Why isn't T.J. Watt at Steelers mandatory minicamp? All-Pro looking for new contract

Why isn't T.J. Watt at Steelers mandatory minicamp? All-Pro looking for new contract

ThePittsburgh Steelersare opening theirmandatory minicampon Tuesday. Newly signed quarterbackAaron Rodgersis expected to be in attendance for the event. Star edge rusherT.J. Wattis not. Watt is set to miss minicamp as he attempts to negotiate a new contract with theSteelers. The seven-time Pro Bowler will be subject to fines for each day of camp he misses, with the cumulative cost of missing the three days amounting to $104,768. Here's what to know about Watt's absence from Steelers mandatory minicamp. AARON RODGERS CONTRACT:Full structure, incentives in Steelers deal Watt isn't attending Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp as he seeks a contract extension with the team. Watt is entering the final year of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed with the Steelers in 2021.NFL Network's Ian Rapoportsaid there is "no progress on a long-term deal" when reporting the 30-year-old's absence from Pittsburgh's minicamp. Watt has long been one of the NFL's top pass rushers and has been named an All-Pro first-teamer four times in the last six years. He has led the NFL in sacks three times since 2020 and notched a league-high six forced fumbles last season. Watt's 30.5 combined sacks over the last two seasons are good for second-most in the NFL behind onlyCincinnati BengalsstarTrey Hendrickson. Ironically, Hendrickson is also holding out from the Bengals minicamp as he seeks a new contract or a trade. OPINION:Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match As mentioned, Watt is entering the final year of a four-year deal he signed with the Steelers on eve of the 2021 season. Below are the terms of the contract, perSpotrac.com: Term: 4 years Total value: $112 million Average annual value (AAV): $28 million Guaranteed money: $80 million Watt's AAV of just over $28 million was once a record for a defensive player. Now, it ranks ninth league-wide on that side of the ball and $12 million behind the $40 million AAVCleveland BrownsstarMyles Garrettearned on a 2025 extension. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Why isn't T.J. Watt at Steelers minicamp? Contract details

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

Why isn't T.J. Watt at Steelers mandatory minicamp? All-Pro looking for new contract

Why isn't T.J. Watt at Steelers mandatory minicamp? All-Pro looking for new contract ThePittsburgh Steelersare opening theirmandatory mi...

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One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security

