Mets' Steven Matz has sandwich named after him, but doesn't order it

Mets rookie Steven Matz had an amazing debut at Citi Field on Sunday — both with the bat and on the mound. It was so good, the Long Island delicatessen Matz frequents was overrun by customers ordering the hero sandwich named after the Mets phenom.

Matz frequented the SE-Port Deli on Long Island so much — always ordering the same thing — the deli just started to call his order "The Matz."

So less than 24 hours after the impressive outing, in which he allowed two runs in 7-2/3 innings and went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Cincinnati, Matz showed up for lunch.

According to Newsday:

Owner Wisam Dakwar was behind his East Setauket counter making a Matz Monday afternoon when he heard a commotion and turned to look at the line of customers. Matz and teammate Jacob deGrom had walked in.

"We had an off day today so I called Jacob to see what he was doing," Matz said. "We came out to Long Island, figured I'd show him the town a little bit."

So what did the Mets new star order?

Matz went with the Boone, which has chicken cutlet, melted American cheese, bacon and Russian dressing on a roll.

"That's the most standard one, so that's what I went with," said Matz, who also ordered his usual cup of Se-Port iced tea. "But it's cool to have my own hero. It's been up there for a while."

The Matz specialty sandwich includes chicken cutlet, melted jack and cheddar cheeses, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato topped with pepper house dressing on a toasted garlic hero and it's what Matz ordered long before the sandwich was given his name.

Dakwar said Matz has been a customer since he was a student at nearby Ward Melville High School. He named the hero after Matz when he was signed by the Mets in 2009.

A lot of people are called heroes these days, but how many can say they come with pepper house dressing?

Chris Young's reaction to Mike Trout robbing him of hit is priceless (VIDEO)

Mike Trout made three sparkling defensive plays and hit a home run off CC Sabathia in the Angels' victory over the Yankees Monday night. And even the Yankees players had to marvel at Trout's skills with the glove and bat — all except one.

Chris Young thought he had an extra-base hit after hitting the ball deep to centerfield ...twice. And both times, Trout was there to say, "Not in my house."

It’s hard not to love @MikeTrout … unless you’re @CY24_7. pic.twitter.com/7ro4PtKKY7

— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) June 30, 2015

Young is visibly upset at being robbed the second time and his reaction is priceless.

Both of those hits could have brought home a run for the Yankees had they got by Trout. And since the Angels beat the Yankees 4-1, the catches were instrumental in the Angels win.

Here's the one-man wrecking crew at work:

Madison Square Garden goes totally vegan for Morrissey concert

Morrissey has long been an acquired taste for the casual fan and, if you were looking to sate your carnivorous taste buds at the refreshment stands during his concert at Madison Square Garden Saturday night, well ... you were out of luck.

The maudlin British singer headlined the stage and, at the performer’s stipulation, no meat was to be served inside. Morrissey, a staunch animal-rights activist, made the demand or he would cancel the show.

It was the first time the Garden's history that the arena went totally vegetarian at a performer's request.

But the ex-Smiths frontman has some of the most fervent followers in music and, even with the banning of hot dogs, chicken fingers and the like, the Moz fanatics filled the seats.

Morrissey had made the same no-meat requirement of other venues and has, on occasion, canceled shows if his request wasn’t met.

And since the fickle Morrissey regularly cancels shows (and whole tours) at a whim, munching on carrots and kale — not to mention his political crudities — seems a small price for meat-eaters to pay and see one of his transfixing live shows.

@BlondieOfficial at @MSG for Morrissey vegetarian concert no meat at Madison Square Garden! W @SoberVeganLesbi pic.twitter.com/6Y6y96RTnV

— Jane Velez-Mitchell (@JVM) June 28, 2015

And with the still tasty Debbie Harry opening, at Morrissey's request, who needed any more MSG at MSG?

Aaron Rodgers hones his samurai skills with Olivia Munn (VIDEO)

Some NFL players like to spend their offseason experimenting with unusual pursuits to stay in shape. But for Aaron Rodgers, namaste yoga or Kaatsbaan ballet are passe — especially if your girlfriend is a whiz with a samurai.

While GF Olivia Munn showed off her impressive skills with the sharp-edged katana, Rodgers followed suit — albeit with a bamboo shinai.

And if you thought Munn was hot before, here she is training for her upcoming appearance as Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) with Rodgers following along:

Learned some new tricks...

