TROON, Scotland — Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy beat everybody in final month’s U.S. Open.

However within the opening spherical of The Open at Royal Troon Golf Membership, they struggled to defeat Mom Nature — and themselves — in what was a Thursday morning to neglect within the wind and rain on Scotland’s west coast.

DeChambeau, who received his second U.S. Open title with a one-shot victory over McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2, carded a 5-over 76 on Thursday. McIlroy was two strokes worse and trailed first-round chief Daniel Brown by 13 strokes.

DeChambeau vowed to play “boring” golf at Pinehurst, however his recreation was removed from that on Thursday — for all of the flawed causes. He was 3 over by means of 4 holes after a three-putt bogey on No. 1, badly yanking his tee shot on No. 3 for one more bogey after which lacking a 3-foot par putt on No. 4.

“[The wind] was in and off the fitting, and I used to be attempting to attract the ball and the ball was knuckling just a little bit,” DeChambeau mentioned. “It was a very troublesome problem, and I ought to have simply reduce the ball.”

DeChambeau and McIlroy weren’t the one golfers left perplexed by the unpredictable wind at Royal Troon. Golfers usually play the entrance 9 with the wind at their backs, then shut with a troublesome again 9 with the wind of their faces, however it was the alternative within the first spherical.

On the 620-yard sixth gap, DeChambeau pulled his drive into the native space and hit his second shot simply 4 yards out of the excessive grass. He wanted 5 photographs to succeed in the inexperienced, resulting in a double-bogey 7. He carded two extra bogeys on Nos. 8 and 15 earlier than lastly ending the carnage by making a 55-foot eagle putt on the sixteenth.

“It is a utterly completely different take a look at,” DeChambeau mentioned. “I did not get any follow in it, and I did not actually play a lot within the rain. Yeah, it is a troublesome take a look at out right here, one thing I am not conversant in. I by no means grew up taking part in it, and to not say that that is the explanation. I completed eighth at St Andrews [at the 2022 Open]. I can do it when it is heat and never windy.”

McIlroy did not appear to be in hassle on the entrance 9. He made a bogey on No. 1, however rapidly answered with a birdie on the par-4 third. He was even par after seven holes.

On the well-known par-3 eighth gap, referred to as Postage Stamp, McIlroy hit his tee shot right into a greenside bunker. He did not get out the ball on his second shot, resulting in a double-bogey 5.

“[It was a] troublesome day,” McIlroy mentioned. “I felt like I did OK for the primary a part of the spherical after which missed the inexperienced on the Postage Stamp there and left it in and made a double. However nonetheless, I felt like I used to be in affordable sufficient form being a pair over by means of 9, pondering that I may perhaps get these couple photographs again, attempt to shoot even par, one thing like that.”

Issues solely bought worse for McIlroy after he made the flip. After making a bogey on No. 10, the four-time main champion sliced his tee shot over the railway and out of bounds on the fitting. That led to a different double-bogey that moved him to five over.

“Despite the fact that the wind on the again 9 was serving to, it was rather a lot off the left,” McIlroy mentioned. “I used to be truly stunned how troublesome I felt just like the again 9 performed. I assumed we have been going to get it just a little bit simpler than we did. The course was taking part in powerful. The situations are very troublesome in a wind that we have not seen up to now this week.”

Brown completed with six birdies in a bogey-free spherical and has a one-shot lead over Shane Lowry.

Justin Thomas, who does not have an important observe report on hyperlinks programs and has struggled together with his kind for a lot of the previous two seasons, grabbed the early clubhouse lead by posting a 3-under 68 within the morning wave.

Thomas chipped in from off the inexperienced for a birdie on the par-4 second and added three extra birdies and one bogey to make the flip at 3-under 33. After one other birdie on the tenth, he badly pulled his tee shot to the left on No. 12 and needed to take a penalty drop, resulting in a double-bogey. He made a bogey on the thirteenth after pushing his drive into excessive tough on the fitting.

“I simply had not performed that entrance 9 into the wind earlier than, and that was wild,” Thomas mentioned. “I bear in mind attempting to drive 1 and three in 2016, and I hit 7-iron into 1 as we speak, and I hit a 3-wood up there on 3 to have wedge in. But it surely simply was very, very completely different. But it surely simply was all very typical of an Open, simply attempting to make the perfect out of the situations that you’ve.”