One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security

NEW YORK (AP) — A year from the largest World Cup ever, there has been no announcement on general ticket sales, prices for most seats, location of a draw or security arrangements as FIFA has mostly avoided disclosing details of an event set for16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada. There is uncertainty about whether fans from some nations will be welcome — 11 of the venues are located in the U.S., where all matches will be played from the quarterfinals on. Security is a concern, too. At the last major soccer tournament in the U.S., the2024 Copa America finalat Miami Gardens, Florida, started 82 minutes late after spectators breached security gates. "That was certainly a reminder and a wake-up call if anybody needed it that those types of things are going to be used in terms of the ultimate assessment of whether this World Cup is successful," said former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, now Fox's lead soccer analyst. U.S.President Donald Trump'stravel ban on citizens from 12 nationsexempted athletes, coaches, staff and relatives while not mentioning fans. Vice President JD Vance made what could be interpreted as a warning on May 6. "Of course everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event. I know we'll have visitors probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game," he said. "But when the time is up they'll have to go home. Otherwise they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem," he added, speaking alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Back in U.S. for first time in 32 years The 1994 World Cup sparked the launch of Major League Soccer with 12 teams in 1996, and $50 million in World Cup profits seeded the U.S. Soccer Foundation, tasked with developing the sport's growth. MLS now has 30 teams, plays in 22 soccer specific stadiums and has club academies to grow the sport and improve talent. Next year's tournament will include 104 games, up from 64 from 1998 through 2022, and the 11 U.S. stadiums are all NFL homes with lucrative luxury suites and club seating. It also will be the first World Cup run by FIFA without a local organizing committee. "The legacy initiative of 2026 is around how we ensure that soccer is everywhere in this county," U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson said. "How do we ensure that every American can walk, ride their bike or take public transit to a safe place to play soccer? How do we make it to where every school in America has soccer accessible to their students? And how do we make it to wherever every American can truly see themselves in the game?" Interest in soccer has vastly increased in the U.S., with England's Premier League averaging 510,000 viewers per match window on NBC's networks last season and the European Champions League final drawing more than 2 million viewers in each of the past five years on CBS. However, CBS broadcast just 26 of 189 Champions League matches on TV in 2024-25 and streamed the rest. MLS drew about 12.2 million fans last year, second to 14.7 million in 2023-24 for the Premier League's 20 teams, but MLS has largely disappeared from broadcast TV since starting a10-year contract with Apple TV+ in 2023. Apple spokesman Sam Citron said the company does not release viewer figures. In a fractured television landscape, different deals were negotiated by FIFA, UEFA, MLS, the NWSL, the USSF and the five major European leagues. "You basically have over 2,800 game windows per season aired in the United States and so that requires distribution largely on streaming platforms likeParamount+ or ESPN+, but it's difficult for new fan adoption and it makes reach kind of challenging," said Gerry Cardinale, managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, which holds controlling interests in AC Milan and Toulouse and owns a non-controlling stake of Fenway Sports Group, parent of Liverpool. "Kids today are getting weaned on Premier League football and Serie A football, and when you watch that as a product, it's hard for MLS to compete." 1994 World Cup set attendance record The 1994 World Cup, a 24-nation tournament, drew a record 3.58 million fans for 52 matches. Ticket prices ranged from $25-$75 for most first round games and $180-$475 for the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. FIFA, which has about 800 people working at an office in Coral Gables, Florida, says it will announce information on general tickets in the third quarter. It wouldn't say whether prices will be fixed or variable. Hospitality packages are available on FIFA's website through On Location. For the eight matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19, prices range from $25,800 to$73,200per person. Variable ticket pricing possible FIFA appears to be using variable pricing for this year'sClub World Cup, played at 12 U.S. stadiums from June 14 to July 13, and some prices repeatedly have been slashed. Marriott Bonvoy, a U.S. Soccer Federation partner, has been offering free tickets to some of its elite members. Asked about Club World Cup ticket sales and team base camp arrangements, Manolo Zubiria, the World Cup's chief tournament officer, hung up four minutes and five questions into a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Brendan O'Connell, the publicist who arranged the interview, wrote in an email to the AP: "The guest was not prepared for those questions." FIFA's media relations staff would not make FIFA president Gianni Infantino available to discuss the tournament. Ahead of the 1994 World Cup, FIFA announced in May 1992 the draw would take place at Las Vegas on Dec. 18 or 19, 1993. FIFA has not revealed plans for this year's draw but appears to be planning for Las Vegas on Dec. 5. Regular ticket sales began in February 1993 for the U.S. soccer family and general first- and second-round sales started that June. Fans submitted lottery applications in October 1993 for games from the quarterfinals on. Teams could train away from World Cup cities While not detailing ticketing plans for next year's tournament, FIFA is spreading it beyond the host cites and lists about 60 possible base camps for teams to use, paired with hotels. Some are fancy — The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — and some more Spartan — the Courtyard by Marriott Mesa at Wrigleyville West in Arizona. Thousands of arrangements must be coordinated. Major League Baseball is drawing up its schedule to ensure that the four teams whose ballparks share parking lots with World Cup stadiums — in Arlington, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Philadelphia; and Seattle — won't play home games on the dates of tournament matches. Boris Gartner, CEO of La Liga North America, a joint venture of the Spanish soccer league and Relevent Sports, said the 2026 World Cup should be viewed as just another step in the sport's long-term growth in the United States. "If you have a clear understanding of the market and the audience, a clear understanding of the value that these properties bring to media companies, and you mix content with a commercial strategy, with the right media distribution strategy, this is something that will continue to grow over the next two decades," he said. "If more people are watching the NWSL, more people are going to be interested in soccer that could potentially end up watching a Bundesliga game or La Liga game." ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security

One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security NEW YORK (AP) — A year from the largest World Cup e...

