Social Media

What happens when the pope wears your hat?

It is well known by now that Pope Leo XIV is a fan of the Chicago White Sox; he even attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox recently commemorated with a mural at their ballpark. His latest public display of fandom? Wednesday, he was spotted at the Vatican sporting a […]

Published

1 week ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What happens when the pope wears your hat?

But what actually happens when the Pope wears your hat? Not too many companies can ever say they’ve ever had someone of his holiness’ stature don their cap. So what exactly does that feel like, and what does it do for a brand??

“He’s the ultimate influencer,” said Patrick Cassidy, Vice President of Marketing at ‘47, adding later, “What the Pope is wearing is the exact model that a style-conscious fan can get on ‘47brand.com. That’s pretty cool.”

“It was surreal,” said Gary DeStefano, the Massachusetts newlywed who went viral for handing the pope his fresh new lid.

Pope Leo XIV with Gary and Kelly DeStefano at the Vatican this week. (Courtesy of Gary DeStefano)

The White Sox cap that the Pope was wearing was a part of their MVP collection. Just a week prior, His Holiness was also seen wearing a Villanova Wildcats hat that was gifted to him by his alma mater. That cap was from ‘47’s Clean Up collection.

“He’s becoming this style icon through fandom with ‘47,” Cassidy said. “That’s a great signifier of where we are as a brand.”

In the last few weeks, Cassidy said that celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Timothee Chalamet and Caitlin Clark have been seen wearing apparel from ‘47, and the company has seen an influx of people on social media wearing their hats and tagging them daily. While ‘47 — a Massachusetts-based company acquired last year by New Era — didn’t give specifics on how their sales numbers have been impacted by the Pope’s recent fashion choices, the company seems optimistic about how it will impact their bottom line going forward.

“There’s clear signals in every possible way that more and more people are recognizing the ‘47 brand,” Cassidy said.

As for Gary and Kelly DeStefano, the newlywed couple from Massachusetts who gave the Pope the White Sox hat, they saw the aftereffects of what they did before they could even go to sleep that night.

On the final day of their 17-day honeymoon in Rome, the two planned to receive the “sposi novelli”, a blessing for newlyweds given by the Pope himself. They initially got the hat from Kelly’s cousin with the intention of wearing it in the crowd to get the Pope’s attention, clearly aware of his South Side roots. But once the two realized that all of the recently married couples would get a personal greeting from the Pope, they had another idea for what they’d do with the hat.

Once the Pope came up to them and gave them a blessing, DeStefano took the hat out from his side and asked: “would you mind putting this on?”

Prior to that, DeStefano had mentioned that the two were from Boston and were fans of the Red Sox. So when the Pope saw the White Sox hat, he laughed and said he would wear it, before offering a caveat: “but, you’re going to get in trouble, not me.”

By 9 p.m. in Rome on Wednesday, the couple had gone to sleep after what was one of the most memorable moments of their lives together. Two hours later, the two were awoken by the sound of constant buzzing on their phones.

The phone rang again on Thursday, as they were about to hustle through customs after their flight back home. By then, the video of the brief interaction — with the Pope telling his joke while modeling his black Sox cap — had gone viral.

“That to me showed the human side in the man,” DeStefano said in a phone interview. “He is the most humble man, down to earth and funny.”

(Top photo of Pope Leo XIV with Gary and Kelly DeStefano courtesy of Gary DeStefano)

Social Media

US President Donald Trump's question leaves Juventus men's team speechless

US President Donald Trump hosted the Juventus men’s football team at the Oval Office in Washington D.C., just a day before the club began its FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign. A video from the meeting between Donald Trump and the Juventus team from Tuesday, June 17, has now gone viral wherein the President asked […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

US President Donald Trump's question leaves Juventus men's team speechless

The question from Donald Trump to Juventus players, including US internationals Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, read, “Could a woman make your team, fellas?,” to which they had no answer while having a nervous smile on their faces. Shortly after, when the 79-year-old put the question to the club general manager, Damien Comolli, he responded, “We have a very good women’s team,” who are the current Serie A Femminile champions.

Watch the video here:

Despite that, Donald Trump kept the chat going, and said, “But they should be playing with women. He’s being very diplomatic.” It is important to note that in February of this year, the US President had signed an executive order to ban the transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, and in the immediate aftermath, the human rights activists had called it a discriminatory move.

Juventus defeated Al-Ain 5-0 in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 opening match

After getting done with the awkward meeting with Donald Trump, Juventus players went down to business the next day in their opening Group G clash of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. They managed to defeat Al-Ain 5-0 in a one-sided contest, with the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao scoring twice, while Kenan Yildiz scored once.

In the second Group G clash of the tournament, Juventus will be taking on Wydad AC in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 22, just prior to the big fixture against Manchester City coming their way in Orlando.

