The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx look to move one step closer to returning to the WNBA Finals with the Game 2 playoff matchup against the host Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night in San Francisco.
Minnesota (1-0) dominated Game 1 of the best-of-three series with a 101-72 rout on Sunday in Minneapolis. It was the Lynx’s second win over the No. 8 seed Valkyries in as many games and third in their last four games overall. Minnesota won Thursday’s regular-season finale, 72-53, and claimed a 78-72 win in San Francisco on Sept. 6.
The Lynx are 5-0 against Golden State in the franchise’s debut season. With her 20 points in Game 1, Most Valuable Player candidate Napheesa Collier heads into Wednesday’s potential close-out contest having notched at least 19 points in all five meetings against the Valkyries.
Game 1 also continued a torrid run of late for Minnesota reserve Natisha Hiedeman. She scored 18 points on Sunday, which gave her 63 combined points in the Lynx’s three recent matchups with Golden State.
Hiedeman was 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc in her season-high 24-point performance on Sept. 6.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said via the Minnesota Star-Tribune that Hiedeman ‘is playing at a different level.’
‘She is just playing her best basketball of the season. She’s confident,’ said Reeve, whose squad fell to the New York Liberty in five games in the 2024 finals.
As the series shifts to the Bay Area, Golden State will try to stay alive in part with a more spirited defensive effort. The 101 points allowed on Sunday were tied for the second-most the Valkyries allowed in a season when they led the WNBA in scoring defense at 76.3 points per game.
Golden State coach Natalie Nakase lamented her team’s foul trouble in Game 1. The Valkyries were whistled for 22 team fouls and had three players with at least four personal fouls: Temi Fagbenle, Kaila Charles and 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player Veronica Burton.
‘It takes our aggression away and that’s when I’m not OK with it,’ Nakase said of the officiating. ‘I want to fight fair. I really do. But I love the fact both teams are playing with their all.’
Despite her foul trouble, Burton finished with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds on Sunday. Burton averaged 11.9 points, six assists and 4.4 rebounds while playing in all 44 regular-season games. She led the team in points, assists, steals (1.1) and blocks (0.6) in picking up the slack for Golden State after the midseason loss of Kayla Thornton to a knee injury.
Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said Friday the franchise is preparing for star forward Angel Reese to be on the roster next season despite a rocky finish to the 2025 campaign that saw the All-Star suspended and sidelined.
Reese, 22, missed the final two games of the year with what the team called a back injury after being issued a half-game suspension on Sept. 7 for criticizing the organization in an interview. She apologized to teammates, but frustration over the Sky’s direction lingered with fans late in the season.
‘Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who’s had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago,’ Pagliocca said Friday. ‘Obviously we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it. She spoke to her teammates, she spoke publicly. We moved on as a team. She’s a special player. And I have good conversations with Angel daily, with her team daily. They’re constant, and they’re productive.’
Reese led Chicago with 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game this season, pacing the WNBA in rebounding and double-doubles (23 in 30 games). But the Sky finished tied with the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the league at 10-34 — just one year after going 13-27 and parting ways with coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
Current coach Tyler Marsh and Pagliocca both have pledged changes to improve the roster, but the Sky don’t have their 2026 first-round pick because they swapped it to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx prior to the 2025 draft.
SUGAR LAND, Texas — In his backyard, Ed Prudhomme is growing herbs and vegetables, but the true stunner is his sunflower plant, which is towering over his home. The plant is 20 feet tall.
“The sunflower, I found, was just lovely and different,” Prudhomme shared.
Prudhomme, 90, was an attorney for 66 years. When he retired, he focused on his garden and began growing sunflower plants. Over the years, one plant got taller each season.
“To have a 20-foot sunflower is absolutely astounding,” Prudhomme said.
He discusses where his knack for gardening comes from and the process of growing his plant in the video above.
