Sports

MLB All-30: With a week to go, one bold trade deadline prediction for each team

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

MLB All-30: With a week to go, one bold trade deadline prediction for each team

With a week to go until the MLB trade deadline, we asked our writers to make a prediction about every team in the league. Some were bolder than others.

Prediction: Diamondbacks are buyers, but trade Eugenio Suárez.

The Diamondbacks made a push in the offseason to improve on the World Series roster of 2023. It hasn’t gone according to plan, but they came out of the break just one game out of the wild card. The Eugenio Suárez acquisition hasn’t worked out, and while the D-Backs should be buyers, Suárez might not be in the plans. Arizona should still look for pitching help and make a push for the postseason. — Sam Blum

Prediction: The Braves won’t make bold enough moves to satisfy most of their fans.

Alex Anthopoulos has been bold before some past deadlines. For example, he traded for four outfielders in July 2021 and watched each become a major factor for the eventual World Series champions. But the Braves’ deficit in the standings (8 1/2 games entering Monday) and the team they are chasing (the Phillies) make it unlikely that the Braves win the NL East. With Michael Harris II and Max Fried expected back in August and Ozzie Albies in September, the Braves might aim more for being healthy in the postseason. — David O’Brien

Prediction: The Orioles will get the biggest reliever that moves.

If the A’s hold onto closer Mason Miller, the O’s will simply move down the list to Tanner Scott or Paul Sewald or Pete Fairbanks — whoever is legitimately available and will most significantly impact their bullpen. It would be far bolder to say they’ll get the best pitcher, period, who moves. And with the Orioles farm system, that’s certainly possible. — Chad Jennings

Marlins reliever Tanner Scott has been a staple of trade talks. (Jim Rassol / USA Today)

Prediction: The Red Sox will trade for a starting pitcher.

The Red Sox don’t currently have a set fifth starter and have been relying heavily on Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford, who are at or close to career highs in innings pitched. Nick Pivetta has been good more often than not, but Brayan Bello is having a tough year. If the Red Sox want to contend they need pitching. Craig Breslow knows that and seems willing to add. — Jen McCaffrey

Prediction: The Cubs will mostly stand pat.

There is no motivation to sink more resources into this underperforming team. The roster, however, is not designed to sell, and there is an expectation to compete in 2025. The Cubs will use August and September for player development and will try to sell the idea of “just wait until next offseason” for the really big moves. — Patrick Mooney

Prediction: The White Sox are trading Garrett Crochet to the Dodgers.

Naming the destination may be a little too bold, but the White Sox will sell high on Crochet, because you never know with hard-throwing pitchers. The Dodgers have a need, they’re thirsty to win another title, and they’re always developing another wave. They’ll pay the necessary price. — Rustin Dodd

Prediction: The Reds do nothing of consequence.

The team’s fence straddling will continue beyond the July 30 trade deadline. Too close to be clear sellers and too far away to be clear buyers, the front office will say that they looked for deals that made long-term sense, but didn’t find any matches in trade negotiations. Frankie Montas is the team’s most obvious trade candidate, but the Reds won’t get any offers that make trying to make up for his absence in the rotation worth sending him elsewhere. — C. Trent Rosecrans

Prediction: The Guardians will make multiple trades.

It’s hard to forecast. Everything’s in flux. Conversations are fluid. But the Guardians are positioned to swing big — or, at least, to take a few smaller hacks. Like everyone, they desperately need rotation help. They could stand to land another bat. Another reliever never hurts. They’ve gotten this far despite their faults, have plenty of trade chips and the front office understands the difference some upgrades could make. — Zack Meisel

Prediction: Both of their catchers will get traded.

Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings have both had productive seasons, and are both pending free agents. Diaz has a .732 OPS and Stallings a .758 OPS. Neither are franchise-altering players. But they play a premium position and could be sneaky valuable to contending teams. It would free up a spot for prospect Drew Romo to come up for his MLB debut. — Sam Blum

Prediction: The Tigers won’t trade Tarik Skubal.

Despite all the chatter, this conversation isn’t all that complicated. It would take a massive haul for the Tigers to move their ace at this year’s deadline. The Orioles are perhaps the only team that can offer enough, and even then, would Mike Elias really be willing to part with Jackson Holliday? The odds of Skubal actually moving seem slim. — Cody Stavenhagen

Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal might be too costly to move. (David Reginek / USA Today)

Prediction: The Astros acquire a star first baseman.

