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Frances Tiafoe Consoles Alex Michelsen After US Open Defeat

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After a crushing U.S. Open quarterfinal defeat to Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen found comfort from the last person many might have expected: the man who had just beaten him.

The two Americans had spent 4 hours and 38 minutes trading blows on Arthur Ashe Stadium, pushing each other through a grueling five-set tiebreaker. But when it was over, the defining image was not a forehand winner or a final point. It was Tiafoe wrapping Michelsen in an embrace as the 22-year-old tried to process the heartbreak.

Michelsen later described the U.S. Open match as “emotionally draining,” yet he said it was not only the loss that overwhelmed him. What truly broke through were the words Tiafoe shared at the net.

“I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be honest,” Michelsen said. “Frances, he’s such a good guy, and he said a lot of personal things and just kind of got to me.”

Frances Tiafoe, in headband, hugs Alex Michelsen after winning a five-set tiebreaker in the quarterfinals in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

So what exactly did Frances Tiafoe say to Alex Michelsen after their emotional U.S. Open showdown?

“You’ll be there. When I’m older, you’re going to be here, and we’re going to play again in this type of circumstance,” Michelsen recalled Tiafoe saying. “All that good stuff. He’s a great guy for consoling me in that moment.” 

Michelsen had been on the cusp of the first semifinal appearance of his career before Tiafoe battled back to take the third set 7-5 and take the next two sets to move on to the next round at Flushing Meadows. 

Even with Tuesday’s loss, things are looking up for the 22-year-old California native, who spent most of this year’s tournament flying under the radar until he stormed out to a 2-0 lead on Tiafoe in the quarters. Michelsen will move up to No. 33 in the ATP rankings and Tiafoe, who has developed a close friendship with Michelsen, expressed confidence that this wasn’t the end for the youngster. 

Alex Michelsen returning a tennis ball during the US Open Quarterfinals.

Alex Michelsen of the USA returns a ball to Frances Tiafoe. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“I know you’re going to be here so many more times and I’m going to be in a rocking chair when you do,” Tiafoe said on ESPN. 

And despite the disappointment, the confidence seemed to still be there for Michelsen. 

“It’s definitely one of the bigger disappointments,” he said. “But I’m just super happy that I showed myself I can make a quarter of a Slam, and I’m only 22. I’ve got a lot of time to grow physically and mentally. I’m going to be here again. I know it.” 

He added: “Next time I’m in this situation, I’m going to learn, and I’m going to do things the right way.”

Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Open to Deal, Urges DA to Revisit Case

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Lindsay Clancy’s attorney indicated Tuesday that he would be receptive to plea negotiations, saying he hopes the district attorney will “revisit” the case following the mistrial in her murder trial.

Kevin Reddington’s remarks came after Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial Friday when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. The panel reportedly ended with an 11-1 split.

Reddington said the lone holdout juror had expressed doubt but, in his view, was not properly applying the judge’s instructions on the standard of reasonable doubt.

Clancy, 36, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all younger than 6 — who were found strangled inside the family’s home in January 2023.

Kevin Reddington and Lindsay Clancy

Lindsay Clancy and Kevin Reddington listen to Judge Sullivan ask the jury to continue deliberations during Clancy’s murder trial on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Plymouth, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

In an interview on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, Reddington said he hopes the two sides can “work something out” when asked about a possible plea agreement.

“I‘m willing to listen to Tim. I‘ve known Tim for 30 years. He‘s a very hard charging prosecutor,” Reddington said, referring to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. “I hope, however, after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.”

Reddington previously said that prosecutors weren’t open to a plea deal while talking to reporters on Sept. 2. He later said “bring it” when asked about the possibility of a retrial.

“There’s no plea bargaining, there’s nothing Cruz wants, his triple homicide convictions, consecutive life sentences,” Reddington said.

Kevin Reddington

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, speaks outside the courthouse after the third day of deliberations in her murder trial on Aug. 31, 2026. (David McGlynn for News Media)

Reddington also appealed to President Donald Trump for a potential pardon. However, Trump has no authority to issue a pardon since Clancy’s murder trial is being handled in state court, not federal.

“Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she‘s been through, and consider a pardon,” Reddington said.

Reddington also softened his criticism of the lone holdout juror, whom he had previously accused of having an “agenda” and of having “robbed” the other jurors of their time.

Three young Clancy children in pajamas sit together on a couch, the smiling baby resting against his older brother, with their sister beside them.

Callan, left, Dawson and Cora Clancy. The three children were killed at their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/Facebook)

“I at the end of the case made statements to the effect that I was upset,” he said. “I would defend that individual‘s right to be a holdout for forever. That‘s part of our judicial system. And I respect that. And I would certainly defend his right to do that.”

“What I was upset about was, after that lengthy trial and the work that everyone put into this case, including these jurors that spent literally almost two months away from their home, their job, their family, where a gentleman had an opinion, not that he was sticking like the movie ’12 Angry Men,’ but in fact he had agreed, according to the note from the forelady, that he had doubt, but he would not apply the law of reasonable doubt as presented by the judge. That’s not right. And that’s why I was upset,” Reddington explained.

In a statement to News Media on Tuesday, Patrick Clancy’s attorney, Howard Cooper, said his client and his family have been the target of a “relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign” and warned that those behind it could face legal consequences.

