Day: June 3, 2026

Top 10 Returning Players In College Basketball Ahead Of The 2026-27 Season

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Top 10 Returning Players In College Basketball Ahead Of The 2026-27 Season

For certain coaches and fans around the country, many of whom had been waiting with bated breath, last week’s NBA Draft withdrawal deadline finally afforded them the chance to exhale. The collective sigh you might have heard originated in places like East Lansing, Michigan, where point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. allowed the Spartans to breathe easier, and extended to Nashville, Tennessee, where point guard Tyler Tanner’s choice to return to school should propel Vanderbilt into the Top 25. Elsewhere, the reactions were far more tempered — crushed, even. Arizona bid farewell to star forward Koa Peat, a five-star freshman who made the surprising decision to remain in this year’s NBA Draft. And at Arkansas, whose coach, John Calipari, is accustomed to rebuilding efforts, the Razorbacks will need to replace standout guard Meleek Thomas. The draft giveth and the draft taketh away. With that in mind — and now that rosters are finally, sort of, almost complete — here’s a look at the top returning players in the sport ahead of the 2026-27 season: Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 190 poundsClass: Redshirt juniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 15.2 points, 9.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.4 minutes per game It’s anything but hyperbolic to say the trajectory of Michigan State’s upcoming season hinged on whether Fears, a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer, would decide to remain in the NBA Draft. He kept the Spartan faithful waiting until the absolute last minute, stretching his contemplative period — and the accompanying speculation on social media — all the way to the withdrawal deadline day. In the end, though, with most prognosticators viewing Fears as an early second-round pick, he decided to return for another year alongside head coach Tom Izzo. Though his on-court demeanor remains divisive, Fears should enter the 2026-27 campaign as arguably the best point guard in college basketball after leading the nation in assists last season. Fears will be counted on to demonstrate legitimate growth in maturity and leadership following the departures of veteran big men Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, both of whom exhausted their eligibility. This team belongs to Fears. Height: 6 feetWeight: 175 poundsClass: JuniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 33.5 minutes per game An incredible ascent from zero-star recruit to one of the more prolific scoring guards in the country vaulted Tanner into a legitimate draft prospect this spring, with most experts viewing him as a fringe first-round pick. Undeterred by an undersized frame, Tanner flashed strength on both ends of the court by earning first-team All-SEC honors while simultaneously being named to the conference’s All-Defensive Team last season. He was also inches away from connecting on a half-court heave against Nebraska that would have lifted Vanderbilt into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. As with Michigan State, the Commodores’ outlook changes quite significantly with Tanner returning for another season. His presence alone should be enough to earn Vanderbilt a spot in most preseason rankings and keep the program in the upper half of what projects as an incredibly competitive SEC landscape. Head coach Mark Byington has a chance to lead the Commodores to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for just the second time in school history. Height: 6-foot-9Weight: 215 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game For Haugh and his teammates, the dream of winning back-to-back national championships was shattered with a stunning second-round loss to No. 8 Iowa last March. In many ways, it was a defeat that could have signaled the end of an era for Florida, whose exceptional frontcourt trio of Haugh, Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu all faced individual decisions about the NBA Draft. With one expert after another projecting Haugh — a consensus second-team All-American last season — as a surefire first-round pick and likely lottery choice, his time in college seemed finished. But on April 21, more than a month before the NBA’s withdrawal deadline, Haugh announced his intention to return for another year, matching Condon’s decision from the week prior. And when Chinyelu decided to join them by removing his name from the draft last month, head coach Todd Golden’s band was officially back together. Now, the Gators will almost certainly enter the 2026-27 campaign as prohibitive national title favorites and the presumptive No. 1 team in the country. Height: 6-foot-8Weight: 225 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Iowa State Last season: 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1 assist in 30.5 minutes per game Momcilovic faced two monumental choices in quick succession as the calendar inched from spring toward summer. First, the sharpshooting forward needed to decide whether to remain in the NBA Draft, where he projected as an early second-round pick. Once Momcilovic removed his name from consideration in late May, he was tasked with selecting a new collegiate destination after moving on from Iowa State. The dust finally settled late Monday evening when Momcilovic, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, committed to Kentucky over Louisville and Arizona. It’s easy to understand why 247Sports rated Momcilovic as the No. 2 overall player in this year’s transfer portal, trailing only former Kansas center Flory Bidunga, now at Louisville. He led the nation in both 3-point field goal percentage (48.7%) and 3-pointers made (136) for an Iowa State team that finished tied for third in a brutally difficult Big 12 and then reached the Sweet 16. Momcilovic chipped in at least three made 3s in 23 of 37 appearances for the Cyclones and reached a season-high eight 3-pointers on four separate occasions. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 195 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Georgia Last season: 10.1 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 28.4 minutes per game After head coach Dan Hurley and his squad pushed No. 1 Michigan to the brink in this year’s national championship despite significant injuries to Demary (ankle) and guard Solo Ball (wrist), it left many UConn fans wondering what might have been. The Huskies never complete their stunning comeback against top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight without Demary’s two 3-pointers in the waning moments. Nor do they reach the title game without his seven points, seven assists and nine rebounds against Illinois in the Final Four. Still, those performances paled in comparison to what Demary offered at his best during the regular season. Time and again, Hurley credited Demary for instilling the team with levels of toughness and defensive intensity that raised UConn’s ceiling. Coaches around the conference seemed to agree: Hurley’s peers voted Demary first-team All-Big East and also placed him on the league’s All-Defensive Team. Demary and guard Braylon Mullins should form one of the sport’s best backcourts. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 203 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Wisconsin Last season: 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.8 minutes per game One year removed from a near-silent transfer portal cycle in which head coach Jon Scheyer only added reserve center Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, the Blue Devils made much more of a splash this spring. In addition to signing former Belmont star Drew Scharnowski, the No. 31 overall transfer and No. 8 power forward in the portal, Scheyer also secured one of the sport’s best pure scorers in Blackwell. Any concerns about whether Blackwell would ever make it to Duke were erased on May 22 when he withdrew from the NBA Draft. A former three-star recruit, Blackwell developed into a highly effective three-level scorer during an impressive career with the Badgers. He increased his scoring average from 8 points per game as a freshman, to 15.8 per game as a sophomore, to a career-best 19.1 per game last season, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Potency from beyond the arc (38.9%) and at the free-throw line (85.9%) made Blackwell a coveted option in this year’s portal cycle. Height: 6-foot-11Weight: 236 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game The statistic that most people referenced when discussing the impact of Florida’s mammoth frontcourt — which included Condon at power forward, Thomas Haugh at small forward (6-9, 215 pounds) and Reuben Chinyelu at center (6-10, 265 pounds) — was offensive rebounding rate. Those three players spearheaded a relentless assault on the glass that led to the Gators recouping more than 43% of their field goal attempts, second nationally behind only Tennessee. As a result, no team finished with a better rebounding margin than Florida’s mark of plus-14 per game. Having that kind of size proved equally beneficial on the defensive end, where the Gators ranked sixth nationally in adjusted efficiency and eighth in opponent 2-point field goal percentage. Condon’s two-way versatility was a major reason why. He finished as the team’s top player in Bayesian Performance Rating, according to EvanMiya.com, which is a metric that tracks an individual’s overall value whenever he’s on the floor. Height: 6-foot-9Weight: 250 poundsClass: SophomorePrevious schools: None Last season: 13.3 points, 8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.5 minutes per game Though Illinois fans could be forgiven for not knowing much about Mirkovic when he committed to head coach Brad Underwood, the coaches and scouts who closely follow international basketball were already overly familiar with his game. By then, Mirkovic had averaged 22.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championships while playing for his native Montenegro. The following year, he averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across seven games in the 2023 U20 European Championship, where he was the youngest player. And in 2024 — not long before signing with Illinois — Mirkovic made his debut for Montenegro’s senior national team in a FIBA EuroBasket qualifier. Mirkovic’s versatility and overall feel for the game translated seamlessly to college, where he entrenched himself as a day-one starter for Underwood. He finished the season ranked 12th nationally among freshman in the PRPG! metric on Torvik, which calculates how many points per game an individual contributes beyond what a replacement-level player would offer. He should be among the Big Ten’s elite this season. Height: 7-foot-2Weight: 260 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game There were times during Arizona’s remarkable 2025-26 campaign, which included the program’s first trip to the Final Four in a quarter-century, when it seemed all but impossible for opposing teams to score around the rim. Player after player — regardless of size, independent of position — would simply be turned away by Krivas, a mountainous presence adept at applying the sport’s famed principle of verticality to avoid being called for fouls. He finished the season with an incredible ratio of 73 blocked shots and only 103 fouls, driving the Wildcats toward a second-place finish in adjusted defensive efficiency behind Michigan. The only players with better individual defensive ratings than Krivas, according to EvanMiya.com, were Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan, Reuben Chinyelu of Florida, Aday Mara of Michigan, Flory Bidunga of Kansas and Joseph Tugler of Houston. Krivas is now the unquestioned anchor for a team that needs to replace its three leading scorers in Brayden Burries (16.1 points), Koa Peat (14.1 points) and Jaden Bradley (13.3). How much, or how little, Krivas’ own offensive repertoire expands in the coming months might serve as a good barometer for Arizona’s ceiling next season. He’ll need to make more than 3.5 field goals per game for the Wildcats to remain among the sport’s elite. Height: 6-foot-1Weight: 180 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: North Carolina Last season: 10.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game What a luxury for head coach Dusty May to retain the Most Outstanding Player from this year’s Final Four. Though Cadeau entered his name in the NBA Draft earlier this spring, the expectation among Michigan’s coaching staff was always that he would return for his senior season. In fact, Cadeau’s presumptive presence as the central figure on next year’s roster became a key selling point for the Wolverines when pursuing new faces in the transfer portal. May and his assistants soon realized that quite a few players, especially rim-running centers, were eager to play with Cadeau. Given the departures of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, all of whom are expected to become first-round picks later this month, there’s an opportunity for Cadeau to assume more of a scoring role next season. He and shooting guard Trey McKenney, who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after averaging 9.9 points per game, should give Michigan one of the strongest, most experienced backcourts in the league.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Politics

