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Indiana man charged with arson after admitting to cutting off his genitals and setting them on fire
An investigation by police into an alleged stabbing in Fort Wayne, Indiana took an unexpected turn when it ended up being related to an arson investigation being conducted by the fire department at the same time.
It took an even more unexpected turn when a man eventually told investigators that he had cut off his penis and set it on fire.
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According to FOX 59, on May 6, the Fort Wayne Fire Department was investigating a fire at a detached garage while the police were busy responding to reports of a stabbing.
The owners of the garage said that a neighbor had woken them up and told them about the fire. They also said that a member of the family was missing. That family member was 36-year-old Christopher Peden.
While the fire department was looking into the cause of the fire, Peden was claiming to Fort Wayne Police that he was a stabbing victim.
On the way to the hospital, he told them that he had been stabbed in downtown Fort Wayne and that he had been threatened the day before.
Peden decided to come clean about the stabbing and what had caused the fire in the garage. According to court documents, he admitted he was "dishonest" and "wanted to be truthful."
I hope for their sake the investigators were sitting down. Peden told them, reports FOX 59, that he went to the garage and "harmed himself" by "cutting off his penis" with a kitchen knife.
He doused the freshly detached member in gasoline and "set it on fire on the floor of the garage just inside the door." He then walked away.
The court documents state that the investigators retrieved a red plastic gas container, four lighters and a kitchen knife. There was evidently no mention of the state of the severed penis.
You can imagine it didn’t fare well against the gasoline-fueled blaze. That's one hell of a Wednesday if you ask me. Peden was charged with arson.
Hurricanes owner gets dragged for putting his kids names on the Stanley Cup
It's a good time to be the Carolina Hurricanes, seeing as just a few weeks ago they hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history.
However, one of the team's moves since then is raising some serious eyebrows, and it has to do with the names they had etched on the Stanley Cup itself.
While it's not unusual to see a team's owner on the Cup, Canes owner Tom Dundon took things a step further and put the names of his wife and kids on the most famous trophy in sports.
Now, other owners have put names of family members on the Stanley Cup before.
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According to TSN, back in 1984, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington put his father Basil's name on the Cup, and it was eventually covered with X's because he had nothing to do with the championship.
However, Panthers owner Vincent Viola did this as well after his team's 2025 Cup win, and those names are still on it.
But it's fair to say that if this is the new trend in the NHL, it's not going over real well.
Oof.
I get the impulse of wanting to share something like this with your wife and kids... but, on the other hand, they really had nothing to do with it, and there's only so much real estate on the Stanley Cup.
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As you probably saw in one of those tweets, some players didn't get their name on the Cup because the Dundon youngins took priority. However, the one everyone is pointing to is Joel Nystrom, who played 38 regular-season games. The NHL requires 41-regular season games or one game in the Stanley Cup final, but teams can petition to add players.
On one hand, if you own the team, you get to call the shots, but this is the sort of thing that isn't going to go over too well within the organization. The Hurricanes' success didn't come overnight. It was the build-up of several years and a lot of effort from a lot of people.
Is it special to put your kids' name on the Stanley Cup?
Sure, but it's a lot more special to make sure those who helped you win it get on their first.
Josh Allen says he would be 'very honored' to play for Team USA in flag football at 2028 Olympics
The FIFA World Cup may be dominating the sporting landscape across the Americas, but another football movement is beginning to take shape.
With the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, flag football is rapidly emerging as one of the most anticipated additions to the Games.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently shared his excitement about the tournament and revealed that many players are eager to represent their countries on the Olympic stage.
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"I've had a lot of players that have said, ‘We want to participate in that,’" Goodell told ESPN's "Women's Sports Now" recently.
"These players are competitors, and they love the big stage. To win a gold medal or any medal is something I think they would all treasure. They talk about it all the time.
"So, I absolutely believe we're going to have players in the Olympics."
BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN DEFENDS PLAY STYLE, NOT FEELING PRESSURE TO WIN SUPER BOWL
Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, says count him among the active NFL players interested in representing the United States in the Summer Games two years from now.
"I'm interested," Allen told Fox News Digital on behalf of Natrol. The sleep-aid brand recently announced an expanded partnership with the Buffalo Bills quarterback.
