The Chicago Cubs dismantled their National League Central rival St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, but the Wrigley crowd still found something to boo.
Of course, it is tradition for a guest to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at Cubs home games – this time, it was Alex Cooper's turn.
Cooper is the host of "Call Her Daddy," the podcast that hit it big on Barstool Sports before heading to Spotify and then SiriusXM.
She's an expert on the mic, but these skills did not translate, and the crowd made it known.
Cooper did say before she began singing that the crowd had "never seen something like this before." She was right.
Cooper was joined by two others in the booth, and the crowd was not impressed. They certainly did their best to put on a show – however, it apparently missed the mark.
The social media reactions were priceless.
"What Alex Cooper did at Wrigley should be studied forever because if you get boo’ed for ANYTHING while the #Cubs are beating the Cardinals by 11 runs you definitely deserved it," one user wrote.
Another even said that it was worse than Roseanne Barr's national anthem performance.
Others weren't much kinder.
Cooper's recent deal with Sirius XM, signed in 2023, was worth $125 million. She recently made shocking headlines when she accused her former Boston University soccer coach, Nancy Feldman, of sexual harassment.
The accusations were made in a Hulu documentary, "Call Her Alex," where she claimed Feldman "fixate on me way more than any other teammate of mine," including touching her leg and asking about her sex life.
The university issued a statement last month, saying it has "zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment."
"We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office," it said in a statement. "We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all."
Nearly 100 BU alumni spoke out in support of Feldman as well, saying that "never felt unsafe."
Former boxing star Julio César Chávez defended his son on Monday following his arrest by U.S. immigration officials outside of his home in Los Angeles last week.
Julio César Chávez Jr. was accused of overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application. Additionally, he has an active warrant for his arrest in Mexico for alleged arms and drug trafficking and possible ties to the Sinaloa cartel.
The elder Chávez spoke to Mexican media about his son.
"It’s complicated, there’s a lot of talk, but we’re calm because we know my son’s innocence," he told El Heraldo newspaper. "My son will be anything you want, anything, but he is not a criminal and less everything he’s being accused of."
An investigation into the younger boxer started in 2019 after a complaint filed by the U.S. against the Sinaloa cartel for organized crime, human trafficking, arms trafficking and drug trafficking, Mexico Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero said on Sunday.
Chávez Jr.’s lawyers requested at least five injunctions in Mexico but they were all rejected because the boxer was in the U.S., Gertz Manero said.
"He knows a lot of people, we live in Culiacan, it would be impossible not to know all of the people that are doing illicit stuff, but that does not mean nothing," Chávez Sr. said. "In my time I met everybody, and they did not come after me."
He vowed that his son will fight the chargers if he his transferred to Mexico.
"Why did they let him fight? My son has been paying taxes in the United States for three years, and now in Mexico they’re accusing him of money laundering," the elder Chávez added. "Yes, he knows those people, but that doesn’t mean I’m a drug trafficker. Let’s trust the law."
A Kansas City radio host and podcaster ripped Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as new photos surfaced of him celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with his wife, Brittany.
Kevin Kietzman, the host of "Uncanceled" on KCMO Talk Radio and the "Kevin Kietzman Has Issues" podcast, suggested that Mahomes gained weight over the offseason and demanded the quarterback "stop the fast food."
"Vacation photos are popping up of Patrick Mahomes, and he's fat. I'm gonna say it, and I'm gonna tell you the truth, that’s why you hit the play button, he's an embarrassment," he said. "You're a $500 million quarterback, you've made all these comments in the offseason that ‘We're gonna do our talking on the field, we got our butts kicked in the Super Bowl, we're coming back with a vengeance.’ Dude, you're fat. Your belly would be fat at my pool, hanging out with us, 60 year olds. My skin is flabbier than yours, I get it. Stop. Stop the fast food. Do a sit-up. Do something.
"Yeah, I'm sure he's worked out and he's strengthened his arm and he's done all kind of different things, quarterback things, but there's no training to this man. I don't understand it. He's not a kid anymore, you can't just run through your NFL career eating Taco Bell all the time and Door Dashing fried chicken, which he loves.… It's time dude. It's time.
"Going to camp and getting in shape is like 1970s baseball – nobody does that anymore. That’s not how it works at the highest level. I only do this as a precaution because I love the guy. He's an enormous talent. But I cannot stand it when I see somebody just sit back on their talent and not be the best that they are."
Mahomes had previously gone viral for having a so-called "dad bod" and even teamed up with Coors Light to lean into that notion.
