USA Fencing has come under fire after a viral video of women's fencer Stephanie Turner kneeling in protest of a transgender opponent. 

Prominent figures, including J. K. Rowling and Martina Navratilova, have weighed in on social media, alongside thousands of women's sports rights activists.

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USA Fencing addressed the controversy with a public statement on Thursday, defending its trans-inclusion policies. 

"USA Fencing remains committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport. We believe in the principle of creating a safe communities where all athletes, and community members, have a place," the statement read. 

"While we understand there are a range of perspectives, USA Fencing will continue to engage in respectful, research-based dialogue and review as policy evolves in the Olympic and Paralympic movement as well as domestic law, hate speech of any kind is not acceptable—online or in person. Let's keep the conversation respectful and the strip welcoming to all." 

The organization first enacted its current trans-inclusion policy in 2023. It allows transgender athletes to compete in the women's category at 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, but the organization has taken even further steps to prioritize its trans competitors. 

In November 2022, it announced a policy 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." That policy went into effect in the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy.

"We’ve heard from a number of members, including members of the Board and members of our elite athlete community, asking whether continuing to place events in areas with either anti-LGBTQ laws or anti-abortion laws aligns with our core values as an organization," said USA Fencing CEO Phill Andrews in the policy page. "After a robust discussion with our Board and our staff team, USA Fencing has moved to give preference to those states without these laws."

In November 2023, the organization released a list of states that it intended to "avoid where possible" and the states that it flat out would not allow hosting major events. The states on the "do not allow" list were Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. 

WHO IS STEPHANIE TURNER? WOMEN'S FENCER WHO KNELT TO PROTEST TRANS OPPONENT AND IGNITED GLOBAL AWARENESS

The states on its "avoid where possible" list include Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

This combination of polices preceded an influx of biological male fencers competing in women's and girls' USA Fencing-sanctioned events over the last two years. Some of those competitors previously competed in the men's category. By September 2023, four biological male fencers, who previously competed in the men's category, achieved USA Fencing podium finishes in the women's category. 

Turner told Fox News Digital the quantity of trans competitors is even higher than that. 

"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)." 

The trans athlete Turner refused to compete against last weekend, Redmond Sullivan, competed in men's events up until June 2023, according to Sullivan's profile page on Fencing Tracker. The page shows no competitions for Sullivan from June 2023 until a return on Sept. 28, 2024 – the athlete's first competition in the women's category at an event in Newtown, Connecticut. Sullivan then went on to win two gold medals, one at the Connecticut Division Junior Olympic Qualifiers on Dec. 8 and one at the Connecticut Division Summer National Qualifiers on March 16.

This past December, a nonprofit fencing organization, the Fair Fencing Organization, penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members urging the re-evaluation of 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.

Just days later, however, board members voted against several motions to approve an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy, in an 8-3 vote. Now, after siding against women fencers seeking protection from trans inclusion, USA Fencing finds itself plunged into a global controversy after Turner's viral protest. 

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." 

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Anthony Greene has been almost everywhere as a professional wrestler.

He competed at WWE for its NXT and 205 Live brands. He was with All Elite Wrestling, performing mostly on "AEW Dark." He’s worked at New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. 

But when he makes his Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut on Saturday at Battle Riot VII, it will be a dream come true.

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"I’m a huge wrestling nerd, always been," Greene explained to Fox News Digital. "And I remember buying on HighSpots.com the original MLW DVDs. I watched [Satoshi] Kojima win the title in the tournaments back in like 2002, Reloaded, WarGames, seeing Steve Corino with the Extreme Horsemen, and it’s always been a place that I’ve followed. It’s always been a place that I’ve followed.

"And when it came back in 2017, I was wrestling for five years at that point. I decided that was a place I wanted to wrestle, and it’s just never worked out. Either I wasn’t where I needed to be to get to that level of where MLW was, or when I was there, the schedule just never matched. And the perfect moment for me, Battle Riot – where the MLW World Championship is on the line – is when I finally get to make my debut. So, yeah, you can say I’m very excited."

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MLW champion Matt Riddle will have to defend his title in the 40-man rumble match. It’s no easy task. Even for someone like Greene, who has been in a few rumble-style matches over the course of his career, is thinking realistically.

"One thing I am confident in is by the end of the night, MLW and the fans are going to know who Anthony Greene is and I will be back. That’s one thing I can promise," he said. "And best-case scenario, I walk out with the MLW World Heavyweight Championship."

Battle Riot VII takes place at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California. The sold-out show begins at 10 p.m. ET.

