Carnival Pride returned to Baltimore on April 9 after a 22-day dry dock in Freeport, Grand Bahama, resuming the year-round service Baltimore cruisers have loved for nearly 16 years.

The ship first arrived in the city in April 2009 as Baltimore’s first year-round cruise ship, briefly relocated to Tampa in late 2014, and has called Baltimore home again since March 2015.

How the ship has changed over the years

The largest transformation came in 2015, when Carnival Pride received the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade. That overhaul added Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, WaterWorks, RedFrog Pub, and several other venues that are now staples across the Carnival fleet.

In 2019, the ship returned to the Grand Bahama shipyard for a refresh that brought new carpeting and tiling throughout public areas, a renovated and relocated arcade, and the addition of The Cove, a dedicated lounge space for teens.

The most recent major overhaul came in 2023, when the Pride spent nearly a month at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

That dry dock brought the most visible changes yet, including new livery, the Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge, a venue honoring U.S. military service members that had already appeared on several other ships in the fleet.

David’s Steakhouse was rebranded as Fahrenheit 555, and in the process, the ship said goodbye to its longtime replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David, which had occupied the space since the ship’s debut in 2002.

RELATED: Carnival Gives Statue of David a New Home

The 2023 dry dock also added the Carnival Adventures shop, Dreams Photo Studio, an upgraded Cloud 9 Spa, Starlink internet, and a full repaint in Carnival’s red, white, and blue hull livery.

What’s new from the 2026 dry dock

The latest shipyard visit was more modest by comparison. The casino underwent a full refurbishment, with updated décor throughout the gaming floor, and the Effy Jewelry boutique in the retail area was refreshed.

Routine maintenance and technical work were also completed during the 22-day stay.

Where Carnival Pride goes from here

With dry dock complete, Carnival Pride resumes its year-round Baltimore schedule, offering seven-day cruises to The Bahamas and Bermuda, along with select Carnival Journeys sailings to more far-flung destinations.

Itineraries also include stops at Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest private destination on Grand Bahama, which opened in July 2025.

Baltimore cruisers have more to look forward to beyond the Pride’s return. Starting in November 2027, Carnival Miracle will join Pride in Baltimore, marking the first time two Carnival ships will homeport simultaneously in the city.

Read More

A Cruise Ship That Plugs In Like a Tesla? A Company Says It’s Coming by 2031

Hidden Camera Found in Cruise Ship Bathroom During Caribbean Sailing

Princess Cruise Ship Turned Away From Port After Fishermen Block Access

Cruise Ship Runs Aground Near Famous Cast Away Filming Spot

Holland America Line Quietly Raises Gratuities — Here’s What You’ll Now Pay

The cruise ship of the future might sound more like a library than an engine room.

No rumble underfoot. No funnel overhead. No exhaust cutting across the view from your deck chair. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft unveiled a concept this week for a cruise ship that runs entirely on batteries and says it could carry nearly 2,000 passengers by 2031.

Called Project Vision, the concept was announced at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami. The ship would measure 275 meters (about 900 feet) long, carry 1,856 passengers, and weigh in at around 82,000 gross tons, comparable in size to ships sailed by Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America today.

What would be different onboard

Because the ship runs entirely on batteries, there are no main engines and no exhaust to manage. That eliminates the funnel that typically dominates a ship’s upper deck and the internal exhaust shaft that cuts through the interior.

Meyer Werft says that frees up prime sun deck real estate for unobstructed views that passengers rarely get on modern-day cruise ships.

RELATED: Battery Fire Sparks Cruise Ship Evacuation

The aqua park, rather than sitting exposed on an upper deck, would be fully enclosed at the stern and usable year-round regardless of weather.

And with no combustion engines running beneath your feet, passengers would experience significantly less noise and vibration throughout the ship.

Can it actually work?

The battery system would be supplied by Corvus Energy, a Norwegian company that has already equipped more than half of the world’s hybrid and fully electric seagoing vessels. Meyer Werft says the technology exists today, not in some distant future.

A fully charged ship could cover popular European itineraries such as Barcelona to Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. For longer crossings, including transatlantic voyages, the design can be built as a hybrid with small backup generators.

By 2030, roughly 100 European ports are expected to have the shoreside charging infrastructure needed to support electric cruise ships.

Meyer Werft isn’t the only one working on this

Norwegian coastal line Hurtigruten has its own zero-emission ship project, called Sea Zero, targeting a 2030 launch.

That vessel would cut energy consumption by 40 to 50% compared to today’s ships, running primarily on a 60 megawatt-hour battery system Electrive charged at ports along the Norwegian coast.

The design also incorporates three retractable, autonomous wing rigs that combine solar panels and wind sails, with Hurtigruten reaching 164 feet tall when fully extended.

The key difference is scale. The Hurtigruten concept is built for 500 passengers along a fixed coastal route, Robb Report not open-ocean cruising. Meyer Werft’s Vision targets the mainstream cruise market at more than four times that passenger capacity.

Still a concept

No cruise line has placed an order. Meyer Werft presents a new concept at Seatrade each year, and Project Vision joins a growing list of industry proposals for cleaner ships.

If a cruise line signs on this year, Meyer Werft says the first ship could be delivered in 2031.

Whether that happens remains to be seen, but the shipyard is making the case that the technology to build it already exists.

Read More

Hidden Camera Found in Cruise Ship Bathroom During Caribbean Sailing

Princess Cruise Ship Turned Away From Port After Fishermen Block Access

Cruise Ship Runs Aground Near Famous Cast Away Filming Spot

Holland America Line Quietly Raises Gratuities — Here’s What You’ll Now Pay

Two Cruise Lines Already Charging $25 a Day in Fuel Fees. Will Others Follow?

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/travellers-value-in-person-experiences-over-digital-content-amid-ai-expansion-what-you-need-to-know/

Travellers Value In-Person Experiences Over Digital Content Amid AI Expansion: What You Need To KnowTravellers prioritize in-person experiences over digital...

Read More

Source: Travel And Tour World

Original Source: Travel And Tour World
Unauthorized copying or republishing is prohibited.

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/hero-balloon-flights-saudi-ignites-family-tourism-in-saudi-arabia-with-dawn-magic-over-alula/

Hero Balloon Flights Saudi Ignites Family Tourism In Saudi Arabia With Dawn Magic Over AlUlaDiscover Hero Balloon Flights Saudi's private...

Read More

Source: Travel And Tour World

Original Source: Travel And Tour World
Unauthorized copying or republishing is prohibited.

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/the-1-5-trillion-blind-spot-how-cultural-missteps-are-tanking-business-travel-roi/

The $1.5 Trillion Blind Spot: How Cultural Missteps are Tanking Business Travel ROIA new study by RW3 CultureWizard reveals a...

Read More

Source: Travel And Tour World

Original Source: Travel And Tour World
Unauthorized copying or republishing is prohibited.

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/europe-cruise-season-gets-a-luxury-makeover-as-royal-caribbean-international-reveals-bold-new-upgrades-across-its-most-popular-ships/

Europe Cruise Season Gets a Luxury Makeover as Royal Caribbean International Reveals Bold New Upgrades Across Its Most Popular Ships!Royal...

Read More

Source: Travel And Tour World

Original Source: Travel And Tour World
Unauthorized copying or republishing is prohibited.

Samsung today expanded One UI 8.5 Beta to several devices, and the company also announced April Wave 2 expansion. This time, we know which devices are getting the Beta Program invite, and it’s scheduled for later this month.

One UI 8.5 Beta Wave 2 will happen in April 2026. Samsung confirmed the next set of devices, which are the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy S23 FE.

It’s worth noting that the One UI 8.5 Beta for the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 will only be available in South Korea and the US. The Galaxy S23 FE may get the update in India, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Devices that received the One UI 8.5 Beta today are the Galaxy S23 series and the Galaxy A36. Besides, we’ve reported new Beta update rollouts for phones that were already running One UI 8.5 Beta firmware.

The story may not just stay limited to what Samsung disclosed. Various Galaxy devices are internally testing One UI 8.5 Beta builds. The company may end up opening early access to devices as much as possible.

The bad news

Galaxy S21 FE is the only model from 2021 that received Android 16-based One UI 8.0 update. It was widely anticipated to receive the One UI 8.5 update as well.

Meanwhile, Samsung has no plans to provide the mid-cycle update to the 2nd-gen Fan Edition phone. There’s no internal Alpha/Beta firmware under development, indicating that the device will spend its remaining life on One UI 8.

There’s no denying the wonder from Samsung. We did see it happening with the Galaxy Watch 4, and providing One UI 8.5 update to the Galaxy S21 FE isn’t impossible either.

The post Samsung announces April One UI 8.5 Beta Wave 2 but doesn’t want us to hear the bad news appeared first on Sammy Fans.

If you own a Galaxy phone, today feels like a little gift from Samsung. The company just rolled out new One UI 8.5 beta updates and opened the beta program to even more Galaxy devices. In addition to the beta updates, the company also released the April 2026 security update.

This means millions of users can now try new One UI 8.5 features early, enjoy smoother performance, and get the latest April 2026 security patch at the same time. It doesn’t matter if you have an expensive flagship or a cheaper Galaxy phone, there’s good news waiting in your software update section.

If you are using the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung brings the One UI 8.5 Beta 9 build for the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. Moving to the S24 series, Samsung added bS24, S24+, and S24 Ultra.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Both beta updates bring the same improvements: easy file sharing with Apple devices (like AirDrop), three new camera filters (Classic Film, Pop Film, and Blanc), plus fixes for Bluetooth, notifications, gallery, always-on display, and lock screen problems. These betas started rolling out in India first and are quickly expanding to other countries like Germany, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

The Galaxy S25 FE also received its One UI 8.5 Beta 2 today. It comes with many of the same bug fixes and improvements, though the AirDrop feature is not included yet for this model.

The good news doesn’t end there. Samsung also started a brand new One UI 8.5 beta program for older flagship phones and even some mid-range models.

Samsung started the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy S23 series (S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, and S23 FE). It is available in phases, starting in India, South Korea, UK, and US. It also includes the April 2026 security patch.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 Beta registration is now live in South Korea and the US. While the Galaxy A36 5G users living in India have already received the first One UI 8.5 Beta update.

Along with these betas, the April 2026 security patch is spreading wider today. The latest patch fixes 47 vulnerabilities, 33 from Google’s Android Security Bulletin, 10 from Samsung Mobile, and 4 from Samsung Semiconductor.

The April 2026 patch is also rolling out separately to more (non-beta) Galaxy S25, S24, and S23 models in different regions. These updates are rolling out in phases, so not everyone will see them at the same time. The best way to check is to go to Settings > Software update on your phone or open the Samsung Members app and look for the beta banner for registration.

If your Galaxy device is on this list, you might be one of the lucky ones getting these updates today. Are you getting the One UI 8.5 beta or the April security patch today? Drop a DM on @thesammyfans and let us know which device you have.

The post Samsung brings joy to millions of Galaxy users – Are you one of them? appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 series smartphones in February, and the next big smartphone announcement from the Korean brand is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, and a wide foldable, which could be called Galaxy Z Fold Wide (or Fold8 Wide). There's no word from Samsung on the launch dates of these foldables, but according to Korea Economic TV, they will be unveiled on July 22. Korea Economic TV reports that these Galaxy foldables will be unveiled at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London, UK, without specifying the event time. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8's leaked CAD-based...

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are already veterans, they continue to be the subject of constant comparisons. While some praise the Portuguese’s goal-scoring prowess, others highlight the Argentine’s ability to shine all over the pitch. In this context, 1986 World Cup champion Oscar Ruggeri joined the conversation, making clear the difference between the two stars throughout their careers.

In an exclusive interview with Bolavip, Oscar Ruggeri made it clear that comparing Messi and Ronaldo doesn’t make sense, highlighting the difference between the two. “It wouldn’t even cross my mind to discuss the subject, because there’s a huge difference between the genius we have and the other one, who is a great player. Messi is a genius and Ronaldo is a star. He’s truly a star, a very good player, but he’s not a genius like Messi.”

Throughout his career, Lionel Messi has made an impact far beyond his goal-scoring prowess. Starting from the right wing, the Argentine established as the team’s primary creative force, consistently linking up play. As a result, he has racked up 407 assists, leading him to take on a different role in his later years. Nevertheless, he shines as a scorer with 903 goals, proving himself to be one of the most complete players in history.

While Ruggeri does not consider Cristiano Ronaldo a genius, Ronaldo has shattered every stereotype. Initially embarking on his career as a brilliant left winger, injuries transformed him into a historic center forward. Far from faltering, he has consistently ranked among the world’s top scorers for over 20 years, amassing 967 goals and nearing the elusive 1,000-goal mark. Now 41 years old, he continues to shine in the Saudi Pro League.

Messi and Ronaldo set for a historic duel in 2026 World Cup

After shining in the MLS and the Saudi Pro League, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand out as clear candidates to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Although they are already veterans, both remain leaders of their national teams, considered key figures for their head coaches. Unlike previous editions, this could be their final tournament, making the outcome potentially historic.

If they confirm their presence with Argentina and Portugal, they would become the players with the most World Cup appearances in history, cementing their names in the tournament’s legacy. In addition, Ronaldo could aim to win this major trophy for the first time in his career, while Messi will look to defend his title, providing a historic opportunity in their long-standing comparison.

The 1,000-goal milestone may set up Messi-Ronaldo duel

After more than 20 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are unmistakably approaching retirement. Nevertheless, they are engaged in another major duel: The 1,000-goal milestone. While the Argentine sits at 903 goals, the Portuguese has 967, making him the clear favorite to reach it first. However, the focus may not be on who gets there first, but on who ultimately achieves it, putting pressure on the Inter Miami star.

Lionel Messi is in the final stages of his preparation ahead of Argentina‘s campaign at the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico. With just two friendlies remaining before the tournament begins, the Inter Miami star is now dealing with a change of opponent.

According to The Athletic‘s Paul Tenorio, Argentina will face Honduras and Iceland in the two friendlies scheduled for the June international window ahead of the World Cup. The match against Honduras is set for June 6, while the clash against the Icelandic side follows on June 9, leaving Messi and company just one week to regroup before their tournament opener against Algeria on the 16th.

The Honduras fixture had long been floated as a possibility, even during the March window when Argentina ultimately faced Mauritania and Zambia. The Iceland match, however, came as a surprise to fans, not because of the opponent itself, but because Serbia had been widely expected to fill the European slot on the schedule.

In his press conference on March 26 ahead of the Mauritania game, head coach Lionel Scaloni had spoken with confidence about the June plans: “Regarding the June matches, it is my understanding that one of them will be against Serbia. That is my understanding; we requested it, thanks to the fact that (Claudio) Arzeno is on Serbia’s coaching staff, and we were able to speak with him. If the match can be played, I believe one of our opponents will be Serbia.“

A recent L’Équipe report noted that Argentina’s upcoming opponents carry a combined average ranking of 85th in the FIFA standings, reigniting the debate around the quality of the Albiceleste’s warm-up schedule. While none of the three sides have qualified for the upcoming World Cup, Argentina, ranked third in the latest update, will face Honduras, ranked 66th, and Iceland, ranked 75th, with the originally planned Serbia, ranked 39th, now out of the picture.

Messi set for iconic college football venues

While the caliber of the opposition may not generate much excitement, the settings certainly will. Messi and his Argentina teammates are set to play in front of massive crowds at two storied college football stadiums ahead of their World Cup title defense.

The game against Honduras on June 6 will be held at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, home of the Texas A&M Aggies and one of the largest stadiums in the country with a capacity of 102,733. The venue last hosted a high-profile soccer occasion when Brazil defeated Mexico 3-2 in a friendly that drew an attendance of 85,249, according to ESPN.

The clash against Iceland will then take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, home of the Auburn Tigers and another iconic Southeastern Conference venue. With a capacity of 87,451 and the game set to be played on a grass surface, it will mark the first time in the stadium’s 87-year history that a soccer match has been played on its field.

Even though Barcelona arrived as clear favorites, Atlético Madrid managed to defeat them 2–0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Hansi Flick’s team failed to convert the numerous chances they created, leaving Marcus Rashford exposed. Nevertheless, Lamine Yamal has sent a positive message to the Culers, while also issuing a clear warning to the Colchoneros ahead the second leg.

After the defeat against the Colchoneros, Lamine Yamal sent a message of encouragement to Barcelona, issuing a warning for the second leg. “This isn’t over, Culers. We’ll give everything in the return match. All united, always,” he posted, via Instagram. With this, the Spaniard prepares himself for an anticipated comeback of a two-goal difference at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the Champions League.

Despite not scoring against Atlético Madrid, Lamine dominated on the pitch, being Barcelona’s most decisive player. He not only shone in dribbling but also constantly created space for his teammates. Nevertheless, Marcus Rashford and Dani Olmo were unable to convert all the opportunities generated by the 18-year-old star, cutting off any offensive possibilities.

