The Cleveland Guardians are trying to beat themselves.
Night in and night out, the Guardians’ starting rotation has struggled to begin the 2026 MLB regular season. Whether it was potential aces, Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, or end-of-rotation arms, Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi, each of Cleveland’s starting pitchers who have taken the mound to start the year has struggled mightily.
While it looked like Cecconi would change the notion on Sunday, March 29, he fell apart after three innings of action.
He allowed just one hit and one walk, all while striking out three batters through the first three innings, but then, in the fourth and fifth, he allowed a total of five hits, two walks and six earned runs. His first appearance of the year will net him a 12.46 ERA and 2.08 WHIP with a .316 batting average against.
But unfortunately, while his early-season ERA is incredibly high, the rest of the Guardians’ starting pitchers are all hovering around 5.0, making them not much better either.
In Williams’ first appearance of the year, he went five innings, giving up just three earned runs, all of which were found on a home run, and walked an eye-grabbing six batters.
Combined, through the first four games of the year against the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland’s starters have given up 16 hits, 14 earned runs, five home runs and 14 walks. In comparison, the bullpen, which has seen eight different arms come out and try to piece together an effective outing, has allowed just 11 hits, six earned runs, three home runs and seven walks.
In total innings pitched as well, the four-some of Williams, Bibee, Cantillo and Cecconi come in at just 18, while the bullpen has come in to try and save the day for 18.
Relievers Colin Holderman and Peyton Pallette, two arms who were added this past offseason, have already played the same amount of innings Cantillo has. That alone is concerning enough.
Each of those numbers shows a stark difference in productivity and reliability, and something that needs to change quickly if the Guardians want any chance to find success against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While the Mariners aren’t an easy team to beat, not by any means, the Guardians’ inability to get any sort of control from their starters is concerning.
As they look to forget the blunders that occurred time and time again while on the mound in Seattle, they’ll have to be ready, because moving forward, it’s not going to get any easier.
On Monday, March 30, the Guardians will begin a three-game set against the two-time defending World Series champions, the Dodgers, who are known for taking advantage of struggling pitchers.
Last season, when the Dodgers and Guardians met in the regular season, Tanner Bibee allowed seven hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out seven. Gavin Williams also struggled, giving up four hits, four earned runs and six walks with just three strikeouts.
And unfortunately, the Dodgers only got better in the offseason.
It will be an uphill battle for the Guardians’ starting rotation to build momentum and pull themselves out of this rut, but if they want to prove they have what it takes to compete in MLB, this series will serve as a strong early test.
Orioles’ Ryan Helsley challenge sparks first ABS ejection in MLB history
Overreactions from MLB Opening Weekend 2026
A new way for MLB managers be ejected was just unlocked.
Minnesota Twins skipper Derek Shelton was tossed from Sunday’s game against the Orioles in the ninth inning after arguing that Baltimore closer Ryan Helsley didn’t tap his cap quickly enough to signal for an automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge.
“I didn’t think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough,” Shelton said after the Orioles’ 8-6 victory. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But I didn’t feel he did. I feel it’s got to be something that’s in the three seconds, and I didn’t think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was.”
Helsley challenged a ball four call by home plate umpire Chris Segal on a full count to designated hitter Josh Bell. He tapped his cap as he stepped off the mound through his delivery, but Segal didn’t see it at first, so Helsley motioned again. ABS then showed that the ball caught the outside of the zone, and Bell was retired for the second out of the inning.
Every MLB Team Still Undefeated After Opening Weekend
The Brewers were in big trouble after giving up 36 runs to the Yankees in three games, and the Yankees were allegedly in possession of some kind of unfair advantage because of the “new” torpedo bats used by several players in their lineup.
Turns out, the Brewers came out of 2025 with baseball’s best regular-season record and made it further in the playoffs than the Yanks. And the fever over the bats, which were not in fact new, died down quite quickly.
This year, I thought it might be fun to pull quotes from more authoritative sources — players, managers, broadcasters — to show that we’re all susceptible to potential hyperbole this time of year.
Sabrowski has also called DeLauter a “martian.” Maybe he’s right, because not only did DeLauter join Trevor Story (2016) as the only players with four homers in their first three regular-season games but the guy hasn’t played a professional game in which he hasn’t reached base since last May 19.
But do aliens get injured like the rest of us? One reason DeLauter’s streak has gone on so long is that he didn’t play at all between July 11 and Oct. 1 (when he debuted in the playoffs) last year because of a hamate fracture. He’s also dealt with recurring foot issues, and he had sports hernia surgery in the spring of ‘25.
DeLauter, though, has done nothing but hit when healthy, and he is well on pace to be the first Cleveland outfielder to hit at least 25 homers in a season since Grady Sizemore in 2008. So you can forgive people on and around this team for exaggerating about this first-round pick with the remarkably short swing who doesn’t chase and can (obviously) hit for power.
“My mouth is open right now. … He is something else!” – White Sox broadcaster John Schriffen after Munetaka Murakami went deep for the third time in his first three MLB games
Murakami is not from another planet but another country. In coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball, where he set the single-season home run record by a Japanese-born player (56) in 2022, he was projected by some outlets to easily eclipse a nine-figure contract. But he wound up with the rebuilding White Sox, on a modest two-year, $34 million deal because of industry concerns about his swing-and-miss and defensive deficiencies.
So right now, after Murakami’s scorching start against the Brewers, it looks like the Sox got the steal of the offseason. Murakami is only 26, and the way he gets his front foot down and rotates through the ball creates impressive raw power.
Still, we have to slam on the brakes here … much like Murakami slams down that right leg. You don’t strike out in nearly 29% of your plate appearances in a three-year span in NPB without inviting healthy skepticism about how that will translate to a league with superior velocity. No doubt, though, after all the losing on the South Side in recent seasons (and an 0-3 start despite Murakami’s mashing), it would be a lot of fun if this guy changes the trajectory of this White Sox lineup.
“I’d kind of put it on me a little bit. I got all fire and brimstone a few days ago.” – Giants rookie skipper Tony Vitello on his preseason speech’s potential influence on his team’s slow start
Vitello was a historic hire straight from the collegiate ranks, and his team got off to a historic start in the worst of ways by becoming the first Giants team to get shut out in each of their first two games. They went on to get swept by the Yankees.
These Vitello press conferences have been a fascinating window into how different he is from your typical modern manager. The job has become to say as little as possible. But Vitello wears his heart on his sleeve, and his comments implying that his speech had perhaps caused his players to become too “emotional” (his word) and try too hard seem pretty far-fetched in the Major League ranks.
Still, as a reporter, I’m in favor of people saying more, not less. So keep keeping it real, Tony … fire, brimstone and all! (But, uh, maybe get some more runs on the board.)
Young aces invite extreme reactions more than any other players in this sport because, frankly, we need all the aces we can get in this day and age. Schlittler was a seventh-round pick, so he’s snuck up on way more people than, say, Paul Skenes. His fastball velo has shot up in his time in the Yankees’ organization. There is still some question about the quality of his curveball at the highest level, but he’s developed a cutter that makes him more of a problem for lefties and enhances the chances of him sticking as a high-end starter.
Players are understandably subjective in their assessments, but it’s way too soon to objectively label the Marlins a “great” team, especially given that they are projected by the major systems to be a losing team. Still, it was nice to see young Caissie and Co. have some fun and flair with three one-run wins, even if they were playing a Rockies team that might well be the worst in MLB again this season.
I picked the Fish to reach the playoffs … more because it was for a “bold predictions” piece than because I actually think it will happen. But the development of this young team will be worth tracking this year, given that Caissie, a trade acquisition from the Cubs, brought upside to a lineup that already saw breakthroughs from a few young players last season and the farm system has several Top 100 prospects (per MLB Pipeline) projected to reach the bigs this year.
What a weekend for the Blue Jays. The 50 strikeouts were the most ever for a team in the first three games of a season, and 12 of them came from offseason signee Dylan Cease, who dazzled in his debut.
But this is an overreaction. Not because it’s early. And not because the Blue Jays don’t have a talented staff, to go with one of the best pitching coaches in baseball. It’s because I (admittedly aggressively) ranked the A’s as having the fifth-best lineup in MLB entering the season, subjecting them to instant doom.
If you want to have some fun, sort the OPS leaderboard right now. You’ll find Trout and fellow 2010s MVPs Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen up there in the top 10. So much of the story over the weekend was the impact of what looks like an all-time rookie class, but let’s hear it for the old dudes, too!
As for Trout specifically, it was a fun few days in Houston. He was diving for balls in center field, swiping a bag, rocketing balls over the left-field wall. Vintage stuff from one of the best all-around players many of us have ever seen.
Trout had a similar start in 2024, but all that happened there was a season-ending injury by the end of April. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again and we get a true, turn-back-the-clock season from “Magic Mike,” a player very much worthy of excited reaction anytime he is healthy enough to produce like this.
“Two days ago, we were very excited about ABS. And today, we’re not too happy with it.” – Alex Cora, after his team ran out of challenges in a loss to the Reds
You had to figure we’d see an early situation in which a team uses up its challenges prematurely and pays for it. That’s precisely what happened when the Red Sox lost to the Reds on an 11th-inning walk-off single Saturday.
Though the Sox got a challenge for each inning of extras, they ran out of their regulation challenges in the third inning. It hurt them in such a close game, as there were multiple situations in which a challenge would have been beneficial.
To be clear and fair, Cora said his team took responsibility for running out of challenges. “It’s on us,” he said. So his comments were not really an overreaction. But Boston’s experience that day almost certainly had fans yearning for more than two challenge opportunities per team per game.
That makes this as good a place as any to point out that MLB did experiment at the MiLB level with three challenges per team per game, and fan surveying suggested strongly that it slowed the game down too much. Of those surveyed, 71% said the optimal number of total challenges per game is four or fewer. Two-challenge games met this criteria 62% of the time, while three-challenge games met it only 30% of the time.
Verdict: Understandable reaction, given the circumstances. But the Red Sox (like all teams) ultimately should be happy to have an appeals process that did not exist previously. The next step is figuring out how not to squander it.
And by the looks of things, an accurate statement. The Dodgers are 3-0 and have already benefited from “winning the winter,” with Kyle Tucker delivering a go-ahead RBI and Edwin Díaz converting both save opportunities over the weekend.
Everything surrounding the Dodgers is worthy of overreaction. The roster. The rings. The Shohei Ohtani concessions cup that comes with free soda refills all season. It makes both L.A. fans and fans of other teams go crazy in much different ways.
Personally, I think the Dodgers need more defects. They won the 2024 World Series without much of a rotation and the 2025 World Series without much of a bullpen. They need some things to go wrong this year and to persevere through some pain. So the perfect opening weekend is, in my eyes, an early reason for concern. You don’t want to just plow through the regular season and then get to October with your chest all puffed out. It’s a recipe for doom.
Stephen Vogt’s Reaction to the Cleveland Guardians Getting Shutout by the Mariners
Well, the start of a new season isn’t always going to be pretty.
But it’s hard to believe that manager Stephen Vogt expected the Cleveland Guardians to get shutout just a night removed from an extra-innings comeback victory.
On Sunday, March 29, the Guardians took on the Seattle Mariners for game four of the opening series of 2026, with the Mariners’ bats flowing from start to finish. They were able to record nine hits and draw five walks, en route to scoring eight runs, all while the Guardians scored zero runs and only got on base three times.
Following the disappointing showing for Cleveland’s lineup, Vogt spoke to the media with frustration, but understanding that the Mariners’ pitchers, specifically starter Emerson Hancock, were also just having a great night on the mound.
“We were just underneath the ball all day,
MLB World Reacts To Blue Jays-Marlins Trade
On Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics by a score of 5-2 (at home in Canada).
The Blue Jays swept the series, and are now a perfect 3-0 to start the 2026 MLB season.
Toronto Blue Jays Announce Trade With Marlins
On Sunday night, the Blue Jays announced that they had made a trade with the Miami Marlins.
The Blue Jays wrote: “OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired INF Dub Gleed and International Signing Bonus Pool Space from the Marlins in exchange for INF Leo Jiménez.”
Jiménez is coming off a season where he appeared in 18 games for the Blue Jays.
MLB Social Media World Reacts To Blue Jays-Marlins Deal
Here’s what people were saying about the deal:
Francys Romero: “The Miami Marlins acquired INF Leo Jimenez from the Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Dub Gleed and $250K in international bonus pool money, per sources.”
@FOFProspects: “Leo Jimenez is a 24-year-old 2B and SS. Limited to just 44 total games last year. 63 MLB games in 2024; .229/.329/.358. Was once graded Toronto’s #5 prospect. For-average bat with plus defensive tools up the middle. A 40-man spot will need to be cleared for him.”
Minor League Baseball: “You might recall Dub Gleed from breaking his bat on a no-contact check swing fame”
Chris Walder: “All the Toronto Blue Jays get is Dubs.”
Mitch Bannon: “#BlueJays announce they’ve traded INF Leo Jiménez to the Marlins for INF Dub Gleed and international signing bonus pool space. Jiménez was DFA’d ahead of Opening Day”
@Ryley__Delaney: “There’s a weird alternate universe where the 2026 Blue Jays have Leo Jiménez and Otto López as their middle infielders. That universe doesn’t include an American League pennant, as much as I like both players.”
Blue Jays And Marlins
The Blue Jays will continue action on Monday when they host the Colorado Rockies.
They are coming off a year where they lost in Game 7 of the World Series (to the Los Angeles Dodgers).
Meanwhile, the Marlins are 3-0 after sweeping the Rockies.
They will remain in Miami to host the Chicago White Sox with the series starting on Monday.
Ad-Tech & Innovation: How Super Bowl LVIII is Changing the Fan Experience
Super Bowl LVIII marked a watershed moment in sports broadcasting technology, deploying over $15 million in immersive ad-tech infrastructure that fundamentally transformed how 123.7 million viewers experienced America's biggest sporting event. From mixed-reality headsets to real-time augmented reality overlays, the game demonstrated how innovation is reshaping fan engagement across both in-stadium and at-home audiences.
The integration of advanced visual technologies, interactive engagement platforms, and sophisticated networking infrastructure created what industry analysts are calling "the most technologically ambitious sporting event in history." These innovations signal a broader shift in sports media: one where passive viewership gives way to active, personalized participation.
Immersive Visual Technologies Redefine the Viewing Experience
The halftime show deployed projection mapping technology across 60,000 square feet of stage space, creating what visual effects supervisor Marcus Chen called "a reactive canvas that responds to every beat." The technology transformed the performance space during renditions of hits like "Yeah!" and "OMG," with lights and visuals rippling in synchronization with musical elements.
"We're seeing projection mapping mature from a novelty into a core storytelling tool," explained Dr. Sarah Mitchell, professor of media technology at Stanford University. "The Super Bowl halftime show demonstrated how this technology can create shifting atmospheres: from arena to nightclub environments: in real time, all synchronized with performer movements and audio cues."
Apple Vision Pro delivered the most significant innovation in at-home viewing, offering a mixed-reality experience that virtually transported users onto the field, into locker rooms, along sidelines, and into victory celebrations. The technology utilized spatial computing to overlay 3D graphics and player statistics directly into users' field of vision, creating a personalized viewing experience unprecedented in broadcast history.
"Mixed reality isn't replacing traditional broadcasts: it's augmenting them," said James Rodriguez, VP of Sports Innovation at Apple. "We recorded 2.3 million unique Vision Pro sessions during Super Bowl LVIII, with users spending an average of 47 minutes in immersive mode. That level of sustained engagement demonstrates genuine demand for next-generation viewing experiences."
Real-Time Engagement Transforms Fans Into Active Participants
Super Bowl LVIII integrated real-time polling functionality that allowed fans to vote on key moments, predict play outcomes, and influence secondary screen content. The engagement platform processed over 8.7 million fan interactions during the four-hour broadcast window, with peak engagement occurring during commercial breaks and halftime.
Augmented reality filters, including branded activations from sponsors like Snickers, Pepsi, and Bud Light, generated 14.2 million social media impressions as fans shared AR-enhanced selfies and video content. These filters incorporated game elements, allowing users to virtually "catch" footballs, pose with digital player cutouts, and apply team-branded effects to their content.
"The data reveals a fundamental shift in how audiences engage with tentpole events," noted Dr. Kevin Patel, consumer behavior analyst at Nielsen Sports. "Super Bowl LVIII saw 67% of viewers using a second screen device simultaneously: up from 54% just two years ago. The audience isn't just watching anymore; they're interacting, creating, and sharing in real time."
Augmented reality enhancements in the broadcast itself provided dynamic overlays showing player routes, ball trajectories, and on-field measurements. These AR graphics made complex plays easier to follow, with colored lines tracing receiver paths and real-time speed indicators showing player velocity during crucial moments.
Infrastructure Investment Powers Seamless Innovation
The technological ambitions of Super Bowl LVIII required significant infrastructure investment, with Allegiant Stadium deploying a $12 million network upgrade to support bandwidth-intensive features. The venue installed over 1,800 distributed antenna systems and 2,600 Wi-Fi 6E access points to ensure seamless connectivity for 70,000 in-stadium fans.
"Network infrastructure is the invisible foundation that makes everything else possible," explained Maria Gonzalez, Chief Technology Officer at Cisco Sports and Entertainment. "We engineered the system to handle peak loads of 3.2 terabytes per second: roughly equivalent to the entire internet traffic of a mid-sized city. Without that capacity, features like AR overlays and real-time polling simply wouldn't function at scale."
Security represented another critical infrastructure component, with cybersecurity teams implementing multi-layered protection protocols to safeguard both broadcast systems and fan data. The event deployed AI-powered threat detection systems that monitored network traffic for anomalies, responding to potential security incidents in milliseconds.
For a deeper look at how these innovations came together, the Sports Media YouTube channel produced comprehensive behind-the-scenes coverage showcasing the technology teams that made Super Bowl LVIII possible. Watch the full documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6J-0zileKE
The video features exclusive interviews with broadcast engineers, AR developers, and infrastructure specialists who worked for months to execute the most technologically complex Super Bowl in history.
Accessibility Innovations Expand Event Access
Beyond flashy visual effects and engagement tools, Super Bowl LVIII introduced meaningful accessibility innovations. The Super Bowl Experience implemented "Sensory Hour," a modified environment featuring reduced audio levels, dimmed lighting, and designated quiet spaces for individuals with diverse abilities and sensory sensitivities.
"Accessibility often gets treated as an afterthought in major sporting events," said Jennifer Wu, accessibility advocate and founder of Inclusive Sports Initiative. "Super Bowl LVIII's Sensory Hour represented genuine commitment to expanding access. Over 3,200 individuals with autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, and other sensory processing conditions participated in activities that would have been overwhelming in a standard environment."
The broadcast also incorporated enhanced audio description tracks, providing detailed narration of visual elements for visually impaired viewers. These descriptions went beyond basic play-by-play, incorporating details about player celebrations, crowd reactions, and halftime show choreography.
Industry Implications and Future Trajectory
The technological investments in Super Bowl LVIII establish new baseline expectations for major sporting events. Industry analysts project that innovations deployed during the game will become standard features across playoff games, championship matches, and eventually regular season broadcasts within three to five years.
"We're witnessing the beginning of a fundamental transformation in sports media economics," predicted Mark Thompson, media analyst at Deloitte Sports Business Group. "Broadcasters and leagues that fail to invest in immersive technologies risk losing younger demographics who expect interactive, personalized experiences. The Super Bowl sets the standard that others must now match or exceed."
Advertising represents the most immediate financial impact. Brands paid premium rates for AR-integrated commercials that extended beyond the television screen into mobile apps and mixed reality headsets. These multi-platform activations commanded prices 40% higher than traditional 30-second spots, yet sold out eight weeks before the game.
"The ad-tech innovations demonstrated during Super Bowl LVIII fundamentally change the value proposition for advertisers," explained Rebecca Cole, Chief Marketing Officer at GroupM Sports. "We're no longer selling 30 seconds of attention: we're selling immersive experiences that extend engagement from seconds to minutes, with measurable interaction data that traditional commercials never provided."
The sustainability of these innovations remains a key question. While Super Bowl LVIII demonstrated technical feasibility, the $15 million infrastructure investment and ongoing operational costs present significant barriers for regular implementation. Leagues and broadcasters must determine which innovations deliver sufficient return on investment to justify widespread deployment.
"Not every innovation from the Super Bowl will survive the transition to regular season games," cautioned Dr. Mitchell. "The industry will need to identify which technologies genuinely enhance viewer experience versus which serve primarily as marketing spectacles. That winnowing process will define the next chapter of sports broadcasting."
Join the Innovation Conversation
The technological transformation demonstrated during Super Bowl LVIII represents just the beginning of sports media's evolution toward immersive, interactive experiences. As these innovations mature and costs decline, the gap between Super Bowl production values and regular broadcasts will narrow, fundamentally changing how fans engage with sports content.
Stay ahead of these industry shifts by subscribing to the Sports Media YouTube channel, where we provide in-depth analysis, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes access to the technologies reshaping sports broadcasting. From AR development to network infrastructure, we cover the innovations driving the future of fan engagement.
The question facing sports media isn't whether to embrace these innovations: it's how quickly organizations can adapt to audience expectations shaped by events like Super Bowl LVIII. The future of sports viewing is immersive, interactive, and personalized. The only question is whether your organization will lead that transformation or struggle to catch up.
Israel Adesanya Snubs Historic White House Card With Sudden U-Turn: “Won’t Even Go Watch It “
A few months ago, the idea of fighting on a White House card had some appeal for Israel Adesanya. A massive stage, global attention, and a moment you don’t usually get in combat sports. But heading into UFC Seattle, with three straight losses behind him and a crucial fight against Joe Pyfer ahead, ‘The Last Stylebender’ isn’t too keen on being a part of Freedom 250.
Adesanya explained it when asked about his stance now. Speaking in a recent interview with Complex’s Matt Welty, he admitted the interest was situational.
“Nah, I was only interested because it was at a time the world was different,” the former champion said. “But now they would weigh things out. It’s not really something that I’m… Yeah, I won’t even go watch it there. I’ll watch it from the comfort of my own house in New Zealand.”
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When pressed further about whether he even wanted to be in the U.S. for the event, his answer was simple. “Nope.” No hesitation. That’s a pretty clear pivot from where he stood earlier this year.
Back then, Israel Adesanya didn’t rule it out. He just had conditions. He wanted real fans in the building, not a room full of politicians and VIP guests. Because for him, the atmosphere matters. His walkouts, his rhythm, even how he builds into a fight, all of that feeds off crowd energy. Take that away, and it’s not the same experience. Now, it seems like that concern, combined with everything else going on in the country, has pushed him firmly out of the conversation.
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The White House card, UFC Freedom 250, is being positioned as a landmark event. Big names are attached. Ilia Topuria is set to headline, while Alex Pereira, Adesanya’s longtime rival, is also part of the lineup. On paper, it’s the kind of card that usually draws interest from top fighters. But Adesanya stepping away from it says something.
As we mentioned earlier, there might be another layer to his decision, given where he is in his career at the moment. This fight in Seattle isn’t just another booking. It’s a reset point for him to snap a 3-fight losing skid to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov. And when you’re in that position, everything gets filtered through one question: does this help me get back? For Adesanya, the answer with the White House card is clearly no. Still, while he may not be interested in fighting on the card or even watching it live, he’s rooting for his old rival to make history at the event!
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Israel Adesanya hopes Alex Pereira makes history at the White House
Even though Israel Adesanya has no interest in being part of the White House event, he’s still watching one storyline closely, just not from cageside. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya didn’t dismiss the card itself. In fact, he gave it credit. He called it a “stacked” lineup and admitted it looks like what a milestone event should be. But when the conversation shifted to the co-main event, his tone changed slightly. Because Alex Pereira is in that spot.
“I hope Alex wins,” The Last Stylebender said. “That’s crazy, a three-time [champion]. Gane is no joke. Gane can dance around him. Gane’s slick. Gane could knock him out as well. But I think Alex can knock him out, too.”
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‘Poatan’ is already a two-division UFC champion. If he beats Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight gold, he becomes the first fighter in UFC history to win titles in three weight classes. That’s a career-defining achievement. The Brazilian has beaten Adesanya three times across kickboxing and MMA. That history could easily tilt things the other way.
But instead, Adesanya is backing him to go further. To add something new to the record books. So while he’s chosen distance from the event itself, he hasn’t checked out completely. Not even close. He’s just engaging with it differently. On his own terms.
Dana White Shuts Down Joe Rogan’s Solution for Major Crisis Plaguing UFC
Remember Cameron Smotherman? The UFC bantamweight, who passed out during UFC 324 weigh-ins. Despite making weight, he was forced to pull out of his fight on the card. Well, that’s the perfect example of the major crisis currently plaguing the world’s biggest MMA promotion. And color commentator Joe Rogan appears to have a solution for the problem. But UFC CEO Dana White isn’t willing to listen.
“I think for MMA, they really need to recognize that one of the things that’s going to stop weight cuts is give people more weight classes, give people more options,” Rogan said a while back on his popular Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.
Dana White heard about Joe Rogan’s take during last Saturday’s UFC London press conference. When asked whether he would pay heed to Rogan’s solution, the 56-year-old firmly denied the proposition.
“No, they’re going to stay exactly the same,” he said during the presser.
Increasing the number of weight classes could end up diluting the divisions—assuming fighters actually move into the categories they naturally belong in. In reality, many fighters deliberately choose to compete in lower weight classes that require extreme cuts. Why?
Because if they can successfully endure a grueling weight cut, they’re able to rehydrate after weigh-ins and enter the cage significantly bigger than their opponent on fight night, gaining a competitive edge. What’s more concerning is the toll these cuts take on their health.
In most cases, fighters severely restrict—or completely stop—food and water intake during camp. They spend hours in saunas, often wearing heavy sweat suits, trying to shed as much water weight as possible. So, if the UFC truly wants to address the dangers of weight cutting, simply adding more divisions won’t be enough. They also need to rethink and reform the weigh-in system itself.
Regardless, the weight-cutting problem is so bad that one fighter developed an eating disorder because of it.
Paul Craig urges UFC fighters to seek help and support
Former UFC star Paul Craig, who competed in the promotion from 2016 to 2025, revealed in an interview last year what weight cutting has done to him. Craig was in the light heavyweight division till 2023, but then he decided to move to middleweight, and admitted the process took a serious toll on his health.
“I set myself a goal of being middleweight champion and focused and did it. But mentally, I ended up with an eating disorder,” Craig said.
He restricted calories for 10 weeks, leading to issues like low testosterone, low white blood cells, and frequent infections.
“The best thing I did was talk to people about it because for a long time I was embarrassed by it,” he added.
Craig believes many fighters may be suffering in silence due to the extreme demands of weight cutting.
“I do believe there are other fighters out there going through this, so put it out there, get the help and support,” he said.
After Craig moved to middleweight after beating Andre Muniz in July 2023, the Scotsman never won a fight again. He exited the promotion on a four-fight losing streak.
Moral of the story: There are measures UFC and Dana White could take to fix the weight-cutting issue. But fighters continue to take advantage of it while putting themselves in danger, and UFC doesn’t want to meddle with what’s already working for them. What do you think should be done?
Dillon Danis claims Sean Strickland is ‘easy money’ despite being told differently by Alex Pereira
Dillon Danis is extremely confident that he could take down and submit Sean Strickland in an MMA fight.
This coming Saturday, Dillon Danis returns to competition when he takes on UFC star Colby Covington at RAF 7 in Tampa, Florida.
It will mark the first time Danis has competed since last August when he won the Misfits MMA title against Warren Spencer.
During that time, the controversial combat sports star has been banned from UFC events for life after sparking a brawl with Islam Makhachev’s team at UFC 322.
Danis attempts to convince Alex Pereira that he could submit Sean Strickland in MMA fight
One thing Danis has never been short of is optimistic delusion, and ahead of his return this Saturday, the 32-year-old is risking sparking a feud with Sean Strickland.
This Thursday afternoon, ‘El Jefe’ appeared on the live stream of Nina Drama, who has become popular amongst MMA fighters.
During the stream, Danis claimed that he could easily take down and submit Strickland in a fantasy MMA fight, and he even attempted to convince Alex Pereira during a FaceTime call.
Danis and Pereira have trained together in the past, and ‘Poatan’ is now a current training partner of Strickland, so he has first hand experience with both fighters.
“It’s weird because I’m cool with Pereira and Pereira is with Strickland but Strickland is like a fake tough guy,” Danis said during the live stream.
“I would f— Sean Strickland up, he knows it too… That’s why he carries a gun around because he can’t defend himself.”
“Alex, Sean Strickland or Dillon Danis?” NinaDrama asked Pereira.
“Erm, Sean Strickland. Yes,” Pereira replied.
“What! In a fight? Takedown? Submission? Are you serious?” Danis questioned.
“Hey, brother, Sean is strong. I don’t know, Sean, I don’t know (if he is) training grappling,” Pereira continued.
“No, Sean Strickland’s grappling is zero. I could take him down and easily get a rear-naked choke, easy money,” Danis claimed.
UFC Seattle weigh-in video: Adesanya vs. Pyfer
At the UFC Seattle weigh-ins, all 26 fighters on Saturday’s UFC fight card step on the scale Friday morning. Watch ceremonial weigh-in video above starting at 8 p.m. ET and highlights of the top matchups here.
In the main event, Israel Adesanya and Joe Pyfer have to weigh no more than 186 pounds for their middleweight non-title fight.
Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber can weigh no more than 126 pounds for the flyweight non-title bout rematch in the co-main event.
The UFC Seattle official weigh-ins will be at 12 p.m. ET.
Watch UFC Seattle ceremonial weigh-in video at 8 p.m. ET.
Check out UFC Seattle weigh-in results below.
Main Card (Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET)
Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer
Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber
Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price
Julian Erosa vs. Lerryan Douglas
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui
Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson
Preliminary Card (Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET)
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Tofiq Musayev
Chase Hooper vs. Lance Gibson Jr.
Marcin Tybura vs. Tyrell Fortune
Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes
Navajo Stirling vs. Bruno Lopes
Ricky Simon vs. Adrian Yanez
Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer: Bloody Elbow staff predict the UFC Seattle main event
Israel Adesanya will try to snap his three-fight losing streak at UFC Seattle.
The former two-time middleweight champion has dropped down the ranks to face Joe Pyfer on Saturday night.
Losing to the #14-ranked contender at 185lbs could signify the end of Israel Adesanya‘s legendary career.
Will that happen? Let’s see what the Bloody Elbow writers think about the UFC Seattle main event.
Bloody Elbow staff back Israel Adesanya to snap his losing streak
Jordan Ellis: Israel Adesanya is past his peak; there is no doubt about that. However, I’m not convinced he’s totally shot and therefore incapable of competing at the top level. Joe Pyfer is nowhere near being an elite-level middleweight. I expect Adesanya to look good when he beats him at UFC Seattle.
PREDICTION: ISRAEL ADESANYA BY KNOCKOUT
Donagh Corby: “I’d imagine that this fight will look something like Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong from UFC 324, with Adesanya showing the levels but never quite fully getting into fifth gear. If he can’t beat Joe Pyfer, he’ll need to have a serious look at where his career stands. But he should, and I think he’ll win by unanimous decision.”
PREDICTION: ISRAEL ADESANYA BY DECISION
Jamie Theodosi: “I think Israel Adesanya is on an expected decline at the back end of his career, and after over a year off, it’s hard to imagine he comes back looking like his old self. Having said that, Joe Pyfer isn’t someone I would regard as an elite middleweight, and Izzy should have the tools to break down the Pyfer wall.”
PREDICTION: ISRAEL ADESANYA BY DECISION
Kyle Dimond: “It’s going to be an anxious watch, but I’d expect Adesanya to get the win. Fighting people with power in their punches who want to take him down is nothing new. I was pretty impressed by Pyfer submitting Magomedov last time out, but I still feel like Adesanya will be a step ahead.”
PREDICTION: ISRAEL ADESANYA BY DECISION
Harvey Leonard: “I still haven’t seen enough from Israel Adesanya in terms of his decline to suggest he can’t defeat Joe Pyfer across five rounds. The American’s route to victory is likely a finish, but we haven’t seen the former champion taken down and submitted aside from in a gruelling fight with DDP, and I have a feeling he will avoid the kind of knockout punch that Nassourdine Imavov caught him with last time out.”
UFC Legend Refuses to Deny PED Use With Cryptic Confession to Career Allegations
For years, the shadow of PED allegations has followed Alistair Overeem. When recently given a direct chance to step into the light, for some reason, he chose to stay in the gray. This isn’t a new topic for him. From his “Ubereem” physique era to failed tests like the one before UFC 146, the conversation has followed him for years. Speaking to Uncrowned, the Dutch MMA and kickboxing legend first addressed the broader picture.
“Right now, you saw the testing. So, there’s like a testing protocol that cannot, does not allow PEDs. In that sense, again, UFC has done a great job cleaning up the sport,” Overeem said. “In the beginning of UFC and MMA, I should say, there has been times that has been rampant. Yes, absolutely.”
That part wasn’t controversial. In the early 2000s, especially in the PRIDE era, there were far fewer restrictions, and enforcement varied across commissions. But when the conversation shifted to his own actions, his answer stood out.
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“You want to hear my honest opinion? I don’t have any comment about myself,” the MMA veteran confessed. “Let’s just say that, in my career, I have done what all the fighters at the time were doing. OK? It just became very clear that in the time of USADA, then it was like eliminated, which again is UFC going mainstream, taking the necessary steps, adding USADA into the mix, which eliminates PED usage.
“But people do say the guys who want to beat the tests are ahead of the testers, though. You don’t think so?”
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To fully understand what Alistair Overeem is hinting at, you have to look at the TRT era, one of the most controversial stretches in MMA history. For a period in the late 2000s and early 2010s, fighters could legally use Testosterone Replacement Therapy with approval from athletic commissions.
On paper, it was meant for medical needs. In practice, it blurred the line. Veterans like Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson saw late-career surges, knocking out opponents and extending their runs well into their 40s. Belfort, in particular, went on one of the most explosive streaks of his career during that period.
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By 2014, the backlash had caught up. TRT was banned, and the sport began moving toward stricter anti-doping measures. That transition period sits right in the middle of Alistair Overeem’s career, which is why his comments about “what all the fighters at the time were doing” land with a bit more weight. The problem was apparently so widespread in the sport that even Georges St-Pierre recently came out with a startling revelation on how rampant the issue truly was in MMA.
Georges St-Pierre reveals PED usage among his training partners
Unlike many from that era, GSP is one of the few elite names who never tested positive. Fifteen years at the top, multiple title defenses, and still considered one of the greatest ever. So when he speaks on PEDs, people listen a little differently. And his take? It doesn’t clean things up. It complicates them even more.
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“Look, I never used performance-enhancing drugs, but I have trained many times, with different training partners that are my friends, and [they’ve] openly said it to me when they are on cycles,” the UFC legend said on the Danny Jones podcast. “I can tell you, it makes such a crazy big difference, it’s insane. Some guys that say, ‘Oh, it’s me who threw the punch, it’s not the product.’ Bullsh—. You would maybe not have had the vigilance or the clairvoyance to react if you would not have been on that drug.”
He even broke down what fighters were using: higher testosterone for aggression and recovery, substances to boost stamina, often mixed together. From his perspective, it wasn’t random; it was calculated—a system within the sport. But Georges St-Pierre addressed the present too.
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“100% [they’re still cheating today],” he said bluntly.
Even with USADA and random testing, he believes it’s still possible to get around the system. He explained that while things improved once USADA introduced stricter random testing, the earlier days of the sport were essentially unregulated, where getting caught required carelessness.
Even now, he believes testing isn’t foolproof and can still be manipulated, adding that completely eliminating cheating is extremely difficult as long as financial incentives remain. Overeem’s admission paints a picture of a level playing field in a bygone era, but St-Pierre’s confirmation of rampant use raises a more troubling question: If cheating was that widespread then, and is still possible now, what does that say about the true integrity of the sport’s history?
UFC Star Explains Why He Doesn’t Respect Uninspiring Sean O’Malley: “Not a Fan of That Dude”
UFC’s No. 4 bantamweight Cory Sandhagen is asking fans to evaluate the sort of fighter they look up to. The 33-year-old recently described Sean O’Malley as someone who seeks out “low-risk, high-reward types of matches” after failing to secure a fight against him on the Freedom 250 card on the White House lawn. However, ‘Suga’ Sean has maintained his stance on the bout.
The former bantamweight champion has claimed he was never offered a fight with Cory Sandhagen. Instead, the 31-year-old is set to face No. 6-ranked Aiemann Zahabi on the White House card. Even though O’Malley’s destination on the card is decided, Sandhagen isn’t quite done bashing Sean O’Malley. While appearing in an interview with Daniel Cormier recently, Sandhagen explained why he doesn’t respect O’Malley.
“Sean, as a person, I’m not going to carry any hatred towards him or jealousy or anything like that,” Sandhagen said. “I like Sean as a person. As a fan, I don’t think the way that type of character or whatever is interesting or inspiring at all. One of the biggest gifts that we have as athletes to give to people is inspiration, to go do something cool with your life, too. That means stepping up to the plate, taking big risks, like I have in my entire career.
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“I do it for me, but I also do it because inspiring and giving back,” Sandhagen added. “That’s one of the few ways I get to do that in this sport is by inspiring people. ‘Why would you take a fight against Umar? He’s down in the rankings.’ Because if I win, I get to inspire a bunch of people. If I go out and beat Merab [Dvalishvili] or I beat [Petr] Yan, I get to inspire a bunch of people because I know I took the hard road to get here. O’Malley is not about that life, so I can’t be a fan of that dude in that way.
“It’s the only fight that makes sense for both of us,” Sandhagen added during the interview. “Two, I like the fight. I know that I’ll beat Sean O’Malley. I know a lot of people are like, ‘Cory is going to take him down. He’s going to wrestle.’ I’ll outstrike O’Malley, too. We’ve got egos. I know I’m better than him. I want to go beat him, and I want to prove that I’m the better striker, I’m the better fighter, just all around in general.”
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Sandhagen is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in October last year. Sandhagen was hoping to land a fight against ‘Suga,’ who is ranked No. 3, and propel himself higher on the rankings to potentially land another title shot against the new champion of the division, Petr Yan, who defeated Sandhagen in October 2025.
Meanwhile, Sean O’Malley stopped his two-fight skid to Dvalishvili with a win over Song Yadong in January. Whether the Sandhagen fight ever happens is yet to be seen, but ‘Suga’ appears to have set a high standard for himself in his next outing.
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Sean O’Malley says boot him from the rankings if he can’t do one thing
The 31-year-old has made it clear that simply winning isn’t enough. Ahead of his June 14 fight, the former bantamweight champion declared that anything short of a finish should count against him. Despite snapping a long winless stretch with a victory over Song Yadong, Sean O’Malley remains frustrated by his lack of knockouts since 2023.
“I got to have a f***ing beautiful KO,” he said on his YouTube channel. “It’s just like there is no other option. Winning a decision is a loss. If I win a decision, take me out of the rankings. I need a f***ing finish here.”
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O’Malley hasn’t scored a knockout win since defeating Aljamain Sterling in August 2023. He is hoping to get a title shot against Petr Yan with a potential win in his next fight. He previously defeated Yan in October 2022 via split decision.
Sean O’Malley doesn’t seem all that bothered by what Cory Sandhagen has to say about him as long as he gets his hands on a title fight. And since ‘Suga’ has the Dana White privilege, he would likely have the easiest route to a title fight. But do you think Sandhagen would ever get the fight?
UFC Star Explains Why He Doesn’t Respect Uninspiring Sean O’Malley: ‘Not a Fan of That Dude’
UFC’s No. 4 bantamweight Cory Sandhagen is asking fans to evaluate the sort of fighter they look up to. The 33-year-old recently described Sean O’Malley as someone who seeks out “low-risk, high-reward types of matches” after failing to secure a fight against him on the Freedom 250 card on the White House lawn. However, ‘Suga’ Sean has maintained his stance on the bout.
The former bantamweight champion has claimed he was never offered a fight with Cory Sandhagen. Instead, the 31-year-old is set to face No. 6-ranked Aiemann Zahabi on the White House card. Even though O’Malley’s destination on the card is decided, Sandhagen isn’t quite done bashing Sean O’Malley. While appearing in an interview with Daniel Cormier recently, Sandhagen explained why he doesn’t respect O’Malley.
“Sean, as a person, I’m not going to carry any hatred towards him or jealousy or anything like that,” Sandhagen said. “I like Sean as a person. As a fan, I don’t think the way that type of character or whatever is interesting or inspiring at all. One of the biggest gifts that we have as athletes to give to people is inspiration, to go do something cool with your life, too. That means stepping up to the plate, taking big risks, like I have in my entire career.
“I do it for me, but I also do it because inspiring and giving back,” Sandhagen added. “That’s one of the few ways I get to do that in this sport is by inspiring people. ‘Why would you take a fight against Umar? He’s down in the rankings.’ Because if I win, I get to inspire a bunch of people. If I go out and beat Merab [Dvalishvili] or I beat [Petr] Yan, I get to inspire a bunch of people because I know I took the hard road to get here. O’Malley is not about that life, so I can’t be a fan of that dude in that way.
“It’s the only fight that makes sense for both of us,” Sandhagen added during the interview. “Two, I like the fight. I know that I’ll beat Sean O’Malley. I know a lot of people are like, ‘Cory is going to take him down. He’s going to wrestle.’ I’ll outstrike O’Malley, too. We’ve got egos. I know I’m better than him. I want to go beat him, and I want to prove that I’m the better striker, I’m the better fighter, just all around in general.”
Sandhagen is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in October last year. Sandhagen was hoping to land a fight against ‘Suga,’ who is ranked No. 3, and propel himself higher on the rankings to potentially land another title shot against the new champion of the division, Petr Yan, who defeated Sandhagen in October 2025.
Meanwhile, Sean O’Malley stopped his two-fight skid to Dvalishvili with a win over Song Yadong in January. Whether the Sandhagen fight ever happens is yet to be seen, but ‘Suga’ appears to have set a high standard for himself in his next outing.
Sean O’Malley says boot him from the rankings if he can’t do one thing
The 31-year-old has made it clear that simply winning isn’t enough. Ahead of his June 14 fight, the former bantamweight champion declared that anything short of a finish should count against him. Despite snapping a long winless stretch with a victory over Song Yadong, Sean O’Malley remains frustrated by his lack of knockouts since 2023.
“I got to have a f***ing beautiful KO,” he said on his YouTube channel. “It’s just like there is no other option. Winning a decision is a loss. If I win a decision, take me out of the rankings. I need a f***ing finish here.”
O’Malley hasn’t scored a knockout win since defeating Aljamain Sterling in August 2023. He is hoping to get a title shot against Petr Yan with a potential win in his next fight. He previously defeated Yan in October 2022 via split decision.
Sean O’Malley doesn’t seem all that bothered by what Cory Sandhagen has to say about him as long as he gets his hands on a title fight. And since ‘Suga’ has the Dana White privilege, he would likely have the easiest route to a title fight. But do you think Sandhagen would ever get the fight?
Israel Adesanya Reveals Biggest Career Mistake That Fueled Alex Pereira’s Rise and Their Rivalry
Israel Adesanya has peeled back the layers of his career, reflecting on what he now considers the biggest mistake he’s ever made. And it involves none other than Alex Pereira, his former arch-rival. At the time, ‘Poatan’ was focused on his own path outside the UFC, but ‘The Last Stylebender’ aimed at him during an interview. The comments reignited Pereira’s fire.
Already holding two controversial kickboxing wins over Adesanya, the Brazilian was motivated to pursue a UFC contract. And he did just that, rapidly climbing the ranks after signing. Their paths inevitably crossed in the Octagon. The result? One win apiece, and their rivalry came to an end. Now, years later, Adesanya recognizes that his own actions may have set the entire chain of events in motion.
“First one I can think of is responding to Alex Pereira,” Adesanya told Engage. “When I was coming up, and he was like trying to just egg me on, like, ‘I knocked this guy out.’ If I hadn’t responded, it wouldn’t have meant anything. I know this now, because of my time in the game. People call me out, people talk s**t all the time. I just like you tell me about s**t, I don’t even see s**t.
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“So for me, at the time, I think if knowing what I know now, with the knowledge I have now about the game, I’ll just be like, ‘Oh, that n***a’s barking, cool, whatever,’” Adesanya added. “Rather than give it any life, because when I did, that gave him a stepping stone, that gave him a springboard to this.”
However, Adesanya claims he has benefited from that mistake.
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“But I benefited in the end,” he added during the interview. “Because it gave me that chance to avenge that loss and really dive deep into myself and figure out how I can really bring the best out of myself. So I’m grateful for that, because he brought the best out of me.”
Although Adesanya finally got a win over Alex Pereira in their fourth fight, things haven’t been the best for ‘The Last Stylebender’ since then. He has dropped three losses since beating the Brazilian because of what appears to be a lack of motivation. By beating Pereira, Adesanya conquered the biggest mountain in his career, leaving him with a lack of a clear next goal.
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Today, Israel Adesanya is scheduled to face Joe Pyfer on March 28 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. A loss would mark his fourth consecutive defeat—an outcome that could potentially signal the end of his MMA career. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira continues to ascend in the UFC. After capturing gold at middleweight, he went on to claim a second title in the light heavyweight division.
Now, he’s eyeing history by moving up to a third weight class in pursuit of a third championship—an achievement no fighter has accomplished in the promotion. Pereira is set to face Ciryl Gane on June 14 in the co-main event of the Freedom 250 card, reportedly scheduled for the White House lawn. The two will clash for the interim heavyweight title, with the winner likely earning a shot at Tom Aspinall and the undisputed belt.
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Although they now find themselves in very different stages of their careers, the former rivals have grown into friends. And ahead of UFC Seattle, Pereira even had a message for Adesanya.
Alex Pereira claims that his loss to Israel Adesanya helped him evolve
Alex Pereira has sent a heartfelt message to former rival Israel Adesanya ahead of his return at UFC Seattle. As Adesanya looks to snap a three-fight skid against Joe Pyfer, Pereira has publicly shown support.
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“Saturday is fight night once again,” Pereira wrote on Instagram. “Much respect to Israel Adesanya—we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey.”
“That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter, but as a man,” he added. “Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there—the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best.”
Despite not being at his best right now, Israel Adesanya was once the UFC’s poster child. ‘The Last Stylebender’ is a two-time UFC middleweight champion. He successfully defended his title five times in his first reign, achieved a 12-fight win streak, and was ranked first in the fastest 8-win streak.
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At the age of 36 and with a career in a downward spiral, Israel Adesanya’s days of fighting might be short. But there’s no arguing the memories and legacy Adesanya is leaving behind. If it hadn’t been for his mistake, UFC fans may never have known ‘Poatan.’ What do you make of his mistake?
Bills Named as Myles Garrett Suitor Amid Trade Talk That ‘Makes Sense’
After agreeing to modified language in his contract with the Cleveland Browns, Myles Garrett’s name began to circulate in trade rumors throughout the NFL media sphere.
There have been many teams named as suitors for Garrett’s services over the past several hours, including the Bills, who Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr highlighted as one of the prime destinations for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
“Opening a new stadium has a way of forcing a team to punch the accelerator,” wrote Orr. “…A Garrett trade could be both a major gift to new head coach Joe Brady and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and a way to ensure that neither tank during their first season…”
Garrett is coming off a remarkable season in which he set a new NFL record for sacks in a single season with 23. Buffalo has already added free agent Bradley Chubb to help bolster its pass rush and bringing in a player of Garrett’s caliber would skyrocket the unit’s improvement entering the 2026 campaign.
Made possible by
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Garrett agreed to push back the deadlines for his 2026, 2027, and 2028 option bonuses to be paid out, with the new dates set for seven days before the start of each regular season. That has left many to believe the door is now open for the Browns to trade Garrett before the start of the ’26 campaign.
The future Hall of Famer previously requested a trade before agreeing to a four-year, $160 million contract extension. His cap hit for the 2026 season would be a manageable $9 million for the team acquiring him, which the Bills could fit under the salary cap, particularly if they pulled another lever available to create cap space.
A possible move
Left tackle Dion Dawkins was a candidate to have his contract restructured entering the offseason, but the Bills have elected to stand pat in that regard while making other moves to improve their financial standing. However, according to Spotrac, “there’s a realistic path to tack on a multi-year extension to benefit both sides.”
Dawkins is set to count over $24 million against the cap in 2026, which is the team’s second-highest cap hit for the upcoming campaign. If the Bills can make the money work, which appears feasible, they would then look toward assembling a massive compensation package that would satisfy the Browns in a trade for Garrett.
Previous deals involving star-studded pass rushers have required multiple first-round picks sent to the team parting ways with top-tier talent. Garrett is the best of the best, having recorded no fewer than 14 sacks over the past five seasons, and would cost teams a whole lot to acquire in what would be a blockbuster trade for the ages.
It would be wild if the Bills pulled it off, but adding the five-time first-team All-Pro would be well worth it in their Super Bowl quest.
The Biggest Question the Broncos Still Haven’t Answered After Free Agency
Two-plus weeks into free agency, the Denver Broncos still haven’t answered one of the biggest questions surrounding this team entering the offseason. We knew that Denver loved J.K. Dobbins; GM George Paton said that he was
Seahawks Unfairly Slammed in Free Agency Rankings
Mike Macdonald’s reigning Super Bowl champions will take an impressive 10-game overall winning streak into their season opener on September 9 at Lumen Field. In those victories, the Seattle Seahawks have doubled up their foes by a 290-145 score.
What the ‘Hawks won’t take into 2026 is the same roster that played its best football when it really counted this past season.
Ben Solak of ESPN did a ranking of the 32 NFL teams in terms of free agency. While Solak understood the game plan per say via general manager John Schneider and the organization, he appeared more bothered by who won’t be around for Macdonald’s club this upcoming season. Hence, the ‘Hawks rank a disappointing 25th on the list despite the writer approving with what the team did in terms of the future.
“I loved the comp pick approach,” explained Solak. “Seattle has signed no free agent players who count against it in the compensatory pick formula. Why is this significant? Because the Seahawks are currently projected by OverTheCap to receive a fourth-round pick and three fifth-round picks in the 2027 draft in recompense for the departures of Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen.”
Champion Seahawks saw four key performers leave in free agency
For those who haven’t kept up, Mafe signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, Walker joined the Kansas City Chiefs, Bryant inked a deal with the Chicago Bears, and the Philadelphia Eagles added Woolen to their secondary.
“That incoming draft capital,” added Solak, “would allow Seattle to be more aggressive executing trades at midseason as it fills gaps on a roster looking to repeat. More picks also mean more rookie contracts, which will come in handy when the Devon Witherspoon extension hits the books.”
Can the Seahawks overcome so many key departures?
Still, Solak was disappointed with “just how much talent left the building.” And losing the Super Bowl LX MVP, as well as a defensive back that’s picked off a combined seven passes the past two seasons, is a little hard to swallow.
“The Seahawks had five major rising free agents in my eyes. The only one they were able to retain was (Rashid) Shaheed. A couple of them, Mafe and Woolen, were always going to leave for more playing time on other rosters. But Walker’s 2025 breakout was real, and Seattle will miss his explosiveness. Bryant was a key cog in that secondary, and his contract in Chicago is very reasonable.”
Then again, the 2025 NFL Executive of the Year has certainly shown he knows how to restock a football team.
— Enjoy free coverage of the Super Bowl champions from Seattle Seahawks On SI —
Texans Showing Interest in Ex-Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas
The Houston Texans doubled up last offseason, making the historic decision to select Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the same draft class. Despite that investment, and still having Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson, the Texans are interested in Caleb Douglas.
Douglas is a local product with an intriguing, albeit still unrefined game.
The Texans have seen enough of Douglas to know that they would like to get a closer look at the Missouri City native.
Texans Set Plans With Ex-Red Raiders WR Caleb Douglas
“Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas, a rising draft prospect and second-team All-Big 12 selection, will visit the Texans in April, per a league source,” KPRC 2s Aaron Wilson wrote on March 26.
“Douglas is set to attend the Texans’ local prospect day in addition to his 30 visits with multiple NFL teams. He has meetings-workouts with the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers, per a source.”
Douglas finished his collegiate career with 135 receptions for 2,031 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Texans’ passing game ranked 14th during the 2025 regular season. Injuries to the wide receiver corps were an issue, but largely because Houston relied on young talent.
Collins missed one game due to a concussion and another in Week 18 as the Texans rested him up for the postseason. Higgins, Hutchinson, and Noel each played in all 17 regular-season games for the Texans.
Christian Kirk, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, missed four games.
Still, the Texans clearly see a need for more firepower around C.J. Stroud, who is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Caleb Douglas Flashes Talent, Lacks Consistency
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted several traits that could appeal to the Texans, along with others that could give teams a reason to hesitate on drafting him.
“Douglas is a long, slender outside target with good production but uneven tape. He has enticing moments, showcasing his catch radius/ball skills on fades and deep throws. Douglas’ focus drops and an inability to win contested catches at a high enough rate can’t be overlooked, though. He shows quick acceleration for a tall receiver,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile.
“His top-end speed is relatively non-threatening to defenses. Douglas can expect to be crowded by NFL cornerbacks and forced to prove he can uncover. There are flashes to build on, but he’ll have to battle to make a roster as a backup.”
The Texans could be in a strong position to land Douglas, who too.
Texans Could Pounce Late
The Texans can afford to give Douglas time to develop, and he figures to need it. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 156th-best prospect in the class.
He is their WR25, so he should be available late in the draft, if not as a priority free agent.
Some Ohio State players called the 2025 season a “failure,” here’s why
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik, and Andrew Gillis sat down with Ohio State’s departing stars on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk, they asked a simple question: How would you define the 2025 season?
The answers were brutally honest.
“Not enough. We didn’t do enough. It wasn’t enough. We didn’t win it win. So, it doesn’t even matter. The season doesn’t even matter because we didn’t win. We didn’t accomplish anything. We all feel that way.”
— Arvell Reese
Let that sink in. A 12-2 season—with a win over Michigan, a perfect regular season, and a No. 2 playoff seed—and one of the team’s leaders is calling it meaningless. But here’s the thing: he’s not wrong.
On the podcast, Stefan Krajisnik dove deep into the psychology of Ohio State’s impossible standards.
“If life is just defined by wins and losses, like you’re never going to be happy… but for Ohio State and what they expected in 2025 season and what they showed they could do in the 2025 season to finish the way they did, it it was not a success. It was close to a failure and they’re they’re okay saying that.”
— Stefan Krajisnik
The hosts spent considerable time unpacking what makes this particular failure sting more than others. This wasn’t a team that overachieved and came up short. This was a roster that’s about to send four players in the top 10 of the NFL Draft—potentially five first-rounders total—that couldn’t get past the quarterfinals.
“We won a national championship the year before that, so to me it was a bust. It was back-to-back or bust. So, it wasn’t a good season if you ask me.”
— Davison Igbinosun
Back-to-back or bust. That’s the standard in Columbus.
The Buckeye Talk crew made a fascinating point about relative expectations. For most programs, 12 wins and a playoff berth would be a dream season. But Ohio State isn’t most programs. As Means pointed out on the pod, when you have a defense that “ethically” allowed only 14 points or fewer all season long, when you have that much NFL talent, the expectations can’t be relative to Oregon or Penn State or anyone else.
They’re relative to what Ohio State is capable of—and this roster was capable of winning it all.
What makes the failure sting even more is how it happened. The Buckeyes didn’t lose a heartbreaker in the national championship. They didn’t even make it to the semifinals. They lost to Indiana and Miami in consecutive weeks, never sniffing the title game despite dominating the regular season.
“There wasn’t really that gray area” with this season. Beat Michigan, check. Then immediately lost the next two games when it mattered most. The Gold Pants are great, but that’s not enough for a roster this talented.
— Stefan Krajisnik
The hosts will continue unpacking the 2025 season and its lessons as spring football rolls on. But one thing is crystal clear from this episode: when the players themselves are calling it a failure, fans don’t need to apologize for feeling the same way.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
Draft Visits Set Up with NFL Teams: The Buzz
With less than a month remaining until the 2026 NFL draft, former Missouri defensive end Zion Young is continuing to garner interest as a prospect.
Young reportedly has visits lined up with 10 NFL teams, and is expected to book more, according to a report from Arye Pulli of OnSI.
According to Pulli, Young has visits scheduled with the following teams:
Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets
New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Since the end of the college football season, Young has shot up draft boards after an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl in January.
Young was one of the best edge rushers in the Southeastern Conference in 2025, recording 6.5 sacks, 42 total tackles and two pass deflections in his final season with the Tigers.
Young will find out his future when the NFL draft begins on April 23.
The Buzz: March 27
After committing to Missouri on March 17, composite four-star wide receiver/athlete Chris Harris Jr. will still take an upcoming visit to Alabama. Harris spoke to Missouri On SI shortly after his commitment to speak on what stood out to him about the Tigers.
On Day 2 of the NCAA Men’s Swim and Dive Championships, Missouri’s Collier Dyer missed out on qualifying for the finals. The Tigers recorded a time of 1;16.85 in the 200-yard relay.
The first domino of the coaching carousel in the SEC fell Thursday, with LSU reportedly agreeing to a seven-year deal with NC State head coach Will Wade. He was an assistant at LSU from 2017-22. In the three seasons since then, Wade led McNeese to two straight NCAA Tournament berths, and NC State to a 20-14 finish.
Thursday’s Mizzou Results
Track and Field: Day 1 of the Raleigh Relays
Men’s 3000 M Steeple:
No. 8 – Elijah Limo, 8:40.60
No. 19 – Joshua Allison, 8:49.31
Men’s 1500 M
No. 13 – Lasse Funck, 3:41.98
No. 18 – Finnian Russell, 3:42.60
No. 87 – Ethan Hogan, 3:48.34
Men’s 5000 M
No. 67 – Carter Spradling, 14:16.58
Friday’s Mizzou Schedule
Softball: at Auburn at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network + – Watch, Live Stats
Baseball: vs. No. 25 Texas A&M at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network + – Watch, Listen, Live Stats
Tennis: at Kentucky at 5 p.m. – Watch, Live Stats
Swim and Dive: Day 3 of the Men’s NCAA Championships in Atlanta – Prelims at 9 a.m., Finals at 5 p.m.
Track and Field: Day 2 of the Raleigh Relays at 2:30 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina – Live Stats
Countdown to Mizzou Football’s 2026 opener…
160 days.
Mizzou Quote of the Day:
“You were the awe of your teammates. When they realized that wasn’t a show and how you really are, that awe soon turned into respect.”
Larry Smith to Brock Olivo
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Former Steelers Starting CB Joins NFC Foe: Report
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has found a new NFL home.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Thursday that Witherspoon agreed to a contract with the Washington Commanders.
“The Commanders are signing veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon following his visit to the team today, sources say,” wrote Garafolo on X. “After three seasons with the Rams, Witherspoon heads to Washington, rejoining GM Adam Peters, who was with the 49ers when the team drafted Witherspoon.”
The cornerback began his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. He played for the Steelers from 2021-22 after the team acquired him in a trade.
Witherspoon started three games for the Steelers in 2021. The following season, he entered the campaign as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks. But he struggled early on and then suffered a hamstring injury, landing on injured reserve.
During his Week 8 return, the Steelers benched Witherspoon and then placed him back on IR with a hamstring issue.
The cornerback never played for Pittsburgh again after that.
The past three years, Witherspoon started 24 games for the Los Angeles Rams. In 2025, he registered eight combined tackles with two pass defenses and an interception in six contests.
CB Akhello Witherspoon Signs With Commanders: Report
The Commanders will return their top cornerback in terms of snaps from last season. That was Mike Sainristil, who played nearly 90% of Washington’s defensive snaps.
But behind him, the Commanders have to replace multiple depth cornerbacks.
Veterans Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene each signed with news teams. Marshon Lattimore remains available in free agency, but he doesn’t appear to be potentially returning to Washington.
Early in NFL free agency, the Commanders signed Amik Robertson. But with Witherspoon, the team adds another veteran cornerback with starting experience.
If need be, Witherspoon could start for Washington next season. Ideally, though, he will come off the bench to provide depth.
Witherspoon was serviceable according to his Pro Football Focus player grades during 2023 and 2024. However, last season, he was below average in every category. He struggled in coverage and was very bad at tackling, which has been issue for Witherspoon in recent years.
That poor tackling likely prevents Witherspoon from being a special teams contributor. Despite serving largely serving as a depth cornerback in his career, Witherspoon has played just 432 special teams snaps in nine years.
Over the past three years, the veteran’s defensive playing time significantly declined. He lined up for a career-high 1,060 defensive snaps in 2023. That dropped to 494 in 2024 and then 173 last season.
Witherspoon, though, could see more playing time in Washington depending on how else the team might grab to play corner in free agency and the draft.
NFLPA Issues Warning as NFL Players Fall Prey to Scammer Under FBI Investigation
While professional leagues like the NFL continue to grow in stature, its player association has taken an important step for the safety of players outside the gridiron. Close to 35% of NFL players are either bankrupt or are under financial stress within two years of retirement. With financial scams being one of the key reasons behind these statistics, the NFL Players Association has sent to all certified agents a new notice of a fraud and s-x t——-ing scheme that targeted NFL and NBA players.
“The FBI has advised that Kwamaine Jerell Ford, posing as a female adult film star, lured athletes into providing sensitive information,” the NFLPA’s notice said, as reported by Pro Football Talk. “This individual was supposedly able to access many athletes’ iCloud accounts and stole victim information, including credit cards. Additionally, this individual, posing as an adult film star, lured athletes into having s-x with an adult female OnlyFans creator, being filmed without their knowledge or consent.”
This drastic step comes from the NFLPA after Ford allegedly posed as an adult film star and offered to send explicit videos to the athletes. He then took up the role of an Apple customer service representative to find usernames, passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia said.
Ford, who is facing allegations, allegedly used this method to obtain credit and debit card information from dozens of victims, according to the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. He then “recruited, tricked, and coerced a female victim into engaging in commercial s-x acts with the professional athletes,” using the adult film star persona while also using other false identities to threaten the victim.
Ford has been charged with nine counts of wire fraud, seven counts of computer fraud, one count of access device fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of human trafficking. However, this isn’t Ford’s first brush with the law, as he was previously investigated in November 2020.
“Kwamaine Ford clearly did not learn from his prior conviction for a similar scheme,” Peter Ellis, FBI Georgia Acting Special Agent in Charge, said. “This time, he allegedly escalated his criminal activity – stealing identities and money while also moving into coercion and s-x t——ing.”
While protecting players has clearly become about more than just contracts, the NFLPA made this decision to raise awareness about individuals like Ford after a significant change in its leadership group.
NFLPA announces new executive director for player representation
Player representatives for the NFL Players Association have elected retired Cleveland Browns offensive lineman JC Tretter as their next executive director, the union announced. Alongside his NFL career, Tretter previously held the position of union chief strategy officer and hence brings much-needed experience.
“I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and how important it is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with player leadership,” Tretter said in a statement posted to X. “This union has always played a critical role in shaping the game, and that work is as important now as it’s ever been.”
The NFLPA has been searching for a permanent leader since July, when the then-executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. had to resign after ESPN reported that he had charged a pair of strip club visits to the union. However, now with JC Tretter, the NFLPA hopes to improve its own image and also continue to represent its players in the best way possible.
Ilya Sorokin shines against Stars to give Islanders a much-needed win
NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin gave the New York Islanders the type of elite goaltending they needed facing one of the NHL’s top teams while in the thick of a playoff chase, making 26 saves to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday night.
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone. He was perfect on a pair of penalty kills, one each in the second and third periods, and allowed only one goal on a 6-on-5 with three minutes left to Matt Duchene.
Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season five minutes in and Calum Ritchie later picked up the 11th of his rookie year to provide enough offensive support. Matthew Schaefer, the face of the franchise at 18 years old, assisted on each to reach 54 points and tie Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for the second most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history.
Despite allowing Horvat’s goal off the rush and Ritchie’s when it went in off his left skate, Jake Oettinger was excellent in his own right. Oettinger stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced as Dallas lost a third game in a row and for the fourth time in five games.
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey. They have already clinched a playoff berth, are likely to face Minnesota in the first round and are spending the remainder of the regular season trying to get their team game in order.
The Islanders are clawing to get in as part of a fierce Eastern Conference race of seven teams vying for five spots.
Up next
Stars: Make the second stop on their four-game trip Saturday at Pittsburgh, when Mikko Rantanen could return from the injury that has sidelined him since the Olympics.
Islanders: Host two-time defending champion Florida on Saturday.
___
Ilya Sorokin shines against Stars to give the playoff-chasing Islanders a much-needed win
NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin gave the New York Islanders the type of elite goaltending they needed facing one of the NHL’s top teams while in the thick of a playoff chase, making 26 saves to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday night.
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone. He was perfect on a pair of penalty kills, one each in the second and third periods, and allowed only one goal on a 6-on-5 with three minutes left to Matt Duchene.
Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season five minutes in and Calum Ritchie later picked up the 11th of his rookie year to provide enough offensive support. Matthew Schaefer, the face of the franchise at 18 years old, assisted on each to reach 54 points and tie Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for the second most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history.
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CANADIENS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1
MONTREAL (AP) — Zachary Bolduc scored the winner with his first goal since Dec. 23, and Montreal edged Columbus.
Jayden Struble — with his first of the season — also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves as Montreal won its third consecutive game.
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Damon Severson scored for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 18 shots.
The Blue Jackets fell to 19-4-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach Jan. 12. They climbed from 28th overall to second in the Metropolitan Division ahead of Thursday’s games.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit third in the Atlantic Division with 11 games remaining.
PENGUINS 4, OTTAWA 3, SO
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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ben Kindel scored the shootout winner to lead Pittsburgh to a win over Ottawa.
Rickard Rakell scored twice and had an assist, and Erik Karlsson also scored for the Penguins, who moved into second in the Metropolitan Division.
Drake Batherson scored twice and Nick Cousins also scored for the Senators. Tim Stutzle added two assists.
Both Linus Ullmark and Stuart Skinner made huge saves in overtime to force the shootout.
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KRAKEN 4, LIGHTNING 3, OT
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Brandon Montour scored his second goal of the game 2:47 into overtime to give Seattle a victory against Tampa Bay.
Bobby McMann and Kaapo Kakko each had a goal and an assist. Philipp Grubauer stopped 30 shots for Seattle, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, Anthony Cirelli and Corey Perry both scored, and Charle-Edouard D’Astous had two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 15 saves. Tampa Bay improved to 4-0-2 in the last six games.
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Montour picked up the puck from Shane Wright and beat Vasilevskiy to keep Seattle in the playoff race in the Western Conference.
WILD 3, PANTHERS 2
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek scored the winning goal with 4.4 seconds left to lift Minnesota past Florida.
Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman also had goals for the Wild and Jesper Wallstedt made 18 saves.
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Minnesota, which is 3-4-1 in its last eight, entered Thursday’s game five points behind second-place Dallas and 12 points ahead of fourth-place Utah in the Central Division. The Panthers entered Thursday 12 points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
Aaron Ekblad hammered a shot inside the left post to tie it for Florida with 1:13 left. But Eriksson Ek answered with the winner in the closing seconds of the third period.
FLYERS 5, BLACKHAWKS 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Bump and Sean Couturier scored in the first three minutes of the game and Philadelphia used the fast start to cruise to a win over Chicago.
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Bump, Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak had a goal and an assist each for the Flyers, who have won six of their last eight games to stay in the chase for a wild-card playoff spot. Denver Barkey also had a goal for Philadelphia and Samuel Ersson made 25 saves.
Connor Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season for Chicago to become the third Blackhawks player with a 30-goal season at age 20 or younger, joining Jonathan Toews (34 in 2008-09) and Eric Daze (30 in 1995-96).
Spencer Knight had 37 saves for Chicago.
Ilya Sorokin shines against Stars to give the playoff
NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin gave the New York Islanders the type of elite goaltending they needed facing one of the NHL’s top teams while in the thick of a playoff chase, making 26 saves to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday night.
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone. He was perfect on a pair of penalty kills, one each in the second and third periods, and allowed only one goal on a 6-on-5 with three minutes left to Matt Duchene.
Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season five minutes in and Calum Ritchie later picked up the 11th of his rookie year to provide enough offensive support. Matthew Schaefer, the face of the franchise at 18 years old, assisted on each to reach 54 points and tie Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for the second most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history.
CANADIENS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1
MONTREAL (AP) — Zachary Bolduc scored the winner with his first goal since Dec. 23, and Montreal edged Columbus.
Jayden Struble — with his first of the season — also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves as Montreal won its third consecutive game.
Damon Severson scored for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 18 shots.
The Blue Jackets fell to 19-4-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach Jan. 12. They climbed from 28th overall to second in the Metropolitan Division ahead of Thursday’s games.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit third in the Atlantic Division with 11 games remaining.
PENGUINS 4, OTTAWA 3, SO
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ben Kindel scored the shootout winner to lead Pittsburgh to a win over Ottawa.
Rickard Rakell scored twice and had an assist, and Erik Karlsson also scored for the Penguins, who moved into second in the Metropolitan Division.
Drake Batherson scored twice and Nick Cousins also scored for the Senators. Tim Stutzle added two assists.
Both Linus Ullmark and Stuart Skinner made huge saves in overtime to force the shootout.
KRAKEN 4, LIGHTNING 3, OT
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Brandon Montour scored his second goal of the game 2:47 into overtime to give Seattle a victory against Tampa Bay.
Bobby McMann and Kaapo Kakko each had a goal and an assist. Philipp Grubauer stopped 30 shots for Seattle, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, Anthony Cirelli and Corey Perry both scored, and Charle-Edouard D’Astous had two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 15 saves. Tampa Bay improved to 4-0-2 in the last six games.
Montour picked up the puck from Shane Wright and beat Vasilevskiy to keep Seattle in the playoff race in the Western Conference.
WILD 3, PANTHERS 2
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek scored the winning goal with 4.4 seconds left to lift Minnesota past Florida.
Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman also had goals for the Wild and Jesper Wallstedt made 18 saves.
Minnesota, which is 3-4-1 in its last eight, entered Thursday’s game five points behind second-place Dallas and 12 points ahead of fourth-place Utah in the Central Division. The Panthers entered Thursday 12 points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
Aaron Ekblad hammered a shot inside the left post to tie it for Florida with 1:13 left. But Eriksson Ek answered with the winner in the closing seconds of the third period.
FLYERS 5, BLACKHAWKS 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Bump and Sean Couturier scored in the first three minutes of the game and Philadelphia used the fast start to cruise to a win over Chicago.
Bump, Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak had a goal and an assist each for the Flyers, who have won six of their last eight games to stay in the chase for a wild-card playoff spot. Denver Barkey also had a goal for Philadelphia and Samuel Ersson made 25 saves.
Connor Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season for Chicago to become the third Blackhawks player with a 30-goal season at age 20 or younger, joining Jonathan Toews (34 in 2008-09) and Eric Daze (30 in 1995-96).
Spencer Knight had 37 saves for Chicago.
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Blackhawks plagued by poor defensive decisions in loss to Flyers
PHILADELPHIA — Chicago’s defense at Xfinity Mobile Arena this week left much to be desired.
On Wednesday, the Bulls’ 157-137 loss to the 76ers marked the most points they’ve allowed in a regulation game since March 1969.
Then on Thursday, the Blackhawks got skated out of the same building in a 5-1 loss to the Flyers.
“We didn’t have enough guys close to their best,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “It’s a hard league when you don’t have that. It’s part of what we’re learning, how to have your ‘A’ [game] and then your ‘B-plus’ game.”
The Hawks allowed more than 40 shots on goal for the third time in four games. Some sudden cracks in their structure are starting to erode.
The only silver lining was that Louis Crevier, whose cheek was sliced open by a Flyers skate blade in the third period, turned out to be OK after great initial concern.
A miscommunication between Spencer Knight and Artyom Levshunov that led to a Flyers empty-net goal in the first minute set the off-key tone for the Hawks, who produced arguably their second-most unfocused, undisciplined and error-prone performance this season.
The only memorably worse game was the late-January visit to Pittsburgh. The state of Pennsylvania was quite unwelcoming this season.
Sharks goalie suffers another injury as losing streak reaches six games
San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov’s first game back after missing the last two-plus weeks with a lower-body injury didn’t last long.
Askarov was injured midway through the second period of Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, had to leave the ice, and didn’t return as the Sharks went on to a 2-1 overtime loss at Enterprise Center in the second stop of a three-game road trip.
Blues forward Dylan Holloway scored with 2.4 seconds left in overtime, as he picked up a loose puck to the left of the Sharks’ net, skated toward the crease in front of a trailing Macklin Celebrini, and beat goalie Alex Nedeljkovic with a backhand shot to send San Jose to its sixth straight loss (0-5-1).
Askarov was injured with under 11 minutes left in the second period. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko put a shot on the Sharks’ net, and forward Nathan Walker, who was standing just outside the crease, was pushed in the back by defenseman Vincent Desharnais into Askarov.
Walker made contact with the head of Askarov, who fell back into his own net and remained on the ice for several moments before he was escorted off the ice by Sharks trainer Will Leonard.
Nedeljkovic replaced Askarov, who had made 11 saves at that point, with 10:54 left in the second period in a scoreless game. Nedeljkovic finished with nine saves in just under 36 minutes of playing time.
Nedeljkovic made five saves for the rest of the second period, but the Sharks allowed a goal to Blues forward Dalibor Dvorsky at the 17:19 mark to fall behind 1-0.
The Sharks tied the game at the 5:04 mark of the third period, as Alex Wennberg took a pass from William Eklund and fired a shot past Blues goalie Joel Hofer for his 14th goal of the season. The goal snapped Hofer’s shutout streak at 166:49.
The Sharks finish their three-game road trip on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Askarov was making his first start since March 10 in over two weeks on Thursday as the Sharks desperately sought to end a five-game losing streak and rekindle their rapidly fading playoff hopes.
On March 10, Askarov stopped 20 of 25 shots in the Sharks’ 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov suffered a lower-body injury in practice in Boston the following day and did not dress for the next six games before he backed up Nedeljkovic on Tuesday in the Sharks’ 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Before Thursday, Askarov started 40 of the Sharks’ 69 games this season, going 19-17-3 with a pedestrian .886 save percentage.
Since his injury, though, the Sharks have gone from being in the thick of the playoff race to 12th in the Western Conference, falling behind the Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, and Los Angeles Kings.
Having lost five straight games, the Sharks entered Thursday seven points back of the Predators for the second wild card spot in the West, with two games in hand. San Jose was also eight points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for third place in the Pacific Division, with three games in hand.
As of Thursday morning, the Sharks had a 9.3% chance of reaching the playoffs, per MoneyPuck.com, down from 55% on March 15.
Nedeljkovic carried most of the workload in Askarov’s absence, starting six of seven games.
After Tuesday’s loss, in which the Sharks were a mess defensively and allowed five first-period goals, the veteran Nedeljkovic expressed his frustration, saying, “We didn’t show up. We didn’t come ready to play, and that’s what happens. You can’t take a shift off, two shifts off, let alone a whole period in this league. Especially against a team that’s playing pretty well like them. For us, we’re fighting for points. We’re fighting for our lives right now. We didn’t show up.”
The Blues had been one of the NHL’s hottest teams in recent weeks, going 9-2-2 since the Olympic break and entering Thursday with 69 points, one point behind the Sharks.
The Blues were without leading scorer Robert Thomas, who was injured in St. Louis’ game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday when he was tackled to the ice by Pierre-Luc Dubois. Thomas, considered day-to-day, had two goals, including the overtime winner, in the Blues’ 3-2 win over the Sharks on March 6 at SAP Center.
The Sharks on Thursday did get back winger Tyler Toffoli, who had missed the last two games with a lower-body injury he sustained in the first period of San Jose’s home game against the Sabres on March 19. Toffoli was not with the Sharks in Nashville but joined the team in St. Louis.
Toffoli came into Thursday as the Sharks’ third leading scorer this season with 44 points in 67 games, with eight points in his last 12 games. The Sharks certainly needed the extra scoring punch after being held to two even-strength goals in their last three games, while allowing 27 goals during the five-game skid.
NOTABLE
Forward Philipp Kurashev and defenseman John Klingberg were the Sharks’ healthy scratches Thursday. Kurashev, a pending restricted free agent, has now been scratched in seven of the last 10 games, and Klingberg has been scratched in two of the last four games. … Sharks center Ty Dellandrea is on the road trip but remains out with a lower-body injury. He was injured in the Sharks’ Jan. 6 home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
MacKinnon inches closer to 50-goal mark as Avalanche defeat Jets 3-2
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored his 47th and 48th goals of the season to propel the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
Jack Drury scored his career-high ninth goal of the season for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who ended a four-game road trip with a 4-0-0 record. Artturi Lehkonen added an assist in his return after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 shots for Colorado.
Mark Scheifele scored twice and leads the Jets with 34 goals.
Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves.
Scheifele set a career-high in points when his pair of goals gave him 88 points.
Colorado entered the game ranked 27th on the power play, but made good on a big opportunity. Six seconds after a 38-second two-man advantage expired, MacKinnon scored 13 seconds into the third to break the 1-1 tie with the power-play tally. He added his second goal at 3:55.
The Jets challenged MacKinnon’s second goal for goaltender interference, but it stood and gave Colorado a 3-1 lead early in the third.
2026 NHL Draft notebook: Trejbal developed ‘unflappability’ with Youngstown
Tobias Trejbal is having a season to remember as a rookie goalie with Youngstown of the United States Hockey League.
He’s big (6-foot-4, 188 pounds), tracks pucks well through traffic, is efficient in his movements and is one of three right-handed catchers among the top five at the position on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm ranking of North American goalies.
Ovechkin sets NHL mark with hat trick against 21st franchise, Capitals top Mammoth
The Washington captain passed Brett Hull with his latest hat trick, his 34th in the NHL.
Ivan Miroshnichenko scored twice and Anthony Beauvillier and Rasmus Sandin each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (36-28-9), who have won three of their past five games. Logan Thompson made 36 saves.
Dylan Guenther scored twice, and Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev each had three assists for the Mammoth (37-30-6), who went 1-3-0 on their four-game homestand. Vitek Vanecek made 17 saves. Karel Vejmelka entered the game in relief at 9:54 of the third period and made one save.
Miroshnichenko scored at 2:07 of the first period on a slap shot past the blocker side of Vanecek to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead.
Guenther scored a power-play goal at 13:04, beating Thompson with a one-timer on the glove side off a pass from Keller to tie the game at 1-1.
Guenther scored his second goal at 16:59, sliding the puck between the legs of Thompson off a pass from Keller to give the Mammoth a 2-1 lead.
Logan Cooley scored a power play goal at 19:53, tapping in a loose puck that was behind Thompson off a shot from Sergachev to make it 3-1.
Ovechkin scored at 5:01 of the second period, tapping in a shot by Rasmus Sandin to cut the lead to 3-2.
Ovechkin scored his second goal at 11:28, sending a wrist shot from the point past Vanecek to tie the game 3-3.
Beauvillier scored a power-play goal at 2:43, tipping in a shot from Cole Hutson to give the Capitals a 4-3 lead.
Sandin scored at 6:02, firing the puck on net from the point while Vanecek was out of position to extend the lead to 5-3.
MacKenzie Weegar scored at 8:06, throwing a wrist shot from the point past Thompson to make it 5-4.
Miroshnichenko scored his second goal at 9:54, flicking a backhanded shot through the legs of Vanecek to push the lead back to 6-4.
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal at 19:54 for the 7-4 final.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid becomes third-fastest player to record 800 assists
McDavid now has 41 goals and 79 assists for 120 points through 73 games. It’s the fourth time he’s reached the 120-point mark in his career.
Earlier in the week, McDavid recorded his 400th goal and became the third-fastest player in NHL history to register 1,200 points.
Through 11 NHL seasons, McDavid has 402 goals and 800 assists for 1,202 points in 785 career regular-season games. He has nine 100-point seasons, the third-most in NHL history.
McDavid also has 44 goals and 106 assists for 150 points in 96 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He led the Oilers to two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, losing both to the Florida Panthers.
McDavid, taken No. 1 overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, has won the Art Ross Trophy five times, the Ted Lindsay Award four times, the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy once and the Hart Trophy three times. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2024.
How NBA Expansion Could Impact the Cleveland Cavaliers
The NBA’s expansion to 32 looks to be inevitable as the league offices approved the exploration of two new teams. The first team would be in Seattle, which has been without a team since 2008. Seattle would also maintain their team history from 1967 through 2008.
The second team would be in Las Vegas, a city that has been gaining sports teams nonstop, with the Golden Knights joining the NHL in 2017, the Raiders in football moving there in 2020, and the Athletics in the MLB working their way to Vegas in 2028.
How would two new teams in the NBA affect the Cavaliers?
The first way is that the Cavs could have a new conference foe. Both of the new teams land in the western side of the country, and would most likely join the wester conference. That leaves a lopsided 17 to 15 teams, in all likelihood a team would move over to eastern conference from the west.
That team is unclear right now, but the teams that make the most geographical case would be the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies.
The other way Cleveland would be affected by an expansion might have the most affect on the Cavs roster.
When an expansion happens, an expansion draft happens. The draft would be Seattle and Las Vegas picking back in forth until they fill out a roster. In previous drafts, teams are allowed to protect eight players, team’s can’t protect players on expiring deals or restricted free agents, and Seattle and Vegas can only select one player from each team.
So there is a possibility that the expansion teams could “steal” a player from the Cavs roster. The NBA is targeting the 2028-29 season for the expansion, currently the Cavs have just four players under contract during that season. Those players are Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Tyrese Proctor.
Donovan Mitchell’s current deal expires in the 2027-28 season, breakout sophomore Jaylon Tyson currently will be a restricted free agent in the 2028-29 season. James Harden’s current deal expires in the 2026-27 season, and will be 38 years old when the draft takes place.
Cleveland will have to make some tough roster decisions in the next couple seasons if the expansion goes through. Including locking down Mitchell, deciding on Harden’s future, and holding onto Tyson. Some of the fan favorites and key role players could be the way out based on the difference in the league.
NBA Legend Emerges as Obstacle in Caleb Williams’ ‘Iceman’ Trademark Bid
Caleb Williams built a reputation last season as one of the league’s most clutch quarterbacks, earning the nickname “Iceman” for his calm-under-pressure style and knack for pulling off unlikely comebacks. Riding that momentum, the former No. 1 overall pick recently filed to trademark the “Iceman” name. However, the move hasn’t gone unchallenged, as an NBA legend, who famously used the same nickname throughout his 14-year career with teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls, has pushed back.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for [Williams],” George Gervin told the Sun-Times. “He’s already proved greatness, and his potential upside is great. Like an ‘Iceman.’ But that name is taken… All I’m saying is, ‘Young fella, we’ve already got one ‘Iceman.’”
According to George Gervin, the “Iceman” moniker was first used to address him. He earned the nickname because of his incredibly calm demeanor. Even in the most tense situations, he would stay cool and not break a sweat. There was no trash talk or unnecessary celebration. He let the ball do all the talking.
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His Virginia Squires teammate Fatty Taylor gave him that nickname. Now, after so many decades, when Caleb Williams is trying to trademark, he is not willing to let it go so easily.
Williams filed four trademark applications for the “Iceman” nickname. One was for the name, one for the logo, and two were silhouettes of his outstanding pass to Rome Odunze against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
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In the fourth quarter of that game, the Chicago Bears were 4th-and-8 with Williams at their own 43-yard line. After the ball was snapped, Isaiah McDuffie almost got him. But the quarterback quickly went past him and threw the ball to Odunze, and the latter caught it. His “Iceman” celebration followed, and the Bears overturned an 18-point deficit to come out victorious.
While the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NFL draft faces a new challenge, it is not the first time two individuals have had the same moniker.
Many athletes across sports go by the same moniker
The sports world is watching a new kind of situation, featuring a moniker battle. For years, George Gervin never thought of trademarking his moniker, but when Caleb Williams filed for it, he could not let it slide. Trademarking means getting all the profit from the commercial use of the moniker.
So, there is a clear motive for the former San Antonio Spurs shooting guard as well. But when it comes to people having the same moniker, it is nothing new in the sports world. There are tons of examples of two or more players sharing the same moniker.
The “King” moniker can be associated with LeBron James, Henrik Lundqvist, and Felix Hernandez. The former is from the NBA, while the other two played ice hockey and baseball, respectively. Besides them, boxers Ray Robinson and Ray Leonard are nicknamed “Sugar Ray.” Both Lawrence Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson went by their initials, “LT,” for instance.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will handle Williams and Gervin’s case. The organization will review both claims. If one of them gets approved, there will be a 30-day window during which third parties can oppose. If the decision goes in favor of Williams, there will be no issue with him getting called “Iceman.” But if it goes the other way, it could be an issue. There won’t be an issue with fans using the nickname, but the quarterback won’t be able to monetize it.
Gervin irked Bears’ Williams filed trademark for ‘Iceman’
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ attempt to trademark the moniker
Former Player Says Kevin Durant Hates Key Rockets Teammate
Former NBA player Charlie Villanueva claimed that Kevin Durant strongly dislikes teaming with Alperen Sengun on the Houston Rockets. Both men made the All-Star team and are clearly the best players on the Rockets right now. Rumors have circulated about the two not getting along on the court after the alleged Durant burner account insulted Sengun.
Villanueva shared the following about the team dynamic, as transcribed by Fadeaway World:
“The real issue to me is, your two best players don’t get along. I don’t know what the relationship is, but it looks like they don’t f**k with each other. You can see whenever Sengun does some sh*t, KD’s making faces, body language ain’t good, and vice versa.
Whenever your two top stars are not on the same page, you’re gonna see results like this. At a time when you’re supposed to be coming together, I guarantee you that it’s pushing them more apart, games like this.”
Villanueva commented on the body language he sees from Durant whenever Sengun makes a mistake or goes for a risky play. The former player believes he sees the signs of two stars not getting on the same page and knows that usually spells the end of any chance for title contention.
Kevin Durant’s Burner Insulted Alperen Sengun
One of the main reasons for Villanueva’s comments holding relevance focuses on Durant’s alleged leaked burner Twitter account coming out during All-Star Weekend. The account made critical comments towards teammates Sengun and Jabari Smith in a group chat with NBA fans.
Durant allegedly said that Sengun can’t shoot nor defend effectively as a franchise player. Any team banking on a player with one or both of those issues will struggle, and Durant’s burner called that out when making critical comments to Rockets fans in the controversial group chat setting.
Sengun does have his flaws, but he’s emerged as an All-Star player who deserves the most credit for Houston’s rise. The evolution of the Rockets young core led to faster success thanks to Sengun thriving and taking big steps forward. Houston needs both Sengun and Durant firing on all cylinders in the loaded Western Conference.
Kevin Durant Drama Potentially Ruined Rockets Season
The overall point from Villanueva is that Houston looks like they have chemistry issues at the worst possible time. A hot early start for the Rockets had high hopes for home court in the first round and a chance to go deep in the playoffs.
Lackluster results have seen Houston falling behind teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. The inconsistent play since the All-Star break sees a lot of criticism towards Durant and the timing of the burner account impacting the team dynamic.
Allegations of Durant keeping a distance from his teammates will not help the situation, and they’ll have to fix this issue before the playoffs. Durant seemingly doesn’t believe in Sengun, but both stars will need to rely on each other in series against dominant duos. Villanueva’s words may be proven correct if the Rockets have a quick elimination.
Timberwolves post NBA’s largest overtime comeback on record from 13 points down to stun the Rockets
The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing five of their top seven players for most of their record-setting overtime rally to beat the Houston Rockets
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
By DAVE CAMPBELL – AP Sports Writer
Updated 17 minutes ago
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing five of their top seven players for most of their record-setting overtime rally to beat the Houston Rockets.
They chose focus over frustration.
With a game-closing 15-0 run, the Timberwolves came back from 13 points down for a 110-108 victory over the Rockets. No other NBA team has overcome an overtime deficit that big since the league began logging play-by-play details with the 1997-98 season.
“They fought through a ton of adversity. We should’ve won that game in regulation. We deserved to win that game. We were the better team all night, and we gave them a chance to steal it from us, but we stole it right back,” coach Chris Finch said.
After frittering away an 11-point lead with 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation and fighting an imbalance in the foul calls all night, the Timberwolves found themselves trailing by 13 points with less than two minutes elapsed in the extra period on Wednesday.
Superstar Anthony Edwards was sidelined for a fifth straight game with knee trouble. Key backup Ayo Dosunmu was out, too, with a sore calf. Jaden McDaniels, who had 25 points and valiant defense on Rockets star Kevin Durant all night, started hobbling down the stretch of the fourth quarter and had to be pulled. Rudy Gobert, who had a steely 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, fouled out.
Then early in overtime, Naz Reid was ejected after voicing his displeasure with official Scott Foster for an offensive foul call. The fans at Target Center were steadily filing out. But after Alperen Sengun’s dunk put the Rockets up 108-95, capping a stunning 26-2 run, the Timberwolves refused to punt on this pivotal game for Western Conference playoff positioning.
“You just got to take it a possession at a time. Biggest thing is be in the moment,” said Julius Randle, who shared the duty of defending Durant with Kyle Anderson after McDaniels departed.
Mike Conley, who got a rare start with Edwards and Dosunmu unavailable, swished a 3-pointer with 2:45 left. Anderson tipped in Randle’s missed layup, drew a foul on Sengun and converted a three-point play. Then the Timberwolves forced an 8-second violation by keeping the Rockets from advancing past halfcourt.
Donte DiVincenzo cut in for a layup off a feed from Anderson to cut the deficit to five points. Randle grabbed Sengun’s miss at the rim before blowing by him for a layup on the other end to bring the Timberwolves within 108-105 with 1:34 left.
DiVincenzo tied it with a 3-pointer. Sengun missed a jumper. Then Randle sank a pullup shot with 8.8 seconds remaining for the lead.
“We’ve got real competitors in here, guys who want the challenge. It’s not the first time we’ve done something like that,” said Randle, who had 24 points, all after halftime. “When it gets tough, we come together as a group. It brings the best out of us.”
The Timberwolves (45-28) with the win stayed a half-game behind Denver (46-28) for fourth place in the Western Conference. They moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston (43-29) and, most importantly, evened the season series at one apiece. The Wolves face the Rockets on the road on April 10.
Despite taking 63 shots in the paint and only getting 10 free throws out of it, the Timberwolves found a way to pull out a win, even after Randle was called for a foul on Durant on his drive with 3.3 seconds left, sending the 16-time All-Star to the line with the Rockets 23 for 23 in the game at that point. Durant missed, then bricked the second one intentionally to try to keep possession.
The NBA’s two-minute report on the late-game officiating released on Thursday confirmed six mistakes on calls or noncalls, with each team benefiting from three. The last of those favored the Rockets: The league ruled that Randle maintained verticality as he defended Durant’s shot attempt and should not have been whistled for that foul.
“I’m so proud that we didn’t quit. We had a lot of opportunities to get very frustrated tonight,” Gobert said. “For the most part, we were able to overcome that. That’s the blueprint for us. We want to win a championship, so we know there’s going to be adversity. We know it’s going to come in a lot of ways.”
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Mac McClung Says NBA Didn’t Want Him in 2026 Dunk Contest, Reveals Others Declined if He Participated
Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the 2026 Slam Dunk contest, but it was Mac McClung who dominated the headlines. The only player to win the contest three times in a row did not participate due to an apparent insecurity by other players. The reasoning even caught veteran broadcaster Dan Patrick by surprise.
“Quite frankly, they didn’t really want me in it this year,” said McClung on the March 26th episode of the Dan Patrick Show. “They wanted me in it, and then some things happened and it kind of just went back and forth, and at the end, they kind of didn’t want me in the contest. So I’d already prepared. That’s why I released those dunks on social media because I’d already prepared.
They told me that it was just a weird situation, man. I think they said a couple of guys didn’t want to do it if I were in it. And I was like, ‘Okay, well, I don’t want to ruin that.’”
Before the Dunk contest, the 27-year-old also secured a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. He was officially part of the league, and his participation would have boosted the mediocre Dunk contest. Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes missed one, and his attempts didn’t leave any lasting impression. Magic’s Jase Richardson’s fall was more memorable than his dunks. The eventual winner, Johnson, would overtake Spurs rookie Carter Bryant for the win.
It was Mac McClung’s father who wrote in a text message to ESPN before the event, which was cryptic in nature. “Not going to be 4 in a row,” Marcus McClung said. “Not one reason that I could say was the main reason. In my opinion, it is more like a bunch of reasons that just point to him not doing it.” His son just confirmed those reasons.
For the past few years, while the 27-year-old was constantly lighting up the G-League, it was the Slam Dunk contest that put his name on the map. He even defeated Celtics Jaylen Brown in 2024, further boosting the narrative that the players could have been insecure with his appearance.
Former All-Star stated that the NBA blocked Mac McClung’s participation
His absence raised questions, but not for Gilbert Arenas.
“He’s the only player in history to win it three times in a row, right? So Nate Robinson has three, so he and Nate Robinson are tied for one now, and that’s why he’s not in this one, because I think they think it’s gonna look bad that a guy who really never been in the NBA, never really got a shot in the NBA, will hold the title, if he wins the next one,” said Gil on his podcast.
“And he will have four in a row. He’s gonna go down as the best dunker ever.”
The argument from the Warriors star makes complete sense. Mac McClung has had only 10 appearances in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. He has bounced around multiple teams and eventually settled with G-League roles to continue having that dream of consistently playing in the NBA. But if he had won the fourth Slam Dunk contest, he once again would have been the face despite not being really a full-time NBA player.
While the NBA ignored the 27-year-old, the fans cheered him. On social media after the event, Mac McClung uploaded several practice attempts of his dunks, which were miles better than what everyone had seen during the All-Star weekend. But he has not let that setback put him down. In fact, recently, he dropped a career-high 59 points and became the all-time leading scorer in G-League history.
Nikola Jokic Accused Of Getting Undeserved Assists By NBA
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is under criticism for some of his in-game assists being questionable when looking back at the footage. Official NBA game scorers determine stats like assists and rebounds during the game. Stat corrections sometimes happen throughout the game with players gaining or losing stats via the scorer looking back at replays. However, fans are starting to look deeper into Jokic’s assists specifically as a superstar who averages a triple double.
Popular NBA subreddit R/NBA featured a top post today from user OurHorrifyingPlanet putting together nearly a full minute of questionable assists from Jokic solely in the first quarter. The timing is interesting since the scorers seem more favorable to Jokic early in games to help get his stats up quickly.
