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Justin Verlander's retirement announcement comes with a well-earned hat tip to SI Swimsuit legend Kate Upton
Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that this season would be the last of his career. His return to the Detroit Tigers hasn't gone as planned.
He's given up five earned runs in just three and two thirds innings of work due to injury. Even more disappointing than those numbers was the wasted bikini welcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit had for him ahead of what was supposed to be his first home start back in April.
Verlander missed that start and hasn't pitched in a game since his first start of the season in Arizona back in March. His retirement announcement came after Major League Baseball revealed that he had been selected to his 10th All-Star Game as a "Legend Pick."
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The game of baseball has told him it's time to hang it up. The All-Star and retirement announcements have come, as you would expect, with a look back at his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP has three Cy Young Awards to his name. He has two World Series rings and three no-hitters to go along with his other accolades.
PHILLIES STAR SAYS 'BS RULE' IS KEEPING HIM FROM BEING NAMED ALL-STAR IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD
Verlander is also eighth on the all-time strikeout list with a real shot at seventh place, needing only 21 more strikeouts to pass Don Sutton.
As with any mention of his career achievements, the internet, as you would also expect, has made sure to give a well-earned hat tip to his wife, Kate Upton. A legend in her own right.
You really can't tell the full story of Justin Verlander's remarkable career without a mention of the four-time SI Swimsuit cover model.
She's been there through every high and low. And as he pointed out in his announcement, he couldn't have done it without her.
What a career, even if it doesn't end how one of the best to ever lace up a pair of cleats hoped it would. Again, you're not sneaking a retirement announcement by the internet without a round of applause for Mrs. Verlander.
Platner drops out of crucial Senate race after bombshell rape allegation torpedoes campaign
Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday amid mounting controversies and growing calls from top Democrats in his home state, in the nation's capital, and across the country for him to immediately quit the race.
Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.
"For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media.
Platner's exit from the race comes five days before a crucial deadline, which, if he had missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing him with a new nominee on the general election ballot.
The suspension of his campaign took place one month after Platner won a landslide victory in Maine's June 9 Democratic Senate primary, but just two days after an explosive report on Monday afternoon contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.
SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION DESPITE MOUNTING CONTROVERSIES
Addressing those allegations, Platner said, "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real."
And Platner, who has run an outsider, anti-establishment campaign for nearly a year, pointed to the political class and argued, "the brutal political reality is they are going to take everything away from us."
"Those in power who have the ability to do so are using these allegations as an excuse to take away all the things that we need to run a campaign," he charged.
The allegation that triggered Platner's exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN's Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her.
"I thought, here's a man who was drunk and who, by dictionary definition, raped me. And he's blaming drunk women," Racicot said. "So I just felt like that was a very odd take to have on that. And I also feel like with all of the comments that he made about women, sexual assault, rape, even, um, you know, the comments that he had made that was in The New York Times article about, you know, threatening people with rape, like, why does this person have this issue, like scattered throughout their life, throughout their commentary, like it‘s on their mind?"
Racicot also said over the course of three interviews with Politico that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago against her will, a claim that Platner denied in the Politico story. Additionally, the report says that a man Racicot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist.
"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk." "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"
Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times.
Racicot said in the report that "one of the reasons" she didn't come forward until now was the "huge moral conflict" she had between her support of Platner's politics and not supporting him "as a person."
"I just want the truth out there," Racicot said. "I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person."
In a statement to Politico, Platner said, "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."
The Platner campaign also posted a video on X shortly after the Politico story published where Platner again called the allegations "false" and that he was going to "reflect" on the best path forward.
"So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner says in the video. "Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today."
Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety on Tuesday. In a report published by The Washington Post, Platner was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them.
Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she "calmed down."
In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign said that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated," as they pointed to her previous work for the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer became the all-but-certain nominee in the spring, after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who had been backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democrat establishment, suspended her bid after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.
But Platner was forced onto defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies that muddied the final days of his primary campaign and overshadowed his victory.
Past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account came back to haunt him at the same time he was reeling from revelations of a now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol. Then reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married came right before allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.
Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue.
A day before the primary last month, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in a Washington Post op/ed that Platner "is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country."
The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention, gave Republicans more ammunition to use against him and triggered some Democrats in the nation's capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods.
But the allegations didn't stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination.
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Platner, who had acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.
And Platner said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol.
But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raised questions about Platner's timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.
In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he was a changed man.
"If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change," Platner told the crowd. "And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife."
Platner's suspension of his campaign comes just before a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 13, set by state law, for candidates to withdraw from the race.
Since Platner dropped out ahead of the deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot. The party needs to select a new nominee by July 27.
If Platner had exited the race after the deadline, his name could be stricken from the ballot, but Maine Democrats would not be able to replace him with another candidate.
The Maine Democratic Party on Tuesday night, in a stunning announcement, said that party officials were working "around the clock" to determine a replacement process, but claimed that Platner and his team were trying "to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like."
Platner's team, responding, said they had reached out to the party but denied they were trying to put any "finger on the scale."
THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE'S MAJORITY
Rumors about Platner potentially dropping out started swirling this past weekend, as multiple events by the candidate were canceled without an official explanation. The Bangor Daily News reported on Monday that one organizer said an event was canceled due to Platner "not feeling well."
The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate whether there was an underlying reason for the cancelations or an impending end to his campaign.
Collins said in a statement, "These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."
As Monday afternoon turned into Monday evening, a growing chorus of leading Democrats called on Platner to quit the race.
Schumer called the allegations in the Politico report "incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable."
In a statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Schumer emphasized, "Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."
Senate Majority PAC, the Schumer-aligned top super PAC backing Senate Democratic incumbents and candidates, said it was "redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations against Graham Platner."
The leadership of the Maine Democratic Party, in a statement, said it "is calling Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate."
One of Platner's top supporters in Congress, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, rescinded his endorsement.
"I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna wrote in a social media post.
Khanna, a top progressive leader in the House, told Fox News Digital as he campaigned with Platner in Maine days ahead of the primary that he was "concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that."
"I talked to Graham, and he says he was at a very dark period. He had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it," Khanna said last month.
Also dropping their endorsement on Monday was Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who along with Khanna is considered a potential 2028 White House hopeful.
"The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious," Gallego wrote on X. "I am rescinding my endorsement."
So did progressive champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had endorsed and appeared with Platner.
Our Revolution, a progressive political action organization founded by Sanders, announced it was withdrawing its endorsement of Platner.
On Tuesday, Sanders finally put out a statement.
"I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside," the senator wrote.
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Platner, who launched his bid for U.S. Senate last summer, quickly started drawing large crowds and built a healthy fundraising war chest earlier this year, thanks, in part, to Sanders' early support and the candidate's tireless efforts on the trail.
Two polls conducted late last month indicated a close general election contest. A Fox News poll gave Collins a three-point edge, while a New York Times/Siena survey indicated Platner holding a two-point margin.
But beating Collins hasn't been easy. Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by defeating then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points.
Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump's agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate.
Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority.
Fox News' Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report
Saints' Cam Jordan eyes Super Bowl glory in what he expects to be final NFL season
New Orleans Saints legend Cam Jordan hopes the door to his career isn’t cracked an inch.
And he plans to slam it shut after year 16 in the NFL this upcoming season.
Jordan, coming off a 10½-sack 2025 campaign, re-signed with the Saints for one more year. And though the word "retirement" has not yet been uttered, Jordan has made it known he is going into this season expecting it to be his last in the league.
"I’ve been doing this since year 10," Jordan told Fox News Digital over the phone, while also discussing his excitement to work alongside fellow pass rushers at the annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas this week alongside third-year official sponsor Raising Cane’s.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Do I feel good? Absolutely. Do I feel better not being part of OTAs? Physically, yes," Jordan said.
One of Jordan’s superpowers, other than getting after the quarterback, setting the edge and doing what a future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end can do, is being candid no matter the situation.