With Pau Cubarsí’s sending off, the Blaugrana lost full control of the game, conceding a free-kick goal from Julián Álvarez. Despite this, they dominated offensively, having more shots on goal and being the brighter team. For this reason, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona could be aiming for a comeback, relying on greater accuracy in front of goal, which could see the Dani Olmo–Fermín López duo deployed again.

Lamine Yamal may need to take a scoring role in Barcelona’s offense

Throughout the season, Lamine Yamal has proven to be the key axis of Barcelona’s offense. He is not only decisive in dribbling but also opens up space for his teammates. Nevertheless, the Blaugrana are not at their best in scoring, suffering from dips in form from their forwards, as neither Robert Lewandowski nor Ferran Torres are shining. For this reason, the 18-year-old star will need to take on a more goal-oriented role.

Needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, the Blaugrana require scoring power more than ever. For this reason, Fermín López and Dani Olmo could take center stage creatively, while Lamine will need to excel in front of goal. As the team’s top scorer, the 18-year-old star has already shown his scoring ability, so he will need to step up at the forefront on this occasion.

Frenkie de Jong’s comeback may prove differential for Barcelona

Ahead of the first leg in the Champions League quarterfinals, Hansi Flick had to cope with the difficult absence of Frenkie de Jong in midfield. While Eric García emerged as a decent solution, he was unable to shine offensively, limiting the team’s progression. The Dutchman is set to get playing time against Espanyol, creating significant opportunities to start in the second leg against Atlético Madrid.

If Frenkie manages to start in the second leg, the Blaugrana would gain consistency in midfield, as well as an ideal partner for playmaking. This would allow Lamine Yamal and Rashford to receive the ball further up the pitch, creating more opportunities to score and push for a comeback. Nevertheless, Fermín López might need to step up, shining once again offensively, breaking Atlético Madrid’s defense.

Bu ilin yayında keçiriləcək futbol üzrə dünya çempionatının (DÇ-2026) final mərhələsinin oyunlarında rekord sayda hakim çalışacaq.

Arena.az bu barədə FIFA-ya istinadən xəbər verir.

Qurumdan verilən məlumata görə, mundialda ümumilikdə 170 hakim fəaliyyət göstərəcək.

Siyahıya 52 baş hakim, 88 köməkçi hakim və altısı qadın olmaqla 30 video hakim daxildir. Bu, dünya çempionatları tarixində ən yüksək say hesab olunur və 2022-ci ildə reallaşmış dünya çempionatında qeydə alınmış göstəricidən 41 nəfər çoxdur.

Bundan əlavə, tarixdə ilk dəfə olaraq azarkeşlər hakimlərin üzərində quraşdırılmış kameralar vasitəsilə epizodların təkrarını onların baxış bucağından izləyə biləcəklər.

Qeyd edək ki, bu il iyunun 11-dən iyulun 19-dək keçiriləcək DÇ-2026-ya ümumilikdə 48 komanda qatılacaq.

Futzal üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin baş məşqçisi Yevgeni Kukseviç Gürcüstan yığmasına qarşı keçirdikləri yoxlama oyununu şərh edib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandaların bu gün Tiflisdə baş tutmuş ilk görüşü millimizin 2:4 hesablı məğlubiyyəti ilə yekunlaşıb.

Kukseviç matçdan sonra Azərbaycan Futzal Federasiyasının rəsmi saytına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:

“Yaxşı rəqibə qarşı oynadıq. Gürcüstan millisi bir neçə ay əvvəl Avropa çempionatının final mərhələsində çıxış edib. Güclü rəqibə qarşı gözlədiyimizdən də yaxşı mübarizə apardıq.

Oyuna yaxşı başladıq. Əvvəldən yaratdığımız 2 real imkanı qola çevirə bilsəydik, hadisələr fərqli şəkildə davam edəcəkdi, əhval-ruhiyyə yaxşı olacaqdı. Əvəzində fərdi səhvlərdən 2 qol buraxdıq. Buna baxmayaraq, oyundan qopmadıq. Yenə şanslarımız oldu. Həmin imkanlardan istifadə edə bilsəydik, hesab xeyrimizə olacaqdı. Təəssüf ki, realizə baxımından “axsadıq”. Ümumi götürsək, bu görüş bizə çox lazım idi. Bunun xeyrini gələcəkdə görəcəyik.

Bir məqamı da qeyd edim ki, bu gün bir neçə gənc futzalçıya meydana çıxmaq şansı yaratdıq. Vaxt etibarı ilə bəlkə də meydanda az oldular, ancaq millinin oyun həyəcanını yaşadılar, atmosferi hiss etdilər”.

“Bayern”in qapıçısı Manuel Noyer azarkeşlərin səsverməsinə əsasən UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında həftənin ən yaxşı oyunçusu seçilib.

Arena.az bu barədə UEFA-nın mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.

Almaniyalı qolkiper ÇL-in 1/4 final mərhələsi çərçivəsində Madrid “Real”ına (İspaniya) qarşı keçirdikləri ilk görüşdə (2:1) özünü yaxşı tərəfdən göstərib. Noyer səsvermədə David Raya (“Arsenal”), Xviça Kvaratsxeliya (PSJ) və Xulian Alvaresi (“Atletiko”) qabaqlayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Manuel Noyer “Şalke”nin yetirməsidir. Alman qapıçı 2011-ci ilin iyulundan “Bayern”də çıxış edir. Noyer Münhen klubuna 30 milyon avro məbləğ müqabilində elə, “Şalke”dən transfer edilib.

Qapıçının Münhen klubu ilə cari müqaviləsi 2026-cı ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvvədədir.

Noyer cari mövsümdə “Bayern”in heyətində 31 oyuna çıxıb, 30 qol buraxıb, 10 oyunda qapısının toxunulmazlığını təmin edib.

Təcrübəli qapıçının “Bayern” karyerası ümumilikdə 592 oyun, 489 buraxılmış qol və 275 “quru” oyundan ibarətdir. Noyer bu komanda ilə birlikdə 12 dəfə Almaniya çempionu, 5 dəfə Almaniya kubokunun və 2 dəfə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının qalibi olub.

Noyer 2009-cu ilin iyununda debüt etdiyi və 2024-cü ildə iştirakına xitam verdiyi Almaniya yığmasının heyətində ümumilikdə 124 oyun keçirib, 118 qol buraxıb, 51 oyunda qapısını toxunulmaz saxlayıb.

Alman qapıçı “bundestim”lə DÇ-2014-ün qalibi olub. Noyer həmçinin Almaniyanın U-21 yığması ilə Avropa çempionatını (2009) qazanıb.

“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 40 yaşlı alman qapıçının transfer dəyərini 4 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.

Gürcüstanın paytaxtı Tiflisdə təlim-məşq toplanışında olan futzal üzrə Azərbaycan millisi bu gün yoxlama oyunu keçirib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Yevgeni Kukseviçin baş məşqçisi olduğu komanda yerli Gürcüstan yığması ilə üz-üzə gəlib.

“Tiflis Arena”da baş tutmuş matç meydan sahibi komandanın qələbəsi ilə başa çatıb. Fasiləyə qədər imkanlardan istifadə edə bilməyən millimiz qapısında 2 qol görüb. İkinci hissəyə isə əskinə, komandamız qolla başlayıb. Cərimə zərbəsindən ötürməni Nihad İsmayılov qapıdan keçirib və fərqi azaldıb. Ancaq 31-ci dəqiqədə rəqib daha bir qol vurub. Sona 2 dəqiqə qalmış qapıçını meydan oyunçusu ilə əvəzləyən komandamız Manafoun timsalında fərqi yenidən minimuma endirib. Ancaq meydan sahibləri yenidən qol vurublar.

Futzal millimiz bu rəqiblə aprelin 11-də daha bir oyun keçirəcək. Eyni məkanda baş tutacaq görüşə saat 14:00-da start veriləcək.

Yoxlama oyunu
9 aprel

Gürcüstan – Azərbaycan 4:2
Qollar: Vaxtanq Jvaraşvili, 4:48. Janiko Georgiya, 5:06. İrakli Todua, 30:34. Nikoloz Kurtanidze, 38:51 – Nihad İsmayılov, 22:18. Kənan Manafov, 38:41.
Hakimlər: Qriqol Bliadze, Sopiko Rizhamadze, Qoça Taruaşvili (Gürcüstan).
Tiflis. “Tiflis Arena”. Saat 18:00.

Gürcüstan: 16. Əli Aslani, 4. Georgi Çimakadze, 8. Vaxtanq Kekeliya, 9. İrakli Todua (k), 18. Nikoloz Kurtanidze, 1. Luka Xarşiladze, 12. Tornike Bukiya, 2.Nikoloz Qabriçidze, 3. Saba Tkeşelaşvili, 6. Janiko Georgiya, 7. Şota Topuriya, 10. Vaxtanq Jvaraşvili, 11. Nika Xaratişvili, 14. Nukri Tçumburidze, 17. Arçil Sebiskveradze, 19. Saba Egriselaşvili, 20. Levan Svanidze.
Baş məşqç: Avtandil Asatiani.

Azərbaycan: 12. Rövşən Hüseynli, 7. Emil Həsənzadə, 8. Ülvi Əliyev, 10. Nihad İsmayılov, 17. Ədalət Ələkbərov, 1. Emin Kürdov (k), 3. Kənan Manafov, 4. Pünhan Qasımzadə, 5. Oqtay Rüstəmli, 9. Murad Quluzadə, 11. Eldar Zeynalov, 13. Qüdrət Qasımzadə, 14. Tofiq Mikayılov, 15. Novruz Kazıxanov, 18. Tofiq Əliyev, 20. Fərid Abbasov.
Baş məşqçi: Yevgeni Kukseviç.

The post Crypto Drama: OKX CEO Says CZ’s Sold My House to Buy Bitcoin’ Story and Divorce Claims Are Big Lies appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The release of Binance founder CZ’s memoir, Freedom of Money, has sparked a fresh public clash with the CEO of OKX, who now accuses CZ of repeating misleading claims about his divorce and his famed crypto origin story.

The OKX CEO says that if CZ can produce a dated, signed divorce agreement clearly approved by both parties as of today, he will issue a public apology. But if CZ cannot provide such proof, yet continues to claim in media interviews and in Freedom of Money that he is already divorced, the OKX CEO calls it a clear misrepresentation—and “another big lie” in a pattern of confident but inconsistent statements.

Citing a CoinDesk report, the OKX CEO points out that CZ’s wife reportedly referred to them as “husband and wife” in a letter to the judge, without using terms like “ex‑wife” or “ex‑husband.” This, the OKX CEO argues, contradicts CZ’s shifting language in the book and public appearances, and raises questions about whether his stake in Binance was fairly divided in line with the law.

The “House‑to‑Bitcoin” Story in the Book

The OKX CEO also turns to CZ’s celebrated origin tale in Freedom of Money: selling his apartment for about $900,000 to buy Bitcoin at roughly $400, a story CZ has long used to paint himself as a visionary risk‑taker. The OKX CEO questions the full truth behind the episode: where the original down payment came from, whose house was really sold, and why CZ keeps repeating the story while downplaying the emotional strain on his in‑laws and family.

From Book Launch to Public Feud

Supporters of OKX have urged the exchange to escalate the dispute legally, arguing that a company of its size should not let disputed claims in a high‑profile book stand unchallenged. What started as book‑tour chatter is now turning into a broader credibility test for CZ.

İngiltərənin “Liverpul” klubunun müdafiəçisi Endryu Robertson mövsümün sonunda komandadan ayrılacaq.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 31 yaşlı şotlandiyalı futbolçunun müqaviləsi 2026-cı ilin yayında başa çatacaq.

Mersesayd təmsilçisi yola onsuz davam etmək qərarına gəlib.

Robertson 2017-ci ildən bəri “Liverpul”un formasını geyinir.

İtaliya nəhəngi “Yuventus” qapıçı mövqeyini gücləndirmək üçün hədəfini İngiltərəyə yönəldib.

Futbolpress.az yazır ki, Turin klubunun əsas məqsədi “Liverpul”un braziliyalı ulduzu Alisson Bekkeri transfer etməkdir.

​İtaliyanın nüfuzlu “La Gazzetta dello Sport” nəşrinin məlumatına görə, “qoca sinyora” yay transfer pəncərəsində hazırkı qapıçısı Mikele Di Qreqorio ilə yollarını ayırmağı planlaşdırır. Rəhbərlik boşalan çərçivəni məhz Alissonla doldurmaq niyyətindədir.

Xəbərdə bildirilir ki, “Yuventus” rəsmiləri artıq 33 yaşlı qolkiperin nümayəndələri ilə təmas qurublar və görüşlər kifayət qədər müsbət keçib. Daha öncə İtaliyada “Roma”nın uğurları üçün çıxış edən Alissonun yenidən A Seriyasına qayıtmağa isti yanaşdığı vurğulanır.

“Liverpul”la 2027-ci ilə qədər müqaviləsi olan təcrübəli qapıçı bu mövsüm Premyer Liqada çıxdığı 25 matçda qapısında 30 qol görüb.

15-17 aprel tarixlərində cüdo üzrə U-17 yeniyetmələr arasında Liqa yarışının I turu keçiriləcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, turnirdə 100 klub və idman cəmiyyətindən olan 799 idmançı (651 oğlan, 148 qız) ümumilikdə 16 çəki dərəcəsində medallar uğrunda mübarizə aparacaq.

Cari ildə U-17 Liqa yarışının 3 turunun keçirilməsi planlaşdırılır. Bu yarışlar idmançıların reytinq cədvəlinin formalaşmasına önəmli rol oynayacaq.

13–14 aprel tarixlərində Azərbaycan Cüdo Federasiyasının təşkilatçılığı ilə cüdo texnikaları imtahanı keçiriləcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, imtahanda U-14 Liqa yarışının II turu və U-17 Liqa yarışının I turu üçün qeydiyyatdan keçmiş yeniyetmə cüdoçular iştirak edə biləcəklər.

Abşeron Olimpiya İdman Kompleksində baş tutacaq prosesdə iştirak könüllüdür. Bununla yanaşı, imtahan nəticələrinin ümumi bala təsir etməsi üçün idmançıların yarışda və ya rəsmi çəki prosesində iştirak etməsi vacibdir. Çəki limitini 5 faizdən artıq aşan idmançıların imtahan nəticələri nəzərə alınmayacaq.

Qiymətləndirmə sisteminə əsasən, yarışda qazanılan xalların 70 faizi, imtahanda əldə olunan nəticələrin isə 30 faizi yekun bala əlavə ediləcək. Bu yanaşma yeniyetmə cüdoçuların həm texniki hazırlığının, həm də yarış performansının paralel şəkildə inkişafına xidmət edir.

Aprelin 14-də 20 yaşadək cüdoçular arasında ne-vaza üzrə ACF Kuboku keçiriləcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarışda 33 klub və idman cəmiyyətini təmsil edən 219 cüdoçu (175 kişi, 44 qadın) 14 çəki dərəcəsində medallar uğrunda mübarizə aparacaq.

Cüdoda ne-vaza bacarıqları idmançıların görüş zamanı yer (parter) texnikalarını inkişaf etdirməsinə və təkmilləşdirməsinə şərait yaradır. Bu bacarıqlar həm fəndlərdən yayınmaq, həm də rəqibi daha effektiv şəkildə məğlub etmək üçün vacib taktiki yanaşmaların formalaşmasında mühüm rol oynayır.

Qeyd edək ki, heç bir kəmər dərəcəsi olmayan və buna görə verilmiş 2 (iki) yarışlıq güzəşt imkanını istifadə etmiş idmançılar yarışlara buraxılmırlar.

Bologna look to Santiago Castro, Jonathan Rowe and Federico Bernardeschi in the Europa League quarter-final against Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina on the Liveblog.

Vincenzo Italiano’s side were the surprise victors in the all-Italian derby in the Round of 16, eliminating Roma after a 1-1 first leg draw and 4-3 win in extra time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Martin Vitik is suspended for the first leg, with Lukasz Skorupski, Thijs Dallinga, Charalampos Lykogiannis and Benjamin Dominguez injured.

Federico Ravaglia therefore has to go in goal, with Castro the only centre-forward, but Bernardeschi and Rowe are preferred to Riccardo Orsolini and Niccolò Cambiaghi.

These teams have met twice before very recently, with Aston Villa winning 2-0 in the Champions League in October 2024, then 1-0 back in September 2025 as part of the Europa League opening phase.

Both those games were at Villa Park, so this is the first time they’ve faced off on Italian soil.

That 1-0 loss in September is also the only defeat Bologna suffered in the Europa League this season, along with four draws and seven victories.

