ARDMORE, Pa. There comes a time when an elite player must learn to handle the noise.For Illinois senior Max Herendeen, thats been the last eight months or so.After two All-American seasons for the Illini, a deep run at last summers U.S. Amateur and strong fall semester as a junior with three top-5s, Herendeen asserted himself as one of the best amateurs in the world. That bred attention, which bred expectations, and the Bellevue, Washington native, for the first time in his life, had to face them.Initially, he failed.There were too many negative thoughts, and I wasnt holding myself accountable to my thinking, Herendeen said. This game is already so hard, but its especially hard when you have this negative aura around you. Thats what I had every day at practice; I wasnt bringing positive energy to myself and my teammates. I had one bad tournament and everything just spiraled.Herendeen tied for 58th at the Patriot All-America, a winter amateur event, then shared 23rd at the shortened Jones Cup before returning to school and finishing 44th or worse in three straight starts. The pressure of needing to play well for himself, for his team, for accolades, for supporters and sponsors became unbearable, causing Herendeen to lose his confidence and his game, especially off the tee and with the putter.Thats when Illinois head coach Mike Small called Herendeen into his office and delivered some tough news: Herendeen wouldnt be part of the starting lineup for the Oregon Duck Invitational.In the moment, I didnt appreciate it at all, and I was really frustrated, Herendeen said.Added Small: I believe in Max. I believe in what he can do. So as a coach, you have to believe that he can handle the adversity and the negative aspect of being sat down for a week to recalibrate. Some people, they could spiral out of control and go away. That wasnt him, so I wasnt worried about that.I knew deep down in my soul that he was going to be OK.Herendeen went out that week and won, though he still wasnt out of the woods yet. He reverted to finishing outside the top 35 in two consecutive tournaments leading into the Big Ten Championship.Then he had dinner with Korn Ferry Tour pro Jackson Buchanan, who was in town to see his girlfriend and had been struggling as well.We were sulking together, Herendeen said. And then we both looked at each other like, What are we doing? Were playing golf hes playing golf for a living, Im playing golf at Illinois; this is what we dreamed about. It just snapped right there for both of us.Combined with a putter change from a double-wide blade to a mini version of the Ping Craz-E mallet, Herendeen started to compete with a clear, positive mind. His results quickly followed, as he placed third at conference, T-19 at NCAA regionals, T-8 at the Northeast, and reached the Sweet 16 at the Western Amateur.Herendeen admits he put himself behind the eight-ball in terms of the Walker Cup, though his 7-and-6 victory over another Walker Cup hopeful Carson Bertagnole in Thursday mornings Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur has him back on the U.S. teams radar. Against the North Carolina sophomore, Herendeen didnt miss a fairway, a day after closing out his first-round match on the 13th hole.This is how the whole thing started, Small said when asked about Herendeens Walker Cup prospects. You dont play golf to make a team. You dont play golf to get all these benefits. You play golf to play good that day, to see how good you can be and to win that event that youre in right there. Hes trying to make the Walker Cup team a year away, hes trying to make PGA Tour U a year away instead of taking business what he has to do that single day.My case for him is to go play good right now.Added Herendeen, who faces Texas Tech's Adam Bresnu in the Round of 16 on Thursday afternoon: I know I can make this team, and I can help this team. I probably have to go win this week to have a chance, but I think I can do it.

Report Ngonge targeted by Monza after Napoli 20m flopMonza might be able to do Napoli a big favour, as Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedull claims they asked for the availability of Cyril Ngonge, who was also linked to Palermo.The Partenopei are in a bind because they need to make sales before signing any new players, and received a boost when selling Romelu Lukaku to Fenerbahce this week for 6m plus add-ons.NAPLES, ITALY JULY 14: New SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Now they are already set to reinvest with a deal agreed for Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile, on loan for 3m plus 1m add-ons, then an option to buy at the end of the season for another 27m.They still need to whittle down the squad of players who are not part of new coach Max Allegris project.Monza ask after NgongeBOLOGNA, ITALY OCTOBER 29: Cyril Ngonge of Torino FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Torino FC at Renato DallAra Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)According to Sportitalias expert Pedull, Monza have contacted them to ask for Ngonge.The 26-year-old had been linked to Palermo, but seems reticent to accept a transfer into Serie B.NAPLES, ITALY FEBRUARY 17: Cyril Ngonge of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Vitinha of Genoa CFC during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Genoa CFC Serie A TIM at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 17, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Napoli paid 20m to buy Ngonge from Hellas Verona in January 2024, but he struggled to make an impact and was sent on a series of loans to Torino and then Espanyol.Between the two clubs, he scored one goal with four assists in 32 competitive appearances last season.His contract runs to June 2028, so it is possible Monza could engineer a loan with option to buy, becoming an obligation if they survive in Serie A.

