New NCAA legislation contains a ‘Lane Kiffin rule’
The latest attempt by Congress to provide some sort of oversight for college sports includes a rule that many are already naming after Lane Kiffin.
Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) unveiled the Protect College Sports Act on Wednesday, a bipartisan attempt to provide some sort of protection for the NCAA and its member schools.
The text of the bill was released to the media, and one particular section garnered a good amount of attention. The bill would prohibit coaches from jumping from one school to another during the same season, a provision that was quickly dubbed the “Lane Kiffin rule.”
They're calling this part the "Lane Kiffin rule" behind the scenes, but they didn't have the guts to name the man in the bill. pic.twitter.com/NtRVjoYBS7
— Andy Staples (@AndyStaples) May 27, 2026
Notably, the rule also would prohibit rival schools from poaching a coach before the season ends.
Kiffin may be the most famous instance, but plenty of college coaches have jumped from one program to another before the season ends. The fact that this can happen without repercussions has drawn criticism and is contrasted with players, who can only enter the transfer portal during certain periods during the year.
Kiffin’s decision to jump to LSU with his Ole Miss team heading for the College Football Playoff became a major distraction and created a lot of bad blood. Even in instances where such a situation is handled cordially, a lot of people are put in a very difficult spot that unquestionably impacts their ability to do their jobs. This bill would end that, or at least try to curtail it.
Jalen Hurts addresses his relationship with AJ Brown
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts addressed speculation about his relationship with AJ Brown and the wide receiver’s future with the organization.
Hurts met with reporters during OTAs on Wednesday and was inevitably asked about Brown, who has been the subject of persistent trade rumors. The Eagles quarterback sought to downplay any talk of tension between the two, but admitted there is uncertainty about Brown’s future.
“There’s an if, obviously, it’s been a lingering thing. But nothing can replace all the greatness we achieved together,” Hurts said. “Nothing’s changed since we last spoke at the end of the season. We’re really good. I saw how beautiful the pictures came out of his wedding, and I’m very happy for him and his wife and his family.”
#Eagles QB Jalen Hurts picked up a drink as he was being asked about AJ Brown…
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 27, 2026
“Picked the right question to sip on, huh?” 😅
Hurts later added: “There’s an ‘if’ — obviously, it’s been a lingering thing. But nothing can replace all the greatness that we achieved together.” pic.twitter.com/9lFrUh26w3
Hurts and Brown were once very close, but there seemed to be distance between them last season as the Eagles’ offense stagnated. Speculation about their future has intensified amid reports of some frustration with Hurts within the Eagles organization.
Brown has not been traded yet, nor has he requested one publicly. There have still been widespread rumors of a potential trade to an AFC contender which could still happen before the start of the season.
Novak Djokovic has harsh words for French Open crowd
Novak Djokovic was frustrated with the crowd at Roland Garros on Wednesday as he faced off against Valentin Royer.
Djokovic was frustrated at crowd noise between points, including at least one instance where it interrupted his serve. Even after the crowd was admonished by the chair umpire, Djokovic was still annoyed with them.
“They don’t have respect. No respect,” Djokovic could be heard saying.
"They don't have respect, no respect, no respect." 😳
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 27, 2026
Djokovic was NOT HAPPY after his serve got interrupted by a spectator 👀
Watch Roland-Garros on TNT 📺 pic.twitter.com/PHrIxuXRSY
The crowd was largely supportive of Royer, a Frenchman, especially when he pushed Djokovic to four sets. In the end, Djokovic did prevail, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3.
Though Djokovic garners support wherever he goes, there are moments when the crowd turns against him and things get rather antagonistic. That was the case Wednesday, even as the majority of the crowd behaved properly.
Djokovic will face Joao Fonseca in the third round of the tournament.
Abner Uribe refuses to apologize to Cardinals for his crotch chop celebration
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Abner Uribe sparked controversy on Tuesday for the crotch chop celebration he aimed at the St. Louis Cardinals dugout. After the game, however, Uribe was unwilling to apologize to his opponent for what he did.
Uribe apologized to his teammates, fans, and manager Pat Murphy following his controversial celebration in his team’s 6-0 victory over the Cardinals at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc. He did not, however, apologize to the Cardinals, and explained that his celebration was in direct response to what he saw as Cardinals manager Oli Marmol threatening to throw at Milwaukee hitters.
