MLB returns to the cornfields of Dyersville, Iowa tonight for the Field of Dreams Game, a celebration of the iconic 1989 baseball film starring Kevin Costner. Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies take on Taj Bradley and the Minnesota Twins with first pitch set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Be prepared, however, for an elaborate ceremony ahead of the first Field of Dreams Game since 2022, which may include Costner himself.The Phillies and Twins are wearing vintage uniforms for the game, and MLB is also turning back the clock from a rules perspective. ABS challenges will not be allowed after being introduced for the first time this season. Let's get into why.Why aren't ABS challenges in Field of Dreams Game?Dyersville's 8,000-seat ballpark doesn't have MLB's ABS technology installed, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb. It's the same reason why April's Mexico City Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres didn't feature ABS challenges.There you have it. This Field of Dreams Game will be old school in more ways than one.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why arent ABS challenges allowed in Field of Dreams Game?

Image Credit: Shutterstock.Parents in upstate New York paid hundreds of dollars to enroll their children in a new travel basketball program. The kids practiced, but the uniforms and tournaments families expected never arrived.Now police have charged Norbert A. Sygdziak, 44, of Milton, with fraud and larceny offenses over the Saratoga Raptors program, which the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office says was used to collect money from multiple families.One parent, Joe Tocci, told the Times Union that he and his ex-wife paid $840 for their 12-year-old son. He said other families lost anywhere from $500 to about $1,000 each.The Raptors had roughly 40 children divided between 12-and-under and 14-and-under teams, according to Tocci. They practiced for about a month, but when scheduled tournaments failed to happen and uniforms did not arrive, parents began questioning what their fees had actually purchased.Parents Paid for Uniforms and Tournament BasketballThe Saratoga County Sheriff's Office arrested a Milton man in late July, accusing him of collecting money for a fake youth basketball team. https://t.co/eKE7szI517 FOX23News (@FOX23News) August 10, 2026The Saratoga Raptors presented families with what appeared to be a travel basketball program for young players in the Saratoga area. Parents expected their fees to cover participation in an organized team, including uniforms and competition in scheduled tournaments.Tocci said the children initially practiced for about a month in Saratoga Springs. That gave families something tangible in return for their payments and made the program appear to be moving toward a normal travel season.Questions emerged when tournament play was supposed to begin. Tocci told the Times Union that events started being canceled, and he became increasingly concerned. Parents also had not received the promised uniforms.Police Say the Payments Were Part of an Ongoing Fraud SchemeThe Saratoga County Sheriff's Office says it received several complaints involving the Raptors and began investigating the money families had paid. Police arrested Sygdziak on July 21. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, second-degree scheme to defraud and five counts of petit larceny for alleged conduct occurring between February and April.The Sheriff's Office accused Sygdziak of engaging in a "systematic ongoing course of conduct" intended to defraud more than one person and obtaining property worth more than $1,000. Investigators also allege he stole property worth more than $1,000 and committed five separate acts underlying the petit-larceny counts.Under New York law, first-degree scheme to defraud can apply when someone allegedly conducts an ongoing scheme targeting more than one person and obtains more than $1,000 through false or fraudulent representations or promises. Fourth-degree grand larceny can likewise apply when the value of allegedly stolen property exceeds $1,000.One Family Paid $840 for Their 12-Year-OldTocci, of Stillwater, said he and his ex-wife paid $840 to enroll their 12-year-old son. He estimated that the overall program involved about 40 players spread across two age groups.He also disputed the suggestion that the criminal complaints came from only a handful of unhappy parents. Tocci estimated that about 80% of the families eventually pursued charges against Sygdziak.The Sheriff's Office has not publicly identified every family involved or released a total amount all parents collectively paid. Sheriff Jeffrey Brown did say additional potential victims contacted investigators after the department publicly announced Sygdziak's arrest.Sygdziak Says the Basketball Program Was RealSygdziak disputes the allegations. A man identifying himself as Sygdziak answered a telephone number listed on the Raptors' Facebook page and told the Times Union that the accusations were false. He maintained that families received months of practices and scrimmages and said the tournaments were the portion of the program that did not take place."The allegations