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HBO's John Oliver celebrates the Eugene Emeralds, and Oregon's exploding whale 'blunder'

Sunday night’s episode of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” had fun with yet another Oregon-based topic, as the host moved from a typically grim examination of current news — in this case, the controversial deportations of immigrants occurring in President Donald Trump’s administration — to a hilarious segment about minor league baseball teams and […]

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HBO's John Oliver celebrates the Eugene Emeralds, and Oregon's exploding whale 'blunder'

Sunday night’s episode of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” had fun with yet another Oregon-based topic, as the host moved from a typically grim examination of current news — in this case, the controversial deportations of immigrants occurring in President Donald Trump’s administration — to a hilarious segment about minor league baseball teams and their goofy names, temporary re-branding efforts, and theme nights.

Oliver began by noting that minor league baseball teams “are really good at publicity,” including coming up with eye-catching team names like the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

As if names like that weren’t enough to grab attention, Oliver noted that many minor league teams also come up with theme nights, or change the team name for a night, which can move merchandise and get fans excited.

“My absolute favorite rebrand concerns the Eugene Oregon Emeralds,” Oliver said. “They managed to triple merchandise sales to nearly a million dollars in a single season by occasionally playing as the Exploding Whales, which is already a good name, but gets even better when you learn that it’s a nod to a notorious 1970 blunder when a dead, smelly” whale washed ashore on the Oregon coast, “and the state highway agency thought it would be a fine idea to use explosives to blast the carcass to smithereens, and let seagulls take care of the remains.”

The Eugene Emeralds X account posted part of the segment:

Oregonians with long memories no doubt are familiar with the exploding whale fiasco, one of the most famous screw-ups in state history.

The Oregonian/OregonLive wrote in 2023 about the Eugene Emeralds’ temporary adoption of the Exploding Whales identity, complete with a team logo of a smiling whale holding a lit stick of dynamite.

The story also included an interview with Paul Linnman, the former KATU-TV newsman who was on site near Florence, on the Oregon coast, when the whale explosion plan went totally off the rails.

Linnman’s report from the scene has become the stuff of legend, and part of it was included in the “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” segment.

The host introduced Linnman’s 1970 report, which featured footage of the whale being blown up, and the then-KATU staffer saying in a voiceover, “The humor of the entire situation suddenly gave way to a run for survival,” with whale blubber flying everywhere, and everyone on the scene “covered in particles of dead whale,” as Linnman memorably reported.

Oliver ended his segment stating that the show would give a minor league team a total re-brand, as long as the team agreed to go along with what the “Last Week Tonight” staff came up with. Oliver encouraged minor league teams willing to do that get in touch, at johnoliver@buntstuff.com.

And, after the episode’s end credits rolled, there was one more glimpse of the KATU footage of the whale exploding in Oregon.

Want to watch the whole episode? It’s streaming on Max.

— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com and @Kristiturnquist and https://bsky.app/profile/kristiturnquist.bsky.social

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U.S. Men Handle Canada, Montenegro Tips Greece as Men’s Water Polo Opens

World Championships: U.S. Men Handle Canada, Montenegro Tips Greece as Men’s Water Polo Opens The U.S. men handled Canada, 18-9, and Montenegro pulled out a 10-9 win over Greece on the first day of men’s water polo at the 2025 World Championships. The U.S., which won bronze at the Paris Olympics in 2024, never trailed, […]

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World Championships: U.S. Men Handle Canada, Montenegro Tips Greece as Men’s Water Polo Opens

The U.S. men handled Canada, 18-9, and Montenegro pulled out a 10-9 win over Greece on the first day of men’s water polo at the 2025 World Championships.

The U.S., which won bronze at the Paris Olympics in 2024, never trailed, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after one quarter. Adrian Weinberg was excellent in goal with 11 saves. Max Irving led the offense with four goals on five shots plus an assist. Hannes Daube had three goals and two assists, and Nicolas Saveljic added three goals.

