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“Trabzonspor”dan darmadağın

7 February 2026 at 23:49

Türkiyə Super Liqasında 21-ci tura start verilib.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, ilk gündə bir oyun baş tutub.

“Karagümrük” “Antalyaspor”a qalib gəlib. “Samsunspor” isə “Trabzonspor”a böyük hesabla uduzub.

Türkiyə Super Liqası
21-ci tur

7 fevral

Karagümrük – Antalyaspor 1:0
Qol
: Serjinyo, 5.

Samsunspor – Trabzonspor 0:3
Qollar
: Onuaçu, 23; 81. Muçi, 90+1-pen.

8 fevral

15:30. Eyüpspor – Başakşəhər
18:00. Konyaspor – Göztəpə
18:00. Rizəspor – Qalatasaray
21:00. Beşiktaş – Alanyaspor

9 fevral

18:00. Kayserispor – Kocaelispor
21:00. Fənərbağça – Gənclərbirliyi
21:00. Qaziantep – Kasımpaşa

The post “Trabzonspor”dan darmadağın appeared first on Komanda.az.

“Decathlon”da “Neftçi”nin rəsmi mağazasının açılış mərasimi oldu

7 February 2026 at 23:00

“Neftçi” PFK-nın rəsmi mağazası bundan sonra “28 Mall”da yerləşən “Decathlon”da da fəaliyyət göstərəcək.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, bu gün həmin məkanda “Neftçi Official Fan Store Corner”in açılış mərasimi olub.

Tədbirdə klubun rəsmiləri ilə yanaşı, futbolçular – Emin Mahmudov, Vensan Abubakar və Murad Məmmədov da iştirak ediblər. Sevimli komandalarının üzvləri ilə imza günündə görüşən azarkeşlər onlarla xatirə şəkilləri çəkdiriblər.

Açılışa qatılan qonaqlara “Neftçi” PFK-dan xüsusi hədiyyələr də təqdim olunub.

Bundan əvvəl “Gənclik Mall”da yerləşən “GO Sport”da da “Neftçi”nin rəsmi mağazasının açılışı baş tutmuşdu.

The post “Decathlon”da “Neftçi”nin rəsmi mağazasının açılış mərasimi oldu appeared first on Komanda.az.

“İnter” amerikalı futbolçu ilə bağlı vəziyyəti izləyir

7 February 2026 at 22:32

“Yuventus”un yarımmüdafiəçisi Ueston Makkenni “İnter”in diqqət mərkəzinə düşüb.

Komanda.az xarici KİV-ə istinadən xəbər verir ki, 27 yaşlı futbolçu Turin təmsilçisinin baş məşqçisi Luçano Spalettinin rəhbərliyi altında karyerasında yeni bir mərhələyə qədəm qoysa da, mövsümün sonunda komandadan ayrıla bilər.

Məsələ burasındadır ki, amerikalı yarımmüdafiəçinin “Yuventus”la müqaviləsinin müddəti başa çatır və hələlik yeni sözləşmə ilə bağlı razılıq əldə olunmayıb. “İnter” son həftələrdə bu vəziyyəti yaxından izləyir. Milanlılar Makkenninin klubu ilə müqavilənin müddətini uzatmaması halında onu azad agent kimi heyətinə qatmağa hazırdır.

Bir neçə mövqedə oynamaq bacarığı ilə seçilən Makkenni cari mövsümdə 32 oyuna çıxaraq, 6 qol vurub və 4 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.

The post “İnter” amerikalı futbolçu ilə bağlı vəziyyəti izləyir appeared first on Komanda.az.

Adı “Real”la hallanan futbolçudan açıqlama

7 February 2026 at 22:00

Argentina millisinin və “Çelsi”nin yarımmüdafiəçisi Enzo Fernandes gələcəyi barədə açıqlama verib. Bu açıqlama “Real”a mümkün transferlə bağlı yayılan xəbərlər fonunda diqqət çəkib.

Komanda.az ESPN-ə istinadən xəbər verir ki, Fernandes “Çelsi”dəki çıxışının onu xoşbəxt etdiyini bildirib:

“Burada keçirdiyim illər üçün minnətdaram. Bu klubda olmaqdan zövq alıram. “Çelsi”də çıxış etmək məni xoşbəxt edir. Mən bu komandada kuboklar qazanmaq istəyirəm”.

Argentinalı futbolçunun “Çelsi” ilə müqaviləsinin müddəti 2032-ci ilin ortalarına qədərdir. “Transfermarkt” portalına görə, onun bazar dəyəri 85 milyon avrodur.

The post Adı “Real”la hallanan futbolçudan açıqlama appeared first on Komanda.az.

“Neftçi”nin yeni mağazasının açılışı oldu

7 February 2026 at 22:22

“Neftçi” PFK-nın rəsmi mağazası bundan sonra “28 Mall”da yerləşən “Decathlon”da da fəaliyyət göstərəcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu gün həmin məkanda “Neftçi Official Fan Store Corner”in açılış mərasimi olub. Tədbirdə klubun rəsmiləri ilə yanaşı, futbolçular – Emin Mahmudov, Vensan Abubakar və Murad Məmmədov da iştirak ediblər. Sevimli komandalarının üzvləri ilə imza günündə görüşən azarkeşlərimiz onlarla xatirə şəkilləri çəkdiriblər.

Açılışa qatılan qonaqlarımıza “Neftçi” PFK-dan xüsusi hədiyyələr də təqdim olunub. Qeyd edək ki, bundan əvvəl “Gənclik Mall”da yerləşən “GO Sport”da rəsmi mağazamızın açılışı baş tutmuşdu.

 

Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca: Yamal stunner helps LaLiga leaders move four points clear

Barcelona moved four points clear at the top of LaLiga as Lamine Yamal’s second-half stunner helped them on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca. Robert Lewandowski and substitute Marc Bernal were also on target for Barcelona, who pulled clear of Clasico rivals Real Madrid ahead of their clash with Valencia on Sunday. […]

The post Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca: Yamal stunner helps LaLiga leaders move four points clear appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca: Yamal stunner helps LaLiga leaders move four points clear appeared first on Soccer News.

Liam Delap: Man United plot transfer raid after Chelsea make decision

Liam Delap: Man United plot transfer raid after Chelsea make decision
Liam Delap: Man United plot transfer raid after Chelsea make decision

Manchester United are closely monitoring Liam Delap’s situation at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s latest decision has thrown his future into doubt, according to a new report.

A Red-Hot Race

The Red Devils came close to signing Delap, 22, over the summer after holding talks with the Ipswich Town talisman, with his contract at Portman Road containing a £30 million release clause.

This bargain price for a young English striker with 12 goals in a side destined for relegation put half of the Premier League on alert. United were joined by Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur in expressing interest in the England U-21 international – but it was the Blues who emerged victorious from the red-hot race.

Champions League football – on offer at Stamford Bridge, but not Old Trafford – is understood to have swayed Delap towards west London. Another factor was a reunion with Enzo Maresca, the Italian manager who first coached him at Manchester City’s academy.

However, Maresca has since been sacked by Chelsea after eyeing an explosive return to the Etihad to replace Pep Guardiola, and Delap has struggled acutely for his new side this season.

While two goals in 21 appearances tells its own story, it has been his all-round play, or lack thereof, which has caused more concern. The Winchester native has often appeared more concerned with a physical battle with opposition defenders, rather than outwitting them with skill or guile.

After being rejected by Delap, United pivoted towards RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko, eventually beating out Newcastle United to agree a £74 million deal. The 6’5″ Slovenian also endured a slow start this season, but has since exploded to life with four goals in his last five games, while showcasing a more well-rounded skillset than his English rival in London.

United’s hierarchy believe Sesko will develop into one of Europe’s finest centre-forwards – but they remain convinced Delap “would have been right for them” had he accepted their offer, according to a report relayed by The Peoples Person.

In fact, were Chelsea to decide to sell Delap this summer, the Red Devils would again be at the front of the queue for Delap as they consider options to further bolster their frontline.

United plot shock raid

TEAMtalk reveals United are “keeping a very close eye on developments” at Stamford Bridge as sources indicate the 22-year-old forward is “effectively playing” for his future before the summer transfer window opens. 

There is private acknowledgement amongst Chelsea’s hierarchy that Delap has struggled and the team needs a more reliable source of goals up front. His performances until the end of the season will be “crucial” in determining whether he is a part of the “long‑term project.”

United are “monitoring” this situation and are prepared to strike if Chelsea decide to move Delap on, with Porto powerhouse Samu Aghehowa understood to have emerged as a key target for the Blues amid concern over new head coach Liam Rosenior’s attack.

“Man Utd, Newcastle and Everton all pushed hard for his signature before his move to Stamford Bridge, and all three clubs are understood to be monitoring the situation closely should Chelsea decide to listen to offers. Brighton and Sunderland are also watching.

“Of those listed, it’s unquestionably Man Utd who are the ones to watch given the Red Devils fully intended to sign Delap prior to landing Benjamin Sesko instead.”

Final Thoughts

It would be a backwards step to revisit a move for a player who, firstly, already rejected the project on offer at Old Trafford in favour of a rival, and, secondly, has turned this into a masterstroke for United given his abject form this season.

While Delap’s level is undoubtedly better than what he has produced for Chelsea so far, he remains a player whose profile – a homegrown 6’1 English striker with pace and power – is more alluring than his reality as a footballer.

United should avoid the chance of repeating a mistake they were fortunate enough to have missed out on last summer.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Terrance Gore, Former MLB Player Known as One of the Fastest in Baseball, Dies at 34

Terrance Gore Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty
Terrance Gore

Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Terrance Gore, a former MLB player known as one of the fastest in baseball, has died at age 34
  • "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Terrance Gore," the MLB said in a statement
  • The late athlete is survived by his wife, Britney Helms, and the couple's three children: Zane, Skylyn and Camden

Terrance Gore, a former MLB player known as one of the fastest in baseball, has died. He was 34.

“We are heartbroken from the loss of Terrance Gore, and send our love to his family and loved ones,” the Kansas City Royals said in a social media statement. (Gore played two different stints with the team throughout his eight-year career.)

The late athlete’s wife, Britney Helms, said in a social media post that Gore died from complications following a routine surgical procedure, USA Today and Sports Illustrated reported.

In addition to his wife, Terrance is survived by the couple's three children: Zane, Skylyn and Camden.

We are heartbroken from the loss of Terrance Gore, and send our love to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/qgZFkHRFSx

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) February 7, 2026

Gore made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2014.

He played a major role in helping the team reach two consecutive World Series — including what became their first championship win in 30 years.

Terrance Gore #4 of the New York Mets  Jim McIsaac/Getty 
Terrance Gore #4 of the New York Mets

 Jim McIsaac/Getty 

Gore spent five seasons with the Royals across two stints, and he also played for the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.

The MLB remembered Gore with a statement shared on X, writing, "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Terrance Gore."

The Omaha Chasers, a Triple-A affiliate of the Royals, added in its own statement, “We join the Gore family and the world of baseball in mourning the passing of Terrance Gore."

"Known for his great speed but even more so for his kindness and joyful smile, Terrance will be remembered as a tremendous teammate and a dedicated family man," the group continued.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Terrance Gore #0 of the Kansas City Royals Mitchell Layton/Getty
Terrance Gore #0 of the Kansas City Royals

Mitchell Layton/Getty

Gore made his final major league appearance with the Mets during the 2022 season. He played in 10 games, including the National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres. 

The late athlete recorded 16 hits and one RBI throughout his career, and he stole 48 bases in 58 tries and scored 36 runs.

Read the original article on People

Is 'unstoppable' Palmer in the World Cup picture?

Cole Palmer celebrates scoring a hat-trick for Chelsea with a three-finger salute with his right hand, while holding the yellow match ball under his left arm and wearing a large Chelsea puffer jacket with the hood up.
Cole Palmer has now scored eight goals across all competitions for Chelsea this season [Getty Images]

With the World Cup just four months away, Cole Palmer provided a timely reminder of his talent on Saturday.

The Chelsea forward scored a first-half hat-trick as the Blues beat bottom-of-the-table Wolves 3-1 to remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Two of those goals were penalties, with Palmer displaying his typically ice-cool demeanour to send the goalkeeper the wrong way both times.

Palmer has been dogged by a groin injury this season, and the three goals almost doubled his tally for the campaign - going from four Premier League goals to seven.

The performance also puts him firmly in the England squad conversation.

"If he's impacting games, like we know he can, from now to the end of the season, he's a sure thing to be in the squad," former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport.

"He can play wide, he can play as a 10. He's just so good on the ball and classy and simply doesn't fear anybody.

"Even if you bring him off the bench, you know he can do unbelievable things. He can win you a game in a heartbeat."

Can Palmer build momentum?

Palmer celebrated his opening goal against Wolves by covering his ears - a response, perhaps, to recent reports suggesting he is unsettled in London.

The former Manchester City player has had a difficult campaign in which injury has seen him in and out of the side, while under new head coach Liam Rosenior he has had his playing minutes carefully managed.

Since Rosenior became Chelsea boss at the start of this year he has often faced questions about Palmer's form, fitness and state of mind.

This performance provided something of a direct response to those questions, but key for Palmer will be keeping it up.

"We know what a world-class player he is. He's played a lot of football over the last year with not much rest," said Rosenior.

"When he's at his best, he's unstoppable. I'm delighted to be working with him."

This is, after all, a player who scored twice in the Club World Cup final less than six months ago, and across the two seasons prior to this one totted up 37 Premier League goals.

'Battle on his hands' - will Palmer make World Cup squad?

If Palmer can now build momentum, he will be hitting form at just the right time.

He was a key player for England at Euro 2024 but has made just one appearance under current boss Thomas Tuchel - in a 1-0 win against Andorra last June.

Injuries have been a factor, but there is also competition for places - with the likes of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham rivalling him for the number 10 role.

"At the moment it looks like Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham will be the two who are ahead of him," said former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha on BBC Final Score.

"I'd be looking to find a way to get him in the side."

When asked if he would select Palmer for England, former Blackburn and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton was a little more blunt: "Not at the minute, no. I'd play Rogers."

England have two more friendlies lined up before the World Cup - against Uruguay on 27 March and Japan four days later - so that international camp will offer a big chance for players such as Palmer to impress Tuchel.

"I don't think Cole [Palmer] is at his best yet," said Murphy.

"Like a lot of players, when you have had a bad injury and you've had quite a lot of time out, it does take game time to get your rhythm and your sharpness back.

"He really needs to start playing regularly to force his way into the England squad and team, because at the moment with Morgan Rogers doing what he's doing, and other players playing well, he's got a battle on his hands."

3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Indiana: Comeback falls just short

Indiana's Tucker DeVries (12) knocks the ball loose during the Indiana versus Wisconsin men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers fell just short in an overtime thriller against the Indiana Hoosiers, losing 78-77 thanks to free throws from Lamar Wilkerson with just two seconds remaining. The loss drops them to 1-6 in Quad 1 games as the Badgers fall to 16-7 on the season and 8-4 in Big Ten play.

It was an ugly game early on, as Wisconsin just couldn’t manufacture any offense, relying too heavily on threes. But they found a way to keep things close and made a fervent comeback in the second half to send the game to overtime.

Chaos ensued over the last five minutes with a couple of questionable calls, but Wisconsin, holding the lead for much of overtime, fell short in its pursuit of an upset.

Here are three quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Indiana on Saturday.

Top three stars

As games have been for the Badgers, it was Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, and Nolan Winter in charge on Saturday.

In the first half, Boyd and Blackwell had quite disappointing performances. Offensively, neither player could really get going. Boyd had 11 points on 4 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 4 from deep. But he really struggled in the paint in the first half and didn’t get to the free-throw line at all.

One key with Boyd has been trying to get him to play off two feet. Head coach Greg Gard has talked about this in regard to keeping Boyd under control with his elite speed. He didn’t play off two feet much on Saturday, which ended with him forcing tough looks over big men at the rim, playing out of control. If he goes off two feet more and changes speeds, he’s been able to make better decisions, be it a kickout or a better look at the rim. That wasn’t the case early in the first half.

Blackwell really couldn’t get going offensively either. He was a bit looser with his handle and was just 1 of 8 from the field, including 0 of 3 from three-point range. The shot selection from both inside the arc was also an issue. But it was things away from the offensive end that alarmed me more.

Boyd really struggled defensively to keep up with ball-handlers, getting beaten off the dribble a number of times by Conor Enright. His defense was a big issue for the Badgers early, as Indiana was eating off the rim and getting dribble penetration to set up great looks offensively. But his attentiveness felt off as well, as he struggled off the ball with the ball-screen actions, which gave Indiana great lanes off the catch and disrupted Wisconsin’s defense.

As for Blackwell, it felt like his energy level wasn’t as high early on. There were a couple of rebounds and loose balls that he didn’t go for, and it added to the physicality advantage for Indiana.

Winter was the key in the first half. He was the one playing hard on both ends, scoring 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting, while grabbing seven rebounds and contesting well at the rim.

In the second half, some of the issues defensively for the guards persisted early on, but we did see Wisconsin get better at running shooters off the three-point line. And Boyd and Blackwell finally got in a groove offensively.

Boyd was more careful with the ball, scoring eight points (albeit on seven shots), while dishing out two assists. Blackwell was the one who really brought Wisconsin back into the game, scoring 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting. He had a couple of bad turnovers still, but he was the catalyst offensively while the defense picked up the slack.

Winter maintained his activity on both ends, scoring eight points while really playing some good defense on the block, making it tougher for Indiana with contests. He was also the go-to guy in overtime with four of Wisconsin’s five points.

Wisconsin is heavily reliant on this trio, and the guards really struggled in the first half in a lot of ways. But they also brought the Badgers back in a very eventful game in the second half. Wisconsin just needs more consistency from that group in these big games.

Physicality

The biggest issue for the Badgers on Saturday was physicality. Wisconsin had been playing more physically in recent games, and it felt like this one would be another game to build off that, given that the Badgers had the size advantage.

Yes, Wisconsin got 14 offensive rebounds, but Indiana dominated the physicality in this matchup for most of the game. As mentioned above, there were issues defensively with the guards. There was too much dribble penetration, with Indiana getting to the rim at ease. Boyd’s struggles to defend on-ball and with the off-ball screens were a big issue early on.

Down low, I thought Aleksas Bieliauskas really struggled with his physicality after a good game against Ohio State last weekend. So it wasn’t much of a surprise that he played only three minutes in the second half and overtime.

Offensively, the Badgers needed to find a way to get more paint touches earlier in the game, either via dribble drives or actions to set up post touches with Nolan Winter. Shooting 19 threes in your first 30 shots when you have the size advantage is an issue, considering the quality of looks and the lack of makes.

Indiana completely dominated the paint early on. 32 of their first 46 points were in the paint before Wisconsin started to shut that down. You saw some bully ball from center Sam Alexis and Tucker DeVries, and the Badgers’ switches didn’t help there either.

Wisconsin has to find a way, though, to be more physical without sacrificing much on the offensive end. They’ve lacked another consistent big in their frontcourt rotation to help Nolan Winter, and the guard play defensively has also been an issue this year.

Questionable calls

I’m not one to usually point at referee calls. When teams lose games, there’s a reason why and they need to play better. That’s the case with Wisconsin on Saturday as well.

But there were a number of questionable calls over the final minutes of the game where it felt consistency wasn’t there. First off, there was a lack of calls in the first half from officials, who elected to let the teams play things out. In the second half, that changed, with a lot more ticky-tack fouls being called, as there were 18 total fouls in the half.

Then, in overtime, Wisconsin fell victim to a couple of questionable calls. With the Badgers up 74-72 and under three minutes left, Nick Boyd appeared to get hit on his left arm by Sam Alexis on a drive, but there wasn’t a call on the play. Indiana came down the court, and Lamar Wilkerson missed a pair of contested layups, with Alexis getting the rebound after. However, he fell down after securing the board, which looked like a travel. There was a no call there, and Wilkerson was fouled by John Blackwell after getting the ball and attempting a shot.

Later, with Wisconsin up three points with 39 seconds left, Wilkerson drove for a layup, but was blocked by Nolan Winter. It seemed like Wilkerson went up and down with the ball, suggesting a jump ball should’ve been called, but there wasn’t a call there. Indiana called timeout, and Wilkerson got a layup coming out of the timeout to cut the lead to one.

Wisconsin had the ball up one, and Indiana needed to foul. The Badgers looked to dribble the clock out and take off as many seconds as possible, with Nick Boyd weaving through the defense after Wisconsin broke the press to get back out to the perimeter. There, he had contact with Indiana’s Conor Enright and was called for the offensive foul. Did Boyd extend his arm there? Yes. Was it worthy of an offensive foul with the contact? We’ve seen that action get played out as a no-call quite often. Enright did a good job selling the call, but that one was questionable as well.

It all boiled down to the final seconds, however, with Indiana having the ball with 15 seconds left down one point. Of course, the Hoosiers put the ball in Lamar Wilkerson’s hands, with John Blackwell picking him up on-ball after a few screens that led to switches. Blackwell played great defense, keeping up with Wilkerson as he tried to shift from side to side. There was contact as Wilkerson drove, but it didn’t seem like enough to warrant a foul. Blackwell started to fall back, and Wilkerson seemed out of control and losing his balance, but Blackwell was called for a fifth foul and was irate.

Of all the calls, that one was likely the most questionable and evidently the one with the biggest implications. Wilkerson sank both free throws, and the Badgers went home with a one-point loss.

Did Wisconsin lose because of the referees? No. There were several things they could’ve done better to get in the win column. But in such a close game, those questionable calls in the final minutes definitely weighed in at the end of the game.

Winter Olympics 2026: 'Miracle on Ice' captain Mike Eruzione rebukes skier Hunter Hess for comments on representing U.S.

Remarks made by American freestyle skier Hunter Hess regarding "mixed emotions" about representing the United States in the 2026 Winter Olympics have drawn criticism from some fans and observers. 

Perhaps the most famous and outspoken among them is legendary 1980 U.S. ice hockey gold medalist Mike Eruzione, who posted a response to Hess on social media.

During a press conference with the U.S. freeski team in Milan on Friday, Hess, 27, said he felt conflicted because "a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t." 

Freestyle skier Hunter Hess on representing USA: "There's a lot going on I'm not the biggest fan of...If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it. Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S."

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) February 6, 2026

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” Hess said, via Portland, Oregon's KGW8. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

"For me, it's more I'm representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.," he added. "I think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

Those comments raised the ire of Eruzione, a captain on the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal team who scored the game-winning goal versus the Soviet Union in the medal round. He has previously shown support for Donald Trump, but in responding to Hess, he didn't mention the president. He stated that the skier shouldn't wear a uniform representing the U.S. if he'd prefer to represent friends and family instead. 

Hunter Hess US snowboarder saying he doesn’t represent his country but his family and friends. Then don’t put on the USA uniform maybe just put for family and friends some athletes just don’t get it

— MIKE ERUZIONE (@MERUZIONE) February 7, 2026

"Hunter Hess, US snowboarder, saying he doesn’t represent his country but his family and friends," Eruzione posted. "Then don’t put on the USA uniform; maybe just put for family and friend. Some athletes just don’t get it." 

Eruzione was criticized for appearing at a Trump rally in 2020 with his U.S. hockey teammates and wearing a hat that said "Keep America Great." 

In response to the backlash received for his appearance, Eruzione expressed regret for wearing the hat.

“If we knew we were going to piss off this many people, we probably would not have put the hats on,” Eruzione, 65, told the Washington Post. “That’s the big question here. A lot of the stuff I got was, ‘You guys said it’s not political, but when you put the hats on, you made it political.’ ”

Presumably, Hess' remarks "made it political" in Eruzione's view. Yet he's not the only U.S. athlete who has voiced ambivalent sentiments toward what's currently happening. Freestyle aerialist Chris Lillis said he wouldn't want to represent any other country, but is "heartbroken" over current events.

“I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States,” Lillis said, via the Washington Post. “I think that, as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that’s the America that we’re trying to represent.”

Yours for £80m: Liverpool's PERFECT wide forward is now available

Yours for £80m: Liverpool's PERFECT wide forward is now available
Yours for £80m: Liverpool's PERFECT wide forward is now available

Diomande endorses Liverpool move

The 19-year-old has been in sensational form during his debut campaign in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig. Signed for only £18m from Leganes last summer the Ivory Coast international has taken European football by storm.

The winger has already expressed a preference for Liverpool if and when the time comes to make his next move. And with his Leipzig contract extending to 2030 it’s not going to be easy for interested clubs to strike a deal.

But Liverpool will be right there for Diomande’s signature if and when the time comes for Leipzig to cash in.

According to a report in Football Insider it was Tottenham who made the first attempt to sign Diomande back in January - but were put off by the asking price.

The time has come to sign new winger

Estimated at around £80m Diomande is on the list for several more clubs - including Manchester United. Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

“Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea are each keeping tabs on Yan Diomande’s progress at RB Leipzig after Tottenham were priced out of a move to sign him in January,” the report reads.

“You’ve got the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich all interested as well.

“So he’s going to have a lot of options, Diomande, and he is going to be one to watch for sure in the summer.”

Liverpool spent big on new forwards last summer - including British record deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Those two - along with Hugo Ekitike - were brought in to improve the central spine of the attack.

Training: Gearing up for Anfield!

Training: Gearing up for Anfield!
Training: Gearing up for Anfield!

Features

Liverpool v City: Are you ready for Anfield?

The Blues visit Anfield on Sunday, February 8 with kick-off on Merseyside slated for 16.30 (UK).

It has become one of the English game’s most eagerly anticipated match-ups over the past decade and this latest affair promises to be no different.

Second placed City will be seeking to maintain momentum and to keep the pressure up on leaders Arsenal.

BUY TICKETS | TO WATCH CITY v FULHAM

Reigning champions Liverpool meanwhile are out for further points to boost their push for a top-four finish.

Against slate grey Mancunian skies, the players went about their work ahead of what should be a classic match-up.

View the best of Saturday’s training session in our gallery …

Check out the local teams headed to the CIF-SS soccer playoffs

A vintage season for Ventura County girls soccer bore out on selection Saturday, Feb. 7. Mostly.

Six local teams ended the regular season among the top 26 in the CIF-Southern Section ratings, which determine the postseason field.

Which meant the top divisions of the CIF-SS playoffs were peppered with local flavor.

Oaks Christian was seeded fourth in the Open Division, which sees the top eight teams paired off in a Champions League-style home-and-home format.

Two other top teams, Marmonte League champion Westlake (12-2-1) and Coastal Canyon League champion Moorpark (10-2-2), just missed out on the Open Division field and were seeded No. 1 and No. 4 in Division 1, respectively.

The news was not all good, as Newbury Park (10-5-2) — at No. 25 overall — was the top-rated girls team in the entire section to miss the postseason.

The Panthers were punished for finishing fourth in the powerhouse Marmonte League, and therefore ended the regular season without an automatic bid.

“Really tough,” said Newbury Park coach Emily Williams.

There were mixed emotions for Del Sol High in Oxnard.

Playing a freelance schedule, the Del Sol girls soccer team (15-7-2) was at-large selection in Division 5 and will make its playoff debut this week.

Playing a freelance schedule, Del Sol boys team (18-7-2) was not selected and will miss the postseason.

Six local teams earned top-4 seeds in the girls field.

The city of Simi Valley had three different teams earn No. 2 seeds in their divisions.

Royal is the No. 2 seed in Division 2, Simi Valley is the No. 2 seed in Division 3, and Tri-Valley League champion Grace School is the No. 2 seed in Division 6.

Two Coastal Canyon League teams earned No. 2 seeds in the boys field.

Coastal Canyon League champion Oak Park (17-1-2) is the No. 2 seed in Division 4.

Camarillo (7-4-7), which earned its berth by beating Royal 5-2 in the Coastal Canyon League third-place playoff last Wednesday, is the No. 2 seed in Division 5.

Thacher (10-6-1), which finished in third place in the Frontier League, is the No. 2 seed in Division 8.

The Foothill Tech boys (3-12-1) team will host Omega League champion Beacon Hill (12-0) in the only all-local first round matchup.

Girls breakdown

First-round girls matches are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, with the second round on Feb. 14.

In the Open Division, Oaks Christian (15-3-1) will face Palos Verdes (14-3-1) in the first round, traveling for the away leg on Feb. 12 and hosting on Feb. 14.

In Division 1, Westlake will host Fairmont Prep (7-6-2), Thousand Oaks (10-7) will host Rosary Academy (12-6-1), Moorpark (10-2-2) will host Murrieta Valley (13-1-2), and Camarillo (8-3-2) will visit Capistrano Valley (7-6-4).

In Division 2, second-seeded Royal (7-8-3) will host La Serna (10-12-3) and Buena (10-7-5) will host Ayala (9-7-3) in the first round.

In Division 3, second-seeded Simi Valley (8-5-4) will host Notre Dame Academy (7-2-2), Oxnard (9-3-6) will host Mayfield (11-7-4), and Ventura (8-4-6) will visit Costa Mesa (11-2-5) in the first round.

In Division 5, Channel Islands (13-4-1) will host Century (12-8-1), Santa Paula (8-7-2) will host Charter Oak (11-3-1), Fillmore (10-5) will host Anaheim (10-6-2), and Del Sol (15-7-2) will host Northview (12-6-3) in the first round.

In Division 6, Grace (10-4-2) will host Village Christian (8-6-2) and Thacher (5-8-6) will visit Orange Vista (8-8-3) in the first round.

Boys breakdown

First-round boys matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the second round on Feb. 13.

No local teams appear in the top three divisions of the boys field, but four of the best populate Division 3.

Moorpark (11-5-2) will visit La Serna (12-9-1), Channel Islands (16-3-1) will host Long Beach Poly (11-7-6), Oxnard (17-7-1) will host Westminster (11-4-3), and Calabasas (14-1-4) will host North Torrance (6-6-2) in the Division 3 first round.

In Division 4, second-seeded Oak Park (17-2-1) will host Baldwin Park (13-9-3), Pacifica (14-4-3) will visit Saugus (11-5-2), and Santa Paula (12-5-1) will host Citrus Coast League foe Carpinteria (10-5-2) in the first round.

In Division 5, second-seeded Camarillo (7-4-7) will host Lawndale (10-6), Ventura (10-7-2) will visit Crean Lutheran (6-8-3), Fillmore (9-6-2) will host Crespi (12-5-2), Oaks Christian (8-7-4) will host Mountain View (15-2-4), and Westlake (12-4-5) will host Hacienda Heights-Wilson (9-10-6) in the first round.

In Division 7, St. Bonaventure (10-8-1) will visit Cerritos (13-4-2) in the first round.

In Division 8, second-seeded Thacher (10-6-1) will host Cornerstone Christian (5-5-1), Foothill Tech (3-12-1) will host Omega League-champion Beacon Hill (12-0), Newbury Park Adventist (9-3-1) will visit third-seeded Environmental Charter (4-5-1), and Ojai Valley (7-5-1) will visit top-seeded San Jacinto Academy (11-5-3).

Quarterfinals and semifinal matches for both the girls and boys tournaments will be the following week, with CIF-SS finals being played at Long Beach City College’s Veterans Stadium and Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange on Feb. 28.

Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: These local teams were picked for the CIF-SS soccer playoffs

Former Bengals leader gets notable free-agency contract projection

Roughly a month ago, Cincinnati Bengals fans started the campaign to bring back defensive lineman DJ Reader in free agency.

Reader played a key role in deep playoff runs for the Bengals and was one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history. 

So, what does the market look like for Reader right now?

Let Pro Football Focus tell it, Reader is the 20th-best player headed to free agency on a list of 250 before the market opens:

“Reader is now 31 years old and has not quite matched his peak form fro`m his time in Cincinnati since arriving in Detroit, but he remains an above-average starter at the NFL level. His 68.4 PFF grade ranked 36th among interior defensive linemen this season, and he has never recorded a PFF pass-rush or run-defense grade below 60.0 in any season of his career.”

RELATED: Bengals sound ready to leave comfort zone, do contract extension early

Even better? Reader’s contract projection at this stage of his career is an affordable one-year deal worth $4.5 million. 

It’s an obvious thing the Bengals should do, provided Reader is interested. 

The interior of the defensive line is one of the biggest areas of need for the Bengals this offseason. B.J. Hill figures to return, while TJ Slaton is a cut candidate. The development of Kris Jenkins Jr. has been steady, but not fast enough. 

Reader would be a great stopgap solution for the Bengals. He’s familiar with the organization, was a very respected locker room leader and could join the rotation with something to offer. 

The Bengals reuniting with Reader wouldn’t prevent them from attacking the area of need as early as 10th overall in the first round, either. In fact, a budget-based move like this might just give them enough wiggle room to make a much bigger splash at another problem area like safety. 

So no, it’s not hard to see why Bengals fans have Reader on the mind with free agency on approach. 

RELATED: Bengals cap space outlook changes with NFL salary cap update

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Former Bengals leader gets notable free-agency contract projection

Eyewitness News Special: A look back at the Carolina Lightnin’

Long before the roar of the Panthers, or the buzz of the Hornets, there was a spark in Charlotte. It was an idea that attracted players and fans alike, and it was a dream season that created moments to last forever.

Channel 9 is sharing the story of the Carolina Lightnin’, how they brought professional soccer to Charlotte, and the “magical” 1981 season that caught “lightning in a bottle.”

The full special is on Channel 9 starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.

Photos: The Carolina Lightnin’ early years

The Charlotte Observer held a contest to name the new soccer team coming to town. Mike Finegan, 16 from Hickory entered the Carolina Lightning name, but owner Bob Benson wanted a The team held open tryouts in the area and people from all walks of life came to give it a shot. As Rodney Marsh recalls, men from a nearby boot camp came to try out in their army boots, not knowing a thing about soccer.Team picture of the Carolina Lightnin'Tony Suarez was one of the few local talents to make the team. Starting on the practice team and the team bus driver, he became an overnight sensation after multiple team injuries gave him the chance to play in a game.The Lightnin' were one of the first teams to marry sports and live music. The Beach Boys held a concert after a Lightnin' game in 1983. Ticket prices for the game and show were only $12.50!The Lightnin' were known for their over the top giveaways and halftime entertainment. One of the most memorable being a plane they gave away to a contestant that threw a frisbee closest to the plane.Rodney Marsh's abilities made him big in the soccer world, but his famous Miller Lite commercial is what most of North Carolina knew him for before becoming the head coach of the Carolina Lightnin'.A HUGE name joined the Lightnin' squad in 1983. Bobby Moore, known as one of the greatest defenders in the world, joined the team to coach and play.Tens of thousands filled Memorial Stadium to see the Lightnin' in their championship game in 1981.20,163 people filled up Memorial Stadium to watch the Lightnin' in their championship game.The Lightnin' came back from being 1 down to win the ASL National Championship 2-1 on September 18th, 1981.Tony got hurt after the Championship game and had multiple knee surgeries. He lost some of his speed and power, which began the downfall to his arrest in the 1990s.

WEB EXTRAS

The sounds of ‘Celebration’

Some people correlate the Lightnin’ with their extreme giveaways or winning their inaugural season, but our former sports reporter always thinks of the team when he hears this song.

The tale of the team hearse

The team all lived next door to each other in an apartment complex provided by the team and they all drove to practices together in this unusual car.

How the Chinese national team helped Charlotte’s champion goal-scorer

The winning score in the championship game almost didn’t happen! Hear how the goal scorer got some help from the Chinese National Soccer team while recovering from an injury.

(VIDEO: Former Panthers star Luke Kuechly heading to Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Japan's Kimura and Kimata take gold and silver in men's snowboarding big air at Winter Olympics

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata led a Japanese gold and silver medal grab in men’s big air on Saturday, underlining the growing dominance of their country in snowboarding at the Winter Olympics.

The 21-year-old Kimura edged his fellow countryman with a blistering last run, scoring a final’s best 90.50 to surge to the top of the table. He finished with 179.50 points from his best two jumps.

The 23-year-old Kimata, who won the big air world championship last year, touched down on his final run when he had a chance to snatch victory from Kimura. He finished with 171.50 points.

Defending champion Su Yiming of China took bronze, pushing 17-year-old American Oliver Martin off the podium.

Japan has emerged over the past decade-plus as a force in halfpipe, winning five medals, with four by men, in the last three Olympics.

But it had only parlayed that into one bronze in women’s big air in 2022, with no medals in slopestyle.

Now Kimura and Kimata have given Japan its first Olympic gold and silver in big air, and more could be to come. The pair will also compete in slopestyle, while Ayumu Hirano will seek to defend his halfpipe gold.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

“Really just confidence, confidence from my teammates, …

Will Gottlieb: Dillingham on this opportunity: “Really just confidence, confidence from my teammates, confidence from my coaches, and really confidence in myself. I really just feel like I haven't got to get an opportunity where I feel confident. I'm just waiting for the spark to come back.”

x.com

Dillingham on this opportunity: “Really just confidence, confidence from my teammates, confidence from my coaches, and really confidence in myself. I really just feel like I haven't got to get an opportunity where I feel confident.

I'm just waiting for the spark to come back.” pic.twitter.com/OiK2enrZm3

— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) February 7, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “Really just confidence, confidence from my teammates, …

Steelers rumors give Will Howard a boost, pinpoint possible Aaron Rodgers replacement

Steelers rumors give Will Howard a boost, pinpoint possible Aaron Rodgers replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Despite his not seeing the field at all in the preseason or regular season in 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers are apparently high on quarterback Will Howard.

That nugget comes from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who reports that the Steelers "really like" how Howard has developed and the team "believes it might have something" in the sixth-round pick.

"On the flip side, the Steelers really like how Will Howard has developed," Fowler said. "A preseason hand injury stunted his progress, but Pittsburgh believes it might have something; his command of the huddle, sharpness at the line of scrimmage and ability to ingratiate with teammates have stood out."

Howard is one of the most intriguing players on the Steelers' roster this offseason because of the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh's desperate need for a long-term answer at the most important position in the NFL.

The 2025 draft pick amounts to the only semblance of hope for the future the Steelers have at quarterback, and Howard could be thrust into a starting competition if Rodgers doesn't return in 2026.

Another boost to Howard's stock was comments made by new head coach Mike McCarthy, who said he is "really excited" about the Ohio State product.

“I’m really excited about Will Howard,” McCarthy said at his introductory presser. “He’s someone that, I thought, he really came on there at Ohio State.”

While this is all good news for Howard, we still believe the deck is stacked against him being the starter at the outset of the 2026 season.

Even if Rodgers leaves, Howard will have to compete with Mason Rudolph for the starting job, and we highly doubt that'll be the extent of his competition. Pittsburgh would almost certainly add another veteran to the mix.

Who could that be?

Well, Fowler notes that the Steelers had some interest in Joe Flacco last offseason and thinks he could be an option for Pittsburgh if Rodgers departs.

"And the Steelers will have an opening if Aaron Rodgers doesn't re-sign there. Pittsburgh liked his free agency profile last offseason, too," Fowler said.

In what has been an uninspiring offseason thus far for the Steelers, a quarterbacks room of Flacco, Rudolph and Howard won't help change that.

However, at least there appears to be some hope for Howard to finally solve an issue at quarterback that has been prevalent for far too long.

More NFL news

Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Suns tonight? Game status for 76ers star

Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Suns tonight? Game status for 76ers star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After dropping their previous game to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers will look to bounce back when they travel to Phoenix to play the Suns on Saturday night.

It will be the second and final meeting on the season between the two teams, as the Suns bested the Sixers, 116-110, a few weeks back.

Joel Embiid 'questionable' to play vs. Suns on Saturday night 

Sixers star center Joel Embiid didn’t play in that first game against the Suns, and we’ll have to wait and see if he’ll be available this time around. Embiid is currently listed as "questionable" on the official injury report for the game. His final status will be determined prior to tipoff. 

This story will be updated. 

More Philadelphia 76ers news

The Unction: ex- FC Bayern striker Roque Santa Cruz is still playing at 44

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 07: Paraguayan former player Roque Santa Cruz smiles during the official draw of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 at James L. Knight Center on December 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Longevity is an interesting aspect of football because rarely does a player continue to play past the age of 35 due to physical toll and advancement of the game’s technical aspect. Only a handful of players are able to play competitively at such an advanced age in football terms, and one of them is Bayern Munich’s old boy Roque Santa Cruz.

An article on Tz states that the Paraguayan striker, possibly a teammate of Ronaldinho and as old as Zlatan, signed with local team Club Nacional in January at the age of 44! He played with Bayern for eight years, having arrived there in 1999 (I wasn’t even born then). So, if anyone should be called a boomer by INNN, it’s him.

More impressively, as I recently found out, Zé Roberto—another ex-Bayern player—only retired from the sport in 2017, at age 43. At this rate, Roque is out to match Gianluigi Buffon’s retirement age of 45 but will take some effort to keep up with Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura (born 1967), still active at age 58. David Ginola was born on the same year and he’s been retired for 24 years.

Some other interesting facts about older football players (from an article on si.com, there’s a lot of interesting stuff in there):

  • Oldest player to play in a game: Ezzeldin Bahader, Egypt. He was aged 74 in 2020 when he turned out for 6th of October SC and his feat is Guinness World Records verified.
  • Oldest active football player: Robert Carmona, Uruguay. He currently captains Hacele Un Gol a la Vida; also holds record for longest professional career ever at 45 years and counting.

Right: who else is part of the “unction”?

Liverpool-bound Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet suffers serious shoulder injury

Liverpool-bound Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet suffers serious shoulder injury
Liverpool-bound Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet suffers serious shoulder injury

Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet (20) has sustained a left shoulder injury as Les Bretons suffered a fourth straight loss in all competitions as pressure continues to mount on Habib Beye. Rennes opened the scoring through Esteban Lepaul early in the first half, but the visitors shipped three unanswered goals from Odsonne Edouard, Ruben Aguilar and Allan Saint-Maximin.

As if the evening possibly could not get worse for Beye’s Rennes, two of their starting centre-backs suffered quite serious injuries, including Jérémy Jacquet. The France U21 international defender’s future has been addressed this week as his €72m transfer to Liverpool has been confirmed by both clubs. Unfortunately, Jacquet is set for a spell on the sidelines after hurting his left injury.

For Jérémy, that’s his shoulder, and for Abdelhamid (Aït Boudlal), it’s muscular“, Habib Beye said in the aftermath of the loss. “We’ll have time to check, but there are quite serious injuries for both of them.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

NFL Trade Rumors: Latest on San Francisco 49ers Willingness to Trade Mac Jones

NFL Trade Rumors: Latest on San Francisco 49ers Willingness to Trade Mac Jones
Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

As Sam Darnold leads the Seattle Seahawks into the Super Bowl, quarterback-needy teams around the National Football League are eyeing Kyle Shanahan’s latest reclamation project as a trade target. Of course, that will require a willingness from the San Francisco 49ers to move him.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Saturday that San Francisco isn’t looking to trade quarteback Mac Jones. After signing him to a two-year contract last offseason, the club wants to keep him as an insurance option behind Brock Purdy next season.

Speaking to the media in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Jones expressed strong interest in an opportunity to become a starting quarterback again. Seeing the success that Darnold has had with the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings, the former first-round pick is confident he can follow in the footsteps of a peer whose career seemed to turnaround after a stint in San Francisco.

If Jones were made available, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated believes San Francisco could get a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft back in exchange for him. That’s in part due to the contract he’s signed to, which carries just a $3.98 million cap hit next season before he becomes a free agent in 2027.

While that is a compelling return to at least consider a trade, there is an even stronger incentive for the 49ers to keep Jones. He posted a 5–3 record as the 49ers’ starting quarterback this past season, completing 69.6 percent of his passes with a 13–6 TD–INT line and a 97.4 passer rating. Jones knows Shanahan’s system, and given Brock Purdy’s injury history, San Francisco does not want to risk having an unknown forced to start if Purdy gets hurt.

The 49ers’ stance on trading Jones means there will be even more suitors for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and potentially even Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. However, both of their contracts will prevent either club from getting any quality draft picks back in a trade.

Related Headlines

Open vent thread

This will be the last weekend without baseball, potentially until November, with Game 7 of the 2026 World Series scheduled for October 31. The Super Bowl is tomorrow (though we’re going to the RenFair), and football will then be done – mercifully, if you’re a Cardinals fan. The off-season is, effectively, over. So, before players start to show up at Salt River Fields next week, this is your change to say whatever you want. Be that about the Diamondbacks, baseball in general, or even random off-topicness. Though not too off-topic: the usual SnakePit prohibitions still remain in effect!

Open vent thread: Get it all out before pitchers and catchers report!

Have the Diamondbacks done enough? How thin ice are Torey Lovullo and Mike Hazen skating on this season? What is your go-to ballpark food and drink? Is the NL West a pointless procession to another Dodgers title? Why is Zac Gallen still unsigned? Has the way you watch baseball changed over the years? What’s your favorite baseball movie? Feel free answer absolutely none of these questions, and go your own way instead.

Predicted Starting Line-Up: Liverpool vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Predicted Starting Line-Up: Liverpool vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Predicted Starting Line-Up: Liverpool vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City’s visit to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool carries significant historical edge and strategic weight in terms of their title credentials.

This meeting arrives at a delicate moment for Pep Guardiola’s side, with City navigating injuries, form fluctuation, and selection uncertainty while attempting to be in touching distance of Arsenal at the top of the table.

Manchester City arrive on Merseyside fresh from knocking Newcastle United out of the Carabao Cup, a result that restored some authority after an inconsistent run in the league. However, that midweek tie also raised new questions, none more significant than the absence of club captain Bernardo Silva.

Guardiola confirmed post-match that Silva is dealing with a back issue, describing him as an “incredible doubt” for Sunday. The manager’s tone suggested caution rather than optimism.

In his press conference ahead of the Liverpool fixture, Guardiola suggested that Silva’s availability will be assessed in Saturday’s training session.

In defence, City’s options remain constrained. Josko Gvardiol is unavailable, while John Stones has only just returned to full training. Ruben Dias is back in contention, but this game may arrive too soon after his injury lay-off, especially given the intensity of Liverpool’s front line.

In the wide positions, injuries have narrowed Guardiola’s options. Jeremy Doku and Savinho are both sidelined, removing two natural touchline threats.

Here is how we think Manchester City will line up for this colossal fixture against Liverpool at Anfield!

Predicted XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to return between the posts after James Trafford deputised in midweek. Guardiola’s preference in league fixtures remains clear and Donnarumma’s experience in hostile environments will be vital at Anfield, particularly with his elite shot-stopping skills.

At right full-back, Matheus Nunes is expected to continue. Nunes’ athleticism and recovery speed are particularly valuable against Liverpool’s left-sided threat.

Marc Guehi is expected to come in alongside Abdukodir Khusanov at centre-back. Calm in possession, assertive in duels, and positionally intelligent, the centre backs will be tasked with managing the space behind City’s full-backs, especially dealing with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike during transitions.

Liverpool’s long-standing interest in Guehi adds a subplot but from City’s perspective, this is about stability rather than symbolism.

Nico O’Reilly is expected to play in the left full-back position. O’Reilly’s positional discipline will help City maintain their preferred rest-defence structure while adding an additional option in the midfield when they have the ball.

Rodri is expected to return to the starting XI after being rested in midweek. His availability is a major boost. In matches of this magnitude, City’s ability to control central zones often hinges on Rodri’s positional awareness and resistance under pressure.

His role will be to anchor transitions, disrupt Liverpool’s counterattacks early, and provide the platform for City’s advanced midfielders to operate.

With Bernardo Silva’s participation in doubt, Guardiola is expected to trust the pairing of Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden in the advanced midfield roles.

Reijnders was highly effective against Newcastle, offering a blend of vertical running, ball progression, and intelligent positioning between the lines. Reijnders’ capacity to arrive late into attacking zones without compromising defensive shape has become increasingly valuable.

Foden’s movement and decision-making in tight spaces might dictate City’s attacking rhythm at Anfield. The injuries to Savinho and Doku have increased the focus on Antoine Semenyo, who is likely to start. Semenyo’s form since arriving from Bournemouth has been encouraging.

His directness, physicality and willingness to attack defenders one-on-one offer City a more vertical threat, particularly important against a Liverpool side that defends aggressively in advanced areas.

Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki picked up a minor niggle against Tottenham but returned from the bench against Newcastle, suggesting fitness is not a major concern. His creativity between the lines and ability to operate in half-spaces could be decisive in breaking Liverpool’s midfield press, especially when City look to play through rather than around.

Erling Haaland will return to lead the line after being rested midweek, with Omar Marmoush preferred against Newcastle. This is the kind of fixture built for Haaland’s profile.

His physical battle with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté is one of the Premier League’s defining matchups, and City’s attacking structure will be designed to isolate him against Liverpool’s centre-backs as often as possible.

Haaland’s presence also shapes Liverpool’s defensive line, often forcing them to defend deeper than they would prefer. That, in turn, creates space for Foden, Reijnders and Cherki to operate between the lines.

City’s approach at Anfield is likely to be pragmatic. Guardiola will prioritise compactness without the ball, controlled build-up under pressure and patience in attacking phases. With Liverpool thriving on chaos and transition, City’s spacing and decision-making in midfield will be critical.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Reijnders, Foden, Semenyo, Cherki; Haaland.

Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Lewis, Dias, Alleyne, Ait Nouri, Nico, Silva, Marmoush.

Match Report: Chelsea blow away Wolves 3-1 with Cole Palmer hattrick to continue winning run

Match Report: Chelsea blow away Wolves 3-1 with Cole Palmer hattrick to continue winning run
Match Report: Chelsea blow away Wolves 3-1 with Cole Palmer hattrick to continue winning run

Chelsea blew Wolves away with a 3-0 victory to continue their winning run in the league under Liam Rosenior.

After a slow start, some pretty horrific defending from the home team made life so easy for Chelsea.

The Blues were handed their first goal when Matt Doherty nibbled at the feet of Joao Pedro, even as the striker moved away from goal. It was a crazy moment to foul, and the Brazilian eagerly took the chance to down. The ref had no choice but to give it. Cole Palmer dispatched it with his customary ease.

It was the same situation soon after, when JP was shunted in the back as he burst into the box. Again, there was little direct threat of a goal, but it was a foul, and once again Palmer stepped up to score.

The third goal was from open play, with Chelsea now really confident and strutting their stuff. Enzo Fernandez played in Marc Cucurella’s overlapping run, and the full back played a nice cut back to Palmer, who was on hand to slam the ball in to the roof of the net. Liam Rosenior’s team walked off at half time delighted, as boos rang out for the ref and the Wolves performance.

The second half saw the home team come into it more – they scored from a scrappy set piece early in the second period to get the crowd up again, and battled to keep in the game. Chelsea weren’t up to much after the break, and had several big chances to put the ball away which they missed, but the important thing was 3 points won.

MOTM – Cole Palmer

Analysis

Cole Palmer celebrates his hat trick. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

We suspected Liam Rosenior would push Palmer to the right wing to get both Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo into the team as a double pivot, as well as Enzo Fernandez as a number ten where he can shine.

We can probably expect this pattern to continue in game where all those players are fit. Santos went off with what looked like a knock, so perhaps we will see Enzo back deeper and Palmer as a ten as soon as Tuesday night. That also creates space for Estevao to come into the team. But long term, this is the setup we think Rosenior will prefer.

Teams

WolvesJose SaMatt DohertyYerson MosqueraSantiago BuenoHugo Buenoda Silva Joao GomesAngel GomesHee-Chan HwangAdam ArmstrongMateus ManeToluwalase Arokodare

SubstitutesSam JohnstoneDavid WolfeCardoso Pedro Lima (s 90′)Rodrigo Gomes (s 46′)Jean Ricner Bellegarde (s 80′)Ladislav Krejci (s 43′)Jackson TchatchouaLuke RawlingsTom Edozie

ChelseaRobert SanchezMalo GustoWesley FofanaTrevoh ChalobahMarc CucurellaAndrey SantosMoises CaicedoPedro NetoCole PalmerEnzo FernandezJoao Pedro

SubstitutesTeddy Sharman-LoweBenoit BadiashileLiam Delap (s 75′)Mamadou SarrJorrel Hato (s 84′)Josh Acheampong (s 75′)Marc GuiuEstevaoAlejandro Garnacho (s 61′)

Stats

Quote of the game

“Everyone loves to chat rubbish, don’t they? I don’t pay too much attention to it.” – Cole Palmer on his celebration.

Should Barcelona choose Jan Virgili over Marcus Rashford this summer?

MALLORCA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 02: Jan Virgili of RCD Mallorca looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Mallorca and Sevilla FC at Estadio de Son Moix on February 02, 2026 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Barcelona will remain on top of the La Liga table for another weekend thanks to a hard-fought win against Mallorca at Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon, and two players caught the eye: Marcus Rashford and Jan Virgili. The Englishman was Barça’s best player on the afternoon and had a big impact on the result, while Virgili had a very impressive performance and created all kinds of havoc for the visitors.

Both players play the same position, and both have been linked with a permanent move to Camp Nou this summer. Barça sold Virgili to Mallorca but have a right of first refusal for any potential transfer, allowing them to bring the winger back on a cheaper deal, and the Catalans also have the chance to activate a €30 million buy option to sign Rashford permanently from Manchester United.

Virgili is nine years younger and has shown tremendous potential this season, while Rashford is an established star still in his prime who has had a pretty strong loan spell so far.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is this:

You can only choose one. Should Barcelona bring back Jan Virgili or sign Marcus Rashford permanently? Why?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

The Undertaker Names WWE Hall Of Fame Luchador As His Childhood Favorite

The Undertaker during WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden.
The Undertaker during WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden. - Kmazur/Getty Images

With a 30-year stint in WWE, Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway has inspired many of today's wrestlers to follow in his footsteps, and is renowned as a legend of his generation. Just like those he himself inspired, Calaway grew up watching wrestlers who made him fall i love with the industry.

"You wouldn't believe it. From where I ended up to, as a fan – so, I grew up in Houston. So, I had Paul Bosch's Houston Wrestling, right? NWA Houston Wrestling. So I loved Mil Máscaras," Calaway revealed during an interview on "What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes" noting that people rarely believe him when he says this. "I don't know if it was the mask and how fluid and how cool it was; I actually ended up getting to work – not against him, but on the same card – when I was in WCW."

Calaway further pointed out that Mil Máscaras "lived the gimmick" of pro wrestling, and as one of the most iconic Mexican Luchadores, it's not hard to see why Calaway was enamored by him. The "Deadman" then began to tell a story of bumping into Máscaras backstage, who showered with his mask on. "I just stopped, like: should I be here right now? And I was like: oh man, he even protects it back here too!" Calaway recalled. "Not that I was watching him in the shower."

Read more: Details About Andre The Giant That Came Out After He Died

Mark Calaway took inspiration from Mil Máscaras for 'The Undertaker'

The second iteration of 'The Undertaker' during a promotional photo shoot.
The second iteration of 'The Undertaker' during a promotional photo shoot. - WWE

Mark Calaway continued his story about Mil Máscaras, noting that the Luchador only briefly took his mask off to wash his face before putting it back on, adding that the weird experience may have changed the way he looked at gimmicks forever. "Perhaps later on, like, when I started really having a gimmick, I always thought back to Mil, like: this guy's even got the hood on in the shower," he said.

Calaway then pivoted back to his childhood watching NWA Houston, describing the show as having a much different feel than other wrestling promotions back in his day. "Back then, you got the guys that are traveling – Andre [the Giant] that was travelling, that's the first time obviously I'd ever seen Andre. I remember, I was 12 – maybe 13 – when I ... got to shake Andre's hand," he explained, claiming that he got to see other major names at the time like The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher at NWA Houston.

The veteran then recalled seeing The Sheik at one of the shows in town, and how the tickets he and his friend were bought by his mom were right in the aisle. "We're talking all week long, 'yeah, when The Sheik comes down, yeah we're gonna say this to him and we're gonna do this, and we're gonna – I might throw something at him!' We got ourselves hyped up all week long," Calaway relayed, adding that both The Sheik and Abdullah were fearsome to him as a kid. "Like, you believed everything they did was legit, and we were right there!"

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes," and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Game 23: Oklahoma Sooners at Vanderbilt Commodores

Jan 31, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Jalen Washington (13) gets fouled by Mississippi Rebels guard AJ Storr (2) during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

After a week off, Vanderbilt is back in action today at 2:30 PM as Oklahoma comes to town. The SEC office incorrectly considers this an SEC conference game when it is obviously part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Dodgers Unveil Minor League Coaching Staff for 2026 Season

Oklahoma City Comets hat

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their minor league coaching staffs for the 2026 season Thursday.

The Dodgers’ system consists of seven teams, and six of the seven teams have retained their manager from the season prior. The exception is in the Arizona Complex League, where Fumi Ishibashi has taken over as manager.

Who is Coaching the Oklahoma City Comets in Triple-A?

Scott Hennesy will take the helm for the his second season with the Comets in 2026. On his staff are bench coach Joe Thon, hitting coach Dylan Nasiatka, outfield coach David Dahl, pitching coaches David Anderson and Ryan Dennick, bullpen coach KJ Hallgren, development associate Tyler Hollow, performance coaches Paul Fournier and Ethan Quarles, head athletic trainer Griffin Boyte and athletic trainer Josh DiLoreto.

Manager: Scott Hennessey
Bench coach: Joe Thon
Hitting coach/assistant hitting coordinator: Dylan Nasiatka
Outfield/assistant hitting coach: David Dahl
Pitching coach: David Anderson
Pitching coach: Ryan Dennick
Coach/bullpen catcher: KJ Hallgren
Development associate: Tyler Hollow
Performance coach: Paul Fournier
Performance coach: Ethan Quarles
Head athletic trainer: Griffin Boyte
Athletic trainer: Josh DiLoreto

Oklahoma City Comets hat
Comets hats are placed on tables during a minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City Comets and the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Who is Coaching the Tulsa Drillers in Double-A?

Manager Eric Wedge is also entering his second year coaching in the Dodgers organization with Double-A Tulsa. His staff consists of bench coach Johan Garcia, hitting coach Blake Gailen, outfield and baserunning coach Braelin Hence, pitching coaches Durin O’Linger and Ramon Troncoso, bullpen coach Juan Zabala, development associate Tyler DeJonh, performance coach Jake Taylor, head athletic trainer Ikou Kato and athletic trainer Dylan Correa.

Manager: Eric Wedge
Bench coach: Johan Garcia
Hitting coach: Blake Gailen
Outfield/baserunning coach: Braelin Hence
Pitching coach: Durin O’Linger
Pitching coach: Ramon Troncoso
Coach/bullpen catcher: Juan Zabala
Development associate: Tyler DeJong
Performance coach: Jake Taylor
Head athletic trainer: Ikuo Kato
Athletic trainer: Dylan Co

Who is Coaching the Great Lakes Loons in High-A?

Jair Fernandez is leading the Loons for the third consecutive season in High-A, with returning staff in head athletic trainer Akinori Maeda and hitting coach Kevin LaChance. Otherwise, though, the Loons have replaced plenty of staff.

Marco Hernandez takes over as their bench coach, Michael Hermosillo is their outfield and base running coach, Brandon Bailey and Richard De Los Santos fill in as pitching coaches, Jose Capellan is their new bullpen coach, Kupono Decker is their new development associate, Walter Lindo takes over as performance coach and Alfredo Casillas is their new athletic trainer.

Manager: Jair Fernandez
Bench coach: Marco Hernandez
Hitting coach: Kevin LaChance
Outfield/baserunning coach: Michael Hermosillo
Pitching coach: Brandon Bailey
Pitching coach: Richard De Los Santos
Coach/bullpen catcher: Jose Capellan
Development associate: Kupono Decker
Performance coach: Walter Lindo
Head athletic trainer: Akinori Maeda
Athletic trainer: Alfredo Casillas

Who is Coaching the Ontario Tower Buzzers in Class-A?

The Tower Buzzers are a new team taking Class-A away from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, but their skipper stays the same. John Shoemaker had long been with the Dodgers’ organization, and has managed Class-A since 2021.

Also on the staff in Class-A is bench coach Dunior Zerpa, hitting coach Johermyn Chavez, outfield and baserunning coach Jeremy Gaines, pitching coaches Sean Coyne and Luis Vasquez, bullpen coach Ezra Lacina, development associate Michael Charters, performance coach Jose Gutierrez, head athletic trainer Zoe Tammen and athletic trainer Nate Gilmore.

Manager: John Shoemaker
Bench coach: Dunior Zerpa
Hitting coach: Johermyn Chavez
Outfield/baserunning coach: Jeremy Gaines
Pitching coach: Sean Coyne
Pitching coach: Luis Vasquez
Coach/bullpen catcher: Ezra Lacina
Development associate: Michael Charters
Performance coach: Jose Gutierrez
Head athletic trainer: Zoe Tammen
Athletic trainer: Nate Gilmore

Who is Coaching the Arizona Complex League Dodgers?

Ishibashi is the lone new manager on the list, but he has long been with the Dodgers. He began playing in L.A.’s minor league system in 2008, but transitioned to a different role in 2011 as an interpreter. He began coaching for the AZL Dodgers in 2014, and served as a coach in the ACL from 2021-24.

Manager: Fumi Ishibashi
Bench coach: Cordell Hipolito
Hitting coach: Zach Reks
Hitting coach: Juan Diaz
Infield coach: Audy Ciriaco
Outfield/baserunning coach: Danny Dorn
Pitching coach: Andres Urbina
Pitching coach: Eduardo Dominguez
Coach/bullpen catcher: Umar Male
Coach/bullpen catcher: Anthony Mulrine
Development associate: Max DeLorme
Development associate: Ben Kim
Performance coordinator: Goldy Simmons
Performance coach: Gage Crosgrove
Athletic trainer: Quinn McDonald

Who is Coaching the Dominican Summer League Dodgers?

The Dodgers have two teams in the Dominican Summer League, meaning there are two managers for their teams.

Sergio Mendez is also entering his second season as a manager in the DSL, and Leury Bonilla is entering his third.

Manager: Leury Bonilla
Manager: Sergio Mendez
Hitting coach: Victor Sosa
Hitting coach: Andre Ruche
Hitting coach: Audy Ciriaco
Assistant coach: Jaffe Garcia
Bench coach: Jeremy Gaines
Bench coach: Wladimir Chalo
Infield coach: Ryan Whithorn
Assistant infield coach: Yerdel Vargas
Campo Las Palmas advisor: Antonio Bautista
Pitching coach: Raidel Chacon
Pitching coach: Roberto Giron
Pitching coach: Jesus Canizales
Pitching coach: Hector Rodriguez
Assistant pitching coach: Jose Rodulfo
Latin America medical coordinator: Jorge Gonzalez
Athletic trainer: Nathanael Gilmore
Physiotherapist: Walter LaChapel
Performance coach: Rafa Sepulveda
Performance coach: Rafael Figuera
Performance coach: George Drullard
Assistant performance coach: Andy Espinosa
Nutrition coordinator: Julissa Gomez
Development associate: Jose Ledesma
Development associate: Jackson Roah

Half-time | CAF Champions League: JSK make Al Ahly tremble

Half-time | CAF Champions League: JSK make Al Ahly tremble
Half-time | CAF Champions League: JSK make Al Ahly tremble

CAF Champions League / JSK - Al Ahly: the post saves the Egyptians!

CAF Champions League: JSK make Al Ahly tremble

JS Kabylie and Al Ahly were deadlocked at halftime (0-0) this Saturday evening at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, in a clash where the Canaries displayed an assertive, attacking spirit. Driven by their home crowd, JSK set a relentless pace, putting the Egyptian giants under intense pressure from the opening minutes.

The best chance of the first half came in the 20th minute, when Mahious nearly broke the deadlock, but his effort struck the post, leaving the entire stadium holding its breath. Despite JSK’s clear dominance, Al Ahly managed to withstand the siege thanks to disciplined defensive organization and calm game management during their weaker spells.

Another key moment: Trezeguet, the top scorer of this 2025-2026 CAF Champions League campaign, collapsed on the pitch and had to be substituted due to injury. A potential blow for the Egyptians, while JSK remain very much alive in the contest.

Revisiting the Bears 2025 Draft: Second Round Pick 39

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Luther Burden III #10 of the Chicago Bears takes the field prior to the NFC Divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We all know it takes more than a single season to accurately assess the success of any draft class. Our own Josh Sunderbruch does a phenomenal job of explaining why this is and looking back at a more reasonable benchmark. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a moment to look back and see how the early returns are looking, and if any selection would have been better spent elsewhere. What better class to assess than one of the more impactful ones we have seen in Chicago for some time? In this series, I will go through each pick in each round and assign what I believe to be the best pick, worst pick and players that could have been selected instead.

Round 2 – Pick 39

Luther Burden III

With DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus already on the roster, nobody expected the Bears to select a WR in the first two days of the draft. But then the former Missouri Tiger fell into their laps at pick 39 and Bears’ GM Ryan Poles pounced. Like the Loveland pick, Burden III may have felt like a luxury pick, but before the end of the season, both appeared to be a cornerstone of the Bears’ offense. Displaying sticky hands and electric playmaking ability after the catch, not only did Burden III post the highest catch percentage on the entire team (78.3) but he also had the longest yards per target (10.9), long catch (65 yards pictured here against Dallas) and led the team in receiving yards in four games including three of the final five of the season.

I was a huge fan of the pick and even more of a fan in retrospect. Seeing him play with the explosiveness he displayed while also having an edge to him endeared him to Bears fans all over. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and loves his teammates. I predict he will lead the team in receiving yards sooner than later and go down in the record books as an all time Bear great. Much like his rookie counterpart, Colston Loveland.


Other Potential Options:

Alfred Collins, DT – San Francisco 49ers pick 43

  • 1 start, 1 sack, 17 tackles, 1 TFL and 4 QBH

JT Tuimoloau, EDGE – Indianapolis Colts pick 45

  • 0 starts, 0 sacks, 17 tackles, 1 TFL and 6 QBH

Aireontae Ersery, LT – Houston Texans pick 48

  • 16 starts, 8 sacks allowed with 11 penalties in 1,082 snaps (664 passing)

Nic Scourton, EDGE – Carolina Panthers pick 51

  • 8 starts, 5 sacks, 47 tackles, 7 TFL and 9 QBH

What about you? Was Burden III the best pick at 39 in your opinion as well? Sound off in the comments!


Revisiting the #Bears 2025 draft class now with pick 39 overall. Which player would you have preferred for #DaBears ?

— Bears Over Bry (@BryanOrenchuk) February 6, 2026

Cowboys fans are emphatic in their Super Bowl prediction between the Seahawks and Patriots

Earlier this week, we asked for you thoughts on who would win the upcoming Super Bowl. Would it be the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots? The results weren’t even close. It was one of the more lopsided polls we’ve ever had here at Blogging The Boys.

The emphatic choice was the Seahawks by an 88% to 12% margin. That lines up with what the betting experts say. At this moment FanDuel has the Seahawks as 4.5 point favorites over the Patriots.

Was this some NFC-homer bias? Maybe some love for DeMarcus Lawrence? Or just plain ol’ football analysis where the Seahawks seem like the superior team heading into the big game?

Hit the comments and tell why the Seahawks will win. Also, what’s your prediction on DeMarcus Lawrence’s game? Gives us his tackles, sacks, splash play (strip sack, fumble recovery etc.) line.

Visit FanDuel for any last minute Super Bowl bets you want to place.

📝No Cardozo: Atlético Madrid announce squad for Betis clash

📝No Cardozo: Atlético Madrid announce squad for Betis clash

This Sunday, Real Betis returns to the capital to face Atlético de Madrid in Matchday 23 of LaLiga EA Sports. The Verdiblancos arrive with "pent-up anger" after the recent thrashing they suffered against Los Colchoneros in the Copa del Rey, seeking revenge that would allow them to consolidate their fifth place in the table and close the gap with the Champions League spots.

Rotations and absences in Pellegrini's lineup

Manuel Pellegrini is forced to "shake things up" due to fatigue and an overcrowded infirmary. Betis will be without key players such as Isco, Lo Celso, and Chimy Ávila. The main novelty will be the starting debut of the recently signed Álvaro Fidalgo, who will take on the playmaker role after the Rosario midfielder was dropped from the European squad list. In goal, Valles is expected to return, while the young academy player Rodrigo Marina emerges as an alternative up front given the offensive absences.


Atlético, between LaLiga and the Cup

For their part, Diego Simeone's team, currently third with 45 points, is looking to recapture the brilliance shown in the cup tournament. However, "Cholo" is also managing physical loads with an eye on the semifinals against Barça. With the confirmed absence of Pablo Barrios, the Argentine coach will freshen up the starting eleven with the return of Giménez in defense and Julián Álvarez leading the attack in place of Griezmann. It will be a real test for both sides before European competitions resume in March.

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

Olympic mixed doubles curling standings: Updated results, schedule for 2026 Winter Games

Olympic mixed doubles curling standings: Updated results, schedule for 2026 Winter Games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony is set for Friday, February 6, but the action isn't waiting until then to begin. 

The mixed doubles curling event begins early, with the first draw set for Wednesday, February 4 at 1:05 p.m. ET. This year's Olympic competition will see teams from ten countries play in a round robin tournament leading up to the semifinals, the bronze medal game, and the all-important gold medal game for this event. 

Team Italy's Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner are the reigning mixed doubles Olympic champions, but they are not the only team to keep an eye on in the field. Four of the last five mixed doubles champions will be competing in this tournament, and nine of the 20 participants have won Olympic medals of some form in the past. This is helping this event to shape up as one of the more competitive curling competitions on this grand of a stage in recent memory. 

Here is an updated look at the Olympic mixed doubles curling standings at the 2026 Winter Games.

MORE: Full 2026 Winter Olympics schedule

Olympic mixed doubles curling standings 2026

Here are the mixed doubles curling standings at the 2026 Winter Games. 

TeamGames PlayedWinsLosses
Great Britain770
Italy642
United States642
Sweden743
Canada633
Switzerland633
Estonia624
Norway624
Czechia615
South Korea615

MORE: Latest on Lindsey Vonn after Olympic tune-up crash

Olympic mixed doubles curling schedule and results

Here is a look at the mixed doubles curling schedule for the 2026 Winter Games. This section will be updated as results come in.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Canada 10, Czechia 5Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Switzerland 9, Estonia 7Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 8, Norway 6Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Sweden 10, South Korea 3Peacock

Thursday, Feb. 5

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 10, Estonia 5Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 8, Norway 6Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy 8, South Korea 4Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Sweden 7, Czechia 4Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 7, Switzerland 4USA, Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Canada 6, Norway 3Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Canada 7, Italy 2USA, Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Switzerland 8, South Korea 5Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Estonia 7, Sweden 5Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 8, Czechia 7Peacock

Friday, Feb. 6

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 7 vs. Canada 5Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 7 vs. Sweden 4Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy 12 vs. Switzerland 4Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 8 vs. Czechia 1Peacock, USA (8:55 a.m.)
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy 7, Estonia 4Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 8, South Korea 2Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Norway 9, Sweden 0Peacock

Saturday, Feb. 7

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 7, Canada 5USA, Peacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Sweden 13, Switzerland 7Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 6, USA 4Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Czechia 9, South Korea 4Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Norway 6, Estonia 5Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Sweden 9, Italy 4Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: South Korea 6, United States 5Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Estonia 8, Canada 6Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Switzerland 10, Czechia 3Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy 6, Norway 5Peacock

Sunday, Feb. 8

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Norway vs. CzechiaPeacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: South Korea vs. EstoniaPeacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. EstoniaUSA, Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Canada vs. SwedenPeacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain vs. SwitzerlandPeacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy vs. CzechiaPeacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. SwedenPeacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Canada vs. South KoreaPeacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Italy vs. Great BritainPeacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Switzerland vs. NorwayPeacock

Monday, Feb. 9

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. ItalyPeacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Czechia vs. EstoniaPeacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Norway vs. South KoreaPeacock
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Switzerland vs. CanadaPeacock
12:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles SemifinalsPeacock

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Bronze medal gamePeacock, USA (9 a.m.)
12 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Gold medal gameUSA, Peacock

How does Olympic curling work?

Every team will play each other in a round-robin tournament that runs from February 4 to the final draw on February 9. The top four teams after the round-robin tournament will advance to the semifinals. If there are any tiebreakers, they are determined first by head-to-head results among the tied teams.

This should resolve issues, but if not, the tiebreaker will go to a Draw Shot Challenge. The team with the lowest total DSC distance (best average distance of their pre-gram draw shots) wins the tiebreaker. 

How to watch 2026 Olympics curling

  • Dates: February 4 to February 10
  • TV channel: USA Network, CNBC 
  • Live stream: Peacock, NBC Olympics

The 2026 Winter Games mixed doubles curling event will get underway on Wednesday, February 4. The event will run until Tuesday, February 10, with the bronze and gold medal games. 

The mixed doubles draws will be available either on TV or streaming. The schedule varies by day, and you can find the schedule with how to watch each specific day on NBCOlympics.com. Mainly, the mixed doubles matches, if televised, will air on USA Network or CNBC. All of the matches are scheduled to be live-streamed on Peacock

Newcastle 2 Brentford 3: Ouattara strikes late as Bees stun Magpies at St James’ Park

Newcastle 2 Brentford 3: Ouattara strikes late as Bees stun Magpies at St James’ Park
Newcastle 2 Brentford 3: Ouattara strikes late as Bees stun Magpies at St James’ Park

Dango Ouattara’s late goal earned Brentford a dramatic 3-2 victory at Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Bees responded superbly after falling behind to a Magpies corner midway through the first half. Vitaly Janelt’s towering header levelled the contest before Igor Thiago kept his nerve from the penalty spot, calmly rolling home to give the west Londoners’ the lead at the interval.

The second half delivered another twist as Newcastle were awarded a spot-kick of their own, which was converted by Bruno Guimarães.

But just as the hosts sensed a winner, Brentford struck decisively. A pinpoint pass from Mathias Jensen found Ouattara, who drove low through Nick Pope’s legs to settle a breathless encounter on Tyneside.

Head coach Keith Andrews made one enforced change to Brentford’s starting XI.

Kevin Schade missed out through suspension after being shown a straight red card in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa the previous weekend. Keane Lewis-Potter replaced the German, starting on the left of a front three alongside Igor Thiago and Dango Ouattara.

Reiss Nelson and January signing Kaye Furo returned to the bench.

The match began with a moment of controversy. With 95 seconds on the clock, Botman’s poor defensive header was seized upon by Lewis-Potter.

The former Hull City man was pulled down in the box by Kieran Trippier as he looked to advance towards goal, but referee Andrew Madley allowed play to continue. VAR upheld the on-field decision of no penalty.

Newcastle broke straight up the other end, Harvey Barnes curling a long-range effort narrowly wide of Caoimhín Kelleher’s left post.

On 14 minutes, Kelleher punched Guimarães’s corner only as far as Jacob Murphy. The forward sent the ball back into a crowded six-yard box and Barnes went close with an instinctive flick.

Newcastle again surrendered possession in their own third, allowing Jensen to line up a shot, but his strike was tame and comfortably held by Pope.

The Magpies took the lead midway through the half. Guimarães whipped in a corner and Sven Botman headed down into the turf and up into the roof of the net.

Ouattara’s deflected cross was pushed to safety by Pope as the Bees went in search of an immediate equaliser.

Barnes’ cut-back ricocheted off Rico Henry and Yoane Wissa’s poked effort was cleared off the line by Janelt. Sandro Tonali then scuffed a shot over the crossbar following another Guimarães corner.

Brentford turned the game around before the break. On his 100th Premier League appearance, Ouattara drove up the left flank and swung a glorious cross into the box. Janelt rose highest, beating Botman in the air and heading back across goal and into the far corner.

The Bees’ second goal came from the penalty spot. After some superb work from Ouattara, Jensen’s strike from the middle of the box was handled by Murphy and Madley awarded a spot-kick.

Undeterred by a lengthy VAR check, Thiago rolled the ball into the bottom corner after a slow, stuttering run-up, sending Pope the wrong way in the process.

Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga were introduced by Eddie Howe at the start of the second half, the former partnering Wissa up front. Murphy and Joe Willock were the pair to make way.

On 54 minutes, Trippier combined with Elanga down the right and the full-back’s deep cross was headed wide by Barnes.

Kristoffer Ajer then stole possession from Wissa on the edge of Brentford’s box. Janelt charged forward and slid a pass to Lewis-Potter on his right, but his shot was blocked by Lewis Hall.

Centre-back Malick Thiaw strode forward and let fly from the edge of the area, forcing Kelleher into an impressive save to his right. The resulting corner, taken by Guimarães, was nodded off target Botman.

William Osula, brought on to replace Wissa, led a Newcastle counter-attack and released Elanga on the left. The forward’s low cross narrowly evaded Guimarães in the middle, who went down under pressure from Michael Kayode.

VAR recommended a review, and after watching the incident back on the monitor, Madley gave the Magpies a penalty. Guimarães scored from the spot to set up a dramatic end to the game.

With the momentum having swung Newcastle’s way, there was a sense inside St James’ Park that the hosts would snatch a late winner - but Andrews’ side had other ideas.

Jensen lifted a superb ball to Ouattara inside the penalty area, and the forward drove hard and low through Pope’s legs and into the back of the net.

Thiaw had the hosts’ only attempt during nine minutes of stoppage-time, the defender diverting Elanga’s low cross wide, as Brentford stood firm to secure a first win at St James’ Park since 1934.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier (Burn 87), Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali (Ramsey 87), Willock (Elanga HT); J Murphy (Woltemade HT), Wissa (Osula 65), Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, A Murphy, Shahar, Neave

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Henderson (Yarmoliuk 56), Janelt, Jensen (Damsgaard 87); Ouattara, Thiago, Lewis-Potter (Donovan 80)

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Nelson, Collins, Furo

Attendance: 52,032

Glenavon's loss to Reds 'a hard watch' - O'Connor

Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor says his side "were too sloppy" during their 2-1 defeat by Cliftonville in the sixth round of the Irish Cup.

The Lurgan Blues opened the scoring through Luke McGerrigan's shot from the edge of the box before Joe Gormley levelled the game just after the hour mark.

Despite the home side being reduced to 10 men when Sean Robertson was shown a second yellow, the Reds booked their spot in the quarter-finals through the last kick of the game thanks to a superb strike from Jonny Addis.

"I thought we started brightly, played the ball quick and created some decent chances," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.

"I think them going down to 10 men changed the game. We were too sloppy and we had an arrogance about us that we could go pass the ball with no end product. We didn't move the ball quickly enough and gave away silly free-kicks.

"It was a great strike from Addis, but we shouldn't be putting ourselves in that situation. It was hard to watch, it was too slow and it wasn't good enough, unacceptable."

The Lurgan Blues' attention now returns to the league with the side sitting nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.

O'Connor's side won their last Premiership match but face Carrick Rangers next, who are on an impressive run and have won their last five league games.

"They have been brilliant," O'Connor said when asked about Tuesday's opponents.

"They have a real threat going forward, experience in the team and every time you go to Carrick you know you have to roll the sleeves up.

"We have to treat every game going forward as cup finals and a six pointer."

Dortmund win to cut Bayern lead to three, Thioune loses Bremen debut

Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck celebrates with Serhou Guirassy (R) after the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck celebrates with Serhou Guirassy (R) after the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa

Serhou Guirassy's late goal gave Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win at Wolfsburg on Saturday and cut the gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to three points in a revived title race.

The defending champions' advantage was as much as 11 points but Bayern, who host third-placed Hoffenheim on Sunday, have lost and drawn their last two games to open the door.

Dortmund have won five league games in a row after Julian Brandt opened the scoring by heading in Julian Ryerson's corner at the near post. Konstantinos Koulierakis nodded in a free-kick to equalize but Guirassy struck on 87 minutes to put the pressure on Bayern.

"We played well in the first half but the second half was weak and we deserved to be pegged back," Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck told Sky.

"We suffered and made a lot of mistakes. But we luckily only conceded once and that was important because the lads up front are always a threat."

Maxi Beier also hit the bar via a deflection for Dortmund. Fourth-bottom Wolfsburg struck the woodwork too and could easily have snatched a win before neat play from Felix Nmecha and Fabio Silva set up Guinea's Guirassy for his ninth league goal this term.

New Werder Bremen coach Daniel Thioune lost his first ever Bundesliga game after Niklas Beste bent in his first league goal for Freiburg in a 1-0 home victory.

The hosts held on despite having Johan Manzambi sent off for a studs-up tackle on 52 minutes and even had a second goal ruled out for a foul.

'Don't have the confidence'

Thioune, a former SV Hamburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf boss, took over from the sacked Horst Steffen on Wednesday but Bremen have slipped to the relegation play-off spot having now not won in 11 games.

"The effort was there, but the consistency was lacking," Thioune said. "At the moment, we don't have the confidence we need to get more out of the likes of Freiburg. But we can build on the last two days of training because the team has shown willing."

Heidenheim stay rock bottom after a 2-0 home loss to Hamburg, whose city rivals St Pauli won 2-1 against fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart to stay second-bottom - but just two points behind Bremen and Wolfsburg.

It was Stuttgart's first league defeat in eight games and St Pauli's maiden win this year.

Previous strugglers Mainz are up to 14th after a 2-0 home victory over Augsburg following two penalties from Nadiem Amiri.

Borussia Mönchengladbach are a point above them after a 1-1 draw with fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen in the late game at Borussia Park.

The home side took a deserved lead through Yannik Engelhardt before Philipp Sander's own goal pulled inconsistent Leverkusen level at the break.

Kasper Hjulmand's side trail Stuttgart by three points in the race for the final Champions League berth but have a game in hand.

RB Leipzig, in sixth and on the same points as Leverkusen, go to mid-table Cologne on Sunday.

Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen at Borussia-Park Stadium. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen at Borussia-Park Stadium. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
Hamburger's Rayan Philippe (R) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Damion Downs during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Hamburger's Rayan Philippe (R) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Damion Downs during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Wolfsburg players celebrate their side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
Wolfsburg players celebrate their side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
St. Pauli's Danel Sinani (C) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
St. Pauli's Danel Sinani (C) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
St. Pauli's Danel Sinani (L) scores his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
St. Pauli's Danel Sinani (L) scores his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
Hamburger's Ransford Koenigsdoerffer celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Hamburger's Ransford Koenigsdoerffer celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Hamburger's Ransford Koenigsdoerffer (L) scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Hamburger's Ransford Koenigsdoerffer (L) scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at Voith Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt (2nd L) celebrate scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt (2nd L) celebrate scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlied/dpa
St. Pauli's Manolis Saliakas celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
St. Pauli's Manolis Saliakas celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
Freiburg's Jan-Niklas Beste (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates Vincenzo Grifo (L) and Igor Matanovic during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen at Europa-Park Stadium. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Freiburg's Jan-Niklas Beste (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates Vincenzo Grifo (L) and Igor Matanovic during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen at Europa-Park Stadium. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Freiburg's Jan-Niklas Beste (C) scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen at Europa-Park Stadium. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Freiburg's Jan-Niklas Beste (C) scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen at Europa-Park Stadium. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa

Speed skater Lollobrigida wins first gold for hosts Italy at Olympics

(R-L) Canada's third placed Valerie Maltais, takes a selfie with Norway's silver medalist Ragne Wiklund (L) and Italy's winner Francesca Lollobrigida, following the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Nathan Denette/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
(R-L) Canada's third placed Valerie Maltais, takes a selfie with Norway's silver medalist Ragne Wiklund (L) and Italy's winner Francesca Lollobrigida, following the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Nathan Denette/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa

Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won the first gold medal for hosts Italy at the 2026 Winter Games, setting a new Olympic record of 3 minutes 54.28 seconds in the women's 3,000 metres on Saturday.

The Italian, who was celebrating her 35th birthday, delighted the home crowd with the biggest success of her career after 3,000 metres silver and mass start bronze at Beijing 2022.

"It's the perfect day. It's incredible because we are in Italy, the Olympics are in Italy, it's the dream of my dreams," she said.

"The message I wanted to show is that I didn't choose between skating and being a mum. I stopped after my (silver) medal in Beijing (2022), I was on the top of the world. I am really proud of myself that I came back (after giving birth)."

Lollobrigida celebrated her win with her family, including her husband and their son Tommaso.

Norway's Ragne Wiklund was 2.26 seconds behind to claim silver, while Valérie Maltais of Canada took bronze.

Wiklund said: "Going into these championships, and since the last Olympics, I’ve been winning the overall long-distance World Cup every year. I deserve to be on the podium, and to go home with a little souvenir is really nice."

Ahead of her run, Lollobrigida was caught in a very relaxed moment, singing along with the fans to the famous Italian song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" ("In the blue, painted blue") by Domenico Modugno, popularly known as "Volare" ("To fly").

While she didn't fly, she was fast enough to beat Maltais in their pairs run by a comfortable 2.65 seconds.

Wiklund came out on top in her run against Dutch Marijke Groenewoud but failed to close the gap to Lollobrigida.

The Italian could only watch as 2022 bronze winner Isabelle Weidemann of Canada took to the track against Dutch skater Joy Beune. But Lollobrigida started tearing up before the final lap, as it became clear that her time wouldn't be beaten.

There was heartbreak for Olympic champion and world record holder Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic as she was forced to withdraw from competition just a few hours before the race.

"Words can't express how painful it is for me to announce that I won't be starting the 3km race today. It is the hardest sporting decision of my life. I feel a huge sense of helplessness and disappointment. I am so sorry to everyone," she wrote on Instagram.

According to media reports, Sablikova had a fever and breathing difficulties, but that wasn't confirmed by the athlete.

Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida celebrates her gold medal after winning the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gian Mattia D'alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida celebrates her gold medal after winning the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gian Mattia D'alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida celebrates winning the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gian Mattia D'alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida celebrates winning the women's 3,000-meter speed skating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gian Mattia D'alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

Finland's ice hockey women shrug off norovirus but lose 5-0 to US

US players celebrate their side's fourth goal during the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva/dpa
US players celebrate their side's fourth goal during the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva/dpa

Finland's women finally took the ice on Saturday in a 5-0 loss to the United States after having their first Olympic game postponed due to a norovirus outbreak.

Thursday's group clash with Canada was put back by a week after the Finns did not have enough fit players due to the stomach bug.

Hilary Knight scored to tie the US Olympic women's goal record at 14 in her fifth Olympics.

The Group A game was watched by US Vice President JD Vance, who was also at Friday's opening ceremony.

US players celebrate their side's second goal during the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva/dpa
US players celebrate their side's second goal during the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva/dpa
US boxer and influencer Jake Paul (L) and US Vice President JD Vance attend the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen//dpa
US boxer and influencer Jake Paul (L) and US Vice President JD Vance attend the women's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between USA and Finland at the Milano Rho Arena, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Emmi Korhonen//dpa

Blessin hails “top performance” in crucial Stuttgart victory

Blessin hails “top performance” in crucial Stuttgart victory
Blessin hails “top performance” in crucial Stuttgart victory

Goals from Manolis Saliakas and Daniel Sinani either side of half-time put the Kiezkickers firmly in control at the Millerntor-Stadion. Although Jamie Leweling’s 90th-minute strike set up a nervy finale, Alexander Blessin’s side were good value for their victory - their first in seven matches.

Blessin was visibly delighted when speaking after the final whistle, praising both the performance and the patience his team showed.

“We’re very happy that we’ve finally got our just reward again for a good performance,” the head coach said. “We started well and the first half was really strong. Not only defensively, but also with the ball - we had good passing phases and probing moves. We also didn’t allow Stuttgart many chances.”

Captain Jackson Irvine echoed his head coach’s sentiments, highlighting the collective effort in difficult circumstances.

“I’m extremely happy. It was a top performance, especially in the first half,” Irvine said. “We were bold and aggressive, won the ball in the right areas, and everyone who played today was impressive - especially considering the week we’ve had with injuries. We were very dangerous in transition and handled the Stuttgart press well. It was perhaps one of the toughest games of my career.”

Goalscorer Manolis Saliakas underlined the importance of the result in the broader context of the season.

“It was a very important win for us,” he said. “We deserved the three points because we played very well. I want to congratulate all my teammates - we showed great character and the right mindset. We’re back fighting to stay in this league. If we believe in ourselves, we’ll stay up. This win gives us a big boost for the rest of the season. Scoring is great, but the most important thing is that the team won.”

The victory moves St. Pauli to within touching distance of safety, now just two points off the survival places ahead of a daunting trip to Leverkusen next weekend.

Jonathan Kuminga was reportedly 'shocked' by blockbuster trade to Hawks

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga

Jonathan Kuminga was reportedly 'shocked' by blockbuster trade to Hawks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jonathan Kuminga’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors finally came to an end on Wednesday night. 

The seven-time NBA champions traded Kuminga, along with Buddy Hield, to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis in a move that’s received mixed reviews. 

According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson, the Warriors' decision to trade Kuminga to the Hawks was shocking to the 6-foot-7 NBA champion. 

“As for the Jonathan Kuminga side of last night's trade, sources say he was ‘shocked’ to be sent to the Atlanta Hawks,” Johnson wrote on X/Twitter shortly after the trade.

“The Hawks aren't a team that his camp kept contact with and Atlanta was an ‘out of left field’ destination. Fresh start feels good for both sides.” 

The Sacramento Kings were deemed an ideal landing spot for Kuminga since the start of the 2025 offseason. After all, multiple reports indicated that the Sacramento Kings had expressed interest in the former lottery pick on the trade market. 

Obviously, the two sides were unable to reach a deal that worked for everyone, forcing the Warriors to go in a different direction. With the Hawks, Kuminga should get an opportunity to showcase his skill set in an expanded offensive role on a rebuilding Eastern Conference squad. 

Kuminga averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with the Warriors this season, shooting 45.4% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc. 

Parting ways with Kuminga is one of the wisest things the Warriors could do before this year’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

More NBAWarriors urged to acquire 6-foot-5 ex-Bucks NBA champion guard via buyout

USA Olympic curling results 2026: Updated scores for men's, women's and mixed doubles

USA Olympic curling results 2026: Updated scores for men's, women's and mixed doubles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Team USA will be well represented in the 2026 Olympics, with teams competing in several high-profile events. One of the fan favorites from the Winter Games is curling. 

Team USA earned a berth in the men's and women's tournaments by winning an Olympic qualification event. The United States has won only two curling medals in its history. The men's team won the gold medal at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, while the women's team in Turin in 2006 took home the bronze. 

The United States is still looking for its first-ever medal in women's curling and in mixed doubles. This year, Team USA has a team competing in all three events in the sport, giving them their best chance in years at competing for the gold medal. 

Here are the latest results and updated scores for Team USA's men's, women's, and mixed doubles curling teams at the 2026 Winter Games. 

MORE: Full Olympic event schedule at the 2026 Winter Games

USA Olympic curling results 2026

Mixed doubles

Thursday, Feb. 5

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 8, Norway 6Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 7, Switzerland 4USA, Peacock

Friday, Feb. 6

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 7, Canada 5Peacock
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA 8, Czechia 1Peacock, USA (8:55 a.m.)

Saturday, Feb. 7

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Great Britain 6, United States 4Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: South Korea 6, United States 5Peacock

Sunday, Feb. 8

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:35 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. EstoniaUSA, Peacock
1:05 p.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. SwedenPeacock

Monday, Feb. 9

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
4:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: USA vs. ItalyPeacock

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Mixed Doubles: Bronze medal gamePeacock, USA (9 a.m.)
12 p.m.Mixed Doubles: Gold medal gameUSA, Peacock

Men

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. CzechiaPeacock

Thursday, Feb. 12

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. SwitzerlandPeacock

Friday, Feb. 13

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
3:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. CanadaUSA, Peacock

Saturday, Feb. 14

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. GermanyPeacock

Sunday, Feb. 15

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
3:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. SwedenPeacock
1:05 p.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. NorwayPeacock

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
3:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. ChinaPeacock
1:05 p.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. ItalyPeacock

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Men's Round-Robin: USA vs. Great BritainPeacock

Thursday, Feb. 19

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Men's Semifinal 1Peacock
1:05 p.m.Men's Semifinal 2Peacock

Friday, Feb. 20

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Men's Bronze Medal GamePeacock

Saturday, Feb. 21

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Men's Gold Medal GameCNBC, Peacock

Women

Thursday, Feb. 12

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
3:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. South KoreaPeacock
1:05 p.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. SwedenPeacock

Friday, Feb. 13

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. CanadaPeacock

Saturday, Feb. 14

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. JapanPeacock

Sunday, Feb. 15

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. ChinaPeacock, CNBC (8:30 a.m.)

Monday, Feb. 16

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
1:05 p.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. ItalyPeacock

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. DenmarkPeacock

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
3:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. Great BritainPeacock

Thursday, Feb. 19

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Round-Robin: USA vs. SwitzerlandPeacock

Friday, Feb. 20

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Semifinal 1Peacock
8:05 a.m.Women's Semifinal 2Peacock

Saturday, Feb. 21

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:05 a.m.Women's Bronze Medal GamePeacock

Sunday, Feb. 22

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
5:05 a.m.Women's Gold Medal GamePeacock

MORE: Latest updates on Lindsey Vonn after Olympic tune-up crash

Who is on the USA's Olympic curling team?

Here is who will be representing the United States in curling at the 2026 Winter Games.

Mixed doubles

  • Cory Thiesse
  • Korey Dropkin

Men

  • Daniel Casper
  • Luc Violette
  • Ben Richardson
  • Aidan Oldenburg
  • Rich Ruohonen

Women

  • Tabitha Peterson
  • Cory Thiesse
  • Tara Peterson
  • Taylor Anderson-Heide
  • Aileen Geving

How to watch Olympic curling in USA

  • TV channel: USA Network, CNBC
  • Live stream: Peacock

TEAM USA's curling events will all be live-streamed on Peacock. Some of the events will be televised, and if they are, will air on the USA Network or CNBC. NBC Olympics has the full curling schedule and you can filter events by TV only or TV and streaming. 

Five teams that should trade for T.J. Watt

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 12: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a sack against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been at a crossroads for some time now, but have managed to stay there without making a real decision on what direction for the better part of three years. They went from being one of the worst offenses in the NFL but still winning games against lesser oppoents of the strength of their defense to that same defense growing older and performing worse despite being the most expensive unit in the NFL.

With that said, there should be major changes made to the defense now that Mike Tomlin is no longer the head coach and a new era is being ushered in. One of those moves (albeit two years after it should have happened) would be to trade T.J. Watt.

The five-time All-Pro has just 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons after putting up 19 in 2023. Of course, age takes its toll on everyone, but the Steelers need to get something in exchange for him while they still can, and multiple suitors would likely throw their respective hats in the ring – specifically these five.

Washington Commanders

Pittsburgh would likely prefer to trade Watt to an NFC team, and Washington would be one of my top squads to watch should a move actually be made. They have no pass rushers that strike any sort of fear into offenses, and they could do with extra draft picks.

While the price for Watt has been labeled as a second-round pick by Ray Fittipaldo, the Steelers packaging Watt with the No. 21 pick and one of their Day Three picks to move up to No. 7 in the draft would make the most sense for both teams, especially because the Commanders don’t have a second-round pick in this year’s draft. Should a move happen post-draft, i.e. the George Pickens trade, then a 2027 second-round pick would do just fine.

San Francisco 49ers

It feels like an unfortunate yearly occurrence that the 49ers get beaten to death with injuries, and 2025 was no different. They lost both Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to season-ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball. And while they made it to the divisional round, they were completely outmatched by the Seattle Seahawks in a 41-6 loss. There are only so many cracks that this group will have at getting to the Super Bowl, and forming a duo of two former Defensive Player of the Year winners off the edge would certainly keep them near the top of the NFC.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills took a swing at an aging edge rusher back in 2022 when they signed Von Miller. It looked as if that was going to be a tremendous signing for about half a season before Miller tore his ACL on Thanksgiving that season. After another disappointing playoff loss that led to a head coaching change of their own, general manager Brandon Beane needs to get aggressive to get as much proven talent on the roster as possible. Putting Watt alongside Greg Rousseau with Michael Hoecht rotating in would give Buffalo a very nice trio.

Dallas Cowboys

We all know Jerry Jones would do it. And honestly, more power to him if he can turn Micah Parsons into Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, multiple first-round picks, and T.J. Watt. The Cowboys’ defense was a disaster in 2025. Landing Watt, along with another reliable edge rusher, would give them one of the best front fours in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers

If Watt were to go on the market, the Wisconsin native would almost certainly be on board with a trade to the Packers. Financially, the team would have to do some restructures to contracts to make it work, but we know those things can be done. A duo of Watt and Micah Parsons would also be pure chaos.

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

Jordan Shipley shares powerful update after terrifying burn accident

Jordan Shipley shares powerful update after terrifying burn accident originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One month after suffering a severe burn injury in a ranch accident, Jordan Shipley says his recovery has reached a place that once felt hard to imagine.

In an update shared on social media, Shipley said everything is now “closed up and healing well,” adding that he has not needed to return to the doctor and has begun easing back into normal routines. While the healing process is ongoing, Shipley said the progress has been meaningful.

“It’s an unbelievable answer to prayer to be at this point after the initial few days,” the former Texas Longhorns’ and NFL wide receiver wrote. He noted that his skin will take time to fully heal and that he will need to be cautious in the sun, but added, “I’m not in much of any pain and have been sleeping well.”

According to the Associated Press, Shipley was hospitalized last month after a piece of equipment caught fire while he was working on his ranch in Burnet, Texas. He was initially taken to a local hospital before being flown to a medical facility in Austin, where he was treated for severe burns. At the time, family members said he was in critical but stable condition.

More: LSU wide receiver makes history during pre NFL Draft grind

In his update, Shipley expressed gratitude to the medical team at Dell Seton Medical Center, calling them “incredible,” and praised his wife, Sunny, for supporting him through what he described as a difficult month. “This has not been an easy month for her, but she has been a rock star,” he wrote.

Shipley also thanked friends and family for their prayers and help, saying the support left him “totally blown away.”

More: Shedeur Sanders gives revealing interview ahead of Super Bowl

“Feeling very blessed and excited about what’s to come,” Shipley wrote. “Praise the Lord.”

More sports news: 

Team GB skeleton helmet appeal dismissed by Cas

Marcus Wyatt competing in skeleton at Beijing Olympics in 2022
The helmets worn by Team GB in Beijing in 2022 look different to the ones they had hoped to wear in Cortina [Getty Images]

The British skeleton team - among Team GB's best hopes for medals at the Winter Olympics - will not be able to wear their new helmets because they do not comply with the sport's rules around shape.

The British team had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Thursday to overturn the decision by the sport's governing body - the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).

But Cas say the helmet is a departure from the standard helmet shape and has clearly been designed to specifically enhance aerodynamic performance because the back of the helmet protrudes.

The British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA) stressed that the helmet was designed with safety in mind and to comply with new safety regulations due to be introduced by the IBSF at the start of the 2026-27 season.

Those rules are not in place at the Olympics but British skeleton have essentially tried to get ahead of the curve by designing and using their new helmet in Italy.

Instead they will wear the ones they wore during the last World Cup season.

A picture seen by BBC Sport shows that the helmet is pointed at the back - similar in appearance to a track cycling helmet.

