EssentiallySports

‘I’m Sorry’: Charley Hull Opens Up About the Cigarette Incident That Led to an Apology to Her Family

Abhijit Raj — Sat, 16 May 2026 21:45:05 GMT

Quitting is easy if you truly want to. The hard part is actually wanting it. Charley Hull arrived at the 2024 Solheim Cup after telling herself she was done, with cigarettes in her jacket but no lighter. That’s the mindset you have when you want to quit but aren’t fully committed. When a photographer offered her a smoke, she said yes. The next morning, she was on the course, borrowing a lighter from someone in the crowd, and someone was already filming her.

“My family was like, I thought you stopped smoking. I was like, I have. And I was like, we see it on Instagram. It’s gone viral. I was like, oh okay, cameras are involved. Okay, I cracked, I’m sorry.”

Hull admitted this on the Par 3 Podcast in Augusta earlier this year. She was direct, giving a straightforward account of how her plan failed at the first test. Her family did not call to check in. They saw the footage online like everyone else. The difference between what Hull intended and what happened was clear immediately.

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The incident happened three months earlier at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open in Lancaster. Hull was heading to the range when a fan asked for an autograph. She signed, cigarette in mouth, and the cameras caught it. In two days, she gained about 70,000 Instagram followers. Her T19 finish, tied with Carlota Ciganda as the top European, was overshadowed by the image. Reports stated Hull started smoking after being prescribed anti-anxiety medication, which she stopped due to concerns about dependency. Smoking became her way to manage ADHD and stress.

The Olympic smoking ban in Paris made the issue clear. Hull said the restriction would affect her at Le Golf National. This is not a branding decision or a quirk. Smoking is part of her routine, and removing it during competition is not a minor change.

Hull’s situation highlights the ongoing conflict between personal habits and professional demands.

Charley Hull and the John Daly blueprint for accidental iconhood in golf

Golf has always had a tricky relationship with its most unfiltered personalities. In 1991, John Daly showed up at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate, drove through the night without a practice round, and ended up winning the PGA Championship by three shots. The fans who rallied around him weren’t just drawn to his golf skills. They liked that he made it okay to be unglamorous, unpolished, and not care about the sport’s image, yet still fit in. As one sports outlet pointed out when covering Hull’s Solheim Cup moment, Daly once smoked 21 cigarettes and drank 12 cans of Coke during a single Tour event, without touching any water.

Hull is different from Daly in both her game and her approach, but the reaction from fans is similar. After the Solheim Cup lighter incident, she was called the “People’s Golfer.” By June 2024, her name was known even among those who did not follow the LPGA. Despite efforts to present golf as a polished, exclusive sport, Hull continues to present herself as she is.

In March 2025, Hull agreed to a £10,000 bet with Ryan Evans at Sunningdale Golf Club: she would not smoke for two months or pay the amount. By May, she had gone six weeks without cigarettes, using nicotine pouches to manage cravings. She described quitting as “the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” By July, she had won the bet.

“Just one cigarette. It lit up.”

Her comment referred to the cigarette, but it also reflected her broader attitude.

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“Will Never Forget”: USC Legend Reveals Charles Woodson Tried to Lure Him Away to Michigan

Isha — Sat, 16 May 2026 21:23:38 GMT

High school recruits never forget when a football legend personally calls them. For Su’a Cravens, that moment of validation came when Charles Woodson reached out to him before his senior year at USC. Now, as Charles Jr. commits to the University of Michigan, where his father won the Heisman Trophy and became a college football legend before eventually shining in the NFL, Cravens shared the memorable story of a phone call with the man himself.

“I remember Michigan had Charles Woodson call me on the phone when I was in class to try and get me to decommit from USC going into my SR year,” Cravens, a USC legend, wrote in X.

“Last thing I remember saying to him, “You’re a legend, man, and it would be an honor to walk in your footsteps … But Michigan is too damn cold for me!” He started laughing and told me to “Be a great kid.” Will never forget that,” Cravens added.

I remember Michigan had Charles Woodson call me on the phone when I was in class to try and get me to decommit from USC going into my SR year … Last thing I remember saying to em, “You a legend man and it would be an honor to walk in your footsteps … But Michigan is too damn… https://t.co/IcRijprRJU

— Su’a Kristopher Cravens (@SuaKCravens) May 16, 2026

It made sense for Woodson to try to recruit Cravens, who made a huge name for himself during his time in Southern California. The Los Angeles native was one of the most exciting defensive players in the country, finishing his USC career with 207 tackles, 10.5 sacks, nine interceptions, and 34.5 tackles for loss while becoming one of the key faces of the Trojans’ defense in the mid-2010s.

The Washington Commanders drafted him in 2016, but just a year later, there was a cruel twist of fate. A major concussion derailed his dream of becoming one of the league’s top defenders, and although he returned to football, he was never quite the same player again. He joined the Denver Broncos in 2018 before being dropped a year later.