“I understand that it’s unacceptable to go out there and react like that,” Uribe told reporters through an interpreter. “At the same time, I don’t think it’s professional for their manager to be making signs towards our dugout saying that he’s going to be hitting guys. There was an event that occurred during the practice today, too, and I don’t think that was right, so I have my teammates’ back, always.”
Abner Uribe apologized to his teammates, Brewers coaches, executives and the fans, but he did not apologize to the Cardinals. Here’s his explanation for why that is. pic.twitter.com/LoVxqJabW4
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 27, 2026
Uribe’s celebration was not subtle, and he stopped and aimed it directly at the St. Louis dugout.
Abner Uribe hits the D-Generation X crotch chop after an inning-ending strikeout against the Cardinals. 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZPnV6atxyD
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 27, 2026
On Wednesday, it emerged that Marmol and the Cardinals believed that the Brewers were stealing their signs. Brewers players claimed Marmol gestured toward the Milwaukee dugout during Tuesday’s game and pointed to his ribs.
Marmol said the Cardinals were not happy with how blatant the Brewers were being and was trying to tell them not to get anyone hurt. He indicated that he felt the entire situation was being blown out of proportion.
“We felt like they were being pretty demonstrative about relaying from the dugout,” Marmol said, via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. “I looked over, I said ‘Hey, don’t do it. Be smart. You’re going to get somebody hurt. Like, what are we trying to do here?’”
The Brewers and Cardinals sit first and second in the NL Central, respectively, so there is something of a budding rivalry here. In addition, Uribe has some history of his own, as he was at the center of a bench-clearing brawl in 2024.
Victor Wembanyama disciplined by NBA
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been disciplined by the NBA for breaching one of its rules after his team’s Game 5 loss.
Wembanyama did not meet with the media after San Antonio’s 127-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. This was a violation of the league’s media access rules, and Wembanyama received a warning from the league office.
The Spurs center will not, however, face any fines.
The NBA has warned the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama for violating media access rules. Wembanyama bypassed media obligations after Game 5 on Tuesday night.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 27, 2026
Wembanyama was under obligation to speak to the media after the game. Reports indicated that he went directly to the team bus after the game and ignored media members who were speaking to his teammates.
One can certainly understand why Wembanyama was not in a talkative mood after Game 5. His team lost by double digits, and he was held to 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting. Needless to say, that was not the performance he was looking for in a crucial swing game.
Update emerges on Josh Jacobs’ arrest
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been released from police custody without charges, but that may prove to be a temporary situation.
The Brown County District Attorney announced Wednesday that no charges would yet be fired against Jacobs after his recent arrest for domestic violence. However, this is because attorneys are seeking additional information and believe additional evidence may exist that would impact the necessity of charges.
Update on the Josh Jacobs situation:
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) May 27, 2026
“The Brown County District Attorney’s Office is not yet prepared to make a formal charging decision. Our office has requested additional investigation.”
Full release here: pic.twitter.com/GvbqhiB5UH
Jacobs’ attorneys issued their own statement expressing confidence that Jacobs would not be charged at all.
A new statement from Josh Jacobs lawyers: pic.twitter.com/iuGMI94j3e
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 27, 2026
There was no indication regarding when a charging decision might be made regarding Jacobs. It is also worth remembering that the NFL has the authority to punish Jacobs even without criminal charges, and an investigation into the circumstances of his arrest will likely occur no matter what decision is made by the authorities.
Jacobs was arrested late last week on a series of disturbing domestic violence charges. He has denied all of the allegations. The 28-year-old ran for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns this past year for Green Bay.
Top Dodgers prospect hurt himself avoiding the bat dog
A top Los Angeles Dodgers prospect suffered an injury Monday while trying to avoid the designated bat dog.
Kendall George, rated as the No. 13 prospect in the Dodgers’ system, suffered a knee injury while facing the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. George was returning to the dugout after scoring on a single, and had to awkwardly jump to avoid the Drillers’ bat dog, who was going out to retrieve a discarded bat.
Replays showed that George was visibly angry and unable to put any weight on his right leg after the incident. He was removed from the game.
He also appeared to be limping and was removed from the game after he tried to avoid a collision with the bat dog, which seems important. https://t.co/5DH1BemaFg pic.twitter.com/CzS5GVaqA6
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 26, 2026
Initial tests on the knee were “not positive,” according to Fabian Ardaya and Jesús Cano of The Athletic. However, the organization is still waiting on the official results to make a determination on the next course of action.