Thomas closed with birdies on the ultimate two holes, together with a 25-footer on No. 18, to get again to three beneath, 1 in entrance of Alex Noren, Nicolai Hojgaard, Justin Rose and Russell Henley.

Thomas loves taking part in on hyperlinks programs however hasn’t had a lot to point out for it. He had one top-15 end in seven earlier begins at The Open. Finally 12 months’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in England, he opened with an 11-over 82.

Thomas had the first-round lead ultimately week’s Genesis Scottish Open earlier than ending in a tie for 62nd.

“I really feel like every thing has been turning the fitting manner, and I have been engaged on the fitting issues,” Thomas mentioned. “Similar to I mentioned, I have not actually had a lot to point out for it. That is simply how this recreation works typically. However I do know that I am shut the way in which it’s, and I am simply going to maintain taking part in and never play for outcomes, simply play for my recreation, and it will care for itself.”

Brendan Rodgers’ squad scored twice in every half to earn a 4-0 victory within the Nation’s Capital. Matt O’Riley scored twice in a seven-minute span earlier than half-time whereas second-half substitutes Mikey Johnston and James Forrest added objectives of their very own after the hour mark. 

17-year-old Colby Donovan and 20-year-old Matthew Anderson have been among the many Celtic starters whereas summer season signing Viljami Sinisalo performed 45 minutes off the bench. Dane Murray and Bosun Lawal additionally earned essential minutes, as did ahead Mikey Johnston. 

“There’s lots that I loved about tonight’s efficiency,” Rodgers mentioned to reporters put up match.

“I believed we have been dynamic and technically superb. We knew the pitch was going to be a problem, however the gamers noticed it first hand earlier than the match and I used to be happy with how they handled it.”

Learn extra:

“We’re persevering with to construct our health and I believe that when we’ve that defensive angle that we wish to have, it’s going to result in our offensive rhythm,” he added. “We did very nicely tonight in urgent and placing the work in so we might assault the sport once we had possession.

“We scored 4 objectives and I believed our younger gamers made essentially the most of their probabilities as nicely. It was one other good train for us and now we wish to take that into our remaining two matches of the pre-season.” 

Early strain from the Hoops nearly led to a stellar end from Tomoki Iwata simply inside the 18-yard field. Iwata managed possession earlier than flicking a right-footed overhead volley in the direction of the far put up, however the shot landed simply broad

A lucky bounce nearly led to Kyogo Furuhashi breaking the impasse within the seventeenth minute however the veteran attacker skied his effort over the crossbar. 

Luis Palma examined Luis Zamudio within the twentieth minute for the primary registered shot on the right track. The Honduran winger created room on the left facet earlier than drilling a shot throughout objective. Nevertheless, Zamudio dove to his left and punched away Palma’s effort. 

Zamudio denied Celtic once more within the twenty fourth minute, this time diving to his proper to punch away Kyogo’s point-blank header. 

Celtic’s strain lastly broke by within the twenty fifth minute as captain Matt O’Riley slotted house from shut vary. Iwata’s cross into the field wasn’t cleared by the DC United backline, permitting O’Riley to take benefit for his second objective of the summer season. 

Learn extra: 

O’Riley doubled Celtic’s lead within the thirty second minute for his second objective of the half. Nicolas Kuhn’s over-the-top ball led to Kyogo’s authentic shot being saved by Zamudio, however O’Riley adopted up the play and slotted into an empty internet. 

It marked a constructive efficiency from the 23-year-old O’Riley, who has remained linked with a possible transfer away from Paradise. 

“His angle has been top notch,” Rodgers mentioned about Saturday night’s captain. “There’s completely been no change in Matt’s demeanor. I believe he is aware of the privileges of enjoying for Celtic and he is aware of what Celtic has given him. It’s not a burden for him to be at Celtic, he has developed right into a improbable participant.

“While you do what, there’s at all times going to be hypothesis and curiosity,” he added. “You’ll at all times work on enhancing and growing him. He has a firstclass angle, he is aware of what the scenario is and captained the group tonight. He’s a improbable skilled.” 

Celtic was denied a 3-0 first half lead within the fortieth minute after Nicolas Kuhn’s follow-up try was cleared by Zamudio. O’Riley by ball move allowed Kyogo to race in in the direction of objective, however Lucas Bartlett’s stretching clearance performed the ball to Kuhn for the shot. 