Natalie Dunman, executive performance director at the BBSA, said: "Based on the strength of the case we put forward, naturally we are disappointed in [the] decision.

"However, this does not affect our final preparations and nor has the discourse affected the athletes' focus or optimism going into the Games.

"Our athletes have been winning medals all season, and throughout the Olympic cycle, in their current helmets and we remain in a strong position to continue that trend."

When asked about the helmet prior to the verdict, Team GB's skeleton racers said they had no preference on which helmet they used at the Olympics.

They arrive at the Games as heavy favourites to win medals with world champion and overall World Cup winner Matt Weston leading the charge for gold while compatriot Marcus Wyatt is also fancied to go well.

The British team wore the new helmets at a training session last week in Switzerland with the IBSF ruling them out on 29 January before the BBSA appealed against the ban on Thursday.

Official skeleton training in Cortina begins on Monday with the men's event beginning on 12 February, while the women's starts on 13 February and the team event is on 15 February.

'Could be just enough' - what difference does helmet make?

The helmet is the most important bit of kit both for safety and aerodynamics - how quickly the slider can travel down the track.

Doctor Bryce Dyer, a professor of sport technology at the University of Bournemouth, says that because skeleton is head first it is essential that the helmet is aerodynamic to cut through the air.

"The airflow over that section is really, really important," he said. "Any kind of gain they can make with the shape and the general performance of it, then obviously the higher the speed gap is going to achieve and therefore the better chances of the medal.

"The funny thing with aerodynamics is that the faster you go, the more resistance actually gets thrown against you. So you need the most aerodynamically efficient shape you can obtain."

It is here that the British team's case appears to have been decided, with Cas agreeing with the IBSF that the overall shape incorporates prohibited spoilers (attachments), protruding edges or aerodynamic elements.

"Even that [aerodynamic helmet] will only yield a very, very small increase in velocity. But that could be just enough," said Dyer.

With the margin between winning gold and going home empty handed "hundredths of a second", two-time world champion Weston knows that innovation in aerodynamics is key to the "minor gains" needed.

'All our success with the other helmet'

Great Britain's Matt Weston competes in the men's skeleton
Team GB will now wear the helmets they wore during the World Cup season [Getty Images]

While the BBSA say they are disappointed with the decision, the British team know they are in a strong position without the new helmets.

Between them, Weston and Wyatt have won all seven World Cup races this season while three women have qualified for the Olympics for the first time in British history.

When discussing the matter before the verdict was announced, Wyatt, Weston and women's skeleton rider Tabitha Stoecker all said they did not mind which helmet they wore at the Games.

"All of our success has been with the other helmet - for me this is the tiniest little thing in the background," Wyatt said.

"I'm not worried, whatever we end up wearing I think we're in with a great shout of bringing some medals home."

Three-time overall World Cup winner Weston added: "I have other things I can focus on and other things I'm working on to maximise my performance coming into the Olympics.

"If these new helmets get though then great it's an added bonus. But if not then we are in a pretty solid place."

Stoecker added: "We've been competing in our regular training helmets all year and having amazing results.

"With or without that [helmet] I think we all feel really confident in the team and in our abilities and what we're going to be able to lay down at the Games."

Liam Rosenior hails ‘unstoppable’ Cole Palmer following hat-trick

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior lauded Cole Palmer's "unstoppable" performance after his first-half hat-trick secured a 3-1 win over Wolves at Molineux.

The England international netted two penalties and a superb finish into the top corner. His ear-covering celebration was seen as a response to recent reports of him being unsettled in west London.

This marked the 23-year-old's third first-half treble for the club and his fourth overall in the Premier League, surpassing Chelsea legends Frank Lampard, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Didier Drogba.

Despite tactical adjustments, including Enzo Fernandez in an unfamiliar advanced left role, Rosenior – now with four league wins from four – wants more of the same from the former Manchester City forward.

“I don’t want him to change, that’s for sure,” he said. “We changed the system a little bit for the first time in the first half.

“Some of our passages of play, some of our football, was everything I wanted to see and he was a part of that.

“We know what a world-class player he is. He’s played a lot of football over the last year with not much rest. When he’s at his best, he’s unstoppable. I’m delighted to be working with him.”

Cole Palmer netted two penalties and a superb finish into the top corner (PA Wire)
Cole Palmer netted two penalties and a superb finish into the top corner (PA Wire)

Palmer’s hat-trick moved him beyond the 50-goal mark since making his £40million move from the Etihad in 2023 and seemed to herald a return to his free-scoring best.

It could not have come at a better moment for Rosenior, who has faced constant questioning over the player’s form, fitness and state of mind since arriving in January.

He has had his minutes carefully managed by the club since returning in November from a groin injury and is yet to enjoy a run of matches under the new manager.

“When he’s fully firing and feeling good he’s a magnificent footballer,” said Rosenior.

50 goals for Chelsea and counting. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/SjFcjmMSkj

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 7, 2026

“When you’re at this club with these demands and scrutiny, which I’m starting to learn myself, you have to block out the noise and remember what a good player you are.

“I love working with him. He loves being here. Hopefully now he can really enjoy his football between now and the end of the season.”

Wolves, who remain 18 points adrift of 17th place, were authors of their own demise in the first half, Matt Doherty and Yerson Mosquera gifting penalties through ridiculous fouls on Joao Pedro, who was nowhere near the goal on either occasion.

Wolves manager Rob Edwards was left frustrated (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Wolves manager Rob Edwards was left frustrated (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“My hand is feeling the effects of thumping a door in anger,” said boss Rob Edwards, who watched his team lose for the 10th time in the league since his appointment in November.

“It was a really promising start then a couple of really ludicrous mistakes. It’s going to be a really difficult day for us then.

“Then, looking at the lads, it looked like how it felt when we first came in. They get the third and then it’s about stopping the bleeding.”

A Super Bowl starting at 12:30 a.m.? Welcome to an Olympic-sized problem for fans in Italy

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — USA Luge men's doubles slider Zack DiGregorio is a New England Patriots fan. Makes sense: He's from Massachusetts, his mother has worked for the Patriots for more than two decades and the Patriots are about to play in the Super Bowl for the 10th time since he was born.

He doesn't miss games. Especially not big games. And games get no bigger than the Super Bowl.

Welcome to a Super-sized Olympic dilemma: What does one do when football's biggest game collides with the Milan Cortina Games? In Italy, the game between the Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks kicks off Monday at 12:30 a.m., a time when Olympians like DiGregorio should be asleep and not exhausting themselves before taking part in their own Super Bowl of sliding.

“If I happen to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom," DiGregorio said, “I may be tuning in.”

He won't be the only one in Italy with a gaze locked on a TV, laptop or phone screen in the wee hours of Monday morning. There are 15 members of this U.S. Olympic team from Massachusetts, eight more from Washington and who knows how many else with reason to watch.

Gold-medal pursuits may be forgotten, for a few hours anyway, to watch two teams play for a silver trophy. And yes, some Olympians with major rooting interests in this game say they'll go without and make sure their sleep cycles aren't interrupted.

“I’m not going to be able to watch because that’s going to be real late here," said curling Olympian Korey Dropkin, who was born in Massachusetts. “But as my form of support, I’m going to wear my Pats jersey to bed.”

Then again, some athletes at the Olympics won't have to stay up to watch. It seems a few already are somehow aware of the outcome.

“It’ll be the middle of the night here so I think we will see the score afterwards," said short track speed skater Corinne Stoddard, a Seattle native. "We don’t want to be up all night. But the Seahawks are going to win. I don’t have any doubt in my mind about that one. We’ve proved it all year. So, good luck, Patriots.”

Women's hockey player Alex Carpenter — a dual citizen of sorts for this Super Bowl, a Massachusetts native who plays for the PWHL's Seattle Torrent — has a game on Monday, so she said she'll just “check the score in the morning.”

And Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy — part of the U.S. men's hockey team in Milan — told NBC he might just go to bed really early Sunday night.

“That could look like a 5 a.m. wake-up to catch the second half,” McAvoy said.

The collision of a Super Bowl and an Olympics is a fun headache for some. For the Olympic movement, it represents a bigger issue.

Sunday (or Monday in Italy, technically) will mark only the second time that the Super Bowl and the Winter Games will be happening on the same day. They collided in 2022 as well, and with NFL seasons now several weeks longer than they were a generation or two ago these conflicts are probably going to keep happening.

“You’ve got big events all working and overlapping,” International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry told the Olympic Information Service coming into the Milan Cortina Games. “So, the next part of the question is, when are we all going to sit down as one big sporting family and have these conversations around how we prioritize, how do we talk, how do we make space for each of us so that we’re also not competing against each other?”

For now, those involved will just enjoy having two big things to root for at basically the same time.

Mark Henderson's daughter is U.S. Olympic freestyle skier Grace Henderson, who is scheduled to compete at 10:30 a.m. Monday.

That's a few hours after the Super Bowl ends. Prediction: Mark Henderson is going to be tired.

He found a bar in Livigno, Italy that has agreed — with the help of some cash — to stay open until the end of the Super Bowl to ensure the Henderson clan of about 15 to 20 people have enough food and drink past the scheduled 2 a.m. closing time.

“I said, ‘What would it take to stay open a few more hours?’" Mark Henderson said. "I named a price and they took it. Food and drink included.”

Krista DiGregorio, Zack's mom, is looking for a similar establishment. She probably would have been at the Super Bowl this year — she works in the suites at Gillette Stadium, and that part-time role basically funded her son's costly luge career as he was becoming an Olympian.

Her plan: Find a bar that'll stay open in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

“We’ll beg, if need be,” she said. “I am not above begging or perhaps sliding a few euros in their direction.”

The main focus for the DiGregorio clan right now is, of course, the Olympics. Zack has his Drake Maye jersey with him. The family's rental home has all the necessary fan touches: more Pats jerseys, signs, banners, even a towel with the team's “We all we got, we all we need” theme.

But the way Krista DiGregorio sees it, she already got her championship parade Friday night when her son was in the Olympic opening ceremony and got to march with teammates through the streets of Cortina.

A Super Bowl win would be wonderful. Either way, it's been a pretty good season for her.

“Unreal. Unreal,” Krista DiGregorio said. “I didn’t anticipate being as emotional as I was at that parade. To be there and see how happy he is, how happy his teammates are, the people he’s grown up with and gotten close to, it’s been wonderful.”

___

AP Sports Writers Joseph Wilson and James Ellingsworth contributed to this story.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Liverpool face major question over the future of £35m midfielder

Liverpool face major question over the future of £35m midfielder
Liverpool face major question over the future of £35m midfielder

Cashing In at the Right Time or One Season Too Early?

Alexis Mac Allister’s name being linked with Real Madrid should raise eyebrows, not because of the destination, but because of the timing. Twelve months left on his contract. Entering his 28th year. A summer surgery that quietly derailed his rhythm. This is no longer the Mac Allister of the World Cup or the metronomic controller who once made Liverpool’s midfield feel calm, intelligent, and inevitable.

There has been a visible drop-off. Not catastrophic. Not embarrassing. But unmistakable. The sharpness in tight spaces has dulled, the tempo-setting moments arrive later, and the physical demands of the Premier League are now clearly asking more of him than his body is consistently giving. That surgery matters. Midfielders who rely on rhythm and balance don’t always recover cleanly when their base is disrupted.

From Liverpool’s perspective, this is exactly the kind of inflexion point Michael Edwards has historically acted upon and bought for roughly £35m. World Cup pedigree added. Peak reputation intact. Real Madrid sniffing around. With only a year remaining on his deal, this summer represents the optimal exit window — not because Mac Allister has failed, but because the squad is moving into a different physical and tactical phase.

Liverpool cannot afford to let another high-value asset run down or decline quietly. If the club can double their investment now, it would be classic Edwards-era logic rather than sentiment.

Regeneration, Not Regression, in a Changing System

If we accept the growing inevitability of Xabi Alonso’s arrival, then this conversation becomes less emotional and far more structural. Alonso does not build midfielders around passive controllers. His system demands legs, duel-winners, second-ball monsters, and players who can transition instantly from regain to progression.

That is where Mac Allister’s profile begins to feel misaligned with what comes next.

Liverpool’s midfield evolution should not be about replacing technique — it should be about rebalancing it. A double pivot under Alonso would thrive with a physically dominant ball-winner paired with a cleaner distributor, rather than asking one player to do everything at a declining level of athleticism.

The links to Adam Wharton make sense in that context. Younger. More robust. More mobile. Add someone like Elliott Anderson alongside him — ferocious, intelligent, relentless — and suddenly you recreate something Liverpool have sorely lacked since Fabinho, Henderson, and Wijnaldum aged out together. Bite. Coverage. Control through confrontation rather than possession alone.

That platform would free others. Dominik Szoboszlai, for example, becomes far more valuable as a right-sided wing-back who can invert, arrive late, and overload central areas without being responsible for defensive balance. Florian Wirtz benefits from protection behind him. The backline breathes easier. And Liverpool finally gained a system designed to dismantle low blocks rather than stall against them.

None of this diminishes what Mac Allister has given the club. He was crucial in stabilising chaos. But squads, like cycles, must move forward before decline becomes unavoidable.

If Real Madrid is circling, Liverpool should not hesitate. This is not about loss. It is about timing, evolution, and ensuring the next midfield defines the next era — not clings to the last one.

LA Times Sports Writers Urge Dodgers to Ditch White House Visit: Trump Has ‘Declared War on Its Fan Base’

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Two prominent Los Angeles Times sports reporters have urged the world-champion Dodgers to skip the customary trip to the White House, with veteran columnist Bill Plaschke saying it is necessary after President Donald Trump has “declared war on its fan base.”

Plaschke made his case in the Friday edition of the paper. He argued in his column — titled “Just say no! Dodgers players should decline White House visit” — that this was an issue that went beyond politics.

“This is about asking them to be people,” he said.

And the Dodgers cannot be good people if they go to the White House while Trump carries out his raids on illegal immigrants, Plaschke said.

He argued the organization should say, “No, they will not support the ICE raids that are taking place daily just outside their clubhouse doors.”

Plaschke said it was already an issue last year when the Dodgers opted to visit the president following their World Series win in late 2024. Things have only gotten worse since then, he said — and would make a White House trip look terrible.

He wrote:

Since then, the landscape has dramatically changed in light of the ICE raids that ramped up during the middle of the season.

This is no longer simply about the rebuke of a president. This is about a fight against a system that has consistently terrorized southern California streets and recently, in Minneapolis, resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of agents of the American government.

Plaschke’s column was published less than a week after fellow LAT sports columnist Bill Shaikin made the plea in a February 1 article.

Shaikin wrote it would be a cruel irony for the team that once had Jackie Robinson — who broke the color barrier and became the first Black American to play in the major leagues in 1947 — to stand alongside Trump.

He pointed to the recent shooting deaths of Minneapolis citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti as two obvious reasons the Dodgers should not make the trip.

Shaikin wrote:

This is not something the Dodgers can dismiss as an out-of-town issue. Federal immigration agents operate in Los Angeles too.

And, since Dodger Stadium has become a must-see Japanese tourist attraction in the Shohei Ohtani era, how much might tourism drop if Japanese citizens could be forbidden from entering the United States without sharing their social media history from the preceding five years and every personal and business email address from the preceding 10 years, as federal officials have proposed?

Towards the end of his story, Shaikin noted it could be “uncomfortable” to skip the trip, but “the Dodgers would not have to stand on a Washington street in protest, or issue a blistering statement. All they would need to do is decline a photo opportunity.”

While the two writers made it clear they do not support heading to the White House, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans on going. Shaikin quoted Roberts in his story as saying his job is to be a baseball manager, not a political pundit.

“I was raised — by a man who served our country for 30 years — to respect the highest office in our country,” Roberts told him. “For me, it doesn’t matter who is in the office, I’m going to go to the White House. I’ve never tried to be political. … For me, I am going to continue to try to do what tradition says and not try to make political statements, because I am not a politician.”

The post LA Times Sports Writers Urge Dodgers to Ditch White House Visit: Trump Has ‘Declared War on Its Fan Base’ first appeared on Mediaite.

New York Jets hiring Detroit Lions' Seth Ryan as passing game coordinator

The New York Jets are hiring Detroit Lions assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan as its new passing game coordinator, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Ryan is the son of former Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach, Rex Ryan.

Seth Ryan replaces Scott Turner, who was fired two weeks ago amid a coaching staff overhaul by Aaron Glenn.

Ryan just wrapped up his fifth season with the Lions' organization and his first as Detroit's assistant tight ends coach. The 31-year-old spent his first four seasons in the Motor City as the Lions' assistant wide receivers coach (2021-24).

The Lions' tight end production was hampered in 2025 by Sam LaPorta's season-ending back surgery. But, LaPorta was off to another strong start with 489 receiving yards on 40 catches with three touchdowns before he was sidelined with the herniated disc.

Ryan's work helped the Lions finish with the NFL's No. 5 total offense (373.2 yards per game), its No. 3 passing offense (253.1 passing yards per game) and its No. 5 scoring offense (28.3 points per game) in 2025.

In 2024, the Lions had the NFL's top scoring offense (33.2 points per game), its No. 2 passing offense (263.2 passing yards per game) and its No. 2 total offense (409.5 yards per game).

Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has notched four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and three consecutive inside the NFL's top five receiving leaders. Detroit receiver Jameson Williams also finished inside the NFL's top 10 receiving yardage leaders this past season, forming the NFL's only duo inside the top 10 in 2025 with St. Brown.

With Seth Ryan joining the Jets' coaching staff, it marks three generations of the Ryans coaching in the Jets' organization.

Rex Ryan was the Jets' head coach from 2009-14, leading New York to a 46-50 regular-season mark and a 4-2 record in the playoffs. The Jets' last playoff appearance came in 2010 under Rex Ryan's direction.

Seth Ryan's grandfather, Buddy Ryan, landed his first NFL coaching job as the Jets' defensive line coach. The Jets won the Super Bowl in Buddy Ryan's first season, and he remained with the team through 1975. Buddy Ryan would go on to become the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship-winning squad.

Buddy Ryan would later serve as Philadelphia Eagles (1986-90) and Arizona Cardinals (1994-95) head coach.

Seth Ryan's uncle, Rob Ryan, worked as one of the Jets' ball boys with his twin brother Rex in the late 1960s.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a likeFollow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: New York Jets hiring Detroit Lions' Seth Ryan as passing game coordinator

Nets' Ochai Agbaji, Josh Minott hoping to make impact after deadline

NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets didn't make any splash trades prior to Thursday's deadline, but they did acquire a couple of players that could fit into the rotation at some point. Guard Ochai Agbaji and forward Josh Minott are two players that have had periods of success during their time in the league and Brooklyn is hoping to get the best versions of both players moving forward.

"First, my defense and the intensity I play with every single night. I’m always trying to win every possession. That’s who I am as a player. I know I have a lot more to show," Agbaji said prior to Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards. Agbaji saw his minutes decrease this season while with the Toronto Raptors, but with him being moved to the Nets, he could get back to what he did last season for a rebuilding Toronto team.

"I had a great season last year and I’m trying to build on that. My time in Toronto was great, but I’m looking forward to what I can do here," Agbaji continued. Time will tell how head coach Jordi Fernandez will decide to deploy Agbaji, but he will also have to consider where Minott fits into this puzzle, especially with neither player having the luxury of training camp to get acclimated with their new teammates.

"They’re just bringing me up to speed. This is my first midseason transition, so both sides understand you have to move quicker. You don’t have the luxury of training camp," Minott said during his introductory press conference. "They know it’ll take some hours to get everything, but it’s about the core principles, the defense and the offense."

Agbaji and Minott are available for Saturday's matchup against the Wizards, but there's no telling if they will play, given that Fernandez has kept his rotation to 11 guys at most in any given game. Guard Cam Thomas was the only player that the Nets waived prior to the deadline that saw consistent playing time so Fernandez may have to figure that issue out soon. Either way, Agbaji and Minott are ready to go and are looking to make an impact however they can.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Ochai Agbaji, Josh Minott hoping to make impact after deadline

BlockDag presale finally ends while Remittix sees thousands of holders join its new 300% bonus offer

7 February 2026 at 23:13
BlockDag closes $453m presale ahead of Feb 16 listing as Remittix surges with 300% bonus and growing investor demand. The crypto market is buzzing, especially with the recent conclusion of BlockDag’s presale. The project has raised a massive $453 million,…

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Brazil Breaks All Records in 2025 with a Historic Nearly Ten Million International Arrivals, Surpassing Markets Like Egypt and Morocco, Driven by Argentina, Chile, and the U.S.

7 February 2026 at 23:43
Brazil Breaks All Records in 2025 with a Historic Nearly Ten Million International Arrivals, Surpassing Markets Like Egypt and Morocco, Driven by Argentina, Chile, and the U.S.

Brazil achieved a historic milestone in 2025, welcoming nearly ten million international visitors, a 37% increase from 2024, and surpassing renowned tourism destinations like Egypt and Morocco. This surge was largely driven by key markets such as Argentina, Chile, and the United States, showcasing Brazil’s growing global appeal, rich culture, and expanding travel connections.

The country’s tourism sector also reached unprecedented financial heights, generating R$ 185.2 billion in revenue from January to October 2025, with foreign spending totaling $7.9 billion (approximately R$ 41.5 billion). This record-breaking performance solidified Brazil’s position as a global tourism leader, surpassing established markets and further cementing its role as a top international destination.

Surpassing Global Growth Rates

Brazil’s 2025 goal of 9.3 million arrivals represented a pivotal moment, breaking its own previous record of 6.77 million international visitors in 2024. Although 2024 had been seen as a peak year, 2025 delivered even higher numbers, continuing to grow at an accelerated rate. The final month of the year saw an 11% increase in visitor arrivals compared to December 2024, demonstrating Brazil’s strong growth momentum.

Record Tourism Revenue

With the rise in international visitors, Brazil’s tourism revenue also reached exceptional levels. From January to October 2025, the country generated R$ 185.2 billion in tourism-related revenue, setting a new record for the sector. This milestone is part of a broader trend, with total tourism revenue expected to approach R$ 200 billion by the end of the year.

For international tourism alone, foreign visitors’ spending reached a record $7.9 billion, solidifying Brazil’s status as a leading destination for international travelers.

Strategic Growth: Data, Infrastructure, and Airline Partnerships

Brazil’s tourism success is the result of a combination of strategic planning, data-driven decisions, and infrastructure improvements. Embratur’s investment in data intelligence played a key role in driving this growth. By establishing an intelligence center, Brazil was able to gather insights into travel patterns, consumer behavior, and nationality-specific preferences. This enabled more effective marketing and promotional campaigns tailored to distinct international markets.

Additionally, the country saw a significant increase in international flight options, with Brazil’s air network expanding by 16% in 2025, a growth rate well above the global average of 7%. This improved connectivity facilitated the surge in international arrivals.

Global Recognition and Unmatched Growth

In terms of global tourism performance, Brazil’s 37% growth in 2025 outpaced other popular tourist destinations, including Egypt (20% growth) and Morocco (14%). This level of expansion places Brazil firmly in the spotlight as one of the fastest-growing global tourism markets.

With a clear strategy in place, Brazil is poised to continue its upward trajectory in the coming years. The country’s tourism sector looks set to maintain its strong growth, driving further investments, infrastructure improvements, and new opportunities for global travelers.

Regional Growth: Beyond the Traditional Tourist Spots

The surge in visitors has been felt across the entire country, with key regions such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and Foz do Iguaçu experiencing significant growth in tourist activity. Embratur’s president noted that tourism expansion is not just confined to major cities, with the Northeast region showing particularly strong growth, outperforming the national average.

Efforts to target and engage visitors from countries like Argentina, Chile, and the United States were crucial. These markets have become the primary sources of international visitors to Brazil. In particular, campaigns and airline partnerships have helped boost tourist arrivals from Chile, capitalizing on strong demand from this market.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

Tourism’s positive economic impact extends far beyond revenue generation. The sector has played a central role in creating jobs and fostering income opportunities across various industries. From hospitality and food services to transportation, travel agencies, and retail, tourism has driven economic growth throughout Brazil.

As a result, the country has seen a steady rise in employment, with the tourism industry continuing to stimulate growth in both domestic and international markets.

A Bright Future for Brazil’s Tourism Industry

The surge in international tourism has led to an influx of foreign capital, strengthening Brazil’s economy by boosting consumption and tax revenue. This growth has been directly tied to the rise in international visitors, and the government’s 2025 financial report has highlighted record-breaking tourism revenues.

Despite these successes, the challenge remains to sustain flight availability, extend tourists’ stays, and ensure a more even distribution of tourism benefits across the country. For Brazil, the key question is whether the country can continue to maintain this remarkable growth rate and ensure that the benefits of tourism reach all regions, not just the traditional hotspots.

In 2025, Brazil set a new tourism record with nearly ten million international arrivals, surpassing markets like Egypt and Morocco. This surge was fueled by key contributors, including Argentina, Chile, and the United States.

In conclusion, Brazil’s record-breaking tourism growth in 2025 reflects its growing global prominence as a top travel destination. With nearly ten million international visitors and unprecedented revenue, the country has successfully leveraged strategic marketing and expanded connectivity to attract tourists from key markets like Argentina, Chile, and the United States. As Brazil continues to capitalize on its cultural richness, world-class attractions, and improved infrastructure, it is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the global tourism sector, ensuring sustained success for years to come.

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Thousands of Passengers Grounded in Canada as Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, PAL, United and Other Airlines Face 51 Cancellations and 457 Delays in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Kuujjuaq and More

7 February 2026 at 23:37
Thousands of Passengers Grounded in Canada as Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, PAL, United and Other Airlines Face 51 Cancellations and 457 Delays in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Kuujjuaq and More
Canada cancellations and delays

Thousands of passengers are facing major travel disruptions in Canada today as Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, PAL Airlines, United, and other carriers struggle with 51 cancellations and 457 delays. Airports in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Kuujjuaq, and several other cities have been severely affected due to winter weather conditions. These weather-related disruptions have caused chaos for both domestic and international travelers, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated. With major hubs like Vancouver and Toronto reporting a high number of delays, travelers have been forced to reconsider their plans and seek alternative arrangements.

Airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet have been particularly impacted, with numerous flights canceled and delayed across their fleets. Passengers should stay informed by checking their airline’s app and website for updates as this situation continues to evolve.

Total Delays and Cancellations Across Airports

Today, four major Canadian airports are reporting a combined total of 457 flight delays and 51 cancellations. These disruptions are being felt across multiple regions, including major hubs like Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal-Trudeau, and Calgary, as well as smaller airports like Kuujjuaq.

  • Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) leads the disruption with 251 delays and 31 cancellations. As Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto serves as a critical hub for both domestic and international flights, making these delays particularly significant.
  • Vancouver International (YVR) is experiencing 55 delays and 10 cancellations, affecting travelers flying to and from the Pacific Coast. Vancouver is a key international gateway, and these disruptions are likely causing problems for passengers planning trips to Asia and the United States.
  • Montreal-Trudeau International (YUL) is facing 102 delays and 6 cancellations. As a primary hub for flights within Canada and to Europe, the delays here are impacting both business and leisure travelers, especially those trying to reach European destinations.
  • Calgary International (YYC) is reporting 41 delays and 3 cancellations, which are less severe than other airports but still represent a notable inconvenience for those traveling to and from the oil-rich province of Alberta.
  • Kuujjuaq Airport (YFB) in Quebec is seeing 8 delays and 1 cancellation. While this may seem like a small number, disruptions in remote regions can often cause more significant travel issues due to limited flight options.
AirportLocationCancelledDelayed
Toronto Pearson Int’l (YYZ)Toronto, Ontario20129
Vancouver Int’l (YVR)Vancouver, British Columbia428
Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)Montreal, Quebec355
Calgary Int’l (YYC)Calgary, Alberta223
Halifax Int’l (YHZ)Halifax, Nova Scotia39
Kuujjuaq Airport (YFB)Kuujjuaq, Quebec18

Impacted Cities and Airlines

The travel disruptions are affecting key Canadian cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Kuujjuaq. As major business hubs and popular tourist destinations, these disruptions are causing ripple effects for passengers traveling to and from these locations.

Airlines operating out of these airports, including Air Canada, WestJet, and regional carriers serving smaller communities, are experiencing the brunt of these issues. Both domestic and international flights are affected, with many travelers facing extended wait times and unexpected cancellations.

AirlineCancelledDelayedDelay Percentage
Air Canada2116830%
Jazz (ACA)125916%
Air Canada Rouge (ACA)73837%
WestJet17717%
PAL Airlines548%
Air Inuit32031%

What Can Affected Passengers Do?

For travelers impacted by these disruptions, the first step is to contact their airline for updates. Most major airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet, offer customer service hotlines, online chat options, and mobile apps where passengers can check the status of their flights in real-time.

Passengers with delayed or cancelled flights should consider rebooking or rescheduling their flights as soon as possible. Many airlines offer flexible booking policies during disruptions, allowing passengers to change their travel dates without hefty fees.

Travelers can also explore alternate routes or nearby airports to minimize delays. In the case of long delays, airlines may provide compensation, such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or travel credits, depending on the severity of the disruption.

Conclusion

With 457 delays and 51 cancellations across major Canadian airports today, travelers should be prepared for potential disruptions and extended wait times. While the situation is being closely monitored, affected passengers are encouraged to stay informed through their airlines and be proactive in rebooking or making alternate arrangements.

Source: FlightAware and affected airports

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Mexico Experiences Travel Setbacks as Air Canada Cancels 2 Flights, Impacting Cancun and Causing Multiple Delays at Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport

7 February 2026 at 23:33
Mexico Experiences Travel Setbacks as Air Canada Cancels 2 Flights, Impacting Cancun and Causing Multiple Delays at Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport
Mexico

Mexico is currently facing significant travel setbacks as Air Canada has cancelled 2 flights, causing major disruptions. The cancellations have particularly impacted Cancun, a popular tourist destination, creating a ripple effect across the region. In addition to the flight cancellations, there have been multiple delays at Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport in Guadalajara. This has led to long waiting times for passengers, further complicating travel plans. Travelers in Cancun are facing inconvenience, while those in Guadalajara are experiencing travel delays. The situation has put a strain on the usual smooth operations of these airports. As the chaos continues, affected passengers are advised to stay informed about updated schedules and potential alternatives. This travel disruption serves as a reminder of the challenges airlines can face, particularly when unforeseen events, like flight cancellations and delays, strike.

Affected Cities and Airport

The travel disruptions caused by Air Canada’s 2 cancellations and delays primarily affected Cancun International Airport in Cancun, Mexico. Passengers traveling through Cancun faced significant delays due to these cancellations. Additionally, Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport in Guadalajara, Mexico, also experienced multiple delays as a result of the ongoing disruptions. These two major airports—Cancun and Guadalajara—were impacted by the flight setbacks, affecting travelers and causing a ripple effect throughout the region.

Flight Cancellations

AirportAirlineCancellationsDelays
Cancun InternationalAir Canada21

Overview of Flight Cancellations

Air Canada experienced 2 cancellations at Cancun International Airport in Mexico, which had a noticeable impact on travel. In addition to the cancellations, 1 delay was also recorded. These disruptions caused inconvenience for passengers traveling to and from Cancun, as the cancellations likely led to rescheduling or rerouting of flights. While the number of delays is relatively lower, the cancellations represent a more significant setback for travelers, as it directly impacts their ability to reach their destinations. These figures highlight the challenges airlines face in maintaining smooth operations, particularly during busy travel periods at major international airports like Cancun.

What to Do if Your Flight Gets Cancelled: A Quick Guide

Flight cancellations can be frustrating, but knowing the right steps to take can help minimize stress. Here’s what you can do if you find yourself in this situation:

Stay Updated
Monitor your email, phone, and the airline’s app for rebooking confirmation or further announcements.

Stay Calm and Check for Updates
As soon as you learn your flight is canceled, stay calm and check for updates. Many airlines will notify you via text, email, or their app. Visit the airline’s website for real-time updates on the situation.

Contact the Airline
Reach out to the airline’s customer service either in person at the airport or over the phone. If you’re at the airport, head to the service desk. If you’re not, try calling or using the airline’s online chat system to avoid waiting in long queues.

Know Your Rights
Familiarize yourself with the airline’s policies regarding cancellations. Many airlines offer rebooking options or compensation, especially if the cancellation is within their control. In the EU, for example, passengers are entitled to compensation under certain conditions.

Consider Alternative Flights
Ask the airline about the next available flight. If you can’t find a suitable option, consider booking a new flight through another airline, or check for other forms of transport like trains or buses.

The flight cancellations and delays at Cancun International Airport caused by Air Canada underscore the unpredictable nature of air travel. While the cancellations of 2 flights significantly disrupted passenger plans, the single delay added to the overall inconvenience. Despite these setbacks, no further cancellations were reported across other airlines in the region. These disruptions serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by both airlines and passengers, emphasizing the importance of staying informed about flight status and considering alternatives in case of unexpected operational changes. Travelers must remain flexible to avoid further inconvenience.

Source: FlightAware and affected airports

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Jamaica’s Tourism Recovery Gets a Massive Boost as ALG Vacations Hosts “Advisors in Action” Voluntourism Event Here’s How Travel Advisors are Making a Difference in 2026!

7 February 2026 at 23:25
Jamaica’s Tourism Recovery Gets a Massive Boost as ALG Vacations Hosts “Advisors in Action” Voluntourism Event Here’s How Travel Advisors are Making a Difference in 2026!
ALG Vacations hosted “Advisors in Action: Come Back to Give Back” in Jamaica, integrating voluntourism with destination promotion to support post‑hurricane recovery efforts.

In an ambitious effort to rejuvenate tourism while helping communities recover from Hurricane Melissa’s damage, ALG Vacations launched the “Advisors in Action: Come Back to Give Back” event in Jamaica. Held from January 31 to February 4, 2026, this impactful mission brought together nearly 100 travel advisors to experience the island’s hospitality while directly contributing to its post‑disaster recovery. The event, held across the island’s stunning resorts and communities, underscored Jamaica’s resilience and commitment to welcoming tourists once again after the destructive effects of the hurricane.

Jamaica’s Tourism Recovery Takes Center Stage

The event arrived during a critical time in Jamaica’s tourism recovery efforts, just a few months after Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc on the island in October 2025. The storm left significant damage to infrastructure, but the resilient spirit of Jamaicans has been on full display since the initial damage. The recovery process began in mid‑December 2025, with hotels, restaurants, and attractions gradually reopening their doors.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett, has expressed pride in the nation’s recovery efforts, calling the initiative a pivotal opportunity to engage the tourism advisory community and bolster Jamaica’s positive image globally. The event is both symbolic and practical, highlighting Jamaica’s readiness to support the influx of travelers expected throughout 2026.

“We are excited to show the world that Jamaica is not only open for business but thriving as a top destination for travelers from around the globe,” said Minister Bartlett in a recent statement.

The Impactful Voluntourism Model of “Come Back to Give Back”

Unlike traditional familiarization trips (FAM), where advisors tour hotels and attractions to gather information for their clients, “Advisors in Action” offered a distinct purpose. The mission combined volunteerism and destination education, inviting travel advisors to engage in hands‑on community recovery projects. Their involvement in local initiatives – such as delivering donated supplies and helping repair community infrastructure – made the event a meaningful way to blend travel with service.

The program’s dual focus allowed advisors to see the positive impact of tourism firsthand, while giving back to the communities that make Jamaica the beloved destination it is today. Participants donated items such as school supplies, hygiene products, and pet food to local organizations in need. As a collective effort, the advisors also contributed to $13,000 in monetary donations, which ALG Vacations generously matched to further support recovery initiatives.

Program Highlights: A Blend of Experience and Community Support

The travel advisors participating in this unique initiative visited a wide range of Jamaica’s premier resorts. From Montego Bay to Negril and Ocho Rios, they explored luxury accommodations, learned about sustainable tourism practices, and engaged with community projects designed to promote inclusive tourism growth.

Over 13 resorts across Jamaica hosted the advisors, including high‑profile brands such as RIU Hotels & Resorts and Couples Resorts, where they saw firsthand the country’s commitment to tourism resilience. As part of the itinerary, participants were invited to join volunteer projects such as painting murals, organizing local donations, and participating in restoration efforts at community centers and schools.

One of the standout experiences for advisors was participating in a live Facebook session from RIU Montego Bay, featuring prominent figures from the tourism sector and personalities like Carson Kressley. This broadcast allowed a wider audience of travel advisors to learn about Jamaica’s recovery in real time, while also providing valuable booking tips for those looking to recommend the island as a destination.

A Partnership That Benefits Both the Destination and the Travel Advisors

For ALG Vacations, the event was not just about giving back — it was also a powerful way to reinforce relationships with travel advisors. With an estimated 1,000+ advisors applying to participate, the sheer interest in such a program illustrates the strong desire among travel professionals to contribute meaningfully to the destinations they promote.

By engaging in this hands‑on mission, the advisors gained not only personal insight into Jamaica’s recovery but also a unique perspective on its tourism offerings. They came away with stories, images, and real‑life experiences that allow them to sell Jamaica to their clients with renewed passion, confidence, and authenticity.

Building Future Travel and Strengthening Tourism Resilience

The event also served as a reminder of how voluntourism can play a vital role in rebuilding communities and empowering tourism‑dependent destinations. It showcased the growing trend among travelers who want to make a positive impact during their vacations. Whether through volunteering, contributing donations, or supporting sustainable tourism practices, this model offers travelers and industry partners alike a way to build connections that go beyond simple leisure travel.

Jamaica’s resilience was underscored throughout the event, with official representatives emphasizing that recovery is a collective effort. As Minister Bartlett highlighted: “The travel advisor community has always been instrumental in Jamaica’s success, and it is great to see them return to our island, not only to experience our hospitality but also to play an active role in the rebuilding process.”

Looking Forward: Jamaica’s Tourism Outlook for 2026 and Beyond

The participation of over 90 travel advisors in this initiative is a clear sign that tourism professionals are ready to engage in post‑disaster recovery efforts, and it sends a strong message that Jamaica is on the path to full recovery. Looking ahead, the island is optimistic about a record-breaking year for 2026, with major events and promotions planned to draw tourists throughout the year.

Jamaica’s recovery and revitalization stand as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and spirit of its people. Through the “Advisors in Action” event, the island has proven that tourism is an essential pillar of its economic recovery and growth.

Conclusion: A Win for Jamaica and the Travel Industry

The “Advisors in Action: Come Back to Give Back” initiative highlighted how Jamaica’s tourism sector is recovering, growing, and reinvigorating its offerings for visitors. For travel advisors, it was an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause, deepen their destination knowledge, and create lasting memories that they can share with future clients. For Jamaica, the event was a win in terms of tourism advocacy, community engagement, and ensuring tourists will continue to return to this Caribbean paradise with open hearts and minds.

As the tourism industry recovers from challenges, the partnership between ALG Vacations and Jamaica’s tourism board represents a model for collaboration and community empowerment. The momentum will no doubt continue to build, attracting new visitors eager to experience the island’s hospitality, vibrant culture, and sustainable tourism initiatives.

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Jersey Boys and Beetlejuice Ended by Norwegian Cruise Line to Make Way for New Entertainment

7 February 2026 at 23:25
Jersey Boys and Beetlejuice Ended by Norwegian Cruise Line to Make Way for New Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced the closure of two Broadway-style productions across its fleet as part of a broader shift in its entertainment offerings. The iconic “Jersey Boys” and the recent hit “Beetlejuice: The Musical” will both conclude their runs in 2026 aboard Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Viva, respectively. These closures reflect NCL’s multi-year initiative to revitalise its entertainment lineup and focus on offering original programming for its guests.

The departure of “Jersey Boys”, which has been running since 2018 on the Norwegian Bliss, and “Beetlejuice”, which debuted on Norwegian Viva in 2023, marks the continuation of NCL’s strategic transition. The company aims to move away from Broadway adaptations and instead expand its portfolio of unique and diverse entertainment options.

Strategic Shift in Onboard Entertainment

The decision to retire two beloved Broadway shows is part of NCL’s new focus on introducing original programming that aligns with the preferences of today’s cruisers. As part of this shift, NCL plans to enhance its fleet’s entertainment by expanding existing shows like “Choir of Man” and “Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours”, both of which will appear on more ships in the coming months.

NCL previously ended several other Broadway productions, such as “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”, “Six”, “Footloose”, and “Kinky Boots”, as part of its evolving entertainment strategy. This move reflects NCL’s understanding of changing passenger interests, where guests are increasingly seeking a broader variety of entertainment options.

An Opportunity for New, Diverse Performances

Athanasios Titonis, CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital, which oversees the NCL brand, emphasised that the decision to phase out some Broadway hits allows the company to invest in more diverse shows and daily activities that appeal to a broader demographic. By shifting away from these extensive Broadway shows, NCL has the opportunity to provide more spontaneous, interactive experiences for passengers.

The closure of “Jersey Boys” on Norwegian Bliss will take place during a seven-day voyage from Los Angeles on February 8, 2026, while “Beetlejuice” will finish its run on Norwegian Viva on March 21, 2026, during a sailing from Galveston, Texas. Both ships will then undergo adjustments to incorporate new forms of onboard entertainment, likely including comedy acts, musical performances, themed events, and more.

Expansion of Original Programming

One of NCL’s key initiatives is to focus on original shows such as “The Choir of Man”, which has been met with positive reviews for its unique blend of music, energy, and audience interaction. This show, along with “Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours”, will be featured across more ships, reflecting a shift towards entertainment that is both engaging and distinctly NCL.

While Broadway-style productions have their place in cruise entertainment, the shift to shorter, original programming allows for greater flexibility, offering passengers a variety of experiences that don’t require months of planning. Guests can expect more intimate performances and themed entertainment options that align with the growing demand for interactive, spontaneous events on board.

Impact on Passengers and the Cruise Industry

This shift towards original content is not only about entertainment but also reflects a broader trend in the cruise industry where companies are reimagining passenger experiences. With passengers now expecting more diverse, flexible, and unique activities, NCL’s move can be seen as a direct response to these evolving expectations.

The company remains committed to delivering high-quality theatre productions alongside other activities that enrich the cruise experience. NCL’s focus is now on offering a mix of onboard entertainment that aligns with the variety of interests passengers have when they board the ship.

A New Era of Cruise Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision to phase out two iconic Broadway productions in 2026 signals the start of a new era in cruise entertainment. By embracing original programming and expanding its range of interactive shows, NCL is ensuring that it remains at the forefront of innovative entertainment for cruise passengers. This shift will allow the company to continue offering engaging, dynamic experiences while adapting to the changing needs of today’s traveller.

NCL will deliver enhanced entertainment experiences to its guests. Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce new entertainment options that include comedic performances and musical showcases, and special themed events to enhance passenger enjoyment of their time at sea.

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Omnia Convention by Tivoli: The Luxury Destination That’s Transforming Gurugram’s Event and Hospitality Landscape

7 February 2026 at 23:23
Omnia Convention by Tivoli: The Luxury Destination That’s Transforming Gurugram’s Event and Hospitality Landscape

The launch of Omnia Convention by Tivoli is set to redefine the hospitality landscape in Gurugram and beyond, promising to become the ultimate luxury destination for weddings, corporate events, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and staycations. This grand unveiling is more than just the introduction of a new hotel – it is the beginning of a new era in event and leisure hospitality. With an array of state-of-the-art facilities, Omnia Convention is poised to take the hospitality scene in the Delhi-NCR region to unprecedented heights.

A Game-Changing Venue for Weddings, Corporate Events, and MICE

The newly inaugurated Omnia Convention by Tivoli stands as a shining beacon in the rapidly evolving hospitality industry in Gurugram. Situated in the booming Bhondsi–Badshahpur region, the property offers not only unparalleled luxury but also a comprehensive ecosystem catering to the growing demands of the wedding industry, business travellers, and MICE clients. As one of the largest and most versatile event spaces in the region, it is expected to be the go-to venue for destination weddings, large-scale corporate events, and high-profile conferences.

Omnia Convention is a veritable masterpiece that combines form and function in a seamless manner. Its two massive banquet halls, each spanning approximately 16,000 square feet, make it ideal for a wide array of events – from opulent weddings to sprawling exhibitions and corporate summits. The meticulously designed flexible layout enables the venue to cater to both grand social events and corporate functions, offering a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality. This is a space that invites everyone, from elite wedding planners to top-tier corporate decision-makers, to indulge in a world of luxury and convenience.

A Multifaceted Destination for All Occasions

The Tivoli Hospitality Group’s vision for Omnia Convention by Tivoli is a destination that serves not just for one type of event but for a multitude of occasions, whether leisure or business. “Omnia Convention by Tivoli in Bhondsi–Badshahpur, Gurugram, was envisioned as a destination that goes beyond luxury, serving a wide spectrum of needs across leisure, MICE, weddings, and corporate events,” said Akshay Gupta, Executive Director of Tivoli Hospitality Group. His statement beautifully encapsulates the essence of the venue: Omnia Convention is a place where luxury meets versatility.

While weddings remain a cornerstone of the property’s offerings, Omnia Convention is also finely tuned to cater to the demands of the modern business traveller. The strategic location in the Bhondsi–Badshahpur belt places it in close proximity to major corporate hubs in the Delhi-NCR region, making it the ideal venue for corporate retreats, high-powered meetings, and residential conferences. The property is a blend of convenience, style, and modern amenities – everything that corporate clients demand in today’s competitive landscape.

An Unrivalled Experience in Hospitality

Omnia Convention by Tivoli’s success lies in its ability to deliver not just an event space but a full luxury experience. The venue’s exquisite accommodation options reflect this commitment to excellence. Guests can enjoy well-appointed rooms that marry comfort and functionality, ensuring a relaxing stay while attending events or conferences. These rooms are designed to cater to business professionals, offering a peaceful retreat where guests can unwind after a long day of meetings or celebrations.

The property’s restaurant further enhances the experience, offering a luxurious dining space that complements the hotel’s overall aesthetic. Whether you’re enjoying a casual meal or a multi-course banquet, the restaurant promises to deliver an extraordinary culinary experience. From global flavours to regional delicacies, the menu is crafted to cater to the most discerning palates, making it a key component of the Omnia Convention experience.

Strategic Location with Unmatched Accessibility

One of the key advantages of Omnia Convention by Tivoli is its strategic location within the burgeoning Bhondsi–Badshahpur region of Gurugram. As an area that is rapidly growing in terms of infrastructure and business, Bhondsi–Badshahpur is fast becoming an essential destination for both leisure and corporate travellers. With improved connectivity and a growing presence of a corporate ecosystem, Omnia Convention is perfectly placed to serve both business and leisure clients.

The region’s enhanced connectivity ensures that it is easily accessible from the major urban centres of Delhi and beyond. Omnia Convention by Tivoli is positioned as a key player in catering to the needs of visitors from surrounding cities such as Jaipur and Chandigarh, all while being a short drive away from the heart of Delhi.

“The strategic location makes Omnia Convention by Tivoli the ideal venue for those seeking to combine business and leisure, with strong connectivity and infrastructure that supports the region’s economic growth,” said Akshay Gupta. This connectivity, coupled with the venue’s luxury offerings, makes it a preferred choice for both local and international guests.

A Culinary Journey Like No Other

As much as Omnia Convention is known for its world-class event spaces, it’s equally celebrated for its incredible culinary offerings. The venue’s spacious dining area is a showstopper, offering a wide variety of dining experiences from everyday meals to elaborate feasts for events. The culinary offerings span across global and regional cuisines, ensuring that every guest has access to a gastronomic journey that tantalizes their taste buds.

Whether you’re hosting a corporate gala, a destination wedding, or a casual brunch, Omnia Convention promises an exceptional culinary experience. The carefully curated menus are designed to offer a blend of the finest global flavours and local Indian delicacies, offering something for everyone. This commitment to culinary excellence elevates Omnia Convention’s status as a luxury destination in the Delhi-NCR region.

Transforming the Event Space in North India

Omnia Convention by Tivoli is not just another luxury hotel or event venue; it’s a milestone in the hospitality and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sectors of North India. The property’s grand launch is a testament to Tivoli Hospitality Group’s commitment to excellence and its strategic expansion in key markets. By unveiling Omnia Convention, the group has set a new benchmark in event spaces and hospitality in the region.

The official opening event was a grand affair, drawing key industry experts, hospitality professionals, event planners, and stakeholders from across Delhi and NCR. The occasion showcased the property’s impressive scale and versatility, featuring multiple event setups and décor styles that demonstrated the venue’s suitability for weddings, corporate gatherings, and social events. The event also offered a glimpse into the property’s food and beverage offerings, with skilled chefs preparing a diverse range of delectable dishes that delighted the guests. This truly underscored Omnia Convention’s position as a luxury destination for every type of occasion.

A New Era for Luxury and Events in Delhi-NCR

Omnia Convention by Tivoli has set a new standard in luxury hospitality in Gurugram. As the property officially opens its doors to the public, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the hospitality landscape of Delhi-NCR. Its world-class event facilities, premium accommodations, and diverse dining options make it the ultimate choice for anyone looking for an extraordinary experience in this bustling region.

With its cutting-edge facilities, luxurious offerings, and strategic location, Omnia Convention by Tivoli is ready to cater to the ever-evolving needs of modern travellers, event planners, and business professionals. This is not just a venue; it’s a destination in itself. Whether you’re planning a high-profile corporate event, a wedding of a lifetime, or a short leisure staycation, Omnia Convention promises to deliver an experience that is nothing short of spectacular.

The Future of Luxury Hospitality in India is Here

The unveiling of Omnia Convention by Tivoli signifies a bold move in the rapidly expanding hospitality sector of India. With its combination of luxury, versatility, and impeccable service, Omnia Convention is destined to become a leading destination for weddings, corporate events, and leisure stays in the Delhi-NCR region. The property’s expansive banquet halls, elegant rooms, and culinary delights are set to redefine the event landscape in North India, ensuring that every guest has an experience they will never forget.

The future of luxury hospitality in Gurugram and beyond is here, and it’s called Omnia Convention by Tivoli. With its unmatched offerings, strategic location, and exceptional service, it is the perfect destination for both business and leisure.

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How Porter Airlines is Revolutionizing Winter Getaways with New Nonstop Flights from Montréal to Nassau!

7 February 2026 at 23:21
How Porter Airlines is Revolutionizing Winter Getaways with New Nonstop Flights from Montréal to Nassau!

Winter-weary travelers from Montreal can now take a direct, hassle-free flight to the warm, sunny shores of Nassau in the Bahamas, thanks to Porter Airlines. The new nonstop service, which launched on February 5, 2026, connects Quebec with Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, in a mere few hours. This seasonal route offers an ideal escape from the harsh Canadian winter to the beautiful Bahamas, with the promise of pristine beaches, rich culture, and that distinctive Bahamas blue water.

A Convenient Escape from Winter

Nothing beats the satisfaction of trading the chilly February air in Montréal for the warmth of the Bahamas. This new Porter Airlines route makes it easier than ever for Canadians to head south for a sun-soaked getaway, especially for those seeking a quick and straightforward escape. The addition of direct flights allows travelers to skip the hassle of connecting flights and enjoy more time on the beach rather than in the airport.

The inaugural flight marks a major milestone in strengthening airlift between Canada and the Bahamas, particularly at a time when winter travel demand is at its peak. This route adds to the growing demand for convenient air connections to Nassau, one of the most popular Caribbean destinations. Porter Airlines is no stranger to offering comfortable, premium services, and this new route is a testament to the airline’s commitment to providing travelers with an excellent flying experience.

Porter Airlines Enhances Its Canadian Network

The flight from Montréal to Nassau represents an exciting new addition to Porter Airlines’ roster. The service will run seasonally, with flights scheduled six days a week, offering more flexibility for travelers looking to book a winter holiday. The addition of this route strengthens Porter’s expanding network, providing better connections for Quebec residents who wish to explore the stunning Bahamas without any stops or long layovers.

Last year, Porter Airlines also launched service between Toronto and Nassau, giving Canadians more options for flying directly to the Bahamas. The latest Montreal-Nassau service further solidifies Porter Airlines as a key player in Canadian travel to the Caribbean, offering travelers an effortless and scenic route between Canada and the islands.

Why This Flight Matters for Canadian Travelers

This new service isn’t just about adding more seats and flights to an already popular route; it’s about giving Canadian travelers more choices and better flexibility. For many, the prospect of a direct flight from Montréal to Nassau is a game-changer, as it means fewer layovers and a quicker journey from one of Canada’s largest cities to a tropical paradise.

With Quebec being one of Canada’s most important markets for the Bahamas, the route’s timing couldn’t be better. February, the heart of winter in Canada, is the perfect time for travelers to escape the cold, and this new seasonal service ensures they can do so without any hassle. Whether traveling for a beach vacation, cultural exploration, or simply to enjoy the warmth of the Bahamian sun, this nonstop service offers the perfect solution for Canadians looking to get away.

The Unique Porter Experience

Beyond just offering a direct route, Porter Airlines is known for its premium, easy-going flight experience. The airline has cultivated a loyal following among travelers who appreciate the personalized service and comfort onboard. Porter has always been known for its thoughtful touches, like complimentary beer and wine served in real glassware, and premium snacks that set the airline apart from others in its class.

The Montreal-Nassau service will feature Porter’s signature smooth experience, with its sleek onboard service that makes travelers feel like they are already on vacation the moment they step onboard. For passengers flying to Nassau, the flight will be a chance to start their vacation early, with comfortable seating, excellent service, and a relaxing environment.

What the Bahamas Tourism Officials Are Saying

Officials from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation are excited about the new route, which they see as a strategic move to further develop Canadian airlift. According to Chester Cooper, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, the direct connection between Montréal and Nassau will help strengthen the ties between Canada and The Bahamas, making it easier for more Canadian travelers to visit the islands.

Latia Duncombe, Director General of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, also emphasized how important the route is for the Bahamian tourism industry. She noted that expanding air connections from Canada—especially Montréal—will help maintain steady growth for Nassau, which continues to see strong interest from Canadian tourists. This move not only supports tourism but enhances Nassau’s position as a key gateway to the Bahamas.

The Bigger Picture: The Bahamas and Canadian Travel

The addition of Porter Airlines’ nonstop flights to Nassau adds to the Bahamas’ growing list of direct routes from Canada. With service now available from Montréal, Toronto, and other major Canadian cities, Nassau is becoming more accessible than ever. For travelers seeking a quick getaway to the Bahamas, the equation is simple: fewer connections, less airport time, and more beach time.

As the Bahamas continues to build its winter connectivity, the demand for quick, easy, and affordable access to Nassau will continue to rise. The new route from Montréal is part of a larger effort to enhance the country’s air travel offerings, ensuring that visitors can enjoy more time in the Bahamas and less time traveling.

Looking Ahead: More Opportunities for Travelers

With Porter Airlines’ new seasonal route between Montréal and Nassau, the Bahamas is making itself even more attractive to Canadian travelers, particularly those looking for an escape from the cold winter months. The combination of easy accessibility, luxury experiences, and pristine beaches makes Nassau the perfect destination for Canadians seeking a quick and easy vacation.

As Porter Airlines continues to expand its offerings and The Bahamas maintains its focus on strengthening airlift from key markets, travelers can expect even more opportunities to visit this beautiful Caribbean destination. Whether for relaxation, adventure, or cultural exploration, Nassau remains a premier destination for Canadian travelers.

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Dallas Joins New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver and Washington D.C. as the Hottest Destinations for Adventure Shows in USA That Will Ignite Your Wanderlust!

7 February 2026 at 23:20
Dallas Joins New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver and Washington D.C. as the Hottest Destinations for Adventure Shows in USA That Will Ignite Your Wanderlust!

Dallas joins New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver and Washington D.C. again as the hottest destinations for Adventure Shows in USA, and the excitement is impossible to ignore. As Dallas joins New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver and Washington D.C., Adventure Shows in USA are igniting wanderlust across travellers, tour operators and industry leaders. These hottest destinations are reshaping Adventure Shows in USA with bold ideas and powerful experiences. Therefore, Travel And Tour World urges readers to follow how Dallas joins New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver and Washington D.C. to ignite wanderlust and redefine Adventure Shows in USA completely.

Must-Visit Adventure Shows in USA to Fuel Your Wanderlust in 2026

Adventure travel is booming in the United States. Every year, hundreds of events showcase thrilling destinations, outdoor experiences, and travel trends. Among these, Adventure Shows in USA stand out as the ultimate opportunity for explorers, families, solo travellers, and travel industry professionals to discover, plan, and experience global adventures under one roof. From city expos to outdoor demonstrations, these events are packed with workshops, seminars, and interactive experiences that inspire travel plans for the coming year. In this article, we explore seven of the most exciting Adventure Shows in USA, including Dallas and six other top locations.

1. Dallas Travel & Adventure Show – The Southern Gateway to Adventure

Dallas, Texas, hosts one of the most dynamic Adventure Shows in USA. Every spring, travel enthusiasts flock to this vibrant event, eager to explore global destinations, adventure sports, and eco-tourism opportunities. The expo features interactive workshops, live presentations from travel experts, and exhibitions from tour operators and travel companies.

Visitors can learn how to plan hiking expeditions, book safari tours, or experience virtual reality trips to remote locations. Families, couples, and solo travellers alike attend the Dallas show to connect with experts, discover new destinations, and gain insights into budget-friendly and luxury travel. The energy is electric, making this show a must-visit for anyone passionate about adventure and exploration.

2. New York Travel & Adventure Show – East Coast’s Adventure Epicentre

New York City hosts a cornerstone event among Adventure Shows in USA, combining a bustling urban atmosphere with world-class travel exhibitions. Held at a major convention centre, the show features hundreds of exhibitors from international tourism boards, adventure companies, and travel agencies.

Attendees participate in workshops on survival skills, trekking, eco-travel, and responsible tourism. They learn how to plan trips to South America, Africa, and Asia while connecting with seasoned travel guides and explorers. The New York show is ideal for adventurers seeking inspiration, expert advice, and insider deals — a true hub for anyone looking to explore the globe.

3. Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show – California’s Gateway to the World

In sunny Southern California, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show blends adventure, entertainment, and travel inspiration. Exhibitors showcase adventure tourism packages, from scuba diving in tropical waters to mountain climbing expeditions. Attendees explore eco-tourism initiatives, interactive adventure workshops, and sustainable travel opportunities.

The show also features virtual experiences, giving visitors the chance to “test” destinations before booking. With its mix of innovation, adventure, and glamour, Los Angeles remains one of the top Adventure Shows in USA, drawing locals and tourists alike to explore the world without leaving the city.

4. Chicago Travel & Adventure Show – Midwest Adventure Hotspot

Chicago’s edition of Adventure Shows in USA attracts explorers from across the Midwest. The event highlights cultural travel, outdoor adventure, and eco-tourism initiatives. Exhibitors range from trekking specialists to adventure cruise operators, offering interactive sessions that inspire and educate attendees.

Workshops cover travel safety, itinerary planning, adventure photography, and sustainable tourism. Visitors leave with a wealth of knowledge, new connections, and the motivation to book their next journey. Chicago’s show combines professional insight with hands-on experiences, making it a central hub for travellers eager to explore new destinations.

5. Phoenix Travel & Adventure Show – Desert Adventures & Beyond

Phoenix, Arizona, has emerged as a rising star among Adventure Shows in USA. Situated in the heart of the Southwest, the event features desert exploration, eco-tourism, and international travel experiences. Visitors can attend seminars on desert safaris, trekking, and wildlife tours, while exploring interactive exhibitions.

The show also highlights innovative adventure gear and outdoor technology. It attracts families, solo travellers, and adventure seekers, providing an inspiring mix of education and entertainment. Phoenix’s event demonstrates the growing popularity of adventure tourism in the USA and its potential to engage a wide audience.

6. Denver Travel & Adventure Show – Rocky Mountain Adventures

Denver, Colorado, hosts an unforgettable Adventure Show in USA, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports lovers. The expo focuses on mountain adventures, wilderness survival, hiking, and winter sports. Attendees interact with climbing experts, tour planners, and eco-tourism organisations.

Hands-on demonstrations, such as rock climbing walls and hiking simulations, offer immersive experiences. The Denver show connects travellers with professionals and companies specialising in adventure tourism, helping them plan unforgettable trips. It is an essential event for anyone seeking outdoor excitement and travel inspiration.

7. Washington D.C. Travel & Adventure Show – The Capital Meets Global Travel

The Washington D.C. Travel & Adventure Show combines the nation’s capital with international travel opportunities. Exhibitors showcase cultural tours, adventure experiences, and eco-tourism initiatives from around the globe. Visitors attend panels on sustainable travel, extreme sports, and expedition planning.

The show is ideal for first-time travellers and seasoned explorers alike. It provides educational seminars, hands-on demonstrations, and networking opportunities with industry experts. Washington D.C.’s event emphasises the importance of adventure tourism in connecting people, cultures, and destinations.

Why Attending Adventure Shows in USA is Essential

Attending Adventure Shows in USA offers multiple benefits:

  • Discover trending travel destinations and emerging adventure sports.
  • Connect directly with travel professionals and tour operators.
  • Learn practical travel skills, such as safety, planning, and navigation.
  • Experience interactive demonstrations and workshops.
  • Gain inspiration for unique and unforgettable trips.

These shows are gateways to the world, providing attendees with knowledge, tools, and contacts to make any adventure dream a reality.

How to Maximise Your Visit to Adventure Shows in USA

  • Arrive early to attend keynote sessions and workshops.
  • Engage with exhibitors and ask questions about destinations and tours.
  • Take notes and collect brochures for future reference.
  • Try hands-on activities like climbing, kayaking, or virtual destination experiences.
  • Network with like-minded travellers and industry professionals.

Proper planning ensures that visitors leave with more than inspiration—they leave with actionable plans for their next adventure.

Future of Adventure Tourism in the USA

Adventure tourism is growing rapidly in the USA. Events like these shows highlight the rise in demand for eco-tourism, adventure sports, and cultural exploration. Travel industry professionals use these expos to innovate, showcase emerging destinations, and connect with consumers.

By attending Adventure Shows in USA, travellers can stay ahead of trends, explore unique experiences, and plan trips with confidence. The synergy between exhibitors, speakers, and attendees makes these events central to the future of travel.

Conclusion

Tourism Fair

From Dallas to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, and Washington D.C., these seven Adventure Shows in USA offer unparalleled opportunities to explore the world. They combine education, inspiration, and entertainment, making them essential for anyone who loves adventure.

Whether you are a thrill-seeker, a family planner, or a cultural traveller, these events help you discover new destinations, plan unforgettable trips, and connect with industry experts. Adventure Shows in USA are more than exhibitions—they are gateways to the world of adventure.

Start planning your visits today and experience the excitement, energy, and inspiration of these unforgettable travel events.

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Massive Snowstorm Hits Boston, Grounding Flights at Logan Airport – Here’s What You Need to Know!

7 February 2026 at 23:18
Massive Snowstorm Hits Boston, Grounding Flights at Logan Airport – Here’s What You Need to Know!

A powerful snowstorm that hit the Boston area on Saturday has caused significant travel disruptions at Logan International Airport. The storm, which began early in the morning, brought snow and ice that briefly halted flights bound for Boston. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a ground stop was issued for the airport in the afternoon, temporarily grounding incoming flights and requiring departing planes to undergo deicing procedures.

Snow and Ice Disrupts Logan Airport Operations

The snowstorm has left a considerable impact on air travel, with delays expected throughout the day. Logan International Airport, a major hub for both domestic and international flights, faced challenges as the storm’s intensity increased. At the time of the ground stop, authorities announced that the situation would be reevaluated at 2 p.m., with the airport assessing the weather conditions to determine when it would be safe for operations to resume.

The storm has already left its mark across Massachusetts, with parts of the North Shore receiving over a foot of snow before noon. The weather conditions have made it difficult for planes to operate normally, with the deicing operations at Logan International taking center stage as crews worked tirelessly to ensure that aircrafts were safe to fly.

Forecasting Snowfall: How Much Will Boston Get?

By the end of Saturday, Boston is expected to receive between 3-6 inches of snow. As the storm continues to develop, the region’s weather authorities have issued a winter storm warning for areas north of the city, which could receive even higher amounts of snow. This severe weather event has disrupted daily life, with roads becoming slippery and travel across the region slowed. The snowfall is expected to continue throughout the day, intensifying the already challenging conditions.

For Boston residents and travelers, the storm serves as a reminder of the power of winter weather and its potential to impact not just daily routines but also vital transportation networks. As Logan International Airport deals with the immediate disruptions, the airport’s ground services and crews have been working diligently to keep operations running as smoothly as possible.

The Economic Impact of the Snowstorm

The impact of severe snowstorms like the one currently affecting Boston extends beyond just flight delays. The airport’s operations are a key part of the region’s economic infrastructure, and any delays or disruptions can ripple out to affect businesses, tourism, and local transportation systems. The weather event is particularly significant given the Super Bowl weekend, a time when many travelers are already heading to and from Boston to join in the festivities and enjoy the events surrounding the big game.

Airlines, passengers, and ground staff have all felt the effects of this winter storm. Flight cancellations and delays are expected to continue for the rest of the day, adding to the logistical challenges faced by both airlines and travelers. While Logan International Airport remains a vital part of Boston’s connectivity, storms like these show just how important it is to plan for disruptions and give adequate time for travel during winter months.

Winter Storm Warning for Areas North of Boston

The current winter storm warning for parts of Massachusetts, particularly areas north of Boston, signals a serious threat of accumulating snow and icy conditions. These areas are expected to experience snowfall amounts that exceed what is forecast for Boston itself. With the snow already starting to accumulate, local governments have warned residents to stay indoors where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and prepare for slippery roads and poor visibility.

In addition to snow, the freezing temperatures that accompany these types of storms make it a dangerous time for drivers. MassDOT has issued advisories, urging drivers to be cautious on the roads and to ensure that their vehicles are equipped with proper winter tires and emergency supplies. The combination of heavy snow, ice, and strong winds creates hazardous conditions that could easily lead to traffic accidents and road closures.

Looking Ahead: Super Bowl Sunday and the Aftermath

As the storm continues throughout Saturday, residents and travelers alike are looking ahead to Super Bowl Sunday. With the NFL championship taking place the following day, Boston will likely see continued snow and freezing temperatures that could impact both local events and travel to the game. As of now, forecasts indicate that temperatures will plummet, with wind chills likely making the city feel much colder than the actual 27°F temperature.

The aftermath of the snowstorm could also impact public transportation services, including bus routes and commuter trains. Travelers may find delays in these services as well as road closures affecting access to major sporting venues and commercial centers.

Snow Storm in Context: Boston’s Weather History

Winter storms in Boston are not a new phenomenon, but this particular snowstorm’s timing and intensity have caused a ripple effect across the airport, local communities, and the broader region. In the past, Boston has experienced snowfalls that far exceed today’s forecast, but the snowstorm’s early arrival and the sheer amount of snow falling within a short window has heightened concerns. Cities like Boston are well-equipped to handle snow removal and traffic management, but major storms still challenge these systems and require cooperation from local citizens and businesses.

Conclusion: Preparing for Snow in New England

As this snowstorm unfolds, travelers should remain vigilant about potential disruptions, especially if they are flying through Logan International Airport or traveling to Boston from nearby areas. The weather warnings issued by authorities are there for a reason, urging people to plan accordingly and adjust their travel schedules if necessary. For now, the snowstorm is a reminder of how quickly winter weather can change, and how crucial it is to be prepared for all types of conditions in New England.

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Nepal’s Ultra‑Luxury Hiking & Helicopters Everest Adventure By Remote Lands Set To Boost Tourism And Hospitality In 2026

7 February 2026 at 23:16
Nepal’s Ultra‑Luxury Hiking & Helicopters Everest Adventure By Remote Lands Set To Boost Tourism And Hospitality In 2026

The upcoming spring season will bring major improvements to Nepal’s tourism system when Remote Lands, the ultra-luxury Asia travel designer, starts its special Hiking & Helicopters in Nepal The Secret Path to Everest expedition which will take place from May 16 to 30 in 2026. The tour creates a human connection through its combination of Himalayan trekking experiences and helicopter transportation to custom lodge accommodations and special elevated experiences, which will help develop the local hospitality industry and increase Nepal’s international tourism attractions.

Exclusive Itinerary Redefines Everest Base Camp Access

At the heart of this innovative journey is a refined approach to the iconic Everest Base Camp trek. Instead of following the heavily trafficked classic trail, guests are guided on a lesser‑travelled path through the Khumbu region, with strategic helicopter transfers bypassing congested sections of the route. This blend of trekking and scenic helicopter flights unfurls breathtaking Himalayan vistas and enables access to remote valleys that most trekkers do not see.

Legendary mountaineer Jamling Tenzing Norgay, son of Mount Everest pioneer Tenzing Norgay, leads the expedition. Indirectly, Remote Lands notes his lifetime of Himalayan exploration adds both gravitas and local insight to the itinerary, deepening the cultural and historical context of each day’s journey.

Luxury Accommodations and Authentic Himalayan Hospitality

The journey begins and concludes in Kathmandu, where guests stay at Dwarika’s Hotel, a property celebrated for its tribute to Newari architecture and world‑class service. Throughout the trek, accommodations shift from curated lodge stays with Mountain Lodges of Nepal to a uniquely private tented camp at Everest Base Camp after the spring climbing season, an opportunity rarely available outside professional mountaineering expeditions.

This distribution of guests across high‑end properties, scenic lodges, and cultural hubs spreads economic benefit across regions. Local guides, lodge staff and hospitality workers stand to gain from heightened demand as ultra‑luxury travellers head deeper into Nepal’s mountainous districts. With limited numbers capped at just 12 guests per departure, demand for premium service is set to rise.

Adventure Beyond the Ordinary: Helicopters and Immersive Activities

For adventurous travellers, the unique fusion of trekking with helicopter logistics positions Nepal as a top choice for bespoke adventure tourism. Helicopters ferry guests over dramatic Himalayan terrain, granting aerial perspectives of snow‑capped peaks and verdant valleys that standard trekking cannot replicate. With helicopter access into areas like Kongde and a direct landing at Everest Base Camp itself, the experience offers a hard‑to‑match blend of thrill, comfort and visual splendour.

Along the trail, daily hikes through lush forests, high‑altitude villages and ancient suspension bridges test both the body and spirit, while panoramic views of the Khumbu Glacier and Himalayan giants elevate the sense of achievement. Such helicopter‑enhanced itineraries are increasingly attractive to global high‑income travellers seeking exclusive adventure with logistical ease, a trend that can reinforce Nepal’s reputation for premium trekking and experiential tourism.

Economic and Hospitality Impact on Nepal’s Travel Sector

Industry analysts believe this elevation of experiential tourism will have ripple effects across Nepal’s broader hospitality sector. High‑spending travellers on bespoke journeys like this bring increased occupancy and higher spend per guest to hotels, lodges and ancillary services in Kathmandu, Lukla and beyond. As Remote Lands emphasises personalised guides and porters for each guest, local employment opportunities in guiding and hospitality services are expected to rise.

Nepal’s Tourism Board has been actively promoting such experiential tourism offerings to diversify away from standard trekking itineraries and boost economic resilience. The emphasis on luxury and mitigated crowding aligns with broader strategic shifts within Nepalese tourism policy geared towards sustainability, premium experiences and year‑round tourism growth.

Cultural Immersion and Natural Wonders Along the Way

Travellers on this journey do not merely walk; they connect with Sherpa culture, visit teahouses steeped in Himalayan tradition, and experience Nepal’s rich cultural tapestry. Remote Lands’ official itinerary highlights opportunities to learn from local communities in places like Namche Bazaar and Deboche, where regional crafts, cuisine and folklore add depth to the adventure.

For those captivated by both natural beauty and cultural heritage, this journey exemplifies Nepal’s multifaceted appeal. The strategic blend of physical journeying, aerial exploration and thoughtful hospitality underscores a tourism product with broad, sustainable impact, one that nurtures local economies while exceeding global travellers’ expectations.

Sustained Global Interest and Future Tourism Prospects

Bookings for the May 2026 departure have been met with enthusiasm, reflecting growing interest in tailored adventure tours. With only 12 spaces available, the exclusivity enhances appeal and ensures high levels of personalised service. For Nepal, offerings like this could play a pivotal role in shaping future tourism strategies that emphasise quality over volume, aligning with global trends favoring unique, low‑impact adventures.

Remote Lands uses its services to make Nepal the leading destination for personalized Himalayan travel. The combination of Everest, helicopter tours and local cultural experiences will further establish Nepal as an elite tourist destination. The Hiking & Helicopters experience demonstrates how well-planned tourism can enhance a destination’s hospitality industry while providing visitors with remarkable experiences because it brings more international attention to the area and helps local lodges and adventure operators.

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Samsung aware of Sound Assistant lock screen issue, fix coming soon

7 February 2026 at 23:32

Some Samsung users have reported an issue after a recent update to the Sound Assistant Good Lock app. The issue affects how audio switches between Bluetooth devices and the phone and has caused confusion for users who depend on this feature daily. While the issue is not major, it can interrupt normal phone use.

The issue appears when users connect their phones to Bluetooth devices such as car audio systems or wireless speakers. Many people use the red check circle button in the volume panel to quickly switch sound between the Bluetooth device and the phone’s speaker. Before the update, this feature worked without any trouble.

After the recent update, switching the sound back to the phone sometimes causes the device to suddenly move to the lock screen. This can happen while watching videos on apps like YouTube or when connecting and disconnecting Bluetooth speakers. The sudden screen change breaks the flow and feels unexpected.

Samsung One UI 7 Sound Assistant

This issue has been reported by a Galaxy Z Fold 5 user, who explained that the issue started only after the recent update. The user also received an error message saying the feature was unavailable. Reinstalling the Sound Assistant app fixed the error message, but the lock screen issue still occurs in certain situations.

A Samsung Community moderator from the Good Lock support team responded to the report. The moderator confirmed that Samsung is aware of the issue and stated that it will be improved in the next Sound Assistant app update.

Until the update is released, affected users are advised to keep their apps updated and report similar issues through Samsung Community. User feedback helps Samsung identify and fix problems more quickly. Stay tuned for more information.

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Super Mario Galaxy Movie promo site may use generative AI, despite Nintendo opposing the tools

It’s unlikely that generative AI could match the quality of animation seen in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailers. Even so, General Mills appears willing to take shortcuts when marketing the film. On a website with movie-themed snacks, the manufacturer posted several dubious-looking photos.

Spotify's About the Song tells you the meaning behind what you're hearing

7 February 2026 at 23:32

Spotify has been incredibly busy over the past couple of days. After officially launching Page Match, it's introducing About the Song, which it bills as "a new way to explore the stories behind music". This new feature puts short, swipeable story cards in your Now Playing view, which "explore the meaning behind the music you're hearing". The stories are summarized from third-party sources "to surface interesting details and behind-the-scenes moments", the official press release states. To see this, you need to open the Now Playing view and scroll down to find the About the Song...

Rodrygo injury update: Real Madrid forward to miss upcoming La Liga matches

7 February 2026 at 23:19
Real Madrid won't have Rodrygo for their upcoming La Liga match against Valencia.

Rodrygo was a huge piece of Real Madrid’s success in past seasons. His appearances in decisive matches were crucial, especially in their Champions League titles. However, his importance has diminished since Xabi Alonso’s hiring.

Alonso’s departure didn’t help much because he wasn’t a starter for Álvaro Arbeloa either, but a suspension to Vinicius opened a spot in the attack for the match against Valencia. Unfortunately, he will not replace his fellow Brazilian.

Real Madrid confirmed Rodrygo has been diagnosed with right hamstring tendinosis that will keep him out at Mestalla. The estimated absence is around 10 days, which means he may also miss the home match with Real Sociedad.

Rodrygo’s return will take even longer

The problems for Rodrygo to regain a place in the team don’t stop with injuries. This setback could keep him out for the next two matches. However, he won’t be available for Real Madrid’s match after Real Sociedad.

Rodrygo leaving the field in the defeat to Benfica (Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

Even if he recovers in time to be fit for the Champions League playoff against Benfica, Rodrygo will not play. The reason is he received a red card in the chaotic ending of the last league-phase match that ended in a 4-2 defeat during the visit to Portugal.

His return could then come when Real Madrid visits Osasuna in La Liga on February 21. Notably, he will not be available for the second leg in the European competition because he received a two-match suspension for his gesture toward the referee.

Rodrygo’s replacement in Valencia

Every injury is ill-timed for players who aren’t a manager’s favorite. This one may have hurt even more because he was almost certain to start in Vinicius’ absence. Rodrygo’s status isn’t the only issue Arbeloa is facing for the weekend.

Jude Bellingham is another major absence, leaving Kylian Mbappé with even more pressure to be the main scoring option. Arbeloa could opt to put the Frenchman in his natural left-side position with Gonzalo Garcia as the traditional No. 9 up front. Other alternatives are Franco Mastantuono, Brahim Díaz, or even Federico Valverde on the right wing.

Rodrygo was set to start in Valencia before the injury

Cristiano Ronaldo under fire as Saudi Pro League threatens to hit back with possible fine: What sanctions could Al-Nassr’s captain face if he continues boycott?

7 February 2026 at 22:35
The 41-year-old superstar, who joined Al-Nassr in early 2023, has found himself at the center of a growing controversy, one that could see him facing potential disciplinary action.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s tenure in Saudi Arabia is entering an unprecedented chapter. The 41-year-old superstar, who joined Al-Nassr in early 2023, has found himself at the center of a growing controversy, one that could see him facing potential disciplinary action. His recent absence from consecutive matches has sent shockwaves through the Saudi Pro League.

On Monday, he skipped Al-Nassr’s 1-0 win against Al-Riyadh, and just days later, he was missing again as his team triumphed 2-0 over Al-Ittihad thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel. According to Portuguese daily A Bola, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has taken this stand due to unpaid salaries—a staggering sum reportedly just under $23.6 million per month, totaling over $236 million per season.

“Cristiano has realized that there has been no change in the attitude towards him from the PIF fund… so much so that, in addition to the lack of investment in the transfer market, there continue to be major delays in the payment of salaries to the club’s players, staff and employees,” revealed A Bola. The striker reportedly stated he would have played had his back wages been received, highlighting a rare defiance from a player often seen as supremely professional.

The Saudi Pro League appears ready to facilitate Ronaldo’s departure this summer, despite his global stature. Various reports from England suggest that league officials are considering bringing in new stars like Mohamed Salah or Bruno Fernandes, signaling a strategic shift aimed at maintaining the league’s international appeal with players still at the peak of their careers.

Mohamed Salah (L) of Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo (M) of Al Nassr, and Vinicius Junior (R) of Real Madrid.
Mohamed Salah (L) of Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo (M) of Al Nassr, and Vinicius Junior (R) of Real Madrid.

“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules… No individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club,” a league spokesperson told BBC Sport. This statement underscores that even someone of the Portuguese’s stature cannot dictate recruitment or financial decisions beyond Al-Nassr’s management.

Behind the scenes: Rivalries and transfers

Ronaldo’s frustrations are compounded by the league’s ongoing competitive reshaping. Al-Hilal, also owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), recently acquired Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, who marked his debut with a sensational hat-trick. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr’s recent transfer activity has been criticized as insufficient, especially compared to rivals who have spent heavily to strengthen their squads.

“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters,” the Saudi Pro League added.

Despite his absence, Al-Nassr has won back-to-back matches, closing the gap with Al-Hilal to just a single point in the title race. Ronaldo himself has been prolific this season, scoring 17 league goals in 18 matches, still chasing the historic milestone of 1,000 senior career goals, currently sitting on 961.

The sanctions question

While Ronaldo’s protest centers on finances and club management, his absence without a medical or technical justification may lead to formal sanctions. London-based Arabic newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsatreports that continued refusal to play could trigger disciplinary measures, including financial deductions or fines. This situation puts the legendary forward in a delicate position: balancing professional principles, personal financial expectations, and the scrutiny of an entire league.

Cristiano Ronaldo refused to play for Al Nassr vs. Al Riyadh on Monday.

Kylian Mbappe ups the stakes with PSG legal battle far from over: Another twist in dispute emerges as Real Madrid star asks for additional $6.4m

7 February 2026 at 21:51
Long after his high-profile exit and his move into a new chapter of his career, the Real Madrid superstar remains at the center of a legal storm that continues to haunt the club that once built its entire project around him.

The saga between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain refuses to fade quietly into history. Long after his high-profile exit and his move into a new chapter of his career, the Real Madrid superstar remains at the center of a legal storm that continues to haunt the club that once built its entire project around him. While many assumed the conflict had reached its conclusion, new developments suggest the dispute is entering yet another dramatic phase.

Mbappe’s name remains synonymous with PSG’s modern era, and even now, his shadow still looms over the club. This time, the controversy has resurfaced not on the pitch, but in courtrooms and legal documents, where millions of dollars are still at stake.

The legal conflict between PSG and Mbappe dates back to the final months of his contract, which ended in the summer of 2024. After his departure, the French forward accused the club of failing to pay various salaries, bonuses, and contractual obligations.

In December 2025, the Paris labor tribunal delivered a decisive ruling in favor of the player. The court ordered the French giant to pay nearly $66.4 million, including around $60 million in unpaid wages and bonuses, as well as additional compensation tied to accrued leave and interest. Despite the ruling, the dispute never truly closed.

Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates with Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates with Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.

The hidden reason revealed

While the Parisians complied with part of the judgment, a crucial portion of the money remained unpaid. The club settled the $60 million related to salary and bonuses but failed to pay the remaining $6.4 million tied to paid leave and legal interest.

That unresolved sum is now the center of a new escalation in the case. According to L’Equipe, Mbappe’s legal team recently sent a bailiff to PSG’s headquarters with a formal demand for immediate payment. The club was given an eight-day deadline to settle the outstanding amount or face serious legal consequences.

“Discussions are underway with the player’s representatives on the terms of payment of the remaining sums,” the club stated. “All salaries and bonuses owed to Kylian Mbappe have been paid in full by Paris Saint-Germain.” However, the Frenchman’s camp sees the matter differently.

messi mbappe neymar psg
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain

Bailiffs, deadlines, and what PSG risks losing

The arrival of a bailiff at PSG’s offices marks a dramatic escalation in the legal battle. The order demands that the remaining $6.4 million be paid within eight days, or the authorities could move to seize assets directly from the club’s accounts. Legal experts suggest this is not a symbolic gesture. If PSG fails to comply, enforcement measures could be triggered quickly, potentially embarrassing the club on a global stage.

The case has become one of the most high-profile financial disputes between a player and a club in modern soccer, underlining the growing power players have in legal battles over contracts and compensation.

Kylian Mbappe (left) and Nasser Al-Khelaifi (right)

Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa live scorecard and full undercard results

7 February 2026 at 23:08

Nick Ball puts his WBA Featherweight World title on the line against Brandon Figueroa tonight in Liverpool, looking to make the fourth successful defence of the belt in front of a hometown crowd. Ball is one of six British male world champions, but he stood alone at one stage with the UK on his back. […]

The post Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa live scorecard and full undercard results appeared first on Boxing News.

‘Kenetlen Fenerbahçe‘ Her yerden çağrı var

Yüksek Divan Kurulu Başkanı Şekip Mosturoğlu ve yönetici Ertuğrul Eren Ergen camiaya "kenetlen" çağrısı yaptı.

N'Golo Kante transferiyle coşan ancak santrfor gelmeyince keyiflerin kaçtığı Fenerbahçe'de şampiyonluk yolunda "kenetlenme" mesajları gelmeye başladı.

Yüksek Divan Kurulu Başkanı Şekip Mosturoğlu ve yönetici Ertuğrul Eren Ergen, taraftara ve camiaya seslenerek tam destek çağrısı yaptı.

Yüksek Divan Kurulu (YDK) Başkanı Şekip Mosturoğlu, tartışmaların son bulması gerektiğini belirterek iddialı konuştu.

- Bu saatten sonra en iyi takım bizim, en iyi teknik direktör bizim. Biz şampiyon olacağız. Bu saatten sonra 'bu çok oldu, bu az oldu' diyecek durumda değiliz."

Transfer süreci ve kadro yapılanmasına dair konuşan Fenerbahçe yöneticisi Ertuğrul Eren Ergen ise yönetimin üzerine düşeni yaptığını ifade etti.

- Transferde Fenerbahçe’nin doğruları neyse onlar için mücadele ettik ve gerekeni yaptık. İnanın bana çok değerli bir kadromuz var. Bunun için hep beraber destek olalım ve Fenerbahçe’yi el birliğiyle şampiyon yapalım.

Atko Grup Pendikspor - Amed Sportif Faaliyetler: 0-2 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Trendyol 1. Lig'in 24. haftasında Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, konuk olduğu Atko Grup Pendikspor'u 2-0 yendi.

Stat: Pendik

Hakemler: Batuhan Kolak, Hüsnü Emre Çelimli, Seyfettin Ünal

Atko Grup Pendikspor: Deniz Dilmen, Soldo, Denic (Dk. 73 Ahmet Karademir), Clarke-Harris (Dk. 59 Berkay Sülüngöz), Wilks (Dk. 73 Thuram), Hakan Yeşil, Hüseyin Maldar, Mesut Özdemir, Bekir Karadeniz, Furkan Mehmet Doğan, Yiğit Fidan

Amed Sportif Faaliyetler: Erce Kardeşler, Murat Uçar, Tarkan Serbest (Dk. 69 Cem Üstündağ), Syrota, Hasan Ali Kaldırım, Sinan Kurt (Dk. 86 Atakan Müjde), Traore (Dk. 69 Mehmet Yeşil), Hasani, Moreno (Dk. 69 Dia Saba), Dimitrov (Dk. 81 Afena-Gyan), Diagne

Goller: Dk. 49 Traore, Dk. 60 Diagne (Amed Sportif Faaliyetler)

Kırmızı kart: Dk. 42 Hakan Yeşil (Atko Grup Pendikspor)

Sarı kartlar: Dk. 39 Murat Uçar, Dk. 45+1 Tarkan Serbest (Amed Sportif Faaliyetler), Dk. 90+1 Yiğit Fidan (Atko Grup Pendikspor)

Hansi Flik: “Lamin Yamalın oyunundan çox razıyam”

7 February 2026 at 22:00

“Barselona”nın baş məşqçisi Hansi Flik “blauqrana”nın 18 yaşlı sağ cinah hücumçusu Lamin Yamalın cari vəziyyətini qiymətləndirib.

Arena.az alman mütəxəssisin ispan futbolçu barədə müvafiq açıqlamasını təqdim edir:

“Yamal hazırda əla vəziyyətdədir. Lamin yüksək səviyyəli oyunçudur”, deyə Flik məmnunluqla vurğulayıb.

O, ispaniyalı ulduzun oyunundan razılığını ifadə edib:

“Hazırda Laminin oyunundan çox razıyam. İndi o, nəinki hücuma köklənib, həmçinin müdafiə haqda da düşünür”, deyə Hansi Flik bildirib.

Yeri gəlmişkən, İspaniya futbolunun əfsanəsi, “Barsleona”nın keçmiş yarımmüdafiəçisi Andres İnyesta da Yamal haqda qənaətini açıqlayıb:

“Əgər Yamal tərəqqisinə davam edərsə, onun ən görkəmli oyunçulardan biri olacağına imkanı var”, deyə İnyesta vurğulayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Lamin Yamal “Barselona”nın məzunudur. İstedadlı gənc 2022/2023-cü illər mövsümündən Kataloniya təmsilçisinin əsas komandasında çıxış edir. Yamalın “Barselona” ilə müqaviləsinin müddəti 2031-ci ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvvədədir.

Yamal cari mövsümdə “blauqrana”nın heyətində 30 oyuna çıxıb. O, bu oyunlarda 15 qol və 13 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə fərqlənib.

Lamin Yamalın “Barselona”da çıxışının ümumi mənzərəsi 136 oyun, 39 qol və 47 məhsuldar ötürmədən ibarətdir.

Yamal 2023-cü ilin sentyabr ayında debüt etdiyi İspaniya yığma komandasının heyətində 23 oyun keçirib, 6 qol vurub, 12 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.

Yamalın qənimətlər muzeyində “Barselona” ilə qazandığı İspaniya La Liqası (2022/2023, 2024/2025), İspaniya Kral Kuboku (2024/2025) və İspaniya Super Kuboku (2024/2025) var. Həmçinin Yamal İspaniya yığması ilə AÇ-2024-ün qalibi olub.

“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 18 yaşlı ispaniyalı sağ cinah hücumçusunun transfer dəyərini 200 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.

Balabəy Ağayev Parisdə 3-cü dəfə “qızıl” qazandı

7 February 2026 at 21:00

Azərbaycan cüdoçusu Balabəy Ağayev Fransanın paytaxtı Parisdə keçirilən “Böyük Dəbilqə” turnirinin qızıl medalını qazanıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Paris “Böyük Dəbilqə”sinə bu gün start verilib.

İlk gündə Azərbaycanın üç cüdoçusu mübarizə aparıb. Nazir Talıbov (66 kq) 1/16 final mərhələsində Migel Qaqoya (Portuqaliya) uduzub və mübarizəni erkən dayandırıb.

Eyni çəki dərəcəsində mübarizə aparan digər cüdoçumuz Ruslan Paşayev (66 kq) isə bu turniri bürünc medalla başa vurub. O, İtaliya təmsilçisi Valerio Akkolini yuko xalı ilə məğlub edərək üçüncü olub.

Balabəy Ağayevin (60 kq) çıxışı daha möhtəşəm alınıb. O, yarışı qızıl medalla tamamlayıb. 27 yaşlı idmançı finalda ukraynalı Dilşot Xalmatova qalib gəlib.

Qeyd edək ki, Balabəy Ağayev karyerasında üçüncü dəfə Parisdə keçirilən “Böyük Dəbilqə” turnirinin qalibi olur.

Paris “Böyük Dəbilqə”sinə fevralın 8-də yekun vurulacaq. Azərbaycan yarışda 8 cüdoçu ilə təmsil olunur.

Mourinyo: “Onu dünyanın ən yaxşı qapıçısı hesab edirəm”

7 February 2026 at 20:00

“Benfika”nın portuqal baş məşqçisi Joze Mourinyo Madrid “Real”ının belçikalı əsas qapıçısı Tibo Kurtua haqda qənaətini açıqlayıb.

Arena.az portuqal mütəxəssisin müvafiq açıqlamasını təqdim edir:

“Kurtuanın nailiyyətləri inanılmazdır. Tibo mənim komandamda oynayıb, onu yaxşı tanıyıram. Onu dünyanın ən yaxşı qapıçısı hesab edirəm”, deyə Mourinyo vurğulayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Tibo Kurtua futbola Belçikanın “Bilzen” klubunda qədəm qoyub. Buradan “Genk”ə yol tapmış qapıçı böyük futbolda debüt edib. Daha sonra Kurtua “Çelsi”yə keçib və 2011-ci ilin iyulunda icarə əsasında Madrid “Atletiko”suna yollanıb. 2018-ci ilin avqustuna qədər Kurtua “döşəkçilər”in uğurları üçün çalışıb. Daha sonra belçikalı qapıçı “döşəkçilər”in düşərgəsindəki icarə müddətini başa vuraraq, transfer hüquqlarının məxsus olduğu “Çelsi”yə qayıdıb.

“Real” Kurtuanı 2018-ci ilin avqustunda 35 milyon avro məbləğ müqabilində “Çelsi”dən “qaymaqlılar”ın düşərgəsinə qatıb. Kurtuanın klubla müqaviləsi 2027-ci ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvvədədir.

Cari mövsümdə belçikalı qapıçı “Real” üçün 31 oyun keçirib, 31 qol buraxıb, 12 oyunda isə qapısının toxunulmazlığını təmin edib.
Tibo Kurtuanın “qaymaqlılar”ın düşərgəsində çıxışının ümumi mənzərəsi 319 oyun, 313 buraxılmış qol və 125 “quru” oyundan ibarətdir.

“Real”ın heyətində belçikalı qapıçı 3 dəfə İspaniya çempionluğunu, 1 dəfə İspaniya Kral Kubokunu, 3 dəfə İspaniya Super Kubokunu, 2 dəfə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasını, 2 dəfə UEFA Super Kubokunu, 2 dəfə FIFA Klub Dünya Kubokunu və FIFA Qitələrarası Kuboku qazanıb.

Həmçinin Kurtuanın qənimətlər muzeyində “Atletiko” ilə qazandığı İspaniya La Liqası (2013/2014), İspaniya Kuboku (2012/2013), Avropa Liqası (2011/2012) və UEFA Super Kuboku (2012/2013) var.
Kurtua 2011-ci ildə debüt etdiyi Belçika yığmasının heyətində 107 oyun keçirib, 84 qol “yeyib”, 54 oyundan “quru” qurtulub.

“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 33 yaşlı qapıçının transfer dəyərini 18 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.

Serie A | Genoa 2-3 Napoli – Player Ratings as McTominay & Hojlund shine

7 February 2026 at 23:05

Genoa and Napoli played out a tight 3-2 affair as Antonio Conte’s side picked up all three points despite a spirited Genoa performance.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Scott McTominay, for his dominant performance in midfield, and goal, before having to come off to add to Napoli’s growing injury list.

Genoa 2-3 Napoli – Player Ratings

Genoa: Bijlow 5.5; Marcandalli 6.5, Ostigard 5.5, Vasquez 6; Norton-Cuffy 6, Malinovsky 7 (Messias 6), Frendrup 5.5, Ellertsson 6, Martin 5.5 (Masini 6); Colombo 7 (Ekuban 6.5), Vitina 6.5 (Cornet N/A)

Best Genoa Player: Lorenzo Colombo – Took his goal well and was one of the more dangerous elements of Genoa’s front line.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Lowest Genoa rating: Bijlow – Has been decent since his arrival at the club but had one of his poorer performances tonight. Could have done better for the first goal, did not look convincing.

Coach: Daniele De Rossi – 6.5 – Credit has to go to the Genoa coach who has really turned things around since his appointment. Was unlucky to be denied a point after setting up his team well to counter the champions.

NapoliMeret 5.5; Rrahmani 7, Buongiorno 4.5 (Beukema 6), Juan Jesus 4.5; Gutierrez 5.5, Lobotka 6.5, McTominay 7.5 (Giovane 5.5), Spinazzola 6; Vergara 6.5, Elmas 6.5; Hojlund 7.5

Best Napoli player: Scott McTominay – Could have been Hojlund for his brace but, before he came off injured, the Scottish midfielder really demonstrated his value once more, controlling the midfield and scoring a delightful goal to give Napoli the lead before half-time.

Coach: Antonio Conte 6.5 – Still working with a barebones squad, McTominay the latest of a growing infirmary, but managed to avoid a potential banana skin thanks to a bit of good fortune on the day.

Serie A | Genoa 2-3 Napoli: Hojlund the hero as 10 men snatch victory

7 February 2026 at 23:01

Napoli survived a penalty after 15 seconds, Scott McTominay injury and Juan Jesus red card to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 victory away to Genoa with Rasmus Hojlund’s brace.

The injury crisis dragged on for Antonio Conte, who was still missing Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour, while Matteo Politano and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic were only fit for the bench, but at least Amir Rrahmani returned to the starting XI. The Grifone saw their five-match unbeaten run ended by a chaotic 3-2 defeat to Lazio. Tommaso Baldanzi and Benjamin Siegrist missed out, and Leo Ostigard faced his former club.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli (left), greets Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli (left), greets Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

It was a dramatic start, as within 15 seconds Alessandro Buongiorno panicked and hacked at a long ball, allowing Vitinha to run into the box, where he went down under an Alex Meret challenge. The referee awarded a penalty following the VAR review, so Ruslan Malinovskyi converted the spot-kick centrally.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Ruslan Malinovskyi of Genoa (center) scores a goal on a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Ruslan Malinovskyi of Genoa (center) scores a goal on a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Scott McTominay shinned an effort over from the edge of the box, but Napoli turned it around with an astonishing few minutes.

First McTominay’s angled drive was parried by Justin Bijlow into the path of Hojlund to tap in for his first Serie A goal of 2026.

Play had barely resumed when McTominay won a tackle in midfield and thumped a right-foot scorcher into the near bottom corner from 25 metres out.

Curiously, in those few seconds between the two goals, the Scotland international had gone to the touchline to get some magic spray on his right ankle. He was then visibly hobbling after the goal with a muscular issue at the back of the right leg.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Eljif Elmas of Napoli (right) sprays his teammate Scott McTominay's right ankle during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Eljif Elmas of Napoli (right) sprays his teammate Scott McTominay’s right ankle during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Malinovskyi’s long-range screamer forced a flying Meret save out from under the bar on the stroke of half-time.

McTominay was replaced by Giovane, with Eljif Elmas dropping into midfield and Antonio Vergara shifting over to the left flank.

Genoa got back on level terms, and it was another howler from Buongiorno, who was caught napping in midfield and robbed by Lorenzo Colombo, who surges forward to drill into the far bottom corner.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa (right) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa (right) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Napoli fought back, Spinazzola scuffing the finish after a give and go with Hojlund, then a double chance where Miguel Gutierrez saw his finish charged down and Stanislav Lobotka ballooned over.

Malinovskyi and Vitinha also turned over from promising positions, but Napoli went down to 10 men when Juan Jesus pulled back Caleb Ekuban by the jersey for a second yellow card. It also means he’ll be suspended against his old club Roma next week.

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 7: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa (left), greets Juan Jesus of Napoli prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa (left), greets Juan Jesus of Napoli prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

There was drama deep into stoppages when Maxwel Cornet trod on Vergara’s foot during a Napoli corner. Just like in the opening minute, Massa had to be called to the VAR monitor and awarded a penalty. Hojlund slightly scuffed the spot-kick, his first ever in Serie A, and it squirmed under Justin Bijlow’s hand to give 10-man Napoli the victory.

Genoa 2-3 Napoli

Malinovskyi pen 3 (G), Hojlund 20, pen 95 (N), McTominay 22 (N), Colombo 57 (G)

Sent off: Juan Jesus 76 (N)

07-02-2026 17:00
MatchDay 24

Player statistic

1st half
    2' Alex Meret
Ruslan Malinovskyi 3'    
    20' Rasmus Højlund
    21' Scott McTominay
(Assist: Amir Rrahmani)
2nd half
Johan Vásquez 50'    
Lorenzo Colombo Goal 57'    
    59' Juan Jesus
    76' Yellow-Red card Juan Jesus
Alessandro Marcandalli 82'    
    90+2' Yellow card Leonardo Spinazzola
    90+5' Penalty Rasmus Højlund
Genoa
Napoli

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
3
Defender
74'
15
22
Defender
5
Defender
32
Midfielder
17
Midfielder
74'
29
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker
89'
1
Goalkeeper
4
60'
13
Defender
5
Defender
37
3
26
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
46'
68
Midfielder
19
Attacker

Substitutes

20
Defender
39
Goalkeeper
1
Goalkeeper
14
Midfielder
21
Attacker
13
34
Defender
Midfielder
18
Attacker
64'
10
Attacker
74'
73
Midfielder
74'
70
Attacker
89'
14
Goalkeeper
32
9
Attacker
27
Attacker
98
Midfielder
95
Midfielder
31
Defender
60'
17
Defender
77'
23
Attacker

Serie A official line-ups: Fiorentina vs. Torino

7 February 2026 at 22:48

Moise Kean returns to lead the Fiorentina attack Albert Gudmundsson and Manor Solomon, as Torino start Che Adams and Sandro Kulenovic.

It kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

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

FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 27: Fans of ACF Fiorentina cheer their team during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and of Como 1907 at Stadio Artemio Franchi on January 27, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 27: Fans of ACF Fiorentina cheer their team during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and of Como 1907 at Stadio Artemio Franchi on January 27, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The Viola remain in the relegation zone and their recent upturn in form hit another snag with three consecutive defeats between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

It is perhaps no coincidence that Kean did not start any of those three games, but now makes his return after treatment for a recurring ankle injury.

Tariq Lamptey is the only remaining absentee, with January signings Marco Brescianini, Giovanni Fabbian, Solomon and Jack Harrison eager to make an impact.

Daniele Rugani gets his debut on the bench after the deadline day move from Juventus.

NAPLES, ITALY - JANUARY 31: Manor Solomon of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 31: Manor Solomon of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Torino ended their run of four consecutive Serie A defeats with a hard-fought and slender 1-0 win over Lecce.

They were also in action midweek in the Coppa Italia, losing the quarter-final 2-1 to Inter.

Coach Marco Baroni is forced into changes, as Nikola Vlasic and Matteo Prati are both suspended, with Ardian Ismajli and Zanos Savva injured.

Kulenovic scored on his debut for the Granata against Inter on Wednesday, and he starts here with Adams, who has shaken off a knock.

Fellow January signings Rafa Obrador and Luca Marianucci play in defence.

MONZA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 04: Sandro Kulenovic of Torino scores his team's first goal during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Sandro Kulenovic of Torino scores his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Fiorentina vs. Torino line-ups

Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Parisi; Fagioli; Solomon, Brescianini, Mandragora, Gudmundsson; Kean

Torino: Paleari; Marianucci, Maripan, Coco; Lazaro, Gineitis, Ilkhan, Casadei, Obrador; Kulenovic, Adams

07-02-2026 19:45
MatchDay 24

Season Analytics

Fiorentina
Positions
Torino

Last matches

31-01-2026 Napoli L
24-01-2026 L
18-01-2026 Bologna W
11-01-2026 D
07-01-2026 Lazio D
24-01-2026 Cagliari L
11-01-2026 Milan D
04-01-2026 Cremonese W
21-12-2025 W
14-12-2025 L
18
13
Position

Last matches

W 01-02-2026
L 24-01-2026
L Roma 18-01-2026
L 10-01-2026
L Udinese 07-01-2026
L Como 24-01-2026
L Atalanta 10-01-2026
W Verona 04-01-2026
W Sassuolo 21-12-2025
L Lecce 30-11-2025

Conte exasperated: ‘I’ll have to play in a minute’ as McTominay’s magic spray inspires Napoli comeback

7 February 2026 at 22:01

The first half of Napoli’s match against Genoa was controversial and action-packed, to say the least.

After a lengthy early VAR intervention, Genoa took the lead through a Malinovsky penalty, within the first three minutes of the match.

However, it did not take long for Napoli to turn things around.

You can follow the second half, and all of today’s Serie A news and action, on our Live Blog.

Napoli comeback as Conte fumes with McTominay injury

Rasmus Hojlund pulled a goal back in the 20th minute, before a moment of madness.

Scott McTominay required treatment and asked Hojlund to hand him the ‘magic spray’ from the staff, so that the Scot would not have to leave the pitch.

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 11: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

After a quick spray, the former Manchester United man ended up scoring, before hobbling and signalling to the bench that he needs to come off.

At this point, an exasperated Antonio Conte turned to his bench and said “I’ll have to play in a minute!”

It is the latest in a number of serious injury blows for Conte’s side, that has left them struggling and relying on the very lower tiers of their squad depth.

What referee Massa really did on Genoa vs. Napoli penalty after 15 seconds

7 February 2026 at 21:38

There was confusion around precisely what happened when Genoa earned a penalty with a foul in the opening 15 seconds of their Serie A match against Napoli, the role of referee Davide Massa and VAR.

You can follow all the action as it happens from the Week 24 fixture at Marassi on the Liveblog.

When Alessandro Buongiorno hacked at a long ball and allowed Vitinha to run into the box, going down under the Alex Meret challenge, it looked at first as if the referee had immediately awarded the penalty.

Moments later, he was called to the touchline by VAR for the On-Field Review, announcing via the microphone that he had given a penalty with yellow card for Meret, seemingly sticking with his original decision despite Vitinha dragging his leg a little bit to seek contact.

It was then converted by Ruslan Malinovskyi to give Genoa the lead.

Massa point caused confusion on early penalty

CREMONA, ITALY - DECEMBER 28: Coach Antonio Conte of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Coach Antonio Conte of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

However, DAZN Italia analysed the footage and explained that this was not the real course of events at all.

When referee Davide Massa pointed in the general direction of the penalty spot, he was in fact pointing to award a goal kick.

Therefore when VAR called him over, it was not to suggest Vitinha had dragged his foot, but to show the Meret contact was worthy of a penalty.

Genoa are awarded a VERY early penalty vs Napoli and Ruslan Malinovskyi scores from the spot pic.twitter.com/Wnql33JlXf

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 7, 2026

It was so early into the game that Napoli coach Antonio Conte wasn’t even looking and wasn’t sure what had happened either.

Leicester City in ‘meltdown’ as talks open over surprise return behind the scenes

7 February 2026 at 23:06

Leicester City have opened initial talks with former manager Enzo Maresca regarding a sensational return to the King Power Stadium.

According to Sports Boom, the Foxes are reportedly in ‘meltdown’ and have turned to a familiar face in a desperate bid to stabilise a season that is rapidly spiraling out of control

The dramatic move comes in the wake of Marti Cifuentes’ sacking just six months into his tenure.

Cifuentes was dismissed following a brutal collapse in form that saw the team win only once between September and October.

A recent 2-1 home defeat to struggling Oxford United proved to be the final straw for the hierarchy.

Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, shouts from the touchline during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Chelsea FC at The King...
(Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

How did Enzo Maresca do in his first stint at Leicester?

Maresca, who left Chelsea last month, remains a highly respected figure at Leicester due to the immediate impact he made during the 2023–24 campaign.

After being appointed in June 2023, the Italian tactician, a former assistant to Pep Guardiola, implemented a dominant, possession-based style that swept through the second tier.

During that season, he was named Championship Manager of the Month on four separate occasions as he guided the Foxes to the league title and an immediate return to the Premier League.

Although his eventual departure for Chelsea left some supporters divided, his track record of securing promotion from the Championship is exactly what the board believes is required.

Leicester City are in a precarious situation

The urgency of the move for Maresca is heightened by a mounting crisis off the pitch.

Leicester have been hit with an immediate six-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) during the 2023–24 season.

This sanction has seen the club plummet to 20th in the Championship table, leaving them just outside the relegation zone.

With the fear of a double relegation now gripping the boardroom, the club are reportedly looking at Maresca to save their season.

 

The post Leicester City in ‘meltdown’ as talks open over surprise return behind the scenes appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland: Gyokeres brace opens up nine-point lead at summit

Viktor Gyokeres scored twice to help Arsenal cruise to a 3-0 win over Sunderland and open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. With Manchester City not playing until Sunday, and Aston Villa drawing with Bournemouth, the Gunners took their chance to gain more breathing space at the summit. Kai […]

The post Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland: Gyokeres brace opens up nine-point lead at summit appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland: Gyokeres brace opens up nine-point lead at summit appeared first on Soccer News.

NVIDIA CEO Isn’t Worried About Big Tech ‘Splurging’ $660 Billion on the AI Infrastructure Buildout, Saying It Will Ultimately Pay Off

7 February 2026 at 22:03

A person wearing a shiny black jacket is gesturing with their finger against a blurred blue background.

Well, everyone is concerned about what tech giants are doing when it comes to AI spending, but apparently, the NVIDIA CEO doesn't feel the investments are something 'surprising'. NVIDIA's Jensen Huang Calls the AI CapEX Bumps 'Sustainable', Rejecting the Overspending Claims The AI frenzy is evolving with aggressive momentum heading into 2026, as we have seen the first indication that the technology is approaching an 'inflection' point, following quarterly earnings from Amazon, Google, and Meta. It appears Big Tech is in a race to spend more on AI, which is why CapEx figures have grown to levels no one would've […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/nvidias-ceo-isnt-worried-about-big-tech-splurging-660-billion-on-the-ai/

OLED gaming monitor shows only light burn-in after 3,000-hour torture test — 500 hours of Overwatch gameplay leaves a faint scar on the premium panel

Optimum Tech has shown the faintest burn-in on its OLED monitor after 3,000 hours of use over two years, primarily from close to 500 hours of Overwatch. All that gameplay burned in the player card and health bar in the bottom-left corner, only really visible on specific colored backgrounds if you pixel peep.

Curve DAO Token (CRV) Price Prediction 2026, 2027-2030: Can CRV Break Its Long-Term Range?

7 February 2026 at 21:33
Curve DAO Price Prediction

The post Curve DAO Token (CRV) Price Prediction 2026, 2027-2030: Can CRV Break Its Long-Term Range? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Story Highlights

  • The live price of the CRV token is  $ 0.25705440.
  • Price predictions for 2026 range from $0.45 to $3.00.
  • Curve Dao (CRV) could extend toward $8.00 by 2030, if recovery structure holds.

Curve DAO (CRV) is entering a technically sensitive phase where its role as a core DeFi liquidity protocol contrasts sharply with a price structure that has spent months compressing near long-term support. With 2026 already underway, CRV’s price behavior is no longer defined by aggressive downside extensions but by controlled ranges, contracting volatility, and repeated defenses of demand conditions that often precede a broader trend transition.

Fundamentally, Curve continues to sit at the center of decentralized liquidity infrastructure, particularly across stablecoin and low-slippage markets. While price action has lagged this relevance, the technical structure is beginning to reflect stabilization rather than decay. As the first quarter of 2026 unfolds, the market is closely watching whether this prolonged consolidation evolves into a sustained recovery phase or remains range-bound for longer.

Curve DAO Token Price Today

Cryptocurrency Curve DAO Token
Token CRV
Price $0.2571 up 0.80%
Market Cap$ 375,978,974.44
24h Volume$ 80,039,007.6424
Circulating Supply1,462,643,624.9968
Total Supply2,350,380,611.9256
All-Time High$ 60.4988 on 14 August 2020
All-Time Low$ 0.1811 on 05 August 2024

Curve Dao (CRV) Price February 2026 Outlook

Through February, CRV has continued to trade above its $0.22–$0.25 demand zone, a region that has repeatedly absorbed selling pressure since late 2025. Price remains compressed beneath overhead resistance near $0.35–$0.40, forming a tightening wedge on the daily timeframe.

This behavior suggests that bearish momentum is fading, even though bullish follow-through remains gradual. As long as CRV holds above its rising support trendline, downside risk appears limited. A decisive daily close above the $0.40 region would be a technical signal that accumulation is giving way to early expansion, while failure to break higher would likely extend consolidation without invalidating the broader setup.

Curve Dao (CRV) Price Prediction 2026

As 2026 progresses, the focus shifts from whether CRV can hold its base to whether it can begin reclaiming higher structural levels. On higher timeframes, CRV appears to be forming a rounded accumulation zone following a multi-year downtrend, an environment typically associated with longer-term reversals rather than short-lived relief rallies.

Curve Dao (CRV) Price Prediction 2026

If momentum gradually builds, CRV could start challenging intermediate resistance near $0.85, followed by the psychologically important $1.60 zone. These levels align with prior consolidation ranges and would likely attract profit-taking along the way. However, sustained acceptance above these areas could open a path toward the $2.40–$3.00 region before the end of 2026. Pullbacks toward $0.50–$0.65 would remain constructive as long as higher lows continue to form. A breakdown below long-term demand would delay the bullish outlook but would not automatically negate the broader recovery thesis unless followed by sustained weakness.

Curve Dao Crypto Price Prediction 2026 – 2030

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($Potential High ($)
20260.451.753.00
20271.502.004.50
20282.104.106.00
20293.406.007.20
20304.806.508.00

Curve Dao Price Prediction 2026

In 2026, Curve Dao price could project a low price of $0.45, an average price of $1.75, and a high of $3.00.

Curve Dao Price Forecast 2027

As per the Curve Dao Price Prediction 2027, Curve Dao may see a potential low price of $1.50 . Meanwhile, the average price is predicted to be around $2.00. The potential high for Curve Dao price in 2027 is estimated to reach $4.50.

Curve Dao (CRV) Price Prediction 2028

In 2028, Curve Dao price is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $2.10 and a high price of $6.00.

CRV Price Prediction 2029

Thereafter, the Curve Dao  (Curve Dao) price for the year 2029 could range between $3.40 and $7.20.

Curve Dao Price Prediction 2030

Finally, in 2030, the price of Curve Dao  is predicted to maintain a steady positive. It may trade between $4.80 and $8.00.

Curve Dao Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

The long-term projection assumes Curve Dao sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)
20315.207.409.00
20326.008.6010.80
20337.0011.5013.50
204019.0025.0032.00
205035.0048.0070.00

Curve Dao (CRV) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?

Year202620272030
Changelly$2.40$3.80$6.50
CoinCodex$1.90$3.50$7.00
WalletInvestor$2.00$3.60$6.40

CoinPedia’s Curve Dao Price Prediction

Coinpedia’s price prediction for Curve DAO’s in 2026 and beyond hinges on whether its extended base structure transitions into sustained upside momentum. While CRV may not deliver rapid price acceleration, the current technical setup favors gradual recovery over continued decline. If broader DeFi sentiment improves and CRV maintains its higher-timeframe support zones, the token could steadily work toward multi-dollar valuations over the coming years. Failure to reclaim key resistance levels, however, would keep price action range-bound and delay the recovery cycle.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)
20260.451.753.00
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FAQs

What is the Curve DAO Token (CRV) used for?

Curve DAO Token (CRV) is used for governance, staking, and boosting rewards on Curve Finance, a leading DeFi protocol for low-slippage stablecoin trading.

What is the Curve DAO price prediction for 2026?

Curve DAO price prediction for 2026 suggests CRV may trade between $0.45 and $3.00 if long-term support holds and DeFi demand improves.

What is the CRV price prediction for 2030?

CRV price prediction for 2030 estimates a range between $4.80 and $8.00 if Curve continues serving as key liquidity infrastructure in DeFi.

What factors will influence Curve DAO price long term?

CRV’s long-term price depends on DeFi adoption, stablecoin growth, protocol revenue, governance activity, and broader crypto market cycles.

Bitcoin ETFs witness $330 million in inflow as BTC price dumps again

7 February 2026 at 21:00
Bitcoin ETFs recorded $330.67 million in net inflows on February 6, ending a three-day outflow streak that drained $1.25 billion from products. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $231.62 million in inflows. At the same time, Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB has brought…

İlk gündə 1 qızıl, 1 bürünc medal

7 February 2026 at 21:31

Azərbaycan cüdoçuları Fransanın paytaxtı Parisdə keçirilən “Böyük Dəbilqə” turnirinin ilk gününü iki medalla başa vurublar.

Komanda.az xəbər verir, Balabəy Ağayev (60 kq) qızıl medal qazanıb.

27 yaşlı idmançı finalda ukraynalı Dilşot Xalmatova qalib gəlib.

Ruslan Paşayev (66 kq) isə bürünc medal qazanıb.

Nazir Talıbov (66 kq) 1/16 final mərhələsində Migel Qaqoya (Portuqaliya) uduzub.

“Böyük Dəbilqə” fevralın 8-də başa çatacaq. Azərbaycan yarışda 8 cüdoçu ilə təmsil olunur.

The post İlk gündə 1 qızıl, 1 bürünc medal appeared first on Komanda.az.

Azərbaycan çempionatı başa çatdı

7 February 2026 at 21:00

Yunan-Roma və sərbəst güləş üzrə U20 Azərbaycan çempionatına yekun vurulub.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, Gəncə İdman Sarayında təşkil olunan yarışın sonuncu – beşinci günündə sərbəst güləşdə 61, 70, 79, 92 və 125 kq-da medalçılar müəyyənləşib.

Bununla da sərbəst güləş üzrə yarışa yekun vurulub.

Çempionatın ən yaxşı hakimi Vüqar Şükürov seçilərək xüsusi mükafatla təltif edilib.

61 kq

  1. Camal Abbasov (“Neftçi”, Gəncə)
  2. Məhəmmədəli Əlizadə (İmişli)
  3. Cəbrayıl Verdiyev (Gəncə, AHİTA), Nicat Həsənov (AİJA)

70 kq

  1. Hacı Kərimov (Neftçi)
  2. Sadiq Hüseynov (Neftçi)
  3. İsa Yusibov (Neftçi), Kamal Məmmədov (Neftçi)

79 kq

  1. Elcan İsmayılzadə (Neftçi)
  2. Əli Hacıyev (AİJA)
  3. Ülfət Məmmədov (Mywrestling), Şeyxəli Babazadə (DİN)

92 kq

  1. Hüseyn Məmmədtağızadə (Neftçi)
  2. İsmayıl Əsədli (Gəncə, Təhsil-1)
  3. Əlim Əlimov (DİN), Nicat Qurbanov (Lokomativ)

125 kq

  1. Yusif Dursunov (Neftçi)
  2. Muxamad Qantemirov (AGF)
  3. İsmayıl Kərimov (Neftçi)

The post Azərbaycan çempionatı başa çatdı appeared first on Komanda.az.

Terrance Gore, former MLB speedster and 3-time World Series champion, dies at age 34, Royals announce

Terrance Gore, who played in two World Series with the Kansas City Royals (and was a member of their 2015 championship team), has died at the age of 34. The Royals announced the news on Saturday

Gore played eight MLB seasons, five of them with Kansas City. Primarily utilized as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement due to his speed, he batted .216/.310/.270 with 43 stolen bases in 112 career games. 

His best season was in 2019, batting .275/.362/.373 with 13 stolen bases, two doubles and a triple in 58 plate appearances. Gore also recorded double-digit steals in 2016, when he swiped 11 bags. 

We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Terrance Gore.

A member of the back-to-back AL champion and 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals, Gore played eight Major League seasons in all from 2014-2022. He also appeared for the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, and… pic.twitter.com/dskvqtfHiz

— MLB (@MLB) February 7, 2026

During his career, Gore also played for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. He won World Series titles with the Dodgers and Braves. For the 2021 season, Gore only appeared in the postseason with Atlanta, entering Game 2 of the National League Division Series as a pinch-runner. 

In the postseason, Gore appeared in 11 games, compiling five stolen bases and scoring two runs. He did not record a hit and only made two plate appearances. 

[Get more Royals news: Kansas City team feed]

Gore died due to complications from a medical procedure, according to the Kansas City Star. His wife, Britney, posted a message regarding her husband's death on social media. The couple had two sons together. 

Born in Macon, Georgia, Gore was a 20th-round selection in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Gulf Coast State College. He reached the major leagues in 2014 after advancing from high Single-A to Triple-A in the Royals' minor league system. 

Report: USWNT’s Catarina Macario turns down Chelsea contract extension with her future in major doubt – Could NWSL be next?

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Catarina Macario #20 of the United States celebrates after scoring against Italy during the first half of a international friendly match at Chase Stadium on December 01, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

According to a report by The Guardian’s Tom Garry, forward Catarina Macario has declined a contract extension at Chelsea.

It was also announced that she was left off the upcoming UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) knockout stages.

The USWNT forward is one of the biggest names in football and is attracting interest from all over the globe. With her contract set to expire at the end of the season, could the NWSL be next?

Excl. Understand Catarina Macario has turned down an offer of a contract extension at Chelsea. She's attracting interest from around the world, incl. Europe. Her future at Chelsea is now in major doubt – she's not named in their squad list for the #UWCL knockouts. #ChelseaFCW

— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) February 7, 2026

Real Madrid starlet flourishing on loan set for starting role with national team next month

Real Madrid starlet flourishing on loan set for starting role with national team next month
Real Madrid starlet flourishing on loan set for starting role with national team next month

It has been reported recently that Real Madrid forward Endrick, currently on loan at Lyon, will be rewarded for his performances with a call-up to the Brazilian national team.

This comes after a dream start to life in France for the young forward, who is on loan at Lyon only until the end of the season.

In just five matches for Lyon, the youngster has racked up five goals and an assist, making him by far the most in-form player in France right now.

This has significantly boosted Endrick’s chances of becoming a part of the Brazilian squad, at least for the upcoming international break in March.

Endrick to start for Brazil

Now, according to L’Equipe (h/t Madrid Xtra), it is being reported that Endrick may not only be a part of the Brazilian squad but also start matches for the Selecao.

Can Ancelotti get the best out of Endrick at Brazil? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Indeed, Endrick is expected to start for Brazil for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia in March, as Carlo Ancelotti once again tries his luck with the former Palmeiras starlet.

This will prove to be an excellent opportunity for Endrick to showcase his abilities and to make himself a permanent fixture in the Brazil team heading into World Cup 2026.

It is no secret that Endrick is determined to play the World Cup. It is, in fact, one of the reasons why he joined Lyon in January, as he knew limited game-time at Real Madrid will not help his chances of being a part of the Brazil team this summer.

Endrick hopes his synergy with Ancelotti helps him out, as the Italian is well aware of his abilities, having worked together at Real Madrid.

Wins for Exeter and Harlequins in Prem Rugby Cup

Campbell Ridl in action for Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs' Campbell Ridl scored two tries before the break and added a third soon after against Bristol Bears [Getty Images]

Exeter Chiefs moved to within a point of the summit of Prem Rugby Cup Pool A with a thrilling 46-35 bonus-point victory over bottom-side Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

Chiefs, who face leaders Gloucester at Sandy Park in their penultimate fixture next weekend, completely dominated the first half thanks to a powerful display from the pack who laid the platform for four tries on their way to a 22-7 lead.

Campbell Ridl went over in the corner within five minutes for the first of a hat-trick of tries following a lovely long pass from Will Haydon-Wood.

The young winger added his second on 32 minutes, after Dan John and Max Norey had stretched that lead, with Gloucester's only points coming moments before the interval from Joe Owen's converted score.

Bristol rallied after the break and further scores from Max Pepper, Rich Lane and Tomas Gwilliam kept them in touch.

But Exeter managed to stay in front throughout, adding further tries through Ridl, a second from Norey, and scores from Paul Bampoe-Brown and Lewis Pearson - although the Bears did get have the last say, Sam Worsley crossing to ensure a losing bonus point.

The only other Prem Rugby Cup fixture of the day ended in a shock first victory for previously winless Harlequins, who edged a pulsating game Pool B game 43-40 against second-placed Saracens thanks a fine late solo try from Tom Lawday.

Quins shock Sarries in pulsating game

Saracens led when Brandon Jackson crossed in the corner inside the opening minute, and although Quins were reduced to 14 men early on when Max Green yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, Bryn Bradley's converted try levelled the scores from Ludo Kolade's pass.

The home side then edged ahead again. Jackson found Charlie Bracken, who went over, but Quins then dominated with four further tries from Jack Musk, Harry Browne, Kolade and Josh Bellamy to build a 33-14 interval lead.

Sarries, who remain second in Pool B but only three points ahead of Northampton Saints having played a game more, were vastly improved after the break.

And they looked to be on their way to a stunning comeback win as Tom Willis scored following a driving maul, before he set up Olly Hartley and Nick Tompkins for tries - all converted by Louie Johnson for a 35-33 lead.

The momentum was all with the hosts, but Oisin McCormack restored the lead for Quins and with the game completely open and increasingly frantic.

Jamie Miller was sent to the sin-bin for Quins, and the hosts made their advantage count with Seva Keva sliding over for a 40-38 advantage.

But there was still time for Lawday to gleefully accept Connor Slevin's fine pass and score a wonderful winning try in the corner to earn Quins a first cup win after four consecutive defeats.

2025 Bills positional review: Tight ends

The Buffalo Bills ended their 2025 campaign feeling like an opportunity had been missed. Buffalo put together another strong season, ending the year with 12 wins. However, losses to New England, Miami, and Atlanta doomed the Bills, causing them to drop from the top of the AFC East standings for the first time in five seasons. 

The Bills season, once again, ended heartbreakingly. Buffalo could not finish the job in the AFC Divisional Playoff Round, falling to the Denver Broncos in overtime. 

Buffalo started their offseason with a bang, firing head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons at the helm. Owner Terry Pegula highlighted McDermott’s inability to get the team to the Super Bowl as a primary reason for moving on from arguably the franchise’s second-best coach behind Marv Levy. 

This series of articles will explore each positional group ahead of free agency. This edition will focus on the tight end position. 

Season Review

Bills tight end Dawson Knox leaps into the stands to celebrate with fans after scoring the opening touchdown of the game in first quarter against the Jets during the first half of their last regular season game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The Bills won 35-8.

The tight end group ended up being one of the more productive groups on the Bills roster. Buffalo’s offense leaned heavily on the group, as Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady emphasized the intermediate passing game. 

Knox and Hawes were strong as run blockers as well. Their ability to block earned the duo additional snaps, aiding Buffalo as the top rushing team in the league. 

Dalton Kincaid fought injuries for another season. However, when he was on the field, Kincaid provided a solid receiving option for Josh Allen. Nevertheless, another injury-filled season prevented Kincaid from getting anywhere near his maximum potential on the field. 

Contracts

  • Jackson Hawes--through 2028
  • Dalton Kincaid--through 2027
  • Keleki Latu--through 2027
  • Dawson Knox--through 2026

Important Stats

  • Dalton Kincaid--39 receptions, 571 yards, 5 touchdowns
  • Dawson Knox--36 receptions, 417 yards, 4 touchdowns
  • Jackson Hawes--16 receptions, 187 yards, 3 touchdowns

Big Question

Jan 17, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrates after a touchdown against Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga (9) during the fourth quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

When will Dalton Kincaid have his breakout season?

Kincaid had a stellar rookie season in 2023, reeling in 73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns. He was emerging as one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets.

However, the past two seasons have not gone according to plan. Kincaid has battled multiple injuries, as he totaled 84 receptions for 1,019 yards and seven touchdowns during this time. The best ability is availability and unfortunately, Kincaid has not been on the field as often as Buffalo would like. 

Kincaid was drafted to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses. The Bills envisioned stretching the field and providing versatility on the field. 

The Bills are in a cap crunch right now, leaving the fate of Knox in the air. Buffalo will need Kincaid to take on a larger role, irrespective of the Knox situation. 

Buffalo needs a healthy Kincaid if they are to reach their offensive potential. Kincaid’s presence affords Joe Brady more options with the aerial attack. 

Draft status

Brandon Beane, president of football operations and general manager for the Buffalo BIlls, and head coach Joe Brady take turns answering questions during a press conference that introduced Brady as the new head coach at the Bills field house in Orchard Park on Jan. 29, 2026.

If Buffalo returns their current trio of tight ends, then there will be little need for the Bills to draft a tight end. This could, however, change based on Buffalo’s decision with Dawson Knox. Knox has a potential out this offseason with Buffalo incurring a dead cap hit of $7.4 million. If the Bills exercise this option, then they could look for a replacement in the draft. Buffalo would need to find a player who can do a little bit of everything well. 

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2025 Bills positional review: Tight ends

Report: 'Door isn't closed' on WR Romeo Doubs returning to Packers

According to intel gathered by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler at the Super Bowl, a return to Green Bay isn't completely off the table for soon-to-be free agent wide receiver Romeo Doubs.

"The door isn't closed on Doubs in Green Bay. I'm expecting both sides to at least have some dialogue and see if a return makes sense," Fowler wrote.

Doubs has made it clear during media appearances at the Super Bowl that he would prefer to stay in Green Bay. Whether or not the team can make the numbers work is another, far more complicated matter.

Doubs, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has an expiring rookie contract. Although he led the Packers in targets (85), receptions (55) and receiving yards (724) in 2025, the writing of his future appeared to be on the wall after Green Bay used a first-round pick on Matthew Golden and a third-round pick on Savion Williams and gave Christian Watson a contract extension last year.

With a tight salary cap and resources already heavily invested at wide receiver, Doubs might be a luxury the Packers cannot afford -- especially with the possibility of compensatory picks coming to Green Bay in 2027 if Doubs signs a big deal elsewhere.

It's possible the Packers and Doubs' representation will soon find out whether or not a new contract that makes sense for both sides (see: team friendly) is possible. Free agency begins in mid-March.

Although Doubs has never caught more than 60 passes or produced more than 800 receiving yards in a season, his floor is high -- with four straight seasons catching at least 40 passes and three straight seasons with at least 600 receiving yards. He also has 21 touchdown catches on just 320 targets, and he's averaged over 8.0 yards per target each of the last two seasons.

If Doubs does not return to Green Bay, he will be a coveted player on the open market.

Fowler pointed to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans as teams likely to be in the wide receiver market in free agency.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Report: 'Door isn't closed' on WR Romeo Doubs returning to Packers

Larne could face Glens in Irish Cup quarters

Irish Premiership leaders Larne will play either Glentoran or Drumaness Mills in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup next month.

The Inver Reds have been runners-up six times in the competition without ever lifting the trophy, but advanced to the last eight thanks to a 2-0 win away to Warrenpoint Town on Saturday.

Glentoran were due to take on Drumaness Mills at the Oval in the sixth round but the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The game will now take place on 17 February with the winners hosting Larne on either Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March.

Holders Dungannon Swifts, who came from behind to beat Portadown in the sixth round, will host Harland and Wolff Welders in the last eight with the east Belfast side having eased past Gary Hamilton's Ballymacash Rangers on Saturday.

Limavady United's reward for beating Premiership champions Linfield on Friday night will be a home quarter-final against Coleraine who required extra time to advance past Carrick on Saturday.

Cliftonville, Irish Cup winners in 2024, will travel to Loughgall in the last eight after Jonny Addis' sweetly struck free-kick deep into injury time saw them knock out Glenavon in the sixth round.

Loughgall came through the only all-Championship tie of the sixth round when they beat Institute 2-1.

Irish Cup quarter-final draw

Dungannon Swifts v Harland and Wolff Welders

Glentoran or Drumaness Mills v Larne

Limavady United v Coleraine

Loughgall v Cliftonville

Ties to be played Friday, 6 March or Saturday, 7 March

More on this story

Open vent thread: Get it all out before pitchers and catchers report

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 02: A Toronto Blue Jays fan reacts after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 02, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Instead of a question, today, we have an open thread to let out all your complaints about the Jays, or about the MLB if you want. (I’ll admit these topics aren’t my choosing, it’s an SB Nation thing).

Hmmm vent….

Well, I would have liked them to sign Bo, but I can’t blame them for not matching what the Mets offered, so that’s not really a rant. I mean, they could have worked harder to make a deal before he reached free agency, but then it takes two. And I wouldn’t have wanted them to go 14 years as they did with Vlad.

I thought the club would sign a closer, but they improved the bullpen. Edwin Diaz would have been nice, still I wouldn’t have tried to beat the Dodgers 3-year, $69 million deal.

I guess I will vent a bunch if MLB forces a stoppage next year.

I am happy that the club is replacing the stupid statue of Ed Rogers with a Joe Carter statue. It is hard to believe how tone-deaf Rogers Corp was in putting up that statue of Rogers in the first place, but someone has finally talked sense into them.

The beer at the park costs too much. There is something I could vent about.

Ok…..you get to vent…

Can summer signings help Arsenal end Premier League title wait?

Can summer signings help Arsenal end Premier League title wait?
Can summer signings help Arsenal end Premier League title wait?

Mikel Arteta praised the impact of his substitutes after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland sent them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Second-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres, both scored after coming off the bench, added to a sublime first-half strike from Martin Zubimendi as Arsenal eventually broke down a stubborn Sunderland side at the Emirates.

“I’m very, very happy with the win, with big parts of the performance and with the clean sheet as well,” Arteta said.

“It’s a really tough opponent. They are really good at what they do. They break your press, they play to the last man, they hold the ball well and it’s very difficult to get sequences with threat and momentum. But we knew that, and I think the first goal really helped to unlock that phase of the game.”

Zubimendi’s opener, struck from outside the box, continued Arsenal’s recent trend for long-range goals, something Arteta joked had been discussed beforehand.

“That’s after our conversation,” he laughed. “I told them.”

“There was time and space. If the space is not in one place, it will be somewhere else. And there were three really good shots. Martin is contributing to the team in a way that maybe we didn’t expect that much, but he has the intuition and quality to deliver moments around the box.”

The game changed decisively after Gyokeres’ introduction, with the striker taking his tally to eight goal contributions in his last eight games. Arteta said the reaction to his absence from the starting line-up showed just how influential he has become.

“When he came on, he was ready straight away,” Arteta said. “We know how important the finishers are, the impact they are having on the team, the results and where we are at the moment. I’m very happy with him.”

Arteta was particularly pleased with Gyokeres’ mentality after a season that has not always been straightforward.

“When you put that shirt on, it comes with responsibility and huge expectations,” he said. “You will have moments where it goes really well and others that are tough. But I love his character, the way he approaches every single day and how focused he is on the present.”

“He doesn’t seem too affected by the highs or the lows. That’s what we need – stability.”

Despite the growing gap at the top, Arteta was keen to downplay the significance of the league table at this stage.

“It means nothing,” he said. “We still have to win so many games to achieve what we want. We’ve done our job today and now we have to prepare for Brentford, which will be really tough.”

Asked if he would be watching Liverpool against Manchester City, Arteta smiled.

“Yes. I’m going to have a beautiful dinner tonight, and tomorrow I start preparing for Brentford. But for sure, I will be watching a big, big game.”

Liam Rosenior explains how Chelsea team play made Cole Palmer’s hattrick

Liam Rosenior explains how Chelsea team play made Cole Palmer’s hattrick
Liam Rosenior explains how Chelsea team play made Cole Palmer’s hattrick

Chelsea beat Wolves 3-1 today with a really superb first half performance that saw Cole Palmer bag three goals.

The attacker is finally playing and looking more and more confident. Sky Sports asked Liam Rosenior about his star man at full time.

Rosenior gives credit to whole team after Cole Palmer triple

Cole Palmer celebrates his hat trick. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

“He’s a fantastic player. But I think he gets the goals because it was an outstanding team performance,” the manager said, broadening the focus as ever.

“In the first half, some of our combination play, how we overloaded the middle of the pitch, it created those moments for him. And because he’s such a world class player, he takes those moments.”

That’s what we really wanted to see today – some fluid attacking play. And Rosenior is right, we saw plenty of it in the first period.

“He wasn’t bad today, so for us [he already is back to his best], people question my decision making, the minutes and the amount of games – I think it’s nine games we’ve played in less than a month. You have to manage minutes for all your players because we want to be strong between now and the end of the season. And Cole is going to be a massive part.”

You can see the manager speaking in the clip embedded here:

In other news…

Rosenior also gave an update on Reece James. The full back has missed our last two games with a “small knock,” but the manager’s latest news was very positive about a potential return next week.

Chelsea’s striker today is Joao Pedro, with Liam Delap on the bench. We’re hearing the first whispers about Delap potentially being up for sale in the summer if things don’t improve for him.

Watford 'dropped off' in second half - Daniels

Watford interim boss Charlie Daniels said that his side "dropped off" in the second half of their defeat to Southampton.

The Hornets conceded in the second period from a corner and have now failed to score in their last three matches.

"I'm disappointed with the result, the performance was good in the first half but levels did drop off towards the end of the second," Daniels told BBC 3CR.

"I thought we created a good number of chances but didn't work the goalkeeper as much as we would have liked.

"We were forced to make a change before the goal as Stephen [Mfuni] was injured so rather than being a man down, we made the change.

"This is how the Championship is - little moments make a big difference and if we want to be in contention for the play-offs, we have to take our moments.

"At the minute it is not happening but that starts on the training pitch."

Montaric Brown contract projection: Will Jaguars re-sign free agent CB?

Jacksonville Jaguars' cornerback Montaric Brown is set to be a free agent this upcoming offseason.

So what might his next contract look like, and will the Jaguars re-sign him?

Montaric Brown free agent contract projection

According to Spotrac, Brown is projected to earn a three-year deal worth $27.68 million. That's good for an average annual value of $9.2 million per year.

In terms of player age, contract status, and statistical production, Kyler Gordon, Michael Carter II, and Elijah Molden were used by Spotrac as comparisons to determine what Brown's deal could be.

Will the Jaguars re-sign Montaric Brown?

My early guess right now is that Brown is back.

For one, the depth at the cornerback position for the Jaguars is a bit thin at the moment, with both Brown and Greg Newsome set to be free agents.

In addition to that, Brown took a big step forward last season, showcasing his abilities to start on a weekly basis and perform at a high level while doing so.

Brown allowed a completion rate of just 54% on 68 targets and held opponents to just 10.4 yards per catch. He also came away with two interceptions and forced nine pass breakups.

Finding a way to re-sign Brown makes a ton of sense for the Jaguars.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars free agency: Montaric Brown contract projection and prediction

Who’s Ready For A Kirk Cousins Reunion in Minnesota?

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 23: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings runs out of the team huddle during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 23, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With free agency in the National Football League a little more than a month away, we can pretty well assume that the Minnesota Vikings will be in the market for a veteran quarterback to, at the very least, push J.J. McCarthy for the starting spot and provide a reliable backup option should McCarthy not be able to shake the injury bug. While some folks may be dreaming of “pie in the sky” options like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson, there’s a much more realistic option that has surface that seems to be gaining a little bit of momentum.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. . .there’s at least a chance that we could see the return of Kirko Chainz to the sidelines in Minnesota.

Kirk Cousins is likely to be released by the Falcons at some point before the start of free agency, as he recently restructured his contract in such a manner that the Falcons could let him go without taking too much damage. The Falcons have until 13 March to decide whether or not to release him before a very large bonus would vest for Cousins, so any release will certainly come before then, and with the new league year set to begin on 11 March, Cousins would immediately become a free agent target for a number of teams.

Cousins spent six seasons with the Vikings from 2018 to 2023. He played the best football of his career with the Vikings under Kevin O’Connell and would almost certainly be the best veteran option available on the free agent market. Well, unless you count Aaron Rodgers, but I’m not counting Aaron Rodgers because. . .why would I?

It seemed that Cousins enjoyed his time in Minnesota while he was with the Vikings, and if he hadn’t injured his Achilles during his final season here things may have worked out differently as far as whether or not he stayed with the Vikings or headed somewhere else. Now, at age 37, it will be interesting to see whether or not he’d entertain a return to Minnesota to, potentially, close out his career.

What do you think of the prospect of a potential Kirk Cousins/Minnesota Vikings reunion, folks?

Should the Jets pursue QB Kirk Cousins this offseason?

The New York Jets will enter the market for a new starting quarterback during the 2026 NFL offseason.

After losing the Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes in the 2026 NFL draft by failing to earn the No. 1 overall selection, the Jets could instead target a veteran quarterback. New offensive coordinator Frank Reich will have an opinion on the pursuit for Justin Fields' successor.

Atlanta Falcons veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins could emerge as an option.

The Falcons signed Cousins to an ill-advised four-year, $180 million contract in 2024. Now that he's halfway through that contract and Michael Penix Jr. has established himself as the starter, the veteran signal caller should be made available this offseason.

Though Reich has never personally coached Cousins, their off-field relationship has been well documented. With head coach Aaron Glenn feeling the heat after a lackluster debut 3-14 season, New York will probably pursue a veteran QB who can position them to be more competitive. Cousins checks that box.

If the Jets do target veteran QBs with ties to Frank Reich, I would not make any assumptions about Carson Wentz. Things ended very poorly for them in Indianapolis.

The two QBs that make more sense Reich-wise:

- Jacoby Brissett. Colts QB for three years with Reich. Cardinals…

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) February 4, 2026

Cousins appeared in 10 games throughout 2024 due to a Penix injury. The experienced quarterback performed admirably, completing 61.7% of his passing attempts while throwing 10 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Ironically, Cousins started a late November loss to the Jets.

Cousins to the Jets makes a ton of sense following Reich's appointment.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Should the Jets pursue QB Kirk Cousins this offseason?

Byron gymnastics has hit its heyday

Feb. 7—BYRON — Like virtually all of these Byron gymnasts, Olivia O'Brien has an unquenchable thirst for being in the gym, working on her routines.

It's put the young Bears in an envious spot, as odds-on favorites to reach the state meet for the third straight year and with a chance of finishing even higher than the sixth place they managed last year and with even loftier dreams for the following three years.

Byron gymnastics, under longtime coach Charro Coleman, is ascending. For that, Coleman points directly to the work ethic with this bunch.

O'Brien, one of three prized freshmen on the team along with Norah Brown and Sydney Portner, is a perfect example of wanting to get the most out of herself.

"We have just 2 1/2 hour practices, so when I am there I always want to get the most out of them," O'Brien said. "Where I used to train, we had 5-hour practices."

To say "just" 2 1/2 hour practices makes some heads turn. Really, Coleman says those practices are closer to 2 hours as he is trying to preserve his athletes as best he can with all the wear and tear that comes in a gymnastics season.

But that is five days per week. And often on Saturday's he opens their training facility for any of his athletes who want to come in and tidy up their skills and routines under his watch. Pretty much the entire team shows up for those opportunities.

That all-for-one attitude is why this might be shaping up as Byron's best gymnastics team ever. Their team scores suggest that's the case. Byron recently set a program record, accumulating a 142.05 team score in a team dual with Kasson-Mantorville/Triton/Stewartville (129.62 points).

"Not every event went perfectly that day, but the girls just kept grinding and before you knew it, it ended up being our best meet ever," Coleman said. "The girls were excited about it. Going into the floor routine, I told them that we had an opportunity here. I think that made them a little bit nervous."

Those three aforementioned freshmen are joined in Byron's starting five lineup by sophomore Lily Moon and seventh-grader Lauren Pirkl.

It has largely fallen on Moon, a team captain, to keep this team a team and to level emotions when they rise.

A sophomore who comes across more like a senior with her maturity, Moon appreciates her guiding role.

"I just try to keep the team together, to make sure we are all being supportive of each other and being there for each other," Moon said. "When it's a young team like we have, I'd say that makes it a little bit harder to direct. Older kids know how to deal with their emotions better. Our freshmen can let their emotions get the best of them at times. But the people on this team still make it really fun. Some of my best friends are in gymnastics and I met them through the sport."

It is gymnasts like O'Brien who have the Byron faithful dreaming of big things, now and even more in the future. Coleman admits a state championship in the next three years isn't out of the question.

"That would be amazing," he offers with a grin.

Everything seems in place for O'Brien — her athleticism (she is also a standout sprinter and pole vaulter on the Byron track and field team), her work ethic, her drive and her passion for the sport.

This season, she has already tied the school record in the all-around with a 36.625. In Byron's record-setting team score of 142.05 on Jan. 22, the freshman won three events — the vault (9.425), the uneven parallel bars (8.95) and all-around (35.225). Brown captured the balance beam (9.35) and Portner the floor exercise (9.575) as the Bears swept their way to the win.

It's O'Brien's desire to work that Coleman says most sets her apart.

"She puts in the time," Coleman said. "When she has a gymnastics assignment to work on, it doesn't matter what else is going on, she is at the gym and focused on doing the best she can and adding things to her routine. She is focused and driven and is a very talented athlete. Plus, in a sport that is grueling and hard on the body (O'Brien admits her back hurts almost all the time, something that is typical for gymnasts), she has a personality that draws people. She's fun to be around and has a personality that tries to stay on the positive side of things all the time."

In other words, she is one of the easy ones for captain Moon to work with and keep in line.

O'Brien had looked forward to joining the Byron high school team ever since she was a little girl, hearing what a fun and productive ship that Coleman ran.

She hasn't been disappointed.

"I always knew I wanted to join the high school team," O'Brien said. "It's just really fun to come to practice and see each other every day. I always look forward to practice. And Charro is a great coach. He never stops believing in us and he always gives us all the opportunities that we need, like coming in on the weekends to help us practice. And he's never negative and he's always like got a smile on his face."

These days, the entire Byron gymnastics program is smiling. A golden era is upon them.

Is Scottsdale's 16th hole a great place to watch golf or not? Tour players sound off

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – It is the place to be at the WM Phoenix Open, and the line proves it. The human chain snakes around the back of the immense temporary arena surrounding the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale and remains unbroken as it extends between the towering grandstands and the 11th fairway. Few people have more than one free hand and many have none—one paw clutching a phone, the other a beverage that is intended for something other than refreshment.

MORE: 39-year-old rookie contending in Phoenix

The wait to enter the organized chaos is up to an hour during Friday’s second round. On the weekend, it can be two or more. It is a curiosity to some fans, a ritual for others. Appreciating the game and the expertise of the players is secondary. At best. “This is where you feel like you are participating in tournament,” said one man wearing a University of Minnesota cap who knew better than to expend extended time in line with a drink in only one hand. “The juice is worth the squeeze.”

They cheer. They boo. They drink. They refill. They become way more witty and charming. Or so they come to think.

No rinsing. Just repeat.

There isn’t a bad seat in the place mainly because they spend so little time utilizing their intended purpose. There is one exception—namely the 64 padded folding armchairs placed conspicuously adjacent to the right side of the tee box. They are sweet, an oasis of propriety. They also go for an estimated $10,000 a pop.

PGA Tour players who compete in this event assume a like-minded attitude about their incursion into tournament golf’s rawest atmosphere. “You have to embrace it,” said local resident Jake Knapp, echoing a sentiment expressed by many of his peers.

“You just have to accept what they’re there for,” Englishman John Parry, making his tournament debut, added.

Well, when six guys show up dressed like bright-yellow bananas or eight young men all are wearing the same hideous paisley shirts or many women are clad in, well, a bit less than maybe their fathers would prefer, folks are there, it seems, more to be seen watching golf than actually watching golf. For the last five years a group has shown up in Sesame Street costumes. An inebriated Oscar the Grouch has to be entertainment gold.

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Ben Jared

But it’s not for everyone. Ask a tour players to which parts of the golf course they might gravitate if they were to attend this event as spectators, most would not be heading to the 16th hole. Not even for Oscar. Apparently, true golf fans would be much happier on the front nine. Anywhere on the front nine.

“I think there are spots on the front nine where you can get a really good view of multiple holes,” said Joel Dahmen, who, unfortunately, missed the cut after receiving a sponsor exemption and could only come back this weekend as an onlooker. “You can sit on the hill on 6 and see the par 3 and see the green. Once you get to that 16, 17, it's pretty tough to see stuff. So the front nine is a little quieter, and then when you get out to 13, 14 it's pretty quiet out there as well. I would not be in the masses if I was here to watch golf.”

“The front nine is where you can actually see golf shots,” Knapp said. “It [the 16th hole] is probably something you want to experience at some point. But now that I'm on the other end, I have no desire to be in those bleachers.”

Rickie Fowler also recommended a brief visit to 16. “You'd have to go to 16 for a little bit, just to experience it. But to watch golf? I think 3 through 8, and then 11 green through 15, there's not that many people. You can kind of bounce around and see multiple players. Basically, just stay west on the course.”

Akshay Bhatia said that TPC Scottsdale “is almost two different courses.” There’s the front nine and the “crazy” back nine, which is legitimately crazy in just one concentrated area.

Rookie Neal Shipley has enjoyed his first visit to arena but acknowledges that opinions vary about the 16th hole experience. “I think it depends who you are, if you like that environment or not. I certainly do,” he admitted. Probably has something to do with being 25 years old.

Asked to put himself on the other side, to be among the crazed and the dazed, and he didn’t deviate from his initial assessment. “If I wanted to watch golf, I think if you're around there you’ve probably got to go watch on 16 at least once. I mean, it's special, and there is nothing else like it. I'd definitely watch there if it's [my] first time. It would be pretty cool.”

Max Homa, who missed the cut the last two years here but made it to this weekend, also would opt to hang with Elmo and Big Bird if he were a paying customer. He recognizes that it’s an either-or proposition.

“If you just want to watch golf you go to the front nine,” he said. “If you're asking me, I would go to 16.”

Why?

“To drink.”

SuperMotocross 2026 Round 5, Glendale 250 Qualification: Haiden Deegan narrowly edges Ryder DiFrancesco in Q1

Haiden Deegan's domination of the 2026 250 West division has begun with strong qualification efforts. He posted the fastest time last week at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Qualification 1

Deegan (57.617) narrowly edged Ryder DiFrancesco (57.644) by 0.028 as those two riders were the only ones to crack the 58-second mark.

"I feel solid," Deegan told Race Day Live's Haley Shanley. "Just got out here and do some solid laps today. We have a big points lead, so now it's just go out and have some fun, baby."

Two other racers, Levi Kitchen (58.186) and Michael Mosiman (58.264) were just outside that mark and still have one qualification session to make up ground.

Maximus Vohland (58.947) rounded out the top five.

Qualification 1 Results

💥The battle with PSG continues, Mbappé issues his ultimatum

💥The battle with PSG continues, Mbappé issues his ultimatum

The legal conflict between Paris Saint-Germain and its former star, Kylian Mbappé, has entered a critical phase. Following the ruling by the Paris labor court in December 2025, the Parisian club now faces a strict deadline to settle outstanding accounts with the current captain of the French national team. Although the institution paid the principal amount, a considerable sum remains, pushing the tension to the limit.


Eight days to avoid seizure

The total judgment amounted to 60.9 million euros, broken down into 55 million for unpaid salaries and bonuses, plus an additional 5.9 million for vacation and interest. To date, PSG has only transferred the initial 55 million, ignoring the legal remainder. Due to this partial non-compliance, the court has granted an eight-day period for the club to complete the payment; otherwise, Mbappé's lawyers are authorized to execute a direct seizure on the entity's bank accounts.

A turbulent end of an era

This episode marks the lowest point in the relationship between the footballer and the team that was his home for seven seasons. While PSG attempts to justify the non-payment of interest, the player's legal team remains firm in enforcing the judgment. This financial outcome tarnishes Mbappé's sporting legacy at the Parc des Princes, highlighting that the split between both parties is total and definitive.

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

I believe in what we're doing - Townsend

Head coach Gregor Townsend insists he is still the man to lead Scotland despite a hugely dispiriting 18-15 defeat by Italy in their Six Nations opener.

Townsend was already under pressure after autumn losses against both Argentina and New Zealand, and the below-par performance in a sodden Stadio Olimpico will only increase the speculation surrounding his future.

Scotland went 12 points behind after stumbling out of the blocks and they were unable to overhaul that deficit as their scrum and lineout both malfunctioned badly.

Before the Italy match, the former fly-half - who is contracted as head coach until the end of the 2027 World Cup - dismissed a report that he has agreed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls after the World Cup as "pure speculation".

He was asked again after the full-time whistle in Rome if he remains confident in his ability to lead the national team, starting next Saturday against England at Murrayfield.

"Yeah, of course," he said. "I believe in the players, I believe in what we're doing. It didn't happen and we've got to make sure it happens next week."

In his post-match press conference, Townsend was asked directly if he expected to be in charge for the visit of England: "Well, I want to be, that's my job so, yeah, that's what I'm focused on," he said.

Townsend acknowledges that speculation is inevitable given the result, but was able to take some positives from the performance.

"That's par for the course if you're a coach," he said when asked if pressure will ramp up before the Calcutta Cup. "No-one is more disappointed than me and the players.

"Of course there will be criticism for the result and the performance, but I'm with my team.

"I was hugely proud of the effort they put in at the end trying to find a way to win. It was really tough and we know we have to be better than that first 20 minutes."

Needing a penalty for a draw or a try for a win, Scotland went through 29 phases before replacement lock Max Williamson was held up in contact to end the contest.

Former Grand Slam-winning Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara says if Townsend's side had shown that level of fight for the entire game, they would not have been left needing a last-gasp miracle.

"Italy were the better team on reflection for the 80 minutes but you just got a glimpse of what Scotland stood for in the last two minutes of the game," he said.

"If they had played like that for 80 minutes, it wouldn't have been a contest.

"They'll feel very despondent."

'Italy got on right side of key moments'

With torrential rain falling throughout, handling errors were a theme for both sides, but Italy's clinical edge in the opening stages and their superior set-piece proved to be the difference.

Scotland's starting hooker Ewan Ashman had a torrid time at the lineout, with Scotland losing five of their own throws.

The new-look back three of Glasgow wingers Jamie Dobie and Kyle Steyn - and makeshift full-back Tom Jordan - were left wanting for both Italy tries.

Far too much space was left for Louis Lynagh's opening score before the Benetton winger beat Dobie in the air moments before Tommaso Menoncello raced over in the other corner.

"Obviously, the guys are very disappointed," Townsend added. "The effort was there. A lot of what we trained was in place. We just gave away too many possessions.

"We just weren't able to score more points in the first half. It was extremely difficult the second half but the effort the players put in was tremendous just not enough to win the game.

"We shouldn't have let them get ahead. They got a couple of breakaway tries. We had opportunities we didn't take and then it made it tough after that."

Despite the almost impossible conditions, BBC pundits unanimously agreed Italy dealt with them better.

"Both teams were playing in the same conditions," former Scotland captain John Barclay said.

"The key moments in the game, Italy got on the right side of those."

"Italy's start gave them the win," former England skipper Martin Johnson agreed.

"The game was virtually unplayable, it was that wet. If you compound errors like Scotland did, you're going to be in trouble."

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Baltimore Ravens get massive trade update on Maxx Crosby

Maxx Crosby

Baltimore Ravens get massive trade update on Maxx Crosby originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Ravens hit the reset button this offseason. After 18 years with John Harbaugh at the helm, they moved on from their long-time head coach after missing the playoffs in 2025. In turn, they hired Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who then hired former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver in the same role.

The Ravens have been wildly inconsistent on defense over the last two seasons - something they hope Minter and Weaver can fix. A great way to help the unit would be a splash trade, which is what ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports could very well happen in the form of Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.

"What has been made clear to me: Crosby wants to be a part of a winner," Fowler writes. "That's the priority. Whether and how that's conveyed is still unclear. He has been fiercely loyal to Las Vegas. That loyalty will be tested more than ever in the coming weeks. The reality is the Raiders are still far away from significant winning, and the trade interest in Crosby is incredibly robust. In fact, I believe more than a dozen teams, possibly up to 20, will at least inquire with levels of serious intent. And there are some natural would-be contenders, including the Bills, Lions, 49ers, Cowboys and Ravens."

Adding Crosby as a top-tier star for Jesse Minter's defense would skyrocket the Ravens to the top of the Super Bowl conversation. With Kyle Hamilton patrolling the backend with Marlon Humphrey, adding a top-tier edge rusher would make the Ravens that much more dangerous defensively.

More NFL news:

You have to cherish these moments - Larin

Southampton goalscorer Cyle Larin highlighted the importance of "cherishing" the moment after scoring on his Saints debut.

The forward scored just three minutes after coming off the bench, heading the ball into the net after James Bree send the ball in from a corner.

The St Mary's crowd were then signing his name as they celebrated his contribution that led to a big three points against Watford.

"It's a great feeling to score my first goal but it's also great to have a win with that," Larin told BBC Radio Solent.

"You have to cherish these moments. Since I came to Southampton, the staff and players have been very welcoming which has made it easier for me.

"When you feel good it translates on to the pitch. I've been a lot of places in my career and I think my experience helps me to adapt really quickly, I gel really well with the group.

"We should be higher in the table but that's football, if you go on a run in this league then that can change."

Saints are next in action when they travel away to Leicester City in midweek.

USA women’s hockey defeats Finland, whose debut was delayed by norovirus outbreak

USA women’s hockey defeats Finland, whose debut was delayed by norovirus outbreakMILAN — After dealing with a norovirus outbreak that postponed their game against Canada, the Finnish women’s hockey team took the ice for the first time at the 2026 Olympics, dropping their debut against Team USA by a decisive 5-0 score.

On Thursday, only 10 players — eight skaters and two goalies – were available to skate, with 13 others either sick or in quarantine due to exposure. On Saturday afternoon, Finland had all 22 players — everyone but No. 3 goalie Emilia Kyrkko — dressed against the Americans.

International Olympic Committee medical director Jane Thorton said in an email to The Athletic that all players who have been sick or isolated due to the virus returned to play according to guidelines established by National Olympic Committee team physicians in consultation with International Federations and the Olympic Games Organizing Committee. The return “is based on clinical course and according to timelines on infectiousness of the specific pathogen,” Thornton said.

USA Hockey’s Pat Kelleher was comfortable with the decision to play, telling The Athletic, “The USOPC is on top of that. So we’re following their lead and direction on it. There’s tons of doctors here under the USOPC and with us. So we’re taking every precaution, but we feel confident.”

From the outset of Saturday afternoon’s game, it was all United States as defender Megan Keller finished with a goal and two assists. Alex Carpenter, Taylor Heise, Hilary Knight and Abbey Murphy chipped in the others. Laila Edwards had two assists and Aerin Frankel improved to 2-0 in the tournament with 11 saves as the Americans outshot the Finns by 38 for the easy shutout.

The United States will take Sunday off before playing Switzerland on Monday.

Finland’s first period

Finland had every reason to come out sluggish after half the team spent most of the week sick or in isolation at the athlete’s village.

Norovirus is a highly contagious and often incredibly unpleasant stomach virus, which causes dehydration, loss of fluids, and lack of sleep. But you couldn’t tell in the opening 20 minutes. Defenders did well to keep the U.S. to the outside; they were breaking up high-danger plays and killed off an early power play by a dangerous American attack. Sanni Ahola, one of the players who missed time due to the outbreak, was really sharp, stopping 13 saves on 14 shots in the first period. She finished with 44 stops.

Team USA scored on a second power-play attempt late and scored two quick goals in the second before the floodgates opened. But Finland showed an incredible amount of heart and pride in the way they came out.

The Murphy-Heise connection continues

Heise and Murphy were held off the score sheet in Team USA’s first game against Czechia. They played well but weren’t quite as sharp as we saw them at the 2025 Rivalry Series.

Over the four-game series, the pair put on a show, with Heise finding seams and setting up open looks for Murphy, who scored five goals, including a Game 1 hat trick.

On Saturday, the dynamic pair officially arrived in Milan. Only this time it was Murphy delivering a gift to Heise for her first-ever goal at the Olympic Games. That change-up is exactly what makes that duo so dangerous for opponents. Heise is one of the best playmaker’s in the game right now, but she also has a great shot. Murphy is the total package, too, and she showed with her goal off a Heise assist late in the game.

With Britta Curl-Salemme on the other wing to hunt pucks and do the dirty work, this could be a formidable line for Team USA.

Knight on verge of U.S. Olympic record

Just two games into her fifth and final Olympics, Knight has tied the all-time U.S. record for goals at the tournament with 14 alongside Natalie Darwitz and Katie King-Crowley. With a goal on Thursday she already became the only American hockey player — and just the third-ever after Hockey Hall of Fame Canadians Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford — to score in five Olympic hockey tournaments.

With one more goal in Milan, Knight will stand alone in American history.

Coach John Wroblewski has said one of the Americans’ big motivations for this tournament is having Knight close out her Olympic career with one more gold medal.

And while this might be Knight’s last tournament, this is not your typical farewell tour: She’s still one of the very best players in the world, and she put that on display with her second goal of the tournament.

Standing on the red line with the puck in the offensive zone, Knight had the awareness to take a step away from the Finnish defender, opened up her stick and didn’t need much space beside the post to beat Ahola. That’s what elite goal scorers do. And at 36 years old, Hilary Knight is still exactly that.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NHL, Olympics, Women's Hockey, Women's Olympic Ice Hockey, Olympics, Women's Olympics

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Nashville Predators parting ways with CAA, agency hired to replace Barry Trotz

The Nashville Predators are recusing their association with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the agency hired to help search for their new general manager.

On Feb. 2, the team announced they would be working with CAA to help replace Barry Trotz, who announced his retirement from the post. But on Feb. 4, reports emerged that the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) was "reviewing" the Predators' connection with CAA as a possible violation of the league's regulations around certified agents.

After discussion between the Predators and CAA, the agency made the decision to step away from their search efforts on Feb. 7. At issue was the NHLPA's concerns of a potential conflict of interest.

The Predators released the following statement regarding the matter:

"CAA leadership informed us yesterday that they believed it would be in everyone’s best interest to recuse the company at this time from our search for a General Manager. CAA has been working hard up until this point and we appreciate all the work put into the search, but we understand and respectively accept the decision. We will continue to move forward with a comprehensive search process to find the next hockey operations leader for the Nashville Predators, making sure we identify and interview all of the best candidates."

CAA is one of the world's largest talent agencies, serving the entertainment and sports worlds alike. Several Predators players, including forwards Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault, are represented by CAA agents. Newest minority owner Nick Saban is represented by Jimmy Sexton, an agent with CAA.

A representative with the team told The Tennessean that the general manager search would be conducted internally from this point.

Trotz, in his surprise retirement announcement, cited a desire to spend more time with his family amid the demands of the team's front office duties. He will assist in the search for his replacement and stay on in an advisory role through the end of his contract in 2026-27.

Majority owner Bill Haslam has set June 30 as a target date for hiring a new general manager.

6 CANDIDATES: Who will replace Barry Trotz as Predators GM? 6 candidates to consider

WHAT NOW? What Barry Trotz's retirement could mean for Andrew Brunette, Ryan O'Reilly

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators parting ways with CAA, agency hired to replace Barry Trotz

Is LeBron James playing tonight vs. Warriors? Final status for Lakers star

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James

Is LeBron James playing tonight vs. Warriors? Final status for Lakers star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Golden State Warriors in primetime on Saturday night. It will be the second meeting of the season between the teams, as the Warriors beat the Lakers, 119-109, back on Oct. 25.

Lakers star forward LeBron James didn’t play in that game as he was sidelined with sciatica, but it will be a different story this time around.

LeBron James will play vs. Warriors on Saturday night 

James isn’t listed on the official injury report for the game against Golden State, indicating that he’ll be out on the floor with his teammates.

This story will be updated. 

More NBA news

Fulham 1-2 Everton: What Moyes said

Everton manager David Moyes, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think every win in the Premier League is significant, especially against a side that have been on a really good run in good form. This was a tough game for us, it always has been here but thankfully we were able to turn things around and get three points."

On the manner of how they won the game: "We might have been a little bit fortunate in little bits but we were unfortunate with the goal. I thought for the second half we were the better team and it was whether we could find the goal and thankfully we did."

On Vitaly Mykolenko's assist: "He does great. He goes past him and plays the pass for Kiernan. Kiernan missed one last week very similar but today he got one thankfully."

On Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: "He was doing great [prior to his injury], scoring good goals for us. He is just coming back from a hamstring injury and is just finding his way but he is finding his way in a good way for us, scoring good goals and playing well.

On the winning goal: "I haven't actually seen it again but it looks as though the centre-back was in front of the goal and got a touch from five stories up."

On how his view was from up in the stands: "I am glad I was up there because I would have probably been on the pitch for that second goal."

Did you know?

  • Everton are unbeaten in their last five away league games (W3 D2), their longest streak without a defeat on the road since a nine-game span between November 2020 – March 2021.
  • Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has scored four goals across his last eight Premier League appearances, as many as he did in his first 82 games in the competition.

Tennis: Northwestern men’s squad dominates, women’s squad falls short against ranked opponent

Northwestern’s past weekend was a packed one. The men’s side continued its success in doubleheaders by sweeping Xavier and Chicago State, while the women’s side suffered its first loss of the season to No. 12 Vanderbilt.

The men improved their record to 6-2, marking its best start to a dual season since 2022. Its dominance has largely hinged on strong doubles play, which was on display this weekend. Facing the Musketeers (1-5), the ‘Cats rode a strong showing from Chad Miller and Cooper Han in the No. 3 spot, as they won their matchup 6-1. Greyson Casey and Carter Pete also picked up a 6-2 win at No. 1, continuing an impressive start to the year for the pairing.

In No. 2 singles, Pate won two straight games 6-2, 6-2 for his second point of the day, while No. 5 Miller turned a 6-3, 6-0 performance. Ethan Schiffman secured a Wildcat victory 7-6(2), 6-4 in No.4 singles.

The 4-0 match score marked Northwestern’s second sweep of the season, with its previous one coming against IU Indy on January 24.

After a short break, the ‘Cats took the court again later that day and garnered their strongest win of the season — a 7-0 rout of Chicago State (0-5). In doubles, both No.1 Schiffman and Cyrus Mahjoob and No. 2 Pate and Owen Megargee won their respective matches 6-1 to give the Wildcats the doubles point.

Han was the match’s star in singles, as he took advantage of playing in the highest position of his career at No. 5 to record a 6-0, 6-0 win. He became the first Wildcat to not concede a game this year, as his performance quickly gave NU a 2-0 lead in singles, and solidified his status as one of NU’s strongest freshmen and a successful blue-chip recruit.

Sophomore Dylan Charlap made his spring singles debut in the No. 6 position, where he posted a 6-1, 6-1 win. No. 4 Miler clinched the doubleheader sweep on a 6-1, 6-2 victory — one that extended NU’s match streak to six games, the largest since 2023.

Sunday: Swept 🧹🧹

NU 7 | CSU 0 pic.twitter.com/HYpCSGNr6r

— Northwestern Men's Tennis (@NUMensTennis) February 2, 2026

The women brought an undefeated record down south to Tennessee, where the Wildcats improved their record to 5-0 after crushing Middle Tennessee 7-0. However, they were met with a reality check from No. 12 Vanderbilt (5-0), who swept NU 6-0.

Despite the score, there were several contentious matchups against the Commodores. First-year Margot Phanthala faced off against Vanderbilt’s Célia-Belle Mohr, who was the runner-up in last year’s NCAA Doubles Championship. Phanthala battled back against Mohr, winning the second set 6-4 to prompt a match tiebreak. However, Phanthala lost 6-10 in the final set.

No. 3 Autumn Rabjohns nearly secured an upset win over Bridget Stammel, who is ITA’s No.33-ranked player. Rabjohns snatched the momentum with a 6-3 victory in set one, but came up short in the second set and tiebreaker, losing 3-6 and 7-10, respectively.

Despite the loss, the Wildcats’ 5-1 start to the year is their best since 2020. The women will carry that record into the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, which they’ll host from Feb. 6-10. Meanwhile, the men will swap states with the women and head down to Tennessee for a match against Memphis on Sunday.

CAF Champions League / JS Kabylie - Al Ahly: lineups revealed!

CAF Champions League / JS Kabylie - Al Ahly: lineups revealed!
CAF Champions League / JS Kabylie - Al Ahly: lineups revealed!

CAF Champions League: official lineups for JS Kabylie - Al Ahly!

CAF Champions League / JS Kabylie - Al Ahly: lineups revealed!

JS Kabylie is gearing up for a crucial showdown this Saturday against Al Ahly, in the CAF Champions League group stage. Playing in front of their home fans at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, the Kabyle club is fighting for its continental future against the Egyptian giant, who currently tops the group and is the defending champion.

With no room left for mistakes, JSK faces enormous pressure in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter. On the other side, Al Ahly is aiming for a win to secure qualification and assert its dominance.

Al Ahly : Shoubeir, Hany, Yasser, Yassin, Koka, Attia, Dieng, Ben Romdhane, Bencherki, Trezeguet, Othman

Three talking points from Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca as Lamine Yamal scores stunner and Marcus Rashford shines

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 07: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Alejandro Balde during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca at Spotify Camp Nou on February 07, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Real Mallorca arrived at Camp Nou just two points above the drop zone and needing to be brave if they wanted to earn the points to allow them some breathing space.

That in itself would’ve been just what the doctor ordered as far as Barca were concerned, rather than having to grind down a team putting 10 men behind the ball again.

Unbeaten in their last 19 meetings against the Islanders, the Catalans would’ve fancied their chances of making it 20 before kick-off.

Indeed, the last time that Mallorca earned all three points in this fixture came way back in 2009.

In 10 league games at home this season, Barca had won all 30 points available, conceding just five goals during that streak.

Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…

Lewandowski still doing the business

It was just his 12th touch of the game, but Robert Lewandowski showed that he still has all the qualities of an elite striker when opening the scoring just before the half hour.

A simple finish? Perhaps. Though it was an important one, given that Mallorca had been much the better side before the Poland international found the net.

Is his time at the club coming to an end too? That scenario probably seems the most likely. Though even now, there aren’t too many better natural goal scorers in La Liga or elsewhere.

Form is temporary, class is permanent, as they say.

Sensational Rashford

Say what you like about whether the Manchester United loanee is the right fit stylistically for Barcelona, but he can surely be doing no more to convince the powers that be that he belongs at the club.

Into double figures for goals and assists already in all competitions before Saturday’s game is a hugely impressive return, and the first-half against Mallorca had Rashford’s name writ large all over it.

A whisker away with a chance, a venomous free-kick that brought the best out of Leo Roman, pace to burn when required….

His all-action performance continued in the second 45 and, in Raphinha’s absence, was another nod towards Hansi Flick and the board.

At this point, the question surely has to be, why wouldn’t the club want to sign him permanently in the summer?

Tenacity and drive to supplement the party tricks

Barcelona fans turn up at Camp Nou with an expectation that they will be entertained, and more often than not they are.

The squad have often been criticised, however, for not battling for a win when it’s required. Almost as if there’s a ‘softness’ to some of their play, when the darker arts could do with being utilised – within the laws of the game of course.

What we saw against Mallorca was a side that were tenacious in their winning back of the ball, were willing to put their foot in when needed and, ultimately, it was that part of their game as much as anything that helped Barca take the game away from a dogged visiting team.

Special mention should go to both Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez in this regard.

MOTM (Not a) Poll: Success at Ye Olde Stomping Ground

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 07: Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena on February 07, 2026 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a game of two halves, Dortmund do just enough to secure a victory against the perplexingly relegation threatened Wolfsburg. After largely controlling the first half, save for some fast breaks by Wolfsburg, BVB let the game and their lead slip. For a moment, it looked like Wolfsburg could even snag a victory, threatening to derail the “title race”. Guirassy made sure that would not be the case, and the game ended 2-1.

As a whole, the Dortmund side performed pretty well, though they were guilty of some cheap mistakes (cough cough Schlotti), and struggled mightily to breakdown the double decker bus that Wolfsburg parked in front of goal. Crosses were generally useless and most shots failed to reach Grabara, with only 4 out of 21 making it through. The team did enough in the end, and despite how many chances Mohamed Amoura squandered, they probably deserved the victory.

On to the plaudits:

Felix Nmecha

Much focus will be on Felix Nmecha this match, who returned to his old side to deliver a solid performance. Great passing and progressive dribbling summed up his game, of all Dortmund players, he succeeded the most in pushing the ball up the pitch and into dangerous positions. While his shooting was largely ineffectual, he played a great hand in setting up the winning goal, with a neat pass to Silva, followed by an intelligent dummy that let Guirassy seal the deal. The ex-Wolfsburg man is quickly growing to become one of Dortmund’s most consistent and important performers, and games like this continually justify his once contentious transfer.

Julian Brandt

Brandt’s unlikely goal set the game in motion for Dortmund, and he provided a constant attacking threat throughout the match. Scattered about all sides of the pitch, he matched Nmecha in his offensive output, serving as the best creative outlet of the three attackers up top. Good performance from the BVB veteran in a tough match.

Nico Schlotterbeck

Were it not for his daft handball, Schlotterbeck could very well be the top candidate for MOTM. Beyond that mistake, he delivered once more, capably leading the defensive line and shutting down many Wolfsburg counters. Further praise for his well-placed long balls that opened up new fronts on the attack, along with marauding runs that injected another threat into the attack. Ought to start a GoFundMe to pay for his contract renewal.

Serhou Guirassy

What could have been a quiet night for the big man changed with his match winner. Shut out and forced to fight tooth and nail for ever ball by the Wolfsburg defenders, he was clinical when it mattered. Showed up at a critical moment, and that is what counts the most.

Your Thoughts?

Despite how close the match was at one point, I thought the team did well in all. Luck was definitely on their side, with ever-present danger Amoura scuffing way too many golden opportunities. Win is a win, and the gap is at least temporarily three points.

What do you guys think of these picks? Anyone who should have made the cut? Will Fabio Silva break his curse? Let us know below in the comments!

Everton loan exit scores on debut, catching David Moyes’ eye

Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images

There’s plenty of young talent in the Everton squad, but not all of them have been able to stay at the club. A few have spent some time out on loan.

But one player that hasn’t needed a loan is Harrison Armstrong. He’s developed nicely into a player who is becoming useful for Everton’s first team.

Armstrong stayed with the club after Preston North End wanted to bring him back, but Moyes decided he’d be better off staying on Merseyside.

The same can’t be said for all the young players at Goodison Park, though, as a few of them have left in search of more regular playing time.

Moyes has never really been big on using academy players since his return. It remains to be seen if that will change in the future.

If it does, there’s already someone making a strong case after scoring right away for his new team.

George Morgan scores on his first appearance after leaving Everton

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

In recent months, Moyes has not been overly impressed with Everton’s academy and the players it is producing.

While there may be the occasional bright spot, Moyes clearly believes there’s more to be done in developing talent.

Striker George Morgan left Everton on loan to join AS Cannes last month, and he’s wasted no time making an impact.

Morgan featured for the French side on Friday night and found the net during their 3-2 win.

The youngster pulled Cannes level before a late goal completed a remarkable second-half comeback. He also contributed an assist for their opening goal, capping off an impressive debut in France.

Everton didn’t bring in a new striker during the recent window, confident in their current options. With Morgan now adding another layer of depth to Moyes’ squad, he might become someone worth monitoring as the season goes on.

Growing buzz around Braiden Graham as Everton keep an eye on young striker

While Morgan grabbed the headlines with his debut goal, there’s been a real buzz growing at Everton about Braiden Graham.

Graham has looked sharp for the U21s, consistently finding the net and showing he might be ready to take another step forward.

He’s also impressed during senior training sessions earlier this season, adding to the sense that his first-team opportunity could be coming soon.

Read more:

Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick sinks Scotland in T20 World Cup opener

West Indies' Romario Shepherd celebrates the wicket of Scotland's Safyaan Sharif during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Scotland and West Indies in Kolkata, India. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) (AP)

Scotland started their unexpected T20 World Cup campaign with a defeat as Romario Shepherd's hat-trick inspired the West Indies to a battling 35-run victory in Kolkata.

Thrust into the tournament with just a fortnight's notice after Bangladesh were unceremoniously kicked out over their refusal to play in India, Scotland needed 69 from 42 balls to chase down a 183 target.

Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce, who was put down twice, put on 78 together but once they departed, Shepherd dismissed Matthew Cross, Michael Leask and Oliver Davidson from successive deliveries.

The seam bowling all-rounder, who castled T20 debutant Davidson before haring off in celebration at his feat, then took his fourth wicket of the over by snaring Safyaan Sharif to finish with five for 20.

It was Shepherd's first five-for in any international format and helped the Windies start their Group C campaign with a win, but they were given more of a test than they bargained for from their unfancied opponents.

Scotland had to mobilise to sort flights, hotels, visas and even a tournament sponsor in the last couple of weeks, and they lost both their warm-ups ahead of their curtain-raiser at Eden Gardens.

But even with a young squad, they tend to turn up for the big occasion and had their moments on Saturday, initially subduing the Windies, who showed restraint to reach 66 for two from 10 overs.

Shimron Hetmyer, though, put his foot down, clubbing six sixes in his 64 from 36 balls, while there were big-hitting cameos from Rovman Powell (24) and the in-form Sherfane Rutherford (26) to get their side to an imposing 182 for five.

Scotland slid to 37 for three in response but captain Berrington led the revival, alongside the more unconvincing Bruce, who was given reprieves when Jason Holder misjudged a swirling chance at mid-off and Tom Forde could not hold on at short extra cover.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Scotland might have been sensing a repeat of their 2022 T20 World Cup triumph - the only previous meeting between the sides in the format - on 115 for three, with seven overs left.

But Holder made amends with a slower and wider delivery to Berrington, who cut ferociously to Shamar Joseph on the rope for 42 off 24 balls, while Bruce ran out of rope, lbw to Gudakesh Motie for 35.

Shepherd then applied the coup de grace, with Cross thrashing to point and Leask caught at long-off before Davidson was beaten on the inside edge following a limp prod at the hat-trick delivery.

It was the ninth T20 World Cup hat-trick - and first since England's Chris Jordan claimed a treble against the United States in 2024 - as Scotland were all out for 147 in 18.5 overs.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier in the day Pakistan also kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a win having survived against the stalwart Netherlands to win by three wickets in Colombo.

Put in to bat, the Netherlands made 147 all out before Pakistan needed an aggressive cameo of 29 runs off 11 balls from Faheem Ashraf to get them over the line with seven wickets having fallen.

In the third match of the day, India impressed with a relatively simple 29 run win of the United States. Put in to bat at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav score 84* as the hosts notched up 161 runs for nine wickets in their 20 overs before setting about defending the total.

The USA’s Shubham Ranjane and Sanjay Krishnamurthi both scored 37 but consistent wicket for Mohammed Siraj (3-29) meant that India restricted their opponents to just 132 runs in reply and began their campaign for the world title with a win.

Little Signings Everywhere

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 30: Andy Ibáñez #77 and Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians in Game One of the American League Wild Card Series b at Progressive Field on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Not that Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman make a bad double play combo to anchor your infield, but didn’t the A’s go into the off-season with different goals than their current outcomes? What is the method behind the madness?

The A’s off-season shopping list started with the rotation, where the team was statistically among the worst in MLB last season. Terrible production at 2B and 3B was also noted and the team was without a closer following the Mason Miller trade.

So what has the off-season brought so far? Need a SP? Well…….the most we can say about that is “Hey, pitchers and catchers haven’t reported yet…” Need a closer? The bullpen additions have been Mark Leiter Jr., a solid under the radar set up man and now Scott Barlow, he of the many walks, many strikeouts, and ERA consistently around 4.00. 3B and 2B? Meet Jeff McNeil and … Andy Ibañez, more of a utility infielder pick up than anything.

So as it stands, we hit February 7th with the rotation still looking like Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales, and perhaps Jack Perkins backed by several talented but unproven youngsters. The bullpen has gotten deeper but not demonstrably more dominant in any way. 3B still appears to belong to Max Muncy backed by Brett Harris now backed by Andy Ibañez with Darell Hernaiz potentially in the mix.

In other words, other than at 2B not all that different from how we left off in 2025. Now the good news is that the A’s weren’t necessarily a “76-86 team” in 2025 even though that was their record. The roster which finished the season went 34-24 over the last 60 games, good for a .567 winning percentage also known as a 92 win pace. Just look around the inexplicable 1-20 stretch and you see a team that was 9 games over .500 for the year.

But still, some key upgrades were identified as needed and as Super Bowl Sunday approaches with Valentine’s Day not far behind, the moves are … guys like Ibañez and Barlow. Why?

Reason # The First One: Opportunity

The meme is proving to be a reality: luring pitchers to a AAA facility that proved to be a launching pad in 2025 is nigh impossible. Pitchers who have multiple options and desirability simply are going to be hard pressed to select Sacramento no matter how lovable our team is. Offers have undoubtedly been made, and rejected, by starting pitchers we would have been glad to see added.

Reason # The Second One: The Best Moves

The cliche is also a reality: sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make. The A’s best avenue for bolstering the rotation probably comes from the trade market and you can be sure David Forst has had umpteen conversations around available pitchers.

The issue becomes what other teams want in return for a starting pitcher worthy of slotting into the middle of a rotation. These are highly valuable commodities in what has been an extreme seller’s market — nearly every team identified adding starting pitching as a priority this off-season.

What that means is that teams offering pitching are looking more for a Tyler Soderstrom in return than a Colby Thomas, more for a Gage Jump prospect than a Mason Barnett. The A’s may have wisely “stayed the course” by not making these key players and prospects available just to try to improve the rotation for 2026.

Reason # The Third One: It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over

My Aunt Bertha has yet to sing (and that’s always a good thing) and out of necessity to some degree, the A’s might be “waiting out the market” hoping a quality player will sign who wasn’t willing to before. Pitchers and catchers may be reporting next week, but pitchers like Chris Bassitt and Justin Verlander have nowhere to report to. With each passing day, the possibility that a pitcher who said “no” before now sees Sacramento as viable becomes greater. Many of the best SP have come off the market, of course, but several quality arms remain and you only need one.

We also don’t know to what extent the A’s are trying to load up for 2026 or whether their sights are more to 2027 or 2028 — in which case their prized SP addition could be Gage Jump or Jamie Arnold, their missing infield Leo De Vries, and so on.

I have felt strongly all along that one way or another, one day or the other, this off-season the A’s are going to add a starting pitcher. I still believe that and still have no idea from where this pitcher will come. But if you want them to report on time, you had better get them on your roster before all the Valentine’s Day candy is sold. It’s almost “show time”…

Cooper DeJean does his best to clear the air on A.J. Brown speculation

If you're someone who likes to discuss or attempt to forecast what might be on the horizon, the Philadelphia Eagles certainly have no shortage of discussion points. One is seemingly born every two to three hours.

One minute, we're hearing Vic Fangio might be leaving. Then, the next, we learn he's staying on. We weren't as fortunate with the Jeff Stoutland news. He's officially out, which makes us question the futures of Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson.

We're nearing a month before free agency officially begins. We could dedicate at least one hour to each of the impending decisions the organization must make. Then, there's A.J. Brown. He isn't scheduled to be available. He's signed through 2029, making him a free agent in 2030, but there are questions about his age, potential regression, price tag, interest in hanging around, and whether the Eagles want to continue his future with them.

Every time he's been asked about this, he says he's happy and wants to stick around. Unfortunately, however, the lasting images of him last season weren't very inspiring.

He and Nick Sirianni were involved in a shouting match during the Wild Card Round game. He dropped passes in crucial moments. Questions were asked about his engagement in the game. He left signed jerseys in the lockers of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell before leaving without speaking to the media.

Yes, friends, if you're uncertain about A.J. Brown's future with the Eagles, we can't say we blame you. So, we go back to the same well, asking the star Eagles wide receiver if he's still happy in Philadelphia and whether his teammates expect him to be back.

Cooper DeJean isn't expecting A.J. Brown's departure.

This certainly isn't foolproof, but it helps. If curious about an NFL star's standing with his current team, ask his teammates or coaches how they feel about him.

Seven word. That was all Cooper DeJean needed to offer his theory on his teammate and friend's standing with the team. Is A.J. Brown dissatisfied or in danger of being mentioned as trade bait? How about this for an answer?

"I'd be more surprised if he left..."

- Cooper DeJean on AJ Brown...#FlyEaglesFly

— Mike Gill (@MikeGillShow) February 6, 2026

Who would have thought we'd reference a Micah Parsons-hosted podcast to gain clarity on what A.J. Brown may be thinking or feeling? That's the world we live in now. Cameras have phones. YouTube allows us to broadcast our own content live, and both Parsons and A.J. Brown crossed paths for a discussion.

Parsons has hosted his own podcast via Bleacher Report for a while now. His most recent guest was none other than Mr. Brown.

The three-time All-Pro was asked about his feelings on the direction the Eagles were headed in. Stop us if we're wrong. We don't hear any traces of animosity, nor do we hear any tone suggesting that he doesn't view himself as part of the team.

A.J. Brown: “I’m excited for the season. I’m excited for what’s to come.”pic.twitter.com/VIhdwZeTWV

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) February 7, 2026

This certainly doesn't mean the Eagles won't entertain trade offers. This doesn't assure Brown's spot on the roster past March, but maybe Brandon Graham was right. Maybe this relationship is repairable. One thing is certain. The debate will rage until we're given one answer or another, and then, the speculation will continue with every dropped pass or conversation.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Cooper DeJean says he'd be surprised if A.J. Brown was traded

Syracuse's Joey Spallina passes head coach Gary Gait on all-time SU leaderboard

Syracuse's Joey Spallina passes head coach Gary Gait on all-time SU leaderboard originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Syracuse lacrosse superstar Joey Spallina will have something he can jab his head coach Gary Gait about.

Spallina now ranks ahead of Gait in career points on the all-time Orange leaderboard.

Gait had 253 points in his career, and Spallina raced past that in a big first half on Saturday against St. Joseph's.

He did it on this goal:

Here's the goal that put Joey Spallina past Gary Gait on the all-time @CuseMLAX points leaderboard 🍊💪

(via ACCNX) https://t.co/Pax1dSfSPspic.twitter.com/TtKlHqqvD9

— TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) February 7, 2026

Spallina came to Syracuse as the top recruit in the country and has lived up to the billing. He got the famed No. 22, which was made famous in part by the legendary Gait.

The one thing missing in Spallina's career is a national championship. He will try to lead the Orange there in his final college season.

Gait, of course, didn't even play his freshman season. Spallina has taken more games to get to the same points total, so the head coach might still have a few things to hold over his current leader's head.

It's still a special moment, though. Syracuse doesn't always give out 22. There's risk in giving it to a guy that doesn't deliver in those special digits.

Spallina has, and he and his coach can have a nice embrace after this latest bit of history.

MORE: Syracuse's Donnie Freeman does something awesome with an Uncrustable

Texas A&M's transfer SS lands in D1 Baseball's SEC position rankings

Following the departure of former Texas A&M shortstop Kaeden Kent to the MLB, head coach Michael Earley hit the transfer portal in search of a talented star to fill one of the most integral positions in the infield.

The Aggies scored with one of the most elite players at the position in the country, who also has a talented bat to pair with his outstanding abilities as an infielder. Maryland transfer Chris Hacopian is set to fill a massive role at shortstop and at the plate, after Kent and Jace LaViolette were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Hacopian is a former All-Big Ten selection who compiled a slash line of .347/.465/.614 with 103 RBIs, 29 home runs, and a 1.080 OPS.

His incredible performances for the Terrapins, paired with his offseason development under Texas A&M's new infield coach, Cliff Pennington, have earned Hacopian multiple preseason honors. The Baseball America All-American is one of the top prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft, but he is looking to make an impact for the Aggies this season before going pro.

Per D1 Baseball's Preseason Player Rankings, Hacopian is the No. 2 shortstop in the Southeastern Conference:

SEC in the 2026 @d1baseball Preseason Player Rankings: Shortstop Edition🔥@marvtraining

FULL READ HERE: https://t.co/RgWzzNBmNrpic.twitter.com/oxQQi64zXm

— SEC on D1Baseball (@sec_d1baseball) February 4, 2026

Hacopian's start to his time in College Station hit a bump in the road with a hand fracture during fall ball, but he is expected to be cleared and good to go for the spring. The Maroon and White need Hacopian to fill the holes at the plate and become a big-time hitter moving forward, after finishing the 2025 campaign without an appearance in the postseason as the unanimous preseason No. 1 team.

The Aggies' opening weekend begins on Friday, Feb. 13, against Tennessee Tech. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. CT, with Saturday and Sunday's contests scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and noon, respectively. All of Texas A&M's series against the Golden Eagles will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M's transfer SS ranked as one of the best SEC players in 2026

Ruben Aguilar scores and gets sent off as Lens defeats Rennes 3-1 to move top of Ligue 1

PARIS (AP) — Defender Ruben Aguilar was sent off moments after scoring his team's second goal as Lens rallied to beat Rennes 3-1 to go top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.

New signing Allan Saint-Maximin grabbed a superb third goal late on to help Lens move one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which plays bitter rival Marseille on Sunday.

France winger Florian Thauvin set up Aguilar for a close-range header with a neat cross from the left in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, the scorer was shown a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge from behind.

Despite being down to 10 men, Lens scored again in the 78th when goalkeeper Robin Risser's long kick was expertly controlled by Saint-Maximin on the left flank. He then beat two defenders while dribbling at speed before firing a swerving shot into the corner and celebrating with a back summersault.

Saint-Maximin turns 29 next month. Twelve years ago he was considered a teenage prodigy when he broke onto the scene with Saint-Etienne, but his career has not matched expectations despite some bright spells at Nice and Newcastle in the Premier League.

He moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, had an unhappy loan spell at Turkish side Fenerbahce and then played briefly for Club América in Mexico before joining Lens at the end of the winter transfer window.

With Lens in contention for the league and French Cup double, he has a chance to relaunch his career.

Forward Esteban Le Paul gave Rennes an early lead with a neat finish after Arnaud Nordin spotted his clever run and played him in behind the left back.

Lens equalized near halftime when striker Odsonne Édouard latched onto a long ball and held off a defender before shooting through goalkeeper Mathys Silistrie's legs.

Later Saturday, Brest hosts Lorient and resurgent Lyon looks for a 12th straight win in all competitions away to Nantes.

___

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

U18s Report: Derby County 2-3 Leeds United

U18s Report: Derby County 2-3 Leeds United
U18s Report: Derby County 2-3 Leeds United

U18 Premier League North

Derby County U18 2 (Green 34’, Myers 35’)

Leeds United U18 3 (Ibrovic-Fletcher 16’, Stockton 43’, Bennett 81’)

Derby: Dzialuk (GK), Taylor, Hodges, Connor, Crolla-Dowe (C), Myers, Corry, Mintus (Gill 60’), Green, Griffiths (Doyle 77’), Clarke (Blake 60’). Subs not used: Rees (GK), Thomas.

Leeds: Cook (GK), Dudley, Bridge (Thompson 72’), Bhaskaran, Hamilton, Njinko, Alker, Ibrovic-Fletcher (Bennett 46’), Stockton, Morris (C). Subs not used: Wood (GK), Simo, Massey.

Referee: Thomas Halloway

Venue: Moor Farm Training Centre

Goals from debutant Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher, Thomas Stockton and Oliver Bennett were decisive as Leeds United Under-18s ran out 3-2 winners in a strong display against Derby County Under-18s.

Barring two minutes in which the hosts scored twice, Leeds were impressive on the afternoon. The young Whites took a deserved lead after 16 minutes thanks to Ibrovic-Fletcher who chased down a ball sent over the top of the Derby defence.

He controlled well inside the right of the area, before cutting back past a defender and shooting low into the bottom of the goal to give the visitors the lead.

The Rams replied and had the ball in the back of the net thanks to a sharp finish from striker Israel Green but the linesman’s flag was up. Just after the half-hour mark, though, Green got his goal, breaking through and firing home.

County then won possession straight from the restart and Kacey Myers curled a shot into the top right corner, beating a diving Robbie Cook.

Despite trailing, Leeds stayed composed, being rewarded in the 43rd minute when Stockton drove from just over the halfway line to the edge of the box before placing a low shot perfectly into the bottom left corner. With parity restored, referee Thomas Halloway brought an enthralling first period to a close.

HALF TIME: Derby County U18 2-2 Leeds United U18

The second half was slightly calmer than the first, with both sides taking longer spells of possession in order to find an opening in the other’s defence.

Leeds had more of these half chances and eventually got that prized third goal when, in the 81st minute, Joseph Bhaskaran found space on the edge of the Rams’ penalty area.

He slid a through ball to half-time substitute Bennett who got a slight touch to wrongfoot Derby goalkeeper Cristiano Dzialuk, allowing the ball to trickle into the back of the net and put the visitors back in the lead!

Following this, the young Whites defended superbly as a unit, not allowing Derby to have any opportunities to bring themselves level again, seeing out the last ten minutes and claiming a thoroughly deserved victory.

After a disrupted January, it was a good win for Rob Etherington’s side on their return to U18 Premier League North action. They are on the road again next weekend, heading to Merseyside to take on Liverpool.

FULL TIME: Derby County U18 2-3 Leeds United U18

Rosenior praises ‘unstoppable’ Palmer – and gives update on Reece James’ injury

Rosenior praises ‘unstoppable’ Palmer – and gives update on Reece James’ injury
Rosenior praises ‘unstoppable’ Palmer – and gives update on Reece James’ injury

Liam Rosenior says Cole Palmer is “unstoppable” when he is playing like he did against Wolves, with the forward’s first-half hat-trick helping Chelsea to a 3-1 win.

Palmer scored twice from the spot before adding another to send the Blues on their way to a comfortable win and Rosenior was delighted with the 23-year-old, who has battled injury and fitness issues this season.

“Obviously Cole gets three goals, but some of our football was everything I wanted to see and he was a part of that,” Rosenior said, reflecting on the victory.

“In terms of Cole, we know what a world class player he is. He’s played a lot of football over the past year with not much rest but when he’s at his best, he’s unstoppable.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Chelsea news by joining our Chelsea WhatsApp channel

Reece James missed out again in the win over Wolves, but Rosenior says he is likely to be back for Tuesday’s game against Leeds.

“Reece is so close,” he said.

“He should be fit for Tuesday. I know I said today but honestly at the moment with the games we’ve got, everything is day by day.

“He’s really, really close, there’s not a major problem at all and it will be great to have him available for Leeds on Tuesday.

“It’s just a knock, a pain management issue. He was out running yesterday but just wasn’t right and we’re still in the midst of a really, really difficult period of games, with the amount of games that we’ve got.

“Hopefully he comes back fully fit, fully rested for Tuesday.”

£55m Liverpool signing suffers major injury blow

£55m Liverpool signing suffers major injury blow
£55m Liverpool signing suffers major injury blow

New Liverpool signing suffers major injury blow

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet was the only arrival for Liverpool in the January transfer window. However, supporters will have to wait until next season for the 20-year-old to officially become a Red, after a £55m deal was agreed for his services.

Excitement over the deal is incredibly high and fans will be keeping an eye on his performances for the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season.

However, things haven’t quite gone to plan for the youngster.

In Rennes’ 3-1 defeat to league-leaders Lens earlier today, Jacquet came off after 69 minutes with a shoulder injury.

The 20-year-old was in visible pain and was immediately replaced after the incident.

The severity of the injury is yet to be revealed, but Liverpool will be hoping that it’s nothing too serious and that he can continue to rack up the minutes ahead of his arrival on Merseyside in the summer.

Rennes will also be keen to keep him available as they continue their push toweards European football. They currently sit 6th in Ligue 1, which would be enough for Europa Conference League qualification as it stands.

Two points ahead of them are Lyon, who occupy the only spot for the UEFA Europa League.

Bruno Fernandes aims clear dig at Amorim while praising Carrick

Bruno Fernandes aims clear dig at Amorim while praising Carrick
Bruno Fernandes aims clear dig at Amorim while praising Carrick

Manchester United under Michael Carrick have won four in a row, something Ruben Amorim never managed during his 18-month spell in charge of the club.

Apart from the results, the style of play under the caretaker head coach has impressed fans, as has the never-say-die attitude displayed by the team.

And on Saturday, the team also ended their hoodoo against low-blocks, something the Red Devils struggled with under the Portuguese, as seen during the encounter against Everton a few months back.

Bruno Fernandes, who scored a brilliant goal against Spurs, was full of praise for the former United midfielder when speaking to TNT Sports.

Bruno Fernandes aims dig at Amorim

Taking a not-so-subtle dig at Amorim, the club captain explained that Carrick came with the right ideas and instead of trying to impose something entirely different, he gave the players freedom to express themselves.

“I think Michael came in with the right ideas about giving the players the responsibilities also, but some freedom on the pitch to take decisions that were needed. He is very good with the words.

“I think he still remembers what I told him the last time he was our manager for our last game. And I was sure Michael could be a great manager and he’s just showing it and we hope we can help him even more.

“So everyone can see not just us as players, that we are good players because that is why we are at Manchester United, but also the staff is very good.”

Carrick has given players freedom

Amorim‘s determination to play with three at the back proved to be a huge detriment to the team as was his shoehorning of players into unusual positions, something Fernandes can relate to.

It also helps that Carrick knows all about managing expectations at the world’s biggest club, something Amorim clearly was clueless about.

His negative tactics, and his disastrous man-management almost ruined certain players, but the former England international has helped restore the club’s DNA.

“Everyone understands the pressure of playing for this club. If you don’t understand you start to understand very quickly because this is a massive club and everyone knows the expectations around it.

Carrick knows what it means

“I don’t think that changes but obviously Michael has won everything here. He knows what it means for these fans, what it means for this club to win, and how much is needed to win in this football club. I think that adds something special to the team.”

The 20-time English league champions cannot afford to relax. They have the chance to win five on the trot in midweek as they aim to secure Champions League qualification.

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Arne Slot has perfect transfer solution for Ibrahima Konate problem

Arne Slot has perfect transfer solution for Ibrahima Konate problem
Arne Slot has perfect transfer solution for Ibrahima Konate problem

Nico Schlotterbeck is Liverpool's ideal transfer target

Even though Schlotterbeck's contract is set to expire next summer, several clubs, including Liverpool have already been linked with a potential move for the German.

The defender is naturally a centre-back but he has been known to play as a left-back throughout his career.

And, with it now feeling unlikely that Andy Robertson is going to extend his Anfield stay, a new left-back could be on the cards in the summer.

But, with Schlotterbeck, Liverpool would get the best of both worlds and have cover for a couple of areas among their defensive line.

Indeed, Joe Gomez is another option that Slot has at his disposal but, with his lack of fitness causing major issues over the last couple of years, it's clear that the Englishman is no longer reliable enough to be Liverpool's Mr Versatile.

This is why the transfer of Schlotterbeck would be a perfect opportunity for the Anfield outfit to explore.

Nico Schlotterbeck could become Liverpool's next Virgil van Dijk

Seeing as though Slot admitted that Liverpool are starting to plan for life without Virgil van Dijk, it's clear that some major defensive changes are going to occur at Anfield over the next year or so.

The Dutchman's contract is set to expire in June 2027 and, even though most fans think that could be the end of the centre-backs tenure, it feels like he could end up being offered another year at Anfield.

This season, the 34 year old's form has dropped off a bit with signs of his age slowly starting to creep in.

Of course, Liverpool would rather keep Konate among their ranks so that he can become their next Van Dijk, but, with the options that are likely to be available on the market this summer, Schlotterbeck is the best of the bunch.

so, if just one or two more centre-back's are brought in, they could find themselves in a solid position.

Shiffrin learning from Beijing lessons ahead of Milan-Cortina bow

Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin looks to return to the podium in Italy after failing to medal at the 2022 Beijing Games (Stefano RELLANDINI)

Mikaela Shiffrin said Saturday she has learned from the mistakes which cost her Olympic medals four years ago as the in-form ski star prepares for her first race at the Milan-Cortina Games.

American Shiffrin comes into the Winter Olympics off the back of an incredible season in which she has already won the World Cup slalom title for a record-breaking ninth time and is on course to claim the overall crystal globe.

But she arrives in Cortina d'Ampezzo with tough memories of her disastrous last Olympics in Beijing where the most successful skier of all time failed to claim a single medal.

"Skiing is hard because when you've done something technically, like you've made a technical error maybe you know what you need to do to fix it and you know the steps you need to take in order to get there," Shiffrin told reporters. 

"But it's still so precise and there's so many variables. It's definitely hard to do that and like do it right all the time.

"In Beijing, all these kind of pieces that came together and all the different factors that played a role, we've assessed them all and I continue to assess them, including my own role to play."

Shiffrin won slalom gold in Sochi 2014 and the giant slalom title in Pyeongchang 2018 where she also claimed silver in the combined event.

