SEC commissioner addresses the big criticism of the conference
The SEC has faced criticism for not changing its in-conference schedule after adding Texas and Oklahoma, but commissioner Greg Sankey says there are still no immediate plans to do so.
Sankey spoke on Monday about the possibility of the SEC expanding its in-conference schedule from eight opponents to nine. Each team in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 plays nine conference opponents, but the SEC is not adopting that format for the 2025 season. The Big East also plays an eight-team conference schedule.
Sankey said it has “never been a secret” that the SEC plays one fewer conference opponent than some other Power Five conferences.
“It is absolutely, fully, 100 percent correct that in the SEC we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games, never been a secret,” Sankey said. “Second, it’s also correct that last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label Power opponents. We had several that played 10 of their 12 games against Power opponents.”
Sankey argued that the SEC’s schedule is still more difficult than that of any other Power Five conference.
“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by Southeastern Conference teams and our conference schedule, be it eight or nine. … We’re gonna continue to evaluate whether increasing the number of conference football games is appropriate for us,” Sankey said.
“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by Southeastern Conference teams in our conference schedule — be it 8 or 9 (games).”
— Josh Ward (@Josh_Ward) July 14, 2025
Greg Sankey discussed the SEC’s ongoing discussion over league scheduling. pic.twitter.com/vSkadg5D9I
There would be financial considerations associated with the SEC shifting to a nine-game conference schedule, so that is something that Sankey and company need to work through.
Now that the SEC has expanded, a nine-game conference schedule seems inevitable. The SEC has already done away with its two divisions, but one big question is how opponents will be determined each year. Nick Saban raised a concern about that two years back.
Report: 49ers player who had breakout season could seek trade
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings could potentially ask for a trade in the wake of his breakout 2024 season.
Jennings is seeking a new contract ahead of training camp, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday. The 28-year-old is set to make $7.5 million in the final year of his deal this season, and he wants an extension.
If Jennings and the 49ers cannot come to an agreement on a new contract prior to the start of training camp next week, the receiver is planning to seek a trade. Schefter reports that the two sides have made very little progress in negotiations.
Jennings is not expected to hold out from training camp even without a new deal, but the 49ers would have a disgruntled wideout on their hands for the second consecutive offseason. Brandon Aiyuk skipped much of the team’s offseason a year ago as he sought a new contract.
The 49ers believe they have treated Jennings fairly after they signed him to a new two-year deal worth up to $15.4 million last year, according to Schefter.
Jennings posted career-high numbers almost across the board in 2024 with 77 catches for 975 yards and 6 touchdowns. He had only one drop.
The 49ers have handed out massive contract extensions to several of their top players over the past year, so they may be hesitant to pay Jennings before they have to. That could lead to a tense situation in the coming weeks.
Fans all had the same reaction to ESPN’s new NFL QB ranking list
A new list of NFL quarterback rankings was released on Monday, and fans feel there is one player who should not be pleased with where he landed on it.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler surveyed a number of NFL executives, coaches and scouts to compile his annual rankings of each position ahead of training camp. Voters were asked to list the players they consider to be the 10 best at each position, and the lists are based on those results plus interviews and other research.
The top-10 quarterback list was released on Monday, and it featured some surprises. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson were the first four players listed. Jayden Daniels then came in at No. 5, which many people felt was too high. But the biggest issue, according to fans, was Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts being ranked No. 9.
Hurts climbed up slightly from an honorable mention a year ago, but he was still behind No. 7-ranked Justin Herbert and No. 8-ranked Jared Goff . That drew some strong reactions from fans:
“Rarely does Mahomes look as frazzled as he did against Philadelphia…”. You know who wasn’t frazzled? Jalen Hurts.
— lori1 (@lorigraff85) July 14, 2025
Eagles fans are gonna throw a tantrum
— Elon Magus (@JD5HTTR) July 14, 2025
Herbert/Goff over Hurts is insane
— Sandy Kaup (@STLSandman) July 14, 2025
Hurts should be higher top 5 qb!!! It’s about wins and stats and he has 2 SB…with great performances in both
Hurts at 9 is why most of these executives/coaches end up getting fired.
