There is always attention surrounding Carlos Rodon when he takes the mound, but this week, the New York Yankees left-hander made headlines for something away from baseball. As Rodon works his way back into form early in the 2026 season, fans have been tracking both his performance and his health. After a strong 2025 season that saw him go 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA and more than 200 strikeouts, expectations remain high whenever he is available. But beyond the numbers and rehab updates, Rodono has continued to invest time into something that carries a different kind of importance. That focus became clear with a recent announcement that sheds light on what matters most to him and his family, offering a reminder that his impact extends well beyond the field. Rodon Announces Willow Gala Date Rodon shared that the third annual Willow Gala will take place on August 24, marking another major event for the Carlos Rodon Foundation. The event will be held at Skylight at The Refinery, a new venue for the gala, as the foundation continues to grow its reach and support efforts. The gala plays a major role in raising funds for families navigating infertility and pregnancy loss, causes that are deeply personal to Rodon and his wife, Ashley. The couple has been open about their own experiences, which ultimately inspired the creation of the foundation and its mission. A Mission Rooted In Personal Experience The foundation’s work centers around the Willow Grant, which helps families afford fertility treatments such as IVF. The initiative was born from the Rodon family’s journey through loss and uncertainty before welcoming their daughter, Willow. That experience shaped the direction of their charitable efforts. The goal is to provide hope and financial assistance to others facing similar challenges, particularly those who may not otherwise have access to costly medical options. Balancing Baseball And Bigger Priorities For Rodon, the timing of the announcement comes as he continues working his way back from injury. While his on-field role with the Yankees remains a priority, moments like this highlight how he balances his professional career with meaningful work off the field. The Willow Gala has become a key event tied to that mission, bringing together supporters, partners, and families impacted by the foundation’s work. With a new venue and continued growth, this year’s event signals another step forward. As Rodon prepares for the rest of the season, his latest announcement offers a different perspective on his career. It is not just about wins, strikeouts, or standings. It is also about using his platform to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
Dak Prescott isn’t the only notable NFL player to have called off a scheduled wedding with his ex-fiancée. Last month, news emerged that Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos called off their wedding, just weeks before they were scheduled to tie the knot. Prescott and Ramos have two daughters together. Ramos reportedly caught Prescott using burner accounts to communicate with other women. The couple began dating in 2023 and got engaged in October 2024. Veteran NFL wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who faced Prescott’s Dallas Cowboys many times during his days with the New York Giants, also recently became single again. Per TMZ, Shepard and his ex-fiancée, Carolyn Moore, also called off their engagement. On her Instagram account, Moore posted several photos with the caption, “hours in silence ❤️.” Sarah Jane Ramos commented on the post, writing, “Beautiful, fearless, and divinely protected .” Sterling Shepard played for the Giants from 2016 to 2023, entering the league in the same year as Dak Prescott. Shepard, who’s still a free agent, spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dak Prescott’s Cowboys Have Had A Busy Offseason While Prescott goes through the difficulty of a breakup, he can at least be happy about Jerry Jones’ work this offseason. Coming off a second straight losing season, Jerry decided to stop playing around. He bolstered the defense by trading for former Green Bay Packers star edge rusher Rashan Gary. The Cowboys also improved their secondary by signing safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant. At the draft, Jones used his first-round picks on safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Running back Javonte Williams signed a three-year extension. Superstar wideout George Pickens was assigned the franchise tag, keeping the offensive core together. The Cowboys already look like a playoff team heading into 2026. That will very much be the case if Prescott stays healthy and plays up to his usual standards.
Todd McShay of The Ringer is among the analysts who believe that former Penn State star Drew Allar won't become a long-term franchise quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers after Pittsburgh selected Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Penn State associate head coach Terry Smith suggested that Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy could help Allar prove critics wrong as a pro. Penn State didn't do enough to help Drew Allar succeed in college? "Unfairly to Drew, our system wasn't built for him," Smith said, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Some of the decisions were taken out of his control. He's a guy that can make every throw. He's super smart. He's a fast learner. He picks things up really quickly. I think with the right coaching, right direction, obviously in the best scenario, you want a guy like Aaron Rodgers to come back and really teach a guy like this how to be a pro." Before Allar suffered a fractured ankle in the fall of 2025, his lackluster performances in big games left many wondering if he simply didn't possess the type of mentality needed to lead an NFL offense as a full-time QB1. That said, it now seems as if he will be able to spend his debut pro season learning about life in the NFL as a backup while Rodgers starts games for Pittsburgh through at least Week 18 of the 2026 campaign. Longtime backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 rookie Will Howard could also start for Pittsburgh this fall if McCarthy wants to stash Allar on the roster as a developmental project until next year. Will Drew Allar be better in the NFL than he was in college? "We asked Drew to run the ball a little more," Smith added. "He's a pro-style quarterback. He's not built for running, but he can run when necessary. And so when you have designated called runs, that's not him...But he can extend the play and move out the pocket when necessary. I just think when you align him in the pocket, and you give him some downfield reads, I think he can read the progression from one to three and can scan the field. I think he's gonna be a better pro than he was a college player." Ideally, McCarthy and Co. won't need Allar to take a meaningful snap as a pro before September 2027 at the earliest. Having extra time to further develop as a backup for Rodgers could ultimately help Allar prove both Smith and the Steelers right.
Just a few weeks ago, Charlotte Hornets star Kon Knueppel seemed to be in the driver’s seat for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. On Monday, the league announced that Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg won the award. Flagg earned 412 total points while Knueppel received 386 in a close finish. After the results came out, Tomer Azarly and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that one possible reason why is due to Knueppel’s struggles during the Play-In Tournament. “A number of media members who have votes admitted the Play-In Tournament, which Knueppel struggled significantly in, weighed in their decision for the regular season award,” Azarly wrote. “Several NBA media voters publicly admitted to the play-in tournament changing their minds from Knueppel to Flagg. Have to wonder if pre-play-in whether Knueppel would’ve won the vote,” Siegel added. At the beginning of March, Stephen A. Smith predicted that Knueppel would win the award, and the Hornets star and Flagg were neck and neck for quite some time. Knueppel’s struggles were evident as he shot 2-of-12 from the field with six points in the 127-126 overtime win in the first Play-In game against the Miami Heat. Kon Knueppel then went jus 3-of-10 with 1 three-pointer in the 121-90 blowout loss to the Orlando Magic. Fans even blamed Hornets coach Charles Lee as he sat Knueppel down the stretch against the Heat amid a poor shooting performance. Now, Flagg has beaten out his former Duke teammate for the award, and the close race certainly raises questions about the timing of the voting process.
