Jurupa Valley High School’s AB Hernandez won first place in girls high jump and triple jump on Saturday night at the California Interscholastic Federation’s State Track & Field Championships. She also took second place in girls long jump, making it, overall, a great performance for the high school junior. After each win, Hernandez took the podium, received her medal, and smiled for photos along with her fellow competitors. She looked happy, because most people do after they win. As the sun sunk lower in the sky and the late afternoon turned into night, it would look to a casual observer watching on a livestream, which I did, like a typical high school track meet: the national anthem was played, there was a reminder about good sportsmanship, high school athletes competed in various disciplines, upcoming events were called out on the loudspeaker, and parents and friends cheered in the stands.

Zoom outward, however, and there were signs that this meet was not typical. Hernandez had to share the podium and the spotlight. There was much more national coverage of the meet that would be expected, and online, discourse around Hernandez’s win would swiftly turn hateful. This is all because Hernandez is trans.

Though Hernandez has competed for years with the support of her local community, when two women began making noise online complaining about her being allowed to compete, they got a lot of attention and eventually caught Donald Trump’s eye. He issued a statement Tuesday about Hernandez filled with inaccuracies, saying she was unbeatable (she has lost before) and had won everything (again, she has lost before). That same day, CIF issued its own statement saying it would launch a pilot program to allow any cisgender female athlete who missed out on qualifying due to a transgender female athlete to compete anyway. Those new rules were also why, on Saturday, every time Hernandez won a medal, she had to share the podium with someone else as a co-medalist.

The new rules also did nothing to assuage the people dead-set on stopping Hernandez. A day after CIF announced its new rules, Trump’s U.S. Department of Justice sent it a letter, saying the federal government’s Title IX Special Investigations Team—the one created to weaponize the once-landmark anti-gender discrimination law—would investigate if CIF was discriminating against female athletes, 12 years after California approved statewide legislation guaranteeing transgender students access to sports based on their gender identity. Even though Hernandez had followed all the CIF rules in place, that did little to stop the anti-trans sentiments. On Friday, during qualifications, an airplane flew over the stadium carrying a banner that read “no boys in girls sports!”

The same reporter who got the video of the banner, Haley Sawyer, estimated the number of protestors there Friday at “roughly 10.”

You read that right—10. California is the largest state by population in the entire country with nearly 40 million people. Sure, some people have to work, some people are busy with childcare, or too frail to travel, or they’re students who have to study. But the math is the math. Out of a state with nearly 40 million people, just about 10 were so angry about Hernandez competing that they showed up at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, Fresno County. That’s the same Fresno County that has an estimated population of more than 1 million, is nearly equidistant to the state’s two biggest metro areas, and is easily accessible by car.

More people did show up on Saturday, but not a deluge. The Associated Press described the Saturday meet as “relatively quiet despite critics.” The Los Angeles Times put the number of Saturday protestors at “dozens,” which is more than 10 but still nothing more than a speck in a state of nearly 40 million people. That seems less than the number of people who lined up outside of local Trader Joe’s stores recently to buy mini canvas tote bags with the grocery store’s logo on them.

This is not meant to downplay the real vitriol brought by those who did show up. Reporting for Capital & Main, Cerise Castle said that at least one person protesting AB’s participation was escorted out. Video online showed a woman yelling in the face of AB’s mother, saying AB should not be allowed to compete. But even in that video, presented online as damning evidence, the framing is so tight that it’s difficult to know if more than few people were even paying attention to it while it was happening. Per the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Norah Furtado, the closest anything came to conflict was when a few people started jeering during Hernandez’s initial long jump attempt, but nobody in the crowd reacted and a voice on the intercom made it clear the behavior would not be tolerated.

Anyone can click a button online. It’s a lot harder to show up.That’s why, as rudimentary as it sounds, whether people actually showed up was, for a long time, a deciding factor on if an event was considered news. This is not meant to downplay or ignore the many, many problems with the old ways of news-gathering, which all too often used its power to downplay or outright ignore a lot of stories, especially those in minority communities. But we can give it a little credit for ignoring the many people who would often call newsrooms demanding front-page stories about what was little more than something that bothered them.