— Robert Mezlan (@RMezlan) July 14, 2025
Jared Goff over Jalen Hurts is pathetic and proves my point about people would rather be right about their pre-draft opinions.
— Davon Evans (@GoodFellah91) July 14, 2025
Hurts is coming off a season in which he led the Eagles to a championship and was named Super Bowl MVP. His regular-season passing numbers of 2,903 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions were modest, but he also rushed for 630 yards and 14 scores.
Critics will argue that Hurts needs to get better at playing from the pocket, but he has made two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons. That success obviously was not weighted all that heavily in Fowler’s list.
Hurts was carried to a win in a big playoff game last season, but that happens with all star quarterbacks at some point. We can expect him to take it personally that he was not ranked closer to the top five.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s father makes racist comments about breeding athletes
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s father John made some racist comments recently regarding breeding athletic children.
John Brown is the father of Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown, both of whom are NFL players. John has a third son Osiris who played college football at Stanford.
During an appearance on his sons’ “St. Brown Podcast,” Amon-Ra asked his father for his answer when he gets asked how he developed three Division I athletes. John said his answer has to do with breeding. He made clear that he had breeding on his mind when he had children.
“I believe in breeding,” John said. “I’m black, mom is white. I done stepped on it once. You can’t keep stepping on it cuz you’re going to weaken it. … you can’t keep cutting it.
“If I’m black, I got the black gold running through my veins, I’m excited. I’m just gonna find the right person to mate with. And if I’m white, I’m saying ‘let me get one of these brothers right here.’ If you want to have athletes.”
When John talked about “cutting it,” he was talking about the genetic lineage. He cautioned that his son Amon-Ra, who is already half-white and half-black, would be in danger of losing that black lineage by having children with a woman who is also half-white and half-black.
John Brown, for his part, was a two-time Amateur Mr. Universe when he was a bodybuilder in the early 1980s. He definitely has the strength in his lineage.
Many people noted that these comments were not far off from what Jimmy the Greek said in a 1988 interview that got him fired from CBS.
John Brown keeps it real when people ask him about raising three boys that got a D1 scholarship, two of which made it to the NFL 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/GgyOVqSOqf
— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) July 12, 2025
Dodgers take infamous Arkansas player in MLB Draft
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected an infamous former Arkansas player in the 2025 MLB Draft.
The Dodgers drafted outfielder Charles Davalan with pick No. 41 overall, which was a Competitive Balance Round A selection. They also took former Arkansas pitcher Zach Root No. 40 overall.
Davalan became known to sports fans last month for the wrong reasons. He missed a line drive in left field with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning of Arkansas’ College World Series game against LSU. LSU was able to win the game, which allowed them to advance to the CWS Final. They beat Coastal Carolina to win it all, while Arkansas was sent home in disappointment.
Though he made a brutal mistake that had him crying, Davalan is still a phenomenal player. He batted .346 with 12 doubles, 14 home runs with 60 RBIs and a .994 OPS with Arkansas last season.
Davalan transferred to Arkansas from Florida Gulf Coast. He batted .288 with 16 doubles and 10 home runs as a freshman for them in 2024.
The Dodgers are obviously big fans of the Razorbacks’ program, as evidenced by their decision to use their first two picks of the 2025 draft on two of their players.
Nationals may have avoided Scott Boras in MLB Draft
The Washington Nationals pulled what many regarded as a stunner in the 2025 MLB Draft, but there may have been an explanation for their strategy.
The Nats on Sunday selected Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick. Willits is a shortstop out of Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Fort Cobb, Okla. He is the son of former MLB player Reggie Willits, and batted .516 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases as a senior last season.
Some view Ethan Holliday, the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, as a better high school shortstop. Former LSU pitcher Kade Anderson was also viewed as a player with great upside, making him a potential No. 1 pick. The interesting note about both players is that they are represented by agent Scott Boras.