Scott Bain saved the clear sheet intact within the forty first minute, diving low to disclaim Dominique Badji inside the field. 

Viljami Sinisalo, Hyun-Jun Yang, Mikey Johnston, Dane Murray and Yuki Kobayashi all entered for Celtic at halftime. Callum McGregor, Bosun Lawal, Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Odin Holm proceeded to enter the fray within the 62nd minute, as Rodgers continued to offer equal alternatives for his full squad.  

Mikey Johnston made it 3-0 to Celtic within the sixty fifth minute, tapping house a cross from James Forrest. Forrest created house on the best wing earlier than drilling a low cross into the DC United field that fellow substitute Johnston might simply slot house.

Learn extra: 

Rodgers’ second-half substitutes continued to make an influence within the remaining third as Forrest prolonged Celtic’s result in 4-0 within the seventieth minute. Yang began a two-on-one upfield earlier than sliding a move to Forrest for a easy tap-in. 

Sinisalo’s lone save of the second half got here off a tame long-range try from Mateusz Klich within the 78th minute. 

Johnston got here near registering a brace on the night time, however his penalty-kick try was saved by Nathan Crockford. Yang drew the spot kick after Hayden Sargis tripped him within the field, however Johnston couldn’t benefit from the chance because the DC United goalkeeper delivered a lone shiny spot for the MLS hosts.

The Hoops proceed their preseason tour by dealing with reigning English Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis on Tuesday, July 23 in Chapel Hill, N.C. earlier than closing out their worldwide schedule on Saturday, July 27 in opposition to Chelsea in South Bend, Ind. 

“For us, we’ve two improbable preparation video games in opposition to two world class golf equipment,” Rodgers mentioned. “I’m trying ahead to them and they’re two groups that I do know very nicely. We is likely to be a step forward of them when it comes to our schedule, however that shouldn’t actually matter.” 

Christina Sandera, the longtime associate of Oscar-winning actor and director Clint Eastwood, has died. She was 61.

Eastwood, 94, introduced her dying, saying in an announcement to The Hollywood Reporter: “Christina was a stunning, caring lady, and I’ll miss her very a lot.”

No different details about her dying was launched.

Sandera and Eastwood had been relationship for a decade up till her dying. They reportedly met whereas she was working as a hostess on the actor’s Mission Ranch Resort and Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The Million Greenback Child star is the previous mayor of the Northern California metropolis.

She was a longtime Carmel resident, whom Eastwood started relationship in 2014 following the divorce from his second spouse, TV information anchor Dina Eastwood. He was beforehand married to mannequin Maggie Johnson from 1953 to 1984.

Eastwood had different long-term relationships in between. He dated stuntwoman Roxanne Tunis, the late actor Sondra Locke (they have been home companions for 14 years and starred in 4 films collectively), flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves and actor Frances Fisher (they have been collectively for 5 years and co-starred in 4 movies).

Sandera and Eastwood remained quiet about their relationship. She did, nevertheless, attend the Oscars with Eastwood in 2015, when his conflict film American Sniper was in competition for six Oscars together with Greatest Image.

She additionally joined the Gran Torino actor on a number of purple carpets: Sully (2016), The Mule (2018), The 15:17 to Paris (2018) and Richard Jewell (2019).

Eastwood lately accomplished directing his fortieth film, Juror No 2. He first introduced the mission in April 2023.

Starring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Zoey Deutsch and JK Simmons, Juror No 2 tells the story of a household man (Hoult), who, whereas serving as a juror in a high-profile homicide trial, discovers he could have performed a job within the sufferer’s dying.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt without spending a dime

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt without spending a dime

Juror No 2 marks Eastwood’s return to the director’s chair, following a three-year hiatus after his 2021 western thriller, Cry Macho, during which he additionally starred alongside Fernanda Urrejola, Natalia Traven and Dwight Yoakam.

Talking in a 2014 interview with The Related Press about his profession longevity, Eastwood mentioned: “There are such a lot of completely different tales to inform on the market.

“You may be 21 or 81. … In the event you inform your self, ‘I’m too outdated to try this’ – bulls***. You’re not too outdated to do something.”

Initially appeared on E! On-line

Clint Eastwood is honoring his love.

The “Million Greenback Child” star confirmed the demise of Christina Sandera and paid tribute to his girlfriend of 10 years. She was 61.

