Kansas baseball player Michael Brooks shares his thoughts on team's success in 2025
Bo Nickal believes he is more than ready for what could be toughest MMA challenge to date
UFC on ESPN 67's Bo Nickal spoke to reporters at media day for his bout vs. Reiner de Ridder on Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.
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USA Today
26 minutes ago
- USA Today
Mya Lesnar proved she's Brock Lesnar's kid with a second NCAA title
Mya Lesnar proved she's Brock Lesnar's kid with a second NCAA title Before going on to UFC and WWE gold, Brock Lesnar was a one-time NCAA Division I champion. Now daughter Mya has him beat. Brock Lesnar's combat sports career began as a decorated college wrestler. He won a National Junior College championship at 275 pounds while at Bismarck State College. From there, he transferred up to the University of Minnesota, capturing the Division I heavyweight title in 2000 after a runner-up performance (to future New England Patriots guard Stephen Neal) in 1999. Mya Lesnar didn't follow in her father's footsteps despite a burgeoning women's wrestling scene at the college level. Instead, she used her family's farmhand strength to carve a championship path in track and field -- specifically, the shot put. After beginning her college career at Arizona State, she transferred to Colorado State in 2022. That move helped unlock her potential. She won a national indoor championship earlier this year, then doubled up in the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday. Lesnar's first throw was enough to carry her past a loaded field and to the top of the podium in Eugene, Oregon. Impressively, that 19.01 meter toss wasn't close to her personal best. She threw 19.60 meters at the last home dual meet of her college career -- a mark that would have won bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics. While Lesnar ends her college career as a champion, it's clear she has the ability to compete at the highest level of the sport. Whether she chooses to stick with throwing or make dabbling in multiple sports a family tradition is yet to be seen.
New York Times
37 minutes ago
- New York Times
When will the Penguins' rebuild will shift into a new gear? Mailbag
Good morning and welcome to Part 2 of my monthly Pittsburgh Penguins mailbag. If you missed Part 1, check it out here. We're merely 15 days from the NHL Draft and 19 days from the start of unrestricted free agency. Life comes at you fast, huh? Lots of great questions, as always. Away we go. I always felt next offseason (2026) would be the Pens' springboard. The hiring of Dan Muse, which I like, makes me feel it might not be until '27 or '28. What do you get the sense of? Is there anything that would accelerate Kyle's current timeline, like Gavin McKenna? — @MikeyFitzPGH First things first, if the Penguins get lucky next spring and win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, that changes everything. Since Sidney Crosby came along in 2005, only two prospects have been in his neighborhood: Connor McDavid and McKenna. I'm not saying McKenna will be their equal. That's quite unfair to him. But … we are talking about that kind of talent. I despise 'generational' because it's arguably society's most overused word. By all accounts, however, McKenna could be hockey's next true superstar. If the Penguins get him, it changes everything, and they'll potentially become contenders in short order. Even if they don't get lucky — realistically, let's plan on this being the case — I still expect Kyle Dubas to escalate his team-building efforts next summer. The Penguins are currently projected to have around $54 million in cap space next summer, according to Puckpedia. That number will drop when they sign some players this summer. Even so, with so many contracts coming off the books next summer — and remember, they may trade veterans before then, giving them even more cap space — the Penguins will be able to go on a spending spree in 2026. Teams have to be careful about spending too much on July 1, of course, but by then, Dubas will have a much better feel for which of his prospects will become good NHL players. This will tell him where he needs to spend in free agency. Advertisement So, this summer is going to be really interesting. Next summer? Buckle up. Chances Dubas trades up or down with the 11th pick at the draft ? — @Euphoricdot I see very little chance of him trading down. The Penguins already have a ridiculous number of picks in each of the next three drafts. All of that quantity is wonderful, but I think quality is more what they're looking for moving forward. Might he trade up? Yeah, I think it's a real possibility. It's a top-heavy draft, and I could see them moving up for one of the top-tier centers or power forward Porter Martone. Sorry to be a buzz kill, but I'd still say it's better than 50-50 that Dubas stands pat at No. 11. But because this is a mailbag and we like to have fun here, I'll rank the possibilities: Of course, there is another scenario in play here … Do you think the Rangers hand the 2025 first to the Pens? — @DavidJ_Cole Ah, it's the million-dollar question we've been debating for months. No one at Penguins HQ, from Dubas on down, has a clue what the Rangers will do. From everything I can tell, it's a mystery. I've asked many people around the league and within the Penguins organization what they think will happen. I'd say the slight majority of people I've spoken with expect the Rangers to keep the 12th pick in this draft. So, my official guess is that the Rangers keep this pick. But I don't know. Would that change Dubas' strategy? I