After seeing what first-year head coach Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had in place for him last year, Jordan knows his role on the Saints defense, saying he "can do whatever needs to be done" for his team. People questioned him playing a two-point stance (an upright position with no hands on the ground at the line of scrimmage), but it clearly worked out when you view his numbers.
AARON RODGERS CONFIRMS HE'S RETIRING AFTER UPCOMING SEASON WITH THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Jordan knows he can help this Saints team that’s filled with potential, and that fire in his gut still burns to make a difference in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. There’s also one last run in him to achieve his dream.
"The ultimate dream is to win a Super Bowl," Jordan said. "You go into childhood, coming out of childhood, like, ‘Man, I want to be just like the greats.’ For some reason, we accumulate the idea of success in football to winning a Super Bowl because it’s the ultimate team sport. That’s the ultimate team dream."
The personal accolades have been abundant for Jordan since he came out of the Cal Bears' system as the 24th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Saints took him, and he hasn’t left Louisiana, showcasing loyalty on and off the field while racking up 132 sacks, the 17th most all time.
Jordan's goal during his final season in the black and gold will be to accumulate enough sacks to make it eight seasons in double digits. If he does so, he’ll be top 10 all-time in sacks.
"You look at year 16 — this is who I am. This is my body of work. It has never changed," Jordan added.
But, again, Jordan believes his Hall of Fame worthiness is etched in stone already. He could write his speech for Canton, Ohio, now before playing his final season.
Will that speech include the words "Super Bowl champion?"
Jordan certainly hopes so because what else is there to chase when you believe you've already done enough to earn a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
"I was sitting there this offseason, and I was like, ‘Man, what is it I want to accomplish?’ A Super Bowl. Personally speaking, I’ve done it all. All-Pro, Pro Bowls. Hell, I put together a Pro Bowl-esque season last year."
Jordan, who turns 37 Friday, is ready to give his all one last time before that door closes.
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Left-wing host presses El-Sayed over 'physician' claim, questions honesty of Michigan Dem Senate hopeful
Left-wing host Mehdi Hasan pressed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday over why he called himself a "physician" despite not having a valid state medical license as the Democrat competes in a closely watched primary.
"You got attacked by your rivals for calling yourself a physician, not just a doctor, even though you don’t have a valid state medical license in New York or Michigan, which apparently is what you need legally to call yourself a physician," Hasan said during a Zeteo interview. "Do you wish you’d just stuck to calling yourself a doctor, which you are, to avoid all of this controversy and attacks on your physician status?"
"You know, at the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not I’m a physician or a doctor," El-Sayed said. "It’s not about my education. It’s about whether or not your kid gets a good education."
"That’s a good line, but people would say it’s also about did you tell the truth?" Hasan said.
Hasan raised the question after noting that El-Sayed’s rivals had attacked him for calling himself a "physician" rather than a doctor.
After El-Sayed initially tried to steer the exchange toward healthcare access and education, he defended his public health record, saying he had helped more people through government service than many doctors do in clinical practice.
"Well, I would say that I was the health director for the city of Detroit, and I’ve done more to provide more people healthcare or eliminate their medical debt than most doctors have done in their practice career," El-Sayed said. "So, I’m proud of the work that I did."
DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: 'WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?'
El-Sayed said he changed course with his medical training after graduating from Columbia University.
"I took my medical education in a different direction," El-Sayed said. "And I did graduate from a school that’s literally called Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. So, you know, you can go have that argument with Columbia University if you’d like."
El-Sayed has repeatedly described himself as a "physician" on the campaign trail and in public biographies despite records showing he never held a medical license in Michigan or New York.
El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment.
WATCH: SURFACED VIDEOS OF DEM SENATE CANDIDATE BACKING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' CONTRADICT RECENT DENIALS
Hasan also pressed El-Sayed on his personal finance disclosure, noting that Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., had attacked him and Republican Mike Rogers over their finances.
"You sought an extension through Aug. 13, I believe, which is after the primary," Hasan said. "Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?"
El-Sayed said the delay was related to family finances and overseas property.
"No, just taxes get complicated," El-Sayed said. "My wife and her family own property abroad, and, so, getting all those tax forms is a thing."
