Sports
It's a complex world for Chargers rookies adjusting to life in the NFL and big city
Compared to the countryside of Chatsworth, Ga. — population of 4,871 — Los Angeles might as well be another planet for rookie Ladd McConkey. He is a Southern-twanged Martian adjusting to a new frontier in this sprawling metropolis.
“Chatsworth is a small town, and everybody knows everybody,” McConkey said. “Here, you have a lot more people, and I was not expecting everything to be on top of each other.”
A rural Georgian through and through, all he’s known is the Peach State.
A second-round pick, McConkey grew up in Chatsworth — two hours north of Atlanta. He played at North Murray High before spending four years in Athens at the University of Georgia.
McConkey visited L.A. before as a Georgia Bulldog, when they capped off back-to-back national championships at SoFi Stadium in 2022 against Texas Christian.
This is much different.
Life as an NFL rookie comes with immense pressure. High draft picks, such as McConkey, look to justify the draft capital spent on them. Then there are practice squad rookies, who carry the anxiety of being one organizational decision away from unemployment.
The transition off the field, however, is just as challenging.
To help, McConkey is living with his fiancée, Sydney Horne, in Redondo Beach, a much more manageable spot than living in the heart of L.A. The couple found a place where McConkey opted for an open-floor plan, steering clear of the cramped living spaces often typical of older homes in California.
Having his fiancée by his side has made McConkey’s move to the NFL much smoother, offering him support to help combat the grind of an NFL season.
“It’s awesome,” McConkey said. “After practice, whether it’s a good or bad day, I get to go home and just talk and hang out with her. She’s my support system.”
Although McConkey’s family still lives in Georgia, he stays connected through frequent phone calls, which helps ease the challenge of being so far from home. Family visits during preseason games also have helped bridge the gap.
“Its sucks because my whole family lives in Chatsworth,” McConkey said. “Not being able to drive home and see them is definitely different.”
As with McConkey, a mix of country boys, East Coasters and Floridians are trying to adjust to the faster-paced life in Los Angeles after spending training camp at the team hotel in El Segundo.
For rookies, navigating these changes is made easier with the help of people such as Arthur Hightower.
As the Chargers’ senior director of player engagement, Hightower has guided rookies into NFL life since 2005, from the team’s days in San Diego to their current home in Los Angeles. His role involves overseeing their financial education, life skills, relocation and overall development off the field.
“The one thing they all have in common is that they’re rookies, and everything is new,” Hightower said. “People just assume because they make X amount of dollars, they know everything. But they’re still young professionals. This is their first real job.”
Hightower and his staff’s efforts to help players settle are all-encompassing — from deciding if living with a roommate is more suitable to considering the importance of proximity to the facilities or handling unexpected needs, such as finding a barbershop.
“There are stressors, no matter where you are in life,” Hightower said. “The faster they can get acclimated, the better they will perform.”
Offensive tackle Karsen Barnhart is quickly adjusting to city life after growing up in small towns, though the reality of L.A. has turned out quite different from what he had imagined.
Chargers guard Karsen Barnhart (61) had his perceptions changed of Los Angeles after moving here.
(Jeff Lewis / Associated Press)
“I had the perception of it being like New York,” Barnhart said of the Big Apple, which he dislikes. “The perception was completely off with how everything’s spread out here. There’s a big town every five minutes, and it’s not as packed.”
He sees similarities between El Segundo, where the team’s facility is located, and Ann Arbor, where he played for the Michigan Wolverines — though El Segundo has the bonus of ocean-side property.
Now the ocean is closer for Barnhart, thanks to rookie first-rounder Joe Alt, who offered him a place to stay in Manhattan Beach.
“After training camp, I had found a place and wasn’t going to use some of the rooms, so I just said, ‘Hey, you want to room with me,’” Alt said.
The two tackles became close friends at the NFL combine in February, and their friendship has grown stronger throughout training camp, according to Alt. After years of living alone, Alt liked the idea of sharing a space with someone going through a similar experience.