Jokic finished with 19 assists for the Denver Nuggets in their victory over the Dallas Mavericks, but the fan-made compilation soured some fans on his big night. The current pace of Jokic sees him likely to finish his second consecutive season with a triple double average. Jokic will join Russell Westbrook as the only player in NBA history to accomplish this multiple times. Oscar Robertson is the only other name on the list outside of Jokic and Westbrook.
Why NBA Scorers Inflate Jokic’s Assists
The human element of basketball often comes into play for scenarios like this. Jokic putting up triple doubles with relative ease makes that part of what fans come to see and expect from him. Stat scorers expect the same and likely favor Jokic to get the assist call on difficult plays more than the average player.
Past eras saw accusations made towards John Stockton getting favorable calls for both assists and steals. The legendary Utah Jazz point guard retired with a strong lead in the all-time lists for both steals and assists thanks to getting the benefit of the doubt on questionable plays.
Fans looked into some old Michael Jordan games and saw certain games with high steal numbers inflated with plays that could have gone to other teammates. The Chicago Bulls icon was the face of the league and received favorable steal calls. Jokic is not the first to have this accusation made about his stats, but it comes in the era of social media.
Will The NBA Make Any Changes?
Even evidence like this doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of the NBA. Jokic would still easily get his triple doubles without a handful of controversial assists, but it does factor into other issues involving the game.
The NBA has doubled down on gambling ads, and just about every stat has a wager associated with it. Other players missing out on assists or Jokic going over a certain prop estimate can cause gamblers to lose money and question the NBA ethics.
Teammates making their own plays were shown in the video compilation, but the box scores implies that Jokic set them up for the points via his assistance. The NBA likely won’t crack down on this since only a small minority is upset about it. However, a bigger issue or the story taking off in the playoff could see things getting stricter.
“That Name Is Taken”: NBA Legend Pushes Back on Caleb Williams’ ‘Iceman’ Trademark Bid
The world of sports branding is facing a sudden deep freeze (pun intended). The original ‘Iceman’ George Gervin has filed to protect his legendary moniker after one NFL star tried to stake a claim on it. Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears quarterback attempted to trademark the ‘Iceman’ nickname for himself. Within days, the NBA legend and his team responded with a stern reminder on who built the Iceman brand.
On March 16, Caleb Williams filed for four trademark applications on the Iceman name, a logo, and two silhouettes of his iconic jump pass to Rome Odunze. Reports claim he intends to build a Jumpman like brand around it. However, a 6’7″ obstacle stands in the way.
Within four days of Williams’ filings, George Gervin filed his own applications to protect the nickname. Gervin, who played in the NBA from 1972 to 1986, mostly with the Spurs, was bestowed the nickname by his teammate in 1973. He’d since been the only Iceman the sports world had known for five decades.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for [Williams],” Gervin told the Chicago Sun Times. “He’s already proved greatness and his potential upside is great. Like an ‘Iceman.’ But that name is taken. . . . All I’m saying is: Young fella, we’ve already got one ‘Iceman.’”
The 73-year-old has applied for trademarks for ‘Iceman’ and ‘Iceman 44,’ an ode to his jersey number. By all intents, he’s throwing ice (pun intended again) on Caleb Williams’ aspirations. And he’s got big backing in that.
Spurs stand on business for George Gervin
The San Antonio Spurs where George Gervin spent the majority of his legendary career was quick to rally behind their icon. They tweeted a picture of the Iceman himself on his icy throne, giving Ice King from Game of Thrones. It accompanied a definitive statement.
“there’s only one Iceman 🥶” declared the Spurs.
Williams earned his nickname only a year ago through a clutch performance in the 2025-26 Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Most don’t even know he had the Iceman nickname. The Spurs clearly are pointing that Gervin has held that moniker for a long time.
The nickname is so synonymous with Gervin that his business partner already thought he owned it. Jerald Barisano, president of Gervin Global Management, said he mistakenly believed the trademark was already officially registered. They’re are now relying on the US Patent and Trademark Office to recognize decades of established use.
If the USPTO rules in the senior Iceman’s favor, Caleb Williams will just have to find another ‘icebreaker’ (pun again) into the branding business.
Joel Embiid Predicted To Be In 2028 NBA Expansion Draft
Former MVP Joel Embiid could be one of the names available in the planned 2028 expansion draft for two new teams entering the league. The NBA is expected to bring basketball back to Seattle and debut a new team in Las Vegas to increase the overall league to 32 teams. An expansion draft will see franchises protecting a certain number of players and everyone else will be available to select from.
Sporting News forecasted that Embiid would not be protected from the Philadelphia 76ers due to his contract:
“Embiid will be in a similar situation as (Anthony) Davis. He’ll be making $67.0 million on the last year of his current contract. He’s been pretty good this season when healthy, but he barely plays right now at the age of 32.
By the time he’s 34, his health will have declined even more, and Philadelphia may be eager to get off one of the most overpaid players in the league. Embiid is a big name for Las Vegas that they can put on their marquee. He’ll make them competitive in the 40 games that he manages to suit up for.”
Philadelphia would likely protect younger players and talents on team-friendly deals in an expansion draft. Embiid making $67 million means they’d get free cap space if one of the new teams selects him to make an instant mark.
Why New Teams Would Select Embiid
Expansion drafts usually see the best talent protected, but it will be different in the NBA due to the cap restrictions and importance of financial flexibility. The recent WNBA expansion draft saw teams flat out protecting their best five players since everyone is paid within the same tier.
NBA protections will be far more surprising since each team will look at it through picking their best contracts. Embiid will only have one year left on his contract, and his star power could help a new franchise develop their fan base.
Las Vegas or Seattle would only have to take the risk for one season and hope to get the best version of an older Embiid. It is hard to see him falling under a 20 point per game average, even with the injuries and aging process. Embiid could help a franchise find relevance and convince future free agents to give them a chance.
Other Players Who Could Join Embiid
Sporting News forecasted Anthony Davis as the top overall pick in the 2028 expansion draft and the only name above Embiid. Other stars like Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Zach LaVine, and Andrew Wiggins stand out as other interesting names who could be involved.
All these names are strong talents, but they are aging stars of varying levels each getting paid a lot of money. Every franchise involved here could realistically opt to let them enter the draft and dare another team to pay off their contracts.
A lot can change in two years, so we won’t know the true names in the draft until the 2028 offseason. Las Vegas and Seattle will have some legendary names to choose from when forecasting ages and looking at overpriced contracts.
Deep End – Song by Joyner Lucas & NBA YoungBoy
Joyner Lucas and NBA YoungBoy reconnect on their new single “Deep End,” building on the chemistry they first tapped into on “Cut U Off.” This time around, the energy feels more elevated. They balance an anthemic feel with deeper, more introspective themes. The track touches on how music became a lifeline for both artists, while also diving into the pressures that come with success. They reflect on staying locked in on money, keeping their circle tight, and navigating the isolation that often comes with fame. There are also moments of vulnerability, with references to therapy, mental strain, and questioning whether they can handle everything life throws at them. Still, both artists circle back to resilience, turning their lowest points into motivation. They reference jumping off the
Mohamed Salah to MLS? The Latest on the Liverpool Legend’s Potential Next Move
Mohamed Salah is reportedly unlikely to move to Major League Soccer at the end of the 2025-26 season, despite repeated links to various clubs. Both Chicago Fire and San Diego FC had been floated as destinations for the Egyptian, but both seem unlikely at this point, according to the Athletic. Salah announced he will depart Liverpool at the end of the season on Tuesday.
Leaving Liverpool after becoming an icon
Salah revealed in a video Tuesday afternoon that he will depart Liverpool at the end of the season. That came as something of a surprise, given the Egyptian had penned a two-year contract at the end of the 2024-25 campaign – his most successful individual season to date with the Reds. Since then, a number of clubs around the world have been linked with bringing in the winger at the end of the year.
Why MLS clubs have been ruled out
MLS clubs, though, are not among them. According to
Still, there could be other clubs in the mix. New York City FC reportedly ‘won’t rule out’ an attempt.
Meanwhile, MLS Commissioner vouched for his signature at the SBJ Business of Soccer event in Atlanta:
Joe Gibbs Racing claims Spire Motorsports used stolen intellectual property
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joe Gibbs Racing accused rival NASCAR team Spire Motorsports of cheating by hiring its former competition director and using stolen intellectual property to improve its organization.
The accusation was made in federal court Thursday in JGR’s pursuit to prevent Chris Gabehart from working for Spire. The racing organization founded by NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is suing Gabehart and Spire in the Western District of North Carolina alleging Gabehart illegally took JGR data to Spire to make himself a more valuable employee.
Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls as coach of Washington’s football team, was in court Thursday alongside his daughter-in-law, Heather, who is co-owner of the race team.
Tom Melsheimer, attorney for JGR, alleged Thursday that Spire was motivated to improve after scoring just one Cup Series victory since its 2018 inception. JGR is one of NASCAR’s winningest organizations. Melsheimer noted that Spire has conceded 2025 was a disappointing season.
“One win gives them a motive to take short cuts, hire Gabehart and we think its cheating,” Melsheimer said. “Being behind gives them a motive as a struggling company seeking to gain an unfair advantage.”
Gabehart has admitted to photographing some data while still employed at JGR but denies sharing it with anyone. Spire has vehemently denied receiving any data from Gabehart and JGR has yet to provide evidence to support its claim that Spire is in possession of or using stolen information.
Melsheimer said outside court that JGR presented all the evidence it has Thursday. Spire attorney Lawrence Cameron said JGR has offered no proof to substantiate its allegations.
“JGR alleged that he had stolen their ‘secret sauce.’ They specifically said that Spire knew of and encouraged stealing of JGR’s secret sauce. … there just is no evidence,” Cameron said.
U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez heard nearly four hours of arguments Thursday as JGR seeks an injunction to prevent Gabehart from working at Spire as its chief motorsports officer. She then took about 30 minutes to consider a ruling before deciding she needs more time.
“I’m going to take this under advisement and dig my teeth into this, it’s really important to the court to get this right,” she said while noting that livelihoods are at stake. She extended until April 9 the temporary restraining order that Gabehart is currently under that prevents him from performing any of the duties he did for Gibbs at Spire.
The case is multi-layered in that Gabehart contends he was misled about his job responsibilities when promoted to competition director. He maintains his employment at Gibbs became untenable because of a frayed relationship with Gibbs’ grandson, Ty, who drives for the organization.
Gabehart and Gibbs began working on a separation agreement shortly after the 2025 season ended in November. It was during that period when Gabehart photographed data and created file folders labeled “Spire” and “Past Setups.”
He says the folders were for his own evaluation of whether or not to join Spire. His attorney on Thursday acknowledged Gabehart “screwed up” in photographing the data, but described Gabehart’s spreadsheets and documents as “just what he does; he’s a racing nerd, an engineer from Purdue.”
JGR during separation negotiations discovered Gabehart had improperly accessed data and hired a private investigator to catch Gabehart having lunch with Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson in December. Another image was shown in court Thursday of Gabehart sitting in the grandstands during Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway.
JGR last paid Gabehart on Nov. 10 of last year, three days after he photographed data. He was eventually paid a performance-based bonus but his regular paychecks were halted, which Gabehart interpreted as a breach of contract that allowed him to join Spire.
JGR maintains Gabehart was terminated for cause on Feb. 9 and is under an 18-month non-compete clause prohibiting him from working for another NASCAR team. Gabehart and Spire believe the non-compete is moot because Gibbs stopped paying Gabehart three months earlier.
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Chevy Star Distances Himself From Rick Hendrick as He Refuses to Help Out Chase Elliott & Co.
Spire Motorsports and Rick Hendricks – both Chevrolet cars, have had a technical alliance, which usually means helping each other throughout the season. Despite having legendary drivers like Chase Elliott and others in his alliance from Hendricks, Spire’s star driver has established his priorities, and it is not exactly helping the legends on the Hendricks team.
Carson Hocevar’s straight-cut words
Carson Hocevar’s aggressive racing style in the Chevy has divided opinion throughout his short career. Spire Motorsports is in a technical alliance with Hendrick, and so, there are expectations that he would help out the likes of Chase Elliott and his teammates, but that is not one of the priorities for Hocevar when he is in the car.
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“I don’t care who’s on the side of the car. I just care about where we are in the pecking order,” Carson Hocevar said when asked about battling other Chevy cars, especially from Hendrick Motorsports, on the field. “It doesn’t affect me if there are three Hendrick cars in front of me or three Hendrick Cars behind me.”
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The OEM introduced some changes to Chevrolet’s body. While it has not yielded a Cup Series win for Spire, Hocevar has liked what he has seen.
“It’s been great for us to get a new body and obviously I hit on it and be fast at Phoenix around top 10, and then same at Vegas,” said Hocevar.
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So far, it has been the Toyotas who have dominated this season, in terms of pure pace and performance. Chevrolet seems to be struggling so far, with not a single race win by any of their cars, but Hocevar has certainly been improving. He recreated his season’s best finish with a P4 at Darlington earlier last week.
The Chevys are expected to catch up soon, considering their performance in recent years, but if they don’t display consistency soon, things could slip out of their hands.
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Former NASCAR driver warns Chevrolet
The Chase format has been reintroduced for the 2026 NASCAR season. Although Chevrolet won last year with Kyle Larson outpacing Toyota’s Denny Hamlin in the final race, things could be different this year with the new format, according to former driver Kevin Harvick.
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“You’ve got to be in that top six to win this championship when the points reset,” said Harvick on his podcast. “So right now, Tyler Reddick’s put him in, himself in a fairly good position to be one of those six cars.”
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Carson Hocevar has elevated his racing this year and is currently 13th in the standings. If the regular season ended, he would be in the playoffs, but the goal has to be to further climb up the standings.
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His alliance mates from Hendricks are certainly all legends, and although he would not want to buddy up with them, taking advice from them to break into the top half would be wise. After all, Kyle Larson won the Cup Series title less than a year ago. The youngster has great potential and will be hoping to continue his good form at the Martinsville Speedway. While he has had two Top 4 finishes, a first Cup Series win will be what’s on Hocevar’s mind.
Baseball stadiums debut home-run foods for MLB Opening Day across US
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Major League Baseball is back — and with it, a new lineup of over-the-top ballpark eats are set to knock it out of the park.
Stadiums across the country this year are rolling out creative new menu items that go far beyond the traditional hot dog and peanuts, from seafood-loaded fries in Boston to massive, shareable street-food creations in Miami.
Food service giants Aramark and Levy, which operate concessions at stadiums across the league, are introducing new dishes, drinks and fan experiences designed to elevate the game-day atmosphere in 2026 with offerings that echo the over-the-top, Instagram-ready eats seen at this year’s Super Bowl, including a $180 burger and loaded crab nachos.
SECRET COUNTRY GETAWAY SEES BIG AMERICAN DEMAND FOR NOSTALGIC COMFORT FOODS
Aramark said it’s rolling out new food items, limited-time menu specials and souvenir cups across eight MLB stadiums this season.
Camp Hill boys tennis sweeps James Buchanan, remains unbeaten
Camp Hill boys tennis is still unbeaten after a 5-0 home sweep of James Buchanan in Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division action Thursday.
The Lions steamrolled through singles action, with Samuel Sachs, Hugo Poppy and Wyatt Lentz picking up victories over Zack Stoner, Eli Oberholzer and Garrett Grove, respectively.
In doubles play, Anderson Miller and Alex King defeated Brody Crone and Nick Rawlings while the team of Luke Longenbach and Ben Dade took down Leighton Bard and Nate Shaffer.
Camp Hill improves to 6-0 with the victory; James Buchanan falls to 2-5 with the defeat.
Hershey boys tennis steamrolls Northern in MPC crossover action
Hershey boys tennis steamrolled their way to a 5-0 home victory over Northern in Mid-Penn Conference crossover action Thursday afternoon.
The Trojans didn’t drop a single point in scoring action.
Gabriel Yuan, Max Laurore and Alexander Camp scored wins in singles play, defeating Jacob Yost, Patrick Miller and Zachary Spiece, respectively.
In doubles action, Jason Lyn-Sue and Brayden Ernest defeated Ben Miller and Zachary Wolfe while the team of Kyle Joo and Erik Eingert took down Vincenzo Pirozzi and Luke Pietropola.
In non-scoring doubles play, Camp and Ernest clamped Yost and Miller.
State College boys tennis sweeps Palmyra
State College boys tennis won each of its singles and doubles matchups Thursday, beating Palmyra 5-0.
Will Liu started the day with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Bohden Gingrich. Eric Liu took down Toby Fackler 6-1, 6-0. Evan Zhang beat Alfred Nazeeri 6-1, 6-0.
The team of Jude Cessna and Frank Hsu defeated Jack Wilson and Connor Brandt 6-2, 6-2. Dash Nealon and Henry Poole ended the day with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Tommy Stealman and Tom Hartman.
State College handed Palmyra its second loss of the season as the Cougars dropped to 4-2.
Trinity boys tennis dominates Susquehanna Township in MPC-Colonial play
Trinity boys tennis dominated its way to a 5-0 victory over Susquehanna Township in Mid-Penn Conference Colonial division action Thursday at Camp Hill.
Rowan Bayley, Nidhish Gereddy and Anderson Charland all scored singles win for the Shamrocks, defeating Emilio Sanchez, Brabim Rai and Anthony Bui, respectively.
In doubles play, Ben Zambotti and Ronan Blayney beat Ricky Zhu and Caleb Halfond while the team of Marcus Luisi and Donovan Bennett took down Caeser Rodriguez-Sanchez and Rai.
In non-scoring district doubles action, Bayley and Gereddy clamped Sanchez and Rai.
East Pennsboro rolls past Bishop McDevitt in MPC-Colonial boys tennis scrap
East Pennsboro boys tennis rolled to a 5-0 victory over Bishop McDevitt in Mid-Penn Conference Colonial division action Thursday afternoon at Enola.
Ian Aunkst, Blake Pasda and Brogan Barlup all scored wins in singles play for the Panthers, defeating Nathan Nacimales, Caleb Flannery and Denlario, respectively.
In doubles action, Jackson Carchidi and Connor Hacker defeated Lukas Hasenbuehler and Nick Hasenbuehler while the team of Elliott Bruhn and Tyler Nematka took down Jackson Judd and Sebastian Angelo.
Coco Gauff Compares Her Hat to LeBron James’ Mask in Miami
Coco Gauff’s team advised her to skip the Miami Open due to a shoulder injury sustained at Indian Wells. Of course, Gauff was not going to miss her homecoming. Despite still feeling discomfort, Gauff has shown incredible resilience throughout the entire tournament.
Today, she punched her ticket to the finals with a dominant win over Karolina Muchova: 6-1, 6-1. The only thing that looks off is Gauff’s latest accessory. The 22-year-old decided to wear the exact same New Balance hat in every match.
The Tennis Channel hosts asked Gauff about her decision to wear a hat in Miami.
Altoona Mountain Lions, Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers earn tennis wins
VANDERGRIFT — The Altoona Area High School boys tennis team improved to 2-2 Thursday with a 5-0 win over Kiski Area in scholastic action.
The Mountain Lions earned singles wins from Owen Wasovich, Dylan Batrus and Jude Brunhuber to go with doubles victories from the teams of Aiden Aiken and Avery Lanzendorfer, along with Sean Ratchford and Thomas Orr.
SINGLES: 1, Wasovich, A, def. Beck, 6-2, 6-3; 2, Batrus, A, def. Holm, 6-1, 6-2; 3, Brunhuber, A, def. Snedecor, 6-4, 6-0.
DOUBLES: 1, Aiken-Lanzendorfer, A, def. Johngarlo-Drum, 6-3, 6-3; 2, Ratchford-Orr, A, def. Thimons-Troya, 6-1, 6-4.
Records: Altoona (2-2).
Hollidaysburg rolls
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Hollidaysburg dropped just two games in sweeping past Clearfield, 5-0, in high school boys tennis.
Michael Waibel, Jacob Sidney and Cooper McAleer won in singles play, and Nolan Lloyd and Noah Breton, and Jacob Ferris and Evan Davies won in doubles play. Hollidaysburg moved to 6-0.
SINGLES: 1, Waibel, H, def. Liberatori, 6-0, 6-0. 2, Sidney, H, def. O’Link, 6-0, 6-0. 3, McAleer, H, def. Flanagan, 6-0, 6-0.
DOUBLES: 1, Lloyd-Breton, H, def. Rumfola-Opaliski, 6-0, 6-1. 2, Ferris-Davies, H, def. Harris-Ward, 6-1, 6-0.
Records: Clearfield (0-4); Hollidaysburg (6-0).
VOLLEYBALL
SC tops Altoona
STATE COLLEGE — The Altoona Area High School boys volleyball team dropped to 1-3, falling to State College, 25-21, 25-14, 25-12.
The Mountain Lions got nine assists from Max Coon, nine digs from Parker Huey-Kish, six assists from Caleb Terza and four digs from Logan Coldwell.
SERVICE POINTS
ALTOONA: Terza 4, Coldwell 3, Coon 2, Greenleaf 2, Huey-Kish 1, Keagy 1, Trimmer 1.
Records: Altoona (1-3), State College (1-1).
JV: Altoona, 25-16, 25-22.
Aryna Sabalenka Puts Fiancé on Blast at Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka punched her ticket to the semifinal round of the 2026 Miami Open after a dominant 6-4,6-4 win over American Hailey Baptiste.
Next up, she’ll face Elena Rybakina in a highly anticipated showdown at Hard Rock Stadium. Rybakina and Sabalenka have gone head-to-head 17 times. After Sabalenka defeated Rybakina earlier this month at Indian Wells, she holds a 9-7 career advantage.
While Sabalenka (No. 1) and Rybakina (No. 3) have become strong rivals, the Belarusian star enjoys playing against such a strong opponent. “I love it. I love it so much,” Sabalenka told the Tennis Channel.
“When someone pushes you to the limit, that’s when you grow, when you become a better player, and when you really test your level and your strength.
“We’ve played a lot of matches recently, and all of them have been battles, real shows. I’m super excited to face her again and can’t wait to step on court.”
The 27-year-old tennis star has been undefeated since she got engaged to fiancé, Georgios Frangulis. The Oakberry CEO proposed on March 3, and Sabalenka’s been glowing ever since. However, in an interview before her 21st WTA 1000 level semifinal, Sabalenka called out her future husband regarding her ring.
Aryna Sabalenka Wanted a Bigger Engagement Ring
While Sabalenka can’t wait to marry the love of her life, Frangulis apparently did not swing for the exact diamond she requested.
Speaking to the Broadcast Boys, she took a trivia quiz about herself. The host asks, “Sources estimate your engagement ring has how many carats?”
Sabalenka guessed, “12?”
“Correct,” the host answers. “Is that what you personally requested?”
“I requested 14, but I got 12,” Sabalenka said.
Even it’s not as big as she initially wanted, Sabalenka loves her ring. Speaking to WTA last week. When asked what brings sunshine into her life, she got “honest” and provided her answer in the following order: “My ring, my puppy, my family. Priorities, guys!”
The ring was created by Isabel Grutman, who detailed the stunning craftsmanship on Instagram. She captioned the video, “So happy and honored to have designed this engagement ring for such a special couple, @arynasabalenka and @georgiosfrangulis 🤍 Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness!”
The Tennis Community Celebrated Aryna Sabalenka & Georgios Frangulis’ Engagement
Sabalenka posted a video of the special moment Frangulis got down on one knee on Instagram. She wrote, “You & me, forever ♾️ 3.3.26 💍🤍.” The comments section filled with messages of congratulations from fellow tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, and more.
Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, commented, “Congratulations guys!!!! ❤️👏👏👏.” Amanda Anisimova added, “Omgggg 😍😭 congrats guyssss 🤍.” The Tennis Channel’s official account wrote, “Congratulations 🥹♥️ our hearts are so happy for you!!”
Sabalenka gushed in a second post, “I can finally call him something else… FIANCÉ 💍,” a nod to her previous comments about getting engaged. After winning the Brisbane Internationale title on January 11, she called out Frangulis for taking his sweet time to propose after two years of dating.
“Thank you to my boyfriend,” she told the crowd. “Hopefully, soon I can call you something else.”
Florida women’s tennis sweeps Alabama in emotional sister rivalry
Competing against family is never easy. For sophomore No. 39 Gabia and junior No. 73 Kristina Paskauskas, that is no exception. Playing on adjacent courts, with Gabia dressed in blue for Florida and Kristina in red for the University of Alabama, the two demonstrated similar strengths. But the night ended differently for the sisters.
Gabia watched her sister fall 6-3 and trail 5-2 to her teammate, graduate student No. 60 India Houghton, while she went on to sweep Alabama senior Maria Andrienko 6-4, 6-1.
The sisters played together at North Carolina State last year before transferring to their respective SEC schools.
“Now it’s different because we’re playing against each other, and that’s really difficult because there are lots of emotions,” Gabia said. “Seeing her go down in the match and then up in the match, it’s a little bit of a game of emotions for sure.”
The No. 15 Gators (11-4, 6-3 SEC) shut out No. 38 Alabama (12-5, 4-5 SEC) 4-0 Thursday at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
In doubles play, the Gators took two out of three matches. The No. 34 Florida doubles team, senior Xinyi Nong and sophomore Nikola Daubnerova, took a dominating 6-3 win over Kristina and freshman Addison Bowman, leading the entire time and leaving no room for the Crimson Tide to catch up.
The number three doubles team of freshman Lucie Pawlak and Houghton had a tied match 4-4 after trailing 4-2 earlier in the set. Florida was then able to pull ahead and take the match 7-5 against senior Maria Andrienko and freshman Amina Salibayeva.
The No. 2 pair of Brooke Black and junior Valery Gynina struggled to hold on. The Gators were down 2-0 early in the match against Alabama senior Klara Milicevic and freshman Karla Bartel. The Gators gained momentum and tied the match 3-3 and pulled ahead 4-3, but they were unable to close out, and Florida fell 6-4 in the match.
“We weren’t happy after the doubles,” said Florida women’s tennis coach Per Nilsson. “We had a few spots where we were flat and a few spots where we were making poor decisions.”
In singles play, the Gators decisively took three out of the six matches to go along with their doubles point, and there was no hope left for the Crimson Tide.
Along with Gabia, No. 105 Pawlak also clinched her match in a dominant 6-2, 6-2fashion against Alabama freshman Addison Bowman. Gator freshman No. 69 Daubnerova followed suit and won 6-3, 6-1 in her face-off against Crimson freshman Amina Salibayeva.
“India stands out to me,” Nilsson said. “She’s come a long way…I think she’s really figured out with us how she needs to play.”
Florida will spend the next two days training before it hosts No. 44 Mississippi State on Saturday at noon.
Red Land boys tennis scrapes past Mifflin County in MPC crossover action
Red Land boys tennis earned a tight 3-2 victory over Mifflin County in Mid-Penn Conference crossover action Thursday at Lewisberry.
Aiden Newlen and Logan Breneman earned wins in singles action for the Patriots (4-2) while Reese Hine and Luke Foltz secured a victory in doubles play.
Aiden French secured the lone singles win for the Huskies (3-2) while Wyatt Hubley and Colin Walker teamed in doubles play for a victory.
In non-scoring district doubles action, the team of Nic Duvall and Matt Vansickle defeated Newlen an Breneman.
Joe Gibbs Racing alleges Spire cheated with stolen data from former competition director
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joe Gibbs Racing accused rival NASCAR team Spire Motorsports of cheating by hiring its former competition director and using stolen intellectual property to improve its organization.
The accusation was made in federal court Thursday in JGR’s pursuit to prevent Chris Gabehart from working for Spire. The racing organization founded by NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is suing Gabehart and Spire in the Western District of North Carolina alleging Gabehart illegally took JGR data to Spire to make himself a more valuable employee.
Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls as coach of Washington’s football team, was in court Thursday alongside his daughter-in-law, Heather, who is co-owner of the race team.
Tom Melsheimer, attorney for JGR, alleged Thursday that Spire was motivated to improve after scoring just one Cup Series victory since its 2018 inception. JGR is one of NASCAR’s winningest organizations. Melsheimer noted that Spire has conceded 2025 was a disappointing season.
“One win gives them a motive to take short cuts, hire Gabehart and we think its cheating,” Melsheimer said. “Being behind gives them a motive as a struggling company seeking to gain an unfair advantage.”
Gabehart has admitted to photographing some data while still employed at JGR but denies sharing it with anyone. Spire has vehemently denied receiving any data from Gabehart and JGR has yet to provide evidence to support its claim that Spire is in possession of or using stolen information.
Melsheimer said outside court that JGR presented all the evidence it has Thursday. Spire attorney Lawrence Cameron said JGR has offered no proof to substantiate its allegations.
“JGR alleged that he had stolen their ‘secret sauce.’ They specifically said that Spire knew of and encouraged stealing of JGR’s secret sauce. … there just is no evidence,” Cameron said.
U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez heard nearly four hours of arguments Thursday as JGR seeks an injunction to prevent Gabehart from working at Spire as its chief motorsports officer. She then took about 30 minutes to consider a ruling before deciding she needs more time.
“I’m going to take this under advisement and dig my teeth into this, it’s really important to the court to get this right,” she said while noting that livelihoods are at stake. She extended until April 9 the temporary restraining order that Gabehart is currently under that prevents him from performing any of the duties he did for Gibbs at Spire.
The case is multi-layered in that Gabehart contends he was misled about his job responsibilities when promoted to competition director. He maintains his employment at Gibbs became untenable because of a frayed relationship with Gibbs’ grandson, Ty, who drives for the organization.
Gabehart and Gibbs began working on a separation agreement shortly after the 2025 season ended in November. It was during that period when Gabehart photographed data and created file folders labeled “Spire” and “Past Setups.”
He says the folders were for his own evaluation of whether or not to join Spire. His attorney on Thursday acknowledged Gabehart “screwed up” in photographing the data, but described Gabehart’s spreadsheets and documents as “just what he does; he’s a racing nerd, an engineer from Purdue.”
JGR during separation negotiations discovered Gabehart had improperly accessed data and hired a private investigator to catch Gabehart having lunch with Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson in December. Another image was shown in court Thursday of Gabehart sitting in the grandstands during Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway.
JGR last paid Gabehart on Nov. 10 of last year, three days after he photographed data. He was eventually paid a performance-based bonus but his regular paychecks were halted, which Gabehart interpreted as a breach of contract that allowed him to join Spire.
JGR maintains Gabehart was terminated for cause on Feb. 9 and is under an 18-month non-compete clause prohibiting him from working for another NASCAR team. Gabehart and Spire believe the non-compete is moot because Gibbs stopped paying Gabehart three months earlier.
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Kevin Harvick Highlights Key Advantage Behind Brad Keselowski and Co’s Resurgence as Ford Teams Fight Traffic Woes
While most Ford teams have struggled to keep pace with Toyota and Chevrolet in 2026, RFK Racing is the recent exception. Brad Keselowski and Co. have lately shown some signs of resurgence, and Kevin Harvick believes they should capitalize on a key advantage that worked for them recently at Darlington.
Kevin Harvick on RFK’s rise
In the recent Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Harvick shed light on how qualifying has to be given the utmost importance to run and finish in front of the pack. He mentioned that the RFK cars have speed but they lacked in qualifying all this while, and that’s why their results weren’t good.
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“He’s been in the trunk every week in qualifying and if you don’t qualify in the front of these races, you don’t get to make adjustments leading the pack, running in the front of the pack. Your car handles differently in the middle of the pack in the back of the pack, which is where they’ve been starting and it takes them all day to get to the front of the pack.”
Following this, Harvick further emphasized how Ford cars are inferior when running in the middle of the pack or in the dirty air when compared to Toyota or Chevrolet. But since the Keselowski’s and Chris Buescher’s cars qualified better at Darlington, they ran well there with cleaner air.
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“This week he started up front one of his best race tracks. RFK has run good there in the past and both he and Chris Buscher were really fast race cars. I think that Brad took advantage of Tyler having to go to the back of the field to, to make his pit stop for all the battery issues and, had going on and things that he had going on. But Brad was fast and, I think that the key for the six car is qualifying.”
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Notably, Kevin Harvick‘s concern about Brad Keselowski and other Ford drivers comes amid the recent struggles that Ford customers have faced in 2026. From Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Team Penske, to Wood Brothers Racing, there has not been anything exceptional on the part of Ford drivers except for Ryan Blaney’s victory at Phoenix and Keselowski’s P2 at Darlington.
This adds on to the manufacturing style of Ford, which makes its cars suited to straight-line speed, and this is why they perform better at tracks like Phoenix. In return, they struggle at road courses and short tracks, which brings more woes.
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However, Darlington, where Keselowski finished second and Buescher ninth, showed a positive sign for RFK Racing, and Ford. However, it is still not as optimal as Toyota teams, something Harvick reckoned.
Kevin Harvick lauds Toyota amid Ford’s rise
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Kevin Harvick, a driver who has driven for both Ford and Toyota during his racing career, has highlighted how Toyota has left everyone behind and improved drastically on all fronts. Speaking about it in the SPEED With Harvick And Buxton show, he said of 23XI Racing drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick:
“They have hit the balance at Darlington a little better than everybody else. But we’ve had a sample size — we’ve had a road course, two superspeedway races with Dayton and Atlanta, and our new short track package — and they’ve been good at all of them. I think that 23XI just has less going on this year. They’re still a pretty young team. I think that when you have that stability of everything that’s going on, and I think that Toyota has the best car right now.”
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Harvick’s comment comes amid Tyler Reddick’s astonishing rise in the Cup Series, where he won four out of six races, claimed four top fives, and five top 10s. Currently, he is leading the championship with 325 points.
Meanwhile, his teammate, Bubba Wallace, isn’t far either. With 205 points to his name and four top 10s, he is currently in third place in the standings.
Besides them, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin (a race win) and Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe have also shown sparks of brilliance from time to time. All in all, the Toyota drivers have been in a better place than Ford when it comes to the first six races of the season.
Tyler Reddick gearing up for win #5 this weekend
The NASCAR Cup Series is back in Virginia this weekend, with the Cook Out 400 on the half-mile short track at Martinsville Speedway.
Can anybody stop Tyler Reddick? is the question in the garage after Reddick scored his fourth victory in six races in 2026 last weekend at Darlington.
Not that it’s been wire-to-wire for the 23XI Racing star in any of his wins.
“You could say three of the four wins, we’ve had to fight through some level of adversity, whether it’s issues with the car, getting caught up in an accident, or having to hold off the field basically like in COTA,” Reddick said Sunday after his Darlington victory.
“For us to be put through these things, that in my opinion kept us from winning a year ago, to fight through these things, and then still win is very remarkable. It’s very fulfilling. It’s the stuff that, you know, you just got to kind of take a step back and say, Wow, that was incredible. Yeah, I’m definitely in that place right now. Just really proud of my team,” Reddick said.
Cook Out 400
Track: Martinsville Speedway (Martinsville, Va.)
Day/Time: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Reddick leads the season points race by 95 points over Ryan Blaney, with 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace in third, Denny Hamlin in fourth and Chase Elliott in fifth.
Hamlin drives for former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, but is the co-owner, with NBA legend Michael Jordan, of 23XI.
I keep bringing this up in my regular NASCAR columns, but it shouldn’t be lost here, that 23XI sued the pants off NASCAR over the charter system, and won in the settlement that ended the case last December.
And now, 23XI owns two of the top three spots in the standings, four of the six wins, and Hamlin, while driving for another team, is in the Top 5, and has one of the two wins that .
Karma.
Scott Speed Details Challenge of Formula One, NASCAR Transition
Scott Speed is one of few drivers in motorsports to make the transition from Formula One to NASCAR.
After two seasons behind the wheel in F1 in 2006 and 2007, the California native moved back to the United States to give NASCAR Cup Series racing a shot in 2008.
Paired up with Red Bull Racing, it was not an easy move for Speed. The now 43-year-old opened up about his transition from F1 to NASCAR in the most recent episode of “The Dale Jr. Download.”
Scott Speed on NASCAR transition: ‘It was different’
Across 2006 and 2007, Speed competed in 28 Formula One races. Speed posted an average finish of 15.1 across the two seasons.
As he discussed on Dale Earnhardt Jr. ‘s podcast, Speed felt he had answered his question of whether or not he was a capable F1 driver. Although he did not consider himself one of the best, such as Lewis Hamilton, Speed felt he had proven himself.
“For me, I had answered the question I had for myself, which is, ‘How good am I as a racing driver?’ I’m not Lewis, I’m not Nico, but I’m a good F1 guy,” Speed said.
After feeling like he had done everything he could do on the F1 side, Speed decided to move back to America and give NASCAR a try.
Speed knew very little about NASCAR and stock car racing as a whole. While he was familiar with the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Ernie Irvan, getting behind the wheel of a stock car was a completely different experience for Speed.
“It was different. I knew it was very different and it would be a challenge. I did grow up a little bit watching obviously [Dale Earnhardt], Ernie Irvan — I watched some stock car racing, but not enough to really have any grasp of what it was going to take or what the level was at all,” Speed said.
A look at Scott Speed’s NASCAR career
In 2008, Speed competed part-time in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Speed found success behind the wheel of a truck as he captured his sole NASCAR win. Piloting the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing truck, Speed wheeled his way to victory at the Dover Motor Speedway in 2008.
On the Cup side, it was a struggle for Speed. In five starts, the driver of the No. 84 posted a best finish of 16th in the season-finale race at Homestead. However, Speed posted a finish of 30th or worse in his other four starts.
Speed was promoted to full-time Cup competition for Red Bull Racing in 2009. The former F1 driver recorded a career-best fifth-place finish at Talladega.
Speed posted an average finish of 29th and finished 35th in the points standings in the ’09 campaign.
The 2010 NASCAR Cup Series season would be Speed’s final as a full-time driver. He posted two top-five finishes, an average finish of 25.1, and finished 30th in the points standings. Speed left Red Bull Racing at the end of the season.
Speed proceeded to make 42 more starts in the Cup Series from 2011-2013. His final NASCAR Cup race would end up being the 2013 Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
79-YO Historic NASCAR Track Prepares to Welcome Fans Again After Revival
People love nostalgia and revisiting the past, and NASCAR is no different. There have been many racetracks that have come and gone from the NASCAR calendar over the years. One such race track is the Salem Speedway, even though it hasn’t featured at the Cup level, the ARCA Series has visited it for years. With tracks as old as these, the ownership has changed hands several times. Now the latest owners have worked hard to revive the track and will welcome racing very soon.
How hard have the owners been working to revamp the venue?
The Salem Speedway, located in southern Indiana, has been a vital part of the racing community since the 1940s. Especially considering that the track was opened in 1947, after all these years, it would not have been in the best of conditions. In January, the track underwent a change in ownership with Melissa Middleton and Brent Harmon taking over control. Since the takeover, crews have been working hard to get the track race ready.
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“We still have a lot of stuff to do. We have been working almost 24 hours a day.” Middleton told WDRB. “A lot of people are glad to see her old glory brought back to life. They are glad to see somebody get it and put their heart and soul into it.”
From laying asphalt, painting, and finishing electrical work at the venue, a lot has been done to restore the track. All of this was to help prepare for the arrival of thousands of fans expected to attend races this season. That’s right, after the major revamp, fans will get to see some racing action at long last.
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Does the race track have any NASCAR history?
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Given its longevity, the 0.555-mile track has a lot of history on the racing scene, especially in NASCAR. Many well-known drivers have earned their stripes there, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Parnelli Jones. So what’s on the 2026 racing schedule at the Salem Speedway, and how excited will the racing fans be?
Apparently, the track is adopting a policy of, ‘If it has wheels, it can race.’ Aside from traditional stock car racing, other events featured at the Salem Speedway are school bus races, demolition derbies, and monster truck shows. The best part is that the fans don’t have to wait for too long, because racing season starts this weekend. From there, there will be frequent events running until the season ends on November 8th.
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Admittedly, the schedule isn’t exactly packed, as there will be 12 events throughout the year. Races include the inaugural Crown Vic Wars events, the Firecracker 200 Weekend, which will also boasts the first-ever High Banks School Bus Challenge. Aside from that, there will be the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial for the 500 Sprint Car Tour, the IHRA Late Model Sportsman and Pro Late Model Series. The track’s versatility will be on full display throughout the year as three drift events are also scheduled.
Even NASCAR is getting a piece of the action, thanks to the ARCA Menards Series. This will be the series’ 112th race at Salem Speedway, kicking off in September. All in all, the future looks bright for the newly-revamped Salem Speedway. With new owners, Middleton and Harmon already showing big ambitions for the track, Salem could become one of NASCAR’s premier tracks in the coming years.
Christopher Bell Leaves His Fate on “Luck” Days After Making Big Claims on NASCAR’s Horsepower Boost
Christopher Bell has been successful at the Bristol track, and he has agreed that it has been due to luck. With the NASCAR Cup series headed to Bristol soon, he will be hoping his luck works for him again. Although he made claims about increasing horsepower to make races skill-based, there is something different in Bristol that Bell has noticed.
Christopher Bell on the key ingredient to win Bristol
NASCAR has increased the horsepower on the cars at races this year, and drivers, including Bell, have welcomed this idea. Currently, 8th in the standings, he believes the increased horsepower will help facilitate drivers and teams better.
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“I love where we’re headed. I always think we could use more [Horsepower],” said Bell in a recent interview. “Hopefully, this is an indication we’re turning the right knob. The sky’s the limit, and if we continue to add the horsepower, we’re going to get right where we need to be.”
His feelings were echoed by a few other drivers and even legends of the sport, but just weeks after making huge claims about horsepower, Bell has pivoted to luck being a key factor in Bristol.
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“The other side of Bristol, the tire fiasco, Bristol, you just need a lot of luck, I got a lot of luck when I won that race,” claimed Christopher Bell.
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His claim’s have some truth to them as there have been six different winners at the track in the last six Cup Series races at Bristol. According to Bell, while cars and driver techniques are vital to any race, things seem to vary in Bristol.
“If you go and look at the data from all of the drivers across the field, all of us are really good at driving these cars and managing the tires,” he added. “It’s impossible to see driver technique differences that are going to save the tires… It’s just a lot of luck to win that race with how the tires go off.”
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Although all of the short-track races have seen huge tire degradation this year because of the increased power output in cars, Bristol has always had this problem, and it is largely because of the 9-inch-thick concrete. Unlike most NASCAR track surfaces, made from asphalt, Bristol features a concrete racing surface, which is great for grip but terrible for the tires. Even with the rising temperatures, the concrete does not soften up as asphalt does, which makes it difficult for tires.
This issue has only amplified with the Next Gen of Cup Series cars. Considering the wider tires, more of the rubber makes contact with the concrete track, and without a doubt, the tire degradation is worse. Moreover, the increase in horsepower this year will only make the situation much worse for the drivers, as they will have to do an extreme amount of tire management, but Goodyear is trying its best to help them out.
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Can Goodyear save the drivers’ weekend at Bristol?
One aspect of racing at the Bristol Motor Speedway is quite apparent: one cannot expect the organizers to change the entire track surface, tearing down years of history. But what if NASCAR’s tire supplier, Goodyear, were to take matters into its hands?
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Well, that seems to be the case for the 2026 race. As the news conference went ahead this week, some of the drivers participated in a closed wheel force test at the track ahead of the Food City 500. Corey Heim, who ran one race on the track with 23XI Racing last year, was one of the drivers who ran the test. He seemed genuinely impressed with the tire that Goodyear will bring for the race weekend.
“It’s a little different than what I experienced last fall,” Heim said. “The updated Goodyears for this spring certainly seemed a little bit more forgiving in the sense of tire wear and laid a lot more rubber than we used to. So it seems like they’re making some strides on the tires, and I’m definitely glad to be a part of it.”
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Heim, understandably, has a good idea about the tire wear here. He was one of the best at tire management when racing the #67 here last year, managing to clinch a top-10 finish (a sixth-place finish).
So, even though Christopher Bell feels that the race is more luck-based than skill-based, he could be in for a surprise at Bristol this time around.
A’s at Blue Jays odds
The A’s and the Toronto Blue Jays open their 2026 MLB regular seasons Friday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze MLB odds around the A’s vs. Blue Jays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
2025 season series: Blue Jays won 5-2
The A’s posted a 76-86 record in 2025, finishing in fourth place in the AL West. They managed a 40-41 record on the road, while posting an overall run differential of minus-84. The A’s went 14-17 against the AL East Division.
SS Jacob Wilson finished the season batting .311 which was tied for second in MLB. He added 13 HRs, 63 RBIs and a .800 OPS. He’s a cornerstone of this A’s lineup.
The Blue Jays posted an 94-68 record in 2025, finishing atop the AL East. They played in the World Series for the first time in 32 years, losing in in 7 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto were 54-27 at home, and they posted a plus-77 run differential overall in 2025. The Blue Jays went 19-12 against the AL West Division.
RF George Springer is coming off of a career season in 2025, finishing with a .309 batting average, belting 32 HRs, driving in 84 runs and posting a .959 OPS.
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A’s at Blue Jays projected starters
RHP Luis Severino vs. RHP Kevin Gausman
Severino (8-11, 4.54 ERA) made 29 starts in 2025. He had a 1.30 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 in 162 2/3 innings.
Pitched twice for Team Dominican Republic in World Baseball Classic (1-0, 2.45 ERA, 7 1/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 11 K)
Only 2025 start vs. Blue Jays: Loss, 4 2/3 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 8 K in 76 home loss July 1
Career vs. Blue Jays: 6-4, 3.86 ERA (84 IP, 40 R (36 ER), 1.25 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 in 19 appearances (16 starts)
2025 home stats: 6-2, 3.02 ERA (80 1/3 IP, 32 R (27 ER), 6 HR, 21 BB, 56 K in 14 starts
Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA) made 32 starts in 2025. He had a 1.06 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 193 innings.
2025 vs. A’s: 0-1, 5.59 ERA (9 2/3 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 13 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 9 K in 2 starts
Career vs. A’s: 2-4, 3.00 ERA (60 IP, 24 R (7 ER), 1.17 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 in 10 starts
2025 home stats: 5-5, 3.86 ERA (95 2/3 IP, 41 ER), 14 HR, 21 BB, 102 K in 16 starts
A’s at Blue Jays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:92 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): A’s +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Blue Jays -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): A’s +1.5 (-150) | Blue Jays -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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A’s at Blue Jays picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jays 5, A’s 2
Moneyline
I like the Blue Jays (-165) to win on Opening Day at Rogers Centre, but not at these odds.
Run line/Against the spread
BET BLUE JAYS -1.5 (+125).
The Blue Jays should get a major lift Friday at Rogers Centre while raising their AL banner. The lineup adds serious pop with 3B Kazuma Okamoto signed from Japan joining 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who’s had success (.357) vs. Severino.
Toronto’s offense is deeper and more explosive, while its pitching staff holds a clear edge. The Athletics are still developing after a 76-win season. With the energy, matchup edge and talent gap, this lines up well for a multi-run win.
Over/Under
PASS.
It’s tough to trust totals this early. Timing at the plate can lag on Opening Day, and pitching often has the edge early. There’s no official play here, but if you’re getting involved, the lean is toward the Under 8.5 (-105) based on the matchup and typical slow starts.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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Six MLB teams open 2026 season on March 26
Between the reigning AL champions and a pair of clubs looking to return to the playoffs after missing out last year, there are plenty of storylines to monitor on Friday. Here’s a guide to these six teams whose seasons begin today.
SP matchup: Luis Severino (ATH) vs. Kevin Gausman (TOR) — Severino will make his second straight Opening Day start with the A’s and the third of his career. Gausman will start his third career Opening Day but his first with the Blue Jays. He started in 2017 for the Orioles and in 2021 for the Giants.
See this new face: The Blue Jays were two outs away from winning the World Series last year and didn’t hide their intention to finish the job in 2026, signing Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers. For the A’s, their biggest acquisition was trading for long-time Met Jeff McNeil.
Note to know: This will be the first time these clubs face off on Opening Day since 1995-96. The Blue Jays won 13-1 in 1995 in Toronto and 9-6 in 1996 in Oakland.
SP matchup: Kyle Freeland (COL) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA) — Freeland and Alcantara will each extend their own franchise records by making their fifth and sixth Opening Day starts, respectively. Both also had relatively triumphant openers in 2025, as Alcantara made his quick return from Tommy John surgery against the Pirates (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K’s) and Freeland bounced back from a brutal 10-run outing against the D-backs in 2024 with six scoreless against the Rays.
See this new face: The Marlins will likely have their new No. 3 prospect, Owen Caissie — acquired via trade from the Cubs in January — in the outfield to start the year, hot on the heels of his fantastic showing for Team Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic (.412/.476/.765, one HR, 5 RBIs).
Note to know: The Marlins broke a four-year Opening Day losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Pirates in 2025. However, they still have the second-worst Opening Day record in AL/NL history (13-20, .394 winning percentage).
SP matchup: Cole Ragans (KC) vs. Chris Sale (ATL) — Although a left rotator cuff strain cost Ragans his entire second half in 2025, he’ll make his third straight Opening Day start for the Royals, becoming the first pitcher to do so for Kansas City in nearly 20 years (Gil Meche, 2007-09). Sale, the old hand, is receiving Opening Day honors for the seventh time in his illustrious career and for the second time as a member of the Braves.
See this new face: Neither team made major changes over the winter, but expect to get a first look at new Royals outfielder Lane Thomas, who played just 39 games due to injury in 2025 but hit 28 home runs two years ago for the Nationals. Unlikely to start against the left-handed Ragans, a potential option off the bench is Mike Yastrzemski, who signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Braves in December following an impressive 50-game run with these same Royals in 2025 (.839 OPS, 131 OPS+).
Note to know: New World Baseball Classic champions Ronald Acuña Jr. and Maikel Garcia — who are also cousins, by the way — although no longer teammates, have a shared flair for a strong opening. Garcia hit a leadoff home run on his first Opening Day in 2024, and although Acuña didn’t make his season debut until May 23, he also hit a leadoff home run in his first plate appearance of 2025.
Former New York Yankees All-Star Is Still An MLB Free Agent
DJ LeMahieu is coming off a season where he appeared in 46 games for the New York Yankees.
He batted .266 with two home runs, 12 RBI’s and 13 runs.
However, the 37-year-old was let go on July 10, 2025.
DJ LeMahieu Still Remains Available On Opening Day
On Wednesday night, the Yankees played their first game of the 2026 season when they beat the San Francisco Giants by a score of 7-0.
LeMahieu still remains a free agent who is available to sign with any team in the MLB.
LeMahieu’s MLB Career
LeMahieu was picked in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
He spent his rookie year with the Chicago Cubs before seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies.
During his time in Colorado, LeMahieu made two trips to the MLB All-Star Game.
In 2016, he batted .348 in 146 games.
LeMahieu then spent seven years playing for the Yankees.
During the 2019 season (he made the All-Star Game), and batted .327 with 26 home runs and 102 RBI’s in 145 games.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote (on June 30, 2019): “On June 22, DJ LeMahieu was hitting .316/.365/.467.
In the six games since, he is 18 for 28 with three HR, 13 RBI and a .643/.666/1.214 slash.
His season line today: .345/.392/.534 — almost 100 OPS points higher. And he is perhaps right behind Mike Trout in the AL MVP race.”
As for the current Yankees, they will continue action with two more games against the Giants on Friday and Saturday.
Pirates’ Paul Skenes Fires Message on Rough 2026 Opening Day
Right-hander Paul Skenes experienced the worst start of his Pittsburgh Pirates career on Opening Day to begin the 2026 season. Skenes allowed five runs and didn’t make it out of the first inning.
But he’s not panicking. After the rough outing, Skenes gave credit to the New York Mets and then pointed to favorable analytics to explain how he will bounce back.
“They did a really good job,” Skenes told reporters after Thursday’s start, via CBS Sports’s Julian McWilliams. “In the moment, maybe a little frustrating, just gotta execute earlier. They did a good job.”
Skenes retired just one of the first seven batters he faced. He struck out the eighth hitter, but then after the Mets lineup turned over following a hit-by-pitch, Pirates manager Don Kelly removed Skenes for a reliever.
In addition to the hit batsman, Skenes walked two hitters.
“I walked the leadoff guy,” Skenes added. “Didn’t execute with two strikes when I needed a punchout or a double play there. Yea, a few things.”
Skenes exited after giving up five runs. Still, the reigning National League Cy Young winner saw positives in the outing.
“You’ve gotta look at it for what it is, there wasn’t a ton of hard contact,” Skenes added. “Leadoff walk is not great. Some balls landed, the Polanco groundball. You know, stuff like that.
“The batting average on balls in play thing was super high today, that’ll go down as the season goes on.”
The Pirates fell in the season opener to the Mets 11-7 at Citi Field.
Paul Skenes on the Wrong Side of History on 2026 MLB Opening Day
It was an afternoon to forget for Skenes. According to the Peacock stream Thursday, the right-hander became the first defending Cy Young winner to not complete the first inning in his first start the following season.
Skenes allowed five runs on four hits. He threw just 37 pitches to nine batters before exiting. Skenes registered one strikeout.
The Pirates actually jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. That lead quickly vanished, though, after Skenes’s rough outing.
Behind some of the team’s key offensive acquisitions this past offseason, the Pirates scored seven runs. The team hit three homers, which was more than the Mets.
But Pittsburgh was unable to climb out of the first inning hole.
The outing was shortest of Skenes’s MLB career. Last year, his shortest start went 3.2 frames.
Skenes Gets No Support From Oneil Cruz in CF
The 2025 NL Cy Young winner didn’t have a good afternoon Thursday. But it wasn’t as bad as Oneil Cruz’s in center field.
If not for two blunders from Cruz, Skenes could have escaped the first inning with minimal damage and remained in the game.
On the hardest hit ball against Skenes, Cruz allowed the line drive to land over his head after he took a step in toward the infield. The hit landed for a 3-run triple.
The next batter hit a pop-up to center field. Cruz lost the ball in the sun, which resulted in a double.
Neither play counted as an error in the box score. But Cruz arguably could have caught both balls. The second one was a routine play.
That wasn’t the defensive performance the Pirates were looking for from Cruz to begin 2026. A former shortstop, the Pirates moved Cruz to center field hoping his athleticism would help him roam the outfield.
On Thursday, it didn’t look like Cruz belonged in center on an MLB field.
matchup, time, how to watch
“Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV is back for 2026! This season’s slate begins Friday night, as part of MLB’s opening weekend, with a doubleheader featuring a matchup between AL West rivals and a clash of 2025 division winners.
The big news for the Angels is that Mike Trout looks 100% healthy — he certainly showed that with a home run, a stolen base and three walks in his Opening Day performance. The three-time MVP is in his age-34 season, but he remains a must-watch star when he’s operating at full strength. The Astros, with longtime marquee stars Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez leading their offense, are looking to climb back atop the AL West after they were dethroned last year by the Mariners.
The Mariners fell one win shy of their first World Series appearance last season. Julio Rodríguez and 60-homer catcher Cal Raleigh will try to get Seattle over that hump this year, and their journey toward a pennant begins with a series against a Guardians team that has won the AL Central in three of the past four years. Face of the franchise José Ramírez is only 15 home runs and 12 stolen bases away from becoming the ninth AL/NL player with at least 300 of each.
With MLB and Apple continuing their partnership in 2026, Apple TV will once again be bringing baseball fans a weekly Friday night doubleheader. “Friday Night Baseball,” which includes live pre- and postgame shows, will stream exclusively on Apple TV and be free from local broadcast restrictions.
Yes. You need to have an Apple ID. Your Apple ID is the account you use across all your Apple devices, including your iPhone. Learn how to create a new Apple ID here.
Watch Minor League Baseball games for free in 2026
MLB.TV and MLB app subscribers can watch their favorite team’s Minor League affiliates in the app at no additional cost, while all MiLB games are available with the MLB+ package, on the web and in the MiLB app.
Plus — with or without a subscription — select, curated Minor League games featuring MLB’s top prospects are available FREE on MLB.com — at the top of this article — and on the MLB Pipeline and MiLB homepages. The MiLB Free Game of the Day will be available on MLB.TV as well.
1:05 p.m. ET: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY) @ Buffalo Bisons (TOR)
Yankees’ No. 6 prospect Spencer Jones ended last season on a tear at Triple-A and followed that up with a solid showing in big league camp this spring. The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder hammered 35 roundtrippers in 2025, including 19 in 67 games after his promotion to Triple-A. He’ll look to open the season strong for the RailRiders against RJ Schreck (TOR No. 9) and the Bisons.
4:05 p.m. ET: Syracuse Mets (NYM) @ Worcester Red Sox (BOS)
Jonah Tong (NYM No. 3/MLB No. 48) was named the MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year in 2025 after posting a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings over the top two levels of the Minors. After making his MLB debut late last season, he’s returning to Syracuse, where he only made two starts last year, to start this campaign. Tong will look to hold down a potent Worcester offense led by Mikey Romero (BOS No. 13), who set numerous career highs offensively last season.
6:35 p.m. ET: St. Paul Saints (MIN) @ Indianapolis Indians (PIT)
A star-studded matchup that contains four Top 100 prospects will be headlined by MLB’s No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin (PIT No. 1). Coming off a big league camp in which the 19-year-old wunderkind clubbed four jacks in 16 Grapefruit League games, he will anchor the Indianapolis offense against St. Paul, which features three of the Twins’ top four prospects — Walker Jenkins (MIN No. 1/MLB No. 14), Kaelen Culpepper (MIN No. 2/MLB No. 52) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN No. 4/MLB No. 74).
4:35 p.m. ET: Toledo Mud Hens (DET) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI)
How’s this for a Triple-A debut? Max Clark, the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 10 overall, is getting his first taste of the Minors’ highest level by facing … Zack Wheeler? The three-time All-Star will be making his first rehab outing as he works his way back from thoracic outlet decompression surgery, which ended his 2025 season early. Following Wheeler is expected to be Phillies right-hander Orion Kerkering, making his own rehab appearance from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.
1:05 p.m. ET: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) vs. Buffalo Bisons (TOR)
Carlos Lagrange (NYY No. 2/MLB No. 79) took the Grapefruit League by storm, throwing the two fastest pitches (103.1, 102.8 mph) in all of Spring Training. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was complimentary of Lagrange, but for now, he’ll continue to hone his electric repertoire as a starter in his first taste of Triple-A. He’s set to have a dynamic offense behind him, led by Jones and Jasson Domínguez, but Buffalo has a stout squad in its own right, led by Yohendrick Pinango (TOR No. 10) and Schreck.
MLB teams mostly positive after ABS System’s first games
CINCINNATI — Terry Francona had every reason not be a fan of the Automated Ball-Strike System, after the Cincinnati Reds’ 3-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
However, the longtime manager was taking the long view after game one of 162.
Francona saw a walk by Eugenio Suárez on a full count overturned to a strikeout in the fourth inning while Connor Phillips’ ninth-inning strikeout of Boston’s Roman Anthony — also on a full count — overturned to a walk.
Bo Nickal Debunks Colby Covington’s Claims About Never Getting a UFC White House Spot
Bo Nickal has fired back at Colby Covington after the former interim champion claimed he was never offered a fight against him on the UFC White House card. The disagreement erupted as ‘Chaos’ claimed the company only discussed the matchup briefly and never gave him a fair chance to face Nickal at the historic June event.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Covington stated that he was willing to fight anyone, but the Bo Nickal fight was not part of the White House plan.
“We can call Hunter Campbell right now,” Covington said. “I’ll put him on the phone right now. He never offered me Bo for the White House.
“I said I’d fight any man. I’d fight Bo. We can go any weight class. I asked him, ‘If I fight Bo, is this going to be on the White House?’ (Hunter said) ‘No, no, we only got limited spots.’ ‘ This is the exact words from Hunter.”
He further added that if not in the White House card, he isn’t willing to face Bo Nickal outside the welterweight division. After all, since the fiery back-and-forth at the Real American Freestyle press conference, Nickal has repeatedly called out Covington to fight him at 185 lbs.
“If you only have limited spots and I can’t fight Bo on the White House, I’m fighting at my normal weight class, Ariel,” he added. “I’m gonna fight at 170 because I only walk around at 185, 190.
“Why would I fight at middleweight against some nobody who’s never even been in the main event in his life, who’s a little privileged f—— a—— who just acts like the world owes him everything when he hasn’t earned anything?”
However, Bo Nickal responded quickly and completely rejected Colby Covington’s version of the story. Taking to X, the middleweight called him out directly and stated that the fight offer was real.
“Colby is a liar,” Nickal wrote. “1. There are text message receipts of him being offered the fight. 2. I saw him weigh in at RAF with my own eyes at 198 lbs. He will never fight me because he knows I’ll kill him.”
It’s worth noting that Bo Nickal’s claims may have some truth behind it. While the claims about text messages cannot be verified, ‘Chaos’ did compete beyond his usual welterweight limit in Real American Freestyle earlier this year. On January 10, 2026, at RAF 05, he faced and defeated Luke Rockhold in the promotion’s cruiserweight division, weighing around 190 pounds.
So, his argument about not wanting to fight at middleweight might sound less convincing to some fans. With both fighters missing the White House card, the back-and-forth has only added more tension to a matchup that many expected to happen.
Whether the UFC decides to book it later or not, Bo Nickal and Colby Covington’s public rivalry is unlikely to end anytime soon. But what we are sure will end is the 38-year-old’s all political character after years of controversy.
Colby Covington insists on calling time on politics
Colby Covington is dealing with more than just his feud with Bo Nickal. As previously stated, the veteran has been dealing with frustration outside the cage, particularly after missing out on the White House card, and this setback seems to have influenced his decision to step away from politics after years of building his image around it.
Speaking with Bloody Elbow, Colby Covington admitted that after President Donald Trump‘s current term ends, he intends to stop being involved in political campaigning altogether.
“I love Trump; he’s a great guy, but I’m not really political,” Covington said. “In the future, you won’t see me campaigning or actively involved in politics.
“I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. It’s a dirty game, and loyalty is never rewarded.”
Ilia Topuria Joins $1.5B Brand as First Combat Sports Partner Ahead of UFC White House
Ilia Topuria‘s star power continues to rise outside of the Octagon as well. Just days after the announcement that ‘El Matador’ will be headlining the historic UFC White House event, the lightweight champion landed a massive endorsement deal with luxury watch brand Richard Mille, a company valued at over $1.5 billion.
The announcement came through a cinematic promo released by the brand, which showed Topuria training while narrating his journey from boyhood to world champion.
“Discipline defines @iliatopuria, the new Richard Mille partner,” the brand wrote in the caption. “He combines an elite mindset, built on composed emotional control, with a powerful fighting style that has defined his identity and taken him to the very top of the sport.
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“A rise in power that serves a single purpose: self-happiness.”
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In the voiceover, ‘El Matador’ spoke about his early struggles and the mindset that drove his career.
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“I’m a professional athlete, a dreamer, and a normal person; at least this is how I consider myself,” he said. “When I was eight years old, my parents had to leave me and my brothers to come to Europe to find a better future for us. The difficult moments gave me the maturity that I feel that I have today.
“Every time that I doubt something, the only thing to keep it away is to work hard, to give the answers to the doubts. The thing that I want to achieve in this life, in reality, is happiness. No one said it would be easy.”
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Ilia Topuria is the first fighter from combat sports to join the Richard Mille roster, which has previously included stars from Formula One, tennis, and golf.
“Ilia is the first combat sports star to partner with Richard Mille,” the brand said after the deal. “The 29-year-old fighter’s quiet precision matches the brand’s understated technicality.”
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Ilia Topuria, too, couldn’t help but show his excitement about being a part of this massive partnership.
“I feel a lot of pride, because it’s huge—not only for me but for the entire fighting world,” Topuria said.
The timing of the deal is noteworthy, as ‘El Matador’ is preparing for one of his most crucial fights yet. The Spaniard is set to headline the UFC White House event in June, where he will face Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification fight.
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With the promotion positioning the card as one of the most important shows in its history, Ilia Topuria’s new partnership only strengthens his position as one of the sport’s top names today. However, some feel the main event fight would only put a dent in his career. Why? Because to them, it feels a bit too one-sided. But fret not, as Arman Tsarukyan has offered a solution.
Arman Tsarukyan’s master plan on making the UFC White House main event a competitive one
As mentioned earlier, not everyone believes that Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje will be as competitive as the UFC hopes. Some believe the champion has been overly dominant recently, and Arman Tsarukyan is one of the fighters who believe the clash will be one-sided despite the anticipation surrounding the White House card.
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Speaking recently, the No. 2-ranked lightweight claimed he doesn’t think Justin Gaethje would have much success against Ilia Topuria and even offered a strategy to make the bout more exciting. ‘Ahalkalakets’ joked that Gaethje should withdraw from the bout so that he could step in, claiming that a title fight between him and ‘El Matador’ would be significantly more competitive.
“I would recommend him to get injured during his camp and let me step up and get the title,” Tsarukyan told Red Corner MMA. “After that, he can fight me.”
Arman Tsarukyan has been demanding a title shot for months and has become furious after missing out on several huge opportunities. He even made weight as a backup for a previous title battle, but it didn’t help him get closer to the belt. With the White House event approaching without his name on the card, his words prove that he still believes he should compete for the title, even if it means waiting for a last-minute change.
What Is the Meaning Behind Lerryan Douglas’s Tattoos? Exploring the Stories and Origins of His Ink
Lerryan Douglas steps into the Octagon at UFC Seattle against Julian Erosa to make his debut in the promotion. Douglas arrives as a unified LFA champion, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai black belt, and a former national wrestling champion. That résumé suggests preparation. But here’s the thing: he’s still a newcomer to the UFC, and with that comes limited public insight into his personal life.
Which is why the details we can see, like his tattoos, start to matter more. They offer small clues about identity, roots, and what drives him as he begins this next chapter. So before he makes that walk in Seattle, let’s take a closer look at the ink he carries.
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What is the meaning of Lerryan Douglas’s chest tattoo?
Across his upper chest, just below the collarbones, Lerryan Douglas has a bold script written in a Gothic, Old English style. The lettering is sharp, heavy, and designed to stand out. At first glance, it’s not the easiest to read, but look closer, and it appears to spell ‘OLIVEIRA’.
His full name is Lerryan Douglas Oliveira, and the tattoo likely represents his family name, something deeply tied to his Brazilian roots. His journey is a reflection of the same.
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“I was born in a small town in Brazil called Paranaguá, around 50 minutes from Curitiba (the capital). I moved to Curitiba for training at the age of 15 and became a professional fighter at 18 in 2013 when I did my first professional fight,” Douglas explained in his UFC.com Q&A. “In 2023 I moved to the US.”
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That’s a lot of transition in a short time. And through all of it, the name stays constant. In Lerryan Douglas’ case, it likely signals pride in his surname and where he comes from. But the chest piece isn’t the only detail worth noting. There’s more, even if information around it remains limited.
Are there any other tattoos on Lerryan Douglas’s body
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Since Lerryan Douglas is still new to the UFC, there isn’t a deep archive of interviews or breakdowns about his tattoos. However, from available visuals, a few additional designs stand out.
On the side of his neck, there’s a black-and-grey flower, most likely a rose. It’s shaded with defined petals and a clean outline. Then there’s his left arm, which features a full sleeve tattoo. The standout element appears to be a large animal face, while surrounding patterns resemble scales or feather-like textures.
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Near his waistband, there’s also a smaller script tattoo. It’s written in a cursive style, but the exact wording isn’t clearly visible. As UFC Seattle approaches, Lerryan Douglas steps into a new level of competition. His record, titles, and background suggest he’s ready. But debuts are unpredictable, especially against a fighter like Julian Erosa, who thrives in chaotic fights.
What Is the Meaning Behind Yousri Belgaroui’s Tattoos? Exploring the Stories and Origins of His Ink
After visa issues pushed his first Octagon appearance back, Yousri Belgaroui finally stepped in at UFC Fight Night 262 and stopped Azamat Bekoev via third-round TKO. For a fighter who entered as the underdog, that result flipped the narrative instantly. Now, on March 28 at UFC Seattle, Belgaroui returns against Mansur Abdul-Malik with momentum behind him.
And if you look at his combat sports background with multiple Glory title challenges, world and European titles in kickboxing, it’s clear this isn’t a typical newcomer adjusting to the big stage. But while his résumé tells one story, his appearance tells another. Yousri Belgaroui keeps things minimal when it comes to tattoos. In fact, one piece stands out above all, and it raises a simple question. What does it represent?
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What is the meaning of Yousri Belgaroui’s chest tattoo?
Yousri Belgaroui has a tattoo of a leopard’s face across his pectoral muscle. It’s not a full-body design or an abstract pattern, just the face, frozen in a snarl, mouth open and teeth exposed. The expression is direct, aggressive, and intentional.
Now, Belgaroui hasn’t publicly explained the meaning behind it. But if we delve deeper into the traditional meaning behind it, a leopard typically represents speed, precision, and controlled aggression. That description aligns closely with Belgaroui’s striking base. Coming from a high-level kickboxing background, he doesn’t waste movement. He picks moments, commits, and finishes when openings appear.
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And we saw that in his UFC debut. He didn’t rush the finish against Bekoev. The ‘Baby Face Assassin’ built toward it, round by round, before closing the show in the third. There might also be a personal layer behind it.
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”To provide, protect, and be present for my family first,” was his answer when asked about his motivations beyond fighting in his UFC.com Q&A. So maybe the tattoo may not just reflect how he fights, it could also represent responsibility.
Are there any other tattoos on Yousri Belgaroui’s body
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From everything visible across fights, interviews, and public appearances, the answer is no. Yousri Belgaroui appears to have just that one tattoo. No full sleeves, no additional script, no hidden designs that stand out during competition. In a sport where many fighters use tattoos to tell layered personal stories, Belgaroui’s approach is noticeably restrained.
And that minimalism stands out. As UFC Seattle approaches, Belgaroui steps into another opportunity to define himself. His debut showed he can handle pressure. His background shows he belongs at this level. Now the question shifts: Can he build consistency?
Fans Roast Sean Strickland After Alex Pereira Dominates in Viral Sparring Clip
Sometimes, sparring footage is just gym content. A few punches, some laughter, nothing serious. And then a short clip shows up online, and everyone starts talking about who looked terrified, who looked bigger, and who shouldn’t have agreed to spar in the first place. That is exactly what happened when a video of Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland training together went viral.
The two former rivals were going at it in the final seconds of a round, and fans instantly noticed that ‘Poatan’ completely dominated it all. So, before you know it, what was supposed to be light sparring quickly turned into another moment that the internet couldn’t stop talking about. And this time, ‘Tarzan’ ended up catching most of the jokes.
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Fans compare Sean Strickland’s sparring with Alex Pereira to his past gym beatdowns
In the clip, Alex Pereira begins to open up with strikes late in the round, forcing Sean Strickland to stay defensive until the action stops.
“He got me to drop my hand,” Strickland says as he laughs it off. “At that moment, I just said, ‘Nah, dude, we’re done.’”
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He even mocked the situation, imitating Alex Pereira’s promise of going light in this sparring round.
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“It’s light… we’re just gonna spar light,” Strickland mimicked.
But ‘Tarzan’ talking about sparring lightly? That did not sit well with fight fans. So, as expected, many quickly brought up Sean Strickland’s other sparring sessions, particularly those in which he went full power against influencers.
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“Notice how light he’s throwing with Alex compared to everybody else he spars with,” one fan wrote. Another added, “He wanna be tough with Sneako though,” referring to the controversial gym session in which Strickland bloodied the streamer despite towels being tossed in to stop him.
More joined in, bringing up the infamous sparring clip from 2024, as fans mocked Sean Strickland for begging for mercy. One fan wrote, “Sean is so p—-; he will go all out against Sneako but tuck his tail when sparring Alex 😂😂😂😂.” A fan added, “He wanna be tough w Sneako, though.”
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Several reactions focused on Alex Pereira’s size. Fans couldn’t ignore the Brazilian’s much bigger appearance since moving up to heavyweight, as he gears up to face Ciryl Gane for the interim title at UFC White House. “Look at the size difference. To think they once fought at 185 is crazy,” one comment read, while another said, “Alex looks massive. Must be nice not cutting weight anymore.”
More chimed in, as it got too hard to ignore the clear change in appearance. A fan wrote, “We look thick as FUHHHK,” while another added, “Bro, Poatan is fat as f—. ” Fat or not, there is no denying that this version of Alex Pereira surely looks scary, at least when standing next to Sean Strickland.
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There were also plenty of fans impressed by Alex Pereira’s form, especially his head movement that looks insanely fast for a heavyweight. “HW division is in trouble if he keeps moving like that.” One person said, while another joked, “He looks like he has even more power now.”
It’s quite amusing how these moments always circle back to their history. It’s amusing how these situations always go back to their past. ‘Poatan’ knocked Sean Strickland out cold in their UFC 276 fight back in 2022, and while they’re friendly now, videos like this remind fans why that result wasn’t a surprise.
And to be honest, even Alex Pereira isn’t too keen on forgetting his past fights as well, as ahead of his White House clash, he decided to honor one of his biggest rivals, Israel Adesanya, ahead of UFC Seattle.
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Periera puts one of the greatest MMA rivalries to an end
That old knockout over Strickland isn’t the only fight Alex Pereira still thinks about. As he prepares for another pivotal moment in his career, ‘Poatan’ also had time to look back on the rivalry that defined a big part of his journey: the one with Israel Adesanya. And this time, there was no trash talk or tension, just respect.
Ahead of Israel Adesanya’s return at UFC Seattle, the Brazilian powerhouse posted a message on Instagram, along with a video of his knockout loss at UFC 287, in which ‘The Last Stylebender’ finally got his revenge. Instead of ignoring it, Alex Pereira leaned into it.
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“Saturday is fight night once again,” he wrote. “Much respect to Israel Adesanya — we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey.
“That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter but as a man. I grew, matured, and used it as fuel to reach a higher level in the sport and in life.”
He further wished him well for his upcoming fight.
“Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there,” he added. “The years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best.
“We keep evolving. See you at the top, CHAMA.”
After years of knockouts, rematches, and one of the most passionate rivalries in combat sports, it looks like both men have finally moved on — even if fans never really will.
Joe Pyfer Sides With Israel Adesanya in 185lbs GOAT Debate, Downplays 3-Fight Losing Streak
The UFC is set to make its fifth trip to Seattle, headlined by Israel Adesanya returning from a year-long layoff to face Joe Pyfer in the main event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28th. The former two-time middleweight champion enters the bout looking to snap a difficult run of form, having dropped his last three fights. Adesanya hasn’t recorded a win since April 2023 and currently stands at 1-4 in his last five appearances dating back to November 2022.
Heading into fight week, Adesanya is fully aware of the narrative surrounding the matchup, one that positions him as a potential stepping stone for Pyfer’s rise in the division. While such scenarios are common in combat sports, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is far from ready to fade away. Even Pyfer himself has acknowledged the magnitude of the moment and the legacy of his opponent.
Speaking during the UFC Seattle media day, ‘Bodybagz’ reflected on Adesanya’s standing in the sport and didn’t hold back in his praise, even placing him above Anderson Silva in the middleweight GOAT debate. He said, “He’s the greatest middleweight of all time in my opinion.”
Pyfer added, “It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great privilege to be able to do what I do and be able to say that I fought one of the best in the world, so I really look at this as a win-win. I’m honored that I got this opportunity. Could have been anybody else, but it’s me.”
The GOAT conversation at 185 pounds has long been dominated by Silva and, more recently, Adesanya following his title reign between 2019 and 2022. ‘The Spider’ built one of the most iconic runs in UFC history, holding the belt for 2,457 days from 2006 to 2013, defending it 10 consecutive times, and setting the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history with 16.
Adesanya, widely viewed as the next evolution of Silva, symbolically received the torch after their clash at UFC 234. He went on to capture interim gold at UFC 236 in a now Hall of Fame bout against Kelvin Gastelum, before unifying the titles against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in front of a record-setting 57000+ crowd in Melbourne.
During his reign, Adesanya successfully defended the belt five times against top contenders, including Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Jared Cannonier, further cementing his place among the division’s elite. Statistically, Adesanya’s resume remains among the most impressive in middleweight history.
He is one of just 14 fighters in UFC history to capture an undisputed title while undefeated and stands as the only middleweight champion to achieve two separate title reigns among that group. His eight victories in middleweight title fights rank second all-time behind Silva’s 11, while his 13 knockdowns in the division are tied with Silva for the most in history.
Notably, his four knockdowns against Gastelum at UFC 236 remain the single-fight record in a UFC title bout. Additionally, Adesanya’s eight fight-night bonuses at middleweight are tied with Romero for the third-most in divisional history, trailing only Silva (12) and Whittaker (9).
While Joe Pyfer holds immense respect for both Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva, he believes Adesanya’s success in the modern era gives his résumé the edge. He said, “I just think if you look at Anderson Silva, who was also one of the best, I think the modern era of the MMA fighter is now, and from year-to-date, I think Israel has beaten the more complete MMA fighters.”
Expanding on that point, Pyfer referenced names like Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar, suggesting that while they were elite in their time, they don’t quite compare to the level of competition Adesanya has faced during his prime.
He explained, “Just the way that he did it, I think he was so dominant. Obviously, Anderson Silva was, but no disrespect to guys like Stephon Bonnar or Forrest Griffin or Rich Franklin, but they weren’t at the level that I think MMA fighters are today, so that’s why I tip the cap to Israel as the greatest middleweight of all time.”
Joe Pyfer Shrugs Off Israel Adesanya’s Slump Ahead of UFC Seattle, Cites Elite-Level Opposition
Despite Adesanya’s current three-fight skid, Pyfer was quick to dismiss any notion that the former champion is no longer a serious threat. He drew parallels to Silva’s late-career struggles, noting how quickly narratives can shift in MMA. Silva famously lost his middleweight title to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 before suffering a devastating leg injury in their rematch at UFC 168, setbacks from which he never fully recovered.
The Brazilian later saw a comeback win over Nick Diaz overturned to a no-contest after a failed drug test and ultimately retired in 2020 with just one win in his final six fights. Adesanya, meanwhile, is enduring the toughest stretch of his career, having not secured a victory since his knockout win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
Even so, Pyfer insists the criticism surrounding Adesanya is overblown, especially given the level of competition he has faced. He said, “I know everybody’s like, ‘Hey, he lost four of his last five,’ but three of his three-fight skid is literally No. 1, I think it’s [Nassourdine] Imavov, No. 2 is ‘DDP’ [Dricus du Plessis], and then what, No. 3 is [Sean] Strickland. All three of the guys that he lost to are still above him, and he’s No. 4 now, so give the guy some grace.”
Unfazed by Adesanya’s recent form, Pyfer emphasized that he’s approaching the bout with a clean slate and a singular focus on victory. He said, “He’s done a lot in this sport. I’m not going to sit there and pretend like that’s motivation for me because he’s on a three-fight—It’s a record. I don’t care about his record.”
He concluded with, “As far as I’m concerned, I’m 0-0 against him. He hasn’t beat me, I haven’t beat him. This is a totally different fight, totally different challenge, and the reason I believe that that is true is because I have an equalizer in both of my hands that God has given me a gift that I can beat any man on any given night, just don’t get clipped. So I don’t make too much of his losses, I think he’s still one of the best.”
Israel Adesanya could break Anderson Silva’s longstanding record in 15th main event at UFC Seattle
Israel Adesanya is closing in on another UFC record and he could break it this Saturday.
This coming Saturday, the former UFC middleweight champion returns to action after over a year out when he takes on Joe Pyfer in the UFC Seattle main event.
”The Last Stylebender’ has had a tough time in the cage as of late, and he will be hoping to break his three-fight losing skid with a win over his heavy hitting opponent.
Having been a permanent fixture in the middleweight rankings since his debut in the promotion, Israel Adesanya is closing in on another UFC record.
Adesanya could break Anderson Silva’s knockdown record at UFC Seattle
Win or lose on Saturday night, Adesanya could break Anderson Silva‘s longstanding record of the most knockdowns in the middleweight division.
The pair are currently tied with 13 knockdowns each, meaning one knockdown of Pyfer during his UFC Seattle main event, and Adesanya will overtake the all time great.
In his last three fights, the 36-year-old has failed to score a knockdown, and has suffered two himself.
With that, he will be hoping to return to the form that saw him set the record for the most amount of knockdowns in a UFC title fight when he and Kelvin Gastelum put on a Hall of Fame fight in 2019.
In fact, just over 53% of Adesanya’s knockdowns came in just two fights against Gastelum and against Derek Brunson, when he knocked Brunson out in the first round of their clash.
Depending on his performance, Adesanya may also find himself overtaking Sean Strickland with the longest average fight time in the division, currently just 42 seconds behind his former rival.
If the Nigerian can land a knockdown on ‘BodyBagz’, he will likely see his record stand for a long time as the only other active middleweight in the top 10 is Gregory Rodrigues, who has 7 knockdowns in the division.
Ahead of the 15th UFC main event of his career (Adesanya becomes just the fifth fighter to achieve that number behind Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz), he has admitted he may not have many more fights left in his career.
Israel Adesanya Puts Khamzat Chimaev’s Middleweight Future in Doubt After Massive Leak
The statement quickly caught attention, considering ‘Borz’ is scheduled to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 in May. If the champion is seriously considering moving to light heavyweight, the upcoming fight could be his final appearance at 185 pounds.
The timing of the claim is equally interesting, as Israel Adesanya prepares to return to the Octagon after more than a year away. ‘The Last Stylebender’ will go one-on-one against Joe Pyfer this weekend in Seattle, hoping to end a three-fight losing streak that began after he lost the crown. While he is not currently in the title picture, any change at the top of the division could allow him to claw his way back into contention.
Khamzat Chimaev won the middleweight title last year with a convincing victory over Dricus du Plessis. However, soon after becoming champion, the internet was abuzz with rumors that he may eventually move up in weight, particularly given his size and previous issues with weight cuts in his career. Now, Adesanya’s latest comment has only added more fuel to those rumors.
If the move occurs, the outcome of UFC 328 becomes even more crucial. A win for Khamzat Chimaev might result in him vacating the title and chasing a second light heavyweight belt, while a loss would result in Sean Strickland taking the title instead, giving fans a rematch after ‘Tarzan’ delivered a massive upset at UFC 293 by dethroning ‘The Last Stylebender.’
In any case, Israel Adesanya’s leak signals that the middleweight division is about to undergo a massive shake-up pretty soon. And the UFC 328 title fight becomes one that surely decides the entire fate of the division. So, who will win the clash? Well, that’s up to fate to decide. But if ‘Izzy’ is to be believed, you can’t count Sean Strickland out.
Israel Adesanya breaks down Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev
As mentioned earlier, Israel Adesanya believes the UFC 328 title fight might determine the future of the middleweight division, particularly if Khamzat Chimaev moves up with or without the title. As a result, the former champion is closely watching the matchup and isn’t convinced that the outcome will be one-sided. ‘Izzy,’ who has fought Sean Strickland before, understands the challenger’s ability to pull off another upset.
“I think he (Strickland) can (beat Chimaev) if it goes to the later rounds and he doesn’t get taken down,” Adesanya said in a recent interview with Paramount. “But again, Chimaev is a bat out of hell.
“He’s a guy who comes aggressively straight away. Strickland can match that probably, but we’ll see.”
Lerone Murphy Isn’t Convinced He Lost, And Wants Movsar Evloev Again
There’s a lot of talk going on social media about the Lerone Murphy vs. Movsar Evloev fight. Fans and UFC stars believe Murphy won the fight, or the fight could’ve been given as a draw. But the English fighter initially thought he lost the fight, though after rewatching it, he changed his mind.
The 34-year-old fighter isn’t fully convinced he lost to the Russian fighter and believes the fight was much closer than the judges scored. ‘The Miracle’ feels he did enough early in the fight to win, or at least secure a draw. In his recent video, Murphy said:
“I believe I won the first three rounds… at worst it was a draw. Movsar will probably fight for the title next. Maybe we run it back for the belt.”
Now, Murphy acknowledged that the 32-year-old will likely get the next title shot, but he’s already thinking ahead. The English fighter aims to secure a rematch and defeat him. But fans are still unsure whether Evloev will get a title shot, as Jean Silva is also in talks.
Movsar Evloev Insists Dana White Give Him the Title Shot Now
Fans thought a knockout or a submission would come in the main event of UFC London, but fans saw a close fight between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. Evloev won the fight via majority decision, but even after his win, his title shot isn’t yet secured, as Jean Silva is getting attention online.
With talks also around Silva being in the mix, the Russian fighter made his stance very clear. In the post-fight octagon interview, Evloev said, “UFC, there is no excuse to don’t let me fight for the title. I have nothing to say.”
Cleveland Browns officially modify Myles Garrett’s contract
Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, started his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
He was the No. 1 overall pick for the Browns in that 2017 draft, and the Browns are hoping he’ll finish his career in Cleveland.
That’s why they gave him a four-year contract extension worth $160 million. He’s slated to be in Cleveland through the 2030 season, when he’ll be nearly 35.
Garrett very well could end up as a Brown for life, so it’s not all that surprising that he agreed to modified language in the aforementioned contract that will help out the Browns a bit.
That agreement became official on Wednesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.
Per Yates, the option bonuses in Garrett’s contract from 2026 through 2028 will be pushed back to seven days before the regular season of each of the respective campaigns. Previously, they were to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year (which would be in late March).
The Browns modified the payment of those option bonuses to benefit Garrett, and they also changed his $8 million salary in 2029 and 2030 into roster bonuses that will be due early in each of those respective league years.
Cleveland Browns get some cap flexibility by modifying Myles Garrett’s contract
These changes allow the Browns to be a bit more flexible with cap space moving forward, and that’s important considering how much salary cap space Garrett’s contract is taking.
He’s set to count about $24 million against the cap in 2026, but that number balloons to nearly $65 million by 2029.
Garrrett is well worth it, of course.
Last season, he set the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23. He’s a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time All-Pro and one of the greatest to ever rush the passer in NFL history.
Heading into 2026, Garrett already has 125.5 career sacks.
Giants Have No ‘Red Flags’ for ‘Hall of Fame’ Draft Prospect
John Harbaugh believes there’s a Hall-of-Fame worthy talent in the 2026 NFL draft class, and the New York Giants don’t have any red flags about potential injury concerns for the player worthy of being the fifth-overall pick.
Harbaugh “and area scout Brendan Prophet had an extended conversation with Caleb Downs at Ohio State’s Pro Day. The standout safety is in the discussion for the fifth pick,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The latter also noted how “Harbaugh was there with a large contingent that included (among others) GM Joe Schoen, owner Chris Mara, player personnel director Tim McDonnell and assistant GM Brandon Brown” on Wednesday, March 25.
Any conversation between the Giants and Downs has significance because of how highly Harbaugh regards the safety. The man who spent 18 years as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens has already dubbed Downs a “potential future Hall of Fame safety,” during an appearance on “The Mike Francesca Podcast” back in February.
It’s lofty praise from an informed source, but the hype around Downs could be dimmed by any further chatter about his injury history. Talk he addressed during the Buckeyes’ pro day.
Fortunately, the Giants have already made their own assessment of Downs’ knee, and it’s a positive verdict.
Giants Not Fazed by Caleb Downs Injury Talk
Downs sought to ease any concerns about his injury history when speaking with reporters, including Matt Kellner of Ohio State Athletics. The 21-year-old explained, “That’s not what my medical says. That is what it is. I don’t really know who gave him that information, whoever that dude is, but it is what it is. So, I mean, just continue to do me. I can’t control what people say.”
Those words were a reference to a report originally from Cory Kinnan of Daft on Draft. The article is no longer found at its link, but it had detailed a “degenerative ACL” issue in Downs’ knee, a speculation since refuted by “a source close to Caleb Downs,” who told Raanan’s colleague Ryan Clark, “Multiple team doctors confirmed that they had no concern over his medical eval and his draft grade will not be affected at all with them.”
A similar assessment was also offered by ESPN’s Pat McAfee. He reported how numerous pro teams “told us that there is NOTHING in the medical that would deter them from brining him in.”
The Giants are among those NFL suitors for Downs not worried about his knee. That’s according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who revealed, “I haven’t heard of Downs’ knee causing any red flags for the Giants.”
Maybe the Giants aren’t worried because, as JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports noted, Downs “Missed 0 games in 3 years of college football.” Rather than listening to rumors, it sounds like the Giants instead prefer to follow the popular sentiment they will have Downs at or near the top of their board for Round 1.
He’s a good fit, based on Harbaugh’s history of building defenses around multi-faceted safeties.
John Harbaugh’s History Bodes Well for Safety Pick
Harbaugh knows the value of a safety who can perform multiple roles at every level of the field. He routinely had that type of playmaker on the back end in Baltimore, history detailed by Albert Breer of the MMQB.
Breer pointed out how “The Ravens defense that John Harbaugh helped reshape in Baltimore with Wink Martindale, and will have Dennard Wilson run in New York, leans on football-brilliant safeties (Eric Weddle, Kyle Hamilton) to bring schematic flexibility. Caleb Downs’ biggest strength: Football IQ.”
The Giants have had a hard time finding a safety who might fit the Harbaugh blueprint. High-priced free agent Jevon Holland couldn’t fit the bill after arriving last season, while even a prominent draft pick like 2024 second-rounder Tyler Nubin has failed to make the grade.
Florida Attorney General Puts Roger Goodell on Notice Over NFL’s Race-Based Hiring Rule
For more than two decades, the NFL has used the Rooney Rule to promote diversity in leadership, but it has now become a legal liability for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for major roles like head coach, general manager, and coordinator. But while Goodell continues to defend the rule as a pathway to opportunity, Florida now sees it very differently.
On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to Goodell urging the NFL to nix the Rooney Rule. As per Uthmeier, the Rooney rule violates the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, and it provides grounds for formally putting Goodell on notice.
“Professional sports are a visible example of a merit-based system, but through the Rooney Rule, the NFL requires its teams to use race-based hiring practices,” James Uthmeier wrote in a statement via X. “We are putting Commissioner Roger Goodell on notice: the Rooney Rule violates Florida law, and it must stop.”
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The Rooney Rule came into effect in 2003 after Black head coaches Dennis Green and Tony Dungy were fired despite strong records in the 2002 NFL season. At the time, the NFL named the rule after Dan Rooney, the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner and then-Chair of the NFL’s workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI).
Over the years, the Rooney Rule has expanded beyond the inclusion of minority candidates in the process of hiring head coaches to include several leadership roles across NFL organizations. The NFL even added incentives with the rule so NFL teams can receive compensatory draft picks if another franchise hires away a minority coach or executive they developed. In 2022, the NFL broadened the Rooney Rule further to include women as minorities.
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But now, Uthmeier believes that mandating interviews based on race and not merit crosses a legal line and does not actually lead to meaningful change. Uthmeier’s letter now puts pressure on Roger Goodell and the league at a critical time. With the NFL’s annual meeting set to take place in Phoenix next week, owners will already be reviewing league policies and regulations. And Uthmeier just put forth Florida’s demand for some action with the Rooney Rule to be included in that discussion.
“The NFL’s use of the Rooney rule violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring,” Uthmeier stated in a clip shared with his X post. “Florida law is clear – hiring decisions cannot be based on race. And the Rooney rule mandates race-based interviews and incentivizes race. Space decisions – that’s discrimination.”
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“We’re demanding the NFL suspend the Rooney rule, and failure to do so may result in enforcement actions against the league for race-based discrimination,” Uthmeier added. “NFL teams and their fans don’t care about the race of the coaching staff. They want a merit-based system that gives their team the best chance to win.”
While talking to Fox News Digital, James Uthmeier also pointed out what he sees as a contradiction. Uthmeier pointed out that while the NFL drafts players purely on merit, their hiring practices should not be any different. So, Uthmeier wants the rule removed at least in Florida, which is home to the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
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In his letter, Uthmeier also requested a formal response from the NFL by May 1, 2026. So far, the NFL hasn’t issued an official reply on this matter, but notably, Roger Goodell has already acknowledged concerns around the Rooney Rule this offseason.
Roger Goodell weighs in on the Rooney Rule after one minority hiring in 2026
After the 2025 NFL season, ten head coaching jobs opened across the league. Yet none went to African-American candidates. Only one minority hire occurred when Robert Saleh of Lebanese heritage landed a head coaching role with the Tennessee Titans. That outcome raises another question: if the Rooney Rule is in place, why aren’t the results improving? Just a day after the hiring cycle ended, Roger Goodell addressed the issue publicly.
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“We need to continue to make progress,” Roger Goodell said in an interview back in February. “I believe that, and I believe diversity is good for us. I think we have become a more diverse league across every platform, including coaching. But we still have more work to do.”
As things stand, only three African-American head coaches will enter the 2026 season: Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans, and Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets. That marks just the fifth time since 2003 that no Black candidate secured a head coaching job in the NFL during an offseason. Even so, Goodell continues to defend the Rooney Rule as a net positive, and it has at least opened doors for candidates who might otherwise be overlooked in the NFL. At the same time, there have already been cases made against the Rooney Rule.
Former NFL head coach Brian Flores has filed a lawsuit accusing the league of racial discrimination, alleging that some teams conduct sham interviews simply to comply with the rule. In 2024, the America First Legal Foundation filed a similar civil rights complaint, echoing many of the concerns now raised by Florida.
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Ultimately, while the Rooney Rule was made to solve a diversity problem in the NFL, it now faces mounting criticism. And with a May 1 deadline looming and legal pressure mounting, Roger Goodell may soon have to make a defining decision with the rule, at least in Florida.
Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton Likened to NFL’s Top WR Duo
The Denver Broncos orchestrated one of the most surprising seasons in the NFL last year.
Behind a top-three defense, Denver went 14-3 and claimed the AFC’s No. 1 seed. It was expected that the Broncos’ offense would keep them from Super Bowl LX, but nobody could have foreseen how it happened.
Quarterback Bo Nix fractured his ankle in overtime of Denver’s win over Buffalo in the AFC Divisional, which ruled him out for the AFC Championship Game. Denver lost to New England, 10-7, and a cloud of
NFL Doctor Shares Patrick Mahomes Injury Update as Training Video of Chiefs QB Emerges
After a strong free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs fans are in for a treat with a former NFL doctor and injury expert issuing a significant update about QB1 Patrick Mahomes‘ injury. The star signal-caller has been out of action since a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. However, three months later, when a video of Mahomes being back on the field was shared on social media, David J. Chao issued his assessment of the injury.
“Looking great for ACL/LCL tear,” former NFL doctor David J. Chao reported via X. “Doesn’t mean ready or 100% for week 1 (but let’s hope so). Still quite limited here on the left knee.”
The former San Diego Chargers’ head doctor presents the Kansas City faithful with an optimistic yet cautious update about Patrick Mahomes’ injury after the Chiefs QB1 released a video of him practicing, which had a caption, “Day by Day! Felt Great being able to throw the ball around today!”
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The 30-year-old suffered the injury against the Los Angeles Chargers in the final minutes of a 16-13 loss. The Chiefs quarterback scrambled out of the pocket towards his right while he was chased down by defensive end Da’Shawn Hand.