She hired investigators to track her opponent

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on She hired investigators to track her opponent

FIRST UP: Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s commitment to back Rep. Adriano Espaillat was initially so ironclad they shook hands on it last summer. But Mamdani broke that promise last week when he endorsed Espaillat’s primary opponent, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier — and the fallout is mounting. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, an early supporter of Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral run, said she’s not sure she can trust the mayor anymore after the Espaillat snub and won’t take just his word on anything going forward. “I will say I want it in writing,” Velázquez said.

MANNY ADDRESSES: Francesca Castellanos has run for state and city office in Upper Manhattan eight times, and lost every single time.

In her ninth bid for public office, she’s going to even greater lengths to oust her local assemblyman, Manny De Los Santos.

Castellanos has spent $8,000 of her own money on private investigators to surveil him at his wife’s Rockland County home and to stake out the Washington Heights apartment where De Los Santos says he lives, and she’s circulated thousands of flyers that question his residency and include a photo of his young child.

De Los Santos says Castellanos, a Spanish-language interpreter, is harassing him and his family. Castellanos says she’s applying well-intentioned scrutiny to a public official who, she claims, lives way outside the district he represents. And election law says the residency requirement for state legislative candidates actually isn’t that strict.

“I understand that public service comes with scrutiny. But this opponent has crossed a line,” De Los Santos said in a statement. “My opponent has spent thousands of dollars on private investigators to follow me and even my children.”

On Monday, Castellanos filed a complaint with Attorney General Letitia James alleging her opponent “moved out of Northern Manhattan, moved to the suburbs, cashed his taxpayer paycheck, and continues to hold a political seat he abandoned.”

“Mr. De Los Santos receives an annual salary of $142,000 as an Assemblymember. He has chosen suburban life for his own children, who attend well-funded Rockland County schools, while families in Northern Manhattan struggle with overcrowded classrooms and insufficient resources,” the complaint reads.

James’ office would not comment on the allegations but said they’ve received Castellanos’ letter.

Castellanos’ call for the state’s top prosecutor to investigate her opponent’s residency is the latest act from a perennial candidate and local politics junkie who has spent the last two decades trying to oust the army of elected officials allied with Rep. Adriano Espaillat. This time, her opponent says, she’s gone too far.

“That is not politics. It is wrong,” De Los Santos said. “I am an Assemblymember, but I am a father first. My children should not be dragged into a political campaign. This needs to stop.”

Castellanos’ complaint includes images from a grainy video recorded on April 12 by R.Q. Investigations outside a home owned by De Los Santos’ wife, Josenia Dominguez, who serves as the chief administrative officer for Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. The images show a man who appears to be De Los Santos entering a two-car garage home in the Hudson Valley. Other photographs from the following day show a man again identified as De Los Santos raking leaves at the property. A different private investigator hired by Castellanos stood watch inside the Washington Heights apartment building where De Los Santos says he lives on two April mornings. That private eye, Michael Cotto, said in a signed affidavit that he never spotted De Los Santos or anyone else enter or exit the unit.

“He’s a public figure, and he’s lying,” Castellanos claimed to Playbook, adding that her scrutiny of him is completely within bounds. “If he doesn’t want it, then he shouldn’t run for public office.”

She denied De Los Santos’ claim that she assigned an investigator to watch his children and said she only told the shamus to surveil the Assemblymember.