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Patrick Clancy leaves his apartment building in East Midtown in New York City, NY, Thursday, September 3, 2026. (Elder Ordonez/InStar for News Media)

“Over the past months, Patrick Clancy and his family have been subjected to a relentless, escalating and destructive defamation campaign. This campaign of misinformation has been launched and promoted by minor celebrities, so-called influencers and outright conspiracy theorists who appear intent on boosting their own social media profiles and potential profit by publishing what they know to be outright falsehoods that Patrick was somehow involved in the death of his young children and other vile claims,” Cooper said.

lindsay-clancy-ex-husband-patrick-clancy-new-wife-fox-news_005

Patrick Clancy and Rachel Danis hold hands as they walk through East Midtown in New York City, NY, Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Elder Ordonez/InStar for News Media)

“Enough is enough — this spread of blatant and baseless falsehoods must stop. Those responsible should understand that there will be consequences, and every appropriate measure will be pursued to hold them accountable, including legally.  Law enforcement has been notified,” Patrick Clancy’s attorney added.

While Cruz hasn’t indicated what he will do with Lindsay Clancy’s case after the mistrial, Sullivan set a status hearing for Sept. 29.

5 Simpsons Episodes Whose Predictions Totally Missed the Mark

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“The Simpsons” has built its legacy on several fronts: blisteringly sharp comedy, a widely celebrated golden age spanning roughly Seasons 3 through 8, and a run so long it has become one of television’s most enduring institutions. Yet one of the strangest parts of its reputation is something even creator Matt Groening likely never expected — the show’s uncanny habit of seeming to predict real-world events.

The most famous example remains the 2000 episode “Bart to the Future,” in which Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith) is shown as President of the United States and refers to a budget crisis left behind by President Donald Trump. Ever since, viewers have pointed to moments where “The Simpsons” appeared to mirror later headlines. The truth, of course, is far less supernatural: there are no time travelers hiding in the writers’ room. A series with more than 800 episodes is simply bound to brush up against reality now and then.

For every eerie coincidence, there are plenty of “Simpsons” jokes about the future that never came true. Sometimes the show is not revealing destiny — it is just telling a joke. Then again, perhaps we simply have not waited long enough for “The Simpsons” to eventually call every event that has happened, or ever will.

Rocky VII wasn’t Adrian’s Revenge

A great example comes from the endlessly rewatchable “Lemon of Troy.” In one memorable sequence, Bart (Nancy Cartwright) flees from a group of Shelbyville kids and winds up facing a row of doors marked with Roman numerals. Door VII leads to safety, while the others hide man-eating tigers. Since Bart ignored an earlier lesson on Roman numerals, he solves the problem in the most Bart-like way possible: by using “Rocky” titles. “‘Rocky V’ plus ‘Rocky II’ equals ‘Rocky VII: Adrian’s Revenge!'” he declares.

When “Lemon of Troy” aired in 1995, the “Rocky” franchise had only reached five films, so the gag was clearly a playful leap into an imaginary sequel. The subtitle “Adrian’s Revenge” is especially funny because Adrian (Talia Shire) had long been Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) devoted girlfriend and later wife. It invites a ridiculous scenario in which the couple somehow falls apart in “Rocky VI,” setting up Adrian to challenge Rocky herself by the time “Rocky VII” rolls around.

Instead, the “Rocky” franchise took Adrian in a far darker direction. She passes away before the events of 2006’s “Rocky Balboa” due to cancer. The seventh part of the “Rocky” franchise was actually “Creed,” which functioned as a soft reboot of sorts to turn the attention away from Rocky and toward Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan). Legacy sequels weren’t really a thing in the 1990s, so “The Simpsons” writers can be forgiven for being unable to see how that could wind up being the true “Rocky VII.”

It was never splitsville for Delta Burke and Major Dad

In Season 3’s “Bart the Murderer,” the police enlist the help of a psychic, Princess Opal (Jo Ann Harris), to locate Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer). She’s not much help, but she has a few pop culture references that never came to pass. Unfortunately, Willie Nelson never swam the English Channel, but no one was really thinking that could happen. She also predicts, “I’m afraid it’s splitsville for Delta Burke and Major Dad.”

Predicting that a celebrity couple will break up should’ve been a slam dunk, but in a hilarious twist of fate, both Burke and “Major Dad” actor Gerald McRaney are still together to this day (as of this writing in September 2026). The two met in the mid-1980s but finally wed in 1989. During this time, Burke starred in the sitcom “Designing Women,” while McRaney had the titular role on “Major Dad” from 1989 to 1993.

“Bart the Murderer” aired in 1991, so the writers probably assumed they were safe in predicting the two actors would split in the near future. But astonishingly, the two stayed together for the next several decades. While it’s technically a prediction that didn’t come true, it actually makes the joke even funnier that Princess Opal is, in fact, a terrible psychic who couldn’t get anything right.

We never got 1,500 cable channels

“Lisa’s Wedding” is a flash forward episode to when Lisa almost marries a proper British gentleman. As such, the episode has numerous predictions for the future, some of which kind of came true. There are video-based phone machines that resemble FaceTime; and Hugh Parkfield (Mandy Patinkin, an actor you forgot guest starred on “The Simpsons”) speaks into a phone-watch as though it were a modern smartwatch. Naturally, not everything came true. The British still haven’t saved the United States from World War III (yet); but, on a lighter note, we never got 1,500-channel cable tubes connecting TV sets to all kinds of programming.

When Homer (Dan Castellaneta) takes Hugh to Moe’s, there’s a giant cable attached to the TV. This was a joke about how there were coming to be so many cable channels that, pretty soon, there would be thousands of them. As it turns out, the entertainment industry took a different route. In lieu of expanding cable channels, studios pivoted toward streaming services. Now, you can watch whatever show or movie you want, provided it’s in the streamer’s catalog.

However, there’s another prediction within this scene that we pray doesn’t come to fruition. Homer and Hugh are watching a newscast from CNNBCBS: A Division of ABC. This pokes fun at how media companies often merge, monopolizing and cannibalizing one another. The only thing more horrifying than having 1,500 cable channels is if they’re all owned by one single company.

