Sports
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami visit struggling NYCFC
Sep 18, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball against Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (9) in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Superstar Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC will continue the team’s pursuit of the Supporters’ Shield on Saturday afternoon when they visit struggling New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.
Messi’s second match in his return to action from injury was not as productive as his first. The eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient followed up a two-goal, one-assist performance in Miami’s 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union last Saturday by seeing his side allow a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United on Wednesday.
Messi (14 goals, 14 assists) and Luis Suarez (17 goals, six assists) came off the bench as substitutes on Wednesday. Suarez scored his team’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw against NYCFC on March 30.
David Ruiz scored his first goal of the season in the first half against Atlanta. Leo Campana added his franchise-best 30th career tally across all competitions in the second for the Herons (19-4-6, 63 points), who are eight points up on both FC Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the most points in MLS.
Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino and midfielder Sergio Busquets were suspended for that match for accumulation of yellow cards.
“I think the young players did a good job,” Herons assistant coach Javier Morales said, per The Miami Herald. “It’s not easy after not playing a lot to be thrown on the field from one day to the next.”
NYCFC (11-11-7, 40 points) saw their winless stretch extend to eight matches (0-3-5) following a 5-1 setback to the Union on Wednesday.
“Like I said before, if we were being outplayed or on our backs against teams, then I would sit here and say, ‘I’m worried about the postseason,'” NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said. “However, I’ve seen enough this season and enough within these games that gives me complete confidence that we’ll get back to winning ways and continue to win football matches.”
Alonso Martinez scored the lone goal for NYCFC. He also tallied for NYCFC in the previous encounter versus Miami.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks' Jalen Brunson says players have not discussed White House visit
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the second quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson said the NBA champions have not yet discussed visiting the White House to celebrate their title, according to an interview conducted by Variety.
Brunson’s admission comes after Knicks owner James Dolan said the franchise had already accepted an invitation to make a visit to Washington, D.C.
“… People are making assumptions and saying everything, but together we haven’t discussed it yet, and so we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Brunson said in a story published Monday by Variety.
Dolan, a friend of President Donald Trump, said last month that a visit to the White House was in the works, pending “details.” Trump was a guest of Dolan’s during Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York.
No NBA champion has visited the White House while Trump has been in office, starting with his first term. Three NBA champions visited President Joe Biden: the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2022 Golden State Warriors and the 2024 Boston Celtics.
MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, who won last year’s World Series, are scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday. The Dodgers also visited last year to celebrate their 2024 title.
Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP following the Knicks’ triumph over the San Antonio Spurs in five games. He scored 45 points in the title-clinching win, averaged 32.6 points in the Finals and scored 28.4 points in 19 playoff games.
New York’s title was the franchise’s first since 1973.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Training camps open with rookies reporting for five teams
Bills quarterback Josh Allen talks with Joe Brady, elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach in Buffalo, during drills at 2025 training camp. Fifty days before the NFL regular season begins, five teams opened training camp on Tuesday with rookies reporting for the Bills, Texans, Patriots, Panthers and Dolphins.
Carolina kicks off the preseason with the Pro Football Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona’s report day is Wednesday for rookies and veterans.
Before starting the regular season in Australia, the Rams and 49ers are also set to start camp this week. The NFC West rivals face off Down Under on Sept. 10.
Every NFL team reports to camp no later than July 28.
Nearly one-third of the league introduced a new head coach in the offseason with 10 coaching changes. A few don’t truly qualify as “new” with familiar faces relocated to Pittsburgh, Nashville, New York and Atlanta.
Buffalo elevated offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, replacing Sean McDermott.
Mike McCarthy is back on the sideline with the Steelers and has Aaron Rodgers returning as his quarterback. Former Jets coach Robert Saleh took over the Tennessee Titans and longtime Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is now calling the shots for the Giants. Former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski was fired by the Browns, but quickly hired to lead the Atlanta Falcons.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks — who were the first team to have their rookies report on July 17 — will hold their first full-squad workout at the team facility in Renton, Wash., on July 24. The Seahawks open the preseason at home on Aug. 15, welcoming the Dallas Cowboys to Lumen Field.
Seattle plays the first regular-season game of the 2026 campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 9 in a Super Bowl rematch with the visiting New England Patriots.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif, hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 14.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Karl Ravech, Tom Pelissero among ESPN cuts
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN commentator Karl Ravech before the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Longtime baseball broadcaster Karl Ravech and NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero are among the ESPN employees being laid off in a wave of cuts, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday.
These layoffs are linked to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to an internal memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro that multiple media outlets obtained.
After the deal was announced last August and gained government approval in January, NFL Network’s employees were brought under the ESPN umbrella starting on April 1.
Other ESPN employees reportedly laid off or who announced the news on social media include longtime “SportsCenter” anchor David Lloyd, NFL Network analyst Charles Davis, injury/fantasy football writer Stephania Bell, First Take contributor Cam Newton, radio host/NFL analyst Bart Scott, staff writer Dan Hajducky, and combat sports reporter Andreas Hale.
It was also reported on Monday that NFL analyst Ryan Clark was being let go, with news breaking while he was on “NFL Live.”
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote in the memo. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.
“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”
Ravech has been with ESPN since 1993, working as a “SportsCenter” anchor, college basketball and baseball broadcaster and studio host for “Baseball Tonight.” He was ESPN’s primary MLB broadcaster, including for Monday night’s Phillies-Dodgers game.
Pelissero has been with NFL Network since 2017, establishing himself as an insider. However, he’s reportedly not being retained over ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Besides the more visible on-air personalities, several production and behind-the-scenes employees are expected to lose their jobs during this round of layoffs.
–Field Level Media
Knicks' Jalen Brunson says players have not discussed White House visit
Training camps open with rookies reporting for five teams
