"I mean, with the brain injury, you just never know," said Leslie, his wife. "He's done everything so much faster than anybody thought he would, and continues to do that and to prove people wrong."

Two months ago, at a regional track meet in Tyler, Coach Crutsinger was hit in the head with a shot put. But his wife, Leslie, refused to believe that it was as bad as the doctors warned. She's recalling the difficult days that followed.

"And they called me about 6:30 and said, 'The swelling's not going down, and we're going to have to do the craniectomy,'" Leslie said. "So they removed part of his skull for that. It was terrifying. That was a long, hard day – a really long, hard day. But he did good."

The Crutsingers knew it would be a long road to recovery. But they also knew they'd get there… one hug, one prayer at a time. And they tell me they could feel those prayers coming from all over.

"Faith," said an emphatic Ginger Dieter, nothing he coached her son, and he's just a "good guy." So her prayers were among those keeping the family supported.

Leslie, his wife, kept everyone updated on his progress through social media posts. And when she learned that Blake was coming home instead of entering an extended-stay inpatient rehab facility, the community moved quickly.

"When we turned the corner and saw everybody in our yard and on the street, we both got emotional," Leslie said. "I knew it was going to happen, but until you see it… he got very emotional, and I told him, 'Just be ready for what's coming.'"

While Bill Withers' Lean on Me blasted on a nearby car radio, student athletes and cheerleaders, fellow coaches, and family friends linked arms and sang along.

Coach Crutsinger still has lots of outpatient rehab ahead. The brain injury means he is re‑learning the connections that support his verbal skills. For now, his wife of more than 20 years does most of the talking, as he nods in agreement.

Still, when asked about the family's message to the community, well… there are some moments that need no words. His eyes pooled with tears, and one rolled down his cheek as he hurriedly wiped it away.

"We just want to say thank you," Leslie said. "The outpouring from people we don't know, the people that have reached out on Facebook, social media, the prayers, the churches – everybody that has come together and prayed for him. I firmly believe that's why he is the way he is right now."

Hearn, 67, is accused of ripping out a piece of sealant on the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on June 19, Pirro said. Pirro said National Park Service employees observed him removing the bottom liner of the pool. 

"One of the most offensive images that I hold in my mind are the images of national monuments that are being debased, roped, torn down, graffitied, and damaged by individuals," Pirro said at a news conference on Thursday. "This unchecked vandalism and civil disorder turns into criminal behavior, and that's why we are here today." 

Hearn, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland, said he stopped by the pool last month while on a 64-mile bike ride, and authorities arrested him after he reached down into the pool. He said he was held for five hours.

Hearn's attorneys issued a statement shortly after Pirro's announcement saying that Hearn is innocent and the "indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures."

Hearn's case is being handled in D.C. Superior Court.

According to a court docket, Hearn is facing a charge for destruction of property for causing more than $1,000 of damage.

Hearn faces up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.

When an employee told him to stop what he was doing, Pirro said Hearn "reacted by shouting at that park's employee, saying that she cared too much about the reflecting pool, and why did she even care, since it wasn't her pool."

Pirro said there are about half a dozen cases related to vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, but she added that it was not clear yet if there would be more indictments on felony charges. She said some individuals may be charged with misdemeanors, rather than felonies.

Pirro added that her office is also still investigating the large gash in the liner of the pool described in a court document by a Trump administration official. 

Hearn has previously denied wrongdoing, telling the Associated Press last month he merely reached down to touch a chunk of sealant out of curiosity, and let go after a park worker told him to.

"I'm a curious citizen," Hearn said in an interview last month. "I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery." 

President Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for problems at the Reflecting Pool, after paint began to peel from it shortly after the renovations were completed and the pool turned green from algae. 

CBS News previously reported that the federal government awarded a company owned by a Trump donor a $1.7 million contract to install a new water cleaning system for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Frank Lands, deputy director for operations for the National Park Service, said in a court filing last month that the Park Service had reported the damage on June 9 to the U.S. Park Police.

At least five people have been arrested for alleged vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool, and five additional people were issued federal citations, according to the U.S. Park Police. But details of the evidence against those other individuals has not yet been released.

A rehearsal dinner was underway Thursday evening, law enforcement sources said. The couple plans to have a wedding celebration Friday into the early hours of Saturday morning at Madison Square Garden, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the security planning for the events. 

The rehearsal dinner Thursday was for around 100 people at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, the two sources told CBS News. The second, larger event can accommodate around 1,000 people, the sources said, with the space booked until 4 a.m.

ABC News was first to report the planned celebrations on Tuesday. 

Guests lucky enough to be among the 1,000 people attending the celebration on Friday will be treated to cocktails on the 6th floor concourse of Madison Square Garden at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.), a ceremony on the arena floor scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and then a reception set to start at 6:30 p.m. that will go until 2 a.m., the sources told CBS News, noting that the exact times are subject to change. 

The event will feature musical talent, and the couple is building a massive set inside the arena for the event. 

Guests will be entering the Garden via a special VIP area that will be covered with a tent, the sources said. Security officials are expecting about 500 vehicles to bring the guests.

For the 100 or so family, friends and VIPs attending the rehearsal dinner, Thursday evening festivities at MSG's Infosys Theater were scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and go until 10:30 p.m., the sources said. 

The New York City Police Department is preparing to handle the extra traffic, security, media, fans and paparazzi that come with an event like this. The couple has also hired private security. 

The wedding will likely use about the same amount of NYPD resources as any other major event or concert at Madison Square Garden or a big game at Yankee Stadium, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the security planning. 

About 135 officers will likely be assigned to work the MSG wedding events on Thursday and Friday, the sources said. They noted that an event organizer typically covers overtime police staffing costs, and expected about 25% of officers' hours to be billed as overtime at roughly $90 to $100 per hour per officer.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting details and sharing rumors about the potential ceremony for Swift and Kelce after news broke that Swift had rented out the massive concert venue, which locals refer to as "the Garden."

Swift's team applied for a street activity permit from July 2 to July 4, a senior law enforcement source told CBS News last week. 

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.

John Hart, a retired assistant chief of the NYPD who has extensive experience handling security for high-profile events, told CBS News that the confined space of Madison Square Garden will help the security team keep Swift, Kelce and their guests safe. He added that obtaining the street activity permits frees up the burden on the NYPD and allows for private security to help secure the area around the venue.

