"Stopping while driving," Watson responded. "My biggest thing is keep going, get to where I need to get. There are stores and a lot of temptations. That’s helped me immensely. Don’t go inside the gas station. Pay at the pump. Because, inside, it’s snacks and all types of things like that. Don’t pull over. If you’re on the highway, stay on the highway until you get where you’ve got to go."
Watson turned heads when he walked onto campus in Gainesville at 385 pounds in 2021. Four years later, he’s about 80 pounds heavier than the current heaviest player in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens lineman Daniel Faalele, who was listed at 380 pounds last season.
Weight loss has been something brought up with the Gators’ program, but Watson has continued to gain it since stepping foot on campus.
"It’s been like my same problem — not problem — but my same concern throughout college," he said. "I’m getting more in-depth, getting a better grasp of the things I need to do to be successful at the next level. It’s been interesting. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this process."
Watson said people in his life have taught him to treat his eating habits like "another addiction."
And he knows just how serious it can get.
"It’s not drugs, but it’s addicting, whether that’s gaming, drugs, alcohol. I think this is my vice. I’m just trying to get a hold of it. Just like drugs can kill you, this can do the same thing. I’m trying to change my life."
While Watson’s weight may be a cause of concern for NFL teams, the potential is certainly there for the Gators' defensive tackle who benched 225 pounds 36 times. It would’ve been the highest total of reps at the NFL Scouting Combine if Watson had been invited.
Instead, he showcased his power and other skills to NFL teams at Florida’s Pro Day, which included a 25-inch vertical leap and a 5.93-second 40-yard dash.
If he is drafted, Watson is expected to go in the later rounds in Green Bay.
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison is still weathering the storm caused by fans’ backlash over the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
That trade hasn’t looked good for the Mavericks since it went down in the late hours on Feb. 1, as they barely hung on to a Play-In Tournament seed (No. 10), where they will face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday after finishing 39-43 during the regular season.
But despite the outrage from the fan base, as well as the 13-20 record since trading Doncic, Harrison said "no regrets" have come about making the deal with the Lakers.
Harrison spoke to media members on Tuesday, alongside Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, where only Dallas-based reporters were present to ask questions.
"There’s no regrets on the trade," Harrison said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future, and some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular.
Harrison also continued his stance that "defense wins championships," which is what he said when acquiring All-Star center Anthony Davis, the highlight of the Lakers’ package for Doncic.
"But our philosophy, like I said, going forward is defense wins championships, and we’re built on defense," Harrison explained, via ESPN. "And this trade cements us for that."
Davis, though, has played only nine games in a Mavericks uniform since being traded, as he suffered a left abductor injury during his team debut. Also, Kyrie Irving, the dynamic point guard who worked alongside Doncic well on their way to the NBA Finals last season, suffered a torn ACL after the trade, creating a massive loss in the starting five.
The Doncic deal surprised quite literally the entire basketball world, but Harrison was very secretive about dealing with the Lakers because he said, "You can’t shop your best player."
"It’s not responsible because a trade might not work," Harrison said, per The Athletic. "And then they have to ultimately play under the scrutiny of being shopped."
The deal wasn’t something fans wanted to see, and they’ve let it be known by having a "funeral" with a casket and all outside American Airlines Center in Dallas, the home of the Mavericks, while there have been consistent "Fire Nico" chants at home games with the team struggling.
It got to its loudest when Doncic returned to Dallas in a Lakers uniform on April 10, and he proceeded to drop 45 points in the 112-97 victory for his new team.
MacMahon reports that the team is "projected to lose dozens of millions" in this season alone, as Mavs fans refuse to show up for games, while merchandise sales are down and even sponsors have split from the organization.
"Well, the beauty of Dallas is it is a passionate fan base," Harrison added. "For us to reach out goals, we need that fan base.
"And to be honest with you, every trade I’ve ever made since I’ve been here has not been regarded as a good trade, and so sometimes it takes time. When I traded for Kyrie, it was met with a lot of skepticism, and it was graded as a terrible trade, and you didn’t see it right away, but eventually everyone agreed that that was a great trade."
Harrison is hoping time is more gracious with the Mavericks with this deal, one that sent the face of the franchise out west.
The Lakers have gone 22-13 since the Doncic trade.
Sean Higgins, the man charged in the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, will stand trial this summer on the original charges in his indictment after a New Jersey judge denied his defense attorney's contention that the brothers' own drinking contributed to their deaths.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio made his ruling in court Tuesday after nearly two hours of arguments, ultimately deciding all charges against Higgins would be upheld.
"There’s no credence in the argument there was contributory negligence on the part of the cyclists," Silvanio said.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Mestern added during the hearing the defense’s argument was "a reach to say the least."
According to court records, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau both had a blood-alcohol level of .129 or above when they were riding their bicycles along the side of a road Aug. 29 on the eve of their sister's wedding.
They were killed when Higgins allegedly struck them with his vehicle while attempting to pass a vehicle on the right side. But witness testimony supported that the brothers were not riding the bicycles recklessly.
"There are four witnesses that witnessed the defendant speeding and illegally passing the Bronco on the right when he struck the brothers. The witnesses also saw the brothers riding single file, with the flow of traffic, on the fog line just prior to being struck by the defendant," Mestern wrote in a memo this month.
Higgins’ blood-alcohol level was .087, which is over the .080 legal limit in New Jersey.
He was charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident. He also admitted to police that he had been drinking that day, including while he was driving.
Higgins’ attorneys said the motion was not to place blame on the brothers and argued that the grand jury did not hear all the facts before it approved charges.
Higgins pleaded not guilty in January and could face up to 70 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. He is due back in court June 10.
It's been just a couple of years since Arch Manning was arguably the most highly sought-after high school recruit in the nation. He ultimately decided to take his potential and high-profile last name to Austin.
When Quinn Ewers declared for the NFL Draft, it opened the door for Manning to become the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in 2025.
During Manning's time on the bench, the young quarterback faced questions about whether he would leave Texas for another program that would give him an opportunity to play right away.
Manning recently spoke to the media ahead of his first anticipated season as the Longhorns full-time starter.