The NFL is back at long last, and we are going to be treated to 16 games over four days to start the season.Here are five things to know heading into Week One. (And get to the end of the article for a fantasy tip that could help you win Week One!)Super Bowl champs open the season vs. Cowboys and Friday night footballThe Philadelphia Eagles are set to begin their title defense Thursday night when they host their NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys.The Philly faithful will still have plenty to cheer about as they are bringing back pretty much all of the core from their championship team. And some extra good news for the Eagles: the so-called “tush push” was not banned, and they can continue to dominate short-yardage scenarios with Jalen Hurts and their powerful offensive line.Hurts is extra happy for this matchup after the Cowboys shocked the NFL world by trading All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons last week to the Packers for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said part of the reason they made the trade was to stop the run. Let’s see how they do against Saquon Barkley on opening night.The second game of the NFL season will be just one night later, as the league returns to São Paulo, Brazil, for a second straight season. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will take on the Los Angeles Chargers.In last year’s Brazil game at Arena Corinthians, the field was very slick and drew much criticism from the Eagles and Packers. The NFL says it is aware of the problem and will make sure it does not happen this time.The Buffalo Bills are Super Bowl favoritesNeither Hurts and the Eagles, nor Mahomes and the Chiefs, are the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season. Oddsmakers have Josh Allen and the Bills as the most likely to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.At some point the Bills’ luck has to change, right?They are one of 12 NFL teams to have never won the Super Bowl, along with the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans.They just better hope they don’t run into the Chiefs. Allen is 0-4 against Mahomes in the playoffs. The Bills have a monster opener Sunday night at home against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.Aaron Rodgers revenge gameRight out of the gate we get Aaron Rodgers, who is now the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, going up against his former team, the New York Jets. New York fans will likely not be giving Rodgers a warm welcome when he gets under center at MetLife Stadium. In his two seasons in New York the Jets went just 6-12 in games he played – and he spent much of the time injured.Rodgers turns 42 in December. Here is the list of quarterbacks who have started 10 or more games in their age-42 season: Tom Brady.That’s it.Rodgers will need to stay healthy and find the fountain of youth if the Steelers are to realize their Super Bowl dreams.The 49ers are fire and iceHistory has told us one thing about the 49ers: They are either going to be really good or really bad. This is an amazing stat: Over the last 22 years, the Niners have either made at least the NFC Championship Game or not made the playoffs at all. They don’t mess around with any first- or second-round exits.This season they are coming off a very disappointing 6-11 record. But the good news is that finish was good for last place in the NFC West, which means they get to play a last-place schedule this season. Expect a big bounce-back year from Brock Purdy and company, as they officially have the easiest schedule in the NFL.They open at Seattle on Sunday.Bengals yearn for hot startNo team needs to get off to a fast start more than the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the last three seasons they’ve started 0-2, and last season they started 0-3. For this reason, coach Zac Taylor had his starters playing more than usual during the preseason to get them ready for Week One against the Browns.Joe Burrow and company have missed the playoffs the past two seasons. They will look to end the drought behind their high-powered offense.Fantasy tip: Start Jerome FordSpeaking of the Bengals … while their offense is good, their defense is expected to be one of the worst in the NFL. Browns running back Jerome Ford is rostered in about 70% of ESPN leagues. If he’s available, or if you already have him, start him against the Bengals.
The NFL is back at long last, and we are going to be treated to 16 games over four days to start the season.
Here are five things to know heading into Week One. (And get to the end of the article for a fantasy tip that could help you win Week One!)
Super Bowl champs open the season vs. Cowboys and Friday night football
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to begin their title defense Thursday night when they host their NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
The Philly faithful will still have plenty to cheer about as they are bringing back pretty much all of the core from their championship team. And some extra good news for the Eagles: the so-called “tush push” was not banned, and they can continue to dominate short-yardage scenarios with Jalen Hurts and their powerful offensive line.
Hurts is extra happy for this matchup after the Cowboys shocked the NFL world by trading All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons last week to the Packers for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said part of the reason they made the trade was to stop the run. Let’s see how they do against Saquon Barkley on opening night.
The second game of the NFL season will be just one night later, as the league returns to São Paulo, Brazil, for a second straight season. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
In last year’s Brazil game at Arena Corinthians, the field was very slick and drew much criticism from the Eagles and Packers. The NFL says it is aware of the problem and will make sure it does not happen this time.
The Buffalo Bills are Super Bowl favorites
Neither Hurts and the Eagles, nor Mahomes and the Chiefs, are the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season. Oddsmakers have Josh Allen and the Bills as the most likely to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
At some point the Bills’ luck has to change, right?
