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Canadiens Players To Attend Hockey Fest

On Sunday, August 23, the Galeries Saint-Hyacinthe will host the Hockey Fest. The day should be a delight for Montreal Canadiens fans, as Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj, and former Hab Chris Nilan will be on hand to meet fans. The event will run from 10:00 to 17:00, and attendees can register to take part in a skills challenge with the players. Spots are limited, and the only way to book yours is to attend.

The players will be present from 11:30 to 15:00, and fans who register for the skills challenge can get personalized souvenir cards. Every 30 minutes from 11:30 to 15:00, there will be an official Habs jersey to be won. Gift cards from the shopping center will also be drawn at random. Winners have to be on site to claim their prize. Canadiens’ mascot Youppi! will also be in attendance, and there will be some fun games in the animated zone to test attendees’ reflexes. The event is free to attend, and it’s a great activity to take the kids to before the dreaded back-to-school week.

Ducks Prospect Gives Ringing Endorsement Of New Canadiens Player
Former Canadiens Player To Have Number Retired Overseas
Much Like The Young Canadiens, Eventually The Front Office Will Have To Evolve

While there is still over a month to go before the start of the season, defenseman Xhekaj remains an RFA and in need of a new contract. One has to wonder whether the Canadiens will manage to ink the fan favorite before training camp starts, or if something else is in the works given the congestion on the Canadiens’ blueline.

With Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Hutson, Alexandre Carrier and Kaiden Guhle having established themselves as regulars, there is little space remaining for Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, and rookies Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher, who are now knocking on the NHL’s door. Something will have to give, and while fans are unlikely to want to see Xhekaj go, he remains one of the top candidates for a move given how little ice time Martin St-Louis seems willing to give him.

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Three top remaining NBA free agents: Where things stand with Jalen Duren, Jonathan Kuminga, Bennedict Mathurin

Klay Thompson is heading to Miami. Peyton Watson is going to Cleveland on a sign-and-trade. With Watson locked up, James Harden has agreed to re-sign with the Cavaliers. DeMar DeRozan will play next season with the Denver Nuggets.

The free agent market is thinning out, but there are still three very interesting names still unsigned. While two of them are restricted free agents, there are plenty of questions surrounding them now. Let's get into where things stand with Jalen Duren, Jonathan Kuminga and Bennedict Mathurin.

Jalen Duren (restricted)

Detroit is trying to walk a fine line with Jalen Duren: Save money but keep the All-NBA big man happy and in the Motor City. So far, it has not gone well, and the question becomes, will it backfire?

So far, negotiations between the sides have been "noxious," as one league source put it to NBC Sports. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill put it this way recently on "The Hoop Collective" podcast: "There's certain things that a player should not have to hear. You know what I mean? There's certain things that a player does not have to hear when the messaging comes back about why you're not getting what you believe to be your value."

Duren believes he is a max player. While internally the Pistons may think Ausar Thompson is their second most important player (he is also extension-eligible), in practice Duren was the second-best player on a 60-win team last season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing elite defense in the paint. He was a first-time All-Star and All-NBA player, a guy who has strong on-court chemistry with Cade Cunningham. This team does not win 60 games last season without him. The All-NBA nod makes Duren eligible for a "Rose rule" contract of up to 30% of this season's salary cap (a max of five years, $287 million), although he will likely be happy with the 25% max of $239 million over five years (what Victor Wembanyama took this summer).

All that ignores the playoffs. When things got physical and intense in the playoffs, Duren was a shell of the guy from the regular season. Duren averaged just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and had a negative plus/minus for the postseason. By midway through the second-round series against Cleveland, Duren was finding himself benched in key minutes for third-string center Paul Reed, who was much more of a positive impact. Pistons fans were begging for less Duren and more Reed.

Because of that performance, the Pistons reportedly are offering something in the lower $30 million-a-year range. Duren's camp will rightfully push back, noting that is what the Lakers just paid Walker Kessler ($32.5 million a season average), and he hasn't accomplished anything yet. Alperen Sungun got five years, $185 million from Houston a season ago ($37 million a season average), and the Pistons are offering less.