"That said, it will be swarmed by media of all types and fans hoping to catch a glimpse," Hart said.  

Managing media and what's known as "fan pens" will likely fall on the NYPD, as they will be outside the hard frozen zone secured by private security.

"Paparazzi chasing cars with guests and swarming hotels will be a side issue that will fall to NYPD as well," Hart said.

Large trucks have been seen parked outside the venue in recent days, with work crews unloading stage equipment, lights and other gear, much of it under wraps. Some of it bore signs labeled "Garden Party" or "GP."

Ahead of their wedding events, Swift and Kelce donated $26 million to charities this week, with donations spread out across 20 local and national charities, according to Swift's publicist, with many located in areas where the couple has deep ties.

Former Crowley ISD Principal Gerardo Moreno Mendez was arrested in June earlier this year after investigators said he sold the popular weight‑loss drug Tirzepatide, a GLP‑1 medication.

According to a criminal complaint, investigators said that in January, Moreno Mendez sold, dispensed, gave away, or supplied Tirzepatide to three female co‑workers. 

Federal law prohibits the drug from being distributed without a valid prescription. Tirzepatide is sold under the brand names Zepbound and Mounjaro, and only licensed medical providers or veterinarians may legally prescribe it.

"This is a serious, serious crime," said criminologist Alex Del Carmen. "The distribution of an item that is a controlled substance or a controlled drug carries misdemeanor and, at times, felony charges. It's all based on what the prosecutor decides to file in this particular case."

The medications have surged in popularity in recent years. Del Carmen is not connected to the case, but said that given the drug's popularity, he's not surprised by the findings.

"I mean, this was bound to happen at some point," he said. "These particular meds, as you know, are incredibly popular in the market right now, and many people are being denied by their insurance companies, either full coverage or very limited access to it. So it goes without saying that there's going to be a market for them in the black market."

A Crowley ISD spokesperson said, "Mr. Moreno is no longer an employee of Crowley ISD, and the district is unable to comment on personnel matters involving former employees." 

It's unclear when Moreno Mendez left Crowley ISD, but months later, he was hired by Godley ISD as principal of Godley Middle School for the upcoming school year.

In a statement, a Godley ISD spokesperson said, "Following Mr. Moreno's arrest in Tarrant County last month, the district requested and received his resignation. Because he was completing his duties with his previous district and had not yet begun employment with Godley ISD, he never worked in the district."

"The problem here is that it took so long for the charges to come through, and for the public to know – and clearly for the hiring school to know—that the person they hired ended up having charges," Del Carmen said.

CBS News Texas reached out to Moreno Mendez, but he did not return the request for comment. 

However, an attorney representing him said that he turned himself in last month after learning that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, adding that "by that time, the school district had already conducted its own investigation and reinstated him as principal. Although we are limited in what we can disclose at this time, that is a significant fact that should not be overlooked."

Moreno Mendez has since been released on bond and is awaiting his next court hearing.

"Don't put yourself out there to be endangered by something that you're putting in your body that may or may not come from the lab you think it may be coming from," Del Carmen said.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

The reward for Alejandro Villegas, 32, of Fort Worth, has been increased to $6,000 during July if the tip is received this month and leads to his arrest, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS says Villegas, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, was arrested by Arlington police in 2017 and sentenced to 36 months of probation. In 2022, he was taken into custody by Grand Prairie police for sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl and sentenced to 96 months of probation.

He has been wanted out of Tarrant County since January for a probation violation tied to the sexual assault of a child. In March, Fort Worth police issued a warrant for failure to register as a sex offender, the state agency said.

According to authorities, Villegas – described as 6 feet tall and 185 pounds – has ties to Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

This year, DPS and other agencies have arrested 44 Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives, sex offenders, and criminal illegal immigrants. That includes 32 sex offenders and eight gang members. More than $61,000 in rewards has been paid for tips that led to arrests, the agency said.

Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), submitting a web tip through the DPS website, or submitting a Facebook tip.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

"Imagine, with this World Cup, a Super Bowl every single day for five weeks," U.S. team captain Tim Ream told CBS News, adding, "It's not an accident that 5 billion people will be watching."

FOX and NBCUniversal have the broadcasting rights for the 78 games being played in the U.S., as well as the 13 apiece in Canada and Mexico. A record of 40 matches, or more than a third of the World Cup, will air during primetime on FOX, according to the broadcaster. 

For Spanish-language broadcasts, every single match will air on NBC-owned Telemundo and Universo.

All matches will also be available for on-demand streaming on several platforms. Here's what to know.  

How to watch the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup

Viewers with a TV antenna, or access to the FOX network channel through a smart TV, can watch 70 of the matches for free. The rest will air on Fox Sports 1, a cable channel.

Ninety-two of the 104 matches can be watched for free in Spanish on Telemundo. The rest of the matches in Spanish will air on Universo, a cable network. 

For cord-cutters, the World Cup opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa, as well as the United States' opening match against Paraguay on June 12, were available to stream for free on Tubi, an ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox. 

All matches are available to stream through FOX One, the FOX Sports app, while Peacock has exclusive Spanish-language streaming rights. All matches will also be available on other streaming providers like YouTube TV, Fubo or Hulu + Live TV, for a subscription fee.

You can follow World Cup news and highlights throughout the tournament at CBSSports.com.

U.S. Men's 2026 World Cup schedule

The U.S. World Cup team played three matches in the group stage. Their Group D opponents were Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, in that order. 

In their first match on Friday, June 12, the U.S. defeated Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The U.S. defeated Australia 2-0 at Lumen Seattle on Friday, June 19, to clinch their spot in the Round of 32. The U.S. lost to Turkey 3-2 in their final Group D match at SoFi.

The U.S. men won their round of 32 match on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0.

2026 World Cup broadcast schedule

The tournament began on June 11, with co-host Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City against South Africa. The U.S. and Canada played their first games a day later in Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively. The group stage was completed on June 27, and the knockout round began the next day. 

