feel

THERE are few seaside towns in the UK that have managed to maintain their classic charm.

But if you look hard enough, there are a few old-school gems dotted around the country – and these are five of our favourites.

Broadstairs, Kent

Kent boasts so many impressive seaside towns, but Broadstairs is the one that really feels like old school England.

It has rustic fisherman’s cottages, the pretty Victoria Gardens and historic Bleak House where Charles Dickens famously wrote David Copperfield.

Unlike some of its neighbours, Broadstairs has managed to avoid big developments and has got lots of independent shops on its high street.

Morelli’s, the ice cream parlour, on The Parade, dates back to 1932.

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A spot called The Old Curiosity Shop on Harbour Street has history going back to 1588.

The building was connected to smuggling, but now is a cosy café and tea room.

When it comes to its beaches, Broadstairs has seven sandy bays in total – which generally makes it quieter as visitors are unable to descend on a single beach.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey who is a Kent local said: “The town’s pretty high street is also a step back in time, with a quaint mix of old-school butchers and gift shops alongside modern coffee places.

Llandudno, North Wales

Llandudno, also dubbed the ‘Queen of Welsh Resorts‘ is a destination that definitely takes visitors back in time.

One holidaymaker wrote on Tripadvisor: “I’ve been coming here almost 60 years now to this unspoilt town. The promenade is a step back in time as it never changes.”

The town in the north of Wales has managed to keep its Victorian and Edwardian buildings, especially on the promenade.

The hotels along the front are painted in traditional pastel shades to keep its old-school look.

One thing that might throw off visitors is that it’s lined with palm trees.

It’s not just the style of Llandudno that makes it timeless, it’s the case for attractions too.

There’s vintage Punch and Judy shows and of course the 2,000ft long pier that first opened in 1877.

Llandudno also has a historic tramway that takes visitors up to Great Orme, a steep coastal cliff.

There are also the Llandudno Cable Car which takes passengers on a one-mile journey between Happy Valley and the Great Orme Summit.

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire

Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire has a traditional seaside feature dating back in the 1880s that makes it feel like a time capsule.

Its water-balance cliff funicular railway is 142 years old – and the oldest in the country.

It’s right on the beach and offers rides with views of the sea up to the town.

Saltburn-by-the-Sea has an impressive Victorian iron pier extending out into the North Sea for 200 metres and opened in May 1869.

It has absolutely no arcades, it’s simply a place for quiet and great views.

Airbnb described Saltburn-by-the-Sea as a ‘coastal gem’ for anyone “craving a quiet and scenic escape.”

It said: “Saltburn-by-the-sea offers the perfect blend of serenity and intrigue with Saltburn Pier, a friendly surf school, and a unique working cliff tramway connecting the promenade to the beach.”

Another popular attraction in Saltburn-by-the-Sea is Valley Gardens which were set up in 1860.

The colourful Italian Gardens have colourful flower displays and walks through the woodlands.

Scarborough, North Yorkshire

As Scarborough is Britain’s first and oldest seaside resort – it’s a relief that it still maintained its traditional feel.

The beach promenade on the North Bay are lined with brightly-coloured and historic beach chalets, with sweeping views across South Bay.

Of the 35 chalets, two of the rows date from Edwardian times which makes them Britain’s oldest surviving beach huts.

The town is also home to Britain’s very first funicular railway which opened in 1875.

South Cliff Lift connects the Cleveland Way beside the beach to the Esplanade at the top of the cliffs.

One Sun Writer discovered that while it doesn’t quite have Old Britain prices, you can still get some bargains in Scarborough.

She said: “If you head to The Fishpan chippie that has been open since 1960, you can get takeaway kids’ portion for £2.25 and massive chip butties for £3.45 each.

Brightlingsea, Essex

It might not be the first place you think of when looking for seaside towns with a classic feel, but Brightlingsea in Essex has some classic charm to it.

Visitors have described it having an “old-fashioned seaside promenade with plenty to enjoy” and a “lovely old fashioned beach“.

Another said that it’s a “very unspoilt, family oriented, beautiful beach. Traditional town back in the 50’s.”

The high street on Brightlingsea is considered one of the ‘best kept traditional high streets’ in the East of England.

Rather than chains, it’s got lots of independent shops selling records and plants like Roots & Grooves; others like Toggs is where you can pick up women’s clothes and handbags.

There’s also the Olde Swan, which is a pub as well as a bed and breakfast, and is one of the oldest buildings in the town.

Brightlingsea also has one of the last remaining lidos in the area which dates back to the 1930s,

It has an Olympic-size outdoor pool, a heated toddler pool, sun loungers, changing rooms, and a cafe.