What those railing against Hernandez know is that in today’s decentralized information ecosystem, anger online wins and so their yelling must be covered even though few protestors came. Meanwhile, the single biggest source of complaints about discrimination to the U.S. Department of Education are from disabled students who said they had been denied help they needed or felt mistreated, not people complaining about trans athletes. Data also shows the biggest danger posed to all high school athletes, regardless of gender, is dying of sudden cardiac arrest, not competing against trans athletes. Having emergency action plans and installing AEDs in high schools would save more lives, but little is said about this online compared to the trans athlete furor.

Despite it all, the actual athletes seemed pretty chill and normal on Saturday as I monitored from the live stream and watched the press coverage roll in. They are athletes, after all, and they know how to block out noise. It’s all smiles in the Associated Press photos. Wilson High School senior Loren Webster, who came in first in the long jump, told the Times as much, saying “It wasn’t any other person I was worried about. I knew what I was capable of. I can’t control the uncontrollable.” Long Beach Poly High School senior Jillene Wetteland, who also took first in the high jump, told the Chronicle, “I love both of the people I tied with.” And River City High School senior Brooke White, who came in second on the long jump, said to the same reporter it was an honor to share her podium with Hernandez.

“Although the publicity she’s been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she’s a superstar,” White said, “she’s a rockstar, she’s representing who she is.” 

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

After a teaser about his appearance on Mind the Game presented by Uninterrupted and Wondery, the first part of Luka Doncic sitting down with his Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James and co-host Steve Nash was released on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Slovenian combo guard went from sharing the court with the four-time NBA champion following the blockbuster trade from the Dallas Mavericks midway through the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season to living in Los Angeles and his effort to improve youth sports.

“It’s great,” he talked about playing with LeBron, “I’ve never played with a guy like this. Just being traded to LA, it was different. Just to play with guys like him, like it’s unbelievable.”

“This is the first city I’ve played in that has an ocean. And I really like the ocean. After a couple of days, that was the first thing on my mind,” he added on his early adjustments in Los Angeles.

Nash also revealed a trademark late pass as his favorite skill of Doncic.

“I don’t think I did that as a kid. I don’t remember that,” the native of Ljubljana talked about the specific pass emerging during his NBA career, “I always said to my teammates, ‘Once I go up, stay in your spot, because I know here you were before and if I don’t have any options, I will pass it to you’. I think it developed through time.”

With the Luka Doncic Foundation investing resources in a study for youth basketball in Europe and the United States, Doncic revealed his goal before venturing into his own youth experiences in various sports.

“We’re trying to combine the weaknesses and the strengths,” he went into the path of the study, “The main thing was just kids having fun playing basketball, especially when they are young.”

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The camp took place May 31. The Kansas City Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco is spending his off-season working with athletes ages six to 16 in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. His camps utilize volunteers in each city. 

“I used to be that kid who looked up to NFL players and hoped someone would come through,” said Pacheco, who is entering his fourth season with the Chiefs. “For me to be in that position now, to give the kids hope to come back and have something to talk about. It’s amazing to me.” 

The camp tour is a partnership with FlexWork Sports, a management company that specializes in youth athletics. They put on similar camps with athletes such as Dak Prescott, Christian McCaffrey and Tee Higgins. 

FlexWork camp Director Edward Galloway is on tour with Pacheco. He’s been a football coach for over 20 years and brings lots of experience to these events. 

“I think [the kids] coming out here and having the chance to interact with their favorite pro athlete, it inspires them to do more and do great,” Galloway said. 

Pacheco’s own training has already begin. Kansas City voluntary organized team activities began in mid-May and he is expected to report to mandatory minicamp on June 17. 

Monrovia – In a country where football dominates youth sports, 11-year-old Zuri Shannon is using tennis to chart a new path for underprivileged children. On Saturday, May 31, she officially launched Zuri’s Tennis Foundation with the debut of Zuri’s Tennis Classic at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Tennis Court in Paynesville.

By Christopher C. Walker (0777898224   [email protected])

The youth tournament brought together 16 young players, with an equal number of boys and girls under the age of 14. They competed not just for trophies but for tuition support and the chance to pursue a better future through sport.