Canada got a hat trick from Ali Oussadou.

In the penultimate game of the day at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, three goals and two assists from Djuro Radovic and a hat trick from Filip Gardasevic led Montenegro past Greece. Petar Tesanovic made seven saves.

Nikolaos Gkillas led Greece with a hat trick. Panagiotis Tzortzatos made 11 saves in goal.

Serbia, the reigning Olympic champion, opened the competition with a comprehensive 27-3 decision over South Africa. Dusan Mandic shot 6-for-7 from the field. Nikola Murisic scored five times, Nikola Jaksic added four goals and Milos Cuk paired three goals with four assists.

Croatia, the world champion in Doha in 2024 and silver medalist in Paris, began its quest for more hardware with a 25-6 thumping of China. Luka Bukic powered the onslaught with six goals on seven shots. Marko Zuvela scored four goals, and Konstantin Kharkov contributed three goals and five assists.

Italy, the silver medalist in Doha, trailed after the first quarter against Romania but turned it on for a 17-5 rout. Francisco Condemi scored four times, Lorenzo Bruni three and Gianmarco Nicosia stopped eight shots.

The other match in the U.S.’s Group C went to Brazil, 19-8 over Singapore. Gustavo Coutinho, Marcos Paulo Pedroso and Gustavo Guimaraes scored three times apiece.

Spain topped Japan, 22-16, in the day’s most offensive affair, which included 13 fourth-quarter goals. Alvaro Granados bombed home five goals to go with three assists, and Bernat Sanahuja and Unai Biel buried four goals each. Yusuke Inaba led Japan with five goals, and Taiyo Watanabe added four goals and three assists.

Hungary opened with an 18-6 win over Australia behind nine saves from Kristof Csoma. Marton Vamos scored three goals, and Krisztian Manhercz and Adam Nagy each had a goal and four assists as the Hungarians dished 15 helpers.



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U.S. Girls U19 National Team Headed to 2025 Worlds Final After Dominating Poland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 12, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team will look to defend its World U19 title on Sunday after the squad defeated Poland 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-19) at the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship on Saturday in Osijek, Croatia. The gold medal match will pit the U.S. against the […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 12, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team will look to defend its World U19 title on Sunday after the squad defeated Poland 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-19) at the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship on Saturday in Osijek, Croatia.

The gold medal match will pit the U.S. against the winner of the Türkiye/Bulgaria semifinal. Watch the final on July 13 at 9:15 a.m. on VBTV or on the Volleyball World YouTube channel.

The U.S. has medaled in the last three World Championships for the age group. The 2023 World Championship, where the team won gold, was the first one contested as a U19 championship. Previously, FIVB held Worlds as a U18 event, and the U.S. won bronze in 2021 and gold in 2019.

It was the second time at the World Championship that Poland and the U.S. squared off. The first match was closely contested, with Poland winning 16-14 in the fifth set. But this time, it was all USA.

The U.S. held the lead in kills (37-26), blocks (12-3) and aces (8-3).

Outside hitter Suli Davis led the U.S. with 18 points on 13 kills, three blocks and two aces. Opposite Henley Anderson had six kills, three blocks and two aces for 11 points, and middle blocker Jordan Taylor had seven kills and one block for eight points.

Gabrielle Nichols and Cari Spears also scored eight points, with Nichols collecting four kills, three blocks and an ace, and Spears notching six kills, one block and an ace. Devyn Wiest had one ace.

Libero Lily Hayes led the team with eight digs and seven successful receptions. Setter Genevieve Harris led the strong U.S. offense, and also scored three points.

The first set was all USA with a balanced offensive attack. Davis scored six points on five kills and a block, and Spears had three kills and a block. The U.S. had five blocks compared to zero for Poland.

The U.S. jumped out to a big lead in set two before allowing Poland to sneak within one at 11-10. The U.S. scored five of the next six to stretch the lead to 16-11. A U.S. service error and a Poland ace cut the lead to three at 16-13.  Poland’s first block of the evening cut it back to two at 17-15. Another U.S. ace gave the team a three-point lead and Poland did not get any closer. The U.S. closed out the set on a Nichols kill, a block from Anderson and Nichols, and a kill from Anderson.

