Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan çempionatının (Premyer Liqa) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün ən böyükhesablı qələbəsi qeydə alınıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu, ölkə çempionatının 23-cü turuna təsadüf edib.

“Qarabağ” “Araz-Naxçıvan”la qarşılaşmada qonaqların qapısından 6 cavabsız top keçirib. Cari mövsümdə ilk dəfə bir komanda altı top fərqi ilə qalib gəlib. Ağdam klubu həm də mövsümdə bir oyunda 6 qol vuran ilk komanda olub.

Buna qədər mövsümün rekordu 5:0-a bərabər idi. 2025-ci il avqustun 30-da “Zirə” evdə “Kəpəz”ə, sentyabrın 21-də “Qarabağ” səfərdə “Araz-Naxçıvan”a 5 cavabsız qol vurmuşdu.

Qeyd edək ki, Premyer Liqanın cari mövsümündə 53 xal toplamış “Sabah” hazırda vahid liderdir. “Qarabağ” 49 xalla ikinci, “Turan Tovuz” isə 44 xalla üçüncü pillədə qərarlaşıb.

Portuqaliyalı futbol mütəxəssisi Rui Jorje Azərbaycanın U-20 milli komandasının baş məşqçisi vəzifəsinə təyin edilib.

Arena.az bu barədə AFFA-nın rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.

Bildirilir ki, AFFA İcraiyyə Komitəsinin 19 fevral 2026-cı il tarixində keçirilmiş iclasında Azərbaycanın 20 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət milli komandasının baş məşqçisi postuna Rui Jorjenin namizədliyi müzakirə çıxarılmış və təsdiq edilmişdi.

Hüquqi prosedurların tamamlandığını nəzərə alaraq Rui Jorje müvafiq millinin baş məşqçisi postuna təyin olunub.

Azərbaycanın U-20 millisi 2027-ci ildə Azərbaycan və Özbəkistanda keçiriləcək FIFA U-20 Dünya Çempionatında ölkəmizi təmsil edəcək.
Yeni təyin olunmuş baş məşqçinin mətbuat konfransı AFFA rəhbərliyinin iştirakı ilə yaxın günlərdə təşkil olunacaq. Dəqiq tarix, vaxt və mətbuat konfransının keçiriləcəyi məkanla bağlı ictimayyətə məlumat veriləcək.

Qeyd edək ki, Rui Jorje məşqçiliyə futbolçu kimi son klubu olan “Belenenseş”də başlayıb. Portuqaliyalı mütəxəssis 2006-2010-cu illər aralığında adıçəkilən klubun U-19 komandasına rəhbərlik edib, 2008/2009-cu illər mövsümündə qısa müddət əsas komandanın baş məşqçisi olub.

2010-cu ildə Portuqaliyanın U-21 yığmasının “sükanı arxası”na gətirilən Jorje 15 il bu komandanı çalışdırıb. Onun rəhbərliyi altında portuqaliyalılar 5 dəfə Avropa çempionatının final mərhələsində iştirak edib, bunun ikisində (2015, 2021) gümüş mükafat qazanıb. Həmin illər ərzində Jorje Portuqaliyanın Olimpiya millisinə də rəhbərlik edib.

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan Birinci Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 18-ci turunun təyinatları məlum olub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının (PFL) rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.

18-ci turun görüşləri martın 11-də, 12-də və 13-də keçiriləcək. Bütün oyunlara saat 15:00-da start veriləcək.

Birinci Liqa
18-ci tur
11 mart

“Şimal” – “Şəfa”
Hakimlər: Elvin Bayramov, Samir Qaracayev, Rəşad Quliyev, Rövşən Rəcəbov.
Hakim-inspektor: Əmrah İbrahimov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Anar Şıxəliyev.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

12 mart

“Şahdağ Qusar” – MOİK
Hakimlər: Ruslan Quliyev, Səbuhi Əmrahov, Səbuhi Soltanov, Elçin Abdullayev.
Hakim-inspektor: Asim Xudiyev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Seymur Səlimli.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

“Difai” – “Baku Sportinq”
Hakimlər: Nicat İsmayıllı, Orxan İbişov, Sənan Atayev, Niyaz Əhmədov.
Hakim-inspektor: Rövşən Əhmədov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Elman Musayev.
Ağsu şəhər stadionu, 15:00.

“Mingəçevir” – “Səbail”
Hakimlər: Əli Əliyev, Vüqar Bayramov, Ruslan Babayev, Şamil İmanzadə.
Hakim-inspektor: Orxan Məmmədov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Erkin Hüseynov.
Yaşar Məmmədzadə adına Mingəçevir şəhər stadionu (ehtiyat meydança), 15:00.

13 mart

“Cəbrayıl” – “Zaqatala”
Hakimlər: Alik Yunusov, Qəzənfər Məmmədov, Taleh Məmmədov, Nazim Abdullayev.
Hakim-inspektor: Ramil Diniyev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: İlham Əliyev.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

Juventus have already begun preliminary talks to sign Manchester City star Bernardo Silva as a free agent, but according to Gazzetta, the Bianconeri are facing competition from several clubs, including Galatasaray and Inter Miami.

It is no secret that Bernardo Silva is among the Juventus targets for next season, especially because the Portuguese is available as a free agent at the end of his contract in June.

Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City in June

Gazzetta dello Sport confirms that the Portugal international has decided not to extend his contract with the Premier League giants, so he’ll be listening to offers from other clubs in the coming months.

Juventus will need Champions League revenues to match the midfielder’s salary demands, which are between €7m and €8m per season.

The Bianconeri are aware that the competition will be stiff as the 31-year-old has reportedly attracted interest from Galatasaray, Inter Miami and Benfica, among others.

Juventus have set their sights on other free agents as well. Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich) is another target in central midfield, and so are Roma’s Zeki Celik and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi in defence.

Riccardo Calafiori trained with the rest of the Arsenal team today and is expected to be available for tomorrow’s Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, providing good news for the Italy national team as well.

Italy defender Calafiori took part in Arsenal’s training session on Tuesday on the eve of an away Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen.

Calafiori returns to Arsenal training after injury

Several sources, including Football London, report that the ex-Bologna defender was spotted on the pitch on Tuesday during the final Gunners’ training session before their trip to Germany.

Calafiori was forced to be substituted during the second half of Arsenal’s FA Cup 5th Round match against Mansfield Town over the weekend.

Mikel Arteta said the Italian had “little niggles” and wasn’t “comfortable continuing.”

Calafiori’s recovery comes as good news for Italy national team as well. In barely two weeks, in fact, the Azzurri will face Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal in Bergamo.

The match will be played on March 26, while the potential Final will be against the winner of Wales-Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta will possibly provide a more in-depth fitness update during a pre-match press conference later today.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reveals that Inter legend Evaristo Beccalossi was one of his first idols as a kid: ‘He made us dream and sometimes…’

As FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup, its President Gianni Infantino spoke to AS about the tournament’s organisation and his passion for the game.

Infantino: Beccalossi among ‘my first idols’

“I’ve been a total football fan since I was a child. I have many idols. I remember the World Cup in Spain in 1982. Italy won it, with Paolo Rossi and that whole team of great players,” he said.

“For me it was spectacular. I was a 12-year-old boy at the time. That team and that moment are engraved in my heart. I’m also a supporter of Inter. One of my first idols – perhaps not well known in Spain – was Evaristo Beccalossi, a No. 10 who didn’t play in that World Cup or with the national team because the coach had other plans. Inter’s No. 10 made us dream and sometimes… also some things that can’t be said. I remember Alessandro Altobelli scoring a goal in the final. His third goal and the celebration against Germany were spectacular.”

Beccalossi spent six seasons at Inter, scoring 37 goals in 217 matches between 1978 and 1984. Despite being one of the most creative footballers at the time, he never made his senior debut for Italy.

“Speaking about the 1980s and 1990s, we must talk about Diego Maradona, one of the greatest of all time,” Infantino continued.

“When you watch the images now, you think about what he did and what he was capable of. Players weren’t protected like they are now. An idol, a phenomenon. I didn’t see Pelé play, but he was a global idol before social media, before globalisation. He’s still an idol for children today, and they never saw him play – that means he did something special. Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenon too. Whenever you talk to players and ask who the strongest player they played with was, ninety per cent say Ronaldo. He was spectacular.”

As for today’s idols, the decision is quite simple.

“They’re still there – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – but I also have to remember all the Spaniards who won the 2010 World Cup. Many of them are friends now: Xavi, Iniesta, Casillas, Puyol… Spain has always had great players and coaches like Vicente del Bosque, Luis Aragonés and Pep Guardiola. They are people who have written the history of football, and that’s why we are very grateful to Spain.

“With the Club World Cup, we give opportunities to players from all over the world. We see the big clubs mainly in Europe and America, but there you can also see great clubs from other continents,” concluded Infantino.

“Club football is the foundation of football. Much more is played at the club level than at the national team level, and it needed a tournament like this internationally. It has been a success. Now we are talking with everyone to see how we can improve it. People mention thirty-two teams, but there could be more. We will decide where it will be played – that hasn’t been decided yet – but we’ll take the necessary time after the World Cup to see how we can make it better.”

Milan owner Gerry Cardinale congratulated Rossoneri players in the dressing room after Sunday’s 1-0 win over Inter, reinforcing the club’s intention to keep Massimiliano Allegri in charge beyond the summer.

Milan owner Cardinale visited the Rossoneri players in the dressing room at the Stadio Meazza on Sunday night, after their 1-0 win against city rivals Inter.

What Cardinale told Milan players after a 1-0 win against Inter

According to Gazzetta, Cardinale told the players that he was proud of them for showing great spirit and never giving up. He thanked the footballers, the staff members and those working behind the scenes and suggested he’d soon return to watch the team in action at San Siro.

Milan sit second in the Serie A table, seven points below Inter. According to the report, Cardinale is satisfied with the team’s results and performances, but also with the work of directors Giorgio Furlani and Igli Tare, as well as his main advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Cardinale is in constant contact with management and feels the project is finally on the right path with Allegri at the helm.

The Italian tactician is seen as an added value, and Cardinale fully trusts him. Allegri is contracted with Milan until 2027 with an automatic option to extend to 2028 if Milan qualify for the Champions League this season.

The club can activate the clause regardless of the team’s final placement this season, and, according to previous reports, they will also offer Allegri a new contract once they secure a Champions League spot.

Apparently, Epic Games hasn't been making enough money on Fortnite, and needs to raise the price of its premium in-game currency, V-Bucks, to "help pay the bills." "The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot and we’re raising prices to help pay the bills." That's what Epic tells players right at the top of a new blog post, which announces that the base price of the premium currency will be going up. The change goes into effect on March 19, 2026, after which every dollar you spend on V-Bucks will earn you less than it did before. After […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/fortnite-v-bucks-price-increase-march-2026-epic-games/

The comic book series turned Emmy award-winning TV series, The Boys, is making its first foray into video games later this month. Initially announced back in December 2025, The Boys: Trigger Warning is a VR adventure from publisher Sony Pictures VR and developer ARVORE, and it'll arrive on Meta Quest 3 headsets on March 26, 2026. The news comes with a new release date trailer, which shows off more gameplay compared to what we saw in December and includes a few more characters from the show that'll be featured in the game. It doesn't, however, confirm if any more of […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/the-boys-trigger-warning-release-date-meta-quest-3-psvr2-sony-pictures-vr/

“Content is king” remains one of the most widely accepted ideas in SEO. Not everyone has agreed. Different schools of thought have always existed, with some practitioners prioritizing backlinks and others focusing on technical SEO.

Content is often treated as the primary driver of search visibility. I’m not arguing that.

My point is simpler: if you’ve relied on content to drive results — and earn a living — you should start doubling down on distribution.

With AI search changing the game, creating great content (and, yes, building some backlinks) is no longer enough to get it seen. The more important question may no longer be “What should I write next?” but “Where should I push this next?”

AI tools are further fragmenting search

Content distribution has become far more important in recent years, especially as audiences spread across more online spaces. In many teams, this job was usually outsourced to someone other than SEOs:

• Social media managers.
• Community managers.
• PR specialists.
• Various assistants and interns.

Sure, distribution held some value to SEO, but it was generally considered more beneficial to other functions.

Thanks to AI search, it’s finally landed squarely on our plate. Since AI models have fragmented search to an unprecedented level, distribution is now key to meaningful SEO outcomes.

There are three key drivers behind this change:

• Different tools have different sourcing logic.
• AI tools source differently from traditional search.
• Their logic is changeable.

If this all sounds a bit abstract, let’s briefly dig into the evidence and explain what’s really going on.

Different tools have different sourcing logic

Search is fragmenting as people use a wider range of tools. Ideally, one strategy would work everywhere, but research shows that’s not the case.

AI search tools cite different sources, a 2025 Search Atlas study found. Some show significantly more overlap with the SERPs than others. This indicates that different tools follow different sourcing logic. And as long as that’s true, optimizing for one won’t necessarily boost visibility on another.

The whole thing is even trickier because users seem more open to switching tools than before. Gemini may soon surpass formerly unrivaled ChatGPT in traffic share, according to Similarweb. That could change again quickly.

Thinking there’s a single clear winner, like Google used to be, would be wrong. Focusing on the most popular tool at the moment isn’t a guaranteed strategy.

To maximize visibility, we need to consider how multiple AI tools source their information, which implies our distribution strategy needs to be broad.

Dig deeper: Tracking AI search citations: Who’s winning across 11 industries

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AI search uses different logic from traditional search

The Search Atlas study showed that some AI search tools overlap with Google more than others — but in all cases, the overlap is pretty low. Perplexity ranked the highest at 43%, while ChatGPT barely hit 21%.

Characterizing Web Search in The Age of Generative AI (PDF) explicitly finds that AI search tools draw from a much wider pool of sources and are more likely to cite sites with fewer visits than traditional search engines.

This shows us that fragmentation is compounding. The pool of potential sources is wider, with little overlap among AI tools or between AI and traditional search.

The sourcing logic is changeable

The most problematic factor out of all, though, is that the sourcing logic of one tool can and often does change, too. This leads to different domains getting cited for the same prompts at different points in time — a phenomenon called citation drift.

Citation drift is more frequent than we might assume. Over the course of just a month, for instance, AI tools change approximately 40-60% of the domains they cite for the same prompt, according to Profound.

In other words, one domain could appear several times in a single response, then disappear completely the following month. This flip-flopping gets even worse over longer periods. For example, Profound’s study also showed that, from January to July, as many as 70% to 90% of the domains cited for the same prompt had changed.

Focus on broad, multi-channel distribution

Search is fragmented across tools and time. As cited domains change more frequently, users see more sources, making it even harder for you to push your brand to the front.

So, what can we do about it? How should we approach this increasing fragmentation of search?

While this might change as new tools and strategies emerge, the best answer we have so far is this: focus on broad, multi-channel distribution.

When you can’t reliably predict which sources will be used, the best strategy is to widen your footprint. This creates more potential entry points into AI systems’ training and retrieval layers.

Distribution also matters for another reason. AI tools often prefer third-party sources over branded domains, according to an AirOps study.

This will require some serious shifts in how many SEOs approach their work. Here are a few you can implement right away.

1. Get good at collaborating

You’re unlikely to win fragmented AI search on your own. Optimizing for it now takes a much broader approach than before, pulling in digital PR, social media, community management, and other functions.

Those areas require skills many SEOs don’t have. Those who do still have only 24 hours in a day, so spreading that work across multiple disciplines isn’t realistic.

This only works with a team. You might hate that idea, especially because it means giving up full control of your projects and results. I get it, but that’s the reality right now. You’ll have to let some things go, trust others to handle them, and divide responsibilities. In other words, you’ll need to collaborate efficiently.

Dig deeper: Why 2026 is the year the SEO silo breaks and cross-channel execution starts

2. Broaden your skillset

Even if you let experts handle certain tasks, you’ll still need at least a surface-level understanding of other disciplines becoming central to search.

SEOs will still own at least parts of distribution, whether that means handling the high-level strategy or downright executing it on specific channels.

In either case, doing this well requires skills you may not have used much before. So now’s the time to develop them.

That could mean learning more about digital PR, partnerships, thought leadership, syndication, community presence, or something else. With so many possibilities, it helps to start with the area you feel most comfortable with or most drawn to at the moment.

3. Shift your mindset from ranking to presence

You also need to change how you think about SEO, and then translate that shift into actual workflows. Google is still a major traffic driver, and rankings still matter. But for a fragmented, AI-driven search, obsessing over rank won’t cut it.

Instead of asking, “How do I get this content to rank?” You now need to ask, “How do I get this content into as many places as possible?”

Again, the goal is to create multiple entry points across AI systems, platforms, and audiences, increasing the chances of your content getting discovered, cited, and surfaced.

That’s why it’s important to start thinking more about overall presence across ecosystems rather than just positions in specific search engines.

4. Redesign your workflow

If you’ve successfully shifted your mindset from ranking to presence, it’s time to build a workflow that reflects that change.

I know firsthand how easy it is to forget about distribution, especially if it wasn’t part of your process before. To make it stick, you need to redesign your workflow to position distribution at the core.

A good place to start is by adding a launch phase, where content is distributed immediately upon publishing. After that, you could include a recurring phase every few months to ensure you regularly refresh and redistribute content.

Define reusable details upfront, like which channels you’ll consistently target and who owns each one. That way, you’ll minimize planning from scratch and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Dig deeper: Content marketing in an AI era: From SEO volume to brand fame

5. Start with these easy-to-implement best practices

Finally, if you want some easy tactics to immediately add to your to-do list, consider these:

• Pilot content partnerships, starting where it’s easiest. Usually, that implies reaching out to existing business partners first.
• Proactively distribute your content on third-party sites, whether that means syndicating it or repurposing it for Quora and LinkedIn.
• Pay attention to where AI tools already pull from. While sourcing logic changes constantly, you may still notice recurring patterns worth leveraging.
• Give a special push to your existing, older content to counteract the pitfalls of citation drift. Reintroduce it on new channels, or work to get it referenced in new places.

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Rethinking SEO processes for fragmented AI search

The shifts are large enough that you’ll need to rethink how you do SEO. As search fragments, the work itself will have to evolve.

The approaches and workflows you relied on in the past won’t translate cleanly into a landscape shaped by multiple AI tools, changing sourcing logic, and constantly shifting citations.

These processes will also become more complex because they require closer collaboration with other teams. Distribution now intersects with digital PR, social media, partnerships, and community management, making cross-team coordination more important than before.

There’s a long road ahead. The best way to keep your sanity is to start small: focus on manageable steps, take them one at a time, and build from there.

Chery launches QQ3 EV pre-orders.

The post Chery QQ3 EV pre-sales begin: starting 10,000 USD with Falcon 500 ADAS appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

The Lotus Eletre X plug-in hybrid crossover with 420 km of EV range and 700 kW (939 hp) power started presales in China for 76,400 USD.

The post Lotus Eletre X started presales in China for 76,400 USD as the brand’s first PHEV appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

The battery architecture is designed for EV ranges over 1,000 km and supports 6C+ charging.

The post Desk-calendar sized: CALB debuts 60Ah solid-state battery with 1,000 km range appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

“Qarabağ”ın futbolçusu Kamilo Duran Kolumbiya millisinə çağırılıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 24 yaşlı futbolçu martda keçiriləcək yoldaşlıq görüşləri üçün dəvət olunub.

