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Stephen A. Smith mentions notable candidate for Knicks head coach job

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The New York Knicks are planning to conduct a wide-reaching search for their next head coach, and Stephen A. Smith believes Mark Jackson deserves to be a part of it.

Smith, who is a diehard Knicks fan, spoke during Monday morning’s edition of “First Take” on ESPN about some of the candidates he believes the team should meet with now that Tom Thibodeau has been fired. Jackson was the first name Smith mentioned.

“I’m gonna always mention the name Mark Jackson. He’s been away from the game for a decade as a coach. This man was responsible for building Golden State before Steve Kerr was brought in and took over and piggybacked off that and ascended to four championships,” Smith said. “Mark Jackson starred at Bishop Loughlin. Mark Jackson starred at St. John’s University. Mark Jackson was a Rookie of the Year playing for the New York Knicks.”

Smith believes Jackson’s ties to New York would make him a strong fit and potentially resolve some of the issues Knicks fans have with the team’s front office.

“Mark Jackson was a preeminent voice on the NBA and he knows and feels and vibes with New York,” Smith added. “He’s a native, so a voice for the New York Knicks where we ain’t got to worry about hearing from James Dolan, who hides from us, or Leon Rose the president, who hides from us — got APBs out for their a–es. We ain’t gotta worry about that because you got somebody like Mark Jackson, but I understand that that’s pretty much … I doubt that will happen.”

Jackson, 60, has not coached since his final season with the Golden State Warriors in 2013-14. He was effective in his three years in Golden State, turning them from a cellar-dwellar into a playoff team. Jackson was fired amid some unflattering reports in 2014.

Critics of Jackson say he underachieved in Golden State, but Smith clearly does not hold that against him. Jackson has interviewed for a couple of head coach jobs in recent years, though there has been no indication that he was close to landing one.

Jackson was part of ESPN’s top NBA broadcast team for years before he and Jeff Van Gundy were laid off in 2023. He was set to return to the booth for some Knicks games shortly after that, but there were reportedly some issues between Jackson and the team.

As Smith said, it is unlikely that Jackson will receive serious consideration for the Knicks job. Perhaps the two sides will entertain a conversation, if nothing else.

Carlos Alcaraz had moment of great sportsmanship against Jannik Sinner

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Carlos Alcaraz fell into a huge hole early in his French Open final match against Jannik Sinner on Sunday, and one moment of admirable sportsmanship actually helped put him there.

After dropping the first set against Sinner 6-4, Alcaraz conceded a crucial point during the first game of the second set. Sinner was serving at deuce and hit a serve that was called out. Alcaraz walked over to examine where the ball hit and could be seen saying “that was in.”

Alcaraz confirmed by looking that Sinner’s serve hit the line, and he conceded the point.

Alcaraz could have easily let that go, especially since he was already down a set. The 22-year-old showed remarkable sportsmanship by correcting the judge’s call even when the mistake favored him.

Those who believe in karma will tell you the classy gesture from Alcaraz paid off. Alcaraz orchestrated one of the best comebacks in history to beat Sinner and win the French Open. The Spaniard was down triple-championship point in the fourth set before battling back to win it 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).

Alcaraz has won five Grand Slam titles and is already one of the most popular players in the world. He probably picked up a few new fans with his great sportsmanship against Sinner.

Details of Red Sox picking up on Angels tipping pitches revealed

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The Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox got into a heated pregame confrontation last week that reportedly had something to do with sign stealing, and new details that have emerged may help explain what was going on.

Players and coaches on both sides began jawing at one another prior to last Wednesday’s game between the Angels and Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson appeared to start the feud by saying something to Red Sox first base coach Jose Flores.

A report then suggested Anderson accused Flores of stealing signs during Anderson’s start against Boston, which was last Monday night. Anderson allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in in L.A.’s 7-6 win in that game. The right-hander gave up only run run through four innings before things fell apart for him in the fifth.

Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe may have been tipping

If Flores was stealing signs and relaying them to hitters, the big question is where he was getting the information. Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe may have inadvertently been giving it out.

