Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is among the three newest advisors to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, officials announced Aug. 14.As a member of HISA's Horsemen's Advisory Group, Baffert is expected provide feedback on the Racetrack Safety, and Anti-Doping and Medication Control programs, which cover rules and regulations in horse racing. The others named to the 18-member advisory group Aug. 14 are trainers Jena Antonucci and Tim Keefe."We are also pleased to welcome our new members to the Advisory Group and look forward to the perspectives they will bring as we continue working collaboratively with stakeholders to enhance the sport for horses and participants alike," HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said in a statement.Baffert, Antonucci and Keefe succeed outgoing advisory group members Kelsey Danner, Gavin Murphy and Jonathan Sadler.Baffert, 73, has trained six Kentucky Derby and two Triple Crown winners in a more than 40-year career. In 2021, Baffert received a two-year suspension from Churchill Downs after Medina Spirit, who had finished first in that year's Kentucky Derby, was found to have failed a postrace drug test. The suspension was later extended one year amid a lawsuit from Baffert, who had claimed Churchill was targeting him and trying to destroy his career.Baffert dropped the lawsuit on Jan. 22, 2024 and was reinstated by Churchill about five months later. Baffert has since fielded horses in the 2025 and 2026 Kentucky Derbys.HISA, established by Congress in 2020, is tasked with, among other things, regulating medication usage for thoroughbred racehorses, lab accreditations, racetrack safety programs and safety measures for injuries to horses and jockeys. HISA created several new measures in response to the deaths of a dozen horses in the leadup to the 2023 Kentucky Derby.More horse racing: Preakness 2027 changes date, moves further back from Kentucky Derby(This story may update.)Stephanie Kuzydym contributed. Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as TwitterThis article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Horse racing trainer Bob Baffert named advisor to HISA

SportsLine's model simulated Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros 10,000 times and revealed its MLB predictions and 'Sunday Night Baseball' picks

SportsLine simulated the new NFL season 10,000 times and identified Fantasy football busts 2026 to fade during your Fantasy football draft prep

Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.It was Wright who played Darius James in Space Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.Notes from Zac Taylors press conference:-Only injury from the game restricting someone today is DT McKinnley Jackson.-Says they werent great operationally on offense. I expect us to be cleaner this week.-Taylor said his main takeaway with how backup OL played was Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 15, 20262. Rookie CB Ceyair Wright, who has several acting credits, left camp to pursue TV/Film opportunities.Hes been replaced by rookie Matthew McDoom (#41) who was released by the Ravens last week.If the name sounds familiar, McDoom was the UC Bearcats best corner last year. pic.twitter.com/y39ef8QHTp Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) August 15, 2026Was Ceyair Wright in Space Jam 2?Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.What did Zac Taylor say about Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals?There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."What acting role is Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals for?No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why a Bengals rookie shockingly left the team mid-camp: 'Two of his passions were colliding'