Astros owner Jim Crane covets superstars. He has engineered two deadline trades for Justin Verlander and he gave the final push to acquire Zack Greinke in 2019. Houston does not have the prospect capital to pull off another blockbuster. With Crane involved, it sometimes doesn’t matter. The Astros should be prioritizing pitching, but if Crane wants Pete Alonso or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fix his mistake of signing José Abreu, general manager Dana Brown may have to make it happen. — Chandler Rome

Prediction: The Royals will acquire a bat like Tommy Pham — though importantly maybe not Tommy Pham himself.

The Royals already upgraded their bullpen by acquiring Hunter Harvey from the Nationals in exchange for third base prospect Cayden Wallace and a competitive balance round pick. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them target another middle reliever type, but the more pressing need now exists in the lineup. Namely, the Royals need to lengthen it. The Royals’ farm system is thin at the upper levels, so someone with Pham’s price tag may fit best. — Rustin Dodd

Prediction: The Angels don’t trade any players with multiple years of team control.

The Angels are in a perfect position for a full-scale sell-off. And they have some players that can net a return. But the front office and owner Arte Moreno will use the team’s recent strong play to justify holding onto arbitration-eligible players in the hopes of competing again next year. In some ways this is a bold prediction. In another way, it feels very predictable that the Angels will make this choice. — Sam Blum

Los Angeles Dodgers

Prediction: The Dodgers will supplement their starting pitching.

It certainly would have qualified as bold at the beginning of the season, but the Dodgers’ cluster of pitching injuries has made solidifying the group a must. The returns of Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw will help some, but there’s a reason the Dodgers are engaged on the likes of Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet. — Fabian Ardaya

Prediction: It’s last call as the Jazz club closes in Miami.

This prediction has become considerably less bold in recent weeks as rumors of trade talks have surfaced. But to think last fall that Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be traded less than a year after his second playoff run with the Marlins would have been surprising. The time is right for the Marlins. Chisholm isn’t matching his 2022 breakout but he’s playing well. There are a lot of contenders eager to have his skillset at center field and second base. — Stephen J. Nesbitt

Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s time with the Marlins may be nearing its end. (Jim Rassol / USA Today)

Prediction: The Brewers will acquire Erick Fedde.

It’s no secret the Brewers need pitching, but it will be hard for them to outbid the Dodgers or Orioles for the services of Garrett Crochet. A better trade for them could mean acquiring Fedde, Crochet’s more overlooked teammate. Fedde has posted a 2.99 ERA and is under team control through next season. He could be a good fit on a Brewers team looking to deepen its rotation. — Cody Stavenhagen

Prediction: Minnesota will trade for one of the top rental starting pitchers.

Chris Paddack’s latest injured list stint should motivate the Twins to pursue rotation help, but they may not be as inclined to part with top prospects or increase the 2025 payroll. Instead, they’ll land one of the top rental starters — Nathan Eovaldi? Yusei Kikuchi? Jack Flaherty? Frankie Montas? — to provide insurance for Paddack and another viable option for a potential playoff rotation. — Aaron Gleeman

Prediction: The Mets trade someone off their major-league roster.

The Mets will buy at the deadline, but they won’t be afraid to move a piece or two off the big-league roster to either facilitate a win-now move or recoup some prospect value for the future. The starting rotation is the chief spot to look at here, with New York capable of withstanding a deal of a starter. — Tim Britton

Prediction: The Yankees will trade Nestor Cortes.

The Yankees made a similar move in 2022 when they traded Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals for center fielder Harrison Bader. The thinking was Montgomery would not be a part of the Yankees’ playoff rotation, and general manager Brian Cashman wanted to shore up a critical spot defensively. Cortes comes with one more year of team control, and he still has value. They could use a new starting infielder or left fielder in exchange for Cortes. — Chris Kirschner

Prediction: The A’s won’t deal Mason Miller.

How do you price a dominant closer with a 101 mph fastball and a lethal slider, a guy with 5 1/2 years of team control? And what if Miller doesn’t remain a reliever forever? A starter with that sort of stuff who can’t become a free agent until November 2029 is worth a fortune. It might be more beneficial to survey the market in the winter, with more teams adamant about buying. — Zack Meisel

The Athletics might be better off exploring a Mason Miller deal in the offseason (Eakin Howard / Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies

Prediction: The Phillies acquire someone else’s closer but don’t use him as their closer.