However, when Mahomes planted his left foot and threw the ball away for an incompletion, his left knee buckled. Upon hitting the turf, the three-time Super Bowl champion instinctively reached for his left knee, clearly in pain.
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Then, as per the X-rays after the game, Mahomes had torn his ACL and LCL to conclude an already difficult season with 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 14 games for the Chiefs last year. With Kansas City missing the playoffs without Mahomes, the star quarterback shared his goal is to be ready for the first week of the 2026 season, a month after his surgery.
“The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process,” Mahomes said then. “That’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.”
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After these comments and the recent video, it appears that Patrick Mahomes is on the path to recovery and will hopefully soon return to his form to attempt a Lombardi Trophy win in 2026. Mahomes has spent much of his rehab working with Julie Frymyer, one of the Chiefs’ top athletic trainers.
“He’s around here all the time,” coach Andy Reid said last month of Mahomes. “He spends a ton of time here, seven hours a day. He’s in there cranking away and making progress every day. It’s great to see. Julie grinds on him and makes sure he stays on task, and challenges him. He keeps showing up. That’s about half the battle on these things when you have these injuries.”
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While Patrick Mahomes continues his recovery, the Chiefs aren’t repeating their mistakes of last season with the franchise securing much-needed insurance for their quarterback position by trading for an exciting dual-threat signal-caller as a backup.
Kansas City trades for Patrick Mahomes’ backup for 2026
After failing to find quality production from backup options like Gardner Minshew and Chris Oladokun, the Chiefs’ front office completed a trade for former New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. As part of this deal, the Jets will pay Fields an $8 million signing bonus while earning $3 million fully guaranteed from the Chiefs.
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While many raised questions about Fields’ trade to the Chiefs, especially after a disappointing 2025 season with 1,259 yards, 7 TDs, and 1 INT, adding 4 rushing scores, FS1’s Nick Wright believes this acquisition will help both parties moving forward.
“If you were to tell me, Patrick (Mahomes) is going to miss the first month of the season, which I do not think is going to happen. I would have rather had Kirk Cousins as my backup,” said Wright, “If you were to tell me Patrick’s going to be there in week one, I would rather have Justin Fields, because once Patrick is back and healthy, Kirk Cousins serves no utility. I think Fields can get on the field, even once Patrick is back in (good) health.”
With Justin Fields as a backup and Patrick Mahomes nearing his Week 1 recovery timeline, the Chiefs could start off the 2026 season on a dominant note and return to Super Bowl contention immediately after a no-postseason 2025.
3,500+ YD QB Makes His Pitch to 32 NFL Teams While Being Labeled More Draft-Ready Than Fernando Mendoza
Players who did not find much success at the NFL Combine get another shot at the Pro Day. But for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, his Combine performance was a hit, and he was even spotted throwing at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in Tuscaloosa. Beyond his work on the field, he also sent a strong message.
“I just know whoever’s going to get me is going to get a guy who loves football, loves team, and loves to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself,” said Simpson as the countdown began for the Draft Day on April 23.
Maybe talking big alone doesn’t help in real life, as the real test happens on the field. As Simpson said, he is still training, and that’s true. The Alabama quarterback had the option to opt out of the Pro Day, but he chose not to.
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Simpson kicked things off with a solid measurables check: 6’1″, 211 lbs, with compact 30 7/8″ arms and 9 3/8″ hands. During the combine drills, his passing skills were spot on. But he knew that he had to push harder, as he was behind other quarterbacks when it came to experience.
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He saw limited playing time in his first three seasons at Alabama and is NFL-bound only after 15 college starts. So, in order to cancel out all the doubts, he decided to hit the Pro Day. There, he threw to Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, among others. Simpson teamed up with QB coach David Morris for a scripted workout and delivered a near-flawless run, going 50-for-55, according to The Athletic. That’s how the quarterback kept pushing himself to his furthest limits.
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“Why not? You let it rip,” Simpson said. “That was something when you look at my tape, I’d make the big-time throws. I’d make the easy throws. Being able to show off my arms and show off my feet was something I wanted to do.”
His 2025 season resume did enough talking. Making his debut as Alabama’s full-time starter in 2025, Simpson set the tone early with a 9-1 start. Even with a mid-to-late season dip in efficiency, he closed with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and a solid 64.5% completion rate against only five interceptions.
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If Simpson had wanted, he would have just banked on his 2025 stats sheet and maybe an NFL Combine appearance and enjoyed this period before the draft. But no, he kept working hard. According to NFL draft analyst Chad Reuter, his mock draft shows Simpson as the No. 16 pick for the New York Jets. In the same list, Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the No.1 pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. But a CFB analyst stirred the pot by bringing up a Simpson vs. Mendoza comparison.
CFB analyst places Ty Simpson on a higher pedestal than Fernando Mendoza
Talking about Simpson’s USP? He has the tools to diagnose it all. Simpson commands the line of scrimmage, leverages pre-snap motion, and reads defensive tells to stay a step ahead once the ball is snapped. So, the fact that he struggled in the latter half of the season was mainly due to Alabama’s pass protection starting to wobble.
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“If you’re watching the tape into November, Ty Simpson’s clearly better than Fernando Mendoza. Fernando Mendoza didn’t play well against Iowa, Oregon, or Penn State,” Todd McShay said. “My eyes tell me Ty Simpson’s every bit as good, in some ways better, and more NFL-ready than Mendoza.”
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Mendoza did put together a Heisman-worthy masterpiece: 72% completions, 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. But ex-NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky argued that Simpson did more with less while at Alabama.
“I think when we look at the body of work and what was asked of these two quarterbacks, you have to start with the question: who needed to do more to carry their football team to play well? Ty Simpson and it’s not close between those two quarterbacks,” Orlovsky said. “Who took more games over throughout the course of the season? Ty Simpson and it’s not even close.”
Even though Ty Simpson decided to show up again on Pro Day and pitched himself highly, maybe his luck was bad. Alabama’s Pro Day schedule clashed with Ohio State’s. So, NFL GMs flocked to Columbus, and only Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles was spotted in Tuscaloosa. But with all the hype, will a thin NFL crowd really matter?
Broncos Link Up With 55-TD QB During Offseason Planning
The Denver Broncos have three quarterbacks under contract for 2026, including starter and former first-round draft pick Bo Nix. But the Broncos still drew attention with their interest in Athan Kaliakmanis.
Denver re-signed Sam Ehlinger this offseason, and they still have Nix’s backup, Jarrett Stidham, in the fold.
Still, Kaliakmanis is on the Broncos’ radar.
Broncos Linked to Ex-Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis
“Rutgers @RFootball quarterback and @GopherFootball transfer Athan Kaliakmanis had a Zoom meeting with #Broncos today per a league source,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on March 25. “He has a top 30 visit with the #Bengals as well as #Commanders. Also had formals with #Raiders and #Bengals. Will also be apart of #Bears #Giants, and #Eagles local prospect days.”
Kaliakmanis threw for 8,603 yards, 55 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions on 56.3% completion during his collegiate career, but could be a project for the Broncos in the draft or after. He posted a 3,124-20-7 line on 62.2% completion during his final season in 2025.
“I continue to be so impressed with the growth of Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis,” Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema posted on X in September 2025. “Would not have been drafted in last year’s class. Now I’m not sure there’s a more accurate quarterback in the country. Stock has soared through the first half of this year.”
Kaliakmanis’ production slipped from that point on.
The growth that he showed to begin the season could be enough to intrigue the Broncos as a draft or sign-and-stash option for the practice squad, with Nix, Stidham, and Ehlinger in place.
Broncos Could Be Planning for Future at QB
Nix is under contract through 2027, and the Broncos have his fifth-year option and up to three franchise tags before they must make a long-term decision. Ehlinger and Stidham will be free agents in 2027, though, adding another reason why Kaliakmanis could appeal to the Broncos.
Stiham has been with the Broncos since 2023. A former fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, he has also played for the Raiders.
Ehlinger was a sixth-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.
Stidham stepped in for an injured Nix during the playoffs for the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots and struggled. Ehlinger has not seen the field during a regular-season game since the 2023 season.
Athan Kaliakmanis Has Options
There is an alternative pathway for Kaliakmanis if the four-year Big 10 contributor has intentions of competing for playing time right away, or opportunities with the Broncos or other NFL teams fall through.
“The Montreal Alouettes have added Rutgers University quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to their exclusive negotiation list,” 3 Down Nation reported in January.
“CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and have never played in the league before. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.”
The move does not imply Kaliakmanis’ interest or intent to venture into the CFL.
“Some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed,” 3 Down Sports added. “Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.”
NFL, sportsbooks are sued over in-game microbetting
When it comes to the inevitable reckoning for the Wild West era of sports betting, it will come in one or more of these forms: Regulation, prosecution, or litigation.
The NFL is facing a new piece of litigation arising from its role in facilitating microbetting.
Via David Purdum of ESPN, a pair of Pennsylvania men have sued the NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genius Sports, and five specific sportsbook employees over losses incurred through in-game microbets.
Plaintiffs Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson claim that their gambling habits blossomed into full-blown addictions once DraftKings and FanDuel made microbets available.
“Within just a few years of placing their first microbets on the Sportsbook Apps, Plaintiffs nearly lost everything,” the complaint alleges.
The NFL and Genius Sports have been added to the lawsuit based on the fact that they provide an official data feed to sportsbooks.
The complaint alleges that VIP hosts employed by the sportsbooks continuously enticed them to wager.
Per the complaint, Thompson’s FanDuel host allegedly texted him amid a losing streak on December 18, 2022, with this message:
ESPN Host Indirectly Calls Out Cam Newton For Betraying Stephen A. Smith
Not every rivalry plays out on the field; some unfold behind microphones. The long-standing tension between “First Take” star Stephen A. Smith and analyst Jason Whitlock is one of those, with both sides taking repeated shots over the years. That back-and-forth picked up again when Whitlock appeared on former quarterback Cam Newton’s “4th & 1” podcast and continued his criticism of Smith.
During that conversation, Newton chose not to interrupt, allowing Whitlock to speak freely throughout the conversation. But that decision didn’t sit well with former NFL player turned analyst Ryan Clark, who later addressed the situation on social media, making it clear he disagreed with how it was handled.
“If someone shows you love, has you on “their” show twice a week… at least,” wrote Ryan Clark on X. “You don’t bring his known enemy on your show and allow your guest to talk 💩 about person. That’s not G at all. Loyalty is at a minimum these days.”
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Newton is a regular contributor to ESPN’s First Take. Surprisingly, Smith is the featured commentator, face, and executive producer of the show. The two have worked together for more than a year, and Smith even praised the former NFL MVP for doing a “fantastic job” as a media personality. Yet, when Whitlock called the veteran analyst a “liar” and a “fraud,” Newton stayed mum on his podcast.
While the former Carolina Panthers quarterback let Whitlock continue his firing, another ESPN analyst, Ryan Clark, came in to support First Take’s analyst. He let out his thoughts on the matter, criticizing Newton for his act. According to him, he should not have brought someone who is a media rival to his friend. Even if he did, he should have taken a stand against all the comments.
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Clark just proved what real friendship is like. A Super Bowl winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Clark played in the NFL for over a decade before joining the media world in 2015. Since then, he has built a strong relationship with Smith. Even when he had a feud with Robert Griffin III, Smith publicly had his back. Now, the Sports Emmy winner is doing the same.
Similar to how the former safety’s comments have earned him praise, it has caused a large spark online, with fans also speaking against Whitlock and Newton. A big question mark now lurks over the latter’s future at ESPN’s First Take, especially after Stephen A. Smith himself addressed Cam Newton in his latest post.
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Stephen A. Smith has called out Cam Newton after the latest incident
Stephen A. Smith vs. Jason Whitlock is nothing new. Fans have been witnessing it for years. Now, thanks to Newton, a new chapter has opened in their feud, dragging the former QB into it. While Clark has defended Smith, the latter also did not stay silent. However, instead of directly addressing Whitlock, he called out Newton, with a subtle dig at his rival.
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“Cam Newton, next time, my brother, cause you know I love you, you’re gonna interview somebody and bring me up? Don’t just sit there and let them talk sh-t. Ask questions,” Smith said. “Let them prove it. I’m a fraud? How? What facts do you have?”
Smith was pretty straightforward in correcting Newton’s mistake. He sat there silent, while Whitlock went on with his “liar” and “fraud” claims. The two regularly share the stage at ESPN’s platform and have a strong bond. But somehow, the former All-Pro failed to reciprocate that feeling. While addressing his mistake, Smith also subtly hinted that whatever Whitlock said was “sh-t.” Also, he emphasized questioning him and letting him prove why he had such views could make it a more interesting take.
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Kyler Murray Hit With Clear Message to Win Vikings Starting Job
The Minnesota Vikings have a starting QB battle on their hands, but the favorite by many to win this job is Kyler Murray. After the Arizona Cardinals cut ties with him this offseason, Murray will be looking to be the next QB that bounces back under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Still, Murray has to edge out J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz for the starting job. Moreover, given the money the Vikings are paying all three signal-callers, Minnesota won’t hand anyone the starting job.
As a result, former NFL edge rusher Chris Long shared what Murray needs to improve once the battle begins to ensure the former No. 1 pick comes out on top and is starting for the Vikings in Week 1.
“When I watch him play, and I watch every single snap of him throwing the ball last year, and as you know, I watch a ton of games, he doesn’t see the field that well late in downs,” Long said on the March 25 edition of “Green Light with Chris Long.”
“That’s one of the things he needs to improve. Listen, I love the mobility he brings to the table, but he has to be better at seeing the field late in downs. If you’re just relying on your vision, it hasn’t been great so far. I don’t think it’s all 5-foot-10. I think it’s just how certain people see the field.”
Carson Wentz Could Give Kyler Murray a Run for Starting Job
After re-signing Wentz, who played a few games in 2025 before suffering his season-ending shoulder injury, former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber put out his QB depth chart for the team on March 19. To the surprise of many, he had Wentz at the top over Murray and McCarthy.
Nonetheless, he did catch flack for it, but during his appearance on KFAN on March 23, Leber doubled down on this stance, noting that the Vikings’ offense would look better with Wentz. However, Leber noted that he expects Murray to be the starter in Week 1.
“Carson, to me, barring any sort of injury, and I think that we all were sort of wowed by his three weeks coming into this team and then having to take over the team and, like, ‘Damn, this guy can actually kind of sling it.’” Leber said. “He can actually play. Our offense is actually kind of efficient. [The Vikings were] moving the ball. We’re much more explosive. We’re getting the ball down the field.
“The whole offense is opened up. We don’t have to negate middle-of-the-field throws because J.J. McCarthy can’t make those. We can use the whole field with Carson Wentz. So, as of today, mid-March, I think Carson Wentz is a better fit for this offense. Do I think Kyler Murray is going to win out? Yes. Yes, I do think that on opening day it’s going to be Kyler Murray.”
Vikings Need to Go With the Best QB in This Battle
Additionally, Leber believes that with how little the Vikings are paying all three QBs, the team needs to go with the best player who shows out during OTAs, minicamp, training camp, and the preseason.
“It has to be a true competition,” Leber added. “And I do not think, especially with the money that you’re paying these quarterbacks, that you have to anoint anybody, right? If Carson ends up being the best quarterback through OTAs, minicamp, and the early parts of training camp, I think you play the guy. You start him if he’s truly winning a competition.
“I know a lot of people would get upset if Kyler was the backup quarterback to start the season, but I would completely understand if we’re watching minicamp and training camp and see that this guy is good when he can scramble, but he can’t stay within the offense.”
Luka Doncic Joins Michael Jordan in Rare NBA History
The Los Angeles Lakers are surging at a critical point in the season, and Luka Doncic is driving it with a scoring run that has pushed him into rare historical territory.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic has become the first player since Michael Jordan in 1986 to average at least 40 points over a six-game road span, a benchmark that underscores both his current form and the impact it is having on the Lakers’ climb in the standings.
The production has been as steady as it has been explosive. Over that stretch, Doncic has averaged 40.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists, while shouldering a heavy offensive load for a team navigating injuries and the demands of a long road trip.
Doncic’s Scoring Run Anchors Lakers’ Push
The numbers are translating directly into wins.
Los Angeles has gone 5-1 during that six-game stretch and has won nine of its last 10 games overall. The Lakers improved to 47-26, holding a two-game lead over the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Doncic’s recent performances have followed a clear pattern — fast starts, sustained scoring pressure and timely playmaking when defenses collapse. He has scored at least 30 points in 11 consecutive games, tying the longest such streak in the last 20 years. The mark matches his own run during the 2023-24 season and equals a stretch produced by Stephen Curry in 2020-21.
Even in a league where offensive numbers have trended upward, the consistency stands out. Opponents have adjusted coverage, sent extra defenders and varied looks, but Doncic has continued to find ways to produce at a high level.
Dominance Carries Over in Latest Win
His most recent outing offered another example.
Doncic scored 43 points and added seven assists in a 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, setting the tone early with 21 points in the first quarter. He controlled the pace, created space with step-back jumpers and finished through contact, forcing Indiana into difficult defensive decisions throughout the night.
The performance came at the end of a demanding road trip in which several games were decided in the closing minutes. Despite the workload, Doncic showed little drop-off, continuing to dictate the offense and generate efficient scoring opportunities.
The Lakers, who were shorthanded in the game, relied on that production to close out the trip with a fifth win, reinforcing the role Doncic has taken as the focal point of their offense.
Doncic Joins Rarified Air
The statistical comparison to Michael Jordan highlights the broader significance of the run.
Jordan’s 1986 season remains one of the most dominant scoring campaigns in league history, and while the eras differ, the benchmark provides a lens for understanding the level Doncic has reached over the past two weeks.
Sustaining a 40-point average over multiple road games — where environments are less forgiving and defensive pressure often increases — places the stretch among the most difficult feats in modern scoring.
It also reflects the balance in Doncic’s game. The scoring volume is accompanied by playmaking and rebounding, allowing him to influence multiple phases while maintaining efficiency.
Lakers Finding Rhythm Behind Doncic
The timing has been significant for Los Angeles.
As the postseason approaches, the Lakers have begun to establish a clearer identity built around Doncic’s ability to control tempo and create offense in high-leverage moments. His recent stretch has provided both production and stability, particularly as the team continues to manage injuries across the roster.
There is also a growing sense of continuity. The offensive flow has improved, role players are finding defined responsibilities, and the team’s late-game execution has sharpened during the current run.
And the numbers reflect it.
Doncic’s latest stretch is not simply a hot streak within a high-scoring era. It is a sustained level of production that has not been matched on the road in nearly four decades — placing him alongside Michael Jordan in a way few active players can claim.
2026 NBA Mock Draft: Where Does Darius Acuff Jr. Land After His Historic Tournament Weekend
The NBA has a superstar on their hands who will probably not be a lottery pick. That’s just the nature of this year’s draft class. Darius Acuff Jr. could have been a top pick in multiple of the past drafts but in this one, it is still up in the air. His coach, John Calipari, is campaigning for him to go No. 1. “He’s like all the best players that I’ve coached,” said Calipari. “He’s like that.” But what is the reality? Let’s dive inside his draft future after the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.
Where Does Darius Acuff Jr. Land in the Latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft?
At one point, Darius Acuff Jr. was considered a long-term project and would continue at Arkansas next season. However, that perception has quickly changed. After a string of impressive performances, he broke into the top 10 in multiple mock drafts. Before the SEC Tournament, most mock drafts projected Acuff between No. 7 and No. 10 overall. ESPN had him at No. 7 to the Dallas Mavericks, while CBS Sports and Bleacher Report projected him at No. 8 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Cut to today: ahead of the Sweet 16 he has massively improved his draft stock.
Many experts today even think he should go No. 1. “You’re looking at the stats in how he’s delivered right now,” ESPN analyst Sean Farnham said. “To me, we’ve spent this whole season talking about AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. That conversation is wrong, America. The conversation is that AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr.”
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While his qualities might be worth No. 1, in this draft he still needs to do more in order to do so. Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft puts him at No. 5 behind the Big 3 of Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer, with UNC’s Caleb Wilson at No. 4. Tankathon still has him at No. 8. ESPN improved him to No. 7.
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How Did Darius Acuff Jr.’s March Madness Performance Impact His Draft Stock?
Darius Acuff Jr. has been on fire in the postseason. His 30 points 11-assist explosion in the SEC Tournament Finals was probably a warning shot for all the NCAA Tournament teams and his draft competitors. Come the NCAA Tournament, he has proved everyone right. He dropped 24 points and 7 assists in the opener against Hawaii and followed it up with 36 points and 6 assists against High Point.
ESPN’s mock draft explicitly mentions these clutch performances in the postseason are a reason for his rise. “Acuff has averaged 30.2 points and 7.2 assists in five postseason games, adding a Sweet 16 berth and SEC tournament title to his impressive accomplishments this season,” Jeremy Woo wrote. “As he continues to set the bar higher for himself, he’s in a position to potentially hear his name called in the top five on draft night—and will move up on my board in the next top 100 update.” Bleacher Report does the same.
“Darius Acuff Jr. totaled 50 points through two NCAA tournament games to continue his incredible late-season run,” writes Jonathan Wasserman. “He’s jumping ahead and separating himself from the other point guard prospects in the minds of scouts.” He can further cement his place as a lottery pick if he continues this form and takes Arkansas deeper in the NCAA Tournament.
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What Are Darius Acuff Jr.’s Strengths and Scouting Report Ahead of the NBA Draft?
He is an automatic scoring machine. With a consistent three-pointer, he has incredible ball handling coupled with game sense. He averages 44.6% from the three-point line while shooting 5.8 per game. Acuff can get to the rim with ease (35% of points in the paint) but can pull up from midrange as well (midrange FG%: 36.4%). He can speed up the game with transition buckets (5.3 fast break points/40 in 98th percentile) and long passes but can slow it down too. Offensively, it feels like he is the ideal point guard for your team. If your team needs an orchestrator that can score, don’t look farther than Darius Acuff Jr.
Now, let’s get into the sticky part. His defense. To say it’s not the best would be underselling how bad it is. For someone that looks fluid and athletic on the attack, he looks clueless while defending it. His defensive box plus/minus at 0.2 ranks among the worst in the country. For comparison, AJ Dybantsa’s DBPM is 1.2 and Darryn Peterson is at 4.0. For a more comprehensive look of his defense, have a look at his advanced stats (via CBB Analytics)
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He struggles getting around screens, occasionally even giving up on plays. He switches assignments seemingly randomly, confusing his teammates and breaking down his team’s defensive schemes. In addition, at 6’3 he is in that gray area before being termed acceptable. A decade before, he would have been a Top 3 lock. But the NBA has evolved today, so which teams can give him a system that suits him?
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Which NBA Teams Could Draft Darius Acuff Jr. in 2026?
It’s that team fit that is keeping Darius Acuff Jr out of the lottery position in multiple mock drafts. The Indiana Pacers don’t need a traditional point guard with Tyrese Haliburton coming back. The same goes for the Wizards, who have bet heavily on Trae Young. So with whom might he actually flower?
Dallas Mavericks:
Cooper Flagg needs an orchestrator. If the Mavericks ever want to compete, they can’t be using him as a point-wing hybrid for much longer. He will get a guard partner and the two can be the long-term future for Dallas. Darius Acuff Jr. could also benefit from Kyrie Irving’s presence in the squad, whom many believe is his NBA comparison. Others believe it’s closer to Jalen Brunson than Irving.
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Milwaukee Bucks:
Milwaukee is throwing everything they can at preventing Giannis from moving away. So far they have succeeded in keeping him. He can largely replace what the Bucks lost in Damian Lillard, being able to spot up and attack closeouts. Acuff can be a pick-and-roll partner for Giannis, and at 25.8 assists per game, they rank 17th in the country. Acuff’s offense. But after the Cam Thomas debacle, will they go for another subpar defender? It will depend on the front office.
Former Player Says Damian Lillard Doesn’t Deserve HOF Induction
Former NBA point guard Patrick Beverley made a controversial statement taking aim at Damian Lillard’s NBA career. Basketball Reference currently lists Lillard as having a 99.5% probability of getting inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame when he retires. However, Beverley claims that Lillard doesn’t deserve that accolade unless he wins an NBA Championship first.
The following quote from Beverley came during his most recent podcast episode:
“Hell no! I love Dame, but it’s too many people that get in the Hall of Fame. Let me start off with that. Second off, Hall of Fame has to be a combination of points, rebounds, assists, wins, playoff appearances, and championships.
Like, how are we gonna say no to D Rose getting MVP and say yes to Dame Lillard? If he gets a chip, for sure. But scoring a lot of points on okay teams? I don’t think that gets you into Hall of Fame.”
Beverley made two bold points of claiming that too many people get inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and that Lillard should not get this honor. The criticism from Beverley claimed that Lillard “scoring a lot of points on okay teams” is not valid enough for an induction.
Does Beverley Make A Good Point?
The best point by Beverley stems from the Basketball Hall of Fame having too many inductions compared to baseball and football. Most would agree that it is far easier to get inducted via the basketball voters. Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge both have realistic chances to get inducted soon, but their resumes would not be enough in other sports.
Lillard is unfairly named by Beverley since he’s on a tier above certain names inducted or having a chance of an induction. The overall point of having fewer members would likely see players below Dame getting named first as those who should be snubbed.
Beverley made a bad point by bringing up Derrick Rose since his issue has more to do with longevity. Rose is not expected to get voted in due to only having a few prime seasons before injuries ruined his peak. The former MVP would have clearly got voted in if he had a longer prime beyond one MVP season and three All-Star appearances.
Beverley’s Past Drama With Dame Is Relevant
Lillard and Beverley have had some hostile moments of trash talking throughout the years. Beverley claimed that he has love for Dame and that his point is not meant to diminish Lillard when dropping his quote, but it still comes off poorly due to their past.
The NBA bubble featured Beverley mocking Lillard for missing some clutch free throws in a game. Lillard responded by talking about sending Beverley home in a previous postseason series and often outperforming the defensive loudmouth.
Celtics halt Thunder’s 12-game winning streak
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 14 of his 31 points in a pivotal third quarter and the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109 on Wednesday night, snapping the defending champions’ 12-game winning streak.
Jayson Tatum recovered from back-to-back rocky performances to add 19 points and 12 rebounds while also contributing seven assists as Boston earned a split in the two regular-season matchups between the past two NBA champs.
Brown added eight rebounds and eight assists, and his big third quarter helped the Celtics take an 88-83 lead into the fourth. Boston’s edge grew as big as 14.
The Thunder got within 115-109 with 1:30 remaining, but a layup by Brown and two free throws by Derrick White helped Boston close it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points and eight assists. But Oklahoma City was outscored by the Celtics 19-2 in second-chance points and shot just 12 of 37 from behind the 3-point line.
Lu Dort added 14 points Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams finished with seven points in his second game back following a 16-game absence because of a hamstring injury.
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The Thunder earned a two-point victory in the first meeting between the teams two weeks ago in Oklahoma City. But that game was played with both sides missing key players.
The Celtics were without both Tatum, who hadn’t returned from Achilles tendon rehab, and White (bruised right knee). Oklahoma City didn’t have Williams (strained right hamstring) or Isaiah Hartenstein (bruised left calf).
All four were on the floor for Wednesday’s rematch in a late-season pairing of elite NBA teams still with things to iron out before the playoffs. The Thunder own the NBA’s best record, while the Celtics boast the East’s second-best mark.
The Thunder started fast and led by 11 heading into the second quarter before the Celtics used a 29-15 burst to take their first lead of the night, 49-46.
Up next
Thunder: Host Chicago on Friday
Celtics: Host Atlanta on Friday
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Insider Claims LeBron Is Unhappy About Luka Shooting Too Much
NBA insider Chris Broussard made a bold statement that LeBron James may be unhappy playing with Luka Doncic on the Los Angeles Lakers. A recent hot streak sees the Lakers looking like the third best team in the Western Conference and having a realistic chance at playoff success. However, the long-time reporter claims that LeBron historically hates playing with those who have styles like Luka that require a lot of field goal attempts.
Broussard said the following today on First Things First:
“Look, we all talk about how high his basketball IQ is, historically high. There’s no way LeBron is sitting there watching Luka shoot 30 shots and miss two-thirds of them, thinking that’s smart. I’m not saying he has any issue with Luka or anything, but he’s watching this. There’s no way he thinks that’s the best way to play basketball.”
The quote saw Broussard adding that they don’t have a personal issue, but he doubled down on his point about James. A basketball savant like LeBron often prioritizes team basketball with everyone touching the ball. However, Doncic gets a lot of his points from iso plays and holding the ball for most of the shot clock time at the expense of others.
Broussard Did Provide Hope For Lakers
Despite questioning how James feels about Doncic’s playing style, Broussard made another interesting point that explained why LeBron is content with the offense. The insider believes that James is tapping into what Dwyane Wade did when he joined the Miami Heat. Wade took a backseat to empower LeBron since he had to be the best player for them to win.
Broussard shared this insight about the team dynamic:
“I think he realizes this is the only way they can win if I deplete myself the way Wade did a little bit for LeBron. This is the best way we can win, but he knows that’s not smart basketball. And that’s why, as great as I think Luka is, very few people have ever been better offensively.”
James would be insane to not let Doncic cook and take over games when he’s putting up 35 to 50 points lately. The Lakers keep winning with Luka and Austin Reaves making the most of their iso plays to warrant using this game plan into the postseason.
Will This Impact LeBron’s Offseason Decision?
LeBron will be a free agent this summer, and rumors indicate he must take a pay cut to remain with the team. Los Angeles hopes to add more defenders and shooters to improve the overall depth around Doncic.
If James truly dislikes this playing style, he is more likely to leave for a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has a more well-rounded offense, despite superstar Donovan Mitchell often having high usage numbers.
Broussard is not wrong about LeBron’s overall basketball opinion, but he also prioritizes winning over everything else. The Lakers winning games behind Luka’s superb play and having a chance to contend for titles are all that matters to James. It is hard to envision LeBron being angry or frustrated with the current Lakers’ hot streak.
Fans Call Celtics-Thunder Telecast Decision a “Disappointment” as OKC Seemingly Max Out ESPN Limit
The Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder had fully healthy rosters. This was a clash not just between two championship contenders, but the last two teams to successfully complete the conquest. The excitement didn’t need any building up. Once Jayson Tatum returned, fans had this game circled on their calendar. This was a must-watch. That’s the reason it was disappointing to see that the contest wasn’t publicised the way it should have.
Notably, the Celtics-Thunder clash wasn’t a nationally televised game. The only way for fans to watch the blockbuster matchup would be through the local networks in the respective cities or by purchasing the NBA League Pass. NBA insider Brett Siegel felt ESPN could have changed that.
“Tonight’s Thunder-Celtics game is one of the best games in a while, and yet the only people who can watch it are those in local markets or have NBA League Pass. This should have absolutely been flexed onto ESPN tonight,” he wrote on X.
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There’s precedent to Siegel’s suggestion. Last season, ESPN and ABC flexed their nationally televised schedules to accommodate high-seeded or tempting games. The Thunder, who shattered their regular-season record, received three additional games as part of this process. Likewise, tonight’s clash had that same feeling. This could potentially be a Finals matchup. What made matters worse is that both teams played exactly as if this were the game of games.
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Putting it on national television would have helped fans across the world tune in. Moreover, it would surely attract a large audience. That’s a direct benefit to the NBA and its partners. Likewise, fans also joined in on Siegel’s sentiments.
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The NBA disappoints fans with its scheduling
“I can’t believe this wasn’t added, especially with Cade being out,” a fan reacted to the Celtics-Thunder clash not being on national television. Practically, we saw the two best teams from both conferences take the mat. And they were healthy with Jayson Tatum back and the Thunder also having Jalen Williams.
Many fans felt that if there was any game meant to be broadcast, this was it. “Thunder vs Celtics not being on national TV is insane and doesn’t make any sense,” a fan added to the sentiment. The game even delivered on the anticipated intensity. The Celtics bounced back from a double-digit deficit to snap the Thunder’s 12-game winning streak.
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Even the stars showed out. Jaylen Brown scored 33 while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 in the back-and-forth duel. However, fans do have a suspicion as to why this game couldn’t make it to ESPN in particular. “Thunder-Celtics is not on national TV today because the Thunder reached the limit of national TV games a team can have on ESPN,” a fan mentioned.
The NBA hasn’t suggested there’s a hard cap for teams to appear on ESPN or any of its other media partners. That being said, it’s possible that the math couldn’t be worked out. With the new media deal, the league has a record number of nationally televised games. Those are being shared across partners. Maybe fitting a game in on such short notice wasn’t possible.
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“They clearly didn’t think Tatum would be back for this game,” a fan pointed out. That must have played a part in the selection of games. The Thunder have the most nationally televised games this season with 34. The Celtics started the season without Tatum, and many of their stars were missing. Possibly, the NBA didn’t account for Tatum’s late-season return when deciding which games are fitting for national television. But could they have flexed some other game?
“But hawks & pistons with no Cade Cunningham is this is a joke,” a fan wrote. That’s the argument Siegel seems to be making as well. Even if there is a limit, it’s vital for the NBA to account for context. Pistons-Hawks turned out to be an overtime thriller. However, fans would much rather watch two championship contenders at their peaks take on each other. Shifting the games they broadcast is what took place last season.
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It could be a logistics problem for the NBA to flex games this season. Since the games are predetermined, and hardly any room to shuffle, they couldn’t have the Thunder-Celtics clash reach a bigger audience. But again, would a little adjustment really have hurt that much?
New York Knicks Announce Roster Move Before Hornets Game
On Thursday night, the New York Knicks will face off against the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina.
The Knicks are coming off a 121-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (at home).
Ariel Hukporti did not play in the game.
Knicks Announce Roster Move Before Hornets Game
Before Thursday’s game, the Knicks announced that Hukporti had been recalled to the NBA.
Knicks PR wrote: “The New York Knicks recall Ariel Hukporti from the Westchester Knicks.”
Hukporti is currently averaging 1.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 55.0% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range in 49 games.
Jazz lose to Wizards, prove that they are the tank masters
The Washington Wizards have been doing their best to ensure they have one of the bottom three win percentages at the end of the NBA’s regular season next month, and they’ve done so excellently, joining the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers as the losingest teams in the league.
But if you want to see tanking done to its fullest extent, look no further than the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are seasoned veterans at this point. They accomplished last season what the Wizards are trying to do this season. They’ve been here. They know all the tricks.
So, when the Wizards showed up to the Delta Center on Wednesday night with eight players on their injury report, the Jazz matched their effort.
The Jazz players listed as out for the contest were Lauri Markkanen (hip impingement), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee recovery), Walker Kessler (shoulder recovery), Jusuf Nurkić (nose recovery), Keyonte George (hamstring), Isaiah Collier (hamstring), Kyle Filipowski (illness) and Brice Sensabaugh (rest).
That’s right! Third-year wing Sensabaugh needed a rest day. Take that, Washington!
And if the injury report wasn’t enough, the Jazz also played horribly, and the Wizards improved (improved?) to 17-55 on the season with a 133-110 victory.
That’s an interesting win total. In fact, it’s the exact number of wins the Jazz had last year (17-65 on the season) when they finished with the NBA’s worst record.
As we know, having one of the three worst records gives a team the best possible odds heading into the lottery, but as we also know, those odds do not guarantee a top pick (remember, the Jazz fell to the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft).
That’s just a little tidbit for any Wizards fans who might come across this story — brace yourselves and prepare for the potential to be disappointed on lottery night. After all, the odds are not in your favor.
But on Wednesday night, the Jazz needed the loss more than the Wizards did. Not because the Jazz think they’re going to be able fall any lower than fifth-worst in the standings (the four worst teams have those spots pretty locked up), but because they don’t want to improve to sixth-worst, and the Dallas Mavericks are hovering dangerously near the Jazz in the standings.
The Jazz can’t pick up wins while Dallas loses. That would make things a little too dicey heading into these final nine games.
Speaking of which, if you are one of the many Jazz fans (all of you) who are tired of this tanking and tired of watching a losing product with players who aren’t even a part of the team’s future, don’t worry, we’re almost at the finish line.
Just nine more games. Single digits. Nine.
Shaquille O’Neal films music video in North Texas with local rapper
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently stopped by Fort Worth and Addison to shoot a music video with a local rapper on March 22.
Fort Worth rapper Twisted Black called on O’Neal to appear in his music video for “Knock Knock” from his recently released album Jacking Beats. O’Neal was already in town for his Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival, which was on March 21.
Production on the music video began in south Fort Worth at McHenry Car Wash & Detailing.
Dozens of people were seen surrounding the pair as they filmed the video, according to social media posts. From there, scenes were filmed inside the Stella Jets hangar at Addison Airport.
O’Neal also stopped by Nana’s Kitchen in east Fort Worth, where he took photos and videos with staff and customers. One of the videos posted by Nana’s Kitchen shows owner Toshia “Nana” Ramsey smacking O’Neal on the butt.
O’Neal has a home in North Texas and stops by Fort Worth occasionally.
In September 2024, O’Neal visited his new restaurant, Big Chicken, on its opening day. There, he met and took photos with hungry customers at the north Fort Worth restaurant.
Fort Worth’s Panther Island Pavilion has hosted his Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival since 2023. Bass is an amalgamation of electronic music, featuring stylings such as dubstep and trap.
In 2022, the 15-time NBA All-Star bought a nearly 5,300-square-foot home in Carrollton. Two years later, O’Neal bought another property in Heath and sold his Carrollton home.
“Not Being Eventized”: Draymond Green Points to NBA’s Biggest Issue, Echoes Celtics Legend
From the raw physicality of the 1990’s, the competitive spirit of the 2000’s, and the dunk-centric game that exists today, the NBA has grown leaps and bounds over the last three decades. Under Adam Silver, the league has morphed into a highlight reel dominated by three-point onslaughts, viral dunks, and superstar-focused spectacle. Modern-day NBA emphasizes pace, spacing, and social media glazing over defensive hustle.
Slumping TV ratings for regulation games and a recent salary cap dip signaled inflated valuations, even as news of league expansion continues to gain traction. Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett’s viral podcast clip, calling it “a bit of an event… not a sport,” sparked fresh backlash. But Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green couldn’t help but side with the 2004 MVP.
“I actually have to agree with KG on this; it is more of an event, but it has to be,” the Dubs vet said on the latest segment of The Draymond Green Show. “I think one of the biggest issues that the NBA has faced as of late is its not being eventized enough. When you look at big-time TV partners, they are looking for an event. Ask Jake Paul. The reason Jake Paul is able to make so much money right now is because Jake Paul creates events. When Jake Paul has these boxing matches, it’s an entire event. And that’s what Netflix is buying. That’s what the TV stations, that’s what the streaming platforms, that’s what they’re buying. They are buying events. That’s why the NBA created the play-in tournament. That’s why the NBA created the in-season tournament, because what sells is events.”
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The league has grown leaps and bounds since Garnett hung up his boots in 2016. Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game would not have happened in the 1990’s or at the dawn of the 21st century. But the idea of turning games into events does make sense from a profit-and-loss perspective.
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“The one thing the NBA has right now is a ton of inventory. But as we can see by the salary cap dropping, the inventory isn’t always as valuable, depending on which piece of the inventory it is. And so you have a lot of these games that go on regional TV stations; they aren’t really worth a ton of money. And so with that, them not being worth a ton of money, what you need is events. That’s what sells. And so I agree with what KG said, except I think he was saying it in a different manner. You know, KG was talking about the edge and where and how players don’t necessarily always have the edge,” Green added.
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Draymond Green delves into the ‘NBA business’ amid expansion rumors
Draymond Green has spoken on multiple occasions in recent months about his desire to one day be league commissioner. The way he views the game, as a decorated and seasoned veteran, allows him to offer nuanced opinions on ideas that can propel the league to greater heights.
“This is big business,” the 4x NBA Champion went on. “This business has changed since KG last played. And with that being said, the edge that some of those guys had, including KG when KG played, it’s not really accepted these days because of the business, because of the partners, what they want to see, how they want the game to look, and all of these different things.”
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Silver previously mentioned how the league is heading in a different direction as we approach 2030. “There’s a huge amount of our content that people essentially consume for free. This is very much a highlights-based sport, so Instagram, TikTok… are prime examples.”
Earlier today, the NBA head honcho said the league needs to partner with the EuroLeague. The potential additions of new teams in Seattle, Las Vegas, or even Mexico City mean ‘big business’ for all stakeholders involved.
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For veterans like Green, thriving means channeling that unaccepted “edge” into leadership. The need for mentoring young stars, shaping narratives off-court, and ensuring the league’s growth mustn’t dilute its soul. As expansion looms, Silver & Co. will need to find its feet, balancing business savvy with the competitive DNA that built the NBA into what it is today.
NHL playoff chase in the East is ‘a fight for your life’ down the stretch as postseason looms
The playoff race in the NHL’s Eastern Conference comes down to seven teams fighting for five spots over the final three weeks of the season
March 25, 2026 at 2:39 p.m. EDT3 minutes ago
NEW YORK — Connor McDavid called the Pacific Division path to the playoffs “a bit of a pillow fight right now.” The same race down the stretch in the NHL’s Eastern Conference is anything but.
No team has clinched a berth, and only three — Carolina, Tampa Bay and Buffalo — are strong bets to get in. That means five spots up for grabs among seven contenders who just keep winning to up the ante on each other.
NHL playoff chase in the East is ‘a fight for your life’ down the stretch as postseason looms
NEW YORK (AP) — Connor McDavid called the Pacific Division path to the playoffs “a bit of a pillow fight right now.” The same race down the stretch in the NHL’s Eastern Conference is anything but.
No team has clinched a berth, and only three — Carolina, Tampa Bay and Buffalo — are strong bets to get in. That means five spots up for grabs among seven contenders who just keep winning to up the ante on each other.
Montreal, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Boston, Ottawa, Detroit and the New York Islanders have combined to go 52-29-17 since play resumed following the Olympic break, a points percentage of .617. Two of them are guaranteed to miss the playoffs and could tie or break the record for the most standings points of any team that failed to qualify.
“It just heightens the urgency mentally,” Senators forward Lars Eller said. “There’s no cushion, and every game it’s a fight for your life just staying in the race.”
Eller and his teammates have gone 10-2-2 out of the break to take over the conference’s second and final wild card position with 85 points and 11 games remaining. The Islanders also at 85 points have slipped out of the top eight in the East after losing three of four but still have more than Anaheim, atop the Pacific, with Edmonton at 79 and Vegas at 78 points comfortably in the field.
Beastly East
There’s nothing comfortable about the stretch run in the East, where even a brief slide can make a big difference.
“It’s up to us to get the job done — it’s up to us to get the wins ourselves,” Islanders center Bo Horvat said. “You’re always watching what other teams are doing, but at the same time, we can’t rely on other teams losing in order for you to get in. You want to win to get in.”
The traditional line to get in has for a long time been 94 points. Since 16 teams began qualifying in 1979-80, just three teams have reached 96 and missed: the Bruins in 2014-15, the Panthers in 2017-18 and the Canadiens in 2018-19. Those left out this season could pass that mark.
New York’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau noticed the standings tightening up in the fall, when it was obvious this wasn’t a normal pace.
“After 15, 20 games, you could see that it was tight and it stayed tight the whole way,” Pageau said. “I think it kept everyone, every team on their toes and I thought it’s brought some good hockey from every team.”
Scoreboard watching
A veteran of more than 1,300 regular-season NHL games and 101 more over 10 playoff runs, Ottawa’s Claude Giroux acknowledges he does a lot of scoreboard watching this time of year.
“It’s hard not to,” Giroux said. “I mean, I do. I’m not going to lie. I feel like every team is winning all the time. But at the end of the day it, doesn’t matter.”
His coach, Travis Green, does the same, even as he preaches to players the sports cliche that they can only control what they can control.
“We all watch,” Green said. “We do it every night. It’s an exciting time of the season right now. Some nights I put it on, and if good things are happening, I keep it on. And if not, I change the channel.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender now in his second job running an NHL bench, is trying to keep his team’s focus on the road ahead. He’s fully aware of the pitfalls in it, from judging opponents to projecting where everyone will end up.
“It’s a huge mistake (if you) try to analyze,” Roy said. “I think we all get guilty at some point to look at the schedule: ‘Oh, they have a tough schedule. Oh, they have this.’ I feel like there’s no tough and there’s no easy schedule. You have to play your games, and you have to worry about what you have to do, not worry about who’s playing next, who does what. Just worry about ourselves.”
Unlikely runs
This season has shown the improbable is possible.
The Sabres are on the verge of ending the league’s longest playoff drought despite losing 18 of their first 28 games. They moved from last in the conference on Dec. 13, a couple of days before general manager Kevyn Adams was fired and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, to first in the Atlantic Division on March 8.
The Blue Jackets were last in the East on Jan. 12 when they changed coaches from Dean Evason to Rick Bowness and have since gone 19-3-4 to climb to second in the Metropolitan Division. The Senators were languishing near the basement in mid-January before going 15-3-2 since beginning their run on Jan. 25 to get back into the picture.
It’s not over yet, and it could come down to the final games on April 14 and 15. The West wraps on April 16, and the playoffs begin on April 18.
“It’s just everybody being on the same page and everybody working hard for that goal at the end,” Ottawa’s Tim Stützle said. “It’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun just grinding back with this group. It’s a pleasure to be able to play in this position.”
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Could Penguins’ Kyle Dubas win GM of the Year?
The Pittsburgh Penguins remain one of the surprise stories of the NHL season, and even as their grip on a playoff spot has slipped in recent weeks, the fact that a team often picked to be dead last in the East is still in the race at this point is a testament to the work the organization has done this season.
For Team President Kyle Dubas, it could be enough to earn him the NHL award for General Manager of the Year. The former Toronto Maple Leafs executive has made moves both big and small that have paid big dividends in driving positive results in the Steel City this year.
His first-year coaching hire Dan Muse has been a big hit, and a bounce-back season from his first big acquisition on the job in veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson has buoyed the roster amidst a run of bad injury luck.
On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed why Karlsson’s resurgence and the overall turnaround in Pittsburgh could result in Dubas earning GM of the Year honors.
Tyler Yaremchuk: What about the job that Kyle Dubas has done? He comes out yesterday and says that the franchise has no intentions of trading Erik Karlsson before the final year of his deal. That’s a move that, hey, 18 months ago were kind of raising an eyebrow at, like why did Pittsburgh do it? That’s looking like a stroke of genius from Dubas, picking up Karlsson at the level he’s still at. You look at Chinakhov, all these other guys throughout the lineup are contributing, and Dubas’ fingerprints are all over this team. Let me ask you this in the form of a fill-in-the-blank, Kyle Dubas has a blank percent chance of winning GM of the Year, Hutts?
Carter Hutton: I think he has a pretty decent chance. Let’s say 25%. I feel like there still are some GMs out there. I’d put Don Waddell in that conversation… There’s so many things that go into it, but I think about Kyle Dubas, kind of handed this team in the sense of like, you have aging generational players, right? Now you have to walk on eggshells about how you manage it, because this is Sidney Crosby’s team, his city, his organization from that standpoint… I think it’s been a great job by Kyle Dubas, and then coming from that fishbowl of Toronto and how everybody hated him and he was a big problem there, to see their struggles and Pittsburgh, you know, this has got to be a rewarding year for Kyle Dubas.
Where to watch Bruins vs. Sabres today: NHL free live stream
The Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Buffalo is 1-1-1 against Boston this season, but 1-0 since the Sabres turned their season around. Since Dec. 9 Buffalo is 33-6-3, the best record in the NHL during that span.
Bruins vs. Sabres will air on TNT and truTV, and streams live on DIRECTV (free trial).
What: NHL regular season
Who: Boston Bruins (39-23-8) vs. Buffalo Sabres (44-20-7)
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT/truTV
Live stream: DIRECTV (free trial), Sling
What to know about Bruins vs. Sabres
Here’s a recent hockey story from the Associated Press:
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Troy Terry scored on a breakaway 1:29 into overtime for his second goal of the game after Mikael Granlund tied it late in regulation and the Anaheim Ducks rallied to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 on Sunday night.
Anaheim ended Buffalo’s seven-game road winning streak when Tage Thompson couldn’t keep in the puck in the Ducks’ zone and Terry held on a 2-on-0 break to score on a backhander.
Granlund tied the game at 5 with 1:44 remaining in the third period on a power play with Ville Husso pulled for an extra attacker.
Chris Kreider and Jackson LaCombe had power-play goals in the first period, Beckett Sennecke also scored, Husso made 24 saves and the Ducks have won consecutive games as part of a four-game points streak.
Alex Lyon had his 10-game road winning streak — tied for the third-longest by a goaltender in NHL history — snapped after allowing six goals on 33 shots. That included giving up goals to Sennecke and Terry on two of the Ducks’ four shots in the second period.
Alex Tuch, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Owen Power and Zach Benson scored for the Sabres, who extended their franchise-record road points streak to 14 games. It was their second loss in the last 14 games overall.
Lyon hadn’t lost a road start since Dec. 8, when Buffalo was last in the Eastern Conference with a 2-9-2 record outside of upstate New York. The Sabres had since won 20 of 24 road games as part of an astonishing turnaround that has them set to end the longest playoff drought in the NHL and on track to claim a first division title since 2009-10.
A victory for Lyon would have tied San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov in 2009-10 and Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk in 2014-15 for the longest undefeated road run in league history.
Up Next
Sabres: Host Boston on Wednesday night.
Ducks: Visit Vancouver on Tuesday night.
Can I bet on Bruins vs. Sabres?
Yes, Buffalo is a -188 favorite to beat the Bruins (+155) on FanDuel.
From the valley to the peak: The Sabres’ turnaround
Heading into Wednesday night’s game at Philadelphia, the Sabres are actually closer to a playoff spot by getting into third place in the Atlantic Division (four points back) than by getting a wild card (5).
The Sabres’ current six-game road trip is their longest since they went 4-2-1 on a seven-game trip from March 1-12, 2011, which helped propel them into the last playoff spot they have earned in the Eastern Conference.
The Sabres scored just once on a season-high six power-play chances, going 0 for 5 with the man advantage after Jason Zucker opened the scoring at 4:08 of the first period. They also gave up two power-play goals in a game for the first time all season.
The Sabres are last in the league at 2.41 goals per road game, nearly a full goal per night less than at home.
The Buffalo Sabres are 2-8-2 on the road, heading into Monday’s 9 p.m. game against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Mike Harrington and Rachel Lenzi hop the boards to discuss a busy road trip ahead for the Sabres. With six games on the road, can the team rectify its cold streak?
The Sabres are stuck on two road wins, after the loss to the Flames in the Scotiabank Saddledome dropped them to 0-3 on their six-game trip.
Alex Tuch’s goal 33 seconds into overtime helped the Buffalo Sabres win their first road game since Nov. 29, with a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Alberta.
The Buffalo Sabres earned their fourth road win of the season, with a 3-2 decision against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday at Rogers Arena.
The Sabres finished the six-game road trip 3-3, notching wins at Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle over the last six nights, while losing games in Philadelphia, Winnipeg and Calgary. With the streak, the Sabres improved to 5-9-2 on the road. But the reviews are mixed.
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 to earn the first win of Jarmo Kekalainen’s tenure as general manager.
The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New York Islanders, 3-2, in a shootout at KeyBank Center on Saturday.
The Buffalo Sabres have a season-high five-game winning streak after a 3-2 shootout win against the New York Islanders.
With one game left before the Christmas break, Tuesday in Ottawa, this point can legitimately be made: The Sabres (17-14-4) are in the playoff race.
Alex Tuch:
NHL power ratings: Stars chasing down Avalanche ahead of Week 22
The Colorado Avalanche did not get off to a good start in Week 22 of the 2025-26 NHL season, dropping a pair of decisions to see their winless streak reach three games (0-2-1) – their longest skid since a four-game stretch in late October (0-1-3). But they ended the week in strong fashion, winning the first three contests of a four-game road trip.
After getting trounced 7-2 by the Pittsburgh Penguins and being edged 2-1 in a shootout by the Dallas Stars during a brief two-game homestand, the Avalanche took out their frustrations on the road. Colorado rolled past the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 and topped the Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime before exacting revenge on the Penguins with a 6-2 triumph in the Steel City.
The victory in Chicago made the Avalanche the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season while the win in Pittsburgh increased their lead over Dallas in the Central Division – and the race for the Presidents’ Trophy to seven points. Colorado looks to further distance itself from the Stars when it begins Week 23 with the final game of its road trip, the opener of a home-and-home series with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
Dallas had a rough time in Week 22, winning only one of its five contests (1-3-1) and needing a shootout to do so. But there was some good news in the Lone Star State as, despite suffering a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, the Stars secured a postseason spot by virtue of the Utah Mammoth’s victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
The Nashville Predators continued their surge toward a playoff spot by winning all five of their games last week, which put them in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning got untracked, going 4-0-1 after a nine-game stretch during which they registered only two victories (2-7-0), while the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks remained atop their respective divisions by posting 3-0-1 records.
Despite the fact that they’ll likely miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, the St. Louis Blues earned five of a possible six points in Week 22 (2-0-1), and the Calgary Flames went 4-1-0 even though they figure to be spectators for the fourth consecutive postseason. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators also were 4-1-0 last week to remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Seattle Kraken (0-3-1) and San Jose Sharks (0-4-0) didn’t help their postseason chances, while the New York Rangers (0-4-1) sank deeper into the basement in the East. New York is eight points behind both the Toronto Maple Leafs and reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the conference.
Each week during the season, I’ll rank the league’s top 10 teams based on both the previous week’s performances and overall body of work in 2025-26. I’ll also give brief synopsis for each club that explains why they’re ranked where they are.
Let’s dive into the power ratings entering Week 23 of the 2025-26 NHL season and highlight a few of the teams’ notable accomplishments.
NHL Week 23 power ratings
1. Colorado Avalanche (3-1-1 in Week 22; 47-13-10 overall)
Nathan MacKinnon kept racking up points in Week 22, scoring two goals and setting up four others. The 2024 Hart Trophy winner leads the NHL with 46 goals and ranks third with 115 points – one shy of his total last season. MacKinnon wasn’t the only member of the Avalanche to have a productive week, as Martin Necas collected three goals and five assists to give him a career-high 88 points. The 27-year-old Czech center has posted three consecutive multi-point performances and is two assists away from matching the personal best of 56 he registered last campaign. Defenseman Cale Makar recorded four points (one goal, three assists) while Colorado received a boost with the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, who tallied against Washington in his first game back after missing seven with a lower-body injury.
2. Buffalo Sabres (3-0-1; 44-20-7)
Buffalo earned seven of a possible eight points on its four-game road trip last week, posting victories at Vegas, San Jose and Los Angeles before dropping a 6-5 overtime decision in Anaheim. The Sabres have failed to come away with a point just once in their last 14 contests (12-1-1) and enter Week 23 one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference. Zach Benson recorded a goal and an assist in each of his last two outings and finished last week with five points, as did defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (two goals, three assists). Buffalo received some stellar goaltending on its trek as well, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posting a 29-save shutout against the Golden Knights and Alex Lyon turning aside all 23 shots he faced versus the Sharks two nights later. The 27-year-old Luukkonen followed by allowing only one goal on 27 shots in the triumph over the Kings.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (3-2-0; 45-20-6)
The Hurricanes started and ended Week 22 with a loss but reeled off three straight victories in between, including a pair against the Metropolitan Division-rival Penguins. Carolina scored a total of 15 goals in the wins (11 against Pittsburgh) but only three in the defeats. Nikolaj Ehlers (two goals, five assists) and Seth Jarvis (one, six) both amassed seven points, with the latter concluding the week with a four-game streak. The 30-year-old Ehlers has landed on the scoresheet in five of his last six outings and is five points away from matching the career high of 64 he set in 2016-17 while with Winnipeg. Jackson Blake became the fifth member of the Hurricanes to reach the 20-goal plateau this season when he tallied during a three-point effort in the team’s 6-5 overtime triumph over the Penguins last Wednesday.
4. Dallas Stars (1-3-1; 43-17-11)
Dallas carried a 15-game point streak (14-0-1) into Week 22 but came crashing down as it lost three contests in regulation and another in overtime. The team easily could have gone winless as its lone victory was recorded in a shootout (2-1 over Colorado). Despite the club’s struggles, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston had strong weeks offensively. Robertson scored three goals and set up three others to increase his team-leading point total to 85, while Johnston netted four tallies and added an assist. The 22-year-old Johnston is tied for third in the NHL with a career-high 40 goals – one more than Robertson, who is looking to reach that number for the third time overall and first since scoring 46 times in 2022-23. The Stars could receive a lift in Week 23 as Mikko Rantanen, who hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury while representing Finland in the Winter Olympics, has been skating with the team and is close to returning.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-0-1; 44-21-5)
Last week’s four-game road trip appears to have been exactly what the Lightning needed to break out of their funk. The club began the trek with victories at Seattle, Vancouver and Edmonton before finishing it with an overtime loss at Calgary. Tampa Bay then returned home and ended Week 22 strong as it posted a 6-3 triumph over the Minnesota Wild to remain just two points behind Buffalo in the Atlantic Division. Nikita Kucherov landed on the scoresheet in all five of Tampa Bay’s contests, beginning with a five-point performance against the Kraken that included his seventh career hat trick. The 32-year-old Russian right wing is seeking his third consecutive Art Ross Trophy and the fourth of his career as he leads the NHL with 120 points. After a three-game drought, Brandon Hagel had four multi-point efforts last week, collecting three goals and seven assists. Anthony Cirelli scored four goals and set up four others over the Lightning’s first three games of the week and Darren Raddysh netted three tallies to become the fifth defenseman to hit the 20-goal mark this season. The 30-year-old also notched three assists as he increased his career-high totals to 20 tallies, 44 assists and 64 points.
6. Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0; 39-21-10)
After ending Week 21 with back-to-back losses, the Canadiens won three of their four contests last week. They were especially impressive in the last two, scoring a total of 12 goals against the New York Islanders and Carolina. Cole Caufield collected five goals and five assists to give him a career-high 76 points. The 25-year-old right wing, who is riding a six-game point streak, recorded his third career hat trick and second this season in the triumph over the Islanders while registering a tally and an assist in Montreal’s wins against the Boston Bruins and Hurricanes. Caufield is second in the league with 44 goals, the most by a member of the Canadiens since Stephane Richer scored 51 in 1989-90. Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky joined Caufield by landing on the scoresheet in all four of the team’s Week 22 contests, amassing eight points apiece as they extended their point streaks to seven games. Suzuki had a goal and seven assists as he climbed within three points of the career high of 89 he set last season, while Slafkovsky picked up four goals and four assists to increase his personal-best total to 63 points.
7. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0; 40-20-12)
The Wild split their four games last week but easily could have gone winless as both of their victories came in overtime. Minnesota scored a total of only 10 goals, with Vladimir Tarasenko (three) and Mats Zuccarello (two) being the only members of the team to tally more than once. The 34-year-old Tarasenko, who netted the overtime winner against Dallas last Saturday, has recorded five goals over his last five contests and has 21 on the season after registering just 11 in 80 games with the Detroit Red Wings in 2024-25. Defenseman Brock Faber had the most productive week offensively for the Wild, collecting a goal and four assists to give him a career-high 48 points – one more than his total two seasons ago.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (4-1-0; 38-22-11)
Columbus continued its furious pace in Week 22, winning four of its five games. Since suffering three consecutive regulation losses in early January, the Blue Jackets have earned at least one point in 24 of their last 27 contests (20-3-4). Zach Werenski had quite a week, recording a goal and eight assists to increase his team-leading point total to 77, which puts him second among all NHL defensemen behind Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard (82). Adam Fantilli (two goals, four assists) and Cole Sillinger (one, five) each amassed six points and climbed within one of the respective career highs they set last season. Fantilli, who has landed on the scoresheet in seven of his last eight outings, enters Week 23 with 53 points and Sillinger does so with 32.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-1; 35-20-16)
Pittsburgh earned five points over its first three games (2-0-1) but ended Week 22 with a thud, losing to the Hurricanes and Avalanche by a combined 11-3 score. As a result of those setbacks, the Penguins dropped to third place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind Columbus. After suffering a lower-body injury during the Olympics that sidelined him for 11 games, captain Sidney Crosby was back in the lineup against Carolina last Wednesday and recorded a goal and an assist in the team’s 6-5 overtime loss. The two-time Hart Trophy winner notched an assist in each of the Penguins’ next three contests and scored the decisive shootout goal in Saturday’s triumph over Winnipeg. Two-time Art Ross Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin amassed two goals and three assists in his first three outings following a five-game suspension but missed Tuesday’s loss to Colorado with an upper-body injury. Erik Karlsson began Week 22 with three straight multi-point performances, netting five tallies and setting up three others. The three-time Norris Trophy winner posted six multi-point efforts over seven contests before being kept off the scoresheet in each of Pittsburgh’s last two games.
10. Ottawa Senators (4-1-0; 38-24-9)
After beginning Week 22 with a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Senators posted four consecutive victories to improve to 15-3-2 over their last 20 games. The surge has Ottawa sitting in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as it enters Week 23. Warren Foegele, who was acquired from Los Angeles at the trade deadline earlier this month, scored in three straight contests last week and has five goals in 10 outings with Ottawa. Tim Stutzle, captain Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto each had two goals and an assist over the Senators’ five games while defenseman Carter Yakemchuk made his NHL debut in Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph over the Red Wings a memorable one as he netted one tally and set up another.
NHL playoff chase in the East is ‘a fight for your life’ as postseason looms
NEW YORK — Connor McDavid called the Pacific Division path to the playoffs “a bit of a pillow fight right now.”
The same race down the stretch in the NHL’s Eastern Conference is anything but.
No team has clinched a berth, and only three — Carolina, Tampa Bay and Buffalo — are strong bets to get in. That means five spots up for grabs among seven contenders who just keep winning to up the ante on each other.
Montreal, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Boston, Ottawa, Detroit and the New York Islanders have combined to go 52-29-17 since play resumed following the Olympic break, a points percentage of .617. Two of them are guaranteed to miss the playoffs and could tie or break the record for the most standings points of any team that failed to qualify.
“It just heightens the urgency mentally,” Senators forward Lars Eller said. “There’s no cushion, and every game it’s a fight for your life just staying in the race.”
Eller and his teammates have gone 10-2-2 out of the break to take over the conference’s second and final wild-card position with 85 points and 11 games remaining. The Islanders also at 85 points have slipped out of the top eight in the East after losing three of four but still have more than Anaheim, atop the Pacific with 84, with Edmonton at 79 and Vegas at 78 points comfortably in the field.
Beastly East
There’s nothing comfortable about the stretch run in the East, where even a brief slide can make a big difference.
“It’s up to us to get the job done — it’s up to us to get the wins ourselves,” Islanders center Bo Horvat said. “You’re always watching what other teams are doing, but at the same time, we can’t rely on other teams losing in order for you to get in. You want to win to get in.”
The traditional line to get in has for a long time been 94 points. Since 16 teams began qualifying in 1979-80, just four teams have reached 96 and missed: the Bruins in 2014-15, the Panthers in 2017-18, the Canadiens in 2018-19 and the Flames last season. Those left out this time could pass that mark.
New York’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau noticed the standings tightening up in the fall, when it was obvious this wasn’t a normal pace.
“After 15, 20 games, you could see that it was tight and it stayed tight the whole way,” Pageau said. “I think it kept everyone, every team on their toes and I thought it’s brought some good hockey from every team.”
Scoreboard watching
A veteran of more than 1,300 regular-season NHL games and 101 more over 10 playoff runs, Ottawa’s Claude Giroux acknowledges he does a lot of scoreboard watching this time of year.
“It’s hard not to,” Giroux said. “I mean, I do. I’m not going to lie. I feel like every team is winning all the time. But at the end of the day it, doesn’t matter.”
His coach, Travis Green, does the same, even as he preaches to players the sports cliche that they can only control what they can control.
“We all watch,” Green said. “We do it every night. It’s an exciting time of the season right now. Some nights I put it on, and if good things are happening, I keep it on. And if not, I change the channel.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender now in his second job running an NHL bench, is trying to keep his team’s focus on the road ahead. He’s fully aware of the pitfalls in it, from judging opponents to projecting where everyone will end up.
“It’s a huge mistake (if you) try to analyze,” Roy said. “I think we all get guilty at some point to look at the schedule: ‘Oh, they have a tough schedule. Oh, they have this.’ I feel like there’s no tough and there’s no easy schedule. You have to play your games, and you have to worry about what you have to do, not worry about who’s playing next, who does what. Just worry about ourselves.”
Unlikely runs
This season has shown the improbable is possible.
The Sabres are on the verge of ending the league’s longest active playoff drought despite losing 18 of their first 28 games. They moved from last in the conference on Dec. 13, a couple of days before general manager Kevyn Adams was fired and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, to first in the Atlantic Division on March 8.
The Blue Jackets were last in the East on Jan. 12 when they changed coaches from Dean Evason to Rick Bowness and have since gone 19-3-4 to climb to second in the Metropolitan Division. The Senators were languishing near the basement in mid-January before going 15-3-2 since beginning their run on Jan. 25 to get back into the picture.
It’s not over yet, and it could come down to the final games on April 14 and 15. The West wraps on April 16, and the playoffs begin on April 18.
“It’s just everybody being on the same page and everybody working hard for that goal at the end,” Ottawa’s Tim Stützle said. “It’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun just grinding back with this group. It’s a pleasure to be able to play in this position.”
NHL Playoffs: Oilers-Knights 1st-Round Series Could Disappoint
The hockey gods could make fans’ heads spin with an Edmonton Oilers-Vegas Golden Knights first-round matchup in the 2026 NHL playoffs.
That would have been the case last season. Heck, two years ago, this matchup would have been arguably the best one of the Western Conference postseason docket.
But that’s not the case this season. Both clubs are on a collision course, not because there’s one other vastly superior team grabbing the Pacific Division lead, but because both clubs have significantly underwhelmed this season.
Last year, the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars met in the first round of the 2025 NHL playoffs. That matchup happened because the Winnipeg Jets had a season for the ages. The club ran away with the Central Division title, leaving the Avalanche and Stars to duke it out in an epic, seven-game series.
But in this case, the Anaheim Ducks are hardly running away with the Pacific. If the Golden Knights of the Oilers had wanted to grab the division title, they could have. But they haven’t. The Ducks have a five-point lead on the Oilers for first place in their division.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are struggling to stay afloat. The only reason Vegas isn’t at risk of missing the postseason is because no other team in the Pacific seems to want to step up.
That weakness in the Pacific is what promises to make the Oilers-Knights meeting in the NHL playoffs a dud. It won’t be a superstar matchup filled with nail-biting games. It’ll more likely be a case of two teams struggling to get their stars to command games.
Oilers Will Miss Draisaitl in NHL Playoffs
The Oilers will certainly miss Leon Draisaitl in the NHL playoffs. The club has been mum about Draisaitl’s injury situation. The official narrative is that he could be back in the lineup at some point before the end of the regular season.
But after seeing him limping around at a football match in Germany, it’s doubtful that Draisaitl will be ready to hit the ice in a couple of weeks.
And Connor McDavid, as talented as he is, can’t carry the team singlehandedly. Yes, the Oilers got some much-needed depth scoring on Tuesday night against the Utah Mammoth. But one has to wonder how far that will take the Oilers in the NHL playoffs.
Get more NHL playoffs on Heavy:
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Vegas Underwhelming Despite Talented Lineup
Pound-for-pound, the Golden Knights can stack up to a team like the Oilers. But their stars just haven’t been able to live up to the hype.
The most evident stumbling block for the Knights is their goaltending situation. Adin Hill and Akira Schmid have held the fort down well enough. However, Hill’s 3.03 GAA and .868 SV% in 23 games this season are sounding off alarm bells.
Meanwhile, Schmid is a little better, posting a 2.59 GAA and .893 SV% in 34 games. So, does that mean Schmid should be the guy in the NHL playoffs for Vegas?
It’s a tough call. It’s hard to pass up on a guy who’s won a Stanley Cup for an unproven young goalie. But if the Golden Knights want to have a chance, they’ll have to roll with the goalie who’s playing better, and that’s Schmid.
Overall, the Oilers-Golden Knights matchup in the NHL playoffs could be a snoozefest. Whoever gets past the second round could very well run into one of the tougher teams from the Central Division, like the Mammoth.
Savoie welcomes new role with McDavid on Oilers’ top line
The chance to be on the ice with one of the best offensive players in the NHL is a big responsibility, and Matt Savoie is making the most of the opportunity.
“It’s just a lot of excitement from my side, obviously,” Savoie said. “A chance to play with the best player in the world and contribute at that level every night.”
That player is Edmonton Oilers teammate Connor McDavid, who is second in the NHL this season with 118 points (40 goals, 78 assists), two behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (120 points; 40 goals, 80 assists).
Savoie, a 22-year-old rookie, has three points (two goals, one assist) in five games riding shotgun with McDavid and Zach Hyman on the No. 1 line heading into their Pacific Division showdown at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, TVAS).
The Oilers (35-28-9) have a one-point lead over the Golden Knights (32-16-14) for second in the division.
Savoie drew the assignment after Leon Draisaitl sustained a lower-body injury in a 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 15. He is expected to be out for the rest of the regular season.
“When you’re playing with Connor, I think you just have to be aware of where he is on the ice and not force pucks to him, but try to get the pucks to him in good spots and be available for him,” Savoie said. “I think he’s a player that’s able to make good plays and little passes that very few in the League can do, so you have to be ready. You have to be on your toes and in scoring position at all times.”
It did not take long for Savoie to find chemistry with McDavid once coach Kris Knoblauch shuffled the deck in Draisaitl’s absence.
He was elevated at the start of the second period of the game against Nashville and scored at 2:32, finishing off a pass from McDavid on a 2-on-1.
Savoie has been with McDavid since and is also getting time on the first power-play unit to go along with his usual penalty-killing duties. He scored a short-handed goal in a 5-2 win at the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday.
“He’s playing well. He’s doing a lot of really good things,” said McDavid, the Oilers captain. “That was a huge goal on the kill there. He plays with a lot of energy, he’s got a great motor on him, he keeps pucks alive, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Savoie was acquired by Edmonton in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres for forward Ryan McLeod and forward prospect Tyler Tullio on July 5, 2024. He was selected by Buffalo with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and spent most of last season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, playing four games with Edmonton, before becoming an NHL regular this season.
Savoie has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) and has played all 72 games. He has seemingly found an extra step following the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.
“I feel like the reset was huge, just to get some time away from the rink and time off the ice, and just kind of reset my body and kind of get back to 100 percent,” Savoie said. “I feel like everyone is dealing with some nagging injuries that when you get two weeks off in the middle of a season, it can really reset and boost guys, and it did a lot of good for me.”
Savoie took most of the Olympic break off before playing one game with Bakersfield for tune-up purposes.
“I think at the Olympic break I was at 58 games and that’s almost the number of games I played all of last year (70 combined in the AHL and NHL),” Savoie said. “Here, the schedule is a lot more condensed in how many games you’re playing, along with the travel and how many days you have in between games.
“You have to make the adjustment as best as possible, and that’s keeping your body right and getting as much rest as you can, and I think I’ve done a good job of that as the season’s gone on.”
Knoblauch has noticed the progression in Savoie’s game and said he’s confident in putting him out with star players like McDavid and Draisaitl.
“I think it’s always been in him, but just the confidence of having the puck and making those plays has been the biggest area (where) he’s grown this year,” Knoblauch said. “Now playing with a guy like Connor and when he was with Leon, just knowing how to find open space and not just get stagnant and check yourself. He’s been fast and darting into spots, and it looks like him and Connor are playing really well together.”
Without Draisaitl, the Oilers had to make an adjustment on the power play, with Savoie and Jack Roslovic sharing minutes on the top unit. Edmonton has the best power play in the NHL this season, converting at 31.0 percent, and the No. 1 unit usually stays out for the majority of the man-advantage.
That top unit, normally consisting of McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenseman Evan Bouchard, has been a staple in recent seasons, limiting power-play time for other players.
“For sure, it’s an exciting opportunity,” Savoie said. “That power play has been the best in the League for the last three years and there’s not really much opportunity to get to play with those guys, and rightfully so. So when you get it you have to be sharp, and I’m looking forward to being on it.”
Though the Oilers would rather have Draisaitl in the lineup as they try to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the experience Savoie and others are getting by being elevated into offensive roles could prove beneficial down the stretch and into the postseason.
“For sure, it’s a great opportunity for our group,” Savoie said. “Obviously you never want to play without a guy like that, that brings so much to your lineup on and off the ice. But I think every guy in here is ready to step up and give a little bit more.”
‘I Almost Cried’: Jay-Z Breaks Silence on His ‘Darkest Moment’
Before 2024, Jay-Z had weathered sold-out arenas, his “Ether” battle with Nas in 2001, and the hard lessons of growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant and building an empire with his Roc Nation label and conglomerate.
Now, for the first time, the Grammy winner is opening up about how his eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, stood firmly in what he calls his “darkest moment.”
At 14 years old, Blue Ivy showed the world exactly what that kind of loyalty looks like during one of the most difficult stretches of her dad’s life and what should have been her big debut.
‘You Need to be Disbarred’: Fans Call for ‘Scum’ Lawyer’s Head After Jay-Z Rape Accuser Found to Be Autistic Woman with Several ‘Mistakes’ In Her Story
In a rare and deeply personal GQ interview, the Brooklyn mogul opened up about the last two years after being rattled by an assault scandal that made headlines around the world and Blue’s first major film role, which was overshadowed by the loud conversation about her father.
Days after his 55th birthday, Jay-Z publicly denied the claims in a civil lawsuit alleging a sexual assault by a woman while in the company of Sean “Diddy” Combs and an unnamed woman at a party after the 2000 Video Music Awards.
The Brooklyn native then showed up the next day beside his eldest daughter, his wife Beyoncé, and their family on the red carpet for Blue’s debut in the “Mufasa: The Lion King” premiere. Fans watched closely, reading body language and analyzing every move. Yet the family walked the carpet together, signaling unity and confidence during a moment filled with scrutiny.
As an act of solidarity, Blue wore a jersey in support of her father — a quiet but unmistakable display that carried weight far beyond fashion and a decision that needed no explanation.
“I almost cried,” Jay-Z admitted in a video interview, reflecting on the moment. “Seeing her wear that jersey and show that kind of love — that meant everything to me. As a father, you try to be strong all the time, but when your child shows up for you like that, it hits you in a different place. That was one of those moments I’ll never forget.”
The “Reasonable Doubt” rapper said it was “really hard” to contain his “anger” around the moment that helped him discover how those around him truly feel.
When asked about Blue’s big night and why he didn’t stay home, he said he considered it but wanted to support her big moment like she supported him wearing a jersey with her father’s rap name on the back.
“I was just in the corner, like tears coming down. Seriously,” said the proud dad of three. “To have that, it’s priceless. People can say that [they’ll always be there for you], but it’s very rare that you’re going to have to exercise it. And in the darkest moment for me, I got to see those sorts of things.”
Online, the reaction was swift, emotional, and in many cases deeply personal, with fans recognizing the power of a daughter showing up for her father when the spotlight felt unforgiving. Some saw the gesture as a reminder that family loyalty still matters, even in the glare of celebrity scrutiny.
One commenter wrote, “The way I got teary reading this.” Another added that the moment felt bigger than celebrity drama, posting, “Hearing this is powerful. In the middle of chaos and false accusations, seeing his daughter stand by him like that proves the strength of their bond. Truly touching.”
Giving praise directly to her, one person shared, “Blue Ivy got more emotional intelligence than the average online hater,” while another person predicted, “She’s going to be one amazing woman.”
Another commenter summed up the sentiment: “Her father’s princess right there.”
Behind the scenes, her mother, Beyoncé, took a noticeably protective approach at the time. Rather than flooding social media with pictures from the night, she focused her posts squarely on her daughter’s accomplishment and carefully avoided images that might shift attention away from the young star.
In the end, both Carter and Combs rejected the allegations, and the case came to an end in February 2025 when the plaintiff, through her attorney, Tony Buzbee, moved to dismiss it with prejudice.
Joe Gibbs to Face Grave Consequences as JGR Shoots It’s Own Foot in Controversial Lawsuit
There’s never a dull moment in NASCAR, even during the offseason. The 23XI Racing vs NASCAR lawsuit proved that. However, when that ended and the 2026 season began, people thought it was only the excitement for the Cup Series they had to look forward to. That’s when fans were made aware of the Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports controversy.
It all started when Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR director of competition, Chris Gabehart, vacated his role only to join Spire Motorsports with immediate effect. Joe Gibbs did not take the news well and felt that he was taking valuable intel to Spire. After initial hearings, a lot of things have unravelled, according to The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi.
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What’s the latest on the Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit?
JGR Racing alleged over $8 million in damages and sued the former director for allegedly stealing confidential trade secrets and proprietary data that would help his new team.
Bianchi believes that while the initial hearing showed there was a lot to unpack, the upcoming hearing is going to help a lot in determining the outcome.
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“Preliminary injunction. So just kind of getting the nuts and bolts of what Chris Gabehart can do, can’t do at Spire,” said Bianchi on the Teardown podcast. “How long does that go for. What information is out there? There’s also a forensic analysis done on his computer.”
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Gabehart has been cooperative and believes he has done no wrong, according to his official statement. While his privacy would be stalled during the course of the proceedings due to the injunction, this has also invited unnecessary trouble for JGR Racing.
“Now Spire can do a discovery on JGR and everything related to what was going on with Chris Gabehart, Related to his contract and when he was let out of the contract, that kind of thing,” said Bianchi. “Now they can go through JGR’s cell phones, computers, and that kind of thing. We’ll see where this leads.”
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This could severely impact JGR, who have aspirations to win the Cup Series this year.
How will the lawsuit impact JGR?
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Since JGR was the one to bring the lawsuit, they were entitled to know if Spire had benefited.
However, in this scenario, the shoe is on the other foot, because it is Spire’s turn to make inquiries. To be precise, they have a right to know what Gabehart’s contract with Joe Gibbs Racing was and if there were any malpractices there.
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With all this said, when will Gabehart’s real impact on Spire Motorsports be felt? While he has been recruited to the team with immediate effect, his presence might not affect the team this season. It also remains to be seen if this lawsuit will become a problem for either of the teams, as the racing calendar is set to get into an intense few months.
Dale Jr. Pulls the Trigger on Forgotten NASCAR Bloodline With Surprise JRM Signing
Back in 2013, NASCAR audiences felt like they had seen the last of James Finch and his legacy in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Phoenix Racing would then be sold to become HScott Motorsports in 2014. However, more than a decade later, his successor is going to try and attempt to revive his father’s forgotten NASCAR pursuit.
Jake Finch to start five races for JR Motorsports
As you might’ve guessed, Jake Finch is the same driver who drove the No. 17 car for Hendrick Motorsports last year at Dover in the O’Reilly Series. He is the son of former Cup Series owner James Finch. This year, he is going to get a chance to retry his luck in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his mentor.
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This comes as a surprising announcement, as JRM didn’t show any upcoming plans of making a new signing in the O’Reilly Series. Finch is going to start five races for the team during the 2026 season behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chevy. It is the same car that Shane van Gisbergen drove to victory at COTA a few weeks ago. For this season, Finch is going to drive the car at Atlanta, Darlington, Bristol, Charlotte, and Talladega starting in July.
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As a racer, Finch has been participating in the ARCA Menards Series, making multiple appearances with Venturini Motorsports and his father’s team, Phoenix Racing. He is also the winner of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega for Venturini Motorsports and the 2023 ARCA Menards East race at Dover for Venturini.
While doing so, Finch would go on to make history in 2024. He was able to lead every lap of the race in Talladega en route to victory. With that achievement, he became the only driver in the history of the series to achieve that milestone. As of 2026, Finch has yet to participate in any NASCAR or other nationwide racing series full-time.
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But he is not the only new signing that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has brought in to his team.
JR Motorsports gives Martinsville veteran his O’Reilly debut
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Before Jake Finch takes over the wheel of the No. 9, Lee Pulliam is going to drive the car in hopes of gaining glory at the Martinsville Speedway. Pulliam is a well-known racer at the track and has won the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 twice. Not only that, but he is also a veteran Late Model racer with a lot of success in the series.
He is more than excited to race the No. 9 at a track that has been his best. “To drive that car out on the track… I mean, I get goosebumps right now just thinking about it,” Pulliam said when asked about his feelings. “Literally. In my opinion, Earnhardt is the biggest name in the sport, and you don’t take it for granted. It is absolutely an honor to do it.”
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He is no stranger to NASCAR, however. As an owner, Pulliam has already interacted with many JRM drivers, including the likes of Sammy Smith, NASCAR Cup Series drivers Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain, and former JRM drivers Michael Annett, Miguel Paludo, and Ryan Truex.
The No. 9 Chevy of JR Motorsports is looking like a prime laboratory for experimenting with upcoming drivers and unknown talents. What comes out of these experiments will only reveal itself on race day when these drivers take the wheel of the car.
Joe Gibbs Racing Hit With Fresh Allegations of Contract Violation in Chris Gabehart Legal Battle Ahead of Hearing
While the Chris Gabehart vs. Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit did not seem to catch as much fire as NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit, there have been some recent developments. The claims that Spire Motorsports’ side has put forward could land Joe Gibbs and his entire multi-million dollar team operation in major legal trouble.
Joe Gibbs’ operation is under possible threat
As the plaintiffs and defendants prepare for the preliminary injunction hearing, Spire Motorsports’ filing of Chris Gabehart’s side has revealed something rather interesting. While a lot of the information has been redacted, it claims that Joe Gibbs Racing had stopped paying Gabehart, which directly violated their contract. Alternatively, it claims that the team terminated him “without cause.”
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“The restrictive covenant at issue is facially inapplicable because Gabehart was terminated without cause or, alternatively, JGR breached the agreement by failing to pay him,” read a part of a section of Spire’s filing.
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This is certainly interesting. While it does not blow the lawsuit wide open, as one might expect to, considering it’s an allegation, it’s still a serious one. Failing to make payment to any of the team’s members can land Joe Gibbs in a lot of trouble.
Joe Gibbs Racing initially filed the lawsuit against Chris Gabehart earlier in February, claiming he had shared sensitive team information, including setups, with Spire Motorsports, where he was prepared to join after his ‘termination’ from the team. This was an interesting aspect in itself, as Gabehart had earlier decided to resign from the team after a disagreement with the administration, but was later terminated.
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In their filing, Spire Motorsports not only claims this violation of contract, but also that there is no evidence of Gabehart sharing any sensitive information with them. Another claim that Spire denied was paying Gabehart’s legal fees. As of early this morning, JGR also submitted its filing for the preliminary injunction hearing, which will be held tomorrow.
Timeline of the Joe Gibbs Racing – Chris Gabehart conflict
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There seems to be a lot going on in the lawsuit, but here is a simplified version of the most significant events that led to the lawsuit.
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November 2025
Gabehart met with Joe Gibbs, expressing dissatisfaction with his role. After having worked with the organization since 2012, he wanted full control of competition operations, which was later rejected.
It was around this time that Gabehart first indicated that he would like to resign from JGR, and both sides began the discussion of a potential separation. Later in the month, Gabehart left the organization.
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February 9 , 2026
During the legal process, JGR revealed that Gabehart was terminated from his services on this date. He had already discussed his role with Spire Motorsports, and a fully confirmed contract was in the works.
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February 19
Joe Gibbs Racing filed a federal lawsuit in North Carolina against Chris Gabehart, alleging he stole trade secrets from the team and sensitive data, which he then planned to share with Spire. They also claimed that he had a separate drive on his work computer, named after the latter team.
Two days later, on the 21 of February, Spire Motorsports officially hired Gabehart as their Chief Motorsports Officer.
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Late February, 2026
JGR then filed an amended complaint, adding Spire Motorsports as a defendant. Furthermore, they requested a temporary restraining order on Gabehart to stop him from working in a similar role at Spire. If he had stolen any data, as JGR claimed, then this was expected to stop the team from potentially using it.
Around this same time, Chris Gabehart claimed that the lawsuit was ‘retaliatory,’ denying sharing any data, which JGR claimed.
Early March, 2026
The federal judge issued a limited restraining order for Gabehart as per JGR’s request. According to this, he was allowed to work at Spire Motorsports, but could not perform duties similar to his role at his previous organization. Moreover, they also ordered him to return any confidential data.
There was yet another extremely interesting angle of the lawsuit. Joe Gibbs Racing earlier revealed hiring a private investigator to keep an eye on Gabehart before filing the lawsuit. As per the private investigator, Gabehart drove to Spire Motorsports’ facility on the 2 of December, 2025. His accounts further claim that he was then accompanied by the team’s owner, Jeff Dickerson, and that they had lunch together. These claims were backed by pictures.
As of now, Chris Gabehart has continued to deny all the allegations. With the preliminary hearing set tomorrow, it could mark a huge turning point in the lawsuit. Moreover, this would be extremely important for Joe Gibbs, as Spire’s claims of his organization violating the contract seem extremely strong.
Fred, the beloved turkey known for attacking cars in N.J. town, dies after being hit by a car, police say
Deptford Township has lost one of its most famous residents — he just happens to be a turkey.
Fred the Turkey — known for hanging out at DHY Motorsports on Clements Bridge Road and attacking cars — died Wednesday after he, in one of life’s great ironies, was struck by a car.
He was hit near the intersection of Clements Bridge Road and Caufield Avenue, Deptford Police Sgt. Robert Jones told NJ.com. He was removed and buried on a nearby property by a homeowner.
“Truth be told, Fred was a bit of a handful,” Jones wrote on the department’s Facebook page in a tribute to Fred. “We probably received 100-plus calls about him. But, he was our handful and we loved him. Fred’s patrolling the big intersection in the sky now.”
One of the department’s officers even wrote a country-style song to memorialize Fred in the Facebook post.
“Yeah, it’s quiet now on that road, no more strut, no more feathers show, kinda weird not taking that call, Fred had a way of stopping us all,” is one of the more sentimental lines from the song.
“Deptford ain’t Deptford without you,” the chorus states.
A memorial service is being planned for 6 p.m. Friday at DHY Motorsports.
In April 2025, Fred was named Deptford Township’s Citizen of the Month.
“Fred (also known as Tom), a resident of Caulfield Ave., is a local celebrity who both delights and annoys motorists in the vicinity of Caulfield & Clements Bridge Road,” the town wrote last year. “His recent notoriety has earned him recognition from Mayor & Council.”
Birds have been a topic of discussion around town in recent weeks.
Iran conflict affects sports spectacle: Pakistan Super League goes spectator-free
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The war in Iran is having a flow on impact on the biggest sports spectacle of the year in neighboring Pakistan.
It’ll be like the COVID-19 era revisited for the Pakistan Super League, with no spectators allowed into games in the Twenty20 cricket franchise competition starting Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Cricket is the pinnacle of sports in Pakistan, just as it is in India and other parts of a subcontinental region of more than 1.5 billion people.
It’s entertainment, it’s business, and the PSL is the marquee domestic event. This year, it’s starting days before the Indian Premier League, the world’s most lucrative cricket competition, and competing to attract star players.
Yet there’ll be no opening ceremony, no fans and the tournament will be contained to two venues rather than the original six.
The reason? The Middle East conflict has resulted in exorbitant hikes for fuel in the region, and Pakistan’s government is urging people to restrict travel and to work from home.
So after years of building up the league, organizers are going back to basics.
Tough call
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said it wouldn’t be right to have 30,000 fans attending cricket matches every day while the government is asking the public to stay home.
“We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches,” he said. “This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made.”
Past troubles
Last year the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League were suspended for a while during heightened military tensions, but both returned to action and completed seasons after the neighboring countries agreed to a ceasefire.
A TV event
T20 cricket is the quickest form of the game at the elite level, can be finished within three hours and is designed for prime time TV.
That’s important, because that’s the only way regular fans will get to see the PSL.
As well as the last-minute decision to ban fans from attending, the league’s organizers have also reduced the tournament to two cities – Lahore and Karachi – which will split 44 games in 39 days. Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Multan were scrapped as venues this season.
“PSL is reducing the wider logistical footprint associated with a multi-city tournament, including transport, venue operations, and utility demands, while ensuring continuity of Pakistan’s premier cricket event,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
That means players from at least three teams – Rawalpindi, Multan and Peshawar – will be away all season.
“It’s a real shame that we aren’t able to play at home — I guess that’s the nature of a few things that are going on in the world,” said New Zealander Daryl Mitchell, who was signed by expansion franchise Rawalpindi at the PSL auction.
Mitchell posted back-to-back ODI centuries at the Pindi Cricket Stadium three years ago and said he’d been savoring a chance to play there again.
“A number of us international guys have been part of the COVID bubbles back in the day where there were no crowds,” he said, reflecting on the tight security, physical distance regulations and empty stadiums for cricket events staged during the pandemic. “So I’m sure it may feel a little bit like that at times in the first few games.
“Let’s hope that toward the end of the tournament we can get some crowds in, and especially hopefully that the final can be packed out.”
Returns
The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised refunds for all tickets purchased in advance, and Naqvi said franchise owners would also be compensated.
While cricket fans generally understood the decision to go ahead with the tournament in just two cities, some still wanted to be there.
“I would have traveled to Lahore to support my Rawalpindi team,” said Hussain Mustafa, a graduate student. “I know it’s tough times for the country because of the fuel crisis, but tickets for at least half of the stadium should have been put on sale.”
Players from Australia, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will join local stars competing in the eight-team tournament.
“I’m really looking forward to the new franchise and hopefully winning a few games of cricket for the Pindiz,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully we can put plenty of smiles on all the fans’ faces.”
___
Iran war fallout forces Pakistan Super League into empty stadiums and 2-city footprint
The Pakistan Super League has moved into a COVID-style setup, with empty stadiums and a tighter footprint in the fallout of the war in Iran
March 25, 2026 at 5:48 a.m. EDT3 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD — The war in Iran is having a flow on impact on the biggest sports spectacle of the year in neighboring Pakistan.
It’ll be like the COVID-19 era revisited for the Pakistan Super League, with no spectators allowed into games in the Twenty20 cricket franchise competition starting Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Iran war fallout forces Pakistan Super League into empty stadiums and 2
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The war in Iran is having a flow on impact on the biggest sports spectacle of the year in neighboring Pakistan.
It’ll be like the COVID-19 era revisited for the Pakistan Super League, with no spectators allowed into games in the Twenty20 cricket franchise competition starting Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Cricket is the pinnacle of sports in Pakistan, just as it is in India and other parts of a subcontinental region of more than 1.5 billion people.
It’s entertainment, it’s business, and the PSL is the marquee domestic event. This year, it’s starting days before the Indian Premier League, the world’s most lucrative cricket competition, and competing to attract star players.
Yet there’ll be no opening ceremony, no fans and the tournament will be contained to two venues rather than the original six.
The reason? The Middle East conflict has resulted in exorbitant hikes for fuel in the region, and Pakistan’s government is urging people to restrict travel and to work from home.
So after years of building up the league, organizers are going back to basics.
Tough call
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said it wouldn’t be right to have 30,000 fans attending cricket matches every day while the government is asking the public to stay home.
“We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches,” he said. “This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made.”
Past troubles
Last year the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League were suspended for a while during heightened military tensions, but both returned to action and completed seasons after the neighboring countries agreed to a ceasefire.
A TV event
T20 cricket is the quickest form of the game at the elite level, can be finished within three hours and is designed for prime time TV.
That’s important, because that’s the only way regular fans will get to see the PSL.
As well as the last-minute decision to ban fans from attending, the league’s organizers have also reduced the tournament to two cities – Lahore and Karachi – which will split 44 games in 39 days. Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Multan were scrapped as venues this season.
“PSL is reducing the wider logistical footprint associated with a multi-city tournament, including transport, venue operations, and utility demands, while ensuring continuity of Pakistan’s premier cricket event,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
That means players from at least three teams – Rawalpindi, Multan and Peshawar – will be away all season.
“It’s a real shame that we aren’t able to play at home — I guess that’s the nature of a few things that are going on in the world,” said New Zealander Daryl Mitchell, who was signed by expansion franchise Rawalpindi at the PSL auction.
Mitchell posted back-to-back ODI centuries at the Pindi Cricket Stadium three years ago and said he’d been savoring a chance to play there again.
“A number of us international guys have been part of the COVID bubbles back in the day where there were no crowds,” he said, reflecting on the tight security, physical distance regulations and empty stadiums for cricket events staged during the pandemic. “So I’m sure it may feel a little bit like that at times in the first few games.
“Let’s hope that toward the end of the tournament we can get some crowds in, and especially hopefully that the final can be packed out.”
Returns
The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised refunds for all tickets purchased in advance, and Naqvi said franchise owners would also be compensated.
While cricket fans generally understood the decision to go ahead with the tournament in just two cities, some still wanted to be there.
“I would have traveled to Lahore to support my Rawalpindi team,” said Hussain Mustafa, a graduate student. “I know it’s tough times for the country because of the fuel crisis, but tickets for at least half of the stadium should have been put on sale.”
Players from Australia, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will join local stars competing in the eight-team tournament.
“I’m really looking forward to the new franchise and hopefully winning a few games of cricket for the Pindiz,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully we can put plenty of smiles on all the fans’ faces.”
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
MLB Opening Day is here – and so are some next-level ballpark eats
By Andy Scholes, CNN
(CNN) — A fresh lineup of food across Major League Baseball stadiums is rolling out for a fresh new season. Levy Restaurants brought several of its newest creations directly to CNN Sports, and I got to try them.
For Levy CEO Andy Lansing, this is the moment they build toward all year.
“We love striking that balance between what I call elevated approachability,” Lansing said. “You want people to come to a ballpark and get all the fan favorites – popcorn, nachos, hot dogs – but you also want to give folks the opportunity to experience something a little more elevated.”
Mission accomplished.
Everything I tried delivered, but here are my five favorite new ballpark eats. Prices below were provided by Levy.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers: Cochinita Pibil Bone Marrow Tacos
Slow-braised cochinita pibil layered over rich roasted bone marrow, topped with pickled red onions and fresh cilantro, served on warm blue corn tortillas.
The pork and pickled onions were an awesome combo, and the size of the tacos makes them perfect for ballpark feasting. These will set you back a bit, but they feel like a premium bite.
Price: $34.99
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ Shake
A salted caramel milkshake piled high with whipped cream, peanut butter sandwich cookies, Kit Kat bars and a hefty portion of Cracker Jack.
There are a ton of flavors going on here – in a good way. I’d start with the straw to get after the shake portion, then switch to a spoon to tackle everything stacked on top. It’s basically dessert and entertainment all in one.