A video posted by Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) on Jun 28, 2015 at 2:35pm PDT

The Packers begin training camp on July 30, which gives Rodgers time to work up to a real sword.

Lord Stanley Trophy has own float in Chicago Pride Parade (VIDEO)

Just days after the historic Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, approximately one million people flooded the streets of Chicago in celebration of the annual Pride Parade. And one of the most popular attractions was adorned in silver — namely Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Cup, along with mascot Tommy Hawk and members of the ice crew, was featured on a float sponsored by WGN Radio and looked fine and dandy after the previous night out at a Jimmy Buffet concert.

Back when the Blackhawks won the Cup in 2010, the Cup rode in the parade at the request of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association. Five years and two more Stanley Cups later, the trophy was back.

A big hit in the #Pride2015 parade today. #StanleyCup #BecauseItsTheCup @NHLBlackhawks @HockeyHallFame (Hhofarchives) pic.twitter.com/2OZzxEoQWC

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) June 28, 2015

Moto3 racer loses control, crosses finish line riding sidesaddle (VIDEO)

During this weekend's Moto3 Dutch Grand Prix, Niklas Ajo made what might be one of the greatest finishes in MotoGP history despite coming in at eighth place.

On one of the final turns, the Finnish rider was suddenly bucked off the seat of his KTM before it veered off the track but, Ajo still managed to cross the finish line riding the motorcycle — sidesaddle!

Ajo's epic save is all the more amazing because he also avoids crashing a wall and finishes the race while controlling the bike on his knees.

Aja came in 17th place on the day but, really, it's this Finnish everyone will remember.

What a race yesterday🙈 the front group got away already in the start so the race was just fighting in the second group. I was able to lead the group until the last corner but pushed a bit too much there and finished like this😂 was a scary moment but I wanted to finish the race in any way and I think that was a pretty unique way!! #rbaracingteam#avant #batteryenergydrink#nautical#karavasauna#duell#javetech#angelmamakela#petajavedenmetalli#arai#alpinestars

A photo posted by Niklas Ajo (@niklasajo31) on Jun 28, 2015 at 1:16am PDT

Andong Song becomes first Chinese player ever taken in NHL Draft

For the first time, a Chinese player has been selected in the NHL draft, although, by way of Canada and New Jersey.

Andong Song made history after he was chosen by the New York Islanders with the No. 172 pick in the draft Saturday.

And it's been quite a journey.

The baby-faced (even by NHL rookie standards) 6-foot, 160-pound defenseman, who goes by the name "Misha," started playing hockey on a tiny rink in Beijing when his mother was trying to find him a sport. Once his talent was acknowledged, his family moved to Ontario where the 10-year-old Chinese boy was met with plenty of skepticism on the ice.

Song, now an 18-year-old who also plays on one of China's national teams, continually proved himself at each level, and was an assistant captain this past season on the varsity team at the prep school Lawrenceville in New Jersey.

Now the sixth-round NHL pick's pro rights belong to the Islanders after Song's selection was broadcast live in China.

Song hasn't yet met Islanders owner Charles B. Wang, who was born in Shanghai and moved to the U.S. with his family as a boy, but said he and his agent were aware of interest from the Islanders for some time.  He wasn't even certain that he was getting picked until his name was called.

"Being the first Chinese player, it's a lot of pressure from people back home, but good pressure," Andong said. "I hope that will motivate me to become a better player and hopefully I'll make them proud."

Nihao NHL.

CC Sabathia held back after Astros' Brett Oberholtzer throws at A-Rod (VIDEO)

Houston Astros pitcher Brett Oberholtzer got rocked early by the New York Yankees on Saturday, allowing a grand slam to catcher Brian McCann and a two-run dinger to outfielder Chris Young — all before he was out of the second inning. So the frustrated lefty took out his anger out on Alex Rodriguez by intentionally throwing a fastball at A-Rod's midsection.

CC Sabathia took offense at the bush league tactic and the Yankees pitcher had to be held back by manager Joe Girardi after the big guy hopped out of the dugout.

Oberholtzer, who just took a beating from McCann and Young, wanted no part of CC's wrath and meekly retreated to the Astros dugout — without even waiting for the umpire to give him the thumb.

It'll be interesting to see what happens the next time CC and Oberholtzer meet in a big league park.

Or not. Since Obie was almost immediately sent down to Triple-A.

.@Astros option LHP Brett Oberholtzer to Triple-A Fresno.

— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) June 28, 2015

Odell Beckham Jr. throws heat from pitcher's mound (VIDEO)

It's become almost routine to see Odell Beckham Jr. showing off his all-around athletic skills on social media, but here's one that might make more than a few MLB teams take notice.

Teammate Steve Weatherford posted an Instagram video of the NFL star smoking the plate with an impressive fastball at a New Jersey charity event.

And, of course, OBJ hit a home run too.

We're out here for the St. Jude's celebrity softball game and @iam_objxiii is throwing straight flames🔥 out here tonight! The sickest athlete I have ever seen! He crushed a homer ⚾️ earlier too. Just when I thought I was something special.... I'm glad he's on my squad! #NYG #Giants

A video posted by Steve Weatherford (@weatherford5) on Jun 26, 2015 at 5:32pm PDT

The two Giants players were joined by wide receiver Rueben Randle, cornerback Prince Amukamara, defensive end Damontre Moore, defensive tackle Jay Bromley and running back Andre Williams on former teammate David Wilson's team during the St. Jude Celebrity Softball Game.

Just guessing the Giants wish their star receiver would apply some of that heat to the hamstring that kept him out of minicamp last week.

Old Tigers fans have an elaborate celebratory handshake that is too cute (VIDEO)

At Friday night's White Sox-Tigers game, two more mature Detroit fans took Yoenis Cespedes' RBI triple as an opportunity to show everyone that you are never too old to have a secret celebratory handshake.

And who knows how long these two seniors have been keeping high-five, low-five, finger-jive under wraps.

And that wasn't the crack of a bat you heard — it was someone’s elbow.

Hisaki Kato levels Joe Schilling with a brutal Superman punch (VIDEO)

Joe Schilling has a reputation as a knockout artist and even told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Beat (via MMAFighting.com), “I just think anybody that says they're gonna stand up with me is just blowing smoke.”

Well it seems unheralded Hisaki Kato didn't stand for that sort of talk Friday night.

In his U.S. debut at Bellator 139, the Japanese fighter landed a nasty Superman punch on Schilling that smoked his favored opponent in the second round.

Superman is in the building!! Joe Schilling vs. Hisaki Kato KTFO! #Bellator139 https://t.co/AccDD4tkCO

— MiKED (@Nykal21) June 27, 2015

All five of Kato's pro MMA wins have come via KO.

The kind of KO you never... EVER forget! #HisakiKato #SupermanPunch #Bellator139 pic.twitter.com/aV9vEUMoIz

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 27, 2015

Lakers draft player who once called Kobe Bryant a 'rapist'

As if the Los Angeles Lakers don't have enough problems on the court these days, there might be another one in the vetting department.

The Lakers chose Larry Nance Jr. with the 27th overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, then learned the Wyoming forward sent out a brutal tweet about Kobe Bryant three years ago.

"Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver this time.." Nance tweeted on May 1, 2012, adding the hashtag "rapist."

Seems the Lakers' new draft pick just deleted this old tweet from 2012. Probably a good idea. pic.twitter.com/kC33QuIvPL

— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 26, 2015

Nance, the son of former NBA star Larry Nance, quickly deleted the 2012 tweet, but not before it was widely shared on social media immediately after the Lakers selected him with their second first-round pick. The tweet referred to Bryant's July 2003 arrest for sexual assault. The case was settled out of court, and Bryant apologized to his accuser without admitting guilt.

But it appears that the Lakers were well aware of the critical tweet before they made the decision to draft Nance:

LAL GM Mitch Kupchak said he & team PR boss John Black addressed Nance's Kobe tweet. Said Kobe & Nance will have to work it out themselves.

— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 26, 2015

Nance now joins the Lakers facing the possibility of an awkward meeting with the team's biggest star.

That first Lakers practice should be a lot of fun. Watch the elbows.

Cavaliers draft Sir'Dominic Pointer of St. John's in second round

St. John's versatile forward Sir'Dominic Pointer made it into the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him with the 53rd overall pick.

The defensive specialist and fierce competitor was selected with the Cavs' final pick. He's a 6-6 prospect who averaged 13.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.9 steals in 33 games during his senior season. 

The 23-year-old Pointer was the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and ranks third in the school's history in blocks (172) and fifth in steals (200).

He's still a long shot to make the team.

The athletic Pointer has very little range on his jump shot, so he's counting on his defense to carve out a spot in the league.