Aston Villa currently sit fourth in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester United and five ahead of Liverpool, so are on track to qualify for the Champions League.

They eliminated Lille in the Round of 16 of the Europa League, 3-0 on aggregate, and won every game in the tournament this season except for a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles on October 23.

Boubacar Kamara and Jadon Sancho are the only injury absentees for coach Unai Emery, who is a real specialist in this competition, winning the Europa League a record four times.

Their squad includes Argentina hero goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, ex-Roma full-back Lucas Digne, former Milan and Roma striker Tammy Abraham, Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus and Roma flop Leon Bailey.

Bologna vs. Aston Villa line-ups

Bologna: Ravaglia; Joao Mario, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe

Bologna bench: Pessina, Franceschelli, Moro, Orsolini, Casale, Zortea, Odgaard, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Onana, Buendia; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins

Aston Villa bench: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Andres Garcia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey

Ref: Schärer (SUI)

09-04-2026 20:00

1/4 Final

Renato Dall'Ara Stadium

Bologna

Aston Villa

vs

Season Analytics

Bologna

Positions

Aston Villa

SEASON TOTAL

BGN HOME

2

4

0

7

4

1

Last matches

19-03-2026		Roma	W	3 - 4
12-03-2026		Roma	D	1 - 1
26-02-2026		Brann	W	1 - 0
19-02-2026		Brann	W	0 - 1
29-01-2026		Maccabi Tel Aviv	W	0 - 3

12-03-2026		Roma	D	1 - 1
26-02-2026		Brann	W	1 - 0
22-01-2026		Celtic	D	2 - 2
27-11-2025		RB Salzburg	W	4 - 1
06-11-2025		Brann	D	0 - 0

SEASON TOTAL

AVL AWAY

4

0

1

9

0

1

Last matches

	2 - 0	W	Lille		19-03-2026
	0 - 1	W	Lille		12-03-2026
	3 - 2	W	RB Salzburg		29-01-2026
	0 - 1	W	Fenerbahçe		22-01-2026
	1 - 2	W	Basel		11-12-2025

	0 - 1	W	Lille		12-03-2026
	0 - 1	W	Fenerbahçe		22-01-2026
	1 - 2	W	Basel		11-12-2025
	2 - 1	L	Go Ahead Eagles		23-10-2025
	0 - 2	W	Feyenoord		02-10-2025

Fiorentina are without Moise Kean, so Roberto Piccoli and Albert Gudmundsson lead the attack against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta in the Conference League quarter-final.

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here

It kicks off at Selhurst Park at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Aston Villa vs. Bologna on the Liveblog.

The Viola are torn between focus on avoiding relegation from Serie A after a disastrous start to the season, and trying to reach the Conference League semi-final for the fourth year in a row.

Star striker Kean is again forced out with a recurring ankle issue and has not even made the trip, with Fabiano Parisi, Manor Solomon, Niccolò Fortini and Tariq Lamptey also injured.

Piccoli therefore is the centre-forward, supported by Gudmundsson, Italy Under-21 international Cher Ndour, Giovanni Fabbian and January signing Jack Harrison.

Veteran goalkeeper David De Gea takes the gloves, with Robin Gosens at left-back.

Crystal Palace are forced to do without suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Chris Richards and Caleb Kporha are carrying injuries.

They too are struggling domestically this season, sitting 14^th in the Premier League, albeit with a healthy cushion from the relegation zone.

Mateta starts upfront after a failed medical test on his knee ruined a January transfer to Milan that had been agreed for over €30m.

Strand Larsen was signed as his replacement, so Mateta has not started since a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on January 25.

Ismaila Sarr is Palace’s top Conference League scorer with five goals in 10 games this season, while Yeremy Pino netted once in eight appearances.

England international Dean Henderson is in goal and ex-Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada in midfield.

They reached the quarter-final after a 2-1 extra time win over AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16, but this is their first ever major UEFA tournament.

Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina line-ups

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Guessand

Crystal Palace bench: Benitez, Matthews, Lerma, Pino, Johnson, Clyne, Hughes, Sosa, Riad, Devenny, Cardines

Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodò, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fagioli; Harrison, Fabbian, Ndour, Gudmundsson; Piccoli

Fiorentina bench: Leonardelli, Christensen, Mandragora, Comuzzo, Fazzini, Kospo, Kouadio, Braschi, Balbo, Deli, Puzzoli

Ref: Rumsas (LTU)

09-04-2026 20:00

1/4 Final

Selhurst Park Stadium

Crystal Palace

Fiorentina

vs

Season Analytics

Crystal Palace

Positions

Fiorentina

SEASON TOTAL

CRY HOME

2

2

1

5

3

2

Last matches

19-03-2026		AEK Larnaca	W	1 - 2
12-03-2026		AEK Larnaca	D	0 - 0
26-02-2026		Zrinjski Mostar	W	2 - 0
19-02-2026		Zrinjski Mostar	D	1 - 1
18-12-2025		KuPS	D	2 - 2

12-03-2026		AEK Larnaca	D	0 - 0
26-02-2026		Zrinjski Mostar	W	2 - 0
18-12-2025		KuPS	D	2 - 2
06-11-2025		AZ	W	3 - 1
23-10-2025		AEK Larnaca	L	0 - 1

SEASON TOTAL

FIO AWAY

3

0

2

6

0

4

Last matches

	1 - 2	W	Raków Częstochowa		19-03-2026
	2 - 1	W	Raków Częstochowa		12-03-2026
	2 - 4	L	Jagiellonia Białystok		26-02-2026
	0 - 3	W	Jagiellonia Białystok		19-02-2026
	1 - 0	L	Lausanne-Sport		18-12-2025

	1 - 2	W	Raków Częstochowa		19-03-2026
	0 - 3	W	Jagiellonia Białystok		19-02-2026
	1 - 0	L	Lausanne-Sport		18-12-2025
	2 - 1	L	Mainz 05		06-11-2025
	0 - 3	W	Rapid Wien		23-10-2025

Juan Sebastian Veron knows a thing or two about thunderous long-range strikes, and the Argentine midfield legend watched Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning effort against Roma with the appreciative eye of someone who spent a career doing exactly the same thing.

Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News & Content – Free Trial – Click Here

Calhanoglu‘s powerful drive to seal Inter’s victory over Roma was a goal of genuine quality, precise, powerful and deliberate in its execution. Whether goalkeeper Mile Svilar could have done better is debatable, but the Turkish international gave him precious little chance, picking his spot and striking with conviction from well outside the penalty area.

For Veron, it was a moment of rare craft in a modern game that has largely abandoned the art of shooting from distance.

“Calhanoglu did today what was fairly common in my time,” Veron explained, via La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Back then, midfielders, especially box-to-box players, would always have a go when they reached 25 metres. Now the preference is to carry the ball inside. I loved shooting from distance, and I wasn’t bad at it either.”

What impressed Veron most was not simply the power of the strike but the intelligence behind it.

“He had no opponent pressing him, so he had time to take aim and shoot,” he said.

“He was clever enough to generate power without losing his coordination, which is an error you often see. What I particularly liked was that he aimed for a specific part of the goal and found it. So often you see wild shots that somehow end up in the net. This was different. Well done.”

Veron: ‘Calhanoglu is an excellent regista, dictates Inter tempo’

On why players attempt so few long-range efforts in the modern game, Veron was blunt.

“Because it requires courage, the courage to miss, to ignore the criticism,” he said. “And it requires considerable technique. The ball must be struck in a specific way, the leg must follow through freely but always under control.”

He proceeded to break the skill down methodically: strike with the instep or outer instep rather than the inside of the foot, decide before striking whether to keep it low or lift it, and crucially, read the goalkeeper’s position rather than shooting blind. “Only through repetition in training do you make progress,” he added.

On Calhanoglu’s broader value to Inter, Veron was equally admiring.

“He has this quality in his locker, but not only this one. He is an excellent deep-lying playmaker, he dictates the tempo, knows when to slow things down or speed them up, and has a superb long pass that opens defences and finds teammates in space. For Inter he is an enormous asset.”

Asked to recall his own finest long-range effort, Veron needed no time to think.

“January 1997, I was at Sampdoria. A corner from Mihajlovic and I volleyed it just inside the area, straight under the crossbar.”

He also remembered a stunning volley at San Siro against Inter for Parma in the Coppa Italia, set up by Asprilla and finished across goal with power and precision.

“Inter protested that there had been a foul and three of their players were sent off,” he recalled with a smile. “I had never seen that before, I score and three opponents get dismissed. And that season we won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup.”

{rsn-live-v2}

The biggest political party in Italy has presented a motion to annul the sale of San Siro to Inter and Milan following an investigation into the stadium situation.

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here

After a decade of discussions, projects that were presented, scrapped, represented and revised, the two clubs finally sealed the purchase of the land around the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the San Siro area of Milan.

San Siro future still up in the air

In November 2025, the clubs completed the €200m agreement to build a new arena in what is essentially now the car park, and after that they can tear down the existing stadium or remodel it.

However, it is all being thrown back into doubt after Milan city council offices were raided by the Italian financial police as part of an investigation on suspicion of bid-rigging and collusion.

Now Fratelli d’Italia, the political party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the opposition party in the city of Milan, has presented a motion to annul the sale of San Siro and demand the resignation of Mayor Giuseppe Sala.

They had always been against the sale of the stadium, wanting to instead refurbish the existing arena, even though that will be extremely difficult with the teams playing every three days.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate will be out of contract at the end of the season, and he has yet to commit his long-term future to the club.

However, Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Liverpool are confident of agreeing on a new deal with the player. He has added that ‘negotiations are advancing well’, and the two parties are likely to reach an agreement.

The 26-year-old has been a key player for Liverpool since joining the club, and keeping him at the club for the long term would be ideal. Liverpool have been quite poor defensively this season, and they cannot afford to weaken the team in the summer.

Also, losing a player like him on a free transfer would have been a devastating blow.

Meanwhile, the French International has not been at his best this season and needs to improve his performance. With his long-term future sorted, it is fair to assume that the 26-year-old will be able to focus on his football and recapture his peak form.

CaughtOffside sources on Konate and Real Madrid

Real Madrid were interested in signing the Liverpool defender, but they informed the player that they would not be advancing with their pursuit. The defender is open to extending his stay at the Premier League club now, and the two parties are expected to formalise the agreement soon.

The situation will come as a huge boost for Liverpool. They are going through a rough patch, and the fact that a key player is willing to commit his long-term future to the club will certainly lift the team’s spirits.

The post ‘Negotiations are advancing’: Liverpool confident of securing crucial agreement now appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Ismael Saibari has been told to join Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the season. 

The 25-year-old Moroccan forward is in excellent form this season, and he has 27 goal contributions in all competitions. He could prove to be a very useful addition for the North London club. They need a versatile attacker like him, and it remains to be seen whether they decide to make a move for him.

Former Chelsea defender Khalid Boulharouz believes the move to Tottenham is a good fit for him. There is no doubt that the 25-year-old has shown his quality in the Netherlands, and he’s ready for the next step. Moving to the Premier League could be ideal for his development. He would get to play alongside better players and compete at the highest level.

“If I look at Saibari, he really played the entire Eredivisie. If you look at his statistics and his style of play, that is good enough to make a transfer.”

“He is a Moroccan international, has an Africa Cup behind him, and is going to play in a World Cup. Assuming he is a starter and plays well in two matches, you’re simply done. Then you have to push through,” said Boulahrouz to Voetbal Primeur.

He added: “Saibari needs to go to an attacking team, where he can thrive. A nice club; they aren’t doing well at all, but he can add something extra to Tottenham Hotspur. I would go to a club where he can be important.”

They need a dynamic attacker like Saibari, and he will help create opportunities for his teammates and score goals consistently. He can operate as a set forward, in the attacking midfield role, as well as on the wings. His versatility could be ideal for Tottenham. It remains to be seen whether they can negotiate a reasonable deal for him.

The post Former Chelsea star backs surprise Spurs move for in-form 27-G/A forward appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are now interested in signing the Spanish defender Jacobo Ramon from Italian club, Como.

The 21-year-old has been excellent for the Italian outfit, and he is highly rated across Europe. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes he could be a reliable addition to the club’s defensive system, according to reports in Spain.

The London outfit will have to compete with Chelsea, who have also expressed interest in signing the 21-year-old. Ramon is a promising young player with a bright future, and he could develop into a quality defender with the right guidance.

The exposure to the Premier League could be ideal for him at this stage of his career. If he is offered regular opportunities at the highest level, it could accelerate his development and help him fulfil his potential. Meanwhile, the player has also been linked with Real Madrid. The Spanish club has a buyback option of €9 million in his contract. That certainly gives them an advantage over the Premier League clubs. It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid will bring him back to the club at the end of the season.

They need defensive depth, especially with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in the twilight stages of their careers.

Arsenal and Chelsea will certainly be able to offer a lot more than Real Madrid, and the player is reportedly valued at €25 million. He has a contract with the Italian club until 2030, and they will not want to lose him easily. However, the buyback clause will leave them powerless to stop Ramon from joining Real Madrid.

They are, however, in a position to stop Arsenal and Chelsea from signing the player. It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks.

The post Arsenal & Chelsea battle for €25m rising star, but Real Madrid have edge appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Verdict: Both teams to score Best odds: 8/11 Bookmaker: Unibet Real Madrid return to La Liga action on Friday night when they welcome Girona to the Santiago Bernabéu, hoping to arrest a worrying dip in form and keep their title ambitions alive. Los Blancos currently sit second in the standings, seven points adrift of leaders […]

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Girona appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Girona appeared first on Soccer News.

Although Alejandro Garnacho might have only arrived at Stamford Bridge eight months ago, the 21-year-old has endured a torrid time in west London. Forcing his way out of Manchester United last summer following a public feud with Ruben Amorim, it felt like Garnacho’s permanent move to SW6 could offer a new lease of life. However, […]

The post Are Chelsea already looking to push Alejandro Garnacho out of the Stamford Bridge exit this summer? appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Are Chelsea already looking to push Alejandro Garnacho out of the Stamford Bridge exit this summer? appeared first on Soccer News.

Although Alejandro Garnacho might have only arrived at Stamford Bridge eight months ago, the 21-year-old has endured a torrid time in west London. Forcing his way out of Manchester United last summer following a public feud with Ruben Amorim, it felt like Garnacho’s permanent move to SW6 could offer a new lease of life. However, […]

The post Are Chelsea already looking to push Alejandro Garnacho out of the Stamford Bridge exit this summer? appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Are Chelsea already looking to push Alejandro Garnacho out of the Stamford Bridge exit this summer? appeared first on Soccer News.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Nottingham Forest expect both Manchester City and Manchester United to push hard to sign Elliot Anderson this summer, and that should be direction of his move – should a move happen. However, it is also quite possible that the 23-year-old midfielder stays put, given that Forest’s valuation of his services stands […]

The post Nottingham Forest firm in Anderson valuation amid interest from Manchester clubs appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Nottingham Forest firm in Anderson valuation amid interest from Manchester clubs appeared first on Soccer News.

At the end of last year, Real Madrid were increasingly keen on the services of Ibrahima Konate.

The former Leipzig defender was facing an uncertain future at Liverpool, with his contract at Anfield expiring at the end of the season, making him a potential free agent.

Real Madrid, in search of fresh reinforcements in central defence, were considering making a Bosman move for the Frenchman.

Konate closing in on Liverpool renewal

According to Fabrizio Romano, Konate is now set to prolong his stay at Liverpool, with the defender closing in on a contract extension at Anfield.

The two parties are currently closing in on an agreement that would see the defender commit his long-term future to Merseyside.

Romano adds that Real Madrid were indeed one of the interested parties in the race to sign the Frenchman at the end of last year.

Konate is set to continue at Liverpool. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

However, after failing to find an agreement with the centre-back, Liverpool stopped negotiations in November, with some believing that the player used Los Blancos to secure a better deal at Liverpool.

Nevertheless, Konate’s contract extension could leave Real Madrid with one less option in the summer transfer window.

Formerly of RB Leipzig and Sochaux, Konate could have brought some invaluable experience to the table for Real Madrid, having featured in a combined total of more than 250 matches across Germany and England.

Real Madrid, though, have no dearth of options in the market. The Spanish giants have been notably linked with a move for Nico Schlotterbeck, too, though the German also looks set to renew his contract at Borussia Dortmund.

But on a positive note, Schlotterbeck is likely to have a special release clause that would allow clubs like Real Madrid to snap him up on a cut-price deal next summer.

Julian Edelman Has High Praise For New Patriots Receiver Romeo Doubs originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots moved on from Stefon Diggs this offseason, but signed Romeo Doubs to give Drake Maye a new weapon in the passing game.

Doubs is a very talented player who was perhaps held back a little bit by the Green Bay Packers offensive philosophy. The Packers like to spread the ball, but on the Patriots, he could fill a true No. 1 receiver role, as Diggs did. He has never been a true No. 1 in the NFL, but Patriots legend Julian Edelman thinks he is more than capable.

