As the Aug. 3 deadline nears, the back-to-back reigning champions may be poised to double down

Mariners 'best fit' at MLB trade deadline is 0.79 ERA superstar closer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Seattle Mariners are heading towards the 2026 MLB trade deadline with a need in the bullpen and with their offense for a right-handed hitter.At 53-56, the Mariners really need some help to contend this year, and adding help at both spots would go a long way. But, what player would suit the Mariners the best at the deadline?According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the "best fit" for the Mariners at the MLB trade deadline is 0.79 ERA San Diego Padres superstar closer, Mason Miller.Mariners 'best fit' at trade deadline is Padres' Mason Miller"Best fit: Mason Miller, RP," Passan writes. "The Mariners, with their loaded farm system, could get Miller to join Andrew Munoz, Gabe Speier, Jose Ferrer, Eduard Bazardo, and, eventually, Matt Brash."While the Mariners need offensive help this season, adding someone like Miller would be an incredible way to bolster the club ahead of the August and September push for the postseason.Passan noted that the Mariners' bullpen would "arguably be the best bullpen in baseball." Miller, plus the current reliever options, would form a ridiculous grouping to close out games.This season, Miller has a 0.79 ERA with 28 saves and 2.7 bWAR in 45.2 innings pitched with 85 strikeouts. His 525 ERA+ is ridiculous, and with a 0.44 FIP, there's even more room for improvement.MORE:Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest updateHe's 27 years old, and under club control through 2029, so he's not just a simple rental. With the Mariners potentially willing to trade Luis Castillo and/or Emerson Hancock, they could have a valuable asset or two to land Miller in a trade.It would cost a fortune to acquire Miller, but he would be the kind of addition that could revitalize the Mariners for the home stretch, giving them the best closer in baseball behind one of the best rotations in the sport.The Padres might not trade him, but if they are seriously considering offers, the Mariners would be one of the best landing spots for the superstar closer this summer.More MLB news:Yankees are leading candidate to trade for Twins Ryan JeffersRed Sox would love to trade for Angels Zach Neto or Astros Jeremy PenaGiants willing to trade Heliot Ramos in big news for many MLB clubsTigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without himMets desperate to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure

Bengals training camp fight: Why JaMarr Chase threw helmet in scuffle at practice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cincinnati Bengals have much higher expectations for 2026 than the 6-11 record they posted last season which may be dialing up the intensity as training camp gets underway.Wednesday marked Day 1 of Bengals training camp, and quickly, things got heated between players. Star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was heavily involved in a skirmish, particularly with cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Jalen Davis.During the scuffle, Chase was seen throwing Turner's helmet into the air though both Turner and Davis chalked it up to competition later on.Here's a look at the Bengals training camp skirmish on Wednesday.AFC NORTH BETTING PREVIEWS:Baltimore Ravens odds, futures and propsCincinnati Bengals odds, futures and propsCleveland Browns odds, futures and propsPittsburgh Steelers odds, futures and propsBengals training camp fight with Ja'Marr ChaseOn Day 1 of training camp, Chase appeared to be setting the tone for the Bengals. After a play, he looked to be taking on the entire Cincinnati defense by himself a scuffle broke out that appeared to stem from Chase and cornerback DJ Turner exchanging words.As Chase and Turner went at it, a significant group of Bengals players was in the skirmish, trying to break it up. Eventually, the star receiver got a hold of Turner's helmet, then threw it up into the air as he continued arguing with teammates.A better look at day one's fight.Ja'Marr ripped off and tossed DJ's helmet, jawed with the entire defense, and then flinched at Jalen (who for a split second squared up at WR1).@WLWTpic.twitter.com/tIa01kioZB Jaron May (@jaron_may) July 29, 2026At the end of the scuffle, another Bengals cornerback, Davis, went toe-to-toe with Chase as well. The two had to be separated.Bengals CB Jalen Davis Was About To Swing On JaMarr Chase. pic.twitter.com/STOIScByDj SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) July 29, 2026Later on, Davis chalked the intensity up to simply "competing.""That's all it is. We just competing," Davis said. "The energy got to be like that. It got to be like that on both sides of the field. I hope there's a fight every day.""I hope there's a fight every day."I asked Jalen Davis about his scuffle with Ja'Marr Chase, here's his response:#Bengal@FOX19pic.twitter.com/pwQBee68Bc Gabi Sorrentino (@GSorrentinoTV) July 29, 2026Turner also said there was "nothing else to it" than competition.DJ Turner loves competitive fire in practice on Day 1 and doesnt mind a scrap with JaMarr Chase pic.twitter.com/16BjODCZUR Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 29, 2026Joe Burrow was also asked about the Chase-Turner incident, saying "those two are two of the best in the league.""Theyre going to be going at it," Burrow said. "When it starts to interrupt practice, [I don't like it] too much, but if you can maybe punch somebody in the face, and then in about 15 to 20 seconds get back lined up, thats probably ideal.Those two are two of the best in the league and theyre going to be going at it. If you can punch somebody in the face, and then in about 15-20 seconds get back lined up thats probably idealJoe Burrow on the day 1 training camp scuffle between JaMarr Chase and DJ Turner II. pic.twitter.com/2lwvXFzLHN Joey DeBerardino (@JoeyDeBerardino) July 29, 2026On Thursday, meeting with reporters for the first time since the practice incident, Chase said "it happens.""That's what I want," Chase said. "[Me and Davis] talked. ... but I like it."Thats what I want But I like it. I do like it, hell yeah.- JaMarr Chase on yesterdays scuffle with Jalen Davis#Bengals@WCPOhttps://t.co/ZGZ0VPTRucpic.twitter.com/V2tgt6dllB Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) July 30, 2026MORE:Latest injury updates on Bengals' Shemar Stewart