Pointer was only the second Big East player taken in the entire draft along with Villanova's Darrun Hilliard, who went No. 38 overall to Detroit.

Knicks top draft pick brings young fan to tears (VIDEO)

Most New York Knicks fans in attendance at the Barclays Center on Thursday night were pretty vocal when their team picked 19-year-old Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 draft pick.

The pick triggered loud, long boos from their fans, but one young Knicks fan took it extremely hard.

Porzingis, a 7-foot-1 forward is widely considered the biggest gamble at his position of the 2015 NBA draft — although one with huge potential.

But man, do those memories of another foreign big man, Frederic Weis, still linger.



“Lot of fans weren’t happy they drafted me,” Porzingis said. “I have to do everything in my hands to turn those booing fans into clapping fans.”

Look at it this way kid, at least you still have plenty of years ahead of you to see it happen.

Alcides Escobar takes nut shot from routine ground ball (VIDEO)

Alcides Escobar is usually pretty adept at handling ground balls but, when he isn't — man it hurts.

The Kansas City Royals shortstop misplayed this grounder Wednesday and well ... you know.

Let's just call it ball three.

this can't feel good--like, at all pic.twitter.com/O4oqU9IR71

— Jose Rivera (@notjoserivera) June 25, 2015

U.S. Women's World Cup team told to quit whining and just play

It seems like all of the non-stop drama and excuses surrounding the U.S. Women's National Team is wearing thin in Canada. As the Americans get set to face China in a World Cup match on Friday night, those connected to the tournament are gritting their teeth every time Team USA opens its mouth.

Organizers and analysts are reportedly growing tired of the U.S. complaints about the artificial turf, conspiracy theories regarding referees, and the Americans' long list of alibis for their overall lackluster play. Not to mention the Hope Solo situation.

"It is just getting tiresome around this U.S. team at the moment," Kristian Jack, soccer analyst for Canada's tournament broadcaster, TSN, told USA TODAY Sports. "There's far too many stories around this team. We've had the turf, we've had Hope Solo, we've had [Abby] Wambach moaning that she can't score a goal because it wasn't on grass. They are not playing that well. That should be the story."

Even Alexi Lalas, the former men's national team star and Fox analyst, is getting tired of the women's complaints.

"There is no conspiracy theory against you or the U.S. team," he said in a telecast while talking to Team USA. "As a matter of fact, stop trying to make the U.S. into this poor little U.S. team that everybody is against — the downtrodden United States women's soccer team.

"You are a superpower, you are one of the best teams, if not the best team in the world. Act as such."

Not surprisingly, all of this whining has much the rest of the world rooting against the Americans.

"Boy, the American team sure talks a lot," Gilles Blondeau, a member of an Ottawa fans group, told USA TODAY. "You don't hear Canada talking like that. ... People up here don't appreciate that kind of thing too much. You're winning. Stop complaining."

While we're at it, can they get the rah-rah American TV announcers to stop turning every call against the U.S. into Watergate.

Wall crashes down on minor league outfielder trying to make catch (VIDEO)

There are a couple of reasons outfield walls are in ballparks and that is so home run balls can go over them and players can't go through them.

And after one outfielder tried plowing through one during Wednesday's Syracuse Chiefs-Charlotte Knights Triple-A game, this centerfield barrier had the last word.

Here’s Chiefs center fielder, Darin Mastroianni, getting swallowed up by the padded backboard after it crashed down on him during a play.

Mastroianni was OK and stayed in for the rest of the game but batter Matt Tuiasosopo was able to reach second on the play.

Wall-1. Outfielder-0.

Soccer player punked by fake kidnap, terrorist-style execution for ‘hilarious’ Algerian TV prank (VIDEO)

In what has to be the cruelest prank ever devised, a professional soccer player was kidnapped, driven to the desert and threatened with execution — terrorist-style — all for the sake of a "hilarious" TV prank.

Algeria international Madjid Bougherra, who played for English teams Charlton Athletic and the Rangers, was subjected to the terrifying ordeal for an Algerian hidden camera show.

He was relaxing in a cafe with a friend when actors posing as armed extremists burst in and forced him to the ground at gunpoint. 

All the customers are then forced into a cupboard, where Bougherra eases their panic while appearing calm throughout. The captives are later blindfolded and driven to a remote location in the desert.

They are then made to kneel in the sand presumably fearing they will shot or beheaded before the stunt is finally revealed.