Duren's only other option is to play for the $9.6 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next season and give him veto power over any trades. However, that would be a huge risk for Duren. Even at the Pistons' "lowball" offer, that's something in the ballpark of $130 million over four years — that's generational wealth and a lot of money to leave on the table at age 22, risking a severe fluke injury or a bad season that takes money off the table next summer.

The sides have until the start of training camp to figure this out, but the concern is that the bad blood from these negotiations will spill into the season no matter the outcome.

There should be a middle ground. Something for five years in the $190-$200 million range seems fair considering Duren's value but playoff struggles, but we'll see where this lands. And how much bad blood there is when all is said and done.

Jonathan Kuminga

Kuminga's options are increasingly limited. With Watson headed to Cleveland, that sign-and-trade destination is off the table for the athletic wing and shrinks his choices.

Two teams are at the table: The Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which team is in the driver's seat depends on which source one talks to.

Ultimately, Kuminga is stuck because it's highly unlikely he's going to get the money he wants — Atlanta did not pick up his $24.3 million team option and Kuminga initially hoped for a deal in the ballpark, or at least above the mid-level exception. He turned down the Lakers' early offer of two years, $20 million, with a key role on the team to boost his value and a deal that gets him back on the market quickly, but Kuminga reportedly rejected that because he thought it was a lowball. Now, he might be lucky to get that.

The Lakers and Hawks talked sign-and-trade earlier this summer, but those talks stalled out because Atlanta is not looking to add salary (it is only $3.8 million below the luxury tax line, and Kuminga currently counts as zero for them). Or, at least Atlanta is not interested without a quality draft pick as an incentive, and the Lakers would not go there. Also, Atlanta currently has 17 players under contract heading into training camp and needs to shed at least two, not add players.

The Lakers and Hawks are talking sign-and-trade again, with guard Jaden Hardey reportedly in the conversation (he makes $6 million this season), while previously that was Jared Vanderbilt ($12.4 million).

Kuminga's other issue? Any sign-and-trade contract has to be for at least three years. That would lock him into a deal he believes is below his market value for longer than he wants.

Which is why Minnesota sits there, with $6 million of its mid-level exception that he can walk right into, no sign-and-trade. He'd get to play with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst put it this way on his Hoop Collective Podcast:

"Watch the Wolves in the next couple days... It's still open, there's still a window for the Lakers to do a Kuminga sign-and-trade. A sign-and-trade has to be three years. Now that these other doors are closing, the Timberwolves can close that deal and sign Kuminga."

Kuminga reportedly likes the idea of playing for the Lakers — who would start him at the four — as a better fit.

But is he? Kuminga wants to be a scorer, he's wanted the ball in his hands. In Los Angeles, where Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have the ball, will he fit into the system and play a role? It's the same question in Minnesota. Before you say "of course he will," remember that clash was at the core of his issues with Steve Kerr in Golden State.

Bennedict Mathurin (restricted)

This is a much more complex situation, in part because of the limbo the Clippers are in with the Aspiration investigation ongoing and, with that, the Kawhi Leonard-to-Toronto trade, which is hung up.

Last season, Mathurin showed his potential as a scorer after coming to the Clippers from Indiana in the Ivica Zubac trade, averaging 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the 26 games he played. He also showed his weaknesses, shooting 20.7% from 3-point range, and with nearly as many turnovers as assists.

The Clippers have said they are interested in bringing him back (at a price they like), but their actions have said he is not a priority. If/when the Leonard trade goes through, the Clippers will have 17 contracts on the roster (although Cam Christie's is non-guaranteed), they already have to trade or waive players a couple of players before the season starts, and that is without Mathurin in the fold.

There have been teams poking around a sign-and-trade — Chicago, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Detroit and Dallas have been rumored — but nothing has come of that so far.

