Players celebrated the exciting news that Cow, the beloved character from Wii’s Moo Moo Meadows, would finally be a playable racer in Mario Kart World. After the beloved racing game was released, people discovered something unsettling about its gameplay. Specifically, Cow can be witnessed devouring an item resembling a beef burger while performing a cheerful emote. So, what does this development mean for the character?
For many players, Mario Kart World’s implication of cannibalism, though alleged, is monstrous given the source. However, some players are convinced the burgers in the game could be vegan, though Super Nintendo World’s meaty burgers are present in the game. As a result, the appearance of these foods raises doubts about their arguments. Meanwhile, the playable Crab character enthusiastically consumes sushi during its animations, leading players to wonder if all the game’s food avoids animal products entirely.
However, Super Mario Bros. Wonder provides answers, confirming that plants within the Mushroom Kingdom possess sapience, capable of smiling, laughing, and offering encouragement. Taking this approach, Mario Kart World still draws criticism among fans for its potential “eating habits.” Whether the food is actually vegan and cross-species eating considered cannibalism isn’t relevant. Ultimately, the potential consumption of sentient, friendly plants still puts the entire character roster under fire. For long-time Nintendo fans, the undeniable cannibalism present in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still fresh in their memories.
With the Nintendo Switch 2’s official launch came significant chaos. After attendees received consoles marred by staples on the screen alongside perplexing free snacks, some expressed frustration loudly. While opinions differ on Mario Kart World, one element that captured attention amidst this eventful start was the playable character, Moo Moo Cow, who is adored by players universally. The Moo Moo species is no stranger to Super Mario, having long populated the universe. However, their debut in Mario Kart World marks the first time the grass-grazing character becomes a controllable racer.
The cow was originally showcased during its April Switch 2 Direct, instantly captivating players who spotted it among the roster. As Polygon observed, fans have seized this unique opportunity with evident enthusiasm without delay. Beyond Mario Kart World’s new level design and available characters, players can explore its open world, particularly the local and online lobbies where players race globally. As Moo Moo Cow and its endearing face have dominated these lobbies, one must ask why players gravitate to this character so much. For the average player, encountering the cow has become nearly inevitable, with social media filled with posts demonstrating its popularity.
Moo Moo Cow doesn’t have any unlock requirements, making its immediate availability a key reason for its popularity among players. While other racers may need to be unlocked to be selected, the cow serves as a readily accessible and charming alternative. Despite Mario Kart World’s colorful designs, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows as the character does have its detractors. In particular, some players find the character’s realistic dirt texture extremely unappealing.
Players who secured the Switch 2 at launch stormed social media with screenshots and videos, overflowing with the Moo Moo Cow character. This prevalence in Mario Kart World makes logical sense because the adorable bovine unlocks immediately, unlike other racers, who require specific conditions. Furthermore, this single character dominating lobbies may lead players to eventually become tired of its constant presence.
In fact, some players have already expressed frustration that the cow monopolizes the game entirely. Moreover, the character may be disliked for its potential digital cannibalism implications or become repulsed by its realistically muddy appearance. Alternatively, it may reach Luigi’s status in Mario Kart 8, dominating the game after his death scare became a popular meme. Nevertheless, trends might shift away from this bovine focus over time, as more players join the game.
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The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Not only do they have a great front five, but there goes, potentially, eight pitchers deep with MLB talent. Unsurprisingly, with such a surplus of talent, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in their starters. Ranger Suarez, whose contract expires at the end of the year, would be a typical trade deadline candidate. But he's going nowhere. Instead, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in Phillies right-handed prospect Mick Abel. The 23-year-old starter could be a trade chip if the Phillies find a suitable trade target. "... Same goes for Mick Abel," Gelb writes, "who is drawing trade interest." The Phillies right-hander has impressed in his brief Major League stint, even if he now sits at a 5.04 ERA in six starts. His ceiling, which he displayed in his MLB debut, is enough to captivate teams around baseball. In the minors, Abel has been dominant this season. He has a 1.83 ERA in 12 starts in Triple-A, a significant improvement over his 6.46 ERA in 2024. Abel's progress this season has been incredible, and has teams interested in trading for him. If the Phillies find a trade partner for an outfielder or a dominant reliever, Abel could be a centerpiece of a deal to land such a player at the deadline. With the crowded rotation, Abel might not have a starting role on the roster for the rest of the season. He could go to the bullpen for the postseason run or be dealt to land a high-profile reliever or outfielder. But, regardless of what the Phillies do with Abel, this report from Gelb is a good sign. If teams around baseball are interested in Abel, then his progress isn't just a facade; it's something teams are willing to buy in on.