For much of Rob Thomson’s tenure as Phillies manager, the club has not run a bullpen with traditional roles. They’re poking around on available relievers, and if they acquire one with closing experience, they will continue to operate without set roles. It’ll just give them another late-inning option. — Matt Gelb

Prediction: The Pirates will be active shoppers in a moderately priced store.

This is not a bold prediction. The Pirates are not going to swing big, and I refuse to pretend that they will! That doesn’t mean they’ll sit on their hands. Far from it. The Pirates might make more moves than any other team out there. They’ll be in the market for mid-market or rental center fielders, second basemen, catchers and relievers. Each trade won’t move the needle that much, but step back after a flurry of ‘em and you’ll see a significant improvement. — Stephen J. Nesbitt

Prediction: The Padres land Garrett Crochet, surrendering Leodalis De Vries in the process.

General manager A.J. Preller has been after Crochet for at least a couple of months, apparently undeterred by workload concerns surrounding the White Sox All-Star. With stiff competition from such teams as the Dodgers and Orioles, the Padres would need to fork over premium prospect capital. De Vries, a highly regarded teenage shortstop, can headline a requisite package. — Dennis Lin

Prediction: You’ll be underwhelmed if you want the Giants to buy, you’ll probably be underwhelmed if you want them to sell, so basically, just prepare to not be whelmed.

A year ago at the deadline, the Giants were 58-49 and leading the NL wild card standings — and their only acquisition was a broken-down A.J. Pollock. This season, while technically contending, they’ve spent just four days over .500. They’re also pot-committed after punting two draft picks and crossing the luxury tax transom to sign Matt Chapman and Blake Snell. Their best play is probably to let it ride and hope the return of Robbie Ray/Alex Cobb gives them a bigger roster boost than any of the NL wild card teams will receive at the deadline. — Andrew Baggarly

Prediction: Seattle will add a bat — possibly more than one.

The Mariners entered the second half in the lead in the American League West despite ranking 27th in baseball in runs and 28th in OPS. Jerry Dipoto will need to bring in some reinforcements if the team wants to hold off the Astros. Expect Dipoto to be aggressive in pursuing upgrades, especially in the outfield. — Andy McCullough

St. Louis Cardinals

Prediction: The Cardinals acquire a starting pitcher and reliever in the same trade.

The Cardinals and bold don’t usually mix at the deadline, so let’s keep that in mind here. Given the different areas they could use improvement on, however, a multi-player trade makes sense. St. Louis would benefit from adding both a starting pitcher and a right-handed reliever. Why not get both from the same place? The Rangers (should they decide to sell) seem like a solid fit, with players like Nathan Eovaldi, David Robertson and Kirby Yates theoretically in play. So do the White Sox, with Erick Fedde — who the Cardinals have been linked to — and old friend John Brebbia available. Plenty of options are out there, and who doesn’t like a one-stop shop? — Katie Woo

Erick Fedde pitches against the Cardinals. (Jeff Curry / USA Today)

Prediction: The Rays will trade someone you’ve heard of for someone you haven’t.

The Tampa Bay Rays do this all the time — they take a name-brand player, make him better, sell him off, whoever comes back turns out to be even better and they will ultimately be traded. Rinse and repeat. This is like predicting the sun will rise in the east, but I have seen no evidence yet that it will not. The Rays will likely move Amed Rosario, but could also trade the likes of Zach Eflin, Yandy Díaz or even Randy Arozarena. — C. Trent Rosecrans

Texas Rangers

Prediction: The Rangers won’t do much selling.

The first half has not gone according to plan, but the Rangers remain within shouting distance in the AL West. They may try to do a mix of buying and selling, but the chances of Chris Young and company jettisoning most of the team’s pitching at the deadline is unlikely. The Rangers still want to compete. — Cody Stavenhagen

Prediction: The Blue Jays trade starter Chris Bassitt.

Bassitt is having another strong season and with so many clubs in need of starting pitching, he could fetch the Blue Jays a decent return, especially since he’s controllable through 2025. The Blue Jays are set on competing again in 2025, so they don’t have to move Bassitt, but doing so now is a way to bolster a farm system that lacks upper-level depth, especially on the pitching side. — Kaitlyn McGrath

Washington Nationals

Prediction: If you aren’t part of the future, you might get dealt.