Jimmy O’Brien, a.k.a. Jomboy, went through all of the footage from Anderson’s start against the Red Sox and seems to have uncovered the catalyst behind the confrontation. He noticed that there was a point in the game when Flores began standing perfectly still near first base when Anderson threw a fastball but began walking toward home plate just before the pitcher delivered a changeup.

Flores seemed to discover that O’Hoppe had a significantly different setup behind the plate when he was getting ready to catch a fastball versus a changeup. The walking toward home plate may have been Flores’ way to communicate which pitch was coming to right-handed batters, who have a clear view of first base.

You can watch the full breakdown from Jomboy:

Was it illegal?

It does not appear that Flores or the Red Sox used any type of technology to assist them in stealing signals. Instead, Flores or someone else in Boston’s dugout discovered that O’Hoppe was tipping pitches. Teams are always looking for evidence of pitch-tipping to give themselves an advantage.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been at the center of sign-stealing scandals dating back to when he was an assistant coach with the Houston Astros, but don’t expect MLB to get involved in the latest drama. O’Hoppe and the Angels simply need to do a better job of not giving information away.

Angel Reese wore ridiculous outfit to game before losing to Fever

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Angel Reese showed up to the Chicago Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday looking like she was about to drop 50 points, but the performance did not exactly match the style.

Reese arrived at United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Saturday wearing some sort of black winter coat, a black winter hat and black knee-high leather boot. She was more than happy to stop and pose for photos.

Hopefully the photographers nailed their shots, because Reese only hit two of hers. The Fever beat the Sky 79-52 despite Caitlin Clark missing the game with an injury. Reese finished with 4 points.

Naturally, fans all made the same joke about Reese carrying herself like a celebrity only to have a forgettable night on the court.

Reese has now made just 30.9% of her shots on the season, and many of the misses have been on layup attempts. She averages 12.3 rebounds per game, but a lot of those rebounds come after her own embarrassing misses.

Many would say Reese needs to start playing better and having a bigger impact on her team in order to justify wearing ridiculous outfits, but she doesn’t seem to care.

Packers make decision on Jaire Alexander’s future

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The Green Bay Packers are moving on from one of their best defensive players.

Veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander was informed on Monday that he will be released by the Packers, according to multiple reports.

The Packers had looked into potential trades involving Alexander prior to the NFL Draft, but nothing materialized. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media says the two sides then discussed a possible restructured contract and could not find common ground.

Now, Alexander is headed for free agency.

Alexander was set to make $16.15 million in base salary with a $24.6 million cap hit for 2025. He had two years left on the 4-year, $84 million extension he signed in 2022.

Alexander, 28, has only played in seven games each of the last two regular seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2022 — both years where he played in most of the regular season games. He has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when healthy, but staying on the field has become an issue for him.

There was talk last month that Alexander and the Packers might be able to reconcile their differences, but the team has instead decided to move on.

Everyone made the same joke after White Sox had penguin throw out first pitch

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Fans seem to believe the Chicago White Sox have found their next ace pitcher.

The White Sox had a special guest (sort of) throw the first pitch for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill. In celebration of World Ocean Day, Pepe the penguin waddled toward the mound alongside Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo.

Pepe stood tall on the mound as Adkesson threw a pretty decent first pitch on his behalf. Check out the adorable moment below.

The clip got a ton of fanfare on social media. Some of it was due to fans claiming the White Sox should sign Pepe and how the cuddly creature would be a major pitching staff upgrade.

Others took things a bit further, debating on what role Pepe would serve for the White Sox. One fan claimed the penguin should be atop the team’s starting rotation, while others envisioned him as a closer or set-up man.

Based on how Sunday’s game unfolded, the White Sox may need to use Pepe as a relief pitcher. Chicago’s bullpen gave up five earned runs over the last three innings in a 7-5 loss to Kansas City.

Whether Pepe eventually gets called up by the White Sox remains to be seen. But he definitely has a better chance than Taylor Lewan, who had an embarrassing first pitch just days prior.

Clayton Kershaw slams Cardinals for pulling ‘bush league’ move

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw did not appreciate the St. Louis Cardinals’ mind games before the teams clashed Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.