are false," he told the newspaper. Sygdziak said the families who complained had participated in practices three times a week and scrimmage games for more than four months. He attributed the dispute to parents deciding they wanted different coaches and removing him from the program.The Parents Reorganized the Team Without HimThe collapse of the Raptors did not end the children's basketball season. Tocci said the families brought in two other coaches and reorganized the players under a new name, the Springs City Hoopers. That allowed the children to continue playing after the disputes surrounding the original program.The replacement team went on to participate in tournament competition. Tocci told the Times Union that the Hoopers ended their season by winning a tournament in Syracuse. Tocci said the parents' priority became creating the season their children had expected while also preventing other families from encountering the same problem.Police Are Aware of Complaints Involving an Earlier BusinessThe Times Union also reported that Sygdziak previously co-founded Ride Along Now, a New Jersey school transportation company. NJ.com reported in December 2025 that the company had accumulated 29 Better Business Bureau complaints alleging deceptive conduct, another 16 complaints with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and multiple lawsuits.Brown specifically told the Times Union that investigators did not consider the transportation-company matter necessarily relevant to the Raptors case, though the Sheriff's Office was aware of it.Sygdziak was not held in custody after his July 21 arrest. Police released him on appearance tickets directing him to answer the charges in Malta Town Court. As of the latest reporting, the criminal case remained pending. No guilty plea, trial verdict or sentence had been reported.Verify a Travel Team Before Paying the Full Season FeeParents considering a travel basketball program should ask for more than a team name and practice schedule before paying hundreds or thousands of dollars. Request a written breakdown showing what the fee covers, including uniforms, gym time, tournament entry fees, coaching costs and any other expenses.Ask for the actual tournament schedule before registration closes. Parents can independently contact tournament organizers or check their official websites to confirm that an event exists and that the team is registered or expected to participate.If a program claims to be affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union, verify that claim. The AAU advises parents to ask to see a club's AAU membership and provides tools for locating clubs and checking tournament information.Paying by credit card can provide additional options when promised services are not delivered. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says a charge for goods or services not delivered as agreed can qualify as a billing-error dispute, and consumers generally should notify the card issuer promptly.If a youth program appears to have taken money through deliberate deception, parents can report the matter to local law enforcement and file a consumer complaint with the New York Attorney General's Office. Families should preserve the original advertising and payment records because those materials can show precisely what was promised when the money was collected.

The Villain was having none of it. As part of the Phoenix Suns releasing their 2026-27 schedule, the team tapped forward Dillon Brooks to help make the announcement on its social media accounts on Aug. 13.The video had a humorous twist that played on Brooks' ''Villain'' persona.The video shows a crew preparing to record Brooks, who is standing on a basketball court at what appears to be the team's training center in East Phoenix. He waves off an offer for some water, then is handed a piece of paper that appears to be a script. A member of the crew snaps a clapperboard and the director shouts ''action'' to begin tapingBrooks looks at the script, shakes his head, crumples the paper and tosses it away.Then he looks at the camera and says: ''We play everyone.''The video then scrolls the schedule as Brooks continues glaring into the camera.2026-27 Phoenix Suns Schedule Release ft. The Villain : https://t.co/3xzH6RpMDPpic.twitter.com/xiZwZ2WzDA Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 13, 2026

That NFL itch has been there, but now it's starting to get scratched. With the preseason underway, and the regular season kicking off in a matter of weeks, I'm making bets. Here are two of my favorite bets in the NFC North. 