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Controversial Home Plate Call Goes Viral, Oregon Ducks Upset By Utah Valley

Published

7 months ago

May 31, 2025

Controversial Home Plate Call Goes Viral, Oregon Ducks Upset By Utah Valley

At a packed PK Park on Friday night at the Eugene Regional, the Oregon Ducks fell short to the Utah Valley Wolverines of the Western Athletic Conference at PK Park, 6-5. An upset from the Big Ten Conference regular season champions at the hands of a mid-major program doesn’t come without some controversy.

The understandably questionable call at home plate during the bottom of the eighth inning is all that is being talked about. With Oregon trailing, 6-4, no outs and runners on the corners, first and third base. Oregon junior Anson Aroz was looking to tag up from third after a fly ball to left field coming off the bat from junior Chase Meggers, Aroz ran through Utah Valley’s redshirt junior catcher Mason Strong.

The original call from the home plate umpire AJ Mendel was that Aroz was safe. After a lengthy review from the booth, Aroz was not only called out but ejected for “malicious contact’ in the collision. The takes during such an important call from Mendel is being discussed as a game-changing error that led to No. 12 Oregon’s loss in the opening round.

Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski reacts to the call by officials during he eighth inning against Utah Valley. / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to the NCAA baseball’s rules regarding obstruction at home plate, it follows:

– A defensive player cannot block a base without clear possession of the ball.

– Penalty for obstruction results in immediate dead ball and runner awarded one base.

Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski had this to say about the game deciding play not in favor of the Ducks.

“I feel bad for the umpires. They said it came from Pittsburgh, and it was out of their hands, and I’m really proud of the way Anson Aroz went into home plate the way he did. I was taught to play hard. I was taught to get after it by my dad and my coaches growing up, and unfortunately, playing hard was not rewarded tonight by whatever rule was supposedly violated by a player that was playing hard.”

– Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski

6-11 right-handed junior Jason Reitz was handed just his second loss of the 2025 season after allowing six runs (five earned) through six full innings against Utah Valley. In the third inning alone, the Wolverines scored four runs. It’s hard to believe that Reitz ended up in this losing situation after dealing up a career-high 14 strikeouts through 110 pitches thrown against the Wolverines.

“The fourteen Ks is what it is, but the bottom line is I don’t feel like I did my job to the standard that I need to do to help us win the game. We’ll come out tomorrow and fight for the next three days, and that’s all we can do.”

– Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski

Against Utah Valley in the opening round loss, junior center fielder Mason Neville went 2-for-5 with one strikeout and no runs batted in. The 2025 MLB Draft prospect is projected as the No. 32 talent, according to MLB.com.

Oregon now awaits the Cal Poly Mustangs from the Big West at 12 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 31.

“I think they’ll play great tomorrow. Backs against the wall. These guys played with their backs against the wall, they played their best baseball when they’ve done that. And so, I think we’re going to play fantastic.”

– Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski

Oregon outfielder Mason Neville, right, celebrates a home run with teammate Drew Smith as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers on April 25, 2025, at PK Park in Eugene. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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MORE: Cleveland Browns Predicted To Start Rookie Quarterback NFL Week 10: Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders?

On a more positive note for the Oregon athletic department, coach Melyssa Lombardi and the Ducks’ softball team advanced in the Women’s College World Series on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Only five schools across college athletics have reached the postseason in football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, softball and baseball. Oregon, North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and four Southeastern Conference programs in the Oklahoma Sooners, Ole Miss Rebels, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Texas Longhorns.

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Top China athlete praised for looks and talent concedes that she embodies strength, beauty

Published

4 months ago

September 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Top China athlete praised for looks and talent concedes that she embodies strength, beauty

Rising Chinese high jump star, Shao Yuqi, has gone viral for her athletic performance and striking appearance.

The athlete has also attracted attention and praise for challenging traditional beauty stereotypes in sport.

On August 1, Shao, 23, from the Hubei provincial track and field team based in central China, claimed the women’s high jump title at the 2025 Chinese National Athletics Championships with a leap of 1.90 metres.

