ESPNs Adam Schefter was one of many reporters who let us know what he was hearing in regard to where LeBron James would end up in free agency.Before James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend, Schefter told 97.5 The Fanatic that he was hearing LeBron could end up with the Miami Heat.My guess would be where theres smoke theres fire,he said. I got a text, literally, I could go back to the date. I think it was June 30th, and said Just be ready for LeBron to go to Miami.'That was the text I got way back when, first day. And well see if it holds up and it turns out to be true, Schefter added.MORE: NBA insider reveals what convinced LeBron James to join 76ersWell, it turned out to not be true and instead James signed with the 76ers.During the latest episode of the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast, Paul had a little fun at Schefters expense for getting it wrong with James landing spot.Youve been with me throughout the whole thing going back and forth. All the speculation out there, as you can see, was so far left, Paul said to Kellerman. I felt bad for my guy Adam Schefter. Somebody sold him a lemon. It was just one of those things, man. But Im happy for LJ, Im happy for the Sixers, Paul added.Schefters NFL sources are impeccable, but clearly that is not the case with whoever he is getting his NBA info from.MORE: Dave Portnoy reacts to LeBron reportedly living in NY while playing in PhillyIn fairness to Schefter and anyone else who thought LeBron might end up in Miami, the Heat had surged to the top of the betting odds before James signed in Philly.76ers plan for LeBron JamesDec 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesWith LeBron James now in the fold, the 76ers are truly loaded with a lineup that also includes Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown.According to ESPNs Shams Charania, the current plan is for LeBron to play a lot of point guard, which will free up Maxey to play off the ball.The Sixers, Im told, are expecting LeBron James to play a good amount of time and period of time at the point guard position, on offense, initiating the game, the offense, for Nick Nurse, Charania said onNBA Today.Tyrese Maxey, last season, played a lot on the ball at point guard, and we know his prowess off the ball as a scorer. Think of a better player that can set the table for Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe. Theres all these players that can score, that can get the ball from LeBron James, Shams added.MORE: Stephen Currys candid response to Warriors missing out on LeBron says it allThis is the right plan for several reasons.Having James at the point will help reduce the wear and tear he will experience throughout the course of the season, which is huge for the 41-year-old.We already noted Maxeys ability to play off the ball more, but James playing the point will also free up space closer to the basket for both Embiid and Brown.With the additions of Brown and James, the 76ers are now legit NBA title contenders and should present a formidable foe in the Eastern Conference for the defending champs, the New York Knicks, who swept Philly in the conference semis last season.

The offseason discussion surrounding Michigan football locally and nationally has been centered less on head coach Kyle Whittingham as much as it has been on quarterback Bryce Underwood. While usually first-time starting quarterbacks are given grace, and freshman signal callers even more, there has been an incredible amount of consternation, some of it bordering on disdain, foisted Underwood's way.Rumors have swirled about whether or not he will improve or even if he'll be retained as Michigan's starting quarterback. However, appearing on the Rich Eisen Show on Monday, Whittingham himself asserted that no one is supplanting Underwood in his role."Well, Bryce is our guy," Whittingham said. "To be fair,he was a barely turned 18-year-old true freshman last year and thrust into the situation that he was, and even though there's a lot of room for improvement, still won nine ballgames and put up some decent numbers.We believe in Bryce, and he's got all the tools in the toolbox."He's 6-4, 230, runs like crazy, has a big arm.And so we feel like he's got a big upside and has made a ton of progressso far in the offseason. Fall camp will be important for him,obviously, as it is for everybody, but Bryce is our guy. "Tommy Carr had an exceptional spring, and a true freshman, just should have been in high school.But he graduated early and really did some good things.So he was impressive, but going into the season, Bryce Underwood is our guy."It was obvious that Underwood devolved a bit during his freshman campaign, with much of his fundamentals giving way to sheer improvisation. When Whittingham was hired, he said that he would immediately work to correct said fundamentals, yet, in the April spring game, none of that looked to be on display.However, now Whittingham says it's starting to appear, and there are a lot of areas where Underwood is starting to make strides."Well, the mechanics, footwork, pocket presence, decision-making -- he's just tightening up his whole game," Whittingham said. "And that needs to continue.It's our job to put him in position