İndiyədək milli komandaya dəvət olunmayan Duran “Qarabağ”ın heyətində bu mövsümki çıxışından sonra Kolumbiya yığmasına çağırılıb. Onun yer aldığı komanda martın 26-da Xorvatiya, üç gün sonra Fransa ilə qarşılaşacaq. Hər iki görüş ABŞ-nin Orlando şəhərində baş tutacaq.

Qeyd edək ki, Kamilo 2025-ci ilin avqustunda “Qarabağ”a keçib.

İtaliyalı keçmiş futbolçu Françesko Totti “Roma”ya qayıda bilər.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə insayder Nikolo Skira məlumat yayıb. Klub rəhbərliyi Tottini aşağı yaş qruplarından birinə baş məşqçi təyin etməyə hazırlaşır. Təyinatın yaxın zamanda reallaşacağı bildirilir.

Totti 1993-2017-ci illərdə “Roma”nın formasını geyinib. O, klubda 785 oyunda 307 qol vurub, 205 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

Azərbaycanın U-20 millisinin baş məşqçisi açıqlanıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yığmanın “sükanı” Rui Jorjeyə tapşırılıb. Bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Azərbaycanın U-20 millisi 2027-ci ildə Azərbaycan və Özbəkistanda keçiriləcək FIFA U-20 Dünya Çempionatında ölkəmizi təmsil edəcək.

Yeni təyin olunmuş baş məşqçinin mətbuat konfransı AFFA rəhbərliyinin iştirakı ilə yaxın günlərdə təşkil olunacaq. 

Qeyd edək ki, Rui Jorge məşqçiliyə futbolçu kimi son klubu olan “Belenenseş”də başlayıb. Portuqaliyalı mütəxəssis 2006-2010-cu illər aralığında adıçəkilən klubun U-19 komandasına rəhbərlik edib, 2008/2009-cu illər mövsümündə qısa müddət əsas komandanın baş məşqçisi olub.
2010-cu ildə Portuqaliyanın U-21 yığmasının “sükanı arxası”na gətirilən Jorge 15 il bu komandanı çalışdırıb. Onun rəhbərliyi altında portuqaliyalılar 5 dəfə Avropa çempionatının final mərhələsində iştirak edib, bunun ikisində (2015, 2021) gümüş mükafat qazanıb. Həmin illər ərzində Rui Jorge Portuqaliyanın Olimpiya millisinə də rəhbərlik edib.

“Barselona” prezidenti Xoan Laporta açıqlama verib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, İspaniya mətbuatına danışan funksioner hücumçu Lamin Yamal üçün PSJ-dən təklif aldıqlarını bildirib:

“Yamal üçün PSJ 250 milyon avro təklif etdi. Lakin cavabımız “yox” oldu. Bu, verdiyimiz ən yaxşı qərarlandandır”.

Yamal bu mövsüm 36 oyunda 19 qol vurub, 15 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

Portuqaliyalı hücumçu Kriştiano Ronaldonun İspaniyanın “Almeriya” klubunun səhmlərinin bir hissəsini aldığını xəbər vermişdik.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, alışdan sonra Sequnda klubuna diqqət daha artıb. Belə ki, “Almeriya” Ronaldonun klubun səhmlərinin bir hissəsini almasından sonra İspaniyada instaqramda ən çox izləyicisi olan 5 klubdan biri olub.

1. Real Madrid – 181 milyon
2. Barselona – 147 milyon
3. Atletiko Madrid – 18 milyon
4. Sevilya – 3.6 milyon
5. Almeriya – 3.2 milyon.

“Almeriya” Sequndada 29 turdan sonra 52 xalla 2-ci sıradadır.

UEFA-da elit gənc oyunçuların inkişafı üzrə ekspert Julien Eskude Bakıda işgüzar səfərdə olub.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, iki günlük səfər zamanı AFFA-nın baş katibinin müavini Elçin Məmmədov, Texniki direktor Cahangir Həsənzadə və Elit-Məşq layihəsinin meneceri Rüfət Kərimli ilə görüşüb.

Julien Eskude Azərbaycanda gənclər futbolunun inkişafı ilə tanış olub, regional elit proqramı, istedadlı futbolçuların müəyyən edilməsi prosesi, milli komandalara gedən yol, məşqçilik strukturu və “HatTrick” proqramı büdcəsinin ümumi bölgüsü mövzuları ətrafında AFFA rəsmiləri ilə fikir mübadiləsi aparıb.

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Michael Selig said blockchain-powered prediction markets could improve price discovery and public information, even as several US states challenge the platforms in court.

Strategy sold a record amount of STRC, estimated to fund 1,420 Bitcoin purchases in a single day after easing ATM sales restrictions.

The integration allows Ledger devices to sign BTCVault transactions as Babylon develops infrastructure to use Bitcoin as collateral.

How BIP-360 reshapes Bitcoin’s quantum defense strategy, what it improves and why it stops short of full post-quantum security.

A French couple was forced to transfer about $1 million in Bitcoin during a fake police home invasion as wrench attacks keep rising, local media reported.

Bitcoin price taps $71,000, with liquidity thin above the spot price and heavy clusters below, setting up a potential sweep of the highs before another dip.

DeFi lacks its final primitive. Insurance turns hidden risks into priced, programmable coverage. Programmable insurance with uncorrelated capital creates TVC safety nets.

Authorities sold the recovered Bitcoin in small batches over 11 days to avoid disrupting the market, according to local media reports.

Dominari Securities, tied to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is among the brokerages named in the congressional probe.

Ethereum has failed to remain deflationary since the switch to Proof-of-Stake, as ETH's price has disappointed Ether investors, particularly against Bitcoin.

Foresight Ventures says regulatory barriers and liquidity advantages are driving consolidation in tokenized equities as the market expands.

Thai crypto operators reportedly froze 10,000 suspected “mule accounts” as new AML checks and transfer delays took effect in a wider anti-fraud push.

The post Arthur Hayes Sees $HYPE Hitting $150 by 2026 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has set a bold price target for Hyperliquid’s $HYPE token at $150 by August 2026, about five times its current level near $30. Hayes bases his outlook on Hyperliquid’s strong revenue potential, estimating its 30-day revenues could annualize to around $1.4 billion. Alongside this, $HYPE’s price recently climbed above $35 amid robust trading, including $10 billion in 24-hour perpetual volume and $6.04 billion open interest. The anticipation of Portfolio Margin entering its alpha phase is further fueling optimism around the token.

The post Trust Wallet Rolls Out Real-Time Scam Protection appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Trust Wallet has introduced a real-time security feature to protect users from address poisoning scams. The tool scans wallet addresses before transactions are completed, warning users about lookalike scam addresses and blocking high-risk ones. It also highlights small character differences to prevent costly errors. The protection is now active on 32 EVM-compatible networks, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, and Base, helping users avoid fraud and send crypto more safely.

The post Trump Family-Linked Dominari Faces US Probe Over Chinese Stock Listings appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A brokerage connected to the family of US President Donald Trump is facing questions from US lawmakers after helping several Chinese companies enter American stock markets.

The firm, Dominari Securities, is now part of a congressional review examining how certain foreign companies were listed in the United States and later became linked to suspicious stock trading patterns.

US Congressional Committee Requests Documents From Three Brokerages

The review is being carried out by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Lawmakers asked three firms, such as Dominari Securities, D. Boral Capital, and Revere Securities, to provide records related to Chinese companies they helped bring to the public.

Committee leaders John Moolenaar and Ro Khanna asked the firms to submit documents that show how these listings were approved and marketed to investors.

The request includes internal communications, funding sources, trading records, and compliance procedures used during the IPO process.

Lawmakers Focus on Suspicious Trading After Chinese IPOs

The committee is reviewing cases where newly listed Chinese companies experienced sudden price spikes shortly after entering the US markets.

In a congressional letter, multiple trading accounts allegedly placed similar buy orders above the IPO price. These trades temporarily pushed share prices higher.

After the spike, insiders reportedly sold large amounts of stock. Prices later collapsed, leaving many retail investors with losses. This pattern is sometimes described by regulators as a coordinated stock manipulation strategy.

Regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission show that Dominari has participated in several corporate fundraising deals. 

One example involves work connected to Thumzup Media Corporation, which later adopted a treasury strategy involving Bitcoin.

Why Trump Family Ties With Dominari?

Dominari Securities operates under Dominari Holdings and runs its offices from Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Public filings show that Eric Trump holds a significant stake in the company. Earlier this year, both Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. joined the firm’s advisory board.

Because of these ties, the brokerage has drawn additional attention after lawmakers began examining the role of Wall Street underwriters involved in listing small Chinese companies in US markets.

Billions Lost by US Investors in Recent Years

Lawmakers say the scale of the problem has grown rapidly. According to figures cited in the congressional review, similar stock schemes may have drained roughly $16 billion from US investors since 2023.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also recorded a sharp increase in complaints linked to these cases. Reports connected to stock manipulation involving foreign issuers have increased by about 300%.

These trends have raised broader questions in Washington about how overseas companies gain access to US capital markets.

The post Why Is Zcash Price Up Today? ZEC Surges 10% After $25M Funding Announcement appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Zcash price climbed nearly 10% to around $224 today, outperforming much of the broader crypto market after a major funding announcement linked to the project’s development ecosystem. While the wider market has been dealing with macro uncertainty and cautious trading sentiment, the Zcash price rally appears to be fueled by renewed investor interest and fresh capital entering the ecosystem.

But the real question traders are asking now is simple: Is this just a short-term reaction, or the start of a major breakout for ZEC?

$25M Funding Sparks Fresh Confidence in Zcash

The latest catalyst behind the Zcash price surge comes from Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), which announced it has secured over $25 million in seed funding. The investment round drew support from several well-known crypto venture firms, including:

• Paradigm
• a16z crypto
• Winklevoss Capital
• Coinbase Ventures
• Cypherpunk Technologies
• Chapter One

The funding will accelerate development of tools and infrastructure aimed at strengthening the Zcash privacy ecosystem. ZODL was founded by Josh Swihart, the former CEO of the Electric Coin Company (ECC). Under his leadership, the team previously launched the Zashi wallet, a product designed to make private transactions on Zcash more accessible to users.

The wallet has already shown strong adoption. Since 2024, the application has helped expand the Zcash shielded pool by more than 400%, while enabling over $600 million worth of ZEC swaps since October 2025. Earlier this year, the entire ECC product team joined ZODL, reinforcing development efforts and signaling a new phase of ecosystem expansion.

Zcash Price Approaches Breakout Zone: Major Rally Next?

Beyond the news catalyst, the Zcash price chart is also showing an important technical setup. Recent price action indicates that ZEC rebounded from a strong demand zone near $200, a level where buyers stepped in to defend the market after months of downward pressure.

The latest rally has now pushed the Zcash price toward a descending resistance trendline near $230, a structure that has capped multiple attempts at recovery over the past few months. If ZEC manages to break above this resistance, analysts believe the next upside targets could appear around $250 and $260, potentially $300 if momentum accelerates. However, failure to break the trendline could lead to short-term consolidation, with $200 remaining the key support level traders will watch closely.

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•   ,

On-Chain Data Shows Rising Demand For ZEC

Beyond the funding announcement, on-chain data also points to growing market interest in Zcash. Recent exchange flow metrics show more than $7 million worth of ZEC recorded as net inflows over the past two days, indicating fresh capital entering the market as the price rally gained momentum.

Historically, sustained inflows often signal accumulation phases, where traders position themselves ahead of potential upside volatility. The recent spike in capital flows coincides with Zcash’s sharp price rebound toward the $220–$224 zone, reinforcing the bullish sentiment triggered by the latest funding news. If inflows continue while the Zcash price tests key resistance levels, the current rally could gain further traction in the near term.

Outlook for ZEC

With fresh funding and $7M in recent exchange inflows, the Zcash price is approaching a key resistance zone. A breakout above the descending trendline could push ZEC toward $250, while failure to hold momentum may see the price retest $200 support in the near term.

FAQs

The post Cardano Price Prediction: ADA Future While MANTRA Crashes 44% And Pepeto Presale Holders Are Excited For Launch appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

MANTRA just crashed 44% in a single session, wiping out millions overnight, and the Cardano price prediction community watched it happen while debating whether ADA can hold $0.26. 

That is crypto in March 2026: large caps bleed slowly, mid caps crash violently, and the traders who build wealth are the ones who positioned in presale infrastructure before the breakout changes everything.

MANTRA Crashes 44 Percent in Single Day as Token Holders Learn the Cost of Holding Without Research

MANTRA crashed 44% to $0.037 in a selloff that blindsided holders, according to Blockchain Magazine. The crash reminds you that holding without research can destroy portfolios overnight. 

The Cardano price prediction debate continues around $0.26, but even bulls know $0.30 is 15% over weeks depending on catalysts that have been “coming soon” for years. The real opportunity is building positions in infrastructure that grows regardless of which token crashes next.

Where the Real Opportunity Lives While ADA Debates Chart Levels and Tokens Crash Overnight

Pepeto Is the Infrastructure Play That Does Not Depend on Any Single Token’s Price Action

While traders analyze the Cardano price prediction and pray that $0.26 holds, Pepeto is building the infrastructure that benefits no matter which direction any individual token moves, because the exchange processes trades in both directions and the bridge connects blockchains regardless of whether the market is pumping or dumping.

The project is constructing a full crypto trading exchange with cross chain bridge technology connecting every blockchain into one platform. The founder already built Pepe to a $7 billion valuation, and the presale has raised $7.5M with a SolidProof audit completed before the first dollar entered, so unlike MANTRA, the due diligence was done before you even showed up.

At $0.000000186, the entry sits at six decimal zeros while the Cardano price prediction community debates whether ADA can gain 15% over the next month. The Binance listing is approaching, and when that listing goes live, the presale floor gets replaced by exchange volume and the price becomes whatever the market decides, which historically for exchange tokens with real infrastructure is multiples higher than what presale buyers paid. 

The presale holders are excited for the launch day, because they can’t wait to see their initial investments multiplying in numbers nobody can imagine. Every Pepeto presale stage fills faster, the wallets entering are growing, and the presale that MANTRA holders wish they had found before their token crashed 44% is sitting right here with an audit already done and a founder who already proved he can build at scale.

The 204% annual yield on staked positions compounds daily, but the crash you just saw in MANTRA is exactly why this presale exists, because the exchange infrastructure Pepeto is building is where the value lives no matter what happens to any single token. And that is exactly why among Pepeto presale holders there are many whales, they see a revolution in crypto building while many still hesitate to join.

ADA

The Cardano price prediction shows ADA at $0.24 according to CoinMarketCap after failing $0.28. Whales moved 230 million ADA, but the token sits below a descending trendline. 

A break above could push toward $0.30, but losing $0.25 opens a drop to $0.22. The stablecoin market cap jumped 29% showing activity, but the Cardano price prediction still depends on catalysts that have not arrived.

SUI

SUI trades near $0.98 after bouncing from $0.88, with $1 resistance in focus. A falling wedge suggests a reversal, but $1 holds heavy leveraged positions. If buyers fail to break through, SUI stays stuck between $0.88 and $1 while facing upcoming token unlocks adding pressure to an already fragile recovery.

The Bottom Line

MANTRA crashed 44% because holders skipped due diligence, ADA fights $0.26 with whales dumping 230 million tokens, and Pepeto’s SolidProof audit was done before the first dollar entered while the $7 billion founder ships exchange tools instead of excuses. 

The team announced the launch date is closer than most realize according to Markets.businessinsider.com reports, which means every day you wait is a day closer to launch while your position stays at zero. The Binance listing reprices this permanently, and the presale MANTRA holders wish they had found is right here with a door closing fast. Visit the Pepeto official website and enter before the launch arrives and this early opportunity ceases to exist.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the Cardano price prediction for 2026?

The Cardano price prediction targets $0.30 if bulls push through resistance, but Pepeto at presale pricing with exchange infrastructure offers multiples ADA cannot produce. Visit the Pepeto official website.

Why did MANTRA crash 44%?

MANTRA crashed due to a major selloff that caught holders off guard, highlighting the importance of audited presale projects like Pepeto that complete security reviews before raising any capital.

Is Pepeto safer than holding large cap altcoins?

Pepeto completed its SolidProof audit before the presale opened and has a $7 billion founder leading development, while large caps like MANTRA can lose 44% in a single day without warning.

The post Vitalik Buterin Wants Ethereum Staking to Be as Easy as “One Click” appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Vitalik Buterin, ETH Co-founder, is advocating for a simpler approach to staking on Ethereum, arguing that the process should not require specialized technical skills. According to Buterin, staking infrastructure has become too complex, which limits broader participation and weakens decentralization.

To address this, the Ethereum Foundation is currently testing a distributed staking system using 72,000 ETH. The setup uses a lightweight version of Distributed Validator Technology (DVT), allowing validator nodes to operate across multiple machines rather than relying on a single server.

The goal of this experiment is to make staking easier and more accessible, particularly for institutions holding large amounts of ETH.

How the New System Works

Under this model, participants do not need advanced technical expertise to run staking nodes. Instead, they simply choose the computers that will run the nodes and create a shared configuration file.

All machines use the same key, and the system automatically handles networking, validator coordination, and other technical tasks. This removes much of the complexity that usually comes with running blockchain infrastructure.

“My hope for this project is that we can make it maximally easy and one-click to do distributed staking for institutions.” Said Buterin

Reducing Complexity in Blockchain Infrastructure

Buterin also criticized the common belief that operating blockchain infrastructure requires professionals or highly specialized teams. He argues that such complexity discourages participation and goes against the core goal of decentralization.

“The idea that running infrastructure is this scary, complicated thing where each person participating must be a professional is awful and anti-decentralization.”

Toward More Decentralized Staking

Looking ahead, Buterin suggests that staking could eventually run through simple deployment tools such as Docker containers or similar systems. Nodes could start with a single command, automatically connect, and begin staking.

He added that making staking easier is the first step toward spreading control of Ethereum’s validator network across more participants and institutions.

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•   ,

Staking Interest Remains High

Interestingly, despite fluctuations in Ethereum’s market price, staking participation continues to rise. Currently, around 3.2 million ETH is waiting to join the validator queue, creating a waiting period of about 55 days.

Meanwhile, only 29,000 ETH is waiting to exit staking, which takes roughly 12 hours to process. Overall, about 37.5 million ETH, valued at roughly $76.5 billion, is already staked on the network, accounting for nearly 31% of Ethereum’s total supply.

Looking Ahead

By making staking simpler, Buterin hopes more institutions and regular ETH holders will participate, increasing decentralization and strengthening the Ethereum network. If successful, the “one-click” staking model could reshape how ETH holders engage with the network, making validator participation accessible to everyone.

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The post Winklevoss Twins Transfer $130M in Bitcoin to Gemini appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Wallets linked to Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have transferred about $130 million worth of Bitcoin (around 1,773 BTC) to Gemini’s hot wallet over the past week, according to Arkham Intelligence. While the tracker suggested the funds were “presumably to sell,” no on-chain sales have been confirmed. Gemini’s total holdings remain stable at nearly 59,872 BTC. The transfers sparked debate online, especially after the twins recently promoted long-term holding, or “HODL,” during a TV appearance.