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Former NFL player Clint Bruce, who decided to serve the U.S. by becoming a Navy SEAL after his football career, travels around the country sharing word of wisdom about leadership with athletes.

Bruce graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned Aloha Bowl MVP honors in 1996. He was inducted into the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Bruce went on to have stints in the league with the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. He is currently a successful motivational speaker. In an exclusive sit-down with Fox News Digital, Bruce shared what motivates him to help today's athletes in any way he can.

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"I'm always going to go visit with athletes, because athletes … I think always have an extraordinary amount of pressure on them, always trying to prove someone right, prove somebody wrong," Bruce told Fox News Digital.

"And I just remember what it was like to be an athlete. I remember how meaningful it was for me when I had an opportunity to learn from people who have been from where I said I wanted to go."

Ohio State coach Ryan Day entered this past season under considerable pressure. The criticism of the coach ramped up after the Buckeyes once again failed to defeat their top rival, the Michigan Wolverines, in late November. Day ultimately sent a strong message to the doubters as he guided Ohio State to the College Football Playoff National Championship. 

Bruce said he "could tell" how good the 2024 Buckeyes were going to be early on.

"That team … I think I can tell how good someone's going to be based on who asked the questions and what the questions are. And one of the things I always say is, if your best and your youngest are curious, [then] you're going to win, it's just a question of when," Bruce said.

"Curiosity is a catalyst. … So what was interesting about this team is who was curious and how curious they were. Their best players were asking the hardest questions, and they weren't [just] football questions."

Bruce said having the courage to ask questions was something he learned during his military service days.

"In the special operations community, when your senior enlisted [members] are curious [and they] start asking questions, everybody who is afraid to ask a question now has permission to ask it. On the battlefield, you don't want to learn out there … you want to learn before we go out there."

Bruce said he has been repeatedly asked by the players and coaches to return and speak to the team. Next week, he will deliver the keynote speech at the 2025 Ohio State coaches clinic, Day announced on Wednesday.

The clinic will also feature a wide receiver roundtable with Joey Galloway, Brian Hartline, Santonio Holmes and Carnell Tate. The event is scheduled for April 10-12.

During an appearance on the "The Triple Option" podcast last month, Day credited the Navy SEALs for providing the Buckeyes with some added motivation during their run to the national title.

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"He's been really good for me in the process of understanding what it means to be a leader," Day said in reference to the mutual respect he shares with Bruce.

"The soldiers are doing all the fighting. It's your job as a head coach, leader and captain to look along the horizon and figure out what's coming next. There are so many parallels between the military and coaching. He and I would share a lot of conversations."

Day credited Bruce for delivering an "unbelievable talk" to the Buckeyes before their playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns in January.

"We played down in Dallas, and just by chance, the fort he is stationed at was like five minutes from our hotel," Day said. "He just came over and gave our team an unbelievable talk. He talked about how when the SEALs go to a hot spot in Afghanistan or different places, they set up shop, take a few days to get regulated with the area, then they create a storm, wreck and then leave. That was what we were doing. It was really cool. I'm just trying to find as many people who are in the top 1% of the top 1% as possible and put them in my life as possible."

Last month, Day was rewarded with a contract extension that will tie him to the football program through the 2031 season. Day also became the second-highest-paid coach in college football, trailing only Georgia's Kirby Smart.

Since leaving the Navy, Bruce remains active with his company, HoldFast. The organization focuses on leadership and showcases transitioning veterans as speakers and professional executive coaches. 

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Throughout sports, athletes have not shied away from publicly displaying their faith. 

Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce is among those athletes sharing their Christian beliefs, and he shared with OutKick’s Trey Wallace how he loves seeing others displaying their faith throughout sports.

"Yeah, 100%. I think it’s been awesome," Joyce said. 

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In the NFL, Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker are among many in the sport who have outwardly praised God. In the NBA, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac and Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. have all actively discussed their faith. 

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For Joyce and his Angels teammates, he said a healthy amount of praise comes between workouts, bullpen sessions and more that keeps him grounded.

"The guys I’ve shared a clubhouse with, they all feel the same way, and we’ve done things from Bible studies, to having chapel every Sunday," Joyce explained. 

"I feel like that just makes the life that we live that much easier because I don’t think I can go through this life without having that foundation. You can get caught up in all the things in professional baseball, and it really just brings you back down to Earth and grounds me."

The 24-year-old flamethrower is enjoying a good start to the 2025 season, his third with the Angels, as he has 2.2 innings pitched over three games where he has not allowed an earned run. 

As Joyce continues to make his mark on MLB, he continues to use his platform to share his beliefs while encouraging others to do the same.

