FIFA, Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision to close the stadium’s massive parking lots may have satisfied their collective fetish for public transit and slaked their obsessive car hatred, but it totally ignored the traffic infrastructure and culture of the metropolitan area.
MetLife Stadium hosts major events all the time: Between the Jets, Giants, college football games, occasional exhibitions and 15 or 20 huge summer concerts, it handles 40 or 50 massive audiences every year.
And this being America, a lot of people — roughly 60% to 70% — usually drive to MetLife, which was designed to accommodate tens of thousands of cars.
Yes, the trains worked OK Saturday . . . partly because fairly few people relied on them, as charging 98 bucks to ride a commuter train three miles wasn’t a great selling point.
Try to make public transit the only option, and then to gouge the captive ridership . . well, the exploitation is hard to miss.
Nor was it hard to foresee that people dropping a couple thou on tickets might not care to take public transit, but instead snag a rideshare or even pay hundreds of dollars for the privilege of parking a mile away at the American Dream mall.
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As of mid-Monday, 80,000 fans are due for Tuesday’s game, but only 24,000 have bought bus or train tickets . . . and the genius planners left only 3,500 parking spots available.
Uh-oh: Kickoff is at 3 pm, and the game will end in the middle of rush hour.
Sure, trains and buses have a place in the MetLife FIFA transit mix; they always do, in conjunction with cars.
Local planners had no need to try reinventing the wheel, let alone to experiment with square ones.
The 28-year-old accused killer is due in Manhattan Supreme Court ahead of a September 8 trial where a jury will decide whether to convict him of executing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Tuesday’s proceeding will be held in full view of the public, in contrast to a mysterious “sealed” hearing that Justice Gregory Carro ordered earlier this month at the request of Mangione’s defense team.
Mangione is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthCare’s CEO to highlight a “parasitic” healthcare industry. Steven Hirsch for NY Post
It followed Carro last month handing prosecutors a key legal win by allowing jurors to see the alleged murder weapon — a 3D-printed pistol — and the “manifesto” found inside Mangione’s backpack when he was arrested in Altoona, PA., following a five-day manhunt.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty in parallel state and federal cases to charges of fatally shooting Thompson, a 50-year-old father-of-two, from close range on a Midtown sidewalk in December 2024.
But his lawyers have been stalling on revealing if they’ll use a psychiatric defense at his trial — a legal gambit that, if successful, could reduce his time in prison or result in him being institutionalized.
Carro did not explain why he blocked the public from accessing the June 3 pretrial hearing, but a New York State court system spokesperson hinted that a pending ruling in the case could shed light on the secrecy.
The judge also refused to let journalists challenge his decision to keep the hearing hush hush — despite state legal precedent stating that he must provide a “specific” reason for doing so.
Dozens of Mangione’s warped fans — who have praised him for highlighting the ills of the US healthcare system despite allegations that he executed the head of a major company in the process — have supported him at his past appearances.
Surveillance cameras captured Thompson’s cold-blooded December 2024 killing on a Midtown sidewalk. Obtained by NY Post
The clean-cut scion of a wealthy Maryland family plotted to “rebel against the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel” by targeting the head of “a company that literally extracts human life force for money,” he wrote in notebook entries cited in court papers.
Mangione faces up to life in prison if convicted in either his state or federal case.
A former Manchester United prospect will make men’s World Cup history if he steps on to the pitch for Iraq on Tuesday – but not for the country he is representing.
The moment will instead be monumental for fans in Pakistan, a nation of more than 240 million people – the fifth largest population in the world – whose football team have never reached a World Cup.
In fact, they have won just one qualifying game in their entire history.
Placed 198th in the Fifa world rankings, the South Asian country sits among the 15 worst-performing nations in the sport, and its people have never been able to cheer on anyone who represents them on the biggest stage.
Until now.
Utrecht’s former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, representing Iraq, is poised to become the first player of Pakistani heritage to play in a men’s World Cup.
He says he was “surprised” when he found out about the honour – but his heritage is something he is proud of.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know it myself,” he told BBC Sport. “I followed the account that posted it [that he was the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at a men’s World Cup] and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn’t think of anything like this.
“My dad is Pakistani. He’s my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career.
“I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family.”
Iqbal was born and raised in Manchester. He is Pakistani through his father and Iraqi through his mother. The talented midfielder says he takes pride in representing both nations and shows this when he takes to the pitch by wearing both countries’ flags on his boots.
Asked why he chose to play in boots that showcase his heritage, the 23-year-old reiterated his “respect” for both sides of his family’s background.
“I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side,” he said. “I think that’s because I respect both sides.
“When people ask me what I feel more connected to, I can’t answer. For me, they’re both equal. It’s about respect and something I carry with a lot of pride.”
The Yankees can get to a World Series with Anthony Volpe as their shortstop. There is proof of concept. They already have done it. And, not only that, Volpe played at a high level in the 2024 postseason.
Still, I don’t think Volpe is ever going to be all he can be in his current position — as a shortstop and as a New York Yankee. The Jersey kid who grew up a fan of the team and idolized Derek Jeter just wants this to work so badly, but I believe the hunger works against him.
In trying to compensate for an arm too short for shortstop, Volpe tends to play too fast at the position and makes mistakes because of his overzealousness.
Imagine Volpe as, say, the Royals second baseman next to Bobby Witt Jr. or the Tigers second baseman next to Kevin McGonigle. The pressure of New York expectations — his and that of the fan base — would be off. He would be playing a position more suited for his skills. That would be his best chance to thrive in the majors, as much as he does not want that outcome and as much as the Yankees have tried to resist it for a first-round pick for whom they have such affinity.
For nearly a decade, Sean McVay has built the Los Angeles Rams around a simple philosophy: talent matters, but character matters too.
From the moment he arrived in 2017, McVay and general manager Les Snead have repeatedly emphasized culture, accountability and what they call the organization’s “non-negotiables.”
That philosophy now faces one of its biggest tests.
Rams Sean McVay’s non-negotiable culture faces a major test after Alaric Jackson’s arrest. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson was arrested last week on suspicion of felony domestic violence following an incident in Los Angeles. According to police, Jackson was taken into custody after officers responded to a domestic violence call. The case remains under investigation, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether charges are ultimately filed.
For the Rams, however, this situation extends beyond the legal process.
The Athletic’s Nate Atkins recently noted that “Coach Sean McVay has said that treatment of women is one of the core non-negotiables in his team culture.”
If that’s true, Jackson’s future with the organization should already be in serious doubt.
The NFL’s personal conduct policy allows the league to discipline players independent of criminal proceedings. Even if charges are reduced or dismissed, the league can still issue punishment if it determines there is credible evidence of misconduct.
Jackson’s situation becomes even more concerning when viewed alongside his recent history.
In 2024, Jackson was suspended two games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy for an undisclosed incident. He also faces a civil lawsuit alleging he recorded sexual acts without consent and used the video to taunt the accuser.
If the NFL determines Jackson violated the personal conduct policy again, a suspension appears unavoidable. Atkins points out, NFL guidelines specifically allow enhanced discipline for repeat offenders, and that violence involving a pregnant woman is listed as an aggravating factor when determining punishment.
Sean McVay has to decide the importance of team culture and his non-negotiables regarding the future of Alaric Jackson. Getty Images
The Rams now face a difficult reality.
Jackson has developed into one of the league’s most reliable left tackles and serves as Matthew Stafford’s blindside protector, an increasingly important role given the quarterback’s age and ongoing back concerns.
Replacing him would not be easy. Los Angeles has limited proven depth behind him, and any extended absence would create significant challenges for an offensive line built to compete for a championship.
But Jackson’s value to the Rams is precisely what makes this such an important test.
Non-negotiables are, by definition, not supposed to be weighed against talent, production or positional importance. They’re called non-negotiables because there are no exceptions. If the organization ultimately determines Jackson violated one of its core principles, the question should not be whether the Rams can afford to move on.
It should be whether they can afford not to.
Jackson’s arrest also arrives amid a troubling offseason across the NFL. Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, Packers running back Josh Jacobs, Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice have all been connected to domestic violence allegations or related legal proceedings in recent months.
The growing number of cases has once again placed the NFL’s personal conduct policy under scrutiny.
Alaric Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams before a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys Getty Images
For the Rams, however, Jackson’s situation stands apart.
Under McVay, the organization has largely avoided the kinds of off-field controversies that have plagued other franchises. Recent legal issues involving Rams players have generally fallen outside the category of violence against women. Cornerback Derion Kendrick was arrested on a felony gun charge in 2024, while receiver Demarcus Robinson faced legal trouble stemming from a DUI case.
The closest comparison may be Puka Nacua, who is currently defending himself against a civil lawsuit stemming from a New Year’s Eve incident in which he is accused of biting a woman. Notably, the Rams reportedly slowed discussions on a contract extension that could exceed $170 million, wanting to see a sustained pattern of accountability and positive behavior before making a long-term commitment.
That response suggests the organization is willing to connect character and accountability to even the biggest personnel decisions.
And if the Rams are willing to pump the brakes on a massive extension for a player they view as a franchise cornerstone, it becomes difficult to argue they can look the other way when allegations directly conflict with this particular standard.
The football implications are secondary.
The Rams can survive injuries. They can survive suspensions. They can survive losing a starting left tackle.
Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during the first half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Carolina Panthers Getty Images
If McVay truly believes this is a foundational pillar of the culture he has spent nearly a decade building, then Jackson’s status should not hinge on how valuable he is to the offensive line.
It should hinge on whether he violated the standard.
Whether Jackson remains on the roster or ultimately faces discipline from either the league or the team, this has become one of the most significant culture tests of the McVay era.
Because if a non-negotiable can be negotiated for the right player, then it was never really non-negotiable in the first place.
Ghana’s government has filed for a review of Canada’s refusal to grant midfielder Thomas Partey a visa, with the case to be heard in court.
Partey is set to miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on Wednsday after being denied entry to Canada.
The 33-year-old’s visa issues relate to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.
The hearing will take place at 14:00 BST (09:00 eastern time) in Ottawa.
Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and is due to stand trial next year.
The Ghanaian government, who labelled the decision “high-handed and extremely unfair”, is seeking permission for Partey to enter Canada briefly to take part in Ghana’s match.
It has also asked the court to instruct Canadian immigration authorities to allow Partey to submit a new visa application.
Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said the country is also exploring diplomatic means to secure a Canadian visa for the former Arsenal player.
It is unclear how long the court proceedings will take.