The post Why Is Flow (FLOW) Coin Price Up Today? Token Jumps 60% as Volume Soars 640% appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Flow blockchain native token FLOW is up nearly 60% today, trading around $0.0655 and becoming one of the top gainers in the crypto market. Meanwhile, trading activity has also increased significantly. FLOW’s 24-hour trading volume jumped more than 640% to about $175.5 million.

Now the question is what’s driving the Flow token price up today?

Flow Foundation Motion Filling Spark Price Rally

One major factor behind the rally is a legal step taken by the Flow Foundation and Dapper Labs. On March 9, both entities filed a motion in a Seoul court seeking to prevent local exchanges, including Upbit, Bithumb, and Coinone, from delisting FLOW on March 16.

Earlier this week, Binance removed the monitoring tag placed on FLOW following a security incident in December. The exchange said the previously identified issues had been resolved.

Other platforms have also taken similar steps. HTX said that Flow services are still active on its platform. Meanwhile, Korbit also cleared the token after finishing its own review.

These updates have helped reduce fears about exchange limits, which had earlier hurt confidence in Flow.

Ecosystem Activity Continues to Expand

Another factor supporting the rally is continued development activity on the Flow network. Major brands, including The Walt Disney Company, National Basketball Association, National Football League, and Ticketmaster, are building projects on the blockchain.

Developer activity across the ecosystem reached record levels in the last quarter, according to updates shared by the project.

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•   ,

Flow Price Prediction

From a technical view, FLOW had been trading inside a prolonged downtrend for several months, forming lower highs and lower lows within a falling channel.

Recently, the price bounced from the lower support zone around $0.04 and moved up toward the upper trendline. This breakout candle with higher volume suggests buyers are starting to step in.

If the breakout holds, the next short-term resistance could be around $0.10. A sustained move above that area may open the path toward $0.15.

However, if the price drops back below $0.05, the breakout may weaken, potentially sending FLOW back toward the $0.038 support zone.

FAQs

The post XRP Poised for Wave 5 Rally, Could Reach $18 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Analysts suggest XRP may be nearing the end of its corrective Wave 4, opening the door for a possible Wave 5 rally. Price action shows support around $1.30–$1.40, with technical indicators pointing to easing selling pressure and a potential trend reversal. If the Elliott Wave structure continues to unfold, some projections place upside targets between $5.85 and $18. Growing confidence is also backed by Ripple’s expanding global payments network and increasing ecosystem adoption.

The post Jupiter (JUP) Rebounds From Channel Support—Is a Breakout Toward $0.25 Next? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

As the broader crypto market begins to stabilize, the Jupiter (JUP) price is gradually gaining traders’ attention. The token recently rebounded from a key support level within a descending channel, hinting that the extended correction phase may be nearing its end. While the broader trend still remains under pressure, improving momentum indicators suggest buyers are slowly stepping back into the market.

At the same time, on-chain data points to steady ecosystem activity. If the participation remains stable and buying pressure continues to build, the token could attempt a recovery in the coming sessions.

On-Chain Activity Signals Steady User Engagement

On-chain data also provides insight into Jupiter’s ecosystem activity. According to the latest metrics, Jupiter records roughly 120,000 daily active addresses, while the broader category of DEX aggregators sees around 194,500 active users.

Although Jupiter represents a portion of the total aggregator activity, the trend suggests that user engagement has remained relatively stable over the past few months, with occasional spikes during periods of increased market activity.

The data indicates that Jupiter continues to maintain a meaningful share of the DEX aggregator ecosystem, reinforcing its position as one of the primary liquidity routing platforms within the Solana network.

Jupiter Price Holds Channel Support as Momentum Slowly Improves

The daily chart shows that JUP has been trading within a descending parallel channel since late 2025, reflecting a prolonged corrective phase after the earlier rally. The price recently rebounded from the lower boundary of the channel and is currently trading near $0.17, suggesting that buyers are attempting to regain short-term control.

From a momentum perspective, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has climbed back above the midline and is hovering near 54, indicating improving bullish momentum. A sustained move above this level could support a continuation toward the mid-channel resistance near $0.20–$0.22, which now acts as the immediate upside barrier.

Meanwhile, the Directional Movement Index (DMI) signals a gradual shift in trend strength. The +DI line is beginning to rise while the ADX remains moderate, suggesting that a new directional move could be developing if buying pressure continues to increase.

If the bulls maintain control and push the price above the descending resistance trendline, JUP could attempt a breakout toward $0.25, which aligns with the upper boundary of the broader channel. However, failure to sustain the current momentum could drag the price back toward the key support zone near $0.15.

FAQs

Arsenal have one player at direct risk of a yellow-card suspension going into the knockout stages of the Champions League, but many others are only two cards away.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Arsenal dealt with a couple of yellow-card suspensions during the League Phase of the Champions League, with Martin Zubimendi serving a ban against Slavia Praha and fellow midfielders Mikel Merino and Declan Rice banned against Kairat Almaty.

The one positive of those suspensions is that none of the three are one booking away from a ban anymore, but Christian Norgaard is.

UEFA rules ban players for one match after they receive their third yellow card of the tournament, and Norgaard is on two after bookings against Slavia Praha and Club Brugge. One more on Wednesday would see him missing the last-16 second leg.

Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images

No one else is a single booking away from a ban, but Merino, Zubimendi, Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Noni Madueke are all two yellows away – should Arsenal continue to progress in the competition.

That’s because the next threshold for a ban is five yellows, with Merino, Zubimendi, and Rice on three. The other five players have one yellow card each, putting them two away from the first threshold of three.

The yellow cards will be wiped later in the tournament, but not until after the quarter-finals.

To be clear, a third/fifth/seventh yellow card in the second leg of the quarter-final stage would still result in a ban for the first leg of the semi. It’s only after that second leg that the yellows are wiped. Effectively, that means you can’t get a yellow-card ban for the semi-final second leg or the final.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The rest of Arsenal’s players are all currently pretty safe, as none of them have been booked a single time. But given it only takes three bookings to get your first ban, it doesn’t take long to find yourself at risk.

The Bucs' rookie class in 2025 had some bright spots for the team in a season full of downs that overwhelmed the team and fans. We write this coming off the first day of free agency where the Bucs lost Mike Evans despite their best efforts to retain him. Now, this rookie class quickly gets thrust into the spotlight and will be asked to play a bigger role.

Looking back on their 2025 season, PFF presented it through a fantasy football lens. Obviously, Emeka Egbuka was the star of the class after being drafted 19th overall. PFF's Rob Conway discussed his season, writing, "Egbuka (68.5 PFF receiving grade) finished the 2025 regular season with the most targets (126) out of the rookie receiver class, the second-most yards (938) and tied for the second-most touchdowns (six). . .Though he recorded only a single 100-yard receiving game after Week 5's seven-catch, 163-yard and one-touchdown outing against Seattle, he did enough across the season to finish as the WR24 (193.7 points) — right at the tail end of WR2 territory."

Conway also highlighted Tez Johnson, who also had his moments, is worth keeping an eye on now. He was a seventh-round pick for the Bucs in 2025 due to his size but his talent was never a question. PFF discussed he will be a flash in the pan choice week to week, but he did finish higher in production than some notable names.

"But his WR66 (92.4 points) finish was ahead of some surprising names, such as Xavier Legette and Ricky Pearsall. While they battled various injuries throughout the campaign, they are both former first-round picks whose teams were trying to feature them much heavier than the Buccaneers were with Johnson until he forced their hand."

Between the picks of Egbuka and Johnson, and the previous years selection of Jalen McMillan, the wide receiver position remains a bright spot for the team.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Fantasy: What did PFF think of the Bucs rookie class in 2025?

An Iranian cross-country skier has been forced to withdraw from the Winter Paralympics, a decision described as "heartbreaking" by the nation's Paralympic Committee, due to the intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, who was set to be Iran’s sole representative at the Milan Cortina Paralympics, did not attend the opening ceremony last Friday.

The International Paralympic Committee confirmed that he was unable to travel safely to Italy amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States of America.

Hamid Alisamimi, chief executive of Iran’s National Paralympic Committee (NPC), expressed profound regret on Tuesday regarding Khatibi's absence from the Games. "The recent events have been very painful for many people, and it is especially heartbreaking for athletes who have dedicated years of hard work and preparation to represent their country," Mr Alisamimi stated in an email to The Associated Press.

He further elaborated on the skier's personal disappointment: "Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, like many others, has faced deep disappointment at being unable to participate in the Paralympics after such long and determined preparation.

“At the same time, he believes that sport should always remain a bridge between nations and a symbol of peace."

Military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran commenced on 28 February, less than a week before the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games officially opened on 6 March.

This escalating conflict has cast a shadow over Iran’s future involvement in global sporting events, including the men’s football World Cup scheduled for the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Mr Alisamimi concluded by expressing Iran’s hope "that the international sports community will take responsible action to condemn and suspend countries that violate human rights, so that the world of sport can stand on the right side of history and uphold the values of justice, dignity, and peace."

It is amazing just how quickly the NFL Draft landscape can change.

Certainly, the NFL Scouting Combine reshaped the board. Players like Sonny Styles and Dillon Thieneman improved their draft stock with some incredible performances. But some big trades — Maxx Crosby heading to the Baltimore Ravens and Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams — have changed the landscape as well.

Then came the first day of free agency.

The opening of the league’s legal tampering window forced every NFL analyst to rip up their most recent mock draft and return to the drawing board, and we here at SB Nation are no different. Depth charts have changed, and needs are now very different for several teams from what we thought just 48 hours ago.

That means it is time yet again to look at how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could unfold. Here are the picks, with some big picture thoughts following the mock draft.

Jeremiyah Love continues his rise

In nearly every single mock draft until this one, I slotted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs with the ninth pick in the first round. The reasoning was simple: Kansas City needed to bolster their running game (even if Patrick Mahomes is back for Week 1), and Love was the best player at that position, and one of the best players in the entire class.

But as the Combine unfolded, one of the rumors that made its way from Indianapolis to the rest of the NFL world was that the Chiefs were kicking the tires on veteran running backs in free agency, partly because of this need but also due to a belief that when they were finally on the clock at No. 9, Love would be off the board.

Then came Monday, as the Chiefs agreed to terms with running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.

So who might draft Love ahead of the Chiefs at No. 9?

How about the Washington Commanders?

Dan Quinn and company addressed one of their pressing needs on Monday when they agreed to terms on a deal for pass rusher Odafe Oweh, and instead, they can add some help for Jayden Daniels by drafting Love at No. 7.

Sonny Styles continues his rise as well

In my last mock draft, I had the New York Giants adding some help for Jaxson Dart, with Makai Lemon from USC.

One of the first messages I received after that was published was a note from my dear friend Ed Valentine from Big Blue View about that selection.

Let’s just say his message has changed my line of thinking regarding what the Giants might do in that spot.

Yes, New York lost Wan’Dale Robinson on the first day of free agency. But with their pick at 37, they can find a replacement option at wide receiver. A player the caliber of Styles’ will not be on the board at that spot in the second round. Even with the Giants adding Tremaine Edmunds in the first day of free agency, Styles’ athleticism can be used in a WILL linebacker role, letting him fly around the field and to the football. Suddenly, the Giants’ defensive front has a bit more teeth.

Rams load up for one more run

In previous mock drafts, I had the Los Angeles Rams looking at the future, and their defense. Cornerback was a popular pick for the Rams at No. 13, while adding Ty Simpson with their second first-round pick as a potential quarterback of the future seemed like a forward-thinking move for Les Snead.

But with the Rams swinging a trade for Trent McDuffie — and then agreeing to terms on a contract with cornerback Jaylen Watson — suddenly the picture in the secondary looks a lot different.

And it certainly looks like Los Angeles is loading up for another run in 2026.

So instead of finding Stafford’s future replacement, let’s give him some help with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who turned in a stunning Combine performance of his own and would give Sean McVay a fascinating matchup player for his offense.

Raiders continue the rebuild

Thanks to the trade with the Baltimore Ravens, the Las Vegas Raiders now have a pair of selections inside the top 15 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Nothing has changed at No. 1. There is every reason in the world to believe the Raiders are drafting Fernando Mendoza with the first selection. But now with another pick in the first round, Las Vegas can go a few different directions. Adding a pass rusher to replace Maxx Crosby is an option, but the Raiders added Kwity Paye and Quay Walker on the first day of free agency to bolster their pass rush. Paye will give Las Vegas an option on the edge, while Walker has shown an ability to get after the quarterback from the second level.

And the Raiders can still address pass rush early in the second round, as the edge position is a pretty deep group in this draft.

While the Raiders added Jalen Nailor on the first day of free agency, he is primarily a slot receiver. Giving Mendoza an outside threat seems like a wise investment for John Spytek, so in this mock, we have the Raiders adding Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with that second first-round selection.

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with former Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome, per a report from Jordan Schultz. The deal is, reportedly, a one-year contract.

The Giants were forced to pivot at the cornerback position after losing Cor’Dale Flott to the Tennessee Titans, and Jamel Dean agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers while the Giants were negotiating with Flott.

– more to come

MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé was not with Real Madrid for training on Tuesday ahead of a crucial Champions League game against Manchester City as coach Álvaro Arbeloa suggested the French striker could return soon.

Mbappé hasn't played since Feb. 21 because of a knee problem which also ruled him out of Madrid's win over Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.

“Well, he’s better. Obviously, we have to take one day at a time and see how he is evolving," Arbeloa said through an interpreter. "But this week has been positive. He’s back giving a good feeling. And we are looking forward to having him back soon.”

Madrid said Mbappé had not trained with the team, along with other injured players, and it would be a major surprise if he plays at home to City on Wednesday. Arbeloa initially suggested last month that he would be back within days.

The uncertainty over Mbappé complicates an already fraught injury situation at Madrid, which also lost midfielder Rodrygo for the rest of the season with a knee injury last week. Jude Bellingham hasn't played in over a month and also didn't train with the team Tuesday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Manchester City on Wednesday. He was asked about Vinicius Jr — which he expected — and he replied: “I expected this question from you. Whoever is on the pitch will be important. And Vinicius, too. We’ve had a lot of injuries and he’s taking on a huge amount of responsibility. He’s our main attacking threat, as you’d expect. And we need him at his best if we want to knock Manchester City out.”

Arbeloa on the match

“It’s a tough one… one where we need the fans. We’ll be highly motivated. The Champions League is very special for us.”

Arbeloa on facing Pep Guardiola

“It’s motivating to experience a Champions League round of 16 tie; to experience a night like tomorrow. It’s very motivating. It will be a great experience. I’m really looking forward to it.

“He always has a surprise up his sleeve. No matter how many times you watch his teams, you know there’s always something in store, and you have to be prepared for the many variations that can appear. I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t some new formation or new player. He always tends to overthink his tactics.”

Arbeloa on Guti’s words

“I have immense respect for him because of what he means to Real Madrid; for the legacy he left behind. I greatly respect his opinion because, as I said, I’m not here to judge every opinion. Best regards; I hope I can give him a hug soon.”

Arbeloa on Laporta’s quotes about the Negreira case

“Who said that?” (“Laporta”) “Ah, yes, candidate Laporta! I think he was the one who quadrupled the payments to Negreira. So there’s not much more to say.”

Arbeloa on Kylian Mbappé’s injury

“He’s much better, but we have to take it one day at a time. He’s come back feeling great. And we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Arbeloa on his quotes from Vigo about ‘those who wanted to come’

“That doesn’t mean anyone didn’t want to come, no. I wanted to acknowledge those who made a tremendous effort to be there. To go out on the field and perform the way they did. That’s all I said. The interpretation… that’s up to you. No player who wasn’t in Vigo was there because they didn’t want to come.”

Arbeloa on his quotes about being the favourites for everything

“If I said it, I mean it. We shouldn’t feel inferior to anyone. We know how difficult this tie is going to be, but we’re going to face it with great enthusiasm. Looking them in the eye.”

Arbeloa on Eduardo Camavinga

“Much better, he’s had a really bad week. Here we say ‘worse than a toothache’. But he’s been back with the group since Saturday and he’s perfectly fine for tomorrow.”

Arbeloa on whether he has changed since becoming Real Madrid’s head coach

“Differences… I don’t think there are any. You simply gain experience. But I believe I’m the same person, even though I’ve been coaching Real Madrid for two months, which is like a masterclass. A huge learning experience. I’m going to enjoy every day I’m here until the end.”

Arbeloa on youth players being ready for tomorrow

“Well… I think we all agree that in Vigo, the youth team players showed they’re not afraid to step up. Thiago had a fantastic game, Palacios changed the team, Manuel Ángel was key on that ball… it’s not easy to trust the youth academy when you’re sitting here, and that’s something people need to understand. Because the best players in the world are here, and to play a youth player, you have to bench one of them. It’s not easy, but I have a lot of faith in them, and I feel that people identify with them. They’re ready for matches like tomorrow’s, as they’ve already shown.”

Arbeloa on whether he has a system in place for marking Haaland and Foden

“We’ll have to mark a lot of players, because they have a lot of individual talent. But they also perform well as a team; they can play with their eyes closed. It’s a match where we need to be very solid defensively, on set pieces… every detail is crucial. But we’re focused, confident about what’s to come.”

Arbeloa on whether a draw would be good enough

“I believe we will go out to win tomorrow.”

NOTE: This article was written before the Reed Blankenship signing. Blankenship signed a three-year $24.75M contract with Houston.

I get it, you’re sick and tired of reading about offensive lineman. If you’re a film junkie like myself, the past half-decade has been an arduous slog of watching kick-slides and trench warfare.

However, this offseason isn’t just about gap schemes and pulling guards for Houston. Thanks to several inept free-agent decisions, the Texans have a glaring hole at starting strong safety.

It all began last offseason when starting safety Eric Murray signed with Jacksonville. Houston subsequently traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson to start next to a young Calen Bullock. They were also counting on veteran Jimmie Ward to play a significant role on the defense.

In the months that followed, Jimmie Ward was arrested and underwent surgery, which landed him on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list the entire 2025 season. Once the campaign began, CJGJ fell out of favor with the locker room and was subsequently released due to “friction behind the scenes with him complaining about his role, wanting to blitz more” per Aaron Wilson.

Those events forced M.J. Stewart into the spotlight. He performed valiantly, but is not the athlete Houston needs at the position. Houston did re-signed M.J. Stewart to a one-year, $2.7M contract yesterday, but that contract reflects the short-term tenure with which they see Stewart.

Given that Houston employs five defensive back formations as much as anyone in the league, sourcing a reliable starting safety option to round out the defense is essential. They don’t need an ultra-impactful starter; they have enough stars in the defensive back room to form a constellation. What they need is a lunch-pail safety who will be a consummate pro, cover with tenacity, and rally to the football. (And they got that in Reed Blankenship)

Unfortunately, the top three free-agent safeties are already off the board. Bryan Cook, Coby Bryant, and Jalen Thompson all signed with new teams today, each commanding salaries between $11 million and $13.4 million annually. The best remaining options include Kyle Dugger (PIT), Jaquan Brisker (CHI), Geno Stone (CIN), and Jaylinn Hawkins (NE). Each is expected to cost between $7 million and $10 million per year, a fair market value for a starting-caliber safety.

