Gregg Popovich looks better during his latest public appearance
Gregg Popovich is continuing to progress in his recovery from a stroke.
The ex-San Antonio Spurs head coach Popovich made an appearance Friday during one of the team’s practice sessions at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Texas. Popovich appeared in the portion of practice that was open to reporters and was looking a little bit better.
Jared Weiss of The Athletic shared video of Popovich walking over to other team figures, including head coach Mitch Johnson, to discuss strategy. Though Popovich was walking with a noticeable limp and had an aide behind him carrying a cane at the ready, Popovich was at least able to move without assistance.
Here is the video.
Coach Pop at the Rock today for Spurs practice pic.twitter.com/lZ7lao3gx2
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) April 17, 2026
Now 77 years old, the Basketball Hall of Famer Popovich was a five-time NBA champion and a three-time NBA Coach of the Year during his time in charge of the Spurs from 1996-2025. But he officially retired last year after suffering a stroke in Nov. 2024 followed by a separate medical emergency in Apr. 2025.
Popovich’s public appearances since then have been few and far between. But he was having difficulty walking at all around this time last year and was also spotted looking frail at an NBA G League game in early 2026. These days though, Popovich, who has since transitioned into a role in the San Antonio front office, is looking well enough to walk around on his own.
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever co-star lands richest contract in WNBA history
The Indiana Fever are officially backing up the Brinks truck.
Indiana is signing star forward/center Aliyah Boston to a four-year, $6.3 million contract extension, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Friday. That marks the richest contract in WNBA history by total value, Charania adds.
Boston, who is set to make $1 million in the 2026 season and then 20 percent of the cap from 2027-29, is a core player for the Fever alongside co-star Caitlin Clark. After going with the No. 1 overall pick to Indiana in 2023, Boston has made three All-Star teams, one All-WNBA team, and one All-Defensive team.
Last season for the Fever, Boston also had a strong year despite the team’s overall mediocrity (in Clark’s injury absence). The 24-year-old Boston averaged 15.0 points, 8.2 points, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game over 44 total appearances for Indiana.
With Boston’s sizable new contract, she has officially surpassed the mark that was just set by A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces earlier this week. Wilson, 29, signed a supermax contract with the Aces that, at the time, was the largest contract in WNBA history by total value (and still surpasses Boston’s deal by average annual value).
As for the Fever, they are now locked and loaded for the 2026 season and beyond. On top of extending Boston, they re-signed Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, brought in free agent additions Monique Billings and Tyasha Harris, and also announced big news about fan favorite Sophie Cunningham.
Notable update surfaces about Donovan Mitchell’s future
Donovan Mitchell may be parachuting onto the trade block once again.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will discuss the possibility of trading their star shooting guard Mitchell this summer if they cannot agree to an extension with him, Fred Katz of The Athletic reported on Friday. Katz notes that Mitchell can hit free agency in 2027 but will become eligible for an extension from the Cavaliers this offseason.
Mitchell, 29, is in his fourth season as a member of Cleveland. It has been a fruitful partnership thus far as Mitchell has made four All-Star teams, earned two All-NBA nods, and helped lead the Cavaliers to a 64-win season plus a division title in 2024-25.
As for this season, Mitchell continues to show out. He is averaging some of his best numbers yet as a Cleveland player, posting 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 48/36/87 shooting splits over 70 total appearances for the 52-30 Cavaliers.
But the Mitchell era in Cleveland has also been defined by a lack of playoff success. The Cavaliers only have two total playoff series wins since he arrived (both in the first round) and may have to take a long look in the mirror if they suffer another early postseason exit this year.
With Cleveland trading for James Harden a couple of months ago, their urgency to win is immediate. Though it is customary for teams to entertain trading away star players with just one year left on their contracts (instead of risking a potential departure for nothing in free agency), Mitchell’s status as an in-his-prime stud makes him a particularly interesting case. With Harden also facing questions as to what exactly he will do this summer, the Cavaliers may have a lot of moving parts in the near future if they cannot find a way to win this postseason.
Ja Morant is being linked to 2 new teams in trade rumors
Ja Morant may be getting a shot at redemption in the Pacific Division.
The Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings have emerged as two new potential trade suitors for the disgruntled Memphis Grizzlies star Morant, NBA writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported on Friday. Robinson adds that both teams will be “serious” suitors for Morant this offseason.
Morant, a two-time NBA All-Star at 26 years old, is widely expected to be traded by Memphis this summer. He just completed a 2025-26 season marred by injuries and dysfunction with both his teammates and with his head coach Tuomas Iisalo (which even led to a suspension for Morant at one point).
