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New mom marathoner says Olympian helped spark threats and hate against her for opposing trans inclusion

On April 19, U.S. Olympic middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz posted a TikTok video that included footage of an interview with women's marathon runner Natalie Daniels. The post came just two days before Daniels was set to compete in the Boston Marathon, and just six months after she gave birth to her first child.

Hiltz's TikTok opened with a clip of Daniels sharing how she considered not competing in the marathon because biologically male trans athletes would be competing in the women's field. The clip was originally from a promotional interview with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics. 

In the same post on the popular social media platform, Hiltz encouraged Daniels to drop out because of her concerns about trans inclusion, while disagreeing with the new mother's stance against it. 

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For Hiltz, the post was in line with the athlete's regular TikTok content, which often shows the Olympian promoting pro-transgender beliefs and arguing against opposition to trans inclusion in sports. Hiltz is a biologically female athlete who competes in the women's category, while identifying as transgender and non-binary. 

Soon after Hiltz's TikTok post went live, the reaction from it was aimed at Daniels, who said many of Hiltz's followers and fans began to send her startling messages.

"I didn't think there would be this rabid cruelty," Daniels told Fox News Digital of the response she received from the interview. "People were trying to find us when we were in Boston."

Daniels alleges one person told her, "'I live in Boston, and if I see you on the street, I’m going to hunt you down.'" 

CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRACK ATHLETE OPENS UP ON LOSING 1ST-PLACE TITLE TO TRANS COMPETITOR

The new mother said the worst alleged comment she saw was from a person who said, "'I hope that your son comes out as trans and never speaks to you again.'" Her son was only six months old at the time. 

Daniels said she ultimately takes responsibility for the messages directed towards her and her family. Still, she cited Hiltz's TikTok for contributing to the backlash. 

"[Hiltz] has freedom of speech also. So [Hiltz's] opinion is just as valid to be shared as mine is," Daniels said. "I think [Hiltz] encouraged a pile-on that got really out of hand, probably, I think, very quickly … I think the fact that [Hiltz] didn't do anything about it is unsurprising. 

"I think I'm ultimately responsible for what I said. And I know that what I said was said out of love and a desire to continue supporting and encouraging women and women's sports." 

Still, it didn't make the experience any easier for Daniels. 

"The very hateful messages were upsetting. There were a few times where I would just be, I don't want to cry, but a few times I would just start crying," she said. "And I would tell my husband, ‘I’m sorry, it's just like a lot, it's a lot to deal with, to have people being like ‘You’re this evil hateful bigot,' or 'You're stupid.'" 

"Instead of having this very rational engagement, they went straight to threats and violence." 

Fox News Digital reached out to Hiltz's talent agency, Hawi Management, for a response. 

When the day of the Boston Marathon came, April 21, Daniels was prepared for potential attacks and heckling against her on the course after getting messages warning her of it, she alleges. But instead, she only ever heard roaring chants of support, she claims. She even had one of her best finishes, reaching the finish line in 2:50:04 in 110th place.

The love continued on social media, as she saw an outpouring of praise and respect that eventually overshadowed the support she was getting for standing up for women's sports and appearing in the XX-XY Athletics interview to begin with. 

For Daniels, it helped validate a decision that she made, partially due to the experience of becoming a new mother. Daniels said that during her pregnancy, a trip to an obstetrician included a survey that assumed the only reason she was pregnant was due to failed birth control, and not her own intentions. 

"In society, I just feel like there is this reductive definition of what it means to be a woman, and what it means to be a woman is basically one thing, and it's access to abortion. And in our culture, that just kinda seems like that's all any of us are supposed to care about," Daniels, a native of Virginia, said. She added that the survey, and the growing cultural stigmatization of pregnancy, fed right into her passion for protecting female athletes from trans inclusion as well. 

"I know those things may be different things, but it all ties into this dehumanization of women. To me it feels like in this culture, in this political climate, womanhood is this incredibly nebulous, undefinable thing," she added.

The decision earned Daniels praise and support during the marathon and online but not from her running club, Light Horse Track Club in Washington, D.C., which she alleges was more aligned with Hiltz than her.

Daniels said she was confronted by the decision to appear in the XX-XY Athletics interview by the club's leadership. 

Daniels said she offered to make a statement clarifying that her stance wasn't meant to attack trans people for their identities, but to stand up for women like herself. But that wasn't going to be enough, she said. 

She alleges they offered to let her continue running for the club if she would issue an apology and publicly recognize the ability for a biological male to become a woman, which she refused to do. 

Daniels alleges that she was told by the club that in order to appease its directors, she had to share a statement on social media that read: "'I now understand that a person can take hormones and surgery, and they can become a woman.'"

"I was like, ‘I am not going to do that. I cannot do that…’ It goes completely against my Christian values," she said. "It goes completely against what I know about how God works."

Daniels said she then found out about her removal from the team via a text message and email from the board while she was sitting on her patio. 

So now, she is starting her own running club with XX-XY Athletics and founder Jennifer Sey.

And while she is still adjusting to the regular online hate, and even the occasional heckle from spectators at competitions, Daniels said she is looking forward to raising her family and embracing her new role in the movement to keep trans athletes out of women's sports. 