Bat dogs are a somewhat common phenomenon at the minor league level. Predictably, the dogs sometimes do not do their job quite to perfection, but this is the first instance we have seen of one actually inadvertently injuring another player.
George was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in the 2023 draft. He is hitting .333 with an .814 OPS and 26 stolen bases so far on the season.
Patrick Mahomes had the perfect reaction to Travis Kelce’s Guardians investment
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes got a friendly shot in at Travis Kelce after it was announced that Kelce is joining the Cleveland Guardians’ ownership group.
Mahomes congratulated Kelce on his new investment in a post on X Wednesday. He then posted a video of Kelce’s infamously spiked ceremonial first pitch back in 2023.
Congrats! @tkelce pic.twitter.com/qlt9I58TJF https://t.co/s2qhkDBQ1b
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 27, 2026
Kelce threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Guardians’ home opener in 2023. Over three years later, he still hasn’t lived it down. Mahomes, in particular, gave Kelce a hard time about it then and has clearly not forgotten about it.
It’s worth noting that Mahomes is a minority investor in the Kansas City Royals, one of Cleveland’s AL Central rivals. That means the Chiefs quarterback has some extra reasons to poke at Kelce over this.
Kelce officially joined the Guardians as a minority investor on Wednesday. How big his share is and how much he invested were not publicly announced.
Zohran Mamdani highlights the Knicks’ long NBA Finals wait in wild throwback
There is a different energy in New York City, now that the New York Knicks have finally made it back to the NBA Finals.
None other than New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani showed his excitement for what the Knicks have in store for their fans after the team won the swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Before unveiling a major housing proposal on Tuesday, Mamdani addressed the crowd with a little pop culture reference to highlight just how long New York waited for the Knicks to get this far in the NBA Playoffs.
“Good morning, my fellow New Yorkers. Let’s go Knicks,” Mamdani greeted the crowd.
“What you may have heard as I walked on was Ricky Martin’s Livin’ la Vida Loca, which was the number one song in the country the last time the Knicks were in the Finals.”
"Good morning my fellow New Yorkers. Let's go Knicks. What you may have heard as I walked on was Ricky Martin's Livin' la Vida Loca – which was the number one song in the country the last time the Knicks were in the finals."
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) May 26, 2026
— NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani pic.twitter.com/kdkFDVMBlJ
It has been that long indeed.
Mamdani did not mention it, but several players on the current New York roster weren’t even born yet when Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Marcus Camby and the Knicks went up against Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals.
San Antonio raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy that year and later won multiple NBA titles, while the Knicks faded just like Ricky Martin’s star over the years.
Kirby Smart reacts to Laura Rutledge’s career move
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart had some kind words for ESPN’s Laura Rutledge after learning about her major career move.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Tuesday, Rutledge announced that she is leaving SEC Nation.
“Ten years ago, I walked onto this set not fully knowing what the journey would become. Today, I walk away knowing it became one of the most meaningful chapters of my life,” Rutledge wrote.
During the SEC spring meetings that day, Smart held a presser, but before addressing any other subjects, he made sure to give Rutledge her flowers.
“Shout out to Laura Rutledge. I found out this morning that she is going to be moving on away from her SEC duties, but I have a lot of respect for her,” Smart told reporters, via SEC Network.
Smart is definitely familiar with Rutledge, having spent a long time in the SEC and beginning his tenure as Georgia head coach in 2016. Before that, he was on Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff.
“I feel like she and I have been in the SEC the same amount of time,” continued Smart. “With the tenure I’ve had and the tenure she’s had, she’s a good friend and a lot of respect for the work she’s done. I appreciate her service and wish her nothing but the best moving on.”
Despite her SEC Nation departure, Rutledge will still be very much around football, as she continues her work as an NFL Live host and as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football.
Rangers’ payback against the Astros reached a historic level
The Texas Rangers just had one of the wildest two-game turnarounds of the 2026 MLB season.
On Monday, the Rangers found themselves on the wrong end of history when they were no-hit in a 9-0 loss to the Houston Astros in a series opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
A day later, the Rangers hit back at Houston, and they did it early, scoring eight runs right in the very first inning in the second game of the series on Tuesday.
