Mickey Togs

The Denver Broncos have entered a sale agreement with the Walton-Penner family ownership group, led by Walmart heir Rob Walton, as part of a reported record-setting deal to purchase the NFL franchise.

The Broncos confirmed the acquisition in a statement shared by team president and CEO Joe Ellis.

“While this purchase and sale agreement is pending approval from the NFL’s finance committee and league ownership, today marks a significant step on the path to an exciting new chapter in Broncos history,” Ellis said.

The winning bid is valued at $4.65 billion, the most expensive price ever paid for a U.S. sports team, more than doubling the $2.275 paid by David Tepper to acquire the Carolina Panthers in 2018.

NY Mets pitcher Max Scherzer dominated the opposition while his Braves counterpart, Max Fried, was lucky to survive the early innings. 

With Scherzer in charge the Mets’ wasted opportunities weren’t so pronounced. The right-hander’s seven strong innings led a 4-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 42,925, pushing the Mets’ NL East-lead over the Braves back to 2 ½ games. 

The Mets (54-33) still have 14 games remaining against the Braves before the regular season concludes. Scherzer offered a reminder on this night of why team owner Steve Cohen was willing to give him a three-year contract worth $130 million last offseason. 

Scherzer didn’t dent until the seventh, when Austin Riley crushed a two-out homer that pulled the Braves within 2-1. The ensuing batter, Marcell Ozuna, doubled on a hanging slider before Scherzer struck out Eddie Rosario and pumped his fist in celebration. Before Riley’s homer, Scherzer had retired 12 straight batters and 20 of 21 overall in the game.

Mets infielder Luis Guillorme smashed a leadoff eighth-inning homer, and Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz combined to pitch the final two innings scoreless. It was the first time this season manager Buck Showalter opted to use Diaz on three straight days. 

Former Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC baseball analyst Tim McCarver, who was in the analyst chair for 24 World Series, has officially retired. 

McCarver, who last called games on the national stage in the 2013 World Series, had worked Cardinals games for six years after that and had been on hiatus during the pandemic. 

“I think I’m happy about it,” he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I think that’s the best.”

The 80-year-old former World Series-winning catcher had all but officially been retired the last couple of years, but the announcement is still notable. 

For 18 years, McCarver and Joe Buck called the World Series on Fox, with Buck saying at one point that he learned more about broadcasting from McCarver than his father, Jack. 

“There will never be another one like him,” Buck said during the 2013 season. “I personally think it’s a tougher analyst job than in the NFL, NHL, NBA. Because of that, it’s the hardest role to fill. He’s done it forever and there’s a reason why — it’s not that easy.” 

Dairy Queen is introducing three new colorful, sweet treats.

New Fruity Blast Dipped Cone: A soft serve cone dipped in a light purple, fruity cereal flavored cone dip.

New S’mores Shake: Marshmallow, graham and chocolatey shavings blended with the brand’s signature soft serve.

New Poolside Punch Twisty Misty Slush: Ice cold layers of blue raspberry and fruity pink punch.

You can find all three at participating DQ locations nationwide. Enjoy!

Carlos Carrasco’s finest start in six weeks and Eduardo Escobar’s first true power surge of the season lifted the Mets to another series win on Sunday. 

Carrasco hurled 5 innings of one-run ball and Escobar homered for the third consecutive game as the Mets took two of the three against  the Rangers with a 4-1 victory at Citi Field. 

Carrasco had posted a 6.20 ERA over his previous nine starts since May 15, but the veteran righty allowed one run — a solo homer by Texas catcher Jonah Heim in the third — on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts before Joely Rodriguez replaced him with two outs and two runners on base in the sixth. 

The 35-year-old Carrasco (9-4, 4.54) had surrendered nine runs combined over the first three innings over his previous two outings, but he retired the side in order in Sunday’s first inning and erased a one-out single by Nathaniel Lowe in the second by picking him off at first base. 

After hitting a speed bump in Houston, the Yankees reverted to their winning ways again, sweeping a doubleheader against the Guardians, with a 13-4 win in the opener and a 6-1 victory in the nightcap at Progressive Field.

The Yankees, who have won six of their past seven games, hit four homers in the opener and then got a strong bounce-back start from Nestor Cortes in the nightcap.

With the Game 1 win, the Yankees also improved to 16-5 after losses on the season — which isn’t too surprising considering they are an MLB-best 58-21 overall.

But there is something to their success in games after rare defeats.

“I feel like we handle wins and losses well, but I also think they get ticked off when they lose,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “They take it a little bit personal.”

On Saturday, that resulted in a pair of four-run innings in the opener, leading to their biggest offensive output since they scored 18 runs against the White Sox on June 12. 

Israel Adesanya retained his middleweight belt with a tepid unanimous-decision victory over Jared Cannonier in the UFC 276 main  event on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena on the Vegas Strip. 

In the co-main event, Alexander Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway for the third time, defending his featherweight title by unanimous decision with a dominant striking performance.

Adesanya (23-1, 15 finishes) won his belt three years ago as one of the UFC’s most entertaining fighters and personalities, but his elaborate ring walk might have been the most thrilling part of his dry, technical victory over the cautious Cannonier (15-6, 12 finishes).

After copying famed professional wrestler The Undertaker on a walk that included the wrestler’s signature hat and a large urn, Adesanya patiently picked at Cannonier with kicks and occasional punches for five rounds. Cannonier, getting his first UFC title shot at 38 years old, struggled to find a consistent striking range, and he didn’t show enough desperation to figure it out.

Adesanya won on all three judges’ scorecards, 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46. He has never lost a UFC middleweight fight, but he has just one stoppage victory in his five 185-pound fights since 2019.

Quiznos puts its own unique spin on iconic American fare with the introduction of new Philly Cheesesteaks.

Philly Cheesesteaks debut in two varieties: the Steak Philly and Chicken Philly.

The Steak Philly features chopped steak with sautéed onions and peppers, cherry peppers, and white American cheese. You also have the option to make it spicy with jalapeños and Batch 83 four-pepper chili sauce.

The Chicken Philly consists of chicken with sautéed peppers and onions, cherry peppers, and white American cheese. You can make it spicy with jalapeños and Batch 83 sauce.

The Grilled Cheese Double Burger is back at Sonic.

The returning fan-favorite features two seasoned 100 percent pure beef patties layered with three slices of melty American cheese, all sandwiched between two slices of thick, buttery Texas Toast.

The Grilled Cheese Double Burger will be available at participating locations nationwide. 

Pinkberry welcomes Strawberry Shortcake frozen yogurt as the brand’s newest seasonal frozen yogurt flavor.

Inspired by WildBrain’s children’s character “Strawberry Shortcake,” featured in their new animated series Berry in the Big City, the brand’s Strawberry Shortcake frozen yogurt features a cool, tart tang that can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a combination with fresh strawberries, strawberry puree, crumble and whipped cream.