The Light Horse Track Club did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Journalist Tim Cowlishaw takes aim at ESPN as 'Around the Horn' concludes 22-year run

ESPN’s "Around the Horn" aired for the final time Friday after a nearly 23-year run. 

One of the main contestants on the game show throughout the years, Tim Cowlishaw, took a swipe at ESPN in his final comments on the show. 

"I want to thank ESPN for the opportunity that I did not seek and never expected to get back in 2002. I’d also like to say that while ESPN is currently gearing itself more toward hiring athletes instead of journalists," Cowlishaw said during the show's final episode Friday. 

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"Around the Horn" consisted of four different journalists who would appear on the show and discuss current sports topics. However, ESPN is moving away from journalists on its shows in favor of former athletes. 

Some of the network’s highest-profile personalities are former athletes like Pat McAfee, Jason Kelce, Kendrick Perkins and Ryan Clark, among others. 

FORMER NFL STAR RYAN CLARK APOLOGIZES FOR DRAGGING ROBERT GRIFFIN III'S WIFE INTO ANGEL REESE DEBATE

"We had a wonderful 22 years on a show where I felt imposter syndrome every time I walked into this studio. I hope the people on the next show in this time slot have as much fun and bring as many smiles over the next 22 years. I’ll be counting," Cowlishaw said.

ESPN has not announced what show will take that time slot. 

The 5 p.m. ET hour on ESPN consisted of "Pardon The Interruption" and "Around the Horn," two of the few remaining shows that featured media commentary as opposed to former athletes. 

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Caitlin Clark furious with WNBA refs after they failed to whistle a foul by Natasha Cloud for hard contact

Caitlin Clark threw up her arms, yelled at WNBA referees and punched the air in frustration after a controversial no-call cost her team a chance to knock off the defending champions Saturday. 

In the final seconds of the Indiana Fever's 90-88 loss to the reigning champion New York Liberty, Clark took the ball with a chance to tie or win the game. 

New York's Natasha Cloud was defending Clark and leaned into the superstar enough to knock the ball out of Clark's hands and knock Clark back slightly. 

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A replay showed Cloud pushing her shoulder into Clark's the moment the ball came loose.

But the referees did not blow the whistle, and the game ended there. 

Clark immediately looked to the officials for a foul and quickly began to shout at them when she realized no foul call was forthcoming. Her teammate, Sophie Cunningham, also approached the refs to protest the lack of a whistle. 

INSIDE CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE'S IMPACT ON MEN'S BASKETBALL

The no-call may have prevented Clark from winning the game at the free-throw line because the contact occurred on a shot beyond the 3-point arc. But it also cost Clark a chance at a major WNBA milestone. 

Clark, finishing with 18 points, fell just two points shy of a 20-point, 10-rebound game. It would have been the 11th of her career and the most by any player in league history. Clark is tied with Courtney Vandersloot with 10. 

Cloud and the Liberty walked away with the team's first-ever 3-0 start to a season in defense of their title. 

Cloud has been outspoken about backlash to physical plays against Clark. 

During an interview on the "Pivot Podcast" with Ryan Clark in March, Cloud insisted outrage in response to hits on Clark was rooted in "racism." 

"It's just a part of the game. There was no targeting, there was no nothing. That narrative that got spun into, ‘Oh, the vets hate the rookies. The rookies hate the vets. The vets are going after certain players.’ It's all bulls---. If I'm just going to be frank, it's all bulls---. What it is is racism," Cloud said. 

"It gets blown up into, ‘Oh, they’re going after Caitlin Clark.’ But, no, we're just playing one of the best players that's in this league the way that any other best player or franchise player has been played." 

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ESPN's Jay Williams says 'cancel culture' may be reason for the NBA's drought of American MVPs

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the seventh straight international player to win the NBA’s MVP award on Wednesday.

James Harden was the last American to win the MVP, when he did it with the Houston Rockets in 2017-2018. Jay Williams, former Duke star and current ESPN analyst, asked if cancel culture is the reason why there hasn’t been an American MVP recently. 

"People aren’t gonna like it, but I really don’t care. How much of this do you think this is cancel culture in the political aspects of where we were, compared to where we’re going?" Williams said during ESPN’s "First Take."

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"I hear a lot of coaches talk about they don’t feel like they can coach young kids anymore. 'Cause anything they say could get used against them or get twisted if caught the wrong way."

Williams implored coaches to coach young players hard and to give them accountability.

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"The level of sensitivity has gotten out of control," Williams said of today’s basketball players.

 "‘Oh, he said something bad to me, I can’t play for him!’ When a coach yells at you, and I know there are certain things coaches can’t say anymore, but please, keep coaching those young kids hard! Let them face some d--- adversity. Give them some accountability. And just because a coach is yelling at you, that actually means that he cares."

The top three finalists for the MVP were all international. Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada won, while Serbian native Nikola Jokic finished second, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, aptly nicknamed the "Greek Freak," finished third. 

Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum was the highest American finisher, in fourth place. 

