Incoming MLS Commissioner Larry Berg joins Dan Roberts of Front Office Sports to discuss: Taking over as MLS commissioner from Don Garber Divesting his LAFC ownership stake to lead the league Addressing concerns over private equity flooding sports Whether the World Cup created lasting MLS momentum What happens to MLS when Messi eventually leavesThe post Larry Berg on Taking Over MLS appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Liverpool fighter Darren Till believes Conor McGregor should listen to his body after suffering catastrophic leg injuries in back-to-back UFC fights - but would still jump at the chance to fight the Irishman in his bare-knuckle promotion.McGregor made his hotly-anticipated return to the Octagon in July after five years out of the cage, but his clash with Max Holloway ended in disaster in just 69 seconds when he endured what turned out to be an ACL tear, after throwing an audacious jumping roundhouse in the first moments of the fight.The 38-year-old injured the same right leg he broke against Dustin Poirier in 2021, sparking many to speculate whether this latest setback would be the end of his career.McGregor, however, has insisted he will make a comeback for the final fight in his UFC contract, setting his sights on next summer despite questions surrounding his physical state.Conor McGregor wants to fight Max Holloway again in 2027 (Getty)Till, a former UFC title challenger who has a self-confessed love for extreme violence, recognises how hard it can be for fighters to step away from the sport but feels McGregor is in a position, physically and financially, where he should think about hanging up the gloves.I like it but the thing with Conor [is] hes made a lot of money, Till told The Independent. He probably doesnt still need it but he probably wants it because its hard for him to leave the sport behind and hes a fighters fighter. I do get it but sometimes its probably best to just let it go. If Conors getting injured like that in the first few seconds of a fight, he should probably be listening to his body.He added: But again, the one thing with Conor, hes got more than enough money to get seen to and to get all the best procedures, so who knows, he might come back a better man, he might not. Well see.Till, 33, is preparing for his second fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), a promotion which McGregor has part-ownership of.After bouncing back from a first-round knockdown to knock out Aaron Chalmers, once of Geordie Shore fame, the Scouser is now staring down the barrel of tantalising match-up against Cuban specimen Yoel Romero, an Olympic silver-medallist who continues to fight at 49.Darren Till (right) and Yoel Romero refused to unlock eyes in a stare-down that lasted over 200 seconds (BKFC)The pair will throw down on 26 September but with Till quickly becoming the face of the company, he has not shut down the possibility of a fight with the boss, McGregor, if the Irishman decides to step into his own ring.If its ever on the cards for me and Conor, Id happily take it, Till said, with bare-knuckle boxing potentially a smart option for McGregor to spare his legs any further punishment.Hes obviously got a share in the company, he can obviously pick and choose who he wants to fight. If ever that day comes and he wants to fight me, then well glove up - or we wont glove up, because itll just be fists.

FILE PHOTO - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final soccer match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpaGianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting of FIFA staff in Rabat on Wednesday following comments by Arsene Wenger that ramped up the pressure on the president, the Press Association understands.Former Arsenal manager Wenger, FIFAs chief of global football development, issued a statement saying he was not involved in the plan to seek private investment in a company to run the World Cup but that the decision to withdraw it was absolutely necessary and beyond question.PA understands the meeting in Morocco was called after the weekend and is also to include secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and the FIFA management board, which includes the organisations chief of staff Daniel OToole, chief legal officer Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, HR chief Kimberly Morris, media director Bryan Swanson and communications director David Farrelly.Grafstrom, the second most senior figure in the organisation after Infantino, is also understood to have contacted FIFA staff addressing the sad and reproachable series of events of the last week which thankfully concluded with the project being permanently abandoned.The plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company to run the commercial and operational aspects of FIFAs tournaments, first emerged in reports by The Times and the Financial Times last Tuesday, before FIFA issued confirmation of some of the details. The most controversial aspect was the idea to sell 20% of FFE to private investors.The plan was firmly rejected by European footballs governing body UEFA, as well as CONCACAF representing nations from North and Central America plus the Caribbean and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). UEFA also threatened to boycott FIFA competitions including the World Cup until the plan was scrapped, which it duly was last Saturday.UEFA said it had nevertheless lost confidence in Infantino and a number of its associations including those of England and Wales have since formally withdrawn their support for Infantino, with the Scottish Football Association understood to be aligned to UEFAs position.Work is understood to be continuing among members of the FIFA Council to seek a majority of 19 to request a meeting to hold Infantino to account over the plans, and over his handling of the Folarin Balogun case.If a majority cannot be reached, or if Infantino refuses that request, the Council members who oppose him intend to stage a governance boycott and effectively render FIFA incapable of operating, the Press Association understands.Wenger had faced criticism in recent days for his silence over the FFE plans but spoke out on Tuesday to welcome the withdrawal of the project, adding: I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.Grafstrom is understood to have emailed FIFA staff to thank them for their efforts during the World Cup but accepted they had now been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept.Grafstrom promised staff would be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience, pointedly adding: Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.The comments follow the resignation last week of Infantinos senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro.With Africa, South America and Oceania largely expected to remain behind Infantino, Asian associations could hold the key to his future and some including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Lebanon have come out in support.Jordan has emphatically gone the other way however, with its association president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein accusing FIFA of blackmail. He alleged in a post on X that FIFA told him during the World Cup he would receive money allegedly owed to the association if he voted for Infantino. FIFA is aware of Prince Alis comments and has so far declined to respond.UEFA has also told Infantino it is actively considering legal action over the FFE plan and lawyers acting on behalf of the European body have ordered Infantino and other FIFA staff to identify, locate and preserve any documents related to the project.