Because people have asked about whether or not the top Nats draft considerations are Boras advised —
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) July 13, 2025
Both Ethan Holliday and Kade Anderson are repped by Boras. Willits is not. Boras also has fellow Top-5 hopeful Aiva Arquette among high-end clients in the 2025 draft class.
The Nationals may not have taken the best player at No. 1, but rather went with a player they found to have better value, and who might be a better long-term solution for the team. Boras often advises his clients to test the free agent market rather than sign extensions with their original team. The Nationals offered extensions to Boras clients Bryce Harper and Juan Soto, who both declined to sign. Harper ended up leaving for the Phillies, while the Nats traded Soto to the Padres.
What’s interesting is that a week ago, the team fired longtime executive Mike Rizzo, who has an extensive history of working with Boras.
Can't be overstated how involved Mike Rizzo was in the Nationals scouting process. A scout at heart. Long, decorated career in scouting.
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) July 6, 2025
Many have long felt Rizzo and Scott Boras have a very strong relationship. Ethan Holliday and Kade Anderson are both Boras clients. https://t.co/X24zLaYNlI
It’s possible that those in charge decided to veer from the Rizzo-Boras path, leading to the pick of Willits.
Fans had the same reaction to the Angels’ No. 2 pick in MLB draft
Fans had the same reaction to the Los Angeles Angeles’ first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday.
The Angels were picking No. 2 overall and selected pitcher Tyler Bremner out of UCSB. Bremner was viewed as a high first-round pick, but few people saw him going as high as No. 2. They all reacted with surprise, though some thought the pick followed a formula for Angels GM Perry Minasian.
Bremner has a huge fastball, but there’s a reason that he wasn’t mocked this high.
— Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) July 13, 2025
There just isn’t a second high quality off-speed pitch — yet — to round out an arsenal. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s called up really quickly.
Stunner. The Angels select Tyler Bremner from UC Santa Barbara.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) July 13, 2025
He was not really on the radar for this early of a selection.
Follows similar pattern of collegiate players.
I am the high man on Bremner and this is still shocking.
— Jeffmlbdraft (@jeffMLBdraft) July 13, 2025
Even Bremner’s family displayed complete surprise upon learning that he had been picked No. 2 overall.
Tyler Bremner and his family's reaction to being drafted No. 2 overall by the Angels in the MLB draft ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cDlfquPkHb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2025
Bremner is listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. The right-handed pitcher went 21-9 with a 3.58 ERA and 295 strikeouts over 221.1 career innings at UCSB. He is regarded as having a good fastball and changeup, but needs work developing his slider.
The Angels under Minasian have had success drafting college players highly and advancing them to the major leagues quickly. They have done that with Reid Detmers (2020), Sam Bachman (2021), Zach Neto (2022), Nolan Schanuel (2023) and Christian Moore (2024), who were all first-round picks by the team. They also advanced later-round picks Ben Joyce (3rd round/2022) and Chase Silseth (11th round/2021) quickly.
Bremner could be in position to advance through the Angels’ minor-league system quickly to help the big club.
Nationals pull stunner with No. 1 pick in MLB Draft
The Washington Nationals threw everyone a curveball to kick off Sunday’s MLB Draft.
Washington surprisingly used their No. 1 overall draft pick on high school shortstop Eli Willits. The switch-hitting Willits is still only 17 years old and now becomes the youngest top overall pick in MLB history.
The Nationals have their guy
— MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2025
With the Number 1 pick in the 2025 #MLBDraft, the @Nationals select SS Eli Willits from Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK) High School. pic.twitter.com/mHPUOi0WBR
Hailing from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Fort Cobb, Okla., Willits was largely projected to be a top-five pick. However, almost no one had Willits as a candidate for No. 1 overall, where LSU pitcher Kade Anderson was expected to go instead.
In fact, Willits was not even seen as the consensus best shortstop available in the draft. Stillwater High School product Ethan Holliday, the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and the younger brother of Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday, was in the mix to be the first shortstop off the board as well.