Allen acknowledged that watching flag football has given him an appreciation for the unique challenges the sport presents.
"I've always thought it would be really cool to compete for my country. Now, if I have the skill set, that's a different story. I watched (flag football) not too long ago when it was on TV. Those guys just kind of move different. Their hips are dipping a foot down and they're able to evade. I can throw with the best of them. But I'm better at usually running through people than spinning and getting around them.
Allen said earning the chance to compete for gold and play for Team USA at the Summer Games would mark a special chapter in his athletic career.
"We will see. I'd be very honored to do it," he said.
Goodell said the Olympic calendar creates a natural window for NFL players to take part, with flag football set to be played before training camps open. He expects active players — and possibly recently retired stars — to be in the mix when the sport makes its Olympic debut.
The 2028 Summer Olympics are slated to begin in mid-July.
In May 2025, a resolution was introduced to NFL team owners that would allow one player from each NFL roster to compete in the 2028 Games. An exemption would be granted for each team's designated international player representing his home country.
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Black bear raiding a garbage can at Lake Tahoe garage triggers dramatic wildlife encounter
A California man says a black bear charged at him outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home over the Fourth of July holiday, prompting him to deploy bear spray in a dramatic encounter captured on video.
Cortlandt Koerwitz of Sacramento told KCRA 3 that the encounter began after his daughter spotted the bear rummaging through a garbage can inside the home's garage.
Koerwitz said he grabbed bear spray and went outside to investigate, but the encounter escalated within seconds when the animal rushed toward him.
WOMAN STALKED BY CHARGING BEAR ON MORNING DOG WALK CAPTURES TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER ON CAMERA
"I just kind of caught something out of my left eye, and it was the bear rushing in. We were both startled, and I just shot the spray. And the overspray from that, you know, the shot hit me and hit my eyes," Koerwitz said.
Video obtained by KCRA 3 shows Koerwitz approaching the garage before the bear suddenly charges toward him. Moments later, he deploys the bear spray, and the bear turns away and runs off.
Koerwitz told the station that bears frequently wander through the Lake Tahoe area in search of food and often get into trash cans or unlocked vehicles, but he described the aggressive behavior in this encounter as unusual.
HIDDEN DANGER AT POPULAR US NATIONAL PARK FORCES TRAIL CLOSURES AS BEAR SIGHTINGS CLIMB
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are common throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and are often drawn into neighborhoods by unsecured garbage and other easily accessible food sources. Wildlife officials encourage residents and visitors to secure trash, keep food out of vehicles and remove other attractants to reduce conflicts between bears and people.
The Lake Tahoe Basin is home to a healthy black bear population, and wildlife officials routinely remind residents and tourists that bears are naturally curious and possess an exceptional sense of smell, making improperly stored food and garbage a frequent source of human-bear encounters.
Koerwitz said he hopes sharing his experience serves as a reminder for residents and visitors to secure their garbage, remove food from vehicles and remain alert when spending time in bear country.
Fox News Digital reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for comment. A department spokesperson said the inquiry had been forwarded to the Tahoe wildlife conflict team.
FIRST ON FOX: School lied, hid daughter's gender transition under district policy, parents allege
FIRST ON FOX: A Maryland school district is being sued after parents accused school officials of hiding their daughter's social gender transition and then citing district policy to justify keeping them in the dark.
America First Legal (AFL) is leading the lawsuit on behalf of anonymous parents identified as John and Jane Doe. The plaintiffs argue Anne Arundel County Public Schools' policies violate their First and 14th Amendment rights, as well as similar provisions of the Maryland Constitution. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
The lawsuit is part of a growing wave of legal challenges targeting school districts with policies allowing staff to withhold information about a student's gender identity from parents. It also comes months after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Mirabelli v. Bonta, which America First Legal says reinforced parents' constitutional rights over decisions involving their children.
Ian Prior, senior advisor at America First Legal and counsel for the plaintiffs, said the district ignored that precedent.
