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Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka stops US Open match because of overwhelming marijuana stench
The US Open is developing a reputation for debauchery, and on Friday, things got so bad that tennis star Aryna Sabalenka stopped a match because, apparently, the stadium smelled more like weed than your neighbor’s van with the Dio album cover airbrushed on the side.
The Belarusian was taking on Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in a third-round match Friday in Queens.
However, during the match, she was seen saying something to the crowd and then approached umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore.
ARYNA SABALENKA FIRES BACK AT REPORTER FOR ASKING QUESTION ABOUT PARTYING AFTER US OPEN VICTORY
"Someone is smoking weed," Sabalenka could be heard saying. "Do you mind? Because it’s so strong."
Sabalenka went on to win the match — despite the threat of a contact high — but it brings the US Open's weed problem under the microscope again.
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This has been a running thing for a few years now, ever since weed was legalized in New York City. Players have had to battle through the stench of bubonic chronic in the vicinity of some courts.
However, this year, according to The New York Post, local dispensaries are even delivering some sticky icky to tennis fans.
"You get high, it makes [tennis] a little more entertaining," Tre Davidson, a manager at a nearby dispensary, Silk Road, told the outlet.
Wow. Okay. So, weed has the same effect on tennis that it does on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Cheech & Chong's entire body of work.
The more you know...
Having a good time is one thing, but when it starts impacting those who do not wish to take part in your puff-puff-passing — namely the athletes — then maybe it's time to put it out.
This will be a tough battle, but the answer is in plain sight: edibles.
Clear out the smoke so that athletes can suck down some of the crisp, clean New York City air during their match.
Meanwhile, fans can still get stoned out of their gourd to make tennis more interesting or to make them wonder what would happen if you crossed a pizza with a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme.
Charter school network files First Amendment lawsuit after state blocks AP scores from US News
Success Academy, New York City’s largest charter school network, is pushing back against the New York State Education Department (NYSED) over what it calls a violation of its First Amendment rights.
The charter network filed a federal lawsuit against New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, challenging the state’s refusal to authorize the College Board to release Advanced Placement (AP) exam results for New York public schools to U.S. News & World Report for its annual high school rankings.
"There's no question that it's a First Amendment violation because, essentially… a publication right is being prevented from reporting real news," Eric Grannis told Fox News Digital. Grannis is an attorney representing the lawsuit and the husband of Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz.
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U.S. News & World Report compiles its nationally recognized high school rankings using academic criteria, including student participation and performance on AP exams.
"Now, it both determines the ranking, and the information is also provided by U.S. News & World Report," Grannis added. "So, you can see how many students participated in AP exams, how many, and how well the students did, and how many exams they took. And this has not been a problem for decades."
"But just this year, Betty Rosa, the commissioner of the New York State Education Department, decided that they would not allow U.S. News & World Report to report on any of these AP grades," he said.
The lawsuit alleges that NYSED’s policy violates the First Amendment by preventing Success Academy from communicating truthful, independently verified information about its students’ academic performance. The network said that U.S. News relies directly on data from the College Board—the organization that administers AP exams—to build its annual school rankings.
Because NYSED declined to authorize the College Board to release 2026 AP scores, U.S. News calculated the advanced course metrics using only International Baccalaureate (IB) data. Because Success Academy offers AP courses rather than IB programs, the network received zero credit for 40% of the ranking's weighted criteria, causing its statewide ranking to crater from 11th to 196th.
"All of this critical information about this incredible success of its students has been suppressed by the New York State Education Department. And so we have brought a First Amendment lawsuit to require the commissioner to allow this data to be made public," Grannis told Fox News Digital.
Success Academy accused NYSED of obscuring data to artificially inflate the rankings of traditional public schools at the expense of high-performing charter schools. The network noted that while less than 25% of high school graduates nationally pass an AP exam, 95% of Success Academy’s 2026 graduating class passed three or more AP exams, with 60% passing seven or more.
Founded in 2006, Success Academy serves over 22,000 predominantly low-income, Black, and Hispanic students across New York City. The network regularly highlights its academic performance against some of the state's wealthiest suburban districts, such as Scarsdale Union Free School District, where fewer than 10% of students are Black or Hispanic and zero percent are categorized as economically disadvantaged.