Kershaw was on the mound for the Dodgers to start the series finale. Before the game’s first pitch, the Cardinals pulled a petty move in an attempt to get under Kershaw’s skin.

The Busch Stadium video board flashed Matt Adams’ series-clinching home run against Kershaw in Game 4 of the 2014 NLDS. Adams’ three-run blast accounted for all the Cardinals’ scoring in the 3-2 St. Louis win.

The stadium staff had the clip on loop for several minutes. Kershaw was asked about the petty move after the game.

“I think it’s a little bush league,” said Kershaw. “But I don’t expect anything less from these guys. So, it’s no worries.”

The virtual slight did seem to strike a nerve against Kershaw. But it may have motivated the Dodgers star more than anything.

Fueled by the pregame antics, Kershaw gave up just one run and six hits across five innings to lead the Dodgers to a 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Dodgers star is undeniably one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. However, the former NL MVP has had a reputation for shrinking under the bright lights of the postseason. He owns a pedestrian 4.49 ERA and 13-13 record in 39 career playoff games.

Yankees star commits brutal error while mic’d up vs. Red Sox

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Another MLB player has fallen victim to the mic’d up curse. This time, it’s New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.

ESPN had Chisholm mic’d up for Sunday’s Yankees-Boston Red Sox showdown at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. The broadcast booth was chatting with Chisholm as Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon faced Ceddanne Rafaela with the bases empty and one out in the top of the third inning.

Rafaela hit a bouncing ball to left field, which Chisholm fielded cleanly. Things fell apart as Jazz tried to get the out at first base. Chisholm’s throw sailed past first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, allowing Rafaela to advance to second.

“Damn it!” Chisholm yelled as he watched his throw go wayward.

Given the Red Sox centerfielder’s speed, getting him out would have been tough regardless. Rafaela was awarded a single, while Chisholm was charged with a throwing error on the play. But the Yankees All-Star could have likely made a better throw had his focus been on fielding grounders rather than questions.

Rodon got through the inning without giving up a run. But the Red Sox knocked the Yankees starter around for five runs in the fifth and sixth innings en route to an 11-7 Boston win.

Sabermetrics may need to start tracking MLB players’ fielding accuracy while mic’d up. While the quirky broadcast feature has captured some incredible moments, Chisholm is not the first MLB player to falter under the added pressure.

Ben Askren in hospital with severe pneumonia, staph infection

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Prominent MMA and wrestling figure Ben Askren is in the hospital with severe pneumonia, his wife disclosed via social media on Saturday.

Amy Askren shared a post on her Facebook page that provided an update about her husband.

“You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something. He developed severe pneumonia which came on very suddenly. He’s currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time,” Amy Askren wrote.

“We welcome all prayers for healing and for peace. We are trying to keep life as normal as possible for our children currently and doing our best to support them thoughtfully so please refrain from discussing it with them for now.”

Dillon Danis, another former MMA figure, added that he knew about the situation and it is “a lot more serious” than people think.

Pat Mineo reported that Askren developed a staph infection, and complications from the infection led to severe pneumonia for Askren.

Askren, 40, was a two-time Division I wrestling champion for Missouri and later was an Olympic wrestler. He went into MMA after his wrestling career and was 19-2 with one no contest. He went from February 2009-March 2019 without losing an MMA fight, and was a champion in both Bellator and ONE during his fighting career.

Wild photos emerge of Victor Wembanyama with shaved head at a Shaolin temple

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Victor Wembanyama is preparing for his third NBA season in a very unconventional way.

The San Antonio Spurs superstar was recently spotted vacationing in China. Wemby was seen visiting famous heritage sites such as the Great Wall and enjoying the local cuisine like a true tourist.

Based on the initial photos and videos, Wembanyama’s trip did not seem like anything out of the ordinary. That changed on Sunday when snapshots of Wemby reportedly at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou began to surface.

Wembanyama was wearing a gray monk robe and had his head cleanly shaven. A couple of Spurs reporters confirmed the authenticity of the photos.

It’s hard to mistake someone else for Wembanyama, given that the Frenchman is officially listed at 7’3″ and believed to be much taller than that.