Earlier this year, Cravens officially announced his retirement from football. “I’m done,” he said on a video on X.

“I don’t know if you could have guessed that, but I am done. Yes, I’ve come to terms with my dream coming to an end. I think I came to terms with it back in 2019 when I told the New England Patriots no to their deal they offered me. And I sat on the floor and cried right before I caught a flight back to Cali, because I knew it was over then and there.”

It’s officially official like a referee whistle … Big Suu Daddy is calling it as a football player ! Don’t cry, please hold your tears and applause. I know this is BREAKING NEWS and will be on the ticker of ESPN all damn day, so don’t mind me. Just was thirsty for some… pic.twitter.com/eMIiSjYjiZ

— Su’a Kristopher Cravens (@SuaKCravens) February 15, 2026

Now, Cravens has shifted his focus to media, staying connected to the game he loves. So seeing Charles Woodson’s son follow in his father’s footsteps and commit to Michigan naturally brought back a personal memory.

Michigan lore runs thick with Woodson interceptions snatched from the sky, toe-tapping sideline acrobatics, and hard hits that left opponents cautious. In Ann Arbor, he became the definition of a shutdown defender. So, it would not be surprising if young Woodson also turns into an explosive player, considering football greatness runs in his veins.

Kyle Whittingham, after joining Michigan, also placed a lot of emphasis on the recruit and even sent five coaches to visit him last January. Charles Jr. had a very simple answer as to why he chose Michigan. “It was a good first impression,” Woodson Jr. said.

What does Charles Woodson Jr’.s commit means for Michigan

The three-star safety Woodson Jr. just became the 10th verbal pledge in Michigan’s class of 2027. Although he ranks as the No. 805 prospect nationally, his surname alone carries a legacy that will instantly make him a fan favorite in Ann Arbor. He also held offers from schools such as Oregon, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Florida State.

The 5-foot-10, 173-pound safety out of Orlando’s Lake Nona High School recorded 73 tackles, two interceptions, and two touchdowns during his junior season, earning All-American status in the process.

“Smart safety with best-in-class type of bloodlines that made noticeable strides between sophomore and junior campaigns,” 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote in his scouting report. “Darts forward with conviction in run support, taking sound angles to the football despite not being the largest defender at this stage. Flashes solid range from a single to a two-high look.

“Shows promising awareness in both zone and man coverage as he gets to the catch point and will play through hands. Lack of testing data and speed markers is not ideal, but he closes gaps in pads and has ripped off long runs in the return game.”

Woodson Jr.’s head coach from Orlando, David Aubrey, meanwhile, described him as someone with a smart football brain. “Does well, very diverse, does well in zone coverage and man coverage. What I think is the most impressive thing is how physical he is,” he said in an interview with on3.com.

The Wolverines have also heated up on the recruiting trail recently. Michigan had slipped to No. 40 in the rankings earlier this cycle, but since April, the program has climbed back up to No. 17. Woodson Jr. becomes the second defensive back in the class, joining Las Vegas Centennial three-star safety Maxwell Miles.

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“You Never Know When the Last One Is”: Kyle Busch Makes Grave Admission as 'Rowdy' faces Cup Drought

Gunaditya Tripathi — Sat, 16 May 2026 21:10:36 GMT

At Dover Motor Speedway on Friday evening, Kyle Busch took a deep bow at the finish line after winning the ECOSAVE 200. It was his 69th career Truck Series victory, his record fifth at the track, and his second win of 2026 in just four Truck starts. He led 147 of 200 laps, swept both stages, and pulled away by around three seconds. It was, by every measure, a dominant performance.

But then Busch said out loud what no driver wants to admit, and it is, by far, one of the most honest reflections from a driver who has gone from being criticised about being a cup driver ‘beating up’ on Truck regulars to being criticized for being able to outshine only that field now.

“You never know when the last one is, you know? So, I know all too well, unfortunately, with the Cup stuff,” Busch answered when asked about why ‘these moments’ winning in the Truck Series get old.’ “But it’s awesome just to be a part of Spire Motorsports,” he added.

Busch’s last Cup victory came on June 4, 2023, at World Wide Technology Raceway, which was also his third win of that season and the last of a 19-year streak of winning at least once annually. Since then, though, the drought has reached 105 races and counting, marking the longest winless run of his career.

And for context: Connor Zilisch was 16 years old the last time Busch won in Cup. Denny Hamlin, who trailed Busch by 22 career Cup wins in 2019, has closed the gap to just two. And Shane van Gisbergen, who didn’t even make his Cup debut until the 2023 Chicago Street Course race, where Busch finished behind him, has surpassed Busch’s combined Cup win total from 2021 through 2026.

In Cup, he sits 24th in the standings heading into Sunday’s All-Star Race, an improvement from the 27th when RCR pulled the trigger on a crew chief change after just ten races, replacing Jim Pohlman with longtime RCR veteran Andy Street. But that doesn’t drive away all concerns.