Price: $17
3. Washington Nationals: Capitol Slugger
A half-smoke sausage topped with chili, crispy fried jalapeños and golden fried onions, served with warm cheese sauce for dipping.
The Capitol Slugger is the commander-in-chief of hot dogs. This might be the best hot dog creation I’ve ever had. The mix of spicy and smoky flavors just works, and every bite delivers.
Price: $18
2. Chicago Cubs: Chicken & Churros
Crispy fried chicken thighs served with golden brown churros, ancho syrup and fresh strawberries.
I’m a big chicken-and-waffles guy, so this immediately caught my attention – it did not disappoint. The chicken is massive and fried perfectly. Take a bite of the chicken, then the churro, and together it’s a sweet-and-savory combo that hits.
Cubs fans are lucky to have this all season at Wrigley.
Price: $17.99
1. Miami Marlins: Machete
A two-foot flour tortilla brushed with smoky guajillo pepper sauce, grilled with melted mozzarella and Oaxaca cheeses, and packed with carne asada, onions, salsa verde and cilantro. Served in a custom carrying case.
I applaud anyone who takes this on solo. It’s basically a two-foot steak quesadilla – and I made it halfway without much trouble. Give me nine innings and I think I could finish it. The smoky guajillo sauce takes it to another level.
Price: At $26, it’s also a great value – a little more than $1 per inch – and you look like a champ carrying it around the ballpark.
Is Citizens Bank Park best in MLB? See where Phillies’ stadium ranks
The Philadelphia Phillies open the 2026 Major League Baseball season this week, and there are a number of reasons to head out to Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies are gunning for their fifth straight postseason berth and third straight National League East Division title. The team is loaded with talent from Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to Cristopher Sanchez and Jhoan Duran. The Phillie Phanatic is roaming the stadium.
Even with all of that, there’s still another reason to head to
NFL Stadiums Forced to Scrub Sponsor Logos, But One Got FIFA’s Exemption for a Wild Reason
Imagine AT&T Stadium without its name or Arrowhead without its Chiefs branding. That’s the stark reality facing NFL venues for the 2026 World Cup, as FIFA is demanding a major identity wipe. With multiple games to be hosted at different NFL venues, the stadiums are being forced to go undercover for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Soccer’s global governing body requires all World Cup venues to scrub themselves of pre-existing branding. It does this, it says, to ‘protect its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors,” The Athletic reported.
With this demand, NFL stadiums will have to undergo major renovations to fit the FIFA guidelines, and will be required to take off their own sponsor logos and other branding properties throughout the duration of the World Cup. While hosting a World Cup presents itself as a massive opportunity, accommodating these changes is a tough challenge, as revealed by the Kansas City Chiefs president, Mark Donovan.
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“I think when you get into the brand building and the specifics of that, it actually is a little bit of a challenge for us,” Donovan said on 96.5 The Fan. “Mainly because of the way FIFA works. Not all our fans understand all the aspects of a FIFA bid process…the way FIFA works, it’s not just for Kansas City, but it’s all the markets and all the arenas. Every single sign is either replaced or removed. Every single suite has been completely cleared out. So you’re not going to see a whole lot of Chiefs trademarks around our own home during this event.”
One of the NFL’s biggest brands, the Dallas Cowboys, also faced a similar challenge, with Jerry Jones and Co. required to cover the AT&T logo at their stadium in Arlington, Texas. Similarly, MetLife Stadium will be “New York New Jersey Stadium,” Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will be “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium,” according to FIFA for the World Cup.
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With the upcoming World Cup being the largest edition yet, 48 teams will be competing across 16 host cities. Notably, teams across the NFL have been working hard to follow the strict guidelines issued by FIFA.
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However, one stadium has received an exemption for a bizarre reason ahead of the World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
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Mercedes Stadium secures a special exemption for its branded roof
While most NFL venues hosting the FIFA World Cup games have been forced to follow the global sporting body’s strict guidelines, the Atlanta Falcons‘ Mercedes-Benz Stadium has received an exemption for its $1.6 billion roof. FIFA agreed to this accommodation after organizers discovered removing a major roof logo could cause structural damage.
The stadium authorities could not cover or remove the huge Mercedes star on the roof as it’s made of eight interlocking and movable panels, each weighing 500 tons and stretching 220 feet long. Therefore, making any significant changes to the roof would have risked serious damage. Furthermore, this decision came about after 18 months of negotiation with stadium authorities, who were otherwise required to conceal all non-FIFA branding inside and around match venues.
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Addressing these strict guidelines, a FIFA spokesperson highlighted what has been done in converting these NFL venues into World Cup stadiums for the upcoming marquee tournament.
“FIFA is working closely with stadium authorities and host cities to implement these requirements in a manner consistent with previous editions of the tournament, while taking into account the unique infrastructure and operational considerations at each venue. FIFA does not comment on specific arrangements relating to individual stadiums.”
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, NFL stadiums are making major adjustments to meet FIFA’s strict branding requirements. Most venues have complied, though Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s unique roof structure earned it a rare exemption.
BTS Arirang World Tour Dream Setlist
BTS‘ forthcoming Arirang World Tour is arriving as a truly historic live trek for the pop royalty that is the Bangtan Boys — and it requires a monumental setlist to accompany it.
Originally announced with 79 shows across 34 regions in five continents, the tour has already grown in its initial size with additional U.S. dates added in both Tampa, Florida, Stanford, California, and Las Vegas, as the first tickets went on sale earlier this year in January. The pop icons will officially things kick off in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9, 2026, and continue throughout 2027 with additional cities said to soon be announced in Japan, the Middle East and beyond.
The Arirang World Tour marks BTS’ first live concert series since the Permission to Dance on Stage tour that held mini-residencies in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 with 22 songs in the main setlist and three songs in the encore. During the period where members handled their individual mandatory military services, BTS members Suga, J-Hope and Jin managed to embark on their own solo tours. Suga embarked on his D-Day Tour across North America and Asia in 2023 before his military enlistment, while J-Hope and Jin both went on their own solo treks post-military service in 2025.
To make the Arirang World Tour as special as possible, we’ve crafted our dream setlist that respects BTS’ career arc, solo spotlights of the members who weren’t able to head out on their solo tours and stadium-sized singalongs with more than 25 songs in the main set and four in the encore to ensure this is officially the biggest and greatest BTS show to date.
Ranking the ACC’s College Football Stadiums Best to Worst
The ACC football landscape offers a wide range of stadium experiences, perhaps as much as any Power 4 conference. It’s got a little bit of everything.
Clemson and Florida State could fit fairly seamlessly into the SEC gameday ethos. Then there’s Miami playing in an NFL stadium 24 miles from campus and Pittsburgh also borrowing an NFL stadium and feeling like a guest on its
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026 deals on Kyle Richards’ favorites
Want to shop like a “Housewife” while saving?
There are plenty of Kyle Richards-approved deals for the taking during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which runs from March 25 through March 31 — proving you don’t need a Beverly Hills zip code to shop like you have one.
Whether you look to the Bravoleb for beauty inspo or are obsessed with her personal style, we found plenty of choice picks from the “RHOBH” star’s past Amazon Live curations.
From Apple AirTags to Richards’ go-to skincare, scroll on to make her go-tos your own.
Laura Geller New York The Best of the Best Baked Palette
Richards loves this palette so much, she owns it in multiples: “I panicked one day when I couldn’t find it,” she explained during one Amazon Live.
Plenty of other stars love Laura Geller’s mature-skin-friendly products, including Martha Stewart and Fran Drescher — and many brand bestsellers are currently marked down.
Swarovski Emily Tennis Bracelet
Swarovski is a red carpet staple, and Richards is in on it. “It looks very real …. looks like diamonds,” she said in a Live of this classic tennis bracelet, calling it a “great gift” that’s “easy to layer.”
Feisedy Retro Sunglasses
Back in 2024, Richards shouted out these retro-inspired sunnies, saying, “I feel like this shape looks good on anyone.”
Apple AirTag (4-Pack)
Score a great price on this Richards-approved travel essential during the Big Spring Sale.
Ekouaer Pajama Set
Bethenny Frankel joins Richards in loving these luxe-looking PJs, with the latter calling it “one of my favorite things” in a Live.
“We love these; I have them in all the colors,” she added at the time.
Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask
Plenty of stars are treating their famous faces to Biodance’s collagen-packed sheet masks, including Richards.
“These feel amazing and make such a difference in your skin,” she said earlier this month.
Zelus Weighted Vest
“Just really takes your average walk and ups your game tenfold,” quipped the “RHOBH” star earlier this year in a Live, saying she’s “been doing [it] for a while now.”
Richards also noted that adding that a weighted vest to your workouts can be “good for your bone density.”
Medicube Zero Pore Pads
Medicube Zero Pore Pads are a hit with “Housewives” like Richards, Alix Earle and Page Six editors alike. The dual-textured pads brighten skin while minimizing pores with exfoliating AHAs.
Our own Style & Shopping Director Elana Fishman recently raved about them, saying, “My skin feels soft, smooth and calm afterward, not at all stripped or tight.”
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
The star shouted out this floral fragrance before Valentine’s Day this year, saying, “I really love it…I’ve been obsessed with perfume lately.”
Grace & Stella Energizing Eye Masks
Richards joins Jessica Alba in loving Grace & Stella eye masks; one obsessed customer wrote that they “do wonders and feel amazing.”
Stratalife Travel Jewelry Case
During a recent Amazon Live covering packing essentials, Richards shared that she’s “obsessed” with this “magic trick” of a jewelry case, explaining, “I cannot tell you how much stuff I fit in here … it oddly fits more than these big, bulky [cases].”
TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum
Richards joins Khloé Kardashian in swearing by this popular vitamin C serum that promises to brighten and tone skin; over 105,000 Amazon shoppers have given it five stars, too.
The viral product also has hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and jojoba oil for a soft, glowy and hydrated complexion.
The Gym People Longline Sports Bra
Richards has featured this top-rated sports bra in multiple fitness-themed livestreams. It comes in plenty of colors and sizes XS to 3X.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
“Your eye makeup glides right off,” the “RHOBH” star said in an Amazon Live last year. “Your skin is like glowing and soft because it’s so hydrating.”
Bagail Packing Cubes
You don’t need a private jet to score Richards’ go-to packing cubes on sale right now.
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
Sterling High School assistant coach launches fundraising initiative to remove cost barrier for tennis players
A Sterling High School assistant tennis coach is seeking donations for his initiative that aims to ensure financial barriers don’t stand in the way of a player’s success.
Bob Orta’s scholarship fund supports tennis players at SHS, Dixon High School and Newman Central Catholic High School. All donations are used to cover the cost of lessons with Sterling Park District tennis professional Chris Dudley.
Orta said donations kicked off during a celebration for his 80th birthday on Feb. 28. Since then, Orta’s been giving out flyers to anyone he finds out is interested, including his eye doctor during an appointment, he said.
So far, Orta said the fund has raised about $2,000 and provided five hours’ worth of lessons to three SHS tennis players.
“It made me feel good,” Orta said about seeing those players practicing with Dudley recently. “I never guessed I would have been doing something like this, ever. I feel fortunate. I really do. I’m lucky.”
Tennis is “fun and it’s kind of tough to do things right. It’s easier to do things wrong,” Orta said, explaining that a lot of times players will get used to doing something one way and it’s difficult to break that habit.
For high school players, “that’s why taking lessons…is important to help them build their skills,” Orta said.
“I really enjoy working with the kids at the high school. It’s a kick for me. I walk around the courts for two and a half hours during practice…and it makes me feel good to see them get better,” Orta said. “They’re not going to become professional players, probably, but if they’re good enough to have fun, that’s the bottom line.”
Orta said he always tells the SHS players he coaches, “I want to see some smiles, too.”
Orta first tried tennis around 1973 when he and a friend decided to go out and play, he said.
“We never really picked up a racket or hit a ball before, and I’m sure it was quite a sight for someone to see,” Orta said.
He returned to it about 14 years ago and began taking regular lessons.
“I said, ‘I want to get better, because it feels cool when you hit the ball correctly,’ ” Orta said.
Today, in addition to coaching, Orta goes to the gym every day and takes lessons with Dudley to maintain his skills.
“I’m not a natural athlete. I just work really hard because I have to, if I want to play,” Orta said. “What are you going to do when you’re 80 anyway, you know?”
Orta credited his wife for coming up with the idea for the scholarship fund and said that she suggested it after he donated lessons for one tennis player separately.
Orta recalled his wife asking him, “What about more people than just that?”
After that, Orta talked to Dudley, who was on board with the idea, and together they worked it out with the park district, which already had its own foundation set up.
“The hardest part about it is to figure out who needs help. I mean, you don’t walk up to somebody and say, ‘Hey, do you need help?’ You have to be kind of gentle,” Orta said.
Orta said there’s no official application process for scholarship recipients yet, and as of now, they’re chosen based on the conversations that Dudley, Orta and other coaches have with students.
Orta said he and Dudley are “kind of working out how we’re going to screen people” because it’s “a sensitive area and I don’t want to make kids feel bad or other kids to make fun of them.”
For information, call the Sterling Park District at 815-622-6200 or speak to the athletic director at any of the three schools.
What baseball’s “robot umpires” tell us about the future of work
For a sport that’s more than 150 years old, the opening of the 2026 Major League Baseball season is set to feature an unusual number of firsts. The official Opening Day on March 26 is the earliest in baseball history. The first official game of the season tonight between the Giants and the Yankees — which is Opening Night, not Opening Day, totally different — will be the first-ever game streamed on Netflix.
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And chances are that some time during that game, a player will tap his helmet or hat after a pitch is thrown, challenging the umpire’s call and triggering baseball’s first-ever Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system review. The robot umpires are here.
The system is remarkably straightforward. Each team gets two challenges per game, retaining them if successful, losing them if wrong. Only the pitcher, catcher, or batter can challenge, only over balls and strikes calls, and only within two seconds of the pitch.
Once a challenge is made, a network of 12 high-speed cameras installed around the stadium tracks the pitch’s exact location, and then software creates a 3D model of the pitch’s trajectory — on the Jumbotron for everyone to see — against the batter’s individualized strike zone. The verdict is made instantly. The umpire doesn’t go to a monitor and reconsider for minutes, like in NFL or NBA replay. He is merely the conduit to announce what the machine has decided.
This change should in theory make everyone better off. Teams have an appeal in the event of a potential blown call at a crucial moment (such as the brutal game-ending strike call for the Dominican Republic in this month’s World Baseball Classic). Challenges are limited and rapidly decided, so the game doesn’t slow down. The automated system is accurate to within 0.25 inches — roughly the width of a pencil — and quick enough to catch an Aroldis Chapman 103-mph fastball. Human umpires are still largely in charge of the game.
All in all, the ABS system appears to be an ideal compromise — preserving human judgement while allowing machines to correct the worst mistakes. While the system isn’t AI-powered, it seems like an example of how humans and AI could fruitfully work together in the future, with humans firmly in the loop but aided by the machines.
Except there’s a problem with splitting the difference between human and machine. Once you’ve conceded that the machine is the final authority on whether a call is right — which is exactly what baseball has done here — you’ve quietly eliminated the case for having the human there at all. What might seem like a stable equilibrium isn’t stable at all.
Calling balls and strikes
You can see this breakdown already underway in the minor leagues, which has been experimenting with the ABS system for years. Baseball reporter Jayson Stark has written about umpires in the AAA minors who, having grown tired of being overturned for all to see by the machine, began to change the way they handled the game, “calling balls and strikes the way they think the robot would call them.”
Because the league has given the machine final say, the human behind the mask doesn’t stay independent — he starts mimicking the machine. The umpire — once the lord of the diamond, whose word was law — becomes in effect the rough draft for the AI. Human knowledge and expertise becomes degraded.
To which a baseball fan might respond, perhaps with more colorful language, “they’re all bums anyway.” Which wouldn’t be quite fair to our carbon-based umpires, not that fairness to umps has ever been a concern for baseball fans. MLB estimates that umpires call 94 percent of pitches correctly, which on one hand is good — I’m not sure I’m 94 percent accurate on anything — but on the other hand, means they’re still making mistakes on around 17 or 18 pitches a game on average.
And even though the data suggests umpires have actually been getting better, we’re now able to see replays and precise pitch-tracking data that make it crystal clear just when a call has been blown. A guy named Ethan Singer even created an independent project called Umpire Scorecards, which uses publicly available Statcast/pitch tracking data to score every umpire, every game. The new ABS system just ratifies what previous technology made obvious years ago.
So the technological assault on the umpire’s authority has been underway for some time, and while even the ABS system has its margin of error, the end result of introducing machines will be a more accurately called game. But real human skills will be lost along the way. The best catchers are experts at framing pitches to make them look like strikes, even if they aren’t. Good batters learn an umpire’s individual strike zone and adjust game to game. (The Red Sox great Ted Williams used to say there were three strike zones: his own, the pitcher’s, and the umpire’s.) All of these skills were built on human imperfection, and all of them will become less valuable even as machines make the game “fairer.”
The one-way street of automation
To get a glimpse of baseball’s possible future, just look at tennis.
In 2006, pro tennis introduced the Hawk-Eye challenges, which allowed players to appeal a limited number of line calls to an automated camera system. The players were, initially, not fans. (As Marat Safin put it: “Who was the genius who came up with this stupid idea?”)
But the logic, especially as the sport got faster and faster, was undeniable. By 2020, the US Open had eliminated human line judging altogether, and Wimbledon followed suit in 2025. Human umpires are still employed, but mostly for the purposes of match management; i.e., shushing the crowd. The challenge system turned out to be just a stop on the path to near full-scale automation. And now baseball is stepping onto the same road.
The ABS system is what you get when an institution knows that the machine is better at the job but isn’t ready to say so. That’s exactly the position that a lot of organizations find themselves in right now, as AI grows ever more capable. The result, for the moment, tends to be a hybrid approach that leaves too many workers feeling stressed and disempowered, while failing to capture the benefits of more complete automation.
But over time, automation tends to prove to be a one-way street. The question isn’t whether machines will eventually call balls and strikes. It’s how much longer the halfway point can hold — for those umpires we love to hate, and for the rest of us.
A version of this story originally appeared in the Future Perfect newsletter. Sign up here!
Boys Tennis preview, 2026: Group 4 teams to watch
The 2026 New Jersey boys tennis season is upon us and some teams have already started serving competitively this spring.
The rest will get under way next week. While the state tournament is months away, we take a look at the top teams in each of the groups.
Below we break down the favorites, contenders and other teams to watch in Group 4.
FAVORITE
East Brunswick
A perennial contender, East Brunswick, which last won a sectional crown in 2022, went 12-6 last spring. The Bears took second at the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and reached the tough Central, Group 4 semifinals.
East Brunswick will have a revamped lineup this season that sends two of last year’s singles starters Ashwin Deodhar and Saksham Bhardwaj down to second doubles.
After not playing a year ago, Neil Lund is back on the team and looks to be headed to first singles. Behind him are freshmen Kaito Woodridge and Ishaan Makim at the other two singles positions. Timur Savin, a veteran, and another newcomer Vyan Mahesh rounds out the first doubles pair.
CONTENDERS
Lenape
Lenape won the South, Group 4 title last spring and finished 15-2 overall. The Indians will have to replace Logan Knasiak at first singles, but Kunal Gupta and Tevin Pham return from their second and third singles positions, respectively.
Doubles players Saatvik Dinesh, Nikhil Venkatachalapathy and Ankush Nair are all back as well alongside reserves Owen McDonald and Neil Sethi who saw spot action last year.
The SJG4 section is typically hard to decipher. But with so much experience back, Lenape figures to be in the running.
Livingston
Livingston will have a new look this spring. After a down year by Livingston standards at 11-11, the Lancers will be much improved this year.
Dennis Wang, one of the Garden State’s top players as a freshman two years ago, returns to the team after not playing for the Lancers last season.
Livingston also returns singles players Arjun Bansal and Julian Turovets, and doubles players Jake Mandala, Aarush Gupta, Justin Li and Mayak Tiku.
The outlook is bright for Livingston because not only does it have Wang and other returning experience back, the freshman class of Aayan Jayanty, William Yu and Arkit Shah are strong and will vie for playing time.
Marlboro
The Mustangs are set to contend once again in the Shore Conference and in the tough Central, Group 4 state tournament. Marlboro will certainly miss Sourish Gadhi at first singles along with doubles players Tyler Leung and Lenny Reznik, but the team returns a host of starters and adds on a solid group of newcomers.
Marlboro, which reached the Group 4 final and went 10-2 last season, brings back singles players Kanata Sasaki and Kenneth Sun and doubles Evan Albert and Allen Xie. Ray Sasaki, Evan Hsu and Vismai Neeli are expected to battle for starting spots as well. As of now, every position is up for grabs, and that competitiveness, which won’t die down during the season, should keep everybody sharp.
Montgomery
Montgomery was close to turning a 9-6 season into something much bigger. The Cougars had 3-2 losses to Pingry, Ridge, Hillsborough and West Windsor-Plainsboro South and a competitive 4-1 loss to East Brunswick in the quarterfinals of the Central, Group 4 without its full lineup due to illness.
Juan Miguel Pereyra is predicted to man the first singles spot again with Ethan Qian and Wilson Dee behind him, while Srikar Bavigadda and Advaith Molakaseema are expected to hold down doubles spots.
Dee lost his only two matches last year at third singles, but they were each to Hillsborough and East Brunswick in two extremely close encounters. With a full season ahead of him, he is expected to take the next step.
Ridgewood
The Maroons arguably had the top season of any team in New Jersey last year. Ridgewood captured the North 1, Group 4 title on its way to its first overall Group 4 state championship since 1968. Ridgewood, which finished 16-0 as a team, then saw the pair of Ethan Rosenberg and Ben Caradonna claim the state doubles title.
Graduation and transfers have hit Ridgewood hard this spring, but the Maroons have a chance to still be competitive.
Rosenberg, third singles Andrew Chorba and second doubles Ethan Hong are set to return for Ridgewood. Rosenberg also has extensive singles experience, so he won’t be nervous about stepping in as a starter.
Aidan Wilson, Calvin Taubin, Jackson Speed, Arman Nair, Maxwell Hu, Kristofer Elvegren and Liam Alexander all got their feet wet last year as well as preparation for this year.
South Brunswick
The entire starting lineup is projected to return for South Brunswick which went 10-3 a year ago including 9-1 in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division.
South Brunswick reached the Central, Group 4 semifinals last season behind Manav Kumar, Oliver Chen, Vidhyut Kumar, Anay Gupta, Pranav Etta, Anirudh Swaminathan and Ajay Avasi.
Venkat Mokkapati, Vishaan Balawat, Ritwik Desai, Rehaan Salaria, Venkat Jankiram, Akshay Appiakannan and Ryan Sharma are other names to watch for the Vikings as they are looking to crack the lineup.
South Brunswick should be one of the better Group 4 teams this season, and it will aim to compete with new head coach Liz Hayston.
Westfield
Westfield posted a 16-6 record last season including 6-0 within the Watchung Division of the Union County Tournament. The Blue Devils captured their second-straight North 2, Group 4 sectional title as well and bring back first singles Chris Winters and doubles players Justin Lee, Evan Kahn, Leo Goldman and Arden Rappoport.
Winters, one of the state’s top risers the last two years, will be flanked by Lee and whoever else wins the third singles job. The doubles pairs are up in the air right now. Much of lineup is still unsettled, but the Blue Devils are expected to be a solid group and contend to a title.
Other teams to watch
Tommy Paul Reacts ‘Wow’ to Fianceé Paige Lorenze’s Ab
The quarterfinal round of the 2026 Miami Open begins on March 25, and there are several compelling matchups to follow.
One of the most intriguing for American fans is the showdown between 28-year-old United States star Tommy Paul (who is currently the world’s No. 23-ranked player, according to the ATP) and France’s 21-year-old phenom, Arthur Fils, who is ranked No. 31 in the world right now.
This could be a pivotal moment for Paul. He became the first American men’s singles player in 23 years to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 Paris Open, which vaulted him all the way up to No. 8 in the world rankings at the time. He then lost to Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who is ranked No. 1 in the world right now.
He has since struggled to recapture that excellence, but continuing with his deep run at the Miami Open should help him climb the rankings and set him up for a successful 2026 season.
What’s for sure is that Paul will have the strong support of his fiancée, Paige Lorenze, throughout this Miami Open. Paul and Lorenze (who is a fashion influencer and entrepreneur that is best known for founding her lifestyle brand called Dairy Boy) have been together since 2022.
They were engaged in July of 2025, and now Lorenze follows Paul on tour while also keeping up with her own brands and content creation.
Tommy Paul’s 1-Word Reaction to Paige Lorenze’s Miami Open Outfit Turns Heads
It’s Lorenze’s job to catch attention with her outfits, both in what she wears and what she designs. And she has already accomplished that several times at the Miami Open.
She certainly did so with the outfit she wore for Paul’s Round of 16 victory in straight sets over Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry on March 24, which she then commemorated on Instagram.
The post was captioned
2026 Kane County Chronicle boys tennis previews
Aurora Central Catholic
Back for the Chargers are junior Justin Biachi, and sophomores Nick Hipp, Aiden Melekus, Leo Martinez, Caleb Smith, Dominic Buttice and Nick Ragsdale.
Newcomers are sophomores Mani Lares and Jesus Ovando, and freshmen Colin Bloemker, Brecken Oester, Gabe Jimenez and Tim Ragsdale.
ACC hopes to improve on a 3-11 overall record and 2-6 mark in the Catholic League.
“We are in the second year of a rebuild,” ACC coach Tammy Whited said. ”The returners are looking strong and newcomers are looking good.“
Batavia
Brad Nelson’s team was 5-2 in the DuKane Conference, 11-9 overall, second in the St Charles North sectional and 52nd in the state in Class 2A last year.
The Bulldogs won the Glenbard South and Crystal Lake Central invitationals and were third at Maine South.
The doubles teams of senior Eric Otten and junior Caleb Sharda along with seniors Matt Vrba and Jack Nelson (20-12) were state qualifiers a year ago.
Others back are seniors Kalvin Wolffe (14-14), Jonathan Folkerts, Kush Adhvarya and Lucas Hubert and sophomore Brayden Korn (18-8).
Newcomers are seniors Kasey Hulbert, Hayden Lacenlale, Patrick Burns and Nick Mowen along with juniors Matt Thorne and Sam Ellis.
“We have the depth to finish in the top three in the conference,” Nelson said. “Wheaton North is the favorite. We want to repeat at Glenbard South and Crystal Lake Central and do well at Maine South and Troy Triad. The kids worked hard in the off-season. We are competitive up and down the lineup. We play Waubonsie Valley, Benet, Oswego and West Aurora in our first matches. Those teams will test us.”
Geneva
Back for first-year coach Doug Ross are seniors Will Perez, Karill Luniv and Will Hansberger along with junior Tyler Haney and sophomore Levi Tucker.
Seeking court time are newcomers seniors Colton Clausen and Hamza Faruqi, juniors Cameron Fozo, Ian Hansberger, Sam Levin, Tim McQuestin and Blake Oleson along with sophomores Augustus Germann and Cole Hecker.
Marmion
First-year coach Dave Richert’s squad returns senior Ben Graft, who is a three-time Class 1A state qualifier.
Also back are seniors AJ Mumford, Owen Theriault and Sam Pall along with juniors Owen Cousins and Jack Sitar.
St. Charles East
The Saints were second in the DuKane Conference and third in the rugged St. Charles North sectional last year led by senior Teige Donehoo, who was 28-4 and a state qualifier.
Also back are seniors Bob Livermore, Tommy Sloncen and Zach Powers along with junior Ryan Cameron (all-conference) and sophomores Wes Sternowski (all-conference) and John Jacob.
“We were second in the conference last season and are hoping for a top spot this season,” coach Robert Livermore said.
St. Charles North
Veteran coach Sean Masoncup, who has 242 wins in 16 years, welcomes back seniors Josh Denz, Jacob Bartel, Aiden Gorski, Ishaan Patel, Neel Bhate, Yaseen Khan and Krishna Pourpui.
Newcomers are seniors Vincent Lin and Robert Stan along with sophomore Rehan Girniwala.
“We want to be competitive in every match,” Masoncup said. “The Saints (St Charles East) will be the top dogs in the conference. Both Wheatons and Batavia will be strong. We want to push the Saints, the two Wheatons and Batavia. We want to get better every day. We want to get some quality state qualifiers. This should be a great year for tennis in the area.”
St. Francis
First-year coach Nate Dell welcomes back seniors Umar Bajwa, Jack Benton, Tommy Kacedan, Ben Kolb, Henry Kopec, Joey Los and Jackson Zeman along with sophomore Mark Andrzejewski. Bajwa posted a 31-7 record and sixth at the Class 1A state finals. Zeman was a state qualifier a year ago.
Newcomers are senior Kellen Carroll and Theodore Marinc along with freshmen Steve Remilius and Sean Rybacki.
West Aurora
The Blackhawks are the defending Upstate Eight Conference West champs and took fourth in the sectionals.
Coach Bill Stanley returns 10 players including seven seniors.
Back for West are seniors Tim Plummer (17-6), Dexter McWilliams, Tyler Byrne (9-7), Lucas Van Lear (18-6), Jon Hoskins (11-6), Cole Loomer (17-6) and Noah Fuller along with juniors Nolan Wyeth (13-8), Ayden Wicks (9-8) and Josh Hunt (9-8).
Senior newcomer Grant Klausner seeks court time.
“We want to repeat as conference champs, continue to improve and be competitive,” Stanley said. “We will step up to the challenge. We are a senior heavy team and all players were locked in during the non-tennis season. We want to continue get better and send a player or two to the state finals.”
2026 Suburban Life boys tennis previews
Benet
Tom Castronovo, who coached 16 years at St. Francis, takes over for Michael Hand, who coached 40 years for the Redwings.
The state qualifying doubles team of senior Hugh Davis and sophomore Charlie Flavin is back.
Other returners are seniors Peter Charuk (19-14), Patrick Crompton and Allstair McCarter (12-12).
Newcomers are senior Colby English, junior Dan Laguatan, sophomores Jack Dills, James McEvoy and Arjun Patel along with freshmen Max Cruz, Ian DiSanto, Nolan Price, Declan Robinson, Max Van Vuren and Dan Reba.
“We have six talented freshmen and this is the youngest team I have coached,” Castronovo said. “There is so much raw talent. I need to harness the talent and find the batting order quickly. It is exciting to see what we can do.”
Downers Grove North
The Trojans, coached by Dana Graczyk and a member of the West Suburban Silver, return sophomore Ty Nguyen and Ty Schroeder.
Seniors looking to contribute are Matt Brenner, Max Berger, Nathan Amidej, Owen Scholz, Zander Bruno, Sachin Sinnapan, Saavan Choksi, Brenden Hecht and Caden Lusk, joined by freshmen Lucas Schroeder and Zain Gigani
“We have a solid lineup,” Graczyk said. ”We have 12 seniors and nine on varsity. We are looking for an amazing season. We are lucky we have three freshmen to build for the future programs.“
Downers Grove South
The Mustangs are seeking a seventh straight West Suburban Gold title. Sophomore Ryan Roumenov was a Class 2A state qualifier as a freshman. Three-year varsity performer senior Koko Dimitrakos is back.
“The main goal is to compete against the top teams in the state,” coach Josh Forst said. “We want to well in the state series, sectional and state meet.”
Glenbard East
The Rams were second in the Upstate Eight Conference East and second in the 2A sectional finishing behind York.
State qualifiers back are seniors Evan Fine (Loras, 26-8), Alex Jovanovic (26-8) and Finn Talbot (18-5).
Seniors Aaron Hallerud, Giuseppe Maltese, Arnaz Mehta and Aidan Walsh along with juniors Jaden Kwon, Gabriel Milian and Mark Szczybura also return, joined by newcomers Joe Burkett, a senior, and freshman Dan Piticavong.
“The UEC East is very strong with many strong programs,” Rams coach Troy Huber said. “Glenbard South and R-B (Riverside Brookfield) are strong and consistent programs. Fenton, Streamwood and West Chicago have strong lineups. We have a strong group of returners with eight seniors. We have a mix of experience with new energy.”
Glenbard South
The Raiders are the defending Upstate Eight Conference East Division champs and were champions of the Class 1A St. Francis sectional in 2025.
Sophomore state qualifiers returning are Andrew Benesch and Amir Mehta. Others back are seniors Alex Long and Ashrith Valluri along with junior Simon Kubik and sophomores Micah Williamson and Cameron Abbott.
Newcomers are juniors Sergio Luna, Michael McIntyre, Azam Munseer, Will Pope and Alexis Velasquez along with freshman David Kiss.
“Glenbard East has a lot of seniors back and have to be considered the favorites in the conference,” Raiders coach Wade Hardtke said. “Riverside-Brookfield has to be considered a challenger. We lost a lot of seniors we need to replace.”
Glenbard West
The Hilltoppers were fifth in the rugged West Suburban Silver, third in the 2A sectional and 46th at the state meet.
Coach Tad Keely, with nine returners, hopes to improve on last season’s slate.
Back for the Hilltoppers are seniors Nick Harding, Charles McDonald and Kevin Pinto along with juniors Charlie Mosciki, Duncan Rowley, Cormac Annan, Adler Wang, Cole Lisook and MJ Wargin.
Newcomers battling for court time are senior Konstantin Van Mark and freshmen John Creswell and Nolan Wang.
“We have a decent amount of returners and our depth is our strong suit,“ Keely said. ”We will see how we stand early playing at the St. Charles North, Hersey and Naperville North invites. We are eager to see where we stand in the mighty West Suburban. The Silver will be tough. We want to compete at the top of the conference. After Hinsdale Central, other heavy hitters are Lyons, Oak Park-River Forest and York.“
Hinsdale Central
Dynasty might be the word to describe the Red Devils boys tennis program under the direction of Peter Alex.
Winners of four straight 2A titles, its seems like the Red Devils have the firepower and talent to claim a fifth consecutive state title.
The senior doubles team of Nicholas Marringa and Kyle McCann were second in the state a year while posting a 27-1 record. Senior Barry Zhu was sixth in Class 2A singles.
Other returners are seniors Amir Khan, Logan Milton, Nicholas Perrelli and Richard Zang, juniors Braden LeBaron, James Stangle, Patrick Wang and Vedh White along with sophomores Avinash Buchupelli, Anik Shirshat and David Waterman.
Newcomers are seniors Nabell Hussain and Armain Jain, juniors Ketan Shah, Ismail Khan, Jaylen Doshi, George Maragos and Konstantine Reveliotis, sophomores Alex Andrade, Craig Lin and Zayah Shaikh, and freshmen Andy Dong, Jameson Fajardo and Adler Hung,
“We were first in the conference, first in the sectionals and first in the state (2A),” Alex said. ”We would like to double those efforts this year and win a fifth straight state championship. It is a pleasure to play in the Silver Division. There are a lot of strong schools with a wonderful history.“
St. Francis
First-year coach Nate Dell welcomes back seniors Umar Bajwa, Jack Benton, Tommy Kacedan, Ben Kolb, Henry Kopec, Joey Los and Jackson Zeman along with sophomore Mark Andrzejewski. Bajwa posted a 31-7 record and sixth at the Class 1A state finals. Zeman was a state qualifier a year ago.
Newcomers are senior Kellen Carroll and Theodore Marinc along with freshmen Steve Remilius and Sean Rybacki.
Timothy Christian
The Trojans were second in the Chicagoland Conference, second in the Class 1A St. Francis sectional and 11th in the state.
Sophomore Hudson Tseng was fifth in the state in singles as a freshman. Senior Elliott Tandy is a three-time state qualifier. Tandy was 21-6 year ago.
Others back for coach Richard McLean are seniors Luke McCaully and Mattox Preitauer, juniors Michael Grandolfo and Danny Alcnedra and sophomores Merritt Stolzenbach, Evan Styczen.
Newcomers are junior Hunter Maxwell and freshmen Micah Barshinger and Haoren Han.
“We want to defeat Wheaton Academy who won the conference last year,” Trojans coach Richard McLean said. “Marian Central will also be a challenge for the conference championship. We play a challenging schedule — Nazareth, St. Francis, DePaul Prep, Marmion, Waubonsie Valley, Fenwick and Aurora Central Catholic. We want to improve and grow as a team.”
Wheaton Academy
First-year coach Jonathan Folkerts would like his Warriors to repeat as Chicagoland Christian Conference champions.
Senior Elliott Poland returns as a state qualifier. Other returners are senior Eligh Arrelano, juniors Luke Pennings and John Zeng and sophomores Drew Tuurie, Charlie Sias and Brody Klein.
Newcomers are senior Billy Yang, juniors Ryan Norris, Jack Shales, Enoch Chen and David Li, sophomore Keesen Kihnke and freshmen Alex Dong and Harvey Guevera.
Wheaton North
The Falcons, who have won six straight DuKane Conference titles, return junior state qualifier Sam Hill (1-2 record at state finals). Other returners are senior Brett Wiacek and juniors Henry Jonas, Evan Ciotti, Elliot Conway and Charlie Sindelar. Newcomers are junior Ruven Robinson and sophomores Zayd Hussian Zayd Hussain, Jon Boyce, Will Rusin and freshman Andrew Ciotti.
“We always want to win the DKC,” Falcons coach Eric Laird said. “There are five or six teams that could win the conference title. It should be a fun, contested season. We have our work cut out for us. We want to have multiple positions (who could) go to the state tournament.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
The Tigers tied for second in the DuKane Conference and were fourth in the sectionals, and they return seniors Mike Hauenstein and Jack Landin along with junior Mike Medanic.
Newcomers are sophomores Ian Baughman and Eli Long and freshman Grant Larson.
“We want to finish in the top three in the DuKane Conference,” Tigers coach Patti Clousing said. “We want to get as many players to the state tournament as possible.”
Willowbrook
The Warriors were third in the West Suburban Gold and had a 11-4 dual meet record in 2025.
Senior singles players Brogan Byrne and Mark Rainey are back along with the senior doubles team of Corbin Tomasello and Danny Rocha.
Newcomers for coach Ed Delacruz are seniors Ryan Pletsch and Nathan Leal along with junior Kyle May.
York
The Dukes, under the guidance of first-year coach Josh Wittenburg, return senior state qualifier Kieran Goldstein.
Other returners are seniors Jason DeMott and Finley Humpherson, juniors Liam Pontin (14-3) and Ved Sule and sophomore Mustafa Mir.
Newcomers are senior William Van Meir, juniors Aiden Chmiel and Evan Jaunich, sophomores John Jaworek, Nathan Ries and Arjun Shuaipaj and freshman Liam Smith.
“The Silver (WSCC) is loaded,“ said Wittenberg. ”All matches with be tough. We have no home matches due to the construction of new tennis courts at Berens Park. The York Dukes will be road warriors in 2026. The seniors need to take the leadership role. We have eight returners and eight newcomers. If the new guys adjust to varsity play the better off we will be.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s Fiancé Shares Personal News at Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka entered the 2026 Miami Open as the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in the world. After defeating Zheng Qinwen (No. 23) without dropping a set, she takes on unseeded American Hailey Baptiste, who’s competing in her first WTA 1000 quarterfinals.
The Belarusian star told reporters of the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, “I can definitely say that it felt like home. Thanks to you guys, you really make this stadium feel like home for me.”
Cheering on Sabalenka as she competes in her 32nd career WTA 1000 quarterfinals, her No. 1 fan and fiancé, Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka dropped hints for months that she was ready for Frangulis to propose. Message received, because he got down on one knee just a few weeks before the Miami Open.
Sabalenka posted a video of the special moment on Instagram and wrote, “You & me, forever ♾️ 3.3.26 💍🤍.” The comments section filled with messages of congratulations from fellow tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Caroline Wozniacki, and more.
Giorgios Frangulis Opened Up His Emotional Proposal to Fiancée Aryna Sabalenka, Work Goals
In an interview with Tara Keeney in Miami, Frangulis spoke about proposing to the 27-year-old tennis star. “I feel super accomplished… Engaged to the love of my life,” he said.
When asked about the last time he cried, “It’s going to be super cute. I cried when I proposed two weeks ago. It was a super fast cry,” he said.
While Frangulis has found a lot of success as the CEO and co-founder of Oakberry, his work ethic remains that of a struggling entrepreneur.
“I’ve failed so many times before,” he said. “I had bars. I had restaurants. If you fail in the beginning, it’s going to take a while before you feel accomplished. You have to be ready to take that responsibility every day. Know that if you [expletive] up, you have to be ready to [expletive] up five of six families.”
However, he has a high bar for his global healthy food brand. “We have such a massive, addressable market for Oakberry. I think we still have a long way to go, I’m not going to stop anytime soon. I think we’re up to something much bigger than what we’ve done ’til now.”
Aryna Sabalenka Publicly Called Out Georgios Frangulis for Taking So Long to Propose
After the couple announced their engagement, “I can finally call him something else… FIANCÉ 💍,” Sabalenka added in a separate post. After winning the Brisbane Internationale title on January 11, she called out Frangulis for taking his sweet time to propose.
“Thank you to my boyfriend,” she told the crowd. “Hopefully, soon I can call you something else.”
The cameras immediately panned to Frangluis. “Let’s just put some extra pressure,” Sabalenka added with a laugh.
In an interview after the match, she doubled down when asked if she’s calling for a wedding ring. “I’m just putting some pressure, I mean, how long? Come on,” Sabalenka said with a huge smile on her face. “I think by now he should figure it out.”
Madrid Open Set for Surprising Tennis Transformation at Real Madrid’s Iconic Stadium
Well, that’s a crossover we didn’t expect!
The Santiago Bernabéu, one of the world’s best-known soccer stadiums, has been the home of Spanish giants Real Madrid since 1947 and boasts a mammoth capacity of over 83,000. Not just that, it is also capable of hosting events other than soccer matches. And that’s exactly what has made this surprising crossover possible, as parts of the venue will be transformed into tennis courts ahead of the Madrid Open.
The stadium will offer a training facility to players between April 23 and 30. With the venue being just minutes away from their hotel, training there will not only save time but also be a unique experience for them. After all, it is not every day that soccer stadiums convert into tennis courts.
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However, the venue will not be hosting any matches of the Madrid Open. The tournament will be played on the clay courts present at the Caja Mágica. It will be the official venue for both the ATP and WTA events that will take place from April 20 to May 3.
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This transformation has been made possible by the stadium’s retractable pitch, a feature installed during the major $1 billion renovation completed in late 2023. This allows the field to be stored underground while the surface above can be adapted as needed, making it one of the most modern stadiums in the world.
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Another key factor behind the venue being used as a training facility is Real Madrid’s schedule in La Liga. After their home match against Deportivo Alavés on April 23, Los Blancos will play away against Real Betis, Espanyol, and FC Barcelona on April 26, May 3, and May 10, respectively. They will return to the Bernabéu on May 13 for their clash against Real Oviedo.
One of the players who will be very happy with this development will be Carlos Alcaraz. He has been a passionate Real Madrid supporter for years and is unlikely to miss the opportunity of training at their home stadium. The world No. 1 will also be among the favorites to win the men’s singles title at the Madrid Open, which was clinched by Casper Ruud last year. On the other hand, Aryna Sabalenka will be aiming to defend her women’s singles crown on the clay courts in Madrid.
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While it may be rare to see a soccer stadium transform its pitch to host different sporting events, this is not the first time it has happened at the Bernabéu.
Other sporting events to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu
The stadium had hosted Spain’s first-ever regular-season NFL game last year in November. The clash between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders was attended by 78,610 fans. After a successful debut, the NFL decided to sign a multiyear deal with Real Madrid to keep playing regular-season games at the Bernabeu in 2026 and beyond.
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“The 2025 NFL Madrid game at the Bernabéu was a pivotal moment for the sport in Spain, and we are delighted to confirm that we will return to play a regular season game in 2026 in a multi-year partnership with the City of Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, and Real Madrid C.F,” NFL Spain Country Manager Rafa De Los Santos had said.
“This multi-year commitment to playing games in Madrid — a world-class global cultural and sporting destination — underlines our commitment to the market and enables us to continue to engage fans year-round and invest long-term in initiatives like NFL Flag and youth participation nationwide,” he added.
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Another sport the stadium is capable of hosting is basketball. It was announced last year that the opening game of EuroBasket 2029 will be played at the Bernabéu, with up to 80,000 spectators expected to attend.
Having been built to operate 365 days a year, the Bernabéu is expected to continue hosting different sporting events in the future. What do you think about your favorite tennis player training at the iconic stadium? Let us know in the comments!
Saugus boys’ tennis secures road win over Canyon
With an 11-6 win over the Canyon Cowboys, the Saugus Centurions have secured their fifth Foothill League tennis win of the season and seventh overall.
In singles play, the Centurions went 6-3 across all three rounds with Joaquin Veizaga going unbeaten in his two matchups, 6-0, 6-0.
Veizaga dropped his third-round matchup to Canyon’s Adam Graham, 6-1, and Graham went 2-1 across all three sets.
In doubles play, the Centurions defeated the Cowboys in two out of the three matchups in the first round.
The Saugus paring of Samuel Payne and Caden Varney was the best-performing pair for the Centurions as they won both matchups in the first and second rounds.
Varney and Payne defeated the Cowboys’ Tristan Singer and James Graham, 6-1, in the first round. In the second round they defeated the Cowboys’ Travis Romero and David Gutierrez.
The Centurions picked up their eighth win of the regular season and fifth win in league play.
The Centurions will look to continue their momentum on Thursday at home against the Valencia Vikings at 3 p.m.
The Cowboys dropped to 2-11 on the season and 1-7 in league play. Canyon will look to bounce back on the road Thursday against the Wildcats at West Ranch High School with first serve set for 3 p.m.
After Tuesday’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
West Ranch 18, Castaic 0: The West Ranch Wildcats (8-1, 8-0) secured their eighth league win of the season with a road victory over the Castaic Coyotes (1-13, 0-7).
The loss was the Coyotes’ seventh league loss of the year and they will look to bounce back at home Thursday against the Golden Valley Grizzlies.
The Wildcats lead the Foothill League with an 8-0 record and host the Canyon Cowboys at West Ranch High School on Thursday.
Both games are set to begin at 3 p.m.
Johnson Wagner is ‘very concerned’ by what Viktor Hovland was heard saying at the Valspar
Viktor Hovland has endured an extremely challenging season on the PGA Tour so far in 2026.
In fact, it’s fair to say that Hovland has struggled terribly with his game since the start of the 2024 PGA Tour season, his win at the Valspar Championship in 2025 notwithstanding.
The seven-time PGA Tour winner has been driving the ball terribly for a long time now, and it’s fair to argue that he is really overcomplicating matters.
Hovland has played six PGA Tour events so far in 2026, and his best finish so far has been a T-13.
Worryingly, the 28-year-old Norwegian missed the cut at the Valspar Championship last week, and his game looked a long way off where it should be just ahead of major season.
Hovland has explained his driving as a ‘tremendous problem’, and he needs to address that issue as a matter of urgency.
However, it seems that Hovland may well be causing many of his own problems.
Johnson Wagner is concerned by Viktor Hovland
Johnson Wagner has just outlined one very big concern he has about Hovland.
When speaking on the Golf on CBS show, Wagner responded when asked what he has made of Hovland’s start to the 2026 season.
“I’m very concerned about Viktor Hovland,“ Wagner admitted.
“I mean, he was in the press centre before the tournament started at Valspar, and he is just always searching for something.
“I just wish he could be content and, like, work on the same thing over and over, but that’s just not his nature.
“I’m concerned about him going into the major season. It’s just too much.
“He’s always trying to find an answer and I don’t think there is the answer he’s looking for.
“I think he just needs to be content with his ball-striking, because he’s a great ball-striker, no matter if his swing feels off or not, it looks the same.
“I just wish he’d be comfortable in his own skin, and not always try to find something different.“
What Viktor Hovland has said about his driving
Ahead of the Valspar Championship, the Norwegian spoke about his issues off the tee.
“I’ve been still struggling off the tee tremendously,“ Hovland said just last week.
“I feel like I’m doing a great job overcoming some of those deficiencies.
“I do feel like it’s been a real struggle out there on the golf course, but I’ve done a really good job scoring.
“So I feel like my scoring game is in a good spot, I just need to find some shots off the tee, even into the greens, like particularly with my longer clubs.
“If I can find a certain feel there and have a sense of predictability, I think we’ll be in a very good spot.“
Perhaps Hovland should simply return to what made him so successful during the 2023 season. As Johnson Wagner said, he seems to be overcomplicating matters.
And that is never conducive to success out on the golf course.
Tiger Woods Faces Hard Questions for Keeping Fellow Pros ‘In the Dark’ About PGA Tour Revamp Plans
Tiger Woods never used many words to play mind games with his competitors. His aura and command of the game were enough to intimidate them. He is using that same silence off the course, too. However, this time his silence has become a huge talking point in golf. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp appointed Woods as the head of the Future Competition Committee (FCC) in August 2025 to work on the PGA Tour schedule and the organization’s next steps. But there’s no update on the same yet.
This is worrying veterans like Charley Hoffman. The 49-year-old PGA Tour pro spoke with Golfweek to share his views on the FCC and the tour’s direction.
“I raised the question of how are we going to help? And they go, we’re not sure yet,” Hoffman said. “We don’t know what’s going on. I don’t think anybody (outside the FCC) knows what’s going on. It’s all been at the board level. I’m sort of in the dark like everyone else.”
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Hoffman just completed his tenure as a player director on the board. He has now returned to the Player Advisory Council (PAC). The 4-time PGA Tour winner noted that Brian Rolapp has already shared six themes for the 2026 Players Championship. However, no one knows what the FCC is planning.
There have been many rumors about reducing the 2027 PGA Tour schedule to 22-25 events during the regular season. The aim will be to prevent any viewership competition from the NFL. At the same time, the focus will be on increasing the purse for all these events to make them similar to the current Signature Events. Rumors are that by doing so, the PGA Tour wants all elite golfers to play every event to increase viewership and fan engagement.
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Charley Hoffman, however, believes that it won’t be possible.
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“This asterisk is impossible,” he added. “I like it if you get the top players to play all the time at the top tournaments. It’s proven that they don’t. It doesn’t matter if there’s whatever X-million dollars in the purse. If it doesn’t fit in their schedule or something’s up, they don’t play it. Or another tournament offers you X amount to do a dinner the week of the event, they go play that event. It’s not a secret. I think that’s the hardest part of the juggle. I don’t think anybody on the board’s going to say yes to a system that makes them play every single week.”
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The question of golfers agreeing to it arises because the PGA Tour is a member-run organization. Although there’s a proper hierarchy and leadership team, major decisions are made by the PGA Tour Policy Board. It consists of six player directors and five independent directors. Since the players hold the majority, no major decisions can be taken without the involvement and approval of the player directors.
Hoffman is a member of the Player Advisory Council. It is a 16-member team and acts as a consulting body that checks such changes before they reach the board. So this might help in making decisions that are in the best interest of the golfers.
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While neither Tiger Woods nor the FCC has given any answer, Brian Rolapp has laid out a few key themes about where the PGA Tour is headed.
Brian Rolapp reveals six themes for the 2027 PGA Tour schedule
Since the Players Championship is the PGA Tour’s flagship event, fans were expecting key updates on the upcoming schedule. While nothing was declared ahead of the event, Rolapp did reveal 6 key themes for the revamped 2027 competitive model.
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He said that the regular season could span from late January to early September, with a possible 21 to 26 elevated events. Besides that, there will also be ladder-up tournaments, the same as the FedEx Fall events. While most currently running Signature Events are limited-field, no-cut events, the plan is to feature full-sized 120-player fields.
The FCC and the leadership are planning to explore big-market venues, such as New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco. There will also be an enhanced postseason, and a merit-based relegation system could be introduced.
Many golfers oppose the limited fields at Signature Events. Lucas Glover called them “terrible, selfish, and a money grab” for shrinking fields and creating classes. Erik van Rooyen advocated for larger fields, such as majors. Jason Day and Stewart Cink also echoed concerns about no cuts. The PGA Tour could use full-sized elevated events in the 2027 schedule as a middle ground to address these concerns.
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While Brian Rolapp outlined broad themes, the lack of clarity around execution keeps golfers uneasy. Until Tiger Woods and the FCC provide concrete answers, the growing disconnect highlighted by Charley Hoffman could intensify.
Adam Scott, Stephan Jaegar Top Fantasy Golf Picks at Texas Children’s Houston Open
The PGA Tour exits its Florida swing to now head into the big state of Texas. Thursday will kick off the four-day Texas Children’s Houston Open, which will take place at Memorial Park Golf Course. The tournament is historically one of the easier, wide-open events. That brings us to break it down in depth, to give you the best possible insights for the fantasy golf weekend.
Key Course Metrics
Memorial Park is generally easy off the tee, where distance matters less than usual, and the rough penalty hardly affects any golfer at all. Where value will lie is with putting on these somewhat fast greens and nailing down mid-approach shots. There is no big shot-shaping required. It is just a matter of throwing darts. The event will be very wide open, therefore, with high variance, suggesting you fade the top golfers in the field for higher value. These are the key metrics to look at this week:
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Putting
Driving Distance (Natural Advantage)
Recent Results (Are they hot?)
Tournament History and Weather
We can easily find a very low score this weekend. How low the golfers can go will depend on the weather, thus affecting the firmness (and softness) of the greens.
The entire weekend’s project had nearly 0% of precipitation. The temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s all week, with little wind affecting either. Leading up to Thursday, there has also been no rain. The course is expected to play quite firm, but not deathly firm, with moderate temperatures. We can expect a winning score to be -17 to -20. Here are the past five winners:
2025: Min Woo Lee (-20)
2024: Stephan Jaegar (-12)
2023: No Tournament
2022: Tony Finau (-16)
2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)
Fantasy Golf Picks
Adam Scott — $10,300 (FanDuel) | 9,000 (DraftKings)
Scott matches up with 14-straight events above field average in strokes gained: total. He also consistently ranks among the top-20% of distance hitters on the PGA Tour. Being a renowned putter, we can rely on Scott to fire a low tournament this weekend, as he also has two top-11 finishes in his last three starts, all of which were signature events with tougher fields.
Stephan Jaeger — $9,500 (FanDuel) | $7,800 (DraftKings)
Jaegar is a former champion of this event and, in fact, he has 3 top-11 finishes in four starts, with 0 missed cuts. Jaeger also comes off a T-7 finish at the Valspar Championship. He is then consistently nearly 10 yards of tour average in driving distance, with above-average, consistently good putting and approach metrics. Jaegar shall be primed to do well on familiar grounds at a moderate price.
Patrick Rodgers — $9,100 (FanDuel) | $7,600 (DraftKings)
Rodgers is playing above tour average in strokes gained in each of his last 10 events, including 3 top-11 finishes and 2 top-7 finishes. He is above average in putting, well above average in approach, and with rounds in the red, per Datagolf, Rodgers shall do well at a golf course where he has made the last three cuts (75%).
Jordan Smith — $8,900 (FanDuel) | $7,400 (DraftKingS)
Smith went red-hot this past weekend at the Valspar Championship, making a Sunday run to finish in sole 3rd place. Smith averages 1.5 strokes gained per round in driving distance, above the tour average in his last 10 events off the tee. He is also above average in approach in over 10 of his last 12 events. A common trend on the PGA Tour is that when players play well, they continue to play well the following week. That showed to be the case last week with Matthew Fitzpatrick, last month with Jacob Bridgeman, and now, hopefully, this week with Jordan Smith.
More Fantasy Sports On SI News:
Houston Open 2026 parlay, props, best bets: PGA longshot picks from proven model
Creating a golf longshot parlay could rely on several types of PGA bets as the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2026 takes place this week. It tees off on Thursday from Memorial Park Golf Course, and margin of victory is a potential leg in a 2026 Houston Open parlay. The last two editions of this event have been decided by a single stroke but the three preceding those were decided by multiple strokes. A PGA parlay could also include Houston Open bets such as if a player will miss or make the cut, if there will be a hole in one or head-to-head matchups.
The latest Houston Open 2026 odds have defending champion Min Woo Lee, who opened higher than +2000, as the favorite at +1300 after Scottie Scheffler withdrew on Tuesday. Other contenders include Chris Gotterup (+1800), Jake Knapp (+2000) and Sam Burns and Brooks Koepka at +2200. Tony Finau, who is +5500 to win outright, won this tournament in 2022 and then finished runner-up in the next edition, as Finau would return +1200 in your PGA picks to notch a Top 5 finish. Before making any 2026 Houston Open picks or golf parlays, you need to see this PGA Tour parlay from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up over $8,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as this year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its golf betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
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Now that the 2026 Houston Open field is locked in, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times. It has locked in betting picks to form a golf parlay that pays out nearly $18,000 for a $10 bettor. See the picks and full parlay by heading to SportsLine.
Top 2026 Houston Open parlay, PGA Tour picks
For the Houston Open 2026, one of the picks featured in the model’s PGA Tour parlay is Koepka finishing in the Top 5 at +510. After a rough pair of starts in his return to the PGA Tour, the Koepka has looked more like the player who is a five-time major winner. He has top 20 finishes in each of his last three starts and is riding an 11-round streak of shooting par or better. His metrics back up his recent success as Koepka leads the entire PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach the green and ranks second among those in the Houston Open field in SG: tee-to-green.
He also has prior success at Memorial Park Golf Course, even though it’s been a few years since he competed here. He placed fifth at the Houston Open in 2020 and got better as the tournament progressed. Koepka shot 65 in both the third and fourth rounds, as only one other player had a better two-day stretch than he did. When you add in that just two of the Top 10 in World Golf Ranking are a part of this year’s field, Koepka is set up to rise up the leaderboard in Houston. See the rest of the PGA Tour parlay legs here.
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How to make PGA Tour parlay picks
The model has also picked an outright winner, plus a prop that returns +1000 among its five PGA picks for the 2026 Houston Open parlay that pays nearly $18,000 on just a $10 bet. You can only see the picks and the full parlay at SportsLine.
Brooks Koepka admits one thing has been ‘irritating’ him over the past few weeks on the PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka returns to action on the PGA Tour this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
While Koepka has shown some positive signs since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, he still hasn’t been in contention to win a tournament on the back nine on Sunday.
The 35-year-old American will be desperate for that to change this week in Houston, especially with the Masters just around the corner.
Koepka has been a great addition to the PGA Tour in 2026, and his return from LIV Golf has generated real excitement.
However, it’s very much a case of getting down to business now for the five-time major champion. All he’s interested in is winning and he hasn’t given himself a chance to do that so far this year.
Koepka definitely has some mechanical issues to address if he is to have any chance to win The Masters next month.
He has been driving the ball poorly and despite big improvements on the greens, his putting is still not quite up to scratch.
Koepka has a new driver in the bag ahead of the Houston Open and he has been using a new putter for a month or so now.
Brooks Koepka has been irritated over the past few weeks on the PGA Tour
Koepka has actually put together some solid results after his first two events back on the PGA Tour.
He has racked up three consecutive top-20 finishes over the past few weeks.
However, the American clearly thinks he should have done a lot better than he has.
Koepka was speaking to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the start of the Houston Open on Thursday.
He responded when asked whether he feels ready to not only contend at Augusta National in two weeks’ time, but to actually win.
“Yeah, I do feel like I’m ready,” he said.
“The only thing is I really haven’t put myself in contention with nine holes to go. That’s really the last missing piece that I feel like I need to accomplish here before Augusta. But the game feels good.
“Everything’s trending in a nice direction. Ball-striking is feeling really, really good. Pete’s done a phenomenal job just getting everything where it needs to be.
“Yeah, the putting was a huge thing. I feel like it’s been so different because I was putting so terribly, I felt like I had to birdie the hole almost from the fairway or from the tee box, where now I can sit back and kind of play golf how I used to play in ’17, ’19, kind of in that run when I was playing very good where I can be very patient and just kind of wait my time.
“I know I’m going to have five good chances on whatever hole it might be and then just take advantage from there. I used to just kind of — it felt very boring, just hit the center of the greens and occasionally you push and pull one kind of right on the flag.
“I always think — I said it was like conservatively aggressive. I picked the right line, the right spot to make sure that I was never going to make double.
“I made a few doubles over the last few weeks, which has been kind of irritating. My game is rounding into form. I can see it. I don’t know if maybe results-wise, it probably hasn’t looked that way, but I can see it as a whole, it’s really all starting to come together.“
Brooks Koepka on ‘getting the juices’ flowing ahead of The Masters
The 35-year-old was asked by reporters on Wednesday what he wants to accomplish this week in Houston in order to ensure that he’s ready to compete at Augusta National next month.
“I just think I just need to get the juices flowing of having a chance to win a golf tournament,“ Koepka said.
“It’s been a while. Didn’t win last year. So yeah, I just need to be able to put myself and get those feelings again. And especially out here, competing against unbelievable players on a difficult golf course would be what I need to do for the final prep for Augusta.
“Like I said to you just a couple minutes ago, the way this place is set up with the rough length, and the way it’s mowed back into you, it feels very similar to Augusta in that aspect.
“Around the greens you’re going to have quite — there’s quite a few undulations around these greens. You can be in some kind of weird spots, but the rough length and the fairway length around the greens is quite similar.“
Chris Gotterup, with 2 wins already this year, one to watch at Houston Open
The PGA Tour shifts to Texas for two weeks before the Masters arrives, though Scottie Scheffler will not be joining the field that tees up for the Texas Children’s Houston Open on Thursday.
Scheffler withdrew early this week citing family reasons. He and his wife Meredith are expecting their second child.
The field loses a bit of luster without the Texan who happens to be the world’s best golfer on site at Houston’s Memorial Park Golf Course. The top player in terms of both FedEx Cup points and world ranking is Chris Gotterup, a name few casual fans had heard of a year ago.
But Gotterup is one of the tour’s potential breakout stars after he beat Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open last summer and won two of the first four tournaments this season, the Sony Open in Hawaii and WM Phoenix Open.
The 26-year-old’s fast rise has helped him qualify for the majors — most importantly, his first Masters.
Masters winner Bernhard Langer ready to tee up in Newport Beach
As Bernhard Langer has aged, he hasn’t had any trouble stacking up tournament victories.
At 68, Langer is the all-time leader in PGA Tour Champions event wins with 47. The German-born pro was the featured guest of honor at Tuesday morning’s Hoag Classic Hall of Fame Community Breakfast at the Balboa Bay Club.
Langer held court in a discussion with Hank Adler, chairman emeritus of the Hoag Classic.
He said he was shocked by remarks made by Rory McIlroy, currently No. 2 in the world, who has previously said he has no plans of playing on the PGA Tour Champions.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are and who you compete against, because you’re always competing against yourself,” Langer said. “That’s the bottom line. It’s you and the golf course and the ball, and the ball doesn’t know how old you are.”
When the annual Hoag Classic tournament tees off Friday morning at Newport Beach Country Club, Langer will be going for his second title. The two-time Masters winner previously won in Orange County in 2008, when the tournament was known as the Toshiba Classic.
He’s made the cut in each of his 13 previous times playing the tournament, with six top-10 finishes.
Not bad for a former caddie who, when growing up, would ride his bicycle five miles through the woods to get to the golf course and caddie in Anhausen, Germany.
They called him “Adlerauge,” German for eagle eye, for his propensity to find golf balls in thick rough.
Meanwhile, there were several pictures of Jack Nicklaus’ swing sequence on the wall of the caddie shack, which served as inspiration.
“The only tournament I played was the caddie tournament every year, and that was against five other caddies,” Langer said at theTuesday’s event, presented by Hoag Orthopedic Institute. “I really had no clue. I never putted on fast greens … I just had this dream of trying to play on the European tour for a while and make a living.”
He started that journey at 18, five decades ago, after a poor childhood growing up in a village of 800.
Adler reminded Langer of the time when he, then 23, climbed up into a tree at the 1981 Benson & Hedges International Open to avoid taking a one-stroke penalty.
“People later asked me, ‘What club did you use?’” Langer said. “And I said, ‘a tree-iron.’”
Langer now lives in Florida, and he and his wife, Vikki Carol, have raised four children.
“Golf in general has come a long way,” he said. “Many of you know that there was hardly any prize money in golf. If you look at the career of Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus, their career prize money is incredibly low for someone who is a Hall of Famer and the best in the game.”
He closed out the discussion detailing how he became a Christian shortly after winning the 1985 Masters. Recalling during a post-tournament interview how he’d, at one point, been four shots behind competitor Curtis Strange, Langer uttered the words “Jesus Christ.”
“I swore on national television,” Langer said. “I wasn’t a Christian then. I heard ‘Jesus Christ’ left and right on the golf course all the time, and didn’t really know what it means.”
That on-camera utterance, however, had made an impression on others. Two days later, he was invited to a Bible study by colleague Bobby Clampett that would lead him on his own spiritual journey, he recalled.
Also at Tuesday’s community breakfast , longtime Hoag Classic volunteer chairman Dick Yuhnke was inducted into the Hoag Classic Hall of Fame.
Tee times for Friday’s first round range from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Langer will tee off from No. 1 at Newport Beach Country Club at 10:50 a.m., in a group with Darren Clarke and 2018 tournament winner Vijay Singh.
PGA Tour Pro Details Grueling Surgery Details Days After Exit From $25 Million Event
Ryan Fox was all set to try to win a chunk of $25 million at TPC Sawgrass, but his body had other plans. He was forced to withdraw just hours before his scheduled Thursday morning tee time due to kidney stones. Two weeks later, Fox returns to the field at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, having witnessed a brutal ordeal, and he is sharing it with the community.
“First got it Tuesday night and was rolling around on the floor, and then taken into the emergency room,” Fox told Golf Today. “At first, I thought I would be able to pass them through and would be good to go out on Thursday, but on Wednesday, the stones came back with vengeance and started causing issues again, and I was back in the emergency room again.”
He remained under observation for three or four hours on Wednesday afternoon as doctors were still hopeful that he would pass the stone naturally during the night. Had he done that, he could tee off at the Tour’s flagship event. Yeah, sure, he’d need some pain relief, but he was willing to do it. However, the optimism vanished by sunrise.
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“Unfortunately, I had no relief during the night and went back into the ER about 6:00 in the morning on Thursday morning,” Fox recalled. “At that point, I knew I definitely wasn’t playing. And I saw the doctor again, and he’s like, ‘Well, you’ve got no chance of passing it now. We’ve got to go in there and get rid of them.’”
“So they ended up shoving a laser somewhere that it wasn’t supposed to go. Shoved up, and they got broken up and vacuumed out,” Fox shared. “So it wasn’t a very fun little period there, but um, yeah, I’m… I’m glad it’s over.”
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Surgeons performed a laser lithotripsy to pulverize the stones, leaving Fox with a ureteral stent for a week to manage the inflammation. He referred to it as a little tube. The pro summarized the experience as “absolutely brutal.”
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Fox’s official withdrawal was processed at 7:56 AM, only moments before the first round began. David Ford took his place. The Kiwi golfer also posted the news on Instagram. So, when asked what was worse, missing the PGA Tour’s flagship event or the physical agony of the stones, Fox didn’t hesitate.
“Definitely the kidney stones. The Players sucked, but I do not want that pain ever again,” he said.
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Ryan Fox is hardly the first golfer to be sidelined by this condition. Former Players champion Davis Love III famously had to withdraw from his title defense at the 2007 Wyndham Championship due to kidney stones, undergoing surgery that same week. Ryan Blaum and Mackenzie Hughes went through a similar ordeal.
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For Fox, the timing of it all was particularly devastating.
Ryan Fox’s season was derailed at the wrong time
Fox was playing the best golf of his career. His 2025 season was a breakthrough campaign featuring two PGA Tour victories at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open. It validated his place among the world’s elite, with Fox stating they made him feel like he finally belonged on the Tour. His 2026 start had also been equally impressive, with four consecutive top-25 finishes leading into The Players, including a T-7 at the Genesis.
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“It’s a shame it happened during The Players week,” Fox said. “I obviously was in pretty decent form leading into it and was really looking forward to the week. The expectations this week aren’t overly high.”
“I didn’t touch a golf club for 10 days. It [kidney stones] did take a lot out of me. I wouldn’t say it was a very comfortable week after that, but it was a whole lot more fun than having kidney stones.”
He sure isn’t expecting much, but his primary motivation to return is the upcoming 90th Masters Tournament. He missed his chance to play last season, but after 2025, he earned his way back.
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“It’s more about getting a hit out before the Masters, to be honest,” Fox said. “There are some places around there where you can’t afford to miss it. Some of those misses—the guys avoid those places like the plague, and for good reason. There’s just that much to it.”
$9.9M PGA Tour Event Field Thins Further as Eighth Withdrawal Follows Scottie Scheffler’s Exit
The field at the Texas Children’s Houston Open continues to shrink. Following the high-profile withdrawal of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a Colombian golfer has also pulled out.
The field has already lost its biggest name, and now 36-year-old Marcelo Rozo has withdrawn from the event.
The news was confirmed by the PGA TOUR Communications team, who announced it on their social media with the caption “Marcelo Rozo WD / Justin Lower IN.”
This update was posted right as the tournament was about to start the first round at Memorial Park. Justin Lower was immediately named to fill the vacancy left by Rozo.
Rozo’s exit comes on the heels of world number one Scottie Scheffler’s high-profile departure. Scheffler had initially planned to compete but withdrew as he is expecting the birth of his second child.
Besides Rozo and Scheffler, eight names, including Matt McCarty, Bud Cauley, Austin Smotherman, and Cam Davis, have also opted out.
Opening the Door for New Champions
The recent mass exodus from Houston has created opportunities for a new cohort of hungry competitors looking to take their first big win. With only 18 of the top 50 players remaining, the trophy is up for grabs.
This opens the door for a unique opportunity for new, untitled emerging players to take a victory that could change their lives. Historically, when top players leave the tournaments, that creates opportunities for new players to change the direction of the season.
The current lineup features motivated players like Chris Gotterup and Min Woo Lee. In fact, Lee won the tournament last year.
“It’s nice to see a beautiful thing, so hopefully I can do that this week and defend. Very excited for this week, playing very good golf. Had a nice week off last week. Yeah, it’s going to be a warm one, but I’m ready for it,” Lee said as per the Houston Chronicle.
Meanwhile, for replacement, this is their biggest opportunity to climb up through the FedExCup standings.
NASCAR Odds: Who Are The Favorites to Win at Martinsville?
The NASCAR Cup Series circuit heads to the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia this Sunday. The Cook Out 400 is scheduled for 400 laps around the 0.5-mile paperclip-shaped short track.
Entering this weekend, former Martinsville winners Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney will continue to add to their dominance at “The Paperclip.” Meanwhile, the rest of the Cup Series field will aim to knock them off.
Here, we will take a look at the betting odds for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville.
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney enter Martinsville as the favorites
In the odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbooks, as of Wednesday afternoon Eastern time, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney share the best odds to win at +500. Given their recent success, it is no surprise they are the favorites at the Virginia short track.
Hamlin is a six-time winner at his home track of Martinsville. The Chesterfield, Virginia native is the defending winner of the spring Martinsville race as he led a race-high 274 laps one year ago. In five of the last seven Martinsville races, the driver of the No. 11 has posted five top fives.
Blaney, meanwhile, has an impressive streak of consistency at Martinsville. The driver of the No. 12 is a two-time Martinsville winner, but never the spring race. The Team Penske driver has 10 top-five finishes in the last 14 Martinsville races.
Perhaps most impressive, Blaney has finished 11th or better in the last 14 Martinsville races.
Hendrick Motorsports drivers to watch at Martinsville
Close behind Hamlin and Blaney in the odds to win is Kyle Larson. At +550, Larson won the 2023 Martinsville spring races. In the last seven Martinsville races, the driver of the No. 5 has finished sixth or better with six top-five finishes.
William Byron enters the Cook Out 400 with +700 odds to win. The driver of the No. 24 is a three-time Martinsville winner with two of them coming in the last four races.
Having won the playoff race last fall, Byron enters as the defending Martinsville winner.
Chase Elliott is another Hendrick Motorsports driver to keep an eye on at Martinsville. At +900 to win, the driver of the No. 9 won the fall 2020 Martinsville race and has finished no worse than fourth in his last four starts at the track.
Other NASCAR Cup drivers to watch at Martinsville
Christopher Bell enters “The Paperclip” this Sunday at +800 to win. The driver of the No. 20 has a mixed record at Martinsville with one win in the fall of 2022, but two finishes outside the top 20 in the last five races.
In last year’s Cook Out 400, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver ran runner-up to teammate Denny Hamlin after leading 25 laps.
At +1200 to win, Joey Logano has shown consistency at Martinsville. The driver of the No. 22 has posted a top-10 finish in his last 13 Martinsville starts. However, none of them were victories.
Seeking his fifth win of the 2026 season, Tyler Reddick sits at +1400 to win at Martinsville. While the driver of the No. 45 has been strong all season, he has only two top 10s in 12 Martinsville starts.
The Cook Out 400 is scheduled to get underway on Sunday (March 29) at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. The race can be watched on FS1 or listened to on the Motor Racing Network.
Fed-Up Dale Jr Publicly Exposes Corporate America’s Greed That Continues to Rob NASCAR Fans
You know America’s corporate problem is real when even Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to suffer its consequences. While he usually has some of the most exciting and uplifting stories to share from his racing days, this one story, involving throwback liveries, is so shocking that Dale Jr. himself got fed up with his iconic red livery, despite it being a fan favorite.
Dale Jr. on corporate culture spoiling throwback experience
“The Cup guys, corporate America is not always that excited to change their logo or the colors of their car,” Dale Jr. said, talking about the Darlington Raceway weekend. Since NASCAR had made running throwback liveries voluntary, not many drivers showed up with them. However, even among the few drivers who did participate, the livery designs weren’t particularly strong.
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This is mainly because sponsors didn’t want teams to run a different paint scheme than their native colors, and this issue has long-existed in the Cup Series.
“When I ran the Nationwide car, the hood had to be blue. You had to design the car around a blue hood all the time, no matter what. So you couldn’t talk them into any of that,” Dale Jr. claimed.
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Sponsors are a huge part of a driver’s career right now. In a sport that demands extreme financial assistance, it becomes essential. They have the power to make or break careers, with even some of the teams picking drivers who have better names to back them.
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However, this also means that the sponsors demand their brand to be represented in a particular way, and the last thing they wanted was to have another brand’s identity merged with their own. This was exactly what happened when Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed the idea of running a Busch livery when he was sponsored by Budweiser, piloting the iconic #8 ‘red car.’
“The Budweiser guys did not want to run anything but a red car. The exact same car every single week,” he said. “I brought the idea one day of running a Bud Light car in the All-Star race to them, and you’d have thought that I had pi–ed on their grave. I mean, they were like, ‘What the hell? You going to help them guys? They’re already out selling us.’”
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These issues persisted with sponsors, especially in the Cup Series. Among others, it hurts the fans the most. As sponsors are unwilling to move away from their core branding even for one weekend, fans are deprived of the genuine throwback experience that is intended with such events.
Moreover, it also became an added pressure on the teams. Instead of the race and their performance, they would be focusing more on the throwback liveries in order to make the most of the Darlington Raceway weekend. However, as NASCAR pulled back on this regulation this year, making the participation voluntary, the field settled down quite a bit.
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NASCAR’s throwback liveries: a dying tradition?
Compared to the past couple of years, there were only a handful of teams that actually put the effort into running a full retro at Darlington this year. It seemed as if more teams were focused on the actual race, and no one seemed to be complaining about the lack of a more ‘retro look’ around the garage, either.
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Of course, RFK Racing went all out to pay strong tributes to their former driver, Greg Biffle, who passed away earlier in 2025 in a tragic plane crash. All three of their cars featured special paint schemes, with their decals in the same texture and font that Biffle used for a long time.
“It’s hard to put together, but it’s a neat way for us to be able to kind of carry that remembrance throughout the season and just in a bigger way for this weekend,” Chris Buescher said.
Carson Hocevar also arrived at the track, paying an iconic tribute to Dale Earnhardt Sr. with his paint scheme imitating the latter’s 1981 Wrangler car. While he originally insisted on running Dale Jr’s #8 car, once again, a sponsorship issue with Chili’s saw him running the Wrangler, which the sponsor claimed was closer to their colors.
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Then there was also Front Row Motorsports, wrapping Todd Gilliland’s Ford in Bill Elliott’s 1985 Coors-sponsored car. Meanwhile, his teammate Zane Smith featured Elliott Sadler’s 2000 Citgo Ford. Erik Jones’ crew also chimed in, with his car imitating Wally Dallenbach Jr’s 1994 STP car.
But that was about it. The Cup Series seemed to move on from the tradition very quickly.
It almost felt like Halloween was canceled for the field this year, but it also proved an important point. At the end of the day, the fans and the drivers were there for racing. While these throwback paint schemes used to be an iconic part of the racing itself, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Displeased Fans Demand Hall of Fame Justice for NASCAR’s Most Ignored Faction
In NASCAR, being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor in the sport. But what exactly makes one worthy of being inducted? Is it the number of race wins? Is it the championships? Or even before those things, is it the series in which the wins and the titles came? Because that was a take shared on the Dale Jr. Download, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not appreciate it at all.
Dale Jr. annoyed with his co-worker’s take on Hall of Fame eligibility
During the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, a member of the show, Travis Rockhold, shared his take on what makes a driver worthy of being considered for the Hall of Fame. As Dale Jr. mentioned the name of Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports as someone he’d vote in to be a Hall of Famer, Rockhold said no.
Allgaier, while winless at the Cup level in 86 starts, is hugely successful in the O’Reilly Series. He has 30 wins and a championship to his name. But because Rockhold said no to Earnhardt’s proposal of Allgaier into the HoF, the JRM co-owner asked whether his driver could be considered should he win another championship. “I don’t think Xfinity, O’Reilly, Busch, Nationwide should count,” Rockhold clarified.
This infuriated Earnhardt as he replied, “Are you f*****g serious? It’s the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s not the NASCAR Cup Hall of Fame. That is a pretty… It’s a pretty bad take. It is literally not the Cup Series Hall of Fame.”
Rockhold gave the example of Major League Baseball to further his point, but Earnhardt claimed that Major League Baseball claims to be the top. In NASCAR, the Hall of Fame is ‘Cup and more.’ Rockhold added that, in his opinion, it is the Hall of Fame and not the ‘Hall of really good.’
“No one ever came in and said, ‘Hey, y’all, this is just Cup only.’ And you’re saying that. Well, it’s not. It’s not the Hall of Fame. You’re changing literally what the Hall of Fame is,” Earnhardt Jr. added.
It’s worth mentioning that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was inducted into the HoF in 2021. But Junior is one of the rare drivers who was inducted despite not winning a Cup title. In fact, he only won 26 races at the Cup level. On the other hand, his numbers in the Busch Series were 24 wins and two championships, in 1998 and 1999. Probably that’s why he feels the pulse of the non-Cup drivers.
But Rockhold’s hot take and Earnhardt Jr.’s strong reaction to it also kick-started a discourse among NASCAR fans, who, much like the most popular driver of his era, also felt the HoF was more than Cup.
NASCAR fans make a case against the idea of HoF being Cup exclusive
Reacting to Travis Rockhold’s take on only Cup drivers being eligible to be inducted in the HoF, NASCAR fans were united in disagreement with it, and supported the ignored faction.
One fan echoed Dale Jr.’s take as they wrote, “If it’s the NASCAR Hall of fame, and not the Cup Series Hall of Fame, then yes because every discipline across the entire association has Hall of Fame worthy careers that tell the history of that series.”
Another fan gave the example of the basketball HoF as they wrote, “Same reason the Naismith basketball HOF inducts college and international basketball players and coaches who may have done little to nothing in the NBA.”
One fan cited the examples of two bona fide NASCAR legends. “Kyle Busch & Mark Martin (already in) could get in based on their GNBNXOAPS stats alone,” the fan wrote.
While Martin became a HoF despite his lack of a Cup title, Busch is considered to be a locked HoFer in the future. But as the fan said, even if one takes away their achievements at the Cup level, their careers are towering successes. Busch has won a total of 170 races across the O’Reilly and Truck Series, while Martin won 56. “So yes, lower level drivers from NASCAR sanctioned series should absolutely be eligible,” the fan concluded.
A fan argued that anyone who has played a role at a high level in NASCAR, irrespective of their role or the series, should be eligible.
“Anyone that is instrumental to the sport of nascar should be in from drivers to owners, pit crew, announcers, workers at the track and anyone else that tells the story,” the fan wrote. The examples of such inductions include Chad Knaus, Dale Inman, Ken Squier, and more.
With that said, what is your take on this subject? Do you think only Cup drivers should be eligible for the Hall of Fame or does it apply to everyone across the whole of NASCAR? Let us know in the comments below.
Dale Jr Goes Against NASCAR Fans With Clear Stance on Carson Hocevar’s ‘Intimidator’ Antics
Carson Hocevar and Spire Motorsports created chaos within the NASCAR community after releasing a throwback scheme honoring Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidator’s comparison can only be made with a few drivers in all of NASCAR, and this is where a section of fans and experts objected as Hocevar lined up to drive in an Earnhardt-looking car. However, Dale Jr. went against the tide and came to the Spire driver’s rescue.
Dale Earnhardt Jr lauded Spire Motorsports’ effort on Carson Hocevar
In the recent episode of the Dale Jr Download, the son of the late Dale Earnhardt shed light on the paint scheme driven by Carson Hocevar at Darlington. While there have been many critics calling out the decision to run the 1981 paint scheme for Hocevar, the final verdict came from the Earnhardt family.
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“I think a lot of people would say that Hocevar’s group knocked it out of the park,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Again, I’m biased that we talked about it on the show last week that particular scheme from 1981, it’s a lost year for dad because it was so bad for the most part. Not a good year for him. But, that’s my favorite design of the Wrangler car that he ever raced for sure.”
Following this, Junior highlighted how Spire Motorsports and Hocevar went all out to popularize the paint scheme on social media, and they were massively successful in it. With this, Dale Jr. also stated how the car ‘looked good.’
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“Hocevar and his team did a lot of great stuff on social media with content. I mean, they really went all out. They put some good effort into this. You know what I mean? Well, it helps that he goes out there and has a great performance on the racetrack. It was a good-looking race car, good-looking job,” Dale Jr. further added.
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Notably, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s appraisal for Carson Hocevar’s ride at Darlington came after the Spire star fell under strong scrutiny. A section of fans questioned the driver and his team and blamed them for misusing the legacy of Earnhardt, one of the best drivers NASCAR has ever produced.
They were of the opinion that Hocevar was using the tagline he was given by some fans and Richard Petty as the next Dale Earnhardt due to the former’s aggressive driving style and unapologetic behavior. Even Chili’s executive, the sponsor of the #77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Tim Forman, also said the same.
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“Last year, we noticed the chatter comparing Carson’s driving style to a young Dale Earnhardt, and it’s only grown louder as big names in the sport make the comparison,” Forman said.
The criticisms poured in as they pointed out Hocevar’s record while running in an Earnhardt scheme despite not winning a single race so far. While fans and critics were unhappy with the next Dale Earnhardt tag on Carson Hocevar, the driver had his own take on it.
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Carson Hocevar wants to be himself
Carson Hocevar has made it clear that he does not want to follow the path of Dale Earnhardt and be the next Intimidator. Speaking about how he disliked the comparison, here’s what the #77 driver said:
“I don’t really love the comparisons of what they turn into. It started by just kind of not apologizing after running into people, basically, and just being really, really aggressive, to turning into kind of the ‘I’m as good as him’. I was like, I don’t know where that came from. So, yeah, I just plan on driving. I’m just hoping I’m fast enough or we’re good enough that we can actually be up front and be relevant.”
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The talk about Carson Hocevar being the same as Dale Earnhardt on track surfaced after Richard Petty compared him with the seven-time Cup Series champion. Even his son, Kyle Petty, also considered Hocevar as the ‘next big thing’ in NASCAR.
With that said, it will be interesting to see if Carson Hocevar can manage to get out of the Earnhardt comparison and make a name for himself in the days to come.
Tyler Reddick Exposes ‘Sloppy’ Truth Behind 23XI’s Historic NASCAR Dominance
The cool suit, strategy, and sloppy pit stops. Although Tyler Reddick’s run appears spotless this season, there are still quite a few lapses on the team’s back end that could hamper their performance in the future. Unsurprisingly, the fans have overlooked these issues as most are celebrating the historic start he has had, but Reddick clarified this more recently.
Tyler Reddick highlights the struggle behind the success
“The things that have come our way in the first couple of races that we’ve gone on to win, they haven’t been clean races,” Reddick said, as he focused more on the issues than the team’s strengths for once this season. While his drive seemed spotless after he clinched those wins, it isn’t hard to miss out on the issues that he had.
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Most recently at Darlington, he had a major voltage issue with his battery right at the beginning of the race, and he lost multiple positions owing to it. Moreover, there were some unavoidable circumstances that he was involved in at Atlanta.
“Daytona, the strategy went sideways. We claw back our way to the front to win that one. EchoPark Speedway, I literally wrecked with like 30 laps to go. COTA, we think we have a loose wheel. We risk it. We stay out. And then this past weekend at Darlington, our alternator fails lap one.” he added.
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These issues have followed him in almost all the races that he has won so far. But Darlington remains the current highlight. After his alternator failed, he had no cooling in the car; in fact, he was seen throwing out his cooling liquid and replacing it with an ice pack, which he then kept in his racing suit. To fight through all of that, and then have to pit to change the battery, and then battle from the back of the field, and then clinch a race win was rather impressive.
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This made Tyler Reddick’s win even more fought. Steve Letarte also credited his crew chief, Billy Scott, for making the right calls ever since the season started. He had a major role in getting the #45 team to the top of the table.
Even though Reddick seems a bit skeptical about his performance so far, there is no doubt that four race wins right at the start of the season have increased his odds of contending for the title. In fact, a seasoned NASCAR veteran declared the #45 team as the favorites for the championship this year, as Toyota’s dominance shook Chevrolet.
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NASCAR veteran labels No. 45 team as championship favorites
Kevin Harvick has been around the sport for over three decades at this point. Having raced through multiple championship formats, it is safe to say that he has a strong idea of who has the best odds of winning, and as of now, his fingers point towards Tyler Reddick.
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“You’ve got to be in that top six to win this championship when the points reset. So right now, Tyler Reddick’s put him in, himself in a fairly good position to be one of those six cars,” he said.
The main aspect of this is that 23XI Racing’s performance was boosted at the same time as Chevrolet began struggling. They haven’t won a single race in the season so far; meanwhile, Ford won at Phoenix (the only time a Toyota hasn’t won this year). Although the likes of Hendrick Motorsports and Chevy will certainly catch up with Toyota, it might be too late by the time, considering the Chase format.
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“When you see the mistakes that are being made, and the finish is not being taken advantage of for guys that are running good and having catastrophic failure at the end of stages or at the end of the race like we saw with Kyle Larson this week again, it adds up,” Harvick added. “You might make the top 16, but you’re not winning this championship if you’re not in those top six.”
The Chase format will certainly reward Reddick and the rest of his crew. However, they will have to start working on the issues they’re currently facing. Although they have still won races, even the smallest of those issues recurring at a later stage during the season could hamper their chances of a title win.
NASCAR Champion Has ‘No Intention’ of Staying in O’Reilly Series
A reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Series champion is not thinking about settling in. He is already thinking about getting out.
That driver is Jesse Love, the reigning series champ.
Despite entering the 2026 season as the defending titleholder, the 21-year-old made it clear he does not plan to stay beyond this year. Speaking to The Athletic, Love said he has “no intention” of returning for another full season in the O’Reilly Series, instead setting his sights on a move to the Cup Series as early as 2027.
That kind of statement is rarely made this directly, especially by a driver still early in his national-series career. But it reflects a shift that has been building across the garage.
This is no longer about development. It is about timing.
A Title Run That Accelerated the Timeline
The confidence behind that timeline is rooted in how the championship was won.
Love’s 2025 season did not follow a traditional path to a championship. Instead of overwhelming the field week after week, he put together a run defined by consistency and execution when it mattered most. It was a run built on execution, composure, and the ability to respond under pressure.
Inside NASCAR, those are the traits teams prioritize when evaluating who is ready for the next level.
Now, only months removed from that title, the wheelman of the No. 2 Chevrolet believes he has already taken what he needed from the O’Reilly Series.
“I had to work really hard at it last year to get to the state I’m in now. I feel like every (O’Reilly) race I show up to, I’m the best in the field and I feel like at least now, I’m on a different level than the people I’m racing against,” Love told The Athletic.
It is a confident assessment, but one grounded in how quickly his results have shifted expectations.
Why Staying Too Long Can Work Against Drivers
What makes his stance stand out is not just the confidence. It is the reasoning behind it.
Rather than viewing additional seasons in the O’Reilly Series as a benefit, Love suggested there is a point where staying too long can actually stall growth. Early success does not always force drivers to develop the race-to-race toughness required at the Cup level.
At the same time, there is a practical side to the decision.
“There’s only so long you can stay at this level before funding and things like that don’t work,” he said.
That is a reality drivers often acknowledge privately, but rarely state this openly.
The NASCAR ladder is not a straight line. It depends on alignment between performance, sponsorship, and opportunity. If those elements do not connect at the right moment, the next step becomes harder, not easier.
Cup Opportunities Are Built on Timing, Not Just Talent
Targeting 2027 places the focus on a narrow window.
Cup Series seats do not open on a predictable schedule, and when they do, teams move quickly. Decisions are based on more than results. They factor in readiness, long-term upside, and whether a driver fits within a broader organizational plan.
By stating his intentions now, the reigning champion is positioning himself within that window before it fully takes shape.
“Now I feel really confident in myself that I can go to the Cup level, and whether I have success right away or struggle right away, I can work myself out of any hole because I’ve built that grit.”
That belief is a key part of the equation. Teams are not just evaluating performance. They are evaluating whether a driver is prepared to handle the jump.
2026 Becomes a One-Year Audition
For now, the focus remains on the current season. But the context has clearly changed.
This is no longer just about defending a championship in the O’Reilly Series. It is about proving there is nothing left to accomplish at this level.
Every race becomes part of a larger evaluation. Every performance feeds into the same question: is he ready now, or does he still need time?
By publicly setting his timeline, the reigning champion has removed any ambiguity. He is not planning to wait.
NASCAR Veteran Backs Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Claims as JR Motorsports Champion Gains Hall of Fame Momentum
Today, Justin Allgaier is a NASCAR champion who has won 30 races and beaten drivers like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the O’Reilly series. In an ideal world, no one would refute the idea of him being considered a Hall of Famer. However, one of the members of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast did just that, which sparked a discourse in the NASCAR community, leading to Larry McReynolds sharing his take on the subject.
Larry McReynolds wonders why Bill France Jr. and Sr. are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Larry McReynolds, the semi-retired crew chief and broadcaster, voiced his thoughts on the subject of which drivers can be considered for the Hall of Fame on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. McReynolds said that it is not the NASCAR Cup Series Hall of Fame, even though it has a lot of Cup names in it.
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Speaking about JR Motorsports champion Allgaier, the former crew chief said, “Justin Allgaier, when you look at his numbers, he’s a future NASCAR Hall of Famer. And we’ve got a lot of past Xfinity Series, Busch Series, now O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series drivers that will be eventually in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”
McReynolds added to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s point about the MLB, as the former Hendrick driver claimed that in baseball, MLB is the highest tier. Therefore, the MLB Hall of Fame has MLB players, which is also the case in the NHL, the NFL, and the NBA.
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“But ours is a NASCAR Hall of Fame, and NASCAR encompasses three major series. and quite honestly I think eventually Larry Phillips that ran the NASCAR weekly series races that won more races than some people will ever start in their career will eventually be in there,” McReynolds described.
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He challenged that in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bill France Jr. and Bill France Sr. should also not belong since they never made their mark in the Cup Series. But the two pioneers of the sport are in there because the whole of NASCAR makes a living, which came from their ‘vision.’
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the motorsport legend who shouldn’t be in the NASCAR HoF
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Talking on his podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. promoted drivers like Justin Allgaier as eligible for HoF induction. He protested against the idea that only Cup drivers should be allowed in the HoF.
However, he also drew a line against the induction of someone who, while being an undisputed motorsports legend, didn’t contribute much to NASCAR. The legend in the subject was AJ Foyt, who was nominated for the NASCAR HoF in the Class of 2023.
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“I think a lot of people just say, he’s one of the greatest drivers ever, and he races with us [at NASCAR]. I’m not sure I agree with that… AJ came at times, had success, and won. But there were also times when he was cantankerous and difficult, and problematic,” he said.
Earnhardt claimed that while it doesn’t mean as much, factors like whether the person nominated lifted NASCAR up, whether they promoted the sport, and the rest matter to him.
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Do you agree with Dale Jr.’s opinion on this subject? Let us know in the comments below.
Kevin Harvick Calls Out NASCAR Drivers for Missing Crucial Work Behind the Scenes Amid Early Season Struggles
Every now and then, NASCAR drivers complain about their cars’ drivability, tire issues, and setups. But Kevin Harvick seems to think there is a different issue as well. The world of racing has evolved much faster than some might have expected about two decades ago. Simulators have become far more realistic, the data interpretation is at its peak, and yet, many fail to deliver the desired result in the races. Now, as Harvick puts it, it might offend some drivers, but it seems to be the absolute truth, as many drivers seem to be suffering with strategy and tire wear issues after the short track package was introduced this season.
Kevin Harvick points out the issue with drivers missing out on sim sessions.
Simulators have become an essential part of racing at this point. It can help the drivers create better strategies, get a feel for the track, and even work on their setups. Just a few decades ago, drivers on the ‘Winston’ Cup Series field would not have believed that such technology existed, but it does now. However, Harvick questioned the driver’s use of this resource.
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“How are you going to fix it, fellas? Tell me how you’re going to fix your car if you don’t go to the simulator,” asked Harvick on his namesake podcast. “Being in there week after week allows things to be developed around you, especially when you’re in a new scenario where you have new aero packages [..] And if you’re not in there scaling those tires and you’re just leaving it to the sim guys to be able to do that, in my opinion, it’s going to take you longer to catch up,”
The podcast had planned Tyler Reddick as one of the guests, but he declined as he was working on the simulator. Harvick pointed this out, claiming it to be one of the reasons for his early success this season.
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After qualifying in pole position at the Darlington Raceway, Tyler Reddick also mentioned that he was making complete use of the simulator provided to them at 23XI Racing’s ‘AirSpeed’ race shop.
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But the older drivers don’t seem to be getting the hang of the simulators. It is quite apparent, however, considering how they learned to race and the equipment they grew up with, it could feel a bit unnatural. Dale Earnhardt Jr., back in his racing days, justified this beautifully; however, he also sent a subtle warning for the future.