NBC ANCHOR FORCED TO EXPLAIN USE OF TERM 'BIOLOGICAL MALE' DURING COVERAGE OF SUPREME COURT RULING
"The school system was referring to our client's daughter by a male name and assuming a male identity for their daughter, and they didn't approve that. And they weren't told of that. And when they did find out about it, and they questioned the school, they were quite frankly lied to about it," Prior told Fox News Digital.
"They said this is not going to happen anymore. We deny consent. And the school said, 'Well, too bad, that's the law.' Unfortunately, for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, that is not the law."
Prior said the Supreme Court made clear in Mirabelli that "parents have a fundamental right to raise their children" and argued schools cannot facilitate a child's social transition without parental notice and consent.
According to the complaint, the dispute began in December 2025 after a teacher accidentally emailed the parents using a male name for their daughter before attempting to recall the message and later claiming it had been sent to the wrong recipient. The lawsuit alleges the teacher later admitted the explanation was false and acknowledged the student had requested to be called by a male name. The parents then instructed school officials to use only their daughter's legal name and requested records related to the school's actions.
The complaint alleges school administrators refused those requests, citing the district's policies and telling the parents that school staff were required to honor the student's preferred name while at school.
Months later, another teacher allegedly used the same male name in an email about an upcoming field trip. When the parents questioned it, the lawsuit says, the teacher initially gave a false explanation before admitting the name referred to their daughter.
According to the lawsuit, the district's policies require staff to use students' preferred names and pronouns and keep information about their gender identity confidential without notifying or getting permission from parents.
"It's really unfortunate that this even has to result in litigation, because, again, the Supreme Court has been very clear about what schools can and cannot do. But what we've really seen throughout the country is that, in order to get schools to adhere to the Constitution and the law of the land, you have to bring them to court and get a court order demanding that they follow the law," Prior told Fox News Digital.
The Maryland case is the latest in a series of lawsuits AFL has filed challenging school policies governing student gender identity.
Just weeks earlier, on June 22, 2025, America First Legal filed a separate federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Fairfax County Public Schools. That lawsuit alleges the district's policy violates parents' constitutional rights by allowing school staff to socially transition students, including using different names and pronouns at school without notifying parents in certain circumstances. The Fairfax litigation remains in its early stages.
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Prior said AFL is also pursuing similar parental rights cases in Pennsylvania and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California.
The litigation also comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to challenge school policies concerning parental notification and gender identity. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education concluded that the California Department of Education remains in violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), finding that state policies pressure school officials to conceal information about students' gender identity from parents. California has pushed back against the federal government's conclusions and related legal challenges remain ongoing.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools declined to comment on the litigation.
Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state
Cases of cyclosporiasis infections are rising across America, with more than 1,000 people diagnosed in Michigan and more than 500 in Ohio.
This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan's history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.
The parasitic infection can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. The source of the infections has not been identified and no deaths have been reported.
MYSTERY PARASITE LEAVES AMERICANS BATTLING ‘EXPLOSIVE' ILLNESS AS CDC INVESTIGATES
Michigan officials announced the outbreak last week following the identification of more than 170 cases since June 22 in the southeastern part of the state. Typically, only about 50 cases are identified in Michigan each year, according to AP.
Similar illnesses have been reported in 28 other states, including neighboring Ohio, where diagnoses have popped up across the Michigan border.
Cases have been climbing since the CDC identified an uptick in infections in mid-June, with illnesses now reported in dozens of states.
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Michigan has now reported more than 1,200 cases and at least 40 hospitalizations. In Ohio, northwest counties have identified more than 500 cases, including at least 306 in Lucas County, according to the latest available local figures.
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Texas has reported at least 48 cases, and illnesses have been identified in numerous other states as health officials investigate the source.
The hallmark symptom of a cyclospora infection is watery, often "explosive" diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says.
Other symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss.
The official outbreak season for the parasite runs from May 1 through Aug. 31, a window where warmer temperatures historically coincide with a spike in infections, according to the CDC.
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While the infection can sometimes clear up on its own, it frequently requires antibiotics. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment.
The CDC, alongside the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials, is actively investigating several multistate clusters, but they have yet to find a cause behind the spread.
Past infections have reportedly been linked to consuming contamined fruits or vegetables, or being exposed to contaminated irrigation water.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before being eaten, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted.