Chase Young had a breakout season in 2025, recording 10 sacks in just 12 games played but that might have only been the beginning. If Thursday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars was any indication, the New Orleans Saints' edge rusher could be preparing for an even more impactful year. Young said after the practice that he had a ridiculous number of sacks in the session.I had six alone, I know, Young told reporters after practice. Half a dozen, man. Half a dozen.Veteran linebacker Kaden Elliss wasn't able to watch every pass rush because his responsibilities occasionally required him to drop into coverage, but he supported Young's bold account. Elliss believes the Saints might have even reached double digits collectively.If he said he got six, Im sure we got 10-plus, Elliss said. He was rushing extremely well. He had a good day, and he was getting after it.Of course, sacks are unofficial during training camp practices, particularly with quarterbacks wearing noncontact jerseys, but there was no mistaking Young's impact. He repeatedly disrupted Jacksonville's offense while helping the Saints defensive front control much of the practice.Young wasn't interested in celebrating the performance for long. It's become the standard and he said he's attributing it to persistence, planning to carry the same approach through the rest of camp: Just staying at it, man. Just staying at it. Keep my head down, setting the standard and just keep it going.After missing the first five games of the 2025 season, Young now enters 2026 healthy and comfortably in Brandon Staley's defense. He's firmly established himself as one of the Saints' most important players. Now, his importance has only increased with Bryan Bresee lost for the season and Cameron Jordan currently sidelined by a hamstring injury. One dominant August practice doesn't guarantee Young will regularly take over games when it matters. Still, six unofficial sacks against another team are an encouraging preview of what could become another potential career season.This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Chase Young claims 6 sacks in Saints' joint practice vs. Jaguars

EVANSVILLE I could typically count on one consistent sight at Enlow Field.It never matted if it was sweltering hot in August or below freezing in November. Sam Schulz was always sitting behind the north end zone to watch the Memorial High School football team.You could honestly change the setting to any basketball gym or baseball diamond in Southwestern Indiana. He'd be there if able. That was probably more often that he should have considering his daily battle.Schulz was tougher than most, though.Schulz died on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from a life-long fight with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. He was 22 years old.Toughness can be an undeserving quality for many individuals. Never with Schulz."Sam was a Tiger in every sense of the word," Memorial High School said in a statement. "He was faithful, passionate, compassionate, caring, strong, and inspiring. He was an alumnus, a SuperFan, a friend, and a beloved member of the Memorial Family. Sam filled our halls, our athletic events, and our community with a spirit that was uniquely his, and we are all better for having known and loved him."Sam embodied what it means to be a Tiger."Born with a genetic disorder that caused his skin to become fragile, he spent his entire life with constant pain. The last several years were strictly confined to a wheelchair with his body wrapped in bandages. That's not how many, including myself, will choose to remember Schulz. He was a fighter and an inspiration. A kid who made a connection with anyone and everyone. One who lived a fuller life than you'd expect for someone in his position.The avenue happened to be sports.There was the time he schmoozed past security, with the help of WFIE broadcaster Mike Blake, during the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to chat with Hall of Fame basketball player Magic Johnson the moment was front and center on SportsCenter."The worst they were going to say is tell me no," he later told me. Fair enough. He was on a first-name basis with several prominent college basketball coaches, including Chris Beard and John Calipari, and once talked his way into the Atlanta Braves clubhouse. There's plenty more instances of Sam being Sam.He once bet a friend that Michigan State guard Tum Tum Nairn would respond to his direct message on Instagram after a game. That led to text messages with Nairn and eventually courtside seats at Assembly Hall when the Spartans came to Bloomington. That path led to a fandom for the program and frequent interactions with Hall of Fame Coach Tom Izzo, who recently flew Schulz and his family to campus for the first time.The dream scenario was that he'd be strong enough to return in the winter for a home game, but his feeding tube and PICC line stopped working in January. Schulz had declined sharply in health since. The family was informed there wasnt much more doctors could do.It made me appreciate and realize how lucky I am that I have kids that are healthy and grandkids, Izzo told the Lansing State Journal. It seems like I did something nice for him, or we did. But the truth of the matter is, he did a lot more for us, and I mean that. That's not humility. That's not. That's the truth.That's because his story was never just about sports. It was about him. It was how he continually persevered despite the disease he was dealt from forces beyond his control. It made it so easy to root for him. What immediately came to mind in that regard was Memorial's run to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019.Schulz struggled that fall with multiple hospital visits but was able to make the trip to Indianapolis with a sideline pass to watch Memorial football earn its second state championship. He was seen following the game with a blue medal around his neck. One of the players gifted it to him. Because he deserved it. A small dose of what the individual meant to Memorial. And trust me, nothing matched his affinity for everything Memorial.He was a co-host on the Memorial football podcast since its inception despite graduating three years ago."Sam loved Memorial, and Memorial loved Sam right back," the school said. "His impact on our students, faculty, staff, alumni, coaches, athletes, classmates, and friends cannot be measured. His strength inspired us. His passion energized us. His friendship changed us. The example he set will continue to educate hearts and minds for generations of Tigers to come."There are probably not proper words to convey what Schulz meant to this community. His personality and passion always felt genuine, though. It gravitated others to him. He was Sam. And he can finally rest easy.I'll be sure to save your spot at Enlow.Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Evansville Memorial superfan, who befriended college basketball coaches, dies at 22