to succeed and tailor things that to what he does best, and that's what we're paid to do as coaches."Whittingham also wants to note that Underwood is young and otherwise wouldn't be in the position that he's in had he not been ahead of schedule. Another narrative had been that Underwood hasn't been willing to work, but Whittingham also refuted that, noting that he's working harder than anyone to be great."In fairness to Bryce, we talked about his youth," Whittingham said. "He also didn't have a dedicated quarterback coach last year.And so that was something that might have not allowed him to progress as much as he could have during that freshman year. And so we felt like we were getting a guy that almost was like straight out of high school, and so he's now up to speed. He's getting closer.He's getting closer, and I'll tell you one thing: there's nobody that wants to be great more so than Bryce Underwood. He does.He's a workaholic. He's in the film room constantly.He's out on the practice field by himself, throwing balls. He's working with Joe Burrow, guys around the country, trying to pick their brain and do everything he can to be the best player he can be."Underwood will be in Chicago, along with Whittingham, Jordan Marshall, and Trey Pierce, for Big Ten media days on Thursday. Fall camp is set to begin on August 1.This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kyle Whittingham confirms Bryce Underwood is Michigan's guy

Gameday attire isn't a divisive subject in every region, but in the SEC, like everything else, it just means more. Alabama football, especially, is no exception, thus why Crimson Tide supporters are split after a joint announcement from three University of Alabama student organizations.The culprit of chaos? What the Alabama Panhellenic described as a "Fan Color Schedule" in a post to Instagram.As part of a collaboration with UA Panhellenic, UA's Student Government Association and UA Student Life, the groups came up with an itinerary of what colors to wear for 2026 Alabama football home games.The SGA has deleted the Student Section Theme post from its Instagram. The Panhellenic Association still has a post up featuring the themes that the SGA collaborated on, but I expect this will quietly be forgotten and the idea never again mentioned given todays reaction. https://t.co/kw4ZJkjkOZpic.twitter.com/ZlGnnc6Z8G Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) July 27, 20262026 PREP: Ryan Coleman-Williams hilariously sums up Austin Mack's edge in Alabama football QB battleREQUIRED READING: The marriage advice Nick Saban had for Alabama football's Ryan Coleman-WilliamsThe schedule reflected in the social media graphic read as follows:Vs. East Carolina CrimsonVs. Florida State Black & whiteVs. South Carolina Fan's ChoiceVs. Georgia WhiteVs. Texas A&M Fan's ChoiceVs. Chattanooga Black & WhiteVs. Auburn CrimsonThe graphic was originally posted by both UA Panhellenic and UA SGA, but has since been deleted by the latter organization.Here are a few of the reactions from X.Wearing black in September for a 2:30 kickoff is a wild ask. https://t.co/Iq3RJ34wpz Cruz Oxenreider (@TheRealCruzOx) July 27, 2026Imma keep it real with you chief, we not doin this I will alternate my 3 polos for warm games and 2 q-zips for the cold ones https://t.co/qcmphcrx5w Coach Mos Burner (@BigMoBurner) July 27, 2026Auburn and Alabama fans are united in their hate of being told what to wear for football games. https://t.co/ojik5LsUTd Sir Barnsalot (@barnsalot) July 27, 2026Seems they missed the mark not wearing black and white vs Georgia.Remind the refs which side they're on. https://t.co/64RgjBYprf The Bulldawg Report (@ReportBulldawg) July 27, 2026Speaking as someone who burned his lucky shirt after losing to Clemson in the 2018 national championship, (if we won I was going to have it framed) its fans choice every game https://t.co/Q4hl0rWmrD William Galloway (@Wm_Galloway) July 27, 2026Alabama is a University with a proud game day tradition, why even try this? Chaos chose not to support this because we knew it would not go over well with the student body, and the immediate feedback is telling. #TraditionOverTrendshttps://t.co/7RoNvTqA5J Jacob Payne (@Jdpack06) July 27, 2026Here is a more realistic version https://t.co/V1thXsJSvJpic.twitter.com/2O85mDG7Is Alabama Outsider (@AlabamaOutsider) July 27, 2026Alabama kicks off the 2026 season against East Carolina in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. CT.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 'Fan color schedule' for 2026 Alabama football season sparks social media backlash