Overall on the year, Morant put up 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game in just 20 total appearances for the Grizzlies, who finished the season at a horrific 25-57 (13th in the West). Memphis has also long been trending towards a rebuild after trading away both Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. over the course of the last year (with the latter move by the Grizzlies drawing a sharp public rebuke from Morant).
Meanwhile, the Kings were completely rudderless this season, finishing even worse than the Grizzlies at 22-60 (with guards Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook both now able to hit free agency). The Suns fared much better this year at 45-37 and still have a chance to get into the Western Conference playoffs. But Phoenix ultimately lacks a true starting point guard alongside Devin Booker with the shoot-first Jalen Green, the overachieving role player Collin Gillespie, and the defensive-minded Jordan Goodwin sharing backcourt duties for now.
Morant, who is owed $87 million over the next two seasons, clearly seems to think his time in Memphis is up. Now it sounds like he may be getting a chance to stay in the conference with a West Coast team like the Suns or Kings.
Jeremiyah Love is incredibly high on multiple teams’ draft boards
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is regarded as one of the top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. According to a few teams, he might actually be the best overall.
ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan wrote Friday that there are multiple people around the league who have Love as the highest-graded player on their draft board. That does not necessarily mean Love will go No. 1, but it might make him the most highly thought-of player in the class.
Spoke to multiple people around the league the past few days who said that RB Jeremiyah Love was their top graded player. The question now is where do teams place him on their board given the position he plays and their individual needs.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 17, 2026
Love made some astounding plays for Notre Dame this season, and it is no surprise that he is being seen as a great pro prospect. Running backs are not seen as valuable as certain other positions, but at this point, it looks like a safe bet he will go in the top ten or even top five.
We know of at least one team in the top ten that would have interest in Love if he is available when they are on the clock.
Love is the reigning Doak Walker Award winner after a season in which he ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Fighting Irish and scored 35 total touchdowns over two years.
Doc Rivers reveals whether he will ever coach again
Doc Rivers is out as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and he may be out of coaching entirely.
Rivers spoke with Bill Simmons about his plans for the future in a new interview. Rivers suggested the Bucks were open to keeping him on, but that he needs a break and does not expect to coach again.
“I love coaching. Loved it. I had a lot of success at it. I had way more ups and downs,” Rivers said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve given 40 years straight, with no off time. I just wanted a break. I want to get away. The grandkids, just life in general. I think it was time. I’d be surprised if I coached another game. I’ll put it that way.”
"I think it was time."@BillSimmons asks Doc Rivers if he believes he's done with coaching after stepping down as head coach of the Bucks. pic.twitter.com/NzjkAZ2VPU
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 17, 2026
Rivers was evasive on the topic of his future before confirming his Bucks departure, but he strongly hinted that he would at least take time off from coaching. He has been an NBA head coach almost continuously since 1999, working for the Magic, Celtics, Clippers, 76ers, and Bucks.
Rivers will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in August in recognition of his coaching career. Two-plus underwhelming seasons with Milwaukee is not exactly the best way to end it, but his legacy in the NBA is secure, and it sounds like we will not be seeing him on the sideline again.
Timberwolves forward jokes about needing to ‘call God’ to stop Nikola Jokic
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be the ones initially tasked with trying to stop Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to open the NBA Playoffs, and one of the players who will be tasked with handling him is already looking to the heavens for answers.
Timberwolves big man Julius Randle joked his first strategy in trying to contain Jokic would be prayer. He said the team would be prepared for the challenge, but would be putting in some extra pleas with God before the series.
“Probably got to call God and talk to him a little bit,” Randle said. “Ask him for a few favors. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”
"Probably got to call 𝑮𝑶𝑫 and talk to him for a little bit." – Julius Randle on guarding Nikola Jokic 🙏🤣
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) April 15, 2026
"Ask him for a few favors." 😇
📽️ @Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/r5VRZcNTHi
Rudy Gobert, not Randle, will be primarily tasked with keeping Jokic in check. He and the Timberwolves have not had much luck this season, as Jokic averaged 35.8 points, 15 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game in four games against Minnesota during the regular season.
This will be the third time in four postseasons that the Nuggets and Timberwolves will face off. The teams split the first two, making this something of a grudge match.
Ty Simpson landing with 1 team is seen as ‘inevitable’
One specific NFL team appears to have its eyes on Ty Simpson in the NFL Draft, and is increasingly viewed as his likely landing spot.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Friday that Simpson landing with the Arizona Cardinals feels “inevitable.” The Cardinals lack a long-term solution at the quarterback position, and their situation may be complicated even further by Jacoby Brissett’s contract demands.