"It’s awesome that people are being more open about it, and at the end of the day, God is great and everything that I do is to glorify Him. If I can have any type of platform to spread that, then that’s what I want to do." 

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A brawl involving players at a youth street hockey game in New Jersey took a turn for the worst after several adults got involved in an altercation of their own, leading to multiple charges, according to law enforcement. 

During the Veterans Memorial Invitational Tournament in Egg Harbor Township, which is about eight miles outside Atlantic City, a fight broke out between players on the Maple Shade Cadet and Frenzy Cadet teams. 

Video of the fight obtained by Fox News Digital shows the players shoving and throwing punches as game officials attempt to break it up. Chaos quickly ensues as players leave their respective benches. 

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Several adults also rush over to break up the fighting, but video surveillance soon shows those adults fighting with one another, with two wrestling to the ground.

Egg Harbor Township Police Department announced Thursday that three adults were charged in connection with the incident: Colleen Biddle, 41, of Philadelphia, Robert Schafer, 38, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, and Justin Pacheco, 38, of Philadelphia. 

All three were charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct and were given summonses to appear in court. 

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The American Ball Hockey Alliance (ABHA) released a statement condemning the behavior. 

"First and foremost, we want to emphasize that this type of behavior is NOT representative of normal street/dek hockey play, and violence is NEVER condoned in our sport. The ABHA maintains a strict code of conduct that all players, coaches, and organizations must adhere to, with severe penalties for those who engage in violent actions. Additionally, we take the role of spectators very seriously and impose appropriate sanctions for those whose behavior as fans is disruptive or inflammatory."

The ABHA added that the organization has launched its own internal investigation and will implement its own disciplinary actions. Both teams were suspended from the tournament and the coach of the Maple Shade Cadet team was suspended from the league. 

"It is important to note that this incident was instigated by out-of-town teams and, as such, does not reflect the values or behavior of the host facility, Egg Harbor Township Street Hockey, their teams, or their families," their statement added. 

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Donovan Dijak will be one of the 40 men competing in Battle Riot VII on Saturday with the Major League Wrestling (MLW) World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

It will be the fourth rumble-type event of Dijak’s career, having competed in OTT Loco Rumble in February, NEW Over The Top 2017 and DREAMWAVE Good as Gold Rumble in 2016. He told Fox News Digital in a recent interview he was even more excited that Battle Riot had more stakes attached to it.

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"It’s super exciting, especially now that it’s for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship, which in my eyes is the most prestigious championship in all of professional wrestling. I can’t wait to get an opportunity and capitalize on obtaining that," he said.

"Obviously, always a great event. You never quite know who’s going to come out, but you know for sure that I’m going to be there. So, once the dust has settled, I think I’m going to be standing holding that MLW World Championship, and I’m super excited for that opportunity. I can’t wait to put the company on my back, right on my shoulders, and carry us through the entire year.

Dijak made his debut in August at Summer of the Beasts in New York City and, since then, he’s made his presence felt in MLW.

He defeated Tom Lawlor at SuperFight 6 and topped KENTA at Kings of Colosseum but lost to Matt Riddle at Eric Bischoff’s One Shot in December via disqualification.

Riddle is now in the precarious position of having to defend his title against 39 other men. For Dijak to win, "it would mean everything" to him.

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"I’m not a person who’s had a lot of championships to my name," he told Fox News Digital. "I haven’t had a ton of championship-sort-of-accolades attached to me. I’ve been very vocal in the fact that in terms of the grand scheme of professional wrestling, there’s not really anybody, not just now, but pretty much ever, that has had the success that I’ve had in the professional wrestling industry without any sort of major championship accolades to go along with it.

"I almost have a point of pride at this point because it’s like I view myself as one of the – and not just myself, but I think most people would view me as one of the top talents in the world of professional wrestling. So, the fact that I’m able to do that without the flagship of a major championship attached really speaks as a testament to my own sacrifice and dedication and hard work to the professional wrestling industry."

Dijak made clear that being with MLW for nearly eight months has been an "absolute pleasure."

"They give me the time and the focus and the dedication that I reciprocate to them. So, it is very much a collaborative effort on both sides of that, and I’m truly appreciative for that level of investment and that level of dedication, because that’s what I love about professional wrestling," he said. "I love that nobody’s right, nobody’s wrong. We all work together to figure out what we think is the best possible situation and presentation, and I love that we’re all on the same page in terms of that. 

"I think that the fans, ultimately, are the ones who get the payoff for that because they get to experience the product of so many intelligent minds working together."

MLW is one of the top wrestling promotions in the U.S. competing for time and space in the industry’s landscape with the competition seemingly stiffening even more over the last year.