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. The Lions finished 9-8 last season, which was good for a fourth-place record in the NFC North. That gives the Lions three games against other fourth-place seeds from the three other NFC divisions. Detroit will face the Giants, Saints and Cardinals, while the rest of the division has a tougher schedule, and that alone gives the Lions a leg up in their race to win the division. The 2025 Lions were third in total DVOA, but Im not sure they played like that team for a good chunk of the season. The offense was slightly uneven after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for the Bears in the offseason. Detroit missed his play sequencing and steady guiding hand, and head coach Dan Campbell eventually took over the play calling. This offseason, the Lions hired Drew Petzing, and they hope he can help them return to that game-to-game, drive-to-drive offensive efficiency. What will surely help the offense is the offensive line returning to being one of the best in the sport. It has been retooled a bit, and even though its taken an early hit with center Cade Mays out for a stint, it should be good again. The Lions have above-average skill position players, highlighted by Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. And of course, quarterback Jared Goff can still spin it well. Defensively, Detroit needs more pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson. It is hopeful young players can fill that role Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams inside, with rookie draft pick Derrick Moore on the edge. The Lions' linebackers are solid and some returning pieces in the secondary, like a healthy Brian Branch, will be important for their success. The Lions just need an average defense if their offense plays well. Picking the Lions to win the division means that Im "down" on the other three teams. The Packers just dont scare me. What about them is scary? Micah Parsons? Sure, but hes not starting the season healthy. I always find it difficult to pick a division winner without players that I fear. I believe the Bears will be a better team this season with a worse record. Weird, yes, but plausible. They won six games last season in which they were trailing with under two minutes left and that just wont happen this season. Teams that win a ton of one-score games tend to see that number flip in the other direction the next season. I'm intrigued by the Vikings with Kyler Murray. It's an uber-talented team, but I'm not sure I fully trust Murray right now. This is my favorite prop of the NFL season. Colston Loveland is going to have over 1,000 yards receiving this season in his second NFL campaign. In 16 games last season, Loveland had 58 catches on 82 targets for 713 yards. Hes going to explode this year, as Caleb Williams improves his game and offensive coordinator/head coach Ben Johnson figures out ways to get Loveland the ball more often. Also, DJ Moore has left the roster and his 85 targets have to go somewhere. Some of those might find their way to Luther Burden, but hes already hurt in camp. Its not serious enough to hold him out of the regular season, but I dont like muscle strains in the preseason. They tend to stay with the player the entire year.

The next two weeks will bring challenges like no other for INDYCAR drivers. Two new street circuits. Back-to-back weeks of unknowns. First up this weekend: A race on the streets of Markham, a suburb of Toronto. Its a 2.19-mile, 12-turn course on streets that have mostly been repaved. Then next weekend: A race on the streets of Washington, D.C., around the National Mall. The relatively simple 1.7-mile, seven-turn course will go by some of the most iconic institutions in the nations Capitol as part of a celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. Heres everything to know about how drivers will handle the next couple of weeks. How Do They Prepare? Drivers have worked in racing simulators just as they have for other events, although the scan of the Markham track was done before it was repaved. So many of the bumps are no longer there. Also, for new street courses, teams have no data on the surface and how it reacts to tires and the like. If they were going to an existing track, they could have had a tire test. There's another issue. Obviously, the temporary barriers have been installed in just the last few weeks, and while the track designs are close to actuality, a wall in a different spot by a few feet can make all the difference. Some drivers refuse to do the simulator or dont put much stock in it. "I hate the simulator," Arrow McLaren driver Pato OWard told me Thursday morning in Markham. "Its so useless. Its good for a video game. Its not good for getting to know exactly what the car is going to feel like. "And the problem is, whenever you go to these new places, that is your first sensation of a new circuit. Then you get there and youre like, Hey, thats not the same. Well, no sh--, Sherlock, its not the same. Its important to know where the track goes, which I do know." Lundgaard, a teammate of OWard, told me he decided not to do the simulator. "I did it in Arlington and in all honesty, I thought it hurt me. So I didnt really want to do Markham or D.C." But Some Have Done Simulator, Right? Rinus VeeKay, who is 10th in the series standings driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, said he has done the simulator for both tracks and thereare a lot of differences between Markham and Washington. He said he actually dislocated a rib doing the Markham simulator because of the bumps in the surface before it was repaved. The Markham track has a very tight hairpin, much like Long Beach except drivers will be carrying much more speed into that turn at Markham. "Id say D.C. is more of a straight-forward track, really wide with all the streets," VeeKay told me Thursday morning. "Theyre