NFL – Bears banking on Caleb Williams after taking him with No. 1 pick in NFL draft
The Chicago Bears did exactly as expected by taking USC star Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. They are banking on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner to become the sort of quarterback they have been craving for years to lift a founding franchise to the top of the NFL. Chicago has just three playoff appearances since the 2006 team reached the Super Bowl and failed to advance in the postseason twice in that span. The Bears see themselves as a playoff contender after going from three wins in 2022 to finishing 7-10 last season.
NFL – Lions trade up in first round of NFL draft, take Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold
The Detroit Lions made a move to address their secondary, grabbing Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the No. 24 pick in the NFL draft after a trade with Dallas. The Lions moved up from the No. 29 spot. Detroit also received a 2025 seventh-round pick, while the Cowboys received Detroit’s first-rounder plus a third-round pick in this year’s draft. Arnold joins a mix of newcomers and holdovers at the cornerback spot. Detroit traded for Tampa Bay cornerback Carlton Davis III in March and signed Amik Robertson as a free agent.
NFL – Vikings trade up twice, take Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, Alabama edge Dallas Turner
The Minnesota Vikings took Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft and Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner at No. 17. They moved up one spot in a trade with the New York Jets to make sure they didn’t miss out on their most dire need at quarterback after the departure of Kirk Cousins in free agency to Atlanta. McCarthy went 27-1 as a starter and won last season’s national championship with the Wolverines. The Vikings then leaped six spots in a swap with the Jacksonville Jaguars to get Turner.
NFL – Colts take first defensive player of draft, UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15
The Indianapolis Colts took the first defensive player in the NFL draft, choosing edge rusher Laiatu Latu of UCLA with the 15th pick. Latu’s selection ended a 14-player run on offense, which is a draft record. Last season’s Pac-12 defensive player of the year is expected to beef up Indy’s outside pass rush. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound Latu started his career at Washington, where a neck injury forced him to miss two full seasons. He had neck fusion surgery, prompting then-Huskies coach Jimmy Lake to announce that Latu had retired. But Latu transferred to UCLA and was cleared to play in 2022.
NFL – Chargers select Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with fifth pick in NFL draft
The Los Angeles Chargers have selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth pick in the NFL draft. New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz appeared to be in a good position to acquire extra picks and trade down, but decided to stand pat. Alt played 38 games at Notre Dame and started 33 at left tackle. He was the consensus top offensive line prospect in the draft. With Harbaugh wanting to be more physical, the offensive line needed depth. Right tackle remains a concern and Alt could start at that position right away.
NFL – Quarterbacks Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix, McCarthy and Nix selected in top 12
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades. Five other teams selected quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round. The Bears selected Williams at No. 1 overall in the NFL draft on Thursday night after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC. The Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina’s Drake Maye at No. 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.
NFL – Goodell envisions more overseas games, streaming and cities hosting the NFL draft
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he thinks the league will dramatically increase its number of international games in the next decade. The NFL will host five games abroad this season. Goodell says during an ESPN interview at the draft that he thinks the league will go up to 16 international games by 2034. Goodell also says the draft will continue to rotate to different locations. This year’s draft is in Detroit. Next year’s is in Green Bay.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Minnesota Twins 6, Chicago White Sox 3
Chicago Cubs 3, Houston Astros 1
Tigers were off
Twins 6, White Sox 3 – White Sox drop to 3-22 as Julien hits 2 of Twins’ 5 homers in 6-3 win for 4-game sweep
The Chicago White Sox dropped to 3-22, wasting a two-run lead and stretching their losing streak to a season-high seven with a 6-3 defeat to Minnesota as Edouard Julien hit two of the Twins’ five solo home runs. Chicago matched Cincinnati in 2022, Detroit in 2003 and Washington in 1894 as teams that opened 3-22. Baltimore began 2-23 in 1988. Julien and Ryan Jeffers homered off Michael Soroka in a three-run sixth inning, Julien homered again off John Brebbia in the seventh and Carlos Santana and Jose Miranda went deep against Steven Wilson in the eighth.
Cubs 3, Astros 1 – Crow-Armstrong homers for his first big league hit as the Cubs beat the Astros 3-1
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Chicago Cubs swept the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory. Nico Hoerner had three hits and Mike Tauchman went 1 for 1 with three walks as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. Hayden Wesneski pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings for the win in relief of Javier Assad. Houston has lost a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall. At 7-19, it is off to its worst 26-game start since it was 6-20 in 1969.
Today
Kansas City (Lugo 3-1) at Detroit (Olson 0-3), 1:10 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45
Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 3-0) at Boston (Crawford 1-0), 7:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay (Eflin 1-2) at Chicago White Sox (Flexen 0-3), 7:40 p.m.