Laser eye surgery doesn’t make your eyes fall out

“Bart to the Future” has the infamous Donald Trump prediction mentioned earlier, but not everything in that story ended up being true. Early in the episode, Bart goes to Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) to borrow money, and he’s blind. “I never should have had that trendy laser surgery,” he said. “It was great at first, but, you know, at the 10-year mark, your eyes fall out.”

Apparently, this is a common occurrence within “The Simpsons” universe, where anyone who had laser eye surgery loses their eyes after 10 years. It makes sense for “The Simpsons” to make fun of it. Laser eye surgery went in vogue in the late 1990s and early 2000s, right around when this episode came out. Having someone shoot lasers at your eyes is a delicate proposition, and there just wasn’t enough data in the ’90s about any potential long-term side effects.

It has now been several decades since “Bart to the Future” came out, and we don’t have people’s eyes falling out en masse. Long-term side effects from the procedure are rare, although they have been known to happen. But overall, it’s something that’s helped a ton of people; and if you think you could benefit, it’s vital to speak to a doctor. Don’t let a one-off joke from “The Simpsons” make you afraid to improve your life.

There’s still no female president

Sticking with “Bart to the Future,” there’s a prediction “The Simpsons” made that still hasn’t come to fruition. Of course, Lisa Simpson is sworn in as President of the United States in that episode, immediately following up President Donald Trump’s term. But, as of this writing, the U.S. still has never had a female president.

If anything, “The Simpsons” was far more optimistic, since Lisa has a line about being honored to be “America’s first straight female president.” That means she’s at least the second female president, while we haven’t even gotten one in the real world — and many people were optimistic that a certain detail would prove fortuitous. During former President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, then-Vice President Kamala Harris was wearing a purple outfit similar to what Lisa wears in the episode. Some thought that might’ve been a sign of things to come when Harris ran for president in 2024. But it turned out to be one election prediction “The Simpsons” failed to get right.

It’s possible this prediction could still come to pass. A woman follows up Trump’s term, so perhaps we’ll finally get a female president in 2028. That would be an appropriate year, given that “Bart to the Future” came out in 2000 and shows Bart what his life will be like 30 years in the future. In 2030, there may very well be a female president — and maybe we’ll also find Abraham Lincoln’s gold by that time, too.

Sandra Bullock Reveals Extreme Steps to Keep Son Secret

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Sandra Bullock has opened up about the extraordinary lengths she went to in order to shield her infant son Louis from paparazzi as her marriage to Jesse James unraveled amid his cheating scandal.

The Practical Magic 2 actress, 62, revisited the intense media storm of 2010 during a conversation with Jennifer Aniston, 57, for a new Interview Magazine profile.

Bullock said the situation became so overwhelming that she once hid Louis — whom she had quietly adopted at the end of 2009 — inside a hockey bag to keep photographers from discovering him.

“I was just cleaning out the closet, and I found these hockey bags for stuffing clothes in for travel,” the actress recalled in the magazine’s September issue, where she also appeared in a series of polished new photos.

“Child Protective Services, do not come after me,” she quipped, before explaining that once “the poop hit the fan,” she knew she had to leave home quickly because paparazzi were about to swarm — and at the time, the public had no idea she had a newborn.

‘So I put him in his car carrier, put it in the hockey bag, and zipped the hockey bag around him,’ she said. ‘Then I carried the hockey bag to the car, as though I was just carrying any random hockey bag.’

Sandra Bullock, 62, revealed the extreme measures she took to protect her newborn son Louis from the paparazzi in a new profile for Interview magazine

Sandra Bullock, 62, revealed the extreme measures she took to protect her newborn son Louis from the paparazzi in a new profile for Interview magazine 

Bullock recalled putting Louis in a hockey bag to hide him from photographers after her then-husband Jesse James's cheating scandal broke in 2010; Seen with James in 2010

Bullock recalled putting Louis in a hockey bag to hide him from photographers after her then-husband Jesse James’s cheating scandal broke in 2010; Seen with James in 2010

The actress – whose partner Bryan Randall died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2023 – noted that as a famous person ‘you have to operate like the CIA’ before sharing how someone near her recently ‘broke’ her heart by selling information about her.

‘If you’re surrounded by good people, you’ll be fine. But if people near you mean you harm, no matter how covert you are and how much pre-planning you do, your privacy is information that brings them cash. I had it happen recently and it broke my heart.’

Bullock’s marriage to West Coast Choppers founder James, which started in 2005, imploded following news of his infidelity in 2010 with tattooed model Michelle ‘Bombshell’ McGee, which led to their divorce that same year.

In April 2010, James checked himself into a rehab facility in Arizona for sex addiction after apologizing profusely to Bullock, although that wasn’t enough to save the marriage – they divorced the following June.

In her latest interview, Bullock also spoke about prioritizing Louis, 16, and her daughter Laila, 12 – whom she welcomed via adoption in 2015 – over her career. 

‘If the kids can’t be with me, I’m not going. The older they get, the bigger their schedules. And their schedules are more important than me telling a story, period.’

‘I don’t have that same drive to be in front of the camera. I get my fulfillment from the prep, the building of it, rather than the “Hey, I’m an actor and look at what I’ve done.” That scares me actually, because then the judgment comes,’ she added.

‘But unless the kids are with me, I’m lost, and I have to figure that out because kids always have to leave. Louis is going to leave the house soon,’ she went on. 