The third set was the biggest test for the U.S., with Poland jumping out to a 9-6 lead. The U.S. tied it at 10 after a Spears ace and Poland attack error, and the U.S. took the lead at 13-12 with a Taylor kill. Taylor and Spears then went up for a block to extend the lead to 14-12, and an Anderson ace made it 15-12. The U.S. continued to extend its lead by winning eight of the next 10 points for 23-14. After three points for Poland to make it 23-17, Suli Davis attacked out of the back row for a kill to reach match point. A U.S. service error and a Poland ace cut the lead to 24-19. A Harris dump gave the match to the U.S.

2025 U19 National Team Roster for World Championship

(Name, Pos., Birth Year, Height, Hometown, School, Region)
3 Jordan Taylor (MB, 6-5, 2007, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star)
5 Lily Hayes (L, 5-9, 2007, Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
6 Suli Davis (OH, 6-1, 2007, Euless, Texas, Brigham Young University, North Texas)
8 Abbey Emch (MB, 6-3, 2007, New Waterford, Ohio, University of Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley)
10 Isabelle Hoppe (S, 5-8, 2008, Gibsonia, Pa., Pine Richland HS, Ohio Valley)
11 Kelly Kinney (OH/OPP, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The Kings Academy, Florida)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-11, 2007, Raleigh, N.C, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Gabrielle Nichols (MB, 6-3, 2007, Winston Salem, N.C., Penn State University, Carolina)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
17 Lameen Mambu (OH, 6-0, 2007, Chantilly, Va., Georgia Tech, Chesapeake)
19 Henley Anderson (OPP/OH, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
20 Devyn Wiest (OH, 6-3, 2007, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)

Alternates
1 Izzy Mogridge (S, 5-11, 2007, Lutz, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
2 Charlotte Vinson (OPP, 6-2, 2007, Muncie, Ind., Yorktown HS, Hoosier)
4 Kalyssa Blackshear (MB/OPP, 6-4, 2007, Torrance, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California)
7 Ayanna Watson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Henderson, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, Southern California)
9 Natalie Wardlow (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2007, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southeast HS, Great Plains)
15 Logan Bell (L, 5-11, 2007, Beech Grove, Ind., Roncalli HS, Hoosier)
18 Aniya Warren (L, 5-8, 2007, Lockport, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)

Coaches
Head Coach: Keegan Cook (Minnesota)
Assistant Coach: Alyssa D’Errico (Utah)
Assistant Coach: April Sanchez (New Mexico)
Performance Analyst: Jon Wong (Florida State)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)

2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific/Osijek, Croatia
Matches live on VBTV and Volleyball World YouTube

July 2: USA def. Spain, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
July 3: USA def. Peru, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18)
July 4: Poland def. USA, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 16-14)
July 6: Bulgaria def. USA, 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-5)
July 7: USA def. Türkiye, 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23)
July 8: Round of 16: USA def. Germany, 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13)
July 11: Quarterfinals, USA def. Italy, 3-2 (31-29, 23-25, 20-25, 30-28, 15-8)
July 12: Semifinals, 12:15 p.m.: USA def. Poland, 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-19)
July 13: Final: USA vs. TBA, 9:15 a.m.



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UTRGV Volleyball announce additions

By: KJ Doyle The UTRGV volleyball team announced their additions to the team ahead of the 2025 season. The class includes one senior, two juniors, one sophomore, and five freshmen. The upperclassmen transferring to the team include Sujeili Mermella, a setter and defensive specialist from St. John’s, and Valentina Sarti Ciprianani, a senior right side […]

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By: KJ Doyle

The UTRGV volleyball team announced their additions to the team ahead of the 2025 season.

The class includes one senior, two juniors, one sophomore, and five freshmen.