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Trump vows 'we will not have men in women's sports' during West Point commencement speech

President Donald Trump reiterated that girls and women "will not" compete against transgender athletes during his commencement speech at West Point Saturday.

Trump signed an executive order Feb. 5 that prohibits biological boys and men from competing in girls and women's sports.

While speaking to 1,002 graduates, Trump revisited the topic.

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"We will not have men in women's sports, if that's OK," he said. "I mean, I wouldn't want to have to tackle, as an example, (quarterback) Bryson (Daily) as a man. But I don't think a lot of women want to tackle him. I don't think so. How crazy is it? Men playing in women's sports. How crazy is it? So ridiculous. So demeaning. So demeaning to women. And it's over. That's over. We ended it."

Several states have defied Trump's order, resulting in federal Title IX investigations. The Department of Agriculture also temporarily ended federal funding to the state of Maine, but the funding was restored by a federal judge.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Trump got into a highly-publicized spat shortly after the order was signed.

Earlier this month, a school district in Washington, a blue state, voted to keep trans athletes out of girls sports. The ruling defies a policy by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), enacted in 2007, that allows transgender students to participate based on their gender identity.

In May, a trans athlete competed in a girls cross-country championship in the state and won. 

BRETT FAVRE SUGGESTS NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY TARGETS HIM FOR TRUMP SUPPORT

Trump delivered a similar notion while speaking to graduates at the University of Alabama earlier this month.

A New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. 

Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. 

Nearly 70% of Americans say biological men should not be permitted to compete in women's sports, according to a Gallup poll last year.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Trump celebrates West Point athletes in commencement address to military academy

President Donald Trump delivered the commencement address at West Point Saturday and gave a shoutout to the "first-rate athletes" at the school.

"I love the sports stuff. What you've done is pretty amazing," Trump said before highlighting the men's lacrosse team.

"Last year, for the first time ever, Army lacrosse became the No. 1-ranked men's lacrosse team in the entire country. That's a tough sport, too."

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Trump then pivoted to the football team, which was nationally ranked earlier this year.

"Your sophomore year, Army football beat Navy, 20-17, and the next year, you did it again, beating Navy, 17-11, and dominating Air Force, 23-3," Trump continued. "But this year, the Black Knights fought your way into the top 20 nationally and racked up your longest winning streak since 1949 with the help of graduating quarterback Cadet Bryson Daily, or as you call him, Captain America. I came to a game. I said, 'He could get into the NFL.' But he chose this life. And I think he made a good choice."

Trump then implored Daily to approach the stage and say a few words.

"Go Army football. … Can't wait to graduate. Love you guys," he said.

BRETT FAVRE SUGGESTS NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY TARGETS HIM FOR TRUMP SUPPORT

"I just tapped his shoulder. It's like I hit a piece of steel. The guy's in good shape," Trump said as Daily left the stage. "There's always a reason for success. In a time when other top college quarterbacks were thinking about going pro, Bryson's mind was on something else. He told an interviewer earlier this year, ‘I’m focused on my career as an infantry officer.' That's what he wants to do. So Bryson, you did the right thing. That's service at its finest. Thanks, Bryson. That's amazing. He's an amazing guy with an amazing team."

Trump delivered a speech to Alabama graduates earlier this month, spotlighting their teams and former head football coach Nick Saban.

Trump told the 1,002 graduating cadets that the academy is the "most elite and storied military academy in human history."

Trump railed against previous foreign policy initiatives. And he declared an end to critical race theory, DEI initiatives and men in women’s sports while vowing to promote a return to merit-based systems and traditional military values.

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Podcast host says Jordon Hudson 'choreographed' portion of Bill Belichick's recent interview

One of Bill Belichick's stops among his book tour was on an episode of "The Pivot" podcast with Ryan Clark and Channing Crowder.

Belichick's first interview promoting the book garnered tons of media attention, when Jordon Hudson was caught on camera butting into the conversation when Belichick was asked how they met.

Belichick has credited Hudson, 24, for being the business brainiac to his brand, but he has remained mum on getting any further than that in public interviews.

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But that business side of Hudson was all in on Belichick's "Pivot" interview, according to Crowder.

"He’s all in if you talk football, but if you start talking personal stuff, he starts doing the mumble and the one-word answers, and his old lady is different. She lurks," Crowder said on his separate radio show. "It’s weird to know him as Coach Belichick running the entire organization as GM, head coach, talent coordinator, all that stuff, and then to see this tiny little 95-pound girl pretty much telling him what to do."

Crowder added, but did not elaborate on, that Hudson "choreographed the open," which included Belichick's accomplishments as both a coach and author.

"She was there. She kind of coordinates and brand manages. She has her paws on the situation. It’s different . . . it was weird to be around Belichick and Jordon. I don’t see Belichick in that light. But he just smiles and nods," Crowder continued.

AIRBNB OWNERS SHARE SHOCK OF FINDING SHIRTLESS BILL BELICHICK ON THEIR DOORBELL CAMERA: 'CREEPY OLD GUY'

Hudson was not at Belichick's interview with "Good Morning America" last week.

According to reports, Hudson interrupted the CBS interview several times and even stormed off at one point, delaying the interview by around 30 minutes. 