But she failed to finish three of the six races at the 2022 Games, and she blamed both her failures in China and her horror crash in Killington, Vermont in 2024 on the same technical error.

"I would like be more committed to my outside ski... the outside ski is the boss. Like if you're on your outside ski, you're in the driver's seat.

"That has been an ongoing task for me because it's also one of the things that played a role in my crash in Killington and I will tell you, I would take Beijing any day over crashing in Killington and getting a puncture wound to the abdomen.

"How it's made me better is you learn from mistakes and you just try to be cleaner and more precise."

Shiffrin is set to make her Cortina bow in the team combined on Tuesday, and will follow that up with giant slalom on February 15 and the slalom -- her specialist event -- three days later.

In the meantime Shiffrin will watch her teammate Lindsey Vonn try to defy a ruptured knee ligament and claim a fourth Olympic gold in Sunday's downhill.

"I'm so excited to watch. I think we all are," said Shiffrin.

"Her tenacity and grit and what she's showing with this Olympics and staying true to her own values, that's just, that's straight up beautiful.

"I trained today and I actually have a recovery day tomorrow, so like I will be cheering and ripping it to the TV. I have like 100 percent belief that anything is possible."

td/ea

Barca beat Mallorca to extend Liga lead

Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal in the win over Mallorca (Josep LAGO)

Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday to move four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The champions extended the gap to Real Madrid in second before Alvaro Arbeloa's side visit Valencia on Sunday, with Marc Bernal also on target late on at the partially reopened Camp Nou stadium.

Barcelona's first half display was sluggish, even though Lewandowski's goal had them ahead at the break.

"I was not happy... we were not on our level, the playing and passing was too slow," admitted Flick, who demanded more from his side going forward.

"The first half was not how Barca want to play, (but) the second half was much better."

Mallorca target man Vedat Muriqi came close early on as he slid in at the back post but hit the side netting, while Jan Virgili's shot was saved by Joan Garcia.

Marcus Rashford added some urgency into Barca's game after a listless start, curling inches wide of the far post after cutting in from the left.

A blocked shot from the England international led to the opener, with Dani Olmo knocking the rebound to Lewandowski to finish from close range.

Rashford's dangerous free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Mallorca stopper Leo Roman, and Yamal missed from point blank range as Jules Kounde sent the rebound into his path.

The 18-year-old made amends in the second half with a superb shot from outside the area which left Roman with no chance.

It was his fourth goal in four games, with Yamal in his best form of the season.

"He kept his energy for the second half and the goal. Lamine is fantastic," said Flick.

- Bernal's breakthrough -

Midfielder Marc Casado struck the crossbar with a deflected effort as Barca could have opened up a wider lead.

At the other end, Garcia earned his clean sheet with a good save to thwart Antonio Sanchez, before Bernal rounded off Barca's victory.

The 18-year-old midfielder broke in behind the Mallorca defence, showed composure to open up a shooting angle and finished with the aid of a deflection, his first goal for the club.

Bernal broke into the first team at the start of last season but a severe knee injury in August 2024 kept him out for around a year and delayed his progress.

"It's a great joy for him, when a player has such a bad injury we all feel it, we suffered with him... I'm very happy for him," Casado told Movistar.

Bernal, who usually plays at the base of the midfield, admitted scoring for the first time for the club was an emotional moment after his injury struggle.

"When I scored I thought a lot about how tough the last year was for me, so it's really satisfying, for my family too, I thought of them too," said Bernal.

Flick handed 19-year-old midfielder Tommy Marques his debut late on, as another youngster from the club's feted La Masia academy made the jump to the first team.

"His technique is unbelievable, his body language is top," said Flick, adding that the Spaniard may be able to start playing regularly for Barca next season.

Earlier on Saturday, La Liga postponed Rayo Vallecano's home match against Real Oviedo because of the condition of the pitch at the Madrid's side's Vallecas stadium.

They later moved Sevilla's home game against Girona, scheduled for a 1730 GMT slot on Saturday, to Sunday because of adverse weather conditions.

rbs/bc/iwd

Italians collect medals on a feel-good first day for the hosts at the Milan Cortina Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Francesca Lollobrigida led a tricolor day for Italy at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The speedskater won gold in the women’s 3,000 meters after Giovanni Franzoni took silver in the men's downhill ahead of Italian teammate Dominik Paris for bronze on the same slope Saturday.

Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen had the honor of winning the first gold medal of the 2026 Games, edging the Italians in Bormio, to kick off the first official day of action at the Winter Olympics.

Lollobrigida wins Italy's 1st gold medal of Milan Cortina Games

In Milan, Lollobrigida won the women’s 3,000 in an Olympic-record time — on her 35th birthday. It was host Italy’s first gold medal of the 2026 Games. Lollobrigida’s great aunt was the late Gina Lollobrigida, a star actress of the 1950s and ’60s.

Silver and bronze for Italy in men's downhill

Von Allmen was the leader after his downhill run but the wait for his rivals to finish was nerve-racking. No one beat his time of 1 minute, 51.61 seconds, though, and the 24-year-old Swiss racer won the first gold medal of the Olympics.

“I tried to enjoy the moment, but I didn’t quite realize what was going on today,” von Allmen said after his Olympic debut.

Paris will certainly enjoy his moment. The 36-year-old Italian had competed in four previous Olympics and came away empty-handed each time.

This time marked the charm.

“It’s my fifth Olympics, and getting the first medal in front of the home crowd, that’s really special,” Paris said.

Italian downhill medalist gives shout-out to Jannik Sinner

The 24-year-old Franzoni was asked about skiing with Italian tennis great Jannik Sinner as kids. The four-time Grand Slam champion had won a national junior title on the slopes. Franzoni said he received messages from Sinner before and after a recent downhill victory.

“It’s an honor for me that he takes some little moments to share this moment," Franzoni said, "and I hope today he was watching the race."

Lindsey Vonn tells the AP ‘all good’ after training run

In Cortina, Lindsey Vonn completed another downhill training run and was set for Sunday's medal race despite tearing her left ACL a little more than a week ago. The 41-year-old American crossed the line in third position and told The Associated Press “all good.” She has been wearing a large brace on her injured knee.

Disappointment for Jessie Diggins in skiathlon

Jessie Diggins, the most decorated American cross-country skier ever, finished eighth in the 20-kilometer women’s skiathlon in Tesero. She finished more than 2 minutes behind winner Frida Karlsson of Sweden.

“I had a crash on the first lap, where my tip just disappeared in the slush, and unfortunately it was a tough spot where you lose all your momentum," the 34-year-old Minnesota native said.

JD Vance and Jake Paul attend US women's hockey game

U.S. Vice President JD Vance sat with influencer and boxer Jake Paul as they watched the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Finland 5-0 on Saturday. Paul’s fiancee, Jutta Leerdam, is a speedskater for the Netherlands.

Finland was playing two days after the team’s game against Canada had to be postponed because of a stomach virus affecting players. Switzerland was preparing to play Canada a day after announcing that one of its players tested positive for the norovirus.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

USA women's hockey schedule: How to watch every 2026 Olympic team game from Milan

2026 Winter Olympics USA Women's Hockey

USA women's hockey schedule: How to watch every 2026 Olympic team game from Milan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The U.S. women's hockey team is heading to Italy in the hopes of winning another gold medal.

Canada won the tournament in 2022, marking the fourth time the Canadians were able to beat Team USA with the gold medal on the line. The Americans have defeated Canada twice in that same scenario, including a victory in the final game at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Can the U.S. get some revenge at this year's tournament?

Here is everything you need to know about Team USA's schedule at the Winter Olympics, including TV and streaming options for each game.

USA women's hockey schedule at 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA will be playing in Group A along with Canada, Czechia, Finland and Switzerland.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
10:40 a.m.Women's Group A: USA 5, Czechia 1

Saturday, Feb. 7

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
10:40 a.m.Women's Group A: USA 5, Finland 0

Monday, Feb. 9

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
2:40 p.m.Women's Group A: USA vs. SwitzerlandUSA, Peacock

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
2:10 p.m.Women's Group A: USA vs. CanadaUSA, Peacock

Friday, Feb. 13

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
10:40 a.m.Women's QuarterfinalPeacock
3:10 p.m.Women's QuarterfinalUSA, Peacock

Saturday, Feb. 14

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
10:40 a.m.Women's QuarterfinalCNBC, Peacock
3:10 p.m.Women's QuarterfinalCNBC, Peacock

Monday, Feb. 16

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
10:40 a.m.Women's SemifinalNBC, Peacock
3:10 p.m.Women's SemifinalPeacock, USA (4:15 p.m.)

Thursday, Feb. 19

Time (ET)EventTV/Live stream
8:40 a.m.Women's Bronze Medal GamePeacock
1:10 p.m.Women's Gold Medal GameUSA, Peacock

How to watch USA women's hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics: TV channels, live streams

  • TV channels: USA Network
  • Live streams:Peacock

Team USA's games during the group stage will air nationally on USA Network with potential quarterfinal and semifinal matchups on CNBC and NBC.

Peacock will carry every event of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics live. The NBC-owned streaming service's sports programming features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf and more.

USA women's hockey roster for 2026 Winter Olympics

No.PlayerTeam/School
3Cayla BarnesSeattle Torrent
23Hannah BilkaSeattle Torrent
25Alex CarpenterSeattle Torrent
26Kendall Coyne SchofieldMinnesota Frost
17Britta Curl-SalemmeMinnesota Frost
24Joy DunneOhio State University
10Laila EdwardsUniversity of Wisconsin
31Aerin FrankelBoston Fleet
6Rory GuildayOttawa Charge
4Caroline HarveyUniversity of Wisconsin
27Taylor HeiseMinnesota Frost
22Tessa JaneckePenn State University
5Megan KellerBoston Fleet
21Hilary KnightSeattle Torrent
30Ava McNaughtonUniversity of Wisconsin
37Abbey MurphyUniversity of Minnesota
12Kelly PannekMinnesota Frost
33Gwyneth PhilipsOttawa Charge
16Hayley ScamurraMontreal Victoire
9Kirsten SimmsUniversity of Wisconsin
2Lee SteckleinMinnesota Frost
8Haley WinnBoston Fleet
13Grace ZumwinkleMinnesota Frost

USA women's hockey coaching staff for 2026 Winter Olympics

CoachPosition
John WroblewskiHead Coach
Josh ScibaAssistant Coach
Shari DickermanAssistant Coach
Brent HillAssistant Coach
Alli AltmannGoaltending Coach
Melissa PiacentiniVideo Coach
Ellen HughesPlayer Development

Related Links

Hilary Knight and U.S. women dominate again in victory over Finland

United States' Hilary Knight celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides.
U.S. captain Hilary Knight, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during a 5-0 win over Finland in group play at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday. (Petr David Josek / Associated Press)

The U.S. women’s hockey team came into the Milan-Cortina Winter Games ranked No. 1 in the world. And two games in group play, it’s shown that ranking might be something of an understatement.

With Saturday’s 5-0 victory over No. 3 Finland, the unbeaten Americans have outscored their two opponents 5-1 and outshot them 91-25. The goals Saturday came from Alex Carpenter, Taylor Heise, Megan Keller, Hilary Knight and Abbey Murphy. Keller and Laila Edwards each had two assists.

In goal, Aerin Frankel faced just 11 shots in posting the first shutout of the Olympic tournament.

Read more:Hilary Knight's hockey achievements go beyond gold medals and championships

Just as in its opening win over No. 4 Czechia, the U.S. eased its way into the game before going ahead to stay late in the first period on a power-play goal from Carpenter. The score came seven seconds after Finland’s Susanna Tapani was sent off for hooking.

The Americans doubled the advantage 2½ minutes into the second period at the end of a beautiful passing sequence that saw Britta Curl feed Murphy, whose cross-crease pass found Heise on the doorstep for the easy goal.

Sixty-six seconds later Keller’s unassisted goal made it 3-0 and the rout was on.

Next came a power-play goal from Knight, her 14th in Olympic play, equaling Natalie Darwitz and Katie King for the most in team history. Murphy closed out the scoring, banging in a rebound at the right post with less than five minutes to play.

With 10 goals, the U.S. is tied with Sweden for most in the tournament while the Americans’ goal differential of plus-nine is the best. It was the 11th straight Olympic win for the U.S. over Finland, the bronze medalist four years ago.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Wrexham 'masters of our own downfall' against Millwall

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson applauds
[PA Media]

Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham were the masters of their own downfall defensively as they lost 2-0 to Championship play-off rivals Millwall.

A Max Cleworth own goal along with Josh Coburn's 85th minute strike earned the Lions victory over the Red Dragons at Stok Cae Ras.

Coburn's goal was Millwall's sole effort on target in north Wales while Sam Smith spurned a couple of efforts for the home side as Parkinson's men missed out on the chance to strengthen their place in the top six.

"We've deserved something from the game, but it's about moments. It was always going to be a tight game, two teams in the top six," said the Wrexham manager.

"There was nothing really in it, although in the first half I thought we had the better of the play.

"The goal we conceded has come from absolutely nothing. We've had two great chances and should have had a penalty when Thommo [George Thomason] has had a shot and I can't see how the referee hasn't given that.

"Then out of absolutely nothing we end up 2-0 down and the scoreline is not a fair reflection on the game."

On the goals his side conceded, Parkinson commented: "We're very frustrated because when we analyse the goals as a group, they're really nothing moments in terms of their play. We've been the masters of our own downfall for the two goals.

"But a lot the play was good. A lot of what we set out to do against their shape we did well, but it's defining moments in football matches and they didn't go our way today."

Wrexham lost midfielder Matty James and left wing-back Liberato Cacace to injury during the loss to Alex Neil's outfit.

The duo will now be assessed as Wrexham switch their focus to their FA Cup fourth round contest with Ipswich Town on Friday night (19:45 GMT).

"Matty went in for a challenge and he felt he'd broken his toe so we brought him off," said Parkinson.

"It doesn't look too good but we can just hope that it's not as bad as we fear.

"Libby, I haven't spoken to our medical team yet about that but he felt a pain behind his knee and obviously that disruption is never ideal."

Nathan Broadhead sat out the contest entirely, although Parkinson allayed fears over the Wales international's injury.

"There's a slight problem there, it was enough to keep him out today," Parkinson said of Broadhead.

"If he misses Friday (against Ipswich Town), he'll be fit I'd imagine for Tuesday at Bristol City."

Report: Ravens hire Marcus Brady as passing game coordinator

Marcus Brady is following Jesse Minter from the Chargers to the Ravens.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Ravens are hiring Brady as their passing game coordinator.

Brady, 46, spent the past two seasons with Minter as the Chargers' passing game coordinator. The Chargers interviewed him for the offensive coordinator job that went to Mike McDaniel.

Brady has worked with Philip Rivers, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert, among others, in his career. He now gets to work with Lamar Jackson under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

Brady spent five seasons with the Colts (2018-22) and was elevated to offensive coordinator in his final two seasons in Indianapolis. The Colts fired him during the 2022 season, and he joined the Eagles as an offensive consultant (2022) and then as a senior offensive assistant (2023) before joining the Chargers.

Brady coached in the Canadian Football League from 2009-17. He was part of three Grey Cup championship teams, winning back-to-back titles as a wide receivers coach with the Montreal Alouettes (2009-10) and another with the Toronto Argonauts (2017) as their offensive coordinator.

SuperMotocross Round 5, Glendale: Race Coverage, Live Updates

Three winners graced Victory Lane in the first four rounds of the 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship season, and that means Round 5 at State Farm Stadium could produce another unique winner.

Bookmark this page for live updates from the track as your one-stop portal for all of the action.

250 West Qualification Updates Coming Soon

Austin Forkner fitted with cast (broken hand)

Dilan Schwartz sidelined until Birmingham

Race Day Schedule

GLENDALE EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET): 

Here are the start times and schedule for Saturday’s Supercross race:

Qualification

12:30 p.m.: 250 Group C Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)
12:47 p.m.: 250 Group B Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)
1:04 p.m.: 250 Group A Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)

1:21 p.m.: 450 Group A Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)
1:38 p.m.: 450 Group B Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)
1:55 p.m.: 450 Group C Qualifying 1 (First 2 Minutes Free)

3:15 p.m.: 250 Group C Qualifying 2
3:32 p.m.: 250 Group B Qualifying 2
3:49 p.m.: 250 Group A Qualifying 2

4:06 p.m.: 450 Group A Qualifying 2
4:23 p.m.: 450 Group B Qualifying 2
4:40 p.m.: 450 Group C Qualifying 2

Evening Program

6:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies

7:06 p.m.: 250 Heat #1 – 6 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 20 riders (1 - 9 to Main)
7:20 p.m.: 250 Heat #2 – 6 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 20 riders (1 - 9 to Main)

7:34 p.m.: 450 Heat #1 – 6 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 20 riders (1 - 9 to Main)
7:48 p.m.: 450 Heat #2 – 6 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 20 riders (1 - 9 to Main)

8:21 p.m.: 250 Last Chance Qualifier – 5 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 22 riders (1 - 4 to Main)
8:33 p.m.: 450 Last Chance Qualifier – 5 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 22 riders (1 - 4 to Main)

8:56 p.m.: 250 Main Event – 15 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 22 riders
9:29 p.m.: 450 Main Event – 20 Minutes/Plus 1 lap - 22 riders

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Let Juneau’s February Festivals Spark Your Winter Adventure Like Never Before

7 February 2026 at 21:54
Let Juneau’s February Festivals Spark Your Winter Adventure Like Never Before
Juneau’s

If you are looking for an exciting winter getaway, Juneau, Alaska, is the perfect place to be in February. The capital city of Alaska comes alive with thrilling winter events and festivals that capture the true spirit of this incredible destination. From art exhibitions to local community activities, there is something for everyone. In this article, we will take you through the best festivals and events happening in Juneau this February. These festivals will show you a side of Alaska you won’t find anywhere else, and we guarantee you’ll be hooked!

Discover the Wearable Art Extravaganza

One of the most exciting events in Juneau this February is the Wearable Art Extravaganza. It is an artistic display like no other, where artists from all over Alaska showcase their creativity by making extraordinary outfits using recycled materials. Imagine a fashion show where models strut down the runway in outfits crafted from unusual materials—everything from plastic bottles to old newspapers! This event celebrates the beauty of everyday objects while promoting environmental consciousness.

The Wearable Art Extravaganza is more than just a fashion show; it’s a celebration of Alaska’s creative spirit. Local artists get the opportunity to push the boundaries of fashion and show the world that art can come from anywhere. If you love fashion, creativity, or just want to see something completely unique, don’t miss this event. The Wearable Art Extravaganza typically kicks off the year in February and is a must-see if you find yourself in Juneau during this time.

Join the Winter Fun with Marmot Day

Another quirky and fun event celebrated in February is Marmot Day. Celebrated on February 2nd, Marmot Day is a holiday dedicated to the cute and furry marmots of Alaska. While it may not be a big festival like other events, it’s a fun tradition that is loved by the people of Juneau and the rest of Alaska.

The holiday is an opportunity to honour the marmots, who are an important part of the state’s wildlife. Marmots are known for their hibernation habits and are often seen as a symbol of winter in Alaska. On Marmot Day, you can expect a variety of small events such as nature walks, educational talks, and family-friendly activities that teach you about these fascinating creatures. It’s a perfect event if you’re visiting Juneau with kids or if you just love animals.

While it may not have the scale of a larger festival, Marmot Day is definitely something you’ll want to experience to get a taste of Alaska’s quirky local traditions.

Experience the Arts in Juneau with First Friday Celebrations

Juneau is an artistic town, and if you’re visiting during February, you should mark your calendar for First Friday. Held on the first Friday of every month, this community event celebrates the local arts scene with gallery openings, art exhibitions, and performances by local artists. It’s an event for everyone—whether you’re an art lover, someone who enjoys cultural events, or just looking for a fun way to spend your evening in Juneau.

The First Friday celebrations are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the local culture. You can stroll through galleries showcasing the best of Alaska’s artists, enjoy live performances, and even purchase some unique artwork to take home as a souvenir. Whether you’re an art aficionado or just curious to see what the local community has to offer, First Friday is a perfect evening out in Juneau.

Get Involved in Local Music and Dance

If you’re a fan of live music, Juneau has plenty to offer. During February, you can catch exciting live performances by local bands, jazz ensembles, and classical music groups. One of the highlights of the winter season is the range of music jams and performances happening across town. Whether it’s a jazz night at a local venue or an open-mic performance, Juneau has a lively music scene that will keep you entertained throughout your visit.

You can also experience the city’s Alaskan folk music, which is an essential part of the region’s culture. Folk music in Juneau often tells the stories of the people who have lived here for generations, their struggles, and their connection to nature. If you’re visiting in February, keep an eye on the local event listings for performances that will introduce you to Juneau’s musical traditions.

Winter Sports and Outdoor Adventures

February is the perfect time for outdoor activities in Juneau, especially if you love winter sports. Alaska is famous for its snowy landscapes and exciting outdoor adventures. Whether you’re into skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing, there’s a lot of action to be had in Juneau. The snow-capped mountains and forests offer the perfect setting for a winter adventure.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can enjoy dog sledding and ice fishing—two activities that are iconic to Alaska’s winter experience. Many local companies offer guided tours, so you can explore the beauty of Juneau with an experienced guide who knows all the best spots. If you love outdoor adventure, February in Juneau is your chance to enjoy some of the most incredible winter sports available anywhere in the world.

Join the Community for Seasonal Fundraisers

February is also a time for community fundraisers in Juneau. These events bring people together to raise money for important causes. From bake sales to charity auctions, there are plenty of ways to get involved and give back to the local community. Many of these fundraisers are hosted by local organisations, schools, and businesses, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the friendly people of Juneau and support local causes.

Attending a fundraiser can also be a great way to mingle with the locals and learn more about the culture of Juneau. These events often feature delicious food, live entertainment, and exciting raffles, making them a fun and meaningful way to spend your time.

February Events in Juneau: A Blend of Nature, Culture, and Community

February in Juneau is a time to experience the magic of winter through unique local festivals and events. Whether you’re attending the creative Wearable Art Extravaganza, celebrating the quirky Marmot Day, or enjoying a night out at First Friday, Juneau offers a special blend of culture, community, and nature that you won’t find anywhere else.

As a city that values creativity and tradition, Juneau provides the perfect opportunity to dive deep into the heart of Alaska’s winter wonderland. The blend of arts, outdoor adventures, and community gatherings makes it a fantastic destination for anyone seeking something different from the typical tourist experience.

Whether you’re a fan of art, nature, music, or community spirit, February in Juneau promises an unforgettable experience. If you haven’t already booked your trip, now is the perfect time to pack your bags and head to Alaska’s stunning capital city. With so much to offer, Juneau will surprise and delight you at every turn.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Juneau in February

There’s no better place to embrace the beauty and culture of Alaska than Juneau in February. From the thrilling art shows to the outdoor adventures, the city offers something for every kind of traveller. Whether you want to experience the incredible Alaskan winter or dive into the local culture through music and arts, Juneau has it all.

So, why wait? Book your trip to Juneau this February, and experience a winter wonderland like no other. There’s no telling what exciting adventure awaits you in the heart of Alaska!

The post Let Juneau’s February Festivals Spark Your Winter Adventure Like Never Before appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Riyadh Beats Jeddah, Muscat, and Bani Jamra with New Dangerously Unnerving Travel Chaos Set to Explode GCC for Tourists Becoming Terribly Unsafe in 2026: What You Need to Know

7 February 2026 at 21:49
Riyadh Beats Jeddah, Muscat, and Bani Jamra with New Dangerously Unnerving Travel Chaos Set to Explode GCC for Tourists Becoming Terribly Unsafe in 2026: What You Need to Know

The Gulf Cooperation Council includes wealthy and modern nations, but official travel advisories reveal hidden danger zones. The countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates share prosperous skylines, yet serious risks lurk in some cities. Government authorities report missile strikes, terrorist attacks, violent protests and unexploded bombs. This report summarises government‑verified warnings about locations that are considered unsafe and unfavourable for visitors in 2026. These warnings highlight the contrast between development and instability across the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia: Cities under the Shadow of Conflict

The oil rich kingdom has drawn tourists with high‑end cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, but official advisories paint a stark picture. Authorities from the United Kingdom caution that travellers should not go within 10 km of the Yemen border and should only undertake essential travel up to 80 km because missiles and drones have been fired across the border[1]. Warnings emphasise that missiles and drones have hit critical infrastructure and that attacks have targeted Riyadh and Jeddah[2]. Officials from the United States advise against travel to the southern city of Najran and the eastern suburb of Qatif, including Awamiyah, due to ongoing missile and drone attacks and terrorism[3]. These regions are considered unsafe for 2026 and caution is urged. Officials note that militants have targeted airports and oil facilities, demonstrating the scale of the threat[4].

Kuwait: Crime Hotspots and Dangerous Deserts

Tiny Kuwait appears stable, but government sources identify localised dangers. Travellers are advised to exercise increased caution in Jleeb Al‑Shuyoukh, a district near Kuwait City’s airport where high crime rates persist[5]. Outside the urban centre, the desert north of the Mutla’a Ridge and near the Iraqi border is considered extremely hazardous. Advisories explain that unexploded bombs, shells and landmines remain from the 1990 Gulf War and could detonate if disturbed[6]. Thus Kuwait has both a crime plagued neighbourhood and a lethal desert environment, making these areas unfavourable for tourists in 2026. Travellers are told not to leave marked roads or handle abandoned objects because of the risk posed by unexploded devices.

Oman: Border Risk and Recent Urban Violence

The sultanate is often portrayed as peaceful, but official guidance suggests caution. The Government of Canada advises avoiding any non‑essential travel within 10 km of the Yemeni border, noting that militias operate across the frontier and violence can spill over[7]. A 2024 shooting in Muscat’s Wadi Al Kabir district caused casualties[8], and officials explain that terrorism remains a possibility and targets could include public buildings and markets[9]. The combination of border conflict and sporadic urban violence means that certain parts of Oman are deemed unsafe for 2026. Travellers are urged to remain on main roads and avoid remote desert routes because of the ongoing conflict.

Bahrain: Protest‑Prone Districts

Bahrain is small but politically tense. Government advisories highlight districts where demonstrations and unrest occur regularly, including Sitra, Karbabad, Adliya, Sanabis and Bani Jamra[10]. Officials note that protests can involve burning tyres, Molotov cocktails and improvised explosive devices, leading to violent clashes and road closures[11]. Because protests can erupt without warning, these districts are considered unsafe and unfavourable for travel in 2026. Travellers are advised to avoid demonstration areas and to monitor local media for updates.

Qatar and United Arab Emirates: General Vigilance

No specific unsafe cities have been identified in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, but official advisories call for vigilance. Qatar is assigned a Level 1 advisory, while the UAE carries a Level 2 advisory because of the potential for terrorist attacks and missile or drone strikes[12][13]. Travellers are encouraged to remain aware even though no districts are flagged.

Category‑wise Table of Unsafe Locations and Reasons

CountryCity or AreaOfficial reason for caution
Saudi ArabiaNajranDo‑not‑travel advisory near Yemen border due to missile and drone attacks[3]
 Qatif & AwamiyahEastern suburbs flagged for terrorism and potential attacks[3]
 Riyadh & JeddahMajor cities targeted by missiles and drones[2]
 Border zone (within 80 km of Yemen)Armed conflict and drone strikes lead to restrictions[1]
KuwaitJleeb Al‑ShuyoukhHigh‑crime area where increased caution is advised[5]
 Desert north of Mutla’a Ridge and Iraq borderLandmines and unexploded ordnance from the Gulf War[6]
OmanYemen border (within 10 km)Risk of spillover violence from militias across the border[7]
 Muscat – Wadi Al KabirSite of a 2024 shooting; terrorism remains a threat[9]
BahrainSitra, Karbabad, Adliya, Sanabis, Bani JamraDemonstrations and violent protests leading to road closures and potential harm[10][11]
United Arab EmiratesNone specifiedGeneral Level 2 advisory; vigilance required due to terrorism and drone threat[13]
QatarNone specifiedLevel 1 advisory; monitor regional tensions affecting travel[12]

Conclusion

Government‑verified travel advisories reveal that certain cities and regions in the Gulf are unsafe for visitors in 2026. Najran, Qatif, Riyadh and Jeddah face missile and drone attacks[3][2]. Kuwait’s Jleeb Al‑Shuyoukh has high crime, while its northern desert hides lethal unexploded bombs[5][6]. Oman’s border with Yemen and Muscat’s Wadi Al Kabir district are subject to conflict and terrorism[7][9]. Bahrain’s protest‑prone districts pose a risk of violence[10]. Although Qatar and the UAE have no specific danger zones, vigilance is recommended[12][13]. These official warnings should be heeded by anyone considering travel to the GCC.

Sources

[1] [2] Regional risks – Saudi Arabia travel advice – GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia/regional-risks
[3] [4] Saudi Arabia International Travel Information
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SaudiArabia.html
[5] [6] Kuwait International Travel Information
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Kuwait.html
[7] [8] [9] Travel advice and advisories for Oman
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/oman
[10] Travel advice and advisories for Bahrain
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bahrain
[11] Bahrain International Travel Information
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bahrain.html
[12] Qatar Travel Advisory
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/qatar-travel-advisory.html
[13] United Arab Emirates Travel Advisory
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-arab-emirates-travel-advisory.html

The post Riyadh Beats Jeddah, Muscat, and Bani Jamra with New Dangerously Unnerving Travel Chaos Set to Explode GCC for Tourists Becoming Terribly Unsafe in 2026: What You Need to Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Saibal Sen Joins Serai Resorts As COO: Enhancing Operational Efficiency And Elevating Guest Experiences In India’s Leading Luxury Resorts

7 February 2026 at 21:49
Saibal Sen Joins Serai Resorts As COO: Enhancing Operational Efficiency And Elevating Guest Experiences In India’s Leading Luxury Resorts

Saibal Sen has been named as Serai Resorts’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) according to the announcement from the luxury hotel brand which represents one of India’s most prominent hospitality companies. The brand implemented this major leadership change to improve its operational results while it advances toward its planned future growth targets. Saibal Sen will manage daily operations at the resorts while he uses his extensive hospitality experience to develop main strategies that will elevate the brand’s market position in the hospitality industry.

Leadership Announcement and Strategic Vision

Malavika Hegde, Chairperson of Café Coffee Day Hotels & Resorts, welcomed Sen’s appointment, recognising his valuable blend of operational expertise and people-focused leadership. Hegde expressed that Saibal’s arrival would play a crucial role in advancing Serai Resorts’ growth plans. She highlighted that Sen’s ability to drive operational excellence and enhance stakeholder relationships would be key to achieving the resort’s long-term objectives.

Saibal Sen’s Vision for Serai Resorts

With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Sen is set to bring his wealth of expertise to the Serai Resorts team. Sen’s focus will be on driving operational efficiency, improving guest experiences, and nurturing long-term value for the brand. He expressed his excitement at joining Serai Resorts at this pivotal stage in the brand’s journey, emphasising the importance of consistency, empowered teams, and thoughtful operations in hospitality.

Sen’s Extensive Experience and Impact on Operations

Before joining Serai Resorts, Saibal Sen held the position of Vice President-Operations at Evolve Back Resorts, where he successfully led operations, asset management, and business development initiatives. He is highly regarded for his leadership skills, with a proven track record of driving profitability, enhancing operational efficiencies, and delivering sustained business growth.

Sen’s professional journey spans several senior leadership roles across respected hospitality brands. He began his career with the Taj Group and later held significant positions at the Starwood Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. This vast industry experience has equipped him with deep insights into driving operational success, strengthening relationships with asset owners, and improving the guest experience. His leadership has consistently focused on aligning operational performance with stakeholder objectives, making him an ideal fit for Serai Resorts.

How the Appointment Will Boost Serai Resorts’ Operations

Sen’s appointment as COO is expected to have a transformative effect on Serai Resorts. His focus on operational excellence and guest experience will help the brand navigate the competitive hospitality market, enhancing its positioning as a top-tier luxury resort operator in India and beyond. Under Sen’s leadership, Serai Resorts is poised to streamline its operational processes, increase guest satisfaction, and ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for all guests across its properties.

With Sen at the helm of day-to-day operations, Serai Resorts aims to strengthen its brand promise, focusing on impeccable service, seamless operations, and sustainable growth. Sen’s vision is aligned with the resort’s commitment to creating memorable experiences for guests while fostering long-term value for all stakeholders, including asset owners, employees, and customers.

A Step Towards Long-Term Growth and Expansion

The appointment of Saibal Sen comes at a time when Serai Resorts is poised for significant growth. As part of its expansion plans, Serai Resorts intends to enhance its operational capabilities to support its increasing portfolio of luxury properties. Sen’s expertise in business development and asset management will play a pivotal role in driving this expansion, ensuring that new developments are executed seamlessly and with an unwavering focus on operational excellence.

Sen’s leadership will be instrumental in improving operational efficiencies, enhancing the guest experience, and ultimately positioning Serai Resorts as a leading brand in India’s luxury hospitality market.

A Bright Future for Serai Resorts

The appointment of Saibal Sen as Chief Operating Officer marks a new chapter in the growth and development of Serai Resorts. His extensive experience in hotel operations, combined with his people-centric leadership style, will undoubtedly help the brand strengthen its position in the competitive hospitality sector. By focusing on operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and long-term growth, Sen is set to lead Serai Resorts into a new era of success.

Saibal Sen will lead Serai Resorts future operations while maintaining exceptional guest experiences and organizational operational success through his leadership. The brand will achieve its upcoming growth target through Sen’s expert knowledge and his strategic vision for the company.

Image Credit: Serai Resorts

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Miami Becomes the Heart of Global Cruise Travel as MSC Cruises Opens Expansive North American Headquarters for Caribbean Voyages

7 February 2026 at 21:49
Miami Becomes the Heart of Global Cruise Travel as MSC Cruises Opens Expansive North American Headquarters for Caribbean Voyages
Oceania Allura, the newest luxury cruise ship from Oceania Cruises, christened in Miami with a stunning ceremony celebrating gourmet cuisine and exceptional travel experiences.

Miami, Florida, has taken a major leap forward in the cruise industry with the opening of MSC Cruises’ brand-new North American headquarters. This bold expansion positions the company at the heart of PortMiami, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, offering travellers an unmatched starting point for Caribbean voyages. For tourists and cruise enthusiasts alike, this development promises easier planning, improved services, and an exciting gateway to sun-soaked islands.

A Modern Headquarters Designed for Global Cruise Excellence

MSC Cruises’ new Miami office spans an impressive 130,000 square feet and brings together over 400 staff members from its cruise brands under a single roof. By centralising operations, the company can now coordinate Caribbean itineraries more efficiently. This consolidation ensures smoother booking processes, better customer support, and more reliable scheduling for passengers. For global travellers, it signals a stronger focus on delivering high-quality cruise experiences and seamless holiday journeys right from the moment they step into Miami.

Miami: The Perfect Starting Point for Caribbean Cruises

PortMiami, often called the “Cruise Capital of the World,” connects passengers to countless destinations in the Caribbean. Its strategic location makes it accessible to travellers from North America, Europe, and Latin America. By placing its headquarters near this port, MSC Cruises ensures that Caribbean sailings are easier to manage and more convenient for guests. Tourists can now enjoy timely departures, smooth boarding procedures, and improved pre-cruise arrangements, setting the stage for an unforgettable voyage to tropical islands like the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

Enhanced Cruise Experiences Through Infrastructure Investment

The new headquarters complements PortMiami’s advanced facilities, designed to enhance the travel experience for passengers. Modern check-in systems, spacious waiting areas, and streamlined boarding make the start of a cruise less stressful. For passengers, this means less time in queues and more time enjoying their holiday. MSC Cruises’ investment in Miami ensures that operations run smoothly, giving travellers confidence that their Caribbean adventure will be both luxurious and hassle-free.

Economic Benefits and Opportunities for Tourists

Beyond improving cruise operations, MSC Cruises’ expansion has a positive impact on Miami’s tourism and economy. The headquarters has created hundreds of jobs and supports local services including hotels, restaurants, and transport providers. For visitors, this means better accommodation options, improved airport connections, and more tour opportunities before setting sail. The development reinforces Miami’s reputation as a global tourism hub, offering travellers a vibrant city to explore alongside their cruise plans.

Expanded Caribbean Routes for Travel Enthusiasts

With the headquarters now operational, MSC Cruises can increase the number of sailings and offer more diverse itineraries. Passengers can choose between Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, exploring islands rich in culture, pristine beaches, and tropical landscapes. The expansion allows for seasonal flexibility, giving travellers the chance to plan holidays at different times of the year while enjoying top-notch service onboard. For those seeking adventure or relaxation, MSC Cruises’ Miami hub ensures that every journey is tailored to meet passenger expectations.

Miami: A Destination to Explore Before You Sail

Cruise travellers can turn their Miami stopover into a memorable mini-vacation. The city offers golden beaches, vibrant art districts, eclectic dining, and lively nightlife. Spending a day or two in Miami before departure allows tourists to enjoy the local culture and unwind before their Caribbean cruise. MSC Cruises’ new headquarters encourages visitors to experience the city as part of their journey, blending a tropical city break with a world-class cruise experience.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cruise Travel

MSC Cruises’ Miami headquarters sets the stage for a new era of global cruising. Passengers can expect improved itineraries, more frequent sailings, and greater convenience. With operations fully optimised, travellers enjoy seamless planning, luxurious amenities, and unforgettable Caribbean adventures. Miami’s strategic position as a cruise hub ensures that the city will remain a key starting point for global explorers seeking sun, sea, and adventure. For anyone planning a tropical escape, MSC Cruises in Miami offers the perfect blend of efficiency, comfort, and excitement.

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Explore the Caribbean Like Never Before: Carnival Cruise Baltimore Doubles Its Fleet for 2027‑28 Adventures

7 February 2026 at 21:48
Explore the Caribbean Like Never Before: Carnival Cruise Baltimore Doubles Its Fleet for 2027‑28 Adventures

Baltimore is quickly becoming one of the most convenient departure ports for Caribbean cruises. With its location on the Mid-Atlantic coast, the city allows travellers from the Northeast, Midwest, and even international visitors to easily access tropical destinations without the hassle of long domestic flights. Carnival Cruise Line is set to make this port even more appealing. In 2027, the company will deploy two ships from Baltimore, significantly expanding Caribbean sailing options. For global travellers, this means more itinerary choices, longer sailings, and easy access to some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful islands.

Two Ships, Twice the Adventure

For the first time, Baltimore will host two Carnival ships: Carnival Pride and Carnival Miracle. Carnival Miracle will arrive from Europe in November 2027, bringing a Spirit-class experience to the port. Both ships will offer a mix of seven-, eight-, and nine-day sailings to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. Longer 12- and 14-day cruises will explore the Southern Caribbean, stopping at islands such as Dominica, Guadeloupe, and St. Maarten. This expansion provides passengers with unparalleled flexibility, whether they want a short getaway or a more immersive tropical adventure.

Skip the Flights, Drive to Your Cruise

One of Baltimore’s biggest advantages is its accessibility. Travellers can drive from nearby states or take convenient flights from international airports, avoiding the complications of connecting flights. This makes the city an ideal departure point for families, couples, and solo travellers who prefer a stress-free start to their vacation. With the addition of a second ship, passengers now have more scheduling options and greater flexibility to choose the perfect sailing.

Carnival Miracle: Comfort Meets Fun

Carnival Miracle is perfect for travellers seeking longer, more relaxing journeys. The ship features a variety of dining options, from casual eateries to specialty restaurants. Entertainment is abundant, with live shows, comedy nights, water parks, and family-friendly activities. Passengers can enjoy evenings at bars or lounges while children are engaged in supervised activities. The combination of comfort, entertainment, and variety makes Carnival Miracle a standout choice for families and seasoned cruisers alike.

Carnival Pride: Classic Caribbean Journeys

Carnival Pride will continue year-round sailings from Baltimore. Seven-day trips to the Bahamas and Bermuda remain popular, alongside nine-, 12-, and 14-day itineraries to the Southern Caribbean. Ports include Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, and Martinique. This ship continues to offer familiar comforts and entertainment for passengers, while also providing access to longer voyages with rich cultural and natural experiences.

Explore More of the Caribbean

The expanded Carnival Baltimore schedule means travellers can reach islands that were previously harder to access from the Mid-Atlantic. These longer sailings allow passengers to explore local culture, stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and unique culinary traditions. Activities such as snorkeling, hiking, sightseeing, and local tours give travellers a more immersive experience. This level of flexibility ensures that each cruise offers something special, whether it’s adventure, relaxation, or cultural discovery.

Travel-Friendly Benefits of Baltimore Port

Baltimore provides easy access for international travellers and those from surrounding states. Passengers can enjoy the convenience of parking, nearby hotels, and vibrant city attractions before or after their cruise. The city’s maritime history, waterfront dining, and museums make it an ideal start or end to a Caribbean adventure. Travellers can extend their holiday in Baltimore, blending urban exploration with tropical escapes.

Why This Expansion Matters for Travellers

Carnival’s decision to homeport two ships in Baltimore reflects growing demand for drive-to cruises in the Mid-Atlantic region. By increasing itinerary options, the cruise line offers more choices for different budgets, schedules, and travel styles. Families, couples, and solo travellers can now select from shorter getaways or longer, immersive journeys to the Caribbean’s most desirable destinations. The expansion also boosts the local economy and promotes Baltimore as a leading cruise hub.

What to Expect Onboard and Ashore

On both ships, passengers can enjoy diverse dining, entertainment, and recreational options. Ports of call provide opportunities for cultural tours, beach days, and exploring local markets. Travellers can snorkel in clear waters, hike lush islands, and sample unique cuisine. Whether it’s a seven-day escape or a 14-day adventure, Carnival Cruise Baltimore offers unforgettable experiences for all types of travellers.

Final Thoughts for Global Travellers

Carnival Cruise Baltimore’s 2027-28 expansion transforms the Mid-Atlantic port into a gateway for Caribbean adventures. With two ships, extended itineraries, and drive-to convenience, global travellers now have easier access to tropical destinations. Families, couples, and solo adventurers can explore iconic islands, hidden beaches, and cultural hotspots, all while enjoying the comfort and entertainment of modern cruise ships. For anyone seeking a Caribbean escape without flying south, Baltimore has never been more appealing.

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New Leadership at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism: Charlie Lopez-Quintana to Lead Board into 2026

7 February 2026 at 21:47
New Leadership at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism: Charlie Lopez-Quintana to Lead Board into 2026

Santa Monica has always been more than just a beach town; it is a global icon of California luxury, coastal culture, and community spirit. As the city approaches one of the most significant stretches in its modern history—a period defined by world-class sporting events and historic milestones—Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) has officially announced the leadership team that will steer the ship.

The appointment of the 2026 Board of Directors Executive Committee marks a strategic pivot for the city. With a blend of luxury hospitality expertise, local civic history, and entertainment veteran leadership, the new board is tasked with ensuring Santa Monica remains a premier destination on the international stage.

A New Visionary at the Helm: Charlie Lopez-Quintana

Taking the reins as Chairman is Charlie Lopez-Quintana, a name synonymous with excellence in the luxury hospitality sector. Lopez-Quintana currently serves as the Vice President and Managing Director of ETC Hotels, the parent company of two of Santa Monica’s most prestigious landmarks: Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar.

With over 25 years of experience, Lopez-Quintana isn’t just a corporate executive; he is a curator of “the guest experience.” His background includes leadership roles at the Terranea Resort and multiple Ritz-Carlton properties. Having served as Vice Chair of the SMTT board during the 2024-25 term, his ascension to Chairman represents a seamless transition at a time when stability and vision are paramount.

“2026 marks an inspiring moment for Santa Monica as the city steps into the global spotlight,” Lopez-Quintana remarked. He highlighted a “perfect storm” of upcoming events—the Route 66 Centennial, the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the 2028 Olympic Games—as unique opportunities to drive economic growth and showcase the city’s seaside charm.

The Powerhouse Executive Committee

Lopez-Quintana is joined by a team of industry heavyweights, each bringing a specific flavor of expertise to the table:

  • Vice Chair: Jeff Klocke. As the CEO of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, Klocke represents the heartbeat of the city’s tourism. With over 30 years in the industry and a board tenure dating back to 2019, Klocke understands the mechanics of high-volume tourism better than anyone.
  • Treasurer: Simon Fricker. The General Manager of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Fricker brings more than two decades of international boutique-luxury experience. His role will be vital in managing the fiscal strategies required to market Santa Monica to a global audience.
  • Secretary: Karen Ginsberg. Representing the civic and community pillar, Ginsberg is a longtime resident who spent 25 years working for the City of Santa Monica, eventually retiring as the Director of Community and Cultural Services. Her deep understanding of the city’s internal workings ensures that tourism growth remains sustainable and respectful of the local community.

Why 2026 Matters: The Road to the Olympics

The timing of this leadership change is no coincidence. The next few years represent a “pivotal era” for Southern California. Misti Kerns, President and CEO of SMTT, expressed immense confidence in the new appointments, noting that Lopez-Quintana’s expertise is exactly what the city needs to navigate these high-stakes years.

The Route 66 Centennial in 2026 is perhaps the most sentimental of these milestones. As the “End of the Trail,” the Santa Monica Pier will be the focal point for thousands of travelers retracing the historic American journey. This event serves as a massive “pre-game” for the 2028 Olympics, where Santa Monica will host several key events.

Economic Impact and Local Heritage

Beyond the glitz of international events, the new board’s mission is deeply rooted in local economics. Tourism is a primary engine for Santa Monica’s economy, supporting local businesses, public services, and jobs.

The strategy under Lopez-Quintana appears to be one of “meaningful economic impact.” This means moving beyond just filling hotel rooms; it’s about creating an ecosystem where the influx of global visitors translates into long-term benefits for the residents of Santa Monica. By leveraging the city’s reputation for luxury and its unique “seaside city” identity, the board aims to attract high-value tourism that respects the local culture while fueling the city’s future.

Looking Ahead

As Santa Monica prepares to welcome the world, the 2026 Executive Committee stands ready. With a leader like Charlie Lopez-Quintana—who understands the nuances of the “luxury guest experience”—and a supporting cast that covers everything from amusement parks to civic planning, the city is well-positioned.

Santa Monica is no longer just preparing for the future; it is actively shaping it. Under this new leadership, the city is set to prove that while it may be the “End of the Trail” for Route 66, it is only the beginning of a new, golden era for Santa Monica tourism.

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Saudi Arabia’s Ramadan Campaign Brings Luxury Travel Offers to Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Jordan and More with Unprecedented Discounts in AlUla and The Red Sea

7 February 2026 at 21:47
Saudi Arabia’s Ramadan Campaign Brings Luxury Travel Offers to Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Jordan and More with Unprecedented Discounts in AlUla and The Red Sea
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Ramadan campaign offers unprecedented discounts on luxury travel to AlUla and The Red Sea, attracting visitors from Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Jordan, and beyond, making it the perfect time to explore the Kingdom’s cultural and coastal gems.

As Saudi Arabia continues to captivate travelers with its growing tourism offerings, the country has launched a new global campaign in celebration of Ramadan 2026. Under the banner “Embrace the Radiance of Ramadan Lights,” Saudi Tourism Authority’s consumer brand, Welcome to Arabia, presents more than 35 exclusive travel deals across the Kingdom’s most iconic destinations. These offers, available for a limited time during the holy month, offer substantial discounts and an opportunity for travelers to experience Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, stunning natural beauty, and wellness-focused escapes at highly attractive prices.

The campaign focuses on two of Saudi Arabia’s flagship destinations—AlUla and The Red Sea—showcasing more than 12 premium properties that highlight the Kingdom’s unique charm. These curated packages aim to make luxury travel more accessible while offering visitors a chance to enjoy a rejuvenating Ramadan experience in some of the most scenic and culturally rich parts of the country.

Ramadan Deals in AlUla: A Gateway to History and Heritage

AlUla, famous for its dramatic desert landscapes and ancient archaeological sites, offers some of the most unique travel experiences in Saudi Arabia. As part of the Ramadan campaign, visitors can enjoy special discounts of up to 45% at luxury resorts like Banyan Tree AlUla, Our Habitas AlUla, Ashar Tented Resort, Chedi Hegra, and Shaden Resort. These resorts offer not only a luxurious escape but also a chance to immerse oneself in the rich history of the area, with ancient rock formations and centuries-old tombs waiting to be explored. The tranquil desert environment provides the perfect backdrop for reflection and rejuvenation during Ramadan, inviting visitors to embrace the spirit of serenity.

The Red Sea: An Oasis of Wellness and Coastal Luxury

For those seeking coastal relaxation, the Red Sea provides an unparalleled setting. The Ramadan campaign offers discounts of up to 20% at standout properties like Desert Rock and Shebara, where contemporary architecture meets pristine beaches and restorative wellness experiences. With its breathtaking coastline and serene environment, The Red Sea is an ideal destination for travelers looking to enjoy the peaceful Ramadan season by the water. Whether it’s lounging on the beach or indulging in spa treatments, the Red Sea region offers an oasis of tranquility.

A Tourism Boom Driven by Regional Partnerships

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years, welcoming over 122 million visitors in 2025. A key factor behind this growth is the strategic relationships the Kingdom has cultivated with neighboring countries. Regional partners like Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, and Jordan have played pivotal roles in fueling the surge of inbound tourists.

  • Morocco: With its expanding outbound tourism market, Morocco has become a significant contributor to Saudi Arabia’s growing visitor numbers. The Kingdom’s rich cultural and leisure offerings resonate with Moroccan travelers, who are increasingly drawn to Saudi Arabia’s luxury resorts and historical destinations like AlUla.
  • Egypt: Egypt has emerged as the largest source of visitors to Saudi Arabia in 2025, driven by relaxed visa policies and digital innovations such as the e-visa system. This has made travel more efficient for Egyptian tourists, who are now more inclined to visit Saudi Arabia for its diverse tourism experiences.
  • Jordan: The strong cultural and religious ties between Jordan and Saudi Arabia have also facilitated a steady flow of Jordanian tourists to the Kingdom. As travel becomes easier and more attractive, Saudi Arabia’s wide array of cultural and historical offerings continues to appeal to Jordanian travelers.
  • Bahrain & Kuwait: Both Bahrain and Kuwait, being close neighbors, remain major contributors to Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom. The ease of travel between these countries and Saudi Arabia has led to an increase in regional visitors, especially during key times like Ramadan.
  • India: Saudi Arabia has also witnessed a rise in visitors from India, a country with a growing middle class and increasing connectivity to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s welcoming visa policies and robust tourism infrastructure are key factors in attracting Indian travelers.

Unprecedented Growth and Ambition

Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth is a central pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, with a goal to position the country as one of the world’s top ten travel destinations. In line with this ambition, the Ramadan campaign seeks to further boost international interest by offering exclusive deals that encourage longer and more immersive stays. The goal is not only to attract visitors during Ramadan but to encourage repeat visits and foster deeper engagement with Saudi Arabia’s diverse regions.

As Ramadan unfolds across the Kingdom, cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Diriyah transform into hubs of vibrant activity. Streets are illuminated with beautiful lights, and night markets come alive with local crafts, traditional foods, and Ramadan-themed events. Visitors can indulge in exquisite Iftar and Suhoor experiences, enjoy cultural performances, and embrace the warmth of Saudi hospitality. The Kingdom’s renowned generosity shines through, as visitors are welcomed to experience a truly unique Ramadan celebration that blends tradition with modernity.

A Future of Inclusive and Immersive Travel

As Saudi Arabia continues to make strides in tourism, the “Embrace the Radiance of Ramadan Lights” campaign serves as an invitation to explore the Kingdom’s hidden gems at exceptional value. With luxury offerings, cultural experiences, and wellness escapes, this campaign promises to deliver an unforgettable Ramadan experience. Whether you’re looking to explore the desert wonders of AlUla or unwind by the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia has something special waiting for you during this sacred month.

With its forward-thinking approach, expanded visa policies, and world-class destination developments, Saudi Arabia is set to continue growing as a premier travel destination for tourists from around the world. The Kingdom’s commitment to offering accessible luxury, unparalleled experiences, and a rich cultural heritage makes it an unmissable destination for any traveler in 2026.

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British Airways Moves Toward App-Based Meal Selection on Long-Haul Routes From London Heathrow

7 February 2026 at 21:46
British Airways Moves Toward App-Based Meal Selection on Long-Haul Routes From London Heathrow

A service process update is being prepared by British Airways as part of efforts to modernize long-haul travel operations. An electronic system for recording inflight meal selections is being tested for use in Club World on long-distance services departing from London Heathrow Airport. The initiative is designed to replace traditional handwritten notes with a digital alternative used by onboard teams, marking a procedural change for premium travel service.

The trial centers on a mobile-based platform that allows inflight teams to log food and beverage requests electronically. This change affects how information is recorded and shared during service rather than altering menus or service structures. The rollout is being handled gradually, with testing underway before broader deployment across aircraft.

Digital Meal Ordering Trial for Club World Travelers

Within Club World, the new system is intended to record passenger choices through company-issued smartphones used by cabin crew. The platform, referred to internally as iOrder, allows selections to be entered directly during service. Once logged, the data becomes accessible across crew devices, creating a shared digital reference throughout the cabin.

This approach replaces decades-old manual processes where selections were written down individually. By shifting meal ordering into a centralized digital format, onboard coordination is expected to become more streamlined during long-haul operations. The process is focused on operational accuracy rather than introducing new service elements for travelers.

The initiative is limited to business class cabins on long-haul flights and applies only to services departing from London Heathrow Airport. No changes to passenger interaction methods have been indicated, as the system is primarily designed for internal use by crew members during inflight service routines.

What Digital Processes Mean for Modern Air Travel

In premium air travel, operational systems often evolve behind the scenes rather than through visible passenger-facing changes. Digital tools used during flights can influence how services are delivered by improving internal coordination. For travelers, such changes may be experienced indirectly through smoother service flow or fewer interruptions during inflight routines.

Within Club World, the introduction of electronic systems reflects a broader movement toward digitized inflight processes. While the immediate experience remains familiar to travelers, internal accuracy and consistency are areas often targeted by airlines operating long-haul routes. These adjustments are typically designed to support reliability rather than transform the onboard atmosphere.

As air travel continues to rely on data-driven planning, digital service records become part of how travel experiences are refined over time. For frequent long-distance travelers, consistency in onboard service plays a role in overall journey satisfaction, even when changes are not overtly visible.

Data Collection and the Long-Term Travel Experience

The use of iOrder also allows historical data on meal ordering patterns to be retained and reviewed after flights are completed. This information can support planning decisions for future services rather than addressing shortages during the same journey. Any adjustments based on recorded demand would therefore apply to later operations.

For travelers, this means that the system’s benefits are oriented toward long-term service planning rather than real-time problem-solving. The focus remains on understanding preferences within business class cabins to inform future provisioning. As a result, the immediate inflight experience remains unchanged while operational planning evolves incrementally.

Such systems have been adopted elsewhere in the industry, with airlines including Emirates and Qatar Airways having already moved away from paper-based methods. British Airways’ trial reflects alignment with existing industry practices rather than a novel passenger-facing feature.

Operational Context for Long-Haul Tourism Travel

Long-haul tourism often depends on reliable premium cabin operations, especially for travelers undertaking extended journeys. Internal service tools play a role in maintaining consistency across flights, particularly on routes where expectations for Club World service standards remain high. Digitized systems can support these expectations by reducing manual handling of service details.

By consolidating records across cabin crew devices, the airline aims to maintain clearer oversight of service execution. For long-distance travelers, such measures are part of the operational framework that supports uninterrupted travel experiences. While the system operates in the background, its purpose is tied to sustaining service quality over time.

As testing continues, the emphasis remains on internal efficiency rather than immediate changes for passengers. The trial represents a procedural adjustment within British Airways long-haul operations, focused on how service data is captured and shared during flights departing from London Heathrow Airport.

Image Source: AI

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Discover the Disney Black Family Cruise: An Unforgettable Family Voyage Highlighting Black Culture, Heritage, and World-Class Ocean Fun

7 February 2026 at 21:42
Discover the Disney Black Family Cruise: An Unforgettable Family Voyage Highlighting Black Culture, Heritage, and World-Class Ocean Fun
Disney Adventure Joins Norwegian Luna, Viking Mira, Legend of the Seas, Mein Schiff Flow and More in 2026’s Biggest Cruise Launches – Get Ready for the Ultimate Luxury Travel Experience

The world of family cruising has been reimagined with the launch of the Disney Black Family Cruise, an innovative journey designed to celebrate Black culture and heritage while providing a truly magical experience for families. Departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, this cruise offers global travellers a chance to enjoy a combination of world-class entertainment, cultural storytelling, and premium relaxation at sea. Unlike traditional cruises, this voyage intentionally centres Black families, offering representation, joy, and meaningful engagement for all guests.

From the moment families board, the cruise provides a sense of personal connection and welcome. Guests are greeted with thoughtful touches, including family names displayed on screen, making the experience both intimate and celebratory. This attention to detail ensures that everyone feels included and appreciated from the start of their journey.

Immersive Cultural Storytelling at Sea

The Disney Black Family Cruise places culture at the heart of its offerings. Every area of the ship reflects stories and artistry that celebrate Black heritage. For example, the ship’s main atrium features decorations and artwork inspired by Black superheroes and iconic cultural symbols. This attention to representation helps children and adults alike feel seen and celebrated throughout the voyage.

Guests can enjoy interactive storytelling sessions where performers share historical and contemporary stories highlighting the richness of Black culture. These sessions are both entertaining and educational, allowing families to engage with heritage in a way that is accessible, fun, and memorable.

Family-Centred Entertainment for All Ages

Entertainment on the Disney Black Family Cruise is designed for both engagement and inclusivity. Children and adults can participate in themed dance parties, interactive shows, and character meet-and-greets featuring beloved Disney favourites. The cruise integrates cultural pride into every performance, making the experience unique among global family vacations.

Dedicated spaces for younger guests provide educational and creative activities, allowing children to explore arts, crafts, and performance in an environment that celebrates diversity. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy music, dance, and leisure activities that combine relaxation with cultural enrichment. This balance ensures every family member has a memorable and joyful experience.

Culinary Adventures and Themed Dining

Dining aboard the Disney Black Family Cruise is an adventure in itself. Menus are designed to reflect global tastes while highlighting cultural inspirations, providing guests with a rich and inclusive culinary experience. Themed dinners and live cooking demonstrations allow travellers to explore tastes and traditions from around the world, all while enjoying the spectacular ocean views.

Cruise ships have long been recognised as hubs for cultural exchange, and this voyage takes that concept further by offering meals that combine entertainment with education. Families can learn about diverse culinary traditions while connecting with heritage through flavour and presentation.

Global Travel Appeal and Itinerary Highlights

The Disney Black Family Cruise appeals to travellers from all over the world. It visits tropical destinations such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean islands, offering pristine beaches, sunny weather, and rich local culture. For international travellers, connections through major airports in the US make it easy to join the cruise, while pre-cruise accommodations in Florida provide a seamless travel experience.

The cruise encourages global tourism by providing experiences that are both universally enjoyable and culturally specific. Families can explore shore excursions that highlight local history, nature, and arts, making each stop an opportunity for learning and adventure.

Tips for Planning Your Cruise Vacation

Travellers looking to experience the Disney Black Family Cruise should book well in advance due to high demand. Cabins range from luxurious suites to family-friendly rooms designed for comfort and convenience. Preparing for tropical climates with light clothing, sun protection, and casual formalwear ensures a stress-free journey.

The cruise line also offers structured schedules for activities, dining, and performances, allowing families to plan their days while still having flexibility to relax. For global tourists, the cruise provides an opportunity to combine adventure, leisure, and cultural engagement in a single, unforgettable holiday.

Why This Cruise is a Must for Global Families

The Disney Black Family Cruise is more than a holiday; it is a celebration of culture, representation, and family joy. By creating a space that highlights Black heritage while maintaining the classic Disney magic, it offers a truly unique travel experience. Families worldwide can connect with culture, enjoy entertainment, and explore new destinations in a safe and inclusive environment.

For any global traveller seeking a meaningful family vacation at sea, this cruise provides the perfect blend of adventure, education, and cultural pride. It sets a new standard for inclusive, travel-friendly family cruising, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.

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Qatar Airways Joins Turkish, Pegasus Airlines and Jet2 Face Massive Emergency Landings Across Turkey: What This New Report Unveils Surprising Truth

7 February 2026 at 21:35
Qatar Airways Joins Turkish, Pegasus Airlines and Jet2 Face Massive Emergency Landings Across Turkey: What This New Report Unveils Surprising Truth

A saga of emergency landings to and from Turkey has unfolded since January 2022. The skies above the country and the routes connecting Istanbul, Ankara and coastal resorts have been punctuated by engine failures, health scares, bomb scares and smoke-filled cabins. Each emergency has been handled under intense scrutiny. Passengers have been told to brace as pilots declared emergency codes. Aircraft have been diverted to unfamiliar airports. Families have waited anxiously for news. Regulators have been called to examine flight safety. Through it all, the resilience of crews and passengers has been on display as emergency protocols were followed. This report looks at key incidents up to January 2026.[1][2]

Engine and Mechanical Failures

Mechanical issues were frequent triggers for emergency procedures. In May 2022 an Uzbekistan Airways 787 lost an engine while flying from Tashkent to Istanbul. The flight declared an emergency and diverted to Trabzon, where passengers disembarked safely and officials praised the drills[1]. On May 8 2024 a FedEx Boeing 767 arriving from Paris was forced to land in Istanbul without its nose gear; it touched down on its main wheels, its nose dropping onto the runway as fire crews stood by[3]. A day later a Corendon Airlines 737 burst a front tyre while landing at Alanya‑Gazipaşa. All 190 passengers were evacuated without injury and flights were diverted until the damaged jet was removed[4]. Qatar Airways flight QR243 from Doha encountered engine vibrations near Istanbul on 12 May 2025. A holding pattern was entered, an emergency squawk code was transmitted and the Airbus A320 landed safely after shutting down the troubled engine, forcing the cancellation of the return flight[5]. These events underscored how Turkish airports have become safe havens when engine problems arise.

Medical Emergencies and Human Tragedy

Health crises have led to heart‑rending diversions. On 11 June 2023 Turkish Airlines flight TK3 from Istanbul to New York diverted to Budapest when an eleven‑year‑old passenger fell gravely ill. Medics boarded after the Airbus A330 landed, but the child passed away despite efforts to save him[2]. Two hours later the flight continued. On 30 June 2024 an El Al Boeing 737 flying from Warsaw to Tel Aviv diverted to Antalya after a passenger suffered a medical emergency. The passenger was treated and disembarked. Political tensions flared when local ground staff refused to refuel the Israeli jet, forcing it to fly to Rhodes for fuel before heading home[6]. These stories highlight how emergency health incidents can intertwine with diplomatic sensitivities and personal grief.

Bomb Threats and Security Alerts

Security scares have created dramatic scenes. On 7 December 2022 a Pegasus Airlines flight from Casablanca to Istanbul made an emergency landing at Barcelona after a passenger claimed to be in labour. Officials later alleged that the woman faked the medical event to trigger a diversion, allowing 28 passengers to flee across the tarmac. Fourteen were detained and several were deported[7]. The flight resumed after checks. In September 2024 Vistara flight UK 27 from Mumbai to Frankfurt diverted to Erzurum when a note declaring a bomb was found in the lavatory. All 247 occupants were evacuated, thorough searches were conducted and no device was found[8]. The scare emphasised how the mere mention of a bomb triggers an emergency. On 15 January 2026 Turkish Airlines flight TK1853 from Istanbul to Barcelona was escorted by French and Spanish fighter jets after crew discovered a Wi‑Fi hotspot name that included a bomb threat. The Airbus A321 circled over the Mediterranean, landed in Barcelona and passengers were taken off while police combed the jet[9]. No explosives were found, but the incident exemplified the modern digital twist to security emergencies.

Smoke and Fire Incidents

Smoke in the cabin has repeatedly forced emergency responses. On 3 May 2025 Jet2 flight LS1209 from Birmingham to Dalaman declared an emergency after pilots detected smoke in the cockpit. The Boeing 737‑800 squawked the 7700 distress code and diverted to Luxembourg. Passengers disembarked onto the taxiway and the aircraft was later towed for inspection[10]. Less than six weeks later an easyJet flight from Paphos to Bristol reported a smell of smoke and diverted to Izmir, where passengers were accommodated and flown home on another aircraft[11]. Shortly afterwards a Turkish Airlines domestic flight heading to Antalya was evacuated on the taxiway when smoke appeared near the landing gear; emergency crews responded swiftly and nobody was hurt[12]. On 24 November 2024 a Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by Russia’s Azimuth Airlines caught fire after a rough landing in Antalya. All 89 passengers and six crew used slides to evacuate, and investigators launched a probe[13]. These cases demonstrate how quickly smoke or fire can turn a routine flight into an emergency scenario.

Landing Gear and Structural Failures

Structural failures have produced frightening scenes. The FedEx and Corendon incidents have been noted, but other cases show the importance of robust landing gear. In May 2025 a FedEx freighter landed on its back wheels after the nose gear failed to deploy, sparking images of sparks and smoke on the runway[3]. Emergency services lined the runway and investigators examined the mechanism. The Corendon tyre burst a day later forced a regional airport to close temporarily and divert flights[4]. These close calls illustrate how the integrity of landing gear can dictate whether a routine arrival becomes an emergency landing.

Pilot Emergencies

Crew health can be just as critical as mechanical reliability. On 9 October 2024 a Turkish Airlines Airbus A350‑900 operating from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing at New York’s John F Kennedy airport after its 59‑year‑old captain collapsed and died mid‑flight. The co‑pilot took control and landed around 6 a.m., and arrangements were made to continue the journey[14]. The airline expressed condolences and stressed that the captain had passed a health check earlier that year. This tragic emergency highlighted the importance of redundant crew and medical examinations.

Crashes and the Limits of Rescue

Not every emergency ends with safe landings. On 23 December 2025 a private Dassault Falcon 50 carrying Libya’s army chief of staff and seven others requested an emergency landing after reporting an electrical fault shortly after departing Ankara. Contact was lost during the descent and the aircraft crashed near the town of Haymana, killing all on board[15]. Black boxes were recovered for investigation. The tragedy served as a sobering reminder that even experienced crews can face insurmountable challenges.

Patterns and Takeaways

A review of these incidents shows certain patterns. Engine issues, smoke and false alarms have been common triggers. Many flights diverted to airports in Turkey or neighbouring countries; Istanbul and Antalya have hosted several safe emergency arrivals. Medical crises have underscored the human dimension of aviation, while bomb threats illustrate evolving security risks. Through each event, the word emergency has been repeated by controllers and passengers alike, yet the outcomes have largely been positive thanks to skilled crews and well‑practiced procedures. These stories collectively underscore the resilience of aviation and Turkey’s role as a crossroads where emergency preparations are constantly tested and improved.

Category‑wise Overview

CategoryFlights/CarriersYear & RouteSummary
Engine failures & mechanicalUzbekistan Airways, FedEx, Corendon, Qatar Airways2022 – 2025Engines failed or tyres burst, leading to diversions to Trabzon, Istanbul, Alanya‑Gazipaşa and Istanbul again[1][3].
Medical emergenciesTurkish Airlines TK3, El Al LY51022023 – 2024A child’s fatal illness forced a diversion to Budapest and an Israeli passenger’s illness triggered a landing in Antalya and refuelling dispute[2][6].
Security and bomb threatsPegasus Airlines, Vistara, Turkish Airlines TK18532022 – 2026A fake labour claim allowed migrants to flee in Barcelona; bomb threats in 2024 and 2026 led to diversions to Erzurum and Barcelona with fighter‑jet escorts[7][8].
Smoke & fire incidentsJet2, easyJet, Turkish Airlines domestic, Azimuth Airlines2024 – 2025Smoke in cockpits or near landing gear caused diversions to Luxembourg, Izmir and evacuations in Antalya[10][11].
Pilot emergencyTurkish Airlines Seattle–Istanbul2024A captain’s death resulted in an emergency landing at JFK[14].
CrashLibyan Falcon 502025An attempted emergency landing ended in a fatal crash near Haymana after an electrical fault[15].
MiscellaneousJet2 LS1209; Qatar Airways QR2432025Additional diversions due to smoke and engine vibrations underscored the unpredictability of flight operations[10].

Sources

[1] [12] Turkey’s Aviation Triumphs: Heroic Emergency Landings Across Istanbul, Trabzon, Antalya, Erzurum, and Beyond! – Travel And Tour World
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/turkeys-aviation-triumphs-heroic-emergency-landings-across-istanbul-trabzon-antalya-erzurum-and-beyond/
[2] Turkish Airlines Istanbul to New York Makes Emergency Landing in Budapest As 11 year Child Died – Aviation A2Z
https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2023/06/11/turkish-airlines-istanbul-to-new-york-makes-emergency-landing-in-budapest-as-11-year-child-died/
[3] Turkey launches probe after Boeing plane lands without front landing gear | Aviation News | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/8/turkey-launches-probe-after-boeing-plane-lands-without-front-landing-gear
[4] Passenger plane’s tire bursts on landing in Turkey; no casualties | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/passenger-planes-tire-bursts-landing-turkey-no-casualties-2024-05-09/
[5] Qatar Airways A320 Makes Emergency Landing in Istanbul with Engine Problem
https://aviationsourcenews.com/qatar-airways-a320-makes-emergency-landing-in-istanbul-with-engine-problem/
[6] Workers At Antalya Airport In Turkey Refuse To Refuel EL AL Boeing 737-800 After Medical Emergency Diversion
https://simpleflying.com/workers-antalya-airport-turkey-refuse-refuel-el-al-boeing-737-800-medical-emergency/
[7] Migrants flee plane after forcing emergency landing in Barcelona | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/plane-makes-emergency-landing-barcelona-migrants-board-escape-2022-12-07/
[8] Vistara flight diverts to Turkey after ‘bomb on plane’ message found in toilet | India News – Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vistara-flight-diverts-to-turkey-after-bomb-on-plane-message-found-in-toilet/articleshow/113133030.cms
[9] Wi-Fi Hotspot Bomb Threat Forces Turkish Airlines Emergency Landing
https://simpleflying.com/wifi-hotspot-bomb-threat-turkish-airlines-emergency-landing/
[10] Incident: Jet2 B738 near Luxembourg on May 3rd 2025, smoke on board
https://avherald.com/h
[11] Paphos to Bristol flight makes emergency landing in Turkey after smoke smell reported | in-cyprus.com
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/paphos-bristol-flight-emergency-landing-turkey-smoke-smell/
[13] Russian-made plane engine catches fire after landing in Turkey’s Antalya | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/russian-made-plane-engine-catches-fire-after-landing-turkeys-antalya-2024-11-24/
[14] Turkish Airlines pilot’s death mid-flight prompts emergency landing in New York | New York | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/09/turkish-airlines-pilot-death-jfk
[15] Libya army chief of staff killed in jet crash near Ankara after fault reported, Turkish official says | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/turkey-says-electrical-failure-reported-before-libyan-military-jet-crash-2025-12-24/

The post Qatar Airways Joins Turkish, Pegasus Airlines and Jet2 Face Massive Emergency Landings Across Turkey: What This New Report Unveils Surprising Truth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Gemini Tools redesign arrives on Android and iOS

7 February 2026 at 21:33

Google is updating the Gemini app on Android, iOS, and the web. These changes make the app easier to use and give it a cleaner look. The update mainly focuses on the Tools menu and the “My stuff” section.

The new Tools menu first appeared on the Gemini website earlier this week. Now, it is gradually rolling out to Android and iOS users. On Android, the Tools menu opens from the bottom of the screen and now has a clear name at the top. This helps users understand what the menu is for.

At the bottom of the menu, there is a new section – Experimental features. It has a “Labs” label and shows features that Google is still testing.

Gemini New tools

Image via 9to5Google

There is also a new option, Personal Intelligence, for Google AI subscribers in the US. Users can turn this on or off for the current chat only. This lets people choose whether Gemini can use personal information during that conversation.

On iOS, the Tools menu has changed in how it looks and opens. Instead of using the system pop-up menu, it now appears as a bottom sheet, similar to the model picker in the app. The ‘plus’ button used for adding attachments has not changed.

There are also updates to “My stuff.” On Android and the web, the preview showing the three latest items has been removed. This makes the side panel look cleaner and simpler. On the Gemini website, the “My stuff” section now has a fun smiley star icon. Stay tuned for more information.

Google Search Top Stories Preferred Source

The post Gemini Tools redesign arrives on Android and iOS appeared first on Sammy Fans.

New set photos reignite debate over Sophie Turner as Lara Croft

New set photos from Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming Tomb Raider series provide the clearest look yet at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft and have reignited debate among fans. While some praise the grounded costume design and extensive on-location shooting, others remain unconvinced that Turner is the right fit for the iconic role.

54 laptops put to the test: These are the best notebooks in winter 2025/2026!

Cold season surprises. | The last few months of testing were dominated by powerful multimedia laptops, uncompromising workstation notebooks and gaming laptops with attractive pricing. The latest Apple MacBook Pro 14" with its splendid Apple M5 SoC was one such model. The marvel of a processor wasn't enough for the MacBook to take the top spot, though. The gold medal goes to a laptop by and for professionals...

Honor 600 to come with a bigger screen and battery

7 February 2026 at 21:21

The Honor 500 launched back in November, but Honor is already allegedly working on its successor. Now some details about the Honor 600 got outed in China. The phone will allegedly have a 6.57-inch screen. That would be marginally bigger than the Honor 500's 6.55" panel. Perhaps more importantly, the Honor 600 is now being tested with a 9,000 mAh battery. Honor 500 That's 1,000 mAh bigger than its predecessor's, and for a smartphone of this size, it would be record-breaking. Unfortunately, no other details about the Honor 600 have been leaked just yet, but stay tuned and we'll let...

Christian Pulisic writes more history: Milan among just three clubs across Europe’s top leagues with jaw-dropping record

7 February 2026 at 21:10
In a season defined by relentless schedules, mounting pressure, and tactical evolution across the continent, Christian Pulisic has become a central figure in one of European soccer’s most remarkable campaigns.

In a season defined by relentless schedules, mounting pressure, and tactical evolution across the continent, Christian Pulisic has become a central figure in one of European soccer’s most remarkable campaigns. His club has quietly built a reputation for inevitability, consistency, and resilience; qualities that have placed it among the continent’s most elite sides.

While rivals across Europe’s biggest leagues stumble under the weight of expectations, Milan has continued to defy the chaos. And now, as winter tightens its grip on the soccer calendar, Pulisic finds himself linked to a rare statistical milestone that underlines just how extraordinary this season has been for the Rossoneri.

Across Europe’s top five leagues—the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1—consistency has been the rarest currency. Injuries, fixture congestion, and tactical experimentation have derailed even the strongest squads. But only three clubs across Europe’s top five leagues have suffered just one league defeat this season.

Those clubs are Bayern MunichBorussia Dortmund, and Christian Pulisic’s AC Milan. This statistic places the Rossoneri in an elite trio, highlighting their sustained dominance in a campaign where most contenders have faltered multiple times. It is not just about brilliance; it is about avoiding collapse, managing pressure, and grinding out results week after week.

Teams with 1 losses this season in Europe Top 5 leagues:

— Bayern
— Dortmund
— Milan

That's it. pic.twitter.com/uu5m4mLnKi

— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) February 6, 2026

How Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund’s seasons intertwined

Bayern Munich’s season has felt almost mechanical. The Bavarians’ structure, intensity, and attacking firepower have overwhelmed opponents across Germany. Their lone defeat came in a rare off-day against Augsburg on January 24, 2026, when defensive errors and missed opportunities punished their usually flawless system. However, since that 2-1 setback, Bayern has reasserted its authority, reminding the Bundesliga why it remains the benchmark.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund’s single defeat carries a familiar storyline. Niko Kovac’s only loss came away at Bayern Munich on October 18, 2025, a 2-1 loss that has long defined the Bundesliga title race.

Christian Pulisic’s Milan: Italy’s relentless contender

Then there is Milan, whose season began in a completely different emotional register. When the Red and Blacks opened their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to newly promoted Cremonese on August 23, 2025, many feared the worst.

It was a painful déjà vu—a flashback to a previous season many supporters wanted to forget. A team that had finished eighth the year before seemed destined for another turbulent cycle. San Siro felt restless, the narrative felt familiar, and doubts surrounded Massimiliano Allegri’s rebuild.

But soccer seasons often hinge on strange turning points. And in retrospect, that defeat may have been a blessing in disguise, especially as Milan’s story has been built on balance and belief. Christian Pulisic has been one of the defining figures in their attack, combining creativity, goals, and leadership in a season that has reignited their Scudetto ambitions.

From early crisis to continuity: Allegri’s unbeaten run

What followed that opening-day loss has been nothing short of remarkable. Milan has not lost a single Serie A match since that defeat. With their victory in Bologna, it extended its unbeaten run to 22 consecutive league matches, a sequence unmatched anywhere in Europe’s top leagues during the 2025-26 season. Allegri’s side now holds the longest active unbeaten streak on the continent, standing above Bayern and Dortmund in terms of sheer continuity.

50 – #ACMilan picked up 50 points after 23 #SerieA seasonal games only for the third time in the three points for a win era, following 2003/04 (58) and 1995/96 (50): in both cases they won the league at the end of the season. Vertex.#Bolognamilan pic.twitter.com/MvaNAKUtMi

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 3, 2026

The historical echoes are impossible to ignore. The last time Milan went on such a run in a single season was during the legendary 1992-93 campaign under Fabio Capello, when the team reached 23 matches without defeat. Interestingly, Milan’s unbeaten run will now not be extended by victory, but by absence. The club’s Matchday 24 fixture against Como was postponed, meaning they won’t have to step onto the pitch to defend their record.

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates scoring

Why isn’t Christian Pulisic’s Milan playing in Serie A Matchday 24 this weekend?

7 February 2026 at 20:43
Christian Pulisic and Milan were nowhere to be found on the Serie A Matchday 24 schedule, despite being deeply involved in the title race.

In a weekend where every major contender took the field, one absence immediately raised eyebrows. Christian Pulisic and Milan were nowhere to be found on the Serie A Matchday 24 schedule, despite being deeply involved in the title race.

For supporters and observers alike, the silence is striking. No kickoff, no lineup, no buildup—just a conspicuous gap in a weekend packed with fixtures. As rivals continued their campaigns, questions began to swirl: why are the Rossoneri absent, and what is really happening behind the scenes?

The 2025-26 Serie A season has evolved into a tense battle at the top, with Napoli, Inter, and Milan separated by narrow margins. Pulisic’s side sits five points behind Inter while chasing the Scudetto, and every matchday carries enormous weight. Yet, while Juventus, Lazio, Roma, and others played crucial fixtures, Milan stands still; an anomaly in a league where momentum is everything.

The reason finally revealed

The answer lies far from soccer itself. San Siro, Milan’s historic home stadium, is unavailable because it hosts the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 6, 2026.

With massive staging infrastructure, rehearsals, and security measures occupying the venue, hosting a soccer match was impossible. As a result, the scheduled home fixture against Como was postponed and rescheduled. The new date was confirmed as Wednesday, February 18, 2026, turning what should have been a routine weekend match into a midweek clash.

General view inside San Siro stadium.

Before the postponement was finalized, Serie A even explored a radical alternative: staging the match in Perth, Australia. But the plan collapsed amid financial and logistical concerns. “Plans for Perth to host the first-ever official European league match for points outside its national borders are off,” the league stated, citing risks and approval complications.

The rescheduling has created a brutal calendar stretch for Milan. Massimiliano Allegri’s players will play three league matches in ten days, a scenario that often determines title races. Fixture congestion means rotation dilemmas, fatigue risks, and a greater likelihood of injuries—especially for key players. Ironically, the postponement also gives the Rossoneri a game in hand in the standings, a psychological and mathematical advantage if they convert it into three points.

Strategic pause for Christian Pulisic

While the schedule disruption caused frustration, it also delivered something rare: time. Christian Pulisic has been dealing with bursitis near the hip, an inflammation issue that forced him out of recent matches. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed the situation, saying “Pulisic has bursitis that’s bothering him,” adding hope that the winger would be “back on track in the coming days.”

pulisic fiorentina
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan in action against David de Gea goalkeeper of ACF Fiorentina

Because of the rescheduled match and fixture gaps, Pulisic and his teammate, Rafael Leao, have received a 20-day recovery window, an almost unheard-of luxury during a title race. This period is being treated as a controlled reset—focused on therapy, load management, and restoring rhythm rather than risking further setbacks.

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan warms up before the Serie A match.

Beşiktaş GAİN - Safiport Erokspor: 88-68 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi'nin 19. haftasında Beşiktaş GAİN, konuk ettiği Safiport Erokspor'u 88-68 yendi.

Salon: Beşiktaş GAİN

Hakemler: Zafer Yılmaz, Seher Ayşe Nur Yazıcıoğlu, Musa Kazım Çetin

Beşiktaş GAİN: Berk Uğurlu 6, Morgan 14, Lemar 12, Thomas 13, Zizic 10, Mathews 5, Dotson 8, Sertaç Şanlı 7, Yiğit Arslan 11, Brown 2

Safiport Erokspor: Crawford 5, Simmons 6, Cornelie 24, Egehan Arna 7, Love 15, Pangos 4, Erten Gazi, Galloway 7, Thurman, Ahmet Düverioğlu

1. Periyot: 18-15

Devre: 43-34

3. Periyot: 69-51

Beş faulle oyundan çıkan: 39.39 Egehan Arna (Safiport Erokspor)

Kuşgöz İzmir Vinç Akkuş Belediyespor - Galatasaray HDI Sigorta: 2-3 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Voleybol SMS Grup Efeler Ligi'nin 18. haftasında Galatasaray HDI Sigorta, deplasmanda Kuşgöz İzmir Vinç Akkuş Belediyespor'u 3-2 yendi.

Salon: Ünye

Hakemler: Gürhan Gül, Sezai Şahin

Kuşgöz İzmir Vinç Akkuş Belediyespor: Ahmetcan Büyükgöz, Esmaeilnezhad, Yusuf Bakır, Oğuzhan Karasu, Butko, Cardoso (Muhammed Aray, Baturalp Burak Güngör, Rojas, Vefa Yılmaz, Oğuzhan Tarakçı, Umut Durur)

Galatasaray HDI Sigorta: Gökçen Yüksel, Ahmet Tümer, Patry, Wright, Maar, Doğukan Ulu (Hasan Yeşilbudak, Caner Ergül, Can Koç)

Setler: 19-25, 28-26, 25-23, 17-25, 9-15

Süre: 161 dakika (36, 41, 36, 27,21)

Bahçelievler Belediyespor - Kuzeyboru : 1-3 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Kuzeyboru Kadın Voleybol Takımı, Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi'nin 20. haftasında konuk olduğu Bahçelievler Belediyespor'u 3-1 yendi.

Salon: Hasan Doğan

Hakemler: Seçkin Yener, Dicle Özdaş

Bahçelievler Belediyespor: Eda Say, Jaksic, Fulden Ural, Fatma Nur Yılmaz, Nikolova, Reid (Berre İnce, Eylül Durgun, Selin Çalışkan, Yağmur Karaoğlu, Dilara Yeşil)

Kuzeyboru: Gamze Kılıç, Ayşe Çürük, Ergül Avcı, Smarzek, Lozo, Strunjak (Dilek Kınık Ekşi, Melisa Bükmen, Lila Şengün, Nilsu Şen, Enweonwu)

Setler: 20-25, 25-20, 9-25, 16-25

Süre: 108 dakika (29, 33, 21, 25)

Galatasaray kafilesi Rize'ye geldi

Trendyol Süper Lig'in 21. haftasında yarın Çaykur Rizespor ile karşılaşacak Galatasaray, Rize'ye geldi.

Rize-Artvin Havalimanı'na gelen sarı-kırmızılı kafile, Galatasaraylı taraftarlar tarafından karşılandı. Taraftarlar, teknik direktör Okan Buruk ve futbolculara tezahüratlarla destek verdi.

Galatasaray kafilesi, kara yoluyla kamp yapacağı şehir merkezindeki otele geçti.

Çaykur Didi Stadı'nda yarın saat 17.00'de başlayacak karşılaşmayı hakem Ozan Ergün yönetecek.???????

Kan davasına dönüşmeden önünü alın Trabzonspor-Samsunspor

Trabzonspor ile Samsunspor arasındaki gerginlik kan davasına dönüşmek üzere... yetkililer önlem almazsa olaylar çok daha uç sevimsiz yerlere gidecek gibi duruyor.

Karadeniz'in iki köklü kulübü Samsunspor ve Trabzonspor arasındaki rekabet son dönemde kan davasına dönüşmeye başladı... mola yerinde bir can kaybıyla başlayan gerginlik, takım otobüsünün taşlanmasına kadar uzanan organize bir şiddet dalgasına dönüştü.

Olayların fitili, Ağustos sonunda Trabzon’daki maça giden Samsunspor taraftarlarının Giresun’un Tirebolu ilçesinde verdiği yemek molasıyla ateşlendi. Bir restoranda işletme sahibiyle "hesap ödeme" meselesi yüzünden çıkan tartışma kısa sürede silahlı kavgaya dönüştü.

İşletmecinin silahını kullanması sonucu ağır yaralanan 43 yaşındaki Samsunspor taraftarı Ümit Çapkın, kaldırıldığı hastanede hayatını kaybetti. Samsunspor Başkanı Yüksel Yıldırım, olayın rakip taraftarlarla bir ilgisi olmadığını, tamamen işletme sahibiyle yaşanan bir talihsizlik olduğunu vurgulasa da bu vefat haberi camiadaki gerilimi had safhaya çıkardı.

Samsunspor deplasmanına giden Trabzonspor kafilesi, stadyum yolunda taşlı saldırıya uğradı. Otobüs camlarının parçalandığı olayda futbolcular büyük tehlike atlatırken, Trabzonspor Kulübü’nden zehir zemberek bir açıklama geldi:

- Bu saldırı artık münferit değil, açık biçimde organize bir eylemdir. Kocaeli ve Antalya’da yaşananların ardından bugün Samsun’da tekrarlanan bu menfur eylemler; Türk futbolunun güvenliğine ve itibarına yönelmiş alçakça girişimlerdir. Kabul edilemez, görmezden gelinemez!

Trabzonspor Divan Başkanlık Kurulu Başkanı Ören, takım otobüsüne taşlı saldırıyı kınadı:

Bunun sporun ruhunu hedef alan açık bir şiddet eylemine dönüştüğünü ve bu çirkin saldırıyı en güçlü şekilde kınadıklarını aktaran Ören, "Daha önce Kocaeli ve Antalya'da, bugün ise Samsun'da yaşanan bu tür olaylar futbolun dostluk, centilmenlik ve birleştirici gücüne açıkça aykırıdır. Spor alanlarını ve sporcuları hedef alan bu anlayış, yalnızca kulüplere değil, Türk futbolunun ortak değerlerine zarar vermektedir." ifadelerini kullandı.

Ören, şunları kaydetti:

"Başta İçişleri Bakanlığı olmak üzere yetkili tüm kurumları bu saldırılarla ilgili gerekli adımları ivedilikle atmaya ve sorumlular hakkında gereğini yapmaya davet ediyoruz. Özelde Trabzonspor'a, genelde ise Türk futboluna yönelmiş bu saldırılar sporun barışçıl kimliğini zedelemekte, toplumsal vicdanı yaralamaktadır. Trabzonspor Kulübü olarak şiddetin her türlüsüne karşı olduğumuzu ve sporun evrensel değerlerini savunmaya kararlılıkla devam edeceğimizi kamuoyuna bir kez daha ilan ederiz. Söz konusu saldırıları gerçekleştiren failler hakkında emsal teşkil edecek caydırıcı cezaların verilmesini talep ediyor, sürecin sonuna kadar takipçisi olacağımızı kamuoyuna saygıyla duyuruyoruz."

Fenerbahçe 2 Milyon dolar için joker çekemeyecek

Fenerbahçe için Hayes-Davis sadece eski bir dost değil bir "joker"... ancak 8 milyon dolarlık teklif rakiplerinin yaptığı 10'ar milyon dolarlık teklifleri gerisinde kaldı.

NBA serüveni sonrası Avrupa’ya dönüş hazırlığı yapan Nigel Hayes-Davis, transfer piyasasını karıştırdı. Fenerbahçe Beko’nun eski yıldızı için devler savaşı halinde. Kendrick Nunn’dan gelen sert çıkış da gündeme bomba gibi düştü.

Geçtiğimiz sezonun Final Four MVP'si Nigel Hayes-Davis, EuroLeague’e "en çok kazanan oyuncu" unvanıyla dönmekte kararlı. Masadaki teklifler ise dudak uçuklatan cinsten.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 10 milyon dolar, Panathinaikos 10 milyon doların biraz altında. Fenerbahçe Beko'nun teklifi ise 8 milyon dolar civarında.

Hapoel Tel Aviv şu an için ekonomik olarak en avantajlı teklifi sunan taraf olsa da, Fenerbahçe Beko cephesinde taraftarlar oyuncunun takıma katılması için rakamın yükseltilmesini istiyor.

Özellikle Jantunen’in beklenen performansı veremediği bir senaryoda, Hayes-Davis'in sarı-lacivertliler için bir lüksten ziyade gereklilik olduğu vurgulanıyor.

Nigel Hayes-Davis’in "EuroLeague’in en çok kazananı olma" isteği, Panathinaikos’un yıldızı Kendrick Nunn’ı kızdırdı.

- Yapma birader. Tamam, geçen sene Final Four MVP'si oldun, saygısızlık etmeyelim ama bu işin daha bir sürü b*k püsürü var!

Tedesco: Türkiye'de evimde gibi hissediyorum

Fenerbahçe teknik direktörü Domenico Tedesco, HTSpor'un canlı yayında futbolseverlerin merak ettiği soruları cevapladı.

Fenerbahçe teknik direktörü Domenico Tedesco, HTSpor'un canlı yayın konuğu oldu... işte sözler:

- Türkiye'de kendimi evimde gibi hissediyorum. Beş buçuk aydır burada olsam da uzun zamandır buradaymış gibiyim. Türk futbolunun bir parçası olduğum için çok mutluyum.

- Zeki hocamız başta bana karşı biraz utangaçtı. Kendisine her kararımı onunla tartışacağımı ve fikrine ihtiyacımın olduğunu ilettim. Aramız çok iyi. Kendisi çok önemli biri.

- Göreve geldikten 8 gün sonra başkanımız değişti, bunun önemini küçümsemiş olabilirim. Kasımpaşa maçının devre arasında oyuncular bir şeyle meşguldü ve bunu anlamamıştım.

- Pinpon anlamında maç... Maçın içerisinde birçok defa geçişler söz konusu. Şunu söyleyebilirim ki... Evet, doğru. Bu, bunun bir parçası. Ama bu tip maçlar olabiliyor. Diğer ülkelerde de bu tip maçlar olabiliyor.

- Sadece size şunu söyleyebilirim. Şu ana kadar oynadığımız her takım. Aynı şekilde Türkiye Kupası'nda da birincilikten, ikincilikten takımlara karşı oynadık ve onlar da iyi iş çıkardılar.

- Aslında takımlara bakacak olursak, kalitelerine bakacak olursak... Her takım aynı şekilde oynamıyor tabii ki. Çünkü her hocanın farklı, spesifik fikri var. Atmosferle de alakalı olarak, taraftarların göstermiş olduğu, destekle de alakalı olarak. Bu anlamda iltifatı hak ediyor.

Cüneyt Çakır geri döndü

Türk hakemliğinin yüz akı Cüneyt Çakır, Dünya Kupası'nın "yönetici" koltuğunda oturacak.

Kariyerinde iki Dünya Kupası yarı finali ve bir Şampiyonlar Ligi finali bulunan eski FIFA kokartlı hakem Cüneyt Çakır, ABD, Kanada ve Meksika’nın düzenleyeceği 2026 Dünya Kupası için FIFA’dan özel bir davet aldı.

Katıldığı bir oturumda müjdeli haberi veren 49 yaşındaki tecrübeli isim, süreci şu sözlerle özetledi:

- Bugün bir telefon aldım ve 2026 Dünya Kupası'nda yönetici olarak görevlendirildiğimi öğrendim. Hakemliği bıraktıktan sonraki en büyük hayallerimden biri buydu. Bu ölçekte bir organizasyonda yönetici düzeyinde görev alacak ilk Türk olmanın gururunu yaşıyorum.

Turnuvanın hakem operasyonlarını, eğitim süreçlerini ve organizasyonel yönetimini üstlenen heyetin parçası olacak Çakır bu sayede Türk futbolunun FIFA’nın karar mekanizmalarında da temsil edilmesi anlamına gelecek.

2026 Dünya Kupası, ilk kez 48 takımın katılımıyla düzenlenecek olması sebebiyle futbol tarihinin en büyük operasyonu olmaya aday.

‘Duran, Fenerbahçe soyunma odasında iğrenç bir ortama neden oldu‘

Rus Bombardir, Jose Mourinho'nun, "Duran, Fenerbahçe soyunma odasında iğrenç bir ortama neden oldu" diyerek Juventus'a transferini engellediğini yazdı. Zenit'e "dikkat" uyarısı yaptı.

Jhon Duran'ın geleceği belirsizliğini koruyor.... Kolombiyalı sert eleştirilerin hedefinde. Fenerbahçe ile bağlarını koparan ancak Zenit transferi henüz resmiyet kazanmayan Duran forvet hakkında şok iddialar ortaya atıldı.

Al-Nasr, Zenit ve Fenerbahçe arasındaki üçgenin merkezinde yer alan Durán için FIFA TMS (Transfer Eşleştirme Sistemi) üzerinden işlemler henüz tamamlanmadı.

İddialara göre Fenerbahçe’nin sözleşme fesih verilerini sisteme işledi. 22 yaşındaki oyuncunun artık sarı-lacivertli kulüple hiçbir bağı yok. Ancak TFF'nin sitesi tam aksini söylüyor.

Duran'ın bugün Zenit’in BAE kampına katılması bekleniyordu. Ancak henüz kampa dahil olmadı.

Oyuncunun ayrılık sürecine dair bir iddia daha ortaya atıldı. Kendisine gelen transfer teklifine, "Tedesco ile çalışmak istemiyorum, giderim" diyerek yeşil ışık yaktı.

Rus Bombardir sitesinin iddiası ise çok daha dikkat çekici.

Zenit ile imza aşamasında olan Duran için Juventus kısa bir araştırma yaptı. İtalyan devi, oyuncunun karakter analizi için Duran'ın Fenerbahçe'den eski hocası Jose Mourinho ve eski oyuncuları Cristiano Ronaldo’nun fikrini sordu.

Jose Mourinho'nun, "Duran, Fenerbahçe soyunma odasında iğrenç bir ortama neden oldu" dediği öne sürüldü. Al-Nasr'da birlikte forma giydiği eski takım arkadaşı için Ronaldo'nun da; "John takımı mahveder, kurmaya çalıştığınız her şeyi altüst eder" uyarısında bulunduğu iddia edildi.

Kenan Yıldız'ı ucuza kapattılar

Türkiye'de 15-20 milyon euro'ların maaş olarak verildiği ortamda Juventus sadece takımın değil belki de dünyanın en önemli yıldızları arasında gösterilen Kenan Yıldız'ın sözleşmesini sadece 6 milyon Euro'ya yükseltti.

Avrupa futbolunun prensi, Juventus’un 10 numarası Kenan Yıldız, İtalyan deviyle sözleşmesini yıllık net 6 milyon Euro karşılığında yeniledi. Ancak bu rakam, özellikle Süper Lig’deki astronomik maaşlarla kıyaslandığında "yıldız oyuncu" tanımını finansal olarak tartışmaya açtı.

Türkiye’deki futbolculara ödenen rakamlar, Kenan Yıldız’ın Juventus’tan aldığı ücretin "mütevazı" kalmasına neden oldu.

Fenerbahçe'den ayrılan Jhon Duran 20 milyon Euro kazanıyordu... Kenan'ın yeni maaşının bile 3 katından fazla.

Galatasaray’ın yıldızı Osimhen’in yıllık kazancı 25 milyon Euro... Kenan bu rakamın dörtte birine İtalya’da devleşiyor.

Beşiktaş zar zor gönderdiği Rafa Silva'ya bile 10 milyon Euro ödüyordu.

Yavaş yavaş kulübeye ısınan Kerem Aktürkoğlu da 8.5 milyon Euro'yal Kenan'dan daha çok kazanıyor.

«La nostra storia continua» ??

Il futuro è bianconero. Kenan Yildiz fino al 2030.

?? Starboy – @theweeknd pic.twitter.com/Sv4ZLtFhfR

— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) February 7, 2026

Maddi tekliflerden ziyade kariyerine ve kulüp bağlılığına odaklanan 20 yaşındaki yıldız, imza sonrası yaptığı açıklamada aidiyet vurgusu yaptı:

- Benim için bir aile olan Juventus ile sözleşmemi yenilediğim için mutluyum. Bu takımı çok seviyorum ve birlikte harika şeyler başaracağımızdan eminim. Taraftarların her zaman arkamızda olacağından şüphem yok.

Rednapp və Karrager “Arsenal”ı çempion görürlər

7 February 2026 at 19:00

Keçmiş ingilis yarımmüdafiəçi Ceymi Rednapp İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının cari mövsümünün çempionu ilə bağlı təxminini açıqlayıb.

Arena.az keçmiş futbolçunun müvafiq qənaətini təqdim edir:

“Arsenal” daha çempiondur. Bu, mənim fikrimdir. “Topçular” 8-10 xallıq fərqlə çempion ola bilərlər”, deyə Rednapp vurğulayıb.

“Liverpul”un ingilis keçmiş mərkəz müdafiəçisi, hazırda futbol təhlilçisi olaraq çalışan Ceymi Karrager də İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının cari mövsümünün çempionu ilə bağlı fikrini açıqlayıb:

“Arsenal”! Onlar ən yaxşı heyətə malikdirlər və 22 illik çempionluq həsrətinə xitam vermək üçün hər şey hazırdır. Amma onların son nəticələrinin də göstərdiyi kimi, bu, asan olmayacaq”, deyə Karrager vurğulayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Premyer Liqanın cari mövsümündə 25 oyuna 56 xal toplamış “Arsenal” vahid liderdir. “Mançester Siti” (24 oyun) 47, “Aston Villa” (25 oyun) 47, “Mançester Yunayted” (25 oyun) 44, “Çelsi” (25 oyun) 43, “Liverpul” (24 oyun) 39 xal toplayıb.

