TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection to a kidnapping and robbery in Florida and faces felony charges, officials said Wednesday.

Arnold is accused of being the “primary conspirator” before three men in their late teens were held at gunpoint, battered and pistol-whipped in February in Tampa, the city’s police department said in a statement. Some of their belongings were stolen, police said.

Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office said on X that Arnold faces felony charges, although the specific charges were not immediately clear.

Tampa police had already arrested six others suspected of being part of the targeted armed robbery.

Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, which represents Arnold, said he denies being involved.

“There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations,” White said in a statement. “Instead, the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.”

In early February, Arnold and a few of his friends had reported more than $250,000 worth of their property being stolen from an Airbnb in Largo, police said.

Arnold believed that two men in their late teens had been behind it, although investigators later determined this was not the case, police said.

Arnold and his friends worked to get the men, along with another, to an apartment on Feb. 4, police said. Initially, two of Arnold’s friends held them at gunpoint and hit them, while another streamed it to Arnold, police said. Later, when the assault was still going on, Arnold also came to the apartment, police said. His other friends stole some of the victims’ belongings, police said.

The victims reported the robbery to police.

Arnold is a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions who was a first round pick in the 2024 draft after playing at the University of Alabama. He is from Florida.

The Lions said in a statement Wednesday night that they were aware of the situation but would not be commenting at this time.

Arnold turned himself in to law enforcement on Wednesday. He is expected to make his first appearance in Hillsborough County court Thursday afternoon, the attorney’s office said.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thanks to a historic doubleheader performance Wednesday, Dansby Swanson has the best four-game series in Chicago Cubs history — with a game to spare.

Swanson had a go-ahead RBI triple and four RBIs to cap the monster doubleheader and lead the Cubs to a sweep of the reeling New York Mets with a 10-5 win.

Swanson hit a three-run homer and a grand slam in the Cubs’ 10-3 victory in the opener. The 11 RBIs in a doubleheader are a franchise record, breaking the mark of 10 set by Hall of Famer Ron Santo on July 6, 1970.

The only other player in team history with a nine-RBI doubleheader is also a Hall of Famer — Billy Williams, who did it on Aug. 21, 1968.

“A dream come true, just being able to have your name next to those guys,” Swanson said. “It’s amazing and special.”

The 11 RBIs are tied for the third-most in a doubleheader. Nate Colbert had 13 RBIs for the San Diego Padres on Aug. 1, 1972, a mark equaled by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Mark Whiten on Sept. 7, 1993.

“Dansby had an incredible day of baseball offensively, for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s fun to see.”

Swanson also homered Tuesday night and has three homers and 15 RBIs in the first three games of the series, which is slated to conclude Thursday night.

The 15 RBIs are the most ever by a Cubs player in a series of four or fewer games since 1920, when the RBI became an official statistic, and are the most by a Chicago player in a series of any length since Kiki Cuyler, another Hall of Famer, had 15 RBIs in a five-game set in 1932.

The 15 RBIs over the last three games are also the most ever by a shortstop, breaking the mark of 14 RBIs set by Nomar Garciaparra with the Boston Red Sox from May 10-12, 1999. The only other Cubs player with at least 15 RBIs in a three-game span is Sammy Sosa, who had 16 RBIs from Aug. 10-12, 2002.

“I couldn’t tell you a game that I’ve had like this,” Swanson said. “It’s one that you honestly dream about.

“Just very, very grateful.”

The three-game surge snapped a lengthy slump for Swanson, who entered Tuesday hitting .178 with three homers and 14 RBIs in his last 48 games dating back to April 24. Swanson is batting just .202 with a .688 OPS this season — down considerably from his career marks of .251 and .732, respectively, entering 2026.

“You say process, process, process and stick to it, but every player is aware of how they’re producing and helping the team,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He’s been so consistent and persistent. That doesn’t guarantee results, but man, does it feel good when those come through.”

Yet with 11 homers and 46 RBIs through 80 games, Swanson is more than halfway to his fifth 20-homer season and almost halfway to his career-high of 96 RBIs, set during his final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2022.

“That’s why the game sometimes, like, drives you crazy,” Counsell said. “Because if you probably look at Dansby’s season right now, it’s kind of a normal season for Dansby. Maybe the batting average is a little bit low, but probably all the other numbers are right around where he’s been the last couple years. It’s just been peaks and valleys for him.