Belichick released a statement saying he was "surprised" about getting the questions about his relationship and that when Hudson had stepped in, she had been doing her job. He went on to accuse CBS of creating a "false narrative" with so-called "selectively edited clips."

CBS responded, disagreeing with Belichick’s version of events. 

In the interview with The Pivot, Belichick cleared the air on Hudson's reported involvement with "Hard Knocks," ultimately saying that the show was not a match with UNC. He also reiterated that Hudson is not involved with UNC football, a statement that the school itself made following reports that Hudson was barred from the facility.

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Indy 500 to honor U.S. Army's 250th birthday with Apache helicopter flyover

The Indy 500 will have a special tribute to the United States Army this Memorial Day Weekend.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be filled with thousands of fans to see who will take home the checkered flag of the most prominent IndyCar.

But before dozens of drivers aim to etch their names in the history books, it will pay homage to the Army's 250th birthday.

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Two Army Apache helicopters will fly above the cars on the first pace lap of the race. It is being dubbed the "Pace Lap for America."

Sunday marks the 109th edition of the big race, with the first taking place way back in 1911.

President Donald Trump will host a military parade in June to honor military veterans and active-duty service members and commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, Fox News Digital learned earlier this month. 

The parade is scheduled for June 14, the 250th birthday of the United States Army and Trump’s birthday. 

KYLE LARSON AIMS TO COMPLETE HISTORIC INDY 500-NASCAR DOUBLE NOT ACHIEVED SINCE 2001

The parade comes after Trump, in January, signed an executive order creating "Task Force 250," which is focused on coordinating the plans and activities celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The 250th anniversary of America's founding will be July 4, 2026.

In the lead-up to the major 2026 celebration, the White House has celebrated the anniversaries of major events in America’s founding, including the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s "Give Me Liberty or Give me Death" speech in March, the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride in April and the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. 

During his first term, Trump held a unique "Salute To America" event on the Fourth of July in 2019, which was different from typical Independence Day celebrations put on by past presidents. 

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

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Steelers star linebacker says Aaron Rodgers free agency saga is not a 'distraction at all'

Aaron Rodgers remains a free agent, and the four-time MVP is still being tied to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency rumors. 

Steelers star linebacker Alex Highsmith said that the Rodgers’ rumors are not a distraction to the team. 

"I just feel like in the locker room and stuff, we’re in there working, and I think that’s just really what it’s about at this point," Highsmith said during an appearance on NFL Network’s "The Insiders" on Thursday. 

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"I know that if he does sign, we’re definitely going to be really excited to have him. We know who he is. He’s a Hall-of-Fame quarterback. He’s one of the best to ever do it. I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction at all, but we all know what type of quarterback he is and what he brings to the table."

The Steelers last season went 10-7 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as their starting quarterbacks throughout the season. However, both Wilson and Fields departed in free agency.

Fields left for the New York Jets and Wilson left for the New York Giants. 

AARON RODGERS SAYS PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH CANCER AMID DELAY OF NFL RETURN

The Steelers have three quarterbacks on their roster — Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and sixth-round draft pick Will Howard. Highsmith is excited for whomever the team’s quarterback is in Week 1. 

"I think we just try to put our best foot forward every day, like with who’s in the building right now. I know Mason being there, he’s done a great job. The guys are rallying around him and, like I said, he’s been with us before and guys know him, Pittsburgh fans know him," Highsmith said.

"The way that he helped us finish in 2023 was awesome. No matter who’s back there for us, whether it’s him or if Aaron Rodgers is gonna come, I’m just excited. Whoever’s back there, we’re gonna have their backs, and we’re gonna rally behind them. Just excited for whoever it’s gonna be."

With the Jets last season, Rodgers threw for 3,987 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 games. 

It remains to be seen whether Rodgers decides to play in 2025 or retire after a 20-year career that is bound for Canton.

Highsmith, in five seasons with the Steelers, has had 35.5 sacks in 77 career games and is a key cog in their defense. 

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Brett Favre suggests Netflix documentary targets him for Trump support

Brett Favre appears to believe Netflix is out to get him due to his support of President Donald Trump.

The streaming service released its documentary on the Hall of Famer titled "Untold: The Fall of Favre."

The documentary highlights the scandals of Favre allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a woman while playing for the New York Jets, and his alleged involvement in the Mississippi State welfare scandal.

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Upon the doc’s release, Favre reposted two X posts that ripped Netflix.

"Netflix is going after @BrettFavre for being an outspoken Trump supporter. We stand with Brett Favre," the Hodge twins wrote.

And wrote @SteveLovesAmmo, "Haven’t you ever noticed that these "scandals" seem to pop up (or again) every single time a famous individual vocally supports President Trump?… Brett has been under constant attack from the mainstream media and also now today, Netflix… Tonight, a new documentary premiers tonight on Netflix attempting to tarnish his name. 

"We all know that if he wasn’t a Conservative, this would not be happening right now. Was this a hit documentary because Donald Trump won the 2024 election? That has yet to be determined.With that being said, I support .@BrettFavre! One of the greats!"

