South Africa secured a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in their 2026 World Cup Group A match in Atlanta. Teboho Mokoena scored a late penalty to keep South Africa’s hopes alive of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.
Key Facts
The Czech Republic scored first with Michal Sadilek’s goal in the 6th minute.
South Africa earned a late penalty after a handball by Pavel Sulc, which Teboho Mokoena converted.
Both teams now have one point each in Group A, behind Mexico and South Korea, who each have three points.
South Africa will next play South Korea, and the Czech Republic will face Mexico in their final group matches.
South Africa has never advanced beyond the group stage in its four World Cup appearances.
The match took place at the Atlanta Stadium, home of the NFL’s Falcons.
The referee was Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team.
South Africa's goal was their first in the World Cup in 16 years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jalen Brunson helped the New York Knicks win their first NBA championship since 1973 by leading the team with an average of 32.6 points per game in the Finals. He scored 45 points in the final game, earning the Finals MVP award and responding to those who doubted his ability.
Key Facts
Jalen Brunson is the Finals MVP of the NBA championship series.
The Knicks won the NBA title by beating the San Antonio Spurs.
This is the Knicks' first NBA championship since 1973.
Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game during the Finals.
He scored 45 points in the deciding Game 5 victory.
Some people had doubted Brunson because of his height (6-foot-2).
Brunson addressed doubters during the championship parade, saying actions speak louder than words.
He chose not to respond to negativity with words but proved his critics wrong through his performance.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
ESPN said the Pittsburgh Steelers should re-sign cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before the 2026 NFL season. They warned the Steelers not to pay him as much as the top five defensive backs in the league, even though Porter is a talented player.
Key Facts
Joey Porter Jr. is a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was picked in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Porter is nearing the end of his rookie contract, which has no fifth-year option.
ESPN recommends the Steelers sign him to a new deal now.
Porter ranked 10th in the NFL last season using a coverage performance metric called DVOA.
ESPN says Porter might want a very high salary like the top five cornerbacks but likely does not deserve that much yet.
The top cornerbacks recently signed deals around $120 million for four years.
Steelers should offer Porter a contract that is less than those top deals but still keeps him on the team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England's head coach Thomas Tuchel asked FIFA to move photographers during the national anthems because their position blocked his view of the team. FIFA agreed and changed the photographers’ location for future matches, improving the view for coaching staff.
Key Facts
Thomas Tuchel is the head coach of England's football team.
During the national anthems before a World Cup game against Croatia, photographers blocked Tuchel’s view of his players.
Tuchel described the moment as spoiled because he could not see his team.
The match was held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where the pitch was raised to fit, reducing sidelines space.
Due to limited space, photographers stood close to the coaching bench during the anthems.
FIFA changed the policy, moving photographers closer to the halfway line for a better view.
The new arrangement was first used in the next day's game between the Czech Republic and South Africa.
Tuchel’s coaching staff includes lead analyst James Melbourne and assistant coach Anthony Barry.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Michael Pennel Jr., a sports figure, had a relationship with a young woman whose body was discovered on his property after she went missing. This information comes from an ESPN investigation, which challenges Pennel’s claim, made through his lawyer, that he did not know the woman.
Key Facts
Michael Pennel Jr. is connected to a young woman who went missing.
Her body was found on property owned by Pennel.
ESPN conducted an investigation into the case.
The investigation revealed Pennel had an ongoing relationship with the woman.
Pennel’s attorney previously said that Pennel did not know the woman.
The new findings contradict the attorney’s claim.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Golfer Keith Mitchell had a difficult start during the first nine holes at the U.S. Open but made a strong comeback in the second half of his round. His performance set a new record at the Shinnecock Hills course on Thursday.
Key Facts
The event took place at Shinnecock Hills on a Thursday.
Mitchell struggled during the first nine holes.
He improved significantly in the last nine holes.
His comeback was notable enough to make history at the course.
The tournament is the U.S. Open, a major golf competition.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave a speech to celebrate the New York Knicks' NBA Championship win. He told the crowd that the Knicks' victory was a moment the city had waited for 53 years.
Key Facts
The New York Knicks won the NBA Championship.
The city had waited 53 years for this win.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke to a large, enthusiastic crowd of Knicks fans.
Mamdani said the team won "like New York City."
The event brought a lot of happiness to the city.
The celebration was covered by CBS News.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tyler Kolek, a reserve guard for the New York Knicks, celebrated the team’s NBA championship win in New York City. During the parade, a police officer mistakenly thought Kolek was a fan and stopped him before the confusion was cleared up by an assistant coach.
