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Omari Sankofa II:Robinson, LeVert and Huerter all remain questionable for Game 7 tomorrow
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Kevin Huerter listed as questionable for Game 7
By Francois Murphy
VIENNA, May 16 (Reuters) - The Eurovision Song Contest's final got under way in Vienna on Saturday overshadowed by five nations' boycott over Gaza, but Israel's performance went off without any obvious sign of protest in the room.
The garish and usually good-natured competition involving pop acts from countries across Europe and beyond, now in its 70th year, has been plunged into crisis by a dispute over Israel's military offensive in Gaza, a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
The public broadcasters of heavyweights Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as Iceland and Slovenia, are not taking part in protest at Israel's participation.
"We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X on Friday.
Israel has alleged a global smear campaign against it.
Finland's entry, "Liekinheitin," or Flamethrower, a love song in Finnish featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and pop singer Pete Parkkonen on a burning set, is the favourite this year, followed by Australia's "Eclipse", a celestially themed love ballad sung by national pop star Delta Goodrem.
They performed their routines without any mishaps.
Further down the bookmakers' rankings was Israel's Noam Bettan, whose trilingual love song "Michelle" was notable for courting less controversy than Israel's entry last year, which was sung by a survivor of the October 7 attack.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN did, however, receive a formal warning from organisers a week ago over videos posted online in which Bettan courted votes too aggressively, after a similar controversy involving Israel last year.
KAN said it plays by the rules and the videos were immediately taken down.
SMALLEST CONTEST IN TWO DECADES
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At least 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 attack, most of them civilians. Israel responded by launching an assault on the enclave that has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and left much of Gaza in ruins.
The boycotts cut the number of contest entries to 35, the fewest since 2003, which will almost certainly reduce the global television viewership of an event that last year was estimated at 166 million people, more than the Super Bowl's 128 million. There will be 25 countries, including Israel, taking part in Saturday's final.
"We're going through some challenging times at the moment," Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green told a press conference before the show.
Green urged viewers to put the world's problems to one side during the show, which started at 9 p.m. CET (1900 GMT).
"Just for a moment, well maybe 4-1/2 hours, maybe close the curtains to the outside world and dream that something else is possible," he said.
PROTESTS IN VIENNA HAVE BEEN SMALL
The mood in the Austrian capital has been tense and subdued, with protests over Israel's participation drawing only small crowds. Police said they were bracing for protests on Saturday but the anticipated "blockades and disruption attempts" did not materialise.
A protest near the venue drew just a few hundred people, a fraction of the 3,000 organisers had said they expected.
There was a brief disruption during Tuesday's semi-final, when one protester chanted "Stop, stop the genocide" and "Free, free Palestine" within range of a television microphone.
He and three others "were removed from the arena for disruptive behaviour," the European Broadcasting Union and Austrian national broadcaster ORF, the organiser and host, said in a joint statement.
Bettan told Reuters he heard some booing as he took the stage on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Francois Murphy, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Rod Nickel and Cynthia Osterman)
As spring nears its end and summer arrives, the news of the nation's high school football prospects taking official visits to many of the nation's best programs begins to ramp up.
Some made their official visits in April, but the vast majority will take their trips at the end of May through June. Those few weeks will give colleges a chance to either solidify players already committed, land some undecided prospects, or flip a player who isn't on steady ground with a final decision.
For schools with a five-star commitment, May and June are pivotal months for solidifying relationships with the five-star talent already committed. This cycle has already seen a good number of five-star prospects make their college decisions.
Here's a look at what teams in the 2027 cycle have a five-star commitmentbased on the updated composite rankings.
REQUIRED READING:2026 high school baseball national composite rankings
Crimson Tide fans may be concerned with the lack of five-star commitments so far in the cycle, but they do have one and it was a massive win.