The upperclassmen transferring to the team include Sujeili Mermella, a setter and defensive specialist from St. John’s, and Valentina Sarti Ciprianani, a senior right side from Cal State Bakersfield. The team is also adding Martina Franco, a sophomore outside hitter who spent the 2024 season at UTSA and totaled 120 kills as a freshman.

The freshman class is headlined locally by Carmina Tijerina, a graduate of Brownsville St. Joseph Academy. She follows in the footsteps of her sister Regina, who also played for the UTRGV volleyball team several years ago.

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Good sand and loud crowd, but is AVP concept missing something? – Daily News

INGLEWOOD – It was suggested in the runup to this week’s Association of Volleyball Professionals event at Intuit Dome that when Logan Dan visits an AVP venue, he should get the Mariano Rivera treatment. You know, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blasting through the speakers as he walks into the place. Dan is literally the tour’s Sandman, […]

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INGLEWOOD – It was suggested in the runup to this week’s Association of Volleyball Professionals event at Intuit Dome that when Logan Dan visits an AVP venue, he should get the Mariano Rivera treatment.

You know, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blasting through the speakers as he walks into the place.

Dan is literally the tour’s Sandman, maybe the most important guy on tour week in and week out. This week he was the guy who oversaw the delivery of 300 tons of sand and its placement into a beach volleyball court in the Clippers’ not-yet-a-year-old arena.

That court, located at the west end of the arena floor, is the centerpiece for L.A.’s stop in the AVP League, a 2-year-old concept involving the eight top teams on the men’s and women’s sides and played in either big city arenas – like Intuit – or in non-beach venues like a tennis center in Palm Beach, Fla., a marina in East Hampton, N.Y., or Central Park in Manhattan, next weekend’s site.

The league format and the non-beach sites have replaced all but two of the traditional beach tournaments on the AVP schedule, both of which are located in Southern California. There are eight league events – five of them indoors – leading up to the championship round at Chicago’s Oak Street Beach on Labor Day weekend.

And not everyone plays every week, which means that if you’re a true beach volleyball fan and you look forward to the sport’s best all in one place, you seldom get that. More on that below.

As the main domestic beach volleyball circuit transitions away from, you know, actual beaches, the guy in charge of the sand becomes ever more important. Dan, a contractor for San Antonio-based Kilowatt Events, is in his second year overseeing the installation of these temporary courts. Preparing the Intuit Dome, he said, was relatively easy, unlike some places – think facilities normally used for tennis – where the sand has to be dumped one place and transferred to another.

“It’s nice to come into a brand new venue and be the first group to bring sand into it,” he said. “Obviously there’s challenges and learning for the venue with us, you know, as we’re bringing in sand and learning the trucks and paths and things. … (But) everything’s already here.”

The sand surface for volleyball, he said, is USGA Top Dressing sand, the same stuff used by golf courses when aerating fairways and greens. Sometimes the sand used for one of these temporary volleyball courts will be given to golf courses or parks or playgrounds.

What do the players think of the temporary indoor conditions?

Kelly Cheng, USC alum and two-time Olympian, said the Intuit sand was “very shallow. We’ve played in indoor venues on the world tour, on the FIVB, and it’s much deeper than this. So, yeah, very springy sand. People are jump serving hard, jumping high. It’s fun. It’s a fast game. It’s different.”

But Cheng, who partners with Molly Shaw for the Miami Mayhem, said she misses the conditions players deal with outside, particularly the wind: “It’s so fun. It makes the game completely different. I love it. … It’s another challenge because you could go out on the beach and some days aren’t windy at all. And you’ve got to find out, find a way to win.”

A dissenting view comes from Logan Webber, who plays with Hagen Smith (son of beach legend Sinjin Smith) for the L.A. Launch. He doesn’t miss those uncertain conditions.

“It’s almost nice for us to just come in knowing that we’re going to have absolutely clean playing conditions,” he said. “Sometimes, you show up at a tournament and you just don’t know what to expect.”