We didnt expect Larry David to work his way into WNBA legend Elena Delle Donnes Hall of Fame speech, but here we are.The two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.After taking the podium for her speech, Delle Donne made a reference all fans of Larry Davids work will know well.Before I get started, Larry David is in the building so I can only hope this speech goes pret-tay, pret-tay, pret-tay, pret-tay good, she said.MORE: Caitlin Clark continues exerting WNBA dominance with another historic gameA quick camera shot of David showed the Seinfeld creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star approved.Along with Delle Donne, fellow WNBA legends Candace Parker and Chamique Holdsclaw were inducted, and the 1996 USA Basketball Womens National Team was honored as well.There was some NBA greats included in the group of inductees, with Amare Stoudemire, Doc Rivers and Mike DAntoni all enshrined.Rounding out the list of inductees were referee Joey Crawford and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.Elena Delle Donnes Hall of Fame speechWomens Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductee Elena Delle Donne poses for a picture with Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics at Smith College, at the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 27, 2026. (Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)Elena Delle Donnes Hall of Fame speech included a heartfelt love letter to basketball.Youve been with me since I was a gangly kid in Delaware, trying to shoot over a ladder named Oscar to help me develop my shooting arc. You never cared if I was awkward, she said.You turned my greatest childhood insecurity, my height, into a superpower. You never made me feel silly when I was wearing an oven mitt on my guide hand to develop better shooting form, Delle Donne added.MORE: Indiana Fever continues to make WNBA viewership historyElena Delle Donnes basketball careerMay 19, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (11) drives to the basket as New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) defends in the third quarter at Entertainment & Sports Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)We already mentioned Delle Donnes two MVP awards and seven All-Star nods, but she was also a five-time All-WNBA selection, the 2013 Rookie of the Year and the 2015 scoring champion.Delle Donne, who was initially the No. 2 overall pick of the Chicago Sky, played a crucial role in the Washington Mystics lone WNBA title in 2019.Prior to her WNBA career, Delle Donne starred at Delaware, where she was one of the most prolific scorers in womens college basketball history.MORE: Elena Delle Donne pens emotional note to announce retirementShe averaged over 25 points per game in each season and ranks 11th all-time on the scoring list with 3,039 career points.Delle Donnes list of college honors are seemingly endless:2Womens Basketball Academic All-American of the Year(2012, 2013)2 All-American WBCA,USBWA(2012, 2013)2 First-team All-American AP(2012, 2013)Third-team All-American AP (2010)NCAA season scoring leader(2012)3CAAPlayer of the Year (2010, 2012, 2013)CAA Freshman of the Year (2010)4 First-team All-CAA (20102013)3 CAA All-Defensive Team (2010, 2012, 2013)CAA All-Freshman Team (2010)Safe to say, between her college and WNBA careers, theres no doubt Delle Donne earned her flowers and goes down in history as one of the greatest players in womens basketball.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter

After a night that included an eye poke, an illegal knee and the general mayhem of a UFC event, Dana White was irritated.The source of his frustration: In the UFC 330 main event, as the fifth and final round ensued, Ian Machado Garry high-fived reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev."I think that Ian is a talented guy," White, the UFCs CEO, said at the post-fight press conference. "I think if he had even an ounce of killer instinct, in that fifth round, you know hed been beating (Makhachev) to the body."Islams whole right side was beat up, his face was beat up. You dont come out and hug and shake hands. That (expletive) drives me (expletive) crazy."UFC 330 did more than determine the welterweight champion. Makhachev won the competitive fight by unanimous decision. It also raised the issue of the place for decorum in an UFC fight.Whats too nice?White did not equivocate."When theres so much at stake and theres also a lot of mental gamesmanship, whatever you want to call it in this game, you come out in that fifth round flying a knee or something crazy and you try to finish the fight," he said."I think this is one of those fights where Ian will go back and watch and say, (Expletive), I wish I could do that over again. "The week leading up to the fight revealed some peculiar behavior by Machado Garry. One moment he came across as arrogant and disrespectful. Not long after, he called over Makhachev to meet his young son.Could that have been part of the gamesmanship of which White talks? Killing them with kindness?No, Machado Garry did not win the fight. Nor did Makhachev dismantle him like he has other opponents. The bout looked closer than the scorecards indicated, with the judges scorring the fight 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.As White pointed out, Machado Garry defended Makhachevs takedowns with success. He also battered Makhachevs face. Kindness did not curb the violence.Yet the Russian champion, who won a record-breaking 17th straight fight, also expressed some bafflement over Machado Garrys behavior."Bro, honestly I dont understand, man," Makhachev said. "This is the fight. This is not something where we have to hug each other every round "I respect all my opponents. Yeah, I dont know. He respect too much."After the fight, Machado Garry approached Makhachev. What did he say?"He just say, 'I fight today with the greatest fighter.' Yeah, I respect him. Yeah, hes a good guy."Too good for the UFC?This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dana White reveals what drives him 'crazy' after UFC 330 main event