"It was tough. I mean, it’s tough in this age," Manning, 19, noted when he spoke about waiting his turn, according to The Athletic. "Sometimes it’s worth the wait."
Manning then doubled down on his commitment to the Longhorns and said he hopes to remain in Austin for the foreseeable future.
"But I hope it pays off. There’s nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I’ve got friends here. I love this place. So, I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas."
Arch is the son of Cooper Manning. His grandfather, Archie Manning, was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame shortly after he retired from the NFL. Archie spent more than a decade as the Saints' quarterback. Arch is also the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.
The younger Manning will now be tasked with leading Texas to a national championship, something the program hasn't achieved since 2005.
Manning appeared in 10 games last season, including two he started in place of an injured Ewers. The young quarterback finished the 2024 season with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Texas defeated Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff, before a thrilling overtime victory over Arizona State in the quarterfinal. The eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated the Longhorns from playoff contention in January.
Texas opens the 2025 season against the Buckeyes in Columbus Aug. 30.
According to a recent report by The Athletic, citing emails obtained through an open records request, Belichick emailed school officials showing his concern about potentially being called a "predator" online. Belichick is currently dating 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who is also included in emails with the university.
"Is there anyone monitoring the UNC Football page for slanderous commentary and subsequently deleting it / blocking users that are harassing BB in the comments?" Hudson reportedly asked on Feb. 13.
Belichick reportedly followed up the next day, "I cannot believe that UNC would support my being called a ‘predator.'"
Robbi Pickeral Evans, UNC senior associate athletic director for external affairs and strategic communications, replied that the social media team hides or erases comments about personal life.
"UNC would NEVER support," Evans reportedly said in her reply.
Hudson also reportedly expressed concerns about fans calling out "nepotism," given that Belichick's son, Steve, is the team's defensive coordinator.
The two were linked romantically last year and have recently "discussed marriage," according to Page Six. Belichick, 72, and Hudson, 24, met on a flight headed to Boston in 2021 and apparently hit it off.
The two were first publicly linked last year, three years after meeting on the flight. They apparently got more serious after his breakup with Linda Holliday in 2022.
At the NFL Honors, Belichick wore all eight of his Super Bowl rings, including the pair he won with the New York Giants as their defensive coordinator. Hudson wore a national championship ring she won for cheerleading in 2021.
The New York Yankees will remain committed to pushing diversity and inclusion within the organization, despite national rollbacks of DEI, including in MLB, an official said Tuesday.
"We are continually working with the members of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and are actively engaged with our neighbors and community partners," senior vice president of corporate and community relations Brian Smith told the New York Daily News on Jackie Robinson Day.
"Our dedication towards these efforts remains unchanged, and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee continues to do its work."
The Yankees originally revealed the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee in February 2021. The announcement of that committee said the initiative was in response to "recent, senseless tragedies in communities throughout our nation," less than a year after the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
MLB removed "diversity" references from its careers page back in March. However, the careers page still includes a reference to inclusion and images of gay pride flags.
President Donald Trump has made rolling back DEI in the public and private sector an early priority of his term. One of Trump's day one executive orders commanded the Office of Federal Contract Compliance to "immediately cease" promoting "diversity" and any encouragement of federal contractors and subcontractors to engage in affirmative action-like efforts that consider race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion or national origin when making hiring decisions.
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced changes in February to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) meant to align with the president's executive order aimed at restoring meritocracy and ending discrimination in the public and private sectors.
However, the Yankees believe their commitment to diversity and inclusion aligns with Trump's values on the issue.
"Our commitment remains consistent. We have been committed to driving access in our neighboring communities, and we remain committed to driving access in our neighboring communities," Smith said.
"We think President Trump would be pleased with our work because it creates the exact kind of opportunities that he focused on when he created an Opportunities Zone in the South Bronx in his first term."
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016, which resulted in over 400 assisted hires.
In October 2023, a federal civil rights complaint was filed against MLB for racially discriminatory programs by the nonprofit conservative public interest organization America First Legal, alongside the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The complaint claimed MLB’s official website presents at least four unlawful employment and contracting programs, citing the MLB Diversity Pipeline Program, the Diversity Fellowship Program, the Diversity in Ticket Sales Training Program and the Diverse Business Partners Program.
After an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, last month, Manfred announced MLB was evaluating the interpretation of federal law.
"Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged. But another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is," Manfred said. "There seems to be an evolution going on here. We’re following that very carefully.
"Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we’ll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we’re also consistent with what the law requires."
Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith is "sick" of watching his Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl drought.
The Philadelphia Eagles winning two Super Bowls, including February's, only adds to the frustration.
"I’m sick of it," Smith told Sports Radio 94WIP. "We have allowed others to nitpick at the star and make fun of the star, and that’s what happens. Now, all of a sudden, over the last 20 years, [Eagles] win two Super Bowls, and they think they’re the best thing on the planet. And everywhere I go, I hear ‘Go Birds.’
"I’m sick of hearing ‘Go Birds.’ I’m always asking, ‘Where are you going?’ You still got a long way to go to get to us."
Smith was talking about the five Super Bowl titles Dallas has in its trophy case, three of which they won in 1993, 1994 and 1996 while Smith was leading the Cowboys’ backfield.
It is true the Cowboys have more titles than the Eagles, who have two. But those two have come in the last seven years. The Eagles won their first in 2018 before defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
The Eagles are primed to have another great season, assuming they shore up a couple holes on defense. Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown lead a potent offense.
But Smith feels like three decades of not making it back to the NFC championship, let alone the Super Bowl, used to be unthinkable.
"That part bugs me," he said of Eagles fans taunting him about the Cowboys’ drought. "It bugs me because in my heart I truly believe our organization should be contending for an NFC championship and even a Super Bowl at least once or twice every decade because every team recycles every decade.
"For us not to be there over the last 30 years is a crying shame."
The Cowboys looked like a team destined to make a playoff run during three straight 12-5 seasons from 2021-23. However, Dak Prescott & Co. lost two wild-card games in 2021 and 2023, and they fell in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.