Wembanyama is said to be “deeply interested” in Shaolin culture and is in the midst of a 10-day retreat, according to FOX San Antonio reporter Dusty Garza.

It’s hard to mistake someone else for Wembanyama, given that the Frenchman is officially listed at 7’3″ and believed to be much taller than that. But the photos look so surreal that it’s hard to believe they’re not the work of AI or some photo editing software.

Then again, Wembanyama himself possesses a combination of size and skill that feels like the work of fiction. Pictures of him at a Shaolin temple are much more believable than some of his out-of-this-world highlights in his first two years with the Spurs.

Micah Parsons’ prank on Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer took unexpected turn

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Micah Parsons’ prank call on his Dallas Cowboys head coach did not go as most fans were probably expecting.

This week, Parsons hopped on the TikTok trend wherein a grown man calls his friends to wish them goodnight. The trend has reached the NFL, with some players calling their teammates to wish them a peaceful slumber. More often than not, the reactions have been a mix of hilarity and bewilderment.

The Cowboys star first called teammates Tyler Smith, Trevon Diggs, Osa Odighizuwa, KaVontae Turpin. Many of them clearly knew what was going on and either burst out laughing or straight-up mentioned TikTok. But when Parsons called Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys coach did not seem to have a clue.

The prank call turned into a very wholesome exchange between player and coach.

Parsons: “I just wanted to say good night.”

Schottenheimer: “I love that, bro. What’s going on? Y’all good?”

Parsons: “Hell yeah. I just feel like, player to coach, checking in on you, mentally. Say good night. Hope fam’s well. See you Monday. Excited to run at you. Just a good night.”

Schottenheimer: “Good, man. I know this is weird for everybody, man. But you’re handling it the right way, bro. This thing’s going to get worked out. Again, I’m thrilled to see where we take this thing. We’re building something special, and you’re going to be a huge part of it.”

Parsons then asked Schottenheimer to take a “Schotty,” referring to a shot of alcohol, as a nightcap. The veteran coach replied that he already had a drink in hand as they spoke.

Parsons is in the middle of negotiating his contract extension with the Cowboys, which is what Schottenheimer was referencing when he said that Micah was “handling it the right way.”

The unfinished contract talks may have been one reason Schottenheimer was extra nice to Parsons on the call. But the 51-year-old still deserves some kudos for reciprocating the love Parsons showed him, even if it was just for TikTok views.

Cowboys fans probably shouldn’t expect Parsons to call team owner Jerry Jones next, given how Jones recently disrespected Parsons’ agent.

Christian Bale looks unreal as Al Davis in new movie photos

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Christian Bale is set to play a starring role in an upcoming movie about the life of John Madden, and he looks absolutely incredible in character.

Bale, who won an Academy Award for his role in “The Fighter,” will be playing the role of late former Raiders owner Al Davis. Davis was the owner of the Raiders and ran the franchise from 1972 until his death in 2011. He also served as the team’s head coach from 1963-1965 before becoming a part-time owner, all while the team was part of the AFL.

While Nicolas Cage will be portraying Madden, Bale looks incredible as Davis. Take a look at some of the photos.

The hair. The tinted glasses. The clothes. The facial expressions. Man, Bale has it all.

Cage dressing up as Madden may need some getting used to, but Bale really seems to have the look of Davis down already.

The movie is being made by Amazon MGM Studios and directed by David O’Russell. It looks like it will be one worth watching.

Fans clown NBA’s sorry attempt to give Finals court a facelift

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The NBA heard the complaints about the design (or lack thereof) of the NBA Finals court. But the league’s attempt to appease the fans was half-hearted at best.

There was little to critique about the action on the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Indiana Pacers pulled off a dramatic come-from-behind win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Tyrese Haliburton game-winner will be included in Finals highlight reels for years to come.

However, several fans had gripes bout the NBA’s presentation of the contest. Gone was the iconic center-court logo featuring the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The players also did not have NBA Finals logo patches stitched into their jerseys. To many of the viewers watching from home, the whole thing had the energy of a regular season affair.