When it comes to his own resume, Willits clearly has the talent. Having reclassified from the class of 2026, Willits was The Oklahoman’s 2025 All-State Player of the Year. As a senior last season, Willits clubbed a ridiculous .516 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases.
Willits is viewed as a prospect with five-tool upside, and his switch-hitting ability gives him an even higher ceiling. The Nationals just made some major changes to their organization earlier this month, and now their new regime is happy to roll the dice on a phenom like Willits with the No. 1 overall draft pick.
Report: Jayson Tatum recruiting 1 All-Star to Celtics
Jayson Tatum may be nursing a torn Achilles, but he is still doing some good work right now for the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics star Tatum is actively recruiting free agent guard Damian Lillard to the team, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reported on Sunday. Washburn notes that Lillard is in no hurry to sign but adds that the Celtics are interested in adding Lillard on a multi-year deal with an eye on the 2026-27 season.
Lillard, the nine-time All-Star, is an unrestricted free agent after being stretched-and-waived by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month. At almost 35 years old, he will likely miss all of next season thanks to an Achilles tear. But that could work out perfectly for the Celtics, who may treat 2025-26 as a punt year anyway with Tatum also expected to miss the entire season with his own Achilles rupture.
Tatum and Lillard are known to have a close friendship. Boston has a need at guard as well after trading away Jrue Holiday, but they would like to add cheaper option with an eye on staying under the second apron of the luxury tax.
Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game last season for the Bucks. While it is anybody’s guess how a player of his age will look upon his return from an Achilles tear, the swing is probably worth taking for the Celtics.
Boston is behind the eight-ball a bit since they are geographically pretty far from Lillard’s home state of Oregon (and since there are a couple of other competitive suitors for Lillard as well). But for Tatum’s part, it looks like he is doing all that he can to ensure that Lillard ends up in Celtics green.
PSG manager grabs Chelsea player by throat at end of Club World Cup final
The end of Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final was marred by a heated incident involving Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique.
English club Chelsea was victorious during Sunday’s final against French giant PSG at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Chelsea won 3-0 in a major upset over PSG, a powerhouse club that just won UEFA Champions League (the annual competition of all the top clubs in Europe) in May. As a result, the Blue claimed their second-ever Club World Cup trophy as well as their second trophy in the span of the last two months (after winning the UEFA Conference League title in May).
While Chelsea was celebrating their triumph after the final whistle, players from both teams began exchanging words. At one point, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, who scored in the 43rd minute for his club’s third goal of the contest, got into it with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and right-back Achraf Hakimi.
That led to PSG manager Luis Enrique coming in and grabbing Pedro by the throat. Pedro ended up falling to the ground as a result of the combined contact from Enrique and Donnarumma.
This does not look good for Luis Enrique. pic.twitter.com/3PJscgW8qP
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) July 13, 2025
The incident was a culmination of a heated 90 minutes on Sunday that saw multiple yellow cards and even a red card in the 85th minute for PSG’s Joao Neves. The midfielder was sent off for pulling on the hair of Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella.
PSG’s Joao Neves is shown a red card for pulling the hair of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella during the Club World Cup final. pic.twitter.com/XUSElSIspa
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 13, 2025
Enrique also notably has some history with Chelsea. He was a candidate for their manager job in 2023 but was passed on in favor of Mauricio Pochettino (who was later replaced by current manager Enzo Maresca). Enrique, who then took the PSG job later that year, deserves a whole lot of credit for leading the French club to the treble this year (league title, domestic cup title, and Champions League title). But for that ugly incident with Pedro at full-time on Sunday, Enrique could be facing a fine or maybe even a suspension to begin the 2025-26 season.
Carlos Alcaraz posts classy message after losing to Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz was all class despite losing to rival Jannik Sinner in the finals at Wimbledon on Sunday.
Sinner beat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to capture his first career title at the All England Club and fourth major overall. He is now one major behind Alcaraz, who came back to beat Sinner in an epic French Open final a month ago.
Perhaps having won the French Open final against Sinner led Alcaraz to be more generous with his feelings.
