Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

“I’m actually probably more busy than I’ve ever been,” he tells TODAY.com, promoting his new partnership with charcoal company Kingsford.

Kelce announced his retirement in March after his Philadelphia Eagles started the season 10-1 before losing six of their last seven games, culminating in a crushing playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kelce’s brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, meanwhile, returned to the Super Bowl to become a three-time champ.

Travis Kelce, along with Eagles and Taylor Swift fans, was wiping his eyes after Kelce’s 45-minute retirement speech, dedicated to his 13-season career in the NFL with the Eagles and to his family.

Speaking to TODAY.com, Kelce says he’s most looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children.

“And I’m looking forward to being able to watch football,” he adds.

While in the NFL, most of his time was spent planning for games, watching tape of past performances and “trying to focus on how to lead the team,” he says.

“I haven’t been able to just spectate and appreciate an NFL season, you know, ever,” he says. “I’m looking forward to really watching all the games this year that I can, and to take in the entire atmosphere, the NFL in a different way.”

Kelce will now take on a role with ESPN. In May, the sports network announced Kelce will join “Monday Night Countdown,” a pregame show for “Monday Night Football.”

He’s also shown that he can bring the energy as a football fan, famously taking his shirt off in the middle of January to cheer on his brother and the Chiefs to victory over the Buffalo Bills (with his brother’s girlfriend, Swift, nearby).

But life after retirement isn’t all broadcasting and beer. The former center previously said “everybody goes through a level of depression” after leaving the league.

He tells TODAY.com he isn’t “in depression right now, yet.”

“I think it is going to set in,” he says. “There’s a depressed state; I don’t know that it’s full-on depression. But for me, right now, I just experience sadness here and there.”

He reiterates that “everybody goes through it,” citing conversations with other former players. Kelce expects it to “set in” once the NFL picks back up, with preseason games starting in August and the kickoff of the regular season set for Sept. 5 in Kansas City.

He says he’s “excited about what life is going to be after football.”

“There’s family to raise and girls that are getting older, every single day,” he says. “But there’s no question that it does feel like something is missing. It feels like there’s a piece of me for the last 13 years that every day I’ve talked to (Eagles offensive line coach) Jeff Stoutland and the different teammates in our building, and we’ve ironed out different things that we’re trying to improve on.”

The routine of practices, a game schedule and working with a team toward one goal provided “security,” he says.

Now, he’s working on finding his next goal.

“There’s no question that it feels like I’m a little bit figuring out what that is now. Outside of family life, like, what is the thing that is cementing or that I’m doing on a routine basis that’s grounding me?” he says. “I think I’m going to have to figure out what that next thing is now.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics etched their names in history by winning the 2024 NBA Finals, completing a gentleman’s sweep Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Banner 18 will rise in the TD Garden rafters, as the Celtics have broken a tie with the Lakers for the most in NBA history.

Championships have become the standard not just for the Celtics, but for Boston. The Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins have given the city championship parades in recent years. Now, fans will gather to celebrate another Boston title following the Celtics’ dominant playoff run.

Boston sports fans have grown accustomed to championships and parades, but just how many titles has the city won? And where does Boston rank among the most decorated sports cities?

Here are the U.S. cities with the most championships across the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL:

1. New York – 54

• New York Yankees – 27 (1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999. 2000, 2009)
• New York Giants (NFL) – 8 (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011)
• New York Giants (MLB) – 5 (1905, 1921, 1922, 1933, 1954)
• New York Rangers – 4 (1928, 1933, 1940, 1994)
• New York Islanders – 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
• New York Knicks – 2 (1970, 1973)
• New York Mets – 2 (1969, 1986)
• New York Jets – 1 (1968)
• Brooklyn Dodgers – 1 (1955)

New York has the Yankees to thank for its spot atop this list. The Bronx Bombers have won 27 World Series titles, more than twice as many as any MLB franchise.

The Big Apple has not won a title across the four major sports leagues since 2011, when the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI.

2. Boston – 40

• Boston Celtics – 18 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024)
• Boston Red Sox – 9 (1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018)
• New England Patriots – 6 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
• Boston Bruins – 6 (1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011)
• Boston Braves – 1 (1914)

With the Celtics’ 2024 Finals triumph, Boston is now one of two cities to win an NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL title since 2010.

The city boasts two teams that rank at the top when it comes to championships in their respective sports. The Celtics are in a league of their own with 18 NBA titles, while the Patriots are tied for the NFL lead with six Super Bowls, all won during the Brady-Belichick era.

The Red Sox broke their 86-year World Series curse in 2004 and have won the most championships of any MLB team in the 21st century.

The Bruins have lifted the Stanley Cup once over the last 50 years, but the Original Six franchise is tied for the fourth-most championships in NHL history.

3. Chicago – 29

• Chicago Bears – 9 (1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985)
• Chicago Bulls – 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
• Chicago Blackhawks – 6 (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015)
• Chicago Cubs – 3 (1907, 1908, 2016)
• Chicago White Sox – 3 (1906, 1917, 2005)
• Chicago Cardinals (NFL) – 2 (1925, 1947)

Chicago’s most recent championship success has seen its two MLB teams break their World Series curses and its NHL team form a dynasty. 

While Chicago hasn’t seen a title since the Cubs’ memorable run in 2016, the city can put its hopes in two No. 1 picks in Connor Bedard and Caleb Williams.

4. Los Angeles – 25

• Los Angeles Lakers – 12 (1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020)
• Los Angeles Dodgers – 6 (1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020)
• Los Angeles Rams – 2 (1951, 2021)
• Los Angeles Kings – 2 (2012, 2014)
• Los Angeles Angels – 1 (2002)
• Los Angeles Raiders – 1 (1983)
• Anaheim Ducks – 1 (2007)

Los Angeles is the only city to enjoy as much recent championship success across the sports as Boston. It has won one NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL championship in the last 10 years, though it also has the benefit of having two teams in each of those leagues.

While the Lakers have 17 championships in their history, L.A. itself can only claim 12 of them. The franchise’s first five NBA titles came before it made the move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960.

5. Detroit – 22

• Detroit Red Wings – 11 (1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)
• Detroit Tigers – 4 (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984)
• Detroit Lions – 4 (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957)
• Detroit Pistons – 3 (1989, 1990, 2004)

The Detroit Red Wings are the most decorated sports franchise in the Motor City, as they have as many championships as the Tigers, Lions and Pistons combined.

The Lions may have four NFL championships, but they are one of four NFL teams to never reach a Super Bowl.

6. San Francisco Bay Area – 19

• Golden State Warriors – 5 (1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
• San Francisco 49ers – 5 (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994)
• Oakland Athletics – 4 (1972, 1973, 1974, 1989)
• San Francisco Giants – 3 (2010, 2012, 2014)
• Oakland Raiders – 2 (1976, 1980)

Recent success in the Bay Area has come from the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants, who have combined to win seven championships since 2010.

The San Francisco 49ers have been knocking at the door, reaching four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls over the last five years, but they are still chasing their first Lombardi Trophy since Steve Young was throwing to Jerry Rice.

7. Philadelphia – 18

• Philadelphia Athletics – 5 (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930)
• Philadelphia Eagles – 4 (1948, 1949, 1960, 2017)
• Philadelphia Phillies – 2 (1980, 2008)
• Philadelphia 76ers – 2 (1967, 1983)
• Philadelphia Flyers – 2 (1974, 1975)
• Philadelphia Warriors – 2 (1947, 1956)
• Frankford Yellow Jackets – 1 (1926)

Speaking of the Lombardi Trophy, the Eagles brought it to the City of Brotherly Love for the first time in 2017 for Philadelphia’s most recent championship.

Of the city’s 18 championships, only 10 of them belong to franchises that still reside there. Philadelphia’s team with the most championships, the Athletics, moved out in 1954, currently calls Oakland home and is on its way to Las Vegas.

8. Pittsburgh – 17

• Pittsburgh Steelers – 6 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008)
• Pittsburgh Penguins – 5 (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017)
• Pittsburgh Pirates – 5 (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979)

Pittsburgh has the most titles of any city that is not represented across all four leagues.

The Steelers are tied with the Patriots with their six Super Bowl titles, while the Penguins and Pirates have five championships apiece.

9. St. Louis – 14

• St. Louis Cardinals – 11 (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011)
• St. Louis Blues – 1 (2019)
• St. Louis Rams – 1 (1999)
• St. Louis Hawks – 1 (1958)

St. Louis only has two teams across the four leagues, and they have dramatically different championship histories.

The Cardinals have the second-most World Series titles in MLB history, winning the most recent thanks to David Freese’s heroics in 2011. The Blues, on the other hand, won their first and only Stanley Cup in 2019 by beating the Bruins in a Game 7 in Boston.

T-10. Cleveland – 13

• Cleveland Browns – 8 (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
• Cleveland Guardians – 2 (1920, 1948)
• Cleveland Cavaliers – 1 (2016)
• Cleveland Rams – 1 (1945)
• Cleveland Bulldogs – (1924)

LeBron James brought the Cleveland Cavaliers their first championship with a legendary 2016 NBA Finals comeback against the Warriors. Before that, Cleveland hadn’t won a title since Jim Brown was leading the way for the Browns.

T-10.  Green Bay – 13

• Green Bay Packers – 13 (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)

The Packers’ success alone is enough to put Green Bay in the top 10 on this list.

From Curly Lambeau to Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have 13 NFL titles. They won the first two Super Bowls ever, and Favre and Rodgers each added one to the team’s total.

Such was the case with Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who recently inked a long-term record-breaking deal that included interesting details.

NFL quarterback contracts keep getting more and more lucrative, too, with multiple NBA stars also cashing in.

But which players are the highest paid in the United States? Let’s take a look, with all numbers via Spotrac:

Who are the highest-paid US athletes annually?

The athletes with the best annual salaries in the U.S. are all playing in the NFL, NBA or MLB. Let’s take a look at the top 11 in terms of average annual value:

1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers: $70,000,000

2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: $62,786,682

T-3. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: $58,456,490

T-3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: $58,456,490

5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $57,246,000

6. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks: $56,456,400

7. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $55,224,526

8. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat: $55,116,120

T-9. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $55,110,496

T-9. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $55,110,496

T-11. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: $55,000,000

T-11. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: $55,000,000

Who is the highest-paid NHL player?

The NHL currently is far off from having a player among the top of the crop. Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has the highest annual average value at $13,250,000.

Who is the highest-paid MLS player?

MLS fares a tad better than the NHL and that’s mainly due to one man: Lionel Messi. Messi makes $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation with Inter Miami.

Who is the highest-paid WNBA player?

The WNBA, in terms of average annual value, is led by Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young at $252,420.

The No. 51 Ferrari helmed by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi rounded out the top three in the latest running of the most iconic sports car race in the world.