"He's a professional," Edelman told Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller on Saturday. "I'm really excited to see him with Drake. He's got a lot in his route tree. He's consistent. And I think bringing a player with that professionalism in that room, I think it's going to be great."

Doubs has 2,424 career regular-season receiving yards. His career high in receiving yards for a single season is 724, set last year. He has big shoes to fill, as Diggs was a 1,000-yard receiver last season. However, he is talented enough to do it, and on the Patriots, he could finally be the focal point of a passing attack.

Edelman is fourth all-time in receiving yards and receptions in Patriots history. He is second all-time in targets for the franchise. He is a good authority on what it takes to be a good receiver for the Patriots, and he seems to think Doubs has the right tools. However, he noted whose opinion really matters.

"It all depends on what Drake thinks, though, right," he added, per Weller. "So we'll see."

The UFC 328 fight week between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland is expected to get extremely heated.

On May 9, the premier MMA promotion returns to the Prudential Center in New Jersey for UFC 328, headlined by a middleweight title clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland.

In the months leading up to their title clash, Chimaev and Strickland have been relentless in their online exchanges. The buildup has only added to an already intense rivalry.

Dana White responds to worries over Chimaev vs Strickland build-up

With the UFC entering into a new agreement with Paramount this year, fight weeks have started to feature more structured pre-fight events, including additional face offs between main event fighters.

So far, these pre-fight additions haven’t caused any issues. The main event fighters have mostly kept things civil, but the matchup between Chimaev and Strickland feels different given their history.

Joe Rogan has already raised concerns about putting the two together before fight night, suggesting that even an official face off could spark problems between them.

During a recent livestream with Adin Ross, Dana White was asked directly about how the promotion plans to handle those concerns.

The conversation started when viewers began asking about how the new format would work with such a volatile pairing. Ross put it bluntly: “No, how are Khamzat and Sean going to do the Paramount photo-shoot face off because they don’t like each other?”

Dana responded: “Hmm, yeah, listen guys, no f—— s—, we’re beefing up everything, security and everything going into New Jersey for that fight. That’s going to be a f—— crazy weekend.”

The added security around UFC 328 might not be enough to keep things calm during fight week. Even though formalities like press conferences are designed to promote fights in an official capacity rather than stir up more tension between rivals like Khamzat and Strickland.

This isn’t the first time fan frustration has been directed at some of the changes this year. The promotion’s increased use of AI-generated content in pre-fight marketing hasn’t sat well with everyone either.

White has addressed those complaints head-on before. When fans questioned the shift towards more AI-driven content earlier in 2024, his message was blunt: “shut up and watch the f—— fights.”

Read more:

Mississippi State forward Achor Achor has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Jamie Shaw. Achor made 32 appearances and 26 starts for the Bulldogs this past season.

The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 7 and closes on April 21. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the men’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

WWE has gone back to the drawing board on parts of its SmackDown creative following the negative reaction to Pat McAfee’s involvement in the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton storyline, according to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select. The changes have been made in real time, with the company reassessing its direction for the story even as McAfee remains confirmed for this week’s SmackDown in San Jose.

The report notes that additional outside involvement had been discussed as part of the original plans, including celebrity names such as Jelly Roll, but those ideas are now part of the broader rethink currently underway. WWE is said to be actively assessing any possibilities for how the story moves forward heading into WrestleMania 42.

One of the more telling details in the report is how quickly the shift occurred. Sources told Fightful that CM Punk’s comments on Monday’s Raw reflected the new creative direction and were not part of the plan as of the Friday that McAfee was revealed as Orton’s ally on SmackDown.

That timeline suggests WWE creative has been operating in reactive mode throughout the week, adjusting to audience feedback and recalibrating on the fly rather than executing a locked-in plan.

With WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18 and 19 now less than two weeks away, the speed at which WWE is willing to pivot its plans for one of the event’s marquee matches is notable. Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton on the card, and how the story resolves between now and then will be shaped significantly by whatever direction SmackDown takes this week.

It’s been reported that the idea of having Pat McAfee return to the company and align with Orton came from TKO, potentially even from TKO President Ari Emanuel. This was not part of what WWE creative originally had planned for the feud. 

Related Headlines

• Rumor Suggests WWE Behind Canceled Indy Matches Between AEW & TNA Stars
• AJ Styles Considered Job In WWE Creative Before Retirement?
• Triple H Finally Addresses Cody Rhodes’ Infamous AEW Throne Smash

Former safety Rickey Thenarse, who briefly spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and was released before his NFL regular-season debut, was hospitalized after a shooting incident in Los Angeles on Friday morning. Reports indicate he was struck in the stomach and rushed for emergency surgery.

According to journalist Michael J. Babcock, the incident may have stemmed from a personal dispute. Sources suggest Thenarse was involved in tension with his girlfriend and the father of her child. Witnesses reported seeing a man and a woman flee the scene in a black SUV, and no arrests have been made so far.

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the case, with details still emerging.

The situation has drawn attention due to Thenarse’s past as a standout college player and his short stint in professional football.

MORE: NFL sends directive to teams as labor deal uncertainty looms

Rickey Thenarse’s Football Career

Thenarse played college football at the University of Nebraska from 2006 to 2010. He appeared in 51 games and earned special teams MVP honors in 2006 and 2007. Known for his physical play, he later took on a larger defensive role in his senior years.

Despite going undrafted in 2011, Thenarse signed with Seattle and featured in three preseason games, recording one tackle. However, he was released during final roster cuts, ending his NFL journey before the regular season began.

Seahawks have won the Super Bowl twice since releasing Rickey Thenarse

A few years after Thenarse’s release, Seattle built one of the league’s strongest teams. The franchise won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 with its dominant “Legion of Boom” defense.

Now, in 2026, the Seahawks claimed another title in Super Bowl LX, led by head coach Mike Macdonald and a powerful defensive unit. They defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium, with the MVP going to running back Kenneth Walker III.

Thenarse’s life after football has included legal troubles and now this latest incident. While his playing career was brief, the recent news has once again placed his name in the spotlight under difficult circumstances.

The National Football League is being investigated by the federal government for practices that allegedly harm consumers for licensing games simultaneously to multiple platforms — paid streaming platforms, paid cable networks, and others, sources told CBS News.

A government official familiar with the matter said the probe is about affordability for consumers and creating an "even playing field for providers." The Wall Street Journal first reported that the DOJ opened an investigation into the NFL. 

The NFL said in statement that its media distribution model is the "most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry," and noted that 87% of its games are available on broadcast television, "including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams." 

"The 2025 season was our most viewed since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its wide availability to all fans," the NFL said. 

Other NFL broadcasters, most notably Fox, have voiced concerns the NFL is spreading its games across too many streaming services and could make watching games prohibitively expensive — and confusing — for football fans. A recent editorial by The Wall Street Journal, also owned by Fox's owner Rupert Murdoch, argued the league might be violating its antitrust exemptions by spreading out its content across so many platforms. 

Republican Sen. Mike Lee, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, said he's "glad they're tackling this." 

"In 1961, Congress enacted the Sports Broadcasting Act, granting limited antitrust immunity to allow professional football teams to collectively license the 'sponsored telecasts' of their games to national broadcast networks," Lee said. "... To the extent collectively licensed game packages are placed behind subscription paywalls, these arrangements may no longer align with the statutory concept of sponsored telecasting or the consumer-access rationale underlying the antitrust exemption."

Republican Clay Fuller to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in House, CBS News projects

Daughter of missing American in Bahamas says the story isn't adding up

Jury convicts Hawaii doctor of attempted manslaughter for trying to kill his wife

Detroit Tigers (4-8) vs. Minnesota Twins (6-6)

Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Target Field
SB Nation Site: Twinkie Town
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) vs. RHP Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA)

Germany’s squad for the the March international break was full of multiple controversial call ups and omissions. Many expected Saïd El Mala, Tom Bischof or others to make the squad, but no dice. Meanwhile, there were many controversial selections. Players such as Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka bore the most scrutiny, but there was also frustration aimed at the selection of Bayern Munich’s 18-year-old youngster Lennart Karl.

After enjoying such an incredible Hinrunde at Bayern but only managing the jump to the U-21s once, seeing him called up to the senior team despite some underwhelming recent form in the Rückrunde was strange. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann explained his decision, but U-21 manager Antonio Di Salvo also weighed in with his opinion.

“Lennart put in some impressive performances on the highest level of football in the Bundesliga and the Champions League and has therefore earned his nomination,” he explained, as captured by @iMiaSanMia_GER. “He also impressed us with 3 goals in two games when he played with us in November.”

Of course, the question of why he was promoted now and not when he was putting in those impressive performances remains the question. Still, Karl clearly justified his selection with his cameos against Ghana and Switzerland during the international break. Whether this will be enough to earn him a spot on the plane for the 2026 World Cup remains to be seen.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

In an official statement, FC Barcelona have announced that they have filed a formal complaint with UEFA over the improper refereeing during their game against Atletico Madrid earlier this week.

The Blaugrana suffered a 0-2 loss to Atleti in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Spotify Camp Nou. However, the game was marred by several controversial decisions made by referee Istvan Kovacs.

Perhaps, the biggest of them was his decision to ignore a blatant handball by Marc Pubill in Atletico’s box and not show him a second yellow card and not award a penalty to Barcelona.

Frustrated by what went down, Barça have now taken action.

“FC Barcelona announces that, today, the Club’s legal department has filed a formal complaint with UEFA regarding the events that occurred in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid,” the statement read.

“The Club believes that the referee’s performance was contrary to the regulations in force, directly impacting the course of the match and its outcome.”

Citing the Pubill incident as the major grievance, Barcelona added in their statement:

“The complaint focuses on a specific incident. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had properly restarted, an opposing player handled the ball inside the penalty area, yet no penalty was awarded.

“FC Barcelona believes this decision, along with the serious failure of VAR to intervene, constitutes a significant error.”

As such, the Catalans have asked for an investigation into the decision as well as access to the communication between the referee and the VAR, along with an acknowledgement of the mistakes.

“Consequently, the club has requested an investigation, access to the referee’s communications, and, if necessary, official acknowledgment of the errors and the implementation of appropriate measures,” the statement continued.

Concluding, Barcelona noted that this was not the first time that the team had been harmed by poor officiating in Champions League matches.

“In this same vein, FC Barcelona believes that this is not the first time that, in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League, incomprehensible refereeing decisions have seriously harmed the team, creating a clear comparative disadvantage and preventing them from competing on equal terms with other clubs.”

Kirk Cousins has shed light on Tom Brady’s role within the Las Vegas Raiders, revealing how involved the legendary quarterback is behind the scenes despite being a minority owner.

Cousins recently joined the Raiders, stepping into a situation where Brady’s presence looms large even after his retirement from playing.

While Brady is not part of the coaching staff, his influence within the organization continues to shape decisions and culture.

That influence, according to Cousins, is felt immediately. Even before stepping onto the field.

Kirk Cousins explains Tom Brady’s influence on his decision to join Raiders

Cousins spoke about his interaction with Brady in a clip shared via Good Morning Football, detailing how impactful their conversation was during his decision-making process.

The context is important, as Brady’s role as a minority owner gives him a unique position within the franchise, bridging leadership and player experience.

Cousins said, “I got off the call, and I called my wife. I said, ‘That was a really life-giving call with Tom.’ He gets it. He’s been where I’ve been and then some, and I think he understands what it needs to look like, what it will look like.”

He added, “And I felt really like a shot in the arm after talking to him. And I felt like that was a big nudge for me to come to Vegas.”

The exchange highlights how Brady’s perspective, shaped by his own career, continues to resonate with current players making key decisions.

Kirk Cousins says Tom Brady remains accessible despite a limited day-to-day presence

Cousins also clarified what Brady’s involvement looks like on a daily basis within the organization.

“I don’t know that he’s going to be around all the time, but he’s always a phone call, text away,” Cousins stated. “And I think, to have a guy who’s won seven Super Bowls, a phone call or a text away, who’s embedded in your organization, it’s gotta be a positive.”

The description suggests a role that is not hands-on in everyday operations, but still highly influential when it comes to guidance and decision-making.

For the Raiders, having Brady as a minority owner who remains actively engaged, even from a distance, adds a layer of experience and credibility that few organizations can match.

Read more:

Manchester City return to Premier League duties this weekend against Chelsea on the horizon after advancing to the FA Cup semi-final last time out.

Pep Guardiola’s side brushed aside a faltering Liverpool outfit in a commanding 4-0 victory in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium last week – keeping hopes of further silverware firmly alive and a semi-final clash against Southampton at Wembley in the offing.

City were in complete control from the outset and rarely looked troubled by Arne Slot’s side. Their dominance paid off in the 39th minute when Nico O’Reilly was brought down by Virgil van Dijk, earning a penalty. Erling Haaland stepped up and calmly converted, netting his 34th goal of the season to hand City a deserved lead.

Moments before the interval, Haaland struck again, rising to head home a pinpoint cross from Antoine Semenyo and put the hosts firmly in control.

Five Things Learned: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool (FA Cup Quarter Final)

From there, it was largely plain sailing. Semenyo added a deft chipped finish before Haaland completed his hat-trick, sealing an emphatic victory and booking City’s place in their second semi-final of the season.

Liverpool did threaten to give City something to think about in the 64th minute with Mohamed Salah lining up for a penalty to pull one back. A heroic save from James Trafford saw the hosts go through to the next round with the clean sheet intact.

Next up for Manchester City is a trip to Stamford Bridge, where they’ll face Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea. The west London Blues enter the fixture off the back of an emphatic 7-0 victory against League One side Port Vale. However, prior to that, they had lost all of their previous four matches – the last three of which they had gone without scoring.

For Manchester City, a potential Premier League title hangs in the balance. For Chelsea nothing matters more than potential UEFA Champions League qualification. Here’s how we predict Manchester City will line up against Chelsea!

Starting XI

Despite James Trafford’s cup heroics over the last two matches, Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to take back his place in goal for Premier League action. The Italian has spent the majority of the season hot on the heels of David Raya in the golden glove race as he sits on 11 clean sheets in 27 matches.

Trafford has been nothing short of brilliant in the cup competitions this season but for now, the pecking order is clear and Donnarumma will be keen to keep it that way and showing what he has to offer in the fixtures that remain.

Matheus Nunes has made himself as close to undroppable as possible this season having featured in 44 matches for City this season, five more than he has in a season in Manchester to date.

While many doubted his abilities to become a nailed on starter at the club, Pep Guardiola will be more than impressed with the 27-year-old’s performances this season as he has made the position his own.

Abdukodir Khusanov reflects on horror Chelsea debut and sensational Manchester City rise since

Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi scarcely looked troubled in Saturday’s match-up against Liverpool and will have given Guardiola absolutely no reason to change a winning formula against a side who have struggled for goals in the league recently.

Khusanov has earned his plaudits recently with his previous critics beginning to realise exactly why Manchester City fans voted him as the clubs March player of the month.

Guehi has had an equally brilliant start to life at Manchester City, Saturday’s win was his fifth in a row against Liverpool. In the absence of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, a pairing of Guehi and Khusanov should still strike fear in even the world’s most seasoned attackers.

Rayan Ait-Nouri was limited to the bench for both of the last two matches but he has quickly become a fan favourite at the Etihad and for good reason. Ait-Nouri’s inclusion enables Nico O’Reilly to step into the midfield in a role that he has excelled in this season.

The Algerian full-back has struggled for consistent game time this season having missed gametime through injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations, a strong end to the season could give him the perfect platform to nail down a starting spot for next season.

Rodri may not have hit the levels that we’ve become used to this season, but even still he remains one of if not the best holding midfielder in the world.

The Spaniard has only missed one game since the last time City played Chelsea back in January, in that time the Blues have lost just once in the league highlighting the level of consistency that the Ballon D’or winner brings to the side.

Captain Bernardo Silva has been crucial to the side’s efforts this season, having featured in every single one of Manchester City’s Premier League fixtures so far this season. With this looking to be Bernardo’s final season in Manchester, he’ll be desperate to push his side over the line and claim yet another Premier League title from out of Arsenal’s grasp.

Bernardo Silva: Nine years of brilliance at Manchester City

Partnering Bernardo, Nico O’Reilly continues to go from strength to strength this season across multiple positions. O’Reilly offers a level of physicality in the midfield that City has missed sorely at points over the last two seasons.

The 21-year-old has grabbed 14 goal involvements this season and his performance against Liverpool at the weekend was a perfect example of just how dominant he has been at both ends of the pitch in this campaign.

Antoine Semenyo has hit the ground running at the Etihad Stadium and grabbed his eighth goal and third assist in blue this season on the weekend. Where City once struggled for goal involvements from the wings, Semenyo has far surpassed expectations – helping to ease the reliance on Erling Haaland when it comes to goalscoring.