Bridge Michigan reported that El-Sayed filed an extension to delay his 2026 personal financial disclosure until after the Aug. 4 primary and that the report is now due Aug. 13. Bridge also reported that Stevens had requested 90-day extensions for her personal financial disclosures each year from 2019 to 2025, though she did not seek one this year.
Stevens’ campaign told Fox News Digital El-Sayed pledged on camera after a WOOD-TV debate to release his personal financial disclosures before the Aug. 4 primary after Haley Stevens pressed him over his decision to file an extension.
"Now, the clock is ticking. Abdul needs to make good on his promise to Michiganders and release his PFD immediately. What is he hiding?" Haley Stevens for Senate communications director Arik Wolk said.
Chicago Blackhawks dealt devastating blow with Connor Bedard expected to miss start of season
It's the middle of the summer, which means there isn't a ton of NHL news to sift through, but there is some, and, in the case of the Chicago Blackhawks, it's very bad.
That's because the team just learned their franchise centerpiece, Connor Bedard, will be out of action four months after getting injured while training.
That means he won't be back in the team's lineup until November.
NHL TEAM'S ROUGH OFFSEASON GETS WORSE AS FRANCHISE LEGEND LEAVES TO COACH FOR ARCH-RIVAL
Bedard was training in Vancouver last week when video started making the rounds showing him falling during a drill and leaving the ice in clear discomfort.
Well, that discomfort was real, and, on Wednesday the Blackhawks announced the 2023 first overall pick had undergone surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery.
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He will miss some action early in the upcoming season.
The Blackhawks will be happy to have him back a month or so into the season as opposed to having him miss four months of the regular season, but that is going to make Chicago's start to the season critical.
The Blackhawks play in a tough Central Division, and they have to keep pace with the likely playoff teams in it — squads like the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, Mammoth and maybe Jets — so that they don't have to dig out of a hole when Bedard returns to action.
Bedard is no stranger to injuries. He battled an injury to his right shoulder last season, and in his rookie campaign in 2024-25, he broke his jaw.
When he's healthy, he has averaged a little under a point per game, something the Blackhawks will need as they continue to work their way back to being perennial playoff contenders.
Who is Valli Geiger? Meet the Maine Dem that Platner is urging to run for Senate
Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden national attention after saying embattled Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner encouraged her to consider taking his place on the ballot in the Maine Senate race if he withdraws.
Geiger has not been named the replacement nominee, and Platner has not formally dropped out. However, her name entered the Maine Senate scramble after she told local outlet WMTW that Platner called her Monday night, praised her as a "fighter" and asked whether he could put her name forward. Platner’s campaign told the outlet he had not made an endorsement decision but confirmed he encouraged Geiger to consider running if he stepped aside.
After Geiger said Platner called her about potentially putting her name forward, Geiger posted Tuesday she would not "throw Graham under the bus," while also saying she would not "slander or accuse" Jenny Racicot, the woman who accused Platner of rape, "of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it."
By Wednesday, local outlets were reporting that Geiger said Platner had encouraged her to consider running if he withdrew. Platner has denied the claim.
Geiger is a third-term Democratic state representative from Rockland, according to her legislative biography, representing a coastal House district in Maine that includes Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.
Before entering the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland City Council, including one year as mayor and four years on the Rockland Comprehensive Planning Commission, three of them as chair.
Her biography says she holds a master’s degree in sustainable design and built her own passive-solar, net-zero-energy house. It also describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center who later worked as a health policy analyst and health administrator, including as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and clinical director for Federally Qualified Health Centers around Maine.
PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING ‘THUMB ON SCALE’ TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES
Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the latest replacement speculation. Local reporting has described her as a close Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she previously stood with him and credited him with helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.
In her Facebook post responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story "seems credible" but added that "none of us knows the truth nor will we ever." She also described Platner as "a man becoming a better man" and said she had hoped he would lead the political movement his campaign had built and will not "throw Graham under the bus."
In the post, Geiger also praised Platner’s "passion for economic populism" and said she had granted him "an enormous amount of grace" for his behavior during what she described as his "dark years" after multiple deployments.
