Samsung launched One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra last month. Despite the fact that this version hasn't even made it to older Samsung devices yet, the Korean company is now already testing One UI 9, which is based on Android 17. [#InlinePriceWidget,14456,1#] Google has released some beta builds of Android 17 already, so the timeline isn't really that surprising. The first build of One UI 9 based on Android 17 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra has now been spotted on Samsung's servers, and some enterprising folks have already installed it on the company's latest flagship...

Carlo Ancelotti has established as one of the greatest coaches in soccer history. He excelled not only with Real Madrid, but also with AC Milan, PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. Despite this, he had never coached a national team before, so his arrival in Brazil was quite a challenge. Nevertheless, he has been recognized for coaching numerous Brazilian legends, even daring to field a starting lineup featuring the most outstanding players.

In an interview with Radio Marca, Ancelotti decided to field a starting lineup consisting entirely of Brazilian players he has coached. “In goal I could put Dida. Cafu on the right, Éder Militão or Thiago Silva as center-backs and Marcelo on the left. In midfield Casemiro, Kaká… I’m surely forgetting someone. On the right Rodrygo or wherever he wants, on the left Vinícius Júnior, and up front I have many doubts: Ronaldo Nazário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho… there are many.”

Although Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. are still young players, Carlo Ancelotti already places them among the best Brazilians he has coached. He even decided to name them before Rivaldo or Ronaldinho, leaving several fans surprised. The truth is that the Italian has boosted the best version of several Brazilians, which has led him to be one of the most respected managers for legends such as Marcelo, Casemiro, Cafu, among others.

Taking advantage of his good relationship with Brazilian stars, Ancelotti seeks to consolidate a winning sporting project, based on collective play. He not only knows Vinícius closely, but also has an excellent relationship with veterans such as Casemiro, giving him more support in the dressing room. In addition, he aims to develop young players like Estêvão, paving the way to create more stars as he has done throughout his career.

Ancelotti discusses Brazil and the 2026 World Cup situation

Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil have regained their competitiveness, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup despite their recent slump. By relying on Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães in midfield, he has managed to restore stability, with Vinicius, Matheus Cunha, and Estevão leading the offense. For that reason, he has decided to open up about the different reality he faces day after day, mentioning the 2026 World Cup as more than just a motivation.

“Less stress because there are not many matches; it is more a job of observation. There is no need to prepare training every day, it is a different job, with much more pause… Brazil has at least 70 players who can be in the national team, and making an evaluation of all of them is not so simple… They have been asking for it for a long time (the World Cup Trophy). This is not only an objective, it is also a motivation,” Ancelotti said, via Radio Marca.

While there has been talk of a possible departure from Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he will renew his contract for four more years after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With this, the Italian shows that the slower rhythm of the national team perfectly fits his expectations. Nevertheless, he could still depend on a good performance in the anticipated tournament, as an early exit could put his future at risk.

Despite Carlo Ancelotti leaving Real Madrid at the beginning of the season, he has remained attentive to the team’s development. Following his departure, the team fell into a crisis, and many fans have placed the responsibility on Kylian Mbappé. However, the Italian coach has chosen to elaborate on the issues facing Los Blancos, providing key insights into the main reasons behind the team’s struggles and defending the French star.

“It’s not just about swapping Kroos for Mbappé…The old generation that had created a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room, which is no longer there…Mbappé’s arrival coincided with two important departures such as Kroos and Nacho… Mbappé did fantastically, scoring 50 goals or so and the team struggled to win titles because soccer is about small details and when you change something, it can’t always go well,” Carlo Ancelotti said, via Diario Marca.

Neither under Xabi Alonso nor Álvaro Arbeloa does there seem to be a clear solution regarding the improvement of the playing style, angering the fans. Nevertheless, Real Madrid come from a successful era where several veterans such as Nacho Fernández, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, among others, left the team. Because of this, they are currently going through a restructuring of the squad that may take some time before recovering dominance on the field.

Far from being the culprit of the poor form of Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé is the most important player on the team in the current season. Playing 33 games, the Frenchman has scored 38 goals, contributing 6 assists, being the team’s top scorer in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Because of this, the criticism may end up being somewhat unfair, as he seems more like the key to recovering the team’s best version than the culprit of the current poor form.

Real Madrid reportedly eye midfield moves, proving Ancelotti right

Although Real Madrid have numerous stars in midfield such as Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and others, they have struggled greatly to find balance in the current season. Seeking to improve the competitiveness of the roster, Los Blancos are looking to sign stars for the midfield, giving reason to Carlo Ancelotti regarding the hard impact of the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.

Chasing to recover dominance and organization in the midfield, Los Blancos reportedly seek Nico Paz’s return by exercising the buy-back clause from Como. Moreover, they also pursue Kees Smith from AZ Alkmaar, according to Diario AS. While it may be difficult to sign both stars, Real Madrid reportedly aims to secure at least one of them. Additionally, they are open to selling Eduardo Camavinga if a solid offer arrives.

is one of five men to have shared the ring with both and as a professional, but when it came to naming the most skilled opponent of his career, ‘Junito’ looked elsewhere. The Puerto Rican is part of the rare group of fighters to have faced both of boxing’s modern pound-for-pound standouts, joining Oscar De […]

The post Miguel Cotto names the opponent more skilful than Mayweather and Pacquiao appeared first on Boxing News.

Karadeniz derbisinde rekabet yerini vefaya bıraktı. Trabzonspor'un efsane isimlerinden Orhan Kaynak'ın vefatı sonrası Rizespor, sergilediği örnek tutum ve anlamlı jestlerle "Anadolu'nun Ağabeyi"nin acısına en yüksek seviyeden ortak oldu.

Trabzonspor’un ve Türk futbolunun sevilen isimlerinden Orhan Kaynak’ın vefatı, yeşil sahalarda ender görülen bir dayanışma örneğine sahne oldu. "Anadolu’nun Ağabeyi" Trabzonspor, bu en acı gününde sırtını en yakın komşusu Rizespor’a yasladı.

Acı haberin ardından Rizespor Teknik Direktörü Recep Uçar, futbolun sonuçtan ibaret olmadığını şu sözlerle hatırlattı:

- Orhan Kaynak'ı maalesef kaybettik. Böyle bir haberle üzüntüsünü yaşayan bir Trabzon deplasmanına gitmek istemezdik. Keşke onlar daha keyifli olsalardı.

Rizespor camiası, yas sürecini sadece mesajlarla değil, anlamlı jestlerle de sahiplendi:

Deplasman yasağı nedeniyle tribünde olamayan Rizespor taraftarları, dijital dünyada Trabzonspor’un yanında tek yürek oldu.

Rizespor, maç günü görselinde Orhan Kaynak’a yer vererek vefasını gösterdi.

Yeşil-mavili futbolcular, ısınmaya üzerinde merhum Kaynak’ın fotoğraflarının bulunduğu tişörtlerle çıkarak bordo-mavili camianın acısını paylaştı.

aynak’ın vefatı, birbirine komşu olan, akrabalık bağları bulunan iki şehrin en zor anlarda birbirine ne kadar ihtiyaç duyduğunu gösterdi.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF), Süper Lig'in 26. haftasındaki VAR konuşmalarını yayımladı.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu, Trendyol Süper Lig'de 26. haftanın VAR kayıtlarını yayımladı.

Gençlerbirliği - Beşiktaş maçında Sekou Koita'nın kırmızı kart gördüğü pozisyonun da kayıtları açıklandı.

Karşılaşmadaki VAR konuşmaları şu şekilde:

- VAR: "Potansiyel kırmızı kart için inceleme öneriyorum."

- VAR: "Temas anını gösteriyorum hocam."

- Yasin Kol: "Evet geldim."

- VAR: "Top yok. Topun olmadığını gör."

- Yasin Kol: "Tamam. Başka açı verir misin?"

- VAR: "Geniş açıdan normal hızla seyrettireceğim."

- Yasin Kol: "Tamam benim için. Ben gördüm."

Süper Lig'in 26. haftasındaki VAR kayıtları şu şekilde:

Semih Kılıçsoy'un Serie A'daki parlayan performansı sonrası Avrupa devleri şimdi de Mustafa Hekimoğlu için sıraya girdi. İtalya ve İspanya'dan gelen kiralama tekliflerine Sergen Yalçın'dan veto geldi. Yalçın genç golcüyü gelecek sezon kadronun kilit ismi olarak görüyor.

Beşiktaş öz kaynak düzeninin son meyvesi Mustafa Hekimoğlu, Avrupa transfer piyasasının yeni gözdesi haline geldi. Semih Kılıçsoy'un İtalya Serie A'daki başarılı grafiği ve düzenli süre bulması, Avrupalı gözlemcilerin siyah-beyazlıların diğer genç forvetine olan ilgisini perçinledi.

Gelen bilgilere göre, İtalya Serie A ve İspanya La Liga'dan birkaç önemli kulüp, 18 yaşındaki golcü için Beşiktaş'ın kapısını çalmaya hazır.

Kulüplerin planı, Mustafa'yı tıpkı Semih örneğinde olduğu gibi satın alma opsiyonuyla kiralamak. Genç oyuncunun fiziksel gücü ve son vuruşlardaki etkinliğinden yararlanmak.

Teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'ın kararı net. Genç oyuncunun potansiyeline olan güvenini her fırsatta dile getiren Yalçın, Mustafa Hekimoğlu'nu önümüzdeki sezonun kadro planlamasında "takviye güç" değil, doğrudan ana rotasyon oyuncusu olarak görüyor.

"Beşiktaş tarihine geçebilir" sözleriyle Mustafa’ya olan güvenini vurgulayan Sergen Yalçın, oyuncunun gelişimini Beşiktaş çatısı altında sürdürmesini ve kulübe hem sportif hem de ciddi bir bonservis kazancı sağlamadan ayrılmasını istemiyor.

Galatasaray MCT Technic, Boogie Ellis'i kadrosuna kattığını açıkladı.

Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi ekiplerinden Galatasaray MCT Technic, ABD'li guard Boogie Ellis'i kadrosuna kattığını duyurdu.

Sarı-kırmızılı kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Galatasaray MCT Technic, skorer kimliği, dış şut tehdidi ve oyun kurucu özellikleriyle öne çıkan Amerikalı guard Boogie Ellis ile anlaşarak oyuncuyu sezon sonuna kadar sarı kırmızılı renklerimize bağladı. 1,90 metre boyundaki Ellis, skor üretme becerisi, oyun temposunu yönlendirebilmesi ve çok yönlü oyun kurucu özellikleriyle takımımıza güç katacak. NBA organizasyonlarında ve Avrupa basketbolunda edindiği tecrübeyle dikkat çeken Amerikalı oyuncu Boogie Ellis'e başarılarla dolu bir sezon diliyor, Galatasaray ailesine hoş geldin diyoruz." ifadeleri kullanıldı.

Galatasaray MCT Technic’e Hoş Geldin Boogie Ellis! ??????#FightLikeALion ??

?? https://t.co/kD3sRsJ0Pp pic.twitter.com/0X5RGFPS01

Süper Lig'de 27. haftanın hakemleri açıklandı.

Trendyol Süper Lig'de heyecan 27. hafta karşılaşmalarıyla devam ediyor. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Merkez Hakem Kurulu (MHK), haftanın kritik maçlarında görev yapacak isimleri dijital atama yöntemiyle belirledi.

“Çelsi” itki ilə üzləşib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın futbolçusu Ris Ceyms zədələnib. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Kapitan bir neçə həftə yaşıl meydanlardan uzaq qalacaq.

“Napoli” hücumçusu Romelu Lukaku ilə bağlı qərarını verib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Neapol klubu mövsümün sonunda yaxşı təklif olacağı halda, belçikalını satacaq. Bu barədə İtaliya mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Lukaku baş məşqçi Antonio Kontenin planlarında yer almır.

32 yaşlı hücumçu bu mövsüm 7 oyunda 1 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

Reports are growing that Juventus will try to poach Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini as a free agent this summer, as requested by Luciano Spalletti.

The two clubs are duelling for the fourth Champions League qualifying spot this season, although Como are currently the ones who have snuck in to snatch it from both of them.

Next term we could see Pellegrini in the black and white stripes of Juventus, as the Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Spalletti has asked for them to target the midfielder.

Pellegrini set to be released by Roma

Despite scoring some big goals for them in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio and in last week’s Europa League Round of 16 draw with Bologna, there seems to be no real desire to extend his contract.

Pellegrini turns 30 in June and will be a free agent a couple of weeks later, ending a lifetime in the Giallorossi jersey.

He was a product of their youth academy and spent his entire career with Roma, other than a brief two-year spell from 2015 to 2017 at Sassuolo.

This means that Pellegrini never actually worked under Spalletti during either of the coach’s previous two tenures at the Stadio Olimpico, yet the current Juve boss is an admirer and feels he can bring something new to their midfield.

The tension between Como and Roma escalated again after Assane Diao made a provocative Instagram post about the controversial Wesley red card.

The Lariani came back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Stadio Sinigaglia last night, thanks also to the fact that their opponents were reduced to 10 men.

That incident saw Wesley receive a second yellow card, although his contact with Diao seemed minimal at best, with Devyne Rensch more likely to have contributed to the Como man going over.

Diao incident fuels tension

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini was furious and suggested in his post-match interviews that Como were “regulars” at this sort of behaviour, refusing to shake the hand of Cesc Fabregas.

So when Diao posted on Instagram several photos of the match, including the Wesley challenge, with the caption “That’s how we do it,” the response was swift.

They ranged from Roma fans noting it was “hardly normal for you to post this after stealing a match” to others assuring they will “remember this and be waiting when you come to the Stadio Olimpico.”

Many simply replied with gifs of dives into swimming pools and off cliffs.

There are always some who go too far, and they expressed hope that the player will suffer a relapse of his serious knee ligament injury.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Assane Diao (@assandiao.8)

Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Lazio has confirmed a remarkable statistic showing how badly the team struggles without Adrien Rabiot, as Ardon Jashari comes under fire.

The Rossoneri had seen their Scudetto hopes revitalised by the Derby della Madonnina victory over Inter, cutting the lead at the top of the table to seven points.

A win yesterday would’ve closed that even further to just five points, but instead they capitulated at the Stadio Olimpico.

Milan badly miss Rabiot

Rabiot was suspended for the Lazio game and it is probably no coincidence that they faltered, because Milan have an average of 2.42 points per match with the France international in the squad this season.

In his absence, that average plummets to just 1.40 points per game.

There are two alternative options who can stand in for him, namely Samuele Ricci and last night’s pick Jashari.

The latter has come under particular criticism from fans, as after weeks of tense negotiations with Club Brugge and a €40m deal, he has struggled to make an impact.

It wasn’t helped by a serious injury in one of his first training sessions, but Jashari has made just 12 appearances for Milan, contributing one assist.

Since arriving from Olympique Marseille on transfer deadline day, Rabiot has scored four goals and provided five assists in 23 matches for the Rossoneri.

He was injured during a run of three draws and two victories in October and November 2025, including stalemates with Pisa, Atalanta and Parma.

Rabiot was suspended for the 1-1 draw with Como, and 1-0 defeat to Lazio.

The only losses he was present for were 1-0 to Parma in Serie A, 2-0 to Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana, and 1-0 to Lazio in the Coppa Italia.

With the Champions League set to steal all of the midweek attention, two English giants find their European dreams hanging by a threat on Tuesday night. As Manchester City and Chelsea look to mount their own sensational comebacks on home soil, Norwegian record-breakers Bodo/Glimt will also be looking to officially punch a remarkable quarter-final ticket. […]

The post March 17th: Tuesday’s Champions League Accumulator – 4/1 Special, Betting Tips & Analysis appeared first on Soccer News.

The post March 17th: Tuesday’s Champions League Accumulator – 4/1 Special, Betting Tips & Analysis appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland doesn’t seem to be on form at the moment, and according to Bernardo Silva, it wouldn’t come as a great surprise if he was left out of the starting XI for the upcoming Champions League rematch against Real Madrid. City lost the first leg in Madrid by 3-0 last week. […]

The post “We wouldn’t be shocked with anything” – Manchester City star Bernardo Silva on prospect of Erling Haaland being dropped for Real Madrid rematch (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

The post “We wouldn’t be shocked with anything” – Manchester City star Bernardo Silva on prospect of Erling Haaland being dropped for Real Madrid rematch (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

There’s no bigger payday than the one awaiting baseball players on the other side of free agency. We saw nine players this offseason take home contracts worth north of $100 million over the course of the deal. Nearly 20 free agents got deals worth $20 million annually or more. Some of those names who got paid big were top fantasy baseball assets in 2025, including Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.

We all know money talks, so here are some of the most notable soon-to-be free agents in 2027, playing for their next contract, who are worth keeping an eye on going into the 2026 fantasy baseball season.

[Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season]

Note: We’re excluding players with opt-out clauses (Bo Bichette) and those with club options (Ozzie Albies, Luis Robert Jr., William Contreras), sticking to unrestricted free agents, per Sportrac.

Batters

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees

Jazz is a true UFA in 2027 and enters this season making just under $12 million. His market value should land him above $20 AAV, so long as he has another strong season in the Bronx. Last year, Chisholm finished with career highs in homers (31) and RBI (80) while stealing over 30 bags with an .813 OPS. The 28-year-old made his second All-Star appearance and ranked fourth in WAR among second basemen at 4.2.

Chisholm has solid placement in a Yankees lineup that should finish toward the top in terms of scoring. There’s no reason he can’t duplicate his numbers from last season and has even stated his lofty expectations for himself publicly going into free agency in 2027. Right now, Jazz is a consensus second-round pick at a weak 2B position, so you aren’t getting much value in terms of ADP. But if Chisholm wants that big payday, he should duplicate or exceed his numbers from 2025.

Randy Arozarena, OF, Mariners

The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year was dealt to the Mariners from Tampa Bay prior to the deadline back in 2024. We all remember his magical run during 2020 with 10 HRs in 20 games before the Rays lost to the Dodgers in the World Series. His career trajectory has been slowly on a downward angle since then, though he did set a career high with 27 HRs last season in Seattle.