While many have been quick to blame RCR in Busch’s struggles, a comparison with teammate Austin Dillon’s numbers provides some perspective.

Per DriverAverages.com, across the last 36 races, Austin Dillon is 23rd in the Cup Series in average finishing position (21.1) with 18 top-20 finishes, five top-10s, and one win. Meanwhile, Busch is stuck with a 19.1 average finishing position, 21 top 20s, six top 10s, and zero wins. Even Denny Hamlin had pointed out that Dillon seems to be faring a lot better under the same ‘dismal’ conditions than the one who is supposed to lead the team.

“You’re a Hall of Fame, Mt. Rushmore driver, carry it better than your teammate, then. If you’re the greatest, then carry it better than your teammate whose won 10 races. Find a way. I think that’s what he should be able to do, but it’s not happening. It’s time to be honest about what’s going on,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin even labeled Busch’s initial three victories with the team in 2023, saying that they came when everyone was adjusting. Now, those same drivers have pulled ahead by a lot while Busch continues to struggle.

ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 21: Kyle Busch 7 Spire Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet celebrates after winning the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 on February 21, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 21 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 208 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26022118638208

So, the Truck series has become his place to shine. The win at Dover was his 18th win in multiple Truck races. He is also the all-time wins leader in the series, and now holds the record for most wins at Dover with 5. And perhaps, thanks to those moments, he is not ready to give up hope yet.

Busch is still dedicated to RCR despite subpar performance

Kyle Busch’s future at RCR had been under the spotlight for a while, with rumors predicting his exit for Spire Motorsports. However, insider Jordan Bianchi believes that the partnership will stay as it is, with Busch likely to re-sign. And Busch himself has spoken on similar lines before. He now even appears satisfied with the new change within the team.

Jim Pohlman, who was Busch’s new crew chief at the start of the season, didn’t exactly have a strong synergy with the driver. Following this, right after the Talladega race (which ironically produced his best finish of the season at the time), he was replaced by Andy Street. The duo took to the track and managed to pull off another competitive finish, better than the Talladega one – a P8 at Watkins Glen.

And Busch further seems to have found some speed, suggesting the duo is clicking in the right manner. “I guess I just remembered how to drive,” Busch quipped on Friday.

“It’s Street – I don’t know what he’s doing different. I don’t feel like I’m talking to anybody any differently. I don’t feel like I’m relaying any of the information any differently. I just feel like it’s construed or thought about in a different way, and the execution of being able to listen to my words and being able to put it into the race car translates differently.”

Early pace is one improved thing that has been pushing Busch. During All-Star practice as well, the No.8 car showed good speed, coming out as the fourth-fastest car behind Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Denny Hamlin. Busch even led the way in five-lap averages.

“I feel like we’ve had good speed off the truck at Watkins Glen. Texas, I was working my way into it. It’s nice to be able to score top five in practice, even though it doesn’t pay anything. It’s better than the alternative of unloading in the bottom five.”

Moreover, Kyle Busch also seems more dedicated to the team than he has ever been, perhaps because of the hard work he has put in the past seasons: “I’m full in; I’m all committed. I’ve never probably worked as much in these last four years as I did in 15 at JGR. That’s due to us needing to get better and us getting the things heading in the right direction,” he said earlier.

But Busch still sits 66 points below the playoff cut line with the season approaching its midpoint. Missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year would make it difficult to justify another season at RCR from either side of the equation, even with the Street-era improvement.

Consistent top runs or a win, something needs to happen fast.

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Dak Prescott Links Up With Estranged Fiancée’s “Almost” Bridesmaid Months After Split

Priyanko Chakraborty — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:47:14 GMT

Weeks after calling it quits with fiancée Sarah Jane Ramos, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finds himself linked to another relationship rumor. Although only a few drops of tea have been spilled, it is rumored that the one he is involved with was going to be a bridesmaid for Sarah at their now-canceled wedding. But how did the rumor come about? For starters, it all happened at the Pro Bull Riders Event in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prescott attended the event, and so did the “almost” bridesmaid Caitlin Rance. Rance is a mutual friend of both Prescott and Sarah. However, after TMZ’s latest exclusive report, Prescott and Rancetwo may have something brewing in the background.

“Photos and videos taken at the event confirm they were both there … and we’ve heard from eyewitnesses that they looked a little more than just friends,” reported TMZ.

ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 27: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott 4 walks around after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs on November 27, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 27 Chiefs at Cowboys EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon1692511272099

The two have known each other since their days at Mississippi State University, where they overlapped briefly. But this time, overlapping briefly is not the exact phrase that can be used to describe them. Yes, two people can be at the same event, but their experiences seem different.

TMZ even called up Rance to confirm her stance on the relationship. Surprisingly, she passed the phone to the quarterback, who was likely sitting beside her. Prescott confirmed that they are nothing more than friends, but TMZ was not satisfied with the answer.

Surprisingly, the rumors surfaced two months after Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos broke their engagement.