With a combination of elation and desire for revenge, the clip ends with Bougherra chasing his friend, who had been in on the prank, around the desert.

But, considering the likelihood of something like that actually happening in that region of the world, the friend was lucky Bougherra didn't take more drastic actions.

Ex-Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra kidnapped by armed terrorists in "hilarious" TV prank http://t.co/dVPsPdcgqM pic.twitter.com/1YVQnVGu6C

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 23, 2015

Bougherra currently plays for Al-Fujairah in the UAE Arabian Gulf League. 

The prank was filmed for the TV show Camera Cache in Algeria, which remains on high alert over the continual threat posed by terrorist and criminal networks.

It's incredible considering that thirty seven Western hostages were executed at a gas plant in Algeria after being taken hostage by Al Qaeda in January 2013. The hostages were shown kneeling in the desert with their arms in the air while the group's leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar issued a video making a series of demands.

Sadly, that's reality TV.

UCLA coaches don't want to press charges against P. Diddy: Report

The football coaching staff at UCLA has reportedly decided the best thing for the school and everyone involved in the P. Diddy assault case is for the police to drop the charges against the hip-hop mogul.

Sources directly connected with the team told TMZ, the coaches are regretful the situation escalated to an arrest. They apparently think Diddy is just an pesky helicopter-dad who let his ego get in the way, but they don't want to make this a courtroom spectacle — largely because it would be bad for the team. 

  

Sources with direct knowledge of the confrontation between Diddy — real name Sean Combs — and conditioning coach Sal Alosi told TMZ, after the incident the coaches all decided to just let it go. They believe an intern called UCLA police and when the cops arrived, they asked to see a video of the incident and that was enough to lock Diddy up.

According to TMZ, head coach Jim Mora does not want a criminal prosecution. The interns who were present and allegedly threatened could press the case further, but if Mora is against it they would probably follow suit.

Diddy claims he was "defending himself" during the incident that led to his arrest for assault with a deadly weapon in LA, says his representative.

Monday's alleged assault — involving a kettlebell, used for weight training — took place on the UCLA campus where the rapper's son is a redshirt junior defensive back on the football team.

Nathalie Moar, who represents Diddy said reports of the incident were "wholly inaccurate".

"What we can say now is that any actions taken by Mr. Combs were solely defensive in nature to protect himself and his son" said Moar. "We are confident that once the true facts are revealed, the case will be dismissed."

Jail records show Combs was released on bail on Monday evening, after posting $160,000 bond.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the case will go to the L.A. County D.A. for felony review next week. The D.A. could prosecute even without victims but, a video could be problematic.

Diddy claims he picked up the kettlebell in self-defense after Alosi and four others made an aggressive move. 

Celebrity 'Core Four' obliges fans with photos at Yankee Stadium (VIDEO)

The stars were out in the Bronx Tuesday night even if they were only in the stands. An hour-and-twenty minute rain delay had Yankees fans feeling a little cranky but that didn't stop this quartet of famous people from posing for photos.

Here's Rudy Giuliani, Lorne Michaels, Jimmy Fallon and Paul O'Neill — who came down from the YES Network's booth — making the ugly loss to the Phillies a little more bearable during the down time.

The stars are out in the Bronx tonight! Rudy Giuliani, Lorne Michaels, @jimmyfallon & of course, @PaulONeillYES! pic.twitter.com/XD2ZCbcwDT

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 24, 2015

Not exactly the Core Four but, at least they had O'Neill.

Cubs fan holding baby interferes with foul ball at Wrigley Field (VIDEO)

Haven't fans at Wrigley Field learned anything about interfering with a player while the ball is still in play?

First there was the infamous Steve Bartman incident which added another year to the Cubbies' World Series drought a few years back — but at least he wasn't holding a baby.

During Tuesday night’s game against the Dodgers, not only did a fan pull a Bartman and interfere with a foul ball, but he did it while dangling a toddler sucking on a bottle in his other arm.

Watch as Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel pops a ball into foul territory behind first base and the fan reaches over the wall and snags the ball away from Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

The fan clearly interfered with the play but did not mind dangling his infant child from his arm as he held up his trophy.

But while the Wrigley Field crowd applauded the man for his impressive one-handed grab, and for stealing an out from the Dodgers and keeping the at-bat alive, the umpires reviewed the play and called Hammel out because of the bad daddy's interference.

Odell Beckham Jr. to appear in ESPN The Magazine 'Body Issue'

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be among 24 other athletes — including Bryce Harper and Kevin Love — appearing in ESPN The Magazine's seventh annual "Body Issue."

ODB, who will already grace the "Madden NFL 16" cover this season, will be featured in the photo spread which will include basketball stars DeAndre Jordan and Brittney Griner, U.S. soccer players Ali Krieger and Jermaine Jones, gymnast Aly Raisman, swimmer Natalie Coughlin, French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, NHL All-Star Tyler Seguin, the husband-wife team of surfer Laird Hamilton, former beach volleyball player Gabby Reece and 300-plus-pound Indianapolis Colts offensive linemen: Anthony Castonzo, Todd Herremans and Jack Mewhort.

And the odds Beckham reenacts his famous one-handed catch in the buff must be pretty high. Just lay off the thin-skinned receiver's hamstring when you see it.

ESPN said Monday that the issue will be posted online July 6 and on newsstands July 10

P. Diddy hit with four charges including battery and making terrorist threats: Report

Sean Combs — better known as P. Diddy to fans — was arrested at the UCLA football training facility Monday afternoon after an alleged altercation with Bruins assistant coach Sal Alosi. Diddy reportedly flew into a rage when Alosi, the strength and conditioning coordinator, yelled at his son, defensive back Justin Combs.

Diddy, according to sources, attacked Alosi with a kettlebell, which is a solid iron weight with a handle. And it must have been quite a scene because these are the updated charges:

UPDATE: Charges vs Sean "Diddy" Combs: • 3 counts of assault w/ deadly weapon • 1 count of making terrorist threats • 1 count of battery

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2015

Alosi, as you might not know, is the former strength and conditioning coach of the NFL's New York Jets who infamously tripped Nolan Carroll of the Miami Dolphins while he ran out of bounds on kick coverage in 2010.

Earlier, UCLA released the following statement about the incident :

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. today, Sean Combs (also known as P. Diddy) was arrested at UCLA’s Acosta Athletic Training Complex on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, which was a kettlebell. No one was seriously injured and UCPD is investigating. Combs is expected to be transported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Inmate Reception Center later this evening.

Combs has been known to frequent the sidelines of the UCLA practices keeping an eye on his son.

He posted $50,000 bail and was released from the Los Angeles County Jail at about 9:50 p.m. (PST).

Brazilian teams sweep AVP women's beach volleyball tourney (PHOTOS)

Photos by Tony Mangia

With important qualifying points for the 2016 Olympics in their country on the line, the Brazilian women's teams dominated the final day of the AVP Grand Slam beach volleyball tourney on Sunday.

The ladies from Brazil were so good, they swept the podium at the St. Petersburg, Florida event.

Photos by Tony Mangia

Under sunny skies and triple-digit temps, third-seeded Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas defeated second-seeded Maria Antonelli and Juliana Felisberta for the gold, and Tiana Lima and Fernanda Alves beat Germany's Karla Borger and Britta Buthe for the bronze.

Next year's Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro.

"With the Olympic ranking, we have a big fight with the Brazilians about this, so for us this first place is very important, as we can only have two teams in the Rio Olympics," said Seixas.

It was Brazil's 22nd women's podium sweep — a record for FIVB, the sport's world governing body — and the first since Nov. 1, 2014. After seven women's events on the FIVB World Tour, the past five straight have been won by three teams from Brazil.

Bednarczuk and Seixas maintained their position as the world's top-ranked team heading into next week's world championships in the Netherlands. They won all seven matches in the tournament without losing a set.

It was the fifth straight tournament won by a Brazilian team.

Phil Mickelson chases down, kicks drone camera at 2015 US Open (VIDEO)

As if the rough terrain at Chambers Bay wasn't enough, Fox Sports has found some new ways to annoy golfers during the 2015 U.S. Open by implementing drones into their coverage. And not just the flying kind. They’ve invaded the course with rolling ground drones, too.

And Phil Mickelson took action against the creeping intruders.

On Friday, Mickelson — who's been hovering at the bottom of the leaderboard himself — decided to have some fun with a ground camera. Walking down the fairway, he chased after one and gave it a friendly kick.

Lefty's out here kicking drones. pic.twitter.com/BYeS6qX0t8

— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) June 20, 2015

We know the Chambers Bay course is torturous — but bringing in a Mars rover?