[PA Media]Little over two years ago, Archie Goodburn's world fell apart.The Scottish 50m breaststroke record holder was dreaming of the Paris Olympics when he checked his phone at the end of another gruelling pool session.His training had been hindered a little in recent weeks by some odd issues. Seizures. Numbness on his left side. A feeling of deja-vu.Test had been done and his scan results were due. So when he dried off and saw a missed call on his phone, he called back. The news that followed was devastating.Goodburn was told he had brain cancer. He was 22 years old. Further investigation, including biopsy surgery, revealed three 'low grade' tumours. Inoperable and unable to be removed given how they had spread through his brain.The reality, he was told, was that he might not see his 40s.So when Goodburn - now 25 - walked out to perhaps the loudest ovation of the week at Tollcross on Monday to compete in a Commonwealth Games final, a malestrom of emotions must have been coursing though him.After qualifying on Sunday, tears fell. The magnitude of what had happened, of what he is doing, hit home. But by the time he stepped on the blocks for the final, the competitor had returned."Last night, I was so overcome to have achieved that primary goal of making the final. Then over the next 24 hours, you look for more," he told BBC Sport Scotland.The brain cancer patient targeting Commonwealth medal this summerThe Commonwealth Games swimmer who might not see 40The attitude is understandable. Goodburn is - astonishingly - is in the best shape of his life in swimming terms. He lowered the national record to 27.12 seconds in February and qualified fifth fastest for this. New treatments - which he fought hard to be given access to - have slowed the growth of his tumours, and he recently graduated from Edinburgh University with a first in chemical engineering.Ultimately, he finished joint seventh - "joint last" as he put it - and missed out on the 50m breaststroke medal he craved. But this race and this week has been about so much more than podiums and plaudits for this remarkable young man from Edinburgh, who continues to fight not only his own brain cancer, but the impact of the disease on others."It's pretty indescribable," he told BBC Sport Scotland when asked what the past 24 hours have been like. "Usually the words flow easily, but I'm finding myself quite speechless."I was really trying to soak it up, because I didn't feel like I really got much of a chance to do that after the semi. And the experience was everything I dreamed of and more. But the time, unfortunately, wasn't there."'I'm going to have memories to last lifetime'These Games - and this summer - have been such a focus for Goodburn amid the darkness of the past two years, and he spoke afterwards about being eager to watch back the race and pore over his data as many athletes would. He also talked about the support of his family and girlfriend Ciara Schlosshan, who competed for Scotland in the 100m butterfly just five minutes before he did.But not many swimmers - standing wrapped in a towel, with goggles strapped to their head - would talk so passionately and eruditely about ensuring brain cancer research is properly resourced.Team-mate Duncan Scott called Goodburn "inspirational" - and no wonder."I was thinking today - the goal was to make the final, and the dream was to win a medal," Goodburn said. "That dream didn't come true, but one of my other dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40."I advocate to try and extend my own life, but also for the other young patients and adults going through what I'm going through."With everything that's going on with my health, it's been difficult to think 'why am I here? Am I here to advocate as a patient advocate, or am I here to just be a professional athlete?' And it's kind of turned into a bit of both."I wonder how I'm going to feel off the back of this. But I know that I'm going to have memories to last a lifetime."

Keanna MacInnes had aspirations of bronze [PA Media]Keanna MacInnes feared nerves were going to wreck her chances of a Commonweath Games medal.The Scottish swimmer qualified third fastest for the 100m butterfly final at Tollcross.But as Monday afternoon stretched on and a long day slipped into evening, the 24-year-old was working herself into a knot of tension.It took some counsel from coach Bradley Hay to right her before she stepped out in front of a rambunctious Glasgow crowd, and those words of guidance paid off as she roared down the final few metres to claim a silver medal.She sliced 0.35 seconds off her semi-final time from Sunday evening, despite all the worries about how she might perform, clocking 57.33secs."I thought it would be nice to have the rest between the semi and final, but I've been really nervous all day," MacInnes told BBC Sport Scotland.'Medal dream didn't come true but my other dream is fighting brain cancer'Scotland's Lynn surprises himself to join Ward on pommel podium Latest from Team Scotland at the Games"I was really struggling to get food down, and was stressing about things like getting a medley relay slot instead of thinking about getting a medal tonight."My coach said to me I had nothing to lose but to just relax and enjoy it."Alongside fellow Scots Ciara Schlosshan and Lucy Grieve - who finished fifth and sixth respectively - MacInnes did just that.Third at the turn, she overhauled South Africa's Erin Gallagher as the noise grew louder to earn a spot on the second step of the podium. Australia's Alex Perkins took gold."Oh, God, I'm just starting to get my breath back," MacInnes said. "That was so incredible."I'm so grateful to the crowd for making it such a special memory for me. I'm so grateful to my parents and boyfriend who are up in the crowd and I'm so glad I was able to do it in front of them."A silver is crazy to me. Maybe I was thinking 