The Cowboys have not made it past the divisional round since they won it all in 1996, a season in which Dallas went 12-4 and Smith rushed for 1,204 yards with 12 touchdowns.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been adamant in saying he'll do whatever he can to make the roster or coaching staff better. But he has been criticized this offseason for his hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s new head coach after letting Mike McCarthy go.
McCarthy had led the Cowboys since the 2020 campaign. But after a 7-10 season in which Prescott's campaign ended early due to a hamstring injury, they parted ways.
The Cowboys haven’t been too aggressive in free agency, and all eyes will be on the 2025 NFL Draft next week when they pick 12th overall in the first round.
The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, of course, has become notorious for hitting long homers during some inopportune times.
It all started when he went deep during an apology from Thom Brennaman about using a homophobic slur on the air. Since then, he's gone deep on the anniversary of Sept. 11, the day Willie Mays died, the day President Donald Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, and hours after former president Joe Biden announced he would drop out of the election.
It actually got to a point where Castellanos was approached about a potential documentary on the matter, but it was quickly nixed.
In any case, Monday night marked the 113th anniversary of the Titanic wreck in the Atlantic, and Castellanos came through.
In the bottom of the fifth, trailing by three to the red-hot San Francisco Giants, Castellanos took a pitch deep to left-center to make it a 6-4 ballgame in Philly.
The announcers used it to their advantage.
"He did not hang one to Bryce Harper, but he did hang one to Nick Castellanos. And Nick did exactly what you are supposed to do with it. Especially the way that he’s been swinging the bat. That is a Titanic blast… Too much?" McCarthy's partner, Ruben Amaro Jr., said on the telecast.
This is hardly the first awkward moment caused by Castellanos since the Brenneman incident. He's gone deep during some somber discussions in the booth, including when announcers were discussing former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel's stroke, when an opposing team's broadcast was talking about a coach's DUI arrest, and when McCarthy was paying tribute to those lost in war during a Memorial Day broadcast.
The Castellanos homer was all that Philly would get for the rest of the night, though, as San Fran would tack on four more runs to take a 10-4 victory.
Ed McCaffrey wants the world to know his family is still loyal to Taylor Swift after his wife briefly boycotted her music more than a year ago.
Ahead of the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl LVIII matchup against Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs last February, Lisa McCaffrey, mother of 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey, announced she wouldn't be listening to Swift's music in the weeks leading up to the game.
"I refuse to listen to Taylor Swift songs for the next couple days," Lisa said on her Olivia Culpo’s podcast, "Your Mom," last February.
"I love her, I love the relationship, but we are boycotting any T. Swift songs," the mother added. "If she pops up on the radio station… nope. She’s dead to us this week."
The 49ers went on to lose that Super Bowl in a 25-22 overtime heartbreaker, as Swift celebrated with Kelce on the field while Christian had to accept defeat.
Still, the McCaffrey family has remained Swift fans after the loss.
Ed, father of Christian and husband to Lisa, proved this loyalty in an interview with Fox News Digital. During the video interview, Ed took the camera to the family's living room to show off a Taylor Swift wall decoration.
"In terms of being a fan of Taylor Swift, that is in our house," Ed said of the decoration. "My wife Lisa has probably been one of the biggest Taylor Swift fans despite the fact that she's dating Travis Kelce… and obviously the 49ers had to play them in the Super Bowl, Lisa is an incredible fan, she's such a phenomenal artist.
Ed insisted that there are "no issues" between the McCaffrey family and Swift, despite Lisa's widely publicized comments last year.
"I don't know why that was such a big deal back then… I don't even remember what it was about," Ed said. "Just to put that matter to rest, we were fans long before she was dating Travis Kelce, and I don't even remember what happened with the Super Bowl, but there are certainly no issues here in the McCaffrey family."
But while Swift may still have the affection of the McCaffrey family, other fans across the NFL may have grown sour of the pop star's ascendent presence within the sport over the last two seasons.
When Swift attended the Chiefs' most recent Super Bowl appearance against the Philadelphia Eagles this February, she was brutally booed by fans in attendance when she was shown on the jumbotron during the game. The Chiefs went on to lose the game 40-22.
President Donald Trump, who was also in attendance at the game, took the opportunity to mock Swift on Truth Social after the game.
"The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!" Trump wrote.
Jordan Spieth was not only just letting it fly on the golf course at Augusta National this weekend, but at the podium too.
Spieth, 31, said he dealt with mud balls during his second and third rounds, and claimed that the organizers of the Masters don’t like the mud balls being discussed publicly.
"My iron play killed me the last two days and, to be brutally honest with you, it was primarily mud balls," Spieth said, via the New York Post after his round on Saturday.
"It’s just so frustrating because you can’t talk about them here. You’re not supposed to talk about them."
"Mud balls can affect this tournament significantly, especially when you get them a lot on 11 and 13. They’re just daggers on those two holes."
Spieth had varied results on the 11th and 13th holes. Spieth birdied the 11th hole in the first round and then shot par on the first part of Amen Corner over the next three rounds.
On the 13th hole, Spieth bogeyed the hole in the first and second rounds but birdied the hole in the third and fourth rounds.
Augusta National is already enough of a difficult course to play with a good lie. Add in the wrinkle of a mud ball, and iron shots on the famed course have another added degree of difficulty.
"There’s like less (mud balls) than normal, but I still had them today on those holes. I had them (Friday) on those holes," Spieth said. "It’s something to pay attention to for sure for leader groups, because you just have to play so far away from trouble or lay up when you’d normally go for it, just random stuff, because it will affect it significantly. And if you’re on the wrong side of the hole, you’re either in the water or you almost can’t make par depending on what hole it is."
"Look, it’s mowed into the grain. The ball is digging in on every shot. A lot of times you have it on 75% of your drives."
Fox News Digital reached out to Augusta National for comment, but did not get an immediate response.
The 2015 Masters champion made his 12th career start at this year’s Masters and finished in a tie for 14th place as he was 3-under par for the tournament.
Spieth barely made the cut on Friday, as he was 2-over-par after two rounds and just under the cutline, but he turned it around by going 5-under over the weekend.
