same channels that carried the Masters coverage last month. ESPN will air coverage across the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday, as well as early coverage on Saturday and Sunday. CBS then takes over for the primary broadcasts of the third and final rounds.
Streaming coverage of the 2026 PGA Championship will be available via ESPN+ and Paramount+. ESPN+ will offer exclusive early coverage all four days at Aronimink, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage. Paramount+ will stream CBS’s telecasts live online.
Get ESPN+
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
You can check out the complete TV and streaming schedules for the 2026 PGA Championship below.
2026 PGA Championship TV schedule (ET)
Thursday, May 14: 12-7 p.m. (ESPN); 7-8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Friday, May 15: 12-8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, May 16: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ESPN); 1-7 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, May 17: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ESPN); 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (ESPN2 Alternate telecast); 1-7 p.m. (CBS)
2026 PGA Championship streaming schedule (ET)
THURSDAY, MAY 14
Round 1 ESPN+: 6:45 a.m.-12 p.m. (ESPN+)
Round 1 ESPN Telecast: 12-7 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)
Featured Groups: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Featured Holes (15, 16, 17): 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (ESPN+)
FRIDAY, MAY 15
Round 2 ESPN+: 7 a.m.-12 p.m. (ESPN+)
Round 2 ESPN Telecast: 12-8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)
Featured Groups: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Featured Holes (15, 16, 17): 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Matthew Fitzpatrick is having one heck of a 2026 season. He won the Valspar, the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic (while also handing his brother a PGA Tour card), and he’s moved up to No. 4 in the World Ranking.
It’s no surprise his putter has been a big key during this stretch.
Early in his career, Fitzpatrick was dead set on a very specific milling pattern. He isn’t shy about his attention to detail, and he’s always prioritized roll and performance in his putters. The old C-groove style milling pattern, which was no longer in production, was something he desired, and when searching for a new gamer the Bettinardi team reached out to help. After 30 prototypes and endless efforts with the team, they finally settled on what is now known as the “Fitz Face” semi-circular milling pattern — the perfect groove depth and shape to match Fitzpatrick’s desires.
;)
Bettinardi Golf
Today, Bettinardi is releasing it as an addition to its BB series lineup.
“Fitzpatrick holds his equipment to an exceptionally high standard, and that’s exactly the standard we already work to every day in Tinley Park,” said Sam Bettinardi, president of Bettinardi Golf, in a press release. “We’re proud that our craftsmanship is what he trusts on Tour, and now golfers everywhere get to experience putters built to reflect his standards.”
The new additions to the BB family bring us two different shapes, both of which Fitzpatrick has trusted. The first is a mid-mallet BB48 that sports a symmetrical half-moon style shape with a spud and a double-bend shaft for face-balanced performance. The second is the one that’s been in the bag lately for Fitzpatrick: his BB1 Flow Neck, in this case the BB1FF or Fitz Flow. This thinner-flanged blade allows for a bit more moderate toe hang for players who may have a bit more arc in their stroke.
The models are one-piece milled from 303 Stainless Steel to 350 grams and boast Fitzpatrick’s preferred rolled topline and TourTone finish — a dual Black Armor and Diamond Blast combination with a thin sightline. Both the BB1 Fitz Flow (BB1 FF) and the BB48 Fitz (BB48 F) will be available May 8 for $550 each. You can learn more here.
A slender home victory over Nantes on Friday evening saw high-flying Lens guarantee a return to the Champions League next season after a three-year absence. The only goal of the game was scored late on by 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub, who had only just come on for his professional debut.
In the Premier League, Chelsea will be looking to put an end to a six-match losing streak in Saturday’s early kick-off against Liverpool. The Reds, meanwhile, are closing in on a top four spot after a mixed bag of a season.
Real Madrid‘s preparations for their clash against Barcelona have been marred by an altercation between midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, for which they have been fined half a million euros each by the club. Barcelona, who have built up an eleven-point lead on their rivals, will retain their league title should they win on Sunday.