While speaking at a Trump rally in October just before the election, Favre said it would be "insane" to vote for Kamala Harris.

FORMER NFL STAR RYAN CLARK APOLOGIZES FOR DRAGGING ROBERT GRIFFIN III'S WIFE INTO ANGEL REESE DEBATE

"We’ve already had President Trump once — we’ve already seen Kamala in action. We can compare, and we know which is better," Favre said at the rally. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. . . .  It would be insane to give Kamala four more years in office. So it’s time to bench Kamala and put in the star quarterback."

"USA is a great country. But we all know this: Kamala broke it. Trump will fix it," Favre added. "I have lived the American dream, but I want to make sure that future generations get to, as well. So remember this: Let’s make American great again."

Favre has long supported Trump, saying last year that the country was in a "better place" when he was president. He endorsed Trump in 2020 because of his stance on freedom of speech, gun rights and support for the military and police after a summer of racial unrest after the death of George Floyd.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr crushes 467-foot home run on first pitch in return from ACL injury

Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time after he tore his ACL last season in the team’s 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Truist Park.

Acuna, 27, looked like he hadn’t skipped a beat. On the first pitch he saw from San Diego Padres starter Nick Pivetta, the 2023 NL MVP demolished it 467 feet for a towering solo home run. 

Acuna said he "had a feeling" he might do something special in his return. 

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"To me, that's just the culmination of all the work I put in," he said.

Unfortunately for the Braves, Acuna’s solo home run was the lone run they scored, as Pivetta shut the Braves' offense down afterward.

Pivetta ended up pitching six innings while he scattered four hits and struck out seven Braves’ hitters. 

PIRATES GM SHUTS DOWN PAUL SKENES TRADE RUMORS DESPITE DISAPPOINTING START

Padres third baseman Manny Machado broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning with a solo home run off Raisel Iglesias to give the Padres a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. 

The loss drops the Braves to 24-26, who are still looking to rebound after an 0-7 start. The team hopes the return of Acuna can help spur them back into postseason contention. 

"He’s one of those players that you better not go get a beer or whatever, because you might miss something really cool, you know?" Braves manager Brian Snitker said. 

"I mean, he’s that type of force, I think, in the game. I think he’s going to energize everybody. Gonna energize the fans. Gonna energize his teammates."

"It's huge," third baseman Austin Riley said of Acuna’s return. "The talent is there. The energy he brings, having Ronald up there at the top of the lineup. ... he can change a game at any point."

The Braves and the Padres will play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. 

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Former NFL star Ryan Clark apologizes for dragging Robert Griffin III's wife into Angel Reese debate

Former NFL player Ryan Clark issued an apology to Robert Griffin III for bringing his wife into a debate about Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark earlier this week.

Griffin said in a social media post that Reese "hates" Clark. Following the post, Clark suggested that RG3 is "not having conversations at home about what Black women have to endure in this country," considering his wife is White.

"All of it started over an Angel Reese take that he felt was a sports take that I didn't feel that way about. I felt it was away from the court, I felt it was away from basketball . . ." Clark said in a recent YouTube post. "I took a take that was personal to another person and made it personal to myself, and I shouldn't have done that."

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Clark admitted his personal feelings and seemingly prior beef with Griffin "played a part in how I felt."

"I wanted to defend a young Black woman, which ended up being an attack on him, he felt, or at least he said, an attack on his family. And that was never the case, or never the intent, of mine," Clark said.

"She should not have been brought up in me trying to make a point about how having Black women close to you, and the things that you learn from them, can help you in the way that you approach and speak to and about them. She didn’t need to be the illustration of that. I can speak positively about what they are without making the insinuation that it’s something that non-Black women don’t do well…

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"To Grete, I was out of line. I was out of bounds. I apologize. To all the people who don’t like RG’s take or takes or the way that he moves, or even if you just, in this conversation, take my side and want to support me, leave his family alone… Families should be off limits. I started that by bringing her into it. I see that. No matter what my intent was, the impact was different. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it a different way."

Clark made the comment while calling out Griffin for boarding "the hate train" after Reese's scuffle with Clark over the weekend, while making Clark "heroic." 

Sage Steele, who, like Griffin, is a former ESPN colleague, called Clark's words toward Griffin "classless, divisive, gross, (and) unnecessary." Steele and Clark have had issues in the past, even getting to a point where Clark asked producers to have someone other than Steele host a segment following previous comments she had made about former president Barack Obama.

Griffin later said that Clark's comments showed "how low of a person he is."

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AirBnB owners share shock of finding shirtless Bill Belichick on their doorbell camera: 'Creepy old guy'

Bill Belichick went viral in November 2023 after appearing shirtless on doorbell camera footage outside a home.

The video resurfaced shortly after rumors of Belichick's later confirmed relationship with Jordon Hudson began. Reports originally stated that the home belonged to Hudson.

But according to Pablo Torre, it was actually an AirBnB in Winthrop, Mass., and he had the couple who owned the home on his show to speak about the shock when they realized that the eight-time Super Bowl champion was on their doorstep.

