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    Manchester City's run to the Champions League final has hardly come as a surprise. But the same cannot be said for Inter Milan. Inter is one of European soccer's most storied teams but it enters Saturday's game in Istanbul as an outsider after finishing the season as third best team in Italy. Italian soccer has long-since lost its shine after being considered the ultimate destination for the world's best players in the 1990s. Inter finished the season 18 points behind league champion Napoli. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi says City "will be facing an opponent who deserve to be in Istanbul as much as they do."

      Lionel Messi says he is coming to Inter Miami and joining Major League Soccer. After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision Wednesday to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon in David Beckham since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field. That will likely soon change. One of Inter Miami's owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport.

        Lionel Messi is reportedly heading to MLS. According to Guillem Balague the international soccer star, fresh off a World Cup win with Argentina, will be joining Inter Miami. Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg reacted to the news.

          Online racist abuse of soccer players is prolific on social media platforms. It's the latest form of racism blighting the world's most popular sport. It's technology-fueled, visual, permanently intrusive, 24/7 and a haunting reminder of the 1980s-style monkey chants and banana throwing. Players and teams targeted by abuse are coming up with ways to raise awareness and reduce their exposure to offensive users. 

            The United States will be playing for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women's World Cup this summer. It won't be easy for the world's No. 1 team. Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer's most coveted trophy kicks off on July 20 and features an expanded field of 32 teams, up from 24.

              The vicious, relentless and high-profile racist insults directed at Brazilian soccer player Vinícius Júnior underscore an entrenched and decades-old issue that refuses to go away in the world's most popular sport. It is a deeper societal problem that is manifested in soccer matches predominantly in Europe, but also all around the world, and has been amplified by the reach of social media. Federations have been slow and, in some cases unwilling, to use powers to sanction teams for the racist behavior of their fans. Players past and present worry racism is just an accepted part of soccer. Experts say more education and stronger punishments are required to combat racism.

              In their first trip to the state tournament in 16 years, Denison-Schleswig fell to undefeated Marion 3-1 in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

              Jordy Bahl threw three innings of perfect relief and Oklahoma won its third straight Women's College World Series title and seventh overall, beating Florida State 3-1 for a two-game sweep. The Sooners finished 61-1 and extended their Division I-record win streak to 53 games.

              FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU’s campus bookstore purchased a liquor license, which ain’t exactly free, just to sell bottles of commemorative red and white wine to celebrate TCU’s 150th anniversary. Not sure if those brands pass the swish ‘n’ spit test during a wine tasting, but the 150th year of the university may be the finest in the history of the school. Certainly it was the finest in the history ...

              NCAA President Charlie Baker wants a federal law to regulate the way college athletes can be compensated for name, image and likeness that creates a registry of deals, agent certification and uniform contract standards. Baker hopes a bill can move through Congress in the fall before next year's election cycle ramps up. If not, Baker says the NCAA has to be prepared to try to cleanup NIL on its own. Speaking at the Future of College Sports Summit in Washington, Baker says the previous NCAA leadership made a mistake in not trying to regulate NIL on its own.

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              Carter Verhaeghe scored 4:27 into overtime and the Florida Panthers pulled off some more postseason dramatics to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night. Matthew Tkachuk tied it with 2:13 left in the third period for the Panthers, who got the franchise's first title-series game win in seven tries. 

              Corey Conners shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to share the first-round lead at the RBC Canadian Open, the first PGA Tour event since its announcement of a merger with Saudi-funded rival LIV Golf. Conners is seeking to become the tournament's first Canadian winner in 69 years. Also at 67 were Aaron Rai, Justin Lower and Chesson Hadley. Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy opened with a 71. Matt Fitzpatrick, who will seek to defend his U.S. Open title next week at Los Angeles Country Club, was one of nine players at 68.

              An offseason of sweeping change continued this week as the Vikings moved to cut ties with running back Dalvin Cook, who is expected to be gone before next week. And The Purple might not be done making moves — including a potential deal that would officially make their offseason rebuild a complete teardown to the studs. Danielle Hunter, who had 10.5 sacks last season and has 71 since being ...

              NASCAR is at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France this weekend. The American stock car series is celebrating its new car in its 75th season during the 100th running of the most prestigious endurance race in the world. The Chevrolet Camaro fielded by Hendrick Motorsports has been a popular attraction this week heading into Saturday's twice-around-the-clock race. Its trio of drivers is determined to finish the race. NASCAR's presence at Le Mans marks the first time since 1976 it has challenged the top talent in Europe.