MILAN (AP) — Switzerland forward Kevin Fiala sustained a leg injury and was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in a game against Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday.

The Los Angeles Kings star went down when he collided with Tom Wilson with just under three minutes left in Canada's 5-1 victory.

Fiala backed into a hit on Wilson near the boards and immediately went to the ice. After a stoppage in play, medical personnel attended to Fiala.

Fiala was placed face down on a stretcher and his left leg appeared to be in an air cast as he was wheeled out.

The 29-year-old Fiala is in his 12th NHL season and fourth with the Kings. He has 40 points in 56 games this season.

___

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

An unusual battle is unfolding over the Winter Olympics in Milan - not on the slopes or in the rinks, but on the internet.

At its heart are Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier, and Alysa Liu, a figure-skater. They have a lot in common: both are young women of American-Chinese heritage who were born and raised in the US. And they are champions in their field.

And yet, one is being hailed a trailblazer, while the other is deemed a traitor. At least that's the case in the eyes of some in the US. On Chinese social media, it's the other way around.

Why? Liu, the daughter of a political activist who fled China after a deadly crackdown, is competing under the US flag. And Gu, whose mother moved to the US for higher education, often spent her childhood summers visiting Beijing. She is representing China in Milan.

That seems to rankle with some Americans. "Eileen Gu competes for China and gets paid millions to do it. Alysa Liu is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant who participated in the Tiananmen Square protests. In a world of Eileen Gus, be an Alysa Liu," said one post on X.

Much of this backlash appears to be driven by political commentators and a vocal minority on X, rather than the broader public or the sporting world. The underlying current is the competition between the US and China - the world's two biggest economies are constantly vying for an edge in everything, from trade to tech.

And so, a narrow yet vociferous slice of the internet is pitting two women against each other, questioning their loyalty and identity, while interrogating their immigrant experiences - and adding to the pressure they already face as sporting figures.

The 'snow princess' and the 'patriot'

Known in China by her nickname "Snow Princess", Eileen Gu was born in California to a Chinese mother and American father.

Her parents separated when she was young and she was raised by her mother Yan Gu - reportedly a successful venture capitalist with degrees from Peking University and Stanford.

Gu grew up with a foot firmly in both worlds, spending her summers in Beijing and the rest of her term at a private school in San Francisco.

She began freeskiing at the age of three in the Lake Tahoe region and joined the Northstar California Resort freeskiing team at the age of eight. She won her first national championship just a year later.

She initially skied for the US before switching to Team China in 2019 in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which took place in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Gu said she wanted to "inspire millions of young people in Beijing - my mother's birthplace". The decision earned her the praise of many in China.

She went on to win two golds and one silver in the 2022 Olympics.

In the years since, Gu has established herself as a veritable sports icon in China. Millions on Chinese on social media follow her every move, leaving heart shaped emojis under her posts.

Chinese state media outlet the Global Times called her an "idol for the whole world". She is also one of the highest-earning female athletes in the world, reportedly earning around $23m (£16.9m) a year.

Her decision to join Team China initially brought with it a considerable amount of backlash. Beyond the rivalry with the US, people also took issue with China's authoritarian Communist Party rulers, their poor record on human rights and the lack of free speech in the country.

But the outrage died down for the most part - until now.

It kicked off last week, when Olympian Hunter Hess was asked what it was like to represent the US given the polarising situation in the country, including the recent, contentious ICE raids in Minnesota that left two people dead.

He replied that he had "mixed feelings" about it, adding: "Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US."

President Donald Trump responded to Hess' comment by calling him a "real loser" who "shouldn't have tried out for the team". Many athletes leapt to Hess' defence, including Gu: "As someone who's been caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes".

Her comments enraged her critics, who said Gu was able to criticise Trump but had never spoken out publicly against China.

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was among them, calling Gu a "traitor", who "was born in America, raised in America, lives in America and chose to compete against her own country for the worst human rights abuser on the planet - China".

"You don't get to enjoy the freedoms of US citizenship while acting as a global PR asset for the Chinese Communist Party," he said in a lengthy post on X.

"Does Eileen Gu have any criticism for Xi Jinping for genocide, slavery and arresting dissenters?" Matt Whitlock, a self-described Republican communicator also posted on X. Western governments, rights groups and the UN have repeatedly accused Beijing of grave human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as in its swift crackdowns on protest and dissent across the country. The Chinese government denies the charges and says these are internal matters.

"Many American-born athletes compete for other nations with little fanfare - the 'New Cold War' climate between the US and China has changed the stakes," says Professor Yinan He of Lehigh University.

"Personal identity is increasingly centred on national loyalty in the eyes of the public, diminishing the tolerance for 'deviance' or dual-identity".

Earlier this week Gu said she felt as though she was "skiing with the weight of two countries on my shoulder", after losing the gold in women's slopestyle to Switzerland.

While some supporters saw this as a moment of vulnerability, it appeared to set her critics off again. Some took offence to her claiming the "weight" of the US was on her: "She was only representing one country and it wasn't ours."

Soon, many online began comparing her to Alysa Liu - an athlete who has made a comeback this year, winning a gold medal for the US figure skating team.

The 20-year-old is the daughter of Arthur Liu, who fled China after taking part in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. The student-led pro-democracy movement ended in a brutal massacre in Beijing. The subject remains taboo in China, and any references to it are swiftly censored.

Her family history might partly explain why there aren't too many posts about Liu on Chinese social media. Those that do praise her usually have comments below such as: "Why are you praising this person? Her whole family is anti-China".

Raised by her father, Liu grew up in California and began skiing at a young age. At the age of 13, she became the youngest ever athlete to win the US women's figure skating championship.

In 2019, Arthur Liu alleged that he was targeted in a spying operation that the Justice Department alleges was ordered by the Chinese government. His daughter says she was told by FBI agents in 2022 that she and her family were believed to be under surveillance by the Chinese government.

Her father's background and the possibility that her family is still targeted because of it has certainly won Liu sympathy and admiration. That, in turn, seems to be fuelling the criticism of Gu.

The divide between Li and Gu isn't just about "nationalism, it's also about class and relatability, Prof He says. Gu represents a luxury culture - private schools, Stanford. Her choice to compete for China is often seen through this lens as a 'mercenary business decision'", he explains.

Indeed a post on X by non-profit group Asians for Liberty read, "The CCP lures American athletes with promises of wealth and fame but a true American rejects it. Alysa Liu is an American patriot".

"All of this frames how the media and the public make sense of Liu and Gu, who have been cast as the good and bad immigrant respectively," says Professor Richard King of Columbia College Chicago.

Chinese Australian dissident artist Badiucao, known for his content against the Chinese Communist Party, posted drawings of the athletes recently. One showed Liu in front of a Tiananmen tank, a reference to her father's activism, and another showed Gu holding a Chinese flag, with what appear to be bodies hidden underneath, a not-so-subtle reference to the accusations against Beijing.

Far-right news and opinion website The Daily Caller, founded by political commentator Tucker Carlson, went further with an article titled: "Meet Eileen Gu, the true villain of the Winter Olympics".

The episode also exposes "the incredibly precarious social and political landscape that Asian Americans have to navigate," says Professor Stanley Thangaraj at Stonehill College. They "come to be recognised only in limited ways, and any political act immediately dislocates them from the US".

When prominent Asian Americans attempted to defend Gu, with Marvel actor Simu Liu posting that he was "freaking proud" of Gu, calling her "inspirational, resilient, intelligent and well spoken in two languages" - he too faced an immediate wave of backlash, with comments demanding he "go back to China".

As the Games continue in Milan, the sport itself seems to have become an afterthought in discussions of both athletes.

"Despite both athletes sharing similar racial backgrounds and first-generation immigrant experiences," Prof He says, "they have been cast as opposing archetypes in a narrative they didn't write".

• The Olympic skier caught in a China-US divide
• Students or spies? The young Chinese caught in Trump's crosshairs

MADRID (AP) — Sergio Herrera produced a string of superb saves to win a point for Osasuna in a 0-0 draw at Elche in La Liga on Friday.

Home side Elche had the lion’s share of the chances but Herrera used his hands, body, and legs to thwart the forwards over and over, including twice in the final minutes.

“That’s football, these things happen,” Elche coach Eder Sarabia said. “We were vastly superior and produced a brilliant performance, but sometimes you still don’t win. It was a 4-0 or 4-1 kind of game.”

Elche looked a different side from the one that lost its previous three league games and was more incisive than the team six places above it.

However, Herrera’s heroics meant it ended with just one point that lifted it two places, into 13th. Its winless league runs extended to seven matches. It has the same points as the two teams below it, Sevilla and Alaves.

Osasuna remained in ninth place.

Only six points separate Athletic Bilbao in 10th from Rayo Vallecano in the relegation zone.

___

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

"Quad God" Ilia Malinin was expected to win gold in men's figure skating at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Everyone has a bad day and Malinin had one on Friday in Italy. He fell and saw his hopes for winning evaporate. In the end, the "Quad God" finished in eighth place, a rare and disappointing results for a skater regarded as the best in the world. "I blew it," Malinin said. "That's honestly the first thing that came to my mind."

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: 'Quad God' Ilia Malinin falls, falters in men's figure skating

Ahead of upcoming season, Charlotte FC’s GM said current roster “most competitive” they’ve had.

Charlotte FC’s general manager said he has high hopes for the season as they gear up for this weekend’s preseason friendly at the Coachella Valley Invitational.

ALSO READ: Charlotte FC prepares for new season with Coachella Valley Invitational

Channel 9’s DaShawn Brown was in Southern California and spoke with GM Zoran Krneta about his expectations for the club.

“The name of the game is always for us to get better every year,” Krneta said.

Brown asked, “I’m curious as you watch a preseason friendly, what are you looking for?”

“I’m just looking for zero injuries,” Krneta said. “That’s first and foremost. The second thing I’m looking for, to see how the young players, the new players, fit into the system.”

Krneta offered insight on several players on this year’s roster, including the return of midfielder Pep Biel.

“Seeing Pep Biel coming back fully fit. No issues. No injuries. Nothing, brilliant,” the GM said.

Rising star Idan Toklamati will enter this season in the No. 9 jersey.

“Nine is signifying the star striker of the team,” Krneta said. “No. 10 is the star midfielder and creator, and No. 9 is the goal scorer.”

Among recent signings, Krneta said new midfielder, Luca De La Torre, from the U.S. men’s national team, adds a different dimension.

The club also added a veteran presence with new centerback Henry Kessler three years after their first try.

“First of all, he has 130 games in MLS, so that’s experience there,” Krneta said.

“We thought we needed another starting player at that position, because (Morrison) Agyemang is young, and is not proven yet,” Krneta said. “Privett has done a good job for us. He’s a really, really good player, an MLS caliber player, and obviously, Tim Ream.”

Brown asked, “How close are you to where you would like this roster to be?”

“I think it’s close,” Krneta said. “I think this team is the most competitive team we’ve had, barring injuries. Hopefully, there are no injuries, and everyone is fit. I think we have a very, very strong team.”

He added, “To be honest, I can’t wait for the season to start.”

You can watch Charlotte FC’s matchup with Minnesota at 1 p.m. Saturday on our sister station TV64.

VIDEO: Charlotte FC unveils new primary kit for 5th season

Ilia Malinin, the red-hot favourite for men's figure skating gold at Milan-Cortina 2026, suffered a nightmare as he fell twice and missed out on the medals entirely.

In a remarkable men's free skate, many of the major medal contenders struggled with their routines. Of the final six athletes, five suffered falls.

The only man to skate clean, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, was left stunned as he won gold – his country's first Winter Olympic medal in 32 years.

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, regarded as Malinin's nearest rival for gold, fell on a quad flip and had to settle for silver. Bronze went to his compatriot Shun Sato.

The USA's Malinin finished eighth after a horrendous free skate in which he visibly crumbled under the pressure.

Competing in his first Olympics, the 21-year-old arrived with the nickname 'Quad God' having become the only skater to successfully land the quadruple axel.

The move requires a skater to launch themselves into a jump, spin four and a half times in the air, and cleanly land backwards.

But Malinin did not pull out this move at all in the Games, although it was registered in his planned elements. Indeed, in this final he only performed a single axel, to groans from the crowd.

And, going for a quad lutz, he fell to the ice in a moment that made the Olympics stop.

No-one expected it. And certainly no-one thought he would fall again, but he did just that two elements later.

At the end, Malinin grabbed his hair and put his hands to his knees. As he left the ice he could only shake his head on the verge of tears. The Quad God, mortal.

• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events
• Winter Olympics 2026 medal table

Shaidorov maintains composure

Malinin had come in for some criticism at these Games, particularly around his performance in the team event, in which he was outscored by Kagiyama in the short program before errors in the free skate – in which he had not originally been expected to compete - almost allowed Japan to scoop gold.

Reacting to the pressure, Malinin's team took him out of the Olympic bubble to train 35 miles away in Bergamo before the men's event as they hoped it would help him reset.

And his cleaned-up performance in the individual short program – finishing five points ahead of the field – seemed like that that of a man in no mood to lose his two-and-a-half-year unbeaten competition streak.

His lead into the free skate was ominous – this is where Malinin dominates. At the Grand Prix Final, he was third after the short but still finished 30 points clear of the field after the free, landing seven quads.

Usually, he has such an advantage because of a deadly combination of fearlessness and ability. His program for the free skate has a much higher technical score than any of his rivals, and judges will give extra credit for ambition while also rewarding with a higher component score.

But this was a timid routine. The quad axel subbed for a single, a quad loop reduced to a double. Dreams, turned to rubble.

On his quad salchow, he only executed a double, then fell. Reality hit, just like the ice.

Malinin's free skate was the 15th best of the night. It earned just 156.33 points, more than 40 behind Shaidorov.

He performed a backflip for the crowd's entertainment, but it seemed like a forlorn call to the good times of only last week.

In the team event he had also landed the first legal backflip at an Olympic Games since US champion Terry Kubicka in 1976 - after which it was banned for safety reasons.

Thanks in part to skaters like France's Surya Bonaly - who performed the move illegally but successfully at Nagano 1998 - the backflip is now legal again.

Malinin became the first to land it at the Games on only one foot and did the flip again in the short program.

But really, none of that mattered. And after the scores came in, Malinin went straight to Shaidorov to congratulate him.

This is Kazakhstan's first Winter Olympic gold medal since Lillehammer 1994, when Vladimir Smirnov won the men's 50km cross-country skiing. That was 10 years before Shaidorov, 21, was born.

After a slight slip on the quad lutz, Shaidorov kept his head when all about were losing theirs and produced two clean quad techniques of his own.

All hail the new Quad God.

The gold medal in Men’s Figure Skating was Ilia Malinin’s for the taking. Taking to the ice for the final routine of the night in the men’s free skate, the path was clear for an easy evening, prompting Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir to opine whether or not Malinin would really deliver his high-difficulty performance, or coast to the gold on an easier plan. Five minutes later jaws were on the floor, as Malinin had one of the most profound collapses in Winter Olympics history.

Initially, there was the belief that Malinin, The Quad God, could bust out as many as seven quads in his free skate performance, something that had never been achieved before. However, the stakes of the skate plummeted after Malinin’s biggest competition, Japan’s Yumi Kagiyama, had three incomplete landings and was sitting in second place. This meant that Malinin could essentially phone it in, and still win gold.

Taking to the ice looking relaxed and in control, Malinin completed his first quad toe with ease. Then everything went wrong. He attempted his iconic quadruple axel, but was forced to bail out and only completed a single. Another jump approached, this time a quad salchow — but once again Malinin bailed out and completed a single. Points were being shaved off at a dramatic rate. Then the unthinkable happened as he lined up for a quad-triple combination, bailing out once more to settle for a double, then falling on the landing.

To give you a sense of how wild this was in real time, I present you with my reaction from our Slack.

Despite entering the free skate with a five point lead, Malinin turned in the 15th ranked free skating score with a 156.33, causing him to finish in 8th — well off the podium. It gave way to a Cinderella story, with Kazakstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, who was 5th after the short program, rising all the way to gold and taking the medal everyone expected would belong to Malinin.

Leaving the ice distraught, The Quad God knew he wasn’t going to medal at his first Olympic games in the individual event. Stunned, he was overheard telling his father “I don’t understand. I’ve never skated like that.”

It was one of the most dramatic collapses we’ve seen in Winter Olympics history. A devastating end to the games for a legend of figure skating. Malinin will always have his team gold, but this loss as an individual champion will haunt him until the next games.

The IHSA released the seeds earlier in the week, and now the full schedule is set for the Illinois boys basketball state playoffs.

Teams learned on Friday, Feb. 13, which regional they were assigned to, and their road to a possible state championship in March in Champaign.

For teams in Western Illinois, there are several high hopes in Class 1A to make it to the super-sectional in Macomb at WIU on March 9. The winner there advances to the Final Four.

Abingdon-Avon is the top seed in its half of the sectional, with Galva set up to try for an upset in the regional final on its home floor. In the other 1A sectional in this part of the state, Orion hopes to get out of the Bureau Valley regional to play the next round of the postseason in its gym.

In 2A, West Hancock and Illini West's rivalry likely will renew in the final of the Canton Regional, while Sherrard is the top seed for its part of the sectional, favored to advance out of Farmington's regional.

Galesburg and Geneseo in 3A will try to use home-court advantage to pull a surprise and make the second week of the tournament.

Schedules for teams in Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Stark and Warren counties are below.

Check back as the tournament begins for scores and updated schedules.

Class 1A Monmouth United Sectional

Tuesday, March 3

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: Winner Galva Regional vs. Winner Tremont Regional

Wednesday, March 4

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: Winner Rushville-Industry Regional vs. Winner Knoxville Regional

Friday, March 6

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Galva Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (16) ROWVA-Williamsfield at (1) Abingdon-Avon

Game 2 at TBA: (9) Glasford (Illini Bluffs) at (8) Princeville

Game 3 at TBA: (13) Ridgewood at (4) Galva

Game 4 at TBA: (12) Stark County at (5) Elmwood

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Tremont Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (15) South Fulton at (2) Tremont

Game 2 at TBA: (10) Delavan at (7) Manito Midwest Central

Game 3 at TBA: (14) Augusta Southeastern at (3) West Prairie

Game 4 at TBA: (11) Camp Point Central at (6) Mason City Illini Central

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Rushville-Industry Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (16) Hartsburg-Emden at (1) Deer Creek-Mackinaw

Game 2 at TBA: (9) Havana at (8) Rushville-Industry

Game 3 at TBA: (13) Bushnell-Prairie City at (4) North Fulton

Game 4 at TBA: (12) Lewistown at (5) Mendon Unity

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Knoxville Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (15) Knoxville at (2) Brimfield

Game 2 at TBA: (10) Monmouth United at (7) Roanoke-Benson

Game 3 at TBA: (14) Lowpoint-Washburn at (3) Minonk Fieldcrest

Game 4 at TBA: (11) Biggsville West Central at (6) Peoria Heights

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Class 1A Orion Sectional

Tuesday, March 3

Game 1 at 7 p.m.: Winner Rock Island Alleman Regional vs. Winner Woodstock Marian Regional

Wednesday, March 4

Game 2 at 7 p.m.: Winner Pearl City Regional vs. Winner Manlius Bureau Valley Regional

Friday, March 6

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Rock Island Alleman Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (16) Ashton-Franklin Center at (1) Sterling Newman Central Catholic

Game 2 at TBA: (9) Morrison at (8) Rock Island Alleman

Game 3 at TBA: (13) Kewanee Wethersfield at (4) Annawan

Game 4 at TBA: (12) Milledgeville at (5) Forreston

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Woodstock Marian Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (15) Alden-Hebron at (2) Galena

Game 2 at 7 am: (10) Woodstock Marian at (7) Warren

Game 3 at TBA: (14) Durand at (3) Pecatonica

Game 4 at TBA: (11) Rockford Christian Life at (6) Lena-Winslow

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Pearl City Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (16) River Ridge at (1) Dakota

Game 2 at TBA: (9) Stockton at (8) Pearl City

Game 3 at TBA: (13) Orangeville at (4) East Dubuque

Game 4 at TBA: (12) South Beloit at (5) Scales Mound

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Manlius Bureau Valley Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (15) Rockford Sacred Heart at (2) Lanark Eastland

Game 2 at TBA: (10) Polo at (7) West Carroll

Game 3 at TBA: (14) Kirkland Hiawatha at (3) Orion

Game 4 at TBA: (11) Manlius Bureau Valley at (6) Fulton

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Class 2A Chillicothe IVC Sectional

Tuesday, March 3

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: Winner Farmington Regional vs. Winner Canton Regional

Game 2 at 8 p.m.: Winner Downs Tri-Valley Regional vs. Winner Rockridge Regional

Friday, March 6

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Farmington Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: (9) Princeton at (8) Monmouth-Roseville

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Sherrard vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: (4) Farmington vs. (5) Kewanee

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Canton Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (10) Peoria Notre Dame at (7) Eureka

Game 2 at TBA: (11) Stanford Olympia at (6) Canton

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: (2) West Hancock vs. Winner Game 1

Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: (3) Carthage Illini West vs. Winner Game 2

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 5 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Downs Tri-Valley Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (9) Downs Tri-Valley at (8) Peoria Christian

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Peoria Manual vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: (4) Bloomington Central Catholic vs. (5) Macomb

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Rockridge Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (10) Rockridge at (7) Spring Valley Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (2) Port Byron Riverdale vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: (3) Chillicothe IVC vs. (6) Mercer County

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Class 3A Ottawa Twp. Sectional

Tuesday, March 3

Game 1 at 7 p.m.: Winner Morton Regional vs. Winner LaSalle-Peru Regional

Wednesday, March 4

Game 2 at 7 p.m.: Winner Geneseo Regional vs. Winner Galesburg Regional

Friday, March 6

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Morton Regional

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: (1) Morton vs. (8) Bartonville Limestone

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (4) Metamora vs. (5) Dunlap

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

LaSalle-Peru Regional

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: (2) LaSalle-Peru vs. (7) Dixon

Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: (3) Ottawa Twp. vs. (5) Streator Twp.

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Galesburg Regional

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 1 at 6 p.m.: (2) East Peoria vs. (7) Washington

Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: (3) Peoria High vs. (6) Galesburg

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Geneseo Regional

Monday, Feb. 23

Game 1 at TBA: (9) Sterling at (8) Morris

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Kankakee vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: (4) Plano vs. (6) Geneseo

Friday, Feb. 27

Game 4 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA boys basketball state tournament schedule, results for Western Illinois

Since 2023, NFL fans have gotten used to a yearly tradition of the NFL players' union, the NFLPA, publishing team report cards where players would grade their franchises' working conditions. Now, that tradition is coming to an end.

On Friday, a memo was sent to all 32 NFL clubs informing them that the NFL had won a grievance filed against the NFLPA regarding the report cards. The arbitrator ruled that the publication of such report cards violates the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement and issued an order prohibiting the NFLPA from publishing or publicly disclosing the results of future report cards.

Sources: The NFL informed all 32 teams today in a memo that it prevailed in its grievance vs. the NFLPA and its “team report cards.” An arbitrator determined that the NFLPA’s conduct violated the CBA and ordered it to stop making public any future report cards. pic.twitter.com/mss5WUQjhF

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2026

During the proceedings, NFLPA witnesses reportedly characterized the report cards as "union speech," saying that the results published were "cherry-picked" and that players played no role in drafting the actual commentary on the organizations, which was left to union staffers. The NFLPA would also choose which anonymous quotes to include or exclude to support specific narratives, according to the witnesses.

The move comes with plenty of controversy, with people such as former NFL star JJ Watt and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noting that the clearly impactful ratings being prohibited prevents players from being able to have a public forum to critique their workplace and let those across the league understand what working for each franchise might be like.

The NFLPA released their own statement on the ruling, stating that they "strongly disagree" with the decision made, and that while they can no longer share results with the public, it "does not stop the program or its impact" and that the report card exist to "serve players." The NFLPA also pointed out that the arbitrator found the report cards to be fair, balanced, and sound in methodology, rejecting the NFL's characterization.

Statement on Team Report Cards. pic.twitter.com/m7BSaOJFSf

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) February 13, 2026

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFLPA ordered to stop team report cards: Inside the controversial move

As excitement for the Olympic Winter Games extends beyond the sports events, Milano Cortina 2026 and On Location are collaborating to redefine global hospitality at the Games. They’ve unveiled a new collection of official hospitality packages designed to bring fans as close as possible to the action, both inside and beyond the venues.

“We create products starting from entry level all the way to premium,” said Erin Merrell, senior director of event production at On Location. “Everything we do is focused on the masses. We want to create an experience that is accessible to everybody.”

Drawing on key takeaways from Paris 2024, Merrell says the team intentionally expanded hospitality beyond competition sites, sourcing immersive off-venue locations across Milan, Livigno and Cortina to meet fans where they are.

That vision has been actualized through On Location’s exclusive partnership with the International Olympic Committee in efforts to offer premium immersive experiences and rare access to Olympic history.

Chief revenue officer Shawn Doss said the goal is to showcase an experience for fans that extends beyond the finite number of seats in a stadium.

“Off-venue hospitality, Club House 2026, gives fans the opportunity to be right in the center of Milan, right by where the Olympic flame is, and get a chance to experience some of the best historic artifacts that have ever been here through the IOC,” Doss said.

Such pieces of Olympic history include medals from previous Games dating back to the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Games, prior Olympic torches and other seldom-seen sports memorabilia.

Whether high in the mountains, on the ski slopes or inside hockey and figure skating venues, guests are positioned alongside the press and premium suites with private luxury boxes to enjoy the action with friends, family and clients.

Beyond the events, On Location has worked so fans can get a real taste of the Olympic flavor and hospitality, even when not at the venue.

“We provide unique, five-star food and culture experiences by using local catering and local food and beverage,” Doss said.

This combination creates what Doss calls a “mental driveway-to-driveway” experience, guiding guests from the moment they imagine attending the Games to the moment they return home.

From history to hospitality, On Location is setting a new standard for how the world experiences the Olympic Games, both inside and beyond the venues.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks claimed their second Super Bowl title in franchise history. After starring at Iowa State, J.R. Singleton is a Super Bowl champion, the first Cyclone to win a ring since Landen Akers in 2022.

The Seahawks signed the 6-1, 299 pound nose tackle as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2025. Singleton signed to the practice squad on Aug. 27, 2025. On Thursday (Feb. 12, 2026), the Seahawks signed the Cyclone to a futures contract.

“The season has been a real whirlwind for me,” Singleton said. “Coming to NFL there’s definitely a learning curve and at the beginning it took a while to kind of learn it: the speed, understanding the schemes, the tempos and different situations. I think that was probably the biggest jump. For me, I would say the biggest thing I learned this year in the NFL would probably be patience. Patience but not complacency. I think in the NFL, you just have so many good players and it’s all about opportunity. You have guys with contracts and other things like that. So, you might not get your shot right away. But I mean, there’s beauty in that because you get to learn from some of the best guys to ever do it. So, then, when it is your time and you do get your shot, you can shine.”

With Super Bowl LX in the rear view mirror, Singleton shares what the week meant to him.

“The week was really good. It was more of a vacation for my parents than me. I was kind of still in the same operation of a game week trying to prep for the game and make sure I had good practices, gave good looks, and things of such. It really warmed my heart to see how much my parents were enjoying it because they sacrificed so much for me to even be on this platform.”

In 34 varsity games for the Warren Township Blue Devils, Singleton tallied 121 total tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, two fumbles forced and one recovered. His head coach, Bryan McNulty, coached at Warren in a pair of stints: from 2007 to 2011 and from 2014 to present.

“Warren Township holds a super duper special place in my heart,” Singleton said. “I could literally walk to school every day when I was a freshman and sophomore, that’s how close I lived to the school. There were some great teachers, some great deans, principals, that showed me love while I was there and helped me not, football wise. I’d say preparing me for the world and helping me grow as a man or really as a young boy back then but now into the young man I am today. I really have a lot of appreciation and love for the town of Gurnee and the high school that I went to.”

“I go on and on about Coach McNulty and his program. I think my success that I’ve had through college, now going on into the NFL, attributes a lot from my foundation. In high school, we kind of did things like a college ran their program. We had a state-of-the-art weight room for high school and we were in there every day at 6 a.m., going at it before class even started. That’s back when you had eight periods and had to go through the day and get ready for practice right after and things like that. I’d say my best memory with Coach, that’s tough, we got a lot of good memories together. Honestly, my best memory with Coach Mac is probably something more recent. Every now and then, I’ll go back to Warren and watch them play. If I have a bye week, I’ll just go there and sit down with him after the game, eat food with him and just talk and laugh and it’s the best thing ever because, I mean, he just has a special place in my heart and I can’t even put it into words how much Coach Mac and really his whole staff means to me.”

Singleton was a three star defensive lineman coming out of high school. He committed to the Cyclones on July 15, 2019, prior to his senior season. He chose Iowa State over Illinois, Louisville and Michigan State, as well as 10 other schools who offered him.

A four year letterwinner, Singleton appeared in 49 games between 2020 and 2024. He played on teams that reached two Big 12 Championship games and the following four bowl games: PlayStation Fiesta, Cheez-It, AutoZone Liberty and Pop-Tarts.

Over his career, Singleton tallied 75 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks in his career. He also had 15 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles during his time in Ames.

“I think probably my best memories that I would say being around the players, being around the coaches,” Singleton said. “Iowa State was a really family oriented place and I feel like in today’s world, college football, it’s hard to find. I still talk to all our coaches and all former players to this day. These are guys that are going to be in my way. Going there playing spades with the coaches at the retreat camps. Laughing, joking with my teammates. Guys like Beau Freyler, Enyi Uwazurike, Isaiah Lee, Brock Purdy, TJ Tampa, the list goes on and on. But there’s just so many great guys and so many great memories I have from being at Iowa State. I loved it so much. I’d say another thing I really liked a lot was when the official visits came into town. It would be really fun because we’d always get some food trucks and be able to eat off the food trucks for the official visits and meet potential players that would end up playing at Iowa State. That was really fun to do and I just love the togetherness of the team.”

In 2023, the uniforms turned back the clock to 1923, honoring Jack Trice. The helmet and pants each had a patch which read “Ames”, a nod to the Cyclones being referred to as such in the early 1900s. The cardinal jersey features gray chevron bars, which signified the uniform style worn by Jack Trice and Iowa State during the 1923 season.