Next surprise deal done! Reports: Salah finds new clubMohamed Salahs transfer saga has come to an end. After leaving Anfield on a free transfer, he is joining Turkish Cup winners Trabzonspor. This is reported by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano and Turkish transfer insider Yaz Sabuncuolu.Back in March, the Egyptian announced his departure from Liverpool after nine years as the Reds most prolific goalscorer ever; it is now clear that the 32-year-old will continue his career in Turkey. Just not at Besiktas, as had been heavily rumored.According to Turkish media reports, Salah and Trabzonspor have now agreed on a two-year contract and an annual salary of around 17 (!) million.The Turkish club confirmed the negotiations with the player. According to Fabrizio Romano, the contract signing and medical are expected to follow in the coming days.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in here.

Gourmet and specialty food gifts occupy a different space than everyday grocery products. A curated cheese board, an artisanal chocolate collection, or a premium olive oil set isn't just sold on flavor, it's sold on the experience of giving and receiving something that feels genuinely special. Packaging carries an outsized share of that emotional weight, since the unboxing moment often happens...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: Owen Foxwell of the Phoenix in during game two of the NBL Playoff Series between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena, on March 14, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesSince NIL was introduced into college sports, we have consistently seen the budgets for teams, especially in Power 4 conferences, continue to grow. Weve seen that firsthand for the Wisconsin Badgers, whose football rosters budget is significantly more in 2026 than it was in 2025 and certainly in 2024.The same has been the case for basketball, where we saw Kentucky reportedly have a budget of over $20 million in 2025. Things havent changed, as spending continued to increase this offseason, despite teams already having some major budgets last year.The Athletic recently released an article, sharing the average budget for each conference from last year to this year, and it was no surprise that the SEC was at the top with an average budget of $18 million this year.Interestingly, the Big East climbed above the Big Ten this offseason with an average budget of $14.5 million, while the latter had an average budget of $14 million.All three of those figures are significantly increased from last season, when the SEC, Big East, and Big Ten had average budgets of $9.7 million, $8 million, and $8.5 million. So, overall, the average Big Ten budget grew 68.2 percent, while that figure was 81.3 percent for the Big East and 85.6 percent for the SEC.Its not like the other conferences are lacking either. The Big 12 has an average budget of $13.8 million this year, up from $8.6 million in 2025, which was actually the second-highest average for any conference. Meanwhile, the ACC jumped up from $8.2 million to $11.5 million, marking the lowest overall growth of the top five conferences.According to The Athletic, teams believed that things would start to level out with the house settlement last year, but that has not happened.Last offseason, when revenue-sharing was officially introduced as a result of the House settlement,many coaches hoped that roster budgets were at (or nearing) their all-time peak, The Athletics Brendan Marks and CJ Moore wrote. Thats because teams were essentially working with two pots of money in the same offseason: any funds theyd already raised and had to spend before the adoption of the House settlement; and then whatever revenue-sharing money they received from their athletic departments.Everyone was trying to front-load, because thats when you were going to feel the House stuff, one ACC head coach said in the article. You hear all the time that this is not sustainable, but every year the prices go up, so we need to stop saying that. Somehow weve been able to sustain it.Additionally, an SEC assistant believes there are three or four teams now in the $30 million range after Kentucky led the way with a reported $22 million roster last year.One position whose value has skyrocketed is center, with prices reaching up to $5 million and more for the upcoming season. A big part of that has been due to the lack of high-end options at the position.Positionally, all 25 coaches agreed that the most expensive players this spring via retention or the transfer portal were centers, with point guards a close second, Moore and Marks wrote. Multiple coaches said that the starting rate for a high-major center was roughly $1.5 million, with some of the top earners set to make triple that.We saw this play out at Wisconsin, where the Badgers prioritized Nolan Winter as their top retention target, while John Blackwell departed and eventually transferred to Duke.Head coach Greg Gard revealed earlier this offseason that he doesnt expect Wisconsin to be in the top half of Big Ten spending this season, even though the Badgers budget grew this offseason. Thats because of the significant growth throughout the country in budgets.Well see how things continue to transpire year-after-year, but that growth has not stopped when it comes to roster prices.