WHEN it comes to picking a holiday, the temptation to go abroad can be huge – but the UK has many spots that look and feel like you are in a different country.

If you want to avoid the chaos of long airport queues and delayed flights, we’ve named some of our favourite places across Britain that will transport you to being hundreds of miles away instead.

Swap Champagne in France for Balfour

Balfour Winery has mushroomed in size since it opened as a tiny winery
in 2002, in the Kent village of Staplehurst.

You can now enjoy an excellent bottle of wine on their gorgeous
verandah, accompanied by exceptional sharing platters or flatbreads
and more recently, hot meals, instead of heading all the way to the Champagne region in France.

It even rivals some of Kent’s better-known vineyards, such as Chapel Down.

But it has also kept a nice local touch – they have no problem with
guests taking a walk around the vineyard or the neighbouring woods on
the estate, in fact it’s encouraged.

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They mingle with the fabulously-dressed, down-from-Londoners, there
for a full day out in their floor-length dresses.

And if you squint on a sunny summer’s day after a rose or two, the
view from the restaurant could quite feasibly be somewhere more exotic
on the continent. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)

Swap New Zealand for North Wales

New Zealand should be on everyone’s bucket list. But it’s a long and pricey journey from the UK, so how about just pocketing that cash and visiting North Wales instead?

The wild scenery is very similar – trust me, I’ve spent a decent amount of time in both destinations.

Both are known for their rugged, snow-capped mountains; untouched, rural landscape; and vast lakes that are so still they paint a perfect reflection of the skyline.

They are also both big on adventure – craggy hiking trails are in abundance in North Wales and adrenaline junkies will love whizzing along the fastest zip line in the world at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry.

I had buckets of fun white water rafting in Rotorua during my New Zealand trip – and you can do that in North Wales, too.

National White Water Centre has a whole host of options starting from £45. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Swap the French Riviera for the English Riviera

The English Riviera can be found in Devon and earned its name from feeling like the French Riviera with palm trees, big beaches and its very own microclimate.

The region is made up of three towns – Torquay, Paignton and Brixham – each of which has its own unique character.

In Brixham, you can spot fishing boats bobbing on the water with seals often swimming around them.

In Paignton, you can venture along the pier, testing out the different penny slot machines before heading to one of the many beaches with an ice cream in hand.

And last but not least is the queen of the English Riviera, Torquay.

It has a bustling town centre, picturesque harbour and a large beach ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Swap Thailand for Eilean Shona, Scotland

Scotland is home to hundreds of islands and most are vastly different from each other – but there is one tiny tidal island that’s so special because it feels like you’ve stepped foot in Thailand.

Eilean Shona is a tidal island in the Inner Hebrides with pristine beaches and crystal clear waters that can only be reached by boat.

In fact, the island is even more exclusive as you have to stay at the accommodation on the island to visit it.

While the temperature is chillier, the magic of the island makes up for it – having even inspired J.M. Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Swap the Caribbean for Jersey

If I told you there’s an island an hour’s flight from the UK, with a
Caribbean-like coastline, that gets summer quicker than England and
you don’t need a passport – you’d think I was pulling your leg.

But such a unicorn does exist in the English Channel: Jersey.

When my family and I visited, every beach was outstanding, the weather
glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.

Jersey calls itself “curiously Brit . . . (ish)” and it sums up this
island, 14 miles from the coast of France, perfectly.

One of our best (of many best days) on our week away, was on a
wildlife RIB trip with Jersey Seafaris.

The company takes you to the stunning Les Minquiers sandbanks and
reef, which is often likened to the Maldives.

There was plenty of time for pure relaxation too, St Brelade’s Bay is
often billed as a rival to the Caribbean on a sunny day, thanks to its
palm tree-lined beach and clear turquoise waters.

From England to France, the Caribbean to the Maldives on one tiny
island that takes two hours to drive from top to bottom? That’s one
hell of a day out. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)

Swap Spain for Hove

It’s not often I go to the English coast and feel like I’m in Europe.

But when I hopped down to Hove for a weekend trip last summer, I did feel like I was on holiday in the Mediterranean.

Given, it was during the July heatwave, so I did have the glorious weather on my side.

But still, on a beautiful summer’s day, I was at Rockwater sipping on an Aperol Spritz by a huge open window staring out at the promenade and glittering water feeling like I was in Italy or Spain.

The food is another thing that has a Mediterranean seaside vibe, especially if you dine on fish dishes like mussels, crab linguine or catch of the day.

But to really make the most of the sun, the crown of Rockwater is the rooftop bar which has sun umbrellas, and it’s enclosed with a glass balcony to lessen the sea breeze. – Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Swap Provence for Heacham, Norfolk

You don’t have to fly all the way to Provence, France, to stroll through rolling fields of bright purple lavender.