With that, the Rangers became just the first team in over a century to have such a dramatic shift in consecutive games.
“Per Elias, the Rangers are the first team since the 1905 Chicago White Sox to record 8 or more runs in the 1st inning following a game in which they were no-hit,” ESPN Insights shared on X.
The Astros’ offense would later come alive, but Texas weathered Houston’s comeback attempt to come away with a 10-7 victory.
Houston pitcher Jason Alexander was responsible for Texas’ first-inning onslaught, but he managed to last until the sixth inning, finishing his brutal start with 9 earned runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts.
With that win, the Rangers snapped their four-game losing skid and improved to 25-29, while the Astros dropped to 24-32 after seeing their four-game winning streak end.
Victor Wembanyama turns heads with his decision after Game 5
Victor Wembanyama always makes for an interesting postgame presser, but not on Tuesday.
The star big man grabbed attention after the San Antonio Spurs’ 127-114 loss in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., when he decided to skip talking to the media.
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year ignored reporters and went straight to the team bus while Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox was still talking to the media.
It was unclear why Wembanyama skipped his postgame media duties, but he was likely not in the mood, given his subpar play against the Thunder.
In Game 5, he shot 4-for-15 from the floor, finishing with 20 points, with most coming from the foul line, where he went 12-for-12.
Wembanyama added 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals and 1 assist in 38 minutes, as the Spurs see Oklahoma City grab a 3-2 series lead.
It remains to be seen whether the former Rookie of the Year will receive any punishment from the league for his postgame actions, but in any case, it was not a good look for Wembanyama to avoid the horde of media members waiting to hear his thoughts on the game and his performance.
Travis Kelce enters MLB ownership world with latest investment
Travis Kelce is venturing into the world of baseball.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end is expanding his business portfolio, with MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN reporting that Kelce is joining the ownership group of the Cleveland Guardians as a minority investor.
For Kelce, this further strengthens his bond with his roots.
“I have so much love for this city,” the future Pro Football Hall of Famer told ESPN on Wednesday. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic.”
Of course, passion for Cleveland sports is not enough for Kelce to buy a stake in a major pro sports franchise.
The 11-time Pro Bowler has earned over $111 million in salary during his NFL career, but he also has plenty of other money-making endeavors, such as his investment in the Alpine Formula 1 team. Moreover, owns the steakhouse 1587 Prime with teammate and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kelce’s entry into the Guardians ownership group should also intensify his baseball rivalry with Mahomes, who is a minority owner of Cleveland’s American League Central Division rivals Kansas City Royals.
The Guardians were valued at around $1 billion in 2022, but are now estimated at $1.7 billion.
Padres troll Bryce Harper’s brushing habit with a large sign
Bryce Harper’s toothbrushing routine has also given Philadelphia Phillies opponents material to troll him.
The San Diego Padres started it on Tuesday, when they showed a sign on the video board to troll Harper while he was taking his at-bat in the fifth inning of the game at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif.
“SQUIRTS TOOTHPASTE INTO HIS MOUTH INSTEAD OF ONTO A TOOTHBRUSH WHEN BRUSHING HIS TEETH,” read the sign on the video board.
The videoboard at Petco Park let everyone know how Bryce Harper brushes his teeth. 🪥😂pic.twitter.com/Yl5HdU5UW8
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 27, 2026
Harper also got heavily trolled online after the clip of his brushing habit went viral on Monday.
Being different can have its repercussions, such as getting ridiculed en masse, but Harper has been around in the big leagues long enough to develop a thick skin.
Despite the trolling, Harper went 2-for-2 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. He hushed Padres fans early when he launched a solo home run in the first inning to put the Phillies on the board first.
When it was all said and done in the game, Harper had a reason to flash his pearly whites as the Phillies got the last laugh with a 4-3 victory.
So far in the 2026 MLB season, the 33-year-old Harper is hitting .272/.367/.533 with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs through 55 games.
Fans suspect Victor Wembanyama put a hit out on Jared McCain late in Game 5
Some fans seem to believe Victor Wembanyama asked a pair of San Antonio Spurs veterans to inflict some pain on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain.
The Spurs, trailing 120-106 late in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, took Wemby out of the contest with just over two minutes left. Wembanyama appeared to whisper something to incoming substitutes Mason Plumlee and Bismack Biyombo as they traded places on the floor at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
In the ensuing minutes, Plumlee would deck McCain with an elbow to the back. A few possessions later, Biyombo pancaked McCain on a drive to the rim. The punishment toward McCain had more than a few fans speculating that those incidents were on Wembanyama’s instruction.