Rory McIlroy won the Masters and completed the grand slam after he defeated Justin Rose in a playoff.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
It is a "difficult time" of "grieving, shock, and disbelief" in the LSU locker room this week, head coach Brian Kelly said on Tuesday as the Tigers mourn the loss of wide receiver Kyren Lacy.
Lacy, who was likely set to be an NFL Draft selection later this month, was found dead with a "self-inflicted gunshot wound" after a police chase in Texas on Saturday night, authorities said. He was 24.
Kelly told reporters on Tuesday after the team's spring practice that they have brought in the university's professional counseling team to assist those in the locker room who need it.
"Certainly, I think everybody on our team has, in some way, had a relationship at different levels with Kyren. Everybody's gonna deal with it differently. First, understanding that there's not one way that you're supposed to feel," Kelly said. "We lean heavily on our professional counseling department. Having that resource here allows for them to seek out that one-on-one kind of conversation that some may need. You want to provide the opportunity for your players to have those resources if in fact they do need them."
Kelly spoke highly of his former receiver, whom he called a "bright star."
"He had an incredible personality. I'll remember him as somebody that had a love for the game, a love for being a Tiger, and was a guy that played with great emotion. When you think of Kyren, you're gonna smile most of the time because of the way he handled himself. He was a guy full of energy, and I think a lot of his teammates will remember him that way, as well."
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a call about a man, identified as Lacy, who was arguing with a family member when he shot a gun into the ground, according to FOX 26 Houston. Officials learned Lacy had fled the scene and launched a search after him.
Officials said deputies tried to make a traffic stop on Lacy, but he led them on a car chase that went on for miles. Lacy then crashed his vehicle in Spring, according to authorities.
Responding deputies removed Lacy from the vehicle to take him into custody, but he was found with a "self-inflicted gunshot wound" and was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.
The wide receiver was under investigation in Louisiana in connection with a crash in December that left a 78-year-old man dead, officials said in January.
Lacy transferred to LSU in 2022. He had his best season in 2024 when he had 58 catches for 866 yards and nine touchdowns.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DOGE subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday announced a hearing addressing USA Fencing's gender eligibility policies that allow biological male transgender athletes to compete in the women's category.
The hearing is scheduled for May 7.
The announcement comes weeks after women's fencer Stephanie Turner was punished for kneeling in protest of a trans competitor in a widely publicized incident.
Turner has been invited to the hearing along with Damien Lehfeldt, board chair of USA Fencing, to testify.
"Women’s sports are for women only. Radical leftists pushing to let biological men compete against women are destroying fair competition and putting female athletes in physical danger. Stephanie Turner had the courage to call out this insanity, and she’s a hero to women across America," Greene said in the announcement.
"USA Fencing must be held accountable for demeaning women and denying them of the chance to succeed in their own sport. It is out of compliance with President Trump’s executive order and it should not be recognized as the National Governing Body for fencing if it continues to defy the law."
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced Friday a newly formed Title IX investigations team will be probing the incident involving Turner and trans competitor Redmond Sullivan.
"USA Fencing will respond and cooperate to any inquiry as required by law," the statement said.
The incident involving Turner quickly drew national attention after a video of her taking a knee to protest Sullivan went viral. The footage ignited widespread awareness and backlash against USA Fencing's gender eligibility policies.
Turner told Fox News Digital she decided to take a knee the night before the event when she checked the competition pools and saw she would be competing against Sullivan.
"I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, ‘OK, let’s do it. I'm going to take the knee,'" Turner said. "I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women's objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy]."
USA Fencing previously 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.
A USA Fencing spokesperson also told Fox News Digital Turner was not penalized for her stance against trans inclusion. She was penalized for refusing to compete.
"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.
USA Fencing then addressed the controversy with a public statement 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 safe communities where all athletes, and community members, have a place," the statement said.
"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 during the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy. It later 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.
In December, the nonprofit Fair Fencing Organization penned an open letter to USA Fencing board members, urging the reevaluation of its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion.
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 with a global controversy after Turner's viral protest.
Travis Hunter has a message for NFL teams who would only want him to play on one side of the ball, whether that be cornerback or wide receiver.
Hunter, 21, won the Heisman Trophy after he dominated the competition as both a wide receiver and cornerback. When asked if an NFL team were to tell him he could only play one position, Hunter said he would rather not play at all.
"It's never playing football again," Hunter told CBS Sports last week. "Because I've been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it."
Hunter excelled as a two-way player last season while playing an exceptionally high number of snaps for Colorado. Last season, Hunter played 713 snaps on offense and 748 snaps on defense and was still incredibly productive despite the enormous amount of snaps.
Hunter had 96 catches for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver, while he had 35 tackles with four interceptions, 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble as a cornerback.
The top NFL Draft prospect told CBS Sports that no team has asked him to only play one-way, but if a team decides to ask him to play one-way in the future, they already have their answer.
The Tennessee Titans seem locked in on taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, which would leave the Cleveland Browns with a chance to select Hunter, star pass rusher Abdul Carter, or Hunter’s college teammate Shedeur Sanders.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke about what position he views Hunter as at the NFL Combine in February.
"In terms of Travis Hunter, cornerback or receiver, the answer is 'yes.' He can play both, and I think that's what makes him special. But we would see him as a receiver primarily first. But I think what makes him a bit of a unicorn is that he can do both at a high level."
If Hunter dominates both sides of the ball like he did at the college level, the NFL team that drafts him will be very happy.
A school district in Maine is moving to comply with the current federal definition of Title IX and ban biological male trans athletes from girls' sports, while the state government fights to enable trans inclusion.
The MSAD #70 School Board voted unanimously on Monday night to comply with Title IX, "recognizing only two sexes - biological male and biological female and that all private spaces be separated by biological sex."
MSAD #70 superintendent Tyler Putnam told Fox News Digital that, due to this vote, he is now directed to amend the district's policies to prevent trans athletes from competing in girls' sports.
"The motion directs me to rewrite our policies to adhere to the motion. It is my interpretation that the school board will be looking to approve policies that align biological sex to their specific athletic teams too i.e. biological males will be playing with only other biological males and same for biological females. These policies will need to be approved by the policy committee and the board once rewritten," Putnam said.