When Dale Jr. praised the simulators in NASCAR
Simulators weren’t very common even back in 2017. This was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final year of full-time racing, but he had the facilities to try these simulators for himself. He even went as far as to say that these would go on to replace the real-life engineers.
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However, when it comes to getting the old generation to have a peek at it, they seemed rather reluctant. Understandably, as Dale Jr. said at the time.
“It’s just a tool some of these guys might not be familiar with. They might look at it as a video game and not real and not realistic,” said Earnhardt Jr. to ESPN.
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Not growing up with the prior knowledge of simulators can feel a little unnatural when the drivers try it for the first time. There are a lot of sensations that they don’t feel, including the vibrations. Then there are the braking points and the overall visual. At the end of the day, they’re driving in front of a screen and not in real life. Yet Dale Jr. warned that the realistic approach these simulators had would make them a thing of the future, which pretty much seems to be the case right now.
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“But with what iRacing has done over the years, I saw this coming a mile away. … It’s definitely going to be a useful tool, and it’s here to stay,” he said.
The introduction of simulators has certainly elevated the sport. While the old generation is still putting itself away from practicing on the sims, the upcoming generation grew up with them. Reddick, who spends hours on simulators, is showcasing great results, and Harvick’s comments are a subtle warning to drivers to make use of the resource and get back into their form.
Jesse Love Breaks Down Early Life Lessons That Drives His NASCAR Success
Rising through NASCAR’s ranks isn’t just about speed; it’s about what you carry with you along the way. And Jesse Love seems to have cracked the code. For the 21-year-old former Xfinity champion, the foundation of his rapid climb wasn’t built overnight. It came from a mindset drilled into him early, one that turned small habits into stepping stones. Long before the trophies and headlines, Love was already shaping the approach that now defines his run in NASCAR.
Love reveals his secret ingredient for NASCAR success
The success at a young age has come with a lot of hard work. He outlined habits that helped him achieve all the success so far in his career in a conversation with Jess Gluck.
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“I tried to live by — and I still live by this — “Everything counts all the time,” Love said on Gluck’s podcast. “That’s what my dad always told me. The things you don’t feel like count, they might not seem big in the moment, but they add up…You can continue to just put pennies in a bucket and build your stock up if you do small things, like when you’re 15, and you’re having good posture, and you’re trying to speak and say the right things. It doesn’t matter.”
That philosophy didn’t just stay as words; it showed up in how quickly Love moved through the racing ladder.
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He wasn’t just another prospect; he was winning titles before most drivers even settled into stock cars.
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By 15, he had already made history as the youngest champion in the ARCA West Series and then backed it up with another title the very next year. It wasn’t just early success; it was sustained, and it built a reputation that followed him into every next step.
His early career success across multiple racing disciplines didn’t come by accident- it was built over years of racing in events.
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And while the 21-year-old has already made his mark in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series by clinching the title for Richard Childress Racing last year, he has made it clear that he won’t be stopping any time soon.
Love gets real about his Cup ambitions.
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Before setting his sights on a full-time jump, Jesse Love had already had a taste of the Cup series. The youngster made his debut at Bristol last year and added a few more starts soon after, quietly building experience against NASCAR’s toughest field.
While the outings haven’t been headline worthy, a 31st-place finish in 2025 at Bristol, he has since continued gaining experience with part-time outings in 2026.
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Adding COTA and Talladega to his résumé, Love has made confident appearances in the No. 33 Chevrolet. Those early outings seem to have done their job because now the 21-year-old sounds far more assured about what comes next.
“I have no intentions of running another year in O’Reilly,” he said. “I pretty much have to go to the Cup Series next year because there’s no situation that I can find, at least, that I would be full-time. You can only stay at this level for so long until funding and things like that don’t work…”
With Love already embedded in the Richard Childress Racing pipeline, a promotion feels like the next logical step.
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RCR has leaned on its No. 33 entry as a flexible seat for developing drivers, giving Love experience at the top level while keeping him in-house. If a full-time opening comes up, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team look at Love as an option.
Carson Hocevar Wins Over NASCAR Veterans as They Rally Behind His Aggressive Style and Breakout 2026 Form
It’s no secret that Carson Hocevar has been a name that has attracted a lot of opinions throughout his career. While his no-holds-barred driving style made him a polarizing presence, he has now become a must-watch contender in 2026 and is starting to win over veterans who once kept their distance.
Schrader and Co. take notice of Hocevar’s surge
Through the opening stretch of 2026, Hocevar has backed that attention with performance. Seven races in, and he has already shown he belongs in the conversation and as a driver who cannot be ignored. The latest to heap praise him were NASCAR veterans Ken Schrader and Rick Mast.
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“I don’t know Carson. I obviously want to meet him,” said Ken Schrader on the Rick Mast Herm & Schrader podcast. “I mean, I don’t know what’s not to like about him. He’s on the gas, man, that whole Spire team.”
His season has featured a mix of high and near-misses, including a dramatic Daytona 500 run where he was leading coming to the white flag before fading to 18th after late contact. Another incident happened at the race in Atlanta when his aggressive style led him to get into a late wreck.
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“Here’s the deal that’s crazy for me to think about,” Mast added on to the praise. “Each race, when I’m watching on TV, I’m looking for the friggin’ 77 car, and I don’t ever do that. I just don’t do that, and I did it at Darlington when I was there live. I’m like you. I noticed the same thing.”
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It was the Goodyear 400 that truly turned heads. Hocevar delivered one of the standout drives of the race, bringing the No.77 home in fourth place against a stacked field. It wasn’t just the finish; it was how he ran the race.
His showing in Darlington even helped him get praise from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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While the 23-year-old is yet to win his maiden Cup series race, he has shown a lot of promise. Hocevar is currently 13th in the Cup series points standings with two top-five and two top-ten finishes in six races.
For a young driver still establishing himself with Spire Motorsports, it is definitely proving to be a good season. He may not have a win yet, but if the trajectory continues, it feels less like a question of if and more like when.
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But with the Cup Series heading to Martinsville, the question of Hocevar clinching his first Cup Series win once again comes to light.
Can Hocevar win at Martinsville?
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When you look at Carson Hocevar and Martinsville Speedway, the story isn’t exactly straightforward. It’s messy, a little chaotic, and very on brand for the kind of driver he is right now.
On paper, Martinsville hasn’t been his strongest track in the Cup Series so far. In four starts, his results have swung wildly; finishes of seventh and eighth show real upside, but they are offset by runs down in the 30s.
That kind of inconsistency tells you everything. The speed is there, but putting together a clean, mistake-free race at a place like Martinsville will be the bigger challenge.
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For a driver like Hocevar, that balance is still evolving. If anything, his broader short track numbers reinforce that trend. He averages around a mid to high teens finish on shorter layouts, which is respectable.
But with his 2026 momentum, Martinsville could be a beast Hocevar finally tames. Winning may feel like a stretch, but it is not impossible.
Martinsville rewards experience, rhythm, and race management, areas where veterans usually dominate. However, given his current boost, the tide could tip in his favor.
Are Utahns root, root, rooting for an MLB expansion team?
First blood has been drawn by … the umpires with MLB’s new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system.
The New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants officially kicked off the 2026 MLB season with a meeting on Wednesday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. One notable moment occurred in the top of the fourth inning when Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero made history.
Caballero saw a first-pitch offering on the inside corner from Giants pitcher Logan Webb get called a strike by home-plate umpire Bill Miller. The two-time AL stolen bases leader Caballero then decided to get litigious and tapped on his helmet to initiate the first-ever official ABS challenge in Major League Baseball history.
Unfortunately for Caballero, the jury did not find in his favor. The ABS system ruled that the pitch was correctly deemed a strike by Miller.
MLB has been testing out the ABS system in the minor leagues since 2021 and then brought it to the 2025 All-Star Game as well as 2026 spring training. Now the ABS challenge system has officially been rolled out during regular season play (with teams receiving a maximum of two challenges per game).
Some growing pains have been inevitable with the new system, including with this MLB player who was denied an ABS challenge earlier this week thanks to a weird rule. But that was as bad as it got on Wednesday for Caballero and the Yankees as they went on to easily defeat the Giants by a 7-0 final score to kick off the season.
What needs to go right for each MLB team in 2026
It’s Opening Day. The stands at Larry H. Miller Field at (corporate name) Stadium on Salt Lake City’s west side are packed. The Utah Bees take the field in their home whites trimmed in black and gold. The Chicago Cubs’ leadoff hitter walks to the plate. There’s a buzz in the stadium in anticipation of the first-ever pitch at a Major League Baseball game where Utahns can root, root, root for the home team. The umpire — still a human — shouts “Play ball!”
OK, it’s a made-up scene. But nearly 7 in 10 Utahns would welcome a big league team to the Beehive State, according to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll.
American Fork resident Bryant Jenks, a Los Angeles Dodgers fan who grew up listening to Vin Scully on a transistor radio, would be among them.
“We have a fan base that’s loyal to professional teams and loves baseball,” he said.
Sold-out attendance at Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth games bears that out. Also, the Salt Lake Bees AAA baseball drew nearly 400,000 fans at its new ballpark last year.
And Jenks could even get behind a Utah MLB team playing his Dodgers. “Being a baseball fan, I would be happy for either to win,” he said.
By most accounts, Salt Lake City along with Nashville have emerged as frontrunners to land an MLB expansion team sometime after 2029. Big League Utah, a coalition of prominent Utahns led by the Larry H. Miller Company, publicly launched its pursuit of a team three years ago.
The poll found 69% of Utah voters strongly or somewhat support the state getting a major league team, while 14% are strongly or somewhat opposed and 17% don’t know.
People age 45 to 64 expressed the most support among all age groups in the survey, at 73%. Those 65 and older expressed the least, but still 6 in 10 were supportive. More women than men favor getting a team.
The survey also asked respondents about the reasons they support or oppose a big league team in Utah. Money figured into some of their answers.
Of those who favor having a franchise, the top reason cited for their support was economic growth and job creation, among several choices in the survey. Following that was baseball as a quality entertainment option for residents along with additional tax revenues for Utah and personal interest in attending an MLB game nearby.
Of those who oppose a team coming to the state, taxpayer costs for stadium construction topped the list by far, with lack of personal interest in attending MLB games a distant second and traffic and infrastructure challenges third.
Urban dwellers were less inclined to favor a team in Utah than were people living in suburban and rural communities. Those making more than $50,000 a year were more supportive than those making less than that.
Morning Consult conducted the poll of 800 Utah registered voters March 6-10. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Multibillion investment on Salt Lake City’s west side
The Miller Company intends to invest $3.5 billion in a mixed-use development in the Power District on Salt Lake City’s long-overlooked west side. The 100-acre project includes plans for green space and trails, a riverwalk, office buildings, residential housing, hotel, dining and retail. There’s also an MLB ballpark site, should the city land a team.
In 2024, state lawmakers created the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District, covering the area north of I-80 between 1000 West and Redwood Road. A five-member board determines land use, recruits businesses, contracts for public safety services and leverages growth in tax increment and sales within the area to pay for the improvements inside the district.
The stadium would be funded with private dollars, state sales tax revenue and rental car taxes paid for primarily by out-of-state visitors. The district would have the ability to raise the car rental 1.5% for construction of a baseball stadium only if MLB awards Utah a franchise, with a 2032 deadline for that to happen.
The state would own the ballpark and lease it to the team for $150,000 a month for 30 years. If the team leaves the state before 30 years, it would have to repay the district for the taxpayer-generated funds.
Miller Company CEO Steve Starks told the Deseret News last month that the company is working with ballpark architects on site plans for where a stadium would go, how it would be oriented and seating capacity. Generally, it would be located on the west side of the Jordan River facing the Wasatch Mountains. Home run balls leaving the park could land in the water.
Support for landing a team has dropped since an April 2023 Deseret News/Hinckley Institute survey found 81% of Utah favored the effort. Like the latest survey, only 14% opposed getting a franchise, but the number of people saying they don’t know nearly tripled.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred favors one new team in the East and one in the West when baseball starts looking at expansion no earlier than 2029. Nashville is the leading contender in the East, while many observers see Salt Lake City as the top prospect in the West, former sports executive Dave Checketts among them.
“The Miller family who I brought into the Jazz in 1985 has sold not only their team but sold all of their auto dealerships. They’re sitting on billions of cash and they’ve bought land just west of downtown Salt Lake. They have a beautiful stadium plan and they’ve got $900 million from the state legislature,” Checketts, a former chief executive of the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden, said last fall.
“They’re by far No. 1 in the West.”
Would baseball help the Utah economy?
A June 2023 Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll found Utahns almost evenly split over using taxpayer dollars to build a stadium, with 47% supporting use of public funds and 50% opposed.
Community leaders see baseball as a catalyst to lift and connect the west side to Salt Lake City. But the economic benefits of public investment in stadiums is highly debated across the country.
A 2023 analysis of more than 130 studies spanning 30 years concluded that pro sports and new stadiums make little difference to long-term economic growth.
“Though findings have become more nuanced, recent analyses continue to confirm the decades-old consensus of very limited economic impacts of professional sports teams and stadiums,“ according to a report by three leading sports business experts. ”Even with added nonpecuniary social benefits from quality-of-life externalities and civic pride, welfare improvements from hosting teams tend to fall well short of covering public outlays.”
The biggest question facing each MLB team as the 2026 season begins
With the 2026 regular season officially underway, each team looks to the future with optimism. Whether it’s a rebuilding club, a team looking to take the next step and reach the postseason or the Dodgers going for a three-peat, the dawn of a new season is an exciting time.
But while each team is looking forward to the 2026 campaign, each team also has to have some things go right for it to achieve its goals. Here’s a look at one big thing that needs to go right for each club this year.
Blue Jays: One more big breakout
Last year, it was George Springer, who resurrected his career with 32 home runs and a .959 OPS. He was the MVP of a Blue Jays team that fell just short of a World Series championship in Game 7 against the Dodgers, and without Springer, the Blue Jays wouldn’t have come close at all. This season, the Blue Jays need another pleasant surprise to make up for the loss of Bo Bichette and potential regressions elsewhere on the roster, Springer included. Perhaps that’s newcomer Kazuma Okamoto or Addison Barger, who has all the tools in the world and showed us in the World Series what it looks like when those come together. The best bet, though? Daulton Varsho, who looked fantastic in Spring Training and is playing with the motivation of a contract year. — Keegan Matheson
Orioles: Stay healthy
While this is true for every MLB team, the O’s can’t afford to have another year like 2025, when they used the injured list 39 times for 29 players. It hasn’t been a great start on this front for Baltimore, which will begin the ‘26 campaign with second baseman Jackson Holliday (broken hamate bone in right hand), third baseman Jordan Westburg (partial right UCL tear) and setup man Andrew Kittredge (right shoulder inflammation) on the IL. A season can quickly take a turn for the worse due to injuries in March and April, as the Orioles experienced firsthand last year. They can’t afford to be without a bunch of key players. — Jake Rill
Rays: The stars align
You could take that in a theoretical, metaphysical way, suggesting the Rays will need a lot of things to break their way to push toward the top of a loaded division. But we mean it in a more literal sense: Their best players need to stay on the field and perform to their capabilities. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the Rays are more competitive than expected if they get peak All-Star seasons from Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz in their lineup while also receiving consistent contributions from Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan in their rotation and reliable innings from Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta in the bullpen. — Adam Berry
Red Sox: Bullpen needs to hold up
The bullpen was the area the Red Sox didn’t do a lot of upgrading to over the offseason. Sure, Aroldis Chapman was one of the most dominant closers in the game last year. But can he do that again at 38 years old? Garrett Whitlock emerged as an elite setup man, but he’ll have to do it again to provide the type of bridge to Chapman that the Sox need. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow did add a veteran arm late in Spring Training in lefty Danny Coulombe, but he will have to prove he still has enough left in the tank. Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly are all important right arms for manager Alex Cora. — Ian Browne
Yankees: Handle business in the division
When the Yankees and Blue Jays finished tied atop the AL East with 94 victories last season, the tiebreaker went to Toronto based on its 8-5 record vs. New York. It wasn’t close — the Jays had their number all season, especially at Rogers Centre, where Toronto won six of their seven meetings. Aaron Boone calls the AL East a “pack a lunch” division; while the Yanks must solve their Jays bugaboo, there are no gimmes with the other three teams. These Yankees led the Majors with 849 runs scored, and their pitching should be on par or better. Part of the “run it back” strategy is a belief that the chips will fall differently in 2026. Let’s see if it works. — Bryan Hoch
Guardians: The offense taking a step
There are no secrets here. The Guardians need more offensive production than they received in 2025, when they won the AL Central title despite their lineup’s collective struggles. Cleveland’s pitching staff gives it a good foundation and the addition of first baseman Rhys Hoskins should help. But the success of this season will be determined by whether returning hitters take a step forward, and the contributions the club receives from promising up-and-comers such as Chase DeLauter (Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect and No. 46 overall, per MLB Pipeline), George Valera, CJ Kayfus and others. — Tim Stebbins
Royals: The rotation stays healthy
The Royals were good for a lot of reasons in 2024, but the main one was because their rotation was one of the best in baseball — and the five starters who opened the season in the rotation made the majority of starts. It was the complete opposite in ‘25, which is more the norm across the league, but the Royals really struggled when they didn’t have their ace, Cole Ragans, on the mound, as well as when Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha all missed time. The Royals are better set up with depth if that happens again in 2026, but the reality is they need their main starters to take the ball every five days for most of the season. The Royals are at their best when their pitching is leading them to wins. — Anne Rogers
Tigers: The rotation carries the load
No, the days of Pitching Chaos aren’t necessarily over, but the Tigers’ late offseason investments in Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander reflect the value they’ve placed on leveraging a strong rotation and taking some of the workload off what became a taxed bullpen down the stretch last season. Tarik Skubal leads the way, but the Tigers also need Jack Flaherty to be good from the start, Casey Mize to figure out his fastball and Verlander to pick up where he left off down the stretch last season in San Francisco. — Jason Beck
Twins: The ‘young veterans’ need to hit
The Twins are at a bit of a make-or-break stage with a group of hitters that they hoped would be the core of their lineup by now: Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner in particular. All were first-round picks. All were highly-regarded prospects. And none of them has put together the kind of consistent success that Twins fans (and the front office) dreamed of. They’ve all shown flashes, though, and they’re all at a point in their careers when a step forward wouldn’t be shocking. For this lineup to be as good as it can be, at least two of the three need to produce consistently at a high level. — Matthew Leach
White Sox: Development? We’re taking about development
The White Sox are looking to win games in 2026. Not necessarily setting their initial target on World Series champions or even AL Central winners, but they want to take meaningful steps forward from a team losing 100-plus games in three straight seasons. Even with the additions of first baseman Munetaka Murakami, outfielder Austin Hays and closer Seranthony Domínguez, the development of their rebuilt core will lead this team forward. Players such as Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Chase Meidroth, Grant Taylor and Shane Smith had solid debuts in 2025, but they need to take that next step for the team to take that next step. — Scott Merkin
Angels: Young players take a big step forward
The Angels need to see their young core of position players such as Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe take a big step forward while seeing other key veterans bounce back such as Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, Josh Lowe, Grayson Rodriguez and Kirby Yates. The rotation has some upside with Yusei Kikuchi, José Soriano, Reid Detmers and Rodriguez, but also some risk with Detmers returning to starting after pitching in relief last year and Rodriguez missing last year due to injury. — Rhett Bollinger
Astros: Health
Last year, the Astros had the second-most total days missed on the injured list (behind the Dodgers), including long-term injuries to a number of impact players like designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Isaac Paredes, shortstop Jeremy Peña and closer Josh Hader, as well as losing three starters to Tommy John surgery. They still led the division for most of the season and finished one game out of the playoffs. It’s not a stretch to say the Astros should return to the playoffs if they can avoid multiple major injuries. — Brian McTaggart
Athletics: Pitching needs to take a step forward
The A’s lineup is expected to slug with the best of them. But to achieve their goal of making the playoffs in 2026, they will need more from their starting rotation, which combined for a 4.85 ERA last season that ranked fourth-highest in the Majors. Whether it’s a bounceback year from Luis Severino, a young electric arm like Luis Morales elevating his game or an elite prospect like Gage Jump (No. 57 prospect in MLB) coming up and dominating, better production from the starters will be key. — Martín Gallegos
Mariners: Play to their potential
For the first time in this era in Seattle, the Mariners will enter Opening Day with virtually no question marks on their roster. The lineup features five All-Star selections within the past two seasons. The rotation could reclaim its reputation as the sport’s best, if it stays healthy and plays to its ceiling. The bullpen features one of the AL’s best closers (Andrés Muñoz), setup men (Eduard Bazardo) and lefty specialists (Gabe Speier), along with spin specialist Matt Brash and newcomer Jose A. Ferrer. The farm system features prospects that could help as soon as this season. On paper, the Mariners could win this division by a wide margin — but that will hinge on the club playing to its potential. — Daniel Kramer
Rangers: Improved offense
In 2025, the Rangers ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381), 26th in batting average (.234), tied for 26th in on-base percentage (.302), 22nd in runs (684) and tied for 22nd in walk rate (8.0%). Even with the best rotation in baseball and a good (but not great) bullpen, Texas could only muster an 81-81 record while missing the postseason for the second year in a row. Even an average offense would have had the Rangers closer to their expected win/loss record of 90-72. The offense has raked in Cactus League play, and while those stats don’t really count, everything is pointing towards a true uptick in offense in 2026. — Kennedi Landry
Braves: No margin for error on health front
The Braves had six starters miss at least six weeks last year and they had three more starters suffer a significant injury during Spring Training. Right-hander Spencer Strider will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. The offense will be tasked with covering some of the pitching staff’s woes. But in order to do this, the lineup will need to see Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies move back toward the level of production they provided before being limited by injuries that past two years. Health is a heavy variable for every club, but especially for those that will enter the season already affected by the injury bug. — Mark Bowman
Marlins: Avoid regression
The inexperienced Marlins surprised the baseball world by improving by 17 wins and remaining in the postseason picture with a handful of games left in 2025 … despite ace Sandy Alcantara posting one of the highest ERAs in the Majors and getting just a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts from Eury Pérez. If the roster stays relatively healthy and continues trending up rather than experiencing a sophomore slump, Miami could clinch a postseason berth. — Christina De Nicola
Mets: The rotation must be better
The rotation has to be better than a year ago, when the Mets featured one of the league’s top starting staffs in April and May before collapsing in June (and never coming close to recovering). Freddy Peralta is here now to stabilize things, but Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga still represent major what-ifs for the Mets. The team will also look for Nolan McLean to continue developing into a superstar, and for Clay Holmes and David Peterson to provide steady veteran production. — Anthony DiComo
Nationals: Young core takes next step
Development is key on the Major League and Minor League level. James Wood, 23, will look to carry his offensive power throughout the entire season (last year, he hit 24 homers in the first half and seven in the second) and lower his strikeout rate; Dylan Crews, 24, will look to re-establish consistent production beginning the season in Triple-A; and No. 3 prospect Harry Ford, 23, will get regular playing time in Rochester after appearing in just eight Major League games with Seattle. — Jessica Camerato
Phillies: The rotation remains the strength
The Phillies are built to win in October, whether you think they’re “running it back” or not. If everybody is healthy, they should get there. They’re just too talented. But it all starts with starting pitching. If Zack Wheeler returns to Cy Young-caliber form, whenever he rejoins the rotation, the team’s strength becomes even stronger. Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter have shown good things this spring. They have the Phillies maybe a little more optimistic about everything going into the season. — Todd Zolecki
Brewers: The kids can pitch
Ace Brandon Woodruff is the only rotation candidate with more than two years of Major League service. With Woodruff still building pitch count and Quinn Priester opening the year on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome, the Brewers might wind up using Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick and Brandon Sproat in the opening series against the White Sox. All three made their Major League debuts last season. Misiorowski has 14 Major League starts on his resume, making him the third-youngest and third-greenest (in terms of MLB starts) pitcher in franchise history to get that honor. Other candidates for early-season starts include Robert Gasser (one year, 136 days of MLB service), Kyle Harrison (one year, 102 days) and eventually Logan Henderson (75 days) and Shane Drohan (zero days). If enough of them hit, this rotation could be solid. But they will have to prove it first. — Adam McCalvy
Cardinals: Must do little things right
With the roster they currently have, the Cardinals must do the little things — situational hitting, great defense and pitching — to win games. They don’t have enough power to go after the three-run homer. Yes, they have Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, but they are coming off disappointing seasons in 2025. Last year, the starting rotation was a combined 47-60 with a 4.67 ERA. The young staff is led by left-hander Matthew Liberatore, and there is a feeling that the walks will be down and the wins higher. For example, Liberatore had two walks in 15 innings this spring. In his mind, it was two walks too many. — Bill Ladson
Cubs: Bregman’s impact is real
The Cubs are not expecting Bregman to be a one-for-one replacement for the kind of offensive performance Kyle Tucker turned in during his one-year stint in Chicago last season. What the veteran can do is bring another experienced hitter with strong plate discipline and contact ability to a lineup already strong in that department. From there, the Cubs believe Bregman can help some younger players (notably Pete Crow-Armstrong, Moisés Ballesteros and Matt Shaw) either find more consistency or take a step forward in their MLB development. Bregman should fit right in with one of baseball’s best defensive units as well. If Bregman makes an immediate impact, this Cubs offense should be a formidable group. — Jordan Bastian
Pirates: More offense, more often
The Bucs don’t need elite offense to take a step forward in 2026, but they do need consistency from the bats. That starts with getting solid contributions from the middle-of-the-order additions like Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O’Hearn, and continues with growth from players like Oneil Cruz and Henry Davis. If Pittsburgh can move from last in MLB in run production (583) last season to even somewhere in the middle of the pack in ’26, it would significantly ease the burden on a pitching staff led by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. — Dawn Klemish
Reds: Produce offense consistently
On paper, the Reds appear to have a deep rotation and bullpen, much like in 2025. What was missing consistently last year was offense, namely situational hitting. The signing of Eugenio Suárez was a huge addition and it should protect Elly De La Cruz, who will bat third just ahead of him. A better year from Matt McLain and a full season of rookie Sal Stewart should also help provide more offense. But if the pitching repeats its success of last season, it will be paramount that run support is provided to get Cincinnati where it wants to go — a deep run into the playoffs. — Mark Sheldon
D-backs: Big year for the rotation
The D-backs will be six-deep in the rotation when Merrill Kelly returns in April and seven-deep when Corbin Burnes comes back in July, and that depth will be important because the rotation will need to come up big for them this year. If the starters can pitch relatively deep into games, that would take a lot of pressure off the bullpen as well as the offense, which lacks some of the thunder it had last year. — Steve Gilbert
Dodgers: Do the little things right
They may be back-to-back champions, but the Dodgers went through some ugly stretches last season. Once the calendar flipped to October, they played their best baseball, but that wasn’t the case all year long. They don’t need to vie for a regular-season win record, but it would serve the Dodgers well to secure a first-round bye for the postseason. Other than the obvious — staying healthy — they need to produce more consistent offense and play cleaner defense on a regular basis to accomplish that. — Sonja Chen
Giants: Shutdown arms need to emerge in the bullpen
The bullpen remains the biggest question mark for the Giants, who traded away Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval last year and then lost Randy Rodríguez to Tommy John surgery last September. Ryan Walker hasn’t given up a run this spring and looks poised to reclaim the closer role this year, but it’s unclear who else will be counted on to pitch in high-leverage spots. Erik Miller should be part of the back-end mix if he’s healthy, but he’s been slowed by a back issue. Joel Peguero, Sam Hentges, Reiver Sanmartin and Jason Foley are also expected to open the season on the injured list, so the Giants will need others like José Buttó, Spencer Bivens and Matt Gage to step up and show they can hold leads late in games. — Maria Guardado
Padres: A healthy rotation
Every year, every team in baseball can point to healthy starting pitching as the biggest thing it needs for a successful season. It’s true for everyone. But, trust me, it’s more true for these Padres. This rotation boasts serious upside. It also has very little depth. And nearly all of the pitchers they’ll be counting on this year come with some level of injury concern, on the wrong side of 30 years old. That’s a volatile mix. The San Diego offense is very good. The bullpen is elite. The rotation? TBD. — AJ Cassavell
Rockies: Progress from youth
The success of the Rockies’ season should be measured by how many younger players become keepers, and even leaders. Outfielder Jordan Beck has been through one full season, and third baseman Kyle Karros and first baseman TJ Rumfield are heading into their first full seasons. There may still be growing pains, but by season’s end the Rockies will be better if they show steady production. Also, prospects such as first baseman Charlie Condon (Colorado’s No. 2 prospect, No. 70 overall), center fielder/shortstop Cole Carrigg (Rockies’ No. 6 prospect) and pitchers Sean Sullivan (No. 11 prospect) and Gabriel Hughes (No. 16 prospect) could be peeking into the Majors by the second half. — Thomas Harding
Commercials dominate MLB Opening Day debut
There have been times over the past three decades when Major League Baseball has come off perhaps a little too desperate.
Crises both self-inflicted (the canceling of the 1994 World Series) and external (Big Football consuming the attention economy, the collapse of linear television) can make the erstwhile national pastime scramble to claw back some of that cultural currency.
And it seemed like more of the same when MLB agreed to sell a pair of prime real estate properties – a standalone Opening Night game and the much-loved Home Run Derby – to Netflix. Hey, gotta meet the viewers where they are and besides, the $50 million annually for three years doesn’t hurt.
Yet when the time finally came for this standalone opener on a nascent sports broadcaster to get beamed to some 300 million global subscribers, it wasn’t the league that came off desperate to leverage the window.
It was Netflix.
You’d think a global brand whose name is synonymous with streaming like Coke and Xerox are for their products wouldn’t feel the need to force-feed the viewer with noxious, wall-to-wall promotions of their #content.
Silly us, failing to realize Netflix was actually bigger than the game.
From Daniel Dae Kim’s game intro (catch him in
Highlights of 2026 MLB Opening Night
1) Yankees break out for five-run second inning
After Giants starter Logan Webb retired the first four Yankees he faced, the Yanks erupted for a five-run second inning. It began when, with one out, Giancarlo Stanton lined a single to right-center field. Webb hit the next batter, Jazz Chisholm Jr., setting the table for José Caballero, who lined a double down the left-field line to knock in New York’s first run and the first run of the 2026 season.
Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells followed with back-to-back singles, and the rally was capped by a two-run triple by Trent Grisham that one-hopped the wall in right-center. Of the five hits in the frame, all were on offspeed pitches — four were against Webb’s changeup, and one was against his sweeper.
2) The first ABS challenge
In the fourth inning, there was a Major League first: the first regular-season ABS challenge. The first pitch of the inning from Webb was a fastball to Caballero that was called a strike. Caballero thought the pitch was up and in, and so he called for a challenge. Upon ABS review, the pitch was confirmed to be a strike.
3) Fried’s fantastic outing
Max Fried showed ace-like stuff in his fourth career Opening Day start and his first with the Yankees. The left-hander tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits — singles by Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos — and a walk while striking out four. He became the fourth Yankees hurler to pitch six or more scoreless frames while allowing two or fewer hits on Opening Day, joining David Cone (1996), Ron Guidry (1980) and Mel Stottlemyre (1967).
4) Jazz being Jazz
Chisholm is capable of some electric moments on the diamond, and he certainly had a few on Wednesday. After being plunked and coming around to score during the Yankees’ big inning, Chisholm showed his speed on the bases after reaching on a forceout in the fifth. He swiped second base off Webb with a headfirst dive into the bag, the first steal of the 2026 season. (Expect many more from a player whose stated goal is to join Shohei Ohtani in the 50-50 club.)
Chisholm also made another highlight-reel play in the bottom of the sixth, when Giants third baseman Matt Chapman lined a ball his way at second base. The 106.7 mph line drive glanced off Chisholm’s glove and popped into the air, but the Yanks star instinctively snagged it with his bare hand for the first out. Even Chisholm seemed surprised: He appeared stunned that he managed to hold on, completing a heads-up play in the infield.
5) An awesome atmosphere
Kayaks — and inflatable, floating baseballs — in McCovey Cove. An inspiring national anthem performance, complete with fireworks. A crowd of over 40,000. The ambience in San Francisco couldn’t have been better for baseball’s return in 2026. Even Barry Bonds was on hand, part of the Netflix broadcast team for Opening Night (and willing to open up about a very interesting development from his legendary career). At Oracle Park, one of MLB’s most picturesque venues, the atmosphere was one of the highlights of the first game of the regular season.
Roberto Perez, 2-time Gold Glove-winning catcher for Cleveland, retires after 10 MLB seasons
Roberto Perez, a two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher who spent eight of his 10 major league seasons with Cleveland, has announced his retirement.
Perez, 37, made his major league debut in 2014. The Puerto Rico native had a career .207 batting average with 55 home runs and 193 RBIs.
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“While this decision was not an easy one, I feel confident that it is the right time to step away and begin the next chapter of my life,” Perez said Tuesday in a social media post. “I leave the game with nothing but respect and appreciation for everything it has given me.”
He helped Cleveland reach the World Series in 2016, hitting two homers as the franchise lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.
Perez had his best offensive season in 2019, batting .239 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs. He won Gold Gloves in 2019 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
He played for Pittsburgh in 2022 and San Francisco in 2023. More recently, he played in the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Mexican League.
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Perez helped Puerto Rico to a runner-up finish in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Catcher Roberto Perez retires after 10-year MLB career
Roberto Perez, a two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher who spent eight of his 10 major league seasons with Cleveland, has announced his retirement.
Perez, 37, made his major league debut in 2014. The Puerto Rico native had a career .207 batting average with 55 home runs and 193 RBIs.
“While this decision was not an easy one, I feel confident that it is the right time to step away and begin the next chapter of my life,” Perez said Tuesday in a social media post. “I leave the game with nothing but respect and appreciation for everything it has given me.”
He helped Cleveland reach the World Series in 2016, hitting two homers as the franchise lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.
Perez had his best offensive season in 2019, batting .239 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs. He won Gold Gloves in 2019 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
He played for Pittsburgh in 2022 and San Francisco in 2023. More recently, he played in the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Mexican League.
Perez helped Puerto Rico to a runner-up finish in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
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Catcher Roberto Perez, 37, retires after 10 MLB seasons
Roberto Perez, a two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher who spent eight of his 10 major league seasons with Cleveland, announced his retirement Tuesday.
Perez, 37, made his major league debut in 2014. The Puerto Rico native had a career .207 batting average with 55 home runs and 193 RBI.
Trip to Dodger Stadium could cost families almost double the average across MLB parks
After winning back-to-back World Series Championships, the Los Angeles Dodgers have not only cemented themselves as baseball’s best team but also a must-see event for locals and people visiting the City of Angels. The price to witness that spectacle, however, could be costing fans nearly double what it costs to see other Major League Baseball teams, according to a new study.
The Boys in Blue begin their quest for a historic three-peat in front of the Dodger Stadium fans in less than 24 hours. A report from Bookies.com says that it could cost a family of four more than $413, almost double the league average at $226.
Alex Pereira Pays Tribute to Israel Adesanya Ahead of Crucial UFC Seattle Showdown
In what has been a turbulent run for Israel Adesanya, the former two-time middleweight champion is set to make his highly anticipated return against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle on March 28 at the Climate Pledge Arena. After dominating the 185-pound division between 2019 and 2022, the Nigerian-born star has stumbled to a 1-4 record in his last five outings, including a three-fight losing streak dating back to September 2023.
Following his iconic knockout win over Alex Pereira to reclaim the middleweight title, Adesanya suffered a shocking setback, dropping the belt to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 via decision in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. He was then granted an immediate title opportunity against Dricus du Plessis, who had dethroned Strickland, but fell short via fourth-round submission.
The skid worsened when Adesanya was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025 at UFC Saudi Arabia. Now, after more than a year away from competition, ‘The Last Stylebender’ returns with hopes of reigniting his career.
Amid this challenging stretch, Adesanya has found a source of support in Pereira, who was once his fiercest rival but is now a respected ally. Ahead of UFC Seattle, the Brazilian took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message of encouragement.
In a recent post, Pereira wrote, “Saturday is fight night once again. Much respect to Israel Adesanya — we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey. That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter, but as a man. I grew, matured, and used it as fuel to reach a higher level in the sport and in life.”
The former two-division champion added, “Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there, the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best. We keep evolving. See you at the top CHAMA.”
For the unversed, Adesanya’s last victory inside the Octagon came against Pereira, when he reclaimed the 185-pound title with a stunning knockout at UFC 287. Despite their heated past, Adesanya and Pereira have since turned the page on their rivalry. The two shared a viral, cordial moment at UFC 312, where they were seen sitting cageside together.
During the prelims, Pereira even took to X to post a straight-faced photo alongside Adesanya and his coach, Plinio Cruz, a moment that symbolized mutual respect between two former adversaries.
Their rivalry spans four fights across combat sports. While Adesanya got the last laugh in MMA, Pereira had previously defeated him twice in kickboxing under the Glory of Heroes banner in 2016 and 2017, making their shared history one of the most compelling in modern combat sports.
Jon Jones Responds to Francis Ngannou’s GOAT Remarks After $15M UFC White House Debacle
Francis Ngannou may no longer be in the UFC, but he has made it clear which side he supports in the ongoing Jon Jones pay controversy. After Jon Jones revealed that the organization would not offer more than $15 million for a potential White House fight, Ngannou boldly backed the former heavyweight champion, questioning whether the sport is treating its biggest star with the respect he deserves.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani, ‘The Predator’ stated that Jon Jones’ legacy alone should be enough to merit higher pay, especially given how long he has carried the sport at the highest levels.
“Of course, Jon Jones deserves that,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani. “What are you talking about? Jon Jones been in this organization for how long? Since he was 23, I think. Which is 15 years or over 15 years?
“If there’s somebody that deserves something nowadays, like just even to pay him tribute, it’s Jon Jones.”
According to the former PFL fighter, ‘Bones’ doesn’t need the pay just because he is one of the biggest names right now, but also because of the legacy he’ll leave behind as the ‘GOAT’ of the promotion.
“Jon Jones needs to get paid, maybe not only for the fight but for what he has done for the sport,” Francis Ngannou added. “Isn’t Jon Jones the GOAT they brag about? If the GOAT is not respected, then what should be respected?”
The comments came after reports circulated that a heavyweight match between Jones and Alex Pereira was planned for the UFC White House card but never materialized, with Jon Jones later revealing that the promotion would not go above $15 million.
The situation quickly turned into another public feud between the former champion and the UFC, which ‘The Predator’ himself experienced before leaving the promotion in 2023.
Jon Jones noticed the remarks and responded quickly. The heavyweight champion shared the video on his Instagram story, along with a brief note praising his former rival for speaking up.
“I appreciate you advocating for me, Francis,” Jones wrote.
The exchange is notable considering the two’s history, as a bout between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou was once regarded as one of the biggest matchups the UFC could make, but never happened due to contract disagreements.
Now, with both men opposing the promotion over pay, their agreement on the issue demonstrates just how heated the negotiations around the White House event have become. However, it is worth noting that while Jon Jones claims that his White House spot was taken away due to the negotiations failing, Dana White claims ‘Bones’ was never in the plans in the first place.
Dana White’s blunt response to Jon Jones’ claims
The situation became even more confusing after Dana White publicly denied that Jon Jones was ever supposed to fight on the White House card at all. While Jones claimed that conversations took place and failed due to financial constraints, the UFC CEO dismissed that version of events entirely, claiming the former champion was never part of the plan from the start.
“How many f—— times I gotta say this?” White said at the UFC London post-fight press conference. “He was never fighting on the White House card.
“There was no way in hell I was putting him on that card, no matter what the money was. Jon Jones was never gonna fight in the White House card.”
Jones, on the other hand, told a completely different story on social media, stating that he was prepared to compete and even willing to accept less money than he had previously requested in other negotiations. Well, the conflicting statements only add more tension to an already heated situation, leaving fans uncertain whether the fight actually collapsed over money or was never truly on the table in the first place.
Francis Ngannou Takes U-Turn on Not Fighting Jake Paul Stance After Recent Comments
Francis Ngannou has finally agreed to face Jake Paul. After the former UFC heavyweight champion exited his contract with the PFL, Paul’s MVP promotion signed him to take on Philipe Lins on May 16 in Inglewood, California, as part of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card, which will stream live on Netflix. Meanwhile, Paul had been actively trying to lure the Cameroonian star into a boxing match.
“I’m definitely going to keep on fighting. We will see how the jaw continues to heal up… Francis Ngannou was talking a lot of smack,” Paul said about facing Ngannou. “I think that’s an easy fight for me. I think he’s a terrible boxer, and I want to go back up to heavyweight and knock him out [as] Joshua did, and render him unconscious. And he knows I lasted longer than him against Joshua and didn’t get put out.
“So I think he maybe wouldn’t do the fight because I think deep down he wouldn’t want, would not want to get embarrassed.”
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Anthony Joshua has defeated both Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou. In Ngannou’s second boxing match, Joshua knocked out Ngannou in March 2024 in the second round. Paul’s loss to Joshua came in November last year when the Brit broke Paul’s jaw in two places by knocking him out in the sixth round of their fight. In any case, the callout from Paul didn’t quite sit well with Francis Ngannou, who appeared in an interview with Ariel Helwani.
“Let’s just say he’s being Jake,” Ngannou said, reacting to Paul’s callout. “I don’t really know what to say about it. He’s always been like that… [He] keeps being pushy and says all these things like, which is the same thing that he’s saying now. Now I’m used to it. But back then, that was like the first time he was coming out with it.
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When asked directly whether he is interested in fighting Paul next, Ngannou said, “I want to.”
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It’s also worth noting that before settling on a fight against Joshua in November, Jake Paul’s team had approached Francis Ngannou. However, the Cameroonian refused and broadcast his decision in an interview with TMZ Sports. He felt disrespected by the idea of Jake Paul thinking he could fight him, but now that feeling appears to have vanished.
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Paul even showed up for Ngannou’s launch press conference earlier this month, where the two exchanged barbs. Paul claimed Ngannou avoided a fight against him. Regardless, this comes after Ngannou made a difficult confession about Jake Paul.
Francis Ngannou claims he respects Jake Paul, but wants to slap him
According to a report from TMZ Sports, Ngannou insists he respects Jake Paul, but there’s clearly tension beneath the surface. The former UFC heavyweight champion acknowledged Paul’s growth in boxing, admitting he once saw him as “just some YouTube guy.” Now, however, Ngannou recognizes the shift in perception.
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“When you talk about Jake Paul, they talk about him like a boxer,” Ngannou said.
Despite that respect, Ngannou hasn’t appreciated Paul’s recent comments, including accusations that he avoided a fight. The criticism appears to have struck a nerve.
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“I just feel like I need to give him some slaps,” Ngannou said. “That’s just how I feel… like slapping him off.”
Francis Ngannou’s sudden show of respect for Jake Paul may have more to do with business than admiration. With millions already on the table from the promotion, and even bigger paydays possible if a fight materializes, the Cameroonian star has a clear financial incentive to keep things cordial.
Now that he’s openly expressed interest in facing Paul, this shift in tone could be a strategic move—less about genuine respect and more about positioning himself for an even more lucrative deal. In that sense, it looks like Ngannou might be cozying up just enough to secure a bigger paycheck down the line. After all, the UFC’s not taking him back.
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That being said, it appears a big fight is being set up between Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul. But wouldn’t it be funny if Ngannou ends up losing to Lins? Do you think Paul can beat Ngannou?
Alex Pereira Revisits Brutal KO Loss to Israel Adesanya in Emotional Show of Respect Ahead of Fight Night
Despite facing a severe loss to Israel Adesanya after an intense bout, Alex Pereira recently shared words full of respect for Adesanya. Pereira, who recently vacated his light heavyweight title, faced “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 287, where he got knocked out in Round 2 of the fight. However, as Israel is preparing for his next bout against Joe Pyfer, the Brazilian fighter shared a surprising and heartfelt gesture.
Taking to social media, Pereira posted a clip of his knockout loss, accompanied by a message wishing Adesanya good luck in his next bout. The caption saw the former two-division champ acknowledging their rivalry. What makes this moment particularly significant is the timing. With Adesanya preparing for yet another high-stakes fight, Pereira’s message offers both encouragement and acknowledgement of the journey they’ve shared.
“Much respect to Israel Adesanya… Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there — the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best. We keep evolving. See you at the top CHAMA,” Pereira wrote.
The duo has, fortunately, shown interest in ending their rivalry lately. It is not just Pereira who has made a heartfelt gesture; Adesanya, too, has been calm and respectful.
Israel Adesanya Looks Forward to Training with Alex Pereira
After Adesanya recently trained with former rival Robert Whittaker, fans began wondering whether he and Pereira could end their rivalry and become training partners as well. When asked about this in an interview, Adesanya provided a hopeful message for the future.
“Eventually, but right now it’s not that time. …We still have guys like Carlos Ulberg in the trenches, getting ready for his next fight so he can become a No. 1 contender,” Adesanya said while addressing the possibility of training with Pereira.
Conor McGregor Confirms UFC Return Days After Max Holloway’s Rematch Confession
Conor McGregor has once again sent the MMA world into a frenzy by teasing his return to the UFC, just days after Max Holloway publicly said that a rematch with the Irishman is something he would love to have. The former two-division champion shared a strange message on social media, stating that his comeback is already in motion and assuring fans that they would soon see him back in action.
‘The Notorious’ posted a mirror selfie on Instagram, along with a lengthy caption that looked like a combination of announcement, warning, and celebration.
“The rumours are true!,” he wrote. “Mr. Confidence returns to save fighting again! Call your grandma! Nanny we did it! Watch and pay me. F— you pay me.
“You fat Irish p—- you don’t have my money I put your brain to sleep. See ya’s in the Casinos after, the Mac loves yas all, I got love for yas all it’s an honor it’s light work it’s easy.”
Hey @paramountplus see you guys soon I’m so excited! And Born Ready.”
The timing of the post piqued fans’ interest because it came just after Max Holloway discussed the idea of fighting McGregor again. Following his loss to Charles Oliveira, ‘Blessed’ revealed that the one bout that still fascinates him the most is a rematch with the man who beat him in 2013.
“I mean, Conor’s there, you know. Conor’s got one over me,” he said on his YouTube channel. “He’s talking about coming back. I’m coming off of a loss, I mean it would look pretty fun to get that one back with him.
“So, we’ll see what happens. I know a lot of people are worried about the weight and this and that, but if he doesn’t want to cut weight, then I don’t want to cut weight. We can do it at any weight to be honest. It’s just about getting it back.”
Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021, but he has constantly stated that his return is close. With the UFC prepping multiple major events under the new broadcasting deal, including the White House card that also wants him back, his latest post has only fueled speculation that the organization is planning a massive comeback bout.
And a rematch with Max Holloway is suddenly looking more possible than ever, especially after ‘The Notorious’ is ‘punching the air’ after missing out on the Nate Diaz trilogy.
Mike Perry claims McGregor is furious as Nate Diaz finds a new opponent
The Holloway rematch isn’t the only reason fans think Conor McGregor suddenly teased his comeback. Around the same time, Nate Diaz‘s new fight was announced, and Mike Perry feels the Irish star is unhappy about it, especially since a trilogy with Diaz has long been linked to his return.
Perry, who will battle Diaz on the upcoming Most Valuable Promotions MMA card, said that Conor McGregor likely wanted the bout for himself.
“Conor’s punching the air right now that it’s me and Nate instead of his trilogy,” Perry told Ariel Helwani. “Ah, that damn ‘Platinum’ Perry, King of Violence, working off my shine in bare knuckle.’ He ain’t never fought nobody in bare knuckle.
The world is excited to see him back in the ring. I know you’re working on it. I know you’re trying. I know the UFC is giving you a hard time. We all look forward to seeing you back in the ring.”
The situation becomes even more interesting because sources claim Nate Diaz choosing this bout closed the door on his UFC return, therefore ending any chance of a long-rumored trilogy with ‘The Notorious.’
If that’s the case, the Irishman needs a new opponent for his comeback, possibly Max Holloway, making the timing of his social media announcement look less random and more like a reaction to the changing fight scenario.
Who is Carlos Ulberg? Meet the Knockout Artist Competing for Alex Pereira’s Vacant Belt at UFC 327
Carlos Ulberg has quietly built one of the most impressive resumes in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. In 2026, he is finally at the biggest stage of his career. Known for his elite striking and composed fighting style, the New Zealand native is now set to compete for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327, a belt previously held by Alex Pereira.
What makes Ulberg’s rise particularly intriguing is how he has transformed his narrative. Early in his UFC run, he was viewed as a flashy kickboxer with potential but limited Octagon experience. Today, however, he stands among the most complete fighters in the division. With a title shot now within reach, Ulberg has the chance to cement himself among the elite.
How Carlos Ulberg Shifted from Kickboxing to MMA
Before stepping into the UFC, Ulberg made a name for himself as a high-level kickboxer. Training out of the renowned City Kickboxing gym alongside champions like Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, he developed a striking-heavy style built on speed, timing, and knockout power.
Ulberg entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, where his athleticism and finishing ability immediately caught attention. However, his early setback in the promotion served as a reality check, exposing gaps in his overall game. Instead of derailing his career, that loss became a turning point.
He returned sharper, more disciplined, and far more calculated. Over time, Ulberg refined his defense, pacing, and ability to control fights across three rounds. His striking remained his biggest weapon, but it was his adaptability that began setting him apart from other contenders.
Carlos Ulberg’s Title Shot at UFC 327
Ulberg’s climb through the light heavyweight ranks has been nothing short of impressive. Stringing together a dominant winning streak, he picked up crucial victories over top-tier competition, including former champion Jan Blachowicz and dangerous contenders like Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes.
These performances showcased not just his power, but his maturity as a fighter. Whether finishing fights or going the distance, he proved he could compete with the division’s best.
With Alex Pereira vacating the title, the division opened up—and Ulberg was perfectly positioned to capitalize. His consistency and high-profile wins made him an undeniable choice for a championship opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carlos Ulberg
1) Where is Carlos Ulberg from?
Ans. Carlos Ulberg is from New Zealand.
2) When did Carlos Ulberg make his UFC debut?
Ans. Ulberg made his UFC debut on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259. He faced Kennedy Nzechukwu in that fight and suffered a second-round TKO loss.
3) Who is Carlos Ulberg facing next in the Octagon?
Ans. Carlos Ulberg is set to face Jiri Prochazka next in the Octagon. The two will fight in the main event of UFC 327 for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship on April 11, 2026, in Miami.
4) Which division does Carlos Ulberg compete in?
Ans. Ulberg competes in the light heavyweight division of UFC.
5) What is Carlos Ulberg’s UFC record?
Ans. Carlos Ulberg’s UFC record is 9–1. He lost his UFC debut in 2021 but has since embarked on a long winning streak, defeating top contenders such as Jan Blachowicz, Volkan Oezdemir, and Dominick Reyes.
“I Was S-T Faced Drunk”: Brock Lesnar Reveals Truth Behind His Iconic Sword Tattoo
Brock Lesnar‘s chest tattoo is one of the most recognizable looks in combat sports history, but the former UFC heavyweight champion claims it wasn’t part of a larger strategy. In fact, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ claims that the tattoo was done during one of his lowest moments in life and that he barely remembers getting it done.
Speaking on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Brock Lesnar admitted that the ink was the result of a drunken night while he was in Arizona trying to get into the NFL.
“I got that tattoo; I was s–t faced drunk in Scottsdale, Arizona,” he said. “I was in Scottsdale training for the NFL, had just gotten in a motorcycle accident, and I was just kicked down hard. There was a tattoo shop across the street from the biker bar.
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“That’s not a good place to have a tattoo shop. But anyway, I got this tattoo. I didn’t even know I got the damn thing. I wake up the next day, and I’m like, what in the h— is this thing?”
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At the time, Brock Lesnar had quit WWE and was trying to start a football career, even getting a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings. The uncertainty, mixed with injuries and setbacks, made him feel as if everything was falling apart, which he claims influenced his decision that night.
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Despite the chaotic story behind it, Lesnar subsequently found meaning in the tattoo, claiming that it accurately expressed his emotions during that period of his life.
“The meaning behind it was I felt like my back was against the wall and somebody had a sword, a knife, stuck to my throat,” Lesnar explained. “Like what are you going to do now? I walked over there, and I said, “Let’s put a big a– ugly sword on my chest.”
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The tattoo has now become one of Brock Lesnar’s trademarks, visible throughout his career in WWE, the UFC, and even his brief foray into the NFL. What began as a drunken decision evolved into one of the most iconic looks in fighting history, one that fans instantly associate with ‘The Beast Incarnate’ whenever he enters the spotlight.
But do you know that this very beast lost his UFC debut, a fight that should’ve stopped him from being a part of the UFC since Dana White only gave him a one-fight contract? Well, that actually was the deal, as the heavyweight legend recently revealed that the UFC head honcho wanted nothing to do with him.
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Lesnar reveals how he went from UFC nobody to one of the all-time greats
That iconic look almost never made it into UFC history, as Brock Lesnar almost lost his chance with the promotion before it even began. Despite being one of the biggest names in combat sports, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ said that Dana White initially had little interest in signing him, and when he finally did, it was only for one bout.
On the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Lesnar highlighted how difficult it was to get the UFC’s attention after leaving WWE.
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“Dana White wanted nothing to do with me,” he said. “He wouldn’t return my phone call.”
Brock Lesnar eventually met Dana White in person at a UFC event and requested one opportunity, which resulted in a one-fight contract. He then lost his debut to Frank Mir in 2008 and thought he had already blown his only shot.
However, the reaction backstage was entirely different, as his star power proved nearly impossible to ignore. Brock Lesnar said that the pay-per-view figures for his debut were massive, and it changed everything. Instead of being cut, he was offered a full contract the next day, and he went on to become the UFC heavyweight champion and one of the biggest draws in the sport’s history.
UFC Fans React as Jake Paul Puts Together “Better” MMA Card Than Dana White
For over a decade, the fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, two pioneers of women’s MMA, was nothing more than a fantasy. Now, Jake Paul is making it a reality, and it’s just the main event on a card designed to put the UFC to shame. This week, Jake Paul’s promotion, MVP, finally unveiled its highly anticipated MMA Netflix fight card, headlined by Rousey vs. Carano. Fans have discussed this matchup for more than a decade, and even Dana White tried to make it happen in the past.
Now, the fight will take place on May 16 inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Alongside the headliner, the card delivers a stacked lineup of bouts that fans have dreamed about for years, finally bringing them to reality.
“The full card for the Netflix MVP MMA event is looking stacked,” wrote Championship Rounds on X while sharing the card.
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The fight card features fan-favorite UFC stars beyond the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano fight at 145 pounds. For instance, Nate Diaz will face ex-UFC fighter Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout, and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will take on ex-UFC LHW star Philipe Lins in the co-main event.
Main event: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (featherweight)
Co-main event: Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins (heavyweight)
Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry (welterweight, five rounds)
Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenny Cross (featherweight)
Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne (heavyweight)
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes (flyweight)
Prelims include: Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
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The prelims also feature eye-catching matchups, including UFC superstar and LHW champ Alex Pereira’s sister, Aline Pereira, who will face Jade Masson‑Wong. Consequently, fans have turned the high-profile card into a major topic on social media, especially in comparison to UFC cards in the recent past.
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The UFC events of late, including UFC 324, UFC 325, and UFC London, have drawn widespread criticism for uninspired matchmaking. Even UFC welterweight Michael ‘Venom’ Page called the approach “working blind,” a sentiment echoed by commentators including Ariel Helwani and Jon Anik. Against that backdrop, fans have been quick to draw comparisons and blast Dana White at the same time.
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Jake Paul emerges as serious competition to Dana White and the UFC
Jake Paul founded MVP in 2021 alongside adviser Nakisa Bidarian. The promotion had focused exclusively on boxing until now, making this their first MMA card. Fans eagerly awaited their first MMA card, and when they finally delivered the card, it generated even more excitement than their initial boxing events. As a result, fans now view Paul as a “serious” competitor to Dana White. “Okay, so Dana White got some serious competition now,” a fan remarked.
Dana White and the YouTuber turned boxer have long considered each other rivals, even before Paul entered the MMA scene. The issue of fighter pay has always sparked contention, as Paul sees the UFC boss as a “capitalist” who does not pay his fighters the way he should.
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At the same time, Dana White criticized Jake Paul for not being a real boxer. However, by bringing stars like Ronda Rousey, Nate Diaz, Francis Ngannou, and Salahdine Parnasse together, Jake Paul is looking to outshine White and the UFC, with fans now calling the MMA event the “Card of the Year.”
Earlier, the UFC reportedly wanted stars like Nate Diaz and Rousey back. Yet, when the promotion shifted to Paramount and abandoned the PPV model, Diaz and Rousey changed their minds. UFC also tried to sign Salahdine Parnasse, but did not match the money he earned with Poland-based KSW. Fans noticed this, with one commenting, “Reminds me of the stacked Bellator cards we used to get every once in a while,” and another adding, “It’s a card that will get people to watch.”
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Fans are not wrong. In recent years, Dana White and UFC’s matchmaking and event quality have declined, discouraging fans from spending too much on tickets, as seen at UFC London. UFC also frustrated fans by scheduling Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 at UFC 325, a fight no one wanted, instead of giving Volkanovski a matchup against Movsar Evloev. The promotion ignored fan demands, which led many to assume the old UFC is now effectively dead.
However, after Jake Paul’s promotion released its card, another fan commented, “POV: You told your friends ‘MMA is dead’ then Jake Paul drops this card on Netflix.”
Beyond the veteran stars Rousey and Carano, the card also features Muhammad Mokaev, an undefeated fighter whom Dana White publicly released in 2024. With so many big fights in one night, a fan stated, “Jake Paul putting a better card together than the UFC now,” a sentiment echoed by another fan who said, “Best MMA card (outside of UFC cards) that I have seen for a while.”
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Indeed, fans are right: stars like Ronda Rousey, Francis Ngannou, and Nate Diaz bring hype for both casual and hardcore fans, thereby helping ensure the Netflix fight’s success and giving Jake Paul some much-needed credibility.
Ex Chiefs OL Would Be ‘Shocked’ If Team Draft Consensus WR2
The Kansas City Chiefs are in the strongest draft position they have seen themselves in since they obtained the 1st overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, with which they selected offensive tackle Eric Fisher.
The biggest ongoing debate is what the Chiefs should do with the 9th overall pick, especially if one of the top three edge rushers – Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey and Arvell Reese Jr. – are already off the board.
Much of the speculation has tied them to either the top cornerback Mansoor Delane, or the consensus second-best wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
However NFL analyst Geoff Schwartz – writing on X – believes that the chances of Tyson ending up a Chief are very low for one specific reason.
Jordyn Tyson Predicted to Be Too Risky for Chiefs
“I’d be shocked if the Chiefs drafted Tyson with his injury history. They do not draft players high or sign free agents with injury history.” Schwartz posted on Tuesday.
“One freak injury isn’t injury history. Tyson has multiple injuries entering the NFL. Knee, collarbone, hamstring.” Schwartz replied to a commenter pointing out the Simmons example.
Schwartz also reiterated this point with a separate reply to his original post.
Tyson Has an Extensive Injury History Since 2022
Tyson has had some bad injury luck throughout the course of his collegiate career. A brutal knee injury that saw him tear his ACL, as well as his MCL and PCL meant that his 2023 season was limited to just three games – during which he did not record a single reception or rush attempt.
The following season Tyson had his breakout year in college football, managing 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games, although a collarbone issue meant that he was unable to play in the team’s last couple of games of the year.
And this past season in 2025 the Arizona State product managed just 9 games – missing the final three – as he struggled with a hamstring injury. The same hamstring injury that prevented him from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, and that will stop him from demonstrating what he can do at his pro day later this week.
Instead, Tyson will have to do some positional drills in front of scouts on April 17, less than a week before the opening night of the draft.
Is he too much of a risk for the Chiefs? Well it is always hard to tell whether injuries are symptomatic of an underlying issue that will stay with the player into the pros, or if it is simply an unfortunate run of luck that could conclude after he fully heals from his latest hamstring problem.
Regardless, with KC being wary of injury-hit players, the addition of Tyson as early as #9 does seem more and more unlikely.
Eagles sign Elijah Moore to one-year contract that may offer A.J. Brown clue
The Eagles have added to their wide receiver room.
Elijah Moore and the Eagles have agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Moore, a second-round pick by the Jets in 2021, had back-to-back seasons with the Browns of more than 100 targets before playing just nine games with the Bills this past season (logging nine catches for 112 yards and one rushing touchdown against Gang Green) before he was released.
The 25-year-old was then picked up by the Broncos, and mostly spent time on the practice squad, but was active for the AFC Championship.
He made one catch for four yards in a 10-7 loss to the Patriots.
The most intriguing part of this contract might just be that Moore and Eagles star A.J. Brown, as NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe notes, are very close friends.
The two were teammates at Ole Miss, and according to Wolfe, Brown has credited Moore with helping him through mental health struggles.
“I wouldn’t even call it a friendship. It’s family,” Moore said in 2022, according to ESPN. “The things we’ve been through, the things we talk about, it has real substance. That’s someone who is connected to me in a way that’s more than … “He’s blood.”
For the better part of two years, there has been speculation about Brown and the Eagles and whether or not the organization will trade him out of town.
The Athletic reported earlier in March that the Eagles, after “serious conversations with both the Rams and Patriots,” are not likely to trade Brown, at least imminently.
General manager Howie Roseman spoke highly of Brown after the Eagles lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 49ers.
“It’s really hard to find great players,” Roseman said. “I think A.J. is a great player. I think that, from my perspective, we’re looking to improve in all areas, and you don’t do that by subtracting.”
Steve Sarkisian’s NFL-Bound Defensive Star Goes the Extra Mile for Texas QB at Pro Day
Steve Sarkisian’s Texas rolled out 16 prospects for scouts, front offices, and evaluators on Pro Day. The usual checklist from timed sprints to arm strength was in place. But one thing was missing and that’s WRs. That’s where safety Michael Taaffe stepped in.
Michael Taaffe lined up as a WR on Pro Day. The reason isn’t because it could boost his draft stock but because QB Matthew Caldwell needed someone to throw to. Think about it, this is a projected NFL safety who decided to run routes instead. And it only shows his willingness to step out of his comfort zone for a teammate in need. His play is clean as he caught multiple passes with one exception but he didn’t need to be perfect. And who doesn’t want that kind of leader?
If you watched the throws, you might have seen the QB benefit from it immediately. It didn’t matter that Matthew Caldwell had just 11 pass attempts last season. At Pro Day, he looked like a QB worth a second glance. Throwing to TE Jack Endries, WR Rett Anderson, and Michael Taaffe playing wideout, he did it with confidence.
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For a brief moment, watching Matthew Caldwell deal in rhythm, he looked like a serviceable option behind Arch Manning, had things gone sideways in 2025. But the main story here is the 6’0, 189-pound defensive player who reminded everyone exactly who he is.
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Michael Taaffe is a Texas player through and through. The Westlake, Austin product chose to be a walk-on on Steve Sarkisian’s roster when he could have bolted. His patience led him to become a 2x All-American starter as well as All-SEC First Team. Now, he leaves the program after playing over 2,000 defensive snaps recording 222 tackles, seven interceptions, and 21 passes defended. And still, somehow, playing with a chip on his shoulder.
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“This is my last time wearing burnt orange with something in the line,” he said. “Just knowing that so much happened here in the last five years of my life. I grew up dreaming of the national championship at Texas, dreaming of playing in DKR (Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium), and now it’s over.”
Texas had always been the destination for Michael Taaffe. And now, he’s trying to extend the journey. He may not be the most intriguing safety prospect in the 2026 draft. But he ran a solid 4.5 in the 40. His PFF coverage grades hovers near 90 over the last two seasons. So what does the NFL think?
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Michael Taaffe’ NFL projection
As current projections stand, Michael Taaffe is likely sitting in that Day 3 range, somewhere outside the top 100. Elite names like Genesis Smith, Jalon Kilgore, and Zakee Wheatley could come ahead as these are guys with more upside on paper. But teams don’t just draft upside. They draft trust and the 22-year-old is a highly reliable prospect who will go the extra mile to assist his team.
Michael Taaffe has already met with teams like the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions. There’s familiarity there too as he has connections with former teammates now in the league. Various outlets rank him around the top 10 tier for safeties with PFF putting him at No. 9 while ESPN has him just outside of the top 10 list.
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It’s a mystery where Michael Taaffe will land. But wherever it is, don’t be surprised if he outplays his draft slot. And if an NFL GM was watching closely at Texas Pro Day, they saw a guy willing to do someone else’s job just to make the day better for a teammate. That’s special.
Bryce Foster 2026 NFL Draft: When Will He Hear His Name Called?
The NFL Draft is right around a month away, and teams are getting closer and closer to finalizing their boards. Kansas didn’t have a great year by any means — 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12 — but the Jayhawks do have a couple of guys who could hear their name called in April’s Draft. Kobe Baynes and Jalon Daniels are potential Day 3 guys, and so is center Bryce Foster.
Foster has the experience NFL teams are looking for and the accolades, too. Between his time at Texas A&M and Kansas, Foster was a four-year starter and a Second Team All-Big 12 selection as a senior. Foster started 52 games in his career and also excelled as a shot put thrower on the track team.
Foster is freakishly strong, has good size at 6-foot, 310 pounds, and solid feet. If it weren’t for his mediocre 40-yard dash time (5.46 seconds) and 3-cone time (7.46 seconds), Foster would probably be a lock to get drafted.
But with KU having another down year and Foster’s lack of speed, Foster’s probably not going to hear his name called any earlier than the sixth round. And that might be a little too generous.
Ultimately, though, I do think Foster hears his name called. But I don’t think it will until the end of the seventh round. And I’ve got the Chicago Bears taking Foster with the 241st overall pick.
Why Foster to the Chicago Bears makes sense
Commanders Have ‘Interest In’ Draft DT Amid Trade Scenario
They spent most of free agency beefing up their defensive front seven, and the Washington Commanders can continue the process in the 2026 NFL draft, thanks to being “interested in” the “most physically dominant” prospect in this class. A player set for a top-30 visit with the Commanders, but somebody general manager Adam Peters will likely have to trade to acquire in Round 1.
A trade scenario is outlined by ESPN’s John Keim. He revealed Ohio State nose tackle Kayden McDonald is “Another guy Washington likes/has interest in. 7 is too high; 71 is too low. Could trade back and acquire more picks or land in a spot where it’s more of a possibility.”
Giving up the seventh-overall selection to stockpile more picks and better position themselves to take McDonald has merit for the Commanders. Not least because the mammoth interior lineman is a natural fit for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ system.
Jones has been given better pass-rushers since the veteran market opened, but what’s missing is a big man in the middle to anchor a three-man front and shore up one of the league’s softest run defenses.
Those needs explain why McDonald is set to visit Northwest Stadium as part of his pre-draft tour.
Kayden McDonald Drawing a Pre-Draft Crowd
McDonald’s niche skills as a powerful disruptor over the ball aren’t lost on the majority of NFL teams. Not when the 21-year-old told Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated about “formal interviews” and “Zoom meetings” during the annual Scouting Combine “with the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and a few others.”
Visits are the next part of the process, and McDonald says he has “one with the Bengals, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Ravens, Bears. Every team that needs a physical defensive tackle has been in touch with me.”
The Commanders will also have a healthy contingent watching McDonald at the Buckeyes’ pro day on Wednesday, March 25. When “GM Adam Peters, Asst GM Lance Newmark, HC Dan Quinn, OC David Blough, and DC Daronte Jones will all be in attendance,” according to “Commanding The Huddle” host Ryan Fowler.
There’s quite a queue forming for a throwback zero-technique who can control the pile, hold double teams and reset the line of scrimmage in the running game. The Commanders have every incentive to force their way to the front of the pack, and not just because they allowed a gaudy 4.8 yards per carry in 2025.
Improving that number is possible if Jones follows the same brand of defense he learned from star play-caller Brian Flores with the Vikings. It’s a scheme designed around a sophisticated mix of elaborate blitzing and disguised coverage, but the base defense is primarily a 3-4 front.
That represents a change of sorts for the Commanders from what head coach Dan Quinn called during the back end of last season. Fortunately, Peters has loaded up on 3-4 types in free agency, but he’s yet to improve the talent at arguably the most important position along the front seven.
Commanders Missing Focal Point Up Front
A 3-4 front only functions effectively if its nose guard dominates, but the Commanders don’t have an elite player at the position. That deficiency motivated the decision to reunite with a $25 million run-stopper, but there’s still room for more talent.
McDonald is more of a double- and triple-team magnet than holdover veterans Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne. The latter is also a free agent in 2027, while Kinlaw failed to justify the bumper deal he got from Peters last offseason.
Meanwhile, fellow defensive tackle Jer’Zhan ‘Johnny’ Newton is more pass-rusher than formidable run-stopper. He’s also had a tough time reaching his full potential as a top-40 draft pick.
There’s nobody who can do the things McDonald does so well. Specifically, how he takes an unselfish approach to performing the dirty work so others can make the splash plays.
McDonald explained as much to Melo by admitting, “I welcome those double teams so I can free up our linebackers. I love making everybody around me better. That’s what shows up on film. Arvell [Reese] and Sonny [Styles] would tell you the same thing. I controlled the middle and I loved watching my teammates fly around and make plays.”
This is just what the Commanders need to help $100 million pass-rusher Odafe Oweh, former Patriots edge K’Lavon Chaisson and ex-Kansas City Chiefs duo, versatile defensive end Charles Omenihu and blitzing linebacker Leo Chenal.
Finding a way to take McDonald off the board would complete the defensive transformation the Commanders needed long before Jones assumed control of the playbook.
NFL Draft News: Saints Hosted Dinner with Ohio State Stars Before Pro Day
The New Orleans Saints are continuing to do extensive homework on prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Holding the No. 8 pick in the first round of the draft, the Saints have several options. They could address their need for a complement to Chris Olave at wide receiver, add a pass rusher, or even strengthen their secondary. Fortunately for general manager Mickey Loomis and the front office, Ohio State has a player in each of these positions, all of whom are expected to be top-10 picks. This makes attending Ohio State’s Pro Day and working there even more important.
Saints brass met with many Buckeyes over dinner Tuesday evening, the night before the program’s Pro Day, according to NOF’s Nick Underhill.
Which Ohio State prospect could land in New Orleans?
Among the players present at the formal meeting, according to Underhill, were Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Kayden McDonald, and Tywone Malone. Other unnamed players, such as tight end Max Klare and cornerback Davison Igbinosun, might have also been there, since Underhill noted that the list wasn’t
NFL’s Competition Committee Eyes 5 Major Rule Changes Days After Steelers & Browns Proposals
With the NFL’s annual meeting taking place in less than a week, the competition committee is ready with its set of agendas. While discussion of the highly debated Tush-Push removal will be out of the picture, the league isn’t short on changes. The committee plans to propose five fresh changes that could shape both gameplay and officiating heading into the 2026 season.
“The Tush Push will not come back up for a vote at next week’s NFL annual meeting,” Front Office Sports wrote on X. “Instead, there will be five other new rules under consideration by the league’s competition committee.”
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Owners of all 32 NFL franchises will gather in Phoenix, Arizona, from March 29 to April 1 to weigh in on playing rules, bylaws, and resolution proposals. Ahead of this annual ritual, the league’s Competition Committee outlined five proposals on Tuesday. Here’s a look at each one of them:
The first change involves onside kicks, which teams can currently attempt only if trailing. If passed, the new rule would allow franchises to attempt onside kicks anytime during the game.
The second proposal demands the removal of incentives for those teams that deliberately kick the ball out of bounds while attempting to score from midfield. Teams often use this trick to avoid risky returns, but the committee wants to discourage such a mindset.
The third rule focuses on adjusting the receiving team’s alignment during kickoffs.
The committee wants to allow on-field officials to consult with league officials in cases of player disqualification over both football and non-football issues. This will be applicable even if the referee hasn’t originally penalized the player.
The fifth rule requests the NFL officiating department to make necessary corrections if on-field officials make obvious mistakes on impactful plays. It could be more beneficial during a lockout by the NFL Referees Association, which could hamper work.
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Currently, the NFLRA and the NFL haven’t been able to reach common ground in the latest negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement. As a contingency plan, the league could bring in replacement coaches until the matter is resolved. They previously implemented this during the 2012 season after a lockout by the NFL Referees Association.
It ended up sparking criticism from players and coaches because of a decline in the quality of play. Meanwhile, the competition committee must receive approval from 24 owners for the league to green-light these proposals. In addition to these changes, the Browns and the Steelers have proposed two of their own.
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NFL changes: Cleveland pushes for expanded draft picks while Pittsburgh targets free agency
The NFL released a memo on March 18, outlining proposals by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. The changes requested by the AFC North rival duo could shape the offseason dramatically. Moreover, they could ramp up team participation before the annual trade deadline. The Browns’ proposal involves trading draft picks. Currently, the league allows teams to trade their picks only within the next three drafts.
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Cleveland wants the league to extend that window to five years so that teams can plan their long-term moves more effectively. The move would give franchises extra flexibility to revamp their rosters, especially for teams that rely on aggressive upgrades. The additional time would allow teams to be more creative. They can structure deals that better match the value of both players and picks.
Additionally, it could improve the usage of draft capital across the league. It could also boost overall parity, alignment of salary cap cycles, and an active trade market. If approved, these changes could lead to a positive shift, given the increase in trade activity right before the deadline in recent years. Meanwhile, the Steelers are pushing for a change in the flow of trade discussions during free agency.
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The team wants to tweak the league’s “legal tampering window.” It is basically a short period before the free market opens. Under the proposal, Pittsburgh wants the league to allow teams to have direct contact with up to five pending unrestricted free agents during that window. The move would allow grant teams to make a voice or video call or discuss travel plans. Currently, franchises can only communicate with a player’s agent and not directly with the player.
To maintain transparency, the league could make it necessary for franchises to report all communication details to the league’s Player Personnel Department. Interestingly, the NFL already tested this approach in 2026 by allowing limited direct contact. And now, the Steelers want to make that temporary change a permanent part of the free agency process.
Zach Wilson signing with Saints as he moves on to fourth NFL team
Zach Wilson is breaking out his Mardi Gras beads.
The Jets’ second overall pick in 2021 has signed a one-year deal with the Saints, according to multiple reports.
The financial terms of the deal are unknown at the moment, but Wilson will join a quarterback room that includes Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler.
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football was the first to report the news of the signing on Tuesday night.
Wilson has bounced around the NFL since his stint with the Jets came to an end and spent 2025 with the Dolphins.
He appeared in four games and completed six of his 11 passing attempts for 32 yards and no touchdowns.
And when Tua Tagovailoa was benched in Week 16 during the dreadful Miami season, the organization opted to turn things over to rookie Quinn Ewers, with Wilson remaining in the backup role.
The Saints are Wilson’s fourth team since he entered the league.
He had started 13 games during his first season in the league with the Jets and nine the following year before briefly being usurped by Aaron Rodgers in 2023, before the future Hall of Fame QB suffered a season-ending Achilles injury that threw Wilson back into the starting role.
Wilson went 12-21 in three seasons with the Jets, completing 566 passes for 6,293 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Jets traded Wilson in 2024, ending his run in East Rutherford and began a brief new chapter in Denver.
Wilson ended up as the Broncos’ third-string quarterback and did not appear in a single game that year.
The QB did say he learned “a ton” during his stint in Denver.
Wilson started at BYU from 2018-2020, where he had 7,652 passing yards and 71 total touchdowns, and led the program to an 11-1 record during his junior season in 2020.
He wed girlfriend Nicolette Dellanno in June, and now the pair are heading to the Big Easy.
Raiders Get Strong Words From Malachi Fields Amid Speculation
If the Las Vegas Raiders do decide to select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could the Day 2 pick a wide receiver, more specifically in the second round?
There are plenty of wideouts that the Raiders could target at the top of the second round, as there’s also the possibility that one first-round talent can slip into Round 2. As for a potential name, there’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malachi Fields.
Should the Silver and Black consider the Fields in the second round, he stated on March 24 what any team that selects him can expect.
“Physical, dominant, [and] one who’s going to make some plays,” Fields told NFL Network’s StaceyDales. “… A playmaker, a guy who’s going to come in and work hard and do whatever is asked of me.”
Moreover, Fields noted that his experience as a quarterback would make him an ideal candidate for a connection with the signal-caller.
“I think I always knew I wanted to play receiver,” Fields added. “In high school, we didn’t really have anyone to play quarterback, so I stepped into that role. But it helped me learn more patience, because the quarterback sees a lot more than just the receiver. They have to check protection, see who’s high, who’s not, see the blitzes and stuff coming. So there’s a lot more to it than just me thinking I’m open.”
Raiders Urged to Consider Drafting Malachi Fields
So, the question is: Is Fields a serious target for the Raiders? Well, CBS Sports’ Charles Davis believes that the former Notre Dame star should be on Las Vegas’ radar.
“Malachi Fields is not going to be a burner, but he is a big target who will catch everything thrown his way and be in the right spot at the right time,” Davis said on the March 20 edition of “Unnecessary Roughness.”
“The kid out of Notre Dame feels like a second-round receiver. He looks like the type of player who will be available, someone a team can go get and plug in right away because he comes across as a mature young man.”
Fields had 36 catches for 630 yards and scored five touchdowns in 12 games during the 2025 college football season for the Fighting Irish, per StatMuse.
Malachi Fields Is a High Character Draft Prospect
Moreover, not only does Davis spotlight why Fields makes sense for the Raiders in the second round, but he also notes that the character would fit with what Las Vegas is trying to build in this new era under Mendoza.
“Remember, he’s a University of Virginia [and] Notre Dame kid,” Davis added. “I know things have changed with the NIL era, but I’m still old school. When I hear University of Virginia and Notre Dame, I really have an idea of what kind of kid I think I’m getting.”
It will be interesting to see if the 6-foot-4 frame will be too much to pass for the Raiders to ensure that Mendoza or whoever they have under center has a big target like Fields to throw the ball to next season.
NFL Pro Day Takeaways: Texas LBs Shine, Skyler Bell Stands Out
Tuesday was a busy day on the pro-day schedule, with more than 10 workouts taking place across the country. Here are breakdowns from the Texas, Cincinnati, and UConn events.
TEXAS
All 32 teams in the NFL, led by large contingencies from the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints, were on hand for Texas’ pro day, as the Longhorns have at least a half-dozen draftable players.
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Linebacker Trey Moore, who’s wrongly branded as an edge rusher by many, stood on many of his combine numbers, yet he did time 4.21 seconds in the short shuttle and 7.08 seconds in the three-cone, both terrific marks. He then looked really good in linebacker drills and also stood out in pass-rush drills.
Anthony Hill Jr. sat on all his marks from the combine, but he did position drills. Several scouts mentioned Hill has a bad (soft) body and needs a lot of weight room work.
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The New York Giants ran the linebacker drills.
The Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers both sent their general managers to the workout specifically to scout Hill. The Cowboys took both Moore and Hill to dinner on Monday. Both linebackers also met with the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos. Hill could slide into the bottom third of Round 1, while Moore likely sealed himself as a Day 2 pick.
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Cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau, who’s been nursing a hamstring strain that kept him from testing at the combine, timed 4.52 in the 40 and 6.86 in the three-cone drill. Guilbeau is much faster, but the hamstring issue slowed him.
Teammate Malik Muhammad sat on all of his marks from the combine but timed 6.95 in the three-cone. Safety Michael Taaffe timed a super quick 6.80 seconds in the three-cone drill and 4.15 seconds in the short shuttle.
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Both Guilbeau and Muhammad looked terrific in drills. The Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings ran the defensive back drills.
Defensive end Ethan Burke measured just under 6-foot-6 and 267 pounds and timed a best of 4.94 seconds in the 40, 6.94 seconds in the three-cone, and 4.33 seconds in the short shuttle. While his 40-yard time was slightly disappointing, Burke did turn in a 10-yard split of 1.68 seconds, and his shuttle marks were exceptional. He looked smooth and fluid in drills, which were run by the New Orleans Saints.
CINCINNATI
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It was a large turnout for Cincinnati’s pro day, as all 32 NFL teams were on hand, including most of the Cincinnati Bengals’ coaching staff, including Zac Taylor. There were good and bad things from the workout.
Both Bearcats linebackers, Jake Golday and Jack Dingle, performed incredibly well. Golday ran a super-fast three-cone drill of 6.84 seconds as well as 4.33 seconds in the short shuttle, the latter being a slight improvement from his combine mark. He stood on his 40-yard time of 4.62 seconds from Indianapolis, though he had hand-times as fast as 4.55 seconds from his run.
There were four linebacker/assistant linebacker coaches on hand from the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. After position drills, the Saints and Miami Dolphins, who had scout Grant Wallace on hand, ran Golday through an individual workout.
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Dingle, a woefully underrated linebacker, timed anywhere from 4.51 seconds to 4.62 seconds in the 40, 4.13 seconds in the short shuttle, and 7.10 in the three-cone; hit 35 inches in the vertical jump; and completed 23 reps on the bench after measuring just over 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. Like Golday, he looked terrific in position drills and then later met with the Saints. Dingle, who was not invited to the combine even though he deserved consideration, has an official 30-visit set up with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Golday has cemented himself as a second-round pick. Dingle deserves late-round consideration.
The Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints all had their receivers coaches in attendance for Jeff Caldwell.
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You may remember that the transfer from Lindenwood turned in an incredible combined workout timing, 4.31 seconds in the 40 and hitting 42 inches in the vertical jump and 11 feet 2 inches in the broad jump after measuring just under 6 feet 5.5 inches and 216 pounds. Tuesday was a different story, as Caldwell struggled in position drills and had a lot of dropped passes.
Defensive tackle Dontay Corleone tipped the scales at 333 pounds, seven fewer than his combine weight. Corleone did not look good during his single day of practice at the Shrine Bowl, sitting out the rest of the week in a boot. He was medically excluded from working out at the combine with a left ankle injury (the foot he had the boot on at Shrine practice) and did nothing on Tuesday. His past injury issues, which include blood clots, as well as his poor appearance and performance the past three months, will leave Corleone undrafted.
Tight end Joe Royer also didn’t work out today, which raised some red flags. Royer chose not to work out at the combine, and not participating in the pro day makes people wonder if he’s healthy.
UCONN
Almost two dozen teams were on hand for UConn’s pro day.
Receiver Skyler Bell blazed in the three-cone drill with times as low as 6.57 seconds. The “official” time (there are no real official times at Pro Day) from the APT scout on hand was recorded at 6.65 seconds, which is still very quick. He caught the ball exceptionally well and missed just one pass, a deep ball that was underthrown. The Cincinnati Bengals had a receiver’s coach on hand to meet with Bell.
Quarterback Joe Fagnano did not test, but he threw for Bell and other pass catchers on hand. He was right on the money except for one pass that was off the mark. Fagnano, who was not on the scouting radar prior to the season, grades as a late-round pick. There are some teams that have him rated higher than Drew Allar of Penn State, who is also a Day 3 prospect. The New York Jets had their quarterbacks coach on hand, and he spent time with Fagnano.
Senators stay red-hot, hold off Red Wings to move into East wild-card spot
Yakemchuk, a 20-year-old defenseman, was the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Lars Eller also scored for the Senators (38-24-9), who have won four straight and are 15-3-2 in 20 games since Jan. 25. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves.
Ottawa moved into the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Multiple injuries to Ottawa defensemen, including Thomas Chabot (upper body) and Lassi Thomson (undisclosed) in a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers on Monday, meant Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (No. 136), each made his NHL debut against Detroit.
Dylan Larkin scored in his return from a lower-body injury, and Dominik Shine also scored for the Red Wings (38-25-8), who have lost five of their past seven games (2-4-1). John Gibson made 18 saves.
Detroit fell one point behind both the Senators and New York Islanders.
The Red Wings appeared to take a 1-0 lead on Alex DeBrincat’s power-play goal at 15:35 of the first period, but the play was overturned after the Senators successfully challenged for offside.
Instead, Tkachuk’s power-play goal put the Senators ahead 1-0 at 17:15. As Gibson got into position to stop Tim Stutzle’s shot, Tkachuk tipped it past his blocker. Yakemchuk picked up the secondary assist for the first point of his NHL career.
Yakemchuk made it 2-0 at 9:28 of the second period with his first NHL goal, skating in from the blue line to beat Gibson with a wrist shot.
Eller then extended it to 3-0 at 11:05 with his fourth goal of the season.
Shine cut it to 3-1 at 14:50, tipping Simon Edvinsson’s pass between Ullmark’s blocker and body.
Larkin, playing for the first time since March 6, made it 3-2 with a power-play goal at 4:13 of the third period. Ullmark deflected Alex DeBrincat’s pass across the top of the crease, but the puck went right to Larkin for his 29th goal.
James van Riemsdyk hit the post with 4:22 to play and the Red Wings on a power play.
Necas scores twice, Avalanche cruise past Penguins for 3rd straight win
Sam Malinski had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves for the Avalanche (47-13-10), who have won three in a row.
Kris Letang had an assist to reach 800 NHL points, and Egor Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins (35-20-16), who have been outscored 11-3 in two straight losses. Arturs Silovs made 24 saves.
Nathan Mackinnon put Colorado ahead 1-0 at 4:57 of the first period on his 46th goal this season. He poked the puck away from Parker Wotherspoon at the opposite blue line and held off the Pittsburgh defenseman on a partial breakaway for a wrist shot glove-side.
Chinakhov scored in a third consecutive game to tie it 1-1 at 8:09 with a one-timer from the point set up by Samuel Girard.
Malinski, Necas and Parker Kelly later scored three goals in 1:55.
Malinski gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead at 15:24 with a wrist shot in off the left post.
Necas made it 3-1 five seconds into a power play at 16:44 on a one-timer from the left face-off circle set up by Cale Makar.
Kelly dropped to a knee for another one-timer, extending the lead to 4-1 at 17:19.
Justin Brazeau seemed to score for the Penguins at 7:38 of the second period, wrapping a rebound around Wedgewood, but the Avalanche challenged and it was determined he interfered with Wedgewood.
Pittsburgh then had two shots on goal during a four-minute power play after Nazem Kadri was called for high-sticking at 8:25.
Necas pushed the lead to 5-1 at 17:29 on Colorado’s third shot on goal of the second, a wrist shot off a rebound from Devon Toews.
Rakell tapped in a pass from Sidney Crosby to cut it to 5-2 at 11:47 of the third period.
Ross Colton scored an empty-net goal at 16:20 for the 6-2 final.
Panthers recover, edge Kraken in shootout in Maurice’s 2,000th NHL game
Maurice is the second coach in League history to reach the milestone, joining Scotty Bowman (2,141)
Noah Gregor had a goal and an assist, and Nolan Foote, Eetu Luostarinen, and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers (35-32-3), who had lost three of four. Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves and stopped all three attempts he faced in the shootout.
Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist, and Ryker Evans, Matty Beniers and Bobby McMann also scored in the third period for the Kraken (31-29-10), who have lost four straight (0-3-1) since defeating the Panthers 6-2 on March 15 and eight of their past 10 (2-7-1). Joey Daccord made 20 saves.
Gregor gave the Panthers a 4-1 lead at 12:21 of the third period when his centering pass for Foote on a rush deflected in off the stick of Shane Wright.
Beniers made it 4-2 at 14:17. He skated across the crease and tucked a shot past the right pad of Bobrovsky, who had attempted to knock the puck away with a poke check.
Eberle cut it to 4-3 at 16:24, forcing a turnover on Dmitry Kulikov in the neutral zone before skating in and beating Bobrovsky over his glove on a breakaway.
Seattle then tied it 4-4 just 14 seconds later. McMann skated in on another breakaway but this time shot past Bobrovsky’s blocker.
Florida opened the scoring at 2:32 of the second period. Gregor, who was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League earlier in the day, drove the puck down the left wing on a 2-on-1 rush and fed a streaking Foote, who chipped the puck past Daccord in front.
Luostarinen made it 2-0 at 5:16 of the third period. Vinnie Hinostroza got to a loose puck near the slot and sent a backhand toward the net that redirected five-hole off the stick of Luostarinen.
Verhaeghe extended the lead to 3-0 at 7:37. Following a giveaway by Wright, Verhaeghe got control of the puck along the end boards and banked a shot in off Daccord’s right pad.
Evans made it 3-1 at 8:10. His one-timer from the point went wide of the net, but it caromed hard off the end boards and bounced in off Bobrovsky’s left skate as he was backing into position.
Ottawa Senators top Detroit Red Wings, 3-2
Carter Yakemchuk scored a second-period goal and also had an assist in his NHL debut as the streaking Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Yakemchuk, the No. 7 overall pick of the 2024 draft, had been playing for the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators. He was called up earlier in the day with defensemen Thomas Chabot, Dennis Gilbert, Nick Jensen, Jake Sanderson and Lassi Thomson sidelined by injuries.
Yakemchuk, a 20-year-old defenseman from Alberta, had 10 goals in 50 games with Belleville.
Brady Tkachuk scored his 20th goal of the season for the Senators, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11 games. Lars Eller scored the other goal for the Senators. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves as the Senators continued their late push for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored on a third-period power play in his first game since missing seven games with a lower-body injury.
Dominik Shine had the other Red Wings goal while John Gibson stopped 18 shots. Detroit had won its three previous meetings with Ottawa this season.
Alex DeBrincat seemingly gave the Red Wings the lead late in the first period. His power-play goal was challenged by Ottawa and the officials ruled that Detroit was offside.
The Senators converted on a power play with 2:45 remaining in the period when Tkachuk tipped in Tim Stutzle’s shot.
Yakemchuk scored at 9:28 of the second period. He skated in from the point to the right circle and beat Gibson on the glove side.
Eller made it 3-0 less than two minutes later.
Senators: Host Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Red Wings: Visit Buffalo on Friday night.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Carter Yakemchuk scores in NHL debut as streaking Senators top Red Wings
DETROIT (AP) — Carter Yakemchuk scored a second-period goal and also had an assist in his NHL debut as the streaking Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Yakemchuk, the No. 7 overall pick of the 2024 draft, had been playing for the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators. He was called up earlier in the day with defensemen Thomas Chabot, Dennis Gilbert, Nick Jensen, Jake Sanderson and Lassi Thomson sidelined by injuries.
Yakemchuk, a 20-year-old defenseman from Alberta, had 10 goals in 50 games with Belleville.
Brady Tkachuk scored his 20th goal of the season for the Senators, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11 games. Lars Eller scored the other goal for the Senators. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves as the Senators continued their late push for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, BRUINS 2
BOSTON (AP) — Matthew Knies scored a pair of goals and Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Boston.
Max Domi and William Nylander also scored for the Maple Leafs and John Tavares had three assists as Toronto outshot Boston 35-20 and avoided a three-game season sweep in the Original Six rivalry. Anthony Stolarz finished with 18 saves.
Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy scored for Boston, which still holds the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Jeremy Swayman had 31 saves for the Bruins, who lost at home for just the second time in their last 16 games.
CANADIENS 5, HURRICANES 2
MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his 44th goal of the season and Jakub Dobes made 41 saves as Montreal held off Carolina.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist each, and Oliver Kapanen also scored as Montreal erased a two-goal deficit for its second consecutive win.
Jake Evans buried an empty-net goal with 1 minute left in regulation and Caufield added an assist for a two-point night.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, which lost for the first time in four games.
PANTHERS 5, KRAKEN 4, SO
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Florida gave up a three-goal, third-period lead but recovered for a shootout win over Seattle on Vinnie Hinostroza’s goal.
The Panthers led 4-1 on Noah Gregor’s goal with 7:39 to play, but Seattle’s Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann scored in a span of 2:21 to force overtime. Eberle and McMann scored just 14 seconds apart.
Seattle, which has lost eight of 10, has not won since beating the Panthers 6-2 at home on March 15.
Nolan Foote, Eetu Luostarinen and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers with Sergei Bobrovsky making 22 saves.
Ryker Evans also scored a third-period goal for Seattle and Joey Daccord had 20 saves.
BLACKHAWKS 4, ISLANDERS 3
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Anton Frondell had an assist in his NHL debut, Nick Lardis and Frank Nazar each had a goal and an assist and Chicago defeated the New York.
Ilya Mikheyev and Tyler Bertuzzi also had goals for the Blackhawks, who scored four straight goals and snapped a two-game skid. Arvid Soderblom made 44 saves.
Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom and Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders, who lost for the third time in four games. David Rittich allowed three goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Ilya Sorokin, who made 11 saves.
BLUE JACKETS 3, FLYERS 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zach Werenski continued his torrid scoring pace with a goal and an assist as Columbus defeated Philadelphia.
Columbus scored a pair of goals 1:44 apart to start the second period. The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers 6-0 in the opening three minutes of the period.
Mathieu Olivier scored the first goal 44 seconds into the second period, taking a pass from Werenski on a 3-on-2 rush and snapping a shot over the glove of Philadelphia goalie Dan Vladar to tie the score 1-1.
On his next shift, Werenski came out of the corner and worked his way into the high slot. He took a pass from Damon Severson and beat Vladar with a snapshot.
Werenski now has 77 points this season, second-most among NHL defensemen.
AVALANCHE 6, PENGUINS 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martin Necas scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon poured in his NHL-leading 46th goal and the Colorado breezed past the Pittsburgh.
Necas, Sam Malinski and Parker Kelly scored within a 1:55 span late in the first period to break it open as the Avalanche atoned for one-sided loss to the Penguins last week in Denver by returning the favor in Pittsburgh. Cale Makar picked up the assist on Necas’ first goal, boosting his career point total to 499. Ross Colton scored an empty-netter late.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who have won the first three games of a four-game road swing that finishes up in Winnipeg on Thursday.
Egor Chinakov and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh. Kris Letang picked up the secondary assist to become the 21st defenseman in league history to reach the 800 career points when he picked up a secondary assist on Chinakov’s career-high 17th goal of the season.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Blackhawks hold off Islanders in Anton Frondell’s impressive NHL debut
ELMONT, N.Y. — Through one game, the Blackhawks are undefeated in the Anton Frondell era.
The Hawks held on by the thinnest of threads to win 4-3 on Tuesday in Frondell’s debut, dealing a blow to the Islanders’ playoff hopes in the process.
The No. 3 pick in last year’s draft attempted five shots in 15:44 of ice time, skating on the first line with Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene as well as on the top power-play unit.
He earned his first NHL point with a savvy assist in the second period. He grabbed a loose puck as he skated into the neutral zone, kept his head up, spotted speedy Ilya Mikheyev streaking down the left side and fed him an accurate pass.
Seconds later, Mikheyev buried his 14th goal of the season through Isles goalie David Rittich’s five-hole, giving the Hawks a lead (2-1 at the time) that they never relinquished.
“It was wide open, so why wouldn’t I pass it?” Frondell quipped.
