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You ask former U.S. men’s national soccer team standouts Marcelo Balboa and Stu Holden about the Concacaf Gold Cup final, and the competitive spirit just oozes from their soul.

Especially since USMNT will face its biggest rival, Mexico, in the Sunday, July 6 match at NRG Stadium in Houston.

“Listen, you never want to lose to Mexico,” Balboa, 57, told USA TODAY Sports, before he joins the Gold Cup’s Spanish-language broadcast on Univision, TUDN and ViX. “I’m retired. I haven’t played against Mexico a long time. Even when I play in the old legends games, I don’t want to lose to Mexico.”

Holden – who will be on the Gold Cup call alongside play-by-play announcer John Strong on FOX – still remembers how humiliated he felt after playing in USMNT’s 5-0 loss to Mexico in the 2009 Gold Cup final.

“Man, I would give anything to step on that field on Sunday,” Holden said. “And I’m going to step on the field – I just won’t be allowed to kick a ball.”

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, breakout star Diego Luna and the USMNT have a golden opportunity to rewrite the team’s narrative ahead of next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

They could end a tumultuous summer on a high note by lifting a trophy, setting the stage for a World Cup where they could at least be competitive against some of the best national teams in the world.

A loss, however?

Well, here’s where it’s important to maintain some perspective.

USMNT has been a club on the fly before the World Cup – hiring Pochettino last September, and trying to field a capable roster that won’t embarrass itself when the U.S. co-hosts the tournament next summer with Canada and Mexico.

By no means are they ready for the World Cup just yet. But they’ll have to be when next summer rolls around.

Star Christian Pulisic is one of several players not with USMNT during the Gold Cup this summer – his decision to rest upsetting several former players turned analysts, especially after the U.S. lost friendlies to Turkey (2-1 on June 7) and Switzerland (4-0 on June 10) before the tournament.

During the Gold Cup, the U.S. beat Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 on June 7, beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on June 19, beat Haiti 2-1 on June 22, advanced past Costa Rica 2-2 (4-3 on penalty kicks) on June 29 and topped Guatemala 2-1 on July 2 to reach the final.

Pochettino has 10 wins in 15 matches since taking the job, a run that included a four-game losing streak going into the Gold Cup. Would another loss to Mexico – in the Gold Cup final – be a failure for Pochettino and USMNT?

“No, not at all. The fact that this team got there, I think it’s very valuable for Pochettino and his coaching staff,” Balboa said, adding it’s a prime opportunity for the players pushing for a roster spot to play for USMNT in the World Cup.

“Listen, nobody wants to lose. Is it a failure? I wouldn’t think it’s a failure at all. I think it’s just one of those games that it could go either way. One mistake could cost you the game. But at the end of the day, you can’t say one game that you lose to Mexico in the final, the tournament was a failure.”

Holden said he’s cautious to put a label like “failure” if this group of USMNT players fall to Mexico because “it would be me getting a little bit lost in the moment.”

This Gold Cup experience is about Pochettino finding his way as the USMNT coach.

It’s about players like Luna, who scored both goals against Guatemala, making a name for themselves.

It’s about others like forwards Brian White and Patrick Agyemang, midfielders Max Arfsten, Jack McGlynn and Sebastian Berhalter, defenders Chris Richards and Alex Freeman, and goalkeeper Matt Freese solidifying their chances to make the World Cup roster.

Holden believes a Gold Cup win could solidify USMNT’s belief in itself, and send a message to its pool of players that the club is heading in a clear direction under Pochettino’s leadership.

“That means: You fight like hell on Sunday, and you beat your fiercest rival, and you cap off a great month, and we have a great storyline to tell for the next year,” Holden said.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Prominent Democrats sent messages of doom and gloom rather than celebration on July 4, drawing ire from a multitude of critics. Many of the messages included warnings about supposed threats to the country emanating from the Trump administration.

‘This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better,’ former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote in a post on X that included a photo of her and former first gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House. ‘But I love our country — and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.’

