The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly no longer focusing on building their team around Kawhi Leonard due to his ongoing knee problems and limited availability. Leonard's contract with the Clippers runs through the 2026-27 season, but the team plans to move forward without him as their main focus. There is also an NBA investigation related to a sponsorship deal with Leonard that could affect the team's situation.
Key Facts
Kawhi Leonard has faced knee problems that have limited his playtime with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Leonard has played the league minimum of 65 games in a season only once during his time with the team.
The Clippers are reportedly not planning to build their future team around Leonard anymore.
Leonard's contract with the Clippers ends after the 2026-27 NBA season.
The NBA is investigating a sponsorship deal Leonard had with Aspiration.
Depending on the investigation's outcome, the Clippers might face penalties similar to past cases.
Leonard is preparing for the upcoming season by training extensively to be ready for both the regular season and playoffs.
Shohei Ohtani, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was taken out of a game after pitching five innings without allowing any hits. The decision to remove him led to the Dodgers losing the game. Ohtani, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, continues to make history by achieving 50 home runs and 50 strikeouts in the same season.
Key Facts
Shohei Ohtani pitched five innings with no hits allowed in a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was removed from the game, and the Dodgers ended up losing 6-5 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ohtani expressed understanding of the decision and emphasized his readiness to pitch when needed.
Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts mentioned that Ohtani might pitch more during the playoffs.
Ohtani is being carefully managed due to past Tommy John surgery, which kept him from pitching in 2024.
Despite the loss, Ohtani hit his 50th home run of the season in the game.
He became the first player ever to achieve 50 home runs and 50 strikeouts in one season.
In a recent Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Seattle Seahawks, rookie running back Kaleb Johnson made a significant mistake on a kickoff that led to a Seahawks touchdown. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger commented that Johnson may not play much for the rest of the year due to this error. Johnson's role in the team may be reduced as he needs to regain the trust of his coaches.
Key Facts
Kaleb Johnson, a rookie running back for the Steelers, made an error on a kickoff against the Seahawks.
Johnson failed to handle a live ball, allowing the Seahawks to recover it and score a touchdown.
Ben Roethlisberger, a Steelers legend, suggested Johnson might not play much for the remainder of the season.
So far in the NFL, Johnson has only carried the football twice for a total of -1 yards.
In college, Johnson had shown strong potential, rushing for 1,537 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns in his final season.
Johnson needs to rebuild trust with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after his mistake.
This incident questions Johnson's future role with the team, particularly on special teams.
The Chicago Bears have had a rough start to their season, losing their first two games. Caleb Williams got benched in the last game against the Detroit Lions, replaced by backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. This decision by the coach sparked discussions about Williams' future with the team.
Key Facts
The Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions with a score of 52-21.
Coach Ben Johnson benched Caleb Williams, the starting quarterback, during the game.
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent took over for the last eight minutes of the game.
Caleb Williams expressed frustration about being benched but acknowledged it was the coach's decision.
Williams has thrown for 417 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the first two games.
Tyson Bagent, initially an undrafted player, was signed to a two-year extension by the Bears.
There is speculation about Caleb Williams' long-term future with the Bears.
Shohei Ohtani hit 50 home runs this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his second year in a row achieving this feat. This performance places him among a select group of players in Major League Baseball history who have hit 50 home runs in consecutive seasons.
Key Facts
Shohei Ohtani has hit 50 home runs this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last year, Ohtani set a record as the first player to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season.
This year, Ohtani has 19 stolen bases but repeated his 50-home run achievement.
Ohtani's back-to-back 50-homer seasons place him in a group with Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodríguez.
Ohtani is a candidate for his fourth career MVP Award.
This season, Ohtani also returned as a pitcher, recording a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts.
Aaron Judge has a chance to join Ohtani in achieving consecutive 50-home run seasons.
Both Ohtani and Judge are in the running for MVP honors this season.
Kawhi Leonard, a player for the L.A. Clippers, is reportedly involved in a controversy over fraudulent sponsorship payments totaling $48 million. Reports claim that a company named Aspiration paid Leonard through a questionable arrangement. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has denied the team's involvement in the alleged scheme.
Key Facts
Kawhi Leonard is a superstar player for the L.A. Clippers.
Reports suggest Leonard received $48 million from a sponsor called Aspiration in a questionable manner.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has distanced the team from these allegations.
Pablo Torre first reported the story, highlighting a $1.75 million delayed payment from Aspiration.
Clippers' co-owner Dennis Wong invested in Aspiration before Leonard's payment.
Former NBA player Channing Frye criticized Torre for investigating the situation.
Leonard has struggled with injuries but remains a top player when available.
The NBA's new financial rules aim to prevent wealthier teams from having an unfair advantage, which the alleged payments could undermine.
Cypriot team Pafos will play against Greek team Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League. This match is Pafos' first time playing in the tournament, and it will take place at Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, Greece. The game will air on CBS Sports Network and can be streamed through Fubo.