They are one of 12 NFL teams to have never won the Super Bowl, along with the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans.
They just better hope they don’t run into the Chiefs. Allen is 0-4 against Mahomes in the playoffs. The Bills have a monster opener Sunday night at home against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Aaron Rodgers revenge game
Right out of the gate we get Aaron Rodgers, who is now the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, going up against his former team, the New York Jets. New York fans will likely not be giving Rodgers a warm welcome when he gets under center at MetLife Stadium. In his two seasons in New York the Jets went just 6-12 in games he played – and he spent much of the time injured.
Rodgers turns 42 in December. Here is the list of quarterbacks who have started 10 or more games in their age-42 season: Tom Brady.
That’s it.
Rodgers will need to stay healthy and find the fountain of youth if the Steelers are to realize their Super Bowl dreams.
The 49ers are fire and ice
History has told us one thing about the 49ers: They are either going to be really good or really bad. This is an amazing stat: Over the last 22 years, the Niners have either made at least the NFC Championship Game or not made the playoffs at all. They don’t mess around with any first- or second-round exits.
This season they are coming off a very disappointing 6-11 record. But the good news is that finish was good for last place in the NFC West, which means they get to play a last-place schedule this season. Expect a big bounce-back year from Brock Purdy and company, as they officially have the easiest schedule in the NFL.
They open at Seattle on Sunday.
Bengals yearn for hot start
No team needs to get off to a fast start more than the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the last three seasons they’ve started 0-2, and last season they started 0-3. For this reason, coach Zac Taylor had his starters playing more than usual during the preseason to get them ready for Week One against the Browns.
Joe Burrow and company have missed the playoffs the past two seasons. They will look to end the drought behind their high-powered offense.
Fantasy tip: Start Jerome Ford
Speaking of the Bengals … while their offense is good, their defense is expected to be one of the worst in the NFL. Browns running back Jerome Ford is rostered in about 70% of ESPN leagues. If he’s available, or if you already have him, start him against the Bengals.
As they close in on clinching the top seed in the WNBA postseason, the Minnesota Lynx are slumping for the first time this season and doing so even with the return of Napheesa Collier from an ankle injury.
The Lynx attempt to avoid consecutive losses for the second time this season as Collier plays her third game since returning Saturday night in a visit to the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
The Lynx won six straight and 10 of 11 earlier this summer, a stretch that featured three wins over the New York Liberty. Starting with an 85-75 loss at New York on Aug. 19, Minnesota (30-8) is 2-3 in its past five games.
Collier returned from missing seven games in Sunday’s 97-84 win over the Indiana Fever and scored 32 points. On Thursday, Collier shot 7-of-23 from the field and was held to 18 in a 93-79 home loss to the Seattle Storm, when the Lynx blew a 21-point lead by getting outscored 60-33 in the second half.
‘Play some defense, man,’ coach Cheryl Reeve said after Minnesota allowed 11 3s in the second half and a season-worst 16 overall. ‘Act like that, and (it) matters. We have not done that in a long time. And that was the focus. You play one quarter of defense, and that’s it.’
The Lynx shot 44.1 percent Thursday as they took their largest margin of defeat this season, and it marked the fourth time in six games they shot 45 percent or lower.
Connecticut (10-28) will finish with a losing record in a full season for the first time since 2016 but is playing better of late. The Sun dropped 10 straight June 8-July 6 and five straight Aug. 3-11 but since the second skid, they are 5-2 with the two losses coming by a combined eight points.
The Sun are returning home after earning a 101-95 win over the Dallas Wings on Wednesday. Rookie Leila Lacan led the Sun in scoring for the third time in this improved stretch by scoring a career-high 22 points for the second straight game.
Lacan started for the 10th in 11 games Thursday and reached double figures for the ninth time this year.
‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,’ veteran Tina Charles said of Connecticut’s recent improvement. ‘I think we’re definitely defining that. Everybody’s coming together.’
Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was sentenced to four days in jail as part of a plea deal on Tuesday, according to CNN affiliate WSMV 4, after being charged with driving under the influence and possession of a firearm in 2024.Cutler was arrested in October last year after police said the car he was driving rear-ended another vehicle in Franklin, Tennessee.A police statement at the time said that officers responded to the accident and detected the smell of alcohol on Cutler, who also had bloodshot eyes and was slurring words.According to police, the former QB refused a field sobriety test at the scene and was later taken to a hospital, where a blood sample was taken after authorities got a search warrant.The police investigation also found two firearms in Cutler’s vehicle, including a loaded pistol.According to the police report, Cutler attempted to flee the scene after offering the other driver $2,000 not to call the police.According to WSMV 4, Cutler pled guilty to driving under the influence on Tuesday. As part of the plea bargain, the firearm possession charge was dropped.Cutler has not commented publicly on the incident.The 42-year-old is reportedly required to pay a $350 fine and serve four days at the Williamson County Jail, starting on Sept. 29. WSMV 4 also reported that Cutler will be on unsupervised probation for a year and will be required to attend a DUI safety class.Cutler will also have his Tennessee driver’s license revoked and agreed to “forfeit” his pistol, WSMV 4 added. Cutler was a highly touted QB prospect out of Vanderbilt University in the mid-2000s. He was selected in the first round, 11th overall, in the 2006 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.He played just three seasons in Denver before being traded to the Chicago Bears where he made a name for himself.In his eight seasons with the Bears, he became the franchise’s all-time leading passer with 23,443 yards and 154 touchdowns.He would play 12 seasons in the league for the Broncos, Bears and Miami Dolphins, passing for 35,133 yards and 227 touchdowns. His last season in the NFL was 2017.
Cutler was arrested in October last year after police said the car he was driving rear-ended another vehicle in Franklin, Tennessee.
A police statement at the time said that officers responded to the accident and detected the smell of alcohol on Cutler, who also had bloodshot eyes and was slurring words.
According to police, the former QB refused a field sobriety test at the scene and was later taken to a hospital, where a blood sample was taken after authorities got a search warrant.
The police investigation also found two firearms in Cutler’s vehicle, including a loaded pistol.
According to the police report, Cutler attempted to flee the scene after offering the other driver $2,000 not to call the police.
The Franklin Police Department via CNN Newsource
Jay Cutler mugshot: Arrested and charged in 2024
According to WSMV 4, Cutler pled guilty to driving under the influence on Tuesday. As part of the plea bargain, the firearm possession charge was dropped.
Cutler has not commented publicly on the incident.
The 42-year-old is reportedly required to pay a $350 fine and serve four days at the Williamson County Jail, starting on Sept. 29. WSMV 4 also reported that Cutler will be on unsupervised probation for a year and will be required to attend a DUI safety class.
Cutler will also have his Tennessee driver’s license revoked and agreed to “forfeit” his pistol, WSMV 4 added.
Cutler was a highly touted QB prospect out of Vanderbilt University in the mid-2000s. He was selected in the first round, 11th overall, in the 2006 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.
He played just three seasons in Denver before being traded to the Chicago Bears where he made a name for himself.
In his eight seasons with the Bears, he became the franchise’s all-time leading passer with 23,443 yards and 154 touchdowns.
He would play 12 seasons in the league for the Broncos, Bears and Miami Dolphins, passing for 35,133 yards and 227 touchdowns. His last season in the NFL was 2017.
Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark
So this is not the bat that the Yankees were using to pound out 36 runs in 3 games. This is not *** torpedo bat. This is like *** traditional bat. Yeah, if that’s the bat they were using, we wouldn’t be talking about. Oh there you go. What is going on here with this? I, so basically the Yankees have apparently over for 2 years have been working on this, and they have figured out. That all the all the rules say *** bat needs to be is it can’t be bigger than *** certain length it can’t be fatter than *** certain, but otherwise, as long as it’s ***. Straight stick that the fattest part fits within these measurements and they’re hitting it out they they move the barrel basically down and they’re taking guys like Anthony Volpe where they collect so much data now, right? They know where Anthony Volpe typically hits right and if he’s not consistently hitting it on the barrel. Their solution was let’s not teach Anthony Volpe to hit different. Let’s just move the barrel. So they basically so simple bats that are customized to these hitters and to where they’re making contact. It’s, I mean, it’s very unusual and when they come out of the gate like this with *** 20 run game where, you know, like 9 homers in the game, it’s gonna get *** whole lot of attention, but by the rules this seems to be allowed. It’s just wild to see *** team do it and come out like this, right? And it’s the Yankees. Oh, it’s the Yankees, Chad. So, um, so there’s gonna be *** tension there anyway, but it’s, it’s fascinating. And I mean, who, you know, is this something that’s gonna catch on? We’re, I think everybody 2 my other teams my outlet included are all trying to chase this going where, where is this going, you know.
Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark
Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLBBatting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.
SEATTLE —
Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.
Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.
Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLB
Batting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.
He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.
Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.
The Philadelphia Union placed defender Ian Glavinovich on the season-ending injury list on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Argentina international is recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Glavinovich sustained the injury on April 5 and finished the season with one goal in four MLS matches (three starts).
‘This is a tough moment for Ian and for the team,’ Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said. ‘We know the impact he can make, and he’s approached this season, and injury, with the utmost determination and professionalism. We’ll continue to support Ian as he continues his recovery.’
Glavinovich made his MLS debut in the Feb. 22 season opener against Orlando City SC and scored his first goal in a 1-0 victory over St. Louis City SC on March 22.
The Union acquired Glavinovich on a one-year loan from Newell’s Old Boys on Dec. 20, 2024.
While the Minnesota Lynx are waiting for Napheesa Collier to fully recover from a lingering ankle injury, they continue to notch victories and pad their lead atop the WNBA standings.
The Lynx attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games Tuesday night when they visit the New York Liberty for the teams’ fourth matchup in three weeks. The game is another rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals, won by the Liberty in five games.
The Lynx (28-5) hold a 3-0 advantage between the teams this season heading into the finale of the season series.
Collier scored 30 points in the first meeting between the teams when the Lynx earned a 100-93 victory on July 30 and was injured three days later in a game at Las Vegas. Minnesota’s Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith and Kayla McBride have stepped up in the absence of the WNBA’s top scorer at 23.5 points per game.
The Lynx earned an 86-80 home win over the Liberty on Saturday when Williams scored 26 points. McBride finished with 18 points in Minnesota’s 83-71 win at New York on Aug. 10.
‘To do this, in the stretch of games (when) we’re playing against really good teams, I’m super proud of us,’ said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve, whose team has added victories over the Aces, Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics to the three against the Liberty.
New York (21-13) is 4-6 since losing Breanna Stewart with a bone bruise in her right knee on July 26. The Liberty split the first six games of Stewart’s absence but return home with three losses in their past four games, including Saturday when the Lynx attempted 33 free throws and New York reached the foul line eight times.
Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty in scoring four times in the first six games after Stewart was forced out early in their 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Ionescu was held to 13 points Saturday and is shooting 32.9 percent (26-of-79) over her past six games and was 5-of-16 from the floor Sunday.
Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 17 on Saturday but combined with Ionsecu for just one point in the fourth quarter at Minnesota. Jones did not take a shot in more than seven minutes of the final quarter.
‘We got to just continue to get better every single game and I think we’ve done that,’ Ionescu said. ‘It’s been a long month on the road and for us to get back home in front of our crowd and we owe them from the last game that we played the Lynx at home.’
On today’s episode, Tyson is joined by Ethan Zohn, Sole Survivor of Survivor: Africa, to chat about the eighth episode of Survivor 47! They chat about the return and new twists of the auction, the reveal of sneaky threats, and the benefits of long-term alliances.
As the organization plays its opening season in the newly completed Intuit Dome, a new complication has arisen: A lawsuit filed Thursday by a former trainer alleges unsafe treatment of the franchise’s star player.
Randy Shelton was the strength and conditioning coach at San Diego State and worked closely with Leonard during the player’s time with the Aztecs. The lawsuit says the Clippers began their pursuit of Leonard — using Shelton as an intermediary — in 2017, two years before Leonard joined the team.
Following a devastating ankle injury for Leonard during the Western Conference finals in 2016, Clippers assistant general manager Mark Hughes emphasized discretion as he sought out the San Antonio Spurs star’s private health information through Shelton, the lawsuit states.
Hughes and Shelton spoke around 15 times by phone and seven times in person, Shelton says. The offer: a job as the Clippers’ strength and conditioning coach if the team could persuade Leonard to join.