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Dijak said MLW has been on a "constant trajectory upward for a very long time" and expects the trend to go even higher over the next few months.

"I’m the type of person who is never satiated or satisfied with what’s currently happening," he told Fox News Digital. "I’m always looking two steps ahead, three steps ahead, four steps ahead. So I’m worried about next month, I’m worried about six months from now, next year or two years. I’m always looking forward and thinking about how can we improve and how can increase, and that’s going to continue to be my goal.

"And I know that if I’m given the opportunity to sort of spearhead that and lead that charge, that’s going to create unprecedented growth and opportunity."

MLW’s Battle Riot VII takes place at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, on Saturday night. The event can also be seen on YouTube at 10 p.m. ET.

Bishop Dyer, Anthony Greene, Jesus Rodriguez, Paul London, Paul Walter Hauser and Brett Ryan Gosselin are just some of the other participants.

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WWE star Cody Rhodes has the charisma, the Undisputed WWE Championship and the swagger to be one of the best pro wrestlers in the industry as the company nears WrestleMania 41.

Since his return to WWE, he’s had heated rivalries with Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, The Rock and currently John Cena. It’s easy to forget that there’s one thing that separates Rhodes from the rest of the locker room.

It’s got to be the suits.

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Rhodes talked to Fox News Digital about his stylish outfits and gave some advice about picking out a great suit.

"It’s kind of two-fold. If you’re going to spend the money on a custom-made suit … don’t be lazy," he said. "Get fully measured. It’s going to take a while. I never like to try stuff on. There’s 85,000 measurements you didn’t even think even existed. One of the reasons why my a-- looks so big in my current suit – so, I’m all ‘caked up,’ as the internet says – is because my body fluctuates and I haven’t remeasured. So, that’s why I’m ‘caked up’ for this season."

But even if the average person can’t spend a whole bunch of money on a suit, Rhodes still had some advice.

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"Here’s the other way, though. So, get the measurements. Don’t be lazy. If you’re going to go on a cheaper route, and you don’t have time to get it tailored, perhaps just go a size down," he said. "Just go a size down instead of getting something that fits comfortably but also fits like it’s a sheet. And take a little bit of that European swagger. Tight it up just a little bit like that. You’ll look better in photos. And if it’s cheap, and it rips or something like that, no big deal. That’s what happens.

"There’s suits I have on TV that I basically consider tearaway suits. At any point – Cody Cutter, Cross Rhodes – they could explode, I guess rip right off me, and I wouldn’t feel terrible about it."

Rhodes, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of WWE’s partnership with Clash of Clans, will take on Cena for the WWE title at WrestleMania 41.

WrestleMania 41 will take place on April 19-20.

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Since being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, CC Sabathia hasn't had much time to reflect on the honor. 

Sabathia was quickly whisked to Cooperstown the day after the announcement along with the others elected, and he has been all over since. 

He made an appearance in Tokyo for the Los Angeles Dodgers-Chicago Cubs series at the Tokyo Dome. He visited the New York Yankees during spring training.

And he's seen his son, Carsten Sabathia III, play for the Houston Cougars. 

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It's been a whirlwind since that night, when Sabathia, surrounded by family and friends, achieved the goal he'd been dreaming of since picking up a baseball. He's started writing his Hall of Fame speech, something that can be nerve-wrecking for men who have lived through intense pressure during their playing careers. 

Sabathia revealed to Fox News Digital what he's hoping to get across with his words.

"I feel like I want the theme of it to be … I was raised around a lot of strong Black women. And I feel like, without them, I would not be able to be in this position," Sabathia said. "I kind of want that to be the theme of my speech. I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but that’s kinda what I’ve been thinking about since I got elected. 

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"Just all the positive Black women that have been in my life that got me to this point, whether it’s my grandmother, my mom, her friends, my aunts, my wife. So, I think I want that to be the theme of my speech."

Sabathia has been open about the women in his life, beginning with his grandmother, whose backyard had a grapefruit tree that provided the perfect practice objects even if they weren’t baseballs. He would pitch them at a folding chair to hone his skills. 

His mother Margie sacrificed for him with his father in and out of the picture to make sure he had everything he needed to succeed. In 2019, Margie said she used to put on catcher’s gear to be the other half of the battery for her son. 

And his wife, Amber, his high school sweetheart, was there every step of the way as they built a family and charitable foundation off the field while he was mowing down hitters on it. 

Not only are strong Black women a crucial element of Sabathia's story. Black culture played a big role in the star he became. Baseball fans know all about Sabathia's crooked hat, baggy jersey and the stylish Jordans he used to wear for every start. 

