Michigan’s potential replacement for Dusty May has been revealed
The Michigan Wolverines are suddenly in need of a new head basketball coach, and they might not have to look too far to make that happen.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel, and Jeff Borzello reported Monday that the Wolverines are working to hire top assistant Mike Boynton as their interim head coach to replace Dusty May. Boynton was May’s top assistant, has head coaching experience, and would likely be the best chance at minimizing roster turnover.
Sources: Michigan is working toward hiring Mike Boynton Jr. as interim coach, per me and @jeffborzello and @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/vZquplDDgB
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 22, 2026
Other reporters were quick to note that May had essentially endorsed Boynton as a potential head coach during the season, and that he already commands the respect of Michigan’s players.
For whatever it's worth, this is what Dusty May said about Mike Boynton Jr. the day before the national-title game in April.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) June 22, 2026
Boynton was Michigan's top assistant this year, and was credited with the Wolverines' No. 1 ranked defense, per KenPom pic.twitter.com/CPxKfSUWHc
Boynton as interim makes a ton of sense to avoid a complete roster upheaval. The staff and players at Michigan all really liked and respected him. https://t.co/ujC2x6SO1O
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) June 22, 2026
A full head coaching search would be challenging for Michigan since it is nearly July, and most other coaches are deep in preparation for the upcoming season already. Some would certainly leave for the allure of the Michigan job, but the reigning national champions would also want as little roster turnover as possible. Even a short-term interim hire might be the best course of action.
Boynton previously served as head coach at Oklahoma State, where he went 119-109 over seven seasons. He has run Michigan’s defense since arriving at the school in 2024.
The Wolverines’ unexpected coaching search is happening after May stunningly took the Dallas Mavericks job on Monday. Michigan is experienced in this sort of upheaval, but it is still far from ideal.
The Mavericks make a surprise head coaching hire
The Dallas Mavericks appear to have found a new man to run the show from the sidelines.
Shams Charania of ESPN dropped the big news on the new direction the Mavs are taking, as they are reportedly on the verge of signing Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Dusty May to be Jason Kidd’s successor.
In what Charania called a “major college-to-pro jump,” May’s transition to the world’s most prestigious basketball league will be a significant new challenge for the former Conference USA Coach of the Year.
This also sees the continued rise of May. Just three years ago, he was coaching the Florida Atlantic Owls before accepting the head coaching job at Michigan, replacing Juwan Howard.
In just his second season with the Wolverines, he led the program all the way to the top, as Michigan became the last team standing in the 2026 edition of the NCAA Tournament, beating the UConn Huskies in the national championship.
The NBA is a much different animal than college basketball, but May brings plenty of intrigue for the Mavericks, who have a superstar in the making in Cooper Flagg. May has proven himself in every stop as a head coach, and it’s now time for him to see if his golden touch will carry into Dallas.
Dallas made the NBA Finals in 2024 but hasn’t been competitive since, especially after trading Luka Doncic.
Now, the Mavericks are entering a fresh chapter with a new man to call the shots.
Juan Soto had the best reaction to a Phillies fan’s vulgar gesture
Juan Soto found himself at the center of another example of why Philadelphia sports fans carry such a notorious reputation.
During a game in a series between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, a Phillies fan wearing a No. 34 Roy Halladay jersey stood up and greeted Mets star outfielder Juan Soto with a double middle-finger salute.
Here is the video of that moment.
Juan Soto was unfazed by this Phillies fan pic.twitter.com/vzQFO3msa0
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 21, 2026
All Soto had to think about to keep the fan from getting under his skin was that he is playing on a monster 15-year, $ 765 million contract with the Mets.
Soto, however, didn’t look intimidated at all, as he just stood on the outfield facing the fan with his arms crossed. The Phillies supporter tried to get even more aggressive with his vulgar gesture, but Soto remained stoic, seemingly just waiting for the fan to finish with his antics.
What should be bothering Sotto more is the state of New York’s play.
The Mets’ 34-43 record through Sunday is the worst in the National League East Division standings and third-worst overall in the National League. That’s despite Soto’s strong individual performance in 2026, as he is hitting .301/.398/.575 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs across 60 games.
Celtics are in position to land Giannis Antetokounmpo after changing their stance
The Boston Celtics are reportedly pushing their chips in for a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Beantown could be the next stop of the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, with the Boston Celtics heavily linked to Antetokounmpo.