Does Dak and Sarah’s breakup have something to do with Caitlin Rance?

Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos were together for about two and a half years, with the former couple confirming their relationship in November 2023. The former couple welcomed two daughters together, Margaret Jane and Aurora, and were supposed to get married on April 10, 2026, at Lake Como in Italy. However, with only a few weeks left before the wedding, the couple ended their engagement following a joint bachelor and bachelorette trip to the Bahamas.

As per Sarah, the reason behind the failed relationship was a disagreement about a prenup. It was also reported that the relationship was rocky “behind the scenes” with tension building up between the two. According to The New York Post’s Page Six, “a source familiar with the situation” came up with further allegations against Prescott. They mentioned Sarah accused Prescott of “ongoing infidelity issues,” which also acted as one of the major reasons for the fallout.

“Our source says Ramos and the Dallas Cowboys quarterback stayed behind after their friends left, at which point she found out that Prescott was allegedly using incognito social media profiles to send inappropriate messages to multiple women and ex-flings,” the report claims.

While they have been handling the custody of their two children in harmony post the break-up, many believe that something may be wrong from within. With the latest rumors about Caitlin Rance, who was supposed to be a bridesmaid, there is a question of whether she had something to do with the breakup.

Although it is not confirmed, holding a joint bachelor and bachelorette party could have included Rance also, since she was a bridesmaid. Maybe that is where Sarah caught Prescott’s “ongoing infidelity issues.”

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IU Female Student Helped Curt Cignetti & Co. Generate $400K Through Mascot Role, AD Confirms

Kamran Ahmad — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:46:53 GMT

Unlike other programs, the Indiana Hoosiers didn’t have a mascot for nearly 60 years after the school introduced one in 1965. The furry bison gathered dust in an unknown storeroom until, in 2021, student groups started demanding its comeback. Finally, in 2025, it made a spectacular appearance at Memorial Stadium against Old Dominion. The mascot parachuted into the stadium, did its signature gestures, and rode a motorcycle on the field as the crowd went into a frenzy. But little did anyone know that the furry bison’s costume was donned by a female athlete, and it ended up paying massive dividends.

“Students in the suit keep the secret until they graduate, then have a reveal. Standard everywhere. We have more than one,” Hoosiers’ senior associate Athletic Director Jeremy Gray wrote on X. “Abbey did a great job. We went 16-0 with it & it made us $400K in one year. Coaches (Cig included) and athletes love it. Hoosier stays.”

Abbey Armstrong graduated this year and made a quirky transition video, moving from the Bison’s costume to wearing the Hoosier jersey and doing all the signature moves she did all year.

1) Students in the suit keep the secret until they graduate, then have a reveal. Standard everywhere. We have more than one.

2) Abbey did a great job.

3) we went 16-0 with it & it made us $400K in one year

4) Coaches (Cig included) and athletes love it.

Hoosier stays https://t.co/3JHMN0CyaU

— Jeremy Gray (@IUJGray) May 15, 2026

Abbey, a native of Bloomington, Indiana, has loved the Hoosiers since her childhood and enrolled at the university in 2020. During her time at the program, she was a standout rowing athlete and rowed with the V4 crew during the Big 10 invitational even as a freshman. Not just that, she was also a part of the 2V8 crew in her junior year and helped her team reach the NCAA championships, finishing 16th nationally while featuring in every 2V8 race. Despite being a standout rowing athlete, Abbey could have chosen to be the mascot full-time if she had the option.

“Being one of the first people to be able to portray the character of ‘Hoosier the Bison’ was truly a dream come true,” Abbey said. “I’ve always told my friends that if we had a mascot, I would have been a mascot instead of being an athlete at IU. I was always just interested in that kind of experience. I was so lucky to still be at IU when the Bison was introduced. And not having a mascot before, there are a lot of things you have to learn along the way…”

After approving the mascot in 1965, the school largely ditched it because it created logistical issues. Its head was rather big at the time, and students faced difficulties in seeing through its nostrils. Not just that, former assistant Athletic Director Bob Dro even called it a “devil with a cheerleader in it.” And since Indiana football went through a down period at the time, the Bison became a forgotten relic. But now, Abbey has truly revived it and served the role with pride and perfection.

Abbey is now a rich part of the history, and since the Hoosiers won the national title in her stint as Indiana’s mascot, her contribution to rile up that crowd in the Memorial Stadium will have a place in the history books. But that’s not all the mascot helped Indiana do. It also appeared regularly in events, generating revenue for the program.

Abbey Armstrong helped generate revenue through several initiatives

In a 15-week-old video posted on HoosiertheBison’s IG account, the Bison was giving autographs to people promoting the program through several other events. However, they did not limit their appearances to football. Abbey also wore Indiana Hoosiers women’s basketball jerseys over her furry costume and attended several of the program’s basketball games. The mascot also appeared in a few weddings and even featured in a ‘dunk tank’ event for children. After all the craze for the Hoosier, the Bison rose steadily, and Abbey donned that role with utmost perfection.