According to state test scores released for grades 3-8 in 2025, Success Academy ranked No. 1 in New York State for math proficiency with a 96% pass rate. The network also placed second statewide in English Language Arts (ELA) with a 92% pass rate—trailing Scarsdale by just one percentage point.
NYSED has defended its position by citing student data privacy laws, saying that student information should not be commercialized for ranking products. However, Grannis argued that applying commercial restrictions to educational reporting sets a dangerous precedent. He noted that major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post are also commercial entities, but their for-profit status does not diminish their First Amendment protections.
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"If the commissioner had her way... it would strike at the heart of the First Amendment," Grannis said. "It would mean that in theory, she could prohibit anybody from reporting on, say, the average reading scores of New York City school students because that would be, in her view, profiting—having a newspaper article in a for-profit magazine about student data."
Grannis also alleged that NYSED's decisions are heavily influenced by traditional public school interests and teachers unions.
"The Department of Education is particularly highly aligned with the teachers union," Grannis claimed. "The teachers union is adamantly against accountability. They don't like there to be lots of public information getting out there about how well students are doing because it's going to point out that the students at charter schools are generally doing far better than the students at the district schools that are unionized."
Success Academy has a long history of friction with teachers unions, particularly over sharing space in public school buildings, known as co-locations. Charter schools receive public funding on a per-pupil basis, creating financial competition with traditional district public schools.
The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) filed a lawsuit in 2023 seeking to block two Success Academy co-locations in Brooklyn and Queens, arguing in part that the city failed to account for a state-mandated class-size law.
Grannis argued that the state's move to suppress score releases reflects a broader policy stance against standardized metrics.
"They have made this very public for years... they call it 'less testing, more teaching,'" Grannis said. "I think it might be more accurately titled 'less teaching, less accountability,' because essentially it hides the failure of the district schools to obtain results. And you know what governments do when they don't like unfavorable comparisons: they suppress information."
NYSED did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Norah O'Donnell urges liberal Bari Weiss critics to give 'CBS Mornings' a chance as she returns to program
CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell is urging liberal critics of her boss Bari Weiss to tune into "CBS Mornings" after the network announced her return to its marquee morning program.
O'Donnell, who previously cohosted what was then called "CBS This Morning" from 2012-2019, is set to return to mornings alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson, filling the empty chair left vacant by Tony Dokoupil, who now anchors "CBS Evening News." She will make her official debut after Labor Day.
"This is a homecoming for Norah," the show's producer Jon Tower told staff Thursday in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital. "As we all know, for seven years, Norah helped lead CBS This Morning alongside Gayle, creating one of the most memorable partnerships in the history of morning news. They have a friendship and chemistry that extends beyond the studio. They know each other, respect each other, and — maybe most importantly — genuinely enjoy each other. To put it simply, I can't think of a team I’d rather watch navigate the news than Gayle, Nate and Norah."
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However, some of CBS' liberal audience have soured on the network over the past year following the appointment of Weiss as CBS News' editor-in-chief by new Paramount CEO David Ellison.
As highlighted by Zeteo media columnist Justin Baragona, O'Donnell confronted Weiss' critics head-on in the comments section of an Instagram post from "CBS Mornings" announcing her return.
"I feel Norah is too good to stay with CBS. I wish some other news force had scooped her up. As long as Bari Weiss and the Ellisons are in charge bye bye," Instagram user Courtney Stevens wrote, to which O'Donnell replied, "This is so silly. Just watch our show!"
NEW '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER HOPES TO CRACK DOWN ON 'RUMORS' LEAKED TO PRESS FOLLOWING DRAMATIC SHAKEUP
"NO!! Go to another network. I will never watch a minute of CBS programming after the Colbert/60 minutes fiasco. You deserve better than CBS!" another Instagram user wrote. O'Donnell responded, "Thanks for commenting. Give us a try."
A third Instagram user reacted, "This is tough but I can’t watch CBS anymore with Bari Weiss running things. Love Nora[h] tho."
"This makes no sense. Watch our show," O'Donnell replied.
A spokesperson for CBS News declined to comment.