Check out @FOXSports rolling drone on the 9th green at #ChambersBay #USOpen Also seeing flying drones as well today. pic.twitter.com/rY7tUUGsAV

— Play Chambers Bay (@playchambersbay) June 16, 2015

CBS sportscast says New York Mets lost to Toronto Maple Leafs

It's pretty easy to get sports crossed up these days — especially with the NHL Finals running into what seems like the middle of the MLB season. And while the Mets don't get the sort of respect their cross-borough neighbors the Yankees get in their own city, it's even worse when you play a hockey team from Canada — and still lose!

On Thursday, a CBS New York sportscast botched a score between the local New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays.  And, despite a graphic the local station put on the TV screen, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not slapshot the Mets silly.

The "Ny" Mets are not our favourite squadron. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/5Ggusf4of8

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 19, 2015

Leave it to those humorous Canadians to respond with a Simpsons reference, eh?

Ballhawk Zack Hample catches A-Rod's 3,000th hit and plans on keeping it

Alex Rodriguez’s historic 3,000th hit ended up in the hands of a famous home-run ballhawk, and some Yankees fans aren't very happy about it.

Zack Hample, who boasts that he has caught over 8,000 major-league baseballs, came away with Rodriguez’s milestone first-inning home run ball to right field in section 103 — just below where the Bleacher Creatures sit. The 37-year-old New Yorker says he became a Yankees season-ticket holder last year and picked the right field area because it’s a "good spot."

Here's A-Rod's 3,000th hit/ball. Told the @Yankees I'm keeping it. Got it authenticated by @MLB. This is un-REAL. pic.twitter.com/qEo2qX9Iru

— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) June 20, 2015

As he was being escorted by security to a private area for negotiation, Hample didn’t sound like a guy who was going to make it easy for the Yankees.

“My intention all along, imagining this scenario as a one-in-a-million, was not to give it back,” Hample said. “Just because – the guy who got Jeter’s 3,000th hit, a lot of people called him an idiot. A lot of people said that he was a wonderful person and extremely generous, and I really think whatever you want to do with it is your choice. I think that someone like Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, who’s made half-a-billion dollars in their career, doesn’t really need a favor from a normal civilian, a fan like me.

“I don’t know right now if I’m gonna sell it,” Hample continued. “Depending on what the Yankees could offer, I would consider giving it back. I don’t plan to give it back for a chance to meet him and four autographed bats, because I don’t collect bats. I collect baseballs. Just having this ball is so meaningful to me, and I can’t believe that I got it.”

Hample’s website says he’s on a mission to snag baseballs for a non-profit charity called Pitch In For Baseball, which provides baseball equipment to underprivileged kids around the world. However, some of the Bleacher Creatures regulars don’t see Hample in the same light.

“That guy’s a d-bag!” said Bald Vinny, leader of the Creatures. “That guy sucks. He pushes little kids out of the way. He is the worst ever. That guy is the worst ever. There is literally – nobody worse could’ve gotten that home run ball than that f---ing guy. He’s a d-bag.

“Tell him I said, ‘F--k off,’” he added. “That guy sucks.”

On Thursday, Hample was asked on Twitter if he’d give Rodriguez the ball back if he caught a home run for Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit. Hample replied, “I’ll give him the finger and a dummy ball. That man deserves favors from no one, least of all a fan.”

Tonight Twitter is blowing up with mostly criticisms of the notorious ball hog.

Please god tell me Zach Hample didn’t catch the A-Rod homer. Please

— Rob Iracane (@iracane) June 20, 2015

No one likes you, @zack_hample because no one likes a grown man who brings his glove to MLB games. https://t.co/BJyOZMZOoV

— Neil Keefe (@NeilKeefe) June 20, 2015

Anthony Rizzo swipes bag of peanuts from kid in stands (VIDEO)

Kids, the next time time you see Anthony Rizzo chasing down a ball on the first-baseline, hide your peanuts.

On Thursday night in Cleveland, Rizzo and a teammate Chris Denorfia both chased down a foul and, while a group of young fans were distracted by Denorfia's generous offer of the wayward ball, Rizzo swiped a bag of peanuts from an unsuspecting kid.

A dastardly scheme planned by the two Cubs? Who knows? But before you scream Ratso Rizzo, the lefty had a change of heart and handed it back.

It's anyone's guess what Rizzo was thinking but a good guess is he was emulating another first-baseman who liked to lift a free snack from the fans — namely Don Mattingly.