“It’s great to be tested with somebody else and see what they’re thinking and how they’re processing things,” Alt said.
Chargers rookie Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt is adjusting to life in the NFL on and off the field.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
With both towering more than 6-feet-5 and weighing well over 310 pounds, space is at a premium, which could have led to quibbles.
However, the sleeping arrangement was straightforward. As Barnhart put it, “He gets the bigger room. There was no arguing. He was kind enough to let me stay.”
The starkest contrast to his move comes when he thinks of his hometown, Paw Paw, Mich., a village of just 3,395 residents nestled off I-94.
“Paw Paw is completely different,” Barnhart said. “For a kid growing up in the country … the Cali lifestyle is a completely different transition. But I’m loving it so far.”
Barnhart’s experience with the Chargers isn’t his first visit to the L.A. area. Earlier this year, he traveled with Michigan to play Alabama in the Rose Bowl on the way to a national championship.
It hasn’t taken long for the rookies to embrace California culture. Barnhart already has adopted one quintessential Angeleno complaint — the traffic.
Others are settling for the South Bay’s scenic ocean-side views, soaking up the endless sunshine and indulging in some local delicacies.
Chargers linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste has reunited with college friend Tre’mon Morris-Brash.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
“I’m not going to lie, I done run into a lot of good taco places,” Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste said. “I eat tacos at least three times a week.”
Jean-Baptiste shared his love for al pastor and carne asada, a passion he apparently enjoys by himself. With a look of betrayal, his roommate Tre’mon Morris-Brash asked from a neighboring locker, “You getting tacos, bruh?”
“Nah, he ain’t put me on,” Morris-Brash said. “That’s fine.”
Jean-Baptiste, who plays inside linebacker, and Morris-Brash, who plays outside linebacker, find their living arrangement reminiscent of another college year. They were teammates for four years at Central Florida and lived just a few doors apart in the same residence hall.
Now, in L.A., they’re both on the Chargers’ practice squad, continuing a shared experience.
Chargers linebacker Tre’Mon Morris-Brash (57) returns an interception during a preseason game against the Cowboys.
(Matt Patterson / Associated Press)
“It’s cool going to college with him and then having him be here,” Morris-Brash said. “It’s great to see a familiar face every day, and even cooler that we became roommates. It’s definitely sweet.”
The two share a luxury apartment just minutes from team facilities and kept it civil when deciding who got the bigger bedroom, settling it with a game of rock, paper, scissors. Jean-Baptiste came out on top.
Despite their fondness for the complex, the cost came as a bit of a shock.
“Oof, one thing I can say is that the rent in California is very different than where I’m from,” said Jean-Baptiste, who grew up in Florida City, Fla., (population 13,000). “Very pricey.”
The two moved in a few days before the Chargers’ season opener against the Raiders. While they were game planning for Las Vegas on the field, off the field they focused on setting up their wi-fi, which they handled themselves.
“We really just been trying to get our house set up first,” Morris-Brash said.z
This move isn’t a first for Morris-Brash or Jean-Baptiste. Morris-Brash left his hometown of Richmond, Va., to play at UCF in Orlando. Jean-Baptiste moved to Oxford, Miss., for his final year at Ole Miss as a graduate transfer.
The distance from family can be challenging, but Jean-Baptiste credits their support — and the phone — for easing his transition. He often talks with his father, who keeps him updated on the weather in Dade County.
“I talked to my dad yesterday,” Jean-Baptiste said. “He just says one day it’s raining, one day it’s hot as hell. One day it’s raining, one day it’s hot.”
“My family’s behind me,” Jean-Baptiste said, “and being over here allows me to stay focused on my dream.”
Sports
England stuns Mexico 3-2 in instant World Cup classic, hands team first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca
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One of the tournament’s instant classics unfolded Sunday at the historic Estadio Azteca, where 87,500 screaming fans created a deafening atmosphere.
