Ab DeMarco Jr., a former NHL defenseman who played in parts of 13 seasons, died on June 21 at the age of 77. He played for several NHL teams from 1969 to 1978 and also spent a season in the World Hockey Association before retiring.
Key Facts
Ab DeMarco Jr. played in the NHL for teams including the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, and Boston Bruins.
He also played one season (1978-79) with the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association.
DeMarco played a total of 344 NHL games, scoring 44 goals and making 80 assists.
He participated in 25 playoff games and scored one playoff goal.
DeMarco was born in Cleveland and followed his Canadian-born father’s footsteps into professional hockey.
His best NHL season was 1974-75 with the Vancouver Canucks.
He was known for being traded multiple times during his career.
After retiring, DeMarco lived in North Bay, Ontario, and is survived by family members including three daughters and five grandchildren.
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Jacob Misiorowski, a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, has been pitching exceptionally well with a 7-0 record and a 0.17 ERA in his last eight starts. His recent performances, including a one-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts, make him one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history over this stretch.
Key Facts
Misiorowski is 7-0 with a 0.17 earned run average (ERA) over his last eight starts.
His ERA over this period is the lowest in American or National League history for at least eight starts of 15 innings or more.
He recently threw a one-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies, striking out 15 batters.
Misiorowski’s fastball has reached 104.5 mph, the fastest by a starter since 2008.
His average four-seam fastball speed is 100.1 mph, the highest ever for a starter throwing 400 or more pitches in this tracked era.
He leads qualified pitchers with a 33 ERA- (meaning 67% better than league average), a .140 batting average allowed, 131 strikeouts, and a 39.8% strikeout rate.
Misiorowski was a rookie in 2025, but had a higher ERA (4.36) due to a higher walk rate.
The Brewers and Braves, both with strong records, will meet on June 19 when Misiorowski faces Martín Pérez of the Braves.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced their 2026 training camp and preseason game schedules. Training camp practices will start on July 29 at Miller Electric Park and are mostly open to the public. The Jaguars will play three preseason games before beginning their regular season on September 13 against the Cleveland Browns.
Key Facts
Training camp starts on July 29, 2026.
Most practices are open to the public and held at Miller Electric Park.
The Jaguars have joint practices with the Carolina Panthers on August 19 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 25.
Preseason games are scheduled for August 15, 21, and 28.
The preseason opponents are the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The regular season opens on September 13 with a home game against the Cleveland Browns.
The season opener will be broadcast on CBS.
Times for training camp sessions have not yet been announced and may change.
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Sam Darnold, who recently signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, is expected to receive a large pay raise in 2027 after winning the Super Bowl and improving his career record. His future contract could be influenced by what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pay their quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
Key Facts
Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks last year.
Darnold has improved his record to 28 wins and 6 losses in the last two seasons.
He won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks in February.
Experts predict Darnold’s next contract could be worth about $60 million per year.
Baker Mayfield’s contract with the Buccaneers may set a benchmark for Darnold’s next deal.
Mayfield is in the last year of a three-year, $100 million contract.
Some believe Mayfield might only get around $30 million per year in his next deal, while others think it could be $55-$60 million.
Darnold is younger than Mayfield, which could help Darnold get a higher salary.
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The Indianapolis Colts have announced their training camp and preseason schedules for 2026. Practices will take place mainly at Grand Park and are open to fans. The Colts will start their regular season on September 13, 2026, against the Baltimore Ravens.
Key Facts
Training camp begins on July 29, 2026, with daily practices mostly at 10 a.m. or in the afternoon/evening on some days.
Special events during camp include Family Day, Back Together Weekend, Thirsty Thursday, Salute to Service, and Give Back Sunday.
The team will have joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons on August 19 and 20.
Preseason games include: August 13 at New England Patriots, August 22 vs. Atlanta Falcons, and August 29 vs. Detroit Lions.
The first regular season game is on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time against the Baltimore Ravens.
All training camp practices are open to the public.
The regular season opener will be shown on CBS.
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The San Francisco 49ers have said wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will not play for them again, but they want to trade him for a draft pick instead of releasing him right away. Aiyuk has said he wants to join the Washington Commanders in 2026, but if he shows up for training camp, the 49ers might release or suspend him, which could make the situation worse.
Key Facts
The 49ers do not plan to play Brandon Aiyuk anymore.
They prefer to trade Aiyuk for a draft pick rather than release him immediately.
Aiyuk has expressed interest in joining the Washington Commanders for the 2026 season.
Aiyuk and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels were college teammates.
If Aiyuk attends the 49ers’ training camp, the team might release or suspend him.
Suspending Aiyuk could create problems for the 49ers’ team environment.
The 49ers previously suspended a player, De'Vondre Campbell, for refusing to play.
Aiyuk may have avoided showing up in spring to try joining a new team directly for training camp.