Michigan officials recommend purchasing salad mixes or whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, bagged lettuce. Remove two to three leaves from the outer layer of the lettuce head before washing and cook vegetables when possible.
Fox News Digital's Khloe Quill contributed to this report.
Accused Charlie Kirk assassin allegedly confessed in texts, apologized and described motive, agent testifies
PROVO, Utah – Tyler Robinson allegedly admitted to assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in text messages to his roommate after the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting, apologized for his actions and claimed he acted because he "had enough of his hatred," according to testimony Thursday during Robinson's preliminary hearing.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis read portions of the text exchange in court as prosecutors continued presenting evidence against Robinson, 23, who is charged with assassinating Kirk outside a "Prove Me Wrong" event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Reading from the exchange, Davis testified Robinson sent his roommate, Lance Twiggs, a message shortly after the shooting that read, "Stop what you're doing. Look under the keyboard."
Davis then read another alleged message from Robinson.
"I'm still okay, my love, but I'm stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but gotta grab my rifle," the message read. "Still, to be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you."
Twiggs allegedly replied, "You weren't the one who did it, right?"
"I am. I'm sorry."
After Twiggs wrote, "I thought they caught the person," Davis read Robinson's alleged response.
"No, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from the drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down," Davis read. "It's quiet, almost enough to get out, but there's one vehicle lingering."
When Twiggs asked why Robinson carried out the shooting, Davis testified Robinson replied: "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out. If I'm able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again. Hopefully they have moved on."
Robinson added, "I haven't seen anything in the news about them finding it. We'll update you by midnight."
After Twiggs asked how long he had been planning the shooting, Davis read Robinson's response: "A bit over a week. I believe I can get close to it, but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don't want to chance it."
CHARLIE KIRK FAMILY DEMANDS JUDGE REVEAL HIDDEN EVIDENCE FROM ACCUSED ASSASSIN'S HEARING
Davis also read messages in which Robinson allegedly described trying to recover the rifle.
"While they were parked there, if they had found it, I imagine there would be more commotion. Again, I'm sorry for roping you into all of this. You shouldn't have to worry about this."
When Twiggs asked why Robinson left the rifle behind, Davis read his alleged response.
"I worry about prints. I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits, didn't have the ability or time to bring it with."
According to Davis, Robinson later wrote, "I'll bet that K-9 sniffed it out. We replace it? Unlikely. I don't fully know what the gun was because it was old as s--- and Gramps did some modifying."
He also referenced bullets he had engraved before the shooting.
"Remember how I was engraving bullets? The f------ messages are mostly a big meme. If I see notices... on Fox News, I might have a stroke."
The exchange concluded with Robinson allegedly writing, "No, my dad wanted to use a high caliber for the rifle hunt. Judging from today, I say Gramps' gun does just fine."
Davis testified that Robinson then instructed Twiggs: "Delete this exchange."
Davis also testified Robinson later texted, "I'm going to turn myself in willingly. One of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff. We hope to keep things sort of quiet here."
The final message Davis read from the exchange stated: "If any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and stay silent. My lawyer should be Doug Terry. I'll see if he can reach out to you and make sure the police follow."
'American houses are for American people': Trump housing chief insists immigration crackdown will lower costs
EXCLUSIVE: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the Trump administration is working to counteract the housing cost surges that he said resulted from Joe Biden's open border policies.
Speaking exclusively with Fox News Digital from the Great American State Fair on Thursday, Turner insisted President Donald Trump's team is pursuing policies to improve affordability, a key midterm issue, and bring down home price and rent cost spikes that correlated with the influx of illegal immigration under the previous administration.
Republicans have argued their agenda will bring down home prices and rents by cutting regulations, increasing housing supply and cracking down on illegal immigration.
BIDEN'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SURGE CAUSED HIGHER RENT AND HOME PRICES, FED STUDY FINDS
"When we first came in with President Trump, we had open borders. We had tens of millions of illegals in our country," Turner said, arguing that increased housing demand from unauthorized immigration drove up costs for American citizens.