"I’ll also say I have a great body for a quarterback," he told Time Magazine last year. "You’ve got to have some padding in there to take the hits that we take."
Mahomes is listed at 225 pounds as he gets ready for Year 9.
Kletzman said it "wasn't a weight thing" for him but rather a core issue and implored the quarterbac kto "do some crunches."
A French Olympic fencer’s contaminated kiss defense was enough on Monday for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to clear her of a doping allegation.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) asked for Ysaora Thibus to be banned from competition for four years after she tested positive for the anabolic substance ostarine in January 2024. An International Fencing Tribunal initially cleared Thibus, allowing her to compete in the Paris Olympics.
However, WADA challenged the explanation that Thibus was contaminated "through kissing with her then partner, who had been using a product containing ostarine without her knowledge," the CAS said.
The CAS cleared Thibus after judges accepted that she was contaminated by kisses from her American partner over a period of nine days.
The court said on Monday, "it is scientifically established that the intake of an ostarine dose similar to the dose ingested by Ms Thibus’ then partner would have left sufficient amounts of ostarine in the saliva to contaminate a person through kissing."
CAS judges "accepted that Ms. Thibus’ then-partner was taking ostarine from Jan. 5, 2024, and that there was contamination over nine days with a cumulative effect."
Thibus’ partner at the time was Race Imboden – a two-time Olympic fencing bronze medalist for the U.S.
Thibus finished fifth in the women’s team foil in Paris Olympics and 28th in the women’s individual foil. She was a silver medalist in the women’s team foil event in the Tokyo Games.
She won a world championship in 2022 in individual foil.
Graice Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owners Clark and Tavia Hunt, mourned the loss of a 9-year-old relative who died in the devastating Texas floods over the weekend.
Janie Hunt was one of the dozens of children at Camp Mystic who died in the floods. She was just 9 years old. Gracie Hunt posted a heartbreaking message on Instagram as devastating news continued to pour out of the county where Camp Mystic was.
"Some days, it’s hard to understand how the world can hold both so much beauty and so much pain. How can the same God who created the stars and set the planets in motion allow such deep suffering? The truth is, we live in a broken world – one that groans for redemption," she wrote citing a passage from Romans. "But Scripture promises that one day, Christ will make all things new – a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13).
"My heart aches for our extended family and friends who lost daughters – for every life lost and every family shattered by the floods in Texas. I don’t have easy answers, but I do know this: following Jesus doesn’t spare us from pain – but it means we never face it alone.
"Even in the darkest valleys, we hold on to the hope that this is not the end of the story."
The flash floods killed more than 100 people in the state. In Kerr County, home to youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, officials said on Monday.
Ten girls and a counselor were still unaccounted for at Camp Mystic.
President Donald Trump also told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday that he would likely be visiting Texas on Friday.
"We've been in touch with Gov. Abbott and very close to Gov. Abbott. And, everybody in Texas. Kristi Noem has, as you know, been there and will continue to be there. And we're working very close with representatives from Texas," Trump said.
"And it's a horrible thing that took place. Absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless the state of Texas. This incredible place."
Republican California lawmakers took aim at Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s education department and athletics association after they refused to comply with the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights’ (OCR) resolution agreement after it was found to be in violation of Title IX for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley and state Reps. James Gallagher and Kate Sanchez released statements after Education Secretary Linda McMahon made known that the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) dismissed the Trump administration’s demands.
"California’s blatant disregard for the safety and civil rights of young women and girls is shameful," Kiley said in a statement. "The state’s political leaders are willing to forfeit federal funding in order to maintain the deeply unfair policy of allowing biological males to compete in women's sports. This is a clear violation of federal law and common sense.
"As Chair of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee, I will use every tool of oversight available to hold the state’s politicians accountable, protect our student-athletes, and restore integrity to female athletics."
Gallagher said the issue of having trans athletes in girls’ sports boiled down to fairness.
"California continues to push the dangerous insanity of letting men compete in women’s sports," he said. "This is about fairness, safety, and the rule of law. Superintendent (Tony) Thurmond and Governor Newsom are jeopardizing school sports programs across the state, all to appease a radical agenda and advance their political careers."
Sanchez added, "Newsom’s department of education is blatantly violating Title IX" and was "doubling down."
"They refuse to protect girls’ sports for biological girls. It’s a shocking civil rights violation that could cost California billions in federal education funding."
Fox News Digital reached out to the California Department of Education for comment.