Key Facts
The New York Knicks won the NBA championship against the San Antonio Spurs.
Tyler Kolek is a reserve player who did not play in the championship series.
Kolek was mistaken for a fan by a police officer during the parade celebration.
Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson helped clear up the mistake.
Kolek was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers but was traded to the Knicks the same night.
He played two seasons with the Knicks and contributed as a backup player.
Kolek nearly had a triple-double (points, rebounds, assists) in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He continues to be part of the Knicks roster heading into the 2026-27 season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England cricketer Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson broke a team curfew after winning a Test match against New Zealand and are now under investigation. Former England captain Ian Botham criticised Stokes for breaking the rules and said he might quit cricket if stripped of his captaincy.
Key Facts
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke a midnight curfew set by the England cricket team.
The curfew was imposed after a drinking incident during the previous Ashes tour and a nightclub altercation involving another player.
Stokes and Atkinson were involved in an incident where a security staff member was struck by a rugby player at a London nightclub.
Both players are under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Cricket Regulator.
Ian Botham, former England captain and Durham club president, publicly criticised Stokes’s behaviour.
Stokes has previously had disciplinary issues, which Durham supported him through.
Despite the controversy, Stokes is set to play for Durham in their upcoming County Championship match.
Botham suggested that losing the England captaincy might lead Stokes to retire from cricket.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Filipino artist made a huge sand portrait of soccer star Lionel Messi on a beach in Tandag, Philippines. He uses sand and virtual reality tools to create large artworks that eventually disappear when the tide comes in.
Key Facts
The sand portrait features Lionel Messi, a famous soccer player.
The artwork is located on a beach in Tandag, Philippines.
The artist uses both sand and virtual reality technology to create his art.
These large sand artworks are temporary and erased by the sea tide.
The artwork was made ahead of the World Cup, a major international soccer event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Baltimore Ravens need to sign their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, to a new contract before the 2026 season to manage the team’s salary cap. Jackson’s current contract would cost the team too much in 2027, so a new deal is expected, but discussions have not advanced because Jackson appears to be waiting and has not yet responded to offers.
Key Facts
Lamar Jackson is the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback.
His current contract will create a large salary cap hit for the Ravens in 2027.
ESPN says the Ravens should sign Jackson to a new, lucrative contract before the 2026 season starts.
Jackson does not want to leave the Ravens.
Talks about a new contract have not progressed much.
Reports say Jackson may be waiting to see how the team's offense develops before agreeing to a new deal.
The delay is not because the Ravens and Jackson disagree on money.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Carmelo Anthony joined the New York Knicks’ championship parade in New York City, celebrating the team’s recent NBA title. Anthony, who played many years for the Knicks but never won a championship, said the victory felt like a win for the whole city and all past players who tried to bring a title to New York.
Key Facts
The New York Knicks held a championship parade to celebrate their NBA title.
Carmelo Anthony participated in the parade on a float with other players.
Anthony played seven seasons for the Knicks but never won a championship with them.
He is a 10-time NBA All-Star and played in the league for 19 seasons.
Other notable former Knicks who never won a championship include Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson.
Anthony now works as a broadcaster and NBA analyst for NBC and Peacock.
The parade excited fans and honored the team’s success after many years without a title.
Anthony said the championship victory feels like a win for everyone who loves Knicks basketball.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Seventeen-year-old golfer Miles Russell qualified for the U.S. Open and will play college golf at Florida State alongside Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods. Russell shared that top professional golfers often play in a steady, "boring" style but score very well, making their performance impressive despite looking calm.
Key Facts
Miles Russell is 17 years old and will play college golf at Florida State University.
He qualified for the U.S. Open and played at Shinnecock Hills.
Russell caddied for Charlie Woods, Tiger Woods' son, during U.S. Open qualifying.
He described the way top pros play as "boring" because they stay steady and don't take many risks.
Despite this calm style, these pros often shoot very low scores, like 63 or 65.
At the time reported, Russell was one-over par after 11 holes and close to the tournament lead.
Only six golfers had scores under par at that point, with Ludvig Aberg leading at two-under par.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England and Croatia played an exciting soccer game that ended 4-2 in favor of England. England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, gave a strong halftime talk that encouraged the team to play with more confidence and courage, which helped them score more goals in the second half.
Key Facts
The game was part of the World Cup Group L and took place in Arlington, Texas.
