Roosters halfback Sam Walker hoses down suggestions his defence might cost him State of Origin selection for Queensland.

Washington Sundar's astonishing, near-ground six was a highlight as Gujarat Titans defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 82 runs. Sundar's 50, alongside Sai Sudharsan's 61, propelled GT to 168. Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder then starred with the ball, bowling out SRH for just 86 to secure a dominant victory.

In modern culinary environments, a Digital Kitchen Scale plays a crucial role in improving accuracy, consistency, and efficiency, while chinazhengya represents a manufacturing focus on practical and reliable kitchen tools designed for everyday use. From home cooking to small food businesses, precise measurement has become an essential foundation for better recipes, healthier eating...

Before he became a hero for an unlikely World Cup team that knocked out a historic powerhouse, Esmir Bajraktarevi was a kid from a small Midwestern town. Bajraktarevi, who picked up the nickname "Milwaukee Messi" along his journey, etched his name in lore back in March for Bosnia and Herzegovina by eliminating Italy from contention for this summer's tournament. Bajraktarevi may not have grown up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the 21-year-old was raised eating borek (a savory, flaky pastry filled with cheese, spinach or meat) and cevapi (sausages made of minced meat). He was brought up understanding the struggles of his parents who escaped a war-torn country to settle in Appleton, Wisconsin, which has a population of 75,000. He spoke Bosnian and listened to Bosnian music at home, and loved to play soccer in the backyard with his brother. They practiced penalty kicks every day, usually imagining German legend Manuel Neuer in goal. Bajraktarevic dreamed of scoring in the World Cup. It's why, as he stepped up to take up the decisive penalty against the Azzurri on a chilly night in the Bosnian town of Zenica and a World Cup spot on the line with one of his childhood idols in Edin Dzeko standing mere yards behind him Bajraktarevi was up for the moment. "Here it is," Bajraktarevi told himself, "I can win it." And so he drilled a left-footed shot under the diving Italian captain and Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. As the ball hit the bottom left corner of the net, the PSV Eindhoven winger ran toward supporters in the stands, tore off his shirt and held it up proudly in front of a roaring crowd. "Its one of the best feelings Ive ever had in my life," Bajraktarevi told me about the moment, before joking that he knows theres a video clip somewhere of him crying. "It was like a dream come true. It sounds [cheesy], but thats the only way I can explain it." Bajraktarevi's penalty kick meant Italy would miss a third straight World Cup, and it placed Bosnia and Herzegovina in a winnable Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, as well as Qatar and Switzerland. This summer, Bajraktarevi will return home to the United States to play in a World Cup in front of family and friends. He played for the U.S. youth national teams and made his senior team debut in January 2024 under Mauricio Pochettino. Later that year, however, he made the difficult decision to switch affiliations and represent Bosnia and Herzegovina instead. U.S. Soccer tried to keep him, but in the end, the tug of his heritage was too strong. "This was something that I was dreaming about since I was a kid, representing your country at the highest level," Bajraktarevi added. "The opportunity was there, and I just chose to go. I didnt compare the two [national teams]. It was just, Bosnia called, and it was really special for me." 'Esmir Is Really Effing Good Bajraktarevi grew up playing and watching a lot of soccer and with his brother, Osman. Their dad, Elmir, might have had a chance to play professionally had it not been for the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995. "Its really all I knew since I was a baby," Bajraktarevi said. He never rooted for a specific team, he said, but his favorite players were Cristiano Ronaldo and Dzeko, the Bosnian veteran who has taken the youngster under his wing since joining the national team. "Its unreal," Bajraktarevi said, smiling while talking about the footballing icon. "I dont even have words to describe it. Now hes like one of my friends, which is crazy." Bajraktarevis youth soccer career started 100 miles south of Appleton in Milwaukee, and in Chicago, before he was discovered by New England Revolution brass. When he was 16, he was recruited to play for the MLS clubs academy team and moved from Wisconsin to Massachusetts. Leaving home was rough at first, and Bajraktarevi cried a lot. His mom used to send care packages with bananica, a chocolate-covered banana candy thats popular in Southeastern Europe, which reminded him of home. Eventually, he made friends, got used to a routine and started showing his stuff on the field. His rise through the Revs' system was quick. On his first day with the academy team, the teenager turned heads, forcing then-technical director Curt Onalfo to say, "Weve got to get him with the second team." So he signed a contract with