Dominguez told Playbook she and De Los Santos are separated and co-parent their children, and that De Los Santos has lived in his Manhattan apartment “literally his entire life — since he arrived from the Dominican Republic at the age of 12 years old.”

“I hope this clarifies whatever narrative that crazy woman wants to spread,” she said.

Castellanos’ complaint includes records showing that De Los Santos’ Washington Heights apartment was placed under receivership in 2024. She says building staff told her they weren’t aware of De Los Santos living there and pointed to a 2014 Daily News article describing allegations that his apartment was “warehousing” voters, with six different people registered to vote out of the unit, including two with the same name born a month apart.

“His relatives live there, but he does not live there,” she asserted.

In 2024, when Castellanos was mounting her second Assembly bid, she and an ally, Michael Hano, began gathering evidence to try to prove De Los Santos lived outside the city. Two years prior, Hano himself had launched a quixotic primary challenge against Espaillat.

According to Hano and Castellanos, the pair noticed that scholastic athletic records indicated at least one of De Los Santos’ children was enrolled in Rockland County public schools and that property records showed his wife owning a home in Clarkstown.

So Hano said he and Castellanos drove there in May 2024 and saw Dominguez and the couple’s kids from afar. A week or two later, Hano claims he “swung by” the house again around 11 p.m. because it was on the way home from a karaoke night he attended in Haverstraw.

“I just drove past to see for instance if a car was in the driveway, you know, and as I’m driving past, there he is in the window,” Hano said. “It’s not like I was sitting there, scoping the place out. In fact I had a friend with me, I was coming home from karaoke that night. These people, when they take public office, they’re giving up a little bit of privacy.”

That year, Castellanos says she mailed about 4,000 Spanish-language flyers telling residents De Los Santos “resides in the suburbs.” The flyer included a photo of one of De Los Santos’ children, which she pulled from his Instagram account, and the address of his wife’s Rockland County home. (Hano says he told Castellanos at the time he thought this was wrong, and stopped talking to her after this happened, though the two have resumed communication.)

By the time 2026 rolled around, Castellanos was again running for the De Los Santos seat after losing a City Council race to Carmen De La Rosa last year. In April, she sued to knock De Los Santos off the ballot on the grounds that he doesn’t live in the district, but she says the case was tossed out on a technicality when the judge asserted Castellanos didn’t serve her opponent before the deadline. De Los Santos, for his part, also sued unsuccessfully to knock Castellanos off the ballot, but Castellanos represented herself and won.

She’s also printing more flyers about his residency — this time up to 10,000. Last month, she says a city health inspector came to her door because someone filed a complaint that a foul odor was coming from her apartment, where she lives with six cats. Without evidence, Castellanos suspects De Los Santos was behind it, so she says she’s sending flyers to neighbors of the Rockland County home. De Los Santos says he has no idea what she’s talking about.

The state constitution says any state legislative candidate must reside in their district in the 12 months before their election. But a 2016 Court of Appeals decision reaffirmed previous rulings that a candidate can legally claim residence anywhere they have “legitimate, significant and continuing attachments,” as long as there’s no fraud, deception or “reason to assume that a residence has been asserted merely for the purposes of voting.”

De Los Santos said his Assembly district “has been my home for decades” and “remains my home today.”

“I am a proud resident of District 72,” he said. “I continue to live in and represent the community that raised me and that I have spent my life serving.”

From the Capitol

GO NEW YORK: The Uber-funded group that spent heavily on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to overhaul car insurance regulations is unveiling a final TV ad today with a Knicks theme.

The ad features delirious Knicks fans celebrating the team’s success while the “Hallelujah” chorus plays.

“Every once in a while New Yorkers stand united, celebrating as one, overcome with joy and reveling in an unexpected and remarkable achievement: Yeah, Governor Hochul’s lowered New York’s sky-high car insurance,” the ad’s narrator says.

That claim is an exaggeration: The governor herself has said New Yorkers won’t see a difference in car insurance premiums immediately.

Just in time for the NBA Finals, the basketball-themed spot will bring the advertising blitz full circle after it launched with a Buffalo Bills-centric ad at the start of the year. — Nick Reisman

HELPING NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS: The State University of New York is launching two new initiatives aimed at boosting supports for adult learners and students with kids.

The university system intends to work with community colleges to increase the number of in-person courses offered on evenings and weekends. And the final state budget included $12 million in additional operating dollars for community colleges.

SUNY is also establishing a grant program to help campuses better support student parents, including the addition of child-friendly lounges and study areas.

“Because one in five college students across the country are parents, we’re boosting support for student-parents,” SUNY Chancellor John King said during his annual “State of the University” address in Albany today.

The state has also been taking steps to help college students with kids.

Earlier this year, Hochul moved to extend child care hours on community college campuses to align with the schedules of students enrolled in high-demand programs. SUNY has also used $10.4 million in state funding to open additional child care centers and increase the number of spots.

The state kicked off a program this school year that offers free tuition to older students seeking associate degrees in high-demand fields at SUNY and the City University of New York. — Madina Touré

FROM CITY HALL

HIGH HOPES: Mamdani offered a bold prediction this morning for the NBA Finals.

“Knicks in four — inshallah,” Mamdani said with a chuckle on Hot 97 radio.

For their first finals since 1999, the Knicks are playing the San Antonio Spurs tonight in Texas. The Knicks have been on a red-hot run in this year’s playoffs, winning 11 straight games, but it’d no doubt be a steep feat for the hometown team to sweep the Spurs as the mayor prophesies.

Mamdani’s office wouldn’t immediately say if the mayor will attend any of the games the Knicks are playing at Madison Square Garden (the first home game is Monday night).

“I’m going to be at a lot of different watch parties tonight — I can’t wait,” Mamdani told Playbook at City Hall this morning when asked if he planned on attending the watch party hosted inside MSG tonight for Game 1.

Mamdani spokesperson Sam Raskin declined to immediately provide more details on where the mayor will be. Raskin did tout that the mayor’s office played a role in securing a permit for a separate watch party to be held outside the Garden tonight. (The NYPD previously suggested no more such bashes would be permitted after one turned especially chaotic during the Eastern Conference Finals last month.)

“As a Knicks fan and a New Yorker, the mayor feels the energy and excitement this team has brought to the city,” Raskin said. “This is a special moment for all five boroughs, and we’re thrilled these celebrations are moving forward. Let’s go Knicks.”

Politics have already loomed heavy over the finals. On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted an AI-generated image on X of himself dunking over a Knicks jersey-clad Hochul, as President Donald Trump can be seen sitting courtside laughing.