MSAD #70 is based in Hodgdon in Aroostook County. It is the northernmost county in the state and voted for President Donald Trump by a margin of 18% in the November election. The county also voted for two Republican state senators and seven Republican state House representatives.
Now, the county's school district will be siding with Trump and its Republican lawmakers in the ongoing battle over trans athlete inclusion in girls' sports.
Putnam told Fox News Digital that the district has had no communication with state authorities, including the attorney general, the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) or the Maine Principal's Association (MPA) about the recent vote.
"We have not had communication over this specific motion. Our board, similar to many people in Maine, have been following the back and forth communication between the federal government and the state. We are hoping for both sides to work together to help support local school districts like ourselves," Putnam said.
"With the rising educational costs, this is a time we need to work with each other and not against. The board and our staff's No. 1 priority is to provide our students with an education that will positively impact their future in our great state and country. I am proud to work for and be from our small community in Hodgdon, Maine. My hope is that all of our students will benefit from the leadership decisions that are made at the local, state and national level."
Maine state Rep. Tracy Quint, one of the Republicans who represents Aroostook County, praised MSAD #70 for its vote.
"I’m encouraged to see our local Maine community standing up for our students by upholding Title IX protections. Ensuring fairness, safety and privacy for every student should always come before politics. I urge other school districts across the state to follow this example and prioritize the well-being of all their students," Quint told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Maine Attorney General's Office and Gov. Janet Mills' office for comment.
The state is currently facing immense federal pressure to comply with Trump's February executive order to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports, but has firmly defied the order under Mills' leadership.
Maine has been referred to the Department of Justice twice over the last month, and faces a federal funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Maine officials filed a lawsuit against the USDA last Monday in response to the agency’s decision to freeze funding.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the USDA "must immediately unfreeze and release to the state of Maine any federal funding that they have frozen or failed or refused to pay because of the state of Maine's alleged failure to comply with the requirements of Title IX."
The state's divide on trans inclusion was then brought to light when Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby identified a trans athlete in a social media post who won a girls' pole vault competition for Greely High School in February.
Libby was censured for her social media post on the premise she identified a minor by name and with a photo. However, Libby has since filed a lawsuit to have the censure overturned, arguing the trans athlete had already been identified by other media prior to her post. The lawsuit has gone to trial in a Rhode Island district court.
In addition to the incident involving the pole vaulter at Greely High School, other instances have affected multiple girls across the state who have had to compete with and share locker rooms with biological males.
Maine teen Cassidy Carlisle told Fox News Digital about how she had to share a locker room with a trans student while in middle school. She then had to compete with another trans athlete in Nordic skiing last year.
"The defeat that comes with that in that moment is heartbreaking," Carlisle said. "I'm just in shock in a way. I didn't believe it.… I didn't think it was happening to me."
A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it’s "only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women."
The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participationinwomen’s and girls' sports tobiological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.
Bryson DeChambeau was paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round of the Masters on Sunday, but the two apparently didn’t exchange any words during the tense day that saw both golfers struggle until the end.
Speaking to the media after shooting a 75 and finishing the tournament 7 under, the LIV Golf star revealed that he didn't speak once with McIlroy during the final pairing.
"No idea," DeChambeau said of how McIlroy was after the round. "Didn’t talk to me once all day."
DeChambeau said he enjoyed the excitement of the day, but said his partner appeared zoned in.
"He was just like ‘eh.’ Just being focused I guess. That’s not me, though."
DeChambeau later said when asked if he tried to initiate conversation with McIlroy that "He wouldn’t talk to me."
Despite a blunder-filled day, McIlroy completed the career slam with his first win at Augusta National after defeating Justin Rose in a one hole playoff on 18 after Rose missed a 15-foot putt for birdie.
DeChambeau shared in the shock on McIlroy’s biggest blunder of the day on 13 when McIlroy missed his mark by 20 yards on his second shot. The ball disappeared into Rae's Creek and led to a double bogey.
"I wanted to cry for him. As a professional, you just know to hit it in the middle of the green, and I can’t believe he went for it, or must have just flared it,’’ he said. "I’ve hit bad shots in my career, too, and it happens. When you’re trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta, the Masters, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right."
It wasn’t pretty, but McIlroy joined rare company with his win at Augusta, becoming just the sixth golfer in history to win all four majors.
"There were points in my career where I didn’t know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders. But I didn’t make it easy today. I certainly didn’t make it easy. I was nervous," McIlroy said.
"It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the golf course."
Atlanta Braves TV reporter Wiley Ballard’s interaction with two female fans while on-air sparked a journalism debate on social media on Monday night and into Tuesday.
The Braves were in the midst of an 8-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays when the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast cut to Ballard, who was talking to two women at the rooftop lounge at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Neither woman appeared to have hopes for the Braves.
Ballard was on-air when he said the broadcast booth wanted him to get their numbers.
"I’m dead serious, they’re saying in my ear right now … She doesn’t believe me because she thinks you guys are making this up." Ballard said. "I’m gonna use that in the future that’s actually a pretty good move.
"I should’ve thought of this years ago."
One woman seemingly put her phone number into Ballard’s phone. The other woman did not appear to follow suit.
WWE’s WrestleMania is the biggest spectacle in sports and it has only gotten bigger as the company’s reach has grown exorbitantly over the last two decades.
Saturday night will be the start of WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with sold-out crowds expected to flock the home of the Las Vegas Raiders both nights. Not to mention the city itself turning to a haven of pro wrestling throughout the entire week leading up to the event.
If there’s one thing fans can bet on, it’s that celebrities and famous athletes of all kinds will be in town for the event. "Monday Night Raw’s" first episode on Netflix in January was a good indication of who will be at WrestleMania as Travis Scott, Vanessa Hudgens, Macaulay Culkin and Danielle Fishel were just some of the celebrities who appeared in the crowd.
Sports fans who don’t usually follow pro wrestling may not know that WrestleMania has featured celebrities and athletes since the event’s inception in 1985.