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"We saw the Ring video in the morning, not knowing who this was," the woman, who opted to stay anonymous, said, "but it was an older gentleman with a very young woman who checked in the night before."

The woman's husband then butted in, bringing up his wife's concerns about this mysterious man.

"She’s said, ‘She’s with this creepy old guy.' She thought her relative or a drug dealer was the first thing because of the age discrepancy. Remember you went, ‘Must be a freaking coke dealer.’ I was like, ‘What? Come on.

"So that was her first reaction. And then I start looking [and] I’m like, ‘That does look like Belichick!’"

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The owners of the home said Hudson had booked the stay. They added they had invited her to play golf, and that she had replied that she preferred a "men's senior shaft."

"I didn't think anything of it at the time," the woman said.

Belichick and Hudson's relationship was confirmed, but reports have said they began dating in early 2022. It's been rumored that they met on an airplane the year before.

Hudson recently ripped Torre for "factually incorrect, slanderous, defamatory and targeted" reporting.

Torre previously reported that Hudson had been banned from the University of North Carolina football complex earlier in May. However, the university released a statement denying that report shortly after Torre's report came out. 

The 73-year-old and 24-year-old made their relationship public last year. And Hudson gained more notoriety last month when she interrupted a CBS interview with Belichick.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Newly released 911 call details Gregg Popovich's medical scare that preceded retirement from Spurs

Audio has been released of when Gregg Popovich reportedly suffered a medical emergency at a San Antonio restaurant last month.

The now-former San Antonio Spurs head coach was dining at a steakhouse when he reportedly fainted. Popovich then left in an ambulance.

The caller said Popovich was "not responding" at first. He updated dispatch that Popovich was "barely responding" and had "passed out for a little bit," according to TMZ.

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Popovich reportedly did not suffer any life-threatening injuries or illnesses, and he was alert by the time he entered the ambulance.

The 76-year-old had already been recovering from a stroke that led to him missing all but the first six games of the 2024-25 season.

Shortly after the reported medical scare, Popovich stepped down as head coach.

"While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach," Popovich said in a statement earlier this month. "I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me."

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Popovich will transition full-time to president of basketball operations.

Popovich’s tenure comes to an end after a nearly three-decade run that saw him coach the Spurs to five NBA Championships. He remains the league’s all-time wins leader and has the most playoff wins with one team by any coach in NBA history. His career, which also included being named NBA Coach of the Year three times and an Olympic gold medal, earned him a place in the Hall of Fame in 2023. 

The team missed the playoffs this year after Victor Wembanyama missed a healthy chunk of the season with blood clots.

The Spurs have the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, two years after selecting Wembanyama first.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Two Ole Miss outfielders collide in scary moment during SEC baseball tournament

A scary moment occurred on an Alabama baseball diamond Friday during the SEC tournament, as two outfielders collided while going for a ball.

Arkansas, down 5-1 in the second inning, was desperate for some runs, with Cam Kozeal at the dish.

The left-handed batter drilled a ball into the right-center gap that both center fielder Isaac Humphreys and right fielder Ryan Moerman went after.

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They both made valiant efforts to make the grab, but instead, they crashed right into one another, causing the ball to roll all the way to the outfield. As the fielders collided, accessories flew everywhere.

It was good news for the Razorbacks, as Kozeal scored quite easily for an inside-the-park homer. Humphreys attempted to get the ball and throw it in, but he could hardly throw the ball in. Moerman, meanwhile, lay on the field for quite some time.

Humphreys somehow stayed in the game, but Moerman was taken out. Their injury diagnoses were not immediately known.

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"Obviously a scary moment for everybody, especially when you get two guys go down," Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said, via On3. "You never know. Bumped heads, concussion, and all kinds of injuries. But at first, we weren’t sure if it was some type of head injury, just because Ryan complained of his right knee, and then as he got up and started to move around it was his left knee. I think it’s one of those, it’s pretty traumatic, guys running full speed in the moment, and he actually came out of the game because they just wanted to really check him out because they weren’t really sure what was going on."

The Razorbacks were blanked for the rest of the day, and the Rebels took a 5-2 win into Saturday's semifinal against LSU.

The winner of that will take on the winner of Vanderbilt and Tennessee in Sunday's championship for an automatic bid into the College World Series.

It is unclear whether either player will be available on Saturday.

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Celebrity Boxing founder invites Bill Belichick's former and current partners to 'settle beef' in the ring

After a reported dispute between Bill Belichick's current girlfriend and his ex, the two have an offer to duke it out in the boxing ring.

Linda Holliday and Jordon Hudson both reportedly attended the Dreamland Stroll Party on December 6. Holliday's daughters, Ashley and Kat Hess, were DJing the party.

Holliday, according to People, got "aggressive" with Hudson, and the two reportedly shared an intense moment.

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Now, they have a chance to hash it out once and for all, thanks to Celebrity Boxing founder Damon Feldman.

"I heard about the situation with Bill Belichick's ex, Linda Holliday, as she ran into his current girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. They got into it at a party a couple months back," Feldman said, via TMZ Sports. "So I wanted to reach out, and I want to give them the opportunity and the platform here at Celebrity Boxing to settle that beef in the ring. Let's get it girls."