The Celtics have also become an even more interesting team to watch out for on this front after NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN shared on Monday that Boston is now willing to part ways with Jaylen Brown if it meant adding Antetokounmpo to its roster — and beating Eastern Conference rival Miami Heat in this trade sweepstakes in the process.
“I will tell you this: I was really skeptical that the Boston Celtics would go all in on this, and from what I understand, they have,” Windhorst said.
“The Celtics and the Heat are the two teams aggressively going after Giannis. I would say they’re the finalists. And if Giannis is going to be traded in the next 24 hours, which I think has a good chance of happening, I think it’s either going to be to or Boston or Miami.”
The Boston Celtics are going ALL IN on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown is on the table, per @WindhorstESPN
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) June 22, 2026
“If Giannis is traded in the next 24 which I think is a good chance of happening, I think it’s going to be Boston or Miami…. Jaylen Brown is on the table” pic.twitter.com/jWIkJQms7o
It appears to be a two-team battle for Antetokounmpo between the Celtics and the Heat, and Boston’s willingness to consider trading Brown in this scenario suggests that he is not all that untouchable.
“They [Celtics] were very cautious about putting Jaylen Brown in an official, firm offer,” Windhorst continued. “I believe they have. Jaylen Brown is on the table, and Jaylen Brown could get traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the short-term future.”
This also begs the question of what kind of relationship the Celtics and Brown would have if the Bucks traded Antetokounmpo elsewhere.
The 29-year-old Brown signed a 5-year, $285.39 million contract extension with the Celtics in 2023 that runs through the 2028-29 season.
Marcus Smart is reportedly favored to remain with the Lakers over a starter
Among the most intriguing players in the offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers is veteran guard Marcus Smart.
With a player option worth $5.39 million for the 2026-27 NBA season, Smart has cards in his hand to decide which way to go in the summer. The same can be said about big man Deandre Ayton, who can pick up his $8.1 million option for the next campaign.
However, Smart is reportedly viewed as more likely to run it back with the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
While acknowledging both players for having “out-performed their contracts,” Woike wrote that there is no guarantee both players will be in Lakers uniform next season.
But if he is to bet on one, Woike thinks Smart is likelier to keep going with Los Angeles.
“That’s not to say neither will be back (both have player options), but team sources have repeatedly talked about an upgrade at the center position,” Woike stated.
“They’ve also spoken about a desire to get younger and more athletic. If I had to pick one to be back, I’d lean Smart. I just think the Lakers want a more traditional Dončić-style center.”
A former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Smart had his moments for the Lakers, including in the NBA Playoffs. The 32-year-old guard can still bring a lot to the table for LA after averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals in the 2026 playoffs.
WNBA player gets crossed up so badly she loses her shoe
Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen added to her highlight reel with a nasty crossover against the reigning WNBA champions.
The former UConn Huskies star showed no fear during an isolation play against Las Vegas Aces star and six-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd on Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Chen easily got past Loyd with her slick ballhandling, crossing over the former WNBA Rookie of the Year, who lost her right shoe in the process.
After leaving Loyd in the dust, Chen drove into the paint and finished with a sweet floater over the Aces’ last line of defense, as Loyd watched helplessly while trying to put her shoe back on.
Here is the video of that highlight play from Chen.
Kaitlyn Chen crossover makes Jewell Loyd lose her shoepic.twitter.com/71Lqz635Nr
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) June 21, 2026
Unfortunately for Chen and the Valkyries, the Aces still proved to be too much to handle for them, as Las Vegas had the last laugh with a 92-73 victory.
Chen finished with 11 points on 4/8 shooting from the field with a three-pointer, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 24 minutes of action.
Loyd, on the other hand, had 14 points on 5/7 shooting, including four three-pointers, showing that it takes more than just an embarrassing defensive play to break her will to help the Aces.
Video: Matt Rhule takes QB commit to school in 1-on-1 basketball
Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg might have to look to Matt Rhule for help.
The Cornhuskers football head coach recently put in the work against 5-star quarterback commit Trae Taylor, who made his official visit to the school last week.
Like an uncle showing everyone he still has it, Rhule put the ball on the floor and used a series of hesitation moves to shake off Taylor.
Dribbling with his left hand, the 51-year-old Rhule easily got near the rim before unleashing a nice-looking fadeaway jumper that Taylor couldn’t stop despite his effort.