Read below for a list of celebrities you may not have known participated at WrestleMania.
Cyndi Lauper was having all the fun in the 1980s, and she ingrained herself in the pro wrestling world after her hit song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" debuted in 1983. She appeared at the very first WrestleMania as Wendi Richter’s manager. Richter went on to defeat Leilani Kai for the then-World Wrestling Federation Women’s Championship.
Muhammad Ali was a bad man during the height of his boxing career and even made an impact on pro wrestling. He got into a confrontation with Gorilla Monsoon in 1976 and then reappeared for WrestleMania I as a special guest referee for Hulk Hogan’s tag-team match with Mr. T against Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. Hogan and Mr. T won the match, helping catapult pro wrestling to new heights.
NFL players have a history of making appearances at WrestleMania. William "The Refrigerator" Perry was at WrestleMania 2 in Chicago and took part in the WWF vs. NFL Battle Royal. He was among the last NFL players eliminated in the competition, which was won by Andre the Giants. Jimbo Covert, Ernie Holmes, Harvey Martin, Bill Fralic and Russ Francis also participated on the NFL’s side.
Alice Cooper rocked the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit for WrestleMania III as he escorted Jake "The Snake" Roberts to the ring for his match against The Honky Tonk Man. The Honky Tonk Man won the match, but it was the start of Roberts gaining favor with fans.
New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor had a major role in WrestleMania than just participating in a battle royal. He went 1-on-1 in the main event of WrestleMania XI in 1995, going head-to-head against Bam Bam Bigelow. Taylor was praised for his performance as he defeated Bigelow.
Regis Philbin served as a guest commentator at WrestleMania VII with late "Jeopardy" host as the in-ring announcer for the main event. Hulk Hogan defeated Sgt. Slaughter to win the WWF Championship.
Mike Tyson was the baddest man on the planet in the 1990s and his celebrity took him through a storyline involving "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels in 1998. Tyson had been partnered with Michaels and Paul "Triple H" Levesque in the D-Generation X stable. He was named as the special enforcer for Austin and Michaels’ match at WrestleMania XIV. He ended up turning on Michaels and helping Austin win the WWF Championship.
Before he was president, Donald Trump had a huge storyline in WWE that tied into his popularity from "The Apprentice." He was in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23 against Vince McMahon and backed Bobby Lashley in a match against McMahon’s competitor Umaga. If Lashley lost the match, McMahon would have had to shave Trump’s hair and vice versa. Lashley won and Trump helped Steve Austin shave McMahon’s hair. Trump is a WWE Hall of Famer.
The legendary West Coast rapper has appeared at multiple WrestleMania events during his career. He was the master of ceremonies for WrestleMania XXIV for a tag-team match between Maria and Ashley Massaro and Beth Phoenix and Melina. He accompanied Sasha Banks to the ring for WrestleMania 32 and was thrust into an impromptu match against The Miz at WrestleMania 39.
Kim Kardashian was the hostess for WrestleMania XXIV in 2008 as her popularity in pop culture soared.
Reality TV star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi took the world by storm as one of the key members of the hit show "Jersey Shore." She competed at WrestleMania XXVII in 2011 as part of a mixed six-person tag-team match. The team of "Snooki," John Morrison and Trish Stratus defeated Dolph Ziggler, Michelle McCool and Layla.
New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski made an appearance at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 to help his friend Mojo Rawley win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He was the host of WrestleMania 36 in 2020 and won the WWE 24/7 Championship.
Comedian Johnny Knoxville had a rivalry with Sami Zayn in 2022, and it culminated in a match at WrestleMania 38. He defeated Zayn in an Anything Goes Match with the help of the "Jackass" crew.
The second night of WrestleMania 41 will certainly be one to remember with Cody Rhodes and John Cena headlining the main event that pro wrestling fans will be talking about the entire week, but it is far from the only match on the card on the second night of the biggest spectacle in sports.
The second night will feature at least six matches with five champions defending their titles in either singles or tag-team competitions. There are two multi-person matches and a street fight set for the bright lights in the city of sin.
Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 will take place at Allegiant Stadium at 7 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. It is the second WrestleMania to take place in the Las Vegas area and the first since WrestleMania IX in 1993.
U.S. fans will be able to watch on Peacock and international fans on Netflix.
Read below for a preview of the second night.
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Iyo Sky lost the WWE Women’s World Championship at last year’s WrestleMania to Bayley, and it took her nearly a year to get back into the title picture.
After Rhea Ripley cost Sky a chance at being in the women’s Elimination Chamber, she offered Sky a title shot weeks before WrestleMania. Ripley was distracted by the women’s chamber winner Bianca Belair sitting at ringside and lost her focus. Sky capitalized and stunned Ripley to win the championship.
The WWE Universe thought it would be Sky and Belair at WrestleMania, but Ripely found a way into the match and instead it being one-on-one, it became a triple threat. Ripley was disqualified in her rematch against Sky but made herself a force to be reckoned with over the last few weeks to insert herself back into the title picture.
Ripley will look to win her third consecutive WrestleMania match and fourth straight match involving a singles title. Belair has had success in title matches at WrestleMania – winning or retaining the women’s title three times.
The match between Logan Paul and A.J. Styles has been a recent addition to the WrestleMania card. Styles headlined the first premium live event after WrestleMania 40 with a title match against Rhodes at Backlash. However, he has only had a few televised matches since then, apart from an appearance in NOAH over the summer.
Styles reappeared at the Royal Rumble but was ousted, and he defeated "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio on Raw back in February. Paul has been a thorn in Styles’ side since the Royal Rumble.
Paul missed his own chance to get a marquee matchup at WrestleMania, losing out in the Royal Rumble and in the Elimination Chamber. "The Maverick" has been known to create viral WrestleMania moments and is poised to do it one more time.
Liv Morgan’s 2024-25 has been eventful to say the least. She was able to hold the Women’s World Championship for months before she lost it to Rhea Ripley at the beginning of January. She and Raquel Rodriguez then entered the tag-team scene and won the titles from Belair and Naomi in February.
Since then, Morgan and Rodriguez have been on top of the world. Morgan even scored a key win over Jade Cargill at the end of March on "Fright Night SmackDown."