Rain and fog brought out the safety car in the early hours of the morning with Ferrari jostling with Toyota and Porsche for top spot. But with dawn breaking, the racing resumed under a green flag with several teams in contention.

With less than six hours remaining the No. 50 Ferrari made its move just before more rain fell with Fuoco moving up the grid. Nielsen then survived more late drama when a flapping door forced the car into an unscheduled pit stop but managed to hang on for victory.

Rain meant the match was abandoned without a ball bowled, advancing the U.S. to the Super Eight stage and automatically qualifying the Americans for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

The U.S. qualified for this T20 World Cup only as a co-host with the West Indies, but it has used home advantage to make a stunning first impression in its first global cricket tournament.

While the Americans progressed, former champion Pakistan and Ireland were eliminated from Super Eight contention.

Pakistan won the title in 2009 and reached two more finals, including at the last T20 World Cup in 2022. Ireland was also expected to be a threat. The Irish also reached the second round on debut in 2009 and repeated in 2022.

The point from the washout in its last Group A game was enough for the U.S. to advance, after beating Canada in Texas and stunning Pakistan on Long Island in the first week.

Tying Pakistan in regular overs then beating it in a super over was one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history.

The Americans were then thumped by unbeaten India, one of the title favorites, as expected on Wednesday but the hosts’ progression without being able to play on Friday was still well deserved.

The umpires made four inspections of the wet outfield before heavy rain arrived at around 1:30 p.m. local time and the match was called off three hours after its scheduled start.

The 17th-ranked U.S. joined the West Indies, India, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan in the Super Eight, with two more teams yet to qualify. The Super Eight splits into two groups, with each team guaranteed three games to try and reach the semifinals.

The first round of the June 4 episode featured a “21st Century Sports” category. The three contestants cleared the five other categories off the board before diving into sports, and some of their answers were swings and misses.

The $400 clue read, “In 2007 this NL squad became the 1st team with 10,000 losses; in 2008 they won the World Series behind Cole Hamels & Ryan Howard.”

Christina Paul, a foreign service officer from Davie, Florida, buzzed in and guessed the Chicago Cubs. However, it was the Philadelphia Phillies that won the 2008 Fall Classic against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Another blunder happened in the $1,000 clue. The last remaining clue of the opening round read, “Then with Oklahoma City, this master of the triple-double became the first back-to-back MVP of the NBA All-Star Game since the 1950s, ” accompanied by a photo of Russell Westbrook.

Adriana Harmeyer, an archivist from West Lafayette, Indiana, instead guessed Kevin Durant, who was Westbrook’s longtime teammate with the Oklahoma City Thunder until the two became adversaries on the court in 2016.

Elsewhere in the sports category, Paul correctly got the $200 clue about the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Harmeyer got the $600 clue about former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the three contestants didn’t buzz in for the $800 clue about the NCAA transfer portal.

Harmeyer overcame the Westbrook-Durant snafu and won the game, extending her winning streak to five episodes and her winning total to $116,200.

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The Washington Commanders said Monday they were made aware of a lawsuit filed in civil court last week against kicker Brandon McManus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they are also being sued.

A Commanders spokesperson said the team is looking into the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and the NFL office, adding, “We take allegations of this nature very seriously.”

ESPN reported two women are suing McManus for sexually assaulting them during a charter flight to London last year when he was playing for the Jaguars, who said they are aware of the complaint and the significance of the claims being made.

“As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class,” the Jaguars said in a statement.

Citing court documents that have not yet been posted on Duval County’s public records database, ESPN reports the women, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, are accusing McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during the flight and the Jaguars of failing to supervise him and create a safe environment for staff serving the team. They are seeking more than $1 million and asking for a jury trial, according to ESPN.

McManus’ lawyer called them “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations.”

“We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt,” Brett R. Gallaway of McLaughlin & Stern said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

McManus, who turns 33 in July, signed with Washington in March. The Philadelphia native has been in the league for a decade, the first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, after playing at Temple.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

But who is Butker, what did he say and why has it sparked such conversation?

Here’s a breakdown of what happened:

Who is Harrison Butker?

Butker is the 28-year-old kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become one of the NFL’s best kickers, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.

He is also a conservative Catholic and has shared some of his religious beliefs on social media in the past.

What did Harrison Butker say?

Butker appeared as the commencement speaker last week at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Kansas, and said most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children.

Butker also said some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America” and assailed Pride month, a particularly important time for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.

“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker said.

“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother,” he said.

Butker said that his wife embraced “one of the most important titles of all. Homemaker.“

He referred to a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it” in an oblique reference to Pride Month and took aim at Biden’s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and advocacy for freedom of choice — a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential race.

Butker also tackled Biden’s response to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” he said. “Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”

At one point Butker used a quote from Taylor Swift, who is dating his teammate Travis Kelce.

“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’ ” Butker said.

The line is part of Swift’s song “Bejeweled.”

What was the response from graduates?

Video of the commencement shows virtually all the graduates and spectators rising to a standing ovation, but student interviews showed a more mixed reaction.

ValerieAnne Volpe, 20, who graduated with an art degree, lauded Butker for saying things that “people are scared to say.”

“You can just hear that he loves his wife. You can hear that he loves his family,” she said.

Elle Wilbers, 22, who is heading to medical school, said she was shocked by Butker’s criticism of priests and bishops and his reference to the LGBTQ+ community, one that she described as “horrible.”

“We should have compassion for the people who have been told all their life that the person they love is like, it’s not OK to love that person,” Wilbers said.

Kassidy Neuner, 22, who will spend a gap year teaching before going to law school, said being a stay-at-home parent is “a wonderful decision.”

“And it’s also not for everybody,” Neuner added, saying, “I think that he should have addressed more that it’s not always an option. And, if it is your option in life, that’s amazing for you. But there’s also the option to be a mother and a career woman.”

The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, one of the founding sponsors of Benedictine College, issued a statement Thursday criticizing Butker’s speech, contending it did not properly represent the college’s values.

“Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division,” the statement said.

“One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman,” it added. “We sisters have dedicated our lives to God and God’s people, including the many women whom we have taught. … These women have made a tremendous difference in the world in their roles as wives and mothers and through their God-given gifts in leadership, scholarship, and their careers.”

What about the NFL?

The NFL is distancing itself from Butker.

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement released Thursday. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker’s commencement address.

But the wife of Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, Tavia Hunt, wrote a lengthy Instagram post addressing some of Butker’s remarks.

“I’ve always encouraged my daughters to be highly educated and chase their dreams. I want them to know that they can do whatever they want (that honors God). But I also want them to know that I believe finding a spouse who loves and honors you as or before himself and raising a family together is one of the greatest blessings this world has to offer. Studies show that committed, married couples with children are the happiest demographic, and this has been my experience as well,” she wrote. “*Affirming motherhood and praising your wife, as well as highlighting the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be a mother, is not bigoted. It is empowering to acknowledge that a woman’s hard work in raising children is not in vain.* Countless highly educated women devote their lives to nurturing and guiding their children. Someone disagreeing with you doesn’t make them hateful; it simply means they have a different opinion. Let’s celebrate families, motherhood and fatherhood. Our society desperately needs dedicated men and women to raise up and train the next generation in the way they should go.”

She also added, “I also caution against taking things out of context. Sound bites overlaid with hateful comments are not what we want to model for our children or others. We need more dialogue (and VALUES, IMO) in this country and less hate.”

Meanwhile, the Chargers took aim at Butker in their viral schedule release video.

During the end credits, the video showed Butker cooking and cleaning.

What is Benedictine College?

The fast-growing college is part of a constellation of conservative Catholic colleges that tout their adherence to church teachings and practice — part of a larger conservative movement in parts of the U.S. Catholic Church.

The college is located in in Atchison, Kansas, about 60 miles north of Kansas City, and traces its roots to 1858. It has an enrollment of about 2,200.

Its “mission as a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, residential college is the education of men and women within a community of faith and scholarship,” according to its website.

But its also home to more traditional expressions of Catholicism, such as the Latin Mass, all-night prayer vigils and a strict code of conduct. Its mission statement further cites its commitment to “those specific matters of faith of the Roman Catholic tradition, as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and handed down in the teachings of the Church.”

The school gets a high ranking from the Cardinal Newman Society, a group that touts nearly two-dozen conservative colleges that exhibit what it calls “faithful Catholic education.” That includes upholding church teachings and Catholic identity while providing ample Masses and other devotional activities in shaping their students.

The society seeks to differentiate schools that “refuse to compromise their Catholic mission” from those that have become “battlegrounds for today’s culture wars.” Others praised by the society include Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Ave Maria University in Florida and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.

The society’s ranking says Benedictine benefits from having monks in residence, multiple Masses and prayer groups, spiritually focused organizations and theology programs with professors with a “mandatum” of approval from the local bishop.

Benedictine’s enrollment has doubled in the past 20 years. Some 85% of its students are Catholic, according to the Cardinal Newman Society.

Annual tuition for full-time undergraduates is $35,350, but Benedictine says 100% of its students receive some form of financial aid.

Benedictine’s sports teams, called the Ravens, compete in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Its athletics department says it is committed to ”setting the highest standards for academic success, athletic competition, ethical behavior, fiscal responsibility, and spiritual development.”

What has the response been elsewhere?

The TODAY show’s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager slammed the speech with a fiery response.

“Well, I’m where I am today because I have a husband who leans into his vocation, which is being an equal partner. And I tell him that all the time,” Hager said.

“Don’t speak for us,” Kotb added. “Stop speaking for women out there.”

Hager noted that those who stay home with families are “amazing,” but said “let’s not compare one to the other.”

“There are lots of women who actually would like to stay at home, but because they need to earn money, they don’t even have that privilege to do it,” Kotb added.

NBC News Correspondent Maria Shriver also weighed in, saying “We all have the right to voice our opinions, but let us strive to do so with dignity and respect.”

A Change.org petition demanding the Chiefs dismiss Butker from the team has garnered more than 180,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, as of Friday, Butker’s jersey was listed among the top sellers on the NFL shop’s website and was named the most popular jersey for Kansas city Chiefs players, besting even popular stars like Patricks Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Commenters have taken to Butker’s social media accounts to share their reactions, with responses ranging from both support to criticism.

“As a woman who graduated valedictorian from high school, finished my four year degree in three years (double majored) and tacked on a Master’s during the fourth year, who now owns a business (a school, nonetheless) and is absolutely the epitome of a confident woman…..THANK YOU for your words,” one commenter wrote. “My greatest joy in life is found in my family. My husband and my children are the most profound gift and the most beautiful responsibility I have ever been given. Serving the people I love in our home is a joy. I’m not chained there; I choose there because I CHOOSE them. There is no greater purpose. And AS a woman, I will never allow anyone to insinuate that somehow devalues me as a female.”