'I put him in his car carrier, put it in the hockey bag, and zipped the hockey bag around him. Then I carried the hockey bag to the car, as though I was just carrying any random hockey bag,' she said; Seen with Louis in 2011

‘I put him in his car carrier, put it in the hockey bag, and zipped the hockey bag around him. Then I carried the hockey bag to the car, as though I was just carrying any random hockey bag,’ she said; Seen with Louis in 2011

The actress, who posed for a number of glamorous shots, noted that as a famous person 'you have to operate like the CIA' before sharing how someone near her recently 'broke' her heart by selling information about her

The actress, who posed for a number of glamorous shots, noted that as a famous person ‘you have to operate like the CIA’ before sharing how someone near her recently ‘broke’ her heart by selling information about her

The star also spoke about prioritizing Louis, 16, and her daughter Laila, 12, over her career, stating, 'If the kids can’t be with me, I’m not going'

The star also spoke about prioritizing Louis, 16, and her daughter Laila, 12, over her career, stating, ‘If the kids can’t be with me, I’m not going’

Bullock added that she should start preparing 'for the fact that I’ll no longer have a job as a mother' when her kids leave the house

Bullock added that she should start preparing ‘for the fact that I’ll no longer have a job as a mother’ when her kids leave the house 

In her latest interview the actress posed in a number of avant-garde looks, including a short Bottega Veneta fur coat

In her latest interview the actress posed in a number of avant-garde looks, including a short Bottega Veneta fur coat 

She also rocked a blue Bottega Veneta coat and shoes in another moody snap

 She also rocked a blue Bottega Veneta coat and shoes in another moody snap 

After Aniston asked if Bullock plans to do another film right away, the actress said, ‘No, I’m so burnt.’

‘Also, by the time we’re done with press, the kids are in school. The rule is, everything I do has to be here in L.A. If something requires travel, it’ll happen during the summer,’ she went on.

Bullock added that she should start preparing ‘for the fact that I’ll no longer have a job as a mother’ when her kids leave the house by building her social life and having ‘more fun’ outside of work.

Aniston joked that nowadays ‘kids don’t really leave.’

‘I’m praying that’s going to happen,’ Bullock replied. ‘I keep saying, “We’ll keep this house. I’ll do the laundry. You can stay here.”’

After Aniston quipped that ‘they all come back’ Bullock said that probably wouldn’t be the case for her daughter.

‘Not Laila. If she could be emancipated right now, she’d be gone. She just needs a small apartment downtown.’

Bullock went on to share that her daughter would probably make a good ‘horror film director.’

‘She loves the Scream movies. She directed a small film four years ago that she wrote in the backyard. It was so good. And then she’s also going to be a Formula 1 driver.’

Bullock also said her latest film project, Practical Magic 2, is a ‘love letter to Laila.’

‘My daughter is very much like Kylie, the character Joey King plays, and you know Laila, she is the fire,’ she said, while Aniston called the teen a ‘Wild child.’

‘I wanted to give her a love letter of my sorrys. If I failed, if I don’t know how to say the right thing, I apologize. I just want to do right by her, to help her be as brave as she already is, and that scares the s**t out of me. I’m a fearful person,’ she said, adding that her daughter ‘is not.’

‘She thinks nothing can happen to her because she’s already survived.’

Bullock's marriage to James imploded following news of his infidelity in 2010 with model Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee, which led to their divorce that same year; McGee seen 2012

Bullock’s marriage to James imploded following news of his infidelity in 2010 with model Michelle ‘Bombshell’ McGee, which led to their divorce that same year; McGee seen 2012

Bullock adopted Louis in late 2009 before welcoming Laila, also via adoption, in 2015; Seen with her kids in a social media snap

Bullock adopted Louis in late 2009 before welcoming Laila, also via adoption, in 2015; Seen with her kids in a social media snap

Aniston concurred that Laila is ‘a survivor’ adding, ‘and that went into her neural pathways at a very early age.’

Bullock added that having a daughter has helped her learn more about who her own mother was.

‘I look up and go, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you felt lost. I didn’t know you were yearning for something you knew you would never get. I didn’t know you didn’t have the blessings we have as modern women.” I’m a very fearful person, and I’m trying not to let my fear clip the wings of the kids I know are just flying.’

Bullock jokingly added, ‘I told them, “I’m just going to be following you everywhere. You guys are it for me. I have nothing else. I have to find my purpose outside of stupid kids.”’ 

In her latest interview the actress posed in a number of avant-garde looks, including an oversized black Loewe coat and checkered dress on the cover.

Another portrait saw her model an extravagant Saint Laurent coat with a fur collar. There was also a moody snap of her in a short Bottega Veneta fur coat, with painted black cats surrounding her.

Bullock’s new film, Practical Magic 2, is set to hit the theaters on September 10. 

Michigan Football Controversy: Demand to Overturn Win Grows

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The fallout from Michigan’s disputed last-second victory over Western Michigan in Week 1 of the college football season has taken a fresh turn.

The Wolverines avoided what would have been a stunning upset at The Big House in Ann Arbor when they connected on a 47-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final snap. The decisive play, however, came only after Western Michigan had already appeared to seal the win by knocking down a pass as time expired, before Big Ten officials unexpectedly put one second back on the clock.

The MAC (Mid-American Conference) has now filed an appeal with the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, asking for the result to be overturned and recorded as a 12-7 victory for Western Michigan.

The move follows the release of Big Ten footage showing officials conducting their review with a game clock that was not synchronized with the clock seen by television viewers and fans inside the stadium.

The ending sparked immediate backlash, with some fans alleging the decision was “rigged” to rescue one of college football’s wealthiest and most influential programs. The controversy has only intensified since the clock discrepancy came to light.