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Rortvedt #47 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 5-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBoth Will Smith and Dalton Rushing are on the injured list, and Ben Rortvedt has come to the Dodgers rescue yet again, this time from not only off the 40-man roster but also from a different team. One day after the Dodgers acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets, they selected him to the major league roster to catch Tarik Skubals Dodgers debut on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.Hunter Feduccia, who was also acquired on Monday in a separate trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, was also recalled from Triple-A. Eliezer Alfonzo was optioned to Oklahoma City and Chuckie Robinson was designated for assignment on Tuesday, completing the full catching tandem swap.Last season with both Smith and Rushing sidelined, Rortvedt started 15 of the final 21 games of the regular season and also started the first four postseason games too, until Smith returned from his hand injury. Looks like its going to be the same for now, at least for the next few weeks.Given what Ben did for us last year, us knowing him, him being with a lot of our guys, being more of a guy thats been around for a while, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday in Chicago, I could see him taking the lions share for the foreseeable future.Rortvedt had been with Triple-A Syracuse all season, starting 39 games behind the plate. He hit .235/.391/.414 with six home runs in 167 games.Feduccia this season started 51 games behind the plate for the Rays, and hit .234/.306/.340 with seven doubles and two home runs in 160 plate appearances.Smith is expected to miss at least three or four more weeks with his neck inflammation, and Rushing will miss at a minimum of 10 days on the injured list. Its protecting the downside with the catching, Roberts said Monday. Weve always liked [Feduccia], so obviously with the catching, losing Rush and not having Will back, kind of just making sure coverage is important.Alfonzo started nine games and caught 74 innings for the Dodgers in his first stint in the major leagues. Robinson caught 59 innings and started six games behind the plate. Alfonzo had five hits, including two doubles in 27 at-bats, while Robinson had two singles in 23 at-bats this season.

The high school football season is back and the Caller-Times is recognizing some of the top returning players from across the Coastal Bend with the Apple Dental Center High School Football Preseason Player of the Year poll.The ballot features returning All-South Texas, all-state and all-district offensive and defensive standouts expected to make an impact during the 2026 season.Voting is open through Friday, August 7. Take a moment to view the nominees and cast your vote below or at Caller.com.ALL-SOUTH TEXAS: 2025 All-South Texas Football Team: The SuperlativesTHIS WEEK'S NOMINEESJimmy Tipton, CalallenBrian McCullum, RayJosh Norval, CalallenBeckham Benavides, LondonConnor Klostermann, CalallenTate Mitchell, Gregory-PortlandEli Supnet, Gregory-PortlandJaiden Manero, Rockport-FultonTripp Thompson, RayEthan Vasquez, RobstownJulio Acosta, West OsoJuan Ozuna, TaftKole Freeborn, George WestBraxten Montalvo, BishopLucas Cadena, HebbronvilleAndrew Charlebois, Veterans MemorialSam Smith, Flour BluffEthan Barrientos, Tuloso-MidwayYeshua Ramirez, MoodyJason Gutierrez, RayLeonardo Martinez, MillerElyjah Mendez, OdemMarcos Zapata, SintonDeion Jones, MillerCarter Dominguez, Gregory-PortlandQuincy Bess, SintonJames Porter, Flour BluffEthan Conn, Three RiversIgnacio Arellano, CarrollRyder Reeve, CalallenMatt Reyna, BishopLuke Lawson, KingConnor Haubelt, Gregory-PortlandJason Valdez, SintonBraylen Swanson, CarrollCarson Frnka, Orange GroveMatthew Perez, RefugioAngel Reyes, Gregory-PortlandJaycen Elmore, RayJonah Garcia, OdemTra'Jhaun Vurns, West OsoDaniel Bahn, Orange GroveRyan Guerrero, West OsoPaxton Soliz, Three RiversZak Tyrone, LondonRonnie White, San DiegoKayden Dufour, West OsoKelby Broughton, CalallenJayce Sanchez, PremontMaddox Jennings, LondonDylan Thomisee, George WestJacob Cain, Flour BluffMark Salgado, KingRansom Watson, Flour BluffDa'Shaun Porter, CarrollTrevin Crowley, RobstownDamarius Montgomery, KingsvilleBryant Mitchell, Gregory-PortlandDamon Smith, KingJake Castaneda, LondonLandon Del Alamo, Orange Grove