Norfolk Lavender in Heacham, north-west Norfolk has 100 acres of fragrant lavender fields that stretch as far as the eye can see.

There’s even an on-site restaurant where you can sip a lavender-infused tea, or sip something a little stronger and watch the sun set over the fields – no passport needed.

A visit to the site also makes for a fantastic family day out – there’s a farm where kids can meet alpacas, chickens and goats, as well as popular soft play barn Farmer Fred‘s.

To make the most of your trip, try a slice of lavender cake in the cafe, or treat yourself to some handmade lavender balms and creams in the gift shop.

As well as the fields, there’s manicured gardens with a bridge over a gentle stream, a peaceful gazebo and the historic Heacham Watermill building – which look like something out of a French countryside estate. – Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Swap Spanish Islands for Margate

An Aperol Spritz, lo-fi music and uninterrupted views of the ocean – you’d think I was on some beautiful Spanish island.

But no, it’s a rooftop bar in Margate that transported me abroad, found on top of No42 by GuestHouse hotel.

When the sun is shining and the music is playing, you’ll forget you’re on the Kent coastline.

The chic interiors rival even some of London’s top bars – just with a golden sand beach just steps away. – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Swap the Norwegian fjords for Boscastle Harbour

Boscastle, a small and quaint village located on the north coast of Cornwall, can feel a bit more like the Norwegian fjords thanks to its dramatic, rocky landscape.

The town’s harbour sits between a large valley and a number of local shops and even The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic – home to the world’s largest collection of witchcraft items.

The beauty of Boscastle is often forgotten beneath its history, with blue waters and dark, that really do make you feel as if you are in the rugged landscapes of the Norwegian fjords.

I love Boscastle harbour because it is embellished by nothing but the nature that surrounds it, as well as being a quiet and picturesque escape without the hustle and bustle of larger beaches. – Katy Bright, Travel Writer

Swap Bondi Icebergs Pool in Sydney for Tinside Lido, Plymouth

I’ve always been jealous of people who have made it to Australia, chilling on the beach and the famous Bondi Icebergs Pool in Sydney.

But there is one in the UK that I think rivals it – enter Tinside Lido.

The Plymouth pool is one of the most beautiful Art Deco lidos in the UK, jutting out over the ocean where visiting on a hot day and relaxing on the side of the water will make you feel like you are thousands of miles away.

You can even grab a glass of Australian Chardonnay or Shiraz to enjoy after your tanning sesh from the sun terrace. – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Swap the French Riviera for Salcombe

I instantly felt attached to Salcombe on my first visit. It stirred up a feeling of nostalgia, reminding me of childhood holidays to France and the French Riviera.

Back then, days were spent building sand castles on peaceful shores and wandering through flower-filled villages to gather up a dinnertime feast from the local fishmonger.

And that’s pretty much how my Devon visit went, too.

I’m probably a little too old for sandcastles, now aged 33, but Salcombe’s North Sands beach would be the perfect place to build one.

It has that laissez-faire, village vibe to it, too – positioned a 30-minute walk away from the central hub and with a cute cafe that’s popular with locals.

The setting feels similar to that in southern France, too – old stone houses facing a shimmering sea and a busy town with a delicatessen whose foodie window displays draw you in.

Local catches are dished up in the seafront restaurants, just like they are in the French Riviera.

Swing by The Crab Shed which serves a limited menu of fishy delights – the star dish is its whole cracked crab. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

British holidaymakers feel most like themselves on holiday according to a new study, with many saying it makes them feel 13 years younger on average.

Travellers have revealed the things they only do on holiday – and many say it leaves them feeling years younger.

A study of 2,000 holidaymakers found 63% do things on a break they wouldn’t usually consider at home. Treating themselves to a daily cocktail or beer, spending money without overthinking it and making bolder clothing choices are among the top ways adults let loose.

More than a third (34%) said they are more open to trying new activities when away, with watersports, quad biking and kayaking ranking among the most popular. Other holiday staples include city walking tours, open-top bus rides and beer and wine tastings.

The research was commissioned by San Miguel, which is launching an immersive “Holiday Mirror” experience. The installation is to encourage people to hold onto that carefree holiday mindset, whatever the weather and wherever they are.

Ed Hussey, a spokesperson for the beer brand said: “Our research shows holidays give people permission to be more spontaneous, sociable and carefree.

“The recent heatwave gave us a small glimpse of what that feels like. The Holiday Mirror is designed to remind people that a Spanish summer isn’t just about sunshine abroad – it’s about mindset, spontaneity and making the most of everyday moments.”

