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  • Antonio Rüdiger signs one-year contract extension at Real Madrid

    Defender Antonio Rüdiger has extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2027, the Spanish club announced Tuesday.

    Rüdiger’s previous deal was due to expire this summer, but Madrid have prolonged his stay until at least next year.

    The German international, 33, has been at Madrid since 2022, making 182 appearances and winning eight trophies, including one LaLiga and one Champions League.

    After two trophyless campaigns, Rüdiger’s renewal is the latest act of what is shaping up to be a busy summer at Madrid.

    Los Blancos have already confirmed the appointment of José Mourinho for a second spell as coach following the departure of Álvaro Arbeloa. Earlier this week, they also announced the signing of Chelsea and Spain left back Marc Cucurella in a deal worth an initial €55 million ($64 million).

    ESPN have also previously reported that Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva will all follow Cucurella.

    Centre back Konaté and midfielder Silva are expected to follow when their contracts expire with Liverpool and Manchester City, respectively, at the end of the month, while Madrid also plan to trigger a €20m ($23m) clause in Dumfries’ terms to sign the Inter Milan right back.

    Rüdiger came through at VfB Stuttgart before joining Roma in 2015, initially on loan and then permanently in 2016.

    – Real Madrid complete signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea
    – What’s it really like to face World Cup stars Yamal, Mbappé? We asked the players
    – Ousmane Dembélé: ‘Unfair’ criticism of Kylian Mbappé has ‘gone too far’

    In 2017, he moved to Premier League side Chelsea, where he won the Champions League in 2021, before signing for Madrid when his contract expired in 2022.

    During his time at the Bernabéu, he has been a mainstay in the back four under various coaches, winning LaLiga and the Champions League in 2024 and the Copa del Rey in 2023.

  • Madrid’s Spectacular New F1 Circuit Races Against Time for Inaugural Grand Prix

    Madrid is preparing for its first Formula One race since 1981 with a new circuit near IFEMA exhibition centre. Although construction is incomplete, organizers plan to meet their September deadline. Important features include extensive public transport access and a unique 24% banked curve.

    adrid’s brand-new Formula One circuit, set to host the new Spanish Grand Prix, was publicly unveiled on Tuesday. Despite ongoing construction, officials expressed confidence that the track would be ready for the planned race in September.

    Situated around the IFEMA exhibition centre, the 5.47 km Madring circuit promises unique features, including two long straights and a 24% banked ‘Monumental’ curve, inviting speeds up to 340 kph. Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, acting as the circuit ambassador, highlighted its fast and slow sections.

    While key construction hurdles have been overcome, permanent pitlane garages and temporary structures still need completion. Chief Operations Officer Carlos Jimenez emphasized adaptability, including potential night shifts, to meet deadlines. The event, Madrid’s first since 1981, aims to be accessible and sustainable, catering to a new generation of fans.

  • FBI disrupts alleged plot targeting White House UFC event, officials say

    Washington — The FBI says it disrupted an alleged attempt to target Sunday’s UFC America 250 event at the White House.

    “On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday in a post on X.

    Two sources told CBS News that the alleged plot involved using explosive-laden drones and snipers to attack the crowd, followed by a “second wave” involving an attempt to storm the White House gate.

    After law enforcement first learned of the alleged threat last week, the sources said a suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati, and investigators obtained Signal chats in which multiple people allegedly discussed attacking the UFC event, leading to additional arrests.

    Fox News was first to report on the alleged plot and arrests.

    The White House hosted the event on Sunday — his 80th birthday — as part of the celebrations of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Thousands turned out to watch the fights on the White House South Lawn, where Mr. Trump sat in the front row.

    Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement Tuesday morning that the agency had worked “closely with the FBI throughout this investigation,” and their “formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made available in court filings.”

    Patel praised the FBI, saying the result “represented the best of investigative work” and was “nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team.”

    “We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel said. “That’s exactly what we did here.”

    The alleged plot comes after a gunman was killed by U.S. Secret Service officers late last month after opening fire on a checkpoint near the White House and in the wake of an April 27 shooting that targeted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.

  • Jay Wright makes honest admission about Jalen Brunson after NBA Finals MVP heroics

    Long before guard Jalen Brunson silenced critics by guiding the New York Knicks to an NBA Finals win and earning Finals MVP honors, he had the legendary Jay Wright as a head coach when the two were with the Villanova Wildcats.

    During a Sunday appearance on local sports radio station WFAN, Wright made a big admission about how he viewed Brunson before the 29-year-old became the new king of New York sports. 

    Jay Wright would be “lying” if he saw this version of Jalen Brunson coming

    “I can’t say that I saw that. I’d be lying,” Wright said about Brunson becoming a Knicks franchise legend, per Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media and Lou DiPietro of Audacy. 

