by Julian Spivey
Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing activist and media personality, was shot and killed at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, September 10. He was 31.

Kirk’s death was the biggest story of the day in the U.S., though one could argue about the reasons why, given that it received so much more attention than a high school shooting in Evergreen, Colo., which has three students currently in critical condition.

Any death is sad. Kirk leaves behind a wife and two children. But why are we treating this death differently from others of a similar ilk, i.e., political killings?

I’m thinking specifically about why a Major League Baseball franchise like the New York Yankees would hold a moment of silence tribute for Kirk, when they haven’t for others in similar situations.

On Wednesday night, before the Yankees' home game at Yankee Stadium against the Detroit Tigers, the team held a moment of silence for Kirk, with his image on the stadium’s big screen and the words: “Remembering Charlie Kirk.” On the team’s social media accounts, the franchise posted: “Before tonight’s game, we held a moment of silence in remembrance of Charlie Kirk. Kirk founded the youth activist group ‘Turning Point USA’ and had become a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.”

It’s not unusual for the Yankees to hold moments of silence. They did so earlier this year for Miller Gardner, the son of longtime Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, who died in March from carbon monoxide poisoning at age 14. Just this past weekend, the franchise also held a moment of silence for long-time baseball manager Davey Johnson, who died at age 82 on Sept. 5. But both of those deaths were either baseball-related or Yankees family-related.

The Kirk tribute seems atypical, and because of it, an inappropriate thing to do at a baseball game, especially for a public figure who has had controversial statements relating to race, sex and gender.

It’s important to note that Kirk was neither from New York nor a Yankees fan. He was from Arlington Heights, Ill., and based on photo and video evidence of him wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, he was likely a Cubs fan.

When Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home in June, there was no moment of silence at Yankee Stadium. Last month, when children were gunned down while praying at their Catholic school in Minnesota, there was no moment of silence at Yankee Stadium.

The fact of the matter is that, as often as gun violence takes place in this country, the Yankees organization would be holding moments of silence on a daily basis if it chose to honor every victim of gun violence.

My only question remains … why?

Why Kirk, again a polarizing figure, and not others?

It seems strange, doesn’t it?

Maybe it was just a way of appeasing President Donald Trump, who it was announced today would be attending the Yankees/Tigers tomorrow in remembrance of 9/11?

Either way, it doesn’t quite seem right.

by Eric Fulton
The 2025 National Football League season kicks off this week. Thirty-two teams are fighting for the right to become the champion of Super Bowl 60. As always, the NFL provides six months of high drama, but in five of those months, 18 regular-season games are played, and while there are many exciting matchups, here are my 10 most anticipated matchups of the season.
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10. Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 1, September 4)
Opening Night in the NFL is always a show. The Super Bowl winners from the last season get to raise their championship banner in front of millions, and you can feel the excitement all around. For the second time in the last five years, the Eagles will get to kick off the season at home as champions. What better way to open up the season than by having their most hated rival come to town? The Cowboys are not supposed to be really good in 2025, but they would love nothing more than to spoil the celebration in Philadelphia in front of the world.

9. Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans (Week 9, November 2)
Both Denver and Houston made the playoffs last season. While it was great for both teams, they want to be at the level the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens are right now. The Week 9 matchup features a very good offense in the Broncos facing a very good defense in the Texans. It should be a better game than people expect.

8. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Week 1, September 5)
For the second year in a row, the NFL is headed to Brazil. This time around, two AFC West rivals will square off in South America. Kansas City is coming off its second Super Bowl loss in the last five years. The Chargers are coming off a playoff appearance last year and will look to dethrone the Chiefs in a highly contested AFC West. Plus, everyone will be able to watch the game for free on YouTube.

7. Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (Week 6, October 13)  
Last year, Chicago and Washington had one of the best games of the year. The Commanders won that game on a “Hail Mary” touchdown that catapulted them to the NFC Championship game.  Both teams have two young quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Will the Bears get their revenge from last year? Or will the Commanders continue their climb up the NFC ladder?

6. Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 16 &Week 18, December 20 and January 3 or January 4)
Philadelphia and Washington will meet twice in the final three weeks of the regular season. Both matchups could decide the NFC East and possibly the number one seed heading into the playoffs. They split the regular-season matchups last year, but it was the Eagles that blew out the Commanders in the NFC Championship game. I am excited to see both games.

5. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4, September 28)
Last year, these two teams put on a great game on opening night with Kansas City winning by a toe as Isiah Likely went out of bounds on the final play of the game. That game cost the Ravens the chance to play at home in the Divisional Round and maybe the AFC Championship game. Once again, home-field advantage could come into play when these two teams collide.

4.  Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 3, September 21)
The Rams and Eagles played an awesome game in the Divisional Round in last season’s playoffs, with the Eagles hanging on late to end the Rams’ season. This time, the weather should be better than it was in January as the two meet for NFC supremacy in this early-season clash.

3. Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 1, September 7)
Another thrilling game from last season’s Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs was the great game between Baltimore and Buffalo. The Bills won a close affair thanks to a missed two-point conversion by the Ravens. Now the two teams meet early in week 1, which will decide who has the early advantage in the AFC.

2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 2, September 14)  
The rematch of Super Bowl LIX happens early in the season in Kansas City. The Eagles have won the last two matchups against the Chiefs, including their most recent visit to Arrowhead Stadium. Of course, the Chiefs will definitely bring their ‘A’ game in the best game of Week 2.

1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 9, October 26)
The Bills and the Chiefs have provided some classic games and moments over the last few years, and the matchup in week nine should be another great game. The biggest question is, can Josh Allen and the Bills finally get over that next hump and make it to the Super Bowl, or will Patrick Mahomes and company continue to be Buffalo’s kryptonite?