Speaking of Trump: The president, who’s widely reviled in his native New York, said last week he will likely attend one of the Knicks’ home games at the Garden after being invited by team owner James Dolan. — Chris Sommerfeldt

IN OTHER NEWS

— LONE STAR BACKING: A pro-Palestinian Texas businessman has poured major funding into American Prioirties, an anti-Israel super PAC that’s backing Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez’s congressional campaigns. (New York Post)

— SOUND THE ALARMS: Major fires have more than doubled in the Bronx and are being linked to deteriorating electrical infrastructure in older buildings. (Gothamist)

— ALL ABOARD: Mamdani has tapped former Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and former budget chief Melanie Hartzog to represent New York City on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. (New York Daily News)

Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.

Politics

Sports Fox

Transcendent Sean McVay Poised To Maximize Super-Talented Myles Garrett For Rams

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Transcendent Sean McVay Poised To Maximize Super-Talented Myles Garrett For Rams

LOS ANGELES — After appearing grumpy following the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round selection of backup quarterback Ty Simpson on draft night, head coach Sean McVay was back to his chippy, enthusiastic self after his team consummated one of the biggest trades in NFL history, securing the league’s best defensive player in former Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett sat sandwiched between jovial Rams general manager Les Snead and McVay during the opening moments of his introductory press conference. And then the duo got down to the nitty-gritty of a franchise-altering move that had been in the works for months, according to Snead. The Rams went from slight favorites over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks to the overwhelming pick to win the Super Bowl with Garrett in the fold. But Garrett isn’t getting too far ahead of himself, acknowledging his new team still must go out and do it on game days. Garrett said he found out a week ago about the possibility of landing in Los Angeles via trade. “On paper, I’m sure things look great, but we got to go out there and put the work in,” Garrett said at the podium. “It starts in the field, starts in the classroom, and we’re not going to take a single day for granted. We’re not going to be looking at any odds or favorites. We’re going to win each game day-by-day.” Those wise words from Garrett were music to McVay’s ears. “It’s one day at a time and I love everything that he said because I couldn’t be more in agreement,” McVay said. “We’re not going to let the outside narratives affect our ability to be courageous every single day and go swing and see what the hell happens.” Garrett has had four head coaches, 16 starting quarterbacks and just one playoff win during his time with the Browns. He’s finished with double-digit sacks for eight consecutive seasons in Cleveland, won the Defensive Player of the Year twice and is third among active leaders in the NFL with 125.5 sacks. An eight-time captain and five-time All-Pro, Garrett is the only player in league history to record at least 14.0 sacks in five consecutive seasons (2021-25). With the move to the bright lights of L.A., Garrett finally has a transformative head coach in McVay that matches his superstar talent. During that same time Garrett has been in the league, McVay has led the Rams to seven playoff berths and two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. The Rams have had eight winning seasons with four NFC West titles under McVay’s guidance. At 40 years old, McVay is currently the fifth-youngest coach in the NFL, but he’s also the second-longest tenured coach behind only Andy Reid. By moving to Los Angeles, Garrett gets the stability and sustainable success he coveted in Cleveland. “They love playing the game and they love playing the game for this guy,” Garrett said, motioning toward McVay during the press conference. “That means a lot, having a player’s coach lead you onto that field and wanting to give the extra effort and go the extra mile for him and for each other. That’s what you feel going on to that field now. These guys are going to war, not just as individuals but as a team. That’s how you end up playing those games later into the year.” McVay already has proof of concept that he can coax the most out of extremely talented, high-maintenance athletes. Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, Eric Weddle, Odell Beckham Jr. and Matthew Stafford are all players brought in by McVay who performed to their full potential in helping to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. Garrett now joins that group as a hired gun for the Rams in a move made to help put this franchise over the top in winning a Super Bowl in their home stadium for the second time in league history. Yes, I previously stated the Rams would miss the playoffs as one of my five bold predictions earlier this offseason. But I must amend my prediction after this seismic move in securing the services of a future Hall of Famer in Garrett. And that move could lead to the return of another future Hall of Famer, as former Ram Aaron Donald is considering coming out of retirement. McVay was asked about the possibility during the press conference. “Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect that he has for Myles,” McVay said. “I talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring [Garrett] on board. If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip.” Garrett said he watched highlights of the Rams’ fabled “Fearsome Foursome,” led by Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen during the Rams’ heyday in the 1960s when he was a high schooler. Garrett is now in a position to chase that high bar set by those four and others like Donald. “I see a position to solidify myself here as well among the greats,” Garrett said. “I still have plenty of great years in front of me and being able to cement that legacy not only as a football city here in L.A., but as an individual [winning Defensive Player of the Year] for a Super Bowl and more. Those things are definitely pressing on my mind, and I have a bit of urgency to do it and do it right away.” The Rams need Garrett at his best, and they might have to make sure he’s playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level right away. They have one of the toughest schedules in the league, starting with a season opener in Australia against their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. That’s just the beginning of a five-game stretch that includes games at the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles, plus a home game against the Buffalo Bills. Garrett will have some help around him, at least, even as the Rams decided to let go of promising edge rusher Jared Verse. Byron Young, who led the team in sacks last season, will complement Garrett along the edge, while Los Angeles has a few other formidable players in the defensive interior (Kobie Turner, Poona Ford). Of course, the Rams also made a major swing to improve their secondary this offseason, giving up a handful of draft picks (including a first-rounder) for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie before signing his Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Jaylen Watson. Still, Garrett will be the catalyst of the Rams’ defense, and McVay’s pleased to have the two-time Defensive Player of the Year leading that side of the ball. “He’s a pain in the ass to game plan against and I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore,” McVay said. “He makes other guys around him better and I know he’s excited to come in and be a big part of this culture and we can’t wait to get to work.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Hip Hop

Legendary Vocalist Peabo Bryson Dies at 75

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Legendary Vocalist Peabo Bryson Dies at 75

Peabo Bryson, the celebrated vocalist known for his solo oeuvre and work in Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas, has died. The news was shared via a statement from his family.

“With broken hearts and profound sadness, the family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and balladeer, Peabo Bryson, announces his passing,” the statement begins. “He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him.”

The note continues: “For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song.”

Click to load video

Bryson was celebrated for songs from Disney films like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Whole New World” with Celine Dion and Regina Belle, respectively. He was also known for his work as a solo artist, particularly his 1977 solo debut smash, “Reaching For The Sky,” which amplified the era of Black achievement and excellence. Despite his success, Bryson’s humble beginnings informed his work ethic.

A native of South Carolina, Bryson spent his youth in Greenville, living with no running hot water. As he once put it, “some people try to put a greater distance between the early part of their lives and the point of success they’ve reached. I grew up a country boy and my grandfather’s farm of 100 acres was the country. I plowed with a mule, picked cotton, and planted everything that grows. I even washed toilets bowls for a living.”

He began his career as a member of the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display before he inked a deal with Bang Records as a solo artist. He released his first album in 1976, and signed with Capitol Records in 1977. Among solo standouts is We’re The Best Of Friends, a duet album he made with Natalie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole. He also recorded an album of duets with Roberta Flack. In an interview, Bryson once spoke of his reason for songwriting, which rings true as strongly today as ever: “…people need to hear [my songs] to know that they’re still alive.”

