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The Mirror US •

Italy’s espresso-fueled underdogs eye upset win over Team USA at WBC

HOUSTON — Team Italy captain Vinnie Pasquantino and his band of underdogs are chasing an improbable upset over the United States at the WBC, fueled by espresso shots, spaghetti, and a little bit of old-school sprezzatura.

On Tuesday, Italy — whose home run celebration has swiftly become a fan favorite — will face its toughest test yet in Pool B play against Team USA’s potent lineup. Yet according to those inside the Italian clubhouse, most of the pressure lies on the Americans’ shoulders.

“The...
The Mirror US •

USC professor recalls Sam Darnold’s humble rise to NFL stardom as GPA resurfaces

Fresh off the Seattle Seahawks’ nailbiting victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Conference Championship, USC professor Jeff Fellenzer sent one of his former students a heartfelt text.

In the biggest game of his roller-coaster career, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold turned in his best performance — completing 25-of-36 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions en route to propelling Seattle to a 31-27 win over the Rams.

As blue and green confetti continued to dance t...
The Mirror US •

Serpents, rituals and Tayvoodoo - inside the spiritual side of Super Bowl LIX

A new type of Voodoo has descended upon New Orleans’ French Quarter - well, not exactly.

On Sunday, the Big Easy will play host to Super Bowl LIX as the Chiefs face off against the Eagles at the Caesars Superdome. In the leadup to Kansas City’s shot at a historic SB three-peat, some have suggested that supernatural forces are in play behind the scenes.

Since Taylor Swift and tight end Travis Kelce went public with their relationship in September of 2023, the pop icon has served as a good luck...
The Mirror US •

Jose Butto’s tears carry the legacy Mets fan favorite Wilmer Flores once built

Jose Butto bowed his head, wiped his eyes and stared off longingly into the distance after being hit with the news that no player wants to hear.

During the second inning of the New York Mets’ 5-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on July 30, Butto learned that he’d been traded to the San Francisco Giants in a package deal for reliever Tyler Rogers. As bullpen coach Jose Rosado patted him on the knee, the right-handed reliever couldn’t stop the waterworks from flowing.

For the select few who’ve spen...
The Mirror US •

Inside the little-known card game that is a favorite pastime of MLB players

PHOENIX - Inside Scottsdale Stadium, a chess board located at the forefront of the San Francisco Giants clubhouse is occupied at all times. At Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Arizona Diamondbacks players routinely flock to the dominoes table at the center of the locker room.

Though teams across the league have different pastimes that they’re proud to call their favorite, one reigns supreme above all else: Pluck. The card game, which is similar to Spades or Hearts, is a staple in MLB clubhou...
The Mirror US •

Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes relishing newfound proximity to family in Arizona

On the heels of making a start for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards late last June, Corbin Burnes’ mind was anywhere but the baseball diamond.

Over seven stellar innings, Burnes limited the Texas Rangers to nine hits and one run in an 11-2 win on Thursday, June 27. Despite the dominant performance, the Orioles ace couldn’t get out of the stadium quick enough.

Moments after leaving the mound to a standing ovation, Burnes was rushed onto a chartered jet heading for Arizona to be by his wife...
The Mirror US •

Skenes' dad delivers clear verdict about Dunne's impact on Pirates ace's career

Paul Skenes’ father, Craig, has shed light on the major role that Livvy Dunne has played in the star pitcher’s career away from the baseball diamond.

Last week, Skenes — who recently worked a shift serving veterans at Raising Cane’s in West Palm Beach — was awarded the 2025 National League Cy Young award after recording an MLB-best 1.97 ERA this season. One year prior, he was named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year following a similarly dominant campaign.

According to Craig, much of...
The Mirror US •

Inside the small summer league team that shaped MLB stars like Pete Alonso

Against the New York Mets last month, Drake Baldwin drilled a hard-hit single into the outfield and rolled safely into first base. As is par for the course around baseball, the Atlanta Braves catcher swiftly struck up a conversation with the closest infielder — in this instance, Pete Alonso.