Key Facts
Pafos is making its debut in the UEFA Champions League.
The match will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 12:45 PM EDT.
The location is Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, Greece.
The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
It will be available to stream on Fubo, a streaming service.
Mehdi Taremi, a new player for Olympiacos, may play in this match after performing well recently.
Pafos has recently won its first cup and league titles.
Regional restrictions might apply for the live stream.
Former TNA World Champion James Storm suggested he might return to WWE's NXT brand by responding to a fan's post with emojis linked to his past wrestling career. His hint came amid a growing storyline between TNA and NXT, which includes cross-promotional matches. Storm's career in both TNA and NXT makes fans speculate on his possible involvement in the current storyline.
Key Facts
James Storm is a past TNA World Champion and tag team veteran.
Storm last appeared in NXT in 2015 but did not sign a long-term deal.
He hinted at a return after a recent NXT event by using emojis on social media.
The NXT and TNA storyline involves cross-promotional matches between their champions.
TNA wrestlers have reacted online about the ongoing storyline with NXT.
The storyline includes a title matchup between the current NXT and TNA champions.
James Storm's potential return is drawing interest because of his past with both NXT and TNA.
Manchester United reported record financial revenue of £666.5 million last year, despite their men's team finishing 15th in the Premier League. The club's commercial deals, including a sponsorship with Snapdragon, and strong matchday revenue contributed to this financial performance.
Key Facts
Manchester United earned £666.5 million in revenue last year.
The men's team finished 15th in the Premier League last season.
A new sponsorship deal with Snapdragon started, boosting commercial revenue to £333.3 million.
Matchday revenue also reached a record £160.3 million for the year ending June 30, 2025.
The club reported a loss of £33 million, which is a 70.8% reduction from the previous year's loss of £113.2 million.
Manchester United is ranked as having the fourth highest revenue in world football by Deloitte.
The club is committed to compliance with Premier League and UEFA financial regulations.
Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Amy Hunt from Great Britain have moved on to the semi-finals of the women's 200-meter race at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Key Facts
Three British athletes, Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Amy Hunt, reached the semi-finals in the women's 200-meter race.
The event is part of the World Athletics Championships being held in Tokyo.
The World Athletics Championships is a major international track and field competition.
The news was published recently, about 29 minutes ago.
The information is accessible only to users in the United Kingdom.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield got injured during a recent game but doesn't need any medical scans for his injuries. An update confirmed that Mayfield should be fine to play in the upcoming game against the New York Jets. The Buccaneers have started the season with two wins.
Key Facts
Baker Mayfield is the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield got injured in a game but does not need MRIs or scans.
He should be ready to play against the New York Jets.
The Buccaneers have won their first two games of the season.
Mayfield became the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers in 2023.
If Mayfield cannot play, Teddy Bridgewater is his backup.
The Buccaneers are favored to win their next game by 6.5 points.
Miami Dolphins are under pressure after losing their first two games of the NFL season. Dan Marino, a Dolphins legend, believes the team can rebound and beat the Buffalo Bills. Marino shared his thoughts on a possible turnaround, despite the tough challenge ahead.
Key Facts
The Miami Dolphins lost their first game 33-8 against the Indianapolis Colts.
In Week 2, they lost to the New England Patriots with a final score of 33-27.
The Dolphins' record is now 0-2 at the start of the season.
Dan Marino appeared on SportsCenter to discuss the Dolphins' chances against the Bills.
Marino expressed optimism that the Dolphins can beat the Bills despite their current struggles.
The Dolphins lost a close game against the Bills by a field goal in 2024.
Miami's star quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, and key players include Tyreek Hill and Chop Robinson.
The outcome of the game against the Bills could impact the future of coach Mike McDaniel.
The San Francisco Giants are still in the race for a playoff spot despite their recent losing streak and trading key players. The team has achieved a strong record since late August, but with only a few games left, they need more wins to secure a postseason position.
Key Facts
The Giants have lost four games in a row against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
They are competing for the last wild card spot in the National League.
The Giants traded away some key players at the trade deadline.
They have a 14-7 record since August 23, the best in the National League during that period.
The Giants were six games behind the final wild card spot before their recent improvement.
Justin Verlander, a prominent Giants player, initially thought the playoffs were out of reach.
The playoff race highlights the ups and downs of a baseball season and the impact of the new playoff format.
The Los Angeles Dodgers experienced another bullpen failure, losing 9-6 to the Philadelphia Phillies after starting well with five no-hit innings by Shohei Ohtani. The bullpen gave up nine runs, leading to a frustrated team and pitcher Blake Treinen expressing disbelief over their ongoing struggles.
Key Facts
The Dodgers lost to the Phillies 9-6 after a promising start.
Shohei Ohtani pitched five no-hit innings for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers bullpen allowed eight hits and nine runs in four innings.