Listen to the best Peabo Bryson songs on Apple Music or Spotify.

Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music

Hip Hop

Watch Floetry Perform At NPR’s Tiny Desk

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Watch Floetry Perform At NPR’s Tiny Desk

Floetry, the neo-soul duo of Marsha Ambrosius (“the Songstress”) and Natalie Stewart (“the Floacist”), stopped by NPR’s famed Tiny Desk to perform hits from throughout their discography.

The band performed as part of NPR’s celebration of Black Music Month and BET, stopping by the set shortly after wrapping their first tour in a decade. Ambrosius and Stewart ran through six songs, including “Big Ben” from the duo’s 2002 LP Floetic; the Common-assisted “SupaStar” from 2005’s Flo’Ology; “Butterflies,” made famous by Michael Jackson; “Say Yes” from Floetic; “Getting Late,” also from Floetic; and the title track from that LP.

After spending a few years performing in the U.K., Floetry’s career hit new levels when they relocated to Philadelphia in the early 2000s and performed with the Black Lily women’s collective. The duo followed up Floetry with their only other album, Flo’ology, in 2005, and eventually disbanded in 2006. However, the Songstress and the Floacist have reunited a number of times, including this current iteration of the “Say Yes” tour, which wrapped on May 17 in Oakland, California. The run kicked off April 8 in Newark, New Jersey and featured support from Raheem DeVaughn and Tedra Moses.

Click to load video

The tour continued an era of resurgence for Floetry. Last year, Floetic was reissued on vinyl, marking its first ever availability in the format.

Floetic was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album, and individual nominations for the songs “Floetic” and “Say Yes.” Upon their emergence, Floetry dubbed their music as a whole new sound under the neo-soul umbrella. “We were also saying Floetry is more than a name, it’s a genre, it’s a style, it won’t die as long as we remember, it will be kept alive,” Stewart reflected in an interview with You Know I Got Soul marking Floetic’s tenth anniversary.

Buy Floetry’s Floetic on vinyl here.

Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music

Music

Over 9,000 Fans Pack Nashville’s First Horizon Park as Riley Green, Jordan Davis and More Lead Record-Breaking Rock ’N Jock Event

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Over 9,000 Fans Pack Nashville’s First Horizon Park as Riley Green, Jordan Davis and More Lead Record-Breaking Rock ’N Jock Event

Riley Green, Zach Top, Priscilla Block, Jordan Davis, Zach John King, and more stepped up to the plate at Nashville’s First Horizon Park on Monday, June 1 for Folds of Honor Tennessee’s sixth annual Rock ’N Jock* Celebrity Softball game, sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company. More than 9,000 fans gathered at Nashville’s First Horizon Park for this year’s event, which generated an all-time high of $701,460 to support educational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military personnel and first responders.

Riley Green; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Folds of Honor Tennessee Inc.

Country artists joined forces with other celebrities, athletes, first responders and veterans for the friendly competition, which found Team Military facing off against Team First Responders all in support of Folds of Honor’s mission.

Parker McCollum, Jermaine Johnson and Hardy attend the Folds of Honor Tennessee’s Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball game at First Horizon Park on June 01, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Folds of Honor Tennessee Inc.

Team Military featured Team Captain Riley Green, Mat Best, Gavin Adcock, Ryan Ellis, Danae Hays, RaeLynn, Jordan Davis, McCoy Moore, Warren Zeiders, JC Latham, Jessie James Decker, Eric Decker, Cooper Alan, honorary military members Sergeant First Class Joseph C. Ervin and Army Officer Lauren Warner, and honorary base coach Special Forces Assistant Detachment Commander Dean Goble.

Team First Responders featured Team Captain Zach Top, Roger “The Rocket” Clemens, Jay Cutler, HARDY, Ashley Cooke, Priscilla Block, Zach John King, Parker McCollum, Chris Lane, Travis Pastrana, Waka Flocka Flame, Jermaine Johnson, Robert Rausch, honorary first responders Firefighter Travis Merryman and Officer Alicean Stottlemyer, and coach Ross Chastain.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

Ashley Cooke, who has taken part in the event for several years now told us it’s her “favorite way” to kick off CMA Fest week.

“Every CMA Fest week is always chaos, but something about…playing a sport with people in country music. It’s fun. It’s very camaraderie based and also it’s just doing something to give back at the beginning of the week for CMA Fest. It’s a lot of shows and chaos and promotion and all this stuff, but it just feels like a cool way to give back and do something that feels good for the soul at the beginning of the week,” she shared prior to the game.

Ashley Cooke; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Folds of Honor Tennessee Inc.

Priscilla Block echoed her sentiments, telling us, “This is my second year back doing this so I’m pumped that they invited me again. It’s awesome to come back here. I love that everything that they do to give back and being a part of tonight is awesome and we’re excited for CMA Fest.”

Priscilla Block and Zach John King; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Folds of Honor Tennessee Inc.

For Zach John King, the cause behind the game made it especially meaningful.

“I have a family full of military and first responders, so it’s super close to home for me. And any way, shape, or form I can help, in my opinion, the greatest Americans in the country, is what I’m going to do. So it happened to be that we get to play a little softball today, but I’m honored to do it. The organization is insane,” he shared.

Jordan Davis has participated in the game a handful of times and tells us he views it as a way to say “thank you” to those who give so much.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

“I say it every year, but it’s like we get a chance to say thank you to the people and the families that are … I’m not brave enough to do what they do. And so this is my chance to come out and say thank you. Have fun and bring some lightness into what I know is a very, very heavy time for them.”

Team Military edged out Team First Responders in a nail-biting 9-8 victory, with Danae Hays crossing home plate for the game-winning run. Eric Decker earned Defensive Player of the Game honors, while Golden Tate was recognized as Offensive Player of the Game. Fans were treated to several long balls throughout the evening, with home runs coming from Gavin Adcock, Eric Decker, Golden Tate, and Jay Cutler.

Off the field, Riley Green and Black Rifle Coffee Company co-founder Mat Best each pledged $50,000 to Folds of Honor, contributing a combined $100,000 to support the organization’s mission.

General view of atmosphere at the Folds of Honor Tennessee’s Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball game at First Horizon Park on June 01, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Folds of Honor Tennessee Inc.

The event also featured several patriotic moments, including a performance of the National Anthem by Captain Jackson Perkins and a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Marine Corps veteran Rocky Sickmann, who survived 444 days in captivity during the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Through a partnership with Jockey International, Inc., 200 military and first responder families were able to attend the game free of charge, further cementing this year’s Rock ’N Jock as one of the event’s biggest and most meaningful editions to date.