Here’s a video of Rhule cooking the quarterback on the court.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule hoops up elite QB commit Trae Taylor on his official visit😂
— Rivals (@Rivals) June 20, 2026
(via jacoryjr/IG)https://t.co/oCKS59BsGv pic.twitter.com/tVd0AtTPpa
It has been over a year since Taylor committed to Nebraska football, and he’s expected to take over the main job under center come 2027. He still has plenty of time to work on his hoops skills if this basketball matchup against Rhule becomes a regular thing, but what Nebraska truly wants to see from him is excellent quarterback play once he gets the keys to the offense.
For now, Rhule and the Cornhuskers will be counting on UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea to lead the passing attack following the departure of Dylan Raiola, who is now with the Oregon Ducks.
1 dark horse team has emerged for Tarik Skubal
One prominent MLB team may be crashing the party for Tarik Skubal.
Rival executives have predicted that the Atlanta Braves will be the one sleeper team for the Detroit Tigers ace Skubal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Sunday. Nightengale notes that the cost for the Braves could be two of their top-10 prospects, including one who is in the top 100 overall.
Skubal, the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young winner, is expected to be traded away ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. With Detroit sitting at a rancid 33-44 on the year and Skubal set to become a free agent after the season, the Tigers’ hand has essentially been forced.
Meanwhile, Skubal recently returned to the mound after undergoing a procedure in early May to address loose bodies in his left throwing elbow. He is now working his way back into form with plenty of time still left to contribute to a World Series hopeful this season.
Up to this point of the trade sweepstakes for Skubal, 29, four main teams have been mentioned in closest connection with him. But now it sounds like the MLB-best 48-28 Braves just might be a fifth horse in the race.
Atlanta just lost former MLB strikeouts leader Spencer Strider for the foreseeable future due to right elbow inflammation which now has him on the 60-day injured list. But if they can meet Detroit’s sizable asking price (even beyond just the prospects), the Braves just might be able to acquire Skubal as a more-than-capable fill-in.
Everyone said the same thing about Hawks’ trade with Thunder
The Atlanta Hawks are getting rave reviews for their latest string of moves to open the NBA offseason.
The Hawks made a couple of key transactions on Sunday, starting with the team re-signing veteran guard CJ McCollum to a new contract for next season. Atlanta followed with a trade hours later to acquire Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
McCollum was a standout playoff performer in April for a young Hawks team that put up the best fight against the eventual champion New York Knicks. Wiggins was a veteran piece on a Thunder squad that was a game away from winning the West in back-to-back seasons.
Both players join the Hawks roster next season on team-friendly deals, leaving several fans and media members impressed.
The Hawks this offseason so far:
— SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) June 22, 2026
– re-signed CJ McCollum to a one-year $21 million contract
– traded two second-round picks for Aaron Wiggins
Atlanta winning the NBA offseason so far 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/LfPCJMMUpa
I've gotta say the Atlanta Hawks are moving like a COMPLETELY different team over the last couple of seasons.
— Swipa (@SwipaCam) June 22, 2026
Being able to flip the Pelicans OWN PICK (#8) for Trey Murphy and a filler salary (Kuminga) would be a MASTERCLASS.
Oh I absolutely love this move
— Grant Shirley (@Grant_Shirley4) June 22, 2026
Fell victim to the roster crunch in OKC when everyone was healthy but he will give you legitimately good rotation wing minutes
Only getting paid $9.2m/$8.3m/$8.3m the next 3 seasons
The Hawks flipping Vit and Luke for 3 2nds at the deadline… https://t.co/Wg8ChvzOD3
People are acting like this is a small trade and they want to fast forward to the inevitable Giannis post, but this is a really big trade for the Hawks because Aaron Wiggins is such an underrated player.
— Randall Barnes (@AuthorRandallB) June 22, 2026
He is incredibly talented, and the fact he fell out of the Thunder's… https://t.co/tPnqsdb1rd
The Hawks moved on from Trae Young last season with an eye toward a new era under the leadership of newly minted team president Onsi Saleh. Amidst a turbulent midseason roster reconstruction, Atlanta still finished with a 46-36 record and a top-six record in the East.
With the star turns of Jalen Johnson and reigning Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks have a good mix of youth and veteran leadership to build off their successful 2025-26 campaign.