suppose it could. But I haven't been told it would. He's probably just as likely to move up or stand pat with the 11th pick, whether he has the No. 12 pick or not. Outside of the no-brainer picks for Sid, Mario, and Geno — is this the highest stakes draft for the Pens in modern era? If they get this one wrong, the rebuild really doesn't take off. — @ccontres I suppose we could say this about every draft when a team is rebuilding. They're all important. This one probably takes on added importance if indeed the Rangers do send the 12th pick to the Penguins. Advertisement Even though it's not a great draft, if you're picking at 11 and 12, one of those players had better become impactful and the other had better at least be a solid NHL player. That's my view of it, anyway. In all reality, I'd suggest next season's draft might be the one you're referring to. It is, according to the draft experts, a potentially spectacular draft. The Penguins (I'm so sorry to inform you) might not be very good next season, which is my way of saying that they might have a very high draft pick. Plus, maybe they'll have the Rangers' first-round pick. The Rangers are the ultimate high-ceiling, low-floor team. That could be a good pick next season. Additionally, in a very deep draft, the Penguins own three 2026 second-round picks. Remember, the Penguins are probably going to sell a veteran or two during this season, which will only add to their draft capital in 2026. So, I would suggest to you that 2026 is when Dubas has a chance to author a franchise-altering draft. Did you ever get a sense of how young they meant when the team source told you 'we're going young next year'? — @Flux_cc Oh, for sure. It's very simple. They're not going to be signing a bunch of 30-somethings in free agency. Maybe a guy or two for one year, but they want people who were in AHL Wilkes-Barre last season to start making their way to Pittsburgh more regularly. That's all it meant. And it strikes me as a wise move for this franchise. Do you see any chance the Penguins could add Sam Bennett in the off-season? I know it's a long shot but he would be the type of player they need. — @Hoagie7187 No. (I'm not being rude … this is just a one-word answer for maximum impact. Everyone needs him. And Florida won't let him get away.) How many points does 38-year-old Sidney Crosby put up with a young, elite, dynamic, and perfect left winger for him at this stage of his career, like Jason John Peterka? — @Jeffs_Penguins I like you willing this into existence, Jeff. And it's interesting to think about. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are top-notch NHL players and good linemates for Sid, but it would be interesting to see him play with some young legs. I love Rutger McGroarty's game, though I don't know if he's skilled enough to be effective with Sid. He'd be a good third-wheel on a line with Sid, perhaps. But he's not Jake Guentzel. Then again, who is? Advertisement And listen, when you're dealing with a team like the Sabres, you should be trying to get players like JJ Peterka. It makes no sense for him to be available, but hey, it's the Sabres. Doesn't hurt to inquire, and I believe the Penguins have. How many years do they wait before they retire Fleury's 29? — @neildbrown Impossible to answer because the Penguins don't have much history here. They retired Mario Lemieux's number in November 1997, only a few months after he retired for the first time. But that was Mario. It took seven years after Jaromir Jagr last played in the NHL, though that was for logistical reasons, because Jagr was still playing overseas. The weird thing is, the Penguins don't really have a boss at the moment — no one to make the final call on these kinds of decisions. I suppose Dubas has the ultimate power on these matters, but I'm pretty sure he's more concerned about the plight of the hockey team. That said, I think Marc-Andre Fleury's number will be retired at some point in the next few years. As it should be. Dubas told me in Sweden last month that it's extremely important to him that the Penguins and Fleury always have a strong relationship. What are some of the best things about summer in Pittsburgh? — @SaraSolnick Well, we have celebrities such as the First Couple of Pittsburgh: Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne. Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open this week (I guess it's still technically spring, but it still counts.) Al's Cafe has outdoor seating in the summer. Sandcastle has a solid lazy river. Oh … and Aaron Rodgers will be in Latrobe in July. We're all set. What's on the menu between overtime periods if Josh Yohe is in charge? Oreo blizzards still? — @OldDustyTraiI I think it's important to go healthy during overtime intermissions because everyone's blood pressure is up. Maybe a nice apple. Avoid salt. Advertisement (In reality, I'm full of crap and, like the Florida Panthers, I enjoy an evening voyage to Dairy Queen.) Hope you're all enjoying the Stanley Cup Final. It's been spectacular. Thanks, as always, for reading. Much, much coverage is on the way over the next few weeks. (Photo of Sidney Crosby: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 69 video: Kamaru Usman, Joaquin Buckley make weight for Atlanta headliner
UFC on ESPN 69 video: Kamaru Usman, Joaquin Buckley make weight for Atlanta headliner ATLANTA – Saturday's UFC main event is official after the headliners made weight Friday. Ahead of UFC on ESPN 69 (ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) and Joaquin Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins. Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.