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Trump asks appeals court to keep tariffs in place or risk 'irreparable economic and national security harms'

Trump asks appeals court to keep tariffs in place or risk 'irreparable economic and national security harms'

The Trump administration on Monday argued to an appeals court that a lower court'sinvalidationof the president's "Liberation Day" tariffs was "illegal" and that reimposing a halt to those duties would risk "irreparable economic and national security harms." The administration made these statements in a document filed Monday with the US Federal Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., saying the court should keep Trump's tariffs in place while considering the president'swider legal argumentsabout his trade policies. The president is seeking a new legal victory after a three-judge panel at the US Court of International Trade (CIT)said in May that he lacked authorityto impose his "Liberation Day" duties under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). That decision was temporarily put on hold by the appeals court, pending further arguments. The appeals court could issue a decision at any time, either keeping the tariffs in place or putting them back on hold, pending the outcome of the administration's appeal. The argument made in favor of keeping them in place is that reimposing the CIT's injunction that invalidated the tariffs would risk "irreparable economic and national security harms," according to the court document filed Monday. "The injunction unilaterally diminishes America's bargaining position during sensitive trade negotiations, encouraging other countries to hold our nation hostage," the administration said. The CIT's decision, it said, usurped political choices, putting the judiciary in a central role in managing foreign negotiations, the national economy, and national security. In addition, the administration said, it would likely prevail over the lower court's ruling on appeal because the lower court misapplied the text of the IEEPA. That court's interpretation of the law would "unnaturally cabin" the president's tariff authority, the administration said. Read more:What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet The CIT ruled that the president lacked power under IEEPA to impose the duties, saying "any interpretation" of IEEPA "that delegates unlimited tariff authority is unconstitutional." The ruling touched on key issues in the underlying case that will likely determine the ultimate fate of the administration's tariffs. In its decisionstriking down many of Trump's tariffs, it avoided directly applying the "major questions doctrine," which limits the authority of federal agencies to take action on issues of "vast economic and political significance" except where Congress has explicitly authorized the action. In 2022, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling dominated by the court's conservative majority, used the major questions doctrine to find that Biden's EPA lacked clear congressional authorization to regulate certain greenhouse gas emissions. A year later, the court held that Biden's secretary of education lacked clear authority under the HEROES Act to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt. Like the EPA case, the court said Biden's debt relief regulation was so major that it would need explicit authorization from Congress. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X@alexiskweed. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

Trump asks appeals court to keep tariffs in place or risk 'irreparable economic and national security harms'

Trump asks appeals court to keep tariffs in place or risk 'irreparable economic and national security harms' The Trump administratio...

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How common are National Guard deployments over unrest? A look at past presidents' actions

How common are National Guard deployments over unrest? A look at past presidents' actions