“I actually got my 2023 Jack Trice jersey framed,” Singleton said. “It means the world to me. It’s literally hanging in my room. That game, especially me being an African American, Jack Trice really paved the way for us. I mean, he literally sacrificed himself for people like myself. So, to be able to be in college and wear that jersey. That was a huge game. For me, I went out there with pride. I remember that day like yesterday. To be able to get a sack while wearing that jersey was really cool. I just love how we still share and talk about Jack Trice’s story. Not only is he a huge part of African American history. He’s a huge part of Iowa State’s history. I mean I don’t really care who the coach is, Jack Trice should always be a big staple of Iowa State football.”

Singleton’s coaches on the defensive side of the ball included defensive line coach Eli Rasheed and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. Along with teammate Domonique Orange, Singleton was named to the All-Big 12 honorable mention (defensive line) in 2024.

“Although there’s been a lot of turnover in the coaching staff, I still have relationships with people in the building,” Singleton said. “Eventually, when I get a second to go back and see everybody, hug everybody. I mean I had a great relationship with coach Rasheed and coach Heacock. They were really hard on me, coached me hard, but loved on me hard too. I think when you have that balance, I think it brought the best out of me. I was able to learn so much at a young age which I think also helped my mental capacity when I got to NFL. When I faced adversity I knew what to do. I knew who to call on. I knew how to take a step back, instead of acting out of frustration out of any situation. I’m really happy for coach Rasheed getting the job at Rice. I actually talked to him for like an hour. We were just laughing it on up, not even talking about football, just talking about life and how far God has taken us. Coach Heacock, he’s going to go down as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in college football ever. He still talks to me. He texted me and told me he loves me too. So, these are relationships I have for a lifetime.”

Singleton’s senior season, 2024, saw him named co-captain. He had a career high 32 tackles and a team high four sacks while wearing No. 58 in honor of Curtis Bray. With 14 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Singleton was credited with the lone pass deflection of his career – an Emory Williams pass that caromed off his helmet.

“The 2024 season was a very special season,” Singleton said. “The most winningest team in Iowa State history. We knew we had something special even before it started. I know to some people it was kind of a surprise because we were coming off of being 7-6 and losing to Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. But we knew we were just a couple things away from really having something that really special. It really just came down to the connection that we had as a group.”

“I can say the same thing about being on the Seahawks,” Singleton added. “When you can have a football team that moves all in one direction, all at their heart has one goal you can do some powerful things in life. It’s actually really amazing. I’ve seen it done twice now in two years history being made. Because people can follow one mission and not let their own personal vendettas get in the way of it. I think that’s really cool. Being able to be a captain with Iowa State greats like Jaylin Noel, Beau Freyler and myself and then along with the rest of the seniors like it was such an honor. That was one of my dreams when I came to Iowa State is to be a captain and be able to lead not only that team but be a leader in the community too. That 2024 season, I will forever remember that forever.”

Top seed Taylor Fritz captured the last five points in a deciding tie-breaker to defeat fellow American Sebastian Korda and advance to the ATP Dallas Open semi-finals on Friday.

World number seven Fritz fought back to defeat 53rd-ranked Korda 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) and book a place against Croatian Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner, in a Saturday semi-final.

Fritz, now 4-1 lifetime against Korda, fired 22 aces and won all four break points he faced to conclude matters in two hours and 30 minutes.

"Just (proud of) the way I handled those big moments in that match," Fritz said. "He was constantly putting a lot of pressure on my serve. He was playing really well.

"He put me in a lot of tough situations but every time I was down break points or in the tie-breaks I came through and played great tennis."

Fritz also fought back after suffering a right elbow injury returning a Korda shot in the second set.

"I just instantly got this really sharp pain in my elbow, served one serve afterwards -- luckily I made it -- and knew right then I needed to get the physio there. It was pretty bad," Fritz said.

"I had a couple games where I was really scared to snap my serve because I feel that pain I'm going to lose that point, but then I got some painkillers, I started to feel better and then I started to just trust it and it wasn't even something I was thinking of most of the second and the full third (sets)."

Korda seized a 5-2 lead in the final tie-break and served for the match up 5-4, but sent two forehands long and Fritz blasted a service winner on the final point for the triumph.

Fritz said on the 10th point, "I'm thinking I'm going to really commit to the return. The second I see it come off his racket I'm just going to be as explosive as possible after the return. I got a second-serve look at 4-5 and once I got that point I knew all the pressure was on him."

Cilic advanced by beating British qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 6-4.

Fritz is 2-1 in ATP play against 37-year-old Cilic, winning on Monte Carlo clay in 2022 and at Indian Wells in 2017 but losing a 2021 final at St. Petersburg.

"Both of us are going to be trying to do the same thing," Fritz said of a likely big-serving matchup. "It's going to come down to who can do it better."

Defending champion Denis Shapovalov of Canada faces Spain's third-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and US second seed Ben Shelton, ranked ninth in the world, meets Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in later semi-finals.

js/bb

The Kentucky Wildcats are on the board in the class of 2027 thanks to an in-state commitment.

On Friday, 3-star athlete Larron Westmoreland committed to the Wildcats, making the announcement via Twitter.

A product of Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Westmoreland is ranked 62nd among safeties and 12th in the state of Kentucky by Rivals. He holds additional scholarship offers from South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisville, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Miami (OH), UTSA, East Carolina, and Ohio, among others.

Westmoreland played throughout the offense this past season but is expected to stick to defense in college.

Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong recently said he expects Westmoreland to be “one of the highest-rated players in the state when it’s all said and done.”

Check out some highlights of Westmoreland in action!

Need more A Sea Of Blue coverage? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get all the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views, then add us to your “Preferred Sources” on Google. Be sure to check out our friends at Bleav in Kentucky for everything you need to know about the Cats packed into weekly podcasts. And Go CATS!

New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs pleaded not guilty on Friday to assault charges stemming from an alleged December altercation with a member of his staff.

Less than a week after playing for the Patriots in their Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the veteran wide receiver was in court in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his lawyer said he was confident Diggs would be "completely exonerated."

Diggs is facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and a lesser assault and battery charge against a live-in chef, according to prosecutors.

He was released on personal recognizance and is due back in court on April 1.

"We are confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated," attorney Mitchell Schuster told reporters outside the court, where Diggs's arraignment lasted less than five minutes.

A police report from the Dedham Police Department says the alleged victim came to a police station on December 16 to report the incident, which she said stemmed from a pay dispute.

She told police Diggs struck her in the face and tried to choke her "using the crook of his elbow around her neck," according to the report.

When charges were filed on December 30, defense attorney David Meier said in a statement that Diggs "categorically denies these allegations."

bb/js

The New York Giants announced Friday afternoon that they have hired Adam Bennett as their new head athletic trainer.

Bennett is a certified athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and holds a certified performance sports scientist certification

Bennett had previously been the head athletic trainer for the University of Miami, a position which he held since 2023. Prior to helping Miami to the 2025-2026 College Football National Championship, Bennett worked with injured service members at the Special Operations Command Headquarters at McGill Air Force Base.

When with the Air Force, Bennet was working to rehab old, as well as new, injuries.

“In the military, you’re dealing with injuries that might be six, 10, 12 years old and they just didn’t deal with it because they were going on deployment after deployment and they had to go, go, go,” Bennett said in 2024 interview with the Hurricanes’ official website.

Bennet has also been the head athletic trainer at FAU from 2017 to 2021.

Ronnie Barnes had previously been the Giants’ head trainer, holding the position since 1981. His role with the team changed earlier in the offseason. Barnes will continue to oversee the team’s medical services.

We're officially at the ceremonious halfway point of the 2025-26 regular season. The NBA All-Star break is here. The Oklahoma City Thunder will get a chance to kick up their feet and enjoy some water before the stretch run of the hopeful nine-month marathon.

And boy, do they need the breather.

The Oklahoma City Thunder limped to the NBA All-Star break with a 110-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. With both teams without their MVP candidate, the former couldn't overcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's absence as he deals with an abdominal strain.

Oh, and Jalen Williams was out. He re-aggravated his hamstring strain after just two games back. And Isaiah Hartenstein was out. He continues to manage a soleus strain.

As the Thunder look more human than invincible during a mediocre 18-13 stretch, it's important to remember just how important health is for any title contender. With the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs right behind them in the NBA standings, think it's easy to explain why OKC has suddenly cooled off.

If the Thunder want to go back-to-back, they must remain healthy. Simple as that. They rank among the highest teams of games missed due to injuries. Everybody on the roster has missed at least a handful of games this year. With muscle strains being the scariest reason.

"The last time we had this kind of sustained break was before the season. The next time you get this type of sustained break is after the season. You've got to just fill your tank, however you need to do that," Daigneault said. "The guys have been around, most of them, so they understand what they need to do individually to get themselves mentally, physically and emotionally recharged for the stretch run. So we trust them to handle their business in a way that best positions us as we come out of the break."

Even though the NBA All-Star break is the ceremonious halfway point of the regular season, we're really two-thirds of the way through it. At the mark, the Thunder have already tied their loss total from last year. A mediocre two months have most folks worried about OKC — especially if you look at the standings. But Daigneault has actually been encouraged, all things considered.

"We started 24-1. Since that point to now, I actually think that stretch has probably been better for us than starting 24-1 and kinda cruising in a rhythm the way that we were early. Happy we played well. It obviously gave us a great cushion and positioned us well as we come down the stretch," Daigneault said. "But in terms of building the best team we can be in strengthening ourselves, improving through the season, we've had to face adversity. We've had to solve a lot of problems. We've had to be highly adaptive. We've had to draw on a lot of different players in a lot of different roles. Typically, that stuff is an investment and can pay dividends down the road if you approach it the right way."

We'll see how Daigneault's confidence ages over the next few months. Most Thunder fans have at least hovered their hand over the panic button. But inside the building, you can sense a different story.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Why Mark Daigneault is actually encouraged by Thunder's recent stretch

Gable Steveson agrees with his mentor Jon Jones' timeline for him to become a champion in the UFC.

The decorated wrestler seems destined for big things in the world's largest MMA promotion, but he's still only two fights in to his professional fighting career. Despite his lack of MMA experience, training under former two-division UFC champion and one of the all-time greats, Jones, Steveson (2-0) has high confidence that can't be questioned.

During an interview with ESPN MMA, Steveson was asked if he heard Jones' declaration that he would become UFC heavyweight champion one year from now. Steveson said he did not hear that comment from "Bones," but he agrees with it.

"Yeah, I believe it," Steveson said. "I believe it because I've got full confidence in myself, but with a guy like Jon kind of guiding the way for me, I feel like the confidence just goes through the roof. The best thing about it is, he sees me first-hand, training with him, and hitting the pads and going through all the motions. His word is gold with that – and if it's not next year, it'll be soon after that. It just depends the way that the cards fall."

Steveson's third MMA bout is scheduled to take place at MFL 3 on Feb. 19 against Hugo Lezama. It's the most experienced opponent Steveson has faced yet, as Lezama brings an 11-3 record into the fight.

Should he be successful, Steveson knows the UFC will be watching closely. He's also heard the rumors that he could land a spot on the UFC's White House card, which would be a massive introduction to the UFC audience for his debut. If things unfold in that manner, Steveson believes he could be propelled to the top quickly, considering the state of the division.

"I think it's still the case that we're going slow, but slow in the heavyweight division is fast," Steveson said. "There's a lot of missing puzzle pieces in that division that need to be kind of maneuvered through. Like I said, mixed martial arts is a hard thing, so I take all the opponents, and give them the most respect I possibly can.

"Everyone's a great fighter, but I think with my potential, my speed, my technique, my durability, my endurance, anything, everything – and my wrestling included, is gonna be a new thing for people to see. I'm excited for people to keep kind of witnessing it, slowly now, but it'll pick up soon."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gable Steveson agrees with Jon Jones' fast UFC championship timeline

We've already gone over the rules for the NFL expansion draft, and now our staff writers have made their picks for which New Orleans Saints players they would nominate. Remember, the goal isn't to protect your most valuable players. You're choosing which players you'd be willing to lose. And because the acquiring team takes on every dollar remaining in a contract (including future signing bonus payments), it's an opportunity to move off of some bad deals. At the same time, you don't want to submit someone who could have real trade value.

Here's how it shook out:

RG Cesar Ruiz (4 votes)

Ruiz never has met expectations since being drafted late in Round 1 back in 2020, and trading him before June (and this year's draft) would only save the Saints $12,000. That might be worth it if they can get a premium pick back but don't hold your breath. Instead, making him eligible for the expansion draft would take his $14.196 million salary cap hits off the books both this year and next. He hasn't played well enough in New Orleans to justify those costs. It's vital that the Saints get better guard play. Finding a way to move on from Ruiz is part of accomplishing that. -- John Sigler

This player needs to be out of the Saints organization as soon as possible. It's unlikely to happen during the 2026 offseason, as outright cutting Ruiz would result in a huge cap hit. Under the previous expansion rules, a team would have to absorb the bulk of the wasted salary that is Cesar Ruiz. In this scenario, let's hope that an expansion team would want the 83 games of starting experience that Ruiz has over his six seasons, no matter how abysmal. -- Bob Rose

This one is pretty self explanatory. Ruiz has been a negative asset on the offensive line since his extension, and moving on from him puts New Orleans in a better situation with the cap, and in a better spot with finding a different player to fill the gap. -- Jeremy Trottier

Ruiz carries a $14 million cap hit, and moving on from him would provide the Saints with meaningful financial flexibility. Combined with inconsistent performance along the offensive line, he profiles as a player the team could afford to expose in an expansion draft. -- Luke Loffredo

S Justin Reid (3 votes)

The eight-year pro was solid in 2025 but he didn't truly meet expectations as a playmaking replacement for Tyrann Mathieu. He also has salary cap hits of $11.5 million in both 2026 and 2027, with a fully-guaranteed $9.25 million base salary this season. The Saints have some promising guys in the pipeline like Jonas Sanker, Julian Blackmon, and Jordan Howden, but they could also draft Ohio State star Caleb Downs in April or add another young safety after Round 1. Either way, an expansion team picking up Reid would help them get younger, cheaper, and more dynamic at a key spot in the secondary. -- John Sigler

This one is 100% contract based, as Reid's deal being off the books would certainly be a positive. 2025 was an unimpressive year for the highly-paid safety, and with other options at the position, letting him go for a player on cheaper contract to get more reps is a strong choice. -- Jeremy Trottier

Reid presents a tougher decision. However, with an $11 million cap hit and emerging young depth at the safety position, the Saints could consider making him available, especially after a relatively underwhelming 2025 campaign. -- Luke Loffredo

WR Ronnie Bell (3 votes)

We're running deep at wide receiver, so we'll look there for one of the final two picks in this expansion draft. Bell was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2023 and played in all 17 games as a rookie, but his role has diminished after he bounced around the league in subsequent years. He only logged 38 snaps in two games with the Saints in 2025 so probably wouldn't be a big loss if an expansion team drafted him. Wideouts Elijah Cooks and Damien Alford were also considered here but the team seems to like Samori Toure enough to hold onto him. -- John Sigler

One of the benefits of a late-season waiver pickup because of injuries is a situation like this. Bell was signed by the Saints for the last two games because, frankly, there was nobody left at the position. He had 2 receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, but was highly unlikely to be a factor for the New Orleans roster in 2026. -- Bob Rose

Another fringe roster player with developmental upside. Bell flashed potential with a standout catch in the season finale, but he remains more of a depth option than a guaranteed contributor. -- Luke Loffredo

LB Pete Werner (2 votes)

Werner hasn't been the albatross that Ruiz is, but he is a major liability in space for the Saints defense. Demario Davis has shown that he has plenty left and can do so much more than Werner. With the potential of Danny Stutsman and Isaiah Stalbird and what looks like a strong draft class at linebacker, the Saints can afford to lose Werner to an expansion draft while making up for it in their run defense and probably getting better against the pass. -- Bob Rose

In all honesty this is a bit of a mix between cap space and just wanting Danny Stutsman to get more reps. While Demario Davis is a free agent, ultimately, the play of Werner has been less than impressive, and getting off his deal early certainly wouldn't hurt the team any. -- Jeremy Trottier

RB Kendre Miller (2 votes)

Miller's body has betrayed him time and again. Injuries have kept him out of action, but when he's been available, he's run hard and flashed big-play ability. Right now he figures to compete with Audric Estime and Devin Neal for the third or fourth spot on the depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and another running back; whether the Saints look to free agency or the 2026 draft class (top-10 prospect Jeremiyah Love, specifically) remains to be seen, but fresh legs are on the way. Miller is still recovering from a midseason ACL tear but could benefit from a fresh start somewhere else. -- John Sigler

Miller certainly has talent, something he's flashed on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, he's only flashed it because he's too rarely on the field. Miller has played in only 20 of a possible 51 games over his three years because of injuries. The Saints need an infusion of talent in their backfield this offseason, but clearly can't count on Kendre Miller. It's time for a fresh start for both Miller and New Orleans. -- Bob Rose

RB Alvin Kamara (1 vote)

As much as I would like to keep Kamara a Saint for life, having the opportunity to move off his contract with no real negative effect would be huge, and would provide the team an opportunity to take another running back, which they may do this spring anyways. As great of a player as he once was, it may be better to let him walk and find a new option. -- Jeremy Trottier

DT Nathan Shepherd (1 vote)

Shepherd is kind of just the veteran who should be replaced type of pick for this. As solid as he was in 2025, he just doesn't offer a ton compared to the other defensive tackles on the depth chart. With Vernon Broughton looking to get some reps in 2026, as well as Khristian Boyd, it may be worth letting him go. -- Jeremy Trottier

DT Davon Godchaux (1 vote)

At 31 years old and coming off a below-average season, Godchaux is a logical cap casualty candidate. His $7 million cap hit next season makes him a practical option if the Saints are looking to create additional financial room. -- Luke Loffredo

CB Dalys Beanum (1 vote)

Same philosophy here -- there's a ton of cornerbacks under contract for 2026, so we can take the hit if Beanum gets claimed. The Saints signed him as an undrafted rookie from South Dakota State last year (guaranteeing just $25,000) and kept him on the practice squad all season. He's got NFL size but we just haven't seen anything from him yet. Really this came down to two corners, with Jayden Price being considered, but Price has flexibility to cover the slot. That inside-out versatility could be needed if Alontae Taylor leaves in free agency, so Beanum was the pick instead. -- John Sigler

CB Jayden Price (1 vote)

Currently viewed as a practice-squad level player, Price faces long odds to secure a roster spot. He would be a low-risk developmental option for an expansion franchise. -- Luke Loffredo

CB Isaac Yiadom (1 vote)

After one season away, Yiadom returned to the Saints on a three-year contract last offseason. He didn't add what was expected to the defense, with the unit getting better after benching him in favor of rookie Quincy Riley. Yiadom played only 7 defensive snaps over the last 10 games. Isaac Yiadom can provide decent depth in limited reps for a secondary, but he's expendable because of the talent, depth, and youth the Saints have here. -- Bob Rose

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Staff picks: Which Saints players we'd submit for NFL expansion draft

From the word go under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Wrexham's journey has been full steam ahead.

Such has been the Red Dragons' astonishing rise, there has rarely been time for reflection.

But having booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 29 years by beating Ipswich Town, Phil Parkinson was keen to take a breath to let the club's latest impressive achievement sink in.

"Every season in football is special and you've got to savour it," said Parkinson.

"The FA Cup is part of that and it was important that we backed up the Nottingham Forest win with another win tonight."

• Latest Wrexham news, analysis and fan views
• Watch live as Wrexham host Ipswich in FA Cup

Josh Windass netted the decisive goal against the Tractor Boys as Wrexham followed up their thrilling third round victory over Nottingham Forest with more home success in round four.

It proved to be a fitting end to a week in which celebrity owners Reynolds and Mac celebrated five years in charge of the north Wales club - who were seventh in the National League when they took control in February 2021.

"I think it's great for our owners, Rob and Ryan, it was their fifth year anniversary and to get them into the fifth round is great for them as well," said Parkinson.

"We can really look forward to the draw on Monday night when we're in the hotel in Bristol. We'll savour that.

"But like we did last time, back burner now for the FA Cup, concentrate on the league."

For star man Ollie Rathbone, the goal is to keep aiming for the stars.

"The club's on an incredible journey and we just want to keep adding to that," Rathbone told BBC Match of the Day Wales.

"It's another special night, and it's good to get back to winning ways at home."

Having hoped for time to savour Wrexham's progress, Parkinson's ruthless streak swiftly returned to the fore, as it has done so often during his glorious reign at Stok Cae Ras to date.

When asked about memorable nights becoming standard, the 58-year-old responded: "Let's not get too blasé about it, but listen, we've had so many great nights here and we want more.

"We're greedy, why shouldn't we be?"

The Wrexham manager is only too aware that his side have a strong chance of drawing a Premier League team in the fifth round.

And while his wish was ultimately for another home tie in the last-16, goal scorer Windass had a different outcome in mind when it comes to Monday's draw.

"Hopefully not a big team away because you don't touch the ball," said Windass.

• Wrexham AFC

Changes fail to deliver

It was a disappointing night for the 1,269 away supporters in north Wales as they saw their side fail to register a single shot on target.

Kieran McKenna's starting line-up showed 10 changes from the Tractor Boys' 2-1 win at Derby County six days earlier - fully emphasising the Northern Irishman's desire to put his best resources into securing a top two spot in the Championship.

The Ipswich boss had no regrets over his decision to make wholesale changes as his side remain firmly in the hunt to clinch an immediate return to the top-flight.

"Look, it was good players coming into the team. When you make a lot (of changes) at the same time, players who have not had a lot of minutes or need minutes, you're not going to be at your absolute best," he told BBC Match of the Day Wales.

"I know the reasons why we've done it. For me, the right reasons for the football club and I believe in the players who came in. The whole group will be stronger for it.

"We have 16 league games now in a really short space of time and we're going to need all of those boys.

"We're disappointed for the supporters that we couldn't go through but we'll use the lessons from tonight that will stand us in good stead for the weeks ahead."

• Ipswich Town

A hot topic in sports, especially the NBA, is the issue of “tanking”. While it sounds like an unbeatable plan–lose a bunch of games, get a higher draft pick–it isn’t a guaranteed strategy.

It can also be especially disheartening for fans who spend their hard-earned money to see a poor product. The NBA has taken measures to discourage “tanking” in its game. They made it clear today that it won’t be accepted.

MORE: 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game rosters revealed, full list of players

Reports have surfaced that the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz have been fined $100,000 and $500.000 each, respectively. These fines were assessed due to violations of their Player Participation policy.

The Jazz and Pacers held out starters in their respective games without an injury designation. The NBA has made this effort in order to discourage teams from trying to increase their chances in the draft lottery.

The policy was put in place prior to the 2023-2024 season due to backlash to starters sitting out in perceived attempts to intentionally lose games.

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition, and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

MORE: Raptors’ Chris Paul announces retirement decision after being cut

Tanking is certainly a polarizing topic among fans. Very seldom will a professional athlete or coach be on board with it.

Opportunities in professional sports are limited in their shelf-lives. Intentionally sabotaging your career doesn’t make sense in trying to improve a franchise’s draft position that may not keep you around.

Nonetheless, the NBA has made it clear that actions that perceive the attempt to intentionally lose games will be punished. The NBA especially wants to avoid this type of action following recent gambling arrests.

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

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament
VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post NBA throws the book at Pacers, Jazz for personnel decisions appeared first on The Big Lead.

Washington State at Alabama — SECN+

Penn State at Oregon — BTN

Minnesota at Washington — BTN

Gonzaga at Santa Clara — ESPN

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

Nicholls at Tennessee — SECN+

Hofstra at Mississippi State — SECN+

Milwaukee at LSU — SECN+

Nevada at Mississippi — SECN+

Washington State at Alabama — SECN+

UAB at Florida — SECN+

Youngstown State at Auburn — SECN+

Samford at East Tennessee State — ESPNU

LSU at Tennessee — SECN

Mississippi State at Mississippi — ESPN2

Auburn at Arkansas — ESPN

South Carolina at Alabama — SECN

South Carolina at LSU — ABC

UCF at LSU — SECN

Liberty at Alabama — SECN+

Rutgers at Mississippi State — SECN+

Purdue at Alabama — SECN+

Purdue at Alabama — SECN+

North Texas at Mississippi State — SECN+

Bradley at Auburn — SECN+

Binghamton at Auburn — SECN+

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

NBA All-Star Weekend officially gets underway on Friday night with one of its most entertaining traditions, the 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, as stars from sports, music, film, and social media take the court at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

MORE: 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game rosters revealed, full list of players

How to Watch NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

• Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Kia Forum (Inglewood, California)
• TV Channel: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
• Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Celebrity Game rosters bring star power to All-Star Weekend

This year’s Celebrity Game again mixes athletes, entertainers, and former pros, making it one of the most unpredictable events of All-Star Weekend. The lineup features rapper GloRilla, ex-NBA guard Jeremy Lin, actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse, NFL star Amon-Ra St. Brown, music producer Mustard, soccer icon Cafu, and Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, among others.

The format typically features celebrity coaches and former NBA personalities, adding to the entertainment factor and giving fans plenty of viral moments throughout the night.

Why the Celebrity Game remains an All-Star Weekend favorite

While the event is more about entertainment than competition, the Celebrity Game has grown into a staple of All-Star Weekend thanks to its blend of personality-driven moments and unexpected on-court highlights. Fans tune in each year to watch non-traditional basketball players show off hidden skills or create memorable bloopers.

The 2026 edition also includes a halftime performance by K-pop group CORTIS, adding to the entertainment-heavy lineup that helps set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

Live stream the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game with Fubo: Start your free trial now!

For fans looking to catch every moment, the game can be seen on ESPN or streamed live through Fubo, which carries national channels, including ESPN, as part of its live TV package.

Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

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

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post How to Live Stream NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2026: Watch for Free, TV Channel appeared first on The Big Lead.

Arsenal remain active in all four competitions they entered at the start of the season, and the Gunners will be determined to avoid any upset when they face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup this weekend. With ambitions still intact across multiple fronts, careful management of resources will be essential.

Arsenal have not secured a league title since 2004, and their most recent major honour came in the summer of 2020. Supporters have grown increasingly eager to see that barren spell brought to an end, and the current campaign offers a genuine opportunity to restore the club’s standing among English football’s elite. The prospect of lifting more than one trophy has inevitably raised expectations.

Managing Expectations and Momentum

The squad has shown resilience and consistency, keeping alive hopes of progressing deep into every competition. While talk of a potential quadruple may appear ambitious, Arsenal’s continued presence on all fronts sustains belief among the fan base. After years without sustained silverware success, concluding the season with multiple honours would represent a significant statement of intent.

However, competing in four tournaments inevitably stretches even the most talented squads. Balancing domestic and cup commitments requires rotation and strategic planning, particularly against lower league opposition who may view such fixtures as defining occasions.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Arteta Confirms Rotation Plans

As quoted by Arsenal Media, Mikel Arteta acknowledged that changes will be made. He said, “Yes, that’s what we’ve been doing. I mean, try to make sure that everybody is a big part of what we are doing in different competitions, and Sunday will be the same.”

Arteta’s comments indicate a commitment to squad involvement while maintaining competitive standards. Arsenal’s depth will now be tested, as they aim to progress without compromising their broader objectives across an increasingly demanding schedule.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…

More Stories / Latest News

Arsenal expected to rotate the team for the game against Wigan

13 February 2026, 23:00

Mikel Arteta explains why Arsenal has been struggling in the FA Cup since 2020

13 February 2026, 22:00

Has Juventus ended Arsenal’s interest in their star man

13 February 2026, 21:00

It has been a full six days since the Spartans took to the court. Hopefully that layoff has the team recharged and ready to make a run down the stretch to contend for the conference crown. It starts tonight with a roadie against the Badgers. Are we in store for another nailbiter or can MSU show why they are a top ten team and Wisconsin isn’t even getting votes?

The game gets underway at 8 PM ET and will be showing on FOX.

Let me hear you!

Liverpool Women face a hard test this upcoming weekend as they travel down to Kingsmeadow to face Chelsea Women in the league on Sunday for the early kick off.

Thankfully, during Gareth Taylor’s press conference on Friday, the manager revealed there are no new injury concerns and the squad will likely remain unchanged from the one that beat Aston Villa last week.

Unfortunately, with no new injuries to report, that does mean that the expected long term injuries have remained long term, with Sofie Lundgaard undergoing surgery and Anna Jøsendal working her way back to fitness.

“Pretty much as it was,” Taylor confirmed at his pre-match press conference.

“Sofie Lundgaard had her surgery yesterday. We understand that one is going to be a long period, unfortunately for Sofie because she worked so hard to get back.

“The surgery was yesterday. I’ve yet to speak to her but I hopefully will do at some point today.

“And then just [Anna] Jøsendal is getting closer. She’s back in to bits of team training. Hopefully we can get her back with the group really quickly.

“But outside of that, everybody else is as they were.”

Sofie Lundgaard injured her shin while going into a tackle the day before the match against Manchester United earlier this month, while Anna Jøsendal joined the team with a knock back in January and is still working towards match fitness to join the competitive Women’s Super League.

Back in September, Bayern Munich hosted Carl Zeiss Jena in an early-season Frauen-Bundesliga contest. Despite utter statistical dominance from Bayern — 29 shots to three from the visitors — the game ended in a nil-nil draw.

That game remains Bayern’s only dropped points in the league this season, and on Wednesday, the Bavarians paid Jena a return trip and this time made no mistake. A trio of goals in each half resulted in a runaway 6-0 scoreline, a dominant display from the clear best team in Germany.

Here’s a rundown of the action.

Jovana the winger…or is she?

The big storyline of the XI was the rest given to Bayern superstar winger and assist-making extraordinaire Klara Bühl. In her place was Edna Imade, recently returned from loan and ready to rock. Imade plays a different game to Bühl, preferring to pose a goal-scoring box threat from central positions rather than taking on defenders and crossing from the byline, and so that task was left to nominal center-forward Jovana Damnjanović — no stranger to a wing role under José Barcala but decidedly not the most comfortable there, either.

However, Damnjanović excelled at picking her moments, drifting in from the left at the right moments to get back to her customary scoring positions. It was from one of these that she received a cross-field kick and, after holding it up briefly, rolled it from the edge of the box into the bottom corner for Bayern’s first goal of the night. It was a fairly sharp night overall for Jena keeper Jasmin Janning — eight saves, five of them from inside the box — but this time she was caught lunging late as the Bayern forward had used her marker to keep the keeper unsighted.