“I really didn’t know before what to expect [from the NHL]. My first shift, I felt like, ‘Oh wow, this is going really fast.’ Like [Isles star Mathew Barzal], when he comes at high speed, it’s hard to know what to do. But I just tried my best, tried to compete. I’m happy my first game is over.”
Hawks coach Jeff Blashill was more impressed with Frondell’s decision-making on the play than Frondell was, noting that most young players would’ve focused on Bedard slicing down the middle and not noticed Mikheyev open on the wing.
Tactical body usage was another skill Frondell improved significantly this season in Sweden, and he demonstrated that both offensively (protecting the puck along the boards with his body on numerous occasions) and defensively (boxing Isles forward Bo Horvat out of the crease on a rush chance against in the second period).
“He doesn’t cheat for offense…[because] really for two years, he’s played pro hockey,” Blashill said. “Sometimes when guys come from junior or college, they never have to defend because they have the puck the whole night.
“For him, he’s had to defend. He’s had to be a fourth liner. He’s had to do those kind of things. That helps him grow.”
Fellow Hawks rookie forward Nick Lardis was another standout Tuesday, notching his first career multi-point game with one goal and two assists.
Lardis’ elevation to the second line with Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi two games ago has elevated his play, too. The Hawks generated a 15-12 advantage in scoring chances during his (five-on-five) ice time, while the Islanders accumulated an enormous 40-8 advantage when he wasn’t on the ice.
“I think Lardis’ game [Sunday against the Predators] was his best game, and this one might have been better,” Blashill said.
Said Lardis:
Bruins GM Don Sweeney Provides Update on Dean Letourneau’s Next Move at BC: The Rundown
Speaking with the media on Tuesday, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney revealed that Boston College men’s hockey forward Dean Letourneau, who totaled 39 points in 2025-26 with 22 goals and 17 assists, is expected to return to BC for his junior year.
“Our initial conversation is that he’ll be returning,” Sweeney said. “If that changes between now and some time in the future, we can revisit it. But [at] this point in time, the indications are that he’s going back.”
Letourneau’s freshman-to-sophomore year transition was remarkable, to say the least, and the fact that the conversation about making the jump from college to the professional ranks is even happening is borderline absurd.
As a rookie, the Armprior, Ontario, native, who Boston drafted with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, manufactured just three assists and did not score a goal.
He arrived on the Heights early, according to BC head coach Greg Brown, who needed to fill out the roster after losing former Eagle Will Smith to the San Jose Sharks after the 2023-24 season concluded.
Letourneau technically stepped in to fill that vacancy, but he was essentially a non-factor who filled a bench spot for the sake of maintaining a full roster.
That was not the case this season, as Letourneau’s offensive production shot upwards like a cannon ball. He added roughly 15 pounds of muscle over the 2025 offseason, but, more importantly, did not lose belief in his abilities, and it paid off drastically for Brown and co. this year.
Letourneau has already been tabbed a Hockey East Third Team All-Star this season, but his potential moving forward, after another offseason of training under his belt, will have no barriers.
The Rundown: Wednesday, March 25, 2026:
Boston College football class of 2028 running back commit Ramar Thomas (Catholic Memorial) received a four-star rating from Rivals, per his X account.
The Boston College baseball program keeps chugging along, as it expanded its current win streak to six games with a 3-2 victory over Northeastern on Tuesday. At 17-8 overall now, the college baseball media landscape is beginning to take notice.
Could former Boston College men’s basketball coach Earl Grant be coaching in the same conference as his former team next season? There appears to be a chance.
Boston College Eagles Tuesday Scores:
Baseball: Boston College 3, Northeastern 2 | Game Story
Women’s golf: Seventh place (+74) at City of Oaks Collegiate
Boston College Eagles Wednesday Schedule:
Baseball: Boston College vs. Merrimack | 3 p.m. ET | Watch | Live Stats
Countdown to Boston College football’s season opener:
164 days.
Boston College Quote of the Day:
“[Addiction] ruined my hockey career. It didn’t ‘affect’ it, it ruined it.”
– Kevin Stevens
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McDavid scores 400th NHL goal for Oilers
Connor McDavid scored his 400th NHL goal for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old center scored in the second period against the Utah Mammoth to reach the milestone. He became the 115th player in NHL history and 15th active to score at least 400.
McDavid’s goal put the Oilers in front 3-2 at 12:07. He got behind the defense, skated into a bouncing puck, and lifted a shot over the glove of Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka.
McDavid has 39 goals and is second in the NHL with 117 points in 72 games this season.
“I’m just trying to make the right play, the best play,” McDavid said earlier in the month. “For me, it’s just more an assertive mindset of shooting it and taking it to the net. That’s when I’m at my best.”
McDavid won the Maurice
McDavid scores twice, reaches 1,200 points in Oilers win against Mammoth
McDavid became the third-fastest player in NHL history to 1,200 points (784 games), behind only Wayne Gretzky (504 games) and Mario Lemieux (593 games). He also became the 115th player in NHL history, and 15th active, to score at least 400. McDavid is the fifth player in Oilers history to reach 400 goals.
Jack Roslovic also scored twice, and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers (35-28-9), who have won three of their past five games. Tristan Jarry made 16 saves.
Alexander Kerfoot and Lawson Crouse scored for the Mammoth (37-29-6), who are 3-4-2 in their past nine.
Karel Vejmelka allowed four goals on 15 shots before he was replaced by Vitek Vanecek to begin the third period. Vanecek made 10 saves in relief.
Kerfoot gave the Mammoth a 1-0 lead at 11:12 of the first period. Sean Durzi skated into the offensive zone and dropped the puck back to Kerfoot, who sent a snap shot from above the right face-off circle that deflected off Oilers defensemen Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy before fluttering over Jarry into the net.
Roslovic tied it 1-1 at 14:27 with a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Vejmelka to the blocker side. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had the secondary assist for his 800th NHL point.
The teams exchanged three goals in a 43-second span in the second period.
Savoie put Edmonton up 2-1 with a short-handed goal at 11:24. Bouchard sent a pass to Savoie in the slot, where his wrist shot slid through Vejmelka’s pads.
Crouse tied it 2-2 just 35 seconds later at 11:59 while on the power play. Michael Carcone played the puck off the end boards and it bounced in front to Crouse in the slot, where he dropped to one knee and buried a snap shot to the glove side.
McDavid put the Oilers in front 3-2 at 12:07. He split the defense and chased a bouncing puck before chipping it over Vejmelka’s glove from the edge of the right circle.
Roslovic scored his second of the game at 15:04, settling a rebound in the left circle and putting a snap shot through the five-hole of Vejmelka just seconds after Zach Hyman sent a shot off the crossbar.
McDavid scored his second goal into an empty net 19:52 of the third period for his 40th of the season and to secure the 5-2 final.
McDavid scores twice to give him 401 career goals and 1,200 points as Oilers top Mammoth 5-2
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Connor McDavid scored twice to give him 401 career goals and 1,200 points, sparking the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night.
McDavid became the fifth player in Oilers history to reach 400 goals when he took a feed from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard and beat Karel Vejmelka with 7:53 left in the second period.
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NBA players union says 65-game rule for awards ‘must be abolished or reformed’
Cade Cunningham appeared on track for a top-five finish in MVP voting (he was third in the last ESPN straw poll) and a First Team All-NBA nod.
Then he suffered a collapsed lung diving for a loose ball last week. There is no timetable for his return, but there is a chance he will miss the rest of the regular season, or at least enough games that he will not meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold to qualify for postseason awards. Cunningham would have to play in five more to qualify.
That led to this statement today from the NBPA, the NBA’s players’ union:
“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries. Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota.”
Cunningham’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, gave this statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Cade has delivered a first-team All-NBA season. If he falls just short of an arbitrary games-played threshold due to legitimate injury, it should not disqualify him from recognition he has clearly earned over the course of the season. The league should be rewarding excellence, not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context. An exception needs to be made.”
Cunningham is not alone. A few weeks ago, we were having the same conversations and concerns about Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama returning from injuries in time to meet the threshold — both did, but can’t miss many more games due to injury. Anthony Edwards remains out with a knee injury but needs to play in seven of Minnesota’s 10 games to qualify.
The 65-game rule was put in place to discourage load management of star players, and it used the end-of-season awards as leverage. Those awards — making All-NBA or winning MVP or Defensive Player of the Year — are criteria to get a larger “Rose Rule” or “Super Max” extension for players with fewer than 10 seasons in the league. That has led to complaints from players that they have risked their health to return early to ensure they qualify for awards.
The thing is, media members who vote for awards already took games played into account. To use Cunningham as an example, if he does not return to play this season, missing all those games may have knocked him off First Team All-NBA but his impact on the Pistons and their season — where they are almost certain to be the No. 1 seed in the East — meant he deserved a second or third-team spot. That discretion has been taken out of voters’ hands.
This is going to be an offseason discussion when the league and its owners start talking about a number of things, including changing the rules around tanking (a pet issue of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver).
The Victor Wembanyama MVP Conversation Is Missing One Crucial Point
On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama made the unusual move of stating his MVP case both on and off the court.
The Spurs superstar posted 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks to lead his team to a win over the Heat in merely 26 minutes of play. San Antonio outscored Miami by 19 points when the tall Frenchman was on the floor. It was the dominant two-way display we’ve become accustomed to seeing out of Wembanyama this season; really, the stats only begin to scratch the surface of how all-consuming a force the generational talent can be when he’s playing well on both ends.
It was also, without a doubt, an MVP-caliber performance. Wembanyama provided enormous value the likes of which only he is capable of providing. After the game, he spelled out that case as clearly as possible for the NBA world when asked by Jared Weiss of The Athletic for his three strongest arguments in support of his MVP case.
“I think right now, it is still reasonable there is a debate,” Wembanyama said. “My goal is to make sure there is no debate anymore at the end of the season. … My first [argument] would be that defense is 50% of the game and that is undervalued, so far, in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be that we almost swept [the Thunder] in the season and we dominated them three times with their real team and four times with the, you know, more rotation players. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
It’s a good case. While Wembanyama doesn’t quite go bullet-for-bullet down the list of MVP requirements in the modern game—stats, wins and narrative—he comes pretty close.
His set of arguments sparked a wave of Wembanyama MVP discussion. His case has been hotly debated alongside that of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić. But when trying to project how the race will shake out down the stretch of the season, there is one factor that keeps getting overlooked whenever Wembanyama’s candidacy is discussed: his age.
Why Wembanyama’s age shouldn’t be overlooked when discussing MVP case
When looking at Wembanyama’s MVP case in totality, it is important to acknowledge the factors he’s battling against. One of those factors is just how young the Spurs star is. It doesn’t preclude Wembanyama from winning the award, of course, but history shows players that young don’t take home MVP.
Wembanyama only turned 22 in January. That means he would be the youngest MVP in NBA history if he won this year’s award. Derrick Rose currently holds that honor after winning the 2011 MVP at 22 years, seven months old; he is the only player in league history to win MVP before turning 23. There is literally no precedent for a player as youthful as Wembanyama winning the biggest individual award in the sport. That reflects the simple reality that players that age just don’t win MVP.
Why have young up-and-coming stars almost never gotten the nod over an older candidate? It’s not because they are young. But 22-year-old NBA stars are just getting their first bite at the MVP apple, so to speak. The competition is often fierce enough that a relative lack of established track record can be used against them. There’s a risk of rewarding a flash-in-the-pan season that inspires hesitation in voters. Not to mention the human element of the voting process where the idea a youthful player has plenty of good years left may push voters to another equally deserving but older candidate.
Rose is the gold standard for young MVP candidates now, and he enjoyed a very particular set of circumstances to win at his age. He led the Bulls to 62 wins as the undisputed motor of the offense and averaged 25 points and seven assists per game with truly electrifying highlights. Rose was a national sensation. He also had the good fortune of going up against LeBron James in his first Miami season after two consecutive MVP wins—which meant voter fatigue combined with the “Heatles” narrative to form an anti-LeBron votex that year. That left a wide-open lane that Rose gladly stepped into, one that disappeared immediately as James won the next two MVPs.
The reasoning in the Rose case and at large is mostly all unquantifiable. But so is the formula behind MVP voting. We can best glean information about that formula from past results. And those past results tells us that, for one reason or another, young superstars very rarely win MVP.
Could Wembanyama become the youngest MVP ever?
Could Wembanyama break the trend? Absolutely. Unlike many young stars who are coming into their own, he isn’t playing for an average team with the freedom to do basically whatever he wants every night. The star center is the most important player on the second seed in the West, one of the only teams in the NBA believed to have a chance at unseating the reigning champions. Furthermore, his actual arguments as laid out above are quite solid.
Wembanyama’s three blocks per game (which leads the NBA) and various advanced defensive statistics back up his claim to the most impactful defensive player in the NBA; his individual defensive rating of 103.5 ranks third in the league and his 4.4 defensive win shares are more than any other player. His showings on that end of the floor can be equally as eye-popping as any offensive explosion from Dončić or SGA.
His Spurs should win nearly 60 games and, as noted by Wemby himself above, have plenty of statement victories over the best team in the NBA (as well as his chief MVP rival) in Oklahoma City. Despite all that he lags behind a bit in narrative—until recently, few expected the Spurs big man to even qualify for end-of-season awards. But there is no doubt among fans and media that Wembanyama is one of the best, most impactful players in basketball right now. That’s a lot of boxes that are checked, and he has a few more weeks remaining in the season to improve his odds.
The only real knock against the big man (if you can even call it that) is his scoring numbers. Wembanyama averages 24.3 points per game this year with above-average (but not outstanding) efficiency numbers. If he won MVP at that number, it would be the lowest PPG number for an MVP since Steph Curry’s win in 2015. Before him you’d have to go all the way back to Steve Nash’s two wins in the mid-aughts to find an MVP who averaged fewer than 24 points per game. Scoring numbers have always been a large part of any MVP discussion, but there’s been a particular emphasis in that department in the last decade; it makes for yet another trend Wembanyama is battling against.
There has never been a player in the NBA like Wembanyama and thus it would line up if he managed to pull off something never before seen in the NBA. But winning MVP is a tall task, one made all the taller with history working against him.
More NBA from Sports Illustrated
Paul George takes ownership for 25-game PED suspension
Paul George spent Tuesday issuing a mea culpa for his “poorly timed decision” that led to a 25-game ban for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program in late January.
The 76ers star did not go into detail about the failed drug test or the banned substance that he took that led to the suspension, describing it as “more on the personal side.”
“At the moment, I didn’t know exactly the repercussions,” George said.
“Obviously, being a pro athlete takes a toll on you, and my body wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and the expectation to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be,” George said. “Obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself, and that’s what led to the poor decision at the time. But, again, I’ve said it throughout my career dealing with mental health, I’m no superhero. I’m a human, and I made a mistake in that moment.”
The nine-time All-Star will rejoin the Sixers lineup on Wednesday night when they face the Bulls, marking the first time he’s suited up for Philadelphia since Jan. 29 in a game against the Kings.
The Sixers forward was allowed to practice and work out with the team, but he was unable to attend games, both on the road or at home, which he described as “tough.”
George was averaging 16 points and coming off one of his best efforts of the year, around the time he was suspended, after he had 32 points in a win over the Bucks.
“We’d been playing good basketball. So there was some devastation, just of the momentum that was being built,” George said of his initial reaction to the suspension.
George entered this season coming off an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee over the summer, and he sat out for the first 12 games of the year.
The 25-game suspension helped his body heal, and he told reporters he was feeling great.
His return now comes with 10 games left in the season and the Sixers sitting in seventh in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re in the driver’s seat to close out these last 10 games,” George said. “Obviously, that’s the goal, is to try to get the best seeding possible and get ourselves out of the play-in situation, so that’s what I’m gearing for, is to take these last 10 games and use them as playoff games, have that mindset going into them, that these are must-wins to solidify a great seed. We’re still in a good position right now.”
Jaylen Brown should win NBA MVP
The race for NBA MVP is heating up over the final weeks of the 2025-26 season.
There are several compelling candidates across the league, including Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and Lakers guard Luka Doncic.
But, Celtics wing Jaylen Brown is also making a legitimate case for himself as Boston’s de facto leader and scoring conduit in a season where Boston has exceeded plenty of expectations.
It appears Brown has his supporters across the NBA and the broader media landscape.
During Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s long-running show, “Pardon The Interruption,” hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser both agreed that Brown should be the current frontrunner for the coveted award.
“I have a vote in this, and I will tell you that it’s tightened up,” Wilbon said of the NBA MVP race. “My vote, and I’m not even sure [of] the order, I think is — Jaylen Brown, one. I think it’s [Gilgeous-Alexander], two, and I think it’s Victor, three. And then don’t talk to me about a guy who plays half the court, Luka Doncic.”
“If Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs somehow catch OKC for first place in the West, I will cast a vote — it’s a regular-season award — for Victor Wembanyama, who isn’t just the face of the NBA, he’s the face of worldwide basketball. … Right now, Jaylen Brown maybe — he’s leading at the tape. You know what I mean?”
Brown had made the most of the opportunity presented to him this season on a Celtics roster that moved on from several starters last summer, while also trudging ahead without Jayson Tatum for the majority of the year due to an Achilles injury.
Brown rose to the occasion, with the 29-year-old star averaging career highs in points (28.5), rebounds (7.0), and assists (5.1) per game through 64 games. Beyond stuffing the stat sheet, Brown’s play has also played a key role in Boston’s continued standing as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
While some feared that Tatum’s injury and last summer’s roster overhaul would signal a “bridge year” in Boston, the Celtics currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 47-24 record.
With Tatum back in the fold, the Celtics could make a legitimate title run in the coming months.
Kornheiser agreed with Wilbon’s take about Brown’s candidacy this season.
“If I had a vote, and I don’t — if I had to vote today, I would vote for Jaylen. … Because Jaylen Brown has been so resolute and dependable in the absence of Jayson Tatum and Boston is in second place in the East,” Kornheiser said. “San Antonio is in second place in the West.
“But what Wembanyama has been doing lately is sort of amazing. … I could be persuaded, because I think the numbers are there [for Wembanyama]. I’m still in the Jaylen Brown camp.”
While some momentum has been building in Brown’s favor in recent weeks for MVP honors, Celtics legend Paul Pierce has stressed since January that Brown has not received enough respect as one of the top players in the league.
“I think Brown is having an MVP season,” Pierce said on Sunday at TD Garden. “I mean, not enough is being said on how he’s held down the fort for pretty much all year. … To be able to still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time, guys are who they are by the time they’re in their fourth, fifth year.
“But just to see his maturation process at this stage. And it’s just unfortunate that he’s not in MVP talks like he should be.”
76ers’ Paul George Gets Candid on Lengthy 25-Game Suspension
Paul George’s time with the Philadelphia 76ers has not gone as planned.
Expectations were high when Georgel, 35, signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers in July 2024. The nine-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, and four-time All-Defensive star was limited to 41 games and ruled out for the season by March 2025. George averaged 16.2 points last season — his lowest such mark since averaging 8.8 points in six games for the Indiana Pacers in 2014-15.
So far, this season has been worse for George.
George underwent knee surgery last July, so his 2025-26 campaign didn’t begin until Nov. 17. He was averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 27 games when he received a 25-game suspension without pay on Jan. 31 for violating the NBA and NBPA’s Anti-Drug Program policy.
As of Tuesday, George’s suspension is over, and he addressed the ordeal with reporters at the 76ers’ practice facility.
George began by apologizing to the city of Philadelphia, his family, his teammates, the 76ers organization, and
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Faces Blame for WNBA Missteps As Criticism Grows
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is being pulled into a conversation he’s long avoided, and the timing couldn’t be more critical for the WNBA.
That conversation took a sharper turn recently, especially in the wake of tense CBA negotiations between the WNBA and its players, when FOS reporter Annie Costabile openly pointed to the commissioner as the one who should be held accountable for the league’s missteps.
During a recent appearance on the Flagrant and Funny podcast, Costabile didn’t hold back while discussing the WNBA’s direction.
“I think he bears the majority of the responsibility. You’re the leader, and you – through every step of this – have communicated that in various ways, right? Never outwardly, but it’s always been communicated in various ways that Adam, at the end of the day, is the voice of all voices.”
“I think what we struggled to do with the WNBA is hold two truths at the same time. David Stern deserves a lot of credit for making this league a reality. Adam Silver deserves a lot of credit for ensuring it continues. And again, carrying on David’s plans for this league. But the other reality is there have been missteps along the way, and that deserves scrutiny too, and I don’t know that there’s been enough of it rightfully put on Adam through this.”
That statement alone reframes the conversation.
Because while Cathy Engelbert remains the league’s public-facing commissioner, Costabile’s argument is simple: the real power sits with Silver. And if that’s the case, then so should the blame, especially as criticism around the league’s recent decisions continues to grow.
From the outside, the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth. Viewership is surging, expansion teams are being added, and player visibility has reached new heights. But behind that momentum, several decisions tied to the league’s structure and leadership have drawn increasing scrutiny.
In the recent negotiations, one of the biggest sticking points was revenue sharing.
Despite the league’s rise, concerns have emerged about how that growth is being translated into player compensation. After all, the players are the ones who are driving this growth. While the new CBA promises increases, critics argue the overall structure still falls short of reflecting the league’s trajectory, especially when compared to the NBA model. Reports suggest that after expenses, WNBA players could receive less than 15% of total revenue, which is a stark contrast to the NBA’s roughly 50% split.
So, because the NBA holds significant financial and structural control over the WNBA, that criticism circles back to Silver.
But then there’s the question of long-term valuation.
Past investment decisions, particularly around how the league was valued during earlier capital raises, like when the league sold 16% of its stake for $75 million, are now being revisited in a very different landscape. With the WNBA gaining momentum faster than expected, some believe the league may have been undervalued at critical moments, which has limited its current financial flexibility.
Individually, these might seem like growing pains. Together, they form the basis of the current criticism.
However, Costabile’s sharpest critique was about presence.
The Invisible Leader Problem
For all the conversations around growth, investment, and player compensation, one of the biggest issues, as per the FOS reporter, is visibility at the very top.
While Adam Silver is widely understood to be the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to the WNBA’s biggest calls, that authority hasn’t always come with a consistent public presence. And in a league that’s rapidly evolving, that absence is starting to stand out more than ever. Take the recent CBA issue, for example. The WNBA has just navigated over 100 hours of negotiations to reach a CBA agreement that is expected to completely redefine player experience after a 17-month process. But Silver remained largely out of the spotlight throughout the process, even though the NBA controls roughly 42% of the WNBA.
While Engelbert leads the league publicly, the NBA, and by extension Silver, still holds significant influence behind the scenes.
“I think he does a really good job at keeping the separation, like visibly, or publicly, right? He’s the commissioner of the NBA. We don’t really see him in the WNBA. It’s not like he’s holding press conferences regarding WNBA news, or he’s not really at the major events throughout the year, the tent pole events, the All-Stars, the finals, all the time.”
“He’s kind of like this ghost figure who isn’t consistent enough. But everyone knows is the puppet master behind it all, right? And so, I think he gets to evade and escape that way.”
“And again, through this next era of the WNBA, it’s like either step into the light fully, Adam, and be that voice that everyone behind the scenes knows you are. Or be the man that everyone knows behind the scenes, you are, as in the person who’s the decision maker, etc., or hire somebody who you can fully allow to take this league to the next level. I think it’s got to be one or the other,” Costabile further added.
So if Adam Silver is truly the decision-maker behind the scenes, then the next step is simple: match that authority with visibility. Because if the influence ultimately traces back to Silver, the criticism will land exactly where many now believe it belongs.
Does the WNBA Need a Leader on Adam Silver’s Level?
For years, the WNBA has been viewed as an extension of the NBA. As a league supported, guided, and at times defined by its parent organization. While that may have been true in its early years, today’s reality looks very different.
From being labeled the fastest-growing brand in sports to pushing toward a future where million-dollar player salaries are becoming possible under the new CBA, the league has clearly outgrown the limitations of its past perception. But with that growth comes a bigger question: does its leadership structure still match its ambition?
“I think this league needs a leader that is going to work side by side with Adam. Not be a step below Adam,” Annie Costabile argued. “I know that’s a lot to ask because this league was founded by the NBA.Was brought to life by David Stern… But if that’s how you’re going to treat it, that’s all it’s ever going to be. You can’t expect this league to truly reach its full potential, to maximize its value, if the leader of the league is responding to the leader of another league.”
As long as the WNBA operates under the shadow of Silver, the concern isn’t just about visibility; it’s about autonomy. Can a league truly maximize its value if its top decision-maker ultimately answers to another? And that concern isn’t new, either.
Economists and analysts have long pointed out that the NBA historically viewed the WNBA as a complementary product. Something that filled arenas in the offseason rather than a standalone business to fully scale. But the current moment suggests that approach may no longer fit.
The WNBA isn’t just a partner league anymore. It’s a growing business with its own audience, its own stars, and its own trajectory. And if that’s the case, then the next step isn’t just better deals or bigger numbers. It’s a leadership structure that reflects that independence.
Guardians season predictions; a plan to stop NBA tanking; Jarrett Allen, the Cavs’ most pivotal player? Terry’s Talkin’ podcast
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to this week’s episode of the Terry’s Talkin’ podcast, with cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto and host David Campbell. In this episode, they talk about the Guardians and Terry’s take on the naming of the opening-day roster.
Terry also discusses the Cavs, and the numbers behind Jarrett Allen’s impact when he’s healthy and on the court. And they suggest two ways the NBA can stop late-season tanking.
They also look at the Browns’ free-agent signings and what it means for their offensive line stability.
Highlights:
Chase DeLauter’s addition to the Guardians’ opening-day roster is met with high excitement, and it’s not too much, for his legitimate hitting talent and advanced plate discipline.
Top prospect Travis Bazzana will begin the season in AAA Columbus for further development, needing more professional at-bats before a potential major league call-up.
Managing DeLauter’s health is a top priority due to his injury history, with suggestions to limit his running effort to keep his valuable bat in the lineup.
The Guardians set their starting rotation by demoting Logan Allen to AAA after a difficult spring, a decision influenced by both performance and roster flexibility.
Allen’s poor spring performance is speculated to be linked to the high-intensity innings he pitched in the World Baseball Classic, which can over-tax young arms early in the season.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is earning praise for an empathetic, player-centric management style similar to Terry Francona’s, which is considered a significant asset.
The Guardians have a consistent history of exceeding expectations and defying their low payroll, making them a perennially competitive team despite predictions.
Statistical analysis reveals Jarrett Allen’s immense value to the Cavaliers, with the team’s winning record dropping significantly when he is out of the lineup.
Since the end of December, the Cavaliers have one of the NBA’s best records, establishing themselves as an elite team despite narratives of inconsistency.
The acquisition of James Harden has significantly improved the Cavaliers’ offense through his passing and highly efficient shooting.
A proposed solution to NBA tanking
While former Cavalier Darius Garland is performing well post-trade, the consensus is that the trade was mutually beneficial and there is no “buyer’s remorse.”
The Browns’ strategy of acquiring versatile offensive linemen is justified by data showing starting units play together for less than half the season, necessitating roster flexibility and depth.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
If you have a question or comment on a topic, email it to sports@cleveland.com, and put “Terry’s Talkin’” in the subject line for an upcoming podcast.
You can find previous podcasts below.
Check out Terry’s new weekly newsletter that he’s writing exclusively for subscribers. Learn more and sign up here.
Could the Chicago Bulls Pull Off the Steal of the NBA Draft at No. 10?
When a draft class is as crowded as this one, there are worse things than sitting in the back of the lottery order. In our latest NBA Draft Lottery simulation, we see the Bulls select one of the many impressive youngsters who are currently competing in the NCAA Tournament. A handful of players have only helped build their stock in recent weeks, and this includes the leading scorer on one of the remaining No. 1 seeds.
In case you missed it, we have run this lottery simulation twice already. In each of our first installments of this series, the Bulls managed to jump up into the Top 3. This time around, however, the lottery gods weren’t nearly as kind. Let’s take a look!
Current NBA Draft Lottery Order (March 24)
1. Indiana Pacers (16-56)
2. Washington Wizards (16-55)
3. Brooklyn Nets (17-55)
4. Sacramento Kings (19-53)
5. Utah Jazz (21-51)
6. Dallas Mavericks (23-49)
7. Memphis Grizzlies (24-47)
8. Atlanta Hawks via Pelicans (25-47)
9. Milwaukee Bucks (29-42)
– Chicago Bulls (29-42)
11. Golden State Warriors (34-48)
12. Portland Trail Blazers (36-37)
13. Charlotte Hornets (37-34)
14. Miami Heat (38-34)
NBA Draft Lottery Simulation II
1. Sacramento Kings
2. Brooklyn Nets
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Washington Wizards
5. Utah Jazz
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Atlanta Hawks – New Orleans Pelicans
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Chicago Bulls
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Portland Trail Blazers
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Miami Heat
The Chicago Bulls Select …
Brayden Burries of the Arizona Wildcats has only looked better and better.
Once considered in the running for a mid-lottery pick, a somewhat pedestrian start to the 2026 campaign led to a slide for Burries. He has since been thrown in the back of the lottery or even outside of it altogether, but the consensus seems to be changing again as the guard leads the No. 1-seeded Wildcats into the Sweet Sixteen.
Burries isn’t the flashiest of players, which is a big reason why performers like Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings have passed him up in most mock drafts. But it’s becoming increasingly hard to deny his two-way productivity and winning brand of basketball, which are certainly two things the Chicago Bulls are desperate to add.
Burries stands six-foot-four but plays considerably bigger thanks to his 205-pound frame. He has averaged nearly 5.0 rebounds a night in a backcourt role and already has a combined 14 over two NCAA Tournament games thus far. Burries is also very good at using this strength to finish through contact efficiently and force his way to the charity stripe.
Speaking of which, Burries has a pretty mature scoring arsenal for someone his age. Not only does he recognize the advantages he has in the strength department, but he is also very good at playing at his own speed and nailing jump shots. Burries has shot 49.9 percent from the field this season and 39.2 percent from long range on 4.4 attempts a night.
The guard isn’t someone who needs the ball in his hands to find the bottom of the net. He is a very opportunistic scorer at the guard position, which isn’t necessarily something we see often nowadays. This is a big reason why I could see the Bulls liking his potential fit alongside Josh Giddey. Burries can allow Giddey to do a lot of the primary playmaking while he focuses on splashing catch-and-shoot jumpers or creating more for himself.
Is he the perfect defender to potentially have next to Giddey in the backcourt? You would like him to be a little taller, but he certainly has the makings of a high-level perimeter defender. He stays engaged on that side of the ball and moves his feet well. We watched him put on a particularly good showing against Houston in the Big-12 title game against one of the best pure scorers in the class, Kingston Flemings. He helped hold the breakout star to just 8 points on 3-12 shooting.
Again, Burries isn’t the kind of player that’s going to blow you away on the tape, but it almost feels as if that’s by design most of the time. He does an excellent job fitting in on an uber-talented Arizona team and looks comfortable in any role he’s asked to play – including crunch time scorer. I see shades of guys like CJ McCollum, Derrick White, and Malcolm Brogdon in his game. All three guys were impactful players on winning teams during the best stretches of their careers, and what more can you ask for in the No. 10 spot?
At the end of the day, Burries is someone who looks like a 15-year NBA veteran. He may not necessarily turn into the Bulls’ next face of the franchise, but he has the tools to be the kind of player a star wants to play alongside.
Seattle Mayor Breaks Silence on NBA Expansion Amid Washington Governor’s Push to Bring Back SuperSonics
It’s now more real than before. Adam Silver and the NBA are keen on expanding the league to 32 teams from the 2028-29 campaign. No city is making any pitch. Both spots have been captured by Las Vegas and Seattle. With Sin City, this would be the first time it becomes home to an NBA team. But Seattle understands, and has been craving the return of the Sonics since losing them in 2006.
That first happened since owners couldn’t secure public funding to redevelop the KeyArena. Those sentiments have changed. The city wants to feel its passion awaken once again. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson forwarded her and the city’s wish to have an NBA franchise for the city once again.
“Seattle is ready to welcome the Sonics home. We never stopped being a basketball city, and the fans have never given up. You see it in our parks, in our schools, in packed gyms in every neighborhood, and in our Seattle Storm championships. We built a world-class arena. We have a strong economy and a dedicated workforce. We are prepared, we are united, and we are ready for the next chapter of our Sonics,” Wilson said.
This is, of course, more than just business for Seattle, unlike Las Vegas. The city always felt their team was taken away from them when the Sonics became the OKC in 2006. The government couldn’t fund a new stadium due to its prior investment in major sports. But they now have the Climate Pledge Arena, which operates as the Seattle Storm’s home.
Any prospective owner doesn’t have to worry about the hassle of finding a state-of-the-art arena. Seattle has prepared in anticipation of the NBA opening their doors to them once again. It’s clear they won’t stop at anything to make it happen.
Washington governor adds fuel to Seattle’s dream
It’s not only Katie Wilson who is manifesting the NBA’s return to Seattle. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson also appears to be just as determined to see the rebirth of the Seattle SuperSonics. And he’s been speaking directly to the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver.
According to KOMO News’ Chris Daniels, Ferguson and Silver shared a “productive” Zoom call to discuss the latest expansion ideas. The Washington governor sees the SuperSonics’ return as a “top priority”. It’s a sign of the times changing. The city can’t live without basketball, and can now sense the magic returning once again.
They are the only other city aside from Las Vegas currently being considered. But before getting confident, the league will review its voting process. Notably, the majority owners have to agree to an expansion first. Only then can Adam Silver move ahead with the plans. And with the team ownership business experiencing a boom, it’s likely that the voting will go in Seattle’s favor.
That could mark a pivotal moment for the city. From Gary Payton to Kevin Durant, the SuperSonics produced some of the all-time NBA greats. Although they’ll be rejoining, such history doesn’t just fade. The city is hooked on its love for basketball. They can’t wait to have a team to call their own again.
World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann signs with MLS club Orlando City
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is moving to Orlando City in Major League Soccer this summer.
The 35-year-old World Cup winner from France signed with Orlando City on Tuesday. The deal lasts from July through the 2027-28 season with an option for an extra year.
“From my first conversations with the club I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me,” Griezmann said in a statement provided by Orlando City.
He helped France win the 2018 World Cup, reach the 2022 World Cup final, and retired from internationals in 2024 with 44 goals in 137 caps.
Griezmann is Atletico’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals but his minutes have been managed by coach Diego Simeone this season. Even so, Griezmann has 13 goals this campaign in all competitions.
Griezmann, who also played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona, has spent 10 seasons at Atletico. His 488 games are the fourth-most in Atletico’s history.
He’s won three trophies with Atletico: 2014 Spanish Super Cup, 2018 Europa League and 2018 UEFA Super Cup. Atletico has the Copa del Rey final next month and is up against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Let’s leave the future in the future because I’m not leaving yet,” Griezmann said in comments provided by Atletico. “I still have months left in this shirt, months to give my life on the pitch, both at our stadium and away, to lift that Copa del Rey and to dream of going as far as possible in the Champions League.”
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Antoine Griezmann joining MLS club Orlando City from July on a 2
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is moving to Orlando City in Major League Soccer this summer.
The 35-year-old World Cup winner from France signed with Orlando City on Tuesday. The deal lasts from July through the 2027-28 season with an option for an extra year.
“From my first conversations with the club I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me,” Griezmann said in a statement provided by Orlando City.
He helped France win the 2018 World Cup, reach the 2022 World Cup final, and retired from internationals in 2024 with 44 goals in 137 caps.
Griezmann is Atletico’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals but his minutes have been managed by coach Diego Simeone this season. Even so, Griezmann has 13 goals this campaign in all competitions.
Griezmann, who also played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona, has spent 10 seasons at Atletico. His 488 games are the fourth-most in Atletico’s history.
He’s won three trophies with Atletico: 2014 Spanish Super Cup, 2018 Europa League and 2018 UEFA Super Cup. Atletico has the Copa del Rey final next month and is up against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Let’s leave the future in the future because I’m not leaving yet,” Griezmann said in comments provided by Atletico. “I still have months left in this shirt, months to give my life on the pitch, both at our stadium and away, to lift that Copa del Rey and to dream of going as far as possible in the Champions League.”
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Antoine Griezmann joining MLS club Orlando City on 2-year deal
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is moving to Orlando City in Major League Soccer this summer.
The 35-year-old World Cup winner from France signed with Orlando City on Tuesday. The deal lasts from July through the 2027-28 season with an option for an extra year.
“From my first conversations with the club I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me,
Contract dispute over Anchorage ice arenas costs taxpayers thousands each day, Assembly finds
A recent Anchorage municipal audit turned up major financial problems in the private management of the George M. Sullivan Arena and two other publicly owned sports facilities. Since then, the situation appears to be worse than was initially understood.
“Suffice to say, we are still very much in the middle of all this‚
Israel Adesanya claims MMA has become ‘slow and stuck’ in his absence ahead of UFC Seattle return
Israel Adesanya has claimed that his year-long absence from fighting led to the sport becoming stale.
The legendary former middleweight champion was unbeatable for years as he rose through the ranks, and helped to bring fans back to arenas after the coronavirus pandemic. However, he has hit a rough patch of recent form with three stoppage defeats in a 1-4 run since 2022.
He returns to action on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Seattle. His opponent is the divisive contender Joe Pyfer, who is known as one of the hardest hitters in the division and could be the final test of Adesanya’s career if things continue to go wrong for the former champion.
Israel Adesanya dismays over disappointing UFC during his absence
For years, Israel Adesanya was not just a dominant champion at 185lb, but an incredibly active one. Between winning the interim title in April of 2019 and finally losing the undisputed to Sean Strickland after two reigns in September of 2023, he fought 11 times – even with the onset of a pandemic in 2020.
Now, it’s borderline unheard of for a world champion in the UFC to fight any more than twice a year, with many only getting out once. Most notably in his own division, Adesanya has watched as Khamzat Chimaev has become a once-yearly fighter after racing into activity in his early run.
“Look at the middleweight division now,” he told ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto ahead of his first fight in over a year. “Khamzat was a very active guy coming up, smoking everybody, fighting multiple times – even twice in a month at one point.
“Now that he’s champion I’m not sure what the deal is. Is it visa issues or is it injuries? I’m not sure because now he’s got a fight coming up. But the last active champion was me, the last guy who put it on the line every time and called out the best was me.
“So that’s one thing I can say that people didn’t appreciate until now that I’m watching it. I’m like ‘damn, this game is slow, stuck without me’.
“That, and I’m sure there’s other things as well that people didn’t appreciate. No one appreciated how active I was and what I gave to the game while I was holding the belt.”
Kyle Busch’s Historic Title Chase Ignites Fan Speculation as Spire Motorsports Driver Faces Future Uncertainty
Kyle Busch’s career downfall has been a painful one to watch ever since he moved to Richard Childress Racing. There was quite a lot of hope within the team, as he expected to continue winning races, if not the Cup championship. So far, however, that dream looks distant. He even expressed an interest in making NASCAR history by competing full-time in the Truck Series, which could mean another Cup Series driver loses his full-time seat.
Kyle Busch provides clarity on his Truck Series plans
“I’m hoping a team will hire me and give me an opportunity to go race for a Truck championship.” Busch’s words echoed as he spoke to the media regarding his plans after the Cup Series.
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He has proven to be a strong competitor at all levels of stock car racing. Although he is going through a difficult spell with RCR right now, he has won two Cup titles in the past.
Moreover, he continues to win races regularly in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, running on a part-time basis. His runs in the Truck Series are more or less the same. In fact, he has won more races, percentage-wise, in the Truck Series than in the NOAP or the Cup Series. Just look at 2025, when Busch failed to register any Cup wins but did secure a victory in the FR8 208 Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 12: Kyle Busch 8 Richard Childress Racing zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 on February 12, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 12 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duels 1 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602122550
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This makes it quite apparent why Busch would be the perfect fit for the Truck Series. At the same time, he will also have the chance to create NASCAR history.
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So far, there has been no driver who has managed to win all three national championships in NASCAR. With Kyle Busch’s 2009 NOAPS title win and two Cup title wins from 2015 and 2019, this could be the perfect chance for him to mark himself in the history books. Moreover, his performance behind the wheel of the Truck is promising enough.
If he does manage to earn a full-time seat, it seems likely it will be with Spire Motorsports; after all, he has already won a Truck race for them this season. Could this also mean he moves to the team’s Cup Series operations before retiring?
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If that happens, it could mean very disappointing news for Daniel Suarez, as he just signed with the team this year and is already quite impressed with their operations. However, if his performances, which do not seem to be at their best right now, do not improve, this could very well happen—and fans see it coming too.
Fans see a dark future for Daniel Suarez
As mentioned, Busch is quite the asset for Spire Motorsports’ Truck Series operations, and many feel that the team should give him the full-time chance as well: “Spire Motorsports should give him some Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Craftsman Truck Series, & ARCA races. Have him full time in the 7.”
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This would make perfect sense. By offering Busch a full-time seat in the Cup Series, they could lock him in for the future in the Truck Series. Moreover, the performance of Richard Childress’ Cup team doesn’t seem strong enough to justify him staying. After all, during his three seasons at RCR, the 40-year-old has earned three wins, 15 top-five finishes, 27 top-10 finishes, and two pole awards. If anything, he may be looking to move away from the team.
However, this would mean that Daniel Suárez, who moved to Spire from Trackhouse Racing, could lose his seat. In most races so far this season, he has found himself in the middle of the pack with little to show for it. If he does manage to improve, he might earn an extension, but fans don’t see that happening.
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“Suarez is on a one-year deal,” read a comment.
Moreover, they also feel the same for Michael McDowell, speculating his departure from the team soon: “I don’t think a lot of people realize he’s [Suarez] on a one year dead…he also doesn’t bring any sponsorship with him other than Freeway….McDowell is also on a two-year deal, which expires this year…so there is plenty of room for KB.”
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The Mexican had signed with Spire Motorsports, replacing Justin Haley, to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2026 season. This one-year “prove it” deal has Freeway Insurance acting as the anchor sponsor. Meanwhile, McDowell signed a 2-year contract with Spire Motorsports, including a $71 signing bonus. And if rumors are to be believed, then he will be a free agent after the 2026 season.
At the same time, however, some also feel that Suarez could stick with the team for a long time, especially considering his performance at Darlington earlier, pulling in a decent top 10: “If he keeps doing what he did yesterday, he’s for multiple years. First driver in the 7 to be up towards the front on speed and stay there a good chunk of the race. I think McDowell is out next unless he does something spectacular.”
Either way, it seems to be a clear road for Kyle Busch. Moreover, there are some added benefits to it, too, as some claim it would boost the competitive level of the Truck Series:
“It would be great for the truck series as well. When the truck series was at its peak, was when retired cup guys would be there FT racing against the good truck lifers and the young hot prospects.”
Moreover, it could create a chance for Busch’s son, Brexton, to make his NASCAR debut. While he is still too young to be racing at the national level, he would be of the perfect age by the time Kyle Busch decides to hang up his Cup Series helmet and move full-time to the Truck Series.
“Now, Kyle Busch’s original plan was to share a truck with his son, Brexton. Maybe Spire could be keen on signing Brexton, too?” one fan remarked.
Although all of that sounds promising, it’s mostly speculation. Even considering that Busch does plan to run a full-time Truck Series stint in the coming years, there is no solid proof that Spire Motorsports will sign him for their Cup operations as well. Moreover, even though RCR is not exactly competitive even this season, Busch seems to be dedicated to the team and its operations.
NIU’s Huskie Motorsports making a comeback
After several years away, Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Motorsports team returned recently to one of the automotive industry’s most recognizable stages: the Chicago Auto Show.
For the students who design and build the team’s SAE Formula-style race car from the ground up, the opportunity to showcase their work alongside major manufacturers was validation of the group’s resurgence.
“It shows that we can go back to our prime,” said Abid Alnafoosi, the team’s vice president who will soon succeed the graduating Ethan Pritchard as president. “Not only are we able to produce a car that can compete, but we’re also able to show it off to others.”
One of the largest auto shows in North America – first staged in 1901 and held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent – the Chicago Auto Show ran from Feb. 7 through Feb 16. A rotating group of about a dozen NIU students staffed the booth, speaking with attendees, industry professionals and fellow engineering enthusiasts who stopped to take a closer look at the student-built machine.
Standing among the polished displays of major automakers, the experience carried special meaning for these students. Many are eager to build careers in the automotive industry, Alnafoosi noted.
“It was truly inspiring,” he said. “Seeing our car there means we’ve taken a first step into that world.”
Senior Dorian Wike, one of the team’s drivers, and CEET Dean Dave Grewell emphasized the many ways engineering shapes the world – from transportation and manufacturing to everyday technologies.
Wike noted that his involvement with Huskie Motorsports blends his love for engineering with his love for cars.
“I think the thing that interests me most about engineering in general is just the process,” Wike said. “Kind of starting with nothing and then seeing it slowly form and then get made in the real world.”
For Huskie Motorsports students, regional media attention to the event reinforced the broader impact of their work.
The response from attendees throughout the auto show was equally encouraging. Visitors were impressed not only with the car’s design but also with how NIU’s entry compared with vehicles from other universities competing in Formula SAE events.
Patrick Ziegenfuss, membership, operations and events manager at the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and the Chicago Auto Show, said he and his colleagues were excited to welcome the NIU team back and looks forward to their return next year.
“There is no better way for us to engage younger show attendees with an interest in engineering than connecting them with student organizations like Huskie Motorsports to show the opportunities available after high school,” Ziegenfuss said. “To show these prospective students how they can leverage their interest into building and racing their own vehicle is invaluable for us.”
Team members connected with professionals from across the engineering and automotive sectors, opening doors to potential partnerships and future opportunities. Representatives from several manufacturing companies stopped by to learn more about the team’s work, and students even made connections with companies such as Valvoline, Alnafoosi said.
Bolstered by Chicago section of SAE
A key ally in the team’s return to the Chicago Auto Show was the Chicago section of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a professional organization dedicated to all aspects of the vehicle mobility industry.
For Timothy Hicks, a 40-year engineering industry veteran and SAE Chicago Section chair, seeing students like those from Huskie Motorsports engaging with the industry is exactly the kind of pipeline the profession needs. He cited the “obvious enthusiasm” of team members and was impressed by the expertise of students who presented to SAE Chicago members.
“It’s always encouraging to see students this fired up about engineering,” he said. “You talk with them for a few minutes and you can tell – they’re already thinking like engineers. This is the next wave coming into the industry.”
Just as valuable as the networking was the chance for students to sharpen their communication skills. At a venue like the Chicago Auto Show, team members found themselves explaining their engineering decisions to both technical audiences and everyday car enthusiasts.
The experience helped them learn how to translate complex engineering concepts into clear, accessible language—an essential skill for any future engineer.
For Huskie Motorsports, the appearance also helped elevate the visibility of NIU’s engineering programs. Displaying their car alongside entries from other schools, and amid exhibits from major manufacturers, demonstrated the level of work NIU students are capable of producing.
Huskie Motorsports isn’t pumping the brakes on its ambitions, either.
The team is testing and refining its current car in preparation for competitions such as the Pittsburgh Shootout. At the same time, development is already underway on the team’s 2027 vehicle, which members hope will mark a major step forward in performance and design.
For Alnafoosi, the experience affirmed how far the team has come.
“One super notable moment was driving back from the auto show,” Alnafoosi said. “That’s when I finally realized that the dream I had been chasing for two years – seeing our car at the Chicago Auto Show – had come true.”
Kershaw County to review panhandling ban, zoning ordinances
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Kershaw County leaders are set to review several new ordinances during the March 24 County Council meeting.
The meeting will include discussion on three ordinances, including one that would place restrictions on panhandling across the county.
Kershaw County Councilman Derek Shoemake said the proposed ordinance is focused on safety in high-traffic and public areas.
“If you’re in a place where you are eating, if you’re in a place where you are conducting financial transaction, and if you’re in traffic a panhandler can’t come out and beg you for money because that’s a community danger,” Shoemake said.
Two additional ordinances being discussed involve zoning changes.
One proposal centers around a golf course under construction in the northern part of the county near Mt. Pisgah. The course is expected to be open to the public and is requesting expanded amenities.
“They want to go from four rooms to 24 rooms… they want to allow for staff lodging… and they want to allow for a spa and wellness center,” Jonathan Proctor said.
Planning Commission Chairman Jonathan Proctor said the county’s review process is important to ensure the ordinance is not misused.
“But you also want to set this up so that if something happens and this place goes and it doesn’t work that the county is not stuck in a position where there is a bunch of lodging up there that can’t be used,” Proctor said.
Another zoning-related ordinance involves Carolina Motorsports Park.
Proctor said the property owner has previously purchased nearby land to create a buffer due to noise concerns.
“This isn’t the first time he’s done this. Anytime there is an opportunity for him to buy land adjacent to his property he likes to buy it to give them a great buffer because that motor speedway is so loud, and he wants that property to all match,” Proctor said.
As of now, the planning commission is aware that the land will remain a noise buffer.
All ordinances must go through three readings before they can be adopted. The Kershaw County Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Kershaw County Government Center.
Kevin Harvick Raises Questions Over Rick Hendrick’s Loosening Grip on HMS Stars
For years, Rick Hendrick has been the heartbeat of Hendrick Motorsports! Undoubtedly, he has been the steady hand behind one of NASCAR’s most dominant dynasties. When HMS cars were fast, it felt like everything was aligned under his watch. But lately, there’s been a subtle shift. Not a collapse, not even a crisis. Just questions. Plenty of it. And now, Kevin Harvick has added fuel to that conversation, pointing toward something deeper happening behind the scenes.
Kevin Harvick points to a hidden problem inside HMS
“Guys that don’t spend any time in the simulator. How you gonna fix it fellas? Tell me how you gonna fix your car if you don’t go to the simulator? It is not gonna happen and that’s the problem when people get out of the routine of going to the simulator because everything is going good and they start skipping steps in the process.”
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That was Kevin Harvick cutting straight to the core of what he believes could be quietly hurting Hendrick Motorsports. In today’s NASCAR, simulators aren’t optional anymore. In fact, they’re unquestionably essential. With limited on-track testing, teams rely heavily on simulation tools to fine-tune setups, understand aero changes, and prepare for race conditions. Skip that process, even slightly, and you’re essentially guessing on race day.
Kevin Harvick’s point isn’t just about effort but about the discipline behind it. When a team is winning, it’s easy to get comfortable, to trust what’s already working. But the moment that routine slips, performance can follow. The simulator becomes your only real testing ground during the week, and losing that edge can quickly leave teams chasing answers instead of setting the pace.
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That’s what makes Hendrick’s recent dip so noticeable. In 2025, HMS was dominant. The drivers had eight wins, 43 top-five finishes, and over 3,000 laps led combined. The season peaked with Kyle Larson delivering a championship run at Phoenix. Everything just clicked.
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Fast forward to 2026, and the picture looks very different. Six races in, there are zero wins and just four top-five finishes across the entire organization. It’s not a collapse, agreed, but it’s enough to raise eyebrows. And if Kevin Harvick is right, the issue might not be speed alone. It might be a process that quietly slipped out of rhythm.
Martinsville could be the reset Hendrick needs
If there’s one place Hendrick Motorsports can silence the noise, it’s Martinsville Speedway. The numbers alone make that clear. Last fall, William Byron dominated the paperclip, cruising to victory and locking himself into the Championship 4, while also delivering HMS its record-extending 30th win at the track, the most by any team at a single venue in NASCAR history.
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And it’s not just Byron. Chase Elliott has been remarkably consistent here, entering the weekend with four straight top-four finishes. Byron himself has two wins in that same stretch, while Kyle Larson has quietly built one of the most reliable records at Martinsville, finishing inside the top six in seven consecutive races dating back to 2022.
There’s also a wildcard in the mix. Justin Allgaier will once again step into the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, filling in for Alex Bowman as he continues recovering from vertigo. Allgaier brings experience of his own, including a Martinsville win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series in 2023.
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On paper, everything lines up for a Hendrick rebound. The track suits them, the drivers have the history, and the expectations are sky-high. Now the question is simple: Can they translate that past dominance into present results, or will the early-season concerns continue to linger?
80-year-old New Salem man pleads guilty in NH for illegal possession of gun
CONCORD, N.H. — A New Salem man’s handwritten message to suspected gun smugglers was hardly subtle.
“The ATF is watching u,” a note scribbled on a piece of paper and stuck on a car’s windshield read, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire.
Douglas Mulligan, 80, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Mulligan was an employee at American Trikes & Motorsports, a motorcycle repair shop in Keene, New Hampshire, and purchased a firearm from a customer on behalf of the store, according to the charges. He had a prior felony conviction and had been warned.
“Doug Mulligan repeatedly disregarded warnings he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, and therefore could not work in a gun store,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas Greco in the statement. “Mulligan used his association with a federal firearm licensee to not only evade restrictions on his own possession of firearms, but to obstruct a federal investigation into other guns being trafficked to prohibited persons.”
He left the note to alert buyers they were under investigation as part of a New Hampshire-to-Canada gun trafficking ring, authorities said.
The charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person provides a maximum prison term of 15 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release.
Mulligan’s sentencing is set for July 7.
If SoCal hotels, stadiums host ICE agents, employees can miss work, union says as World Cup nears
LOS ANGELES — The union representing thousands of local hospitality workers is demanding that Southern California hotels and stadiums refrain from hosting federal immigration agents as guests on their properties.
In a letter sent to scores of local hotels, stadiums and airport vendors on Monday, Unite Here Local 11 said that after the chaos and violence in Minneapolis — where federal agents were involved in the killings of two U.S. citizens — the presence of immigration personnel could pose a real danger to hospitality workers and guests alike.
The letter comes ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expected to be part of the event’s “overall security apparatus,” according to comments by the agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons, at a congressional hearing in February.
Ana Mendez, 43, who has worked as a banquet server at J.W. Marriott for 15 years, said the events in Minneapolis had scared workers, many of whom are immigrants and have begun to worry about even commuting to work during the upcoming World Cup.
“We know ICE isn’t just here to enforce the law, they are agitators, they are being violent, they are killing community members. … Anything can happen,” Mendez said. “The whole industry needs to understand that we cannot put our lives at risk. Money is important, our jobs are important, but our life and our safety is more important. We need to make sure that we come back to our families.”
The union said in its letter that its labor contracts enshrine the right to a safe workplace, and that the presence of ICE or U.S. Border Patrol agents inside or in the immediate vicinity of properties constitutes “unusually dangerous conditions” that trigger employees’ right to refuse to work. The contracts also prohibit employers from allowing immigration agents onto their properties without a warrant, the letter said.
“We want to be clear,” the letter said. “If ICE or similar enforcement agents are present at or near your property, workers must be allowed to leave or refuse to report to work without reprisal.”
Besides the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, the letter notes the killing of Keith Porter in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve by an off-duty ICE agent. It cites reports from its members of “violent and frightening incidents in their own communities” — including the detention of legal permanent residents and citizens — and of “abhorrent” conditions in detention facilities. The letter notes that protests were held last summer outside hotels in Pasadena and elsewhere in L.A. County that were housing federal agents.
“When hotels are used to house ICE or Border Patrol personnel, workers may be exposed to situations involving heavy armed federal presence, protests, and law-enforcement responses that can escalate rapidly,” the letter reads. “Our members — your employees — must not be forced to be exposed to the violence, trauma, and safety risks.”
The union sent the letter to more than 200 employers across Southern California and Arizona with whom it has labor contracts covering more than 32,000 workers.
The American Hotel and Lodging Assn., a hospitality industry group, did not provide an answer on whether its Southern California members planned to comply with the union’s requests.
“As places of public accommodation, hotels play a unique role in their communities and are focused on the safety and well-being of their employees, guests, and the broader public. Hoteliers are committed to acting with care, professionalism, and respect for the communities in which they operate,” the association said in a statement.
The Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles did not respond to a request for comment. Several individual hotels and stadiums, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is set as the L.A. venue for the World Cup, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It’s not the first time L.A. hospitality workers have pushed for protections from incursions by federal agents.
In contract negotiations with scores of hotels during a major strike that began in 2023, Unite Here Local 11 successfully pushed for provisions prohibiting employers from using E-Verify, a long-standing computer-based federal program that makes it easy for employers to spot and reject unauthorized immigrants seeking jobs.
In early 2025, soon after Donald Trump took office for his second term, Unite Here Local 11 sent a letter backed by thousands of hotel workers urging their employers to call on Congress and the president to preserve and extend temporary authorization programs for immigrants seeking asylum as well as recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.
In December, stadium workers delivered hundreds of petition signatures urging Crypto.com Arena to call on LA28 and the International Olympic Committee to commit to keeping federal immigration agents out of Olympic venues and events.
Last month, Universal Studios Hollywood employees — including those who work in food service, in warehouses and as ride operators, character performers and tour guides — held a rally at CityWalk where they called on NBCUniversal to adopt “protections against immigration enforcement activity on park property and to take a public stand to ensure safety and dignity for workers and visitors.” Contract negotiations are ongoing, and Universal Studios did not respond to a request for comment about the action.
If L.A. hotels, stadiums host ICE, union says employees can skip work
The union representing thousands of local hospitality workers is demanding that Southern California hotels and stadiums refrain from hosting federal immigration agents as guests on their properties.
In a letter sent to scores of local hotels, stadiums and airport vendors on Monday, Unite Here Local 11 said that after the chaos and violence in Minneapolis — where federal agents were involved in the killings of two U.S. citizens — the presence of immigration personnel could pose a real danger to hospitality workers and guests alike.
The letter comes ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expected to be part of the event’s “overall security apparatus,” according to comments by the agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons, at a congressional hearing in February.
Ana Mendez, 43, who has worked as a banquet server at J.W. Marriott for 15 years, said the events in Minneapolis had scared workers, many of whom are immigrants and have begun to worry about even commuting to work during the upcoming World Cup.
“We know ICE isn’t just here to enforce the law, they are agitators, they are being violent, they are killing community members. … Anything can happen,” Mendez said. “The whole industry needs to understand that we cannot put our lives at risk. Money is important, our jobs are important, but our life and our safety is more important. We need to make sure that we come back to our families.”
The union said in its letter that its labor contracts enshrine the right to a safe workplace, and that the presence of ICE or U.S. Border Patrol agents inside or in the immediate vicinity of properties constitutes “unusually dangerous conditions” that trigger employees’ right to refuse to work. The contracts also prohibit employers from allowing immigration agents onto their properties without a warrant, the letter said.
“We want to be clear,” the letter said. “If ICE or similar enforcement agents are present at or near your property, workers must be allowed to leave or refuse to report to work without reprisal.”
Besides the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, the letter notes the killing of Keith Porter in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve by an off-duty ICE agent. It cites reports from its members of “violent and frightening incidents in their own communities” — including the detention of legal permanent residents and citizens — and of “abhorrent” conditions in detention facilities. The letter notes that protests were held last summer outside hotels in Pasadena and elsewhere in L.A. County that were housing federal agents.
“When hotels are used to house ICE or Border Patrol personnel, workers may be exposed to situations involving heavy armed federal presence, protests, and law-enforcement responses that can escalate rapidly,” the letter reads. “Our members — your employees — must not be forced to be exposed to the violence, trauma, and safety risks.”
The union sent the letter to more than 200 employers across Southern California and Arizona with whom it has labor contracts covering more than 32,000 workers.
The American Hotel and Lodging Assn., a hospitality industry group, did not provide an answer on whether its Southern California members planned to comply with the union’s requests.
“As places of public accommodation, hotels play a unique role in their communities and are focused on the safety and well-being of their employees, guests, and the broader public. Hoteliers are committed to acting with care, professionalism, and respect for the communities in which they operate,” the association said in a statement.
The Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles did not respond to a request for comment. Several individual hotels and stadiums, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is set as the L.A. venue for the World Cup, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It’s not the first time L.A. hospitality workers have pushed for protections from incursions by federal agents.
In contract negotiations with scores of hotels during a major strike that began in 2023, Unite Here Local 11 successfully pushed for provisions prohibiting employers from using E-Verify, a long-standing computer-based federal program that makes it easy for employers to spot and reject unauthorized immigrants seeking jobs.
In early 2025, soon after Trump took office for his second term, Unite Here Local 11 sent a letter backed by thousands of hotel workers urging their employers to call on Congress and the president to preserve and extend temporary authorization programs for immigrants seeking asylum as well as recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.
In December, stadium workers delivered hundreds of petition signatures urging Crypto.com Arena to call on LA28 and the International Olympic Committee to commit to keeping federal immigration agents out of Olympic venues and events.
NFL stadiums must scrub all branding for FIFA’s World Cup. One roof got an exemption
In the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, several NFL stadiums have been dealing with a peculiar headache: multi-hundred-foot rooftop logos that, by FIFA mandate, must not be visible during the tournament.
Soccer’s global governing body requires all World Cup venues to scrub themselves of pre-existing branding. It does this, it says, to “protect its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors.”
And it has extended the requirement to skyward-facing logos or lettering on stadium roofs, the type that is only visible from airplanes or overhead camera angles.
So, for months, stadium operators have been in talks with FIFA and third parties searching for solutions. With fewer than 100 days until kickoff, some of the 11 NFL venues set to host World Cup games still don’t know exactly how they’ll cover or conceal the rooftop branding, according to multiple people briefed on their plans.
And one, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, came to an uncomfortable conclusion this winter: it couldn’t figure out a way to cover the massive Mercedes-Benz star on its eight-piece retractable roof without risking significant damage.
So, after roughly 18 months of discussions, FIFA agreed to let the stadium leave its roof as is, according to multiple people briefed on the situation.
FIFA, in a statement from a spokesperson, said it would “not comment on specific arrangements relating to individual stadiums.”
In general, though, it said: “FIFA is working closely with stadium authorities and host cities to implement (brand protection) requirements in a manner consistent with previous editions of the tournament, while taking into account the unique infrastructure and operational considerations at each venue.”
U.S. stadiums are generally more commercialized than sporting arenas elsewhere around the world. And to a degree, they are accustomed to “de-branding” for special events, such as College Football Playoff games. When outside entities rent NFL stadiums, some sponsor logos and displays are turned over to the renter for temporary, event-specific branding, especially inside the building.
But the stadiums rarely, if ever, have to ditch their sponsored names, like they will this summer. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be “Atlanta Stadium.” MetLife Stadium will be “New York New Jersey Stadium.” Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will be “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium,” according to FIFA.
And they rarely, if ever, have been forced to conceal branding on their roofs.
They didn’t have to at last summer’s Club World Cup, when stadium use was governed by standard rental agreements. But for the international World Cup, each stadium signed a near-100-page contract with FIFA late last decade.
In clause 6.4.ii of those contracts, a few of which have been obtained via public records requests, the stadiums agreed to “the requirement that there shall be no advertising, marketing, promotion, merchandising, licensing, signage or other commercial identification of any kind on any stands, scoreboards, seats, seatbacks, time clocks, staff uniforms, Accreditation passes, fences or elsewhere inside, surrounding, or in the airspace above and around the Stadium other than that which is installed by, or at the direction of, FIFA or which is approved in writing by FIFA.”
That was the challenge Mercedes-Benz Stadium officials confronted years ago. Adam Fullerton, the stadium’s vice-president of operations, said in early 2025 that he was confident in his team’s ability to cover all indoor signage, and in its extensive plan to install a grass pitch in place of artificial turf; but the roof, he said, was “what is keeping me up at night.”
“And it’s not just on the roof,” he said of the Mercedes logos, which represent a clear conflict with FIFA’s “official mobility partners,” Hyundai and Kia. “It’s on all the facades of the stadium, too. And they’re not small. They’re large. By design.”
FIFA, he acknowledged, had the “clean-site principle in the contract,” but then he added with a smile: “There’s been a healthy debate on exactly what ‘clean site’ means.”
He said that he and the stadium were “trying to come up with a good idea for how to actually mask those (logos) but still leave the building looking presentable and fun.
“So, I’ve really pushed back on FIFA and said, ‘OK, help us. What are you gonna brand our venue as? Help us come up with a branding package.’”
Similar processes were ongoing at other World Cup stadiums. SoFi Stadium’s SVP of facilities, Otto Benedict, said at the time that he and his team were “documenting and identifying” all signage that would need to be dealt with. “That goes back to FIFA,” he said. “And then we’ll wait for their confirmation on the things that they want to see. And then we’ll go put together a plan.”
Despite the SoFi branding on the stadium’s roof, Benedict didn’t sound too concerned. But “in talking to my counterparts (at other stadiums),” he noted, “they’re a little overwhelmed in what they have to do.”
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Seattle’s Lumen Field, Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, Houston’s NRG Stadium and Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field also have skyward-facing branding.
The Hard Rock logos in Miami and the “LUMEN FIELD” lettering in Seattle — which stretches approximately the length of a football field — are on either side of partial roofs.
The “nrg stadium” branding in Houston is on the “eyelids” of a retractable roof, meaning it’s always visible from above.
The “Lincoln Financial Field” branding in Philadelphia is next to solar panels on thin lips that cover the uppermost seats in the top deck.
In Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, there are two large AT&T logos on either end of a retractable roof and “AT&T STADIUM” plastered on both sides.
Spokespeople and others familiar with the planning at multiple stadiums told The Athletic this month that they do have to cover the rooftop branding. But they could not say how, exactly, that would be done.
Lumen Field’s general manager, Zach Hensley, told the Puget Sound Business Journal in November that figuring out a solution for the roof was the hardest part of the de-branding process, and would be done professionally rather than with something like a tarp.
It was most difficult, though, in Atlanta, which is scheduled to host eight games, including a semifinal.
The rooftop star at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is patterned onto eight interlocking and movable panels, each weighing 500 tons and stretching 220 feet long. The “petals,” as they’re known, close to form a multi-acre roof “inspired by the oculus in the ancient Roman Pantheon.”
The panels are part-ETFE, a “malleable plastic material that’s inflated with air,” Fullerton explained in January. “So, those pillows present a bit of a challenge. … We’ve gotta go up on those pillows and actually cover up the emblem and make that disappear.”
At the time, he indicated that the “leading plan” was a “vinyl graphic, and a pretty interesting lay-down method” to cover the emblem. But stadium representatives cautioned that the plan wasn’t finalized.
‘We’ve had a lot of long conversations with our manufacturers and installers of the roof system,” Fullerton said, “… and (with) our signage vendor that we’ve engaged to help us with a lot of this work.”
Less than two months later, those conversations led to the agreement with FIFA that the emblem won’t have to be covered after all.
FIFA, when asked why, did not explain. Mercedes-Benz Stadium spokespeople also declined to comment. But multiple sources told The Athletic that the primary reason for the exception was the risk of damage to the roof, which could cost millions of dollars to repair.
One also pointed out that the Mercedes logo — unlike those on other stadium roofs — is not visible when the roof is open.
For the World Cup, though, like for NFL and MLS games, stadiums with retractable roofs have been planning to keep them closed for the duration of the tournament, allowing them to maintain a climate-controlled environment for fans, players and grass. Fullerton confirmed in January that this was Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s plan. “We do not intend on opening the roof,” he said. It’s unclear if FIFA would consider changing that plan for branding reasons.
Earlier in the talks with several stadiums, digital solutions were also discussed. The thinking was that broadcast production teams could use technology, such as computer-generated imagery, to scrub logos virtually for viewers around the world. A FIFA spokesperson told Sports Business Journal last summer that the technology wasn’t advanced enough to guarantee full coverage in aerial shots of stadiums, but it presumably remains an option.
Broadcasters could also be forced to avoid aerial shots of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s unclear what the eventual solution will be.
MLB stadium food What’s new to eat and drink this season
Scooby Axson
USA TODAY
March 24, 2026, 12:11 p.m. ET
The new Major League Baseball season starts this week, and fans are excited to get back in the swing of things after an exciting World Series win by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Venezuela’s triumph at the World Baseball Classic.
Along with watching the baseball action on the field, another part of the appeal of going to the ballpark is eating, because there is nothing better than chowing down between strikeouts, ABS challenges and the occasional idiot running on the field.
While the old-school staples of hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and beer will always be on hand for those who don’t like experimenting, the new food and drink additions for people who want to challenge their taste buds will have fans stuffing their faces when they sample the new eats at various ballparks.
Here are some of the more interesting foods and beverages available this season at major-league stadiums:
Various stadiums – The 9-9-9 Challenge
Impress your friends by waddling out of the stadium by attempting to eat 9 mini hot dogs and 9 mini beers in 9 innings.
Available at Citi Field, New York; Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia; Coors Field, Denver; Daikin Park, Houston, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City; Oracle Park, San Francisco.
Seattle Mariners – Washington State Ferry Boat Souvenir Vessel
If fans can’t get enough of toasted grasshoppers at T-Mobile Park then they can fill their bellies with a collectible ferry boat with items such as chicken fingers, crab-topped nachos, crab dips, and fish and chips.
Washington Nationals – DC Monument Chicken Tower
This loaded burger is complete with grilled chicken on a soft pretzel bun, smoked bacon, creamy chipotle ranch and Gruyère cheese.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Shareable Souvenir Nacho Buckets +
Serie A CEO De Siervo: ‘Italy has Europe’s oldest stadiums, we must modernise’
Luigi De Siervo has warned that Italian football is falling behind its European rivals due to outdated infrastructure, insisting modern stadiums are essential for the future of the game.
Speaking to Undici, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Lega Serie A CEO highlighted the scale of the issue.
“In our country we have the oldest stadiums in Europe, with an average age of over 70 years per venue,” De Siervo said. “Fortunately, the situation is starting to change, but the new economic model will not be fully operational for at least six or seven years. In the meantime, the gap with other leagues will continue to grow.”
Serie A CEO De Siervo wants modernisation ahead of Euro 2032
Italy is set to co-host UEFA Euro 2032, a deadline De Siervo described as impossible to ignore. Especially with a new stadium for Milan and Inter entering construction soon and proposals from both Lazio and Roma to move on from the Stadio Olimpico.
“We have a deadline that cannot be postponed: in 2032 we will host the European Championships. There are outstanding projects, such as the new stadium in Milan with an investment of over €1 billion, as well as important plans involving Lazio and Roma. Discussions are ongoing in Genoa, while in Florence there is a moment of profound transformation.”
De Siervo stressed that infrastructure is closely tied to financial growth, particularly as clubs look to diversify revenue streams beyond broadcasting. In Milan, for example, an entirely new San Siro complex will offer more commercial opportunities and is expected to boost revenue massively. It is no surprise that the clubs chose to work with an architectural firm that has worked on other huge stadiums in Europe, such as London’s Wembley Stadium.
“Right now we are going through the most difficult phase. Our clubs are still heavily reliant on TV revenue, but commercial income is growing. Having modern, state-of-the-art stadiums would provide a major boost in that respect.”
He also pointed to a broader shift within the industry, with new executives bringing fresh ideas into Italian football.
“Fortunately, football is now attracting managers from more advanced industries, introducing new skills, different visions and ambitious projects.”
For Serie A, modernisation is no longer optional, it is a necessary step to remain competitive on and off the pitch.
California hospitality union makes outrageous demand about ICE agents
A union’s high-stakes demand could complicate preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with millions of visitors expected to descend on Los Angeles in just a few months.
The labor group Unite Here Local 11, which represents tens of thousands of hospitality workers across Southern California, is urging hotels, stadiums and airport-area businesses not to host federal immigration agents on their properties during the global tournament, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The request, outlined in a letter sent Monday to more than 200 employers — encompassing over 32,000 workers — raises concerns about how security operations tied to the event could intersect with workplace conditions in one of the country’s largest tourism hubs.
This comes as the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told a congressional committee the agency would play “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup” when asked whether operations would be paused for the tournament.
Todd Lyons made the remarks while testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, where he and other senior officials faced questions following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The union argues that the presence of agents from ICE or other federal agencies could create what it describes as unsafe or volatile environments for workers and guests, according to the Los Angeles based paper.
“We know ICE isn’t just here to enforce the law, they are agitators, they are being violent, they are killing community members,” Ana Mendez, 43, told the Times. “Anything can happen.”
She has has worked as a banquet server at the J.W. Marriott for 15 years and said the situation in Minnesota scares her.
“The whole industry needs to understand that we cannot put our lives at risk. Money is important, our jobs are important, but our life and our safety is more important. We need to make sure that we come back to our families,” she added.
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Immigrants make up 32.7% of California’s labor force and support the state’s economy in many ways, according to the American Immigration Council. Of California’s 10.6 million immigrants, 2.28 million are undocumented — representing one in five immigrants and 8% of all workers in California, a UCLA study found.
Unite Here Local 11 maintains that its labor agreements guarantee a safe workplace and says the presence of immigration agents could qualify as “unusually dangerous conditions.”
Under those contracts, workers may have the right to refuse to work or leave a job site without facing discipline if such conditions arise.
“We want to be clear,” the letter said. “If ICE or similar enforcement agents are present at or near your property, workers must be allowed to leave or refuse to report to work without reprisal.”
The union also emphasized that its contracts prohibit employers from allowing immigration agents onto private property without a warrant.
The issue is not entirely new in Los Angeles.
During 2023 strike-era hotel contract negotiations, Unite Here Local 11 secured clauses barring employers from using the federal E-Verify system to screen out undocumented workers.
Industry groups have largely stayed quiet, with a national hotel association stressing safety but not saying if hotels will comply. Several major venues have not commented.
This demand from the union also comes after LA mayor Karen Bass directed city staff to bar ICE from city property, increase LAPD monitoring of federal immigration agents, and ensure compliance with new state restrictions on federal enforcement.
The White House has also created a task force to lead and coordinate federal efforts in support of FIFA, with the Trump administration expected to play an active oversight role.
With Los Angeles preparing for large World Cup crowds, staffing disruptions — especially in hospitality —could strain its ability to handle visitors amid growing friction between the Trump administration and California leaders.
The Department of Homeland Security in a statement to the Post, wrote, “DHS will work with our local and federal partners to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup — in line with federal law the U.S. Constitution — as we do with every major sporting event, while showcasing American greatness to the entire world.”
“Our mission is simple: ensure every fan – Americans and visitors alike – has a safe and unforgettable experience.”
“International visitors who legally come to the United States for the World Cup have nothing to worry about,” the statement continued. “What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S. — full stop. Speculation to the contrary is ill-informed. At the same time, foreign visitors MUST be proactive and should start working on their travel plans and documents well ahead of time to ensure a smooth travel experience.”
The California Post also reached out to the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for comment.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19, kicking off with the opening match and ceremonies in Los Angeles and concluding with the final in New Jersey.
Hotel and stadium workers can refuse work if ICE is present, union says as World Cup approaches
A union representing thousands of hospitality workers told hotels, stadiums and other employers that employees have the right to refuse work if ICE and Border Protection personnel are present on their property.
UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents 32,000 workers in Southern California and Arizona, said that the presence of federal immigration agents creates
Who are Cincinnati’s returning boys tennis state qualifiers?
Mason’s Greg Bernadsky and St. Xavier’s Nihal Narisetty return after facing each other in the 2025 Division I singles state final.
Bernadsky, the reigning Division I singles champion, did not lose a set during the entire 2025 postseason.
Indian Hill returns multiple state qualifiers, including doubles state runner-up Neelan Gandhi and state semifinalists Gareth Kurowski and Jeremy Starcynowski.
In last year’s Ohio High School Athletic Association boys tennis postseason, an all Greater Cincinnati match took place in the Division I singles tournament.
In the Division I final, Mason’s Greg Bernadsky beat St. Xavier’s Nihal Narisetty 6-4, 6-4, to win the championship. In 2026, both Bernadsky and Narisetty are back after meeting each other in the sectional, district and state finals.
With the Ohio tennis season approaching, here are the returning qualifiers from the 2025 OHSAA singles and doubles tournaments.
Note: Some doubles teams from 2025 are grouped together if both returned in 2026. They may not necessarily be doubles partners again this season.
Cincinnati boys tennis returning state qualifiers
Greg Bernadsky, Mason
Greg Bernadsky was a singles state qualifier in 2023 before missing the 2024 season with a wrist injury. Back for his junior campaign in 2025, the Cornell University commit secured the Division I singles state championship. Bernadsky didn’t drop a set in the postseason.
Bernadsky also helped Mason to its victory in the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team state tournament.
Zander Chan, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Chan, now a junior, was teamed with Julian Guitron last season, qualifying for the Division II doubles state tournament. The pair were also, second-team All-Miami Valley Conference.
Neelan Gandhi, Indian Hill
A junior this season, Neelan Gandhi was teamed last season with the now-graduated Michael Ryu. Gandhi and Ryu were district champions who reached the Division II doubles state tournament finals, where they dropped the match to a pair from Bexley.
Gareth Kurowski/Jeremy Starcynowski, Indian Hill
Gareth Kurowski, a freshman in 2025, and Jeremy Starczynowski, a sophomore last season, were Division II doubles state qualifiers last season for Indian Hill. The pair placed second at their district tournament and were then semifinalists at state. They finished in fourth place overall.
Nihal Narisetty, St. Xavier
As a freshman in 2024, Nihal Narisetty was in a doubles grouping with Chase Homan that reached the state finals where the Bomber pair finished in second to Sycamore’s Nicholas Choo and Chase Klugo.
Last season, Narisetty was in the singles bracket where he was the sectional, district and state runner-up, each time falling to Mason’s Greg Bernadsky.
Adi Nayak, Seven Hills
Adi Nayak has twice qualified for the Division II singles state tournament. As a sophomore in 2024, he reached the state semifinals before taking the third-place match in an injury default against teammate Avi Mahajan. Last season, he was a district runner-up before going 1-1 at the state tournament.
Peyton Nelson, Springboro
Peyton Nelson, a junior this season, spent his first two campaigns teamed up in doubles with Drew Baumgartner, who graduated after last season. The pair were two-time state qualifiers in Division I doubles, including last season when they secured a fourth-place finish.
Janek Teply/Daniel Tonkal, Mason
Janek Teply was a freshman in 2025 and Daniel Tonkal a junior when the pair teamed to win a sectional crown before finishing as the runner-up pair at the district tournament. At the state doubles tournament, Teply and Tonkal won their first match before falling to the champions from New Albany in the quarterfinals.
Paula Badosa’s emotional Instagram post about ‘f–king fear’ after falling out of top 100
You haven’t seen the last of Paula Badosa.
The Spanish tennis star opened up in a vulnerable social media post, following her second-round exit in the Miami Open against Iva Jovic — which is set to drop her out of the WTA top 100 rankings.
On Instagram, the former World No. 2 gave followers a raw look into her compromised emotional state after getting hit with yet another setback.
“Fear, f–king fear. How brutal it is. Sometimes I feel like I can’t control the voices inside me,” she wrote on her Instagram story Monday night.
“The emotions are too much, and I find myself overwhelmed. Doubts take hold of me, and I feel lost in a sea of emotions.”
Badosa had seemingly punched a one-way ticket to superstardom, winning the Indian Wells title in 2021, among several other triumphs, and surging to second place in the world rankings in April 2022.
But the Manhattan-born Spaniard’s career has been derailed by various injuries, which have caused her to miss several marquee tournaments in recent years.
One year after storming to the Australian Open semifinals in 2025, her best Grand Slam result to date, Badosa got bounced in the second round at the same event in January — fueling a dramatic ratings drop.
She trekked down to South Beach sitting as the World No. 100, and Saturday’s 6-2, 6-1 loss to Jovic, the rising American star, knocked her down to No. 113 in the live global standings.
Still, the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year is no stranger to being on the ropes — and she punctuated her message with a guarantee that she’ll be “back.”
“There’s one thing I’m clear about… I’ll always try with all my strength. I’ll do whatever it takes. I won’t be remembered for winning the most titles, but I want to be remembered for this. For these moments. For showing that Paula was able to come through,” Badosa wrote.
“Because once again, I’m going to prove that I can come through. It’ll be really tough, but I promise I’ll keep going until I do. And even if things don’t work out right now, and there are a thousand opinions… I’ll keep going. And keep going. Paula isn’t back… but she will be.”
In missing both the Madrid Open and Italian Open last year, there is a silver lining for Badosa: she has a limited number of ranking points to defend during the clay court session.
As outlined by The Tennis Gazette, Badosa only has to defend 238 ranking points until after the French Open next month, and she’s already confirmed to play in two clay court tournaments.
She’ll also compete at the Charleston Open next week, where she’s a former semifinalist, and then return to Europe as a wildcard entrant for the WTA 250 tournament in Rouen, France.
Even outside the top 100, Badosa could likely draw a wildcard for her home WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid.
But she may have to qualify for the Roland Garros, which would mark her first time in a Grand Slam qualifier since the US Open in 2019.
Taylor Fritz’s Girlfriend Morgan Riddle Turns Heads in White Miami Open Outfit
28-year-old United States tennis star Taylor Fritz is currently facing off against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia in the Round of 16 at the 2026 Miami Open.
Fritz is looking to produce the first victory of his 2026 season, after a successful 2025 campaign where he won two ATP titles and made it to the semifinal of Wimbledon before coming up short against two-time defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.
Regardless of how Fritz’s time at the Miami Open finishes, there’s no question that he’s winning off the court. This is owed to his relationship with long-term girlfriend, Morgan Riddle.
Fritz and Riddle (who is a fashion influencer) have been in a relationship since 2020. While Fritz has a son named Jordan (who was born in 2017), with former professional tennis player Raquel Pedraza (to whom he was married from 2016 to 2019), this hasn’t changed anything about the strong bond with Riddle and Fritz share.
Morgan Riddle Makes Statement With White Outfit at Miami Open
Pre usual with his other tournaments, Riddle has accompanied Fritz at the Miami Open. This was made clear by an Instagram post that Alisha Revel (@alisharevel) made on March 23, which showed the outfits of several prominent influencers who attended this tennis tournament.
Riddle is the final person who is shown in the video. She can be seen wearing an eye-catching white romper and strikes a pose that’s fitting for her platform. The post is captioned,
Whitefish’s Dryden among 5 MCA Hall of Fame inductees
The Montana Coaches Association on Monday released a list of five Montana coaches that will be inducted into its Hall of Fame on July 30, and the list includes veteran Whitefish tennis coach Pat Dryden.
Dryden is joined in the class by two longtime Frenchtown coaches, Eli Field (softball) and Dennis Normand (track) along with Jim O’Neil of Laurel and Steve Stosich of Butte.
Dryden has been in the coaching ranks 40 years, 32 of them in Montana — two at Havre, two at Hellgate and the last 28 (and counting) at Whitefish. The Missoula Sentinel graduate has guided the Bulldog girls’ tennis program to remarkable success, including 10 conference championships and nine State A trophies: three state titles, three runners up and three third-place finishes.
Six times Dryden was an MCA Coach of the Year nominee and he received the honor three times. He was a national (NHSACA) coach of the year finalist in 2022; he’s been a member of the MCA for 25 years.
Field has coached for 25 years, all at Frenchtown, and he’s been the Broncs’ softball coach for 21. The Broncs have gone 441-98 under his guidance with eight State A championships, six second-place finishes and four thirds. A 20-year MCA member, Eli has been named Coach of the Year four times and nominated for the honor 14 times.
Normand has spent 35 of his 38 years coaching at Frenchtown, where he led the cross country program for 24 seasons as well as the girls’ track and field squad. He took over Drummond’s cross country program and added to an already impressive resume: Three State C titles, two runners-up and three third-place finishes at Drummond to go with one State A track and field crown and five runner-up finishes with Frenchtown.
O’Neil has been at Laurel 38 seasons and was a longtime assistant for football and track and field before taking over the Locomotive golf program in 2017. Since then Laurel has racked up 10 State A championships (6 boys and 4 girls), a state runner-up and a third place trophy. O’Neil was MCA coach of the year 10 times and an NHSACA finalist in 2023.
Stosich has served in Butte, America for an incredible 53 years, 15 at Butte Central and 38 at Butte High. He was wrestling coach for four years at Central and head softball coach at Butte High for nine. He spent 14 years as a football assistant for legendary coaches Bob Petrino, Ron Kenison, Bob Beers and John McElroy. He spent 17 years as a wrestling assistant for Jim Street and for 24 years he assisted track and field coaches Fred Bull and Charlie Merrifield. He’s been part of two State AA football titles and 13 AA wrestling titles with Butte, along with two runner-up trophies in track and five divisional football titles at Central.
All five will be inducted as part of the 2025 MCA Awards Ceremony on July 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Great Falls C.M. Russell HIgh School Auxiliary Gym.
Querrey to be honored at The 124th Ojai Tennis Tournament in April
Before embarking on a long and successful career in professional tennis, the 2006 Thousand Oaks High graduate reached four finals at The Ojai.
Now a 38-year-old broadcaster and podcaster, Querrey will return Libbey Park next month as the “Tournament Honoree” for the 124th Ojai Tennis Tournament
Querrey, who won 10 singles championships and five doubles titles on the ATP Tour, will be celebrated at a special fundraising event Friday April 24 at Hotel El Roblar in Ojai.
Libbey Park was the ultimate destination for a teenage Sam Querrey.
Before embarking on a long and successful career in professional tennis, the 2006 Thousand Oaks High graduate reached four finals at the famed The Ojai Tennis Tournament.
Querrey won the Boys’ CIF event as a high school sophomore in 2004, and reached the Men’s Open singles finals in 2006 and Men’s Open doubles finals with Grant Doyle in 2005 and 2006.
“The goal is you want to play in Libbey Park,” Querrey said. “You knew it was going to be a packed house.
“It’s like one of the few times as a junior or a high school player, or even when you played the Men’s Open, you were guaranteed a big crowd in the final.”
Now a 38-year-old broadcaster and podcaster, Querrey will return to Libbey Park next month as the “Tournament Honoree” for the 124th Ojai Tennis Tournament.
“Growing up around the area, Ojai was big,” Querrey said. “You would rather win Ojai over the Junior Sectionals. You would rather win Ojai over a lot of other tournaments that were actually considered maybe bigger events.
“It almost felt like a mini-Wimbledon, winning Ojai.”
Querrey, who won 10 singles championships and five doubles titles on the ATP Tour, will be celebrated at a special fundraising event on Friday, April 24, at Hotel El Roblar in Ojai.
The event will include dinner, drinks and music provided by Gilga Radio. Tickets are $150. A limited number remain on sale at TheOjai.net.
The proceeds support The Ojai and the Ojai Valley Tennis Club, youth tennis programs, Libbey Park and local tennis facilities throughout Ojai.
This year’s tournament will include The Ojai debut for the Big Ten Conference’s men’s postseason tournament; Open singles and doubles events with an overall purse of $20,000; California Community College Athletic Association championships; Boys’ CIF singles and doubles tournaments; and boys and girls junior competitions.
Querrey, who hung his racket up after a 16-year pro career in 2022, is now among American tennis’ leading commentators, broadcasting for ESPN, TNT, the CW Network and the Tennis Channel.
He also hosts the “Nothing Major” podcast with friends and former rivals Stevie Johnson — a former Ojai champion — John Isner and Jack Sock.
Querrey peaked at No. 11 in the world in Febuary 2018, after winning his last two ATP singles titles and advancing to the semifinals at Wimbledon and quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.
State College boys tennis hands Lower Dauphin its first loss of the season
State College boys tennis beat Lower Dauphin 4-1 Tuesday. This was the Falcons’ first loss of the season.
Will Lin and Eric Lin picked up singles wins for State College. Will Lin beat Ethan Eberly 6-1, 6-4, and Eric Lin defeated Riley Beers 6-0, 6-1. Lower Dauphin’s Anthony Bruno took down Evan Zhang 6-3, 6-4.
State College swept the doubles matches. Jude Cessna and Frank Hsu defeated Ian Lane and Ezra McKelvie 6-2, 6-1. Dash Nealon and Henry Poole beat Levi Dickinson and Andrew Bruno 6-0, 6-1.
Lower Dauphin snapped a four-game winning streak, dropping to 4-1.
Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Stuns in Pink Crop Top at Miami Open
There have been some surprising results to this point at the Miami Open. Perhaps the most surprising of all was when world No. 1-ranked player Carlos Alcaraz suffered a defeat to Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Round of 32.
While the clear favorite to win is Italy’s Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz bowing out of the tournament earlier than anticipated means that the playing field is much more open than it often is in these tournaments. It also means that American tennis stars like 28-year-old Tommy Paul have an opportunity to make a major splash in Miami.
Paul (who is currently the world’s No. 23-ranked player, according to the ATP) secured a victory in straight sets against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry on March 24. This means he’s set up to face France’s Arthur Fils in the Quarterfinal.
Tommy Paul is trying to build off perhaps the best professional year of his career in 2025. He became the first American man in 23 years to reach the quarterfinals of the Paris Open before losing to Alcaraz, but this successful tournament vaulted him all the way up to No. 8 in the world rankings at the time.
What’s for certain is that Paul has the unconditional support of Paige Lorenze, his influencer and entrepreneur, who is best known for the lifestyle brand Dairy Boy.
The couple has been dating since 2022, and Paul has made many appearances on Lorenze’s social media channels. Paul and Lorenze were engaged in July of 2025, and she is constantly seen on tour with him.
Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Turns Heads in Bold Pink Miami Open Outfit
Lorenze is with Paul at the Miami Open right now. And an outfit she wore earlier in the week is causing quite a stir.
Lorenze made a March 21 Instagram post that showed her in a pink and yellow crop top outfit with matching pants while at the Miami Open. The post was captioned,
Red Lion boys tennis sweeps singles matches, beats Red Land
Red Lion boys tennis won its second match in a row, taking down Red Land 4-1 Tuesday.
The Lions won all three singles matches Tuesday. Kaeden Kelly beat Nic Duvall 7-6, 6-0. Keenan Lynch defeated Matt VanSickle 6-0, 6-1. Cole Turner took down Aiden French 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
The teams split doubles competition. Red Land’s Jackson Mehaffey and Ben Montgomery earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Gavin May and Isaac Thompson. Nerrick Glazener and Micah Glazener capped off Red Lion’s day with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Cole Walker and Wyatt Hubley.
Red Lion is now 3-3 with the victory. Red Land has dropped its last two matches, falling to 4-2.
The Credit One Charleston Open Showcases the Best in Women’s Tennis and the Best of Charleston
Some of the world’s top tennis talent, an unbeatable stadium experience, and a setting in South Carolina’s Lowcountry make for an event that few other venues can match.
The Credit One Charleston Open has become a premier stop on the women’s tour at a time when American women fill the WTA rankings, including three inside the top 10. Tournament Director Bob Moran said the prevalence of American women’s tennis is just one of many reasons this has become a highly viewed event.
“Number one, we’re an American tournament, and we love when American tennis is going well,” he said.
In fact, it’s going very well for players who will be on the courts for this year’s tournament, which kicks off on March 28th and runs through April 5th.
The games’ top names will be in Charleston, including Amanda Anisimova, who played in two Grand Slam finals in 2025. Madison Keys, a past Australian Open champion, and Jessica Pegula, the Charleston Open’s defending champion, will all be featured in the draw. And of course, hometown favorite, Emma Navarro.
This high caliber of play makes the Charleston Open unique, Moran explained. He said this year’s draw is a combination of up-and-coming talent and tennis veterans.
Texas Children’s Houston Open prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions
The PGA Tour heads to Texas for 2 weeks before the Masters in April, starting with the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open. Memorial Park is hosting this event for the sixth consecutive time, giving players a chance to tune their games before Augusta. Below, we search for the best value prop bets for the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew Tuesday with the birth of his second child immenent, making defending champion Min Woo Lee the favorite (+1200) this week, followed by Chris Gotterup (+1600), Jake Knapp, (+1800) and Brooks Koepka (+2200).
Memorial Park is 7,475 yards long, but is only a par 70, making it one of the longer courses on the schedule, relatively speaking. It typically favors bombers off the tee because of how minimally penalizing the rough is, so driving distance is one trait to consider when betting on this event. Lee won last year at a tournament-record 20-under par.
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Texas Children’s Houston Open – Top-5 picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 4:41 p.m. ET.
Min Woo Lee (+240)
Lee is the defending champion and comes into the week ranked second in total strokes gained in the last 3 months, among players in the field. He’s driving it exceptionally well and it’s translated to some great results, finishing T-32 or better in each of his last 5 starts.
Houston Open: Best outright winners
Jake Knapp (+400)
Knapp is another long hitter who should do well here despite missing the cut in 2024 and finishing T-27 last year. He had been playing incredibly well before missing the cut at the Players Championship, finishing between fifth and 11th in 5 straight starts.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Top-10 picks
Marco Penge (+300)
Penge has been fairly up and down this year, but after missing the cut at the Players, he came in fourth at the Valspar Championship last week. He’s first on the PGA Tour in SG: off-the-tee, showing how well he’s driving the ball, which is an important factor at Memorial Park.
Wyndham Clark (+400)
Clark is due to get back on track soon, even after missing the cut at the Valspar. His approach game has been great (ninth in SG) but he’s struggling badly on the greens, ranking 111th in this field in SG: putting in the last 3 months.
Keith Mitchell (+350)
Everything except the putter has been cooperating for Mitchell this season, as he ranks ninth in SG: tee-to-green since the start of January. He finished T-18 here last year and T-9 in 2023, sandwiching those finishes with a missed cut in 2024.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Top-20 picks
Alejandro Tosti (+450)
Tosti is a long shot after missing 7 straight cuts to start the year before finishing T-30 at the Valspar last week, so maybe he found something. And that was at Innisbrook, which is much less forgiving for drivers. What makes him especially intriguing this week is that he finished runner-up in 2024 and fifth last year.
Aldrich Potgieter (+300)
Potgieter follows our trend of picking bombers, as he’s one of the longest hitters on tour. He missed the cut here last year in his tournament debut and has been sporadic this season, but if he can find something with his irons and putter, watch out.
Gary Woodland (+275)
Woodland missed 2 cuts in a row before finishing T-14 at the Valspar last week, and he also ranks fourth in SG: off-the-tee among players in this field since January, so the driver is working.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Matchups
Suggested play is golfer in bold.
Jake Knapp (-105) vs. Chris Gotterup (-118)
Gotterup has cooled off since his red-hot start to the year, going T-37, MC, T-18 and T-56 in his last 4 starts. Knapp will try to bounce back from a missed cut at Sawgrass and Memorial Park should suit him well.
Brooks Koepka (-105) vs. Sam Burns (-118)
Burns has either come in the top-15 or missed the cut in his last 5 starts, failing to play the weekend 3 times in that span. Koepka, meanwhile, is getting into a groove and ranks fourth in SG: tee-to-green among players in this field since January. A strong putting week could net him a win.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Top Brit and Irish
Marco Penge (+333)
For all the reasons above, Penge is a good choice this week, even in a market that features Shane Lowry (+400) and Harry Hall (+400). He’s long off the tee and is trending up right now.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Top South African
Aldrich Potgieter (+250)
There are 5 total South Africans in the field this week, led by Christiaan Bezuidenhout at +175. Potgieter fits the mold of players who have won here before with his length off the tee.