Ty Simpson to AZ feels inevitable. https://t.co/HjQPfMAQn7
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 17, 2026
There are plenty of other reasons to believe that Simpson might be a major target for the Cardinals. They already brought him in for a pre-draft visit and have not done a great deal to hide their interest.
The Cardinals are rumored to be among the teams at least open to trading down in the draft. They currently sit at No. 3 overall, which would be rather high for Simpson, so they could probably add a few more picks and still get their man if Simpson is who they want.
Simpson has seemingly trended up throughout the NFL Draft process. The former Alabama quarterback threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Crimson Tide last season.
Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe announce big news
Former US soccer star Megan Rapinoe and former WNBA star Sue Bird announced big news on Friday. The two announced publicly that they have broken up.
In a statement posted to social media, Rapinoe said she and Bird had “made the decision to separate as a couple.” The two had been together since 2017.
A personal update from Megan and @S10Bird 💌 pic.twitter.com/rosVdXS7Gx
— TOGETHXR (@togethxr) April 17, 2026
The two also hosted a podcast together, “A Touch More,” which will also apparently be ending.
Bird and Rapinoe first met at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and have been together since then. They were engaged in 2020, though they never formally married.
Bird and Rapinoe had one of the most high-profile relationships in the sports world, as Bird was a WNBA star and Rapinoe a standout soccer player. Bird was a 13-time All-Star in her career before announcing her retirement in 2022. Rapinoe retired a year later after a career that saw her win two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Will Anderson’s agent reacts to his huge new contract
Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson effectively reset the market for pass rushers on Friday with his new $150 million deal, and his agent is taking a well-earned victory lap.
Anderson agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension with Houston to tack on to the two years left on his current deal. That makes him the first non-quarterback to make in excess of $50 million annually.
Anderson’s agent, Nicole Lynn, couldn’t help but gloat a little after getting the deal done.
“Anybody have a brinks truck?” she wrote on X.
Anybody have a brinks truck?
— Nicole Lynn (@AgentNicoleLynn) April 17, 2026
Lynn will be getting compensated well from this, too. You can hardly blame her for being pleased.
Anderson has already become one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers just three seasons into his career. He was an All-Pro for the first time in 2025 as he collected 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss while playing in all 17 games. No wonder the Texans made him such a high priority in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As for Lynn, she has established herself as the sort of agent who fights for her clients. She gets them plenty of cash in negotiations, too.
Jacoby Brissett wants more money from Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett wants some more money from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals let Kyler Murray go this offseason, which leaves Brissett and Gardner Minshew as their quarterbacks. The Cardinals could also use their No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft on a QB. Until that point, Brissett’s representatives are trying to squeeze more money out of the Cardinals.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that Brissett is not attending the first phase of the Cardinals’ offseason as the quarterback seeks more money.
Sources: #AZCardinals QB Jacoby Brissett is not attending Phase 1 of the offseason program and is asking for an extension that pays him as the starter.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 17, 2026
Brissett, set to make $9.06M in ‘26, has only $1.5M in guaranteed money and wants security. AZ appears willing to address it. pic.twitter.com/tl5HdMdvnO
The Cardinals may be reluctant to give Brissett more money. Even if they begin the season with him as their starter, they do not appear to have him locked in as their QB1.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said Thursday regarding the starting quarterback position that the team is “not really naming anybody and we’ll see how that room works by the time we get to August.”
Brissett started 12 games for the Cardinals last season, and the team went 1-11 in those starts. He passed for 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His stats are respectable on the surface, but NFL teams are not going to be winning many games with Brissett at QB.
LeBron James’ stance on a retirement tour has been revealed
LeBron James’ future is up for debate again, this time answering the question about whether he actually wants a retirement tour.
James is not seeking a farewell tour season, according to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic. James himself has allegedly told that to people close to him, and retirement at the end of this season remains a “real possibility.”
There also remains a lack of clarity regarding whether James will stay with the Lakers even if he does continue to play. The team’s strong play in March suggested to James that he might actually be able to remain with the Lakers, as winning remains his top priority if he does continue his career. This was whispered about in late March, before injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves threatened the team’s season.
The Lakers can still offer James the most money, but the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked to him anyway. Some other teams have also been whispered about, but nowhere near as seriously.
Even at 41, James remains a threat whenever he is on the court. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.2 assists per game on the season.
Angels legend Garret Anderson dies at age 53
Legendary former Los Angeles Angels star Garret Anderson has died at the age of 53, the Angels announced on Friday. The death of Anderson was unexpected and came following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif., on Thursday, according to TMZ.
