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For the 18th time in franchise history, the Boston Celtics are NBA champions.

The Celtics closed the first quarter of Monday’s NBA Finals Game 5 on a 9-0 run and never looked back en route to a dominant 106-88 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The win secured a 4-1 win in the NBA Finals and the franchise’s first title since 2008.

The Celtics set the tone from the opening tip as they took the floor for the first time in these Finals wearing their classic green jerseys. They proceeded to put on a performance worthy of those colors. It was also worthy of a team that rolled to an NBA-best 64 wins in the regular season and produced advanced metrics that rank among the best in league history.

They did it on Monday with defense. They did it with 3s. They did it with stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way. It was an optimal conclusion to the Celtics season.

The Royals do a lot well. Their rotation entered play with the fifth-best ERA in all of baseball. 

They began action Tuesday having scored 331 runs, which was tied for the fourth-most in the majors. They are a legitimate threat in the AL Central and sit comfortably in wild-card position.

But a team that might be destined for October baseball has looked amateur next to the powerhouse from The Bronx.

The Yankees again excelled in every facet of play — getting three homers and far more than enough from a powerful offense while putting together a spotless defensive game that helped out Marcus Stroman and the relievers who followed — in a thorough destruction of the Royals, 10-1, at Kauffman Stadium.

The Yankees (48-21) have taken the first two games of a four-game series, have won 11 of 13 and continue to treat the AL Central the same way Aaron Judge treats baseballs.

Panera welcomes back a pair of fan-favorites with the return of the Lobster Roll and Lobster Mac & Cheese.

Panera’s Lobster Roll features lobster claw and knuckle meat, tossed in a lemon tarragon mayonnaise-based dressing, piled high into a New England Roll.

Meanwhile, Lobster Mac & Cheese features Panera’s velvety smooth Vermont White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese topped with buttered claw & knuckle lobster meat and seasoned Panko bread crumbs.

While pricing varies by location, on average, the Lobster Roll, and Lobster Mac & Cheese go for around $22.99 each.

Gerrit Cole made his return to the mound in a rehab start Tuesday at Double-A Somerset and looked like his old self.

Cole threw 3 innings against the Hartford Yard Goats, allowing zero runs, no walks and two hits and striking out five.

The New York Yankees ace threw 45 pitches, which was right in line with the 40-50 Somerset manager Raul Dominguez planned to hold Cole to heading into the game. Of those 45 pitches, 34 went for strikes, and his fastball sat between 94 and 96 mph.

“It felt really great to get back out there, get back in the flow of things, get some adrenaline,” Cole said afterward.

Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, hasn’t pitched for the Yankees this season after being shut down during spring training due to right elbow inflammation.

The Mets insist they still have a run in them. If they’re going to go on one, they have to beat certain teams, with the rebuilding Washington Nationals being one of them.

They took care of business Wednesday at Nationals Park with a 9-1 win to complete a three-game series sweep. It was their fifth win in the seven games since they held a players-only meeting.

Luis Severino gave the Mets some much-needed length with eight innings of one-run baseball. A beleaguered bullpen didn’t have to worry about a save situation or any tense late-game pitching performances with the Mets beating up on left-hander Patrick Corbin and right-hander Jordan Weems, taking all nine runs off of the two Washington hurlers, including a six-run sixth inning that sunk the Nats (27-34).

“We won three games in a row and we got a chance to win four,” Severino told reporters after the game. “When we combine hitting and pitching at the same time, it’s huge for us. We have this mentality now that we have to go out there and give 100 percent every time.”

Panera celebrates all things salad with the introduction of the new Southwest Caesar Salad with Chicken alongside the return of its signature Strawberry Poppyseed Salad.

The new Southwest Caesar Salad with Chicken features crisp romaine tossed in Caesar dressing, with a drizzle of chipotle aioli and the crunch of blue corn tortilla strips. Raised without antibiotics grilled chicken breast, chunks of fresh avocado, grated parmesan cheese, and cilantro top off the new dish.

In addition to the new Southwest Caesar Salad with Chicken, Panera is welcoming back the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad.

The Strawberry Poppyseed Salad features romaine lettuce, chicken raised without antibiotics, mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, pineapple and blueberries, tossed with Panera’s poppyseed dressing and topped with roasted pecan pieces.

Quiznos puts together a new globally inspired flavor mashup with the introduction of the new Big Fat Greek Sub.

The Big Fat Greek Sub features certified halal, seasoned gyro meat with tzatziki sauce with refreshing ingredients including a blend of marinated tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions, which is topped with lettuce and banana peppers served on your choice of artisan bread.

Quiznos partnered with Grecian Delight | Kronos to create the Big Fat Greek Sub – the brand’s first gyro-style recipe being offered at Quiznos since 2018.

Starting at $10, the new Big Fat Greek Sub is available now while supplies last at participating Quiznos locations across the US and Canada.

Vince McMahon “is not coming back” to World Wrestling Entertainment amid serious allegations against him. The former chairman sold $412 million in its parent company TKO Group Holdings’ stock this week, a TKO executive affirmed during a press conference.

TKO did not participate in the recent sale of some of Vince McMahon’s shares revealed by an SEC filing. TKO Group Holdings formed after Endeavor purchased WWE and merged it with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which it had previously owned, last year.

McMahon, 78, has been under federal investigation for sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations in recent months, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Wall Street Journal last month. Prosecutors in New York have been in contact with women who made sexual misconduct claims against McMahon prior to a lawsuit being filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant in January. 

McMahon officially resigned from his position as executive chairman of TKO, a parent company launched by Endeavor following its purchase of WWE in April 2023.

The season seems to be sliding away from the Mets.

Edwin Diaz, who has forgotten how to save games, and Kodai Senga, who keeps getting further away from a return, are signed through 2027. Is Diaz, who blew his fourth save in his last five tries ever going to be elite again after his devastating knee injury? How about Senga after his shoulder woes?

Brett Baty, the third baseman of the future, can’t beat out Mark Vientos in the present. Has anyone heard much good about the Mets’ farm system this year, particularly its best position players? 

The Mets have lost five straight and at 21-30 are a season-high nine games under .500 and have the majors’ worst record (9-22) since April  21. 

The Mets had plotted wild-card contention this year but the product on the field currently looks ill-equipped to make a playoff run even with the third wild card being fought for among mediocrities.

Will the team overcome?