just really wide there. Markham is a lot tighter, a lot more unorthodox. "Corners we havent really seen with that weird hairpin there. This is going to be an interesting race. Its going to take a lot of skill to be quick around this track here at Markham." And theres some feeling that this could be one of those places where preparation isnt as important. "Were just going to rock up and do our best," Meyer Shank Racing driver Marcus Armstrong told me. So Who Will Be The Favorites? You could go with Kyle Kirkwood, who won the inaugural race on the new Arlington (Texas) street course earlier this year and has been one of the top drivers on street courses the last few years. And then, of course, there's championship leader Alex Palou. He has won on the streets of St. Pete, Long Beach and Detroit this year. "You never know until you practice one or two times," Palou told me and other reporters last week as far as who will be good this weekend. It was at Arlington where Kirkwood made a daring pass on Palou for the win. Christian Lundgaard, who has won two races on road courses this year, isnt sure fans should expect much difference when looking at the top of the board. "I feel the strong teams will be at the strong end of the field as always," Lundgaard told me and other reporters last week. "There may be drivers that figure it out sooner than others. I feel like itll be pretty similar to Arlington." Will This Be An Even Playing Field? Thats a good question. With no driver truly knowing exactly what he needs, that could open up the chances of a driver hitting on the right setup. Or maybe even bigger, theres more likelihood that a driver just makes mistakes and ends up in a barrier. "For a smaller team, I think its a good thing," VeeKay said. "We can guess right, while some big teams maybe dont." As Christian Rasmussen of ECR told me: "I dont think it hurts us guys." Shouldnt It Be Tougher On Teams With Smaller Budgets? It very well could. A.J. Foyt Racing driver Santino Ferrucci will admit that much. "Its probably a bigger challenge for us than others, but Im looking forward to it," Ferrucci told me last week. "Weve had four new tracks [including the Phoenix oval] this year, three of which have been brand new. "Its just great for the sport. Venues that we need to be going to and tracks that need to be changed. .... Im excited about it." Romain Grosjean, a driver for Dale Coyne Racing, might run on the tightest budget of any team in the garage. Coming from Portland last week and then having Milwaukee and Laguna Seca (Monterey, Calif.) in the two weeks following Washington to end the INDYCAR season will be a challenge. "Its a tough one for everyone," Grosjean told me Thursday. "Its a lot of races in a row, its a lot of travel. West Coast to East Coast to West Coast. But well do our best. Its exciting to have many races. "Its exciting to be here in Markham and then D.C. is going to be a big one." Why Are They Not Racing Where They Normally Do In Toronto? Several reasons. Construction in the area around Exhibition Place had made things a little more difficult and the streets were not in the best shape. Plus, with the World Cup at the soccer stadium, that made the timeline for trying to get the course set up even more challenging. Greene Savoree which has the INDYCAR promotional rights for Toronto and is also the promoter for St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio and Portland found a new home in the Toronto suburb of Markham. The city has paved many of the streets. And having this race in Markham is a long-term deal. The new location is about a 22-mile drive from Exhibition Place. How Did The D.C. Race Come Together? The D.C. race was not on the original 2026 calendar. However, an executive order by Donald Trump that was signed in January allowed for it to be operated primarily on federal property. This put the race into high gear. It has been a scramble to get everything done for a race on the streets of Washington. The race was added and increased the schedule to 18 competitions from 17. Is It Tough To Put Up A Street Course? Yes, and especially a new one. Hundreds of concrete barriers and miles of fencing are required. Manhole covers need to be welded shut (Washington had more than 200). At Markham on Thursday, workers were scrambling to finish the track build, delaying the scheduled time for INDYCAR teams to set up in the pits so that vehicles working on fencing and barriers could get their work done. INDYCAR teams are scheduled to practice Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Why Do Street Courses? Street course events bring racing to people who dont necessarily get to see it and can also be considered an economic generator for the area. They also create iconic images. NASCAR had its race earlier this year in San Diego with aircraft carriers in the background. The race in Washington will feature both the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument in the background. "Sports generally is a show," said Grosjean, a former Formula 1 driver. "Racing in the capital of the country is the right thing to do. Going to big cities with St. Pete and Long Beach always works really well. ... Im excited for it and looking forward to be racing there."