Arozarena’s borderline 30-30 season may get fantasy managers and GMs a bit hype but his underlying numbers aren’t that great. He set another career high with 191 strikeouts in 160 games and is on the other side of 30 years old. Still, Arozarena has that next contract in mind, giving him plenty of motivation along with the M’s World Series hopes. As the OF24 on Yahoo, Arozarena isn’t the worst outfield target in the middle rounds of your draft.

Alec Bohm, 1B/3B, Phillies

Bohm once looked like the future at one of the corner infield positions for the Phillies. But after 2025, there’s a good chance this is his last chance to prove himself in Philly. Bohm only played 120 last season after a strong 2024 in which he had 15 HRs and 97 RBI. His power went down from a .168 ISO to .123 last season, when he missed time due to a fractured rib.

He has three homers in 10 games this spring and has a lot to prove to get paid this upcoming offseason. If Bohm can get his power back and hit 20+ dingers, there’s a good chance he becomes a strong sleeper pick late in your fantasy draft. His ADP right now on Yahoo is 196.4, meaning he’s going undrafted in plenty of leagues. Bohm isn’t a bad final pick given the depth at 1B and 3B this season.

Honorable mentions: Adolis García, Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arráez, Taylor Ward

Pitchers

Tarik Skubal, Tigers

As the SP1 overall on Yahoo, there’s not much that needs to be covered with Skubal’s pending free agency. There’s a good chance the Tigers opt to deal the ace prior to the deadline this season, before he could potentially walk in free agency before 2027. The two-time back-to-back AL Cy Young winner doesn’t have much else to prove but we also know he wants to get that big contract.

Skubal should set the market with the biggest SP contract in MLB history, which could be in the $45 million per season range. The highest-paid pitcher on an AAV basis is Phillies ace Zack Wheeler at $42 million per season. You could make a case for Paul Skenes or Garrett Crochet as the top pitching option in fantasy baseball. But if you need a tie-breaker of sorts, you could look at Skubal’s pending free agency.

Freddy Peralta, Mets

The Mets acquired Peralta from the Brewers this offseason to shore up the rotation. He should operate as New York’s ace, set to pitch on Opening Day vs. the Pirates against Skenes. Peralta will turn 30 years old this summer but has been one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball over the past three seasons. He’s coming off a career-high 17 wins for Milwaukee in 2025, finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA for the second time in his career.

If all goes well in his first season in Queens, Peralta should see over 170 innings, 200+ strikeouts and be in the NL Cy Young race. He’ll have one of the best offenses in baseball backing him up and has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level again. As the SP15 on average in Yahoo drafts, Peralta presents plenty of value if he can replicate last season’s effort for the Brewers.

David Bednar, Yankees

The 31-year-old pitched well in New York as the closer after being dealt by the Pirates prior to the deadline last season. He posted 10 saves with a 12.8 K/9 and sub-1.00 WHIP over 22 appearances for the Yanks. With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver across town in Queens this season, Bednar takes over as the no-doubt closer for a Yankees team that is the favorite to win the AL East.

Bednar is being drafted as the RP6 on Yahoo but would it surprise anyone if he led the American League in saves? He led the NL in saves with 39 back in 2023 for a Pirates team that won just 76 games. There’s also a good chance the Yanks cut Bednar loose after 2026 to make room for promising young prospect, Carlos Lagrange. Bednar is a great closer target in the mid-rounds of drafts this season playing for a new deal.

Honorable mentions: Trevor Rogers, Shane Bieber, Brady Singer, Pete Fairbanks, Bryan Abreu, Casey Mize

ESPN’s March Madness coverage just got significantly bigger after “The Pat McAfee Show” revealed a college basketball coaching great will be joining the NCAA Tournament festivities.

McAfee has become a major figure at ESPN throughout their college sports endeavors, as well as NFL and NBA coverage. However, McAfee will be joined by a Duke Blue Devils legend throughout March Madness.

MORE: 2026 March Madness TV schedule, full list of First Round NCAA Tournament games

McAfee revealed Monday that Mike Kryzewski will be on the show throughout the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Coach K will provide insight during March Madness and likely give some takes on his former Duke team.

Coach K will be joining us throughout the entirety of March Madness..

We can’t wait to chat with him #PMSLivepic.twitter.com/MRzX4tFG4g

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 16, 2026

The Blue Devils earned the number one overall seed for this year’s tournament after winning the ACC Tournament last week. Meanwhile, Duke also has the best championship odds at +300 heading into March Madness.

Coach K’s inclusion in ESPN’s coverage is quite unique considering the Duke legend has rarely been involved in sports media throughout his career.

MORE: 7 college basketball underdogs that will win 2026 March Madness brackets

The five-time national championship-winning head coach has been voted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame after recording decades of success with the ACC program.

The addition of Coach K for McAfee proves to be the latest major get for his show. McAfee has been known for building massive relationships with players and coaches, especially in the NFL realm.

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

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WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Paul Skenes reveals ‘heavy’ message he received before WBC semifinal

MARCH MADNESS: 3 March Madness teams with easiest paths to NCAA Tournament Final Four

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SPORTS MEDIA:Pat McAfee celebrates historic USA Olympic hockey accomplishment

VIRAL: ‘Embarrassing’ Oscars Snack Box goes viral with Conan O’Brien note

The post Pat McAfee announces legendary addition to March Madness coverage appeared first on The Big Lead.

Darius Slay announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons on Monday, ending a run of dominance that included two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, and an All-Pro selection for a talented cornerback. Slay has always hinted that 2025 could be his final NFL season, and after being waived by Pittsburgh and claimed by Buffalo, the Pro Bowl cornerback was done. Slay was released to make room for Asante Samuel Jr. on the Steelers' roster. According to Ian Rapoport, Philadelphia did, in fact, put in a claim to reunite with Slay, but Buffalo had priority based on the 2025 NFL draft order.

Slay decided not to report to Buffalo, and he'll depart the NFL despite saying he'd answer for only the Eagles if a team needed cornerback help next season.

With the move now official, here's instant analysis and key takeaways from the longtime Eagles and Lions cornerback stepping away.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Instant reaction to Darius Slay retiring after 13 seasons

‘Time to Set the Bar Again’

Group chats everywhere are about to explode over this one…

🔥 OFFICIAL 🔥@NateDiaz209 🆚 @PlatinumPerry
———
Saturday, May 16th
LIVE only on Netflix
Intuit Dome - Los Angeles, CA#DiazPerry #RouseyCarano #NgannouLinspic.twitter.com/eOZEdjgWJ9— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) March 16, 2026

Tarik Skubal has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards and will make $32 million this season after winning his salary arbitration hearing. Detroit's ace left-hander could next set more contract records for a pitcher in free agency.

Skubal could become a free agent for the first time after the World Series next fall, along with players like two-time All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and 31-year-old slugger Randy Arozarena. Trevor Rogers and Kris Bubic, both 28-year-old left-handed starters who have been All-Stars, could also be among that group.

But they will go into that offseason amid the backdrop of another potential lockout. The sport's collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 and MLB appears on track to propose a salary cap, so it's uncertain how that will affect the next free agency class.

When the last CBA expired at that same point after the 2021 season, owners locked out players for 99 days, but there were some big deals completed in the days and hours before baseball's first work stoppage in a quarter-century. Those included AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray on a $115 million, five-year contract with Seattle, Marcus Stroman's $71 million, three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs and a half-billion dollar middle infield for the Texas Rangers: shortstop Corey Seager ($325 million, 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million, seven years).

Here are some of the players who could be free agents after the 2026 season:

LHP Tarik Skubal, Tigers

Skubal, who will turn 30 in November, was 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA over 62 starts in his two Cy Young seasons, and is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six years overall. He won a record arbitration case in February against the Tigers, who had offered $19 million. He was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, when he struck out 241 and walked 33 in 195 1/3 innings. The biggest contract for a pitcher is the $325 million, 12-year deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto got from the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago. The highest average salary was $43.3 million, which three-time Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer got in free-agent deals with the New York Mets before both got traded at the 2023 deadline.

RHP Freddy Peralta, Mets

Peralta led the National League with 17 wins and had 204 strikeouts last season, the last of his eight with Milwaukee before being traded to the Mets, who tabbed him their starter for opening day. He turns 30 in June and is 54-34 with a 3.30 ERA over five seasons as a full-time starter. He signed a five-year pre-arbitration deal in 2020 that included club options for 2025 and 2026.

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees

The 28-year-old Chisholm was an All-Star again last season, for the first time since he was the primary second baseman for Miami in 2022. The Marlins then put him in center field until trading him at the deadline in 2024 to the Yankees, who moved him back to the infield. He hit .242 with 31 homers, 80 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season.

OF Randy Arozarena, Mariners

Arozarena, the 2020 AL Championship Series MVP with Tampa Bay even before being the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, hit a career-best 27 homers with 76 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last year in his first full season with Seattle, which acquired the two-time All-Star from Cuba at the 2024 trade deadline.

LHP Trevor Rogers, Oriole

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The 13th overall pick by Miami in the 2017 amateur draft, Rogers made his big league debut with the Marlins in 2020, got traded to Baltimore at the 2024 deadline and sent to the minors less than a month later. Now he is set to start the season opener for the Orioles. He missed two months last season with a right kneecap issue before going 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts.

LHP Kris Bubic, Royals

Bubic was an All-Star last year but made only one more start for the Royals after the Midsummer Classic because of a strained rotator cuff. He was 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA.

INF Luis Arráez, Giants

The three-time NL batting champion while finishing each of those seasons with a different team, signed a $12 million, one-year deal with San Francisco after becoming a free agent for the first time. The 28-year-old Arráez is a .317 career hitter with only 215 strikeouts in 3,533 career plate appearances. He had 584 hits, 460 of them singles, the past three seasons.

Some players with options

Third baseman Bo Bichette, who joined the Mets this offseason on a $126 million, three-year free-agent deal, can opt out after this season. So can 30-year-old right-hander Michael King, who after becoming a free agent for the first time last offseason, signed a $75 million, three-year contract to stay with the San Diego Padres.

Team options

Among the players who could become free agents if club options aren't exercised for 2027 are second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the Atlanta Braves, Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. First baseman Yandy Diaz, the 2023 AL batting champion and a .290 career hitter, has a vesting club option with Tampa Bay.

Some former Cy Young winners

Ray, traded to San Francisco two years ago, is going into the final year of his deal signed before the lockout. The 34-year-old Ray is 88-81 with a 3.94 ERA in his 12 big league seasons with stops also in Detroit, Arizona and Toronto, the team he was with in 2021 for his Cy Young season.

Right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, started only twice in 2024 before Tommy John surgery and becoming a first-time free agent. He got a new deal with the Guardians that had a $16 million player option for this season, which is for Toronto after being traded last July and making seven starts. The 30-year-old Bieber is 66-34 with a 3.24 ERA in 143 career games.

Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is also 30, is set to make his franchise-record sixth opening day start for the Marlins. He missed the 2024 season after Tommy John surgery. He initially struggled in his return last year, but went 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA over his last 12 starts. Miami has a $21 million club option for 2027.

___

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

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do in the NFL draft if they want to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. They are armed with multiple first-round selections and thanks to the Osa Odighizuwa trade also have a third-round pick to give them three picks in the top 100.

One of the critical parts of the draft process is the 30 visits that each NFL team has. These are visits to the team’s headquarters, 30 of them if that is not obvious, where the Cowboys can get more intel on players who they have interest in.

It is worth noting that the Cowboys also have “Dallas Day” which is a separate opportunity to interview local prospects without them counting against their 30 total. The Cowboys usually take advantage of this in a proper way and are fortunate to have such talented local prospects in their area.

Below you will find the list of reported 30 visits. We have listed their consensus rank relative to the NFL Mock Draft Database Big Board.

Reported Dallas Cowboys 30 Visits

Reported Dallas Day Visitors are still to come.

Last Updated: Monday, March 16th at 1:50pm ET

The growing influence of the academy was discussed on Cadena SER’s Carrusel Deportivo radio program, where analyst Bruno Alemany argued the current squad context makes the youngsters particularly valuable.

“In Arbeloa’s current moment with Real Madrid, the academy players fit perfectly. This Madrid no longer has Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić or Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are there, but the squad has less quality than it did four years ago. In this Madrid you have to run a lot, and the ones who always run a lot are the academy players.”

However, not everyone is convinced the commitment will last once injured players return. Julio Pulido questioned whether the enthusiasm around the academy might be temporary.

“For me this commitment to the academy is a bit inflated. Right now it sounds great to talk about the academy players, but I want to see what happens when all the injured players return and when Arda Güler is available as well.”

That is the lingering question for fans and media alike. When all players are fit and healthy – does Arbeloa revert back to the untouchables, refusing to substitute the likes of Vini, Mbappe, and Bellingham?

We’ve entered March Madness, and many Americans will be secretly watching the tournament while at work or in classrooms.

For North Carolina fans, the question is what happened to the team they saw against Kansas and in the first Duke game, compared with the one they saw against Miami, NC State and Duke the second time around.

Here are some takeaways from what transpired in the regular season — the highs and the lows.

Caleb Wilson's season will be remembered forever

It’s a shame his season was cut short because he was having arguably the best season a freshman has ever had at UNC.

He was UNC’s leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 rebounds per game) before his season-ending injury. He also averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks, which are still team highs. Wilson recorded 11 double-doubles, tied for the second most for a freshman in program history.

Wilson rewrote the Tar Heels’ record book for scoring, rebounding, 20-point games and double-doubles by a freshman. 

Despite his injury, he was a first-team All-ACC selection and had the second-most votes behind Cameron Boozer by just 15 votes. 

Seth Trimble is a relic of what College Basketball once was

Seth Trimble finished his career with his best season of the four years he spent in Chapel Hill, averaging 14 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the floor — all career highs. On top of that, his game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Duke will be remembered forever in Chapel Hill and around the Triangle as one of the greatest moments in the history of the Carolina-Duke rivalry.

However, what makes Trimble so unique is that he was one of 22 players who spent all four seasons at one power-conference school. That illustrates how much NIL and the transfer portal have changed college athletics, especially college basketball.

Backcourt has been disappointing

Outside of Trimble, the backcourt has been brutal to watch. Not only is its perimeter defense terrible, it can’t score either. Outside of Trimble and Luka Bogavac, no other UNC guard or wing is shooting 40% or better from the field.

Kyan Evans, who was brought in from Colorado State via the transfer portal to be Carolina’s point guard and bolster its 3-point shooting, has averaged only 4.1 points while shooting just 32% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. He was eventually benched for Derek Dixon, but the freshman has struggled as well, shooting just 36% from the field.

Interior play sputtered late

North Carolina was one of the better interior teams in the country entering conference play. However, by the end of the regular season, cracks were beginning to show.

By the end of ACC play, this UNC team was worse in league play in both offensive rebounding percentage (28.8) and opponent offensive rebounding percentage (29.4) than last year’s smaller group (29.8 offensive rebounding, 26.8 opponent offensive rebounding).

Overall, the Tar Heels rank 91st nationally in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (28.6), the program’s worst mark since 2015-16. Making matters worse for UNC, Wilson had been the team’s best rebounder at both ends. The freshman posted a 22.2 defensive rebounding percentage, good for 88th nationally.

UNC was also outscored in the paint in seven of its last 13 games of the regular season, including both meetings with Duke. Some of those games were the result of Wilson being out, including the infamous 82-58 blowout loss to NC State, when both he and Veesaar were sidelined. However, there were three games during that stretch in which UNC was outscored in the paint with Wilson on the court: Miami, Syracuse and Virginia. So this isn’t just a post-Wilson issue.

It’s also an issue with roster construction, as UNC’s roster this season was built to be a better rebounding team with considerable size added at each position.

Perimeter defense has been atrocious

The Tar Heels have allowed opponents to shoot 34.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks 238th nationally and 14th in the conference, and there were nine games in which UNC allowed opponents to shoot 40% or better from downtown. The Tar Heels were last in conference play in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 38.5% from beyond the arc.

Free Throw shooting might be worse

North Carolina is shooting 68.4% from the free-throw line, which ranks 315th nationally and 15th in the ACC. Only two players are shooting 75% or better: Jaydon Young (75%) and Derek Dixon (81.8%). UNC’s three leading scorers — Caleb Wilson, Seth Trimble and Henri Veesaar — are shooting a poor 67.2%, 67.2% and 62%, respectively. That’s not good at all.

This has plagued UNC all season, especially in some of its closer games. Free throw shooting has been the reason why teams have made late rallies on Carolina or why it loses close games. Case in point: its 80-79 loss to Clemson in the ACC Tournament, when it missed seven free throws. Make just two of those, and UNC likely completes the comeback and remains in the hunt for its first ACC Tournament title since 2016.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: The biggest takeaways from the regular season

Chelsea have been fined £10 million and handed a suspended transfer ban after admitting to making £47m in undisclosed payments linked to player transfers between 2011 and 2018, BBC Sport has reported.

The punishment, issued by the Premier League, represents the largest financial penalty in the competition’s history, surpassing the £5.5m sanction imposed on West Ham United in 2007 over the controversial registrations of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

The investigation found that “undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties” for Chelsea’s benefit. The payments were connected to several high-profile transfers during the ownership of Roman Abramovich, including deals involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matić. There is no suggestion that any of the players were involved in wrongdoing.

Although the Premier League considered imposing sporting sanctions, including a points deduction or immediate transfer ban, Chelsea avoided those penalties after voluntarily self-reporting the irregularities following the club’s takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly in 2022. Officials confirmed the £10m fine had been reduced from a potential £20m because of the club’s “proactive self-reporting and co-operation”.

Chelsea also received a separate punishment relating to their academy operations: a nine-month ban on registering new academy players, alongside a £750,000 fine for breaches linked to youth recruitment between 2019 and 2022.

In a statement, the club said it had treated the investigation “with the utmost seriousness” and had provided “full cooperation to all relevant regulators”.

Current head coach Liam Rosenior sought to draw a line under the issue, insisting it would not disrupt the team’s focus. “I think actually that’s a line drawn through that issue and we can move on,” he said. “We can plan to make this club as strong as possible in the long term.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle

This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.

It is step four of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (33-18-15) five-game gauntlet road trip and perhaps the most difficult. No team in the league is better, and no team in the league has a better goal differential than the Presidents’ Trophy-contending Colorado Avalanche (44-12-9). The Penguins face Colorado Monday at Ball Arena.