McMahon shared CDE general counsel Len Garfinkel’s letter to OCR regional director Bradley R. Burke on Monday.
"The California Department of Education (CDE) received the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR’s) June 25, 2025 Letter of Finding and Proposed Resolution Agreement in the above-referenced OCR matter," the letter read.
"The CDE respectfully disagrees with OCR’s analysis, and it will not sign the Proposed Resolution Agreement."
McMahon also shared the CIF’s response from its general counsel, Diane Marshall-Freeman.
"The office of the General Counsel for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is in receipt of your letter, dated June 25, 2025, directed to Dr. Ronald W. Nocetti, the Executive Director of the CIF," Marshall-Freeman wrote. "I write in response to your request that the CIF inform you ‘in writing by 12:00 p.m. non, eastern time, July 7, 2025,’ as to whether the CIF will sign the United States Department of Education’s, Office for Civil Rights’ ('OCR') proposed resolution agreement in the above-entitled matter.
"In reply to your request, please be advised that the CIF concurs with the response of the California Department of Education ("CDE") submitted to your office earlier today, July 7, 2025. I have attached a copy of the CDE’s response for your references. Consequently, the CIF will not be signing the proposed resolution agreement."
"California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women's sports," she wrote on X. "Turns out Gov. Newsom’s acknowledgment that ‘it’s an issue of fairness’ was empty political grandstanding.
"@CAgovernor, you'll be hearing from @AGPamBondi."
The OCR announced late last month that the CIF and the CDE were in violation of Title IX.
The announcement came weeks after transgender high school track and field athlete AB Hernandez won medals in girls' competitions during the California state championships. The transgender athlete’s participation in the events sparked nationwide outrage, specifically from President Donald Trump after he signed the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order, which prohibits transgender athletes from competing against biological girls and women in sports.
The Education Department said the CIF and the CDE had 10 days to agree to the agency’s proposed resolution agreement, part of which stated, "to each female to whom an individual recognition is restored, CDE will send a personalized letter to that girl or woman apologizing on behalf of the state of California for allowing her educational experience to be marred by sex discrimination."
Additionally, "The CDE will issue a Notice to all recipients of federal funding (Recipients) that operate interscholastic athletic programs in California requiring them to comply with Title IX. This will specify that Title IX and its implementing regulations forbids schools from allowing males from participating in female sports and from occupying female intimate facilities, and that Recipients must adopt biology-based definitions of the words ‘male’ and ‘female.’
"The CDE and CIF will rescind any guidance that advised local school districts or CIF members to permit male athletes to participate in women’s and girls sports to reflect that Title IX preempts state law when state law conflicts with Title IX.
"The CDE will require each Recipient and CIF to submit to CDE an annual certification that the Recipient and CIF have complied with Title IX. Accordingly, CDE will also propose to OCR a Monitoring Plan to ensure that Recipients are fully complying with Title IX."
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
The Chicago White Sox were in mourning on Monday night, as they played their first home game since the death of former pitcher Bobby Jenks, who died at 44 years old after battling cancer.
The team, wearing a No. 45 patch on their jerseys to commemorate Jenks, held a moment of silence after showing a tribute video to those in the stands on Monday night at Rate Field.
The No. 45 patches will be worn for the remainder of the 2025 season.
It was a somber moment, but an expected one to honor Jenks following news of his death over the weekend.
Jenks announced in February that he was dealing with Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. He was in a hospital bed when he made the announcement to MLB.com after moving to Portugal to be closer to his wife’s family.
"We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today," White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
"None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts."
While Jenks did not divulge his situation other than the diagnosis, he did say he hoped to be a part of the White Sox’s 20th anniversary celebration of their 2005 World Series victory. That will be this Friday when Chicago takes on the Cleveland Guardians.
Jenks played seven seasons in MLB, six of which with the White Sox. He had great success when he debuted with them in 2005, earning a 2.75 ERA over 32 games while striking out 11.4 batters per nine innings.
Due to his consistency on the mound, Jenks would end up being the closer through the team’s World Series run that season, and he pitched in all four games as the White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win it all.
Jenks went on to earn back-to-back All-Star bids in 2006 and 2007, while finishing his career with a 3.53 ERA. The other team he played for was the Boston Red Sox before retiring after the 2011 season.
Jenks also battled with alcoholism and drug addiction, which effectively ended his career before becoming sober in 2012.
Jenks is survived by his wife and six children, four of whom were from a previous marriage.
Caitlin Clark’s presence on the Indiana Fever led to opposing teams changing venues to a larger seating capacity to host thousands more fans than usual for games.