The Oklahoma Sooners made a splash in the transfer portal on Thursday, adding senior SMU guard B.J. Edwards. Edwards joins the Sooners after spending three seasons with the Mustangs. With SMU last season, Edwards averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He shot 47.4% from the field and 37.2% from three. The 6-foot-3 point guard is the third guard addition by the Sooners through the transfer portal this offseason. Edwards joins former Texas A&M guard Pop Isaacs and former Utah Valley guard Tyler Hendricks. The Sooners also added forwards Yaak Yaak and Khani Rooths. Last season for the Mustangs, Edwards scored in double figures 19 times, including a season-high 24 points in a win over Wake Forest. Edwards also had multiple double-digit assist games, with a season-high 13 assists against Arkansas State and 11 in a win over Texas A&M. Edwards recorded a triple-double in the Mustangs' win over Cal State Fullerton. This is a big get for Porter Moser and the Sooners, adding a veteran player who can facilitate the offense and provide a scoring punch. NEWS: SMU transfer guard BJ Edwards has committed to Oklahoma, he told @On3. The 6-3 senior averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this past season. He was recently granted a fifth year of elibility through the court ruling in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/wOR57h6JdR Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 13, 2026Contact/Follow us@SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners add veteran guard from SMU in transfer portal

Every MLB team enters a new season with expectations, but for some teams, those expectations can quickly turn into disappointment. While some clubs have exceeded expectations in 2026, others have struggled to live up to the hype surrounding them entering the year.With the regular season entering its final stretch, its time to look at the teams that have fallen the furthest below expectations. Here are some of the most disappointing MLB teams of the 2026 season:No. 1: Toronto Blue JaysThe Blue Jays had a great 2025 season, finishing with a 94-68 record and winning the American League East. They reached their first World Series since 1993, but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. In Game 7, Toronto had a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, but a Miguel Rojas home run tied the score and silenced the Rogers Centre crowd. LA would go on to win in 11 innings and capture their second straight championship.Despite the heartbreaking loss, it was a very successful year that the Jays were looking to build on in 2026. In the offseason, they signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract to bolster their rotation. Toronto also signed star Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal, adding to their already potent lineup.With their 2025 run and these new additions, expectations were high for the Blue Jays in 2026. However, they have not lived up to those expectations whatsoever. The Jays currently sit at 59-64, tied for last in the AL East. They only have a 12 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs projections.A major reason for their struggles this season has been injuries. Key players like Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger,Trey Yesavage, and George Springer have all missed time in 2026. Also, superstar first baseman Vladimir Guererro Jr. has had a down season, In 112 games, he has only hit seven home runs and has an OPS below .700.Even with all these problems, the Jays still find themselves only two games out of a Wild Card spot. Even if they do find a way to make the playoffs, it has still been an underwhelming season for a team that was two outs away from a World Series a season ago.Injured Blue Jays players :Alejandro KirkCody PonceAnthony SantanderAddison BargerJose BerriosShane BieberTrey YesavageMax ScherzerBowden FrancisYimi Garcia19+ | #BlueJays50pic.twitter.com/LUIefZWuFc PlayNow Sports (@PlayNowSports) April 7, 2026No. 2: Seattle MarinersThe Mariners came so close to reaching their first World Series last season. They lost the ALCS in seven games to the Blue Jays. Still, it was a very successful year for Seattle. They finished with a 90-72 record and won their first AL West title since 2001. The Mariners were hoping to take another step forward in 2026, but this season hasnt been what the team or their fans hoped.Seattle currently sits at 57-65, 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. A major reason for their struggles has been the offense. The Mariners have scored the fewest runs andhave the second-lowest batting average in all of MLB. After an MVP-caliber season in 2025, catcher Cal Raleigh has not been the same