Semenyo has only scored once against Chelsea in six appearances but in the form he finds himself in, he’ll no doubt be confident of adding to that tally on Sunday.

Erling Haaland bagged his 12th City hattrick on Saturday in a dominant performance, the kind that fans have come to expect from the Norwegian. Haaland has six goal involvements in seven matches against Chelsea, a total that the hosts will no doubt be aware of going into this one.

After drawing criticism for a relative goal drought, Haaland will no doubt be keen to get back to his brilliant best. If his showing in the FA Cup quarter-final is anything to go by, it’ll be a long 90 minutes for the Chelsea defence.

Jeremy Doku may not have registered a goal or assist during his 62-minute outing against Liverpool but his performance still offered plenty of encouragement ahead of the clash with Chelsea.

The Belgian’s direct running and relentless dribbling caused problems throughout, and while the end product was missing on this occasion, his ability to stretch defences and create space could prove crucial for Manchester City in the upcoming fixture.

Jeremy Doku and Manchester City set for showdown talks amid La Liga transfer interest

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly, Bernardo; Semenyo, Haaland, Doku

Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Nico, Kovacic, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho, Cherki, Marmoush

The Milwaukee Brewers return home this weekend, as they’ll take on the Washington Nationals for three games beginning Friday evening. After unveiling their new City Connect uniforms on Thursday, the Crew will wear the jerseys in all three games of this series.

The Brewers are coming off a 3-3 road trip that included a series win over the Royals before a series loss to the Red Sox. They sit at 8-4, tied atop the NL Central with the Reds, though Cincinnati is actively playing against the Marlins in Miami as of this writing. On the other side, the Nationals are at the bottom of the NL East at 4-8. After getting off to a 3-1 start, including a series win over the Cubs, Washington has lost seven of their last eight, including series losses to the Phillies, Dodgers, and Cardinals.

The Brewers are still without a few key players, as Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio are both out for a few weeks with hand injuries. On the pitching front, Jared Koenig (May), Quinn Priester (May), Rob Zastryzny (late April or early May), and Craig Yoho (mid-April) are also on the IL. The latest injury is Brice Turang, who sat out the last two games in Boston with left ankle tendinitis. He isn’t expected to need an IL stint, meaning he should be back on the field for this series.

Washington’s injured list is exclusively pitchers, including Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, Trevor Williams, Jarlin Susana, and Travis Sykora. All five of those injuries are in the “severe” category, with the first three on the 60-day IL and the last two still in the minors as two of the Nats’ top four prospects. All of them with the exception of Sykora are expected to return to play at some point in 2026 (Sykora is out for the season, with a 2027 return).

The Brewers’ offense went stagnant without Turang in the final two games in Boston, but they’re still one of the better offensive teams in baseball overall. Turang, Christian Yelich, and Garrett Mitchell have led the team thus far. Turang is hitting .270/.413/.514 with a homer, four doubles, a triple, seven RBIs, 10 runs scored, and four steals; Yelich is hitting .372/.413/.535 with a homer, two doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored, and three steals; and Mitchell is hitting .310/.429/.517 with a homer, three doubles, 13 RBIs, four runs scored, and three steals. William Contreras, Jake Bauers, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Brandon Lockridge, and Joey Ortiz round out the other regulars, with Blake Perkins and Luis Matos generally coming off the bench. As a team, Milwaukee is hitting .253/.356/.395 (.751 OPS ranks fourth), with 10 homers (tied for 18th), 70 runs scored (fourth), and 23 steals (first).

Despite their rough start to the season, the Nationals’ offense is not the issue. CJ Abrams and James Wood sit atop the team’s homer leaderboard with four each, with Abrams adding four steals. Former Brewer Joey Wiemer got off to a red-hot start but has cooled off quite a bit — even so, he’s hitting .440/.533/.760 with a pair of homers through eight games played. Brady House, Luis García, Daylen Lile, Jacob Young, Drew Millas, Nasim Nuñez, and Jorbit Vivas round out the regulars, with Keibert Ruiz, Curtis Mead, and José Tena serving as depth. As a team, Washington is hitting .266/.339/.431 (.770 OPS ranks third), with 16 homers (tied for third), 71 runs scored (third), and 14 steals (tied for third).

The Brewer bullpen is led in appearances (seven) by Grant Anderson and Aaron Ashby. Anderson has allowed two runs and struck out eight across eight frames, while Ashby has allowed three runs and struck out 14 over 9 2/3 innings. DL Hall hasn’t allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings of work, striking out 10. Trevor Megill is 3-for-3 in save opportunities, while Ángel Zerpa has allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings, picking up his first career save against the Red Sox on Monday. Abner Uribe is still one of the best relievers in the league, and Jake Woodford rounds out the bullpen, with one more addition expected on Friday to replace Koenig. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.77 team ERA (13th), including a 4.80 starter ERA (25th) and a 2.66 reliever ERA (sixth). They’ve struck out 124 batters (tied for fourth) over 105 innings.

Just about nobody in Washington’s bullpen has gotten off to a good start — the only player of the eight currently on the roster with an ERA under 3.00 is Paxton Schultz, who’s made just one appearance spanning one scoreless frame. The team is just 1-for-5 in save opportunities, with Clayton Beeter claiming that one save (he has a 3.18 ERA with two runs allowed over 5 2/3 innings). Cole Henry has an 0-2 record, with five runs allowed (three earned) over seven innings, while PJ Poulin (5.40 ERA), Cionel Pérez (13.50 ERA), Brad Lord (4.35 ERA), former Brewer Gus Varland (6.75 ERA), and Ken Waldichuk (7.04 ERA) have all struggled. As a staff, the Nationals have a 6.06 team ERA (30th), including a 5.75 starter ERA (30th) and a 6.34 reliever ERA (27th). They’ve struck out 92 batters (tied for 24th) over 107 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Friday, April 10 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.96 ERA, 4.33 FIP) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (1-1, 8.00 ERA, 4.60 FIP)

Patrick was originally slated to start for the third time this season on Wednesday in Boston, but thanks to the doubleheader on Saturday, his turn through the rotation was pushed back to this weekend against the Nationals. While he’s allowed quite a bit of traffic through two starts, he’s done a good job keeping opponents off the scoreboard. Through 9 1/3 innings, he’s allowed just one run on nine hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. This will mark his first career start against Washington.

Irvin, 29, is in his fourth MLB season, all with the Nationals. He hasn’t had much success to this point, with a 4.99 ERA and a 5.07 FIP over nearly 500 career innings. In two starts this season, he’s had varied results. He started the year with five innings of two-run ball against the Cubs, picking up the win as he allowed three hits and a walk while striking out seven. In his last start against the Dodgers, he struggled across four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Irvin has made six career starts against Milwaukee, with an 0-5 record, a 6.59 ERA, and 22 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings. That includes a pair of starts last season, when he went 0-2 and allowed eight runs (five earned) over nine innings with seven strikeouts.

Saturday, April 11 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-1, 14.85 ERA, 12.00 FIP) vs. LHP Foster Griffin (1-0, 2.70 ERA, 4.75 FIP)

Sproat has not gotten off to a great start with the Brewers. Through two appearances (one start) spanning 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox and Royals, he’s allowed 11 earned runs on 10 hits — including four homers — and seven walks, striking out seven. This actually marks his second time pitching against Washington, as he made his third career start against them while with the Mets last season. He went four innings in that outing, allowing four runs on four hits and a pair of walks with five strikeouts in a no-decision.

Griffin, 30, is a former first-round pick who spent parts of two seasons with the Royals and Blue Jays back in 2020 and 2022, spanning eight innings in which he allowed nine runs (eight earned) and struck out five. He spent the last three seasons in Japan, where he made 54 appearances spanning 315 2/3 innings with a 2.57 ERA and 318 strikeouts. In two starts (against the Phillies and Dodgers) this season, he’s totaled 10 innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out 11. This marks his first career appearance against Milwaukee.

Sunday, April 12 @ 1:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (1-0, 2.61 ERA, 4.12 FIP) vs. RHP Zack Littell (0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5.85 FIP)

Kyle Harrison has had a successful start to his Milwaukee tenure, with a 2.61 ERA across 10 1/3 innings in starts against the Rays and Royals. He’s struck out 14 in those outings, as he’s successfully deployed a new kick-change. Harrison has made three previous starts against the Nationals, all while with the Giants. In those outings, he has an 0-1 record with a 4.30 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.

Littell, 30, is in his ninth MLB season and now with his sixth team. He spent 2025 between the Rays and Reds, with a 3.81 ERA, 4.88 FIP, and 130 strikeouts across 186 2/3 innings. He’s made two appearances (one start) against the Phillies and Cardinals this season, spanning 10 frames with four earned runs on 10 hits and five walks, striking out seven. A familiar opponent for Milwaukee, Littell has made 12 appearances (three starts) against the Crew, with an 0-1 record, 1.75 ERA, and 18 strikeouts over 25 2/3 innings. He made three starts against the Brewers last season (two with the Reds, one with the Rays), allowing four runs and striking out 11 over 16 2/3 innings.

How to Watch & Listen

Friday, April 10: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Saturday, April 11: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Sunday, April 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

The Brewers seem to have the advantage in just about every facet in this series, including the fact that the Nationals are ice-cold right now. I’ll take Milwaukee to pick up the sweep.

It was a mixed bag for Bryson DeChambeau over the front nine at Augusta National on Thursday as he kicked off his campaign to try and win The Masters for the first time in his career.

DeChambeau was the favourite for many heading into the first major of the year. He had won his last two events on LIV Golf, while he had finished inside the top six on his last two visits to Augusta National.

Of course, DeChambeau was in the final group on Sunday 12 months ago, and went on to take the lead after the second hole of the last round. However, that was as good as it got for the two-time US Open champion.

DeChambeau would soon make a mistake that would leave Rory McIlroy stunned.

Bryson DeChambeau appears to have learned from an error during last year’s Masters

DeChambeau’s biggest strength is his driving. And after he seized the initiative with a birdie on the second hole, McIlroy understandably expected DeChambeau to pull the longest club in his bag out for the short par-four third.

However, the Crushers captain opted for an iron, and went on to make a bogey. McIlroy suggested to Fried Egg Golf that felt like a turning point in the battle between the pair.

“I could not believe that Bryson laid up. I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“I didn’t realise, but I know now that is what he has been doing all week, especially to left pins but I thought with how firm the greens were, it was hard to get a wedge shot close anyway and I thought he had a chance to drive it on the green. I did not think I could quite get there, but I thought he had a chance.

“He had just got one ahead, I felt like even though it was early in the round, if he were to take driver out there and hit it on the green, it really is like taking the tournament by the scruff of the neck.”

A high point in a scratchy nine holes at Augusta National for Bryson DeChambeau

It must be noted that DeChambeau did use a driver off that tee twice that week. He made a birdie on Thursday and a bogey in the third round.

But his more conservative approach did not work on Sunday. And it clearly gave McIlroy a boost as he looked to recover from such a nervy start.

It would appear that DeChambeau has learned his lesson this time around.

The 32-year-old’s only birdie on the front nine on Thursday this year came on the third hole. DeChambeau hit his drive up towards the green before producing a superb chip shot.

Obviously, it remains to be seen what club he chooses to hit over the remainder of his week. But those hoping to see DeChambeau contend this week will be keen for the LIV star to continue to be aggressive on the third.

The Masters has now arrived, with many undecided over who will claim the green jacket this year.

Rory McIlroy is the defending champion, but has made just four PGA Tour starts this season after dealing with a back injury.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is also in the field at Augusta National, but he has been kept busy by the birth of his second child.

Still, the top two golfers in the world simply cannot be ruled out of going all the way at The Masters, having won three of the last four titles between them.

They have been among the dominant forces in world golf for some time, but it is only Scheffler who has been predicted to come out on top via a crossover from the tennis world.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula predict The Masters winner

A handful of tennis stars predicted the winner of The Masters just before it started, including ATP number one Carlos Alcaraz, who is an avid golfer.

The Spaniard told Sky Sports: “I’ve got to go with my fella Jon Rahm, let’s go Jon!”

And Jessica Pegula, his WTA counterpart from the United States, has backed her fellow Adidas athlete Ludvig Aberg.

Pegula’s fellow American Taylor Fritz also shared his verdict, backing two-time winner Scheffler to emerge victorious once again.

The tennis and golfing worlds often overlap, with Alcaraz undoubtedly leading the way in that regard right now given his tendency to swap sports when he has the time.

He constantly takes to the course in a bid to improve his golf game, just like legendary figures Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have been doing of late.

Tommy Fleetwood backed for first major win at The Masters

Alcaraz will likely be keeping a close eye on the action at Augusta National, despite his world number one ranking being on the line right now.

The Spanish superstar is currently competing at the Monte Carlo Masters, where his fierce rival Jannik Sinner is chasing down the top spot in men’s tennis.

Also involved in Monte Carlo are Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud, who have predicted their winner for The Masters too.

German ace Zverev commented: “I think Tommy Fleetwood is going to win his first major.”

And Norwegian icon Ruud said: “We have historically for Norway two Norwegians playing the tournament, so I’m going to say that a Norwegian will win this year’s Masters.”

Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Reitan represent those two Norwegians who are eyeing the iconic green jacket this week.

Out first at Augusta National were Johnny Keefer and Haoting Li, followed by the trio of Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa and Carlos Ortiz.

Read more:

Alcaraz surprised as Sinner defies expectations in Monte Carlo

Carlos Alcaraz’s honest views on player privacy deserve recognition

Ferrero reveals what Alcaraz must do to become tennis GOAT

We are 14 days out from the start of the NFL Draft. Houston enters with eight total picks including four in the top 70. That draft capital will inevitably move and shake according to the whims of General Manager Nick Caserio. What’s more prevalent is not when the Texans draft, but who.

Houston Texans 2026 Draft Picks: Nos. 28, 38, 59, 69, 106, 141, 167, 243

Each draft, Caserio surprises fans and draft pundits with a selection in a position not considered “a need” for the team. Last year, it was doubling down at wide receiver in the second and third rounds, then adding a cornerback in the third round to sit behind Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. Fans can also point to Blake Fisher in the second, Juice Scruggs in the second, and John Metchie in the second as all surprise picks early in the draft.

That leads us to our Groupthink of the week:

Nick Caserio can draft for best player available this year in a feat of free agency maneuvering. What position do you believe the Texans will draft earlier than analysts or experts expect?

VBallRetired:

I personally would expect a defensive tackle fairly early in the draft if not in round one. They have a few decent guys that are good rotational pieces, but a starting quality guy could really elevate this defense a notch.

Plus, a defensive end early would make a lot of sense. The Texans rotate guys a lot and they let Derek Barnett and Denico Autry walk. They have some rotational guys but getting an eventual replacement for Daniele Hunter makes a ton of sense.

Mike Bullock:

Since there’s zero chance anything I toss out will likely come to fruition, I’m gonna lean into the unknown. Now that Ole St. Nick managed to shore up most of the roster via free agency, he doesn’t necessarily need all the draft picks. With that in mind, he packages a few into a blockbuster trade to jump up and draft RB “sure thing” Jeremiyah Love. Love immediately becomes one part of the most ridiculous tailback tandem in the NFL alongside David Montgomery. Suddenly, C.J. Stroud doesn’t have to do it all. Tank Dell doesn’t need to play 17 full games and Nico Collins/Jayden Higgins gash gassed defenders at will. Granted, the o-line has to function for this to work, but we are dreaming here, right?

VBallRetired:

I like the way you think.

Kenneth L.:

Defense. Houston needs a long-term defensive end behind Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.. Dylan Horton has been resourceful, but will also be a free agent after this season. The DE position has been extremely vital to their success and if either starter goes down, there’s a major drop off in talent. I expect an either a Day Two pick could go to this position.

The other group I believe could receive an early draft pick is the defensive back room. This safety class is top tier and there are several great options including A.J. Haulcy, Zakee Wheatley, and Bud Clark. Similar to DE, the cornerback depth is highly suspect. Jaylin Smith is a complete unknown after spending the season on IR. Another third round corner could be in the works in Houston.

L4Blitzer:

In one respect, it is hard to consider what position Houston might draft before expectations. They can argue (however loosely) that they are in position to draft BPA. That opens the board to just about anything. They could fortify the O-line (still needed) or get some underrated offensive weapon (explosive RB/WR). [KITTEN], they could go nuts and draft another CB.

However, I think that if Houston is going to draft a position before expectations, it would be at DE. Most mocks have Houston taking either an OL or interior DL prospect. Sure, I would love to see this defense with a massive run-stuffing interior nightmare. However, while Hunter and Anderson are arguably the best DE-duo in the league, Hunter is only on a one-year deal and has fewer playing days ahead vs. behind. If Houston can get a talented DE replacement at a cap-friendly price, I would not be shocked to see one of Houston’s early picks go that way.