But this year’s first-round pick, Dallas Wings All-Star guard Paige Bueckers, makes the draw even bigger on Aug. 1 when these teams are set to face off in Dallas.
The American Airlines Center, home to the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NHL’s Dallas Stars, will be the site for Fever-Wings on that date as it’s expected to fit around 20,000 spectators.
It was a high-scoring bout, where the Fever came away with the victory on the road, 94-86. Clark, who was dealing with an injury, didn’t play in the game, but Bueckers led her team with 27 points and six assists in the loss.
For Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell exploded for 32 points, seven assists and three rebounds, while Alyiah Boston added 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win.
Clark’s status now remains uncertain, as she’s missed the last five contests with a groin injury. She also dealt with a left quad strain earlier this season, which also led to five missed games.
Clark has played just nine games this year, averaging 18.2 points, five rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. The Fever have been able to keep strong during her absences, owning a 9-9 overall record, which puts them third in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Wings didn’t get the resurgence they thought would come by adding Bueckers and others this offseason. They own the worst record in the Western Conference at 6-13 on the year.
But Bueckers has been showing out in her rookie season, averaging 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists, as she earned what should be the first of many All-Star nods.
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese added to the chorus of complaints about WNBA officials following the team’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.
Reese notched 16 points and 17 rebounds in 37 minutes of play for Chicago. But she lamented the free-throw disparity between the two teams. Chicago only shot eight free throws compared to Minnesota’s 17 attempts.
Reese herself only shot two free throws. She averaged about 4.4 attempts per game.
"It's tough when you talk to officials, and I asked them, 'Hey, we've only been to the free throw line twice up until the fourth quarter,' and she tells me it's not her job," the second-year Sky forward said, via ESPN. "So it's frustrating because I know how hard we are battling inside, and I think that we came down and fought as hard as we could with what we had, and I just know we continue to grow in this.
"I think this is a leaping step for us, and obviously we know we can compete with the best, but [the officiating] has to be fixed. And I don't give a damn if I get fined because that s--- is cheap, and I'm tired of this s---. (Because) I've been nice, and I've been humble with it, but I am tired of this s---."
WNBA officiating has been under fire from players during the season.
It came to a head during the Indiana Fever’s game against the Connecticut Sun earlier this season when chippy-play turned into a skirmish at the end.
Reese also got entangled with Caitlin Clark during the season. She has been on the receiving end of 55 personal fouls this year.
While Tom Thibodeau has not spoken since the New York Knicks relieved him of his head coaching duties, one of his former players revealed what he’s thinking after speaking with him.
Derrick Rose, the former Knicks star who played for Thibodeau for years, called it "crazy" to see New York move on from the longtime head coach.
"I talked to Thibs after that. He’s good," Rose said during a NASCAR press conference, where he was serving as grand marshal in Chicago.
The Knicks still must pay Thibodeau, as a buyout was a part of his deal he signed before the start of last season.
"You can’t be mad when you’re walking away with $30 million," Rose added. "So, can’t feel too sorry for him. But he’s in good spirits. Yeah, that’s my guy. We locked in till the end. But he’s good. Jalen [Brunson] is still in New York. He’s gonna be ballin’. Everybody wins, I feel like."
It’s unknown if Thibodeau is looking to coach anywhere this season, though the Knicks found his replacement. Mike Brown will be the team’s new head coach.
Thibodeau’s tenure in New York lasted five seasons, during which he led his squad to the playoffs four times.
The most recent run was to the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers — the same team that defeated them in the second round the year prior.
Rose joined Thibodeau when he began his time with the Knicks during the 2020-21 campaign. The former Chicago Bulls MVP played three seasons with Thibodeau in New York, as well as with the Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Thibodeau’s Knicks consistently got better by the season, but his minutes usage of his stars, especially Jalen Brunson, was criticized by many.
It made sense in playoff situations, but his starters would run up high minutes totals during regular-season games as well.
In turn, Sinner is heading to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
During a serve, Dimitrov immediately fell on the grass court in pain, grabbing at his right pec. Trainers sprinted out to help him, and it appeared all Dimitrov could do was laugh in the moment, knowing his potential upset was chalked.
Still, Dimitrov’s status was up in the air as he left the court for a medical timeout. However, when he returned to the court, he shook Sinner’s hand to say that he couldn’t continue.
The serve was the set-tying point, as Dimitrov won the fourth game of the third set.