After flirting with contention early in the summer, the Nationals faded heading into the break, and are prepared to sell. General manager Mike Rizzo already did well in turning reliever Hunter Harvey into a competitive-balance pick. The team is expected to listen on plenty of pending free agents like Jesse Winker, Dylan Floro and, of course, Patrick Corbin. — Andy McCullough

(Top photo of Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes: Brad Penner / USA Today)

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Sports

Eileen Gu reflects on decision to leave Team USA for China: ‘A lot of people just don’t understand’

Published

9 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Eileen Gu reflects on decision to leave Team USA for China: ‘A lot of people just don’t understand’

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Eileen Gu released a statement on social media Monday, reflecting on her controversial decision to compete for Team China despite being born and raised in the U.S.

Gu’s statement tied the decision back to her passion for promoting women’s sports, and encouraging young girls to pursue sports.

“I gave my first speech on women in sports and title IX when I was 11 years old. I talked about being the only girl on my ski team, and, despite attending an all-girls’ school from Monday through Friday, becoming best friends with my teammates on the weekends through the common language of sport,” Gu wrote on Instagram.

Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images) (Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)

“At the same time, I was made painfully aware of the lack of representation – at age 9, I felt that I was somehow representing all women every time I stepped in the terrain park. Landing tricks was about more than progression … it was about disproving the derisive implication of what it meant to ‘ski like a girl.’”

Gu went on to express gratitude for the one season in which she did compete for the U.S.

“When I was 15, I announced my decision to compete for China. At the time, I had spent one season on the US team, and had been lucky enough to meet my heroes in person. I am forever grateful for that season, and continue to maintain a close relationship with the team. I had spent every summer in China since I was 8 setting up summer camps on trampoline and dry slope for kids and adults, ranging from 7 to 47 years old, so I knew the industry was tiny. I felt like I knew everyone,” she added.

“Skiing for Team China meant the opportunity to uplift others through the universal culture of sport, and to introduce freeskiing to hundreds of millions of people who had never heard of it, especially with the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics around the corner.”

Gu’s statement concluded by acknowledging that certain people “don’t understand” her decision to compete for China over the U.S., while insisting the choice maximized the impact she would have.

“I can look back now, at 22, and tell 12 year old Eileen that there are now terrain parks full of little girls, who will never doubt their place in the sport. I can tell 15 year old me that there are now millions of girls who have started skiing since then, in China and worldwide,” Gu wrote.

“A lot of people won’t understand or believe that I made a decision to create the greatest amount of positive impact on the world stage that I could, at this age, given my interests and passions. Three golds and six medals later, I can confidently say was once a dream is now a reality.”

Gu has become a target for global criticism this Olympics for her decision to represent China while remaining silent on the country’s alleged human rights abuses.

In an interview with Time magazine, Gu was asked her thoughts on China’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

“I haven’t done the research. I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not going to make big claims on my social media,” Gu answered.

“I’m just more of a skeptic when it comes to data in general. … So, it’s not like I can read an article and be like, ‘Oh, well, this must be the truth.’ I need to have a ton of evidence. I need to maybe go to the place, maybe talk to 10 primary source people who are in a location and have experienced life there.

“Then I need to go see images. I need to listen to recordings. I need to think about how history affects it. Then I need to read books on how politics affects it. This is a lifelong search. It’s irresponsible to ask me to be the mouthpiece for any agenda.”

More controversy surrounding Gu erupted after The Wall Street Journal reported that Gu and another American-born athlete who now competes for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025.

Gu is the highest-paid Winter Olympics athlete in the world, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone due to partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China and western companies.

Her alignment with China prompted criticism from many Americans this Olympics, including Vice President J.D. Vance.

“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”

Later, when Gu was asked if she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics at the moment,” she said she does.

“I do,” she said. “So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So, it’s not really about what they think it’s about.

“And, also, because I win. Like, if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”

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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the awarding ceremony of the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Gu has claimed she was “physically assaulted” for the decision.

“The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed,” Gu told The Athletic.

“I’ve gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever.”

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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.

Sports

Arnold, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Evans, Carl Lewis new members of California’s Hall of Fame

Published

10 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Arnold, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Evans, Carl Lewis new members of California’s Hall of Fame

From Hollywood actors to Olympic athletes and politicians, California’s newest Hall of Fame class runs the gamut in talent and achievements.

Academy Award-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis and former governor/action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olympic champions Janet Evans and Carl Lewis, authors Riane Eisler and Terry McMillan, chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, groundbreaking ensemble Mariachi Reyne de Los Ángeles and former state Democratic leader John L. Burton all earned a spot into the assembly of distinct Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday.