Upon first glance, there would appear to be little in common between Baldwin — a National League rookie of the year favorite who nearly pursued a career in an entirely different sport — and Alonso, a MLB ve...
The Mirror US •

Seahawks star Derick Hall’s Super Bowl journey began with a fight for survival

Derick Hall asserted that playing in the Super Bowl is “something that every kid dreams about” — but for the Seattle Seahawks linebacker, that childhood ambition was even more of a longshot than most.

This Sunday, Hall and the Seahawks' formidable defense will clash with quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Seattle punched its ticket to the Big Game with a thrilling 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, during which fans voiced their frust...
The Mirror US •

'I'm related to a former First Lady and war hero — now I'm competing in the WBC'

Matthew Boyd is proudly representing his family’s lineage — which includes a former First Lady of the United States and an American war hero — at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

On a loaded Team USA featuring big names such as Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes — who nearly joined the military before pursuing a baseball career — Boyd largely flies under the radar. With no shortage of star power on the U.S. roster, the 2025 National League All-Star isn’t taking the opportunity to play in...
New York Post •

Jalen Brunson, Knicks stars give NYC fans taste of what’s to come at Nike Pro City

Jalen Brunson received a standing ovation from the New York home crowd as he trotted onto the court alongside teammates Julius Randle and Obi Toppin — though the Knicks’ big free-agent acquisition wasn’t donning the blue and orange. 


Instead, the 25-year-old guard sported a purple jersey with the words “Pro City” spread across the chest. And while his New York City debut didn’t come in front of thousands of screaming fans at Madison Square Garden, the several hundred who gathered in the Hosto...
New York Post •

Rugby New York face Seattle for title amid teams’ unlikely journeys

New York City has a championship caliber team on its hands — and no, it’s not the Yankees or Mets. 

Rugby New York is preparing set to face off against the Seattle Seawolves in the Major League Rugby championship game on Saturday at Red Bull Arena. Coverage of the nationally televised battle will begin on Fox at 12 p.m. Eastern. 

The league, now in its fifth season, constitutes the highest level of rugby competition on American soil. What began as seven teams has now evolved to 13 scattered ac...
New York Post •

Yankees’ Bernie Williams faced similar free-agency situation as Aaron Judge

Amid Aaron Judge’s legendary season and murky future in New York, a Yankees legend who once stood in similar shoes offered his two cents.


Moments before the 74th Yankees Old-Timers’ Day ceremony Saturday afternoon — the Old-Timers’ Game was canceled due to injuries and vaccination statuses, the Yankees said — Bernie Williams conversed with fellow honorees in Monument Park, where his retired No. 51 and placard are proudly displayed. Though the star center fielder spent his entire 16-year MLB c...
New York Post •

Tommy Hunter enjoying every aspect of Mets return

Tommy Hunter’s smile illuminates the clubhouse as his pingpong shot darts past the paddle of an outstretched Pete Alonso. It’s times like these the reliever feared he’d never get back after sustaining a career-threatening injury last year.

“This is the part that I think everybody misses when you’re done, just having fun,” Hunter told The Post. “I think I took a lot of it for granted mistakenly, unknowingly.”

Hunter first impressed the Mets with several shutout innings in relief during his 2021...
The Mirror US •

Construction worker receives opportunity to showcase skills for Brazil at WBC

HOUSTON — Few players actively competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic have a more demanding lifestyle away from the field than Brazilian star Osvaldo Carvalho.

In a Team Brazil clubhouse rife with experienced professionals and MLB ties — Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez’s son, Lucas, hit two home runs against Team USA — Carvalho stands out as the lone player who’s never received a paycheck for playing baseball. Rather, he makes the majority of his income through construction work.

Osvaldo fi...
The Mirror US •

Ann Michael Maye’s baking has become the Patriots’ Super Bowl secret weapon

The Patriots’ offensive line may be one of the closest-knit groups in New England, but even they can’t agree on the most divisive topic inside the facility: Ann Michael Maye’s best baked dish.

Vederian Lowe is a big fan of the oatmeal apple crisp. Caedan Wallace prefers the cinnamon roll snickerdoodles. Thayer Munford Jr., meanwhile, can’t get enough of the brookie. “Me personally, I always get the little corner pieces,” the latter offensive tackle exclusively told Mirror U.S. Sports. “You can’...
The Mirror US •

Former Lyft driver pitched in four countries before starring at WBC

HOUSTON — Prior to first pitch in Sunday’s WBC clash between Mexico and Brazil, Brennan Bernardino traversed the outfield grass at Daikin Park during batting practice. For every ball that reached his glove, the reliever turned around and tossed it toward the fans lining the stands.