The Angels shared the news of Anderson’s death with a prepared statement from team owner Arte Moreno.
“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Moreno in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.”
The Angels will wear a memorial patch on their jerseys for the rest of the season to honor Anderson.
Anderson was a fourth-round pick by the Angels in 1990. He made it up to the majors in 1994, though 1995 was his first full season in the bigs. He made an immediate impact by batting .321 as a rookie, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Anderson continued to be a reliable outfielder for the Angels. He batted .293 with 287 home runs during his career. Anderson made the All-Star team in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He led the AL in doubles in both 2002 and 2003, and won the Silver Slugger award in both seasons.
Anderson finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2002, the same year he helped the Angels win their first and only World Series ever, by slugging a tie-breaking 3-run double in Game 7 against the San Francisco Giants.
Anderson, who played 17 seasons in MLB, including one with each the Braves and Dodgers after 15 seasons with the Angels, is the Angels’ franchise leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight).
Anderson had some other spectacular moments in his career. He had a 10-RBI game in 2007, and in 2003, he won both the Home Run Derby and All Star Game MVP.
After his playing career ended, Anderson became a broadcaster for the Angels. He was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
San Diego Padres to be sold for record-breaking price
The San Diego Padres are finally set to be sold, and they will fetch a record-setting price for an MLB franchise.
The Padres are being purchased by a group led by private equity billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones, according to Jared Diamond and Miriam Gottfried of the Wall Street Journal. The sale price is said to be $3.9 billion, nearly $1.5 billion more than the previous record-breaking sale of the New York Mets to Steve Cohen.
The sale should end the uncertainty over the status of the Padres, which has been in question since owner Peter Seidler died in 2023. There has been infighting among Seidler’s widow and siblings over who controlled the franchise since then, which has negatively impacted the team in certain ways.
Feliciano is also the owner of Chelsea F.C. of the English Premier League. It remains to be seen whether he intends to maintain a high payroll, as Seidler did. Seidler bolstered the team’s payroll to nearly $250 million, but it has fallen closer to $200 million since his death.
Forbes had estimated that the Padres would be worth $3.1 billion. One can only imagine how much money clubs like the Yankees or Cubs would fetch if they ever hit the open market.
Mike McDaniel used hilarious tactic to influence Chargers’ FA decisions
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel employed an unconventional and humorous approach during the team’s free agency process.
Rather than relying on traditional presentations such as spreadsheets or messages, McDaniel created and pinned “Wanted” posters in the office of general manager Joe Hortiz. The posters featured running back Keaton Mitchell and fullback Alec Ingold as prime targets, evoking an Old West bounty hunt style.
Hortiz later recounted the moment with amusement, noting that McDaniel had placed the posters on his walls.
“Mike put up a wanted reward for a couple players,” Hortiz said, adding that McDaniel would “owe a little bit of money” since the front office secured both signings.
The tactic proved effective. The Chargers signed Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold to a two-year, $7.5 million deal, reuniting him with McDaniel after four seasons together in Miami. They also added explosive running back Keaton Mitchell on a two-year, $9.25 million contract with $5 million guaranteed.
These moves aimed to bolster a run game that struggled to support quarterback Justin Herbert.
McDaniel’s playful persistence highlighted his creative influence in shaping the roster.
Aaron Boone blasts ‘overly sensitive’ umps following ejection
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed frustration with the umpiring crew after receiving his first ejection of the 2026 season during an 11-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
The incident occurred in the eighth inning following a balk call on Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough.
With two outs and runners on first and second, first-base umpire Ryan Additon ruled Yarbrough had balked on a pickoff attempt to first base. The call advanced the runners, setting up an intentional walk to Mike Trout and a grand slam by Jo Adell that widened the Angels’ lead.
Boone initially approached home-plate umpire Will Little for clarification before returning to the field at the end of the inning. He was ejected by Little after seeking further explanation from Additon, with crew chief Lance Barksdale intervening.
“I still haven’t gotten good clarity, because of course, they got overly sensitive when I was as calm as could be,” Boone said, via MLB.com. “I wasn’t out there arguing. I just wanted to hear their explanation. I think it’s a fine play.”
Boone, who has led the American League in ejections in each of the past five seasons, described the pickoff as a standard defensive play that the Yankees had called. He noted dissatisfaction with the limited explanation provided by the umpires.
The ejection amplified ongoing tensions between managers and umpires, even as Major League Baseball implements the automated ball-strike system.