Joe Critz:

While I don’t think they’ll target this position with their first pick, I think the Texans are going to target CB/S earlier than people expect. Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter make up arguably the best CB duo in the NFL, but the depth behind them is suspect at best. I could see the Texans using a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a CB like Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds or Miami’s Keionte Scott in order to improve depth as well as prepare for a potential world without Lassiter in 2027 or 2028.

• Leaders: -4 Reed, Burns
• Full leaderboard
• Defending champion McIlroy -2 after front nine; eagle puts Lowry a shot off lead
• Selected tee-times (all BST): 18:08 J Rahm (Spa); 18:20 Justin Rose (Eng); 18:44 S Scheffler (US), R MacIntyre (Sco)
• Full round one tee-times
• Use the 'watch & listen' tab for BBC radio commentary from 20:00

The Masters: Reed in joint lead, McIlroy hitting stride - follow live

Barcelona have issued a statement to confirm they have submitted a formal complaint about the refereeing during Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico.

The Catalans have been left furious by the decision not to send off Marc Pubill and award Barcelona a penalty for a clear handball.

Here’s the statement:

“FC Barcelona inform that the Club legal services have submitted a complaint to UEFA today regarding the events in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atlético Madrid. The Club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result.

“The complaint centres around a specific action. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had been restarted correctly, an opponent player picked up the ball in their area without being shown the corresponding penalty. FC Barcelona understands that this decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error. Accordingly, the Club has requested an investigation be opened, access to refereeing communications, and where applicable, official acknowledgment of the errors and the adoption of the relevant measures.

“Along these same lines, FC Barcelona consider that this is not the first time in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League that unfathomable refereeing decisions have had a detrimental effect on the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing competing against other clubs on a level playing field.”

Acting president Rafa Yuste had previously explained why the club were taking such action.

“With the technical and electronic resources we have in society, such as VAR, I don’t understand why a clear penalty, in my opinion, wasn’t awarded against Atlético Madrid. I say this with all due respect to everyone. Whether intentional or not, the play is crystal clear,” he told reporters.

“I don’t want to go into detail about the refereeing. There’s a very important second leg. We have to focus on the fact that a comeback is very possible, and we believe it is. Now we have a very important match against Espanyol, and as president, I don’t want anything to disrupt the concentration that the club, players, and staff need for this match.”

“We at the club are considering issuing a statement. And we can’t forget—sometimes memory is very short—that something similar happened to us in the Cup at Atlético’s stadium. We have to denounce it because otherwise there won’t be any improvement. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s happening too often and we can’t let it go.”

Watch Xander Schauffele's tee shot end up in spectator's bag in funny Masters sequence originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Attending the Masters has to be a relaxing event to attend, right? 

For the most part, yes, but fans who choose to line the fairways must keep their heads on a swivel to double-take in the action while also making sure they aren't in harm's way of incoming golf balls. 

Xander Schauffele was teeing off in the first round and pulled his tee shot to the left. He held up his club, and people yelled fore as it went toward the trees. While the camera didn't catch the golf ball's exact flight, it did catch where it ended up. Schauffele's drive had somehow dropped into a spectator's bag and nestled itself in the bag, and the golfer was able to take relief in what turned into a humorous exchange. 

Here is more on Schauffele's tee shot ending up in a spectator's bag in the first round of the 2026 Masters.

SN's MASTERS HQ:Live Masters leaderboard | Masters TV coverage | Live streaming

Xander Schauffele's tee shot ends up in Masters spectator's bag

Schauffele was teeing off on the eighth hole in the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament. His drive went wide left, and it looked like it was heading for uncertain terrain in the woods. With assumed help from a tree or a lucky bounce, his ball ended up landing in a spectator's merchandise bag. 

MORE: Round 2 tee times

The particular spectator's identity hasn't been revealed, but they were sitting or standing with a Masters merchandise bag when all of a sudden the ball landed in the bag. It wasn't moved and Schauffele wasn't forced to hit it out of the bag. Instead, what ensued was Schauffele and a Masters official both measuring where the ball was in the bag and where the ball would have landed on the ground had it not landed in the bag. 

Schauffele then continued his hole and, even with the detour into a merchandise bag, made par on the par-5 hole. 

Xander Schauffele's tee shot somehow ends up in a patron's bag 😂 pic.twitter.com/fAiQK38oAr

— ESPN (@espn) April 9, 2026

MORE MASTERS NEWS:

• Complete list of Masters winners by year
• Why Augusta National always hosts the Masters
• Who has won the most Masters of all time?
• History behind the famous Masters green jacket
• Inside Augusta's iconic Amen's Corner

The Tennessee baseball team is at a critical juncture of the season, as they enter the second weekend of April at 4-8 in SEC play. That’s good enough for third worst in the SEC. Even though the season will be just half over after this weekend, it feels like an essential time to start to turn things around if they want to rally back into position to even make the NCAA Tournament.

And it won’t be easy this weekend, as the Vols head to Starkville for a weekend showdown with top 10 Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have held up their end of high preseason expectations, sitting at 26-7 and 7-5 in SEC play.

Despite Tennessee’s problems last weekend against LSU, the one thing that wasn’t an issue was their starting pitching. As such, the rotation will stay the same way as it was against the Tigers, the school announced on Thursday.

Landon Mack slid up to the Friday night starter last weekend, and he’ll remain there. Tegan Kuhns will start the middle game, and Evan Blanco will handle the finale on Sunday.

Mack (3.48), Blanco (3.83), and Kuhns (3.89) all have managed to keep the Vols’ early and middle innings pretty well handled so far this season, with the exception of an early SEC stretch that saw Brandon Arvidson take over for Kuhns for the Vanderbilt series.

Mack leads the team in strikeouts, but with a WHIP of 1.39, he’s managed to get himself in and out of trouble throughout the season. Kuhns’ 47/8 strikeout to walk ratio has been the best among the trio.

In any event, the Vols have got to get more out of their lineup in key spots and from their bullpen in the late innings moving forward. Otherwise, the starting trio’s numbers will stay pretty while the losses continue to pile up.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 10 Brighton live results, scores and schedule originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Premier League of Darts heads to Brighton on Night 10.

Seven exciting matchups are set, as the play-off race continues to heat up.

Luke Humphries faces a struggling Jonny Clayton, as both players will be looking to grab early points.

Gerwyn Price will play Josh Rock next, in a rematch of last year's World Cup of Darts final.

Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting will play for the third time in the last few weeks in the third quarterfinal of Night 10.

Lastly, an all-Dutch matchup is set, as potential 2026 World Cup of Darts partners Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen clash.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 10 Brighton results, scores and schedule

Here is the schedule and the results from Night 10 of the 2026 PL.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts Night 10 draw, match predictions and 3 storylines to watch in Brighton

Quarterfinals

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Semifinals

Semifinals

More darts articles:

• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• PDC announces darts schedule for 2026: World Championship, Premier League and more
• Ranking the best PDC Darts moments from 2025: 9-darters to shocking upsets
• 2026 Premier League Darts prize money explained
• 2026 Premier League of Darts: Get to know the 8 participants
• Watch Josh Rock hit iconic Premier League 9-darter in front of home crowd in Belfast

Michigan football got through most of spring ball with positive momentum.

Then came the update no one wanted to hear.

Micah Ka’apana ruled out for the 2026 season

New head coach Kyle Whittingham delivered the news Thursday, confirming that running back Micah Ka’apana will miss the entire 2026 season with a lower leg injury.

“One big downer, Micah, our running back, Ka’apana, is out for the season, lower leg injury,” Whittingham said. “And so we’ll miss him, and it’s unfortunate, but so far we’ve been healthy other than that. But that’s a lost horse and something that I’m sure he’ll return from and be back for the ’27 season, but it looks like he is gonna be out for the ’26 season.”

It is a tough blow for a player who was still carving out his role but showed flashes of potential in limited action.

Injury comes during otherwise productive spring

The timing makes it sting even more.

Whittingham made it clear that spring practices had been trending in the right direction before the injury news surfaced.

“Spring ball, two-thirds through, 10 down, five to go,” Whittingham said on Thursday. “It’s been a very productive first 10 practices. A lot of positives, offense is progressing, defense is progressing. Everything’s on track to where you would hope it would be.”

He emphasized that both sides of the ball are adapting well to new systems, with players buying in and showing steady improvement.

“There’s new schemes on both sides of the ball. So that was the first order of business is to get those schemes installed and up and running, which we have done,” Whittingham added. “Guys are working hard, really haven’t had a bad practice. Some better than others, obviously, but nothing where you can say, hey, that was a step backwards. So it’s positive in that respect.”

What this means for Michigan’s backfield

Ka’apana’s absence leaves a gap in depth more than production, at least for now.

The sophomore running back saw limited touches over the past two seasons, totaling 38 rushing yards and adding a small contribution in the passing game. Still, his development was something the staff was watching closely heading into the fall.

Now, that timeline shifts forward a full year.

Whittingham made it clear the expectation is for Ka’apana to return in 2027, giving him a chance to re-enter the mix after a full recovery.

The bottom line

Michigan’s spring has largely been about progress, installation, and building toward a new era under Kyle Whittingham.

But injuries are part of the game.

Micah Ka’apana’s season-ending injury is a setback, even if the Wolverines have otherwise stayed healthy. Now, the focus shifts to how the backfield adjusts and who steps forward in his absence.

The Philadelphia 76ers will have their hands full when they pay a visit to the Houston Rockets on Thursday. It is the second of a 3-game road trip, and the first night of a back-to-back, when they take on a Rockets team that has won seven games in a row.

The challenge was already tough for Philadelphia, but now, it will have to get the job done with Joel Embiid sidelined.

After originally not being on the injury report, Embiid has now been ruled out against the Rockets due to an illness. When considering it is the first night of the back-to-back, it makes sense, but it's unfortunate timing when considering how much is on the line for the Sixers on Thursday. One will have to wonder if the big fella can play on Friday against the Indiana Pacers to finish the road trip.

Joel Embiid has been ruled OUT for tonight's game against the Rockets due to an illness #Sixers

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) April 9, 2026

With Embiid sidelined, the onus now falls on to Adem Bona and Andre Drummond to lead the way against Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun in the paint. Tip off from Toyota Center is set for 8 p.m. EDT.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers injury news: Joel Embiid ruled out vs. Rockets due to illness

Cinderella may be the belle of the ball early in March Madness, but blue bloods often bring the most attention in the late stages of the NCAA tournament. The highly anticipated matchup between Michigan and UConn bore that out quantitatively and qualitatively.

The Wolverines-Huskies tilt averaged 18.3 million viewers, which was the highest figure for a championship game in the last seven seasons. Additionally, TNT, CBS, TBS and truTV all experienced upticks in viewership for the entirety of the 2026 NCAA tournament as compared to the 2025 edition.

Additional deep dives indicate that the 2026 NCAA men's tournament was the second-most-watched since 1994.

All those people who say they don’t care that Michigan won were watching. https://t.co/6O1id43TYM

— Mike (@MikeR5577) April 8, 2026

The 2019 championship game between Virginia and Texas Tech was the last title tilt to post higher viewership metrics.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: March Madness: UConn-Michigan title game set 2020s viewership record

Indiana men’s basketball is going to need plenty of additions through the transfer portal this offseason as head coach Darian DeVries launches his second roster reload in as many seasons in Bloomington.

We’ll be looking to get ahead of some targets here with brief profiles if there’s an established connection to Indiana, DeVries or his staff. Only players who’ve either stated their intentions to enter the portal or are already in will be covered, we’re not gonna overstep there.

G Rowan Brumbaugh – 6’4”, 185 lbs

• Former program: Tulane, Georgetown
• Statline: 19.2 PTS, 4.9 REB, 3.5 AST

Brumbaugh will be entering his fourth season of college basketball in 2026-27 after spending the previous two seasons starring at Tulane. His career began at Georgetown in 2023-24, where he played off of the bench in Ed Cooley’s first season with the Hoyas. Before Georgetown, he was briefly enrolled at Texas.

He’s put up impressive numbers during his time with the Green Wave and has experience at the high major level from that first season at Georgetown. He also improved during his second season with Tulane, taking a scoring leap with a modest drop in his assist stats as he shouldered more of the offense himself.

Should he transfer to Indiana, his role would likely depend on backcourt pairing as he’d almost certainly be a starter. He has the passing bonafides to run the Hoosiers’ offense and the scoring to start at shooting guard next to a true point. DeVries started two point guards for the first few games of the season and may be inclined to try it again.

Windermere Prep boys basketball coach Brian Hoff had a hunch that he might be seeing something special when Brandon Bass Jr. first walked into the Lakers gymnasium. Bass was a fourth grader ready to bounce the ball on the first day of an Orlando Basketball Academy summer camp.

“I still remember that,” Hoff said last week. “He was one of my first campers. Long arms. Big smile on his face. You could just tell he was full of potential.”

Bass, named after his father — former NBA player Brandon Bass — kept coming and kept growing. All the way to being the Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year for the 2025-26 high school season.

The 6-foot-5 left-handed shooting guard averaged a school-record 26.6 points per game this season. He also averaged 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists and led the Lakers to a 22-7 record and No. 7 ranking in Class 4A — which had five of the top eight teams in the state, according to FHSAA power rankings. The Windermere Prep season ended with a region semifinal loss to state runner-up Villages Charter.

Bass, who committed to FSU in September and signed in November as a four-star college prospect, opened his senior season with 42 points in a 70-68 win against Oviedo. He was a highlight reel the rest of the way, breaking his own single-season school record with 770 points. His 2,573 career points (including 28 as an eighth grader) ranks sixth on the Orlando area all-time scoring list — which is topped by Edgewater legend Darius Washington (2,961) and Winter Park great Austin Rivers (2,956).

Bass also set Windermere Prep records for 3-point shots made (353) and rebounds (680).

“It was incredible to watch Brandon’s development from grade school all the way to what he is now,” Hoff said. “He’s the best (basketball player) to ever come through our school.”

Bass chuckled when asked about his elementary school hoops days.

“I was taller than other kids my age. But I didn’t really start knowing I could really be good in basketball until about eighth grade. I played some baseball when I was in seventh grade. But coach Hoff really wanted me to focus on basketball. I switched to basketball 100%.”

Windermere Prep’s Brandon Bass Jr. commits to new FSU basketball coach

In an era when top prospects often switch schools as they gain notice, Bass stuck with Hoff and the Lakers.

“I just had no reason to leave. No reason at all,” Bass said. “It’s good to have loyalty.”

Bass was born in Houston, where his mom is from. He spent summers in Orlando when his dad played for the Magic for two seasons (2009-11) and moved to Florida and enrolled at Windermere Prep when his father was finishing his pro basketball career in China.

“That’s when my dad started to focus on my development,” Bass said. “I worked pretty much every day with my dad or coach (Hoff).”

It’s not surprising that Brandon wants to follow in his father’s footsteps to play professionally.

“The NBA is my main goal,” he said. And with that in mind he chose FSU as his next step. The Seminoles 36-year-old head coach, Luke Loucks, played at FSU and coached in the NBA. He was an assistant on the Golden State Warriors’ 2017 and 2018 NBA title teams and also was on staff for Sacramento and Phoenix.

“Coach Loucks is coming from an NBA background,” Bass said. “I feel like he can help me get there.”

Hoff, who played for FSU under its longtime coach, Leonard Hamilton, said Bass “fits great” with the Seminoles.

“Luke values shooting and he values competing. Those are two areas that Brandon can do better than anyone,” Hoff said.

Player of the Year

Brandon Brass Jr.

Windermere Prep, 6-5 Sr.

Area scoring leader made 50% of his shot attempts and hit 98 of his 241 tries from beyond the 3-point line (41%). Made 192 of 223 free-throw attempts (86%).

All-Area players

Abimael Belleus

Evans, Jr. 

Averaged 15 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists as top scorer for state runner-up Class 6A team.

Alex Dipaolo

Central Florida Christian Academy, 6-6, Sr. 

17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game for 23-7 final four team. Army prep academy signee.

RJ Ingram

Lake Highland Prep, 6-3, Sr.

12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game; 45% on 3s. Tenacious defender. Air Force commit.

Asa Kohn

Hagerty, 6-4, Sr.

UNF signee averaged 20.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists. Shot 54% from field, 48% on 3s (62-of-147).

Michael Madeume

Lake Highland Prep, 6-6, Sr.

Columbia commit averaged 12.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists for No. 3 3A team. Shot 50% on 3s, 67% on 2s.

Johnas Maurice

Lake Howell, 6-1, Soph. 

Seminole County Player of Year averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 assists for 25-6 Class 6A final four team.