Expectations are high for five-star incoming Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes, and Jayhawks head coach Bill Self has done little to quell the notion that Stokes could take over college basketball next season.In an interview with CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Self compared the impact Stokes might have to a legendary name in college hoops annals. "I think we'll have the most talented player on the floor basically every night we play. That's fairly undeniable in Tyran. We got pieces around him, but we're unproven. Can Keanu Dawes be a 14-and-8 guy? Can Tyran do something like Melo did withSyracuse?" Self wondered out loud.Who does Tyran Stokes remind Bill Self of as a player?https://t.co/37P3IN8oeo (Apple) https://t.co/sNq3sf2nZc (Spotify) https://t.co/Elf4oiCZ9U (YouTube) pic.twitter.com/cQQxsFdAue Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 13, 2026Anthony won a national championship in his only season at Syracuse in 2002-2003, which would be a major accomplishment for Stokes if he can pull off a one-and-done title with the Jayhawks. Ironically, Anthony's Syracuse team beat Kansas in that title game.Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Bill Self compares incoming Kansas freshman to Carmelo Anthony

In 2025, only five wide receivers surpassed 1,250 receiving yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, George Pickens, JaMarr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown accomplished the feat, with JSN and Nacua both surpassing 1,700 yards. In 2024, only Justin Jefferson, Drake London and St. Brown surpassed the 1,250-yard mark. So, which WRs will top 1,250 receiving yards this season? Lets check out the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 13. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Puka Nacua: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)Jaxon Smith-Njigba: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)Ja'Marr Chase: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)Amon-Ra St. Brown: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)CeeDee Lamb: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)Justin Jefferson: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)Drake London: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)A.J. Brown: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)Nico Collins: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Chris Olave: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)Rashee Rice: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)DeVonta Smith: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Zay Flowers: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Malik Nabers: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)George Pickens: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)Garrett Wilson: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)Alec Pierce: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)Tetairoa McMillan: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)Terry McLaurin: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total) Here's what to know about the oddsboard. The Favorites: Smith-Njigba, Nacua and Chase are all heavily favored to reach the 1,250-yard mark once again in 2026. JSN is coming off a dream season in which he caught 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping propel Seattle to a Super Bowl title. Smith-Njigba had 1,130 receiving yards in 2024 after recording just 628 yards as a rookie in 2023. Can he follow up his breakout season? Meanwhile, Nacua also had an unbelievable 2025 campaign, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded 990 yards in 2024 after bursting onto the scene with 1,486 yards as a rookie in 2023. Lastly, theres Mr. Reliable: JaMarr Chase. Chase has eclipsed the 1,250-yard mark in three of his first five seasons, finishing with more than 1,400 yards in each of those campaigns. Hes also surpassed 1,000 yards in all five seasons, and if it werent for injuries, he likely would have topped 1,250 in all five as well. Bounce-Back Season: Arguably the most interesting player on the oddsboard is Justin Jefferson. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year led the league in receiving in 2024 with 1,533 yards before experiencing a dramatic falloff in 2025. Last season, Jefferson finished with just 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, both career lows. A large part of that decline can be attributed to Minnesotas inconsistent quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy struggled to find consistency and was unable to develop a strong connection with Jefferson, while Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also saw time at quarterback. Now, Jefferson enters 2026 with Kyler Murray as his starting quarterback, giving him a proven veteran under center.In six NFL seasons, Jefferson has surpassed 1,250 receiving yards four times, including three seasons with more than 1,500.With improved QB play, a major bounce-back season could be in store for one of the leagues most accomplished receivers.