Many social media users were quick to point out that Harris cropped former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden out of the photo. Others took one of Harris’ famous phrases to mock her, saying that the country was ‘unburdened by what has been.’

Harris’ old boss, former President Joe Biden, posted a more mild message, while also encouraging Americans to ‘fight to maintain’ democracy.

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama also chimed in with a warning of his own, saying that ‘core democratic principles seem to be continuously under attack.’ He argued that the word ‘we’ is the ‘single most powerful word in our democracy,’ and used his first presidential campaign slogan as one of his examples.

‘Independence Day is a reminder that America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’ America is owned by no one. It belongs to all citizens. And at this moment in history—when core democratic principles seem to be continuously under attack, when too many people around the world have become cynical and disengaged—now is precisely the time to ask ourselves tough questions about how we can build our democracies and make them work in meaningful and practical ways for ordinary people,’ Obama wrote.

Xi Van Fleet, a survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, responded saying, ‘We the People are taking our country back from those like you who despise America and work tirelessly to dismantle everything it stands for.’

Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared to support the anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ movement in his July 4 post.

‘On July 4, 1776, Americans said: No to Kings, No to Despotism. On July 4, 2025, all across the country, Americans say again: No to Kings, No to Despotism,’ Sanders wrote.

In response, several social media users pointed out that, unlike a king, President Donald Trump was elected.

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Novak Djokovic is hoping to tie Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s single titles at Wimbledon in 2025.

Even if Djokovic achieves that goal, he still won’t have the most overall singles titles at tennis’ oldest and most prestigious majors. That honor belongs to one of the greatest women’s tennis players in the sport’s history.

Who has the most women’s Wimbledon titles? Here’s what to know about the event’s winningest participant and its history.

Who has the most women’s Wimbledon wins?

Martina Navratilova has the most Wimbledon singles titles – both among women and overall – in the event’s history. She won the title nine times during her career, half of her 18 total Grand Slam titles. Her first Wimbledon victory came in 1978 while her last was in 1990.

Navratilova won Wimbledon six consecutive times between 1982 and 1987. She also won seven doubles and four mixed doubles titles at the major during her competitive career.

No current players are close to challenging Navratilova’s women’s record. Among active players, only Petra Kvitova has won multiple Wimbledon titles. She lost in Round 1 of the 2025 tournament to 10th-seeded American Emma Navarro.

And in the overall category, only Djokovic is in striking distance. The 38-year-old would need to win Wimbledon twice more to tie Navratilova for the most overall singles titles in the event’s history.

Most Wimbledon women’s titles full list

A total of 16 women have won Wimbledon at least three times. They are as follows (includes pre-Open era):

Martina Navratilova: 9
Helen Wills Moody: 8
Dorothea Lambert Chambers: 7
Steffi Graf: 7
Serena Williams: 7
Blanche Bingley: 6
Suzanne Lenglen: 6
Billie Jean King: 6
Charlotte Cooper Sterry: 5
Lottie Dod: 5
Venus Williams: 5
Louise Brough: 4
Maria Bueno: 3
Maureen Connolly: 3
Margaret Court: 3
Chris Evert: 3

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Shedeur Sanders is preparing for his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sanders joined a crowded Browns quarterback room that was already comprised of 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco, 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. The four men are expected to battle both to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback while also jockeying for position on the depth chart as whole.

While much of the focus surrounding Sanders is about his first season in Cleveland, the Browns aren’t the only professional football team that owns his rights. The Toronto Argonauts – a long-time member of the CFL – have Sanders on their negotiation list, meaning they are the only team that can sign the former Colorado quarterback should he ever want to play in the league.

Here’s what to know about the CFL’s negotiation list and why Sanders is one of many young, NFL quarterbacks on it.

Which CFL team owns rights to Shedeur Sanders?