Damnjanović found her second goal, as well as the team’s, in similar fashion but this time with a much more difficult finish. Receiving on the left sideline, she drove infield, causing Imade to rotate out left, before laying it off to Bayern’s midfield. Then she stayed central to receive the return ball, arriving from Linda Dallmann, and using a clever dummy to shake her defender and run straight into the box. A deft fakeout saw a second defender overrun the ball, and Damnjanović coolly finished from near the penalty spot for the 2-0.

Momo magic

I’ve often said that Momoko Tanikawa is one of Bayern’s most technically gifted players and she delivered again for Bayern’s third goal of the night with a moment of real genius. Running onto a loose-ish ball in the box — teammate Pernille Harder had been corralled and was struggling to break free — she took a single touch before fizzing an early shot that whooshed by the caught-unawares Janning, who could only turn to look as it banked in off the inside of the far post.

Tanikawa’s penchant for the unpredictable — making a decisive pass or shot before anyone expects her to have even had time to think about where to go — is only half the magic. The other half is her uncanny ability to pull it off. What a joy to watch.

No let-up after the break

The second half continued with Bayern as merciless as ever. Five minutes in, Georgia Stanway and Pernille Harder made runs into the same area but no matter; Stanway took it and rifled a shot across the keeper from close range. Ten minutes later Bayern were flowing again, Carolin Simon arriving on the overlap to deliver a precision pull-back cross for Harder to finish first-time.

Finally, in the game’s dying moments, Imade — who scored last time out after coming on as a sub with just about her first touch of the game — got her rewards after nearly 90 minutes of hard work. Substitute Barbara Dunst whipped in a cross from the right flank and Imade was there, perfectly splitting between two defenders and leaving Janning with absolutely no chance.

It was a disappointing night for the hosts, who fought hard and physical but could simply not match the Bavarians for technical quality or tactical nous, and were thus brutally dispatched anyway. There were rare moments for Jena to threaten on the break; Bayern, like any dominant team, could sometimes push too high and find themselves caught out.

And truth be told, while they scored some scintillating team goals, the Bayern interchange was not always on point, not always as smooth as it could be. There was plenty of needlessly lost possession: it’s just that Jena, when they tried to play short and string together just a few passes, found themselves mobbed and marauded and harried right off the ball. It was a gulf in quality befitting a match-up of first versus last place in Die Liga, and this time, a scoreline to match.

Mala gets her clean sheet

This was a beautiful result to take in for Bayern keeper Maria-Luisa Grohs. The veteran has been displaced from her role as starting keeper in favor of Ena Mahmutovic, with this being her eighth start of the season and first since November 12th, a famous Champions League win over Arsenal.

This time, Grohs did not have much to do — Jena shot twice all game and scarcely had hold of the ball. But she did her job when called upon, completing all her passes to boot, and faced down a penalty that threatened her clean sheet. Jena’s Lisa Gora couldn’t sent Grohs the wrong way and then wound up missing off the post anyway.

Some year Bayern’s having

Bayern just have not been conceding chances in the Frauen-Bundesliga this season, and after 17 matchdays, the ledger reads like this: 16 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, 67 goals for, 5 goals against. The +62 differential bests the next biggest gap, VfL Wolfsburg’s +30, by over a factor of two. The team with the next fewest goals conceded, TSG Hoffenheim, as given up 19 — nearly four times as many, and in one less game.

Three years ago, when Barcala’s predecessor Alexander Straus (now in the NWSL with Angel City FC) was taking the reins, Wolfsburg was top dog and you could bet on a brutal fight for the crown. How things have changed.

Match highlights

Highlights courtesy of Sportstudio on YouTube:

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

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

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

MMA Fighting has Karate Combat 59 results for the Walter vs. Clark fight card at Telemundo Center in Miami on Friday night.

In the main event, streaking UFC heavyweight contender Valter Walker takes on former collegiate wrestler Zion Clark in a grappling match. Walker was born with the rare disorder, Caudal regression syndrome, which affects fetal development of the lower spine, resulting in Clark being born without legs. Now, Clark takes on Walker, who has won four consecutive UFC bouts via heel hook, in an openweight grappling match.

Also on the card, Monika Chochlikova takes on the Elisandra Ferreira for the Karate Combat strawweight title, while Uriah Hall faces Jayden Eynaud in a light heavyweight bout. A lightweight fight between Shahzaib Rind and Diego Brandao was scheduled to take place, as well, but Rind missed weight by five pounds, cancelling the bout.

Check out Karate Combat 59 results below.

Main card(MMA Fighting at 7 p.m. ET)

Valter Walker vs. Zion Clark

Monika Chochlikova vs. Elisandra Ferreira

Uriah Hall vs. Jayden Eynaud

Markuz Perez vs. Vitor Costa

Oscar Remihana vs. Glaico França

William Findley vs. Endrit Emini

Jeremy Henry vs. Sitik Muduev

Malcolm Schuyler vs. Jadon Lee

Claudio Ribeiro vs. Michel Borges

Roybert Echeverria vs. Elias Garcia

Formula 1 hasn’t just embraced Hollywood. It has practically handed over the keys.

A sequel to the Brad Pitt racing blockbuster F1 is officially in development, confirmed by producer Jerry Bruckheimer at the Academy Awards luncheon in Los Angeles. The original film, co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, pulled in $630 million worldwide and became Apple Original Films’ biggest theatrical success. Now the industry wants more.

Lewis Hamilton Reduced to Super Bowl Sideshow as Formula 1 Pushes Harder Into America

The first film embedded itself inside real Formula 1 race weekends during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, shooting at events including the British Grand Prix. The sport didn’t just license its name — it opened the paddock. What looked like bold crossover promotion turned the championship into a rolling film set. And that is the reckoning.

Add Backfire News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

F1, the global racing series built on engineering excellence and competitive purity, allowed itself to become a backdrop for a fictional team and a scripted comeback story. It worked at the box office. It delivered awards nominations, including best picture. It generated headlines.

But it also blurred the line between sport and spectacle.

There is no confirmed timeline for the sequel and no official casting details, though Bruckheimer indicated he would be involved in those decisions. What is clear is that the machine is moving forward because the first film made money — not because the sport needed a sequel narrative.

This is the modern formula: leverage live competition as content, monetize the grid, turn authenticity into a cinematic asset. It looks good in marketing decks. It excites streaming executives. It fills corporate calendars already stacked with sequels, reboots and franchise extensions, from Top Gun follow-ups to another Days of Thunder.

Car enthusiasts do not need scripted drama to appreciate racing. The tension already exists at 200 mph. The danger is real. The stakes are real. When Hollywood overlays that with fictional hero arcs, the sport risks becoming secondary to the storyline.

The message behind this sequel is unmistakable: if it sells, repeat it.

Formula 1 made a calculated decision to trade access for exposure. The box office validated it. Now the sequel confirms it. The sport isn’t just hosting movies anymore — it is restructuring itself to accommodate them. And once that door is open, it does not quietly close.

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

The latest Bears Banter Podcast has dropped!

We are heading towards a big offseason for the Chicago Bears. Will they get a deal done for the stadium? How will they change things up on the defense? What’s going to happen at left tackle? There’s plenty of questions, and while it’s early, we set out to try and work towards some of those answers.

Long time Chicago sports media icon Dan Bernstein joined the podcast this week to talk about all those topics.

When we were talking about DJ Moore’s future, Dan couldn’t help but spend a minute talking about Luther Burden. “Luther Burden, if he isn’t a star already, he’s going to be.” Dan felt that as long as he learns to consistently block in Ben Johnson’s system, that the sky is truly the limit.

It’s a great podcast, so if you’d like to check it out, you can watch it on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube page below:

If you want to listen to the podcast, you can do so wherever you get your podcasts on the 2nd City Gridiron podcast feed, or use the player below:

More details continue to emerge following the now-debunked report that Brody King was kept off "AEW Dynamite" on Wednesday following the crowd the previous week in Las Vegas chanting "F*** ICE" during a segment featuring King and MJF. The chants were inspired by King's ongoing criticism of the federal immigration enforcement agency. According to a new report from Fightful Select, AEW President Tony Khan himself confirmed to the outlet that King was not held off "Dynamite" by Warner Bros. Discovery.

WBD provided a statement to Wrestling Inc. on Thursday that denied the media company kept the number one contender to the AEW World Championship off the show. The statement said, in part, WBD did not have any involvement in King's upcoming AEW schedule and he is set to compete at Grand Slam: Australia. which will air both on TNT and HBO Max on Saturday. 

According to Fightful, and easily verifiable on social media, some fans attempted to play semantics over WBD's wording in their statement, specifically the use of the word "upcoming" when it came to King's schedule. Fightful reported it was specifically clarified to them that WBD did mean Wednesday's edition of "Dynamite," where AEW World Champion MJF was also not physically present.

It was also confirmed to Fightful that talent had already started to travel to Australia before "Dynamite" and another group took off on Wednesday. The company is set to host Grand Slam, a two-and-a-half hour special where King will challenge MJF for the title, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Read more: Kenny Omega's Biggest Heat With Wrestling Personalities

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Kevin Fiala injury updates: Team Switzerland, Los Angeles Kings forward stretchered off ice in game vs. Canada originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Switzerland faced a tough game overall. Canada beat Switzerland 5–1 in their Men's Olympic hockey preliminary round, and the Swiss also lost one of their key forwards.

Canada controlled the game tempo, outshooting Switzerland 27–16 in the first two periods, earning their second victory of the tournament.

The game took a downturn when Swiss star Kevin Fiala suffered a serious lower-leg injury and was stretchered off the ice with just 2:50 left in the third period, casting a shadow over the event.

The Sporting News has more on Fiala's injury and any updates regarding the Swiss forward.

MORE: Canada moves to 2-0 after cruising past Switzerland

Kevin Fiala injury updates

This section will be updated as more information becomes available.

Feb. 13, 5:45 PM: Fiala was carried off the ice on a stretcher during Switzerland's Olympic game against Canada after seemingly injuring his lower leg. There are no further updates on his status at this time.

What happened to Kevin Fiala

Fiala was engaged in a puck battle along the boards with Canadian forward Tom Wilson. As the two players fell, their legs became entangled, and Wilson appeared to land on Fiala's leg, causing it to twist awkwardly.

Fiala was unable to bear weight on his left leg and appeared visibly distressed, indicating an injury, as he pointed to his skate. After an extended delay, medical personnel placed him on a stretcher and transported him off the ice, while players from both benches acknowledged the incident with stick taps as a gesture of support.

The loss of Fiala, a prominent offensive player for Switzerland, is a significant setback as the team prepares for an important match against Czechia on Feb. 15, which will determine second place in Group A.

Betfred Super League

Leigh (10) 26

Tries: Senior, Ipape, Hughes, Davis, Lam Goals: Cook 3

Leeds (2) 14

Tries: Jenkins, Croft Goals: Hankinson 3

Leigh Leopards hit the ground running in Super League with an impressive five-try win against Leeds Rhinos.

Adrian Lam's side took command of the game between teams who finished third and fourth last season as tries from Innes Senior and the outstanding Edwin Ipape had them 10-2 up at half-time.

In a game where tempers simmered and Leeds' Harry Newman claimed he was the victim of an eye gouge, the Rhinos threatened to get back in the game as prop Cooper Jenkins replied to tries from Jack Hughes and Matt Davis early in the second half.

Lachlan Lam put the seal on a convincing win to end Leigh's sequence of four successive defeats against Leeds, for whom Brodie Croft added a flattering late consolation try.

• Taylor-Wray stars as Warrington beat St Helens
• Catalans kick off 2026 with muddy win over Giants

The Rhinos went into the game with nine players missing through injury, including reigning Man of Steel Jake Connor, but edged ahead early on as Chris Hankinson's penalty was their reward for sustained pressure as Leigh struggled with the new, stricter interpretation of the ruck rules.

After that ragged start, the Leopards burst into life as Ipape broke, Bailey Hodgson injected pace and Lam had the presence of mind to hurl a pass to Senior for a good finish on his Super League debut for the hosts.

Ipape was causing havoc and when he led another attack and fed Joe Ofahengaue, the Papua New Guinea international was on hand to grab the offload and force his way over.

Any words of hope from Leeds coach Brad Arthur at half-time quickly dissipated as, from the restart, Riley Lumb dropped the ball and Hughes kicked ahead to score, with Davis adding another as the Rhinos defence again wobbled.

Jenkins burst through two tackles to expose the Leigh defence for the first time and score, and with a glimmer of hope Leeds went forward.

Newman furiously claimed his eye had been gouged following a tackle and with tempers fraying he was sin-binned shortly afterwards following a clash, with Davis following him for his part in the melee.

Another Lumb error handed Leigh territory and Ipape dummied to go right, switched left, and Lam gathered his pass and swivelled out of Tom Holroyd's attempted tackle to seal the win, although Croft gave Leeds' travelling support something to cheer late in the game.

'Not at our best' - Arthur

Leeds head coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I was really happy with our effort, our fight, and thought we had some good periods of physicality, but some detail… two scrappy tries that you can't afford at this time of the year, some red-zone penalties giving teams a leg-out, at times a bit disjointed with the ball.

"[Missing nine players] takes away some of your cohesion with the ball. Jake [Connor] has been in there the whole time and you take him out and young Browny [George Brown] who last week had to play full-back because we didn't have a full-back when it would have been nice to play him at half last week.

"They're not excuses, just reasons why, but I said to the group that we kept fighting hard. We weren't at our best with some of the execution."

Leigh: Hodgson; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, Ha;ton, Alick-Wienke, Ofahengaue

Interchanges: Hughes, Davis, Badrock, Horne, O'Brien.

Leeds: Miller; Lumb, Newman, Hankinson, Hall; Croft, Brown; Jenkins, O'Connor, Holroyd, McDonnell, O'Neill, Watkins.

Interchanges: Nicholson-Watton, Levi, Cassell, Littlewood.

Referee: Tom Grant.

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- American figure skater Ilia Malinin said overconfidence led to a poor performance and missed podium for the men's singles favorite Friday in Milan.

Malinin, who posted the top short program score and carried a lead into the final portion of the singles competition, fell several times on on the Milano Ice Skating Arena ice and ended his skate in a state of shock. He finished the competition in eighth place, more than 27 points behind gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan.

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato earned respective silver and bronze medals.

"I was not expecting that," Malinin told NBC. "I felt like going into this competition I was so ready. I just felt ready getting on that ice. I think maybe I was too confident that it was going to go well.

"Honestly, it just happened. I can't process what just happened."

Malinin, who posted a competition-best 108.16 in Tuesday's short program, totaled a 156.33 in the free skate, which ranked 15th among the two dozen competitors. Shaidorov, who was fifth in the short program, followed with a 198.64 in the free skate, the best score in the field.

Kagiyama, who also won silver in men's singles at the 2022 Winter Olympics, registered the second-highest score in the short program. He followed with a 176.99 in the free skate.

Sato, who was ninth in the short program, produced the third-best free skate score (186.20) to finish less than a point better than fourth-place Junhwan Cha of the Korea Republic.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@nbcolympics)

Adam Siao Him FA of France, the 2022 bronze medalist, was third in the short program, but slipped to seventh in singles due to a 166.72 performance in the free skate.

Malinin, who won the last two singles world championships and earned a gold medal through the 2026 Winter Olympics team event, admitted that the Olympic atmosphere played a role in Friday's finale.

"I think it was definitely mental," Malinin said, when asked if his difficulties were more physical or mental. "I think now, finally experiencing that Olympic atmosphere, it's crazy. It's not like any other competition. It's really different. I'm still so grateful that i was able to put in this work and effort to get to where I am. Of course that was not the skate I wanted."

The 21-year-old, known as the "Quad God," remains the only skater to land a quadruple axel in an international competition. He did not attempt the jump during his final session.

"I blew it," Malinin said. "That's honestly the first thing that came to my mind. There is no way that just happened. I was preparing the whole season. I felt so confident with my program, so confident with everything and just to go out and that happened. I have no words honestly."

The Olympic dream has become a reality for Max Naumov. pic.twitter.com/xtkwVouma9— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2026

Andrew Torgashev placed 12th in the singles competition. Fellow American Maxim Naumov, whose parents -- former figure skating world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova -- were among 67 killed in January 2025 when a commercial jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, finished 20th.

The women's singles competition will start Tuesday with the short program. The women's free skate will be held Thursday in Milan.

LIVIGNO, Italy – They’re already calling a spectacular men’s final at the 2026 Winter Olympics the greatest halfpipe display ever in snowboarding.

It’s just a shame Team USA can’t claim a bigger piece of it.

Three Americans in this final – Jake Pates, Alessandro Barbieri and Chase Josey – each had their moments. They each pulled off impressive tricks and produced at least one relatively clean run.

But none of the USA’s riders finished better than eighth out of 12, and that wasn't a matter of it not being their night. It genuinely felt like the Americans – except for possibly the 17-year-old Barbieri – were outgunned from the start. Especially by the riders from Japan.

Were there any lingering doubts about the extent of the Japanese takeover of this event, this final should’ve cleared that up. Australian star Scotty James’ silver medal was all that kept Japan from sweeping the podium. Four of the top seven finishers were Japanese, and the lowest on that list – Ayumu Hirano in seventh – was the gold-medalist in 2022 in Beijing.

In 2026, Yuto Totsuka won with a 95, and Ryusei Yamada claimed bronze with a 92.

“Ayumu landed an incredible run that was probably better than his run in 2022 Beijing,” said Team USA’s Josey of Hirano’s 86.50. “It just goes to show that four years progression really goes fast.”

In the past four Olympics, Japan has six of 12 possible medals in men’s halfpipe. The U.S. has one – Shaun White’s gold from PyeongChang in 2018.

In 2030, it’ll be 20 years since any American other than White claimed any medal in men’s halfpipe. And it isn't that the U.S. is getting worse at snowboarding. It’s that other nations are getting better a lot faster.

“It’s really just putting a run together with all of those tricks and pushing the amplitude, the style, the execution,” said Josey, who finished 11th at Livigno Snow Park. “It's just a combination of all of those. So for the U.S. to get on that level? We're not far behind, really. They are just so consistent and clutch. We're pretty hot on their heels, and I think Alessandro is going to have his moment on the podium before we know it.”

Barbieri, clearly, is the brightest future hope for the U.S. in halfpipe. He finished fourth in qualifying to reach this Olympic final, and he opened with a 75 in his first run before failing to make it cleanly through his next two.

The difficulty was there. Barbieri didn't back down. He went for it. That's why he'll have better Olympics ahead of him. He just couldn’t stay upright enough this time.

He was 10th in his first Olympic final – and he took the result hard.

“If I didn't feel like I was up there (with the world’s best), I wouldn't be bawling my eyes out,” Barbieri said. “... Obviously, if I would have landed my runs, I would have been probably up there. Good job to other guys who made it. Three of the very best. It was cool to watch.

“But, yeah, I'll be back.”

Pates, in eighth place, was the USA’s highest finisher in this Olympics with a score of 77.50. He’s a great story. It’s remarkable to think someone who gave up snowboarding for about four years can jump back into it only recently and participate in an Olympic final like this.

But, hey, guess where Pates traveled last summer to get his form back so quickly?

Yup. Japan. “That's the only way I've been able to come back and do this at all,” he said.

Basically, Pates said, the Japanese are putting more into the sport in different ways. There are gaps in funding and resources as well as the “dedication on the U.S. riders’ side of things, to be honest," he said.

“They're just hungry,” Josey said of the Japanese riders, “and they know they have to ride hard to get the respect that they want. They're just fired up, and they're strong, and they are ready to push the limits beyond what's been seen. That's inspiring.

“Beyond that, they do have a really good airbag facility in Japan that's next level. It's like it mimics a halfpipe takeoff and landing. That's something the U.S. doesn't have right now.”

And in snowboarding’s marquee men’s event at the 2026 Olympics, a spectacularly entertaining, memorable evening that’ll reverberate through this sport for years, it was difficult to envision how the U.S. ever had much of a chance.

Reach sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics snowboarding halfpipe final showed how far USA is behind

Donald Trump pardons 5 NFL players originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A new round of presidential pardons has put several former NFL players back in the spotlight.

President Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players: Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon, the White House announced Thursday. https://t.co/7zqa1EazDy

— ESPN (@espn) February 13, 2026

According to The New York Times, Donald Trump granted clemency to five ex-professional football players whose legal issues dated back years after their playing careers ended.

MORE: Taylor Swift is the most-wanted Super Bowl Halftime Show performer for 2027

The group includes Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Billy Cannon, and Travis Henry—each of whom had previously served time for offenses ranging from financial crimes to drug-related charges. All five had completed their sentences more than a decade ago.

The announcement was shared by Alice Marie Johnson, who has been involved in pardon advocacy efforts. In a statement posted to social media, she said, “As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again,” while also thanking Trump “for his continued commitment to second chances.”

Klecko, a former New York Jets defensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Famer, was sentenced in the early 1990s after being convicted of lying to a grand jury during an insurance fraud investigation. Known for his role on the Jets’ “New York Sack Exchange,” he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.

Lewis, a former Baltimore Ravens running back and Super Bowl champion, faced legal trouble in 2004 when he was connected to a drug deal involving cocaine. He served a short prison sentence between NFL seasons and later returned to the field, going on to post one of the highest single-season rushing totals in league history.

Newton, a key figure on the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line during their dominant run in the 1990s, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in 2002. He served over two years in prison after being arrested in separate incidents involving large quantities of marijuana.

Cannon’s case dates back further. The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner was convicted in the 1980s for his role in a counterfeiting operation and served multiple years behind bars. He later returned to a quieter life before his death in 2018.

MORE: Kayla Nicole's Super Bowl ad calls out Swifties—sort of

Henry, who earned Pro Bowl honors during his NFL career, was sentenced in 2009 for financing a cocaine trafficking operation. Before serving his sentence, he spoke publicly about financial struggles related to supporting a large family.

Canada men's curling remained undefeated in round-robin competition Friday during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, but only after tension overheated on the ice.

In the ninth end of an 8-6 Canadien victory over 2022 Olympic champion Sweden, which is now a ghastly 0-3 in its gold-medal defense, Swedish third Oskar Eriksson levied a serious cheating allegation.

He did so against Canadian third Marc Kennedy, whom Eriksson accused of double-touching stones after releasing them at the hog line.

"I haven’t done it once,” Kennedy said. “You can f*** off." 

Eriksson then asked, "You haven't done it once?"

An impassioned Kennedy reiterated while pointing toward himself, "I haven't done it once."

Calmly, Eriksson said back, "I'll show you a video after the game."

The heated back-and-forth continued, with Kennedy hurling more profanities Eriksson's way.

As former competitive curler and current CBC Olympics analyst John Cullen explained on X during the match, touching the back of the stone after letting it go is technically against the rules.

But Cullen noted that it'd likely take an obvious double-touching for action to be taken by officials.

By rule, a double touch prior the hog line — the boundary before which the thrower must release the stone for it to be considered in play — isn't considered a violation.

Long before the exchange between Eriksson and Kennedy in the ninth end, Sweden asked officials to watch for Canada double-touching. Canada requested that officials also keep an eye on Swedes' deliveries.

In a statement, as reported by Reuters, World Curling said that umpires were at monitoring the hog line for three ends after the issue was first brought up.

"There were no hog line violations or retouches of the stone during the observation," the statement said, per Reuters.

Kennedy told the National Post afterward that playing the Swedes is a battle and that the teams have quite a bit of history that goes back several years.

"I have a ton of respect for Oskar Eriksson," he said, per the National Post. "He’s one of the best players to ever play. I just told him … I would never accuse you of cheating. I’ve been on tour for 25 years. He pulled a hog line official on us to make sure we weren’t double-touching. The hog line official was there ... never said a thing, and he’s still talking about it in the ninth end."

Swedish skip Niklas Edin was disappointed the quarrel took place. 

"We're all super good friends out there," he said, per Reuters.

"We've known them for 20 years. And it's [rule violations] happened many times before, so it's just sad that it gets to heated discussions on the ice instead of just curling, according to the rulebooks, but it's what it is."

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 22, 13/02/26

Despite going down to 10-men, AS Monaco held on to claim all three points, with Simon Adingra making the difference for the Principality club (3-1). 

The Match

The first half was the definition of one-way traffic. Nantes were only spared by some imprecise Monaco finishing and some last-ditch heroics in the opening 25 minutes. By then, Monaco could have already netted at least two, through Folarin Balogun and Wout Faes, who went agonisingly close, but it was Sunderland loanee Adingra who would provide that finishing touch. 

It was a Balogun shot palmed lightly into the path of the Ivorian, who accepted the invitation to finish into the empty net, that instigated the sinking of the Nantais ship. Three minutes later, Adingra had his second, curling past Anthony Lopes first time, and by 30 minutes in, it was three, Denis Zakaria finishing a move that he had started with his interception in midfield. 

Nantes gave themselves a glimmer of hope just before the break thanks to a finish from Fabien Centonze, and it could have been more than a glimmer had Abakar Sylla put his header on target with the last touch of the first half. 

Monaco gave their visitors another dose of hope just after the hour mark when Aleksandr Golovin was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for protesting the referee’s decision, the second for sarcastically applauding the first yellow.

But their man advantage was not put to good use. Kohn was not tested in the Monaco goal and it was the hosts who had the best chance to add to their lead, with Ansu Fati going close in injury time, with the game already settled as a contest. Nantes remain in big trouble at the bottom, and Monaco keep themselves in contention to secure European football.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Kohn – 5

Caio Henrique – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 4

Wout Faes – 5

Vanderson – 6

Lamine Camara – 7

Denis Zakaria – 7

Simon Adingra – 8

After a couple of performances of promise, the Sunderland loanee truly announced himself to Ligue 1 here. His touches in the game were limited, but he was lethal, with a wand of a right foot capable of getting plenty of curl on the ball. His first goal was predatory, his second was elegant. The Ivorian’s body shape was perfect as the ball arrived, and his finish was simple but technically faultless.

Aleksandr Golovin – 5

Excellent in the first half, the Russian registered assists for two of Monaco’s goals and, in contrast to recent weeks, he frequently made the correct and most positive decisions in the final third. But he then blotted his copybook with a moment of madness, the like of which we have seen from him before. His two yellow cards in less than five seconds put his side on the backfoot for the rest of the match, leading them to cling on. 

Maghnes Akliouche – N/A

The France international was withdrawn with an injury in the 41st minute, replaced by Mamadou Coulibaly (4). 

Folarin Balogun – 6

Selected Nantes player ratings

Matthis Abline – 4

Abakar Sylla – 2

Anthony Lopes – 3

Chidozie Awaziem – 6

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco

Inter could surprise Juventus by throwing Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella straight back into the starting XI after their recovery from injury.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET) on Saturday.

The Derby d’Italia arrives with the Nerazzurri on sparkling form, having picked up 34 out of an available 36 points on their current Serie A run, stumbling only in a 2-2 draw with reigning Champions of Italy Napoli.

They also have almost an empty treatment room, as only Denzel Dumfries remains out of action following ankle surgery.

Inter bring back star midfielders

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Nicolo Barella of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Calhanoglu returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since spraining his left soleus muscle against Napoli on January 11.

Barella had a right thigh issue just before the Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund on January 28.

Considering the long lay-offs and importance of the match, it had been assumed that both would start on the bench against Juventus.

If anyone was going to step in, then it would be Barella in place of Petar Sucic.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates 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)

However, Sky Sport Italia are increasingly suggesting that Cristian Chivu could throw both midfielders into the starting XI, keeping hold of Piotr Zielinski.

It would send Sucic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the sidelines to begin with.

In defence, he seems confident of sticking with Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni.

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, M Thuram

At least for the time being, NASCAR’s identity is internal combustion engines that making loud noises and relate to a majority of the American consumer.

While the Sanctioning Body continues development on a prototype race car that can adapt to any alternative fuel or power source, all four manufacturers that compete across the three national tours are content with the internal combustion status quo.

The question was posed to the four manufacturer competition leaders representing Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota and RAM.

Dr. Eric Warren, vice president of global motorsports competition for GM motorsports
Tyler Gibbs, president of TRD USA
Kevin Kidd, North American motorsports competition director for Stellantis
Pat DiMarco, Ford Racing NASCAR and analytics manager

There have been times over the past decade that Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have each expressed a degree of inevitability towards electrification. Now, that’s been replaced with a sense that alternative fuels is more likely, but certainly not something that will eliminate the sound and power of the status quo.

For NASCAR’s part, the vehicle it produced alongside ABB, is a malleable machine that can adapt to any powerplant developed in the years to come. There continues to be no plans to race the car as a formal series but is instead a playground to adapt emerging technologies.

DiMarco noted that Ford racing across the glove in a wide variety of categories using numerous power plants and see development value in each of them.

“Yeah, we race in 34 countries around the world, 47 weekends a year; I think 36 different series,” DiMarco said. “We have the opportunity to race hybrids in other series. We have the opportunity to run completely (Internal Combustion) here.

“For us, our product in the showroom matches our product on the racetrack. It's just not here in NASCAR that we feel that we need to bring hybrids or electrification at this point. Down the road 20-30 years, who knows? Who knows what technology will bring in that. But currently in NASCAR, we're happy with the formula we have.”

His current Cup Series peers feel the same way with Gibbs and Warren both acknowledging what American fans seem to want more than anything else.

“Yeah, it depends really on our fan base, and we know where our fan base is here,” Gibbs said. “Again, when you look at the length of our races and some of these kinds of things, electrification is a little bit more challenging on racetrack like this where there is no regen or any of those kinds of things.

“So, for us it mimics what our customers want in the marketplace, and the same thing from a motorsports perspective. So, we're racing hydrogen in certain racing series; we're racing hybrids in others. It really just depends on kind of what the fan base in the particular series is most engaged with, and that then goes on to our customers.”

Warren says Chevrolet similarly races a wide variety of power plants globally and says they are prepared as an OEM no matter what direction NASCAR goes.

“The energy requirements in this form of racing are totally different,” Warren said. “The weight of the car, the accelerations and how you would implement is not really suitable here as much as it is at other series, so I think that drives a lot of it. There's not really an added benefit to the sport as a whole.

“Certainly us as a manufacturer, we're building great EV vehicles, great gas-powered vehicles, and our attempt is to bring the right vehicle to the customer of whatever they want.

“I think NASCAR, we love the close competition racing, and we want the power train to be suitable for the event and the competition.”

Kaulig Racing Ram Truck logo

Stellantis has been extra aggressive in expanding internal combustion offerings globally even before it caught on amongst its peers. Softening regulatory standards for emissions in the United States has certainly encouraged that sentiment domestically too.