In addition to her return to "CBS Mornings," O'Donnell was also tapped as a new "60 Minutes" correspondent as part of a major shakeup at the long-running magazine show. Several other correspondents and contributors were announced, including Ross Douthat — who exited The New York Times for the role — following the firings of "60 Minutes" correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Scott Pelley as well as Anderson Cooper's exit earlier this year.
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O'Donnell previously served as "CBS Evening News" anchor from 2019-2025. John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois co-anchored the program for a year after she stepped down — and both Dickerson and DuBois left the network after Weiss appointed Dokoupil to take over the anchor chair in January.
Weiss has drawn the ire of far-left critics who accuse her of being MAGA-friendly despite her outspoken old-school liberal politics. Both she and Ellison have expressed their mission of appealing to the 70% in the middle versus the political fringes.
Ellison's Paramount is on the cusp of buying Warner Bros. Discovery for a whopping $111 billion, which would have him oversee both CBS News and CNN under one corporate umbrella. CNN staffers worry what Ellison will do to the network, as it was previously reported that Weiss may be tasked with having an oversight role of both newsrooms, though Ellison has vowed CNN will maintain its editorial independence.
The merger has been delayed due to an antitrust lawsuit brought by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. A trial is set for March 2027, though it is unclear whether a settlement will occur beforehand and whether Ellison would be forced to spin off CNN as a result.
Emily Ratajkowski and boyfriend Romain Gavras share passionate kiss on vacation in Rome
Emily Ratajkowski and her boyfriend showed major PDA while on vacation in Italy.
The 35-year-old model and her boyfriend, Romain Gavras, 45, were photographed sharing a passionate kiss while walking through the streets of Rome.
For the outing, Ratajkowski wore a black minidress with a plunging halter neckline, which she paired with black sunglasses, a black purse and white sneakers.
Gavras kept it casual in a pair of white baggy jeans and a green button-up shirt, which he paired with sunglasses and a white baseball cap.
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Other photos from their Italian getaway showed the two keeping close to each other while walking around with Gavras keeping his arm around Ratajkowski's waist.
The French filmmaker previously dated pop singers Dua Lipa and Rita Ora in 2023 and 2020 respectively.
Both Lipa and Ora have also since moved on. The "Don't Start Now" singer is now married to actor Callum Turner, while Ora married director and actor, Taika Waititi, in 2022.
Ratajkowski and Gavras first sparked romance rumors in November 2025, when they were spotted out together in New York City, and were photographed with his arm around her and kissing multiple times.
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They later went Instagram official in February 2026, when she included photos of him in an Instagram slideshow, including one of him giving her a close embrace while out at a restaurant. They were later photographed together in Paris during Fashion Week.
"❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ YES to finding love again," one fan wrote in the comments section of the post. Another added, "We love love❤️❤️❤️❤️."
Prior to her relationship with Gavras, Ratajkowski was previously married to Sebastian Bear-McClard. During their marriage, the two welcomed their now 5-year-old son, Sylvester "Sly."
"I had rules: Never miss bedtime and basically no sleepovers. These were natural and easy to abide by," she wrote in The Cut about dating as a single mom. "There was nowhere I’d rather be than when I woke up with my toddler, so no matter the number of martinis, I’d be fully dressed and out the door to relieve the sitter and be ready for my son’s 6 a.m. 'Maamaaaa!'"
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Gavras also recently joined Ratajkowski and her son on a trip to Mallorca, Spain. The model shared a series of photos from the trip, which included pictures of her son playing on the beach, as well as one of her and Gavras kissing.
Patrick Mahomes injury recovery motivation was being able to walk before his daughter
Professional athletes are simply built differently than normal people, and sometimes that manifests itself in a serious competitive nature.
It's no secret that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a competitive guy, but I didn't realize just how much until a new report about his injury rehab over the offseason.
It turns out the thing that drove him to get through his recovery after knee surgery was trying to walk before his 11-month-old daughter.
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An article by The Kansas City Star's Sam McDowell talks about how Mahomes' season came to an end last December when he injured his ACL and LCL in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The QB had surgery in Dallas, and after that the race was on to make sure he was back on his feet before his daughter was.
"After he returned to Kansas City later in the week, he shared with some of those closest to him a more immediate goal for his recovery," McDowell wrote. "He wanted to walk before his baby daughter, 11-month-old Golden."