The puck drops just after 9:30 p.m. EST.

The Penguins are stiff underdogs in the FanDuel NHL odds, going off at +190. Colorado is a -235 to win outright. The Penguins are slight favorites to cover the 1.5 Puckline (-132), but the FanDuel research and prediction models favor the Avalanche 67%.

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Mar. 16—Illinois women's basketball team returned home from Indianapolis with a clear plan in mind for how the Illini would approach the bye week between the end of the Big Ten tournament and Selection Sunday.

Illinois knew it would make the field of 68 for the NCAA tournament. The Illini could be confident in that given their solid resume with three Quad I wins and a Top 30 NET ranking. understood the need for rest after the long grind of a four-month-long regular season and a stretch of three games in three days at the Big Ten tournament with Illinois defeating Wisconsin and Michigan State before a quarterfinal loss to Iowa.

That meant Green gave her Illini players two days off before diving back into practice. A practice week at Ubben Basketball Complex that was almost exclusively self-scout. Illinois, after all, had no idea who they would be playing in the NCAA tournament.

That much wasn't revealed until Sunday night when the Illini (21-11) landed a No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with No. 10 seed Colorado (22-11) at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

"We've just been doing a lot of competitive stuff, playing a lot, getting up and down, kind of just getting back to the basics of our core values, our participles both ends of the floor," Green said of the practice plan in the week leading to Selection Sunday. "You don't really know (what opponent) you are going to see (in the NCAA tournament until the bracket reveal). Are you going to see zone (defense)? Are you going to see man. So, we really tried to tighten up both things and focused in on ourselves and then (Monday) we'll get going with Colorado."

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Call it a trend or just a sign of the times, but sports betting operators aren’t worried about Cinderella this March. 

Key Takeaways

• Bettors are banking on Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and other top contenders to make deep runs again.
  
  
• USF is getting a lot of attention for Thursday’s game against Louisville.
  
  
• March Madness betting is expected to be massive this year.

Instead, sportsbooks could use an unlikely giant killer doing some damage for them during the men’s NCAA Tournament, which begins with play-in games Tuesday. 

“We’re expecting a fairly chalky tournament this year, similar to what we saw last season,” said Patrick Berbert, Caesars Sportsbook college basketball trader. “The NIL era has really widened the gap between the top programs and the rest of the field.”

In 2025, all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. This year, Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan were named region leaders during Sunday’s NCAA selection show. Connecticut, Purdue, Houston, and Iowa State are the two seeds. Those are all massive brands in the sport, leading to heavy liabilities, as bettors aren’t expecting many wild upsets, especially early. 

Arizona opened as a 29.5-point favorite over Long Island in its first-round game Thursday. Duke, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa State, and Houston all opened as at least 20-point favorites.    

Early March Madness College Basketball betting @BetMGM 🏀

Most bet games 🎟️
1. SMU at Miami OH
2. NC State at Texas
3. Howard at MD Baltimore
4. Northern Iowa at St. Johns
5. High Point at Wisconsin

Most bet spreads 🎟️
1. Miami OH +7.5
2. Northern Iowa +10.5
3. MD Baltimore… pic.twitter.com/LgBZnQeKWT

— BetMGM News (@BetMGMNews) March 16, 2026

Futures markets

That doesn't mean bettors won’t take shots on upsets during individual games, but Duke (+300) and Michigan (+325) have combined to account for 22% of the entire market’s bets at BetMGM. However, odds aren’t as long, making Miami (Ohio) at +200,000 to win it all a bigger liability than any No. 1 seed.  

“Among the favorites, UConn, Florida, and St. John's are our biggest liabilities to win the tournament,” BetMGM senior trader Michael Ranftle said. “Duke and Arizona have been popular with bettors but are the best outcomes of the title contenders for the sportsbook.” 

Arizona has received the most bets to win the national championship since Sunday on theScore Bet, accounting for 16.8% of tickets and 22.3% of the handle. Michigan is second in money at 10.9%, with Duke getting the second-most tickets at 11.5%. However, the Blue Devils’ 7.9% handle is behind Purdue (8.9%) and Iowa State (8.6%).

First-round insights

South Florida has emerged early as one of the most popular teams for spread bettors. The 11th-seeded Bulls, 5.5-point underdogs against sixth-seeded Louisville, are the most-bet team playing in Thursday’s first round at BetMGM.

Early Thursday NCAA Tournament betting at @BetMGM@USFMBB +5.5 - most bet team to cover

South Florida +185 - most bet dog to win

High Point-Wisconsin Over 164.5 - most bet total pic.twitter.com/uH2CHJZDzY

— John Ewing (@johnewing) March 16, 2026

USF is the most-bet underdog at BetMGM and has taken the second-most action at theScore Bet as of Monday afternoon. 

No. 12 seed Akron, +7.5 against No. 5 Texas Tech on Friday, is the most-bet spread team at theScore Bet. Houston, a 23.5-point favorite over Idaho in the first round, is another popular spread pick, along with Duke (-29.5 versus Siena).  

Akron is also getting the most moneyline action at +250, ahead of McNeese State (+425 versus Vanderbilt) and Saint Louis (+130 versus Georgia), at theScore Bet. St. John’s is the most-bet moneyline team by handle as a -650 favorite over Northern Iowa, which is the second most-bet spread team at BetMGM. UNC at -135 against VCU is second in moneyline handle at theScore Bet. 

First Four action 

Miami (Ohio) is getting a lot of love heading into Tuesday and Wednesday’s First Four games. The Redhawks (+7.5 versus SMU) have received the most spread tickets and handle in what is the most-bet game at BetMGM so far. They’re also the most-bet moneyline team at +240. 

Tuesday’s 11-seed play-in game between NC State and Texas is the second-most bet game as of Monday, with the Wolfpack (+1.5) getting the fourth-most spread tickets. The under 159.5 is the most-bet total at BetMGM. 

UMBC, a 2.5-point favorite over Howard on Tuesday, is getting the third most bets.  

Massive betting event

March Madness is a massive betting event and one that the American Gaming Association estimates will generate $3.3 billion in wagering. The men’s and women’s three-week tournaments offer hundreds of betting markets and draw professional and novice action.  

This year could represent the most-bet March Madness ever. 

“From a betting standpoint, we’re projecting record engagement again,” Berbert said. “College basketball has been a phenomenal product all season, and the television ratings reflect that, as it was reportedly the most-watched regular season ever.”

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.

The San Francisco 49ers have been active in free agency. They signed Mike Evans to a deal that was effectively a bet on himself. Offensive line depth was addressed by bringing in veterans with starting experience in Brett Toth and Vederian Lowe. Dre Greenlaw is back like he never left.

We’ll get to the best move in free agency later in the week. Moving on from Thomas Morstead was a no-brainer on paper. The 49ers go from the punter who was 32nd in net yards per punt to Corliss Waitman, who finished 15th last season. Morstead’s punts had the sixth-highest average of return yardage, while Waitman had the 8th-fewest.

Cornerback Nate Hobbs came over from the Packers, while the splash move was trading for Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas.

Today, we ask which move was the worst so far in free agency for the 49ers. It doesn’t have to be a signing. Maybe you wanted the team to bring back a player like Jauan Jennings or Brian Robinson Jr. Perhaps you think the team should sign another pass rusher.

We all know a safety will be selected sooner than later in the NFL Draft next month. That would be the biggest surprise if the 49ers headed into the 2026 season with the safety group unchanged.

What has been your least favorite 49ers free agency move so far?

My answer: Nate Hobbs 1 year, $4 million

It’s less about the contract and the player and more about the plan for Hobbs. Hobbs played 29 special teams snaps last season for the Packers. He spent 232 of his 358 snaps playing cornerback out wide, while the rest were at nickel.

When Hobbs was lined up at cornerback, he allowed 12 of his 19 targets to be completed for 190 yards, a 131.5 quarterback rating, with an EPA of +15.4. Two of those targets resulted in touchdowns.

OK, so how did he fare against the one NFC West team the Packers played last season? Hobbs allowed three first downs on five targets and gave up receptions of 24 and 35 yards against the Cardinals in Week 7.

The most concerning part about Hobbs’ last season when targeted was the separation. George Pickens got the best of him on three targets. One was a 50/50 ball, but Hobbs was about five yards away on a 15-yard touchdown pass he surrendered. In that Week 4 matchup, Hobbs allowed two touchdowns and three first downs for an average of 13.8 yards on six targets. One of those targets was dropped.

In Hobbs’ defense, he didn’t exactly have the easiest of matchups. Terry McLaurin, Ja’Marr Chase, Pickens, Marvin Harrison Jr., Tet McMillian, the Ben Johnson offense. But that’s the NFL today. There’s nowhere to hide.

Hobbs average separation this past season on his targets was 2.6 yards. With the Raiders last year, it was 3.6 yards, and 4.1 the year prior. Hobbs lack of special teams usage is what makes this move peculiar. Is he a Renardo Green hedge? Does Hobbs play nickel, and Upton Stout moves to safety? Or do they look at the quality athlete Hobbs is and say, “Hey, if you wanna play in the league, you’re gonna have to cover kicks.”

The 49ers aren’t paying Hobbs like a starter. Again, the critique is more about the unknown(from the outside looking in) than anything else.

What is your answer? What should the 49ers have done differently through the first week of free agency?

The wait is almost over.

In just over 24 hours, the 2026 NCAA Tournament will finally commence with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, from Dayton, Ohio. That means March Madness is finally upon us.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness expert picks: Bracket predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament

UMBC and Howard will kick off the action at 6:40 p.m. from UD Arena with a matchup that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region, with the winner taking on No. 1 Michigan.

The second game will pit Texas against North Carolina State to decide the No. 11 seed in the West Region, and the first opponent for No. 6 seed BYU.

Wednesday, March 18, will feature two more First Four games before we dive into first-round action on Thursday, March 19.

Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's schedule for the First Four games, including how to watch:

March Madness games on Tuesday

First Four

• (16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard | 6:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
• (11) Texas vs. (11) North Carolina State | 9:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

UMBC and Howard kick off the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a game that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. The Retreivers and Bison are scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. ET tip, from UD Arena, in Dayton, Ohio.

Following that will be a matchup for the No. 11 seed in the West Region, when Texas takes on North Carolina State.

How to watch March Madness games on Tuesday

• TV schedule: truTV
• Streaming: Sling TV

Both First Four matchups will be nationally broadcast on truTV. Jordan Kent and Jim Spanarkel will be on the call for UMBC and Howard, with Jenny Dell as the courtside reporter. Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale will call the second game, with Dell as the courtside reporter.

The game can also be streamed on Sling TV.

NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness 2026 Schedule

Here is the full schedule breakdown for the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament:

• First Four: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18
• First round: Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20
• Second round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
• Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27
• Elite Eight: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29
• Final Four: Saturday, April 4
• National championship game: Monday, April 6

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What March Madness games are tomorrow? First Four games schedule

TUCSON — One Valley basketball player has been a central ingredient in Arizona men’s basketball’s success during the 2025-26 season, especially as the program clinched a No. 1 West Region seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

But which Valley ties do the Wildcats have, and how has one player helped Arizona reach this milestone?

*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*

Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde

Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will square off in a welterweight bout on the MMA card featuring Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which was co-founded by Jake Paul and is promoting the MMA event, made the announcement Monday, March 16 – a week after revealing UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Philippe Lins.

“A blockbuster, triple-headliner’’ MVP called the three bouts at the event to be livestreamed by Netflix.

Diaz, a 40-year-old fan favorite, is taking on his first MMA bout since 2022, when he fought out of his UFC contract and became a free agent. He’s 21-13 (16-11 UFC) and one of his biggest victories came against Conor McGregor in 2016.

“Glad to be back in action,” Diaz said, according to a news release issued by MVP. “It’s time.’’

Perry, a 34-year-old bareknuckle brawler nicknamed “The King of Violence,” also has a history in MMA. He is 14-8 (7-8 UFC) and this will be his first MMA fight since 2021.

“The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the (expletive) face,’’ Perry said, according to the new release.

The fight between Diaz and Perry is scheduled for five rounds.

One thing Diaz and Perry have in common: Paul has beaten both of them in boxing.

In 2023, Paul defeated Diaz by unanimous decision. In 2024, Paul defeated Perry by six-round TKO.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card gets Nate Diaz fight addded

Good news for women’s college basketball in general has been terrible for NCAA Tournament underdogs in particular. As public attention keeps rising and more resources keep flowing into the sport, perennial powerhouses have developed around the country, creating a crop of national championship contenders that now goes considerably beyond the roster of old UConn-South Carolina-LSU suspects. This makes for a broader but top-heavy ruling elite.

UCLA, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia … the list goes on, and there are 18 teams at least 40 points per 100 possessions stronger than the D1 average, according to our model. But their kinds of talent and depth have not reached anywhere near the bottom of tournament brackets. The standard deviation, or spread, in power ratings among the top 68 women’s teams is 71 percent greater among women’s teams than on the men’s side. And the results are dire if you’re hoping to see broken brackets. Our upset projection model, Slingshot, estimates that no team seeded 13 or worse has even a 5 percent chance of pulling off a first-round upset this year.

That said, women can carry slingshots, too. In fact, in one possible matchup, Goliath vulnerability, long-shot traits and mis-seeding could combine for greater upset potential than anything we are likely to see in the men’s game. (See our men’s most likely upsets here.)

Here are the top 10 upset odds for the women’s tournament, with special attention to a handful of contests our model thinks most merit your attention.

No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears

Upset Chance: 63.8 percent

(Note: Nebraska must win its First Four game against Richmond first.)

Whoa, here’s a game where the so-called overdog (read: better-seeded team) would actually be likely to lose! Look, it’s been something of a down year for Baylor, which ranks as the No. 32 team in the nation according to our model. Nebraska is nine slots higher and 4.4 points per 100 possessions stronger. (And we are not outliers: Her Hoop Stats puts Nebraska at 27, Baylor at 31.) The Huskers have been severely underrated by the NCAA Tournament selection committee and others because of an 18-12 record that included three losses by 3 or fewer points. They’re a classic “wounded assassin,” our name for a power conference team whose results don’t seem all that impressive but who remains dangerous at tournament time. Nebraska has dealt with injuries but still has a top-20 offense, and has posted a scoring margin per 100 possessions just about equal to Baylor’s — all while facing a significantly tougher schedule. The numbers like the lower seed here.

No. 11 Richmond Spiders vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears

Upset Chance: 41.1 percent

(Note: Richmond must win its First Four game against Nebraska first.)

These really aren’t your mother’s Bears. Baylor ranks just 89th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding rate, and they’ve been sloppier with the ball than usual, committing turnovers on 19.6 percent of possessions (ranking: 176th). These are ominous signs for a Goliath trying to keep games safely in hand. And the Spiders not only hoist 3s more often than almost any team in the nation (45.2 percent of shots, ranking third), they are ninth-best at hitting them, too (37.0 percent). On the evening after St. Patrick’s Day, keep an eye on Maggie Doogan, one of three Richmond players hitting more than 40 percent of their 3s, and look out below! Of course, it’s cosmically unjust that Richmond and Nebraska will have to face each other just to make it into the first round. But we fans of women’s upsets have to work with what we’ve got.

No. 11 Rhode Island Rams vs. No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide

Upset Chance: 24.8 percent

The Tide don’t do the kinds of things that protect favorites from slipping — specifically, they rank an abysmal 224th in the country in offensive rebounding rate. The Rams make opponents play like they’re walking over broken glass, with a pace ranking 347th. Rhode Island has allowed 50 or fewer points in 13 of its 28 wins this year. It’s easy to see this game turning into a slog, and that favors the underdog.

No. 12 James Madison Dukes vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats

Upset Chance: 18.5 percent

The Dukes can shoot (effective field goal percentage: 50.1 percent). They’re strong rebounders at both ends of the floor. They’re above average at both forcing and preventing turnovers. In other words, JMU has become highly efficient, with a scoring margin per 100 possessions that ranks 39th, while showing no evident weaknesses. There’s no red on their stat sheets; they’re good enough to scare any giant.

No. 11 Fairfield Stags vs. No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Upset Chance: 16.8 percent

Here’s our favorite underdog story in the country. Back in 2022, Fairfield, facing the daunting task of recruiting in UConn’s backyard, hired Carly Thibault-DuDonis, a coach half Geno Auriemma’s age who was smart enough to be the valedictorian of her college class. She built the Stags with the specific goal of landing a tournament berth above the 13-line, to escape facing first-round opponents who would have home-court advantage. She got them to play like smart long shots: Fairfield has replaced Florida Gulf Coast as the nation’s premier long-range shooting specialist, and this year has made more than 11 3s per game, the most in the country. And it’s all worked!

The Stags are coming off three straight seasons of 28 or more wins and three MAAC championships, and have landed an 11-seed. For all that, their reward is an under-20-percent chance of beating Notre Dame. Sigh. That’s just where the women’s game is at these days. But we’ll say this: While Hannah Hidalgo is as game-changing a player as you will see, the Irish rank just 251st in the country in offensive rebounding rate. Give Fairfield extra chances instead of grabbing your own missed shots, and you can easily land in hot water. Don’t sleep on this one.

No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Mississippi Rebels

Upset Chance: 8.4 percent

No. 11 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. No. 6 Washington Huskies

Upset Chance: 7.6 percent

No. 13 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers

Upset Chance: 4.5 percent

No. 12 Colorado State Rams vs. No. 5 Michigan State Spartans

Upset Chance: 3.9 percent

No. 13 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels

Upset Chance: 2.4 percent

If Stephen F. Austin wins the 16-seed play-in game in Fort Worth 3, they will have a 0.05 percent chance of then beating Texas. This field really is top-heavy.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Richmond Spiders, Baylor Bears, Fairfield Stags, Women's College Basketball, Sports Betting

2026 The Athletic Media Company

The Alabama Crimson Tide were swept by the Kentucky Wildcats during the opening weekend of SEC baseball play. 

The Tide were unable to get in the win column at any point, despite scoring 15 total runs throughout the series. Alabama dropped to an overall record of 15-6 following the sweep, as the Tide will look to bounce back on Tuesday against South Alabama.

Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series sweep against Kentucky. 

Tyler Fay struggled immensely on Friday, surrendered six earned runs

Fay had been red hot prior to the Tide’s matchup vs. Kentucky on Friday. The talented pitcher surrendered eight hits and six earned runs throughout seven innings pitched, as Fay was able to stay in the game despite getting hit hard on a multitude of occasions.

The star flamethrower will look to bounce back this Friday, as Fay has been solid in 2026 prior to his nightmare outing against the Wildcats. 

Justin Lebron stays red hot, records one home run and three total hits

Lebron has been electrifying at the plate to begin the 2026 campaign. The star shortstop recorded three total hits vs. Kentucky, including a moonshot home run on Friday.

Lebron currently holds an impressive .304 batting average on the year, as the star player was elite despite the Tide being swept in Lexington. 

John Lemm thrives at the plate, records two home runs

Lemm has been widely regarded as one of the best catchers in college baseball to begin the 2026 season. The star slugger currently holds an eye-opening .328 batting average on the year, as Lemm continues to stay red hot at the plate on a nightly basis.

The catcher recorded two home runs in the series loss to Kentucky, as Alabama as a team had no problem at the plate against the Wildcats’ pitching staff throughout the entirety of the series.

Alabama will be on the road to face South Alabama on Tuesday evening, as the Tide will look to get back in the win column against the Jaguars. 

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama baseball takeaways from series sweep vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Marcus Smart punched at a picture frame in his room and, this time, he didn't miss, shattering the glass and leaving a 5-inch shard wedged inside the flesh of his palm. "I got rushed to the ER and lost a lot of blood," Smart told ESPN. "I passed out. ... That's how much I lost." When he regained consciousness, after receiving 20 stitches, Smart realized the severity of his wound. "The doctor looked at me in my eye and told me, 'I don't know how you still have use of your right hand,'" Smart said. "'You should honestly be thanking God every day.'"

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Marcus Smart almost lost use of right hand after 2018 incident

In January 2024, he ruptured a tendon in his proximal interphalangeal joint -- where the finger bends -- ending his season. "I've had two dislocations with torn ligaments in two of the fingers," Smart said. "I've had glass in my hand. I've torn ligaments on my right thumb and had surgery there. I dislocated four out of my five fingers in total ... my whole right hand just has been through a lot. So to be honest, I'm blessed to even have my right hand. For six years after the incident with the glass, I still had glass in my hand and I played with it. And there would be times where because of that, my hand would go numb. A lot of times, a lot of games, I couldn't control it. I had to play and there were a lot of times when I'm shooting the ball and just, I had no feeling in the arm, the hand."

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I've had two dislocations with torn ligaments in two …

After an ankle injury sidelined him for two weeks, Smart returned and Memphis went 10-2 in its next 12 games before he suffered a partial tear of the proximal extensor hood of his right index finger. Around this time, Smart says, he felt a shift in how the Grizzlies organization treated him. He says he felt pressured to play through it. "I wanted to be 100%, to give everything I got," Smart said. "As I'm still working out and getting ready, they're just like, 'No, your doctor said you're ready now.' And I'm like, 'I hear what my doctor said, but ... it's how I feel. Yes, surgically the finger is fine. But physically, no. The finger is still weak. I'm still strengthening it. This is my dominant hand.' So, they didn't want to hear it and they just kept saying, 'You need to play.'"

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Around this time, Smart says, he felt a shift in how …

Anthony Slater: Draymond Green is probable tonight in DC. De’Anthony Melton and Kristaps Porzingis have been cleared to return at Wizards.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Draymond Green is probable tonight in DC. De’Anthony …

Rubin Colwill has signed a new deal with Cardiff City which ties him to the club until the summer of 2030.

Wales international Colwill has made 181 appearances for the Bluebirds since making his debut in 2021.

The Cardiff vice captain's contract was set to expire next year, but he has agreed a deal to remain with the League One side for the next four years.

Colwill has impressed for the Bluebirds this season despite missing three months with an ankle injury.

The 23-year-old has scored seven goals this season, including three goals in his last two matches.

In a club statement Colwill said: "I'm very happy to get this sorted. This is my club and it's the only place I've wanted to be since I was nine.

"I want to thank Tan Sri Vincent, the board and Brian [Barry-Murphy] for showing such faith and belief in me.

"I'm extremely proud to be wearing this shirt and I'll give everything I can to get us back to where we belong. I can only see exciting times for us ahead."

Colwill is the latest young Welsh player to sign a new deal with Cardiff.

He joins Cian Ashford, Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio and Isaak Davies in committing his future to the League One promotion hopefuls.

The Darius Slay era is over, as the talented cornerback has announced his retirement via social media after 13 illustrious seasons spent with the Lions, Eagles, and Steelers. Slay is a six-time Pro Bowl honoree (2018, '19, '20, '22, '23, '24) named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2017.

Last spring, the Eagles released the Pro Bowl cornerback with a post-June 1 designation. The move saved Philadelphia $4 million in cap space and ended one of the most dominant runs by a cornerback in franchise history.

Slay started 14 games in 2024, recording 49 tackles (39 solo) and leading the NFL's No. 1 pass defense. He also led the Eagles with 13 passes defended, marking the third straight season he has recorded 13+ pass breakups. Slay recorded his first career playoff interception when he picked off a Jordan Love pass with 14:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Eagles' 22-10 win over Green Bay in the NFC Wild Card game.

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Here's the reaction from fans and media members around the league.

Darius Slay has announced his retirement

“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you've done for me. I've been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a… pic.twitter.com/5t1fqXFAIw

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 16, 2026

Slay announces his retirement. https://t.co/4vlbMKbdrQ

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) March 16, 2026

Six-time Pro-Bowl CB Darius Slay announced his retirement from the NFL on IG: pic.twitter.com/4IZHo3vTCQ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2026

Long-time NFL CB Darius Slay is retiring from the NFL. https://t.co/jduH9k2B26pic.twitter.com/osJg8laHQ1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2026

Beyond Darius Slay's career achievements (All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, SB LIX champion, etc.), he had a big impact on Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as rookies.

“He is getting old. So, I want him to get a Super Bowl. I’m playing for him.” - Mitchell in 2024https://t.co/csFuukW7as

— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) March 16, 2026

BREAKING: Longtime Eagles CB Darius Slay has announced his retirement.

Congrats, Slay! pic.twitter.com/SnOd4U4RUq

— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) March 16, 2026

Darius Slay to retire from NFL after 13 seasons. pic.twitter.com/GzUIjTMUjC

— NFL (@NFL) March 16, 2026

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Darius Slay retires: Reaction from the NFL world

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have reportedly set their sights on Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, according to CaughtOffside.

The two Bundesliga clubs are among those monitoring the 21-year-old left-back who has made two appearances for England's national team.

However, the chances for either German club to sign him are questionable, with interest from fellow Premier League sides also lingering. 

Scouts from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as unnamed La Liga clubs are reportedly also monitoring Hall.

In any case, the interested parties could face an uphill battle with Newcastle who are reluctant to sell their young star. 

Hall, now an experienced 21-year-old was signed permanently from Chelsea for €33million in the summer of 2024. 

CaughtOffside references market experts who claim the Magpies would demand a starting price of around €75million in negotiations.

It's quite possible that Dortmund and Leipzig will have to bow out of the race to sign for Hall who has played 39 games in all competitions this season. 

Antoine Dupont is arguably the best player of all time.

Dupont lifted back-to-back Six Nations titles on Saturday as France edged England 48–46 in an epic finale in Paris.

What eluded the 29-year-old during the early part of his international career was trophies, but that has now certainly changed.

His CV may lack a Rugby World Cup, but it continues to strengthen the debate that he is rugby's GOAT.

Outshining the star of French rugby has not even been worth entertaining over the past few seasons.

The France captain won the player of the Six Nations in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

However, Dupont is still not long back from a nasty anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered against Ireland in round four of last year's Six Nations.

He missed the end of that tournament and France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey rightfully took the limelight.

The 22-year-old bagged a record eight tries to win player of the championship.

Roll on 12 months and he scored four tries against England to help Les Bleus win another title, taking his tally in this year's tournament to nine - breaking his own record.

Bielle-Biarrey, who has a strong chance of winning the player of the championship for a second successive year, has now scored in 10 straight Six Nations games, a record he will look to extend next year.

Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll is the tournament's highest-ever try-scorer with 26 - eight clear of Bielle-Biarrey, who has only played in 14 Six Nations games.

The French flyer, who is showing no signs of slowing down, is scoring at a rate rarely seen in international rugby.

Bielle-Biarrey showed excellent footballing ability to nudge the ball in front of England's Jack van Poortvliet for his vital fourth try.

"He is running at over 10 metres per second - the fastest player in the Six Nations - and he has the deftest of touches. Dennis Bergkamp would be thrilled with that," former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"He is the Erling Haaland of the rugby world. Give him the ball and he will finish."

• Who did BBC pundits pick in their Six Nations teams of tournament?
• Six talking points from final round of Six Nations
• Who rivals Dupont as Six Nations' greatest player?

'More than a finisher'

In terms of pure numbers, the Bordeaux Begles wing scored 33 times for club and country last season.

That was one shy of prolific Manchester City striker Haaland, who is known for breaking multiple goal-scoring records.

This season, Bielle-Biarrey has a total of 27 tries and will be aiming to better his 2024–25 campaign.

Haaland has been criticised for offering only output - something that cannot be said of Bielle-Biarrey.

Having made a name for himself by using his lightning speed to get on the end of scores, Bielle-Biarrey has far more to his game.

"His defence is very good, and he is so busy," Monye added.

"He also had a number of assists in this Six Nations. His aerial work is brilliant, as is his kicking game. He is more than a finisher."

Bielle-Biarrey, at only 20, forced his way into France's starting XV for their home World Cup in 2023, where he scored four times.

France's all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud was on the other wing and had been a key performer for Fabien Galthie until his shock omission from this year's Six Nations.

"No-one has mentioned Penaud in the last few weeks," former Wales captain Sam Warburton told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"I remember saying last year that, hypothetically, if I was a director of rugby then the first player I would sign would be Penaud, as he had that crazy strike rate. Now Bielle-Biarrey has surpassed that."

Could Bielle-Biarrey surpass star Dupont?

Dupont's 2025 Six Nations ended at the back of a ruck in the Aviva Stadium. Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg, twisting the scrum-half's knee and rupturing ligaments.

Dupont was sidelined for nearly nine months before making his return for club side Toulouse to considerable fanfare.

And with neat symmetry, his Test return was also against Ireland in the first night of the tournament.

Dupont's game was never just about fast-twitch burst of pace, but there was still a question of whether he would come back as the same player.

France fans needn't have worried.

The 2021 World Player of the Year, Dupont buzzed around pulling his team into shape and poking holes in Ireland, none more so than when a cute chip ahead helped set up Bielle-Biarrey for his second try in a 36-14 win.

Come the end of the tournament that combination was still clicking, with France trailing by a point deep into the second half against England, Dupont's roundhouse box kick set up Bielle-Biarrey's fourth try.

Dupont has long been the face of the team. The star of adverts, billboards and viral moments, not least his brilliant try-saving tackle on Mack Hansen in the 2023 Six Nations.

He memorably appeared on the front of the French edition of GQ magazine in a canary-yellow dressing gown and has been on the front row of designer runways at Paris Fashion Week.

Bielle-Biarrey, still only 22, is not quite so comfortable in the off-pitch limelight.

And given he wears a signature red scrum cap, he is not as recognisable.

His father Joel told BBC Sport last year that Louis finds the impossibility of satisfying all the requests for selfies and autographs he gets a difficult part of the job.

But his supersonic speed and sky-high try-scoring rate – the easiest currency for casual fans to understand - mean those requests will only increase.

For Dupont, it means he has someone else to share top billing with in a national team that rivals its football counterpart for popularity and prominence in France.

• Does Lions hangover give France a Six Nations advantage?
• How 'unbelievable' Bielle-Biarrey is rewriting record books

The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is set and March Madness has officially begun with the Florida Gators holding the No. 1 seed in the South Region. Thus begins Todd Golden's endeavor to bring the national championship trophy back to Gainesville for a second-straight year.

The Big Dance is no walk through the park, as every team — no matter how they fared during the regular season — is fighting tooth and nail to move on to the next round. It is a time of year when Cinderellas emerge and unexpected upsets bust brackets.

While the top seeds in the regions are set up for an ostensibly easier avenue to the Final Four, there are still plenty of roadblocks en route to the semifinals. USA TODAY Sports writer Craig Meyer ranked the No. 1 seeds' paths based on what he sees in the initial bracket, with Florida having the third-hardest road back to the penultimate round.

"The Gators enter the tournament as one of the country's hottest teams, with 17 wins in their past 19 games after an underwhelming 9-5 start. They've got all the potential to make a second consecutive Final Four, with Sunday's bracket reveal confirming as much," Meyer offers.

"Either No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Iowa could be a squirrely second-round opponent, but the Sweet 16 won't be nearly as daunting for Todd Golden's squad as it will for some of its fellow No. 1 seeds. No. 5 seed Vanderbilt beat Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament, but the Gators have shown they can beat the Commodores, with a 98-94 in Nashville back in January," he continues.

"Or they could take on No. 4 seed Nebraska, which is just 6-6 since a 20-0 start to the season. No. 2 seed Houston, a rematch of last year's national title game, or No. 3 seed Illinois would be challenging in the Elite Eight, but Florida's path to that point isn't especially arduous."

One way or another, Golden's gang will need to bring their A-game, but at least they are not the Duke Blue Devils, who could potentially face the Kansas Jayhawks, St. John's Red Storm, UConn Huskies or Michigan State Spartans along the way. Or the Arizona Wildcats, who have the Arkansas Razorbacks, Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers in their region.

Ranking the hardest path to the Final Four for 1-seeds

1. Duke
2. Arizona
3. Florida
4. Michigan

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: March Madness predictions: Ranking Florida's road to Final Four

Matt Campbell has been working to get settled in his new position as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, and he's working to make some inroads on the recruiting trail. While the program doesn't yet have any commitments in the 2027 class, the Nittany Lions landed a pretty big prediction to start the week.

According to Rivals' inside Steve Wiltfong, 4-star quarterback Peter Bourque is projected to commit to Penn State. Bourque stands at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and is rated by 247Sports as the No. 80 overall player in the 2027 class, and the No. 7 passer.

He is also the No. 1 rated player in the state of Michigan, and up until this point, has been projected to stay in-state and commit to the Wolverines. However, it appears that Campbell has been able to sway him, and there are now expectations for Bourque to find his way over to Happy Valley.

If Campbell ultimately is able to land Bourque, it would be a big win in his early recruiting days with Penn State. Getting a QB committed early in the cycle is often critical to landing other commitments, as he is able to help recruit his peers. We will see what takes place with Bourque's timeline over the coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 4-star QB Peter Bourque predicted to land with Penn State

The Chicago Bears have not made the flashy or big signing during this NFL offseason, but they have made a concerted effort to fill their voids properly. When the team released veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, they moved quickly to replace him with another veteran, known for his speed, in Devin Bush.

The former first-round pick is coming off the best season of his career with the Cleveland Browns, including three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. In the first wave of free agency, while the Bears have not made the "big" move as they did prior to the 2025 season, they have been praised for the signing of Bush.

NFL.com's Next Gen analytics team listed the Bears' signing of Bush as one of the best free agency acquisitions this offseason. Here's what they said about Bush joining Chicago and how he fits Dennis Allen's defense:

"Dennis Allen’s defense is based out of Cover 2, which relies on highly athletic linebackers to account for significant space in the middle of the field. After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears were left with just two off-ball LBs on the roster who played 50+ snaps last season, and neither is a natural Cover 2 anchor," The article said. "Enter Bush, who allowed 0.49 yards per coverage snap last season, the second-fewest of any linebacker who logged at least 250 coverage snaps. He also recorded three interceptions (returning two for touchdowns) while allowing just one touchdown. He and Edmunds were two of the 14 LBs who were trusted to play man-to-man over 20% of the time, suggesting Allen will continue to cater to Bush's strengths. Bush was a lynchpin of the Browns’ run defense in 2025, as well, recording 75 run tackles, more than any Bears defender not named Roquan Smith in a single season over the last decade."

Bush is going to have a significant role in Allen's defense and should be a good fit alongside another veteran in T.J. Edwards next season. Chicago has lost several key members of their defense, especially in the secondary where they lost both starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Given his performance over the last two seasons, Bush should be expected to be a high-level contributor for the Bears defense in 2026 and beyond.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears' signing of Devin Bush dubbed one of best free agency moves

6 potential Cinderella stars who could bust your 2026 March Madness bracket, from Dominique Daniels Jr. to TJ Power originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In this new and rapidly evolving era of college sports, it might be harder than ever to be a true Cinderella in the NCAA Tournament. Many of the players who would ordinarily be some of the best mid-major talents in the country instead play for high-major schools, throwing off college basketball's balance.

On the flip side, talent at smaller schools can still come from just about anywhere. Some of the top mid-major players in the country started out at more prominent schools, while others began their careers outside of Division I entirely and have been overlooked their entire careers.

While short on upsets, 2025 proved that talent can still be found anywhere. Drake knocked off 6-seed Missouri with a core that was just playing at the Division II level a year earlier. There are some tremendous players outside of the schools with the most resources, and some have the potential to become brand names this March.

Here are the biggest potential Cinderella stars who could bust your 2026 March Madness bracket.

MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket

6 potential Cinderella stars in 2026 March Madness bracket

Dominique Daniels Jr., Cal Baptist

Cal Baptist's Dominique Daniels Jr. checks all of the boxes to be a potential March Madness star. He's undersized at 5-10, puts up a ridiculous amount of shots and started his college career at the junior college level. All that's left to do is at least give Kansas a scare.

Is Daniels efficient? Well, that depends. He shoots 44.4 percent from the floor, a significant improvement from last season, but he's only 32.4 percent from 3-point range. Either way, he is going to shoot. Daniels has attempted at least 20 shots in 13 of his last 24 games, 11 of which were wins.