Up and coming star, Shao Yuqi, soars above the high-jump bar at an athletics meet. Photo: Baidu

Following her victory, Shao went viral on mainland social media for both her performance and her striking looks.

One of her videos on social media showcasing the competition got more than 3 million likes.

Shao was introduced to the high jump at primary school, where her athletic potential was quickly recognised after she effortlessly cleared a one-metre bar during a tryout.

“There were so many stereotypes in primary school. People assumed that if I went into sports, I would waste my life, maybe end up at a sports school at best,” Shao told Jiupai News.

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Players Pass with Abby Jasmine

Published

4 months ago

September 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

From virality to duality, Abby can do it all, from singing to rapping and laying everything on the line.

Photo courtesy of Abby Jasmine.

Additional reporting by Michael Mais Jr.

Staten Island doesn’t always get the spotlight in New York-based hip-hop but when it does it tends to produce something legendary, like a certain nine-member rap group. And in a time where attention spans are short and trends move even faster, one artist is making sure her name sticks: Abby Jasmine.

Long before viral buzz and algorithm-charged exposure, Abby was sharpening her skills in one of the most organic places imaginable: the church. With a father rooted deeply in gospel and musical tradition, she grew up surrounded by melody and message. It was there, among choirs and sermons, that Abby found both her first stage and first audience.

As a youth, that foundation became fuel, and with a few friends and a lot of ambition, she formed a church rap group. Mixing harmonies and hard-hitting bars, what started as a simple creative outlet quickly gained momentum. By the late 2010s, Abby would tap into viral moments that introduced her style and sound to audiences beyond Shaolin.

However, Abby’s rise is not rooted in luck, but in pure skill that has been sharpened by life, faith, and a relentless drive to be heard. Her lyrics carry clarity, confidence, and depth, standing out in a digital era flooded with noise. Rather than chase co-signs or shortcuts, Abby is building a legacy on her own terms while doing it with grace, grit, and bars that hit.

In her Players Pass interview with Okayplayer, we step into Abby’s world as she opens up about her creative process, inspiration, and what it really takes to make timeless music in her favorite spot, the Cash Only Deli. “I grew up very community-based,” Abby shares. “But that also goes into how I like to make my music. I like to make a community with the producers, the songwriters, and just work with the same people.” Her approach to collaboration is rooted in trust and synergy, a sharp contrast to an internet-rooted culture of disunity that is prevalent in the music industry today.

When asked about her musical inspirations, Abby reflects on growth and perspective, pointing at SZA’s 2017 debut album as a blueprint of her own artistry. “I didn’t really understand Ctrl when it first came out,” she admits. “But now that I am older, I can really appreciate it.” finding new meaning in music once overlooked is a sign of evolution, not just as an artist, but as a woman navigating the world in real-time. That is evident in her song “Caught Up.”

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Her creative process is one that is intentional. “When I get my own ideas, I have my own setup and crib when I go home,” Abby says. That sense of independence has become central to her artistry and allows her to carve out space to create on her own terms, without noise or pressure.

“My studio essentials are vibes, silence, and I don’t like so many people in the session,” she continues. For Abby, music is as much about space, energy, and staying tapped into something that is real as it is the sound.

Abby Jasmine is part of a new generation of artists who no longer need to wait for permission. She’s blending her past with her present, building a future where authenticity is louder than hype. And whether she’s going viral or staying lowkey, one thing’s for certain: she is here to stay.

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Medical Clinic Workers Fired After TikTok Video Mocking Patients Goes Viral

Published

4 months ago

September 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Medical Clinic Workers Fired After TikTok Video Mocking Patients Goes Viral

Several healthcare workers at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California, were fired after a TikTok video surfaced showing them mocking patients in an exam room. The video, originally posted by a former employee, depicted staff posing with patients’ bodily fluids on exam tables, with captions like “Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?” and “Make sure you leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these.” The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and prompting Sutter Health, which operates the clinic, to take swift action.

Sutter Health confirmed that all employees involved in the video were terminated, emphasizing that the behavior violated their policies and disrespected patients. The health system stated, “Protecting the trust of those we serve is our highest priority, and when that trust is violated, we take swift action.”