NFL rookie debut grades: Ty Simpson shines; Jeremiyah Love spins; 49ers, Browns WRs steal spotlight originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.How did the notable rookies selected in the first round and beyond of the 2026 NFL Draft fare in their preseason debuts over the weekend?First on the marquee, three quarterbacks came off the bench to shine in their first pro action in August, including the two drafted the earliest in April. Wide receiver was a different story, with the biggest noise made by pass-catchers picked No. 30 or later and two of the top picks, the Saints' Jordyn Tyson and the Eagles' Makai Lemon, injured and not playing.Some rookie defensive stars crushing it in training camp had strong, steady performances without the spectacular. The early Ohio State stars, no surprise, showed some flashes.Here's a breakdown of 12 of the many rookies who were under the spotlight to open the preseason.MORE:Predicting winners of the 8 most contentious QB battles in preseasonNFL rookie grades from preseason Week 1 Imagn Images Grade: ATy Simpson, QB, Rams (Round 1, No. 13 overall, Alabama)Simpson was a controversial high pick for Los Angeles, but he turned out to be a luxury stash behind Matthew Stafford once the team made the needed big defensive splurge on Myles Garrett. Simpson has been the No. 3 behind Stetson Bennett in camp, but after Bennett played a couple of drives, Simpson played the rest of the game against the Chiefs.McVay didn't shy from giving Simpson high volume with 25 attempts with little pressure, altering the sack-less dropbacks. Simpson responded with 21 completions, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt and posting a clean, efficient 125.0 passer rating. Simpson also used his mobility well to deliver the ball on top of solid pocket work for McVay. It's clear the Rams are trying to accelerate the development despite having Stafford in the short term and Simpson made a case to jump Bennett at some point in 2026.MORE:Completestats behind Ty Simpson's stellar preseason debutKC Concepcion, WR, Browns (Round 1, No. 24 overall, Texas A&M)Concepcion was advertised as an immediate open-field weapon with his speed and quickness for a Browns' offense starved for playmakers. He came through right away, catching 3 of his 4 targets for 27 yards. He also showed impressive burst on a 14-yard touchdown run on the Bears. No matter who wins the QB job between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, Concepcion figures to be a key cog for offensive-minded coach Todd Monken all season long.De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, 49ers (Round 2, No. 33 overall, Ole Miss)Stribling might be needed for a bigger role than expected as a first-rounder and is looking like a much smarter pick since 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall went down for the season and both free-agent additions, Mike Evans (quad) and Christian Kirk (calf), are hurting. Although the team brought back a fading Deebo Samuel Jr., Stribling made a case to earn a busier immediate role in the offense, leading the team with 7 catches on 8 targets for 63 yards against the Titans. Stribling showed smooth route-running and hands to justify John Lynch's surprise selection as someone who can thrive soon in Kyle Shanahan's scheme.Mike Washington Jr., RB, Raiders (Round 4, No. 122 overall, Arkansas)The Raiders wanted a little change of pace and relief for 2025 first-round workhorse Ashton Jeanty. Washington has provided that answer with an exclamation point. Jeanty looked good, too, before Washington blew up for a 53-yard run as part of his 6 carries coming off the bench.Offensive-minded coach Klint Kubiak will be committed to balance and running half the time to take pressure off his quarterbacks, much like he did with Sam Darnold in Seattle. It's important that Washington can come in with fresh legs and burst for Jeanty, a la Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III.Drew Allar, QB, Steelers (Round 3, No. 76 overall, Penn State)Allar (10-of-13, 153 yards, 11.8 yards per attempt, 2 TD, near-perfect 154.8 passer rating) came in against the Packers third behind Mason Rudolph and Will Howard who are in an intense battle to be the top backup to Aaron Rodgers and looked a lot better than both working with the third team.It won't be enough for new offensive-minded coach Mike McCarthy to elevate Allar, as his inexperience will be uncomfortable to have as Rodgers' first understudy. But this was a good sign for him to develop well through the season and get a longer look as a potential Rodgers' successor in 2027.MORE:Inside the stats of Drew Allar's sensational preseason debutJeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals (Round 1, No. 3 overall, Notre Dame)Love had a viral gorgeous move spin against the Raiders to mark his debut after missing the Hall of Fame Game preseason opener. He pounded out 11 carries for 58 yards, including a 16-yard run, living up to his special blend of power, elusiveness and explosiveness. Although there is some concern for his near-future availability after he came out of it with an ankle injury, expect the team to work toward having him healthy for Week 1 of the regular season. Imagn Images Grade: A-Fernando Mendoza, QB, Raiders (Round 1, No. 1 overall, Indiana)Mendoza got plenty of action as promised by Kubiak, coming in after one strong drive by veteran bridge No. 1 Kirk Cousins and then playing into the fourth quarter. Although he pressed a little and invited some pressure, he made all the throws well with the right touch and accuracy, from quick outs to deep-middle strikes. He also didn't need long to put his first TD pass.Cousins still has a firm grip on the starting job, but Kubiak should keep wanting to see more of Mendoza to know when it's right to make the switch midseason.Sonny Styles, LB, Commanders (Round 1, No. 7 overall, Ohio State)Washington has a sleeper for defensive rookie of the year to succeed another inside linebacker, the Browns' Carson Schwesinger. Styles has great range and recognition vs. run and pass, and showed he can lead Dan Quinn's front seven. Styles recorded three tackles against the Dolphins to show for it, scratching the surface of a rookie year bound to be full of big plays.Grade: BDavid Bailey, EDGE, Jets (Round 1, No. 2 overall, Texas Tech)Bailey has been living up to the hype as an athletic freak in the defense of Aaron Glenn and Brian Duker. Bailey had a quieter game debut in relation to his reported traffic camp, but he did start off with a tackle against the Buccaneers ahead of having a real impact as a situational pass rusher at first in the regular season.Arvell Reese, LB, Giants (Round 1, No. 5 overall, Ohio State)For the other team that plays in MetLife Stadium, they also are feeling great about their early defensive selection. The Giants made the right call to add Reese to be a versatile inside-outside force to complement recent high picks such as Abdul Carter. Reese got on the board well with a couple of tackles against the Vikings in a low-scoring affair.MORE:Jaxson Dart questions NFL's blue medical tent processGrade: CCarnell Tate, WR, Titans (Round 1, No. 4 overall, Ohio State)Tate got three targets in his debut against the 49ers, but was unable to get Tennessee fans excited by coming up empty with no receptions, including a missed scoring opportunity in the red zone. With a new offense under Brian Daboll for second-year QB Cam Ward, getting the passing game in sync has been a challenge, as Ward is also trying to build chemistry with Tate. Tate's talent will manifest at some point, but it will be a little wait. Imagn Images Grade: DOmar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets (Round 1, No. 30 overall, Indiana)Cooper has had a rough first training camp and doesn't look ready for a big role as a starter or even No. 3 type. He built some confidence by catching two passes for 31 yards late against Tampa Bay's deep defensive reserves, but he has a lot to prove to climb the depth chart. With rookie first-round tight end Kenyon Sadiq sidelined and Cooper struggling, it's not the best early development to help Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson.