How far the current core can go without another high-level difference maker remains to be seen.
Jaylen Brown reveals how much money he would need to play in China
Every man has a price and so does Jaylen Brown.
The Boston Celtics star forward Brown is currently in China as part of an offseason vacation. During an online stream over the weekend, Brown revealed how much money he would need in order to leave the NBA and play professionally in China.
Brown said that his number was $400 million. He added that he would play for every single team in China for that amount of money.
Here is the video.
Jaylen Brown says he will play for EVERY basketball team in China at the same time if they pay him $400 million
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 22, 2026
“Get ready to learn Mandarin”
(h/t @Big0Deuce) pic.twitter.com/BnqovQsYNJ
Brown is currently in the middle of a five-year, $304 million contract with the Celtics (including incentives) which runs through 2028-29. While the deal was the biggest in NBA history at the time it was signed, Brown would need almost $100 million more than that in order to walk away from it and go overseas to China.
This is all of course pie in the sky, especially since the largest contract in CBA history was the three years and $7.5 million that former NBA big man Andray Blatche got from the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in 2015. As such, the biggest concern for Brown right now should be his NBA future as there are some doubts that the former Finals MVP will even still be playing for the Celtics next season.
Wyndham Clark had classy message for his haters at US Open
Wyndham Clark took all the jeers he heard in stride after winning his second U.S. Open.
The 32-year-old repeatedly heard boos from a partisan crowd hoping for Scottie Scheffler to secure his career grand slam at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Clark survived a final-round scare to best Sam Burns by a single stroke. Clark bested the field with his -4 through 72 holes, while Scheffler finished tied for 4th with an even par.
During his post-tournament interview, Clark showed the New York gallery love despite not having their support until the very end.
“New York didn’t really like me,” Clark told Mike Tirico. “I love you guys. But, you know, I get it. Some of it’s self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret. I’ve been sorry multiple times. I’m still sorry, so hopefully I can win you guys over eventually.
“But I get it, they root for Scottie. Grand slams only happen a few times. He’s going to get it. He’s the best player in the world. But today is my day.”
Clark was infamously banned from the Oakmont Country Club after he destroyed a couple of lockers in frustration from being cut early during last year’s U.S. Open.
Clark, who won the tournament in 2023, was in much better spirits this time around. It helped that Wyndham also had a surprise guest present for his crowning moment.
Hawks land Thunder champion in trade
The Atlanta Hawks have plucked away an experienced veteran from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
News broke on Sunday that the Thunder were trading guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 2025 NBA champions are set to receive two second-round picks in return — the Hawks’ own 2030 pick and the least favorable of the Hawks and Lakers’ picks in 2032.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
The deal is essentially a salary dump for the Thunder, who entered the offseason with an eye-popping $213 million luxury tax bill waiting for them should they have stood pat. Per salary cap maestro Bobby Marks, OKC’s tax figure will drop to $152 million once the deal is made official.
Wiggins is on a team-friendly deal that will pay him around $17.5 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, with an $8.35 million team option for the 2028-29 campaign.
The 6’5″ swingman played a key role off the bench for the Thunder in each of the last two seasons. During OKC’s championship year in 2024-25, Wiggins averaged 12.0 points and 3.9 rebounds on 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc while playing nearly 23 minutes per game.
While his minutes remained last season, Wiggins’ performance took a slight hit. He averaged 9.4 points on a 43.1 percent shooting clip and a mediocre 35.6 percent from deep. With the emergence of Ajay Mitchell and the trade for Jared McCain this season, Wiggins became expendable for OKC.
The Hawks are banking on Wiggins to shine with a bigger role in Atlanta.
Lakers facing serious ‘threat’ ahead of critical offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers are under the microscope this offseason, and Luka Doncic appears to be the one looking through the ocular lens.
The Lakers are heading into a critical period ahead of Doncic’s third season in L.A. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the team was “on the clock” with Doncic at the end of last season, and his view of the team has not changed a year later.
Doncic is reportedly still assessing the Lakers’ chances to compete for a championship as he enters his prime. Should the team fail to surround him with the necessary pieces to compete, he is said to be ready to “look elsewhere” for that opportunity. The report added that there’s “an actual threat that he could have a wandering eye” should the Lakers not follow through on their promise of building a Purple and Gold contender around their Slovenian superstar.