As for rookie options, this year’s class features the strongest group of safety prospects in the past five years, with three projected first-round selections and another three to five expected to come off the board on Day Two. Unless Houston selects a safety in the first round, something extremely a-typical for General Manager Nick Caserio, the two best options are A.J. Haulcy (UH transfer to LSU) and Zakee Wheatley out of Penn State. Both are deep safeties who play downhill and have a knack for creating turnovers. Haulcy is projected to go early in the second round while Wheatley may go late second to early third.

Whether through the draft or free agency, Houston desperately needs to fill the glaring hole at safety.

The Green Bay Packers have reportedly landed their first outside free agent of the 2026 cycle. Green Bay will be bolstering its cornerback group by adding Benjamin St-Juste on a 2-year, $10 million contract, adding competition to a group that has some questions on the outside.

St-Juste, who measures in at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and will turn 29 in September, was a 3rd-round draft pick by the Washington Commanders in 2021. He spent four years with Washington, including three as one of the team’s primary starting boundary corners, with his best season coming in 2023 (17 pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles). St-Juste then signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason.

2025 was arguably St-Juste’s best season in the NFL on a per-snap basis, however, though he played more of a rotational role with the Chargers than he did in Washington. He played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps last year, but he recorded 7 pass breakups, matching his total from 2024. He also allowed a career-low passer rating of 68.3 (according to Pro Football Reference).

Furthermore, St-Juste became a major special teams contributor for the Chargers a year ago after playing fewer than 200 total snaps on teams over all four years with Washington. With his more limited defensive role in Los Angeles, he was on the field for 296 special teams snaps in 2025, nearly 3/4 of the Chargers’ total.

The Packers’ deal with St-Juste will make him the only true boundary corner whose contract will run past 2026. Both Keisean Nixon’s and Carrington Valentine’s contracts expire at the end of the coming season, while Nate Hobbs and Javon Bullard (signed through 2028 and 2027, respectively) are both primarily slot players.

Additionally, this contract should offset the deal received by Kingsley Enagbare for the purposes of compensatory draft pick calculations. However, that still keeps the Packers in line to receive picks for Malik Willis and Quay Walker, who have already agreed to terms elsewhere, as well as Romeo Doubs and Rasheed Walker when they eventually sign their new deals. Any additional qualifying free agent signing with the Packers would cancel out one of those top four players, unless the Packers lose another player to another team this cycle.

Ohio State’s basketball season has largely been defined by its core rotation.

Players like Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., Devin Royal, and Amare Bynum have carried the majority of the scoring and minutes as the Buckeyes push toward the postseason. But beneath that primary group, the development of younger depth pieces has quietly helped stabilize the roster.

Two players in particular have provided important growth and insurance for Ohio State’s rotation, Colin White and Ivan Njegovan.

Neither player has been a headline contributor in the stat sheet, but both have shown steady development throughout the season and have become meaningful depth pieces in Jake Diebler’s system. Their progress has allowed Ohio State to maintain flexibility when dealing with injuries, foul trouble, or matchup adjustments, something that becomes increasingly valuable late in the season.

Colin White: a defensive spark and developing wing

Colin White entered the program with a strong resume but limited early opportunity. The 6-foot-6 forward from Ottawa, Ohio, arrived in Columbus after a decorated high school career that included Ohio Mr. Basketball honors and more than 2,000 career points, while leading Ottawa-Glandorf to four consecutive state Final Four appearances.

However, White’s freshman season was slowed by injury and limited minutes, allowing him to appear in just 19 games while averaging around 1.1 points and rebounds. That early setback meant his development would take time.

Throughout the 2025–26 season, White has gradually carved out a niche as a defensive and energy wing off the bench. At roughly 6-6 and over 200 pounds, he provides size on the perimeter and the ability to guard multiple positions, something that has made him useful in situational lineups.

Statistically his role remains small, with only limited scoring and assist totals in the rotation. But his value has often come through less obvious contributions. White has been used to defend opposing wings, crash the glass, and provide physical minutes when the Buckeyes need a defensive boost.

That role has become especially important when Ohio State’s depth has been tested by injuries or when the coaching staff wants to preserve energy for its starters. White’s willingness to embrace a low-usage role has helped him remain a trusted option even without high scoring totals.

The long-term appeal of White’s development is that his skill set fits exactly what Ohio State needs from its bench wings, defense, effort, and positional flexibility. If his offensive game continues to expand, particularly as a shooter and secondary playmaker, he could become a much larger part of the rotation in future seasons.

Ivan Njegovan: size, rim protection, and developmental upside

While White provides depth on the wing, Ivan Njegovan represents a very different kind of developmental piece.

The 7-foot-1 center from Otočac, Croatia, is the tallest player on Ohio State’s roster and brings a traditional interior presence that few teams possess. Njegovan’s path to college basketball has been relatively unique. He began playing the sport later than many prospects but quickly developed due to his size and physical tools.

As a freshman, Njegovan appeared in 21 games, averaging 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field, while also recording eight blocked shots in limited minutes. Those numbers reflected the early stage of his development rather than his long-term potential.

This season, Njegovan has continued to grow into his role as a situational backup center behind Ohio State’s primary frontcourt rotation. His minutes have fluctuated depending on matchups and roster health, but he has shown flashes of the skills that make him intriguing.

One of the clearest examples came early in the season when Njegovan scored 15 points in a dominant win over Mount St. Mary’s, showing his ability to finish efficiently when given opportunities.

Njegovan’s biggest impact, however, comes defensively. His size allows him to contest shots at the rim and provide a shot-blocking presence that changes how opponents attack the paint. Even in short stints, a player with that kind of length can alter possessions simply by being on the floor.

Offensively, his game remains a work in progress, but he has shown the ability to finish around the basket and occasionally step out for perimeter shots. For a player still relatively new to high-level basketball, those flashes suggest there is still significant room for growth.

Why their development matters for Ohio State

For teams competing in the Big Ten and pushing toward March, depth often becomes the difference between surviving the grind of the schedule and fading late in the season.

Ohio State’s rotation has leaned heavily on its core group, but players like White and Njegovan have provided important depth stability. When starters deal with foul trouble, injuries, or fatigue, having dependable role players who understand their responsibilities can help prevent significant drop-offs.

White provides defensive versatility on the wing, while Njegovan offers size and rim protection inside. Those two skills address different areas of the roster, giving the coaching staff options when adjusting lineups.

Their development also matters for the program’s future. Young players who gain experience in supporting roles often become much larger contributors later in their careers. By learning the system, adapting to Big Ten physicality, and developing confidence in limited minutes, both White and Njegovan are laying the foundation for expanded roles down the line.

For now, they may not be the players filling the highlight reels or leading the scoring column. But in a long season where depth can determine how far a team goes, their steady improvement has quietly helped strengthen Ohio State’s rotation.

As the Buckeyes continue navigating the final stretch of the season, contributions from players like White and Njegovan could become even more valuable.

Chase Briscoe needs to bounce back in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After wrecking out of the Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, Briscoe sits 33rd in the point standings with a 53-point deficit to the Chase bubble. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also has a 178-point deficit to Tyler Reddick, who leads the standings.

Briscoe has three finishes of 36th place or worse in four races to start the 2026 NASCAR season with a best finish of second place at EchoPark Speedway. The No. 19 car has shown speed; however, a wreck at the Daytona 500, followed by issues at Circuit of the Americas and Phoenix have put him in a deep hole.

There shouldn't be any concern about Briscoe's ability to make the Chase yet, but his place in the regular season standings is very important. The Chase awards bonus points based on a driver's finishing position after 26 races, so this very slow start is affecting his final 10 races. Briscoe simply needs to finish a race and earn a solid amount of points at Las Vegas this weekend.

More: Christopher Bell discusses heartbreaking loss at Phoenix in March 2026

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Chase Briscoe needs to bounce back at Las Vegas in March 2026

When it came to the offseason, fans clamored for the Detroit Lions to fix the foundation of the team, the offensive line. After releasing center Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker, the team signed center Cade Mays and offensive tackle Larry Borom. While these new signings aren’t a direct one-to-one replacement, they’re helpful pieces that the team can use to rebuild its offensive line.

Unlike Mays, Borom isn’t looked at as a guy who jumps off the screen for you. He’s a player who could help the team in many ways and, at worst, is depth on a team that could use it, considering how many injuries they’ve suffered the past few years. Let’s get into Borom’s fit, role, and value for the Lions and put a grade to it.

Larry Borom’s fit for the team

Heading into the start of the “legal tampering” period of NFL free agency on Monday, the Lions had some holes on the offensive line. They needed a starting tackle and center, and while Mays fits the hole for the center position, I don’t believe Borom is a presumed starter for 2026. While he started for the Miami Dolphins in 11 games last year, playing in 16 games total, he appears to be more of a competition move for third-year offensive tackle Giovanni Manu.

What stands out to me about Borom is his versatility. While he primarily plays right tackle, he has experience at every position other than center. When he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Borom spent four years playing at both tackle spots and some guard in 2022.

With a total of 62 snaps at guard compared to over 2,400 at tackle, he’ll almost certainly be considered a tackle in Detroit. This front office loves versatility, though. Look at one of their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, Miles Frazier, a guy who can play all five positions. Borom fits a need for this team, and while I don’t believe it’s at the starting level, it’s good depth for the team to have.

Grade: B

Borom’s role/talent level

Now here is where things take a bit of a turn. According to PFF, Borom was ranked the 79th best offensive tackle in 2025 with a 60.7 offensive grade. His strength? Pass blocking, ranking 64th out of the offensive tackles with a 67.1 grade. His weakness? Run blocking, ranking 103rd with a 54.4 grade.

There appears to be some talent there, and this is why I don’t think he is a direct replacement for Decker at left tackle, or right tackle if the team moves Penei Sewell over. I believe Borom is competing with Manu for the OT3 job. At 6-foot-5 325 pounds, Borom is a big body that could be used as a swing tackle in heavy sets and an extra blocker on passing downs, too.

He could overtake Manu as OT3, as the team appeared to have Jamarco Jones ahead of him in the preseason before Jones suffered a season-ending injury. If the team doesn’t think Jones can return at full strength in 2026 and want an upgrade, Borom is your guy. If Borom can beat out Manu for the backup tackle role, Manu’s future in Detroit could be bleak.

Role/talent grade: C+

Are the Lions getting good value in Borom?

It’s tough to say right now, as there are no details about his contract with Detroit. All that is known is that Borom has agreed to terms with the Lions. He is coming off a one-year, $2.5 million with the Dolphins. If the price is similar to what he got in Miami, then I would think it’s a good value for what he’s at.

For now, I have to give this grade an incomplete until more details come out.

Value grade: INC

Overall

This wasn’t a big move that fans have been wanting, as there are plenty of needs this team has to figure out. Getting a backup offensive tackle as one of your first two moves in free agency isn’t going to win you offseason headlines, and it won’t make plenty of folks happy. But I think bringing in a veteran tackle who can move to guard in case of emergency is a good move in the right direction for this team. The team doesn’t have Dan Skipper anymore as the swing tackle, and they could use all the depth they can.

I still wonder if they bring in a better offensive tackle to compete with a rookie for the starting tackle job, or if they are locked in on drafting a rookie at pick 17 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Borom is simply a depth move who gives the team help and options in the end. It’s an upgrade over Skipper and Manu, but don’t expect Borom to be listed as a starter come September.

Overall grade: C+

Randy Vasquez had his first misstep of Spring Training in the San Diego Padres 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday. He allowed two runs on three hits, walked two and had two strikeouts over four innings. That may not sound great, but when you consider how Texas was able to plate the runs, it makes the performance a little easier to understand for San Diego fans. A single, a stolen base and a two-out single scored the first run for the Rangers, but the second run came as a result of a two-out triple. Sometimes the batter puts the ball in the right spot to get the best result and that is what Brandon Nimmo did with a sharp ground ball down the right field line. Both runs allowed by Vasquez came in the second inning. He settled in for the remainder of his outing and kept Texas off the board. The Padres offense did not find much success against Rangers pitching. San Diego recorded four hits in the game and the one run the Padres scored crossed the plate as a result of an error.

San Diego plays the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. at 1:10 p.m. today.

Padres News:

• Reliever Bryan Hoeing is considering the possibly of having surgery to repair his injured elbow. Manager Craig Stammen said he expects a decision in the near future. If Hoeing decides to have surgery he may not be the only member of the San Diego roster on the injured list. Sung-Mun Song may also start the season on the IL due to him reaggravating his injured oblique. One positive injury note is that Jason Adam remains on track to be on the roster and in the bullpen on Opening Day.

• San Diego signed veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo to a minor league deal without an invitation to Spring Training, so he is working to improve and impress the Padres staff to make a case for him seeing some big-league at-bats in 2026.

• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune issued his latest installment of the Padres roster review with his focus being Nick Castellanos. The slugger had a public exit from Philadelphia but seems to have settled in well with his new teammates and organization.

• The Padres outrighted reliever Daison Acosta to open a spot on the 40-man roster and sent catcher Ethan Salas to minor league camp. Acosta was placed on waivers this weekend and passed through unclaimed and will remain in the San Diego organization.

• Zack Littell ended his free agency and signed with the Washington Nationals this weekend. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball makes a case for why Padres general manager A.J. Preller should have competed for his services.

Baseball News:

• The Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo agreed to a five-year contract extension on Monday that will pay him $135 million.

• Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle hit his first home run of Spring Training and is making his case for remaining with the team to and possibly through Opening Day.

• New York Yankees prospect Spencer Jones, who has hit some prodigious home runs in spring camp, has been sent to Triple-A by the organization. The Yankees also announced that Max Fried will start Opening Day for the club.

WBC News:

• Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first WBC home run, and it came in the form of a grand slam as the Dominican Republic moved to 3-0 with a dominant outing against Israel.

• The US held off a late comeback attempt from Mexico to secure a win and remain undefeated in the tournament.

• Tarik Skubal will leave Team USA and return to Tigers camp in order to prepare for the upcoming season.

• Venezuela beat Nicaragua to setup a matchup with the Dominican Republic that will feature two undefeated teams.

• Puerto Rico beat Cuba and will continue on to the quarterfinals of the WBC.

The San Francisco 49ers made their first splash of the legal tampering period on Monday, reportedly bringing in veteran wide receiver Mike Evans.

In theory, Evans kills two birds with one stone: he’s the No. 1 receiver the 49ers were missing with Brandon Aiyuk going AWOL, and he’s a quality replacement to soon-to-be former 49er Jauan Jennings. But that’s in theory, as Evans is on the wrong side of 30 with a recurring hamstring injury, which isn’t the most comfortable of combinations.

With Evans choosing Santa Clara as just his second home in his 13-year career, these are the numbers to know for one of the newest 49ers:

33

Evans will be 33 years old by the time the regular season starts.

It’s a give-and-take situation for Evans as he enters rarified air as a soon-to-be 33-year-old receiver with the 49ers. He’s been productive in his thirties, combining for 2,627 yards on 183 receptions, good for 27 touchdowns over his last three seasons since hitting the big three-0. Those numbers are hampered by a 2025 season in which Evans missed nine games with a broken collarbone (more on that in a minute), resulting in a season with just 368 yards on 30 receptions. 

Evans will offer something the 49ers haven’t seen in more than a decade, however: a wide receiver over the age of 33. The last 49ers receiver to play a game for the 49ers over the age of 33 was Anquan Boldin’s age-35 season back in 2015. Like Evans, Boldin was brought to the 49ers in his age-33 season, and he certainly did not disappoint. Boldin had two 1,000-yard seasons in his three years with San Francisco. 

He’s on the older side for a wide receiver, especially from what 49ers fans are used to, but if he can stay on the field, Evans has a chance to be a game-changer for the 49ers offense, despite his age. 

18

Evans has missed 18 games since the 2019 season.

Speaking on whether Evans can stay on the field.

18 games missed over seven seasons isn’t too bad considering half of those games are after Evans turned 30. But that number is boosted by a 2025 season that saw Evans miss nine games with various injuries, the biggest being a broken collarbone suffered in Week 7, causing the receiver to miss five of those nine games. 

What’s most concerning is that most of the other nine games missed since 2019 have been the result of a nagging hamstring injury.

The 49ers’ injury history isn’t stellar, and a nagging hamstring injury for a player of Mike Evans’ age doesn’t feel great in tandem. You can almost put Evans in the Trent Williams category; he’s going to miss at least a couple of games in a given season, it just comes down to when he will miss them.

Evans has also seen a decline in his snap count over the last four seasons, starting at 927 in 2022 and ending at 357 last season. The 49ers are obviously hoping closer to the former than the latter for their new No. 1 receiver. 

11

Evans has 11 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his 12-year career.

Somehow, someway, a 1,000-yard wide receiver has been rarer for the 49ers than an age-33 or older receiver taking a snap since the turn of the millennium. Since 2000, nine different 49er receivers have taken a snap for San Francisco. In that time span, only five different receivers have had a 1,000-yard season:

• Terrell Owens (four times)
• Michael Crabtree (one time)
• Anquan Boldin (two times)
• Deebo Samuel (one time)
• Brandon Aiyuk (two times)

Only Boldin, Samuel, and Aiyuk have recorded a 1,000-yard season since Mike Evans joined the NFL back in 2014. George Kittle isn’t included since he’s a tight end and not a receiver, but he’s had four 1,000-yard seasons since he entered the league back in 2017. 

If Evans can stay on the field, he’s got a good chance to become receiver number six to join the 1,000-yard club for the 49ers.

Travis Kelce’s reported decision to return to the Kansas City Chiefs has fans talking about his fiancée Taylor Swift. The Chiefs tight end had sparked retirement rumors after his team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Fans were apprehensive about whether Kelce would return for another NFL season or opt for marital bliss with Swift. However, now it reportedly appears that Kelce is all set to play his 14th season.

Travis Kelce’s reported Chiefs return sparks Taylor Swift talks

Travis Kelce’s reported decision to return the Chiefs has sparked Taylor Swift talks among fans as well. As per ESPN, Kelce has reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth up to $15 million. ESPN reports that Kelce informed the Chiefs management of his intention to return on Monday, March 9.

Notably, the 36-year-old reportedly renewed his contract with the Chiefs in the nick of time. Kelce’s contract with the Chiefs was set to expire on Wednesday, March 11, following a two-year, $34.25 million extension in April 2024.

Insiders dished to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Chiefs’ tight end was courted by other teams with lucrative monetary offers. However, he turned them down to honor his long-standing professional relationship with the Chiefs. At the time of writing, neither Kelce nor the Chiefs have made an official announcement. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from celebrating on the internet.

Swifties are rejoicing over the fact that they may see the pop icon in the stadium next year, cheering for her fiancée. One fan commented, “The National Football League better start paying Travis Kelce what he’s worth—and make up for the years he should’ve been making more. He’s the face of the league, and the attention and money he and Taylor Swift have brought to the NFL are undeniable.”

A second fan wrote, “Looks like Taylor Swift is bringing some extra magic to the Chiefs. Her presence definitely seems to be a good omen for those victories.” Another fan commented, “The Chiefs also signed Taylor Swift for one more season!”

Notably, Swift and Kelce have been together since mid-2023. The “Daylight” crooner indirectly confirmed their relationship when she attended one of his NFL games. Since then, Swift has attended as many games as her busy schedule permits. The celebrity couple will reportedly get married in June this year.

Originally reported by Anwaya Mane on Mandatory.