Millennials emerged as the most adventurous, putting it down to switching off from daily chores and work emails. More than a quarter (28%) said they are more sociable on holiday as everyday stresses fade into the background, while 30% said they feel more spontaneous because they’re out of their normal routine.

Two thirds said they become the ‘best version of themselves’ when they can escape the pressures of day-to-day life – and 19% said they only feel like their ‘true self’ when they’re on holiday.

That shift can even make people feel younger. Some 16% said they feel an average of 13 years younger on holiday than their actual age. As muhch, many try to carry the feeling into everyday life.

After returning, 22% said they plan to live more in the moment, exercise more and spend more time outdoors. And simple pleasures can help recreate that carefree mindset, with 26% saying a beer in a pub garden does the trick and 31% opting to host a BBQ with friends. For 22%, even the sound of a bottle opening is enough to help them unwind.

Ed Hussey added: “People often return from summer holidays feeling like they’ve left the best version of themselves behind. We wanted to explore how people can hold onto that feeling for longer, even once they’re back home and back to routine.”

TOP 10 THINGS WE ONLY DO ON HOLIDAY

1. Spend the day by the pool/beach

2. Drink alcohol during the day

3. Read books for hours uninterrupted

4. Have a cooked breakfast everyday

5. Talk to strangers

6. Spend money without thinking about it

7. Spend the entire day doing absolutely nothing

8. Try new activities

9. Have a nap

10. Wear flipflops Headline

Joe Swash says discovering family history has made him complete after taking part in Who Do You think You Are? for the BBC

Joe Swash says he feels “galvanised” after learning about the Italian roots of his family. The actor and husband of Stacey Solomon appears on Who Do You Think You Are? hoping to learn more about his family tree.

Former EastEnders star Joe, 44, tells the programme he lost his own dad Ricky when he was aged 39 and Joe was just 12 which had a big impact on his upbringing.

He explained: “My house was full of life and life. And then, when my dad died, for a long time, it was a house full of sadness and grief. So, you know, a lot of the time it was just trying to get through that period. Growing up in London, I was quite vulnerable, not having a father figure, and I had dyslexia and ADHD that wasn’t diagnosed, so I do struggle when I read something, and a lot of the time I was misunderstood as being quite naughty and mischievous.”

Joe says thanks to some “strong women” in his life he stayed on track, and that he feels like he has got some “Italian traits” including wearing his heart on his sleeve. His mum Kiffy tells him that on his father’s side his great grandmother’s part of the family tree were Italian.

At this stage Joe doesn’t know anything beyond his grandad Charlie but his parents were Joe’s great grandad also called Charlie Swash and Maria Raimo. A 1921 marriage certificate shows Maria living at home in Lox Gardens in London with her parents, Giuseppe, Italian for Joseph, and Rosa, Joe’s great great grandparents.

Joe’s great great grandfather Guiseppe Raimo moved from Italy to London and worked his way up from a street performer in poor living conditions to a job crafting Street pianos. He also spoke alongside Sylvia Pankhurst in 1923 at a Communist Workers’ Movement meeting in London. A letter in his name was published in weekly newspaper The Worker’s Dreadnought, condemning the brutality of the fascist regime.

Historian Alfio Bernabei said: “Giuseppe wasn’t simply attending the meeting, he was actually speaking alongside Sylvia Pankhurst. He could see what was going on, he was following events in Italy, and everything was leading towards a catastrophe. Giuseppe would have run terrible risks had he been in Italy, and he was running terrible risks in London.”

Hearing this detail, Joe said: “It really does fill me with a great, great deal of pride to think that he was struggling through life anyway, being Italian, living where they were living, but he still was concerned about what was happening in the world and fascism, so he must have been a man with great moral compass, someone that really stood by what he thought.

“I had so much pride when I found out about him. The journey he went on, the morals and the things he stood up for, the people he rubbed shoulders with, and the way he got out and worked through poverty to make himself and make his family’s life better, just shows real tenacity. Learning about his speech was emotional, it was a total surprise. I think in that moment I felt really close to my relatives, to Giuseppe. It was such a lovely thing to find out.”

Joe also goes to Naples and traces his ancestors back to his five times great grandfather Donato who was born in 1762 and was living in the now largely abandoned but picturesque mountainous town of Senerchia. The family were peasant farmers but did have a brush with crime after being wrongly linked to the Italian brigands in 1867 during the Italian rebellion.

Back in the present day Joe also finds a ‘Raimo bar’ nearby to Senerchia, and is delighted the family name lives on in Italy. Reflecting on everything, Joe said: “For a lot of my life, I’ve never really known who I am, what I am, where my roots are. I don’t know if that’s due to losing my dad at a young age, but being on his journey, it really has sort of like galvanised who I am, where I’m from, the people that made me, how strong they are, they never give up. Hopefully a bit of that tenacity has come down the line to me.”