the second team (which plays in MLS Next Pro), and within a year, Onalfo said they ripped it up and signed him to the first team (which plays in MLS). Bajraktarevi eventually became the first player from the Revolutions academy residency program to ascend to the first-team roster. Onalfo, now the Revs sporting director, said it wasnt hard to know that Bajraktarevi was ready. "If you were to come and watch our second team play, you would be like, Oh wow, Esmir is really effing good," Onalfo told me. "Hes got exceptional technique. A mastery of the ball that is better than most people. So that, in itself, gives you a really good chance because technically, youre more advanced than many of the players." Bruce Arena, the former U.S. men's national team coach who coached Bajraktarevi while with the Revolution, remembers having a similar gut feeling. "He caught our attention by the quality that he demonstrated," Arena told me. "Hes technically good, good at passing the ball, he can take players on and shoot well from distance. I think theres a lot ahead for him." Origin Of A Unique Nickname Bajraktarevi developed and improved over the course of five years within the Revs' system. In fact, he was so impactful that somewhere along the way, teammates started calling him the "Milwaukee Messi." The nickname became popular, mostly in the media, and was referenced when he made the critical penalty against Italy. "I mean, [Messi] is one of the greatest of all time," Bajraktarevi said witha chuckle. Hell never forget the one time he shared a field with World Cup-winning Argentina superstar. On Oct. 19, 2024, the Revs visited Messi and Inter Miami. Coming on as a second-half sub, Messi promptly scored a hat trick. "He walked by me, and I was looking at him," Bajraktarevi recalled. "It was surreal." But Bajraktarevi was just fine making a name for himself. He made 45 appearances in MLS, including 28 starts with three goals and three assists across the 2022-24 seasons. "I was playing with men at 16, 17 years old, so it was really a good opportunity for me just to mature and get better," he said. Bajraktarevi eventually transferred to PSV in Jan. 2025 and has helped the Dutch club win two Eredivisie championships. Hes made 38 appearances and scored seven goals and added five assists across all competitions. And ever since he nailed that fearless penalty against Italy, his name has circulated around the transfer rumor mill. The latest gossip is that Premier League club Everton is interested, and its possible that if Bajraktarevi has an impressive summer at his first World Cup, more big European clubs will come knocking. Bajraktarevi earned his first cap for Bosnia on Sept. 7, 2024, recording an assist on a Dzeko goal during a UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands ironically at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven where he plays regularly for PSV. He was subbed on in the 68th minute and helped set up the goal in the 73rd. "I was warming up, and they waved me over, and I was like, [Oh my god], you know what I mean?" Bajraktarevi said. "Then I just remembered the first time I got the ball, I didnt want to just pass it back or play it safe. I knew I wanted to take a risk because we were losing the game. I went in and wanted to make a difference." Choosing Bosnia Over The USA? Living His Dream Bajraktarevi has been making a difference for Bosnia and Herzegovina ever since hes made 14 international appearances and was confirmed as part of the World Cup squad on May 11 and is excited about what kinds of things his team might accomplish this summer. "Hes one of those players that has the ability to change the game because of that exceptional technical quality that he has," Onalfo said. "Hes a dynamic, fun player to watch because hes got great skills, and he can make great little passes, and he can also beat you one-v-one, and hes very good in front of the goal." Its been close to two years now, but the choice to officially change national team affiliations from the U.S. to Bosnia and Herzegovina was tough for Bajraktarevi. It wasnt a total shock to those who know him well, though. "I wasnt surprised," Onalfo said. "I think he felt like he had maybe more of a real clear path playing for that team, and he chose it. Its dear to his heart. He was born here, but hes very European." Neither Onalfo nor Arena could confidently say whether they thought Bajraktarevi would have had a shot at making the USA's 26-man World Cup roster. He only had one camp under Pochettino. But it doesnt matter. Bajraktarevi became an immediate Bosnian star and is viewed as the future of the program. Soon, hell have a chance to make more history. Bosnia and Herzegovinas opening match is against Canada in Toronto on June 12. Bajraktarevis family is planning to be there. The team then arrives in the U.S. for the match against Switzerland on June 18 in Los Angeles, followed by a trip to Seattle on June 24 for the group stage closer against Qatar. "Hes an American kid with Bosnian parents, and he basically helped bring his team to a World Cup thats happening in the United States," Onalfo said. "I mean, its pretty awesome. Im really proud and happy for him. "Hes living his dream."

Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans have put one foot in the IPL 2026 playoffs after their massive 82-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday.

SportsLine golf expert David Bearman just locked in his predictions for the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.

Derek Lowe talks Red Sox 2004 ALCS comeback vs Yankees and World Series sweep of Cardinals, the Dodgers dominance, Banana Ball, and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Derek Lowes Boston Red Sox career saw the former AL saves leader transition to becoming one of the main rotational starters on the franchises iconic Curse of the Bambino-ending 2004 roster. As Lowe told me, the Sawx were his favorite franchise to play for after winning it all in one of baseballs most romantic World Series runs ever.That October, the Red Sox upset the blood rival New York Yankees to clinch the pennant after going down 0-3 in the series, then swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win the first World Series for the city of Boston in 86 years. Though the Sawx have won it all since, no Boston team has captured the citys hearts like that Fever Pitch run.Ahead of the 2026 American Century Championship from July 8-12, I asked Lowe about his pivotal role on the 2004 Red Sox, in which he was the winning pitcher in the ALDS, ALCS, and World Series-clinching games, including Game 7 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium and Game 4 of the WS at Busch Stadium.I also asked about the Los Angeles Dodgers' dominance, the biggest change the MLB has seen since his pitching days, the modern state of the Sawx, and a topic I almost instantly regretted but had to ask about anyway: the rapid rise of Banana Ball.On what it was like to get the start in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS at Yankee StadiumYou'd much rather play than watch I mean, Game 5 and Game 6, not be able to have any say as an athlete, it's more nerve-racking. But when you actually get to playing it, you're excited. It was an opportunity that, obviously, I never got before, and you kind of figured you never had the opportunity again. And to do it against New York It was 365 days of just amazing baseball going back to 2003. We thought we had Game 7. They brought the champagne into the locker roomWe all know how that ended. And then to lose Game 3 against the Yankees, 19-8, in 04, you just never thought you would get to Game 7. I know a lot of people say it's clich, one game at a time, but, in the back of your mind, you're thinking, How are we going to beat this team three days, three games in a row? It was just an opportunity that I really tried to cherishI'm not gonna lie to you, we got off to a 6-0 lead through two innings, so that definitely helped. Johnny Damon had an amazing series. Just the history of pitching in Yankee Stadium, thinking of all the great memoriesI just tried to enjoy itI know it sounds stupid, but I was a free agent that year, so I knew that was going to be my last year playing for the Red Sox. It was going to be my last time ever pitching against the Yankees (for Boston). So there was a lot of incentive to go out there and pitch well. But yeah, that was the longest day of my lifeThe day of the game, everyone wakes up early, and you're just pacing around, and you're trying not to have negative thoughts. But once you get there and kind of get the feel, the crowd was amazing, and we just had so much momentumIt's so crazy how three days change the whole thing. If you saw the locker room after Game 3, you probably never thought in a million years we would be able to pull it off. It's just confidence. You know, did we win it or did they choke? I have no idea. They had four or five guys hitting .400 through the first three games of the series, and we gave Jason Varitek a lot of credit. He saw a few things that maybe we could make a few adjustments here and there, pitch differently. And at that point, you must also try anything. And so he had a lot to do with itI've rewatched the series, I can't tell you how many times. There have been so many documentaries about it. The big hits David Ortiz had throughout the series were incredible. To think it was what, 22 years ago, it was crazy.On what it was like to get the start in Game 4 of the World Series against the CardinalsI live in Boston now, and you still cruise around town people still remember (2004). The majority of it, a lot of people actually, it's funnythey dont truly remember who we played in the World Series. Likewise, I don't really have a