Zuri, a grade school student with a growing passion for tennis, created the foundation to make the sport accessible to children from low-income backgrounds. 

Her motivation comes from recognizing how rare opportunities are in tennis, especially when most Liberian children are only exposed to football. Her mother, Cllr. Idella Cooper, explained that Zuri constantly talks about tennis with her friends and wants other kids to experience a sport they rarely see or play.

Zuri’s Tennis Foundation aims to connect sports with education and discipline, empowering young people through structured opportunities. The tournament, her foundation’s first major event, highlighted just how impactful such efforts can be. 

Despite shared equipment, mismatched sneakers, and minimal resources, the players brought incredible passion and determination to the court. For many, it was their first time competing in an organized tennis event or even stepping onto a proper tennis court.

Coach Alfred Kandakai described the atmosphere as electric, emphasizing the pride and sense of purpose the children displayed during the matches.

At the close of the tournament, four young champions received not only trophies and medals but tuition support as part of the foundation’s commitment to education. 

In the boys’ under-14 category, Benjamin Kandakai secured first place and was awarded a US$150 tuition grant along with a trophy. Zandra Panagar Kawah finished in second place and received a US$75 tuition grant and a medal. In the girls’ under-14 category, Favor Gbana took first place with the same prize as the boys’ champion, while the second-place winner, whose name was not disclosed, received a US$75 tuition grant and a medal.

Cllr. Cooper expressed pride in her daughter’s leadership, noting that although she had helped organize youth tournaments in the past, this event was fully driven by Zuri’s vision and initiative.

Looking ahead, the foundation plans to expand access to tennis in underserved communities by organizing more youth tournaments tied to educational rewards. It also aims to distribute tennis equipment, including rackets and sneakers, to children who might otherwise never get the chance to play.

Zuri’s Tennis Foundation is not just about competition. It is a platform built on empowerment, discipline, and opportunity. While still in its early stages, the foundation is already being recognized for its unique approach to blending sports with education and creating space for youth development outside of football.

“We’re just getting started,” said Cllr. Cooper. “This is more than tennis. It’s about giving kids the tools they need to succeed—on and off the court.”

The Falcons Will Utilize Youth To Succeed In 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Coming into the 2025 offseason, the Falcons let go of multiple veterans, in order to focus on building a contender for the future. That included not bringing back former multiple-time pro bowlers Justin Simmons and Matthew Judon.

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The Falcons started to sign young talent and went to the draft with the idea of building up a defense that struggled heavily in 2024. They would select four defensive players in the draft, including two first rounders in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.

The draft has been kind to the Falcons over the last few seasons, as Drake London and Bijan Robinson have already shown star potential. Robinson has already made a pro bowl, while London has racked up 3,042 yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons.

Michael Penix Jr. is another young star that has shown some flashes but has also not played enough games to really decipher what he can fully do. He will be the starting quarterback on this young Falcons roster and looks to have a breakout season in his first full year as a starter.

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On both sides of the ball, the Falcons have made some great draft decisions and some key young signings, as they hope to utilize the youth for years to come. The rookies will have to step up and make an impact very early on, and the development of these young players must be a high priority for the Falcons.

The Falcons have a very bright future if all goes well with the young talent they have brought in these last few years.

Related: If Kyle Pitts Gets Traded, Who Steps Up For The Falcons?

Related: The Falcons Could Trade Kirk Cousins To The Steelers

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

Jacksonville, AL — The Jacksonville Public Library will host a creative and engaging event for local youth on Saturday, June 7, at 1:00 p.m. with a Stretch Cord Bracelet Making Class. The program will take place at the library, located at 200 Pelham Road South in Jacksonville.

Open to participants ages 10 to 18, this free event is designed to encourage artistic expression and hands-on creativity. Attendees will learn how to craft their own stretch cord bracelets using a variety of colorful beads and supplies—all of which will be provided by the library.

No registration is required, and participants can simply drop in to join the fun. The activity offers a great opportunity for youth to explore a new hobby, connect with others, and create wearable art to take home.

This event is part of the library’s ongoing efforts to provide enriching programs that inspire learning and creativity among young community members.