A recent Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas working paper reached a similar conclusion, estimating that every 1% increase in unauthorized immigrant workers was associated with a roughly 2.2% increase in home prices and a 1.4% increase in rents.
Turner said that beyond rolling back regulations, expanding mortgage credit and removing barriers to new construction, reducing illegal immigration is key to helping ease demand for housing.
THE SURPRISING HIDDEN COST QUIETLY ADDING NEARLY $132K TO NEW HOME PRICES REVEALED
He also said the Trump administration's immigration crackdown is a key part of the president's broader effort to reduce costs for American families amid an ongoing affordability crisis.
"Here in America, we prioritize American people and American people only. American houses are for American people," Turner said.
Asked when Americans can expect to see lower housing costs, Turner argued the administration is already taking steps to make housing more affordable.
"I think there is a misperception that this is not a priority. It is of the utmost priority," Turner said.
A PROBLEM HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IS KEEPING AMERICANS FROM BUYING HOMES
As evidence, Turner pointed to two executive orders Trump signed that together work to remove regulatory barriers to affordable housing construction, expand access to mortgage credit and increase housing supply.
The HUD secretary said the administration is also rolling back regulations and "bureaucratic red tape" put in place under the Biden administration to lower construction costs and spur more homebuilding.
"That's what we're doing now, we are easing the regulatory environment, bringing the cost down, raising the supply so builders can build and homeowners can buy," he said, describing those efforts as key to making homeownership more affordable for American families.
US soccer star Christian Pulisic reportedly suffered microfracture in leg, speaks out on social media
U.S. soccer star Christian Pulisic reportedly sustained a microfracture in his leg during the team's 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday in Seattle.
Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture in his leg in the loss and will be sidelined for several weeks, but not months, according to The Athletic's report on Thursday. He appeared to sustain the injury when he attempted a shot in the 52nd minute but hit a Belgian defender's calf instead of the ball.
Pulisic, 27, has been widely criticized for his postgame comments after the team's loss in the Round of 16 about his injury after he said he now has time to "rest" following the injury, which drew the ire of many.
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He made his first post to social media since the deflating loss on Wednesday, Pulisic said it was tough to find words.
"Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through. It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more," Pulisic captioned his post.
"I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America," he wrote with an American flag emoji.
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The AC Milan star has been the face of U.S. soccer since the turn of the decade but struggled at the World Cup. He reaggravated a calf injury in the opening round, which forced him to miss nearly two full games.
Pulisic came back from the injury and played in both the Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the match against Belgium but was not effective before leaving due to injury. In four World Cup games, he recorded just two shots on target and one assist.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania, native will now return to AC Milan and look to move on ahead of the upcoming Serie A season as he recovers.
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Sophie Cunningham further humiliates her finger-wag victim, a shameful Bryce Harper video & MLB has gone soft!
Over the hump and safely onto the other side. We don't quite have the juice we had this time last week going into a holiday weekend, but it's OK.
Sometimes, we need to rest and recover. That's what the summer is all about. The World Cup is still going on, but does anyone really care anymore? No.
Baseball is nearing the All-Star break, which means we'll get the Home Run Derby in a few days ... if you can find it.
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Spoiler alert: It's on Netflix now! Wonderful.
Football is still a few weeks away from really ramping up. We've got a week until the final major of the golf season. This is sort of a transition week for us, right? We're firmly in the dog days right now. The first half of summer is behind us. Now, we have to grind.
And grind, we will!
Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham throws on a catsuit of sorts and takes another shot at the WNBA mean girls.
She just doesn't miss, does she?
What else? I've got a question for all of our high school parents in class today, and, amazingly, we had ANOTHER pitcher pulled last night during a perfect game.
What is going on in Major League Baseball right now? It's disgusting. It's un-American. It has to stop.
OK, grab you a handful of fries for National French Fry Day, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!
I'm quite sure we've done this one before (mainly because I went back and looked), but I'm gonna go ahead and recycle my Mount Rushmore of Fries today. Lord knows there ain't anything else going on.
I'd also accept: Chick-Fil-A, although the butt-pieces of waffle fries are disgusting, so it's a slippery little slope. I'll also listen to any sweet potato truthers in class, too.