French rider Paul Magnier sprinted to victory in Friday’s opening stage of the men’s Giro d’Italia, making the most of a crash which left most of the peloton out of contention. In the women‘s Vuelta a España, Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen stormed into the lead after winning the penultimate stage in the mountains of Asturias.
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Things are going from bad to worse for the Cincinnati Reds.
After starting 20-11 for first place in the NL Central, the Reds have since gone winless in May, including three consecutive walk-off losses to their division rival Chicago Cubs to fall to last place.
Well, the Reds and Cubs were back at Wrigley for an afternoon contest on Thursday when a Reds player had a total brainfart.
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Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs scores a run past Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Down 2-0 with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Reds got a gift when Dansby Swanson hit a grounder to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Hayes touched third base for the first out of the inning and then fired home for the double play, and the throw beat Ian Happ by a mile. However, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson never tagged Happ, instead catching the ball while on the plate.
Once Hayes touched third base, that took away the force at home, meaning Happ now had to be tagged. Instead, he was untouched and ran back into the dugout with the Cubs up, 3-0.
Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ is safe at home plate as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson stands nearby during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
REDS CLOSER CARTED OFF FIELD AFTER SUSTAINING LEG INJURY JUST ONE PITCH INTO APPEARANCE
Stephenson apparently forgot that rule, but the Reds broadcasters didn’t.
“It’s a tag play! He’s gotta tag him!” John Sadak said.
“No! No!” said Chris Welsh.
“Oh, this is a middle school mistake right here.”
Chicago then scored four more runs in the inning en route to an 8-3 victory and a four-game sweep of the Reds, who have now lost seven games in a row.
The Reds recently tied an MLB record by walking seven consecutive Pittsburgh Pirates last week, so it’s been quite the whirlwind for Cincinnati.
Michael Conforto celebrates the Chicago Cubs’ win against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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The winless road trip is over, though, and the Reds will host the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals over their next six games to try to get back on track.
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Sports
Le Mans: The club backed by Novak Djokovic, Thibaut Courtois & Felipe Massa on brink of Ligue 1
Returning to the now, manager Patrick Videira has the club second in Ligue 2 with just one game remaining – and on course for back-to-back promotions.
Consolidation in the second tier was the objective following promotion from the National, an amateur division, the previous summer.
“If, as an objective, you set an obligation to go up, it is the best way to not go quickly and to not reach that objective,” says Gomez.
But Oliveira is clear on the club’s direction of travel: “I would say that our goal in seven years is to consolidate [a place in] Ligue 1, to be one of the top 10 academies in France and to have a brand that is recognisable in global football.”
To grow the “branding and sponsorship” Oliveira has been influenced by Italian side Como, who he considers the benchmark in this domain.
Inspiration, however, will not be drawn from clubs such as Chelsea.
Le Mans have now entered into a multi-club (MCO) model with Coritiba. And while, currently, OutField has no plans to acquire further clubs, such organisations are perceived with scepticism in France.
The anti-BlueCo protests at Strasbourg are a case in point, while, to a lesser degree, there has been opposition to Black Knight Football Club’s (BKFC) full takeover at Lorient earlier this season – Bill Foley’s consortium also owns Bournemouth.
“We don’t like to see ourselves at OutField as the traditional MCO structure. [At BlueCo] you can clearly see that there’s a pyramid and everyone involved is working towards the club on top,” says Oliveira.
“It is the same with City [Group] and with Red Bull. We don’t want to be that and that’s why we’re establishing this horizontal model.”
Gomez speaks about “preserving the club’s identity”, adding: “The investor’s first objective is to understand the club that he invests in, to understand its identity, to remain close to local actors, be it business, supporters, the wider public.”
Growing that fanbase is also on the lengthy list of objectives. In the wider region, there are Rennes, Nantes, Angers, Lorient and Brest to compete with.
