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  • Justin Verlander plans to retire after this season, will be honored at All-Star Game in Philly

    Justin Verlander plans to retire after this season, will be honored at All-Star Game in Philly

    DETROIT — Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year.

    The three-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers.

    Verlander made the announcement on Wednesday, shortly after he was added as a “Legend Pick” to the American League All-Star roster.

    “While I’m fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I’ve decided this will be my last,” Verlander, a right-handed pitcher, shared on social media. “It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started — with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity.”

    All-Star Game tribute

    While he will not play in the All-Star Game, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Verlander will be at Tuesday’s game at Citizens Bank Park and will be honored during the festivities.

    “The opportunity to attend once again is something I’ll cherish and it will be an incredibly special moment for me and my family,” said Verlander, who is married to model Kate Upton and has two children.

    Verlander has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 starts across 21 major league seasons with the Tigers, Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He has 3,554 strikeouts and has tossed 26 complete games, including nine shutouts.

    He joins Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper as a Legend Pick for the 2026 Midsummer Classic. Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Clayton Kershaw were honored at previous All-Star games.

    Oldest player in the majors

    Verlander, 43, is the oldest player in Major League Baseball. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract to rejoin the Tigers in February.

    Verlander allowed five runs in 3⅔ innings in his only start this year, a 9-6 road loss at Arizona on March 30.

    “It’s time for the next chapter,” Verlander said. “But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how — with everything I’ve got.”

    MLB All-Star Week brings a Philly MVP back to Citizens Bank Park’s food lineup

    Injuries this season

    He went on the injured list with hip inflammation early in the season, and, when he was nearing a return last month, he pulled a hamstring during a bullpen session.

    “I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar,” Verlander said. “I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”

    He was scheduled to pitch in June and make what would have been his first start with the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 30, 2017 — the day before he was traded to the Astros.

    Cy Young winner, World Series champ

    He went 183-115 from 2005 to 2017 with the Tigers. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and was the AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 2011. He helped Detroit reach the World Series in 2006 and 2012 along with four straight division titles from 2011 to 2014.

    Verlander was drafted second overall in 2004 by the Tigers. Their front office at the time was led by Dave Dombrowski, who’s now the Phillies’ president of baseball operations.

    Verlander was the 2017 ALCS MVP in Houston and helped the Astros win the World Series that year and was a key player for them when they won another title in 2022. He won his second and third Cy Young Awards in 2019 and 2022.

    “I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in front of fans who deeply appreciate the game,” Verlander said.

  • Royals slugger Jac Caglianone latest to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby

    Royals slugger Jac Caglianone latest to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby

    Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone is the latest to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia.

    The 23-year-old Caglianone joins Ben Rice from the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero in the competition. The other five participants have not yet been announced.

    Five Kansas City players have previously participated in the event: Bo Jackson (1989), Danny Tartabull (1991), Mike Moustakas (2017), Salvador Perez (2021) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2024). None have come away with the title.

    Meet the All-Stars: What to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly

    Witt was the runner-up in 2024 when he hit 50 home runs in total. He hit 13 HRs in the final round, one shy of Teoscar Hernandez’s 14.

    In his first full season with the Royals, Caglianone is hitting .258/.322/.455 (77-for-299) with a team-high 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in 85 games. His 14 home runs have averaged 418 feet in length, which is tied for the best average in the majors this season.

  • Atlanta Dream trio of Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray among All-Star reserves

    Atlanta Dream trio of Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray among All-Star reserves

    Angel Reese felt that Atlanta Dream teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray were snubbed by not being selected as All-Star starters.

    Now the Dream trio will get to play together in Chicago at the WNBA All-Star Game on July 25 after all three players were selected as reserves by the league’s coaches on Tuesday.

    Reese had said after the All-Star starters came out that she felt her two Dream teammates should have been starting. It’s the fourth time that Atlanta has had three All-Stars.

    Caitlin Clark voted a starter in her third straight WNBA All-Star Game

    Joining the Dream players as reserves are Washington teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Both made the All-Star Game as rookies last season.