James Nowells

Olympia, 6-2, Jr. 

Averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 40% on 3s and big baskets for 7A No. 6 team that finished 17-11.

Henry Robinson Jr.

Pine Ridge, 6-8, Jr. 

The four-star prospect had big numbers (27.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) with high of 51 points.

Josh Theus

Orlando Christian Prep, Sr.

Tough point guard averaged 13.8 points, 4.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds for fifth-ranked 1A team (21-7).

Donovan Williams

Oak Ridge, 6-3, Sr. 

UCF signee averaged 17.8, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists for 20-10 Class 7A No. 3 team.

Evans goes down vs. Aquinas in 6A boys basketball state final with a big turn

Second team

Shiva Atwell, Lake Highland, Sr.

Isaac Buckley, Lake Howell, Sr.

Whitfield Bynoe, Oak Ridge, Jr.

Wilmer De La Rosa, Pine Ridge, Sr.

Dylan Foster, Edgewater, Sr.

Josiah Gilyard, Dr. Phillips, Soph.

Carter Oden, Oviedo, Jr.

Jordan Mason, Osceola, Sr.

Luke McCrimon, Osceola, Sr.

Isaiah Pina, South Lake, Sr.

Bishop Wenze II, Olympia, Jr.

Honorable mention

Kyle Bailey, University (Orlando), Sr.

Kyle Blair, The First Academy, Jr.

Lucas Boyd, Windermere, Sr.

Ben Bunnell, Windermere, Sr.

Owen Ceynowa, Lake Mary, Sr.

Connor Corris, Windermere Prep, Sr.

Deandre Curate, Mount Dora Christian, Sr.

Ethan Diaz, Lake Howell, Sr.

Dewayne Dixon, Evans, Sr.

Nate Earl, Oak Ridge, Sr.

Kevin Edou, Olympia, Jr.

Dwayne Foreman III, South Lake, Jr.

Julian Fox, Edgewater, Jr.

Eric Glover, Eustis, Sr.

Joshua Hernandez, CFCA, Jr.

Bryce Hoffert, Windermere High, Jr.

Jacari Lofton, Edgewater, Sr.

Eric Nichols, Wekiva, Soph.

Diomar Ortiz, St. Cloud, Sr.

Robert Oskarsson, Lake Highland, Sr.

Mason Pandov, OCP, Sr.

Khori Polarchy, Legacy Charter, Sr.

Kadir Rackley, Evans, Sr.

Will Ryan, Winter Park, Sr.

Max Simmons, The First Academy, Sr.

Jahmar Smith, Oak Ridge, Soph.

Tim Winkler, Oak Ridge, Sr.

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.

Ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage, Florida State wrapped its final full padded practice of spring camp on Wednesday with head coach Mike Norvell saying the session centered on situational work the Seminoles had not yet introduced this spring while speaking with local media.

Norvell said it was the team’s first extended work in two-minute and backed-up scenarios. He said Saturday’s scrimmage will feature roughly 15 to 20 straight goal-line plays and that the team could use Doak Campbell Stadium, though he said he planned to assess the field Wednesday afternoon.

Norvell said he has been pleased with the offense’s response after expressing displeasure following the second scrimmage, crediting improvement in execution and saying the team’s overall growth has centered on emotional resilience, pointing to intentionally adverse practice situations — starting drives at the two-yard line, putting the ball inside the 10 — as a test of how players respond and a testament to their mentality.

“I like having emotional teams, I like guys that you feel passion, you feel energy,” he said. “But I want guys and teams that are always in control of their emotions, whether it’s a good play, bad play, however that is. You’re going to face a lot of those emotions through a game. We’ve tried to create that as much as possible, whether we’re putting the ball starting off the scrimmage at the 10-yard line and forcing the defense to have to go answer the call from the jump. Nobody wants to start at the minus-10 on defense, but you put the ball down, you got to play, go make the next play offensively. Even like today, you put the ball at the minus-two, you have to go get a first down, put yourself in position to go score, answer the call.”

“That’s one of the most impressive things, things that I’ve really enjoyed about watching them — they’re showing great traits of being a resilient team.”

At quarterback, Norvell said Kevin Sperry has the arm talent to make any throw and brings elusiveness but that consistency remains the area to address.

“He’s very talented, very talented young man,” Norvell said of Sperry. “He’s got really good arm talent, he can make pretty much any throw. He does bring elusiveness — he’s an elusive player, he can run. The thing that we want is just the consistency.”

“Today he had a couple great plays and then there’s just — we got to eliminate some of those where all the right intentions, just trusting his eyes in those and not trying to do too much. But when it’s all clicking, he’s fun to watch.”

He praised Ashton Daniels separately, saying Daniels has been everything he wanted him to be and is continuing to develop in the specific demands of the offense.

“He’s everything I wanted for him to come in and be,” Norvell said of Daniels. “He’s growing, and even the areas where he’s got to continue to develop in some of those unique things that we do and maybe ask him to do, he’s getting better there. You see the push from Kevin and what that is. It’s exciting to have a room that celebrates each other, that challenges each other. They’re good players.”

The offensive line competition remains unsettled, according to Norvell, who said he has been encouraged by eight or nine players but that no starting five has been determined.

“I would say I’ve seen eight, nine guys that I’m really excited about where it can go in that group, who’s going to be the first five — that’s something that’s still a work in progress,” he said. “We got guys that have versatility across the board, that can play multiple positions. I think some guys are establishing themselves in that top group in the way that they perform.”

He said the defensive front has kept the competition honest, noting he is seeing pass-rush speed and explosiveness he said was lacking a year ago: “I’’m seeing guys getting home to the quarterback with pass-rush speed, explosiveness. From a four-down rush, to be able to see that show up. They’re challenging these offensive linemen and there’s times the O-line has done a good job. As you sit there and you work through, it’s an ebb and flow of competition.”

Norvell also offered an update on the cornerback group while discussing Charles Lester III. He said Quindarrius Jones was cleared to full contact this week after being limited in the second scrimmage, and said Nehemiah Chandler had two interceptions in Wednesday’s practice. Tight end Desirrio Riles, Norvell said, has returned to full participation and had a significant play Wednesday, though wide receiver Jayvan Boggs will miss the final three practices of spring with an undisclosed injury.

FSU Football: Head coach Mike Norvell post-practice media availability, April 9

NEED TO KNOW

• The Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball game against Wichita State scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 was postponed after the team's bus struck and killed a pedestrian on the highway
• According to ABC affiliate KOCO, a woman was hit after she was running through traffic on the highway
• No one from Oklahoma State was injured, the team confirmed

The Oklahoma State softball team's game was postponed after their bus was involved in a fatal crash.

The team said in a statement on Wednesday, April 8 that the game scheduled for that day against Wichita State "has been postponed after the Cowgirls' team bus was involved in an accident on the way to Wichita."

The statement provided no additional details about the crash but confirmed that "no one from the OSU travel party was injured" in the accident. "When the new game day and time are set, those details will be shared," the statement concluded.

pic.twitter.com/kFGN2k1h9L

— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) April 8, 2026

According to ABC affiliate KOCO 5, the Oklahoma State bus struck a woman who was reportedly on foot on the I-35 highway. A source told the outlet that witnesses had reported her behavior to 911 after she was seen running through cars on the highway.

The county medical examiner arrived at the scene after the woman was struck, according to KOCO, and the highway remained closed for more than two hours as officials investigated.

An investigation is currently ongoing, according to Oklahoma City local news station KFOR.

PEOPLE has reached out to Oklahoma State for comment.

The Cowgirls' next game is scheduled for Friday, April 10 against Iowa State.

Read the original article on People

Jim Nantz made the iconic call last year as Rory McIlroy dropped to his knees on the 18th green at Augusta National: "The long journey is over! McIlroy has his masterpiece!"

Nantz was referring to the Career Grand Slam, of course, but now McIlroy has a masterpiece of artwork to commemorate the occasion, and the making of it has gone viral.

In the wake of his Masters victory, McIlroy commissioned artist Keegan Hall to draw a portrait of the emotional scene. Hall spent six months on the project, estimating he spent anywhere from 600 to 800-plus hours on the pencil drawing.

Rory McIlroy commissioned this pencil drawing after last year's Masters Tournament.

The artist (@KeeganHall) provided context on Reddit:

• Spent 6+ months working on it
• Estimates 600-800+ total hours
• Worked on it 6-7 days each week
• Uses a Pentel Graphgear mechanical… pic.twitter.com/EGCC5ydbHz

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 8, 2026

Hall, a lefty, uses a Pentel GraphGear mechanical pencil, noting on Reddit that it takes too long to sharpen a regular pencil.

"The original is smaller than 30x22 so each face is like the quarter of the size of a fingernail," wrote Hall. "It’s truly challenging to pack this much detail into such a small area."

LIVE: Masters leaderboard updates: Round 1 tee times, predictions, odds, how to watch

Hall adds his own face to the crowd in most of his pieces, and he did that for this one too. Brad Faxon said on a recent Fried Egg podcast that McIlroy gifted the drawing to Augusta National and sent 300 prints to the club for members.

Over 6 months.
Hundreds of faces.
One of the most challenging drawings I’ve ever done.

Here’s the full time-lapse video of my drawing of @McIlroyRory winning @TheMasters. #TheMasterspic.twitter.com/8Cw9QT5C13

— Keegan Hall (@KeeganHall) April 8, 2026

"I have a very disciplined schedule that I follow," Hall said on Reddit. "Typically up and working by 5am and try to get a solid 5 hours to uninterrupted work in. Then, I’ll take a break for exercise (I’ll either go play basketball, go for a 5+ mile run, hit golf balls in the sim, etc. Then lunch and back to work for 4+ hours and typically end the day will biz related work. But for a piece of this size and scale, I know it will take a long time to complete so my goal is to make progress every day, often 6-7 days a week."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Pencil drawing of Rory McIlroy's 2025 Masters win goes viral

Will the Houston Texans make a pick at No. 28 in the upcoming NFL draft later on this month? And if so, what position will be the top target?

In the newest three-round mock draft from The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner has the Texans using their first pick on the defensive side to shore up the defensive line. While offensive line remains a top priority, finding a long-term replacement for Sheldon Rankins at defensive tackle seems ideal following free agency.

Baumgardner has Houston going back to Columbus in Round 1 for the first time since 2023 to select Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.

"The Texans have done a great job on the edge up front, pairing young star Will Anderson Jr. with Danielle Hunter. Up next: adding to their interior," Baumgardner wrote. "McDonald is a big, powerful, ascending three-down defensive tackle."

Already viewed as a fan favorite to land in Houston, McDonald has to visit NRG Stadium since the NFL combine for a top-30 visit. He also met with the Texans for a formal interview at the combine and followed up with the staff at Ohio State's Pro Day late last month.

A native of Texarkana who later moved to Georgia, McDonald might not fit the typical mold of what DeMeco Ryans has historically searched for in defensive tackles, but perhaps that's promising since variety could only bolster the defensive front. More than anything, the Texans need productive players. Enter McDonald, who was the anchor to one of college football's best run defenses last season under longtime NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

As for the rest of the draft, Baumgardner has Houston finding a stable left guard option past 2026 with the selection of Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis at pick No. 38. Adding Bisontis would bring a solid overall balanced playmaker to the roster and serve as a future play on shoring up the trenches.

And while Houston inked three-time Pro Bowler Wyatt Teller to a two-year deal this offseason, he could be the perfect stopgap option while Bisontis gets prepared for next season.

At pick No. 59, Baumgardner has Houston going back to Ohio Stadium to add cornerback Davison Igbinosun. While Houston doesn't need a starting cornerback this season, that could change within a year should Kamari Lassiter make it clear he's leaving for free agency after his rookie contract expires in 2027. Igbinosun, a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, plays a physical approach at the line of scrimmage when asked to guard receivers, an ideal demenaor for a Ryans' defensive front.

Davison Igbinosun (6’2 189) Ohio State

+ Length (33” arms)
+ Sticky in man coverage
+ Experienced player with over 2,800 snaps played
+ Physical in run support
+ 81.0 coverage grade per PFF in 2025
+ Intensity and confidence
+ 81.7 run defense grade in 2025

- Penalty magnet… pic.twitter.com/hVYHiJGyix

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) February 27, 2026

Finally to close out the mock, Baumgardner targets an offensive tackle in Florida's Austin Barber. While not NFL-ready, Barber's frame and footwork should allow him to compete with Blake Fisher for the swing tackle job entering a new year. He potentially could shift inside to guard, thus giving Houston several options toward retooling the offensive line.

Houston currently holds eight picks in the 2026 NFL draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25. To read all of Baumgardner's picks, click here.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans 2026 Mock Draft: Houston targets Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald

Why people at Masters are called patrons, not fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At Augusta National, there's one word you won't hear: "Fans."

It doesn't matter if you'd consider the people watching the golf at the Masters Tournament to be fans of the sport. They aren't fans this weekend. They're "patrons."

There are plenty of little quirks at the Masters, but this is one of the most unique. 

You're not going to encounter a fans/patrons dispute anywhere else. But there's only one way it works at the Masters.

MORE: Bryson DeChambeau is using a 3D-printed club at the Masters

Why are they Masters patrons, not fans?

The spectators at the Masters have been known as "patrons" since the tournament began, meant to represent who they are viewed to be.

The tournament's founders were Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones, and they used the word "patron" to suggest that they weren't just watching golf but really experiencing the event.

Attendees at restaurants or operas are often known as patrons. So too those who are at the Masters.

The Masters' founders didn't believe the tournament could go on without those who came to watch, and so in that sense, they were patrons -- supporting the event by their presence.

This definitely isn't a tradition that will change anytime soon. 

More Masters news:

• The wild cell phone rule at the Masters
• Why Phil Mickelson is missing from the Masters
• How Hojgaard golfers are related
• Explaining the history of Amen Corner at the Masters
• Meet the beloved Masters gnome
• More to know about Bryson DeChambeau's driver

The Darts Regulation Authority has banned transgender women from competing in its women's events with immediate effect.

The DRA, which governs the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), said "only biological females should be eligible to compete in women's tournaments regulated by DRA Rules".

It comes after the DRA completed a review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which began in 2025.

Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who in 2024 became the first transgender woman to compete in the PDC World Championship, said the decision had "effectively retired her".

She remains eligible to play in open tournaments for men and women.

"I just got an email and apparently I just got retired, not by choice but because I am no longer allowed to compete," Van Leuven said in a video posted on Instagram.

"The DRA just decided that trans women are no longer allowed in women's events which basically means I am out.

"Everyday it is getting harder for trans people to exist, to compete. If you think this stops with me, it doesn't. We just want to be."

Sex-based rights charity Sex Matters said "men's physical advantages in darts may be small but they all add up".

"Darts is a male-dominated world, played in pubs and clubs, and the top darts players are all men. That's why women need their own tournaments.

"The Darts Regulation Authority followed the lead of the old, unfair IOC [International Olympic Committee] policy, so it's great to see this rapid return to fairness for women players."

The DRA said it "seeks to be inclusive" and it encouraged "all players - irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex, and/or gender identity" to continue competing in open tournaments.

It said its decision is based on legal advice and a commissioned report by Dr Emma Hilton - an academic developmental biologist who has published several papers on sex and categories in sport.

Dr Hilton's report concluded "that multiple, small-magnitude sex differences accumulate to generate male advantage over females in darts".

Last year, the World Darts Federation (WDF) banned transgender women from competing in its women's tournaments.

Last month, the president of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, announced a blanket ban on transgender women, as well as athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) from the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

For the first time since the NCAA transfer portal opened, the Texas Longhorns have suffered a departure with the entrance of forward Nic Codie after two seasons on the Forty Acres.

The 6’8, 220-pounder has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Codie signed with former head coach Rodney Terry out of Dallas Newman Smith as a member of the 2024 recruiting class, choosing Texas after taking official visits to Auburn, Houston, LSU, Miami, and TCU. Other schools to offer included Alabama, Arizona State, Cal, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech, among others. A consensus four-star prospect, Codie was ranked as the top player in Texas, the No. 10 power forward, and the No. 61 player overall, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

But Codie’s initial development on the Forty Acres was set back by a knee injury that ended his senior season after 14 games, forcing him to spend the offseason and preseason practice rehabilitating before missing the first four games of the 2024-25 season.

When Codie was able to make his return to the hardwood, he was an infrequent contributor in conference play with his only two baskets coming in five minutes during a blowout win over LSU in Baton Rouge, but he did flash his upside in a 20-point performance against UAPB on 8-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three, adding two rebounds and an assist.

And although Codie was the first player to announce his return to Texas to play for new head coach Sean Miller and gained 20 pounds of muscle over the offseason, he only reached double digits in scoring twice during the 2025-26 season and never replicated the success he achieved against UAPB, even against similarly overmatched opponents during non-conference play.