Texas Children’s Houston Open – First-round leader
Alejandro Tosti (+12500)
Tosti was tied for the first-round lead after shooting 65 last year and was just 2 shots back with a 66 in 2024. Take this dart throw and bet on him to potentially lead after the first round this week.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
What is this year’s Masters gnome? Possibly one with an umbrella
New Jersey golf club is getting a major upgrade
PGA Tour Star Akshay Bhatia Gets Candid About Married Life at Hero Indian Open 2026
The DP World Tour is in its Asian Swing, and the golfers have landed in India for the Hero Indian Open 2026. While the field features many elite professionals, one of the most popular names is Akshay Bhatia. Speaking at the pre-event press conference on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the American professional answered many questions. However, the question about the time he tied the knot with his wife, Presleigh Schultz, and his response stood out.
“Yeah, it’s definitely been amazing. Presleigh and I have known each other for five years. So it was a matter of time. But definitely through the process of planning the marriage, which I didn’t do much of, getting all the families together. It was definitely a lot of extra things that we had to deal with during last year in the season,” Akshay Bhatia said, speaking to EssentiallySports.
“But once we got married, it was obviously one of the best days of my life. So it’s definitely lighten the load a little bit because we have no more planning. And we can always kinda look back at those memories and, regardless of how our year is going, our days are going, we know we have each other. So it’s been amazing to kinda cherish those moments.”
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The 3x PGA Tour winner married Presleigh Schultz in December 2025. They tied their knot at The Abaco Club in the Bahamas after a three-day celebration officiated by her uncle.
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As Bhatia revealed, the two have known each other for the past five years. The couple met via Instagram DMs in 2021. During that time, Schultz knew little about golf. However, she became his caddie for his first pro win at the 2022 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. They then got engaged in September 2023 in Napa Valley.
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The relief of the marriage management Bhatia spoke about is reflected in his current season. Across 7 starts on the PGA Tour, he has made the cut in 5. Both these missed cut events were the initial 2 on the PGA Tour. Since then, he finished T3 at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the Genesis Invitational, and T13 at the Players Championship.
Besides that, he got his 3rd PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026. He carded rounds of 70-66-68-69 to finish the regulation rounds at 15-under par 273 to tie at the top with Daniel Berger. However, Berger hit a bogey in the playoff round, while Bhatia secured his title with an on-par finish.
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Now, Bhatia is back in contention at the Hero Indian Open 2026 on the DP World Tour. It will be his first event on the DP World Tour this season. He has won the Barracuda Championship 2023 previously on the tour, and will eye his second title.
After the load of marriage preparations disappeared, Akshay Bhatia’s game on the PGA Tour has improved as he cherishes the lovely moments with his wife, Presleigh Schultz. However, there’s something worrisome going on in his professional life that could derail his focus.
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Fans accuse Akshay Bhatia of cheating
The Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026 winner uses a 50-inch Jailbird broomstick putter. It goes all the way to near his chest when he is putting, leading to anchoring accusations. Critics pointed to a dent in his shirt near his trailing hand in a final-round photo from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2026. There were murmurs around his WM Phoenix Open 2026 play, too.
During a conversation on the Fore Play Podcast Plus episode, Bhatia revealed that he is not cheating at all. In fact, he claimed that the putter is 3 to 4 inches away from his chest.
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“I told [Dan] Rapaport last week, ‘I’d rather just take my shirt off and show everyone this is where I’m at because it’s three to four inches from my chest,” the American professional said.
The PGA Tour pro gave the reason that he is not built like Adam Scott and Lucas Glover. Unlike them, he is skinny. Thus, while it might look like his hands are touching his chest, they are not.
Even as scrutiny over his putting technique continues to follow him, Akshay Bhatia has remained composed. He has addressed the accusations without letting them shake his focus. However, only time would tell how long he could keep the noise out of his mind. With the Masters 2026 nearing, this is not the time he would want to worry about some rumors and accusations.
2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open Betting Models, Picks: A Bomber’s Paradise Awaits
The PGA Tour makes its move from Florida to Texas as we head to Memorial Park for the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open. With just two weeks until the Masters, everyone is looking to move into the field and the opportunity widened for that with Scottie Scheffler withdrawing Tuesday.
Memorial Park, which was originally opened as a 9-hole course in 1912 but was renovated and redesigned in 1936 and then again in 1995. The result is a long par-70 tract that measures 7,475 yards on the scorecard, and we can see the length in the winners since the Houston Open returned to Memorial Park in 2021. While every player, including last year’s winner, Min Woo Lee, have complete games, they are also all long off the tee.
Ability and length with the driver are just part of the equation this week, but it matters more at Memorial Park than many other PGA Tour stops. What else matters, though? Let’s dive into this week’s model with a first look at the most important stats before we then venture into our Houston Open picks this week.
Key Stats for Memorial Park
Strokes-gained approach over last 24 rounds
Even when we’re talking about a place where bombers can thrive, Memorial Park still has some demanding approach play that’s required, especially with tough green complexes that can make getting up-and-down a bit tricky. So we’re still making approach play a priority this week.
Brooks Koepka (+1.154)
Shane Lowry (1.066)
Ryan Gerard (0.809)
Adam Scott (0.792)
Trey Mullinax (0.772)
Strokes-gained off the tee over the last 24 rounds
But as we said, this is a big-time driver’s golf course and there’s plenty of space to take advantage of. Driving distance matters, but we also want to see players who are gaining relative to the field too, which is why strokes-gained off the tee is also baked in quite meaningfully.
Marco Penge (+0.862)
Gary Woodland (0.690)
Jimmy Stanger (0.686)
Michael Brennan (0.667)
Min Woo Lee (0.644)
Bogey avoidance in the last 24 rounds
It’s not necessarily a birdie fest at the Houston Open, but there are relatively low scores. What’s more important, though, is avoiding the bigger numbers and squares on the scorecard. So we’re valuing players who have been thriving in that regard.
Cole Hammer
Kurt Kitayama
Bronson Burgoon
Rickie Fowler
Patrick Fishburn
Proximity from 200-225 yards in the last 24 rounds
Once again focusing on the length at Memorial Park, that sets up plenty of long approaches that players will need to attack—sometime even if they are still long off the tee—which is why we have this 200+ range and proximity to the hole on approaches from that distance in our crosshairs.
Chandler Blanchet
Shane Lowry
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Dylan Wu
Adrien Dumont de Chassart
Houston Open model rankings this week
For this week, there is a lot of emphasis in the model on ball-striking, but we have much more to consider as well. We start with our weekly dose of strokes-gained approach (15%) followed by a healthy blend of strokes-gained off the tee, bogey avoidance, proximity from 200-225 yards and driving distance (10%). We then look for some more scoring with birdie-or-better gained percentage (9%) before our final mix of strokes-gained around the Green, strokes-gained putting on Bermuda, strokes-gained par-5s, scrambling, strokes-gained putting on fast greens, and strokes-gained Memorial Park (5% each) and rounding it out with comp courses at Bay Hill, Quail Hollow and TPC San Antonio (2% each). Here’s what we get for our Top 10 with those numbers running through the model.
Adam Scott
Brooks Koepka
Jake Knapp
Nicolai Hojgaard
Min Woo Lee
Chris Gotterup
Ryan Fox
Rickie Fowler
Keith Mitchell
Rasmus Hojgaard
2026 Houston Open picks
Brooks Koepka +2500 (DraftKings)
Maybe not all that quietly, Brooks Koepka is starting to creep around the leaderboard pretty consistently, reeling off three straight top-20 finishes coming into this week. More importantly, I love the way the metrics are shaking out for him coming into Memorial Park.
Koepka not only leads the field in strokes-gained approach over the last 24 rounds, but he’s positive in strokes-gained off the tee and around the green, while also coming in at a more than good enough 38th in driving distance and 15th in strokes-gained putting on Bermuda and seventh in proximity from 200-225 yards away. It seems like his return to the PGA Tour has him fully rounding into form and, while his M.O. was long that he wouldn’t win this type of event, he actually needs some momentum amidst his departure from LIV.
Everything is trending the right way for Koepka coming into the Houston Open, and if there was ever a time for him to break back through with a win, it seems like it might be this week.
Keith Mitchell +4500 (BetMGM)
I got excited about Keith Mitchell after the WM Phoenix Open and then at the Cognizant when he gained strokes putting in two out of three weeks. He hasn’t made good on that, especially with finishes of T33 and T46 the past two weeks. But I still like what I’m seeing enough and the fit to think he has a shot in Houston.
Mitchell looks a lot like you’d expect him too over the last 24 rounds, ranking top 20 in strokes-gained off the tee and strokes-gained approach, while his short game has been decidedly average. Having said that, we’ve seen those flashes with the putter recently, and he’s also a prime candidate to show up on the leaderboard in a ball-striking test, which Memorial Park presents. And if you catch a good putting week with that, it could be absolute money.
On top of his form, Mitchell also has strong recent history in Texas, finishing T18 in Houston and T12 at Valero last season. With all that coming together, I like the look of his profile this week.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju +9400 (DraftKings)
One of the more fun stories on the PGA Tour this season, you have to applaud the performance from Sudarshan Yellamaraju so far, especially after rocketing up the leaderboard to a T5 finish at the Players. But his form also indicates he might not be done impressing us.
Yellamaraju ranks 18th in strokes-gained off the tee, 19th in strokes-gained approach, 16th in bogey avoidances, 23rd in scrambling, 30th in strokes-gained putting on Bermuda, and 10th in birdie-or-better percentage gained over the last 24 rounds. He’s been passing most of the complete test, and even his scrambling numbers somewhat mitigate him being paltry in strokes-gained around the green.
Now, obviously, it’d be a heck of a run for the 24-year-old to continue his recent surge with his first career victory. But crazier things have happened, and the form lines up nicely for him to continue making noise, perhaps as nearly a 100-to-1 winner.
2026 Houston Open odds, predictions: PGA picks, best bets from 10,000 simulations
A two-week stop in Texas leads into the Masters, and up first is the 2026 Houston Open beginning on Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course. Texas native Scottie Scheffler originally planned to be in the 2026 Houston Open field, but he withdrew on Tuesday due to the upcoming birth of his child. The latest 2026 Houston Open odds now list defending champion Min Woo Lee as the new favorite at +15000 after he opened at +2200.
Other Houston Open contenders include Chris Gotterup (+1800), Jake Knapp (+2200), Sam Burns (+2200) and Brooks Koepka (+2500), who has just one top-10 finish this season in five tournaments since returning to the PGA. Before locking in any 2026 Houston Open picks, entering any Houston Open one and done contests, or making any PGA DFS picks on sites like FanDuel or DraftKings, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
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Now that the 2026 Houston Open field is locked in, the model simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, which you can use for PGA picks, one and done contests or Houston Open DFS lineups.
2026 Houston Open predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Houston Open 2026: Lee, the defending champion and the favorite, barely cracks the top 5. He’s a golfer to fade this week. The 27-year-old Australian has had a strong season, but his last outing at The Players Championship was more of a struggle. He shot 70 or higher in each round, including a fourth-round 74 as he finished T32. See who else to fade here.
Another surprise: The model says Nicolai Hojgaard is a top-three favorite this week despite his longer odds at +2500. He had a tough weekend at the Valspar Championship last week, but hasn’t finished worst than T27 at any other event this season. That includes a T3 at the WM Phoenix Open and a T6 at the Cognizant Classic. See who else to pick here.
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How to make 2026 Houston Open picks
The model is also targeting three other golfers going off at +4000 or higher to make a strong run, including a massive +6000 longshot. You can only see the model’s picks here.
Who will win the 2026 Houston Open, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Houston Open odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including three in 2025.
2026 Houston Open odds, favorites
Get full 2026 Houston Open picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)
Min Woo Lee enjoying solid start to season, hungry to defend Houston title
Min Woo Lee is back at the site of his PGA Tour breakthrough: the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
The 27-year-old Australian has yet to miss a cut this season, highlighted by a T2 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am won by Collin Morikawa. As the defending champion, Lee hopes the Pebble performance last month is a sign he could pick up his second win this week.
Min Woo Lee reveals what he wants to learn from Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy
Min Woo Lee returns to the Houston Open this week as the defending champion, with one eye already on The Masters.
The 27-year-old is now an established PGA Tour player, but remains outside the very top tier of the game.
Currently ranked 31st in the world, Lee knows there is still a gap between himself and the elite.
And he has now revealed what he wants to learn from world number one Scottie Scheffler and world number two Rory McIlroy.
Min Woo Lee knows what he must improve to reach Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy level
Lee admitted he has often looked at Scheffler and McIlroy when searching for ways to improve his own game.
“Yeah, for sure. I did tell myself sometimes, when I wasn’t playing well, that I should sit down and see how they hit it on the range,” he said.
While he has not always been able to do that, he recognises the key traits that set them apart.
“I didn’t get to that, but I know they’re very repetitive with their work,” Lee added. “They do the boring stuff really well, and that’s something that I always needed to get better at as a young kid.
“Especially when you’re out here trying to contend and be a better player, you just have to do the boring stuff really well.”
That level of control and reliability is something he believes both Scheffler and McIlroy have mastered.
“They make it very easy, and that’s where I want my game to be. Especially in pretty hard situations, they manage to get out of it and still make the most of it.”
Min Woo Lee preparing to defend Houston Open title ahead of The Masters
This week provides another big opportunity for Lee as he looks to build momentum ahead of Augusta.
The Houston Open comes just two weeks before The Masters, making it a key stop for players fine-tuning their game.
Lee has already shown he can compete at a high level, but his performances have been somewhat inconsistent.
At times, he has looked capable of beating anyone in the field, but maintaining that level week after week remains a challenge.
If he can take on board the lessons from Scheffler and McIlroy, that could soon change.
And with confidence high as defending champion, this week could be another step towards closing the gap on the world’s very best.
NASCAR Cup Series: Goodyear Tire Notes for Martinsville Speedway Cook Out 400
Goodyear is sticking with a familiar approach, and that decision could play a major role in how Sunday’s race unfolds at Martinsville Speedway. The Martinsville Speedway Cook Out 400 is already shaping up to be a strategy-driven event. Teams are returning to the same tire setup used in the 2025 playoff race.
That combination created heavy tire fall-off, more passing opportunities, and a strong emphasis on long-run performance. Now, early in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, this race becomes a key short-track test.
Teams that understand how these tires behave over extended runs could gain a clear edge. while others may struggle once wear becomes a factor during long green-flag stretches.
Martinsville Speedway Tire Setup Returns for Cook Out 400 Challenge
Martinsville Speedway will once again feature the Goodyear Racing Eagle combination introduced last fall. The setup pairs a softer left-side tire, designed to increase fall-off. The right-side tire has remained the standard since fall 2024.
That balance creates a unique challenge. The left-side tires wear out quickly in the tight concrete corners, while the right-side tires maintain more consistent grip on the asphalt straights.
Goodyear NASCAR product manager Rick Heinrich pointed to the importance of familiarity. “Martinsville is the first true short track on this year’s schedule and combines tight concrete corners with long asphalt straightaways, earning its ‘Paperclip’ nickname. We introduced this Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setup last fall, so Cup Series teams already have some data to help their strategies this weekend.”
Teams arrive with information, which shifts the focus from learning to execution.
Tire Management at Martinsville Speedway Could Decide the Cook Out 400 Winner
This race is rarely about outright speed. It usually comes down to how well teams manage their tires over long runs. Each Cup team has a limited number of tire sets for the weekend, which forces careful decisions on pit timing and race strategy. With only eight sets available for the race itself, every caution and green-flag cycle becomes important.
The softer left-side compound begins to lose grip after roughly 40 to 50 laps. That drop-off creates opportunities for drivers who have saved their equipment, especially during extended green-flag runs. Those who push too hard early often lose pace later, making it difficult to recover track position at a venue where passing is already a challenge.
Martinsville Speedway’s history gives an edge to veterans in the Cook Out 400
Experience has always mattered at Martinsville Speedway, and this weekend should be no different. Drivers and teams who competed with this tire setup in October already understand how quickly fall-off develops and how to adjust their approach over a full run.
Denny Hamlin enters as the most successful active driver at the track with six victories. Kyle Larson has demonstrated one of the most consistent recent records, averaging a finish of 3.7 across his last six starts. Those numbers reflect how important rhythm and patience are at this track.
The 0.526-mile layout constantly loads the left-side tires through continuous cornering. Over 400 laps, even small differences in tire wear can separate the field. The Cook Out 400 becomes a test of discipline. The teams that manage their tires best often control the outcome by the final stage.
Denny Hamlin Issues 5-Word Sympathy Over Joey Logano’s “Horrible” Misery in NASCAR 2026
Like every single driver in Motorsport history, Joey Logano is currently going through a rough patch. This is far from normal because the most successful driver in the playoff era has started to struggle in the Chase format. While struggling is not a rare sight in NASCAR, as seen with Kyle Busch, another Cup series champion, Denny Hamlin perhaps has the answer to Logano’s woes, that too with a personal example.
Denny Hamlin’s personal experience for Joey Logano’s justification
In the recent Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin took a trip down memory lane and explained how he once fell into a slump like Logano. It was the ninth year for him in the Cup Series, and for Joe Gibbs Racing, and the final year in the Chase. Hamlin shared his own experience and also showed sympathy toward Logano.
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“I can feel Joey Logano,” said Hamlin. “Because I had a race like this in 2013, Michigan, I think this was the Jason Leffler car. I think this was 2013. I was last, I mean, when I say last, I might have been 33rd, 34th, something like that.”
“Very similar where Joey was laps down. Just, I mean, could not drive the damn thing. And I mean, I was hearing Ghost. Every time I enter turn 3, I’m like, oh my God, I’m going to wreck. I’m going to wreck. I got to slow down. And it’s like, I don’t know, it’s just one of those weird weekends where you miss it and when you miss it, you miss it horribly.”
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Following this, Denny Hamlin revealed how he found roadblocks one after another on the racetracks. From slow pace to cautions, the issues seemed endless. Something Logano faced in the recently concluded Darlington race.
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“The right front trap would like go to chords in like 30 laps. It was just horrible. And I just remember watching like William Byron, every time he’d lap me, lap somebody else, caution would come out, and I’d just get another lap down, another lap down, another lap down, and finally just add it up. But it happens. You know, I’m sure they want to shrug this one off.”
Notably, Hamlin’s concern for Logano comes after the three-time Cup Series champion failed to excel in 2026. In the first six races, Logano’s best finish has been third place, which he acquired at Daytona in February.
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Following this, it has been a fall from grace for the Team Penske star. Two 15th-place finishes, one 18th-place finish, one 31st-place finish, and a recent 33rd-place finish at Darlington handed him one of the worst starts of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
With one pole, top five, and top 10, Logano has an average finish position of 19.167. Currently, he is in 16th place in the Drivers’ Standings with 139 points. As Logano failed to have a strong start to his season, his failure to extract a formidable performance at Darlington shocked many, including Kevin Harvick.
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NASCAR expert blames Joey Logano for the lack of performance
While there have been questions about whether Ford’s recent struggles are to blame for Joey Logano’s poor showing, Kevin Harvick is not buying it.
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Harvick noted that other Ford drivers, specifically Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric, had strong showings at Darlington.
“Joey Logano got lapped three times this weekend,” said Harvick. “That is not something that I thought that I would ever say unless he had a problem. He legitimately got lapped three times, and both of his teammates ran in the top 10 all day. Austin Cindric finished seventh (5th). So a lot of questions about things that have slowly started to be answered as far as where the performance of each manufacturer is.”
Harvick’s conclusion is somewhat true, given how Ryan Blaney delivered time and again in 2026. As a Ford driver and Joey Logano’s teammate, Blaney won a race at Phoenix and finished the Darlington race in third place. He is currently in second place in the standings with 230 points, a win, two top fives, and a top 10.
Why Justin Allgaier’s NASCAR career is Hall of Fame-worthy
What makes an athlete worthy of induction into their sport’s Hall of Fame?
For starters, sustained success. Plenty of victories. A championship. A lasting impact on the sport.
Justin Allgaier does not race full-time at the highest level of NASCAR competition; he hasn’t done so since 2015. He races in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the series one rung below the Cup Series.
Yet the 39-year-old driver from Riverton, Illinois, seems to be headed down a path that will one day lead to his enshrinement in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Allgaier’s victory in Saturday’s O’Reilly Series race at Darlington was his second victory of 2026 and the 30th of his NOAPS career, a total that makes him the seventh-winningest driver in series history alongside three-time Cup Series champ Joey Logano.
Among drivers who made the O’Reilly Series the main focus of their careers, Allgaier is second in all-time victories, trailing only two-time series champion Jack Ingram, a 31-time victor at the second-highest level of stock car racing in the world.
Why Justin Allgaier is a HOF driver
You want sustained success? Allgaier has won at least one race in 10 consecutive seasons. He’s never missed the O’Reilly Series postseason and made the series’ championship race eight times in nine years. He’s never finished worse than seventh in the final standings in 15 years of full-time NOAPS competition, and that statistic seems unlikely to change this season.
The veteran driver has also already been to victory lane twice in 2026 despite working with a new crew chief in Andrew Overstreet.
Tyler Reddick Labelled Dangerous as Kevin Harvick Warns Against Toyota’s Takeover of NASCAR
Kevin Harvick has got quite an eye when it comes to predicting champions of the future. However, his current prediction might be going a bit too unorthodox, as he seemed to be warning the likes of Chevrolet and Ford, considering the sheer dominance that Toyota has pulled out so far this season. Understandably, he does claim that other teams will be able to catch up sooner or later this season. But he still feels that Toyota could go all out for the championship because of the Chase format.
Kevin Harvick’s subtle warning to Chevy and Ford
On his podcast, Harvick addressed the current standings. According to him, it is about the math and how Reddick has now put himself in a strong position.
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“You’ve got to be in that top six to win this championship when the points reset. So right now, Tyler Reddick’s put him in, himself in a fairly good position to be one of those six cars,” said Harvick.
Kevin Harvick, having spent enough time racing through multiple formats, knows how the system works. He warns that despite the top – 16 qualifying for the Chase, only the cars in the top 6 have a realistic chance of contending for the title.
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Considering the gap that Tyler Reddick has built with a whopping four race wins (in just the first six races) is remarkable. And all of this in the Toyota does prove that the OEM has got some advantage over the likes of Chevrolet and Ford.
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“When you see the mistakes that are being made, and the finish is not being taken advantage of for guys that are running good and having catastrophic failure at the end of stages or at the end of the race like we saw with Kyle Larson this week again, it adds up,” Harvick added. “You might make the top 16, but you’re not winning this championship if you’re not in those top six.”
Heading into this season, Kyle Larson was one of the favorites. Having won the championship last year, Larson expected to carry on the momentum. However, the pace does not seem to be with him. Hendrick Motorsports, as a whole, has experienced some loss of overall pace. Blaming the new Chevy body seems harsh, especially considering Denny Hamlin’s analysis.
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But the driver who has the entire field take notice right now is Tyler Reddick. Coming from an extremely tough season, with even the potential of losing his seat with 23XI Racing, he has seemingly sealed himself with the team for the coming years. Winning the first three races is something that no one has ever managed to do in NASCAR’s history. But he flipped the odds this year. While he did not have a similar dominant pace in the next two races, he once again emerged at the top at Darlington.
While he has also earned Kevin Harvick’s confidence, can he carry on with this dominance throughout the season? Under the Chase format, Reddick’s current streak will provide a massive points cushion. But the real test will be whether he can withstand the pressure of a ten-race grind to claim the title.
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Tyler Reddick comments on his title chances after a monumental start to the season
It is safe to say that Tyler Reddick has had a great start to the season, but there wasn’t anything new about it. Sure, it was surprising, but these were the tracks that he has always been strong at. And he admitted it after his Darlington victory. “I mean, some of it is you look at the places we’ve won, in my opinion, where we’ve been very strong at,” Reddick said.
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Although Reddick will seemingly manage to get into the top 16 with this performance, the important aspect is whether he will manage to carry on with a similar dominance. As Kevin Harvick claimed, other teams will catch up slowly. That is when Reddick would have to work a lot harder to contend for the title.
“I was sad to see the ROVAL go, but now we have two Charlotte oval dates, so that’s awesome,” Reddick said, commenting on his future this season. “We’re going back to Chicagoland, and last time I was really strong in an O’Reilly Auto Parts car. There’s a lot of tracks on the schedule that we have been really, really strong at. And you got to see that in 2024 with how we were able to put races together.”
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“If we can keep this up, who knows? I’m just going to take it one week at a time.”
There could be a lot in this season for Reddick and 23XI as a whole. Kevin Harvick has already given the Toyotas an upper hand. They have won five of the six races so far this season. So this could be the best time for him to capitalize on the dominance and realistically contend for the title.
Kevin Harvick Backs 23XI Racing Surge as Tyler Reddick Confidence Sparks Early Season Dominance
Tyler Reddick is on another level this season. From Daytona to COTA, the 23XI Racing driver won three races in a row. However, he then entered a winless streak of two races, from Phoenix to Las Vegas, only for him to break it and win again in Darlington. This level of performance and results has left many puzzled about what changed within a season, something Kevin Harvick also weighed in on.
Kevin Harvick believes Reddick has benefited from his team’s current affairs in 2026
During a recent episode of the Speed podcast, Kevin Harvick commented on Reddick’s unreal form this season. He claimed that at Las Vegas, one of the two races the #45 driver hasn’t won this year, he wasn’t a contender from a car perspective. At Darlington, Harvick claimed Reddick hit the balance of horsepower and downforce better than his rivals.
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The veteran stated that so far, a variety of racetracks have come and gone in the first six weekends. Superspeedways at Daytona and Atlanta, road course at COTA, traditional ovals at Las Vegas and Darlington, and short-track racing at Phoenix. And the one driver who has been good on all of them is Tyler Reddick, which could be because of a few reasons.
“I think that 23XI just has less going on this year and they’re still a pretty young team and I think that when you have that stability of everything that is going on, I think the Toyota has the best car right now and Tyler Reddick has has stepped up from a maturity standpoint just in his leadership of the team really exposing who he is as a driver and the capability that he has,” he described.
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Harvick claimed that 23XI and Reddick will just steamroll and snowball into more confidence, as in NASCAR, when one gets confidence as a driver and a team, they can overcome a lot. He believed the same is the case with Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing.
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Tyler Reddick enjoyed his Darlington win because of the hardships
Following his fourth win of the season on Sunday, Tyler Reddick claimed that winning that many races in a season is ‘pretty remarkable.’ At Darlington, Reddick had arguably the toughest of his four wins so far this year.
He suffered from issues in his car’s battery right from the get-go, which then affected the cooling systems in his racecar as well as his race suit. But after battling through the intense heat inside and the competition outside, Reddick made a pass for the lead with less than 30 laps to go, held the spot, and won his fourth race of the season.
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During a post-race interview, he claimed that winning after fighting against all the factors that made life difficult for him made it all the more sweet. “For us to be put through these things that, in my opinion, kept us from winning a year ago, to fight through these things and then still win is very remarkable. It’s very fulfilling. It’s the stuff that, you know, you just got to kind of take a step back and say, wow, that was incredible,” he described.
With that said, it’ll be interesting to see how many more wins Tyler Reddick can post in the 2026 season.
Kevin Harvick Credits 23XI Speed for Tyler Reddick’s Early 2026 Dominance
Kevin Harvick isn’t sounding the alarm for the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series garage just yet, but six races into 2026, his verdict is firm. 23XI Racing has emerged as the early benchmark.
On his podcast, Harvick pointed to the team’s ability to adapt across multiple rule packages as the key separator. It’s not just raw speed at one type of track. It’s speed across the board. That level of consistency this early in the season is what has others in the garage paying close attention and trying to understand where the edge is coming from.
Tyler Reddick’s Darlington Win Highlights Technical Edge
Tyler Reddick reinforced Harvick’s point with a commanding victory at Darlington Raceway, his fourth win in the opening stretch of the season. The race served as the first real test of NASCAR’s updated short-track package, which introduced more horsepower and reduced downforce.
That combination forced teams to rethink how they approached balance, tire wear, and long-run pace. According to Harvick, 23XI found the answer quicker than anyone else.
“I believe that they have hit the balance a little bit better at Darlington than everybody else.”
The context matters. Earlier races did not demand major changes. Superspeedway events at Daytona and Atlanta followed familiar drafting patterns, while Las Vegas leaned on the standard intermediate setup. Darlington required a different approach, and 23XI responded immediately with both speed and control.
Speed Across Every Track Type Sets 23XI Apart
What stands out is not just the win total. It is where those performances have come from. Through six races, the schedule has already covered a wide mix of track types and race conditions.
Harvick emphasized that point, noting the team’s strength across every configuration tested so far.
“We’ve had a sample size, and they’ve been good on all of them.”
That includes a road course, two superspeedways, an intermediate track, and now a short track with a new rules package. In most seasons, teams need time to figure out at least one of those combinations. 23XI has shown speed in all of them right away.
That kind of versatility usually points to a strong underlying car platform. It also suggests that their simulation, engineering, and execution are aligned early on, giving them a baseline advantage that carries over from one track to the next.
Stability and Confidence Fuel Early Momentum
Harvick also pointed to factors beyond the car itself. He believes 23XI’s internal stability is contributing to its early success.
“I think that 23XI just has less going on this year. They’re still a pretty young team… and I think the Toyota has the best car right now.”
That environment appears to be helping Reddick take another step as a driver.
“Tyler Reddick has stepped up from a maturity standpoint… really exposing who he is as a driver and the capability that he has.”
Confidence is now building on both sides of the radio.
“When you get confidence in this sport, as a driver and a team, that can overcome a lot of things,”
Co-owner Denny Hamlin echoed that sentiment, confirming that a contract extension for Reddick is close.
“He deserves everything he gets. He’s just done a phenomenal job.”
Six races in, the numbers back it up. Four wins, consistent speed, and control across every type of track. For now, 23XI is not just leading the standings. It is setting the standard that the rest of the field is chasing.
FOX Sports Broadcaster Confirms His Return to NASCAR But with One Major Condition
The spotlight on the weekend was Tyler Reddick’s elite performance at the Darlington Raceway to secure another win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Despite problems with his car early on, the driver went on to win the race and impress fans. But there was another event that had motorsports fans excited, and that was the NASCAR Truck Series at St. Petersburg, as the former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe was participating in it. The former IndyCar Rookie of the Year, who is now a broadcaster for channels like Fox, made an exciting return and put up an impressive performance during the race. Elated about his performance, he has already expressed a desire to return in the future.
James Hinchcliffe to return to NASCAR again?
Hinchcliffe managed to secure an impressive tenth-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series race. Having competed in IndyCar actively, the broadcaster is no stranger to catastrophes, but Hinchcliffe was left impressed with how things went in St. Petersburg.
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“I think the potential for complete catastrophe at a street circuit is, I mean, it’s there no matter what series you’re racing,” said Hinchcliffe in an interview with Davey Segal. “I thought everybody in the truck series did a really, really respectable job, I mean, a lot of them are racing on their first-ever street track, no room for error. We had a few incidents, but I don’t think anywhere near what a lot of people were predicting. So, you know, hats off to the whole series for that.”
The 2011 IndyCar Rookie of the Year was excited about the opportunity of returning to the track. After a great career, he retired from the sport in 2021 and joined broadcasting, and has since become a key part of coverage across multiple motorsports disciplines. This being his first NASCAR race, Hinchcliffe put in a great display and may even consider a return soon.
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“There are definitely opportunities, I think, in the future to jump in and do it again,” said Hinchcliffe. “Certainly, if they’re back to St. Pete, I already told the team, I said, ‘You don’t even try to sell that seat for 2027 if it’s coming back. I’m staking my claim now.’ Who knows, there might even be some other races we can make happen.”
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🚛 @Hinchtown enjoyed his first foray into the #NASCAR world at St. Pete with @SpireMotorsport so much that he wants to do it again.
🗣️ “Don’t even try to sell that seat for 2027, if it’s coming back.”
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More with the Mayor on Ep. 294 of Victory Lane, available now 🎧 pic.twitter.com/KkTILzOrJ9
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) March 24, 2026
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Notably, James Hinchcliffe’s debut race at St. Petersburg was also the NASCAR Truck Series’ first-ever venture on a street circuit. With the race in Florida, the Truck Series tried out a similar road course way, the same as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Cup Series.
Layne Riggs in his #34 truck won the race, while Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes finished the race in second and third positions, respectively. Chandler Smith and Kaden Honeycutt wrapped up the top five.
A tenth-place finish after starting third is impressive on a return. With Hinchcliffe already having expressed a desire to return and fans excited to see him on the track, it will be interesting to see if he continues racing throughout the year.
Richard Childress Racing off to historically bad start to 2026 NASCAR season
Nobody expected the Richard Childress Racing duo of Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon to be world-beaters during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, but RCR is off to a historically bad start to the 2026 campaign.
For the first time since 1982, RCR has failed to score a top-10 finish in the first six races of a season. That stat takes on more meaning this season given that RCR is putting two full-time entries on the track along with a part-time third car for drivers Jesse Love and Austin Hill.
The last time RCR went six races into a year without recording a top 10 was 1982, when a then-25-year-old Ricky Rudd struggled in his first year with the organization before breaking through with a ninth-place run at North Wilkesboro.
Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon need momentum
Busch and Dillon need a similar shot in the arm this weekend at Martinsville.
Busch and Dillon are 23rd and 26th in the Cup Series standings, respectively, through six races. Busch has only two top-15 runs so far, while Dillon has only one, and neither Hill nor Love broke into the top-20 in their lone starts.
There just isn’t any speed inside the Cup portion of the RCR shop at the moment.
That’s not shocking given the team’s decline since the first half of 2023, when Busch, who won three races early in the 2023 campaign, suddenly fell off. Dillon has yet to have a true breakout season in his Cup Series career, and neither RCR driver is in their prime.
If Dillon, Busch and Hill all finish outside of the top 10 at Martinsville on March 29, Richard Childress Racing will have gone through the first seven races without a top-10 result for the first time in history. That would only increase the level of concern around one of NASCAR’s most historic organizations as it searches desperately for answers.
NASCAR Veteran Calls for Bold NASCAR Experiment to End 30-Year Aero Problem After Darlington Package Shift
What is even the point of racing without overtakes? While NASCAR takes pride in the massive lead changes throughout a race, insiders have long been unhappy with how the cars have been performing. Many times, the lead changes only happen because the drivers wreck or make a simple mistake. Sure, overtaking exists, but as witnessed during the 2026 Daytona 500, it’s not always quite possible. And after a thrilling weekend at Darlington, a NASCAR legend is backing his three-decade-old theory and wants the teams to act on it, perhaps experimentally.
Mark Martin’s low-downforce theory
Mark Martin has been in and around the sport for a long time and has driven enough miles to make a strong statement on NASCAR’s current state of racing. He has been advocating for low downforce in cars for the past thirty years, but the number has only gone up. Currently, the cars generate somewhere near 2,000lb of downforce on Superspeedways like Daytona. However, Martin wants to bring about a change and has offered to step in and help with his ideal dream team.
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“What I’d like to do is have a team, say Chase Elliot, and Alan Gustafson… and spend some time with their engineers and their tech people and other tech people to come up with a plan,” said Martin on Dirty Mo Overdrive. “But I would want it to be a plan that I administer or otherwise direct. And the reason for that is, I’ve been battling this for 30 years.”
His NASCAR career saw some great heights and thrilling finishes. Having competed in many top race cars, Martin still feels like the ones with lesser downforce stood out to him.
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“My best car for 1990, the best race car I had, made zero downforce in the front in race trim with the grill open. Zero. It didn’t have a lift. Everybody in the field had cars similar to that,” Martin said. “In ’91, we started raking the bodies. And that’s when NASCAR started having to come at us with quarter panel height rules and all that stuff. We started making more downforce. And by ’95, we had the same problem that we have today.”
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While downforce is extremely essential for other series like IndyCar or Formula 1, it seems to be hurting the point of racing in NASCAR. Too much downforce, as Martin suggested, only makes it more difficult for drivers to overtake. He claimed that the driver leading the race and the one running in 20 place have roughly the same speed, and hence, overtaking becomes a rare phenomenon.
“If you take a car with, let’s just say, 200 lb downforce with zero in the front, and you get behind another car, you’re going to lose 60 pounds,” said Martin. “The driver’s going to hardly know the difference. And so I would like, for the first time in 30 years, to have the opportunity to prove that.”
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Having less downforce (in NASCAR) not only contributes to better racing but also better driving overall. For the drivers, high downforce can leave them stuck in turbulent air, limiting their ability to make moves. However, the reduction in downforce helps them with better drivability.
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Over a decade ago, now-former driver Carl Edwards had focused on something similar when talking about NASCAR reducing the overall downforce on cars. It seemed to be a huge win, as per his statements, vindicating what Mark Martin has been asking for a long time with regard to operating cars with lower downforce for drivers.
When Carl Edwards advocated for lower downforce in NASCAR
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It would be wrong to say that NASCAR has blatantly ignored the suggestion from some of the most legendary drivers. Like they introduced the short-track package for the 2026 season with lower downforce, they did something similar a decade ago, back in 2015.
When the Cup Series went racing at the Kentucky Speedway that year, a new package with lower downforce debuted for the cars. This package showcased a massive improvement in racing, as the overall overtakes throughout the race went from 11,467 a year before in 2014 to 2,665 that particular year.
“I cannot say enough positive things about this direction NASCAR is going with less downforce, I could actually drive the car; I was steering and sliding, I just about wrecked a few times,” said Edwards in 2015 when talking about the car with lower downforce. “I felt like I was doing something, not just sitting in line. To me, that spoiler cannot be small enough.”
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Understandably, lesser downforce makes the cars more nimble, changing the overall driving feel and style massively. While this could be dangerous on Superspeedways like Daytona or Talladega, it feels just fine for the other tracks where racing usually feels restricted.
It seems that NASCAR is following this theory for the 2026 season. The short-track package seems to be working well with the lower downforce and higher horsepower. With the series having just completed six races, it will be exciting to see how future races pan out with the new rules.
NASCAR Legend Richard Petty Echoes Denny Hamlin’s Frustration as NASCAR Package Falls Flat at Darlington
NASCAR’s introduction of more horsepower and a short-track aero package at Darlington had Denny Hamlin a little worried even before the race. Known to be one of the toughest tracks to compete in, the Darlington Raceway already had its set of challenges, and while the drivers welcomed the idea of the new package, it did not seem to make much of a difference, according to Hamlin. He also managed to get the support of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Richard Petty.
Richard Petty and Denny Hamlin are on the same page about NASCAR’s latest package
Before last Sunday’s race, the Next Gen cars were running a 650-horsepower package, which many fans and drivers had deemed low and a direct factor in the quality of passing and racing. Hearing the feedback from drivers and fans, NASCAR decided to give everyone what they wanted – more horsepower. However, the end product wasn’t as exciting as it was expected to be.
Petty noted this and gave his assessment on what could have been the reason behind the failed experiment.
“The cars were supposed to have a little bit more horsepower and a little bit less aero drag. To me, watching a race and watching races before, I didn’t see any difference. I didn’t talk to the driver to see if that made any difference to them,” said Petty on Petty family racing. “It didn’t have as much drag, so it didn’t seem to affect the race any, from what I can see. If it did, it affected everybody the same, so it didn’t make any difference.”
Hamlin, whose race was filled with problems, including two crashes that happened subsequently, finished 11th. During a post-race press-conference, Hamlin claimed that the changes from more power and the new aero setup weren’t ‘drastically different’ and still led to the same problems with passing.
“You need a good three-tenths advantage to overtake here at this track. Maybe two,” said Hamlin. “That’s a lot of difference in speed. So that’s why you see a lot of people pit on different laps, is that they’re trying to gain either, you know, the track position to have one lap better tires, or they’re trying to stay out two more laps to get, you know, a better entire run. So I just didn’t notice that much.”
The introduction of the package with 750-horsepower, reduced downforce, and a 3-inch spoiler has helped tackle short-track racing issues. Despite taking from veteran drivers and legends, it seems like the new package has already started serving its purpose.
NASCAR’s new package helped a few drivers
Ahead of the race at Darlington, John Probst, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, gave the reasoning behind moving to the new package.
“The drivers were pretty adamant that we should err on the side of high power, low downforce for those tracks,” said Probst in an interview with RACER. “So, a large percentage of driver feedback and fans wanted us to get more aggressive with this, and that’s what we see this weekend. It’s as much hype and uncertainty in a race that I can remember in a long time.”
The lower downforce and high horsepower enabled drivers to execute more overtakes. There were significantly higher turnarounds in results. Carson Hocevar started the race at the rear, but did extremely well to finish fourth in the standings.
Ryan Blaney, who finished third, credited the package for the unpredictability it offered on the day.
“You could **** the bed quickly if you were kind of rough on your stuff,” said Blaney. “There were tons of fall-offs. I think you saw guys kind of get too much early, and then they were done.”
The new package is set to be tested a few more times this year. Bristol, Dover, Nashville, WWTR, and Phoenix are the races where it is set to be implemented.
2026 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Sleepers, busts, breakouts from model that nailed Cal Raleigh’s epic season
The 2026 MLB season opens in less than 24 hours with Giants vs. Yankees on Wednesday night, so time is running out to get last-minute 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts in. The latest 2026 Fantasy baseball ADP shows two-way player Shohei Ohtani as the top pick in most Fantasy drafts, with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Bobby Witt and Jose Ramirez following. Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes are the first two pitchers coming off the board in most drafts. Those are relatively obvious picks for early in drafts, but finding value in the mid-to-late rounds is the key to building a deep, championship-level roster.
Who are the top 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, and which 2026 Fantasy baseball picks can give your roster an edge this season? Before going on the clock in any last-minute 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts, be sure to see the 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last season, SportsLine’s Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts, and busts, including nailing Cal Raleigh’s huge season. The team at SportsLine was all over Raleigh as a Fantasy breakout from the start. They had him as a top-five catcher in their optimal rankings, ahead of catchers such as Adley Rutschman and William Contreras. The result: Raleigh blasted 60 home runs and gave unprecedented value at a position where it can be tough to find offense from.
The SportsLine model is powered by the same people who powered projections for three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 202 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.
Any time more MLB news comes out about trades, signings or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.
Top 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers
One of the 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers the model is all over: Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe. The longtime Rays infielder was traded to Pittsburgh over the offseason, and he projects to be a centerpiece for the Pirates who will hit near the top of the order. Lowe had a power surge in 2025, with his 31 home runs and 83 RBI marking his best numbers in those categories since 2021.
The latest Fantasy baseball ADP shows Lowe going off the board at pick No. 113. SportsLine’s model, however, projects him as the No. 6 second baseman, ahead of players such as Nico Hoerner, Marcus Semien and Ozzie Albies, all top-100 picks on average. See more Fantasy baseball sleepers at SportsLine.
Top 2026 Fantasy baseball breakouts
One of the 2026 Fantasy baseball breakouts the model is jumping on: Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda. The 27-year-old had never appeared in more than 44 games entering the 2025 season, but he carved out a regular role in Tampa Bay last year, playing in 106 games with nearly 400 at-bats. He hit .316 with a .833 OPS, hitting 14 home runs and driving in 59. With Yandy Diaz expected to be utilized primarily as the designated hitter, that should open up everyday opportunities for Aranda.
Aranda has a strong WBC for Team Mexico, posting a 1.080 OPS across the tournament. SportsLine’s model ranks him as its ninth-best first baseman, but his ADP is No. 149 overall. He’s projected to produce similar numbers to Josh Naylor and Michael Busch, both top-100 picks, and he’s projected to outperform Ben Rice and Vinnie Pasquantino, both of whom are being picked dozens of slots in front of him. See more Fantasy baseball breakouts at SportsLine.
Top 2026 Fantasy baseball busts
As for players to avoid, the model has pinpointed Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts as one of its top Fantasy baseball busts. While the Dodgers have continued to stockpile high-priced talent at almost every position, Betts is a player who has seen his numbers decline recently as he had career-lows in average (.258) and OPS (.732) last year. He especially struggled in the 2025 postseason with a .648 OPS, continuing the season-long trend of struggling at the plate as compared to his lofty career norms.
Entering his age-33 season, the model believes that Betts, who is going off the board at pick No. 50, is again overvalued from a Fantasy standpoint this season. The model projects that players such as Jeremy Pena, Corey Seager and Willy Adames, all of whom are going off the board several rounds later, will provide more production. See more Fantasy baseball busts at SportsLine.
How to find proven 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings
SportsLine’s model has some shocking rankings at starting pitcher, projecting that one player who is barely going off the board in the top 200 will outperform huge names such as Max Fried, Chris Sale and Logan Webb. This pick could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
What to expect from Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle in MLB
The 21-year-old infielder hit .250/.411/.477 with two homers, one triple and two doubles in 20 games for the Tigers during Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. His 11 walks were most on the team and compared nicely to his nine strikeouts over 56 plate appearances.
That combination of approach and ability to do damage as a 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter has defined McGonigle’s pro career since Detroit selected him with the 37th overall pick in 2023. (In fact, he’ll be the second prep player from the 2023 Draft class to make the Majors, following only Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge.) He’s a career .308 hitter over 818 career Minor League plate appearances at the Rookie, Single-A, High-A and Double-A levels.
You could push the start of that timeline all the way back to 2010, and there would still only be three Minor Leaguers with better wRC+ marks over the same sample size: Kris Bryant (179), Brandon Belt (177) and Julio Rodríguez (167). Even Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finishes one spot behind McGonigle at 160.
Just watch McGonigle hit in the box, and it isn’t hard to see the tools behind the numbers. He very rarely gives away at-bats by expanding the zone with his swings, and even if he does, he has the exceptional barrel control to cut down on empty swings. With his ability to get the bat out front quickly, he also finds close to the ideal mix of lift and pull, allowing his power to be a plus tool despite his undersized frame. Overall, he could be a multi-time batting champion who contributes 20-plus homers per season.
Essentially if you were building a hitting prospect in a lab, you’d want close to McGonigle levels of swing decisions and quality of contact. That’s why the Tigers felt comfortable letting the 21-year-old skip over Triple-A altogether, given what he showed at Double-A, the Arizona Fall League (where he won the MVP Award) and this spring.
McGonigle can also steal the odd bag with above-average running ability and will flash occasional sprint speeds above 30 ft/sec, aka
Mariners Proven Right on Backup Catcher Decision
The Seattle Mariners are taking a calculated risk that may seem minor at first glance, yet it could hold significant weight throughout the lengthy season ahead. By reintroducing Mitch Garver as Cal Raleigh’s backup, the organization is not merely occupying a roster position; it is redefining a role that subtly emerged as one of the team’s critical areas in 2025.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, Seattle’s decision is sound, highlighting Garver’s experience, clubhouse respect, and postseason contributions as key factors in the move’s success. This decision holds a significance that transcends mere sentiment or familiarity. It’s focused on enhancing roles. The Mariners are finally placing Garver in a situation where he can truly thrive.
Garver’s inaugural season in Seattle lacked alignment. Initially brought on as a middle-of-the-order designated hitter, he faced challenges that didn’t align with the expectations set for him. A .172 average and .627 OPS in 2024 may suggest the contract was a failure, but that perspective overlooks the surrounding circumstances. Garver has consistently excelled in specific, strategic roles rather than being a primary offensive leader.
In 2025, Seattle fully embraced this strategy as Garver transitioned into a backup catcher and platoon bat. The results may not have been striking, but they were effective and sustainable. According to Morosi, Garver delivered strong at-bats in the postseason, a factor that carries greater weight than regular-season statistics for a team aiming to prolong its October opportunities.
This Decision Centers on Cal Raleigh
The significance of this decision lies in its impact on Cal Raleigh. Last season, the Mariners relied significantly on Raleigh, who made 119 starts behind the plate and caught over 1,000 innings, in addition to a full postseason workload that featured a 15-inning marathon. When considering the World Baseball Classic responsibilities, it becomes evident that Seattle was stretching its franchise catcher to the limit.
This model lacks sustainability.
The Mariners’ decision to reintroduce Garver indicates a change in their strategic approach. This focuses more on safeguarding Raleigh’s value than on Garver reclaiming it. A new Raleigh in September and October is worth significantly more than extracting minimal output from a backup of average quality in April.
Garver provides manager Dan Wilson with a reliable option to support Raleigh, ensuring that game planning, pitch framing, and clubhouse harmony remain intact. This is significant for a pitching staff that depends greatly on rhythm and familiarity.
An Informed Decision with Potential Benefits
Additionally, it’s important to consider the aspect of roster construction that deserves attention. Seattle did not allocate substantial funds or years to re-sign Garver. This is a minor-league agreement that presents minimal risk, yet it establishes a tangible baseline: competence.
At 35, Garver may not be the cornerstone of a team anymore, but he is a valuable asset that contenders need to enhance their roster depth. He knows his role well, doesn’t require daily at-bats to remain engaged, and contributes valuable postseason experience to a clubhouse that is still figuring out how to handle expectations.
Morosi emphasized that Garver is in a different headspace and that shift matters. Players excel when expectations match reality, and for the first time in Seattle, Garver has a clearly defined role. He isn’t expected to carry the offense. He’s expected to complement it.
That distinction might be the key to transforming a potentially disappointing stint into a quietly valuable season.
In that regard, the Mariners didn’t merely make the “correct” decision. They made a crucial decision—one that demonstrates deeper insight into their roster, clubhouse, and the subtle distinctions that set a playoff team apart from a genuine contender.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Gets Clear Message From Albert Pujols
The 2026 MLB season will get underway for the New York Yankees on March 25 with their Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants. Nonetheless, the one player on the Yankees with the most pressure to deliver a championship is Aaron Judge.
Although Judge has collected AL MVP honors during the regular season, it’s in the postseason where he’s faced criticism. Judge has a .236 batting average with 58 hits, 17 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 42 runs scored in 65 games in the postseason in his career, per StatMuse.
It’s on the Yankees slugger to deliver in the situations in which there’s the most pressure, and he didn’t have a good start already, with him going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the WBC final as Team USA lost to Team Venezuela.
As a result, former MLB star and manager of Team Dominican Republic, who the Americans defeated in the WBC semifinal, Albert Pujols shared advice to Judge on handling those pressure moments.
“I think my encouragement to [Judge] is really in those situations myself, I never changed my approach,” Pujols told Adam Schein in a March 24 video from Mad Dog Sports Radio.
“I took my approach like it was with nobody on, with men on. It doesn’t matter. My approach never changed. It’s still the same. For me, I have to probably ask him on a private side, to ask him if he thinks differently, because I haven’t had that opportunity to ask him about it.”
“He’s a great player, and I know that probably people are frustrated a lot of the time that he hasn’t come through. I was in that situation too. It’s just part of baseball, you know, and part of growing mentally and physically in this game.”
Albert Pujols Has Faith in Yankees’ Aaron Judge
Moreover, Pujols believes that Judge will figure it out in these pressure situations.
“Sooner or later, it’s gonna click,” Pujols added. “He’s still one of the best in the game. I will take him on my team, and if I’m building a team, I’d be the first guy that I would pick to have on my team. When it comes to those situations, it’s just I have to really ask him if he thinks a little different, because I don’t know. Everybody has a different approach at the plate.
“I had a different approach in the way I went about it. He probably has a different approach as well, so it’s hard to say why he sometimes, in those situations, probably doesn’t come through. Maybe he presses a little bit. Who knows? I don’t know. But like I say, he’s definitely a guy that I will put on my team 100 percent.”
Aaron Judge Faces Pressure to Win a World Series
Nonetheless, if New York falls short of winning the World Series again, it won’t be an indictment of the franchise, as WFAN’s Craig Carton says it’s Judge, not the Yankees, who desperately needs to win a World Series if he wants to receive consideration for being among the franchise’s all-time greats.
“If I had to rank in my head who involved with the Yankees needs to win a championship the most, it’s not the Yankees,” Carton said in a March 19 video from WFAN. “The Yankees have 27 of them, and they’re in the playoffs every single year. And when’s the last time the Yankees were under .500 for a regular season? It’s been a quarter century. So, the New York Yankees have nothing to prove to anybody.
“They are the winningest team of the last 30 years in Major League Baseball. But Aaron Judge desperately needs a championship to solidify himself as one of the great Yankees of all time, which he cannot lay claim to without the ring. And you only need one. You don’t need five, nope. But you have to have one.”
Dodgers lead MLB in ticket prices as family of four pays $413
If you’re a family of four, then your experience on a summer night at Dodger Stadium is among the best in baseball. Cheer and shout with 55,000 people.
The glow of blue when the stadium lights go dark and closer Edwin Diaz enters to “Timmy Trumpets” out of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
And then, somewhere between the parking gate and the first bite of a hot dog, reality taps you on the shoulder. The entire experience costs $413.16.
According to Bill Speros of Bookies.com, that’s the price of taking your family to see the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers in 2026.
Four tickets, parking, two beers, two sodas, four hot dogs — a family of four buying into the Los Angeles Dodgers experience now pays the highest price in Major League Baseball for the second straight year.
Nearly $200 above the league average. Not for souvenirs. Just for entry into the moment.
This is the paradox of modern baseball, sharpened under the California sun.
The Dodgers are not just a baseball team — they are a global attraction, anchored by Shohei Ohtani and fueled by a roster that reads like an All-Star ballot.
Winning back-to-back World Series titles hasn’t helped affordability either. It’s turned demand into a tidal wave. And when demand rises in a city like Los Angeles, prices soar.
Average ticket prices sit at $78.11, the highest in the sport. Parking alone is $45. The beer isn’t even the most expensive in baseball, but a michelada will put you back $28.
Meanwhile, across the league, the contrast is stark. The Boston Red Sox trail the Dodgers at $372.90. Surprisingly, the nomadic Oakland Athletics sit third, buoyed by scarcity in Sacramento.
But head down the 5 freeway, and the Angels quietly sell a $44 family pack, now that sounds like a top five priority!
The other California teams are all in the top 10 as well. The San Francisco Giants sit in fifth with a price of $283.58. The Padres are sixth at $274.14.
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Commissioner Rob Manfred points to rising attendance and insists the game is healthy. And maybe it is. Seventy-one million tickets sold says as much.
But numbers don’t sit in the stands.
Families do.
And somewhere in Los Angeles, a parent is doing math at the kitchen table, deciding whether one night at the ballpark is worth half a month of their discretionary income.
MLB ABS challenge storylines to watch on Opening Night 2026
When the Yankees and Giants open the 2026 regular season on Wednesday night at Oracle Park (8 p.m. ET, Netflix), MLB hitters, pitchers and catchers will be able to challenge ball and strike calls for the first time.
We all want to see what happens. All eyes will be on MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile. We’ve been watching ABS at work all spring, and now it’s time for the real thing.
Everyone will be waiting to see who makes that historic first challenge. Will it be one of the two catchers, Patrick Bailey or Austin Wells? They’re the most obvious candidates. Catchers get way more opportunities to challenge than batters, and are way more likely to challenge — and challenge successfully — than pitchers. Bailey will have the first crack in the top of the first, receiving pitches from Logan Webb.
Or maybe it’ll be a Yankees hitter, like Trent Grisham with his elite plate discipline, Aaron Judge with his uniquely tall strike zone, or someone like José Caballero who was extremely aggressive at challenging in Spring Training. But who knows if there will even be a borderline pitch worth challenging? The first opportunity might flip to the Yankees’ battery of Wells and Max Fried, or the Giants’ hitters, in the bottom of the first. Matt Chapman and Willy Adames seem likeliest on that front, after both challenged multiple times this spring.
Bailey looks primed to be one of the best challenging catchers in the Majors. He’s the best pitch framer in the game. When he sets up behind the plate, no one knows the borders of the strike zone like he does.
So will that elite skill translate to knowing when to challenge? Just going off the Spring Training data, it sure seems like it will. According to Baseball Savant’s challenge stats, Bailey was a top-5 challenging catcher this spring, winning 10 of his 14 attempts.
Bailey has
2026 big unknowns for each MLB team
The MLB season is a long journey of ups and downs, with everyone just hoping to find the good kind of consistency within the first couple of months. But there are always unknowns going into Opening Day. And sometimes, the way those unknowns play out end up being the difference between a good season and a bad one.
We know the type of player Okamoto can be, but how quickly can that translate from Japan to the big leagues? Okamoto comes over from the Yomiuri Giants with a reputation as a power hitter, and he flashed that talent in Spring Training, but the World Baseball Classic cut into how much of Okamoto we got to see. One encouraging takeaway, at least, is that he’s looked very comfortable at third base, which would allow the Blue Jays to play Addison Barger more regularly in the outfield and stretch their lineup. There aren’t many players on this roster who can change this team’s trajectory as much as Okamoto could in 2026. — Keegan Matheson
Will new closer Ryan Helsley return to the elite form he showed earlier in his career? Who will emerge as the top high-leverage options? Is there enough MLB-quality depth in this unit to make the season a success? Those questions will all be answered over the next six months. Baltimore’s bullpen could be really good, especially if relievers such as Tyler Wells, Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram can solidify the back end. Or the O’s could be in the market for ‘pen help by the time the Trade Deadline arrives on Aug. 3. — Jake Rill
The Rays’ everyday lineup could begin with three of the 30 or so best hitters in baseball: Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero. After that? The answer could determine the course of Tampa Bay’s season. The Rays should be able to hold their own against right-handed pitching thanks to left-handed-hitting veterans Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley and Gavin Lux (when healthy), and speedster Chandler Simpson, although it’s unclear what they’ll get offensively from catcher and shortstop. They’ll need someone to step up in the middle of the lineup against lefties, whether that’s Mullins or someone like Ben Williamson or Jonny DeLuca. — Adam Berry
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow started the offseason saying one of his top goals was to acquire a true power hitter. That never happened, and Breslow instead focused on upgrading the starting rotation while adding a couple of solid but not spectacular corner bats in veteran Willson Contreras and scrappy Caleb Durbin, who finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting with the Brewers last season. Where will the power come from? The answer could be from the blossoming young core led by Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. Veterans Jarren Duran, Contreras and Trevor Story are others who might exceed power projections. — Ian Browne
The Yankees seriously considered non-tendering Grisham after he struggled to adjust to part-time duty in 2024, batting .190 in 76 games. With more playing time in 2025, he posted career bests in several offensive categories, including homers (34) and RBIs (74). That earned Grisham a qualifying offer, valued at $22.025 million, with the Yanks saying they viewed him as the third-best free agent outfielder available. General manager Brian Cashman said Grisham’s contract “looks like a bargain” in light of deals Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger pulled down in free agency. Perhaps, but Grisham must prove his ’25 numbers are the new norm. — Bryan Hoch
What will the Guardians get offensively from their middle infield? They’re running it back with shortstop Gabriel Arias and second baseman Brayan Rocchio to start the season, and while the two were a stellar defensive combination in 2025, they logged a .637 and a .630 OPS, respectively. The Guardians are hoping for players such as those two taking a step forward at the plate in ‘26. But they also have second baseman Travis Bazzana (MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect) waiting in the wings in Triple-A, vying to make an impact in the Majors. — Tim Stebbins
The Royals made some moves this offseason to add to their lineup with the signing of Lane Thomas and the trade for Isaac Collins, more to help deepen the lineup than provide true impact in the middle. Perhaps the biggest move of all had nothing to do with the roster: The fences are coming in a bit at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City will still need its stars – Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez – to star, but the new faces helping the Royals score more than they did in ‘25 will be crucial to this season. Or we could still be talking about the Royals needing an impact bat by the time the Trade Deadline rolls around on Aug. 3. — Anne Rogers
Even once Detroit’s Opening Day roster is set, the Tigers’ wealth of positional versatility leaves them options on who to play at various spots and how often to play them. One of the most important spots is center field, where Parker Meadows overcame a slow start at the plate in Spring Training with the help of some swing adjustments to salvage a solid finish. His defense alone makes him a great asset in center, but if he can hit for impact, the Tigers could mix in Matt Vierling and Javier Báez there against lefties if they want more offensive impact. — Jason Beck
Minnesota actually has a pretty robust left-handed relief corps, with Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda and Kody Funderburk. As for the right side? It’s still a work in progress. It remains an open question who would pitch the eighth and/or ninth with a lead. Cole Sands and Justin Topa each have a bit of closing experience, and Zak Kent can miss bats, but there’s no obvious candidate to close out games. — Matthew Leach
Murakami is the biggest impact addition made by the White Sox during this current rebuild and the most accomplished player from the Pacific Rim to ever join the franchise. But there’s still a question as to how his skills will translate when coming to Major League Baseball. He not only has to adjust to a new league but a new country. The White Sox are helping forge a smooth transition, and Murakami is a tireless worker with a very regimented routine. If he takes off offensively, the White Sox could follow as a team. — Scott Merkin
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, got through a full season last year, playing in 130 games, but did miss a month with a bone bruise sustained in April in his twice-surgically repaired left knee. He returned with less speed than usual and was relegated to designated hitter duty the rest of the year, batting an uncharacteristic .232/.359/.439 with 26 homers and 64 RBIs. But Trout’s speed is back after a healthy offseason, reaching 30 feet per second in sprint speed for the first time since 2024, and he believes he can build on a strong offensive finish to last season. He’s also moving back to center field, which is where he’s much more comfortable, after his experiment in right last year. — Rhett Bollinger
The Astros spent much of the offseason shopping center fielder Jake Meyers, but appear set to carry him on their Opening Day roster. He’s coming off his best offensive season and is a Gold Glove-caliber defender. What about the corners? With Jose Altuve back at second base and Yordan Alvarez slated to get most of his at-bats at DH, the Astros are turning to the young trio of Joey Loperfido, Cam Smith and Zach Cole in the corners. All three are athletic enough to play all three outfield spots, but will they hit enough to stay in the lineup? — Brian McTaggart
The A’s plan to go closer by committee, and while that approach worked out quite successfully over the final two months of last season, it remains to be seen whether the strategy will be as effective over a full campaign. Ideally, the A’s could have one of their high-leverage options, such as Elvis Alvarado or Scott Barlow, seize the closer role at some point and run with it, allowing manager Mark Kotsay to form some type of late-inning structure. But to begin the year, the A’s will have to mix and match relievers as best they can. — Martín Gallegos
This was the prevailing adversity that the club faced in 2025, when Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo each missed extended time — yet the Mariners still went on to win the AL West for the first time in 24 years. Miller is already dealing with a left oblique issue and is expected to begin the regular season on the IL, which will force Seattle’s front office to tap into its depth, likely via de facto injury fill-in Emerson Hancock. Seattle already lost Logan Evans to Tommy John surgery in January after a solid rookie season, and the club could potentially lean on No. 2 prospect Kade Anderson later this summer. But keeping their main five healthy over the next six months could catapult them to winning the division by a healthy margin. — Daniel Kramer
Carter was the “Little Savior” for the Rangers in 2023, when he hit .306 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 23 games as a 21-year-old before playing every game of the eventual World Series run. He hasn’t been fully healthy since then, dealing with nagging back issues in ‘24 and a broken wrist in ‘25. And hanging in the back of that subplot has been his struggles against left-handed pitching throughout his professional career. It seems that manager Skip Schumaker believes Carter has earned the right to face more lefties in 2026. Now he’s got to make the most of all the opportunities he gets in order to change the narrative. — Kennedi Landry
The Braves lost Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow surgery) at the start of camp and Spencer Strider (oblique) at the end of camp. In between, they lost depth courtesy of injuries suffered by Joey Wentz (torn ACL) and Hurston Waldrep (elbow surgery). The top three starters are 37-year-old Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes. The latter two members of this trio suffered season-ending injuries last year. How this rotation will survive over 162 games is definitely a great unknown. — Mark Bowman
Morel, whom the Marlins signed to a one-year deal as a bounceback candidate, is expected to be the club’s primary first baseman — a position he hadn’t played until this spring. Miami hopes that Morel can rediscover his 2022-23 form, when he slugged 42 homers with a 113 OPS+, rather than his ’25 numbers (11 homers, 90 OPS+). The Marlins could use Morel’s power after finishing with the fourth-fewest homers in the Majors in 2025. — Christina De Nicola
Spring Training is one thing. Senga needed to re-establish himself following injury-plagued down years in 2024 and ‘25, and he absolutely did so with a 1.86 ERA over three Grapefruit League outings. He hit 99 mph on the radar gun and looked every bit the frontline starter he was in 2023. But the regular season is quite another animal, and Senga still must prove he can withstand the rigors of a long season. If he continues down this path, the Mets will have another top-of-the-rotation arm to pair with Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean. But if he falters? Well, we’ve seen that movie before. — Anthony DiComo
Last year, the Nationals traded closer Kyle Finnegan to the Tigers and tabbed Jose A. Ferrer as the new closer. Then in December, they traded Ferrer to the Mariners. Now, they enter the season without a clearly defined closer. The Nats could fill the role by committee after high-leverage options stood out in camp. Right-hander Cole Henry, who earned two saves and finished 13 games last season, is the likely top candidate. The Nats also have been impressed by righty Clayton Beeter, who was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings during Spring Training. — Jessica Camerato
Justin Crawford has looked big league ready this spring. He tripled just the other day against Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. It was his fourth extra-base hit of the spring. Crawford has also made some nice plays in center field. He doesn’t need to be a savior for the Phillies. Not even close. He just needs to hit enough in the nine hole and catch the baseball. If he exceeds those modest expectations, the Phillies will be thrilled. — Todd Zolecki
When the Brewers extended Woodruff a qualifying offer and he accepted, it locked in the highest single-season salary for a pitcher in franchise history. And yet, nobody knows exactly what to expect. Woodruff, Milwaukee’s longest-tenured pitcher, had shoulder surgery at the end of 2023, spent all of ‘24 rehabbing and then returned for 12 incredibly promising Major League starts in ‘25 (7-2, 3.20 ERA) before a lat strain signaled that he was simply out of bullets. Woodruff and the Brewers devised a buildup that emphasized being healthy in September and October rather than being ready for Opening Day. How many starts will he deliver? Will it work if the “angry” fastball that made him great never fully returns? Considering the youthful rotation options they have around Woodruff, the Brewers have a lot riding on those answers. — Adam McCalvy
In 2022, Walker was the top prospect in the Cardinals’ organization. Four years later, the Cardinals are wondering whether he will ever reach his potential. Walker has been inconsistent in the batter’s box and he had a Spring Training to forget. However, he worked hard in the hitting lab at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to correct his swing, slow things down and be ready for any pitch coming to the plate. For Walker to be successful, he must spread the ball all over the field. He decided to stop thinking too much at the plate and just hit the ball. We’ll see how that goes once the season starts. — Bill Ladson
Shaw was the Cubs’ regular at third base in ‘25 and ended the year with some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes and as a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. When the Cubs signed Alex Bregman, Shaw was asked to move off third and try his hand at being a super sub for both the infield and outfield. The 24-year-old Shaw is athletic enough to play all over the field, but there were ups and downs this spring as he learned new positions. Offensively, Shaw also had an up-and-down showing last year, posting a .556 OPS in the first half and an .839 OPS after the All-Star break. Shaw is hoping to be a steady part of the lineup in ‘26, so it will be interesting to see how the Cubs try to make that happen. — Jordan Bastian
If there’s a guy who could unexpectedly tilt the lineup in the right direction, it’s Henry Davis. Davis came up through the Minors with most of the rotation, and his teammates love him … he just still hasn’t hit like anyone thought he was going to. The top overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Louisville, Davis was coveted for his elite bat-to-ball skills. The 26-year-old is known for his work ethic, so it’s certainly not for lack of trying. If he can get something to click this season, the Bucs gain a huge asset and better balance in the lineup. — Dawn Klemish
Cincinnati’s top prospect and baseball’s No. 22 overall, Stewart will be playing his first full Major League season. Still only 22, the right-handed hitter led the club in September with five home runs and then showed dedication to learning first base in the offseason and learning there on the fly in the big leagues. He also dropped 26 pounds and put together an impressive Spring Training. The Feb. 3 signing of Eugenio Suárez should take pressure off Stewart to produce some of the offense that was missing for the club overall in 2025. If Stewart can build from his small sample of last season, he could be an NL Rookie of the Year candidate. — Mark Sheldon
GM Mike Hazen received some criticism for not doing more to improve a bullpen that struggled mightily last year, but several of the higher-profile closers on the market were out of Arizona’s price range. Instead, the Diamondbacks tried to be opportunistic, getting Paul Sewald on a one-year deal after seeing his velocity increase this past offseason and adding the hard-throwing Jonathan Loáisiga. There is more depth than in the past with Andrew Hoffmann, Kade Strowd and Drey Jameson, among others, and the Diamondbacks expect to get A.J. Puk back before the All-Star break and Justin Martinez sometime in the second half. Will it be enough? We’ll have to see. — Steve Gilbert
Sasaki had a redemptive postseason, when he thrived in a new relief role. He will start this season in the Dodgers’ rotation, but he has not done much to give the team confidence this spring (15.58 ERA in four starts). If we learned anything from his bullpen stint, it’s that it may only be a matter of putting things together for Sasaki, who dominated in Nippon Professional Baseball and came to the Majors with sky-high expectations last year. He’ll get the chance to do so at the big league level. — Sonja Chen
The Giants are taking a massive gamble on Vitello, who became the first college coach to be hired to manage in the Majors without having any prior experience in professional baseball. Vitello will face a big learning curve as he adjusts to navigating a 162-game season and a clubhouse full of veterans for the first time, but the Giants believe his fiery energy and his track record of developing players at the University of Tennessee will help the club finally escape the .500 doldrums and emerge as a playoff contender this year. — Maria Guardado
“A $20 million player for pennies on the dollar,” was how Manny Machado described the Padres’ signing of Nick Castellanos earlier this spring. And, no, Castellanos isn’t the player he was when he signed with Philadelphia four years ago. But the Padres aren’t the ones paying out that contract. They’re only paying the league minimum, and Castellanos has impressed this spring. For a team that struggled against lefties and desperately needed more pop, this could be the perfect fit. Or… well, there’s a reason it ended the way it did in Philadelphia. — AJ Cassavell
As camp entered its final days, it wasn’t clear that Dollander would claim a spot at the back of the rotation. But he was the ninth overall pick in 2023 for a reason – overpowering stuff, especially his fastball. Routinely able to get to two strikes, Dollander must find the ability to put hitters away – not only with the strikeout but with the pitch-count-saving ground ball. The Rockies expect him to rise to the front of the rotation. Whether it’s now or later, Dollander will have the chance to begin realizing that future. — Thomas Harding
World Series champion, division winners, Wild Cards
The 2026 MLB regular season is actually here! It all starts with the MLB Opening Night game between the Yankees and Giants on Netflix at 8:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday. That leads directly into Opening Day on Thursday.
AL East baseball will not be for the faint of heart this year; it has the look of the most competitive division in the Majors. But ultimately, our voters expect Toronto to hang on to its division crown following its worst-to-first turnaround in 2025. The Blue Jays were oh-so-close to capturing a World Series title last year, but instead of wallowing in what could have been, they went out this winter and added marquee free agents such as right-handed ace Dylan Cease and Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto.
Replacing Bo Bichette won’t be easy, and the Blue Jays’ rotation will be shorthanded on Opening Day as Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Shane Bieber will all open the year on the injured list. But when it’s at full strength, Toronto should have one of the best and deepest staffs in the league. Even with those losses, Toronto is flush with talent and a picture of stability in MLB. An AL East title would make them back-to-back division champions for the first time since 1991-93.
The 2025 season was still a pretty successful one for the Tigers, even after they squandered a 6 1/2-game lead in the AL Central over the regular season’s final two weeks and limped into the playoffs as a Wild Card. They rebounded in the postseason to eliminate the division-winning Guardians and came within one win of the ALCS.
Defending two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is obviously the star of the show, but the addition of Framber Valdez and the feel-good return of Justin Verlander give Detroit arguably its strongest rotation since 2014, when it last claimed the Central.
Detroit’s offense is largely unchanged from last season, but there is one name to remember: Kevin McGonigle. The No. 2 prospect in MLB, McGonigle owns a .308/.410/.512 slash line through 183 Minor League games and is set to be on the Opening Day roster. He could provide a huge upgrade at shortstop, a position where Detroit logged a .288 on-base percentage and an 89 wRC+ last year.
Is it finally Seattle’s time? The Mariners were nine outs away from their first pennant last season before everything went awry in ALCS Game 7 against the Blue Jays. But this might be the best roster they have fielded since their record-setting 2001 team, which won 116 games. Who knows how many victories this squad will rack up, but it was the runaway favorite to win the West again, according to our voters.
Seattle boasts two legitimate MVP threats in 60-homer catcher Cal Raleigh and superstar center fielder Julio Rodríguez. It re-signed first baseman Josh Naylor and replaced slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez with Brendan Donovan, who was the headliner in a three-team swap this winter after earning his first All-Star nod in 2025. The Mariners’ well-rounded offense will back what is possibly the best pitching staff in the AL.
Offensively, the Yankees are essentially running it back with much of last year’s 94-win group. That’s headlined by the re-signing of Cody Bellinger and the return of Trent Grisham via the qualifying offer. But considering that the Bronx Bombers led the big leagues last year in homers (274) and runs (849), why try to mess with a good thing? The biggest
What to expect from Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt in MLB
On Monday, the Cardinals announced that MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 overall prospect will open the 2026 season in the Major Leagues. His expected debut will come at second base Thursday when the Cardinals host the Rays on Opening Day at Busch Stadium.
Drafted seventh overall out of West Virginia in 2024, the left-handed hitter certainly held his own in his second Spring Training. He may have batted only .212 over 15 games — affected no doubt by a low .200 average on balls in play in the small sample — but he partnered that with a .386 on-base percentage and nine walks, tied for most on the St. Louis roster with Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn. Wetherholt stayed disciplined as a non-roster invitee in big league camp, while other prospects may have wanted to show their capabilities with the bat and become overeager to take hacks. Instead, the former Mountaineer chased on only 15 percent of pitches outside the zone in Grapefruit League play and made contact on 82 percent of his swings when he did let loose.
Wetherholt won the Division I batting title with a .449 average for WVU in 2023, and while hamstring issues affected him a year later, he was still considered a candidate to go first overall the following summer before landing with the Cardinals six picks later. He dominated the upper levels in his first full season of Minor League ball, hitting .306/.421/.510 with 17 homers and 23 steals over 109 games at Double-A and Triple-A. He was even better at the latter (.314/.416/.562, 10 homers in 47 games), and his 156 wRC+ was best among players aged 22 or younger at Triple-A (minimum 200 plate appearances) in 2025, beating out other stellar prospects like Samuel Basallo (151) and Roman Anthony (145).
St. Louis’ top prospect bats from an open, relaxed and upright stance, always looking comfortable from the left side of the box before he gets going with a leg kick. He marries that strong plate discipline with good barrel manipulation that helps his above-average power play to all fields. While his exit velocities won’t pop in similar ways to bigger sluggers, he does a nice enough job of driving the ball in the air or on a line (and only rarely popped up) to propel his strong batting averages.
With that near double-plus hit tool, he could be a candidate to bat .300 with around 20 homers over multiple seasons now that he’s in St. Louis. This decade, the Cardinals have only had two .300 batters, and they were both Paul Goldschmidt (2020, ’22).
Last season, only four St. Louis hitters got at least 400 plate appearances and posted wRC+ marks above 100 — two of them have been traded in Willson Contreras (124) and Brendan Donovan (119). The others are DH/part-time catcher Iván Herrera (137) and first baseman Alec Burleson (124). Without big talents coming, the Cards could use a quality bat and overall table setter near the top of the lineup, and that’s exactly where Wetherholt should slide in right away beginning Thursday.
The 23-year-old moved around shortstop, second base and third base in 2025 but has been mostly focused on the keystone this spring with Donovan officially moving on to the Mariners in the offseason. With his above-average speed and arm, Wetherholt has the athleticism teams covet up the middle, but he wasn’t going to knock Winn, a Gold Glover who is only six months older than him, off the six.
Winn and Wetherholt have the potential to become one of the Majors’ best double-play combinations in quick order, depending on the bat of the former and defense of the latter in his new full-time position. With a rebuild ongoing in St. Louis, that partnership should help Cardinals fans dream of the days when the W’s bring W’s to the Gateway of the West.
MLB World Reacts To Shohei Ohtani’s 11-Strikeout Performance
On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers played their final game of spring training when they hosted the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers lost by a score of 3-0.
Despite the loss, Shohei Ohtani had an incredible showing with 11 strikeouts in four innings.
MLB World Reacts To Ohtani’s 11-Strikeout Performance
Here’s what people were saying about Ohtani’s night:
Alden González: “8 days ago, when he returned from the WBC, the Dodgers weren’t sure where Shohei Ohtani would be in his pitching progression. He then threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first Cactus League start. Today he has shut the Angels out thru another 4 innings — with 11 strikeouts.”
Underdog MLB: “Shohei Ohtani struck out 11 in his final start of the spring 17 Whiffs 49% Whiff rate”
Dodgers Nation: “Well-deserved ovation for Shohei Ohtani as his final Spring start for the Dodgers comes to an end in the 5th inning. He struck out 11 batters tonight and allowed just one run. He’s ready to start the season as a 2-way star 🔥”
@BaseballWRLD_: “Shohei Ohtani could be the best pitcher in baseball on a per inning basis this year and it wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest If the Dodgers let him get to 165 innings, he’s winning the Cy Young”
Jack Harris: “Dodgers were hoping to get Shohei Ohtani into the sixth inning tonight. But all those strikeouts ballooned his pitch count He is done after giving up a run on three-straight singles to begin the fifth, at 86 pitches Still, his 11 Ks are another positive sign ahead of the season”
Katie Woo: “Ohtani has struck out nine of his last 10 hitters and is up to 11 Ks through four innings. So much for the uncertainty surrounding his ramp up after the WBC.”
Ohtani And The Dodgers
Ohtani is heading into his third season with the franchise.
The future Hall of Famer has helped them win the World Series championship in each of the previous two seasons.
Jon Anik questions how UFC Seattle bout has been approved due to late addition being KO’d last month
One of the notable matchups on this weekend’s UFC card left Jon Anik scratching his head.
Israel Adesanya returns to face Joe Pyfer in the main event on March 28 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
As he looks to snap a three-fight losing streak, Adesanya doesn’t intend on retiring, though he has admitted that he’s coming towards the end of his career.
Two fighters who were paired together on late notice could both leave their gloves inside the Octagon following their clash.
Jon Anik calls out Niko Price being booked to face Michael Chiesa after he was knocked out in February
After hinting at it in the past, Michael Chiesa has confirmed that he will retire this Saturday when he makes the walk in the same state that he trains out of.
The 38-year-old was originally set to meet Carlston Harris, but visa issues led to the promotion drafting in fellow veteran Niko Price as his replacement opponent.
Fans calling for Price to retire after he was knocked out in devastating fashion last month caused Jon Anik to call this choice of matchup out ahead of fight night.
“I am not in the business of calling for fighters to retire, I have said that probably two dozen times on these airwaves over the last 11 years but sometimes I wonder how this happens,” he said on the Anik & Florian podcast. “I understand from a matchmaking perspective why this fight is happening but how does Niko get approved?”
Kenny Florian pointed out that while both men are on completely different streaks right now, the one saving grace is that Chiesa isn’t known for being a knockout artist.
While ‘Maverick’ has won three in a row, Price is coming off three consecutive losses where he was finished in his last two outings.
“I think it could very well be his last fight as well,” Anik said about Price. “I’m sure the show money is great but I was very surprised to see that cross the wire.”
Jake Paul Claims “Terrible Boxer” Francis Ngannou Is Ducking Him to Avoid Public Embarrassment
Jake Paul isn’t just looking for his next opponent. He’s looking for a statement. And in his mind, Francis Ngannou fits that role perfectly. After going six rounds with Anthony Joshua in his last outing, Paul has started to lean into a new narrative that he belongs in conversations with heavyweights, despite leaving the ring with a broken jaw. So when Ngannou’s name came up again, it wasn’t framed as a challenge. It was framed as an opportunity. Speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, ‘The Problem Child’ didn’t hold back.
“I think most recently, Francis Ngannou was talking a lot of smack,” Paul said. “I think that’s a easy fight for me, I think he’s a terrible boxer, I maybe want to go back up to heavyweight and knock him out like Joshua did, render him unconscious. And he knows I lasted longer than him against Joshua, didn’t get put out. I think he maybe wouldn’t do the fight because I think deep down he would not want to get embarrassed. To me that’s a fun one on the list.”
For added context, Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury in his boxing debut and arguably pushed one of the best heavyweights in the world to the edge over ten rounds in the split-decision loss. Yes, he was stopped by Joshua in two rounds. But that’s Anthony Joshua, a former unified champion with years of high-level boxing experience and dynamite in his gloves.
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Paul, meanwhile, made it into the sixth before getting stopped. That’s a fair point statistically, as he himself pointed out, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s operating at the same level technically or stylistically. In fact, this isn’t the first time this matchup has been brought up.
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In 2025, reports emerged that Paul’s MVP (Most Valuable Promotions) had reached out to ‘The Predator’ for talks about a fight, but Ngannou had turned it down. In fact, he outright rejected the idea with, “I mean, don’t disrespect me like that… I’m just not interested, it makes no sense for me. It’s not what I’m looking at right now.”
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At the same time, Jake Paul understands the business. This fight isn’t just about rankings or belts. It’s about attention. Ngannou brings credibility from both MMA and boxing. Paul brings audience, promotion, and a track record of turning unconventional matchups into major events. And despite the former UFC star’s earlier hesitation, he seems to be warming up to the matchup now that he’s taking a fight under the MVP banner!
Francis Ngannou is more interested in “beating” Jake Paul than just “fighting” him
The tone shifted when both men finally shared the same stage. Not in a ring, but at a press conference promoting Most Valuable Promotions’ upcoming Rousey vs Carano Netflix card. And suddenly, this wasn’t just Jake Paul talking anymore. Francis Ngannou had a microphone too. When asked directly about the matchup, Ngannou didn’t exactly play along with the narrative.
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“I’m not interested in fighting Jake Paul [in the ring],” he said first, before quickly adding a twist, “I’m interested in beating his a–.”
Ngannou is returning to MMA on May 16 against Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout. It’ll be his first MMA fight since October 2024, when he defeated Renan Ferreira at PFL Super Fights. Paul, though, isn’t letting go of the storyline. Even coming off his own knockout loss to Joshua, a sixth-round stoppage that left him with a broken jaw and two surgeries, he’s still pushing forward.
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“I’m always down,” he said, claiming Ngannou previously avoided the matchup and adding, “Just know you’d get worked in boxing.”
Ngannou didn’t hold back on that either. He called Paul “a little disrespectful,” suggesting the way negotiations were handled earlier played a role in his rejecting the fight in the first place. But now? The tone has changed.
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“I really didn’t want to fight you but now I really want to beat you,” he said. “There is a difference. That’s why I made the statement I did – to just beat you up.”
So maybe the real takeaway isn’t whether Francis Ngannou is “ducking” or whether Jake Paul is overreaching. It’s that the door, which once looked firmly shut, is now slightly open. Do you think they’ll square off in the boxing ring in the future? Or will it be an MMA fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
UFC Fans Drop Solutions for Dana White as Boring Fights Plague His Organization
There’s a growing consensus among UFC fans: the fights are getting boring. And now, they think they’ve found the culprit. While the technicalities used by fighters remain the same, the low ratio of finishes in comparison to decisions is what concerns the fans. But what could be the reason for that decline in highlight-reel knockout moments or submissions? As it seems, the reason lies with the logistics.
“Moving full-time to the smaller cage could be an easy fix to forcing exchanges,” MMA commentator Jacob Lines stated on X. “Some would argue this would favor wrestlers too much, but in the cards this year, even with the most decisions on the Apex Card: Apex card averaged 2.23 takedowns a fight, Strickland card averaged 2.28 takedowns a fight, UFC 324 averaged 1.55 takedowns a fight, UFC 325 averaged 2.23 takedowns a fight.
“Matchmaking carries the most weight in making fights entertaining, but it feels like the smaller cage can turn water into wine when it comes to chaos and exciting fights.”
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According to the commentator who runs the popular MMA commentary channel ‘We Want Picks’, the root cause of the problem lies with the size of the octagon and not the matchmaking alone. For those unaware, the leading MMA promotion has a different-sized octagons when it comes to Apex fights and numbered events. The Meta Apex facility is located in Las Vegas and typically has an octagon of 25-foot diameter.
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Meanwhile, when it comes to fights outside of that venue, the UFC goes for an Octagon with a 30-foot diameter. So, the argument here is that the bigger the playing area for fighters, the more it allows them to avoid exchanges. As a result, there are lower finish rates for numbered events as compared to Apex fights.
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Take UFC Vegas 114, headlined by Josh Emmett and Kevin Vallejos, as an example. The entire card consisted of six finishes. Meanwhile, when UFC 325 took place, only four fights ended decisively. Not only that, but if we talk about average takedowns, there is also a difference in that. So, it seems the size of the octagon may have an impact on the action. But do the fans feel the same?
Fans react to debate over cage size and matchmaking
A majority of the netizens believe that cage size does have an impact on the actions between two fighters. And for that, many dropped a variety of solutions to tackle this matter. “Set up the small cage in different cities around the globe. Broadcast prelims from the different locations on select/specific days of the week. Main card on Saturday at whatever location,” a fan suggested.
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Meanwhile, another fan noted how UFC has all the resources required to pull off such a change. “The UFC brass are just phoning it in at this point. They should make this change immediately. They have all the cash in the world and could make this change tomorrow,” the user commented. UFC is arguably the leading MMA promotion in today’s time, with major partnerships.
So, yes, logically it won’t be something that the Dana White-led promotion will be unable to do. But then again, a few also feel that UFC brass are least bothered by any such potential solutions for the lackluster fight issue. “Cage size won’t make the match makers care more about the product,” a fan wrote.
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Amid that, another netizen noted how the Apex facility actually witnesses more highlight-reel worthy fights through Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). “The series of the craziest finishes in a row happened in the Contender Series in the last 1-2 years. Insane highlight reels every mid of the week,” the user commented.
To back that, Season 9 of DWCS was the last season of the show, with week 10 being the last card. Featuring a total of six bouts, five ended in finishes. Apart from that, instead of making major logistical changes, a few suggested that UFC implement stricter rules. “An easier solution is to reintroduce the fighters to the Unified rules… Penalize stalling as the rules say. That’s all it takes,” a fan wrote.
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And lastly, another fan noted that despite the logistical push to make the sizes of the UFC octagon similar to the Apex facility, it won’t actually work. “Nah, the smaller cage just makes it more cramped, doesn’t automatically make fights better,” the netizen wrote.
Here, the opinions do seem subjective as fans dropped various solutions to counter the decision-heavy UFC fights. From the promotion’s side, they did introduce a revised bonus system with a reward upgrade from $50k to $100k. Not only that, even fighters securing finishes are now being rewarded with a $25k bonus.
Despite this change, the UFC is yet to satisfy fans through buzzing contests. So, could following the netizens’ suggestion be an option for the leading MMA promotion? Only time will tell.
“He Might Have Some Goons With Him”: Sean Strickland Warned About Going Too Far With Khamzat Chimaev
Abhishek Kumar Das is a Senior Combat Sports writer at EssentiallySports, known for his sharp extensive coverage of the UFC and WWE. Specializing as the go-to expert on Joe Rogan, Abhishek provides nuanced reporting on the evolving discourse surrounding Rogan’s influence on combat sports and its intersection with American politics. Over the past three years, he has built a reputation for delivering timely breaking news and thoughtful analysis, often exploring off-court drama and current affairs tied to the fight world.
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‘He Might Have Some Goons With Him’: Sean Strickland Warned About Going Too Far With Khamzat Chimaev
Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev already feels like one of the most personal fights on the UFC calendar, and Din Thomas believes the tension could go too far if the trash talk continues. With the two scheduled to headline UFC 328 in Newark, the former fighter-turned-analyst warned that Strickland’s usual trash-talking approach may not be the safest strategy this time.
Speaking on The Bohnfire, Din Thomas stated that Sean Strickland is notorious for saying things that cross the line, but this rivalry may be different because of how Khamzat Chimaev and his crew react.
“Sean’s going to say some crazy, wild stuff, and then he’s going to leave it at that and wait for the fight,” Thomas said. “But you don’t know what Chimaev and his people might do if they’re truly offended.
He went on to add that if emotions are involved, the scenario may become unpredictable. And that’s why the analyst believes Sean Strickland should think carefully before trying to get under Khamzat Chimaev‘s skin, given how intense the undefeated contender already is.
“You can’t trust what he’s going to do,” Din Thomas said. “He might have some goons with him.
If I’m Sean, I’m going to put on a show, but I’m also not going to let it get too far.” The warning comes after Dana White already hinted that extra security could be needed during fight week because of the bad blood between the two.
According to Thomas, ‘Tarzan’ could be better off focusing on the fight itself rather than trying to make the rivalry more personal.
“He might got some goons with him that just, just like, ‘Yo, I don’t, I don’t care,’” he added. “‘Like, we’re gonna show up to Jersey and we’re gonna do what we gotta do, because I don’t care.’
“So if I’m showing, you know, I’m gonna put on the show, but also, I’m not gonna let it get too far. You gotta be careful with that.”
With both fighters known for their aggressive personalities, the buildup to UFC 328 is set to be heated regardless. However, Din Thomas worries that if Sean Strickland goes too far, the drama could go beyond promotion and turn into something much more difficult to handle. Maybe that’s why even Joe Rogan has come forward and warned the UFC against one thing ahead of UFC 328.
Joe Rogan warns the UFC against doing a pre-fight face-off between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland
Din Thomas isn’t the only one concerned about how far things could go before UFC 328. Recently, Joe Rogan also spoke about the rivalry and stated that the UFC should be cautious about how it handles the promotion, particularly when it comes to putting Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev face-to-face before the fight.
Speaking on his Fight Companion, the UFC commentator said the promotion should avoid the new pre-fight face-off segment because of the tension between the two.
“That’s a great fight,” Rogan said. “No, you can’t do it (the pre-fight face-offs); yeah, you can’t do that.
“(Strickland) called (Chimaev) a goat f—–.”
He emphasized that the rivalry is already heated enough without forcing extra confrontation. Joe Rogan said that the fight sells itself, and bringing them too close before the fight could create problems. With both Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev consistently criticizing each other in the media, he believes that keeping distance until fight night is the best way for the UFC to handle the situation.
Eddie Hall Hints Darren Till MMA Match in June Return Announcement
Abhishek Kumar Das is a Senior Combat Sports writer at EssentiallySports, known for his sharp extensive coverage of the UFC and WWE. Specializing as the go-to expert on Joe Rogan, Abhishek provides nuanced reporting on the evolving discourse surrounding Rogan’s influence on combat sports and its intersection with American politics. Over the past three years, he has built a reputation for delivering timely breaking news and thoughtful analysis, often exploring off-court drama and current affairs tied to the fight world.
Know more
Lerone Murphy Reveals Muscle Injury Sustained During Movsar Evloev Fight at UFC London
The controversy surrounding Lerone Murphy’s loss in front of his home crowd at UFC London now has a painful explanation. Last weekend at the O2 Arena, the Brit entered the fight determined to hand his undefeated Russian opponent, Movsar Evloev, his first defeat. However, as the bout progressed, the momentum shifted.
Murphy started strong, using his footwork and counterstriking to pick at Evloev throughout the first two rounds. Despite this, the Brit for some reason faded in the later rounds. Many expected him to win or at least force a draw. But that didn’t happen. In the end, two judges scored the fight 48-46 for Evloev, while the third judge saw it as a 47-47 draw. Murphy has since revealed on his Instagram story that he tore his hip flexor in the fourth round, adding context to his fade in the final stages.
In the clip on his story, a physiotherapist can be seen administering cryotherapy to Lerone Murphy’s leg and hip. Still, he reassured fans that he would make a comeback soon.
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“Tore my hip flexor in rd 4,” the Brit wrote in the caption. “Back in no time.”
The hip flexors are muscles located at the front of the hip and thigh that allow you to lift your knee toward your chest and bend at the waist. These muscles are essential every time the body has to perform a function like walking, running, or climbing stairs. They are especially necessary during a fight when you have to kick or knee your opponent or even evade punches. The tear in his flexor explains why Murphy couldn’t counter effectively or use his kicks to maintain distance with the Russian. This isn’t the first time Lerone Murphy has spoken about his injury.
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He revealed it shortly after the fight in a post-fight interview, explaining that he actually slipped in the fourth round, which caused his hip to “pop” out. However, Murphy’s history of recovering from injuries makes this latest setback seem less daunting.
In 2013, a gunman fired three shots at his face, but Murphy survived. Although it pushed him to the brink, he made it through, and a bullet fragment still remains in his tongue.
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After the UFC London fight, the Brit initially accepted his loss to Movsar Evloev. However, the online debate over the decision prompted him to watch the fight again, which made him change his tune.
“Just watched the fight back,” he wrote on X, followed by the laughing/sweating emoji. “Congrats to Evloev either way.”
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Still, the ship has already sailed. Lerone Murphy must now climb back up all over again if he hopes to earn a title shot. Given his injury, he could remain out of action for a few months, even though he has already started targeting his next possible opponent, who is scheduled to fight at the UFC White House. Recently, on X, ‘The Miracle’ engaged in some back-and-forth with his next potential opponent.
Who’s next in line for Lerone Murphy?
Lerone Murphy isn’t far from returning to title contention, but he must first prove himself against one of the top-five contenders. Among them are No.4 ranked Yair Rodriguez and No.2 ranked Diego Lopes. To get closer to a title shot, the Brit has now set his sights on Lopes.
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Murphy’s comments drew the ire of Diego Lopes, who already resented Murphy’s January statement criticizing Lopes’ title shot against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325. Lerone Murphy called the opportunity undeserved and suggested the UFC gave Lopes the shot in an effort to capitalize on the Mexican market. Lopes took exception to this and fired back after his loss.
“No, Lerone, we are not the same,” Diego Lopes wrote on X. “Never do that again.”
The Englishman, however, did not let the moment pass and issued a fiery callout.
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“I didn’t lay on my back in guard for three rounds, bro,” he replied. “Let’s fight next.”
If Lopes gets past Steve Garcia at UFC Freedom 250, a matchup with Lerone Murphy would make sense for both men’s positioning in the division.
Lerone Murphy Claps Back at Diego Lopes, Sparks Fight Talk After UFC London
While Movsar Evloev may have settled the featherweight title conversation and preserved his undefeated 20-0 record at UFC London, the same cannot be said for Lerone Murphy. Competing on home soil, Murphy suffered a narrow majority decision loss (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) in what was a competitive but ultimately inconclusive outing on his end.