Doncic has made his offseason wishlist known. The 6-time All-Star desperately wants “an A-list center” whom he could throw lobs to. He also wants the Lakers to add more shooters around him. With pressure mounting to keep Doncic happy, expect Rob Pelinka to work the phone lines extensively in the coming months.
The Lakers’ biggest advantage in keeping Doncic is financial. Los Angeles is the only team that will be able to offer Doncic a supermax deal worth over $400 million when he becomes extension-eligible in 2028.
But after Doncic just witnessed his former teammate Jalen Brunson win a championship after leaving over $100 million in guaranteed money on the negotiating table, there’s a world where he foregoes the money for a better shot at a title.
Phillies fan pulls the least subtle switcheroo with Mets home run ball
A fan in a Bryce Harper jersey did not even try to hide his home run switcheroo during Sunday’s Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets game.
Mets batter Carson Benge gave his team their first run off a solo shot to left field at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. The fan was the first to dig it out after Benge’s home run ball fell into the seats.
The youngster was fully aware of the protocol — he was supposed to throw the ball back onto the field. After walking back to his seat, the kid took out a different ball from his bag and threw that one into the left-field grass.
Phillies fan got caught red-handed throwing back a fake home run ball pic.twitter.com/58YL0RrTNN
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 22, 2026
The crime against Phillies fandom was caught on camera. The team broadcast humorously shamed the kid for his misdeed.
The kid was far from the first fan to pull the ‘ol switcheroo to keep a piece of game memorabilia. But veteran fans know how to be much more discreet about it, just like the Los Angeles Dodgers fan who deked everybody in his section with a hidden ball trick to keep a Manny Machado home run ball.
The Harper fan’s infraction did not cost the team any karma points with the baseball gods. The Phillies rode a stellar start from Zack Wheeler to a 6-2 win over the Mets.
Wyndham Clark got the best surprise after winning US Open
Wyndham Clark got a fitting present after winning the U.S. Open on Father’s Day.
The 32-year-old survived a serious scare as he watched his six-stroke lead entering Sunday slip away at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Clark outlasted Sam Burns by one stroke to win his second U.S. Open, joining an elite shortlist of multi-time winners.
As he celebrated the winning putt to seal his victory, Clark spotted a familiar face ready to hug him — his father, Randall.
What a moment 🥹
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 21, 2026
Father's Day just got a little bit sweeter for Wyndham Clark. pic.twitter.com/tIbfPNUuan
The Clark father and son embraced on the decisive 72nd hole. Randall took a red-eye flight from Denver to surprise Wyndham. Randall brought the energy, while Wyndham looked like he was just happy to have his pops present for Father’s Day.
Wyndham Clark's dad, Randall, got on a red-eye flight that landed at 6 AM on Father's Day to surprise his son at the U.S. Open.
— ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2026
Look at their reactions after he sealed his second major title 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/i5oQVPVPN6
“That was a shock,” Clark said, via Dan Treacy of the Sporting News. “In ’23 he wasn’t there, which was unfortunate, so for him to be here in person is really amazing. Happy Father’s Day, Pops. I love you very much.”
Wyndham Clark has opened up about his complicated relationship with his dad in the past and how he used to dislike having Randall attend his tournaments. The two have grown closer together after Wyndham’s mother died from cancer in 2013.
The U.S. Open gallery was not exactly warm toward Clark throughout the tournament, with many backing Scottie Scheffler’s failed bid at a career grand slam. Randall Clark gave his son at least one more friendly face in the crowd.
Report: 1 player may come as a ‘tax’ in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be coming with an expensive backpack.
The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to attach forward Kyle Kuzma as a necessary “tax” in any blockbuster trade of Antetokounmpo, Bill Simmons of The Ringer reported on the latest episode of his self-titled podcast. This news comes with just about 48 hours to go before the 2026 NBA Draft, which could serve as a major catalyst for an Antetokounmpo trade.
Kuzma, 30, is a former first-round pick who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He just completed his second season with the Bucks after arriving in a 2025 trade with the Washington Wizards.
Unfortunately however, Kuzma has turned into a pumpkin in Milwaukee. After becoming a 20-ppg scorer with Washington, Kuzma averaged just 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on a Bucks team in dire need of offense last season. He also produced some particularly awful moments that even gave headaches to his coaching staff.