The post Travis Kelce’s Reported Return to Chiefs Makes Fans Wonder About His Fiancée appeared first on Reality Tea.

Serie A side Atalanta will host Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League later today. It would be fair to point out Lazar Samardzic’s campaign, especially after the season he has had in Europe.

So far, the attacking midfielder has racked up three goals in the competition. His penalty against Borussia Dortmund was taken impeccably two weeks ago, sending Atalanta through to where they find themselves.

Before that too, the Serbian was key. He had scored the all-important late winner against Marseille. That didn’t just play a role in taking Atalanta through but indirectly contributed to the French side’s knockout later in the Champions League.

Against Club Brugge too, Samardzic found the net when the Belgian side were 1-0 up. This helped La Dea turn things around, again ensuring them of possible progress.

Remarkably, Samardzic is fifth in the competition for movement with the ball that has led to a goal or a chance (2.71). He is behind only Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Kylian Mbappe. That says everything that needs to be known about the 24-year-old, who is also proving detractors wrong on the way.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Finn Balor was shockingly attacked and ejected by The Judgment Day, led by Dominik Mysterio, this week on "WWE Raw," and a former member of the group, Damian Priest, has reacted to the betrayal.

Priest knows a thing or two about being thrown out of The Judgment Day as he and Rhea Ripley were removed from it by the likes of Balor, Mysterio, Carlito, and JD McDonagh on "Raw" in 2024. It seems that the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has had the last laugh after watching Balor being backstabbed by his compatriots.

"Sucks doesn't it," asked Priest simply on social media.

Sucks doesn't it? ⚖️

— Damian Priest (@ArcherOfInfamy) March 10, 2026

McDonagh and Liv Morgan, who were involved in the attack on Balor this week, reacted to Priest's remarks. McDonagh reminded him that he had done something similar to Edge, while Morgan said he would know something about it.

Balor's removal from the group on this week's show was initiated by Mysterio, who was unhappy that the Irish star didn't come out to help him in his Intercontinental Championship match against Penta on last week's show. The Irish star made a pointed comment toward Mysterio, suggesting that Dominik's father, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, may have been right when he said that he was entitled. This angered Dominik, who turned on Balor, with the rest of the group following suit. Balor was the longest-serving member of the current iteration of the group, having joined the faction in June 2022, a few months after it was formed by Edge, aka Adam Copeland. Aside from Balor, Edge, Priest, and Ripley, Carlito was also a part of the faction in his short second stint with WWE.

Read more: WWE Raw Stars: Meet Their Wives & Girlfriends

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are in a war of words over the Ryder Cup, and it seems every time either one of them speaks, they’re talking with the other in mind.

This spat is over Rahm’s Ryder Cup status, as the Spaniard refused to agree to a deal offered by the DP World Tour which would have allowed him to play on both the tour and LIV Golf this season.

Eight other LIV players accepted this deal, including Rahm’s LIV and Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton, but Rahm refused out of principle. The DP World Tour asked the players to play six events this year, including two dictated by the tour, and Rahm said he’ll only play four.

So what does this have to do with McIlroy? It’s mandatory for Team Europe’s Ryder Cup players to be members of the DP World Tour, so this saga is throwing Rahm’s eligibility into serious doubt.

McIlroy called the deal “generous” and said that Rahm probably isn’t happy to be playing in South Africa for LIV this year, so why is it a problem for him to play two more DP World Tour events?

Without naming McIlroy, Rahm responded to this in the build-up to LIV Singapore.

Jon Rahm’s retort to Rory McIlroy’s LIV South Africa comments

Before LIV Singapore, it was put to Rahm that he has now won in eight different countries after last week’s win in Hong Kong. The two-time major winner was asked what this means to him, and he said, “I certainly never thought about it that way.

“I think the only thought I’ve ever had is how many continents are you able to win, and I’ve never played in Africa, so that’s always been a limit. Or actually, as a matter of fact, never played in South America, either. So I’ve been able to play in three and win in three. I guess four; I haven’t won in Australia yet.

“I guess it can put things in perspective, as well. I think, at least in my case, up until LIV, I didn’t play as much worldwide as so many of the players had to play in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90, maybe early 2000s, especially if they were European, having the opportunity to go play and win events elsewhere.

“I would be very curious to know where Greg Norman is at because I think having over 100 wins in his career, it’s probably quite diverse, as well. I think it’s really unique, the opportunity to go play and take your golf to different corners of the world and be able to win in them is quite special.

“I thought eight was a lot up until you mentioned Sergio having 18 and knowing Seve had 20 some. It’s impressive. So knowing that we’re playing in 10 different countries in LIV, hopefully I can keep adding to that tally and hopefully get to 10 someday and maybe 20 someday.”

Between these comments, and LIV Golf’s social media putting out a video on how excited Rahm was to play in South Africa, it seems the Saudi-backed league are trying to send a message to McIlroy and the golfing world as a whole.

The eight countries Jon Rahm has won in after Hong Kong victory

Rahm’s professional career is a masterclass in global dominance. He has secured professional victories in eight different countries after last week, showcasing a rare ability to adapt his game to diverse climates and course architectures.

The countries are as follows:

From the desert sands of Dubai to the fabled pines of Georgia, Rahm’s eight-country sweep cements his legacy as one of golf’s most versatile international icons.

With the bankruptcy and complete collapse of Main Street Sports, which had the local TV rights for nine MLB teams (and previously others who had left the group), the local TV landscape for baseball is changing again for 2026.

In past editions of this article, I’ve been able to cobble together what each team was scheduled to make from their local broadcast arrangements. But now, with many RSNs gone and the concept of “rights fees” fading away, that’s not really even possible anymore. In general, though, teams that have gone the streaming way have had their TV revenue cut, sometimes by as much as 25 percent.

Here’s what we do know.

• Major League Baseball will produce broadcasts for 15 of the 30 MLB teams this year via what the league is calling MLB Local Media.
• Twenty-one of the teams will have a local, in-market streaming option available.
• Some of the teams that left Main Street have gone out on their own, while others will be under a MLB umbrella.
• In general, team streaming options range from about $100 to $120 per season.
• Here’s more on how to watch games on various national platforms.
• And here’s more on how MLB is producing various local broadcasts.

By division, then, here’s how each MLB team will carry local broadcasts this year.

NL East

Braves: The Braves, one of the teams affected by the Main Street collapse, have created their own network called BravesVision, separate from the channels that will be operated by MLB. It will be available via streaming, and also in-market via cable and satellite. Here’s how that will all work.

Marlins: The Marlins were another team in the Main Street group. They have created their own network called Marlins.TV. As in the Atlanta market territory, they’ll be available on cable/satellite, though likely with an additional fee. Details here.

Mets: The Mets own SNY, their own regional sports network. More than 100 Mets games will be on this RSN, with others on WPIX-11, a local OTA channel in New York. More details here.

Nationals: The Nationals will stream on Nationals.TV, similar to the Braves and Marlins deals, and have cable/satellite access in the local market. More about Nats local TV here.

Phillies: Phillies games are on the regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia, with some on the OTA channel NBC-10. There’s also an in-market streaming option; more details here.

NL Central

Brewers: The Brewers were also part of the Main Street collapse. They have created Brewers.TV, a streaming option, as well as in-market cable/satellite access. More details here.

Cardinals: The Cardinals are another of the nine teams affected by the Main Street Sports issue. They will start Cardinals.TV for streaming, and have games available in-market via cable and satellite. More here.

Cubs: The Cubs will continue on Marquee Sports Network. Once the regular season begins, about 145 Cubs games will be on Marquee, with the rest on national channels Fox, ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Apple. Marquee offers in-market streaming; details here.

Pirates: The Pirates have started their own RSN, SportsNet Pittsburgh, which they are sharing with the Penguins. As with many other teams, local cable/satellite access is available, along with a streaming option. Details here.

Reds: The Reds have begun Reds.TV, a similar option to the other teams noted above. Streaming, satellite and cable are all available in the local market. Ten games will be on OTA broadcast channel WXIX Fox-19.More here.

NL West

Diamondbacks: The D-backs began local TV a year ago under the auspices of MLB and that will continue in 2026, with the usual streaming option as well as cable/satellite. They will also carry 11 games on OTA channel known as 12 News.

Dodgers:About 145 Dodgers games will be on their owned local RSN, SportsNet LA. This deal, of course, is how the Dodgers can blow away all the other teams’ budgets — they’re getting about $334 million a year from this channel.

Giants: Most Giants games will be on NBC Sports Bay Area, as they have been for years. They are also offering Giants.TV for in-market streaming. Details here.

Padres: The Padres were the very first team to go from a RSN to having games produced by MLB. That will continue this year with Padres.TV. The Padres will also show 10 games on local OTA channels.

Rockies: MLB is producing Rockies games again this year over Rockies.TV. Details here.

AL East

Blue Jays: The team is owned by Rogers Communications, the largest cable operator in Canada. They’ll have their usual selection of games on Rogers systems throughout Canada.

Orioles: With the Nationals’ departure from MASN, the O’s have this RSN to themselves. They’ll also have a streaming option.

Rays: The Rays are another team affected in the Main Street collapse. They’ll have Rays.TV produced by MLB, on local cable and satellite, with a streaming option. More here.

Red Sox: The Red Sox have an ownership interest in NESN, their regional sports network. Most Red Sox games will be carried on that channel. Here are details on NESN’s in-market streaming.

Yankees: Most Yankees games are on their owned YES Network, but beyond that… it’s complicated:

Under current blackout rules, in-market Yanks fans cannot use MLB.TV to stream regional broadcasts. The lucky ones with YES covered in their TV plans are in the clear, but those without YES need a separate direct-to-consumer service called Gotham Sports App. The costly subscription has been a contentious issue within the fan base, and Gotham recently announced slight price reductions. As it stands, users can either sign up for a specific Yankees pass or go for the full product, which includes MSG Network (NBA’s New York Knicks, NHL’s New York Rangers and others).

AL Central

Guardians: The Guardians have been produced by MLB Local Media for a couple of years and that will return in 2026, on regional cable/satellite, and via streaming. Details here.

Royals: As is the case for many teams, the Royals are produced by MLB Local Media and have cable/satellite and streaming options. More here, and also 10 games will be simulcast on a local OTA station, KCTV5.

Tigers: The Tigers, after the Main Street collapse, created Detroit SportsNet, which will also carry Red Wings games. The usual cable/satellite opportunity will exist in Michigan, as well as streaming. More details here.

Twins: The Twins switched to streaming last year and Twins.TV is back for 2026, as with many other teams, available on cable/satellite in the Twins market territory. Details here.

White Sox: The Sox co-own Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) with the Bulls and Blackhawks. They stream in-market via their own app.

AL West

Angels: The Angels always seem to like to do things differently. They were one of the nine teams affected by the Main Street collapse. But instead of going to streaming, the Angels simply bought their RSN, and so their games will continue to be on FanDuel Sports Network West. The team bought the name as well as the channel. The league will still run Angels.TV for in-market streaming.

Astros: The Astros have created their own RSN, Space City Home Network, in partnership with the NBA’s Rockets. There’s also a streaming option called SCHN+. Details here.

Athletics: A’s games are produced by NBC Sports California (which is a separate channel from the Giants’ NBC Sports Bay Area). There’s also a streaming option.

Mariners: Mariners.TV will carry the team’s games regionally on cable/satellite and via streaming. More here.

Rangers: The Rangers own their own channel, Rangers Sports Network. As with most teams, they have cable/satellite access and in-market streaming. More here.

As you can see, Commissioner Rob Manfred is getting close to his dream of having MLB Local Media control all teams’ TV rights, so he can sell local and national rights as one package. Given the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs and others having large RSN investments, though, that dream might wind up being deferred.

The move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium has made a big difference to Everton’s finances.

It was not easy saying goodbye to Goodison Park, but it was something that needed to happen if the club wanted to take the next step.

The new 52,000-seat stadium is expected to bring in an additional £40m each year, which should mean more resources for David Moyes to work with.

The Friedkin Group have done a good job of boosting commercial revenue and one of their newer ventures is already making more than major concerts do.

Hill Dickinson Stadium is making more from sporting events than concerts

Rugby events at Hill Dickinson Stadium are reportedly bringing in more revenue than concerts, according to the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley, who shared the information during an appearance on the Royal Blue Podcast.

He said: “So I will add to that is that I have been told, not been given any specific figures at all but I am told that events such as the Super League Magic Weekend, the Rugby Union International, all of those sort of events, we have seen obviously the Rugby League Test Match as well, are more lucrative than concerts.

“Concerts give you a lot of kudos but they don’t necessarily give you the same sort of revenues. That is what I have been told about that.”

With that in mind, it is fair to say big-name gigs probably will not be a regular feature at Everton’s new ground.

The club also need a licence to host late-night events like concerts and boxing matches. They did apply for one last year and there is no sign that they are abandoning that approach altogether.

For instance, this month, Everton are set to host an international friendly between Scotland and Ivory Coast – a match expected to generate around £1m in profit for the club.

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Exeter Chiefs have signed scrum-half Sam Wolstenholme from Bristol Bears.

The 26-year-old, who made 19 appearances in three years for Bristol after arriving from Leicester Tigers, will join the Chiefs for the 2026-27 campaign.

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website he will be a good fit for Exeter.

"Sam is a player we're really pleased to be bringing on board at Chiefs," he said. "I've actually looked at him several times over the years, and I've always thought he's a very good player.

"He's a guy who knows the importance of his basic fundamentals but also is very aligned on how a team wants to play, driving a team to make sure they're playing in the right areas of the field and following game plans.

"He's another important addition to the quality of the group that we're going to try to build."

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It’s an anticlimactic NEC final, as the top-seeded Long Island University Sharks battle the third-seeded Mercyhurst Lakers on Tuesday, March 10.

LIU has secured the bid to the NCAA Tournament because Mercyhurst is transitioning to Division I and isn’t tourney eligible until the 2028-29 season.

My Mercyhurst vs Long Island predictions and college basketball picks back the Lakers as road underdogs.

Mercyhurst vs Long Island prediction

Mercyhurst vs Long Island best bet

Mercyhurst vs Long Island best bet: Mercyhurst +6.5 (-116)

Long Island has been the better team down the stretch, with just three losses across its final 20 games, while Mercyhurst has staggered home with a 6-5 record.

However, LIU got to celebrate in the semifinal after beating Wagner, and motivation might not be as high as it usually is.

The Lakers are also one of the three teams to hand LIU an L, downing them 91-83 on February 21.

Despite the shaky record, Mercyhurst has been a cover star, going 5-0-0 against the spread in its last five, and 8-2-0 ATS in the last 10.

Mercyhurst vs Long Island same-game parlay

These programs have only four meetings, but they’ve all been within the last two years, with the Over hitting in three of them.
 
LIU is the highest-scoring team in the NEC, and the last matchup was a 91-83 shootout.

Mercyhurst vs Long Island SGP

• Mercyhurst +6.5
• Over 137.5

Mercyhurst vs Long Island odds

• Spread: Mercyhurst +6 | Long Island -6
• Moneyline: Mercyhurst +165 | Long Island -260
• Over/Under: Over 136.5 | Under 136.5

Mercyhurst vs Long Island betting trend to know

LIU is just 3-3-0 ATS in its last six games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Mercyhurst vs. Long Island.

How to watch Mercyhurst vs Long Island

Mercyhurst vs Long Island key injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

It was one of those days when everything just went right for Lionel Messi. In the Champions League first leg against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, "La Pulga" simply couldn't stop scoring goals.

After scoring two goals by halftime, the Argentinian increased the lead to 3-0 in the 49th minute against an overwhelmed Werkself. But that was far from enough for him. In the 58th and 84th minutes, the world star added more: five goals!

Five goals in a Champions League round of 16 match? That had never happened before in the entire competition. However, years later, another striker set out to at least match this mega record.

On March 14, 2023, Erling Haaland also scored five goals for Manchester City against RB Leipzig – naturally in the round of 16 as well.

Tonight, as the Champions League round of 16 kicks off, FC Bayern Munich will face Atalanta BC, among others. If Harry Kane is fit, we have a little challenge for him.

What do you think: Will this record ever be broken?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Former England footballer and pundit Eni Auko has been awarded more than £300,000 damages and legal costs after suing Joey Barton for libel over social media posts.

Pundit Aluko brought legal action against Barton over two posts he made in 2024 on social media site X.

Earlier the High Court heard the case had been stayed, meaning proceedings were halted and Barton was ordered to pay "substantial" damages and Aluko's legal costs.

Gervase de Wilde, for Aluko, said that in the two X posts Barton, from Huyton, had wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and that she was a hypocrite.

Barton - who managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers - did not attend the hearing, with Mr de Wilde telling the court that he was arrested on Monday and is currently being held in custody.

He was charged with assault earlier after a man was attacked near a golf course in Huyton, on Merseyside earlier.

De Wilde said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Aluko on his X account, adding that he had "carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification".

He said one post included an image of Aluko's head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West's body.

"The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality."

"Mr Barton's campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton's conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so," he added.

De Wilde said Aluko was worried that however she tried to stop the harassment, Barton "would exploit and manipulate it to use against her".

The barrister said: "Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications."

According to a court order seen by the Press Association, Barton has been told to pay £339,000, with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24.

Justice Nicholas Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order.

Aluko attended the London court earlier and said: "I'm glad it's the end."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story

• Joey Barton charged after assault near golf club
• Joey Barton 'thrives on hurting people' says Aluko

The Bills reportedly have hosted Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell for a pre-draft visit ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, per Syracuse.com.

Buffalo is taking a look at the 6-foot-2, 220-pound pass catcher, who has been one of the more productive wide receivers in the ACC during his time with the Cardinals. He is a big-bodied wideout who profiles at the pro level as an X receiver with the ability to win contested catches and create separation on the outside.

If that rings a bell, it's because that's a receiver type Buffalo has sought in recent years.

Hailing from Yazoo City, Mississippi, Bell was a three-star recruit out of Greenville Christian School who later developed into a proficient target for Louisville. His size and catch radius have made him a reliable option in the red zone and on third-down situations throughout his collegiate career.

He had a strong 2025 campaign with impressive numbers while flashing his abilities as a primary target. His route-running improved steadily throughout his time at the college-level, and he has shown an ability to track deep balls and make adjustments to the football.

NFL draft analysts highlight his physicality at the catch point as one of the most NFL translatable traits. His willingness to go up and battle for 50/50 balls also sets him apart from other receivers in this year's class.

The Bills' wide receiver depth chart remains a work in progress beyond Khalil Shakir and new trade acquisition DJ Moore. General manager Brandon Beane has made it clear that adding weapons for quarterback Josh Allen is an offseason priority, and Bell's contested-catch ability and size could fit Buffalo's offense and needs.

He currently projects as a second or third-round pick, though his pre-draft process could help him climb boards.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Louisville's Chris Bell has pre-draft visit with Bills

The Los Angeles Rams have been active all offseason, both in re-signing their own players and making outside additions. On Day 1 of free agency, they agreed to a deal with cornerback Jaylen Watson and long snapper Joe Cardona, continuing their push toward winning another Super Bowl.

What they didn’t do was lose anyone.

As of Tuesday morning, not a single Rams player has signed with another team in free agency. Using Spotrac’s free agency tracker, the only other team that hasn’t lost a player up to this point is the Dallas Cowboys.