“I am the breadwinner for my family of six. I Iove my job. Harrison, please tell me where I went wrong so I can repent and start cooking and cleaning,” another user said.

“I feel bad for those poor women who looked forward to their graduation and had you inflicted on them. You misunderstood the assignment of a graduation speech. It’s not your own personal platform to do a manifesto,” one commenter wrote.

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Forbes released its annual ranking of the highest-paid athletes in the world on Thursday. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo led the pack with a 2024 payday of $260 million, followed by golfer Jon Rahm at $218 million.

Of the 10 athletes, four play for organizations backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in December 2022 and Rahm joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf in December 2023. Neymar and Karim Benzema, two former stars of European soccer powerhouses, followed in Ronaldo’s footsteps to join the Saudi Pro League last year.

Lionel Messi is third on Forbes’ list at $135 million as he continues to rake it in after landing with Inter Miami of the MLS last summer.

The 2024 top 10 includes three NBA icons: LeBron James ($128.2 million), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111 million) and Steph Curry ($102 million).

French soccer star Kylian Mbappé ($110 million) also landed on the list ahead of his move from Paris Saint-German to Real Madrid. Lamar Jackson ($100.5 million), meanwhile, is the lone NFL representative.

Here is how the top 10 shakes out, with information on each athlete’s on-field and off-field earnings:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, $260 million ($200M on-field/$60M off-field)
2. Jon Rahm, $218 million ($198M on-field/$20M off-field)
3. Lionel Messi, $135 million ($65M on-field/$70M off-field)
4. LeBron James, $128.2 million ($48.2M on-field/$80M off-field)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, $111 million ($46M on-field/$65M off-field)
6. Kylian Mbappé, $110 million ($90M on-field/$20M off-field)
7. Neymar, $108 million ($80M on-field/$28M off-field)
8. Karim Benzema, $106 million ($100M on-field/$6M off-field)
9. Steph Curry, $102 million ($52M on-field/$50M off-field)
10. Lamar Jackson, $100.5 million ($98.5M on-field/$2M off-field)

This marks the first time the 10 athletes in Forbes’ ranking each earned at least $100 million. Their combined earnings of $1.38 billion also smashed the record mark from 2023 ($1.11 billion) by 24%.

A post on the X social media platform on Friday, May 10, announced that the Philadelphia Soul was “taking a pause” for the rest of the 2024 AFL season.

“We look forward to bringing Soul football back for all of #SoulNation next year,” the post on the team’s verified X page said.

Just days earlier, the Soul’s X page promoted the Soul’s Sunday, May 12, 2024, road game against the Nashville Kats. The Kats wound up hosting the Salina Liberty instead, falling 50-30, according to the Kats’ social media.

That kind of hodgepodge game is unfortunately fairly typical during the reboot of the AFL, as pointed out by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Iowa Rampage and Georgia Force had already folded and the AFL has no had games broadcast on NFL Network as was first announced.

The Soul (well sort of them since they used mostly replacement players for their opener on the road against the Louisiana Voodoo) went 0-2 before folding. The team’s last game on Sunday, May 5, on the road against the Minnesota Myth wasn’t even streamed, “due to technical difficulties,” according to the team.

The team’s website, PhiladelphiaSoulFB.com, was down by Monday, May 13, 2024.

It was a far cry from the Jon Bon Jovi-owned and Ron Jaworski-owned Soul teams that won three arena league titles while playing most home games in the Wells Fargo Center.

The 2024 Soul was set to play its home games at Trenton’s CURE Insurance Arena, but the Soul never took the field for a home game. Tickets that were previously on sale for games scheduled for May 26, June 23 and June 30. Logan on Friday didn’t immediately know how ticket refunds would be handled.

Soul GM Kelly Logan joined the Take the 8 Count podcast to discuss what led to ending the 2024 season. “unfortunately guys we just don’t have the money,” Logan said he told the players.

Logan said that the players had already lost housing and that some of the Soul players who stuck around were disheartened. Logan mentioned players being kicked out of the Super 8 motel in New Jersey as foreshadowing what was to come.

Logan said only three players made the trip to the Voodoo game. Logan said he didn’t even get jerseys for the players until they showed up for the Louisiana game, representing that game a tryout for the players who filled in.

Will the Soul be back? “My goal is to come back [to the AFL] next year, or be somewhere, with the name of Philadelphia Soul,” Logan said.

“I just want to tell the fans that I do appreciate you guys, I really did my best,” Logan said.

Will that happen? Time will tell.

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Cavan Sullivan shrugs off words like prodigy, phenom or even wonderkid, all things he’s been called at just 14.

But there’s no doubt Sullivan is talented. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Union formally announced that they’ve signed their academy prospect to a Homegrown contract that will eventually land him with Manchester City.

“I tend not to even listen to what they call me or what they say about me. It’s really just what I think of myself,” Sullivan said. “I don’t really listen to anyone, whether it’s good or bad. So it doesn’t really get to me whatsoever.”

The long-rumored deal — said to be the richest Homegrown signing in Major League Soccer history, although no details were released — allows the Union to continue to develop Sullivan and benefit in the short term from his ability, before profiting when he likely heads overseas to the Premier League. It also allows him to stay at home for a few more years.

Sullivan is considered one of the best young American players. In a match last April between the U.S. under-15 team and England in Spain, he scored both goals in a 2-2 draw that the Americans won in a penalty shootout.

He was named the best player at the CONCACAF under-15 championships. He had a pair of assists in the 4-2 victory over Mexico in the final.

Union coach Jim Curtin recently called Sullivan “a special talent, top talent not only in this country but in the world.”

Sullivan has already made his professional debut, coming off the bench for the Union’s MLS NEXT team last month and getting an assist on the game-winning goal. He’s made two appearances for the team, a step below the Union’s senior squad.

The teen hopes to make his Union senior debut this year. If he does, he’ll join his brother, Quinn, another academy product who has played for the team since 2021.

Sullivan (14 years, 224 days) is the fifth-youngest player to sign a first-team contract in MLS history. If he plays for the Union before July 29, he’ll become the youngest player ever to appear in a match. Freddy Adu was 14 years, 306 days old when he debuted for D.C. United in 2004.

“I think Jim Curtin was really integral in getting Cavan here, if I’m being completely honest,” said his dad, Brendan Sullivan. “He called us, he reached out to us, he said, `Look, I think he can play for me right away. With a little bit of a little bit of coaching, we think that he’s ready and we’re willing to take that on.’”

Sullivan, a Philadelphia native, is the youngest of four brothers. Quinn, 20, is the oldest. Brendan Sullivan played professionally in the A-League, which eventually became the USL First Division, a tier below MLS. His mother, Heike, played at Penn. Grandfather Larry coached at Villanova from 1991-2007.

Sullivan said he first started to get attention by clubs when he was just 10.

“I think that’s really when I thought, `This is happening.’ It didn’t feel real but definitely triggered something in my mind where I was like, `I can do this,'” Sullivan said.

Sullivan can’t play for Manchester City until he is 18. But he holds a German passport that could allow him to move to Europe and play for City-affiliated teams — like Girona in Spain or Palermo in Italy — when he turns 16.

Because of the collaborative transfer agreement with Manchester City, Sullivan’s deal is unusual. It signals that the Premier League club trusts that the Union can develop an elite player.

Sullivan isn’t looking too far ahead. In many ways he’s a typical teenager, albeit a very gifted one. He jokes: “I’m a pretty boring kid, to be honest.”

“I mean, you can see him. He’s a pretty even-keeled kid,” his mother said. “He really does that on his own. I’m sure we help keep him grounded, but I think he is already grounded, and I think he should get a lot of credit for that.”

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Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

The league, which was originally founded in the 1980s, hit some snags when it kicked off its third iteration with games on Saturday.

In March, the NFL announced a partnership that would have 30 AFL regular season games broadcasted on NFL Network starting on Saturday, April 27, with the Albany Firebirds and Orlando Predators facing off after the network’s 2024 NFL Draft coverage. The game wound up being broadcasted on VYRE Network.

The NFL did not respond to a request for comment from ProFootballTalk. Current NFL Network listings have its next AFL broadcast scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday when the Firebirds face the Nashville Kats.

The AFL’s Saturday schedule announcement did not include the Philadelphia Soul’s matchup against the Louisiana Voodoo.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Christian Red reported on a “chaotic and unsettling 48 hours” for the Soul. Head coach Patrick Pimmel reportedly “stepped down the day before the team’s first game, and many of the Soul players had received release forms.” Players from the American Arena League 2’s Dallas Falcons then filled in on the Soul’s roster and the team went on to lose 53-18 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The drama extended to the Soul’s hotel. Sports agent Tristen Burnett said that Soul players were kicked out of the team’s Super 8 motel in the Philadelphia area and that the players’ luggage was taken from them and locked in a motel room, Red reported, via Sports Business Journal.

Red noted that the Soul’s turmoil stems from an ownership situation after a venture group “backed out.”

“Cracks in the Soul foundation started to appear last month, when word began to leak that the AFL would take ownership of the Soul,” Red wrote.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who finished third in the opener on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, was also disqualified. Will Power, who finished fourth at St. Pete, was not penalized but docked 10 points.

Additionally, all three Penske entries were fined $25,000 and forfeited all prize money associated with the race. Power has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Roger Penske owns the race team, the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, host of the Indy 500.

“Very disappointing,” Penske said in a text message to The Associated Press. “I am embarrassed.”

The reverberations were immediate throughout the paddock.

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“I’ve emulated Roger Penske for many years on and off the track, so today’s news is quite a disappointment for me,” rival team owner Chip Ganassi told the AP. “This is a blemish on his team, their organization, and the series. Very disappointing as a fellow owner and competitor in the series.”

The disqualifications gave the victory to Pato O’Ward, who finished second. It is the first win for McLaren’s IndyCar team since 2022.

Although Newgarden is accused of cheating in the March 10 opener, IndyCar said the manipulation wasn’t discovered until Sunday morning’s warmup in Long Beach, California — nearly two months later.

“The integrity of the IndyCar Series championship is critical to everything we do,” IndyCar President Jay Frye said. “While the violation went undetected at St. Petersburg, IndyCar discovered the manipulation during Sunday’s warmup in Long Beach and immediately addressed it ensuring all cars were compliant for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

“Beginning with this week’s race at Barber Motorsports Park, new technical inspection procedures will be in place to deter this violation.”

A review of the data from the St. Petersburg race showed that Team Penske manipulated the overtake system so the three Penske drivers could use push-to-pass on starts and restarts. According to IndyCar rules, the use of the overtake isn’t available until the car reaches the alternate start-finish line.

Team Penske President Tim Cindric said in a statement that the “push-to-pass software was not removed as it should have been, following recently completed hybrid testing in the Team Penske Indy cars.”