After more than 30 years since the 1992 Los Angeles Rodney King riots, an order from thepresidenthas once again ushered in hundreds of National Guard troops to California's largest city, brought in to respond to multi-daydemonstrations over federal immigration raids. The protests began Friday, June 6 after Homeland Security officialsdetained dozens of peopleacross multiple locations in a city where nearly half of residents areHispanic or Latino. By that evening, more than 100 people gathered at a downtown Los Angelesfederal detention centerwhere some immigrants had been held, and demonstrations continued through Saturday and into Sunday, June 8, reaching nearby neighborhoods of Paramount and Compton. National Guard troops, deployed by PresidentDonald Trump, arrived in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, June 8. It's not the first time a president has exercised their control over the Guard to respond to protests and demonstrations − here's a look at when prior administrations deployed the force in cases of civil unrest and crisis. Live updates:Gov. Newsom challenges Trump on National Guard deployment Unlike other branches of the military, the National Guard can be deployed by both states and the federal government, andmembers servesimultaneously in their state National Guards and in either the Army or Air National Guard of the U.S. National Guard members can be deployed by the governors of their resident states and by the president of the U.S. Statewide mobilizations often are to support communities during and after natural disasters and amid protests, theGuard websitesays, and have recently been used to respond to the pandemic and to border security. The president can deploy the guard to serve missions overseas, which the Council on Foreign Relations says has happened more frequently inrecent years, pointing to deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Poland, and the Horn of Africa. What is the Insurrection Act?Here's what Trump has said about invoking it amid LA protests While presidents have called on the National Guard dozens of times since the nation's inception to respond to "civil unrest," it wasn't until 1967 that presidents federalized the Guard to further assist law enforcement agencies responding to protests and demonstrations. The earliest instances of presidents sending the Guard in to quell civil unrest are in 1794 and 1799, when Presidents George Washington and John Adams called upon state militia and volunteer units to suppress the Whiskey Insurrection and Fries' Rebellion, according to a2020 report by the National Guard Bureau. Presidents avoided calling upon the militia in response to civil disturbances for most of the 19th century, the Bureau said, with state militias quelling "labor riots and slave revolts" most of the time. Following the Civil War, the modern National Guard says it played active roles in "quelling the race riots and labor strikes throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries," and for 90 years between the beginning of Reconstruction and the early years of the Civil Rights era, no president federalized the force for civil disturbance operations. The Civil Rights movement marked the beginning of a more present federalized Guard in instances of unrest like protests, demonstrations and riots. Throughout this period, Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson federalized the National Guard "to enforce the expansion of civil rights and to ensure public order," the National Guard Bureau said. The Guard was involved in many of the most pivotal Civil Rights-era events, such as the school desegregations and ensuing violence in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, the University of Mississippi in 1962, and at the University of Alabama in 1963. The Alabama National Guard was also called into federal service for the Selma-Montgomery March in 1965, the National Guard Bureau said. National Guard members were also called in during the "Detroit Rebellion" of 1967, and to respond to the protests and violence that followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968. After Trump's deployment of the National Guard on Sunday, June 8, the two most recent times a president federalized the National Guard for civil disturbance operations were approximately 55 and 33 years ago, respectively. President Richard Nixon deployed the force in 1970 in response to the Postal Strike that was the first and largest walkout ever against the federal government. Most recently, President George H.W. Bush in 1992 called on Guard members to respond to the 1992 Rodney King riots, which broke out after the acquittal of the Los Angeles Police Department officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King. The unrest left 60 people dead and 2,300 injured, according to theBill of Rights Institute, and thousands of members of the Guard, the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps were deployed in the city. The National Guard has beendeployed to Los Angelesseveral times in response to civil disorder and natural disasters, at the request of state and local officials. The Guard is an especially familiar force with large swaths of the state that have experienced historic wildfires over the past decades, greater Los Angeles included. In 1965, nearly 14,000 Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles amid the Watts protests at the request of the California lieutenant governor, according to Stanford University'sMartin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. In 1992, former President George H.W. Bush ordered National Guards to respond to the Rodney King protests in Los Angeles, which left left more than 60 people dead and 2,300 injured, according to theBill of Rights Institute. It was the last time theInsurrection Actwas invoked by a president. In 1994, the Guard was sent to assist with the aftermath of theNorthridge earthquake. The magnitude 6.7 earthquake caused billions in damages primarily in the San Fernando Valley, 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and killed at least 57 people. It is the first time in decades a president has moved to deploy troops in such a manner without a governor's consent or explicit invitation, Reuters reported, and the move has prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to say heplans to sue the administrationover the deployment. Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:When have presidents previously deployed National Guard for unrest?

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

How common are National Guard deployments over unrest? A look at past presidents' actions

How common are National Guard deployments over unrest? A look at past presidents' actions After more than 30 years since the 1992 Los An...