Kidd echoed the prevailing narrative that American fans say they want internal combustion vehicles and want to see them raced too -- thus the return of RAM to the Craftsman Truck Series.

“I think our core business is to bring the customers what they want to buy and really give a good offering of that in the marketplace,” Kidd said. “So no different than what Tyler and Eric talked about there.

“What's unique for us and unique about NASCAR is this is about raw American horsepower. Let's call it what it is. This is fire breathing muscle cars, and that's part of our brand. That's a very strong part of our brand. Coming to NASCAR, we're able to lean into that pretty heavy, and that is something that has resonated with all the Mopar loyalists across the planet.

“We're happy to be here and making horsepower normally aspirated, and we will support whatever the direction of the sport is in the future. We'll help shape that. But recognizing the fact that our fans really do resonate with normally aspirated horsepower.”

Hendrick would have signed Kyle Larson to lifetime deal if he could

Duel shows why anything is possible in the Daytona 500

Is NASCAR going to let Garrett Mitchell be Cleetus McFarland?

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Feb. 13—The WPIAL will be represented by seven players on this year's Pennsylvania Big 33 football team.

The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association announced the 40 players and coaches selected Friday morning as part of the annual PSFCA clinic in Camp Hill.

Those selected were Avonworth offensive lineman Peter Bonnet, Pine-Richland offensive lineman Braylen Price, Peters Township offensive lineman Max Cortes, Aliquippa defensive tackle Justus Starks, Moon cornerbacks Jayden Revis and Myles Turner, and Central Catholic long snapper Rory Knipp.

Bonnet, Cortes, Starks and Knipp helped their teams capture WPIAL championships, with Bonnet leading the Antelopes to the PIAA crown at Cumberland Valley.

Gateway's Don Holl will head up the Pennsylvania coaching staff and will be assisted by Ligonier Valley's Roger Beitel and Brashear's Andrew Moore.

The 69th Big 33 Classic pitting senior stars from Pennsylvania against those from Maryland will be May 24, at Cumberland Valley High School's Chapman Field.

A fan fest, military recognition, a girls flag football championship game and pregame ceremonies will lead to the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

Veterans and military members receive free admission.

Pennsylvania has been the centerpiece state for the Big 33 since the first game in 1957 with Ohio and Texas also a part of the game's history.

The series against Maryland started in 1985 and the original run carried into the early 1990s. The states resumed a partnership in 2013 which continues to the present.

Maryland took over bragging rights last year with a 42-21 win over Pennsylvania.

The Keystone state dominated the 2024 Classic, winning 31-7.

Well-known Pennsylvania Big 33 alumni include Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Tony Dorsett, Ricky Watters, Kyle Brady and Damar Hamlin.

Ben Roethlisberger played for the Ohio team in the 2000 Big 33 Classic after his senior year at Findlay High School.

"Each year, the Big 33 proudly highlights the exceptional student talent that sustains one of the most respected traditions in high school football," said Garry Cathell, executive director of PSFCA and the Big 33 Football Classic.

"This year's outstanding group of student-athletes, cheerleaders and buddies truly represents the best of the best, coming together for one of the nation's most prestigious games. Fans will have the opportunity to see tomorrow's collegiate stars compete as members of the PSFCA Big 33 family."

For a look at the entire Pennsylvania roster, visit Big33.org.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Feb. 13—AIKEN — Silver Bluff High School senior Adrian Gray, a football standout, won't have to change his color scheme much over the next few years, with the Bulldogs' blue being a solid match for Brevard College, where he plans to spend the next four years.

Gray, whose parents are Beech Island residents Deon and Ashley Williamson, was the main honoree at a Feb. 12 gathering at the high school. Gray confirmed his commitment to play football for Brevard — the Tornados, whose Saturday afternoons at home in the fall involve silver helmets and blue jerseys.

The lineman, currently listed as 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, is also a part of the Bulldogs' track and field program, having specialized in the shot and discus.

Matt Hayes, Silver Bluff's head football coach, led the Thursday tribute to Gray and dozens of people who helped him reach the collegiate athletic ranks.

"Adrian, in my two years being here, is kind of the anchor of my offensive line. He was a physical player for us, a guy that we looked at to play offensive and defensive line this past year," he said.

"If you know Adrian, you know that he loved game day. He loved playing with an edge ... He earned all-region player this year, as far as his play as on offensive line, and those highlights, that work ethic, those things that he put on film, Brevard really liked, and we want to make sure we always recognize that."

Hayes described Gray as "very versatile" and noted that his 2025 data included 40 knock-down blocks.

"He was great at finishing off blocks. He played with a kind of a nastiness, and he's strong enough to play college football," he said.

Gray, a three-year letterman, "played D-line in some of our heavy-package, short-yardage" situations," Hayes added. "He's a really physical player for us ... He came back from a severe injury last year ... He tore his ACL against Strom Thurmond the first half, and ... missed pretty much an entire season, and for him to come back, especially his senior year, he put in a boatload of work."

Brevard is in NCAA Division III and is a member of USA South Athletic Conference, which is spread between North Carolina and Virginia, and other members include N.C. Wesleyan University and Mary Baldwin University. Brevard football, in the 2025 season, went 4-3 in conference action and 6-4 overall.

NASCAR legend and NHRA racer Tony Stewart will return to the banks of the Daytona Motor Speedway this weekend for his first NASCAR race of any kind in a decade. Racing as part of Ram’s Free Agent program with Kaulig Racing, it marks only the seventh time that Stewart has participated in the Craftsman Truck Series. While it might not be the proper O'Reilly Auto Parts Series ride some fans would’ve liked to have seen, Stewart’s decision to head back to the super speedway with a pickup was calculated.

Stewart has been a controversial figure at times throughout his racing career. His passion, talent, and versatility have never been in question, though—he remains the only driver in history to capture championship titles in both NASCAR and IndyCar. And despite stepping away from NASCAR in 2016, Stewart has kept himself in the world of motorsport via the NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster class since 2022. That said, a conversation with Ram boss Tim Kuniskis at last year’s Roadkill Nights event in Pontiac, Michigan, about the brand’s return to the Truck Series was enough to ignite Stewart’s interest. The smaller commitment involved with the Free Agent truck, which will see various fan-favorite drivers take the wheel throughout the Truck Series season, made the deal even sweeter.

“I think it's a neat thing for us,” Stewart told media ahead of the event. “I think it’s going to contribute a lot to NASCAR, and I think, as we all know right now, NASCAR needs all the help they can get right this minute. And it’ll get back sorted out, it’s gonna get healthy again. It’ll be fine. But this is a good way to kind of help with that and get the fans excited about Daytona again, and it’s a small part of it, trust me. I’m not going down there to reinvent the wheel for anybody in the NASCAR fans.”

It’s no coincidence that Stewart will make his return at a super speedway. The veteran racer has quite the record down in Florida, having captured 19 wins at the track over the course of his NASCAR career, which slots him just behind Dale Earnhardt Sr. in terms of all-time winners at Daytona. The nature of the Daytona racing, notably the importance of the draft, made it a more appealing destination than the other venues on the Craftsman calendar.

“I haven’t been in a NASCAR anything for 10 years,” said Stewart. “So as much as technology’s changed, and all of these different variables changed, all these drivers know — these guys that are running the truck series, they know the handling characteristics of these trucks. But when you go to a place like Daytona and Talladega, they aren’t necessarily the same handling characteristics, and the things that you truly need to know about that is the draft. It doesn’t matter how much technology changes, the one thing that doesn’t change at Daytona is the air. So I think our record book shows we have a pretty good success rate at Daytona, and at least that we understand that part of it.”

That amount of track knowledge proved important, as Stewart didn't get a normal practice ahead of his race, owing to the fact that Kaulig didn't have enough spares for the four-truck effort. The veteran racer will start the evening's race in 15th position regardless, slotting in behind other fan favorites like Cleetus McFarland (12th) and Travis Pastrana (13th). Stewart believes his experience drafting on the big tracks like Daytona should give him some ability to fight for places despite regular Truck Series drivers' better understanding of the vehicle dynamics.

Stewart wouldn’t confirm or deny whether or not he planned on making another appearance in the Free Agent truck this year. Given his comments about super speedways, though, keep your eyes peeled towards Talladega. Of course, any future attempts will also likely be colored by Ram’s success down in Daytona.

You Might Also Like

• You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox
• Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners
• The Man Who Signs Every Car

OAKLAND — No. 1 Southern clinched the Western Maryland Athletic Conference (WestMAC) championship Thursday with a 61-33 win over No. 5 Allegany at Ram Arena.

The Rams (15-5) completed a sweep of the WestMAC with an 8-0 record.

Jayden Weaver scored 11 of 15 second-quarter points for the Rams (15-5, 8-0 WestMAC) and finished with a game-high 16.

Joycelyn Ward finished with 12 points while Emelee Parks and Gabbi Berry each scored 10.

Amanda Vizza paced the Campers (12-5, 5-2 WestMAC) with 14 points.

Southern led 10-6, 25-13 and 42-22 after three quarters.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday.

Alco travels to Northern Calvert at 6 p.m. while Southern hosts No. 2 Keyser (16-2) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 3 Petersburg 56, Moorefield 40

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Petersburg led 15-4 after one quarter and never looked back, cruising to a win over Moorefield on Thursday.

Karlie DiBenedetto led the Vikings (10-6) with 13 points including nine in the second quarter while Sissy Cole finished with 12 points.

Brenna See led both teams with 16 points for the Yellow Jackets (5-11) while Kerigan Bergdall finished with 12.

Petersburg led 35-14 at halftime and 46-24 through three.

The Vikings host South Harrison on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets host Frankfort (9-9) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Fort Hill 42, Northern 38

ACCIDENT — Fort Hill held Northern's Abby Nelson under 10 points for the first time this season, and it led to a Sentinels win inside the Igloo on Thursday.

Nelson averages 20.1 points per game but was held to eight.

Aubry Spangler was the only scorer in double figures for either team, finishing with 14 points for the Sentinels (8-10, 2-5 WestMAC).

Spangler also recorded seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

Caniyah Plummer added nine points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Marisa Perez and Allahna Lacy led the Huskies (9-8, 0-7 WestMAC) with nine points a piece.

Northern led 11-8, 21-18 and 34-28 through three before the Sentinels outscored the Huskies 14-4 in the fourth to complete the comeback.

Fort Hill won the junior varsity game 24-19. Emma McMahan led the Sentinels with 13 points. Ryaa Brenneman scored 11 for Northern.

Northern hosts Broadfording on Friday, followed by Bishop Walsh (15-6) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Fort Hill is at Boonsboro on Friday, followed by a trip to Bishop Walsh on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Shalom 54, Mountain Ridge 48

FROSTBURG — Trailing after each of the first three quarters, Mountain Ridge's rally came up short against Shalom on Thursday at the Coal Mine.

The Flames (16-6) led 10-9, 22-21 and 41-33 through three quarters.

The Miners (8-10) outscored Shalom 15-13 in the fourth, but it wasn't enough.

Kealana Pua'auli scored a game-high 24 points with seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks for Mountain Ridge.

Maya Lehman led the Flames with 16 points, followed by Addison Adams with 15 and Emily Rebok's 12.

The Miners head to South Carroll on Friday before hosting Preston on Monday at 7 p.m.

Calvary 30, New Life 20

FREDERICK — Madie Robinette scored 17 of Calvary's 30 points in a win at New Life on Tuesday.

Robinette scored nine of 11 first-half points for the Eagles (3-11).

Madi Colbert and Alayna Head each scored six points for New Life.

Calvary led 8-2, 11-7 and 22-10 through three quarters.

The Eagles ended its regular season at Frankfort on Friday.

Chelsea eased into the FA Cup fifth round as Pedro Neto's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win at Hull on Liam Rosenior's return to the club that sacked him two years ago.

Rosenior's side took the lead through Neto's superb first-half strike before the Portugal forward netted again after the break.

Estevao Willian scored Chelsea's third and Neto completed his treble to wrap up the fourth round rout at the MKM Stadium.

It was an emotional evening for Blues boss Rosenior as he faced the club that ruthlessly severed their long relationship with him in 2024.

Rosenior supported Hull as a child alongside his season-ticket holding grandmother, played for the club across five years and managed them for two seasons.

He was sacked after narrowly failing to reach the Championship play-offs amid criticism of his team's conservative tactics.

Despite the painful end to his time at Hull, the 41-year-old said it was an "amazing thing" to return to Humberside and he took full advantage of the chance to show his old club what they had missed out on.

"This club means a lot not just to me but also my family for many reasons," Rosenior said.

"I do hope they make the Premier League this year, but because of our attitude and application, that is what gave us the platform to win tonight."

Rosenior has made an impressive start at Chelsea since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca in January, winning eight out of his first 11 matches in all competitions.

He made seven changes, with Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro among those to miss out, but Chelsea were still too strong for the Championship promotion chasers.

"Pedro Neto has been outstanding, he works so hard and has so much quality. I'm delighted to see him get the goals," Rosenior said.

"The most pleasing aspect was the mentality. It was a really strong performance in terms of the mental application you need to be successful. Everyone worked really hard for each other."

Chelsea dominated possession to such an extent that it was little surprise when they finally made the breakthrough in the 40th minute.

Liam Delap teed up Neto and he whipped a superb finish into the corner from 20 yards.

Andrey Santos' towering header was pushed over by Dillon Phillips after the interval and, from the resulting corner, Chelsea doubled their lead in the 51st minute.

Neto's inswinger caught Phillips flat-footed at the near post, bouncing through his legs without a touch from either team.

Chelsea had blown a two-goal advantage in their 2-2 draw with Leeds in the Premier League on Tuesday.

But there was no chance of a repeat and Estevao grabbed their third with a composed finish from 12 yards in the 59th minute.

Neto made it four in the 71st minute, caressing a low finish past Phillips from Delap's lay-off.

Wrexham beat fellow Championship side Ipswich 1-0 in Friday's other fourth round tie.

The Welsh club, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, are into the last 16 for the first time since 1996-97.

smg/pb

Nicole Vasquez via Getty Images

Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa told reporters that Grammy Award-winning artist and Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny offered to cover his insurance so he could play for the Puerto Rican national team. 

“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa said. “He tried to do everything possible. I wanted to play and make sure that I was going to go out there and play for Team Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico,” which is hosting pool play. “The fact that he did that means a lot in how much he cares for the country, how much he cares for the fans back home. I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”

After consulting with the Astros and his agent, Scott Boras, Correa declined the offer.

“They all told me it was a bad idea,” Correa said. “They all told me the insurance company that was proposed to me had cases where they didn’t pay players back. Since it was not approved by MLB, not approved by the organization, and not approved by my agent, I couldn’t sign my life away to something that three people I trust are advising me against.”

“Everybody’s putting the work in they need to. At the end of the day, I play for the Houston Astros and my obligations are to this team and some things are out of your control. You can’t do anything with that.”

In January, Correa told reporters that he would miss the World Baseball Classic after being denied coverage through National Financial Partners. The 31-year-old also didn’t want to risk his regular-season salary if he missed any games due to injuries sustained in the World Baseball Classic. Correa is set to make $31 million next season and has battled injuries in the past.

The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants voided $300 million agreements with Correa in 2022 due to concerns over his ankle. Edwin Díaz and José Altuve also suffered significant injuries during the World Baseball Classic, making it more difficult to secure insurance.

All World Baseball Classic participants on an MLB 40-man roster must undergo an insurance evaluation process. This process involves an insurer agreed upon by MLB and the players' union, which reviews a player's injury history to determine if coverage will be provided. If the insurer decides a player is uninsurable, then, unless the team makes an exception, the player's contract is not guaranteed should an injury occur during the event.

Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rico native, also agreed to cover New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor’s insurance after he was denied coverage.

Fabio Wardley will make the first defence of his world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in all-British affair on Saturday, 9 May in Manchester.

The 31-year-old was crowned WBO champion in November when Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt instead of making a mandatory defence against the Ipswich fighter.

Dubois has previously held the IBF title and his meeting with Wardley at the Co-Op Live Arena pits two rivals who are known for their devastating punching power.

Wardley, who has won 20 of his 21 professional fights, including 19 by way of knockout, said: "I've never been in this game to play around. I'm committed to big fights only.

"I'm the champion, this is a voluntary defence, and I chose this. One thing you can't ever say about me is I've shied away from a challenge.

"I've always gone looking for the biggest tests, and I'd back myself against anyone in this division.

"This is one of the biggest fights that can be made in the heavyweight division right now and the best part is, it doesn't need the extra stuff, this fight sells itself."

Dubois, 28, stopped compatriot Anthony Joshua in September 2024, but his reign as the IBF title holder was ended by Usyk at Wembley in July 2025 - his second defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian.

Promoter Frank Warren said the fight was "another piece of British heavyweight history being made".

"This is quite simply the most exciting and explosive fight available for Fabio's first defence of his WBO world title, and it tells you everything about him that this is the fight he demanded," he added.

"For Daniel to be attempting to become a two-time world champion at just 28 is equally remarkable. This will be his sixth world title fight, and across that run only Oleksandr Usyk has been able to defeat him."

• Boxing schedule and results 2026
• Watch every Born to Brawl episode

More boxing from the BBC

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Chelsea's passage into the FA Cup fifth round appears all but assured after cruising to a four-goal lead against Hull City.

Pedro Neto claimed the match ball at the MKM Stadium with 20 minutes to spare but the Portuguese was already sharing the score sheet with a record-setting teammate.

Estêvão notched a goal in between Neto's second and third, sweeping home from inside the penalty area after some selfless build-up play from Liam Delap.

You can watch the winger's well-taken effort in full below.

Estêvão strike was his seventh strike in all competitions for Liam Rosenior's side and is now the most by any teenager to represent the Blues in the Premier League era.

Is the Brazilian on his way to immortality at Stamford Bridge?

Matt Weston cemented his status as the best skeleton racer in the world as he made history by winning Olympic gold in emphatic fashion in Cortina, securing Team GB's first medal of the 2026 Winter Games.

Weston set a track record on all four of his runs to become the first British man to win winter gold since Christopher Dean topped the ice dancing podium alongside Jayne Torvill in 1984, and the first British man to win Olympic skeleton gold.

The 28-year-old could have eased off in his final run having already built a significant margin of 0.39 seconds, but ramped things up on what was ultimately a victory lap lasting 55.61secs, finishing with a sensational overall time of 3:43:33.

Weston has been the epitome of focus throughout the Games but the emotions finally took hold as he crossed the finish line and buried his face in the ice before delivering his trademark double fist-pump celebration towards his friends and family.

He had laid the foundations for victory on Thursday, bouncing back from an early mistake in run one and putting down a statement second run to take an overnight advantage of 0.30secs coming into the medal-deciding heats.

The Briton was close to flawless on Friday and his 55.63secs in run three prompted early celebrations from the two-time world champion along with the numerous fans snaked around the track, draped in Union Jack flags.

It left an almost impossible task for the chasing pack and Axel Jungk ultimately finished 0.88secs behind to take silver while compatriot and Olympic champion from Beijing Christopher Grotheer secured bronze, 1.07secs behind top spot.

Fellow Briton Marcus Wyatt, who had also been tipped as a medal contender having won two World Cup races this season, struggled on the technical Cortina track and finished ninth with 3:45:77 overall.

• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events
• Winter Olympics 2026 medal table

More to follow.

Where else are you going to see an early 2000s sitcom star, an extreme sports athlete often compared to Evel Knievel, a NASCAR Hall of Famer who has been away for almost a decade, and a popular YouTuber who hates sleeves battle each other at speeds approaching 200mph? Only this Friday the 13th on FOX Sports 1, when the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) season officially gets underway. 

The Fresh From Florida 250 is a 100-lap Friday night spectacle with a very colorful entry list. They all mean to take part in the Truck Series season-opener this weekend, with 44 entries and 36 trucks making the show -- eight drivers were sent home after qualifying.

The NCTS is the third level of NASCAR's national divisions, and often its wildest as teenagers face-off against veteran champions in machines that don’t mind getting muscled around.

And while the Daytona 500 is of course the crown jewel event of the week, there’s a very specific reason why you shouldn’t miss the Truck race either -- well, several reasons.

Just take a look at the drivers competing in this race, and you’ll understand why.

Ram is back...and so is Smoke

Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell, No. 14 Kaulig Racing Ram

First and foremost, the event will feature the long-awaited return of Ram to the Truck Series as Kaulig Racing brings a five-truck fleet to Daytona. The iconic brand has been absent from the grid since 2013! Their drivers include reigning ARCA champion Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen, who will be competing in a Truck race at a superspeedway for the very first time. Ram also has Mini Tyrrell, a promising racer but one who has never done anything like this before. He's here after winning a reality show competition against 14 other racers, securing a full-time ride with Kaulig as the prize.

And these two will have several teammates, including a name known by even the most casual NASCAR viewers – Tony Stewart. And while 'Smoke' hasn't competed in NASCAR since 2018, his last Truck start came almost twenty years ago in 2005, he is here to win. Did we mention he is the winningest driver in Daytona history not named Earnhardt?

Tony Stewart, No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram

A TV star, a YouTuber and an extreme sports athlete

It gets wilder, so keep reading. Frankie Muniz is driving the No. 33, embarking on his second full-time season as a Truck racer. The ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ star earned his career-best finish in this race one year ago, placing tenth. If he wants to best that effort, he’ll have to face the drivers we mentioned, but also wild men like Travis Pastrana and Cleetus McFarland.

It is difficult to properly encapsulate Pastrana, who is a stuntman, an extreme sports star, and X-Games legend whose list of death-defying achievements are just as long as his professional racing resume. He is the only person who can say they won nearly a dozen X-Games gold medals, started the Daytona 500, holds the record for the longest jump ever recorded in a rally car, and stepped out of a airplane without wearing a parachute.

And yet, Pastrana's crazy might be eclipsed by teammate Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell. He has 4.6 million subscribers on YouTube, and over two billion views on his channel -- and he will tear the sleeves off every shirt he comes across, as his teammate Pastrana found out in the Media Center earlier this week. Both Mitchell and Pastrana are high-energy personalities, and you never know what they're going to do or say next. He's also racing in honor of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, a close friend and racing mentor who died in a tragic plane crash during the off-season.

Cleetus McFarland rips the sleeves off Travis Pastrana's shirt

This race will feature countless rookies, but also two former Daytona 500 champions as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023) and Michael McDowell (2021) join the fray. They aren’t the only active Cup drivers in the field either, as John-Hunter Nemechek and Carson Hocevar are here as well. Hocevar is one of the most aggressive drivers in NASCAR today, earning him the moniker ‘Hurricane' Hocevar, and this will begin a weekend where the rising star plans to complete triple-duty. No other driver is attempting that over the next few days.

The youngest driver in the field is 19 years old (Gio Ruggiero), and the oldest is 54 (Stewart).

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

here's Stewart Friesen, who is back for the first time after suffering severe injuries in a dirt modified crash last summer, and he's a proven winner in Trucks. And Corey LaJoie, looking for redemption after missing out on the Daytona 500 field in a last-lap crash during his qualifying race. He's also driving for a team (Henderson Motorsports) searching for their own redemption, as they won this Truck race one year ago before being disqualified in post-race inspection.

This series has factory-backed super teams and intricate development programs, but it also has independent racers driving for family-owned teams with three full-time employees.

So, tune in and watch worlds clash around the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on Friday the 13th, under the lights, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Official starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500

Anthony Alfredo disqualified, removed from Daytona 500 field

Is NASCAR going to let Garrett Mitchell be Cleetus McFarland?

Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR in rare media form

Ram: Race for The Seat winner revealed, earning Kaulig NASCAR Truck ride

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

La Liga outfit Athletic Club have on Friday been handed some altogether welcome news at board level.

This comes in the form of confirmation that the Basque outfit will in fact be permitted to register new players moving forward.

The situation at Athletic of course took its place front and centre in the Spanish media headlines over recent days.

As much comes after Los Leones were hit with a transfer ban on the part of FIFA.

Owing to what were described as ‘various infractions’ on the part of those in the boardroom at San Mamés, world football’s governing body informed Athletic Club that they would not be permitted to register any new signings until January of 2028.

As alluded to above, though, just days on, the ban has been lifted.

As per a report from El Chiringuito TV:

‘FIFA has confirmed to Athletic Club that it has met the requirement to be removed from the ‘blacklist’. It will disappear from it within 5 days.’

Conor Laird – GSFN

We knew the moment Klint Kubiak was named Raiders head coach, he would be attempting to lure several Seahawks assistants to join in him Las Vegas. The first reported interview request came out on Thursday with the Raiders set to interview WR coach Frisman Jackson for their vacant OC position.

Well, Friday the Raiders put in another request. This one the Seahawks blocked.

The Raiders requested Seahawks assistant Justin Outten for run-game coordinator but Seattle blocked the request, per sources.

Outten, the Seahawks’ run-game specialist/assistant OL, is one of four in-house candidates for the Seattle OC job. pic.twitter.com/HWdwSvxzdv

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 13, 2026

Outten was named among the in-house candidates the Seahawks are interviewing for offensive coordinator after Kubiak left to become the Raiders head coach. He is the Seahawks' run game specialist and assistant offensive line coach. He has been an NFL coach for the past ten years, including as OC in Denver in 2022.

If the Seahawks are blocking the request, he must be a serious contender for their OC job. Or at least they want to finish that process before letting the Raiders have a shot at him. Even if Outten doesn't get the OC job there, it's very possible he could receive a promotion along with several Seahawks assistants.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Seahawks block Raiders request to interview assistant

Zach Orr is saying goodbye to the city of Baltimore, but he's definitely going to land on his feet. Clarence Hill of All City DLLS reports that the former Ravens defensive coordinator will be the new inside linebackers coach for the Seahawks on Mike Macdonald's staff. In Baltimore, the second-year coordinator could depend on his unit improving in the second half of the season, but the damage was usually already done.

Last season, Baltimore finished 24th in total defense, 30th in passing defense, 18th in scoring defense, 30th in total sacks, 18th in total turnovers, and 22nd in turnover differential. The 30 sacks were only three more than the franchise record for fewest in a single season (27 in 16 games in 2010). Down the stretch, the Ravens defense allowed 300+ yard performances to New England's Drake Maye, Green Bay's Malik Willis, and the Steelers' Aaron Rodgers — twice.

Per sources, Former Baltimore Ravens DC Zachary Orr is headed to the Seattle Seahawks as an inside linebackers coach. Orr will be reunited with Mike Macdonald who preceded him as Ravens DC.
He had a opportunity to take the same position in Dallas

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) February 13, 2026

In the season finale with DK Metcalf serving a suspension, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers still lit Baltimore up, going 31-for-47 for 294 yards and a touchdown in a must-win scenario.

Orr played linebacker for the Ravens; he was Harbaugh's hand-picked choice to replace Mike McDonald, and he'll continue his career under the Super Bowl-winning head coach in Seattle.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Zach Orr to join Seahawks staff as inside linebackers coach

This is part of Slate’s 2026 Olympics coverage. Read more here. 

When Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl crossed the finish line in the men’s parallel giant slalom last weekend, he did what any testosterone-fueled athlete might upon realizing he’d just won Olympic gold: He ripped off his shirt and emitted a primal scream as he flexed for the crowd. Depending on your perspective, this display was made either more impressive or more embarrassing by the fact that Karl is 40 years old—positively ancient by competitive snowboarding (and shirt-ripping-offing) standards.

Karl’s children may well have cringed to see their ol’ dad go topless in public. But, for me, the moment stands as the defining symbol of what I’ve come to think of as the Old Guy Olympics. Moreso than other Olympics I’ve covered, the Milan Cortina Games boast an unusually high number of athletes who are “too old for this shit” in the best possible way.

There are always a few middle-aged outliers competing at the Olympics, and especially at the Winter Olympics, which features a number of events that a relatively fit middle-aged person could compete in without immediately dying. These venerable competitors—among them Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe, the guiding light of the Mexican Ski Team—typically represent non-medal-contending nations. For these older athletes, merely finishing their races is a major accomplishment.

What’s different about Milan Cortina is that plenty of these older competitors aren’t there just to trade pins in the Olympic Village. There’s Karl, whose parallel giant slalom gold was his fourth Olympic medal over the course of five Winter Games. There’s 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn, whose scary crash in the downhill last weekend ended a comeback bid that, despite what some critics have claimed, was far from a vanity project: She’s the top-ranked female skier in the current World Cup downhill standings.

Five-time Olympian Elana Meyers Taylor, the most decorated American bobsledder in Olympic history, is also back at the Games at age 41. Meyers Taylor, who will compete next week, has won five Olympic medals, including a silver in Beijing in the women’s monobob. The gold medalist in that event in Beijing was Meyers Taylor’s teammate Kaillie Humphries, who at 40 years old is also back for another shot.

One of the greatest comeback stories of these Games belongs to 42-year-old Deanna Stellato-Dudek, who retired from figure skating in 2001 before mounting a comeback 16 years later. The Chicago-area native, who now skates pairs for Canada, won the pairs title at the 2024 World Championships. When she competes this weekend she’ll become the oldest female Olympic figure skater in nearly 100 years.

While Italian downhill skier Federica Brignone is comparatively young at 35, her victory in the super-G—coming off an incredibly gnarly injury—made her the oldest women ever to win an Olympic medal in Alpine skiing. And there’s 40-year-old Dutch speedskater Jorrit Bergsma, who took bronze in the 10,000 meters on Friday, becoming the oldest man to win an Olympic speedskating medal. (Bergsma is known as the “mullet man” for his unusual hairstyle. His fans, known as the “Matties,” also wear mullets and headbands when cheering him on. They recently recorded a song called “Matties to Milan,” which has apparently become a hit among the Dutch speedskating set—which, to be clear, does not mean that the song is an actual hit.)

So, what’s the deal with all of this superannuated superiority? In a word, science. Training and recovery methods these days are sufficiently advanced to keep a motivated 40-year-old performing like a normal 30-year-old.

“Until I’m not having fun, or until the body steps in and says You’re done, I’m gonna continue to put the work in and I’m gonna continue to redefine what people think is possible,” 44-year-old American snowboarder Nick Baumgartner told NBC on Thursday. An Upper Peninsula native who spent many years pouring concrete for a living, Baumgartner was one of the best stories of the 2022 Beijing Games. Back then, he narrowly missed the semifinals in his signature event, the snowboard cross, and gave a tearful post-race interview in which he faced up to the fact that, at 40 years old, he was “running out of chances” to win an Olympic medal. Days later, he teamed with 36-year-old teammate Lindsey Jacobellis to take gold in the inaugural running of the team snowboard cross event.