Kuzma is still under contract for next season at $19.3 million. As a large expiring, that therefore makes him a prime candidate for Milwaukee to try to offload while shopping Antetokounmpo.
The last we heard of Antetokounmpo talks was that rival teams were reportedly getting frustrating with the Bucks’ handling of business. The fact that any interested suitor might have to take on Kuzma as well might further increase the frustrations (especially with other filler from Milwaukee likely to be included too).
Gisele ignored Tom Brady in her Father’s Day post
Tom Brady was getting no love from his ex-wife, even on Father’s Day.
Gisele Bundchen shared a social media post Sunday paying tribute to husband Joaquim Valente, with whom she shares a child. Her message ended with her wishing a happy Father’s Day to “all the dads out there,” but Brady was left out of the specific well-wishes.
<
For his part, Brady did not post anything on social media for Father’s Day. He has, however, been taking his kids to FIFA World Cup games lately.
Brady and Gisele share two children together, so the post raised some eyebrows. The two split in 2022, and while they have avoided talking about each other since, Brady has made a few cryptic posts over certain events. Brady reportedly felt Gisele had cheated on him during their marriage, though she publicly denied that while refusing to discuss any further details.
Brady’s love life remains a bit of a mystery, though he was linked to someone at the Super Bowl.
Rafael Devers was angry after Giants pinch-ran for him
San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers tried to resist when the team tried to pinch run for him in the 9th inning of Sunday’s game.
Devers drew a walk to lead off the 9th inning of Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla. The Giants were trailing 2-1 at the time, and opted to send in the speedier Jonah Cox to run for Devers and maximize the team’s chances of scoring the tying run.
Devers was having none of it. He initially refused to leave the base and tried to wave Cox away as he approached. The first baseman was also visibly angry once he got to the dugout.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026
Presumably, Devers wanted to remain in the game so he might get to hit again if the game wound up going to extra innings. The problem, however, is that he is not known for his speed and athleticism, and the Giants needed to get to extra innings to even worry about that. They wanted a player who would not be strictly station-to-station to remain in the game.
It is highly unusual for a player to be so demonstrative when he is subbed out of a game. Devers, however, has a history of being stubborn.
Recent reports have indicated that the Giants are already open to trading Devers. At this point, perhaps Devers himself would not mind that outcome.
Dodger Stadium faced a major problem before Sunday’s game
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a bit of a problem a few hours before the scheduled start of their game at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
Dodger Stadium was shrouded in smoke Sunday morning due to a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights. The smoke was so thick that it was hard to see and breathe in those conditions.
The smoke from the nearby Boyle Heights warehouse fire has enshrouded Dodger Stadium in an acrid, nasty haze. Not sure I’d want to sit here and watch as a fan, much less play the game, unless conditions improve. pic.twitter.com/EyE15p8fge
— Ben Bolch (@calpostbbolch) June 21, 2026
For a time, there were genuine questions about whether the game could be played in these conditions. The Dodgers never really had to make that decision, however, as things had largely cleared by first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET.
In honor of Father’s Day, the smoke has cleared at Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/Tsg4Acn5sp
— Ben Bolch (@calpostbbolch) June 21, 2026
Indeed, the game started on time with no apparent issues for fans or players.
Dodger Stadium is not necessarily a stranger to wild weather conditions. Fortunately, the wind cooperated in this instance, because it would have been strange if the game had been impacted on what was otherwise a sunny, comfortable day.
Miles Russell had the best Father’s Day surprise for his dad
Miles Russell had an awesome gift for his dad on Father’s Day for the final round of the US Open.
Russell invited his father Joe to be his caddie for his final walk up the 18th hole at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. on Sunday. He had cleared the gesture with tournament officials, and his dad did not know it was coming.
🥹
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 21, 2026
Miles Russell's father, Joe, took over as caddie for his son's final walk up 18.
What a Father's Day gift! pic.twitter.com/7tfHKSrjyx
Russell’s dad introduced him to golf as a toddler, and this was the 17-year-old’s way of paying him back. This was also Russell’s first US Open, making it even more meaningful.
Russell is a two-time AJGA Player of the Year and winner of the Junior PGA Championship and Junior Players Championship, and is already one of the most highly-touted young prospects in the sport. He has committed to play golf at Florida State.
The 17-year-old finished the tournament at +7, but he managed to post an even round on Sunday to close out the tournament on a high.