Social Media

Professional heckler Trevor Gilmore joins the WGN Morning News

Published

17 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Professional heckler Trevor Gilmore joins the WGN Morning News

Social Media

Heartfelt Response From Arkansas Baseball Goes Viral After 'Cursed' Program's 9th Inning Collapse

© Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images Audio By Carbonatix The Arkansas baseball team fell in heartbreaking fashion to SEC rival LSU at the College World Series on Wednesday. The walk-off loss officially ended their season. It was a game the Razorbacks believe they should’ve won after taking a two-run lead into the ninth inning. A series of […]

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Heartfelt Response From Arkansas Baseball Goes Viral After 'Cursed' Program's 9th Inning Collapse

Arkansas baseball players after a loss to LSU

Audio By Carbonatix

The Arkansas baseball team fell in heartbreaking fashion to SEC rival LSU at the College World Series on Wednesday. The walk-off loss officially ended their season.

It was a game the Razorbacks believe they should’ve won after taking a two-run lead into the ninth inning. A series of unfortunate events led to a late-game collapse.

Arkansas had already lost once to LSU in its opener in Omaha. They needed to beat the Tigers twice in order to keep national championship hopes alive.

They appeared on their way to forcing a decisive winner-take-all rematch on Thursday. Then, disaster.

LSU got two of its first three hitters on base in the bottom of the ninth frame while trailing 5-3. From there, the game seemingly should’ve ended on multiple occasions, but the ball just didn’t bounce the Razorbacks’ way.

First, Tigers infielder Steven Milam looked to have rolled a game-ending groundball with one out. Rather than turn a 6-4-3 double play, Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy went to third base to get the lead runner.

Another view of the tailor-made double play ball to shortstop that would’ve ended the game and won it for Arkansas.

Wehiwa Aloy fires to 3rd to get the lead runner instead, extending the game where LSU would then walk it off and end the Razorbacks season…absolutely brutal… pic.twitter.com/aG5u6Cu1uW

— Harrison Cordell Fant (@Fantavious9) June 19, 2025

The next hitter then drilled a line drive to leftfield that was misplayed by Charles Davalan. It would’ve been the third out. Instead, two runs scored.

OH NOOOOOOO. ARKANSAS IS CURSED

WE ARE TIED AGAIN pic.twitter.com/QiGtJ3yQEv

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 19, 2025

After LSU tied the game at 5-5, Jared Jones ended it with a soft liner that grazed off the glove of second baseman Cam Kozeal. Arkansas had three chances to get the third out. Instead, the Tigers won, 6-5.

HOW ‘BOUT THEM FIGHTING TIGERS pic.twitter.com/AQY8wDrcd7

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 19, 2025

Arkansas baseball players consoled a teammate after the fact.

No doubt, the loss was heartbreaking. It was one Arkansas probably wins more times than not given the circumstances in the ninth inning. In this instance, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Davalan took the loss hard after misplaying the ball in leftfield. He apologized to teammates and coaches in tears. Rather than blame their sophomore leader, the Razorbacks rallied around him.

Every Razorback spent time with Charles Davalan postgame.

A team through and through. #WPS pic.twitter.com/noyPITVkte

— Pig Trail Nation (@PigTrailNation) June 19, 2025

The heartfelt moment went viral on social media. It was a painful end to the season, but the Hogs wanted Davalan to know that the loss didn’t fall on him.

Head coach Dave Van Horn reiterated that point in his postgame press conference. He noted that the Razorbacks wouldn’t have gotten to Omaha had it not been for the outfielder.

“We wouldn’t have gotten here (to Omaha) without Charles Davalan. Not even close. You could knock off 10 SEC wins if we didn’t have him.

“That kid (Charles Davalan) doesn’t have to be sorry for anything. Anything. He was our glue. He held everything together.”

-Dave Van Horn

Is Arkansas cursed?

The Hogs are now tied with Clemson and North Carolina in having the second-most College World Series appearances without a national championship.

Arkansas has been to Omaha 12 times. The program is now 0-for-12 in its title pursuit. Some of those losses have come painstaking fashion. Wednesday’s defeat was gut-wrenching, but it still ranks No. 2 on the list of recent Razorback collapses.

In 2018, the program made the national championship series to face Oregon State. Arkansas led 3-2 in the ninth inning with two outs after having already won Game 1. A Beavers batter popped up in foul territory on a play that should’ve ended the game and allowed the Razorbacks to dogpile.

Three defenders converged on the ball. None made the catch. Oregon State used its extra life to take the lead and win Game 2 before going on to take a decisive Game 3 for the national title.

Arkansas baseball couldn’t get the monkey off its back in ’18. It failed to do so again in heartbreaking fashion seven years later.

Social Media

Video

Video: Arkansas Players Crying After All-Time College World Series Collapse originally appeared on The Spun. The College World Series provided us with an unfortunate all-time collapse in Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas fell to LSU, 6-5, in the Men’s College World Series on Wednesday evening. The Razorbacks had multiple chances to […]

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Video: Arkansas Players Crying After All-Time College World Series Collapse originally appeared on The Spun.

The College World Series provided us with an unfortunate all-time collapse in Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday evening.