On Sunday, the league tried to add some NBA Finals flavor to the game’s presentation. They added a couple of CGI Larry O’Brien Trophy logos on the court.

However, the small change did not sit well with fans at all.

The league could not even bother to put actual trophy decals on the court. Even the virtual trophies added by the production crew looked like something straight out of a low-budget sci-fi movie.

Not even Mike Breen has been spared from criticism. Fans also complained about the legendary announcer’s call of Haliburton’s last-second shot in Game 1.

Chicago Sky star out for season with torn ACL suffered vs. Fever

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The bad news just keeps on coming for the Chicago Sky.

The Sky announced on Sunday that veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in her right knee. As a result, Vandersloot will be out for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Vandersloot suffered the injury during Chicago’s blowout loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday. In the first quarter of the game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., Vandersloot was driving to the basket and planted awkwardly on her right leg. She immediately collapsed to the floor in pain and had to leave the game, which the Sky would eventually lose 79-52.

A five-time WNBA All-Star and seven-time league assists leader, Vandersloot is one of the greatest players in Sky history. She was a Chicago draft pick back in 2011 and helped lead the team to their only WNBA championship to date in 2021.

Vandersloot would eventually leave the Sky to sign with the New York Liberty in 2023. But after winning another title with the Liberty in 2024, Vandersloot returned to Chicago as a free agent this past offseason.

But after now having torn her ACL at 36 years old, the 15-season veteran Vandersloot’s career could be in danger. That is yet another tough blow for the Sky, who are now 2-5 on the early season and have also sparked controversy lately with their stance on the national anthem. Vandersloot’s injury now leaves Angel Reese as the only healthy All-Star on the Chicago roster (though Reese is having some real on-court struggles of her own right now).

Mavericks legend says Luka Doncic trade was a ‘tremendous mistake’

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A Dallas Mavericks icon is letting the team have it over the decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Mavericks coach Don Nelson was honored Sunday with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association. Nelson was asked about the Doncic trade, and he did not hold back.

The former coach said he was actually wearing Doncic’s line of Luka 4 shoes on Sunday, and that the Mavericks made a “tremendous mistake” in trading him away.

“I think it was a tremendous mistake for the Dallas franchise to trade him — and I want everybody to know that,” Nelson said.

Nelson coached the Mavericks from 1997 to 2005, and remains popular among fans. He is hardly the only one with ties to the Mavericks to call the Doncic trade a mistake. Even Dirk Nowitzki has had a hard time defending it.

Obviously, Nelson is a big fan of Doncic and hated to see him leave Dallas. The team hopes he and everyone else will be able to embrace the new star they are about to land in a few weeks.

Caitlin Clark used Shedeur Sanders’ trademark celebration

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Shedeur Sanders might not be a slam dunk NFL prospect, but Caitlin Clark appears to be a fan.

Clark mimicked Sanders’ trademark watch celebration upon arriving for Saturday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky. The celebration was popularized by Sanders while he was playing quarterback at Colorado.

Clark did not play in Saturday’s game, but she is clearly in good spirits as she works her way back from a quad injury. Her time on the sidelines has given her a chance to show off her wide array of celebrations and taunts at games.

Clark obviously has been paying attention to Sanders, who has been trying to solidify his spot on the Cleveland Browns. He unexpectedly fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft, prompting questions about what doubts NFL teams have about him.

Sanders’ cultural reach clearly remains strong. He sounds as if he is delivering so far during offseason camp, too.

Jon Gruden helped out an AFC contender during offseason camp

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Jon Gruden may still be at odds with the NFL as a whole, but the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach is still being welcomed by a number of teams.

Gruden was at OTAs with the Baltimore Ravens this past week at the invitation of coach John Harbaugh. Gruden shared a selfie of himself and Harbaugh along with a comment about how “awesome” it was to spend a few days with the team.

Harbaugh said Gruden studied the team as if he were going to coach against them, and “gave us some insight” on where the Ravens could improve.

“We didn’t give him the playbook, we didn’t give him a script either. You can only go so far,” Harbaugh said, via Clifton Brown of the team’s official website. “He studied us. Basically, the message was, ‘If I was game planning against you on defense, what would I do, how would I attack you?’ He didn’t just stop there. He watched our offensive guys. He had something for each player. Very, very detailed.”