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Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match

Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match

PITTSBURGH –Aaron Rodgersis here. Finally. No, there's no pressure (yeah, right) as the Hall of Fame-credentialed icon makes his "offseason debut" for the Pittsburgh Steelers at a not-so-ho-hum minicamp on Tuesday. All Rodgers needs to do is turn a storied NFL franchise into a championship contender again. And the same can be said for Mike Tomlin. Yep, Rodgers and Tomlin are joined at the hip for this mission to roll back the clock and pursue championship glory – and are also two desperate reasons why this has a chance. Hey, they both need each other like crazy…enough to try. Go ahead, fire away. It's fair game. Rodgers is 41 and hasn't won a playoff game since the 2020 campaign, way back in his Green Bay Packers life. Tomlin has never had a losing season in 18 years but hasn't sniffed a playoff victory since 2016. As they stand now, doubted and embattled, embattled and doubted, the setbacks both endured in recent years have provided quite the common denominator to fuel a bond. Having once sat atop the NFL mountaintop, it has undoubtedly eaten at Rodgers and Tomlin that over so many years they have been unable reach that height again. Rodgers won a Super Bowl before he earned any of his four NFL MVP awards and that's been that. Tomlin took the Steelers to two Super Bowls in his first four seasons, winning the crown in his second year, and that's been that. It's been a minute since the 2010 season when, ironically, Rodgers led the Pack over the Steelers in Super Bowl 45. Back then, who knew (besides Tom Brady andPatrick Mahomes) that it would be the last time we'd see either of these alpha males on a Super Bowl stage. So, look at them now. Together they can dream of chasing confetti again. Of course, it's a huge dream that will take much more than determined synergy from the two most crucial pieces for any NFL team – the quarterback and head coach. And that's even before considering a treacherous AFC field that includes Mahomes and Andy Reid, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. And then some. Yet at least Rodgers and Tomlin have a boost of hope in each other. And a connection that has been built over years with mutual respect. The connection, too, has been strengthened in recent months as Rodgers contemplated his future and the outside noise swirled. They talked at least once a week. Winners and losers of Aaron Rodgers' deal with Steelers? Oh so many questions Rodgers, after two disastrous seasons with the New York Jets, doesn't sign up for the one-year hitch with the Steelers unless he felt it was possible they could position themselves as a contender, of which he can have much influence. If Brady, then 43, can win a Super Bowl in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020), then maybe… The Steelers have significant pieces in place, including new big-play wideoutDK Metcalf, star edge rusherT.J. Watt(pending contract) and all-pro D-tackle Cam Heyward. Tomlin's presence, which includes tapping into the locker room pulse on a Bill Parcells level, may have been the clincher for Rodgers wanting to come aboard. Tomlin, who struck out with Russell Wilson (and Justin Fields) last season, sees Rodgers as the fiery competitor eager to win now – at least for now as the one-year commitment indicates. Add a below-market contract that would stillpay less than $20 millionif all incentives are met and GM Omar Khan gets a bit more salary cap flexibility to stay aggressive with a talent hunt that could, well, strengthen the cast around Rodgers. Sure, Rodgers will drill down with O-coordinator Arthur Smith to craft a system that increases chances to succeed. No negative there. In fact, it may do wonders for Smith's rep, too, given the struggles with Pittsburgh's offense in 2024. Rodgers has long been regarded as having one of the NFL's sharpest minds, having deciphered virtually every blitz and coverage imaginable over two decades. That expertise matters. Never mind the narrative that they've lost too many offseason practice reps. Remember, Brett Favre came out of retirement in 2009 and joined the Minnesota Vikings on August 18…and led them to the NFC title game. Here's to patience. For much of the offseason, as the NFL universe waited on Rodgers to commit to a 21stseason, Tomlin showed no hint of frustration that a deal wasn't struck months ago. The noise from critics was persistent, with suggestions that Rodgers was stringing the Steelers along balanced by suggestions that Pittsburgh should have dropped its pursuit. Pressed by reporters this spring about needing a hard deadline for a decision by Rodgers, Tomlin on multiple occasions said something about training camp. It sounded witty, like a good one-liner that left 'em laughing. 'I wish he'd have retired already': Some Steelers fans hate Aaron Rodgers signing Turns out, this week's three-day minicamp represents the last organized activity until Steelers players report for training camp in Latrobe, Penn. on July 23. Tomlin's training camp reference wasn't far off. Yet it's deeper than that. Although Rodgers reportedly had interest in the Vikings, Tomlin knew, too, that he needed time. In addition to weighing retirement, Rodgers has dealt with personal matters that included illnesses of people in his inner circle. Football aside, Tomlin understood. While Tomlin, like many coaches, can be brash, direct and boisterous – and loaded with catchy slogans – that persona may eclipse his gift for connecting with his players as people. And that will include the eccentric Rodgers. That's essential to the rich culture that Tomlin has developed. Of course, there's a Tomlin mantra that sums it up: "We want volunteers, not hostages." The Steelers have had their share of malcontents, yet personnel decisions over the years (as in move on) illustrate how serious they are in protecting a no-nonsense environment. After two years with the Jets, Rodgers is one high-profile volunteer. You can't blame him if he feels relieved. He was cut from the franchise that owns the NFL's longest playoff drought at 14 seasons, the futility wrapped with instability. They're on their eighth coach in 25 years. Tomlin, meanwhile, is Pittsburgh's third coach in 56 years. Yet all that stability comes with a different type of pressure, which Rodgers eagerly accepts in joining forces. Finally. Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match

Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers are desperate to win big again. They are a perfect match PITTSBURGH –Aaron Rodgersis here. Finally. No, there...

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The NCAA's House settlement brings about a new era of college sports

The NCAA's House settlement brings about a new era of college sports

Yahoo Sports AMis our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports.Sign up hereto get it every weekday morning. 🏆Panthers 6, Oilers 1:The defending champs returned home in style, clobbering the Oilers in a physical Game 3 toseize control of the Stanley Cup Final. Tensions flared all night and ultimately led to afull-out brawl in the third period. ⚾️Final ticket punched:Murray State isheaded to the College World Series for the first time everafter upsetting Duke, 5-4, to secure the final spot in the eight-team tournament. The action begins Friday in Omaha, Nebraska. 🏈NFL succession:Ownership of the Colts hasofficially passed to Jim Irsay's three daughtersin the wake of their father's death last month. The eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will serve as principal owner and CEO as part of "longstanding plans set forth by Jim." 🥎Historic viewership:Game 3 of the Women's College World Series final drew 2.4 million viewers on ESPN, making it themost-watched college softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 each drew 2.1 million viewers, the largest audience ever for the first two games. 🏈Chubb to Houston:Four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb hasagreed to a one-year deal with the Texans. It's a fresh start for Chubb after knee and foot injuries limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons. The NCAA's landmark settlementof three antitrust cases was finally granted approval on Friday,ushering in a new era of college sportswhere schools will pay athletes directly. Key details: Revenue sharing:Starting July 1, schools that opt into this new system (most D-I schools) can share up to a certain amount of revenue with athletes annually. The "cap" for Year 1 is projected to be $20.5 million and will go up from there. Enforcement:A new non-NCAA entity called the College Sports Commission will enforce revenue-sharing rules, while a Deloitte-run clearinghouse dubbed "NIL Go" will review contracts between athletes and third-parties (brands, boosters, etc). Backpay:The NCAA will pay thousands of former athletes (playing from 2016-2024) a whopping $2.8 billion in backpay from lost NIL compensation. Roster limits:Scholarship limits will be replaced with roster limits, with a caveat: Schools may grandfather-in current athletes, those who've been cut this year due to the impending limits and recruits who enrolled on the promise of a roster spot. The money, explained:From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: The cap is calculated by taking 22% of the average of certain power school revenues, most notably ticket sales, television dollars and sponsorships. In Year 1, the cap amount is projected to be $20.5 million. While each school is charged with determining how to distribute those funds, most power conference programs are planning to distribute 90% to football and men's basketball, as those are, for the most part, the only revenue-generating sports for an athletic department. In Year 1, that's about $13-16 million for a football roster and $2-4 million for men's basketball, with the remaining amount shared with women's basketball, baseball, volleyball and other Olympic sports. While the 22% cap will remain the same through the 10-year settlement agreement, the cap money figure will rise based on built-in escalators (4% increase in Year 2 and Year 3), scheduled recalculations (after each third year) and additional cash flows into athletic departments. Ohio State AD Ross Bjork told Yahoo Sports this summer that he expects the cap to break $25 million by the time the Year 4 recalculation happens. What's next:The settlement's approval is the first in what many college leaders describe as a two-step process to bring stability to the landscape. Step 2: lawmakers producing a federal bill to codify the settlement terms and insulate the NCAA and its members from legal challenges. Five senators have beenmeeting regularlyto discuss legislation, anda bill could be introduced in the House this week. Athletics rookie Denzel Clarkemade one of the best catches you'll ever see on Monday night, scaling the wall at Angel Stadium andnearly launching his body over the fence to rob a home run. On the call:"I've seen the list of the greatest catches you're ever going to see in your life. If you don't have room for this one, we're watching two different sports,"said A's commentator Dallas Braden. Meanwhile,on the Angels broadcast:"He caught it!! I can't believe it!! How did he do it?!" Instant impact:Clarke is just 16 games into his big league career, and he's already submitted two entries for Catch of the Year. Monday's robbery came just three days after he put his body on the line tomake this sensational catch. ⛳️ +275 Scottie Scheffler, who has won three of his past four starts, is anoverwhelming +275 favorite(via BetMGM) to win this week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Those are the shortest odds entering the U.S. Open since Tiger Woods was +175 in 2009. 