American Airlines Center is lit up prior to Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Dallas. | Julio Cortez When a professional sports team unveils a new stadium, the fans reactions typically include awe and excitement but the opposite was the case earlier this week when the Dallas Stars released renderings of their new arena.Following a legal dispute over upgrades to American Airlines Center, which hosts both the NHLs Stars and the NBAs Dallas Mavericks, the Stars decided to build their own building elsewhere.Heres why many fans are so upset. A new home is on the horizon pic.twitter.com/SDE7L5sYSR Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 10, 2026Its too far awayIf youre a Stars fan in Plano, Texas, your commute to games will become half an hour easier in 2031, when the new arena is scheduled to open. Those who live elsewhere, on the other hand, will need to put more effort into getting to games.American Airlines Center is central to the entire Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Plano is further northeast, making the trek much more time consuming for anyone located in the Fort Worth, Arlington or Irving areas.A number of fans expressed their displeasure in the comments of the Stars post on X.Who else can never attend a Stars game again? asked one fan, who added in a reply that the move would add 45 minutes each way to the commute.So glad the wealthiest in town wont have to put many miles on their BMWs to get there, someone else joked.Another fan cautioned the team to ensure there would be adequate public transportation to and from the arena, as No one wants to fight (Dallas/Fort Worth) rush hour traffic to the game and then stadium traffic on the way home when you have work the next day.Dj vuA move like this has happened in the NHL before and it didnt end well for the team or the local fans.The Phoenix Coyotes moved from downtown Phoenix to Glendale, Arizona, in 2003. America West Arena was a basketball arena, and a hockey rink didnt fit inside it without drastically decreasing fan capacity.It added roughly the same commute time for some fans as the Stars planned move will, and many in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa lost interest in hockey altogether.The saga ended with the team moving to Salt Lake City and it all stemmed from the inability to establish the right arena in the right location.Pushback over AIThe Stars contracted HNTB, an architectural firm, to design the new arena. The renderings the firm produced were largely, if not completely, generated by artificial intelligence.Especially when it comes to creative outlets like graphic design, many people have become completely opposed to the use of AI. In the case of the Stars arena renderings, those fans made their displeasure known.The top four comments on the post, which combine for more than 6,000 likes, draw attention to its use of AI, including cropped screenshots of areas in the photos where the AI messed up.For example, the big, glowing Stars logo on the roof of the building has an extra vertex. In another photo, a man is wearing a jersey with the logo on the back rather than the front, and a woman has a different jersey number on her sleeve than the one on her back.Respectfully, what is this logo? pic.twitter.com/Ytg2OFDEwa Robert Behrens (@rcb05) August 10, 2026my favorite player number 18 71 pic.twitter.com/rsLKaRc2Y7 bee (@janesroz) August 10, 2026Public fundingAccording to CBS, the Plano city council voted to hold a referendum in November, allowing the locals to approve or deny a tax package to generate $700 million for the $3 billion project.The taxes would include:A short-term hotel occupancy tax, up to 2%, resulting in a maximum combined hotel occupancy tax rate of 15%A short-term motor vehicle rental tax, up to 5%An event parking tax of up to $3 per vehicleAn admissions tax of up to 10% of the ticket priceA venue facility use tax of up to $5,000 per game on each member of a major league team that plays a professional sports game at the venueSome fans voiced particular displeasure in the comments of the rendering post.We hate it, said one fan. Congrats on stealing $700 million in public money though, Im so glad our billionaire owner is getting all this money he totally needs from the public. Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates with the bench after scoring during the third period of an NHL game against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