NBA – 2024 NBA Playoffs – Round 1 (Best of 7)
Last Night
Orlando Magic 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 83 (CLE leads 2-1)
Philadelphia 76ers 125, New York Knicks 114 (NYK leads 2-1)
Denver Nuggets 112, Los Angeles Lakers 105 (DEN leads 3-0)
Tonight
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, 5:30 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks, 8:00 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. (MIN leads 2-0)
NHL – 2024 NHL Stanely Cup Playoffs – Round 1 (Best of 7)
Last Night
Florida Panthers 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (FLA leads 3-0)
Carolina Hurricanes 3, New York Islanders 2 (CAR leads 3-0)
Tonight
New York Rangers at Washington Capitals, 7:00 p.m. (NYR leads 2-0)
Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators, 7:30 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche, 10:00 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
NHL – Blackhawks agree to a 6-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a six-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic, rewarding one of their best young players with a long-term deal. The contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a $4.6 million salary-cap hit. Chicago went 23-53-6 this year, setting a franchise record for losses. But it is hoping for a turnaround as soon as next season, and the contract for Vlasic stamps the Illinois native as part of the team’s young core. The 6-foot-6 Vlasic, who turns 23 in June, had two goals and 14 assists in 76 games this season.
NCAAFB –Bush plans to continue his fight against NCAA after return Heisman Trophy
Reggie Bush says the return of his Heisman Trophy is the biggest step yet in his fight against the NCAA to restore his reputation and his records from his incredible career at Southern California. Bush and his family celebrated the restoration of his Heisman honors Thursday during a news conference atop the venerable Coliseum, where Bush played three outstanding seasons with the Trojans. Bush and his attorneys made it clear their fight against the NCAA has not ended. Bush indicated he doesn’t plan to drop his defamation lawsuit filed last year against the NCAA over the governing body’s characterization of the circumstances that led to Bush’s troubles.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Lansing 9, Dayton 4
Lake County 4, West Michigan 1
Great Lakes 5, Fort Wayne 1
South Bend 6, Quad Cities 0
Tonight
Dayton Dragons at Lansing Lugnuts, 6:05 p.m.
Lake County Captains at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Great Lakes Loons at Fort Wayne Tin Caps, 7:05 p.m.
Quad Cities River Bandits at South Bend Cubs, 7:05 p.m.
ECHL – ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs – Round 1 (best of 7)
Tonight
Toledo Walleye at Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00 p.m. (TOL leads 3-0)
MCCAA – Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Yesterday
Baseball
Kellogg Community College 8, Lake Michigan College 2 – Game 1
Lake Michigan College 3, Kellogg Community College 1 – Game 2
Today
Baseball
Lake Michigan College at Kellogg Community College, 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. (DH)
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Last Night
Baseball
Mattawan 2, Lakeshore 0 – Game 1
Mattawan 6, Lakeshore 2 – Game 2
Galesburg-Augusta 9, Coloma 5 – Game 1
Galesburg-Augusta 2, Coloma 1 – Game 2
Watervliet 11, Brandywine 8 – Game 1
Brandywine 3, Watervliet 1 – Game 2
Parchment 11, Lawton 9 – Game 1
Parchment 8, Lawton 4 – Game 2
Marcellus 22, Bloomingdale 6 – Game 1
Marcellus 16, Bloomingdale 0 – Game 2
Bronson 5, Centreville 4
Softball
Lakeshore 14, Mattawan 0 – Game 1
Lakeshore 10, Mattawan 3 – Game 2
Decatur 18, Lawrence 0 – Game 1
Decatur 15, Lawrence 0 – Game 2
Bangor 11, White Pigeon 1 – Game 1
Bangor 15, White Pigeon 3 – Game 2
Girls Soccer
Our Lady of the Lake 1, Holland Black River 0
Today
Baseball
Our Lady of the Lake at Berrien Springs, 4 p.m. (DH)
Eau Claire at Fennville, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Edwardsburg at Otsego, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Paw Paw at Plainwell, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Niles at Sturgis, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Three Rivers at Vicksburg, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Martin at Marcellus, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Allegan at Parchment, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Galesburg-Augusta at South Haven, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Softball
Edwardsburg at Otsego, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Paw Paw at Plainwell, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Niles at Sturgis, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Three Rivers at Vicksburg, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Martin at Marcellus, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Allegan at Parchment, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Girls Tennis
Dowagiac at Kalamazoo Hackett, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
St. Joseph at Niles, 6:30 p.m.
Gull Lake at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.
New Buffalo at Coloma, 6:00 p.m.
Eau Claire at Covert, 6:00 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Buchanan, 5:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Hartford, 5:00 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Parchment, 5:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at South Haven, 6:30 p.m.
Dowagiac at Constantine, 5:00 p.m.
Byron Center at Portage Northern, 6:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Hudsonville, 7:15 p.m.
Wayland at Plainwell, 6:30 p.m.
Harper Creek at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m.