Dunham School (LA) quarterback Elijahcommitted to the Crimson Tide on May 4, choosing Alabama over Georgia.With his commitment, Alabama has landed a five-star quarterback in five of the last seven recruiting cycles. Haven threw for 62 touchdowns and 3,931 yards last season.
After some down years on and off the field, first-year coach Jon Sumrall has already found some success that may have surprised some. While the on-field success has yet to be determined, the Gators landed a massive recruiting win with Maxwell Hiller.
The 6-5, 300-pound offensive tackle out of Coatesville (PA) committed to the Gators on April 8 and is considered to be one of the most pro-ready offensive linemen in recent cycles.
James Franklin's firing from Penn State proved to be Georgia's biggest win of the 2027 cycle so far. McKeesport (PA) running back Spell decommitted fromPenn Statelast October andcommitted to Georgia on February 2.
The top running back in the 2027 cycle, Spell was theUSA TODAY Sports ALL-USA East Football Team offensive MVPlast season, rushing for 1,755 yards and 32 touchdowns in nine games.
The Tigers may not have many 2027 commitments up to this point, but they do have a pair of five-star pledges in Ruston (LA) tight end Ahmad Hudson and Irmo (SC) edge Jaiden Bryant.
Bryant was the first five-star commitment of the Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge, committing to the Tigers on January 3. Hudson, the top player in Louisiana and a two-sport star,committed to LSU on May 3, choosing the Tigers over Nebraska.
Perhaps the biggest shock in recent recruiting news was when Long Beach Poly (CA) cornerback Donte Wright announced that he was flipping his commitment from Georgia to Miami on May 9.
With that decision, he became Miami's second five-star pledge this cycle. Miami Carol City (FL) wide receiver Nick Lennear was the first, choosing to stay home with his commitment to the Hurricanes on March 5.
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The Fighting Irish went from a program longing for five-star commitments for over a decade to one where Marcus Freeman has five-stars considering on an annual basis. This cycle, their first five-star pledge came on the offensive side of the ball.
St. Peter's Prep (NJ) offensive tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobolaannounced his commitment to Notre Dame on May 12. He chose the Fighting Irish over Miami and Texas A&M.
The Buckeyes landing elite wide receiver talent every cycle is nothing new, and this cycle, they didn't have to look far, as Big Walnut (OH) receiver Jamier Brown announced his commitment to the program back in November 2024.
Their most recent five-star pledge, Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA) edge DJ Jacobs, is viewed by many as one of the top five overall players for the cycle.He committed to Ohio State last Decemberfollowing a monster junior season that saw him rack up 102 tackles, 24 tackles lost, 16 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pair of blocked field goals in just 11 games.
Elite talent coming to Norman is nothing new, but it's been multiple cycles since the Sooners last landed multiple five-star prospects. So far, they have two and are in the mix for more.
Last September, the Sooners landed a pair of elite in-state offensive tackles on the same day: Kaeden Penny out of Bixby (OK) and Cooper Hackett out of Fort Gibson (OK). Liberty Christian (TX) linebacker Cooper Witten, the son of legendary Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten,committed to Oklahoma on March 3.
Multiple programs have been trying to pry Brother Martin (LA) wide receiver Easton Royal away from Texas, but he's remained committed to the Longhorns up to this point.
The 5-11.5, 200-pounder committed to Texas last November, but the likes of Florida and LSU have remained steadfast in trying to flip him from that commitment.
The Aggies may not have the most pledges so far but there's no denying that no other team in the country has done better this cycle on the trail than Texas A&M.
With the commitment from five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews on Friday, Texas A&M leads the field with five five-star commitments. The others include Hampton (GA) safety Kamarui Dorsey, Kingwood (TX) offensive tackle Kennedy Brown, St. Frances Academy (MD) cornerback Raylaun Henry and Waxahachie (TX) safety JayQuan Snell.
Under Joey McGuire, the Red Raiders have become a program likely to be involved in the recruitment of every major prospect in the future. That became apparent when they landed five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo in the 2026 cycle.