Despite Evloev opting to strike for much of the opening three rounds rather than leaning on his trademark wrestling and even conceding a point due to a low-blow deduction in Round 4, Murphy failed to capitalize. As the fight wore on, he faded down the stretch and was unable to seize control when it mattered most.
Adding to his struggles, Murphy later revealed he had torn his hip flexor late in the bout, significantly limiting his movement in the closing stages. With Evloev now seemingly positioned for a title clash against division kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, attention has quickly shifted to what lies ahead for the Englishman following the first defeat of his career.
Interestingly, Murphy may not have to wait long for his next assignment. Tensions have already flared between him and Diego Lopes . In the aftermath of the main event, Lopes, himself a former two-time title challenger, took aim at Murphy’s performance, writing, “No, Lerone, we are not the same. Never do that again.” Murphy wasted little time firing back, responding on X, “I didn’t lay on my back in guard for 3 rounds, bro. Let’s fight next?”
This was a clear jab at Lopes’ short-notice loss and promotional debut to Evloev at UFC 288 back in May 2023, where the Russian secured multiple takedowns and racked up significant control time.
Since that defeat, however, Lopes has rebuilt his momentum impressively, delivering highlight-reel performances and even earning two title opportunities against Volkanovski at UFC 314 and UFC 325. While he came up short on both occasions, the Brazilian remains a dangerous and active contender, with another opportunity lined up against Steve Garcia at the Freedom 250 card on June 14.
For Murphy, the path forward hinges on recovery and recalibration. At 34, he remains a high-level competitor capable of making another push in the division. Potential matchups against Lopes, Yair Rodriguez, or the winner of Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal on April 25 all present compelling options.
Ultimately, timing and health will dictate his return, but how Murphy responds after losing his unbeaten record in front of a home crowd will define the next chapter of his career.
UFC Needs Conor McGregor Now More Than Ever After Max Holloway Hints White House, Says Ariel Helwani
Things have felt a little strange around the UFC lately. Big cards are getting announced, but the reactions haven’t been as loud as they once were. The White House event generated a lot of buzz, but fans are still talking about who isn’t on the fight card more than who is. When that happens, you know the promotion is lacking something, or rather, someone.
That is why the talk about Conor McGregor’s return just won’t go away. Even when the schedule seems to be stacked, his name appears in the conversation. And now that Max Holloway has casually brought him up again, Ariel Helwani believes the timing couldn’t be clearer. In his opinion, the UFC doesn’t just want ‘The Notorious’ back right now. They need him.
Ariel Helwani claims the UFC needs Conor McGregor more than ever
Speaking on his show, Ariel Helwani stated that Conor McGregor is in the perfect spot right now. While the promotion tries to build big events without him, the buzz never quite feels the same, making his return even more valuable for the biggest MMA promotion in the world.
“The master of good timing, the beneficiary of the best timing in the history of the sport, is Conor McGregor,” Helwani said. “He is sitting there as everything is kind of… burning down.
“He’s sitting pretty right now, like, yep, of course you want me back.”
Helwani also stated that talks for Conor McGregor’s return have been going well behind the scenes, and it would take something ‘disastrous’ for him not to feature on the July 11 card during International Fight Week.
“They need this now more than ever,” he added. “They need Conor McGregor to be on this card. They need Conor to come back. They need the return of the Mac.
“They need the promo. They need the poster. They need the posts. They need the social. They need all of that. They need people talking. They need people getting excited.”
Part of the reason Helwani feels that way is because of what Max Holloway said recently. After his loss to Charles Oliveira, ‘Blessed’ discussed what could come next, and instead of claiming that he wants to go for a ranked contender, he brought up Conor McGregor. Not just once, but in a way that suggested he already had the idea in mind.
Max Holloway’s plans strengthen Helwani’s theory
Max Holloway casually mentioned fighting Conor McGregor as if it were already on his mind, and the timing of this has led Ariel Helwani to believe something bigger could be happening behind the scenes.
“I mean, Conor’s there,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “He got one over me. He’s talking about coming back. I’m coming off of a loss; I mean, it would look pretty fun to get that one back with him.
“I know a lot of people are worried about the weight and this and that, but if he doesn’t want to cut weight, then I don’t want to cut weight. We can do it at any weight, to be honest; it’s just about getting it back.”
For a man like ‘Blessed,’ who normally doesn’t throw names around without a reason, that felt more like a hint than a fantasy callout. Even Ariel Helwani stated that it felt like the kind of comment you would make if you knew there were already talks going on somewhere in the background.
“I think Max is trying to tell us something there,” he stated. “It feels to me like he’s trying to tell us, like, this is what I want, and I don’t think he’s talking if things aren’t happening behind the scenes.”
“And so that’s what I feel by reading all of this, but as I said, these talks are going well, and I think they’re going well because the UFC recognizes, ‘Hey, we need to make this happen.’”
And the situation surrounding the White House card only adds to that feeling. The card was announced with much fanfare, but the biggest reaction from fans was about who wasn’t on it. Conor McGregor’s absence stood out instantly, especially since he had spent months talking about wanting to be a part of that event.
According to Mauricio Ruffy, the offer may have even been made, but Conor McGregor declined.
“Conor McGregor talked about the possibility of a fight, opened up the possibility of fighting,” Ruffy said on the Overdogs Brazil podcast. “It was discussed, but he’s the one who makes the decisions, and he made the decision not to fight.
“I also didn’t have high expectations about it.”
And now, Ruffy will instead face Michael Chandler, who was supposed to face McGregor again in 2024 and had hoped to be re-booked against ‘The Notorious’ this year.
As for Conor McGregor, we all know the UFC wanted to save his return for their biggest show of the year. Like Ariel Helwani said, the promotion didn’t just want the former UFC double champion back; they wanted him back at the right moment, and that right time might finally be here.
Cleveland Browns Host Georgia Tight End as 2026 NFL Draft Draws Near
The Cleveland Browns recently hosted Georgia tight end Oscar Delp to an official visit at their facility in Cleveland as Monken and his staff prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft. Delp even posted a picture of the outside of the official facility on his Instagram, tagging Cleveland, Ohio, as the official location.
Delp played four seasons of college football, and his 2024 campaign was his best statistically.
Delp recorded 21 receptions for 248 yards and four touchdowns that year, and followed it up with a 2025 season that saw him haul in 20 receptions for 261 yards and one touchdown.
Delp Impressed Scouts at his Pro Day in Athens, Georgia
Delp has an NFL-sized frame, as he stands at 6-5 and is officially listed at 245 pounds. Delp missed on-field drills at the NFL Combine with a foot injury, but made up for it with a pro day that was held at Georgia where he caught passes from former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm.
Delp impressed with his pro day performance, and recorded a 4.49 second 40-yard dash and a 10’9” broad jump.
Georgia Coach Kirby Smart Full of Praise for Delp
Georgia coach Kirby Smart praised Delp’s performance at his pro day in Athens when he spoke to AP.
“I’m excited for him, he’s done a great job today alone. He ran really fast times, jumped really high. Happy he’s healthy enough to do it because he’s been probably one of our most durable players in terms of not having injuries, being tough at practice.”
Delp has been predicted by many to be taken in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and has been ranked anywhere from the No. 7 to the No. 10 best tight end available in the upcoming draft.
Delp Could Pair Well With Browns Tight End Harold Fannin Jr.
While the Browns said farewell to longtime tight end and fan favorite David Njoku this past offseason, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a standout rookie season and he seems to be in the browns long-term plans going forward. Fannin Jr. recorded 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns in his 2025 rookie season, with his best game coming against the Tennessee Titans on December 7 when he logged eight catches on 11 targets for 114 yards and one touchdown.
The Browns have more pressing issues on the roster currently than at tight end, but a late round flyer on Delp could pay off if Delp were to pan out as an elite level NFL tight end.
Chargers Should Keep Close Tabs on Pro Bowl NFL Cut Candidate
The Los Angeles Chargers have compiled a solid group of skill players on offense. While they’re still missing that ‘alpha’ receiver, the trio of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and tight end Oronde Gadsden II make up a nice starting point of weapons for Justin Herbert.
Not to mention, the backfield has been completely revamped compared to the start of last offseason. The Chargers added Omarion Hampton at No.22 overall in last year’s draft, then discovered a hidden gem in Kimani Vidal when his opportunities came about.
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They added Keaton Mitchell this offseason, a true speedster that is a dual threat out of the backfield. The trio of Hampton, Vidal and Mitchell seem to be enough for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to work with. Could there be another name added to the list?
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is one of the most obvious NFL cut candidates in the league right now. If Kamara is let go, could the Chargers be of interest? It’s a fascinating thought.
Chargers should monitor Alvin Kamara situation if cut by Saints
The five-time Pro Bowler is certainly on the decline, coming off his worst statistical season in 2025 with just 471 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Kamara is one of the best dual-threat backs in the league when healthy and could help a team such as the Chargers.
Kamara’s name has buzzed in the past as a possible trade candidate, but it’s unlikely teams cough up much for his contract and knowing that he’s likely on his way out the door.
With the Saints adding Travis Etienne Jr on a four-year deal, Kamara could be seen as expendable.
If let go, it would create a crowded room, but the Chargers should still consider a Kamara signing. In 2024, he put up 950 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, while adding another 543 yards and two scores through the air. Interestingly enough, Kamara’s never had a 1,000-yard rushing season. However, he’s still established himself as a premier playmaker.
Adding Kamara to a backfield with Hampton and company could be lethal for opposing defenses.
Michigan Football Adds Former NFL Director of Scouting to Staff
Over the weekend, it was reported that Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Wolverines were closing in on hiring a former NFL director of scouting to its front office staff.
On Monday, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz confirmed the Wolverines have finalized a deal to hire former New York Giant director of college scouting Chris Pettit as the program’s assistant general manger.
Pettit will work directly with Dave Peloquin, who was hired by Michigan in February as the GM, replacing Sean Magee. Peloquin was with Notre Dame for 21 seasons and was most recently working in a GM role with Athletes First.
Pettit’s background
Pettit certainly seems like a person who would bring valuable experience to Ann Arbor in terms of player evaluation and how to deal with the operational side of football.
AsThe Wolverine pointed out in its initial report this past Saturday, Pettit spent 18 years with the New York Giants, working as the director of college scouting for more than four years of that tenure.
Will TV networks agree to pay more for final years of existing NFL deals?
From the moment the NBA signed new 11-year, $77 billion media deals, the NFL has wanted more. And it’s trying to get more, despite having at least four years left on current deals with CBS, Fox, NBC, and Amazon. (ESPN’s deal runs through the 2030 season.)
The play is simple. The NFL has the ability to pull the plug early on contracts that last, on paper, through 2033. And the league is trying to use the ability to take the arrangements back to market prematurely in order to get the networks to pay more money now.
Via multiple reports, and as first reported by John Ourand of Puck, the NFL has started the process by negotiating with CBS. The goal, reportedly, is to increase the annual rate from $2.1 billion to $3 billion.
As Ourand explains in the latest edition of his Varsity newsletter, “network observers and media analysts” have recently raised an interesting question. What happens if the networks decline to pay more money for years that were already signed, sealed, and delivered?
The league seems to be hoping to re-up the current networks in their current windows, with the potential exception of Amazon and NBC flip-flopping the Sunday night and Thursday night packages. The thinking is that the pivot to streaming will happen more quickly if Prime Video becomes a necessity on Sunday — the traditional day for nine hours of football viewing.
Then, streamers like YouTube and Netflix would pick up mini packages for maximum dollars: Christmas, the Week 1 international game, Thanksgiving Eve, international Sunday morning games, etc.
While the networks need the NFL (does anyone even watch any other network shows live?), the NFL needs the networks, too. They continue to have massive reach, and they can consistently pull together large audiences to watch NFL games.
Besides, the streamers may not want full-season packages, especially at $3 billion or more per year.
It’s something to watch as the NFL activates a strategy aimed at getting more from the networks than what the networks had planned to pay, starting as soon as the 2026 season. There’s a risk, in theory, that the NFL will overplay its hand in an effort to stuff maximum cash in its coffers.
That said, there’s a reality that the NFL can’t overplay its hand. That the NFL is too important to the networks for the networks to tap out.
How to watch 2026 Notre Dame Pro Day: TV/stream info, schedule, participants, location
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, the eyes of league scouts and draft fans turn to school-specific Pro Days to see top prospects perform in the comfort of their home stadiums.
In South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame football players with professional aspirations will do just that.
How to watch 2026 Notre Dame Pro Day
Date: Tuesday, March 24, at 12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Irish Athletics Center, South Bend, IN
Stream: Watch live on Peacock and NBCSN!
NBC Sports’ Tony Simeone and Caroline Pineda will be joined by former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book to call the action, and running back Jeremiyah Love, a projected first-round draft pick, will join the team for an interview during the broadcast.
Where is the 2026 Notre Dame Pro Day?
The 2026 Notre Dame Pro Day will be held at Irish Athletics Center in South Bend, Indiana.
2026 Notre Dame Pro Day participants
Running back Jadarian Price will headline Notre Dame’s 2026 Pro Day. Despite playing second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love, Price logged just shy of 700 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns while adding two more scores through the air. He was also a first-team All-American kick returner with 450 yards and a pair of TDs.
Love, widely regarded as the top running back prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, is not expected to be a full participant.
Three pass-catchers will also be taking the field for the scouts in tight end Eli Raridon and wide receivers Malachi Fields and Will Pauling. Fields, who spent last year with Notre Dame after transferring in from Virginia, is expected to be a Day 2 pick despite a shaky combine performance thanks to his 6-foot-4, 215-plus-pound frame.
Junior offensive linemen and team captains Aamil Wagner and Billy Schrauth are also expected to participate. Wagner started in each of Notre Dame’s 12 games at right tackle, while Schrauth — despite missing the final five games with a knee injury — started the year on the Outland (interior OL) and Lombardi (linemen and linebackers) Watch Lists as their top left guard.
Safety Jalen Stroman, who spent one season with the Irish after starting his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, primary field goal kicker Noah Burnette, Ray Guy Award semifinalist punter James Rendell and others will also be participating,
Is Jeremiyah Love working out at the Notre Dame Pro Day?
3 Ohio State Draft Prospects Land Mega Endorsement Deal With Adidas Featuring Fernando Mendoza
Last summer, Ohio State’s locker room got a quiet preview of what was coming. Jeremiah Smith inked his NIL deal with Adidas and slipped into the Three Stripes. Fast forward to March 2026, the brand unveiled its 2026 rookie class with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza sitting right in the middle of it. But the good news for Buckeye fans is that three of their most dangerous draft prospects made it to the list.
LB Arvell Reese, safety Caleb Downs, and WR Carnell Tate are among the 14 new signees by Adidas. Fresh off leading Indiana to its first national title, Fernando Mendoza headlines the group as Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 1 overall prospect. But he’s not alone at the top.
Let’s start with Arvell Reese who served two years as a backup, one year as a starter, and who’s suddenly a projected top-3 pick. The 6’4, 243 pounder started just one season at Ohio State, finished with 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 TFLs, and still walked away as a unanimous All-American. Fox analyst Joel Klatt even described him as “a longer, more physical Micah Parsons.”
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Now Caleb Downs is a proven safety with experience. Across three college seasons, he stacked 257 tackles, forced turnovers, and scored on special teams. At Ohio State, he piled up 150 tackles and played deep safety, box defender, and slot matchup. Some projections even have him going No. 2 overall, potentially tying the highest draft slot ever for a safety.
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And then there’s Carnell Tate. The 6’3 WR averaged 17.2 yards per catch last season. Some projections are even putting him as high as the top-10. One team with interest is the New Orleans Saints. Still, the Indiana QB is the story of this class. From NIL partner to national champion to projected No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza’s journey with Adidas is a long-term investment finally paying off.
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“Adidas has been part of my story since I got to Indiana,” he said. “So, getting to continue that into the next chapter feels right. Coming to Portland with this class and seeing what the brand is building – the innovation, the investment, the people – it reinforced that this is where I want to be. I can’t wait to get to work.”
His words carry weight because Adidas is building continuity from college to the league.
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Adidas signs one of the best classes
Adidas’ vision of excellence was on full display in Portland, where it hosted its first-ever Football Pro Day. All 14 signees participated in it. They also had first-hand experience on how the partnership would proceed. US Sports & Creation Center Portland GM Aaron Seabron said the goal is to support these players as they join the NFL.
“Oour focus is on giving them access to the innovation, product, and platform that help them succeed at the highest level,” he said. “Bringing them to Portland to experience our Innovation Lab and meet the teams behind our performance products is an important step in building those relationships from day one.”
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Last year’s class included Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. This year’s group might be even deeper as it features six national championship players, three from Ohio State and three from Indiana including CB D’Angelo Ponds and WR Elijah Sarratt. Adidas has previously signed NFL greats like Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons, and Garrett Wilson and their latest move is setting the pace.
Now what’s left to see is what draft night on April 23 in Pittsburgh will bring. How many of these names will come off the board early and make an impact in the NFL? Still if this class hits the way it’s trending, Adidas will own the draft night.
New Mexico pro day: Three standouts, two takeaways and one surprise
New Mexico hosted scouts from 15 different NFL clubs for its annual pro day Monday, putting 17 Lobos through combine-style and positional drills ahead of next month’s NFL Draft.
There wasn’t a standout time or performance quite like Cam Watts’ jaw-dropping 4.31-second 40-yard dash, the major story out of UNM’s pro day last spring. Instead, there were a handful of players who tested well across the board, far more consistent than conspicuous with their measurables.
Here are three standouts, two takeaways and one surprise from the workouts:
Three standouts
WR Keagan Johnson
UNM’s leading receiver last season put up mostly good numbers, but probably notched his biggest win in the 40 with unofficial times of 4.42 and 4.45.
“I don’t know if my tape has a ton of me just breaking away,” Johnson said. “I wanted to show that I could not just run routes, but run in a straight line. I feel like I did that today … It would be nice to touch (4.30s) but hey, I’m gonna live with what I did today.”
Johnson’s 36.5-inch vertical jump was also a mark he was proud of, if only to show “that I can go up and get the ball,” he said.
RB Damon Bankston
The 5-foot-10, 186-pound running back said his 33-inch vertical jump was a little shorter than he hoped, but was “pretty sure” his unofficial 40 was marked in the 4.30 range.
Bankston also rang up 21 reps on the bench press and was the only Lobo to return kicks during the workout.
“A lot of people make teams in the NFL on special teams,” he said. “Just having the opportunity to showcase that I could return kicks — you know, every team needs a good returner. Being able to show that, and also show that I can play punt return … it’s huge for getting to the next level.”
S Azariah Levells
The 5-11, 186-pound senior notched a 38-inch vertical (a mark that would have tied for fifth among safeties at this year’s NFL Combine) and a broad jump that cleared 11 feet, better than any safety at the combine.
His unofficial 4.56 in the 40 wasn’t quite as freaky as the other marks. But for a player that was kept off the field with injuries last season — and remains one court ruling away from being able to return to UNM next season — Monday was a good showing.
Two takeaways
UNM could have more UDFA signees in the NFL
ormer Lobo defensive lineman Devin Brandt-Epps signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) last spring, but UNM hasn’t had many players ink those kinds of deals in recent years.
This pro day, however, a few more scouts were in attendance than UNM is normally accustomed to.
Bankston’s return background, paired with good measurables, should get him some attention. Johnson could have some options. And if Keyshawn James-Newby isn’t drafted (more on him later), it’s hard to imagine him not getting a chance somewhere.
Of course, it’s still more of a could than a will at this point. But in terms of getting players on UDFA deals, this feels like the best group UNM has had in a while.
It still feels like UNM’s draft hopes rest with one player
If you don’t count Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (a one-time Lobo who transferred to Arizona to finish out his college career), UNM hasn’t had a player drafted since the Seahawks selected Jerrick Reed in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As of Monday, it still feels like James-Newby is the program’s best shot to be drafted this year.
The 6-2, 244-pound defensive end did not participate in position drills after tweaking his hamstring running the 40, but James-Newby’s unofficial 40s were clocked in the high 4.40s and 4.50s. That range would’ve put him near the top of all edge rushers at the NFL Combine.
“(I) ran a little bit faster than I was actually expecting myself to,” James-Newby said. “So, yeah, it was a good day in the 40.”
One surprise
Brett Karhu takes reps at fullback, linebacker
During position drills, quarterback James Laubstein primarily threw Bankston and receivers like Johnson and Michael Buckley. But one other player hopped in for a bit and made the most of his routes: defensive end Brett Karhu, who finished second on the team in sacks last season.
In addition to those passing reps at fullback, Karhu also did some drills as a linebacker.
“I talked to a couple agents and they were like, ‘you never know what they (scouts) are going to put you through, so be ready for anything,’” he said. “So I trained with (linebacker Jaxton Eck), Keyshawn and then I was out here with (quarterback) Jack Layne running routes, too.”
Team USA Flag Football QB Clears Stance on NFL Players’ Olympic Participation After Outplaying Joe Burrow & Co.
When the NFL owners unanimously voted in May 2025 to allow players to participate in Olympic flag football, Darrell Doucette didn’t celebrate. The quarterback for Team USA told reporters the community he’d spent his life building felt “kicked to the side.” Since then, Doucette had made it a point to highlight the difference between flag football and tackle football. So after Team USA went 3-0 against Joe Burrow, Tom Brady, and company at BMO Stadium, Doucette had to face the obvious question.
“Do you feel, Darrell, that you proved that you should be the representative for the Olympics and no NFL players, current or past, are necessary to win a gold?” Rich Eisen asked on his show.
Doucette offered a measured response to the question.
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“I’m not going to say that,” Doucette said. “Everyone wants to win gold for our country, but we just didn’t want to be overlooked. We didn’t want the names to overshadow the guys who have been playing this game. It was never NFL versus Team USA versus flag football players. It was more like, “Let us get our opportunity, let us get our shine, and let’s compete together.”
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The restraint in that answer is the whole story. Back in 2024, Doucette had called the idea of NFL stars filling Olympic roster spots “disrespectful.” That same year, he had gone on record noting he would be a better flag football player than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Cut to 2026, and Doucette had issued a challenge to the NFL stars in a phone interview, urging them to go all in for the Classic.
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“You guys better give 100% because we’re going to give 100%,” Doucette said. “Don’t underestimate us.”
But now, it looks like Darrell Doucette has taken a different route altogether. After the Fanatics weekend, Doucette cleared the air on his comments on Mahomes and gave a powerful statement in the process.
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“I made some remarks that were totally misconstrued and misunderstood,” Doucette said. “All I was speaking of was giving my brothers a fair chance to make the 2028 [Olympics]. We came out this weekend with that on our mind to say, “Let’s show these guys that we are talented, that we are flag football and not to be overlooked by anyone in the world.”
That Mahomes’ claim was never about Mahomes. Nor were all those jabs at the NFL stars as a whole. For Doucette, it was all about a community watching its Olympic moment get reframed around someone who had never played a down of competitive flag football. And the Classic was the perfect place to make his case.
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The score that made the argument
Darrell Doucette didn’t just compete at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic; he dismantled it. He finished 8 of 8 passing for 67 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 76 yards and three rushing touchdowns and capped it all off by hauling in five passes for 79 yards. Six touchdowns, three wins, tournament MVP; This was Doucette’s loudest statement.
Team USA scored on 14 of their 15 drives and outscored the opposition 106-44 across three games. In the round-robin, they defeated the Wildcats (led by Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels) 39-14 after establishing a 19-6 lead at halftime. As for Brady’s Founders, Team USA outscored them 24-0 in the first half, completed every pass thrown, and won 43-16.
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The championship rematch with Joe Burrow and the Wildcats was notably tighter, but Doucette scored three touchdowns to close it 24-14.
Overall, only Jayden Daniels, Odell Beckham Jr., and DeVonta Smith seemed like good flag football fits. It was even a milestone to watch Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski play together again. But Gronk notably pulled his hamstring early in the matchup. As for the rest of the NFL stars, they struggled with ripping flags and got penalized multiple times for being too physical.
Retired linebacker Luke Kuechly (who played for the Wildcats) did not sugarcoat what he’d experienced:
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“Their skill set was very different than anything we’ve ever seen in the NFL,” Kuechly said. “The speed, the quickness, the ability to create space—our inability to put our hands on those guys—made the game very difficult.”
Team USA wasn’t just competitive; they were simply better. That’s the case Darrell Doucette has spent two years trying to make in words, and it’s finally been settled in one weekend on the field.
Michigan Hires Key Staffer From $10.1B NFL Team to Aid Kyle Whittingham: Report
Michigan is trying to leave no gap ahead of a big 2026 season. Kyle Whittingham has already brought in trusted Utah staffers, and now the program is adding former New York Giants executive Chris Pettit. The move is not just about coaching support. It also strengthens Michigan’s front office, giving Whittingham more help in recruiting, planning, and daily football operations, too.
Pettit spent years identifying foundational pieces like Dexter Lawrence and Andrew Thomas for the $10.8 billion worth New York Giants. That eye for pro-ready talent is huge for Michigan. Instead of chasing after star rankings, Pettit might be able to help Kyle Whittingham pinpoint specific athletes who actually fit well into the system.
Chris Pettit brings 18 years of NFL experience, working with the New York Giants from 2004 to 2022. Among those four years, he was their director of college scouting, and before that, he worked as a scout, learning a lot about judging player talent and how they can fit into the system properly. What adds up to this even more is his experience as a football coach at the Wisconsin Badgers.
Chris Pettit helps find and bring in players like Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones, Andrew Thomas, Dexter Lawrence, Darius Slayton, and Julian Love. These players made an immediate impact on the team. At Michigan, this can really help the program. He can make recruiting more organized and smarter, helping the team pick players who fit well.
Working as an assistant general manager with Michigan, Pettit can use his players’ recognition abilities to bring the perfect players to the team. Their 2027 class has just three players so far, and Pettit’s ties can bring in more suitable players for Whittingham’s team. Plus, his developmental skills can attract more players to Michigan, too.
After leaving the Giants in 2022, Chris Pettit started something new. He helps create a company called ‘Scout Smarter,’ which uses AI to help sports teams work better, make faster decisions, and improve overall performance. This way, Michigan can also get tech-savvy. Something that even Michigan’s GM Dave Peloquin did, too, as he built a career that mixes football and business.
Before coming back to college football, he worked as a general manager at an agency called Athletes First, where he gained experience on the business side of sports. This way, the team will have a perfect duo to shape its future. The team is already going through a massive setback after Sherrone Moore’s sudden firing, damaging the school’s reputation. This way, the team can have a better standing with reputable people.
Pettit is only one of Whittingham’s bigger front-office resets at Michigan. Along with adding an NFL scouting mind, he is also bring in trusted people fro operations and day-to-day management, including Natalia Hilton and Williamson.
Kyle Whittingham makes major front-office hires
Natalia Hilton already has a strong connection with head coach Kyle Whittingham. She started at Utah in 2020 as a student equipment manager and then worked closely with him as his assistant for four years. During that time, she also took on the role of director of on-campus recruiting, bringing in new players.
Before joining Michigan, she gained more experience in professional sports by working with the NBA’s Utah Jazz and the NHL’s Utah Mammoth. All of this experience will help her bring strong organization and recruiting knowledge to Michigan. The list doesn’t just stop at that, as Whittingham also hired Williamson as chief of staff to help run the program smoothly.
She also worked under Whittingham at Utah from 2024 to 2025 in the same position, so she already understands how he likes things to be managed. This makes her a good fit for the job. Before that, she spent more than 10 years in Utah in different roles. On top of that, she worked as director of business scholars from 2015 to 2024 and also served as director of undergraduate admissions and scholarships from 2020 to 2024.
Now, with all these major additions, let’s wait and see how things turn out for Michigan in the 2026 season.
ESPN Makes Final Decision on Future of Rich Eisen-Led NFL Network Draft Coverage After $3B Merger – Report
Since ESPN announced its takeover of the NFL Network, there have been concerns about the future of several rival shows. One of them is NFL Draft coverage, with Rich Eisen serving as the leading man. The show, which offered thorough reporting and analysis of the draft event, received a major update as the broadcasting giant recently decided not to shut it down. What does change, though, is that the audience will now enjoy multiple versions of the offseason’s biggest event in one place.
“NFL Network will continue hosting its own version of the NFL Draft as it goes under ESPN ownership, sources tell FOS,” First Offfice Sports wrote on X. “Rich Eisen will continue to host NFL Network’s draft coverage. Disney will now have four different draft broadcasts.”
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ESPN’s decision not to pull the Rich Eisen-led show off the air is surprising. It is because the broadcast network has its own show dedicated to the annual NFL draft. Moreover, the two sides have been locking horns since 2006 over viewership ratings, guest lineup, and overall popularity. For now, the update keeps Eisen in place despite the ongoing transition.
It will require him and fellow NFL Network broadcasters to move to ESPN or Disney, starting April 1, 2026. As part of the deal, ESPN will not terminate the existing contracts of these on-air talents. However, they are on their own once these deals expire, as mergers often lead to changes in roles for the people involved. As for the coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft, Disney and ESPN reportedly want to “flood the zone” with their wild expansion plan.
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They want to treat viewers to four unique coverage of the event taking place in Pittsburgh from April 23 to April 25. Now, here’s a look at what the audience may expect from these multiple coverages. Host Mike Greenberg will take on the role of the primary host for the sixth consecutive year in ESPN’s broadcast. It will thoroughly cover all seven rounds, with the guest list remaining intact with familiar faces.
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These include Mel Kiper Jr., insider Adam Schefter, and reporter Molly McGrath, among others. Meanwhile, the NFL Network will stick to its more technical, Xs-and-Os approach. Rich Eisen will host the show for the 20th year, while the lineup will feature the usual guests, including Daniel Jeremiah, insider Ian Rapoport, Charles Davis, and Joel Klatt. Over on ABC, Rece Davis will front a college football-style broadcast.
As usual, it will air the first three rounds on Thursday and Friday before simulcasting ESPN’s coverage of the remaining ones on Saturday. At last, Pat McAfee will return with Draft Spectacular, and this year’s coverage will hold special meaning for him. He’ll be heading to his native place of Pittsburgh for on-location reporting. This approach suggests ESPN doesn’t want to kill its competition.
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Instead, they could nurture a healthy partnership with the NFL Network. If they pull it off, it will be similar to how the broadcasting company has operated alongside its college-focused networks. Meanwhile, the update comes nearly two months after the Disney-owned network acquired the NFL’s media assets.
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ESPN seals $3 billion deal for NFL media assets
In February 2026, ESPN secured a $3 billion deal to acquire the league’s media assets after clearing regulatory requirements in the United States. The move, supported by its parent company, the Walt Disney Company, allowed ESPN to take ownership control of NFL Media, the league’s popular show RedZone, NFL Network, and multiple streaming platforms.
As part of the deal, the sports broadcasting company also added the league’s digital products, such as NFL+, along with fantasy football services, to its package. Moreover, the company gained rights to additional regular-season games that originally aired on the NFL Network. They also enjoy the flexibility to expand the RedZone-style format into other sports, such as college football. They will need to secure the necessary broadcast rights first.
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Meanwhile, the $3 billion deal earned the NFL a 10% ownership stake in ESPN. According to Disney’s financial disclosures, its subsidiary boasts a total net worth of $30 billion. Interestingly, the Walt Disney Company can buy back its shares from the league by July 2034. It will all come down to how ESPN performs after this acquisition.
As for the NFL, it holds the option to increase its ownership by an additional 4% under similar terms. The full impact of the deal will likely roll out next season, once ESPN fully takes over NFL Media. By adding extra live games to its portfolio, the company will now air 28 matchups per season. Additionally, the network is on track to air its first-ever Super Bowl in 2027. It marks a major milestone in a partnership that dates back decades and continues to grow in value.
Bruins sign Boston College star James Hagens to amateur tryout agreement
The Bruins made it official Monday night and signed forward James Hagens to an AHL amateur tryout. He will practice with Providence on Tuesday.
“We’re very excited to have James join the Bruins organization and take this next step,” said general manager Don Sweeney in a statement released by the organization. “James is an important part of our future, and this is a great opportunity for him to get immediate experience at the professional level in Providence and continue his development while keeping all options open.”
Hagens, 19, was selected by the Bruins with the seventh overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft and just completed his sophomore season at Boston College, where he led Hockey East in goals (23) and points (47) in 34 games. He was named a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the nation’s top college hockey player.
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He lined up at center and on the wing for the Eagles, something BC coach Greg Brown addressed after their season ended with a 4-3 overtime loss to UConn in the Hockey East semifinals last Friday.
“It’s good to be able to play every position, because one, you just have the diversity of it. Two, when you go to your pro team, which would likely be the Bruins at some point, if they have centers, are you going to tell them you don’t play wing? No, you’re going to say, ‘Yeah, I can play wing,’ ” said Brown.
“For him, he actually played both wings. So to have that experience and be successful at that just gives him more dimensions. You want to be able to say yes to any question they ask where you can play, and he did that very well.”
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
Down to 4 defensemen, Senators hold the Rangers to the fewest shots by an NHL team since 2003
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Senators hold Rangers to fewest shots by NHL team since 2003
NEW YORK — James Reimer kept expecting the New York Rangers to put shots on net.
They rarely did.
And by the end of the game Monday night, the Ottawa Senators had allowed just nine shots on goal in a 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden. It was the fewest shots against in franchise history, the Rangers’ lowest output since 1955 — and the worst by any NHL team in more than two decades, predating the salary cap.
Rangers reminded of Mika Zibanejad skill in center’s 1,000th game
I remember debriefing the Rangers’ unforeseen run to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final with Mika Zibanejad in September of the following season.
All anybody could talk about was what the young players gained from the experience, but Zibanejad quietly went through his own learning curve in his fifth postseason appearance (including the 2020 bubble play-in), particularly in the seven-game first-round series against the Penguins.
He was handcuffed by his matchup against Pittsburgh’s first line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. Showing too much respect to top opponents had certainly been a periodic trait of his.
I asked Zibanejad if he just needs to remind himself, “I’m Mika freakin’ Zibanejad and I am a top 10 center in the National Hockey League,” to puff out his chest a little and bring a swaggering confidence to the ice.
Wemby’s pick for MVP? That would be, well, himself
MIAMI (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is making it clear: He wants to win the NBA’s MVP award this season.
The San Antonio star — moments after his team officially clinched its first Southwest Division title in nine seasons — detailed some elements of his MVP case on Monday night after the red-hot Spurs beat the Miami Heat 136-111 for their 22nd win in their last 24 games.
“I have thought about it,” Wembanyama said. “I think right now there is a debate. There should be, even though I think I should lead the race. I’m trying to make sure that at the end of the season, there’s no debate.”
Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game. Only six players have finished a season with such numbers — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it five times, Hakeem Olajuwon did it twice, while Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson all did it once. The sixth player on that list? That would be Wembanyama, who did all that last season as well, albeit in only 46 games.
The reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is the overwhelming favorite to win the trophy again according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Next on the BetMGM list: the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic.
Wembanyama is next, with the third-best odds as of Monday, one spot ahead of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. Everyone else would be considered a significant long shot for the award at this point, though the NBA’s 65-game rule for major award eligibility — like MVP — could become a factor. Jokic can miss only one more game, for example, before he falls off the ballot and Wembanyama can miss no more than three more contests.
Wembanyama, who won rookie of the year two years ago and was generally considered a lock for defensive player of the year last season until he had to be shut down while dealing with deep vein thrombosis, has a three-part campaign pitch.
“My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league,” Wembanyama said. “Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season, and we dominated them three times with their real team. … The third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
It should not surprise anyone that the Spurs also believe Wembanyama is more than just an MVP contender.
“I think he’s close,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “All those guys you named are deserving; a couple of them already have that award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every single night. I get to see him on the practice court. I get to see what he does in the morning. I get to see what does right now after the game. So, I understand my opinion and outlook and perspective is very different than almost everyone else.
“But he affects as much of the game in every single way — on the court, on both ends, with and without the ball, what the other team tries to do, plan for, scheme, adjust to, on both sides of the basketball, in my very ignorant opinion, as much as any other player I’ve ever seen. Take that for whatever it’s worth.”
The Spurs are 54-18. They’re going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They’ll have home court in Round 1 of the playoffs, Round 2 if they get there and almost certainly would have it in the NBA Finals if they get that far. There are a lot of reasons for that, but the biggest reason — literally, given that Wembanyama is 7-foot-4 — is a 22-year-old face of the franchise who has wowed the Spurs every day with his maturity and work ethic.
The MVPs are almost certainly coming at some point. Wembanyama doesn’t want to keep waiting.
“Right now, it is still reasonable that there is a debate,” Wembanyama said. “But as I said, my goal is to make sure there’s no debate anymore at the end of the season.”
___
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama makes his case for NBA’s MVP award
MIAMI — Victor Wembanyama is making it clear: He wants to win the NBA’s MVP award this season.
The San Antonio star — moments after his team officially clinched its first Southwest Division title in nine seasons — detailed some elements of his MVP case Monday night after the red-hot Spurs beat the Miami Heat 136-111 for their 22nd win in their past 24 games.
Victor Wembanyama wants the MVP award, and wants to leave no doubt by season’s end
Victor Wembanyama is making it clear: He wants to win the NBA’s MVP award this season
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
By TIM REYNOLDS – AP Basketball Writer
26 minutes ago
MIAMI (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is making it clear: He wants to win the NBA’s MVP award this season.
The San Antonio star — moments after his team officially clinched its first Southwest Division title in nine seasons — detailed some elements of his MVP case on Monday night after the red-hot Spurs beat the Miami Heat 136-111 for their 22nd win in their last 24 games.
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Victor Wembanyama is making a case to be the MVP
Wembanyama, who won Rookie of the Year two years ago and was generally considered a lock for Defensive Player of the Year last season until he had to be shut down while dealing with deep vein thrombosis, has a three-part campaign pitch.
“My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league,” Wembanyama said. “Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season, and we dominated them three times with their real team. … The third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
It should not surprise anyone that the Spurs also believe Wembanyama is more than just an MVP contender.
“I think he’s close,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “All those guys you named are deserving; a couple of them already have that award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every single night. I get to see him on the practice court. I get to see what he does in the morning. I get to see what does right now after the game. So, I understand my opinion and outlook and perspective is very different than almost everyone else.
“But he affects as much of the game in every single way — on the court, on both ends, with and without the ball, what the other team tries to do, plan for, scheme, adjust to, on both sides of the basketball, in my very ignorant opinion, as much as any other player I’ve ever seen. Take that for whatever it’s worth.”
The Spurs are 54-18. They’re going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They’ll have home court in Round 1 of the playoffs, Round 2 if they get there and almost certainly would have it in the NBA Finals if they get that far.
There are a lot of reasons for that, but the biggest reason — literally, given that Wembanyama is 7-foot-4 — is a 22-year-old face of the franchise who has wowed the Spurs every day with his maturity and work ethic.
The MVPs are almost certainly coming at some point. Wembanyama doesn’t want to keep waiting.
“Right now, it is still reasonable that there is a debate,” Wembanyama said. “But as I said, my goal is to make sure there’s no debate anymore at the end of the season.”
Cooper Flagg scores 32, but Mavs fade late in NBA-leading 41st clutch game vs. Warriors
Kyrie Irving has maintained a steady presence around the Mavericks despite not playing this season because of his torn left ACL, but his team has missed his offensive production, especially in late-game situations.
The same can be said for Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, a primetime matchup that required overtime to decide a winner.
Cooper Flagg scored nine of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks fell short in the additional five minutes and suffered a 137-131 loss, their 12th consecutive defeat at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks can’t claim the title of first in most statistical categories, but they’ve competed in 41 clutch games, the most in the NBA.
There hasn’t been much success tied to those specific contests — defined as a game within five points during the final five minutes of regulation — with a record of 15-26 after Monday’s loss.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who celebrated his birthday Monday alongside Irving, knows they would’ve had a better chance of winning those close games if their nine-time All-Star was healthy.
“You have a born closer,” Kidd said, “who I’m not going to say is going to win all 40 games for you, but it puts you in a better seat. Having that option would definitely help us if we’re going to talk about next season.”
The Mavericks could’ve used Irving’s expertise in Monday’s loss to the Warriors, a game without two of the best shotmakers in the game, especially since Stephen Curry was sidelined with right patellofemoral pain.
Several hours before the pain of another loss, Irving and Kidd shared a laugh during Monday’s shootaround at the team’s practice facility. They were serenaded with the “Happy Birthday” song by the Mavericks’ four rookies, led by Flagg and Ryan Nembhard.
Irving celebrated his 34th birthday, while Kidd turned 53. The Mavericks veteran will enter his 15th season in 2026-27. If he can return with any semblance of the All-NBA level he was at before his devastating injury, then the Mavericks will receive a significant boost.
Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games last season, with shooting percentages close to a 50/40/90 split. His absence has played a key role in the Mavericks’ dismal 28th-ranked offense.
“That’s impossible to cover up, even by committee, just because of the things he can do at the highest level,” Kidd said. “For him to be healthy next year and talk about offense, hopefully that puts us in a better seat.”
Without Irving, the Mavericks have relied on Flagg to shoulder the load on offense. They did so once more on Monday and the 19-year-old rookie led with 32 points, three rebounds and six assists on 10 of 16 shooting from the field. Flagg nailed a clutch 3-pointer with 3:39 left to bring Dallas within five and followed with a floater 35 seconds later.
Flagg was aggressive during the fourth quarter with his own shot, but chose to pass the ball in two crucial situations, a sign of his willingness to make the right play. He found Max Christie in the corner for a triple to tie the game with 1:16 left in regulation.
On the Mavericks’ final possession of the fourth quarter, Flagg passed the ball to an open Naji Marshall, who missed a 3-pointer that would’ve likely been the game-winner had it not rimmed out with two seconds left.
Twitter/X: @MikeACurtis
Los grandes retos de Griezmann antes de partir a la MLS
Antoine Griezmann partirá rumbo a la Major League Soccer (MLS) para emprender un nuevo reto en su carrera, donde se reencontrará con Lionel Messi como el máximo exponente de la liga de Estados Unidos, en una nueva etapa marcada por su llegada al fútbol estadounidense.
MANTENTE AL DÍA CON TODO LO ÚLTIMO EN NUESTRO CANAL DE WHATSAPP
Telemundo es el canal oficial de la Premier League en Estados Unidos en español y la casa de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA
El atacante francés firmará un contrato por dos años con el Orlando City, de hecho después del derbi de la capital española se trasladó a suelo estadounidense para ultimar su fichaje en este parón por la Fecha FIFA y cerrar su incorporación a la MLS 2026.
Distintos reportes indican que Griezmann comenzará a jugar dentro de la MLS hasta julio, así que por delante le quedan algunos compromisos con el Atlético de Madrid, una institución donde dejó huella y parte como ídolo del Atlético de Madrid y del fútbol europeo.
En el horizonte tiene dos grandes metas: la final de la Copa del Rey del 18 de abril frente a la Real Sociedad en Sevilla, y los cuartos de final de la Champions League ante el Barcelona, dos objetivos clave en su despedida del club rojiblanco.
El máximo goleador histórico del Atlético, que acaba de cumplir 35 años, quiere cerrar su etapa en el club de su vida compitiendo al más alto nivel. Con 488 partidos y 211 goles, el francés sigue siendo una pieza clave en el esquema de Diego Simeone, manteniéndose como titular indiscutible y demostrando su vigencia, aunque el final de su ciclo está cerca para llevar todo su talento a una liga que sigue demostrando su crecimiento y proyección internacional como la Major League Soccer.
Family of ex-Yankees player Brett Gardner sues Costa Rican resort over teen son’s death
NEW YORK — The family of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner filed a wrongful death lawsuit Friday against the owners and operators of the Costa Rican resort where their 14-year-old son Miller was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2025.
Six months after authorities raided Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit that the defendants
Capps, Langdon post hard-earned wins at NHRA Arizona Nationals
Ron Capps won the Funny Car title at the NHRA Arizona Nationals after recovering from a major engine explosion.
Shawn Langdon secured his third consecutive Top Fuel victory in Phoenix, defeating Leah Pruett in the final.
Three-time Funny Car world champion Ron Capps recovered from a massive engine explosion in the second round at Firebird Motorsports Park, defeating Spencer Hyde in the final round to earn his 78th career win on Sunday, March 22, at the 41st annual FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also won the second of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
In the final round, Capps went 4.124 seconds at 303.24 mph in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, holding off Hyde to pick up his first victory of the season and fourth overall in Phoenix.
This was an emotional one for the veteran after he suffered a huge engine explosion at the finish line in his second-round win against Daniel Wilkerson. Capps and the team bounced back in impressive fashion to knock off defending event winner Paul Lee with a strong run and advance to the final round.
He left first on Hyde and pulled away at the finish line, picking up one of the more memorable wins in Capps’ stellar career. A year ago, Capps also had a huge explosion and crash in Phoenix, but those two incidents are now a distant memory after Sunday’s incredible finish.
“We knew this was going to be a battle of attrition and dropped cylinders today,” Capps said. “A couple of those runs, there was no way I would imagine that would have got us lane choice, but it did.
2026 World Cup schedule, how to watch live, dates, times, stadiums – Full details
The full schedule for the 2026 World Cup has been confirmed, with the kick off times, dates and venues for all 104 games sorted.
There are less than 100 days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, and you can watch every single game live on Universo, Telemundo and Peacock en Espanol, here. Check out the latest on the superstars and how they’re shaping up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
We now know where you can watch each team play across the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer so you can make your plans.
MORE — World Cup base camps for every team | 2026 World Cup hub | 2026 World Cup venues
This is what it is all about, as we’ve been waiting years for the schedule for this 48-team tournament to be revealed.
Below are all of the details you need.
How to watch 2026 World Cup live, stream links, TV channel, dates, times
Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
Where: 16 stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA — Details
Streaming: All 104 games available to watch on Peacock (en Espanol)
TV channel: Telemundo (92 games) and Universo (12 games)
2026 World Cup schedule, dates, times, stadiums, full details
All game shown on Telemundo and Peacock, unless otherwise stated
Group A schedule
June 11: Mexico vs South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 3pm ET
June 11: South Korea vs UEFA playoff D – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm
June 18: UEFA playoff D vs South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 18: Mexico vs South Korea – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 9pm ET
June 24: UEFA playoff D vs Mexico – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
June 24: South Africa vs South Korea – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET – Universo
Group B schedule
June 12: Canada vs UEFA playoff A – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET
June 13: Qatar vs Switzerland – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 3pm ET
June 18: Switzerland vs UEFA playoff A – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 18: Canada vs Qatar – BC Place, Vancouver – 6pm ET
June 24: Switzerland vs Canada – BC Place, Vancouver – 3pm ET
June 24: UEFA playoff A vs Qatar – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
Group C schedule
June 13: Brazil vs Morocco – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 6pm ET
June 13: Haiti vs Scotland – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 9pm ET
June 19: Scotland vs Morocco – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 19: Brazil vs Haiti – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 9pm ET
June 24: Scotland vs Brazil – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 24: Morocco vs Haiti – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 6pm ET – Universo
Group D schedule
June 12: USA vs Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 13: Australia vs UEFA playoff C – BC Place, Vancouver – Midnight ET
June 19: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 19: UEFA playoff C vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 25: UEFA playoff C vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 10pm ET
June 25: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 10pm ET – Universo
Group E schedule
June 14: Germany vs Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 14: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 7pm ET
June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast – BMO Field, Toronto – 4pm ET
June 20: Ecuador vs Curacao – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 8pm ET
June 25: Ecuador vs Germany – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 4pm ET
Group F schedule
June 14: Netherlands vs Japan – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 14: UEFA playoff B vs Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 10pm ET
June 20: Netherlands vs UEFA playoff B – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 20: Tunisia vs Japan – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – Midnight ET
June 25: Japan vs UEFA playoff B – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 7pm ET
June 25: Tunisia vs Netherlands – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 7pm ET
Group G schedule
June 15: Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 15: Belgium vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 21: Belgium vs Iran – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 21: New Zealand vs Egypt – BC Place, Vancouver – 9pm ET
June 26: Egypt vs Iran – Lumen Field, Seattle – 11pm ET – Universo
June 26: New Zealand vs Belgium – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
Group H schedule
June 15: Spain vs Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 15: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 21: Spain vs Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 26: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – NRG Stadium, Houston – 8pm ET – Universo
June 26: Uruguay vs Spain – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 8pm ET
Group I schedule
June 16: France vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
June 16: Inter-confederation playoff 2 vs Norway – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 22: France vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
June 22: Norway vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 8pm ET
June 26: Norway vs France – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 3pm ET
June 26: Senegal vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET – Universo
Group J schedule
June 16: Argentina vs Algeria – Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City – 9pm ET
June 16: Austria vs Jordan – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 22: Argentina vs Austria – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 22: Jordan vs Algeria – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 11pm ET
June 27: Algeria vs Austria – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 10pm ET – Universo
June 27: Jordan vs Argentina – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 10pm ET
Group K schedule
June 17: Portugal vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 17: Uzbekistan vs Colombia – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 10pm ET
June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 23: Colombia vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm ET
June 27: Colombia vs Portugal – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 7:30pm ET
June 27: Inter-confederation playoff 1 vs Uzbekistan – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 7:30pm ET – Universo
Group L schedule
June 17: England vs Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 17: Ghana vs Panama – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 23: England vs Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
June 23: Panama vs Croatia – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 27: Panama vs England – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 27: Croatia vs Ghana – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET – Universo
Round of 32 schedule
June 28: Match 73 – Runner up Group A vs Runner up Group B – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 29: Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner up Group F – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 29: Match 74 – Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4:30pm ET
June 29: Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner up Group C – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET
June 30: Match 78 – Runner up Group E vs Runner up Group I – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 30: Match 77 – Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 30: Match 79 – Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
July 1: Match 80 – Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 1: Match 82 – Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J – Lumen Field, Seattle – 4pm ET
July 1: Match 81 – Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 8pm ET
July 2: Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner up Group J – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 2: Match 83 – Runner up Group K vs Runner up Group L – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
July 2: Match 85 – Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
July 3: Match 88 – Runner up Group D vs Runner up Group G – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 2pm ET
July 3: Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner up Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
July 3: Match 87 – Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9:30pm ET
Round of 16 schedule
July 4: Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
July 4: Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
July 5: Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
July 5: Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 8pm ET
July 6: Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 6: Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – Lumen Field, Seattle – 8pm ET
July 7: Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 7: Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – BC Place, Vancouver – 4pm ET
Quarterfinal schedule
July 9: Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
July 10: Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 11: Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
July 11: Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9pm ET
Semifinal schedule
July 14: Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 15: Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 3pm ET
Third-place game
July 18: Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
Final
July 19: Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
‘Worst nightmare’
Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette, who joined her in 2024, after enduring her “worst nightmare” in a second-round loss at the 2026 Miami Open.
Swiatek, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world, explained that she has “decided to take a different route” after falling to world No. 50 Magda Linette and snapping her record of 73 consecutive opening-match wins on Thursday.
“Sometimes life and sports bring moments like this… Miami wasn’t easy for me I feel disappointed, and of course a feeling of insufficiency and responsibility for what happened on court,” Swiatek wrote in an Instagram post on Monday, including a photo of her giving Fissette two high fives. “I also have a lot of important points to take, and I think it’s very human.
“At the same time, after many months of working with the @fissettewim coach, I’ve decided to take a different route. It was an intense time full of challenges and a lot of important experiences. I’m grateful for his support, experience and everything we’ve accomplished together – including making one of my biggest sporting dreams come true.
“Thank you Coach for this time and the lessons I’ve learned thanks to you. I wish you well both professionally and privately.”
Swiatek shared that “the rest of my staff remains unchanged” and she will share an update in due time.
The 24-year-old won her first titles at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, last July and August respectively, with Fissette.
“I know a lot of questions come up, but I’ll let you know what’s next in due time,” Swiatek continued. “Taking a moment for self care, process this experience and prepare for my new chapter. Simply, one step at a time, because as I often say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
“Wim, thank you for this time and for the lessons I’ve learned thanks to you. I wish you all the best – both professionally and personally.
Fissette reflected on their career success in his own Instagram post, sharing a photo of the pair shaking hands on the court.
“You never know where life will take you and the ones you meet along the way,” Fissette began. “In 2018, I met Iga at the Wimbledon Champions Dinner after she won juniors. Seven years later, we won it together. A nice story.
“We both wanted and worked for more but shared important moments and lessons. Iga, I now wish you good luck and success in what’s next. I’m sure you will have it.
Fissette thanked Swiatek’s fans, “especially the Polish community for the support,” and said he’s looking forward to the future.
After the defeat in Miami, Swiątek told reporters that she was in “the worst nightmare a tennis player can have” and that tennis “feels complicated in my head.”
“Unconsciously ot consciously it’s hard for me to change things, and then my tennis kind of collapses,” Swiatek said.
“So I need to work now to get back from that, because for sure I haven’t felt things like that for like five years.”
Camp Hill boys tennis sweeps Susquehanna Township, remains unbeaten
Camp Hill boys tennis earned a 5-0 defeat over Susquehanna Township in Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division action Monday at Harrisburg.
Samuel Sachs, Wyatt Lentz and Anderson Mitchell all scored singles wins for the Lions, defeating Emilio Sanchez, Brabim Rai and Anthony Bui, respectively.
In doubles play, Camp Hill’s Yonneth Albino-Colon and Alex King defeated Ricky Zhu and Caleb Halfond. Also for the Lions, the team of Luke Longenbach and Ben Dade took down Ebrima Gassama and Clayton Heller.
In non-scoring district doubles action, Sachs and Mitchell defeated Sanchez and Rai.
The Lions are now 4-0 on the young season; ‘Hanna drops to 0-3 with the defeat.
Hershey boys tennis sweeps Red Land in MPC-Commonwealth action
Hershey boys tennis swept their way to a 5-0 victory over Red Land in Mid-Penn Conference Commonwealth division action Monday at Lewisberry.
Gabriel Yuan, Max Laurore and Alexander Camp all scored singles wins for the Trojans, defeating Nic Duvall, Matt Van Sickle and Aiden French, respectively.
In doubles play, Hershey’s Jason Lyn-Sue and Brayden Ernest defeated Jackson Mehaffey and Ben Montgomery. Also for the Trojans, the team of Erik Wingert and Kyle Joo took down Colin Walker and Wyatt Hubley.
In non-scoring district doubles play, Yuan and Laurore defeated Duvall and Van Sickle.
2026 boys tennis preview: Ottawa, Streator turning to new leaders on the courts
Here’s a look at the season ahead for the Streator and Ottawa boys tennis programs.
Ottawa Pirates
Coach: Matt Gross (26th season)
Last season: 12-11 dual record
Top returning players: Ayden Sexton, sr.; Kaden Araujo, sr.
Top newcomers: Gabe Zeglis, jr.; Eli Jeppson, jr.; Hendrix Link, jr.; Bentley Thumm, so.; Ian Fulkerson, jr.; Noah Logan, sr.; Reed McGrath, jr.; Charlie Thiry, sr.; Logan Walker, jr.
Worth noting: The Pirates sent another doubles team (Noah Gross and Evan Krafft) to state last spring, and now will turn to Sexton, Araujo and what looks to be a balanced varsity roster to continue the program’s decades-long run of success. Araujo and Sexton saw time playing both singles and doubles in 2025 and are expected to split time again before settling in where they can lead best. “Ayden and Kaden will be at the top of our lineup,” Coach Gross said. “I think they will play both singles and doubles. After that, we’ll see where guys land. Thankfully, it’s early enough that there are plenty of matches for guys to work their way up, down and into the lineup.” Early projections suggest Zeglis and Jeppson, like Araujo and Sexton, will probably switch between singles and doubles play early in the season. Link has been looking more like a doubles player, and Thumm is more likely to man a singles spot. “We have a great group of guys whose games are very close in level,” Coach Gross said. “I think this will add to the level of competition amongst them all and will make us better as a group as the season continues. Handling the highs and lows of competition is something I’d like all of the guys to improve. We’ll also be working on all of the little things that go into playing well every day, like footwork and high percentage play. … We’re excited for the season to get going and for us to be outside consistently.”
Streator Bulldogs
Coach: Mark Yanek (1st season)
Last season: 2-10 dual record
Top returning players: Lucas Gutierrez, so.; Jacob Wang, so.; Quinn Baron, so.
Top newcomers: Zachary Minick, fr.; Avery Missel, fr.; Joshua Abbott, fr.; Daxton Crater, fr.; Jack Rees, fr.; Brian Sims, fr.; Ryker Deardurff, fr.; Noah Thomas, fr.
Northern boys tennis edges out Cedar Cliff in MPC-Keystone play
Northern earned a tight 3-2 win over Cedar Cliff in Mid-Penn Conference Keystone division boys tennis action Monday at Camp Hill.
The Polar Bears dominated in doubles action, with Ben Miller and Trent Gross defeating Lincoln Govelovich and Drake Dietterick while the team of Miles Plavchak and Zachary Wolfe took down Dylan Candioto and Noah Artz.
Patrick Miller also earned a win for Northern in singles action, defeeating Rojan Tiwari in two sets.
Andrew Wilson and Mason Cordaro scored wins for the Colts, defeating Jacob Yost and Zachary Spiece, respectively.
In non-scoring district doubles play, Wilson and Cordaro defeated Yost and Miller.
Mifflin County boys tennis sneaks past Chambersburg in MPC crossover action
Mifflin County earned a tight 3-2 win over Chambersburg in Mid-Penn Conference crossover boys tennis action Monday at Norlo Park in Fayetteville.
The Huskies (2-1) dominated in doubles play, with Drew Staley and Caden Brenize defeating Mason Kanicki and Luke Foltz while the team of Seth Walter and Orran Neff took down Max Persing and Morgan Cilader.
Eli Keeler also secured a win for Mifflin County in singles action, defeating Aiden Newlen in two sets.
Logan Breneman and Reese Hine scooped up wins for Chambersburg, defeating Anton Winter and Micah Detweiler, respectively.
In non-scoring district doubles play, Winter and Keller defeated Breneman and Newlen.
State College boys tennis rolls past Central Dauphin
State College earned a 4-1 boys tennis win over Central Dauphin in Mid-Penn Conference Commonwealth division action Monday at Harrisburg.
The Little Lions (5-0) dominated in doubles play, with Jude Cessna and Frank Hsu taking down Alex Mendelsohn and Aidan Grauel while the team of Dash Nealon and Henry Poole defeated Joey Denne and Harrison Pressel.
Will Liu and Evan Zheng also scored singles wins for State College, defeating Robert Elswert and Max Ionni, respectively.
Andrew Gergal picked up Central Dauphin’s lone win, defeating Eric Liu in two sets.
Minky Couture Week 34 high school star athletes of the week
Baseball
Braxton Pickett, Gunnison Valley (Sr.)
Gunnison Valley’s Braxton Pickett has made a quick, successful transition from the hardcourt to the diamond this spring.
The senior pitcher/utility player has played a big role in leading the Bulldogs’ baseball team to a 9-1 record just a few weeks removed from a strong basketball season in which he was named a second team all-stater.
“Braxton has had a great career for us as a four-year starter. The impressive part of his game is that he’s continually progressed each year and has now been named a team captain. His hot start to the season has helped us to our best start as a regime and we look forward to seeing what this team can do as the year progresses,” said Gunnison Valley coach Chad Avery.
Pickett, who’s committed to Utah Tech baseball, went 6 for 7 at the plate last week with a double, a triple, a home run and nine RBIs. He also pitched a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts in a win over Grand.
For the season, he’s batting .481 with a 1.361 OPS. He’s recorded a team-leading 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, and is 3-0 on the mound with 28 strikeouts and a 0.50 ERA.
Softball
Kaecee Johnson, North Sanpete (So.)
Thanks in large part to a sophomore with maturity beyond her years, North Sanpete is still perfect this season.
Kaecee Johnson is 8-0 in the circle this season for the 9-0 Hawks, as she’s struck out 73 while maintaining a 1.79 ERA.
At the plate, she’s batting .536 with four home runs and a team-leading 22 RBIs.
“Kaecee is a special player whom I am lucky to coach. As only a sophomore, she is not only one of our best players, but she is also one of our main leaders,” said North Sanpete coach Landon Bailey. “She has the ability to win games with her hitting or with her dominant pitching. She works extremely hard, and her love of softball is contagious. I am excited to see what she accomplishes, not only this season, but throughout her softball career.”
In wins last week over Carbon and Timpanogos, she struck out 23 total batters while driving in six runs.
Boys Soccer
Jace Rodriguez, Ogden (Sr.)
Jace Rodriguez is off to a torrid pace for Ogden this season.
The senior striker has racked up 17 goals in eight games, which includes hat tricks against Bear River, Providence Hall and Delta. He’s also added eight assists.
A year ago, Rodriguez tallied 23 goals and seven assists and was voted a 3A first team all-stater for the second straight year.
“Senior captain Jace Rodriguez continues to set the standard both on and off the pitch. While his academic dedication and leadership inspire his teammates daily, his recent performance has been truly elite,” said Ogden coach Todd Scott. “Beyond his scoring, Jace leads the state in both goals and assists (8), showcasing an unselfish style of play. We remain incredibly impressed by his relentless work ethic and drive to improve every week.”
Boys Volleyball
Robert McAdams, Highland (Sr.)
One of the biggest catalysts to Highland’s undefeated start to the season is senior Robert McAdams. Whether he’s playing in the middle or on the outside, McAdams is a force and is averaging 36 kills and eight blocks a match for the 8-0 Rams.
His coach, Lance Cooper, said McAdams also is passing at a high percentage, which is paying big dividends for the team as well.
“Robert has been with the program since the beginning. He made the decision not to play baseball and gave volleyball a try his sophomore year. After that following season, he made the commitment to play in the offseason with several clubs and has established himself as one of the top players in Utah,” said Coach Cooper. “He is one of our team captains and has shown tremendous leadership on the court. Robert has the ability to play every position on the court and (is) willing to play whatever position that will help our team. He has been a great example for not only Highland, but for the sport of volleyball.”
Boys Track
Davis DeGroot, Bonneville (Sr.)
Bonneville’s Davis Degroot stole the show at the Pine View Invite last weekend in St. George.
The senior University of Kentucky commit shattered the 400-meter state record, winning with a phenomenal time of 45.46, eclipsing the old record by .59 seconds.
It was one of four event wins at the meet for DeGroot, who also won the 100 and 200 meters as well as the long jump.
DeGroot is no stranger to sweeping all four events, something he did last May during the 5A state championships at BYU.
DeGroot now owns two overall state records in Utah. He’s currently the long jump state record holder, having jumped 24’01.25 last season. At the Pine View Invite, he jumped 25’05.25.
Girls Track
Kiera Sam Fong, Pine View (Sr.)
Pine View shot putter Kiera Sam Fong recorded the longest put in Utah in 23 years last weekend at the Pine View Invitational, and came oh-so close to the best throw ever.
Davis’ Kelli Burton owns the state-record mark of 49’06 that she set back in 2002, and Sam Fong tossed it 49’04.25 on Saturday. After coming up less than two inches shy of breaking the third-oldest record in the girls track & field record books, Sam Fong still has two more months to try and eclipse the mark.
Sam Fong also won the discus at the Pine View Invite.
“Kiera is an exceptional teammate. She cares about everyone on our team and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team and each individual reach our goals,” said Pine View coach David Holt.
Sam Fong showed that determination and willingness to do whatever the team needed at last year’s 4A state meet as she stepped out of her comfort zone and competed in the javelin and placed fifth. She also won the shot put and placed third in the discus, earning valuable points that led the Panthers to the title.
Boys Lacrosse
Oscar Keegan, East (So.)
Oscar Keegan has been on a tear early this season for the East Leopards.
The sophomore has notched 26 goals, 11 assists and 13 ground balls, playing a big role in leading his team to a 5-1 record this season.
The 37 points have already surpassed the 33 he tallied in a strong freshman season a year ago.
“He works hard in all phases of the game, both riding hard and taking a wing on the face-off. He is a complete player and a great teammate,” said East coach Charlie Freedman.
His best game so far this season was a 10-point outing (five goals, five assists) in the opening week of the season in a win over Snow Canyon.
Keegan is a two-sport star for East High, and was recently named a Deseret News third team all-stater for basketball.
Girls Lacrosse
Taylor Sulz, Pleasant Grove (Sr.)
Pleasant Grove senior Taylor Sulz has been one of the catalysts to the Vikings’ strong start to the 2026 preseason.
The midfielder leads the team in numerous statistical categories, and she’s a big reason the Vikings have jumped out to a 4-2 record. The team’s two losses have both come against 6A teams.
“Sulz comes from a family of elite players, but has carved out her own identity through a relentless and physical style of play. She’s constantly around the ball and if you’re watching closely, following Sulz usually means you’re following the ball,” said Pleasant Grove assistant coach Brendan Smith.
“Her game is built on versatility and toughness. An elite scorer who’s ambidextrous and can score from anywhere. If a possession breaks down, she creates her own shot. She distributes like a true quarterback. On the other end, she embraces contact and consistently changes the game.”
In six games, Sulz has tallied 20 goals, three assists, 23 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers.
She’s delivered in big moments, and recently achieved 100 career goals. She’s also a positive influence who sets a great standard for the team.
Boys Tennis
Drew Bergeson, Woods Cross (Jr.)
A second singles runner-up each of the past two seasons, Woods Cross’ Drew Bergeson is no stranger to competing in high-pressure situations, and it’s paying off so far this season.
The junior owns a 7-1 record in first singles matches for the Wildcats, including wins over Skyline and Farmington last weekend. His lone loss came in the St. George Invitational in the first week of the season to Lone Peak.
“Drew is a natural athlete and what sets him apart from the others is his discipline and commitment to the game of tennis. He has not only developed into an amazing player, but as a captain of the Woods Cross team, he is a great example and leader,” said Woods Cross coach James Romera.
A year ago as a sophomore, Bergeson was seeded second in the 5A second singles bracket at the state tournament and marched all the way to the final, losing 6-3, 6-2. He’s hoping to make a big jump this season competing in first singles.
Girls Golf
Kaylee Westfall, Orem (Sr.)
Orem senior Kaylee Westfall has picked up right where she left off last season.
The reigning 4A medalist leads the Region 8 standings early this season, as last week she won a Region 8 match at Dixie Red Hills Golf Course in St. George with a 75. She’s averaging a 78 in Region 8 matches so far this season.
A year ago at the 4A state meet, Westfall shot a 6-under 136, the only golfer to shoot under par at the Southgate Golf Course as she won the individual state title.
Westfall has signed to compete collegiately at UVU after she wraps up her senior season this spring.
This $3.5M Maine estate comes with a tennis court, indoor pool and elevator
A private estate in Scarborough that offers a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool and an elevator hit the market on Monday with a $3.5 million asking price.
With more than 10,000 square feet of living space, the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on Wildwood Lane sits on nearly 13 acres that’s entirely fenced-in.
The property is located at the end of a cul-de-sac and is surrounded by conservation land, making it exceptionally quiet and private, said David Jones of F.O. Bailey Real Estate, the listing agent for the property. But the home is still centrally located and just a five-minute drive from both Higgins Beach and Scarborough Beach.
“It’s in the heart of Scarborough and everything — shopping, the airport, beaches — are within a stone’s throw,” Jones said. “You don’t see something like this every day.”
The sellers designed and built the home in 1995 and raised their two daughters there over the last 30 years, Jones said. The house is made of white brick, marble and concrete, making it solid and giving it a “stately” appearance.
“They’ve enjoyed it for 30 years and, and now it’s time to move on,” Jones said. “The kids are grown and the sellers have ideas and things they want to do next.”
The $3.5 million asking price is significantly more than the median home value in Scarborough, which has steadily climbed in recent years to surpass $666,000, Zillow data shows.
While the home has eye-catching features and luxury finishes throughout, Jones said the thoughtful layout makes it stand out among other properties.
“Some houses are opulent, but don’t flow well,” Jones said. “This floor plan is well-thought-out, not awkward. It has a lot of square footage, but when you’re in it, it doesn’t feel like that.”
All the bedrooms — and a dance studio — are on the second floor of the house while the finished basement holds an indoor pool, sauna, and plenty of additional living and entertaining space.
The main floor, meanwhile, is dedicated to the living and dining areas, the large gourmet kitchen and two private office or den spaces. It’s tied together by the grand foyer, with a sweeping spiral staircase and towering ceilings.
“You could put a two-story Christmas tree there — it’s just a beautiful room,” Jones said. “It’s built like a castle and beautiful inside and out.”
The home also has an elevator, making it safe for someone with mobility limitations or a family looking to stay in their home for years, Jones said.
Aside from a three-car attached garage, the property has a fenced-in tennis court and two outbuildings that are now used for storage.
The home’s sprawling space, many features and central location make it perfect for a large family, especially one who loves to host.
“No one will be fighting over a bedroom or a closet, everyone can spread out and have their own space,” Jones said. “When you all want to hang out together and watch a TV show, there’s a room for that too.”
Texas Children’s Houston Open odds, picks and PGA Tour predictions
With the Masters approaching, the PGA Tour is in Texas for 2 straight weeks after wrapping up the Florida Swing Sunday. Things kick off with the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, which begins on Thursday morning from Memorial Park. Below, we look at Texas Children’s Houston Open odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
Scottie Scheffler is teeing it up in his home state this week and enters as the favorite at +350. Min Woo Lee, the defending champion, is the second-favorite with odds of +1600, followed by Chris Gotterup (+2000) and Jake Knapp (+2200).
Memorial Park is a longer course at 7,475 yards and a par 70, forcing players to pull driver from the bag on most holes. However, it’s fairly wide open and the rough isn’t penalizing, so it’s a course that favors bombers off the tee – as we saw with Lee winning last year. He set the scoring record at 260 last season, finishing 20-under par. In the 5 playings at Memorial Park since 2020, the Houston Open winners have finished between 10-under and 20-under.
Watch the PGA Tour on Fubo!
Texas Children’s Houston Open – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:14 p.m. ET.
Min Woo Lee (+1600)
Lee is the defending champ and it’s reasonable to think he could repeat based on his course history and his current form. Among players in the field, he’s second in strokes gained: off the tee and third in SG: tee-to-green in the last 3 months. He won last year despite it being his tournament debut, setting the scoring record at 20-under par. His odds are shorter than usual but he’s still worth taking.
Jake Knapp (+2200)
Kanpp is another bomber who could excel at Memorial Park after a hot start to the year. He finished 27th here last year after missing the cut in his 2024 debut and comes in ranked 13th in SG: tee-to-green in the field in the last 3 months, as well as No. 1 in putting. That’s a dangerous combination at a course where scores will be low.
Marco Penge (+3300)
Penge is No. 1 in SG: off-the-tee this season, using his incredible length to bomb-and-gauge golf courses and give himself short irons and wedges into greens. He’s a great fit for Memorial Park and though it’ll be his tournament debut, he could come out firing and win like Lee did in his first appearance here.
Texas Children’s Houston Open picks – Contenders
Wyndham Clark (+6000)
Clark had been finishing around the middle of the pack before missing the cut last week at the Valspar. Distance off the tee is no problem for him and it shouldn’t be a surprise that he finished fifth here last year and T-16 in 2023.
Keith Mitchell (+5000)
Mitchell has been fantastic off the tee and with his all-around ball striking this season, but the putter has been atrocious. He tied for 18th here last year and ninth in 2023, so his course history is relatively good. And if he can get the putter to start working, he could find himself in contention.
Texas Children’s Houston Open picks – Long shots
Alejandro Tosti (+20000)
Tosti has done very little to elicit confidence at this point in the season, missing 7 straight cuts to start the year before finishing T-30 last week at the Valspar. He now comes to a course where his length can be an advantage. Tosti finished T-2 and T-5 in his only 2 career starts at the Houston Open the last 2 years.
Gary Woodland (+9000)
Woodland found some form at the Valspar Championship last week, finishing T-14 after missing 2 straight cuts. He’s fourth in SG: off-the-tee in the last 3 months among players in this field, so the driver is working.
Aldrich Potgieter (+10000)
A course made for long hitters? Sounds like Potgieter time. He missed the cut in his debut last year, but any time there’s a course with minimal penalty for missed fairways, he’s worth considering.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
PGA Tour Florida Swing grades: Who shined and who struggled?
How to buy tickets to the Texas Children’s Houston Open
Brooks Koepka has two alarming issues heading into The Masters this year
Brooks Koepka is slowly starting to show signs of his very best form with the start of The Masters now only just over two weeks away.
Koepka made a dramatic return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, but he has managed to record just one top-10 finish in five starts so far.
That said, he could easily have finished inside the top-10 at The Players Championship and the Valspar Championship, had it not been for double bogeys on his 72nd and 70th holes respectively in those two tournaments.
Koepka obviously knows how to win big tournaments – his haul of five major championship trophies is evidence of that.
And now with The Masters just around the corner, the 35-year-old will be hoping to hone his skills as he looks to win his sixth major championship.
Koepka recently admitted his putting has let him down on the PGA Tour, but he seems to have improved on the greens over the past couple of weeks, after he switched to a mallet putter.
Now, though, another big problem has crept into the five-time major champion’s game which he must address urgently.
Brooks Koepka has two alarming issues heading into The Masters
The American has been visibly frustrated with his inability to record some high finishes as he looks to earn his way into the Signature Events.
He knows full well that he is capable of winning again on the PGA Tour right now, but there are a couple of things that have been costing him a chance to do just that.
He is ranked 6th in strokes gained off the tee and 127th in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour so far this season.
Everyone knows how vital putting is at Augusta National but you will not have any chance of winning the tournament if you don’t drive the ball well either.
Sure, there isn’t much rough, but if you’re not hitting the ball long and straight it’s almost impossible to access the pins that are cut on tiny portions of Augusta’s undulating greens.
Historically, the former LIV Golf star has been a superb driver of the golf ball.
However, Koepka admitted at the Valspar that his poor driving of the ball has perplexed him of late.
He needs to fix up in the driving and putting departments as soon as possible, if he is to contend at The Masters.
Ryan Lavner on Koepka’s main problem ahead of The Masters
Golf journalist Ryan Lavner has been speaking on The Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav about Koepka’s hopes of winning The Masters.
“One other storyline that I want to throw to you, Rex, is Brooks Koepka,“ Lavner said.
“He was third in approach at the Valspar. That comes on the heels of four other positive stroke gained approach weeks in a row on the PGA Tour.
“It certainly seems like he has found at least a little bit of a fix for the putting.
“It was the driver that let him down, interestingly, at Innisbrook, a club that he typically does not struggle with.
“I think when you look at Brooks Koepka, the numbers don’t look great. The results are sort of pedestrian for a player of his calibre, as a five-time major champion.
“However, he has frittered away some points. He has frittered away some strokes late over the past couple of weeks.
“He made a double bogey on the 72nd hole at the Players Championship, when he was in position for a top-10 finish.
“A double bogey on the 70th hole at the Valspar Championship, as well, when he was in position for a top-10 finish.
“That might not seem like a lot, but as we sit here at the end of March, and with Brooks Koepka needing top finishes to get inside the next 10, the swing 5, get into the Signature Events to play against the best players on the PGA Tour.
“I think that could end up being quite important.
“I think big picture, though, he’s certainly trending in the right direction for Augusta.
“I’m not even sure at this point if he would be a sneaky pick.“
If Brooks Koepka is able to fix his current driver woes and manages to cut out the silly mistakes which lead to big numbers, he could well contend at The Masters next month.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s wife celebrates PGA Tour star’s Valspar Championship win
Matt Fitzpatrick’s biggest fan is certainly enjoying this victory lap following last week’s Players Championship heartbreak.
Shortly after the English golfer sealed his third-ever PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship on Sunday, Fitzpatrick’s wife, Katherine Fitzpatrick, posted a two-word message in the comments of his Instagram post commemorating the win following his one-stroke defeat to Cameron Young at the Players.
“Incredible job,” she gushed after Fitzpatrick shot a 3-under 68 in the final round at Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Fla., for a total of 11-under. That was one stroke better than American David Lipsky to claim the $1.6 million prize.
Fitzpatrick said Sunday’s victory was a “fantastic way to end the Florida swing!”
“Thank you @valsparchamp for a great week. Looking forward to keeping the momentum going!” he exclaimed on Instagram.
It was only a week ago that Fitzpatrick was on the outside of the victor’s circle when Young captured the $4.5 million Players Championship prize in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The 28-year-old American finished the tournament at 13-under, putting him one stroke ahead of Fitzpatrick.
“To lose it right at the death is always difficult to take,” Fitzpatrick said, according to the PGA Tour’s website.
Despite the crushing finish at the Players, Fitzpatrick — who is currently ranked sixth in the world — continued to build off that confidence for his first PGA Tour triumph since the RBC Heritage in 2023.
“The big thing was I felt I was playing well,” he said. “I wanted to continue that and felt like I had the confidence in myself to do so. To do that for four rounds was special this week.”
Fitzpatrick could very well carry that momentum into the Masters, which gets underway in two weeks. His best finish at Augusta National was a tie for seventh in 2016.
The 31-year-old is seeking his second major win following his U.S. Open triumph in 2022.
Fitzpatrick wed Katherine two years after that victory.
2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions, Odds for Memorial Park
The PGA Tour’s Florida Swing is in the books, which means time for back-to-back events in Texas before we head to Augusta for the first major of the year.
Scottie Scheffler is set to tee it up this week, despite it not being a signature event. He has posted a runner-up finish at this tournament three times already, but has still never won it. Is now when he’s going to get his win at Memorial Park, just in time for the Masters?
Let’s take a look at the top odds to win and then I’ll give you my three favorite outright bets.
Texas Children’s Houston Open odds
Top 15 odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Scottie Scheffler +350
Min Woo Lee +1500
Chris Gotterup +2000
Jake Knapp +2200
Sam Burns +2700
Brooks Koepka +2700
Marco Penge +3000
Nicolai Hojgaard +3300
Rickie Fowler +3300
Michael Thorbjornsen +3500
Kurt Kitayama +3500
Ben Griffin +4000
Ryan Gerard +4000
Harry Hall +4000
Harris English +4500
Texas Children’s Houston Open how to watch
Thursday: 3–7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Friday: 3–7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 1–3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) 3-6 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Sunday: 1–3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) 3-6 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Texas Children’s Houston Open purse
Date: Thursday, Mar. 26–Sunday, Mar. 29
Purse: $9.9 million ($1.782 million to winner)
2025 champion: Min Woo Lee
Texas Children’s Houston Open notable golfers
Scottie Scheffler: The World No. 1 has historically used this event as a final warm-up ahead of the Masters but has yet to win it, posting three separate runner-up finishes. Whether or not he can return to form is going to be a fascinating story to follow this week. He has finished T12, T24 and T22 in his last three starts, which is the worst run we’ve seen him go on in years.
Min Woo Lee: The defending champion has been fantastic this season. He has posted a T2 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a T6 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He could be in a great spot to repeat as champion.
Texas Children’s Houston Open best bets
Marco Penge +3800 via DraftKings
Memorial Park is all about how you drive the golf ball, and Marco Penge from England leads the entire field in strokes-gained off the tee over the past six months, including above Scottie Scheffler. Now is the time to buy in on Penge. He has posted two top-20 finishes in his last three starts, including a T4 finish at last week’s Valspar Championship, where he had his best approach performance of 2026.
Tony Finau +8000 via FanDuel
Remember Tony Finau? He’s not the golfer he used to be but has always had his best stuff at the Houston Open, winning this event in 2022 and finishing runner-up in 2024. He also quietly posted a strong T18 finish at last week’s Valspar Championship, where he gained +1.09 true strokes per round with his approach play and +1.93 strokes per round with his around-the-green play.
His lack of accuracy won’t hurt him too much at Memorial Park. If he ever finds his peak form again, it’s going to happen at this tournament.
Gary Woodland +12000 via DraftKings
Gary Woodland had his best performance in almost a year last week, posting a T14 finish at the Valspar Championship. He now returns to an event that he finished T9 at in 2022 and a runner-up finish here last year. If his game is truly trending in the right direction, there’s a chance it all comes together this week.
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Fewer stars expected at Zurich Classic because of schedule
The PGA Tour did no favors for the Zurich Classic this year.
By sandwiching the tournament between a series of major and signature events on the Tour’s busy spring schedule, they made life difficult for tournament officials, trying to lure top players to compete in New Orleans.
Many Tour stars are electing to bypass the Zurich this year to take a much-needed break from competition rather than compete for six consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May.
Consequently, the field will not be as star-studded as past years, said Steve Worthy, the CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, the local organizing body that operates the tournament for the PGA Tour.
“It’s a tough deal,” Worthy said. “It would be disingenuous of me to stand here in front of you and tell you it’s not going to have an impact on our field. It will. It’s a challenge. It won’t be everything that it’s been, but we’re still going to have a lot of names that you recognize and still hoping to pull off a few others that are going to be difference-makers.”
PGA Tour officials have indicated to Worthy and Zurich officials that the schedule sandwich is a one-off and will not be repeated next year.
While Worthy still expects to land a few big names to headline the 160-man field, he said the depth of elite talent will not be as strong because of the unavoidable attrition.
The team of Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak will return to defend its title. Shane Lowery and Brooks Koepka are also among the top players who could commit to the field in the weeks ahead. Tournament officials expect to announce more commitments in the days and weeks ahead of the April 23-26 event.
But many of their elite peers have balked or decided to skip the New Orleans stop because of its inconvenient spot in the schedule: after the Masters and RBC Heritage in early April and before the Cadillac, Truist and PGA championships in May.
“I’m not too worried about playing seven (weeks) in a row,” said Griffin, who is ranked No. 16 in the latest World Golf Rankings. “I played 13 in a row to start the year last year, and especially with the Zurich being a more laid-back, relaxing, fun week.”
Griffin and Novak broke through for their first PGA Tour wins at the Zurich last year, carding a score of 28-under-par 260 to edge runners-up Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard by one stroke.
Griffin went on to win two more events and land a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, while finishing the year at No. 8 in the World Golf Rankings.
“Both Ben and Andrew enjoyed breakthrough seasons, including their victory here,” Worthy said. “We are excited to watch them build on their team success and see if they can become the first repeat winners since we launched our team format in 2017.”
Despite the tough timing of this year’s Zurich, Novak and Griffin said the tournament remains one of their favorite events on Tour, citing its unique team format and award-winning hospitality
“This is a very busy part of our schedule,” said Novak, who is ranked 49th after his recent 55th-place finish at the Valspar Championship. “… I cannot stress to you how nice it’s going to be on Thursday (at the Zurich) to pick my ball up and let Ben finish out the hole for me. I’ll be getting punched in the face repeatedly for a few weeks (on Tour), so it is going to be really nice to just have a team event in there and just kind of change the pace up a little bit from what we’ve got going week in, week out.”
Off the course, officials expect another successful year for the tournament, which has grown in popularity since taking on Zurich as a title sponsor in 2005 and moving to a team format in 2017. Corporate sponsorships remain strong, and the inventory of suite rentals and pro-am entries are again sold out, Worthy said.
The presence of a LIV Golf event in the city has also had little effect on the Zurich, Worthy said. LIV Golf Louisiana will be held June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks golf course at City Park.
“We’ve been focused on us, and it really hasn’t been a factor,” Worthy said.
The bizarre reason Jack Nicklaus received a two-shot penalty that cost him a first PGA Tour win at the Houston Open
Caddie Billy Ford played an unfortunate role in ensuring that Jack Nicklaus had to wait until the US Open in 1962 for the first professional victory of his career.
Nicklaus beat Arnold Palmer in a playoff at Oakmont to win his first major title. The victory had been coming for some time, with the Golden Bear finishing second three times in 1962 before his US Open triumph.
One of those runner-up finishes came at the event now known as the Texas Children’s Houston Open, with Nicklaus beaten in a playoff.
How a penalty cost Jack Nicklaus his first professional win at the 1962 Houston Classic
Bobby Nichols emerged victorious in sudden death at Memorial Park after an 18-hole playoff had failed to separate himself and Dan Sikes.
Nicklaus finished five shots behind the pair and was eliminated before sudden death.
However, it could have been very different for both Nichols and Nicklaus, had the latter’s caddie not made a costly mistake during the third round.
Nicklaus found himself with a 35-foot putt for birdie on the long par three seventh hole. He asked his caddie, Billy Ford, to tend the flag. Unfortunately, as revealed by Golfweek, Nicklaus was denied a brilliant two through no fault of his own.
“The putt rolled straight for the cup, but my caddie panicked,” Nicklaus said. “He couldn’t get the flagstick out of the hole, and jerked it upwards, pulling the cup liner above ground.”
The ball ricocheted off the liner. That led to Nicklaus being handed a two-shot penalty and walking away with a five.
The mistake ended up denying Nicklaus a first professional victory – if you assume that he would have played the next 29 holes the same way.
The caddie Jack Nicklaus worked with for the majority of his career
Nicklaus would begin working with long-time caddie Angelo Argea the following year. Their partnership would last more than 20 years, though the majors did not start to allow players to use their own caddies until the 1970s.
With that, they won their first major together at the 1975 PGA Championship.
Nicklaus would finish as runner-up at the Houston Open once again in 1964, but never actually won the event. Nichols, meanwhile, would lift the trophy for a second time the following year.
Matt McCarty Joins the Long List of Pros Who Withdrew From $9.9M PGA Tour Event
The field for the Texas Children’s Houston Open is shrinking. Matt McCarty is the latest name to withdraw from the $9.9 million event just a day after four fellow PGA Tour pros.
In the wake of the Houston-based event’s first player sign-in deadline on Friday at 5:00 p.m., the field saw several notable changes.
Four players withdrew on March 22 and were subsequently replaced, as confirmed by PGA TOUR Communications. McCarty joined them on March 23.
“Matt McCarty (WD), Doug Ghim (IN),” read Monday evening’s release. McCarty, who had a T24 finish at The Genesis and a T2 at The American Express, is ranked 44th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
The 28-year-old’s departure is just one among several recent professional exits from this tournament. His exit follows a busy Sunday that saw four other players withdraw, including Austin Smotherman and Michael Kim (54th in the OWGR).
Austin Smotherman, Cam Davis, Ryo Hisatsune, and Michael Kim were replaced by Danny Willett, Jimmy Stanger, Paul Waring, and Jesper Svensson. Michael Kim’s withdrawal is notable due to his previous T18 finish at the WM Phoenix Open.
To keep the tournament schedule organized, officials stated, “Field expanded from 133 players to 135 to round out threesomes.” This allowed Andrew Putnam and Kris Ventura to join the field.
A Familiar Trend of Pre-Tournament Departures
Most likely, it is a result of the Tour’s grueling schedule, which requires players to balance competing and resting to safeguard their health.
McCarty’s withdrawal allows world No. 179 Doug Ghim to compete. Ghim looks to build on recent T26 performance at the Puerto Rico Open to regain the form that propelled him to a career-high ranking of 90th.
The Official World Golf Ranking influences these choices. Players may elect to withdraw if they consider a given course incompatible with their game, or if they are defending their ranking for future major opportunities.
Ryo Hisatsune, ranked 63rd, finished T13 at THE PLAYERS Championship, which concluded on March 15 before his departure here.
For alternates who are entering the field, such as Andrew Putnam and Kris Ventura, receiving a call to play this late is a high-stakes chance. They now have to quickly adjust to the course in Houston before the 72-hole event begins.
How to buy Martinsville NASCAR tickets for the Cook Out 400.
Martinsville Speedway hosts the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Tyler Reddick won last week’s race at Darlington Raceway.
Ticket prices for the race in Martinsville start at $43.
The start of the NASCAR Cup Series season has been the Tyler Reddick show.
After reeling off three straight victories to kick off the season, Reddick wheeled his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota to an impressive fourth win on Sunday at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
With all eyes on Reddick, the sport shifts to
Mark Martin Comes to Rescue as NASCAR Broadcast Makes Public Announcement to Save Historic Track
The Greenville-Pickens Speedway was home to some of the best NASCAR races, including the first one ever televised. Despite that, the future of the track is in jeopardy, as there are plans to develop it into an industrial park. Mark Martin, who speaks on important issues in the sport, has, however, pushed back on those calls and revealed why it is important to save the historic track.
“We’ve already lost some very historic race tracks to reference Romford Speedway, for example, it was very historic… There are so many racetracks where the cities around them have grown all around them to a point where property becomes more valuable than the racetrack does,” said Martin. “We’ve already lost so many, I know there’s a huge battle at Greenville-Pickens.”
The FOX’s broadcast team also echoed the same tune, as Mike Joy encouraged more people to join the initiative to visit the iconic racetrack.
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“The developers are closing in, council meetings, county and city council, folks want to save Greenville-Pickens Speedway,” said Joy on the official broadcast. “You need to get involved, go to these government meetings, because race tracks don’t vote. If you want to save the site of the first televised NASCAR race in full, you need to help out.”
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Efforts to save the track by the NASCAR community have yielded some positive outcomes, as Pickens County leaders voted against the demolition. While this does not guarantee the future, another positive is that Jackie Manley, who has ties to the track, is working on purchasing it and saving the Speedway from developers.
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“I was completely shocked,” Manley said. “I was like, ‘Oh man, this is real. We’re going to have to try to do something to help.’ My dad and grandpa ran wreckers and cleanup trucks. My mom sold tickets, so when I was born, my dad picked us up at the hospital, me and my mom, and we come straight to the racetrack so my mom could do the sign-in.”
The track is not just important for South Carolina, but also for NASCAR due to its historic significance.
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Greenville Pickens Speedway is etched in NASCAR history
Started in the 1940s as a dirt track, after it was paved, the Pickens Speedway hosted some iconic races. It was also home to NASCAR’s first-ever live televised race from start to finish.
The Pickens Speedway also played an important role in the growth of stock car racing in the Southeast.
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Since being closed down in 2022, the track’s future has been uncertain. The recent outcome has given the NASCAR community a glimmer of hope, but efforts from the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. could help save its future.
Earnhardt has already expressed a desire to race on the track if it is saved from going into redevelopment as an industrial park.
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“If @GPspeedway1 can survive, the @CARSTour will be first in line to return, and I’ll be the first entry,” tweeted Earnhardt.
This is a great move as more races being conducted on the track will be the only way to fuel its resurgence.
With a few already being closed down and many other tracks dealing with situations similar to that of the Greenville Pickens, it is time that NASCAR steps in and finds a way to save these iconic tracks from being closed down to preserve the sport’s historic significance.
Which Drivers Will Compete In the Cup Series Race At Martinsville?
On Monday, NASCAR revealed the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, the seventh of 36 races in the 2026 Cup Series schedule. Contained on the list are 37 cars.
None of the drivers or teams are at risk of missing the show, as up to 40 cars can start races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Tyler Reddick, who scored his fourth win of the season last weekend at Darlington Raceway, will return this weekend with a No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE, which will carry primary sponsorship from SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
The lone
NASCAR Veteran Breaks Silence Over Decades-Old Beef With Cale Yarborough With One Uncomfortable Truth
Daniel Suarez’s confrontation with Ross Chastain at Las Vegas sent ripples across the NASCAR community. Questions were asked regarding how a teammate can forget the former alliance and charge up due to a minor inconvenience. Answering it, NASCAR veteran Dave Marcis dropped a simple explanation involving Cale Yarborough, which exposed a bitter truth about how NASCAR confrontations are different from the old days.
Marcis unraveled old beef with Cale Yarborough
In a recent interview with Frontstretch, Marcis, the driver with the most Daytona 500 appearances (33), shared an anecdote where he experienced an on-track incident with Yarborough. As he explained the situation, Marcis mentioned how he wanted to remain calm and warn of the consequences before taking action.
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“Oh yeah, hell yeah, a lot of times,” Marcis said when asked if he had confrontations in NASCAR. “We pretty much handled it ourselves after the race, and the news media really wasn’t involved. I can call an example at Michigan. Cale kept coming down and ramming into the side of me. We were running first and second. I went on the radio. I said, ‘Harry, you tell Mr. Krauskopf (his team owner) that I am not trying to wreck his race car, but if Cale hits me one more time, I’m going to spin him out.’”
Following this, he recalled how the team asked him to go on and take action on the track, which Marcis did. Fast forward to today, both Dave Marcis and Cale Yarborough are friends, as they spoke about the incident and had a mutual agreement. The drivers did not let the uncomfortable truth of grudges, ego, or hidden animosity ruin their relationship.
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“And Harry came back on the radio. He said, ‘Don’t you worry about Nord Krauskopf. You just do what the hell you gotta do’. A couple laps later, Cale came down in the third turn and rammed into the side of me. I spun him out on the front straightaway. He spun, and I spun. We went down through the grass, through the infield, and back up on the racetrack in front of the entire pack of cars. Nobody hit either one of us. Cale ended up winning the race, and I think I ended up third. And Cale and I talked about it later, and we settled it amongst ourselves, and we raced years and years after that, and we’re the best of friends,” he further added.
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Marcis’ incident brings out a bitter truth that’s not seen in NASCAR today. During their time, they practiced self policing and there was mutual respect at the end of the day, and no one held any beefs or grudges like today.
Dave Marcis’ reaction to confrontation culture in NASCAR came amid the recent fiasco between Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez at Las Vegas. Things took a turn when Chastain swerved just in front of Suarez and doorslammed him during the Pennzoil 400.
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This did not go well with the Spire driver, who decided to confront his former Trackhouse teammate. However, once they stood against each other, Chastain began to shove him and utter comments like, “Get out of here,” and “You were fired.”
Before things went south further, NASCAR officials intervened and stopped them. But things didn’t end on the track. Both of them went on to give more statements about each other after the incident. While Chastain admitted that he would have done things differently later on, Suarez stated that the #1 Trackhouse man was “two-faced.” The grudge didn’t end on the track like it did in Marcis’ time.
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While Dave Marcis did not shy away from confrontations, Mike Skinner stated the same, as he voted in favor.
Former NASCAR star syncs with Dave Marcis on confrontation
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While not directly, Mike Skinner shared a positive response to the confrontation culture in NASCAR. Sharing one of his personal experiences from Phoenix, Skinner unraveled how he once had to pay $10,000 in fines because of a confrontation.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Darlington race, Skinner resonated the same, as he lauded the confrontation culture. Speaking on the line of Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez recently, here’s what the NASCAR SuperTruck Series champion said:
“I paid a bunch of fines. I remember one year, going to Homestead, they called in the trailer, and they said, ‘Hey, we need to get $10,000 from you.’ Okay. For what? You know for what? It’s the fight there at Phoenix, last race,” Skinner said. “So I had to pay a fine just to go and get to the race. But when talking about the other day, it’s exciting. And you don’t want the sport to get vanilla… And it’s really, really good to see passion back in the sport.”
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Notably, Daniel Suarez’s confrontation with Ross Chastain was one of the rarest events, given how they were teammates before at Trackhouse. This not only shocked the fans but also brought out the deep animosity that lay inside them all this while.