hitter in 2026.Raleigh hit 60 home runs in 2025, the most ever by a catcher in MLB history. This season, he missed around a month of games due to an oblique strain. Even when he has been healthy, he hasnt been playing like the MVP candidate he was a year ago. In 86 games, Raleigh is hitting .159 with just 12 home runs and an OPS of .564.While not completely out of the playoff picture, it would take a massive turnaround for them to get back into contention. Missing the postseason would be a significant step back for a Mariners team that was one game away from the World Series in 2025.CAL.RALEIGH.60. pic.twitter.com/p8RXormx4q MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2025No. 3: Detroit TigersThe Tigers started 2025 hot, with a 59-34 record and a 15.5-game lead in the AL Central. It was looking like they would cruise to a division title. However, a historic second-half collapse allowed the Cleveland Guardians to steal the division away from Detroit, forcing them to play in the Wild Card round. They avenged their collapse by beating Cleveland, but lost in the ALDS to the Mariners.Detroit was expected to be back in playoff contention this season, but they have been one of the bigger disappointments in 2026. Two-time CY Young winner Tarik Skubal missed time after undergoing surgery on his elbow. With the Tigers out of contention by the trade deadline and Skubal in the last year of his contract, Detroit traded him. They sent him to the Dodgers in exchange for three prospects.Since trading away their star pitcher, the Tigers have actually been playing better. They were 51-58 when the deal happened, and now they are at 60-61 and hold a Wild Card Spot. They have been one of the best teams in baseball since June 1 with a record of 38-23 in that span, the third best in all of baseball.Detroit needs to keep play well to stay in the race. If they end up missing out on the postseason, it would be a huge letdown considering they were one game away from their first ALCS appearance since 2013.BREAKING: The Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, sources tell ESPN. Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026No. 4: New York MetsThe Mets have been the biggest disappointment in baseball this season. Entering 2026, the Mets had the highest payroll in baseball at $357 million. That spending has not translated to winning results. They are currently 16 games below .500 with a 53-69 record and are in last place in the National League East. Some of the offseason moves that President of Baseball Operations David Stearns made have completely flopped.One of those moves was trading for former Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. They sent their No. 3 prospect Jett Williams and No. 5 prospect Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee. Peralta was expected to become the ace of the Mets rotation, but he wasnt that level of pitcher with New York. In 22 starts with the Mets, Peralta had a 4.99 ERA. With New York not in contention and Peralta a free agent after the season, they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays at this years trade deadline.Another questionable move was letting fan-favorite Pete Alonso walk in free agency. Instead, they signed infielder Jorge Polanco to fill that void. Before this season, Polanco had one played one game at first base in his career, making it a questionable fit. He has also missed a lot of time this season, being sidelined for three months with a right wrist contusion.When he has been on the field, he hasnt been productive. In 34 games, Polanco is hitting just .137 with two home runs and a .421 OPS. New York moved on from another fan-favorite, Brandon Nimmo in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien. The veteran infielder has struggled with the Mets in 2026. Semien his hitting just .210 with a .625 OPS in 103 games this season. He has even been bad on defense, posting a -5 Outs Above Average (OAA) according to Baseball Savant.Almost everything that could go wrong has gone wrong in Queens this season. From injuries, players underperfoming, and poor fundamental baseball, its been about as bad of a season you could have imagined as a Mets fan. With their lucrative payroll and the expectations going into 2026, this has been one of the most disappointing seasons in Mets history, and arguably in all of MLB history.The Seattle Mariners were a chic World Series pick this year. Three-quarters of the way through the season, they are arguably the most disappointing team in baseball. What happened? pic.twitter.com/xqr0exGHGB Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 11, 2026The post Which MLB Teams Have Been the Most Disappointing This Season? appeared first on The Lead.