This class, the 19th in state history, will be formally enshrined during a ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento on March 19 as a “celebration of their contributions to civic life, creativity, and social progress,” according to Newsom’s office.

The inductees “have reshaped our culture and our communities. Resilient and innovative, these leaders and luminaries represent the best of the California spirit,” Newsom said in a statement.

To be inducted, candidates must have lived in California for at least five years and “have made achievements benefiting the state, nation and world,” according to the California Hall of Fame website. To date, 166 Californians have been selected by three governors since 2006.

Schwarzenegger, 78, served as the state’s 38th governor and last Republican head of state from 2003 to 2011. His renaissance man biography includes a career as a body builder, highlighted by his Mr. Universe titles, action film success, political stardom and even tabloid-fodder infidelity.

Curtis, 67, a Santa Monica native, is among Hollywood’s elite and teamed with Schwarzenegger in the action blockbuster “True Lies” in 1994. Her acting career dates to 1977, and she earned a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2023 for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Evans, 54, is a four-time Olympic gold medal swimmer and Fullerton native who attended Placentia El Dorado High School, Stanford University and USC. She serves as chief athletic officer for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Lewis, 64, is considered by many one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. The track star won 10 medals, nine of them gold, in four Olympics.

Eisler, 88, and McMillan, 74, added multiple bestsellers to this Hall of Fame class.

Eisler’s critically acclaimed “The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future” examines roughly 20,000 years of partnership between men and women and male domination over the last 5,000 years. The futurist, cultural historian and Holocaust survivor who has degrees in sociology and law from UCLA said she was informed of the honor last year by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and recently was honored by the Austrian government with its Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class.

“I am very honored at this time in my life to be inducted into the California Hall of Fame,” Eisler wrote in an email. “I have worked tirelessly to help create a better world, and firmly believe that a new paradigm, a new way of looking at our world and our place in it, is crucial.”

McMillan has written a series of smash hits, including a couple that became major studio films in the ‘90s, “Waiting to Exhale” and “How Stella Got her Groove Back,” centered on Black women’s voices.

Matsuhisa, 76, know for his iconic Japanese restaurant Nobu, which has six locations in California, owns businesses across five continents.

Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles, founded in South El Monte, rewrote the rules of music, becoming the first all-woman mariachi ensemble that has entertained for more than three decades.

Burton, the former chair of the California Democratic Party who died last year at 92, boasted a political career that included time in the California State Assembly and Senate and the U.S. House.

“This year’s class embodies the very best of California — creativity, resilience and a spirit of community,” Siebel Newsom said in a statement. “These honorees remind us that innovation and courage flourish when people are lifted up by those around them.”

Sports

Former NFL Players Of Iranian Descent Speak Up For Freedom From Islamic Regime

Published

21 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Former NFL Players Of Iranian Descent Speak Up For Freedom From Islamic Regime

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Ali Haji-Sheikh and Shar Pourdanesh share the fact they are retired NFL players living beyond the glow of the NFL spotlight. But they also share another distinction tying them to current events: They are part of the Iranian diaspora hoping for the downfall of the Islamic revolution.

They make up part of a small group of men who played in the NFL – along with David Bakhtiari, his brother Eric Bakhtiari and T.J. Housmandzadeh – who are decedents of Iranians.

Washington Redskins kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh (6) talks to reporters at Jack Murphy Stadium during media day prior to Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos. San Diego, California, on Jan. 26, 1988.(Darr Beiser/USA TODAY Sports)

Haji-Sheikh: Self-Determination For Iranians

Haji-Sheikh, 65, played in the 1980s for the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. He was a first-team All-Pro, made the Pro Bowl and was on the NFL All-Rookie team in 1983 for the Giants and, in his final season, won a Super Bowl XXII ring playing for the Washington Redskins and kicking six extra points in a 42-10 blowout of the Denver Broncos.

Now, Haji-Sheikh is the general manager at a Michigan Porsche-Audi dealership and is like the rest of us: Keeping up with world events when time permits.

Except the war the United States is currently waging against the Islamic Republic of Iran is kind of different because Haji-Sheikh’s dad emigrated from Iran to the United States in the 1950s and built a life here.

And his son would like to see freedom come to a country he’s never visited but has a kinship to.