Such competition provides sporting challenges – notably regarding youth talent acquisition – and also potentially limits the scope for growing the support.
But the aim is to make Le Mans known for something beyond its 24-hour race, all while harnessing that rich motorsport heritage.
Massa and Magnussen, it is hoped, will help “build a narrative” around the club, whose ground sits in the middle of the famous circuit; it is a sellable one, but to be successful, it must be substantive, too.
In a town famous for its endurance race, Le Mans’ new owners are looking to build a project that will last.
Raising the Floor of Performance
Fitting isn’t just about your best drive; it’s about your worst one. As I’ve mentioned ad nauseam, I want a HIGH floor.
During the session, I hit several shots high on the heel. Normally, that’s a shot that flares right and loses significant distance. However, the TR Black VeloCore+ kept those misses remarkably online, with some finishing only inches from the target line. By tightening the dispersion of off-center hits, the shaft ensures that even with my “ugly” swing, a poor strike still keeps me in the game.
;)
Comparing the Profiles: Ventus Black Velo + vs. TR Black Velo +
When choosing between these two high-performance options, the differences come down to how much “load” you put on the club.
The Ventus Black VeloCore+ remains a low-launch, low-spin powerhouse with an ultra-stiff tip section. It offers a smooth, linear, and “stout” feel that appeals to fast, aggressive players.
The Ventus TR Black VeloCore+, by comparison, pushes the launch and spin into an “ultra-low” category. By reinforcing the handle section with Spread Tow material, it feels even more “locked-in” and stable than the original. This is designed specifically for extreme speeds and golfers with high-load transitions who need the stiffest handle profile Fujikura has ever produced.
The Synopsis of Ventus Black: Regardless of the sub-model, the Black profile is built for Stability. It is the lowest-launching and lowest-spinning member of the Ventus family. By utilizing an ultra-stiff tip section to prevent the face from twisting at impact, it has become the ultimate “anti-left” weapon for the world’s highest-speed players.
This is where it gets really interesting and where the video shows just how personal shafts are. YES, on paper, Ventus Black in any form is a low-launch, low-spin part. However, for me, it’s the shaft that not only puts me in the best place from a strike quality and trust perspective, but it’s the shaft that keeps me in the perfect launch and spin window. It’s not because im so fast and strong either, it’s because based on my delivery and everything else that’s going on, Ventus Black gives me the best chance to HIT THE MIDDLE of the face.
Honestly, folks, that’s all that matters.
Final Specs
Johnny’s Previous Setup
Fujikura Ventus Black Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
View Product
- Head: TaylorMade Qi4D 9@8.5° (Upright Setting, 1.5˚ sleeve)
- Weights: Front and back, 11g Heel / 5g Toe
- Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 6-X
- Tipping: 5/8″
- Length: 45″ EOG
- Swingweight: D3
- Data: 163.8 mph Ball Speed / 11.9° Launch / 2390 RPM Spin
The New Setup
Built for speed and control, the Fujikura VENTUS TR Black Shaft is engineered for players who generate powerful swings and demand maximum stability through impact.
Fujikura 2026 Ventus TR Black Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
The shaft is powered by VeloCore+ technology, Fujikura’s advanced multi-material core structure designed to reduce twist and increase energy transfer throughout the swing. The result is a more stable delivery that helps aggressive players maintain tighter dispersion and consistent ball speed.View Product
It wasn’t just that young Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski dominated the New York Yankees on Friday night in his team’s 6-0 win. It was how he dominated one of the best offenses in Major League Baseball.
The 24-year-old “Miz” is already famous for his big fastball. Coming into Friday’s series opener in Milwaukee, his four-seamer was averaging 99.3 mph, which put him in the 99th percentile among all MLB pitchers. Against the Yankees, though, he found another gear — a gear previously not known to exist.