He added: “I think what I’ll carry with me from this experience is just the importance of where you come from and knowing who you are. As well as the things that I found out about my relatives, especially about Giuseppe. Traits and things from them that I hope I have as well, or that I’d like to introduce into my life, you know. It just made me feel a lot more attached to my heritage, which I’ve never really felt attached to. I very much knew nothing about it before, but after this journey, I feel like I’m part of something.”

* Who Do You Think You Are? With Joe Swash airs on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday June 9. The series is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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FANCY holiday abroad vibes without actually leaving the country?

There’s some great hotels across the UK that feel like you’re somewhere like the Med or even Miami – so we’ve rounded up some of the best.

Roslin Beach Hotel, Southend -on-Sea

Roslin Beach Hotel is on the sandy beach of Thorpe Bay Beach is often compared to places in the US.

One previous guest said: “We could have been staying on the Florida Keys”.

It’s not the first time Southend-on-Sea has been compared to the US either.

In 2023, Tory councillor Daniel Nelson told the Southend Echo that tourism events played an important role “in the reinvigoration of the city and that Southend has the potential to become a Miami-on-Thames.”

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The Gallivant, Sussex

The Hamptons is known for its white wooden buildings and sandy beaches. And The Gallivant in Camber Sands is often said to be similar.

The American comparison to the Essex seaside is because of the shaker style it’s built in – and you can even book a room called the ‘Large Hampton’.

Not only that, but the dune-backed beaches of Camber Sands are a spitting image of the ones in Montauk, a hamlet in East Hampton.

The Times said “think New York’s Hamptons by way of Camber Sands” while House & Garden added it “brings a bit of the Hamptons and Scandi-vibe to Sussex”.

The Nici, Bournemouth

If you’ve ever wanted a slice of Miami without wanting to leave the country, then why not head to… Bournemouth?

The Nici Hotel, found on the seafront of the seaside town, opened in 2022.

There’s the South Beach Restaurant, which serves “champagne afternoon teas and classics with a Miami twist”.

Otherwise other nods include retro cocktail cabinets in the rooms, faux palm trees throughout and even art of Che Guevara.

Previous guests have raved about it too – one said: “Beautiful setting and very cool decor. Feels like Miami!”

Gara Rock, Devon

A rarity in the UK, Gara Rock has its own private swimming pool overlooking the ocean more comment in the Med.

Grab some pizza and a glass of rose wine and you’ll feel like you’re hundreds of miles away.

It even has a private beach too, if you fancy an ocean dip, or plash out on a “beach butler” and you can get unlimited cocktails delivered straight to you.

Hotel Tresanton, Cornwall

In St Mawes is Hotel Tresanton and at first glance may not look much like Italy, but head down to the hotel’s own Beach Club which overlooks the cliffs and, with the blue and white striped umbrellas, will transport you straight to the Italian Riviera.

The website states: “The Mediterranean style brings a feel of the Amalfi coast, with blue and white striped umbrellas and semi-tropical planting.”

Or, splash out on the classic Italian sailing yacht–Pinuccia where you can spend the night onboard with dinner and breakfast – and a bottle of champagne.

One person even said:  “It’s like a perfectly decorated small Italian hotel on the Amalfi Coast but further north on the sea in Cornwall.”

Art’otel, London

One of the new hotels to open in the Battersea Power Station, Art’otel has some of the best views from the top.

The rooftop infinity pool could even double for Dubai, with its luxury sunloungers and skyscraper views.

Of course, it is usually only open to hotel guests although they do have some open events to non-guests.

This includes as aqua aerobics, aqua board pilates and yoga, all of which come with breakfast and start from £25.

Lakers lead series, or do they?

From Bill Plaschke: There have been 160 times an NBA team has led a series three games to none.

There have been 160 times that team has won the series.

Marvel in that statistic. Appreciate its power. Wax in its endurance. Embrace its existence.

Because the Lakers are two losses from blowing it to bits.

This is not really happening, is it? The Lakers aren’t really on the verge of messing up a three-games-to-none lead to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, are they?

It’s happening. With a glare and a snarl and youthful athleticism, the wrong side of history beckons.

Like Reed Sheppard wrestling the ball out of LeBron James’ hands in the final minutes, the Rockets are in the process of stealing this.