The post Over 9,000 Fans Pack Nashville’s First Horizon Park as Riley Green, Jordan Davis and More Lead Record-Breaking Rock ’N Jock Event appeared first on Country Now.

Country Now

Sports Fox

Second Thoughts: Should NASCAR Shorten Certain Races?

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Second Thoughts: Should NASCAR Shorten Certain Races?

Thanks to a rain delay and an already late start, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway didn’t end until well past midnight on the East Coast. Is that a problem? A little bit on a Sunday night. Night races can be electric, and sometimes for programming and scheduling purposes, the best time for a race. In Nashville, the later the start meant a better chance to beat the heat and allow for a typical afternoon summer storm to pass through. But the biggest question at Nashville — the race ended when Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag at 12:25 a.m. ET — and the lateness of the race goes beyond the 80-minute rain delay: Is the Nashville race too long? It is a 300-lap, 400-mile race, relatively normal, but with the Next Gen car it seems to be a long event. Without red flags, the Nashville race this year was 3 hours, 44 minutes; while it was 3:05 in 2025, 4:03 in 2024 (five overtimes!), 3:00 in 2023 and 3:35 in 2022. NASCAR has done a good job in making some of its races shorter. NASCAR cut the length of races at Dover from 500 miles to 400 in 1997 and at Pocono from 500 miles to 400 in 2012 (and they were 325 and 350 in the 2020 and 2021 doubleheader weekends). Martinsville had one of its races cut from 500 laps to 400 laps in 2022. The fall Charlotte race that is back on the oval will be 400 miles, not 500 miles — it was 500 miles before the track went to its road course for the fall race in 2018. [NASCAR POWER RANKINGS: New No. 1 Tops List After Nashville] The key time for a race, with a few exceptions (Daytona 500 and Coke 600 most notably) should be 2 hours, 45 minutes to 3 hours, 15 minutes. Nashville has shown that it can have 400-mile races in that time frame, but also three in the last five that have exceeded it, all by at least 20 minutes. Certainly fans travel long distances and want a race that delivers enough action for that travel commitment. NASCAR will always balance the will of ticket buyers versus those who are watching at home. NASCAR even added laps to a race this year, making Watkins Glen a 100-lap race instead of 90, as the drivers seem to have fewer wrecks and those races were ending closer to the 2-hour mark than NASCAR wanted. But there are races that could be shorter, and Nashville appears to be one of them. Could it hurt to try a 350-mile race next year and see if it changes anything? And while NASCAR is at it, here are a couple more that could use changing: –Change one of the Talladega races to a 400-mile event instead of both being 500 miles. Daytona has a 500-mile and 400-mile event. Why not Talladega? Maybe cut the race on the date has less sunlight in order to get in the full race. –Cut one of the Bristol races from 500 laps to 400 or 450. Martinsville already had one of its races cut and that doesn’t seem to impact the quality of the event. Why not do that with the spring race to give it a little bit of a different vibe than the fall? Part of NASCAR’s roots is that Cup races often were marathons, ultimate tests of man and machine. But to get some of the “hell yeah” moments with cars that rarely fail (granted, the Nashville issues were because of brake rotor issues), urgency is needed. Nashville was saved by a late caution; without it, that spectacular finish doesn’t happen. A few more “sprint” races wouldn’t be a bad thing. As NASCAR continues to look to liven up its schedule, race lengths belong in the conversation. In Second Thoughts, Bob Pockrass offers his opinion on a burning motorsports topic.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Entertainment

Sam’s Club Shoppers Are Calling These The Best New Frozen Foods Of 2026 So Far

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Sam’s Club Shoppers Are Calling These The Best New Frozen Foods Of 2026 So Far

If you’re a member of the warehouse retailer, you should check out the best frozen food drops so far in 2026. Our list has something to nosh on any time of day.

Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

Sports Fox

NFL Contender Tiers: Where Do Rams, Eagles, Patriots Land After Blockbuster Deals?

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on NFL Contender Tiers: Where Do Rams, Eagles, Patriots Land After Blockbuster Deals?