Misiorowski announced himself to the Yankees with one of the most overwhelming first innings ever glimpsed:
That’s not velocity we’re used to seeing from pretty much anyone not named Mason Miller or, in the recent past, Jordan Hicks. Misiorowski, though, is a starting pitcher, and on average, they don’t throw as hard as those short-burst relievers. The Miz, though, acknowledges no such standards. Regard:
The above should be restated for emphasis. The six fastest pitches thrown by starters in the era of velocity measurement were all thrown by Misiorowski on Friday night against the Yankees. Because of the undeniable historical velocity trends in the sport, it’s no great leap to say Misiorowski on May 8 threw the fastest pitches ever to depart the fingers of a starting pitcher.
In all, the 62 fastest pitches thrown in this game belonged to Misiorowski. The 57 fastballs he threw to the Yankees averaged 101.1 mph. His 94th and penultimate pitch of the night checked in at 102.7 mph
Against that mighty fastball, the Yankees whiffed 11 times and watched another 13 land for called strikes. That all set up Misiorowski’s gem of a night:
Of his 95 pitches, 66 went for strikes, and he earned 16 whiffs on 46 swings. With the sparkling effort, Misirowski lowered his ERA for the season to 2.45 with 70 strikeouts and 17 walks in 44 innings.
The win pushed Misirowski’s Brewers to 20-16 on the season, and they’ve won seven of their last 10. While Milwaukee is presently in playoff position, they have definite designs on catching the Chicago Cubs and winning the National League Central title for a fourth straight year.
Given the offseason trade of Freddy Peralta and the shoulder woes of Brandon Woodruff, the Brewers needed ace results from Misiorowski in his second MLB season. So far, he’s given them just that, and Friday night’s legendary performance against the Yankees suggests he still hasn’t reached his ceiling.
May 8, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson (31) passes away from a double team by Golden State Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24) and guard Veronica Burton (22) during the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Janelle Salaun came off the bench to score 20 points, making five 3-pointers, as the Golden State Valkyries earned a 91-80 victory over the host Seattle Storm on the opening night of the WNBA’s 30th season on Friday.
Veronica Burton scored 16 points and had six assists and Kayla Thornton added 13 points and eight rebounds for the second-year Valkyries, who stunned the league by making the playoffs in their inaugural season. Kaitlyn Chen scored all of her career-high 14 points in the second half.
Golden State’s Gabby Williams, making her return to Seattle, where she played the past four seasons, went 0-for-5 from the field in the first half but finished with seven points, six rebounds and four assists.
Dominique Malonga led the Storm with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Zia Cooke added 15 points, and Jade Melbourne scored 13.
Rookie Flau’jae Johnson, acquired in a draft-night trade after being selected No. 8 overall by Golden State, scored 12 for the Storm.
Williams’ 3-pointer with 6:12 left in the third quarter extended Golden State’s lead to 56-46. The Valkyries took a 69-53 edge into the final quarter.
Golden State’s biggest lead was 87-67 after a 3-pointer by Salaun with 2:53 remaining.
The Valkyries shot 41.9% from the field (31 of 74), including 15 of 37 (40.5%) from 3-point range. Seattle shot 41.3% (26 of 63) and was 9 of 26 (34.6%) from long distance. The Storm held a 41-35 rebounding edge. Seattle never trailed in the opening quarter, leading by as many as seven points, 17-10, on a Cooke 3-pointer with 4:03 left.
The Storm made eight of their first 12 field-goal attempts, including their first four 3-point tries.
The Valkyries scored the final four points of the opening quarter and first three of second, taking their first lead at 27-26 on a jumper by Cecilia Zandalasini.
A jumper by Burton followed by a 3-pointer from Kaila Charles put Golden State up 31-27. A trey by Thornton extended the lead to 37-30. Thornton made another 3-pointer with 25.5 seconds left in the half and Burton added a free throw with four seconds to go, extending Golden State’s lead to 49-41 at the intermission. The margin equaled the largest of the half. Burton scored 14 before the break.
–Field Level Media
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