Blake Treinen was the losing pitcher after allowing a decisive three-run home run.
Treinen and other Dodgers pitchers have been struggling throughout the season.
The Dodgers have a 5.88 bullpen ERA in September, one of the worst in Major League Baseball.
Despite the challenges, the Dodgers still lead the National League West by two games over the San Diego Padres.
Khalil Mack, a linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers, suffered a dislocated elbow during a game. Although the injury initially appeared serious, Mack is expected to return in a few weeks and will not be placed on injured reserve (IR). This is good news for the Chargers, as Mack is a key player on their defense.
Key Facts
Khalil Mack plays for the Los Angeles Chargers as a linebacker.
He suffered an injury during a "Monday Night Football" game.
The injury was a dislocated elbow, not an arm break as first feared.
Mack received medical attention and was seen with his arm in a sling.
He is expected to return in a few weeks and will not go on the injured reserve list.
Mack is an important player for the Chargers' defense.
He has already contributed to the team with a sack this season.
The Chargers will play against the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders in upcoming weeks.
The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are in a standoff over his contract renewal. Kuminga wants a player option, which the team has not agreed to provide, and this has led to reported dissatisfaction from Kuminga. The situation affects not only the Warriors but also impacts other potential team moves, such as signing free agent Al Horford.
Key Facts
Jonathan Kuminga is a restricted free agent.
The Warriors offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract without a player option.
Kuminga is reportedly unhappy with his situation on the team.
Kuminga's performance last season included 15.3 points per game with 45.4% shooting accuracy.
Tension in negotiations may impact the Warriors' decision to sign Al Horford, a free agent.
Negotiations may conclude if the team changes the contract to include a player option for Kuminga.
WWE is launching a new live event called Wrestlepalooza, which will debut this Saturday on ESPN. This event is planned to become an annual fixture and aims to fill a gap in the wrestling calendar. Several key matches have been announced, including a defense of the WWE Championship and a new Women's World Champion being crowned.
Key Facts
WWE is holding its first Wrestlepalooza event this Saturday.
Wrestlepalooza will debut on ESPN, marking the start of what WWE hopes will become an annual event.
The event is positioned to compete with AEW All Out.
Wrestlepalooza stems from previous discussions about expanding the WrestleMania brand, but the Saudi Arabian government wanted to host only the original WrestleMania.
Major matches include Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre and John Cena facing Brock Lesnar.
The Women's World Championship will be contested between IYO SKY and Stephanie Vaquer.
The brand name Wrestlepalooza was previously associated with ECW, a former wrestling organization.
WWE executive Nick Khan reportedly influenced the revival of the Wrestlepalooza name.
The New York Mets are working to secure the final wild card spot in the National League. They need to win more games to stay ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and other teams. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the importance of maintaining their effort through the rest of the season.
Key Facts
The Mets have a 1.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final wild card spot.
The team won an important game against the San Diego Padres but needs more victories.
Manager Carlos Mendoza stressed the need for continued success in the remaining games.
The Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, and Cincinnati Reds are close behind the Mets in the wild card race.
The Mets have to play against the Padres, Nationals, Cubs, and Marlins in their upcoming games.
The Mets began the season with high hopes for the World Series but are currently at risk of missing the playoffs.
The team invested heavily in player Juan Soto, but they need more than just his performance to reach their goal.
Great Britain's tennis team is preparing to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup against Japan without their top player, Emma Raducanu, who chose to participate in another tournament. Despite her absence, the team captain and players are optimistic about their chances and are focusing on the current team members.
Key Facts
Emma Raducanu, a top British tennis player, will not play in the Billie Jean King Cup as she is participating in the Korea Open instead.
Francesca Jones replaced Raducanu in the Great Britain team.
The team includes Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Burrage.
Boulter is now leading as Britain's number one singles player in Raducanu's absence.
Great Britain is facing Japan in the tournament held in Shenzhen, China.
Both Great Britain and Japan are missing their number one players, with Japan's Naomi Osaka also not participating.
The Great Britain team has reached the semi-finals of the Cup twice in recent years.
The competition's live coverage is available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
Thomas Partey, a player for Villarreal and former Arsenal footballer, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault involving three women. The alleged incidents occurred while he was with Arsenal, and his trial is scheduled to start on November 2, 2026. Partey recently played for Villarreal against Tottenham Hotspur and was booed by fans.
Key Facts
Thomas Partey is a midfielder for Villarreal and formerly played for Arsenal.
He appeared in a London court and pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.
The charges involve five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three women.
The alleged incidents took place between April 2021 and June 2022, when Partey was with Arsenal.
His trial is set for November 2, 2026, and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Partey joined Villarreal this summer after his contract with Arsenal ended.
He previously signed with Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for 50 million euros ($59 million).
Partey played against Tottenham Hotspur recently and was booed by the Spurs fans.