The Maine state representative is not the only Democrat whose name has surfaced as Maine Democrats prepare for the possibility that Platner exits the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Several Democrats have expressed interest or are considering bids, including former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.
Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.
NHL star says signing Leo Carlsson at record $18 million a year could end up being a steal
The talk of the NHL has been all about the Philadelphia Flyers swooping in and offering Anaheim Ducks RFA Leo Carlsson a behemoth, five-year deal with an $18 million AAV.
That's a hefty price to pay, and it will make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league whether he heads to Philly or the Ducks match.
However, Florida Panthers star Brady Tkachuk thinks that whoever takes on the 21-year-old center's $18 million cap hit could be getting a deal.
FLYERS MAKE STUNNING OFFER SHEET FOR DUCKS STAR LEO CARLSSON IN BLOCKBUSTER NHL MOVE
Brady and his brother, Matthew, talked about the offer sheet on their "Wingmen" podcast as the Ducks' window to match the offer sheet continues to close.
"Eighteen million is not an overpay whatsoever," Brady said, to which his brother and teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, agreed. "Unbelievable; he comes as advertised. Eighteen million is probably going to be underpaid. That's how good this player is."
THE TALLEST PLAYER EVER SELECTED IN THE NHL BLEW MINDS IN HIS DEBUT WITH THE SAN JOSE SHARKS
Tkachuk is probably right, especially as the cap continues to go up. When stars like San Jose's Macklin Celebrini and Chicago's Connor Bedard become eligible for new contracts, they could easily surpass Carlsson's deal.
Of course, the Ducks' problem isn't whether Carlsson is worth $18 million a year — if GM Pat Verbeek thought he wasn't, this offer sheet never would've materialized. The real issue is whether Anaheim has the cap space to match it.
The bind Flyers GM Danny Briere created is that the Ducks had just under $18 million in projected cap space when the offer sheet arrived. They then re-signed defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, leaving them with roughly $9 million.
But they also have to consider extensions for future RFAs Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, which makes matching Carlsson not only harder, but riskier.
The Ducks have until Friday to make a decision, and if they don't match it, they will receive a boatload of first-round picks from the Flyers as compensation.
Stephen Colbert rakes record number of Emmy nominations after 'Late Show' series cancellation
The final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" earned nine Emmy nominations on Wednesday, the largest haul for the series since Colbert took over the show.
In addition to Outstanding Variety Series, the late-night talk show is nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series, Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special, Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming and Outstanding Music Direction.
The show's previous record was five nominations in 2024, when it was nominated for production design, directing, lighting, talk series and technical direction. Colbert's show also received five nominations in 2021 and 2022.
In Colbert's 11-year tenure at "The Late Show," the program received over 40 nominations but only two wins for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. Both wins were from 2025, months after CBS announced the show's cancellation last year.
"Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it," Colbert said during his acceptance speech. "I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America."
In a comment to Fox News Digital, CBS referred to an Instagram post congratulating the series for its nominations.
COLBERT LASHES OUT AT CBS, SAYS CANCELLATION ‘REINFORCED A NARRATIVE’ OF ‘KNEE BENDING’ TO TRUMP
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 14.
CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last year for what it described as financial reasons with reports claiming the series was losing the network $40 million per year.
However, several liberal commentators, along with Colbert himself, have accused the network of canceling the show to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a massive merger requiring FCC approval. Colbert spent several episodes in his final season and in the public eye attacking the network and its parent company, Paramount, for the decision.
TRUMP MAY HAVE 'JUST HANDED AN EMMY' TO STEPHEN COLBERT, INDUSTRY REPORTER SAYS
"This is not the 1950s," Colbert said at the Writers Guild Awards in March. "This is not the Red Scare. And, as far as I can tell, no one in late night is fomenting a revolution. As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it."
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired its final episode on May 21. The finale helped earn the show five out of the nine nominations.
England soccer players bomb off diving board like a teammate wasn't just injured in a freak accident
England is gearing up for a massive World Cup quarterfinal match against Norway. Of course, they're going to be preparing for the match, but they also took some time out to chill and have some fun.