When he's hot, he's one of the most entertaining players in the country. A day before hitting the game-winner that sent Cal Baptist to the NCAA Tournament, Daniels scored 41 points on 15-of-23 from the field. A dud is also possible against a defense of Kansas' caliber, but Daniels will go down swinging even if that is the case. 

MORE:Teams with the best chances to pull off upsets in Rounds 1-2

Wes Enis, South Florida

Bennett Stirtz led Drake to an NCAA Tournament win after jumping from the Division II level last season. Can Wes Enis do the same for South Florida?

Enis has a great deal of talent around him at USF, where Bryan Hodgson brought much of his talented core from Arkansas State, but the former Lincoln Memorial University star has transitioned seamlessly. Enis is averaging 16.7 points per game and enters the tournament coming off four consecutive 20-point performances for the Bulls.

69 percent of Enis' shot attempts are 3-pointers, which makes him a candidate to rain 3s on Louisville and send the Cardinals home early with the help of an impressive supporting cast.

MORE:How to pick Louisville vs. South Florida in first round

Tavari Johnson, Akron

Akron largely kept the band together from last season aside from losing star guard Nate Johnson, but Tavari Johnson stepped right into Johnson's shoes and emerged as one of the top mid-major players in the country.

Standing at just 5-11 and 155 pounds, Johnson's production far outweighs his size. The four-year Akron veteran is averaging 20.1 points per game along with five assists, shooting a career-high 51.2 percent from the field this year, plus 88.3 percent from the free-throw line over the last two seasons.

Johnson will have a tough assignment against a talented Texas Tech backcourt, but he has stayed loyal to Akron and would be a tremendous story if he led the Zips to a win.

Imagn Images

TJ Power, Penn

A top-25 recruit in 2023, TJ Power started out at Duke and Virginia but couldn't find his way into the rotation at either school. He chose to go the small-school route for his junior season, joining Fran McCaffery at Penn and leading the Quakers to an Ivy League Tournament title.

Penn doesn't have much size and will have its hands full with Illinois in the first round, but Power has the potential to keep the Quakers in it. A 43.2 percent 3-point shooter, Power is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a brilliant 44-point, 14-rebound performance against Yale in the Ivy League title game.

Power is more talented than most Ivy Leaguers and seems to have a knack for big moments. Penn faces long odds after needing overtime to take down Harvard and Yale, but Power could make it a fun battle with the Illini.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)

Aleksandar Gavalyugov, Santa Clara

Santa Clara enters as an underdog against Kentucky in its first NCAA Tournament appearance in three decades, and Aleksander "Sash" Gavalyugov isn't necessarily the most important piece of the Broncos' offense as they try to pull off a mild upset. He could be the most fun.

The Bulgarian guard started out at Villanova last season but only played a total of 19 minutes. He's found his niche at Santa Clara, averaging 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in a sixth-man role. That doesn't tell the full story.

Gavalyugov has been prone to explosive performances, including a 37-point outburst against Loyola Marymount, 21 points against Seattle and 23 points in a WCC Tournament over St. Mary's that sealed an at-large bid for the Broncos. He primarily shoots 3-pointers and is 39.4 percent from beyond the arc since Jan. 24. Look for Gavalyugov to be a sneaky candidate to break Kentucky's heart. 

MORE:How to pick Kentucky vs. Santa Clara in first round

Isaac Johnson, Hawaii

Hawaii's upset chances aren't nearly what they were before the win over California in this tournament 10 years ago, but if the Rainbow Warriors are going to give Arkansas a scare, Isaac Johnson will have to be the reason why. 

The 7-footer started out at Oregon before emerging as a rotation piece at Utah State and sliding over to Hawaii for a more featured role this season. Johnson has delivered on that promise, averaging 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. While not as much of a rebounder as one might expect from a 7-footer, Johnson posted 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a terrific Big West title game performance and isn't afraid to shoot from beyond the arc, attempting 14 3s between Hawaii's two Big West Tournament wins.

Arkansas' backcourt is one of the best in the country, but with Johnson, Hawaii can attack the Razorbacks at the rim and try to use that potential advantage to pull off a stunner.

Darius Slay has called it a career.

The former Detroit Lions standout announced his retirement via Instagram on Monday, ending his time in the NFL after 13 seasons. Slay was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft after attending Itawamba (2009-10) and Mississippi State (2011-12). He spent seven seasons in Detroit before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2020.

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"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me," Slay wrote on Instagram. "I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just A kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams."

Slay recorded 19 interceptions during his career with the Lions, including an NFL-best eight in 2017, the same year in which he earned All-Pro honors as a member of the first team. The Lions, at the time led by former head coach Matt Patricia and former general manager Bob Quinn, traded Slay to the Eagles for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2020 draft.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Darius Slay, former Detroit Lions standout, retires after 13 seasons

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are, obviously, a veteran-laden team that has their eyes on winning a title, but there are a handful of younger players on the roster who benefit from being around those veteran players.

For example, a guy like second-year forward Justin Edwards or rookie VJ Edgecombe, and others are benefiting from having those veteran players to lean on. The biggest presence is Andre Drummond.

Drummond, a 14-year veteran and a 2-time All-Star, has taken on the role of being the mentor for the younger guys as he has used his voice on multiple occasions to help out the younger Sixers.

"He's a big voice for me, honestly," Edwards explained. "That's someone that I go to for advice when I'm not playing or not in rotation, or not getting the minutes that I think I should get. So, he’s someone that I can talk to, to help me understand the game."

The Sixers are in a good position with the blend of vets and youthfulness they possess on the roster and Drummond is relishing the opportunity to help those youngsters along and push them forward. Especially, with a guy like Edwards who has had a much different role now than he had as a rookie.

"That's the role that I took upon myself this past year, and, you know, years before that," said Drummond himself. "Just to make sure these guys are staying positive despite the ups and downs of the season. It's a long season. It may not go your way right away, but staying with it."

The Sixers will be relying on Edwards a ton until they can get healthy again and Drummond wants to keep pushing him forward.

"He's a great player," Drummond added of Edwards. "When his number is called, he's prepared to go, and tonight was a great night for him, too. He comes to me all the time, whenever he's having those moments of doubt, and I was telling him, ‘Man, just play within your game and it’ll come to you, and you're great. So don't ever second-guess yourself.’"

Naturally, when a player of Drummond's stature gets to where he is in his career, the roles change. Teams aren't going to rely on him as the main piece to help them win games anymore. It's going to be about whether or not he can be this type of helpful player for the younger guys.

"I think it's naturally happened," Drummond said of being a mentor. "I think it's just my personality. I care about my teammates and I care about their success, especially guys that are five years and below. It's hard, you know, especially with the team that we have, too. With all the talent that we have, too. So, it's easy to fall into that space of not being happy with what you have going on, because you have so much talent on this team."

Drummond knows the ropes of the NBA. He knows that there are some players who will need to understand that just because a player is talented doesn't mean they are going to be in the rotation consistently. However, when their number is called, that player has to be ready.

"I rate it by myself to tell these guys, like, listen like your number is going to be called," he finished. "You're here for a reason. Just stay prepared. Stay ready, and when your number is called, do what you're supposed to do and go out there and play to the best of your ability."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Andre Drummond opens up on playing the mentor role for younger Sixers

Cava was flowing before the votes had even begun to be counted, and it was spilling everywhere when the counting was done, and long after that too, Barcelona's president reelect Joan Laporta exuberantly shaking a bottle of it in the early hours of Monday morning in his beloved party venue Luz de Gas.

The battle was over, rival election candidate Victor Font dispatched with consummate ease, but now the real fight begins -- with Laporta desperate to propel Barcelona back to the European throne.

Newcastle visit on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, the tie delicately poised after a 1-1 draw on Tyneside last week, Eddie Howe's men underdogs but posing a clear threat to Laporta's dream as shown by their strong first leg display.

If the last five years were about bringing Barcelona back from the ICU, as he put it after inheriting a tower of debt, then the next five must build on the platform they have created.

Should the Catalan giants go one better than last season, when they reached the semi-finals for the first time in six years, and then triumph in Budapest, theoretically Laporta wouldn't even be the president yet.

His second consecutive mandate -- and fourth in total, having led the club from 2003-2010 -- begins in July, with temporary chief Rafa Yuste in charge until then.

"If Yuste wins this Champions League, it will be wonderful, he is like a brother to me," said Laporta.

However the reality is charismatic 63-year-old Laporta will be pulling the strings, as he did on Sunday's election day, zealously greeting famous faces from the club's past who turned up to vote.

Sergio Busquets was one of them, with the defensive midfielder part of three Champions League triumphs with Barcelona, in 2009, 2011 and 2015.

The latter of those was the last time Barca lifted the trophy, over a decade ago, with all-time great Lionel Messi still at the peak of his powers, still wearing Blaugrana colours.

Losing the Argentine, whom he had pledged to keep at the club, just a few months after taking charge in 2021 was a black mark on Laporta's presidency.

There was plenty to criticise, with the return to the club's partially rebuilt Camp Nou home delayed by a year, and registration issues with Dani Olmo's contract embarrassing the club.

Many feared Laporta's decision to activate the 'palancas' -- financial levers -- would send the club to ruin, selling off future television rights and parts of the club for an immediate cash injection.

- 'Best years of our lives' -

However the approach worked, at least in the short term. Laporta and his sporting director Deco bet the house on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Jules Kounde, trying to power Barca back to the elite, and in time the deals paid off.

Most importantly, the duo turned to Hansi Flick. That was a gamble too, on the former Bayern Munich coach, but Flick's thrilling attacking football entertained fans and has proven successful.

It led the team to a domestic treble last season, and the final four in Europe where they fell short against Inter Milan.

Flick's side were defensively weak, and that still appears to be the case, with Newcastle aiming to get in behind their high line to cause an upset in Catalonia.

However in teenage winger Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri Gonzalez, Barca have arguably the best two players in their positions in the world.

"We are going to live the best years of our lives these next five years," pledged Laporta after his victory, a sizable claim considering he also oversaw the arrival of Ronaldinho, the emergence of Messi and Pep Guardiola's treble-winning campaign in 2009.

With Camp Nou now able to house nearly 63,000 fans, and a planned capacity of 105,000, Laporta believes Barca's finances are now in a healthier position to compete with clubs funded by Gulf states, including Saudi Arabian owned Newcastle.

"No one can stop us," added a jubilant Laporta before heading into the Barcelona night, although 11 years of misery in Europe hints the Catalans are sometimes capable of stopping themselves.

The Magpies' visit gives Barca the chance to begin Laporta's new era with a bang, with a Champions League quarter-final place beckoning.

rbs/dmc

Chelsea have been handed a Premier League record fine of £10.75m and a suspended transfer ban.

It was a result of the club making secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.

But it could have been a lot worse. Only a frank admission of guilt and full co-operation avoided a larger fine - and a potential points penalty.

The Premier League published a 28-page document highlighting all the wrongdoings - how much money was paid out, by who, and for which transfer deals.

This is what the written reasons tell us.

What did Chelsea do wrong?

Chelsea made 36 separate payments totalling £47.5m to 12 individuals or corporate entities.

They were made via a series of third-parties, which were primarily registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The payments either completed the signings of players and/or acquired transfer options without the payments appearing on the club's accounts.

It was found that they were "obvious and deliberate breaches" which also "involved deception and concealment in relation to financial matters".

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was implicated.

The payments happened "with the knowledge and approval of certain senior former officers and/or Directors" and using funds "controlled by or associated with the former owner".

Which player transfers came under scrutiny?

The documents name most of the players, though they are not accused of being involved.

The biggest payment, £23m, accounts for almost half the total.

The money was paid to seven unregistered agents (or entities associated with them) to sign players including Eden Hazard (Lille), Ramires (Benfica), David Luiz (Benfica), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen) and Nemanja Matic (Benfica).

The combined £19.3m transfer fees for Samuel Eto'o and Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala were also paid off the books.

Payments of £1.37m were paid to director of football Frank Arnesen, plus scout and advisory Piet de Visser and an unnamed third member of staff. This was considered to be their wage.

The final payment of £3.8m was in relation to a redacted player transfer.

Why have some names and details been redacted?

It is common practice for names to be removed from official sanction documents or commission judgments.

This usually applies to any person who is not directly connected to football.

Other times it may relate to the identity of minors or there could be data protection issues.

However, in this document there are three players and one member of staff who have had their names redacted.

No reason has been given for their identities being protected.

Did Chelsea unduly benefit from the transfer deals?

The majority of Chelsea's misconduct happened between approximately 2013 and 2017. But they were charged for offences over an eight-year period.

It was a period when Jose Mourinho returned the club, and they won six pieces of silverware.

Chelsea took two Premier League titles (2014-15, 2016-17), two FA Cups (2011-12, 2017-18), the EFL Cup (2014-15) and the Europa League (2018–19).

Most of the players named in the document had glittering careers at Stamford Bridge. They became vital players and helped the club win many trophies.

Chelsea fought off most of Europe's top clubs to the £32m signing of Lille's Hazard, who would score 110 goals in 352 games across all competitions.

The Belgium international was in the PFA Team of the Year four times, and was the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2013-14.

Willian played 339 matches for Chelsea, and Matic 121 after signing for the club for a second time.

David Luiz made 248 appearances across two spells, with Ramires playing 251 times.

Two were not quite so successful.

Germany forward Schurrle failed to find his form across 65 appearances in two seasons in West London. Eto'o scored 12 goals in 35 games and left after one campaign.

Arsene Wenger will remember the players well.

Five of them started Chelsea's 6-0 win over Arsenal on 22 March, 2014 - Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of the Gunners.

Eto'o, Schurrle and Hazard all scored in the match.

Why did Chelsea escape stronger punishment?

With Chelsea enjoying so much success after signing star players through secret payments, did they get off lightly?

If the club had not been so co-operative they faced a much tougher financial penalty and potentially a points deduction.

The starting point was the aggravating factors - length of time of the wrongdoing, the size of payments, that they were made with the knowledge of senior figures and the seriousness of the breaches.

The Premier League Board concluded Chelsea should be fined of £20m with a transfer ban for two complete and consecutive windows.

But there were mitigating factors to take into account.

BlueCo, which bought Chelsea out of Abramovich's ownership, self-reported the breaches once it had looked through the club's books.

Added to that, BlueCo made voluntary disclosures and showed "exceptional co-operation".

This saw the fine halved to £10m and the two-window transfer ban suspended.

The suspension will be activated if they commit a similar breach in the next two years.

The Board also reserved the right to be able to trigger the suspension at any time in the future if the club makes intentionally untrue declarations.

Chelsea were, however, ordered to pay an unpaid transfer levy of £771,288 in connection to Willian and Eto'o. They were banned from signing academy players for nine months, too.

Importantly, there was no breach of profit and sustainability rules.

When the payments were added to Chelsea's accounts they were not in excess of the £105m, three-season spending limit.

If they had been then the prospect of a points deduction would have been real.

The Blues had already been fined 10m euros (£8.6m) by Uefa over the same offences.

And Chelsea still have to face a hearing over 74 Football Association charges, which is likely to be another hefty fine.

So this is not quite over yet.

• Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?

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Long-time cornerback Darius Slay Jr. announced on his Instagram on Monday that he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons.

Slay, 35, spent his first seven years with the Detroit Lions after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons, where he won a Super Bowl in 2025. Slay finished his career last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Slay earned the nickname Big Play Slay for forcing turnovers in crucial moments of games. He finished his NFL career as a six-time Pro Bowler, a 2017 All-Pro, and with 28 career interceptions.

This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the final pitch of the 2025 baseball season, and it’s no surprise that he’ll throw the first pitch of the 2026 season for the Dodgers as well. Manager Dave Roberts on Monday made official that the right-hander will start on opening day against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 26.

Yamamoto was unquestionably the Dodgers’ ace last season, the only starting pitcher to remain active for the entire season. He finished third in National League Cy Young voting after posting a 2.49 ERA and 2.74 xERA in 30 starts, with 201 strikeouts and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings. But it was his work in the postseason that pushed his season into legendary status.

In six postseason games, Yamamoto was 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 33 strikeouts against only six walks in 37 1/3 innings. He went the distance in Games 2 in both the National League Championship Series and World Series, the first major league pitcher with consecutive postseason complete games in 24 years. Yamamoto followed that up with six strong innings to win Game 6 of the Fall Classic in Toronto, then got the final eight outs of Game 7 the next day to close out the Dodgers’ second straight championship. That earned Yamamoto World Series MVP honors.

Yamamoto will be the second Dodgers pitcher to record the final out of the World Series then start on opening day the following year, joining Sandy Koufax in 1963-64.

Last season Yamamoto also started and won the Dodgers’ first game of the season, in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs. He’ll be the first Dodgers pitcher to start consecutive opening days since Clayton Kershaw from 2011-18.

The Dodgers’ opener against the Diamondbacks is a 5:30 p.m. start, and will be televised exclusively by NBC, with streaming on Peacock.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay is retiring from the NFL, he announced on his Instagram.

“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done fore me,” Slay writes. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5 years old for an amazing 13 years at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a nw chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just a kid from Brunswick, GA with big dreams. BigPlay on and off the field! We out.”

Slay signed with the Steelers ahead of the 2025 season, appearing in 10 games before being released midway through the season. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2017 with the Detroit Lions.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

• Former Steelers starter signs with San Francisco 49ers
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The East region has no shortage of blue bloods.

That starts with Duke, the No. 1 seed in the entire NCAA tournament. But there are plenty of brand names up and down the region, including UConn, Louisville, Kansas, UCLA and Michigan State. That’s a lot of titles among those programs.

Here are the picks for the first-round games in the East region, with all odds from BetMGM:

Grant Halverson via Getty Images

No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5) over No. 9 TCU

This is a fun matchup to start the first round on Thursday. Ohio State was on the bubble before playing itself off it by winning four in a row (including one over Purdue) before losing a tight game to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. TCU finished well too, but doesn’t shoot it great, and Ohio State all-time leading scorer Bruce Thornton is ready to show what he can do in the NCAA tournament.

No. 11 South Florida (+5.5) over No. 6 Louisville

Louisville with a healthy Mikel Brown Jr. would be the pick, but they also probably wouldn’t be a No. 6 seed either. The freshman star point guard missed the ACC tournament with a back issue. Will he be ready for Thursday? Will he be 100%? Nobody knows. The uncertainty leads to a pick of USF, which won the AAC regular season and tournament and is on an 11-game winning streak.