💵 $2.8 billion The attorneys who shepherded the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement to fruition for hundreds of thousands of college athletes willshare in over $475 million in plaintiff legal fees, and that figure could rise to more than $725 million over the next 10 years. ⚾️ 43 multi-HR games Aaron Judge had his 43rd career multi-HR game on Sunday, tying Lou Gehrig for the third-most ever by a Yankee. Only Babe Ruth (68) and Mickey Mantle (46) have more. 🏀 2 players How good has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander been this season? He just joined Michael Jordan (1991-92) as the only two players in NBA history to put up 3,000 points, 600 assists, 150 steals and 80 blocks in a single campaign (including playoffs). ⚽️ 89 goals Belgium's Romelu Lukaku scored his 89th career international goal on Monday, tying Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari for thefifth-most ever. Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (138), Argentina's Lionel Messi (112), Iran's Ali Daei (108) and India's Sunil Chhetri (95) have more. MLB's biggest offseason signingshave yielded mixed results so far. Here are early grades for the Top 10 free agents, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman. Juan Soto, Mets (B-):The highest-paid player in baseball history should be held to the highest possible standard, and Soto simply hasn't met it yet. But that could change in a hurry as he starts to heat up, with 3 HR and a 1.250 OPS in his last 10 games. Rōki Sasaki, Dodgers (C):For as special as his splitter is, the Japanese phenom doesn't have a great fastball and his command remains shoddy at best. Hence his underwhelming numbers (4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP) through his first eight big league starts. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks (B/Incomplete):Arizona's $210 million ace wasruled out for the seasonon Friday (Tommy John surgery), ending what had been a strong start to his tenure (2.66 ERA in 11 starts). Alex Bregman, Red Sox (A-):For all the roster construction drama that has swirled around since his arrival, Bregman himself was thoroughly fulfilling his obligations (11 HR, .938 OPS, 3.0 WAR) until his quad injury last month. Willy Adames, Giants (C-):It's been a struggle at the plate for San Francisco's new shortstop (.193 BA, .584 OPS, -0.5 WAR), who has been moved down in the order as he looks to find his stride. Blake Snell, Dodgers (D/Incomplete):The two-time Cy Young winner hit the injured list (shoulder) after just two starts. He's working his way back and is scheduled to throw a bullpen in the coming weeks. Max Fried, Yankees (A):Fried has been phenomenal (8-1, 1.78 ERA) and his presence has been crucial in the absence of ace Gerrit Cole and reigning ROY Luis Gil. Pete Alonso, Mets (A):After failing to secure a long-term deal in his first go at free agency, Alonso's red-hot start (17 HR, .990 OPS, league-leading 61 RBI) has him primed to land a deserved, if delayed, monster payday this winter. Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers (B):Los Angeles re-signed Hernández for his bat and he continues to slug. But his complete refusal to draw walks continues to limit his impact (.290 on-base percentage). Christian Walker, Astros (D+):The veteran first baseman is off to a rough start in Houston (.207 BA, .619 OPS, -0.7 WAR), where his strikeouts have spiked and walks have plummeted. Go deeper:Grades for the top 25 free agents The Americans hope to snap their three-game losing streak in today's friendly in Nashville, their final match before the Gold Cup begins this weekend. A couple of southpaws with eye-popping numbers take the mound in Kansas City: Cy Young contender Max Fried (8-1, 1.78 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) vs. Royals rookie Noah Cameron (2-1, 0.85 ERA, 0.79 WHIP). The defending champion Liberty (8-0) host the reeling Sky (2-5), who justlost starting PG Courtney Vandersloot for the year(torn ACL). Today's full slate → Question:What's the name of the ballpark pictured above? Answer at the bottom. Shout out to the maintenance crew getting Oakmont Country Club in mint condition for this week's U.S. Open. Somewielded lawnmowers, someoperated heavy machineryand othersmanicured greenswith barber-like tools. The real MVPs. Trivia answer:Oracle Park (San Francisco) We hope you enjoyed this edition ofYahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports.Sign up hereto get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