“This software allowed for push-to-pass to be deployed during restarts at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix race, when it should not have been permitted,” Cindric continued. “The No. 2 car driven by Josef Newgarden and the No. 3 car driven by Scott McLaughlin, both deployed push-to-pass on a restart, which violated IndyCar rules. Team Penske accepts the penalties applied by IndyCar.”

Newgarden, a two-time IndyCar champion and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner who is in a contract year with Penske, fell from first in points to 11th with the disqualification. Ganassi driver Scott Dixon, winner Sunday at Long Beach, is now the points leader headed into Sunday’s race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.

It’s the second cheating offense this season for Team Penske. Joey Logano was fined $10,000 and docked his second-place starting position for a NASCAR race at Atlanta earlier this season because he was wearing an illegal glove during his qualifying run.

It is assumed that Logano wore the same illegal glove — which had clear aerodynamic-deflecting alterations that made it look as if he was wearing part of an amphibious costume — when he won the pole for the Daytona 500 one week earlier.

The black glove for Logano’s left hand had webbing made of an unspecified material in between every finger. The theory was that Team Penske had the glove altered in order for Logano to place his hand out his window as an aerodynamic blocker during qualifying.

Penske was livid after the Logano infractions.

“I didn’t like that at all,” Penske told the AP at the time. “It’s not good. Period. I told him. He’s the leader of the team. Look, we are under so much scrutiny and the last thing we need to do is have any noise like that. It’s not good for us. It’s not good for him. We’ll take our punches.”

Dixon finished the race with plenty of fuel to go, awarding him the highest place on the podium in Southern California.

Nobody in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES saves fuel better than Dixon, and he drove the last 34 laps of the 85-lap street race on one tank.

Strategy won this race.

“It was a tough and very competitive race and incredible race by Dixon,” said Spanish racing driver Alex Palou.

Even Dixon was surprised with his victory.

“That was tough; that was really tough,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to make it, and they kept giving me a (fuel) number, and it just wasn’t getting … I was close but not enough. Luckily, we were on the safe side there.”

This marked the 57th career victory for Dixon, who has won four of the last six IndyCar races. The first time Dixon won in Long Beach was in 2015.

The early laps of the race were dominated by Will Power as he grabbed an early lead over the other drivers and had a comfortable gap of five seconds over the rest of the field after ten laps.

The street course

According to most drives, the Long Beach track is one of the hardest street courses in the circuit.

Known for its tight curves, the track is dramatically intense to navigate, leading to many close calls, slow traffic due to rookie drivers and, surprisingly, no major crashes.

Race results

Dixon finished first gaining 53 points, followed by the runner-up Colton Herta, who got 41. Third place went to Palou, who scored 35 points. The top five were completed by Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson.

Click here for full results from the 85-lap race on a 1.968-mile street course in Long Beach, Calif. 

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She ended up doing both after pulling away late to win the London Marathon women’s race on Sunday.

Jepchirchir had by far the strongest finish as she easily left world-record holder Tigst Assefa and two other rivals behind to sprint alone down the final stretch in front of Buckingham Palace. She finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 16 seconds, with Assefa in second and Joyciline Jepkosgei in third.

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That was more than 4 minutes slower than Assefa’s overall women’s world record set in Berlin last year, but it was the fastest time ever in a women-only marathon, beating the mark of 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany in London in 2017. The elite women’s field in London starts about 30 minutes ahead of the elite men.

But more importantly for Jepchirchir, it should cement her place on Kenya’s Olympic team for Paris. She said the London Marathon was the final qualifying race before Kenya’s Olympic selectors pick their team for Paris.

“I was not expecting to run that time,” Jepchirchir said. “I was trying to work extra hard to defend my title in the Olympics.”

It was also a bit of redemption for Jepchirchir after finishing third in London last year, when she was beaten in a similarly tight finish and came in five seconds behind winner Sifan Hassan.

Coming out on top in a late sprint this time will only boost her confidence going into Paris.

“I think it helps me a lot,” she said. “For me, when I reach 800 meters (left), it’s difficult to defeat me.”

She was part of a Kenyan double with Alexander Mutiso Munyao, who won the men’s race.

The race is back in California.

Adrenaline seekers are about to experience three days of heart-pounding action at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach when it returns to town from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 20.

Drivers will be hitting the street for the 49th edition of the event and organizers expect an attendance of over 190,000 for the weekend.

Six racing series will compete for three days:

• NTT IndyCar series
• IMSA WeatherTech
• SportsCar Championship
• Super Drift Challenge
• SPEED/UTV stadium SUPER trucks
• GT America powered by AWS
• Historic Indy Car Challenge.

Motorsports enthusiasts will have access to multiple races, practice runs and qualifying rounds.

The event will also have a lifestyle expo for people who want to explore the latest automobile-related products in addition to a kids’ zone for families.

Where can watch the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Practices and qualifying sessions will be streamed live on Peacock ahead of race day Sunday.

You can watch the race on USA Network on Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. ET.

What’s the IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach schedule?

Here are the upcoming practice, qualifying, and race times for IndyCar:

Click here for the full weekend schedule.

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Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Authentic Brands, which owns a host of clothing and lifestyle brands, purchased SI back in 2019 and it had been operated in recent years by publishers at The Arena Group.

Then in late January, Authentic Brands said it had terminated The Arena Group’s publishing license, leading to widespread staffing cuts.

Minute Media, best known for The Players’ Tribune and FanSided, said it’s reached a deal with Authentic to keep S.I. going.

“Minute Media will oversee all digital and print editorial operations across the SI portfolio, which has been the industry leader in dedicated sports journalism for decades,” Minute Media said in a statement.

“Minute Media plans to leverage its premium sports content expertise as well as its technology platform that powers the creation, global distribution and monetization of hundreds of digital content brands, to continue to grow the Sports Illustrated media business.”

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

• Pro golfer Austin Eckroat gets penalty stroke after 20-foot putt took over 10 seconds to drop in cup
• It’s March Madness, and more people than ever can legally bet on basketball games
• A soccer program gives NYC migrant kids a place to play and be part of a community

For the sixth straight year, the number of states allowing legal sports betting has expanded since the last rendition of March Madness. A total of 38 states and the District of Columbia now allow some form sports betting, including 30 states and the nation’s capital that allow online wagering.

That’s up from one state, Nevada, where people could legally wager on games during the 2018 college basketball tournaments, before the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for expansion.

The rules for sports betting vary by state. Some states prohibit bets on home-state college teams or the performance of specific players. Others allow bets not only on the outcome of any college games but also on a variety of other things, such as the number of points, rebounds and assists that a particular player will tally.

Here are some things to know about sports betting as the tourneys open, with the men’s games starting Tuesday and the women’s competition beginning Wednesday.

BIG MONEY

Fans have long filled out NCAA tournament brackets while wagering in office pools or against friends and family. But those casual bets have increasingly been supplemented with more formal gambling.

The total amount bet on all sports through legal wagering sites exceeded $121 billion in 2023, up 30% from the previous year, according to the American Gaming Association. After paying out winnings, sports betting operators reaped $11 billion in revenue, up from about $7.5 billion the previous year.

The American Gaming Association estimates $2.7 billion will be bet this year on the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments through legal sports books.

“March Madness is the biggest kind of individual event of the year for sports betting,” said David Forman, the American Gaming Association vice president of research.

The Super Bowl also draws big bets, but it’s only one game between two NFL teams. The NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments feature a total of 136 teams playing 134 games over three weeks.

CAN YOU BET ON YOUR TEAM?

Despite living where sports betting is legal, some fans still could be blocked from betting on their favorite teams and players.

Roughly a dozen states bar bets on college games involving home-state teams. Four additional states — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont — generally prohibit bets involving their own college teams but make exceptions for tournaments.

Some states only allow bets on the outcome of college games, not how particular players will perform. Maryland and Ohio, for example, banned so-called proposition bets on college players, effective this month.

The NCAA has raised concerns that player-specific bets can lead to problems, including the harassment of college athletes and strain on their mental health. The organization also says such bets could entice players to wager on themselves or alter their play to affect stats-based bets.

NEW BETTING STATES

Since the University of Connecticut won the men’s tournament last year, half a dozen states have launched or expanded sports betting.

Nebraska began taking sports bets at casinos last June, though it doesn’t allow mobile wagers. Kentucky launched sports betting in September to coincide with the start of the NFL season, and Maine began doing so in November.

After a court victory, the Seminole Tribe of Florida in December began taking online sports bets in addition to wagers at its casinos. Wagering has continued while a challenge is pending before the Florida Supreme Court. Opponents also have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.

In January, Vermont launched online sports betting.

North Carolina, which previously allowed sports betting only at three tribal casinos, began permitting online sports wagering statewide on March 11, a day before the start of the popular ACC men’s basketball tournament but a day after the women’s tournament ended.

ODDS FOR OTHER STATES

Several states have a chance to join the sports betting trend.

In Missouri, where legislative attempts have repeatedly failed, the St. Louis Cardinals are leading a coalition of professional sports teams supporting an initiative petition that could place sports betting on the November ballot. Sports betting operators DraftKings and FanDuel have contributed a combined $3 million to the effort. Supporters say they are on track to exceed the required signatures by a May 5 deadline.

Lawmakers in Alabama and Georgia also are considering constitutional amendments authorizing sports betting. Georgia senators passed a measure last month, but it still needs a two-thirds vote from the House to appear on this year’s ballot.

Alabama’s House included sports betting in a wide-ranging gambling measure, but the state Senate stripped it out earlier this month. The House now must decide whether to accept that change or negotiate a final version to go to voters.

Legislation to legalize sports betting also is pending in Oklahoma and Minnesota. A Minnesota state Senate committee endorsed a revised version on Thursday that would raise the proposed tax rate.

Mississippi, which legalized casino sports betting in 2018, is considering an expansion to online betting. A bill passed the House last month and is now in the state Senate.

CROSSING STATE LINES

Although sports betting remains illegal in a dozen states, some residents place bets by crossing state lines. In Missouri’s two largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, some people drive to the nearest commuter lots or highway exit ramps just across the border in Illinois or Kansas, respectively, to place legal bets through mobile apps.

Many other would-be bettors get thwarted by technology.

During the weekend of the Super Bowl, where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers, technology company GeoComply Solutions said it processed more than 431,000 location checks from about 40,500 mobile devices in Missouri that attempted to access other states’ legal sports betting sites. The location checks allowed those bets to be blocked.

During that weekend, GeoComply said it processed an additional 256,000 location checks for sports betting sites coming from 30,000 devices in Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota and Mississippi.

Earlier this week, Father Judge High School, a Catholic school along Solly Avenue in the city’s Holmesburg neighborhood, announced it would no longer play its Thanksgiving football game against Abraham Lincoln High School, a public school in the neighboring Mayfair neighborhood.

Why sack the high school rivalry game?