Here is the broadcast schedule: 

June 11

• Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A) — Mexico City: Mexico 2, South Africa 0 
• South Korea vs. Czechia (Group A) — Guadalajara: South Korea 2, Czechia 1

June 12

• Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B) — Toronto: 1-1 draw
•  (Group D) — Inglewood, California: U.S. 4, Paraguay 1

June 13

• Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) — San Francisco Bay Area: 1-1 draw
• Brazil vs. Morocco (Group C) — New York/New Jersey: 1-1 draw
• Haiti vs. Scotland (Group C) — Boston: Scotland 1, Haiti 0

June 14

• Australia vs. Turkey (Group D) — Vancouver: Australia 2, Turkey 0
• Germany vs. Curaçao (Group E) — Houston: Germany 7, Curaçao 1
• Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F) — Dallas: 2-2 draw
• Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Group E) — Philadelphia: Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0
• Sweden vs. Tunisia (Group F) — Monterrey: Sweden 5, Tunisia 1

June 15

• Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H) — Atlanta: 0-0 draw
• Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G) — Seattle: 1-1 draw
• Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Group H) — Miami: 1-1 draw
• Iran vs. New Zealand (Group G) — Inglewood: 2-2 draw

June 16

• France vs. Senegal (Group I) — New York/New Jersey: France 3, Senegal 1
• Iraq vs. Norway (Group I) — Boston: Iraq 1, Norway 4
• Argentina vs. Algeria (Group J) — Kansas City: Argentina 3, Algeria 1

June 17

• Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) — San Francisco Bay Area: Austria 3, Jordan 1
• Portugal vs. DR Congo (Group K) — Houston: Portugal 1, DR Congo 1
• England vs. Croatia (Group L) — Dallas: England 4, Croatia 2
• Ghana vs. Panama (Group L) — Toronto: Ghana 1, Panama 0
• Colombia vs. Uzbekistan  (Group K) — Mexico City: Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1  

June 18

• Czechia vs. South Africa (Group A) — Atlanta: 1-1 draw
• Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group A) — Los Angeles: Switzerland 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1
• Canada vs. Qatar (Group B) — Vancouver: Canada 6, Qatar 0
• Mexico vs. South Korea (Group A) —Guadalajara: Mexico 1, South Korea 0

June 19

•  (Group D) — Seattle: U.S. 2, Australia 0 
• Scotland vs. Morocco (Group C) — Boston: Scotland 0, Morocco 1
• Brazil vs. Haiti (Group C) — Philadelphia: Brazil 3, Haiti 0
• Turkey vs. Paraguay (Group D) — San Francisco Bay Area: Turkey 0, Paraguay 1 

June 20

• Netherlands vs. Sweden (Group F) — Houston: Netherlands 5, Sweden 1
• Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) — Toronto: Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
• Ecuador vs. Curaçao (Group E) — Kansas City: 0-0 draw

June 21

• Tunisia vs. Japan (Group F) — Monterrey: Japan 4, Tunisia 0
• Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) — Atlanta: Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0
• Belgium vs. Iran (Group G) — Inglewood: 0-0 draw
• Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (Group H) — Miami: 2-2 draw
• New Zealand vs. Egypt (Group G) — Vancouver: Egypt 3, New Zealand 1

June 22

• Argentina vs. Austria (Group J) — Dallas: Argentina 2, Austria 0 
• France vs. Iraq - (Group I) — Philadelphia: France 3, Iraq 0
• Norway vs. Senegal (Group I) — New York/New Jersey: Norway 3, Senegal 2
• Algeria vs. Jordan (Group J) — San Francisco Bay Area: Algeria 2, Jordan 1

June 23

• Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) — Houston: Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0
• England vs. Ghana (Group L) — Boston: 0-0 draw
• Panama vs. Croatia (Group L) — Toronto: Croatia 1, Panama 0
• Colombia vs. DR Congo (Group K) — Guadalajara: Colombia 1, DR Congo 0

June 24

• Canada vs. Switzerland (Group B) — Vancouver: Switzerland 2, Canada 1
• Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (Group B) — Seattle: Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1
• Morocco vs. Haiti (Group C) — Atlanta: Morocco 4, Haiti 2
• Scotland vs. Brazil (Group C) — Miami: Brazil 3, Scotland 0
• Mexico vs. Czechia (Group A) — Mexico City: Mexico 3, Czechia 0
• South Korea vs. South Africa (Group A) — Monterrey: South Africa 1, South Korea 0

June 25

• Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) — Philadelphia: Ivory Coast 2, Curaçao 0
• Ecuador vs. Germany (Group E) — New York/New Jersey: Ecuador 2, Germany 1 
• Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Group F) — Kansas City: Netherlands 3, Tunisia 1
• Japan vs. Sweden (Group F) — Dallas: 1-1 draw
• U.S. vs. Turkey (Group D) — Inglewood: Turkey 3, U.S. 2
• Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) — San Francisco Bay Area: 0-0 draw

June 26

• Norway vs. France (Group I) — Boston: France 4, Norway 1
• Senegal vs. Iraq (Group I) — Toronto: Senegal 5, Iraq 0
• Uruguay vs. Spain (Group H) — Guadalajara: Spain 1, Uruguay 0
• Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) — Houston: 0-0 draw
• New Zealand vs. Belgium (Group G) — Vancouver: Belgium 5, New Zealand 1
• Egypt vs. Iran (Group G) — Seattle: 1-1 draw

June 27

• Panama vs. England (Group L) — New York/New Jersey: England 2, Panama 0
• Croatia vs. Ghana (Group L) — Philadelphia: Croatia 2, Ghana 1
• Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K) — Miami: 0-0 draw
• DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) — Atlanta: DR Congo 3, Uzbekistan 1
• Algeria vs. Austria (Group J) — Kansas City: 3-3 draw
• Jordan vs. Argentina (Group J) — Dallas: Argentina 3, Jordan 1

2026 World Cup knockout stage schedule

Round of 32:

June 28

• South Africa vs. Canada — Inglewood: Canada 1, South Africa 0

June 29

• Brazil vs. Japan — Houston (Match 76): Brazil 2, Japan 1
• Germany vs. Paraguay — Boston (Match 74): Germany 1 (3), Paraguay 1 (4)
• Netherlands vs. Morocco — Guadalupe, Mexico (Match 75): Netherlands 1 (2), Morocco 1 (3)

June 30

• Ivory Coast vs. Norway — Dallas (Match 78): Ivory Coast 1, Norway 2
• France vs. Sweden — New Jersey (Match 77): France 3, Sweden 0
• Mexico vs. Ecuador — Mexico City (Match 79): Mexico 2, Ecuador 0

July 1

• England vs. DR Congo — Atlanta (Match 80): England 2, DR Congo 1
• Belgium vs. Senegal — Seattle (Match 82): Belgium 3, Senegal 2
• U.S. vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — San Francisco-Bay Area (Match 81): U.S. 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0