The Toronto Argonauts currently own the exclusive CFL negotiation rights to Sanders. Should the current Browns quarterback ever want to play in Canada, he would have to negotiate a contract with Toronto to make that happen.

It isn’t clear how long the Argonauts have owned Sanders’ rights, as CFL teams are allowed to add college players to their negotiation lists. The league made the full negotiation lists public for the first time on Wednesday, July 2.

What is the CFL’s negotiation list?

Each of the CFL’s nine teams maintains a negotiation list of ‘up to 45 players who are currently either unsigned or are playing in the NFL, in another professional league, or in college,’ according to the CFL’s official website.

Teams hold the exclusive CFL negotiating rights to the players included on their lists. Players can be added or removed from the list at any time, and teams are also allowed to trade the rights to players on their negotiation lists to other clubs within the league.

Is Shedeur Sanders going to the CFL?

Just because Sanders is included on one of the CFL’s negotiation lists does not mean he is going to play in the league. It simply means the Argonauts will retain his CFL rights if he ever does decide to play north of the border.

But if Sanders accomplishes his goal and carves out a long-term NFL career, he will not join the Canadian league.

Other QBs on CFL’s negotiation list

Sanders is far from the only NFL quarterback on a CFL team’s negotiation list. Many of the league’s clubs stockpile the rights to high-end college quarterbacks and back-end NFL roster candidates in the hopes one will eventually decide to join their teams.

Sanders is among the most notable, with Saskatchewan Roughriders stash Trey Lance – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – also being among the best-know candidates on the combined lists.

Below is a look at the quarterbacks on the CFL’s negotiation list for all nine teams, along with their alma maters or the most recent college program for which they played.

BC Lions

Beau Brungard, Youngstown State
Ben DiNucci, James Madison
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina
Mikey Keene, Fresno State
Gevani McCoy, Oregon State
Chandler Morris, TCU
John Mateer, Washington State
CJ Montes, Fordham
Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State
Tommy Rittenhouse, Illinois State
Kaidon Salter, Liberty
Demond Williams Jr., Washington

Calgary Stampeders

Garrett Greene, West Virginia
Jake Haener, Fresno State
Tommy Mellott, Montana State
Ben Woolridge, Louisiana

Edmonton Elks

Byrum Brown, USF
Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Devon Dampier, New Mexico
Jalen Raynor, Arkansas State
Collin Schlee, Kent State
Jacob Zeno, UAB

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Thomas Castellanos, Boston College
Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Logan Fife, Montana
Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
Blake Shapen, Baylor
Kedon Slovis, Pitt

Montreal Alouettes

Brett Gabbert, Miami (OH)
Seth Henigan, Memphis
Josh Hoover, TCU
EJ Perry, Brown
Derek Robertson, Monmouth
Lindsey Scott, Incarnate Word

Ottawa Redblacks

Zach Annexstad, Illinois State
Zach Calzada, Incarnate Word
Matt Morrissey, Eastern Kentucky
Reese Poffenbarger, Albany
Drew Pyne, Bowling Green
Nick Vattiato, Middle Tennessee State
Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington
Hajj-Malik Williams, UNLV

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Anthony Brown, Oregon
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison
Andrew Edwards, Henderson State
Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Jordan McCloud, James Madison
Alex McGough, Florida International
Tanner Mordecai, SMU
Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
Will Rogers, Washington
Brayden Schager, Hawaii
Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri

Toronto Argonauts

Jason Bean, Kansas
Max Duggan, TCU
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
Jarrett Guarantano, Washington State
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Matthew Sluka, James Madison
Donovan Smith, Houston
EJ Warner, Fresno State
Jake Willcox, Brown

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Ian Book, Notre Dame
Brady Cook, Missouri
Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

To see the full negotiation lists for every team, click here.

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This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss her fifth consecutive game due to a left groin injury on Saturday, July 5.

Clark is working her way back by participating in drills.

“We went through semi-live shooting drills, but she hasn’t gone full speed in a practice or a live defensive group,” Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters on Friday. “She’s been getting some 3-on-3 work on her own.”