As many of his teammates went to the clubhouse to suit up for the upcoming game — which Mexico won 16-0 thanks to a dominant performance from Alejandro Kirk — Bernardino stayed out with a handful of players to sign a...
Converting at the charity stripe: Former Badger gi •

Converting at the charity stripe: Former Badger gives back through basketball

Rashard Griffith strode hurriedly toward the Middleton High School fieldhouse in early November, the sound of dribbling basketballs growing louder with each step. Team tryouts began at 4 p.m. — Griffith’s phone read 4:30 p.m.
Joining a new team was practically second nature to Griffith, having played for 10 different professional clubs across the world. The star center’s playing days, however, were far behind him.

Griffith didn’t don a triple-XL jersey upon enter...
The Mirror US •

Air Force reserve captain shines for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

HOUSTON — One would be hard pressed to find a player on Team USA who doesn’t recognize the incredible privilege of representing the Stars and Stripes at the 2026 World Baseball Classic — but for reliever Griffin Jax, it means just a little more.

In the eighth inning of Tuesday’s Pool B matchup between the U.S. and Mexico, Jax took the mound moments after Matthew Boyd surrendered a home run to Jarren Duran and plunked Randy Arozarena with a fastball. The Tampa Bay Rays pitcher swiftly stopped th...
The Mirror US •

Paul Skenes and Griffin Jax show true colors with Air Force gesture at WBC

HOUSTON — As Paul Skenes walked toward the bullpen before his highly anticipated WBC debut, a special group of fans cheered him on from second-row seats along the first-base line.

On Monday, Skenes took the mound for Team USA’s matchup against Mexico — the Stars and Stripes’ toughest challenge yet in Pool B play. Among the expected sold-out crowd in Houston were members of the Air Force baseball team, who had their tickets purchased for the game by the 23-year-old and WBC teammate Griffin Jax....
The Mirror US •

Meet Team Great Britain's 'artist in residence' capturing the WBC on canvas

HOUSTON — While most teams at the 2026 WBC are embracing the latest technologies in baseball, from Rapsodo 3.0 for pitching metrics to Vald ForceDecks for player movement, Great Britain is kicking it old school with a little help from artist Andy Brown.

For the last 15 years, Brown has painted over 150 stadiums across the world, including all 30 MLB ballparks. His work has been collected by Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, Red Sox legend David Ortiz and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooper...
Irish Star •

Ireland’s World Baseball Classic dreams stalled by controversial player quotas

As the last notes of St Patrick’s Day celebrations fade and plates of corned beef and cabbage sit empty, many Irish Americans will turn their attention to the World Baseball Classic final — a stage their own national team can only hope to reach one day.

On Tuesday, Team USA will face Venezuela in a politically-charged championship clash that swiftly drew a reaction from President Donald Trump. This year’s WBC marks the sixth consecutive tournament that Ireland has failed to reach — in large par...
The Mirror US •

World Baseball Classic star opens up about marriage to FOX News reporter

World Baseball Classic star Matt Festa revealed how he and his wife, FOX News correspondent Danamarie McNicholl, balance their equally demanding lifestyles.

On Sunday, Festa made his debut in this year’s tournament while representing Italy — whose unique home run celebration has swiftly become a fan favorite — for a second consecutive WBC. Upon taking the bump in the top of the seventh, the Cleveland Guardians pitcher surrendered one hit while striking out two while helping propel his team to a...
Yardbarker •

Jalen Brunson deserves to be crowned 'King of New York' after unforgettable night

On the heels of being named to his first career All-Star game, Brunson turned in a signature performance that epitomized New York City's identity. There was no shortage of adversity thrown Brunson's way, with the Knicks being down four rotation players and trailing by as much as 15 points in the second quarter. In the game's culminating moment, Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard inadvertently poked him in the eye, causing immediate swelling.Thanks to Brunson's game-high 40 points, however, the Knicks...
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