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Christian Pulisic did not start the match and stayed on the bench for the United States men's national soccer team in their final group game against Türkiye. Walker Zimmerman played in the match.
Key Facts
The match was the last group-stage game for the U.S. team.
Christian Pulisic is an attacking player for the U.S. team.
Pulisic did not start and was on the bench during the game.
Walker Zimmerman started or played in the game.
The opponent team was Türkiye.
The game took place in Inglewood, California.
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Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) have shared initial proposals for a new labor agreement that governs the league. The MLB proposed a hard salary cap and other restrictions, but the MLBPA strongly objects, saying these offers would reduce player pay and rights.
Key Facts
MLB and the MLBPA have publicly shared their initial bargaining proposals.
MLB wants to set a hard salary cap to limit total player salaries.
MLB proposed raising the minimum salary to $1 million for players with two or more years of service.
The league wants to remove the qualifying offer, which helps first-time free agents get better contracts.
MLB suggested allowing players aged 30 to reach free agency after 5 years instead of 6.
The league wants to end deferred salaries, a system that spreads payments over years to avoid taxes.
MLB introduced restrictions on contract length, bonuses, and performance awards.
The MLBPA rejects these proposals, calling them misleading and harmful to player rights.
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The Detroit Pistons added new players from the NBA draft, including Ebuka Okorie and Ugonna Onyenso, to support their star guard Cade Cunningham. Okorie, picked 17th, is seen as a good fit to help Cunningham by sharing playing time and easing his workload on the court.
Key Facts
The Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers then lost to the New York Knicks in the next playoff round.
Detroit drafted Ebuka Okorie at No. 17 and Ugonna Onyenso at No. 53 in the NBA draft.
Okorie is a 19-year-old guard from Stanford known for attacking the defense while dribbling.
Last season, Cade Cunningham had a high usage rate of 32.4%, meaning he was heavily involved in the team's plays.
The Pistons traded former lottery pick Jaden Ivey and saw backup Daniss Jenkins struggle in the playoffs, creating a need for fresh talent.
Okorie is expected to help by playing significant minutes so Cunningham can rest more.
Okorie expressed eagerness to compete and contribute to the team's wins in Detroit.
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Fans from the Netherlands gathered in Kansas City, United States, to celebrate before their last group game against Tunisia in the World Cup. Winning this match would likely secure the Dutch team first place in their group because they have a better goal difference than Japan.
Key Facts
Dutch fans held a party in Kansas City to support their team.
The Netherlands is preparing for its last group stage game against Tunisia.
A win in this game would probably place the Netherlands at the top of Group F.
The Netherlands has a better goal difference than Japan, helping their ranking.
The event took place before a World Cup soccer match.
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The Chicago Bulls made notable moves in the NBA draft under new leadership by selecting Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 overall pick. Wilson is seen as a strong addition who fits well with the team's future plans, and another pick, Dailyn Swain, was chosen at No. 15.
Key Facts
The Bulls are led by a new executive, Bryson Graham, and coach, Tiago Splitter.
They picked Caleb Wilson as the 4th overall choice in the NBA draft.
Wilson was the best available player when the Bulls selected him.
ESPN’s Ben Golliver gave the Bulls a B+ grade for their picks of Wilson and Swain.
Dailyn Swain was picked at No. 15 in the draft by the Bulls.
Wilson aims to be a top player for the Bulls, mentioning a goal to be better than Michael Jordan.
The Bulls hope these picks will help improve the team after a decade of mediocre performance.
The Bulls used their two first-round picks strategically to strengthen their roster.
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The Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs last season but received high praise for their 2026 NBA draft picks. They selected Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11 and Lajae Jones at No. 54, both seen as strong additions to the team’s future lineup.
Key Facts
The Warriors did not make the playoffs last season and lost to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament.
Stephen Curry had injuries last season that affected the team’s performance.
The Warriors received an A grade from ESPN’s Ben Golliver for their draft choices.
Yaxel Lendeborg, picked No. 11, helped Michigan win an NCAA title and is praised for his size, skill, and defense.
Lendeborg is expected to play major minutes as a rookie.
Lajae Jones was the team’s No. 54 pick and is considered a smart selection.
Lendeborg coached under Dusty May, who is moving into an NBA coaching role.
The draft picks improve the Warriors’ chances of success if the team stays healthy next season.
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FIFA will allow rainbow flags at the World Cup match between Iran and Egypt in Seattle, despite objections from both countries. Iran and Egypt wanted to stop Pride-themed celebrations linked to the game, but FIFA says its rules let fans bring LGBTQ+ flags to all matches.
Key Facts
The match between Iran and Egypt will take place in Seattle during the city's Pride weekend.
Seattle's local organizers promoted the game as a Pride-themed event, but they are separate from FIFA.
Iran and Egypt objected to showing rainbow flags because same-sex relations are illegal in their countries.