MAC commissioner Dr Jon Steinbrecher is now taking action to try and have the game considered a Michigan loss, a potentially seismic blow for the Wolverines’ playoff aspirations having already dropped out of the AP Top 25 even with a win.  

Michigan is facing an appeal to get the game chalked up as a loss with the playoff committee

Michigan is facing an appeal to get the game chalked up as a loss with the playoff committee

JJ Buchanan caught a 47-yard Hail Mary to win the game as time expired for a second time

JJ Buchanan caught a 47-yard Hail Mary to win the game as time expired for a second time

The statement read: ‘After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock at the conclusion of the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game.

‘The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained. Instead, the Big Ten Conference replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system. As a result, one second was placed back on the game clock and an additional play was awarded.

‘This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock. It was an error in the application of the established replay protocol governing this specific end-of-game timing situation. 

‘Had the protocol been properly followed and the program-feed clock been used, no additional play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12–7.

‘As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner of the game for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations, and take such other corrective action as may be within their authority.’

Western Michigan added in their own statement via President Russ Kavalhuna: ‘Commissioner Steinbrecher and the MAC have taken important action today in college football. The support we have received from across the country for Coach Taylor and our Broncos, for their character and their sportsmanship, has been overwhelming, and we are grateful for it.

‘Some have read our actions as weak. However, supporting student-athletes and their growth during a time of adversity is strength. Being bitter doesn’t make you better and this should not be mistaken for weakness or agreement. We can show respect for the game while also asking serious questions; I’ve done both, and I’ll keep doing both. 

‘Our job at Western Michigan is to play the game and help our students grow. It’s the job of the conferences and the NCAA to enforce the rules. Our Broncos will continue to take the field against any opponent.’

Western Michigan had already batted down a pass as time seemingly expired

Western Michigan had already batted down a pass as time seemingly expired

Big Ten officials made the ruling using a game clock not synced with the one on TV

Big Ten officials made the ruling using a game clock not synced with the one on TV

In the immediate aftermath of the game, Steinbrecher stated the conference had accepted the outcome. However, it has now performed a huge U-turn after more information has come to light.

‘I commend Western Michigan for the outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan,’ Steinbrecher said. 

‘I also appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Big Ten office and its prompt response in reviewing the play and providing the requested clarification.’

Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira broke down the confusion over the game clocks and protocol on The Joel Klatt Show on Monday morning. 

‘It’s the right call with what they were looking at, but it’s wrong… they didn’t follow the protocol, which, by the way, is not in the rule book,’ Pereira said. ‘It is not. There’s a lot of ways that you look at things called philosophy.

‘The official replay officials have been told that if there is a discrepancy, use the television footage. Do not use your footage in the command center. Use the footage that 10 million people are watching, not the one that’s three.

‘When it’s all said and done, that’s what should have happened, and there shouldn’t have been another play. They did not look at the television copy of what was being shown to all of us.

‘I think it’s a huge question, and the question is certainly in the minds of everybody with Western Michigan and Michigan itself is who won the game, who lost the game. But in the big picture, why? Why did this really happen? I think that’s what we have to look into.’ 

LSU Fills Roster Spot in Surprise Former NFL Player Twist

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LSU’s 2026 football roster is now at capacity, though the final additions are not the two names that had been fueling speculation across the college football landscape in recent weeks.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Lane Kiffin and LSU completed the 105-player roster by adding Aiden Anding and Gabriel Reliford, a move reported Tuesday night.

With those spots now taken, LSU no longer has room to add Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, two players who had each spent time with NFL teams earlier this year, to the 2026 roster.

Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin reacts to a play during LSU’s blowout win over Clemson on Sept. 5, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wright and Harris were already enrolled at LSU, but they were not placed on the roster before the Tigers’ win over Clemson, leaving them unavailable for Saturday’s game.

Thamel had previously noted that Wright and Harris remained possible candidates to join LSU football later in the season, since the program still had two open roster spots at the time.

But with Anding and Reliford — who have previously played with the Tigers — joining the team, the active roster is full and no longer gives LSU the room to add Wright or Harris.

Wright and Harris scored a legal win at the end of last week that would allow them to play for what would be their fifth season in college football, even after spending time in the pro ranks this summer.

The SEC, on the same day, filed a lawsuit in Alabama against LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin, alleging the parties would be violating the conference’s First Amendment rights by going against conference rules and values.

The conference amended the suit on Tuesday, as it said SEC CEOs plan to meet on Thursday to decide whether LSU can continue to be a member institution. The SEC requested a temporary restraining in its amended filing to stop LSU from potentially blocking the meeting.

LSU football player #19 in uniform and helmet.

Gabriel Reliford lines up on defense during LSU’s win over
Louisiana Tech on Sept. 6, 2025 in Baton Rouge, La. Getty Images

Now that LSU has decided not to add the NFL players to its roster, it’s not clear if the conference leaders will still meet or if the roster move is satisfactory enough to end the legal matters.

In the middle of all the roster drama, LSU won its first game under Lane Kiffin in a 51-10 rout over Clemson on Saturday.

LSU moved up from No. 11 to No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The Gentlemen Season 2 Ending Explained: Eddie’s Payback

Season 2 of Guy Ritchie and Matthew Read’s wildly entertaining British gangster thriller The Gentlemen does not go out quietly. It ends in blood, vengeance, and a chainsaw, as Lord Edward Horniman (Theo James), the 13th Duke of Halstead, finally takes brutal revenge on the people behind the murder of his new wife, Bella (Benedetta Porcaroli), and the violent attack on his family seat, Halstead Manor.