    Toronto’s Marina Mabrey will be making her first All-Star appearance and gave the expansion franchise a player in the game. She matched the WNBA record with a 53-point game last month.

    Other players selected by the coaches were New York’s Jonquel Jones, whose adoptive mother is Temple women’s basketball coach Diane Richardson, Minnesota’s Courtney Williams, Las Vegas’ Jackie Young and Seattle’s Dominique Malonga, who will also be making her All-Star debut.

    New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (center) will join teammate Breanna Stewart in the WNBA All-Star Game.

    Los Angeles teammates Nneka Ogwumike and Kelsey Plum also were picked. Ogwumike has been an All-Star 11 times and moved into a second-place tie with Diana Taurasi for most All-Star appearances, only trailing Sue Bird’s 13.

    Coaches couldn’t vote for their own players.

    Plum has been sidelined for the last few weeks with a leg injury and will be evaluated again later this month. If she can’t play, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will choose a replacement.

    Cheryl Reeve, Elena Delle Donne join Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: ‘I ate, drank, and slept everything WNBA’

    New this year, WNBA greats Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will serve as honorary general managers and select the two teams from the pool of All-Stars. The pair will select the teams at some point soon.

    Chicago, Portland, Connecticut and Phoenix all don’t have All-Stars.

  • Jalen Brunson has left wrist surgery, Knicks star expected back on court this summer, AP source says

    Jalen Brunson has left wrist surgery, Knicks star expected back on court this summer, AP source says

    NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson has undergone left wrist surgery and is expected to be back on the court when the New York Knicks begin defense of their NBA title, a person with knowledge of the details said Tuesday.

    The NBA Finals MVP is expected to resume basketball activities later this summer, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because there was no announcement about Brunson’s procedure.

    You can trace Jalen Brunson’s greatness and the Knicks’ NBA title right to Villanova

    Brunson’s surgery was first reported by SNY.

    Brunson, who is left-handed, didn’t let the wrist injury slow him down on the Knicks’ run to their first championship since 1973. The former Villanova standout scored 45 points when the Knicks won the title in Game 5 in San Antonio, after finishing with 36 when they made a record-setting comeback from a 29-point deficit in Game 4. The point guard averaged 32.6 points in the finals.

  • Ben Rice will participate in Home Run Derby, looking to become Yankees’ first winner since 2017

    Ben Rice will participate in Home Run Derby, looking to become Yankees’ first winner since 2017

    New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice will be swinging for the fences in Philadelphia on Monday.

    Rice, who leads the Yankees with 25 homers this season, announced Tuesday that he will be participating in the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.

    He’ll look to become the first Yankees player to win the derby since Aaron Judge in 2017.

    The 27-year-old Rice said on social media that his father, Dan, who was a pitcher on Brown’s baseball team in the 1980s, will throw to him. Rice said they’ve already been practicing for the contest.

    Meet the All-Stars: What to know about baseball’s best coming to Philly

    Rice has 58 homers over his first three seasons in the majors.

    This is the second straight a year a Yankees player will appear in the Home Run Derby. Jazz Chisholm Jr. entered last year but was eliminated in the first round.

    Judge is one of four Yankees players to win the Home Run Derby. The others are Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002) and Robinson Canó (2011).

    Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero also is participating in the event. The full field has not yet been announced. The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are still deciding whether they will participate.

  • Trump says red card call on Folarin Balogun was ‘horrible’ but insists he left outcome to FIFA

    Trump says red card call on Folarin Balogun was ‘horrible’ but insists he left outcome to FIFA

    Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect a statement made by FIFA president Gianni Infantino

    President Donald Trump on Monday took credit for getting FIFA to review a red card issued against the United States’ star forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup but said he did not demand an outcome.

    “All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said when asked about it during an unrelated Oval Office event. “I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’”

    Trump confirmed that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for a second look at the punishment against Balogun in the United States’ 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week. But he said FIFA made the final call to lift Balogun’s mandatory one-game ban for a foul tackle, allowing him to play in Monday’s round of 16 match with Belgium in Seattle.

    Hours later, Infantino released a statement coming off of Trump’s remarks, which read, in part:

    “Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders, and business executives from around the world on many different issues.