That's right. Some people scoff at sweet potato fries, but, done right, they are elite. Dip them in some of that marshmallow/pineapple sauce like a true slob, and it's game over. What a country.
OK, let's get down to business. It's slim pickens today, so I don't want to hear it.
First up? Sophie Cunningham doubled down on her viral finger-wag a few weeks ago, calling Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner "Miss Priss" in an interview on Shannon Spake's "Sons and Daughters" podcast."
"Caitlin got a technical and looking back I think both of them deserved a technical like, trying to clean up the game, whatever," Cunningham said in the full clip, which can be seen here.
"And so I wasn't even speaking to Miss Priss over there and I was just like, 'Hey, if Caitlin got a check, I think she deserves one.' Like, wasn't even looking at her and I just like kind of pointed and it just made her mad, and she was like, 'Don't you point at me.'
"And I was 'Oh, (she) shouldn't have said that.' And so then I just didn't say a word. I did not say a word to her. I just pointed."
Love her or hate her, at least Sophie Cunningham isn't a BSer. A lot of these athletes just dance around the subject and toe the line. Not Sophie. She wants all the smoke.
Now, did she follow that interview up with a 2-point game last night? Sure. But that's what we call semantics in this business!
You know what's not semantics? This new rule passed by USA Baseball this week.
Batter up!
Whoooooooooooooooa Nellie! They're letting high school players use drop 4, 5 and 6 bats now? Seems ... risky.
For those who aren't up on the lingo, "bat drop weights" is the difference between a bat's length (in inches) and its weight (in ounces). For example, the current rules say a bat must be -3, or a drop-3. If a bat is 31 inches long, it must be weigh 28 ounces. That's standard practice for bats in high school baseball.
Starting in 2028, they're now gonna be allowed to use lighter bats? Wild. Here's the kicker. USA Baseball sold the move as a necessary one to "keeping more athletes in baseball and supporting their long-term development."
"We have seen too many athletes entering high school baseball struggle with the immediate jump to the -3-drop weight and then walk away from the game," USA Baseball President John Gall said.
Huh?
They're billing it as a way to keep players from "walking away from the game," which is puzzling. I've never once seen nor heard of a player walk away from high school baseball because the bat was too heavy. Come on.
Basically, in the name of inclusivity, USA Baseball has now put a lighter bat in the hands of a 220-pound, 5-tool prospect who can already tear the cover off the ball as is.
Can't wait to see how that goes!
OK, couple quickies on the way out. First? Let's stay on the diamond and check in on the state of Major League Baseball:
Amazing. That's TWICE in the past week that a starting pitcher has been yanked during a perfect game. I'll go ahead and rehash what I said earlier this week, and then we'll move on, because I am DISGUSTED.
Unlike no-hitters, which happen often(ish), perfect games almost never happen. In fact, there have only been 24 official perfect games in MLB history. Twenty-four!
Baseball has been around for a century, give or take. It's really been around for much longer, but we'll just go back 100 years to make it a nice, round number. In that time, we've only seen 24 (!!!) perfect games.
And now, in the span of five days, we've seen two pitchers get yanked during one: Eury Perez of the Marlins last weekend, and Jared Jones last night.
Make Baseball Great Again!
Finally, on the way out, let's check in with FanDuel, MLB and Bryce Harper!
Just a WILD story out of Philly today. Truly insane. A man with a gambling addiction got a personalized video sent to him, via FanDuel, of Bryce Harper ... thanking him for his support? That's just barbaric. What have we come to in this country?
Look, I love sports gambling. It's truly one of my favorite things to do in the fall (for about 30 minutes before the 1 p.m. games start and I immediately lose everything). But I do it for fun. I'm talking $5 bets on Saquon Barkley to be the first TD scorer of the game.
I know my limits. Some folks, clearly, don't. And that's on them, partially. But let's not sit here and pretend the casinos don't play a role. And now we're sending out VIP videos to people a million dollars in the hole?
Whooooof. I'm all for some dark humor, but Lordy, even that one crosses a line for me.
OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. You did well.
Related to absolutely nothing, here's Scottie Scheffler proving that technology is a load of crap to take us home.
See you tomorrow.
OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).
Thoughts on the new high school bat? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.