Arkansas fell to LSU, 6-5, in the Men’s College World Series on Wednesday evening. The Razorbacks had multiple chances to put the game away late, but they could not. LSU is off to the national championship series.

The Razorbacks were leading the Tigers, 5-3, in the bottom of the ninth inning. Arkansas had what appeared to be a double play ball, which would’ve ended the game. However, the shortstop went with the force out at third base, extending the game.

LSU’s next batter hit a line drive into left field, that bounced off of the Arkansas outfielder. Two runs scored, tying the game at 5-5.

Later in the inning, LSU walked off Arkansas, with a single up the middle that scored the runner from second base.

While LSU is off to the national championship series, against Coastal Carolina, the Razorbacks are going home. Arkansas players were crying in one another’s arms, shocked by what had happened in the bottom of the ninth inning.

It was heartbreaking to watch.

Arkansas players crying.ESPN&period; — Arkansas players crying.ESPN.

Video of Arkansas players crying is going viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday evening.

The national championship series between LSU and Coastal Carolina will begin later this week.

Video: Arkansas Players Crying After All-Time College World Series Collapse first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.

Social Media

women's cricket ke liye eligible hoon'

NEW DELHI: Anaya Bangar, child of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has called upon the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to support transgender cricketers. Currently, transgender cricketers are not allowed to participate in women’s cricket. This ban was implemented during the ICC board meeting following the 2023 […]

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Currently, transgender cricketers are not allowed to participate in women’s cricket. This ban was implemented during the ICC board meeting following the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Anaya shared an eight-page scientific report detailing her transition journey as a transgender athlete. Bangar plans on submitting these findings to the ICC and BCCI.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“For the first time, I’m sharing the scientific report that documents my journey as a trans woman athlete. Over the past year, I’ve undergone structured physiological assessments after starting hormone therapy. This report captures the real, measurable impact of my transition not opinions, not assumptions, but data.”

“I’m submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope. My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it. Whether you agree or not, thank you for witnessing.”

Anaya, who was born male, later transitioned to female. Bangar recently shared test reports through an Instagram video. The 23-year-old collaborated with Manchester Metropolitan University after completing one year of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

The tests collected data on her muscle power, endurance, glucose, and oxygen levels, comparing them with cisgender female athletes. The results indicated these parameters fell within cisgender female athlete norms.

“Science kehta hai main women’s cricket ke liye eligible hoon. Ab sawaal yeh hai kya duniya tayyar hai sach sunne ke liye? (Science says that I am eligible for women’s cricket. Now the question is whether the world is ready to hear the truth or not?)”

Anaya’s father, Sanjay Bangar, played 12 Tests and 15 ODIs for Team India. He later served as the national team’s batting coach from 2014 to 2019.

Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

Social Media

Ignored Indian Pacer's Cryptic 'Karma Is Unforgivable' Post Goes Viral After Harshit Rana …

After India added Harshit Rana to their squad for the ongoing tour of England as the 19th member of the squad, a member of the India-A squad, which was in England for a shadow tour, took to Instagram and posted a cryptic story that caught the eyes of cricket fans on social media. Mukesh Kumar, […]

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ignored Indian Pacer's Cryptic 'Karma Is Unforgivable' Post Goes Viral After Harshit Rana ...

Mukesh Kumar, who has played three Test matches for India and debuted before Rana, posted a strongly worded statement on Instagram. Mukesh and Harshit both played the first unofficial Test match between India A and England Lions and it was the format that had the better performance.

The game ended in a draw as the English team batted just once, which meant the Indian bowling unit got just once to bowl at Canterbury. In the Lions’ innings, Mukesh bowled 25 overs and gave away 92 runs while taking three wickets. All three wickets were of batters in the top six, which included centurion Max Holden. Meanwhile, Harshit bowled 27 overs and gave away 99 runs while taking just one wicket, which was the dismissal of number 10 batter Josh Hull.

Dropped From Test Team, Champions Trophy Winner Added To Squad As 19th Member For England Series

Both players were rested for the second match as Khaleel Ahmed and Tushar Deshpande got a chance. The scoreboard of the intra-squad between India-A and India are not known hence the performance of both players in that game is unclear.

‘Karma Bides its time. You will always have to watch out. Karma is unforgiving and always get payback,” wrote Mukesh on Instagram.

Mukesh made his debut in all three formats for India in July-August 2023 during the tour of Australia. However, he has not played for India in any format since July last year, when he featured for the Men in Blue in a T20I series against Zimbabwe. His last outing in Test cricket was in November 2023.

Intrestingly, Mukesh has not played for India since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach during the tour of Sri Lanka last year in July.

As far as Harshit is concerned, he made his Test debut for India in November last year against Australia during the Indian team’s famous victory in Perth. Later, he debuted in T20I and ODI cricket during a home series against England. Harshit was part of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning squad and played two games.

Harshit created the rare record of being the only Indian in history to take 3 or more wickets in an innings on debut in all three formats in international cricket.