The Centre Court crowd gave Dimitrov a loud ovation despite the circumstances, while he packed his bag to leave the match and the tournament.
"I don’t take this as a win at all," Sinner said after the match, showing respect to Dimitrov in the process.
"I don't know what to say. He is an incredible player. I think we all saw this today. He's been so unlucky in the past couple of years."
Dimitrov was playing well at Wimbledon, where he was hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2014 — his deepest run in the tournament to date.
But injury has been an issue for Dimitrov, especially in Grand Slams. This is the fifth straight tournament he has been forced to retire, most recently occurring in the French Open due to a thigh ailment in the first round.
In 2024, he left the fourth round with an abductor tear during his match against Daniil Medvedev.
Despite not accepting it as a win, Sinner will have to prepare for his quarterfinals matchup with American phenom Ben Shelton, the No. 10 seed of the tournament. Shelton defeated Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 7-5 on Monday.
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s struggles led to some trash talk by a New York Mets fan on Sunday afternoon in Queens.
Volpe’s father, Michael, was in earshot, and he made sure the heckler was addressed.
Before the signing of "God Bless America" at Citi Field during the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Mets on Sunday, Michael was caught on video exploding on a Mets fan in between innings.
The video showed what appeared to be his daughter Olivia trying to hold him back, but whatever the Mets fan said sent him over the edge. The expletive-laden retort from Michael showed he wasn’t happy at all with it.
"Bad mouthing my son. F--- you. F--- you," he shouted back at the Mets fan."
The Mets fan was seen standing up and pointing in Michael’s direction while others stood for the patriotic song.
It’s been a rough go for Volpe of late on the field, as he went 1-of-11 in the Yankees-Mets series. His lone hit was a home run on Saturday, when the Mets won 12-6 to take the series at home after winning the first game on Friday night.
The season has been a rollercoaster for Volpe, who is slashing .219/.296/.398 with 10 homers and 48 RBI over 89 games thus far. He is also third among MLB shortstops in errors this year with 11.
And one stat Yankees fans have been pointing at recently is Volpe leading MLB in runners left on base while at bat (176), meaning he hasn’t been able to get hits to bring players around the bases to score.
More stats show why that is the case this year, as Volpe is hitting just 1.96 (20-for-102) with runners in scoring position this season. He has had ample opportunities given his usual, middle-of-the-pack position in the Yankees’ lineup each night.
There is still an entire second half of the MLB season for Volpe to turn things around, but while Yankees fans have been vocal about their displeasure with his play of late, an opposing fan apparently took things too far to the point where his father did not want to hear it.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is fully embracing the challenges of a new season following a devastating Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mahomes and the Chiefs will have a new-look offense with hopes that Travis Kelce could tap into his younger self and turn back the clock to help the team back to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs star opened up about his offseason with Kay Adams on Monday and talked about picking the brain of NFL legend Tom Brady. He said Brady offered him some sage advice.
"He always talks about being yourself," Mahomes said on the "Up & Adams Show." "He thinks that, and which I truly believe it too, guys can spot when you are not authentic and not putting in the work. That is something he did every single day. That is why guys respected him so much.
"That’s all I am going to do for the rest of my career and I felt like I have done so far. I am always myself no matter if you like me or don’t like me, you know. I am giving everything I can to win the football games."
Mahomes had 3,928 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes as Kansas City went 15-2 in 2024. But the pressure to make another run to the Super Bowl will be even higher.
For the Chiefs to have another successful season, Mahomes said the key was to have "fun again."
"I think it is just us having fun again. I mean it has always been fun playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. That is what makes it special. I feel like last year, I don’t want to say it was pressure, but guys wanted to go out there and win every single week and not for the fun of the game just cause we were supposed to.
"Let’s go out there and have fun. The wins will come if we play the way we know we can play. We have the talent. We have the coaches. We work harder than anyone in the NFL, so let’s go out there and have fun and let the results handle themselves."
Fox News’ Connor McGahan contributed to this report.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon told California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday that he will be hearing from Attorney General Pam Bondi after the state was found to be in violation of Title IX.
The California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rejected the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) proposed resolution agreement following transgender athlete controversies in high school athletics over the course of the school year.
Linda McMahon shared CDE general counsel Len Garfinkel’s letter to OCR regional director Bradley R. Burke on Monday.
"The California Department of Education (CDE) received the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR’s) June 25, 2025 Letter of Finding and Proposed Resolution Agreement in the above-referenced OCR matter," the letter read.
"The CDE respectfully disagrees with OCR’s analysis, and it will not sign the Proposed Resolution Agreement."