Given he grew up in an era when hip-hop exploded and eventually played where that genre was born, in New York, Sabathia embodied the very person he dreamed of seeing on a baseball diamond growing up in Vallejo, California. 

"I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I grew up with the birth of it. So, I was kinda raised with that genre of music," he explained. 

"Even the way I wore my hat; the way I wore my uniforms; wearing the Jordans; the big, baggy uniform and all those different things. I just wanted to speak to the kid in me. If I saw myself out on the mound when I was 9 years old, I would [say], ‘I want to be like that.’ 

"So, that’s what it was for me when I saw Dave Stewart, when I saw Ricky Henderson, when I saw Dave Parker. The swag that they played with, Ricky popping his collar and all these different things. That’s who I wanted to be. Having a chance to watch Andruw Jones as a teenager. He’s two years older than me, but he was 18 playing in the World Series. I was 16, and I remember looking at my grandmother and being like, ‘I want to be a teenager in the big leagues.’

"All these different inspirations from Black culture, or hip-hop culture, and it just became who I am and who I was. It feels good, and it’s awesome to be that representation and be that guy and have all those connections in that culture and world. It’s a lot of fun."

Sabathia has some time to perfect his speech before he shares it with the world July 27 in Cooperstown. 

While he'll be sure to mention the catchers, coaches and teammates during his time in MLB, he wants to spotlight those who helped him get to that point and had his back every step of the way. 

FIGHTING ALLERGIES WITH XYZAL

During his illustrious career, allergies were always something Sabathia had to worry about. The spring can be difficult with allergies, and Sabathia used to get a shot from his team's medical staff to cope with them. 

Now in retirement, the luxury of a team of doctors and staff is gone, and Sabathia needed to find the right medication to battle those symptoms, especially with golf being his latest sports passion. 

Xyzal, who he is now partnered with, was the perfect remedy. 

"My allergies have been horrible my whole life. When I was a kid, I’d go to school with rolls of toilet paper," he said, laughing. "My allergies were super, super bad. … So … I was just trying to find different stuff. I came across Xyzal and figured out you can take it at night."

Now, Sabathia and his 14-year-old son Carter have made it part of their nightly routine to ensure they can get through baseball season without those pesky allergy symptoms. 

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Brett Ryan Gosselin (BRG) burst onto the Major League Wrestling scene as the flashy up-and-comer who bore a stunning resemblance to Ryan Gosling’s Ken in the film "Barbie."

But over the last year, he’s separated himself from that guy and has found a place in the Rogue Horsemen with Bobby Fish, C.J. and Brock Anderson. It’s the newfound toughness he’s hoping that carries into Battle Riot VII with the Major League Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

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Gosselin was one of the 40 men in a match last year, but he did not come out the winner.

"Last year was a little different," he explained to Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "I was running up by myself. I was pretty much a one-man show back then. This year, I have C.W. Anderson, Brock Anderson and Bobby Fish by my side. So, planning’s been going on for months now for strategy going into the Battle Riot for this year.

"When it comes to gold, BRG is the guy who is always searching for gold. I said at the beginning of 2025 that this is the year for the Rogue Horsemen to become a championship franchise and winning the MLW title would be the best first step into making that a reality."

With his sights on championship gold, Gosselin made clear that all the "Barbie" business is in the rearview mirror, even as Battle Riot VII is set to take place at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California, for its Los Angeles County debut.

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"For people that don’t know, they just assume that Brett Ryan Gosselin is my stage name, it’s my real name. And with that said, a lot of what you see on TV is just naturally me," he explained. "That’s just who I am as a person. I’ve always grown up with my father telling me that it doesn’t matter how you win at the end of the day, as long as you win. History books are going to remember you as a winner and that’s what I focus on.

"When it comes to the ‘Barbie’ stuff, I played into it a little bit during the ‘Barbie’ movie when it was super popular, and obviously Ryan Gosling was Ken in that movie, so I had a little fun with that. But, you know, people can draw those comparisons now, but I think I very much surpassed Ryan Gosling’s popularity from that ‘Barbie’ movie."

Gosselin will be one of 40 men looking to walk out of Long Beach with championship gold.

Matt Riddle is the current champion and looks to defend his title. Bishop Dyer, Donovan Dijak, Tom Lawlor, Jesus Rodriguez, Anthony Green and others will compete as well.

Battle Riot VII takes place on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.

The NFL Draft is around the corner and there are several teams that have major decisions to make in their effort to win now and build toward the future.

The Tennessee Titans will be on the clock once the first round begins on April 24. There are a number of players the Titans could pick who would likely help them out immediately. But the decision will be left up to general manager Mike Borgonzi and his team to do what’s best.