The Rams re-signed their top player before free agency began, bringing back Kam Curl on a three-year deal worth $36 million. Had Curl gotten to free agency, he likely would’ve signed a deal with another team by now. But since the Rams struck a deal before his contract expired, they prevented him from departing.

Here’s an updated list of the Rams’ free agents, most of whom are still available.

• TE Tyler Higbee: Re-signed with Rams
• S Kamren Curl: Re-signed with Rams
• OT David Quessenberry: Re-signed with Rams
• RT Rob Havenstein: Retired
• WR/PR Xavier Smith (ERFA): Tendered by Rams
• OL Justin Dedich (ERFA): Tendered by Rams
• K Harrison Mevis (ERFA): Tendered by Rams
• WR Tutu Atwell
• CB Cobie Durant
• CB Ahkello Witherspoon
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo
• OT D.J. Humphries
• CB Roger McCreary
• LS Jake McQuaide
• TE Nick Vannett
• LB Troy Reeder
• RB Ronnie Rivers
• CB Derion Kendrick
• OLB Keir Thomas (RFA)
• OLB Nick Hampton (RFA)

It remains to be seen if the Rams will re-sign any of their other free agents but given the lack of interest on Day 1, it's likely that most of them are going to sign somewhat cheap contracts when they do find a home – be it in L.A. or with another team.

The top Rams free agents remaining are Tutu Atwell, Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary, and Jimmy Garoppolo still has to decide where he'll be playing next season, too.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL free agency: Rams had no players depart on Day 1

It's the final week for bubble teams to make their cases for the NCAA tournament. 

As the final set of conference tournaments get underway, there are still a few teams needing a win (or three) to solidify their March Madness status. Here's a look at the teams whose performances will have the most NCAA tournament bubble impact ahead of Selection Sunday.

Miami (Ohio) (31-0)

The RedHawks are assuredly in the NCAA tournament after becoming the only team at the top level of college basketball to go undefeated during the regular season. The ceiling for Miami is probably a No. 8 seed or so, with the possibility of the RedHawks falling to a No. 9 or a No. 10 seed if they don’t win the MAC tournament.

And you might be surprised to find out that Miami is far from a lock to win that tournament, too. In fact, the RedHawks aren’t even the favorite. Akron is -110 to get the league’s automatic bid while Miami is at +225 after winning its last three regular-season games of the season by a combined six points.

If we take those odds at face value, there’s a very real chance the MAC will get two teams in the NCAA tournament with Akron scoring the auto bid and Miami making the field as an at-large. That will bump a team out of March Madness.

Missouri (20-11)

The Tigers should also be in the field but could find themselves in Dayton for the First Four games if they are a one-and-done in the SEC tournament. Mizzou has wins over Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee in SEC play, but lost their last two games of the regular season to fall all the way to No. 8 in the SEC tournament after having a chance at the No. 3 seed.

Missouri will probably play Kentucky in the SEC tournament on Thursday. A second win over the Wildcats likely solidifies the Tigers as a No. 10 seed or so. A loss — especially an ugly one — could send the Tigers to Ohio.

Auburn (16-15)

Auburn’s continued presence on the NCAA tournament bubble is a great example of how shallow the bubble field is this season.

If the Tigers lose to Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, it’s nearly impossible to see how a .500 team that won seven of its 19 games against SEC opponents would get into the tournament. But if Auburn wins one or two games in the SEC tournament? The committee could still put the Tigers in.

Auburn lost three of its last four regular-season games and has gone 2-8 in its last 10 games. But wins over St. John’s, Arkansas and Florida are apparently still carrying the Tigers even though it’s clear that Auburn is far removed from being the team it showed it could be in December and January.

Indiana (18-13)

Here’s another bubble team that has fumbled away its recent opportunities to lock into the NCAA tournament field. The Hoosiers have lost five of their last six games and the only win in that span came against Minnesota. Four of those losses came to Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State and a hot Ohio State team, but the other defeat came at home to a Northwestern team that finished 15th in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers could have a chance to avenge that loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday. Indiana plays the winner of Penn State and Northwestern in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.

Cincinnati (17-14)

The Bearcats were one of four teams that finished 9-9 in Big 12 play and have played their way onto the bubble in recent weeks. Cincy has won six of its last eight games with victories at Kansas and home against BYU in that stretch.

But Cincinnati’s rough start and its lack of a significant non-conference win could ultimately hinder its NCAA tournament chances. The Bearcats played Louisville, Georgia and Clemson before Big 12 play but went 0-3 in those games.

The path is there for Cincy to play its way into the NCAA tournament, however. The Bearcats have Utah on Tuesday to open the Big 12 tournament and then would play UCF with a win and regular-season champion Arizona with a win over the Knights. A victory over the Wildcats could be the ticket.

Santa Clara (26-7)

The Broncos scored a huge win on Monday night in the West Coast Conference tournament with a 76-71 defeat of Saint Mary’s. Santa Clara outscored the Gaels by eight in the second half to earn a matchup with Gonzaga for the conference’s automatic bid on Tuesday night.

A win over the Bulldogs obviously puts the Broncos in the tournament. But there’s a compelling case for Santa Clara even with a loss. Saint Mary’s is a lock for the tournament and Santa Clara went 2-1 against the Gaels this season as the Broncos were 15-3 in WCC play during the regular season. A close loss Tuesday night could be enough.

Virginia Tech (19-12)

Hokies’ coach Mike Young was visibly frustrated after his team’s 76-72 road loss at Virginia to end the regular season. The Hokies are 4-6 over their last 10 games and one of those wins came against Clemson.

Thanks to that sluggish finish, Virginia Tech finished 12th in the 15-team ACC and must play Tuesday night in the ACC tournament. A win over Wake Forest will give the Hokies the opportunity to take down Clemson again on Wednesday. Another win over the Tigers is probably necessary for Virginia Tech to feel better about its chances of making the NCAA tournament.

VCU (24-7)

The Rams finished in a tie for first in the Atlantic 10 with Saint Louis after going 15-3 in the regular season. VCU beat Virginia Tech by 18 early in the season, but two of its three regular-season A-10 losses came against the Billikens.

There’s not a compelling tournament case for anyone else in the A-10 other than Saint Louis, so VCU is the conference’s only hope at being a multi-bid league. The Rams will probably play Duquesne in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament on Friday, and anything less than an appearance in the championship game will be a disappointment.

It's been a busy start to free agency for the Chicago Bears, who have been adding new players and re-signing key in-house free agents as general manager Ryan Poles bolsters the roster heading into Ben Johnson's second season.

The Bears had some pressing needs heading into free agency, mostly on defense, that included the defensive line (both edge and interior), safety, linebacker and left tackle. There are also depth needs at cornerback and wide receiver. Poles has been hard at work retooling the roster, including adding speed to the defense. And while there weren't any major splashes like in year's past, Chicago made some sneaky good moves early in free agency.

Follow along as we break down every move involving the Bears in free agency (most recent moves appear first):

Bears re-sign LT Braxton Jones

The move: Bears re-signed Braxton Jones to a one-year, $5 million contract (source)

What it means: Chicago has a hole to fill at left tackle for the second straight offseason, and the competition is shaping up to be a familiar one between Jones, Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie. With Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss most of the 2026 season, the Bears could be looking for a short-term solution to fill the void before he returns from his ruptured patellar tendon. This could provide Jones, who was recovering from an injury last season, an opportunity to prove himself in a one-year stint and earn a multi-year extension elsewhere next season.

Bears re-sign QB Case Keenum

The move: Bears re-signed Case Keenum to a two-year, $5.5 million contract (source)

What it means: Tyson Bagent is still on the roster...at least for now. But you have to wonder, with it being a two-year extension for Keenum, if the Bears are preparing to deal Bagent for a draft pick. Keenum was invaluable to Caleb Williams last season as an additional coach, and he'll once again be tasked with helping Williams' development. And Keenum very well could find himself as Williams' backup in the end.

Bears to sign LB Devin Bush

The move: Bears agreed to terms with Devin Bush on a three-year, $30 million contract (source)

What it means: The Bears moved on from Tremaine Edmunds before free agency kicked off, and they managed to use that money to land two linebackers: Bush and re-signing D'Marco Jackson. The former first-round pick experienced a career-resurgence with the Browns, where he excelled against the run and improved in coverage. The Bush signing also drives home the fact that Chicago has been preaching speed on defense, which they got in spades with Bush.

Bears to sign S Coby Bryant

The move: Bears agreed to terms with Coby Bryant on a three-year, $40 million contract (source)

What it means: With starters Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker on the free-agent market, Chicago addressed a big need in the secondary with Bryant, who's fresh off a Super Bowl championship with the Seahawks. Bryant, who thrived in coverage, brings speed and physicality on defense, and he's also a ballhawk who should thrive in Dennis Allen's defense. Whether the Bears opt to bring back Byard or Brisker to pair with him remains to be seen.

Bears to sign DT Neville Gallimore

The move: Bears agreed to terms with Neville Gallimore on a two-year, $12 million contract (source)

What it means: Chicago added depth and a rotational piece to their interior defensive line with Gallimore, who joins a room featuring starters Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett, as well as last year's second-round rookie Shemar Turner. Following Andrew Billings' departure in free agency, the Bears add an experienced interior depth piece who also brings interior pass rush.

Bears re-sign LB D'Marco Jackson

The move: Bears re-signed D'Marco Jackson to a two-year, $7.5 million contract (source)

What it means: Following Tremaine Edmunds' release before free agency, the Bears had a hole to fill at linebacker alongside T.J. Edwards, who's returning from injury. Jackson stepped up last season amid injuries to Edmunds and Edwards, and he more than earned an extension. He'll likely see extended action with Edmunds' departure, although it probably won't be in a starting role after the Devin Bush signing. Still, Chicago locked down a key defensive piece and special teams contributor at an affordable price.

Bears re-sign DE Daniel Hardy

The move: Bears re-signed Daniel Hardy to a two-year, $5 million contract (source)

What it means: Hardy's extension won't exactly move the needle for the Bears. But he's been an underrated, solid rotational player off the edge, but most importantly he's one of the team's best special teams contributors. While Chicago will likely look to address edge rusher in the NFL draft, it never hurts to have depth at that position, as well as a key special teamer who brings the physicality to Richard Hightower's unit.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears free agency: Breaking down every move involving Chicago

Few names have generated more noise during the 2026 free agency cycle than Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals defensive end has been a hot topic for over a year now, with speculation building about whether he would eventually chase a bigger contract elsewhere.

That speculation turned into reality on March 9 when Hendrickson officially hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. Over the past several weeks, multiple NFL franchises have expressed interest in bringing the pass rusher aboard.

MORE: Minnesota Vikings linked to former No. 1 overall pick quarterback

But despite all the chatter and reported meetings, Hendrickson remains unsigned. The first day of legal tampering has already passed without a deal getting done, which raises an obvious question about what is holding things up.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the answer comes down to money. Hendrickson has been in discussions with several teams, but nobody has met his asking price yet. The holdup stems from recent contracts that have reset expectations across the league.

Houston handed Danielle Hunter a $40 million per year extension. Carolina turned heads by giving Jalen Phillips $30 million annually. Hendrickson views himself in that same class of elite edge rushers, which means his price tag sits somewhere in that range.

“Sometimes it takes a player a little bit of time to understand how the market works and to accept that, just because Danielle Hunter might get $40m, you might not get 40, just because Jalen Phillips gets $30m, doesn’t mean you get 30,” Schefter said. “So, right now, he’s talking to a bunch of teams, but nobody has met his price just yet, and he’s a very strong minded, prideful person. He wants to get his price, and until he feels like he does, he’s not willing to compromise on that.”

Part of the challenge for teams evaluating Hendrickson involves factors beyond his production. He is 31 years old and coming off a season-ending core muscle injury. Those two details do not go unnoticed during contract negotiations. Hendrickson is also looking for a multi-year deal that includes guaranteed money past the first season.

For interested teams weighing the pros and cons, that combination of age, injury concerns, and financial demands creates a complicated decision.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

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The post Trey Hendrickson’s future complicated by one issue in NFL free agency appeared first on The Big Lead.

Wilt Chamberlain has some NBA records that might never get touched, like the 100-point game, 4,000 points in a season and a 50-point-per-game scoring average.

And that means that when he does get caught — in any category — it's a big deal.

Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has now done just that, matching Chamberlain's NBA record of 126 consecutive regular-season games of 20 or more points. Gilgeous-Alexander got there Monday night, scoring 35 points (with a career-high 15 assists, too) in the Thunder's 129-126 win over the Denver Nuggets.

“It's crazy to think that where I was 10 years ago, I'd be here today," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

It's the latest accolade on a long list for Gilgeous-Alexander, who was MVP, NBA Finals MVP, the league's scoring champion and led the Thunder to the league title last season. He's also generally considered as a favorite in the MVP race this season.

He said he doesn't try to fixate much on the scoring streak.

“It's still a lot to even wrap my head around,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “To be honest with you, I try to not even think about it — especially during the season. So much is going on, so many things have to go right for you to get what you ultimately want, and that gets 100% of my focus, especially basketball-wise.”

Gilgeous-Alexander gets his chance at pushing the streak to 127 games on Thursday, when the Thunder meet the Boston Celtics.

Inside the numbers

A look at some of the numbers when the two streaks are compared:

— The Thunder record during Gilgeous-Alexander's streak: 102-24.

— The Warriors' record during Chamberlain's streak: 66-60.

— Chamberlain's highest-scoring game during his streak was the NBA-record 100-point outburst for the then-Philadelphia Warriors against New York on March 2, 1962.

— Gilgeous-Alexander's highest-scoring game during the streak is 55 points, against Indiana on Oct. 23. (Chamberlain had 42 games of 55 points or more during his run.)

— Gilgeous-Alexander has two games with exactly 20 points during his streak.

— Chamberlain's low game during the streak was 23 points, an overtime loss to Boston. All 23 of those points came in regulation.

— Gilgeous-Alexander's average during his streak: 32.5 points per game.

— Chamberlain's average during his streak: 49.2 points per game.

— Gilgeous-Alexander's shooting percentage during his streak: .535.

— Chamberlain's shooting percentage during his streak: .511.

How Wilt's ended

The 126th and final game of Chamberlain's streak was Jan. 19, 1963, in St. Louis. He played all 48 minutes and finished with 35 points and 21 rebounds in a 116-114 loss against the Hawks.

The teams played again the next night. Chamberlain didn't stick around long.

Referee Red Oates issued two technical fouls and tossed Chamberlain from the game after about four minutes, citing “abusive language” used by the superstar while he protested a foul call against teammate Wayne Hightower.

Chamberlain finished with six points. His scoring average dropped from 47.0 per game to 46.2 in one evening.

He also faced a mandatory ejection fine from the NBA. By league rule, it had to be at least $50.

What was next for Wilt

Chamberlain simply restarted his 20-point streak in San Francisco's next game, that being Jan. 22, 1963, against Detroit.

He didn't get thrown out. In today's NBA, he would have.

Chamberlain threw several punches during a fourth-quarter melee that even saw some fans get onto the floor at the Cow Palace. No fouls — personal or technical — were called as a result of the fight.

Chamberlain had 39 points that night and went on to score at least 20 points in his next 20 games, so it's reasonable to think he would have pushed the streak — had he not been ejected in St. Louis — to 147 games.

Chamberlain's next sub-20-point game was Feb. 24, 1963, coincidentally back in St. Louis, and on a night where he strangely passed up some open shots — “at times refusing to shoot even though he was in the clear,” The Associated Press reported that night.

Chamberlain finished with 13 points in a 127-106 loss to the Hawks.

Other 20-point streaks

Chamberlain had five other streaks where he scored 20 or more points in at least 30 games. He had streaks of 92, 62, 56, 47 and 30 games.

Chamberlain’s 92-game streak of 20-point games is the third-longest in NBA history. Oscar Robertson had a 79-game streak, while Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan each had 72-game runs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a 70-game streak, then added a 71-game streak not long afterward.

Jordan had seven instances of scoring 20 points or more in at least 30 consecutive games. Chamberlain had six, Robertson five, while Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor and LeBron James each had four.

Regular season only

If taking both regular season and playoff games into account, Chamberlain still stands alone in longest 20-point streaks.

The Jan. 20, 1963, game snapped a 141-game streak of 20-point outings — including playoffs. Chamberlain also had a run of 104 consecutive games that included postseason contests.

Robertson and Baylor both did it in 89 straight games when adding in the postseason, tying for the third-longest such streaks.

Gilgeous-Alexander had three games where he failed to score 20 points during last season’s Oklahoma City playoff run to the NBA title. When adding in playoff contests, his current streak is “only” 63 games — the second-longest of his career, after a 72-game run that was snapped during the 2025 postseason.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Case Keenum will always be fondly remembered in Minnesota Vikings lore as the backup that took over from Sam Bradford in 2017 and guided the squad to the NFC Championship Game, a place the club hasn’t been since. Last offseason, he signed a deal with the Chicago Bears and he just re-upped that contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he scored a fresh two-year, $5.5 million paycheck with a max value of $8 million, likely achievable via playing time incentives. The Bears didn’t primarily sign him to play, however, but to mentor the young quarterback room he shares with Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.

Keenum, in fact, hasn’t thrown an in-game football since the 2023 campaign.

During January’s playoff run, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the role his veteran backup has with his inexperienced QB teammates: “When things get a little bit too high, you can swing it back and just keep everyone grounded,” Johnson explained. “Same thing when things aren’t quite going your way, you’re facing a little adversity, he knows the right things to say just to make sure we can pull ourselves out of that hole. I don’t know if coaching is in his future or not, but I think he’d be a hell of a coach one day if he chooses to go that path.”

Keenum has seen it all during his long NFL journey that started as an undrafted rookie out of Houston. In 2012, he signed with the Houston Texans and since then, he has added stints in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Denver, Washington, Cleveland, Buffalo and Chicago to his résume.

The 38-year-old has played in 80 career games with 66 starts, recording 79 passing touchdowns and 51 interceptions.

More from Johnson: “He’s been an integral part of what we’ve done. He’s been tremendous in terms of Caleb’s growth. That was really the thought process of bringing him in, a guy with skins on the wall. He’s played in big games himself at a high level. He’s won big games. He’s lost big games.”

“His experience has been something that all these young players can really lean into, particularly in weeks like this, where you come off an emotional win and yet you’ve got to turn your sights onto the next page pretty quickly. I think Case’s message this week has been very profound for not just the offense, but the entire team. The vision we had bringing him in, it’s been pretty incredible.”

It ultimately didn’t get the Bears past the Los Angeles Rams, but Williams looked like a mature version of his rookie self throughout the season and Keenum might have helped him get there.

But Johnson is right, Keenum did play in the big games. His biggest game was a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, but a pass from the previous week will be part of highlight reels for decades. His prayer to Stefon Diggs delivered the Minneapolis Miracle, knocked the New Orleans Saints out of the playoff race, and kept the Vikings’ Super Bowl hopes alive.

It was undoubtedly Keenum’s best season. He didn’t reach that level of play before that magical 2017 season and he has been chasing it ever since. In a team led by the prime version of Mike Zimmer’s defense, Keenum was just asked to steer the ship, not to carry it. He went 11-3 as a starter, throwing for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, operating an offense with a solid running game and good receivers.

