Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell says his Seattle-area home was broken into last week.
No one was at the home at the time of the break-in. Snell was in Los Angeles for the Dodgers' home opener the following day, which he started.
"I can confirm that our home was recently broken into," Snell said in a statement, via NBC KING 5. "Thankfully no one was harmed. We’re working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for their swift response and ongoing support.
"We have security footage that is actively assisting in the investigation, and we’re confident the individuals responsible will be caught and removed from our community. If you know something, say something — please contact local law enforcement."
Police were notified of the break-in March 26, one day before the game. Officers found a broken window when they arrived at the home.
Edmonds Police Commander Josh McClure said it was unclear whether anything had been stolen because "there had clearly been some high-value items that had been left there."
Snell's home was broken into the same week as former Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman's in nearby King County. The homes are separated by a 6-mile ferry ride.
"Of course, there's always the possibility that they're connected. We don't have enough information to say they're connected," McClure said.
A number of break-ins were reported at the homes of several high-profile athletes during the fall, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow, prompting alerts from leagues to use caution.
Tua Tagovailoa said he hired armed security and jokingly dared burglars to try breaking into his home.
Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, joining an already stacked squad. The Dodgers' home opener was their third regular-season game after they played a two-game set in Tokyo earlier in the month.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said the reports on Damian Lillard's recovery have been positive and that the team has "much more hope" than it did before that he can return sometime this season.
A clear hierarchy was formed this season in the East with the Cavs and Celtics on top, then the Knicks in whatever you want to call the tier below “title contender.”
Women's fencer Stephanie Turner became a household name overnight among activists for women's rights in sports.
A viral video of Turner kneeling to protest a transgender opponent ignited more debate about transgender inclusion in women's sports, especially fencing.
"It will probably, at least for the moment, destroy my life," Turner told Fox News Digital. "It's very hard for me to do this."
Her decision was driven by her opposition to competing against biological males.
"This is a serious issue that is happening within all sports, and it needs to be addressed. There is a difference between men and women," Turner said. "It is a civil rights movement for women and girls, and I prioritize the safety and rights and protection of women and girls over trans-identified males."
Her belief even overpowered her lifelong political allegiance.
Turner, a long-time registered Democrat who broke from the party for the most recent election, says she is now a "new Republican conservative."
She switched parties over the issue of transgender athletes in women's and girls sports.
"A small group of people is holding a much larger athlete base hostage to extremist liberal views," Turner said.
How did it get to this point?
Turner was born and raised in Washington D.C., and now lives in deep blue Montgomery County, Maryland.
Over the years, she's been involved in a close friend group, which includes other fencers. It also includes multiple members of the LGBT community.
"They did not know I had this opinion about transgender women in women's sports. And one of them was one of my really good friends at the [fencing] club. He's in the LGBT community, and a lot of my friends are also in the LGBT community. And I don't want them to be mad at me for this. I love them on a personal level.
"I don't want them to think that I somehow hate them. And I don't want to lose them as friends."
But Turner also feels she can't have legitimate discussions with some people about the issue.
"They lie and say that estrogen can make a man a woman also to the point where you can not tell the difference, and it just becomes an insane argument."
Turner, 31, ventured into competitive fencing 12 years ago at age 19. She joined the club at the University of Maryland and has stuck with it ever since. She later qualified to compete in USA Fencing.
"I commit a lot of time and money for this," Turner said, citing travel, equipment and registration expenses.
Turner's official Fencing Tracker page shows 21 podium finishes, including a gold medal in women's foil at an event called the Trick or Retreat ROC Aug. 18 in Edison, New Jersey.
But she got to a point in her career when she had to be aware of the USA Fencing official gender eligibility policy.
The official policy allows for transgenders to compete in the women's category in both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition.
USA Fencing has a policy announced in November 2022 to give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that "harm members of LGBTQ communities" and states that do not "have laws undermining the reproductive health of women."