July 2

• Spain vs Austria — Los Angeles (Match 84): Spain 3, Austria 0
• 7 p.m. ET — Portugal vs Croatia — Toronto (Match 83) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 11 p.m. ET — Switzerland vs Algeria — Vancouver (Match 85) [FS1, Telemundo]

July 3

• 2 p.m. ET — Australia vs. Egypt — Dallas (Match 88) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 6 p.m. ET — Argentina vs. Cape Verde — Miami (Match 86) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 9:30 p.m. ET — Colombia vs. Ghana — Kansas City (Match 87), Telemundo]

Round of 16:

July 4

• 1 p.m. ET — Canada vs. Morocco— Houston (Match 90) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 5 p.m. ET — Paraguay vs. France — Philadelphia (Match 89) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 5

• 4 p.m. ET — Brazil vs. Norway — New Jersey (Match 91) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 8 p.m. ET — Mexico vs. England — Mexico City (Match 92) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 6

• 3 p.m. ET — March 83 winner vs. Match 84 winner — Dallas (Match 93) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 8 p.m. ET — U.S. vs. Belgium— Seattle (Match 94) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 7

• 12:00 p.m. ET — Match 86 winner vs. Match 88 winner — Atlanta (Match 95) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 4:00 p.m. ET — Match 85 winner vs. Match 87 winner — Vancouver (Match 96) [FOX, Telemundo]

Quarterfinals:

July 9

• 4 p.m. ET — Match 89 winner vs. Match 90 winner — Boston (Match 97) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 10

• 3 p.m. ET — Match 93 winner vs. Match 94 winner — Los Angeles (Match 98) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 11

• 5 p.m. ET — Match 91 winner vs March 92 winner — Miami (Match 99) [FOX, Telemundo]
• 9 p.m. ET — Match 95 winner vs. Match 96 winner — Kansas City (Match 100) [FOX, Telemundo]

Semifinals:

July 14

• 3:00 p.m. ET — Winner 97 vs. Winner 98 — Dallas (Match 101) [FOX, Telemundo]

July 15

• 3 p.m. ET — Winner 99 vs. Winner 100 — Atlanta (Match 102) [FOX, Telemundo]

Third-place match, July 18:

• 5 p.m. ET — Miami [FOX, Telemundo]

World Cup Final, July 19:

• 3 p.m. ET — Metlife Stadium in New Jersey [FOX, Telemundo]

Guard Paige Bueckers is a starter for the second consecutive season after being selected as a rookie in 2025. She is in the top 10 for both points and assists per game this season. Bueckers was the top vote-getter from fans, the WNBA said.

The fan vote accounts for 50 percent of the voting for WNBA All Stars; the players and media account for 25 percent each. Bueckers was the top-ranked guard in the players vote and second from the media.

Forward Jessica Shepherd was also named one of the starters. Shepherd, in her sixth WNBA season, will make her All Star Game debut.

Shepherd is the only player in the WNBA to record a triple-double this season, doing so twice. She also ranks second in the league in rebounds, averaging 11.5 per game, sixth in shooting percentage and 13th in assists.

Former TCU star and Minnesota Lynx rookie phenom Olivia Miles is among the eight other starters. The rest include:

• Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
• Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
• Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx
• Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
• Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
• Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries
• A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wings rookie Azzi Fudd was the the fourth-ranked guard in the fan vote and tenth-ranked guard overall. She will have a chance to make the All Star Game as a reserve, which are selected by the coaches. Reserves will be announced next week.

The 2026 WNBA All Star Game will be held in Chicago on Saturday, July 25.

Rumors have been swirling about Taylor Swift's impending nuptials to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the pair plan to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden, the iconic concert venue and basketball arena in the heart of New York City. 

While the venue may seem like an odd choice to some, two celebrity event planners explained to CBS News how it could become unrecognizable by the time guests arrive — and the unique aspects the arena offers.

"Making the impossible request happen" 

When it comes to planning for celebrities and high-net-worth clients, it's more like producing a "blockbuster movie" than hosting a wedding, said Larry Walshe, a London-based event designer who regularly works on weddings that cost between $5 to $10 million.

There may be hundreds of people involved in such a project, said Walshe, who recently worked on a wedding team that employed 800. Often, the "small village" of staffers will be under a non-disclosure agreement to prevent leaks, Walshe said. 

Uniqueness and exclusivity are often the name of the game, he said, with celebrities regularly "trying to push that creative envelope." 

Sometimes, clients want their wedding to be somewhere fantastical, like the wilds of Iceland or the remote deserts of Saudi Arabia. In places where the wedding industry is non-existent and guest infrastructure slim, prep work can include building a temporary village for the hundreds of staff involved in the event. The team may need to import everything, down to the silverware, Walshe said. 

"Part of my job is to be creative, like design and art direction, (but) so much of my job is logistics and engineering," said Walshe, who has planned multi-day extravaganzas that cross countries. "It's trying to find a way to make the impossible request happen. How do you make flowers look like they're levitating, but don't look like they're standing up on something? How do you engineer something like that, that also isn't going to fall over and kill someone?" 

Walshe said that compared to some of the weddings he has choreographed, Madison Square Garden is straightforward — and even offers some unusual perks.

"The thing that's quite nice about it is that it's got a lot of rigging already in there! It's got some really great lighting and technical things already there. There's a lot of infrastructure that you could make work," Walshe said, adding that clients often do the opposite, choosing a site that is beautiful but has no infrastructure. "It's usually one or the other. The challenge is, how do you make those two things meet in the middle as harmoniously as possible?" 

A "completely transformed" Madison Square Garden

While no one knows how Swift and Kelce's nuptials will look, Preston Bailey, an event designer who was part of the team that created a multi-day extravaganza for the son of India's wealthiest family in 2024, said Madison Square Garden will likely be unrecognizable. 

Walshe said it might take a lot of time to make the space feel "personal, romantic and residential," but the sky is the limit for the superstar couple. Bailey said designers could "create a space within a space that would virtually eliminate" the bleachers that surround the arena floor. The team could also "create different areas" for the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and other events, he said. That blank-slate element of the arena helps make it the "perfect location," Bailey said. 

"If they want, they could make each section look completely different," Bailey said. "Both of them are professionals that normally work in stadiums, so I think Madison Square Garden could not be a better option."