The NCAA's House settlement brings about a new era of college sports

The NCAA's House settlement brings about a new era of college sports Yahoo Sports AMis our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on...

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Kennedy's firing of independent CDC advisers undermines vaccine confidence, experts say

Kennedy's firing of independent CDC advisers undermines vaccine confidence, experts say

By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dismissal of an independent panel of experts citing the goal of restoring trust in vaccines could undermine confidence in those available now, putting Americans at risk of preventable infectious diseases, public health experts and others said on Monday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, said in a commentary published in the Wall Street Journal that he was firing all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science." The committee reviews vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and makes recommendations to the CDC on their use. "I fear that there will be human lives lost here because of this," said Dr. Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases. "It is a special kind of irony that he is saying he is doing this to restore trust, given that he is, as an individual, more responsible for sowing distrust in vaccines than almost anyone I can name," O'Leary said. O'Leary said pediatricians have already been fielding calls from parents who are confused about conflicting announcements earlier this month narrowing the use of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. "This is only going to add to that," he said. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said the agency is prioritizing public health, evidence-based medicine, and restoring public confidence in vaccine science. The firing of the entire vaccine advisory committee comes just weeks before a scheduled public meeting in which advisers were expected to weigh in and vote on a number of decisions, including the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine boosters. The health agency said the committee will meet as scheduled on June 25-27, but it is unclear who would serve on that panel or how they have been vetted for conflicts of interest. The agency said it would replace them with new members currently under consideration. Fired ACIP member Noel Brewer, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina, said it took about 18 months from the time he applied until he was serving as an ACIP member. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the changes. "Wiping out an entire panel of vaccine experts doesn't build trust — it shatters it, and worse, it sends a chilling message: that ideology matters more than evidence, and politics more than public health," he said in a statement. Former CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden called out Kennedy's "false claims" in the Wall Street Journal piece, saying the panel was rife with conflicts of interest. Most of the panel was appointed last year, the CDC website shows. "Make no mistake: Politicizing the ACIP as Secretary Kennedy is doing will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it." (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; additional reporting by Mike Erman in New York; editing by Caroline Humer and Stephen Coates)

byMario Satorik

in

June 10, 2025

Kennedy's firing of independent CDC advisers undermines vaccine confidence, experts say

Kennedy's firing of independent CDC advisers undermines vaccine confidence, experts say By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. Hea...

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