A flurry of deals happened Monday, though they didn’t really do much to shake up the NFL landscape. The Rams were on a Super Bowl track long before they got Myles Garrett. The Browns were plummeting with or without him. The A.J. Brown trade had been baked in for some time. And Odell Beckham’s return to New York didn’t move the needle at all. By now it’s clear who the real contenders are, which teams are on the cusp, and which ones are just fooling themselves and their fans. But in case it’s not, here’s a look at the real and fake contenders, broken down by tiers. *Super Bowl odds according to DraftKings (listed in parentheses) Tier 8: The race to the top of the 2027 Draft Las Vegas Raiders (+15000)New York Jets (+15000)Miami Dolphins (+30000)Cleveland Browns (+15000)Arizona Cardinals (+40000) It is a good bet that these five teams will own the first five picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. That’s great news for them because four of them desperately need a franchise quarterback, and next year’s draft should be full of them. The Raiders are the ones that don’t need a franchise QB anymore after drafting Fernando Mendoza No. 1 in April. They even improved their team around him — at least a little. In fact, if they weren’t in the AFC, and in particular the AFC West, they might have a shot at being in the playoff race most of the season. But the road is too tough. And at some point they’ll hand Mendoza the keys, which almost always means an initial step backward. But the other four teams really do need a franchise quarterback and the race for the No. 1 pick — maybe Texas QB Arch Manning — could be fascinating (or disgraceful, depending on how obvious the tanking becomes). None of these teams have a realistic shot at the playoffs, and that should be obvious to even the most optimistic of them by no later than Halloween. The Jets might actually be the best team in this sad bunch. They have a good offensive line, a couple of good skill players and an adequately rebuilt defense. And Geno Smith might actually improve their QB play, too. But given his penchant for throwing interceptions the past two years, that might not be saying much. The Dolphins don’t seem to think they’re in the tank yet. Why else would they sign the top free agent QB (Malik Willis) and keep RB De’Von Achane? But look at the rest of their team. They’ll see it eventually, too. It stinks. And yet they still might be better than both the Browns and the Cardinals, who are both redefining Quarterback Hell. The Cards have some impressive skill players (WR Marvin Harrison Jr., TE Trey McBride, RB Jeremiyah Love), but their quarterback will either be an unhappy Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew, or maybe third-round rookie Carson Beck. With a still-terrible defense, that won’t lead to a lot of wins, especially against a brutal schedule that could easily lead them to an 0-13 start. As for the Browns, their decision to trade Myles Garrett to the Rams tells you all you need to know about what they’re thinking this season. And the fact that they’re trying to squeeze whatever’s left out of QB Deshaun Watson says everything about what new coach Todd Monken thinks of the other young quarterbacks on his team. They are all-out on 2026, whether they admit it or not. They just need to hope that whatever QB they fall in love with in next year’s draft doesn’t choose to go back to school just to avoid playing in Cleveland. Tier 7: The playoff fringe New Orleans Saints (+8000)Tennessee Titans (+12000) This is a special category for two improving teams that will be average, at best, but could have a shot at making the playoffs if everything goes right. The best chance belongs to the Saints, who played really well behind rookie QB Tyler Shough down the stretch last season and then got him a couple of big weapons in RB Travis Etienne and rookie WR Jordyn Tyson this offseason. The biggest factor for them, though, is that the NFC South still stinks. The Saints were 6-11 last season and missed the division title by two games. It’s a short walk to .500 and playoff contention. Life won’t be nearly as easy for the Titans, who almost certainly will miss the playoffs in the stacked AFC and top-heavy AFC South. But they are improving, with a better coaching staff and better cast around young QB Cam Ward. They might double their win total from three to six and could still be in the playoff chase in December. But real contention is more likely a year away. Tier 6: Need some help (and some health) Pittsburgh Steelers (+5000)Indianapolis Colts (+6500)New York Giants (+7000)Washington Commanders (+6500) I know, I know. The Steelers are the defending AFC North champions and probably deserve a better tier than this. That’s a reasonable argument, except that they had one of the NFL’s worst offenses (25th) and one of the NFL’s worst defenses (26th) last season, despite going 10-7. They also lost their longtime head coach (though Mike McCarthy is a pretty good replacement for Mike Tomlin), didn’t add a lot to their defense and are still relying on a 42-year-old quarterback. RB Rico Dowdle and WR Michael Pittman make them better. But the revived Ravens and Bengals make the division better, too. Still, the Steelers aren’t quite the same as the other teams in this group, who really need some breaks and health to rise a tier. The Colts are a strong team, for example, but only if QB Daniel Jones is healthy enough to start. And even then, he has to prove he can still play at his 2025 level. After he suffered a serious injury with the Giants, he wasn’t the same the following season. And speaking of the Giants, they are overflowing with optimism after landing head coach John Harbaugh. But there are questions about when their top WR (Malik Nabers) and RB (Cam Skattebo) will be healthy. Their defensive front was thinned out, too, by the Dexter Lawrence trade and several injuries. They are an improved team, but thin in a lot of areas. The thinnest team in this group, though, might be the Commanders, who seem to be betting everything on the healthy return of QB Jayden Daniels and a first-year coordinator (David Blough) — so much so that they didn’t bring in much offensive help. They did rebuild their defense with mostly solid but unspectacular players, and a stronger defense will help. But they really need Daniels to be the star he was as a rookie two years ago. Otherwise, they’ve got no shot. Tier 5: Playoff contenders, but nothing more Los Angeles Chargers (+1700)Dallas Cowboys (+2500)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+5000)Atlanta Falcons (+12000)Carolina Panthers (+8000)Minnesota Vikings (+5000) This group comprises the teams on the playoff bubble who’ll need some help along the way to get in. Also, if they do get in, don’t expect them to win more than one game, if that. These are not Super Bowl contenders. The best team in this tier is the Chargers, who are also in a category that could be titled “Fool me once …” (you know the rest). It’s easy to want to trust a team coached by Jim Harbaugh and quarterbacked by Justin Herbert, but at this point we all know better. Their offensive line is still a liability, and with this franchise, something always goes wrong in the end. The same could be said of the Cowboys, who still have what might be the NFL’s best offense, but are still lacking on defense. The latter unit has improved, but enough to make them a Super Bowl contender? That would be a surprise. Those two at least have a slim chance of rising up a tier. The same can’t be said of the three teams in the NFC South: the Buccaneers, the Falcons, and the Panthers, who won the worst division in football last season via a tie-breaker after all three of these teams finished 8-9. They all have more questions than answers at the moment. The Bucs can be prolific, but they lost their best receiver to free agency. The Falcons seem loaded at every offensive position except quarterback. And the Panthers probably have the most promise, but are still waiting for QB Bryce Young to play like the No. 1 pick he once was. And speaking of first-round quarterbacks, that’s why the Vikings are in this group, too. They have an elite defense and plenty of offensive weapons. But the QB will either be J.J. McCarthy or a revived Kyler Murray, and neither inspire much confidence right now. Tier 4: Dangerous teams Kansas City Chiefs (+1500)Green Bay Packers (+1700)Detroit Lions (+1900)San Francisco 49ers (+1800) All four of these teams fall into an interesting gray area. None of them jump off the page as an immediate and obvious Super Bowl contender. But they all could be. And it would be foolish to rule any of them out. Take the Chiefs. Everyone’s down on them for the way they played last season, even before QB Patrick Mahomes got hurt. And no one is sure when he’ll be back. But if he’s back to form, do you really believe their dynasty is dead? The Chiefs also added RB Kenneth Walker III and they still have Andy Reid. If they can get into the playoffs, no one will want to play them. The same is true of the Packers and the Lions. Both teams can be dangerous and have good, experienced quarterbacks. The Lions are loaded on offense, assuming they’ve fixed their offensive line. They just need their defense to play better. And the Packers are strong on both sides of the ball, assuming they’re not hurt by the loss of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. If QB Jordan Love and linebacker Micah Parsons stay healthy all season, Green Bay will be a tough out, too. The most interesting team in this category is the 49ers. I love what they’ve done this offseason on both offense and defense, and the additions and some better health will make them a really dangerous team. The one thing to worry about, though, is their ridiculous travel schedule — 38,000 miles across 58 time zones, which are both NFL records. For a team that’s getting older and deals with a lot of injuries, that might be too tough to survive. But if they do survive the torturous regular season, move them up at least one tier, maybe two, when the postseason starts. Tier 3: Playoffs locks Cincinnati Bengals (+2000)Houston Texans (+1800)Chicago Bears (+2500)Jacksonville Jaguars (+3000) The biggest wild-card team in the NFL is probably the Bengals. Obviously, the healthy return of QB Joe Burrow makes them dangerous. They are loaded on offense and can outscore anyone. But did they do enough to fix an atrocious defense? Maybe, if DT Dexter Lawrence is a lot better than he was last year. Imagine if they had a defense like the Texans do, though. Or imagine if the Texans had the Bengals’ offense. That’s Houston’s problem. They might have the best defense in football. It’s championship-worthy. But they’re carrying an erratic offense, unless QB C.J. Stroud magically rediscovers his rookie form. The other two teams in this category are here because of their offense, too. The Bears have run Ben Johnson’s scheme to perfection, and if WR Rome Odunze can become elite, they might be unstoppable. Their defense, though, was ranked 29th last season. It remains to be seen if they did enough to fix it. As for the Jaguars, they went on an epic offensive run at the end of last season, and coach Liam Coen seems to be an offensive genius. But letting lead rusher RB Travis Etienne go was certainly a choice. It’ll take a committee to replace him, if they even can. Tier 2: Title contenders New England Patriots (+1600)Buffalo Bills (+1000)Baltimore Ravens (+1000)Philadelphia Eagles (+1600) All four of the teams in this category are good enough to make a Super Bowl run, though they’ll head into the season with enough unanswered questions to prompt at least a little pause. For example, there’s no reason to think the Patriots won’t be as good as they were last year, especially now that QB Drake Maye has his No. 1 WR in A.J. Brown. But they were the beneficiaries of a remarkably soft schedule last season that propelled them through the playoffs. The slate won’t be as easy this time around. There’s also a lot of competition in the still-stacked AFC. The Bills will be serious contenders as long as QB Josh Allen is healthy. But can D.J. Moore find his old form and be the No. 1 WR Allen so desperately needs? And the Ravens are dangerous again, as long as QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry are healthy. But belief in them requires a lot of faith in a first-year head coach (Jesse Minter). Over in the NFC, the Eagles are still as loaded as ever, though they did just trade their best WR (Brown). The real question, though, is whether first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can fix what has sometimes been a dysfunctional offense — especially in the passing game — with QB Jalen Hurts. Tier 1: The front-runners Los Angeles Rams (+600)Seattle Seahawks (+1100)Denver Broncos (+2000) If you weren’t sure before, now you know: The Rams are going for it all, future be damned. That was clear by their offseason deals to fortify their secondary (with CBs Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie), and now it’s painfully obvious after their “F— them picks” deal for Myles Garrett, the reigning defensive player of the year. The one caveat to their chances is that their biggest threat comes from inside the division, with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Seattle should be just as dangerous, even after losing RB Kenneth Walker III in free agency. Meanwhile, in the AFC, the Broncos would have made the Super Bowl last season if they hadn’t been playing with a backup quarterback in the AFC Championship Game. A healthy Bo Nix, plus the addition of WR Jaylen Waddle, makes them the team to beat, especially if they can navigate a difficult schedule and emerge with home-field advantage.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Music

