Smalltalk

Phillies Ace Zack Wheeler Keeps His Removed Rib in a Closet. Seriously!

  • Phillies ace Zack Wheeler revealed he keeps the partial rib removed during surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome in a case in his closet — yes, really.
  • He had the operation in September to remove a blood clot and part of a rib; he isn’t expected for Opening Day but could return early in the 2026 season.
  • Funny parallel: Washington QB Sam Hartman also kept a removed rib in college — he turned his into a necklace.

Police name suspect in Canada school shooting as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar

  • Mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., left eight people dead and 25 injured at a secondary school and a nearby home — many victims were students aged about 13–17.
  • Police named 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect; two victims found at the residence were his mother and step-brother.
  • Authorities say the suspect had prior mental-health contacts and had been transitioning gender; investigators have not yet determined a motive.

World Cup Watch: USA's MLS-Based Players Know There's 'No Time To Sit Around'

  • Sebastian Berhalter leans on sleep, reading (he’s into The Light We Give) and a meticulous recovery routine — think hyperbaric chamber, Normatec boots and a red‑light mat — plus a daily checklist to stay accountable.
  • He and other MLS hopefuls are fighting for a few roster spots on the 26‑man U.S. World Cup team, with March’s camp (friendlies vs. Belgium and Portugal) practically a make‑or‑break audition.
  • MLS players argue the schedule can be an advantage — they’ll be fresher after offseason rest and focused on routines and mindset, even if they’ve played fewer recent matches than Europeans.

2026 Daytona 500 Practice Results: Austin Cindric paces opening practice

  • Practice for the Daytona 500 kicked off Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway as Cup teams hit the track.
  • 2022 winner Austin Cindric topped the session with a lap of 48.025 seconds (187.402 mph) in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford.
  • Ross Chastain and Corey LaJoie were close behind among the 45-car field — full results were posted.

Get to Know a Mid-Major: Coastal Athletic Association

  • The Coastal Athletic Association — renamed from the Colonial Athletic Association in 2023 — now spans the coast (SC to New England) with 13 teams; all make the conference tourney, the top 4 get double byes and the bottom two play a play-in game.
  • The men’s race is wide open: UNCW and Hofstra lead, but no CAA team is near at-large bubble status, so the automatic bid and the conference tourney are everything — tight standings make for an unpredictable bracket.
  • On the women’s side College of Charleston is cruising at 11-0 (led by twins Taryn/Taylor Barbot and rebounder Grace Ezebilo) but last year’s surprise champion shows upsets are very possible.

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