Mathurin's best option could be to play for his $8.8 million qualifying offer and become a free agent next offseason. Unlike Duren, Mathurin isn't leaving hundreds of millions on the table doing so, he can prove he deserves more and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, that comes with a risk. Playing for the qualifying offer last season worked out for Quentin Grimes (signed for four years, $60 million with the Lakers), but Cam Thomas did as well and is without a contract this season as of now.

Mathurin doesn't have to make that call until Oct. 1, so he can let things play out and then make a call, but that option is on the table.

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Former Sacramento Kings trainer alleges pregnancy discrimination

A former Sacramento Kings employee is suing the organization, alleging pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Crystal Lee, a former assistant athletic trainer with the Kings from 2022 to 2025, filed the complaint with the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County on Aug. 11, alleging she was treated unfairly and demoted twice after becoming pregnant and giving birth to her son.

Lee's representative, Robert King of King & Siegel LLP, told USA TODAY in a statement that they intend to prove their allegations.

"Crystal Lee broke a barrier that had stood for the entire history of the NBA. The Kings' answer was to tell her she was '(expletive)' for having a baby, demote her twice, hand her job to a man, and fire her the moment she spoke up. A team that sells itself on empowering women owes an explanation," King said. "You don't get to brand yourself as a champion for women and then push out the first athletic trainer in league history to give birth on the job. We intend to prove exactly what happened here."

The Kings denied Lee's allegations and said they intend to defend the organization.

"The Sacramento Kings categorically deny these allegations and reject the characterization of the organization and its workplace reflected in these claims made by a disgruntled former employee," Kings attorney Alexis Gabrielson, a partner at Cook Brown, LLP, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

"The Kings take allegations of discrimination and harassment seriously and are committed to maintaining a workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. The organization intends to vigorously defend against these claims through the legal process and will not comment further on the pending proceedings," Gabrielson added.

The NBA did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY message for comment.

'Your life is ruined after you have kids': Court docs detail claims

Lee made multiple accusations regarding her treatment over three years of employment with the Kings.

According to the lawsuit, Lee informed her supervisor, Senior Director of Athletic Health Jaspreet Randhawa, during the 2022-23 season that she was pregnant to which he allegedly responded by laughing and saying "you're (expletive)."

Court documents allege Randhawa shared his opinion of Lee's pregnancy, telling her "your life is ruined after you have kids." Randhawa allegedly made additional comments, disparaging caretaking obligations more generally and the inconvenience he believed they posed, the lawsuit said.

Lee alleged that Randhawa cultivated a work environment that prioritized an "around the clock" schedule without days off and anyone who couldn't uphold that standard was not worthy of being on the team, the lawsuit stated.

According to the court document, Lee went on maternity leave on May 17, 2023, the day her son was born. She returned from leave a couple of months later in July.

New mother allegedly demoted twice, prevented from traveling

The lawsuit states that one month before Lee began her maternity leave, the Kings decided that she would no longer be able to travel post-pregnancy.

She was "benched" from any Kings road games, leaving travel options to the discretion of the team staff, court documents said. The lawsuit says Lee was prevented from traveling with the team in February 2023. She tended to players during home games only through the end of the season on April 30, 2023.

Lee was not given the opportunity to return to her position as assistant athletic trainer and the team hired a third assistant trainer to replace her, according to the lawsuit.

She was demoted twice, according to court documents. In April 2023, she received her first demotion, the lawsuit states, when Lee was moved to a remote position as an "administrator, health & performance / assistant athletic trainer."

The lawsuit says Lee was told the demotion would only be temporary. When she requested to resume her duties, including travel, Randhawa and head athletic trainer Joel Noland told her they did not need her, and instead she was replaced by the latest hire, the court document states.

The second demotion occurred in September 2024 when her "athletic trainer" title and Lee's duties were removed, according to court documents.

Kings basketball operations personnel mentioned in lawsuit

Lee's allegations went beyond the team's athletic health department. According to the lawsuit, members of the Kings basketball operations were also included in her claims alleging retaliation, sexual harassment and discrimination.