No. 1 Duke (-29.5) over No. 16 Siena

The line has been on the move since opening at -25.5 at some books. That has to be a reflection of the trend of the top teams being more dominant than usual over the last two tournaments, a storyline that will be tracked during this year’s event as well. Duke is dealing with injuries to two starters. Caleb Foster and his 8.5 points per game might return at some point in the tournament but probably not in the opener, though 6-11 Patrick Ngongba II could return for Thursday’s game. Either way, Duke is a machine. Siena doesn’t have much size to match Duke and doesn’t shoot 3s well enough to keep it close that way.

No. 3 Michigan State (-16.5) over No. 14 North Dakota State

Michigan State has won its last three first-round games by 10, 18 and 25 points, easily covering all three times. This is a good Spartans team led by stellar guard Jeremy Fears, and they shouldn’t have much trouble getting another easy first-round win.

No. 12 Northern Iowa (+10.5) over No. 5 St. John’s

St. John’s probably is underseeded after winning 19 of 20 including the Big East tournament. Rick Pitino is a masterful coach. But Northern Iowa presents matchup issues. The Red Storm won’t be able to get out and run against a glacially slow Northern Iowa team, and its dominance on the offensive boards could be mitigated by a Panthers team that does well keeping teams off the glass. It’s hard to see Northern Iowa winning, but if they can keep the pace down they can cover.

No. 10 UCF (+6.5) over No. 7 UCLA

It’s hard to trust coaches on injury updates before the tournament starts, so Mick Cronin’s optimism that star point guard Donovan Dent and leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau will be fine after suffering injuries in the Big Ten tournament is hard to fully buy. And also, just because they suit up doesn’t mean they’ll be healthy. KenPom.com projects this as a 4-point UCLA win, so there’s value there too. UCF went 4-7 down the stretch so there are flaws there. Keep an eye on UCLA’s injury reports for this one.

No. 13 Cal Baptist (+14.5) over No. 4 Kansas

It’s entirely possible that the Darryn Peterson takeover happens. But we all know Peterson has had a weird freshman season before he becomes perhaps the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. There’s a lot of noise in the stat that Kansas is 14-8 when Peterson plays but 9-2 without him, but it speaks to how odd the situation has been. Cal Baptist will play good defense and don’t have to travel far to San Diego, for what that’s worth. It’s just hard to trust Kansas yet.

No. 15 Furman (+20.5) over No. 2 UConn

UConn looked like a title contender for the first half of the season, so it’s hard to figure out what happened when they lost four of their last 11 including bad losses to Creighton and Marquette and a 20-point loss to St. John’s in the Big East title game. Furman isn’t great, but they do have rare size for a small-conference team (fifth in the nation in average height according to KenPom.com). That helps. Furman doesn’t shoot 3s well, which isn’t great when taking a big underdog, but we’re just hoping the Paladins can keep it within 20.

After a short one-season stint with the New York Jets, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, per Adam Schefter.

For the Ohio State product, things started well in New York, as Fields and the Jets gave his former club all they could handle in Week One. Despite the valiant effort against Pittsburgh, things went downhill fast, as Fields and company soon stared an 0-7 record in the face.

Seeing the lack of results, Jets coach Aaron Glenn turned to Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. Now, with the team recently acquiring an old friend in Geno Smith, it appears Fields is getting the boot.

On Monday, NFL insider Adam Schefter announced the Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring Fields in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick. Additionally, Kansas City will pay $3 million of the $10 million owed to the newest Chief next season.

It will be a new-look offense for the Chiefs, as general manager Brett Veach added Super Bowl LX MVP RB Kenneth Walker to the roster. Furthermore, Veach elected to bring back 36-year-old TE Travis Kelce, despite rising doubt from the media.

Fields started six games with the Steelers in 2024, going 4-2 with five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, and one interception.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

• Steelers mailbag callout: Post free agency edition
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• Steelers still have plenty of cap space after free agency
• Steelers sign former Titans defensive tackle
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The Georgia Bulldogs have been named as a bracket buster by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter following an overall record of 22-10, and a record of 10-8 in SEC play this season.

The Bulldogs will enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, facing the No. 9 seeded Saint Louis Billikens in the opening round. Georgia will enter the matchup as a slight favorite, as the Dawgs have been widely considered as a team that could make some serious noise throughout March Madness in the upcoming weeks. Star playmakers Jeremiah Wilkinson and Kanon Catchings have been scoring at a high clip, as the duo could quickly find themselves catching fire against Saint Louis on Thursday evening. Both Wilkinson and Catchings will play crucial roles for Georgia, who is among the country's leading scoring offenses.

Reuter highlights Georgia's offense as a big reason why UGA could make a run as a bracket buster.

"The Bulldogs rank No. 16 in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency, and they play as up-tempo as any team in the tournament field," Reuter said. "That gives them intriguing upside, though the defense will need to show up, as they are 4-9 in games where they allow 85 points."

The Billikens are listed as one of five teams that could be a bracket buster in addition to Georgia. Saint Louis will serve as an excellent test for the Bulldogs in the opening round of the tournament, as the Billikens hold an impressive 28-5 overall record and a 15-3 record in conference play.

Reuter notes that Saint Louis shoots over 40% from three-point territory and has the scoring offense to keep up with Georgia. Saint Louis center Robbie Avila was named as the Atlantic 10 player of the year.

No. 8 Georgia will face No. 9 Saint Louis in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at 9:45 p.m. ET (televised on CBS).

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia basketball named as a March Madness bracket buster

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Last updated: Monday, March 16, at 1:36 p.m. ET.

⛳ Valspar Championship: Key takeaways

• Best early bet: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600) – Game fits the demands of the Copperhead Course and just gained true strokes across the board at THE PLAYERS to finish second.
  
  
• Best early value: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000) – Finished T4 here last year and carded his fourth Top 20 across six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week.
  
  
• Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs that have traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s.
  
  
• Weather: Early forecasts are favorable for scoring conditions with mostly sunny and dry weather, with Round 1 on Thursday a potential outlier due to gusty wings.
  
  
• Expected cut: The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.

Valspar Championship odds: favorites & full field

The Valspar Championship runs March 19-22 at Copperhead Course. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.

Golfer
Xander Schauffele	+1000
Matt Fitzpatrick	+1600
Viktor Hovland	+1600
Akshay Bhatia	+2000
Jacob Bridgeman	+2200
Justin Thomas	+2200
Jordan Spieth	+2500
Brooks Koepka	+2500
Corey Conners	+2800

Odds as of Monday, March 16, at 1:36 p.m. ET.

Check out the full Valspar Championship field. 

Course breakdown: What wins at Copperhead Course?

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a difficult 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs, water hazards, and bunkers. The track has traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s, and there are also five Par 3s ranging between 195-235 yards.

Copperhead has also played more difficult the past three years, with the winning score ranging between -10 and -12, after Sam Burns carded -17 in both of his back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023.

Additionally, this layout plays longer than its yardage because of the doglegs and often penalizing rough. Accuracy off the tee and strong long-iron play are musts with one of the most common approach distances historically being from 175-200 yards. Designer Larry Packard has 12 doglegs on the layout, including signature double doglegs on four holes. The elevation changes are also atypical of the three most recent stops on the Florida Swing. 

Excellent ball-striking had been a trait of each of the eight winners from 2015 through 2023, as they all finished Top 6 in true strokes gained tee-to-green. 

Peter Malnati finished 13th in the metric while ranking third in true strokes gained putting in 2024, while 2025 winner Viktor Hovland respectively ranked 11th and second.

Finally, while The Snake Pit garners desired attention as a demanding three-hole finish, the entire course has been challenging the past three years, with the rough grown higher and closer to the putting surfaces.

• Narrow, treelined fairways and doglegs often take driver out of play
• Overseeded Bermudagrass featured throughout
• Five long Par 3s (195-235 yards)
• Course knowledge and experience are rewarded
• The Snake Pit is one of the most difficult finishing stretches on tour

Players to watch

• Jordan Spieth: The 2015 winner is beginning to string together a nice run of solid approach play and excellent putting.
  
  
• Justin Thomas: Finished solo second here last year for his fourth Top 10 in the event, and his game flashed at THE PLAYERS during a T8 finish.
  
  
• Brooks Koepka: A T9-T13 run entering the week, Koepka’s trending in the right direction, and will be playing this event for the first time since his T12 in 2022.

Key stats & player profiles to target

• True strokes gained on approach
• Par-5 scoring
• Bogey avoidance
• Scrambling/true strokes gained around the green
• True strokes gained tee-to-green

Players to watch

• Matt Fitzpatrick: Finished second in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week in THE PLAYERS and ranks sixth in birdie-or-better leaders and 19th in adjusted scoring average this PGA Tour season.
  
  
• Xander Schaueffle: The betting favorite has carded a T12-T5-T12 run in this event, and he’s carded four consecutive Top 25s while gaining true strokes across the board after finishing third at THE PLAYERS.
  
  
• Ryo Hisatsune: Carded his fourth Top 20 across his past six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week, and he’s gained true strokes off the tee and on approach in each of his past seven events.

Outright picks: winners to bet

Pick 1: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600)

Matt Fitzpatrick’s game suits the demands of the Copperhead Course, and he just gained true strokes across the board to finish second in THE PLAYERS and climb to sixth in birdie or better percentage on tour this season.

• Course Fit: Fitzpatrick has a T5 here in 2022 on his resume
• Recent Form: Elite tee-to-green game is producing birdies in bunches
• Market Value: Properly positioned near top of betting boards

Risk: Has missed the cut in two of three events here.

Pick 2: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000)

Ryo Hisatsune finished T4 in this event last year while gaining true strokes across the board, and he’s carded four Top 20 across his past six events after finishing third in true strokes gained tee-to-green in THE PLAYERS.

• Course Fit: Carded a T4 here last year
• Recent Form: Four Top 20s across past six events
• Market Value: His odds will be lower by Round 1 tee time

Risk: Hisatsune has never won a PGA Tour event.

Odds movement & market notes

This field is deeper with proven PGA Tour and international winners than many of the most recent editions of the Valspar Championship, with major champions Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka all hovering atop the odds board. Additionally, Viktor Hovland, Akshay Bhatia, and Jacob Bridgeman are all in solid form and check in as chalky contenders.

Golf bettors often look to the top of the board, so I'm anticipating Schauffele and Fitzpatrick to be popular bets early this week following strong showings in THE PLAYERS, while the popularity of Thomas and Hovland also draws plenty of action.

Finally, I'm interested to see the betting numbers for Koepka at BetMGM this week. He opened at +2500 and has carded a T8-T13 run across his past two events, so I also expect him to be highly touted and bet leading in Round 1. 

How to watch & tee times

How to watch:

• Thursday and Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
• Saturday and Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel, and 3-6 p.m. ET, NBC

Tee times:

• Round 1 and 2 tee times and featured groups should be released on the official PGA Tour website Tuesday, March 17.

Valspar Championship betting FAQ

When is the 2026 Valspar Championship?

The 2026 edition of the Valspar Championship is Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22.

Where will the 2026 Valspar Championship be played?

The 2026 Valspar Championship is being played at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) in Palm Harbor, Florida.

What is the “Florida Swing?”

The Valspar Championship is the fourth and final event of the "Florida Swing," which is a series of tournaments played on the state's challenging Bermudagrass courses.

Who is the 2026 Valspar Championship favorite?

Xander Schauffele is the pre-tournament betting favorite in the Valspar Championship odds at BetMGM, followed by Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland.

What are Valspar Championship FRL markets?

First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which player(s) will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.

How do Valspar Championship matchup bets work?

When betting Valspar Championship matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.

What is the Valspar Championship cut line?

The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 (36 holes) will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.

Are Valspar Championship odds the same across all sportsbooks?

You'll see slight variations in odds across sportsbooks for the Valspar Championship; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.

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.

Patriots Predicted To Draft Clemson Player Who Lives In Opposing Backfield originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones and Kevin Byard to improve their defense, but also lost K'Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins.

The Patriots' pass rush was among the worst in the league in terms of sacks last season. Losing Chaisson, but adding Jones does not improve the group. It keeps it about the same. Now the team must look to add to the pass rush as a whole. The NFL Draft will be a great opportunity to do just that.

The Patriots have the No. 31 overall pick right now, and NJ.com's Cayden Steele projects the Patriots will select University of Clemson defensive end, T.J. Parker.

"Strong, physical, defensive ends like Parker typically offer a high floor," Steele wrote of Parker. "He would be a quality starter on New England’s defense."

The Patriots getting a healthy Harold Landry back will be a huge boost for the pass rush. However, Parker is more than just a pass rusher. He had 21.5 sacks in three seasons at Clemson, but also had 41.5 tackles for a loss. In 2024, he led the ACC in forced fumbles with six. He can impact the game in different ways and has the feel of a player Mike Vrabel would love.

He is not a perfect player, but no prospect is. NFL Network's Lance Zierlein called him a "powerful" player who needs some coaching to become a star in the NFL.

"Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers," Zierlein wrote. "Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles. Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush. He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter."

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nate Diaz will return to mixed martial arts for the first time in nearly four years when he fights fellow brawler Mike Perry on the undercard of Ronda Rousey's meeting with Gina Carano.

Most Valuable Promotions on Monday announced the latest addition to the Netflix card scheduled for May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout is scheduled for five rounds at the 170-pound welterweight limit.

Diaz, who turns 41 next month, hasn't fought in a cage since September 2022, when he choked out Tony Ferguson in his final bout for the UFC. The California native is best known for splitting two memorable fights against Conor McGregor a decade ago in a rivalry that exponentially boosted both fighters' star power.

Diaz also took two big-money boxing matches in the past three years. He lost a decision in 2023 to Jake Paul, the social media star-turned-boxer whose company is promoting the Rousey-Carano show, before beating his former UFC rival, Jorge Masvidal, in 2024.

“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again."

The 34-year-old Perry fought for the UFC until 2021, establishing a reputation for exciting bouts and troubled behavior outside the cage. He also lost a boxing match to Paul, getting stopped by the YouTuber in July 2024.

After losing seven of his final 10 fights for the UFC, Perry has since made a successful move into bare-knuckle boxing, where he is 6-0. His MMA bout with Diaz will be his first time in a cage since 2021.

Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.

Former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou is also fighting Brazil's Philipe Lins in Inglewood.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Sony’s upgraded PSSR tech is now available in several PlayStation 5 Pro games Sony has officially started rolling out its improved PSSR technology across a range of games. Several partners have already implemented Sony’s improved upscaler into their PlayStation 5 Pro games, and more game upgrades are on the way. PSSR upgrades are now available […]

The post Sony rolls out “Improved PSSR” to a wave of PS5 Pro games appeared first on OC3D.

The post Top 14 Altcoins to Buy Now as South Korean Traders Drive Huge Volume appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

South Korea just lit up. Over the weekend, 14 altcoins saw explosive volume spikes across Upbit and Bithumb, the country’s two largest crypto exchanges. Over 16.2 million South Koreans hold crypto accounts, meaning 32% of the entire population owns digital assets. More people in South Korea own crypto than stocks.

According to Chainalysis, South Korea has received over $722 billion in crypto value, second only to the United States. Crypto holdings represent approximately 4.2% of the country’s entire GDP.

The 14 Altcoins Seeing Explosive Volume Right Now

Here is the full list of tokens that saw major volume spikes across Upbit and Bithumb this weekend, ranked by combined exchange activity:

1. XRP The perennial Korean favourite. Upbit alone recorded $88 million in XRP volume. Combined with Bithumb’s $33 million, total weekend volume hit $121 million. The most active trading pair on Upbit right now is XRP/KRW with $24 million in 24-hour volume. Korean retail has never stopped accumulating XRP and the data consistently reflects that.

2. Official Trump (TRUMP) Surged 52% in 24 hours following the announcement of a second Mar-a-Lago gala exclusively for the top 297 token holders. Korean traders piled in fast, driving $88 million in volume on Upbit alone. Global spot volume hit $1.4 billion. Still 94% below its all-time high of $74.

3. Bitcoin (BTC) No explanation needed. Korean exchanges always carry heavy Bitcoin volume and this weekend was no different, with BTC featuring prominently across both platforms alongside the altcoin surge.

4. Dkargo (DKA) The standout micro-cap of the weekend. A blockchain-powered logistics platform built on Arbitrum’s Layer 3 infrastructure that pulled $82 million in volume, surging over 28% in under 12 hours. Volume hit nine times its 30-day daily average. Worth watching closely.

5. Ethereum (ETH) Korea has always maintained strong Ethereum exposure alongside Bitcoin. ETH featured in the weekend surge with solid volume across both exchanges, consistent with its global momentum after printing its first green weekly candle in eight weeks.

6. NEO One of crypto’s earliest smart contract platforms maintaining a loyal Korean following. NEO consistently appears in Korean volume spikes and this weekend was no exception.

7. Alpha (AQT) A DeFi protocol that has maintained strong Korean retail interest. Its appearance in the top 14 suggests active rotation into DeFi-adjacent tokens this weekend.

8. Anoma A privacy-focused blockchain protocol that entered the Korean top volume list this weekend, suggesting early accumulation interest from Korean traders ahead of broader market attention.

9. Dogecoin (DOGE) Korea has always had a soft spot for Dogecoin and the meme coin consistently features in volume spikes when broader market sentiment turns positive.

10. Aethir (ATH) A lesser-known token outside Korean markets that saw significant volume this weekend, reflecting the tendency of Korean exchanges to surface micro-cap opportunities before they reach global attention.

11. BitTorrent (BTT) The Tron-ecosystem token with a long history on Korean exchanges. Its appearance in this weekend’s volume list is consistent with broader Tron network activity picking up across Asian markets.

12. Contentos (COS) A content-focused blockchain platform that maintains a dedicated Korean following. COS consistently surfaces in Korean volume spikes as retail traders rotate through smaller cap ecosystem tokens.

13. Sahara AI Perhaps the most interesting name on the list. An AI-focused blockchain project that appearing in Korean top volume during a broader market downturn suggests early accumulation interest in the AI-crypto narrative from one of the world’s most crypto-active populations.

The post XRP Price Breaks $1.45 Resistance as Volume Surges 140%—Can Bulls Push Toward $1.65? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

XRP price has gained bullish momentum over the past 24 hours, climbing from around $1.41 to nearly $1.51, marking a 5–6% daily increase. The move comes after the token successfully broke above the $1.426 resistance level, a zone that had capped multiple recovery attempts in recent sessions. The breakout follows improving sentiment across the broader crypto market as major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to trade near key resistance levels. 

The shift in market momentum has helped XRP extend its short-term recovery while attracting renewed trading interest. It recorded over $3.5 billion in 24-hour trading volume, representing a surge of more than 140% compared to the previous session, hinting towards a rise in the trader’s participation. With this, the question arises whether the bulls could extend the rally to $1.65 and clear the path to $1.83.

Derivatives Activity Points to Growing Trader Interest While Institutional Flow Remains Mixed

Derivatives markets are also reflecting increasing interest in XRP. Futures open interest has climbed to roughly $2.6 billion, indicating that traders are opening new leveraged positions as the asset attempts to establish a stronger trend. While rising open interest often supports price momentum, it can also introduce short-term volatility if leverage builds too quickly.

As a result, traders will likely monitor derivatives positioning closely as XRP tests higher resistance levels. On the other hand, institutional sentiment appears more cautious despite the improving price momentum. Recent data shows that XRP investment products recorded around $76 million in weekly outflows, including approximately $28 million from XRP-related ETFs.

This divergence between rising price action and institutional outflows suggests that the current rally may be driven primarily by retail participation and derivatives activity, rather than large institutional inflows.

XRP Tests Descending Channel Resistance

XRP continues to trade within a long-term descending channel that has defined its broader downtrend since mid-2025. After rebounding from the $1.32 demand zone, the price has moved higher and is now testing the $1.50 resistance level, which coincides with the descending trendline and the MA ribbon acting as dynamic resistance.

Momentum is gradually improving, with the daily RSI rising toward the 60 level, suggesting strengthening buying pressure after weeks of consolidation. At the same time, trading volume has increased during the recent rebound, indicating growing market participation as XRP approaches a potential breakout point.

A sustained move above the $1.50–$1.55 resistance zone could open the path toward the $1.70 supply region, while rejection may push the price back toward $1.40, with $1.32 remaining the key support level.

Can XRP Price Rally Toward $1.65 Next?

If XRP manages to sustain its momentum above the $1.50 resistance zone, the ongoing recovery could strengthen further, potentially pushing the price toward the $1.60–$1.65 range, where the next notable supply zone is likely to emerge. The improving momentum indicators and rising market participation suggest that buyers are gradually regaining control after weeks of consolidation.

However, the breakout still requires confirmation. If the XRP price fails to hold above the $1.50 level, the rally may lose strength, leading to another retest of the $1.40 support zone, while the $1.32 demand area remains the key level that bulls must defend to maintain the broader recovery outlook.

The post Attorney Explains Why XRP Token Buybacks Are Not the Same as Share Buybacks appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ripple recently bought back about $750 million worth of its own shares, valuing the company at around $50 billion. This move has sparked questions in the crypto community about whether Ripple should also be supporting XRP more directly. Attorney Bill Morgan and Zach Rynes share opposing views on how token value should be supported.

Why Ripple Isn’t Buying XRP

Morgan rejected comparisons between token buybacks and traditional stock buybacks. According to Morgan, the comparison is flawed because cryptocurrency tokens do not function like company shares.

Shares provide ownership rights and claims on company profits, while XRP operates on the decentralized XRP Ledger, which Ripple does not control. Morgan emphasized that Ripple does not own the network, meaning actions like buybacks would not have the same economic meaning they do in traditional corporate finance.

Instead of accumulating more tokens, Morgan suggested that Ripple could potentially release escrowed XRP faster to improve liquidity within the ecosystem.

Evernorth Strategy: Ripple’s Alternative Approach

Morgan also pointed to another approach linked to Ripple through Evernorth, an entity created to build an institutional XRP treasury.

Evernorth plans to buy XRP, use it in yield strategies like lending or liquidity, and then use the earnings to purchase more XRP from the market. This could slowly increase demand for the token. Morgan added that Evernorth operates independently and aims to give institutions a regulated way to gain exposure to XRP.

Critics Push Back on Ripple’s Strategy

However, not everyone agrees with Ripple’s approach. Zach Rynes, also known as ChainLinkGod, criticized Ripple’s structure, arguing that companies issuing both tokens and equity could create conflicting incentives.

Rynes claimed that when a company sells tokens while also prioritizing equity shareholders, the economic interests of token holders and shareholders may not always align. He also argued that using revenue to support token value, similar to corporate buybacks, could provide clearer benefits to holders.

Another voice in the discussion, SmartCon Drummer, questioned why Ripple focused on buying back company shares rather than purchasing XRP directly from the market. According to him, token buybacks could create both direct price impact and positive psychological sentiment among holders.

Ripple’s Narrative

Rejecting such claims, David Schwartz, former Ripple CTO argued that if critics believe Ripple lowers XRP’s price by selling tokens to fund share buybacks, the same logic means XRP holders actually benefit by getting the chance to buy the token at lower prices.

Are you being deliberately dumb? It’s good for holders because it made the price of XRP go down when they bought it.

Narratives Changing to Legal Concerns

Ripple supporters argue that the company’s strategy is partly shaped by legal history. During the long-running SEC v. Ripple case, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission cited actions by Ripple that allegedly supported XRP’s price as part of its argument that the token could be considered a security.

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The post Playnance Introduces GCOIN Staking Program as Community Locks Over 250 Million Tokens appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Playnance has introduced GCOIN Staking, a new initiative designed to encourage long term engagement across the growing GCOIN ecosystem. The program is now available on PlayW3, the company’s flagship Web3 social gaming platform, where more than 250 million GCOIN tokens were locked by users within hours of the launch.

The new staking mechanism allows GCOIN holders to participate more actively in the ecosystem by locking their tokens and receiving rewards distributed through the platform. The launch takes place ahead of the upcoming GCOIN Token Generation Event scheduled for March 18 and expands the economic layer of the Playnance network.

By staking their tokens, participants contribute to the stability of the ecosystem while gaining access to rewards linked to activity across the platform. The model is designed to strengthen alignment between token holders and the long term development of the network.

The staking program allows users to lock a minimum of 1,000 GCOIN through smart contract staking pools. Participants can select one of four staking durations of six, nine, twelve, or eighteen months. Longer lock periods receive higher reward weighting within the program.

Once staking is activated, rewards begin accumulating after 24 hours. Participants are able to claim their rewards once the staking period reaches maturity. Early withdrawal remains possible, although users who withdraw before the end of the lock period forfeit their rewards.

According to Pini Peter, CEO of Playnance, the initiative provides the community with a greater role in the platform’s growth.

“Staking gives our community a way to participate directly in the evolution of the ecosystem,” Peter said. “As the network grows, token holders can become part of that growth while contributing to the platform’s long term sustainability.”

Unlike traditional staking systems that depend on fixed token emissions, the Playnance model distributes rewards through an ecosystem allocation connected to platform activity. As more users engage with Playnance products, the revenue generated within the ecosystem contributes to staking rewards.

This structure is designed to align incentives between platform adoption and community participation. As ecosystem activity expands, the value flowing back to stakers increases as well.

GCOIN powers a growing Web3 entertainment ecosystem that includes social gaming, prediction markets, and digital trading environments. Playnance aims to expand the role of blockchain technology in entertainment by building decentralized platforms powered by its native token.

Through the introduction of staking, the company is providing community members with an additional mechanism to participate in the ecosystem while supporting the long-term development of the GCOIN economy.

Crypto wealth manager Abra plans a Nasdaq debut through a SPAC merger, joining a growing wave of digital asset companies tapping public markets for capital.

Dubbed “Operation Atlantic,“ the effort involves law enforcement agencies from the three countries and is aimed at preventing phishing attacks involving cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin achieved new six-week highs at the week's first Wall Street open, but analysis stayed risk-off, arguing that the long-term BTC price downtrend was still in place.

A small pricing error in wstETH collateral caused $27 million in Aave liquidations, highlighting the critical role of price oracles and automated risk systems in DeFi.

Iran-linked contracts drove prediction market activity higher as the CFTC opened rulemaking and Democrats moved to ban war and death bets.

A symmetrical triangle breakout and an unresolved supply overhang are boosting the case that Ether may go as high as $2,800 in March.

Popular Photoshop alternative GIMP has been updated to feature non-destructive Link and Vector Layers, an upgraded MyPaint Brush tool, and expanded file format support including SVG export. The update also brings UI and stability improvements.

ConvertlyAI.online is a text-based SaaS designed for speed and precision. Use our curated prompt library to turn simple ideas into structured digital assets, professional copy, and organized content in seconds. Built for creators and developers who need high-quality output without the friction of complex AI interfaces. Key features include 10+ asset conversion types, a pro-grade prompt library, global-ready text generation, and a minimalist, high-speed UI.

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Town is an AI work assistant that connects to your email, calendar, docs, and chat to triage inboxes, draft in your voice, manage scheduling, and run multi-step workflows with your oversight. It learns your preferences and maintains a memory profile so briefs, drafts, and actions match how you work. Use it across web, email, Slack, iOS, WhatsApp, and desktop. Choose read-only, approval-required, or autonomous modes, set per-tool boundaries, and review a clear action log while Town executes tasks across Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, Slack, Notion, and more.

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Data from 4M AI citations shows syndicated press releases barely register in AI answers. Editorial content and owned newsrooms fare better.

The post AI Search Barely Cites Syndicated News Or Press Releases appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak open the first track of the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny, improving rail travel between Newark and New York City.

The breathtaking opening of Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, where 20,000 visitors marked the start of the 2026 Kashmir tourism season.

Explore the cosmos at Khao Yai’s Dark Sky Star Party 2026. Join NARIT for stargazing, night safaris, and astrophotography in Thailand’s top park.

Amtrak announces 25% fare discount on Coach and Acela Business tickets between Boston and Virginia for travel from April to June 2026.

Bourn Companies celebrates the topping out of Tempo by Hilton Tucson Uptown, a wellness-focused hotel contributing to the city's growth and vibrant community.

Dubai International faces major delays and cancellations with 133 delayed flights and 194 cancellations today. Impacting airlines, tourism, and passengers worldwide

Emirates faces major diversions as seven flights from the UAE to the UK, France, Türkiye, Russia, Denmark and Ireland made urgent emergency landings at nearby airports after diverting shortly after departure to refuel, with no official NOTAM confirming fuel shortages at the UAE hub.

Avalon Waterways plans a new European river cruise ship for 2028 while pausing fleet expansion to evaluate alternative fuel technologies and growing river cruise demand.

Seoul allows foreign tourists to pay for subway tickets and Climate Cards with overseas credit and debit cards, boosting convenience for international travel.

Riyadh Metro records 200 million passenger journeys, linking major districts and landmarks across Saudi Arabia’s capital.

Samsung has partnered with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) to bring famous modern artworks to people’s homes through the Samsung Art Store. This partnership makes SFMOMA the first museum from the West Coast of the United States to join the Samsung Art Store platform.

With this collaboration, Samsung TV users can display famous artworks from SFMOMA’s collection directly on their TV screens. These artworks allow people to turn their living rooms into small art galleries.

Some of the artworks now available include The Flower Carrier (1935) by Diego Rivera, Femme au chapeau (1905) by Henri Matisse, Display Cakes (1963) by Wayne Thiebaud, Guardians of the Secret (1943) by Jackson Pollock, and New York City 2 (1941) by Piet Mondrian.

Image via Samsung

Samsung Art Store is a subscription service where users can choose from thousands of artworks and show them on their TVs when they are not watching movies or shows. The service already includes more than 5,000 artworks from over 800 artists and works with many famous museums around the world.

Samsung’s Art TVs, including The Frame and The Frame Pro, are specially designed to display artwork realistically. These TVs have technology that shows accurate colors and clear details, so the artwork looks close to the original painting.

The Frame Pro model also offers a brighter and sharper Neo QLED 4K display. It comes with a wireless connection box that helps keep cables hidden, giving the room a clean and simple look. Through this partnership with SFMOMA, Samsung aims to make famous artworks easier for people around the world.

The post Samsung Art Store debuts exclusive collection from SFMOMA appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung dropped a new video that’s very on purpose. Called “Meet expressive world of One UI 8.5 apps,” it’s a minute and thirty seconds of candy-colored cartoon creatures and non-stop motion with almost no dialogue, just sound effects and vibes.

Each Galaxy app now has a personality. They bounce, react, holler little affirmations like “yo” and “heat,” and they want you to know that One UI 8.5 is all about making your phone feel personal and expressive apps playing a vital role.

The app animation in the video isn’t just hype. App icons in One UI 8.5 now carry a 3D effect to make them appear slightly more prominent, which enhances the UI and improves legibility.

Source – Samsung YouTube

The company is also leaning into Good Lock harder than ever, which is Samsung’s way of saying “here are the tools, go build what you want.” Users can choose from multiple app icon effects from Good Lock.

The animated promo is also pushing Galaxy AI integration harder than previous campaigns.

The upgraded One UI 8.5 understands your usage patterns and needs, delivering a more personalized experience, and with advanced AI features like Now Nudge, you can easily access shortcuts to the next possible action.

Source – Samsung YouTube

You can watch the full video on YouTube.

The stable One UI 8.5 build ships with the Samsung Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra first, then rolls out to other Galaxy phones like the S25 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.

The Galaxy S26 series shipped with stable One UI 8.5, and the S25 lineup is still in beta in March, meaning people who actually bought last year’s flagship are still testing software.

The post Meet expressive world of One UI 8.5 apps [Video] appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exits its Korean sales run this week, having spent three months doing what gimmicks do best: convincing people to care just long enough.

Starting March 18, the Galaxy Z TriFold will reportedly exit supply after the initial planned batch runs out, and Samsung apparently has no intention of making more for Korea.

Samsung created something rare, watched the feeding frenzy, got the headlines, and now it’s time to move on. Each small restock since the December 12 launch got torched in under five minutes.

Reports suggest that Samsung only ever made about 3,000 units for Korea. The device costs 3,590,400 won in South Korea, while $2,900 in the US.

Unopened units resurfaced on secondhand sites at between 4 million and 7 million won, which means some people paid nearly double retail just to own the device.

The TriFold was never meant to succeed as a product category. It was meant to remind the market who leads in foldables before Apple launches whatever foldable nightmare they’ve been cooking up later this year.

Samsung shifts focus to Galaxy S26 series

The Galaxy S26 series just launched globally across more than 120 countries, positioned as Samsung’s third-generation AI smartphone lineup.

The S26 Ultra got particular buzz for its Privacy Display tech, which narrows viewing angles at the pixel level to block peaking eyes. It’s not a perfect feature; Samsung itself warns users to stay cautious with sensitive info, but it’s novel enough.

• Samsung explains the pixel science behind Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display

The post Samsung TriFold phone exits after proving a point? appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung has started testing its next big software update, One UI 9, and one of the noticeable changes spotted in the Media Player. Right now, the One UI 8.5 Beta Program is running on the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7, with a stable release expected soon. The first One UI 9 builds have already appeared in internal testing, which gives us a preview of what’s coming.

In One UI 8.5, the Media Player shows a simple wave that moves with the music. It is functional but plain. One UI 9, however, gives the wave a fresh new look, spotted via @tukzerotuk. We can say the Media Player in One UI 9 looks more colorful, smooth, and enjoyable to use.

The animation now shows bright Blue, Orange, and Yellow colors, which are easy to see and more visually appealing. The wave moves more smoothly, and the animation looks more defined and lively, making music playback feel fun and modern. This change seems small, but it makes a big difference for people who use their Galaxy phones to listen to music or podcasts.

One UI 8.5 and One UI 9 Media Player

Samsung may also add more updates to the Media Player in One UI 9, improving the interface and adding new features to make listening even better. While details are currently started emerging, it’s clear that Samsung is focusing on both performance and design with this update.

Samsung has reportedly begun internal testing for One UI 9. The company is expected to launch a Beta Program for select users in May 2026, allowing them to try the new features early. After testing, the stable version of One UI 9 stable will likely be released alongside the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7. Stay tuned.

The post One UI 9 brings ‘glass-like’ audio visualizer animation appeared first on Sammy Fans.

The RedMagic 11 Air launched back in January, and now it's time for the phone's Trace Edition to become available. It joins the Phantom and Prism colorways. Trace is offered exclusively with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It's priced at $599 and €599 and can be found at RedMagic's global webstore, as well as "select retail partners, excluding Brazil and Korea" for some reason. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, paired with the RedMagic RedCore R4 gaming chip for "smooth, ultra-responsive graphics, consistent frame rates, and AI-enhanced performance for the most...

Apple quietly updated its AirPods Max with the H2 chip, which brings updated noise cancelling to Cupertino’s flagship over-ear headphones. Apple claims the AirPods Max 2 offer 1.5x more effective ANC than their predecessors. Thanks to the updated Apple H2 chip, the new model also brings Adaptive Audio and Live Translation features, as well as conversation awareness, which automatically lowers media volume when it detects speech in your surroundings. AirPods Max 2 also get updated Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and a new high-dynamic range amplifier, which Apple claims will deliver...

While Todd Boehly has started a new era at Chelsea, they decided to carry out a careful inspection upon his arrival. After this, they reported financial inconsistencies during the Roman Abramovich era to the Premier League, UEFA, and the FA. Following an investigation, the Blues have received a severe sanction with a one-year ban from the league, even affecting the young academy for a stipulated period.

Chelsea have been suspended for one year from making signings for the first team for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules between 2011 and 2018. However, this sanction is suspended for two years, allowing them to reinforce the squad during this period as long as they do not commit further violations. Alongside this, they were also required to pay a fine of $13.7 million, the highest in Premier League history.

During that period, the Blues paid $63,200,547.25 million to twelve unregistered agents or entities in connection with the transfers of Eden Hazard, Ramires, David Luiz, André Schürrle, Nemanja Matić, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o. Despite this, they did not receive any point deductions or sporting sanctions such as relegation. Although these events occurred while Roman Abramovich was the owner, Todd Boehly will bear the consequences of these actions.