“To me, Hoosier The Bison is a big man on campus, and he walks around campus, and he’s there to create moments with all these IU fans across the country and across the board,” Abbey said about the fandom of Hoosier The Bison. “I’ve grown up with the university, and so being able to be a part of this large cultural change and cultural shift has just been such a defining experience. I’ve gotten a lot from the university. It’s given me so much…”

Abbey donning IU’s mascot role in its first year of introduction signals a clear intent from the program. The program isn’t just breaking barriers on the field but off the field, too. Giving the mascot’s role to a female athlete in just its first year signals the cultural onus IU has taken and the push it is giving to break stereotypical discourses. That will exactly create a lasting legacy for the program.

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Rangers Battle Serious Trouble as World Series Champion Hospitalised With “Unexpected Illness”

Sourav Kumar Ghatak — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:39:58 GMT

The Rangers are currently standing with a 21-23 record in the AL West. Although that ranks them third in the division, offense is a concern. The team ranks 29th in terms of total runs scored (162) and 26th in terms of average (.226). And just when the team needed their sluggers to come back to life, their second baseman, Josh Smith, got hospitalised. There were no injuries, but for something anyone could have least expected.

“Rangers infielder Josh Smith to be hospitalized for at least one week with a viral meningitis diagnosis,” New York Post Sports shared via X.

As per the Rangers’ official update, Smith would stay in the hospital for at least a week. He is currently at a Dallas-based hospital, and that would be his address for the next 10 days. According to the Rangers GM, Ross Fenstermaker, top-rated care is getting offered to Smith, and his return and rehab would entirely be dependent on the medical report.

For now, Smith’s health remains the top priority. “Our only concern right now is Josh’s health,” Rangers president Chris Young said. The Rangers activated a 10-day IL for Smith. This could get altered depending on his health.

Rangers infielder Josh Smith to be hospitalized at least one week with viral meningitis diagnosis https://t.co/HWJXAYjtW1 pic.twitter.com/1NSUfYsDA3

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 16, 2026

Reportedly, Smith fell ill on Wednesday and was taken to the doctor. As per the CDC, viral meningitis could cause swelling around the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord. High fever, neck pain, and headache could be the common symptoms, but it was least expected that a regular MLB player would get diagnosed with this disease.

“This is obviously an unexpected illness, but we hope to see him return to full health and rejoin the club very soon,” Young added. A very few players in MLB have been diagnosed with viral meningitis before. The Red Sox’s Hideki Okajima was diagnosed during Spring Training in 2011, which caused him to be sidelined for a few weeks.

Smith has just returned from an IL on May 4. He was injured with a right glute strain and wrist inflammation. Just when he was pressing the gas pedal, he got hospitalised. Only since Marcus Semien was traded to the Mets has Smith taken over as the Rangers’ everyday second baseman. He started 26 games this season, hitting .217/.324/.239 across 108 plate appearances.

His 2024 and 2025 were hot, as he finished with a .258 and .251 average, respectively. He was also part of the Rangers’ 2023 World Series-winning campaign. Till last year, Smith mainly served as a utility player, and only after Semien’s departure this year did he get his fixed place at second base.

The Rangers’ offense is faltering, and Smith’s update came at the worst time. Still, there are a few more names the Rangers should be worried about.

The Rangers’ veteran slump is also looking scary

The 32-year-old Corey Seager is facing his career-worst slump. He recently went hitless in 27 consecutive at-bats, the longest drought of his career, dropping his season batting average to .179.

“You’re obviously still working on things, and you’d like to see some better results, but you’re not getting them,” Seager said on Wednesday. However, the team took a chance on Friday without Seager. The Rangers’ Friday game against the Astros had no Seager in the lineup. Reports indicate that the 32-year-old shortstop is being given a rest day.

Still, the Rangers’ lack of offensive options makes Seager an immovable piece from the lineup. The Rangers started with Ezequiel Duran at shortstop on Friday, but after Smith is sidelined, Duran might take over second base. “Corey still feels good to go,” manager Skip Schumaker said on Wednesday. “I like him in the lineup. So I’m going to continue putting him there if his body feels good and his mind is right. And it is, so that part is good.” Thus, despite Seager’s struggle, the Rangers need to stay with him.

Duran might now step into the everyday role at second base. His .301/.370/.452 slash line is what makes him a natural choice at second base after Smith. Justin Foscue also shared the second base during Smith’s previous IL stint. However, the Rangers now need power at the plate, and Duran fits the bill better. In that case, Seager might continue for now, and hopefully, he would soon start performing.

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“Unbelievable”: Detroit Journalist Catches Major Error That Sparks ‘Fixing’ Conspiracy Ahead of Pistons vs. Cavs Game 7

Ubong Richard — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:34:21 GMT

The Detroit Pistons came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Orlando Magic in the first round, winning three consecutive elimination games to advance. Now they have done it again, winning Game 6 in Cleveland 115-94 to force a decisive Game 7 back at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons have refused to be written off at every turn. But on Saturday, ABC wrote them off in a different way entirely, and a local radio journalist made sure nobody missed it.