This included a team diving competition that the squad posted on social media.
A daring choice considering you just lost a guy to injury after he tried to hop an advertising board during the post-match celebration.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
I don't mean to be Captain Safety First over here, but bombing off diving boards ahead of a World Cup quarterfinal is wild.
Can you imagine the (*Desi Arnaz voice*) 'splainin' they would have to do if someone got injured during that? You think it's bad to lose a guy to a freak advertising board-related incident — how about losing one because he slipped on takeoff trying to lay down the best can opener of the afternoon?
Also, we've got to address fullback Djed Spence wearing socks in the pool.
That's a wild choice. First of all, I'm not sure anything makes me as angry as having wet socks. It will wreck my day, and doing it on purpose is unfathomable.
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Happened to me the other night. I'm still mad about it.
Maybe the thought was that it would give him more traction on the diving board, but that can't possibly be right. If it did, wouldn't every Olympic diver be wearing a pair of Hanes crews?
There has been a rash of strange athlete pool behavior. About two months ago, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was seen cruising around the hotel pool with flippers and goggles.
I mean, at least he's not going to get hurt doing that, but man, I wouldn't want it getting out that I'm a goggles-in-the-hotel-pool guy (which I'm not, for the record).
But, hey, maybe this airborne bonding sesh is just what England needs to win a tough match against Erling Haaland and Norway.
If you're looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars
With Big 12 Media Days wrapping up on Wednesday afternoon, there is no doubt who the heavy favorites of the conference are.
Most media members are in agreement that this year's version of the Big 12 appears to be a two horse race, or rather, a Red Raider and Cougar race.
That's right, the two darlings of the conference in 2026 are none other than Texas Tech and BYU.
The Red Raiders had their fair share of controversy throughout the offseason thanks to the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga, but they still have far and away the most talented roster in the Big 12 and will be expected to take the title by brute force.
Joining them in the favorites circle is BYU, a team that was a stone's throw away from the College Football Playoff and played for the Big 12 title last year, ultimately falling to the aforementioned Red Raiders of Texas Tech.
Some of you might not be too keen on picking heavy favorites to win a conference, so what if I told you there was another team a little further down the list that might have a chance to unseat the incumbent champs?
I am speaking of none other than the Houston Cougars, a program on the rise that might be flying criminally under the radar in 2026.
The Cougs are entering year three of the Willie Fritz era, and that's usually when many coaches reach their stride (Fritz included).
Fritz is coming off of a ten-win season in 2025 and had the Cougars ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.
JOEY MCGUIRE CALLS STEVE SARKISIAN'S BLUFF, DARES TEXAS TO PLAY TEXAS TECH IN WEEK 1
Houston also has both of its coordinators returning in 2026, including young and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who had the unit rolling last season and finished with a defense ranked in the top-50 in scoring (22.9 ppg) and top-40 in average yards per rush allowed (3.7 ypa).
The schedule is manageable, even by Big 12 standards, as the Cougars avoid playing BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State this coming season, and have a very forgiving back stretch.
Most importantly, Houston gets Texas Tech in September to open conference play, meaning there's a chance they could catch the Red Raiders early before their team gels or they have a chance to figure out their quarterback situation.
If the Cougars can spring the upset, they would be in the driver's seat for the rest of the season in conference play.
Speaking of gelling, Houston ranks second in the Big 12 in returning production, and rank top-ten in the country in returning offensive production, so this should be a well-oiled machine from the jump.
While Houston’s transfer portal returns on the whole aren’t anything to write home about, I loved the pick up of running back Makhi Hughes from Oregon.
He didn’t yield a ton of production last season, but his 2024 season at Tulane was incredibly impressive, putting up over 1,400 yards on the ground and finding the end zone a total of 17 times.
Overcoming the conference's Goliath in Lubbock won't be easy, but I really like the makeup of this team.
The returning coordinators, veteran leadership, and forgiving schedule could be the perfect storm needed to send Houston to the big dance in December.
Buy stock in the Cougars now, because the price will only go up from here.