Far from trying to hide the information, Boehly and his board of directors reported the inconsistencies in Chelsea’s accounts to the Premier League, UEFA, and the Football Association. Because of this, they received a favorable treatment in the sanction, as they constantly cooperated with all the entities. In addition, Todd and BlueCo agreed to retain $200 million in the purchase of the club from Abramovich in case a sanction arrived.

Chelsea young academy also receive a ban

Despite Chelsea constantly cooperating with the Premier League, the FA, and UEFA, they received a major sanction that not only affects the first team, but also the young academy. After discovering irregularities in the period between 2019 and 2022, they have received an exemplary sanction, although slightly lower. Nevertheless, this one will have an immediate effect, affecting specific cases.

The Blues’ young academy has received a ban from registering players for nine months. Nevertheless, this only applies to players who had previously been registered by other Premier League and English Football League clubs’ academies. Because of this, players who are being registered under professional conditions or who are internationals will not be affected. In addition, they must pay a $998,205 fine.

Fenerbahçe, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. haftasında Gaziantep FK'yı ağırlayacağı maçın hazırlıklarını tamamladı. Sarı-lacivertlilerde sakatlıktan dönen Çağlar Söyüncü ve Brezilyalı hücum oyuncusu Anderson Talisca takımla birlikte çalışmalara başladı.

Fenerbahçe, 17 Mart Salı günü saat 20.00'de Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi'nde Gaziantep FK ile oynayacağı Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. hafta maçının hazırlıklarını 16 Mart Pazartesi günü akşam saatlerinde yaptığı idmanla tamamladı.

Teknik Direktör Domenico Tedesco yönetiminde Fenerbahçe Can Bartu Tesisleri'ndeki idman, salonda yapılan core hareketleriyle başladı. Ardından ısınma, çabukluk, koordinasyon ve pas çalışmalarıyla devam eden antrenman, taktiksel ve bireysel çalışmalarla sona erdi.

Sarı-lacivertlilerde sakatlıktan dönen Çağlar Söyüncü ve Brezilyalı hücum oyuncusu Anderson Talisca takımla birlikte çalışmalara başladı.

Sarı-lacivertliler, hazırlıklarını tamamlayarak Gaziantep FK maçı öncesi kampa girdi.

Trendyol 1. Lig'in 31. haftasında Arca Çorum FK, evinde Esenler Erokspor'u 2-1 yendi.

Arca Çorum FK,Trendyol 1. Lig'in 31. haftasındaevinde Esenler Erokspor'u 2-1 yendi.

Arca Çorum FK puanını 59'a yükseltti.

Esenler Erokspor ise 63 puanda kaldı.

Stat: Çorum Şehir

Hakemler: Oğuzhan Aksu, Ömer Tevfik Özkoç, Sabri Öğe

Arca Çorum FK: Sehic, Attamah, Sinan Osmanoğlu, Serdar Gürler (Dk. 71 Yusuf Erdoğan), Pedrinho (Dk. 87 Oğuz Gürbulak), Arda Hilmi Şengül, Fredy, Samudio, Erkan Kaş, Ahmet Ildız (Dk. 64 Ferhat Yazgan), Burak Çoban

Esenler Erokspor: Ertuğrul Çetin, Mikail Okyar (Dk. 58 Kanga), Jack (Dk. 71 Catakovic), Kayode, Faye, Onur Ulaş, Enes Alıç, Hayrullah Bilazer, Amilton (Dk. 58 Berat Luş), Cavare (Dk. 71 Nzaba), Ömer Faruk Beyaz (Dk. 46 Recep Niyaz)

Goller: Dk. 35 Burak Çoban, Dk. 90+4 Samudio (Arca Çorum FK), Dk. 78 Catakovic (Penaltıdan) (Esenler Erokspor)

Kırmızı kartlar: Dk. 76 Atakan Akkaynak (Yedek kulübesinde) (Arca Çorum FK), Dk. 90+6 Nzaba (Esenler Erokspor)

Sarı kartlar: Dk. 29 Sinan Osmanoğlu, Dk. 33 Ferhat Yazgan (Yedek kulübesinde), Dk. 42 Burak Çoban, Dk. 45+5 Ahmet Ildız, Dk. 59 Samudio, Dk. 74 Erkan Kaş, Dk. 90+4 Kerem Kalafat (Yedek kulübesinde), Dk. 90+5 Fredy, Dk. 90+7 Zubairu (Yedek kulübesinde) (Arca Çorum FK), Dk. 48 Mikail Okyar, Dk. 90+1 Faye (Esenler Erokspor)

İspanya LaLiga'da bu yılın ilk piyasa değeri güncellemesi yapıldı. Real Madrid forması giyen Arda Güler piyasa değeri değişmezken milli futbolcu, ligin en değerli 10 futbolcusu arasında yer aldı.

LaLiga'da 2026'nın ilk piyasa değeri güncellemesiyle en fazla değer kazanan ve kaybeden isimleri belirlendi.

Barcelona'nın genç futbolcusu Fermin Lopez'in piyasa değeri 30 milyon Euro'luk artışla 100 milyon Euro'ya ulaştı. Fermin, en fazla değer kazanan futbolcu oldu.

Fermin Lopez'i 20 milyon Euro'luk artışlarla Barcelona'dan Marc Bernal ve Villarreal'den Pape Gueye takip etti. Bernal'ın değeri 30, Gueye'nin değeri 40 milyon Euro'ya güncellendi.

EN BÜYÜK DÜŞÜŞ BELLINGHAM'DA

Ligde en büyük düşüşü ise Real Madrid'in yıldızı Jude Bellingham yaşadı. Bu sezon sakatlıklar nedeniyle 15 maç kaçıran İngiliz futbolcunun değeri 20 milyon Euro'luk düşüşle 140 milyon Euro'ya geriledi. Bellingham'ın ardında 10 milyon Euro değer kaybıyla Gavi ve Alex Baena yer aldı.

ARDA GÜLER SABİT KALDI

Real Madrid forması giyen milli futbolcu Arda Güler'in piyasa değeri ise 90 milyon Euro'da sabit kaldı. Bu sezon İspanyol ekibinde 43 maçta sahaya çıkan Arda, 4 gol ve 13 asist kaydetti. Arda'nın değeri geçen yılın aralık ayında 90 milyon Euro'ya yükseltilmişti.

LALIGA'DA EN DEĞERLİ FUTBOLCULAR

LaLiga'da son piyasa değeri güncellemesinin ardından ligin en değerli 10 futbolcunun listesi şöyle:

Lamine Yamal - 200 milyon Euro

Kylian Mbappe - 200 milyon Euro

Pedri - 150 milyon Euro

Vinicius Jr. - 150 milyon Euro

Jude Bellingham - 140 milyon Euro

Federico Valverde - 120 milyon Euro

Fermin Lopez - 100 milyon Euro

Arda Güler - 90 milyon Euro

Julian Alvarez - 90 milyon Euro

Raphina - 80 milyon Euro

Pau Cubarsi - 80 milyon Euro

OpenAI is beginning to build the infrastructure for a formal advertising business around ChatGPT — but early performance signals suggest the company still has work to do to match established search platforms.

What’s happening. OpenAI started testing an Ads Manager dashboard with a small group of partners, according to confirmation shared with ADWEEK. The tool allows marketers to launch, monitor, and optimise campaigns in real time, similar to the campaign management platforms used across digital advertising.

Why we care. OpenAI is beginning to build a self-serve ads ecosystem around ChatGPT with a dedicated Ads Manager, as they prepare for AI assistants becoming a scalable channel. As conversational search grows, paid media marketers may need to think about visibility inside AI responses, not just traditional platforms like Google Search.

Early testing also means advertisers who participate now could gain first-mover insights into performance, formats, and optimisation strategies in a new advertising environment.

How it works today. Early testers currently receive weekly CSV performance reports that include metrics such as impressions and clicks. The reporting indicates the ads product is still evolving, with more advanced analytics and tooling likely to follow as the program develops.

The challenge: Early tests suggest click-through rates on ChatGPT ads trail those seen on Google Search, highlighting a key hurdle for OpenAI as it tries to prove the value of advertising inside conversational AI.

The cost of entry. Some early advertisers have reportedly been asked to commit at least $200,000 in spend, raising the stakes for OpenAI to demonstrate measurable performance and ROI.

Between the lines. Building an ad ecosystem requires more than ad inventory. Marketers expect robust reporting, optimisation tools, and predictable performance — areas where mature platforms like Google have years of advantage.

The bottom line. OpenAI is laying the foundation for a new ad platform inside ChatGPT, but convincing brands to shift budgets will depend on whether conversational ads can deliver results that compete with traditional search.

Google appears to be testing a new “Sponsored Shops” format in Google Shopping results that highlights entire stores instead of individual products — a potential shift in how brands compete in Shopping ads.

What’s happening. Instead of displaying only single product listings, the new block groups multiple products from the same retailer into one sponsored unit. The format features the store name, several products from that shop, and signals such as ratings and brand presence, effectively creating a mini storefront directly inside the Shopping results.

Why we care. The new “Sponsored Shops” format in Google Shopping could shift competition from individual products to entire stores. Instead of winning visibility with a single SKU, brands may need stronger product feeds, better ratings, and broader assortments to appear in these store-level placements.

It also introduces multiple click paths within one ad unit, which could change how traffic flows between product pages and store pages. If the format scales, it may reshape how advertisers optimise campaigns across Google Shopping — prioritising brand presence and feed quality, not just product-level bids.

The big picture. The test suggests a move slightly up the funnel for Shopping ads. Rather than focusing solely on a single SKU, brands can showcase a broader product assortment and reinforce their store identity within one placement.

Why it’s notable. Store-level visibility means advertisers can highlight multiple products at once, increasing exposure per impression. It also strengthens brand presence by combining store name, ratings, and product range in one block.

For users, it makes discovery easier by allowing them to browse several items from the same retailer without navigating away from results.

Between the lines. If the format rolls out widely, it could reward brands with strong product feeds, high seller ratings, and clear brand trust signals. Merchants with well-structured feeds and competitive assortments may gain more visibility compared with those relying on a few individual product listings.

What to watch. One open question is how users will interact with the different clickable elements inside the ad unit. Marketing Operating Lead, Stephanie Pratt commented on this and what measurement split we may expect:

• “It’ll be interesting to see the split of clicks on each part of the ad unit, and how much is on the brand name vs product and if that will confuse some consumers

The bottom line. If “Sponsored Shops” expands beyond testing, it could push Google Shopping toward more store-level competition — shifting strategy from purely product-level optimisation to building stronger brand presence within the Shopping ecosystem.

Fist seen. This update was spotted by PPC Specialist Arpan Banerjee who shared a screenshot of the update on LinkedIn.

AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədri Rəhim Həsənov Misli Premyer Liqasının XXIV turunun oyunlarındakı mübahisəli epizodları şərh edib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o hakim qərarlarının düzgün olduğunu vurğulayıb.

17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası martın 17-dən 20-dək Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, millimiz Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsinin II raundunun oyunları üçün martın 21-də Bolqarıstanın Plovdiv şəhərinə yollanacaq.

B Liqasının 2-ci qrupunda yer alan U-17 orada Bolqarıstan, Litva və Maltanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə qarşılaşacaq.

Bakı toplanışı üçün U-17-yə dəvət olunan futbolçuların adlarını və oyunların təqvimini nəzərinizə çatdırırıq. Bolqarıstana yollanacaq yekun heyətdə 20 futbolçu qalacaq.

24 mart

17:00. Bolqarıstan (U-17) – Azərbaycan (U-17)
Baş hakim: Mateo Tozan (Sloveniya)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Jure Jamnik (Sloveniya), Darko Vidiniç (Şimali Makedoniya)
Dördüncü hakim: Trpçevski Stoyanço (Şimali Makedoniya)
Plovdiv, “Xristo Botev” stadionu

27 mart

13:00. Litva (U-17) – Azərbaycan (U-17)
Baş hakim: Ozan Ergün (Türkiyə)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Murat Altan (Türkiyə), Todor Vukov (Bolqarıstan)
Dördüncü hakim: Georgi Stoyanov (Bolqarıstan)
Plovdiv, Nikola Şterev – Starika İdman Kompleksi

30 mart

14:00. Azərbaycan (U-17) – Malta (U-17)
Baş hakim: Trpçevski Stoyanço (Şimali Makedoniya)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Darko Vidiniç (Şimali Makedoniya), Todor Vukov (Bolqarıstan)
Dördüncü hakim: Georgi Stoyanov (Bolqarıstan)
Plovdiv, Nikola Şterev – Starika İdman Kompleksi

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan II Liqasında XVIII tura start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə iki qarşılaşma baş tutub.

7 qolun vurulduğu “Şəki Siti” – “Kür-Araz” matçında meydan sahibləri qələbəyə sevinib. “Şirvan” isə səfərdə “Ağstafa Gəncləri”dən üstün olub.

Azərbaycan II Liqası
XVIII tur

16 mart

“Şəki Siti” – “Kür-Araz” 4:3
Qollar: T.Zeynalov, 52, 69, 90, N.Fərəci, 88 (pen) – Ü.Nağdalıyev, 16, E.Məmmədov, 41, 44

“Ağstafa Gəncləri” – “Şirvan” 1:2
Qollar: E.Namazov, 90+1 – E.Xəlilov, 45+4, 90+2

20 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandasının yeni baş məşqçisi Rui Jorjenin təqdimat mərasimi və mətbuat konfransı keçirilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Radisson” hoteldə təşkil olunan tədbirdə AFFA-nın icraçı vitse-prezidenti Sərxan Hacıyev, assosiasiya rəsmiləri və media nümayəndələri iştirak ediblər.

Sərxan Hacıyev çıxışında portuqaliyalı mütəxəssisin təcrübəsi ilə komandaya böyük kömək edəcəyinə inandıqlarını bildirib:

“2027-ci ildə Azərbaycan və Özbəkistan U-20 Dünya Çempionatına birgə ev sahibliyi edəcək. Böyük tədbirlə bağlı müəyyən təşkilati işlər aparılıb. Ötən həftə U-20 millisinə baş məşqçi təyinatı rəsmiləşdi. Rui Jorje bu milliyə rəhbərlik edəcək. Rui yaxşı futbolçu karyerasına malikdir, Portuqaliya millisində 45 oyun keçirib. 15 ilə yaxın Portuqaliyanın U-21 millisinin baş məşqçisi olub. İnanırıq ki, onun böyük futbol təcrübəsinin bizim futbolçulara müsbət təsiri olacaq və komandamız dünya çempionatında uğurlu çıxış edəcək. İndi əsas məqsəd elə komanda formalaşdırmaqdır ki, qrup mərhələsində uğurlu çıxış etsin”.

Rui Jorje də öz növbəsində U-20 millisi ilə uğur qazanmaq istədiyini söyləyib:

“Sizinlə birlikdə olmaq mənim üçün qürurdur. Ümid edirəm ki, qarşıdakı dönəmdə çox yaxşı təcrübə keçə biləcəyik. Uğur qazanmaq üçün üzərində işləmək, çalışmaq lazımdır. Futbolçular üzərlərində çalışmalıdırlar ki, yüksək səviyyədə çıxış etsinlər. Bunu edə bilsək, uğur qazana bilərik. Biz Portuqaliyanın U-20 yığması ilə uğur qazananda komanda reytinqdə 19-cu pillədə idi. Çempionatın son püşkatma mərasimində Avropa zonasında 3-cü yerdə idik. Bizim burada ən böyük məqsədimiz bunu əldə etməkdir”.

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Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi insists calls for Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni to be dropped by the Italy squad over his simulation against Juventus are unfair because ‘he admitted to his mistake.’

The centre-back caused controversy when he simulated a foul from Juve opponent Pierre Kalulu during their Serie A match, getting him sent off with a second yellow card.

Bastoni then celebrated wildly when the referee pulled out the card, knowing that VAR protocol meant the decision could not be overturned.

Although he has since apologised, Kalulu was still forced to sit out a one-match ban, and Bastoni has been loudly jeered in every game by opposition fans.

Bastoni faced calls for Italy snub

Minister for Sport and Youth Abodi was pressed today on whether it was right to suggest Bastoni be dropped from the Italy squad over this incident.

“I believe you are called up not just for your technical qualities as a player, but also your behaviour,” replied Abodi.

“Bastoni was clear-headed enough to admit to his mistake.”

As for the jeers from the fans, Abodi also pointed out that “respect is supreme in sport, and everyone does what they see is fit.”

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has not commented publicly on the situation, but it seems unlikely that he will snub the Inter defender for the upcoming 2026 World Cup play-offs against Northern Ireland.

If there is a victory in Bergamo on March 26, then the Azzurri will play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final five days later.

It proved to be quite the weekend for Lecce forward Lameck Banda, as after he collapsed during the Serie A game with Napoli, he was released from hospital just in time for the birth of his daughter.

The 25-year-old had a scare at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona when he received a knock to the chest and was struggling to breathe.

When he went down clutching his chest, Napoli coach Antonio Conte was the first to spot it and immediately called the Lecce medical staff over to help.

Whirlwind weekend for Banda

Although he did not appear to lose consciousness, Banda was struggling to breathe, so was taken to hospital and kept in overnight for observation.

The Zambia international was given the all-clear and returned home just in time, because he got to be present at the birth of his daughter.

It was confirmed in a statement by Lecce, who welcomed little Rumi Ezlyn Banda into the world today.

He has been at Lecce since 2022 and so far this season contributed three goals with three assists in 24 games between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

La meravigliosa storia di Banda: dimesso dall’ospedale Cardarelli di Napoli, raggiunge Lecce giusto in tempo per la nascita della primogenita Rumi Ezlyn.
L’abbraccio di tutto il Club a Lameck e alla compagna in questa meravigliosa giornata! pic.twitter.com/VgYXYJKyOm

— U.S. Lecce (@OfficialUSLecce) March 16, 2026

Max Allegri’s agent points out Rafael Leao is ‘obviously not giving a big contribution’ this season, but his substitution tantrum must be treated with kid gloves. ‘He’s a source of income for the club.’

The striker reacted angrily when hauled off just 67 minutes into last night’s 1-0 Serie A defeat to Lazio, which left them eight points adrift of leaders Inter.