The NBA made Boston Celtics fans wait to find out when star guard Jaylen Brown would return to TD Garden following his shocking trade to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. The schedule release began Tuesday, but that highly-anticipated date wasn't revealed until Thursday afternoon.Brown, who spent 10 years of his professional career with the Green Team, will face the Celtics in Boston for the first time during the regular season on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 pm ET. The 76ers visit Beantown prior to that game on Saturday, October 10, however, this earlier meeting is a preseason contest and might not feature full-strength rosters. The first regular-season encounter at TD Garden is the real draw, and the Association is treating it as such with a primetime airing on Amazon Prime Video. Jaylen Brown ended his presser by talking about his whirlwind summer and the trade process:It's just been a crazy process and transition, and obviously getting traded to the Sixers, somebody that you competed against for the last 10 years, someone that you've just been a rival pic.twitter.com/LTPMqWcnUG Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) August 6, 2026The homecoming might be odd for all parties involved. The Celtics won't be used to seeing Brown at TD Garden in anything other than a green and white jersey. The Sixers will still be getting used to having Brown on their side, especially after facing him more than 50 times (in the regular season and postseason) since 2016. Most notably, it'll be weird for Brown, who's been programmed to despise the 76ers up until the blockbuster trade."It's been a lot of emotions," Brown described of coming to Philadelphia during his introductory press conference. "You know what I mean? It's been a process. To be honest, I'm still processing to some degree."Since the Celtics and 76ers share a division, they'll also square off before 2027 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 10. In the new year, there'll be Brown's TD Garden return in January, a Philly matchup on Sunday, Feb. 7, and a final meeting in Boston on Sunday, March 7. By the end of this regular-season slate, perhaps the five-time All-Star will be better accustomed to competing against his former franchise."My tenure in Boston 10 years is a perfect cycle, perfect number for completion," Brown said. "We won a championship, and I have nothing but respect for the city of Boston. But, now it's time to move forward a little bit."Brown's unexpected departure from Boston adds another layer to the historic Celtics-76ers rivalry. And while most Sixers players should expect boos when they take the parquet floor, that shouldn't be the case for Brown. A standing ovation at TD Garden is in order for the 2024 Celtics champion.After that, it's business as usual, as Celtics fans will cheer and jeer as they always do."Let's get to it," Brown said just before ending his presser in Philly.Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire:https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes:https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube:https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Former Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown set for January homecoming

The Green Bay Packers kick off the preseason on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. In theory, every player on the Packers roster has something to gain in the season's first live action. But some have more to gain than others, whether it comes to winning a roster spot, winning a position battle or earning a role. Here are some picks for the Packers player with the most to gain against the Steelers in the preseason opener:Zach Kruse: OL John Williams/TE Drake Dabney/EDGE Collin OliverI'm picking three different players. The Packers need a backup left tackle, a backup tight end and a pass-rusher who create the one pressure in a big spot that changes a game while Micah Parsons is out. Well, the preseason opener provides an excellent opportunity for Williams, a 2025 seventh-round pick, to start proving he can play left tackle, for Dabney to show he can be a blocker inline and a viable pass-catching option at tight end, and for Oliver to show off his elite athleticism as a potential DPR -- designated pass rusher. All three could take a big step towards locking in big roles for the 2026 Packers on Thursday night.Brandon Carwile: K Trey SmackSmack has made 72 percent of his kicks so far in camp. If this were the regular season, the team may have already gone in a different direction. However, the Packers are being patient with the rookie by not bringing in a veteran to push him for the teams 2026 kicking duties. If Smack makes all of his field goals tonight against the Steelers, that could buy him some more time. If he struggles, another leg may be brought in before the end of the weekend.Mark Oldacres: OL Jager BurtonThe battle for the starting spot at right guard is on, with Anthony Belton, Jacob Monk and Jager Burton all competing to win the job. The coaching staff have an idea of what Belton and Monk can do, while the rookie Burton is still something of an unknown. The preseason will have a significant bearing on who ends up winning the spot, and Burton has a chance to stake his claim on Thursday night.This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers players with the most to gain in preseason opener vs. Steelers

Law Murray: For the second time in six seasons, the LA Clippers will have a back-to-back involving the USA-Canada border on New Years Eve and New Year Day. Clippers at Cleveland on December 31; Clippers at Toronto on January 1bsky.appThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: For the second time in six seasons, the LA Clippers