    Those running the Dallas Mavericks also clearly didn’t see this coming, as they let Brunson reach free agency in the summer of 2022. Some at the time questioned if Brunson possessed the size and the athleticism required to serve as a so-called “1A” player for an advertised championship contender. Most recently, Brunson answered such questions when he scored 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting in the Knicks’ 94-90 Game 5 win that ended the franchise’s 53-year championship drought. 

    In the process, Brunson tied Michael Jordan for the most points tallied in an NBA title clincher on the road.

    Jay Wright thought Jalen Brunson would be “a No. 2 guy”

    “I always thought he’d be an NBA champion because he has the leadership of a winner, but I always thought he’d be the point guard as a No. 2 guy, like he was with Luka Doncic in Dallas,” Wright added. “When he made the decision to come to the Knicks, he told me he wanted to lead a team; I was like, ‘You do lead a team as the point guard,’ and he’s proven it’s not about saying it, it’d about doing it – and he’s done that Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant-type of willing his team to win, not just by attitude, but by pure execution and mental toughness. To mentally take it on his shoulders, make the right play and the big shot, take on the big moment and respond…I can’t say that I saw that, I’d be lying.”

    In the eyes of some, Brunson has cemented himself as the greatest player in Knicks history. Regardless of whether or not he guides the Knicks to another title, it now seems to be a lock that the franchise will retire his No. 11 jersey not long after he calls time on his pro career. 

  • George Pickens sends clear message to Cowboys about mandatory minicamp intentions

    A Monday report revealed that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens “plans to be at” the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp, which is scheduled to run from Tuesday through Thursday, after he stayed away from the team throughout the voluntary portion of the offseason program. 

    It sounds like Cowboys fans won’t have to wait until Tuesday to learn if that report is accurate. 

    George Pickens has already shown up for work 

    On Monday, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News and others shared that Pickens “arrived at the team facility for his physical this morning and he’s expected to be in attendance for the rest of minicamp.” 

    Ahead of this past weekend, Pickens curiously declined to confirm that he would report for the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. That understandably caused some to wonder if he could complete some sort of holdout due to the fact that he’s upset he apparently will not receive a lucrative contract extension from the club and will instead have to play on the franchise tag worth roughly $27.3M for the 2026 season. 

    Had Pickens not signed the franchise tender, he could have skipped mandatory minicamp without being fined by the Cowboys. He could now be docked a total of $107,911 if he experiences a change of heart and doesn’t report for any of the team’s mandatory sessions since he signed the tag earlier this spring. 

    Why the George Pickens situation is different than how CeeDee Lamb handled his contract talks in 2024

    Back in the summer of 2024, the Cowboys and No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb were involved in a contract standoff until he put pen to paper on a four-year, $136M deal. For an article posted on Monday, Hoyt explained why the Pickens situation is different than what occurred two years ago.

    “Pickens is no longer on a rookie deal, which means any non-excused absence is subject to fines that can’t be forgiven,” Hoyt wrote. “It’s different from 2024, when Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed all of training camp in Oxnard while negotiating an extension on his rookie deal. All accumulated fines were forgiven.” 

    Pickens probably won’t be asked to do all that much on the field this week. Nevertheless, he seemingly isn’t interested in forfeiting any money to prove some kind of point to the Cowboys before the team’s summer break gets underway.

  • MLB announces suspensions for Padres manager, pitcher

    The San Diego Padres will be without manager Craig Stammen for Monday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

    On Monday, MLB announced that Stammen was suspended one game and relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio was suspended for three games for an incident over the weekend against the Baltimore Orioles.

    Stammen was ejected on Saturday after Marinaccio hit Orioles star Gunnar Henderson in what seemed to be a form of retaliation.

    It began when Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts was hit in the head, and things escalated at the end of game with Marinaccio and Stammen being ejected in the bottom of the ninth inning.

    Orioles manager Craig Albernaz insisted they didn’t hit Bogaerts intentionally.

    “Obviously, it definitely wasn’t intentional. It was a two-seam that slipped out of his hand,” Albernaz said, via Jake Rill of MLB.com.

    Padres bench coach Randy Knorr will be the manager as Stammen serves the suspension on Monday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.

  • Japan fans use blue bags to uphold a cleansing World Cup tradition after draw

    ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Those blue bags Japan fans waved in a frenzy after their team got a late tying goal were then used after the final whistle to maintain what has become a cleansing World Cup tradition.

    The Samurai Blue fans cleaned up before they left the stadium Sunday, picking up trash from the stands after Japan’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Group F.

    Only a few minutes earlier, those then-empty blue bags were prominent in the celebration when Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa’s corner kick in the 88th minute.

    Along with the constant chants for their team, those bags the fans bring to the stadium are often raised in unison. The scene becomes frantic after goals, such as Keito Nakamura’s earlier in the second half to tie the game at 1-all and Kamada’s shot that ultimately secured a point for Japan.