After the season, the Vikings showed him the door and acquired Kirk Cousins to take his spot. That was — all emotions aside — indeed an upgrade, proven by their career numbers since that point, though it never amounted to another deep playoff run.

Since his exit, Keenum has taken snaps with five different teams and he has thrown for 33 scores and 24 interceptions.

Keenum was not re-signed to throw passes for the Bears, but to be a coach in the locker room. In the upcoming season, the 38-year-old will return to U.S. Bank Stadium once again, where he orchestrated perhaps the most memorable play in franchise history.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Fadlu's Raja remain at the summit

Photo: Raja Casablanca @ X

Fadlu Davids' Raja Casablanca maintained their spot at the summit of the Botola Pro League with a 2-0 victory over Olympic Club de Safi.

Abdellah Khafifi broke the deadlock 12 minutes from the first whistle, before Mohamed Boulacsou put the game to bed in the 77th minute.

Raja are one point clear at the top, having picked up 30 points in 15 league outings, albeit played three games more than their second-placed city rivals Wydad Casablanca.

Davids has overseen 13 league matches, winning seven, drawing five and losing once since taking over the reins in September 2025.

The South African mentor has been tasked with sealing qualification to the CAF Champions League, with the club absent from CAF inter-club competitions this season.

Moreover, the former Simba SC boss is expected to clinch domestic cup titles, including the coveted Throne Cup.

It’s early in day two of free agency and the New Orleans Saints are already making money moves by restructuring the contract of center Erik McCoy.

McCoy signed a five-year, $63.75 million contract extension with the Saints in 2022.

By converting some of his base salary into a signing bonus, McCoy’s cap hit of $17.68M is now reduced to $10.32M, which will save the Saints little over $7.3M against the salary cap.

The men's basketball teams in the Big 12 will once again converge in March on Kansas City, Missouri, to play in the city that has hosted the conference tournament all but five times since the league was formed ahead of the 1996-97 season. Another of the constants for the event is who takes home the title. Kansas and Iowa State have combined to win 18 of the previous 28 editions. Seven other titles have gone two teams that are no longer in the league.

However, the expansion of the league has opened the doors to other contenders. Houston won the tournament last year in its second season in the conference. The Cougars beat Arizona in that title game in 2025, and the Wildcats, who are in their second Big 12 campaign, will be hoping to match what Houston did.

Postseason awards: Check out All-Big 12 teams, 2026 Player, Coach of the Year

Arizona owns the top seed after an impressive run through that saw them lose just two league games after an unbeaten non-conference season. The Cougars are right behind them. Conference legacy programs Kansas, Texas Tech and Iowa State are among the contender that will be hoping to snag the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. But it won't be easy with the amount of depth in the field.

Big 12 tournament schedule, bracket, scores

All times Eastern

First round

Tuesday, March 10

• Game 1: No. 12 Arizona State vs. No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m., ESPN+
• Game 2: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m., ESPN+
• Game 3: No. 10 Brigham Young vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
• Game 4: No. 11 Colorado vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m., ESPN+

Second round

Wednesday, March 11

• Game 5: No. 5 Iowa State vs. Game 1 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 6: No. 8 Central Florida vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m., ESPNU
• Game 7: No. 7 West Virginia vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m., ESPNU
• Game 8: No. 6 TCU vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 12

• Game 9: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Game 5 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 10: No. 1 Arizona vs. Game 6 winner, 3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 11: No. 2 Houston vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 12: No. 3 Kansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Semifinals

Friday, March 13

• Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Championship game

Saturday, March 14

• Game 15: Semifinal winners, 6 p.m., ESPN

How to watch Big 12 tournament

• TV: ESPN/ESPN2 | ESPNU
• Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The Big 12 tournament first round will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+. The succeeding rounds will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The championship game will be aired on ESPN.

Big 12 tournament favorite

There's not much doubt the rest of the conference is chasing Arizona as the Wildcats have dominated throughout out the campaign. Their strength is in their balance. Seven scorers average nine points or more. Their perimeter game is back by a strong interior group, led by Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka. The biggest threat looks to be Houston, which has the type of defense that can be counted on in a tournament that forces teams to win three times in three games.

Big 12 tournament top players

AJ Dybantsa, G, Brigham Young: The freshman has more than lived up to his billing as one of the nation's top recruits, averaging ppg. Even without running mate Richie Saunders, Dybantsa has the ability to carry them in the short run of tournament play.

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas: The kerfuffle about Peterson's status in games has distracted from the fact he's been one of the top players in the country. The freshman, if motivated, can be the key piece to leading the Jayhawks on a deep run.

Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech: The Red Raiders lost star JT Toppin to a season-ending injury in February but remained one of the best teams in the league with Anderson becoming the lead option. He will be tasked with continuing his scoring run in Kansas City.

Koa Peat, F, Arizona: The freshman standout is one of several key pieces for the Wildcats, who dominated the league this season. He is joined by fellow freshman Brayden Burries as the team's two top scorers.

Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State: Part of a three-pronged attack with Milan Momcilovic and Tamin Lipsey, the senior provides important scoring and rebounding from the interior that makes the Cyclones capable of being one of the favorites.

March Madness bubble storylines for Big 12

The Big 12 seems certain of getting eight spots in the tournament field with Central Florida still in good position after three consecutive losses. The Knights, however, will want to avoid a loss in the second round to make things certain. Among the teams on the outside of the field, Cincinnati may ahve the best hope with its recent run of six wins in eight games. West Virginia has stacked up five Quad 1 but overall inconsistency has hampered its hopes. Both the Bearcats and Mountaineers will need multiple victories to get into the conversation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big 12 tournament bracket, scores, schedule

The plan of VfB Stuttgart with Bilal El Khannouss seems to be working: The attacking midfielder is apparently on the verge of staying permanently with the Bundesliga club. The 21-year-old Moroccan, who is currently on loan from Leicester City, is set to be permanently tied to VfB.

The background is a purchase obligation included in the loan contract. This comes into effect under certain conditions – such as a sufficient number of appearances or the team's sporting successes – and would make the transfer final. According to media reports, the transfer fee for the talented attacking player is around 20 million euros.

El Khannouss has quickly established himself in Stuttgart since his move and is considered one of the important options in the attacking midfield under coach Sebastian Hoeneß. His performances have contributed to the VfB officials wanting to secure the transfer in the long term.

If the contractual conditions are ultimately met, the club is likely to officially announce the permanent transfer soon.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

The New York Jets were very busy during free agency's first legal tampering day.

It started with a trade for Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. One position the Jets did not immediately address was quarterback.

Some of the Jets' potential solutions at quarterback have already landed elsewhere. The prize possession, quarterback Malik Willis, signed a three-year contract with the division rival Dolphins. If New York was interested, Willis preferred to reunite with coaches Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley in Miami.

Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons signed QB Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year minimum deal.

Two of the top free-agent quarterbacks are already off the board. Facing dwindling options, the Jets' best remaining choice may be to reunite with Geno Smith. The Las Vegas Raiders released Smith from his contract, and he's looking for a new home.

The Jets originally selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He struggled mightily in East Rutherford before relaunching his career with the Seattle Seahawks.

Now free again after a failed stint with the Raiders, Smith would bring experience to New York offensive coordinator's Frank Reich's unit..

Alternatives include QBs Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. The Jets must sort through what's left on the quarterback market.

Smith would be a worthwhile solution.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Geno Smith is Jets' best remaining option at quarterback

The stage is set for the PGA Tour’s marquee event as the 2026 Players Championship kicks off this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. TPC Sawgrass is a hazard-filled, positional, Florida-style test that hosts what many consider the most competitive and thrilling tournament of the year. Two-time champion Rory McIlroy summed up what the tournament means by saying, “I wouldn’t consider my career complete if I hadn’t won a Players Championship.”

RELATED: Players Championship 2026: Rory McIlroy still dealing with back injury, not arriving to Sawgrass until later in week

TPC Sawgrass is widely considered one of the most visually pristine and strategically brilliant golf courses in the world. The course features lush rough, striking white sand bunkers and water hazards that come into play on 16 holes. Its lightning fast, tiered greens and carefully crafted layout ensure that players face a demanding test on every hole.

Few other courses match the risk-and-reward balance found at TPC Sawgrass. The angled fairways are designed to challenge golfers to make bold decisions from the tee. Often the best angle for an approach shot requires aiming closer to trouble, rewarding players who are willing to take on more risk. Those who play too safe frequently leave themselves with more difficult approach shots into the challenging greens.

At TPC Sawgrass, almost any playing style can contend, but the course has a way of quickly exposing weaknesses. Pretenders are often weeded out early as the demanding layout tests every part of a player’s game. When the typically windy March conditions arrive, small mistakes can quickly turn into costly numbers. Power hitters like Rory McIlroy, shorter but highly accurate players such as Webb Simpson, and even unexpected longshots like Craig Perks have all managed to win here.

RELATED: Players Championship 2026: Tee times for the opening two rounds

Success here usually belongs to golfers who are mentally tough, possess a complete all-around skill set and arrive in sharp form. The course continually pressures players to execute precise shots and make smart decisions from start to finish. It may sound like a cliché, but at TPC Sawgrass the player who performs the best across every aspect of the game over four days is usually the one lifting the trophy on Sunday. Five of the last six editions have been decided by either one shot or in a playoff, so expect suspense late Sunday afternoon.

Orlando Ramirez

If you were to ask golf course aficionados what the perfect PGA venue would be for Morikawa, there is no doubt that many would say TPC Sawgrass. So it’s a bit surprising that last year was his only top-10 finish in his five previous starts here. Similar to last year, Morikawa enters with pristine form having won at Pebble Beach and then following it up with a seventh at the Genesis and a fifth last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Every winner here since 2018 has gained at least 1.5 strokes ball-striking per round in the four months leading up to their win. Morikawa is one of six players in this week’s field to meet that criteria at 1.53 per round.

Kim’s seven starts this year include five top-13 finishes and an impressive 43.8 total strokes gained/ball-striking. He won here in 2018 and has consistently performed well on Pete Dye courses. As usual, everything comes down to how he performs on the greens. The encouraging sign is that since 2015 his putting at TPC Sawgrass has been almost perfectly neutral, losing just 0.01 strokes per round.

Si Woo Kim leads this upper-tier in total strokes gained ball-striking in 2026 by a huge margin.

Something in Schauffele’s game appears to be off this season. He built his reputation on being sharp with every club in the bag, yet aside from his T-7 at the Genesis Invitational, each of his other tournaments has featured lost strokes in one or more key Strokes Gained categories. He has also been inconsistent at TPC Sawgrass, recording three missed cuts and a 72nd place finish in seven career starts.

Mike Ehrmann

Still underpriced and trending upward, Aberg will likely be one of the most popular plays on the slate. He stands out even more in this salary range since many of the other players in the $8,000 tier arrive at TPC Sawgrass in poor form. After a slow start to the season, he finished T-20 at the Genesis Invitational and followed it with a T-3 last week at Bay Hill, where he gained an outstanding 8.3 strokes/ball-striking. Even more encouraging for a course like TPC Sawgrass that demands well-rounded play, he gained strokes in every category across those last two events.

Coming off an injury, Thomas struggled mightily at Bay Hill last week in his first action of 2026, missing the cut and losing 5.8 strokes/ball-striking. TPC Sawgrass is not the course to find your game. Thomas will most likely need a couple more starts to completely knock off the rust.

Mike Ehrmann

When looking at the new Approach Scoring Opportunities data I recently added to the Rabbit Hole, Adam Scott is the one name that stands out in this price range because of his elite approach play across each yardage bucket so far in 2026. This includes hitting 39 percent of his approaches inside 15 feet from the 50- to 150-yard range, which is especially relevant since about 40 percent of all approaches at TPC Sawgrass come from that distance. Scott has also shown some upside this season, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Genesis Invitational. At this value of a salary, his high floor and ceiling is especially valuable on a volatile course like TPC Sawgrass.

Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos

As the 75th-ranked player in the world and the 16th best ball-striker in this field so far in 2026, Li presents excellent value in this range. He ranks 20th in the field in driving accuracy, sits fifth in Good Drive rate, and has started the season well with a T-8 at The American Express and a T-11 at the Farmers Insurance Open. If he can remain mentally composed and limit mistakes around the green, Li has the upside to finish inside the top 20 on Sunday.

Ron Klos (@PGASplits101 on X) is a PGA Tour data analyst for Betsperts Golf.

Liverpool’s trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the Round of 16 of the Champions League marks the second meeting of the two sides this season after a league phase clash that saw the Reds defeated 1-0 away in one of the only two losses of the initial rounds of the 2025-26 edition of the competition.

On paper, it’s a tie the Reds should be eager for given Galatasaray are one of only two sides left in the knockout rounds—along with FK Bodø/Glimt—with a net negative goal differential and expected goals differential, but that earlier defeat will be at the back of many minds heading into the two-legged rematch.

“We knew them already well and after playing them we know them better,” Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said ahead of the match. “So now before playing them again you watch even more games and I have a lot of respect for Galatasaray, for their manager. He’s been so successful, won so much with the club.

“They have quality players that can fight and they will have the fans behind them, so we need to be so, so good to bring a result back to Anfield and that’s what we’re going to try. Last time when we played there was not a lot between us, in open play I think we were quite similar, but we lost on a penalty.”

In that first meeting back in the league phase in the autumn, Galatasaray somewhat controversially had a close penalty call upheld while Liverpool had one overturned. The result at the time felt unfair for Slot’s Reds, but the goal this time will be to play well enough the officiating can’t make a difference.

“They have a very good team and we have a very good team,” Slot added. “So are we happy to play against them? No, but there’s not one team you would prefer to play in the last 16 because they are all good teams. So we’ve already lost against them, which tells you how difficult of a game it is for us.

“The good thing this time is that we play two games where in the group stage we only played away. Now we also have a chance to play in front of our own fans, which will be hard for Galatasaray. But we know the quality they have, even more than last time, and that it will be a challenge for us tomorrow.”

Neil Simpson and his guide Rob Poth won Great Britain's first medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics with silver in the alpine combined.

It is a third Paralympic medal overall for the visually impaired skier, who had recorded two fourth-place finishes earlier in these Games.

In the alpine combined, skiers complete a run of both the super G and slalom, with their factored times combined to determine the final standings.

Simpson and Poth had sat in fourth after the morning's super G, 0.57 seconds short of third place.

But in the slalom, they recorded the fastest time of the day to move up two places as Canada’s Kalle Ericsson and his guide Sierra Smith fell out of contention.

Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli and guide Andrea Ravelli won gold, finishing 0.65 seconds ahead of Simpson and Poth overall, while Austria's Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl won bronze.

• What happens when at the Winter Paralympics?
• Winter Paralympics medal table
• What do I need to know about the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

Late Monday evening, the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly reached an agreement with one of the team’s most interesting pending free agents, considering how impactful he was in such a short, limited role in his only season with the team.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton will re-sign with the Chiefs, signing a two-year contract that NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported to be worth $11 million in total with a maximum value of $14 million.

It is Thornton’s first payday after signing with Kansas City on a reserve/future deal last offseason, and the former second-round pick will have another shot at signing a multi-year contract in two years as a 27-year-old in 2028.

Thornton will have his shot at growing within the Chiefs’ offense after excelling in a narrowed role that asked him to primarily run deep routes and make downfield catches. He racked up 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns while playing the fifth-most snaps among the receiving corps. Among all qualified pass catchers in the 2025 regular season, Thornton finished with the highest yards-per-catch rate (23.1).

On Radio Row in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Thornton talked to Jason Anderson of 810 Sports about his growth as an individual and a player during his time with the Chiefs. The Arrowhead Pride staff covered the most notable parts of the interview for the site.

Heading into 2026, Thornton will join starting receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy as the returning contributors in the position room. The trio will welcome the potential impact of wide receiver Jalen Royals in the former fourth-round pick’s second NFL season.

How do you feel about the Chiefs bringing Thornton back? Should we expect him to catch more than 19 passes in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

For years, covering the Las Vegas Raiders meant bracing yourself. Every offseason brought another round of dysfunction, another head-scratching roster move, another promising rebuild that somehow turned into rubble before the first kickoff. The names changed, including coaches, GMs, and quarterbacks, but the outcome was depressingly consistent. Raider Nation deserved better, and they never got it.

Monday felt different. Genuinely different.

In a single day of NFL free agency, general manager John Spytek made it impossible to ignore what’s being built in Las Vegas. Armed with $111 million in cap space — most in the league — and a war chest of draft picks that would make most front offices jealous, the Raiders didn’t just spend money. They spent it deliberately, attacking specific needs with a clarity of purpose this franchise hasn’t had in a long time.

Raiders’ additions today:

🏈C Tyler Linderbaum: 3-years, $81M
🏈LB Quay Walker: 3-years, $40.5M
🏈LB Nakobe Dean: 3-years, $36M
🏈WR Jalen Nailor: 3-years, $35M
🏈Kwity Paye: 3-years, $48M
🏈CB Eric Stokes: 3-years, $30M
🏈DE Malcolm Koonce: 1-year, $11M
🏈Trade for CB Taron… https://t.co/CIAPDjQNyY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026

It started before the negotiating window even opened. The Maxx Crosby trade sent a five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher to Baltimore but brought back the 14th overall pick in 2026 and a first-round pick in 2027. That’s premium draft capital for a player who, as I wrote last week, was already heading for the exit. Then came the low-cost deal to acquire cornerback Taron Johnson from the Bills for a sixth-round pick. They added the solid nickel corner to the secondary for almost nothing.

Then Monday happened and Spytek hit the accelerator.

Raiders Turn Heads with Massive First Day in Free Agency

The headliner of John Spytek’s big day was Tyler Linderbaum. The former Ravens center, a three-time Pro Bowler who was still 25, signed a three-year, $81 million deal that makes him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. It’s a significant number, no question about it. But you’re building an offense around Fernando Mendoza, the presumed number one overall pick in April, and you want to give your rookie quarterback the best possible chance to succeed from day one. Linderbaum does exactly that. He’s one of the best centers in football, and now he’s protecting the guy who is supposed to be the face of this franchise for the next decade.

That’s not overpaying. That’s investing.

Wide receiver Jalen Nailor came in on a three-year, $35 million deal that drew less attention than it deserved. In Minnesota, Nailor spent his career operating in the shadows of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. In Las Vegas, he gets to be a legitimate weapon in a passing game that desperately needs one after the Raiders averaged just 14.2 points per game last season — dead last in the entire league. Nailor has hauled in 57 catches for 858 yards and ten touchdowns over the last two seasons from the slot. The talent was never the issue in Minnesota. The opportunity just wasn’t there.

The Raiders are signing WR Jalen Nailor to a 3-year, $35M contract, per @AdamSchefter

– 49 targets in 2025
– 1 dropped pass pic.twitter.com/XaU9I3QhHu

— PFF (@PFF) March 9, 2026

On defense, Spytek didn’t let the cap spending slow down. Pass rusher Kwity Paye arrived from Indianapolis on a three-year, $48 million deal, adding legitimate edge presence to replace what was lost in the Crosby trade. Linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, former Georgia teammates, both landed in Las Vegas to overhaul a linebacker room that was consistently exploited in coverage last season. Dean, who brings pass rush upside and coverage versatility from three years in Philadelphia, signed for three years and $36 million. Walker adds athleticism and sideline-to-sideline range on a three-year, $40.5 million deal. Meanwhile, cornerback Eric Stokes re-signed on a three-year, $30 million deal after one of the best seasons of his career, and Malcolm Koonce was brought back for another year at $11 million, giving Klint Kubiak’s defense some continuity up front.