Rafinya və Pedri tezliklə yaşıl meydanlara qayıdacaqlar

7 February 2026 at 18:00

Futbol üzrə Braziliya millisinin və “Barselona”nın cinah hücumçusu Rafinya zədəlidir və hazırda müalicə-bərpa mərhələsindən keçir.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ulduz futbolçu cari vəziyyətini şərh edib:

“Mənimlə bağlı hər şey qaydasındadır. Mümkün olduqca tez bir zamanda qayıtmağa çalışacağam”, deyə Rafinya vurğulayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, “Barselona”nın ispaniyalı yarımmüdafiəçisi Pedri də zədəlidir. O da hazırda müalicə-bərpa mərhələsindən keçir. Artıq Pedrinin geri-dönüş tarixi ilə bağlı məlumatlar da var. İspaniya mətbuatının yazdığına görə, yarımmüdafiəçi artıq meydanda məşq təmrinlərinin icrasına başlayıb. Onun təxminən 1 aydan sonra yaşıl meydanlara qayıdışı təxmin edilir.

Qeyd edək ki, “Barselona”nın iktiləri bu iki futbolçu ilə kifayətlənmir. Kataloniya təmsilçisində Andreas Kristensen və Qavi də zədədən əziyyət çəkirlər. Amma onların nə vaxt sıraya dönəcəyi hələ bilinmir.

Yeri gəlmişkən, “Barselona”nın baş məşqçisi Hansi Flik zədəli yarımmüdafiəçi Qavinin vəziyyəti ilə bağlı açıqlama verib. Alman mütəxəssis bunları söyləyib:

“Qavi bərapsına doğru addım-addım gedir. İndi ən əsası, sakitliyini qoruyb-saxlaması və yalnız növbəti addımı haqda düşünməsidir”, deyə Hansi Flik vurğulayıb.

Juventus coach Spalletti reveals how Conceicao ‘needs to develop’ & backs Kelly as a free kick taker

7 February 2026 at 21:18

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti spoke to the press ahead of the Bianconeri’s hotly-anticipated clash with Maurizio Sarri’s struggling Lazio, where, among other topics, the experienced coach spoke on the room for improvement for Francisco Conceicao and Lloyd Kelly, whilst praising both for their efforts.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match, with quotes via IlBianconero, Spalletti described Englishman Kelly as “an incredibly strong player” but claimed he only sees “a small percentage of his real potential.”

Juventus coach Spalletti: ‘Kelly has a ferocious shot on him, he could take free-kicks!’

Kelly joined Juventus in January of 2025 from Newcastle, in a move that raised some eyebrows.

He initially struggled to settle in at Juventus but under Luciano Spalletti he has improved massively and has become a regular in the team.

BOLOGNA, ITALY - DECEMBER 14: Lloyd Kelly of Juventus is challenged by Thijs Dallinga of Bologna during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Lloyd Kelly of Juventus is challenged by Thijs Dallinga of Bologna during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The coach continued to praise the Englishman: “People think he is only left-footed but he can use his right foot very well too. He is a player with quality in choosing the passes when he pushes out of his section, then can create scoring opportunities for himself going forward too.”

Finally, Spalletti hinted that we could be seeing Kelly step up to take more free kicks for the Bianconeri, “He’s got a ferocious shot on him, so we could even get him to take a few free kicks. He is a complete player.”

Spalletti reveals room for improvement for Conceicao

The Juventus head coach then turned his attention to Portuguese winger Francisco Conceicao, who, arguably, has had the inverse effect to Kelly since Spalletti took over.

A dip in form for the winger is expected as he continues to develop, and Spalletti seems to be clear in how the winger can improve.

“He has to improve, as in modern football you must be able to spot the ball that can change the game,” the coach said.

BERGAMO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 05: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus runs with the ball during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus runs with the ball during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Those moments last only a few seconds and you’ve got to adapt quickly. The ball obeys an idea first and foremost rather than the foot that kicks it, so you need a precise idea when you make contact. Otherwise, if you go in there without a clear idea, you risk making a mistake, because instinct rarely gives you the right touch.”

He concluded with one final piece of advice for Conceicao, “If you go in there knowing what you want to do, you’ll get the ball under control cleanly and make it go where you want it to.”

Conte: ‘Di Lorenzo out for 2 months, cannot force Lukaku return’

7 February 2026 at 20:43

Antonio Conte reveals Giovanni Di Lorenzo will be out ‘for circa two months’ and Napoli must not ‘force’ Romelu Lukaku back too quickly, but Genoa’s Daniele De Rossi is ‘destined for greatness.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, also known as Marassi, at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

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

The injury crisis drags on for the Partenopei, who are still without Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour.

Matteo Politano and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic are only fit for the bench with new buys Giovane and Alisson Santos, but at least Amir Rrahmani returns to the starting XI.

Conte on Napoli injuries and De Rossi admiration

LISBON, PORTUGAL - DECEMBER 10: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 10: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

“Genoa are a side who above all on home turf rediscovered enthusiasm, Daniele De Rossi called it their fortress, so we know the difficulties we will face today,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

“At the same time, we are not changing our style of football, we’ll press high, try to win the ball back quickly and do what we always did.”

There had been fears Di Lorenzo’s season would be over, but fortunately the knee injury was only a sprain.

The captain took advantage of this enforced lay-off to have surgery on a foot issue that had been dragging on too.

“We have Rrahmani back, but lost Di Lorenzo, a very important figure both on and off the field. I want to see a reaction from the team today to this loss, which will be for circa two months,” revealed Conte.

“We must always try to find the best solution and give our best in reaction to difficulties. Today is going to be a very tough match.”

NAPLES, ITALY - APRIL 14: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli celebrates with his head coach Antonio Conte after scoring his side second goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Empoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 14, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 14: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli celebrates with his head coach Antonio Conte after scoring his side second goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Empoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 14, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Lukaku played 90 minutes in a friendly match recently, but how long will it take to get the striker back with a strong role in competitive games after his pre-season injury?

“Romelu is going through the recovery process, you all know how much Napoli missed him since mid-August. The tendon in his left leg was detached, that’s his kicking leg, so we need patience and let him have the right time to recover from a very serious injury. I cannot force him, it’s something the player has to feel, how his body is reacting.

“We hope that he can be more available, as we could use him and Hojlund in a trio together, there are many situations, but right now he is not the Romelu that we know.”

GENOA, ITALY - JANUARY 25: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, celebrates after Junior Messias of Genoa's goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Bologna FC 1909 at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, celebrates after Junior Messias of Genoa’s goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Bologna FC 1909 at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images)

This is the first time that Conte has faced De Rossi as a coach, and the Genoa boss called him a ‘legend’ ahead of this showdown.

“I think Daniele is destined for greatness as a coach,” replied Conte.

“I was fortunate enough to train him when I was the Italy coach for two years. His father is a coach too, so he will certainly have a great career.

“I’m glad when there is recognition, because players are ultimately the only people who can give a real verdict on the work of a coach.”

Spalletti on Yildiz’s extension, future at Juventus and use of McKennie

7 February 2026 at 20:13

Luciano Spalletti insists he’s in no hurry to discuss his contract extension with Juventus, but Kenan Yildiz’s signing on a new deal marks an ‘important day’ for the future of the club.

Spalletti held a pre-match press conference on Saturday, on the eve of a Serie A match against Lazio.

Before the coach sat down with the media, CEO Damien Comolli and striker Kenan Yildiz took the stage to confirm the striker’s contract extension until 2030.

Yildiz signed the new deal in front of the reporters before Spalletti’s presser.

Spalletti comments on Yildiz’s contract extension

Kenan Yildiz of Juventus and Roma defender Zeki Celik face off in Turin (@officialasroma)
Kenan Yildiz of Juventus and Roma defender Zeki Celik face off in Turin (@officialasroma)

“It’s an important day for the future of Juventus. It’s great to know that Kenan will be part of the team for as many years as possible,” Spalletti said via Ilbianconero.com.

According to reports, Yildiz will become Juventus’ highest earner from 2026-27 if Dusan Vlahovic leaves the club at the end of his contract in June.

Comolli described Yildiz as a ‘leader’ despite his young age.

“First of all, it gives strength to the entire team. The assessments of these champions are based on how much they can connect with the rest of the squad,” Spalletti added.

“That’s how you become stronger. He has this explosive one-on-one ability, putting you in a position of great advantage. Those who have this quality give you a spark to immediately create something important.

“Yildiz is really something special. The fact that he’s very young is part of the culture and the family he comes from. It’s a merit, and you can see that he’s a young man who has received proper guidance. He’s always smiling, joking with everyone. Knowing how to be with people and understand them is an extremely important quality.”

Yildiz was not involved in a 3-0 Coppa Italia loss against Atalanta on Thursday, but will be eligible tomorrow.

“He is available. He trained with the team today,” Spalletti confirmed.

“Conceiçao and Kelly worked separately. We’ll assess them tomorrow.”

Spalletti’s contract expires in June, so does he expect to imitate Yildiz and stay at the club long-term?

“I think it’s better not to put too much pressure on this, as the club must be given time to make assessments,” the coach argued.

TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 12: Juventus FC head coach Luciano Spalletti looks on during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 12: Juventus FC head coach Luciano Spalletti looks on during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“If I’m able to show my worth as Kenan has done, then it will be possible. We are focused on our priority, mine is to prepare well for the matches. Juventus have something to fix, which becomes crucial for the future. They have to discuss expiring contracts. There’s also mine, but I came here with the intention of leaving them the choice.

“I often talk to Elkann, and I feel he’s very close to our proof of strength and our desire to become stronger. With him close, we are even stronger.”

Former Juventus coach Sarri returns to the Allianz Stadium tomorrow.

“You know Sarri and his teams. They know how to play football, and we must be able to adapt to different scenarios in the game,” Spalletti said.

“It’s crucial to read what goes on around us to dominate proceedings, especially against them. Distances and intensity must be in line within the team. You saw Sarri work, and you know his qualities.

“We’ll have to be just as good at being a united team, able to read different moments in the game, because I think they play better than their position in the standings suggests.

“We don’t just play against a team, we play against the whole league and for our future as well,” Spalletti continued.

“Every game belongs to us; it’s always us playing, and we must play our game. It’s not about the opponent; it’s about the mentality and the commitment to play as we want. What is in front of us should not affect us, and we must have a strong mentality. A strong mentality is a voice that says who you are, regardless of the context.”

Jeremie Boga and Emil Holm joined the team in January from OGC Nice and Bologna, respectively.

“They are two strong players who can help us,” Spalletti said.

“Boga knows how to play in different roles, too. He also possesses this pace and sensibility with the ball at his feet. He dribbles opponents, and all these things must be put in a context that works, so it’s easier to adapt him to other roles too.

PARMA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 01: Weston McKennie of Juventus celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Weston McKennie of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“I had followed Holm for some time. He played in Spezia, and my wife comes from there, so I often watched him play for Spezia. He already impressed me back then, and he has continued to improve. He played under Italiano, and he has played in an important team like Bologna.”

McKennie has been one of the standout Juventus performers under Spalletti as the American collected six goals and four assists in 21 appearances.

“The striker creates the space for McKennie,” the coach explained.

“The striker who drops deep to link up with the team gives a numerical advantage and frees up the space. We want to be this kind of team that goes ahead through playing style and movement. A team that perceives what is an advantage and what is a disadvantage. Sometimes we use McKennie in the build-up, other times we use him as a target man because we need to beat the press, and he knows how to do it. Therefore, we use him in different areas.”

 

Serie A official line-ups: Genoa vs. Napoli

7 February 2026 at 20:03

Napoli look to Rasmus Hojlund, Amir Rrahmani and Scott McTominay for the tricky trip to Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa, who start Ruslan Malinovskyi and Vitinha.

It kicks off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, also known as Marassi, at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

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

ROME, ITALY - JANUARY 04: SSC Napoli head coah Antonio Conte during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico on January 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 04: SSC Napoli head coah Antonio Conte during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico on January 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

The Partenopei are still decimated by that injury crisis, but at least managed to get back on track last week with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

They have the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Como coming up, then a Serie A showdown with Roma, but there’s no room for squad rotation.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour are still out of action, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Romelu Lukaku only fit for the bench.

At least Rrahmani returns from a muscular issue and goes straight into the starting XI, with Matteo Politano also making the trip, while new buys Giovane and Alisson are available.

NAPLES, ITALY - JANUARY 14: Amir Rrahmani of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Filippo Rinaldi of Parma Calcio 1913 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Amir Rrahmani of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Filippo Rinaldi of Parma Calcio 1913 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Genoa have been revitalised since De Rossi took over from Patrick Vieira and had been on a five-match unbeaten run until their dramatic 3-2 defeat to Lazio.

It is the first time the former Italy player has faced off against Conte as a coach.

Tommaso Baldanzi arrived from Roma in the January transfer window, but he’s not fully fit along with Benjamin Siegrist.

Former Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow takes the gloves, with Leo Ostigard facing his old club.

Malinovskyi pulls the midfield strings behind Vitinha and Lorenzo Colombo, but new buy Amorim is eager to make his debut.

When these sides met in October, Jeff Ekhator had put Genoa in front, but Anguissa and Hojlund goals turned it around in the second half.

GENOA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Hellas Verona FC at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Hellas Verona FC at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Genoa vs. Napoli official line-ups

Genoa: Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Norton-Cuffy, Malinovskyi, Ellertsson, Frendrup, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo

Napoli: Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Gutierrez, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund

07-02-2026 17:00
MatchDay 24

Player statistic

1st half
    2' Alex Meret
Ruslan Malinovskyi 3'    
    20' Rasmus Højlund
    21' Scott McTominay
(Assist: Amir Rrahmani)
2nd half
Johan Vásquez 50'    
Lorenzo Colombo Goal 57'    
    59' Juan Jesus
    76' Yellow-Red card Juan Jesus
Alessandro Marcandalli 82'    
    90+2' Yellow card Leonardo Spinazzola
    90+5' Penalty Rasmus Højlund
Genoa
Napoli

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
3
Defender
74'
15
22
Defender
5
Defender
32
Midfielder
17
Midfielder
74'
29
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker
89'
1
Goalkeeper
4
60'
13
Defender
5
Defender
37
3
26
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
46'
68
Midfielder
19
Attacker

Substitutes

20
Defender
39
Goalkeeper
1
Goalkeeper
14
Midfielder
21
Attacker
13
34
Defender
Midfielder
18
Attacker
64'
10
Attacker
74'
73
Midfielder
74'
70
Attacker
89'
14
Goalkeeper
32
9
Attacker
27
Attacker
98
Midfielder
95
Midfielder
31
Defender
60'
17
Defender
77'
23
Attacker

Oliver Glasner confirms Crystal Palace had ‘huge offers’ rejected for Marc Guehi replacement on Deadline Day

7 February 2026 at 21:07

Oliver Glasner has revealed that Crystal Palace had huge bids for a Marc Guehi replacement rejected on Deadline Day, capping off a chaotic and ultimately frustrating January transfer window for the South London club.

Despite the Eagles’ hierarchy sanctioning significant expenditure in the final hours of the window, Glasner confirmed that their attempts to recruit a new center-back were rebuffed by clubs unwilling to sell their prized assets so close to the 7:00 PM deadline.

Glasner reveals Crystal Palace deadline day drama

Oliver Glasner, manager of Crystal Palace reacts during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park on January 25,...
(Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

The Austrian manager, who has often cut a frustrated figure regarding the club’s recruitment strategy, admitted that while the intent was there, the timing proved fatal.

Glasner said (quotes via Standard)

“I’ve learned to accept situations. My wish of course, and everyone at the club, would have been that JP [Mateta] gets what he wants and we get Jorgen [Strand Larsen] and Dwight McNeil into the building and Marc Guehi’s replacement into the building.

“This is what everybody was working on until the final seconds. At the end of it the club tried everything with huge offers and huge bids for a Marc Guehi replacement, but clubs said they don’t sell on Deadline Day.

“Credit to the club that they without getting any money for JP spent a big fee on Strand Larsen.

“On the other side, McNeil was the last one we thought we could finalise but in the last minutes the terms of the deal changed again and the deal failed. I expected him and planned for him in the next day’s training.”

Glasner was not happy at Crystal Palace selling Marc Guéhi mid-season

The primary source of Glasner’s discontent stems from the mid-season departure of club captain Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City in a deal worth an initial £20 million.

The move left a gaping hole in a defense that had already been weakened by the summer sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.

Glasner previously described the sale of his captain just 24 hours before a Premier League fixture as ‘being abandoned’, arguing that the squad lacked the necessary depth to compete at the highest level.

The failure to secure a direct replacement on Deadline Day, despite interest in Lyon’s Ruben Kluivert and Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, leaves Palace light at the back for the remainder of the campaign.

Glasner set to leave the club at the end of the season

The tension over transfer policy has ultimately led to a definitive break. Glasner has confirmed he will leave Selhurst Park this summer, seeking a ‘new challenge’ once his contract expires.

Despite leading Palace to a historic FA Cup triumph in 2025, the breakdown in alignment between the manager and the board over the timing of player sales and arrivals has made his exit inevitable.

Manchester United have been among clubs interested in Glasner, but given Michael Carrick’s impeccable start as caretaker manager, the club could end up sticking with the club legend.

The post Oliver Glasner confirms Crystal Palace had ‘huge offers’ rejected for Marc Guehi replacement on Deadline Day appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Watch: Martin Zubimendi scores long-range stunner to give Arsenal the lead vs Sunderland

7 February 2026 at 20:32

Martin Zubimendi has drilled a strike from outside the box to give Arsenal the lead against Sunderland.

The Spanish maestro, who has become the heartbeat of Mikel Arteta’s midfield since his summer move from Real Sociedad, broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute.

After a patient spell of possession, Leandro Trossard find space on the left and cut the ball back to the edge of the box.

Zubimendi took one touch to set himself before unleashing a low, fizzing effort that clipped the inside of the post and flew past Sunderland’s Robin Roefs.

Watch the goal below:

Martin Zubimendi SCORES!!

? 1-0 Arsenal FC vs Sunderland AFC

WATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t.co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/RZyxVBjWLJ

— FuboCanada ?? (@fuboTVCanada) February 7, 2026

Martin Zubimendi’s stats for Arsenal this season

Zubimendi has been a key player for the Gunners this campaign, forming a brilliant partnership with Declan Rice in the middle of the pitch.

Apart from his defensive contribution, he has pitched in with some important goals as well.

He has now scored in successive games, after his strike last week helped Arteta’s side win against Leeds.

Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates...
(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Win vs Sunderland extends Arsenal’s lead to 9 points

As the match enters the second half, the stakes for the Gunners could not be higher.

Arsenal started the day six points clear of Manchester City, but a victory here would see that gap extend to a nine points.

While City hold a game in hand, they face a daunting trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday.

If Arsenal win, they will put immense pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side, who would then be forced to win in one of world football’s most hostile environments just to keep the Gunners within sights.

The post Watch: Martin Zubimendi scores long-range stunner to give Arsenal the lead vs Sunderland appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh judgment day is reportedly on March 23 — missing Core Ultra 9 290K Plus from U.S. retailer listings spurs cancellation rumor

New leaks point toward a March 23 embargo lift for review of Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake refresh. However, this batch appears to include only three chips, with the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus absent from the lineup. Early pricing for these three processors has also leaked out, showing reductions across the board.

Borderline personality disorder in youth linked to altered brain activation during self-identity processing

7 February 2026 at 21:00

A new neuroimaging study suggests that adolescents with borderline personality disorder exhibit distinct patterns of brain activity when reflecting on their own identity. The findings indicate that these young patients show reduced activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region associated with cognitive control, compared to healthy peers. This research was published in Translational Psychiatry.

Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition. It is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. A central feature of this disorder is a disturbed sense of identity. Individuals often experience shifting goals, values, and vocational aspirations. This instability can manifest early in the course of the disorder.

Many previous studies have investigated the biological roots of the condition. Most of research has focused on emotional dysregulation rather than identity disturbance. Existing functional imaging studies have typically involved adult patients. These adult participants often have a history of medication use or co-occurring psychiatric conditions. These factors can make it difficult to determine which brain abnormalities are specific to borderline personality disorder itself.

To address this gap, a research team led by Pilar Salgado-Pineda from the FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation in Barcelona designed a study focusing on adolescents. They specifically sought participants who were in the early stages of the disorder. The team aimed to identify brain regions involved in the identity disturbance seen in the disorder. They focused on a developmental period that is critical for the formation of social cognition and self-concept.

The researchers recruited 27 female adolescents diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. These participants were between the ages of 12 and 18. Crucially, none of the patients had ever received pharmacological treatment for their condition. They were also screened to ensure they did not have any other comorbid psychiatric disorders.

For the control group, the researchers recruited 28 healthy female adolescents. These controls were matched to the patients in terms of age and estimated intelligence quotient. The strict selection criteria aimed to minimize confounding factors such as drug treatment and long-term illness effects.

The participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. This technology measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. While inside the scanner, the participants performed a task designed to engage self-reflection and reflection on others.

The task involved viewing a series of statements. Participants were asked to evaluate whether these statements were true or false. The statements belonged to one of three categories. The first category was the “self” condition, consisting of sentences about the participant. The second was the “other” condition, which involved sentences about an acquaintance the participant knew but was not emotionally close to.

The third category was a “facts” condition. This served as a control task and included general knowledge statements. The researchers also included a low-level baseline period where participants simply looked at a fixation cross on the screen. This design allowed the researchers to isolate brain activity specific to thinking about oneself and thinking about others.

The researchers analyzed the brain imaging data by comparing activation patterns between the different conditions. They specifically looked at the contrast between self-reflection and fact-processing. They also examined the contrast between other-reflection and fact-processing.

The analysis revealed differences in the group with borderline personality disorder during the self-reflection task. When comparing self-reflection to fact-processing, the healthy controls showed activation in several specific brain areas. These included the medial frontal cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

In contrast, the patients with borderline personality disorder showed reduced activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The patients also exhibited reduced activation in the left parietal cortex, the calcarine cortex, and the right precuneus.

The researchers conducted further analyses to understand the direction of these changes. They examined the activity levels in these regions relative to the fixation baseline. This revealed that while healthy controls activated the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during self-reflection, the patient group actually showed deactivation in this area.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is widely recognized for its role in executive functions. It is heavily involved in top-down cognitive control. The authors suggest that the reduced activation in this region may reflect a diminished capacity for cognitive control over the process of self-reflection.

The study also examined brain activity during the other-reflection task. The results showed a different pattern of abnormality. When comparing other-reflection to fact-processing, the patient group appeared to show reduced activation in the medial frontal cortex. This region is part of the default mode network.

However, a detailed inspection of the data offered a nuanced explanation. The difference was not due to how the patients processed information about others. Instead, it was driven by a difference in the fact-processing condition. The healthy controls showed strong deactivation of the medial frontal cortex during the fact task. The patients failed to deactivate this region to the same extent.

The researchers interpret this specific finding as a failure of deactivation rather than a deficit in social cognition. This suggests that the brain mechanisms for thinking about others may be relatively preserved in these adolescents. The abnormality lay in the inability to suppress certain brain networks during a factual cognitive task.

The study notably found no differences between the groups in the temporoparietal junction. This brain region is known to be involved in understanding the beliefs of others. The lack of difference here implies that some aspects of social cognition might function normally in adolescents with the disorder.

There are limitations to this study that contextualize the findings. The sample included only female participants. Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed more frequently in females, but it does affect males. The findings may not extend to male adolescents with the condition.

The sample size was relatively small, with fewer than 30 participants in each group. Neuroimaging studies often require larger samples to detect subtle effects reliably. The strict exclusion criteria also limit generalizability. Most people with borderline personality disorder have other mental health conditions. Studying a “pure” sample helps isolate biological mechanisms but may not reflect the typical clinical population.

The study also relied on a specific experimental task to measure self-reflection. While this task is established in the field, it serves as an indirect measure of identity disturbance. The researchers did not include a behavioral measure of identity problems to correlate with the brain data.

Future research is needed to replicate these findings in larger and more diverse groups. Longitudinal studies could be particularly informative. Tracking adolescents over time would help clarify whether these brain activity patterns predict the worsening or improvement of symptoms as they enter adulthood.

The study, “Brain functional abnormality in drug naïve adolescents with borderline personality disorder during self- and other-reflection,” was authored by Pilar Salgado-Pineda, Marc Ferrer, Natàlia Calvo, Juan D. Duque-Yemail, Xavier Costa, Àlex Rué, Violeta Pérez-Rodriguez, Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Cristina Veciana-Verdaguer, Paola Fuentes-Claramonte, Raymond Salvador, Peter J. McKenna, and Edith Pomarol-Clotet.

“Qarabağ” Kuakuya görə peşman olub?

7 February 2026 at 20:30

“Qarabağ” 2025/26 mövsümünün əvvəlində Portuqaliyanın “Mafra” klubundan yarımmüdafiəçi Kris Kuakunu böyük ümidlərlə heyətinə qataraq rotasiyanı genişləndirməyi hədəfləmişdi. Ağdam klubu onunla 2+2 illik müqavilə imzalamışdı.

UEFA Çempionlar Liqası, Azərbaycan Premyer Liqası və ölkə kubokunda paralel mübarizə aparan “köhlən atlar” üçün geniş və keyfiyyətli heyət hər zaman prioritet olub. Ancaq Fil Dişi Sahilindən olan futbolçu baş məşqçi Qurban Qurbanovun gözləntilərini doğrulda bilmədi. Artıq görünən odur ki, Ağdam təmsilçisi 25 yaşlı yarımmüdafiəçinin transferinə görə müəyyən mənada peşmandır. Kuaku Qurbanovun start “11-liyində” möhkəmlənə bilmir və mövsümü demək olar ki, ehtiyat oyunçular skamyasında keçirir. O, “Qarabağ”ın ölkə kubokunda keçirdiyi iki matçın hər ikisinə start heyətdə başlasa da, bu qarşılaşmaların heç birində 90 dəqiqə meydanda qala bilmədi. Premyer Liqa oyunlarında da mənzərə aşağı-yuxarı oxşardır. Gah start heyətdə meydana çıxır, sonradan əvəz olunur, gah da ehtiyatdan oyuna qoşulur. Heç cür sabit oyun nümayiş etdirə bilmir ki, bilmir.

Daha diqqətçəkən məqam isə Kuakunun adının UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının pley-off mərhələsinin “Nyukasl”a qarşı keçiriləcək matçlar üçün iştirak ərizəsindən çıxarılmasıdır. Onun yerinə uzun müddət ağır zədə səbəbindən yaşıl meydanlardan uzaq qalan Kadi Borgesin adının siyahıya daxil edilməsi çox şeydən xəbər verir. Bu qərar Qurban Qurbanovun artıq Kuakunu planlarından çıxardığının mesajı ola bilər.

Kəsəsi, adətən hər transferi xırdalığına qədər incələyən, təhlil edən “Qarabağ” görünür, bu dəfə seçimində yanılıb. Kuakunun transferi gözləntiləri doğrultmadı və artıq indidən uğursuz keçid kimi qiymətləndirilir.

Fəxri Rüstəmli

The post “Qarabağ” Kuakuya görə peşman olub? appeared first on Komanda.az.

“Mingəçevir”dən darmadağın

7 February 2026 at 19:29

1-ci Liqada 13-cü tura yekun vurulub.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, son gündə bir oyun baş tutub.

“Şimal” “Mingəçevir”lə qarşılaşıb. Qonaqlar bu oyunda darmadağına seviniblər.

1-ci Liqa
13-cü tur

7 fevral

“Şimal” – “Mingəçevir” 0:3
Qollar
: Məhəmməd Səfərov, 17. Bahadur Həziyev, 66-pen. Kennet Kalunqa, 83.

Turun əvvəlki oyunlarında aşağıdakı nəticələr qeydə alınmışdı:

“Cəbrayıl” – MOİK 2:2
“Şəfa” – “Baku Sportinq” 1:1
“Zaqatala” – “Səbail” 0:1
“Şahdağ Qusar” – “Difai” 4:0

The post “Mingəçevir”dən darmadağın appeared first on Komanda.az.

Azərbaycan cüdoçusu finalda

7 February 2026 at 18:29

Azərbaycan cüdoçusu Balabəy Ağayev “Böyük Dəbilqə” turnirində finala yüksəlib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, yarımfinalda israilli İzhak Aşpizə qalib gələrək karyerasında üçüncü dəfə Paris Böyük Dəbilqəsinin finalına vəsiqə qazanıb.

“Böyük Dəbilqə” turniri fevralın 8-də başa çatacaq

Barcelona withdraw from European Super League project

Barcelona have announced their withdrawal from the controversial European Super League project. A total of 12 clubs initially signed up to form the breakaway league in 2021, including Premier League sides Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. However, all six English top-flight clubs quickly withdrew from the project following a backlash from […]

The post Barcelona withdraw from European Super League project appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona withdraw from European Super League project appeared first on Soccer News.

Micah Parsons reveals trade to Eagles was 'very close,' Cowboys wanted Jalen Carter in exchange

Micah Parsons to the Philadelphia Eagles? Jalen Carter with the Dallas Cowboys? It almost happened, according to Parsons. 

During a live taping of his podcast from San Francisco, the All-Pro linebacker revealed to Eagles receiver A.J. Brown that they were nearly teammates this past season. 

"So, to be honest with you bro, it was very close," Parsons said to Brown and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. "It was very close. Eagles before the Jaelan Phillips, before all of them, it was me. And I was really about to come."

"But there was one person I had to play with and if he was gone, I didn't want to be there and that was Jalen Carter," he added. "They wanted a D-tackle. And they wanted to trade me plus some picks. I don't really care about the picks, but I'm going to play next to JC, you feel me? Yeah. Sorry Cowboys fans, it really almost happened. I feel like the trajectory would've changed."

Micah Parsons says he was ‘really almost’ traded to the Eagles

Watch full interview NOW: https://t.co/KTojIcNbyPpic.twitter.com/3LtiTbmvoV

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 7, 2026

The full podcast can be seen here. Parsons' remarks about the Eagles begin at the 6:15 mark.

Parsons' story certainly checks out. The Eagles were reportedly aggressive in pursuing the edge rusher before the Cowboys traded him to the Green Bay Packers in August. And Parsons, who grew up near Philadelphia and played college football at Penn State, wanted to play for the Eagles someday. But not without playing next to one of the team's best players in Carter. 

Yet Dallas was unlikely to deal its defensive star to an NFC East rival. The Cowboys also wanted to ensure that the Packers wouldn't somehow flip him to Philadelphia, as unlikely as that seemed, by including a provision in the terms of the trade. A condition of the deal was that Green Bay would have to trade its 2028 first-round pick to Dallas if Parsons was traded to an NFC East team before the end of the 2026 NFL season, according to ESPN

Every Micah Parsons sack in his first year with the #Packerspic.twitter.com/nyHWESOBew

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 20, 2026

The Cowboys showed that they coveted a defensive tackle by getting Kenny Clark from the Packers in exchange for Parsons, along with first-round selections in 2026 and 2027. Dallas further tried to strengthen its interior defensive line at the trade deadline by acquiring Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. 

Parsons referencing what could have been compels "what if" dreaming for Eagles fans and Cowboys fans.

With Parsons on its defense, would Philadelphia have surged toward a second consecutive Super Bowl title? (The Eagles finished 13th among NFL teams in total defense.) Could he have made the difference in the Eagles' 23-19 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers? Philadelphia ended up trading for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips at the deadline. 

The three-time All-Pro suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a Week 15 defeat to the Denver Broncos. In 14 games, he tallied 12.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 41 tackles in his first season with the Packers. 

And as Parsons acknowledged, the Cowboys would have benefited by adding Carter, named to his second Pro Bowl after compiling 33 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits and seven passes defended. Perhaps he could have helped Dallas into the playoffs instead of finishing 7-9-1 and out of the postseason. 

🚨Confirmed XIs: Napoli face a crucial trip to Genoa

🚨Confirmed XIs: Napoli face a crucial trip to Genoa

Napoli visits Genoa this Saturday at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium with the obligation to win in order to keep up with Inter, the absolute leader of Serie A. Antonio Conte’s team, coming off a victory against Fiorentina, has 46 points and needs the win to consolidate its position at the top of the table. Meanwhile, the home side is looking for breathing room to definitively distance itself from the relegation zone.


All eyes will be on Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, Napoli’s offensive reference with 6 goals, and on the scoring arrival of Scott McTominay. Genoa will rely on the power of Lorenzo Colombo and the aerial game of Leo Østigard, a former player of the southern team, who already has 4 goals this season.

The recent record shows absolute parity, although the last encounter ended with a Napoli celebration (2-1). Will Napoli conquer the Ferraris or will Genoa spring a surprise?

Confirmed lineups

GENOA XI: Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vásquez; Norton-Cuffy, Malinovskyi, Frendrup, Ellertsson, Aarón Martín; Vitinha, Colombo.

NAPOLI XI: Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Miguel Gutiérrez, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund.

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

📸 Rayan marks full Bournemouth debut with stunning solo goal

📸 Rayan marks full Bournemouth debut with stunning solo goal

It's been an exciting start to life at Bournemouth for 19-year-old attacker Rayan.

The Cherries completed the signing of the Brazilian in the January transfer window and he starts for the first time this afternoon.

Andoni Iraola's side host Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium and they fell behind in the first-half following an opener from Morgan Rogers.

But, the hosts started the second half the better side and Rayan opened his account for the club with a crucial equaliser.

He picked the ball up on the right flank and drove forward, skipping through defenders before drilling an effort into the bottom corner.

Rayan now has two goal contributions in two games after he came off the bench to assist Alex Scott for Bournemouth's second goal against Wolves last weekend.

Is this the start of a bright career for the teenager in English football?

Italy punish lacklustre Scotland in Rome rain

Italy (15) 18

Tries: Lynagh, Menoncello Cons: Garbisi Pens: Garbisi 2

Scotland (7) 15

Tries: Dempsey, Horne Cons: Russell Pens: Russell

Scotland are facing a washout of a Six Nations campaign after suffering a dispiriting opening loss to Italy in rain-soaked Rome.

Having come from 12 points behind to stun the Scots in 2024, this time the Italians raced into a 12-point lead.

The gap was down to three by full-time but Scotland did not do enough as the hosts made the most of their rapid start, superior set-piece and solid discipline.

Italy scored from their first attack as Louis Lynagh slid in to finish off a lovely grubber kick from Juan Ignacio Brex.

The Scottish defence was exposed again soon after, with Tom Jordan beaten to a high ball and Tommaso Menoncello speeding down the left flank to score with ease.

Amid a torrential downpour, Jack Dempsey powered through from close range to reduce the deficit.

But Paolo Garbisi popped over a penalty after an astonishing drop-goal miss from right in front of the posts to give Italy an eight-point advantage at the interval.

With players aquaplaning across the soggy surface and the error count sky high, Finn Russell and Garbisi exchanged penalties before Scotland's replacement hooker George Turner was sent to the bin for a rash clear-out.

The conditions were near farcical, the ball frequently squirming through fingers and set-pieces a mess, with Scotland making the lion's share of blunders.

Then, almost out of nowhere, replacement scrum-half George Horne slithered across the grass and into the corner, although Russell could not add the extras.

A three-point game going into the final 10 minutes, Italy held their nerve and did the simple things better to see out a deserved victory.

Scotland slow out of the blocks

 Louis Lynagh (left) and Scotland's full-back Tom Jordan challenge for the ball
Heavy rain in Rome made for challenging conditions [Getty Images]

Much of the talk in the build up centred around Scotland's vulnerability in last 20 minutes, but it was a sluggish start that undid Gregor Townsend's side.

Lineouts were going astray before the foul weather set in and full-back Jordan, preferred to Blair Kinghorn, did not look too clever for the Italian's opening scores.

Italy played with more passion and pace in the first 15 minutes and Scotland struggled to find any kind of response.

Scotland just could not get themselves into Italian territory often enough, laboured running hampered by mistake after mistake.

Star backs Finn Russell and Huw Jones were anonymous, but this was a day for forwards and they lost the fight, by a distance larger than the final outcome suggests.

Next up is a Valentine's Day date with England at Murrayfield and, if that one goes awry, the considerable heat on Townsend is only going to increase.

Line-ups

Italy: Marin; Lynagh, Brex, Menoncella, Ioane; P Garbisi, Fusco; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari; A Cannone, Zambonin; Lamaro, Zuliani, L Canonne.

Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, A Garbisi, Da Re , Pani.

Scotland: Jordan; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Dobie; Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Gilchrist; M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Turner, McBeth, Millar-Mills, Williamson, Brown, Horne, Hastings, Graham.

Former Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire returns to the franchise as special assistant to player development

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 15: Mark McGwire looks on in the second inning against the Texas Rangers during a spring training game at HoHoKam Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 15: Mark McGwire looks on in the second inning against the Texas Rangers during a spring training game at HoHoKam Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Dylan Buell via Getty Images

Former Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire returns to the franchise as special assistant to player development. McGwire spent 12 seasons with the Athletics from 1986 to 1997.

McGwire got off to a fast start with the Athletics. In his first season, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1987 after hitting 49 home runs, which was a record at the time. He also helped lead the A's to three straight World Series appearances from 1988 to 1990 and won it all in 1989. That was the last year the Athletics won the World Series.

Big Mac finished with 363 home runs, 941 RBIs and 1,1157 hits during his time with the A's. Later in his career, McGwire was traded to St. Louis in the 1997 season. In his time there, he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record with 70 home runs.

Despite being inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame in 2019, McGwire has been kept out of the MLB Hall of Fame after being tied to a steroid scandal.

After McWire's playing days ended, he had multiple stints on MLB teams' staff. He served as a bench coach for San Diego (2017-18) and as a hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013-15) and Cardinals (2010-12).

McWire's time with the Athletics in player development will look a lot different than his playing days. The A’s are about to play the second of at least three seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California. This is the Athletics temporary home until their scheduled move to Vegas in 2028.

The Athletics went 76-86 and have promising young players such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. The Athletics also acquired Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets in a trade this offseason.

As Heat upcoming opponents play the lottery odds, Spoelstra remains in win-now mode

WASHINGTON — The juxtaposition could not be any clearer the next two games for the Miami Heat.

On one hand, you have Erik Spoelstra and his now-perennial play-in team living in the moment, even if the moment has the Heat at 27-26 and coming off a disastrous Friday night loss to the Boston Celtics at the start of this two-game trip, when even a 22-point lead was not good enough.

On the other hand, you have a pair of upcoming opponents who have left little doubt about their need to lose as a means of creating hope.

Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena, it will be against the Washington Wizards and their annual race to the bottom, with the Wizards having sat out Trae Young since since his Jan. 9 trade arrival from the Atlanta Hawks, and now with word that prime trade-deadline acquisition Anthony Davis will not suit up for them this season.

Then Monday night at Kaseya Center, the opponent will be the Utah Jazz, a team that even while making the forward-thinking acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is well aware it only keeps its June lottery pick by closing with one of the league’s eight worst records.

Losing by winning.

As an NBA way of life.

And then there are the Heat, who also possess their own draft pick this June, with no strings attached, positioned to gain a lottery seed either through losing now or being eliminated in the play-in round.

Their approach? Full steam ahead, even while having won consecutive games only once since Jan. 1.

So in Friday night’s loss in Boston, when a case could have been made for youth in the wake of inaction at Thursday’s trade deadline . . . no minutes for rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, a mere 9:32 for 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware and 6:22 for 22-year-old Nikola Jovic.

To Spoelstra the approach remains that youth will be served when deserved, and even then not at the cost of one more victory, even amid the seemingly inescapable reality of a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round.

“We’re not going to prioritize something over winning,” Spoelstra said ahead of Friday night’s loss, a game when 30-year-old Simone Fontecchio played 19:28, despite closing 0 for 5 from the field, with just two points, a game when Andrew Wiggins, who turns 31 in two weeks, played 38:22, albeit with 26 points. “Winning is going to be the bottom line. Take it or leave it, like it or not. That’s what the Miami Heat is about. We’re competing to win.”

To their credit, such an approach did have the Heat positioned for the victory had point guard Davion Mitchell made an open 3-point attempt from the left corner with 2.7 seconds to play in what instead was a 98-96 loss that had both teams scoreless in the final 1:31.

To Spoelstra, the gifting of minutes to youth would send the wrong message. In support of his approach, Jovic managed to finish a Heat-worst 14 in his Friday night minutes, with the Heat also outscored in Ware’s limited time.

“You have to earn your minutes,” Spoelstra said of his rotation approach. “We’re not gifting minutes to anyone. We have more young players playing in the rotation than we’ve had in a long time, and that’s this balance that I’m embracing.”

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All, Spoelstra said, also with an eye for the future, but not with an eye on the race for the bottom being favored at the moment by the Wizards and Jazz.

“Develop these players, infuse them with confidence, but also hold them accountable to our standard,” Spoelstra continued of what he considers a workable approach. “The standard is not going to change, and we feel that players improve the quickest when there’s an accountability to winning, when they’re not just empty minutes that are being gifted to someone.”

And when the youth produces in such moments, Spoelstra said it is all the more gratifying.

“It’s art, not necessarily science,” he said of the approach. “But our young guys are getting a lot better. And they’re playing and contributing. And it’s exciting.

“We want our fan base excited about this young group. And we want our team excited about the youthful exuberance that they’re bringing our locker room. And there’s a big upside.”

Jim Leonhard bringing another former Wisconsin Badger to Bills' staff

The Buffalo Bills and recently-hired defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard are hiring former Wisconsin Badger Terrance Jamison as their new defensive line coach.

Jamison spent the last five seasons on Bret Bielema's coaching staff at Illinois, first as its defensive line coach from 2021-22, then as defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator from 2023-25. The former standout lineman played under Bielema at Wisconsin from 2005-07.

Jamison isn't the only former Badger to join Leonhard's support staff in Buffalo; Bobby April III left Minnesota to become the Bills' outside linebackers coach, while Jay Valai left Oklahoma to take their secondary coach position. He also isn't the only prominent defensive assistant to leave Illinois this offseason, as defensive coordinator Aaron Henry took the co-DC role at Notre Dame.

Wisconsin is not scheduled to play Illinois during the 2026 season. The Fighting Illini's season will still be worth watching, as Bielema tries to build on a program-best run of success.

Bills are hiring Illinois co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison as their Defensive Line coach.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2026

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Terrance Jamison hire Jim Leonhard Bills

Exclusive Celtic TV interview with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Exclusive Celtic TV interview with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Exclusive Celtic TV interview with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

As soon as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spoke to Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, he knew that Celtic was the place for him.

The 32-year-old England internationalist has joined the Club on a contract until the summer with an option for a further year, subject to international clearance.

And he can’t to start working with his new team-mates, although he will be an interested spectator at Celtic Park today (Saturday) as the Hoops take on Dundee in the Scottish Cup.

Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also revealed that the idea of a move to Celtic had already been planted in his mind by his friend and former Celtic goalkeeper, Joe Hart, while as soon as Celtic’s interest became public, Andy Robertson was constantly in touch with him telling him to get to Paradise.

"I was with Harty (Joe Hart) a few weeks ago at James Milner’s birthday actually, and I asked him about Celtic – to be fair, it was before this came about – and how he found it up here,” Oxlade-Chamberlain explained. “He just said it was the best two or three years of his life that he was up here.

'He absolutely loved it and he actually suggested at the time that this would be perfect for me and that I would love it up here. And funnily enough, here I am!'

“He raved about it, how much he loved it up here, how the people treated him, how intense it is and how passionate it is. And even playing with Harty, that’s his whole identity. So that made sense, how he loved it so much, and he talked it right up.

“So when it came around, I was fresh off those conversations as well and that makes it a lot easier to see myself up here and how it will be.

“I’m best mates with Andy Robertson as well so it didn’t take much convincing from him. Robbo also told me to get in the car and get myself up here, and he’s been messaging me every couple of hours the last two days – ‘Are you there yet?’ ‘Is it done?’”

Those words from two of friends were positive enough, but it was conversations with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney which carried the most weight in convincing him to join Celtic.

“Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads,” he explained.

“He just wanted to cross-check how I was, where I was training. I’ve obviously been training at Arsenal for a good three months so he wanted to hear about that and hear how I was in the situation I was, hear how my last few seasons went out in Turkey and get a bit of background on my situation.

'I explained everything and he said he’d love to have me up here and it seemed quite seamless.'

“A lot of times when you’re in these situations, it can be of opinions back and forth with teams when you’re talking, and you just to the opportunity to go and play, and the manager here is maybe a bit more old-school in that manner where he just said, are you ready to come and play. I said, yes, absolutely, and here we are. We’re ready to get cracking.

“Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are and that he’s going to push me.

“That’s all the stuff I identify with and that’s the environment I’ve always been in and been lucky enough to be in.

“It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals we want to do.”

And with Celtic in the hunt for silverware this season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is looking forward to playing his part for the team, bringing his experience of winning trophies to the club.

“There are some really experienced guys already here and they have experience of winning it here and what it’s like here,” he said, “so I’m going to have to learn off that and try to take from that.

“But being in any environment and any team that is competing to win things, you learn over the years how things are done, the habits you form, the culture you set between yourselves. That’s obviously something I’ve come from and I’ve been lucky enough to experience.

'So that’s my job also as one of the senior players, or older players with experience, is to come in train the way you need to train every day and set those standards.'

“And, like I said, it’s also important for me to learn off the other boys who’re here and who have lived and breathed it here, and that’s a new experience for me – to learn from them quickly as well.

“It’s going to be a tough end to the season. There are a lot of games, and all that is something I can resonate with – that pressure, that expectation and the demands from the fans for those things is what makes me tick and I like that challenge, so all of that fed into it as well for me.”

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Celtic Vs. Dundee - Sat, Feb 2nd 2026, 17:30 Match Information | Buy Tickets

Mike Vrabel Simulated Bad Bunny Halftime Show At Patriots Friday Practice

According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel did his best to simulate Super Bowl LX conditions during Friday’s practice, including Bad Bunny’s halftime show.

Per Schefter, Vrabel sent the Pats back into the locker room one hour into practice and blared Bad Bunny over the stadium speakers for 14 minutes before bringing the team back out.

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel did his best during Friday’s practice to simulate Sunday’s Super Bowl conditions. One hour into practice, Vrabel sent his team back to the locker room, blared Bad Bunny over the stadium speakers for 14 minutes, and then summoned his team back to the field… pic.twitter.com/RU9HPmCpt9

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2026

Vrabel’s first season as head coach of the Patriots delivered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history. Hired in January 2025 to replace Jerod Mayo, Vrabel took over a team coming off back-to-back 4-13 records and transformed it into a powerhouse.

The Patriots finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, tying for the league’s best mark and securing the AFC East title for the first time since 2019. They achieved a 10-game winning streak from Weeks 4 through 13, avoided consecutive losses all year, and went undefeated on the road during the regular season.

The offense, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, ranked second in points scored at 28.8 per game and third in total yards, while the defense contributed to a balanced attack that outscored opponents convincingly.

In the playoffs, New England continued its dominance, winning the Wild Card round 16-3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Divisional round 28-16 over the Houston Texans, and the AFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks.

Vrabel’s leadership earned him the 2025 AP NFL Coach of the Year award (his second after winning with the Titans in 2021) making him one of just a handful of coaches to claim the honor with multiple teams.

Players and staff credited Vrabel’s culture reset, strategic vision, and ability to maximize a revamped roster featuring rookies and new additions.

With 17 total wins already (regular season plus playoffs), his debut year ranks among the most successful first seasons for any head coach in league annals.

Italy's heroic defense stops Scotland's last-gasp charge for Six Nations win

ROME (AP) — Italy stopped Scotland's last-gasp charge to hang on for a precious Six Nations win by 18-15 at a rain-soaked Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Scotland used its last scoring chance, two minutes after the fulltime hooter, to go through the phases and took 25 to reach Italy's 22. But on the 30th phase, Scotland's Max Williamson was held up in the tackle by Italy's Muhamed Hasa and Niccolo Cannone and it was game over.

“Absolutely incredible,” Italy captain Michele Lamaro said of his team's last defensive set. “Just shows how much we care for each other, how much we care for this jersey, this country. This is us. The last set was absolutely outstanding.”

Italy notched only a 17th win in Six Nations history and a ninth win against Scotland, which sets it on a path to avoid the wooden spoon for an unprecedented third straight year.

Italy's win was not a surprise and neither was Scotland's defeat, another deflating result for a side that hasn't contended for the title in decades.

___

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

Yildiz 2030 | The quotes from Yildiz, Comolli and Spalletti

Yildiz 2030 | The quotes from Yildiz, Comolli and Spalletti
Yildiz 2030 | The quotes from Yildiz, Comolli and Spalletti

Kenan Yildiz is continuing with Juventus, signing a contract with the Club until 2030. On the day of his renewal, he joined CEO Damien Comolli and Coach Luciano Spalletti for a press conference.

Here is what was said:

DAMIEN COMOLLI

“We’re delighted to announce Kenan’s renewal until 2030. He is a true champion and, as his name suggests, a star. He is a real talent, but he also has the qualities of a leader, who knows how to put himself at the disposal of the team. He’s a young player, raised with great values, which are the same as those of the Juventus family. I thank Kenan for choosing to stay with us. We have big ambitions, we want to take Juventus back to where this Club deserves to be, and we want to make our fans proud of the Juventus we’re building. This renewal is an important step to building that team, but it’s not the only one.”

KENAN YILDIZ

“I thank John Elkann, Damien Comolli and the whole Club, as well as the coach, my teammates and the fans. I’m very happy to renew here, as this Club is a family to me. I’m sure we’ll do great things together. I love Juventus. I’m sure that I will always have the fans and my family behind me. Thank you, and fino alla fine.”

LUCIANO SPALLETTI

“It’s an important day for the future of the Club. Yildiz’s renewal is important for showing the Club’s intentions. It’s great to think about having him here for the long-term. His leadership gives strength to the team, he influences his teammates and makes everybody stronger. He’s a great, bubbly guy who knows how to understand those around him, and that’s a great trait to have. He’s really special.”

Gallery | Kenan Yildiz renews until 2030

Where to watch Tennessee softball Saturday vs. Boston College, Oregon

No. 4 Tennessee (3-0) will conclude softball play on Saturday at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. The Lady Vols will play two games on Saturday.

Game No. 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST against Boston College on field No. 9. Tennessee's second contest Saturday will be against Oregon on field No. 8 at 7 p.m. EST.

The Lady Vols have recorded wins against BYU, Liberty and Rutgers since opening their 2026 season.

Below is how to watch information for Tennessee's two softball games on Saturday in the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Complex.

More: Erin Nuwer records second win for Tennessee softball in 2026

Where to watch Tennessee softball today

Tennessee versus Boston College and Oregon on Saturday in the 2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic can be watched on the GameChanger App.

More: 2026 Tennessee softball TV schedule

What time is Tennessee Lady Vols softball today?

  • Time: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST
  • Location: Clearwater, Florida
  • NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Where to watch Lady Vols softball Saturday: Streaming, time, schedule

When Ferrari F1 engineers helped design a bobsleigh for Italy at the Winter Olympics

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Given their status as one of the world’s leading luxury sports car manufacturers, your mind will likely think of cars when the word Ferrari is presented to you. However, they once swapped the tarmac for ice in a journey that saw the Prancing Horse develop Italy’s bobsleigh for the Winter Olympics.

As Luca Badoer performed a special show run for Ferrari at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the iconic racing outfit was cooking up a special kind of chassis at their Maranello headquarters.

Under the presidency of Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari entered a partnership with the Italian National Olympic Committee, locally known as CONI.

The goal was simple but ambitious: apply Formula 1’s cutting-edge aerodynamic developments to the Italian national team’s bobsleigh for the 2010 Winter Olympics that were being held in Vancouver.

Ferrari utilised the experience of their F1 engineers to build Italy’s bobsleigh for the 2010 Winter Olympics

Leading the project was Ferdinando Cannizzo, a figure who currently leads Ferrari’s successful charge in the World Endurance Championship.

WEC is a category in which the Prancing Horse has found a lot more success when compared to their F1 colleagues, with Ferrari triumphing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times under Cannizzo’s leadership.

In an interview that took place around the time of Ferrari’s unveiling of the new bobsleigh, Cannizzo explained how they translated their experience in the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport to ice.

He said, via Autosprint, “It wasn’t that difficult to share this experience with protagonists other than those in motorsports. We brought exactly the experience we’ve built on both road and F1 cars to this type of testing.

“We set up the tests with the same rigour and methodology we use in Formula 1, meaning pre-test briefings with athletes and technicians, post-test briefings, and continuous monitoring and discussion after each run to understand the athletes’ feelings and whether the changes made were beneficial or not, as well as their perceptions.

“The only difference from motorsports was the snow itself “

Italy finished 17th at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but found success in the 2012 Youth Winter Olympics

Unfortunately, Ferrari’s foray into ‘cool runnings’ didn’t prove to be successful in Canada.

The Italian national team ended up finishing 17th in the two-man bobsleigh, with Fabrizio Tosini and Sergio Riva finishing just over four seconds behind the eventual gold medalists, Germany.

They did, however, secure some success in the sport two years later, during the 2012 Winter Olympics that were held in Innsbruck, Austria.

Patrick Baumgartner and Alessandro Grande won the gold medal with Ferrari’s creation, cementing one of the most bizarre collaborations in sporting history as an overall success.

R-Truth Believes He's On His Last WWE Contract But Isn't Yet Sure About Retirement

R-Truth during an interview segment on "WWE Unreal."
R-Truth during an interview segment on "WWE Unreal." - WWE

In June 2025, R-Truth took to social media to shockingly announce his departure from WWE, leading to a flood of tributes and calls for the company to keep the wrestler on. In the aftermath, Truth returned to WWE and even redefined himself by going by his real name, Ron Killings, for some time. At the age of 54, Truth doesn't have concrete plans for retirement, but he's aware that it's inevitable. For now, he feels he can still deliver in the ring.

"I like to let time tell me when it's time, 'cause all we got is time, right? ... I know this is my last contract. So we're thinking of a way to – like, everything comes to a stop, you know what I'm saying?" Truth pointed out during an interview on "Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez. "There are the things that – the music, the acting, the – you know what I'm saying? I want to give back. Like, there's so much talent at WWE now, man."

"I've always heard: 'Leave that place better than it was when you got there,' leave it good, leave it for them, because they're going to take over," Truth further stated, seemingly suggesting that he's considering a different role in WWE, before claiming that stars like The Usos now look to him as a locker room leader. "To see the young talent, man? To see them like – and it's like I'm OG to them now! I'm like a 'Taker, now, I'm OG to them!"

Read more: What Shawn Michaels Really Did During His Four-Year Retirement From WWE

R-Truth claims he often inspires the young talent when they reach out to him

Ron Killings (R-Truth) locking Kit Williams in an STFU during an episode of "SmackDown," 2025.
Ron Killings (R-Truth) locking Kit Williams in an STFU during an episode of "SmackDown," 2025. - WWE

Truth then pointed out that he wants to "suit up" the next generation of talent, in both to what they know and feel about pro wrestling. "They still come to me, they still talk to me, I still tell them, like: 'You know, don't sweat it, you're young, give it time, don't rush it!" he said. "'You're here. You're amongst the most elite athletes in the world with this company! So, you're here for a reason. Do what you supposed to do. When it's time for you to do it? Execute it!'"

Despite looking to help the next generation, Truth is still invested in his in-ring career, and he feels like he's performing as well as ever. "I'm more relatable now, like, even when y'all knew I smoked, I have imaginary friends, I doubt myself, I don't believe, but I keep it going! I keep it 100; I never give up!" he said, explaining that his attitude has kept him going for all the years of his career, and that he feels great today. "I still do splits; I still do backflips!" he exclaimed.

"I turned 54 yesterday. I'm more popular than I ever been in my life; I got – you know how many generations I been through? It's like a vampire; you know what I'm saying?" " Truth noted that he always reinvents himself and that he's the last few of his generation that's been around since the Attitude Era. "To be still here, to still get that same pop when my music hit? And now it's even louder?"

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Padres Reacts Survey Results: Fans split on San Diego, A.J. Preller making significant move prior to Spring Training

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 17: General view of the ballpark during a spring training game as the San Diego Padres face against the Milwaukee Brewers at Peoria Stadium on March 17, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. Players wore green hats to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The addition of Miguel Andujar by the San Diego Padres and their general manager A.J. Preller earlier this week would not qualify as a significant addition to the roster, but it was the first major league addition to the lineup since the Padres signed Sung-Mun Song in December. It showed that Preller’s comments from Padres FanFest about adding a bat or two and adding starting pitching was not just lip service. The question is what is the next move, and will it be the significant move the Friar Faithful have been waiting for throughout the offseason?

Recent reports said San Diego made a late run at free agent starter Framber Valdez before he signed with the Detroit Tigers. More recently, the Padres were in the mix for free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt before he decided to re-sign with the New York Yankees. The reports are promising to an extent, whether the efforts by Preller and the Padres were authentic is a fair question considering the reported financial constraints.

Gaslamp Ballasked readers earlier this week if they expected Preller to make a significant move prior to the start of Spring Training and the fanbase was split. The numbers might have been different if the question was, “Will Preller and the Padres make a significant move prior to Opening Day?”

San Diego added Dylan Cease in a trade with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 as the Padres were leaving to face the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season in the Seoul Series in South Korea. Preller added last season’s ace, Nick Pivetta, after the start of Spring Training with a creative deal that kept the cost of the right-hander down in 2025 but jumps to $19 million in 2026. Considering the contracts of Cease with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven years, $210 million), Ranger Suarez with the Boston Red Sox (five years, $130 million) and Valdez with the Tigers (three years, $115 million), the cost for Pivetta seems like a bargain, especially if he can replicate what he did in 2025.

There are free agents available who would be positive additions for the Padres. Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt are considered the top three pitchers available followed by future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The position player free agent market is not as robust as Rhys Hoskins, Michael Conforto and Marcell Ozuna lead the group. If Preller were to sign two pitchers and a bat from these players that would be significant. One player from each of these groups would solidify the roster, but the cost to pull off  either scenario could be too steep.

Preller could look to deal with a team like the Baltimore Orioles who have first baseman Ryan Mountcastle without a position after the team signed free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. The Boston Red Sox are in a similar position with first baseman Tristan Casas after Boston traded for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras. The Red Sox also have a crowded outfield, and Preller has long been thought to covet Jarren Duran. Perhaps it is a trade with one of these teams or another that qualifies as the significant move to improve the Padres roster. The problem in this scenario is the San Diego farm system lacks depth and inventory and was recently ranked as the worst farm system in MLB.

Time is running out on Preller to make a “significant move” prior to Spring Training with pitchers and catchers set to report on Wednesday and the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 15. But at this point any move that improves the roster and gives the Padres a chance to make the postseason will be welcomed – no matter when it comes.  

Second La Liga fixture postponed as Sevilla-Girona pushed back 24 hours

Second La Liga fixture postponed as Sevilla-Girona pushed back 24 hours
Second La Liga fixture postponed as Sevilla-Girona pushed back 24 hours

It has been a dramatic weekend in La Liga, and so far, there has only been one full match played in the competition. After the fixture between Rayo Vallecano and Real Oviedo was called off due to the poor condition of the Vallecas pitch, another game has been suspended.

Sevilla had been due to host Girona at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan at 6:30pm CET on Saturday, but it has been announced that this is no longer the case. As per an official statement from La Liga, the proposed match has been called off, with the same also being said for the Segunda clash between Cadiz and Almeria.

“After having received the instruction from the Junta de Andalucía for security and Civil Protection reasons, La Liga informs of the postponement of the matches corresponding to matchday 23 of La Liga that was to involve Sevilla FC and Girona FC, and matchday 25 of Segunda that was to involve Cadiz CF and UD Almeria, scheduled for this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively.”

Image via Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Sevilla-Girona will still be played this weekend

While it is far from an ideal situation for all involved, especially the Girona supporters that have made the trip to Andalusia, the good news is that the match will still take place this weekend. La Liga have confirmed that it will be played at 4:15pm CET on Sunday afternoon, in the same timeslot as Athletic Club-Levante at San Mames.

The decisions to postpone Rayo-Oviedo and Sevilla-Girona means that only two La Liga matches will take place on Saturday, those being Barcelona-Mallorca at the Spotify Camp Nou and Real Sociedad-Elche at Anoeta. While it is disappointing for Spanish football fans that there is a significant lack of action, the decisions taken have been deemed necessary by the parties involved in the process.

What would a successful season look like in 2026 for the Washington Nationals?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a home run during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Olivia Vega/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Washington Nationals are highly unlikely to make the playoffs in 2026. Paul Toboni knows that and so do Nationals fans. Even finishing above .500 feels like a pipe dream. However, that does not mean the Nats season is destined for failure. We are just going to have to look at things beyond the win/loss record. Here are some things that would make the Nats 2026 season a success.

Continued Growth of the Young Core of Position Players:

Despite the failure of the previous regime’s rebuild, the Nationals still have a group of promising young position players at the MLB level. The development of players like James Wood, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews, Brady House and CJ Abrams will be crucial. If those players develop, this Nats season can be a success even if the team struggles to reach 75 games.

James Wood is the most important piece of this young core and his growth is paramount to the success of this team moving forward. In the first half, Wood looked like a potential MVP contender. He posted a .915 OPS with 24 homers. However, Wood really tailed off down the stretch due to out of control strikeout rates. 

Wood has so much natural talent and he has the ceiling of a 40 home run, 20 stolen base guy. He is the only player on this team with top 10 player in baseball upside. Hopefully, this new staff can help him make adjustments and help him stay locked in for a full season.

🔦 Superstar Spotlight: James Wood ⭐️

The Capitol's Kaiju: 🏛️ 🦖

Age: 23 – 6' 7" | 234 lbs (The size of an NFL defensive end)

• 80-Grade raw power with "freakish" speed for his size.
• Advanced barrel control and a coordinated "short" swing despite his long levers.

2025 MLB… pic.twitter.com/fIwkCDO8Da

— oBAWanKenobi (@wOBAWanKenobi) February 1, 2026

He is not the only young position player this staff will need to develop though. Dylan Crews and Brady House showed they have a long way to go with their MLB performances last year. The talent is still there for both, especially Crews. It is critical for the health of the rebuild that at least one of those guys takes a big step next year.

There is also new catcher Harry Ford. Toboni’s first big move as Nats POBO was to acquire him in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer. We know Ferrer has big upside and a lot of team control. That means the Nats are going to have to turn Ford into a quality starting catcher to make this trade a win.

Given his production and pedigree, Ford has a good chance of becoming that. However, this new coaching staff will need to help him, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If Ford becomes a starting catcher, this trade is an easy win for the Nats. Overall, the Nats have a lot of position players that could break out. For this season to be a success, a few of them need to take major steps in the right direction.

Find Breakout Stars on the Mound:

The Nationals pitching staff has very few name brands, especially after trading away MacKenzie Gore. Given the names on the roster, it would be tough to project the Nats pitching staff to be even average. I would expect some blowup outings this year. However, the season could still be a success if a few Nats arms really break out.

My breakout candidate on the staff is Cade Cavalli. He has tremendous stuff and finally has a full, healthy offseason. There are a lot of smart people that really like what Cavalli has to offer. His fastball is in the upper 90’s and he has a filthy curveball to go with it. Cavalli’s changeup also shows major promise as well.

Cade Cavalli, Bound to Breakout:

A Thread🧵 pic.twitter.com/LqzynzjSxs

— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) August 17, 2025

New pitching coach Simon Mathews will have a lot to work with here. However, Cavalli is far from a finished product. He gets hit harder than a guy with his stuff should. That comes down to his command within the zone. Cavalli was throwing strikes, but too many pitches were in the middle of the plate.

Sequencing is one thing a lot of Nats pitchers could improve. Last season, Nats pitchers were throwing way too many fastballs. We saw what happened when Kyle Finnegan cut his fastball usage after his trade to the Tigers. I would expect the Nats fastball usage to come way down this season.

Too many Nats pitchers were throwing their average heaters far too often. This applies to the likes of Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and relievers such as Jackson Rutledge. I think all of these pitchers will be leaning more on their secondary stuff this year.

Speaking of relievers, Paul Toboni is betting on internal improvement and his ability to find hidden gems. There is no clear closer right now, though my prediction would be that Clayton Beeter gets the 9th inning. Given his love for the waiver wire, I could really see Toboni churning through bullpen arms until he finds the right combination.

Clayton Beeter slams the door for his 1st career save 🔒🔥 13.2 straight scoreless, 20 Ks, just 2 hits allowed since joining the Nats. 96+ heat, filthy slider. The kid’s nasty. #NATITUDEpic.twitter.com/JtgcqKPGN7

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) September 15, 2025

Even when the Nats were good, Mike Rizzo struggled to build bullpens. I have more faith in Toboni to find the right mix in the ‘pen. The Red Sox had a really good bullpen last year despite not having many big names besides Aroldis Chapman. 

Whether it is Paxton Schultz, or Jackson Rutledge, or Cole Henry, I expect a couple of these under the radar bullpen arms to surprise us. I have no idea which ones will though. The pitching will likely struggle this year, but hopefully the Nats can find a few hidden gems in the rubble.

Development on the Farm:

While the MLB team will have the most eyeballs, some of the most important Nationals developments of 2026 will be taking place on the farm. Paul Toboni’s stated mission is to build a scouting and player development monster. A lot of that process will be taking place in the minors.

Toboni has already improved the Nats farm system with his trades, but that is only the first step of his process. He has placed a huge emphasis on improving players and building organizational depth. We will get a chance to see that in action on the farm.

Right now, the Nats farm is considered to be in the middle of the pack by most. However, I believe the Nats will have a top 10, if not top 5 farm by the end of the year. While some of that will be due to future trades and the draft, the main improvement will come from internal development.

The Nationals farm system is good right now but has a chance to be special this time next year. Our guy @PaulCubbage23 examined what the Nats system could look like in a year https://t.co/chHn954Zyv

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) January 30, 2026

The Nats have so many breakout candidates on the farm right now. It feels like at least a couple of them have to explode this year. There is finally a proper infrastructure around these talented players and a real focus on their development.

There may not be a ton of winning at the MLB level, but I think we will see a lot of wins on the farm. Paul Toboni is building this thing from the ground up. That means we will see success at the minor league levels before the MLB. While minor league records do not mean a ton, do not be surprised if these Nats farm teams win more games. It would be a good sign of improved depth in the system.

A lot of the Nats talent is at the lower levels right now. The Fred Nats in particular should be a lot of fun to watch. Following these guys from Low-A to the big leagues is very exciting. Hopefully, the guys we see on the Fred Nats right now are playing playoff games for the Nationals in 5 years.

What Does Success Look Like:

For 2026, winning a lot of games is not what will make the Nats season a success. Sure, it would be awesome if this team shocked the world and made the playoffs, but that is unlikely. There are also other ways to measure success for this team.

I get that it is tiring to have to measure success through development rather than wins, but that is the reality of the situation. The Nats are not built to win now. Hopefully this team can win more games than last year, but even if they win 65-70 games, the season can be successful if the right players take the right steps and the farm system is in a healthy position. The hope is that these moral victories will turn into actual victories in the future.

HSV claim first away win of campaign against Heidenheim

HSV claim first away win of campaign against Heidenheim
HSV claim first away win of campaign against Heidenheim

After their hard-fought draw against Bayern Munich last weekend, Hamburger SV went a step better with a 2-0 win this afternoon over 1.FC Heidenheim. Goals from Königsdörffer and Philippe made the difference for HSV.

The first talking point of this game was delivered by the hosts as Marvin Pieringer, Arijon Ibrahimovic and Niklas Dorsch linked up inside 5 minutes to sting the palms of Hamburg's Daniel Heuer-Fernandes.

HSV eventually settled shortly after the 15th-minute with recent winter signing Philip Otele looking menacing on the left flank. Miro Muheim almost supplied the perfect cross to Fabio Vieira but Dorsch had time to hack clear. 

Shortly after Muheim's misplaced pass fell to Pieringer who couldn't convert from range, HSV eventually tested Ramaj. A blistering shot from Albert Sambi Lokonga needed a strong fist from the BVB loanee to tap over the bar. 

When Jatta and Vieira blazed over, it looked like first-half would ultimately end goal-less. However, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer thumped home from a tricky angle after being superbly picked out by Otele on the break.

Both sides made two substitutions each as Heidenheim introduced Sirlord Conteh and Stefan Schimmer, while HSV called on Downs and Torunarigha. The hosts missed a chance to equalise as Dinkçi arrived late at the back post.

Nearing the hour, Muheim and Vieira found themselves shut out by the Heidenheim rearguard. Conteh also found himself in a favourable position, but fellow substitute Torunarigha did well to shut him out. 

Further changes arrived from Frank Schmidt with Honsak and Zivzivadze thrown on. Their next opportunity fell to skipper Patrick Mainka who watched his header get beaten away from the top corner by Heuer-Fernandes.

The victory was sealed against the run of play with 12 minutes remaining. Vieira ran down the right and crossed for Rayan Philippe to tap in at the back post. Heidenheim's luck was summed up as Zivzivadze was denied of a consolation goal after an offside VAR review. 

Cole Palmer sets a Premier League and a Chelsea record with one swing of his boot

Cole Palmer sets a Premier League and a Chelsea record with one swing of his boot
Cole Palmer sets a Premier League and a Chelsea record with one swing of his boot

Cole Palmer’s hattrick goal after 41 minutes against Wolves did more than just potentially earn Chelsea 3 points before the first half was out.

It also saw him set a Chelsea record, and a Premier League record in one fell swoop.

He’s now scored four Chelsea Premier League hattricks, which is more than anyone else in the club’s history.. That’s right, more than Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, all of them.

This is Palmer’s third time scoring a triple in one half. He’s the first Premier League player for any team to do that.

We really hope that this great game helps Palmer find some confidence at last. He’s struggled all season both physically and mentally – let’s pray this game sees him turn the corner.

Cole Palmer potentially brings himself close to an early exit with triple goal

Chelsea’s generic group celebrate a goal. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

An added bonus of scoring three so early is that Chelsea can take players – potentially including Palmer – off the pitch.

There’s a game against Leeds on Tuesday night to think about, then another at the weekend. After such a busy period, it’s a huge luxury. How long until Liam Rosenior takes advantage of it?

Players like Alejandro Garnacho are low on confidence and could use some time on the pitch, while lots of today’s starters need a rest.

In other news…

Palmer bagged a first half hattrick for Chelsea, two penalties and then a driven finish into the roof of the net. It’s just what we wanted for the attacker as he looks to pick up his form.

Chelsea’s striker today is Joao Pedro, with Liam Delap on the bench. We’re hearing the first whispers about Delap potentially being up for sale in the summer if things don’t improve for him.

Bruno Fernandes sends Man Utd message as winning run continues

Bruno Fernandes sends Man Utd message as winning run continues
Bruno Fernandes sends Man Utd message as winning run continues

Bruno Fernandes says Man United “need” to build on their win over 10-man Spurs and extend their winning streak under interim boss Michael Carrick even further. 

The Portuguese playmaker doubled the Red Devils’ lead in the second half at Old Trafford on Saturday after Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 38th minute.

It’s their fourth win in a row in the Premier League, but Fernandes says they have to make it five to keep up the momentum. It’s been two years since United last won five successive games.

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd ‘need’ to keep winning run going

“When we win games the confidence goes higher and higher,” he told TNT Sports after the full-time whistle.

“It is very important for us to maintain the focus and not overdo it now. This is very good and very nice but we need to keep going.

“If you don’t win the next one and the next one you will get back into the same place where you don’t feel comfortable, you lose confidence and struggle to believe in everything you have been doing until now.

Read – Five of the best Premier League games between Man Utd and Spurs


“But, we have been doing very well until now to do everything that Michael and the staff have been asking of us and we have been very brave taking responsibility in some moments in the game to go and play and do whatever you need to do to win the game.

“The main focus is the next game, it’s four wins in a row, this one is nice, but we need to make it five now.”

Read – 

See Also – The highest-spending leagues in world football in 2025/26

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Barcelona star joins Messi & Ronaldo in exclusive club during Mallorca clash

Barcelona star joins Messi & Ronaldo in exclusive club during Mallorca clash
Barcelona star joins Messi & Ronaldo in exclusive club during Mallorca clash

Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski has on Saturday continued to write his name ever further into the history books of European football.

This comes owing to his exploits in the Blaugrana’s latest outing.

Hansi Flick’s troops are of course currently locked in action on the domestic front.

Turning focus back towards matters on the La Liga front, Barcelona have welcomed RCD Mallorca to the Spotify Camp Nou.

And as things stand, the aforementioned Lewandowski stands as the difference-maker when it comes to the scoreline.

After pouncing on a loose ball in the visitors’ penalty area during the first-half on Saturday, the veteran goalscorer made no mistake in slotting home with ease.

And as alluded to above, in the process, Lewandowski secured for himself a piece of modern football history.

As per statisticians Opta:

‘Robert Lewandowski has scored 10 goals in LaLiga 2025/26, becoming the third player to reach double figures for goals in 15 consecutive seasons in Europe’s top five leagues in the 21st century, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (16) and Lionel Messi (15).’

Conor Laird – GSFN

Thomas Frank ‘proud’ of 10-man Spurs following Man Utd defeat

Thomas Frank ‘proud’ of 10-man Spurs following Man Utd defeat
Thomas Frank ‘proud’ of 10-man Spurs following Man Utd defeat

Thomas Frank says he is “very proud” of his Spurs players after playing down a man for most of their defeat to Man Utd on Saturday. 

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was shown a red after catching Casemiro’s ankle with his studs when trying to win the ball in the 29th minute. It’s the centre-back’s second second off of the season and will result in a four-match ban.

Bryan Mbeumo went on to open the scoring for the Red Devils ahead of the interval, before Bruno Fernandes doubled their lead in the second half to secure a fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank ‘proud’ of 10-man Spurs following Man Utd defeat

“I think the first 30 minutes were a good away performance at a difficult place against a team with confidence in them and flow,” Frank told TNT Sports.

“Then after the red card, I am very proud of the players. The resilience, staying in the game mentality, still being a threat at times trying to create something. Very proud of them. Then, of course we just made the three offensive subs and then we concede the second.

“I think the last 60/70 minutes, we were playing with 10 men. They put everything into it. Very proud of the fans. You could hear them loud throughout the game.”

Read – Five of the best Premier League games between Man Utd and Spurs


On Romero’s red card, Frank added: “Cristian first and foremost, there is no intention to do the follow through and get a red. He clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules are, it becomes a red. Cristian apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room.

“It is what it is. We need to deal with it. I think a big area we’ve been working hard on is the resilience. We didn’t get the result out of it today, but what they showed out there on the pitch today, the players, was incredible. We need to focus on Newcastle on Tuesday night.

“Just focus on the next game. That is Newcastle on Tuesday night.”

Read – 

See Also – The highest-spending leagues in world football in 2025/26

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Manchester City signed a centre-back who is eager to grow and can contribute now in Marc Guehi

Manchester City signed a centre-back who is eager to grow and can contribute now in Marc Guehi
Manchester City signed a centre-back who is eager to grow and can contribute now in Marc Guehi

Manchester City made two great signings during the January transfer window. Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi arrived at the club from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. City won the race to sign both players, and it was a coup for City. Looking at Manchester City’s signing of Marc Guehi, City have signed a centre-back in his prime who is determined to take his game to the next level at the Etihad. Manchester City also signed the exact type of player they so desperately needed in Guehi, who has already shown that he will be, and already is, a key player in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Marc Guehi feels that he has already improved as a player at Manchester City as Pep Guardiola believes Guehi is a great signing for his club.

In an interview with mancity.com,  Marc Guehi has shared his belief that he has quickly improved as a player playing under Pep Guardiola. Guehi added that signing for Manchester City has been a dream. Speaking on his brief time at Manchester City, Marc Guehi said: “It’s been a dream. Pep had improved my game massively. He’s someone who believes in us a lot. There’s a lot of detail, a lot of influence in the way we want to play – as individuals, always improving and getting better.

When you have a manager, coaching staff and teammates who are obsessed at that level, it only takes your game to new heights. Hopefully I can continue.

Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City have signed a player who will be a massive contributor for City for years to come. He added that outside of Guehi’s obvious talent, the England international has the necessary traits to further grow and develop. Speaking about Marc Guehi, Guardiola said: “You can smell it, he’s a great, great, great signing for City for the next five, six, seven, eight years. He’s top, top. It’s not just the skill. The mentality, professionalism, how he lives and many things to be a good central defender. That’s apart from the skills he has.

Tomorrow’s match against Liverpool will be an occasion for Marc Guehi.

Manchester City knew what they were getting when they signed Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. City were signing one of the premier centre-backs in the Premier League. They were also signing a player with proven international pedigree. Guehi is a mainstay in England’s defence. City also signed a player with tremendous leadership qualities in Guehi. The England international was Crystal Palace’s captain before completing his move to Manchester City. On top of that, City were also signing a player who, at 25 years of age, was eager to take the next step in his career. Guehi has only made two appearances for City, but he already proven why he is, and will be, a shrewd signing for City.

Looking at what Manchester City have next, they have a crucial Premier League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield to look forward to tomorrow. Marc Guehi seemed destined to sign for Arne Slot’s side last summer before the move collapsed. Liverpool can blame themselves for that as they focused on other transfers and left Crystal Palace swinging in the wind so to speak. Irrespective of the reality of that situation, Guehi will arrive at Anfield tomorrow as a Manchester City player. There is little doubt that Guehi will receive a hostile reception from the Liverpool fans. How Guehi handles that reception, could play a key role in how he, and the City defence, performs tomorrow. Listening to Guehi speak, he should handle that, and tomorrow’s occasion well. If he does, it could help City lay a foundation to pick up three points tomorrow.

Final thoughts.

Manchester City signed a player eager to grow and who can contribute now in Marc Guehi. In terms of what City were looking for in a January signing, Guehi and Semenyo tick the appropriate boxes. Guehi will likely be a villain in the Liverpool fans’ eyes tomorrow, but based on his recent comments and the traits he has displayed as a player, it won’t affect him. If Guehi performs like he is capable of tomorrow at Anfield, it will only further validate Pep Guardiola’s assessment of what City signed in the England international.

Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Vladimir Guerrero

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 01: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after an inning-ending double play during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a right-handed hitting first baseman who turns 27 in March. And, yeah, we really don’t need a ‘better know’ for him.

He signed a 14-year contract extension back in April of last year, worth half a billion dollars.

Seven seasons into his MLB career, he has a 25.9 bWAR, a .288/.366/.495 batting line and 183 home runs.

Vlad is moving up the Blue Jays leader boards:

  • 7th in bWAR: 25.9 (Lloyd Moseby is 26.0) 3.0 WAR next year would put him in the top five.
  • 8th in Batting Average: .288.
  • 9th in On Base: .366.
  • 8th in Slugging: .495.
  • 8th in OPS: .861.
  • 14th in Games Played: 975
  • 10 in Runs Scored: 571.
  • 8th in Hits: 1077.
  • 7th in Home Runs: 183.
  • 9th in RBI: 591
  • 7th in Walks: 430

The Jays’ position player leader in bWAR is Jose Bautista at 38.4, so Vlad needs 12.5 more to get there. I’d imagine he’ll get there before that contract is up. The top pitcher in bWAR is Dave Stieb, at 56.9, which will take Vlad a little longer to top.

And he’s 153 back of Carlos Delgado in home runs. He should pass that with several years left on his contract.

Vlad had a much better second half (.314/376/.515) than first half (.277/.384/434) in his 2025 season. And then he had an all-world playoff run, hitting .397/.494/.795 with 8 home runs (8 home runs in 18 games, that would be 72 home runs in 162 games). That’s really turning it on when we needed him. I’d love him to carry that over to this season.

Beyond that, I’m glad that the talk about moving him to third has ended. He’s the guy you move other players around for; you don’t move him for anyone else.

I don’t see him as a Gold Glove first baseman, but he does make some sensational plays. Like this one:

Last year, Steamer figure Guerrero to play 150 games, hit 33 home runs, with a .297/.375/529 line. He ended up playing 156 games, with 23 home runs, and a .292/.381/.467 line, so Steamer was a fair bit high on homers, but the rest was pretty close.

This year Steamer thinks he’ll play 143 games (I think I’d take the over), with 32 home runs, a .299/.385/.532 line and a 4.8 fWAR.

Olympics figure skating live updates: Ilia Malinin takes ice today

MILAN — The figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Games, and Day 2 features the Olympic debut of the "Quad God."

The men's short program is the first session today, and 21-year-old American Ilia Malinin taking the honor for Team USA. The second session is the free dance, where decorated ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates are expected to perform for the Americans.

Team USA leads the team competition standings going into Day 2 with 25 points, followed by Japan (23) and Italy (22).

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live results and updates from the figure skating team event. Follow along.

Listen to "Milan Magic" on AppleSpotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube or on USA TODAY.

Figure skating schedule today

All times Eastern.

  • Men's short program: 1:45 p.m.
  • Ice dance free dance: 4:05 p.m.

Where to watch figure skating today

Peacock is streaming every event live today.

Figure skating team event results, scores

Here are the team competition standings entering Day 2.

  1. United States: 25 points
  2. Japan: 23 points
  3. Italy: 22 points
  4. Georgia: 20 points
  5. Canada: 19 points  
  6. France: 17 points
  7. Korea: 11 points
  8. Great Britain: 11 points
  9. China: 10 points
  10. Poland: 6 points

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics figure skating live results, updates, scores for team event Day 2

Vikings QB Target Sounds like He Wants to Be Traded

Vikings QB Target Sounds like He Wants to Be Traded
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have all but confirmed they will add another quarterback this offseason, probably via trade or free agency. And based on the landscape of possibly available signal-callers, San Francisco 49ers QB2 Mac Jones might move the needle. Wouldn’t you know it? He sure sounded like a guy this week who would welcome a trade.

The fit runs through Shanahan roots, a more straightforward path to snaps, and the Vikings’ need for an absolute contingency behind J.J. McCarthy.

Jones spoke to NFL.com, explaining his desire to start again, which won’t happen in San Francisco unless Brock Purdy gets injured.

Jones-to-Vikings Has Real Logic

Jones chatter in the purple rumor mill won’t die anytime soon.

49ers quarterback Mac Jones warms up on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium before a game. Vikings QB target Mac Jones.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones completes pregame throws at Lucas Oil Stadium as preparations unfold in Indianapolis, with December 22, 2025 sitting at the center of a late-season matchup against the Colts. The controlled warmup captures Jones’ mechanics and timing under dome conditions while coaches and evaluators observe routine reps before kickoff nearby. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn

Jones on His Plans to Start Again

Reporters asked Jones this week if he’d like to start elsewhere, and he replied, “Honestly, it’s a business. You know how this goes. I’ve proven I can be a starter. I’ve proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts or whatever.”

“I know how to do it, but it’s also a business. I understand both sides of it. If you’re a quarterback that’s a free agent or could get traded or whatever your situation is, you want to go somewhere that fits and makes sense. At the end of the day, that’s what I want in San Francisco. We’ll see what happens. It’s good to be talked about.”

He also said about the 2025 campaign, “Getting back to having fun and being around a group of guys that I really mesh well with, coaches and players. I felt like it was very laid back, but we put in a lot of work in OTAs.”

“Just for them to take me under their wing and for me to learn from all the Hall of Fame players we have, it was awesome. Kyle has been great for me. We’re really on the same … I call it ‘wi-fi.’ We’re just a really good match.”

That sounds like a man who wouldn’t mind a trade and starting gig in 2026.

Just an Insurance Policy in SF

Why does Jones want to eventually wiggle out of San Francisco? Simple — he can’t start there. The 49ers pay Brock Purdy the megabucks, and unless Purdy gets hurt again, Jones is merely an insurance policy.

Elsewhere, with the Vikings, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, or Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones could be the top guy.

It’s all a matter of San Francisco’s willingness to trade him this offseason. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan said a couple of weeks ago that they have no desire to offload Jones. Some have reasoned that 1st- or 2nd-Round draft pick might change their minds.

The Numbers in 2025

The case for Jones to Minnesota — or anywhere — is really straightforward. He started eight games in 2025, with the 49ers finishing 5-3 on his watch. If one scales his eight-game performance to a full 17 games, the numbers look like this:

  • 4,570 Passing Yards
  • 28 Passing TDs
  • 13 INTs
  • 69.6% Completion

That’s close to 2024 Darnold output, and Minnesota finished 14-3 that year.

There’s no reason to believe that Jones would arrive in Minnesota and suddenly struggle.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones throws a pass against the Cowboys at Gillette Stadium.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones delivers a first-quarter throw at Gillette Stadium during an early-season test against Dallas, with October 17, 2021 positioned mid-paragraph as the moment unfolds in Foxborough. The in-game snapshot reflects pocket rhythm and decision-making as the Patriots traded scores with the Cowboys before halftime under steady pressure throughout Sunday. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

SI.com‘s Jose Sanchez compiled a list of Jones’s trade spots this week and noted on the Vikings, “Last, but not least, is the most obvious team — the Vikings. It was recently reported that they have Jones on their radar, which makes sense.”

“They are the most playoff-ready team on this list and can offer the 49ers a great deal. Justin Jefferson is what fans would love to hear, but that won’t happen. It’s more likely for the 49ers to get a pick and Jordan Addison from the Vikings. Minnesota gets its quarterback, while the 49ers add draft capital and needed speed at receiver with Addison.”

The Next Darnold/Mayfield?

Baker Mayfield turned his career all the way around in Tampa Bay. So did Sam Darnold in 2024 and 2025. Jones could be next.

He also opined on Darnold, who will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday: “I get asked that a lot. Everyone’s journey is so different. I feel like I’ve watched him in interviews, and he does say that learning from Kyle and Brock really changed his career. I see why now.”

“I’ve learned so much this year. I know Sam probably felt the same way (in his one year in San Francisco). You can see it on the tape, there’s a lot of crossover.”

Panthers quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield jog onto the field before a game.
Carolina Panthers quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield jog onto the field at FedExField during pregame routines, with August 13, 2022 embedded mid-paragraph before a matchup against Washington in Landover. The shared warmup moment captures a transitional quarterback room as roles and responsibilities were evaluated ahead of kickoff by coaches and staff members together. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

If anyone replicates the Mayfield-Darnold path as early as 2026, it will probably be Jones. He already showed his ability to produce at an impressive level in the right system.

Jones will turn 28 in September.


Dortmund close the gap on the leaders, relegation battle heats up 🇩🇪

Dortmund close the gap on the leaders, relegation battle heats up
Dortmund close the gap on the leaders, relegation battle heats up 🇩🇪

Borussia Dortmund STRUGGLED, but defeated Wolfsburg 2-1 and closed the gap to the leader Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Julian Brandt and Guirassy scored the goals this Saturday (7th); Konstantinos Koulierakis scored the goal for the home team.

With this, the runner-up Borussia Dortmund reached 48 points - Bayern has 51 and hosts Hoffenheim at 1:30 PM on Sunday (8th).


Fight against relegation 🔥

Stuttgart suffered an upset and lost 2-1 to St. Pauli, with goals from Manolis Saliakas and Danel Sinani.

As a result, Stuttgart stalled in fourth position, with 39 points - they might leave the top 4 as the round continues.

The fight against relegation, by the way, is HEATING UP.

Mainz defeated Augsburg 2-0 and took a breather, now in 13th position with 21 points.

Werder Bremen lost to Freiburg 1-0 and is in a delicate situation, in 16th, with 19 points.

And Heidenheim lost again, 2-0 to Hamburg, remaining stuck at the bottom of the table.

Also this Saturday (7th), at 2:30 PM, the Bundesliga will feature Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayer Leverkusen.


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

St. Pauli dig deep to edge Stuttgart and end winless run

St. Pauli dig deep to edge Stuttgart and end winless run
St. Pauli dig deep to edge Stuttgart and end winless run

Goals from Manolis Saliakas and Daniel Sinani either side of half-time proved enough for Alexander Blessin’s side, who were forced to withstand a nervy finale after Jamie Leweling pulled one back in stoppage time.

The opening 20 minutes were played at a frantic tempo, with both sides keen to assert themselves in the final third. St. Pauli made the brighter start, as Martijn Kaars fired wide before James Sands saw a goal-bound effort blocked by Maximilian Mittelstädt, the home crowd responding with growing belief.

As the half wore on, Stuttgart began to dominate possession, yet it was St. Pauli who continued to look the more dangerous on the counter. Their persistence was rewarded in the 35th minute, when neat interplay down the left allowed Arkadiusz Pyrka to burst into the area and square the ball. Daniel Sinani smartly dummied, leaving Manolis Saliakas to lash a first-time finish past Alexander Nübel.

Stuttgart attempted to respond by committing numbers forward, but the hosts remained the sharper side. Sands again went close before the interval, only for a last-ditch block to deny him, as the Kiezkickers went into the break deservedly ahead.

St. Pauli doubled their advantage early in the second half. Chris Führich, attempting to bring a loose ball under control, inadvertently handled in the area, and following a VAR review the referee pointed to the spot. Sinani stepped up confidently, sending Nübel the wrong way to send the Millerntor into raptures.

Frustration soon crept into Stuttgart’s play, with Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović both cautioned as the visitors struggled to generate sustained pressure. A late twist arrived in the 90th minute when Jamie Leweling fired home to give Stuttgart hope, but St. Pauli held firm through the closing moments to secure a hugely important three points.

The victory leaves St. Pauli 16th in the table but crucially keeps them within touching distance of safety, ending the weekend just two points adrift. Stuttgart, meanwhile, suffer their first defeat in four matches across all competitions and could be overtaken by Leipzig on Sunday.

Eagles assistant departing the NFL to coach at a Big Ten program

If you're planning to travel from the Philadelphia Eagles' home base to Lincoln, Nebraska, it's going to take you about 19 hours. That's about 1,269 miles from the NovaCare Complex, but who's counting? Something tells us the more time-effective plan is to board a plane. A full day on I-80 East and I-76 East is a beast. Why is that important? Per the report, an Eagles assistant is joining Matt Rhule's staff.

Tyler Yelk joins the Cornhuskers.

According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Eagles defensive assistant Tyler Yelk is joining the Big Ten as a safeties coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Nebraska is expected to hire Philadelphia #Eagles defensive assistant Tyler Yelk as its new safeties coach, sources tell @CBSSports.

Nebraska lost its previous safeties coach, Miles Taylor, to an NFL job. Now expected to hire a coach from the NFL level as his replacement. pic.twitter.com/YTPkpkpW7P

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 6, 2026

Yelk originally joined the Eagles in 2023, serving as an assistant to head coach Nick Sirianni. During the 2025 offseason, he was named a defensive assistant. Before landing in the City of Brotherly Love, Yelk was a college safeties coach at Idaho, and he spent some time at Temple and Northern Illinois. He coached safeties and nickelbacks for the Owls.

He also has some experience as a co-defensive coordinator, a job he held at Dallas Goedert's alma mater, South Dakota. He now takes his talents to the Big Ten.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Tyler Yelk accepts job at Nebraska as safeties coach

Celtic sign Oxlade-Chamberlain on short-term deal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has joined Celtic until the end of the season (Oli SCARFF)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said he is relishing a fresh challenge after signing for Scottish giants Celtic until the end of the season on Saturday.

The former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in August.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 32, will bolster Celtic's bid to reel in Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership with the club having the option to extend the deal for another season.

"It's exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this," said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who won 35 England caps during his international career.

"They can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals we want to do."

Celtic have won 13 of the last 14 Scottish Premiership titles but trail Hearts by six points at the top of the table.

The Glasgow giants also face Stuttgart in the Europa League play-off round and host Dundee in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup later on Saturday.

"He still has so much to offer the game and I am sure he can add another dimension to us with his great ability and wealth of experience in the game," said Celtic interim boss Martin O'Neill.

"Above all, he is passionate and excited about this move himself so we are welcoming a great player who is hungry to help us achieve as much as we can."

kca/nf

Eagles News: A.J. Brown’s “relationship with the team remains somewhat tenuous”

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 4: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles acknowledges the crowd prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on January 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, United States. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Eagles Question of the Day:

Is the Brandon Graham strip-sack on Tom Brady underrated? I feel like the Philly Special play gets all the attention … and it was obviously really awesome. But it doesn’t even really matter if the strip-sack doesn’t happen. Which is the bigger play from Super Bowl LII? Head over to The Feed and weigh in with your answer and explanation!

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …

What I’m hearing at the Super Bowl about Maxx Crosby, Bill Belichick, Travis Kelce and more – The Athletic
A.J. Brown’s situation with the Eagles is still unresolved, but his relationship with the team remains somewhat tenuous. From what I’m hearing, substantial conversations about his future have not yet taken place, but expect talks to ramp up around the NFL combine in two weeks.

A.J. Brown defends Kevin Patullo, says former Eagles OC did ‘tremendous job’ – BGN
No one verbally threw former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo under the bus for the underwhelming 2025 offensive performances, but he clearly took the brunt of the blame. Still, head coach Nick Sirianni said that the fault for their failures didn’t fall on just on one person. As the Eagles turn to their new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, A.J. Brown came to his former OC’s defense one more time when speaking to Micah Parsons at an event ahead of Super Bowl LX. ”Sometimes change is not a bad thing. I have the utmost respect for KP [Kevin Patullo]. To me, he did a tremendous job, and he has a great heart. But, I’m excited for the season, I’m excited for what’s to come.“

Getting Coordinated – Iggles Blitz
I think Ryan Mahaffey will have better luck with the TEs. I’m not sure how it could get worse. The Packers had good TEs in recent years. While Mahaffey didn’t coach them directly, he should have worked with them while he was an assisting with the OL. He also would have spent time with them in offensive meetings and practices. Mahaffey should know what he’s looking for out of the position. Let’s hope the Eagles give him some good resources to work with. They must improve the TE position. As for the run game, Mahaffey was the offensive coordinator for Northern Iowa so he’s got a feel for gameplans and play-calling. In the NFL the RGC will work with the OC to build gameplans and then make suggestions on gameday. Mahaffey has the background to handle that role and the scheme familiarity to work well with Mannion. Only time will tell if the move works, but I like the thinking behind it. The Eagles are building an offensive staff that should have a good understanding of what they’re trying to get done. They are also coaches who have experience working together. That can help the staff come together quickly, which is important for a team that wants to compete for Super Bowls.

Doug Pederson shares his thoughts on Jalen Hurts and Sean Mannion over an airplane PA system at 30,000 feet – Inquirer
With the release of ESPN’s new 30 for 30 about the Philly Special on Friday night, Doug Pederson is back on the minds of Eagles fans. And that’s not the only reason why. The former Eagles coach was also spotted this week answering fan questions in an unusual way: over the public address system of an airplane. Pederson talked about seeing Jalen Hurts grow after they drafted him in 2020, despite already having Carson Wentz as their starter. He also offered some advice for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.

A look back at 10 notable Super Bowl performances by former Eagles – NBCSP
Evan Mathis: Mathis was a two-time Pro Bowler and a 1st-team all-pro during his four years with the Eagles, but in 2015, his first year after leaving Philly, he started at left guard for the Broncos in Super Bowl L, a 24-10 win over Ron Rivera’s Panthers in Santa Clara. Mathis only played four more games after the Super Bowl, all with the Cards in 2016, before retiring.

Eagles free agent makes one thing clear: ‘I want to stay’ – NJ.com
“I want to stay,” Dean told PHLY Sports on Radio Row ahead of the Super Bowl. “I want to stay. But real conversations have been had. More real conversations I want will be had the closer we get into free agency. But I want to stay. And I appreciate everybody.” In an ideal world, the Eagles would bring back a player of Dean’s caliber. But with so many other pending free agents and a lacking need at linebacker, he might end up elsewhere.

Eagles mourn the loss of Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
The Eagles are saddened to learn that one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever wear the uniform, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, died on Thursday night. He was 91 years old. Jurgensen is survived by his wife of nearly five decades, Margo, four sons, nine grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. “He always talked fondly and really loved his time there in Philadelphia and loved his teammates, especially Tommy McDonald,” said Jurgensen’s son, Erik. “They were so close.”

5 Browns defensive coordinator options with Jim Schwartz’s departure – Dawgs By Nature
Texans DB coach Dino Vasso and defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin. Coaching under Matt Burke, a disciple of Schwartz’s, Vasso was noted as a possible option by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, while Undlin was mentioned by both MMQB’s Albert Breer and Rapoport. Vasso has spent the last three years in Houston after years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Vasso does not have experience as a defensive coordinator. Undlin also just completed his third year with the Texans. Prior to that, he coached with the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles (with Vasso), Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots. Undlin also spent four years with the Browns in a variety of roles from 2005 to 2008, finishing as the team’s defensive backs coach. Undline was the Lions defensive coordinator for one season.

How far behind are the Cowboys from Seattle and playing in a Super Bowl? – Blogging The Boys
It’s Super Bowl week, and once again the Dallas Cowboys and their fans are onlookers as two teams aim to win the Lombardi trophy. Dallas hasn’t played in the big game since the 1995 season, and although a cherished memory, it is a relic of the past and a brutal reminder that the Cowboys have to find a way to reach the mountain top after such a long time. Since 1995, the Cowboys have watched every team in their conference at least reach the doorstep of playing in the Super Bowl by making it to the NFC title game. That is, except for the Cowboys. In that span, the Washington Commanders have played in the NFC title game last season despite not winning a postseason game since 2005. Also, the Philadelphia Eagles have won two Super Bowls in the last ten years. Clearly, the Cowboys aren’t doing something right. To pour some salt in the wound, Dallas fans will watch as former Cowboy and Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence attempts to compete for a championship. This comes after he famously said this past offseason that he wasn’t going to win a championship in Dallas.

Seven NFL teams positioned to get hit hardest by free agency in 2026 – NFL.com
The Cowboys have the third-worst cap situation heading into 2026, behind only the Chiefs and Vikings. They were No. 3 on this list last year, staring down a Micah Parsons extension and the looming lack of a running back and a second wide receiver. Funny enough, they traded Parsons and acquired both RB Javonte Williams and WR George Pickens … but after breakout seasons, the latter two will demand significant pay raises as unrestricted free agents in March. Additionally, All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is set to be a restricted free agent, which will likely mean about an extra $6 million investment to keep him in Dallas. Then there’s the defense, which ranked third-worst in yards allowed and dead last in scoring in 2025 and is littered with 2026 free agents, particularly safety Donovan Wilson, linebacker Kenneth Murray and edge rushers Sam Williams, Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler. Dallas is rarely the flashiest team in free agency, but starting in the red with a gutted defense isn’t going to help. If Jerry Jones and Co. intend to keep Pickens and Williams at the core of the offense, it could take upwards of $40 million a year for that duo alone. It’s going to be very tough for the Cowboys to get better in what is shaping up to be a tough NFC East next season.

Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joins the Rams – Hogs Haven
Dan Quinn hired Kliff Kingsbury when he became head coach of the Washington Commanders in 2024. Kingsbury was working on a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, but when they wouldn’t go three years, Washington stepped in and hired the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. That relationship ended after his second season when they mutually agreed to part ways, and assistant QB coach David Blough was hired as his replacement. Kingsbury had success crafting an offense to make rookie QB Jayden Daniels successful in his first year. The Commanders made it to the NFC Championship Game and Daniels was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. That led to high expectations for year two, but multiple injuries, and a contract holdin slowed the offense, and the team skidded to the end of the season with a 5-12 record.