The Mount Union men's basketball team has landed one of the area's top 3-point shootersHoover High School guard Connor Newell announced his commitment to play for the Purple Raiders on social media on Aug. 13. He will be entering his senior season with the Vikings.Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all yearNewell hit 55 3s and shot almost 39% from behind the arc during his junior season with the Vikings. He earned second team honors on the All-Federal League and All-Stark County teams.Newell's 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted Hoover to a 74-71 win over Massillon on Dec. 23. It was the only loss of the season for the Tigers, who won the OHSAA Division II state championship.Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.comOn X:@PopperUSATODAY|On Instagram:mike_popovich|On Snapchat:popovich_mike|On TikTok:mikepopovichThe Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hoover High School guard Connor Newell commits to play at Mount Union

You hear NFL players and coaches talk a lot about no game meaning more to them than any others or to never get too high or too low. Generally the suggestion is that these guys are machines with a singular focus. Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak doesn't see it that way.Kubiak grew up around the game and understands that these are emotional guys. And often times that what makes them great."This is these guys' jobs, its our jobs as coaches, and you should have those butterfly feelings," said Kubiak. "And if you don't, sometimes to me, it means you're not ready. If you're not nervous about it, if you don't have a little anxiety, it probably doesn't mean as much to you. So, I think that's a good thing to have those feelings."There are currently 90 players on the Raiders offseason roster. A third of whom are rookies or first year players. And only 53 of the players can make the regular season roster. Perhaps fewer than that of this current group considering they will also be scanning other teams cuts.So, naturally the majority of these players know they are playing for their NFL lives out there. Every rep, every snap counts. A big play in the preseason could be what lands them on a roster, whether it be with the Raiders or another team. While a lapse could mean being unemployed come September. That's a lot of pressure.Stepping up and outplaying the competition requires more than just talent. A little adrenaline goes a long way. The winner is the guy who wants it more.This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Klint Kubiak wants Raiders players to have 'butterfly feelings' tonight

Donovan Harns grew up watching baseball as a fan inside Joe Becker Stadium. He also played in games there. Hes even been a coach at the stadium. In the summer of 2026, he started a new role at the Joplin ballpark.He became the general manager of the first-year collegiate summer team, the Joplin Jailbirds. He and the team hoisted the MINK League trophy July 31 to cap a memorable first season as an organization.Could it have gone much better?In my eyes, no, it couldnt have, Harns said.When asked if he was ready for the 2027 summer, Harns said, Ready for next year. Lets do it.The success, the picture-perfect season and the excitement for another round of being a general manager doesnt mean that it was easy or stress-free.In fact, the stress was mounting June 1 ahead of the home opener for Harns and the Jailbirds. He recalls being worried about the first game and all the moving parts to hosting a game, like ticket sales and concession stand duties. He described the night before the first home game as a mental breakdown.I was kind of worried and just kind of put everything up to God. Two hours before the game started on June 2, I was like, Whatever happens, happens, Harns said. Im so glad for how everything went this season and in the MINK itself.Harns said more than 1,000 people were in attendance for that home opener. The crowds werent that big nightly, but the Joplin faithful also showed up again for the championship game.It was a great crowd. We were over 600 people, so that was awesome. Thats kind of where I thought our peak could be or where I wanted it to be, Harns said.Joe Becker immediately began some remodels as the field was being updated after the championship win for the Jailbirds. Harns went out on a winning note and won a title on that turf one last time.We are the last game here (before remodels), and to end on a win is very big for me personally. From someone thats watched games here, played games here and now to be the general manager of a team that plays on this field has been really cool to see. A full-circle moment for me, Harns said.More than baseballThe historic park that hosted Hall of Famers such as Mickey Mantle and Whitey Herzog is known for all of its baseball glory, but in this new era of leadership, the Jailbirds want the park to be able to invite in all walks of life, not just fellow baseball gurus.We also want Joe Becker to be a place where it isnt just a baseball field. We want it to be a community event center, Harns said. Theres going to be other things here than just baseball. We love baseball, obviously, but we want this to be a park that all the community sees even if they arent baseball fans.A concert is coming to Joe Becker on Friday, Oct. 2. Taylorville, an unofficial tribute band, will come to Joplin to perform a Taylor Swift-esque concert.Harns says to expect more events in the future as well. He spoke specifically about trying to have a movie night at the park soon.