lot of memories against St. Louis. It was just the Yankees rivalry; it was a lot more intense back in the day. You had, what, five, eight, nine future Hall of Famers playing between both teams? There was exceptional baseballAnd there was a little bit more of a rivalry, a little more of a hatred towards one another. The Who's your daddy? with Pedro, the fights in the regular seasonSo there was just a lot of emotion going into it. I truly believe, now living in New England, if you had won the World Series and beat anybody else in the ALCS, I don't know if people would actually consider it a true World Series win. In this area, you had to go through New York to really justify it. I think being down 3-0, it really made it that much more special.On being in a legendary rotation with Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, and Bronson ArroyoIt started, obviously, with Pedro. I think I played with him for five or six years, and you get to see him every five days. That was something special. He was just an amazing guy, especially in the locker room. A great leader. We had been together, the majority of us, for five or six years, the core group, and we kind of added pieces throughoutThe thing that we took pride in, especially given today's age of baseball. All five of us, Pedro, Schilling, Wake, myself, and Bronson Arroyo, none of us missed a start all year. None of us was on the DL. We all made our starts. I don't know if that'll ever happen againWe took pride in taking the ball every five days, good or bad. That builds massive chemistry, and we were all totally different. We had Schilling and Pedro as power guys, me and Bronson, more finesse, and then we had Tim throwing a knuckleball. So we were all kind of a little differentI do a few things with the Red Sox, PR-wise, and it's still fun to reminisce and talk about the good old days, as I say.On the Red Sox imminent rebuild after firing Alex Cora and five other coachesYou're going to need some of these younger kids to mature probably fasterHopefully, in due time, with free agency, maybe you can add a few guys here and there. They are young, and it's a hard game to play. You need some veteran leadership to kind of show them how to do it. I'm not around enough to really know who's the big voice in the locker room. Garrett Crochet is out right now. Obviously, you hope to get him back healthyEven when you're a veteran, it's a tough game to play. Theyre going to have to mature really, really fast. You know, they definitely have the talent, but the AL East is a beast as far as the division goes. You can't coast. Every night within the division's a tough, tough gameThey obviously made a massive, massive change about a month ago, letting go of six coaches. Obviously, they believe that's the right way to go. Hopefully, it'll work out.On the biggest change the MLB has undergone since his playing daysAnalytics, analytics, and more analytics. I mean, it's crazy. Every team has it. They have 10 to 15 guys of just analytics, and they break down everything. The launch angle, the spin rate, that stuff didn't even exist back then. You put in a VCR tape back in our day. You had to use the hand dial to rewind and fast-forward. It was more about using your eyesIt wasnt data-driven. You've got some teams where the pitching coach calls every single pitch. I think they're doing it in Miami, which is head-scratching, but they obviously believe it's going to work. I think you had a lot more say. Every single pitch now is critiqued because of what the analytics say. The strike zone is a little bit different When we played, it was maybe a little bit bigger because we didn't have the K-Zone. But there are certain things I like. I like the pitch clockI know it's not tradition, starting a guy on second base. But for a team, it really helps. If you go 16 or 17 innings in a game, it depletes your bullpen for two or three days The game is so young. Back in the day, you didnt have so many 25-year-olds on the team. Now, you look at some of these teams Look at St. Louis. Theyre just so young. Thats the trend, and you just have to accept it. Its a very, very analytical game. Thats all sports. You can get lost in numbers. You just want pitchers to be as reactionary as possible. I think sometimes data doesn't allow you to do that. You look at a team like Tampa. We just played them. They still bunt you're not ever ever supposed to bunt. Bunting is one of those things that just no one does anymore. Its analytically drivenBut bunting a guy over to third and hitting a sac fly, that's a run. Thats