In contrast to the agony and catharsis of his Beijing experience, Baumgartner’s time in Milan Cortina has felt more like a hard-earned victory lap. On Thursday night’s primetime telecast, Baumgartner played to the cameras on his way to the starting gate. “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about! God, I love this sport! So much fun!” he said, clapping his hands while addressing the camera. “Hey, for everyone back home, it’s never too late to follow your dreams. I’m 44, baby! Forty-four!”

You will perhaps forgive Baumgartner for hamming it up during his quadrennial turn in the national spotlight—and you’ll forgive him for refusing to call it quits after missing out on the snowboard cross event finals for the second Olympics in a row. In his post-race interview with NBC’s Tina Dixon, Baumgartner struck an inspirational tone, announcing that he planned to keep racing despite his relatively advanced age. “I love this so much,” he said. “If you find something you love, it doesn’t matter how much work you gotta put in, you’re happy to do it. And I’ll continue to do it, because I love what I do, you saw that out there. I never had so much fun losing in my life!”

Team USA curler Rich Ruohonen is perhaps the ultimate Old Guy of these Olympic Games. A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from the Twin Cities area—“When Rich Ruohonen takes a case, insurance companies pay attention,” his firm’s website promises—Ruohonen has spent decades curling at a high level, but had never made it to the Olympics. He finally got there as the alternate on Danny Casper’s U.S. men’s curling squad, and he’s made the most of his time at the Milan Cortina Games.

On Tuesday, at a press conference, Ruohonen joined many of his Olympic teammates in decrying the ongoing ICE operations in Minneapolis. “I am a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution, and it allows us freedom of press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures and makes it that we have to have probable cause to be pulled over,” he said. “And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray. It’s clear.”

Given that Ruohonen is at the Games as an alternate, he might have seen that press conference as his best chance to make his Olympic mark. But on Thursday, with Team Casper down by a nigh-insurmountable six points in the eighth end of a round-robin match, Casper made the call to sub Ruohonen into the game. When he checked in—in true old guy fashion, he kept his baseball cap on the entire time—it made him the oldest athlete to ever compete for Team USA in a Winter Games. As he delivered the stone down the ice, his teammates swept it into strategic position. “Good shot, Rich,” they yelled.

Ruohonen somehow kept his shirt on. But there’s plenty of curling left before he goes home.

An underrated edge rusher from Kentucky is set to visit Michigan State in early April.

Griffin Benke of Fort Thomas, Ky. announced this week that he'll be visiting Michigan State in early April. According to a social media post from Benke, he'll be visiting Michigan State on April 6 and 7.

Benke is an unrated and unranked edge rusher in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. He plays for Highlands High, and is listed at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.

Michigan State recently extended him an offer last week, and is the first power four school to offer him, according to 247Sports. He also holds offers from Middle Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky and Lindenwood.

Locked in to visit @MSU_Football on April 6-7. Can't wait to get to East Lansing! @Coach_DeBo46@CoachWozniakTE@coachfitz51@JoeS_Rossi@Coach_Bindel@SeanLevyMSU@AJPearson_IV@CoachBGasser@MalikGill5@MSUFBRecruiting@HSphire@MikeDyer@EvanDennison1@TomLoy247@HighlandsFBpic.twitter.com/FPfRzQswOp

— Griffin Benke (@Benke_Griffin) February 13, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football to host 2027 Kentucky EDGE Griffin Benke in April

The Boston Red Sox already had pretty good starting pitching depth entering the offseason. Now, after acquiring Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, they have more than enough.

With Suarez, Gray, Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello presumably locked into the rotation, the fifth spot remains up for grabs. The Red Sox have a plethora of arms competing for that role, including Oviedo, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval.

Accordingly, it’s shaping up to be an intriguing competition for Boston’s final rotation spot between veterans, rookies and players coming off injuries.

During his appearance on the “Monster Territory” podcast this week, Craig Breslow revealed what he’s looking for in that role.

“There’s going to be a competition for that fifth spot. We got a glimpse of what Connelly Early and Payton Tolle are capable of doing, but also guys who have been very good Major League starters who are getting healthy in guys like Kutter and Sandy,” Breslow told Robbie Hyde.

He also said the Red Sox are “really excited” about Oviedo given the improvements he made last year after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

“I think what we’ll be looking for is some level of consistency, but also I think that’s a chance to chase some upside,” Breslow continued, citing Boston’s confidence in its top four starting pitchers, all of whom are former All-Stars and established workhorses.

“Knowing that we do have some options for that fifth spot, let’s go ahead and get the guy, if we realize the best outcomes there, has the chance to shut down an offense,” Breslow added.

It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, emerges as a frontrunner for that fifth spot. The Red Sox already have one of the best rotations in baseball, but nailing that final spot could make it even better.

After weeks of interviews and hard-target searches, New York Giants incoming head coach John Harbaugh released his completed coaching staff roster on Friday afternoon.

The three coordinators will be Matt Nagy (offense), Dennard Wilson (defense), and Chris Horton (special teams). Horton will also serve as assistant head coach.

Offensive coaching staff

• Mike Bloomgren - Offensive Line Coach
• Brian Callahan - Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
• Chad Hall - Wide Receivers Coach
• Tim Kelly - Tight Ends Coach
• Grant Newsome - Assistant Offensive Line Coach
• Noah Riley - Football Analyst/Quality Control
• Greg Roman - Senior Offensive Assistant
• Adam Schrack - Offensive Quality Control
• Mike Snyder - Offensive Quality Control
• Willie Taggart - Running Backs Coach

Defensive coaching staff

• Charlie Bullen - Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach
• Frank Bush - Inside Linebackers Coach
• Brendan Clark - Defensive Quality Control
• Donald D’Alesio - Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
• Dennis Johnson - Defensive Line Coach
• Addison Lynch - Defensive Backs Coach
• Matt Pees - Assistant Linebackers Coach
• Matt Robinson - Assistant Defensive Line Coach
• Megan Rosburg - Assistant to the Head Coach/Defensive Assistant

Other staff

• T.J. Weist - Assistant Special Teams Coach
• Aaron Wellman - Executive Director of Player Performance
• Ron Shrift - Director of Strength & Conditioning
• Chris Allen - Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Sam Coad - Performance Manager/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

15 of the coaches previously worked under Harbaugh with the Ravens during his 18-year tenure in Baltimore.

“All the coaches that we retained are great coaches, great guys, highly recommended from the people here in the building, but also around the league,” Harbaugh said in the release by the team. “It could have been more. I mean, there's a lot of great coaches on this staff previously, guys that we have great respect for, but you also want to bring in new guys and guys that you've known over the years. So, you just try to kind of create the best mix to build the best team of coaches that you possibly can. I just really feel fortunate and blessed that those three guys are still with us.”

Also in the release, Harbaugh gave a special shoutout to his assistant, Megan Rosburg.

“Megan Rosburg, our most valuable coach, definitely our most valuable coach right now,” Harbaugh said. “She's been doing a great job of keeping me organized and also she understands the tenor of what we're trying to accomplish. She knows the value system right now. She knows what we're looking for, and she sets a good foundation for us.”

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants announce 2026 coaching staff

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent pitcher Jhoan De Los Santos was suspended for 56 games Friday following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol.

A 21-year-old right-hander, De Los Santos was disciplined under Major League Baseball's drug program for minor league players outside of the U.S. and Canada.

He signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 for a $10,000 bonus, was released in June 2024 and signed with Detroit. De Los Santos had a 6.48 ERA in six relief appearances for the Dominican Summer League's Tigers 1 last year and became a free agent in November.

Four players have been suspended this year for positive tests, including free agent outfielder Max Kepler for 80 games under the major league program following a positive test for Epitrenbolone.

___

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

Chelsea have doubled then tripled their lead at Hull City with a goal from a corner and an Estevao finish from close range

It’s 3-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup. The Blues have scored twice shortly after half time to make this game look even more comfortable.

A vicious in-swinging corner whipped in by Pedro Neto flew over Jorrel Hato at the near post (we don’t think the Dutchman got a touch, even though he celebrated), and actually bounced at the feet of the Hull keeper, ending up between his legs and in.

We’ll see which way the dubious goals panel judge this one. That one made it 2-0.

You can see the goal in the clips embedded here:

[Footage from BBC Sport]

Liam Delap makes amends with nice assist for Estevao

Estevao prepares to bang in his first FA Cup goal after a nice assist from Liam Delap.

Not long after, it was 3-0 and game over. Liam Delap has had a horrible game, but made amends here with a strong run down the right wing. He failed to pass to Estevao with an earlier chance, but here he got his head up and picked out the Brazilian with space to finish easily.

The teenage talent has now scored in the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup, all by February in his first season. Not bad, eh?

You can see that goal in the clip embedded here:

[Footage from TNT Sports]

In other news…

One thing we ARE sure about is that Neto scored the first goal. He banged it in just before half time, as things were starting to get tense in the game.

Chelsea have a few players out there tonight who will really want a chance to impress. We listed four of them here, with Delap not doing that so far.

Luis Enrique speaks out after PSG's loss to Rennes.

PSG: Luis Enrique analyzes the defeat against Rennes

PSG were caught out this Friday night against Rennes.

On this 22nd matchday of Ligue 1, PSG collapsed against Stade Rennais (3-1). It was a statement victory for the Bretons, who completely reignited their momentum after a tough week. For PSG, it marks a significant setback.

After the match, Luis Enrique expressed his disbelief at how events unfolded: "It's incredible because we created so many chances, we had almost 4 xG and scored only one goal. It was the same against Marseille. We have to finish and we lacked efficiency." Clearly frustrated, the manager acknowledged that the league is demanding and his players need to be better at both ends of the pitch. Asked about Dembélé's comments, he preferred to keep things calm. "There are a lot of emotions after a match. I don't want to talk about individual cases. It's normal to be frustrated. When you miss so many chances and lose like that, opponents start to believe they can beat you. We'll go to Monaco hoping to show something different in terms of finishing." Enrique concluded.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after his post-match comments about refereeing following the 2-2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

The FA confirmed on Friday that the Spain international is accused of acting in an improper manner during a media interview by making remarks that imply bias and or question the integrity of a match official.

Rodri has until 18 February to respond to the charge.

The 29-year-old spoke out after City let a 2-0 half-time lead slip at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Dominic Solanke’s controversial goal sparking anger among City players.

Solanke’s first strike was allowed to stand despite Rodri believing the Tottenham forward kicked through the leg of City defender Marc Guehi in the build-up.

While the FA did not specify the exact quote, Rodri said after the match that referee Robert Jones was not being “neutral”.

“I know we won too much and the people do not want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral,” Rodri said.

He also claimed City had been on the wrong end of multiple decisions this season and urged officials to pay closer attention to key moments.

City’s frustration centred on Solanke’s opener early in the second half, which shifted the momentum of the match before the striker later completed a comeback to earn Spurs a point.

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has since backed the decision to allow Solanke’s first goal by a 4-1 vote.

The panel stated that Solanke kicked the ball first before making contact with Guehi as both players arrived at the same time.

However, the same panel unanimously believed Rodri should have been sent off in stoppage time.

Rodri, who was already booked, brought down Wilson Odobert late on but was not shown a second yellow card by Jones.

The panel said the foul stopped a promising attack and should have resulted in a second caution.

The charge leaves Rodri facing potential disciplinary action, with previous cases showing players can be punished for public comments that question the integrity of referees.

Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table and remain in pursuit of leaders Arsenal, with the title race tightening as the season moves deeper into its final stretch.

2025 was a year of change in the AL West. After a historic run of dominance, the Houston Astros finally sputtered out, missing the postseason for the first time since the Obama administration. But how long will the Seattle Mariners reign atop this division? Did they do enough this winter to keep a stranglehold on the AL West, or did the Astros maneuver their way back into pole position? What about the Rangers, just two years removed from a World Series? And will the A’s or Angels ever be good again?

Let’s fly through the AL West and hand out some grades.

More offseason grades: NL East | NL Central | NL West | AL East | AL Central

Seattle Mariners

Significant outgoing free agents: INF Jorge Polanco, 3B Eugenio Suárez

Major moves:

• Acquired INF Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals as part of a three-way trade with the Rays for 3B Ben Williamson, two prospects and a Comp B pick

• Signed OF Rob Refsnyder to a 1-year deal

• Signed C Andrew Knizner to a 1-year deal

• Retained 1B Josh Naylor on a 5-year deal

• Acquired RP Jose A. Ferrer for C Harry Ford and a pitching prospect

Offseason grade: A-

After falling a few outs short of reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history, the Mariners attacked the offseason with a refreshing sense of urgency. They acted swiftly to re-sign Naylor, agreeing to terms with the pugnacious slugger just two weeks after the World Series concluded. The 28-year-old isn’t a perfect player, and he provides less home run juice than you’d like from a first baseman, yet Naylor ranks seventh in fWAR at the position over the past two seasons.

Donovan was the other major bookend to Seattle’s productive winter. The utility man was a heavily rumored target for long stretches of the offseason because of how well he fit into the Mariners’ position-player mix. Donovan’s ability to play second and third should allow for two highly touted youngsters, Cole Young and Colt Emerson, to find playing time in Seattle. And despite all their success in 2025, the Mariners struck out a lot. Donovan’s high-contact approach should help on that front.

Seattle’s other moves were more supplementary. Ferrer is a flamethrowing lefty who should slot into the back of the pen. Refsnyder obliterates left-handed pitching and should form quite a formidable platoon at DH with righty-killer Dominic Canzone. Knizner will hold the cushiest job in baseball as Cal Raleigh’s backup. Perhaps the Mariners could’ve used another reliever, but that’s nitpicking. This was a pretty darn good offseason.

Houston Astros

Significant outgoing free agents: SP Framber Valdez, C/DH Victor Caratini, INF Brendan Rodgers

Major moves:

• Signed SP Tatsuya Imai to a 3-year deal

• Acquired SP Mike Burrows from the Pirates as part of a three-way trade with the Rays for OF prospect Jacob Melton and SP prospect Anderson Brito

• Acquired SP/RP Kai-Wei Teng from the Giants for a prospect and international bonus pool space

• Acquired SS Nick Allen from the Braves for UTIL Mauricio Dubón

• Signed SP Ryan Weiss to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: D+

This position-player group still doesn’t make sense. Bringing Carlos Correa back at last year’s deadline made sense in the short term. That shocking reunion energized the fan base and gave Houston dependability at third base after All-Star Isaac Paredes hit the IL. But it also put too many cooks in the kitchen. With Yordan Alvarez at DH, Correa at third, Jeremy Peña at short, José Altuve at second and Christian Walker — last winter’s big free agent — at first, Paredes simply has nowhere to play.

Entering the season with Paredes as a bench bat makes little sense, particularly in the context of Houston’s underwhelming outfield group. Maybe a trade is still in the cards, but if it isn’t, well, this is a very weird dynamic and a questionable offseason for the Stros.

These pitching acquisitions are interesting, though. Imai entered the winter as a potential $100 million guy, and Houston landed him on a nice, short-term deal. They paid a pretty prospect penny for Burrows — people really like Melton — but he’s a reliable mid-rotation arm. But altogether, this was a bizarre offseason for an organization that should be doing everything in its power to keep its window of contention propped open.

Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports

Texas Rangers

Significant outgoing free agents: OF Adolis García, C Jonah Heim, SP Patrick Corbin, SP Merrill Kelly, SP Tyler Mahle, SP Jon Gray,RP Phil Maton, RP Hoby Milner, RP Shawn Armstrong, RP Danny Coulombe, 1B Rowdy Tellez, UTIL Dylan Moore

Major moves:

• Non-tendered OF Adolis García and C Jonah Heim

• Acquired SP MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals for five prospects

• Acquired OF Brandon Nimmo from the New York Mets for 2B Marcus Semien

• Signed C Danny Jansen to a 2-year deal

• Signed RP Alexis Díaz to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Jakob Junis to a 1-year deal

• Signed SP/RP Tyler Alexander to a 1-year deal

• Re-signed RP Chris Martin on a 1-year deal

• Signed SP Jordan Montgomery to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: B-

Since winning the World Series in 2023, Texas’ offense has slogged aimlessly through the void. That surely motivated president of baseball operations Chris Young to part ways with Semien, García and Heim, all of whom were integral in the franchise’s first title. A change in direction makes sense, but none of the incoming offensive pieces is particularly electrifying. Jansen is a professional, capable every-day catcher, and Nimmo is a defensively declining corner outfielder whose on-base skills took a step back last year. Whether the 2026 Rangers rake will likely depend on the health of Corey Seager, Josh Jung and Evan Carter.

The Gore trade reinforces what was, statistically, the best rotation in baseball a year ago. He’ll pair wonderfully with Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi to make one of the most imposing top threes in the sport. Evaluators across the game believe there’s still growth to be had for Gore, who suffered greatly under the Nationals’ formerly outdated pitching development structure.

Did this team get better? Maybe a bit. Did the Rangers push themselves into no-doubt contender status? Absolutely not.

Athletics

Significant outgoing free agents: RP José Leclerc, OF JJ Bleday

Major moves:

• Acquired 2B Jeff McNeil from the Mets for a pitching prospect

• Non-tendered OF JJ Bleday

• Signed RP Mark Leiter Jr. to a 1-year deal

• Extended OF Tyler Soderstrom on a 7-year deal

• Extended SS Jacob Wilson on a 7-year deal

• Signed RP Scott Barlow to a 1-year deal

• Signed SP Aaron Civale to a 1-year deal

• Traded SP Mitch Spence to the Royals for a pitching prospect

Offseason grade: D

Everything about this franchise is in a weird state, with the abandoning of Oakland and all. But as the A’s ready themselves to move to Vegas in 2028, they’ve assembled quite an enviable assortment of talented young hitters. Unfortunately, the front office has done little to give the current roster anything resembling reinforcements to the pitching staff.

In some ways, that makes sense. Why spend money to make the current team better in front of 10,000 people in Sacramento when you could secure core pieces on extensions to sell out a big-league stadium in a few years? It’s ruthless but also shortsighted. Because contention windows rarely play out as expected. 

This lineup, with Soderstrom, Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker, has a chance to compete right now. This pitching staff does not. Had Athletics brass dished out just a little bit of dough for a few veteran starters, this team could’ve been a fun wild-card dark horse in 2026. Instead, they’ll probably be a weird historical footnote.

Los Angeles Angels

Significant outgoing free agents: SP Kyle Hendricks, SP Tyler Anderson, RP Kenley Jansen, INF Luis Rengifo, OF Chris Taylor, RP Andrew Chafin, RP Luis García

Major moves:

• Hired Kurt Suzuki as manager

• Acquired SP Grayson Rodriguez from the Orioles for OF Taylor Ward

• Acquired 2B Vaughn Grissom from the Red Sox for a prospect

• Acquired OF Josh Lowe from the Rays for RP Brock Burke as part of a three-team deal with the Reds

• Signed RP Jordan Romano to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Drew Pomeranz to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Kirby Yates to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Brent Suter to a 1-year deal

• Retained 3B Yoan Moncada on a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: D

Hiring a manager for just one season, as the Angels did with Suzuki, is incredibly rare and makes little sense. For an organization as directionless as this, though, it’s par for the course. Anaheim’s attempt to leverage a personal services contract with former first baseman Albert Pujols to get him to be the manager for free failed brilliantly. That’s when leadership pivoted to Suzuki, who will get a short leash to lead this team back to contention. 

Transactionally, none of these player additions moves the needle for the Angels, who have wallowed in mediocrity for more than a decade now. Rodriguez is the best of the bunch, exactly the type of high-upside, controllable arm the Angels should be targeting. But this is still a team with myriad holes and no real plan to fill them. The veteran bullpen reinforcements should help raise the floor, but this roster needs a lot of help that it did not get this winter.

Kansas fans duped by Darryn Peterson viral fake report originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kansas fans have been riding an emotional roller coaster this week. From celebrating a statement win over No. 1 Arizona to scrambling over a viral report about star freshman Darryn Peterson that wasn’t true.

After Peterson was held out of Monday’s 82-78 victory at Allen Fieldhouse with what the school described as “flu-like symptoms,” a fake report began circulating on X.

“BREAKING: Darryn Peterson will sit out the remainder of the season to prepare for the NBA draft,” a post from an account named Jake Morrison NBA read.

BREAKING: Darryn Peterson will sit out the remainder of the season to prepare for the NBA draft. pic.twitter.com/aAO7Ia4mpe

— Jake Morrison (@JakeMorrisonNBA) February 13, 2026

The rumor spread quickly, alarming Kansas supporters who are already sensitive to Peterson’s health after multiple absences this season. However, there was no truth to the claim. Peterson was a late scratch against Arizona. Kansas coach Bill Self said the decision came shortly before tipoff after Peterson was unable to participate fully in shootaround.

“We thought he’d go,” Self said. “I thought adrenaline would kick in.”

Kansas never listed Peterson on its pregame availability report because, according to Self, the Jayhawks believed he had a chance to play.

The confusion intensified when a video surfaced showing a stats crew worker texting speculation about Peterson’s absence. Kansas Athletics later clarified the individual was an ESPN-contracted worker with no inside knowledge.

More: Kansas fires back at viral video alleging Darryn Peterson was benched

Despite ongoing health setbacks, Peterson remains one of the nation’s most explosive players, averaging 20.5 points per game. For now, Kansas fans can exhale their star isn’t shutting it down. Whether he'll play a full stretch remains to be seen. 

More college basketball news:

• Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach
• 'Basketball Saved My Life': Why Master P came home to rebuild New Orleans
• Bruce Pearl sends warning to NBA teams about Kansas' Darryn Peterson
• Why FOX blocked St. John’s from participating in a major college basketball event
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix It

San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant has been selected as an injury replacement player for the 2026 NBA Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend on Friday, the league announced.

Bryant will take the place of Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward, who was ruled out of participating due to right knee soreness. He is among the 10 rookies set to suit up in the annual showcase, which includes teammates Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

The 14th overall pick will compete on Team Vince in Inglewood, California. Coached by Hall of Famer Vince Carter, Bryant will play alongside Matas Buzelis, Egor Dëmin, VJ Edgecombe, Kyshawn George, Derik Queen and Jaylen Wells.

Spurs rookie forward Carter Bryant will replace injured Grizzlies rookie guard Cedric Coward on Team Vince in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars, which tips off tonight at 9 PM ET on Peacock.

Coward is out with right knee soreness. pic.twitter.com/and2h2NJ8P

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 13, 2026

Bryant is averaging 3.4 rebounds and two rebounds while shooting 32.1% from 3-point range in 43 appearances with the Spurs. He recorded a season-high 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal on Tuesday in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 20-year-old Bryant even logged an appearance in the G League last month, recording 15 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots on Jan. 9 in a win over the South Bay Lakers. He went 6-of-13 from the field in 29 minutes of action.

Bryant will also compete in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, along with Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson and Orlando Magic rookie Jase Richardson. Castle was the unanimous MVP of the Rising Stars Game last year.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Spurs news: Carter Bryant named a replacement for Rising Stars Game

Seahawks trade proposal sends 32nd, 64th draft picks to land 69.5 sack edge rusher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a season that went about as good as it possibly could've. They won the Super Bowl, beating the New England Patriots and getting revenge for Super Bowl 49, and saw a lot of their players break out.

But, while the overall team looks to be about as good as it can be, they're losing a few key players to free agency, mainly on defense. Boye Mafe is one such player departing, which will make the Seahawks in need of pass-rusher help this offseason.

So, with such a need, and coming off a Super Bowl title, why not go all-in? Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports presented a trade proposal that would have Seattle send their 32nd and 64th picks to land superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Seahawks trade proposal lands Maxx Crosby for 1st, 2nd round picks

"Raiders get: 2026 first-round pick (No. 32 overall), 2026 second-round pick (No. 64 overall). Seahawks get: EDGE Maxx Crosby," Sullivan proposed.

After winning the Super Bowl, the Seahawks have the cap space necessary to add an expensive player like Crosby to the roster.

He's under contract through the 2029 season on a $106.5 million three-year extension, so Seattle would be getting a huge pass rusher presence for the foreseeable future.

Crosby will count for $35.8 million in cap space in 2026, $29.7 million in 2027, $27.2 million in 2028, and finally $28.2 million for the 2029 season.

Those are not cheap amounts for the Seahawks, but adding a superstar like Crosby to this defense, which is already the best in the NFL, could give Seattle a unit more than capable of surpassing the Legion of Boom.

More: What's the NFL record for most sacks in a single Super Bowl game?

Crosby is a 28-year-old pass rusher who has 69.5 career sacks with 133 tackles for loss. He has five Pro Bowl nods and multiple second-team All-Pro accolades as well.

If it weren't for Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons, Crosby would likely have a lot more accolades and recognition from around the league.

He's one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, and could be dealt this offseason. This trade proposal from Sullivan would be a good one for the Seahawks to make.

While losing rookies on cheap deals under contract for a while would sting, before the massive cap hits on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon come into play, the Seahawks should try to capitalize on their Super Bowl-caliber roster now.

The Seahawks have the roster, the cap space, the draft capital, and some strong reasoning to make a trade for Crosby this offseason. Adding Crosby would be great, and this proposal from Sullivan is a realistic one that the Seahawks might have to give up to land him.

More Seahawks news:

• Seahawks get $43 million contract projection on Coby Bryant ahead of Super Bowl
• How Seahawks built Super Bowl 60 roster, from Sam Darnold signing to 'Dark Side' defense
• Who won Super Bowl MVP in 2026? Kenneth Walker III wins honor in commanding Seahawks win
• Who won the Super Bowl 2026? Final score, results as Sam Darnold, Seahawks rout Patriots
• Seahawks’ Super Bowl title kick in the head for mathletes who’d given up on field goals
• Marshawn Lynch Nike commercial: Inside ad running after Seahawks' Super Bowl 2026 win

Wrexham vs. Ipswich score, stats, talking points, highlights as Windass gives Reds first-half lead in FA Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Wrexham vs. Ipswich score
• Wrexham vs. Ipswich key moments, updates
• Wrexham vs. Ipswich team news
• Wrexham vs. Ipswich upcoming fixtures

Wrexham and Ipswich Town take a break from their pushes for promotion to the Premier League for a well-matched FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Racecourse Ground.

Ipswich lie third in the second tier, with Wrexham rounding out the playoff places, seven points back in sixth, having played a game more.

Phil Parkinson's team are aiming to take the North Wales outfit into the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1996/97 season.

However, Wrexham are winless in their past three home matches, while the Tractor Boys have takes seven points from their past four outings on the road. Will a cup clash entrench or overturn those runs of form?

MORE: Wrexham vs. Ipswich prediction, lineups, odds, TV and bet builder tips for FA Cup match

Wrexham vs. Ipswich live score

Location: Racecourse Ground (Wrexham, UK)
Referee: Benjamin Speedie

Starting lineups:

Wrexham (3-4-2-1, right to left): Okonkwo (GK) — Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle — Longman, Dobson, Rathbone, Thomason — Windass, O'Brien— Smith.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1 right to left): Palmer (GK) — Baggott, Kipre, Greaves, Johnson — Cajuste, Neil — McAteer, Egeli, Akpom— Hirst

Wrexham vs. Ipswich key moments, highlights

34 mins: GOAL! Josh Windass puts Wrexham ahead! 

It has been coming. Thomason tears down the left but his cross is too far ahead of Smith. Longman picks up the pieces on the other flank and fizzes in a dangerous ball for Windass to score his ninth of the season.

Josh Windass fires Wrexham ahead! ✅

Wrexham 1-0 Ipswich Town

📲 Watch LIVE on BBC iPlayer & BBC One Wales from 19:15
🎧 @BBCSounds, BBC Radio Wales, @BBCSport Online & @5liveSport Extra
#BBCFootball#FACuppic.twitter.com/qfIi7ujc9s

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) February 13, 2026

21 mins: Palmer does well to keep out a low Windass strike amid a flurry of Wrexham corners. The Ipswich keeper saw the shot late as Rathbone leapt over it.

1 min: Almost a dream start for Wrexham as Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer botches a header outside his box. Palmer recovers to parry Josh Windass' attempt from out on the right wing and does superbly to stop Sam Smith's follow-up at close quarters.

Wrexham vs. Ipswich reaction

Reaction from Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna will appear here after the match

Wrexham vs. Ipswich team news

Wrexham team news

• Phil Parkinson makes five changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Millwall in Wrexham's previous Championship match.
• Ryan Longman, George Thomason, George Dobson, Josh Windass and Sam Smith all start.
• Former Ipswich duo Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead are on the bench against their old employers.

Ipswich team news

• There are wholesale changes from Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
• Centre-back Cedric Kipre is the only player remaining from the 2-1 win over Derby County last weekend, as McKenna makes 10 alterations.

Wrexham vs. Ipswich upcoming schedules

Wrexham upcoming fixtures

Ipswich upcoming fixtures

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Matt Weston doesn't always win. It only seems that way.

And at the Milan Cortina Olympics, the 28-year-old slider from Britain left no doubt — he's the best skeleton racer in the world.

Capping a four-year run that featured one remarkable finish after another, Weston won the men's skeleton gold medal on a frosty Friday night in Cortina d'Ampezzo. He finished four runs over two days in 3 minutes, 43.33 seconds, posting a track-record time in all four of those heats and building an almost-insurmountable lead going into a final slide that became a victory lap.

He broke into tears when it was over, then hugged one of his coaches — Latvian great Martins Dukurs, the 2014 Olympic champion. Dukurs was long considered the world's best; that title now belongs to Weston.

“I expect every time I stand at the top of the start line, I’m going there for one reason and one reason only," Weston said. "And that’s to win.”

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the event before it started because of his insistence on wearing a helmet that paid tribute to more than 20 coaches and athletes from his country who were killed following Russia’s invasion four years ago. Heraskevych got the ruling that he couldn’t race Thursday, about 45 minutes before the start of the competition, then had his appeal denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after a hearing in Milan on Friday.

Had he raced, Heraskevych might have been a medal contender. But beating Weston would have been an extremely tall task.

Germany got silver and bronze, with Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer now two-time Olympic medalists. Jungk, the silver medalist in 2022, was second again in 3:44.21; Grotheer, the gold medalist four years ago, was third in 3:44.40.