“After 40+ years, Father Judge High School and Abraham Lincoln High School have reached a joint agreement to cease playing our annual Thanksgiving Day game that has been a long-standing tradition in Northeast Philadelphia,” wrote Judge Alumni President Brian Patrick King in a letter to the Catholic school’s community that was posted to Judge’s Facebook page.

King wrote that the “decision was not taken lightly” and was being considered by the schools for a few years.

“The safety and security of players, referees, and attendees coupled with potential football conflicts with the PIAA and District 12 schedule were some of the driving forces that brought about this decision,” King wrote.

A secondary reason for the “difficult decision” to end the Thanksgiving tradition included wanting to give students who also play winter sports a bit of a break, the Judge alumni letter said.

It wasn’t clear what’s next for each school’s football programs.

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Kennedy said in an interview last month that he would likely name his VP pick within the next 30 days. That self-imposed deadline passed in early March with no announcement.

“He’s considering Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura as running mates along with others on a short list,” a spokesperson for the Kennedy campaign said Tuesday. “No other details available.”

The New York Times first reported that Rodgers and Ventura, a former professional wrestler, were on Kennedy’s short list.

Rodgers and the Jets did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ventura could not be reached for comment.

Rodgers endorsed Kennedy last year after the two bonded over their opposition to Covid vaccines. On Tuesday afternoon, Rodgers reposted Kennedy’s response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on X, saying, “This is presidential.”

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News

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Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren Racing broke up the Penske rout with a second-place finish, but Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finished third and fourth. The Penske trio finished ahead of every Andretti Global driver two days after team owner Michael Andretti called on Roger Penske to sell the IndyCar Series if he’s not willing to increase his investments in promotion and marketing.

Colton Herta in fifth was the highest-finishing driver for Andretti, which had a bust of a day with new driver Marcus Ericsson. The former Indianapolis 500 winner lost power midway through the race and finished 25th in the 27-car field. Ericsson was the defending race winner at St. Pete, which celebrated its 20th running of the popular street course event.

Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou finished sixth for Chip Ganassi Racing and Felix Rosenqvist was seventh in his debut race with Meyer Shank Racing.

Alexander Rossi of McLaren was eighth, while Scott Dixon of Ganassi and Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing rounded out the top 10. Santino Ferrucci was an impressive 11th for A.J. Foyt Racing, which created an alliance with Penske.

The win for Penske is his third season-opening win this year alone. His IMSA sports car team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and his other sports car team won the WEC opener in Qatar last week.

Penske hugged Newgarden in victory lane and the NBC cameras caught their conversation: “I was thinking of you at the end of that race, keep it together, like you told me.”

Newgarden then expanded on the conversation.

“Roger was telling me, if you have a big lead, you better hold onto it and not throw it in the wall,” Newgarden said.

The victory also continued Chevrolet’s impressive start to 2024; headed into the Cup Series race in Phoenix later Sunday, Chevy had won the first three Cup races of the season, all three Truck Series races and two of four Xfinity Series races.

Chevrolet went 1-2-3-4 in the IndyCar opener and had seven cars in the top 11.

Newgarden, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner, led 92 of the 100 laps as he had the field covered.

“I had a lot of fun today, a lot of fun,” Newgarden said.

UP NEXT: IndyCar races at the Thermal Club in California in an all-star style exhibition race with a $1 million payout. The series tested at the members-only club in 2023 to gauge its readiness to host a race.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

There’s a new $2.5 billion plan to transform the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in the coming years.

The plans include upgrades at Xfinity Live!, a 5,000-square-foot concert venue, a new hotel, shopping and restaurants.

Léelo en español aquí

These plans are being considered as “phase 1,” according to a spokesperson from Comcast Spectacor.

Phase 1 will take place in what is currently Lots G and H at the Sports Complex.

“We think we have a great opportunity right here in the sports district,” Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor Dan Hilferty told NBC10. “Really focused on bringing people to this area in addition to times they come for games, concerts, other activities and making it a destination.”

Comcast Spectacor wants tailgaters to know that there is no reason to worry.

“We’re going to make sure that we balance development with not losing the things that make this region so great,” Hilferty said

The concert venue is expected to hold over 5,000 seats and be built in Lot G.

The hotel will be open to both fans of sporting and entertainment events as well as visitors of the City of Brotherly Love.

There are also plans in motion for apartments and office space but nothing’s concrete there yet. These plans would be part of a “phase 2” and would possibly include connections to FDR Park.

“Come here not only to live, not only to attend games and concerts but to make a thriving neighborhood that is really an anchor in the South Philadelphia area,” Hilferty explained. “I think it will be good, like a breath of fresh air, new restaurants, new stores.”

Some fans in South Philly were excited to hear about the improvements.

Others, like the general manager of the Philadium, shared concerns about how the development might impact local businesses near the complex.

“If there’s no reason for people to step outside of the sports arenas and venues, I think the rest of the neighborhood suffers,” Jamie Kelly said.

Meanwhile, one woman we spoke with praised the plan hoping it might convince the Sixers to stay in South Philly.

“I don’t think it should be changed from how it is. I think everything being in one place is awesome,” she said.

A spokesperson for 76 DevCo said the development plans have no bearing whatsoever on their plans to move to Market East when their lease expires in 2031.

Still, Comcast Spectacor said they hope the Sixers might consider sticking around.

“The hope would be that the Sixers remain here as our 50/50 partner,” Hilferty said.

The goal is for construction on the hotel and event venue to begin sometime in 2025 or 2026.

Comcast is the parent company of Comcast Spectator and of NBC10.

The Professional Bowler Association Delaware Classic has rolled into Mid County Lanes & Entertainment in Middletown.

The week of strikes, spares and the occasional gutter balls comes to a dramatic close on Sunday, March 3, 2024, with nationally-televised finals.

Here’s your guide to the 🎳 fun:

Where is the PBA Delaware Classic taking place?

Mid County Lanes & Entertainment at 875 N. Broad Street in Middletown is hosting the tournament from Feb. 26 to March 3. The total prize fund up for grabs for the bowlers is $180,000, with $25,000 going to the victor, according to the PBA.

What makes this PBA event so special?

Sunday’s men’s final is set to be the first PBA event televised live from Delaware. It will air on FS1 at noon ET.

Which bowling stars will be looking to strike out?

Some of the PBA majors winner set to bowl this week include England’s Dom Barrett, Australia’s Jason Belmonte, Las Vegas’ Anthony Simonson, North Carolina’s Kyle Troup and Bucks County’s own Bill O’Neill.

How can I see bowling’s best in person?

General admission tickets to Sunday’s final are sold out. However, standing room only tickets were still available as of Tuesday and they start at just $15 each.

Fans can also head to the alley’s front desk to get spectator passes to watch qualifying rounds and best of 7 match play Wednesday through Friday.

“Wednesday, Thursday, Friday is the core tournament itself,” Mid County Lanes’ Mike Zanghi said. “There’s two squads it’s 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. So, basically you enter our building from 10 a.m. to 10 o’clock at night? You’re gonna see the best bowlers in the world competing here.” 

What if I have dreams of going pro someday?

People trying to hone in on that perfect game can also take part in Saturday’s bowling clinic.

“8 of the world’s best bowlers will make their way to Middletown, Delaware to be available to share their secrets
on how to improve your game on the lanes,” organizers wrote.

The two-hour clinic costs $349.99 before fees and includes 2 hours of bowling, professional coaching, a special bowling ball, food, Q&A, VIP access to Sunday’s final and other fun.

The entire schedule of events is posted to the lanes’ website.

As the highest class of international racing for single-seater formula racing cars, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition.

Extreme G-forces. Daring decisions made in the blink of an eye – and at 370 km/h. Dramatically battling to be the best, Formula 1 drivers are more like fighter pilots than sportspeople.

Even though it might be perceived as an individual competition, F1 is a team sport and with 10 teams of two drivers.

This is going to be the longest season in the history of the sport, with as many as 24 races in 21 countries.

How many drivers and teams race in F1?

A total of 20 drivers and 10 teams makes up the current Formula 1 grid, with each outfit fielding two cars.

This season, driver experience ranges from multiple world champions Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, to racers in their second seasons such as Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant.

When it comes to teams, there are those who have been in F1 since the early years, such as Ferrari (competing continuously since the very first season in 1950) and McLaren, or relative newcomers like Haas, which entered the sport ahead of the 2016 season.

How long do F1 races last?

Formula 1 races generally last between an hour-and-a-half and two hours, though this can be affected by Safety Car periods that slow the field down or red flags that halt the action.

Where are the F1 races?

For the first time in history, F1, will hold 24 races during its 2024 season with 3 of those races in the United States.

Miami kicks off the American circuit with a race in May, followed by Austin in October and Las Vegas in November.

The other 21 races will take place around the globe, including in Imola, Sao Paulo and Monte Carlo. In addition to classic tracks such as Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka.

This year F1 made some recent additions to the circuit roster including Qatar and China.

How does the F1 weekend work?

Each race weekend is called the Grand Prix. The standard Formula 1 weekend events take place over three days – typically Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday features two 60-minute Free Practice sessions (FP1 and FP2) for teams to set up their cars. These are typically used to make sure the car works as it should, before set-up changes are made and race preparations continue.

On Saturday, after a final practice session (FP3), drivers head into a three-stage qualifying session, with the slowest five drivers from the 18-minute Q1 phase eliminated, before five more go out of the 15-minute Q2 segment. That sets positions 20-11 on the grid prior to any penalties. A final 12-minute-long Q3 then decides the top 10 grid slots, along with the coveted pole position for the fastest driver.

Sunday brings the race itself, where drivers battle it out to score points and grab the highest spot on the podium.

How does Formula 1 scoring work?

If you’re new to Formula 1, you might be wondering how the scoring system works and how the championships are decided. Here is a breakdown of how points are awarded in F1 races and sprints.

In regular races, only the top 10 drivers can get points – with the winner receiving 25 points, second place receiving 18 points and the third place driver receiving 15 points.

The number of points decreases by two points for each position down until the 10th, which is worth just a single point. Those drivers who finish outside the top 10 will not score points.

In sprint races, drivers race 100 kilometers in 25 or 30 minutes race.

The top eight finishers receive points – the winner gets eight points, second place gets seven, and the third place driver receives six points.

How do F1 cars work?

Thousands of parts are involved in creating some of the fastest and most advanced racing cars on the planet – spanning detailed bodywork, suspension elements, turbo-hybrid power units, eight-speed paddle shift gearboxes, 18-inch tires and much more.

When the engine powers it forward, an F1 car essentially acts as an airplane flipped upside down, with front and rear wings – and everything in between – pushing the car down onto the track and giving it incredible levels of grip through corners.

That said, F1’s current technical regulations are based around a “ground effect” aerodynamic concept, with several carefully designed tunnels underneath the car’s floor sucking the car to the track surface to generate even more downforce.