kind of how the game's always been played. I just dont think you can solely lean on everything as a number. Because there's emotionIt's a very emotional game, and not everyone's the same. We cant think that we can put everyone in one box and say, Hey, this is how we're going to do it for everyone. Telling Pedro and me to do the same thing doesnt make any sense.On the rise of Banana BallI don't understand it. (Laughs). I cant even believe you brought it up I was watching five days ago. They were playing at Texas A&M, and there were 105,000 people there. It went from playing in minor league ballparks to where they are now. They played in Fenway Park twice, and it was sold out. Theyve asked us to play in it, and Ive said no every timeThere's no way I'm trying that. I get the gist of it, but boy oh boy, I don't know if it's more popular than our sport. Theyre in football stadiums because baseball stadiums arent big enough anymore. Kudos to the guy who came up with this. Four years ago, I was like, This is not going to take off. But boy oh boy was I wrongOn if MLB players will play in Banana Ball if theres a lockout in 2027That's a great question. I'm probably 50/50 right now on whether they're going to strike. We all know the issue is a salary cap. The MLB does an amazing job of really educating the young players. Guys in the 80s and the 90s went on strike, so we can not have a salary cap. I think the players will stand pretty firmly on thatI would probably say no, but I mean, that's just my opinion. Hopefully, cooler heads prevail, and they can come up with an agreement because no one wants to watch a stoppage. It's just not good for anybody, but I understand both sides. They think salaries are getting out of control Players get 49%, owners make 51%. That's for them to figure out, but I hope a lockout doesnt happen.On if the Dodgers would ruin baseball with a three-peatI don't think so. I mean, they're just spending. I know it irritates a lot of teams, but they have a formula. They slow-roll guys like Blake Snell. He probably could have come back 10 days ago. They're in no rush. They know their goal is October. They just pace themselves, and they have so much talent. I get it. I mean, Shohei is hitting .230, and no one even really notices it. I get it. I really doI don't think it would ruin baseball. I think, you know, maybe it would motivate some teams to go out and spend, probably not to the extent that the Dodgers are able to. But winning creates money. Dodger Stadium holds 60,000; they sell it out every game. They have marquee players who are bringing in money. Kind of like the Patriots when they kept winning. Its kind of weird how people hate winners but they'll be fine.I think Dave's kind of figured out how to pace their team. They never panic, and they know they are extremely talented. Mookie Betts just came back. Unfortunately, I think at the end of the day, we're all going to have to watch them again in October. I played there for four years. I loved it out there. They're a great organization. They really believe in winning, and they do everything to win. So you got to give them credit.On his American Century Championship predictionSteph Curry When (the Warriors) got eliminated from the playoffs pretty early, we knew he had a bunch of time to work on his game. He's a phenomenal golfer, and it happened again this year. Joe Pavelski has had a tremendous run. John Smoltz, he's been creeping up the leaderboardBut American Century, theyve done a great job. This will be my 13th year. They've added some really good golfers. I know a lot of people are rooting for Annika Srenstam, me included. She's gotten close. And I'll throw my name in there. Id like to think I have a chance. Last year was kind of a struggle, but historically, I've been able to do okayThere's always somebody who can come out of the woodwork; you never know. But I would say Steph, Pavelski, Smoltz, and Mardy Fish are probably pretty close up there.

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player who has served as a global ambassador for the sport for the past decade, has died of brain cancer, his family said Tuesday. He was 47.

Three-time Grand Final officiator Ray Chamberlain has highlighted an alarming on-field trend that has led to some umpire concussions, urging the AFL to further empower umpires to punish players who use them as bollards.

July 10, 2022. Fireworks lit up the night sky over the Black Sea in the coastal city of Batumi as Georgia celebrated a deserved win over Italy, beating Six Nations opposition for the first time.