Wemby whispered something to Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee as they checked in during garbage time…
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 27, 2026
They both immediately picked up DIRTY fouls on Jared McCain 🤔 pic.twitter.com/vIestvdDKV
Just like in Game 3, McCain was once again a menace on offense for the Thunder in Game 5, finishing with 20 points in his first-ever playoff start. He stepped up in a big way in the absence of Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell to help OKC secure a 127-114 win.
There’s no way to prove that Wembanyama did ask for his Spurs goons to clobber McCain. But it’s interesting to note that Wemby did leave Paycom Center without addressing the media.
The Frenchman was clearly not in the best of moods after a relatively underwhelming Game 5 performance. He went 4/15 from the field for 20 points, scoring primarily from the free throw line.
Bulls eyeing Cavaliers coach to replace Billy Donovan
The Chicago Bulls finally got to reach out to one of their head coaching candidates after the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the postseason.
The Bulls have reportedly received permission from the Cavaliers to interview Cleveland’s associate head coach Johnnie Bryant for their head coaching vacancy. According to Andscape’s Marc Spears, Chicago has been waiting for the conclusion of the Cavs’ season to get in touch with Bryant.
The Bulls have received permission to interview Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant for their head coach job, a source said. The former University of Utah guard has 12 years of NBA assistant coaching experience and has also been an associate head coach with the Knicks.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 27, 2026
The 40-year-old has been an NBA assistant coach for 12 years. The former Utah Utes standout joined the Utah Jazz’s coaching staff from 2014 to 2020.
Bryant was named associate head coach of the New York Knicks in 2020 during Tom Thibodeau’s first year with the team. Bryant took the same role as Kenny Atkinson took the top job with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024.
With half a dozen years as the second-in-command on playoff teams under his belt, Bryant appears to be a prime candidate to get a head coaching opportunity on a young team like the Bulls. Bryant nearly landed the Phoenix Suns job last offseason before the Western Conference team went with Jordan Ott.
Billy Donovan stepped down as Chicago’s head coach last month after six mostly lackluster seasons with the team. The Bulls are casting a wide net to find Donovan’s replacement. The team reportedly expressed interest in a former NBA All-Star for the job as well.
Mike Macdonald had great quote ahead of Seahawks’ title defense
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald wants his team only looking forward on the heels of a magical Super Bowl run last season.
Macdonald has been known to be deliberate in how he communicates with his team, and that has not changed with a Super Bowl ring in his trophy cabinet. He spoke to reporters on Tuesday and shared his team’s new rallying crew ahead of Seattle’s title defense in 2026.
“We’re using the term we want to ‘run it forward,’ with ‘it’ meaning our process and who we are,” Macdonald said during a press conference. “I think this is going to be a conversation, something that we’re going to talk about consistently. …
“It’s how we talk about how we operate all the time. We’re having conversations with our team and our units every day about who we want to be and how we want to do things. This situation is no different.”
Asked who came up with the tagline of “run it forward,” Macdonald had a cheeky reply.
“If you like it, I’ll take credit for it,” the Seahawks coach added. “If not, somebody else.”
It’s not uncommon for teams to have Super Bowl hangovers, which often makes it more difficult for reigning champions to get back on the main stage. The term often used by contending teams is to “run it back,” but Macdonald wants to rewire the way his team thinks to keep their competitive fire going.
Coaches are hired primarily for their game-planning and play-calling on the field. But the culture coaches build behind the scenes can sometimes be just as important.
Referees botched so many calls that went against the Spurs in Game 5
The San Antonio Spurs had plenty of legitimate gripes with the officiating on Tuesday during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs came into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s house looking to steal a victory. But there seemed to be a lot of home cooking going on at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
While referees miss a few calls every game, there seemed to be several blatant errors or non-calls that went against the Spurs. One first-half example was rookie Dylan Harper getting caught by an elbow from Jared McCain, but the former was the one who got whistled for a foul.
OKC's whistle is disgusting.
— House of Lowlights (@HouseLowlights) May 27, 2026
McCain elbows Dylan Harper in the throat, then flops to the floor.