Gruden has not coached since 2021, when he stepped down as coach of the Raiders after some offensive emails that he sent between 2011 and 2018 were leaked. He has since sued the NFL, claiming people within the league intentionally leaked the emails to force him out of a job. He has since joined Barstool Sports, where he provides insights and analysis.

There had been some talk that Gruden might have a chance to return to an NFL sideline in 2025. That did not happen, but the Ravens certainly had no aversion to having him around for a few days.

Denny Hamlin trolls Michigan fans following win

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Denny Hamlin won his third NASCAR Cup Series race of the season on Sunday, and he continued to embrace the villain role following his latest triumph.

Hamlin took home the checkered flag at the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, which marked his third career win at the track. The 44-year-old led just five total laps and moved into first with three laps to go after William Byron had to make a pit stop for fuel.

Hamlin is a heel who loves provoking fans. He also happens to be a huge Ohio State fan, as he admittedly jumped on the Buckeye bandwagon during the team’s national championship season last year.

After he won on Sunday, Hamlin taunted Michigan fans with an Ohio State gesture:

Hamlin also encouraged the boos with his famous “I beat your favorite driver” phrase.

Hamlin is a fairly new Ohio State fan

Hamlin said he has several friends who are big Ohio State fans, which is why he began supporting the Buckeyes. He held up a flag after winning the Cook Out 400 earlier this year that said “11 Against the World.” The flag was inspired by the “Ohio Against the World” mantra that the Buckeyes embraced during their national championship run.

Hamlin attended several Ohio State games last year. He and a friend were shown on the ESPN broadcast holding an “Ohio Against the World” flag during the Buckeyes’ win over Texas in the College Football Playoff.

Hamlin loves antagonizing fans

Hamlin has openly trolled NASCAR fans numerous times in the past. The 57-time Cup Series winner is almost like a WWE personality.

No driver at NASCAR’s All-Star Race was booed more loudly than Hamlin last year. He obviously wants to make sure that continues, which is smart marketing on his part.

With Hamlin being an Ohio State fan, Sunday’s win was the perfect opportunity to turn even more fans against him.

Red Sox rookie has major trash talk for Yankees

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins will face the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday for the first time in his MLB career, and he certainly is not shying away from the experience.

Dobbins offered some bulletin board material to the Yankees prior to the start. He said his father was a diehard Red Sox fan who passed on a hatred of the Yankees from a young age.

“This is one that I’ve had circled for a long time,” Dobbins said, via Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. “My dad was a diehard Red Sox fan. And I’ve said it before, that if the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire.

“I think whoever I was playing with or whoever I would have been drafted by, I’d still hate the Yankees, so Sunday should be a fun one. I’m hoping I hit a career-high in velo or something. … I’m ready for it. Sunday can’t come fast enough.”

The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is not what it once was in the eyes of many fans and even some players. Dobbins clearly wants to bring it back. It even sounds like he is motivated more by a hatred of the Yankees than he is by any affection for the Red Sox.

Dobbins made his MLB debut earlier this year and has been solid for Boston. He enters Sunday’s outing with a 4.06 ERA in nine appearances. If he can put up a strong outing against New York, he might ride that high for weeks.

Ty Dillon ran over a squirrel on pit road

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An unfortunate squirrel found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time during Sunday’s NASCAR race in Michigan.

Ty Dillon hit the squirrel while heading into pit road during Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mi. Dillon was aware of it as it happened, telling his team on the radio that he was pretty certain he “just murdered a squirrel getting into my pit box.”

There was a brief glimpse of the squirrel on Dillon’s onboard camera. There was also other video of the squirrel dashing in front of Dillon’s vehicle, though it does not quite catch the moment of contact.

When squirrels invade sporting events, the situation they find themselves in is usually less lethal. Unfortunately, that was not the case for this poor rodent.

Dillon ultimately finished 24th, so the squirrel didn’t prove lucky or unlucky. Denny Hamlin ultimately won the race for his third victory of the season.

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