“The good times, you’ve got to take advantage of them. And when you have days like that and you’re kind of the primary driver of offense, that’s going to win your team games.”

___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina kept the home hopes alive Wednesday, beating Australian qualifier Adam Walton 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships in Mallorca, Spain.

The second seed needed 87 minutes to advance, dropping just eight points on serve while moving into his first Mallorca quarterfinal. Davidovich Fokina will next face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Jordanian lucky loser Abdullah Shelbayh 6-2, 6-4 in the final singles match of the day.

Dimitrov, a wild card this week, has now won consecutive tour-level matches for the first time this season. The former world No. 3 handled Shelbayh to set up his third career meeting with Davidovich Fokina, who won their first two matchups.

In the other Wednesday matches, Czech Vit Kopriva knocked out fifth-seeded Ignacio Buse of Peru 7-5, 6-1, while Ethan Quinn held off fellow American Murphy Cassone 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3. Quinn will face Kopriva for a spot in the semifinals.

Lexus Eastbourne Open

Canada’s Gabriel Diallo knocked off fourth-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina on Wednesday, rallying for a 6-7 (11), 6-3, 6-2 win to reach the quarterfinals in Eastbourne, England.

Diallo shook off a lengthy first-set tiebreak defeat and took control from there, dropping just five games over the final two sets. The victory moved him into the quarterfinals, where he will face Jack Draper after the Briton beat fellow countryman Jack Pinnington Jones 7-5, 6-4.

Draper, playing his first tournament since April because of a knee injury, failed to serve out the opening set at 5-4 but recovered by winning the next two games. He then closed out the second set in cleaner fashion, advancing in 1 hour, 30 minutes.

No. 6 seed Ugo Humbert also moved into the quarterfinals, sweeping American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-2. Humbert will next face French countryman Quentin Halys, who beat British qualifier Giles Hussey 6-1, 7-5. Eighth-seeded Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina beat British wild card Arthur Fery 6-2, 7-6 (2), Belgium’s Zizou Bergs advanced when Daniel Altmaier of Germany retired trailing 6-3, 3-2 and British qualifier Jan Choinski beat countryman Felix Gill 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2.

–Field Level Media

The second round of the NBA draft is the main time for the afterthoughts and project players to hear their names.

The festivities in New York were tame on Wednesday, one day after the prime picks were celebrated and paraded in front of cameras and the media.

But gems can be panned out on Day 2, and there is an impressive list of past second-round picks.

Current NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks was a second-round selection (33rd overall) by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018, while three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets went 41st overall in 2014. Stellar hard-nosed defender Draymond Green was picked 35th by the Golden State Warriors in 2012.

You can also find San Antonio Spurs great Manu Ginobili (57th in 1999) and rebounding legend Dennis Rodman (27th in 1986 by the Detroit Pistons) in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton would like to become part of that pipeline, and he was the first player taken in the second round on Wednesday at No. 31.

Thornton was picked with a draft choice belonging to the New York Knicks that was known to be en route to the Houston Rockets. The all-time leading scorer for the Buckeyes (2,164 points) would certainly be viewed as an immediate contributor who could develop into a key scorer.

“I’m trying to be a winner, at the end of the day,” Thornton, who averaged 19.9 points last season, said on ESPN’s broadcast. “I’m trying to win games and impact winning each and every night. I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m built for the moment.”

The Knicks chose for real at No. 39 and took German guard Jack Kayil. The 20-year-old committed to Gonzaga before later entering the draft. He chose to stay in after receiving encouraging feedback.

The Grizzlies selected second on Wednesday and made the type of gamble that traditionally occurs in the second round.

Memphis tabbed BYU guard Richie Saunders, who tore his right ACL in February and is in the midst of his rehabilitation. He also turns 25 in September and was a late bloomer after serving a two-year church mission prior to starting his college career.

The versatile Saunders averaged 18.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 25 games as the sidekick to AJ Dybantsa, who went No. 1 overall on Tuesday to the Washington Wizards.

NCAA all-time career assists leader Braden Smith went 38th overall, with the Chicago Bulls executing the pick and sending him to the Indiana Pacers. The Purdue point guard had 1,103 assists in 149 games over four seasons to pass the longstanding mark held by Duke’s Bobby Hurley (1,076 in 140 games from 1989-93).

There were many project-type selections, one being Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal going 48th to the Dallas Mavericks.