In the meantime, Fox News Digital predicted how the first round of the draft will shake out. Read those predictions below.

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All the smoke and mirrors during the Draft process meant nothing: The Titans and head coach Brian Callahan are getting their hopeful franchise quarterback with the first overall pick.

What the draft process did prove, though, is Ward set himself apart from the competition, mainly Shedeur Sanders, to cement himself as the top selection this year. The Miami product had 4,313 passing yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his 2024 campaign.

It's unlikely Deshaun Watson will be able to suit up next season, and Kenny Pickett may not be the answer to the Browns quarterback woes. But the Browns will go with the prospect who could be the best all-round player in this draft class.

Despite the addition of Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson and veteran signal-caller Jameis Winston, the Giants are still in the hunt for their franchise quarterback. Cam Ward is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft this month, clearing the way for New York to take the Colorado star with the No. 3 pick. 

The ideal scenario for the Patriots is for both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders to go before them, so they have either Carter or Hunter to chose from at No. 4. In our draft, the Patriots got what they wanted and run to the podium to hand the pick of Carter into Roger Goodell’s hands. With the addition of defensive tackle Milton Williams in free agency coupled with the selection of Carter, the Patriots defensive line would be revamped going into Mike Vrabel’s first year as head coach.

If Abdul Carter didn’t exist, Mason Graham would be in the mix for the first defensive player off the board. But with two gone ahead of Jacksonville’s pick, Graham falls to No. 5 in an obvious selection.

Arguably the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is the star splash the Raiders need to get the Las Vegas faithful in the stands. With a dependable veteran quarterback now in place with Geno Smith, Jeanty brings balance to an offense that is attempting to execute a short-term turnaround.

The New York Jets were 11th in the league in sacks last season with Quinnen Williams leading the interior. But the interior isn’t something the team has to really worry about; it’s getting to the edges consistently. New York takes Jaleon Walker here. The 6-foot-2 Georgia standout has a nose for the ball and can only add some significant depth to the Jets’ front four. He had 6.5 sacks and 60 tackles in his final collegiate season.

Carolina needs more playmakers for Bryce Young, so the consensus top receiver in this year’s class comes off the board.

McMillan’s catch radius is insanely impressive, as he’s able to secure the ball no matter where it’s put in his vicinity, no matter who is covering him. But the route tree and technical skills are all there for the man who had 1,319 yards with eight touchdowns on 84 receptions for the Wildcats last year.

The Saints have plenty of options here, but considering they appear to be sticking with Derek Carr in 2025, New Orleans gets one of the top-rated blockers to protect their quarterback.

Tyler Warren has largely emerged as the top tight end in this year’s draft class, and the Bears are hot on him for the 10th overall pick. New head coach Ben Johnson recently called him the "definition of a football player" after a stellar season at Penn State. Warren wrapped up the 2024 season with a school record for tight ends with 153 receptions, 1,839 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. 

George Kittle was fantastic last season with 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games last season. However, the six-time Pro Bowler is 31 years old. With Loveland, the 49ers are securing the future of the tight end position in a post-Kittle world while also giving another weapon for Kyle Shanahan to deploy on offense alongside Kittle next season. If Tyler Warren fell one more pick, he would have been the selection.

Dallas has its choice of the crop here, desperately needing a No. 2 wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. It’s a tough call with lots of options, but we’ll go with the speedy Golden.

With protecting Tua Tagovailoa more important than ever going into next season, Kelvin Banks Jr. bolsters Miami's offensive line with a potential day-1 starter, according to scouts. Banks likely starts out at guard but gives the unit as a whole a dependable, strong and athletic blocker.

George Odum was the first and last time the Colts had an All-Pro safety in their secondary. With Malaki Starks slotted here, Indianapolis is getting a great ball hawk and someone quarterbacks may fear in the future. The former Georgia safety was an All-American in 2023 with three interceptions and 52 tackles. In 2024, he had 77 tackles and one interception. The Colts were 24th in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed last season.

The Falcons could use some more edge rush help, and though there is a stigma about them taking Bulldogs despite being so close to the school, they take one here in Williams.

Williams had five sacks, two passes defended and two forced fumbles. And he secured nine tackles for loss among his 21 on the year.

While Johnson suffered an injury during his final year at Michigan, his upside should be enough to convince the Cardinals to take a shot at bolstering its secondary.

After settling up the offense by locking down Joe Burrow’s two favorite targets – Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase – the Bengals can focus on bolstering up their defense in the draft. At 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is a good start. Campbell led the team last season with 117 tackles and five sacks and received First-Team All-SEC honors.

The Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to replace Geno Smith, traded away wide receiver DK Metcalf and released wide receiver Tyler Lockett. They signed Cooper Kupp to help soften the blow, and with their first-round pick they are going to fortify their offensive line with Simmons. The offensive line, since the days of Russell Wilson, has not been a strong unit. Despite the season-ending injury Simmons suffered at Ohio State, the Seahawks trust that he can be an immediate impact player.

The Bucs’ arguably biggest need is an edge rusher, and thankfully for them, this is a defense-filled class. The Bucs get a good one out of Marshall at 19.

The strength of the Broncos was their defense last year, and they can keep it that way by adding a versatile and athletic linebacker who can bring the boom on all three downs. Ezeiruaku has the skills to rush the passer, chase down runners and even drop into coverage, and he certainly won't have to carry the load on a very deep defense and brings a youthful feistiness that can make it that much stronger.

The Steelers’ quarterback issue is still a mystery just weeks away from the draft. Even as Aaron Rodgers may be in the picture, he will not be the answer for the long term. Jaxson Dart impressed scouts at his pro day and may have done enough to pull a Bo Nix and sneak into the first round. The Ole Miss standout threw for more than 10,000 while with the Rebels.

With J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards both finding new homes, and Najee Harris only joining on a one-year deal, the Chargers are going with the consensus second-best running back on the board in Hampton.

The Tar Heels product is the type of runner Jim Harbaugh loves for his offense: north-to-south, powerful, ability to fight through tackles and pick up positive yardage. He also has the explosive ability – he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash – and jump cuts to make guys miss.

Hampton had his best year in 2024 with 1,660 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns.

The Packers don’t let Grant get past them here. The former Michigan standout would be a big presence on Green Bay’s defensive line.

After making a splash at the NFL Combine, South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori might not be available with the 24th overall pick. But if he is, the Vikings will make their move. A difference-maker with size and speed, Emmanwori led the team last season with 88 tackles and recorded four interceptions with two returned for touchdowns, earning First-Team All-SEC honors.

CJ Stroud was the second-most sacked quarterback in the NFL last season. Despite that, the team traded away five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders and guard Kenyon Green to the Eagles. In need of help on the offensive line, the Texans turn to Jackson to come in as an immediate starter to help upfront.

After bringing in Davante Adams, extending Matthew Stafford and another year of Kyren Williams manning the backfield, the Rams need a guy to keep their weapons moving. So, the Rams get the big man out of Alabama.

Thomas is a project player but has a high ceiling and versatility due to his above-average size for the cornerback position. A switch to safety or even potentially linebacker might be in his future due to lesser speed, but his tackling ability and aggression make him a disruptive force on the Ravens' defense.

Aidan Hutchinson’s injury last season cost him the year and likely altered just how deep the Lions could have gone in the playoffs. At No. 28, Detroit will add depth with Shemar Stewart. The edge rusher has moved up the draft boards since the combine. The Texas A&M standout had 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks and interest is growing.

Washington filled the gap left by Jonathan Allen quickly with the addition of Javon Hargrave. Now they go with some more edge rush help in the Vols product.

Pearce had 19.5 sacks in his three years at Tennessee, while totaling a career-high 38 tackles in 2024, 13 of which were for loss. He is quite explosive at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, running a 4.47 40-yard dash and a 1.56 10-yard split, which is one of the best marks in the class.

The Bills make the surprise pick and take Luther Burden III. Burden could make a play to be WR1 for Josh Allen and an offense that’s in need of a top-flight wide receiver.

The Kansas City Chiefs will look to boost their run game after Isiah Pacheco went down with an injury last season, prompting the team to bring back Kareem Hunt. He re-signed in the offseason, hinting at the Chiefs’ desire to add to the backfield. Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson is a good option after having a 1,000-yard-plus rushing season during the Buckeyes’ national championship run.

The Eagles have the most desirable selection in the NFL Draft – the last one. As reigning Super Bowl champions, the Eagles have seen a lot of players capitalize on their market in free agency and depart in free agency. One of those players was defensive tackle Milton Williams, who had two sacks in Super LIX. By taking Harmon, the Eagles will replace Williams and have another first-round defensive tackle in their rotation alongside Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

Earlier this week, Ja Morant pulled out a gun celebration, and it was reported that he was given a warning by the NBA after an investigation.

Well, he didn't quite get the message, as he did the celebration again on Thursday.

After hitting a three-pointer, Morant motioned his arms to that of a large gun.

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The celebration occurred just over five minutes into the ball game.