The total spending for Day 1 was $271 million. League-wide, nobody came close.

Raider Nation is Excited But Cautious

Now, let’s be honest about what this is and what it isn’t. Free agency wins don’t come engraved on a Lombardi Trophy. Every one of these players has to actually perform, stay healthy, and fit the scheme. Spytek has to nail the draft. With picks #1, #14 and a 2027 first from Baltimore, along with six more selections in the first four rounds of this draft, the margin for error is still real. We all remember what happened with Clelin Ferrell and Henry Ruggs III. Nobody in Raider Nation needs that reminder.

But what’s happening here is structurally sound in a way this franchise hasn’t been in years. John Spytek knows what he’s building. Kubiak came in with a clear vision for the offense. Tom Brady is adding credibility at the ownership and advisory level. And Mark Davis, to his enormous credit, appears to have stepped back and let football people run the football operation. That alone is worth acknowledging, because it has not always been the case.

After acquiring two 1st-round picks from the Ravens, the #Raiders agreed to terms with four former 1st-round picks on Monday.

DE Kwity Paye: No. 21 (Colts, 2021)
LB Quay Walker: No. 22 (Packers, 2022)
C Tyler Linderbaum: No. 25 (Ravens, 2022)
CB Eric Stokes: No. 29 (Packers,… pic.twitter.com/5nJvdWc7AS

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) March 10, 2026

The Raiders are putting early points on the board. The offseason doesn’t end here, with the draft in April, where this rebuild either gets real traction or reveals its gaps.

But if you’re a member of Raider Nation and Monday didn’t give you something to feel good about, you haven’t been paying attention. For the first time in a long time, the organization looks like it knows what it’s doing.

That’s not nothing. After everything this fanbase has endured, that’s actually a lot.

Related Headlines

• Las Vegas Raiders Sign 3x Pro Bowler to Record-Breaking Contract in Free Agency
• Why the Raiders Were Right to Trade Maxx Crosby for Two First-Round Picks
• Winners, Losers from Maxx Crosby Trade Between Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens

FC Barcelona has received the 1C license from the City Council allowing the club to open the first and second tiers of the Gol Nord (North Stand) at Spotify Camp Nou starting this Sunday, March 15, during the match against Sevilla.

The game will coincide with the presidential elections at Barcelona.

With this authorisation, the stadium’s capacity will increase significantly – from the current 45,401 spectators to 62,657 seats.

Took longer than expected

The city council raised more obstacles than initially anticipated, particularly regarding access and entry requirements, before granting permission to open the first two tiers of the North Stand. According to the club, these sections had already been fully completed for some time.

Less than two weeks ago, Barcelona launched the process allowing club members to apply for season tickets tied to the expansion, which adds roughly 14,000 new seats to the stadium.

However, the approval from the council took time to come, until it finally arrived earlier today, in time for Sunday’s La Liga game against Sevilla.

More fans at the stadium starting this week. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

With the new license, it should also be possible to reopen the Grada d’Animació (the supporters’ cheering section).

However, the Catalans still do not know whether there will be enough time to install it in its permanent location or whether it will temporarily remain in the same area used during the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Boost for the presidential elections

This Sunday is expected to be a major day at the stadium. Alongside the match against Sevilla, Barcelona members will also vote in the club’s presidential elections, choosing the leadership that will guide the institution for the next five years.

The increase in stadium capacity is expected to encourage higher voter turnout, since more members will be present at the stadium and able to exercise their voting rights.

Little by little, the renovated stadium continues to take shape. The team’s return to the Camp Nou under coach Hansi Flick has already had a strong social, economic, and institutional impact on the club.

Source: SPORT

Sadio Mané continues to break his own record with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League

Sadio Mané/@getty

Senegalese international Sadio Mané is setting the bar incredibly high in this 2025-2026 edition of the Saudi Pro League.

Back at his very best, the Senegal star has established himself as one of the main attractions of the top-tier Saudi competition.

He is the only player to have won every single match played in the league—18 out of 18. This remarkable feat speaks volumes about his undeniable contribution, both defensively and offensively.

As a reminder, the Bambaly native has played 26 matches this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists.

Despite rumors of a departure, the two-time African champion is expected to sign a new contract with the Saudi football powerhouse in the coming weeks.

Since joining the club in 2023, Sadio Mané has played 119 matches, tallying 47 goals and 32 assists.

Chelsea travel to the Parc des Princes for the stern test of Champions League holders PSG, who will target a more convincing performance after edging past Monaco to reach the round of 16 stage.

The Club World Cup finalists go head-to-head in the latter stages of the Champions League – Chelsea triumphed over the French giants 3-0 when they last met to claim the world champion status at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Two-time Champions League winners Chelsea finished sixth in the group stages, after an inspiring win against Napoli in Naples, they secured them automatic qualification to the last 16.

Over the weekend, the Blues went the distance against Championship side Wrexham in the FA Cup, ultimately advancing to the quarter-finals, but requiring extra time to secure the win at the Racecourse Ground.

Despite a rotated side, Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior would’ve hoped not to have his squad play 120 minutes before a European trip to Paris; however, the second-tier side played a good game.

Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has been in terrific form, with four goals with an assist in his last two games, which includes a hat-trick at Villa Park and on the scoresheet in north-east Wales as the Blues fight for a spot in the top four of the Premier League.

Estevão remains a doubt for the clash, while Englishmen Jamie Gittens and Levi Colwill are inactive with long-term injuries.

The Parisians narrowly secured victory in the knockout play-off stages, beating familiar opponents AS Monaco 5-4 on aggregate across two legs.

However, Monaco came back to haunt Luis Enrique’s side just a few days ago in Ligue 1, as they suffered their fourth league defeat in a 3-1 encounter in the French capital.

Despite sitting top domestically, they have a one-point advantage over northern French side RC Lens after 25 matches played, a title race that’s tensing up with each passing game.

A difficult tasks faces PSG to match their historic last season, having won five major honours last year. While they’ve struggled to match the tenacity of the past, they have an abundance of quality on the pitch to wreak havoc against any team in world football.

On the injury list, Joao Neves’ status is unclear, as he sustained an ankle injury in February, while Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz is a doubt managing a knee injury.

The match will take place on Wednesday night at 20:00 on TNT Sports.

Just a junior, Carter Turk is moving up the career scoring ranks at Grand Valley.

Turk went over 1,000 points in his career during the Mustangs’ 71-57 Division VI boys basketball district final win Saturday at Salem High School.

“It means a lot,” Turk said of his accomplishment. “But ultimately, at the end of the day, I just want to win as many games as possible.”

Turk scored 23 points as the Mustangs, the second seed in the district, broke through for the school’s first district title in boys basketball.

“It was huge for the school, as these types of tournament runs don’t happen often,” he said. “The team and I just need to embrace every moment of it. I couldn’t have done this without all the support throughout the community.”

Turk ranks fifth all-time at GV with 1,021 career points heading into tonight’s regional semifinal game vs. Kirtland at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse.

AJ Henson is first with 1,681 points, followed by Jim Dodd at 1,377, Jake Vormelker 1,079 and Ashton Zupancic 1,026.

Turk missed his freshman season with a knee injury, but came back to win D-VI Northeast District Player of the Year while leading the Mustangs to a Northeastern Athletic Conference crown last season.

“Nothing is impossible,” he said of returning from the injury. “It all happened for a reason, and had so much trust in the work I put in.”

In the 2025-26 campaign, Fairport Harbor prevented GV from repeating as conference champs.

Turk, though, claimed his second straight district Player of the Year honor.

“Earning back-to-back district player of the year, it truly is a blessing and means a lot that I’m getting recognized, and rewarded for all of the hard work I’ve been putting in,” he said.

Turk leads the team in scoring at 19.8 points per game, 3-pointers with 65, free throws 95, rebounds 260, assists 73, steals 58 and blocks 20.

“As a father and coach, I am really proud of him,” Mustangs coach Justin Turk said. “I think he said it best, wins are way more important than points though. Better yet, he’s such a great leader and teammate.”

Carter Turk knows the accolades and achievements wouldn’t be possible without a large supporting cast.

“My parents [Justin and Laura], my twin sister [Cloe], my grandparents have been amazing,” Carter Turk said. “They have missed very few games over my life.

“My teammates and coaches play an important role. They put in great positions to succeed, and the community played a huge part in always being at games, and showing support no matter what.”

Turk was starting quarterback for the GV football team in the fall, and this spring, he plans on playing baseball.

But he also hopes to play more basketball after tonight.

Turk realizes taking on Kirtland, the top seed in the district, will be a challenge.

“The keys to beating them is to box out and limit them on the offensive glass,” Turk said. “We need to match their physicality to give us a chance.”

A win would propel the Mustangs into the regional final game at 7 p.m. Friday against either Andrews Osborne Academy or Richmond Heights, also in Canton.

The regional winner advances to the state tournament at Wright State University near Dayton.

ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — All Star games are not usually a place to find significant passing, or any defense.

The Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation All Star Senior Classic boys game was a little different.

While defense was not off the charts, ball movement from player to player on Team Black and Team Orange was.

In the end, Geneva’s Caden Proy put on a show with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Team Black to a 107-89 victory.

“It is good to come out and play one last time,” Proy said.

The teams were broken into Team Black and Team Orange with some athletes playing against their former high school teammates.

There was a lot of laughing and kidding going on before, during, and after the game.

Proy made a rim-rattling dunk, but also fed other players throughout out the game that included two, 20-minute halves with a running clock.

Proy, and several others, said the players were willing to pass the ball several times before taking a shot.

Geneva’s Antonio Rivera took his 3-point shooting eye to the court, and came out victorious over Edgewood’s Logan Mezak in the long-distance shooting event.

“I definitely thought I had a chance,” Rivera said of the possibility of winning the competition. “It [3-point shots] is the first shot when I go in the gym.”

Pymatuning Valley’s Chase Guysinger said Team Black worked hard to move the ball around to all the players.

“Everybody gets a chance,” he said.

Team Black was coached by Geneva’s Connor Zimmer and Edgewood’s Jay Bowler, while Team Orange was coached by Conneaut’s Joe Dunn.

The event was expected to raise about $2,000 for the ACBF, which is holding its annual banquet April 12 at the New Leaf Center in Conneaut.

The banquet includes awards for high school players and the announcement of the ACBF Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Edgewood Athletic Administrator Steve Kray said six referees donated their time to officiate the game, and numerous sponsors helped with the event.

“I enjoy hosting the game,” said Kray, a member of the ACBF Board of Directors. “It is a tribute to our Ashtabula County basketball players.”

Bayer Leverkusen will go into their Champions League round of 16 tie with Premier League leaders Arsenal as clear underdogs, with the first leg to take place at BayArena on Wednesday.

Die Werkself coach Kasper Hjulmand is well aware of Arsenal’s quality, but believes his side have the tools to cause an upset.

“Arsenal are maybe the best team in Europe right now. It’s the toughest test, but we are excited by this opportunity. We need to enjoy this game with our fans and bring our best performance,” Hjulmand said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“It's always about looking at the opportunities for me. Things can happen in football. Arsenal are the clear favourites; they’re at the top of their game and have been building a strong team for years,” he added.

“We have 14 new players out of 25 from last season, but we’re building, learning and adapting, and the quality is improving. If we’re sharp, if we play at our best, everyone expresses themselves, and we play with courage – then who knows? The belief is important for us. I always believe we can do it when we go into a game like this.”

Wednesday's game at BayArena kicks off at 18:45 CET.

Nvidia’s GeForce On Community Update is about to start At 8 am PT, 3 PM GMT, Nvidia will start its newest “GeForce On Community Update” at GDC 2026. During this event, Nvidia plans to show gamers the latest RTX games and the newest RTX platform features in action. Remedy has confirmed that Control Resonant will […]

The post Watch Nvidia’s GDC 2026 GeForce On Community Update here appeared first on OC3D.

MSI unleases a wave of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End PC hardware, including a custom graphics card MSI has unveiled an official lineup of new “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” PC parts and accessories. These limited edition products celebrate the hit anime with custom artwork and iconography. These parts symbolise the relationships between Frieren and her companions, […]

The post MSI unveils Limited Edition Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End PC hardware appeared first on OC3D.

MarketingSoda grades and repairs your HubSpot database so teams can trust their records. It connects via OAuth, scans contacts and companies, and assigns an A–F score based on completeness, accuracy, freshness, consistency, and uniqueness. From the dashboard, you can trigger enrichment, standardization, validation, and deduplication, review conflicts, and track freshness trends.

It also embeds data quality scores inside HubSpot contact sidebars, allowing reps to see grades, freshness, and confidence and launch fixes without leaving the CRM.

View startup

Goa's Tourism Minister unveils a bold new ecotourism strategy focused on sustainability, local development, and adventure tourism in the state’s hinterland regions.

An analytical aviation report detailing 33 cancelled departures from Munich, Berlin Brandenburg, Dusseldorf, and Hamburg airports, highlighting affected airlines, routes, and regional travel disruption patterns across Europe and the Middle East.

Armenia sees a 3.3% increase in February 2026 tourist arrivals, with over 121,000 visitors. Russia, Georgia, and Iran remain key sources of international tourists.

Latitude Hotel Group to build its first resort in Dar es Salaam's Kigamboni district. The project will enhance tourism and business events, set for opening in 2028.

Port Canaveral hits a major milestone with the construction of a new 3,532-space parking garage, aiming to meet growing passenger demand and enhance cruise experiences.

Middle East crisis scene at sunset, with destruction, smoke, and rescue teams in a war-torn city, highlighting the devastation and chaos.

Germany,In an exciting development for travellers, Munich Airport has opened the first-ever inclusive security checkpoint. Located in Terminal 2, this new facility is designed to enhance the travel experience for passengers with special needs, as well as families with young …

Dublin Airport sees a 9.7% rise in February passenger traffic, marking the busiest February in its history. Strong growth driven by demand and key events.

Tunisia is investing $1 billion in expanding Tunis-Carthage Airport to 18.5 million passengers by 2031, enhancing tourism growth and air connectivity in North Africa.

This article provides an analytical report on flight cancellations across major Mexican airports including Lic. Benito Juarez (MEX), Cancun (CUN), Monterrey (MTY), Guadalajara (GDL), Tijuana (TIJ), and Silao (BJX), highlighting affected airlines, aircraft types, destinations, and departure times.

Samsung has released the Galaxy S26 Ultra with design optimizations, and we’ve conducted its side-by-side comparison with the Galaxy S25 Ultra to highlight everything new in this latest flagship.

The need for such an exploration is evident from the divided user opinions. On one side, people are saying that it’s a refined version, while others are weighing in with “nah, it’s the same as S25 Ultra”. So, we decided to break into the conversation and tell you what you should know.

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra – front

Last year, Samsung broke away from the Note series and adopted curved corners. Though reviewers saw this as a mere frame radius inclusion but it’s more like the end of an era. An era that made Note and Ultra look different from other premium phones in the market.

S26 Ultra (left) and S25 Ultra (right)

Building on the new design schemes, the S26 Ultra has increased the corner radius. After this change, the S26 Ultra’s symmetry aligns more with the base and Plus models. Basically, they are on the same page now.

S26 Ultra (left) and S25 Ultra (right)

Both phones bring a 6.9-inch QHD Dynamic AMOLED display, but the S26 Ultra appears a bit wider. You can only spot this difference in a side-by-side comparison. Samsung’s official specs sheet backs this observation. The S26 Ultra is 78.1mm wide and 163.6mm tall. On the other hand, the S25 Ultra is 77.6mm wide and 162.8mm tall. The new flagship is also taller and thinner than its predecessor despite offering the same display size.

S26 Ultra (left) and S25 Ultra (right)

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra – frame

The frame is now aluminium, degrading from the titanium used in S25 Ultra. Some might argue that the build quality has declined, but it appears to be good overall.

The volume and power keys are on the right, and the USB-C port, SIM tray, microphone, and S-pen are at the bottom. That said, all of the side features are the same as the previous version, except for the S-Pen, and its clicker button had to adopt the new curves.

S26 Ultra (top) and S25 Ultra (bottom)

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra – Rear

The back of both phones has a matte finish protected with Corning Gorilla Glass, yet the S26 Ultra has a more vibrant color. Unlike the S25 Ultra, the new model comes with a camera island.

The camera layout is the same as last year, but it no longer looks cheap with the addition of integrated camera crowns, which closely resemble the Galaxy Z Fold 7 but look better on the S26 Ultra.

S26 Ultra (left) and S25 Ultra (right)

That’s where Samsung received online criticism for gluing the camera rings around the S25 Ultra’s cameras. I guess the company has learned from the mistakes and brought a more integrated look to this year’s flagship.

With camera design enhancement, you can no longer put the phone on a flat surface, which is a kind of harsh reality, as it will wobble all the time. In that case, you’d better put on a cover on this device.

Conclusion

This comparison reveals that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is wider, taller, thinner, and looks better than the S25 Ultra. These optimizations stand tall on top of the software and hardware improvements, such as the privacy display, improved performance, cameras, and software. This is a perfect Android flagship for first-time buyers; still, we don’t recommend it as an upgrade for the S25 Ultra users.

The post Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Side by Side Comparison – Design and Dimensions appeared first on Sammy Fans.

DXOMARK tested the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, giving its camera evaluation points that decide ranking in their chart. The reviewers had an extensive look at the improvements that are discussed in detail in their recent article.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 157 points in the camera test conducted by DXOMARK. Last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra hit 151 points. The new device offers an improved camera, but it didn’t influence DXOMARK scores much.

Let’s talk about where the Galaxy S26 Ultra DXOMark score actually improved.

The f/1.4 aperture on the main sensor is legitimately useful. Low light performance got noticeably better, with improved detail, lower noise, and more stable color. White balance improved across the board alongside color accuracy in portraits.

Noise control is better on the telephoto module, which pairs nicely with more natural rendering. Fewer of those weird sporadic failures that plagued the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto and 5x periscope camera system.

Top smartphones by camera score – DXOMARK

The top four right now are the iPhone 17 Pro at 168, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra at 168, the vivo X300 Pro at 171, and the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra at 175. Well, DXOMARK scores don’t really mean that you should buy alternatives for camera.

1. Huawei Pura 80 Ultra
2. Vivo X300 Pro
3. Oppo Find X8 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro
.
.
.
18. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

What DXOMark actually found?

Exposure remains unstable, noise is still worse than competitors, and autofocus reliability in low light or with the ultra wide continues to lag. These are the exact problems Samsung’s had for two generations.

Worse, faces are often captured with fewer fine details, and the autofocus sometimes just refuses to lock onto eyes in portrait shots. Meanwhile, the depth of field is so shallow in group shots that only the front person stays sharp.

Video tells the same story: improvements in color, noise control, and stabilization don’t change the fact that top performers maintain a measurable edge in demanding conditions. Autofocus in video is slow to adapt, especially in low light.

The post Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra camera scores 157 on DXOMark – Here’s what improved and what didn’t appeared first on Sammy Fans.