What does ‘highly-motivated’ OC Matt Nagy bring to the NY Giants? – Big Blue View
Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star, though, believes Giants fans will ultimately be happy with John Harbaugh’s choice. “I’m a believer in Matt Nagy,” Sweeney told the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast. “I do think based upon everything in place that Giants fans will be happy. Based upon Harbaugh, and I think Nagy will bring Jaxson Dart up at least to an extent. “I think this team should be in playoff contention sooner rather than later.” Sweeney later added that “ I think he’ll [Nagy] get Jaxson Dart to a place where he can maximize his talents.” Nagy went 34-31 (.523 winning percentage) in four seasons as head coach of the Chicago Bears. He never had a losing season in three years with Mitchell Trubisky as his starting quarterback. That should be considered an accomplishment looking at how the rest of Trubisky’s career has gone.

NY Giants QB Jaxson Dart, RB Cam Skattebo on team’s future, John Harbaugh – SB Nation
The New York Giants rookie sensations, quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo, and their friendship was one of the most fun stories of the 2025 season. Dart and Skattebo took the time to talk with SB Nation about their friendship, their first impressions of John Harbaugh, and more on Radio Row in San Francisco leading up to Super Bowl 60.

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Ravens Set to Fill Tight Ends Coach Role With Zack Grossi

Report: Ravens Set to Add Zack Grossi to Staff as TE Coach

The Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff is nearly complete, with the tight ends coach position now filled. According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Ravens are expected to hire Denver Broncos pass game specialist Zack Grossi as their new tight ends coach.

Grossi has been with the Broncos for the past four seasons and began his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. He's worked in a variety of offensive roles during his time in the league, building experience on multiple staffs and systems.

This move brings in a younger coach with NFL experience and a background that fits where the offense has been headed. Tight end remains a key position in Baltimore's scheme, and the team will be looking for continued development and consistency from that group moving forward.

The #Ravens are expected to hire #Broncos pass game specialist Zack Grossi as tight ends coach, sources tell @CBSSports.

Has been with Denver the last four seasons and helped the Broncos rank 10th in the NFL in total offense this year. pic.twitter.com/jZu83IkICW

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 7, 2026

With Grossi expected to come aboard, the Ravens are now close to finalizing the rest of their coaching staff as the offseason continues. Baltimore has made several notable adjustments this cycle, and this hire appears to be another step toward rounding out the offensive side of the ball ahead of the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens Expected to Hire Zack Grossi as Tight Ends Coach

Patriots evoking memories of 2001 Super Bowl team

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 3: St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner is brought down by Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots. New England Patriots face the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA on Feb. 3, 2002. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

A second-year quarterback leading an unheralded and slept-on team to the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC, and then, finally, the Super Bowl, where it will face off against a the heavy favorite with the Lombardi Trophy in sight. That quarterback, of course, didn’t get the credit for getting them there, since the offense was supposedly “carried” by the defense.

When Tom Brady did this in 2001, he finished a miraculous run with a game-winning field goal drive, setting up new Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri for the first ever walk-off win in Super Bowl history.

When Drake Maye takes the field on Sunday, he will have a chance to author the beginning of his own fairytale story.

As you can see, the story of the 2025 Patriots is quite similar to that of the 2001 Patriots. Those similarities, however, go a lot deeper than what we’ve already discussed. Let’s take a closer look at these two teams.

Coaching and front office

In 2001, Bill Belichick was in his second season as Patriots head coach. Twenty-four years later, Mike Vrabel isin his first. Despite the difference, there are some interesting parallels between Belichick and Vrabel’s approach to team building and coaching.

When Belichick came to New England, he took a very important piece with him, personnel executive Scott Pioli. Pioli had assisted him in Cleveland and moved to Baltimore with the Browns franchise, before going to the Jets to rejoin his former colleague. Pioli became assistant director of player personnel under Belichick before taking over as the director of player personnel before the 2001 season (he eventually moved to vice president of player personnel before leaving for Kansas City in 2009).

Pioli and Belichick had a very clear vision of what they wanted their team and players to look like. It was not just about how they performed on the field, but also how they fit into the team that they were trying to build. 

Vrabel did the exact same thing with Ryan Cowden, with whom he worked in Tennessee and who the Patriots hired as vice president of player personnel after a two-year stint with the Giants. The two share a very clear vision for what they’re looking for in a player. As we’ve seen with this team all year, the front office put a lot of weight on not just the way the players play on the field, but also the way that they fit into the locker room. The vision being so clear has helped them to quickly build the locker room and team that they want, and it has paid dividends for them this season.

Also paying dividends was bringing John “Stretch” Streicher over from the Rams. Streicher was with Vrabel in Tennessee as well, and is the 2025 equivalent of dynasty-era Ernie Adams: both fill similar roles and are their respective head coach’s right-hand men on all things preparation and in-game execution.

Offseason acquisitions

The 2000 and 2024 Patriots were both bad enough to earn top-6 picks in the NFL Draft, so they were set up to get a potentially game-changing player in the first round. Both selections ended up facing their fair share of scrutiny at the time, but ultimately ended up playing critical roles.

In both 2001 and 2025, however, the draft alone did not help the Patriots take a major step forward in their development. Free agency investments did as well, so let’s compare the two classes.

  • 2001: Mike Vrabel, Antowain Smith, David Patten, Roman Phifer, Anthony Pleasant, Bryan Cox, Terrell Buckley, Marc Edwards, Larry Izzo, Mike Compton

Every single one of these players was either a starter or contributor to the team. David Patten caught the only two offensive touchdowns of the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl for the Patriots; Antowain Smith turned the Patriots rushing attack into a force, finishing the season with over 1,100 yards and adding 12 touchdowns; Bryan Cox is often credited with changing the entire season with his hit on Jerome Pathon in their Week 3 win against the Colts; Roman Phifer immediately became one of the defensive leaders; Mike Compton was plugged in as a Day 1 starter on the offensive line.

The Patriots had rebuilt their entire team through free agency, but what was most impressive is that they did it with guys that received limited interest from around the league. They didn’t spend big on anyone, but the pieces fit in correctly (including a diamond in the rough in Mike Vrabel, who would go on to be a Patriots Hall of Famer and, well, here we are). Combine that with Richard Seymour and Matt Light in the draft, and it’s one of the most impressive turnarounds in NFL history.

Now, let’s take a look at last year’s free agency class for comparion

  • 2025: Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Carlton Davis III, Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane, Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, K’Lavon Chaisson, Mack Hollins, Khyiris Tonga

We don’t have to revisit every one of these signings, but almost every single one of them has been a definitive hit. You have competent starters all over, and then add some dominant playmakers in there too.

This class has not only raised the floor of talent for the Patriots, but it has made the locker room a cohesive place, and some of the biggest leaders on the team are in this group. Now, the Patriots spent a whole lot more money this offseason compared to 2001’s, so there is a different level of expectation. Still, to hit on so many different players is unexpected.

And while last year’s draft might not have the high-end talent that 2001’s had — Richard Seymour is a Hall of Famer — it added both depth and starter talent to the team.

Will Campbell and Jared Wilson are the first ever rookie duo to start the Super Bowl at left tackle and left guard; Craig Woodson has played the most snaps on defense this year; Kyle Williams and TreVeyon Henderson have provided some big-play potential on offense (with Williams adding some great run blocking as of late); Andy Borregales and Julian Ashby have been solid as kicker and punter, respectively; UDFA Elijah Ponder has had a very solid second half of the year.

Just looking at the Broncos game two weeks ago, New England’s starting lineup consisted of 50% new players totaling 11 guys who did not play for the team last year. If the Patriots are able to finish the job and win on Sunday, that turnaround should be compared to what the team did in 2001, and rightfully so.  

Favorable unpredictability

Call it luck or call it whatever you want, but the 2001 Patriots just like the 2025 Patriots have both benefited from favorable bounces, scheduling quirks, and bad play by their opponents. This doesn’t take a single thing away from what those teams accomplished, but there is still an element of favorable unpredictability to it that can’t be ignored.

In 2001, the Patriots needed roughly 37 things to go their way in order to get the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye in the AFC, and all of them happened. They won their last six games, and the Raiders lost four out of their last six, with losses to the 7-9 Cardinals and Titans, the 8-8 Broncos, and the Jets at home, who they would then beat 38-24 the next week.

Meanwhile, the Patriots won a game where they were down 13-0 at the half (vs. Jets9, and one that was a 12-9 overtime victory (vs. Bills). That second game illustrated just how small the margin for victory can be.

David Patten caught a pass near the sideline in overtime and was knocked out cold on the ground, losing the ball as he went down. It was recovered by Buffalo, and the game seemed to be swinging in the home team’s favor. However, the Patriots challenged the play, and the ball was seen touching Patten’s leg ever so slightly. With half of his body out of bounds, the ball was technically out of bounds too, which meant that the Patriots would keep possession. The very next play was a 38-yard run by Antowain Smith, which set up a game-winning 23-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.

Then, of course, there’s the Tuck Rule, which was the correct call at the time, but the Patriots still benefited from what was a little-known rule that was later scrapped. There are more instances of luck, but, ultimately, history washes those moments away when your team wins a championship. The banner lives forever, and those moments are eventually forgotten.

The 2025 Patriots have benefited from an easy schedule, there is no debating that. It’s not their fault (and the Bills had an almost identical schedule), but the point has to be made when discussing this team. The schedule is made years in advance, and every game in the NFL is one that you can absolutely lose, but the slate of opponents this year certainly was easier than it will be in most seasons.

We also have to talk about some of the decision-making and execution by their opponents. The Ravens forgot that they had Derrick Henry in the fourth quarter and the Falcons missed what would have been a game-tying extra point late in the fourth quarter.

Then there is the injury “luck” that they had. They played the Bengals the week before Joe Burrow came back from his injury, the Chargers without a capable offensive line (what else is new?), and the Broncos who lost their starting quarterback to an injury suffered on the final drive of their divisional round game against the Bills; an injury that went undetected until after the game. They also didn’t have to play any of the elite quarterbacks in the AFC in the playoffs. The Chiefs had fallen off a cliff even before Patrick Mahomes got hurt, Burrow and Lamar Jackson didn’t make the playoffs, and Josh Allen turned the ball over four times in Denver to contribute to his team’s loss.

Again, none of this takes away from what the Patriots have accomplished this season, but the similarities to what happened in 2001, and the way that everything lined up for them perfectly still stands out. Ultimately, they got to the Super Bowl and are now only one win away from immortality.

And no matter what any of the distractors might have to say, once you win a title, they can’t take it away from you.

It remains to be seen how this 2025 Patriots team will be remembered in history. The 2001 team is remembered as one of the greatest rebuilds of all time, and it started a nearly 20-year run of dominance the likes of which has never been seen before or since in the NFL.

If the Patriots can finish the job on Sunday, they might end up being remembered in a similar fashion as that 2001 team: as a great team that most people counted out even as the wins kept coming; a team with players that most people didn’t know, didn’t think highly of, or thought were washed.

The Patriots have a chance to etch their names into the history books Sunday. If they want to do that, however, they have to take care of business first. The winners of the Super Bowl are remembered forever, and stories of their greatness are told through the generations, yes, but the losers of the Super Bowl are cast off like the other 31 teams that didn’t reach the mountain top. To change the narratives, and prove to everyone that they are just as good as they believe, a win is a must.

It happened in 2001, and it could happen again in 2025.

Are Browns fans staying local to the AFC in their Super Bowl predictions? See who Cleveland picked between New England and Seattle

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA- FEBRUARY 4: A general view of the Seattle Seahawks helmet and New England Patriots helmet displayed in outside of the Levi's Stadium prior to Super Bowl LX on February 4, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. Who is going to emerge victorious on the grandest stage of them all?

What Browns Fans Are Saying

Even though both teams finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, the consensus is that Seattle is the team expected to win. This week, we polled Cleveland fans to see who they think will win Super Bowl LX, and 76% of fans sided with the Seahawks, to only 24% for the Patriots. Looks at the odds on FanDuel, the oddsmakers agree, as they have Seattle as 4.5 point favorites (which are tough odds to pick, if you think Seattle may only win by a field goal).

What would a Seahawks win mean for the Browns? Not so much when it comes to Cleveland’s coaching staff, which been filled out on the offensive side — but do you see the groundwork or a path the Browns can follow to reach the promised land? Let us know in the comments.

On a national scale, 82% of fans think Seattle will win.

The Match-Up

It is a bit frustrating as a Browns fan to see how many Super Bowl re-matches I’ve already seen in my lifetime, when Cleveland hasn’t been there once. Nonetheless, we’ve seen some Super Bowl blowouts in the past, and I can see the potential for this game shaping up that way. In my eyes, no team in the NFL has been clicking on all cylinders like the Seahawks. On offense, Sam Darnold has overcome a lot to be, in my eyes, one of the league’s better quarterbacks. His weapons at receiver and running back no doubt help. They have a killer mentality all around that never lets up.

The Patriots are a well-coached team, and have a feisty defense that is tough to do anything against. However, you can’t help but feel the Patriots’ receivers are a bit underwhelming, and Drake Maye has just barely been getting by this postseason. It’s commendable that they won 10-7 against the Broncos to advance past the AFC Championship, but it may have taken some help from mother nature to make that possible and the Broncos having a backup quarterback.

By the numbers, New England ranked 3rd on offense in the regular season, including 6th in the run and 4th in the pass. The Seahawks ranked 8th on offense, including 10th in the run and 8th in the pass.

Defensively, the Patriots ranked 8th, including 6th against the run and 9th against the pass. The Seahawks ranked 6th on defense, including 3rd against the run and 10th against the pass. The Browns’ offensive numbers were putrid, but they ranked better than both teams overall (4th) on defense, particularly against the pass (3rd).

Don’t get me wrong, New England has earned their spot to be here. But while I think the Patriots have done what’s necessary to get by these playoffs, Seattle has seized every moment and flat out dominated. Seahawks 27, Patriots 17

Player Ratings: Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Bryan Mbuemo of Manchester United celebrates scoring their first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Here are your player ratings from Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur

Starters

Senne Lammens – 7

Didn’t have a lot to do today.

Diogo Dalot – 8

Clean sheet and an assist. Has to keep this up.

Harry Maguire – 7

Kept Solanke quiet.

Lisandro Martinez – 7

Had one poor touch but was comfortable for the most part.

Luke Shaw – 8

Took quite a few shots on goal today. Unfortunate not to get an assist.

Casemiro – 8

Another strong showing. Looked up for it from the start.

Kobbie Mainoo – 8

Was playing the game at his own pace today. Good signs.

Bruno Fernandes – 8

Maybe the best player in the league this season.

Amad Diallo – 8

He hasn’t got the goals and assists this year that his performances have merited.

Matehus Cunha – 7

Was a threat, but couldn’t get on the scoresheet today.

Bryan Mbeumo – 8

Has been rotating a lot with Fernandes and Cunha since last week. He doesn’t look great on the left, but it didn’t matter today. Another great goal.

Subs

Benjamin Sesko – 6

Should’ve made it three.

Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirzkee, and Tyler Fletcher -N/A

Manager

Michael Carrick  – 8

The red card helped but business as usual for Michael Carrick.

Czechia loses Boston center Pavel Zacha for Milan Cortina Games due to injury

MILAN (AP) — Czechia has to do without Pavel Zacha at the Milan Cortina Games as the Boston Bruins center will not recover in time from injury for the Olympic hockey tournament in a blow for the Czechs.

The Czech team said Saturday that Zacha will be replaced by Filip Chlapík from Sparta Prague in the Czech league.

The Czechs announced the change after it was approved by the International Olympic Committee. They received the bad news from Boston manager general Don Sweeney on Friday evening.

Zacha left the Bruins' 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 30 during . He has 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games for the Bruins this season.

The Czechs open the Olympic tournament against Canada on Feb. 12.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Red Sox new prospect Gage Ziehl had quite the trade travel saga after White Sox deal

Red Sox new prospect Gage Ziehl had quite the trade travel saga after White Sox deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Gage Ziehl's timing certainly could've been better.

The minor-league pitching prospect had just boarded a plane to fly to Arizona for spring training with the Chicago White Sox, and then he got a text.

The text said he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox in the Jordan Hicks deal.

But wheels were up, and Ziehl was on the plane, and so to Arizona he flew.

MORE: How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter

The worst part? The Red Sox do their spring training in Florida, so Ziehl had to take the entire flight knowing he'd just have to line up another bit of plane travel before arriving with a brand new organization.

Ziehl had already sent his car to Arizona, too, according to MassLive.

"So that was fun," Ziehl told MassLive. 

He did add that the Red Sox set up that ensuing flight, at least.

Ziehl had already been traded from the Yankees to the White Sox last season, so he's been traded twice quickly in his pro career after his time at the University of Miami.

MORE: Luis Arraez is MLB's perfect misfit in 2026

The 22-year old starred in high school in upstate New York at Penfield HS, and he has reached Double-A in the minor leagues.

Across three levels in 2025, Ziehl had a 4.12 ERA with 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Ziehl began his college career as a closer for the Hurricanes, but he started by the end of his career there and has been a starter in most of his professional appearances. 

He seems likely to continue starting in the Boston organization, at least for now. He's certainly proven he can go with the punches.

More MLB news:

Bengals get good news on Joe Flacco amid retirement update

Bengals get good news on Joe Flacco amid retirement update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Bengals have had a lot of drama at their quarterback position in the last year. Joe Burrow's early-season injury and Jake Browning's struggles led the Bengals to trade for Joe Flacco in a rare intra-division QB trade.

In the wake of that trade, Flacco was great for the Bengals, and while they didn't win much (just one game in six starts), he was a net-positive for the Bengals. The 41-year-old QB has been in the NFL for a long time and could very well retire this offseason.

But, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bengals got some good news on Flacco's future in the NFL, as the veteran quarterback, coming off his first career Pro Bowl appearance, plans to return for the 2026 season.

Bengals get good news on Joe Flacco's retirement

"Flacco, who appeared in his first Pro Bowl in his 18th season, intends to play against in 2026 at the age of 41," Russini writes.

This is some good news for the Bengals, as keeping Flacco is on the docket, especially with how injury-prone Burrow has been in his NFL career.

Even if he plays the full season, having Flacco as insurance behind him would be a smart thing to have in reserve.

While the Bengals are getting some good news on Flacco with this report from Russini, the 41-year-old quarterback could still decide to leave for a better chance to start.

MoreBengals get good news amid $50 million contract projection for Trey Hendrickson

It's not out of the question that Flacco comes back, but if he's looking for a starting job, or at least a chance to start, a team with a greater need at quarterback would make some sense.

The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and any other QB-needy team could be in the market for Flacco this offseason.

While there's not a clear indication of the Bengals' intention, re-signing Flacco would be a positive for the Bengals.

He meshed very well with the team this past season after being acquired in a trade with the Browns. The Bengals, after the success with Flacco in 2025, might want him back, which makes this report a good one for Cincinnati.

More Bengals news:

Weary Raducanu suffers heavy defeat in first final since 2021

Emma Raducanu
An exhausted Emma Raducanu was powerless to prevent Sorana Cirstea from claiming a straight-sets victory in Cluj - NurPhoto/Getty Images
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A weary, out-of-sorts Emma Raducanu never looked like making a fight of her first final in five years as she went down to a rapid defeat against Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea.

This week has had plenty of encouraging moments for Raducanu, who rediscovered some momentum after a dismal showing at the Australian Open. But it is difficult to see how she can add to the single trophy in her cabinet unless she improves her stamina.

The doctor came on to take Raducanu’s blood pressure at the first changeover of the second set, by which point she already trailed 6-0, 2-1. From there, she managed to score one more game – her first and only service hold of the match – before double-faulting to conclude a limp 6-0, 6-2 defeat.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu has her blood pressure checked during a medical timeout at the start of the second set - Sky Sports

Raducanu was clearly showing the effects of playing five matches in a week for the first time in five years. As soon as she became embroiled in a third set against Oleksandra Oliynykova on Friday, her prospects of lifting this title had taken a significant hit.

Cirstea may be 12 years older but she also had burned through her semi-final in 56 minutes. Raducanu, meanwhile, was on court for close to three hours. She was moving like a woman in a weighted jacket throughout this final, and any rally that lasted 10 shots or more was inevitably heading Cirstea’s way.

Anyone who listened to Raducanu’s post-match press conference on Friday night must have tempted to pile a few quid on Cirstea. “I feel pretty tired,” she acknowledged. “Playing four matches in a row it’s not something that I’ve done much … to be feeling the pain, I guess, of the sweet rewards of being in the final, I think it makes it worth it.”

Emma Raducanu suffers a heavy defeat to Sorana Cîrstea in the Transylvania Open Final 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QzviTBWwy3

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 7, 2026

Cirstea has not dropped a set all tournament and clearly felt comfortable in front of her home fans. At 35, she is supposed to be playing her final year on tour, but with two WTA titles to her name since Wimbledon, she might find herself wondering whether she has more still to give.

Full report to follow...


03:49pm

Next stop: Doha

Raducanu is scheduled to play the first WTA 1000 of the season in Qatar which gets under way tomorrow.

The Briton has been drawn against Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the first round.

Hopefully she can play following her good run here in Cluj-Napoca.


03:44pm

Cirstea wins in straight sets – 6-0, 6-2

Raducanu, serving to stay in the final, falls 0-30 behind before getting on the board with a forehand winner to move the score to 15-30. 

Cirstea moves to championship point at 15-40 and the Romanian takes it as Raducanu double-faults.

Emma Raducanu suffers a heavy defeat to Sorana Cîrstea in the Transylvania Open Final 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QzviTBWwy3

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 7, 2026

03:39pm

Raducanu 0-6, 2-5 Cirstea*

An easy love-hold moves the score to 5-2 as Cirstea closes in on the title in her home country.


03:38pm

Raducanu* 0-6, 2-4 Cirstea

Cirstea races to a 0-40 lead before Raducanu gets on the board with a forehand winner. A good return from Cirstea then sees Raducanu net a backhand to concede another game, as the Romanian breaks again to take control of the second set.


03:35pm

Raducanu feeling effects of a strenuous week

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Raducanu is showing the effects of playing five matches in a week for the first time in five years. As soon as she became embroiled in a third set against Oleksandra Oliynykova on Friday, her prospects of lifting this title took a significant hit. 

Cirstea may be 12 years older but she also burned through her semi-final in 56 minutes, while Raducanu was on court for two hours and 48. She’s been moving like a woman in a weighted jacket, and any rally that goes past 10 shots is heading Cirstea’s way.


03:33pm

Raducanu 0-6, 2-3 Cirstea*

Cirstea wins the opening point on serve before Raducanu levels at 15-15 with a backhand volley winner. At 30-15, Raducanu takes a second serve early to get on the front foot before seeing a Cirstea forehand clip the back of the baseline.

The Romanian then throws down a double fault to move the score to deuce. Raducanu, who looked in control of the rally, sees a forehand fly wide before Cirstea holds to move ahead in the second set.


03:27pm

Raducanu* 0-6, 2-2 Cirstea

After receiving medical attention, Raducanu comes out to hold to 30 and level things up in this second set.


03:23pm

Trainer out for Raducanu

Raducanu is receiving medical attention and is having her blood pressure taken. The Briton has not looked 100 per cent to be fair.

Emma Raducanu receives medical attention in Cluj
Emma Raducanu receives medical attention in Cluj

03:20pm

Raducanu 0-6, 1-2 Cirstea*

Cirstea, looking to back up the break, falls 0-40 behind giving Raducanu a look at three break points. The Briton takes it on the first opportunity.


03:18pm

Raducanu* 0-6, 0-2 Cirstea

Another slow start from Raducanu sees the Briton fall 0-30 behind before getting on the board at 15-30. A nice serve-plus-one play gets Raducanu to 30-30 but another double-fault gives Cirstea break point. The Briton saves it after drawing an error from Cirstea but the Romanian shows great footspeed as she wins the next point with a backhand volley. 

After an extended rally, Raducanu sees a forehand go long as Cirstea continues to tear through these games.


03:13pm

Second set: Raducanu 0-6, 0-1 Cirstea*

Cirstea, racing through the points, gets to 40-0 before holding to love to get this second set started.

The Romanian is playing with so much confidence.


03:09pm

Cirstea wins the first set 6-0

Raducanu, serving to stay in the first set, wins the opening point. The Briton then goes long with a forehand down the line and then sees Cirstea net a backhand return to move 30-15 ahead. Another good spot serve gets Raducanu to 40-15 before Cirstea crushes a backhand return for a clean winner off a second serve.

The Briton double-faults to concede the first set 6-0.

Cirstea takes the opening set in some style 👀 pic.twitter.com/6HthL0qbwk

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 7, 2026

03:03pm

Raducanu 0-5 Cirstea*

Following the theme of the opening set, Cirstea wins the opening two points on serve before a volley from the Romanian finds the net. Raducanu then goes long with a forehand to give Cirstea two game points and the Romanian seals the game.

Raducanu is 5-0 down in the first set for the second time this week.


03:00pm

Raducanu* 0-4 Cirstea

After exchanging the first couple of points, Raducanu moves the score to 30-15 after dictating from the back of the court and finishing with a drive-forehand-volley winner. A deep Cirstea return gets the Romanian to advantage and Raducanu saves it. 

The Briton then sees a backhand winner fly past her before double-faulting to gift Cirstea the game.


02:53pm

Raducanu 0-3 Cirstea*

Good passing shot from Raducanu sees the Briton register the first point on Cirstea’s serve. The Romanian then throws down a strong T-serve to get to 15-15 and then a good serve out wide to move to 30-15. Raducanu goes long from the baseline to give Cirstea two game points. Raducanu saves the first and the second as she goes aggressive on the return.

A forehand error from Raducanu gives Cirstea advantage and the Romanian holds to move 3-0 ahead.


02:49pm

Raducanu* 0-2 Cirstea

Carrying on from where she left off in the opening game, Cirstea gets to 0-40 on Raducanu’s serve. The Romanian then sees a backhand return land in the tramlines, as Raducanu gets on the board for the first time.

Raducanu then moves the score to deuce after a couple of good spot serves. A netted backhand gives Cirstea advantage. Raducanu saves it after hanging in a long rally. Cirstea then comes out on top following another extended baseline exchange.

Cirstea breaks as Raducanu goes wide with a forehand.


02:41pm

First set: Emma Raducanu 0-1 Sorana Cirstea*

Confident start from Cirstea as she races to a 40-0 lead. 

The Romanian threw down an ace in that opening service game that she wraps up in two minutes.


02:33pm

Coin toss

Cirstea won the toss and has elected to serve first.


02:32pm

Players are on court

Emma Raducanu is on court first followed by Sorana Cirstea.


02:25pm

First final since 2021

Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the Transylvania Open final featuring top seed Emma Raducanu and third seed Sorana Cirstea.

Raducanu is contesting her first final since 2021, when she made that fairytale run to the championship match and US Open title after coming through qualifying.

The British No 1 has played some great tennis this week, coming back from a 5-0 deficit against Kaja Juvan in the second round and making lightwork of Greet Minnen and Maja Chwalinska in between. In her semi-final, Raducanu dropped her first set of the week against Oleksandra Oliynykova, coming through 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

The British No 1 was pleased with how she fought through in the three-set tussle: “I’m most proud of how I competed, came back in the third set, I don’t know if I could’ve done it without everyone’s support,” she said during her on court interview afterwards. “I really feel like I’m at home here, thank you so much everyone.”

Her opponent Cirstea is a home favourite who Raducanu has met once before – at Wimbledon in 2021 where Raducanu came out on top in straight sets. Cirstea, 35, will be retiring at the end of this season and will be looking to make happy memories at her home tournament.

Over in the Czech Republic, British No 4 Katie Boulter is taking on world No 124 Tamara Korpatsch in the Ostrava Open final.

Carrick says there is more to come from Man Utd star – and hails team-mate’s influence on his development

Carrick says there is more to come from Man Utd star – and hails team-mate’s influence on his development
Carrick says there is more to come from Man Utd star – and hails team-mate’s influence on his development

Michael Carrick says he is excited about what is to come from midfielder Kobbie Mainoo after helping his side to another win.

Mainoo started again under Carrick as United won their fourth game on the spin, beating Spurs 2-0.

The youngster had found himself out of favour under former boss Ruben Amorim but Carrick says he has been delighted with the 20-year-old, and also praised the influence of Casemiro alongside him.

“There’s definitely more to come from him and that’s just the stage he’s at in his career,” Carrick said.

“He’s just starting out really. He’s got so much experience under his belt in big occasions, in big games and in pressurised situations.

“That’s going to help him develop and learn the game, playing next to Casemiro and learning off him, things that he’s probably not even realising he’s picking up by playing next to him, as well as the other players around him.

“That’s part of his journey to learning and developing.

“I’m really conscious that he’s come in and played the four games and he’s found his rhythm. Young players have times when they are up and then might have a little dip but that’s not all of a sudden that he’s good or he’s a poor player.

“Kobbie is what he is and managing that is really important for us, especially for younger players and he’s done fantastic.

“He’s had a real big impact in games and we’ll keep working with him, helping him and improving him.”

💥Miss of the day: the incredible goal Lamine Yamal squandered

💥Miss of the day: the incredible goal Lamine Yamal squandered

Barcelona hosts Mallorca at Camp Nou for Matchday 23. A match that, on paper, has a clear favorite, but it wasn’t easy for the Blaugrana side.


The first half was very evenly matched until the 30th minute, when Robert Lewandowski scored the first goal of the game. However, minutes later, Lamine had the chance for the second, but incredibly missed it.

Without a doubt, he’ll have another chance, but he leaves with the image of the biggest missed goal of the day.

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

Jordan Shipley shares photos as he recovers from burn injuries after ranch accident

Former Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley was discharged from the hospital in January after suffering severe burns in a ranching accident earlier this month, according to a social media post by his wife, Sunny Helms Shipley. (Photo by Jim Cowsert/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) (Icon Sports Wire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty)

In a Feb. 6 Instagram post, former Texas football wide receiver Jordan Shipley shared photos showing his recovery from severe burns he sustained in a machinery accident at his ranch near Burnet.

Shipley was released from the hospital in January after being hospitalized in critical condition for more than a week. He suffered significant burns when the equipment he was operating caught fire, according to previous updates from his family.

In a Jan. 17 social media post, Shipley’s wife, Sunny Helms Shipley, said he had been discharged less than two weeks after the accident.

“Numerous doctors, nurses and specialists kept telling us, as we were being discharged, that he is nothing short of a miracle and they’ve never seen someone come in to their care in his condition and leave this soon,” she wrote. “He’s still in a lot of pain, and we have a hard and long journey ahead, but you can guarantee he and I will carry it with joy and praise.”

Jordan Shipley shares update on Instagram: 'Not been an easy month'

In Friday’s Instagram post, Shipley shared photos from the gym and showed post-surgery wounds from the burns.

During his hospital stay, Helms Shipley said doctors were initially concerned her husband would require multiple skin grafts on his arms, legs and hands, which could have significantly extended his recovery. She later said the burns were less severe than expected.

Shipley said in his post that his pain has eased and that he has been able to get better rest as he continues to heal.

“It’s been one month since the accident, and everything is closed up and healing well,” Shipley wrote. “We don’t have to go back to the doctor, and we’ve been getting back into the swing of things a little bit this week. I want to say thank you to the team at Dell Seton. They were incredible. This has not been an easy month for @sunny_shipley, but she has been a rock star, and I am so lucky to have her.”

Photos from Shipley’s Instagram post show his injuries as they continue to heal.

JD Vance Nearly Caused U.S. Figure Skater To Be Late For Milan Cortina Debut

This hasn’t been JD Vance’s Olympics.

The vice president got booed at the Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony. He got scorched on social media for cheering the U.S. women’s hockey team the day before that. Meanwhile, Milanese people have gathered to protest Trump and Vance’s immigration policies, pushing back at ICE’s presence at the Games even though it’s not searching for immigrants.

Sports: The First Gold Medal Of The Olympics Has Been Won

So what else could the vice president possibly do to stir resentment?

His motorcade blocked American figure skating star Alysa Liu from arriving at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Friday while she was already running late, The Washington Post reported. Liu was making her Milan Cortina debut in the women’s short program of the team event, and time was running short.

“We almost didn’t make it,” Liu’s coach, Phillip DiGuglielmo, said, per the Post.

Liu finally glided onto the ice on time and kept her composure to finish second behind Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto. When the day was over, the U.S. squad led Japan by two points and Italy by three points.

Check out Liu’s performance right here.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.
Alysa Liu was almost late to her first skate of the Games and JD Vance was partly to blame.
Alysa Liu was almost late to her first skate of the Games and JD Vance was partly to blame. AP/Getty

Read the original on HuffPost

Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen wins first gold medal of Milano Cortina Games

The first gold medal of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games was awarded on Saturday at the men's downhill race.

On a picture-perfect day in Bormio, Swiss racer Franjo von Allmen powered through the challenging course in 1 minute, 51.61 seconds.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen speeds down the course during the men's downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy. / Credit: Gabriele Facciotti / AP

His time was good enough to withstand the challenge of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni, who finished 0.2 of a second behind von Allmen to take the silver medal. Franzoni's teammate, Dominik Paris, had a fast run to take bronze and knock Marco Odermatt of Team Switzerland off the podium.

The highest-ranked American in the men's downhill was Kyle Negomir, who finished 10th.

"My goal was to put down something where I could stand in the finish and say I didn't have any regrets," Negomir said.

Sweden goes 1-2 in women's skiathlon

Team Sweden has a strong showing at the women's 10km+10km skiathlon, taking gold and silver on Saturday at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Frida Karlsson powered to the top of the podium, covering the 20-kilometer course (just a little more than 12 miles) in 53 minutes, 45.2 seconds.

Frida Karlsson of Team Sweden celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win Gold in the Women's 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. / Credit: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Her teammate, two-time reigning world champ Ebba Andersson, crossed the finish line 51 seconds later. Heidi Weng, of Norway, took bronze.

Either a Swedish or Norwegian woman has won the skiathlon gold medal in the last five Winter Olympics.

For Team USA's Jessie Diggins, an early fall knocked the American star out of medal contention. She finished eighth, 2 minutes, 21.1 seconds behind Karlsson.

Diggins said the setback did little to dampen her confidence.

"I've had so much love and so much support from so many amazing people back home," Diggins said. "And I just really wanted to bring them joy and just go out there and race my heart out and that's what I did today. I'm really proud of that."

While the result ended Diggins' medal hopes in the opening race of the Olympic cross-country program, she said her performance also offered reassurance.

"Oh, there's so many races to go," Diggins said. "I was really proud of this skate half. I'm really encouraged by where my body is at. There's so many variables that need to come together to have a good race."

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Raducanu well beaten in Transylvania Open final

Emma Raducanu looks down during the final of the Transylvania Open
Emma Raducanu won only two games in the Transylvania Open final [Getty Images]

Emma Raducanu's hopes of a first title since her US Open triumph in 2021 ended in misery as she was trounced by Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final.

The British number one, who was the top seed, was second best throughout the match as 35-year-old Cirstea surged to a 6-0 6-2 victory in front of her home crowd.

Raducanu, 23, was on court for nearly three hours in her semi-final win over Oleksandra Oliynykova on Friday, but against third seed Cirstea she lasted just an hour and three minutes.

She managed to level the second set at 2-2 after having her blood pressure taken. However, the mini revival was not enough to stop Cirstea claiming the fourth WTA Tour title of her 20-year career in emphatic fashion.

On the purple court in Cluj-Napoca, Raducanu looked tired and lacking in energy after her valiant effort to battle past Oliynykova in three sets.

Cirstea was sharper from the off, breaking Raducanu early and breezing through the rest of the first set to take it with a bagel.

The Romanian was 2-0 up in the second set when Raducanu finally put her first game on the board. She sat down slowly and called for medical attention, receiving words of encouragement from her trainer.

It looked like Raducanu's final may come to a premature end, but she carried on with the match and took the next game to draw level.

However, Cirstea, who is in the final year of her career, regained control quickly and a double fault by Raducanu at championship point ended any hopes of the Briton winning a second senior trophy.

Former USC QB Max Browne discusses what makes Sam Darnold special

On Sunday, former USC quarterback Sam Darnold will become the first ever Trojan to start the Super Bowl at QB. Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

Darnold’s path to this point was not exactly a conventional one. The first six years of his NFL career were largely a disappointment, before he finally turned things around last year with the Minnesota Vikings and now this year in Seattle.

In a recent guest column for The Athletic, former USC quarterback Max Browne, who played with and competed against Darnold during his time with the Trojans, discussed what makes Darnold special.

“It was a highly pressurized environment, and every QB I played with at SC had that competitive edge, that chip on their shoulder,” Browne wrote, via Jayson Jenks. “Understandably so. I felt that from [Cody] Kessler, I felt that from myself, I even felt that from the walk-on quarterbacks in the room.

“I just never felt it from Sam — even when we competed for the starting job in 2016.

“Sam was certainly competitive — he wasn’t there to hold a clipboard or anything — but I never sensed the stress that young quarterbacks are often under. The stress of learning a new playbook. The stress of throwing an interception at practice and becoming gun-shy. That never, ever happened with him. I admired that.

“From the time I first met him, he always had perspective. Football never felt like life or death to him, and it allowed him not to be so intense, like the rest of us USC quarterbacks. It allowed him to just play freely.

”People would tell me that in the moment, but I was never able to fully get myself there. It was always so intense for me. You know, the Mamba mentality. The work. The process.

“When I think about guys who were not that way, Sam is the first one that comes to mind. And I think that’s why Sam never lost himself when things got tough during his first eight years in the NFL. He stayed light and kept perspective. That mindset didn’t just help him survive the challenging times — it propelled him to the Super Bowl.”

Darnold’s poise and calmness helped him get to this point. On Sunday, he will look to use tjem to become USC’s first Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football alum Max Browne discusses Sam Darnold at Super Bowl LX

Emma Raducanu loses first final since U.S. Open 2021 to Sorana Cirstea

Emma Raducanu fell to a 6-0, 6-2 defeat Saturday afternoon in her first final since she won the 2021 U.S. Open as a qualifier.

A relentless Sorana Cirstea, playing in front of her home fans at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, took full advantage of a flat performance from the Briton, who received a blood-pressure check during the second set and looked physically out-of-sorts from late in the first set.

Cirstea, 35, who is also playing her final season on tour, looked to attack Raducanu as early as possible on both serve and return, becoming even more intense as Raducanu began to fade physically towards the end of the opening set. The Briton double-faulted on game point four times across the match and made numerous errors on her first shot after her serve, unable to use promising positions to win quick points.

Raducanu had shown admirable resilience throughout the tournament, coming back from 0-5 down to beat Kaja Juvan in the round of 16 and toughing out a three-set win against Oleksandra Oliynykova’s array of moonballing, sudden changes of pace and sharp angles. But Cirstea was a match too far, for her tennis and for her physical condition. The final never became a contest, even when Raducanu was able to produce a break of serve from almost nowhere early in the second set.

Earlier in the day, Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek stunned world No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(5), 6-1 to win the Abu Dhabi Open. Bejlek, 20, who started the tournament as world No. 101, will rise to No. 38 when the rankings update on Monday.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Tennis, Women's Tennis

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Newcastle United v Brentford confirmed team news: Lewis-Potter starts at St James’ Park

Newcastle United v Brentford confirmed team news: Lewis-Potter starts at St James’ Park
Newcastle United v Brentford confirmed team news: Lewis-Potter starts at St James’ Park

Head coach Keith Andrews has made one enforced change to Brentford’s starting XI for this evening’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle United (5.30pm kick-off GMT, live on Sky Sports).

The Bees arrive at St James’ Park following a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, while Eddie Howe’s side lost 4-1 to Liverpool in their last Premier League game.

Kevin Schade misses out though suspension having been shown a straight red card at Villa Park.

Keane Lewis-Potter replaces the German, starting on the left of a front three alongside Igor Thiago and Dango Ouattara.

Reiss Nelson and Kaye Furo return to the bench.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali, Willock; J Murphy, Wissa, Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, Osula, Elanga, Woltemade, Burn, A Murphy, Ramsey, Shahar, Neave

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Jensen; Ouattara, Thiago, Lewis-Potter

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Nelson, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo

Google Play Store 50.0.23 arrives with under-the-hood improvements

7 February 2026 at 17:31

Google has rolled out version 50.0.23 of the Play Store, continuing its steady cadence of under-the-hood updates. As usual, this release focuses on stability and performance rather than flashy new features. You can check your current version under Settings > About in the Play Store app, and if you're behind, you can download the latest build right here.



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Martinique Carnival 2026: A Cultural Extravaganza of Music, Dance, and Tradition

7 February 2026 at 20:27
Martinique Carnival 2026: A Cultural Extravaganza of Music, Dance, and Tradition
Martinique Carnival 2026: A Cultural Extravaganza of Music, Dance, and Tradition

The charming French Caribbean island of Martinique is getting ready for its much-anticipated Carnival, which will take place from February 15–18, 2026. The Carnival promises to provide a genuinely remarkable cultural experience with its vibrant parades, elaborate costumes, upbeat music, and extensive history. In contrast to the opulent Carnivals in Rio or Europe, Martinique’s celebration is deeply rooted in regional customs, mirroring the island’s distinct past and lively sense of community.

A Celebration Rooted in History

The origins of Martinique’s Carnival trace back to the mid-18th century when enslaved individuals used masked celebrations as a form of protest, cultural expression, and satire. Over time, the event evolved into a vibrant mix of both African and French influences, becoming an integral part of the island’s cultural fabric. Today, the Carnival continues to uphold this legacy, with modern celebrations blending traditional performances with spontaneous street parties.

Key Highlights of the 2026 Carnival

The Carnival’s festivities kick off with Samedi Gras (Shrove Saturday), which brings together Carnival Queens from across the island’s towns and villages. They parade through the streets of Fort-de-France, Martinique’s capital, delighting spectators with dazzling costumes and graceful choreography.

On Dimanche Gras (Shrove Sunday), the highly anticipated arrival of Vaval, the Carnival King, marks a significant moment in the celebration. Vaval’s true identity remains a secret until his grand procession, accompanied by lively marching groups and street bands. His arrival is filled with joyous energy, blending local satire with upbeat music, creating an exhilarating atmosphere throughout the island.

Lively Street Parties and Cultural Performances

Lundi Gras (Shrove Monday) features exciting “mariages burlesques”, where participants reverse traditional gender roles in a fun and lively manner. This is followed by street parties, known locally as vidés, where dancers immerse themselves in the rhythmic beats of traditional drums and folkloric music. The streets become a massive celebration of Martinique’s musical heritage, with everyone invited to join in the spontaneous fun.

On Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the streets come alive with the energetic and symbolic presence of the Red Devils. These figures, donned in mirrored, horned masks, are revered as symbols of abundance and wisdom. The Red Devils’ presence heightens the intensity of the celebration, with dance and music filling every corner of the island.

Farewell on Ash Wednesday

The Carnival concludes on Ash Wednesday in a poignant black-and-white procession, marking the official end of the festivities. The tradition includes singing, dancing, and the symbolic burning of Vaval, which marks the transition into Lent.

A Unique Cultural Experience for Travelers

For visitors, Martinique’s Carnival provides an exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in an authentic Caribbean cultural experience. The Carnival showcases more than just lively parades; it is a testament to the island’s resilience, history, and sense of community. Travelers can enjoy the high-spirited atmosphere while witnessing the deep-rooted cultural traditions passed down through generations.

Beyond the parades and performances, the event offers a chance to indulge in Martinique’s gastronomy. The island’s culinary offerings, influenced by African, French, and Caribbean flavors, are an integral part of the festivities. From traditional accras (fried cod fritters) to boudin (blood sausage), visitors will experience a delightful mix of local flavors that complement the rhythm and energy of the celebrations.

Tips for Planning Your Visit to Martinique Carnival

  1. Accommodation and Transportation: Plan your stay early, as the Carnival season attracts a large number of visitors. Fort-de-France, where many of the major events take place, offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to more budget-friendly options. It’s advisable to book in advance to secure your spot during the peak season. Public transportation and taxis are available, but renting a car could provide more flexibility, especially if you plan to explore the island beyond the Carnival events.
  2. Experience Local Culture: To fully appreciate the significance of the Carnival, take time to explore the local culture outside of the parades. Visit historical sites like Fort Saint-Louis, where the French influence on the island’s past can be traced, or take a trip to the Jardin de Balata, a botanical garden showcasing Martinique’s stunning flora.
  3. Dress Appropriately: While Carnival is all about vibrant costumes and dressing up, it’s important to consider the weather. Martinique enjoys a tropical climate, so lightweight clothing, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen are a must. Don’t forget to bring a hat and sunglasses for protection against the sun!
  4. Get Ready to Dance: Martinique’s Carnival is known for its infectious rhythms. Prepare to join the street dances by wearing comfortable shoes and practicing a few dance moves! The Carnival’s rhythmic beats, especially from the drums, are irresistible and will have you on your feet.

Final Thoughts

Martinique’s Carnival in 2026 is a must-see event for tourists looking for a distinctive, immersive cultural experience. With its rich history, colorful festivities, and upbeat sense of community, the Carnival provides an opportunity to see a different side of the Caribbean. This event guarantees to leave you with priceless memories of Martinique’s vibrant and hospitable culture, regardless of whether you are drawn to the parades, the music, or the delectable local cuisine.

Make your plans now to see Martinique’s heart and soul during Carnival!

The post Martinique Carnival 2026: A Cultural Extravaganza of Music, Dance, and Tradition appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

How Algeria is Revolutionizing Air Travel in 2026 with Game-Changing New Flights and Global Connections!

7 February 2026 at 20:26
How Algeria is Revolutionizing Air Travel in 2026 with Game-Changing New Flights and Global Connections!

The Algerian capital, Algiers, is gearing up for an exciting year in 2026 with an impressive expansion of its flight network. With an increasing focus on improving both domestic and international connectivity, Algiers is set to become a more prominent hub for travelers from around the world. This growth is driven by the introduction of new routes by Air Algérie and its partnerships with global carriers, making it easier than ever to explore the diverse offerings of Algeria and beyond.

A Bold Expansion of International Routes

One of the most exciting developments in Algiers’ aviation landscape is the launch of new international flights. Starting in 2026, Air Algérie will expand its reach to several new cities, enhancing global connections for both business and leisure travelers. Among the standout additions is the new direct route from Algiers to Guangzhou, China. This service will cater to the growing demand for travel between Algeria and Asia, specifically China, one of the country’s most important trade partners. The new route aims to boost tourism and economic ties, offering easier access for travelers looking to explore China’s cultural and business opportunities.

In addition to the Guangzhou route, Algiers to Rotterdam (Netherlands) will also debut as part of the expanded network. This new service is set to enhance Algeria’s ties with Western Europe, specifically the Netherlands, providing a vital link for both tourists and professionals in sectors such as trade, agriculture, and technology. With this flight, travelers will have more options for visiting one of Europe’s most vibrant and innovative cities while enjoying the rich cultural offerings of Algiers.

Enhanced Connectivity to France

Algeria’s historical and cultural ties with France have always been strong, and Air Algérie is capitalizing on this relationship by introducing new flights to French cities. Starting in late 2025, the airline launched services between Algiers and Nantes, a beautiful city on the west coast of France, and Algiers and Strasbourg, located in northeastern France. These new routes are set to continue into 2026, providing travelers from both Algeria and France with direct access to two iconic cities known for their rich history and stunning architecture.

The Algiers-Nantes route will appeal to those wishing to explore the picturesque landscapes of western France, while the Algiers-Strasbourg service is expected to attract visitors interested in the charming region of Alsace, famous for its unique mix of French and German cultural influences. Both cities offer visitors a range of experiences, from delicious cuisine to fascinating historical sites, and the new flights are expected to increase the flow of travelers between the two countries.

Strengthening Domestic Connectivity

While international routes are certainly a highlight, Algiers is also seeing improvements on the domestic front. Domestic Airlines, a regional arm of Air Algérie, is set to launch new internal flights within Algeria. These new routes will connect Algiers to smaller cities such as Tiaret, Adrar, and Bordj Badji Mokhtar, among others, further enhancing the country’s domestic tourism and improving accessibility for Algerians traveling within their own country.

The expansion of domestic flights is a crucial step in improving connectivity across Algeria, particularly in regions that were previously underserved by reliable air travel options. By offering more frequent and affordable flights, Algiers is making it easier for both locals and international visitors to explore the country’s diverse landscapes, from the desert regions in the south to the northern Mediterranean coastline.

Partnerships and Codeshare Agreements

In addition to Air Algérie’s new routes, the airline has also forged a codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways, allowing passengers traveling from Algiers to connect to a broader network of global destinations. The codeshare agreement, which began in 2025, enables travelers to fly seamlessly between Algiers and several destinations in Asia and the Middle East via Doha. This partnership enhances the convenience and flexibility of travel for Algerian passengers, offering more flight options and smoother connections to cities like Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Muscat.

For those traveling from Algiers to other parts of Africa, the codeshare partnership further facilitates easy access to major African hubs such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, with connecting flights available through Doha. This expanded connectivity will undoubtedly make Algiers a more attractive hub for African and Middle Eastern travelers looking to explore Algeria and beyond.

A Bright Future for Algiers’ Aviation Sector

The new routes and partnerships are just the beginning of an exciting era for Algiers as it continues to develop as a key player in North Africa’s aviation sector. The Algerian government and Air Algérie are making strategic investments in infrastructure, fleet upgrades, and service expansions to support this growth. The airline’s decision to introduce 16 new ATR 72-600 aircraft between 2026 and 2028 will help accommodate increased passenger demand on both domestic and regional routes, further solidifying Algiers as a growing aviation hub.

In addition to fleet expansion, ongoing investments in Algiers’ Houari Boumediene International Airport will improve passenger experience, with enhanced facilities, expanded terminals, and upgraded transport connections. These developments are expected to make traveling to and from Algiers more convenient and efficient, which will undoubtedly attract even more visitors in the years to come.

The Global Impact of Algiers’ Expanding Air Routes

The new flight routes from Algiers are expected to have a far-reaching impact on both the Algerian economy and the country’s position on the global tourism map. By connecting Algiers to more cities across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Air Algérie is not only boosting tourism but also facilitating trade and diplomatic exchanges. The expanded air network will make it easier for international businesses to establish connections with Algerian companies, promoting economic growth in key sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, and mining.

For travelers, the new routes offer exciting opportunities to explore Algeria’s rich cultural heritage, which includes historical sites like the ancient Roman ruins at Timgad, the bustling markets of Algiers, and the serene desert landscapes of the Sahara. With easier access to the country, Algiers is poised to become a must-visit destination for tourists from all corners of the globe.

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AmaWaterways Invites Global Travellers to Experience Europe’s Majestic Rivers Through Captivating TV Commercial

7 February 2026 at 20:26
AmaWaterways Invites Global Travellers to Experience Europe’s Majestic Rivers Through Captivating TV Commercial
AmaWaterways river cruise ships provide an exclusive safari experience on the Chobe River, offering close encounters with Africa’s wildlife.

AmaWaterways has unveiled its first national television commercial, designed to spark curiosity among global travellers. This campaign brings European river cruising into the spotlight, showing that luxury, culture, and personal connection can all be part of a journey. The commercial tells a compelling story of travel as a way to connect with family, explore new cultures, and enjoy the freedom of moving along Europe’s rivers at a leisurely pace. River cruising Europe is portrayed as a travel experience where every day brings a new discovery, whether in bustling cities or quiet villages.

The TV commercial positions AmaWaterways as more than a cruise line—it is a gateway to meaningful travel. It highlights how river cruises can combine sightseeing, cultural immersion, and luxury comfort into a single, transformative journey. Travellers are encouraged to explore Europe’s scenic waterways, from the Rhine’s castles to the Danube’s vibrant capitals, in a way that fits their own pace and preferences.

Experience Europe’s Rivers Like Never Before

The commercial depicts a travel story that is both relatable and aspirational. A family embarks on a river cruise to connect with Europe’s history and charm. The journey is guided by professional cruise staff, but passengers are free to explore cities, local markets, and landmarks independently. This illustrates one of the greatest appeals of river cruising Europe: the balance between structured experiences and personal discovery.

River cruises allow travellers to wake up in a new destination every day without the hassle of packing and commuting. Guests can step off the ship directly into the heart of historic towns, stroll along riverbanks lined with vineyards, or enjoy the serene landscapes of Europe from the deck. Every stop offers a unique cultural encounter, whether tasting local delicacies, visiting centuries-old cathedrals, or wandering through cobbled streets.

Why AmaWaterways River Cruises Stand Out

AmaWaterways is recognised for combining luxury, comfort, and cultural enrichment. The TV campaign underscores this by highlighting personal experiences that create lasting memories. Onboard, travellers can enjoy fine dining, spacious cabins, and attentive service. Onshore, excursions are carefully curated to provide authentic connections with the region’s culture and history.

River cruising Europe is particularly appealing for multigenerational families. Everyone, from young adults to grandparents, can enjoy the scenic views, leisure activities, and cultural immersion that river cruising offers. The commercial emphasises these emotional connections, showing that travel can strengthen bonds and inspire lifelong memories.

Planning Your European River Cruise

Travellers considering river cruising Europe should plan carefully. Knowing the entry requirements for each country is essential. Most countries along the Rhine, Danube, and Rhône rivers have visa regulations and travel authorisations that visitors should check well in advance. Travellers can refer to official tourism authorities for updated advice and safety guidance.

River cruising Europe allows visitors to experience multiple countries without the stress of constant relocation. Ships dock centrally in towns and cities, making it easy to explore historic centres, museums, and markets. This approach combines sightseeing with convenience, creating an immersive experience that feels both effortless and rich.

Cultural Immersion and Scenic Luxury on the Water

The TV commercial conveys the unique charm of river cruising: gentle travel through breathtaking landscapes, cultural discovery, and luxurious amenities. Each river has its own character. The Rhine features storybook castles and vineyards. The Danube winds through six countries and offers a window into Central Europe’s heritage. The Rhône flows past France’s scenic villages and gastronomic treasures.

AmaWaterways’ approach emphasises flexibility, letting travellers choose their own adventures while benefiting from expert guidance. This ensures a personalised journey that is both educational and deeply enjoyable. Whether you are wandering through Vienna’s historic streets or exploring quaint Dutch towns, the river cruise experience is designed to be immersive, comfortable, and unforgettable.

Why This TV Commercial Matters for Global Travellers

The AmaWaterways TV campaign positions river cruising Europe as an accessible, enriching, and emotional travel experience. It goes beyond marketing to guide viewers toward discovering Europe in a meaningful way. The commercial inspires travellers to plan their own journey along Europe’s rivers, highlighting how easy it is to combine cultural immersion with luxury travel.

For global tourists, river cruising offers an opportunity to enjoy multiple countries, landscapes, and cultures in a single, coherent journey. AmaWaterways’ new TV campaign captures this perfectly, encouraging people to step on board, explore freely, and connect deeply with Europe’s rivers and communities.

Conclusion

AmaWaterways’ first national TV commercial is more than an advertisement—it is an invitation to explore Europe in style, comfort, and adventure. It reminds travellers that river cruising is a journey not just through cities, but through history, culture, and personal discovery. European river cruising has never felt more inspiring or accessible, and AmaWaterways is leading the way.

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Explore the World in Style: Discover How Princess Cruises February Incentives Are Revolutionising Travel Planning for Global Cruise Enthusiasts

7 February 2026 at 20:25
Explore the World in Style: Discover How Princess Cruises February Incentives Are Revolutionising Travel Planning for Global Cruise Enthusiasts

Princess Cruises has launched an exciting February incentive programme, offering travel agents and passengers unique rewards and experiences. The programme is designed to inspire both industry professionals and travellers to explore cruise holidays in fresh, engaging ways. Weekly incentives include flight vouchers, dining experiences, and entertainment packages. While travel agents can win prizes through online quizzes, webinars, and registrations, the real benefit trickles down to global travellers. Agents gain insider knowledge to help passengers plan more personalised journeys. This initiative showcases the cruise line’s commitment to rewarding engagement and creating unforgettable travel experiences at sea.

A Week of Prizes and Travel Inspiration

Every week in February, travel agents can participate in challenges and activities to win exciting prizes. These include cinema tickets, theatre vouchers, dining experiences, and flight credits. Each prize aims to enhance the travel planning process and make cruise holidays even more appealing. This innovative approach allows agents to experience elements of cruise travel firsthand and then recommend them to passengers. For global travellers, this means more detailed guidance on the best itineraries, excursions, and onboard experiences. By tying incentives to education and engagement, the programme ensures that travel professionals are fully equipped to offer travellers a seamless, memorable cruise holiday.

Enriching Cruise Knowledge for Better Travel Planning

The February programme is not only about rewards but also about knowledge-sharing. Travel agents participate in webinars, quizzes, and interactive sessions to learn about ship features, destination highlights, and unique shore excursions. This ensures passengers receive well-informed advice when booking cruises. Well-trained agents can recommend experiences such as culinary events, spa retreats, and guided sightseeing tours in popular destinations. For travellers, this means holidays can be customised to their interests, whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion. The programme strengthens the link between professional expertise and passenger satisfaction, helping tourists enjoy a smoother and more enriching cruise experience.

Global Destinations and Immersive Experiences

Princess Cruises offers itineraries across the globe, from the sun-drenched Caribbean islands to historic Mediterranean ports and Northern European cities. The February incentive programme encourages travel agents to understand these destinations deeply. By doing so, passengers benefit from detailed recommendations on where to visit, what to see, and how to enjoy each stop. Shore excursions are highlighted, giving travellers opportunities to explore hidden gems, local culture, and unique experiences. By integrating rewards with learning, the programme ensures that both agents and travellers are prepared to make the most of each journey. Cruise travel becomes a curated adventure rather than just a mode of transport.

Savings and Exclusive Deals for Passengers

Travellers can take advantage of seasonal offers during February. Special savings, onboard credits, and early booking discounts allow passengers to plan dream holidays at competitive rates. Couples, families, and solo travellers can access deals that make luxury travel more attainable. Incentive programmes like this create a ripple effect: agents motivated by rewards are more likely to recommend itineraries thoughtfully, and passengers benefit from tailored advice and value-added experiences. The focus is on providing global travellers with unforgettable adventures while ensuring that cruises remain accessible, exciting, and well-informed.

Building a Travel-Ready Network of Experts

By engaging travel agents, Princess Cruises ensures travellers get guidance from experts who know the ships, itineraries, and local destinations inside out. Knowledgeable agents can help passengers select staterooms, plan shore excursions, and discover onboard amenities that match their preferences. The February programme highlights the importance of professional expertise in enhancing passenger experiences. This also builds trust between travellers and agents, ensuring cruise planning is smooth, enjoyable, and personalised. For travellers worldwide, the programme guarantees holidays that are stress-free, engaging, and full of memorable experiences.

Why Travellers Should Plan Their Next Cruise Now

Princess Cruises February incentive programme demonstrates how strategic planning and rewards can elevate travel experiences. By empowering agents and inspiring travellers, the initiative ensures that cruise journeys are curated, immersive, and unforgettable. Whether exploring turquoise waters in the Caribbean, cultural sites in Europe, or scenic Northern regions, passengers benefit from expert guidance, exclusive deals, and personalised recommendations. February is the perfect month to start planning, as the programme encourages early engagement, maximising both travel experiences and cost savings. Cruise holidays become a journey of discovery, comfort, and luxury, designed to meet the needs of global travellers.

The post Explore the World in Style: Discover How Princess Cruises February Incentives Are Revolutionising Travel Planning for Global Cruise Enthusiasts appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

New York City Joins Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston, Key West, Washington D.C. and Oahu as the Top Ten US Destinations to Explore in 2026

7 February 2026 at 20:24
New York City Joins Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston, Key West, Washington D.C. and Oahu as the Top Ten US Destinations to Explore in 2026

New York City joins Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston, Key West, Washington D.C., and Oahu as the top ten U.S. destinations to explore in 2026. These cities and islands continue to captivate travelers with their unique blend of culture, history, entertainment, and natural beauty, offering unforgettable experiences for every type of traveler. Whether you’re seeking the vibrant energy of urban life or the tranquility of tropical escapes, these destinations represent the very best that the U.S. has to offer this year.

Whether you’re drawn to bustling cities, serene islands, or cultural hotspots, this list of top destinations offers something for everyone. Here’s a look at the places that should be on your travel radar in 2026.

New York City: The Timeless Magnet for Every Traveler

It’s no surprise that New York City continues to dominate the rankings, taking the top spot as the number one destination in the U.S. for 2026. Known as the City That Never Sleeps, New York is the epitome of a cultural and entertainment hub, offering a never-ending array of things to see and do. From iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building to world-class museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the heart of American culture.

But New York is more than just its famous sites. The city’s diversity is reflected in its neighborhoods, each offering a unique experience. Whether you’re walking through the historic streets of Brooklyn, indulging in a foodie’s dream in Queens, or experiencing the vibrant arts scene in the Bronx, New York offers a rich blend of history, culture, and modernity. It’s no wonder that the city also made it into the top 10 global destinations, reaffirming its international appeal.

Las Vegas: The Ultimate Entertainment Playground

Taking second place, Las Vegas continues to be the unrivaled entertainment capital of the world. Known for its glittering neon lights, world-class resorts, and lavish casinos, Las Vegas is synonymous with non-stop excitement. But there’s more to the city than its famous Strip. From cutting-edge art exhibits to the natural beauty of Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas offers a mix of vibrant nightlife, outdoor adventure, and luxury experiences.

Visitors can catch performances by world-renowned artists, enjoy a fine dining experience at Michelin-starred restaurants, and indulge in a range of thrilling activities, from zip-lining over Fremont Street to exploring the Hoover Dam. Whether you’re there to try your luck or simply enjoy the opulent atmosphere, Las Vegas is a city that never fails to impress.

Oahu: A Slice of Paradise in the Pacific

In third place, Oahu offers a tropical escape that continues to captivate visitors seeking sun, surf, and stunning landscapes. Known for its idyllic beaches and vibrant culture, Oahu is the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Visitors can explore the island’s rich history at Pearl Harbor, hike to the summit of Diamond Head for panoramic views, or enjoy world-class surfing at Waikiki Beach.

Honolulu, the island’s capital, is a lively city that blends modern amenities with traditional Hawaiian culture. Whether you’re snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, experiencing the island’s hula traditions, or enjoying a fresh poke bowl by the beach, Oahu offers an authentic Hawaiian experience that keeps travelers coming back year after year.

The Southern Charm: Nashville, New Orleans, and Charleston

Three Southern cities make the list this year, each bringing its own unique flavor to the table. Nashville, in fourth place, is a music lover’s dream, with its vibrant honky-tonk bars, legendary country music venues, and a rich cultural heritage. As the home of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville offers an unmatched musical experience. But it’s not just about the tunes—Nashville also boasts a growing culinary scene, with a mix of Southern comfort food and innovative cuisine.

New Orleans, ranked fifth, continues to be a city full of soul, rhythm, and spice. Famous for its jazz music, Creole cuisine, and Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans offers visitors a vibrant cultural mix that’s like no other. Stroll through the colorful French Quarter, enjoy a beignet at Café du Monde, or take a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi River—there’s always something to experience in this eclectic city.

Charleston, which lands in seventh place, is the embodiment of Southern elegance, with its cobblestone streets, grandiose antebellum homes, and rich historical significance. Known for its hospitality and slow pace of life, Charleston offers a more relaxed getaway, perfect for strolling through historic gardens or savoring a plate of shrimp and grits at a charming local bistro.

Chicago: A City of History and Modern Wonders

Chicago, ranked sixth, is a Midwestern gem that seamlessly blends history with modern culture. The city is known for its stunning architecture, with landmarks like the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center, offering breathtaking views of the skyline. Chicago’s culinary scene is equally impressive, from its famous deep-dish pizza to its award-winning restaurants.

Beyond its iconic skyline, Chicago also offers visitors a chance to experience world-class museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, and enjoy the many outdoor activities along Lake Michigan. Whether it’s catching a game at Wrigley Field, exploring Millennium Park, or enjoying live blues music, Chicago delivers a dynamic urban experience.

Key West: The Quintessential Island Escape

In eighth place, Key West offers a perfect tropical getaway without the need for a passport. This charming island city is known for its pastel-colored houses, lush palm trees, and lively sunset celebrations. The laid-back atmosphere makes it a favorite for those looking to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of island life.

Key West also has a rich literary history, having been the home of famous author Ernest Hemingway. Visitors can explore his former home and learn about his life and works. With its clear blue waters, vibrant nightlife, and rich history, Key West is the ideal destination for a laid-back island escape.

Washington, D.C. and Boston: Cities Steeped in History

Washington, D.C., in ninth place, offers visitors a deep dive into American history, from the majestic Lincoln Memorial to the iconic U.S. Capitol. The nation’s capital is home to numerous museums, many of which are part of the Smithsonian Institution, making it an educational haven for history buffs. The National Mall, lined with monuments and memorials, is a must-see, and the city’s vibrant neighborhoods offer a mix of cultural experiences and fantastic dining options.

Boston, coming in tenth, is one of the oldest cities in the U.S. and remains a hub of historical significance. Known for its role in the American Revolution, Boston is home to landmarks such as the Freedom Trail, the Boston Tea Party Ships, and the Paul Revere House. The city also boasts beautiful parks, a bustling waterfront, and a thriving arts scene, making it an essential destination for those interested in American history and culture.

A Year to Explore the Best of the U.S.

From the electric atmosphere of New York City to the relaxing beaches of Key West, the Travelers’ Choice Awards list highlights the diversity of the American travel landscape. These top 10 destinations represent the best of what the U.S. has to offer—whether you’re looking for a cultural adventure, an outdoor escape, or a beach retreat, these cities and islands promise unforgettable experiences for all kinds of travelers.

The Top 10 U.S. Destinations According to Tripadvisor

  1. New York City
  2. Las Vegas
  3. Oahu
  4. Nashville
  5. New Orleans
  6. Chicago
  7. Charleston
  8. Key West, Florida
  9. Washington, D.C.
  10. Boston

These destinations not only showcase the country’s rich culture and history but also highlight the diversity of travel experiences that the United States offers. As the country celebrates its 250th anniversary, these top cities and islands will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of American tourism, offering travelers unforgettable memories for years to come.

The post New York City Joins Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston, Key West, Washington D.C. and Oahu as the Top Ten US Destinations to Explore in 2026 appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

How Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Sees a Surge in International Visitors, Reaching Nearly 700,000 Arrivals in Six Months

7 February 2026 at 20:23
How Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Sees a Surge in International Visitors, Reaching Nearly 700,000 Arrivals in Six Months

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s bustling capital, is emerging as a rising star in Africa’s tourism landscape, having recorded an impressive surge in international tourist arrivals. In the first half of the Ethiopian fiscal year, which started on July 8, 2025, nearly 700,000 international visitors flocked to the city, marking a significant 15% increase over the same period last year. This growth highlights the ongoing development in Ethiopia’s tourism sector, positioning Addis Ababa as a leading tourism and conference hub in the region.

Tourism Boom: A Closer Look at the Numbers

The first six months of 2025 proved to be exceptionally fruitful for Addis Ababa’s tourism industry, with a total of 699,761 foreign tourists visiting the city. This influx contributed 155 billion birr (about $1 billion) in revenue, a notable achievement that showcases the city’s expanding role as a global tourist destination. Furthermore, the domestic tourism sector also performed strongly, with 4.9 million Ethiopian tourists visiting the city during the same period, surpassing the target of 4.7 million.

The mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie, attributed the growth in international arrivals to the continuous development and upgrading of tourism facilities. She highlighted how new tourism destinations have been brought to the forefront, offering visitors more diverse experiences and ensuring the city’s status as an attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers.

Key Factors Behind the Surge

Several factors have contributed to the rise in foreign visitors. The expansion of public, religious, and cultural festivals in Addis Ababa has played a crucial role in attracting international tourists. These vibrant festivals provide a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage. Additionally, the city has experienced a noticeable boost from sports and health tourism, with an increasing number of travelers seeking active and wellness-related experiences.

The growing number of international and continental events hosted in the city has also been a key driver of tourism. In the past six months alone, Addis Ababa welcomed nearly 150 major events, a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. These events have attracted global attention and positioned Addis Ababa as a prime location for international conferences, exhibitions, and sporting events.

Addis Ababa’s Tourism Infrastructure: A Beacon of Development

Addis Ababa is undergoing extensive development, which is poised to further boost its tourism appeal. The city’s ongoing mega-projects and infrastructure upgrades are creating a more modern, accessible, and appealing environment for visitors. The investment in improving facilities and the expansion of transport links are expected to attract even more tourists in the future, both for leisure and professional purposes.

The Ethiopian capital’s prominent position as a host city for high-level international and continental gatherings has further cemented its role as a cultural and business hub. These events not only contribute to the local economy but also raise the city’s profile on the global stage. As Addis Ababa continues to develop, it is anticipated to become an even more prominent destination for international conferences and cultural exchanges.

A Glimpse into Addis Ababa’s Attractions

Addis Ababa is more than just a conference hub. The city is a cultural and historical treasure trove, offering something for every kind of traveler. With a population of nearly 3.5 million people, the city is spread over more than 200 square miles, making it one of the largest cities in Africa.

The city’s geography is a sight to behold, perched on the highlands next to the Great Rift Valley. This offers visitors breathtaking views and the opportunity to explore the nearby Entoto Mountains, a natural retreat just above the city. In addition to its stunning natural landscapes, Addis Ababa is home to several historical landmarks, including significant churches, mosques, and museums. These monuments not only provide a window into Ethiopia’s past but also serve as an educational and inspirational experience for visitors.

For those looking to experience local culture, traditional Ethiopian food and dance are showcased regularly throughout the city, offering a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s rich traditions. From the bustling markets to the serene religious sites, Addis Ababa presents a unique blend of modernity and tradition that captivates visitors.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Addis Ababa’s Tourism

The outlook for Addis Ababa’s tourism industry remains strong, with expectations for continued growth. The city’s strategic investments in its infrastructure and the successful expansion of its event-hosting capabilities are expected to attract even more tourists in the coming years. As new attractions emerge and the city continues to establish itself as a premier destination for both business and leisure, the flow of international visitors is set to increase.

Addis Ababa’s role as a gateway to Ethiopia and East Africa will only continue to strengthen as the city builds on its success in tourism. As long as the government and local authorities continue to foster growth in the sector, Addis Ababa will undoubtedly become one of Africa’s premier cities to visit.

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Strategic Charter Flight Services Established to Bridge Reunion Island and Durban in South Africa

7 February 2026 at 20:20
Strategic Charter Flight Services Established to Bridge Reunion Island and Durban in South Africa
Strategic Aviation Links Developed to Connect South Africa and Reunion Island.

A significant development within the aviation industry has been signaled by the announcement that Global Aviation is prepared to facilitate new charter flights between the lush landscapes of Reunion Island and the bustling coastal hub of Durban. This initiative is recognized as a strategic move to strengthen the ties between South Africa and the French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean. It is anticipated that the introduction of these direct links will serve as a catalyst for regional tourism, providing travelers with more streamlined options for traversing the geographical gap between these two vibrant destinations.

The operations are expected to be centered around King Shaka International Airport, which serves as the primary gateway for the KwaZulu-Natal province. By utilizing this modern facility, a seamless transition for passengers arriving from international origins or neighboring African territories is ensured. The logistical planning for these flights has been conducted with a focus on seasonal demand, ensuring that the availability of seats aligns with peak travel periods when interest in coastal and tropical excursions is at its highest.

Strategic Objectives of the Charter Service

The decision to launch this specific route was informed by a thorough analysis of market trends and the growing desire for niche travel experiences. It is observed that Reunion Island offers a unique blend of volcanic landscapes and French culture, while Durban is celebrated for its warm climate and diverse heritage. By bridging these two locations, a symbiotic relationship is fostered where both economies can benefit from an influx of visitors. The flights are not merely intended for leisure; they are also viewed as a bridge for trade and cultural exchange that has historically been underserved by traditional commercial carriers.

The technical execution of these charters is managed by Global Aviation, a firm noted for its operational flexibility and history in the South African market. A fleet of reliable aircraft is maintained to ensure that the standards of safety and comfort expected by modern passengers are consistently met. Through the utilization of charter models rather than scheduled commercial services, a degree of agility is maintained, allowing for adjustments based on the specific requirements of tour operators and large travel groups.

Impact on the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Sector

The local economy of Durban is expected to receive a measurable boost from the consistent arrival of visitors from Reunion Island. It is understood that the hospitality sector, including hotels, transport services, and local attractions, has been prepared for a rise in international footfall. The passive benefits of such aviation links extend beyond the airport walls, as the presence of international tourists often leads to increased spending within the retail and culinary industries of the city.

Furthermore, the status of King Shaka International Airport as a premier logistics hub is reinforced by the addition of specialized charter routes. When a variety of flight options are presented to the global market, the visibility of the region is significantly enhanced. The collaborative efforts between aviation authorities and tourism boards are seen as essential components in the successful rollout of this program. It is often remarked that without such logistical infrastructure, the potential for international growth remains limited.

Operational Logistics and Passenger Experience

A high priority is placed on the efficiency of the check-in and boarding processes for those utilizing the new service. Because charter flights often operate outside the rigid structures of major airline alliances, a more personalized approach to ground handling can be adopted. The transit between Reunion Island and Durban is designed to be as brief and comfortable as possible, minimizing the fatigue often associated with multi-stop regional travel.

The aircraft chosen for these missions are selected based on their range and capacity, ensuring that the payload is optimized for the distance across the Indian Ocean. Maintenance schedules are strictly adhered to by Global Aviation engineers, ensuring that every departure meets the rigorous standards set by aviation regulators. By maintaining a focus on reliability, the trust of the traveling public is secured, which is vital for the long-term sustainability of the charter program.

Future Outlook for Indian Ocean Connectivity

As the first phases of the charter program are implemented, data will be collected to assess the viability of expanding the service in the future. There is a general consensus among industry experts that the Indian Ocean region holds untapped potential for further aviation development. If the route between Durban and Reunion Island proves successful, it may serve as a blueprint for similar connections involving other islands or mainland African cities.

The broader implications for regional integration are also considered. When barriers to movement are reduced through direct flight paths, the sense of a connected regional community is strengthened. It is hoped that the success of Global Aviation in this endeavor will encourage further investment in regional air infrastructure, ultimately leading to a more robust and interconnected network that serves the needs of both business and leisure travelers alike.

Conclusion of the Aviation Initiative

In summary, the launch of charter flights between Reunion Island and Durban represents a forward-thinking approach to regional air travel. Through the expertise of Global Aviation and the support of local infrastructure at King Shaka International Airport, a new chapter in Indo-African connectivity is being written. The focus remains on delivering a high-quality service that meets the demands of a modern audience while contributing to the economic vitality of the regions involved.

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Ultimate Mega Cruise Ship Travel Guide for 2026: Discover Jaw-Dropping Ship Features, Top Destinations, and Expert Tips for a Dream Ocean Adventure

7 February 2026 at 20:19
Ultimate Mega Cruise Ship Travel Guide for 2026: Discover Jaw-Dropping Ship Features, Top Destinations, and Expert Tips for a Dream Ocean Adventure

Cruising has evolved into one of the most exciting travel experiences for global tourists. The rise of mega cruise ships has transformed traditional sea journeys into floating cities filled with luxury, entertainment, and adventure. This Mega Cruise Ship Travel Guide 2026 is designed to help travellers navigate these colossal vessels, plan the perfect itinerary, and enjoy every moment on board. Whether you are a first-time cruiser from the UK or an experienced traveller from Asia or Europe, this guide provides insights, tips, and practical advice for an unforgettable voyage.

Mega cruise ships are not just transport; they are complete holiday destinations. Modern vessels carry thousands of passengers and include features like multiple restaurants, theatres, water parks, gyms, spas, and themed entertainment areas. This guide shows how travellers can make the most of these experiences and why mega cruise ship travel has become a must-try adventure for tourists worldwide.

Mega Cruise Ships: Floating Cities of Entertainment and Luxury

One of the most striking features of mega cruise travel is the scale. These ships are essentially floating cities, combining all the amenities of a resort with the mobility of travel. Families, couples, and solo travellers can enjoy countless activities without leaving the ship. Pools, climbing walls, surf simulators, and kids’ zones offer fun for all ages. Adult-only decks and tranquil spa areas provide spaces for relaxation.

Dining is another highlight. Passengers can choose from casual buffets, fine dining experiences, themed restaurants, and international cuisine. Entertainment ranges from live shows and concerts to cultural performances and cinema screenings. This variety ensures every traveller finds something enjoyable. Mega cruise ship travel offers an immersive holiday experience that merges luxury, convenience, and adventure in one package.

Planning Your 2026 Cruise Itinerary: Tips for Global Travellers

Planning is key to a smooth mega cruise holiday. This guide recommends starting with destinations. Caribbean routes are highly popular for UK and European tourists, with ports in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, and other islands. Each port offers beaches, cultural tours, markets, and local dining experiences. Mediterranean itineraries also provide historic sites, charming villages, and scenic coastlines.

Booking early is crucial. Cabins with ocean views, popular shore excursions, and onboard activities often sell out quickly. Tourists should plan in advance to secure the best rooms and experiences. Mobile apps offered by cruise lines allow passengers to book activities, reserve dining, and manage itineraries efficiently. Planning ahead ensures travellers make the most of every day at sea.

Mega cruise ship travel allows a blend of relaxation and exploration. Shore excursions can include snorkeling, zip-lining, rainforest hikes, or cultural tours. For those who prefer leisure, deck lounging and spa treatments provide peaceful breaks. This balance of adventure and comfort is central to the mega cruise experience.

Travel Tips for Enjoying Mega Cruise Ship Adventures

Every traveller benefits from practical tips. Carry comfortable clothing, swimwear, sun protection, and walking shoes. Cruise holidays often involve both shipboard activities and shore exploration. Passports, visas, and travel insurance should be checked in advance to ensure smooth entry into every port.

Digital tools enhance mega cruise ship travel. Cruise line apps help manage daily schedules, book shows, and reserve dining. Staying organised ensures travellers don’t miss any experiences. Moreover, packing light and smart makes transitions between ports easier, while allowing for on-board shopping and souvenirs.

Travellers should also schedule downtime. Despite numerous activities, relaxing on deck, enjoying sea views, or reading at a poolside lounge enhances the holiday experience. This thoughtful approach to leisure maximises enjoyment and ensures the journey feels luxurious, not rushed.

Sustainable Travel: Eco-Friendly Features on Mega Ships

Sustainability has become an integral part of mega cruise ship travel. Many modern vessels use cleaner fuels, advanced waste management systems, and energy-efficient technologies. These initiatives reduce environmental impact while allowing tourists to enjoy luxury travel responsibly. Eco-conscious travellers can now explore the oceans without compromising environmental ethics.

Mega cruise tourism also supports local economies. Visiting ports stimulates local businesses, from restaurants and markets to guided tours and cultural experiences. By combining responsible travel with adventure, tourists contribute positively to communities while enjoying global destinations.

Why Mega Cruise Ship Travel Is the Future of Global Tourism

Mega cruise ship travel represents a new era in global tourism. These floating cities provide unmatched comfort, entertainment, and convenience. From Caribbean beaches to Mediterranean coasts, mega cruise itineraries allow tourists to explore multiple destinations in a single holiday. With careful planning, travellers can experience cultural immersion, adventurous excursions, and serene relaxation all in one journey.

This Mega Cruise Ship Travel Guide 2026 equips tourists with the knowledge to choose the best ships, plan itineraries, and make each moment unforgettable. Whether for families, couples, or solo travellers, mega cruise travel promises memories, luxury, and experiences that will be cherished for a lifetime.

The post Ultimate Mega Cruise Ship Travel Guide for 2026: Discover Jaw-Dropping Ship Features, Top Destinations, and Expert Tips for a Dream Ocean Adventure appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Morocco to Start Flights with Royal Air Maroc that will Boom Tourism: Check Out These New Routes

7 February 2026 at 20:18
Morocco to Start Flights with Royal Air Maroc that will Boom Tourism: Check Out These New Routes

In 2026, Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s national airline, is set to significantly expand its global network, providing travelers with more options and enhanced access to key destinations worldwide. The new routes and increased frequencies from its hub at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport will transform the landscape of air travel between Africa, Europe, the Americas, and beyond. This expansion reflects Morocco’s increasing prominence in the global tourism and business sectors, solidifying the country’s role as a crucial gateway for international travel.

A Bold Expansion to the United States

Among the most exciting developments in Royal Air Maroc’s 2026 schedule is the launch of a nonstop flight from Casablanca to Los Angeles. This new route, scheduled to begin in June 2026, marks the first direct connection between Morocco and the West Coast of the United States, a significant milestone for the airline. The flight will open up a wealth of opportunities for both leisure and business travelers. The proximity of Los Angeles to both North America and Asia, along with its established status as a global cultural and economic hub, makes it an ideal destination for Moroccan and U.S. travelers alike.

With the West Coast now directly connected to Morocco, passengers will enjoy the convenience of a nonstop flight, bypassing the typical layovers in European cities. This service is expected to appeal to both tourists wanting to explore Morocco’s imperial cities, beaches, and desert landscapes, and to business professionals looking for easier connections between the two regions.

Expanding to Russia and Central Africa

In addition to the U.S. expansion, Royal Air Maroc is also venturing into Eastern Europe and Central Africa with two exciting new routes. Beginning January 2026, the airline will offer a direct connection from Casablanca to Saint Petersburg in Russia. This route will provide travelers with a direct link to one of Russia’s most iconic cities, known for its historical significance, rich cultural offerings, and stunning architecture. Saint Petersburg’s deep cultural ties to Europe and its status as a major global destination make it an excellent addition to Royal Air Maroc’s network.

Meanwhile, Royal Air Maroc is also turning its focus towards Pointe‑Noire in the Republic of Congo. Starting April 2026, the airline will begin offering direct flights to this important Central African city. With economic ties growing between Morocco and various African countries, this new route aims to support the growing need for trade and tourism between North Africa and the rest of the continent. Pointe‑Noire, an important industrial hub, has seen increasing demand for air connectivity, and Royal Air Maroc’s decision to meet this demand further strengthens its commitment to supporting intra-African travel and commerce.

New Links to the Middle East and Europe

Continuing its expansion into key global regions, Royal Air Maroc will also be introducing a direct flight from Casablanca to Beirut, Lebanon, starting in April 2026. Lebanon has long been an important destination for Moroccan tourists, due to its shared history and rich cultural heritage. The direct connection between Casablanca and Beirut will enable more travelers from both countries to explore each other’s landscapes, history, and culture with ease. It is expected that this route will cater to both the growing tourism market and the extensive Moroccan diaspora in Lebanon.

In Europe, Royal Air Maroc will add several new routes to enhance its connectivity across the continent. A major highlight is the new service from Casablanca to Bilbao, Spain, launching in April 2026. This route will improve access to northern Spain, a region known for its unique culture, cuisine, and history. Similarly, Royal Air Maroc will also introduce flights to Alicante, Spain, from Casablanca starting in April 2026. The appeal of Alicante, with its beautiful Mediterranean coastline and popularity as a holiday destination, makes it an attractive addition to the airline’s already impressive Spanish network.

As part of its ongoing European expansion, Royal Air Maroc will also be introducing a new flight between Casablanca and Verona, Italy, beginning June 2026. Known for its medieval architecture and as the setting for Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet, Verona attracts millions of visitors each year. This new service will facilitate easier access for tourists looking to visit one of Italy’s most romantic cities.

Additionally, Royal Air Maroc will begin flights to Lille in northern France and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. These routes, launching in June 2026, will bolster the airline’s already strong presence in Europe. France and Spain are key markets for Morocco, with strong cultural and economic ties between the countries. The addition of these destinations ensures more travelers can experience Morocco’s vibrant culture, culinary delights, and breathtaking landscapes.

First-Time Link to the UK: Tetouan to London

A particularly notable addition to Royal Air Maroc’s 2026 schedule is the first-ever direct flight from the United Kingdom to Tetouan, a city in northern Morocco. Launching on March 29, 2026, this route will provide UK travelers with convenient access to Tetouan, which has long been considered a hidden gem of Morocco, known for its Spanish colonial architecture, beautiful beaches, and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. This route is set to become a favorite for travelers seeking a more intimate and authentic Moroccan experience, away from the more crowded tourist hotspots.

Increased Frequencies on Existing Routes

Alongside these exciting new routes, Royal Air Maroc will also increase frequencies on several existing long-haul flights, including services to São Paulo, Miami, Washington DC, and Dubai. These increases will cater to the growing demand for travel between Morocco and these major cities, providing more convenient flight options for both business and leisure travelers. With improved frequencies, passengers will have greater flexibility when planning their trips, whether for tourism, work, or family visits.

Strengthening Morocco’s Global Tourism Role

The new flight routes represent a major step forward in strengthening Morocco’s global tourism appeal. With easier access to and from North America, Europe, and Africa, Morocco is becoming an even more attractive destination for travelers seeking to explore its diverse landscapes, rich culture, and unique heritage. These new routes are a reflection of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to bolster its tourism infrastructure, providing greater convenience and more options for those looking to visit.

Royal Air Maroc’s ambitious 2026 network expansion will not only enhance tourism but also support economic growth by fostering stronger ties between Morocco and key global markets. With new direct connections to cities across the world, Morocco is solidifying its position as a prominent player in the global tourism and aviation sectors.

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Experience the Magic of Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026: India’s Premier Classical Dance Event

7 February 2026 at 20:12
Experience the Magic of Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026: India’s Premier Classical Dance Event
Experience the Magic of Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026: India’s Premier Classical Dance Event

One of India’s most recognizable cultural events, the Khajuraho Dance Festival, will return in 2026 with an emphasis on enhancing the cultural experience. As the festival adopts a dynamic new style intended to fascinate both seasoned connoisseurs and first-time visitors, the bright rhythms of classical Indian dance will bring the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khajuraho to life from February 20 to 26.

A Unique Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

The 2026 edition introduces an exciting Carnival format, offering a fresh take on the classic festival structure. This change enhances the experience, blending traditional performances with interactive cultural activities. While the core of the festival remains its impressive classical dance performances, the expanded Carnival aspect provides a deeper, more inclusive cultural experience. Visitors can now enjoy not only the mesmerizing dance forms but also craft displays, folk art exhibitions, live cooking shows, and a variety of workshops.

Classic Dance Forms at a UNESCO Heritage Site

Khajuraho, renowned for its intricately designed temples and stunning sculptures, serves as the perfect backdrop for the performances. The illuminated temples at night add to the enchanting atmosphere, creating a visual spectacle that merges history with dance. The festival showcases major classical dance forms from India, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, and Mohiniyattam. These classical traditions are presented by some of the best dancers and institutions from across the country, allowing attendees to witness the finest talents in an exceptional setting.

The Carnival: A Festival for All Ages

One of the most significant developments for the 2026 festival is the incorporation of the Carnival format, which ensures a more engaging and accessible experience. While the classical dance performances remain at the heart of the event, the Carnival extends the festival’s reach beyond the evening performances. During the day, visitors can explore various cultural activities such as craft displays, local artisan workshops, and culinary showcases, giving them a taste of Madhya Pradesh’s diverse heritage.

The festival also includes opportunities for visitors to interact with folk and tribal art practitioners, providing a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural richness. These daytime events bring a sense of community to the festival, inviting locals and tourists to engage with the arts on a personal level.

Cultural Dialogue and Learning

Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026 goes beyond showcasing traditional art forms. It is a platform for cultural exchange, where lectures, discussions, and informal interactions take place between dancers, scholars, and festival-goers. These sessions are designed to provide a deeper understanding of India’s cultural heritage and its evolving traditions. Young practitioners of classical dance are given the opportunity to interact with experienced artists, fostering a future generation of cultural custodians.

This dialogue is crucial for preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage. The festival not only celebrates classical dance but also educates attendees about the importance of maintaining these traditions for future generations.

Khajuraho’s Heritage: More Than Just a Dance Festival

While the dance performances steal the spotlight, Khajuraho’s temples, with their remarkable sculptures, remain an integral part of the festival’s identity. The temples, which date back over a thousand years, are masterpieces of art and architecture. They tell stories of gods, goddesses, and mythical tales through detailed sculptures, creating a strong connection between the spiritual and the artistic.

This unique blend of architecture and dance forms the core of the festival’s vision, making it not just a celebration of performing arts but a true reflection of India’s rich history and spiritual heritage.

Exploring Madhya Pradesh Beyond the Festival

The Khajuraho Dance Festival has a significant impact on cultural tourism in Madhya Pradesh. The region offers much more than just the iconic temples. Visitors can explore nearby historical towns, picturesque natural landscapes, and other cultural circuits that highlight the state’s diverse heritage.

Madhya Pradesh is known for its ancient forts, wildlife sanctuaries, and temples that make it a rich cultural destination. The Khajuraho Dance Festival encourages tourists to discover the other hidden gems of the state, enhancing its appeal as a must-visit destination in India.

A Festival with Lasting Impact

The 2026 edition of the Khajuraho Dance Festival reinforces the significance of classical dance as a living, evolving tradition. By combining the ancient with the modern through the introduction of the Carnival format, the festival aims to attract new audiences while preserving its cultural roots. It continues to play an essential role in promoting and preserving India’s diverse performing arts while encouraging cultural dialogue between artists, scholars, and the audience.

This year’s edition promises to be an unforgettable experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions of India. Whether you are a dance enthusiast or someone looking to explore the rich culture of Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026 is a must-attend event.

Travel Guide to Khajuraho

For those planning to attend the festival, Khajuraho is well-connected by air, road, and rail. The nearest airport, Khajuraho Airport (HJR), is approximately 5 kilometers from the festival venue. Several daily flights connect Khajuraho with major cities like Delhi and Varanasi. Alternatively, visitors can take a train to Khajuraho Railway Station, which is also a convenient option for travelers.

Final Thoughts

The Khajuraho Dance Festival 2026 is expected to be a remarkable celebration of India’s classical arts because of its rich cultural heritage and creative approach. This festival is a celebration of the rhythm of tradition that will make an impression, regardless of whether you are drawn to it by the magnificent temples or the enthralling performances.

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On This Day in 2025: Samsung Galaxy S25 series went global

7 February 2026 at 19:47

Today is 7 February 2026, which seems like a normal day. However, on the same date last year, Samsung made the Galaxy S25 series available globally. This meant that people around the world could finally buy the new smartphone.

On 7 February 2025, Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 series with One UI 7 and advanced Gemini support for seamless interaction. The release marked a significant step in Samsung’s smartphone lineup, which gives users new features and improved performance across the Galaxy S25 series.

The Galaxy S25 series offers Gemini AI, Now Brief, and Now Bar for smart daily assistance. It includes Writing Assist and Drawing Assist for productivity and creativity. Gemini handles speech, text, images, and videos, while Content Credentials verify AI-created content.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Watch Buds Ring

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Moreover, the Galaxy S25 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Samsung’s ProScaler and mDNIe enhance display and image quality while saving battery. These smartphones support 2TB of cloud storage and six months of Gemini Advanced.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra also includes Virtual Aperture and Samsung Log for advanced photography. It features a 50MP ultrawide camera and professional photo tools. Overall, the Galaxy S25 series is currently the best Galaxy S series smartphone.

Last year on this day, the Galaxy S25 series became available everywhere—at stores, through carriers, and on Samsung.com. The Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra are available in these colors.

  • Galaxy S25 Ultra – Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, and Titanium Gray (Exclusive on Samsung.com – Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen )
  • Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus – Navy, Silver Shadow, Icyblue, and Mint (Exclusive on Samsung.com – Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold )

Today, the Galaxy S25 series completes a year since its global availability in 2025. Samsung is now preparing to release its next-generation S series – Galaxy S26. Unlike last year, the company plans to launch the new S series in February 2026, with availability expected in March. Stay tuned for more updates.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is coming but is it enough? Check wishlist

7 February 2026 at 18:33

I have been in the Samsung club for a long time. Every Ultra since the S22, every Foldable from the Fold4 up to the current 7, I have owned them all. I use these things for everything from long work trips to late-night report preparation. I love the tech, but I am getting tired. Spending $1,000 on a phone should buy you big changes. Minor yearly upgrades just don’t justify that high price tag.

With Unpacked coming up on Feb 25, the leaks are all over the place. Faster 60W charging, rounder corners, a new privacy screen… okay, cool. But it feels like more of the same. If Samsung wants me to hit that “buy” button without thinking twice, the company needs to actually listen to what users like me are asking for.

1. Give us a real battery

Samsung should stop with the 5,000mAh cap. It’s been years – 7th year in a row. Between the massive screens, multitasking, and all the AI stuff running in the background, I started looking for a charger by 7 PM. Chinese smartphone brands are already hitting 6,000 or 7,000mAh by using denser silicon-carbon cells. Why is Samsung still stuck in 2022? I’ll take the slightly faster 60W charging, sure, but I’d trade that in a bigger battery that actually lasts two full days. There’s a rumor that Apple’s 2026 iPhone will include a 5500mAh battery inside.

2. A “Pro” size for normal humans

The 6.9-inch screen is amazing for movies, but it’s a total brick in every pocket. I wish Samsung would do what Apple does. Give us a smaller 6.5 or 6.7-inch Ultra that has the same cameras and chip, more like Pro and Pro Max. Honestly? I barely use the S Pen anymore, well, for drawing. I’d gladly trade away all those extra features if it meant I could finally use my phone comfortably with just one hand.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

3. Better sensors > More Megapixels

I am done with the 200MP gimmick. Give me a 1-inch sensor instead. I am looking for a natural bokeh and less noise in the dark, not that weird “AI-smoothed” look we keep getting. If Xiaomi can fit a massive sensor in a flagship, why can’t the industry leader? Also, let us share custom camera profiles.

I’d rather download a pro’s “night mode” settings than adjust everything myself. Manually changing every setting every time is just too much work.

4. Magnets

The rumors saying no built-in Qi2 magnets for the S26 is just… disappointing. Apple’s MagSafe changed the game for car mounts and stands. Having to buy a special case just to use magnets on a $1,300 flagship in 2026 feels idiotic. Just build the coils into the body and get it over with. You can do this Sammy.

5. Colors

The “Titanium” grey/black stuff is classy, I get it, but it’s boring (for me). Bring back the fun. Give me a bright metallic orange like the S22 Ultra had, or a deep purple that is actually beautiful.

6. Overheating

The new Snapdragon chips are fast, but the Ultra still throttles and gets hot if anyone is gaming or shooting 8K for more than 15/20 minutes. We need better cooling. If Samsung is making the phone slimmer this year, I really hope the company didn’t sacrifice the vapor chamber to do it.

Look, as a Samsung fan, I love the S Pen, and the displays are second to none. But I want to feel that “wow” factor again. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra is just a slightly thinner S25, I might actually skip a generation for the first time.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera

When you are paying a premium price, small tweaks just don’t cut it anymore. Are you in or out this year? Drop your thoughts on @thesammyfans X Account, and let’s get into it.

The post Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is coming but is it enough? Check wishlist appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Weekly deals: Redmi Note 15 series prices are falling, Motorolas also get discounts

7 February 2026 at 19:11

This week we will revisit some old (and some not so old) offers since the prices have been revised even further down. A couple of weeks ago, the Redmi Note 15 Pro was €350 for a 12/512GB unit. Now there is a €30 voucher, which brings the final price down to €320. An 8/256GB version is also available, though since it’s only €20 cheaper, we recommend getting the version with more RAM and double the storage. The Redmi Note 15 Pro has a 6.83” 12-bit 120Hz OLED display and a Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset. The phone boasts a 200MP main camera (1/1.4” sensor, OIS), but the ultra-wide (8MP) and...

Cristiano Ronaldo’s boycott sparks 2026 chain reaction: Al-Nassr hit by fresh storm as Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad file bizarre complaint regarding Abdullah Al-Hamdan

7 February 2026 at 19:06
Cristiano Ronaldo may have been missing from the pitch once again, but his shadow loomed large as Al-Nassr navigated another turbulent night.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have been missing from the pitch once again, but his shadow loomed large as Al-Nassr navigated another turbulent night. Even with the Portuguese star dominating headlines for his ongoing standoff, a fresh issue emerged involving its second winter arrival, Abdullah Al-Hamdan — one that has pulled both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad into an unexpected dispute and added another layer of pressure on the club.

On the surface, Al-Nassr appeared to be stabilizing. A strong performance, a clean sheet, and growing fan unity suggested resilience. Yet behind the scenes, a new controversy was quietly forming, one that threatened to complicate matters far beyond Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-imposed strike.

The veteran’s decision to miss a second consecutive Saudi Pro League fixture continued to dominate the narrative. His absence against Al-Ittihad was not due to injury or fitness concerns, but rather a calculated protest aimed at the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s handling of elite clubs.

Ronaldo has scored 91 goals in 95 league appearances since joining Al-Nassr, making his refusal to play impossible to ignore. Despite returning to training, he was left out of the matchday squad entirely, signaling that tensions remain unresolved. “Ronaldo is not upset with Al-Nassr,” Fabrizio Romano reported. “His issue is with how the PIF manages and prioritizes certain clubs.” That distinction has been echoed by Portuguese media, which has consistently framed the conflict as institutional rather than personal.

Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

The real storm breaks: The Al-Hamdan controversy

While attention remained fixed on Ronaldo, a quieter but potentially explosive issue emerged midway through the week. Al-Hilal officially filed a complaint regarding Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s contract termination, arguing that the striker’s deal was still valid when he appeared for Al-Nassr.

According to Arriyadiyah, the club believes the termination violated regulations, as the contract was due to expire on Friday, February 6, the same day Al-Hamdan featured in the league match. The Blue Waves contend that the player unilaterally ended his contract via email, a move they describe as an attempt to circumvent league rules. Late on the final night of the winter transfer window, Al-Nassr announced Al-Hamdan’s signing on a free transfer — a decision now under scrutiny.

Al-Ittihad joins the dispute

The situation escalated further when Al-Ittihad also filed an official protest, questioning Al-Hamdan’s eligibility to play in the match against them. Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan confirmed that the protest was submitted to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), adding fuel to an already tense rivalry. At the heart of the issue is timing. The 26-year-old forward’s contract expiration date and his immediate registration with Al-Nassr created a legal gray area — one rival clubs believe should be examined closely.

Abdullah Alhamdan… now in yellow 💛 pic.twitter.com/HUWPgi6vxH

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) February 4, 2026

Despite the growing noise, Al-Nassr reportedly remains calm. Journalist Ali Al-Anzi confirmed that all official approvals were secured and that Al-Hamdan’s participation was fully legal. “Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s registration is 100% legitimate,” Al-Anzi stated, adding that no sanctions are expected for the club.

Another reliable insider, Abdulaziz Al-Osaimi, clarified that any potential violation would apply only to the player, not to Al-Nassr — a crucial distinction that could shield the club from sporting penalties.

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Abdullah Al-Hamdan (right)

Shakur Stevenson targeted for 140lb unification fight after being stripped of lightweight title

7 February 2026 at 19:21

After becoming WBO super-lightweight champion and being stripped of his lightweight belt, it seems as though may stick around in the 140lb division. Stevenson beat Teofimo Lopez concincingly in New York last weekend and despite calling out welterweight Conor Benn, he also had the option of returning to the lightweight scene in an attempt to […]

The post Shakur Stevenson targeted for 140lb unification fight after being stripped of lightweight title appeared first on Boxing News.