The lawsuit mentions the following but doesn't name them as defendants: Kings former assistant general manager Wes Wilcox, current general manager Scott Perry, Vice President of Player Personnel Phil Jabour, head coach Doug Christie and former intern Cameron Brown, the son of former Kings coach Mike Brown.

Wilcox is mentioned after another athletic trainer voiced concerns of Randhawa's managing style, to which he responded, "whatever (he) says is what we do," the lawsuit alleges.

Jabour was named in the lawsuit after Lee said she met with him and Randhawa on April 18, 2025, to discuss career development opportunities upcoming in the offseason. Lee voiced concerns to both during the meeting that she was being "excluded and stripped of her athletic training responsibilities because she had a child," the lawsuit stated.

Court documents allege that Jabour did not respond to Lee's complaints or her concerns of discrimination, but instead told her there was "no space" to have a hands-on role with the Kings, as an athletic trainer. Jabour offered to transfer Lee to another team, according to the lawsuit, which said Lee was offered opportunities to work for several teams including the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.

According to the lawsuit, Lee allegedly voiced her concerns to Perry and the court document claims that he responded saying "complainers will not be tolerated" and that he would "fire everybody" if complaints persisted.

The lawsuit alleged sexual harassment claims involving Christie and Brown. Lee claimed in the lawsuit that Christie made sexual glances at her. Court documents allege that Christie would conclude the encounter by saying "don't report me to HR."

The lawsuit alleges that Brown repeatedly harassed Lee with invitations to hang out outside of work, to which Lee declined or at times, ignored.

Lawsuit: Lee went to HR before being fired

Lee took her complaints to Kings Senior Vice President of Human Resources Stacy Wegzyn to share her fear of retaliation, according to the lawsuit, and Wegzyn took Lee's concerns to Perry, the Kings GM.

Lee met with Perry and Wegzyn on June 12, 2025 when she was subsequently fired. According to Wegzyn, the reason for Lee's termination was failure to meet performance expectations, the lawsuit states. Lee claims none of her pregnancy discrimination concerns were addressed or investigated.

Lee alleges that the entire incident has prevented her from other opportunities. According to the lawsuit, she interviewed with a National Women's Soccer League club but did not receive a call back when she explained her tenure with the Kings.

Lee requested a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Former Sacramento Kings trainer alleges pregnancy discrimination

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Vegas Hockey President Defends the Golden Knights’ Most Controversial Decisions

George McPhee knows exactly what people see when they look at some of the players the Vegas Golden Knights have brought into their organization.

They see baggage.

They see uncomfortable headlines, questionable decisions and, in some cases, behavior that caused other teams to stay away. They see players whose pasts did not simply disappear because they eventually put on a Golden Knights jersey.

McPhee sees something else.

He sees young people who made mistakes, and he believes those mistakes should not necessarily become a life sentence.

Speaking recently on the Cam and Strick Podcast, the Golden Knights’ president of hockey operations offered his clearest explanation yet for why Vegas has repeatedly been willing to take chances on players whose backgrounds might make other organizations hesitate.

“You can’t stop young people from being young, right? They’re going to make mistakes,” McPhee said.

That philosophy is hardly revolutionary. People make mistakes. Young people, in particular, can make spectacularly poor decisions before they fully understand the consequences of their actions. A teenager who does something reckless at 14 or 16 should not automatically be judged as though they are the same person at 25.

But there is an uncomfortable question on the other side of McPhee’s argument:

Where does giving someone a second chance end, and where does accountability begin?

That question has become increasingly relevant in Vegas.

Carter Hart arrived in the organization after being charged in connection with an alleged 2018 sexual assault involving members of Canada’s World Junior team. Hart and the four other players charged in the case were acquitted by an Ontario judge in July 2025. That legal outcome matters, and it should not be ignored. But the controversy surrounding the case did not simply vanish with the verdict. Hockey Canada has continued to impose suspensions on several of the players, including Hart, who is banned from representing Canada through 2027.