The first half ended with a 2-2 tie between England and Croatia.
England’s coach Thomas Tuchel gave a motivational halftime speech to boost the team’s confidence.
England scored two more goals in the second half by Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
Harry Kane scored both goals for England in the first half.
Tuchel wanted the team to be brave and play their own style during the second half.
England’s strong finish helped secure the win and showed a high level of play for the rest of the tournament.
England will play its next World Cup match against Ghana in Foxboro on June 23.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized President Donald Trump for not speaking out after a UFC fighter made negative comments about former first lady Michelle Obama. Smith called the fighter’s remarks disrespectful and said they were unacceptable.
Key Facts
Stephen A. Smith is a sports commentator.
A UFC fighter made negative remarks about Michelle Obama.
Michelle Obama is a former first lady of the United States.
Smith described the fighter’s comments as disgusting and disrespectful.
Smith criticized President Trump for remaining silent about the remarks.
The comments and criticism relate to respect for public figures in sports and politics.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Declan Rice, a midfielder for England, had lower back pain during England’s World Cup win against Croatia and was substituted after 72 minutes. He is expected to recover in time to play against Ghana in their next match.
Key Facts
Declan Rice experienced lower back pain in the game versus Croatia.
He was taken off the field after about 72 minutes.
The pain is related to his lower back and upper hamstring.
Rice has dealt with this issue before and it needs careful management.
England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, said the injury is not serious.
Rice is expected to be fit to play against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
The match against Ghana is scheduled for 21:00 local time.
Thomas Tuchel emphasized caution but is optimistic about Rice’s condition.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of New York Knicks fans gathered in downtown New York City for a parade celebrating the team’s NBA championship. Fans of all ages and backgrounds joined the event, which featured the players, former Knicks stars, and celebrity supporters.
Key Facts
The parade took place on a Thursday in downtown New York City, with crowds dressed in the Knicks’ blue and orange colors.
Fans celebrated by drinking, smoking, and climbing on police cars in a festive atmosphere.
The parade route went from Battery Park to City Hall and started at 10 a.m.
Knicks players Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, along with former player Carmelo Anthony, participated in the parade.
Celebrities like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and Timothée Chalamet also attended.
Fans from various backgrounds, ages, and neighborhoods gathered to celebrate the team’s first NBA championship since 1973.
Some fans sold themed merchandise, and others offered to photograph people to preserve memories of the day.
Longtime Knicks fan John Rivera returned to New York from Florida for the parade and shared his emotional connection to the team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Branch brothers are well known in Omaha. Kyle’s team from Oklahoma University (OU) defeated Kolby’s team from the University of Georgia (UGA), but the game featured a meaningful final moment between them.
Key Facts
The Branch brothers both play college football.
Kyle Branch plays for Oklahoma University (OU).
Kolby Branch plays for the University of Georgia (UGA).
Kyle’s OU team won the game against Kolby’s UGA team.
The game took place in Omaha.
There was a special or emotional moment between the brothers during the match.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. Team veteran Josh Hart shared that he has not had to pay for a meal since the victory as the team celebrated with a parade in New York City.
Key Facts
The Knicks won the 2026 NBA title, their first since 1973.
They defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, with a final score of 94-90 in Game 5.
The Knicks had a 16-3 record in the 2026 playoffs, including a 13-game winning streak.
Josh Hart averaged 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game during the playoffs.
Hart recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 win.
Jalen Brunson was the Finals MVP, averaging 32.6 points per game and scoring 45 points in Game 5.
Brunson became the first Knicks player to score more than 40 points in an NBA Finals game.
The Knicks held a championship parade in Manhattan to celebrate their victory.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Hydration breaks have been added to every match in the 2026 World Cup to help players cope with high temperatures. These breaks last three minutes each half and happen regardless of weather, but some people criticize them for interrupting the flow of the game.
Key Facts
Hydration breaks occur twice per game, around the 22nd and 67th minutes.
The 2026 World Cup matches are played in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with temperatures expected to reach above 90°F in some venues.
Some stadiums have air conditioning to keep the inside cooler than outside.
The five hottest matches so far had temperatures ranging from mid-80s to nearly 90°F.
Critics say the breaks disrupt game momentum and might be used for commercial ads during broadcasts.
Coaches use hydration breaks to give players tactical instructions that would be difficult to communicate during normal play.
Half of the first 16 matches had goals scored within 10 minutes after these hydration breaks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