Now, this is the reason (alright, one of many reasons) why Patrick Mahomes has won multiple Super Bowls, and you and I haven't.
It's also why he has a golf course at his house, and I don't even have a putting mat... although I could order one on Amazon right now and it would be here at some point tomorrow.
To be successful on a Mahomes-ian level, you have to be ultra-competitive, to the point where you're racing your kid in a made-up "who can walk first" contest.
I bet there were moments where she stood up while holding onto the couch while he was still rocking an air cast, and he started sweating. That's how bad you have to hate losing if you want to be a successful quarterback.
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At the end of the piece, it's revealed that Mahomes did get the job done and was up and walking before his kiddo took her first steps.
Was there ever any doubt?
I'm not sure how many times I have to say it: if you're not the kind of quarterback who can outwalk a young toddler, you shouldn't be getting under center.
Trump lawyers target what Letitia James won’t say about evidence in $450M case
President Donald Trump’s legal representation is demanding an answer to a key question in the civil suit that almost cost him $464 million.
In a letter filed with the New York Supreme Court on Thursday, Trump’s representation is arguing that New York Attorney General Letitia James failed to comply with a court order that required her to present "the preservation practices" and "its preservation efforts." The demand is the latest objection Trump’s attorneys have used to argue that the case, which is being reconsidered, is full of errors.
Trump’s attorneys believe James may have key evidence she hasn’t turned over — communications with Michel Cohen, a former attorney for Trump.
"In seeking the discovery, defendants rely on a January 16, 2026 article by Cohen, published on the online platform Substack in which he asserted that, in meetings with lawyers from [James’s] office, he had ‘felt pressured and coerced to only provide information and testimony that would satisfy the government’s desire to build the cases against and secure a judgement and convictions against President Trump," a court filing reads.
Cohen was a star witness in the civil suit.
During trial, he helped build the case that Trump had routinely misrepresented the value of his properties and testified that Trump had given him target net-worth numbers to meet.
Although the judge denied the request for additional discovery, the process where parties disclose relevant information about the case, he did require James to detail the process it has used to maintain and preserve information.
Trump’s attorneys maintain James failed to do so.
"[New York Attorney General’s Office] also carefully avoids representing one way or the other whether any requested materials in fact exist, and, if they do, whether NYAG has confirmed that they are being preserved," they wrote.
"Instead of actually complying with the Order, NYAG has simply recited in general terms that her ‘standard litigation hold procedures’ have been in place since the investigation phase of this matter."
The back-and-forth is the most recent development of the civil suit James brought against Trump in 2022, accusing him of habitually inflating the value of his property to a fraudulent extent.
After being found liable, Trump was ordered to pay $355 million plus interest in disgorgement and was banned from applying for loans from any New York bank or financial institution for three years.
He was also banned from serving as an officer or director of any New York company for two years.
Although an appeals court later vacated the monetary penalties, James has appealed to reinstate them. Trump, for his part, has argued the case is fundamentally flawed and that it should be thrown out in its entirety
Earlier this month, Trump’s lawyers cited five key disqualifying weaknesses.
They argue that Attorney General James lacked the authority to bring the case, noting that the case involves private commercial transactions rather than harm to the public. They also contend that Trump’s valuations reflected subjective estimates that lenders independently evaluated rather than fraudulent misrepresentations.
"The only supposed 'victims' here are a handful of ultrasophisticated banks and insurers that have never claimed to be injured, were eager to do business with President Trump and his family, and made over $100 million from these transactions," the appeal states.
They further argue that the prosecution’s premise of overvaluation is based on the misguided idea that real estate has one objective value and that deviations from that value must be fraud.
"Under that breathtakingly broad theory, NYAG can second-guess any business transaction in this State on almost any imagined grounds," attorneys wrote.
And, on the penalties, Trump’s representation argues that the $450 million disgorgement is excessive, unlawful and even unconstitutional.
Finally, the appeal argues that the politically charged nature of the case, on its own, should have been enough to halt its consideration.
"NYAG cannot point to a single Section 63(12) enforcement action against similarly situated developers (or any other type of defendant) based on practices comparable to those alleged here," the filing states, referring to the state law Trump was accused of violating.
On the matter of its disclosures, James’ office pointed to its own letter in response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital, contending that it had met its disclosure requirements.