People magazine editor-in-chief Charlotte Triggs told "CBS Mornings" that Swift's familiarity with the venue makes it an appealing option. 

"I think for most people, this seems like the weirdest choice in the world, but for her, this is spot-on. It has total security. Also keep in mind, she's very familiar with it. She performed there multiple times," Triggs said.

Triggs highlighted reports that designers are installing a castle inside the venue, and noted that Swift has previously turned venues into intimate spaces for some past tours. Load-ins have been ongoing all week, she said. Large trucks have been seen parked outside the venue in recent days, with work crews unloading stage equipment, lights and other gear, much of it under wraps. Some of it was labeled "Garden Party" or "GP." 

"This is going to be an absolute, spectacular blowout," Triggs said. "According to a source, it doesn't look at all the same inside. They've completely transformed it." 

What do we know about Taylor Swift's wedding? 

Walshe said that juggling the wedding and the expected security will be like "running a military operation," though he noted any planner used to organizing this type of event would be capable of handling it. Swift and Kelce have hired private security, and the New York City Police Department is expected to help handle the expected traffic, security, media, fans and paparazzi. Even reported street closures wouldn't be difficult for a planner accustomed to these kind of events, Walshe said. 

The wedding events are reported to begin on Thursday, with a rehearsal dinner at the Infosys Theater at the Garden, law enforcement sources told CBS News. That will be for about 100 people, according to the sources. 

The party really starts on Friday, the sources said, with a wedding celebration for about 1,000 people planned to begin that evening and stretch into the early hours of Saturday morning. The doors of the arena are set to open around 3:30 p.m., the sources said, with guests entering through a covered VIP area. They will be treated to cocktails on the arena's 6th floor concourse before the 5:30 p.m. ceremony, according to the law enforcement sources, who noted that the exact times are subject to change. 

The reception is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and last until 2 a.m., the sources said. The event will feature musical performances, they said. 

The only change to the forecast will be the return of some rain chances, mainly east of I-35. These storms are "diurnally driven," which means they occur at peak daytime heating and fizzle out once we lose sunlight.

Highs by Thursday afternoon will be in the mid- to upper-90s with feel-like temperatures in the lower triple digits.

Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, the forecast will be similar to Thursday, with 10-20% rain chances.

Looking ahead to next week, the 10-20% rain chances continue with temperatures approaching 100° by next Wednesday. 

What if honoring that person could also help another military family in need?

That's the idea behind 250 Years, 250 Tributes, a campaign from the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Supporters can make a $250 tribute donation in someone's name to help fund programs for veterans and military families across the country. Donors and the heroes they honor will be recognized on the Bob Woodruff Foundation's website and social media channels.

"The 250 Years, 250 Tributes campaign gives people a chance to honor a hero who served while also helping a veteran or military family in need," said Dave Woodruff, co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "These dollars go to proven organizations providing housing, legal assistance, job placement and mental health care for our heroes."

Anyone can participate by creating a tribute in honor of someone who served.

"We want to make sure the people who serve our country — and the families who make that service possible — have the support they've earned," Woodruff said. "They had our backs, and we need to have theirs."

The Bob Woodruff Foundation was established in 2006 after ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff was seriously injured while covering the war in Iraq. What began with one family's experience has grown into a mission to support millions of veterans, service members and their families, helping ensure they don't have to face life's challenges alone.

To learn more about or participate in the 250 Years, 250 Tributes campaign, click here.

Plaintiffs in a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday said they "did not get what they paid for" in buying World Cup tickets through StubHub. One California resident said she used the platform to buy three tickets for a total of $1,905 for a June 18 game at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, but then discovered that StubHub had canceled the order. That violated StubHub's own terms of service, according to the suit. 

A second plaintiff said he spent nearly $3,000 for two tickets to watch Mexico play South Korea but that his tickets were also canceled. Although he was refunded for the seats, he has not recouped the additional travel costs, the complaint alleges.

"Unfortunately, with high anticipation comes high likelihood for taking advantage of the consumers willing to pay," the lawsuit states, noting that "the odds of consumers facing high prices and a difficult to navigate market were almost guaranteed." 

Attorneys for the plaintiffs are seeking damages of at least $5 million.

Many consumers turned to secondary marketplaces like StubHub for a shot at tickets resold by fans who had initially purchased them directly from World Cup organizer FIFA. The soccer federation only guarantees the validity of tickets it sells directly and limits the sale of tickets through third-party sellers such as StubHub, the lawsuit states. 

The complaint also alleges that StubHub isn't authorized to sell World Cup tickets and that the platform failed to honor its "FanProtect Guarantee," which is meant to ensure the authenticity of World Cup tickets purchased on StubHub.

"StubHub misrepresents its authority to sell World Cup Tickets, then, when plaintiffs and class members travel thousands of miles to attend World Cup matches, there are no tickets to be found despite having paid for them," the lawsuit alleged.

StubHub said it does not comment on pending litigation, but blamed FIFA for any ticketing mishaps.

"Our singular goal is to get fans into events, and if anything goes wrong, our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or a full refund," a StubHub spokesperson told CBS News. "The World Cup is no different, and the issues fans have experienced are largely driven by problems with the event organizer's own ticketing infrastructure." 

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"It's definitely concerning to see new ticks in new areas and then diseases that follow," said Rebecca Osborn, an epidemiologist for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Osborn tracks ticks and the viruses that they carry. She explained ticks are spreading due to our changing climate.

"So, warmer temperatures can bring ticks into new areas," Osborn said.

One type of tick health officials are keeping an eye out for is the lone star tick. It can carry alpha-gal, which can create a red meat allergy in infected people.

They're also tracking Powassan, a virus that attacks the central nervous system and can lead to memory loss, difficulty speaking and seizures.

"Sadly, despite all of our education about tick bite prevention, we are seeing all tick-borne diseases increase," Osborne said.

"It's a lot more"

At Camp Edwards YMCA near East Troy, Wisconsin, kids are learning how to look for ticks in addition to their fun summer activities.

"I found one on … the front part of my leg and then we always do tick checks in the showers at night and I found one on the very back of my leg. Both were embedded," camp counselor Maggie Windon said.

Windon and Torie Hall, both 17, help to manage the hundreds of campers over the summer.

"We can help them check their hair and the … back of their neck," Hall said.