This, combined with simpler bodywork than previous years, means less “dirty air” – or disrupted airflow – is created and allows cars to follow each other more closely, opening up additional overtaking opportunities and adding to the on-track spectacle.

What are F1 cars powered by?

F1 cars are powered by turbocharged V6, 15,000 RPM engines, featuring kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems that together create the ‘power unit.’

Today’s F1 power units comprise the following elements: the internal combustion engine (ICE), motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), turbocharger, energy store (ES), control electronics (CE) and exhaust.

How to watch F1?

Formula 1 racing returns to ESPN platforms for the 2024 season.

The season begins March 2, and you can watch every Grand Prix this season on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Formula One offers F1 TV at a low monthly cost.

Formula 1 is renowned for the intense rivalries between teams, which adds excitement and drama to the sport. These rivalries are usually fueled by competition for championships and individual driver rivalries, creating compelling narratives that capture the attention of fans and generate interest.

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The bill, introduced by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, was introduced to City Council for a second time on Jan. 25 after it was secretly pocket vetoed by former mayor Jim Kenney just days before his term ended.

The first-in-the-nation bill will help high school student-athletes gain pathways for Name, Image and Likeness deals, scholarships, or provide them with industry insight from business professionals.

The bill unanimously passed through City Council on Dec. 14, and following Kenney’s pocket veto, it had to go through the same process again.

Thomas hosted a press conference at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law announcing a partnership between his office and Temple on Jan. 24. Temple has helped Thomas with the bill, and will help fund parts of the bill, including a 24/7 hotline student-athletes can call to ask questions.

The hotline will provide legal advice about NIL policies to high school student-athletes who hope to play at the college level. The hotline will be run by Temple law professor Kenneth Jacobsen and Temple law students.

Coaches and administrators are not allowed to help athletes on financial decisions due to state law. Thomas, who coaches high school basketball at Sankofa Freedom Academy, is barred from providing his players with guidance if they come to him with NIL-related questions.

Thomas says the bill does not cost Philadelphia or Harrisburg any money and will be successful largely because Temple has agreed to own all the professional services that student athletes need to help navigate their way through the NIL process.

NIL’s July 2021 introduction changed high school and college athletics entirely. Historically, student-athletes have not been allowed to profit off their Name, Image or Likeness while keeping their eligibility. Now, they can agree to endorsements and receive compensation off their likeness.

NIL has largely drawn mixed feelings from coaches and fans, with its biggest critics pointing to finances being integrated in college athletics drastically changing the landscape and integrity of what college sports should be in the first place.

The White House announced Thursday that the leagues and associations are participating in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. The challenge was launched last year as a follow-up to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

At the conference, President Joe Biden announced a national strategy to meet an ambitious goal to end hunger and reduce diseases related to diet by 2030. The challenge calls on parties with a stake in the outcome to make “bold commitments” toward meeting the goal, according to the White House.

Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, said it is “simply unacceptable” that obesity and Type 2 diabetes are among the leading causes of death in the United States.

He said the leagues have “stepped up” to help Biden meet his goal by signing agreements with the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, an advisory body that exists to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The council is co-chaired by chef Jose Andres and Elena Delle Donne of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Among commitments being announced by the sports leagues:

The NFL will expand PLAY60, its national health and wellness program to encourage young people to devote at least 60 minutes a day to physical activity. The NFL will also integrate the importance of nutrition into its messaging for the program.

The NBA and the WNBA will continue to develop programs and events that promote a healthy diet and physical activity to young people, including at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis later this month. Emhoff said he’ll be attending the game.

The NHL, MLB, MLS, NWSL and other sports leagues have made similar commitments, he said.

On Sunday, FIFA officials unveiled the full match schedule, including the games that will be played here in Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup. The biggest game is a Round of 16 match on Jul 4, 2026.

“It’s going to be an absolute spectacle,” Philadelphia Soccer 2026 host city executive Meg Kane said said hours after the announcement that Philly was getting a knockout stage match.

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When will 2026 FIFA World Cup Games be played in Philadelphia?

“We go big or we go home,” new Philadelphia Representative Jazelle Jones told reporters at a Monday news conference.

Philadelphia was given five group stage matches set to be played at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The first one will be Match No. 9 held on June 14, 2026.

However, with the focus of the United States on the semiquincentennial, a World Cup elimination match will be part of the sports world focusing on Philly.

Léelo en español aquí.

Philadelphia’s final match will be a round-of-16 meeting on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park hosts baseball’s All-Star Game, likely on July 14.

Philadelphia will also host matches 29, 42, 55 and 68.

“We are ecstatic that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host 6 matches, including the Fourth of July during the 250th celebration of the United States and we are deeply grateful to our committed partners who helped position us so well for this honor,” Kane said in a news release. “The public release of this highly-anticipated match schedule allows us to accelerate planning around transportation mobility, safety and security, and specifically how the tournament will interface with the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the United States and the MLB All-Star Game.”

The full Philadelphia 2026 World Cup schedule is as follows:

• Group Stage: June 14
• Group Stage: June 19
• Group Stage: June 22
• Group Stage: June 25
• Group Stage: June 27
• Round of 16: July 4

The countries that will play in Philly won’t be revealed until much closer to the global soccer tournament.

“The match schedule for FIFA World Cup 26 showcases the scope of what 2026 will mean for our communities, our City, and the Commonwealth as a whole,” Daniel Hilferty, that chairman of Philadelphia Soccer 2026 and chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, said in a news release.

“It’s exciting news for soccer fans and for Philadelphia that six matches will be played here in our great City as part of FIFA World Cup 26 in June and July,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said.

FIFA officials did not publicly explain their site-decision process.

Anyone hoping to go will need to wait to get tickets. Kane said Monday that FIFA will handle ticketing and details could still be at least a year away.

From security to public transit, planning is underway

Jones and city hospitality leaders noted how much work will need to be done over the next two years.

At least 500,000 people are expected in the city during the tournament, but that number could be even higher — into the millions, Kane said.

All those people means lots of preps. The planning process began all the way back in 2017 after Philly hosted the NFL Draft, organizers said. It ramped up after Philly was announced as a host city.

“The unveiling of the FIFA World Cup 26™ match schedule marks a pivotal moment for our city and its hospitality community as we prepare to welcome the world in 2026,” Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in a news release. “With each of the six matches having the impact of a standalone mega-event, akin to a citywide convention, we anticipate a surge in economic activity across the region.”

Each match will need about 26,000 “room nights” to accommodate everyone expected to flock toward the action, Caren said Monday. That means the suburban counties will also see a boost in hotel bookings.

Officials also said that local, state and federal law enforcement authorities will coordinate to protect everyone during the games. The security plans are ongoing, organizers said.

The planning committee is also working with SEPTA for the public transportation plan.

The 2026 World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in North Jersey.

Kane noted that Philly’s proximity to the New York City region could lead to overflow fanfare in the City of Brotherly Love even after the World Cup games here end.

“Public transportation and SEPTA are going to be crucial to that,” Kane said.

How much will all this cost?

Organizers are still looking into the specific economic impact expected from the event and how much money will come into the region.

The total costs to put on the World Cup games will likely be in the $130 million to $150 million range, Kane said. The soccer organizing committee has been fundraising for years to help pay for it.

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Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Fans of some teams will have the opportunity to experience that again soon – because several new arenas are under construction across all major sports.

Stadiums will continue to evolve with the latest and greatest advancements, just look at SoFi Stadium or Chase Center. But what teams are set to open new homes in the future? And where are these arenas being built?

Here are the eight professional sports teams (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) who are likely the next in line to open a new stadium:

Los Angeles Clippers, 2024

Owner Steve Ballmer has wanted to move the Clippers out of Crypto.com Arena, which they share with the Lakers, since he bought the team in 2014. Finally, 10 years later, his vision is set to become a reality. Ballmer and the Clippers will open the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., for the 2024-25 NBA season. The 18,000-seat arena will include a practice facility, sports medicine clinic, team offices, retail space and an outdoor plaza with basketball courts open to the public.

The Intuit Dome will feature a new fan section called “The Wall” with strict rules about attire and rooting interest. In 2026, it will host the NBA All-Star Game for the first time.

Buffalo Bills, 2026

For the first time since 1973, the Bills are getting a new stadium. Currently referred to as the New Highmark Stadium, the Orchard Park arena will be a massive upgrade from what will then be a 53-year-old Highmark Stadium. The capacity will be 62,000 – fewer than the old stadium – but fans will be better protected from inclement weather with the canopy design covering the majority of seats. The trademark Buffalo weather will still play a role with the field exposed.

Calgary Flames, 2026 or 2027

The Flames announced in October 2023 that construction on their new arena would begin in 2024. Since 1983, the Scotiabank Saddledome has served as Calgary’s home stadium – making it the NHL’s second-oldest arena. The new stadium, which reportedly will open in either 2026 or 2027, will seat 18,000 to 18,400 fans.

Tennessee Titans, 2027

Plans are in motion for the Titans to open a new stadium in Nashville for the 2027 NFL season. The team released a rendering of the facility and surrounding arena in early 2024, which showed an enclosed design that will allow Nashville to host events like the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff and NCAA Final Four. The New Nissan Stadium will remain located near downtown Nashville.

Oakland Athletics, 2027 or 2028

Though not official yet, the A’s are expected to move to Las Vegas in the coming years. MLB owners approved the deal in November 2023, which sets up the A’s to head to Sin City soon. How soon, though, remains unclear. They released renderings for a proposed 30,000-seat ballpark last May, though nothing has been officially confirmed yet. The new stadium, if approved, would be located near the other sports stadiums in Las Vegas.

Chicago Bears, TBD

There’s been a lot of talk and not a lot of progress about the Bears’ new stadium. As of January 2024, CEO Kevin Warren said that finalizing the location for the team’s next home is one of the most pressing steps for the Bears to take in the short term as they continue to work on their long term plans. It could be located in Arlington Heights or another suburb or somewhere else. No one truly knows because nothing is confirmed yet, so the Bears will keep playing at Soldier Field for now.

Washington Commanders, TBD

New Commanders owner Josh Harris upgraded FedEx Field when he bought the team last summer, but there’s still speculation that the franchise could exit the downtrodden stadium. Options in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland are all on the table with little confirmed information at this time.

Arizona Coyotes, TBD

Latest reports say the Coyotes could find a new home in northeast Phoenix, but nothing has been confirmed. The franchise has played in Arizona State’s Mullett Arena since 2022, with, by far, the smallest capacity in the NHL. The New Tempe Arena proposal was rejected last May, which has left the club scrambling to lock in its long-term home.

Others to watch

There are several other new stadiums that could be coming down the line. Here’s a brief look at each situation:

Washington Wizards/Capitals: The Wizards and Capitals could be moving out of DC in the coming years after their owner Ted Leonsis proposed a Virginia development plan in December 2023. There’s no timeline for the move, but it would likely be after 2027 when they can get out of their lease with Capital One Arena.