Wings shut down question about Azzi Fudd-Paige Bueckers relationship
The Dallas Wings introduced No. 1 overall 2026 WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd during a press conference on Thursday.
The event centered on her seamless transition from a standout UConn career into professional basketball with the rebuilding franchise. Fudd, who averaged 17.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting in her final college season, will reunite in the backcourt with reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers.
Most questions focused on basketball topics, including Fudd’s elite shooting, defensive competitiveness, high basketball IQ, and unselfish approach, which has been praised by general manager Curt Miller.
Miller highlighted the organization’s deliberate evaluation process that consistently pointed back to Fudd as the ideal selection.
The tone shifted briefly when a reporter asked Fudd whether she and Bueckers, who publicly confirmed their romantic relationship on social media in 2025, remained together and if they had consulted other WNBA couples about navigating the dynamic as professional teammates.
Before Fudd could respond, a Wings public relations staffer interjected.
“I understand why you have to ask that question, but we’re going to respectfully decline from commenting on our players’ personal lives,” they said.
Miller later reinforced the team’s commitment to protecting athletes’ privacy off the court.
Fudd fielded additional inquiries about her excitement for the WNBA and her competitive drive.
With training camp approaching, the duo now prepares to lead Dallas on the court while the franchise maintains its policy of shielding private lives from public scrutiny. Of course, whether fair or unfair, that will only result in further discussion and speculation.
Clock is ticking on Bears to make stadium relocation decision
The Chicago Bears face mounting pressure to decide the future home of a new domed stadium as they prepare to leave Soldier Field after 50 years.
NFL stadium committee members, including Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf, will meet virtually with Bears officials the week of April 27 to review progress on two primary options: The team-owned 326-acre site in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and a proposed location near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren has targeted a resolution by late spring or early summer, aligning with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s call for action “relatively soon.”
In Illinois, the team seeks roughly $850 million in public funding for infrastructure while pushing for tax certainty through payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) legislation, which has stalled in the General Assembly ahead of its May 31 session end. Without assured tax relief, Bears officials say construction cannot proceed.
Indiana offers greater certainty after passing Senate Bill 27, which creates a stadium authority and commits around $1 billion in financing, including toll road adjustments.
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey has noted that fans would adjust to either location, much as they did with prior venue shifts. A decision will shape the franchise’s path toward a potential 2030 opening while navigating political and financial hurdles in both states.
Soccer player’s all-time flop leads to second-hand embarrassment
In the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday, Tigres winger Diego Lainez delivered a performance that had fans covering their eyes for all the wrong reasons.
Fresh off a suspension for accumulated cards, the 25-year-old found himself on the receiving end of a feather-light graze to the back from Seattle Sounders defender Nouhou Tolo just eight minutes in. Rather than shrugging off the gentle tap, Lainez spun dramatically, let out a theatrical yelp, and collapsed as if struck by a freight train.
The referee and VAR quickly saw through the charade, taking no action against either player.
FS1’s commentator captured the collective cringe, calling it “barely a love tap” and the sort of display that leaves viewers squirming in discomfort.
“I mean, that’s the type of stuff that’s embarrassing,” he said.
Social media erupted with mockery, branding the dive “pathetic” and a “disgrace to the game.”
The flop was so comically overdone that it probably even made LeBron James cringe from the NBA sidelines, where such his theatrical tumbles are practically patented.
In a sport celebrated for skill and grit, Lainez’s second-leg theatrics provided an unintended masterclass in how not to win hearts—or calls.
Tigres advanced on aggregate despite the 3-1 loss, but this moment may linger longer than any trophy.
Mariners broadcaster defends AI use after unjust criticism
Seattle Mariners broadcaster Angie Mentink, a respected figure in MLB media since 1997, recently faced unwarranted online criticism after a short video surfaced showing her using Google Gemini to generate ideas for postgame interview questions following a tough loss.
Mentink responded with grace and humor on social media, explaining that she was simply experimenting with the tool as a learning aid to supplement her own prepared questions, noting the evolution from pen and paper in her early career.
The backlash is particularly concerning given Mentink’s breast cancer survival and recovery from a stroke in February that left her paralyzed on her left side. She had only recently returned to the booth, focusing on regaining her bearings with support from the Mariners organization.
Any criticism in this context appears insensitive and misguided.
Further complicating the matter is the video’s unauthorized recording and release without her knowledge or consent. Filmed by a fan at a game and posted online with a mocking tone, it raises serious questions about privacy in public spaces and the ethics of sharing such footage to provoke backlash.
Mentink has handled the episode professionally, underscoring her dedication amid personal challenges.