The team got its wish, with Leonard and Shelton joining in the 2019 offseason. From there, Shelton was relegated to the sidelines as a new assistant coach, Todd Wright, took over his responsibilities, the lawsuit says.
Shelton’s remaining job was to take care of Leonard, a task that the suit claims deliberately was made more difficult as the team excluded Shelton from meetings and “withheld necessary medical treatment and information that impacted Leonard’s training and health.”
Leonard’s health woes continued. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the 2021 playoffs, and Shelton set a recovery target of two years — a timetable the Clippers were unwilling to accept, he says.
Upon Leonard’s return for the 2022-23 season, the team promised a minutes restriction and that the forward would not play back-to-back games but failed to uphold that promise, Shelton claims. After the first two games, Leonard complained of knee swelling and inflammation, and an MRI revealed cartilage damage.
The lawsuit says Leonard was “given biologics to band-aid the problem” instead of allowing the player the necessary time to heal. Less than a month later, in November 2022, Leonard returned to play and suffered two ruptured ligaments in his ankle within a week.
Again, Shelton claims, the team demanded productivity, circumventing Shelton’s advice and withholding information from him. Shelton says the team began to force him out shortly thereafter.
As Leonard battled through these injuries and the team’s record suffered, his minutes per game increased from 32 in December 2022 to 35 in January and 38 in February.
This heavier load, which included one set of back-to-back games in March and April 2023, helped lead the team to a playoff berth. In the first round against Phoenix, Leonard tore his meniscus and suffered cartilage damage on his repaired ACL, requiring another surgery.
After the injury, Shelton complained to the team. He said, according to the lawsuit, that “the mishandling of Kawhi Leonard’s injury and return-to-play protocol has been mind-blowing,” and that “the disregard for his recovery process is unacceptable.”
The Clippers conducted an internal investigation, which concluded in June 2023 and found no wrongdoing. In July, President Lawrence Frank fired Shelton without cause, according to Shelton.
Last season, Leonard again suffered a breakdown that necessitated another surgery. Shelton blames the team for pushing Leonard too hard.
“The Clippers place revenue and winning above all else, even the health and safety of their ‘franchise’ player in Leonard,” the lawsuit says.
Leonard missed the Olympics and is out to start the season. His return date is unclear.
The Clippers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement provided to Chris Haynes, the NBA reporter who first reported on the lawsuit, the Clippers said: “Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit. We honored Mr. Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full. This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.”
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The L.A. Rams will face off against the Minnesota Vikings on October 24 at SoFi Stadium. ABC7 is giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets to the game!
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Juliet and Callie return with so much to discuss about Love Is Blind Season 7, Episodes 10 and 11. First, the ladies discuss Nick and Hannah’s breakup (1:37) and Tim and Alex’s breakup (16:15). Then they talk about Marissa and Ramses’s fleeting relationship (29:09), Garrett and Taylor’s hopeful end (37:00), and last, the aftermath of Ashley and Tyler (42:35).
No one would blame fans of the Chicago White Sox for losing their appetites after enduring an abominable 2024 campaign, one that included a 21-game losing streak. Statistically, the 2024 Sox are one of the worst teams in the history of Major League Baseball, tying the modern-day record of 120 losses set in 1962 by the New York Mets. Currently, owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s team is riding a three-game winning streak and will wind down the season with three opportunities this weekend in Detroit to break the all-time loss record.
Recent hot streak aside, as each loss ate away at the team’s respectability, numbed fans donned paper bags over their heads this week at Guaranteed Rate Field, rooting against the home team and hoping to witness the historic record-breaking loss while chanting “sell the team.”
An unlikely ballpark symbol would emerge to represent this lost season. Introduced in the spring, the $15 Campfire Milkshake features burned marshmallows swimming in a sea of whipped cream. A puddle of chocolate drips down and covers the rim of the 16-ounce plastic souvenir cup which is filled with Prairie Farms Belgian Chocolate ice cream mixed with graham crackers. A piece of a chocolate bar marks the final touch. A sip may cause a fan’s A1C to surge as high as the Sox’s bullpen ERA — good luck finishing it. On the last home game of this sordid season, 205 shakes were available at the Vizzy View Bar. It’s a well-oiled machine with fans ordering their shakes at the bar where a cashier hands them a receipt which they use to pick up their shake at a station by the bar’s entrance, near Section 157. The chilled glasses are laid out with their chocolate rims as fans watch workers make the shakes. During the Thursday, September 26 home finale, a game where a loss would break the record, the shakes were sold out within 40 minutes. Announced attendance was 15,678 — Sox Park’s capacity is 40,615.