FIFA's plan to sell off minority stakes in itself to private investors has not been received well by the world soccer community. UEFA, the governing body of soccer in Europe, is the first to really take a firm stand against FIFA's plan to allow World Cups to "be for sale."On Thursday, UEFA made a decision to formally boycott all upcoming World Cups including the 2027 Women's World Cup and the 2030 Men's World Cup after conducting a virtual meeting with all 55 countries that are part of UEFA. That's per The Athletic, which noted that UEFA doubled down on its boycott stance, under which countries like France, England, Germany, and even reigning men's World Cup champion Spain would forgo participation in upcoming World Cups unless FIFA backs down from its plans for private investment. Such plans would reportedly transfer some ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to said undisclosed investors.More from The Athletic:As a result of todays discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.That is quite the strong stance to take, especially for an organizing body representing a continent with four of the six current best women's teams in the world (per the FIFA rankings) and six of the 10 current best men's teams. UEFA has a lot of leverage here on these facts of quality teams alone. UEFA's leaders continued in an extended statement about their boycott. Via The Athletic:The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product, it said [the statement]. It [The World Cup] is one of footballs greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale ...... Europes position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.Well, we know where Europe stands, and it's not happy. This is certainly a big strike against what FIFA wants to accomplish here.Does FIFA really need UEFA to approve these plans?FIFA can technically still move forward without UEFA/Europe's backing. It only needs a majority of its 211 participating soccer associations, among them U.S. Soccer and the English FA, to approve the private investment plans. That and the approval of the FIFA Council, which is led by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The deadline to do so is September 19th.With that said, losing the world's arguably strongest soccer continent in World Cups for at least the foreseeable future would probably nullify any perceived gains made by this private investment strategy. It wouldn't be a win-win for FIFA at all. That's for sure.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why are European countries planning to boycott upcoming World Cups?

We've officially entered the training camp edition of the Pittsburgh Steelers' countdown to kickoff. With fans needing to wait only 45 more days until the Steel City brand of football returns when the Steelers host the Atlanta Falcons on September 13, we'll take a look at the most recent and best players to ever wear No. 45.Steelers current No. 45: OLB Julius Welschof, TE JJ GalbreathWelschof, who is currently with the Steelers via the NFL International Player Pathway program, and Galbreath are the current No. 45 wearers on Pittsburgh's roster.Last 5 Steelers to wear No. 45JJ Galbreath, 2026-presentJulius Welschof, 2024-presentJoe Schobert, 2021Buddy Johnson, 2021Jayrone Elliott, 2020Best No. 45 in Steelers history: DB Jimmy AllenNo. 45 doesn't have the same storied history as some of the other exciting numbers on this list, but the greatest wearer in franchise history is defensive back Jimmy Allen.A member of the Steelers' legendary 1974 NFL Draft class, Allen was selected by Pittsburgh with the 100th overall pick in the fourth round. He would appear in 50 games for the Steelers from 1974 to 1977, including six starts. After winning two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, Allen was traded to the Detroit Lions in 1978, where he'd actually earn a bigger role as a starting-caliber safety.Allen passed away at 67 years old on December 21, 2019, but his NFL legacy in Pittsburgh will never be forgotten.For up-to-dateSteelerscoverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X@TheSteelersWireand give ourFacebook pagea like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2026 countdown to kickoff: Day No. 45