The closing moments, though, raise as many questions as they answer. If Edward’s older brother Freddy (Daniel Ings) helped set those events in motion, why is he still breathing — and why is he standing there with a chainsaw and the severed head of his fanatically religious drug-lord mentor, John “The Gospel” Dixon (Pearce Quigley)? And what should we make of Edward’s increasingly complicated alliance with the stylish Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) and her East End crime boss father, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone)? With power players from America, Italy, Peru, Liverpool, and London all circling Eddie’s future, the web of grudges and loyalties gets tangled fast.

So who makes it out alive, who meets a grisly end, and who was really behind the chaos? Pour a brandy, light up if that’s your thing, and let’s break down the finale. WARNING: Major spoilers ahead.

The Gentlemen Season 2 Ending Explained: Who killed Eddie’s wife Bella? Who attacked Eddie’s family?

Let’s begin with the suspects who can be crossed off the list. Marco Moretti (Sergio Castelitto), Italy’s “boss of all bosses” and Bella’s godfather, was not responsible. His warmth toward the newlyweds — and his faith in Eddie’s future — appears to have been genuine.

Nor was Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito), the American billionaire and meth kingpin who has spent the season shifting between adversary and benefactor. Yes, Eddie owed him a staggering £100 million, and Johnston sold that debt to Bobby Glass without warning on Eddie and Bella’s wedding day. Still, Johnston has been busy framing Eddie’s ascent through the language of art, faith, and destiny, treating him less like an enemy than a man with near-messianic potential to rule England’s criminal underworld. Sabotaging him now would run against everything Johnston has been cultivating.

It wasn’t Bobby Glass or his daughter Susie. As mentioned above, Bobby is now the proud owner of a hundred million-pound debt from Eddie. He may have had the Duke beaten within an inch of his life as payback for trying to get weed decriminalized behind his back in Parliament, but he too believes in Eddie’s potential. He’d never kill someone before recouping that cost at any rate. 

It also wasn’t the Bannik (Jimmy Vee), the diminutive spirit that lives in Bobby’s prison sauna and gives him advice from time to time. I don’t know, just go with it.

Okay, so who was it, then?

It was the unlikely duo of Freddy Horniman, Eddie’s disgruntled older brother, and John “The Gospel” Dixon, the Liverpudlian drug baron who uses the proceeds of his operation to spread the word of the Lord, or his twisted version of it anyway. 

The Gentlemen, Gospel

Netflix

Freddy remains bitter that his father wrote him out of his will, making second son Eddie the heir to everything instead. Gospel John blames Eddie for the murder of his own brother Tommy (Peter Serafinowicz) at the start of the first season. (Freddy actually pulled the trigger, but let’s not split hairs here.) Using a religious rehab center as a front, the Gospel sinks his hooks deep into Freddy, whom he convinces has been robbed of his birthright like Jacob robbed Esau in the Bible. (If you don’t know your Old Testament, let me help: This is an inaccurate comparison.)

Using info Eddie himself revealed about his wedding and honeymoon plans, Freddy and John rigged Bella’s beloved airplane to explode at altitude, believing Eddie would be on board as well but succeeding in killing only her.

The next phase of their plan is to assault Halstead Manor using mercenaries. Their aim is to kidnap the adorable baby son of Freddy and Eddie’s kid sister Charlotte (Jasmine Blackborow) and her husband Nanny (Benjamin Clementine), giving him away to a couple of John’s followers so he can’t be a rival to Freddy’s claim. Meanwhile, other assassins track down and attack Eddie in an attempt to finish the job. If other family members die…shrug! Everyone survives, and baby Tarquin is retrieved, thanks in large part to Geoffrey (Vinnie Jones), Eddie’s gamekeeper and right-hand man.

How does Eddie get his revenge?

Once he learns from Susie that Bobby has a huge investment in his continued survival, Eddie has no idea who to suspect. Torturing a captured mercenary (Peter Ferdinando) yields no useful information. (Torture generally doesn’t!) The vengeful Eddie is out of leads…until his mother Sabrina (Joely Richardson) reveals the strange phone call she received from Freddy that day, asking if everyone was alright. Eddie realizes this was an attempt to see if his plan to kidnap Tarquin had been successful.

Eddie and Susie spring a trap. They set up a bogus meeting between John the Gospel and Carlos Vargas (Cosimo Fusco), a Peruvian narco who owes them a favor for exposing a traitor in his organization earlier in the season. Eddie and his ex-army sniper buddy Andy (Cassidy Little) take out John’s men, leaving the leader alone and defiant.

The Gentlemen, bloody Freddy holding a severed head

Netflix

Eddie then travels to Freddy’s rehab center, where he confronts him about what he’s done and beats the living daylights out of him. But while “someone’s got to die,” as Eddie puts it, it won’t be Freddie. A van pulls up, revealing that Gospel John is now Eddie’s prisoner…and that his and Susie’s men are going to force Freddy to execute the Scouse gangster using a chainsaw. A horrible minute of muffled cries and buzz-sawing later, Freddy steps out of the van, holding the head of his erstwhile “brother” and screaming his head off.

Why does Eddie let Freddy live? 

When Eddie learns that Freddy has betrayed the family, their mother Sabrina begs him not to kill his own brother. Eddie honors his mother’s wishes…but there are some fates worse than death. Back in Season 1, Freddy said that Eddie was the right man to run the family’s drug empire, since he possesses a killer instinct honed in the army that Freddy himself lacks. This guy was simply not cut out to dismember a beloved friend with a chainsaw. You can practically see his mind snap in real time.

It all comes back to Mr. Johnston’s repeated references to the orb and the scepter wielded by kings, representing forgiveness and judgement. Eddie has figured out how to balance the two, at least in the very twisted way that both kings and gangsters wield their power — and the whole point of The Gentlemen is that aristocrats and criminals are one and the same. Long live the king. 