Foul on Harper. pic.twitter.com/jb5BpBzXTz
San Antonio was also robbed of two points after Cason Wallace got away with a clear goaltend in the final minute of the third quarter.
Not a goaltend???pic.twitter.com/F9CEBSinoq
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 27, 2026
On the Spurs’ next possession, Victor Wembanyama dribbled the ball off Chet Holmgren’s foot. Referees deemed it Thunder ball.
Ball clearly off of Chet Holmgren’s foot.
— hymn duncan (@hymnduncan) May 27, 2026
Mitch Johnson attempts to challenge directly in front of the official.
Refs do not give us the challenge.
This sport is rigged. #AdamSilverBasketball pic.twitter.com/VgXqgcETDN
San Antonio wanted to get a challenge in to reverse the ruling, but the referees did not grant head coach Mitch Johnson’s call for a review. Johnson, who had his call for a review ignored right in front of one official, was assessed a technical foul for complaining.
Mitch Johnson tried challenging a call and the refs ignored him. When he complained Tony Brothers gave him a technical foul pic.twitter.com/W6uaPPdCFG
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) May 27, 2026
Less than a minute of game time later, the Spurs got hosed on another out-of-bounds call that the NBC crew felt should have gone San Antonio’s way.
Tony Brothers calls it a jump ball after Hartenstein bats it out.
— Tsoj (@TsojBall) May 27, 2026
All 3 commentators say it was last touched by the Thunder pic.twitter.com/G8o0lKBqoL
The Spurs lost to the Thunder 127-114 for reasons that went beyond the officiating. Both Wemby and De’Aaron Fox shot 4/15 from the field, while Harper finished with just five points on 1/5 shooting.
But the unfavorable whistle certainly didn’t help San Antonio’s chances.
Christian Pulisic had ‘annoyed’ response to 1 question during his World Cup press conference
Christian Pulisic had zero patience for any boilerplate questions hurled at him on Tuesday.
The American soccer superstar made his return stateside after being named to the U.S. FIFA World Cup roster. During his first press conference since the news, Pulisic may have been a little grumpy after his 9-hour transatlantic flight from Milan to New York.
Pulisic reportedly “seemed annoyed” when asked about the “pressure” that comes with being the most recognizable name on the host country’s roster.
“I feel like I’ve been asked this question so many times,” Pulisic responded. “So I’m not going to get into it anymore. I mean, there’s pressure, it’s a World Cup.”
In his first press conference after being named to the World Cup roster, Christian Pulisic seems annoyed.
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) May 26, 2026
"I feel like I've been asked this question so many times, so I'm not going to get into it anymore. I mean, there's pressure, it's a World Cup."
Not a good vibe.
It’s hard to expect Christian to be in high spirits.
Pulisic is just days removed from the end of his hellish campaign with AC Milan this season, wherein he failed to score a single goal across 19 straight appearances. Pulisic and his teammates were booed off the field after losing their final game of the campaign, knocking them out of Champions League qualification.
AC Milan closed the season with losses in three of its last four games. American soccer fans can only hope that the stink got left behind at airport security after Pulisic arrived back home.
Mike Brown used clever tactic to light a fire under the Knicks
Mike Brown played the role of motivator to a tee as his New York Knicks look to continue their torrid postseason run.
The Knicks have had lengthy waits before each of their last two series. They had four days off before Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, who went to seven games against the Boston Celtics. New York had nine days of rest before taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite all the time off, the Knicks showed zero rust against both opponents. New York brought out the brooms both times for decisive sweeps. Brown’s motivational tactics may have been a part of it.
Before the conference finals, the Knicks head coach reportedly showed his team a compilation video of each player’s reaction to getting eliminated by the Indiana Pacers last season two games short of the NBA Finals.
Mike Brown had his staff create a video before Game 1 of the ECF showing the players' faces after being eliminated by the Pacers last season
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 26, 2026
The message: "How did you feel in that moment?"
(Via @MrBuckBuckNBA) pic.twitter.com/co1TZcr763
“How did you feel in that moment?” Brown asked his players.
The Knicks clearly didn’t want to feel the same way once the dust settled on this year’s Eastern Conference Finals. New York dominated the Cavaliers by an average margin of 19.3 points to cruise to the NBA’s ultimate series.
One has to wonder what motivational bullets Brown still has left in the chamber as the Knicks await their opponent to come out West.