“Christina was a stunning, caring lady,” Clint mentioned in an announcement July 17, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ll miss her very a lot.”

The pair met when she was working as a hostess at Clint’s Mission Ranch Resort and Restaurant in California, in line with the outlet. They started relationship in 2014, a yr after the 94-year-old filed for divorce from ex Dina Eastwood — with whom he shares daughter Morgan Eastwood, 27, — after 17 years of marriage.

Whereas Eastwood and Sandera saved their private lives personal, the couple did make appearances at occasions collectively through the years, together with the 2015 “Oscars” and the crimson carpets for “Sully” in 2016, his movies “The Mule” and The “15:17 to Paris” in 2018, in addition to “Richard Jewell” in 2019.

Previous to his relationships with Sandera and Dina Eastwood, the actor was married to Maggie Johnson and in long-term relationships with Roxanne Tunis, Sondra Locke, Jacelyn Reeves and Frances Fisher.

And though Eastwood — who can be father to children Laurie Murray, 70, Kimber Lynn Eastwood, 60, Kyle Eastwood, 56, Alison Eastwood, 52, Scott Eastwood, 38, Kathryn Eastwood, 36, and Francesca Eastwood, 30 — has been a prolific determine on Hollywood for greater than six a long time, he’s remained quiet on the interior workings of his life.

“There are different folks which are concerned there and so they’re weak folks,” he beforehand shared on CBS Information. “I can defend myself, however they can not.”

However up to now, Dina Eastwood had spoken about their household and mirrored on the form of associate the Oscar winner was.

“He is most likely the sweetest man I’ve ever met,” she mentioned on “Bethenny” after submitting for divorce. “He’s the sweetest, he’s a loving, variety, low-key individual so my instinct was nonetheless nice on marrying an excellent individual.”

Discover a well-known face sitting subsequent to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump? Here is a touch, he has a bar on Broadway in Nashville.

Nation musician Jason Aldean and his spouse Brittany Kerr have been seated subsequent to Trump within the MAGA family and friends field on the ultimate evening of the RNC on Thursday. The seating association got here as a number of audio system talked in regards to the former president’s love of music and at all times being the “DJ” wherever he went.

Aldean is anticipated to shut out the conference for attendees with a non-public present on the Potawatomi On line casino Lodge.

The bar proprietor and polarizing musician made headlines along with his controversial track ” Attempt That in a Small City,” which he devoted to Trump throughout a latest live performance following an assassination try on him at a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.

“President Trump’s a pal of mine so I wish to ship this subsequent track out to him,” Aldean stated, in line with footage of the efficiency shared on social media. “Everyone knows what’s going to occur come November, so it’s all good. Simply goes to point out you there’s lots of (expletive) on this planet, and that’s type of what this track proper right here was about, so this one goes out to the pres.”

And Aldean has been on the Trump prepare for some time.

Will Jason Aldean be taking part in on the RNC?

Reince Priebus, chair of the RNC host committee, instructed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Thursday that the singer could be acting at a celebration the committee is throwing after the RNC ends Thursday evening. It won’t be televised.

How does Jason Aldean know Trump?

Aldean has defended and supported Trump on social media a number of occasions over the previous yr, together with after the previous president was convicted on 34 felony counts. And the couple has ties to Trump that return years; the couple attended his Mar-a-Lago New 12 months’s Eve occasion in 2022. 

After the taking pictures in Pennsylvania that left one man lifeless and three wounded together with Trump, Aldean referred to as Trump a “warrior.”

“That is what a warrior appears like! That is MY man,” Aldean wrote on Instagram. “@realdonaldtrump we’re eager about (you) and praying for you and your loved ones. God has an even bigger plan for you my pal, and I believe everyone knows what that’s by now.”

What’s the controversy behind ‘Attempt That in a Small City’?

Launched in Might 2023, the track ignited a cultural firestorm with its lyrics and accompanying music video. CMT pulled the music video as a result of it confirmed graphic clips from latest protests. Aldean defended the “Attempt it in a Small City” video, even after some claimed the visible was a “canine whistle” and others labeled it “pro-lynching,” in accordance earlier Tennessean reporting

Video controversy:Six seconds faraway from Jason Aldean’s ‘Attempt That In A Small City’ video as controversy, assist escalates

“There may be not a single lyric within the track that references race or factors to it — and there is not a single video clip that is not actual information footage — and whereas I can attempt to respect others to have their very own interpretation of a track with music, this one goes too far,” Aldean wrote in a July 2023 X post.