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"Insofar as Defendants have sought or are seeking more information about OAG’s specific preservation efforts, OAG objects to the demand for this extrajudicial discovery," the letter reads.
"Moreover, OAG has completely satisfied its obligations under the Court’s Order for OAG to identify the preservation practices that existed and applied and continue to exist and apply."
Former Cal softball player files lawsuit against university, female ex-coach over alleged sexual misconduct
A former University of California, Berkeley softball player is accusing an ex-head coach of using her position of authority to pressure the player into a sexual relationship and allegedly threatening her playing time if she ended it.
The complaint, filed Aug. 24 in Alameda County Superior Court and obtained by OutKick, alleges Cal failed to intervene and allowed Chelsea Spencer to remain as head coach for months after athletic department staff learned of the alleged relationship.
Spencer ultimately stepped down last year in June, four months after agreeing to a multi-year contract extension. According to the lawsuit, a subsequent Cal investigation concluded that Spencer had violated campus policy regarding conflicts of interest in consensual relationships. The filing does not detail the dates when the probe started or ended. It also alleged Spencer was not cooperative in the process.
In an email to OutKick on Friday, a Cal spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit or the school's investigation into Spencer.
The former softball player retained the services of Slater Slater Schulman law firm. Gizem Gures, an attorney at the firm, referenced Cal’s reputation and its response to the investigation in a statement to USA Today Sports about the lawsuit.
"Berkeley proudly holds itself out as the No. 1 public university in the world. That reputation comes with a responsibility to protect its students. As a Cal alum, it is deeply disappointing to see what our client experienced and how the University responded after its own investigation substantiated the conduct. Our client deserved better. Berkeley's students deserve better. The University needs to do better," the statement read.
The complaint further alleges that Spencer’s advances toward the former player started in fall 2023, after the unnamed player joined the softball team as an incoming transfer. It says Spencer contacted her daily, via phone calls and text messages. Those communications eventually took on a romantic tone.
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At one point, Spencer allegedly told the player, "you’re so beautiful" and "your girlfriend is so lucky." The complaint further alleges that Spencer shared details about her personal life and gave gifts in the form of cash.
Once the player effectively ignored the coach's messages, Spencer allegedly became angry and cut her playing time as punishment, the complaint claims.
"When Plaintiff did not provide Spencer the attention she demanded, Spencer yelled at Plaintiff, treated her differently, and reduced or withheld Plaintiff's playing opportunities," the complaint states. "Plaintiff thus began to recognize, even before the relationship became sexual, that Spencer's personal demands and Spencer's authority as Head Coach were intertwined."
The former player argued that Spencer’s conduct and the university’s alleged negligence caused her severe emotional distress and forced her to end her collegiate softball career earlier than she would have otherwise. She is seeking a jury trial and damages for personal injuries and other losses.
ICE officer pleads not guilty to lying about Minneapolis shooting involving Venezuelan man
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of lying about a January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis during the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
Christian Castro appeared in a Texas federal court where he faces six charges of making "materially false" statements to investigators, according to federal court documents unsealed Friday. He turned himself in to authorities Thursday evening.
A judge ordered Castro released on a $75,000 unsecured bond and required him to wear an ankle monitor.
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The charges stem from the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man who was shot in the leg. Moments earlier, Castro and his partner attempted to stop a vehicle.
The driver, also a Venezuelan citizen, fled, triggering a foot chase.
Castro caught up to the driver and a physical struggle ensued, according to the indictment. Sosa-Celis attempted to help the driver, and they both fled into a nearby apartment duplex and shut the door.
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Castro drew his service weapon and fired a single shot through the front door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, federal prosecutors said.
Two 1-year-old children and two women were inside the home when Castro opened fire, prosecutors added.
In an attempt to justify the shooting, Castro allegedly told investigators he was brutally assaulted by multiple individuals wielding tools, claiming he was hit with a broom and a snow shovel during the confrontation. He also claimed he was on his back when he fired toward the fleeing men, officials said.
However, video evidence later contradicted those statements, prompting an investigation. Federal prosecutors said Castro was standing up when he opened fire, and they disputed his claim that he fought the suspect on the ground for three minutes, noting the struggle actually lasted about 11 seconds.
The shooting occurred amid a targeted crackdown on illegal immigration in Minneapolis.