“It’s a world event,” Haji-Sheikh said on Monday. “I am not a big fan of the Islamic revolution because I am not Islamic. I would like to see the people of Iran be able to determine their own future rather than it be determined by a few people. It would be nice to see them having a stable government where the people can actually decide how they want it to go.

Green Bay Packers kicker Al Del Greco (10) talks with New York Giants kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh (6) on Sept. 15, 1985, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Giants 23-20.

Iranians Celebrating And Americans Protesting

Haji-Sheikh hasn’t taken to the streets of his native Michigan to celebrate a liberation that hasn’t fully manifested mere days after the American and Israeli bombing and elimination of the Ayatollah.

“I’m so far removed from that,” Haji-Sheikh said. “My mom is from Michigan and of Eastern European background. My dad is from Iran. But it’s like, he hasn’t been back since I was in eighth grade, so that’s a long time ago. That was when the Shah was still in power, mid-70s, ‘74 or ’75, because if he ever went back after that he never would have left. They would have held him, so there was no intention of going back.

“But if things change he might want to go, you never know.”

Despite being removed from any activism about what is happening in Iran Haji-Sheikh is an astute observer.

“My favorite thing I’m seeing right now on TV is the Iranians in America celebrating because there’s a chance, a glimpse, maybe a hope for freedom,” Haji-Sheikh said. “And you have these people in New York protesting. What are you protesting?”

Pourdanesh Thanks America, Israel

Pourdanesh retired from the NFL in 2000 after a seven-year career with the Redskins and Steelers. The six-foot-six and 312-pound offensive tackle was born in Tehran. He proudly tells people he was the NFL’s first Iranian-born player.

Pourdanesh is much more visible and open about his feelings about his country than others. And, bottom line, he loves that President Donald Trump is bombing the Islamic regime.

“This is a great day for all Iranians across the world,” Pourdanesh posted on his Instagram account on Saturday when the war began. “Thank you, President Trump, thank you to the nation of Israel. Thank you for everybody that has been standing up for my people, my brothers and sisters in Iran across the world. This is a great day.

“The infamous dictator is dead – the one person who has contributed to deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iranians and other people around the world, if not more. So, congratulations to my Iranian brothers and sisters. Now, go and take back the country.”

This message was not a one-off. Pourdanesh has been posting about what has been happening in Iran since January, when people in Iran took to the streets demanding liberty and the government’s thugs began killing them, with some estimates rising to 36,500 deaths.

Offensive lineman Shar Pourdanesh (68) of the Pittsburgh Steelers blocks against defensive lineman Jevon Kearse (90) of the Tennessee Titans during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on Sept. 24, 2000, in Pittsburgh. The Titans defeated the Steelers 23-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

‘Islam Does Not Represent The Iranian People’

“[The] Islamic Republic does not represent the Iranian people,” Pourdanesh said in another post. “Islam does not represent the Iranian people. For almost 50 years, the Iranian people and our country of Iran has been taken hostage by a terrorist regime, and it’s time to take that regime down.”

Pourdanesh was not available for comment on Monday. I did speak to a handful of other Iranian-Americans on Monday. They didn’t play in the NFL, but their opinions are no less valuable than those of former NFL players.

And these people, some of them participating in rallies on behalf of a free Iran, do not understand the thinking of some Americans and mainstream media.

One complained that media that reports on reparations for black Americans based on slavery in the 1800s dismisses the Islamic takeover of the American Embassy in 1979 as an old grievance.

Another said his brother lives in England, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately called the American and Israeli attacks on the Ayatollah’s regime “illegal” but, as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service took years to do the same of Muslim rape (grooming) gangs in the country.

(Starmer announced a national “statutory inquiry” in June 2025).

Offensive lineman Shar Pourdanesh of the Washington Redskins looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on Sept. 7, 1997, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 14-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

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Pourdanesh Calls Out NFL Silence

And finally, Pourdanesh put the NFL on blast. He said in yet another post that during his career, the NFL asked him to honor black history, asked him to stand for women’s rights, asked him to fight for equality for those who cannot defend themselves.

“I did everything they asked, and now I ask the NFL this: Where are you now? Why haven’t we heard a single word out of the NFL? NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell, all the NFL teams out there, all the players who say they stand for social justice, where are you now?

“Why haven’t we heard a single word out of you with regard to the people who have been killed as of today? The very values you claim to espouse are being trampled right now. Why haven’t we heard a single word?”

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