Marc Ryan of 97.1 The Ticket caught an ABC promotional advertisement running on the national network that read: “Cavs vs. Knicks, Eastern Conference Finals, Game 1, Sunday.” The series hasn’t been decided yet. The winner of the Pistons-Cavaliers series is set to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, but ABC’s graphics team had already filled in the blank, with Cleveland’s name and Detroit was nowhere to be seen.

Ryan’s response was immediate. “Unbelievable,” he posted on X on May 16. “ABC runs a ‘Cavs vs. Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals ad. It claims Game 1 is [on] Sunday. That’s adorable. Make sure the Pistons see this.” He followed it with a clarification that removed any ambiguity about where the error originated: “Note: this is not our local affiliate’s fault. They receive these from the national network itself.”

Unbelievable. ABC runs a “Cavs vs. Knicks” Eastern Conference Finals ad.

It claims Game 1 is Sunday. That’s adorable. Make sure the Pistons see this.

🎥 @HOOriKANE

pic.twitter.com/46Vd7IdgVo

— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) May 16, 2026

The advertisement was not a rogue local edit or a scheduling placeholder that slipped through on a regional feed. It was produced at the national level and distributed to affiliates, meaning someone at ABC built a graphic assuming Cleveland would advance past Detroit before the series was over.

The Pistons have entered the postseason as the East’s top seed, going 60-22 in the regular season and earning home-court advantage throughout the Eastern bracket. Cade Cunningham has averaged 36.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in Games 5 through 7 of the first round alone, a performance that assumed Cleveland’s advancement looked not just premature, but uninformed.

The officiating context made the error land even harder. Cleveland won Game 5 in overtime, and in Game 6, the Pistons players and fans were vocally frustrated with the foul calls throughout. A nationally distributed ad effectively penciling in the Cavaliers before Game 7 tips off was the worst possible timing for a network already navigating scrutiny about how this series has been called.

Fans erupted with criticism on ABC

The response on X was swift and unified in its direction, if not always in its tone. “The game has already been decided, the NBA is fixed,” one fan wrote, connecting the advertisement directly to a larger pattern of perceived institutional bias. It was the bluntest version of a sentiment that ran through every reply: that a nationally produced graphic assuming Cleveland’s advancement was not a clerical error but a confirmation of something fans had suspected throughout the series.

Credit: IMAGN

“Nah, that’s actually insane. Somebody has to get fired,” posted another. The response cuts at the competence argument, that regardless of intent, a production team at a national broadcast network running an ECF ad before a Game 7 has been played represents a failure of basic editorial oversight that carries real professional consequences. “If that doesn’t tell you this game is fixed with these refs, don’t know what would,” a third fan wrote, tying the advertisement to the officiating narrative that has shadowed this series. The implication was explicit: the graphic and the whistle are part of the same system, and both are pointed in Cleveland’s direction.

A fourth fan went further, demanding organizational accountability. “The blatant disrespect, the league needs to shut this down and issue an apology to Detroit for this, and the narrative of a fix is on by the refs and the league, because that’s who they want to see. Show some respect to Detroit.” The call for an apology reflects something specific: this is not the first time the Pistons fan base has felt the city being sidelined by national media. Detroit’s first-round comeback from 3-1 down received a fraction of the coverage it would have generated had it happened in Los Angeles, Boston, or New York, a disparity that Pistons supporters have tracked closely throughout the playoffs.

That last fan made the broadest argument of all: “National media can’t stand Detroit, always trying to keep us down. I’m 100% convinced of that. Just one more reason why I’m so desperate to see all of our teams do well. Say nothing about it, just go win. Force them to acknowledge that Detroit is on top.” It is the response of a fan base that has learned to treat disrespect as fuel. Game 7 tips off Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena. ABC already knows who they think is going to the Conference Finals. Detroit intends to make them run a correction.

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'Said No Profanity': Rory McIlroy Attempts Damage Control After NSFW PGA Championship Slip-Up

Abhijit Raj — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:33:18 GMT

Forty-eight hours isn’t much time to regain composure at a major championship. For Rory McIlroy, though, it was just enough to turn his anger into a joke, and everyone in the Aronimink press room noticed right away. On Thursday, he left the 18th green looking ready to tear the course apart. By Saturday, he had entered the interview room already prepared with a joke.

When a reporter started by mentioning McIlroy’s one-word summary from Thursday, he quickly responded, “Better. I said no profanity today, so keep it clean.” The room burst out laughing. The joke worked because everyone had seen just how openly frustrated he was before; it was classic McIlroy.