The Baltimore Ravens have spent much of training camp managing expectations surrounding Nnamdi Madubuike's recovery. Though some may not admit to this now, few, if they're being honest, expected the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to immediately return to full participation this quickly after undergoing neck surgery in April.Still, each week seems to bring another positive update. The latest came Wednesday when defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver spoke with the media and discussed Madubuike's progress following practice. For Weaver, the signs have been impossible to ignore."He looks phenomenal. I know he wants to be just doing everything he can to be back out there, and when he is out there, I expect him to look like the Nnamdi we have grown to know and love throughout the years."That endorsement carries weight coming from the man responsible for coordinating Baltimore's defense. Those also viewing practice from the field level express similar takeaways. According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Madubuike participated in positional drills for the first time during training camp after spending the opening weeks limited primarily to individual work.The Ravens continue taking a patient approachThere has never been much reason for Baltimore to rush Madubuike's return. The Ravens know exactly what they have in one of the NFL's most disruptive interior defenders. Before the injury setback, Madubuike had established himself as one of the cornerstones of Baltimore's defense and a player capable of impacting games as both a run defender and pass rusher.The focus throughout the offseason has been long-term health rather than short-term urgency. That approach appears to be paying off. Wednesday's participation in positional drills represented another step forward. Head coach Jesse Minter also recently indicated Madubuike could gradually increase his workload over the next couple of weeks as the Ravens continue preparing for the regular season.A healthy Madubuike changes everythingBaltimore already entered 2026 believing it had the pieces to field one of the AFC's top defenses. Kyle Hamilton remains one of the league's premier defensive playmakers. Roquan Smith continues to anchor the middle of the defense, and as Hensley and others have reported, the secondary has flashed impressive depth throughout training camp.Adding a fully healthy Madubuike back into that equation would elevate the unit even further. The Ravens don't need him dominating practices in August. They need him ready for meaningful games in September and beyond. Every update from Minter and Weaver suggests Baltimore is moving closer to that outcome.For now, the message from inside the building remains consistent. The Ravens are encouraged by what they see, and Weaver's latest comments offered perhaps the strongest indication yet that Madubuike's return is trending in the right direction.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Anthony Weaver sounds increasingly optimistic about Nnamdi Madubuike