A staffer wrote in an incident report obtained by TMZ that "Ms. Hudson was a paying guest. No concerns had been raised regarding her behavior nor had any issues been reported up until that point in the evening (the event began at 7pm)."

JORDON HUDSON SLAMS JOURNALIST FOR 'SLANDEROUS, DEFAMATORY' REPORTS ON RELATIONSHIP WITH BILL BELICHICK

"Ms. Holliday felt her presence was inappropriate, since the event was widely advertised as a party headlined by her daughters. She asked that I remove Ms. Hudson from the premises, to which I responded that I would speak with Ms. Hudson after contacting Dreamland executive director Alicia Carney to discuss the matter."

Security footage then showed Holliday confronting Hudson in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by roughly 200 people.

Holliday was apparently irked because it "involve[d] my girls," and her "momma bear" emerged.

Neither Holliday, Hudson nor the Nantucket Dreamland organization immediately responded to requests for comment.

Hudson and Sapini were eventually escorted out by that staffer shortly before the lights came on at the party, TMZ reported.

Holliday dated Belichick from 2007 to 2022. Hudson and Belichick, who have a 49-year age gap, made their relationship public last year.

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Pacers' Game 1 hero's girlfriend takes shot at Knicks after playoff collapse

The New York Knicks were not safe from getting trolled by the Indiana Pacers' superstar, or his girlfriend, after their epic Game 1 collapse.

The Knicks blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter to lose Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday. They had also led by 14 with 2:50 to go, and nine with under 60 seconds.

All they've done since then is now lose at home again to trail 2-0 in the series. Nobody has ever won a conference final after losing the first two games at home.

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But back to Game 1. After storming all the way back, Tyrese Haliburton chucked up a long shot that hit the back iron and dropped in. With former Pacers hero Reggie Miller just feet away, calling the game for TNT, Haliburton mimicked Miller's signature choking signal he directed at Spike Lee back in the 1990s.

Haluburton's shot wound up being a two, putting the game into overtime, but the Pacers came away with the victory.

After the game, Haliburton's girlfriend, Jade Jones, joined her boyfriend to take her own shot at the Knicks.

"finally got to see the ball drop in NYC," she posted on Instagram with a smirking emoji.

KNICKS FALL BEHIND 0-2 IN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES VS. PACERS

Teams leading a playoff game by nine-plus points in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime of a playoff game had been 1,414-0 since 1998 entering Wednesday. Also, since 1997, teams are now 4-1,640 when trailing by seven-plus points in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime of a playoff game – the Pacers have won three of those games this season alone.

New York came back for revenge on Friday, but the Pacers pulled away late to take a commanding series lead. This time, it was Pascal Siakam leading the way with 39 points.

It was tied at 81 after three, before the Pacers opened the fourth with a 13-4 run to move ahead 94-85 on Siakam’s 3-pointer with 9:17 remaining. They would quickly push the margin back to around there every time the Knicks got any momentum, and it was 110-100 after another basket by Siakam with 2:45 to play.

The Knicks scored nine straight to make it 110-109 on Josh Hart’s basket with 14 seconds to go. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was well off on a 3-point attempt and Turner finished it out with two free throws.

Jalen Brunson had 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, who need a quick turnaround or their first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years will be a brief one. 

Game 3 is in Indiana on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers

The New York Knicks have fallen to a place that no team in NBA history has ever overcome. 

After a historic collapse in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let Game 2 slip through their fingers, in a 114-109 loss. 

No NBA team has ever lost the first two games at home and come back to win a series in the conference finals.

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Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 points, and the Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

"We have a long way to go and it’s only going to get tougher for us," Siakam said.

Myles Turner added 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who lost to the Lakers in 2000 in their only NBA Finals appearance.

Siakam finished 15 for 23 from the field on a night nobody else on the high-scoring Pacers had more than five baskets.

"Special game," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "In the first half he was the guy that got us going and got us through some difficult stretches."

Jalen Brunson had 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, who need a quick turnaround or their first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years will be a brief one. They defended much better after their crushing collapse in a 138-135 overtime loss in Game 1, but couldn’t find enough scoring to come back after a bad start to the fourth quarter.

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Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, but Towns played just 28 minutes as coach Tom Thibodeau went longer with backup Mitchell Robinson, a much better defender who grabbed nine rebounds.

"Going into the fourth quarter it’s a tie ballgame. We’ve just got to make better plays, more winning plays," Thibodeau said.

It was tied at 81 after three, before the Pacers opened the fourth with a 13-4 run to move ahead 94-85 on Siakam’s 3-pointer with 9:17 remaining. They would quickly push the margin back to around there every time the Knicks got any momentum, and it was 110-100 after another basket by Siakam with 2:45 to play.

The Knicks scored nine straight to make it 110-109 on Josh Hart’s basket with 14 seconds to go. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was well off on a 3-point attempt and Turner finished it out with two free throws.

The 50th playoff meeting between the rivals — the Pacers lead 28-22, all since 1993 — more closely resembled their defensive battles of the 1990s than the shootout of two nights earlier.