For the U.S., Austin Florian was 12th and Dan Barefoot was 20th. Florian will race for the U.S. in the mixed skeleton event on Sunday; he and Mystique Ro are the reigning world champions in that competition.

Weston was 15th at the 2022 Beijing Olympics — and has been the dominant force in men's skeleton ever since. Before this week, he had 34 races at the World Cup or world championship level since those Beijing Games.

He medaled in 28 of them, winning 15 times. Put another way, he has been no worse than third in 82% of those races and finished first 54% of the time.

It's absolute dominance.

“I think I’m a massive perfectionist," Weston said. “That kind of manifests itself in a lot of ways in my life. But in skeleton, sometimes when I win, I’m annoyed because I haven’t won correctly.”

There was nothing not to like about this one. He's a three-time World Cup champion, a two-time world champion and now, Olympic champion.

Weston becomes Britain's third skeleton gold medalist: Amy Williams won at the 2010 Vancouver Games, then Lizzy Yarnold went back-to-back in 2014 and 2018.

___

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

It's something you normally only see in video games, but Michael O'Neill will manage both club and country for the rest of the season.

The news that O'Neill would join Blackburn Rovers on a short-term deal until the end of the campaign comes just six weeks before Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off semi-final with Italy.

Northern Ireland have not featured at a World Cup in 40 years and are underdogs to beat both the Italians, and then either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, to reach the finals.

At his new role with Blackburn Rovers, his job is to guide the club out of the relegation places in the Championship with 15 games left.

There's a lot on the line for O'Neill with club and country, so how will he juggle both jobs?

• O'Neill to juggle Blackburn & Northern Ireland roles

Northern Ireland supporters could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu, after O'Neill took charge of Stoke City in November 2019 in a deal that was set to have him guide NI into the Euro 2020 play-offs alongside his duties at the Championship club.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the play-offs back and O'Neill's sole focus became Stoke City, until he made a full-time international return in 2022.

"This opportunity came to light and it was something that appealed to me," O'Neill said on his Blackburn opportunity.

"Having had discussions with the IFA and with Blackburn, we felt it was something that was feasible, and that was the most important thing for both parties.

"It's something that I believe I'm capable of doing and both parties will benefit from it."

How will it work?

Having so much on the line for both Northern Ireland and Blackburn has left people questioning how he can balance the two responsibilities.

Northern Ireland fans spokesperson Gary McAllister told BBC Sport that O'Neill's dual role had "not been well received" by supporters, but the 56-year-old does not have any concerns.

"If I felt for one minute it would distract [from the Italy game], I wouldn't have taken the opportunity," O'Neill said.

"And I wouldn't have done that to Blackburn Rovers, either. It's important they have my focus."

For O'Neill to make the opportunity work, preparation has been key. He will take over day-to-day training at Blackburn - alongside Damien Johnson, Steven Davis and Phil Jones - and a lot of his groundwork for the World Cup play-off has already been sorted.

O'Neill said he and his team had studied the Italians, which led him to say "I don't think there will be any surprises" from Gennaro Gattuso's side, plus he has already been to Bergamo to visit Atalanta's stadium for the fixture.

"November to March is a long period of four months which leaves you with a lot of downtime.

"The reality of the situation is we've done a lot of work on Italy and we've watched them as much as we can watch them.

"All the preparation is in place for our training base, so really between now and the game in March, I would just be watching games and watching players."

Northern Ireland face Italy on 26 March - just five days after Blackburn Rovers take on Championship leaders Middlesbrough, and O'Neill feels it will be business as usual after that game as he hopes his NI squad come through their final fixtures unscathed by injury.

"I know my squad extremely well. I know pretty much the squad that I'll pick for March and I know pretty much the team that I hope to pick in March as well.

"I'll be sitting on the 21 March in the hotel after Blackburn Rovers have played Middlesbrough hoping that my squad's all going to turn up, and that's something that's not in my control.

"For me, the benefit of being on the grass will sharpen me coming into the games in March, instead of coming in after four months and having to be in the technical area.

"I don't see really any downside to it."

The unique situation

While O'Neill will job share until the end of the season, he doesn't feel an international manager could go part time and the opportunity with Blackburn came about at an ideal time.

Northern Ireland's last game was against Luxembourg in November, and O'Neill says he has made the most of that time to prepare Northern Ireland for Italy.

From next season, the September and October international windows will be combined into a quadruple header.

"I don't think it's possible to do it on a part-time role, but I think a situation like this is possible to do, or else I wouldn't try to do it.

"I think that it's feasible to do it at this time in the season, but it wouldn't be something that would be feasible to do September, October and November, because you're rolling into the games much quicker."

O'Neill added that the four-month gap between World Cup qualifying and the play-off made the opportunity become a reality.

It all comes back to preparation and organisation.

"I think the biggest difference [to the Stoke City situation in 2019] is the fact that we're so well prepared already for Italy," he said.

"That gives me comfort then to look at this opportunity."

What's best for club v what's best for country

O'Neill has been brought in at Blackburn to save the club from dropping into League One for the first time since 2018.

However, success with his club could cause issues on the international stage.

O'Neill has consistently spoken about having Northern Ireland's players playing at the highest level, but a significant number of players will be going up against O'Neill's Rovers to avoid the drop.

At Sheffield Wednesday, who seem doomed after their points deduction earlier in the season, goalkeeper Pierce Charles has been a positive in a difficult and injury-hit year.

Moving up the table, there is a strong Northern Ireland contingent at Oxford United, with Brodie Spencer, Jamie Donley, Jamie McDonnell and Ciaron Brown.

One point above Blackburn, Terry Devlin's Portsmouth are also in danger while Isaac Price, who has been such a key player for O'Neill with Northern Ireland, is far from safe at West Brom.

However, for O'Neill, he said he isn't "having that blood on my hands" and the fate of those clubs lay with their respective managers.

"At the end of the day, my job is to do the best I can for Blackburn Rovers," he said.

"The lads who manage those respective clubs, their job is to do the best for their clubs as well. I don't think that's an issue at all."

What does the future hold?

O'Neill refused to be drawn on his future beyond the end of the season but said there was no guarantee he would join Blackburn if he kept them in the Championship.

His comments on the part-time international management rule that out as a long-term option, so his future in the summer will be either club or country, and not both.

"The agreement is in place as to the end of the season and we're not looking any further than that at this moment in time," O'Neill said.

O'Neill is contracted until the end of the Euro 2028 finals, and although he said there is a release clause in his contract, he still harbours ambitions to reach that tournament with Northern Ireland.

"I'm ambitious as a manager and I want to manage at the highest level I can," O'Neill said.

"This is not about leaving Northern Ireland. It's not about that.

"It's about an opportunity that's been presented to me, which I think I'm capable of doing in the time frame that we've discussed."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — For two solid decades, LeBron James was a main attraction at every NBA All-Star weekend.

He was a 20-year-old starter in his All-Star debut back in 2005, and he became the youngest MVP of the game one year later. Never begging off due to injury or exhaustion while his less-accomplished teammates luxuriated in their breaks from the regular-season grind, James dutifully appeared in every midseason showcase until 2025, when his 40-year-old body simply wouldn't allow him to play.

As it turns out, that weekend in San Francisco wasn't the end of an era after all.

Now 41, James will be back this weekend for the All-Star Game at Intuit Dome south of central Los Angeles, spending another Sunday in February under the spotlight while extending his records for the most All-Star selections (22) and All-Star appearances (21) in NBA history.

James, the leading scorer in NBA history and in the All-Star Game's history, clearly doesn't consider the All-Star Game to be an onerous obligation, even when he's had to fly all around the country to make his appearances. Yet the Los Angeles Lakers star is also thrilled he'll be spending this All-Star weekend in his own home, where he can concentrate his spare hours on making the most of the time he has left, both in this season and in his matchless career.

“Trying to figure out how to get some rest,” James said Thursday night when asked about his plans for the weekend. “Obviously, Sunday will be Sunday. Super grateful for that, to be a part of All-Star weekend and to be a part of the big game. And then (I'll) try to find some rest.”

James went into the break with a performance that exemplified why his latest All-Star selection wasn't obeisance to a basketball legend — even one who has missed 18 games due to injury already this season, disqualifying him from consideration for a 22nd straight All-NBA selection.

During the Lakers' 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, James became the oldest player to get a triple-double. He had 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the 123rd triple-double of his career and one of his best performances of the season with the Lakers (33-21).

“He’s fighting Father Time as good as anybody ever has,” Lakers teammate Austin Reaves said. "Just the pace he’s playing with still, the athleticism, obviously the IQ. Yeah, he is still one of the best players in the NBA. (He's an) All-Star for a reason.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick put it even more succinctly: “He’s got a 23-year prime, basically.”

And as James reiterated after his triple-double, he still firmly believes he could maintain something close to this level of play indefinitely.

His defiance of time and aging has reached unprecedented levels as the only NBA player to suit up for a 23rd season, and he is excelling at a level never reached by a player in his 40s. James has repeatedly said he doesn't know how much longer he'll play — but he doesn't even qualify it by saying he wants to leave before his skills erode, because he doesn't think they will.

“Could I? Yeah, I could. But I don’t know,” James said when asked if he could continue to play at a high level for years to come.

“It’s not (about) my game,” he added. “My game is not going anywhere. It’s just my body. It’s all the other things. There’s so many more factors that come with how long will I play the game. I don’t think my game will ever suffer if I decide to continue to go along, however long that is. I just think it has to be here (pointing at his head). How long can I stay in love with the process? Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, if this goes, then my body is going to go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap. And all the fun goes, and all the love and stuff goes. That’s what it is. It’s not like my game is deteriorating.”

In his first All-Star Game, James suited up for the Eastern Conference alongside fellow starters Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson to face Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

When he plays in his 21st All-Star Game at the Los Angeles Clippers' futuristic arena, he'll be playing against many young stars who have never really known the NBA without James in it.

But the generation gap seems meaningless lately, at least when James is healthy. After winning four championships and accomplishing almost everything possible in basketball, James is still playing at an All-Star level because he gets satisfaction from the process — and gleeful joy from its results.

“That’s always me,” James said. “I’m a goofy, 41-year-old kid. I mean, I think people should know that by now, right? That’s just me. I’m just goofy. I get to play basketball. Like, they pay me to play basketball. Why wouldn’t I be happy about that? I get to be with my son and my teammates and all these unbelievable fans. They’ve watched me throughout my career and given me all the support and love, and it’s like, I enjoy my … is it even work? I enjoy what I do.”

___

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

Olympic men's 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.

Curling has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the Winter Games.While mixed doubles curling begins ahead of even the 2026 opening ceremony, the men's competition doesn't begin until after the mixed doubles have wrapped up.

The men's curling draws begin on Wednesday, February 11 and will run until the gold medal game on Saturday, February 21. Sweden entered the Olympics as the reigning gold medal-winning champions. They dominated the 2022 competition in Beijing, and went 9-2 over 11 games to earn the gold medal. Sweden won a close gold medal game with a narrow 5-4 victory over Great Britain. Canada beat the United States 8-5 in the bronze medal game. 

Here is an updated look at the standings, results and schedule for men's curling at the 2026 Winter Games. 

MORE: Full day-by-day 2026 Olympic schedule

Men's Olympic curling standings 2026

Here is an updated look at the men's curling standings at the 2026 Winter Games. 

Men's Olympic curling schedule and results

Here is the men's Olympic curling schedule, which will be updated with results. 

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Thursday, Feb. 12

Friday, Feb. 13

Saturday, Feb. 14

Sunday, Feb. 15

Monday, Feb. 16

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Thursday, Feb. 19

Friday, Feb. 20

Saturday, Feb. 21

How does Olympic curling work?

Every team will play each other in a round-robin tournament that runs from February 11 to the final draw on February 19. 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. 

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

How to watch 2026 Olympics curling

• TV channels: USA Network, CNBC
• Live streams:Peacock

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be broadcast over the air mostly on the USA Network. 

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.

Jason Knapp and Jim Kozimor will handle play-by-play, while Sloane Martin is on the call. Kevin Martin, Tyler George, and Jaime Sinclair will serve as analysts. Kira K. Dixon will act as the curling reporter.

MILAN — “The Quad God” is going for gold.

Ilia Malinin returns to the ice in the men’s free skate on Friday, Feb. 13 where the stage is set for him to become Olympic champion. The 21-year-old U.S. star heads into the final men’s singles figure skating event with a healthy lead over Yuma Gagiyama of Japan.

While the wide expectation Malinin has the gold medal wrapped up, the figure skating world eagerly awaits if he will execute his signature quad Axel. He has yet to do it, and landing it for the first time in Winter Olympic history would punctuate a golden outing. He also is likely to perform his fourth backflip of the Games.

Malinin’s free skate will feature the songs “The Ball" by Asaf Avidan, "The Smell of the Sea" by Alan Mayer and "Code Duello" by Power-Haus and Sergiu-Dan Muresanwhich. The program also features his voice. 

What time will Ilia Malinin perform?

Malinin is scheduled to skate approximately at 4:45 p.m. ET. 

How to watch Ilia Malinin today

The men’s free skate will air on NBC. It is also streaming on Peacock.

Watch Olympic figure skating on Peacock

Ilia Malinin free skate program

Here are the planned elements for Malinin’s free skate:

• Quad flip
• Quad Axel
• Quad lutz
• Quad loop
• Change foot camel spin
• Step sequence
• Quad lutz + single euler + triple flip
• Quad toeloop + triple toeloop
• Quad salchow + triple Axel + sequence
• Choreo sequence
• Flying sit spin
• Change foot combination spin

Are backflips allowed in figure skating?

Yes, they are now.

For nearly 50 years, the backflip was banned in figure skating, after American skater Terry Kubicka became the first one to execute it at the 1976 Innsbruck Games. French skater Surya Bonaly did it at the 1998 Winter Olympics, landing it on one blade, but the move was illegal and she was penalized for it. 

The International Skating Union reversed course and made the move legal in 2024, paving the way for it to be done at the 2026 Winter Olympics, 50 years after it was first done. Malinin has done it in all three performances in Milano Cortina.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ilia Malinin skate for gold medal at 2026 Winter Olympics

New Rutgers defensive coordinator, Travis Johansen, has made another addition to his staff, this time bringing over Elijah Hodge from South Dakota to be the team’s Assistant Linebackers Coach. Hodge was the inside linebackers coach at South Dakota from 2022-2024, serving under Johansen during his tenure as the team’s defensive coordinator. The program announced Hodge’s hire via their social media accounts.

During his three seasons at South Dakota, Hodge produced three 100+ tackle linebackers, Stephen Hillis (115) & Brock Mogensen (106) in 2022, Brock Mogensen (113) in 2023, and Gary Bryant III (103) in 2024. 

His work with the Coyotes was Hodge’s first time being a college coach, as he coached in middle school and high school before that.

Hodge’s playing career saw him start out as a four-star who committed to Wisconsin. Hodge played in 35 games in four seasons with the Badgers before he transferred to Northern Iowa for his graduate season.

It should be noted that he has a strong connection to Boston and the Northeast, with most of his time spent in the high school ranks being at schools in the Boston area. These schools include Roxbury Prep Charter School and Phoenix Charter Academy. His connections could be useful in Rutgers’ attempts to recruit this area.

It takes a village.

To be clear there is literally an Olympic Village at Milano Cortina 2026 where those competing in the Winter Olympics are staying. These are the finest athletes in the world who are each giving their all in the name of having a moment that lasts forever.

In the same sense, the team at Getty is giving their all and creating thousands of moments that will last forever. Getty Images is the Official Photographic Agency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and works around the clock to ensure that anything and everything happening in their midsts is being documented in the most stellar way possible.

You can never plan enough

As action continues throughout the Olympics there are all sorts of surprises. There is action taking place within arenas, both literal and metaphorical, but there are people in the stands. Celebrities. Politicians. Dignitaries. It is critical for the Getty team (photographers, editors, staffers, you name it) to be ready for anything and everything.

I am fascinated by this process. Given the high-quality work that Getty produces all of the time it is no wonder that there is an enormous amount of planning and preparation that goes into execution. Mike Heiman, Getty Images’ VP of Global Sport, told SB Nation that work in the overall area where the Olympics are taking place began four years ago. Foundations have to be set. Variables have to be understood. Challenges have to be accounted for. Even then Snoop Dogg may show up and require a pivot in the moment, but Heiman and his team are considerate (and used to) curveballs being thrown at them on the regular and have a process for how to handle it.

It takes practice and execution to get these incredible stills that preserve these moments for all of time, but it all ultimately comes down to the planning that Mike talked about. Getty photographers and staffers are well-trained and have a deep understanding of the sports and events that they cover so they are able to be the eyes of the world at any given moment.

Thinking about Getty’s role in sport and the Olympics specifically made me think about an expression that I take issue with. People talk about certain points in our lives and refer to them as moments that are fleeting. Not to get too literal or silly here, but all moments are fleeting. What’s more… all moments are fleeting at exactly the same pace. I understand the expression and appreciate the sentiment that it provides, but this is life. It is happening.

It is this idea that leads to my deep appreciation for what Getty has to offer. We look at the photographs that they take and are in awe, but what amazes me is that due to their hard work, care, and curation… the moments they find and shoot are no longer fleeting. They preserve them. Getty is more than a team assembled to deliver world-class photographs, they are time-stoppers and memory-savers. They are documentarians who have done the impossible, they have made the moments stand still and across all of time.

Do me a favor and think about this next time a luge is speeding down the track, a figure-skater is landing an incredible move, or when a puck meets the back of the net in the most-needed moment. Those things are unfolding so quickly and while it will take longer than that someday our memories of them will as well.

Getty has established the power and drive to save us, though. They are the keepers of the flame and in this case the one that burns bright in Milano Cortina.

Clouds pass over Tiger Stadium on Monday, March 20, 2023, on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a posthumous pardon to former LSU football star Billy Cannon, who served time in federal prison in the 1980s for counterfeiting. 

Cannon’s pardon was announced with those of former other NFL football players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis and Travis Henry, who are all still alive. Alice Marie Johnson, the first-ever White House pardon czar, shared the news Friday on social media. 

“As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again,” Johnson wrote. “So is our nation.” 

Cannon served two and a half years out of a five-year sentence for printing $6 million in fake $100 bills.

Cannon is one of the most famous football players in LSU history and immortalized with a bronze statue outside of Tiger Stadium, the school’s only football player to receive that honor.   

Footage of Cannon’s legendary “Halloween Run,” in which he ran 89 yards late in the fourth quarter for the game-winning touchdown against rival Ole Miss in 1959, is played before each LSU home football game. In that same game, Cannon and teammate Warren Rabb made a game-saving tackle at the 1-yard line on fourth down with 18 seconds left to crush the undefeated Rebels’ comeback hopes.

He was awarded the Heisman Trophy that season, the first for an LSU player.

Bunnie Cannon, Billy’s daughter, praised the pardon in a Facebook post. 

“During his lifetime no matter how much good my father did he could not outrun his failures,” she wrote. “One mistake does not and should not define you! Thank you Alice Johnson, our elected officials in Washington and President Trump for this gift to our family.” 

Cannon practiced dentistry and orthodontia after retiring from professional football. Failed real estate investments and gambling debts led to him into counterfeiting, resulting in a federal conviction in 1983.

After Cannon was released from prison, he became the dentist at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, rebuilding its dental care facility and eventually being put in charge of the entire medical system at the prison. 

Cannon died May 20, 2018, the same day then-LSU football coach Ed Orgeron recruited Joe Burrow to play for the Tigers. The following year, Burrow became the first LSU football player  since Cannon to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy, helping bolster Cannon’s legendary status among LSU fans.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Team USA is off to a hot start at the 2026 Winter Olympics after the men’s hockey team dominated Latvia in its opening match, and now the team is honoring former NHL star Johnny Gaudreau at the tournament.

Gaudreau and his young brother tragically lost their lives in 2024 after being struck by a car in New Jersey. However, their legacies have lived on as NHL and other hockey teams have rallied around the Gaudreau family.

Now that the Winter Olympics are back in Milan-Cortina, Team USA hockey has made a generous effort to make sure that Johnny Gaudreau is never forgotten by the national team.

MORE: NHL players in 2026 Winter Olympics pronouncing own names is viral comedy gold

For the Olympics, Team USA has placed Gaudreau’s number 13 jersey in the locker room alongside the rest of the American players. Prior to his passing, Johnny Gaudreau represented Team USA during his 11 NHL seasons.

That includes scoring nine goals and adding four assists throughout his national team career. The former Calgary Flames winger was beloved by hockey fans, and following his death his family was given many honors across the North American hockey landscape.

MORE: Full list of NHL players in 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

Team USA will look to continue its early 2026 Winter Olympics success during the rest of the preliminary stage with matches against Denmark and Germany before aiming to take home a gold medal.

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

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post Team USA hockey gives Johnny Gaudreau 2026 Winter Olympics honor appeared first on The Big Lead.

An alleged co-conspirator who supposedly directed the pitch-rigging scheme of former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz was indicted on Thursday in the Eastern District of New York.

In a superseding indictment, Robinson Vasquez Germosen, a citizen of the Domincan Republic living in Bronx County, New York, is accused by federal prosecutors of being a key link between gamblers and the pitchers, who are scheduled to stand trial on May 4.

Vasquez is charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He accused of defrauding sportsbook platforms, obtaining money under false pretenses, and funneling money to unnamed gamblers in the Dominican Republic electronically from May 2023 to June 2025.

In an indictment laden with links between the parties, Vasquez is cast as the intermediary, discussing details with gamblers and coordinating with the pitchers when they would intentionally underperform on certain pitches to win prop bets by either missing the strike zone or manipulating their velocity. In Clase’s case, these manipulations allegedly happened in up to 48 games.

Both Ortiz and Clase are charged with four counts: wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sports betting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. Both pitchers pleaded not guilty.

Ortiz’s attorneys have asked for a separate trial because he is accused of rigging fewer pitches in fewer games.

Indictment details of alleged scheme

The charging documents detail thousands of alleged transactions, most in increments of a few thousand dollars, but one for $43,000.

Prosecutors described thousands of text messages between Vasquez and Clase, including a screenshot of a video call (above) between the pitcher and one of the gamblers.

The indictment also details the process of Vasquez and Clase allegedly developing a coded text message system using the words “rooster” and “chicken” to describe when and how they would rig pitches.

Clase’s attorneys have subsequently insisted that those messages regarded actual fowl, as the pitcher owns cockfighting birds in the Dominican Republic, where the practice is legal. Prosecutors countered that assertion in the superseding indictment, writing:

“As part of the investigation, I know that Clase gambled on rooster fights, which is legal and popular in the Dominican Republic. I have also identified several text messages where Clase appears to make legitimate references to roosters. However, based on my familiarity with the investigation, including my review of several electronic devices seized pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, I have determined that this particular exchange refers to a fixed pitch based on the context of the exchange and my review of Clase’s messages with Bettor-1 around this time.”

The charging documents further cement the relationships between the pitchers and Vasquez, and therefore the gambling ring, by asserting that he attended Guardians games approximately 28 times with tickets provided by the pitchers under the “family” and “friends” designations.

Michigan State football will reportedly host a highly-coveted wide receiver from SEC country in April.

Chad Simmons of Rivals reported earlier this week that Michigan State will host three-star wide receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray for an unofficial visit in April. According to Simmons, Kelly-Murray will visit Michigan State on April 14.

Kelly-Murray hails from Mount Pleasant, S.C. and is listed as a three-star prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. He ranks as the No. 44 wide receiver and No. 8 player from South Carolina in the class. He is also listed as the No. 370 overall prospect in the class.

Michigan State has not yet extended an offer to Kelly-Murray, but he holds offers from 30 other schools, according to 247Sports. Some of the more notable programs to offer him includes South Carolina, Duke, Illinois, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Update: According to @ChadSimmons_ 2027 3 Star WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray (@thejaidenkelly4) has scheduled an Unofficial Visit to MSU!

He will be in East Lansing April 14th. Go Green! pic.twitter.com/C3JxClVIZd

— Bleed Green MSU (@BleedGreen_MSU) February 13, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football to reportedly host South Carolina 3-star WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray in April

NEED TO KNOW

• Maxim Naumov struggled through his free skate in the men's singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 13, but ended with a smile
• Naumov kissed a photo of his late parents after completing his routine
• Naumov's parents died in the Washington, D.C. plane crash in January 2025

Prior to every skate, each Olympic figure skater has the chance to share a message with the arena crowd via the Jumbotron. Before he took the ice on Feb. 13, Maxim Naumov's message was simple: "Mom and Dad, this is for you."

Though he struggled through his free skate after an impressive short program in the men's singles, Naumov, 24, achieved a lifelong Olympic dream in Milan — and he knows he made his late parents, who were also his coaches, proud in the process.

The Team USA skater — who was ranked 14th heading into the night after delivering one of the best short program performances of his life — earned 137.71 during round two, bringing his grand total to 223.36. He fell several times during the routine, but ended with a smile and a grateful wave to the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, who offered him a thunderous applause.

"It's a couple technical mistakes, of course, but I've had the chance to gain a lot of perspective on my life this season... For me, this skate, this whole experience at the Olympics, means so, so much to me," he told reporters including PEOPLE after the event. "I didn't give up, from the start to the finish. That is something I can be proud of."

Just as he did after his short program, Naumov clutched a photo of his late parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, to his chest in the kiss and cry zone as he awaited his score. Once the score came through, he kissed the photo, which shows him with his parents at 3 years old, on the ice for the first time.

“I have it in my cross-body bag, so it’s literally on my chest, on my heart. I wanted them to sit in the kiss and cry with me and experience the moment, look up at the scores. They deserve to be sat right next to me, like they always have been," he previously explained of having the photo with him.

The elder Naumov, 55, and his wife, 52, were killed in the American Airlines flight 5342 and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crash over Washington, D.C. in January 2025.

After his final event, Naumov told reporters that he learns something new about himself in every competition, and this go-round was no exception. He said he plans to "continue to move onwards."

"I'm just a guy that had some really crazy things happen to, but I picked myself up and I continued to move, even when it was the last thing that was on my mind," he said. "I'm not special in that. I think everyone has the ability to do that and I just hope and I pray that I can inspire someone to see that in themselves and to know that they can do it as well."

Naumov son told PEOPLE in January that his parents — the 1994 World Figure Skating pairs champions — were “my role models my entire life.”

"I hear their voices, like what they say to me, all those lessons that we had every single day for years," Naumov said. "I have memories that are burned into my head, of certain corrections on jumps and things like that....or they're laughing about something or telling me, 'Don't forget to point your toes.' "

He recently launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Building Stronger Minds for Young Athletes,” which supports the early development of a mental wellness program and resources designed to help athletes with their mental health.

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

Liverpool step up Dumfries chase

A move was made for Lutsharel Geertruida - on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig - but since no replacement could be found the Dutchman stayed where he was.

But it looks like Richard Hughes is still keen to address the issues and a move for Denzel Dumfries cannot be ruled out for summer.

Linked with a move in January - despite an ankle injury - the 29-year-old Inter wing-back is close to a return to full fitness. The former PSV star wants a place in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad and will be going hell for leather until the end of the season.

Liverpool plot £21m deal for Dumfries

According to FCIN talk will turn to the player’s future very soon - with his current deal expiring in 2028. And Liverpool will be right there for his signature - named in the report as one of the teams who can “easily” afford his €25m (£21m) buyout clause.

With Arne Slot described as an “admirer” Dumfries has got the quality and experience to add to Liverpool’s options at right-back.

Ronald Koeman has even used him in tandem with Frimpong for the Oranje - meaning that the former Leverkusen wing-back could become the permanent successor to Mo Salah further forward.

In a recent report, TuttoJuve mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur are in the running to land Bournemouth talent Marcos Senesi. It has been stated that Spurs are facing stiff competition from Juventus, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton and Manchester United in the race to land the Argentine defender.

Senesi’s Impressive Form In The Premier League

Senesi is having a solid campaign at the English club as he has been responsible for putting in a string of impressive displays for them in the Premier League. The 28-year-old has secured four assists in 27 matches for Bournemouth this season across various competitions.

The Argentine talent is currently among the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Therefore, Tottenham would do well to get him on board later this year.

His current contract at the Vitality Stadium will run out at the end of this campaign, which could open the door for Spurs to sign him on a free transfer next summer.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 10: Marcos Senesi of Argentina lines up prior to the International Friendly between Argentina and Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium on October 10, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Should Tottenham Hotspur Go For Senesi?

Senesi is a solid tackler of the ball and can scan the danger well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when required and is a good passer as well.

Standing at 1.84m, the Argentine sensation can use his strong frame to win a few 50-50 aerial duels for his team. Senesi can even play his way out from the back. He is already quite familiar with the Premier League and won’t take much time to adjust to life at Tottenham if they can get a deal over the line for him.

We can expect Senesi to bring more bite and steel to Spurs’ defensive department. He is good enough to compete for a regular starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the coming seasons.

At 28, Senesi is playing in his prime, which makes him a worthy target for Spurs to consider this summer. He might even help the North London club get back to challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League over the next few years. All in all, Spurs would be wise to go for a centre-back of Senesi’s quality and skill set later this year.

An utterly dominant midfield performance from Sam Coffey kept Manchester City’s title dreams alive as the Sky Blues hit the Foxes for six at the Joie Stadium. Goals from Bunny Shaw, Kerolin Nicoli, Vivianne Miedema, Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino move the Sky Blues 11 points clear ahead of the rest of the weekend’s action.

Starting XI’s

Manchester City

Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood, Coffey, Hasegawa, Kerolin, Miedema, Hemp, Shaw

LeicesterCity

Clark; Neville, Thibaud, Swaby, Kees, Mayling, Lehmann, van Egmond, McLoughlin, Mouchon, O’Brien

How It Went

Kick off was delayed by ten minutes due to a power issue with the stadium floodlights. When play finally got underway, it was the hosts who got off to a stronger start. Good chances for Vivianne Miedema and Bunny Shaw put the Sky Blues on the front foot from the off. Alisha Lehmann slammed the ball against the post in the 16th minute however the offside flag was quickly raised, putting an end to the attack.

After several more half chances, Bunny headed the ball into the back of the net to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Miedema quickly made it two to the hosts. The Dutch forward slammed the ball home from the edge of the area just five minutes later. The City No.10 then doubled her tally for the evening, cooly heading the ball beyond Olivia Clark in the 36th minute. Less than two minutes later, Yui Hasegawa made it four for the hosts, finishing a well weighted cutback from Kerolin.