Continue reading here

Swanson: Lakers need another ageless LeBron James performance after Game 5 loss

Marcus Smart says Lakers must ‘be willing to run through a wall’ in Game 6

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

at Lakers 107, Houston 98 (box score)
at Lakers 101, Houston 94 (box score)
Lakers 112, at Houston 108 (box score)
at Houston 115, Lakers 96 (box score)
Houston 99, at Lakers 93 (box score)
Friday: Lakers at Houston, 6:30 p.m., Prime Video
*Sunday: Houston at Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

Ducks advance to second round

Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and Chris Kreider had a goal and two assists apiece, and the Ducks eliminated Connor McDavid the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night.

Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, Ryan Poehling scored the opening goal and Lukas Dostal made 25 saves in a standout performance for the upstart Ducks, who stormed to their team’s first playoff series victory since 2017.

After ending a seven-year postseason absence by knocking out the powerhouse Oilers, the Ducks will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights’ series with the Utah Mammoth. Vegas leads 3-2 heading to Salt Lake City on Friday night.

Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin scored as Edmonton followed up its worst regular season since 2021 by going out in the first round for the first time since that season.

Continue reading here

Ducks summary

NHL playoffs schedule

Ducks playoffs schedule

All times Pacific

at Edmonton 4, Ducks 3 (summary)
Ducks 6, at Edmonton 4 (summary)
at Ducks 7, Edmonton 4 (summary)
at Ducks 4, Edmonton 3 (OT) (summary)
at Edmonton 4, Ducks 1 (summary)
at Ducks 5, Edmonton 2 (summary)

Cheap transportation to World Cup in L.A.

From Kevin Baxter: Ticket prices are just the start of the soaring expenses many fans will face while trying to watch World Cup games this summer.

NJ Transit is charging $150 for round-trip tickets from Manhattan to the Meadowlands (the regular price is $12.60) for the World Cup final, while host committee shuttle buses will cost $80.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is demanding $80 to ride one of the 14 express trains on the 30-mile trip from downtown Boston to Foxborough for games at Gillette Stadium. That’s more than three times the normal price.

In Southern California, however, it will cost $1.75 to get to SoFi Stadium on a combination of buses or trains from as far away as Claremont and Simi Valley. That’s also what it costs to get to the Inglewood venue on any other day of the year; only two of the 11 World Cup cities in the U.S. are offering less expensive public transportation.

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Sparks say they can make playoffs

From Marisa Ingemi: Expectations around the Sparks are higher than they’ve been in some time. During Thursday’s media day, that was evident.

The Sparks reloaded for this season, adding veterans Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins to returners Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.

After falling just two games short of the playoffs last season, this year’s goal is clear.

“Transformation takes time, and it’s a process, right?” Plum said. “And I think I see that we’ve had tremendous growth. To bring in players like Nneka, Erica Wheeler and then Ariel, we have everyone in camp fully healthy.

“I think, really, our depth and our talent is immense this year, and the mission is very clear from everyone on this team and equipped with the jump and training camp, very excited about the hunger and sense of urgency that we have. We want to win now, that’s very important to us.”

Continue reading here

This day in sports history

1943 — Count Fleet, ridden by Johnny Longden, wins the Kentucky Derby by three lengths over Blue Swords.

1948 — Citation, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, wins the Kentucky Derby by 3½ lengths over Coaltown. It’s Citation’s toughest race in winning the Triple Crown.

1954 — 80th Kentucky Derby: Raymond York wins aboard Determine, his only Derby success.

1955 — American golfer Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins the Peach Blossom LPGA Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, her final victory before her death the following year.

1959 — Floyd Patterson scores 11th round KO of Englishman Brian London in Indianapolis; his 4th World Heavyweight Boxing title defence.

1965 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 in Game 7 to capture the Stanley Cup.

1965 — 91st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker wins aboard Lucky Debonair, the third of his four Derby victories.

1969 — Leonard Tose buys NFL Philadelphia Eagles for a professional sports record $16.15 million.

1976 — 102nd Kentucky Derby: Puerto Rican jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. wins aboard Bold Forbes, the second of three Derby successes.

1981 — Tennis player Billie Jean King acknowledges a lesbian relationship with Marilyn Barnett, becoming first prominent sportswoman to come out.

1982 — Gato del Sol, ridden by Ed Delahoussaye, comes from last place in a field of 19 to win the Kentucky Derby. Gato del Sol, finishes 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Laser Light, who beat Reinvested by a neck for second. He finishes in 2:02 2/5 and returns $44.40 for a $2 bet. Air Forbes Won, the 5-2 favorite of the crow of 141,009, finishes seventh.

1984 — NFL Draft: Nebraska wide receiver Irving Fryar first pick by New England Patriots.

1988 — After scoring 50 points in Game 1, NBA Eastern Conference playoff series, Michael Jordan has 55 in Chicago Bulls 106-101 win vs Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2; first to score 50+ points in consecutive playoff games.