Thursday’s opening round did not go as planned. McIlroy shot a four-over 74 at Aronimink, closing with four consecutive bogeys. This was the first time in many PGA Tour rounds that he had finished a round in this way. On the par-4 fourth hole, his tee shot faded right into thick rough. He drove his TaylorMade Qi4D into the turf and appeared to shout an expletive that was picked up on broadcast microphones, as reported. The week had already started with issues. His regular driver was ruled non-conforming before play began, which forced him to switch equipment at the last minute. After the round, he addressed the driving problem directly.

“I’m just not driving the ball well enough. It’s been a problem all year for the most part.”

Rory HOT mic !!! pic.twitter.com/rJCgQADxEM

— Elijah Collins (@Ecollins2727) May 19, 2023

After Round 1, he spent time on the range, reviewed TrackMan data, and identified a path issue. He adjusted his right shoulder in transition. In Round 2, he shot a 67 with five birdies and avoided mistakes late in the round. He finished the day one-over for the championship, five shots behind co-leaders Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley going into the weekend. At Saturday’s press conference, he dismissed the idea that emotion was the main factor.

“I wouldn’t say roller coaster of emotions. I didn’t play particularly well — I had a really bad finish on Thursday, but at the end of the day, I was only seven back.”

He looked for an example that spoke for itself.

“I thought back to last year’s Masters. I was seven back after the first day, and I was two ahead going into the final day.”

This shows how he has learned to spot his own weak moments and work through them. He set small goals each day, like aiming for even par on Day 2 and five-under on Day 3. Even when he missed those marks, he kept pushing forward. By Saturday morning, he was close to the lead.

“I’ve climbed my way out of that hole a little bit, which is — I’m proud of myself for doing that.”

McIlroy’s actions on the course have always drawn attention from more than just the leaderboard. His week at Aronimink is part of a bigger trend that modern broadcasts have made clear to everyone.

Rory McIlroy and golf’s hot-mic culture: When emotion becomes the story

At the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, a microphone picked up his profanity after a poor tee shot on hole 14. In the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, he threw a club down the fairway and broke a tee marker during a difficult second round.

A year earlier at the BMW Championship, he threw a club into a water hazard. McIlroy has always been open with his emotions on the course, and cameras now expect it.

He was not the only one showing frustration at Aronimink on Thursday. Justin Thomas let go of his iron after a missed tee shot on the par-3 14th. Jon Rahm’s anger had bigger consequences when an air swing after a poor approach on hole 7 sent a divot into the face of an elderly volunteer, something Rahm immediately called “inexcusable.” McIlroy also pointed out that Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry had both complained about the course setup after the first round. These days, major championship coverage often highlights players’ emotions on the course, sometimes even more than the leaderboard.

There is one round left at Aronimink, a course Scheffler described as having the toughest pin positions he has seen. McIlroy entered Saturday’s press conference already clear about how he would approach the rest of the week, and his opening remarks reflected that.

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Stefon Diggs Reconnects With Ex-GF Days After Heated Public Argument With Cardi B

Priyanko Chakraborty — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:24:47 GMT

Since the former New England Patriots receiver became a free agent, Stefon Diggs’ NFL career is on the back burner. So, he is prioritising some off-the-field tasks that are landing him in headlines. It all started around the Super Bowl, when Cardi B and Diggs unfollowed each other on social media.

Following that, they broke up shortly after welcoming a baby together last year. Now, as reports of their reconciliation just started coming, another update followed shortly about Stefon Diggs’ latest link-up with ex-girlfriend Aileen Lopera.

Stefon Diggs reconnected with Aileen Lopera for their daughter, Charlie Harper’s first birthday. It was a beautiful celebration with the birthday girl dressed in violet and the background filled with pink curtains and balloons matching the theme. The birthday cake, a huge five-story design, was customized in pastel hues of pink, lilac, powder blue, butter yellow, with cute elements like the animal kingdom, a massive white bow, tiny balloons, etc., added all over it.

“Stefon Diggs links up with baby mama for their daughter’s birthday bash amid reunion with Cardi B!” posted PopStrom on X.

Stefon Diggs links up with baby mama for their daughter’s birthday bash amid reunion with Cardi B! 🧐

(Source: Videos via Instagram/@cayy.benji) pic.twitter.com/0QsYn4x8yO

— PopStrom (@PStrom50480) May 16, 2026

Stefon’s ex, Aileen, who is a social media influencer, wore a Barbie pink dress, and the WR was wearing a striped shirt and blue jeans. The two posed in front of the cameras while holding their daughter together and seemed genuinely happy celebrating this milestone.

In December 2024, while Aileen was pregnant with Charlie, she filed a paternity suit against Diggs for legal and physical custody of the child and for Diggs to only be given visitation rights. She also requested that the former Patriots player pay all her pregnancy-related expenses at that time.

Diggs responded to the lawsuit in 2025, after Charlie’s birth, and requested a paternity test, as he was reportedly “not certain” of the paternity. He was willing to help Lopera if he were the father, while also requesting joint legal and joint physical custody at the same time. The test results came back positive in November 2025, and in January 2026, the social media personality withdrew her lawsuit.