White indicated she was expecting Clark to be reevaluated before the game, but the guard appeared on the injury report Friday evening and was listed as ‘out.’

“I prioritize her long-term health and wellness, and making sure when she comes back, she is 100%,” White said.

It will be the 10th game that Clark has missed this season, including the Fever’s 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1. The Fever have remained competitive without Clark, winning the last three games that followed a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 26. The Fever will host the Sparks on Saturday.

How watch Fever-Sparks

Date: Saturday, July 5
Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: NBA TV
Steaming:Fubo, YouTube TV

Stream the WNBA on Fubo

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend this week’s BRICS Summit in Brazil, marking the first time the Chinese leader has missed the gathering of major emerging economies. The abrupt decision has triggered widespread speculation about internal political dynamics within China and the fraying cohesion of BRICS itself.

China’s official explanation — a ‘scheduling conflict’ and the fact that Xi already met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva earlier this year, according to the South China Morning Post — has been met with skepticism. Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Xi’s place, continuing a recent trend of Xi scaling back his appearances on the global stage.

‘That doesn’t make sense,’ said Gordon Chang, an expert on U.S.-China relations. ‘There are many other countries at the BRICS summit, not just Brazil. To me, it’s extremely significant that Xi Jinping is not going. It suggests turbulence at home — there are signs he’s lost control of the military and that civilian rivals are reasserting power. This is a symptom of that.’

Bryan Burack of the Heritage Foundation agrees that Xi’s absence underscores deeper issues: ‘It’s another indication that BRICS is not going to be China’s vassalization of the Global South.’ He noted that countries like Brazil and Indonesia have recently imposed tariffs on China over industrial overcapacity and dumping, moves that suggest widening rifts within the group.

‘China is actively harming all those countries for the most part, maybe with some exceptions, through its malign trade policies and dumping and overcapacity.’

Tensions with India and global trade pressure may also be factors

Some analysts point to rising China-India friction as a contributing factor in Xi’s decision to skip the summit. 

‘China has been at war with India for decades, essentially,’ Burack said. ‘These are fundamentally opposing interests. It’s difficult to see China changing its behavior in the near term, and that will keep tensions high.’

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take a leading role at the gathering, potentially another deterrent for Xi’s attendance.

Another key leader — Russian President Vladimir Putin — is only expected to address the group by video. 

BRICS: United in name, divided in decades-long tensions 

Formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China and later joined by South Africa, BRICS was envisioned as a non-Western counterweight to G7 dominance. It has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and, most recently, Indonesia, strengthening its economic footprint.

Economist Christian Briggs highlighted BRICS’s massive scale: ‘BRICS now comprises 12 full members and up to 23 when counting partners. Collectively, they account for over 60% of the world’s GDP and around 75% of the global population. They control vast natural resources and a growing share of global trade flows.’

Yet despite its scale, the bloc remains ideologically and strategically fragmented. ‘It’s a group of countries that hate each other,’ Burack said bluntly. ‘China is harming many of them through unfair trade practices. There’s not a lot of incentive for real unity.’

Currency ambitions and strategic divergences

The alliance’s aspirations to challenge the U.S. dollar through alternative payment systems and a potential BRICS currency have gained media traction — but experts caution against overestimating this threat.

‘There’s been a lot of fearmongering about a BRICS currency,’ said Burack. ‘But the interests of these countries are completely divergent. There’s more smoke than fire when it comes to a currency challenge to the dollar.’

Chang echoed this skepticism: ‘The only country that can challenge the dollar is the United States. Weakness in the dollar is due to what we are doing domestically, not what the BRICS are doing.’

Still, Briggs offered a counterpoint, arguing that BRICS members are already reshaping global currency flows.

‘They’re moving away from the dollar into digital yuan, rupees, rubles. China has launched a SWIFT alternative already adopted by the Caribbean banking sector — trillions of dollars are shifting.’