NEW YORK (AP) A social media post showing stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese betting $400 on the outcome of a game between their teams missed the mark, the WNBA said Thursday.The players won't be punished for the bet, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.The league posted the initial video from All-Star Weekend, days before Bueckers Dallas Wings and Reeses Atlanta Dream were set to play Wednesday night. The clip featured Bueckers and Reese placing what appeared to be a personal wager on the game. It was presented with the caption, We did? with a laughing emoji followed by, Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonights matchup.The WNBA moved quickly to delete the message, but not before it was shared on social media.While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the leagues policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies, a league spokesperson said Thursday. We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally.We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences.The leagues collective bargaining agreement states that any kind of wagering is strictly prohibited and that players can be fined, suspended or even disqualified from the WNBA at the sole discretion of the commissioner.The Dream rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday, with Reese notching 22 points and 12 rebounds and Bueckers finishing with 16 points and six assists.___WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

PREVIEW: Rangers hunt perfect start against Dundee United at TannadiceGlasgow Rangers will get their Scottish Premiership season underway tomorrow evening against Dundee United at Tannadice Park.Rangers come into this off the back of their worst season for the best part of a decade, which was overseen by Russel Martin and Danny Rhl from the dugout. The Glasgow giants finished 3rd last term, on 72 points, 10 behind champions and bitter rivals Celtic. Meanwhile, Dundee United finished seventh on 45 points, topping the relegation group after the league split in April, and getting the better of their cross-city rivals, Dundee FC, by three points.The two sides met in three entertaining matches last season; the first two saw 2-2 draws before Rangers prevailed in a 4-2 win at Ibrox in the latter stages of the season, which saw Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski get on the scoresheet for Rangers, whilst Amar Fatah and Zachary Sapsford found the net for The Tangerines.Both sides have been busy in the transfer window this Summer, with Dundee United making 10 signings whilst Rangers have made eight additions to their side, most recently South African defender Olwethu Makhanya, who joined from Philadelphia this afternoon.Expectations are high for Rangers this season, with a rebuild in full effect since Derek McInnes appointment last month, which has seen him bring in Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin from his Hearts side of last season. The former has since been made captain ahead of the upcoming season.The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Maverick Carter: We are NOT doing anything like the last dance LeBron doesnt even know when his last season isx.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James' business partner, Maverick Carter, denies report of planned 'Last Dance'-style documentary for James

Josh Lewenberg: Given the recent discourse and length of investigation, I can understand the skepticism but reality is the likelihood of Kawhi becoming a Raptor hasn't changed. Would still take a massive penalty (void contract or max suspension) to jeopardize the trade. Possible but don't see it. Voiding the contract would punish the league as much as it would punish Kawhi, and the only players who have ever been suspended 30+ games either punched a fan or brought guns into the locker room. NBA would need to build one hell of a case against Kawhi to drop the hammer on him. As I noted yesterday, Raptors wouldn't necessarily need to wait on arbitration for the trade to be completed. If they're comfortable inheriting whatever Kawhi discipline the league hands down, they could theoretically sign off on the deal (or renegotiate) before appeals are heard.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Given the recent discourse and length of

Jason Quick: Blazers president Dewayne Hankins is at city hall flanked by Blazers CFO Joe Loomis, team lawyer Landus Anderson, Mike Wilkerson from ECO NW, team spokesperson Charles Boyle and Zandria Conyers, chief legal counsel for Blazers.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Blazers president Dewayne Hankins is at city hall