England weathered the storm, silencing the sea of green with a ruthless finishing display to escape with a dramatic 3-2 victory.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane combined to crush El Tri’s World Cup dreams. El Tri is a popular nickname for the Mexican men’s national team.
WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 SOCCER PREVIEW AS ENGLAND, BELGIUM AND USA ALL SEEK REGULATION WINS ON A PACKED DAY
England’s Harry Kane buries a penalty kick to score his second goal against Mexico. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) ((Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images))
In a stunning two-minute span in the first half, Bellingham struck twice, leaving Mexico’s defense completely shell-shocked.
But before halftime, Julian Quinones gave El Tri a lifeline. He buried a clutch goal, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
The second half was as electric as the first.
USA WORLD CUP STAR CALLS LACK OF APPEAL PROCESS FOR TEAMMATE’S RED CARD ‘BOGUS’
In the 53rd minute, England went down to 10 men after Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card. Suddenly, the momentum appeared to swing in Mexico’s favor.
England’s Jude Bellingham clears the danger as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebrates the crucial defensive stop. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) ((Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images))
Instead of capitalizing on the numerical advantage, however, Mexico gifted England a golden opportunity.
Goalkeeper Raul Rangel recklessly brought down Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area, conceding a spot kick. Captain Harry Kane calmly stepped up and buried the penalty, restoring England’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Still, Mexico refused to fold.
In the 69th minute, the referee pointed to the spot once again, awarding Mexico a penalty after another frantic sequence inside England’s box.
Raul Jimenez confidently converted, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and setting up an edgy finish.
England’s Jude Bellingham (left) reacts after Mexico’s Julian Quinones scores their side’s first goal of the game during the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Mexico City Stadium, Mexico. Picture date: Sunday July 5, 2026. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) ((Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images))
From there, England dug in, despite being down to 10 men. England absorbed wave after wave of Mexican pressure before hanging on for a gritty 3-2 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals against Norway.
England booked its place in the quarterfinals and handed Mexico its first-ever World Cup defeat at the Estadio.
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Traveling England supporters celebrated by belting out “Wonderwall” one more time.
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As the announcer called out his name in the lineup, Eliezer Alfonzo hugged fellow Venezuelan Miguel Rojas before the catcher walked down the dugout to greet his teammates and coaches. The two had written messages on their caps in silver ink: On Alfonzo’s, “EyP, RIP,” the initials of his stepmother Patricia and his younger sister Eliana. On Rojas’, a cross was drawn next to “Alfonzo” and below “Fuerza Matatan.” In other words, stay strong, Matatan, the nickname given to Alfonzo’s father, the former major league catcher Eliezer “El Matatán” Alfonzo.
An unimaginable weight rested on his shoulders when Alfonzo stepped into the batter’s box to a standing ovation. Alfonzo’s stepmother and sister were reportedly found dead after the earthquakes in Venezuela last month.
Alfonzo went 0-for-2 in an otherwise quiet Dodgers 5-2 loss to the Padres, though even in that performance, he found moments to reflect. His sister, he said after the game, had a dream that she refused to tell him until it came true.
“I’m pretty sure the dream was something about this. I wish she was alive to watch me play in the big leagues,” Alfonzo said. “But I know she’s in God’s side now, and she’s gonna protect me, and she’s gonna enjoy every moment that I’m gonna have.”
He honored his family’s loss by playing as if his sister were sitting in the stands. Because if she were here, he said, she would be yelling from the stands, “Hit the ball hard!”
The Dodgers catcher had previously clung to hope that the two, who had been reported missing, would be found. His father had searched tirelessly for them, his hope bolstered when he found the family’s dog alive. Alfonzo’s father stayed in the country, searching, when the Dodgers called his son to let him know he’d join the team.
The series finale with the Padres should’ve been a happy day. Most players who have toiled in the minor league system debut in front of applauding friends and family. Instead, Alfonzo’s first appearance, the culmination of nine tireless years, was somber , stricken by the grief overshadowing what should’ve been a joyous moment in the Dodgers’ to the Padres.