“Congratulations [Jannik Sinner] for your first Wimbledon! Very well deserved! Thank you everyone for your support! I feel at home and it’s really special to play here! See you all next year!” Alcaraz wrote on X after losing the match.
Congratulations @janniksin for your first Wimbledon 🏆! Very well deserved! 🤝🏻 Thank you everyone for your support! 💚 I feel at home and it’s really special to play here! 🫶🏻 See you all next year! pic.twitter.com/IRrftANFlm
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) July 13, 2025
“Congratulations to you. A really well-deserved trophy,” Alcaraz said while making his runner-up speech.
"I'm really happy for you."
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz is full of class as he congratulates his rival and friend, Jannik Sinner 💚#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FzWkFLq6HT
Sinner and Alcaraz have separated themselves from the rest of the competition in men’s tennis. They have combined to win the last seven majors. Sinner has won four of those seven, while Alcaraz has won three (and five majors overall). Despite being rivals as the top two players in the sport, they display good sportsmanship towards each other.
Nick Kyrgios has shady post after Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon win
Nick Kyrgios was not exactly giving much credit to Jannik Sinner after Sinner’s triumph at Wimbledon on Sunday.
The No. 1-ranked men’s singles player Sinner was victorious in Sunday’s Wimbledon men’s final vs. No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to claim his first-ever Wimbledon championship (and his fourth Grand Slam title overall).
It was also a cool moment of redemption for Sinner. During the French Open final last month, in which he also faced Alcaraz, Sinner had a historic late meltdown to lose the title. That became just a distant memory on Sunday though with Sinner’s fairly convincing triumph over Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
But after Sinner’s victory, rival Nick Kyrgios had a shady message to his X page. Kyrgios simply posted an asterisk.
*
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 13, 2025
It appears that Kyrgios was referring to Sinner’s previous suspension for doping. Sinner twice tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, in 2024 and ended up accepting a three-month ban earlier this year as part of a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Kyrgios also has a history of animosity with Sinner, even beyond just their rivalry on the court. For one, Sinner used to date Kyrgios’ ex-girlfriend (something that Kyrgios once took another public shot at Sinner over).
That said, Kyrgios has a very long history of inflammatory and otherwise classless behavior. He has never won a Wimbledon title himself (or any other Grand Slam title for that matter), so it looks like he was just grasping at straws there to diss Sinner after Sinner’s well-deserved victory on Sunday.
Hugh Freeze responds to critics about how much golf he plays
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has been forced to address concerns from fans that he is spending too much time on the golf course and not enough time on the recruiting trail.
In a story last month from Matt Stahl of al.com, it was revealed that Freeze posted 11 rounds of golf in the month of June on the USGA’s public GHIN database. He is at well over 20 rounds for the calendar year and is outpacing his fellow SEC coaches in that department.
That information has opened Freeze up to criticism, especially in relation to the program’s faltering recruiting. As of Sunday, the Tigers had the SEC’s lowest-ranked recruiting class for 2026, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. The team only has nine commits, which is also the lowest tally in the conference.
Freeze appeared on David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast this week, and said his penchant for golfing has never impacted the time he spends recruiting.
“I know that this is that time where people are looking for things to write about, and I do love golf. I enjoy playing,” Freeze said. “But what people don’t realize is, I assure you, I never missed a camp day or a recruiting day. But if camp got over at three o’clock one day, and Jill [Freeze] and I go out at 4:30, we absolutely might do that. I’m not apologizing for that part of it. My focus is one hundred percent on getting Auburn in that win column this fall.”
Freeze also addressed Auburn’s poor recruiting rankings and blamed NIL for it, saying there are “a lot of people right now that are operating under a different set of rules.”
The Auburn coach is correct that the recruiting rankings are a major source of concern for Auburn fans. It is not a good look for the Tigers to be so far behind their peers while Freeze is racking up rounds of golf, even if those things have nothing to do with each other.
Freeze was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but is expected to make a full recovery. He has gone 11-14 in two seasons as the team’s head coach.
Ric Flair addresses concerns about his health
Ric Flair is feeling pretty good, if a new video is any indication.