"In fencing, personally, I see it quite often," Turner said. "I have witnessed transgender fencers in women's tournaments and girls tournaments in different age categories, specifically Y-14 (the youngest age group)."
Turner had a previous experience avoiding a trans opponent in the summer of 2013. She saw reports of a trans athlete who she had previously known as a biological male fencer, by another name. When Turner saw the athlete was listed as a competitor in that year's Summer Nationals, she decided not to go.
"I never registered because I knew that he was going to be in there," Turner said. "In previous years, when I had known about transgender fencers being present, I just didn't register."
Turner always made sure to avoid registering for events after vetting them for trans athletes.
But what she couldn't foresee was one of them registering after she did.
That happened for the first time last weekend for a Division I-A event called the Cherry Blossom Open at her alma mater, the University of Maryland. Redmond Sullivan, who previously competed in the men's division, according to Fencing Tracker, was registered and placed in the same bracket as Turner.
She only learned this at 10:30 p.m. the night before her matchup with Sullivan.
By that point, she was considering a different approach to handling the situation considering how frequent trans inclusion was becoming.
"I had contemplated in the future that I wanted to avoid not registering for events, just because a transgender person was there, because it could just be every single one of my events has a transgender person," Turner said.
"So, I was like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to give it to God. If this person shows up into my event, and they're on my strip, then I will take a knee, and that would be God's will."
But Turner wanted to take things a step further, a step she knew could "destroy her life," but she did it anyway.
Just minutes before she took the strip to kneel against Sullivan, she went to one of her closest friends on the club for a favor.
"I said, ‘I’m about to do something, and I want you to film it. I'm really nervous about it, and this is your last chance to leave if you want to,' because I didn't know what the reaction was going to be," Turner said.
Her friend agreed to film the kneel, recording a scene that would be witnessed across the fencing world.
Turner was then dealt a black card, disqualified from the event and escorted out so quickly she didn't get to say another word to her teammates, trainers or anyone else.
Turner didn't want this role. She admits to being a private person without any social media channels who "enjoys anonymity."
"I was hoping someone else would come forward or the board of directors would have a change of heart," Turner said.
A nonprofit fencing organization penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members in December, urging the national governing body for the sport to reevaluate its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion.
"Politics aside, it is a reasonable request to form a task force to do a deeper dive on this issue in fencing and create a safe space where the voices of all women are heard without ridicule and abuse," the letter said.
But nothing was done.
Turner is the latest combatant in the ongoing culture war over the issue of trans athletes in women's sports. She has done a televised interview on Fox News Channel, her story has been covered by multiple media outlets and she is even featured in a commercial.
The sports activist brand XX-XY Athletics released its new commercial featuring the clip of Turner's kneel Thursday.
For her, it's all worth it if it means holding institutions like USA Fencing and politicians who have continued to enable trans inclusion accountable.
"It's a litmus test for common sense in whether a politician is able to lie to your face to abide to common culture," Turner said.
"Something needs to be done."
USA Fencing provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the incident.
"USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and nonbinary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces. The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day," the statement said.
"We respect the viewpoints on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the matter evolves. It's important for the fencing community to engage in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be conducted respectfully, whether at our tournaments or in online spaces. The way to progress is by respectful discussion based in evidence."
A USA Fencing spokesperson also told Fox News Digital Turner was not penalized for her stance against trans inclusion, but simply for refusing to fence.
"In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit," the spokesperson said.
"According to the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, specifically Article t.113, a fencer is not permitted to refuse to fence another properly entered fencer for any reason. Under these rules, such a refusal results in disqualification and the corresponding sanctions. This policy exists to maintain fair competition standards and preserve the sport’s integrity."
After you’ve punched your best customer in the head, what’s the best way to apologize? That’s right, next kick him in the groin. It’s the Rob Manfred/MLB business model.