Oklahoma City Thunder: In December 2023, a vote passed to build a new arena in Oklahoma City for the Thunder. Voters approved a new $900 million arena, but there’s still no site for the building. City manager Craig Freeman said the goal is to open the facility by 2029.

Philadelphia 76ers: “76 Place at Market East” is the Sixers’ proposed new arena, which plans to open in 2031. There’s still plenty of time for the proposal to fall apart, so this is one to keep an eye on over the next few years.

Kansas City Royals: The Royals committed to building a $2 billion stadium in Kansas City earlier this year, but there are still details to be sorted out. The location and payment process are still uncertain.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays announced plans for a $1.3 billion new stadium in September. The facility would replace Tropicana Field, which has long been criticized by baseball fans. The ballpark could open in St. Petersburg as early as 2028.

Ottawa Senators: The Senators’ new arena would replace the Canadian Tire Center, which has been their home since 1996. Plans are still vague and the timeline is unclear at this time.

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Starting Jan. 16, Big Ten basketball will have live games exclusively on Peacock, up to and including the Big Ten Tournament on March 13.

Here’s a deeper look into Big Ten men’s basketball streaming on Peacock in 2024:

How to watch Big Ten men’s basketball on Peacock

Big Ten men’s basketball games will stream exclusively on Peacock every Tuesday through the end of the 2024 season.

Fans can watch the games live with a Peacock subscription. People can sign up for Peacock here.

What Big Ten men’s basketball games will be on Peacock?

Here is the full schedule for Peacock exclusive games (AP rankings are as of Jan. 8):

• No. 1 Purdue vs. Indiana, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. ET
• Ohio State vs. Nebraska, Jan. 23, 7 p.m. ET
• Michigan vs. Purdue, Jan. 23, 9 p.m. ET
• No. 10 Illinois vs. Ohio State, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. ET
• Michigan vs. Michigan State, Jan. 30, 9 p.m. ET
• Indiana vs. Ohio State, Feb. 6, 7 p.m. ET
• Michigan State vs. Minnesota, Feb. 6, 9 p.m. ET
• Michigan vs. Illinois, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. ET
• Ohio State vs. No. 15 Wisconsin, Feb. 13, 9 p.m. ET
• Iowa vs. Michigan State, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. ET
• Maryland vs. No. 15 Wisconsin, Feb. 20, 9 p.m. ET
• No. 15 Wisconsin vs. Indiana, Feb. 27, 7 p.m. ET
• No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 10 Illinois, March 5, 7 p.m. ET

Will the Big Ten Tournament be on Peacock?

The first two games of the tournament will air exclusively on Peacock on March 13.

The games are scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET from Target Center in Minneapolis.

The unseeded Littler would have become the youngest-ever winner of darts’ biggest prize, but lost an epic match at the Alexandra Palace in London.

At one point the teenager had the chance to take a 5-2 lead, but world No. 1 Humphries came back to win five straight sets and his first world title.

As runner-up, Littler won 200,000 pounds ($250,000) in prize money and looks likely to contend for major titles for years to come. He made history by becoming the youngest finalist.

Humphries was the No. 3 seed for the tournament and went into it on the back of winning three major titles in the space of two months.

He will pick up the top prize of 500,000 pounds ($630,000) for Wednesday’s win.

The 14th annual Phillies Charities 5K is taking place at Citizens Bank Park and surrounding South Philadelphia streets on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 9 a.m.

How can you lace up your shoes to take party in the Phillies’ charity run?

“Fans are encouraged to register early as last year’s event sold out,” the Phillies said Wednesday while announcing the 3.1-mile run that starts and finishes at the ballpark.

Registration costs $55, with proceeds benefiting Phillies Charities Inc., race organizers said. Click here to sign up.

Runners must be at least 13 years old to sign up and no virtual option will be made available.

What can runners expect along the course, on the field?

“Along the route there will be fun surprises, live music and more,” the Phillies said. “Participants should also keep an eye out for the Phanatic, Phillies alumni and Phillies Ballgirls throughout the course.

“After crossing the finish line, runners will be able to enjoy a cool down lap around the warning track on the field at Citizens Bank Park (weather permitting).”

What about the swag?

Here is what the Phillies say each runner will get for their hard-earned sweat:

• Four tickets to be used for your choice of one pre-selected Phillies home game in April 2024. (Those games won’t be announced until early March).
• Quarter zip long sleeve hoodie
• 20% discount coupon for the New Era Phillies Team Store
• Finisher medal
• Personalized bib
• Cinch bag

Full details on the run are available on the 5K event page.

Littler, an unseeded player from Runcorn in northwest England who started throwing darts as a toddler, beat 2018 champion Rob Cross 6-2 to get into Wednesday’s title match against Luke Humphries.

“I was happy winning one game but I could go all the way,” said Littler, a tournament debutant. “My target was to still be here after Christmas and now here I am in the final.”

The winner of the final will earn 500,000 pounds ($630,000) and Littler, who has already guaranteed himself 200,000 pounds ($250,000), said he’ll stick to his daily routine before the match.

“In the morning I’ll go for my ham and cheese omelette, then later a pizza and then practice on the board,” the teenager said.

Littler, the world youth champion, has made front-page headlines with his amazing run at Alexandra Palace that also included eliminating multiple former world champion Raymond van Barneveld, his idol. It started on Dec. 20, when he beat Christian Kist in the first round to be the youngest player to win a match at the tournament and got serenaded with chants of “You’ve got school in the morning” by the boisterous fans.

Littler’s new-found celebrity status has led to him and his family receiving complimentary tickets to watch Premier League matches at Arsenal and Tottenham.

Against Cross, he lost the first set for the first time this tournament but finished with an average of more than 106.

Humphries, the No. 3 seed, beat Scott Williams 6-0 in the second semifinal match and will be competing in his first world final.

“I’m probably going to have to play the game of my life … to stand a chance tomorrow,” Humphries said of the match against Littler.

Women’s sports had a banner year in 2023, according to a new report released by StubHub on Wednesday.

Ticket sales for women’s sports on the platform boomed to record growth, according to the resale site’s Year in Live Experiences report.

Nowhere was that more true than in college sports. Demand for women’s basketball Final Four tickets on StubHub was higher than it was for men’s basketball Final Four seats for the first time, as the LSU Lady Tigers went on to win their first NCAA championship. Total sales were six times higher than in last year’s women’s tournament, and ticket prices were 15% higher than in the 2023 men’s Final Four.

Football often dominates the U.S. sports landscape, but don’t tell that to Nebraska. The Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s volleyball team fetched a 60% higher average ticket price on StubHub than Cornhuskers football did this year.

Nebraska’s matchup against the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks on Aug. 30 set the world record for women’s sports attendance with 92,003 fans. StubHub said it was the site’s bestselling volleyball game ever.

“It doesn’t matter what sport, college sports have seen a massive uptick in demand across all live events, and certainly on the women’s side,” said Adam Budelli, a StubHub spokesperson.

The WNBA also scored big in 2023, as attendance rose 16% and viewership jumped 21% year over year, the league’s most-watched season in 21 years. Trends on StubHub mirrored the league’s broader success.

StubHub said overall ticket sales for the 2023 WNBA season more than doubled from the prior year. Sales for the Las Vegas Aces’ WNBA Finals victory over the New York Liberty were StubHub’s highest ever for the league’s championship series, tripling from the previous season.

Women’s soccer was also on a roll. As the National Women’s Soccer League breaks new milestones in areas from attendance to viewership and team valuations, Stubhub said ticket sales for the season doubled those from 2022. Angel City FC, the team owned by celebrities such as Natalie Portman and Serena Williams, was the highest-selling club on the platform, as sales spiked 62% compared with 2022.

Finally, sales for women’s tennis jumped 30% versus 2022, as the number of tickets sold climbed 42%. Once Coco Gauff secured her spot in the U.S. Open finals, total sales increased 20% overnight, StubHub said.

StubHub saw several other key trends emerge in what it called a strong year for sports ticket sales.

The Messi effect is real

Lionel Messi’s U.S. debut captured the world’s attention — and ticket buyers’ wallets. Stubhub saw average ticket prices for Inter Miami games nearly triple after the superstar signed with the team in June.

Not surprisingly, Inter Miami rose to become the bestselling club, outselling the No. 2 team, LAFC, by 85%.

Messi wasn’t just good for Miami. He also helped drive ticket sales on the road. For example, LAFC averaged about $145 per ticket on StubHub for the season — when the team hosted Inter Miami, the average price rose to more than $800.

Budelli said StubHub expects MLS sales will increase again next year, particularly among international fans.

The NFL (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift’s influence on the NFL season — not to mention her dominance of the music world — showed in StubHub’s data.

“Taylor Swift is certainly the story of 2023 whether it’s her own tour or the excitement she brought the NFL,” Budelli said.

The pop singer’s relationship with tight end Travis Kelce meant America’s sweetheart was a frequent guest at Kansas City Chiefs games. The “Blank Space” singer not only helped TV ratings, but also ticket sales.

After Swift’s first appearance at the Sept. 24 Chiefs game, StubHub saw sales for Chiefs home games more than triple.

Off the football field, Swift’s Eras Tour was the biggest in StubHub’s history. She was also the most searched act in 2023.

Looking ahead to 2024, StubHub is banking on another strong year of Swift sales, as U.S. buyers account for over half of tickets purchased for Swift’s international shows in 2024 on StubHub and viagogo, another platform StubHub owns.

Vegas in the spotlight

The ticketing company said it is paying close attention in 2024 to Las Vegas, which will hold its first Super Bowl next year.

Sin City vaulted into the sports scene in recent years, and ticket demand is closely following suit. The Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights are the bestselling NHL team in 2023 on StubHub, with tickets sales nearly triple those of last year. The NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders are the third-highest selling team in that league.

StubHub is also watching Formula 1 closely, as the races made up nearly 40% of its top events in 2023.

In November, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix brought in fans from all over the world, making it the third most popular U.S. event for international buyers on StubHub.

Budelli also said the Vegas Sphere, the immersive concert and event venue that opened in September, has quickly become a big international draw. StubHub expects it will continue to boost ticket sales.

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Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

With revenue booming in sports, players are using their earnings to reinvest in other leagues by becoming minority owners for different teams.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was the latest star to join an ownership group, purchasing a stake in the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Aside from Garrett, here are 20 current and former athletes who own professional teams:

Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Royals (MLB), Sporting Kansas City (MLS), Kansas City Current (NWSL), Alpine F1 Team (F1)

The reigning NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP has a wide-ranging portfolio. He has planted his flag in Kansas City, joining ownership groups for the MLB, MLS and NWSL teams in the city. The Chiefs’ quarterback most recently joined Alpine F1 Team as an investor alongside Travis Kelce, Rory McIlroy and Ryan Reynolds.