Flair put to rest some speculation about his health Saturday after a meet and greet in Texas. TMZ Sports producer Michael J. Babcock shared video of Flair at a bar, doing a full three-minute plank after drinking ten vodkas.
PSA 🗣️ for the people saying @RicFlairNatrBoy’s in bad shape.
— michael j. babcock (@mikejbabcock) July 13, 2025
After an hours long meet and greet w/ fans yesterday in TX, Naitch goes to a bar, puts back “10 vodkas,” and then crushes a 3-minute plank … on video! Woooooo! 🤯💪
🎥: @FitermanSports pic.twitter.com/EnZwbPJRUM
Flair’s meet-and-greet lasted for “several hours,” according to the post. The former wrestler appears to be in great spirits in the video.
Last month, Flair announced that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer and would be beginning treatment. He has had to cancel some public appearances, but appears to be doing well as he battles the disease.
From Anthony Maurizio to the world, a heartfelt message about my dear friend, Ric Flair:
— Anthony Maurizio (@MrTonyMaurizio) June 5, 2025
Ric is indeed facing a tough battle with a skin cancer diagnosis, grappling with denial and the emotional weight of biopsies and ongoing tests. This isn’t his first fight—having endured a… pic.twitter.com/H3gclSnkeC
The 76-year-old wrestling legend has had his share of health issues in the past, but is still going strong. He made headlines for splitting with his fifth wife late last year.
LeBron James has 7-word response to speculation about his future
As speculation continues to swirl around LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers, he is passing on the chance to shut some of it down.
James was in attendance for Saturday’s Summer League game between the Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas. ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin approached James and asked if James wanted to discuss his future with the franchise.
“I ain’t got nothing to talk about,” James replied.
With LeBron James at the Lakers game tonight, I asked him if he would like to speak to me about his future with the franchise. “I ain’t got nothing to talk about,” he said. My report for ESPN from Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/sFRgCYHmqw
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 13, 2025
James has opted into his contract for next season, and perhaps he thinks that should be sufficient to quiet talk about his future. However, the fact that agent Rich Paul has been speaking about James’ future is enough in itself to keep speculation going.
Few seem to believe that James will actually be traded. However, there has been talk of some issues between James and the Lakers that might not go away anytime soon. There are also questions about whether James believes the Lakers have put together a championship-caliber roster.
James will be entering his eighth season with the Lakers provided he sticks around. He appears content to keep people guessing until training camp.
Mavericks make decision about Cooper Flagg’s Summer League status
The Dallas Mavericks have seen enough out of Cooper Flagg during Summer League play.
The Mavericks have decided to shut Flagg down for their final two Summer League games. The decision comes one day after his best performance of the summer against the San Antonio Spurs.
The #Mavs are shutting down Cooper Flagg for the remainder of Summer League, a person’s familiar with the decision confirms.
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) July 13, 2025
Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block in his two games against the #Lakers and #Spurs.@TheSteinLine was first.
After a somewhat underwhelming debut, Flagg dropped 31 points on the Spurs in his second Summer League appearance. He was a huge draw during his two games, so it will be slightly disappointing for anyone who hoped to see him on the remainder of the Summer League schedule.
Flagg admitted after Saturday’s game that he was “exhausted” and still getting used to operating as a point forward. The Mavericks are unquestionably aware of that and do not want to overwork the No. 1 pick in action that is ultimately meaningless. They already know he can play.
In two Summer League games, Flagg wound up averaging 20.5 points and 5 rebounds per game, and gave Mavericks fans plenty to be excited about for next season.
Former Cy Young finalist could be available for trade
A former National League Cy Young finalist could be on the move in the next two weeks.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are viewed around the league as likely sellers, and that could include pitcher Zac Gallen, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Gallen is slated to become a free agent after the season, which has Arizona motivated to move him.
For the last several years, Gallen has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the league. In 2023, he finished third in NL Cy Young voting, and has a lifetime 3.55 ERA. He was the ace of a staff that pushed Arizona to the World Series that year, and he put together a memorable effort in that series despite ultimately losing in five games. He also remains relatively young, as he turns 30 in August.