Then there is Trevor Connelly, whose history includes incidents from his teenage years. The most widely documented involved a 14-year-old Connelly being suspended from school after allegedly urinating on another player’s equipment. At 16, he also posted a photograph depicting a swastika made from children’s blocks, later apologized and underwent diversity training and community service. He was also suspended after being accused of using racial slurs, although that suspension was overturned after the league found no evidence supporting the allegation.

Kai Uchacz’s past includes another troubling incident. He and a teammate were removed from the Seattle Thunderbirds roster after bullying their lone Black teammate in a racist incident.

These are not identical situations. They should not be lumped together as though they carry the same weight, and the available evidence surrounding them is not equally strong.

That distinction is important.

So is McPhee’s larger point.

“If we start cancelling good people who made a mistake, it’s not the right thing to do,” he said. “Just imagine some of these good kids who made a mistake and people forgave them for it and they turn out to be really good adults.”

It is difficult to argue with the basic premise. A person’s worst decision as a teenager should not automatically determine the rest of their life. There has to be room for remorse, rehabilitation and genuine change. Otherwise, what exactly does a second chance mean?

But second chances also require something from the person receiving them.

They require accountability.

Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Rehabilitation does not erase what happened. And being young at the time of an incident can provide important context without making the incident meaningless.

That is the line Vegas appears increasingly comfortable walking.

The Golden Knights are willing to bet that a person’s future can matter more than their past. McPhee is essentially saying that the organization would rather evaluate who these players can become than permanently define them by who they were when they were younger.

“We’re willing to give young people who make mistakes a second chance,” McPhee said. “And God help us if we ever stop doing that.”

It is a defensible philosophy. It is also one that comes with considerable responsibility.

Because when an organization decides to give someone another opportunity, it is not asking everyone else to forget what happened. It is asking them to believe that the person standing in front of them today is capable of being better than the person who made the mistake yesterday.

The Golden Knights seem more willing than most to make that bet. Morals be damned, winning a Stanley Cup is what matters most. At least, that’s the message Vegas continues to send.

And, judging by McPhee’s comments, they have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

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Jordan double stuns South Africa as New Zealand clinch statement victory

  • First Test: South Africa 16-33 New Zealand

  • All Blacks score five tries against world champions

As first courses go, this was a delicious appetiser to a series that looks on course to live up to its billing. First blood goes to New Zealand, who withstood a barrage of South Africa scrum pressure and demonstrated a slickness that the double world champions could not live with, clinching a first win at Ellis Park since 2022.

By the end, South Africa had two men in the sin-bin and, given their status as the world’s leading side, this must goe down as a disintegration. There will be a backlash – it is hard to remember a time when South Africa were so inaccurate with the ball in hand – but credit New Zealand for producing a masterclass at weathering the storm and taking their chances.

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New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Ryan Weathers vs. Dylan Cease

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: A detailed photo of the Players Weekend belt worn by Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Winning is nice. I like winning. Do you like winning? The Yankees have been winning.

With a victory in the Bronx last night, the Bombers have clinched a winning week, and will have two opportunities to make it a perfect week. Meanwhile, the Orioles, whom they just swept, bounced back to beat the Rays for the fourth time this week. That assistance from Baltimore has allowed New York to pull within three games of first place in the AL East.

The Yankees grabbed the initiative in the first of 10 games in this critical late-August homestand, finding more answers than the Blue Jays in a 3-1 win. Cam Schlittler wasn’t his absolute best, but still kept Toronto at bay while a hulking homer from Spencer Jones which just stayed fair proved the pivotal highlight. This Saturday afternoon will feature a familiar matchup on the mound as New York looks to take the series and get their revenge for last weekend.

I’m feeling some personal dèja vu from my last recap, which involved the Yankees playing the Blue Jays—with Ryan Weathers against Dylan Cease as the pitching matchup. That game, if you’ll recall, ended with the ever-so-rare extra-innings win on the road (despite a ninth-inning debacle) which kicked off the current five-game winning streak they find themselves riding. Ben Rice hit a huge two-run homer in the 10th inning to atone for his critical error the previous frame, and the Bombers escaped with a 1-2 split of that weekend’s battle.