LeBron James: Boston Red Sox (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Liverpool FC (EPL), RFK Racing (NASCAR)

James, 38, is already set up well for his post-playing career. The 19-time NBA All-Star joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner in 2021, which in turn made him a part-owner of FSG’s ventures in baseball, hockey, soccer and stock car racing.

Michael Jordan: Charlotte Hornets (NBA), 23XI Racing (NASCAR)

In 2006, Jordan became a minority owner in the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats). He became the Hornets’ majority owner in 2010 before selling his majority stake in 2023, while maintaining a minority share. Elsewhere, His Airness debuted as a NASCAR team owner in 2021 and has since become a mainstay at race tracks supporting his two cars.

Magic Johnson: Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles FC (MLS)

Johnson is one of the faces of sports in Los Angeles after starring for the Lakers. Now, he co-owns the MLB’s Dodgers, WNBA’s Sparks and MLS’s LAFC. In 2023, the five-time NBA champion invested $240 million in a group led by Josh Harris to purchase the Washington Commanders.

Tom Brady: Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), Birmingham City FC (EFL Championship)

Since retiring after the 2022 NFL season, Brady has quickly built his portfolio. He partnered with Mark Davis to become a minority owner in the Las Vegas Aces, who subsequently won their second straight WNBA title. He also became a minority owner and chairman of Birmingham City FC, which is currently one level below the Premier League. Brady is also set to buy a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders once other NFL owners approve of the deal.

Serena Williams: Miami Dolphins (NFL), Angel City FC (NWSL)

The recently-retired Williams has owned a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins with her sister Venus since 2009. In 2020, she was announced as part of a massive investment group in a new NWSL team, Angel City FC. Other athletes involved with the women’s soccer club include Candace Parker, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King, among others.

Kevin Durant: Philadelphia Union (MLS), NJ/NY Gotham FC (NWSL)

KD is all-in on soccer in the U.S. He bought a 5% stake in the Philadelphia Union in 2020, then joined Gotham FC in 2022 as an investor. The NWSL franchise, like Angel City FC, has a number of big name investors: Durant, Sue Bird, Carli Lloyd and Eli Manning, among others.

Alex Rodriguez: Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)

Rodriguez and Marc Lore are in the process of becoming majority owners of Minneapolis’ professional basketball teams. They currently own 40% of the clubs. This came after an unsuccessful attempt to buy the MLB’s New York Mets.

Aaron Rodgers: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)

Even though he no longer plays in Wisconsin, Rodgers is still connected to the state. In 2018, he purchased a minority stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)

While Rodgers owns part of the Bucks, the Bucks’ biggest star owns part of the Brewers. Antetokounmpo joined the Brewers’ ownership group in 2021.

David Beckham: Inter Miami CF (MLS)

The retired English soccer star has grown the sport in America since signing with the LA Galaxy back in 2007. Beckham, along with Jorge and Jose Mas, founded Inter Miami CF in 2018 and made major headlines by signing Lionel Messi in 2023.

Dwayne Wade: Utah Jazz (NBA)

Wade purchased an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz in 2021, joining new team owner Ryan Smith. The Hall of Famer has attended a number of games in Salt Lake City since the purchase.

James Harden and Oscar De La Hoya: Houston Dynamo (MLS), Houston Dash (NWSL)

Now this is an unlikely duo. Harden, an NBA MVP and De La Hoya, a world champion boxer, joined these ownership groups at different times. Harden joined in 2019, while De La Hoya has been involved since 2007.

Marshawn Lynch: Seattle Kraken (NHL)

The newest NHL franchise has a pair of iconic Seattle minority owners. Lynch, a former Seattle Seahawks running back, and musician Macklemore were announced as minority owners in 2022 following the Kraken’s debut season.

Naomi Osaka: North Carolina Courage (NWSL)

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, is another celebrity owner in the NWSL. The Japanese tennis star joined the North Carolina Courage’s ownership group in 2021.

J.J. Watt: Burnley FC (EPL)

A few months after retiring from the NFL, Watt and his wife Kealia Ohai became minority owners of Burnley FC. The club received a promotion to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season.

Mario Lemieux: Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

Two years after retiring as a Penguin, Lemieux bought the club in 1999. He served as their principal owner, and returned to the ice as a player from 2000-2005, before selling his majority stake to Fenway Sports Group in 2021. Lemieux still retains minority ownership in the club.

Steve Nash: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS)

While still playing in the NBA in 2011, Nash joined a group of investors to establish the MLS club in his native British Columbia. He still holds a role with the club, which has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs six times in its history.

Warrick Dunn: Atlanta Falcons (NFL)

Dunn, a 12-year veteran NFL running back, purchased a minority stake in the Atlanta Falcons in 2009 — one year after he retired.

Oct. 30, 2023, is one of the rare dates on the sports calendar that will feature professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey games. From Monday Night Football to the World Series to the NBA and NHL seasons, there is action across the board.

Just how rare is such an occasion? Here’s everything you need to know about the “sports equinox.”

What is a sports equinox?

The sports equinox occurs when the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL all hold games on the same day. 

While the celebration centers around the “Big Four” leagues, other sports can also get involved, too.

How many sports equinoxes have there been?

Oct. 30, 2023, will be the 30th sports equinox in history.

The first one occurred on Oct. 17, 1971, with a World Series Game 7, 12 NFL games, three NBA games and six NHL games. Nine sports equinoxes occurred between 1971 and 1980, another fell on Oct. 27, 1985, and then it was 16 more years before another one happened again on Nov. 4, 2001. There has been at least one sports equinox every year since 2015, including three in 2022.

There is a small window where a sports equinox can occur. The NBA and NHL seasons traditionally begin in mid-to-late October, right as the MLB postseason is coming to a close. Because of those schedules, 26 of the 29 sports equinoxes in history have occurred between Oct. 12 and Nov. 4 in their given year.

The only sports equinoxes that fell outside of that window occurred in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the MLB, NBA and NHL seasons and created a busy September. The year featured sports equinoxes on Sept. 10, 13 and 17 with regular season games for the NFL and MLB along with postseason matchups in the NBA and NHL.

Oct. 30 sports equinox schedule

Monday’s sports equinox will include Game 3 of the World Series, Monday Night Football, 11 NBA matchups and nine NHL tilts:

MLB

• World Series Game 3: Rangers vs. Diamondbacks, 8:03 p.m. ET

NFL

• Raiders vs. Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET

NBA

• Nets vs. Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
• Bulls vs. Pacers, 7 p.m. ET
• Celtics vs. Wizards, 7 p.m. ET
• Timberwolves vs. Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Blazers vs. Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Mavericks vs. Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET
• Heat vs. Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
• Warriors vs. Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET
• Pistons vs. Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
• Jazz vs. Nuggets, 9 p.m. ET
• Magic vs. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET

NHL

• Hurricanes vs. Flyers, 7 p.m. ET
• Panthers vs. Bruins, 7 p.m. ET
• Kraken vs. Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
• Ducks vs. Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
• Red Wings vs. Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Rangers vs. Jets, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Blue Jackets vs. Stars, 8 p.m. ET
• Blackhawks vs. Coyotes, 10 p.m. ET
• Canadiens vs. Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET

Will there be another sports equinox in 2023?

There will only be one sports equinox slated in 2023 since Oct. 30 is the only day with overlap between the World Series and the NFL.

Had the Phillies beaten the Diamondbacks in the NLCS, there could have been possible weather postponements that could have moved a World Series game to a date with NFL action. Since the Diamondbacks and AL champion Rangers both play in ballparks with roofs, the games will go on as originally scheduled.

Eskins, 73, is a host on 94 WIP sports radio and Audacy is the parent company of the station.

“We learned of an unwelcome kiss by Howard Eskin towards an Aramark employee at Citizens Bank Park. We take these matters very seriously. We immediately investigated and took action to address the matter,” Audacy said in a statement.

A source familiar with the investigation says the incident happened in May.

Audacy investigated the matter along with Aramark and the Phillies.

“The Phillies take these allegations very seriously. We cooperated with our partners at Audacy and Aramark on their investigations. We support Audacy’s decision to suspend Howard Eskin from Citizens Bank Park,” the Phillies said in a statement sent to NBC10.

“The safety of our employees is paramount, and when we learned that an Aramark employee had been subjected to an unwanted advance by an Audacy employee, we immediately began an investigation, which corroborated the allegations,” Aramark said in a statement.

Eskin has been a fixture in the Philadelphia sports world since the 1980s. He has been broadcasting on both radio and TV, including for WCAU. He has worked at WIP since 1986.

Eskin will remain on air during his normal time slot Saturday mornings on the radio, a source told NBC10.

NBC10 reached out to Eskin for comment but have not heard back yet.

Phil Sellers, who led Rutgers to the school’s only Final Four appearance and remains the Scarlet Knights’ career leader in points and rebounds, has died, the school announced. He was 69.

Rutgers said in a statement Wednesday that Sellers died Tuesday night but did not provide details.

In a post to X, the platform previously known as Twitter, the Rutgers Men’s Basketball program called Sellers “the G.O.A.T. of Rutgers men’s basketball.”

Sellers scored 2,399 points and had 1,115 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights from 1972-76. He earned second-team All-America honors as a senior in 1975-76 for the team that reached the national semifinals.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard played one season in the NBA, averaging 4.5 points for the Detroit Pistons in 1976-77.

“Phil Sellers is Rutgers royalty. He is the greatest player on the greatest team in our program’s history,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said in a statement. “His jersey is one of three that hang up in the rafters at Jersey Mike’s Arena. He was the ultimate role model for our current Scarlet Knights. Rutgers men’s basketball sends our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. We love you Phil ‘The Thrill’!”

Sellers, a New York City native, arrived in Piscataway in 1972 after originally committing to Notre Dame. He was recruited by Dick Vitale, then a Scarlet Knights assistant coach. He averaged 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, leading Rutgers to the NIT.

“Phil was the catalyst in our great recruiting class that played a vital factor in Rutgers having fantastic success in the 1970s that led us all the way to the Final Four,” Vitale said in a statement released by Rutgers. “Once we were able to get Phil, we were able to get the best player in New Jersey Mike Dabney. Phil was such a fierce competitor, and he was dominant inside and outside.”

Sellers led Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance as a junior in 1975. In his final season, the Scarlet Knights were undefeated before their loss in the Final Four to eventual national runner-up Michigan. Rutgers fell to UCLA in the third-place game to finish 31-2.

Sellers averaged 19.2 points and 10.2 rebounds that year.

“Phil was one of the reasons that I decided to go to Rutgers,” said Abdel Anderson, who was a freshman on the Final Four squad. “Phil was the best player I have ever played with.”

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