Osborn said while the first line of defense for humans is bug repellents and long clothes, it's important to stay vigilant as tick season worsens.

"I've seen so many just crawling on kids shirts, just flicking them off. But it's a lot more than I've seen before," Windon said.

Tick tips

According to the CDC, removing a tick within 24 hours can help to prevent Lyme disease, one of the most common tick-borne illnesses.

If you find a tick on your body, here's what the CDC suggests:

• Remove it as soon as possible.
• Use a tick removal device or a set of tweezers.
• After you remove the tick, if you notice a rash or a fever, see your doctor.
• Do a careful check to make sure you don't have any additional ticks.

They live in East Orange, N.J. but are originally from Russia, sources said. Kuznetsov's social media page identifies him as Ivan Beerkus and Nikolau's page identifies her as Angela. 

They have each been charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar's tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to sources.

They were arraigned on Thursday morning. 

• Watch: Couple who climbed the Empire State Building face a slew of charges

The two have a history of conducting similar stunts, climbing tall buildings without ropes or other safety equipment. They were previously featured in that Netflix documentary about climbing Malaysia's Merdeka 118 Tower, which is 2,227 feet tall. 

The couple managed to make their way all the way to the top of the Empire State Building's transmission tower, which provides radio and television signals to local stations.  

Climbing the tower while it is powered up and transmitting poses particular hazards. There was a possibility of being exposed to radio waves and the Empire State Building shut down the antenna, a source familiar with the matter told CBS News New York. 

Nikolau posted about their escapade on social media while it was happening. 

The images include one showing Kuznetsov on one knee proposing to Nikolau, and Nikolau holding up her ring while looking south across the New York City skyline. 

"They knew they were going to get caught"

The Empire State Building was none too pleased with the incident. 

"The unauthorized incident at the building has been resolved with the constructive and helpful coordination of the NYPD. There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests. It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World's Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals," a spokesperson said. 

Video released by the NYPD shows the couple didn't resist arrest.  

Hector Alvarez saw them being walked out of the skyscraper's loading dock in handcuffs. 

"Wearing all black, they came out. They didn't say anything. They were not hurt," Alvarez said. "I'm guessing they knew they were going to get caught." 

Just two days ago, Nikolau posted a video from another Manhattan skyscraper, saying she was celebrating her birthday. A post from June details how they got in trouble for kissing on top of a spire in China. Other posts include similar incidents in Miami and Malaysia, where the post says the two waited for more than 20 hours without a bathroom, food or water to be able to pass security. 

What is rooftopping?

The scaling of tall buildings is known as "rooftopping." Tom Durante said he's been rooftopping for a decade. 

"The consequences for getting caught on the Empire State Building, I think, outweigh the risk for a majority of people, and that's really the line people are walking when doing something like this," Durante said. 

The couple, who got engaged in the middle of the stunt Wednesday, have talked about doing the daredevil stunts as an art form. 

"It's a true gem and if you get the opportunity to experience, then you're one in a million," rooftopper Victor Thomas said. 

July 1 was the deadline for the three countries to decide whether to extend the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, until 2042. The Trump administration's decision means the USMCA remains in effect and subject to annual reviews for 10 years, until it expires in 2036, unless another agreement is reached to extend it.

"The United States will continue to engage with Mexico and Canada to address the agreement's shortcomings and our trade deficits with these countries," U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. "However, the agreement remains in force pending resolution of these issues or until the agreement's termination."

Focus on the U.S. trade deficit

President Trump signed the USMCA into law in 2020, replacing the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

The USMCA lowered trade barriers among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, aiming to create jobs for American workers and energize the country's manufacturing sector. Among other changes, the deal tightened rules for the auto industry, requiring that 75% of each vehicle be produced in North America to avoid any import duties.

At an event in Michigan in 2020, Mr. Trump described the pact as the "fairest, most balanced and beneficial trade agreement we have ever signed into law." But he has since soured on the deal. Speaking to reporters in June, Mr. Trump said the U.S. would "do better as a country" without the agreement.

The USMCA has failed to ease the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico, a senior Trump administration official told reporters. "We believe that the USMCA does not operate to control the deficit like the president intended," the person said.

According to the Trade Representative's office, the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico was nearly $197 billion in 2025, while the trade gap with Canada was over $46 billion.

U.S. officials are scheduled to meet with Mexico represenatatives the week of July 20 for another round of bilateral negotiations. During those talks, the two countries will discuss rules of origin, intellectual property and concerns surrounding Mexico's compliance with labor obligations, the senior administration official said.

The official did not discuss specific plans to meet with Canada, but said, "We will continue our discussions with our Canadian partners."

Talks could take years

The Trump administration could decide to withdraw from the USMCA altogether before it expires in 10 years, though that decision will likely depend on how negotiations unfold. Those talks could drag on for years, according to trade experts.

The senior administration official expressed interest in resolving the major sticking points of the trade deal quickly, adding that Mr. Trump could reach an agreement with Mexico and Canada to alter their trade pact before his term expires in 2028.

"The president remains skeptical of this, but I think it's in the interest of our country to keep negotiating," the person added.

The impact of a U.S. withdrawal from the USMCA would depend on whether any bilateral trade agreements replaced the pact, according to trade experts. 

"Absent bilateral deals, growth would slow in both Canada and Mexico as the tariff exemption, which has kept both countries' external sectors afloat over the past year, was removed," economists with investment advisory firm Capital Economics said in a report.

"But given the average tariff rate would only rise to 10%, rather than the much higher rates previously threatened under IEEPA, recessions could be avoided," they added, referring to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 

And on her fourth studio album, "Red," Swift alludes to Madison Square Garden, the venue where sources say she and Travis Kelce plan to host multiple wedding events this week.

In "The Lucky One," Swift sings about a star who ultimately chooses a quiet life over fame, using the iconic venue as a symbol for the limelight: 

"They say you bought a bunch of land somewhere
Chose the rose garden over Madison Square 
And it took some time, but I understand it now"

But Swift doesn't appear to be making the same choice as the subject of "The Lucky One." She and Kelce plan to have a rehearsal dinner Thursday and a bigger celebration Friday at Madison Square Garden, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the security planning for the events.

Beyond her lyrics, Swift has had a decadeslong history with Madison Square Garden, performing there as early as 2003 and even celebrating her 30th birthday at the venue. 