Is BRICS still a threat to U.S. influence?

While its cohesion remains questionable, BRICS poses a long-term challenge to U.S. influence — particularly in regions where Washington has retreated diplomatically and economically.

‘China filled the void left by the U.S. in places like Africa,’ said Briggs. ‘Now it controls about 38% of the world’s minerals. Meanwhile, Russia’s economy has doubled despite sanctions, because they preemptively reduced reliance on the dollar.’

Yet Chang sees India as a brake on any aggressive anti-Western tilt. ‘BRICS has an ‘I’ in it—and that’s India. Modi doesn’t want to be part of an anti-Western bloc. As long as India’s in BRICS, the rest of the world is safe.’

A missed opportunity — or a calculated power move?

To some, Xi’s no-show signals instability in Beijing. To others, the opposite: it demonstrates confidence in China’s dominance over the other BRICS members.

‘He doesn’t have to be there,’ Briggs contended. ‘Xi’s power allows him to delegate. China is trading with nearly 80% of the world now. He’s moving the agenda forward even in absentia.’

What’s clear is that BRICS continues to evolve — its internal contradictions as visible as its geopolitical ambitions. Whether Xi’s absence marks a retreat or a recalibration remains one of the key questions hovering over the summit in Brazil.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

A new video posted by his son shows Colorado football coach Deion Sanders walking gingerly at his estate in Texas less than a week before he’s expected to make his first public appearance since April.

In the video posted by Deion Sanders Jr., Sanders Sr. received a visit from rapper Lil Wayne, one of several friends who have come to see him as he battles an unspecified health issue that has kept him out of the spotlight and away from his job in Boulder. The list of well-wishers has included former NFL players Michael Irvin and Adam “Pacman” Jones, as well as Colorado Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

“Deion’s doing good,” Jones said in an interview with BetOnline posted this week. “I think he got another week at home before they get started. He’ll be there. He’ll be ready to go.”

Sanders, 57, is scheduled to appear in Frisco, Texas on July 9 as part of the annual preseason Big 12 Conference media days. It will be his first appearance on the job since April before he retreated to Texas and missed several events this summer, including Colorado’s annual high school and youth football camps in June. He also canceled a speaking appearance in Florida on June 8 and wasn’t able to make it to Hunter’s wedding in Tennessee May 24.

Sanders previously said in an interview with former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel that he had lost 14 pounds and that “what I’m dealing with right now is at a whole ‘nother level.”

He has a history of blood clots in his legs, which previously led to the amputation of two of his toes. It’s unclear if that is related to his recent sabbatical.  Sanders said he’d provide an update at a later date.

“Thanks to everybody that has been praying and sending good thoughts and prayers his way,” Jones said.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was expanded in part to create matchups exactly like the quarterfinal between English power Chelsea and one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, Palmeiras.

Cole Palmer helped Chelsea get the best of Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Friday, July 4 to advance to the semifinals. Malo Gusto also played a role in the victory, having his shot bounce off the opposing goalkeeper, Weverton Pereira da Silva, to create an own goal situation and take the 2-1 lead.

Estêvão Willian was named as the Superior Player of the Match in the loss. Estêvão scored his first Club World Cup goal, leveling the score for Palmeiras in the second half at 1.

Estêvão, the 18-year-old player from Brazil, is expected to join Chelsea later this month now that Palmeiras has been eliminated from the tournament.

‘You can see he’s a top player,’ Palmer said about his future teammate on the DAZN broadcast after the game. ‘We’re excited for him to join us.’

Chelsea will play Fluminense in the semifinal on Tuesday, July 8 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Matheus Martinelli and Hércules helped Fluminense earn a 2-1 victory over Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in the other quarterfinal on Friday, July 4.

Chelsea vs. Palmeiras highlights

Club World Cup bracket

Here’s a look at how the FIFA Club World Cup bracket looks following Friday’s two quarterfinal games:

On Saturday, July 5, UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain plays German Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich at 12 p.m. ET (TNT/DAZN), then Real Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund at 4 p.m. ET (TNT/TruTV/Univision/DAZN).