'bronze could be really cool' so this is just so amazing."Duncan Scott knows all about Games medals, given he has 14 of them in the house.Gold in Friday's 200m individual medley was a fine start to proceedings, but a couple of relay near-misses over the weekend were followed by another fourth place in the 200m butterfly on Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) When Lucas Glover removed his shoes to retrieve his ball from the hole in the final round of the 3M Open, TV commentators speculated it was in protest of the AimPoint green-reading system used by many PGA Tour players.Turns out, he went shoeless for another reason: to prevent his metal spikes from making marks on the greens following a complaint by a rules official.Alright, lets clear this up, Glover posted on Instagram Monday. For 23 years on the PGA Tour Ive worn spikes. 23 years ago, most of us did. It hasnt been that long since we were NOT allowed to tap them down. Yesterday was the first time Ive ever had a complaint."Glover's decision to remove his shoes came after he sank a birdie putt on the 10th Sunday at TPC Twin Cities. Once the ball rolled in, the 2009 U.S. Open champion walked off the green, removed his shoes and carried them to the hole to pull his ball out. Glover walked back off the green and put his shoes back on.Fellow golfer Michael Kim posted on social media that several players had complained to rules officials about spike marks on the bent grass greens, thinking it was Glover.First of all, its not the officials place, Glover said. I wasnt breaking any rules. Secondly, there were people in the groups in front of me and behind me wearing metal spikes as well. The greens at 3M are bent grass, were soft, and appeared to have been watered a fair amount (because of the forecast Id imagine). I dont care what you wear on your feet, metal or soft spikes, in those conditions they are going to get beat up. I did my best around the hole to tap down my damage as I was leaving the area.Glover repeatedly mentioned that PGA Tour rules now allow players to tamp down spike marks on the greens, including a mention about playing in the Rocket Classic in Detroit this week.Ill be wearing metal spikes, and the people playing behind me are still allowed to tap down the marks, Glover said. Did I mention that?___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

England have won two matches but lost one in Pool A [PA Media]England bounced back from a difficult loss to world number one side Australia with a 73-38 victory over Malawi at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.There was no hangover from the 66-47 loss to Australia as England cruised into a 18-9 lead in the first quarter.England consistently kept their advantage throughout before stepping it up in the final quarter to allow Malawi just five points to the Roses' 18.Goal shooter Eleanor Cardwell proved to be an influential substitution, scoring all of her 21 shots following her introduction in the second half."After yesterday's loss, we've definitely turned things around and fixed some of the things we got wrong," said vice-captain Amy Carter."At the start of a tournament, a loss isn't actually a bad thing to have. In the last 24 hours, we've looked at video, righted some of the wrongs, connected as a group, had a games night and just spent time together as team-mates. "We didn't get too bogged down by it because we've got to look forward."The Roses are third in Pool A behind reigning champions Australia and South Africa.They will next face Tonga on Wednesday at 16:00 BST before playing South Africa - their rivals for a place in the semi-finals - on Thursday at 21:00 BST.England are looking to regain the gold they won in 2018 but have had a rocky preparation for the tournament.Jess Thirlby stepped down as head coach in March for family reasons, leaving assistant Anna Stembridge in interim charge, while injuries to Helen Housby and Natalie Metcalf mean 10 of the Roses' 12-player squad have made their Commonwealth debuts in Glasgow.Tonga beat Northern Ireland for first ever winTonga recorded their first ever Commonwealth Games win as they beat Northern Ireland 58-52 in an enthralling game at the Hydro.After two defeats from their first two games, Tonga started well on Monday and led 15-11 after a clinical first quarter.It was a more competitive second quarter as the Warriors, who had also suffered two losses from their first two games, fought back but they still trailed 31-26 at the half-time break.Tonga pulled away again in the third period to lead 45-37 and closed out the victory despite Northern Ireland outscoring them in the final quarter.The result leaves Northern Ireland bottom of Pool A before a tough game against South Africa on Tuesday at 14:00.Commonwealth Games netball standingsScotland win againElsewhere, Scotland's goal attack Cerys Cairns impressed by scoring 50 goals during their 77-27 victory over Trinidad and Tobago for the Thistles' first back-to-back wins in the Commonwealth Games.The side beat Wales last time out in front of their home crowd.Scotland will next face Pool B leaders Jamaica on Wednesday at 14:00 BST.Commonwealth Games daily scheduleCommonwealth Games medal table and resultsWhat are the Commonwealth Games?