The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and there are some in the football world already focused on next year’s prospects, especially Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
The son of Cooper Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch is finally expected to start for the Longhorns after Quinn Ewers entered the 2025 Draft class. Arch had been sitting behind the former Ohio State Buckeyes signal-caller the past two seasons.
While many are hoping to see Arch tear up his college schedule next year, one NFL insider says it's not a foregone conclusion Manning will be going pro in 2026.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter made an appearance on "Get Up" Thursday and warned NFL teams and fans not hold out too much hope Arch will be available this time next year.
"First of all, there’s no guarantees that Arch Manning’s coming out after next year," Schefter said, via the New York Post. "It sounds like he certainly could be staying beyond next year.
"I’m not a college football insider, but none of the Mannings ever went out early, and I don’t know, with NIL money being what it is, why Arch would do that? So, all of this conversation about tanking for Arch next year, he could be in the draft in 2027, not even next year."
Arch redshirted his first year in Austin, which means he meets the three years removed from high school requirement to enter the NFL Draft if he chooses in 2026.
But what if Arch doesn’t have a great season? And considering what his uncle did with the San Diego Chargers, basically forcing a trade to the New York Giants, maybe Arch won’t like teams trying to "tank for Arch," Schefter suggested.
There are a lot of what-ifs that will become more clear later this year when Arch takes over Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
In 10 appearances last season, including two starts due to Ewers’ injuries, Manning threw for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 108 yards on 25 carries with four touchdowns on the ground.
Arch is valued at $6.6 million in NIL money, according to On3. So, as Schefter mentioned, he doesn’t have to jump to the pros to be paid.
Ahead of a LIV Golf event at his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, President Donald Trump is hosting members of the tour at the course.
PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan recently dubbed Trump the "facilitator" of the ongoing discussions between the two golf tours — but nearly two years since the bombshell announcement was made of a potential deal, there has yet to be one.
Trump gave his stance on what he hopes will happen on his way to South Florida.
"Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that, too," Trump said. "But hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You have the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing."
Trump called the LIV golfers — a roster that includes Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and others — "some of the best players in the world."
Back in February, the PGA Tour credited Trump for "[getting] involved for the good of the game," and it appears there has been movement since he got involved.
"Those talks are real. They’re substantial, and they’re being driven at the top levels of both organizations. Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump’s willingness to serve as the facilitator," Monahan said last month. "President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game’s power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous in his time and influence to help bring a deal together. He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified, and his involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real."
Monahan added, "We believe there’s room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform," and said he could envision "a future" in which Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan can join the Tour's board.
"We’re doing everything that we can to bring the two sides together. That said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum with our fans and our partners," he said, adding that "hurdles remain" between the two sides.
Trump last month expressed optimism the two sides will get some type of deal done.
"They’re gonna have to get together," he said. "They’ve had a lot of discussion back and forth. They both are meaning well, and a deal will ultimately happen. I think it will happen pretty quickly. It would be nice to see the best golfers play against each other."
"They are all great people, and they want to work it out," Trump added. "So, if I can help work it out… I don’t get anything out of it. I can help them work it out. I just think golf — it’s very much an individual sport, and you want to see the best players playing against each other and not playing in two different locations."
Trump's courses have hosted several LIV events since its inception, last hosting a PGA event in the mid-2010s.
The 23-year-old Finley was released without having to post bond after being booked Wednesday on a charge of possession of stolen goods valued at $25,000 or more.
The Green Wave conducted spring practice without Finley on Thursday, when all QB duties were handled by two other transfers, Kadin Semonza from Ball State and Donovan Leary from Illinois.
After practice, coach Jon Sumrall briefly addressed Finley's suspension with reporters, largely deferring to the university's official statement but adding, "When guys make mistakes, then they have to have accountability."
During his time with Auburn nearly three years ago, Finley was arrested for allegedly evading police during a traffic stop.