Castro faces separate charges in Minnesota and was previously arrested in Texas in May.
ICE OFFICER CHARGED IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING RELEASED IN TEXAS AFTER JUDGE DECLINES TO INTERVENE
His case has sparked a legal battle involving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has refused to extradite him to Minnesota.
Robot dog could deliver your next package and an ad
We've covered robot dogs patrolling with police and training to handle terrain that could someday take them to the moon. We've even watched wheeled versions tackle some pretty wild ground. And whenever we show these machines, one question keeps coming up: What happens when they reach a flight of stairs? Well, Robot.com may have an answer.
Its new four-legged R-dog is built to carry packages where traditional wheeled delivery robots can get stuck. It can also show ads along the way, turning your future delivery into something of a moving billboard.
So, can R-dog really get your package closer to your front door while making the economics of robot delivery work? Let's take a closer look.
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R-dog is Robot.com's latest concept for autonomous delivery. The San Francisco-based company unveiled it on Aug. 11. The idea tackles one of the most frustrating parts of robotic delivery: the final stretch to your door. A wheeled robot may handle the sidewalk just fine, only to meet a curb or staircase it cannot cross. Robot.com designed R-dog to cover those final 330 feet with a mix of wheels and articulated legs.
Each leg ends in a wheel, so R-dog can roll efficiently across flatter ground. When the route gets more difficult, those flexible legs are designed to help it deal with stairs, curbs and other obstacles. The cargo compartment forms most of the robot's body. Robot.com says it can carry food orders and standard packages inside.
And yes, it definitely looks like a robot dog. There is even a tail, which gives the machine a friendlier appearance than your average delivery box on wheels. That personality may be more than decoration. Robot.com wants people to notice R-dog, interact with it and feel comfortable when it appears in public spaces. As you will see, that becomes especially important once advertising enters the picture.
Getting a delivery robot across town can actually be easier than getting it from the sidewalk to your front door. Traditional delivery robots tend to perform best on predictable surfaces. Smooth sidewalks work well because wheels are efficient and relatively simple.
Then the terrain changes. A staircase can end the trip. A high curb can cause trouble. Even an awkward building entrance may force someone to step in. That creates an obvious weak point in a system that is supposed to reduce human involvement. Robot.com wants R-dog to keep going when a standard sidewalk robot would have to stop.
Its four-legged design could also expand the places where autonomous delivery makes sense. Campuses, apartment complexes and neighborhoods can all include routes that become difficult for wheels alone. Of course, getting over the obstacle is only useful if the package also reaches the right person. That brings us to R-dog's unusual delivery system.
The cargo compartment can hold multiple items, including stacked food orders and e-commerce packages. Once R-dog reaches its destination, an unattended auto drop-off system releases the order. The robot can then continue to its next assignment. And yes, the visual is hard to ignore.
The package appears to slide out through the back of the robot. There really is no delicate way to say this: It looks a little like R-dog poops out your delivery. Funny visual aside, the system could have a practical advantage. You would not necessarily need to stand outside and physically unload the robot before it could leave.
Still, one question remains. Robot.com says the compartment can carry multiple orders, but its current materials do not explain exactly how the concept chooses the correct package when several items are loaded inside. That is one of the details I want to see explained as R-dog gets closer to real-world deployment. The company is still refining parts of the prototype, including its storage setup.
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Now we get to the part that makes R-dog more than a quirky delivery machine. The robot has two video screens connected to R-ads, Robot.com's advertising platform. Brands can remotely manage campaigns shown on the company's robots.
In other words, every trip can potentially earn money twice. The robot can perform a delivery while its screens carry paid advertising through the neighborhood. That business model makes some sense. People already ignore plenty of static advertising. A four-legged robot rolling past with a tail has a much better chance of making someone look.
You might stop to watch it. Maybe you pull out your phone for a photo or video. Someone else could share that clip on social media. From an advertiser's perspective, that kind of attention can be valuable. Robot.com also promotes natural voice conversations, allowing R-dog to respond when people interact with it. That could make the advertising experience more engaging than simply walking past another screen.
The company says R-ads also offer campaign analytics. However, its public R-dog materials leave some details about those measurements unclear. I would like to know exactly what the system measures when people interact with these robots and how that information gets handled. Those answers become more important if machines like R-dog eventually appear in busy public spaces.