McMahon also shared the CIF’s response from its general counsel, Diane Marshall-Freeman.
"The office of the General Counsel for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is in receipt of your letter, dated June 25, 2025, directed to Dr. Ronald W. Nocetti, the Executive Director of the CIF," Marshall-Freeman wrote. "I write in response to your request that the CIF in form you ‘in writing by 12:00 p.m. non, eastern time, July 7, 2025,’ as to whether the CIF will sign the United States Department of Education’s, Office for Civil Rights’ ('OCR') proposed resolution agreement in the above-entitled matter.
"In reply to your request, please be advised that the CIF concurs with the response of the California Department of Education ("CDE") submitted to your office earlier today, July 7, 2025. I have attached a copy of the CDE’s response for your references. Consequently, the CIF will not be signing the proposed resolution agreement."
"California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women's sports," she wrote on X. "Turns out Gov. Newsom’s acknowledgment that ‘it’s an issue of fairness’ was empty political grandstanding.
"@CAgovernor, you'll be hearing from @AGPamBondi."
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced late last month that the CIF and the CDE were in violation of Title IX.
The announcement came weeks after transgender high school track and field athlete AB Hernandez won medals in girls competitions during the California state championships. The transgender athlete’s participation in the events sparked nationwide outrage, specifically from President Donald Trump after he signed the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order, which prohibits transgender athletes from competing against biological girls and women in sports.
The Education Department said the CIF and the CDE had 10 days to agree to the agency’s proposed resolution agreement, part of which stated, "to each female to whom an individual recognition is restored, CDE will send a personalized letter to that girl or woman apologizing on behalf of the state of California for allowing her educational experience to be marred by sex discrimination."
Additionally, "The CDE will issue a Notice to all recipients of federal funding (Recipients) that operate interscholastic athletic programs in California requiring them to comply with Title IX. This will specify that Title IX and its implementing regulations forbids schools from allowing males from participating in female sports and from occupying female intimate facilities, and that Recipients must adopt biology-based definitions of the words ‘male’ and ‘female.’
"The CDE and CIF will rescind any guidance that advised local school districts or CIF members to permit male athletes to participate in women’s and girls sports to reflect that Title IX preempts state law when state law conflicts with Title IX.
"The CDE will require each Recipient and CIF to submit to CDE an annual certification that the Recipient and CIF have complied with Title IX. Accordingly, CDE will also propose to OCR a Monitoring Plan to ensure that Recipients are fully complying with Title IX."
Newsom’s office responded to the initial announcement, brushing off the Trump administration’s threats to defund California.
"The young man who's about to win the state championship in the long jump in female sports, that shouldn't happen," Kirk said. "You, as the governor, should step out and say no. Would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports?"
"I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair," Newsom told Kirk. "I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you."
Kirk pressed Newsom on whether he would condemn the athlete in question from Jurupa Valley High School after the athlete won another event at the time. Newsom did not directly address the win but said "it’s a fairness issue."
"So, that's easy to call out the unfairness of that," he said. "There's also humility and grace. … These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression. And the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.
"So, both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think, you know, is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue?"
Newsom further explained his point of view in a press conference on April 2 when asked whether there should be a law to prohibit males from competing in girls and women’s sports.
"And I'm about as transparent about this as anybody out there, particularly in my party, on this, and to the extent someone can and do it in a way that's respectful and responsible and could find a kind of balance, then I'm open to that discussion. ... You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time.
"And this, I think, has been colored in and weaponized by the right to be 10 times, 100 times bigger than it is, and so my focus is on a myriad of other issues in this state. And to the extent that someone could find that right balance, I would embrace those conversations and the dignity that hopefully presents themselves in that conversation, meaning the humanity around that conversation, not the politics around that conversation."
Tyrese Haliburton’s NBA playoffs journey came to the worst of endings in Game 7, and the Indiana Pacers confirmed what was expected heading into the 2025-26 season.
Kevin Pritchard, president of basketball operations, confirmed on Monday that Haliburton will be out the entire next NBA campaign after tearing his Achilles.
The Pacers do not want to "jeopardize" any further injury to Haliburton, their All-Star point guard. So, recovery will be lengthy to ensure he is 100% before returning to the court.
"I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever," Pritchard told reporters, via WISH-TV. "… He will not play next year, though. We would not jeopardize that now."
This isn’t unexpected news for Haliburton after going down in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the eventual winners of the NBA Finals in a hard-fought series by the Pacers.