As for the sand?

“This is basically the south side of the Huntington Pier (in) jumpiness,” he said. “That’s very equivalent sand to what this is. If you’re playing in Hermosa Beach? It’s a very different game from this … You sink in, two feet at a time.”

Meanwhile, the question must be asked: Has this new AVP concept, in which four of the eight teams are idle on a given weekend, thrown away the charm of the sport in exchange for regular weekly TV commitments from the CBS Sports Network and the CW?

What used to be a full summer of AVP tournament play has been reduced to only two “Heritage Event” weekends, the Huntington Beach Open in May and the Manhattan Beach Open – can we call it beach volleyball’s grandaddy of ’em all? – which will be held August 15-17. Five other tournaments are “Contender” (qualifying) events; four have already been played in Palm Beach, Fla., Virginia Beach, Va., Denver and Oshkosh, Wis., with one still to come in Laguna Beach Sept. 13-14.

AVP commissioner and chief operating officer Bobby Corvino said Friday the goal “is to continue to partner with iconic venues across this country. We want to grow the sport, and you know how beautiful it looked and incredible it was (at the 2024 Olympics) with Paris and the Eiffel Tower. … We’re strategic about the cities we’re going to right now, but we’re always looking for options and partners that see the vision with what we’re trying to do and build the sport and grow it in that geographic area.”

The fans who showed up at the Intuit Dome were enthusiastic enough, especially when the in-game host fired them up, but the matchups between geographic neighbors Palm Beach and Miami, and L.A. and San Diego, don’t exactly scream rivalry. Dodgers-Padres, this ain’t.

And much of the problem is that the true rivalries in volleyball are between individual teams, and those are deemphasized without the tournament format and the possibility that those teams could play in a Sunday final.

Example: Canadians (and Olympic silver medalists) Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, are on site this week, playing for Palm Beach. Their rivals for No. 1, Americans Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss, who play for Austin, aren’t here.

“The idea seems to be that only by making our beloved game into something we don’t particularly like can the AVP attract a larger fanbase,” Mark Davis wrote in April for the “Larry Hamel’s All Volleyball” Substack.

Meanwhile, a poster on the VolleyTalk message board put it this way in a post last August: “Half the 8 teams sit out every week. What’s good about this league? Really what?”

And, a commenter/player on Reddit made this observation last winter:  “(The) AVP has decided that it is going to pool its money and resources and shuffle it around the people who are already at the top of the ladder while eliminating the ability for new or growing talent to emerge.”

Did the AVP’s decision makers perhaps miscalculate?

jalexander@scng.com 



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Knoxville Smokies vs. Montgomery Biscuits for Marvel Night at Covenant Health Park

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Antonio Santos (27) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025. Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) runs through the hype tunnel during a minor league baseball game between […]

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Knoxville Smokies vs. Montgomery Biscuits for Marvel Night at Covenant Health Park

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Antonio Santos (27) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Antonio Santos (27) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) runs through the hype tunnel during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) runs through the hype tunnel during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Smokies fans dress up for Superhero Night during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Smokies fans dress up for Superhero Night during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Reivaj Garcia (22) throws the ball to first base after getting Montgomery Biscuits catcher Will Simpson (6) out during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Reivaj Garcia (22) throws the ball to first base after getting Montgomery Biscuits catcher Will Simpson (6) out during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

The Smokies hype tunnel yells during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

The Smokies hype tunnel yells during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Young Smokies fans take a picture with Spider-Man during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Young Smokies fans take a picture with Spider-Man during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Smokies fans take a Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Smokies fans take a Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies outfielders Parker Chavers (3) slides safe into second base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies outfielders Parker Chavers (3) slides safe into second base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with the Black Panther during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with the Black Panther during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Smokies fans dance during the seventh inning stretch during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Smokies fans dance during the seventh inning stretch during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies outfielders Parker Chavers (3) catches the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies outfielders Parker Chavers (3) catches the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

The Black Panther helps clean the field during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