Weathers and Cease both pitched brilliantly, but both ended with no-decisions. Cease left on the hook for the loss thanks to a booming double by George Lombard Jr. followed by an RBI hit from José Caballero (and a failed a Matrix choreography shoot). Weathers completed his sixth consecutive quality start with 7.1 innings of one-run ball, continuing his sensational second half. If he continues this roll and the bats meet him halfway, we could be looking at a breezy series win. We’ll see if the Jays have adjusted their approach from then.

It’s a day game after a night game, so there are some changes to announce from last night’s lineup. With the right-handed Cy Young candidate Cease on the hill, Aaron Boone’s card will look more familiar. Trent Grisham goes back to his leadoff spot ahead of Rice and Heliot Ramos. Luis García Jr. and Jones will bat ahead of Lombard in the middle third, then Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and third baseman Caballero pull up the rear. Hello Kitty will unfortunately not be able to come off the bench today.

For what it’s worth: the struggling Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was placed on the concussion IL the previous weekend, is back in the Blue Jays’ lineup. New Jersey icon Davis Schneider was optioned to make room. Guerrero has obviously played quite a bit better at Yankee Stadium than at Rogers Centre. It’s a shame the latter is his home ballpark.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

First pitch: 1:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

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Two decades later Dustin Pedroia is a Red Sox legend…

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 30: Dustin Pedroia #64 of the Boston Red Soxs bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California on August 30, 2006. The Athletics defeated the Red Sox 7-2. (Photo by Don Smith/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Twenty years ago today, Dustin Pedroia made his major league debut in Anaheim. It was a big moment for Red Sox Nation. The transition from the 2003-2005 Red Sox teams was happening and they were calling up a player who would define the next decade of Boston baseball.

In both the April and June updates to the SoxProspects rankings, Pedroia was the #4 prospect in the system. He was behind legends like Jonathan Papelbon (who would graduate while holding down the closer job), Jon Lester, Craig Hansen, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Hansen aside, that’s quite the top four guys.

Think of the possible back of the bullpen for 2006…

Pedroia was a second round draft pick in 2004 and made it to the majors just about two year later. As a shortstop. Yes, for a time there was a middle infield logjam with Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Jed Lowrie. No one knew who would shake out at second base and shortstop. Well, Theo probably knew. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis were taking the other two spots because of another trade. That trade was Hanley finding himself on the Marlins in exchange for Josh Beckett, the aforementioned Lowell, and of course, Guillmero Mota.

The rest of the lineup against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that August night?

Coco Crisp, CF

Mark Loretta, 2B

David Ortiz, DH

Kevin Youkilis, 1B

Wily (not Fitzy) Mo Peña, LF

Mike Lowell 3B

Doug Mirabelli, C

Gabe Kapler, RF

and of course, Dustin Pedroia, SS.

Seeing Mirabelli listed you probably have a good idea who the starting pitcher was. You would be wrong.

This game was started by Kyle Snyder! Before he became the slow-walking pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Rays he was a pitcher for the Red Sox.

Snyder would be relieved by Kason Gabbard and Manny Delcarman.

Pedroia would be pinch hit for by Manny Ramirez. Manny doesn’t usually pinch hit at all, mostly because he’s in the lineup already. But there he was, ready to go.

The Sox would go on to lose that game but Dustin Pedroia would collect his first hit (a single to center field off Joe Saunders) and go on to have a great career. Starting with his Rookie of the Year the very next season. And an MVP. And three World Series rings.

He wasn’t even #15 yet in 2006. But he was a dirt dog.

Pedroia wouldn’t hit his first home run for a few more games – September 9th 2006 – and since the MLB Filmroom has zero Pedroia moments from his #64 days, I’ve taken the liberty of tracking it down.

Classic Don and Jerry reactions.

I’m sure someday he’ll start appearing as a regular in the Legends Box during Sox games and will get a fantastic response each time.