At WrestleMania, the champs will have new challenges in Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. The newly formed tag team won a gauntlet match to become the No. 1 contenders for the title. It came after Bayley fell short of Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Bron Breakker has been on an absolute tear since he was called up to the main roster this year. He won the Intercontinental Championship from Jey Uso in October and has not lost it since. However, WrestleMania 41 poses a formidable challenge since he does not have to be pinned to lose it.
Penta, Mysterio and Finn Balor will all participate the fatal four-way match.
Penta joined WWE in January and has become one of the most electrifying performers in recent memory. His lucha libre-style of wrestling has delighted the WWE Universe and has helped him become a contender for the title.
Mysterio and Balor are the two leaders of a crumbling Judgment Day faction. Mysterio has drawn a ton of heat since he joined Judgment Day, but his on-screen partner Liv Morgan has helped Mysterio go through some changes since he dumped Ripley at SummerSlam.
Balor was once a WWE world champion and could revive his standing on the roster with Breakker’s title. Balor has tons of experience when it comes to championship matches but has not won a match at WrestleMania since WrestleMania 35 in 2019.
The match between Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre appeared to be about a year in the making.
McIntyre won the World Heavyweight Championship in an epic match with Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 last year. McIntyre celebrated in front of an injured CM Punk, who was on commentary as he was injured. However, his celebration did not last long.
Punk proceeded to beatdown and embarrass McIntyre, leading to Priest cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and winning the title from McIntyre.
Since then, McIntyre has been on a revenge tour. He had three hellacious matches against Punk in the summer. Priest moved from the Raw brand to SmackDown, and since then, the gloves have been off between the two competitors.
Priest slammed McIntyre threw a car windshield, which appeared to legitimately injure McIntyre’s eye. The feud was at a fever pitch, and Nick Aldis announced the two would finish it off in Las Vegas at WrestleMania 41.
On the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania, their match was announced as a Sin City Street Fight. McIntyre ripped off his eyepatch and vowed to leave Priest helpless. He nearly did that by giving him a Future Shock DDT on the steel steps.
Rhodes and Cena have turned a mutual admiration for each other into a bitter feud that started at the Elimination Chamber premium live event when Cena sided with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and beat Rhodes down with some help from rapper Travis Scott of all people.
Since then, the two have traded plenty of barbs with each other over the last few weeks. It ended in London when Cena tried to go for a cheap shot on Rhodes. "The America Nightmare" turned it around on Cena and hit him with the Cross Rhodes.
Rhodes told Fox News Digital that this matchup against Cena feels like it was the "first-time ever" for him.
"So, now, looking at the matchup, that’s why I say it feels like a first-time-ever for me, because early in my career, I hadn’t found my footing. I didn’t know who I was," he said. "And now, especially judging from these past several interactions in the ring, I feel like we do know who each other are now.
"I couldn’t have put it in my wildest dreams that this would be a WrestleMania headline match and main event, especially under the circumstances it’s come under. But that’s the beautiful thing about pro wrestling; it’s too tough to call."
The first night of WrestleMania 41 will set the tone for how the weekend will go and the card unveiled one of the final "Friday Night SmackDown" episodes before the major event.
The biggest spectacle in sports will feature at least seven matches with six champions defending their titles in either singles or tag-team matches. But fans will be interested in the crescendo as Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins battle it out to end one of the biggest feuds on either Raw or SmackDown roster right now.
Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 will take place at Allegiant Stadium at 7 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. It’s the second WrestleMania to take place in the Las Vegas area and the first since WrestleMania IX in 1993.
U.S. fans will be able to watch on Peacock and international fans on Netflix.
Tiffany Stratton has had an impressive few months since her call up to the main WWE roster. She won the Money in the Bank ladder match and cashed in on her former partner Nia Jax to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
But the upstart wrestler is poised to run into one of the biggest challenges of her young career – go after a legendary competitor in Charlotte Flair.
Flair came back from a devastating knee injury to win the women’s Royal Rumble. She chose to challenge Stratton in pursuit of a 15th women’s championship. While Flair seemingly had the upper hand over her new rival at the start of the feud, Stratton came back at her with fiery words as the two got personal in one of their more interesting altercations yet.
On the penultimate "Friday Night SmackDown," Flair attacked Stratton in the parking lot as a revenge measure.
Flair has the experience and the accolades going into the match but Stratton has been known to pick herself up by her bootstraps and overcome the odds.
Jey Uso has emerged as one of the most popular superstars on the WWE roster since defeating his brother, Jimmy, in a grudge match at last year’s WrestleMania. Fans have gotten behind his "yeet movement" to help propel him to become the No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. It all culminated in a surprise Royal Rumble win back in February.
But Uso chose to go the more difficult route – trying to excise some demons and finally defeat Gunther for the title. Uso has not had much luck so far. Gunther defeated Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event in January and on an episode of "Monday Night Raw" in May of last year.
Gunther upped the ante when he delivered a bloody beatdown of Jimmy Uso in a match in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. But Jey Uso made clear he’s no longer afraid of Gunther and is ready to bring the fight in Las Vegas.
The match between Jade Cargill and Naomi could potentially steal the show.
There is an intensity between the two competitors that may only be matched by the five wrestlers who will be the marquee main events for WrestleMania 41.
The feud started when Cargill was mysteriously attacked and tossed onto a car. For weeks, Naomi and Belair tried to find out who the attacker was. At the time, Belair and Cargill were women’s tag-team champions and Naomi was tapped to fill in for Cargill.
SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis suggested Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez could be the ones to blame for the assault.
As the women’s Elimination Chamber was set to take place, Cargill came out after all the contestants entered the ring. Cargill looked at Morgan and then attacked Naomi in front of her tag-team partner. Naomi has since copped to the assault and the match was made.
Erik and Ivar have been on a tear since they returned to the ring following their significant injuries. In December, the team claimed tag-team gold when they defeated Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the tiles. They have successfully defended their titles four times since then.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have talked the talk since their separation from Big E, forming the current New Day tag team fans see now. Kingston and Woods have not earned the respect of fans but could do so by the end of their WrestleMania match.