Both football federations asked FIFA to ban LGBTQ+ symbols at the match.
FIFA refused to ban rainbow flags, citing its Code of Conduct that allows LGBTQ+ flags at all World Cup games.
FIFA calls the World Cup an "inclusive" event welcoming all supporters.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the match is just a game, not a "Pride Match," and the city’s Pride events are independent.
Critics note FIFA’s different treatment compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where LGBTQ+ support was restricted.
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The Houston Texans have announced their training camp and preseason schedules for the 2026 NFL season. Training camp starts with rookies reporting on July 21 and veterans on July 28, followed by joint practice sessions with the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers. The preseason games begin on August 13, and the regular season opener is on September 13 against the Buffalo Bills.
Key Facts
Rookies report for Houston Texans training camp on July 21, 2026.
Veterans report for training camp on July 28, 2026.
The Texans have joint practice sessions with the Las Vegas Raiders on August 18 and the Carolina Panthers on August 25 or 26.
All training camp practices happen at the Houston Methodist Training Center and are open to the public.
Preseason games start on August 13 with a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Texans play the Las Vegas Raiders at home on August 20 and the Carolina Panthers away on August 28 in the preseason.
The Texans’ first regular season game is at home versus the Buffalo Bills on September 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET.
Game times and dates may change as the season approaches.
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Hundreds of U.S. military veterans and first responders received free tickets to watch World Cup soccer matches held in U.S. cities. Organizations like Vet Tix and Bank of America worked together to provide nearly 5,000 tickets so veterans could attend games during the 2026 World Cup.
Key Facts
Cristiano Ronaldo made history by scoring in six World Cup tournaments.
Vet Tix is a nonprofit group that gives free event tickets to current military members, veterans, and families of fallen soldiers.
Bank of America donated $2 million and Vet Tix added $250,000 to fund tickets for World Cup games.
Nearly 5,000 tickets were given out for matches in 11 U.S. cities hosting the World Cup.
About 80% of these tickets went to military service members and veterans; 20% went to first responders like firefighters and police.
Some veterans brought family members or friends to matches, including an Army veteran who invited an interpreter he met during deployment.
The ticket program also set aside 250 tickets for each U.S. men’s soccer game to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Many veterans shared emotional experiences attending the games, which they might not have been able to afford otherwise.
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Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, has had a quiet start in the NFL despite high expectations from his college career at Ohio State. Experts say his slower development may be due to instability at the quarterback position and the time it takes for bigger receivers to reach their peak.
Key Facts
Marvin Harrison Jr. was picked 4th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2023 for being the best college receiver.
He was a unanimous All-American in 2022 and 2023 at Ohio State.
In two NFL seasons, Harrison has made 189 catches, gained 1,493 yards, and scored 12 touchdowns.
The Cardinals have had unstable quarterback play, affecting Harrison’s performance.
Bigger receivers like Harrison often take more time to develop in the NFL.
Harrison is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.
The Cardinals hired coach Mike LaFleur, who may help Harrison improve.
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The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas for one game after she made contact with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s throat during a game. The league said the move was reckless and gave Thomas a Flagrant 2 foul, leading to her suspension for the next game on June 27.
Key Facts
Alyssa Thomas pushed her fist into Caitlin Clark’s throat during a WNBA game.
The league gave Thomas a Flagrant 2 foul for the incident.
Thomas was suspended for one game, the next game against the Toronto Tempo on June 27.
Clark was injured in the same game and left due to back problems.
Clark’s coach criticized the officials for missing the foul during the game.
Clark has received several technical fouls this season; an eighth technical foul results in a suspension.
The incident sparked discussion about how referees handle plays involving Clark.
The WNBA’s decision may affect how players approach games against Clark in the future.
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The Green Bay Packers have announced their 2026 training camp and preseason schedules. Training camp starts on July 29 at Lambeau Field with practices open to the public, and the preseason has three games between August 13 and August 28.
Key Facts
Training camp begins on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
All training camp practices will be at Lambeau Field and open to fans.
The camp includes a Family Night event on Friday, August 7, and a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, August 26.
The Packers have three preseason games: August 13 at Pittsburgh, August 21 at Denver, and August 28 vs. Arizona.
The Packers will start their 2026 regular season on Sunday, September 13, playing against the Minnesota Vikings on the road.
The regular season opener will be broadcast on CBS at 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time.
Practice times are typically at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time unless noted otherwise.
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Mark Williams, a restricted free agent, plans to sign a three-year contract worth $38 million to stay with the Suns basketball team. The contract is fully guaranteed, meaning he will receive the full amount.
Key Facts
Mark Williams is a restricted free agent.
He intends to re-sign with the Suns team.
The contract is for three years.
The total value of the contract is $38 million.
The contract is fully guaranteed, ensuring full payment.
The information comes from unnamed sources.
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