1992 — The Pittsburgh Penguins become the 11th NHL team to rebound from a 3-1 deficit and win a playoff series after beating the Washington Capitals 3-1.

1993 — Bruce Baumgartner wins his 11th straight national wrestling title by beating Joel Greenlee 6-0 in the 286-pound freestyle division at the U.S. championships in Las Vegas.

2003 — The three-time defending champion Lakers beat Minnesota 101-85 to win the series 4-2. It’s the 13th straight playoff series won under Phil Jackson, and Jackson-coached teams have an NBA-record 25 consecutive series wins.

2004 — Smarty Jones splashes his way past Lion Heart in the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones runs his record to 7 for 7 and becomes the first unbeaten Derby winner since Seattle Slew in 1977.

2005 — 17-year old Lionel Messi scores his 1st senior league goal for FC Barcelona in 2-0 win against Albacete Balompié, at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona.

2006 — Detroit, winner of the President’s Trophy by leading the league in points (124) this season, is eliminated in the first round for the third time in five postseasons after a 4-3 loss to Edmonton in Game 6.

2008 — Johan Franzen records his second hat trick in three games with three more goals and helps Detroit complete a four-game sweep of Colorado with an e is 8-2 win. He is the first player with two hat tricks in one playoff series since Jari Kurri did it for Edmonton in 1985.

2010 — Jockey Calvin Borel steers Super Saver through the mud to win his third Kentucky Derby in four years, beating Lookin At Lucky by 2 1/2 lengths. The win ends trainer Todd Pletcher’s Derby drought. Pletcher, who had four horses in the race, came into the race 0 for 24 since 2000.

2019 — Argentine forward Lionel Messi scores twice for his 600th goal for FC Barcelona in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in a Champions League semifinal.

2021 — 147th Kentucky Derby: Medina Spirit gives jockey John Velazquez his fourth Derby win and trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh victory in the race.

Compiled by the Associated Press

This day in baseball history

1884 — Toledo’s Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first Black player in the pre-modern era of the major leagues. His Blue Stockings lost 5-1 to Louisville.

1891 — In front of almost 10,000 fans, Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders defeats the Cincinnati Reds, 12-3, in the first game ever played in Cleveland’s League Park.

1901 — Chicago’s Herm McFarland hit the first grand slam in American League history and Dummy Hoy also homered in the Chicago White Sox’ 19-9 rout of the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers committed an AL record 12 errors, 10 by the infield, in the loss.

1906 — John Lush of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a no-hitter at Brooklyn, beating the Dodgers 6-0.

1920 — Joe Oeschger of the Boston Braves and Leon Cadore of the Brooklyn Dodgers each pitched 26 innings in a 1-1 tie, the longest in major league history.

1920 — Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a Yankee, and 50th of his career, as New York beat Boston 6-0 at the Polo Grounds.

1925 — The Philadelphia Athletics introduce another future Hall of Famer, 17-year-old catcher Jimmie Foxx, who pinch-hits a single in the 9-4 loss to the Washington Senators.

1926 — Legendary pitcher Satchel Paige makes his debut in the Negro Southern League.

1944 — George Myatt of Washington went 6-for-6 and the Senators beat the Boston Braves 11-4.

1951 — New York’s Mickey Mantle hit his first major league home run in an 8-3 loss at Chicago. The first of Mantle’s 536 homers came in the sixth inning off Randy Gumpert.

1968 — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher John Boozer was ejected by umpire Ed Vargo at Shea Stadium for throwing spitballs during his warmup pitches. Boozer was the second major league pitcher to be ejected from a game for this.

1969 — Houston’s Don Wilson beat the Cincinnati Reds with a 4-0 no-hitter at Crosley Field, one day after the Reds’ Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros and nine days after Wilson absorbed a 14-0 pounding by Cincinnati.

1973 — The San Francisco Giants scored seven runs with two out in the ninth inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7.

1975 — Hank Aaron collects four hits and two RBI in the Brewers’ 17-3 win over Detroit. This brings his career RBI total to 2,211, breaking Babe Ruth’s published record of 2,209.

1984 — Dwight Gooden became the first teenager to strike out a least ten batters in a game since Bert Blyleven did it in 1970. The Mets’ 19-year-old phenom would set a major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts.

1991 — Rickey Henderson surpassed Lou Brock as baseball’s career stolen base leader with his 939th steal as the Oakland Athletics beat the New York Yankees 7-4.

1991 — Nolan Ryan pitched his seventh no-hitter, struck out 16 and shut down the best-hitting team in the majors, as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0.

1992 — The Dodgers postponed a three-game series against Montreal because of rioting in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict.