A fan at the September 10 game against Cleveland holds a Campfire Milkshake as the Sox picked up their 113th loss of the season.Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images
Inside the Vizzy View Bar, an employee candidly tells fans the team made about $500,000 in sales on the shakes this season. Though the shakes are also available on the club level, that math might be off on this unverified figure. A half a million dollars would mean an average of 412 shakes were sold per game over 81 home games. Regardless, the shake was a success and management may bring the Campfire Shake back in 2025.
For a team with few stars, this rookie is perhaps the only thing worth remembering during a parade of failures that made national headlines last week when The Athletic published an embarrassing inside look at the team’s woes. That includes abysmal sequences like one from early September when two White Sox players collided during a game in Baltimore. The result allowed three runs to score with the Orioles’ TV announcer declaring “the White Sox have gone full White Sox.” Even horror writer Stephen King has acknowledged the White Sox season is a nightmare.
In game 159, as a yellow jacket swarms around the last vestiges of my Campfire Milkshake, the White Sox have put together their first seven-run inning of the 2024 season
Fans, former players, and media have relied on gallows humor to survive the season, turning to the shake as a distraction from talking about the actual baseball. MLB posted a photo of the shake in March on X, and since then it’s garnered 14,500 likes. In the spring, no one predicted the White Sox to be historically bad, but marketing had a feeling they weren’t contenders. By April, the team’s record plunged and the marketing team honed in on the milkshake as a way to take the attention away from the team’s performance. Brooks Boyer, the team’s chief revenue and marketing officer, was apparently “giddy” that the Athletic was writing about the shake. In May, SB Nation blog South Side Sox wrote that the team’s “hottest offseason acquisition might be the Campfire Milkshake.”
The team would arrange for Olympic legend Simone Biles and her husband, Chicago Bear Jonathan Owens, to pose for a photo with the shake. Two fans wore customized jerseys to Sox Park — one with the word “Campfire” and the No. 20, and the other with “Milkshake” and the No. 24. Concession stand workers routinely say food and drink sales soar when the home team plays well. With few fans in the stands watching miserable baseball, tasting a shake provides a legitimate reason to attend a game.
“It makes all the sense in the world that the team would want to hop fans up on sugar but not fill us up on any nutrition,” South Side Sox editor Brett Ballantini writes to Eater. “[It] certainly dovetails with a smoke-and-mirrors front office, hiring processes, on-field performance…”
Milkshakes became a White Sox thing in 2022 when Levy executive chef Ryan Craig launched the horchata-churro flavor. The next season the team introduced the magonada, complete with a tamarind straw. Fans also had the option to spike the shake with booze. Those entries paved the way so the Campfire could burn.
Speaking during a media event in late August at Soldier Field, the inventor of the Campfire Milkshake, told Eater that he had no plans to create a shake for the Chicago Bears. Craig wanted to ensure the White Sox had something exclusive that would put a smile on their faces. He, of course, diplomatically didn’t mention the obvious: Why would the Bears want their own shake and want to be associated with baseball’s version of the Titanic?
For $15 — which rivals the cost of a ballpark beer — is it shake good? Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski isn’t impressed: “It comes in a cool glass, but I mean, it’s a milkshake,” the 2005 World Series champ said on the September 23 episode of the Foul Territory podcast. “It’s a milkshake with some chocolate and marshmallow on top. I mean it’s OK. It’s slightly above average.”
Pierzynski’s assessment is accurate. The torched or burned marshmallows aren’t even melted, it’s more for the look than the taste. But carrying the shake around is like a South Side status symbol, the equivalent of parading a Prada bag around the main concourse. That comes with concerns. On an unseasonably warm September afternoon, the sun melted the chocolate rim. Unless fans want warm chocolate on their fingers, these shakes are meant to be quickly consumed on the air-conditioned club level.