It is no secret that Penn State has struggled to win big games under head coach James Franklin. While the Nittany Lions have finished with double-digit wins in six of the past nine seasons, including a 13-3 season in 2024 that culminated with a loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, they have struggled to beat quality opponents. Quarterback Drew Allar, who enters the 2025 season with the fifth-shortest odds (+1600) to win the Heisman Trophy, per FanDuel, was honest about Penn State's lack of success during his appearance at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday. "We definitely need to get over the hump," Allar said, per ESPN's Jake Trotter. "There's no question about it." Penn State is only 4-20 against top-10 opponents under Franklin, although the three losses last season were all by one score. Allar is 23-6 as a starter, but threw a costly interception against Notre Dame that ultimately led to the game-winning field goal from the Fighting Irish. With experience on its side and lofty expectations entering the season as the No. 1-ranked team in ESPN's offseason poll, Allar pointed to better execution as a key to Penn State's success. "We definitely need to find different ways to come out with different results in those games," Allar said. "We haven't really been blown out of the water by any team. ... it's just about execution. ... finding those areas to make one or two more plays throughout those games. ... That's going to be our focus." One key for Penn State is the return of its two leading rushers from last season, Kaytron Allen (1,108 yards) and Nicholas Singleton (1,099 yards), who combined for 20 TDs. That experience, along with Allar's improved accuracy (66.5%) and career-high 3,327 passing yards from 2024, gives the Nittany Lions a lot of upside going into 2025. Allar did have an uptick in interceptions (eight) and was sacked 19 times last season, which are two concerning areas, especially against top-ranked opponents. That must improve for Penn State to reverse course and finally win meaningful games. For now, the focus is on its lack of success in those games under Franklin. If Penn State can execute and not beat itself, perhaps one of those games will eventually go its way. Until then, it will face the same questions as it looks to put its past struggles in big games behind it.
Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young delivered a Catch of the Year candidate with a spectacular grab he made on Wednesday. Young’s Nationals lost 5-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, and the score could have been worse if not for Young. Will Benson was batting for Cincinnati with a runner on third base and two outs in the top of the eighth inning with his team leading 3-0. He belted a first pitch 96 mph fastball to deep center, but Young climbed the wall in center field to rob Benson of a 2-run home run. Here is a slow-motion version of the catch that shows Young climbing the wall to make the catch. What a catch by Young. Although Benson gave that pitch quite a ride, the metrics suggest it would have been a home run in only five MLB ballparks, so a flyout was an anticipated outcome. You just wouldn’t expect that ball to become an out in the manner that it did. Holy cow.
A clear frontrunner appears to be separating himself from the pack in the Cleveland Browns’ QB room. Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett handled all of the first-team offense reps in 11-on-11 drills during the first day of training camp on Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reported. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel received the second-team reps, Shedeur Sanders received the third-team reps, and Joe Flacco did not receive any 11-on-11 reps at all, Oyefusi added. Cleveland has one of the most hotly-contested and uncertain QB races of the NFL offseason. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) set to miss the entire 2025 season, the Browns acted quickly this offseason by trading for Pickett, re-signing Flacco, and then selecting both Gabriel and Sanders in the NFL Draft. Pickett, 27, indeed looks like the best option for Cleveland right now. He has already made 25 total starts in the NFL and won a Super Bowl last season as Jalen Hurts’ backup on the Philadelphia Eagles. That gives Pickett a leg up over the rookies Gabriel and Sanders, and he is also far younger than the 40-year-old Flacco. Previous reports during OTAs suggested that Flacco, who made a handful of starts for the Browns in 2023, was looking surprisingly good under center. But more recently, some Cleveland players were predicting that Pickett would end up as the ultimate winner of the race. Meanwhile, Gabriel had reportedly looked a little rough over the last couple of months, and Sanders still appears to have plenty of work to do as well (though he has received rave reviews from some notable team figures). With a rookie unlikely to get the starting nod to begin the year, it may be a two-horse race between Pickett and Flacco (with Pickett now seemingly pulling away).