Even manager Dave Roberts was lost for words.
“After today, it’s going to really hit him,” Roberts said. “All of us feel for him and his father, who I know, their family. It’s devastating.”
Alfonzo never considered not playing today, despite the personal tragedy. He’s spoken with his brother and his father in Venezuela, who asked him to play in the series finale for his sister. His agent, girlfriend and teammates, like Rojas, also helped Alfonzo approach the game calmly.
“What happened, unfortunately, is out of my hands and part of life,” he said in Spanish. “Only God knows why they happen. I went out there to honor my sister and my stepmother, and give my best in a difficult moment. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win, but you have to keep moving forward.”
Rojas, who spoke through reddened, teary eyes after the game, knows the family well. He learned from and played against Alfonzo’s father in Venezuelan winter ball. And, in a country struck by tragedy, this loss felt close to home.
“Everybody in Venezuela loves his dad,” Rojas said. “It’s really tough right now to put into context and to put into words. Just for him to be here today and making the decision that he was going to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the big leagues, thinking about that and thinking about them and what happened over there and what his dad has to be going through right now by himself in Venezuela, it’s really tough.
“For me, I’m just going to support the whole family and especially Eliezer, because I know how hard it is to play like that. It’s been hard for me. Nothing happened to one of my family members, but as soon as I heard the news about them, it hit me as hard as if it were my family. I consider Eliezer Alfonso Sr. one of my close friends in baseball.”
In a way, playing baseball helps bring happiness to those going through tragedy, Rojas said. He knows because he’s lost both his parents, but his family still asks him to play.
“This is how I make a lot of people happy in my family and people who know me,” he said. “This is not just my job. This is who I am.”
Against the Padres, Rojas helped break a five-inning hitless streak for the Dodgers (59-32), who lead MLB in batting average (.265), with a single in the fifth. However, by then, the team had already found itself in a hole.
Emmet Sheehan gave up an RBI single to Padres’ center fielder Jackson Merrill in the fourth inning. In the fifth, he pitched himself into a jam, giving up a successive walk and double that put two runners in scoring position. With no room for error, Sheehan was quickly replaced by Jack Dreyer, who escaped the inning scoreless.
Sheehan (4-6) has now had five straight starts that lasted no more than five innings. But, having given up only one earned run in the series closer to the Padres (44-45), Sheehan’s start could be viewed as a step in the right direction: only three hits and five strikeouts.
“I thought the first three innings were great,” Roberts said. “They really were. I thought the stuff was up, he was on the attack, you’re getting the swing-and-miss, getting the soft contact, he was great.”
However, emotions remained high on both sides. San Diego’s manager Craig Stammen and coach Ryan Goins were ejected three pitches into the game after arguing a check-swing call. The ejection seemed to spark the Padres back from a season-high eight-game losing streak, though the Dodgers didn’t make the win easy at times.
The pressure ratcheted up in the sixth when Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages worked walks off Yuki Matsui, who replaced JP Sears. The Padres switched pitchers again before Mookie Betts’ two-out at-bat, and the move paid off. Betts hit a routine flyball, and the inning — and the Dodgers’ momentum — ended.
After scoring in the fourth, San Diego extended its lead in the seventh courtesy of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Tatis Jr. beat out a throw from Rojas to Freddie Freeman, driving in one run. And though the Dodgers challenged, the call was upheld. Then, two batters later, reliever Kyle Hurt threw a four-seam fastball down the middle of the plate, and Machado rocketed the pitch to the center field wall beyond the grasp of a leaping Pages.
The Dodgers clawed back two runs in the seventh. Alex Freeland drove in one on a line-drive RBI-single. Ohtani added another one. Neither was enough to win, though it ensured the Dodgers weren’t blanked.