The highly athletic 6-foot-8 London native played two seasons at VCU and two campaigns with Virginia Tech. He averaged 1.3 points in his first college season before later developing his scoring and sporting averages of 12.4 and 12.3 in his two seasons with the Hokies. He averaged 8.5 rebounds last season.

“Just being versatile defensively, being a threat on offense and growing at the stuff that I’m not good at yet,” Lawal said of his outlook.

Other notable college players selected Wednesday included Kentucky guard Otega Oweh (No. 41 to Oklahoma City after a trade from the Miami Heat), Houston guard Emanuel Sharp (No. 45 to Sacramento), Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (No. 50 to Toronto) and Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli, the Big Ten scoring leader at 23.0 per game, going No. 55 to the Clippers.

The 60th and final selection of the draft was forward Malique Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago to the Milwaukee Bucks via way of the Wizards. The 6-8 Lewis averaged 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds for South East Melbourne of the National Basketball League in Australia this season.

The Bucks are in rebuilding mode after agreeing to trade franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat earlier this week. The Bucks took Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10 in the first round and Tennessee forward Nate Ament at No. 13 in a pick obtained from the Heat.

Also, the Pistons reportedly traded power forward Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round draft picks. Stewart, 25, averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 58 appearances (13 starts) last season.

–Field Level Media

By Hatem Maher and Leonardo Benassatto

LOS ANGELES, June 24 (Reuters) – Clad almost entirely in red and draped in South Korean flags, hundreds of Korean Americans transformed Liberty Park in Los Angeles’ Koreatown into a slice of home on Wednesday, chanting, singing and dancing under the banner of a simple slogan: “Keeping Our Roots Eternal.”

The phrase adorned flags, food stalls and merchandise across the park, capturing the spirit of a World Cup watch party that became about far more than the outcome of South Korea’s final group-stage match against South Africa.

While the action unfolded more than 1,400 miles (2,250 km) away in Monterrey, Mexico, Liberty Park briefly felt much closer to Seoul than Southern California.

Families queued for Korean street food and face painting before kickoff as performers took to the stage. Drummers pounded in perfect rhythm with cheerleaders while supporters broke into chants that echoed across the park.

Even when South Korea conceded a second-half goal on their way to a 1-0 defeat, the noisy atmosphere barely wavered.

During the hydration break, cheerleaders rushed back onto the stage, leading fans through energetic routines to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and music from the hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters”, quickly replacing disappointment with celebration.

For many gathered in Koreatown, the day was less about football than about reaffirming ties to a heritage thousands of miles away.

‘BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER’

“I love Korea. I love representing my heritage,” said Irene Choi, who was born in Los Angeles and whose mother runs a ballet school in the city’s Korean community.

“I wish I was in Korea and I could experience it there. I never have. But this comes second. Every single World Cup viewing party in K-Town is always so much fun. It brings our community together.”

Mitchell Lee, a nonprofit worker from Maryland who was visiting Los Angeles with relatives for a family wedding, said attending the gathering was never in doubt.

“Koreatown just has such a vibe,” he said. “We had to come.”

Born and raised in the U.S., Lee said football remains one of the strongest connections his family have to their roots.

“We love cheering together as one community,” he said.

Others admitted they were drawn less by the sport itself than by the shared experience.

“I’m not really a soccer fan,” said Donnie, a registered nurse who has lived in Los Angeles since childhood.

“But the World Cup kind of always brings out a little bit of national pride. It’s more fun to watch when a crowd is screaming and enjoying it instead of just watching it at home by myself.”

While many fans were too young to remember South Korea’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002 when the country co-hosted the tournament with Japan or were born in the United States, the public gathering offered something different: an opportunity to celebrate a shared identity with strangers who felt like family.

As the final whistle confirmed defeat, leaving South Korea hoping to reach the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams, the drums continued to beat and fans lingered in Liberty Park, chatting beneath fluttering Korean flags.

For one afternoon in Los Angeles, the crowd embraced the feeling the slogan promised: keeping their roots eternal.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher, Editing by Ken Ferris)

By Angelica Medina

MEXICO CITY, June 24 (Reuters) – If Wednesday’s World Cup match marked the last time Guillermo Ochoa appears in Mexico colours, the 40-year-old goalkeeper could not have wished for a better send-off.

Brought on for the last 12 minutes with his team 2-0 up against the Czech Republic and cruising into the knockout phase as Group A winners, Ochoa lapped up the acclaim of fans at the Azteca stadium, the venue where he made his senior debut with Club America in 2004.

Making his sixth and final appearance at the World Cup, Ochoa maintained the clean sheet began by Raul Rangel as Mexico scored again late on to finish 3-0 winners.

Mexico will play at the Azteca in the round of 32 but barring a goalkeeping emergency he is unlikely to get on the pitch. 

The veteran keeper, instantly recognisable by his curls, was content with his role.

“My first game, Azteca. My last game, Azteca. It’s been a beautiful final chapter of my career,” he told Mexican TV. 

“Thank you, everyone.”

Roared on by a crowd dressed in green, white and red, Mexico did not overwhelm the Czechs but were worthy winners thanks to goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo.

The whole venue saluted Ochoa at the final whistle, a proper show of respect for a player whose flying saves and one-man acts of defiance became part of Mexican footballing folklore.

“He’s an example for all of us. He’s the first one in the gym and the last one to leave,” Chavez said of Ochoa. 

“This is the icing on the cake of a great career. He’s an idol for us, he’s helped guide the group with his experience, and I’m very happy for him.”

For supporters, everything has followed the ideal script: a home World Cup, a perfect group run, and a legend walking off with the chants of his name ringing in his ears.

They are already daring to talk about the prospect of a long-awaited return to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Mexico have only reached that stage twice — in 1970 and 1986. When they were hosts.

(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Nelly Korda is on the doorstep of the LPGA Hall of Fame, though she claims she doesn’t know how close she really is.

“It’s one of the hardest Hall of Fames to get into for sure, but I’ve never really truly looked at it,” Korda said. “If I’m being honest, I don’t even know how many points you need to get into it.”

For the record, 27 points must be accumulated to earn a spot in the LGPA Hall of Fame, and Korda’s two points shy.

She could collect those two points with a victory at this weekend’s major, the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a motivating factor, but it would be something that is — would be an absolute amazing accomplishment to be alongside some of the best that have ever played in this game on the LPGA Tour,” Korda said.

“But if it’s a motivating factor to me and I’m like thinking about it, not necessarily. I just enjoy playing golf and I enjoy being in the hunt in tournaments. I always say good golf kind of solves everything, and that’s my main focus, is just trying to play consistent good golf.”

It would still be a remarkable achievement for the 27-year-old. Korda, the World No. 1, has four major championships under her belt already, including two in a row in 2026, a season in which she has won four of her nine starts.

And yet, even more is at stake when Korda tees off Thursday.

Only two women in the history of the game have won three straight majors in a single season, and Korda can join Inbee Park (2013) and Babe Zaharias (1950) in achieving the same.

Moreover, the LPGA requires four different majors won to qualify for the sport’s grand slam, despite now boasting five tournaments it calls majors.

With wins already at the KPMG Women’s PGA (2021), the Chevron Championship (2024, 2026) and the U.S Women’s Open (2026), Korda needs a victory at either the Women’s British Open or Evian Championship to reach that milestone.

But Korda refuses to yield to the pressure of the moment, likely helped by the fact that she will have another major to compete in later this season while continuing her pursuit of the Hall of Fame. She can earn two more points this season — and secure a place in the Hall of Fame — without winning another major, if she manages to win Player of the Year honors and achieve the tour’s lowest scoring average.

Those marks are very much in reach as well.

“I don’t want to put extra pressure on myself,” Korda acknowledged when talking about the blinders she puts on with historical achievements. “If I always think about that then — I feel like the game of golf is already hard enough. If I add more pressure on myself then it’s going to be even harder.

“I think I have a very in-the-moment mindset this year, which I’m just trying to take towards the end of the year. No matter what happens, I’ve just told myself if I am lifting the trophy, like that is obviously the main goal at the end of the week.”

–Field Level Media

By Ed White

INGLEWOOD, California, June 24 (Reuters) – United States coach Mauricio Pochettino said he won’t start any of his already-qualified team’s four players who have yellow cards when they face Turkey in Thursday’s World Cup clash. 

The U.S. have already guaranteed top spot in Group D, and with Turkey already out, the match is a dead rubber. However, Pochettino said the players he picks need the hunger to win.

Although he has not made a final decision on whether to play forward Christian Pulisic, whoever he selects must have a desire to “eat the grass,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Argentine Pochettino has decided not to start with the four players on bookings — defender Chris Richards, wing back Antonee Robinson, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Folarin Balogun — which means they are unlikely to feature.