Cody Johnson Proves Why He’s ACM Entertainer of the Year During Sold-Out Rosemont Concert

Post author By alaskaadmin
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Cody Johnson Proves Why He’s ACM Entertainer of the Year During Sold-Out Rosemont Concert

If there was any question about whether Cody Johnson deserved his recent ACM Entertainer of the Year title, it was answered the moment he stepped onstage at Allstate Arena on Saturday, May 30.

The country hitmaker brought his 2026 headlining tour to the home of the Chicago Wolves just two weeks after taking home one of the biggest honors at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. The night turned the venue into a true country gathering spot, with cowboys and cowgirls, families, veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and longtime fans all packed in together celebrating a shared love for true country music.

The night began with strong opening sets from Emily Ann Roberts and Clint Black, both setting the tone for what would become an unforgettable show. By the time Cody Johnson took the stage, the anticipation inside the arena was already at an all-time high.

Cody Johnson; Photo by Jay Trevino

Backed by his powerhouse band, The Rockin’ CJB, Johnson launched into a set that stretched from 9:30 p.m. until just after 11. From the moment he stepped on stage, he made it clear the night wasn’t just about the music: it was about connecting with the fans who have supported him every step of the way, from his early days selling self-burned CDs for $5 to becoming one of country music’s biggest stars.

He came out swinging with “That’s Texas,” “Me and My Kind,” and “Dance Her Home,” setting the stage for an unforgettable night before addressing the audience for the first time.

Cody Johnson; Photo by Jay Trevino

After thanking every single person in the room for showing up that night, Johnson took a moment to reflect on just how far his career has come. Fresh off his ACM Entertainer of the Year win, he acknowledged he was still riding that momentum, admitting he felt “on fire” coming off the award show and that energy definitely shined through every part of his performance.

“I walked up on that stage to accept that Entertainer of the Year award and I’ll be honest with you, it was tough for me to hold it together because all I could think about was all those years of grinding it out for $500 bucks a night for 400 shows and nobody in the bar really cared that you were there,” he admitted. “I’m so thankful that you chose to be a country music fan and I’m so grateful to God that I get to play country music for a living…I’m coming off a pretty big high from all of that.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

The excitement from fans was already palpable, but it was further elevated when Johnson noted that his mission for the night was to have a good time and if that meant playing a bit longer than usual, he was more than willing to make that happen.

“I need you to give me all the energy you have for the next 90 minutes,” he told the screaming crowd. “If you do that for me, I give you my word I’m going to leave every ounce of energy and sweat right here on this stage for you tonight.”

With that, the Texas native broke out into a powerful rendition of “Dear Rodeo.” For his next performance of “Nothin’ on You”, the lights in the building went dark with just the flashlights from everyone’s phones illuminating the room. While this is the kind of moment that you could find at most country concerts, it felt like something more on this night. Maybe it was the power behind the song, or maybe it was a testament to Cody Johnson’s ability to captivate a crowd with nothing more than his steady vocals and undeniable authenticity.

Midway through the set, Johnson paused and asked the crowd, “Y’all wanna hear a new song?” The arena answered with a roar as he introduced “Take Me Back (Leave Me There), from his upcoming Banks Of The Trinity album dropping June 26.

Cody Johnson; Photo by Jay Trevino

The night continued with another run of fan-favorites including “Human,” “The Fall” “People In The Back” and “I’m Gonna Love You” featuring a pre-recording of Carrie Underwood singing her part in the No. 1 hit duet.

Then it was time for Johnson to continue what has become a tradition in his show. He stops the music and asks all first responders, active-duty military members, and veterans in the crowd to raise their hands, prompting a loud wave of applause across the arena. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving us a job tonight,” he told them amid a heartwarming and moving speech that prompted a sing-along of “God Bless America.”

Cody Johnson; Photo by Jay Trevino

He then moved into the final stretch with some of the hits that fans had waited all night for: “Dirt Cheap,” “The Painter,” and “’Til You Can’t,” each met with loud cheers and the packed arena singing back every word. But the night wasn’t over yet.

After tossing out a few merchandise items, handing out a drumstick, and signing a few items from the crowd, Johnson made his way offstage, only to return moments later to a crowd that hadn’t budged. The anticipation paid off with an encore featuring his rendition of “Travelin’ Soldier” and “Diamond in My Pocket,” sending fans out on a high after nearly two hours of a performance that was equal parts electrifying, emotional, and unapologetically country.

Cody Johnson will continue his 2026 run this week when he makes his way to Nashville to perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 5 as part of CMA Fest. His schedule of headlining shows and festival appearances are set to run through November.

The post Cody Johnson Proves Why He’s ACM Entertainer of the Year During Sold-Out Rosemont Concert appeared first on Country Now.

Country Now

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

From the Capitol

FROM CITY HALL

IN OTHER NEWS

Opinion & Request