The arrest came shortly after he became the first college athlete to ink an NIL deal with Amazon. He reportedly discovered there was an active warrant for his arrest after he was cited for riding a moped without a helmet on July 26 on campus and turned himself in.
Finley is now with his fifth college football program and entering his sixth college season. He transferred to Tulane after spending last season with Western Kentucky, where he played in just three games before an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Tulane will be his fourth school in as many years.
That allowed him to take a redshirt and preserve his final season of eligibility.
The Ponchatoula, Louisiana, native began his college career at LSU in 2020. He transferred to Auburn in 2021 and spent two seasons there before moving in 2023 to Texas State, where he passed for a career-best 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The parents of Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr. filed a lawsuit against Bucknell University on Wednesday, nearly a year after the 18-year-old died after collapsing during his first-ever football practice with the team over the summer.
Mike Caspino, the attorney representing the family, announced the lawsuit during a press conference, alongside Dickey’s parents.
"He was a superb athlete. He was a great student and an unbelievable human being. And on July 12, 2024, he died a very painful, very brutal death because of the football coaches at Bucknell University," Caspino said.
"Despite the fact that CJ Dickey died nearly nine months ago, the school has withheld – is not telling his parents the circumstances and the facts around why he died. They refuse to tell them the story about how their son died. … They are hiding what happened, and we are forced to file this lawsuit so that we can find out the truth."
According to Caspino, Dickey died from rhabdomyolysis, which is a rare and life-threatening muscle condition triggered by intense workouts. He was more likely to suffer from the condition after previously being diagnosed with sickle cell trait, something the lawsuit alleges Bucknell was aware of before Dickey began training camp.
The lawsuit, obtained by ESPN, claimed that Dickey performed 100 up-downs on July 9 "as punishment" after the team "messed up" at a workout and that players performing the drill noticed him "falling behind the rest of the group."
According to ESPN’s previous reporting, Dickey collapsed and was transferred to a hospital where he was put on dialysis. He underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure in his extremities, but his heart stopped and he died two days after the incident.
"He died a horrible, painful death that was 100% preventable," Caspino said Wednesday.
In a statement to several outlets, Bucknell called Dickey's death "a tragic loss" but would not comment further due to pending litigation.
"The death of a student is always a tragic loss. While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ's family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority -- the health and safety of all Bucknell students."
According to the NCAA policy, all athletes are required to undergo sickle cell solubility testing or provide results from a test within six months of participating in sports activities. In Dickey’s case, the lawsuit alleged that he tested positive and that a trainer from Bucknell spoke to his mother prior to the incident on July 12.
The lawsuit accused the university and others of negligence and is seeking compensation and information surrounding Dickey’s death.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is not expected to be punished by the NBA for a gun-related gesture he made during a recent game.
According to ESPN, the league issued a warning to Morant but is not planning to fine or suspend him in response to the finger gun gesture the two-time NBA All-Star directed toward the Golden State Warriors' bench Tuesday.
The "[l]eague ruled the celebrations were not intended to be violent in nature, but inappropriate and should refrain," ESPN reported.
Morant has been disciplined by the NBA multiple times throughout his career, and some of those punishments were due to gun-related incidents. The league handed down an eight-game suspension in 2023 after Morant flashed what appeared to be a gun during a social media livestream at a Colorado nightclub.
Later that year, Morant appeared to flash a weapon while he was in a car during another social media video. He was suspended an additional 25 games.
"Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said at the time of his second suspension.
"The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.
"For Ja, basketball needs to take a backseat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior."
Morant was also placed under the microscope after a January 2023 game in which an unidentified individual in the NBA star's vehicle was accused of shining a laser pointer at the Indiana Pacers' team bus. It happened after some members of Morant's entourage were involved in a confrontation with a group of people in the Pacers' traveling party.
The Grizzlies enter Thursday's game against the Miami Heat in the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.
A 50-year-old Georgia businessman was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for scamming former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of millions of dollars.