Shohei Ohtani loses his bat during the third inning Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Still, the game’s result seemed minuscule when stacked against Alfonso’s personal tragedy and the earthquake’s destruction in Venezuela. And, as the country and its people begin to piece together the full toll of the destruction amid the rubble, the notion of playing baseball seems absurd in the wake of such tragedy.
“It’s not always easy, but sometimes getting on the field, competing, life goes to the wayside,” Roberts said. “And you can just compete and do your job, and that’s sort of a blessing. But yeah, to play every day, and to have to perform, it’s pressure in itself.”
But for the men who have only known how to play baseball since they were young, there’s little else to do.
“That’s the worst feeling, feeling selfish of being here and playing, and we look out there like we’re having fun and we’re laughing,” Rojas said. “At the end, when I put my head to bed after everything is over, after the show is over, it’s really hard to go to sleep. I’m pretty sure a lot of Venezuelans are going through the same thing.”
Former USA soccer player previews US match against Belgium
Former USMNT defender Jonathan Bornstein previews the national team’s FIFA World Cup match against Belgium. Bornstein asserts this current generation is the most talented USMNT squad ever, featuring players from top European clubs. He explains how the team’s exciting run is accelerating soccer’s growth and popularity across America, inspiring young fans.
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Belgium is crying foul after FIFA cleared USMNT star Folarin Balogun before Monday’s World Cup Round of 16 showdown in Seattle.
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a statement on the overturned suspension, saying they were “stunned by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended American player Folarin Balogun eligible to play,” arguing the ruling violates both the FIFA Disciplinary Code and World Cup regulations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026. (Kent Nishimura/AFP)
The federation concluded by saying it is “considering all possible options” to protect “the legitimate rights of all participating teams and preserve the fundamental principles of fair play.”
FIFA MAKES FINAL RULING ON US SOCCER STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN’S CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD SUSPENSION
FIFA, however, wasn’t persuaded.
“Pursuant to article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the application of the automatic suspension of American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year,” the FIFA Disciplinary Committee said in an official statement.
The ruling means Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, is eligible to face Belgium on Monday night.
USA WORLD CUP STAR CALLS LACK OF APPEAL PROCESS FOR TEAMMATE’S RED CARD ‘BOGUS’
President Trump celebrated the ruling on Truth Social, thanking FIFA “for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump also praised Balogun’s reinstatement and predicted a strong performance from the Americans against Belgium.
President Donald Trump, Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, and Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, pose for a selfie with Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025. (Hector Vivas/FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
It’s not hard to see why Belgium wanted Balogun sidelined. The American striker leads the United States with three goals this tournament.
Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina before being shown a red card in the 64th minute after a VAR review upgraded the challenge.
FORMER TEAM USA STAR WANTS TO SEE RED CARD RULE CHANGE AFTER FOLARIN BALOGUN CONTROVERSY
US striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card was one of the biggest moments of the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images))
The dismissal immediately sparked debate among fans and pundits, many of whom believed the punishment was overly harsh.
The U.S. learned of FIFA’s decision while arriving for Sunday morning training in the Seattle area.
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Belgium enters Monday’s Round of 16 match ranked No. 9 in the FIFA World Rankings after handing the United States a 5-2 loss in a March friendly.
But World Cup knockout soccer is a different animal.
Come kickoff Monday night in Seattle, Balogun will be exactly where Belgium hoped he wouldn’t be: on the field.
FULL STATEMENT
“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is stunned by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended American player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the United States-Belgium match scheduled for Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m. (Seattle time).
“FIFA bases its decision on article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the application of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.
“However, article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all red cards shown earlier during this FIFA World Cup.
“Moreover, and independently of the above, this decision directly contradicts the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations, as set out in article 10.5:
“‘If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), he will be automatically suspended for his team’s next match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.’
“The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 circular no. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on May 12, 2026.
“This rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 match coordination meeting before each game and appears in all workshop presentations dedicated to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and preserve the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both during this FIFA World Cup and in future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is considering all possible options.”
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
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