Armie Hammer continued his latest press tour with an look on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on Friday, the place he mentioned the aftermath of the sexual abuse allegations introduced towards him in 2021.

On account of the allegations — which included rape, participating in cannibalism fantasies and coercing companions into BDSM situations — the “Social Community” and “Name Me by Your Identify” actor exited a number of tasks, was dropped by his publicist and agent and have become the topic of an LAPD investigation. In the end, no legal fees had been introduced towards Hammer, who has denied the allegations and maintained that every one relationships had been consensual.

Regardless of the fallout, Hammer shared with Morgan that a few of his former Hollywood colleagues did attain out, together with Robert Downey Jr. However when requested about studies that the “Iron Man” star paid for his rehab, Hammer stated, “No, he didn’t. He didn’t pay for me to go to rehab.”

When prodded as as to if Downey has been “supportive,” Hammer was hesitant to reply.

“I might say that sure, he has,” Hammer stated, to which Morgan replied, “You don’t appear satisfied, as a result of that was effectively reported. Is that actually not the case?”

Hammer stated, “I don’t wish to convey anybody else into my scenario. There are a variety of people that have been extraordinarily useful, and I’m extremely grateful.”

Pushed additional, Hammer stated that Downey was useful to him “in the best way the place [when] anybody in Hollywood who suffers from any form of dependancy points — whether or not it’s alcohol or course of dependancy or medication — decides to get sober, that man will discover you, and he’ll show you how to. It’s superb.”

Requested for the most effective recommendation Downey gave him, Hammer stated: “‘Sit down, shut up, the whole lot goes to be OK.’”

Representatives for Downey didn’t instantly reply to Selection‘s request for remark.

Morgan additionally requested whether or not Hammer’s previous co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio (“J. Edgar”) or Julia Roberts (“Mirror Mirror”) had reached out in assist, to which Hammer stated no.

“I strive not to consider the individuals who didn’t contact me. I attempt to give attention to the individuals who did, who confirmed their assist,” Hammer stated, including that “a couple of” notable individuals contacted him throughout his tribulations.

“Luca Guadagnino has additionally been vocally supportive, which is one thing that I couldn’t recognize extra,” Hammer stated. (Requested by Selection in 2022 if he would come with Hammer’s character in a hopeful “Name Me by Your Identify” sequel, Guadagnino stated, “Yeah, in fact.”)

Hammer added, “However on the similar time, I’m additionally well-aware that it’s a precarious scenario proper now, and anybody who vocalizes assist comes underneath fireplace. I perceive that my scenario was inflammatory, and anybody who will get too shut may additionally gentle on fireplace.”

Morgan requested Hammer if his “Lone Ranger” co-star Johnny Depp had been in contact, “given what he went via.”

“We’ve communicated a couple of instances… cellphone, FaceTime,” Hammer stated. “I didn’t convey [my situation] to him, he didn’t convey his to me. It was extra of a social name — ‘How are you, good to see you, glad you’re nonetheless alive.’ That form of factor.”

Through the hour-and-20-minute interview, Morgan additionally addressed the allegations that Hammer engaged in cannibalism fantasies, straight up asking him: “Are you a cannibal?”

“No,” Hammer replied. “You recognize what you must do to be a cannibal? You must have truly eaten somebody. So, no.”

Increasing on the subject, Hammer stated: “I don’t assume that’s any completely different than when somebody appears at a child and goes, ‘Oh my God, take a look at these cute little fats legs, I simply wish to eat you up.’”

Hammer additionally touched on an allegation that he branded a former accomplice. Although he “wouldn’t say model,” Hammer admitted to utilizing “the tip of a small knife” to “hint the letter A.”

“There wasn’t even blood within the scenario, it was extra like a scrape,” he added.

Hammer additionally not too long ago appeared on Invoice Maher’s “Membership Random” podcast, the place he stated that being “canceled” was “liberating.”

“Had none of this gone on … my life would have stored going precisely because it was,” Hammer advised Maher. “And I do know that that may finally solely lead in a single place, and that’s loss of life.”

Although Hammer as soon as once more denied all allegations on Maher’s podcast, he did admit to some “dangerous habits.”