Tedesco santrforsuzluğa çare buldu! Messi-Neymar-Luis Suarez

İstediği santrfor alınmayan Domenico Tedesco çare arıyor... düşündüğü sistem Messi-Neymar-Luis Suarez'in ünlü yaptığı Guardiola'nın "Sahte 9"lu efsane sistemi.

Santrfor transferinin gerçekleşmemesi üzerine teknik direktör Tedesco, elindeki malzemeden bir pasta yapmaya çalışacak... Alman teknik adam, Guardiola’nın "Sahte 9"lu Barcelona'nın sistemini takıma entegre edecek.

Tedesco’nun yeni planında en uçtaki oyuncu, klasik bir santrfor gibi stoperlerin arasında kaybolmak yerine orta sahaya derin koşular yapacak. Bu stratejiyle rakip stoperleri ikilemde bırakacak. Savunma dengesini bozarak kanat oyuncularına koridor açacak.

Sistemin işlemesi için gereken "skorer kanat" ve "oyun kurucu forvet" rolleri de Tedesco tarafından dağıtılmış durumda.

Asensio, Messi'nin rolünü üstlenecek.Sağ kanattan merkeze kat ederek bir oyun kurucu gibi hareket edecek. Savunma arkasına atacağı çapraz paslar, sistemin kilit anahtarı olacak.

Kerem veya Musaba Neymar'ı taklit edecek. Sol çizgide genişlik sağlayacak, rakip bekleri üzerine çekerek savunmanın yerleşik düzenini bire birde bozacak.

Talisca'nın rolü Luis Suarez'e benzeyecek. En uçta yer alacak ancak klasik bir bitiriciden fazlası olacak. Rakip stoperlerle fiziksel mücadeleye giren, onları meşgul eden ve Asensio ile Kerem’e alan açan bir "duvar" ve "koşucu" görevini üstlenecek.

Talisca orta sahaya yaklaştığında rakip savunma peşinden giderse arkada büyük boşluklar oluşacak... eğer yerinde kalırlarsa sambacının rahatça oyun kurmasına izin vermiş olacaklar. Her durumda Fenerbahçe kazanacak.

Aras Kargo - Eczacıbaşı Dynavit: 3-2 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Voleybol Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi'nin 20. haftasında Aras Kargo, sahasında Eczacıbaşı Dynavit'i 3-2 yendi.

Salon: TVF Atatürk Voleybol

Hakemler: Sema Kayıkçı, Gani Arslan

Aras Kargo: Aslıhan Kılıç, Kalandadze, Merve Atlıer, Anthouli, Perez, Özge Nur Çetiner (Simay Kurt, Sude Taşbaş, İrem Çor, Defne Başyolcu)

Eczacıbaşı Dynavit: Yaprak Erkek, Jack-Kısal, Dilay Özdemir, Boden, Rettke, Stysiak (Simge Aköz, Meliha Diken, Smrek, Elif Şahin, Maglio, Ebrar Karakurt)

Setler: 25-23, 18-25, 23-25, 29-27, 15-10

Süre: 142 dakika

İhale Tedesco'ya kaldı! 'Santrfor transferini yaptırmadı'

Fenerbahçe camiasında herkes tarafından kim olduğu bilinen bazı çevreler yapılmayan santrfor transferi için ihaleyi Domenico Tedesco'ya çıkarma çalışmalarına başladı

Fenerbahçede bitmeyen santrfor transferiyle ilgili yaşanan süreç sonrasında ihale teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco’ya bırakılmaya çalışılıyor.

Sezon başında elinde En-Nesyri, Jhon Duran ve Talisca gibi önemli isimler bulunmasına rağmen "santrfor lazım" denilerek yola çıkılan süreçte gelinen nokta camiada hayal kırıklığı yarattı.

Hangi çevreler tarafından servis edildiği bilinen iddialar ise adeta "Tedesco forvet istemedi" noktasında... "Bir forvete ihtiyacımız var ve bu bir sır değil" diyen Alman teknik adamın, Başkan Sadettin Saran'a, "yabancı oyunculardan biri (Fred) kendi isteğiyle ayrılmadığı sürece yeni bir takviye istemedi" dedikodusu yayıldı.

Ayrıca, Tedesco'nun forvet hattında Sidiki ve Talisca'ya güveninden bahsedildi. Gereksiz bir transferin veya bir oyuncuyu kadro dışı bırakmanın takım içindeki dengeleri bozacağı endişesinin santrforun gelmesini engellediği belirtildi. Tedesco, Başkan Saran ile yediği yemekte Fred için "onu gönderecek kadar kaliteli birini bulamazsak almayalım, takımdaslık her şeyden önemli" dediği bile iddia edildi.

Fenerbahçe’nin bu sezonki skor üretimine bakıldığında ilginç bir istatistik göze çarpıyor. Sarı-lacivertliler ligde çıktığı 20 maçta tam 45 gol kaydetti. Ancak bu gollerin sadece 10 tanesi (%22’si) En-Nesyri, Cenk ve Duran üçlüsünden geldi. Bu 3 oyuncu da ikinci yarıda sarı-lacivertli formayı giyemeyecek.

İmaj Altyapı Vanspor - Arca Çorum FK: 3-1 (MAÇ SONUCU)

Trendyol 1. Lig'in 24. haftasında İmaj Altyapı Vanspor, konuk ettiği Arca Çorum FK'yi 3-1 mağlup etti.

Stat: Van Atatürk

Hakemler: Atilla Karaoğlan, Ferhat Çalar, Burak Sami Şad

İmaj Altyapı Vanspor: Çağlar Şahin Akbaba, Oulare, Muhammet Ensar Çavuşoğlu, Jevsenak, Medeni Bingöl, Mehmet Özcan, Traore (Dk. 63 Jefferson), Hasan Bilal (Dk. 63 Bekir Can Kara), Erdem Seçgin (Dk. 9+2 Alper Emre Demirol), Hostikka (Dk. 78 Erdi Dikmen), Mamah

Arca Çorum FK: Sehic, Attamah, Üzeyir Ergün (Dk. 82 Efe Sarıkaya), Sinan Osmanoğlu, Erkan Kaş, Pedrinho, Serdar Gürler (Dk. 57 Burak Çoban), Fredy (Dk. 70 Aleksic), Ahmed Ildız (Dk. 57 Oğuz Gürbulak), Yusuf Erdoğan (Dk. 70 Atakan Akkaynak), Mame Thiam

Goller: Dk. 14 Serdar Gürler (Arca Çorum FK), Dk. 40 Hostikka, Dk. 69 Erdem Seçgin Dk. 90+5 Jefferson (İmaj Altyapı Vanspor)

Kırmızı kart: Dk.90+5 Sehic

Sarı kartlar: Dk. 15 Serdar Gürler (Arca Çorum FK), Dk. 48 Muhammet Ensar Çavuşoğlu, Dk. 88 Çağlar Şahin Akbaba (İmaj Altyapı Vanspor)

Icardi kalacak mı? Gidecek mi?

Kaptan Mauro Icardi, menajerler aracılığıyla Juventus'a önerilmiş olsa da, İtalyan devi kapıları kapattı. Galatasaray'da kalacak mı? Bu sorunun cevabı şu anda net değil.

Galatasaray taraftarını merak ettiği "Mauro Icardi kalacak mı, gidecek mi?" sorusu yanıt arıyor. En azından Juventus'un bu yaz sözleşmesi sona erecek olan Arjantinli herhangi bir transfer planı bulunmadığı netleşti. Sanılanın aksine Juventus, Icardi için bir girişimde bulunmadı. Tam tersine Icardi'nin menajeri Juventus’un kapısını çaldı. Juventus yönetimi bu teklifi düşündü ancak teklif sunmama kararı aldı.

Icardi tarafında büyük bir istek olmasına rağmen, Juventus’un ilgisiz kalmasıyla bu ihtimal tamamen ortadan kalkmış durumda.

Galatasaray kurbanı buldu! 8 numara transferini yaptırmadı

Kurban seçilen George Gardi transfer dönemi boyunca Galatasaray ile bağını koparmadı... sürekli yeni isimler sundu. Ancak bu kez "bitirici" darbeyi vuramadı. İtalyan menajer bu iddialarla adeta "Galatasaray'da kasanın anahtarı elinde olan isim" gibi lanse edildi.

Galatasaray'ın defansif 8 numara transferini bitirememesi sonrasında camia kurban arıyor... aslanların önüne atılacak isim olarak George Gardi belirlendi.

Geçmişte birçok yıldızı kazandıran İtalyan menajer bu kez "kurban" olarak seçildi.

Sürecin fiyaskosu "Milano seyahati"yle ilgili sosyal medya hesapları üzerinden Gardi şu şekilde taraftarın önüne atıldı. "Gelin, Fofana işini bitireceğiz" çağrısı üzerine, Abdullah Kavukçu’nun İtalya’ya gittiği ancak günlerce süren temaslara rağmen transferin olumlu sonuçlanmadığı iddia edildi.

Gardi’nin bu süreçte transferi bitirme noktasında yetersiz kaldığı dedikodusu yayıldı. Transferin son günlerinde rota Betis forması giyen Sergi Altimira'ta çevrildi. Ancak Gardi, Fofana'da olduğu gibi Sergi transferinin gerçekleşmemesinin de baş sorumlusu ilan edildi.

Deniz Gül'ün aşkı harekete geçti! Icardi'nin yerine

Fenerbahçe'yi "Galatasaraylıyım" diyerek reddeden Deniz Gül için Dursun Özbek yönetimi planlar yapmaya başladı.

Fenerbahçe’nin kadrosuna katmak için can havliyle hamle yaptığı Deniz Gül'ün fanatik Galatasaraylı olması süreci sekteye uğrattı. Sarı-lacivertli yönetim Deniz Gül’ün şartlarını sormak için menajeri Ali Dursun ile temasa geçti. 9-10 milyon Euro bandında bitmesini planladıkları transfer sürecinde menajer Dursun’un verdiği cevap dengeleri değiştirdi. Oyuncusunun Galatasaraylı olduğunu Türkiye'de başka bir takımda oynamayacağını söylediği iddia edildi.

Bu restin ardından Fenerbahçe transferden geri çekildi. Galatasaray yönetimi Mauro Icardi'nin durumuna göre gelecek sezon için Deniz Gül konusunda planlar yapmaya başladığı konuşuluyor.

Eyüpspor, Iğdır FK'den Dorin Rotariu'yu renklerine başladı

Trendyol Süper Lig ekiplerinden ikas Eyüpspor, 1. Lig temsilcisi Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK'den Rumen sağ kanat oyuncusu Dorin Rotariu ile sezon sonuna kadar sözleşme imzaladı.

Eflatun-sarılı kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "ikas Eyüpspor'umuz, Iğdır FK forması giyen kanat oyuncusu Dorin Rotariu'yu sezon sonuna kadar kadrosuna kattı. Yeni transferimiz Dorin Rotariu'ya, 'Semt-i Mukaddes'e hoş geldin.' diyor; eflatun-sarılı formamız ile başarılı bir sezon diliyoruz." ifadeleri kullanıldı.

Cherif'te Trabzonspor korkusu! Ne zaman dönecek?

Sidiki Cherif'in ayak bileğinde meydana gelen burkulma ve ödem ciddi değil... ancak kulüp doktorları Gençlerbirliği maçından sonra Trabzonspor karşısında da oynamasına sıcak bakmıyor.

Fenerbahçe’nin elinde kalan tek hedef santrfor Sidiki Cherif'in sakatlığı can sıkıyor... Fenerbahçe'ye gelmeden önce 25 Ocak 2026’da Angers formasıyla çıktığı son maçta bileğine darbe alan oyuncu Gençlerbirliği maçında sahaya çıkamayacak. Trabzonspor maçında saha olması da risk altında.

Fenerbahce

Ayak bileğinde meydana gelen burkulma ve ödem sonrası yapılan kontrollerde ciddi bir sakatlığa rastlanmadı. Ancak genç oyuncunun iyileşme süreci biraz daha sürecek gibi duruyor.

14 Şubat Cumartesi günü oynanacak Trabzonspor maçı, Cherif'in hedef maçı olarak belirlendi. Ancak kulüp doktorları o maçın da atlanmasını daha mantıklı buluyor.

Dzeko dönmek istedi Fenerbahçe reddetti! Schalke'de gol yağdırıyor

Dzeko "maç başı para ödeyin" teklifine Fenerbahçe'den olumsuz cevap geldi. Boşnak oyuncu Schalke'ye gitti. Bugün de 2 golle açık ara sahanın en iyisi oldu.

Devre arasında dönmek için mesaj yollayan Edin Dzeko, Fenerbahçe yönetiminin kapısını çaldı. Sabit bir maaş yerine maç başına ödeme talep etti. Boşnak golcünün bu isteği, yönetim tarafından kabul görmedi. Dzeko devamında Fiorentina'dan ayrılıp rotasını Schalke 04'e kırdı.

Fenerbahçe'nin forvet hattında eksiklerle boğuştuğu dönemde Dzeko,, Almanya’da kalitesini konuşturmaya devam ediyor. Bugün oynanan Schalke-Dresden maçına Edin Dzeko damga vurdu. 2 gol de Dzeko'dan geldi. Karşılaşma 2-2’lik beraberlikle sonuçlandı. 9.3 reytingle sahanın en iyi ismi seçildi.

Beckham'ın kebabı Rum asıllı Endonezya soslu çıktı

David Beckham'ın "kebap" övgüsü sosyal medyada büyük ilgi gördü ancak efsane yıldızın yediği mekanı Rum çift 1976'da açtı. Daha sonra İngilizler ele geçirdi. Sosun sırrı ise Endonezya'dan gizli. Türk mutfağı ile hiç ilgisi yok.

Efsane futbolcu David Beckham’ın "kebap" övgüsü Türkiye'de büyük ilgi gördü... milyon dolarlık malikaneler ve gurme mutfaklar arasında yaşayan Beckham'ın kebap yediği mekan Londra’nın Fulham bölgesindeki "Kebab Kid" isimli restoran.

Beckham için burası sadece bir yemek durağı değil, aynı zamanda bir nostalji merkezi. Beckham, burayı çocukluğundan beri bildiği ve tadı hiç değişmediği için "Londra'daki favori mekanı" olarak tanımlıyor.

Lüks bir restorandan ziyade, geleneksel bir paket servis noktası olması Beckham’ın rahatça uğramasını sağlıyor. Mekanın özellikle kuzu döneri sadece Beckham’ın değil, pek çok ünlünün de favorisi.

Ancak 1976 yılında Kıbrıslı Rum bir çift olan Cos ve Yanni tarafından açılan mekanı İngiliz Hatch-Barnwell ailesi işletiliyor. İşletmeci Charles Hatch-Barnwell menüdeki özel sosların ve tariflerin başarısını Endonezyalı annesinin dokunuşlarına borçlu olduklarını belirtiyor. Yani mekanın Türk kebabıyla bir alakası yok.

Kazımcan neden gönderildi?

İlk yarıda en kritik anlarda sahne alan Kazımcan Karataş'ın Başakşehir'e kiralanmasının sırrı ortaya çıktı.

Kazımcan Karataş’ın son dakika kiralık olarak Başakşehir'e gönderilmesiyle ilgili tartışmalara son nokta geldi. Genç oyuncunun ayrılığı üzerine yapılan eleştirilere yanıt Okan Buruk'tan.

Galatasaray

Kazımcan'ın antrenmanlarda bile şans bulamadığına dair iddiaların temelinde, takımdaki eksiklerin (Eren Elmaı ve Ismail Jakops) geri dönmesi yatıyor.

Teknik direktör Okan Buruk oyuncunun körelmesini önlemek adına bu transfere yeşil ışık yaktı. Galatasaray genç sol beki gözden çıkarmadı. Aksine, oyuncudan gelecekte maksimum katkıyı alabilmek adına düzenli oynayabileceği bir takıma gitmesini stratejik bir hamle olarak planladı.

30 milyon euro'luk baş ağrısı! Singo kimi yiyecek?

Okan Buruk 30 milyon Euro ödettiği Singo ile ne yapacağını şaşırdı... sağ bek oynadı. Olmadı. 6 numarada denendi. Tutmadı. Şimdi sıra Singo'yu so stoperde denemeye geldi.

Okan Buruk, Wilfried Singo ile ilgili planlarını bir kez daha güncelledi... sağ bekte tutmayan, 6 numarada da olmayacağını anladığı 30 milyon euro'luk Fildişili için Abdülkerim Bardakçı'yı kenara alma planını başlattı.

Galatasaray

Gelen bilgilere göre Galatasaray teknik direktörü önümüzdeki maçlarda Singo ve Davinson Sanchez ikilisini stoper hattında yan yana oynatmayı planlıyor. Hem de Singo'yu sol stopere koyarak.

Singo’nun çok yönlülüğünden faydalanmak isteyen Okan Buruk, son 2-3 gündür yapılan antrenmanlarda oyuncuyu orta sahada denedi. Ancak bu denemelerden beklenen verim alınamadı. Singo'nun orta sahadaki performansı, özellikle pas isabet oranı konusunda teknik heyeti tatmin etmedi. Oyun kurulumunda yaşanan aksaklıklar nedeniyle Fildişili oyuncunun orta sahada görev yapma fikri rafa kalktı.

Birinci Liqa: “Mingəçevir” “Şimal”ı 3 cavabsız qolla yendi

7 February 2026 at 17:00

Bu gün futbol üzrə Azərbaycan çempionatının Birinci Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 13-cü turuna yekun vurulub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə bir qarşılaşma baş tutub.

Turun qapanış matçında “Şimal” “Mingəçevir”lə üz-üzə gəlib. Qonaqlar bu oyunda 3 xalı 3 cavabsız qolla qazanıblar.

Birinci Liqa
13-cü tur
5 fevral

“Cəbrayıl” – MOİK 2:2
Qollar: Arsen Dauda, 11; 74 – Seyxan Fərəcov, 41. Mehrac Baxşalı, 69.
Hakimlər: Alik Yunusov, Adil Bədəlov, Aydın Bəxşiyev, Rəsul Babayev.
Hakim-inspektor: Feyzulla Feyzullayev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Anar Şıxəliyev.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 14:30.

“Şəfa” – “Baku Sportinq” 1:1
Qollar: Emin Zamanov, 48-pen – Xəyyam Məmmədli, 75.
Hakimlər: Kamran Əliyev, Orxan İbişov, Asif Abdullayev, Nazim Abdullayev.
Hakim-inspektor: Əmrah İbrahimov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Mahal Məmmədov.
Binə qəsəbə stadionu, 14:30.

“Zaqatala” – “Səbail” 0:1
Qol: Emil Qasımov, 18.
Hakimlər: Əkbər Əhmədov, Sənan Atayev, Rəhman Aslanov, Ceyhun Hüseynov.
Hakim-inspektor: Rövşən Əhmədov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Eldar Məmmədov.
Zaqatala Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 14:30.

6 fevral

“Şahdağ Qusar” – “Difai” 4:0
Qollar: Aqostinyo Çipesse, 12. Rahid Əmirquliyev, 59. Arsen Xalilov, 90+2. Famil Camalov, 90+4.
Hakimlər: Ruslan Quliyev, Səbuhi Əmrahov, Səbuhi Soltanov, Sənan Bayramzadə.
Hakim-inspektor: Munis Abdullayev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Elman Musayev.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 14:30.

7 fevral

“Şimal” – “Mingəçevir” 0:3
Qollar: Məhəmməd Səfərov, 17. Bahadur Həziyev, 66-pen. Kennet Kalunqa, 83.
Hakimlər: Rövşən Rəcəbov, Vüqar Bayramov, Elmin Süleymanov, Nahid Xasıyev.
Hakim-inspektor: Ceyhun Haşımov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Azər Əsgərov.
Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 14:30.

“Traktor” “Fajr Sepasi”yə məğlub oldu

7 February 2026 at 15:00

Cənubi Azərbaycanın ən məşhur futbol komandası olan “Traktor” İran çempionatının 2025/2026 mövsümündə növbəti matçına çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Təbriz klubu 20-ci tur çərçivəsində “Fajr Sepasi” ilə qarşılaşıb.

Xorvatiyalı Draqan Skoçiçin çalışdırdığı kollektiv bu rəqiblə səfərdə üz-üzə gəlib. “Traktorçular” bu görüşdə məğlubiyyətə üzülüblər – 1:2. Yeganə qolu 41-ci dəqiqədə Əmirhüseyn Hüseynzadə vurub.

“Traktor” cari mövsümdə qazandığı 35 xalla 16 iştirakçı arasında 1-ci pillədə qərarlaşıb. Komanda keçirdiyi 20 oyunda 9 qələbə qazanıb, 8 heç-heçə edib, 3 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.

Qeyd edək ki, ötən mövsümü tarixində ilk dəfə İran çempionu kimi başa vurmuş Cənubi Azərbaycan təmsilçisi növbəti turda “Fulad”la qarşılaşacaq. Bu oyun fevralın 14-də evdə baş tutacaq. Bundan öncə isə “traktorçular”ı Qətərin “Əl-Sədd” komandası ilə Asiya Çempionlar Liqasının oyunu gözləyir. Bu görüş fevralın 10-da Təbrizdə baş tutacaq.

Cəlal Hüseynov Sofiyada 90 dəqiqə oynadı

7 February 2026 at 14:00

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin mərkəz müdafiəçisi Cəlal Hüseynov Bolqarıstanın “Arda” komandasının heyətində növbəti matçına çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Cəlalın komandası Bolqarıstan çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 20-ci turu çərçivəsində Sofiya ÇSKA-sı ilə qarşılaşıb.

Səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyunda “Arda” məğlubiyyətə üzülüb – 2:0. Hüseynov 2026-cı ildəki ilk rəsmi oyunlarında 90 dəqiqə meydanda olub.

“Arda” 20 turdan sonra 24 xalla 16 iştirakçı arasında 10-cu pillədə qərarlaşıb. Komanda əvvəlki turlarda 6 qələbə qazanıb, 6 heç-heçə edib, 8 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.

Xatırladaq ki, “Zirə”nin yetirməsi olan Cəlal Hüseynov Bolqarıstan təmsilçisi ilə 2023-cü ilin iyun ayında 3 illik müqavilə imzalayıb. Azərbaycanlı futbolçu bu komandada 70 rəsmi oyuna çıxıb, 2 qol vurub. Cəlal 2024/2025-ci illər mövsümünü icarə əsasında “Şamaxı”da keçirsə də, ötən ilin yayında yenidən Bolqarıstan klubuna qayıdıb.

Hüseynov 2021-ci ilin noyabrında debüt etdiyi Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində 8 oyuna çıxsa da, məhsuldar fəaliyyəti ilə yadda qalmayıb.

Zamiq Əliyev “Flamurtari”yə qarşı 90 dəqiqə oynadı

7 February 2026 at 13:00

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin müdafiəçisi Zamiq Əliyev Albaniyanın “Eqnatiya” komandasının heyətində növbəti matçına çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Albaniya çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 23-cü turu çərçivəsində “Flamurtari” ilə qarşılaşıb.

“Eqnatiya” səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyundan qələbə ilə ayrılıb – 1:0. Əliyev bu görüşə start heyətdə başlayıb və sonadək mübarizə aparıb.

“Eqnatiya” 23 turdan sonra 42 xalla 10 komandanın mübarizə apardığı Albaniya çempionatının yarış cədvəlində 3-cü pillədə qərarlaşıb. Sözügedən komanda 23 oyunda 12 qələbə qazanıb, 6 heç-heçə edib, 5 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.

Xatırladaq ki, Zamiq Əliyev Albaniya klubuna 2024-cü ilin yayında “Araz-Naxçıvan”dan azad agent kimi keçib. Müdafiəçi “Eqnatiya” ilə 3 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb. O, indiyə qədər bu komandanın heyətində 57 oyuna çıxıb, 1 qola imza atıb. Əliyev “Eqnatiya” ilə ötən mövsüm Albaniya çempionu olub.

Əliyev daha öncə “Qarabağ”da və “Kəpəz”də də oynayıb. Azərbaycanın U-17, U-19 və U-21 yığmalarında forma geyinmiş müdafiəçi 2024-cü ilin noyabr ayında əsas millimizdə də debüt edib və hələlik 2 oyun keçirib.

Vüsal İsgəndərli “Bilis”ə qarşı bir hissə oynadı

7 February 2026 at 12:00

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin yarımmüdafiəçisi Vüsal İsgəndərli Albaniyanın “Partizani” komandasının heyətində növbəti matçına çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Albaniya çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 23-cü turu çərçivəsində “Bilis”lə qarşılaşıb.

“Partizani” səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyundan qələbə ilə ayrılıb – 2:1. İsgəndərli start heyətdə meydana çıxdığı bu görüşün fasiləsində əvəzlənib.

“Partizani” 23 turdan sonra 30 xalla 10 komandanın mübarizə apardığı Albaniya çempionatının yarış cədvəlində 5-ci pillədə qərarlaşıb. Sözügedən komanda 23 oyunda 8 qələbə qazanıb, 6 heç-heçə edib, 9 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.

Xatırladaq ki, Vüsal İsgəndərli Albaniya klubuna 2025-ci ilin yayında Türkiyənin “Boluspor” komandasından azad agent kimi keçib. Hücumçu “Partizani” ilə 1+1 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb. O, indiyə qədər bu komandanın heyətində 22 oyuna çıxıb, 4 qola imza atıb.

Vüsal daha öncə “Şamaxı”, “Zirə”, “Sumqayıt”, “Ankara Keçiörengücü”, “Eqnatiya”, “Boluspor” və “Simurq”da da forma geyinib. 2019-cu ilin noyabrında Azərbaycan millisində debüt etmiş 29 yaşlı hücumçu meydana çıxdığı 5 oyunda fərqlənə bilməyib.

Juventus confirm Yildiz’s contract extension: ‘Our story continues’

7 February 2026 at 19:26

Juventus director Damien Comolli and Bianconeri star Kenan Yildiz made an unusual appearance in front of the media ahead of Luciano Spalletti’s pre-match press conference today to announce the striker’s extension until 2030.

Juventus have confirmed Yildiz’s contract extension until 2030.

Italian media reported on Saturday morning that the two parties had reached an agreement over a new deal and that an announcement was imminent.

It was reported that Juventus could announce Yildiz’s extension before Spalletti’s press conference today, and that’s exactly what happened.

When Spalletti arrived in the press room, he joined directors Giorgio Chiellini, Marco Ottolini and François Modesto in the first row, while CEO Damien Comolli and Yildiz took the stage.

Comolli addressed the media, speaking in Italian for the first time.

Official: Yildiz extends Juventus contract

Kenan Yildiz plays for Juventus away to Bodo/Glimt (@juventusfc)
Kenan Yildiz plays for Juventus away to Bodo/Glimt (@juventusfc)

“Before starting, let me say that this is the first time I speak in Italian in a public occasion, so forgive me if I make some mistakes, but this occasion is too important not to communicate with you in your language,” he said.

“I also apologise to Mr Spalletti and all of you for taking up your time.

“We are happy to announce Kenan’s extension until 2030. It’s a happiness shared by everyone, the owners, the directors, Luciano and certainly by all our fans, as Kenan is a real champion, a real star of football. He is a talent but also has the quality that a leader needs: consistency, ambition, availability and a sense of responsibility to put at the team’s disposal.

“He’s a young man, grown up with strong values, family values such as those of the Bianconeri family.

“Thanks, Kenan, for deciding to stay with us. Lastly, I want to reiterate that we are facing an ambitious and demanding path. We want Juventus to reach the victories it deserves, we want to make the fans happy and build the Juventus of the future.

TURIN, ITALY - OCTOBER 05: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC competes with Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and AC Milan at Allianz Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 05: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC competes with Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and AC Milan at Allianz Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“Kenan’s renewal is an important step in this journey, but surely not the only one. We’ll continue to work until the end, and beyond, for Juventus and our fans.”

Yildiz briefly spoke to the media before signing his contract in front of reporters.

“First of all, I want to thank John Elkann and Comolli, everyone at Juventus, the coach, my teammates and the fans. I’m happy to renew my contract and stay with you in this family,” said the striker.

“I’m confident we’ll make great things in the future. I love Juventus. Since I came here, I’ve always been sure we’d make great things, having the fans and my family backing me.”

«𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒔» ⭐

The future is black and white. Kenan Yıldız until 2030.

🎵 Starboy – @theweeknd pic.twitter.com/uADUdau6TS

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 7, 2026

Juventus rejected Milan’s last minute offer for Gatti – report

7 February 2026 at 19:03

Tuttosport newspaper reports that Milan are already looking for a new centre-back for 2026-27 and had an offer rejected by Juventus for Federico Gatti at the end of January.

Milan sent a last-minute offer for Juventus defender Gatti this past Sunday, but the Bianconeri rejected the proposal as they were on the verge of sending Daniele Rugani to Fiorentina.

Juventus rejected Milan’s offer for Gatti

TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 02: Federico Gatti of Juventus runs with the ball while put under pressure by Adam Buksa of Udinese Calcio during the Serie C match between Ternana Calcio and Juventus Next Gen at Allianz Stadium on December 02, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 02: Federico Gatti of Juventus runs with the ball while put under pressure by Adam Buksa of Udinese Calcio during the Serie C match between Ternana Calcio and Juventus Next Gen at Allianz Stadium on December 02, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

According to Tuttosport, the Rossoneri’s failed attempt to sign the Juventus defender has not ended their interest in Gatti, who is highly regarded by coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Milan, however, have set their sights on other targets as well. It’s no secret that Lazio’s Mario Gila is one of their main objectives for the summer.

Milan target Gila for 2026-27

ROME, ITALY - JANUARY 07: Mario Gila of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on January 07, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 07: Mario Gila of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on January 07, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Igli Tare, now at Milan, brought Gila to Lazio in 2022, signing him from Real Madrid in a €5m deal plus a 50% sell-on clause.

Gila’s contract expires in June 2027, and he has already informed Lazio that he’s not interested in a new deal.

Lazio’s asking price for Gila is €20m, but the defender will have just one year left in his contract when summer comes, and the excellent relationship between Tare and his agent might facilitate a move to San Siro for a lower transfer fee.

 

How to buy tickets for West Ham vs Man United

7 February 2026 at 18:43

In-form Manchester United will be looking to keep up their revival under interim manager Michael Carrick as they take on West Ham on Tuesday night.

BUY WEST HAM VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

If you’re looking into how to buy West Ham vs Manchester United tickets, then follow our guide below for the best way to make it to the game.

How to buy West Ham tickets

GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) (Roma and Napoli links)
GRIMSBY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Probably the first place most fans will be looking is the official West Ham ticket page, which can be found by following the link here.

Still, it’s also worth trying our dedicated hub here for a reliable alternative that is easy to navigate, and which doesn’t come with the extra hassle and cost of club membership fees.

How to buy Manchester United tickets

Manchester United fans will likely be familiar with their official tickets page here, though there could be better options out there to guarantee you a place at the game.

Still, we also highly recommend trying our dedicated hub here for a reliable alternative that is secure, reliable, and easy to use, and which doesn’t come with the extra hassle and cost of club membership fees.

BUY WEST HAM VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

How West Ham could line up vs Manchester United

West Ham aren’t as strong as they have been in previous seasons, and they’ve also been dealt the blow that Jean-Clair Todibo is suspended after his recent red card against Chelsea.

Nuno Espirito Santo has other options, but overall he’ll probably have to make do with a line-up something like the one below…

West Ham predicted line-up: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Mavropanos, Kilman; Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville; Pablo, Castellanos.

How Manchester United could line up vs West Ham

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Soungoutou Magassa of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on December 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Soungoutou Magassa of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on December 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester United have been dealt the blow of losing Patrick Dorgu to a long-term injury, but they should be full strength apart from that.

The Red Devils will surely continue more or less with the same line-up that’s served them so well in recent games, so expect Carrick to go with something like the below…

Manchester United predicted line-up: Lammens; Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes; Cunha, Diallo, Mbeumo.

BUY WEST HAM VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

West Ham vs Manchester United head-to-head record

It won’t come as a big surprise to many that United have the upper hand over the Hammers in this fixture’s history.

MUFC can boast a total of 74 victories against these opponents over the decades they’ve been playing for each other.

West Ham, meanwhile, have won just 50, and there have been 33 draws.

Still, United are not the force they once were and have a poor recent record in this fixture, winning just once in their last six meetings.

Who’s your money on this time? Let us know in the comments!

Baresi and Bergomi the ‘secret’ torchbearers at 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

7 February 2026 at 18:35

Italian legends Franco Baresi and Beppe Bergomi were two of the torchbearers at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. ‘We were good at keeping it secret,’ said the ex-Milan star.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics had a touch of Italian football, not just because the event was held at San Siro, the home of Serie A giants Milan and Inter.

Milan legend Baresi, the club’s current honorary vice-president, was one of the torchbearers, along with Inter legend Bergomi.

MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 15: Filippo Inzaghi, Franco Baresi and Marco van Basten with their commemorative plate after being inducted in to the AC Milan Hall of Fame prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Filippo Inzaghi, Franco Baresi and Marco van Basten with their commemorative plate after being inducted in to the AC Milan Hall of Fame prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The former defenders carried the torch inside the Stadio Meazza in a surprise appearance that thrilled the crowd.

“It was the most emotional moment of my sporting life. I’ve never felt anything like it,” Baresi told Repubblica.

“You hold that torch between your fingers, and you know it carries the history of sport, in a way also that of human civilisation. An incredibly powerful symbol.”

Even Baresi was unaware he’d be involved in the opening ceremony until a few weeks ago.

“About a month and a half ago, the president of CONI called me,” said the Milan legend.

“I replied: ‘Are you sure? I’m not really in great shape.’ He said: ‘No worries, you won’t have to go very far.’ It was a great honour, completely unexpected.”

Baresi initially didn’t know he’d share the stage with Bergomi.

‘Nobody knew’ Baresi and Bergomi were among the torchbearers

17 Mar 1999: Giuseppe Bergomi of Inter Milan is chased by Andy Cole of Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. United went through 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw on the night. \ Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster /Allsport
17 Mar 1999: Giuseppe Bergomi of Inter Milan is chased by Andy Cole of Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. United went through 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw on the night. \ Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster /Allsport

“At first, no, I found out later. And were good at keeping it secret, really, nobody knew about this,” he admitted.

This past August, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and began a course of immunotherapy.

“I’m doing much better now. The worst is over, even though it was tough,” he said.

“Being an athlete helped me fight, and my body allowed me to endure. In the end, I’ve done it my whole life. I’ve always fought, on the field and off it. No one ever gifted me anything.

“The hardest thing to accept is that everything can change in an instant. No one takes it into account before it happens. No one is truly ready to face it, but then you have to. There’s no other choice. Now my lungs are working well again, and I’m only thinking about the future.”

When Baresi made his surprise appearance last night, he was warmly greeted by the crowd.

“Maybe it’s true. People know what happened to me, and I know that people know,” he concluded.

“There’s no need for any words; the warmth I felt was overwhelming.”

 

Viviano ‘smelt of alcohol’ before Everton-Arsenal, but Inter the only regret

7 February 2026 at 18:15

Former Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano says that leaving Inter was the only regret of his playing career, while once he ‘smelled of alcohol’ before an Arsenal game against Everton, for which he had unexpectedly been called up.

Former Italian goalkeeper Viviano spoke about his playing career in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Viviano played for several Serie A clubs in his career, including Palermo, Fiorentina, Bologna and Sampdoria.

He also spent six months at Inter in the second half of the 2011-12 campaign. However, he never made his debut with the Nerazzurri, joining Palermo in the summer of 2012.

Viviano: ‘Leaving Inter my only regret’

“In my career, I made several decisions with my gut, and leaving Inter is the only regret I have,” Viviano said.

GENOA, GE - DECEMBER 17: Emiliano Viviano Sampdoria goalkeeper during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and US Sassuolo at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 17, 2017 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Rattini/Getty Images)
GENOA, GE – DECEMBER 17: Emiliano Viviano Sampdoria goalkeeper during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and US Sassuolo at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 17, 2017 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Rattini/Getty Images)

“I never played because I did everything I could to leave, against the wishes of the club. Julio Cesar was in his final year, and they were looking toward something new. They even told me so, but I didn’t believe them.

“I always carried a kind of anger inside me,” he continued.

“Today, I’m calmer, I’ve learned to be this way also by reflecting on that side of my character, zero diplomacy, which, even when I was right, ended up putting me in the wrong. And it affected my career.”

Viviano was Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper in the 2013-14 campaign, but never played a match for the Gunners.

“At Arsenal, there was Wenger. I was expecting something revolutionary,” Viviano said.

“In terms of approach, he was a normal coach, but I didn’t play because Szczesny had an incredible season, and there was also Fabianski.”

Viviano recalled what happened the night before an away Premier League match against Everton, for which he was not supposed to be called up.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Arsene Wenger, French former football player and manager and current FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, is seen in attendance prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Arsene Wenger, French former football player and manager and current FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, is seen in attendance prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“I went out partying and around 2 am, I stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and read an SMS: ‘Fabianski is ill, a car will come to pick you up at 6:30 am.’

“I had drunk half a bottle of vodka. I went to my friend who owned the club and showed him the message. He asked: ‘What now?’ I replied: ‘Now bring me more vodka.’ I got home, had a shower, and when I arrived in the dressing room in Liverpool, the great Santi Cazorla told me: ‘You smell of alcohol, it’s disgusting.’ It was the only time in my life I almost had a panic attack. I couldn’t see anything and kept repeating myself: ‘If I have to play, my career is over.'”

Viviano left Arsenal in 2014 to join Sampdoria, where he spent the following four seasons.

The former goalkeeper retired in 2024 after collecting 251 appearances in Serie A and 166 in Serie B.

Guglielmo Vicario reveals what happened in Tottenham dressing room after Cristian Romero red card

7 February 2026 at 19:59

In a frustrating night for Tottenham at Old Trafford, the dismissal of vice-captain Cristian Romero proved to be the turning point as Manchester United secured a comfortable 2-0 victory.

The Argentine defender was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a high challenge, leaving his side to to play majority of the game with ten men.

Cristian Romero apologised in the dressing room

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario revealed how the center-back reacted inside the dressing room.

Speaking after the final whistle, Vicario was quick to defend the defender’s character while confirming that Romero took full responsibility for the incident.

He told TNT Sport: “He is disappointed because he knows this red card could have been avoided so he apologised. He is our captain and today he made a mistake but we know the player he is and he is going to come back stronger and help us massively throughout the season.”

"He apologised to us… we know the player he is, and he’s going to come back stronger"

Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario says club captain Cristian Romero apologised to the squad following a difficult outing against United ?

?? @julesbreach | ? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/oLTfz6zrFh

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 7, 2026

Romero makes Tottenham record for joint-most red cards

The red cards vs Manchester United saw the Argentine level an unwanted record for the club.

Romero now has the joint-most red cards for Tottenham in the Premier League history with four sending offs.

Only other player to have this many red cards is Younes Kaboul.

The latest red card means he will not be handed a four-game ban which will see him miss crucial fixtures including the North London derby.

Tottenham future in doubt for Romero

Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United shoots past Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The sending off comes after the club punished him internally for his explosive rant on social media.

Romero called the club out, labelling their lack of activity in the transfer market as ‘disgraceful’.

This did not go down well with the hierarchy who dealt with him behind the scenes as confirmed by Thomas Frank ahead of the game.

His recent comments have further fuelled speculations over a summer exit, with Real Madrid among top clubs linked with a move for the World Cup winner.

The post Guglielmo Vicario reveals what happened in Tottenham dressing room after Cristian Romero red card appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bruno Fernandes has just reached phenomenal landmark faster than four Manchester United legends

7 February 2026 at 19:02

Bruno Fernandes has today hit 200 goal involvements for Manchester United, and he’s done it quicker than some of the club’s all-time greats.

Fernandes scored for Man Utd in their 2-0 win at home to Tottenham, putting him on 104 goals for the club – a hugely impressive feat for a midfielder.

On top of that, the Portugal international has also managed this double century of goal involvements faster than legendary figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes.

See below as Opta posted this stat on X, laying out just how impressive Fernandes’ achievement is…

200 – Games taken to reach 200 goal involvements for Man Utd in the Premier League era:

295 – Wayne Rooney (133G, 67A)
314 – Bruno Fernandes (104G, 96A)
339 – Cristiano Ronaldo (144G, 56A)
393 – David Beckham (85G, 115A)
424 – Ryan Giggs (90G, 111A)
564 – Paul Scholes (138G,… pic.twitter.com/vjX3JxaBJs

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2026

On top of that, it’s really worth emphasising that Fernandes has had to do this in what has been a far more challenging period for United than those other players played in.

The former Sporting Lisbon man hasn’t won nearly as many trophies as the likes of Ronaldo and Beckham managed, and he hasn’t had the fortune of playing with as many other quality players.

Bruno Fernandes cements his status as a Manchester United great

Fernandes has been a joy to watch for United, proving to be their only real superstar of this difficult post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

It’s easy to imagine the 31-year-old playing in those great Red Devils sides of old, but for now the club simply has to focus on keeping him for as long as possible.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates for Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes celebrates for Manchester United (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Of course, if you’re looking for West Ham vs Manchester United tickets then you’ll undoubtedly see Fernandes play, but there’s a slight risk that these will be his final few months at Old Trafford.

ESPN recently reported on United planning talks over Fernandes’ future, with Saudi clubs linked with him in recent times as he’s sent mixed messages over his future.

Still, if this is the last we see of Fernandes in the Premier League, it’s been a pleasure watching him, and United fans will no doubt relish the games ahead as he looks to add to his legacy.

The post Bruno Fernandes has just reached phenomenal landmark faster than four Manchester United legends appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool vs Manchester City Bet Builder Tips – 8/1 Premier League Special, Analysis & Predictions

With all eyes falling on Anfield this weekend, Liverpool will welcome bitter rivals Manchester City to the red half of Merseyside for a blockbuster Premier League showdown on Sunday afternoon. While Liverpool might have already accepted that they will relinquishing their domestic crown this season, the current Premier League champions have certainly found a real […]

The post Liverpool vs Manchester City Bet Builder Tips – 8/1 Premier League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Liverpool vs Manchester City Bet Builder Tips – 8/1 Premier League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

´It is better to win trophies, always´ – Guardiola responds to Slot´s style over substance claim

Pep Guardiola has rebuffed Arne Slot’s claim that it is more important for Liverpool to play entertaining football than win trophies, saying managers always prioritise winning. Manchester City visit Anfield to face their old rivals in Sunday’s headline Premier League fixture, and with Arsenal boasting a six-point lead in the title race, Guardiola’s men have […]

The post ´It is better to win trophies, always´ – Guardiola responds to Slot´s style over substance claim appeared first on Soccer News.

The post ´It is better to win trophies, always´ – Guardiola responds to Slot´s style over substance claim appeared first on Soccer News.

MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z 800W And 1000W BIOSes Leaked; Works On Non-MSI Models

7 February 2026 at 18:11

A graphics card with 'LIGHTNING' branding and a cooling system, accompanied by the text 'BUILT TO BE PERFECT'.

If you want to risk frying your GPU, you may try the newly leaked 1000 Watt BIOS, specifically designed for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z. RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/msi-rtx-5090-lightning-z-800-and-1000-watt-bioses-leaked/

The Battery Within The iPhone 17 Pro Max Costs Just $12, Yet Apple Charges $119 To Replace It

7 February 2026 at 18:05

iPhone 16 pro Max battery health after a year

That Apple is able to leverage its heft and the resulting economies of scale to negotiate a fairly reasonable price point for the iPhone batteries won't give anyone a pause in this day and age. However, Apple's phenomenal margins on battery replacements likely will. A 5,088mAh battery that powers the iPhone 17 Pro Max reportedly costs Apple just $12 In an X post discussing the de-merits of silicon-carbon batteries, the tipster Schrödinger has shared a valuable nugget of information: the 5,088mAh battery that powers the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs Apple $12, while a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery typically costs $18, […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/the-battery-within-the-iphone-17-pro-max-costs-just-12-yet-apple-charges-119-to-replace-it/

Biological sex influences how blood markers reflect Alzheimer’s severity

7 February 2026 at 19:00

A new study suggests that a promising blood test for Alzheimer’s disease may need to be interpreted differently depending on whether the patient is male or female. The researchers found that for the same concentration of a specific protein in the blood, men exhibited more severe brain damage and cognitive decline than women. These findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease has historically been a difficult and expensive process. Physicians currently rely on a combination of subjective memory tests and invasive or costly biological measures. The most accurate biological tools available today involve positron emission tomography, known as PET scans, or lumbar punctures to analyze cerebrospinal fluid.

PET scans use radioactive tracers to visualize plaques and tangles in the brain, while lumbar punctures require inserting a needle into the lower back to collect fluid for analysis. Because these methods are not easily scalable for routine screening, the medical community has sought a blood-based biomarker that could indicate the presence and severity of neurodegeneration without the need for specialized equipment or invasive procedures.

One of the most promising candidates for such a test is neurofilament light chain, often abbreviated as NfL. This protein acts as a structural component within the axons of neurons, functioning much like a skeleton to provide support and shape to the nerve cells. When neurons are damaged or die due to neurodegenerative diseases, this internal structure breaks down. The neurofilament light chain proteins are then released into the cerebrospinal fluid and eventually make their way into the bloodstream.

Elevated levels of NfL in the blood serve as a signal that injury to the brain’s cellular network is occurring. While the potential of NfL as a diagnostic tool is widely recognized, its clinical application is hindered by a lack of standardized reference ranges. Doctors do not yet have a universal set of numbers to define what constitutes a normal or abnormal level across different demographic groups.

Xiaoqin Cheng, alongside Fang Xie and Peng Yuan from Fudan University in Shanghai, sought to determine if biological sex influences how these protein levels correlate with the actual severity of the disease. Previous research regarding sex differences in NfL levels has produced inconsistent results. Some studies suggested no difference between men and women, while others indicated variations in specific genetic cases. Cheng and colleagues aimed to clarify this relationship by examining whether a specific amount of NfL in the blood reflects the same amount of brain damage in men as it does in women.

The research team began their investigation by analyzing data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a large, long-running study based in North America. They selected 860 participants who had available data on plasma NfL levels, brain imaging, and cognitive assessments.

This group included people with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and diagnosed dementia. The researchers used statistical models to look for interactions between sex and NfL levels regarding their effect on clinical symptoms. They controlled for variables such as age, education, and genetic risk factors to isolate the effect of sex.

The analysis revealed a distinct divergence between men and women. The researchers observed that as NfL levels rose, men experienced a much steeper decline in cognitive function compared to women with similar protein increases.

When the researchers looked at specific cognitive tests, such as the Clinical Dementia Rating or the Mini-Mental State Examination, they found that a unit increase in NfL predicted a more significant drop in performance for male participants. This pattern suggested that the male brain might be more vulnerable to the neurodegenerative processes associated with these elevated protein markers.

To understand the physical changes driving these cognitive differences, the team examined brain scans of the participants. They looked at magnetic resonance imaging data to measure the volume of specific brain regions critical for memory and thinking. The results showed that for every unit increase in plasma NfL, men displayed a greater reduction in the volume of the hippocampus, a brain structure essential for forming new memories.

The team also analyzed metabolic activity in the brain using glucose PET scans. These scans measure how much energy brain cells are consuming, which is a proxy for how healthy and active they are. Men showed more severe hypometabolism, or reduced brain energy use, than women at comparable levels of plasma NfL.

To ensure these results were not specific to one demographic or geographic population, the authors attempted to replicate their findings in a completely different group of people. They utilized the Chinese Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Study, a cohort consisting of 619 individuals.

Despite differences in ethnicity and genetic background between the American and Chinese cohorts, the fundamental finding remained the same. In this second group, men again showed more prominent functional and structural deterioration associated with rising NfL levels compared to women. A third, smaller public dataset was also analyzed, which confirmed the pattern once more.

The study also investigated whether this sex difference was unique to neurofilament light chain or if it applied to other Alzheimer’s biomarkers. They repeated their analysis using two other blood markers: phosphorylated tau 181, which is linked to the tangles found in Alzheimer’s brains, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker of brain inflammation. Neither of these markers showed the same sex-dependent effect. This specificity suggests there is a unique biological mechanism linking NfL levels to disease severity that differs between males and females.

The authors also explored the predictive power of the biomarker over time. Using longitudinal data, they tracked how quickly patients progressed from mild impairment to full dementia. The statistical models indicated that an increase in plasma NfL levels was predictive of a faster cognitive decline and a higher likelihood of disease progression in men compared to women. This implies that a high NfL test result in a male patient might warrant a more urgent prognosis than the same result in a female patient.

While the study establishes a correlation, the biological reasons behind this discrepancy remain a subject for future investigation. The researchers propose several hypotheses. One possibility involves the blood-brain barrier, the protective filter that separates the brain’s circulatory system from the rest of the body.

If the blood-brain barrier in men becomes more permeable or dysfunctional during Alzheimer’s disease than in women, it could alter how NfL is released into the blood. Another potential explanation involves microglia, the immune cells of the brain. Sex differences in how these cells react to injury and inflammation could influence the rate of neurodegeneration and the subsequent release of neurofilament proteins.

There are limitations to the study. The cognitive tests used to assess participants can have subjective elements, although the researchers attempted to mitigate this by using composite scores. Additionally, while the statistical methods used to predict disease progression were robust, the sample size for the survival analysis was relatively small, and validation in larger cohorts will be necessary. The authors also note that the mechanism remains theoretical and requires direct testing in laboratory settings to confirm exactly why male physiology reacts differently.

This research highlights a significant need for precision in how blood biomarkers are developed and used. If these findings are further validated, it suggests that using a single cutoff value for plasma NfL to screen for Alzheimer’s disease may be insufficient.

Instead, clinicians may need to use sex-specific reference ranges to accurately assess the level of neurodegeneration in a patient. As the medical field moves closer to routine blood tests for dementia, accounting for biological sex will be essential to ensure that both men and women receive accurate diagnoses and appropriate care.

The study, “Plasma neurofilament light reflects more severe manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease in men,” was authored by Xiaoqin Cheng, Zhenghong Wang, Kun He, Yingfeng Xia, Ying Wang, Qihao Guo, Fang Xie, and Peng Yuan.

20% Bounce and an ETF Filing: Why ONDO Price is Separating from the Crypto Pack.

7 February 2026 at 19:13
SEC Ends Two-Year Probe Into Ondo Finance

The post 20% Bounce and an ETF Filing: Why ONDO Price is Separating from the Crypto Pack. appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

ONDO price is hovering around $0.2539, up roughly 20% from its recent $0.2017 low, and the timing isn’t random. While broader markets remain choppy, Ondo Global Markets has already crossed $10 billion in cumulative volume since launch, a detail that cuts through the noise faster than most price charts do.

And yes, that matters. This isn’t about vibes or speculative excitement. It’s about usage. Tokenized RWAs are still the fastest-growing corner of crypto, mostly because they do something radical: they work. Global access, smoother settlement, fewer intermediaries, these are the unglamorous stuff that institutions actually care about.

$10B Tokenized stock volume highlights structural growth

Since launch, Ondo Global Markets has pushed past $10 billion in total volume. That number doesn’t come from retail gambling on memes. It comes from tokenized stocks and structured products steadily finding demand.

Tokenized stocks keep growing.

Since launch, Ondo Global Markets has surpassed $10 billion in total volume.

Tokenized RWAs continue to be the industry's fastest growing sector, unlocking global access to the world's largest markets. pic.twitter.com/PxzB8fqCto

— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) February 5, 2026

Well, here’s the kicker: tokenization isn’t just a crypto buzzword anymore. It’s becoming financial plumbing. Industry commentary continues to frame tokenization as a way to make markets faster and more efficient, cutting down friction that traditional systems still haven’t solved.

So when volume keeps stacking up, it signals something simple and that is Ondo isn’t being “tested” anymore. It’s being used.

Institutional Commentary Reinforces Efficiency Narrative

Meanwhile, tokenized US stocks and ETFs are now live inside MetaMask with ONDO infrastructure doing the heavy lifting. That’s not cosmetic. It drops tokenized assets directly into one of the largest self-custody wallets in the market.

But let’s be real. Accessibility is only half the story. Trust is the other half. And this is where institutional behavior quietly enters the frame.

An asset manager has taken another formal step toward launching an exchange-traded product tied to Ondo by submitting an amended S-1 filing. No approvals yet. No victory laps either. Still, the filing keeps the process alive and confirms that tokenization-focused products are staying on regulatory radars.

Goldman Sachs on tokenization:

“Tokenization has the potential to really improve operational efficiencies.”

What the ONDO Price Chart isn’t Saying?

Now for the part traders keep staring at. The ONDO price chart shows price compressing near the lower boundary of a falling wedge, a structure aligning closely with the February 2024 base. Technically, it’s a pressure zone.

20% Bounce and an ETF Filing: Why ONDO Price is Separating from the Crypto Pack.

Momentum indicators are trying to turn. CMF is climbing. MACD and AO are improving. RSI is crawling out of oversold territory. None of this guarantees upside, but it does suggest selling pressure isn’t accelerating anymore.

If demand actually shows up, the ONDO/USD structure opens space toward the $0.60 region. Beyond that, higher levels come into view only if participation expands meaningfully. That’s where any ONDO price prediction becomes conditional, not confident.

20% Bounce and an ETF Filing: Why ONDO Price is Separating from the Crypto Pack.

And for now, ONDO price remains stuck between solid fundamentals and a market that still isn’t ready to reward them.

CFTC Confirms National Trust Bank Stablecoins as Approved Payment Tokens

7 February 2026 at 19:05
CFTC stablecoin guidance

The post CFTC Confirms National Trust Bank Stablecoins as Approved Payment Tokens appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has taken another step toward formalizing stablecoins within the regulated financial system. By revising its guidance, the agency has clarified that stablecoins issued by national trust banks can now qualify as approved payment stablecoins under its existing framework. The move signals growing regulatory comfort with stablecoins as they become more embedded in mainstream financial markets.

What Changed in the CFTC Guidance

The update comes through a reissued version of CFTC Staff Letter 25-40, which outlines how certain digital assets can be used as margin collateral in derivatives markets. When the original letter was released in December 2025, it allowed futures commission merchants to accept qualifying non-securities digital assets, including payment stablecoins, under strict conditions.

However, regulators later acknowledged that the original wording unintentionally left out stablecoins issued by national trust banks, even when those tokens met all the required standards. The revised guidance fixes that gap by explicitly recognizing national trust banks as permitted stablecoin issuers within the no-action framework.

Why National Trust Banks Matter

National trust banks have played a growing role in the stablecoin ecosystem, particularly after earlier regulatory approvals allowed them to custody and issue payment-related digital assets. These institutions operate under federal charters and are subject to strict oversight, which makes their stablecoins attractive for use in regulated markets.

By including these banks in the definition of payment stablecoins, the CFTC is aligning its guidance with existing banking structures rather than creating a parallel system for digital assets. This also reinforces the idea that stablecoins are no longer operating at the fringes of finance but are increasingly part of regulated infrastructure.

Impact on Futures Markets and Collateral Use

For futures commission merchants, the revised guidance brings much-needed clarity. Firms can now more confidently accept eligible stablecoins issued by national trust banks as customer margin collateral, provided all existing safeguards are met. These safeguards include segregation requirements designed to protect customer funds and limit risk.

Importantly, the update does not loosen compliance standards or change the conditions under which stablecoins can be used. Instead, it removes ambiguity and ensures consistent treatment of qualifying stablecoins across regulated derivatives markets.

A Broader Signal for Stablecoin Adoption

CFTC Chairman Michael Selig framed the move as part of a broader push to position the U.S. as a leader in stablecoin innovation, especially following the passage of the GENIUS Act. Taken together, these developments suggest regulators are shifting from cautious observation to structured integration of stablecoins into the financial system.

For the crypto industry, this marks another sign that payment-focused stablecoins are becoming an accepted tool rather than an experimental one, especially when issued by regulated and federally chartered institutions.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the CFTC’s new stablecoin guidance?

The CFTC updated its rules to include stablecoins issued by federally-regulated national trust banks as approved collateral for derivatives trading, integrating them into the regulated financial system.

Can stablecoins now be used as collateral in futures markets?

Yes, futures merchants can accept qualifying payment stablecoins—including those from national trust banks—as customer margin collateral, provided all existing customer protection safeguards are met.

Which stablecoin issuers are approved under the new CFTC rules?

The revised guidance explicitly approves stablecoins issued by federally-chartered national trust banks, which operate under strict oversight, aligning them with existing banking structures.

The Sharpe Ratio Warning: Why This BTC Price Bounce Could Be a Trap Heading for $48K

7 February 2026 at 18:18
Will BTC, ETH and XRP Rally As Trump Formally Nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair

The post The Sharpe Ratio Warning: Why This BTC Price Bounce Could Be a Trap Heading for $48K appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The BTC price is hovering near $68,890 today after a brief recovery from $60K. But, the key risk metric, the Sharpe Ratio, shows intact caution. It shows that BTC’s sharpe ratio has slipped into a historical bear-market zone. Rather than signaling an immediate bottom, this shift highlights rising risk relative to returns, a dynamic that has often appeared near long, complex market turning phases.

Sharpe Ratio signals growing stress, not capitulation

The Sharpe Ratio, which measures risk-adjusted returns, has now entered a zone historically associated with the later stages of Bitcoin bear markets. In practical terms, this means investors are currently taking on elevated risk for relatively weak performance. 

Meanwhile, the ratio continues to deteriorate, underscoring that recent BTC returns remain insufficient to justify volatility. At the same time, this type of compression has often emerged before broader trend stabilization, not during periods of optimism.

The Sharpe Ratio Warning: Why This BTC Price Bounce Could Be a Trap Heading for $48K

Importantly, the Sharpe Ratio should not be interpreted as a timing tool. Rather, it reflects the consequences of price behavior already in motion. As BTC crypto performance weakens on a risk-adjusted basis, more participants find themselves underwater, increasing stress across shorter time horizons.

Contrarian dynamics begin to surface

Still, market history shows that extreme Sharpe Ratio readings often align with contrarian opportunity zones. That does not imply an imminent reversal. Instead, it suggests the market may be entering a phase where long-term positioning slowly becomes more defensible. 

From a behavioral perspective, prolonged underperformance tends to reduce speculative excess, gradually shifting ownership toward participants with longer holding periods.

That said, patience remains critical. This phase can persist for months, and the BTC price today may continue adjusting lower before risk metrics begin to improve meaningfully.

BTC price chart highlights key technical magnets

From a technical perspective, the experts presents his theory that BTC price chart reinforces cautious outlook and shows historical dip odds. Following a peak near $126,000, Bitcoin respected the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement around $78,000, an area that acted as a structural drift zone. Once that level was lost, technical focus shifted lower.

The Sharpe Ratio Warning: Why This BTC Price Bounce Could Be a Trap Heading for $48K

The next major retracement level sits near the 0.618 zone around $48,000, a level that may act as a longer-term magnet should corrective pressure persist. 

Risk management takes center stage

As a result, investors are increasingly weighing two broad approaches. One involves gradually building exposure as risk metrics approach historically lower-risk zones. The other prioritizes confirmation, waiting for the Sharpe Ratio to clearly improve before increasing allocation. Neither path implies urgency.

Still, the current setup emphasizes discipline. The BTC price USD remains sensitive to liquidity conditions, and the developing structure suggests that time, rather than speed, is the primary variable. In this environment, BTC price behavior reflects positioning stress more than directional conviction, a dynamic that continues to shape the evolving BTC price forecast.

Azərbaycan cüdoçusu “Böyük Dəbilqə”nin finalında

7 February 2026 at 18:28

Azərbaycanın bir cüdoçusu Fransanın paytaxtı Parisdə keçirilən “Böyük Dəbilqə” turnirində turnirində finala vəsiqə qazanıb.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, Balabəy Ağayev (60 kq) buna nail olub.

27 yaşlı idmançı yarımfinalda İsrail təmsilçisi İtshak Aşpizə qalib gəlib.

Bu raundda məğlub olan Ruslan Paşayev (66 kq) üçüncü yer uğrunda görüşə çıxacaq. Nazir Talıbov (66 kq) 1/16 final mərhələsində Migel Qaqoya (Portuqaliya) uduzub.

“Böyük Dəbilqə” fevralın 8-də başa çatacaq. Azərbaycan yarışda 8 cüdoçu ilə təmsil olunur.

The post Azərbaycan cüdoçusu “Böyük Dəbilqə”nin finalında appeared first on Komanda.az.

Bakı klubu Gəncədə uduzdu

7 February 2026 at 17:46

Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında XVI turun daha bir oyunu keçirilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, NTD səfərdə “Gəncə” ilə qarşılaşıb. Matç bakılıların məğlubiyyəti ilə başa çatıb – 85:104.

“Gəncə” A qrupunda 24 xalla üçüncüdür. NDT isə 18 xalla sonuncu – 6-cı sırada qərarlaşıb.

Lindsey Vonn's Olympic comeback and the gutsiest performances in sports history

A ruptured ACL has not stopped Lindsey Vonn's Olympic comeback.

The 41-year-old skiing great is at the 2026 Winter Olympics seeking her first gold medal since Vancouver 2010. Her appearance at the Milan Cortina Games was in question just a week ago following a fall during a World Cup downhill race in Switzerland.

Despite tearing her ACL, Vonn is going ahead and will participate in Sunday's women's downhill, an event she won in 2010.

No matter the result, Vonn's perseverance to finish her comeback with one last Olympic appearance is remarkable. She was already a legend of the sport. This elevates her even higher than that.

Vonn's stick-to-it-iveness puts her among athletes in history who have shown their toughness while battling through injury and/or adversity. Here are a few sports greats who displayed their guts through difficult times.

Willis Reed, Game 7 of 1970 NBA Finals

After tearing a muscle in his right thigh as the New York Knicks took a 3-2 series lead in Game 5, Willis Reed sat out the Los Angeles Lakers win in Game 6. Heading into the decisive game of the series, there were questions about his availability for Game 7. The 1970 MVP, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Teamer, and NBA All-Defensive First Teamer would hobble out of the locker room during warmups to a rousing ovation at Madison Square Garden. 

Despite only scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds, Reed's presence helped inspire the Knicks to win the franchise's first championship. “I didn’t want to have to look at myself in the mirror 20 years later and say I wished I had tried to play,” Reed said.

Jack Youngblood, Super Bowl XIV

The 1979 Los Angeles Rams met the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional round one year after the Cowboys shut them out in the NFC championship game. During a first half that saw LA take a 14-5 lead, defensive end Jack Youngblood suffered an injury that he did not realize the seriousness of until the team doctor informed him. It was a broken leg. After a quick tape job, he was back out there for the remainder of the game, which saw Youngblood sack a retiring Roger Staubach late and the Rams advance with a 21-19 win. Youngblood would play with the bad leg for the rest of the postseason, which saw LA reach Super Bowl XIV — a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The end of the season didn't mean rest for Youngblood. 

He would also travel to Hawaii to play in the Pro Bowl. "Everybody asked me when we got to Hawaii, 'What the heck are you doing here? You've got a broken tibia," Youngblood later told CBS Sports. "I said, 'Shut up, I'm not going to miss this party.'"

Jack Buck's radio call of Kirk Gibson's iconic game-winning home run for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series

Of course the great Vin Scully's television call was legendary, but I think Jack's was right on par with it.

Jack Buck, born 101 years ago today🎂 pic.twitter.com/zE1YR1LLPD

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) August 21, 2025

Kirk Gibson, 1988 World Series

No believed what they had just witnessed, including Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck. Kirk Gibson had only one at-bat for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland Athletics and he made it count. With LA down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, manager Tommy Lasorda called up Gibson as a pinch hitter for Dave Anderson. Gibson, suffering from a right knee ligament sprain and a strained left hamstring suffered in the NLCS, worked a full count. The eighth pitch of the at-bat saw a backdoor slider from Dennis Eckersley get deposited over the right-field wall to give the Dodgers a Game 1 victory.

The Dodgers would win three out of the next four games to win the World Series. Gibson would not play again that postseason.

Kerri Strug, one of the American
Kerri Strug, one of the American "Magnificent Seven" at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. (AP Foto/Susan Ragan, archivo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kerri Strug, 1996 Olympics

One of the "Magnificent Seven," Kerri Strug was the final U.S. gymnast to take part in the vault as the Russian team was eyeing a comeback and gold medal. He first attempt ended with an injured ankle and she limped to the runway for her second attempt, knowing that a score of 9.762 would earn gold. Her landing wasn't perfect, but good enough for a score that gave the U.S. the victory. As the team gathered for the medal ceremony, Coach Béla Károlyi carried Strug to the podium so she could be with her teammates. 

Strug ultimately suffered a lateral sprain and damage to her tendon and was unable to take part in the individual all-around competition.

Emmitt Smith, 1994 Week 18

A first-round bye and home-field advantage was on the line in Week 17 of the 1993 NFL season. Nothing was going to take Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith out of their game against the New York Giants, not even a separated shoulder. The future Hall of Famer suffered the injury late in the first half, but returned in the third quarter during the 16-13 overtime win. 

Smith had 17 touches after hurting his shoulder and had a hand in nine of Dallas' 11 plays on the game-winning drive, picking up 41 yards. The running back finished with 168 yards on 32 carries, as well as 10 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. 

Weeks later, the Cowboys would win their second straight Super Bowl over the Buffalo Bills.

Michael Jordan, 1997 NBA Finals

Call it "The Flu Game" or the "Bad Pizza Game," but whatever was sapping the energy of Michael Jordan during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals wasn't enough to slow down "His Airness." Jordan scored 38 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and recorded three steals as the Bulls would win their fifth title in seven seasons.

"That was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done," Jordan said afterward.

Byron Leftwich, Nov. 2002

The Marshall Thundering Herd fell to the Akron Zips 34-20 in late season MAC action, but the lasting memory of that game is Byron Leftwich playing through a broken leg and getting an assist downfield from his teammates. 

After an Akron linebacker fell on his left leg, Leftwich injured the same shin he had surgery on months earlier. After being evaluated on the sideline, he limped back to action minutes later against the protests of the coaching staff and his mother. Leftwich would eventually leave the field and the stadium to get X-rays at a local hospital via a rental van. He returned in the third quarter and went 14-for-24 for 208 yards and one interception following his comeback. Several times in the fourth quarter, the quarterback was carried downfield by linemen Steve Sciullo and Steve Perretta.

Byron Leftwich getting carried downfield in college while playing with a broken leg is an all time football guy moment pic.twitter.com/elKz6Tfmcj

— Chuck Naso (@ChuckNaso) October 19, 2018

Terrell Owens, Super Bowl XXXIX

Seven weeks before Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles met the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the wide receiver suffered a broken leg and torn ligament in his right ankle. His surgeon wouldn't clear him to return to play. The recovery didn't matter as TO played all but 10 of Philadelphia's 72 snaps in the Super Bowl and made nine receptions for 122 yards in a losing effort.

"Nobody in this room knew I was going to play this game," Owens said. "Nobody knew but me. Dr. [Mark] Myerson, I give him all the respect in the world. You guys believed what he said that I couldn't play. A lot of people in the world didn't believe I could play. It goes to show you. The power of prayer and the power of faith will take you all the way. Nothing is impossible if you got God on your side."

Philip Rivers, 2007 AFC championship game

Philip Rivers wasn't supposed to play, but a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee wasn't going to keep him from leading the San Diego Chargers against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the 2008 AFC championship game.

Rivers wasn't his best, going 19-for-37 for 211, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Chargers loss, but it showed he was one of the league's toughest players. It's no surprise that he is fourth on the NFL's Ironman streak after playing 255 consecutive games and returned this past season at age 44 to help the Indianapolis Colts down the stretch after retiring in 2020.

Tiger Woods during the 108th US Open Championship playoff round at Torrey Pines South Golf Course in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Chris WIlliams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tiger Woods during the 108th US Open Championship playoff round at Torrey Pines South Golf Course in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Chris WIlliams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tiger Woods, 2008 U.S. Open

Tiger Woods played with stress fractures in his tibia and a torn ACL during the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Even with the pain showing on his face with each shot, he took the 54-hole lead ahead of Lee Westwood and Rocco Mediate heading into Sunday.

In each of Woods' 13 major titles at the time, he had entered the final round with the lead. The 2008 U.S. Open would be no different, but it would be a battle. He shot a 73, opening the door for Mediate to force a Monday, 18-hole playoff. It was a back-and-forth Monday, with Woods going up three strokes after 10 holes and Mediate taking a one-stroke lead through 17 holes. Woods would birdie 18 to force sudden-death, which he would win on the par-4 7th hole.

"It was just constant," Woods said later about the pain. "The treatment was constant throughout the night. I slept on the massage table, I had my knee drained, iced, elevated, worked on, just trying to get as much inflammation out as I could. Then, I would somehow start activating it in the morning and that was the hardest part because it was so wobbly. Once I finally got going, it was OK."

Patrice Bergeron, 2011 Stanley Cup Final

The quest to win a Stanley Cup is a four-round grind which follows a difficult 82-game regular season. It took a lot for the Boston Bruins to win the title in 2011. They needed three seven-game series victories, including one over the Vancouver Canucks in the final round. And what follows after team's see their seasons end in the playoffs is the laundry list of injuries players played through.

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron played all seven games of the that year's Stanley Cup Finals, even as he picked up injuries in three of the final four games. Torn rib cartilage in Game 4; a broken rib in Game 5; and finally, a separated shoulder and punctured left lung in Game 6, which caused a collapse and a three-day hospital stay.

"In my mind, for sure, I wanted to play," Bergeron said. "I was hoping for the pain to go down but that wasn't the case. After Game 5, I was in a lot of pain. The next day I was just trying to find a way [to] manage the pain, I guess, but it was definitely there. On the day of Game 6, we met with the doctors and they were telling me the only way I could play was to have a nerve block, otherwise the pain would be too high, so I did that in order to play."

PSG forward Quentin Ndjantou needs hamstring surgery and faces several months out

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain forward Quentin Ndjantou will have surgery to repair a right hamstring tear and faces several months out, the French club said Saturday.

The 18-year-old Ndjantou is the latest player to come through PSG’s fast-improving youth academy.

He started a Champions League game against Tottenham last November and scored his first league goal against Metz the following month.

Ndjantou also scored a hat trick in a Champions League Youth League win over Atalanta this season.

Defending Ligue 1 champion PSG hosts bitter rival Marseille on Sunday. ___

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

Where does J.J. McCarthy rank among others in the 2024 NFL Draft?

The Minnesota Vikings believed they were getting their quarterback of the future when they selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Through two seasons, McCarthy hasn't paid off that investment.

A torn meniscus ended his rookie season before it started. In 2025, inconsistent play was interrupted by more injuries, resulting in missing seven more games.

So far, McCarthy has only started 10 of 34 possible games. While he likely wouldn't have started in place of Sam Darnold in 2024, McCarthy's injury kept him off the practice field, which would have resulted in valuable reps.

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report ranked the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He ranks McCarthy fifth, which may be fitting, given that he was originally the fifth quarterback taken.

McCarthy displayed promise during his two seasons as Michigan's starter, but he was more of a game manager in Jim Harbaugh's run-heavy system. Although he has shown the talent to be a more complete quarterback in the NFL, McCarthy has not consistently realized his potential.

Two picks after the Vikings took McCarthy, the Broncos selected Bo Nix. Denver's quarterback was ranked second on the list, behind New England's Drake Maye. The book hasn't been written on McCarthy's career, but he faces an interesting offseason. The Vikings could opt to swing a big trade for a quarterback, putting McCarthy's future in Minnesota in jeopardy.

It may not be how anyone envisioned his career to go two years ago. But so far, McCarthy hasn't shown the Vikings enough to put their trust in him.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Where does J.J. McCarthy rank among others in his draft class?

Troy Polamalu helped Pittsburgh Steelers win six Super Bowls

On Sunday in Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots have a chance to win their seventh Super Bowl. If they succeed, they will break the tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins ever. The Steelers won six Super Bowls before the Patriots did, however. One man responsible for that: USC football legend Troy Polamalu.

The Steeler dynasty of the 1970s brought home four Super Bowl wins. Pittsburgh was the first NFL franchise to win three, then four, Super Bowls, as the big game turned 14 years old in 1980. The tides shifted dramatically in the next decade and a half. By the end of Super Bowl XXX in 1996, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers had won five Super Bowls each to tie for the NFL lead. The Steelers' Super Bowl championship drought stretched on -- 15 years, then 20, then 25.

Finally, in February of 2006, the Steelers got back to the big game. Troy Polamalu, one of the greatest NFL safeties ever, brought Pittsburgh into Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers clamped down on Seattle's high-powered offense and gave then-coach Bill Cowher the Super Bowl title which had eluded him for a long time. Cowher was there on the sidelines a decade earlier when the Steelers lost SB XXX to the Cowboys. Cowher's patience paid off, and Polamalu helped him cross the threshold.

The Steelers had won a fifth Super Bowl to tie Dallas and San Francisco. A few years later -- in 2009 -- Polamalu and the Steelers faced the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII with a chance to win number six. In one of the greatest fourth quarters in Super Bowl history, Pittsburgh and Arizona traded haymakers and leads before Santonio Holmes' toe-tap touchdown in the final seconds lifted the Steelers to a thrilling victory. Mike Tomlin, who recently stepped down as Steeler head coach, won his Lombardi Trophy in Pittsburgh.

Lynn Swann is the greatest and most successful USC football player to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. Swannie has a 4-0 record in Supes. Polamalu couldn't match that record, but he brought home two Lombardis to the Steel City and is responsible for Pittsburgh owning the most Super Bowl wins of all time. We will see if that shared lead continues for another season, or if the Patriots break that tie by winning number seven against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC's Troy Polamalu helped Steelers make Super Bowl history

Becoming the Minnesota Vikings GM part five: The running back room

In the previous edition of Becoming the GM, we diagnosed the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback room and outlined five scenarios for fixing it. In this edition, we will be doing the same for the running back room. The Vikings' rushing attack this year was actually above average, but it did not have the snap count to make a real difference. Let's see if we can't find a stud RB1 to carry the workload.

Both Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. are under contract heading into the offseason, but we are immediately making a massive pivot by cutting Jones. Jones, who rushed for 548 yards and just two touchdowns, carries a $9 million cap hit, and his release will save us $8 million in cap space. We will keep Mason on the roster and seek a running mate who can carry the load on offense. There are three clear options:

Option #1: Sign Breece Hall

Luckily, there are some cap casualties on this roster we will be shedding, and with the cap going up this offseason, we have some breathing room to try to make a splash or two. Our first swing at making said splash is bringing in former New York Jets bellcow Breece Hall. Hall rushed for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns, which by all accounts is a great year, given that the Jets were horrible and he often saw his snap count drop because he was constantly playing from behind. Hall fits nicely into this rushing scheme and has home-run ability, which has been lacking.

Option #2: Sign Kenneth Walker III

Poor Kenneth Walker, man. He has elite-level play, as we have seen in the playoffs, but has been stuck in a running back committee in Seattle. Here, he has a chance to show his potential as the bona fide RB1. Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season, but in two playoff games has 178 yards and four touchdowns. This doesn't even include his seven receptions for 78 yards. Walker needs a change of scenery and would become a reliable option out of the backfield for this offense.

Option #3: Invest in the draft

Before we dive into the draft options and best fits, I want to say that while I think Javonte Williams, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, and Rachaad White are all good players who could be targeted, they are not part of what we are trying to build here. If one of these guys could be snagged for a cheaper deal, I am all for it.

Now, we turn to the 2026 NFL Draft to find some answers for this room. Luckily for us, there are a handful of players we would be looking to target. Now, I know I have said in the past that you can't take a running back in round one unless you view them as generational, but if Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) is there at 18, there is a real conversation to be had. Depending on how the board looks, if there are no CB or EDGE options available, he's a real candidate.

If Love evades us, there are names on day two to target, including Jadarian Price (Notre Dame), Nicholas Singleton (Penn State), or Jonah Coleman (Washington). When drafting running backs, you really have to look at schemes, not just talent. I'm sure the Las Vegas Raiders are kicking themselves for the Ashton Jeanty pick, as he was a bad scheme fit, but they took player talent over scheme fit. We won't make the same mistake here.

If we somehow miss out on these guys on day two, fear not. There is still nice depth to be had this year. Kayton Allen (Penn State), Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma), or Le'Veon Moss (Texas A&M) would fit nicely as a 1-2 punch with Jordan Mason. Really, if we could somehow land two of the day three players listed, we would be in heaven.

Here is how I have the options ranked:

  • Sign Kenneth Walker
  • Invest in draft
  • Sign Breece Hall

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Becoming the Vikings GM part five: The RB room

Jaguars fans predict winner of Super Bowl LX

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA- FEBRUARY 4: A general view of the Seattle Seahawks helmet and New England Patriots helmet displayed in inside of the Levi's Stadium prior to Super Bowl LX on February 4, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We are less than 36 hours away from the biggest game of the season!

Super Bowl LX features a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX (2015) between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Neither team was expected to be here, which makes the matchup that much more thrilling for all NFL fans. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points, and the total is set at 45.5 points.

According to Jacksonville Jaguars fans, the Seahawks will indeed win the Super Bowl.

I’ve been going back and forth all week. I generally prefer Seattle’s coaches (Mike Macdonald, Klint Kubiak, etc.) over New England’s staff (Mike Vrabel, Josh McDaniels, etc.), but on this stage, the latter’s postseason experience provides a major edge. And while Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is more experienced than Patriots QB Drake Maye, I might actually trust Maye more in big-time moments. However! At the end of the day, Seattle’s roster is so much better than New England’s that I do expect the Seahawks to win. The Patriots *can* win this game but they’ll need just about every bounce of the ball to go their way.

What would a Patriots win mean for the Jaguars? How about the Seahawks?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

AJ Barner Odds, Predictions & Projections for Super Bowl 60

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is used in short-yardage situations, and that’s something the New England Patriots defense hasn’t always succeeded in stopping.

My Super Bowl predictions expect Seattle to deploy the “Barnyard” successfully on Sunday, February 8.

Read on for my NFL picks and analysis of the AJ Barner odds for Super Bowl LX. 

AJ Barner best bet for Super Bowl LX

AJ Barner Over 0.5 rushing yards (+116)

While Kenneth Walker III is the undisputed workhorse, AJ Barner offers significant value in the rushing market due to his specialized short-yardage role. 

Barner has functioned as the Seattle Seahawks' "Barnyard" pilot, recording 11 carries this season with a 90% conversion rate.

The matchup is ideal: the New England Patriots' defense ended the regular season ranked 32nd in short-yardage success rate, allowing an 85% conversion rate on third- and fourth-and-short rushing attempts.

Even with a healthy backfield, Seattle's reliance on Barner’s 251-pound frame in high-leverage goal-line situations makes this plus-money prop a savvy wager.

AJ Barner Super Bowl same-game parlay

DraftKings Logo

AJ Barner Over 0.5 rushing yards

AJ Barner Under 2.5 receptions

AJ Barner anytime TD

Barner hasn’t caught three or more passes in three straight, which should keep him under the reception total.

But his value shows up where it matters most, near the goal line, where he has found the paint six times this season. 

AJ Barner Super Bowl SGP

  • AJ Barner Over 0.5 rushing yards
  • AJ Barner Under 2.5 receptions
  • AJ Barner anytime TD
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Warriors vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Shorthanded Pacific Division rivals face off at Crypto.com Arena tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors.

With Luka Doncic sidelined, my Warriors vs Lakers predictions call for a big performance from Austin Reaves.

Here are my free NBA picks for this divisional showdown on Saturday, February 7.

Warriors vs Lakers prediction

Warriors vs Lakers best bet: Austin Reaves Over 23.5 points (-112)

Austin Reaves returned from a 19-game absence on Tuesday and logged 15 points in 21 minutes off the bench.

His playing time ramped up to 25 minutes on Thursday, and he finished with a game-high 35 points after Luka Doncic’s early exit due to a hamstring injury.

Doncic is out tonight, which means Reaves will take the lead on offense for the Los Angeles Lakers. In six games played without Doncic this season, Reaves has averaged 36.2 points and scored 24+ five times. 

His minutes will still be monitored, but AR could push for 30 minutes tonight with Luka sidelined.

Warriors vs Lakers same-game parlay

Los Angeles has covered the spread in seven of its last 10, including three of its last four. Even without Doncic, Reaves's reemergence should give the Lakers enough firepower to take down a Golden State Warriors team missing Steph Curry.

Both teams have hit the Over more often than not, as the Warriors are 29-23 to the Over, and the Lakers are 28-22. Despite those trends, neither team will have its top scoring option, and offense may come at a premium at Crypto.com Arena.

Golden State and Los Angeles are a combined 9-11 to the Under across their last 10 games.

Warriors vs Lakers SGP

  • Austin Reaves Over 23.5 points
  • Lakers -2.5
  • Under 222

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dray day

Draymond Green isn't a scorer, but he's averaging 10.8 rebounds + assists this season, and he's gone for 10+ in 26 of 43 appearances. 

Warriors vs Lakers SGP

  • Austin Reaves Over 23.5 points
  • Lakers -2.5
  • Under 222
  • Draymond Green Over 9.5 rebounds+assists

Warriors vs Lakers odds

  • Spread: Warriors +3.5 (-120) | Lakers -3.5 (+100)
  • Moneyline: Warriors +125 | Lakers -145
  • Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-105) | Under 222.5 (-115)

Warriors vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Golden State Warriors have only covered the first-quarter spread in 17 of their last 50 games (-20.05 Units / -35% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Lakers.

How to watch Warriors vs Lakers

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateSaturday, February 7, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVABC

Warriors vs Lakers latest injuries

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Bournemouth vs Aston Villa LIVE updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights

Bournemouth have turned a corner and look to keep Aston Villa uneven as Andoni Iraola and Unai Emery match wits at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

WATCH Bournemouth v Aston Villa

For live updates and highlights throughout Bournemouth vs Aston Villa, check out PST's live blog coverage below.

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa live updates - by Andy Edwards

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa live score: 0-0

Goalscorers: None

Bournemouth starting lineup

Petrovic - Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert - Scott, Cook, Kroupi - Rayan, Adli, Evanilson

Aston Villa starting lineup

Martinez - Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne - Onana, Luiz, Rogers - Sancho, Buendia, Watkins


How to watch Bournemouth vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time

Kick off time:10am ET Saturday
Venue:Vitality Stadium — Bournemouth, Dorset
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock


The Cherries suffered through two brutal months but appear to have things in order since January 7 with three wins and a draw in their last four Premier League games, including wins over Spurs and Liverpool to boost them onto 33 points and the 12th spot on the table.

Villa lost just three times in the first 18 weeks of the season but have matched that in theri last six PL matches. Emery's men are 2W-1D-3L since December 30, and the Villans have lost at home to Brentford and Everton. They've dipped seven points off the top of the table and are just as close to sixth as the top-four (or -five) battle feels more tense by the week.

Bournemouth team news, focus

OUT: Marcus Tavernier (thigh), Justin Kluivert (knee), Tyler Adams (knee - MORE),, Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring), Matai Akinmboni (muscular), Julio Soler (unspecified) | QUESTIONABLE: David Brooks (ankle).

Aston Villa team news, focus

OUT: Youri Tielemans (ankle), John McGinn (knee), Alysson (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Andres Garcia (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Ollie Watkins (thigh)

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa prediction

Both teams are missing multiple pieces for their midfield, and this is probably a closer match-up than anticipated by many. Iraola could well put the final dent in the Villa's title dreams — presuming the other top teams show up this weekend. Bournemouth 1-0 Aston Villa.

Key Super Bowl LX matchup has major 2023 NFL Draft connection

The Seattle Seahawks have the NFL's No. 1 receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who just took home the AP Offensive Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors ceremony. JSN led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards during the regular season, catching 119 balls on 163 targets. The first team All-Pro is obviously a "tough guard" to say the least, so it's pretty clear who the New England Patriots will assign to him: cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

A second-team All-Pro last year and a Pro-Bowl selection (that still actually means something in many cases, we swear, it really does) this year, Gonzalez is one of the NFL's best young DBs. He was selected with the 17th overall pick, out of Oregon, in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Smith-Njigba was taken just three picks later, out of Ohio State, with the 20th overall selection.

This "iron sharpens iron" kind of individual match-up, in the big game, is a classic example of good, smart drafting. Another one of the league's top corners, Devon Witherspoon, was taken by the Seahawks out of Illinois with the 5th overall pick in the same draft. In other words, it was a great draft class for Seattle.

And while Gonzalez and Smith-Njigba, two of the best players at their respective positions, are of course linked to each other via the 2023 NFL Draft, they also have connections that go back even further. 

Both were star high school receivers in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. JSN led all receivers in the DFW area with 97 receptions, 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns his junior season at Rockwall high.

Meanwhile Gonzalez was a two-way star (WR/CB) at The Colony High School (which also produced former NBA All-Star Deron Williams) in The Colony, TX. His prolific prep career earned him four-star status as a recruit. 

So it's quite possible that Gonzalez and Smith-Njigba knew each other way back then. They will certainly become more re-acquainted with one another on Super Sunday. 

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Gonzalez and JSN were taken within three picks of each other

Eagles' plans for A.J. Brown's future revealed by NFL insider

Eagles' plans for A.J. Brown's future revealed by NFL insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A.J. Brown had quite the 2025 NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The star wide receiver wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts on social media, and on a livestream, and in media appearances.

Brown's unhappiness with his usage surely didn't endear himself to everyone in the building.

Despite that, he also surpassed 1,000 yards, so not all was bad.

MORE: Someone asked Mike Vrabel if the Super Bowl is a must-win game

It's a tough balance to figure out as the Eagles head into this offseason and have to decide what they're going to do with Brown for the future.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini shared a new update on the plans in an article that came out on Saturday.

"A.J. Brown’s situation with the Eagles is still unresolved, but his relationship with the team remains somewhat tenuous," Russini writes. "From what I’m hearing, substantial conversations about his future have not yet taken place, but expect talks to ramp up around the NFL combine in two weeks."

MORE: Vikings once offered Patriots a giant trade package for Drake Maye

Brown was such a crucial part of helping the Eagles to win the Super Bowl a year ago.

This time around, Philly again won the NFC East Division, but they were knocked out in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs by the San Francisco 49ers.

The Eagles had kept their offense mostly intact from the Super Bowl team to this year, while the defense got a big overhaul.

Maybe this offseason, it works the other way around and a Brown move begins an overhaul of the offense.

More NFL news:

6 49ers who have likely played their final game with San Francisco

It's unlikely the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 offseason is going to feature a mass exodus for the second consecutive season. However, that doesn't mean there won't be some notable names leaving before next season begins.

With their books relatively clear and no huge extension due, the 49ers can focus more on building out their roster to try and contend for a Super Bowl in 2026 instead of focusing on their future salary cap situation. Despite that, there will inevitably be some exits though for various reasons. Some players are due to hit free agency. Some have fallen out of favor with the club. Others are prime trade candidates.

Here are six players who aren't likely to suit up in red and gold again next season:

WR Brandon Aiyuk

In case you missed it, Aiyuk had a rough year and the 49ers are set to part ways with him after waiving the rest of the guarantees on his contract. It's unlikely the 49ers will be able to trade him and he'll receive his outright release at some point when the new league year begins.

QB Mac Jones

There's still a chance Jones is in San Francisco again next season. The quarterback market and his play in eight games as the 49ers' starter in 2025 leave open the possibility that a desperate team unloads a quality draft pick or two to pry Jones away from the Bay Area. It wouldn't be expensive to keep Jones, who is due to count for only $3,070,000 against the salary cap next season. The need for young talent is still prevalent for the 49ers, though, and a pick or two may be impossible to pass up.

DL Yetur Gross-Matos

Performance wasn't as much of an issue for Gross-Matos as health was. He dealt with a knee injury for both seasons he was in San Francisco. In 2025 he also suffered hip and hamstring injuries that cost him nine games. San Francisco had to manage Gross-Matos' injuries even when he was playing, and it may be time for them to let the 27-year-old leave as an unrestricted free agent as they search for new D-line depth.

DL Kevin Givens

Speaking of D-line depth, it looks like Givens' unlikely run in San Francisco is over as he heads to unrestricted free agency. The 2019 undrafted free agent played in only five games last season and was a healthy scratch for part of the year. San Francisco is overhauling its defensive front and it doesn't appear Givens fits into that puzzle long-term.

RB Isaac Guerendo

The 49ers needed explosiveness on the ground this season and Guerendo still couldn't sniff the field. In fact, the 49ers traded a draft pick away to acquire Brian Robinson Jr. because they weren't going to rely on the 2024 fourth-round selection. Perhaps Guerendo makes a leap and the 49ers feel good about him potentially cracking the rotation next season, but his decline across the 2025 campaign makes it seems as though Guerendo isn't a factor for them.

RB Brian Robinson Jr.

Speaking of Robinson, he probably won't be back after struggling to find his footing with the 49ers. There were certainly moments where he looked very good, but those were few and far between. San Francisco needed some power and versatility from Robinson and he was just never quite good enough to justify bringing back as an unrestricted free agent.

More 49ers: 4-time All-Pro says 49ers ‘definitely winning’ next Super Bowl

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers roster: 6 players likely to leave in offseason

All About Olympic Skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle's Parents, Including His Gold Medal-Winning Mom Barbara Cochran

Ryan Cochran-Siegle and his mom Barbara Ann Cochran; Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 2026. Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty; Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom/Getty
Ryan Cochran-Siegle and his mom Barbara Ann Cochran; Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 2026.

Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty; Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle was born to parents Barbara Cochran and Drew Cochran
  • Barbara is an Olympic skier who won gold at the 1972 Games in Sapporo, Japan
  • Three of Ryan's siblings were members of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team

Ryan Cochran-Siegle is carrying on his family’s alpine skiing legacy.

Drew and Barbara Cochran welcomed two children — daughter Cate and son Ryan — before divorcing in 1993. Ryan has another sister, Melanie, per his Team USA bio.

The kids grew up around Barbara's family ski area in Vermont — the same slopes that Barbara trained on as a junior skier before earning her own gold medal in the women’s slalom at the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan.

On the day of her Olympic win, little did Barbara know that nearly 50 years later her son would share some of the same experiences. Ryan took home a silver medal in the men’s super-G race at the 2022 Games in Beijing, becoming the only American Alpine skier to medal that year. Now, Ryan is embarking on his third Olympic Games in Milan Cortina.

Ryan doesn’t feel the pressure of upholding the Cochran legacy, despite hailing from a multi-generational skiing family. (Barbara’s three siblings were also members of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team, as were four of Ryan’s cousins, per his NBC Olympic profile.)

"My family has always just said they’re proud of me," he told NBC in February 2022. "I guess it might have been pressure-inducing for some people. For me, it’s been motivating."

Here’s everything to know about Ryan Cochran-Siegle’s parents, Drew Cochran and former Olympian Barbara Cochran.

Barbara grew up on her family’s ski area

Barbara Cochran after winning Women's Slalom gold in 1972 John G. Zimmerman /Sports Illustrated via Getty
Barbara Cochran after winning Women's Slalom gold in 1972

John G. Zimmerman /Sports Illustrated via Getty

Skiing runs through the Cochran veins. Barbara and her three siblings grew up on a 150-acre hillside farm in Richmond, Vt., which is now home to the family's ski slope, Cochran’s Ski Area. What originally started as a few makeshift ski trails in the backyard — which were built by their father, Mickey Cochran — is now a breeding ground for junior skiers, per the website for the family’s syrup company, Slopeside Syrup.

In fact, it was on these slopes that Barbara and her siblings perfected their craft — eventually leading them to several World Cup titles and even an Olympic medal.

After 37 years of local community service, Cochran’s Ski Area was recognized as a non-profit organization in 1998, becoming the first 501 (c)(3) ski area in the country. The family-owned area also offers lessons and professional training through its ski school, which was previously helmed by Barbara herself.

Their mission is “to provide area youth and families with affordable skiing and snowboarding, lessons and race training, in the Cochran tradition,” per the website.

Barbara comes from a family of famous skiers

Barbara Cochran (C) is carried on the shoulders of her brother Bob Cochran (L) and Rick Chafee after she won a first place in the women's slalom event in 1972 Bettmann/Getty
Barbara Cochran (C) is carried on the shoulders of her brother Bob Cochran (L) and Rick Chafee after she won a first place in the women's slalom event in 1972

Bettmann/Getty

Barbara took home gold in the women’s slalom event at the 1972 Winter Olympics — however, she wasn’t the only Cochran competing at those Games.

She was joined by her older sister Marilyn, an Alpine Ski World Cup champion, as well as their brother Bobby, a fellow alpine skier, according to Ryan's NBC Olympic profile. Lindy, the youngest of Barbara Ann's siblings, made her Olympic debut at the 1976 Winter Games in Austria.

Together, Barbara and her siblings have earned the nickname “Skiing Cochrans.”

As for his mom’s impressive skiing career, Ryan told NBC in February 2022, “My mother had success, and such a storied career. It shows that it’s possible for anyone."

Ryan has two sisters

Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Barbara Ryan Cochran-Siegle/Instagram
Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Barbara

Ryan Cochran-Siegle/Instagram

Barbara and Drew welcomed Ryan on March 27, 1992, in Burlington, Vt. They went on to divorce one year later in 1993, per NBC.

Ryan has two sisters, according to his Team USA bio: Cate and Melanie. Cate is now the mom of two children, according to the VTDigger.

Despite their family’s generational success, Ryan said there was never any pressure from his parents to carry on the Cochran skiing legacy.

“My mom always told my sister and me that true success isn’t about medals — it’s about finding love and passion in whatever you choose to pursue,” he said in a May 2025 Team USA profile.

Barbara raised her kids in Vermont

Ryan Cochran-Siegle Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty
Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty

After Barbara and Drew's divorce, Barbara primarily raised the children as a single mom, according to Ski Racing Media. The family lived in the town of Starksboro, Vt., which is just down the road from the family's ski area in Richmond, where Barbara was an instructor for 40 years.

“I spent my whole childhood in Starksboro, Vermont. It's where I grew up. The people and places there helped shape me into who I am today," Ryan told NBC in January 2022. "It's where I learned humility, hard work, and dedication, along with how to be a good person and be respectful."

Barbara was by Ryan’s side after his 2021 World Cup injury

Ryan Cochran-Siegle Mine Kasapoglu/Anadolu via Getty
Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Mine Kasapoglu/Anadolu via Getty

Ryan’s Olympic career was almost over before it even began. A year prior to the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Ryan crashed while competing in the men’s downhill alpine race at the 2021 World Cup in Austria. Subsequently, he broke his neck and underwent surgery to fuse the C6 and C7 vertebrae, per the Los Angeles Times.

In his May 2025 Team USA profile, Ryan shared how his mom encouraged him to push through the setback — and eventually, land a spot on the 2022 U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

“She taught me that a positive mindset can carry you through the toughest moments, and that even when the pressure is high, never forget to have fun. That joy is where the magic begins — and that’s how I found my own Olympic path,” he said.

They are Ryan’s biggest supporters

Ryan Cochran-Siegle is welcomed home to Richmond, VT, in 2022 John Lazenby/Alamy
Ryan Cochran-Siegle is welcomed home to Richmond, VT, in 2022

John Lazenby/Alamy

Barbara and Drew are Ryan’s biggest fans, both on and off the slope. The Olympian attributes his success to his mom, who taught him how to ski at 2 years old.

Although Barbara Ann wasn’t able to witness Ryan’s first Olympic podium finish in person, she raved on PEOPLE (The TV Show!) in February 2022 about how she was “so, so proud." "I was nervous. I was excited. I was trembling. I was crying. It was just like everything all packed in together," she recalled.

"I knew he could do it, I absolutely had confidence that he could do it," she said. "But yet at the same time, I just think that I wasn't sure that it would happen. And when it did, it was unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Drew sent his son an inspiring message just moments before the race. "I had sent him a text saying you're in my heart all the time and now is your time to fly down this hill," he told NBC 5 in February 2022.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

How to buy tickets for West Ham vs Man United

How to buy tickets for West Ham vs Man United
How to buy tickets for West Ham vs Man United

In-form Manchester United will be looking to keep up their revival under interim manager Michael Carrick as they take on West Ham on Tuesday night.

If you’re looking into how to buy West Ham vs Manchester United tickets, then follow our guide below for the best way to make it to the game.

How to buy West Ham tickets

GRIMSBY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Probably the first place most fans will be looking is the official West Ham ticket page, which can be found by following the link here.

Still, it’s also worth trying our dedicated hub here for a reliable alternative that is easy to navigate, and which doesn’t come with the extra hassle and cost of club membership fees.

How to buy Manchester United tickets

Manchester United fans will likely be familiar with their official tickets page here, though there could be better options out there to guarantee you a place at the game.

Still, we also highly recommend trying our dedicated hub here for a reliable alternative that is secure, reliable, and easy to use, and which doesn’t come with the extra hassle and cost of club membership fees.

How West Ham could line up vs Manchester United

West Ham aren’t as strong as they have been in previous seasons, and they’ve also been dealt the blow that Jean-Clair Todibo is suspended after his recent red card against Chelsea.

Nuno Espirito Santo has other options, but overall he’ll probably have to make do with a line-up something like the one below…

West Ham predicted line-up: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Mavropanos, Kilman; Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville; Pablo, Castellanos.

How Manchester United could line up vs West Ham

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Soungoutou Magassa of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on December 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester United have been dealt the blow of losing Patrick Dorgu to a long-term injury, but they should be full strength apart from that.

The Red Devils will surely continue more or less with the same line-up that’s served them so well in recent games, so expect Carrick to go with something like the below…

Manchester United predicted line-up: Lammens; Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes; Cunha, Diallo, Mbeumo.

West Ham vs Manchester United head-to-head record

It won’t come as a big surprise to many that United have the upper hand over the Hammers in this fixture’s history.

MUFC can boast a total of 74 victories against these opponents over the decades they’ve been playing for each other.

West Ham, meanwhile, have won just 50, and there have been 33 draws.

Still, United are not the force they once were and have a poor recent record in this fixture, winning just once in their last six meetings.

Mainoo, Dalot And Fernandes Get 8 | Manchester United Players Rated In Solid Win Vs Tottenham Hotspur

Mainoo, Dalot And Fernandes Get 8 | Manchester United Players Rated In Solid Win Vs Tottenham Hotspur
Mainoo, Dalot And Fernandes Get 8 | Manchester United Players Rated In Solid Win Vs Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United entertained Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford earlier today as they hoped to secure a good result at home in the Premier League. The Red Devils made a good start to the game and got themselves at a numerical advantage in the 29th minute when Cristian Romero was sent off by the referee. Bryan Mbeumo gave his team the lead in the 38th minute as Michael Carrick’s men went into the half-time break 1-0 up on the scoreline.