Patriots rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas is finally on the practice field after missing spring workouts and the start of training camp because of contract negotiations and a knee procedure.Jacas, a second-round draft pick, arrived at training camp Saturday after becoming the last unsigned second-round selection in the NFL. He and the Patriots have since reached a contract agreement, allowing him to begin catching up with his teammates.Yeah first and foremost, I just want to say how grateful I am to be here. That was a long journey, but Im just glad to be here, be part of this organization and its a blessing to be at practice and running around.Jacas said hes focused on moving forward after the contract process.All that stuff is behind me and whatever happened in the past is the past and just trying to look forward and focus on the future.Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also revealed that Jacas underwent a cleanup knee surgery during the spring, meaning the rookie must work through the teams return-to-play protocols before taking on a larger role.Off to a good start, and hopefully he can continue to keep adding things and figure out where he can help us defensively and really, special teams.Jacas said his recovery is complete and hes ready whenever the coaching staff gives him the green light.The knee is good and Im out here now, so again, like I said, all that stuff is behind me and Im 100% and whenever they tell me Im good to go, I just go.During Tuesdays practice, Vrabel was seen working one-on-one with the rookie linebacker as Jacas continues to make up for the time he missed earlier this offseason.Jacas also had a message for Patriots fans as he begins his NFL career.Yeah I just want to let all the Patriots fans know Im all behind everybody and youre going to get the best player out of me each and every game. And just anything I can do to help the team win, Im going to do it. Whatever it takes.This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Despite a standing order to defend his WBC cruiserweight title against David Benavidez, Noel Mikaelian will meet Jai Opetaia in the co-feature of Zuffa Boxings Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn show in Las Vegas, Nevada.This is a huge card, and I look forward to showing the world once again why Im the best cruiserweight on the planet, Opetaia said. Credit to Noel for stepping up to the plate while others yes, David Benavidez, Im talking about you continue to run and hide.This is a massive fight for Jai, and its refreshing to see a top-tier cruiserweight step forward when so many continue to avoid the challenge, said Mick Francis, Opetaias longtime manager. Hes proud to defend the Zuffa Boxing and Ring titles on the biggest stage.When I step into the ring on September 12 against Jai Opetaia in Las Vegas, I intend to defend my world championship. This is the fight Ive wanted since becoming a two-time world champion, and Im ready to deliver, Mikaelian said. I havent fought since December 2025 because of circumstances outside of my control. I refused to stay inactive. Champions are meant to defend their titles, and thats exactly what Im prepared to do.Its certainly a better matchup than the Glanton fight that kicked off this whole debacle in the first place. but I personally would not put any stake in this happening. Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KO) is under contract with Don King, who remains as vexatiously litigant as ever and has a long history of quashing any attempt by his fighters to compete outside of his purview. Dan Rafael reports that King, whod reached a deal with Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, will follow his usual M.O. and likely file suit.Theres also the matter of Mikaelians belt to consider; regardless of whether you agree with the forced unification or, like Opetaia (30-0, 23 KO), consider it a cudgel to punish the former IBF champ for signing with Zuffa, Mikaelian is pretty blatantly defying an order. The press release includes the following:My job has always been to put Noel in the best position to succeed. More than 60 days after Noel vs. David Benavidez was ordered, we still havent received a bona fide offer. Noel wasnt going to sit on the sidelines any longer, said Anthony Girges, Mikaelians advisor. This isnt just about two champions in Noel and Opetaia. Its about protecting the integrity of the sport and making the fights the fans deserve.This is why you give deadlines for purse bids, Mauricio.Anyway, Michal Cieslak still holds the interim title he won by smashing a geriatric Jean Pascal more than a year ago; no telling whether hell receive an upgrade or step in to fight Benavidez for whats likely to be a vacant belt within the next few days.