Achilles tears generally take up to a year to recover from, though some athletes have returned to their respective sports sooner.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, for instance, was back on the field for his new squad 11 months after his injury. And though he never got back on the field, Aaron Rodgers believed he would’ve been able to play for the New York Jets just months after his own tear in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
However, football and basketball are very different sports, and the Pacers won’t be risking anything with Haliburton, even if they were to make another Finals run in 2026.
Haliburton signed a five-year, max extension with Indiana in 2023, marking him as one of their cornerstone pieces to build around for years to come. That move made tons of sense given what Haliburton was able to do for the Pacers during the regular season, and especially, the postseason.
Haliburton’s heroics throughout this year’s NBA Playoffs were mind-boggling to say the least, as he came through with clutch shot after shot as Indiana won the Eastern Conference.
But, of course, Haliburton wasn’t thinking about anything that got the Pacers all the way to Game 7 of the Finals after suffering his injury. He hoped his team could finish the job without him, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. won it all in the end.
"Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense," Haliburton wrote on X more than 24 hours after the game.
"Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I’m going to ‘come back stronger’. What a cliche lol, this s--- sucks. My foot feels like dead weight fam. But what’s hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this s--- out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry.
"At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player. And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special."
Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game for the Pacers in 2024-25.
Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. competed for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic in 2023, and the Americans nearly won the tournament but lost to Japan.
It was Witt’s first time representing the U.S. on the World Baseball Classic stage. He had already helped Team USA win gold in the 2018 Pan American Baseball Confederation (now known as WBSC Americas) tournament.
It meant a lot to Witt to play with the red, white and blue on his chest.
"It was special, it was an honor," he told Mookie Betts on the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s "On Base" podcast. "Just being able to do that and be around you guys, see what it is like to be around the stars of the game and just how they work, how they talk about the game in the cage.
"It is just, like, I felt like I was just, I was there but it was just like, I felt like I was a part of it because of how you guys treated me, and treated the other guys in there, and the biggest thing kind of I took away from it was everyone just wanted to win, and it was what can they do to win, and it is like, very selfless guys and then just that clubhouse, all All-Stars, a bunch of guys with World Series rings. So, it was really cool just to see how those guys work and there is a reason why they are studs how they are."
Witt appeared in five games in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and had a hit in two at-bats.
As of Monday, the infielder the American League MVP runner-up was leading the majors in doubles (30) and hitting .292 with a .837 OPS and 12 home runs.
Fox News Connor McGahan contributed to this report.
Kenny Pickett’s time as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t last long.
The 2022 first-round pick spent two seasons with the Steelers. He was 14-10 as a starter and had 4,474 passing yards, 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 25 total games.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw criticized the Steelers on Monday for not doing enough to put a team around Pickett as the organization is set to transition to a new starting quarterback for the 2025 season in Aaron Rodgers.
"Steelers getting rid of Kenny Pickett," he said last week in a Q&A on the "To The Point Home Services Podcast." "A first-rounder, got rid of him after two years. And they're still looking for a quarterback. They didn't even do anything to build around him."
Bradshaw added that he always believed first-round quarterbacks were going to be successful as long as the right roster is built around them. He cited Baker Mayfield’s success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sam Darnold’s success with the Minnesota Vikings before he joined the Seattle Seahawks.
Pittsburgh missed the playoffs in 2022 and made it in 2023. George Pickens broke out as a 1,000-yard receiver while Najee Harris rushed for 1,035 yards. But Pickett and the Steelers split before the 2024 season.
Pickett became the backup for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and was on the roster when the team won the Super Bowl. He joined the Cleveland Browns this offseason and will vie for the starting quarterback job there.
Bradshaw torched the Steelers in May before the team signed Rodgers. He called the possibility a "joke."
"I liked Kenny Pickett. I liked him at Pitt. I know him, I know what he’s like. And when they got him to Pittsburgh, here’s what they didn’t do," Bradshaw said on an Arkansas radio show. "They didn’t protect him... they didn’t get him an offensive line. They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect, and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of.
"And then they throw a kid in there for two years, and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run-blocking team. And therefore they say Pickett was a failure. He wasn’t a failure, the Steelers were a failure."
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was taken off of the field in an ambulance during Sunday’s match against the Columbus Crew after a scary collision.
In the midst of a 1-1 match, Frei jumped to make a play on a free kick. As he came down, his head collided with the knee of a Crew player. Frei dropped to the ground and players around him signaled for help immediately.
He was alert as he left the field, Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. He was being evaluated for head and neck injuries.