    “During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by those competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle I will always uphold. I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes, I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.”

    FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-game ban was celebrated by many in the United States but brought condemnation in the international sports world, where some called it an improper intrusion.

    In remarks on Monday, Trump called the referee’s decision a “horrible” call. He added that it would have been a stain on the tournament if Balogun, the U.S.’s leading scorer at this year’s World Cup with three goals, was held out against Belgium and the U.S. lost. He praised FIFA for making what he described as a brilliant decision in suspending the punishment.

    “I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said. “I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled.”

    The president, who said he understands sports “really well,” acknowledged that he did not initially know what a red card is or the consequences it brings. When he learned it would lead to a one-game suspension for Balogun, he said, he decided to step in. He also took issue with the use of video review to issue the red card, arguing that slowed-down reviews can make plays look aggressive.

    Among those joining Trump for the Oval Office event was Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who thanked Trump for stepping in.

    “On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card,” Cruz said. “It was spectacular. There was a reason the FIFA trophy sat here for as long as it did.”

    Cruz appeared to be referring to a White House event last year at which Infantino visited and brought the World Cup trophy.

  • Eala upsets Wimbledon champion Swiatek in historic win for Philippines, No. 2 seed Rybakina also out

    Eala upsets Wimbledon champion Swiatek in historic win for Philippines, No. 2 seed Rybakina also out

    LONDON — Iga Swiatek’s title defense at Wimbledon ended Saturday in a 7-6 (9), 6-2 third-round loss to 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, who continues to make history for the Philippines.

    Eala is the first Filipino player, male or female, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament on a day of upsets in the women’s draw.

    The left-handed Eala dropped to her knees and rolled onto her back on Centre Court after hitting a forehand winner on her third match point.

    “It’s incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on and knowing that we’re all in this together,” she said in an on-court interview as she looked around at the Philippines flags.

    “This goes out to them, this goes out to my family, this goes out to all the little girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks. It means the world,” said the 29th-seeded Eala, who saved two set points in the first-set tiebreaker.

    The third-seeded Swiatek earned her first Wimbledon women’s title a year ago when she beat Amanda Anisimova, 6-0, 6-0, in the final.

    Eala, who has trained in Mallorca at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy, gained worldwide support last year on her breakthrough run to the Miami Open semifinals, which included an upset of Swiatek.

    She next faces 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

    2022 champion Rybakina also out

    Shortly before Swiatek’s exit, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was upset in the third round by Elise Mertens, 7-6 (4), 6-1.

    At No. 2, Rybakina is the highest seed on the women’s side to be eliminated. Her loss ensures that Aryna Sabalenka — who faces Naomi Osaka in the fourth round on Sunday — will keep her No. 1 ranking after the tournament.

    Belgium’s Mertens is the No. 25 seed at Wimbledon, where she’s won two doubles titles. She will next face 21st-seeded Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.

    Keys shines on 4th of July

    In another upset, Madison Keys rallied to oust the sixth-seeded Anisimova, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, in an all-American contest on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

    The 26th-seeded Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, was asked how she’ll celebrate the U.S. holiday.

    “I have no plans,” she told the Centre Court crowd after her victory. “When you’re not in the States, it’s just kind of another day.”

    Keys will next play ninth-seeded Linda Noskova.

    Ashlyn Krueger, another American, has come through qualifying to reach the fourth round. She beat Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 6-3, 6-2 and will face another Ukrainian — 12th-seeded Marta Kostyuk — for a spot in the quarterfinals.

    On the men’s side, sixth-seeded American Taylor Fritz advanced to the fourth round with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

    Zverev wins in straight sets

    French Open champion Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 seed, got past American Marcos Giron, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4, to set up a fourth-round match against 13th-seeded Jiri Lehecka.

    Ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli — the runner-up at Roland Garros — overcame a slow start against Karen Khachanov to win, 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2, and will face No. 5 seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round.

    Serena and Venus withdraw from doubles

    Serena Williams withdrew from her doubles match with sister Venus due to a right knee injury. The 44-year-old Serena was injured during her singles return earlier this week.