Morant's first instance of the celebration this week occurred against the Golden State Warriors. The act saw Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, two Golden State stars, visibly upset on the hardwood, with the latter trying to plead to the referee that something should be done to discipline Morant. 

Morant’s history with gun-related suspensions made the gesture blow up across the basketball world. He was suspended for eight games in March 2023 after brandishing a handgun on social media at the strip club Shotgun Willie’s outside of Denver. 

NIKOLA JOKIC SCORES 61 POINTS IN EPIC PERFORMANCE BUT NUGGETS FALL IN DOUBLE OT: 'THE GUY'S SUPERMAN'

Then, Morant was docked the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season after he flashed a handgun again on a social media live video. 

Ahead of the suspensions, Morant found himself in trouble on more than one occasion, including one incident in which he got into a fight with a then-17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at his own home (it was ruled Morant acted in self-defense). Four days earlier, Morant had allegedly "threatened" the head of security at a Memphis mall, and a member of Morant's group shoved him in the head. 

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.

Fox News' Scott Thompson and Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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A man in Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in jail for scamming millions of dollars from a potential basketball Hall of Famer.

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard testified in court that he gave Calvin Darden Jr. $7 million, thinking it was an investment toward the purchase of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.

Howard, an eight-time All-Star, then learned Darden was not an owner of the team when ESPN reported the team had been sold to an investor group.

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Prosecutors said Darden and a sports agent also conned ex-NBA player Chandler Parsons into sending $1 million that was supposed to aid in the development of James Wiseman, who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

But the two didn't know Wiseman, and the player never agreed to be represented by the agent as they claimed to Parsons. Wiseman last played for the Indiana Pacers before being traded to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him earlier this year.

A Manhattan federal court judge on Thursday ordered Darden to forfeit $8 million and several luxury items he acquired with his ill-gotten gains, including a $3.7 million Atlanta mansion, $600,000 in artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce.

NBA ISSUES WARNING TO JA MORANT AFTER GRIZZLIES STAR'S APPARENT FINGER GUN GESTURE TOWARD WARRIORS: REPORT

Darden was convicted by a jury in October of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering charges.

He was previously sentenced to a year in federal prison in New York for impersonating his father, Cal Darden, a former executive at Atlanta-based United Parcel Service, in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine.

The Atlanta Dream were once co-owned by former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, but she was pressured to sell after clashing with players over her opposition to the league’s racial justice initiatives.

Howard was the first pick of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without star first baseman Freddie Freeman for at least another week due to an unusual injury.

Freeman played in the postseason last fall on a bad right ankle that was surgically repaired shortly after the Dodgers won the World Series.

Freeman injured the ankle again after he slipped and fell in the shower at home.

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"Freak accident, you can't really make it up, crazy," Freeman said earlier this week.

Freeman reinjured the ankle Sunday, which was an off day for LA.

"Halfway through my morning coffee, I was like, 'Oh, I'll just shower to get ready for the day.' And next thing I know I'm down in the bathtub," he said. "It's a great mental picture if you guys want to think about it. Big guy falling all over the place."

Freeman's wife and son couldn't help but make fun of him, the first baseman quipped.

PHILLIES' MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZE

"Chelsea actually made the joke, 'I thought I was going to deal with this when you're 70, not when you're 35,'" Freeman said. 

The bum ankle did not deter Freeman in October. He was named MVP of the World Series, driving in a record-tying 12 runs (in just five games), four of which came on his walk-off grand slam in Game 1. He also had two RBIs in the clincher and hit home runs in each of the first four games of the series.

Freeman was thankful the ankle injury is all he's dealing with.

"It could have been much worse. I could have hit my head," he said.

Freeman has missed five of the Dodgers' eight games, but they are doing just fine without him. They're off to an 8-0 start.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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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."

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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.

PHILLIES' MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZE

"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.

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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."

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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.

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"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.

TRANSGENDER FEMALE FENCER SCORES WORLD TITLE OVER 14-TIME CHAMPION

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." 

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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. 

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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"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."

PHILLIES' MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZE

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 Associated Press contributed to this report.

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T.J. Finley was arrested this week for allegedly possessing stolen property.

The Tulane quarterback told authorities he had just bought a vehicle, but authorities said his license plate was registered to a different one.

As a result of the arrest, Finley was suspended from the team pending the outcome of the case.

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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."

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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 Associated Press contributed to this report.

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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. 

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"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." 

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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.

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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.

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Warriors guard Buddy Hield also received a warning from the NBA.

Warriors star Stephen Curry nearly set the 3-point record as he scored 52 points to help lift Golden State to a 134-125 victory over Memphis.

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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. 

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