The Black Panther helps clean the field during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Corey Joyce (39) misses the tag at second base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Corey Joyce (39) misses the tag at second base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A Smokies comic book lays on a pile during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A Smokies comic book lays on a pile during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Ed Howard (11) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Ed Howard (11) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Batman poses for a picture during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Batman poses for a picture during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) smiles during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) smiles during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A Smokies fan takes a Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A Smokies fan takes a Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Reivaj Garcia (22) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Reivaj Garcia (22) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A Smokies fan gets a balloon animal from Mr. Josh during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A Smokies fan gets a balloon animal from Mr. Josh during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with Batman during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with Batman during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Smokies fans look through the Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Smokies fans look through the Smokies comic book during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Tyler Santana (13) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Tyler Santana (13) pitches during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with Deadpool during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A young Smokies fan takes a picture with Deadpool during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez (2) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Young Smokies fans take a picture with Smokies mascots during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Young Smokies fans take a picture with Smokies mascots during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Smokies fans dress up for Superhero Night during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Smokies fans dress up for Superhero Night during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies manager Lance Rymel (28) speaks to an umpire after a Biscuits player was called safe at first base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies manager Lance Rymel (28) speaks to an umpire after a Biscuits player was called safe at first base during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies catcher Pablo Aliendo (1) tosses out candy to the hype tunnel during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies catcher Pablo Aliendo (1) tosses out candy to the hype tunnel during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Alysia Haluska sings the National Anthem during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Alysia Haluska sings the National Anthem during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A Captain American shield is made onto the dirt during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A Captain American shield is made onto the dirt during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Knoxville Smokies infielder Jaylen Palmer (6) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Jaylen Palmer (6) throws the ball during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

A Smokies worker poses for a picture with the Scarlet Witch and Deadpool during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

A Smokies worker poses for a picture with the Scarlet Witch and Deadpool during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

Jackson, dressed as Robin, dances during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Jackson, dressed as Robin, dances during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Montgomery Biscuits for Superhero Night at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 12, 2025.

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel

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Nylah Bibby, daughter of former Arizona basketball star, commits to UA volleyball

Another Bibby will play for the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center, except it won’t be for the basketball program.  Arizona volleyball landed a verbal commitment from Phoenix-area outside hitter Nylah Bibby, the daughter of former UA basketball star Mike Bibby. Nylah Bibby committed to Arizona’s 2027 recruiting class on her Instagram page.  Bibby has emerged […]

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Another Bibby will play for the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center, except it won’t be for the basketball program. 

Arizona volleyball landed a verbal commitment from Phoenix-area outside hitter Nylah Bibby, the daughter of former UA basketball star Mike Bibby. Nylah Bibby committed to Arizona’s 2027 recruiting class on her Instagram page. 

Bibby has emerged as one of the top underclassmen in Arizona. After transferring from Desert Mountain to Saguaro last season, the 5-10 Bibby led the Sabercats in kills (255). Saguaro fell in the Class 4A state semifinals to Mica Mountain. 

The older Bibby was a Shadow Mountain product in Phoenix and signed with Arizona men’s basketball as a McDonald’s All-American in 1996. As a freshman, Bibby led the Wildcats to the program’s only national championship in 1997. Bibby ended his two-year UA career as a Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. Bibby’s No. 10 jersey is retired by the Arizona basketball program.

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Nylah Bibby, the daughter of former Arizona basketball star Mike Bibby, committed to the Arizona Wildcats volleyball program’s 2027 recruiting class. 




After Bibby was taken second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1998 NBA Draft, the point guard carved out a 14-year NBA career. Bibby averaged 14.7 points and 5.5 assists per game in the NBA.

Bibby was recently hired as head coach of Sacramento State and inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, along with former UA football star Ricky Hunley. 

After winning the NIVC, Arizona volleyball will begin its new season under third-year head coach Charita Stubbs by taking on Alabama State in the Wildcat Classic on Aug. 29 at McKale Center.  

Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports





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