The New Day will get a second crack at the War Raiders for the titles.
LA Knight enters WrestleMania 41 as the United States champion but he faces a huge uphill battle with Jacob Fatu. Knight might have the game in his hand as one of the more popular champions on the SmackDown roster.
Fatu has shown to be a different beast. He’s cut down almost every monster he’s come across since he came to WWE. He’s proven that he can go toe-to-toe with anyone who steps in the ring with him and bring a path of destruction.
But between the two wrestlers, Knight is the one with WrestleMania experience. He defeated A.J. Styles in his first WrestleMania match last year. It propelled him on a course for the United States Championship. Fatu has yet to appear at a WrestleMania.
It’ll be the first matchup between the two wrestlers.
Rey Mysterio is one of the legends on the roster and over the last few months he’s been in feuds with his son, the Judgment Day, Santos Escobar and now El Grande Americano.
El Grande Americano burst onto the scene after Chad Gable took time off in an angle to learn the ways of Lucha Libre. Soon after, El Grande Americano burst onto the scene. He’s been a rival of Dragon Lee in recent weeks but he used his loaded mask to headbutt Mysterio during one of the recent matches between the Latino World Order and American Made.
Mysterio requested a match with El Grande Americano and Raw general manager Adam Pearce.
Bad blood and a long history between these three rivals will be in the spotlight at WrestleMania 41.
As mentioned before, the three competitors have a history dating back to the days Reigns and Rollins were in The Shield faction. Punk was dropping "pipe bombs" on WWE management at that time. A lot has changed since then.
Punk returned at Survivor Series 2023 – much to the surprise of the pro wrestling world and the entire Chicago crown. Rollins was noticeably irate and he reignited his perceived hatred for Punk right then and there. The two verbally sparred for months as Punk needed to recover from a triceps injury during the 2024 Royal Rumble. Once he recovered, Punk started a feud with Drew McIntyre before returning to focus on Rollins.
What upset Rollins even further was Punk helping Reigns during the WarGames match at the 2024 Survivor Series. Rollins’ anger toward Reigns grew it and it all came to a head at the Royal Rumble in February when the three competitors were eliminated one-by-one. Rollins gave a stomp to Reigns and Punk. Reigns returned in March to interfere in a cage match between Rollins and Punk. It kickstarted where the storyline is now.
There is one added bonus. Reigns’ longtime wiseman, Paul Heyman, owed Punk a favor for helping Reigns defeat the rest of the Bloodline at Survivor Series. In return, Heyman told Reigns he would be in Punk’s corner for the triple threat match.
The final "RAW" before WrestleMania showed a massive confrontation between the competitors. Reigns pushed Heyman to the ground before he speared Punk. Rollins got his revenge with a massive chairshot on Reigns before he stomped Punk.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills downplayed the uproar over the state’s transgender-inclusion policies in girls’ and women’s sports on Monday and said she was "appalled" over the Trump administration’s lawsuits against her state amid a battle over federal funds.
Mills appeared on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" to discuss her battle with several departments of the Trump administration, which started when the state refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order which prohibited biological males in girls’ and women’s sports.
The state did not comply with the order, which kick-started the issue.
"The chief executive is required by the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, not to make the laws, not to invent the laws or reinterpret the laws by tweet or Instagram post or press release or executive order. He’s not allowed to do that.
"So, when he reinterpreted Title IX … I support Title IX. I have spent the better part of my career protecting the rights of women and girls in healthcare, in employment, housing credit and the like and I’m appalled. I was appalled at his interpretation that he can just reinvent the law."
Mills recalled the letters she received from the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services. She described an April 2 letter from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins as "rather appalling" and said some described it as a "ransom note."
In the letter, the administration threatened to cut off funding for Maine because of the state’s continued allowance of biological males in girls’ and women’s sports.
"The very next day, because there are maybe at most two transgender athletes competing in Maine schools right now, they decided to shut off funding for our school nutrition program, the school lunch program, entirely, on which 172,000 Maine schoolchildren rely on for their school meals. That didn’t make any sense," Mills said.
She added that the lawsuits against the state were "not rational."
A federal judge granted Maine a temporary restraining order and ruled the funding freeze must be lifted.
"This temporary restraining order confirms the Trump Administration did not follow the rule of law when it cut program funds that go to feed school children and vulnerable adults," Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a statement. "This order preserves Maine’s access to certain congressionally appropriated funds by prohibiting an unlawful freeze by the administration.
"No one in our constitutional republic is above the law and we will continue to fight to hold this administration to account."
The USDA "must immediately unfreeze and release to the state of Maine any federal funding that they have frozen or failed or refused to pay because of the state of Maine's alleged failure to comply with the requirements of Title IX," District Court Judge John Woodcock’s ruling read.
The administration was also "barred from freezing, terminating, or otherwise interfering with the state of Maine's future federal funding for alleged violations of Title IX without complying with the legally required procedure."
Maine has refused to comply with Trump’s executive order to ban biological males from girls’ and women’s sports. Trump initially vowed to cut federal funding to the state if it were to refuse to comply with the order during a Feb. 20 speech.
Maine officials filed a lawsuit against the USDA last week following the agency’s decision to freeze funding to the state.
The state accused the USDA of "withholding funding used to feed children in schools, childcare centers, and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings," an argument the judge agreed with. The judge noted that the freeze was due to Title IX violations, but it restricted the ability to "provid[e] meals to children and vulnerable adults."
Meanwhile, Maine residents have made their opinions known when it came to transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
A March poll showed that 64% of Maine residents believe transgender athletes "definitely should not" or "probably should not" participate in girls’ and women’s sports. Only 29% of Maine residents believed that transgender athletes "probably should" or "definitely should" compete against girls and women in sports.
The poll also showed that 56% of Maine Democrats believe that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in girls’ and women’s sports.
When it came to enacting policies to combat the issue of transgender participation in sports, the poll showed that 50% of Maine residents wanted it at the federal level, while 41% believe policy should be left up to the states.
Maine is also among the states that were warned about housing prisoners by biological sex or face a funding cutoff.