This cycle, they've already doubled their number of five-star commitments.Cedar Hill (TX) defensive lineman Jalen Brewster jumped on boardearly, committing last October. St. Frances Academy (MD) edge Anthony Sweeney was a more recent pledgecommitting to the Red Raiders on April 13 over LSU and South Carolina.
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans landed the No. 1 class in the 2026 cycle and appear on their way to landing another top 10 to top 5 class in 2027. So far, the cornerstone piece of that class is Cathedral Catholic (CA) athlete Honor Fa'alave-Johnson.
Fa'alave-Johnson committed to USC on March 14,choosing the Trojans over LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas. A two-way star for the Dons, on offense, he accounted for 2,096 total yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025 while also recording 40 tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble on the defensive side of the ball.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football recruiting 2027: Five-star commit tracker
The NHL reacted swiftly and harshly to the Vegas Golden Knights' "flagrant violations of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations," announcing on Friday that the franchise will forfeit a second-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Head Coach John Tortorella did not meet with the media as prescribed by league policy after his squad eliminated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Moreover, the locker room remained closed to media.
In addition, Tortorella, who took over head coaching duties from Bruce Cassidy on March 29, has been fined $100,000.
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"The Golden Knights are aware of today's announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim," the team said on social media. "The organization will have no further comment."
The NHL imposed these penalties after previous warnings to the Golden Knights regarding its media regulations and other associated policies. Vegas may appeal these penalties to the Commissioner's Office in person next week in New York.
The Golden Knights will take on the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.
--Field Level Media
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation banning the sale and manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms, prompting immediate lawsuits from gun-rights groups.
The limits on “assault firearms,” as they are described by the legislation, are among two dozen new restrictions and regulations on guns enacted by the Democratic governor in her first few months in office. That marks a sharp policy reversal from her Republican predecessor, who had vetoed many similar measures.
“Firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets," Spanberger said in a statement Friday. "We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”
The new gun restrictions move Virginia closer to the likes of California, Illinois and New York, which similarly have full Democratic control of their legislatures and governors' offices. They also highlight a continued national divide on gun policy, as various Republican-led states have taken steps to relax firearm restrictions that they describe as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.
The new Virginia law, which takes effect July 1, will make it a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine, for people to buy, sell, transfer, import or manufacture an “assault firearm.”
The measure defines that term to include semi-automatic rifles or pistols with a magazine capacity of more than 15 rounds. It also includes firearms with other characteristics, such as rifles capable of accepting a detachable magazine that have a second handgrip or a collapsible stock. The prohibition also applies to magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds. For most people, there’s no penalty for merely possessing such weapons.
Eleven other states and Washington, D.C., already havelaws prohibiting the sale an manufactureof certain semi-automatic firearms, though the details vary. Hawaii, for example, prohibits certain semi-automatic pistols and high-capacity magazines, but not semi-automatic rifles.
Legal challenges came swiftly after Spanberger signed the legislation Thursday. The National Rifle Association, joined by other groups, sued in both federal and state court, asserting violations of the right to bear arms.
“The firearms and magazines banned in this law aren’t bizarre and unusual outliers, they’re among the most commonly owned guns and magazines in the country," said Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, which joined the NRA in the federal lawsuit. “They’re owned in the tens of millions by peaceable Americans who use them overwhelmingly lawfully.”
The U.S. Department of Justice alsovowed to sueto block the Virginia law from being enforced.
The Virginia measure would “infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to enjoy and use AR-15 rifles for lawful purposes by making it a crime to purchase and sell them,” Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the department’s civil rights division, wrote in an April letter to Spanberger.
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So far, laws restricting certain semi-automatic firearms generally have been upheld, including by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Virginia, Maryland and several additional states.
