Podbit · The Rest Is Football
Rob Beckett has a theory: to be a referee, you have to crave attention. Give them names on their shirts and a ref-cam, and they behave. But eventually the desire to intervene kicks back in. VAR's early restraint at this tournament has given way to a rash of bad calls — and Rob thinks he knows why.
Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in four sets to claim his second straight Wimbledon title and fifth career grand slam — just over a month after a widely publicized meltdown at the French Open. Zverev, notably, won the French Open himself.
Jannik Sinner won his second straight Wimbledon title, defeating Alexander Zverev in four sets after losing the first. Sinner is now 10-0 in career meetings with Zverev — a complete and utter head-to-head dominance.
Christian Pulisic suffered a microfracture and bone bruise to his right leg during the US World Cup loss to Belgium, confirmed by imaging taken on Tuesday. He is expected to resume training before returning to AC Milan.
PIX 106 radio host Bob Wolf organized the Eye Rock 500 — a stock car race for 14 blind drivers at Fonda Speedway. Usual attendance: 100 people. Race day attendance: 6,000. Michael Corso called in, was put live on air, and was signed up before he could think too hard about what he'd agreed to.
Every car in the Eye Rock 500 had a wooden block wedged under the gas pedal to keep speeds safe. Michael Corso found it, said something unprintable, and kicked it out. Then he put the car in neutral, revved the engine, and told his sighted navigator: just tell me where to go.
Michael Corso hit 100 mph, passed the lead cars, heard his navigator yell 'You won!', jammed the brakes, stepped out, and listened to the crowd roar. Then a car drove past him. He had stopped 50 feet short of the actual checkered flag. He got back in, drove forward, and put his head on the steering wheel.
President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card against US player Folarin Balogun — and it worked. The card was suspended for up to a year, clearing Balogun to play Belgium, but FIFA publicly denied Trump's call influenced the independent disciplinary committee.
Sage Steele is thrilled Balogun gets to play but uneasy about a sitting president pressuring FIFA. She flags the asterisk problem: if the US wins, the world will say they needed Trump to clear the path. Sports and politics are now fully intertwined — and she doesn't love it.
Twenty-nine present and former FIFA officials have been indicted for corruption — including racketeering and money laundering — tied to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup selections. The referee who issued the Balogun red card had himself been investigated for match-fixing by Brazil's parliament, yet FIFA still deployed him as a top World Cup official.
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