The 2025 season doesn’t look promising, coming on the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series win. Management is already saying that bad attendance will prevent them from improving the lineup through free agency, typically the quickest way to better a team. There’s already been talk about trading any player of value. Could management trade the recipe for the Campfire Shake to another team? If the shake returns, how much will the Sox increase prices? Management’s 2025 focus could be on funding a new ballpark. In February 2024, the team floated the idea of asking for $1 billion in public funding for a new stadium development. It would take more than 66.6 million shakes to reach that amount. Perhaps the Sox could hold a giant bake sale.
As of now, the shake looks like it may go down in White Sox infamy, with shorts, the problematic Disco Demolition Night, and Nolan Ryan’s noogies. It’s a symbol of the worst season in baseball history. And that’s not a very sweet memory at all.
Jo and Rob grab their flight funds to recap the fourth episode of Slow Horses Season 4. They open with a few more listener emails before discussing a theory on what landed J.K. Coe in Slough House, how they’re feeling about Season 4 in relation to past seasons, and the shocking fate of Sam Chapman (18:32). Along the way, they check in on coat watch and Spy Vs. Spy (38:22). Later, they’re joined by Slow Horses showrunner and Emmy Award–winning writer Will Smith to talk about why Hugo Weaving was the perfect actor to play this season’s villain, what it’s like to be juggling multiple seasons at once, his approach to writing pleasant grumps, and much more (49:35).
Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney Guest: Will Smith Producer: Kai Grady Additional Production Support: Justin Sayles
It is now officially fall. But if you’re looking forward to seeing some vibrant Autumn colors this season, Maryland may not be your best bet.
Sunday marks the official start to fall. But if you’re looking forward to seeing some vibrant autumn colors this season, Maryland may not be your best bet.
Many of the state’s trees are changing color earlier than usual this year due to drought, according to the state’s 2024 Fall Foliage Preview. Marylanders should expect to see more yellow and gold tones, and fewer reds and purples.
Western counties such as Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick and Carroll will see leaves change two weeks ahead of schedule due to extreme drought in the area.
“While we will still have a fall color display, I anticipate it may peak earlier than normal and we will see more muted colors and more yellow to golden tones as opposed to vibrant colors, again due to lack of moisture,” forester Melissa Nash in Garrett County says.
A forecast predicting Maryland’s fall foliage in 2024. (Courtesy Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
If you are desperate to see those fall colors, officials said you might not be completely out of luck. Vibrant native flowers such as aster and goldenrods can be found this time of year. Forester Bob Schwartz described those flowers as “truly belles of the fall ball.”
“These species groups are highly important for pollinators working to provision their eggs for winter and come in all shapes and sizes,” Schwartz says. “The purple of New England aster strikingly complements the golden hues from their frequent cohabitating goldenrods, directing more pollinators to each other.”
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Rachel Lindsay and Callie Curry begin this week’s episode by sharing their opinions on the recent Bachelorette drama, before moving on to recap Season 18, Episode 11 of The Real Housewives of Orange County (19:41). Then, after giving their final thoughts on The Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2 reunion (37:07), Jodi Walker makes her triumphant return to break down The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 5 premiere (51:28).
WHERE IS HE? It’s time to join Jo and Mal as they best Fëanor and dive deep into the latest episode of Rings of Power! They begin with their opening snapshot (3:44), before the patented House of R deep dive into each scene and explore what’s in store for our heroes and villains in Eregion, Númenor, Rhûn, and more (16:35)! Also, later wig watch check-in and a special spoiler speculation section (02:18:45).
Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson Producer: Steve Ahlman Video Editor: Stefano Sanchez Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal and John Richter Social: Jomi Adeniran
Jo and Rob dance around danger to recap the third episode of Slow Horses Season 4. They open with a few more listener emails before discussing the dark backstory of Frank Harkness, the dynamic between Standish and David Cartwright, and why the blissfully ignorant Giti is quickly becoming one of the show’s most delightful characters (2:06). Along the way, they theorize about what’s going on with the mysterious J.K. Coe and how Bad Sam Chapman’s role in the story has grown season to season (29:42). Later, they introduce a brand-new segment called Spy Vs. Spy, where they point out some of the best (and worst) examples of spycraft in this week’s episode (42:32).
Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney Producer: Kai Grady Additional Production Support: Justin Sayles