Indiana raced to a 19-9 lead, but the Knicks quickly caught them when Robinson and Deuce McBride entered and the game remained within a single-digit margin nearly the entire rest of the night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Danica Patrick reflects on 'emotionally abusive' relationship with Aaron Rodgers: 'wore me down to nothing'

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick shared the agony of her relationship and breakup with NFL star Aaron Rodgers, during an appearance on the Sage Steele Show

"The breakup with Aaron in 2020, because it was sudden," Patrick said when asked what was the most painful experience. 

"It felt like it was my life. So when you live with somebody, it’s your whole life… And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing." 

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Patrick claims that Rogers "leaves a trail of blood."

"Someone that you know, people could never imagine that I would lack any confidence, or belief in the simple things about who I am. Everything was torn to bits. He leaves a trail of blood. I don’t think I’m saying too much earth-shattering stuff after we — there’s been enough out there," Patrick said. 

"But it gave me the greatest gift, which is myself. It gave me the greatest gift of how much I needed to show up for myself and take care of myself."

Rodgers and Patrick went public with their relationship in January 2018 after first meeting at the ESPY Awards in 2012. 

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At the time, a rep for the "Pretty Intense" podcast host and entrepreneur confirmed to Fox News that the pair were an item. 

Meanwhile, Patrick told The Associated Press that she and Rodgers first crossed paths in 2012 at The ESPY Awards.

"I told him a long time ago I’d always root for him as a player," she recalled to the outlet. "Now I am probably going to cheer for the whole team. Take out the word ‘probably.’ Now I’m going to cheer for the whole team."

In November 2019, the pair appeared to be going strong, with Patrick even joking on "The Jenny McCarthy Show" about a proposal.

When asked when she’d get married, Patrick jokingly responded, "Um, [tomorrow] — wait, no, what?"

Back in August 2017, Rodgers opened up to ESPN, explaining it’s not always easy dating when all eyes are on you.

"When you are living out a relationship in the public eye, it’s definitely… it’s difficult," he said. "It has some extra constraints because you have other opinions about your relationship, how it affects your work and, you know, just some inappropriate connections… There’s some horrible media outlets that… you say something or do something, where there’s a story, and they just go with it and run with it."

The couple then confirmed their breakup in July 2020. 

Patrick later opened up on the breakup during an appearance on National Geographic's "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" and told the survivalist that she learned a ton about herself during the public breakup.

"I think we learn the most about ourselves through relationships, but there's nothing like heartbreak to really throw you in the deep end of that," Patrick said, according to Yahoo! Entertainment. "But I've learned a lot and as broken open as I was on the sad end, I have felt so much joy in so many more instances and so many more unlikely places than I ever have, so it's like my heart got broken open to both ends of the spectrum."

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Jordon Hudson slams journalist for 'slanderous, defamatory' reports on relationship with Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick's 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, deleted an Instagram story early Friday calling out journalist Pablo Torre for his reports about Hudson and Belichick's controversial relationship. 

"Pablo Torre’s ‘findings’ have been nothing short of factually incorrect, slanderous, defamatory and targeted," Hudson wrote in the deleted post. "Can y’all please stop giving credibility to this ‘reporter?’"

Hudson's post came the same day Torre released a podcast episode that included an interview with the owners of an Airbnb property that Belichick was seen leaving early in their relationship in 2023. 

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"We saw the Ring video in the morning, not knowing who this was, but it was an older gentleman with a very young woman who checked in the night before," the female owner of the Airbnb told Torre.

Then the male owner of the Airbnb told Torre, "She’s with this creepy old guy who’s either her relative or a drug dealer was the first thing [we thought]. Because of the age discrepancy, you go, ‘He must be a freaking coke dealer. And then I started looking. I’m like, ‘That does look like Belichick.’

"At first, we thought she was like a dancer or an escort," the male owner added. "She said she was a dancer. Something was off. It just didn’t make sense."

Hudson's since-deleted Instagram story included a screenshot of text messages with the Airbnb owner discussing unauthorized guests and parking.

Torre provided a statement to People addressing Hudson's claims. 

"I find it bizarrely appropriate, at this point, that Jordon Hudson would post that and then delete it," he said, "But to be perfectly clear: I stand by our reporting and the episodes we published."

Torre previously reported that Hudson had been banned from the University of North Carolina football complex earlier in May. However, the university released a statement denying that report shortly after Torre's report came out. 

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"While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities. Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University," the unversity's athletic program said in a statement.

Torre also said he had heard from sources in the Belichick family there is a "deep worry" that Hudson could be "detrimental" to his legacy.

Torre released a statement of his own, doubling down on his reporting on Hudson being banned at UNC.

"The University of North Carolina can choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudson’s involvement however it wishes, following the publication of our episode. We requested comment and filed dozens of FOIA requests that were not satisfied. And we stand by the specific reporting in our episode, which came from the highest levels of the football program," he said.

The 73-year-old and 24-year-old made their relationship public last year. And Hudson gained more notoriety last month when she interrupted a CBS interview with Belichick.

Belichick has been publicly linked to the 24-year-old Hudson since 2023. 

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