Can you believe it’s been 20 years? Do you have a favorite memory of Pedroia? A game you were at or watched?

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Giancarlo Stanton strains left calf while rehabbing, may not return in 2026

The chances of New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton playing in the regular season have become more unlikely as he suffered another lower leg injury, this time a moderate-grade strain in his left calf.

Stanton was already on the injured list with a right calf injury, and this latest setback happened while he was running the bases during his rehab stint.

The 36-year-old has not played since April 24, and in his 24 games played, he hit .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

"We're not ruling anything out," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, Aug. 22. "He'll obviously continue to work to try to get it right and hopefully be available. But obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but you also never know."

Even with the absence of Stanton and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge, who has missed 70 games this season because of a right rib stress fracture, the Yankees' power surge hasn't gone away, as they lead the AL in home runs with 176, in part due to the emergence of designated hitter Ben Rice, who has 34 home runs.

Stanton has two seasons remaining on a 13-year, $325 million contract he signed in 2014 when he was with the Miami Marlins. Next year, he is due $25 million, and the 2028 season is a club option with a $10 million buyout.

"Obviously, I'm bummed for him," Boone said. "He's been working his tail off every day here trying to get this thing right. I think you all know how badly he wants to be on that field contributing to a championship, so obviously that's disappointing. Hopefully, we just continue to work to get him right and healthy."

New York entered Saturday with a 73-55 record, good for second place in the AL East, three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giancarlo Stanton strains left calf while rehabbing, may not return in 2026

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Brentford v Tottenham: Premier League – live

⚽ New-look Spurs make short trip to Brentford. 5.30pm (BST) KO
⚽ Today’s scores | Sign up for Football Daily | Mail Scott

The teams are out! Brentford wear their red and white stripes, while Spurs are in their blue, pink, purple and many more colours away kit. According to the marketing blurb, which presumably took upwards of 30 seconds to write, these are “never-before-seen visuals inspired by never-before-seen destinations”. They haven’t even tried to make anything up. No spurious allusions to local industry, significant figures, bus routes? Proper feet-on-the-desk vibes there. Anyway, we’ll be off in a minute.

Roberto De Zerbi speaks to Sky. “We have big confidence because all three [debut defenders] are very important players with experience and qualities … we have no problem with them … [Archie Gray, stand-in captain for the day] is very young but has a big personality … he deserves to be captain today … we do not have the complete squad today … but no excuses … the quality is enough to complete … [Brentford] have a clear style … very strong … we have to adapt … the Premier League is a very tough competition and we have to play in our way.”

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Wiebes wins Tour of Britain Women stage four as Le Court maintains overall lead

  • Dutch cyclist secures third stage win of 2026 event

  • Liane Lippert finishes second, Le Court third

Lorena Wiebes secured her third stage win of the 2026 Tour of Britain Women while Kim Le Court maintained the overall lead after stage four.

Riders departed from Llanidloes in Mid Wales and passed through Rhayader and the Elan Valley, climbing at the Cambrian Mountains before the route took them to Nantmel, Crossgates, Bleddfa and Knighton.

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Ozzie Albies gets DH day as Braves look to even series at Brewers

Aug 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mauricio Dubón’s versatility continues to be a major asset for the Braves.

He’s playing second base for the second time this season for Saturday’s 2:10 p.m. ET game at the Milwaukee Brewers, giving Ozzie Albies a rare designated hitter day.

This is well timed because, as Scott Coleman pointed out, things have been trending down for awhile now for Albies.

Drake Baldwin is back atop the lineup against right-handed Brewers starter Logan Henderson, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.

Albies, DHing for just the second time in his career (both this season), will hit fifth, followed by Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Jim Jarvis at shortstop.

This will be the first time anyone on the Braves’ roster has faced Henderson, who debuted last season and was on the injured list when Milwaukee traveled to Atlanta in June.

The Brewers are running back a similar lineup to the one from Friday’s series opener, making a few order swaps and bringing in Christian Yelich at DH after Gary Sanchez held the role on Friday.