TheIndianapolis Colts preseason opener with the New England Patriots finished in a tie. Coming out of that game, there were both positive developments that took place and some questions that still linger.Let's take a look at three of the big unknowns heading into Week 2 of the preseason.Is the Colts' pass rush depth good enough?This has been one of the big questions facing the Colts all offseason, and we still don't have a clear answer. What we do know is that Arden Key is likely to start opposite of Laiatu Latu. He did not play in the preseason opener.Jaylahn Tuimoloau and Micheal Clemons, who are next on the depth chart, had quiet games against New England's backup offensive line. The two were on the field for 46 pass rush snaps and generated one total pressure.Rookie Caden Curry, meanwhile, had an excellent game and should get more looks in practice to see if he can give the rotation a boost.Is the cornerback depth more of a question than anticipated?The Colts' cornerback depth took some lumps in the joint practice with the Patriots, and that then carried over into the game. Johnathan Edwards was targeted seven times, allowing four completions for 75 yards with a touchdown. Mekhi Blackmon was penalized twice and allowed two receptions on three targets for 24 yards.Cam Taylor-Britt is likely the fourth cornerback option, able to play inside and out, and he wasn't targeted over 13 coverage snaps.Where does the backup quarterback competition stand?Before the preseason game, Shane Steichen said on a few occasions that the backup competition was close -- calling the battle "back-and-forth" recently. Presumably that is where things still stand. That said, if Riley Leonard entered the preseason game with a slight advantage, that may have been erased following Richardson's performance. Both players responded with strong red zone sessions in Saturday's practice. Leonard will get the start later this week against Atlanta.This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 3 questions facing Colts entering Week 2 of preseason

The reality of playing a franchise quarterback in the preseason entails the risk of the quarterback getting hit.On Thursday night, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow got hit after left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was beaten around the edge.Meeting with reporters on Saturday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor defended Brown, who's entering the final year of a four-year, $64 million deal that he signed in 2023."I think he's motivated to give us the best version of himself," Taylor said, via Zach Pressnell of SI.com. "He's been a strong leader on this team. And I think anytime something doesn't go perfectly, he wears it and takes ownership for it. I think anytime Joe gets hit, all those guys are trying to figure out what they can do better. And we all are. None of us want to be in that position. And there's things that we can always do to help those guys work."Preseason or regular season, Burrow's ability to play every game is critical to the Bengals' prospects. They've missed the playoffs for the last three seasons. If the streak runs to four, things could get very dicey for Taylor in Cincinnati.