Here's a look at her ties to the venue:

Knicks halftime show

Madison Square Garden welcomed Swift to New York in 2003 when she took part in a talent competition during halftime at a Knicks game. Swift sang "Lucky You," an unreleased original song. 

"I performed at the Knicks' — at Madison Square Garden's — Kids Talent Competition at halftime when I was 12 or 13," Swift told TIME in a 2014 interview. "And ever since then I've had this kind of sparkly, magical opinion of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks, since they let me sing when I was a little kid."

"I love you, New York," Swift yelled to the crowd during her performance. 

Tour stops

Swift had concerts at Madison Square Garden during two of her tours: "Fearless" in 2009 and "Speak Now" in 2011.

The venue wasn't part of her later tours, as she needed larger spaces.

Swift also made an appearance during one of Ed Sheeran's concerts at the venue in 2013. The duo sang their song "Everything Has Changed."

Jingle Ball

Swift has performed in five of iHeartRadio's annual Jingle Ball events at Madison Square Garden. The concerts typically take place in early December. In 2019, the show fell on Dec. 13, Swift's 30th birthday.

"I had a choice," Swift said on stage, according to Variety. "Where would I want to spend my 30th birthday? The answer is: you're looking at it. This is the first show of the 30th year of my life." 

Radio host Elvis Duran presented Swift with a giant cake featuring images of her cats to celebrate her birthday. 

Knicks games

On top of her performances, Swift has sat in "celebrity row" at multiple Knicks games over the years. 

In the 2014 TIME interview, Swift described former Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire and his then-wife, Alexis, as "the most normal people" at the Met Gala the years she attended. 

"I talk with them and hang with them every time I'm there. So I've always had this sort of love of the Knicks, just because Amar'e is so cool," she said. 

Swift most recently appeared courtside at Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, in which the Knicks had an historic comeback against the San Antonio Spurs.  

The tale of Ted Lasso may sound improbable, but as we first reported in March, the series has become a phenomenon and changed the game in Hollywood. So when production for the third season was about to begin, we went to London to meet as many members of the ensemble cast as we could, including Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso's mastermind and alter ego…to find out how the show scored.

Norah O'Donnell: Did you set out and say I want a character that's all about positivity and kindness and can transform people, bring out the best in people?

Jason Sudeikis: To play the character was intentional. To play someone that was kindhearted, that didn't swear-- be like Teflon towards people's negativity or-- or-- or sarcasm, 100% intentional.

Norah O'Donnell: --kindness and positivity can be transformative.

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah. And so can the opposite. But I mean, if you had to choose one at the-- at that point of writing it and wanting to play it, I'd much rather try to view the world, you know, as Ted Lasso.

Jason Sudeikis told us the comedy in "Ted Lasso" rolls onto the screen like a Trojan horse. Sometimes farcical, often profane, carrying with it homespun wisdom and warmth.

The show defied not just the dark times of the pandemic, but sometimes logic itself.

As coach of the fictional soccer team known as AFC Richmond, Sudeikis likes to say Ted Lasso is the best version of himself. One quality both character and actor share is curiosity. 

Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso:I saw this quote by Walt Whitman, it was painted on the wall there and it said, "Be curious, not judgmental." I like that.

Walt Whitman never wrote or said, "be curious, not judgmental," yet it's become more than just a catchphrase.

Jason Sudeikis: My mom's parish-- in the South Side of Chicago, Christ the King, you know, had, like a bible study class.

Norah O'Donnell: And what was the bible study about?

Jason Sudeikis: Probably, like, be curious, not judgmental. The gospel according to Ted Lasso, something like that, maybe, I think. It mighta been something like that. 

The show's success is even more extraordinary when you consider its origins.  

Nearly 10 years ago, long before Ted Lasso became gospel, he began as an arrogant, in-curious commercial.

NBC sports needed a buzzy ad campaign to promote soccer's English Premier League in the U.S. So they called Sudeikis, who was finishing-up a ten-year run on "Saturday Night Live." 

He said the job sounded like fun, especially when he was allowed to invite two old friends along for the ride.

Norah O'Donnell: So before you guys created "Ted Lasso," you were actually best friends.

Jason Sudeikis: I don't know, best, I mean--

Joe Kelly: Lotta people in our lives.

Brendan Hunt: Overstatement--

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah, I think we-- we got along well--

Joe Kelly: We're fine.

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (LAUGH)

Norah O'Donnell: How-- so how would you describe your relationship?

Jason Sudeikis: Best-- I think best friends I think. If I had to… (LAUGHTER) 

"Ted Lasso" co-creators Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt have known each other and Jason Sudeikis for more than 20 years.

After the commercials, the trio developed Ted Lasso into a more complete character who shed his arrogant swagger for humble curiosity.  

In the show, Ted Lasso also deals with divorce and mental health challenges. All while bringing a feminine approach to a typically masculine job.

Bill Lawrence: If anybody claims that they thought this show or knew this show was gonna work, they're fibbing a little bit. No one was sure. 

The three friends got a boost when veteran television producer Bill Lawrence joined the project.  

Norah O'Donnell: What was in Jason's pitch that convinced you?

Bill Lawrence: He knew from the start that this was a guy that was putting out a-- optimistic face. And that would be one note if he wasn't also aware that that was covering up somebody that needed to learn about self-care and– being proactive in facing whatever demons they might have.

Brendan Hunt: It got moving once Bill was involved.

Norah O'Donnell: But Bill said this is not a soccer show.

Jason Sudeikis: Right.

Joe Kelly: Yeah.

Brendan Hunt: He basically-- pounded the-- the table and-- shouted at a very early—writer's room session, "This is not a soccer show. This is-- a workplace ensemble comedy." But that's kinda been a guiding principle, you know? It takes place in the soccer world, but it's not-- it's never about the soccer at all.

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah, the thing that I would say, in, like, the pitch meetings when Bill and I went out was like, "This show's as much about soccer as, like, Rocky is about boxing."

Norah O'Donnell: What happened when you shopped around "Ted Lasso" here in Hollywood? What was the reaction?

(RASPBERRY SOUND)

Jason Sudeikis: That-- (LAUGHTER) no.

Brendan Hunt: What-- what's the opposite of a bidding war?

Jason Sudeikis: It was like, er, "we'll take it"

Streaming service Apple TV+ decided to take on "Ted Lasso"—which is produced by Warner Bros.

Norah O'Donnell: Do you think you had more freedom because it was Apple?