Will there be a The Gentlemen Season 3?

Yes! Netflix renewed The Gentlemen for a third season two weeks before Season 2 even premiered. So if you’re worried about that two-season Netflix curse, don’t be: Eddie, Freddy, Susie, Bobby, and the rest of the whole mad circus will be back. (Sadly, Meghan Markle doesn’t look like she’ll be joining them.)

Florida Sheriff, U.S. Marshals Arrest 59 Sex Offenders

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A sweeping two-month enforcement operation targeting registered sex offenders and predators in Jacksonville, Florida, resulted in 59 arrests after authorities completed more than 500 compliance checks, the local sheriff’s office said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said its Offender Tracking Unit worked alongside the U.S. Marshals Service on “Operation Riverwatch,” an initiative conducted throughout the city from June 15 to Aug. 14.

During the operation, detectives devoted over 230 hours to carrying out 535 checks involving registered offenders and sexual predators, according to the sheriff’s office.

A composite of mugshots of those arrested during the operation

Authorities arrested 59 men and women between the ages of 21 and 76 who were accused of failing to comply with conditions imposed following their release from prison or jail. (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)

Investigators arrested 59 people, ages 21 to 76, after determining they allegedly failed to follow required post-release rules, officials said.

“These offenders found themselves back behind bars for breaking the rules,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post.

File image of Jacksonville Sheriff's office police vehicles

A file photo of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police vehicles on a bridge on January 22, 2025. (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office via Facebook)

Under Florida law, registered sexual offenders and predators must meet specific registration and reporting obligations. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office noted that violations may lead to felony charges and, depending on the alleged offense, additional registration requirements.

Officials did not identify the specific requirements that each of the 59 people was accused of violating. News Media has contacted the sheriff’s office for additional details.

Jacksonville, Florida skyline with the John Alsop Bridge visible

A view of the Jacksonville, Florida, skyline with the John Alsop Bridge. (Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“Keeping watch on local sexual offenders and career offenders to keep you and your families safe,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Israel Closes UK Consulate, Bars MPs After Ed Miliband Clash

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Israel responded sharply to Labour last night, shutting the UK consulate in East Jerusalem and removing British military personnel from peacebuilding operations.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned that British trade sanctions “will not go unanswered”, while also barring a dozen left-wing politicians from entering Israel.

Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Zarah Sultana and John McDonnell are among those banned, alongside all five Green MPs, over what Israel described as “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet issued a public statement, although Mr Sa’ar said the retaliatory steps had been agreed after consultation with him.

Mr Sa’ar condemned Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s announcement in Parliament as “outrageous lies”, as UK-Israel relations sank to one of their most serious lows.

He said: ‘Unfortunately, a hostile Labour Government is in office, systematically acting against the State of Israel and it has left us with no choice but to finally respond to its hostile actions.’ 

Mr Sa’ar’s countermeasures blocked the British military from working alongside US and Israeli forces in the International Gaza Support Centre which oversees peace operations in the Strip.

The UK’s training of Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank has also been terminated.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's announcement in Parliament has been branded by Israel as 'outrageous lies' as relations between the two countries hit an all-time low

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s announcement in Parliament has been branded by Israel as ‘outrageous lies’ as relations between the two countries hit an all-time low

Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel's recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank

Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel’s recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank

While Britain retains its embassy in Tel Aviv, the closure of its East Jerusalem consulate dramatically reduces its diplomatic footprint.

The development underlines the erosion of British influence in Israel – a nation where London once commanded unique soft power and political goodwill forged through decades of historic connections. 

There are also serious concerns that Israel could reduce its intelligence sharing with the UK in response.

Israel’s spy agency Mossad has thwarted countless terror attacks on British soil and the move risks undermining Britain’s relationship with the organisation at a time when the threat level is ‘severe’.

Coming just weeks ahead of Israeli elections, Mr Sa’ar described UK policy as ‘morally distorted’, adding that it ‘constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral process’. 

He said: ‘The move by the Labour Government in Britain is particularly absurd given that, more than a century ago, it was the Balfour Declaration of the British Government that formally recognised the historic right of the Jewish people to re-establish their national home in the Land of Israel, including in Judea and Samaria.’ 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar declared that British trade sanctions 'will not go unanswered'

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared that British trade sanctions ‘will not go unanswered’

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also hit out at the policy, saying it was designed to appeal to Labour’s base while risking emboldening Israel’s extreme Right. 

He said: ‘The British Government’s decision to impose boycotts and sanctions on Israel is a grave mistake. 

‘It is a wrong and dangerous policy, at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons. The decision will strengthen the extremist voices in Israel just before the Knesset elections and provide encouragement to Hamas and the terrorist organisations.’

The UK co-ordinated the sanctions with France and Canada and declared they were a ‘turning point’ despite the Israelis’ fury.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian leader Mark Carney said they wanted to continue their ‘unwavering commitment to Israel’s security’.

But they said it must exist alongside a ‘safe and secure Palestine’. 

The leaders said: ‘A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical for peace, stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

‘It is a fundamental national interest for the UK, France and Canada to protect and secure this outcome. 

‘Systematic settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the Government of Israel’s latest decision to progress the E1 settlement, as well as the dramatic increase in settler violence, pose a direct and urgent threat to that vision for peace.

‘One year ago, we recognised the State of Palestine. The time has come to take further action to uphold our commitment to protect the two-state solution, our interests and to stand up for our values, before it is too late.’

The three leaders also announced they would co-chair a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal and Sweden have also said they will support trade restrictions.