Embed from Getty Images

Second Half Action

Less than three minutes after play resumed, Kerolin Nicoli put the hosts five up with a rocket from the edge of the box. The following 15 minutes provided relatively few clear cut chances as Leicester looked to limit the damage. The 66th minute, however, saw Aoba Fujino extend the hosts lead to six as she took the ball beyond Clark to open her account for the evening. Bunny had the ball in the back of the net with just seconds to play however her goal was quickly flagged for offside.

Whilst Leicester struggled to create many chances, No.9 Noemie Mouchon was a bright spark for the Foxes throughout the game. The French international was a thorn in City’s side across the 90 minutes, offering Rich Passmoor’s side a glimmer of hope on several occasions.

Despite the goals from City’s attacking line-up, Sam Coffey was at the heart of City’s dominance. Constant dominance of the midfield from the American international offered the Sky Blues numerous chances with the hosts capitalising on many of them. The No.17’s ability to read the game makes her an invaluable asset for Andree Jeglertz as his side chase down the title.

Embed from Getty Images

Up Next

Manchester City will host Sheffield United in the FA Cup before travelling to face Aston Villa in the league. Two more crucial WSL games will follow, first a home clash with Tottenham before a title winning Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Three wins in the league will see the hosts crowned champions for the first time since 2016.

Leicester will travel to face Liverpool in the League before back to back home games against Aston Villa and Brighton. The Foxes then face London City Lionesses and Arsenal just three days apart.

Related articles from Her Football Hub:

• Ninja A-League round-up: Brisbane Roar close gap on Melbourne City in latest drama
• Sydney FC part ways with most successful ever head coach Ante Jurić
• WSL: No alcohol-related incidents as Fan Choice receives ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback

NEED TO KNOW

• Jack and Quinn Hughes finally got to play their first official hockey game together
• The brothers — who play for the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild, respectively, in the NHL — are representing Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics
• Their first game together ended with a big win for the United States over Latvia

Brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes are finally joining forces on the ice while representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The NHL stars — 26-year-old Quinn, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, and 24-year-old Jack, a center for the New Jersey Devils — played their first official game together on Thursday, Feb. 12, representing the United States at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.

Team USA won its first game in the tournament against Latvia with a final score of 5-1.

Speaking to the New York Post after their win, Jack noted how excited he was to get to share the moment with Quinn, saying, “I wanted to play with him all night. It’s so fun to be doing give-and-gos with him, playing off each other. So yeah, hopefully we can do that a lot.”

Despite playing different positions, he added that he and Quinn "go to the same spots a little bit."

It's truly a family affair for the Hughes brothers, who are joined at the Games by mom, Ellen, who works with USA Hockey, and dad, Jim, who serves as director of player development for the brothers' agency, CAA.

Jack and Quinn's younger brother, Luke Hughes, is also playing in the NHL. The 22-year-old is a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. However, he did not make it to the Olympics for Team USA this year.

Jack reflected on sharing the moment with his brother and mom, describing it as "unreal" and "pretty special."

“Just growing up, my dad was on the road coaching. My mom was the one who was taking us to games and taking us to the outdoor rink, coaching us and stuff. The best part for me is being here with Quinn. We’re lucky we get to share the Olympics with our mom, too," he said.

Interestingly, Jack and Quinn aren't the only brotherly duo representing the U.S. on the hockey team this year.

They're joined by the Tkachuk brothers — 28-year-old Matthew, winger for the Florida Panthers, and 26-year-old Brady, left winger for the Ottawa Senators.

ESPN noted that both duos are doing well, with Quinn spending more than 21 minutes on the ice while his brother landed two assists against Latvia. Meanwhile, Matthew also ended the game with two assists, and Brady scored Team USA's first Olympic goal of the year.

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.

The brothers and the rest of their teammates return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 14 to play Denmark and Sunday, Feb. 15 for a game with Germany.

Bracket-style games continue until the Feb. 21 bronze medal-game, which is following the next day by the ultimate face-off, where gold and silver medals will be distributed.

Read the original article on People

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Why is 11-time National Sportswriter of the Year Rick Reilly on the bag of a billionaire sports owner at the 2026 Pebble Beach Pro-Am?

Reilly, 68, a New York Times best-selling author and best-known for his back-page column in Sports Illustrated, is working on a sequel to his 2003 hit “Who’s Your Caddy?” In that book, he recounts his experiences caddying for famous golfers and celebrities and offers a funny and revealing look at the world of golf. In the original collection, he lugged the bags for everyone from Donald Trump to the blind world golf champion. He's at it again.

Reilly’s on the bag for Ryan Smith, a co-founder of Qualtrics, a cloud-based software company that he sold for billions. Smith has since invested in sports franchises, becoming the owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz and NHL’s Utah Jazz in his home state. He’s also a devoted golfer, who played in the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in September. and he’s close friends with six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau. The duo is paired together this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Reilly swung the gig as his caddie for a chapter in the book scheduled to be released for Father's Day in 2027.

Reilly didn’t have it too bad – Smith was using a light, kickstand bag at Spyglass and Pebble Beach. Reilly knows the deal from past experience as a caddie – show up, keep up, shut up – and promised he’d do better on Friday during the second and final round of the 36-hole pro-am. Smith dismissed the notion. “Don’t change a thing tomorrow,” he said. 

Those are words any caddie would love to hear. But ultimately, the final proof of how well he does comes down to the tip at the end of the week. How much does a billionaire give for a little effort?

Said Reilly: “I’ll settle for a ride in his jet!” 

Look who I ran into on the bag for Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith @attproam the man, the myth, the legend and sportswriting hero of mine @ReillyRick. Working on sequel to Who’s Your Caddie 🔥 💪 💯 pic.twitter.com/JtHGoyHWST

— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) February 12, 2026

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rick Reilly caddies for Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith at Pebble Beach

After a goalless first half at Meadow Park, Newcastle's second-string were reduced to ten men in the closing stages following Matheos Ferreira's straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Callan Hamill.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the final minute of stoppage-time and despite Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris saving Harriman-Annous' spot-kick, the Gunners forward headed the rebound into an empty net.

Mason Miley, younger brother of Magpies midfielder Lewis, went close to netting his first goal at under-21 level in the opening minutes of the league clash. The 17-year-old midfielder's in-swinging corner forced Arsenal goalkeeper Tommy Setford into punching the ball out for a corner.

Harris, who spent the first half of the season on loan at NIFL Premiership side Coleraine FC, produced a key stop to prevent Marli Salmon from scoring for the hosts as the teenage goalkeeper held the Arsenal skipper's header following Demiane Agustien's dangerous free-kick.

The 19-year-old, named on the bench for United's UEFA Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain last month, recorded an excellent stop before the half-time break.

Marcell Washington's lofted cross from the left flank found Brando Bailey-Joseph at the back post but his goal bound volley was turned out for a corner by Harris' stretching left leg.

Newcastle began the second half in bright fashion as Mills, introduced from the bench at the restart, struck the woodwork.

After Kyle Fitzgerald's tackle was deflected into Mills' path, the Manchester-born forward drove towards goal before his resulting effort clipped the outside of the left-hand post, denying the 16-year-old a first goal at under-21 level.

Mills, who made his under-21s debut in last week's win against Aston Villa, created another opportunity in front of goal as the England Under-16 international combined with Fitzgerald but steered his volley wide of the target from the Irish winger's lofted pass.

Newcastle were forced to play the final ten minutes with ten men as Ferreira was sent off. The Ashington-born forward, who scored a hat-trick in last week's 4-3 win against Aston Villa, produced an over the top foul on Hamill on the far touchline and was shown his marching orders by referee Emily Heaslip.

In the fourth minute of stoppage-time, Newcastle conceded a penalty after Logan Watts fouled Harriman-Annous inside the box as the Arsenal winger beat the North Shields-born left-back in a race onto Evan Mooney's diagonal pass from distance.

Although Harris guessed the correct way to push away Harriman-Annous' attempt from 12 yards, Newcastle's clean sheet hopes were cruelly dashed as the Arsenal forward reacted quickly to nod the ball into the left-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Mason Miley, Logan Watts, Miodrag Pivaš, Ciaran Thompson (c), Rory Finneran, Kyle Fitzgerald (Darren Palmer 73), Scott Bailey, Matheos Ferreira, Anthony Munda (Baran Yildiz 87), Seung-soo Park (Michael Mills 46).

Subs not used: Isaac Moran, James Taylor.

Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, hasn’t earned many fans after she started dating the legendary football coach. The 24-year-old former cheerleader has found herself in multiple controversies during her relationship with the eight-time Super Bowl champion.

MORE: Bill Belichick’s HOF snub propels major change in voting process

Skip Bayless’ wife, Ernestine, signed her name on the growing list of people who don’t like Hudson. During the latest edition of her YouTube show with the former FOX Sports analyst, Ernestine and Skip discussed recent sports events. They published a clip talking about Jordon Hudson. Neither held back on their opinion of the former cheerleader’s behavior and how it has impacted the coach.

“It was snarky, petty, and it was really low blow. It is the lowest form of a cheap shot,” Skip said on Hudson Saturday’s action. “And obviously Belichick signed on. He’s the head coach of the football team at North Carolina. He embarrassed the school through her, but he’s been letting her embarrass the school for the entire football season.”

Ernestine replied by claiming Hudson had taken over Belichick’s decisions.

“She’s controlling his life,” she said.

“This is the Bill Belichick who blatantly, willfully cheated in. In the spy gate cheating scandal and got busted for it. This is the Belichick who clearly oversaw the Deflategate cheating scandal. So those are the two biggest cheating scandals in the history of the NFL. This isn’t funny to me. It’s really a low-class low blow,” Bayless added.

MORE: NFL legend Randy Moss goes off on HOF voters after Bill Belichick snub

Bill Belichick’s girlfriend takes major shot at Robert Kraft after the coach’s HOF snub

Jordon Hudson sent a strong message to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Saturday. Ahead of Super Bowl 60 between the Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Hudson attended a North Carolina Tar Heels basketball game against archrivals, the Duke Blue Devils.

Her outfit selection drew a lot of attention. She wore a T-shirt with the name of “Orchids of Asia Day Spa,” a massage parlor involved in an investigation into prostitution allegations back in 2019.

Authorities charged Robert Kraft with prostitution charges after the investigation. They were eventually dropped.

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

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post Skip Bayless’ wife has strong opinion on Bill Belichick’s ‘controlling’ gf appeared first on The Big Lead.

Canada vs. Switzerland box score: Full stats from 2026 Olympic men's hockey preliminary game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's exciting to see NHL players back in the Olympics for the first time since 2014, bringing a wave of star power to Team Canada.

Canada kicked off the Olympics on a high note, impressively defeating Czechia 5-0 in their opening match.

On Thursday, five different Canadian players, including Macklin Celebrini and Nathan MacKinnon, found the back of the net, marking the first Olympic game with NHL players since 2014. Since Czechia is Canada's main rival in Group A, this strong start is definitely a boost for Team Canada.

Meanwhile, Switzerland also made a great start, winning 4-0 against France, setting the stage for an exciting underdog story. Timo Meier scored twice for the Swiss, and goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni earned a shutout with 27 saves.

Here’s a look at the box score from Canada’s matchup vs. Switzerland.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

Canada vs. Switzerland box score

Canada stats

Switzerland stats

Seahawks block Raiders, Klint Kubiak from interviewing assistant coach originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Las Vegas Raiders wanted to interview one of the Seattle Seahawks' assistant coaches, but Seattle said no.

This comes from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who reported that the Raiders wanted to interview run-game specialist and assistant offensive line coach Justin Outten.

But because Las Vegas was interested in Outten for the same position, the Seahawks were able to block that request.

"The Raiders requested Seahawks assistant Justin Outten for run-game coordinator but Seattle blocked the request, per sources," Fowler reported.

In order for the Raiders to sidestep Seattle's block, they would have to interview Outten for a higher position, which in this case would be offensive coordinator.

Outten, who joined the Seahawks in 2025, is one of the Seahawks' candidates for offensive coordinator after they lost Klint Kubiak to Las Vegas.

Along with Outten, the Seahawks have interviewed or will interview other in-house candidates that include quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, pass-game coordinator Jake Peetz and tight ends coach Mack Brown.

As for the Raiders, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer suggested Kubiak could look to hire Janocko or Seahawks offensive line coach John Benton for his offensive coordinator vacancy.

Janocko specifically is viewed as the favorite to be Kubiak's offensive coordinator, but Breer believes he would prefer the Seahawks job over the Raiders' because he can call plays in Seattle.

More NFL News

• Mike Evans rumor from ESPN is promising news for Bills, Pats, Broncos
• San Francisco 49ers' Kendrick Bourne makes free agency plans clear
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor gives price point to Cowboys, Pats, Seahawks
• Eagles trade rumor is exciting news for 49ers, Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos
• A.J. Brown trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Bills or Patriots
• George Pickens rumor points to Cowboys making huge mistake

Twenty-five years ago, Upper Deck changed the landscape of sports collecting by bringing the “Young Guns” rookie card concept, a staple of the hockey world since 1990, to the fairways. The face of that revolution was a 2001 Tiger Woods rookie card that defined an era.

Now, as the sport enjoys a cultural renaissance driven by Full Swing, YouTube creators, and a youth movement, Upper Deck is doubling down.

Leading into the release of 2026 Upper Deck Golf (arriving in hobby shops Feb. 18), I sat down with Upper Deck Director of Sports Brands Paul Zickler to discuss the company’s aggressive new strategy. The headline? A massive 25th-anniversary buyback program that could spark the biggest treasure hunt golf collecting has seen in decades.

Hunting History

For 2026 Upper Deck Golf (arriving Feb. 18), the company executed a massive recovery mission in the secondary market. They purchased original 2001 Upper Deck Tiger Woods rookie cards, which have now been signed by Woods, hand-numbered to 25, and stamped with a commemorative 25th Anniversary logo.

“We wanted to pay homage to that unique anniversary,” Upper Deck Director of Sports Brands Paul Zickler told me. “Tiger and his rookie card were at the forefront of us entering the golf space. It felt important to commemorate that properly.”

This isn’t a reprint. It’s not a facsimile. These are original 2001 cards that have been authenticated, signed, numbered, and reinserted into 2026 packs. That alone would headline most releases.

But Upper Deck didn’t stop there.

The Secondary Chase: The Entire 2001 Base Set

Beyond the signed Tiger rookies, Upper Deck acquired 25 copies of the entire 2001 base set as part of the buyback program.

Each card from that original 200-card checklist will appear in 2026 packs in a limited run of 25 copies, hand-numbered and stamped with the same anniversary mark. They’ll be seeded across every format, from high-end Hobby boxes to retail blasters.

“There’s going to be 25 of each base card,” Zickler confirmed. “Each hand-numbered. Inserted across all SKUs.”

In effect, Upper Deck has turned the entire 2001 set into a 1-of-25 anniversary parallel. For collectors who have ripped 2001 boxes chasing Tiger for years, this adds a modern scarcity layer to a two-decade-old product.

But the anniversary release also introduces something new: Retrospective Young Guns.

Players like Tiger Woods and Jon Daly, who never had Young Guns during their original card eras, will receive tribute Young Guns cards designed to mirror the hockey template from their respective years.

“We created retrospective Young Guns for players who didn’t have that treatment originally,” Zickler said. “The design matches the hockey Young Guns from their debut season.”

It’s a clever nod to Upper Deck’s strongest brand equity in hockey while recontextualizing golf legends inside that framework.

The Bigger Play: Making Golf Year-Round

The buyback is the headline, but the long-term strategy is cadence.

“One thing we wanted to do with golf is create more consistent product releases,” Zickler said. “You need reoccurring products to educate consumers.”

Historically, golf cards have been sporadic. Upper Deck is shifting to a multi-product annual roadmap:

• 2026 Upper Deck Golf (Flagship)

• 2026 Allure Golf: The company‘s first chromium golf product

• 2026 Fleer Ultra Golf: Featuring unique insert cards and full-bleed images

• 2026 Artifacts Golf: A memorabilia and relic-focused set highlighted by event and tournament worn memorabilia, and autograph memorabilia cards

Four core releases. One full-year cycle.

The goal is cross-pollination — particularly with hockey collectors already familiar with Young Guns and serialized parallels.

“I think it’s going to start tipping,” Zickler said. “There’s so much interest in golf in the sports world.”

For years, golf collecting has often felt like a niche pursuit punctuated by Tiger Woods-sized spikes. Upper Deck’s 2026 strategy is the attempt to turn those spikes into a steady baseline. By leveraging the most valuable asset in the sport’s history, the 2001 Tiger rookie, to launch a cohesive, four-product annual calendar, they are building an ecosystem. The buybacks might get collectors in the door, but the commitment to Chromium, memorabilia, and “Young Guns” consistency is designed to keep them there long after the last signed Tiger is pulled.

Imagine needing a hobby and missing the thrill of competition so much that you become an Olympian. That’s exactly how Johnstown-area native Dan Barefoot began his decade-long journey into the sport of skeleton.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Western Pennsylvania native makes Olympic debut in skeleton

Dan and his brother David were working out when Dan proposed a crazy idea, picking up a new sport, but with a twist. Dan didn’t want anyone to know he was training for a new sport, skeleton, and bringing competition back into his life.

“He told me, he said, ‘Hey, I want to tell you something. Let’s keep it a secret. I am going to start training for this new sport that I found on Google by looking for things to compete in again,’” David recalled.

Growing up as athletes, the Barefoot brothers loved to compete, and Dan had his eyes on competing on the largest stage. This began Dan’s two-year training, keeping everyone in his life in the dark.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Family of local man preparing to make Olympic debut shares their excitement

It was hard for David to keep Dan’s secret, not only from the world but from those closest to him, including his parents. He wanted to celebrate his brother openly, to express his pride rather than hiding it, but he respected Dan’s wishes and cheered him on silently.

“I just witnessed, I encouraged and I was amazed the whole time,” David said.

Once Dan spilled the secret, the family was beyond amazed, supportive, and excited to see Dan discover his new passion. What was once a hard-kept secret turned into a rally of celebration within the Barefoot family.

“Anything he has ever done, he has thrown his entire self into it,” said his father, Barry.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Western Pennsylvania native qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics skeleton sled racing team

Dan’s sister, Erin, shared that same sense of pride.

“Just seeing him accomplish his dreams is just so surreal,” she said, adding she’s excited to follow him as he continues his journey with Skeleton. “He is the stereotypical best older brother.”

Competing in the Olympics is something to celebrate loudly, but for those closest to Dan, the moment was so extraordinary that it was almost hard to believe it was real.

“But to see him in the Olympics, it’s kind of like, ‘Is it real? Are we really here?’ You know?” his mother, Becky, said. “It has been a long time. He has worked a long time to be here. We are just enjoying every minute of it.”

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Johnstown man officially named to Team USA’s skeleton sled racing team

Unfortunately, Dan’s family hasn’t seen a lot of him, but they understand it’s hard to see one another when he’s competing for his country. Becky said she’s happy he can spend time with his other family, his team and the other Team USA athletes.

Dan’s journey from training in secret to competing on the global stage of the Olympic Games shows what the Games are about: dedication, hard work and courage. Through his journey, the support from his family has been his foundation. Dan continues his competition and hopes to bring home the gold for the United States.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

What if Andre the Giant had won World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) 1991 Royal Rumble, as originally planned? Would his presence have given that year’s Rumble the big push that it seemed to sorely need?

The 1991 Rumble had a different feel from the 1990 edition. While 1990 had a rather ho-hum undercard but a very intriguing Rumble, the 1991 version was the exact opposite, with an uneventful Rumble but a stacked undercard highlighted by  The Ultimate Warrior losing the WWE world title to Sgt. Slaughter (who was playing the role of an Iraqi sympathizer during Operation Desert Storm) in a major upset that left fans stunned.

But the Rumble itself, while not a bad match, simply lacked any real excitement, with the only encounter of real significance being Hulk Hogan and the “Earthquake” John Tenta wrapping up their nine-month feud by being the final two participants before Hogan threw Earthquake out for the win. But by this time, the Hogan-Earthquake feud had lost its luster, with Hogan defeating Earthquake at the previous two pay-per-views (a count-out win at Summerslam 1990 and Hogan’s team beating Earthquake’s team at the 1990 Survivor Series).

But in fairness to Hogan and Earthquake, the original plan wasn’t for these two to close out the Rumble. Instead, the plan was for Andre the Giant to win the event as sort of a final tribute to one of WWE’s living legends.

On Nov. 30, 1990, at a house show in Miami, the WWE announced that Andre would return to in-ring action as a participant in the 1991 Rumble, which was scheduled to be held in Miami two months later. The plan, according to WWE Executive Director Bruce Pritchard, was for Andre to come in at No. 30 in order to limit his in-ring involvement but also see him go head-to-head with several of the top stars at the time before winning the Rumble. Unfortunately, shortly after he was mentioned on television as one of the Rumble’s participants, Andre had to back out due to a leg injury.

So let’s play some revisionist history here and theorize what would’ve happened had Andre been healthy enough to compete in the Rumble.

First, let’s discuss whom might’ve been in the ring when Andre made his way down at No. 30. When the Rumble announced Tugboat as the 30th and final wrestler for the event, in the ring at the time were Hogan, Earthquake, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Henning, the “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, the “Model” Rick Martel (who lasted in the Rumble for a then-record 53 minutes and 14 seconds), Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Haku, Brian Knobbs of “The Nasty Boys” and Shane Douglas.

Since in this scenario Andre is coming in at No. 30 and not Tugboat, let’s assume that Tugboat was eliminated earlier in the event. Let’s also assume that—since Andre got a huge babyface reaction at his last TV appearance at Wrestlemania 6 on April 1, 1990—Andre would’ve gotten a huge babyface pop from the crowd here as well.

Got it? OK, here we go.

When Andre enters the ring (over the top rope, as he always does), he immediately gets attacked by Haku, which makes sense given that they were former tag team champions before their falling out at WM6 when Andre left the Heenan family. Haku delivers a few chops to the head of Andre and quickly goes for his patented Crescent Kick, but Andre catches Haku’s leg, nails Haku with a couple of punches, and then throws his former partner over the top rope.

Following that elimination, Andre quickly goes to a corner of the ring where Perfect and Douglas are battling one another. Andre grabs both their heads, knocks them together, and eliminates both wrestlers.

Meanwhile, Martel eliminates Neidhart, just like it originally happened, while the Bulldog throws Knobbs over the top rope, and Hogan and Earthquake continue to battle in another corner. Martel and the Bulldog then turn towards each other, with Martel getting the upper hand before getting eliminated by a Bulldog dropkick when he attempted to climb the top rope (again, just like it originally happened).

So now here’s your final four:

Hogan, Earthquake, Bulldog and Andre.

Bulldog, emboldened by his eliminations of Knobbs and Martel, quickly jumps on Andre with several forearms to the back. But Andre soon uses his massive size to grab Bulldog’s arms, deliver a headbutt, and throw him over the top rope like a rag doll.

Meanwhile, Hogan and Earthquake continue to battle in another quarter, with Earthquake starting to get the upper hand. But Andre walks over to the corner towards Earthquake, whose back is to Andre and thus doesn’t see the “Eighth Wonder of the World” coming. Andre grabs Earthquake by the head, delivers two headbutts, chokes Earthquake for a few seconds, and manages to get Earthquake over the top by himself.

And now you’re down to two:

Hogan…and Andre.

The two legends find themselves in the same ring for the first time since Summerslam 1988, with a pop from the crowd that clearly shows that the fans know they’re witnessing wrestling history once again.

Hogan and Andre stare each other done intensely, but not quite with the same intensity as from their match at WM3, mainly due to both wrestlers being babyfaces at this point. The stare down quickly stops when the two legends and former friends begin punching each other, going blow for blow until Hogan seemed to be getting the upper hand with three straight unanswered right hand shots. With Andre reeling, Hogan motions to the crowd that he’s going to slam the Giant, which he hadn’t done (at least on TV) since WM 4 back in 1988. Hogan moves in, goes for a slam, but in a scene reminiscent of their match at WM 3, Hogan is unable to get Andre up, and instead Andre falls right on top of him, seemingly injuring Hogan’s ribs.

The ending would come quickly, surprising fans a bit (but remember, Andre is not in the best shape here). Andre lifts Hogan to his feet, delivers two punches, a headbutt and then picks up Hogan with ease, walks to the ropes, and throws Hogan over the top.

Game. Set. Match. Andre.

Two things to discuss here:

First, would Andre’s presence have given the 1991 Rumble a jolt?

The answer: Yes.

Andre’s appearance, particularly given the fact that he came in at No. 30, did what it set out to do: Put the spotlight on a living legend, have him make an immediate impact, briefly rekindle an iconic feud by going head-to-head with Hogan, and giving fans a little swerve by making Andre the winner. While all of this would’ve been enough to rank the 1991 Rumble as one of the event’s best, it would have created a “Rumble moment” if you will. And that’s all you could’ve asked for.

And second, would Andre’s appearance and victory change any bookings for WM 7 later that March?

The answer: No.

Given his health, it’s very unlikely that Andre’s victory at the Rumble would’ve given him a big push heading into Wrestlemania. Andre’s Rumble win was meant to be a kind of swan song for the wrestling legend. While he may have made the occasional appearance later in the year, I don’t see any booking changes for WM 7 despite Andre’s win.

What do you think? Am I right? Wrong? Somewhere in the middle? What are your thoughts, wrestling fans?

The Oklahoma Sooners faced perhaps the most difficult schedule in all of college football in 2025, and OU navigated a brutal slate well enough to make it to the College Football Playoff with 10 wins. Now, it appears that the Sooners will have to face a daunting schedule again to make a return trip in 2026.

Josh Pate, who hosts "Josh Pate's College Football Show", identified the five teams that he believes face the hardest schedules for the 2026 season. It was no surprise that Oklahoma was among those teams, as they've been given no favors by the SEC schedule-makers since they entered the league in 2024.

"I think Oklahoma's got a tough schedule too," Pate said. "Oklahoma, just like Texas, plays a huge Big Ten out of conference opponent in the first couple of weeks when they go to Michigan in Week 2. They go to Georgia in Week 4. So, by the time OU gets to their bye week, they will have already played in Ann Arbor and Athens, and then they've got to go to Dallas to play Texas coming out of the bye week."

During the first six weeks of the season, the Sooners will be heavily tested multiple times. Their season-opener against UTEP is followed up by that absolutely massive Michigan game the following week. After coming home to face New Mexico, the Sooners will head back on the road to face Georgia, before finally getting a break with their bye week in Week 5. However, coming out of that bye, it's a trip to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the annual Red River Rivalry matchup with Texas. That's three extremely good opponents over the course of five games in six weeks.

Pate also takes a look at the stretch run of OU's schedule, which looks a bit different than it has over the past couple of years.

"Look at their final five games, because they've got to play eight in a row to finish the year, too," Pate said. "Their final five, it's South Carolina and then at Florida, and those are two total wild-card teams. They could be five-win teams, could be nine-win teams, and neither would really surprise me. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, at Missouri back-to back-to-back, and really those five games back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back, it just makes it a really, really tough finish to the season."

After the battle with the Longhorns in Week 6, the Sooners host Kentucky and visit Mississippi State, before the schedule really ramps up again over the last five weeks. South Carolina and Florida will both be better in 2026 than they were in 2025, and the final three weeks of Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri will prove treacherous for Brent Venables and the Sooners.

Life in the SEC means tricky and difficult schedules every single year for the Sooners. Oklahoma used the brutal slate as a springboard to the CFP last year, and if they can navigate 2026's challenges well, they may be poised to repeat that feat this fall.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: OU among teams with hardest schedules in 2026, per Josh Pate

The "Cristiano case" seems to have entered a truce phase. After days of high tension and speculation about his future in Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed that the Portuguese star will be available for Al Nassr for this Saturday's match against Al Fateh. This news is a relief for coach Jorge Jesus, who regains his top player at a critical moment in the season.

The end of the "break" due to tensions with the PIF

Ronaldo's absence in recent matches was not due to physical problems, but a deliberate "break" as a protest against recent management decisions and budget adjustments imposed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). This standoff between the player and league authorities had set off all alarms about a possible premature exit, but his return to the squad suggests that the parties may have reached an understanding to prioritize sports performance.

Ready for the assault on the leadership

With the "7" ready to take the field tomorrow, Al Nassr regains its main offensive weapon. The atmosphere in the locker room, which remained loyal to the captain during his absence, will be strengthened by the presence of a Cristiano who will seek to respond with goals to the criticism received for his recent rebellion. The anticipation in the stadium will be at its peak to see if this return marks a definitive reconciliation with the league's leaders.

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

ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA, Italy — Figure skating is fine — if you're AARP-eligible. Curling was cool for a hot minute a decade ago. Even the shredder kids have gone corporate. If you're looking for a wacky-but-edgy cool Winter Olympic event to fall in love with, biathlon is where it's at.

The mash-up of cross-country skiing and shooting is wildly popular among Europeans — and everyone knows they have great taste — and is at arguably the most beautiful venue at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. You'd be hard-pressed to find athletes who exert themselves more, and it has the most, ummm, colorful characters at these Games.

"I would say we're pretty high up, especially with the headlines we've had this Olympics. It's been a bit outrageous, huh?" Campbell Wright, the top American, said after finishing 12th in the 10km spring on Friday, Feb. 13.

"I think biathlon is the most beautiful sport in the Winter Olympics. I think it's bloody awesome," Wright added. "It's so painful sometimes and so tough, but I love it."

Biathlon doesn't get a lot of attention in the United States, even during the Olympics, because Americans like bright, shiny things and biathlon is still without one of 'em. With the exception of the new events at Milano Cortina, it's the one Winter Olympic sport where the United States has never won a medal.

That's right. Ever. We've won medals in skeleton, Big Air, curling. We've even won a medal in Nordic combined, for heaven's sake. But biathlon continues to elude the U.S. and that alone is reason enough to get on board. Think of biathlon as the Buffalo Bills of Winter Olympic sports.

But there's plenty more about biathlon to love.

The venue here, a regular stop on the World Cup circuit, is gorgeous, nestled in the Dolomites like a jewel. And biathlon fans show out. There are pop-up bars and restaurants outside the security perimeter, packed with fans tailgating before and after the race.

The grandstands were filled with singing, chanting and bell-ringing fans, and so many flags waved when a German athlete left the start box you'd have thought you were in Munich. Couldn't get a seat in the stands? No worries! Thousands of fans lined the course, standing several people deep to watch athletes push themselves to whatever depth of hell is below even the pain cave.