Joe Kelly: We went into filming feeling like the underdogs that Richmond were. Like, we weren't coming on the heels of a bidding war. We weren't coming on the heels of, like, "Here we go with this monster show." And I felt like it helped the-- the process, the tone, the feeling, the vibe, everything.

The vibe behind the scenes seems to mirror the team seen on the show. We invited Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard, and Toheeb Jimoh and Kola Bokinni, who portray soccer players on Ted Lasso, to a proper Saturday afternoon match.

Norah O'Donnell: So I was kinda surprised in talking to the writers that one of the things that you guys deal with on the show, are trying to dismantle, is toxic masculinity.

Toheeb Jimoh: 100%. Yeah, I think-- settin' the show in-- in like, a boy's locker room, in a football locker room is—

Kola Bokinni: Was easy. Was easy—

Toheeb Jimoh: It's the perfect place to, like, try and tackle that. I think that comes from like just like, a culture of, like-- you know, it's very competitive. Like, it's like-- like, boys being around other boys, and, like, everyone is pretending to be, like, this version of, like, what they think, like, a man is-- or a young man is.

Kola Bokinni: You get-- you get different versions of people in it, you know? The person that you are behind closed doors is not the person that you are in-- in real life.

Before he took on "Ted Lasso," in real life, Jason Sudeikis hailed from Kansas, just like the coach he now plays. There, he was a college theater star,  but just as comfortable playing point guard on the basketball team.

He says Richmond is partly based on his old team that also happened to be called the Greyhounds. 

He pointed out on the set… 

Jason Sudeikis: …De Maat, named after Martin De Maat an improv teacher from Second City

…Ted Lasso's writers named members of the team after friends, family members, and former mentors.

Jason Sudeikis: Saskia Maas is one of the owners of Boom Chicago where Brendan, Joe and I all worked in Amsterdam

Norah O'Donnell: It's hard sometimes for one word to capture so many things, but for a lot of people, this is the iconic "Ted Lasso?"

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah--

Norah O'Donnell: "Believe."

Jason Sudeikis: I know.

Norah O'Donnell: Believe in yourself? Believe in the people around you?

Jason Sudeikis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Believe in the-- in the process. 

One of the show's breakout stars, Brett Goldstein, believed he could play Roy Kent…

The gruff, washed-up tough guy, with a heart of gold. 

Trouble was, Goldstein was hired to write, not act.  

Brett Goldstein: While we were writing it, about somewhere around episode five I started to think, I think Roy Kent is living inside me. 

Norah O'Donnell: How did Brett Goldstein go from writer to star?

Jason Sudeikis: Just flat-out show biz gumption, you know-- he just felt a connection to the character. And so he-- he did-- taped himself-- sent it to Bill saying, "Hey, if this is good, you know, great. If it's not, we never need to talk about this again." (LAUGH)

Brendan Hunt: They're like, "Brett turned in a Roy video." "Oh, did he? (LAUGHTER) Fire it up." And immediately was like, "Brett's Roy." It was immediate.

Joe Kelly: Roy's very gruff, very angry and it's always jarring when you call Brett and he answers the phone, "Hello? (LAUGHTER) How are you? How are you, dear friend?" He's the sweetest most gentle man. 

Brett Goldstein: He's a cauldron of emotion that he doesn't want anyone to know about, who has been raised-- in a culture of almost toxic masculinity, to be a [expletive] wall. And he has all these feelings and these emotions, but he cannot express them all. And he has to keep them pent up, which is why he talks like he talks because he's holding it all in. It's like a cork.

Norah O'Donnell: A cork—

Brett Goldstein: If he pulled it out he'd cry and sing and, you know, fly off.

Hannah Waddingham, who spent much of the last 20 years performing musical theater in London's West End, plays team owner Rebecca Welton.

Norah O'Donnell: Why do you think the show resonated with so many people? And does it have something to do with the pandemic?

Hannah Waddingham: I think it does and it doesn't. People associate it with the pandemic time, of course, because it was a massive hug. And it was a way of everyone blocking it out.

Norah O'Donnell: The show was a massive hug.

Hannah Waddingham: Yes.

Norah O'Donnell: A hug to what?

Hannah Waddingham: To people. To humanity. It's-- it's-- I think it's what everybody needed at the time. They needed a hug and a reminder to be kind to each other. A reminder to include each other. A reminder to check in with each other, even if you think someone's got their stuff together, they haven't.

Hannah Waddingham: I also think that had the pandemic not happened, it would have done exactly the same thing because there's something about our show that reminds everyone that you don't have to be cutting to be funny. You can be warm, and funny, and kind, and giving, and supportive, and accepting, and funny.

Norah O'Donnell: And that's what makes Ted Lasso distinct.

Hannah Waddingham: Yes. (LAUGHTER)

Nats— Thank you! 

At last year's Emmys, Waddingham, Goldstein, and Sudeikis all took home trophies for acting and the show won outstanding comedy series. 

The Richmond Greyhounds may be a make-believe team, but Richmond the town is 100% real.

Norah O'Donnell: This is the real version of the set.

Brendan Hunt: Yeah. You kinda can't fake Richmond, really, you know?

The day we were there, so were fans of the show, including a young woman who had traveled from Germany and had just gotten a tattoo in honor of Ted Lasso. And it read "be curious, not judgmental."

Norah O'Donnell: I mean, this is pretty special, being out here?

Jason Sudeikis: Yes.

We also took a walk on the field where the Richmond Greyhounds shoot most of their soccer scenes.

Norah O'Donnell: I mean, it's kinda great. Your pitch is right near the studio?

Jason Sudeikis: I know. It's something else. Happy accident.

In typical Midwestern fashion, Jason Sudeikis was not entirely comfortable explaining the show's success, nor taking credit for it. 

Norah O'Donnell: What do you think the-- legacy of "Ted Lasso" is, decades from now?

Jason Sudeikis: I don't know. I hope, I hope, folks keep watching it. A decent chance it'll pay for my kids' college. (LAUGH) Unless I-- unless I blow it all. But--

Norah O'Donnell: You don't think it's already done that?

Jason Sudeikis: You don't think I've already blown it?  (LAUGHTER)

Produced by Keith Sharman. Associate producer, Kate Morris. Broadcast associates, Olivia Rinaldi and Eliza Costas. Edited by Sean Kelly.