“I cheated on my spouse. I used individuals to make me really feel higher. I used to be callous and thoughtless with individuals and their feelings and their well-being. … And that’s shitty habits,” Hammer stated. “There are issues in my habits that I’ve to take accountability for, proper? As a result of that’s pivotal for me, studying and rising from it.”

Addressing the LAPD investigation, Hammer stated, “I used to be underneath the Sword of Damocles, legally talking, for 2 and a half years. They went via telephones, emails, eyewitness studies… they investigated me for 2 and a half years in a time the place if they might have nailed somebody like me, it will have been such a boon for the LAPD.”

Armie Hammer is about to handle allegations he’s a cannibal in a brand new interview with Piers Morgan. 

The Name Me by Your Title star, 37, first turned the centre of a social media scandal in 2021 after messages allegedly despatched from him detailed graphic sexual needs and cannibalistic fetishes.

Hammer was subsequently accused of rape and abuse by varied girls, however has constantly denied any prison wrongdoing and was not charged sexual assault after an investigation. His lawyer has repeatedly acknowledged that each one of his relationships with girls had been consensual.

In a brand new interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Hammer is requested bluntly by Morgan whether or not he has ever eaten human flesh and quizzed in regards to the messages that got here to mild in 2021.

Teaser footage for the episode sees Morgan ask the Rebecca actor, “are you a cannibal?” to which the Hammer asks the presenter: “You realize what you need to do to be a cannibal?”

Morgan then asks Hammer whether or not he’s ever eaten any human flesh, with the actor declaring it’s “not a query I believed I’d must reply”.

One message allegedly despatched by Hammer to a former girlfriend reads: “You simply reside to obey and be my slave. I’ll personal you. That’s my soul. My mind. My spirit. My physique. Would you come and be my property until you die? If I wished to chop off considered one of your toes and hold it with me in my pocket so I all the time had a chunk of you in my possession?”

Addressing the message, Hammer tells Morgan: “This was a really intense [affair]… very sexually-charged, between two individuals … Completely different individuals have totally different sexual fantasies.”

He added: “However I don’t suppose that’s any totally different than when somebody appears at a child and goes, ‘Oh my God, take a look at these cute little fats legs, I simply wish to eat you up.’”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt at no cost

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt at no cost

Morgan additionally asks Hammer about one other message he allegedly despatched the place he instructed his associate he felt like a god standing over her with a knife.

Requested if the quotes are true, Hammer replied: “I don’t bear in mind saying these issues.”

Of the broader allegations of abuse, he claimed: “None of these individuals had been harm or upset as a result of I pushed any sexual boundaries.”

Final month, Hammer lastly addressed allegations of a cannibalism fetish he’s confronted over the previous three years, saying he’s in the end “grateful” for the expertise – regardless of the very fact it derailing his Hollywood profession.

Throughout an look on podcast Painful Classes, Hammer mentioned: “I’m really now at a spot the place I’m actually grateful for it as a result of, the place I used to be in my life earlier than all of that stuff occurred to me, I didn’t really feel good.

“I by no means felt happy. I by no means had sufficient. I by no means was in a spot the place I used to be pleased with myself, the place I had vanity.”

He described the scandal as “nearly like a neutron bomb [that] went off in my life.

“It killed me, it killed my ego, it killed all of the individuals round me that I believed had been my associates that weren’t – all of these individuals, in a flash, went away.

“However the buildings had been nonetheless standing. I’m nonetheless right here, I nonetheless have my well being, and I’m actually grateful for that.”

Hammer’s Piers Morgan Uncensored episode will go reside on YouTube at 6pm on Friday (19 July).

Within the last tune-up earlier than WNBA All-Star Weekend, Caitlin Clark made league historical past.

The Indiana Fever rookie notched a single sport WNBA-record with 19 assists in a 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night time.

And but, that is not even the most important information surrounding the 2024 No. 1 general choose.

Following the ultimate two video games previous to All-Star Weekend, the WNBA introduced the individuals for this yr’s 3-point contest and abilities problem.

In a stunning flip of occasions, Clark and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu had been notably not on the checklist to take part in tonight’s occasion from the Footprint Middle in Phoenix.

In response to a number of experiences, each Clark and Ionescu declined to showcase their skills within the three-point competitors. For Ionescu, the reigning three-point contest champion, this is because of preparing for the Olympic camp forward of the 2024 Paris Olympics beginning subsequent week.

Extra:Caitlin Clark’s All-Star Recreation debut: Find out how to watch 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend, plus rosters

Nonetheless, this comes as considerably of a shock contemplating not solely are these two of the most well-liked stars within the sport, however the former No. 1 general picks are additionally two of the WNBA’s finest and well-known shooters from past the arc and are tied for the second-shortest consensus odds on sportsbooks in New Jersey at 75/1 (Aces’ ahead A’ja Wilson is runaway favourite at -3231) to win the WNBA MVP this yr.

Nonetheless, if a participant on the Olympic group will get damage and can’t proceed to play, Clark might be the primary identify known as as she’s one of many high alternates to hitch the USWNT in Paris on this state of affairs, making sense why the WNBA’s greatest star determined in opposition to collaborating within the three-point competitors.

By 26 video games in her rookie marketing campaign, Clark’s averaging a team-high 17.1 factors per sport (PPG), good for twelfth finest within the WNBA this season. What’s much more spectacular is how rather more she’s getting her teammates concerned, as she’s dished out double digits assists in seven of her final 9 video games main as much as All-Star Weekend and leads the league at 8.2 assists per sport (APG). Clark is the huge odds-on-favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Yr, at the moment with -1800 (Guess $1,800 to win $100) consensus odds on sportsbooks in New Jersey over Chicago Sky’s double-double machine Angel Reese, who’s at +750 (Guess $100 to win $750).

Clark’s not the one one making historical past. Following a 82-74 victory over the Connecticut Solar, Ionescu set the franchise record for most 30-point games (13) in Liberty history on Tuesday night time on the Barclays Middle. The 2020 No. 1 general choice is averaging a career-best 19.4 PPG and is meting out 6.2 APG (fifth most in WNBA), all whereas main the franchise to finest the report within the WNBA at 21-4.

Who’s competing in WNBA 3-point contest?

New York Liberty ahead Jonquel Jones

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Grey

Connecticut Solar guard Marina Mabrey

Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride

Washington Mystics middle Stefanie Dolson

Who’s competing within the WNBA abilities problem?

Not solely with Clark or Ionescu not be concerned in both occasion, however Grey and Mabrey shall be collaborating in each competitions on Friday night time.

This is the checklist of gamers participating within the abilities problem:

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Grey

Connecticut Solar guard Marina Mabrey

Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham and middle Brittney Griner

Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler

Melania Trump reportedly declined a number of requests to talk on the 2024 Republican Nationwide Conference breaking with the fashionable custom of a candidate’s partner addressing a crowd of delegates and potential voters.

This yr, the ever-elusive former first woman selected not to discuss her husband’s persona, his report or his hopes for the nation, as a substitute providing her silent presence on Thursday night when Trump accepted his social gathering’s official nomination.

Sporting a MAGA-red gown, Melania joined her husband and the remainder of the household on stage on the RNC, on the final day of the conference, a notable deviation from the 2016 and 2020 conventions when she delivered a speech about her husband’s life, hopes and persona.

Two folks conversant in the primary woman’s RNC plans advised CNN that Melania was requested a number of occasions to offer a speech – every of which she declined.

It is not uncommon, if not anticipated, that the majority candidates’ spouses ship remarks about their husbands or wives through the main social gathering conventions. JD Vance’s spouse, Usha Vance, spoke about her husband on Wednesday.

However Melania has by no means been a typical first woman and has notably withdrawn from her husband’s political endeavors since leaving the White Home in 2021.

She doesn’t attend Trump’s rallies or occasion speeches. She didn’t attend any day of her husband’s legal trial in New York. She hardly ever makes a public assertion about Trump – though she did after the current assassination try.

Melania’s resolution to forego an RNC speech isn’t a surprise, however it’s unclear what her actual reasoning was behind this.

In 2016, Melania confronted intense scrutiny when reporters realized her speech was closely impressed, if indirectly taken, from Michelle Obama’s 2016 Democratic Nationwide Conference speech. It was an embarrassing second for Melania given the speech was her first main step into the political highlight alongside her husband.

However in 2020, Melania delivered an extended speech straight addressing the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic, in contrast to Trump.

It’s unclear if the previous first woman can be making extra appearances on the marketing campaign path now that her husband is the official Republican nominee.