Bruno Fernandes put the match to bed in the 81st minute as the Red Devils earned a solid 2-0 win at the Theatre of Dreams.

Let’s take a look at how each Manchester United player fared during the clash against Spurs.

He made one solid save at the back and secured an important clean sheet this afternoon.

RB: Diogo Dalot – 8/10

Dalot performed his defensive duties well and was lively going forward. He has got an assist to show for his efforts.

CB: Harry Maguire – 7/10

He put his foot through the ball when he could and did enough to keep a clean sheet.

CB: Lisandro Martinez – 7.5/10

Martinez gave a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field and did enough to keep the opposition at bay during the 90 minutes.

Manchester United

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United is put under pressure by Radu Dragusin of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Manchester United

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United is put under pressure by Radu Dragusin of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

LB: Luke Shaw – 7/10

He caught the eye at times on both halves.

CM: Casemiro – 7.5/10

Casemiro earned the ball back twice and made two good chances in the final third.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo – 8/10

He came back to defend when he could and ran the show inside the Tottenham half. Mainoo secured an assist for setting up Mbeumo’s goal.

RW: Amad Diallo – 7/10

Diallo was a constant menace in the final third, but there was no goal for him.

CAM: Bruno Fernandes – 8/10

He caused a lot of headaches for the opposition defenders and managed to find the back of the net in the 81st minute.

LW: Matheus Cunha – 6.5/10

Cunha made one key chance in the final third and was replaced in the 74th minute.

ST: Bryan Mbeumo – 7.5/10

He was not shy of having a strike at goal and did well to score in the 38th minute.

Substitutes:

ST: Benjamin Sesko – 6/10

He made one decent run with the ball.

Manchester City have to take this Liverpool side on head-on.

Manchester City have to take this Liverpool side on head-on.
Manchester City have to take this Liverpool side on head-on.

Manchester City take on Liverpool tomorrow at Anfield in a crucial Premier League fixture. Manchester City’s overall record at Anfield is poor. Also, considering how successful Pep Guardiola’s recent City sides have been, they have also struggled to handle the occasion of playing Liverpool at Anfield. Tomorrow’s match does feel different. This Liverpool side isn’t managed by Jurgen Klopp, nor are they at the top of their game. This Liverpool side has their own attacking weapons, but they also have their frailties. Looking at how City should tackle tomorrow’s match, you do sense that Pep Guardiola’s side should take Liverpool on head-on if they are to prosper at Anfield.

Manchester City have the attacking weapons to get at Liverpool.

As much as this Manchester City side isn’t yet the all-conquering City sides that Pep Guardiola previously created, this Liverpool side isn’t anywhere near as fearsome as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool sides that pushed City to the brink during their rivalry. In fact, this Liverpool side currently isn’t even a patch on the side that won the Premier League in a canter last season. Yes, this City side has frailties, especially in the second half of matches. Having said that, Liverpool sit eight points behind Pep Guardiola’s side on the Premier League table. Also, Arne Slot’s side isn’t the strongest in defence or in midfield, so you do think that Manchester City’s best path to victory tomorrow is get at Arne Slot’s side.

Pep Guardiola’s side has the weapons in the final third, and in midfield to get at Liverpool’s defence. Defensively, Arne Slot’s side hasn’t been strong this season. They do give up chances and with Dominik Szoboslai possibly stepping in at right-back, there is a clear area for City to target at Anfield. Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden do have the potential to get at Liverpool’s defence. In the case of Semenyo or Marmoush, I expect one of them to start on the left-hand side of City’s attack tomorrow. They will fancy their chances of getting at Szoboslai if the Hungarian midfielder starts at right-back. Or Joe Gomez if he starts at right-back for Liverpool as he has on occasions.

The system Pep Guardiola has preferred this season does seem to be more than capable of getting at Liverpool. The 4-2-2-2 formation Guardiola has used has the potential to exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses. It may also play into Liverpool’s hands if City are sloppy in possession and don’t win their duels. But City have to embrace the challenge of attempting to beat Liverpool at Anfield. Playing to their strengths does look to be Manchester City’s best chance of picking up three points tomorrow.

One attacking weapon for City has said how fired up his team is to perform at Anfield.

Antoine Semenyo has revealed that this Manchester City side is fired up for tomorrow’s match against Liverpool. The Ghana international added that he is excited to play in a City/Liverpool match. Speaking with mancity.com on tomorrow’s match, Semenyo said: “As an outsider before joining here, it was always entertaining watching City and Liverpool.To be part of it, I’m so grateful but it’s going to be a challenge.We’re prepared for it and we’ll be fired up for it on the day. I’m looking forward to the game.

Antoine Semenyo is looking forward to playing in his first Manchester City/Liverpool clash. If he starts, he will have a vital role to play for Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield, along with his teammates who start in City’s attack. I believe that City have to take on Liverpool head-on at Anfield to prosper. If they do that and can provide their attacking players with the service to thrive, Pep Guardiola’s side has every chance of picking up a rare win at Anfield tomorrow.

Winter Olympics Skier Gus Kenworthy Shares Anti-ICE Message Written in Snow

Gus Kenworthy attends as Vanity Fair and Instagram Celebrate Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood at Bar Marmont on March 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Phillip Faraone/Getty
Gus Kenworthy attends as Vanity Fair and Instagram Celebrate Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood at Bar Marmont on March 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Phillip Faraone/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Gus Kenworthy shared an Instagram photo with a message targeting Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Wednesday, Feb. 4
  • The British American Olympian's image read of "f--- ICE" written in what he later revealed was urine in the snow
  • In his caption, the athlete, who competes for Team GB, also encouraged Americans to call their senators to "to speak up against ICE"

Pro skier Gus Kenworthy shared a pointed message criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before competing for Team GB at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Feb. 4, Kenworthy, 34, shared a photo of a message that read "f--- ice," written in what he later revealed was urine the snow.

"You can call your Senator at (202) 224-3121 to speak up against ICE and put pressure on them during the current DHS funding negotiations," Kenworthy began in the caption.

The athlete then provided a sample script for callers to use when phoning their state senators. "Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State]. I’m calling to urge Senator [Name] to refuse to support any final Department of Homeland Security funding agreement that fails to meaningfully rein in ICE and Border Patrol."

"Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities," the sample script in the caption continued.

"Senators still have leverage right now, and Senator [Name] must use it to demand real guardrails and accountability — including getting ICE and CBP out of our communities, ending blank-check funding for brutality, and establishing clear limits on warrantless arrests, profiling, and enforcement at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals. Please pass this message along to the Senator. Thank you," the caption concluded with a middle finger emoji and an ice emoji.

His message comes amid the deaths of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent, and Alex Pretti, who died after being shot by U.S. Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis last month.

Gus Kenworthy of Team Great Britain reacts after their first run during the Men's Freestyle Skiing Freeski Halfpipe Qualification on Day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 17, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. Clive Rose/Getty
Gus Kenworthy of Team Great Britain reacts after their first run during the Men's Freestyle Skiing Freeski Halfpipe Qualification on Day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 17, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.

Clive Rose/Getty

Kenworthy later followed up the post with a series of wintry photos ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Thursday, Feb. 5. "My last post was pee so it only felt appropriate to follow it up with a lil’ dump… of photos from January. Yes, I’m a child. 💩," he wrote in the caption.

The Olympian's statement comes days after a Team USA hospitality venue formerly known as The Ice House changed its name to The Winter House, according to a joint statement from U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating, USA Today reported on Feb. 1.

"Our hospitality concept was designed to be a private space free of distractions where athletes, their families, and friends can come together to celebrate the unique experience of the Winter Games," the bodies said in a joint statement. "This name captures that vision and connects to the season and the event."

The governing bodies opted for the name change after concern about ICE protests in Milan, USA Today reported. 

Kenworthy, a British and American citizen, previously competed for Team USA, and later switched to Team GB. The athlete told PEOPLE exclusively that there are “a lot of different reasons” why he competes for his mother’s home country — and that securing a bid to compete on Team USA would have been seemingly more difficult.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"Making the team for the U.S. is a nightmare and those guys are like fighting dog-eat-dog for those four spots and ultimately it results in men not making the U.S. team that are world-class that could be on the podium that don't get to be there, and me also going for the U.S. is just another person that's fighting for those same four spots and another person that misses out.”

He added, “And me going for GB [Great Britain], like, I opened up a quota spot. I didn't take that spot from anybody. That spot wasn't a spot otherwise. And maybe that quota spot took away the very one of the spots at the bottom of the ranking, but that's someone that's competing at a lower level anyway. ... If anything, I almost feel like it's more patriotic I'm letting another American go.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

Steelers go way off script in new NFL Network mock draft

Typically, when it comes to the first round of the NFL draft, it isn't terribly difficult to zero in on a position or two for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means you see most mock drafts lining up with the same names at those positions as the draft approaches. The 2026 NFL draft is not going to follow that script.

With new head coach Mike McCarthy in the fold, this will be the first draft in a decade without Mike Tomlin and with that a change of philosophy in terms of the draft.

This opens up plenty of opportunities for the Steelers to address positions of need but the team could simply opt for the highest-rated player on the board in the first round and then sort it out. This is the approach Cynthia Frelund took in her new mock draft for the NFL Network. She went with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 21 overall pick.

Love's potential impact in both the pass and run game is very high -- like Bijan Robinson levels. For him to have a successful rookie season (and one that looks something like Bijan's impressive 2025 campaign), he'll need a strong O-line that will allow him to adjust to NFL speed and concepts. Pittsburgh had my 10th-best OL this past season.

There's no denying Love's skills and his potential impact. But we haven't given up on Jaylen Warren or Kaleb Johnson at this point and even if Kenneth Gainwell leaves, there are more important spots. The two names that immediately come to mind are Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Both are instant starters and fill significant positions of need.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers go way off script in new NFL Network mock draft

Maxx Crosby trade rumor from The Athletic is good news for Cowboys, Patriots, Eagles

Maxx Crosby

Maxx Crosby trade rumor from The Athletic is good news for Cowboys, Patriots, Eagles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

All eyes are on Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

FOX Sports' Jay Glazer dropped a bomb in the lead up to the Super Bowl when he said he did not believe the Raiders star would play another snap for the team and would be traded this offseason.

Crosby has been a loyal soldier (and more loyal than the Raiders deserve) despite a ton of losing and dysfunction over the years, but the last straw might have been the team's decision to sit him for the final games of 2025, which left Crosby disgruntled, according to a report from Glazer in December.

Crosby has addressed the trade rumor from Glazer, and while he didn't definitively say he wants to say, he didn't sound like someone who wants to be traded, either.

Furthermore, Crosby did the interview with FS1's Colin Cowherd from inside the Raiders' building while decked out in Raiders gear.

“Now that I’m quiet, now I got random people making big statements for me," Crosby said. "And they’re like, 'Oh, Maxx must’ve told him this.' For me, I just sit back and laugh because I know my truth and when I go to bed at night, I have a smile on my face have to explain nothing to nobody."

“All the noise, it’s news to me,” Crosby added. "I try not to address certain things because no matter what someone is going to pick it apart... I'll let people do their talking, all I'm about is my actions."

As Glazer and Crosby appear to be on opposite sides of the spectrum as far as his future plans go, The Athletic's Dianna Russini falls somewhere in the middle.

Russini reports that many in league circles believe there's a real possibility Crosby could be traded. And, if he wants out, the Raiders would be amenable to that.

"Crosby remains under contract, but there’s a strong sense in league circles that he could be there for the taking, despite the Raiders likely demanding a high price (think a Micah Parsons-like package)," Russini reported. "Las Vegas is not expected to try to make Crosby stay if he truly wants out."

If he hits the trade block, there will be several teams interested in Crosby, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots figuring to be among them given their respective needs along the edge.

Russini specifically mentioned the Patriots in her report, as she pointed out how Crosby has said he would like to play for head coach Mike Vrabel in the past, which would no doubt help New England's pursuit.

"Crosby once told me he’d love to play for Mike Vrabel, and it’s easy to see why they’d be a good match," she wrote. "The reality is, if Crosby does become available, the Patriots would be just one of many interested teams. It’s unclear how this will play out, but I’m increasingly skeptical he’ll play a down for Kubiak."

While Crosby doesn't have a no-trade clause, we would expect the Raiders to work with him to send him where he wants to go.

That's why his affinity for Vrabel is important to point out. It also helps that the Pats will be among the Super Bowl contenders in 2026.

Improving the defense and adding a top-flight edge rusher is a top priority for the Cowboys, and we know Dallas reportedly inquired about Crosby's availability before the trade deadline, so the Cowboys are easy to peg as a likely suitor.

Given how aggressive general manager Howie Roseman is, we would never count the Eagles out of any trade, and that's especially true with Philly needing at least one significant addition along the edge this offseason.

This is a situation Crosby and the Raiders will have to sort out before free agency begins, so we would expect to know what the future holds in Las Vegas by March.

More NFL news

Who are you rooting for in the World Baseball Classic?

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: (L-R) Kazuma Okamoto #25, Shohei Ohtani #16, and Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating Team USA in the World Baseball Classic Championship 3-2 at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

We are launching a new daily article here at South Side Sox, more prominently than our items that pop up on The Feed. It falls under the category of White Sox Discussions, which you’ll see in a few weeks will also be our new branding for Game Threads.


The World Baseball Classic is back this spring, with action kicking off at the Tokyo Dome on March 5 (9 p.m. CT on March 4). The White Sox are sending five players to the WBC: Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci (Team Italy), Curtis Mead (Team Australia), Munetaka Murakami (Team Japan) and right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez (Team Dominican Republic).

Murakami is the only player to have previously appeared in a World Baseball Classic; in 2023, he hit a two-run, walkoff double in the semifinals and a game-tying solo homer vs. Team USA in the finals.

Of course, you don’t have to root for a team with a White Sox player on the roster. But White Sox reps or no, who you got in the WBC?

Vikings Justin Jefferson defends QB during Super Bowl media week

The quarterback play this season was far from perfect. The Minnesota Vikings deployed three different quarterbacks in 2025: Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer, and starter J.J. McCarthy. Many have been critical of McCarthy and his play this season, but during Super Bowl media week, his star wide receiver took a moment to defend his play and even sing his praises.

Justin Jefferson took a moment while speaking to Kay Adams to defend McCarthy, stating:

“If you look at the film, he’s done very good things. Obviously, it wasn’t the most spectacular thing, those are things he understands that there are some things to work on. JJ is a really good QB.”

This is how you know that Jefferson is fully committed to Minnesota. He could've taken the chance to take shots at the quarterback play, complain about targets, or his yards this season. Instead, he gave J.J. McCarthy his flowers, calling him a really good quarterback and acknowledging the steps he took this season, which is true. McCarthy looked better after coming back from his concussion.

#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on JJ McCarthy:

“If you look at the film, he’s done very good things. Obviously, it wasn’t the most spectacular thing, those are things he understands that there are some things to work on. JJ is a really good QB.”pic.twitter.com/wgyMUSKZbi

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) February 4, 2026

This is going to be a very fluid situation this offseason at the quarterback spot for the Minnesota Vikings. Many believe the franchise will look to bring in serious competition for McCarthy, with the team being linked to Mac Jones and Joe Burrow, among other names. It was a very good vote of confidence for McCarthy to hear the best wide receiver in football still have faith.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Justin Jefferson defends J.J. McCarthy during Super Bowl media week

Flick explains why Casado starts ahead of De Jong for Barca vs Mallorca

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Frenkie De Jong of FC Barcelona with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Oviedo at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has explained his decision to start Marc Casado over Frenkie de Jong in midfield for Saturday’s La Liga clash with Real Mallorca.

De Jong has been in excellent form this year for the Catalan giants but has been left out of the starting XI for the match at Camp Nou.

Flick admits that it’s not strictly a tactical decision as De Jong is struggling physically. He told Movistar: “Frenkie wasn’t 100%, so we’ve decided to put him on the bench.”

Barca are already without Pedri and Gavi for the match against Mallorca, along with Raphinha who will hopefully return in midweek.

Casado is joined in midfield by Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, with Flick going with Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford in attack.

Barcelona know that victory on Saturday will see them extend their lead at the top of the table to four points ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday night.

What happened at MotoGP’s official season launch in Kuala Lumpur

Motorsport photo

MotoGP staged its second-ever season launch event in Kuala Lumpur this weekend, less than a month before the opening round of the year in Thailand.

After breaking new ground with a similar joint event in Bangkok last year, MotoGP brought all teams and riders together to the heart of Malaysia’s capital for a special event marking the unofficial start of the 2026 campaign.

Although Dorna had originally zeroed in at Singapore as the venue for this year’s launch, logistical challenges caused by the short gap between the Sepang test on 3-5 February and the event itself prompted the championship to opt for Kuala Lumpur instead.

The city has always been a popular destination for MotoGP, with several teams historically choosing the city for their individual bike reveals. The celebrations for the 2026 season launch kicked off on Friday, just a day after the MotoGP grid completed the first pre-season test at the Sepang International Circuit.

All 2026 bikes were placed on display at some of the most familiar landmarks in Kuala Lumpur, including in front of the 421m-tall Kuala Lumpur Tower, which has been a defining feature of the city’s skyline since 1991.

Later that evening, all riders gathered atop the Permata Sapura Tower for a photo opportunity, with the iconic Petronas Towers serving as the backdrop for the shoot.

MotoGP riders group photo 

MotoGP riders group photo 

The main event began on Saturday evening, as MotoGP transformed the city centre into a street circuit. Dedicated garages for all 11 teams were set up in the vicinity of the Petronas Towers, along with a makeshift pitlane to allow riders to enter and exit the track.

After nightfall, the riders took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, performing wheelies and stoppies on a closed-off stretch of road in front of the Petronas Towers. Running in reverse order of last year’s standings, Pramac and LCR were first out on track, with Ducati closing the show.

Only 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo and MotoGP sophomore Fermin Aldeguer were missing from the showrun, with even Jorge Martin returning to the Aprilia RS-GP after missing the Sepang test to recover from surgery. Yamaha drafted in Augusto Fernandez to replace the injured Quartararo, while Gresini elected to run solo with last year’s runner-up Alex Marquez.

After each run, riders made their way up a specifically constructed stage in front of Suriya KLCC, a large shopping mall located on the foot of the Petronas Tower. All 20 riders addressed the crowd individually before stopping to interact with fans and pose for photographs.

MotoGP also conducted interviews with several team bosses, with newly-appointed Tech3 team co-owner Guenther Steiner among those in attendance.

In terms of entertainment, local band DOLLA and international stars PAWSA and The Script took to the stage to perform in front of the audience. The event concluded with all riders returning to the stage for a final group photo next to their 2026 bikes.

Notably, MotoGP was the only major championship to hold a collective launch event this year, with Formula 1 - also owned by Liberty Media - choosing against a follow-up to its 2025 London event due to the introduction of new technical regulations.

Driiiiiifting it to the fans 😎 @marcmarquez93#MotoGPLaunch#KualaLumpur26pic.twitter.com/3Q5NICPIPR

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 7, 2026

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Karlsson beats Andersson in Sweden one-two for Olympic skiathlon gold

Sweden's Frida Karlsson celebrates winning Gold in the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa
Sweden's Frida Karlsson celebrates winning Gold in the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa

Frida Karlsson dominated the Olympic women's cross country skiing skiathlon on Saturday for arguably her biggest career success in a Swedish one-two finish.

Karlsson skied away from team-mate Ebba Andersson with less than seven kilometres left and had plenty of time on the home straight to grab a Swedish flag.

Karlsson won by 51 seconds from reigning world champion Andersson, with Norway's Heidi Weng getting the bronze, 1:26.7 minutes adrift.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment," Karlsson said. ”It feels completely incredible. In the home straight, I kind of understood that I would win. It feels so nice to do it this way, with the team.”

In the skiathlon over 20 kilometres, athletes ski the first half in classic style and the second in freestyle after a quick pit stop to change skis and poles.

Karlsson has been among the elite for many years with 14 World Cup victories to her name.

Her first major individual title finally came at last year's worlds in the 50km, after two relay golds and nine individual silver and bronze medals. At the Olympics, she had a relay bronze before her biggest moment on Saturday.

Off the slopes, Karlsson was the target of a stalker between October 2023 and February 2025. The elderly offender was handed a suspended prison sentence and fined last March by a Swedish court. She told the court she had not felt safe at home or anywhere else.

(L-R) Sweden'a runner-up Ebba Andersson, Sweden's winner Frida Karlsson and Norway's third-placed Heidi Weng celebrate at the medal ceremony after the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa
(L-R) Sweden'a runner-up Ebba Andersson, Sweden's winner Frida Karlsson and Norway's third-placed Heidi Weng celebrate at the medal ceremony after the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa
(L-R) Sweden'a runner-up Ebba Andersson, Sweden's winner Frida Karlsson and Norway's third-placed Heidi Weng take a selfie at the medal ceremony after the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa
(L-R) Sweden'a runner-up Ebba Andersson, Sweden's winner Frida Karlsson and Norway's third-placed Heidi Weng take a selfie at the medal ceremony after the Women's Nordic skiing/cross-country skiing 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympic games. Daniel Karmann/dpa

Fulham vs Everton LIVE updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights

Everton aim to climb into the top half by completing a season sweep over Fulham when the two sides clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

WATCH Fulham v Everton

For live updates and highlights throughout Fulham vs Everton, check out PST's live blog coverage below.

Fulham vs Everton live updates - by Andy Edwards

Fulham vs Everton live score: 0-0

Goalscorers: None

Fulham starting lineup

Leno - Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon - Berge, Iwobi, Smith Rowe - Wilson, Chukwueze - Jimenez

Everton starting lineup

Pickford - O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko - Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall - Armstrong, Ndiaye, Barry


How to watch Fulham vs Everton live, stream link and start time

Kick off time:10am ET Saturday
Venue:Craven Cottage — West London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock


The Toffees need to turn draws into wins but have been much better and are closer to full-strength as they reach kickoff on a four-match Premier League unbeaten run. Jarrad Branthwaite is healthy, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are back from AFCON, and David Moyes is feeling better about his team as Thierno Barry has found his scoring touch and Tyrique George has arrived on loan from Chelsea. Yet Everton will also look at their last four games and think there was so much more for them. They drew at home to lowly Wolves and newly-promoted Leeds, and needed every minute of their 97 at Brighton get a 1-1 draw.

Fulham are ninth on the table, above Everton on tie breakers, and Marco Silva's men are also hoping to find their way to consistent wins. The Cottagers have lost two-of-three following a six-match unbeaten run, and both their 1-0 loss at Fulham and 3-2 defeat at Manchester United left them wanting so much more.

Fulham team news, focus

OUT: Sasa Lukic (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Oscar Bobb (thigh), Rodrigo Muniz (thigh)

Everton team news, focus

OUT: Jack Grealish (ankle - MORE)

Fulham vs Everton prediction

Fulham have been good at home of late but Everton's last two Premier League wins came away from Hill Dickinson Stadium. Jack Grealish's absence aside, this should be the best-equipped Everton squad in some time. Two good managers here, but who will find the back of the goal? Fulham 0-1 Everton.

🚨 Official: Cádiz v Almería called off

🚨 Official: Cádiz v Almería called off

The Cádiz-Almería match scheduled for this Saturday will not take place. It has been officially announced.


The Andalusian derby that was scheduled for this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. will not be played due to the storm.

There is an orange alert warning, and after a request from the Subdelegation of the Government of the Cádiz City Council to the National Police, it has ultimately been suspended.

In recent days, the storm has been lashing Andalusia, including Cádiz, with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds.

Now, a new date must be found for the match to be played.

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

Saturday non-Spurs football open thread

LEEDS, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: A detailed view of the Puma Premier League winter ball during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on February 06, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images

OK. So that match sucked. But there’s still a full slate of Premier League football to watch if you so want to. Or there’s another option — the Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortino. I’ve already flipped on the Whiparound on Peacock and am watching slopestyle skiing at the moment. It’s much more fun than watching Spurs.

So here’s your open thread. Watch something else, bleach your brain.

Saturday match schedule

Arsenal vs. Sunderland
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA/UK)
Stream: Peacock

Wolves vs. Chelsea
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA/UK)
Stream: Peacock

Burnley vs. West Ham
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA/UK)
Stream: Peacock

Fulham vs. Everton
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA/UK)
Stream: Peacock

Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA/UK)
Stream: Peacock

Newcastle vs. Brentford
12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT
TV: not televised (USA), Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event (UK)
Stream: Peacock

Arsenal vs Sunderland LIVE updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights

Premier League leaders Arsenal host surprise-package Sunderland on Saturday aiming to keep their lead atop the table to at least seven points.

WATCH Arsenal v Sunderland

For live updates and highlights throughout Arsenal vs Sunderland, check out PST's live blog coverage below.

Arsenal vs Sunderland live updates - by Andy Edwards

Arsenal vs Sunderland live score: 0-0

Goalscorers: None

Arsenal starting lineup

Raya - Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori - Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz - Madueke, Trossard, Jesus

Sunderland starting lineup

Roefs - Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo - Diarra, Sadiki, Le Fee, Talbi - Brobbey


How to watch Arsenal vs Sunderland live, stream link and start time

Kick off time:10am ET Saturday (February 7)
Venue:Emirates Stadium — North London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock


Mikel Arteta's side got back on track in a big way last weekend as they won 4-0 at Leeds to calm fears their title bid was imploding after a run of three games without a win. They also beat Chelsea 1-0 at home on Tuesday to reach the League Cup final and all of a sudden talk of a quadruple is building.

Sunderland hammered Burnley 3-0 at home on Monday to get back on track too, as Regis Le Bris' Black Cats are just five points off the top four. They are well on track to be one of the best-ever newly-promoted teams in Premier League history and European qualification seems well within reach.

Arsenal team news, focus

Bukayo Saka is struggling with an injury, while Martin Odegaard is a doubt. The duo of Max Dowman and Mikel Merino are definitely out. Arteta has so many options in midfield and attack that it isn't worth risking players who aren't fully-fit so Noni Madueke will likely start on the right and Eberechi Eze will likely start in midfield.

Sunderland team news, focus

The Black Cats have a very solid, settled lineup and are so tough to play against. Their captain Granit Xhaka remains out injured and that is a real shame as he would have received a good reception from the home fans. Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore remain out through injury, and new signing Jocelin Ta Bi is not ready for this one. Sunderland have some great attacking options with Brian Brobbey leading the line so well and the likes of Enzo Le Fee and Chemsdine Talbi supporting him from the attacking midfield positions.

Arsenal vs Sunderland prediction

This is going to be pretty close and Sunderland will look sit in with a back five to frustrate Arsenal. But the Gunners will find a way to get the job done. Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland.

Saudi Arabia stabs Cristiano Ronaldo in the back

Saudi Arabia stabs Cristiano Ronaldo in the back
Saudi Arabia stabs Cristiano Ronaldo in the back

Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo stabbed in the back

Saudi Arabia stabs Cristiano Ronaldo in the back

The Saudi Pro League is reportedly considering a major shift regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. According to the latest information, the league's officials are ready to facilitate the departure of the Portuguese forward from Al-Nassr as soon as this summer, despite his iconic status and enormous media presence.

At 41, Ronaldo could see his Saudi adventure come to an end sooner than expected. This move would signal a strategic change, with the league aiming to boost its global appeal by bringing in players still at the peak of their careers.

In this context, Mohamed Salah has emerged as the top priority to take over, while Bruno Fernandes is also seen as a dream signing. This double scenario underlines Saudi Arabia's undiminished ambition in the race for football's biggest stars.

Baresi and Bergomi the ‘secret’ torchbearers at 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Baresi and Bergomi the ‘secret’ torchbearers at 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Baresi and Bergomi the ‘secret’ torchbearers at 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Italian legends Franco Baresi and Beppe Bergomi were two of the torchbearers at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. ‘We were good at keeping it secret,’ said the ex-Milan star.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics had a touch of Italian football, not just because the event was held at San Siro, the home of Serie A giants Milan and Inter.

Milan legend Baresi, the club’s current honorary vice-president, was one of the torchbearers, along with Inter legend Bergomi.

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Filippo Inzaghi, Franco Baresi and Marco van Basten with their commemorative plate after being inducted in to the AC Milan Hall of Fame prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The former defenders carried the torch inside the Stadio Meazza in a surprise appearance that thrilled the crowd.

“It was the most emotional moment of my sporting life. I’ve never felt anything like it,” Baresi told Repubblica.

“You hold that torch between your fingers, and you know it carries the history of sport, in a way also that of human civilisation. An incredibly powerful symbol.”

Even Baresi was unaware he’d be involved in the opening ceremony until a few weeks ago.

“About a month and a half ago, the president of CONI called me,” said the Milan legend.

“I replied: ‘Are you sure? I’m not really in great shape.’ He said: ‘No worries, you won’t have to go very far.’ It was a great honour, completely unexpected.”

Baresi initially didn’t know he’d share the stage with Bergomi.

‘Nobody knew’ Baresi and Bergomi were among the torchbearers

17 Mar 1999: Giuseppe Bergomi of Inter Milan is chased by Andy Cole of Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. United went through 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw on the night. \ Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster /Allsport

“At first, no, I found out later. And were good at keeping it secret, really, nobody knew about this,” he admitted.

This past August, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and began a course of immunotherapy.

“I’m doing much better now. The worst is over, even though it was tough,” he said.

“Being an athlete helped me fight, and my body allowed me to endure. In the end, I’ve done it my whole life. I’ve always fought, on the field and off it. No one ever gifted me anything.

“The hardest thing to accept is that everything can change in an instant. No one takes it into account before it happens. No one is truly ready to face it, but then you have to. There’s no other choice. Now my lungs are working well again, and I’m only thinking about the future.”

When Baresi made his surprise appearance last night, he was warmly greeted by the crowd.

“Maybe it’s true. People know what happened to me, and I know that people know,” he concluded.

“There’s no need for any words; the warmth I felt was overwhelming.”

Illinois names Jared Elliott tight ends coach

Dec 26, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Mexico Lobos tight ends coach Jared Elliott against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bret Bielema has some spots to fill on his coaching staff.

He filled one of them on Friday with Jared Elliott.

Elliott served as tight ends coach at New Mexico last year, and he’ll serve in the same position on the Illini staff in 2026.

The program said Elliott has served as a college coach for 18 years, including four years as the head coach at Western Illinois.

“I am excited to welcome Coach Elliott and his family to the Illinois famILLy,” Bielema said in a statement. “He brings a great reputation in the coaching community and a history of producing high-level tight ends. His experiences as a head coach, coordinator, and position coach will be an immediate asset to our players and staff.”

Elliott played QB and WR at Miami (Ohio) from 2004-07.

2. Bundesliga: Clinical Hertha end winless run with impressive victory over Elversberg

2. Bundesliga: Clinical Hertha end winless run with impressive victory over Elversberg
2. Bundesliga: Clinical Hertha end winless run with impressive victory over Elversberg

Stefan Leitl’s game plan was executed to perfection, as goals from Pascal Klemens, Luca Schuler and Toni Leistner sealed a memorable victory and ended Hertha’s long wait for a league win.

Elversberg dominated the early exchanges, enjoying close to 70% possession in the opening 20 minutes as they attempted to probe for an opening. Hertha, however, remained compact and disciplined, though they were forced into an early change when Deyovaisio Zeefuik was withdrawn through injury.

Despite Elversberg’s control, it was the visitors who struck first just before half-time. Paul Seguin’s inswinging corner caused chaos in the home box, with no white shirt able to clear their lines, allowing Pascal Klemens to rise highest and nod Hertha into a 1-0 lead against the run of play.

Hertha emerged with greater intent after the interval and almost doubled their advantage within minutes, Fabian Reese denied only by a heroic Florian Le Joncour goal-line block from point-blank range. The second goal did arrive just before the hour mark, however, as Reese’s clever work on the counter opened space for Luca Schuler, who kept his composure to slot past Nicolas Kristof and make it 2-0.

Elversberg continued to push but lacked cutting edge in the final third. Le Joncour came closest to pulling one back, his header from Tom Zimmerschied’s free-kick crashing against the post. Any remaining hope was extinguished 12 minutes from time when Toni Leistner pounced on a headed clearance from a corner and unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the area to put the result beyond doubt.

The win ends Hertha’s run of five consecutive draws and marks their first league victory since November, lifting Leitl’s side up to sixth place. For Elversberg, it was a stark contrast to last week’s performance in Kaiserslautern, as they slip to third following Paderborn’s victory. 

Early fall dents Diggins’ medal bid but not her optimism in opening race at Milan Cortina

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Jessie Diggins isn’t about to abandon her optimism despite a disappointing start to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

An early fall knocked the American star out of medal contention in Saturday’s opening women’s 20-kilometer skiathlon, but Diggins said the setback did little to dampen her confidence. “I’ve had so much love and so much support from so many amazing people back home,” Diggins said. “And I just really wanted to bring them joy and just go out there and race my heart out and that’s what I did today. I’m really proud of that.” Diggins, the U.S. gold medal winner, racing in her final season, fell on a bend during the classic portion of the race, briefly tumbling to the snow as the lead group pulled away in heavy, wet conditions. She finally gained ground after the mid-race ski exchange, picking up pace in the freestyle half as some of the early leaders began to tire. Putting in a strong finish, she finished eighth, 2 minutes, 21.1 seconds behind Sweden’s Frida Karlsson, who won gold. While the result ended Diggins’ medal hopes in the opening race of the Olympic cross-country program, she said her performance also offered reassurance.

“Oh there’s so many races to go,” Diggins said. “I was really proud of this skate half. I’m really encouraged by where my body is at. There’s so many variables that need to come together to have a good race.”

After briefly dropping to the ground beyond the finish line, Diggins stood up and walked over to help U.S. teammates with their skis. Wearing her trademark glitter face paint, she said she took the positives from her effort, grateful for support from family and U.S. fans who traveled to see her in northern Italy.

Diggins was joined at The Games by her husband, Wade Poplawski, and family members, who attended Friday night’s opening ceremony.

“I got to see my husband and my parents and I’ve waited so long to see them,” Diggins said. “It was so amazing to have that hug and they’re so proud of me no matter what the result is because they know I’m just putting my whole heart out there. So I’m going to keep trying to make them proud.”

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Chiefs' Travis Kelce gets big retirement update from NFL insider

Chiefs' Travis Kelce gets big retirement update from NFL insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Travis Kelce has a big offseason ahead, including his wedding to Taylor Swift in June.

Sometime along the way, the Kansas City Chiefs' legendary tight end has to decide whether he's going to retire from the NFL or if he's going to come back for another season of football.

At 36, Kelce could really go either way. It's not clear if he's made up his mind, or if anyone close to him really knows what is happening.

But on Saturday, in a new article, The Athletic's Dianna Russini has provided an update on Kelce's plans.

"Kelce was seen bouncing around San Francisco parties and events, even as the soon-to-be-married man’s next move remains uncertain," Russini writes. "While retirement has been discussed, many close to him believe he could return for at least one more season. A final decision has yet to be made, but a 14th season is looking more real than ever."

MORE: Someone asked Mike Vrabel if the Super Bowl is a must-win game

That's a key update, with the "more real than ever" line a particularly exciting one for Kelce fans.

The Chiefs went just 6-11 in 2025, and it'd be a bummer of a way to go out for the all-time great.

He and the Chiefs likely aren't sure at the moment whether Patrick Mahomes will be ready to play in Week 1 after his late-season torn ACL. It's not sure whether that status could also have a role in Kelce's decision.

MORE: Vikings once offered Patriots a giant trade package for Drake Maye

He's one of the best tight ends ever, and no matter what he does, that will remain true.

At this point, it's more about whether Kelce decides simply that he wants to play more football. And if he does, the Chiefs will surely welcome him back with open arms.

More NFL news:

Arsenal vs. Sunderland score, stats, highlights, talking points as Zubimendi, Gyokeres strike for Premier League leaders

Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal

Arsenal vs. Sunderland score, stats, highlights, talking points as Zubimendi, Gyokeres strike for Premier League leaders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:


Arsenal look to maintain their lead atop the Premier League table, or even extend it, as they meet Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday.

The Gunners hold a six-point advantage in the title race, with second-placed Man City set to face Liverpool tomorrow. Therefore, Mikel Arteta's side can extend the gap to nine, at least temporarily, with a win today.

Yet Sunderland are no ordinary newly-promoted side. The Black Cats sit eighth in the Premier League standings, having collected seven points over their last five matches even without excellent summer signing Granit Xhaka due to injury.

The Sporting News is following the Arsenal vs. Sunderland match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

MORE:An up-to-date list of the Premier League top goal scorers for the 2025/26 season

Arsenal vs. Sunderland live score

Score (2H)Goal scorers
Arsenal1Zubimendi (42'),
Gyokeres (66')
Sunderland0

Location: Emirates Stadium (London, England)
Referee: Samuel Barrott

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard

Starting lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Raya (GK) — 12. Timber, 2. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 33. Calafiori (Hincapie, 67') — 36. Zubimendi, 41. Rice — 20. Madueke (Martinelli, 60'), 29. Havertz (Eze, 67'), 19. Trossard — 9. Jesus (Gyokeres, 60').

Sunderland (5-4-1, right to left): 22. Roefs (GK) — 32. Hume, 20. Mukiele, 5. Ballard, 15. Alderete, 17. Reinildo — 19. Diarra, 27. Sadiki, 28. Le Fee, 7. Talbi (Mundle, 64') — 9. Brobbey.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland talking points, analysis

Post-match talking points, analysis, commentary, and more will appear here after the match concludes.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland in-game key moments, highlights

66th min: GOAL! ARSENAL! VIKTOR GYOKERES COMES OFF THE BENCH AND STRIKES!

Five minutes after arriving, the Swede finds the back of the net with a physical finish as he slides laterally to reach a ball and whips his foot at it, directing it past the goalkeeper! It comes from a vertical ball that sends Kai Havertz through down the left edge, and his feed across the top of the six-yard box unlocks the chance!

2nd half kickoff: No changes for either side as the final 45 minutes are now under way!

HALFTIME: Arsenal 1-0 Sunderland

Arsenal have breached the Sunderland back line before halftime, and the Premier League leaders go into the dressing room with a lead. They could have had a second too, but the offside flag ruined a penalty won by Gabriel Jesus shortly after Zubimendi's opener.

Sunderland have had their dangerous moments, but they find themselves with a deficit and will need to regroup if they are to claw back like they did at home in the first meeting between these two clubs.

43rd min: Chance, Arsenal! Gabriel Jesus is clean through on goal on the counter, and he's felled while rounding the goalkeeper, causing the referee to point to the spot for a penalty!

BUT NO! The offside flag goes up! No penalty in the end! Daniel Ballard gets out of jail!

42nd min: GOAL! ARSENAL! ANOTHER ZUBIMENDI BANGER FROM OUTSIDE THE PENALTY AREA!

He catches Robin Roefs napping and pings the ball in off the inside of the left post! It's a low zinger!

30th min: These two teams have cancelled each other out for most of the opening half-hour. There have been a few half-chances on goal, but for the most part, Sunderland's deep block has made life difficult for Arsenal in finding a way through, and Arsenal have not been too troubled by the Sunderland counter-attack.

William Saliba has been booked for stopping a counter-attack which could give him some pause in defending the rest of the way.

Kickoff: They're under way at the Emirates! Kai Havertz has a chance on goal after just seconds, as he heads a cross just wide of net! Arsenal are right up for this match!

15 mins to kickoff: If Arsenal look just a little further back over their shoulder, they'll see Manchester United have crept up into fourth place now with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Tottenham earlier today. It's a fourth-straight victory for the Red Devils under Michael Carrick, with Bruno Fernandes cooking again in the match.

Read all the talking points and reaction from the Man United victory here, live from Old Trafford.

30 mins to kickoff: The last time these two teams met, Brian Brobbey scored a sensational late equaliser, with a 94th-minute goal to snatch a point and keep Arsenal in check. The Gunners will want to avoid such a result again, as any dropped points here could bring Man City back within a point at the top of the table.

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in! Bukayo Saka is held out for another match due to a hip injury, with Noni Madueke in for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus gets a rare start at the No. 9 position, with Viktor Gyokeres rotated to the bench.

For Sunderland, Brian Brobbey maintains his position at the head of the attack, having earned the regular striker role over the past two months with his good form having scored in three of his last five starts.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland reaction

Post-match comments from Mikel Arteta and Regis Le Bris will appear here after the match concludes.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland team news

Arsenal team news

MORE:An in-depth rundown of all the latest Arsenal team news and injuries

  • Martin Odegaard was a surprise absence from the squad to face Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal, and Mikel Arteta said his injury would be a "matter of days" suggesting this match could come too soon.
  • Bukayo Saka will need to pass a late fitness test as he has been dealing with a hip injury, but Jurrien Timber should be able to participate.
  • A broken foot has sidelined Mikel Merino for much of the remaining season, although he hopes to return sometime in April before it concludes.

Sunderland team news

  • Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who arrived this summer from Bayer Leverkusen, has been missing with an ankle injury since mid-January, and is not expected back for another few weeks.
  • Burkina Faso winger Bertrand Traore picked up a knee injury while on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and will not return until towards the end of the month.

Arsenal, Sunderland upcoming schedules

Arsenal upcoming fixtures

DateCompetitionMatchLocation
Thu, Feb. 12Premier LeagueBrentford vs. ArsenalGtech Community Stadium (London, England)
Sun, Feb. 15FA CupArsenal vs. Wigan AthleticEmirates Stadium (London, England)
Wed, Feb. 18Premier LeagueWolves vs. ArsenalMolineux Stadium (Wolverhampton, England)

Sunderland upcoming fixtures

DateCompetitionMatchLocation
Wed, Feb. 11Premier LeagueSunderland vs. LiverpoolStadium of Light (Sunderland, England)
Sun, Feb. 15FA CupOxford United vs. SunderlandThe Kassam Stadium (Oxford, England)
Sun, Feb. 22Premier LeagueSunderland vs. FulhamStadium of Light (Sunderland, England)

2026 NFL mock draft roundup: OL remains top priority at pick No. 28

At the end of the day, one pick won't define the Houston Texans' 2026 season, but the notion of missing out on an offensive lineman once again could make or break for the Texans once more.

After making it to back-to-back divisional round matchups, Houston once again finds itself coming up short, this time picking 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft after going 12-5. C.J. Stroud is back for another season, but he'll need to prove his value as potentially the long-term answer at quarterback following a disastrous postseason appearance.

Houston doesn't have any glaring needs on defense, depending on the status of a new deal with defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins ahead of free agency, but the offense, mostly the offensive line, will no doubt be the biggest focus for general manager Nick Caserio this offseason. Shoring up the interior line, in particular, is a glaring need, but right tackle could also be a position to monitor since the Texans could shift Tytus Howard to right guard full-time.

As the Super Bowl is set to get underway this Sunday, Texans Wire has rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Texans will more than likely shore up the trenches should they stay in the first-round, and three names that constantly seem to appear as the favorite for Houston at No. 28.

Nov 9, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) blocks during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Georgia OT Monroe Freeling

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah: "The Texans did a nice job of maneuvering to land Aireontae Ersery in last year’s draft. Now they get another young tackle to pair with him. Freeling is just scratching the surface of his potential."

PFF's Dalton Wasserman:"Tytus Howard’s versatility at both guard and tackle gives Houston the flexibility to draft the best offensive lineman available. That player could be Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, who has been climbing draft boards after a major leap in pass protection this season. His 85.7 pass-blocking grade ranked seventh among qualified tackles, and he allowed just three sacks on the year."

The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner: "A big man who moves like a much smaller man, Freeling’s light feet on the outside give him the potential to be an outstanding blind-side protector. He still needs more polish in the run game, however."

USA Today's Jacob Camenker: "Houston found its left tackle of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft, as Aireontae Ersery found solid success as a rookie. They could still use a "right-side bookend" to help C.J. Stroud, and Copilot likes the idea of the 6-7, 315-pound Freeling getting a chance to win that role."

Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) against the Oklahoma Sooners during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "Houston turned its offensive line upside down last offseason in a full makeover effort, but there wasn't enough improvement. The unit was still 30th in pass block win rate at 55.5%, though the sack count dropped from 54 (tied for third most) to 31 (tied for ninth fewest). There's also the matter of the entire right side being unsigned for 2026. Proctor had all 40 of his career starts at left tackle (where Aireontae Ersery was this season), but he could slide to right tackle or even inside to guard. The bigger priority is getting capable blockers in front of C.J. Stroud."

Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice: "The Texans’ offensive line is still a problem, so Houston can take a massive swing here to fix it with the 6-foot-7, 370-pound Proctor. He has to answer questions about his conditioning, but if he can stay in shape at the next level he has a chance to tap into the athleticism that has scouts and fans so excited about his upside."

NFL.com's Eric Edholm: "Bama’s left tackle is a complex evaluation and didn’t have a first-round type of season in 2025, but he’s a gifted mauler who could find a better home inside. The Texans still must upgrade the offensive front and might be the perfect team to gamble on his talent."

Texans Wire's Cole Thompson: "Moving Tytus Howard inside to guard could benefit both sides since he'll be on one of the more team-friendly contracts regarding the position in terms of value. Proctor has never seen reps on the right side, but his footwork, hand usage and ability to win in pass-protection make him a priority option should the Texans stick around in Round 1. He has 40 starts on his resume in the SEC and allowed just five sacks in over 1,800 passing sets."

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane

The Draft Network's Keith Sanchez:"The Houston Texans appear to have one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL, one that should rank among some of the best ever constructed. But offensively, their offense has struggled and at times has looked like one of the worst units in the league. While some of that blame could be pointed directly at the quarterback, another position group that clearly needs improvement is the offensive line. Insert Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane, and the Texans will have addressed one of their biggest offensive needs, which should hopefully lead to better results on offense."

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) before kickoff with Furman University at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC, Saturday, November 22, 2025.

Clemson OT Blake Miller

ESPN's Matt Miller:"Miller probably isn't a first-rounder in the 2025 draft. But in a 2026 class that lacks a high number of prospects with a first-round grade, drafting a rock-solid right tackle with a ton of experience (54 starts) and just two sacks and two blown run blocks allowed last season seems like good value. Miller would slide into the starting lineup opposite Aireontae Ersery, last year's second-rounder, to form a young bookend duo that can help protect C.J. Stroud well enough to elevate his game as his rookie contract nears expiration. Considering the Texans finished 30th in pass block win rate (55.5%), they could use the help. Miller received a lot of love from scouts I talked to at the Senior Bowl, something that could push him up boards."

Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (71) blocks the rush during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis

Pro Football Network Alec Elijah: "For a team in need of toughness, reliability, and positional versatility, Bisontis is an NFL read lineman who pairs size with surprising agility, giving him the tools to dominate both inside and on the edge. His movement skills allow him to pull and climb to the second level efficiently, creating running lanes and sustaining blocks in traffic. Bisontis also brings a finish-first mentality, playing through the whistle and maximizing displacement on every play."

Oregon offensive linemen Iapani Laloulu, left, and Emmanuel Pregnon line up as the Oregon Ducks host the Montana State Bobcats on Aug. 30, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

Oregon OL Emmanuel Pregnon

Pro Football Network's T.J. Randall: "Georgia’s Christen Miller or some other defensive tackle would be a rational selection, but quarterback C.J. Stroud needs to improve. Much of the improvement process involves keeping him upright. This is an easy pick for someone like me who has long been a fan of the strong, bendy guard."

Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer: "The Texans' weak offensive line might lose average right guard Ed Ingram in free agency and needs more youthful talent upgrades. Pregnon moves so well for such a physical, nasty presence inside."

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025.

Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: "Houston needs help on the offensive line, but the best available prospect in this scenario could be a defensive lineman. McDonald is an ascending talent with the "SWARM" mentality DeMeco Ryans looks for."

Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) blocks Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive lineman Trevion Williams (23) during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor

Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema: Iheanachor made a statement during Senior Bowl week, showcasing the ceiling of a first-round offensive tackle. His movement and body control made him a wall in pass protection on days two and three of Senior Bowl practices, making it nearly impossible for any pass rusher to get around him. He is a better pass blocker than a run blocker, but his physical gifts don’t come around very often. 

Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.

NFL Tankathon:

The Athletic's Scott Dochterman: "Hill could be a bit of a wild card, but his blend of size (6-3, 238) and athleticism is basically ideal for an NFL stack linebacker. Can he continue to grow in terms of processing the run game in the NFL, though? Hill is a tempting talent, but his landing spot likely will depend on how he interviews.

Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) celebrates against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

CBS Sports James Brockermeyer:"Kenyon Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a big wide receiver. He catches naturally away from his body, finds soft spots in coverage and is a dependable target you can count on. He offers big-play ability after the catch and is a solid blocker."

Oct 11, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils with Utah Utes offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Utah OT Caleb Lomu

Pro Football Network's Jack Aaron: "Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled in the playoff loss to New England, though poor protection was an issue throughout the season. Rookie Aireontae Ersery had difficulties on the left side, while veteran Trent Brown held his own at times on the right but is set to hit free agency."

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) is pressured by Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) during the third quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia defeated Florida 43-20.

Florida DT Caleb Banks

NFL Network's Bucky Brooks: "The Texans could lean into a strength-on-strength philosophy by adding another building block to their championship-caliber defense. Banks' superior size, strength and disruptive potential would enhance a front that features a pair of destructive bookends in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr."

Texas Tech's Lee Hunter prepares to play defense against BYU during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 8, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Texas Tech DL Lee Hunter

CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson: "Hunter is a heavy-handed presence in the middle who consistently makes life miserable for interior offensive linemen by eating up double teams and shedding blocks to swallow up running backs. While he's still developing as a pass rusher, his ability to collapse the pocket with raw power and chase down plays from the backside shows he's much more than your garden-variety two-gap space-eater.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: OL remains top priority at pick No. 28

Brandel Chamblee responds to Players Championship Major talk with big claim

Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Players Championship has always had a strong reputation, and there are more than a few signs that it could soon become an official major.

The way people see the event is also starting to shift. In 2020, Rory McIlroy called The Players Championship ‘the greatest non-major we have’, but over time that label seems to be changing.

Chamblee spoke recently about whether The Players will ever reach major status, noting:

“Well, I think it already is,” he said on Golf Channel. “You look at the history of this championship… it is essentially the same as the Masters. Both of them were begun by great players. Augusta National started in 1934 with Bobby Jones… and in 1974 they had Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer establish what is now known as TPC Sawgrass.”

Chamblee backs Players as a major with strong endorsement

Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images

Chamblee has never held back when it comes to speaking his mind about the game, and he didn’t shy away from this topic either.

The conversation around whether the Players should be recognised as a fifth major came up during Friday’s coverage of the WM Phoenix Open, and Chamblee was asked for his view on the matter.

Appearing on Golf Channel, Chamblee said:

“We’ve been doing a ‘Live From The Players Championship’ since 2004, since I first started working at the Golf Channel. Just by that mere fact, we give it the attention of a major championship, we give it that prestige.”

The discussion isn’t just about whether it deserves that label — many already treat it with similar importance. It’s about where tradition meets evolution in golf.

Brandel Chamblee backs Players Championship status by referencing the Masters

Chamblee was asked whether Rory McIlroy would feel the same nerves and anticipation on a Saturday night at TPC Sawgrass as he would at Augusta National.

Chamblee responded: “But by virtue of the designation of it being a major championship, there is more prestige attributed to it.”

He continued: “We don’t say Jack Nicklaus won 21 major championships because he won the Players’ Championship three times back in the ’70s.”

“So if you add the four major championships, there were six major championships.”

The question remains whether The Players Championship would immediately be held in the same regard as golf’s other four majors if that change were ever made.

Read more:

2. Bundesliga: Schalke squander two goal lead against Dresden

2. Bundesliga: Schalke squander two goal lead against Dresden
2. Bundesliga: Schalke squander two goal lead against Dresden

The hosts controlled much of the early proceedings but struggled to turn possession into clear chances. Opportunities were scarce for both sides in a cagey first half, with Edin Džeko coming closest midway through the opening period after intercepting a loose pass from Jonas Sterner inside the box, only to fire wide. The half eventually ended goalless - the sixth consecutive match in which Schalke have failed to score before the break - as Dresden grew into the contest towards the interval.

Schalke emerged with renewed purpose after the restart and finally found their breakthrough seven minutes into the second half. Dejan Ljubičić delivered a delightful cross from the right, which Džeko met with a composed volley to beat Tim Schreiber from close range. The Royal Blues, having failed to register a shot on target in the first half, suddenly looked transformed.

The lead was doubled with 20 minutes remaining. El-Faouzi picked out Džeko on the edge of the area, and the Bosnian striker took a touch before rifling a half-volley past the helpless Schreiber to seemingly put Schalke in full control.

However, with the points within reach, Schalke unravelled. Dresden were handed a lifeline 12 minutes from time when Alexander Rossipal surged down the left and fired a dangerous ball into the area, which deflected off the unfortunate Hasan Kuruçay and into his own net. The momentum swung decisively, and with three minutes left on the clock, the visitors completed an improbable comeback. Schalke failed to deal with a corner, Loris Karius was caught in no man’s land, and Thomas Keller was left with a simple header into an empty net to make it 2-2.

A stunned Schalke threw bodies forward throughout eight minutes of stoppage time but were unable to restore their advantage. At full-time, blue shirts collapsed to the turf in disbelief as Schalke dropped points for the fifth match in succession - yet remarkably remain top of the table. For Dresden, it was a hugely encouraging result in their relegation fight, though they remain 17th.

Thomas Frank reaction: What did Spurs boss say on Man United defeat, Romero red card, relegation scrap?

Thomas Frank is in big trouble as Tottenham Hotspur's manager, as they lost 2-0 at Manchester United on Saturday and lost skipper Cristian Romero to an early red card.

MOREVideo highlights, recap

Without a Premier League win in 2026, and during the last seven games, all of a sudden Spurs are in a serious relegation scrap despite making it through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Yes, Frank has had incredible injury problems to deal with, but Spurs should never be in this position.

Here is the latest Thomas Frank reaction after Spurs' defeat at Manchester United.

Thomas Frank reaction

Reaction to follow...

GB on brink of mixed semis after another win

Team GB's mixed doubles curlers moved to the brink of the Winter Olympics semi-finals with three matches still to play, as a statement victory over heavyweights Canada maintained their 100% record.

US honorary coach, hype man and rapper Snoop Dogg was not in the house on Saturday, but Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds made their own headlines, roaring into a 5-1 lead after just three ends before closing out a 7-5 triumph.

The sense is six wins should be enough for a place in the last four and the British pair have already hit that mark to sit top of the round-robin standings.

Only the US - who GB play at 13:35 GMT live on BBC Two - had beaten Canada's Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman so far. But the husband-and-wife team could not compete with childhood friends Mouat and Dodds.

Three points in the opening end set the tone - and sent a cascade of noise rolling down from the wooden bleachers in the quirky Cortina Curling Stadium - and a series of judicious shots ensured the Scots kept their opponents at arms length.

The GB pair led 5-2 at the halfway interval, before two more fabulous closing throws by Dodds left it at 7-3 with two ends remaining.

Canada were done at that stage, and looked poised to concede as Dodds lined up a final stone to take a point in the seventh. But a rare overthrow instead gifted them two and extended the contest.

Mouat and Dodds did not falter, though, blanking that final end to all but seal a semi-final spot.

Curling standings
[BBC]

Muir qualifies third for slopestyle final

Elsewhere, Kirsty Muir enjoyed a confident start to her Olympic campaign, placing third in freeski slopestyle qualifying.

Muir, one of Team GB's best medal hopes, scored a best of 64.98 from her two runs in Livigno.

That put the 21-year-old behind Switzerland's Mathilde Gremaud and China's Eileen Gu - the gold and silver medallists from Beijing 2022 respectively - in the standings.

"I am feeling really relieved. I was really nervous this morning. Putting a good run down in the qualifications was important for me because I wanted to be in that final," Muir told BBC Sport.

"In the qualifying, it is sometimes more nerve-wracking, whereas, in the final you go all out and you either get it or you don't. That's what I am going to be ready for."

Gu, a triple medallist from four years ago, is one of the biggest global stars at these Games but avoided an early shock after crashing off the first rail of her opening run.

After almost a year out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Muir has won three World Cup golds in the past year, including two in slopestyle.

The Olympic final takes place on Monday from 11:30 GMT.

In Tesero, Anna Pryce made history by becoming the first British athlete to compete in the women's 10km + 10km skiathlon at an Olympic Games.

Pryce, who switched allegiance from Canada last year, came 42nd - finishing seven minutes and 24 seconds behind gold-medal winner Frida Karlsson of Sweden.

Pryce said she was so excited to make her Olympic debut that she was "giggling at the start".

"Maybe I should have felt more nervous, I don't know. But I feel pretty relaxed and maybe that translated into my skiing - which was great," she said.

Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Four things we learnt

Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Four things we learnt
Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Four things we learnt

Manchester United welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford, aiming to overcome a run of poor results against the North London side.

Senne Lammens started in goal, with an unchanged back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.

Kobbie Mainoo continued alongside Casemiro, with Bruno Fernandes deployed ahead of them in the number ten role.

Matheus Cunha and Amad started on either flank, with Bryan Mbeumo continuing as the striker.

Here are four things we learnt from the match.

Bryan Mbeumo

The Red Devils massively struggled to score goals last year as Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund toiled with little reward last season.

There has been a massive uptick this season in this regard, largely thanks to an excellent summer.

Bryan Mbeumo has been a revelation and scored his tenth goal of the season to open the scoring against Tottenham Hotspur.

Crucially, it was another goal against a traditional top six club. The Cameroonian had already found the net against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season and also has Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal as a list of his victims this season.

Set pieces

The team everyone talks about in regard to set pieces in England is Arsenal.

Nonetheless, in reality, it is United who are the biggest threat in the Premier League.

They once again scored a great goal, with Fernandes taking a short corner, picking out Kobbie Mainoo, whose excellently disguised pass found Mbeumo, who buried the chance.

United certainly do not rely on set pieces, but the club must be applauded for the great work they have done behind the scenes in recent months.

Offside issue

United scored three offside goals in their impressive victory against Manchester City last month and were wasteful again against Tottenham Hotspur.

Both Amad and Matheus Cunha converted from close range, but both efforts were chalked off.

The two strikes could have counted if United had been more careful in the original build-up, and fans will be torn on the issue.

It is great they are creating chances, but at the same time, they need to be more careful to take full advantage of their attacking fluency.

Bruno Fernandes is still the talisman

The Portuguese star leads the Premier League in assists this season and has been a catalyst for the Red Devils’ recovery under Michael Carrick.

He got a well-deserved goal to kill the game off against Tottenham Hotspur late on and underline his importance to this team.

With questions over his future this summer, United fans will be praying that the club’s recent revival will convince him to stay and wow Old Trafford for at least one more season.Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Player Ratings

Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Player Ratings
Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Player Ratings

Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to make it four wins out of four under Michael Carrick. Here are our player ratings from the game.

(A score of 6 is around average)

Senne Lammens 6 – Barely had anything to do all game.

Diogo Dalot 7.5 – Solid defensively and contributed in attack, once embarking on a great run that almost resulted in a goal and then testing Guglielmo Vicario in the second half with a powerful strike. Outstanding ball to Bruno Fernandes for the winner.

Harry Maguire 6.5 – Won his duels and made an important intervention to divert a cross from Destiny Udogie that was begging to be finished.

Lisandro Martinez 6.5 – Set the tone from the start, delivering a trademark long pass that almost saw United break the deadlock inside 40 seconds. Astute defensively and made an important interception in the box to prevent Solanke from aiming a shot at Lammens.

Luke Shaw 7 – Similar to Dalot, he played an active role in the attack, particularly after the opposition went down to 10 men. At one point, he tested Vicario twice in quick succession and will feel he should have found the back of the net.

Casemiro 8 – Another top-class display. Seems unplayable at the moment. He had a few cracks at goal but was thwarted by an inspired Vicario. Dominant in the middle of the park and drew a Romero foul, which got the Spurs skipper sent off.

Kobbie Mainoo 7 – Clever flick to assist Bryan Mbeumo for United’s opener.

Bruno Fernandes 9 – The engine of United’s attack, dictating play across the pitch. He orchestrated chance after chance and even took a few dangerous shots himself, eventually finding a deserved goal and delivering the killer blow.

Amad 7 – Dangerous down the right. Spurs had no answer for him. Thought he had scored but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Matheus Cunha 6 – Linked play well and came agonisingly close to finding the back of the net in the first half.

Bryan Mbeumo 8.5 – Another big goal against a traditional top-six side.

Substitutes

Benjamin Sesko 6 – Lively when he came on.

Manuel Ugarte 5 – On for the dying embers.

Noussair Mazraoui 5 – Same as Ugarte

Joshua Zirkzee 5 – Introduced alongside Ugarte and Mazraoui to get the win over the line.

Tyler Fletcher 6 – A senior United debut. Fine achievement.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Cristian Romero sets red-card record as Man United beat 10-man Tottenham 2-0

Cristian Romero sets red-card record as Man United beat 10-man Tottenham 2-0
Cristian Romero sets red-card record as Man United beat 10-man Tottenham 2-0

Manchester United made it four consecutive wins under interim manager Michael Carrick, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

United created the game’s first real chance in the 11th minute, with Casemiro rifling a shot from long range which was palmed away by Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs quickly responded with a chance of their own, as Conor Gallagher called Senne Lammens into action at the near post.

Matheus Cunha came close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute, curling narrowly wide from outside the area.

Cristian Romero was sent off after 29 minutes, leaving Spurs with a numerical disadvantage.

Romero has now been sent off six times across all competitions since making his debut for Spurs, the most of any Premier League player within that period.

United quickly capitalised, breaking the deadlock through Bryan Mbeumo, who side-footed into the bottom corner.

Casemiro almost doubled United’s lead with a thumping header, but Vicario did well to tip it over.

The Spurs goalkeeper made another crucial stop before half-time, making a crucial tackle to deny Amad Diallo who was through on goal.

United started the second half the way they ended the first, as Diallo had an effort ruled out for offside in the 50th minute.

Against the run of play, Xavi Simons blazed an effort beyond the outstretched Lammens, but wide of the face of goal.

The impressive Vicario made two consecutive saves to keep the away side in the game as the hour passed.

The Spurs goalkeeper was finally beaten for the second time in the 80th minute, with Bruno Fernandes guiding Benjamin Sesko’s header into the net, sealing the victory for the hosts.

The victory sees United maintain their grip on fourth place as they are now four points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea.

Match Report: Ravenous United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in spell-binding display

Match Report: Ravenous United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in spell-binding display
Match Report: Ravenous United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in spell-binding display

Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in what was a truly impressive display in front of the Old Trafford crowd.

It was a match of pure attacking dominance from Man United, who looked to make the visitors suffer after they went a man down following a red card.

First half

In the opening few minutes, it seemed to be the visitors who were more comfortable on the ball, but United’s defence held steady, with Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw making crucial tackles.

Ten minutes in, United started to push the envelope, with Casemiro taking a surgical shot from far range to force a save from the goalkeeper.

Seconds later, Spurs were back on the attack, with Wilson Odobert sending a threatening cross to Conor Gallagher, who was waiting in the centre of the box. While Gallagher got a foot to the ball, Senne Lammens did well to scoop up his attempt.

In the 22nd minute, Amad Diallo burst forward, passing to Bruno Fernandes in the centre. Unfortunately, his first-touch shot breezed wide of the left post. Had he been on target, the goalkeeper would have had no chance of saving his effort.

Three minutes later, Matheus Cunha was brought down as he entered the box, yet the referee ignored the calls for a penalty. It seemed as if United were edging closer to finding a breakthrough.

Amad was causing trouble for the Spurs’ defence yet again, with Udogie receiving a yellow card for pulling the United winger down.

In the 29th minute, Christian Romero was shown his marching orders. As Casemiro received the ball on the edge of the box, the Spurs captain committed a rough foul on Casemiro, digging his studs into the Brazilian’s ankle. The referee showed no hesitation as he brandished a red card for Romero, while awarding United an opportune free kick.

With eight minutes left in the half, United took the lead courtesy of a stunning Bryan Mbeumo strike. Fernandes took a short corner to Amad, who picked out Mbeumo on the edge of the box. The Cameroonian struck his shot hard and low into the bottom right corner, far out of the keeper’s reach. It was a spectacular goal, not to mention a witty set piece by Michael Carrick’s men.

Soon after the restart, United were on the attack again, seeking to double their lead. Mbeumo thumped in a corner, although a stubborn Spurs defence knocked the ball back to him. Mbeumo’s second cross found Casemiro, whose header was tipped over the crossbar by Guglielmo Vicario.

United had another corner soon after, with Mbeumo finding the head of Casemiro yet again. Because the Brazilian was running from so far out, he knicked the ball with his head, but the shot went wide as he fell into the net. Still, it was another promising move from United.

Amad received a yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Xavi Simons.

Five minutes of stoppage time were awarded, handing United ample time to double their lead before the half-time whistle.

The referee blew the whistle for half-time, bringing an end to a decent half of football for United. Carrick would have no doubt wanted his team to continue this form going into the second 45 minutes.

Second half

Just three minutes after the restart, it seemed that United had doubled their lead when Shaw received a cross on the left and tapped the ball to Amad in the centre, who buried the ball in the net. Unfortunately, he was ruled offside.

Fernandes passed the ball to Casemiro, who was just left of centre, with the Brazilian taking a promising shot that the goalkeeper saved. It was an impressive showing so far from the midfield veteran.

In the 59th minute, United were back on the prowl, with Shaw thumping a thunderous shot which the keeper parried out for a corner.

Mbeumo whipped in a threatening cross, with Vicario denying United yet again by blocking a shot from Dalot.

United earned another free kick, with Casemiro getting on the end of the cross and taking a shot, with the rebound falling to Shaw, whose shot was blocked as well. The hosts seemed to be pulling out all the stops to give the fans an entertaining match.

Cunha was pulled down outside the box, giving United another free kick. The visitors’ defence held steady, blasting the cross out of danger. Still, it was United who retained possession.

United seemed to have scored a second goal when Cunha intercepted the ball in the final third. He passed to Amad, who sent a through ball back to him. Cunha composed himself and scored, only for the linesman to flag him offside.

With 15 minutes left to play, Carrick made his first substitution, bringing on Benjamin Sesko for Cunha.

Mbeumo received a ball from Mainoo, which he threaded into the centre, only for Spurs to knock it out for a corner. Unfortunately, the corner was easily dealt with.

Fernandes attempted a shot from far, which the keeper did well to catch.

With less than 10 minutes to play, United finally got the goal they were looking for. Dalot thumped a cross toward Sesko, who attempted to head the ball but couldn’t reach it. Still, Fernandes timed his run perfectly, pouncing on the loose ball and thumping it into the net. 2-0 to United.

In the 85th minute, Amad controlled a cross with a perfect first touch, laying the ball off to Mbeumo, who drove his shot over the crossbar.

Carrick made a triple change with just three minutes to go. Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, and Joshua Zirkzee came on for Shaw, Casemiro, and Mbeumo.

The third official showed five added minutes on his board as Mainoo came off for Tyler Fletcher.

It was another terrific performance for United under Carrick, with the team remaining in a lucrative fourth place as the Old Trafford crowd made their jubilation known.

Starting XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo Subs: Sesko, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Zirkzee, Fletcher

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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T20 World Cup: India slump to 77-6 against impressive USA

T20 World Cup: India slump to 77-6 against impressive USA

2. Bundesliga: Paderborn hold firm to defeat ten-man Nürnberg

2. Bundesliga: Paderborn hold firm to defeat ten-man Nürnberg
2. Bundesliga: Paderborn hold firm to defeat ten-man Nürnberg

First-half goals from Sebastian Klaas and Laurin Curda proved decisive for the hosts, who had to weather a late scare after Luka Lochoshvili pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining.

An energetic opening 20 minutes saw both goalkeepers called into action, before Paderborn were handed a breakthrough from the penalty spot. Styopa Mkrtchyan brought down Curda inside the area, allowing Klaas to calmly send Jan Reichert the wrong way and open the scoring.

The hosts doubled their advantage shortly before the half-hour mark. Raphael Obermair burst down the left and cut the ball back for Curda, who was left unmarked at the back post to tap home and make it 2-0. Nürnberg nearly responded immediately, but Adam Markhiev somehow blazed over from six yards out, preserving Paderborn’s two-goal cushion at the break.

Klose’s side were dealt a further blow six minutes into the second half when Rafael Lubach was shown a straight red card for hauling down Steffen Tigges to halt a counter-attack - his second dismissal of the season. Paderborn remained on top, though Nürnberg were handed a lifeline out of nowhere late on. Lochoshvili controlled a long throw before firing a half-volley past Denis Seimen at the near post, scoring Nürnberg’s first away goal since November and injecting brief tension into the contest.

Any hopes of a comeback quickly faded, however, as Paderborn regained control, dominated possession, and comfortably saw out the closing stages. The result lifts the hosts back into second place, while Nürnberg remain ninth pending the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Atlanta Braves bring in former Georgia infielder as NRI

The Atlanta Braves have invited former Georgia Bulldogs baseball player Kyle Farmer to spring training. Farmer is a nine-year MLB veteran and was a free agent. He will have an opportunity to try out for the Braves as a non-roster invite (NRI) in hopes of making their Opening Day roster.

Farmer most recently played with the Colorado Rookies. He is a versatile infield that can play third base, second base or shortstop. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound infielder could helped provide a boost in depth to the Braves, who are looking to return to the postseason after a disappointing 2025 season.

Farmer has 537 hits, 63 home runs and 285 RBIs in his MLB career. The former Georgia star has a .247 career batting average.

Colorado Rockies second base Kyle Farmer (6) heads home to score a run in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field.

Farmer is 35 and is a local product. He was born in Atlanta and attended Marist High School. Now, he'll get a rare opportunity to play for his hometown MLB team.

Last season, Farmer batted .227 and had eight home runs. He drove in 31 runs on 63 hits with the Rookies in 97 games. He finished the 2025 season with 300 plate appearances.

Braves add Kyle Farmer as non-roster invite

The Braves added Marist and UGA product Kyle Farmer to their list of NRIs . Seems to be a good fit for an Opening Day roster spot. Dubon will move from SS to LF on nights when Yaz is pinch hit for against LHPs. Mateo and Farmer would be backup INF options

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 6, 2026

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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Braves add former Georgia Bulldogs infielder for spring training

Michael Carrick reaction: What did Manchester United manager say after win against Spurs?

Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick was delighted at the full time whistle as his side won against Tottenham Hotspur and he's now won four in a row to kick off his time in charge.

His name was sung loud and proud by the United faithful at Old Trafford and Carrick, at least right now, has the magic touch.

MOREVideo highlights, recap

Here is the latest Michael Carrick reaction from Old Trafford after Man United's comfortable win vs Spurs.

Michael Carrick reaction

Reaction to follow...

St. John’s is finally looking like a national championship contender

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 06: Zuby Ejiofor #24 of the St. John's Red Storm reacts following their 81-72 win against the Connecticut Huskies at Madison Square Garden on February 06, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

College basketball delivered another solid showcase matchup on Friday night when a raucous Madison Square Garden hosted No. 22 St. John’s battle with No. 3 UConn.  

Circled on the calendar of college hoops fans all season, the Big East slugfest between two preseason top-five teams gave St. John’s a critical 81-72 victory — its most important win of the season. The Red Storm entered the 2025-26 season with national championship expectations. A sluggish 9-5 start, including a surprising Big East loss to Providence, derailed any early talk of titles.

Things have turned around for Rick Pitino’s team over the last several weeks. With a month left in the regular season, St. John’s is hovering closer to preseason standards. Nine consecutive wins puts the Red Storm in Big East title contention while vaulting them up the national rankings. Perhaps most importantly, the UConn win is the second Red Storm victory over a likely NCAA Tournament at-large team — quieting some concerns about a light St. John’s tournament profile.

Once considered a serious contender, St. John’s saw its national title odds dip to near triple digits before its recent surge. Is the UConn win a sign of bigger things to come for the Red Storm or merely the peak of a roller coaster first three months?

Balance gives St. John’s a consistent backbone

Last season saw St. John’s win the Big East on the way to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The trio of Big East Player of the Year R.J. Luis Jr., all-conference big man Zuby Ejiofor and guard Kamary Richmond was one of the most acclaimed groups in the sport. 

Despite the star power, the Red Storm were ultimately upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round thanks to poor perimeter shooting and an untimely dud from Luis Jr. Finishing with only nine points on 3-for-17 shooting, a miserable shooting day from Luis Jr. — coupled with season-long 30 percent team 3-point shooting — sank a once-promising season before the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. 

Restocking the roster through the transfer portal, St. John’s couldn’t offset Luis Jr.’s NBA departure with individual production with only one player. Instead, they’ve effectively built a roster of effective portal additions around Ejiofor’s return inside. 

Former Big East all-conference selection Bryce Hopkins provides adequate secondary scoring and a physical prowess that wears down opposing front lines. Athletic bursts from well-traveled former five-star forward Dillon Mitchell punctuates the frontcourt trio, with Mitchell’s defensive versatility adding to the group’s physicality. 

The unconventional backcourt quartet of Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon and Dylan Darling all provide unique attributes that are beginning to click. Sellers and Jackson are starters and double-figure scorers. Sanon’s perimeter shooting prowess and Darling’s true point-guard abilities provide helpful minutes off the bench.

Although question marks remain about the lack of a true point guard in the starting lineup against elite teams, St. John’s is sharing the ball effectively and relying on the sum of all parts. Six different players have led a game in scoring this season and seven different players paced the Red Storm in assists for a matchup. Even if a main player is having an off-shooting game, there’s plenty of options to step up in the scoring column, something St. John’s lacked during last season’s upset against Arkansas.

With a top-25 offense and defense nationally, according to KenPom, the Red Storm boast a solid metric profile coupled with multiple capable scorers. 

Improved perimeter shooting makes St. John’s more dangerous

A glaring weakness for St. John’s last season was the team’s horrendous 30 percent mark from 3-point range. There are still flaws with the retooled Red Storm roster. Perimeter shooting has noticeably come a long way since last season.

Up to a respectable 35 percent 3-point shooting as a team on the season, the Red Storm roster features significantly more perimeter shooting options than the previous season. After the UConn win, all four of Darling, Jackson, Sanon and Sellers are at or above 36 percent from 3-point range for the season. 

Ejiofor also worked on his shooting range this offseason to improve to a respectable 33 percent from 3 on his limited looks — a noticeable improvement from 22 percent a season ago. Hopkins can also knock down tough perimeter looks despite only hitting 30 percent so far this season. 

Nobody is mistaking St. John’s for an elite shooting outfit. But an elite defensive team boasting multiple capable perimeter shooters is a recipe for a dangerous matchup in March.

St. John’s still has work to do to become a true contender 

One of the hottest teams in the country, St. John’s still has work to do to improve its underwhelming NCAA Tournament profile. Winning nine games in a row is a positive start for the Red Storm’s long-term outlook. 

But a road win at Villanova and Friday night’s home win against UConn are the only two tournament-quality wins for St. John’s all season. And, thanks to a down year in the Big East, St. John’s only gets two more guaranteed regular season matchups against tournament-caliber teams before the postseason.

Already hovering near the 5- or 6-seed line in many Bracketology projections, any unexpected loss not coming to UConn or Villanova could quickly derail momentum for St. John’s. In a season where the top 10 teams are all loaded with high-end talent, there’s little room for error for a team like the Red Storm during the rest of the regular season. 

If St. John’s is to make a deep run in March, it will likely come from a seed outside of the top three. Unless significant help comes in the form of multiple top-ten teams freefalling down the standings, the Red Storm lack the quality wins (and opportunity for quality wins) of other teams competing for strong seeding. 

The good news? Rick Pitino teams have a reputation for getting stronger during the season. The win over UConn doesn’t define St. John’s as a true title contender after its rocky start just yet. It was also the first time all season St. John’s finally started living up to its lofty preseason billing. 

Sabre Sets New Standard for Flight Shopping Performance with Advanced AI and Predictive Algorithms

7 February 2026 at 18:31
Sabre Sets New Standard for Flight Shopping Performance with Advanced AI and Predictive Algorithms
Sabre S

Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), a global leader in travel technology, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution for the travel industry: SabreMosaic™ Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping. This new AI-driven technology integrates traditional flight content, NDC (New Distribution Capability), low-cost carriers (LCC), and private agency offers through a unified system. With an emphasis on agent-friendly APIs and predictive cache technology, this solution promises faster, more accurate booking results while helping travel agencies manage costs and operational risks, particularly for high-volume flight searches.

Enhanced Shopping Performance with Predictive Algorithms

The unique aspect of Sabre’s new solution lies in its ability to dynamically decide when to query live airline data and when to pull results from a cache. Unlike traditional systems that rely on either live polling or static cache, Sabre’s use of its proprietary Sabre IQ™ predictive algorithms allows for a more efficient approach. The result is that travel agencies are provided with accurate, bookable offers without the risk of outdated fare information or inflated look-to-book (L2B) ratios. Early testing of the solution has shown impressive results, including a 28% reduction in L2B ratios and up to 95% accuracy compared to traditional live polling methods. Furthermore, the system ensures that agencies receive responses in less than 500 milliseconds, which is a game-changer for traditional flight content.

Efficiency and Speed for Travel Agencies

The improvements extend far beyond just speed. Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping provides travel agencies with a streamlined experience, significantly reducing operational costs and improving developer productivity. Traditionally, developers have had to handle multiple content sources, each with its own set of rules, timeouts, and failover mechanisms. With Sabre’s new solution, developers can work within a single, unified framework, making it easier to integrate various airline and content sources into the shopping experience. This standardization simplifies workflows, including sorting, ranking, and personalization. The outcome is quicker development times, reduced maintenance expenses, and a consistent, high-quality experience across all types of airline content, including NDC.

Staying Strong During High Traffic Periods

One of the most notable features of the solution is its ability to perform under pressure. During times of high traffic, irregular operations, or promotional periods, the system’s intelligent fallback logic ensures that agencies continue to receive relevant and reliable offers. This means that even when supplier response times fluctuate, the system remains robust and responsive, ensuring that travel agents can still convert inquiries into bookings without disruptions. This stability is crucial for maintaining agency productivity and ensuring that customer demands are met without delays.

More Control and Greater Efficiency for Travel Sellers

Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping offers more than just faster results—it also brings greater efficiency and control to sellers. By minimizing discrepancies between the offers displayed and the final booking results, this solution reduces failed bookings and the need for manual fare checks. This results in fewer re-shopping cycles, which translates to cleaner downstream data and a more predictable shopping experience for agencies. The increased efficiency is also reflected in agent productivity and lower call-center volumes, allowing agencies to operate more smoothly and cost-effectively, regardless of market conditions or seasonal changes.

Real-World Impact for Partners

Wego, a leading travel platform, was one of the first pilot partners to test the Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping system. The company has already reported impressive results, including faster flight search performance and notable improvements in search accuracy. This real-world success underscores the potential of the new solution to reshape flight shopping for travel agencies and their customers, further establishing Sabre as a leader in travel technology innovation.

Part of SabreMosaic™ Travel Marketplace

The launch of Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping is a significant addition to the SabreMosaic™ Travel Marketplace, Sabre’s modular platform for multi-source retailing. The platform integrates distribution, intelligence, and agent-friendly APIs to help travel brands modernize the shopping experience. As part of this broader ecosystem, the new solution will play a key role in helping travel brands accelerate growth while improving the efficiency of their operations and enhancing the customer experience.

In a world where speed, accuracy, and efficiency are crucial, Sabre’s Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping solution represents a major step forward in the evolution of flight shopping. By leveraging AI, predictive algorithms, and scalable cache technology, Sabre is not only addressing current challenges faced by travel agencies but is also setting the stage for a more streamlined and dynamic future for the travel industry.

With its ability to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the shopping experience, Sabre’s latest innovation is poised to become an essential tool for travel agencies seeking to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.

The post Sabre Sets New Standard for Flight Shopping Performance with Advanced AI and Predictive Algorithms appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

UK’s A55 Road in Chaos: Massive Vehicle Fire Between Bangor and Llandygai Leaves Travellers Stranded – Major Delays Ahead!

7 February 2026 at 18:25
UK’s A55 Road in Chaos: Massive Vehicle Fire Between Bangor and Llandygai Leaves Travellers Stranded – Major Delays Ahead!

Traffic flow on the A55 in Gwynedd, North Wales was significantly disrupted today after a vehicle caught fire on the eastbound carriageway between Bangor and Llandygai shortly after 1 pm local time. The North Wales Expressway — a principal arterial road serving local commuters, commercial transport, and long‑distance travellers — was affected as emergency response teams attended the site and lanes were closed to manage the incident and ensure safety. The fire resulted in partial closure of the eastbound route and affected onward traffic towards central Wales and England.

Location and Importance of the A55 Route

The A55 road, also known as the North Wales Expressway, is a strategic trunk road maintained in Wales by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent and in England by National Highways. It runs approximately 87 miles from Holyhead on Anglesey in the west to Chester in Cheshire, linking major towns and facilitating freight, commuter, and tourist travel across North Wales. This key link supports regional connectivity and economic activity across multiple counties.

Today’s incident occurred between Junction 10 (Bangor) and Junction 11 (Llandygai) on the eastbound carriageway — a section regularly monitored through official traffic feeds and CCTV managed by Traffic Wales.

Immediate Impact on Traffic Flow

Following the outbreak of the vehicle fire, traffic authorities implemented closures on the affected carriageway to protect motorists and allow fire and rescue services to work safely. The closure disrupted the normal eastbound flow, which typically carries vehicles heading towards Llandudno, Conwy, Chester, and beyond into England.

Official traffic alerts indicated that the J10 Bangor off‑slip’s eastbound exit was closed as a safety precaution while emergency response activity was ongoing. Traffic Wales’ real‑time updates classified the situation as a significant obstruction, with congestion building rapidly in the vicinity as vehicles queued or were diverted.

Emergency Response and Road Management

Although official incident logs from Traffic Wales and North Wales policing authorities did not provide detailed commentary today, the response by highway and emergency services focused on extinguishing the vehicle fire, ensuring the safety of motorists, and clearing debris to enable the carriageway to be reopened.

Standard procedure for such events on trunk roads includes deployment of traffic officers, closure of affected lanes, and traffic management plans that may include diversion signage or controlled one‑way systems where practicable. These measures aim to prevent secondary collisions and maintain the integrity of the broader road network during the disruption.

Expected Delays and Motorist Advisory

Motorists using the A55 eastbound between Bangor and Llandygai were advised to expect significant delays and consider alternative routes if possible. Congestion from the closure compounded with normal mid‑afternoon traffic volumes resulted in slower progress for journeys towards central and eastern North Wales and into England.

While official sources did not provide specific diversion routes, travellers are typically directed to use local road networks and signage provided at junctions to bypass closed sections of trunk roads. Drivers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time for journeys, and check real‑time traffic feeds via Traffic Wales’ online portal or official social media updates for the latest information on road conditions.

Tourism and Local Economy Considerations

The A55 is a vital transit corridor for both local residents and visitors to North Wales. It supports access to key destinations such as Snowdonia National Park, coastal towns, and holiday resorts. Traffic disruptions on this route — particularly during peak tourist seasons — have potential knock‑on effects for regional tourism and commerce. Delays can affect coach and freight schedules, local commuting patterns, and onward travel connections.

Today’s incident underscores the importance of resilient road infrastructure and proactive traffic management, especially given the high volume of vehicles typically using the expressway on weekdays and weekends alike.

Historical Context of A55 Incidents

Road incidents — including vehicle breakdowns, collisions, and fires — occasionally occur on high‑speed trunk roads like the A55. While not common, such events can lead to partial or full carriageway closures depending on severity. Past closures on sections of the A55, such as tunnel blockages or major collisions, have led to extended delays and required substantial recovery operations to restore normal traffic flow. The coordinated work between Traffic Wales, emergency services, and local authorities plays a crucial role in minimising disruption.

Future Traffic Monitoring and Updates

Traffic Wales maintains live CCTV coverage and regularly updated traffic alerts for the A55 and other major trunk roads across Wales. These official platforms provide motorists with current information on road conditions, closures, and traffic speeds to support route planning and safety.

Travellers affected by today’s incident are encouraged to consult Traffic Wales’ official website and verified social media channels for ongoing updates, including notification of carriageway re‑openings and restoration of normal traffic flow.

Summary: Key Travel Takeaways

  • A vehicle fire disrupted eastbound traffic on the A55 between Bangor and Llandygai today, leading to closures and delays.
  • The incident affected a critical section of the North Wales Expressway, significantly slowing travel towards central Wales and England.
  • Emergency services and traffic authorities implemented closures and management measures to address safety and clear the carriageway.
  • Motorists were advised to plan ahead, expect delays, and use official traffic feeds for the latest travel conditions.
  • The A55’s importance to regional mobility highlights the impact of such incidents on tourism, commerce, and daily commuting.

(Disclaimer: the image above is for representational purposes only and not of the actual event)

The post UK’s A55 Road in Chaos: Massive Vehicle Fire Between Bangor and Llandygai Leaves Travellers Stranded – Major Delays Ahead! appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Massive Crash Shuts Lanes on A38 in Devon, UK, Causing Major Traffic Chaos for Hours

7 February 2026 at 17:56
Massive Crash Shuts Lanes on A38 in Devon, UK, Causing Major Traffic Chaos for Hours

Devon’s major arterial route, the A38, is experiencing significant disruption this afternoon after a road traffic collision on the westbound carriageway, prompting the closure of two lanes and resulting in extensive delays for motorists. The incident occurred between the junction of the A382 at Drumbridges — near Heathfield industrial estate — and the A383 at the Goodstone Junction, close to Ashburton.

Extent of Closure and Expected Traffic Impact

National Highways, the government authority responsible for England’s strategic road network, has confirmed that two lanes of the westbound A38 are currently shut following the crash reported at 11.51 am. Traffic monitoring sources indicate that vehicles are queuing extensively behind the closure, and officials are not anticipating a full return to normal traffic flow until at least 2.45 pm this afternoon.

The closure encompasses a stretch of the carriageway that forms part of the busy Devon Expressway segment of the A38 — a key link from Exeter through to Plymouth — used daily by commuters, freight, and leisure travellers alike.

Location Context: Drumbridges and Goodstone Junction

The A382 — which feeds traffic onto the A38 at the Drumbridges junction — connects Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, and beyond. This link road is a vital conduit for regional traffic heading towards the A38 and forms part of the broader south‑west transport network in Devon.

Goodstone Junction, where the A383 joins the A38, provides local access towards Ashburton and other Devon towns. With both junction points involved, the disruption affects a significant corridor of regional movement, magnifying congestion as vehicles attempt to divert or wait through the closure.

Official Road Network Response and Planning Considerations

There is no indication at present of any alternative diversion routes officially managed by National Highways or Devon County Council being deployed, but drivers are advised to use live travel update services to plan journeys. Government channels — including the “Traffic England” site managed by National Highways — exist to provide motorists with current alerts and traffic conditions affecting major roads such as the A38.

These live information systems are recommended for real‑time monitoring of incidents and journey planning, ensuring drivers are aware of closures, congestion and possible delays on strategic routes across England, including Devon.

Broader Importance of the A38 in Devon’s Transport Network

The A38 forms one of England’s longest numbered roads, stretching from Bodmin in Cornwall through Devon and across several other counties to Mansfield in the East Midlands. Within Devon it is often referred to as the Devon Expressway — a critical transport link for both local and long‑distance routes.

This road carries a high volume of traffic year‑round, and sections near urban centres such as Exeter and Plymouth are particularly prone to congestion. Incidents on the A38 frequently lead to regional travel disruption, underscoring the importance of up‑to‑date incident reporting and traffic management by highway authorities.

Current Conditions and Motorist Advisory

At the time of reporting, emergency response and recovery efforts are understood to be underway alongside highway maintenance staff, aiming to clear the scene and reopen the carriageway safely as soon as possible. While there has been no official confirmation of injuries or the specific vehicles involved from government sources at the time of this update, the closure’s effect on traffic flow is clear.

Commuters and freight drivers travelling in the Devon area are advised to anticipate extended travel times and plan alternative routes where possible until the closure is lifted. Monitoring official National Highways travel alerts and local authority traffic feeds will provide the most accurate picture of the situation as it develops.

(Disclaimer: the image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual event)

The post Massive Crash Shuts Lanes on A38 in Devon, UK, Causing Major Traffic Chaos for Hours appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Tulum to Host the Prestigious 2026 Destination Wedding Business Summit, Reinforcing Its Status as the Premier Global Hub for Luxury Weddings and Romance Tourism

7 February 2026 at 17:50
Tulum to Host the Prestigious 2026 Destination Wedding Business Summit, Reinforcing Its Status as the Premier Global Hub for Luxury Weddings and Romance Tourism

Tulum, Mexico, will take center stage in the global wedding industry from February 11 to 13, 2026, when it hosts the highly anticipated Destination Wedding Business Summit. As a key event of Tulum Wedding Week 2026, the summit will attract influential leaders and professionals from the wedding and romance tourism sector, reinforcing Tulum’s status as one of the world’s top destinations for weddings and romantic celebrations.

With its breathtaking beaches, luxury venues, and bohemian charm, Tulum continues to gain popularity as a premier wedding destination. The Destination Wedding Business Summit promises to highlight this trend by providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and sharing best practices within the destination wedding industry. The summit is designed to connect professionals and industry leaders while promoting Tulum’s unrivaled appeal as a wedding hotspot for both local and international couples.

The Summit’s Significance for the Wedding Industry

The Destination Wedding Business Summit is poised to make a substantial impact on the wedding industry by bringing together key players such as wedding planners, destination management companies (DMCs), venue owners, photographers, and other creatives. The event will serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, providing attendees with insights into the latest trends, technologies, and marketing strategies that will shape the future of destination weddings.

Tulum’s growing reputation in the wedding tourism market makes it an ideal setting for such a high-profile event. As destination weddings become an increasingly popular choice for couples, the summit will provide attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in this expanding sector. The event will also serve as a testament to Tulum’s emergence as a leading global destination for wedding tourism, showcasing the region’s unique combination of luxury, natural beauty, and exclusive offerings.

An Exclusive Three-Day Experience

The Destination Wedding Business Summit will unfold over three exciting days, each dedicated to a specific audience, ensuring a tailored experience for all participants.

  • Day 1 (February 11): The first day will focus on couples looking to marry in the Mexican Caribbean. Expect personalized workshops and sessions that will help couples plan their perfect destination wedding in Tulum. From selecting the ideal venue to choosing local vendors, the day will provide expert advice and inspiration for couples seeking to create a wedding that reflects their unique love story. An estimated 30 to 40 couples will take part in this intimate and informative experience.
  • Day 2 (February 12): Day two will cater to industry professionals. This day will provide a deeper dive into the business aspects of the wedding tourism industry, offering presentations and panels that cover everything from growing a destination wedding business to understanding global market trends. With 50 to 100 professionals in attendance, this day will facilitate valuable networking opportunities and foster collaboration among vendors and industry leaders.
  • Day 3 (February 13): The final day will open up the event to the public with a free wedding expo, featuring over 70 to 100 vendors from across the wedding industry. This public event will allow couples, planners, and attendees to explore a wide range of wedding-related services, including florists, fashion designers, musicians, and photographers. With an expected 3,000 to 3,500 visitors, the expo will be a vibrant showcase of Tulum’s wedding offerings, making it a key opportunity for couples to meet local vendors and find inspiration for their upcoming celebrations.

Tulum’s Rising Appeal as a Wedding Destination

Tulum’s appeal as a wedding destination continues to grow, fueled by its idyllic beaches, upscale venues, and unique blend of rustic charm and luxury. The town has become synonymous with exclusive, high-end weddings, attracting couples from around the world who seek a romantic and intimate setting for their nuptials.

The Riviera Maya, with its array of luxurious hotels, private villas, and beach resorts, provides an excellent backdrop for weddings, offering something for every type of couple. From intimate ceremonies at a beachside location to large-scale celebrations at world-class resorts, Tulum offers a variety of options for couples seeking the perfect wedding venue.

In addition to its stunning venues, Tulum is renowned for its high-quality services tailored specifically for weddings, such as gourmet catering, personalized decor, professional photography, and exclusive entertainment options. The region’s natural beauty and laid-back, bohemian atmosphere also add to its allure, making it a destination that combines elegance with authenticity.

Boosting Romance Tourism in the Mexican Caribbean

The Destination Wedding Business Summit is part of a broader strategy to boost romance tourism in Tulum and the Mexican Caribbean. As destination weddings continue to gain popularity, Tulum is positioning itself as a key player in the romance tourism sector. The region is not only ideal for weddings but also for honeymoons, anniversaries, and other romantic getaways, attracting couples seeking an unforgettable experience.

The event is expected to bring substantial benefits to the local economy, as professionals and attendees contribute to the demand for services, accommodations, and other local offerings. It will also shine a spotlight on Tulum’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices, making it a desirable location for eco-conscious couples looking for a destination that prioritizes environmental responsibility while offering a luxury experience.

By hosting the summit, Tulum aims to showcase its unique ability to blend luxury, culture, and sustainability, providing an experience that is not only exclusive but also mindful of the environment.

The Future of Weddings in Tulum

As Tulum continues to grow as a wedding destination, the Destination Wedding Business Summit is expected to remain a central event in the calendar of wedding professionals and couples alike. The summit will help solidify Tulum’s role as a top-tier location for destination weddings and provide industry professionals with the tools and connections they need to succeed in this competitive sector.

With its pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, and professional services, Tulum is well on its way to becoming one of the most sought-after wedding destinations in the world. As the wedding tourism industry continues to evolve, Tulum is perfectly positioned to lead the charge, offering couples an unparalleled destination to celebrate their love in style.

The post Tulum to Host the Prestigious 2026 Destination Wedding Business Summit, Reinforcing Its Status as the Premier Global Hub for Luxury Weddings and Romance Tourism appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Grand Hotel Leicester Reopens as Unlimited Collection Gem to Revitalize UK Tourism

7 February 2026 at 17:39
Grand Hotel Leicester Reopens as Unlimited Collection Gem to Revitalize UK Tourism
Image of Grand Hotel Leicester

Leicester, UK witnesses the revival of its iconic Grand Hotel on Granby Street, set to reopen in January 2026 under The Unlimited Collection banner. Managed by The Ascott Limited in partnership with S Hotels & Resorts, the transformed property merges Victorian heritage with modern luxury, positioning Leicester as a prime tourism destination. This reopening promises to enhance city tourism by attracting business travelers, event planners, and cultural enthusiasts to the revitalized center.

Historic Transformation Under New Management

The Grand Hotel Leicester by The Unlimited Collection emerges as the eighth global addition to the brand, following properties in Dublin, Edinburgh, Vietnam, and Singapore. Originally built in the 1900s as Leicester‘s sole surviving hotel from that era, it undergoes comprehensive refurbishment of one hundred four rooms, event spaces, and dining outlets. The Grade II-listed structure, designed by Cecil Ogden in 1898, regains its Art Deco splendor while integrating contemporary comforts.

This evolution supports Leicester tourism regeneration, drawing visitors to a landmark that hosted royalty and statesmen. Local tourism benefits from increased footfall, fostering vibrancy in Granby Street’s pedestrian-friendly upgrades.

Prime Location Boosting Accessibility

Situated near Leicester Railway Station, the hotel offers effortless access to transport, cultural sites like Phoenix Arts Centre, and emerging shops. Its central spot facilitates exploration of Leicester‘s diverse offerings, from Richard III’s tomb at Leicester Cathedral to lively markets. Proximity to theaters and casinos enhances appeal for leisure and business tourism.

Enhanced connectivity projects higher occupancy, impacting Leicester tourism positively by serving as a gateway for day-trippers and overnighters alike.

Luxurious Rooms Honoring Heritage

All one hundred four individually designed rooms blend period charm with modern amenities, including two grand suites and nineteen premier options. Features encompass air conditioning, smart TVs, WiFi, and unique stylistic nods to Leicester‘s theatrical past. Guests experience immersive stays that celebrate the building’s legacy while meeting contemporary expectations.

Such offerings elevate luxury tourism in Leicester, attracting upscale clientele whose extended visits stimulate local economies through premium spending.

Event Spaces Driving Business Tourism

The Kings Hall stands as Leicester‘s largest historic ballroom, accommodating up to three hundred for meetings, weddings, and galas amid Art Deco grandeur. Seven versatile spaces cater to corporate events and celebrations, reinforcing the hotel’s role in the city’s business ecosystem. Bespoke services position it as a versatile venue hub.

This capacity amplifies Leicester tourism via conventions and social gatherings, generating jobs and partnerships with regional suppliers.

O.W Dining as Social Tourism Hub

O.W at The Grand, named after original visionary Orson Wright, operates all-day with British pies, Afternoon Tea, and local gin showcases. Art Deco influences and storytelling create accessible sophistication, appealing to pre-theatre diners and evening revelers. Emphasis on local producers roots the menu in Leicester heritage.

The venue drives city tourism footfall, evolving into a community anchor that extends guest stays and invites residents, boosting evening tourism revenues.

U-Shop and Loyalty Perks Enhancing Stays

The signature U-Shop curates local treasures, immersing visitors in Leicester‘s artisanal scene. Ascott Star Rewards provides exclusive privileges, encouraging repeat tourism through tailored experiences. These elements deepen engagement, transforming one-night stops into memorable journeys. Impacts include sustained visitor loyalty, fortifying Leicester tourism against seasonal fluctuations.

Regeneration Catalyst for Leicester

Backed by Leicester City Council’s efforts and Historic England’s funding, the hotel’s revamp restores shopfronts and public realms. Completed ground-floor works feature sustainable timber and iron gates, aligning with Granby Street’s pedestrianization. This euro nine hundred thousand initiative symbolizes Leicester‘s commitment to heritage-led renewal.

Tourism surges as the landmark draws history buffs, complementing attractions like New Walk Museum and Grosvenor Casino. Economic ripple effects create hospitality employment and supplier ties.

Cultural Ties Elevating Tourism Narrative

Leicester‘s arts vibrancy, from galleries to theaters, synergizes with the hotel’s theatrical redesign. Its history as a royal host underscores cultural significance, inviting immersive tourism packages. One-hour London access broadens appeal for hybrid trips.

The reopening reinforces Leicester tourism as a heritage powerhouse, diversifying from urban explorers to cultural pilgrims.

Sustainability and Community Focus

Refurbishments prioritize eco-materials and local sourcing, supporting Leicester‘s green ambitions. Partnerships with creatives ensure authentic experiences, embedding the hotel in community fabric. This approach attracts conscious travelers, enhancing reputational tourism value. Long-term, it sustains vibrancy, mitigating overtourism through quality-focused growth.

Global Brand’s Local Impact

As The Unlimited Collection’s UK expansion, the project underscores Ascott’s strategy for culturally resonant properties. Grand Hotel Leicester joins Edinburgh’s repositioned asset, marking European debuts. Bookings via official channels herald a new hospitality chapter.

Leicester tourism gains international visibility, projecting increased arrivals and center vitality. The fusion of legacy and innovation cements its status as an unmissable tourism icon.

Image Credit: The Ascott Limited

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