    The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said in an Instagram post that she was “heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles.”

  • Morocco beats World Cup co-host Canada, 3-0, advances to the quarterfinals

    Morocco beats World Cup co-host Canada, 3-0, advances to the quarterfinals

    HOUSTON — Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

    It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

    Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.

    Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute.

    Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time.

    Morocco advances to face the winner of Saturday’s Paraguay-France match on Thursday at Boston Stadium.

    The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round with a 1-0 victory over South Africa to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch.

    Morocco, which is ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the round of 16 and send the country to its earliest World Cup exit.

    Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

    Just after that Tajon Buchanan’s shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a diving save from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to Moroccan parents, had three saves to help Morocco to the win.

    This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage in a tournament in which Morocco finished fourth.

    It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both teams received four.

    Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute. Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.

    Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.

  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry in front of famous friends at Madison Square Garden

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry in front of famous friends at Madison Square Garden

    NEW YORK — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at the ceremony and Stevie Nicks performed among a crowd packed with stars of sports and entertainment. The deep secrecy that surrounded the buildup to the nuptials lifted when a marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed “JUST&T MARRIED” once the deed was done.

    The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead having Swift’s younger brother Austin Swift serve as her man of honor with Kelce’s big brother and podcast co-host Jason Kelce his best man, Swift’s publicist Tree Paine said in an email.

    The bride and groom’s outfits came from Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer Jonathan Anderson, with shoes custom-made by Christian Louboutin. She wore Cartier jewelry.

    An almost-royal wedding

    The long anticipated union of sports and song brought hype to new heights at a venue made more for historic NBA games and bucket-list concerts. The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end and the music megastar married as fans and spectators gathered outside in blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden.

    Actors Bradley Cooper, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Grant and Ethan Hawke; models Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss; comic Chris Rock; director Steven Spielberg; singer Camila Cabello; and author Jenny Han were among the guests from the world of arts and entertainment. Kelce’s coach Andy Reid and Chiefs teammates including running back Kareem Hunt were among the sports figures in the arena, along with retired NFL superstar Tom Brady, Seattle Seahawks receiver and recent Super Bowl champ Cooper Kupp, New York Giants receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, and ESPN personalities Joe Buck and Stephen A. Smith.

    In a culture obsessed with famous couplings it may have been the apex celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal unions getting more attention. Holding such a ceremony in a huge, iconic space that sits at the center of the U.S. media universe while keeping all the details secret made for a surreal scene, but it was a mix of hype and hush that is not out of character for Swift.

    A shrouded ceremony headed by Happy Gilmore

    An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed a long line of black SUVs dropping off wedding-goers in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties amassing for the occasion. Rain briefly cut the heat shortly after the marriage was announced.

    There was a seemingly total lack of social media posts from guests once they had entered the arena, with phones apparently banned.

    However, on Saturday, hosts of Good Morning America who had been invited to the wedding confirmed that Nicks performed and described the space as “intimate.”

    “As intimate as it could possibly be given it was Madison Square Garden. Really this garden inside the garden, just so beautiful,” said George Stephanopoulos. “It’s hard to imagine a place that big and a wedding with such stars could feel so personal and so intimate.”

    Robin Roberts added that both Swift and Kelce wrote their own vows.

    Weddings have been a constant subject in Swift’s songs since she was a teenager, and her actually walking the aisle for the first time at age 36 added to the drama. It was also the first marriage for the 36-year-old three-time Super Bowl champ Kelce, who could have been one of the jock characters in Swift’s early hits.

    Sandler, star of The Wedding Singer and many other hit comedies, can’t have been high on anyone’s betting list for who would marry the couple, though he’s become an increasingly warm and paternal cultural figure with age. The email announcing the marriage described him as “a friend” of the couple. Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in Happy Gilmore 2, Sandler’s 2025 sequel to one of his first hits, and Sandler appeared last year on the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast.

    Welcome to New York — Taylor’s version

    The Swift-Kelce relationship has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world — particularly the Swifties, the pop star’s enormous and ardent fan base — ever since the pair first started dating in 2023 after he showed up at her Eras Tour concert at the Chiefs stadium.

    Happy fans mixed with frazzled tourists outside the arena.

    Lori Powers, who lives an hour north of Manhattan and rode the train in to be near the nuptials, said Swift’s “music is the soundtrack behind so many amazing moments in my life. Relationships, friends, like my husband and my kids.”

    She stood outside the arena before the marriage was announced with her friend Cecily Hall.

    “Just being here and witnessing all the energy and the excitement, it’s so much fun,” Hall said. “The combination of sports and music makes perfect sense as to why they’re at Madison Square Garden today.”

  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce say ‘I do’ in elaborate Madison Square Garden ceremony

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce say ‘I do’ in elaborate Madison Square Garden ceremony

    NEW YORK — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a star-packed ceremony.

    The super-secretive buildup to the nuptials culminated when a marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed “JUST&T MARRIED” once the deed was done.

    Taylor Swift fans hold signs outside Madison Square Garden ahead of the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding on Friday.

    The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift’s brother to serve as her man of honor and Kelce’s brother, longtime Eagles great Jason Kelce, serving as his best man, Swift’s publicist Tree Paine said in an email.

    The bride and groom’s outfits were designed by Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer Jonathan Anderson with shoes custom-made by Christian Louboutin. She wore Cartier jewelry.

    The wedding between the superstar singer and NFL star took place as fans and spectators gathered outside MSG in the blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden.

    The long anticipated union of sports and song brought hype to new heights at a venue made more for historic NBA games and bucket-list concerts.

    Singer Camila Cabello, actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, and Jason Sudeikis, and model Karlie Kloss were among those who arrived. Running back Kareem Hunt was among Kelce’s Chiefs teammates in attendance. Seattle Seahawks receiver and recent Super Bowl champ Cooper Kupp, New York Giants receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NFL announcer Joe Buck, and Jenny Han, author of the The Summer I Turned Pretty series, also entered the arena.

    In a culture obsessed with famous couplings, it may be the apex celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal unions getting more attention. Holding such a ceremony in a huge, iconic space that sits at the center of the U.S. media universe while keeping all the details secret made for a surreal scene, but it was a mix of hype and hush that is not out of character for Swift.

    An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed a long line of black SUVs dropping off wedding-goers in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties amassing for the occasion.

    Celebrities, athletes, and friends were posting on social media about getting ready or about to leave for a black-tie event, including Brandon Borders, producer of the New Heights podcast starring Kelce and his brother Jason; Beau Allen, a retired defensive lineman for the Eagles; and actress Jessica Chastain.

    There was a notable lack of social media posts from guests once they had entered the arena, after reports that phones would not be allowed. Rain began falling soon after the marriage was announced.

    Weddings have been a constant subject in Swift’s songs since she was a teenager, and her actually walking the aisle for the first time at age 36 adds to the drama. It would also be a first marriage for the 36-year-old three-time Super Bowl champ Kelce, who could have been one of the jock characters in Swift’s early hits.

    Sandler, star of The Wedding Singer and many other hit comedies, can’t have been high on anyone’s betting list for who would marry the couple, though he’s become an increasingly warm and paternal cultural figure with age. The email announcing the marriage described him as “a friend” of the couple. Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in Sandler’s recent sequel Happy Gilmore 2.

    Outside the arena, some frazzled tourists joked that it was a bad weekend to visit as they navigated strict road and sidewalk closures, but others appeared happy to sneak a peak at the spectacle. Police cut off most access where guests were being dropped off, but a few patrons gathered in nearby businesses and peered out windows.

    Diana Warshavsky, who lives in New York, decided to head over to MSG on Friday to celebrate Swift and Kelce’s wedding with fellow Swifties and “send her good vibes.”

    “We’re relatively the same age, I’m a year older than her and I just got married this year as well,” Warshavsky said. “I’m just so happy for her.”

    The relationship of the pop star and the football player has continued to thrill and fascinate millions around the world — particularly the Swifties, the pop star’s enormous and ardent fan base — ever since the pair first started dating in 2023.