That appellate court twice upheld a Maryland law banning dozens of types of semi-automatic weapons, describing them a 2024 ruling as “military-style weapons" that are ill-suited for self-defense. It concluded that “the Maryland law fits comfortably within our nation’s tradition of firearms regulation.”
TheU.S. Supreme Court last year declined to heara challenge in that Maryland case. But gun-rights advocates remain hopeful of a different outcome in future cases, noting that three conservative justices on the nine-member court disagreed with the decision and a fourth expressed skepticism that such firearm bans are constitutional.
Former Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkinvetoed legislationeach ofthe past two yearsthat would have prohibited the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms.
But Youngkin's term ended in January, and he was succeeded by Spanberger. The transition presented a huge opportunity for advocates of gun restrictions, who already had support within the Democratic-led Legislature.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. House member, had previously been a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a group founded after a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut claimed the lives of 26 people in 2012. The group lists 20% of the Democrats in the Virginia House as its past volunteers.
"The fact that a former Moms Demand Action volunteer just signed an assault weapons ban in the home state of the NRA speaks volumes about how dramatically the political calculus around gun safety has shifted,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, the umbrella organization for Moms Demand Action..
While Virginia tightens gun regulations, many Republican-led states have been expanding gun rights.
On the same day Spanberger signed the semi-automatic firearm restrictions, Missouri's Republican-led Legislature gave final approval to legislation creating a school ranger program that could let trained volunteers carry firearms in schools.
A law signed by Spanberger last month raised the age to purchase a handgun in Virginia from 18 to 21. By contrast, Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a law last month lowering the age from 21 to 18 for carrying concealed guns without a state permit.
Yet another law signed by Spanberger last month opens new grounds for lawsuits against the firearms industry. That came shortly after Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law limiting liability lawsuits against the firearms industry.
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Justin Martinez:Jalen Williams was seen at practice today. Asked Mark Daigneault where Williams is at with his recovery from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain he sustained on April 22: “He’s progressing. Same stuff.I'm not going to give you the blow-by-blow on the details, but he continues to make progress and is doing a great job.”
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams' hamstring strain: 'He's progressing, same stuff'
It's an exciting week on the NFL calendar as bits and pieces of theDetroit Lions' 2026 NFL schedule keep filtering out.
Fans now know that theLions will travel in Week 2to face theBuffalo Billsfor the first game in the new Highmark Stadium. TheLions' Germany gameis also confirmed as a mid-November date on theLions' 2026 schedule.
As attention turns in earnest toward the 2026 season, it's fun to take a peek at the first batch of 2027 NFL mock drafts, too.
CBS released itsinitial 2027 NFL mock draft, usingFanDuel's Super Bowl odds in reverse orderto determine each team's NFL draft slot. The Lions are currently +1700 to win the Super Bowl per FanDuel, meaning Detroit would pick 24th overall in CBS' mock draft.
So, who do the Lions end up with? That would beOregonEDGE Matayo Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei registered 10.5 sacks in 2024 and six sacks and a pair of forced fumbles last season.
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Detroit drafted Derrick Moore to go along with Aidan Hutchinson, but the position has been such a problem for the organization that they may want more aid. In theory, Matayo Uiagalelei and Hutchinson would start with Moore as depth. -Josh Edwards, CBS
It's a long ways off between now and then, so if nothing else, it's just fun to look at these early NFL draft forecasts in order to be able to point back and see either how right or wrong they really were.
The Lions had two obvious areas of need going into the 2026 NFL Draft at offensive tackle and at EDGE. The 2027 NFL Draft could certainly materialize in a similar fashion for the Lions where there's a clear direction the franchise needs to head.
And maybe that's at EDGE once more. But, if the need isn't as clear-cut, that could lead the Lions down the road of best available, which might mean a player like Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei.
For moreLionscoverage, follow us on X,@TheLionsWire, and give ourFacebookpage a like.Follow Josh on X,@JoshOnLions
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire:Detroit Lions add more pass rush help in early 2027 NFL mock draft