Although Braves starter Martín Pérez is in his 15th major league season, only a handful of active Brewers have extensive experience against him. Sanchez (5-for-22 with two homers) is the only Milwaukee hitter with more than 14 career at-bats against Pérez.

Old friend William Contreras (4-for-10) actually has the best batting average on the team against Pérez aside from Joey Ortiz (3-for-4). Overall, the Brewers are a combined .281 against Pérez lifetime with six homers, three doubles, 18 RBIs, a .517 slugging percentage and .850 OPS.

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Championship roundup: Nuno feels the heat after West Ham beaten by Charlton

  • Wolves sink teeth into Preston; Blackburn stun Boro

  • Southampton’s late show leaves Stoke pointless

Charlton maintained their perfect start to the Championship season with a 2-1 victory at West Ham in a pulsating London derby to pile more pressure on the Hammers manager, Nuno Espírito Santo.

Lloyd Jones and Tyreece Campbell put Charlton 2-0 ahead before Joel Piroe, signed on loan from Leeds, marked his first appearance for the home side with a goal that set up a frantic finish. Taty Castellanos then missed a stoppage-time penalty for West Ham that would have salvaged a point.

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Yankees' Cody Bellinger set to be activated from IL for Sunday's series finale

Cody Bellinger is officially back. 

Both Bellinger and Aaron Boone confirmed that the Yankees are expecting the slugger to be activated from the IL ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in the Bronx. 

Bellinger has been sidelined just under a month due to a left hamstring strain. 

He has been progressing his way back over the past few weeks, and the team expected that he'd be able to make his return before the end of this weekend. 

Bellinger appeared in two rehab games, and has been deemed ready to come back.

"Very excited," Boone said. "He's had a very good rehab process here, and he's gotten tested well enough the past two nights and has gotten a handful of at-bats, so we feel like he's ready to roll."

Bellinger went 1-for-6 over his two Triple-A rehab games but was scorching hot before landing on the IL, hitting .322 with three doubles and a .903 OPS over his last 12 games. 

Getting him back in the mix will certainly be a huge boost for a Yankees offense that's been operating without three of their top bats in Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.  

Boone said we'll have to wait and see what the corresponding move and RF plan will be. 

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Giancarlo Stanton suffers second calf strain, may miss remainder of season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The injuries have come in bunches for Giancarlo Stanton this season, and Saturday morning brought even more bad news for the veteran slugger. Stanton suffered a “moderate” left calf strain (not the right calf which he injured back in April, as Bryan Hoch reported) after falling while running. Although the Yankees don’t want to rule anything out, Aaron Boone told reporters he may not return this year.

The Yankees probably already had to prepare for the possibility that Stanton would be unable to contribute to their playoff run this October, and this news essentially seals the deal. The 36-year-old DH played in 24 of the first 26 team games this season, hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs before straining his right calf in Houston on April 24th. Since then, he’s struggled to get back into playing shape. In June, he tweaked that calf again, forcing him to miss more time. Now, with an injury to the other calf, his Murphy’s Law season continues.

There isn’t much to say other than, woof. It’s hard not to feel for Stanton, who has tried his best to return as a contributor for the stretch run; and we only need remember his exploits from 2024 to know how much of a difference-maker he can be. Alas, his body has refused to cooperate. That said, if this is indeed curtains for him in 2026, the Yankees’ general postseason plan doesn’t figure to change much. Ben Rice has been closer to a full-time DH since Luis García Jr. came aboard at the deadline, and a healthy Stanton in the mix would likely have just given the Yankees another pinch-hitting option late in games; likely not a starting role.

After this season, Stanton has one guaranteed year remaining on the megadeal he signed with the Marlins all the way back in 2015. There is a team option for 2028 which the Yankees are all but certain not to exercise. Will the Yankees give Giancarlo a chance for one last hurrah since they collect insurance when he’s on the IL anyway, or will they decide to at last conclude this wild, up-and-down saga of Stanton in New York? Time will tell.