Of course, legs alone do not get a robot safely through a crowded neighborhood. It also needs to understand what is happening around it. Robot.com is working with FieldAI on the navigation stack planned for the production version of R-dog.
FieldAI's Field Foundation Models are designed to help robots operate in changing real-world environments without requiring prior mapping. That could allow R-dog to adapt when the route ahead looks different from what it expected, whether someone left an object in the way or the path suddenly changes.
Robot.com also runs its fleet through a platform called REMI. The company describes REMI as its fleet-management platform and physical API layer. The advantage here is that R-dog does not need an entirely separate operational system. Robot.com can plug the new four-legged design into technology it already uses across its fleet.
CEO and co-founder Felipe Chavez Cortes summed up that strategy when he said, "We built R-dog to run on what already exists."
Robot.com already has robots in the real world
R-dog may be new, but Robot.com has already spent years putting robots to work. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in Colombia. Robot.com says more than 500 robots are deployed across the United States and Canada, plus Dubai and other MENA markets. Those machines have completed more than 2.5 million tasks.
Its lineup includes R-kiwi for sidewalk delivery and R-cargo for industrial logistics. Robot.com also develops R-noid, a humanoid platform aimed at workplace tasks. That existing fleet gives Robot.com experience to build on.
Robot.com says commercial deployments are targeted for 2027. The company's CEO has said college campuses will come first, although Robot.com has yet to announce specific campuses or cities. That makes campuses a logical proving ground. They offer lots of short deliveries, plenty of foot traffic and exactly the kinds of curbs or stairways that R-dog was designed to handle.
Robot.com already operates campus delivery robots in North America and expanded its autonomous delivery partnership with Sodexo in August 2026.
Pricing has not been announced. And do not expect to walk into a store and buy an R-dog for your house. At least initially, Robot.com appears focused on commercial delivery pilots and brand activations rather than individual consumers.
For now, businesses can sign up for early access to delivery pilots and advertising activations ahead of the planned 2027 rollout.
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If R-dog performs the way Robot.com hopes, robot delivery could get closer to your actual doorstep instead of stopping at the sidewalk. That could make autonomous delivery practical in more places and reduce the number of times a person has to step in to finish the trip.
But R-dog also gives us a preview of where the economics of robot delivery may be heading. Moving a package is one revenue opportunity. Selling advertising during the journey creates another. That means your future delivery experience could look very different. The same machine bringing dinner to your door might also be displaying a commercial as it rolls away.
Convenience will get plenty of attention, but I will also be watching the privacy side. Robot.com should be clear about what its advertising system measures when people approach or interact with R-dog.
I have seen plenty of robot dogs that can climb, jump or show off in a demo. R-dog caught my attention because Robot.com is trying to apply those abilities to a very ordinary problem: getting a package all the way to your door. Wheels are great until the sidewalk ends.
Giving a delivery robot articulated legs could help it complete routes that stop other machines short. The advertising angle may be equally important to whether this idea works as a business. If R-dog can earn money from an ad while it is already out making a delivery, that gives operators another reason to deploy it.
Still, R-dog remains a concept heading toward commercial use in 2027. I want to see how it handles real stairs, crowded sidewalks and everyday weather before calling the problem solved. I also want more details about how multiple packages get sorted during unattended deliveries and what information R-ads collect from public interactions. Those answers will tell us a lot about whether R-dog becomes a useful delivery tool or simply a very clever way to get people to look at a screen.
Would you be comfortable with a robot dog climbing your steps to deliver a package if it was also showing ads along the way, or would you rather stick with a human at the door? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Legendary sports agent talks about the Rams use of 'caponomics' to bring Aaron Donald out of retirement
Aaron Donald officially made his return to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this week. But how did a team with so many expensive contracts fit Donald under the salary cap?
According to famed sports agent Leigh Steinberg, it's because the Rams do a great job with "caponomics."
The Rams did it by "creating cap room, redoing someone else's contract so that there's less salary involved and by giving that player a bonus," Steinberg told OutKick in a recent interview. "If a team is creative, they can move other contracts around and create cap space."
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After falling short against their NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks, in the NFC Championship Game last season, the Rams went on a spending spree this offseason.