The yellow cards are a problem not just because another booking would see players ruled unavailable, but also because it could cause them to be less aggressive on the pitch. 

“I think that this is a little bit normal and an easy answer, you know, not to play them from the beginning,” Pochettino said. “Of course we are qualified (for the last 32). But for sure we want to win,” he added.

Pulisic has been managing a calf muscle problem and, even though he has been passed fit, Pochettino and the medical staff must decide whether to start him or bring him off the bench. 

The stakes in Thursday’s match might not seem that high to an outside observer, but it was clear from both camps on Wednesday that they have other reasons to seek a victory.

Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella spoke at length and repeatedly about his side’s belief in their quality, despite losing both matches so far, and the pain that criticism from some fans and media has caused the players.

He sounded like a man with something to prove and Pochettino also noted that Turkey would be determined to get a result.

“It is an opportunity for them to play for pride, for their country, for their flag,” he said. 

The U.S. come into the match in an unfamiliar position, having become a national sensation in a country that normally does not prioritise soccer except at a local level.

The U.S. team’s players like Pulisic appear in mainstream television ads and are becoming household names to millions. 

Pochettino described the public support seen and felt by the players as being like the difference between “day and night” from the situation before the tournament.

(Reporting by Ed White, Editing by Ken Ferris)

Jerusalem Grand Slam 2026 to Welcome Athletes From 29 Countries  

By The Media Line Staff  

The Jerusalem Grand Slam 2026 will bring together approximately 76 athletes from 29 countries on Thursday, June 25, at the National Stadium in Givat Ram, Jerusalem, as the city hosts one of Israel’s leading international athletics competitions.  

Organized with the involvement of the Jerusalem Municipality and the Israel Athletics Association, the event will feature competitors from Europe, North and South America, and Africa alongside many of Israel’s top track and field athletes.  

Athletes from countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Greece, Ukraine, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, and Uganda are expected to participate. The program will also include a 4×100-meter relay featuring national teams from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland.  

Among the Israeli competitors scheduled to take part are Blessing Afrifah, Yonatan Kapitolnik, Adva Cohen, Omri Shiff, Romi Tamir, Alina Drotman, and Mercy Afrifah.  

For many athletes, the competition represents an opportunity to achieve qualification standards and collect ranking points ahead of the European Championships in August.  

Now entering its third consecutive year, the Jerusalem Grand Slam has continued to expand its international profile and strengthen Jerusalem’s role as a venue for major sporting events.  

Last year’s edition produced a notable achievement when Omri Shiff set a new Israeli record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 49.82 seconds, ending a 34-year wait for a new national mark in the event.  

In addition to the athletics competition, organizers said a family fan zone will operate at the stadium, offering interactive activities and entertainment for visitors.  

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said the event reflects “Jerusalem’s growing status on the global sports map,” adding that the city has continued to attract international athletes and invest in sports infrastructure.  

Ami Baran, Chairman of the Israel Athletics Association, said the participation of athletes from 29 countries carries “great significance” and reflects efforts to continue bringing major international sporting events to Israel.  

The Jerusalem Grand Slam 2026 is scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Givat Ram on Thursday, June 25.  

Credit for Photos: Israeli Athletics Association 

The Buffalo Sabres sent prolific goal-scorer Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday via a sign-and-trade agreement.

Tuch, an unrestricted free agent who scored at least 33 goals for the Sabres in three of the last four seasons, agreed to an eight-year, $84 million contract with Washington, while the Capitals sent forward David Kampf and their 2027 third-round pick to Buffalo.

The 30-year-old New York native, selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, has produced 200 goals and 248 assists in 615 regular-season games for the Wild (2017), Vegas Golden Knights (2017-21) and Sabres (2021-26).

Tuch notched 33 goals and 33 assists in 79 regular-season games this season as the Sabres earned their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2011.

Tuch, who made $4.75 million this season, becomes the second key player moved by Buffalo in two days. On Tuesday, the Sabres sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a deal that netted Buffalo the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, which begins Friday in Buffalo.

Kampf, 31, was acquired by the Capitals from the Vancouver Canucks for a sixth-round pick on March 6. Between the Caps and the Canucks, Kampf contributed two goals and four assists in 40 games. For his career, the unrestricted free agent has netted 50 goals and 99 assists in 576 regular-season games.

–Field Level Media