1992 — Rickey Henderson garners his 1,000th stolen base.

2000 — San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds becomes the first player to hit a ball into San Francisco Bay (McCovey’s Cove) as the first “splashdown” home run at Pacific Bell Park.

2012 — Orioles manager Buck Showalter wins his 1,000th game as a major league skipper when the O’s defeat the Yankees, 7-1.

2015 — Alex Rodriguez ties Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time home run list when he hits number 660 against the Red Sox.

2020 — Even though there is no baseball being currently played, pitcher Emmanuel Clase of the Indians manages to get himself suspended, as the results of a test are positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid. He will be suspended for 80 games from whenever the season eventually starts.

2022 — Kelsie Whitmore becomes the first woman to start a game in the Atlantic League, which is now part of Organized Baseball as a partner league of Major League Baseball, when she starts in left field for the Staten Island FerryHawks against the Gastonia Honey Hunters.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Anyone who thinks Coachella’s biggest surprises are reserved for Weekend 1 was proven wrong Friday night as Sabrina Carpenter welcomed Madonna on stage during her Weekend 2 headlining set. The crowd exploded with waves of cheers as the iconic pop star came on stage.

Madge joined Carpenter as a surprise guest during “Juno,” in which Carpenter reemerged in a gown that was a nod to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” for a torch-passing duet of Madonna’s 1990 pop-house gauntlet “Vogue.”

The classic was followed by the debut of the gloriously upbeat “I Feel Free,” the first track from the pop icon’s forthcoming new album “Confessions II,” due out July 3.

The singer announced the record, a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions On A Dancefloor,” on April 15, alongside a 60-second teaser video for “I Feel Free.”

The Coachella performance, however, marks the first time the song has been heard in full — a fitting full circle moment 20 after Madonna played the Sahara Tent in 2006, complete with the same boots and costuming from that gig. “Confessions II” will be Madonna’s first full-length album since 2019’s “Madame X.”

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“Let’s try to be together. Let’s try to avoid disagreements,” Madonna said as she spoke about the moon and planets aligning.

Before the pair ended with “Like a Prayer,” accompanied by a choir, Madonna had another reason to be grateful.

“This is probably the first time I’ve ever performed with someone shorter than me,” Madonna said to Carpenter as the crowd laughed. “Thank you for giving me that experience.”

Senior Audience Editor Vanessa Franko contributed to this report.

Host cities may have made a commitment to provide transport to games at the usual cost, but the prices in New Jersey and Foxborough go far beyond that.

Not all cities are the same, however.

Free shuttles, external are being offered in Arlington from Centerport Station, and Kansas is charging $15, external (£11) for a return bus to the stadium from four pick-up points.

Philadelphia has said the usual fare of $2.90, external (£2) will remain in place across the six games in the city.

Concannon added that as more high prices are announced, “this sort of stuff is starting to not surprise us”.

“Every single thing coming out of this tournament so far is just fans getting fleeced,” he added.

“With there being no concessionary prices that’s obviously going to impact families, senior concessions as well.

“Who knows what even a pint of beer is going to cost in the normal bars? What’s food going to be like? And then there’s obviously the tipping culture.

“Costs are just getting higher and higher and higher.”

The prices in New Jersey and Foxborough will hit both England and Scotland fans.

The Three Lions take on Ghana in Foxborough on 23 June, and then head to the MetLife to face Panama on 27 June.

Steve Clarke’s Scotland have two games in Foxborough, against Haiti on 13 June and Morocco on 19 June.

Scotland’s third match, against Brazil, is in Miami – and there is still no information on how fans are being transported to fixtures at Hard Rock Stadium.

The cost of parking at stadiums is also very high, with a space at the MetLife costing $225 (£166). Foxborough is priced at $175 (£129) for one car.

“We’ve already seen England fans putting buses on independently run to get to the game in Foxborough from Boston and Providence,” Concannon said.

“England fans are very, very good at looking after each other and working a way to get there as cheaply as they possibly can.

“But this just hasn’t been made easy – again. All this shouldn’t be something that England fans are having to worry about.

“It just goes to show that the organisation hasn’t been great.”

Last week, Fifa put on sale a new batch of tickets under ‘Front Category 1’ and ‘Front Category 2’.

The seats were in the first rows of lower sections and up to three times the price of a regular Category 1 ticket.

As has been the case throughout the sales process, there was no prior warning that these tickets existed or when they would go on sale. Fifa would not comment on its ticket sales policy.

“It’s not a surprise that these things are getting rolled out and ultimately trying to make as much money as possible,” Concannon added.

“And again, it’s just a shame. It’s a real shame to see.”