They gave MVP-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford a one-year, $55 million contract extension, traded for Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed him to a four-year, $124 million contract extension, signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract, and acquired Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett before signing him to a five-year, $208 million contract after redoing his deal following the trade.
Despite handing out all of those massive deals, the Rams were still able to sign Donald to a one-year, $20 million deal, despite being up against the salary cap.
So how, exactly, are the Rams making it work? Exactly as Steinberg said: by being creative.
For Stafford’s deal, the Rams have pushed his contract further into the future, spreading out the cap hit using void years, meaning Stafford’s contract will count against the salary cap in even though he won’t be on the team. Stafford’s contract is spread out through the 2031 season.
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As for McDuffie, the Rams backloaded his contract. This season, McDuffie’s cap hit is just $10.8 million, but that rises to $30.8 million next season and will hover around that figure for ensuing three seasons.
Garrett’s contract is structured similarly to both Stafford’s and McDuffie’s, with a lower cap hit in the first year and larger hits later in the deal while also using void years. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s contract runs through 2030, but his cap hits are spread through 2034.
Here are his cap hits each year through 2034: $8.4 million, $15 million, $27.57 million, $39.875 million, $48.17 million, $17.523 million, $11.5 million, $7.6 million and finally $3.3 million.
To fit Aaron Donald into their group of superstars, the Rams have pushed a lot of money into the future to make it work in the present.
Steinberg thinks the decision to acquire Garrett and bring Donald out of retirement will be well worth it.
"So let's imagine that you took a team that was already the favorite to win the Super Bowl because of their (trade) of the best defensive player in football, Myles Garrett. And you now add to him an unbelievably dominant defensive player in Aaron Donald," Steinberg said.
"It creates an impregnable line that's impossible to double team. The synergistic effect of this is that an opposing offense can't double team both Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett. So somewhere in there you're going to have this spectacularly dominant player on the loose."
Steinberg is also certain that Donald, who made the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons in the NFL, would not have returned unless he felt he could play at an elite level.
"I am sure that Aaron Donald would not have come back except that he thought he could be dominant once again," Steinberg said. "I'm assuming that time takes its toll. Being outside of football takes its toll, but it won't take too long for Aaron Donald to be back in form. No other team has two players like this backed up by another three."
In addition to having Donald and Garrett, the Rams’ defensive line was already strong with Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and Poona Ford. Steinberg said the Rams’ defensive line could be one of the best of all time, comparing it to the legendary line the Baltimore Colts had in the 1960s.
"I think the only thing that would be equivalent was the Fearsome Foursome that had Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones and Rosie Greer. The Fearsome Foursome is back and as you said, they've got Poona Ford and Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske and Byron Young and they're loaded with gifted players," Steinberg said.
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"The Rams do a better job of scouting players, drafting players, and then finding that one superstar that can be plugged into an already dominating defense or offense."
A front comparable to the Fearsome Foursome of Olsen, Jones, Greer and Lamar Lundy would give the Rams an excellent chance of getting to the Super Bowl and winning it all.
Steinberg, who was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, has had many high-profile clients. Across football and baseball, Steinberg’s clients include Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams, Howie Long, Eric Karros and Dusty Baker, among others.
Steinberg was not surprised that Donald came out of retirement because so many of his clients wanted to as well.
"I had 64 first-round draft picks, 12 of the players in the Hall of Fame, and when they retired, they did it with class and dignity. But then a couple weeks later, the phone would ring and the player would say, ‘Do you think there's any spot for me? Do you think I can come back?’" Steinberg said.
The legendary agent said these were players who had peaceful second careers lined up and had all the money they would need, but that they simply missed the game.
"They all want to play and when they're away from the game, players miss the structure, the fact that it gives them an itinerary that tells them what they're supposed to be doing every day, what they're supposed to be doing at this time of year. They have structure. They miss the camaraderie in the locker room with the band of brothers that are around them," Steinberg said.
"They miss the electric excitement of performing in front of packed crowds and or many of them from Pop Warner on this is all they've known and so, like the moth to the flame, professional sports is so intoxicating that players never really want to retire."
The Rams are certainly fortunate that Donald wanted to come back and play. The result could end with him holding another Lombardi Trophy.