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Denny Hamlin had another bittersweet moment at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.Sure, one of his 23XI Racing drivers, Corey Heim, reached victory lane at a crown jewel race. Again. But for Hamlin, it also was a brutal reminder about how frustrating the Brickyard 400 has been for him. Eighteen starts, no wins and another top-five finish.The good news: All is not lost.The 45-year-old Hamlin heads into a rare midseason weekend off still leading in points, as one of four drivers locked into the playoffs and second in wins as everyone else spends the next four races trying to fill the other 12 playoffs spots. In the meantime, Hamlin can start game-planning to add the other missing link on his resume winning a Cup championship.I havent really thought too much about the future, Hamlin said in Indianapolis when asked about possibly retiring after next season. "Obviously, (Joe Gibbs Racing) has good plans set in place and whatnot. So, no, I havent put any more thought into or second thoughts or anything like that. So, its just really riding the wave of week to week right now and continue trying to get more wins.The timing for a break couldn't be better for Hamlin or some other top contenders.Tyler Reddick owns a season-best five wins and is second in points, but hasn't won since Kansas in April. The 23 XI driver finished 10th in Sunday's race after qualifying third.Ryan Blaney is third, but had his streak of 11 consecutive top-11 finishes snapped on Indy's 2.5-mile oval after he was caught up in a late, nine-car crash that dropped him to 26th and cost him the $1 million In-Season Challenge prize.Hamlin's teammate, Ty Gibbs, clinched the fourth playoff spot by earning points in each of the first two stages, leading the second-most laps (46) and finishing 12th at the Brickyard.Pole winner Carson Hocevar produced his second top 10 in three weeks, but that came after posting just two top 10s in the eight weeks prior to Atlanta. He's fifth in the standings.Even previous series champs have not been immune from problems.In addition to Blaney, the 2023 champ, Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup winner, has finished outside the top 10 in eight consecutive races, and defending Cup champ Kyle Larson's winless streak reached 46 thanks to a flat left rear tire that sent him hard into the wall at Indy. Elliott finished 37th Sunday while Larson was last in the 39-car field.Still, Elliott is sixth, Larson is eighth and both know they still have time to get things right.Storylines can change quick as we all know, Elliott said. So three weeks of running good and y'all will be talking about how these guys are championship favorites.Once the break ends, though, everyone knows the intensity and pressure will crank up again quickly. They'll head to Iowa on Aug. 9, then Richmond and New Hampshire where the practice sessions will be extended from 25 to 50 minutes before the regular-season finale at Daytona. That's when the 16 playoff contestants embark on a nerve-wracking 10-week shootout for the title.For many, the 0.875-mile oval also will be a welcome site because many started racing on short tracks.I grew up on a three-eighths mile asphalt track similarly shaped to Iowa, said Ross Chastain, who is trying to fight his way into the playoffs despite having no wins and ranking 21st. I feel like that's much more what I just ran for so much of my childhood on. So that feels more natural to me than the big oval here (in Indy)."But for drivers, the break also is a reminder of the high-stakes game still to come especially for someone like Hamlin, whose partnership with Michael Jordan with 23XI has helped extend his legacy even as he continues chasing two of the Cup's biggest prizes.Its great that weve been able to make the changes that weve had and built this race team into championship contenders, and its exceeded really all the expectations Ive had for it in such a short amount of time, Hamlin said. " Its certainly an honor to be amongst a lot of sport greats.___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson TaillonThe Chicago Cubs have finally had enough of Jameson Taillon, designating him for assignment on Monday following his horrendous performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.Taillon got shelled for seven runs on six hits and two walks over four innings in Sunday's 8-7 road loss to the Pirates, falling to 2-6 with a 5.92 ERA, a 6.74 FIP and a 1.35 WHIP. He also surrendered three home runs against his former team, raising his season total to 25 allowed -- most in the National League.It's been a rough summer for the 34-year-old righty, who's regressed badly from his strong 2025 and is mired in the worst season of his 10-year Major League career. He hasn't won a start since April 29 and has only gotten worse as the season's progressed, posting a horrific 8.90 ERA and an 8.35 FIP with 14 homers allowed over his last seven starts.With Taillon in the final season of his four-year deal with the Cubs, Chicago decided it was time to move on. With the Cubs battling for a playoff spot as the NL's top wild card team, they couldn't afford to keep carrying his -0.9 WAR in their rotation.Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!Perhaps a change of scenery will help him return to form elsewhere, but he'll need to find a way to limit hard contact and keep the ball in the yard.With Taillon DFA'ed, Chicago selected right-handed reliever Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa.More MLB:Insider Thinks More Moves Coming For Red Sox