“Now that the child’s paternity has been established and Mr. Diggs has acknowledged his daughter, my client hopes they can work toward being great parents to their child,” Lopera’s attorney, Arminak, shared in a statement.

For now, the former couple only came together to celebrate Charlie turning one, and haven’t reconciled. As for Stefon, he is currently not just making headlines for the celebrations, but also for his and Cardi B’s recent public appearance together, where the latter appeared to be shouting at him.

Stefon Diggs and Cardi B get into a heated argument

Following their breakup earlier this year, Cardi was seen attending the NFL star’s Diggs Deep Foundation wellness event celebrating Mother’s Day in Washington, D.C. The former Patriots WR even kissed her on the side of the head, and the two were hanging all over each other at the event. Together, they even greeted and welcomed everyone who attended the event.

Things were looking good, but a few days later, TMZ reported that the couple was arguing outside a Maryland coffee shop in Burtonsville. The fight lasted for at least 10 minutes. The rapper looked pretty animated, throwing her hands in the air and her expressions clearly signalling that she was yelling at Diggs.

On the other hand, Diggs was leaning back against his sports car with his arms crossed. The saga seems to be far from over. According to TMZ, a source claimed to overhear Cardi B saying, “That bitch is messy.” But who she was referring to remains unclear. Security prevented fans from getting closer to her for an autograph.

The situation seems to have escalated pretty quickly. It was only a few days back that the two were chummy, and now they are back to their breakup phase.

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‘Bigger Problems to Worry About’: 13X PGA Tour Champ Dismisses Rory McIlroy’s Complaints About Aronimink

Roshni Dhawan — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:09:00 GMT

While golfers like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at the 2026 PGA Championship have been open about their frustrations with the pin locations, at least one player in the field has made his stance clear. After carding 65 in Saturday’s third round, Justin Rose was asked about his opinion on Aronimink’s much-debated pin placement. And he does not agree with the infamous hype.

“I had bigger problems to worry about.” He said in the post-round conference, “I was just trying to get my game going, and maybe I didn’t notice how difficult the flags were. I kind of felt like I wasn’t chasing them anyway, to be honest with you.”

Justin Rose played the first two rounds on the same green in the same wind, facing the same pins as every other player in the field. And he, too, struggled. He secured a 73 in round one and another 73 in round two, surviving the cut only because he holed out a chip for eagle on the final hole of Friday’s round.

He seemed to have made adjustments and was working on a couple of things before round three. He entered on Saturday morning and put the ball in play off the tee. He carded six birdies and no bogeys on the moving day. He sure had a good day, but he does not pretend that the pins were easy.

“There were a lot of shots; even when you were on the green from 30 to 40 feet, you would be hitting putts up to those pins and looking at it, and it was just very awkward,” he said. “You can’t have it both ways. You can’t have 40-yard-wide fairways and middle-of-the-green pins.”

Aronimink is a shorter course by major championship standards, designed by Donald Ross in the golden age of golf. Because the par fours aren’t long enough to require long irons into the greens, players are hitting wedges at most of them. The PGA of America setup, overseen by Kerry Haig, placed the flags precisely to offset that advantage. Rose also pointed out that the pin positions were not even improvised. Dots were marked on the greens before the week even began.

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As we have seen the entire week, the complaints about the pins’ location have been loud. Rory McIlroy called the bunch leaderboard “a sign of not-great setup,” arguing it failed to separate the better players from the rest. Scottie Scheffler went further, calling the pin placements “kind of absurd.”

Interestingly, not everyone in the field has been struggling, and that may be the clearest argument against the complaints.

Maverick McNealy, the 36-hole co-leader, has been keeping the ball in the right parts of the greens, avoiding the slopes that were catching everyone else out. Aldrich Potgieter, who shared the lead at points during the second round, also put it plainly.

“I didn’t feel like I had to putt over some of these big slopes. I definitely put myself in a really good position on the greens.”

Perhaps the course is rewarding patience and positioning over aggression, which is exactly what a major setup is supposed to do. Having said that, the biggest story surrounding Rose this week had nothing to do with pin positions.

Can Justin Rose’s iron form hold at the biggest moment?

The 13-time PGA Tour champion switched to McLaren irons in late April, and the numbers since have not been encouraging. Before the switch, Rose ranked 28th in the strokes gained on approach across seven tournaments.

In the three events after that, that figure has dropped sharply, ranking him 59th. He finished outside the top 60 at both the Cadillac Championship and the Truist Championship after debuting the new equipment. Rose came into the PGA Championship already defending his decision publicly.

“The fact I haven’t played great the last two weeks has nothing to do with the irons,” he said ahead of the tournament.

His caddie, Mark Fulcher, one of the most experienced loopers on the Tour, was similarly unbothered. Rose’s Saturday round, where he led the strokes-gained approach in the field, gave some weight to that confidence.

The 2013 U.S. Open champion has never won the PGA Championship but maybe this is the year he takes home the Wanamaker trophy.

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