    Scenes of Japanese soccer fans picking up and sweeping trash first drew public attention during the team’s first World Cup appearance in France in 1998. They have done it every four years since, including in Qatar in 2022.

    Now they have left their mark and no trash at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where workers usually have a lot more cleanup duty after games.

  • Serena and Venus Williams to play doubles together at Wimbledon

    LONDON (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams are bringing their doubles partnership back at Wimbledon.

    The All England Club announced a doubles wild card invitation on Tuesday for the sisters to the tournament which starts in less than two weeks.

    The move comes after 44-year-old Serena recently returned to competition after nearly four years away from professional tennis.

    Venus, who has still been competing sporadically, turns 46 on Wednesday.

    The Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam titles together in doubles, including six at Wimbledon — the first of them in 2000 and the last in 2016.

    Serena won her first doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club in London last week and was slated to play doubles with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open later Tuesday.

    The Williams sisters last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they lost their opening match. That was the first time they played doubles together in 4 ½ years.

    Serena and Mboko won their opening match at Queen’s Club but then had to withdraw after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.

  • Pirates aim to break road slide, face the Athletics

    Pittsburgh Pirates (36-37, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Athletics (36-36, second in the AL West)

    West Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

    PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (5-4, 5.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 58 strikeouts); Athletics: Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.25 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 43 strikeouts)

    LINE: Athletics -137, Pirates +113; over/under is 10 1/2 runs

    BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates will aim to stop a four-game road losing streak when they take on the Athletics.

    The Athletics are 36-36 overall and 16-19 at home. Athletics hitters have a collective .331 on-base percentage, the sixth-best percentage in MLB play.

    Pittsburgh has gone 16-18 in road games and 36-37 overall. The Pirates have hit 86 total home runs to rank sixth in the NL.

    The matchup Tuesday is the second meeting between these teams this season.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Soderstrom has 19 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 13 for 38 with a double and seven home runs over the last 10 games.

    Spencer Horwitz has nine doubles, a triple and nine home runs for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds is 10 for 37 with four doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 6-4, .289 batting average, 6.92 ERA, outscored by nine runs

    Pirates: 2-8, .225 batting average, 6.07 ERA, outscored by 32 runs

    INJURIES: Athletics: Luis Severino: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Brooks Kriske: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brent Rooker: 10-Day IL (knee), Aaron Civale: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Denzel Clarke: 60-Day IL (foot), Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (knee)

    Pirates: Wilber Dotel: 15-Day IL (the pittsburgh pirates placed rhp wilber dotel on the 15-day injured list.), Konnor Griffin: 10-Day IL (flexor tendon), Oneil Cruz: 10-Day IL (hand), Chris Devenski: 60-Day IL (illness), Joey Bart: 10-Day IL (foot infection)

  • Red Sox start 3-game series with the Blue Jays

    Toronto Blue Jays (34-38, third in the AL East) vs. Boston Red Sox (29-40, fifth in the AL East)

    Boston; Tuesday, 6:45 p.m. EDT

    PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Dylan Cease (3-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 103 strikeouts); Red Sox: Payton Tolle (3-3, 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 54 strikeouts)

    LINE: Blue Jays -121, Red Sox -101; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

    BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday to open a three-game series.

    Boston is 29-40 overall and 12-22 in home games. Red Sox pitchers have a collective 3.91 ERA, which ranks fifth in the AL.

    Toronto has a 34-38 record overall and a 13-20 record in road games. The Blue Jays have a 12-6 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.

    The matchup Tuesday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Willson Contreras leads the Red Sox with 16 home runs while slugging .570. Ceddanne Rafaela is 13 for 41 with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI over the last 10 games.

    Ernie Clement has a .304 batting average to lead the Blue Jays, and has 20 doubles, a triple and seven home runs. Kazuma Okamoto is 12 for 38 with two home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Red Sox: 4-6, .249 batting average, 4.40 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs

    Blue Jays: 5-5, .285 batting average, 5.10 ERA, outscored by 10 runs

    INJURIES: Red Sox: Nick Sogard: 10-Day IL (oblique), Mickey Gasper: day-to-day (groin), Jovani Moran: 15-Day IL (elbow), Garrett Crochet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Trevor Story: 60-Day IL (abdomen), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (wrist), Romy Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Roman Anthony: 10-Day IL (wrist), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tanner Houck: 60-Day IL (elbow)

    Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: day-to-day (back), Andres Gimenez: day-to-day (wrist), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (wrist), Lazaro Estrada: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Lenyn Sosa: 10-Day IL (wrist), Joe Mantiply: 60-Day IL (knee), Addison Barger: 10-Day IL (elbow), Jose Berrios: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)