Gallen has not been as good this season. His 5.40 ERA would be the highest of his career, due in part to 21 home runs allowed in 20 starts. That is a lot for a pitcher who has never given up more than 22 homers in a single season.
The Diamondbacks enter play Sunday at 46-50. That leaves them 6.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, and they have to contend with a loaded NL West as well. With ace pitcher Corbin Burnes also out for the season, they probably do not have a route to contention in 2025.
Max Fried had classy All-Star gesture for rival pitcher
New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried had a pretty neat gesture for one of his rivals when it came to the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.
Fried was among the American League pitchers in contention to start Tuesday’s All-Star Game. According to Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, however, Fried reached out to him personally to offer him the chance to start instead.
Skubal said he had deferred to Fried on the offer, but the Yankees pitcher was insistent that Skubal start the game.
“It was actually a really cool conversation. It’s a very professional thing to do, and I’ve got a ton of respect for guys that do stuff like that,” Skubal said.
Tarik Skubal said he recently got a call from Yankees starter Max Fried.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) July 13, 2025
"He asked me if I wanted to start (the ASG)."
Skubal deferred to Fried, especially since Fried had pitched for eight seasons in Atlanta. But Fried was insistent: "I think you deserve it. I was just…
Skubal may well have been the starting pitcher anyway, though Fried made it a tough choice. The Yankee lefty is 11-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 20 starts, while Skubal is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA.
Skubal did miss out on the start last year, with Corbin Burnes getting the nod ahead of him. It would have been tough to deny him the honor for a second consecutive season.
Fried has been very impressive in his first season with the Yankees after signing an eight-year, $218 million contract during the offseason. His campaign has even included a near no-hitter. He should have plenty of other chances to start All-Star games in the future as long as he keeps putting up big numbers in New York.
Police share new details about Quinshon Judkins arrest
New details have emerged regarding the arrest of Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on Saturday.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department released some additional information regarding Judkins’ arrest on Sunday. Police were called at roughly 9 a.m. Saturday for a report of a delayed battery, and determined that battery had occurred after speaking with the victim.
Judkins was taken into custody after this, and was transported to Broward County Main Jail. He was charged with Misdemeanor Battery and has since been released.
From Sergeant David Soika with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Media Relations Unit: “On July 12th, at approximately 9 a.m., Fort Lauderdale Police Officers responded to the 1500 block of West Cypress Creek Road in reference to a delayed battery. Officers arrived on scene… https://t.co/QKVXswV5Fx
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 13, 2025
Judkins had a court appearance scheduled for Sunday morning. Per his arrest record, he had been charged with a “touch or strike” of the victim.
The 36th overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, Judkins was one of two running backs selected in the draft by the Browns. He rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns during his college career, which was split between Ole Miss and Ohio State. He won a national title with the Buckeyes last season.
Judkins faces punishment from the NFL under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy regardless of the legal outcome of the allegations. That investigation will likely be underway soon.
Aaron Judge had muted reaction to his home run milestone
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 350th career home run on Saturday, making him the fastest player in MLB history to ever achieve the milestone. For Judge, however, it was not necessarily a milestone worth celebrating.
Judge achieved the milestone in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y. on Saturday. His 350th home run came in his 1,088th career game, meaning he reached the mark a full 192 games faster than previous record-holder Mark McGwire did.
Since the landmark home run came in a loss, Judge was not in a celebratory mood after the game.
“I honestly got nothing, to be honest,” Judge said, via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “It would have been great if we got a win today, to do something like that.”
Judge is not terribly moved by the personal milestone. It’s not a particularly huge one, and it came in a loss, which will bring him no satisfaction.
Perhaps because he plays in New York, Judge has never been one to take the bait and offer a juicy or controversial comment. He is not going to fixate on an insignificant personal milestone after a defeat.
Judge’s home run Saturday was his 35th of the season, and he is hitting .358. He is on pace for a historically great season once again.