The incident drew widespread condemnation on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, where users criticized the workers for their unprofessional conduct. One commenter on Reddit remarked, “No place for shaming the patient in medicine,” while another questioned the clinic’s culture that allowed such behavior.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Sansum Clinic was notified of the video by concerned patients and conducted a review, placing the employees on administrative leave within 24 hours and terminating them shortly after. Sutter Health reiterated their commitment to patient privacy and dignity, using the incident to reinforce their policies with all team members.

The Santa Barbara Independent noted that the video gained traction over Labor Day weekend, leading to a wave of negative reviews on the clinic’s Yelp page. Sutter Health stated that they are conducting a full investigation and that any staff associated with the content are on administrative leave pending the outcome.

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How SaunaBox Went Viral

Published

4 months ago

September 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

USC grads Nolan Kahal and Sean Morrissey reveal how they built SaunaBox, the Huntington Beach wellness startup endorsed by pro athletes.

Nolan Kahal and Sean Morrissey are the co-founders of SaunaBox, the Huntington Beach-based viral wellness startup that’s bringing the luxury of a steam room into your home. The young entrepreneurs are USC graduates and former NCAA athletes who started their company at just 25 years old and have created a brand that’s endorsed by professional athletes. In today’s episode, Kahal and Morrissey discuss how they came up with the brand, their biggest hurdles and highlights, and more.
Listen and watch every Thursday here.

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Aryna Sabalenka's Coach Makes Stance On Transgender Athletes Clear During US Open

Published

4 months ago

September 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Aryna Sabalenka's Coach Makes Stance On Transgender Athletes Clear During US Open

Aryna Sabalenka put on a clinic during Tuesday night’s match against Qinwen Zheng, winning in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the US Open.

One of Sabalenka’s coaches, Jason Stacy, went viral during Tuesday night’s match because he was wearing an “XX-XY” hat at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

This hat was made by the XX-XY Athletics brand. Their goal is to protect women’s sports.

“It is simply undeniable that sex matters, especially in sport. It is the single biggest determinant of athletic performance,” the brand’s mission statement reads. “Men and women are different. It’s just a fact. Men have XY chromosomes and more testosterone which makes them stronger and faster.”

While some people support XX-XY Athletics, others believe Sabalenka’s coach is sending a bad message at the US Open, particularly towards the transgender community.

“So what’s up with sabalenka’s coach’s transphobic hat,” one person said.

Another person tweeted, “Is nobody really going to ask @SabalenkaA about her loser physio wearing that disgusting hat?”

“I love that Sabalenka’s coach is wearing that hat,” a third person wrote.

It’s unlikely Sabalenka’s coach addresses all this backlash in the middle of the US Open. Perhaps he’ll field some questions after the tournament comes to an end.

Sabalenka will be back in action at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night against Emma Navarro.

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Christian Football Players in the NFL

Published

4 months ago

September 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Fans of pro football—and fans of Jesus—likely know about big-name players who profess faith in Christ. But not all Christians in the NFL are household names…yet.

So in addition to high-profile Christian athletes who get lots of press? Let’s look at other football players who glorify God, both on and off the field.

Note: Last week, NFL teams had to cut their rosters to 53 players. So the careers of some of these athletes are now in flux.

9 More NFL Players Who Are Christians

1. Tyson Bagent (Chicago Bears)

Tyson Bagent, an undrafted quarterback from a Division II college, started four games his rookie year, after Justin Fields was injured. Bagent is known for his hard work, preparation, and strong faith in Jesus. Tyler Haines, who coached Bagent at Shepherd University, told CBS Sports the QB is “a faithful Christian churchgoer,” which “helps make him who he is.”

Bagent had limited playing time in 2024 as a backup. But the Bears recently rewarded him with a two-year, $10 million contract extension. That deal, which could stretch to $16 million with incentives, is life-changing, according to Bagent, 25.

Video went viral of the athlete telling reporters, “My dad is my right-hand man. He didn’t have running water until high school, so there’s definitely a lot of people I can certainly help with this gift I’ve been blessed with.” The West Virginia native added, “It’s certainly a weight off my shoulders and my family’s shoulders.”