Final: Chelsea 2, Palmeiras 1

Malo Gusto helps Chelsea retake the lead in the 83rd minute. Gusto’s kick hit Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton Pereira da Silva before going into the goal. Gusto was not officially credited with the score as it was deemed an own goal against Giay.

Chelsea 1, Palmeiras 1

Estêvão Willian evens the score at 1 with a goal in the 53rd minute for Palmeiras. Chelsea made a pair of substitutions after the goal. Noni Madueke comes in for Christopher Nkunku and Joao Pedro replaces Liam Delap.

Halftime: Chelsea 1, Palmeiras 0

Cole Palmer scores in the 16 minute to give Chelsea the early 1-0 lead against Palmeiras. The score would stand through the rest of the first half.

Chelsea’s Reece James injured

Chelsea captain Reece James suffered an injury before the game on Friday. Andrey Santos replaced James in the starting lineup.

André Silva and Diogo Jota honored with moment of silence

Chelsea and Palmeiras players met at midfield as a moment of silence was held for André Silva and Diogo Jota before the game. The Portuguese soccer players were killed in a car crash in Northern Spain on Wednesday.

What time is Chelsea vs. Palmeiras at Club World Cup?

Friday’s Club World Cup quarterfinal between Chelsea and Palmeiras is set to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa.

How to watch Chelsea vs. Palmeiras Club World Cup game: TV, stream

Time: 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
TV: truTV
Stream: DAZN, Sling TV

Watch Palmeiras vs. Chelsea FREE on DAZN

Chelsea starting 11 vs. Palmeiras

Palmeiras starting 11 vs. Chelsea

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Joey Chestnut got more than the Mustard Belt for his victory at the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

He will pocket $10,000, as will women’s champion Miki Sudo.

For Chestnut, that worked out to be about $142 for each hot dog and bun he consumed, eating total of 70½ during the annual 10-minute contest in Coney Island, New York.

“It’s awesome,’ said Chestnut, who returned to the competition after a one-year ban. “I’m really lucky. You know, competitive eating, it’s not like people are buying tickets to watch it. And it’s not tons and tons of advertising, so there’s not the most money involved it in.’

Chestnut confirmed he makes exponentially from his three-year contract with Nathan’s, although he has declined to reveal the terms of the deal.

The competitors at Nathan’s compete for a total of $40,000 in prize money, $20,000 for the men and $20,000 for the women.

While $10,000 goes to each of the winners, the second-place finishers each get $5,000, the third-place finishers each get $2,500 apiece and the remaining $2,500 is split among other the fourth- and fifth-place finishers, according to George Shea, co-founder of Major League Eating and the host of the Nathan’s contest.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest prize money

Winner: $10,000
Second place: $5,000
Third place: $2,500
Fourth place: $1,500
Fifth place: $1,000

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this year came with a footnote.

One of the eaters was disqualified.

The women’s standings shown on a graphic on the event organizer’s social media site listed “Madison Barone (DQ).’’ She’s not listed in the final results distributed by Major League Eating, which runs the contest.

So what happened?

‘Ms. Barone experienced urges contrary to swallowing after the contest but before the conclusion of presentations and the awarding of places,’ said Sam Barclay, director of operations at Major League Eating,. ‘By Major League Eating rules, urges contrary to swallowing before the conclusion of the event, including presentations and the awarding of prizes, results in a DQ.’

“Urges contrary to swallowing” translates to getting sick.

Barone, a 24-year-old from Manville, New Jersey, did not immediately respond to an interview request sent by email.

George Shea, who has served as the contest announcer since 1991, said he was unaware of any such incident taking place at the time. And he was averse to using graphic language to characterize what took place.

‘We will only say urges contrary to swallowing.” Shea told USA TODAY Sports. ‘We never utter other words. It is like saying Voldemort.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY