OK, so maybe “King” is a poor word choice given that Elvis always is present in the Mid-South. Penny would be some sort of monarch, regardless, if he never had to coach a game. DECOURCY: Gonzaga lands atop latest Power Rankings Speaking of poor choice of words, Hardaway dropped a barrage of F-bombs following the Tigers’ most recent loss, Thursday night at home to SMU, angry at a reporter’s question regarding whether he believed he could “get it done” as Tigers head coach....

Blaney and his No. 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing is a de facto member of Team Penske. His background and Wood Brothers’ Penske alliance make that clear in preparation for the Daytona 500. MORE: No charter, no problem | Duels lineups, times, TV | Daytona 500 pole NASCAR’s ballyhoo about its charter system focused on how good it was for long-time Sprint Cup teams. With one caveat: Those teams ran full time the past three seasons....

“We’re always evaluating the threat—it’s not only a day-by-day thing, it’s an hour-by-hour thing,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday. “We know that this is a still a perilous environment. All I can tell you is that we’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that we can protect our force, protect the people that we’re trying to move on to the airport and protect their movement out of Kabul, as well as protect the entire operation at the airport....

The expansion could be an effort by Beijing to match or surpass the United States’ global military power. The Pentagon estimated that China could increase it nuclear missile count to 700 within six years, with the possibility of 1,000 by 2030. As a result, China could be attempting to establish a nuclear triad, which consists of land, sea and air-based missiles. “The PLA’s evolving capabilities and concepts continue to strengthen [China’s] ability to ‘fight and win wars’ against a ‘strong enemy,’” the report by the Pentagon states, “a likely euphemism for the United States....

There are massive discrepancies in the reported number of Russian soldier casualties and injuries in Ukraine. Though Moscow continually reports low numbers, troop casualties may be higher than what Russian officials are saying. “We have seen them deliberate and discuss the possibility of resupply to include replacement troops,” a Pentagon senior defense official said Wednesday. “But we don’t have—we haven’t seen any indications that anything is moving right now outside of what they have already in Ukraine....

The Inspector General review comes amid a change of command at the Pentagon, with President Joe Biden’s new secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, asserting his control over the military with a series of reforms. The probe will begin this month, and will “determine the extent to which U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) developed and implemented programs in accordance with DoD Law of War requirements to reduce potential law of war violations when conducting operations,” an Inspector General memo explained....

The probe into Polidoro’s use of the database came after former Lanesborough Police Chief Timothy Sorrell became aware of the potential misconduct and produced a 58-page report. The investigation, conducted during Sorrell’s final months with the department, determined the officer had used the database to find information on women that had previously or was currently dating. He also reportedly used it to look up women he wished to date in the future....

Fanone requested the meeting last month. In the meeting, he reportedly asked McCarthy to denounce the 21 Republican members of Congress who voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to police officers who defended the Capitol during the riots. Fanone also asked McCarthy to reprimand Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde for saying that the Capitol riots looked like a “normal tourist visit.” Lastly, Fanone requested that McCarthy disavow Republican conspiracy theories that the FBI was involved in causing the riots, CNN congressional correspondent Ryan Nobles reported....

The Bianconeri will pay €15m in four instalments for the 22-year-old, with an extra €6m in bonuses dependent on certain conditions being met during his time in Turin. Nasri: I’d love Real Madrid move Caldara will be loaned back to Atalanta for 18 months before beginning his Juve career in the summer of 2018. He has penned a deal until 2021 with the reigning Italian champions. An Italy Under-21 international, Caldara has impressed as part of a young Atalanta side that has risen to sixth in Serie A this season under Gian Piero Gasperini....

OFFICIAL: Witsel completes China move The 20-year-old is set to sign a five-and-a-half year deal with the Premier League champions, subject to securing a work permit. The Foxes will reportedly pay in the region of £15 million for the Nigeria international as they look to stave off the threat of relegation. Ndidi has already undergone his medical at the King Power Stadium and Leicester expect the formalities of his transfer to be completed later this week....

On Saturday, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which is the organization under the CCP’s Central Committee responsible for political and legal affairs, posted a picture on social media of China’s recent space launch with the caption, “China lighting a fire.” Next to that image was a photo of Indian funeral pyres with the caption, “India lighting a fire.” The images and mocking words from the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission came a day after the country’s Ministry of Public Security shared a similar post....

The bungled call occurred with less than a minute remaining in the game, with Auburn trailing by a point and at the Arkansas 19 as it was driving for a go-ahead field goal. Sophomore quarterback Bo Nix bobbled the snap on what was going to be a spike; because of that, when he actually did spike the ball, the ball went backward. The spike should have been ruled a fumble and a live ball (with a Razorbacks defender in prime position to recover)....

According to health department data, vaccinations in those 16 and older increased by more than 28 percent from May 14 to 17, the weekend after the lottery campaign was announced by Governor Mike DeWine. The weekend before, vaccinations among the same age group had dropped 25 percent, according to the department. “This dramatic increase in vaccinations indicates that the Vax-a-Million drawing has been impactful in creating momentum for vaccinations throughout Ohio,” Stephanie McCloud, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said in a press release....

Police say the 61-year-old man, named locally as Floyd Temple, was lighting fireworks for neighborhood children when a mortar tipped over and hit him in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency services arrived around 12:38 a.m. on July 2. Neighbors said some of the children he was setting off the fireworks for witnessed the tragic accident. “He tried to fire off a rocket that goes up into the sky and it backfired and took his chest off,” Benjamin Avalos, a friend of the victim, told WTOL....

J.R. Majewski, a resident of Bay Township, has a reputation of going big when it comes to decorating his large triangular front yard, according to the Port Clinton News-Herald. Majewski used 120 gallons of biodegradable chalk-based paint to create a giant banner supporting Trump in his re-election campaign to remain in the White House. “We’ve had a really good turnout,“Majewski told the newspaper. “A lot of my neighbors have come by and I’ve had a lot of positive feedback....

Matta, 49, has struggled with back and foot issues for several years after surgery to help his back problems in 2007 resulted in a permanent disability in his right foot. MORE: Seven replacements for Thad Matta at Ohio State Matta, who attributed his dismissal to his health, will stay on to help in the school’s search for a new coach, though Smith said does not have a timeline to secure a replacement (Matta has three years remaining on his contract)....

The network announced Tuesday morning that Ohio State’s win over Oregon generated an 18.5 overnight rating, ESPN’s highest metered market rating ever. The previous record was a 16.1 rating for the 2011 BCS national championship game between Auburn and Oregon. Last year’s Florida State-Auburn BCS title game drew a 15.3 overnight. MORE: Early SN Top 10 for 2015 | Get Ohio State title gear | Urban’s Way: Relentless and ruthless equals more titles...

On Friday, news broke that the star Buckeyes defensive lineman had been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for Saturday’s game vs. Maryland, stemming from a loan he received prior to last season. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit reported on Saturday that Young could be away from the Buckeyes for up to four games, but an appeal could knock it down. MORE: How Young suspension affects Big Ten, Heisman races Young, widely considered a top NFL-draft prospect, accepted an improper loan from a family friend, which was used to fly his girlfriend out to the Buckeyes’ 2019 Rose Bowl Game vs....

Last Sunday came the news OSU reserve defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge, a senior in his first season with the team, had been found dead in what police termed a suicide. Wednesday, some 60 of the players were attending a funeral service at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus. And Saturday evening there was a game to play against the Wisconsin Badgers, with the only means of acknowledging the passing of a vibrant young man being the sticker with his number — 53 — attached to the back of each Buckeye’s helmet....