The dozen Brits banned from Israel 

The Israeli government has provided a full list of the 12 individuals banned from entering the country:

1. Jeremy Corbyn MP

2. Zarah Sultana MP

3. Fahad Ansari, Director of Riverway to the Sea

4. Naz Shah MP

5. Diane Abbott MP

6. Hannah Spencer MP

7. Carla Denyer MP

8. Sian Berry MP

9. Ellie Chowns MP

10. John McDonnell MP

11. Richard Burgon MP

12. Adrian Ramsay MP

Blanche D’Alpuget, Bob Hawke’s Widow and Author, Dies at 82

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Blanche D’Alpuget, the acclaimed author and widow of former prime minister Bob Hawke, has died at the age of 82, decades after her relationship with Hawke made her one of the most talked-about women in Australia.

The award-winning writer had asked her family to release a final message to the country after her death.

‘Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another,’ the message said.

D’Alpuget is survived by her son, artist and sculptor Louis Pratt, her daughter-in-law Brianna and her granddaughter Sienna. She also remained close to Hawke’s children, Sue Pieters-Hawke, Rosslyn Dillon and Stephen Hawke, along with their families.

‘Blanche wrote and lived entirely on her own terms,’ her family said.

‘She was full of vitality, generosity and curiosity, with an extraordinary appetite for beauty, ideas, history, new places and spirited conversation. 

‘She refused to be confined by convention or by other people’s expectations of who she should be.’ 

D’Alpuget died seven years after Hawke, Australia’s longest-serving Labor prime minister, who she first met in Jakarta in 1970.

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke's widow and prolific Australian author Blanche D'Alpuget, has died aged 82

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s widow and prolific Australian author Blanche D’Alpuget, has died aged 82

Hawke left his first wife Hazel (pictured with Hawke) after years of a secret affair with D'Alpuget

Hawke left his first wife Hazel (pictured with Hawke) after years of a secret affair with D’Alpuget

The pair, who were nicknamed B1 and B2 as shorthand, reconnected in the 1990s and began a long-running affair after Hawke enlisted her to write his biography.

When Hawke left his first wife Hazel after years of the secret romance, D’Alpuget faced severe public backlash and was labelled the ‘most hated woman in Australia’. 

‘People called her a home-wrecker,’ her son previously recalled about the public after Hawke’s divorce from Hazel. 

The couple married in 1995 and were together until the former Prime Minister’s death in 2019.

D’Alpuget refused to hide from the public eye, despite criticism over her affair with Hawke, and spoke openly about her sex life with Hawke.

‘With mutual, wordless consent it was agreed we would become lovers as soon as possible,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘He was charming, funny and straightforward: he liked me and enjoyed talking to me; what he loved was sex.’ 

She also said she was not under the illusion that she was his only affair and wrote in one instance that she realised Hawke was ‘having affairs with women all over the country’.

When Hawke left his first wife Hazel after years of the secret romance, D'Alpuget faced severe backlash and was branded 'most hated woman in Australia'

When Hawke left his first wife Hazel after years of the secret romance, D’Alpuget faced severe backlash and was branded ‘most hated woman in Australia’

D’Alpuget told the Herald that she was under ‘intense judgmentalism’ and said it was ‘really very unfair’. 

‘But I still don’t blog, or Facebook, or Link-In or any of that, because I know I’d be trolled to death,’ she said. 

‘But I must also say that I don’t worry about what people think – or things in general, very much.’

While speaking to The Sydney Institute in 2018, she said that she thought she would die in a light plane crash in Far North Queensland in 1993 and the incident drove Hawke to take their relationship more seriously.

‘I was in a light plane crash in North Queensland. A friend who was our go-between rang him up and told him,’ she said. 

‘Bob said he felt himself die and that was it. 

‘At that moment, he decided. He suddenly took the relationship extraordinarily seriously and made it clear to me. But it was timing. It was an angel, holy angels.’ 

D’Alpuget grew up as an only child in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and first worked as a journalist before travelling the world.

A rebellious teenager, she ran away at 17 years old with a married Polish immigrant and previously described their whirlwind romance in detail.

‘In one three-day stretch, we made love 21 times, stopping only to bathe and eat rye bread, csabai and cucumbers,’ she said

She returned to Australia at the age of 30 to begin working as a novelist.

The author also spoke candidly about how she was preparing for death in her final media interview earlier this year.

‘I think if you’re at a certain age, and you don’t start informing yourself, you’re foolish,’ she told News Corp.

‘Just as we prepare ourselves for life, by learning a language, reading, writing, and arithmetic, I think we should prepare ourselves for death. 

‘But I do believe in the afterlife. Our soul lives on. I don’t know in what form, but this life in the body is not the end of your life. Maybe we are reborn. I don’t know, but it could be a huge, exciting adventure.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute, hailing D’Alpuget as a one-off. 

‘As a writer, she was at home in fiction as she was in non-fiction, working in each realm with a keen eye for every telling detail that opened up the humanity of her subject to her readers,’ he said.

Blanche’s novels were compelling works of verve and originality, and her biographies comprehensive and definitive – most famously those she wrote of Bob Hawke, who became her great love and ultimately her husband.

Derek Rielly, who wrote the Hawke biography Wednesdays With Bob, shared a heartfelt tribute with the Daily Mail.

‘Blanche believed that the pain of death is temporary, that it’s a fiery door and it will burn you but it’s a transient pain that will vanish,’ he said.

‘She lived a beautiful, complete and electric life and to her very last breath radiated a love for all humanity.

‘As she told me, ‘The more humans there are, the more love there is. Love is what distinguishes humans from the rest of creation’.’