"His fingers were moving, so he was OK in that regard. No paralysis, nothing major, but obviously I don't want to downplay it," Schmetzer said.
Schmetzer and Crew coach Wilfried Nancy appealed to the referees to stop the match. He applauded Nancy for getting the ofiicials to call the match even as Columbus was awarded a corner kick in the final moments.
The goalkeeper wrote on social media on Monday that he was back home.
"Still trying to figure out what happened at the end of the game," Frei wrote on X, "but I’m incredibly grateful to all the staff that looked after me and happy to be back home resting now.
"What resonates is all the messages, calls, and love I’ve received from so many of you."
Frei, 39, was born in Switzerland but moved to the U.S. when he was a teenager. He played college soccer at Cal.
He’s been with the Sounders since 2014 and was on their MLS Cup-winning squads in 2016 and 2019. He was the 2016 MLS Cup MVP and an All-Star in 2017.
He was with Toronto FC from 2009 to 2013 before joining Seattle.
The MLS veteran has appeared in 425 matches, starting in 424 of them. He’s played in 343 matches for the Sounders. The team said he made his 1,000th regular-season save in the match against the Crew and only former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando has more with a single team with 1,128.
Jake Paul's business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that lawyers are "actively" pursuing legal action against Piers Morgan for saying Paul's fights are "staged."
The co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions said in a recent X post that Morgan can "count on" Bidarian suing the talk show host.
"BREAKING: I had a better fight with Jake Paul on Thursday than the unwatchable farce that took place tonight," Morgan posted to X on Sunday, referencing his interview with Paul days before he fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. "The guy’s lining his pockets with buckets of $$$$ – but he’s killing boxing with this boring staged bulls--- against older fighters way past their prime."
Bidarian replied to Morgan, saying that his "baseless and irresponsible."
"It’s one thing to say ‘you’re not a good boxer.’ It’s another thing to say ‘you fight older guys.’ But when you say the fights are staged, AKA rigged, then you’re defaming us," Bidarian told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "You are destructing value for his brand, for MVP’s brand and what we stand for, which is integrity of sport.
"You're actually attacking the California State Athletic Commission who oversaw this event. Then you’re saying we’re risking going to federal prison for putting on staged events. So enough is enough, we’ve been patient for a long time, and now it’s time people either retract and admit they were wrong or go through with legal action."
"Every single Jake Paul fight has been sanctioned by an athletic commission," Bidarian added. "Every single Jake Paul Fight has had sports betting available on it. Every single Jake Paul fight has been with a large media partner. For someone to say that any of Jake's fights are anything other than professionally sanctioned fights with clear rules, is ridiculous."
The calls about rigged fights grew loud after Paul fought Mike Tyson – at the time, Bidarian made the same claim to Fox News Digital in that it was all legitimate.
Paul said on X that he "asked my team to vigorously go after anyone who makes up lies about my boxing career."
After defeating Chavez, Paul was ranked 14th in the WBA cruiserweight rankings, making him eligible for a title bout. Bidarian said he expects such a bout to occur in "2026 or 2027."
Paul improved to 12-1 in his career with the victory.
Pro wrestling legend Kevin Nash revealed last week he didn’t celebrate the Independence Day holiday because "we’re not the home of the free."
Nash appeared to respond to the backlash he received for a post about Congress passing the "big, beautiful bill." President Donald Trump signed the bill on July 4. The bill includes key provisions that would permanently establish individual and business tax breaks included in Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and incorporate new tax deductions to cut duties on tips and overtime pay.
Trump said the bill would "fuel massive economic growth" and "lift up the hard-working citizens who make this country run."
Nash was among the critics.
"Happy 4 more trillion in debt day," he wrote on X. "Never felt this proud as we continue to destroy the empathy we once held for those less fortunate. So I guess Happy wealthy white 1% day. Enjoy your small regional hospitals while you can. Things just continue to get greater. Happy 4th...."
After bantering with other social media users about his take, Nash wrote he was happy to block some people.
"Was enjoyable to flush the white trash out today to block and remove them at least on this site," he wrote. "I didn't celebrate the 4th this year because I personally feel we're not the home of the free. We lose constitutional rights daily. If you're a bigot please unfollow me. Peace out."
Nash, 65, was a full-time pro wrestler from 1990 to about the mid 2010s and made an indelible mark on the industry as a member of the New World Order faction in World Championship Wrestling. He also was a top star in WWE and Total Nonstop Action (TNA).
He is a two-time inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame.