In the season opener, Codie was a surprise starter, remaining in the starting lineup for the first four games before he was relegated to the bench to start the Maui Invitational and didn’t appear at all in the third game, a ranked win over NC State.

“Nic Codie is a young player that we believe in. His effort level, his attitude, his daily disposition, his competitive spirit, all have to improve,” Miller said after returning from Hawaii.

When conference play started, Codie didn’t see the court for a month as Miller opted against playing him for eight straight games until graduate forward Lassina Traore suffered an injury to his surgically-repaired knee that ended his career with the Longhorns.

“I think Nick is growing. He’s maturing. I think his work ethic is better. I think he’s more responsible. I think he’s hungry to be able to get out on the court and play,” Miller said in late January.

Codie took advantage of his opportunities at times, scoring nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in the road win over Missouri, 11 points in the road loss to Arkansas, and a season-high 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the upset of Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

But it wasn’t enough to extend Codie’s career in burnt orange and white with his maturity issues behind the scenes compounded by his inability to develop his shooting range or become an efficient mid-range scorer.

Julian Edelman Sends Blunt A.J. Brown Message As Rumors Continue To Swirl originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Perhaps the biggest talking point of the New England Patriots offseason has been whether A.J. Brown will be playing for them next season.

Right now, Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and is under contract for years to come. However, rumors about the Patriots trying to trade for him have been prevalent all of the season. Brown grew up a Patriots fan and pranked Eagles fans by making them think he got traded to New England before last season.

Brown also has a connection with Mike Vrabel, which is part of the reason rumors of the Patriots trying to trade for him have been so widespread. However, the Eagles reportedly have a high asking price, and the Patriots have not been willing to meet it so far. Julian Edelman made his thoughts very clear on Brown in a recent interview with Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller.

"I'd like to see A.J. Brown in a Patriots uniform," Edelman told Weller on Saturday.

Edelman could not be clearer. Even though the Patriots have noted that they have not discussed Brown in a while, some think that talks could resume after June 1. The cap implications of trading Brown would change for the Eagles after that date, and the asking price could drop.

Edelman had Brown on his podcast, "Dudes On Dudes," earlier this offseason, and Brown gave Edelman a wink when he mentioned playing for the Patriots. Brown has not helped trade rumors with his constant trolling.

"I don't know if you saw him on my podcast," Edelman told Weller. "I asked him that specific question, and this guy was winking at me, giving me telekinesis vibes."

The Eagles and Patriots will have a joint practice this offseason, and which team's jersey Brown will be wearing is still up in the air, it seems.

Nike is in exclusive negotiations to become the new official match ball provider for all UEFA men's club competitions, according to a statement on Thursday from UC3, the joint venture between UEFA and European Football Clubs.

Landing the contract, which had belonged to rival Adidas for 25 years, would be a win for Nike.

The deal would last from 2027 through 2031, according to the UC3 statement. Nike previously wrested from Adidas a contract to become the official supplier of the German Football Association (DFB). Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Adidas in a statement confirmed it would not renew its contract with UEFA, saying it was "proud to have created the most iconic ball range of all time."

The Champions League, UEFA’s premier club competition, has an audience of some 1.2 billion, according to UEFA's annual report for the 2024-2025 season. It could give Nike a key visibility boost as it tries to right its ship.

But Nike's primary pain points are China - where sales have fallen double digits for several quarters in a row - and its inability to work through old inventory and excite the market with new sneakers.

The value of the deal across the competitions could roughly double to more than 40 million euros ($46.70 million) a year, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nike to take UEFA Champions League match ball from Adidas

Barcelona have a lot of lessons to learn following their latest mishap against Atletico Madrid, with the Catalans falling to a 2-0 defeat.

First and foremost, the high defensive line remains an issue, with Barça now making an unwanted record of most red cards won since the 2016/17 season in the competition.

However, another problem area for Barcelona is the fitness of Pedri.

Concerns around Pedri’s fitness at Barcelona

According toEl Confidencial, there are growing concerns once again surrounding the fitness of Pedri in recent weeks.

After playing through a majority of the club’s matches last season, it appears the midfielder is slowly going back to his old fitness struggles.

Since returning from an injury earlier this month, the Spaniard’s fitness levels have looked a bit imperfect. And this was evident in the recent defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Is Pedri being overworked? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Spanish international could only continue for 45 minutes against Diego Simeone’s men, which is hardly surprising as he was involved in 90 minutes of action in the league contest on the weekend.

Pedri also played the ninety minutes against Rayo Vallecano and 160 of the 180 minutes against Newcastle United across two legs.

There is a feeling that Hansi Flick overworks the young midfielder, giving him more action than his body could handle, especially after picking up an injury earlier in the season.

With the second leg just around the corner, it will be interesting to see how Flick manages the game time of Pedri, especially with Barcelona slated to play against Espanyol this coming weekend.

One would expect Pedri to continue in the starting eleven and perhaps even play more than 45 minutes, provided he is fit and able to do so.

Alex Bowman, who has been dealing with vertigo since the March 1 race at Circuit of the Americas, has been medically cleared to return to competition and will be back in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The 32-year-old Bowman turned laps in a street car at the Ten Tenths Motor Club road course in Concord, North Carolina, on Tuesday. The following day he participated in pit stop practice, simulator testing, and a medical evaluation before being formally cleared for competition without restrictions.

“We’re proud of Alex and the way he’s handled the situation,” Jeff Andrews, Hendrick Motorsports president and general manager, said in a prepared statement. “He’s put a lot of work into his recovery and followed the medical team’s plan every step of the way. From the outset, our goal was to prioritize his health and have him return when he was fully recovered and medically cleared.”

While dealing with the vertigo that forced him out of the car on lap 71 of the COTA event, Bowman missed NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix, Las Vegas, Darlington, and Martinsville. Anthony Alfredo substituted for Bowman at Phoenix, while Justin Allgaier stepped in for him at the other three races. Bowman was 36thin the driver standings after COTA. He remains in that position, which is last among full-time NASCAR Cup drivers.

Welcome back! @Alex_Bowman has been medically cleared and will race this weekend at Bristol.

"I feel really good, and I’m excited about being at the track with my team and getting back to racing.”https://t.co/btc9QOl9DUpic.twitter.com/Hpg2aA1bFK

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) April 9, 2026

“It’s been tough being out of the car, but we all wanted to make sure I was 100 percent ready before returning,” Bowman said in a prepared statement. “I feel really good, and I’m excited about being at the track with my team and getting back to racing. I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from Hendrick Motorsports, my sponsor Ally, our fans and the medical team throughout this process.”

Follow along for live coverage from the first round of the Masters.

The most outspoken of the honorary starters at the 2026 Masters doesn't blame Tiger Woods for taking medication for pain management and sleep deprivation. But Gary Player believes there's an easy solution to Woods' problems.

"All you got to do is don't drive a car and get a chauffeur," the 90-year-old South African said at a news conference on April 9 after hitting a ceremonial first tee shot with fellow golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to officially begin the 90th edition of The Masters.

Player had been asked to offer advice to Woods following his recent DUI arrest, and the three-time Masters winner initially expressed empathy for what Woods endured in recent years due to the injuries and surgeries on his legs and back.

2026 Masters leaderboard: Follow for live updates of ever round of the tournament

But Player said emphatically it's time for Woods to give up driving if he continues to take prescription medicine to alleviate the aftereffects of those ailments.

OPINION: Root for Tiger Woods, even though he’s not playing the Masters

"Do I blame him for taking medicine? Hell no," Player said. "He has sleep deprivation. Do I blame him for taking something to help him sleep? No. But I don't think he should drive a car. When you're taking that medicine, it's dangerous when you're driving a car. Same as it's dangerous when you look at your cell phone in the car."

Woods, 50, was attempting to play at the 2026 Masters this week, but those plans were thrown into disarray after another car crash near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida.

An arrest affidavit revealed that officers found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' pocket after the crash, and Woods announced he would "seek treatment and focus on my health." Florida prosecutors said in a state court filing on April 7 they want to issue a subpoena seeking copies of “any and all prescription medication on file” for Woods as part of its case.

Woods was reported to have been driving fast on a residential street on Jupiter Island near his home on March 27 when he clipped the back of a pressure-washing trailer being towed by a truck. His SUV rolled on its side and skidded down the street, and Woods climbed out of the skyward-facing passenger window.

Woods pleaded not guilty to DUI with property damage. He blew a 0.00 on two alcohol breath tests but declined to submit to a urinalysis, which triggered a relatively new Florida law under which drivers who refuse a breath or urine test face a second-degree misdemeanor charge, an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension and up to 60 days in jail.

If it were up to Player, Woods would consider making this the last time he gets behind the wheel.

"I mean my reflexes I think are as good as when I was 20, but I don't drive anymore. I get a chauffeur and I think that's the answer to it," Player said. "But my heart goes out to him. There's nothing worse than living in pain every day of your life. You can't think of anything worse. I just hope he can get it all sorted out because he's such an asset to golf and has done so much for the game."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gary Player on Tiger Woods' DUI and medication

Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout is known for making highlight-reel catches in center field.

In fact, a 2012 catch Trout made at Camden Yards in Baltimore remains in the conversation for the best catch in MLB history.

Still, Trout never had a game like teammate Jo Adell enjoyed on Saturday, April 4. Trout shouldn’t feel bad, though. No one else has ever robbed three potential home runs like Adell did in right field against the Seattle Mariners.

MORE: National League has set an MLB record just 2 weeks into the season

Adell described the feat on the “6-1-1 Podcast” with former Philadelphia Phillies stars Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. Adell said Trout was in awe, even after the first two catches.

“Mike’s just looking at me with his arms crossed. He’s like, ‘Bro, you just … what is happening right now?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m on another level,'” Adell said, laughing.

Adell stole home runs from Seattle’s Cal Raleigh in the first inning and Josh Naylor in the eighth inning. He told Howard and Rollins that he was playing deep on both balls and followed a similar route to the catches.

“I look down. I’m in the same spot I was for the first one,” Adell said. “Like some weird deja vu, like I’m reliving the same play.”

Finally, the most amazing of the three robberies came in the top of the ninth inning with the Angels clinging to a 1-0 lead. Seattle’s J.P. Crawford ripped a liner down the right-field line. Adell sprinted into the corner and made the grab as he tumbled over a short wall.

Then, he held the ball up for the umpires to see as Angels fans patted him on the back. That was the first out of the inning, and allowed the Angels to close out their first home win of the 2026 season.

“It was an unreal experience,” Adell said. “The odds of having three plays you can take back in a game, from one player let alone in one game, is crazy.”

With four games remaining in their season, the Florida Panthers are down to one Opening Night defenseman with Paul Maurice disclosing that Seth Jones fractured his foot on Tuesday.

Jones had already missed three months with a broken collarbone sustained early in the first period of the NHL Winter Classic in Miami on Jan. 2.

Gus Forsling is the only defenseman left from Florida’s opening win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7.

Florida had previously lost Forsling’s partner Aaron Ekblad to a broken finger, as well as Dmitry Kulikov (broken finger), Niko Mikkola (knee), and Uvis Balinskis (foot).

“Two more guys broke bones,’’ Maurice said, referring to losing both Kulikov and Jones in the Montreal game.

Jeff Petry was in the opening night lineup but he was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the deadline.

Donovan Sebrango was claimed off waivers after Kulikov was initially knocked out for four months with a shoulder injury and will play his 37th game tonight in his hometown of Ottawa.

He rates as a regular defenseman for the Panthers now.

The Panthers called up Marek Alscher and Ludvig Jansson from AHL Charlotte.

Both will make their NHL debuts tonight, becoming the fifth and sixth players to do so with the Panthers this season.

”We have a young backend there. We’ve got Old Man Forsling and the Kids,’’ Maurice joked. “We’ll get a chance to take a look at those guys tonight and, hopefully they enjoy their debut.’’

The Panthers now have 11 regulars out of their lineup due to injury — and star Matthew Tkachuk is home for the birth of his first child.

Florida Panthers Injuries: Seth Jones (fractured foot), Dmitry Kulikov (broken finger), Aaron Ekblad (broken finger), Evan Rodrigues (broken finger), Sam Reinhart (foot), Niko Mikkola (knee), Anton Lundell (upper body), Uvis Balinskis (fractured foot), Brad Marchand (lower body), Sasha Barkov (knee), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)

ON DECK: GAME No. 79

FLORIDA PANTHERS at OTTAWA SENATORS 

• When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Canada Tire Center, Ottawa 
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Senators won 2-1
• This Season (Panthers Lead 3-0) — At Ottawa: Panthers 3, Senators 2 (Jan. 10); Thursday. At Florida: Panthers 6, Senators 2 (Oct. 11); Panthers 6, Senators 3 (March 31)
• All-time Regular Season Series: Ottawa leads 59-51-5, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7

This article: Seth Jones the Latest Florida Panthers defenseman Lost for the Season originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.

Tori Penso is set to make some history this summer when the men’s World Cup comes to North America.

The 39-year-old from Florida is in line to become the first American woman to referee a game in the men’s World Cup. Penso was one of the 52 referees — along with 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials — that FIFA announced will work World Cup games on Thursday.

While Penso will be the first American woman to work as the lead referee on a men's World Cup game, Kathryn Nesbitt was the first to work a men's World Cup match in an official capacity, serving as a video assistant referee in Qatar in 2022. Nesbitt will be an assistant referee in this World Cup.

In 2022, France's Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Penso has been working as a soccer referee since 2013, officiating games in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. She was just the fourth woman to referee an MLS match. Last September, she was the lead official on an all-women refereeing crew for the U.S. Open Cup.

Last year, she was also one of 35 referees to work the FIFA Club World Cup. Penso also refereed the final of the women’s World Cup in 2023, the first American referee to garner that assignment.

“Female officials are capable, whether that be physically or mentally or technically. I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish so far,” Penso told the Treasure Coast Newspapers — a USA TODAY Network member — last year. “There's still so much for us to do.”

She added that officiating the men’s World Cup this summer was her “target.”

“I started out with the men's World Cup as a goal actually before I was even a FIFA referee. And it was mostly because it was in the United States,” Penso said. “I said, ‘What if? How cool would that be?’”

Penso played club soccer at Florida State and worked for years in digital marketing for companies like Red Bull and Coca-Cola. Her husband Chris Penso is also an MLS referee.

She won’t be the only woman refereeing games in the men’s World Cup this summer. Katia Itzel García, a 33-year-old from Mexico, was also named as one of the 52 referees.

In 2024, García became the first woman to officiate a Liga MX game in 20 years. She also officiated matches in the 2023 women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

A full list of referees for the 2026 World Cup can be found HERE.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tori Penso becomes first American woman referee at men's World Cup

After the Texas Longhorns remarkable Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament, sophomore Nic Codie seemingly announced he was staying at UT. But two weeks later, the forward has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Codie is one of the players that bridged the gap between former head coach Rodney Terry and current coach Sean Miller. He played in 43 games at Texas, averaging 3.0 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists.

The Dallas native's best stint with Texas was in this year's March Madness. In three games, he scored 17 points and had eight rebounds. He also dished out six assists and made an impact on defense with two steals. His best game came in Texas‘ Sweet Sixteen victory over Gonzaga, scoring a season-high 12 points with four rebounds.

NEW: Texas forward Nic Codie has entered the NCAA transfer portal, @PeteNakos reports.

Codi averaged 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/cBi1NAb85epic.twitter.com/UXuJFxlQNy

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) April 9, 2026

After the loss to Purdue, Codie seemed excited about his future as a Longhorn and what Texas had coming back next year. “I’ll be here next year," Codie said. "Bo Ogden, Austin Goosby, those are my guys. We got Matas coming back, Cam coming back, Declan (Duru), Lewis (Obiorah).”

Nic Codie on what he expects for next year’s Texas team. Says Matas Vokietaitis will be returning.

“I’ll be here next year. Bo Ogden, Austin Goosby, those are my guys. We got Matas coming back, Cam coming back, Declan (Duru), Lewis (Obiorah).” pic.twitter.com/PqN0ftvfY0

— Zach Dimmitt (@ZachDimmitt7) March 27, 2026

A member of Texas’ class of 2024 out of Carrollton (Texas) Newman Smith, Codie was ranked as the No. 65 overall prospect, the No. 7 power forward, and the No. 1 player in Texas in the Rivals Industry Ranking.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns sophomore forward Nic Codie entering transfer portal

Nvidia brings DLSS 4.5 to its Nvidia App, releasing 6x and Dynamic Frame Generation from beta Following last week’s beta launch, Nvidia has officially added all DLSS 4.5 features to its Nvidia App. This has enabled DLSS Overrides for DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution, 6x Frame generation, and DLSS Dynamic Frame Generation, options previously available only […]

The post Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Overrides exit beta for all RTX gamers appeared first on OC3D.