"That was one of my hardest last kilometers I've had in a while. That really sucked," Wright said. "I was out of energy. My legs stopped working. And that sucks when it stops working and you're a (kilometer) away, because you know it's going to be a really long kilometer."

See! Drama! Wright, and pretty much every other athlete, was pushing himself so hard he collapsed after crossing the finish line, staying crumpled in the snow for several minutes. Even 20 minutes afterward, some racers were still trying to catch their breath.

And if we're going to talk drama, well. The bronze medalist in the 10km sprint was Norway's Sturla Holm Lægreid, better known at these Games as "The Cheater."

After winning bronze in the 20km on Tuesday, Feb. 10, Lægreid confessed in a post-race interview that he'd cheated on his (now) ex-girlfriend and wanted her back. He's since apologized for that, too, saying he regretted that broadcasting his personal soap opera had overshadowed teammate Johan-Olav Botn's gold-medal performance.

If this guy's story doesn't show up on Law and Order or, better yet, one of Bravo's Housewives franchises, the suits at NBC are doing something wrong.

"Obviously biathlons had some interesting stuff coming out of this Games," U.S. veteran Paul Schommer, who finished 47th in the 10km, said wryly.

But the best part about getting into biathlon? You'd be getting in on the ground floor.

The Americans are closer to breaking through that medal ceiling than ever. Deedra Irwin's seventh-place finish in Beijing was the best-ever for an individual U.S. athlete, and she has five top-10 finishes in the World Cup this season. Wright was a silver medalist in two events at last year's world championships, and got his first World Cup podium in the last race before the Olympics.

A breakthrough is coming and, when it happens, you can say you were an OG fan. (Original, not Olympic Games.)

"I think I'm in the game for all of them," said Wright, who still has the pursuit, mass start and team relay left. "OK, it's a hard game, don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm going to medal 100% or anything. But just because I'm 12 today doesn't mean I'm out for the (others)."

Biathlon. Get on board. You'll thank me later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biathlon is best Winter Olympics sport you're missing out on. See why

It’s probably not a great look to have a UFC White House card, which is meant to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, headlined by a bunch of Russian fighters like Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, and Arman Tsarukyan.

There’s not much the promotion can do about Makhachev and Chimaev, since they hold division titles, but Tsarukyan can be held down for as long as needed since the No. 2-ranked “Ahalkalakets” has yet to capture the 155-pound crown (thanks partly to this).

That’s according to a new theory from UFC homer Daniel Cormier.

“It feels like that’s a massive fight that is worthy of being on such a massive card,” Cormier told his YouTube audience about the Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria lightweight title unification fight. “And with Topuria being who he is, with Gaethje being who he is, an American guy holding a UFC title – look, the UFC booked Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje. (If) Paddy Pimblett won, you had a star who was going to fight Ilia for the belt.”

Gaethje defeated Pimblett at UFC 324 to capture the interim crown.

“Justin Gaethje won, now you have an American guy holding a portion of a title with a fight at the White House that is going to happen in June,” Cormier added. “It was a no-lose situation; and honestly, I don’t know how we missed it. Everybody’s like, ‘Well, why is that dude, why isn’t it Arman?’ Now it kind of makes sense because now that Gaethje has the belt, you’ve got an American guy holding a title going into the White House. It worked one way or the other. Now it makes more sense to me.”

And here I thought it was that nose-breaking headbutt that sent Arman to the showers.

The UFC White House fight card — which “needs winners like Jon Jones” — has yet to be revealed; however, the promotion recently gathered up all the top thinkers to start laying the framework for the June 14 super show. Expect an official announcement in the coming weeks, if not sooner.

The Oregon Ducks have landed commitments from a number of highly-ranked defensive lineman in program history, with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Haloti Ngata highlighting the list as top players from their respective classes.

If class of 2027 defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou committed to Oregon, he'd join the prestigious list as well as he's currently rated as a five-star. He's reportedly interested in the Ducks, as he included Oregon among the final ten schools that he's considering in his recruitment.

Oregon was on the list alongside Big Ten foes Ohio State, Michigan, USC and Penn State among five others.

Fakatou is the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 35 player overall in the 2027 class, per 247 Sports Composite. He competes for Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, CA, where he's the third-ranked player in the state.

NEWS: Elite 2027 DL Marcus Fakatou is down to 10 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’7 275 DL from Riverside, CA is ranked as the No. 2 DL in the ‘27 Class (per Rivals Industry)

Where Should He Go? ⬇️ https://t.co/uJVAahWizBpic.twitter.com/pU4ReYJbUV

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 13, 2026

The Ducks currently have just four commits as part of the 2027 class, with three-star linebacker Sam Ngata and four-star edge rusher Cameron Prittchet the two commits on the defensive side of the ball.

Oregon has been named as a finalist in several other highly-ranked players in the 2027 class in recent weeks, but securing the commitment of Fakatou would cement them at the top of recruiting rankings once again after finishing with the second-ranked 2026 class.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon makes the final ten schools for 2027 5-star DL Marcus Fakatou

Texas A&M will get an earlier start on Saturday, as Game 2 of its opening weekend series against Tennessee Tech has officially been moved up from 2 p.m. to 11 a.m. due to expected inclement weather. The matchup, set for February 14, will still stream on SEC Network+.

With a deeper roster, a revamped coaching staff, and no external expectations weighing them down, the Aggies enter 2026 with a real opportunity to claw their way back into postseason contention.

This year’s group blends a core of returning contributors with several talented newcomers who will need to mesh quickly to keep confidence high in the program’s direction.

Friday also marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Texas A&M is 2–0 against first-time opponents under head coach Michael Earley and will look to make another early statement as the 2026 season gets underway. The weekend will also give the staff a chance to fine‑tune lineup combinations and establish the foundation for a strong start.

🚨 Tomorrow's game (2/14) will moved up to 11:00AM https://t.co/hABL123jj7pic.twitter.com/Oz5mS3xhLe

— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 13, 2026

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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Weather forces Texas A&M to move up Saturdays against Tennessee Tech

Chris Paul was a competitor, a genius and unapologetically himself until the very end originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chris Paul's last year in the NBA wasn't supposed to be like this. The surefire Hall of Famer signed with the Clippers, the team he helped pull out of obscurity, for a retirement tour on a team with high playoff expectations. He only made it through 16 games before they decided they were better off without him. Last week, they traded him to the Raptors, who waived him without playing him a single minute.

Paul's not a quitter, but he saw the writing on the wall. In a 525-word Instagram statement, he announced that he was stepping away from the game rather than pursuing another contract to finish out the year.

The line that stuck out to me from Paul's message is when he wrote, "the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!!)." That goal was so obvious that he didn't even feel the need to state it. Winning was everything, always, no matter the cost.

MORE: Chris Paul dishes on art of sign-stealing, signal trickery

The Point God will go down as one of the smartest players in the history of the game. His genius manifested itself in a number of ways. He figured out early that grifting for fouls was one of the most efficient forms of offense. If his team was in the bonus, you could bet your net worth that he was going to attempt a rip-through move to get to the free throw line. He's the only guy in the league that would dare try one 90 feet away from the basket and with 19 seconds left on the shot clock. It worked, and he got two free throws out of it. 

Paul's brain was always on. He once won a game in 2019 by forcing referees to enforce an obscure delay-of-game rule with 1.1 seconds left, after Jordan Bell checked in with his jersey untucked. The ensuing technical foul free throw helped his Thunder team force an improbable overtime and win that game.

Another time, during his year with the Spurs, he knocked the ball away from 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey and had a chance to grab it to force a jump ball. Instead, he frantically motioned to teammate Victor Wembanyama to grab it, pulling Wemby's hand down to the ball and forcing the whistle.

Most recently, he and Wembanyama gamed the skills competition at All-Star Weekend, recording the best time but getting disqualified in the process for intentionally missing their shots. It was such a disaster that the league replaced the event with the Shooting Stars contest this year.

Paul didn't need those tricks to win. He was an unbelievably talented player who could beat players based purely on talent, too. You don't win Rookie of the Year, make 12 All-Star games, and finish top 10 in MVP voting 10 times without being one of the best point guards of all time.

Paul once explained to me why he steals opponents' play calls for a story that I wrote back in 2023. "It ain't much of an advantage," he explained. "But in a game where we talk about every point matters, every possession matters, you do what you gotta do."

To Paul, the idea of not stealing signs didn't even register as a possibility. You always exploited the advantage, no matter how small. That led him to win a lot, but it also gave him the reputation of being difficult to deal with. Some of his teammates didn't love his approach, while others appreciated the tough love.

MORE: Where does Chris Paul rank on all-time PG scoring list?

"He's always trying to bring the best out of everyone. He knows the game. Always was one of the guys who was trying to share, night in and night out being a vocal presence," his former Rockets teammate Clint Capela told me two weeks ago.  

Other times, players chafed at Paul's leadership initially but came around years later.

Nobody played more games with Paul than DeAndre Jordan. He told me bluntly about Paul's personality in an interview a month ago. 

"He's an asshole on the floor, and that's what makes him so great," Jordan said. "That's what separates him from other players. There's no friends on the floor, which I respect. We elbow each other on the floor and after that, we're going to dinner together after the game."

At the time that the two played together, Jordan was a young player who didn't always want to hear Paul's lessons. Now, he passes those same lessons on to his younger Pelicans teammates. It took him a long time to realize how important Paul's words were. 

"[It was] little sh—. Angles. The way you want the screen. Small things that you may think are irritating."

Jordan realizes that Paul was simply trying to get him to become a better player. And it worked. 

"I look at a guy like Chris, a guy like rest in peace Kobe, who did that and got the best of his teammates. Draymond Green, Kevin Garnett. It may be looked at as a negative thing but I like that. They hold me accountable. They're going to hold themselves to an even higher standard, so I respect the hell out of it."

"To me, nobody can say anything bad about Chris. He helped me become the prime player that I was in my career. I respect the hell out of him. He's a Hall of Famer." 

Paul knew that his style wasn't for everyone. When the Spurs presented him with a plaque for moving into second place on the all-time assists leaderboard, he revealed his self-awareness. 

MORE: NBA Shame rankings: Which team should feel the worst about itself?

"I know I'm a lot to deal with on the court," Paul said, his voice cracking as he held back tears. "But I just love to hoop." 

Paul didn't have the storybook ending that he had hoped for. He never did get back to an NBA Finals after losing with the Suns in 2021. And his legacy will be polarizing, with some recognizing how brilliant he was while others chafe at his tactics. But the goal was always the goal. He competed for 21 years, until he had absolutely nothing left to give. 

Purdue is coming off a much needed, road win against #7 Nebraska to complete a three-game winning streak after losing three straight conference games to end January. It took overtime for the Boilers after surrendering a double-digit lead in the final minutes, but the win keeps Purdue tied with four other teams with three losses in the Big Ten behind one-loss Michigan.

Iowa returns home smarting after losing to a bottom of the Big Ten Maryland team on Wednesday.

#12 Purdue 20-4 (10-3) at Iowa 18-6 (8-5)

Purdue won the first matchup between these teams, 79-72, in Mackey Arena.

Braden Smith had 16 points on 9 shot attempts to go with 8 assists while Iowa star Bennet Stirtz was kept mostly in check but still finishing with 19 points despite going 2 of 9 from three.

Purdue controlled most of the game, but Iowa pushed back in the second half, hinting to a trend that has continued for the last few weeks. Purdue’s been unable to hold onto leads, including Tuesday’s win over Nebraska where it led by as much as 22 before having to go into overtime for its second top-10 win on the road this season.

But Iowa has plenty of its own concerns after a disappointing showing on the road against a not very good Maryland team.

Iowa managed to win the turnover battle with Maryland 14-4 but still managed to lose by 7.

Maryland beat Iowa on the glass, outrebounding the Hawkeyes by 9, but more importantly, Iowa gave up 71% shooting inside the arc to Maryland while shooting just 7 of 28 from three on offense.

So both teams will be hungry for a win on Saturday.

Iowa will look to add a key win to its resume as it looks to secure its way into the NCAA Tournament.

For Purdue, winning out is likely necessary to have a chance at the Big Ten title, but will Purdue be looking past Iowa on Saturday? Michigan and its one loss on top of the conference looms as Purdue’s next opponent on Tuesday when the Wolverines come to Mackey Arena.

Purdue’s schedule set for big finish

Purdue is now in the thick of it. It is two games behind Michigan in the Big Ten, but still has a game against Michigan at home to try and control its own fate. Michigan still has to go to Mackey Arena, at Illinois, and host Michigan State. There are losses still available to the Wolverines if Purdue can manage to win out its schedule.

Purdue still hosts IU and Michigan State, and go on the road at Ohio State and Northwestern, two places where it has recently struggled.

But Purdue’s toughest three games come in a row, and at home. If Purdue gets through this road test, it’ll have those three home games

Matt Painter was complimentary of what Ben McCollum has built in Iowa already. Painter expects Iowa’s sellout crowd to light a fire in an already good defense.


“They do a good job keeping the ball out of the paint,” Painter said about Iowa’s defense. “They’re a very good defensive team… their hand activity is elite.”

Purdue’s offense came alive against Nebraska in the form of a lot of threes and even more offensive rebounds. Iowa’s defense doesn’t do it the same way as Nebraska, but they’ll try to limit the rim and get at dribblers inside. Look for Purdue’s perimeter shooting to be active again.

At the other end, Purdue will once again have to contend with Bennett Stirtz, one of the best point guards in the country. Purdue was able to keep his production reasonable in the first game, but the task gets even harder with Stirtz playing at home coming off a 32 point performance against Maryland.

It’ll be a good one Saturday evening in Iowa City as Purdue looks to make a late season run towards another Big Ten title. That starts on Saturday.

• Kick-off delayed by 10 minutes after floodlight issue
• Man City could go 11 points clear with victory
• WSL top scorer Khedija Shaw heads opener in first half
• Vivianne Miedama thrashes in second and heads third before half-time
• Bottom side Leicester hit woodwork twice
• Listen to BBC Radio Manchester commentary

WSL: Rampant Man City put four past bottom side Leicester in frantic first half

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican-born music icon whose Super Bowl halftime show was the fourth-most watched ever, thought he had a good idea when he offered to pay for the insurance of two players on his native island so they could compete in the World Baseball Classic.

MORE:Red Sox lose former Silver Slugger, Gold Glove Award winner in free agency: report

Several officials inside baseball disagreed.

Puerto Rican infielder Carlos Correa told Chandler Rome of The Athletic that Major League Baseball, the Astros and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, did not approve of letting Bad Bunny pay for his WBC insurance.

“They all told me it was a bad idea,” Correa said.

Carlos Baerga, the retired Puerto Rican infielder, reported last week that Bad Bunny offered to pay insurance costs for Correa and Francisco Lindor, who were denied insurance through the payer selected by MLB.

Lindor and Correa were hardly alone in their inability to get insured. Jose Altuve was not included on Venezuela’s roster because of an insurance denial, the Associated Press reported.

Despite Bad Bunny doing them a solid he could easily afford, Correa will remain in the Astros’ spring training camp when the WBC commences in March.

Meanwhile, Lindor will be on the rehab trail in spring training. Earlier this week, the Mets announced he would have surgery on his hamate bone.

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

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post Carlos Correa breaks silence on Bad Bunny’s ‘bad idea’ for the WBC appeared first on The Big Lead.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia was back with the Los Angeles Dodgers at spring training Friday, less than four months after the death of his infant daughter, Sterling, that caused him to miss last year's World Series.

Vesia read an emotional statement after the team's first official workout, thanking his wife Kayla, the Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays and fans for their support during a difficult experience.

“The lessons we've learned from this is that life can change in an instant for us,” Vesia said. “Ten minutes is all it took. Sterling's soul was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short.”

He said missing the World Series was difficult but “an easy decision, because my family needed me.” The Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in seven games to win their second straight title.

Vesia also thanked the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, who sent him a jersey with all of the team's signatures, which he said he'll have framed in his home. The pitcher said he and his wife started therapy six weeks ago and that “talking to someone has made a difference.”

Vesia encouraged those who were struggling with a difficult situation to talk to somebody.

“Don't be afraid to speak up,” Vesia said. “Your mental health matters.”

Vesia went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 68 regular season games and 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven postseason appearances. The team announced on Oct. 23, the day before Game 1 against the Blue Jays, that he was not with the team in Toronto.

Dodgers relievers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps in a tribute to their absent teammate. Blue Jays relievers joined them in the tribute for Game 6.

___

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

Winning an Olympic medal brings pride to any athlete. Many countries also add cash rewards for those podium finishes. Using data shared by USA Today for the 2026 Winter Olympics (25 countries responded to the site’s query), here is a look at which nations pay the most per medal. So, here are the top five highest-paying countries according to Yahoo.

5. Slovenia

Slovenia sits fifth on the list for gold medal rewards. The country pays $162,672 to athletes who win gold at the Games. Silver and bronze bonuses are also part of its system, though they are lower than the top four nations. Slovenia’s plan shows strong support for elite athletes despite being a small country.

MORE: Ranking all Winter Olympic sports by how scary they really are

4. Poland

Poland ranks fourth with a gold medal payout of $211,268. Extra rewards make its program stand out. Athletes who finish between fourth and eighth place also receive money. Gold medal winners get even more than cash. They are awarded a Toyota Corolla, a fully furnished two-room apartment, a painting, a holiday voucher, and jewelry. This makes Poland one of the most generous nations overall.

3. Italy

Italy places third with a gold medal bonus of $213,418. As the host country, Italy already began winning medals early in the Games. Two golds came in the opening days. The payout reflects how much value the country places on Olympic success, especially while hosting the event.

MORE: American athletes making their fifth appearance in the 2026 Winter Olympics

2. Hong Kong

Second place belongs to Hong Kong. Gold medal winners receive $767,747. That figure is far higher than most nations in the field. The silver and bronze payouts are also large. Hong Kong’s system shows how financial rewards are used to push elite performance on the world stage.

1. Singapore

Singapore leads all countries in Olympic medal bonuses. A gold medal earns $788,907. Silver pays $394,497. Bronze brings $197,282. No other nation offers more for any medal type. The result is surprising because Singapore has won only six Olympic medals in its history. It has never won a Winter Olympics medal. The country only started competing in Winter Games in 2018. Before that, it appeared only in Summer Olympics.

Where Team USA ranks

Team USA sits in the middle of the list, at least, according to the data obtained through the responses from the 25 countries. The United States ranks 15th out of the 25 countries that responded to USA Today. American athletes earn $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. These numbers are much lower than the top five but still provide direct rewards for podium finishes.

MORE: Norway skier goes viral after displaying insane Winter Olympics speed

Countries that do not pay medal bonuses

Not every nation uses cash prizes. Great Britain, Sweden, and Norway do not pay athletes for winning Olympic medals. Financial help is still given before the Games through training and support programs. Norway remains the most successful Winter Olympics nation in history and has already won multiple gold medals at the 2026 Games.

Final thoughts

Cash rewards vary widely across countries at the Winter Olympics. Singapore tops the list by a wide margin. Hong Kong, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia follow behind. Team USA ranks in the middle with modest payouts. Some nations choose pride and preparation over prize money. Together, these systems show how different countries value Olympic success in their own way.

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

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 13

NFL: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages over the last 10 years

CFB: Ole Miss given huge Trinidad Chambliss boost for 2026 college football season

MLB: Former Dodgers World Series champion to sign with Angels

NHL: Full list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament

VIRAL: Myles Garrett, girlfriend Chloe Kim share heartfelt moment after Olympic stunner

The post Which countries pay the most for winning medals at Winter Olympics 2026: Check where Team USA ranks appeared first on The Big Lead.

The North Carolina Tar Heels return to the court on Saturday, hosting the Pitt Panthers. Fresh off a loss at Miami, North Carolina's five-game win streak in the ACC was snapped. But they also lost their best player, Caleb Wilson, who has a fractured left hand.

There is no timetable for Wilson's return, but barring a miracle, UNC's game on Saturday will be the first without him.

This will give us a look at what the Tar Heels are without Wilson as they welcome in Pitt. The Panthers are struggling this season, entering this game at 9-16 overall and just 2-10 in conference play. While North Carolina is fighting for a double bye, Pitt is hoping to finish the season strong.

Even without Wilson, this is a game the Tar Heels should win. But they can't overlook the Panthers and are in no position to do so, even against an inferior opponent. North Carolina has to come out strong and win games they are supposed to win. Let's get into our preview for Saturday's game.

Key to Victory

Guard play. With Wilson out for this game, the Tar Heels are going to need someone or multiple players step up in this game. That starts with guard play.

Even if Wilson was healthy, the Tar Heels need the guard play to be a lot better. They have struggled way too many times over the course of the season. That included against Miami. There's really been no consistent guard playing at a high level. If they want to find success, they need to get more from their guards.

Something to watch

The post depth. The absence of Wilson leaves a void not only in scoring but in rebounding. The Tar Heels still have Henri Veesaar but now they will need someone else to step up. Zayden High is expected to see an increase in minutes as is Jonathan Powell. But will this give Hubert Davis the chance to explore different rotations and potentially give someone like James Brown more minutes?

Statistical leaders

Points

UNC: Caleb Wilson (19.8)

Pitt: Brandin Cummings (12.5)

Rebounds

UNC: Caleb Wilson (9.4)

Pitt: Cameron Corhen (7.2)

Assists

UNC: Kyan Evans (3.0)

Pitt: Damarco Minor (3.5)

What you need to know

WHAT? Pitt Panthers (9-16, 2-10 ACC) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (19-5, 7-4 ACC)

WHEN? Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m. ET

WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

TV? ESPN

RADIO? SiriusXM (Channels 145 and 193)

LINE? UNC -10.5

LAST MEETING? UNC 67, Pitt 66 on Feb. 8, 2025 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads 11-8

PREDICTION? UNC 70, Pitt 60

UNC basketball 2025-26 schedule

October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)

Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)

Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)

November 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)

Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (W, 87-74)

Nov. 11: vs. Radford (W, 89-74)

Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 97-53)

Nov. 18: vs. Navy (W, 73-61)

Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (W, 85-70)

Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (L, 74-58)

December 2: at Kentucky (W, 67-64)

Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (W, 81-61)

Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (W, 80-62)

Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (W, 77-58)

Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (W, 71-70)

Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (W, 99-51)

Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (W, 79-66)

January 3: at SMU (L, 97-83)

Jan. 10: vs. Wake Forest (W, 87-84)

Jan. 14: at Stanford (L, 95-90)

Jan. 17.: at California (L, 84-78)

Jan. 21: vs. Notre Dame (W, 91-69)

Jan. 24: at Virginia (W, 85-80)

Jan. 31: at Georgia Tech (W, 91-75)

February 2: vs. Syracuse (W, 87-77)

Feb. 7: vs. Duke (W, 71-68)

Feb. 10: at Miami (FL) (L, 75-66)

Feb. 14: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)

Feb. 17: at NC State (7 p.m.)

Feb. 21: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)

Feb. 23: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)

March 3: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)

March 7,: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)

March 10-14: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball vs. Pitt: Game preview, info, prediction and more

Real Madrid’s elimination from the Copa del Reymeant that the team did not have any game midweek, handing the squad a complete week off after the hard-fought win over Valencia at Mestalla.

They did not perform particularly well on the night, but they grabbed a 2-0 victory and stayed within a point of Barcelona. This weekend, they have a good chance to temporarily dethrone the Catalans with a win, but the path there will not be easy.

After all, they play host to Real Sociedad who are on a run of three straight wins, and their last defeat came in the second week of December. 

Real Madrid, meanwhile, suffered their last defeat in the Champions League in January. As such, they will face Benfica in the first-leg of the knockout playoff as a consequence of the same next week, which could influence manager Alvaro Arbeloa’s selection.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad.

A possible turning point in defence

The last time Antonio Rudiger featured in a game for Real Madrid was over a month ago when they took down Atletico Madrid in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Playing through pain to help the team out on the night, the German international suffered a fitness setback that took over 30 days to recover from, but he is not finally back and ready to contribute.

As relayed earlier this week, all signs point to Rudiger making his return in defence for Real Madrid tomorrow night which comes as a massive boost for Alvaro Arbeloa’s plans.

After all, he has been a mainstay regardless of the manager he has played under and has never been available at the newly appointed coach’s disposal.

Further, there is a good chance he even starts against Real Sociedad given Raul Asencio’s own fitness concerns. In many ways, the game could signify a turning point for Real Madrid’s defence this season.

The backline has been a problem for Los Blancos this season, and the lack of leadership and inspiration has been evident. With Rudiger back, the men in white will hope the veteran can add that X-factor to the department and beef it up sufficiently in the coming games.

Carvajal’s night back?

Set to start against Real Sociedad?. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s game against Valencia at Mestalla had several key takeaways, but one of the most significant ones was how club captain Dani Carvajal was left fuming after the game.

The veteran, after all, was left on the bench by the manager who opted to hand David Jimenez the start at right-back and Trent Alexander-Arnold a role off the bench – handing him no minutes on the night.

Considering how it was the veteran who returned from injury significantly earlier than Trent and had seen just 27 minutes of action in the month, his frustration was valid.

Since then, Arbeloa and Carvajal have spoken and sorted out their misunderstanding, and it now appears that they are on better terms. In that sense, Saturday could see the captain play meaningful minutes for the first time since his return.

In fact, reports indicate that the 34-year-old club captain could even be named in the starting XI, with Arbeloa having tested him in the lineup in training today.

It could, thus, be a critical game for him in terms of announcing his return and beginning his journey back into the manager’s tactics.

An opposition in fine form

Real Sociedad got off to a poor start to the season, but the managerial change they made mid-season turned their fortunes around astonishingly.

Pellegrino Matarazzo has transformed the La Real team into one hungry for wins, organised in possession and far more clinical in front of goal – a combination of factors that make them a dangerous opponent.

He took over ahead of Real Sociedad’s game against Atletico Madrid early in January and his side drew 1-1 against Diego Simeone’s side to mark a decent start.

They then won against Getafe, Osasuna, and even took down Barcelona with a massive 2-1 win to see them drop points in the title race. Of their five games thereafter, they have drawn one and won four.

Both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad thus enter the clash with managers who have been at the club for just over a month, but while Arbeloa and Real Madrid suffered losses in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League, La Real are unbeaten under him so far.

They will, thus, enter the game knowing well that they can hurt Real Madrid if they bring their natural game.

In a recent report, Fichajes claimed that Liverpool have set their sights on Barcelona defender Jules Kounde. It has been mentioned that the Reds are willing to launch a €80m offer to bring the French talent to Merseyside this summer.

Kounde’s Impressive Form In La Liga

Kounde is having a decent campaign at the Catalan club as he has put in a handful of solid performances for them on the defensive end of the pitch. The France international has scored three goals and earned two assists in 36 matches for Barcelona this season across all competitions.

The 27-year-old can be a decent performer in La Liga when he is playing regularly and with confidence on the field. Thus, it is no wonder that the Reds are hoping to get a deal done for him next summer.

His current contract at the Nou Camp will run out in the summer of 2030, which could make it tough for Liverpool to recruit him on the cheap later this year.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 09: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou on December 09, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

Will Kounde Be A Good Choice For Liverpool Boss Arne Slot?

Kounde is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when needed and can create the odd chance for his teammates from the right flank.

The French sensation is primarily a right-back but can also fill in as a central defender if needed. However, it remains to be seen whether he can adapt to the physicality and high intensity of the Premier League if the Reds manage to snap him up this summer.

We can expect Kounde to bring more quality and depth to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot’s defence. He is good enough to fight for a regular starting role at the Merseyside club in the coming years.

His experience and versatility make him a good choice for the Reds to pursue at the end of this campaign. Kounde might even help Liverpool challenge for some major honours in the future. At 27, he is about to enter his prime, so Slot would be wise to go all out to get him on board later this year.

Indiana men’s basketball’s road matchup at Illinois may get even tougher.

Kylan Boswell, a starter at guard for the Illini and their top perimeter defender, will be a gametime decision on Sunday, per reporting from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He suffered a fractured hand in late January and has missed Illinois’ past seven games. The Illini are 5-2 during that stretch with wins at Purdue and Nebraska and close losses against Michigan State on the road and Wisconsin at home in overtime.

With Illinois already playing like the best team in the country, having Boswell back will gave the Illini an extra gear as they look primed to make a run through the NCAA Tournament. If Boswell plays, look for him to match up with Lamar Wilkerson on the outside as Illinois looks to limit Indiana’s scoring out of the backcourt.

Illinois has slipped slightly in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metrics without Boswell and also missed Andrej Stojakovic against Wisconsin. Regardless, the Illini still have the kind of length that can cause headaches for opposing offenses.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has opened up about a rough patch in his career that he is currently working through.

While Tsitsipas is a two-time Grand Slam finalist, he has not gone past the quarterfinal stage of a major tournament since falling in the 2023 Australian Open final.

His struggles became more apparent after the 2024 French Open, as he has not made it beyond the second round at any major since then.

Speaking after his first-round win at the Rotterdam Open, Tsitsipas admitted that there was a point last year when he stopped enjoying tennis altogether.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals he lost passion for tennis last year

Tsitsipas has had a difficult stretch recently, dealing with a back injury that limited his appearances to just the Davis Cup after the US Open last season.

This issue had actually been brewing for a while, even before his win at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Tsitsipas spoke about it with Bolavip following his opening victory in Rotterdam.

Although he is back on tour full-time this season, the Greek said those doubts haven’t fully gone away.

“I experienced a lot of uncertainty for many months. Even when I won the tournament in Dubai, I wasn’t sure if I could sustain that level or even continue playing. It kept getting worse during the spring, and eventually, I stopped enjoying the game.

“The game becomes less important, and health becomes the most important thing in your life. Even earlier this year, I still had a lot of uncertainty about my future,” he stated.

Stefanos Tsitsipas shares update on ongoing back issue

Tsitsipas got his Rotterdam Open campaign off to a good start, beating Shanghai Masters finalist Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round.

Even with that positive result, he made it clear afterwards that his back remains a persistent issue.

Tsitsipas said: “It felt very odd and frustrating because I couldn’t do much. My back is like it is, and there are only so many things I can do.

“If it refuses to heal, all I can do is wait and consult as many specialists as possible.”

Currently ranked world number 32, Tsitsipas could use a strong run in Rotterdam to help him climb back towards his previous standing.

On the other hand, an early exit would put added pressure on him heading into Dubai, where he has 500 points to defend from last year’s title run.

Read more: