Bernardo Silva will stay at the top level of football after leaving Manchester City, according to his former youth coach Renato Paiva.

The 31-year-old will leave the Etihad when his contract expires this summer after nine years at the club.

Paiva coached Silva when he was in the Benfica youth system and expects him to have his pick of the top sides.

The former Botafogo boss told BBC Sport: "I don't believe Bernardo will leave the big three or the big five [leagues].

"I'm surprised he is leaving. He has one of the best world coaches [Pep Guardiola], if not the best. A club like Manchester City is always fighting for titles and the conditions are very high to work.

"He has his reasons but, for me, it is a big surprise."

The Portugal midfielder has scored 76 goals and made 77 assists in 451 appearances for City since joining from Monaco.

He has won 15 major honours with City, including the Treble in 2022-23, and could still win the Premier League and FA Cup this season - having already lifted the Carabao Cup in March.

Paiva said: "It is one of the best histories in modern football. At eight, nine, 10-years-old, very skinny but at every tournament we went to he was the best player.

"I told him he had to make his house bigger because there would not be enough space to put so many trophies.

"The way he understands the game, he is always alone, always an option to receive the ball. Bernardo is incredible.

"If you watched the games, you will see all the tall and strong guys and a skinny guy, not so high. This guy was always playing.

"What are the qualities this guy has to play against these giants? The way he understands the game, the game awareness, the way that he analyses the game always allows Bernardo to take very good decisions.

"Usually the ball leaves his feet with a good decision, since eight, nine or 10 years-old. He was a very good player and, for me, the most important was his game insight."

Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj dished out nasty cross-check that no one saw on chaotic play to Sabres' Konsta Helenius originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Arber Xhekaj is almost certainly going to hear boos at every opportunity when the Montreal Canadiens return to Buffalo to take on the Sabres in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

It seems in every game, Xhekaj has gotten himself into the mix not with his play on the ice but with his brutal physicality.

He crushed Sam Carrick with a punch to the head at the end of Game 3.

His harshest moment in Game 4 may have been overlooked at the time, though.

It came on the play when Konsta Helenius went to the front of the net, Jack Quinn scored on a rebound after review, but then the refs affirmed a Montreal challenge for goalie interference that wiped out the goal.

Well while everyone was focused on the action in front of the net, Helenius was skating past the play when Xhekaj crushed him with a cross check to the back of his head.

Here's a look:

Completely unacknowledged in the mayhem of the play, here’s Konsta Helenius EATING a cross check to the back of the head from Xhekaj.@NHLPlayerSafetypic.twitter.com/KKmkX4cvsE

— Buffalo Sports Talk (@BUFSportsTalk) May 13, 2026

MORE: A Buffalo bounce and a Benson birthday give the Sabres new life

In some ways, that's just the cost of doing business in the crease.

In other ways, it's a bit much, and if the referees had seen it, it may not have gone unpunished.

Xhekaj is out there to be that player for Montreal. He's their sixth of six active defensemen, and he doesn't get as many shifts as the rest. When he takes the ice, he's supposed to hit people. That's certainly what he does.

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Sweden manager Graham Potter announced his 26-man Sweden squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 12 May and, to the surprise of many, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson was a noticeable absentee.

“This decision is simply explicable from a sporting perspective,” said Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche. “Hugo has developed at the highest level over the past few years, consistently delivered strong performances and is one of the absolute key players in our team.”

He added: “34 competitive matches this season speak for themselves. Anyone who ignores such performances sends a wrong message to every professional who works hard for everything week after week.

“For us it’s clear: Hugo more than deserves a nomination. This decision is not only incomprehensible, but in our view is simply wrong.”

Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Mattias Svanberg (Wolfsburg) and Eric Smith (St. Pauli) are among the Bundesliga players nominated by Potter, while Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel) has also been called upon.

GGFN | News Desk

Oliver Glasner has dismissed the growing noise around Crystal Palace’s team selection, insisting he is responsible only for his own club, not Arsenal or Manchester City.

Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Oliver Glasner has pushed back at the idea that Crystal Palace should shape their team selection around Arsenal or Manchester City, insisting he is paid to make decisions for his own club rather than either side in the title race.

Palace’s selection for Wednesday night’s game against City has become the latest point of argument around Arsenal’s title push, with sections of the media suggesting Glasner should deliberately weaken his side against City because he will also likely rotate against Arsenal on the final day ahead of their European final.

The premise is being dressed up as fairness, but it rests on the curious idea that Palace’s priority should be the title race, rather than their own season, and that teams don’t change who they select throughout the season.

Writing in The Times, Martin Samuel argued that Glasner should field a weakened team against City, not only to keep players fresh, but to protect what he called the integrity of the competition. His argument was that if Palace rotated against City and then did the same against Arsenal, there could be no complaint.

In a piece headlined “It’s not Palace’s job to look after City“, he then goes on to explain why that’s exactly what they should do. He starts, “Pep Guardiola said he expects Crystal Palace to be professional in their team selection on Wednesday. If they are, Oliver Glasner will field a weakened team.”

He adds later in the piece, “So if Glasner is smart, he goes half-in against Manchester City, as a way of doing the same when it is more important against Arsenal. And if Mikel Arteta is dumb, he makes a fuss about Palace’s selection in the City game. For, if Arsenal complain and draw attention to it, that places pressure on the Premier League to act and increases the chances of Palace starting a stronger XI in that final fixture. So Arteta sucks this up, whatever happens.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

That logic is difficult to take seriously. Clubs rotate all season depending on injuries, schedules, priorities and form. This is not a new concept, despite how pretending the mundane and familiar is a national scandal has become de rigueur this season.

It would be absurd to demand that Burnley field the same side against Arsenal as they did earlier in the season at the Etihad when they lost 5-1, just as it would be absurd to treat every team selection through the narrow lens of how it affects Arsenal or City.

There has also been no outrage over Aston Villa’s selection against Tottenham, despite that result having a direct impact on the relegation race and helping Spurs move out of the bottom three.

Glasner was asked about his approach to the City game with Palace’s European final in mind in two weeks, and his answer was pointed.

“After your question I had a look at my payslip to see if we get some money from Arsenal or City,” he said. “I couldn’t find it.

“I’m responsible for Crystal Palace, not for Arsenal and for City. I just got the confirmation.

“We always think what is best for us. This is my responsibility. Our influence on the title race will definitely be less than VAR,” he added, further continuing another bullshit narrative the press created this week. “With these amount of games, playing every three days, we always rotated.

“It’s just necessary in such a long season. In the last league game, against Everton, in every physical data in the Premier League we were top three.

“Just playing three days after [the Conference League semi-final second leg against] Shakhtar Donetsk with more or less the same team.’

That should be the end of it, but we know it won’t be. Palace are entitled to pick a team based on their own needs, particularly with a European final to come. Rotation in that context is not suspicious, unprofessional or unfair.

It is basic squad management and the inability of football pundits and journalists to understand simple football concepts when it concerns Arsenal should be studied..

The wider point is that Arsenal’s season is being examined through a different lens to everyone else. Every decision around them is being turned into a massive scandal, whether it is VAR, refereeing, set-pieces or opposition team selection in matches Arsenal aren’t even involved in.

Won’t somebody think of poor, put-upon City?

The idea that Palace must select their line-ups to avoid upsetting City, Arsenal, the Premier League or pundits is nonsense and I can’t imagine any selection that would even anger Arteta, in the first place.

The title race will be decided by Arsenal and City taking care of their own games, not by Palace altering their team sheet to meet some newly-created media standard.

That, it seems, might be the biggest problem of all for these journalists.

Ollver Glasner has faced Pepe Guardiola five times, winning one, drawing one and losing three. His sides have conceded 14 and scored seven in those games.The won win came in the FA Cup final last season.

On Tuesday, one day after they were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers held an end-of-season press conference. Everyone had plenty of questions on their minds, beginning with questions that pertain to what the team's roster will look like next season.

LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes will be free agents at the end of June. Austin Reaves is almost certainly going to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, and guard Marcus Smart and center Deandre Ayton can do the same. Therefore, the group the Lakers have in training camp in October could look substantially different from the group that ended this season.

At Tuesday's press conference, coach JJ Redick said that he wants the team's "big three" of Doncic, Reaves and James to remain intact for next season.

“Of course we want that core to be back together,” Redick said. “I think Rob [Pelinka] used the word humility. Each guy, I think, had to sacrifice at different points in the season and at different times. I also think for all three of those guys, and it’s crazy to say it about LeBron, but all three of those guys showed a lot of growth this year.

“I think a lot has been made about Luka’s fitness level and his dedication to that. He was great throughout the season, still in fantastic shape six weeks after an injury. But he’s also grown as a leader. I think that was one of the challenges coming into the season that we presented him with. He grew in that regard, Austin grew in that regard. LeBron, not even having to, but being challenged to and volunteering to, accept a different role in Year 23.

“That is incredible. All three of those guys, I think, we kind of hit the apex of that in that 16-2 stretch. It showed what this group can do.”

There were some doubts when this season began about whether that trio of stars could fit together on both ends of the floor. The Lakers were still basically a new team in October — Doncic had only put in less than three months of service after arriving in that stunning trade, and they had added Smart, Ayton and forward Jake LaRavia over the summer while also trading for Kennard in February.

But by the start of March, it all started to mesh together, and they ripped off 16 wins in 18 games until Doncic and Reaves both got injured on April 2. There is an argument to make that the three stars should be kept together and that they simply need more speedy, athletic two-way players around them in order to seriously contend for the NBA championship.

James and the Lakers reportedly have interest in "continuing their partnership." Meanwhile, Doncic reportedly wants to keep playing alongside Reaves, so much so that he reportedly doesn't even want Reaves to be traded for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick wants Lakers to keep Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron

No. 10 Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10 SEC) heads back to Blue Bell Park after back-to-back SEC series losses to Auburn and Ole Miss last weekend, and while the Aggies have yet to endure a sweep in conference play, losing four out of their last seven games isn't ideal this late in the season. Set to host No. 13 Mississippi State, starting on Thursday night, coach Mike Earley's team is looking to rebound before the SEC Tournament.

Texas A&M's offense has been consistent all year, but after losing freshmen infielders Nico Partida and Boston Kellner to injury, the Aggies' Game 2 18-5 in on Saturday was a complete outlier compared to close losses in Game 1, while Saturday's 6-5 rubber match defeat likely would have gone the other way if Partida's bat were available.

Heading into Thursday's game, it's important to note that, when fully healthy, Texas A&M's 2026 lineup has been borderline elite at the plate under Earley's guidance, already hitting 108 home runs, led by Caden Sorrell's 22 on the year, followed by Gavin Grahovac (17), Nico Partida (12), Jorian Wilson (12) and Bear Harrison (11). Hitting .304 as a team, five players are hitting .300 or better.

Last season, despite missing the postseason for the first time in more than a decade, the Aggies hit 95 home runs. During Jim Schlossnagle's final season at the helm, the Aggies' national runner-up campaign included 136 home runs, with Earley serving as the team's hitting coach.

Mike Earley deserves a ton of credit this season as he continues to serve as the primary hitting coach in combination with his head coach duties, and thanks to TexAgs analyst Ryan Brauninger for releasing the data, this isn't the first time the Aggies have excelled at the plate for an extended period, as four seasons during the Rob Childress era, specifically 2007-2011, Texas A&M hit 326 home runs, averaging over 65 per year.

For Mike Earley, pitching issues and the aforementioned injuries have plagued the offense in tight games, but after senior Ben Royo's memorable two-game performance, finishing a perfect 7-7 with three home runs, it's no surprise that Texas A&M has hit 509 home runs since Earley arrived in College Station.

Top 5 highest HR totals for Texas A&M baseball since 2000:

1) 2024 - 136
2) 2026 - 108 (ongoing)
3) 2025 - 95
4) 2023 - 86
5) 2009 - 85

The 2022 team is 6th with 84.

Since Mike Earley arrived in College Station, the Aggies have hit a total of 509 homers (101.8 per season) pic.twitter.com/3Zo2k7wDan

— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) May 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 Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M baseball has hit 509 home runs under coach Michael Earley

The Las Vegas Raiders left the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with one of the top rookie classes in the entire league. 

The Raiders selected star quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, while also adding excellent depth to the secondary by selecting Arizona safety Treydan Stukes in the second round. Las Vegas was also able to land former Auburn defensive end Keyron Crawford and Texas A&M center Trey Zuhn lll in the third round, and each player could quickly begin to make an impact during their rookie campaigns next season. 

Zuhn is an extremely versatile lineman who spent the majority of his time at Texas A&M playing left tackle. The rising star was recently featured on ESPN’s “2026 NFL Rookies: Day 2-3 draft picks with instant impact” piece, with NFL analyst Field Yates declaring Zuhn as a potential Week 1 starter. 

“Zuhn is an easy mover with really good length (6-foot-6, 319 pounds) and could play an interior spot in Klint Kubiak's zone-heavy scheme.” He wrote. “While big-ticket free agent Tyler Linderbaum has center locked, Zuhn should compete for guard snaps instantly.”

Zuhn spent all five seasons of his college career at Texas A&M from 2021-2025. The lineman served as the Aggies’ center throughout the second half of 2025, and Zuhn has logged over 50 total starts at Texas A&M across his five seasons in College Station. 

The former Aggie may earn a starting role on the Raiders’ offensive line with a strong performance during training camp, and Zuhn could emerge as one of the top overall steals from the 2026 NFL Draft throughout his rookie campaign in Las Vegas.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: ESPN names Raiders draft pick among Day 2-3 'instant impact' rookies

The Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy, have already put together quite the 2027 recruiting class, landing 21 total commits by mid-May. As it turns out, OU has one of the entire country's strongest classes to this point, with still a long way to go until December's Early Signing Period.

Rivals released brand-new team recruiting rankings for the class of 2027, and Oklahoma came in at No. 3 in the rankings. The Sooners trailed only Texas A&M and Texas Tech, despite not nearly having the deep pockets that the Aggies and Red Raiders enjoy.

Of OU's 21 commits in the cycle, 11 are on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Jamison Roberts, running back Keldrid Ben, wide receivers Demare Dezeurn, Greydon Howell, and Tra'Von Hall, tight end Seneca Driver, and offensive linemen Cooper Hackett, Kaeden Penny, Luke Wilson, Issac Coughran, and Tyson Ross are all pledged to the Sooners.

Roberts, Driver, Hackett, and Penny are the big names of the group, as Oklahoma has some potentially impact players to plug into offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's system when the time comes.

OU's other 10 commits in the 2027 class are all on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive linemen Elija Harmon, Deven Robertson, Sione Felila, Krew Jones, and Samuel Nelson, linebackers Cooper Witten and Taven Epps, and defensive backs Mikhail McCreary, Mikyal Davis, and Jaylen Scott are all pledged to Oklahoma.

Jones, Witten, and Epps highlight the group, and the Sooners should have some very key pieces to play big roles in Venables' defense down the road. OU is still looking for its first special teams commit in the '27 class.

Venables and Nagy have done an excellent job building this recruiting class, which could end up being Oklahoma's highest-ranked class in some time. After a 10-win season and a playoff berth quieted some of the negative recruiting that the Sooners were having to deal with, OU's coaching staff and front office have been taking full advantage of the on-field success, and have been using it to bolster the high school recruiting effort in a big way.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) 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: Where are the Sooners at in Rivals' new recruiting class rankings?

The New York Giants’ opponents for the 2026 NFL season are already known, but the full schedule has yet to be released.

CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo believes a primetime matchup against the Washington Commanders would be the ideal addition to the Giants’ schedule next season.

This wish is a nod to the 40th anniversary of the Giants' first Super Bowl win, which came at Washington's expense after the Giants blanked them (17-0) in the NFC title game before blowing out John Elway's Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. A primetime home game against Washington would give the Giants an opportunity to honor their first Super Bowl championship team.

The Giants defeated the Commanders, 17-0, in the 1986 NFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl that year. The Giants’ rivalry with their NFC East foe remains strong, with Washington poised to contend once again behind a healthy Jayden Daniels in 2026.

The Giants boast a more competitive roster heading into next season. A victory against a division rival with such historical significance could provide New York with significant momentum in the latter half of the season, should the schedule include that matchup.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Would primetime home game vs. Commanders be an 'ideal' Giants matchup?

While the Oregon Ducks made a great run at the national championship a year ago, falling only to the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinal, those who could look ahead felt that 2026, not 2025, was really set up for Dan Lanning and his team.

Should the right players return for another year instead of heading to the NFL, the pieces could be in place for Oregon to do something they have never done before: bring the championship home to Eugene.

Now, it appears that some major names across the nation are starting to wake up to that possibility.

Not only did Fox Sports' analyst Joel Klatt list Oregon as his No. 1 team in the country earlier this month, but now ESPN's Greg McElroy is predicting that the Ducks will end up in the big dance, playing for a championship when all is said and done this year.

.@GregMcElroy thinks Oregon will be playing for a National Championship in January 👀🦆#GoDuckspic.twitter.com/gL146w3hps

— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) May 12, 2026

"Oregon's going to be playing in the national championship game next year," McElroy said on his podcast. "I really look at the talent, and it's just too good."

Not only do the Ducks have Dante Moore leading the way, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, had he declared, but Oregon is also stacked at the skill positions on offense, with a loaded defense that is full of guys who will eventually be playing on Sunday.

"The defensive line, that's probably the biggest key," McElroy continued. "That is arguably the best in the country."

While the talent is there, questions remain about the coaching staff, where Oregon promoted both new offensive and defensive coordinators, with Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi leaving for head coaching jobs elsewhere. For McElroy, that's no deterrent for his prediction.

"I'm a believer in Drew Mehringer. I'm a believer in Chris Hampton," McElroy said. "I think they're going to find their new coordinator roles and fill them perfectly. And I think Dan Lanning knows what he's doing. He has the infrastructure to support them."

It's one thing to have the talent to win it all, but it's another to actually go out there and execute week after week, especially when you have a schedule like the Ducks do. They have a decently tough non-conference slate against the Boise State Broncos and Oklahoma State Cowboys, followed by a road game against the USC Trojans in late September. At the end of the year, they face the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and Washington Huskies in three of the final four weeks.

By the time the playoffs roll around, Oregon will be tested, to say the least. We'll see if they can put it all together and make good on McElroy's prediction when it counts.

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: ESPN's Greg McElroy forecasts championship season for Oregon Ducks

The Athletic’s Jesse Newell recently revealed his belief that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has more to prove before being considered for a contract extension.

“Rice is in the last year of his rookie deal, and he has a lot to prove this season,” Newell Wrote. “He struggled with drops and availability a year ago, and he also needs to prove he can go a calendar year without ending up in negative offseason headlines.”

Rice has appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons, with his 2025 campaign severely affected by injury and missing six contests due to suspension. The games he did play were effective, finishing the year with 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per reception.

The former SMU standout holds the NFL record for most playoff receptions by a rookie with 26 in 2023. Since being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Rice has shown flashes of perennial Pro Bowl ability when available.

Kansas City’s wide receiver depth chart enters the 2026 season with Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals, and draft pick Cyrus Allen.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: NFL Writer reveals uncertainty for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice’s future

For hardcore golf fans, it's easy to tell the difference. But for many casuals, they may not know or have no idea there's a difference between the two. With the PGA Championship upon us, it's a good chance to remind some and educate others.

The PGA of America and the PGA Tour are often interchanged in casual conversation, and the fact both are referred to often as the "PGA" doesn't help the confusion. However, the PGA of America and the PGA Tour are not the same.

Here's a look at what they are and their differences.

What is the PGA of America?

The PGA of America is the organization that sets standards for and certifies golf professionals who work as club pros, instructors, directors of golf and more. — golf pros who do not make their livings by playing tournaments but rather by working at golf courses, golf clubs, pro shops, driving ranges and so on. Its headquarters are in Frisco, Texas.

What is the PGA Tour?

The PGA Tour is a non-profit organization that runs golf tournaments, mostly in the U.S., and includes most of the notable tournaments and best players in the world. Its headquarters are in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Who runs the PGA Championship?

The PGA of America runs the PGA Championship, though the tournament is one of the PGA Tour's official events every year and one of its four major championships. The PGA of America also runs the KPMG Women's PGA Championship as well as the Ryder Cup, which is done in conjunction with Ryder Cup Europe.

Does the PGA Tour run any majors?

No. Each of the four men's majors are conducted by a different governing body. The PGA Tour's two biggest events are the Players Championship and the season-ending Tour Championship.

In simple terms ...

The PGA Tour consists of the best golfers in the world. The PGA of America consists of the top golf instructors in the world. Each year, the PGA of America allows 20 professionals a spot in the PGA Championship, and those PGA of America pros can earn their way into the field at the PGA Professional Championship, normally held a couple weeks before the PGA Championship. However, a majority of the PGA Championship field is consisted of PGA Tour golfers and everyone in the PGA Championship must be a professional. It's the lone major that doesn't account for amateurs.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: What is the difference between the PGA of America and the PGA Tour?

MotoGP’s chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta insists the championship will never compromise on safety amid Liberty Media’s desire to race at Formula 1’s Miami GP venue.

Last week, Liberty CEO Derek Chang described the Miami International Autodrome as a “logical” location to expand MotoGP’s reach in the US and bring the series closer to fans.

However, those remarks did not receive universal approval, with the temporary circuit having been designed specifically for four-wheel racing and featuring limited run-off zones. Although the location around the Hard Rock Stadium leaves room for various changes, the proximity to walls in the current layout could pose serious concerns in MotoGP.

Speaking during the French Grand Prix, Ezpeleta said that any plans to race in Miami remain a long-term possibility rather than an immediate priority, as he stressed that rider safety will continue to remain at the centre of MotoGP’s approach to the calendar.

“I think what Derek said is it's a logical step to consider Miami,” Ezpeleta told select media including Motorsport.com France. “Since the deal with Liberty Media was announced, everybody probably assumed that we would consider that because there are some circuits in Formula 1 which can be considered, but there are others which, of course, cannot be considered.

“What is clear to us is that there's never going to be a compromise on the safety elements. FIM has made a huge progress in terms of circuit safety in the past decades and this will only continue to improve.

“Miami is one of the conversations that we're having but again, right now, we don't want to build the expectation of something happening in Miami because we're really also focused on growing MotorGP in the US and specifically the Austin race. We feel that the event itself has a lot of potential.

“So, of course, we're considering new options but it's not sort of an immediate thing.”

Dorna CSO Carlos Ezpeleta

City-centre races

Chang’s comments about Miami came a few months after MotoGP announced that it will move the Australian GP to a revamped street circuit in Adelaide, replacing the long-standing permanent venue at Phillip Island.

Ezpeleta reiterated that a grand prix on Adelaide’s public roads is only made possible by unique circumstances, indicating that the race doesn’t signal a broader shift towards city-centre racing in MotoGP.

“There is this noise about city circuits and what we've announced in Adelaide, which we're really excited and really happy about,” he said.

“It is a very individual specific thing that can be done in Adelaide. “The solution for Adelaide is a very specific solution because of the space that they have around the park, the willingness that they have to make what's going to be an amazing circuit in downtown.

“We don't see half the MotoGP calendar going into new city centre circuits anytime soon or maybe never, because it's very sort of a specific solution for a city, which we are really excited about, but we don't see that being the target everywhere.”

Five things we learned at the MotoGP French Grand Prix

Carmelo Ezpeleta confident MotoGP will "reach an agreement" with manufacturers

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

How to Watch Sun vs. Aces: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for WNBA Game originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Aneesah Morrow and the Sun will attempt to win their first game of the season when they face A'ja Wilson and the Aces on Wednesday night.

The Sun dropped their first two games of the 2026 campaign, falling to the Liberty and Storm over the weekend. Morrow scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds in an 89-82 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

After a blowout loss to Phoenix in its season opener, Las Vegas bounced back with a 105-78 victory over Los Angeles. Wilson is once again playing at an MVP level, totaling 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal against the Sparks on Sunday.

Here is everything you need to know about Sun vs. Aces, including TV and streaming options for the game.

How to watch Sun vs. Aces: TV channel, live stream

• TV channel: USA Network
• Live stream: DIRECTV

The Sun vs. Aces game will air live on USA Network. The game will also be available to stream on DIRECTV.

Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live WNBA, MLB, NHL and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

Sun vs. Aces start time

• Date: Wednesday, May 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

Sun vs. Aces is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13. The game will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Connecticut Sun schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Sun:

Las Vegas Aces schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Aces:

Where to watch Man City vs. Crystal Palace live stream, TV channel, start time for Premier League match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Manchester City play their long-awaited game in hand against Crystal Palace and need a win to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

Arsenal's dramatic 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday restored the Gunners' five-point advantage at the top of the table.

If the Gunners win their final two games against Burnley and Palace, they will be champions irrespective of what City do.

To stay in contention, Pep Guardiola's men realistically need maximum points from the matches with Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, in a schedule that also features this weekend's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Palace beat City in that showpiece last season and have built upon that success by booking a place in the Conference League final. However, Oliver Glasner's team are winless in their past four Premier League outings.

The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the weekly schedule.

Man City vs. Crystal Palace live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Premier League match in English across the United States:

TV channel: USA Network
Live stream:DIRECTV

This match will be broadcast on USA Network. 

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What time does Man City vs. Crystal Palace kick off?

This Premier League clash takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England and kicks off on Wednesday, May 13, at 8 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across the United States:

Man City upcoming fixtures

NCAA softball tournament 2026: Full regionals bracket, TV schedule, scores for Road to Women's College World Series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The road to the Women's College World Series begins with the regionals this weekend at 16 sites around the country. 

The first round of the NCAA softball tournament will help begin the sorting process in a postseason that figures to be wide open. Alabama earned the No. 1 national seed, leading three SEC teams at the top of the bracket with Texas at No. 2 and Oklahoma No. 3, but there is no consensus favorite in 2026 with numerous schools maintaining legitimate title hopes. 

The opening weekend consists of four-team regionals with a double-elimination format. The seeding is different this year, with eight teams seeded in each quadrant of the bracket. That means two teams in each regional will have seeds: No. 1 and No. 8, No. 2 and No. 7, and so on. 

There are no gimmes here; top overall seed Texas A&M got bounced in the regionals last year. But the first step in making it to Oklahoma City is surviving the first weekend. Here's when and where to watch every game. 

Where to watch NCAA softball regionals

• TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACCN, SECN
• Live streams:ESPN app, fubo

NCAA softball tournament games will air across a variety of ESPN platforms, with select games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network and SEC Network. Fans can stream those games live on fubo, which offers a free trial, or stream every game via the ESPN app.

See the full game schedule below. 

NCAA softball regionals TV schedule, scores 2026

Tuscaloosa Regional schedule, scores

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Baton Rouge Regional schedule, scores

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Tallahassee Regional schedule, scores

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Los Angeles Regional schedule, scores

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Fayetteville Regional schedule, scores

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Durham Regional schedule, scores

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Stillwater Regional schedule, scores

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Lincoln Regional schedule, scores

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Norman Regional schedule, scores

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Eugene Regional schedule, scores

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Lubbock Regional schedule, scores

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Gainesville Regional schedule, scores

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Knoxville Regional schedule, scores

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Athens Regional schedule, scores

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Bryan-College Station Regional schedule, scores

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Austin Regional schedule, scores

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NCAA softball bracket, seeds 2026

After years of seeding 16 teams nationally, with each hosting a regional, there are now 32 national seeds — eight in each quadrant of the bracket. That means each quadrant has teams seeded No. 1 through No. 8, with the top two in each quadrant in line to host super regionals if they advance. The teams seeded 17-32 nationally are broken into four "buckets" that try to balance competitiveness with geography in determining regionals. 

Super regional matchups remain based on national seeds, so the winner of the No. 1 seed's regional (regardless of which team it is) will face the winner of the No. 16 seed's regional in the supers, and so on.

NCAA softball tournament schedule 2026

The round-by-round schedule for this year's tournament is below: 

• Selection show: Sunday, May 10, 7 p.m. ET
• Regionals: Friday, May 15-Sunday, May 17
• Super regionals: Thursday, May 21-Sunday, May 24
• Women's College World Series: Thursday, May 28-Friday, June 5
• Women's College World Series championship series: Wednesday, June 3-Friday, June 5

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

At the 2026 World Cup, teams will show off their skills on the global stage, but will also broadcast one of the other stars of the show — the kits.

Teams are given a chance to flash their country’s colors with pride, outfitted in new home and away kits for the tournament. And while the majority (77%) of this summer’s jerseys were made by the Big Three sportswear companies of Adidas, Nike and Puma, there will be a number of other brands showing up at the tournament as well.

Overall, Adidas’ goal of establishing itself as a soccer-focused brand has worked well. The German company designed kits for 14 of the nations at the tournament — nearly a third of the 48-team field. Adidas’ lineup includes some heavy-hitters, such as Germany, Japan, Spain, co-host Mexico — and, of course, reigning World Cup champions Argentina.

Next on the list is Nike, whic is outfitting 12 nations. That quarter of the field includes two of the co-hosts, with the United States and Canada both among the loyal Nike customers. (The United States’ home and away jerseys, which feature a stars and a stripes pattern, respectively, were released in March.) After that is Puma, which designed 11 kits, including teams like Portugal and Morocco.

Beyond the Big Three are a smattering of smaller brands. Jordan and Bosnia and Herzegovina are both getting dressed by Spanish brand Kelme, while nine other teams are the sole representatives of their brands at the World Cup.

Three nations — Ecuador, Iran and Uzbekistan — opted for locally based companies to design their jerseys, with Marathon, Merooj and 7SABER making those kits, respectively. Other brands that will be represented include Capelli Sport (Cape Verde), Umbro (Democratic Republic of Congo), Saeta (Haiti), Jako (Iraq), Reebok (Panama) and Kappa (Tunisia).

Here’s a full breakdown of all of the companies making the World Cup kits:

• Adidas (14): Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Curaçao, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden

• Nike (12): Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Turkey, United States, Uruguay

• Puma (11): Austria, Czechia, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, New Zealand, Paraguay, Portugal, Senegal, Switzerland

• Kelme: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan

• Capelli Sport: Cape Verde

• Umbro: DR Congo

• Marathon: Ecuador

• Saeta: Haiti

• Merooj: Iran

• Jako: Iraq

• Reebok: Panama

• Kappa: Tunisia

• 7SABER: Uzbekistan

Howard Webb has backed the decision to award a foul against West Ham United and disallow their late goal against Arsenalin a controversial Premier League encounter that has continued to spark debate among fans and pundits.

The decision proved decisive in the match, as West Ham were denied what would have been a dramatic equaliser late in the game. Since then, the incident has been heavily discussed, with many supporters comparing it to situations involving Arsenal’s own set-piece routines this season.

Debate Continues Over Disallowed Goal

Some observers believe the goal should have stood, arguing that similar physical challenges on goalkeepers have previously gone unpunished in the Premier League. Arsenal have often been criticised by rival supporters for crowding goalkeepers during corners, with several goals from such situations having been allowed this season.

Mikel Arteta insisted after the match that the officials reached the correct decision, while others within football have remained divided over whether the contact on David Raya justified overturning the goal.

The incident has once again increased scrutiny on consistency in officiating, particularly with the use of VAR in major moments that can influence results and league standings.

Webb Defends Officials Decision

As reported by Metro Sports, Howard Webb explained the reasoning behind the decision while discussing the incident on his Mic’d Up programme.

He said: “‘Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically yes. We’ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arm and therefore they can’t do their job, they’ll be penalised.

‘We’re not just talking about contact with goalkeepers, we’re talking about a specific type of contact when the goalkeeper’s arms or hands are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.’”

Webb’s explanation underlines the Premier League’s interpretation of such incidents, particularly when a goalkeeper’s ability to claim or control the ball is directly affected by physical interference. Despite that clarification, discussions regarding consistency in similar decisions are likely to continue among supporters and analysts alike.

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Barcelona winger Roony Bardghji has been left out of Sweden’s preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup following internal tensions inside the national team camp.

The young attacker was not included in the country’s extended 50-man preliminary list despite being considered one of the brightest talents in Swedish football.

Now, according to reports from Aftonbladet, as relayed by SPORT, Bardghji’s omission is linked to an incident that took place after Sweden secured qualification against Poland.

What’s the story?

During that match, Sweden coach Graham Potter left the Barcelona player on the bench without giving him any minutes. 

According to the information published in Sweden, Bardghji reacted angrily after the final whistle and showed visible frustration during the celebrations.

Local outlets in Sweden claim that the reaction did not go down well among teammates or members of the coaching staff.

The newspaper Aftonbladet quoted figures within the environment as saying,

“It was very strange that he almost stayed seated, in a bad mood, when we had already qualified for the World Cup. It did him no favours at all.”

Concerns over dressing room harmony

The reports further state that some players inside the Sweden squad were unhappy with Bardghji’s behaviour after qualification.

Roony Bardghji will not play at the World Cup. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

In fact, certain teammates felt the winger behaved as though he considered himself above others in the group despite being only 20 years old.

It is also claimed that Bardghji questioned his lack of playing time and demanded explanations from the coaching staff during the gathering.

While the rest of the squad celebrated qualification together with a team dinner and party, the Barcelona winger chose to remain isolated from the group.

Addressing the issue of squad balance, a federation source explained, 

“It’s also about the fact that there are 26 of us going on a trip, about how we manage the time we spend apart, how we behave and the different profiles we have depending on our age and experience. 

“I adore those two lads. They have very promising careers ahead of them.”

The winger remains highly regarded both in Sweden and at Barcelona, where he is viewed as one of the club’s promising attacking talents for the future.

However, his behaviour during the international break may have ultimately influenced the coaching staff’s decision regarding the World Cup squad.

We’re still a few months away from Friday night lights, but as temps heat up across Washington, so too does high school football recruiting. The spring and summer months are a crucial time for recruits to get in front of recruiters and college coaches and pull in coveted offers.

Across the state, a new crop of blue-chip prospects is turning heads and making verbal commitments. Whose stock is rising as the summer nears? Here are five players who have made a jump in recent months, with thoughts on each player from Rivals national recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman.

The list is presented in alphabetical order, by last name.

WR Jayce Halasz, Graham-Kapowsin (Graham), 2028

Halasz had a breakout season with the Eagles last fall, emerging as one of the state’s top receivers. Recruiters took notice of the smooth-striding, 6-foot-2 wideout, who has recently pulled in offers from Cal and Stanford. Expect other big-name programs to line up over the summer and in the fall, as G-K’s offense will be electric.

What Rivals national recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman says: “He came to the Under Armour camp in Arizona, ran a 4.5 (second) 40, laser time. There were some questions about what his top-end speed looks like. He showed that he has really good top-end speed. A lot of schools like him as a safety, so he could end up being classified as an ‘athlete.’ Schools think he can be an elite ‘center fielder’ because of those ball skills. I think he’s open to it.”

OL Kyler Harden, O’Dea (Seattle), 2028

O’Dea has had a good run of interior offensive linemen in recent years, but Harden looks like a pure offensive tackle with his frame. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has been pulling in offers left and right. Auburn, Colorado State, Penn State, Cal, Oregon State, UW and Oregon have offered Harden in 2026.

Huffman: “His OL trainer was the old o-line coach at Rainier Beach. He told me that he’s not gonna say he’s the next Josh Conerly, but he’s got a chance to be really good. You know he’s gonna be very well-coached at O’Dea. He had the baby face but had this length you want offensive linemen to have. His sophomore tape was really good. … Harden is a true tackle prospect with his length, he’s flexible, natural knee bender. … He isn’t even done growing yet. How much stronger can he get? That’s where I can see the comp to Josh Conerly. He was very lean, also, and you knew there was time to put weight on.”

Defensive Back MVP at the @max_xposurecamp@Kadenjohnson_db Way to work KJ pic.twitter.com/BpsbyS6Zbc

— Kevin Jones (@KevinJones206) April 5, 2026

CB Kaden Johnson, Bellevue (Bellevue), 2028

It’s been a busy 2026 for this 6-foot, 165-pound corner. Since January, Johnson has pulled in offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Colorado State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Idaho, UNLV, New Mexico and WSU. Now considered the No. 3 recruit in the state in the 2028 class by Rivals.

Huffman: “He’s another kid, the speed markers (at camps) were significant for him. He’s got the ability as a defensive back, he can cover, he’s pretty physical. There’s a good history of DB’s at Bellevue. Why go these camps? There’s questions a lot of times about your speed. If you record elite testing times and the film backs it up, that makes a big difference. He can play corner, nickel. He’s super smooth, super explosive.”

4 OL Rashaun Lavata’i (@Rashaun_2 ) is a man of steel! Rashaun is the #1 Ranked O Lineman on the West Coast for the class of 2027 and his stock just continues to rise! Keep an eye out for him! #GridironAiga#BuiltOnGodpic.twitter.com/8XmdhJlFox

— DeQuin Evans (@CaliDQ) April 28, 2026

OL Rashaun Lavata’i, Curtis (University Place), 2027

The younger brother of San Diego State signee Robby Lavata’i, the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder has picked up offers from Oregon State, Idaho, UW, UCLA, Arizona and Utah in the new year and has moved to No. 4 in the state on Rivals’ 2027 board. One reason for the sudden jump? Age. Lavata’i, 16, won’t turn 17 until the summer. The skill set appears to be developing on schedule.

Huffman: “He was overshadowed by his older brother at Curtis. He had decent junior film. Then he came to the Under Armour camp in Phonenix in March and he was dominant. He was the offensive line MVP. With how tall he is, his wingspan, hand size, athleticism — his testing numbers for his size were in the top 3% for offensive tackles nationally. … Put some good weight on him, and he has the chance to be an elite offensive tackle.”

End of my first year ever playing football, so blessed for every opportunity I’ve had this season @WipeMeDownBoyz@XavierBanner_@BrandonHuffman@JordanJohnsonD1@EvansRankings@GregBiggins ⁦@BlairAngulo⁩ ⁦@Ryan_Clary_⁩ pic.twitter.com/9rtWtrKLos

— Achilles Reyna (@reyna_achilles) November 18, 2025

DL Achilles Reyna, Rainier Beach (Seattle), 2028

Believe it or not, the 2025 season last fall was Reyna’s first season playing football. But what Reyna lacks in polish, he makes up for with measuarbles: 6-foot-7, 240 pounds and athletic, to boot. Big-time programs have quickly taken notice. In fact, all of his offers have come in 2026: Idaho, Arizona, UNLV, Boise State, Fresno State, Utah, WSU, San Diego State, Cal, LSU, Texas A&M, Oregon State, UW and San Jose State.

Huffman: “I was looking for a picture of him, I was talking to a Big 12 school that was interested in him. Everything I could find was from AAU hoops, EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), nothing football related. Last August, I got a tip from a coach who told me this kid’s coming out for football and we’re gonna offer him just for football alone. He’s raw as all get-out, but you cannot teach that size. … (Colleges) like him as a true edge (rusher), puts his hand down. Maybe he grows inside to be a three technique. But they like his explosiveness off the edge.”

The Kansas City Chiefs have sought to globalize their brand, going so far as to call themselves the “world’s team” while seeking international contests.

“We’ve been one of the most aggressive international teams in the league,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “And we’d love to play again.”

Patrick Mahomes is entering his 10th year in the NFL, and during that tenure, the Chiefs have played internationally three times on three different continents.

But this year they only will play domestically.

Their last remaining chance was the Week Nine game on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Madrid, Spain as the road team to the host Atlanta Falcons, but on Tuesday afternoon, the NFL announced that the Cincinnati Bengals will play the Falcons instead.

During the weekend of the 2026 NFL Draft, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said the odds were slightly less than 50% that the Chiefs would play in Spain.

“There’s still a possibility that we would play in Spain, and at this point, I do think the opportunities are limited to Spain,” Hunt said. “We know that Atlanta will be the host team there and we’re one of four or five teams that are on their schedule that could possibly be in that game.”

Because NFL schedules are 17 games, there are an uneven number of home and road games, and that flips each season. This is the year the Chiefs have an extra road game (nine) to go with their (eight) home games.

Reducing the number of regular-season games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to seven in 2026 would sacrifice the revenue from the more than 75,000 fans who fill Arrowhead and also present a competitive disadvantage.

Heading into NFL schedule release week, the Falcons in Spain were the only road team on the Chiefs’ schedule left who had an open opponent for an international game.

That location would have been particularly appealing because it is one of the countries — along with Austria, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom — in which the Chiefs have global marketing rights.

Those rights allow them to build brand awareness through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities and NFL flag football development, and the Chiefs have taken full advantage.

“When you have the face of the league in Patrick,” Hunt said, “it certainly facilitates growing your brand.”

But instead of playing the Falcons in Spain, Mahomes and the Chiefs will face them in Atlanta, where they narrowly won 22-17 two years ago.

The Chiefs opened last year in Sao Paolo, Brazil, where they lost 27-21 to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs also faced the Chargers internationally in November of 2019, winning 24-17 in Mexico City during a season which ended in their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years.

Kansas City’s last Super Bowl-winning season also included an international game.

The Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins and former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, 21-14, in November of 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany and then won Super Bowl LVIII a few months later.

So perhaps playing in Europe has served as a good omen — in addition to the way it allows the Chiefs to expand their fanbase.

“We’d love to be overseas again,” Donovan said.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The PGA Championship at Aronimink is close to getting underway now and Scottie Scheffler is the strong favorite to end the week as champion.

Scheffler won the PGA Championship last year at Quail Hollow and he will obviously be desperate to defend his title this week.

The 29-year-old world number one heads into Aronimink on the back of three consecutive runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour.

Scottie Scheffler has four major championships to his name already, and a win at the PGA Championship would cap off a truly incredible run in the four biggest tournaments in the game.

Scheffler had the week off before the PGA Championship, and that was a very smart call as all of his rivals battled it out at Quail Hollow.

The man from Dallas, Texas, should be very fresh heading into Aronimink for the second major of the year.

And he has just been handed a huge boost by the PGA of America as well.

The PGA of America have done Scottie Scheffler a favor ahead the PGA Championship

Scheffler’s game seems to be ideally suited to the test that awaits him at Aronimink.

His precise driving and iron play mean that he could well be the man to beat this week, especially if the course firms up and the wind blows.

And it’s fair to argue that he has already been given a very big advantage by the PGA of America.

Scheffler will tee off at 2:05 pm local time alongside English duo Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Would the 29-year-old have handpicked a better group than that? I honestly don’t think he would have.

Like Scheffler, Rose and Fitzpatrick are both very quiet and unassuming guys. They keep their heads down and go about their business in a real workmanlike manner.

Of course, there will be incredible amounts of attention on Scheffler regardless, but there always is anyway.

The great news for the world number one is that the majority of eyeballs will be on another group on the golf course…

Scottie Scheffler could go under the radar at the PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy has been paired alongside Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth in what is undoubtedly the most blockbuster PGA Championship group.

The attention that group will garner will be off the scale.

So, while McIlroy has to deal with the thousands of fans and media members who will be concentrating on his group, Scheffler will be able to go about his business in more of a calm environment alongside Rose and Fitzpatrick.

Obviously it won’t make a huge difference, but these seemingly small decisions can sometimes affect the outcome of a tournament.

Put it this way, Scottie Scheffler will be delighted with his group for the first two days of the PGA Championship.

The personalities of Fitzpatrick and Rose suit the 29-year-old so well. It really is hard to look past a Scottie Scheffler win this week at Aronimink.

New Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda has shown that he has a top level mentality ahead of making his switch to Stamford Bridge.

The Sporting winger joins Chelsea this summer and it’s largely been reported that he will be going into Chelsea’s first team squad right away.

EXCLUSIVE! Xabi Alonso not making any major demands but emphasising importance of defence, talks progressing well – Chelsea throwing everything at it!

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Obviously we will have to see what happens with the new manager coming in at Chelsea and whether he fancies the young winger in his first team squad or not, but he certainly looks like a real talent for the future.

Chelsea may decide to bed him in next season, although a loan to a Premier League side might initially be the best steps to take right now.

Quenda clearly backs himself

Geovany Quenda has agreed a move to Chelsea (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola as cited on SPTC today, Geovany Quenda had made a personal promise to himself that he did not want to leave Sporting for Chelsea without scoring again for the Lisbon club.

I love seeing this kind of thing from young players with top mentalities and confidence levels. It’s a good start to his next step joining Chelsea this summer.

In other news today…

Alonso is being linked more and more with the Chelsea job recently, and one journalist is now saying he’s the “main target” for the Blues. It’s pretty clear Chelsea want him as the priority.

Alonso would have the authority to command a dressing room at Chelsea, a key ingredient for the new manager. This helps make him the standout candidate for the head coach role at Stamford Bridge.

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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Romeo Doubs reveals feelings on Patriots trading for A.J. Brown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In one reality, Romeo Doubs is the New England Patriots' big offseason acquisition at wide receiver. He becomes their replacement for Stefon Diggs and the new top target for Drake Maye.

But that might not be how things play out, because Doubs may soon only be the second-biggest pickup at WR for the Pats.

They're still going after A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a potential trade that all along has seemed more likely to happen after June 1 for salary cap reasons.

That's still a few weeks away, but the Patriots are certainly hearing the noise.

And even Doubs, who spoke with the media on Tuesday, is well aware of the potential upside of such a move.

“I have a ton of respect for him,” Doubs said. “He’s been a dude in this league for quite a long time. I understand that when he first got in the league, Vrabel was his coach. So again, I understand there are a lot of rumors going around. If he’s here, I’d love to have him here. And if he isn’t here, I’m still going to wish him the best because he’s one of the best guys in this league.”

MORE: Shilo Sanders under fire for telling female reporter to 'make a sandwich'

The reality is that Doubs has never been a true No. 1 wideout before. With the Green Bay Packers, he was part of a deep group that each had their role.

That could work out to be similar to New England if the Patriots do indeed get Brown.

It's not all that often, either, that new players are asked about a guy who hasn't even been acquired yet. But that's the level of these Brown rumors and expectations. At this point, it feels like it'd be a surprise if the Pats didn't end up with Brown.

It certainly wouldn't surprise Doubs. He's clearly heard the rumors. And he seemingly has no issue with being joined on the field be another talented pass catcher, a setup that really just makes everyone's life a little easier in the New England offense.

More NFL news:

• Bengals' new signing acted in LeBron James' Space Jam movie
• Why the Cowboys aren't signing George Pickens long-term
• Giants given warning on Odell Beckham Jr. reunion
• Why the Dolphins haven't traded De'Von Achane, and the offer that might change that
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

The Detroit Lions have officially locked up their entire 2026 NFL Draft class.

On Tuesday, the team announced that first-round pick Blake Miller has signed his rookie contract, making him the final member of Detroit’s seven-player draft class to officially put pen to paper.

While the Lions did not publicly release the financial details of the contract, Spotrac projects Miller’s rookie deal to be worth approximately $21.87 million over four years. Because he was selected in the first round, Detroit will also hold a fifth-year option on the former Clemson offensive tackle.

Miller was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and is expected to play a major role in Detroit’s offensive line transition moving forward.

The Lions entered the offseason looking to reshape portions of their offensive front while also getting younger in key areas. General manager Brad Holmes has repeatedly emphasized improving depth and long-term stability in the trenches, and Miller figures to be a huge part of that vision.

The former Clemson standout arrives in Detroit with an impressive college résumé that includes durability, leadership, and consistency. He started 54 consecutive games during his collegiate career and was viewed by many analysts as one of the safest offensive line prospects in the draft.

Detroit had already agreed to deals with its other six draft picks earlier this week, including Derrick Moore, Jimmy Rolder, Keith Abney, Kendrick Law, Skyler Gill-Howard, and Tyre West.

With Miller now officially signed, the Lions have finalized contracts for their entire 2026 rookie class before summer activities ramp up later this offseason.

The Bottom Line

Blake Miller was viewed as one of the most “NFL-ready” offensive linemen in the 2026 draft, and the Lions clearly see him as a foundational piece moving forward. Now officially under contract, Detroit’s entire rookie class is locked in and ready to get to work.

When does the 2026 NFL schedule come out? Release date, time, TV channel to watch game announcement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Advance planners, rejoice. The 2026 NFL schedule release is just about here.

While teams have known their opponents for this year since the end of the 2025 regular season, the question of how all the pieces of the puzzle fit into the calendar will finally be answered this week. 

Some game dates already have been revealed, including details on the record nine international games on the docket in 2026. The first of those is 49ers vs. Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10, the slot normally reserved for the reigning Super Bowl champion to open at home. That means the regular season will begin on Wednesday evening in Seattle with the Seahawks starting their title defense. 

Where will the schedule will go from there? The answers are coming soon for those waiting to lock down home-game tailgate plans or sketch out weekend road trips. 

Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 NFL schedule release. 

When does the 2026 NFL schedule come out?

• Date: Thursday, May 14
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

While international games and select prime-time matchups already have been announced, the NFL will release the full 2026 schedule for all 32 teams beginning Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET. 

Where to watch 2026 NFL schedule release

• TV channels: NFL Network, ESPN2
• Live stream:fubo, ESPN app

Fans can follow the 2026 schedule release live on NFL Network and ESPN2, with both broadcasts providing analysis and highlighting key matchups. The ESPN2 coverage can be streamed with the ESPN app, while fubo streams both channels. 

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

2026 NFL strength of schedule rankings

Here is the strength of schedule rankings for 2026. No. 1 is the toughest strength of schedule based on 2025 win percentages, while No. 32 is the easiest.

Holly Winterburn made her way from England to Oregon and then signed as an undrafted free agent in 2025 with the Atlanta Dream, with the guard hoping to get some playing time. But she missed the entire season with an injury and her playing rights stayed with Dream.

Fast-forward to 2026. She was signed once again by the Dream as the season started... but then she was cut. And on Tuesday, she spoke out about how it went down with an Instagram Story.

“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game," she wrote. "But that’s the reality of this business [and] I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me.”

“I’m built for this," she added. "Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me [and] sent love. Everything happens for a reason and I’m so excited for what’s next.”

Holly Winterburn was released from the Atlanta Dream right before getting on the team bus 😳 pic.twitter.com/gA7moZ2GOG

— WNBA Got Game (@wnbagotgame) May 12, 2026

No word on how that exactly happened -- was she literally stepping on the bus and management said "Not so fast"?

Maybe we'll hear more about this soon.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Holly Winterburn calls out Dream for cutting her on the bus before game

The Brazilian eFootball Console National Team begins its Week 2 campaign in the FIFAe Nations League Qualifiers this Wednesday (13). Starting at 9 p.m., the duo of HenrykinhO and JVictorPRO, led by coach Thiago Avaré, will face Paraguay. After that, they will take on Bolivia and Chile. CBF TV will broadcast it live, with play-by-play by Guerreiro and commentary from Dedeco.

Despite opening the Qualifiers with a title in the first week, built on a campaign of seven wins in nine matches, there is no expectation that Week 2 will be easy. That is because the changes planned in the competition regulations have altered the dynamics of Brazil’s gameplay.

The Brazilian eFootball Console National Team is once again at the top of South AmericaCredits: Junior Souza / CBF

“This week, we have a slightly different set of rules: we will have to use only three epics and five showtimes, so our team is a bit more limited, and the game becomes a little slower in dribbling. So we have been adapting to this type of game,” said coach Thiago Avaré.

The change required adjustments in planning for this week’s matches, even though Brazil will face the same opponents as in the first week.

“We are speeding up attacking plays a bit more, but in a different way, and we have also replaced some slower players,” he explained.

For Avaré, the change could also alter the way opponents will play, which will make the eSeleção take extra care in the upcoming matches.

“Maybe this will make some national teams perform better this week. We, for example, had a very light and fast team in the first week and we are going to change that. So maybe teams with characteristics geared toward crosses and knockdowns may do better now. We need to stay alert,” he concluded.

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

Marco Silva Emerges As Marinakis Favourite

There is a particular kind of noise that follows Evangelos Marinakis when a football season bends towards uncertainty. It is not panic, not exactly. More a restless churn of ambition. Nottingham Forest may have secured their Premier League status under Vitor Pereira, yet the sense around the City Ground is that stability alone is rarely enough for an owner who measures football through progress and prestige.

According to TeamTalk, Forest are now considering another dramatic managerial change despite Pereira only arriving during the season. Marco Silva has emerged once again as a serious target for Marinakis, with the Forest owner reportedly maintaining a strong admiration for the Fulham manager following their successful spell together at Olympiakos.

It is a story layered with familiarity and intrigue. Silva once replaced Pereira in Greece and, if reports are accurate, history could repeat itself in Nottingham.

TeamTalk reported that Marinakis believes Silva could bring “stability, tactical structure and Premier League credibility” to Forest as the club look beyond survival and towards genuine progression. That line alone says much about the mood inside the hierarchy. Pereira has done enough to keep the club afloat, but Marinakis appears to want more than merely staying in the division.

Forest supporters have lived through enough upheaval in recent seasons to know that nothing remains still for long under this ownership.

Photo IMAGO

Pereira Delivers Survival But Doubts Remain

Pereira inherited a difficult situation after replacing Sean Dyche in February and deserves credit for steering Forest away from danger. Results improved, performances gained greater resilience and the club avoided being dragged deeper into relegation trouble.

There were moments when Pereira’s side carried genuine steel. He restored belief to a fractured dressing room and gave Forest a fighting chance during the closing months of the campaign. In isolation, survival should represent success.

Yet modern football rarely operates in isolation.

The concern for Pereira may be that Marinakis views him as a firefighter rather than a long-term architect. Forest have churned through managers at an alarming rate and there is little evidence the owner intends to soften his approach. Ambition remains the dominant force behind every major decision.

TeamTalk revealed that Marinakis is prepared to make a decisive move if Silva indicates openness towards taking over at Forest. That possibility alone creates tension around Pereira’s future.

Silva’s reputation in the Premier League has strengthened considerably during his time with Fulham. His teams play with clarity, aggression and tactical intelligence. Fulham have become organised without losing their attacking instincts, which is precisely the balance many ambitious clubs crave.

There is also the personal relationship factor. Marinakis and Silva built a successful partnership at Olympiakos, where Silva guided the club to the Greek title during the 2015-16 campaign. TeamTalk noted that Silva oversaw a remarkable run of 17 consecutive league victories during that period, reinforcing his standing as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches.

That history matters.

Chelsea Interest Complicates Forest Pursuit

Forest are not operating without competition. TeamTalk also reported that Chelsea continue to assess Silva among potential managerial candidates following recent upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

Silva’s stock has risen because he represents reliability in an era filled with managerial volatility. Clubs see a coach capable of improving players while implementing a coherent structure. Those qualities travel well across different dressing rooms and ownership models.

Benfica are also monitoring the situation closely amid uncertainty surrounding Jose Mourinho’s future. The Portuguese giants reportedly view Silva as a figure capable of restoring domestic dominance while maintaining an attractive style of football.

For Forest, that creates urgency.

If Marinakis truly wants Silva at the City Ground, hesitation could prove costly. Bigger clubs with deeper resources are circling. Forest may offer ambition and financial backing, but Chelsea and Benfica carry historical weight few clubs can match.

That leaves Pereira in an awkward and uncomfortable position. He may yet retain his role, particularly if Silva chooses to remain at Fulham, but the existence of these conversations inevitably alters perceptions.

Managers can survive poor form. They rarely survive uncertainty from above.

Marinakis Pursues Bigger Vision For Forest

This is ultimately about the scale of Marinakis’ ambition for Nottingham Forest. Remaining in the Premier League is not viewed internally as the destination. It is merely the foundation.

Forest have invested heavily since returning to the top flight and their owner appears determined to transform the club into a consistent force rather than annual survivors. Silva fits that image. Pereira, fairly or unfairly, may not.

The coming weeks could shape Forest’s trajectory for years. If Marinakis moves for Silva, it will reinforce the sense that Nottingham Forest are prepared to operate aggressively in pursuit of growth. If Pereira stays, he will begin next season under immediate scrutiny.

Either way, instability continues to hover over the City Ground.

And with Marinakis involved, football rarely stays quiet for long.

Liverpool Targets: Why Rayan’s Release Clause Has Sparked Transfer Interest

Liverpool’s recruitment team rarely chase trends. They identify profiles, assess tactical suitability and move when the timing feels right. That process has helped build one of Europe’s strongest squads over recent years and it now appears another exciting forward has entered the frame.

Rayan is the latest name linked among Liverpool targets ahead of the summer transfer window, with Bournemouth’s young Brazilian already generating major attention after a remarkable start to life in English football.

As first outlined by The Athletic, the 19-year-old has adapted rapidly since arriving on the south coast in January. Signed for an initial £24.7million, Rayan was handed the difficult task of helping fill the void left by Antoine Semenyo, yet he has embraced that challenge with startling confidence.

Liverpool’s admiration makes sense when watching him closely. There is explosiveness in his movement, aggression in transition and a fearlessness that elite clubs covet.

Rayan Emerges Among Liverpool Targets

Few players settle into Premier League football as quickly as Rayan has managed. The Brazilian arrived with promise rather than expectation, but his impact has already shifted perceptions around his ceiling.

Operating primarily from the right despite being comfortable on either flank, Rayan attacks defenders directly. He drives infield with pace and physicality, forcing defensive lines backwards and creating space for others around him.

Liverpool’s interest reflects a broader desire to refresh attacking options under Arne Slot. Flexibility has become increasingly important in modern systems and Rayan’s ability to operate across the frontline strengthens his appeal.

His numbers since arriving in England have only intensified the conversation. Five goals and two assists in 13 appearances represent an impressive opening chapter, especially considering the speed and intensity of the Premier League.

There is also a physical resilience to his game that suggests he could thrive at the highest level. Strong in aerial duels and capable of absorbing contact, he already looks equipped for English football despite his age.

Release Clause Complicates Summer Plans

The challenge for Liverpool is obvious. Bournemouth are under little pressure to sell.

Rayan signed a five-and-a-half-year contract only months ago and reports suggest a €100million release clause was included within the agreement. That figure instantly changes the dynamics of any potential move.

Liverpool targets are carefully prioritised financially as well as tactically. The club remain disciplined in the market and rarely engage in bidding wars without conviction that the player can transform the squad.

A release clause creates clarity but not simplicity. Rival clubs can activate the clause if they are prepared to meet Bournemouth’s demands, meaning persuasion becomes equally important.

Liverpool’s strong relationship with Bournemouth may help communication between the clubs, yet business at this level remains ruthless. Bournemouth understand the value of elite young forwards in the modern market and will not surrender one of their brightest assets cheaply.

Gregg Evans and Andy Jones recently highlighted how Liverpool’s recruitment process focuses heavily on players capable of influencing matches physically and technically. Writing for The Athletic, they noted the importance of “pressing intensity” alongside attacking output when assessing elite-level talent.

That observation matters here because Rayan appears built for exactly those demands.

Bournemouth Star Brings Explosive Qualities

Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to wide forwards who attack space aggressively. Rayan fits that mould naturally.

What stands out most is the directness of his game. He receives possession and immediately looks to destabilise opponents. Full-backs are forced into uncomfortable decisions because he combines acceleration with power so effectively.

There is still refinement needed in his decision-making, which is entirely normal for a 19-year-old adapting to a new league and country. Yet Liverpool’s coaching structure has consistently improved young attacking players tactically.

Slot’s style also appears well suited to footballers who can transition quickly between central and wide areas. Rayan’s tendency to drift inside from the right would complement Liverpool’s fluid attacking structure.

Questions remain over whether this summer represents the right moment for such a major investment. A €100million release clause is substantial, particularly for a player with limited Premier League experience.

However, elite clubs increasingly move early for elite talent. Waiting often carries a heavier cost later.

Summer Window Could Define Liverpool Attack

Every transfer window reveals strategic priorities. Liverpool’s growing interest in younger forwards suggests the club are already planning for the next cycle of success rather than reacting to decline.

Rayan’s emergence among Liverpool targets feels aligned with that approach. He offers speed, unpredictability and long-term potential, all qualities prized inside the club’s recruitment model.

Whether Liverpool decide to pursue the deal aggressively may depend on broader squad planning and outgoing business elsewhere in the attack. Yet the interest itself is revealing.

Rayan has arrived in England and immediately looked capable of belonging at the highest level. That alone guarantees attention.

Now the focus shifts towards whether his release clause becomes an obstacle or an opportunity for Liverpool in one of the most important transfer windows of the Slot era.

The Inner Circle returns to Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 15, and it brings one of the most stacked lineups in the series’ history. This is one night martial arts fans cannot afford to miss, airing live in Asia primetime at live.onefc.com. 

The most highly anticipated rematch in recent memory headlines the night, as ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane defends his belt for the first time against the man he dethroned, two-division ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin. 

The high-stakes card also features the return of ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo. Elsewhere, redemption awaits for reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek and Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev.

With championship gold and personal pride on the line, here are five burning questions surrounding Friday’s massive event.

#1 Will ‘Reug Reug’ Beat Malykhin For The Second Time?

When “Reug Reug” and Malykhin met at ONE 169 in November 2024, they produced one of the greatest heavyweight battles in recent memory. The two pushed each other to the limit across five grueling rounds. When the dust settled, it was Kane who walked away with the split decision and 26 pounds of gold.

What made it remarkable was who he beat. Malykhin entered with a perfect 14-0 slate and a 100 percent finishing rate. Yet Kane silenced every doubter, put Senegal on the global combat sports map, and proved the nation’s traditional wrestling belonged at the highest level. Upon his return home, over 20,000 fans greeted him as a hero in Dakar. 

Now, he arrives at the rematch carrying a different burden. No longer the underdog, Kane sets his sights on a finish that leaves no room for debate and cements him as the world’s premier heavyweight. 

#2 Can Malykhin Reclaim His Three-Division World Champion Status?

Malykhin had achieved what no fighter in MMA history had. The Russian juggernaut conquered the middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions to stand as the sport’s first and only three-division MMA World Champion. 

Then came the split-decision loss, the first and only blemish on an otherwise perfect record. He recovered from injury in the months that followed, only for Kane’s car accident to postpone the highly anticipated rematch at ONE 173 last November.

That defeat lingered for over a year, but Malykhin never stopped working. He channeled the frustration, sharpened his weapons, and is headed to Bangkok with purpose — to finish Kane, reclaim the belt, and prove one loss does not define what he built across three divisions. 

#3 Can Ruotolo Pick Up Where He Left Off After A Year On The Sidelines?

Ruotolo has achieved everything the grappling world has to offer. He defended his ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title three times and established himself as one of the finest grapplers of his generation. When he made the leap to MMA, three first-round stoppages proved his skills translated seamlessly to the all-encompassing sport. 

Then the injury bug intervened. Ruotolo suffered a complete ACL tear just one week after submitting Nicolas “El Paisa” Vigna at ONE 171. During his recovery, he watched his twin brother and fellow ONE World Champion Tye Ruotolo flourish on his own MMA journey, every triumph only fueling his desire to return. 

Now healthy, he faces a legitimate test in hard-hitting Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka. Another statement win would keep his undefeated record across both MMA and grappling intact and put him firmly on a collision course with two-division MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee. 

#4 Can Superlek Silence His Critics With A Statement Win?

Not long ago, Superlek stood among the finest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet. Having defeated some of the biggest names in the promotion, he had cemented his status as a modern great and looked settled at the top of the striking world. 

Then 2025 arrived and tested everything. He lost his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on the scales, then suffered back-to-back losses to Nabil Anane and Yuki Yoza in performances that had critics questioning whether his best days were behind him.

Instead of listening to the noise, he went back to work. He returned to YOKKAO Training Center in Bangkok to reconnect with his roots and rebuild not just his skills but his mindset. Now the familiar canvas of Lumpinee Stadium serves as his stage, and a win over the dangerous Dayakaev would be the loudest possible answer to anyone who wrote him off. 

#5 Will Dayakaev Seize His Biggest Opportunity Yet?

Dayakaev built his reputation on destruction, with multiple sub-minute knockouts establishing the Russian as one of the most feared finishers in the bantamweight Muay Thai division.

That trajectory was derailed at ONE Fight Night 39 when Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon stopped him cold. What followed only deepened the pain. The Thai star walked straight into a ONE World Title shot and claimed the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in his very next fight, a moment that could have been Dayakaev’s. 

Now, “Smash Boy” arrives with a point to prove, and Superlek presents the perfect opportunity.  A victory over the pound-for-pound icon would be the defining win of his career and perhaps the clearest path back to a rematch with Rambolek. 

Source

MLB looks very different in 2026. The game is no longer only about performances on the field. Star power matters just as much now. The biggest players in baseball are building brands that go far beyond the stadium.

Fans today follow players everywhere. They buy jerseys, watch highlights online, and keep up with endorsements and social media posts. Because of that, marketability has become a huge part of a player’s value.

A marketable MLB star needs more than strong stats. Winning matters, but personality matters too. Playing in a big market helps. Global popularity also plays a major role. Some players connect with younger fans through social media, while others earn respect through leadership and consistency.

MORE: 5 best hitters in the National League West right now

This new era has created a different type of baseball superstar. Players are now major business figures. Their faces appear in ads, and their names help sell merchandise around the world.

A few stars stand above the rest in 2026. These players dominate games while also leading baseball in popularity, endorsements, jersey sales, and fan attention.

5. Paul Skenes – Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes has become one of baseball’s biggest young stars.

Most pitchers do not reach the same popularity level as top hitters, but Skenes is different. His fastball regularly reaches triple digits, and his strikeout numbers make every start exciting to watch.

His highlights often go viral on social media. Fans already knew him from his successful college career at LSU Tigers baseball, which helped build his popularity before he even reached MLB.

Skenes also appeals to casual sports fans. Younger audiences especially connect with his style and confidence.

Even though he plays in Pittsburgh, his jersey is already among baseball’s top sellers. That says a lot for a player so early in his career.

If he keeps dominating on the mound, his popularity will only continue growing.

4. Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers

Mookie Betts remains one of the most respected stars in baseball.

Fans trust him because of his consistency. He delivers strong performances every season and always shows up in big moments.

Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers gives him massive exposure. The Dodgers stay in the spotlight through national TV games and deep playoff runs.

Betts also stands out because of his versatility. He plays multiple positions at a high level and continues producing offensively.

Off the field, fans enjoy his personality. His bowling appearances and interviews have helped him connect with people outside baseball.

Betts may not be the flashiest player, but brands value his professionalism and energy.

Years into his career, he remains one of MLB’s biggest names.

MORE: 5 best pitchers in the National League West right now

3. Juan Soto – New York Mets

Juan Soto became an even bigger star after joining the New York Mets.

His massive 15-year, $765 million contract immediately made headlines across sports. The deal turned him into one of baseball’s most talked-about players.

New York gives Soto a huge stage. Mets games attract national attention, especially after the team made such a historic investment in him.

On the field, Soto continues to prove why he is special. He remains one of baseball’s best hitters, combining elite plate discipline with major power.

What makes him especially marketable is his confidence. He plays with swagger and emotion, which younger fans love.

At only 27 years old, Soto already looks like one of baseball’s long-term superstar faces.

2. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees

Aaron Judge remains the face of baseball in America.

Everything about him works from a marketing perspective. His size stands out immediately, and his home-run power keeps fans watching.

Being captain of the New York Yankees only increases his popularity. New York is baseball’s biggest market, and Judge handles that spotlight perfectly.

His jersey continues to rank among MLB’s top sellers every year.

Judge also keeps producing on the field. He entered 2026 after another MVP-level season, and pitchers still fear facing him.

Brands love his image because he carries himself professionally and stays respected throughout sports. His endorsement deals, including partnerships with Ralph Lauren, show his mainstream appeal.

MORE: 10 MLB stars and their educational degrees

1. Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers

No player in baseball matches Shohei Ohtani’s popularity.

His global reach is unmatched. Fans in the United States, Japan, and many other countries follow everything he does.

Winning has made his brand even stronger. Ohtani helped Japan succeed in the World Baseball Classic and later helped the Dodgers win back-to-back championships.

His jersey entered the 2026 season as MLB’s best seller for the third straight year.

On the field, Ohtani continues to do things nobody else can. After his historic 50-50 season, he still performs at an MVP level. His ability to dominate as both a hitter and pitcher makes him completely unique.

Off the field, his business value is enormous. Reports suggest he could earn around $125 million in endorsements during 2026 alone.

His portfolio includes partnerships with brands like New Balance, Fanatics, Seiko, and Hugo Boss.

No MLB player sells more merchandise, attracts more attention, or has a bigger global influence than Ohtani.

LSU football poured money into its 2026 roster for new head coach Lane Kiffin. After firing Brian Kelly, LSU swung big by hiring Kiffin. The star coach was in high demand and it didn't just take a raise to woo Kiffin to Baton Rouge -- the Tigers had to make resource commitments, too.

LSU signed the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class in the country. The crop featured over 40 new players, including big-name transfers like QB Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton. On defense, LSU added pass rusher Princewill Umanmielen and safety Ty Benefield.

LSU didn't just spend on portal prospects. The Tigers paid to retain rising stars like tight end Trey'Dez Green and running back Harlem Berry.

Today, we'll look at the estimated five most valuable players on LSU's roster. Thanks to CollegeFrontOffice, we have some insight into the worth of each player on LSU's roster. CFO uses a mix of reporting, position value, program, and talent assessment to estimate a player's market value. Here's a look at LSU's top five.

5. Stephiylan Green | Defensive Tackle | Transfer | 1.04 million

Stephiylan Green transferred to LSU after a productive year at Clemson. Per CollegeFrontOffice, Green's roster value is 1.04 million. Green may not be the most talented player on LSU's roster and he doesn't generate the same attention as LSU's stars, but defensive tackles are in high demand, especially in the transfer portal. They don't come cheap.

4. Jordan Ross | Defensive End | Transfer | 1.05 million

Ross comes in at No. 4 on LSU's roster with a valuation of 1.05 million. That number doesn't necessarily match the production we saw from Ross for two years at Tennessee, but he is a former five-star, plays a premium position, and was acquired through the transfer portal. All three elements raise his price.

3. Princewill Umanmielen | Defensive End | Transfer | 1.5 million

Umanmielen's placement on this list comes as no surprise. He was one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal and one of the SEC's most productive pass rushers in 2025.

2. Jordan Seaton | Offensive Tackle | Transfer | 4 million

Few positions are as important as left tackle. When former Colorado tackle Jordan Seaton entered the transfer portal, we knew he would command a heavy price tag. It was reported that LSU ended up paying 4 million for Seaton, beating Oregon in a bidding war. If Seaton brings the expected improvement to LSU's offensive line, he'll be worth every penny.

1. Sam Leavitt | Quarterback | Transfer | 6 million

CFO lists new LSU QB Sam Leavitt as a 6 million dollar player. With Garrett Nussmeier off to the NFL and the rest of LSU's QB room entering the transfer portal, LSU was left without a QB on the roster. Kiffin was determined to land one of the best available, which resulted in LSU not giving up on its pursuit of Leavitt. There were some twists and turns along the way, but LSU managed to get the ex-Arizona State QB to Baton Rouge.

Takeaways

The most obvious takeaway from this list is that transfers cost a lot of money. A transfer has more leverage on the open market than a high school recruit does; teams are more willing to spend to fill needs. That raises the price for every Power Four quality player in the portal.

Per CFO, the five highest-paid players on LSU's roster are transfers. That doesn't mean these five are the best players on LSU's roster, but they're the most "expensive."

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: The five most valuable players on LSU football's 2026 roster

When Tony Bloom told us back in August he thought the Hearts team he had taken a minority stake in could split the Old Firm this season many questioned the sanity of the Brighton owner.

And yet here we are, nine months down the road and Bloom's prediction has happened with Rangers now guaranteed to finish no better than third.

With every point Hearts dropped came predictions they would fall away now, but those within Tynecastle stayed firm. Not only do they remain top, they could be crowned champions tonight.

However, after the weekend results the Hearts doubters are saying the title will be heading to Celtic Park following the next two fixtures.

They may be proven right but one thing we have learned this season is that when serious questions have been asked of this Hearts team they have been answered with a positivity few other clubs could have managed.

The manner of the two dropped points on Saturday at Fir Park may well still hurt those of a maroon persuasion but for Derek McInnes and his players that moment has now gone and it is on to the next task.

Falkirk under John McGlynn have posed real threats to every Premiership team this season so anyone thinking this game will be simple should think again.

The players, whether they like it or not, will be kept up to speed with events at Motherwell but first of all they must take care of business themselves.

Tonight will be full of tension, nerves and potentially controversy.

Tynecastle will be no place for the faint-hearted. This could, however, be the biggest night in the club's history for decades and the best night of their lives for Hearts fans.

Reporter James Copley says he "couldn't have predicted Sunderland to do this well" in their first season back in the Premier League since the 2016–17 season, as Regis le Bris' team occupy 12th in the table.

The Sunderland Echo journalist believes the Black Cats have had "an amazing season" and highlighted some of his favourite moments.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, Copley said: "It's been absolutely fantastic, it's been unbelievable.

"There has been so many great moments. I don't think we could have predicted Sunderland to do this well at the start of the season.

"It has been an amazing season with so many high points.

"The two wins over Newcastle were very special. I could go back to the opening day against West Ham, that was a fantastic result and performance, a real feel-good factor around the Stadium of Light.

"Other highlights were Arsenal, 2-2 at home, that was a really good display. Bournemouth as well, that was a really special atmosphere. Chelsea away was fantastic, there's been a lot.

"They've delivered a lot this season and they deserve an immense amount of credit, the staff and the players deserve the plaudits."

Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds or by clicking play on the clip above

Entering this week, Penn State hockey had replaced two of its three outgoing defensemen but still needed one more depth piece to round out the blue line. The Nittany Lions got their wish with a commitment from Charlie Michaud on Tuesday:

Michaud is transferring in from Miami (OH), where he played just six games in the 2025-26 season. He averaged nearly 13 minutes of ice time and did not record a point in his six games with the Redhawks. He joined the Penticton Vees of the WHL in late December and tallied 15 assists in 35 games. Michaud is expected to join Penn State for the 2026-27 season.

Penn State now has an even balance of left-handed (Smith, Gadowsky, Fascia, Michaud) and right-handed (Collins, Aman, Herrington, Weber) defensemen on the roster.

The Nittany Lions now have a full roster with the recruiting class and incoming transfers factored in. If Gavin McKenna leaves for the NHL, one roster spot will become available, and Penn State will likely try to add one more forward.

Carlo Ancelotti has publicly backed the possible return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid while also defending the mentality and professionalism of the club’s dressing room.

Now managing the Brazil national football team, Ancelotti spoke to The Athletic about several topics related to his time at Real Madrid, including criticism often directed at the players.

During the interview, Ancelotti strongly dismissed suggestions that the Real Madrid players lack discipline or ignore tactical instructions from the coaching staff.

“It gives the impression that Real Madrid’s players do whatever they want. That’s not true. It’s complete nonsense. That’s not true! 

“The players… when I was there, I had an idea, and I tried to discuss it with them to see if they agreed or not. We even did that in the Champions League final.”

His management of the Madrid squad

The former Real Madrid coach also explained that communication and collaboration with players formed an important part of his management style during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“When I have an idea, the player has to be part of it. I don’t want to impose a strategy. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a strategy.”

He then defended the tactical structure behind Real Madrid’s recent success, adding, 

“We had a strategy, and a solid one, because we won two Champions Leagues in four years, and the players were very focused on following it and sticking to the plan. 

“The idea that Real Madrid don’t want to follow a strategy isn’t true.”

Rebuilding after losing key leaders

Ancelotti has backed Mourinho’s appointment. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

While defending the squad, Ancelotti also admitted that Real Madrid are currently dealing with an important transition period after the departures of several experienced figures in recent years.

The Italian highlighted the exits of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Nacho Fernandez as major losses both on and off the pitch.

“Real Madrid’s difficulties… the older generation of players needs to rebuild. In recent years, Real Madrid has lost some very important players: Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Benzema, and Nacho. 

“The atmosphere in the squad is important. It comes from these players, who have more character, more personality and more leadership.”

He also added that he believes “Real Madrid needs time to rebuild that atmosphere in the squad, which previously brought them so much success.”

Lastly, with Mourinho continuing to be heavily linked with a return to Real Madrid ahead of next season, Ancelotti also made it clear that he fully supports the possibility of the Portuguese coach taking charge again.

“I’m absolutely delighted that he’s returning to Real Madrid. He can do a fantastic job, just as he always has at every club he’s been at,” he added.

Manchester United are emerging as a strong contender to land AC Milan talisman Rafael Leao.

Leao remains Milan’s most high-profile attacker, but he has endured a difficult campaign under Massimiliano Allegri. His relationship with the club has become strained, and the Portuguese winger was met with loud boos at the San Siro last month.

This development has alerted Europe’s top clubs, with United seemingly at the front of the queue.

Rafael Leao wants dream Premier League transfer

According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Rafael Leao‘s time to say goodbye has arrived, as there is a feeling that something is broken in the relationship between him and AC Milan.

The former Lille sensation is bitter about the treatment he received from Milan fans.

It is claimed Milan are ready to listen to offers between €50 million (£43.3m) and €60m (£52m) in the summer despite a €175 million release clause.

Al-Hilal are believed to be keen on signing Leao. However, the 26-year-old attacker is much more attracted by a move to the Premier League.

The newspaper suggests that playing in England represents a “dream” scenario for the Portugal international, handing United an edge in the race for his signature. 

It is suggested that United or even Chelsea could make moves for the electric left winger.

Rafael Leao Stats: 2025/26 Season

Last year, former Red Devil Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit back at criticism of Leao, stating: “Of course, we expect magic, because Leao is magic! Of course, we’ll always talk about him, because he’s one of the best players in the world, and I’m not saying this for marketing purposes, but because I played football.”

Manchester United interested in Strahinja Pavlovic

Leao is not the only Milan star on United’s radar.

Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United are on the “trail” of the Rossoneri defender Strahinja Pavlovic.

Interestingly, they face competition from Chelsea in this pursuit as well. However, it is believed United are “above all” in the race for the Serbian centre-back.

Featured images Marco Luzzani via Getty Images

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

After losing 26 games in the past two seasons, there must be a change ahead. And change has happened all over this Cleveland Browns roster this offseason. Newly minted head coach Todd Monken is an offensive guy. Everywhere he has landed, he has transformed the offense into a unit of success and found ways to grind out wins.

RELATED: NJOKU FINDS A NEW HOME

One of the offensive groups that has transformed is the tight end room. Veteran David Njoku was a free agent; the team didn’t offer him an extension during the season, and so he publicly said his goodbyes to the City of Cleveland. Recently, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, and every Browns fan wishes him luck.

One reason Njoku wasn’t pursued was that his salary didn’t match his production. He was paid like a Top 5 tight end, but didn’t have the multiple Pro Bowls or even get past the 1,000-yard plateau even once in his career. Secondly, last year’s rookie Harold Fannin, Jr. proved to be a very good offensive weapon that will need more targets as the season unfolds.

Monken wants to pound the ball on the ground. That takes good blockers and a lot of bodies who will do the dirty work. That essentially spells tight end.

Usually, an NFL team will keep three tight ends on the roster, but this coaching staff will, in all likely retain four. And every single one must be proficient in blocking in-line or downfield.

How will this room fill out? What are Cleveland’s current options? Tight end seems to be the hot position group around the NFL in 2026. In the NFL draft, 22 were selected. Two were chosen by the Browns, who are going to use a lot more multiple-tight-end sets and use a higher target percentage on this position.

The trend with Cleveland going forward is to go with heavier tight end sets and prioritize this aspect. A lot of two and three-tight end sets will become the norm with his new offense. And because of this, a roster needs capable bodies.

In recent Browns tight end news, former UFL player Sal Cannella was waived on May 9. That leaves seven tight ends on the roster, and most likely the coaching staff will elect to keep four. That number could be three, though. Adding a fourth in this room, that means having to cut a depth cornerback, a backup defensive end, or that 10th offensive lineman and only retain nine (which is trouble). Which four? That obviously depends upon what happens in training camp.

One thing that is a huge plus with this group, there isn’t that crazy monster contract being paid to any of them.

Harold Fannin, Jr. (6’-4”, 241 pounds)

NFL draft: Round 3 (2025)

Contract: Year 2 of his rookie 4-year deal

The Ohio kid had a tremendous season last year. In his final year at Bowling Green, he led the nation in receptions and also in receiving yards, without being an actual receiver. Fannin was the highest-graded player in college football (96.1) by Pro Football Focus.

Coming in as a rookie with the Browns, he was viewed as a complement to Njoku. For the majority of the first half of the season, that pretty much played out that way. But quarterbacks Dillion Gabriel and then Shedeur Sanders figured out that Fannin was a weapon, not a sidekick to the veteran. For Sanders, Fannin was his go-to guy.

RELATED: HAROLD FANNIN INTERVIEW

At season’s end, he had 107 targets, which led the team. He had scored six touchdowns. Fannin converted 32 first downs. Out of his 731 yards, 352 were YAC numbers. He did have four drops, with several in critical situations in close games.

Fannin is considered a receiver first, and then maybe he will block. It’s not like he isn’t interested in blocking, but in college, he rarely did and accounted for 56% of all offensive plays catching the ball. That is why his reception numbers were so high. Game plan: Throw it to Fannin. When Njoku came to Cleveland, he was a horrible blocker. Then, during the bye week in his third season, O-Line coach Bill Callahan took the time to teach him, and after a while, his blocking skills were consistent. Somebody needs to take the time to tutor Fannin.  

Fannin was voted to the NFL All-Rookie Team. Long term, he projects that there isn’t a ceiling for his talents. Can he become one of the league’s best at the tight end position? Can he become the franchise’s next Ozzie? Yes, he is more of a large receiver and has great hands, and it is clear he doesn’t want to be tackled. Monken will be able to move him around and play in different areas of the field. He is simply a mismatch no matter where he is lined up.

Fannin’s favorite thing to do away from the field is to fish.  

Blake Whiteheart (6’-4”, 250 pounds)

NFL draft: Undrafted (2023)

Contract: Year 1 of his 1-year deal

The veteran has inked three one-year contracts in a row and brings veteran depth to the group. Last year, he played in all 17 games with four starts. He has played 452 offensive snaps for Cleveland and 355 special teams reps over the past two years.

Going into 2026, he should be considered the “next man up” as far as the tight end room. Which is quite an accomplishment from a kid who didn’t grow up playing sports, but was into motocross instead. In high school, he found out he was pretty good at football and had a knack for catching the ball. He is also a good tackler on special teams in punt coverage.

RELATED: BLAKE WHITEHEART INTERVIEW

Whiteheart is an above-average pass catcher and will block, but needs some refinement in this department. He cannot remain engaged, but will position himself in line and attempt to get in the way downfield. He gives complete effort and will take on bigger defensive linemen, but isn’t spectacular.

His wife grew up in Akron. Whiteheart is a gamer, loves fishing, juggling, listens to the band Paramore, and is learning the game of golf.

Jack Stoll (6’-4”, 247 pounds)

NFL draft: Undrafted (2021)

Contract: Year 1 of his 1-year deal

The new offense installed by Monken will need plenty of blockers and blocking tight ends. This is one of those.

Stoll has had very little production catching passes since he arrived in the NFL back in 2021 – 28 receptions to be clear. What’s that? 5.6 catches? Not a game, per season. Which all means that Stoll is relied upon for his blocking abilities. And that is the reason Cleveland signed him. Running the ball a lot means players in front who can move bodies. Stoll has registered 1,019 snaps as a run-blocker, 126 as a pass-blocker, and 704 special teams snaps.

In training camp, Stoll will have to prove his worth as a blocker and a “skinny offensive tackle.” Otherwise, this is a generic signing by the Browns on a guy who just might become a training camp body.

Brenden Bates (6’-5”, 255 pounds)

NFL draft: Undrafted (2024)

Contract: Year 2 of his rookie 4-year deal

Bates is an Ohio kid haven grown up in Cincinnati. He played basketball, football and ran track. His parents, grandfather, and both his siblings all played sports in college. Bates was All-State in high school.

The Browns signed him as a blocking tight end. He came out of college as a top blocker. Since coming to the NFL, he has been on the practice squad of three teams and has signed with Cleveland twice. Last year, he was on the main roster, played in four games, and had four catches for 48 yards. So far, Bates has played in 16 NFL games, with half of those in orange and brown.

Bates was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent. He will be used in running downs, but nobody is going to claim him on their fantasy team or select him in Madden. His role with the Browns is to move defenders and snag a pass here and there.  

Caden Prieskorn (6’-5”, 255 pounds)

NFL draft: Undrafted (2025)

Contract: Year 1 of his 1-year deal

Prieskorn was always the big kid without all the filling. He played QB in high school and guided his team to a state championship in Michigan. When he arrived on the campus of the University of Memphis, they switched to tight end as he had filled out a bit. He entered the transfer portal and arrived on the campus of Ole Miss for his final two seasons. At one point, Prieskorn was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award. In his five years of college play, he had just 112 catches.

Last year, he was cut by the Detroit Lions, the Denver Broncos, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being signed to the practice squad of the Browns. He has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game. In January, he was signed to a reserve/futures contract.

He is strictly a developmental Y-tight end prospect who can beat zone and has some ideal measurables. Prieskorn is built to block, and that’s where he will need to show his worth. He has had limited production in pass catching and is not a vertical threat. He will also need to sustain his blocks longer, and his route running needs work.

Joe Royer (6’-5”, 247 pounds)

NFL draft: Round 5 (2026)

Contract: Year 1 of his rookie 4-year deal

Another Ohio kid who was raised in Cincinnati and grew up a huge Bengals fan. Yeah, that. In college, Royer was either in-line or in the slot. In 2024, he broke Travis Kelce’s single-season school record for catches by a tight end (50). He has impressive hands and is a big target. He can block somewhat, but is not dominant in this regard. He will need some tutelage.

LINK: MEET JOE ROYER

He has decent speed but isn’t going to outrun anyone. Keep in mind, Royer is hand-picked by Monken after being selected in Round 5, who sees him as a do-it-all project. He shows good body control and has excellent football IQ. Has untapped ceiling. He has inconsistent hand placement, so that will need to be worked on.

Carsen Ryan (6’-4”, 250 pounds)

NFL draft: Round 7 (2026)

Contract: Year 1 of his rookie 4-year deal

The Y-tight end spot was where Ryan usually lined up in college. He has decent hands and is a decent blocker, but is limited in both. As a blocker, he is both quick and physical. Cleveland took him in the seventh round.

LINK: MEET CARSEN RYAN

Ryan does lack burst getting out of his breaks and has some stiffness when he adjusts to poorly thrown balls, and needs work sinking as a blocker to re-leverage.

The post The Daily: Bear Silvertips Take Lead in WHL Final; Panthers Exploring Goalie Options appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Carter Bear is showing he has the playing style and temperament to fit into the Detroit Red Wings’ plans to become a team that is harder to play against.

The 2025 Detroit first round pick (15th overall) has been a generator of offense and an agitator for the Everett Silvertips against the Prince Albert Raiders in their WHL Final matchup. Bear added two more assists, and another layer of prickliness, Tuesday to help the Silvertips down Prince Albert 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their series.

Bear has racked up six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 16 playoff games. He is also plus-21. If the Silvertips win two more games, they will head to the Memorial Cup.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker earned a place in next season’s defensive mix, although he may still be battling for playing time.

Captain Dylan Larkin contributes mightily to the Red Wings cause and yet the team needs more from him.

Goalie Michal Postava has played his way into the contention to be with the Red Wings next season.

Red Wings Extra

Detroit goalie prospect Rudy Guimond’s Moncton Wildcats are now down 2-1 in the QMJHL Final after Chicoutimi beat them 6-5 in overtime. It seemed like a surprise on the ice when replay officials declared the puck had been over the line for the winning goal. Watch the replay and draw your own conclusion.

Brent Solomon’s Sioux Falls Stampede advance to the USHL’s Clark Cup Final by defeating the Fargo Force 3-2 in the deciding Game 5. The Stampede will play the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the Final. Solomon owns four goals and two assists for six points in 10 playoff games.

Hockey Now Digest

Boston: Defenseman Charlie McAvoy will have to sit out a six-game suspension at the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. Boston Bruins

Colorado: Avs GM Chris MacFarland is up for the Jim Gregory Award as the league’s top GM. Minnesota’s Bill Guerin and Anaheim’s Pat Verbeek are the other finalists. Former Detroit executive Verbeek might be the favorite. Colorado Avalanche.

Florida: Sergei Bobrovsky will be a UFA on July 1. What are the Panthers going to do at goalie next season? George Richards has analysis. Florida Panthers.

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby decided to play for Team Canada at the World Championships. The Canadians seem to have a good chance for the gold. Pittsburgh Penguins.

The post The Daily: Bear Silvertips Take Lead in WHL Final; Panthers Exploring Goalie Options appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano met for the first time on-screen after talk of an Octagon comeback came to nothing.

Rousey, who recently featured in a new film with Carano, has been open about her frustrations with how things are run behind the scenes at the UFC.

Rousey’s fight against Carano isn’t even seen as the biggest main event on that day, with Claudia Gadelha vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk 2 and Phil Davis vs Ilir Latifi standing out over it.

“Ronda just went back to Netflix,” White said when explaining what happened after. “She wasn’t interested in coming back now. She missed her window.” But White didn’t let that ruin things. He already had plans in mind to add extra stakes if the fight took place inside the Octagon.

Ronda Rousey claims Dana White proposed a featherweight title clash with Gina Carano

Ronda Rousey has said that once it was clear she wouldn’t be returning to the UFC, Dana White encouraged her to build a career outside the organisation.

Speaking ahead of her fight, ‘Rowdy’ mentioned that there were initial discussions about her and Gina Carano competing for the women’s featherweight title inside the Octagon.

After Amanda Nunes vacated the belt in 2023, Rousey told The Ariel Helwani Show that this fight was intended as a way for the UFC to “retire the belt” permanently.

The decision also played into Rousey’s ongoing criticism of UFC executive Hunter Campbell. She hasn’t held back in interviews, especially when discussing his role in dismantling women’s divisions within the promotion.

She argued that Campbell showed “disdain” towards featherweights and questioned his respect for athletes outside what she called “the absolute mean.”

She pointed out that weight shouldn’t determine an athlete’s value or potential contribution to their sport. She made it clear she believes fighters above 145 pounds can still have plenty to offer.

The division often felt like a placeholder, created mainly to accommodate Cris Cyborg before eventually losing momentum over time.

Read more:

The warning signs are flashing again in Rio Grande do Sul. After the loss to Flamengo, Grêmio dropped into the Brasileirão 2026 relegation zone, sitting in 17th place.

Although this is the first time they have entered the bottom four this season, the situation is a bitter repeat of what the fans have gone through over the last two years.

The data was compiled by ge.

A History of Instability

A detailed survey shows that, since returning to Série A in 2023 (the only calm year, with Luis Suárez), Grêmio has struggled to stay near the top of the table:

• Brasileirão 2024: Marked by the climate tragedy, the team spent 11 straight rounds in the relegation zone. Even after leaving the drop zone, they failed to break into the top 10, securing survival only in the third-to-last round.
• Brasileirão 2025: The drama repeated itself at the start of the campaign, costing coach Gustavo Quinteros his job. Under Mano Menezes, Tricolor flirted with danger for most of the season, finishing in a modest 9th place only in the final round.
• Brasileirão 2026: With Luís Castro in charge, the team climbed as high as 8th place, but the recent drop in form pushed them back into the relegation zone.

Concerning Numbers

Across the last 91 rounds of the national league, Grêmio was either in the bottom four or on the "second page" of the table (below 10th place) for almost the entire period. They spent only 16 rounds in the top 10 and were inside the G-4 just once since 2024.

Upcoming Challenges

To try to get out of this situation quickly, Tricolor has two important fixtures ahead:

1. Copa do Brasil: They travel to face Confiança in Aracaju and can lose by as many as one goal and still advance to the round of 16.
2. Brasileirão: They take on Bahia in Salvador in a direct showdown as they try to climb out of the relegation zone.

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

Wherever Lawrence Shankland goes, there is no escaping title talk.

Never in his wildest dreams did the striker expect to be two games from Premiership glory when he ended a summer of speculation by signing a new three-year deal last summer.

But here he is. The prize is tantalisingly close. Hearts can even be crowned champions tonight – if they beat Falkirk at home and Celtic lose at Motherwell – and captain Shankland is adopting a tunnel-vision approach.

"There's obviously a lot to think about and take in. It's an exciting opportunity," said Shankland.

"There's a lot of talk around the place, and even outwith the building, everywhere you go, people like to talk to you about it.

"So it isn't easy, as professionals we've got a job to do. First and foremost we need to go and win the Falkirk game.

"There will be nerves, it's totally normal. You're a human being after all and when you get this close to achieving something great it's only normal to have them.

"It's just about controlling them, but throughout the season we've dealt with that really well. There's been all sorts of different pressures. We've been behind in a lot, we've had to come back.

"I've said to the boys a few times, we've dealt with every position you could possibly be in this season. We've dealt with it and we've come through it. That needs to continue."

Hearts remain unbeaten at Tynecastle this season, winning 14 of their 18 league matches. And Shankland is adamant the anger and frustration of being denied a penalty in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Motherwell – where Alexandros Kyziridis was clipped in the box by Tawanda Maswanhise – has been consigned to history.

"You need to move on," he said. "Throughout the season there's a lot of moments that become tough and you feel a wee bit down, but you need to move on quickly.

"We've done that really well this season. Every time we've suffered a wee setback, we've always bounced back and got a win straight after it. So it's important we go and do that again."

Japan head coach Eddie Jones has been suspended and docked pay by the Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) having been found to have verbally abused match officials.

The former England and Australia boss returned for a second stint in charge of the nation at the start of 2024 and is set to lead them into next year’s Rugby World Cup.

The 66-year-old will miss four national team fixtures, though, after a ban was levied following incidents during an U23 tour to Australia in April. Those four matches include the start of Japan’s Nations Championship campaign against Italy in Tokyo on 4 July.

Jones has also received a six-week ban from all activity as Japan head coach, and had his salary reduced by the JRFU.

“I accept the disciplinary action of the JRFU relating to the U23 Japan National Team tour of Australia,” Jones said in an apologetic statement. “Some inappropriate remarks that I made caused discomfort to local match officials and other related parties.

I would like to offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved. I deeply regret my behaviour and words and will make every effort to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Jones previously led Japan to an upset victory over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup before taking up his role with England a year later. Under his coaching, England reached the final of the 2019 tournament.

His side have been drawn alongside France, the United States and Samoa in Pool E at next year’s tournament in his native Australia.

The Detroit Lions may soon lose another important piece of their front office.

According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings have requested permission to interview Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew for their vacant general manager position. Agnew joins a growing list of candidates connected to the opening, alongside Denver Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt and Miami Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith.

For Lions fans, the interest in Agnew is not surprising.

Since arriving in Detroit in 2021, Agnew has played a major role alongside general manager Brad Holmes in helping reshape the Lions roster into one of the NFL’s most respected young cores. From building depth through the draft to identifying veteran contributors in free agency, Detroit’s front office has become one of the league’s most admired operations.

Agnew has essentially served as Holmes’ trusted right-hand man throughout the current regime’s rise in Detroit.

Before moving into the front office world, Agnew had a lengthy NFL playing career. The former defensive tackle was selected No. 10 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1990 NFL Draft and spent five seasons there before later playing for the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams.

Following his playing days, Agnew transitioned into scouting and personnel work. He served as the Rams’ Director of Pro Personnel from 2017-2020 before joining Holmes in Detroit when the Lions hired him as general manager.

Now, after helping build the Lions into a contender once again, Agnew is drawing serious interest from a division rival.

If Minnesota ultimately hires Agnew, it would mark another example of Detroit’s organizational success leading other franchises to target talent from inside Allen Park.

The Bottom Line

The Lions have become one of the NFL’s premier organizations both on the field and behind the scenes. Ray Agnew earning general manager consideration is simply more proof that Detroit’s front office is highly respected around the league.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s striker Adrien Thibaut has signed a new two-year contract with Crewe Alexandra.

His new agreement includes an option for a further 12 months.

The forward started out at Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland in 2022 and Crewe then spotted him playing for Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League East Division following an unsuccessful spell at Macclesfield Town.

Thibaut scored on his Alex debut against Liverpool Under-21s in the Vertu Trophy in August 2024 and he claimed two goals in his first season in League Two.

He scored four goals on loan for Southport in the National League North between October and December last year as well as four for Crewe.

Thibaut, 21, has clocked up 49 first-team appearances for Alex, scoring six goals and recording four assists.

Alexander Zverev is still expected to play at the ATP tournament in his home city Hamburg despite a puzzling statement.

"He hasn't cancelled his participation. We're assuming that he's playing," organizers said.

The event in Hamburg on May 17-23 is considered a tune-up tournament for the French Open on May 24-June 7.

However, after a crushing defeat to Luciano Darderi in the last 16 of the Rome Masters on Tuesday, Zverev hinted that he might skip his home event to focus on recovery.

"I'm also human, and I get sick sometimes. I've been playing a lot of tennis, so my immune system has probably taken a bit of a hit," he said.

If Zverev were to skip the tournament in Hamburg, it wouldn't come as a surprise, especially since he has said he plans to take more breaks this season.

The German has recently spoke of exhaustion and said he's considering not participating in all of the warm-up tournaments leading up to the French Open.

"The main goal is to show the best tennis in Paris. That's why I have to plan my strategy carefully," he said.

Harvey Barnes has become a "super sub" for Newcastle United, says former Magpies defender John Anderson.

The forward came on as a substitute in the 61st minute at Nottingham Forest on Sunday to score his side's only goal and earn them a point.

When asked by BBC Radio Newcastle if Barnes is the best finisher at the club, Anderson said: "I wouldn't disagree with that at all. I said this yesterday, he gets in those positions. You put your house on it.

"He doesn't panic, he's calm, puts his foot through it, goes either side and yes, you'd probably say that he is the best finisher at the club.

"Full credit to him, you know, he's never been a regular. He's been in and out of the side and he's been used as, I suppose, a super sub you could say. But he's had more of an impact coming off the bench than he has starting games, to be fair. He's scored important goals for us coming off the bench."

Barnes has started 32 games out of 56 across all competitions for Newcastle this season - while scoring 11 of his total 16 goals - but his minutes per goal is healthier when he is substituted on. The 28-year-old scores a goal every 240 minutes when starting a match, but this is reduced to 120 when coming off the bench.

But on why Barnes doesn't start regularly, Anderson put it down to the competition.

"I think the answer to that is he probably wants to start on that left-hand side," he said.

"Yes, he's played on the right, but would prefer to start and play on that left-hand side and for the majority of the season, Anthony Gordon's got that gig. Apart from the times when he was playing through the middle and Barnes got a few games on that left-hand side.

"But as I say, he's had more of an impact for me coming off the bench. Yet again, he comes off the bench and scores an important goal for us [against Forest]."

Click play above to hear the chat or listen on BBC Sounds here

• Anderson: "Lewis Hall didn't look comfortable at right-back"

Football should be fun but at this time of the season the stress levels can edge towards being dangerous.

In east London on Sunday, Arsenal piled the mental pressure on themselves with a strange approach to their must-win game against West Ham. The good start crashed after Ben White's injury. Declan Rice, the most influential player on the pitch, was pulled from the centre of proceedings and plonked at right-back to accommodate substitute Martin Zubimendi, a fine but lesser presence in the midfield. Why did Mikel Arteta do that? He could have slotted Cristhian Mosquera in at full-back with minimal disruption.

It was a mystifying call. Was Arteta overthinking or maybe over stressing? West Ham immediately found confidence and began to take part instead of just spectating. The mistake was rectified at half-time as the Arsenal manager readjusted before the next incomprehensible decision – allowing his team to slow the game down to a crawl.

There was a period of almost two entire minutes near the start of the second half when Arsenal passed it aimlessly around the back and midfield without the merest thought of making a serious forward pass.

Fortunately, the willingness to take some risks and add some chaos arrived with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. Was this genius planning by Arteta to leave it this late to push on? Was it him finally getting it right after trial and error? Or was it desperation by himself and his players?

It could have back fired and it nearly did, but they got away with it by the skin of their teeth.

We asked for your views on whether Andoni Iraola made his decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of this season too early, with European football seemingly within touching distance at Vitality Stadium.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Wayne: I definitely think he might regret it now. I mean why would he go backwards and join Crystal Palace or go to Chelsea and get sacked in a few weeks because he has lost a few games? He should've stayed with the club he got to the European games, even if it was just for one more season, but I heard news reports he was going back to Spain.

Kathryn: He knows his own mind and I respect him for that whatever his reasons are. We will be desperately sorry to see him go, but I wish him well. He will be a very hard act to follow.

Marty: I firmly believe he jumped the gun, unless he has his eyes on a big Spanish club for next season. His former club has a new manager now, so that job is eliminated. If his family truly wants to go back to Spain, managing a bigger club is the only thing that makes any sense. I don't think he thought we would be in with a shot of European football when his announcement was made. I would've loved to see him coach us for at least one year in Europe.

Brad: If he goes to somewhere like Real Madrid, he obviously won't have any regrets. But, as a Cherries fan, seeing him go to a similar club like Crystal Palace would sting. I'd start to worry about why we couldn't keep hold of him in a case like that. Similarly, if Bournemouth got into the Champions League, it would be even more perplexing as to why he chose to leave. I really hope he doesn't regret it as I wish him all the best for his future.

Ian: He is a man of integrity. Unlike many others, he won't change his mind because the Spanish have pride in their decisions. However, I do believe he jumped too soon.

Greg: He is a super nice guy and an outstanding coach. I honestly think Bill Foley would've done anything possible to keep him, but he feels he has taken this club as far as he can and now is the right time to step away. I'm sure his stock value is sky-high, so good luck to him in his future endeavours. A huge thank you for his time at Bournemouth, from a lifelong supporter, but we have to respect his decision.

Chris: Our best manager ever, our highest end of season league position ever and the future couldn't look better. I'm baffled, unless it is all about money!

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini gave his thoughts on the side's performance against Manchester United at the weekend and lamented the lack of clinical finishing.

The Black Cats have failed to score in 13 of their 36 Premier League games, only Wolves (19) and Nottingham Forest (14) have failed to score more often in the Premier League this season.

"It's a strange one because you're sort of pleased with the performance and I thought every player played a part and as a team they were excellent but they just couldn't find that final touch because that's what it was," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We got into great positions, we got in behind the defence, we rattled them, we played forward quickly, we did just about everything right except unfortunately the hardest bit of football and that's putting it in the back of the net. It could have been a very different result because there were three or four really good chances but that's why goal scorers are so highly cherished."

Brian Brobbey is Sunderland's top scorer in the league this season with six goals while Chemsdine Talbi has four.

Gabbiadini added: "I was watching Callum Wilson for West Ham. He comes on and within a couple of minutes he's had a couple of shots on target and caused problems. Players like that just have it in them that they want to go for goal. It's the desire to get in the right position and finish it off.

"Brobbey got clear through and if you watch it back on slow motion he should have hit it. He sort of took another stride and if he had hit it before that stride he would have beat the goalkeeper because the goalkeeper was adjusting his feet and that's the instinct I think that real goal scorers have. What a [Jermain] Defoe would have."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore Sunderland content on BBC Sounds

Does Marcus Rashford lack the "graft" needed to return to Manchester United and feature prominently in the Premier League?

That is the question raised by BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater on the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast.

Rashford scored a fine free-kick as Barcelona defeated rivals Real Madrid to secure the La Liga title on Sunday, taking his tally to eight goals and nine assists in the league and 14 in all competitions.

"Based on what I've heard, I don't think they want to keep him," said Drinkwater.

"I would welcome him back at United if he's going to come back and accept he's not going to be in the team week-in-week-out.

"He wasn't in week-in-week-out at Barcelona, he was helped by certain players being injured. That's what got him in the team. He's not the player who will win you a league and he didn't win them the league.

"I'm sure he'd be happy to play that role at Barcelona but I think maybe he, in his own head, thinks that he's proved too much at Man United to not be given the starting position.

"But, that is not necessarily going to be the case and you need more than just little moments in the Premier League, you need constant graft. It's different to La Liga.

"I don't think at times Rashford was showing that constant graft, and that's not me saying he doesn't care about Manchester United. That's not me insinuating he doesn't try enough, it's me insinuating he is not that kind of player.

"He's a moments player. He's not your player to get stuck in and track back and put those tackles in. He's not Wayne Rooney, which is fine - not every player can be like that.

"But I think, just at United right now we need more players who are willing to graft, graft and graft. We have that in [Matheus] Cunha, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Patrick] Dorgu. They may not have the ceilings of Rashford but they have those other things."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds United have secured another season in the Premier League as they are guaranteed to finish above the drop zone with two games to play.

Such is the achievement, some of the team at BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast believe it's never been "as good as this".

Reflecting on how success is achieved, BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan, suggested how the club is being run is a key reason for their success.

"It's getting the right people in the right jobs and trusting them to do those jobs," Buchan said on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"We questioned letting Adam Underwood [sporting director] have that huge summer [in 2025] that was such a key summer for the football club and he was inexperienced seemingly. But he's risen to that challenge.

"Daniel Farke's been questioned all along and he's risen to the challenge."

Commentator Adam Pope added: "It starts at the top and if it continues all the way through to the manager, to the captain and the chain of command and if they're all in sync, you've got a good chance [to succeed] if the plan is right in the first place. And they're delivering.

"The culture's good and we can genuinely say that - it's not just because of the current owners and because things are going pretty well.

"We've been around it so much, the fans as well, and I've never seen it as good and as solid as this."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

Desperate times call for calm heads.

In a game that epitomised Tottenham's season, with few clear-cut chances created and the majority of those squandered, composure was at a premium in N17 on Monday evening against Leeds.

As defenders jumped into tackles, midfielders rushed their passes, strikers snatched at shots, and Roberto de Zerbi received a yellow card for letting his feet – and his emotions – spill outside of his technical area, one man remained as cool as ice in the Spurs goal.

Two months ago, most Spurs fans didn't think Antonin Kinsky would ever play for us again, let alone be our number one for the relegation run in.

Yet it was Kinsky who was exactly who we needed him to be in this fixture against Leeds: our saviour.

While everyone else around him lost themselves to the chaotic desperation that comes with a relegation battle, the young Czech did his best to single handedly keep us in the game. His spectacular save from Sean Longstaff's blistering shot in stoppage time could well turn out to be the decisive action that keeps us in the Premier League.

Calm head. Quiet determination. Resilient temperament. Kinsky's team-mates could do with learning from their goalkeeper's key attributes – and quickly.

While many might see the draw with Leeds as two points dropped, given our healthy goal difference over West Ham, it could prove to be a vital point gained – and one that we wouldn't have if it wasn't for Kinsky.

With everything left to play for in the final two games, if the rest of our team can channel even half of the character Kinsky has displayed during his redemption arc, Spurs will be playing Premier League football next season.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane and on Instagram

Back in 2025, Mjallby, a modest team from a fishing village shocked the country by winning the Swedish title. That fairytale continues this week with the call-up of Elliot Stroud for the 2026 World Cup.

Born in Stockholm to an English father and Swedish mother, Stroud joined Mjallby from IK Oddevold in 2023. He was immediately a start and had 14 goals contributions (nine goals and five assists) in his side's Allsvenskan triumph while also being named the league's best right-back.

This season, which began in Sweden just last month, Stroud has already scored two goals and provided an assist in seven matches. Back in March, the full-back was called up to the national team for the very first time for the play-off that secured the Swedes' place at the tournament, although he wasn't able to make his international debut.

But now the player made history as the first Mjallby player ever to be called up for a World Cup by Sweden by manager Graham Potter.

He admitted he could hardly believe the news: "It feels like a prank," he told SVT Sport.

"My girlfriend and I were sitting there wearing Sweden shirts, cheering really hard. When I heard my name, I didn't really know what to feel. It's a moment of great honour and pride."

Leading the fairytale

Mjallby play their home matches in Hällevik, a fishing village in the province of Blekinge on the Baltic Sea coast, which has a population of just over 1,500 people. The stadium, Strandvallen, has a capacity five times larger than the town's population.

Before their historic title-winning campaign, Mjallby had never finished higher than fifth in the Swedish Championship. In 2025, however, they were crowned champions after a season of 23 wins, 6 draws and 1 defeat.

Currently, the team sits sixth in the league and has reached the final of the Swedish Cup, having knocked out the powerful Malmö in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 thrashing. Elliot Stroud scored the goal that paved the way for the rout and the final will be played this Thursday.

After becoming the club's World Cup pioneer, Stroud will return to face the next challenge: Try to help the modest Mjallby qualify for the Champions League. As Swedish champions, Mjallby will have to go via the qualifying rounds or the so-called "Champions Path".

However, that could all change this summer with Stroud currently having interest from clubs in France and the Championship...

Football Journalist David Lynch says Liverpool have been "consistent" in their messaging that they are backing Arne Slot to stay in charge next season.

Asked if he is hearing the club are still backing Slot to stay, he said: "Absolutely and I think they have been consistent in that really.

"No matter how bad it has got at times this season they have wanted to back him and stick by him. The feeling around Liverpool and the hierarchy is that he was handed a tough hand this season.

"This could be a public stance and the cogs could be moving in the background but with Liverpool you would be expecting to hear some noise or see some indication that they are genuinely moving for an alternative at the end of the season and I just don't think we've seen that.

"We are not hearing anything around potential alternatives to Arne Slot come the end of the season."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

A Hearts superfan has spent thousands of pounds on flights from Australia for the chance to see his team contend for the Scottish Premiership title.

If Hearts win tonight's match against Falkirk, and Celtic lose theirs against Motherwell, the Jam Tarts would take the title. Otherwise, it could come down to the final match in Glasgow on Saturday.

It would be the first time in over 40 years that a team other than Celtic or Rangers has won the league.

Colin Brown, who now lives in Sydney, spent A$4,500 (£2,408) on flights to be in Edinburgh this week.

"I bought the flight tickets after the Rangers game [on Monday 4 May] but I decided to come after the Motherwell game [on Saturday 11 April] prior to the split.

"As soon as Landry Kabore put that third goal in, I turned to my wife and said 'I've got to be there'."

The 55-year-old doesn't have a ticket - but his dad and brother have kindly let him borrow the shared family season ticket.

Three flights later, he told BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast: "I'll be there."

A season ago, Hearts finished seventh, a full 42 points behind Celtic.

But ahead of tonight's fixtures, they are on 77 points - the biggest haul of any non-Old Firm team in Premiership history.

If the next few hours and possibly days go their way, they could take the title for the first time in 66 years.

"This is everything," said Colin, who is originally from Edinburgh.

"Apart from the birth of my children, this is the biggest thing. It's the one thing in your life that's constant.

"Hearts are my club and it's the one thing that will never change."

'It's our time'

The Edinburgh team last came close to Premiership victory in 1986.

However, it slipped through their fingers after a loss against Dundee at Den's Park, and Celtic took the trophy instead.

Despite the pressure on the Gorgie boys, Brown has managed to throw off any last minute nervousness.

"I am supremely confident," he told the programme.

"We are going to do this, it's done. You've got to put the ghost of '86 behind you - we are going to win the league, it's our time."

Brown has been dedicated to the club since his first match nearly 50 years ago.

"The first game I remember going to was at Gayfield against Arbroath, 1978/79 season," he said.

"As I remember it, Donald Park scored the winner to promote Hearts from the old first division.

"Seven thousand Jambos were there - we all ended up on the pitch and I was like 'this is unbelievable'. My brother was there, my dad was there. It was phenomenal."

He plans to fly back to his new home in Sydney on Monday, but Colin says he is able to stay connected to his Edinburgh team.

"I watch Hearts TV, I watch every game and I'm right across all the social media and the Hearts Standard [podcast].

"My wife knows that when I pop my clogs, she's got to get my ashes on the pitch at Tynecastle Park. And that's genuine."

• Immortality beckons - but Hearts must overcome Celtic & weight of history
• McInnes and O'Neill keeping cool as Premiership title race catches fire
• What is it like for players in a title race?
• All you need to know about Premiership title race

Ducati riders have identified traction and corner entry as Aprilia’s biggest strengths following the Noale marque’s dominant showing at last weekend’s French Grand Prix.

While Alex Marquez delivered Ducati’s first grand prix victory of 2026 at Jerez, Aprilia returned to the front at Le Mans as factory rider Jorge Martin led team-mate Marco Bezzecchi and Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura in a historic 1-2-3 finish.

With this result, Martin and Bezzecchi strengthened their positions at the top of the riders’ standings, while Aprilia moved 34 points clear of Ducati in the manufacturers’ standings.

Factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia spent both races following Bezzecchi and came away particularly impressed by the traction the RS-GP enjoyed at corner exits.

“When I was behind Bezzecchi [in the sprint]. I saw how much speed they can carry out of the corners,” he said. “They accelerate really hard out of those corners. 

“In my opinion, where we need to work is on the corner grip because they are very strong there.

“But thanks to following Bezzecchi [in the sprint], we figured it out. I asked about two things regarding anti-wheelie control and how to make the electronics work during acceleration.

“And today [in the grand prix], we took a step forward. So much so that I was able to exit the last corner really well.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Meanwhile, VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio reiterated that the 2026-spec Ducati still lacks the front-end feeling, forcing riders to rely excessively on the rear tyre.

“Overall, [Aprilia] have a much better front end,” said the Italian, who has been Ducati’s top-scorer this year.

“They can brake [at the] same [time] as us, but [they can] be much more precise on the entry. 

“They can turn the bike already on the entry with the brakes and we struggle there. 

“We always need to take care about the front; if it's closing, if it's skipping or if it is not precise.

“They don't think; they just go in. We have to think a lot about the front tyre, and this also destroys our rear tyre too, because we have to recover everything with the rear tyre.”

Why Ducati remains upbeat

Le Mans marked the third time in six grands prix that Ducati failed to finish on the podium. It represents a significant decline for a manufacturer that enjoyed an unprecedented run of 88 consecutive podiums between the 2021 British GP and the end of the 2025 season.

However, despite Sunday’s results, Ducati riders emerged from Le Mans more optimistic about closing the gap to Aprilia, believing the Jerez test marked a turning point.

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

“I think Pecco was not bad today, I think Diggia was also not bad,” said Alex Marquez.

“We were able to make a step on the warm-up, so I think we're better [than before]. 

“It's true that they are still really, really strong, but I would say that after Jerez, we have more chances to fight with them - Something that until Jerez seemed like was impossible.”

Bagnaia echoed Marquez’s sentiment, saying: “This weekend I crashed twice. But it’s the weekend where we’ve come closest to Aprilia in terms of speed since the start of the year. So we need to go in with a positive attitude and keep it up.”

Di Giannantonio stressed that Ducati is “not that far” from Aprilia, expressing confidence that the reigning champions can still remain in the title fight.

“I must be confident. I think we have a great opportunity this year to fight. At least we are there, [we are] not that far,” he said.

“We are only at the fifth race. The championship requires that we are in contention at the end. We are far, but in contention, so we must believe and we must work, and if we can improve something on the bike, we can be there fighting with them.”

Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova and Vincent Lalanne-Sicaud

Why Marco Bezzecchi had no answer to Jorge Martin’s pace in the French GP

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To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

When Mark Pope announced that he would be taking questions directly from BBN, we all knew things could get interesting. But honestly, it turned out pretty good; you had some honest questions and some good answers. Sure, there were sarcastic questions that just were never going to be answered, but Pope did address the GM situation. While it wasn’t the answer a lot of people hoped for, at least there is now a clear hierarchy within the basketball front office. Let’s break it down.

Mark Pope has confirmed that no official GM position will exist for at least this season, and most likely won’t exist going forward. Why? Because he has the responsibilities spread out across 4 different people, and believes that is the best way forward.

“In this ever-changing college basketball dynamic, everybody is trying a different solution. For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach. We have four members of the team. Keegan Brown is a data analysis and roster construction expert who’s worked in both college and the NBA. Nick Robinson is our salary cap strategy and management specialist. Kevin Sergent is our compliance officer, and he deals with all of our contracts and legal language. Kim Shelton is our JMI liaison, and she does all of our NIL contracts that deal with corporate sponsorships. That’s our four-person general management team.”

But who is each one of these people, and what makes them qualified?

Who’s doing what in the Kentucky basketball front office?

Well, Keegan Brown has been a video coordinator in the G-League. That essentially means he would go and watch all the videos on league opponents and potential prospects, and come up with data-backed scouting reports for the coaching and front office teams. Pope has worked with Brown at BYU, so there is some familiarity there.

Nick Robinson also worked with Mark Pope in Provo, being an assistant coach from 2019 to 2024 and following Pope to Lexington. He has been on staff all 3 seasons now, and is being tasked with handing out Kentucky’s money and setting a budget for each player.

Kevin Sergent is not new to Kentucky; he has been in Lexington since 2020. But this is his first time handling compliance on his own; his official title is Senior Associate AD for Athletic Compliance. He handles all the rules, applying for waivers, basically making sure the entire staff is doing everything the right way.

Kim Shelton is a UK alum who was more known for soccer than anything else. She was part of the very first Kentucky women’s soccer team and is a former CEO of Lexington Sporting Club. She worked for Kentucky when Commonwealth was renamed as Kroger Field, and played a role in setting up naming rights for Kentucky Proud Park. Right now, she is kind of the bridge between Kentucky and JMI, specifically handling BBNIL Suite.

If you don’t remember what BBNIL suite is, it’s essentially the opt-in program where student athletes agree to only work with deals through JMI. They find offers, broker deals, and help athletes make money. It is, of course, optional, but if players decline, they will not be able to use the University of Kentucky logos in their NIL marketing.

Trent Noah is probably the most successful NIL athlete who opted out. The Kentucky native is handling his own NIL, and by the amount of ads and cardboard cutouts I see littered around the state, he seems to be doing pretty well.

Seeing JMI integrated again into Kentucky Basketball is probably going to make some of you uneasy, and I get that. But everyone who has worked with them who has officially gone on the record says they are a pleasure to work with.

And that’s how Mark Pope wants it done. There is a theory out there that he wants a GM, but JMI won’t let him. Considering he has chosen 2 of the 4 people personally, I highly doubt that’s true.

What do you think of his explanation, and what do you think of how he is handling the GM role?

For reasons you’ll discover in a hurry, something was inevitable Tuesday night at Truist Park in Atlanta. Every time I glanced toward center field, I saw Joe Walsh and the rest of the Eagles (the band, not the NFL team) instead of whoever was out there for the Atlanta Braves or the Chicago Cubs.

Such things often happen around The Battery, the Braves’ $1.1 billion entertainment village, located 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

The 75 acres feature office buildings, two hotels, multiple restaurants and bars, a 3,600-seat venue for whatever you wish, along with a ballpark of splendid acoustics and sightlines for concerts and Forbes’ Major League Baseball team ranked eighth in team valuations at $3.35 billion.

So I’m still tingling after a highly energetic crowd at Truist Park hugged those between the foul lines during a splendid Georgia evening.

Oh, and the same was true Tuesday night regarding two of the winningest teams this season in Major League Baseball.

Rimshot.

I was talking before about the Eagles.

They were awesome last week at Truist Park.

They rocked and rolled their oldies but goodies for two hours before a packed house screaming for more after they waved their way off stage following “Heartache Tonight,” among their classics of classics.

Speaking of awesome, it describes the state of the Cubs and the Braves, both leading their respective divisions in the National League (central and east) with the ability to pound and pitch opponents to death. The Braves did both of those things better than the Cubs Tuesday night for a 5-2 victory that pushed baseball’s best record to 29-13.

Awesome also fits Truist Park and The Battery.

Take it from Terry McGuirk, the Chairman and CEO of Braves Holdings, LLC, the parent company of the Braves and Braves Development Company. He told me, “I have a hard time being superlative enough when describing the Battery and ballpark and how they work seamlessly together to provide the best entertainment experience in Atlanta and maybe in all of sports.”

No argument here.

I’ve worked in Atlanta as a professional journalist since 1985, which means I’ve seen the Braves up close and personal at each of their three homes in Georgia after their 1966 arrival from Milwaukee.

First, there was the Braves’ flying saucer of a structure in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Then they moved across the street to Turner Field, built for the 1996 Olympics and converted to a MLB ballpark afterward. It had more warmth than the other place, but mostly because it was fresher. You still felt the presence of Carl Lewis and Gail Devers around Turner Field as much as whatever Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux were doing across the way.

Later, before the 2017 season, the Braves shocked Atlanta government officials and most of everybody else by announcing in November of 2013 they were bolting as long-time residents of Fulton County. They said they were heading for their current setting in Cobb County to a $672 million ballpark, with the ability for the franchise to build a bunch of stuff around it.

Just regarding Truist Park (which originally was Sun Trust Park), it has more charisma than its Atlanta predecessors combined. For one, its scenery is superior beyond the outfield walls.

Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium gave you layers of boring blue seats to see in every direction courtesy of its circular style, and at Turner Field, the most dominant structure in the distance was the huge tower built for Muhammad Ali to stand at the top to light the 1996 Olympic flame.

At Truist Park, there isn’t a bad view among its 41,084 seats, which often are filled for Braves games or close to it.

And the place is loud.

Not only for baseball games, but for concerts – well, at least for the incredible one I attended a week before the Cubs traveled to Atlanta for the opener Tuesday night of their three-game series against the Braves.

I saw the Eagles, a rock band that entered my soul after I heard their first hit song “Take It Easy” when I was in high school in May 1972.

Guess what the Eagles’ first sang at this concert?

Actually, it was “Seven Bridges Road,” which was appropriate since the opening line of the song is, “There are stars in the Southern sky,” and we were in Dixie on a clear night with bright celestial objects above.

Then came “Take It Easy.”

The place exploded.

Number after number, this 54-year-old band sounded brand-new during this stop on what it calls “The Long Goodbye Act III.” In fact, if you go by the joyous looks on me and virtually everybody else among the sold-out crowd for one of the 52 concerts ever held at Truist Park, the Eagles’ 20-song setlist was flawless. That applied to the playing, the singing and the performing.

Which was a miracle.

Consider what 78-year-old Walsh told the crowd between jamming with his guitar while thrilling with his voice that remains nasally and squawky. Then consider he spoke about himself, drummer and soloist Don Henley and bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who are his same age as original Eagles band members: “I preferred being in my 20s in the ‘70s than being in my 70s in the ‘20s.”

Then there was the wonderfully eerie way Deacon Frey morphed into his late father on “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone.”

Glenn Frey died in January 2016.

Seven years later, the Eagles tour began that September with a stay in 2024 in Las Vegas of 58 shows at the Sphere, where the Eagles generated $5.3 million per performance. Their Truist Park show was only their second out of Las Vegas since June 2024, and they were worth every penny, nickel and dime of what Eventory.ai said was an average ticket price of $192.64.

I had a floor seat, maybe around second base from the massive stage positioned (where else for maximum viewing?) in the middle of center field. There were rows of prime seats all the way back to home plate.

I was amazed by a bunch of things.

I couldn’t believe how easily the crowd flowed around the stadium in general and on the field in particular without issues.

Soon, I saw the reason. Nearly all of the ushers, venders and security folks at Truist Park baseball games worked this concert.

They used the same system.

The continuity of customer service for all events in the Battery was part of the vision McGuirk and his lieutenants formed long before the first shovel touched the dirt around Cobb Parkway.

For the Eagles concert, the graphics and the videos also were perfect on the big screens. Whether they involved the directors zooming onto the facial contortions of Walsh on “Life’s Been Good” or showing a Tequila sunrise when the group was singing “Tequila Sunrise,” the big screens captured the mood of the moment with speed and accuracy.

And the sound.

Wow.

The bass line. The drum groove. The guitar stroking. The harmony, and the flat-out singing. They were as perfect as the pristine condition of my 1976 Eagles album, which featured their greatest hits of that time. The group added so manty more top tunes through the decades after that album, but whether songs were their older one or newer ones, the Eagles had the crowd singing loudly through all of them, usually in unison with the band members.

To steal the title of my favorite Eagles’ song, this was “One of These Nights” you’ll never forget, and Henley contributed to it by telling the crowd near the beginning of the concert, “I’m delighted to be here at Truist Park, home of the almighty Atlanta Braves sitting atop the National League East. Seven and three in their last 10 outings. About the same as our stats.”

The crowd roared.

It also did so many times Tuesday night at Truist Park, but only for baseball instead of “Hotel California.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Tony Bloom was "laughed at" when suggesting Hearts would challenge for second place this season - but they could be crowned champions tonight.

If Celtic lose at Motherwell and Hearts win at home to Falkirk, the Tynecastle's first top-flight title in 66 years will be confirmed.

Should the race go to the final game, it will be decided at Celtic Park on Saturday when Derek McInnes' men visit the defending champions.

Hearts fan Liam Corbett, of the This is My Story podcast, feels that no matter what happens the progress made this term by a club that finished in the bottom six last term cannot be understated.

"Perspective is a massive thing for Hearts," Corbett told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Around this time last year we drew at Motherwell 0-0 to consign us to the bottom six. If you told anybody back then that we'd be here, two games away from a title, they'd have been laughed out of Fir Park and no one would have believed it.

"When you look at the spine of that team, Derek McInnes has got pretty much six or seven of those players that were here last season playing to a much, much higher level. Still loads and loads of positives for Hearts.

"Remember too that Tony Bloom said in August that he would be disappointed if Hearts didn't finish second this season. He was laughed at. He said he can see Hearts winning the title in 10 years. Well, we're one season in and we're two games away from delivering what that.

"So there's loads and loads of positives and tonight, anything can happen. We all know that in football.

"There's a world where, this time tomorrow, Hearts could be champions. There's a world in which this time tomorrow I could be booking trips to Antarctica just to get away from everything."

Discussing the future at Trigoria isn’t easy.

The owners aren’t currently physically present, though they’re expected in the coming days.

Frederic Massara is an outgoing sporting director with little say in the matter.

In short, silence reigns at the Fulvio Bernardini club ahead of next season.

The Giallorossi are aggressively searching for their next sporting director, who will work closely with Gasperini to build a stronger Roma.

The list of directors is long, but the number of candidates is dwindling day by day. Tony D’Amico now appears to be in pole position.

Roma has set its sights on several sporting directors.

As Il Messaggero reports, among them was Giovanni Manna, tied to Napoli by a contract until 2029.

However, every passing day seems to distance him from the capital, with De Laurentiis having erected an insurmountable wall.

This is why Tony D’Amico is now in pole position.

Contacts have been ongoing for several days; Roma is trying to outdo AC Milan, which appears to be the sporting director’s first choice, having worked with Gasperini in Bergamo.

As soon as Dea makes Giuntoli official, D’Amico will be free to reach agreements with other clubs.

The celebrations in Barcelona ran deep into Sunday night after the team won over Real Madrid in El Clasico. The final whistle, after all, signalled not only three points but their crowning moment.

Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres were on the scoreboard on the historic night, and the team will still be in an euphoric state as they prepare for their next game, which is scheduled for tonight.

Later tonight, the reigning champions take to the field at Estadio Mendizorroza on match day 36 of La Liga in what is one of their final games of the season. A win on the night, needless to say, will keep the positive mood alive.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona.

The champions arrive

History will remember Barcelona’s league title of 2026 for the years to come, simply because of the manner in which it arrived. After all, it is not every year that La Liga is won in El Clasico in front of home fans.

The weekend’s game was special for Barcelona, as it saw them officially crowned as the champions of La Liga in the faces of Real Madrid. Receiving the trophy on the same night only made the affair sweeter.

Taking to the field for the first time after being crowned the champions, Barcelona will look to deliver a statement performance against Deportivo Alaves and once again reiterate why they are the deserved champions.

The mood in the dressing room is one of jubilation and ecstasy with the young player winning the league title for the second year in a row and for the third time in four years.

Carrying forward that momentum and jubilation into the coming weeks and the next season, needless to say, is essential after all the heartbreak the young players have suffered in other competitions this season.

The 100-point goal

Eyeing the 100-point mark. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

As Barcelona take to the field tonight as champions of La Liga, it would appear that there is not much to fight for. The reality, however, is surprisingly different.

While the league title race is indeed wrapped up, Barcelona are currently seated on 91 points with three games to go and are on course to achieve something historic.

Only twice in La Liga history has the 100-point mark been reached – once by Barcelona and once by Real Madrid. Should Hansi Flick’s side win the three games that remain in La Liga, they will join that elite list on 100 points.

There is not much more to look forward to in the three games that remain, but the chance to go down in history will keep the team’s intensity high. They will not slack off and will look to hit that special milestone.

A win over Alaves tonight will leave Barcelona just two wins away. Real Madrid were the most difficult opposition between Flick’s side and 100 points, and with them out of the way, there is no reason why they cannot achieve the special mark.

Time for rotations?

Hansi Flick is set to renew with Barcelona, and it is clear that the team is in safe hands for the foreseeable future. In that sense, the manager will already have the upcoming season in mind.

With five major trophies in two seasons at the club, Hansi Flick has already become a father-figure and fan-favourite in Catalonia. The UEFA Champions League, however, continues to evade his grip.

Next season, the team will look to make a charge on all fronts, especially in the UCL, which is the one competition they are yet to conquer under Flick. In that sense, the squad planning from this point in time becomes essential.

The manager may thus opt to start rotations in the three games that remain to hand out chances to players who have yet to prove that they can contribute to the squad.

Roony Bardghji, Ronald Araujo, and Alejandro Balde are some of the players in that category.

Further, the manager has another big decision to make over who starts in goal. Having met the minimum games needed for the Zamora trophy, Joan Garcia is the favourite to take home the accolade. 

Any goal he concedes or game he plays now, however, may impede his chances. The manager, thus, could look to hand Wojciech Szczesny a start on the night to keep the veteran match-fit and secure Garcia’s Zamora.

Golden Tempo is headed to Saratoga. The Preakness Stakes Park as headed to Laurel Park and Saturday’s race will look nothing like the ones before it.  

For the first time in its 151-year history, the Preakness will not be run at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Laurel Park, about 20 miles south, is hosting the race while Pimlico undergoes a $400 million renovation and revitalization project. The Preakness is expected to return to its historic home in 2027.  

And without Kentucky Derby winner Golden Temp in the gate, the race is wide open. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner when Golden Tempo surged from 23-1 odds to win on May 2, has decided to focus on the Belmont Stakes. That will be June 6 at Saratoga while Belmont is also under construction.  

Fourteen horses are expected to go to the gate, the largest Preakness field since 2011. Three ran in the Kentucky Derby: Incredibolt, who finished sixth, Icelli, who finished a stunning third at 70-1 odds, and Robusta, who finished 14th.

Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2 from post 9. The Chad Brown-trained horse was kept off the Kentucky Derby course specifically to show up at the Preakness fresh. Brown has won the Preakness before with this exact strategy, taking it with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022.  

The horse to watch is Taj Mahal, drawn into post 1 at 5-1. The unbeaten Nyquist colt has run all three of his career races at Laurel Park and won them all. Trainer Brittany Russell has been the dominant force in Maryland racing for three straight years. A win would make her the first woman to train a Preakness winner.  

Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Preakness Stakes: 

When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes? 

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026 

Time: Approximately 6:50 p.m. ET 

TV: NBC, USA Network  

Stream: Peacock 

Location: Laurel Park, Maryland  

1. Taj Mahal        5-1   Sheldon Russell       Brittany Russell 

1. Ocelli                6-1    Tyler Gaffalione      Whit Beckman 

1. Crupper               30-1   Junior Alvarado      Donnie Von Hemel    

1. Robusta                  30-1   Rafael Bejarano        Doug O’Neill 

1. Talkin                    20-1   Irad Ortiz, Jr.            Danny Gargen 

1. Chip Honcho          5-1     Jose Ortiz                 Steve Asmussen 

1. The Hell We Did   15-1   Luis Saez                 Todd Fincher  

1. Bull by the Horns  30-1   Micah Husbands      Saffie Joseph Jr. 

1. Iron Honor              9-2    Flavien Prat              Chad Brown 

1. Napolean Solo       8-1   Paco Lopez               Chad Summers 

1. Corona de Oro       30-1 John Velazquez        Dallas Stewart 

1. Incredibolt              5-1    Jaime Torres             Riley Mott 

1. Great White            15-1  Alex Achard             John Ennis 

1. Pretty Boy Miah    15-1 Ricardo Santana       Jeremiah Englehart  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Preakness Stakes post positions, odds and how to watch

The Georgia Bulldogs might earn a major recruit commitment on May 15. That's when five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews will announce his commitment, according to Hayes Fawcett. He will choose among Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M, and LSU.

Matthews is a five-star offensive tackle from the class of 2027. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound tackle prospect plays high school football for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is the No. 3 overall recruit and No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in the nation.

Winning this commitment would jump start Georgia's recruiting class. The Bulldogs currently have the No. 31 recruiting class in the nation despite earning a commitment from running back Kemon Spell, the No. 7 recruit in the nation. Part of that is due to recently losing five-star cornerback Donte Wright to Miami and four-star cornerback Jerry Outhouse to UCLA.

Despite the lack of depth in the overall class, Georgia has recruited heavily in the offensive line. They've secured commitments from four-star Kelsey Adams, along with three-stars Abram Eisenhower and Ty Johnson. Still, getting Matthews to come to Georgia would be huge.

Unfortunately, Georgia might be behind in Matthews' recruitment. 247Sports has logged two Crystal Ball predictions, one for him to go to Miami (March 9, 2026) and another for him to go to Texas A&M (May 12, 2026). Rivals believes that Texas A&M has the advantage through their prediction model.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Five-star OT recruit Mark Matthews reveals commitment date

Batting all-rounder Dian Forrester has joined Kent for the 2026 T20 Blast.

The 25-year-old South African has five T20 caps for his country.

Forrester played alongside Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings for Rawalpindi Pindiz in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

He has scored 681 runs and taken 11 wickets in 36 T20 appearances, as well as scoring another 83 runs for South Africa.

Forrester replaces Senuran Muthusamy in the Spitfires squad, who sustained a knee injury while playing in South Africa.

"I'm really excited to be playing for Kent in the Vitality Blast," said Forrester.

"Talking to Sam Billings and Justin Kemp about the history of the club and how they love it made me also want to be part of that history, and write my own this summer.

"I can't wait to play in front of packed crowds at Canterbury and give my best for the club."

• Warwickshire spinner Lintott joins Kent on loan
• Muyeye century helps Kent edge to win over Gloucs

NFL players and coaches need no additional motivation to prepare for their 17-game slates. Still, a few of the matchups ahead this year might hold more meaning for some of the parties involved.

Whether it's a matter of revenge, redemption or just lingering ill will, several games ahead will hold relevance beyond this season's standings. And the league surely takes notice of the storylines, too, with some of the most captivating clashes bound for prime time.

With the full 2026 NFL regular-season schedule set to be released Thursday, here are the best grudge-match games set to take place at some point during the campaign:

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks

Triumphing in a regular-season rematch might seem like cold comfort for the Patriots after February's Super Bowl shellacking. But more than a few figures – including quarterback Drake Maye, left tackle Will Campbell and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels – likely want to demonstrate they've moved on from the rout. Putting together a much more palatable performance against the defending champions would go a long way toward swaying skeptics of last year's No. 2 scoring offense and its staying power.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

Any sense of ill will from a player toward his former team typically tends to remain at least somewhat veiled. Not so for Trey Hendrickson, the four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher who repeatedly aired out his frustrations with the Bengals throughout and after his standoff with the team. Though his beef is with the front office rather than his former teammates, Hendrickson surely will enjoy the opportunity to take down Joe Burrow in earnest and stoke the flames of an already intense divisional rivalry after signing with the Ravens in free agency.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

Never one to hide his true feelings, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield raised the profile of the NFC South tilt when he responded to a post on social media about the Falcons' hiring of former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. "Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage," Mayfield wrote. "Can't wait to see you twice a year, Coach." Stefanski made it clear that the hard feelings weren't mutual, saying Mayfield "is somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person." But with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson having come over from Atlanta and the Falcons having denied Tampa Bay a fifth straight NFC South crown with their Week 18 win over the Saints, there are plenty of reasons why this rivalry could have some renewed vigor this fall.

New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

Daniel Jones saw his four-and-a-half-year tenure as the Giants' starting quarterback unravel in a matter of days in November 2024, when he went from benched to released at his own request. A different shade of blue did wonders for the signal-caller, as he revived his career in Indianapolis last season before suffering a torn Achilles. Now back on a freshly signed two-year, $88 million contract, Jones is still working his way back from the injury suffered last December. But his showdown against his former team figures to be one of the more compelling dates on Indianapolis' schedule – and a strong candidate for a prime time slot.

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants

This matchup features both of the coaches who were unceremoniously dismissed during the 2025 season: Brian Daboll is now the Titans' offensive coordinator, while Brian Callahan serves as the Giants' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. With receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and several other former Giants following Daboll to Nashville, Tennessee has become Big Blue South. Even if neither coach is carried off a la Jim Schwartz when he beat the Lions, there's still a strong undercurrent of revenge at play.

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

Robert Saleh became the first figure thrown overboard in the Jets' disastrous 2024 campaign, with the team firing its head coach after a 2-3 start. After managing to keep the injury-ravaged San Francisco 49ers defense together last year, he earned his second head-coaching gig this offseason with the Titans. Getting one over on his former employer would surely be a nice way for Saleh to start building something in Tennessee, which has radically reshaped its roster to fit the coach's proclivities. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson II also might have an interest in handling the Jets after the team traded him to Tennessee.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Safe to say that one of this season's more imbalanced matchups probably isn't going to be circled by many. It might hold special significance, though, for Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whom the Dolphins let dangle for three days after the season before firing him as head coach. Rather than pursue one of the less attractive head-coaching vacancies, McDaniel found his landing spot as Jim Harbaugh's new offensive architect. When he returns to South Florida, his group could trample a rebuilding Dolphins team that's hurting at every level of its defense. Don't expect the guy who once orchestrated a 70-point outing to take it easy against his former team.

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts

The league's newest sibling rivalry is bound by admiration rather than animosity. Still, a fierce battle of one-upsmanship is likely in store when Colts wide receiver Josh Downs takes on Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs. The two last squared off in high school, when elder brother Josh dazzled in North Gwinnett (Georgia) High School's rout of Caleb's Mill Creek High School. The stakes will be significantly higher this time as the two go head to head in the slot, but each sibling will be looking to put the other in his place.

"It's all fun and games, but you know I've got to still let him know he's the little brother in this situation," Josh said on May 7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL schedule: Best grudge match games in regular season

How far are the Philadelphia 76ers away from competing for an Eastern Conference title?

Far enough that they fired firmer president of basketball operations Daryl Morey on Tuesday, May 12, a move that came two days after the New York Knicks unceremoniously dispatched them in a sweep with an average margin of defeat of 22.3 points.

On the surface, the Sixers have some elite pieces that make them competitive in any given game. But the roster has some serious holes and there are a pair of cumbersome contracts that restrict the team’s flexibility.

So as Bob Myers, the architect of the Golden State Warriors’ four most recent NBA titles, conducts a search for Morey’s replacement, there are clear steps that need to be taken to return Philadelphia to the top of the East. Frankly, many of those steps require undoing some of the mistakes Morey made.

Joel Embiid and Paul George are expensive

The largest problems are the contracts of center Joel Embiid and forward Paul George.

Embiid’s three-year, $192.9 million extension, signed in September 2024, kicks in at the start of the new league year. It carries a player option for 2028-29 and essentially pays Embiid, who will be 35 by the time the deal expires, an average of $62.6 million each season.

That’s just the going rate for a former Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star. The issue is that Embiid, as hard as he might have worked on his body and health, simply has not been available; over the last three seasons, Embiid has played just 96 of a possible 246 games, or 39%.

When Embiid is healthy and on the floor, he continues to be a matchup nightmare with his strength, shooting and ability to get to the line. But it’s difficult for a team to maximize its roster when so much of the salary cap is devoted to a player who misses as much time as Embiid.

It gets worse with George. He just turned 36 and is under contract for next season, with a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. And although George had a decent stretch in the postseason, it’s simply too rich a deal for a player with that level of production.

The best course of action would be for the next president of basketball operations to try to offload one of those contracts, with George being the most favorable to move; despite his health issues and lack of consistent availability, Embiid is simply a more proven difference maker.

Focus on depth and development

Then there’s the issue of depth. Coach Nick Nurse shrunk his rotation down to eight men, and part of it was out of necessity. Some of Morey’s moves — trading second-year guard Jared McCain to the Thunder for three second-round picks; cutting Julian Champagnie to make room for Mac McClung; cutting Isaiah Joe to clear a spot for Dwayne Dedmon — robbed Philadelphia of young (read: cheaper) players who can fill out a roster and contribute.

This postseason, McCain and Joe are playing key reserve roles for Oklahoma City and Champagnie has been a steady starter for the Spurs.

The McCain move is particularly painful, as he had flashed promise in his rookie year before injury derailed his season. Would McCain, Joe and Champagnie won the Sixers the series against the Knicks? That’s extremely unlikely, but developing incumbent players and getting them to produce is the sign of a healthy organization. Put another way: the next president of basketball ops needs to restock the bench.

Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe are valuable building blocks

It’s not all bad news. Guard Tyrese Maxey, a two-time All-Star, is one of the game’s premier shooters and scorers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe has all the makings of a stellar two-guard.

The 76ers, however, should try to find a point guard to facilitate offense for Maxey, who struggled against New York when the Knicks were able to blitz him when he had the ball in his hands. Allowing Maxey to play off the ball more should open up his game, and the offense, overall.

The 76ers are in that wasteland in the middle of the East, the purgatory of being good but obviously not good enough. The positive is that they have a path forward.

Now all they have to do is hire the right person to lead the franchise.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Philadelphia 76ers after firing Daryl Morey?

The Tennessee Titans have announced that Robert Saleh and his coaching staff will have four additional coaches this offseason, selecting four members of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program to join the club in Nashville to support offseason team activities.

The four coaches: D'Anthony Batiste (offensive line), Darryl Blackstock (linebackers), Larry Dace (special teams and running backs), and Jeremy Holt (performance) will observe, participate, gain experience, and, hopefully, eventually land a full-time NFL coaching position.

#Titans announce addition of four coaches to the offseason training program for NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program:

D’Anthony Batiste (offensive line), Darryl Blackstock (linebackers), Larry Dace (special teams and running backs)
Jeremy Holt (performance).

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) May 12, 2026

Titans running backs coach Randy Jordan serves as the club's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship coordinator and will coordinate two additional groups of coaching assistants, with a second set scheduled to be announced prior to training camp.

Incredibly, Saleh’s first staff with the Titans has seven graduates of the program: Trevor Browder (Titans, 2024), Dalton Hilliard (Commanders, 2025), Greg Lewis (Eagles, 2012), Tony Oden (Packers, 1999; Browns, 2000), Ahmed Saleh (49ers, 2021; Packers, 2024), Rayna Stewart (Colts, 2004), and Isaac Williams (Chiefs, 2021) as full-time coaches heading into the season.

Here is a closer look at the coaches.

D'Anthony Batiste

Batiste will bring his NFL offensive tackle experience to the offensive line room during these sessions. After graduating from Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003, Batiste took the long road to the league, spending two seasons in the Arena Football League, signing with the Edmonton Eskimos in Canada, before latching on with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. In all, he saw action in 37 NFL games, making 14 starts with the Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 2018.

Currently a strength and conditioning intern for the football and baseball teams at the University of Las Vegas, he has eight seasons of experience as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.

Darryl Blackstock

Blackstock was selected for the fellowship for a second time after spending the 2022 offseason with the Los Angeles Rams. Another former NFL player, Blackstock, will bring his experience as a linebacker/defensive end to the team during the offseason. Originally a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2005, he spent seven seasons in the league, appearing in 74 games and making 14 starts with the Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Las Vegas Raiders.

Blackstock has spent the past eight seasons (2019-25) at the College of William & Mary, serving as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach since 2023. He also currently holds the title of director of player development and transition.

Larry Dace

Dace does not bring NFL experience, but he has been building his resume in the college ranks.Scheduled to work with the Titans’ special teams and running backs, he began his coaching career at Franklin Pierce in 2016 as a wide receivers/special teams coach. He followed that with a short stint at Louisiana College before spending three seasons as a graduate assistant at Tulane, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Following those, he spent 2024 at Bluffton University, and is now the running backs/kick returner coach at Campbell University.

Jeremy Holt

Holt is a Nashville native and a former Tennessee Mr. Football finalist from David Lipscomb High School (now Lipscomb Academy). He will join the Titans to focus on performance, drawing on his background and experience gained after founding Nashville-based AthElite Performance, where he’s worked with NFL players such as Luke Stocker, Corey Davis, Tajae Sharpe, and George Kittle.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans add four coaches as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship

When the Oklahoma Sooners hosted the Michigan Wolverines in 2025, the matchup got all of the special treatment you could ask for. ESPN's "College GameDay" came to Norman, ABC's lead broadcast team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe descended upon Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and a primetime kickoff of 6:30 p.m. CT made for a visually spectacular Week 2 September Saturday night on Owen Field.

After OU beat Michigan 24-13 in last year's SEC-versus-Big Ten non-conference showdown, the rematch will look a bit different. After a kickoff time (11:00 a.m. CT) and a broadcast network (FOX) were announced on Monday, more news that affects the game came out on Tuesday.

ESPN announced that "College GameDay" will not be coming to Ann Arbor and Michigan Stadium for the 2026 rematch between the Sooners and Wolverines. Instead, they'll head to Austin for the matchup between Ohio State and Texas, which will also kick off in primetime on ABC on September 12th.

THE FIRST TWO SHOWS OF THE 2026 CFB SEASON ARE SET‼️

📍 Week 1: Baton Rouge
📍 Week 2: Austin pic.twitter.com/wDF9dLE1Vr

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) May 12, 2026

Highlighting the Buckeyes and the Longhorns is an obvious choice for the network, for obvious reasons. Despite the 2025 matchup being broadcast on FOX, "GameDay" went to Columbus for the matchup last season for the legendary Lee Corso's final show, as that game was a matchup of top five teams, and this year's should be also.

However, that game was in Week 1 last year, and its move to Week 2 in 2026, combined with FOX already owning OU-Michigan (Big Ten home game), and ESPN already owning Ohio State-Texas (SEC home game), means that the Sooners and Wolverines won't get the same spotlight that they had last year.

Instead, the game will get the "Big Noon Kickoff" treatment, FOX's answer to "GameDay", and the broadcast team of Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft will likely be at the Big House to call the game. This season will be an inverse of what happened in 2025, when Texas and Ohio State got the early kickoff on FOX and "Big Noon", only now with the games taking place on the same day, the Buckeyes and Longhorns will double dip on "GameDay", while also getting the ABC primetime kickoff in 2026, while it's OU and Michigan's turn to kickoff early on FOX.

Both games should be absolutely massive towards telling the story of the 2026 college football season, as four of the sport's top 10 brands square off in huge non-conference games. Oklahoma-Michigan will be just as important in 2026 as it was in 2025, even if it won't get the "College GameDay" spotlight this time around.

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: Oklahoma and Michigan won't get the 'College GameDay' treatment in '26

The New York Giants will enter the 2026 season with a promising core of players on both sides of the ball.

The Giants added significant talent at wide receiver this offseason. New York signed Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III to one-year deals and drafted former Notre Dame standout Malachi Fields. The team has also been linked to veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr., with a reunion between the former Giants star and the franchise potentially materializing in 2026.

Beckham was nothing short of a superstar during his time with the Giants from 2014 to 2018. His tenure in New York took a turn for the worse following the infamous 2017 boat photo, when Beckham and several other receivers made a questionable trip to Miami ahead of the team’s wild-card playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Legendary Giants quarterback Eli Manning recently shared his thoughts on the boat photo and the Miami trip, telling Bussin' With The Boys that the entire weekend was a poor look for the players involved and the organization as a whole.

OBJ and the Giants WRs flew to Miami to party on a boat with Justin Beiber and Trey Songz after beating the Redskins pic.twitter.com/TzV2Ym0I1D

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) January 2, 2017

“Honestly, I don’t think they were prepared to go to Miami. They were all wearing jeans and Timberlands,” Manning said. “I think it was a last-second deal. They went out all night. It’s just a bad look. It’s like, ‘Hey, we’re in the playoffs, we want to make a run, but first let’s go to Miami on a Sunday night or Monday and stay up all night.’ It’s just the psyche around it. It’s playoff time — let’s take it up another notch, be more focused and serious. Not let’s go party in Miami.”

Beckham served as Manning’s primary receiver throughout his four-year tenure in New York. The boat photo has continued to haunt fans since the moment it surfaced, and the Giants have posted a 45-106-1 record in the years following the viral incident (including playoffs).

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants legend Eli Manning breaks years-long silence on infamous Miami boat photo

Q: Ira, I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask, but please tell me that the Heat aren’t going after 41-year-old LeBron James. Let’s keep the memories and move on. – Bob.

A: First, never say never. But I agree that of potential LeBron James landing spots in his free agency, a Miami return likely would not top the list for either party. First, players who want one last shot at a championship typically don’t move on to teams coming off consecutive 10th-place finishes. Plus, for the Heat it almost would be LeBron interruptus, to a degree stalling a needed retool if not rebuild. Playing it out with the Lakers, perhaps at less money,  would make sense. A Cavaliers return certainly would touch a sentimental chord. And going out on Broadway (or close to it) with the Knicks, has its appeal. Now, if the Heat were to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and if LeBron were willing to come for some type of exception money, that would be a different story.

Related Articles

• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: For all the people seemingly wishing the Heat would go the Wizards route by tanking to reset and get high draft picks, consider this: The Wizards got the first pick in the draft in 2010. Since 2010, the Wizards have been to the playoffs five times. Since 2010, the Heat, who have never gotten a No. 1 pick, have 12 playoff appearances, been to six Finals, winning two of them.  – Harold, Wellington.

A: My belief remains that those who insist the Heat take major steps back also are those who would tune out during that period. Having been to Washington, in recent years it has been a delightful place to play for road teams, with plenty of crowd support. The home team? Not so much. And while tanking likely will never be the same with the new lottery rules, high picks come with no guarantee. Since drafting John Wall at No. 1 in 2010, the Wizards have come up with such uneven choices as Jan Vesely at No. 6 in 2011, Otto Porter at No. 3 in 2013 and Johnny Davis at No. 10 in 2022.

Q: Ira, recently my cable provider announced that FanDuel has been eliminated from their list of programs. Since FanDuel carries the Heat games, that is concerning. Will this decision be reversed? Will another network take over? It seems that an audience this massive would be attractive. Your thoughts on the matter. – Bill. Palm Beach Gardens. 

A: All team contracts with what stood as FanDuel’s local channels ceased at the end of this past season. The Heat will have a new broadcast partner beyond FanDuel next season, likely with a similar type of deal that has had Marlins and Panthers games available from most cable and satellite providers, possibly with an over-the-air component, as well.

Having failed to reach an agreement with 1. FC Köln for Said El Mala, Brighton & Hove Albion are now assessing the market for potential alternatives.

According to Sport Bild, the Premier League club have identified TSG Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré as a potential option and are said to have made an official enquiry for the 20-year-old in early May.

Brighton were reportedly prepared to offer around €35 million for El Mala, but the deal collapsed due to Köln’s €50 million valuation.

Touré, who has also been linked with Liverpool among others, would likely be available for a slightly lower fee, with reports suggesting around €40 million could be enough to persuade Hoffenheim to sell.

Touré joined Hoffenheim from Swedish side Hammarby IF for a reported €10 million fee in February 2025. 

Since then, he has made 44 appearances for the Sinsheim club, scoring five goals and providing 15 assists.

Anderlecht will face Union St Gilloise this week in the Belgian Cup final. It is the first time that the competition has seen an all Brussels final, and for Anderlecht, it is a chance to make up for the last two finals in which they have appeared. Last season they lost to Club Brugge. Four years ago, under current Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany, they lost to Gent.

Kompany had returned to his boyhood club Anderlecht and become the sides head coach in 2020 after briefly ending his playing career with the Mauves. The side were, as they still are, in a period of transition, looking to shift large contracts and focus on the development of youth. Kompany understood this, and looking back, many admit that he overachieved with the squad at his disposal. The side ended up finishing third in the league behind eventual champions Club Brugge and city rivals Union.

In the cup, the side had, on paper at least, a comfortable run to the final. Entering at the sixth round, they hammered RAAL 7-1 away from. This set up a clash with fellow Pro League side RFC Seraing. Anderlecht struggled, with the game ending 3-3 and requiring penalties. Kompany’s men squeaked through with a 4-3 win from the spot. Kortrijk came to Brussels for the Quater final, with striker Christian Kouamé putting them to the sword. The striker, who was on loan from Fiorentina, would score 13 goals for the side that season. Five of these came in the cup, with two against Kortrijk.

Anderlecht’s semi-final was against Eupen, a side who at the time were a decent cup outfit. The first leg was in Eupen and ended 2-2, setting up an exciting second leg in Brussels. Anderlecht made home advantage count with a 3-1 win at home and a 5-3 aggregate win.

Standing in the way of Kompany and a first trophy as head coach of Anderlecht was Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s Gent. They had beaten Belisia, Lommel, Standard Liege and Club Brugge on their way to the final, a more impressive run on paper compared to Anderlecht.

During the regular season, Gent had missed out on the top four and ended up in play-off two, although they did then go on to win this and qualify for Europe. On the 18th April 2022, the two sides met at the King Baoudouin Stadium in what would be a cagey affair. Anderlecht’s Hendrik van Crombrugge was the busier of the two goalkeepers, but neither side could break the deadlock and the game ended 0-0 in both regular and extra time. Penalties were required, and sadly for Kompany, his most reliable player of that season would end up missing a crucial spot kick.

Josh Cullen had been with Anderlecht for two seasons after leaving West Ham. He had been an integral part of Kompany’s system and it is not surprising that the midfielder would follow Kompany to Burnley that summer. However, with the score at 4-3, Cullen stepped up. The Irish midfielder would only score one goal for Anderlecht during his 80 games. His penalty was by no means bad, aiming for the corner, but Davy Roef is something of a penalty specialist and he guessed well to make the save.

Gent defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui looked to have spared Cullen’s blushes and given the Mauves a lifeline when he missed the penalty that would have sealed Gent’s victory, with van Crombrugge making an excellent save. However, Panama international Michael Murillo saw Roef guess correctly for the second time in a row, winning the cup for Gent.

For Kompany, this marked the end of his time in charge at Anderlecht. The board believed that he could have achieved more, which led to him departing to take over at Burnley. He has certainly proven that this is one of the biggest mistakes Anderlecht have made in recent years. While he is leading Bayern Munich to trophies, the side are still waiting for their first piece of silverware since 2017. Perhaps they will end this drought tomorrow?

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

No. 10 Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10 SEC) has now lost consecutive SEC series to Auburn and Ole Miss, and will host No. 13 Mississippi State for the final regular-season series before the SEC Tournament, starting on Thursday night. Looking ahead, the Aggies, despite losing four of their last seven games, are in a great position to earn a top 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Still, the national projections are varied, including USA TODAY Sports predicting Texas A&M to earn the No. 11 seed, while D1Baseball has continued to play in the Aggies' favor, taking into account the program's strong reśume, including double-digit Quad 1 victories, while coach Mike Earley's team has yet to be swept in SEC play, paired with Georgia, Texas, and Kentucky.

However, the Aggies are dealing with significant injury issues that likely led to last weekend's rubber match loss to Ole Miss, as freshmen starting infielders Boston Kellner and Nico Partida have missed multiple games. While Partida's status remains unknown, Earley stated on Monday that Boston Kellner could return for the weekend series, barring any setbacks.

On Tuesday, D1Baseball's experienced writers released their latest NCAA Tournament projections, keeping Texas A&M as the No. 8 national seed in the College Station Regional, hosting a field consisting of No. 24 Cincinnati, UTSA, and Binghamton. If Texas A&M defeats Mississippi State, I fully expect the Aggies to earn as high as the 6-seed heading into Selection Sunday.

🚨LATEST D1BASEBALL FIELD OF 64🚨

The very latest @NCAABaseball Field of 64 Projections at @d1baseball are OUT! -- all presented by our good friends at @CWSOmaha.

We have ONE new Top 8 seed + ONE new Top 16 host.

FULL FIELD: https://t.co/KaYQWyUjtwpic.twitter.com/VddQ0XSLNg

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) May 12, 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 Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: D1Baseball projects Texas A&M as No. 8 seed in NCAA Tournament

It might come as a surprise, but negative run differential teams sometimes make the postseason. I am not saying that the 2026 Cardinals will finish with a minus in runs, but I’m not saying they are going to make the playoffs, either. Anyhow, I thought I might go all the way back to 1981, let’s take a journey back into time.

The 1981 Cardinals outperformed their pythagorean record (what their record should be assuming a normal balance according to run differential) by only three games. That is because of a positive run differential. But, in 1983 they also had a positive run differential and finished 4 games below .500.

In 1984, the Cardinals were 6 games above .500 but with a run differential barely above zero. They should’ve been just over .500, according to their pythagorean record. The 1986 Cardinals did the right thing and absolutely nailed their pythagorean record, finishing at 79-82 with a -10 run differential.

The 1991 Cardinals should have finished at .500 but were a few games over .500. We could talk about the 2006 Cardinals, but they had a positive run differential and barely finished over their pythagorean record. And yet somehow won the World Series, of course. It doesn’t happen often, but a +19 run team can go all the way. But could a team with a negative run differential have possibly pulled that off?

The 2007 Cardinals really paid the piper for that one, finishing with a -104 run differential. That team should’ve been much, much worse though, interestingly enough. So maybe they never paid the piper! Should’ve been 20 games under! Finished 6 games under .500! So strangely enough, that was a team that didn’t give two turds about their run differential.

The 2008 Cardinals were another team to absolutely nail their pythagorean record, just as the 1986 Cardinals did. The Cardinals finished 10 games over in 2008, winning 86 games.

In 2010, the Cardinals underperformed by quite a bit, +95, & should’ve won 91 games but won 86, ten games over just like the 2008 team.

The incredible 2011 team barely overperformed their pythagorean record but was still destined for the postseason. They did have a +70 run differential, however.

Then, something happened to the 2012 Cardinals… they had a +100 run differential, but finished 5 games lower than their pythagorean record, making a team that would seemingly be a good postseason team into a third place team.

The 2013 Cardinals scored so many runs that them underperforming their pythagorean record didn’t matter. That team should’ve won over 100 games! But 97 wins was enough. It is noted that that team didn’t fare too well in close games.

2014 Cardinals won a lot more than they should’ve. They didn’t overperform their run differential like the 2007 Cardinals did, but they were certainly another outlier finishing at 90 wins with a +11 run differential.

The 2018 squad which was lead by both Mike Matheny and Mike Shildt, is the third team that hit their pythagorean record spot on (since 1981). That team actually won 88 games! But somehow finished in 3rd place. And also the Covid shortened 2020 season would make it four.

The 2021 Cardinals were another team that really overperformed their pythagorean record, finishing at 90 wins when they had a +34 run differential. Impressive.

The 2023 Cardinals are our fifth Cardinals team since 1981 to hit their pythagorean record. This team finished 20 games below .500! Far worse than the 2007 squad.

Most fans remember the 2024 team as being a lot better than expected. This is because that team should’ve finished ten games below .500, but Oliver Marmol coaxed a winning record out of a team with a negative run differential. However, an 83 win Cardinals team usually isn’t going to make the postseason. So it’s possible for the Cardinals to have a winning season with a negative run differential, but it would take some opportune circumstances for a team of that caliber to sneak into the postseason. The are however the best example I have come across with success as a negative run differential season performance by the Cardinals.

Last year’s team won 4 more games than their pythagorean record, so maybe the Cardinals are pretty good at overperforming their run differential nowadays. They were still under .500, but what about this season?

Baseball reference has the Cardinals as a pythagorean record .500 ballclub. I’ve always thought this is about what this team would be, give or take 5 games. Fangraphs has them finishing just below .500 now. Certainly much better than the Las Vegas odds we saw at the beginning of the season. Instead, this season the team is 7 games over .500. But what’s most impressive: they are only +3 runs. And have been a minus for much of the season!

There is of course a correlation with run differential, but it’s also much more random than you might think. It’s about as effective as a weather vane. A rather general barometer for the season. But there’s a history to it, and pythagorean records have been around for a while. How meaningful it is for Cardinals fans, I must shrug it off a bit. And there have been teams with a really good run differential in the first half and not so good in the second half, barely over. All sorts of scenarios and situations.

_{Here is a much snarkier article about it that I ran across: https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-bauman-run-differential-far-from-perfect/c-132583912}

It’s hit and miss, but not a bad indicator, really. There are more advanced predictors out there, but it sticks around. It’s fun to look at, simple. But I have to admit, teams that beat their run differential are often more interesting than teams that just crush it. How do they do it? It’s often good bullpens and defense, and we have one of those, at least! At least a good closer helps, too.

It looks like I will have to go outside the Cardinals world to find a really good negative run differential team. Do they have those?

• 1981 and 1984 Royals were both negative run differential teams that had some success
• the (expletive) 1987 Twins had a -20 run differential and, you know… sigh.
• 1997 Giants had a -7 run differential… and won 90 games! but ended up being swept by the Marlins in the NLDS. This particular team was driven by a 11-3 extra innings record resulting from an offense that lead the league in late and close situations. Clearly one of those “devil magic” Giants teams.
• the 2005 Padres were some sort of unbelievable… they won their division only 2 games over .500 and scored -42 runs… the Cardinals swept them in the NLDS!
• 2007 Diamondbacks were a -20 run differential squad that somehow won 90 games, swept the Cubs, then got swept by the Rockies in the NLCS
• 2023 Diamondbacks made it all the way to the World Series with a -15 run differential, but lost
• the phenomenon might actually be happening more often, and more egregiously than ever… the 2023 Marlins finished with a -57 run differential, 6 games over .500 and good enough for a wild card
• last year’s Guardians had a negative run differential and won the AL Central with 88 wins

What did I learn? Successful teams with a negative run differential are rare. They often come from the NL West. The 2007 Cardinals weren’t as bad as I remember. And only two teams have made it to the World Series with a negative run differential in modern times… of course the Cardinals had to lose the championship to one of those two teams. So yeah, the only team to ever win the World Series with a negative run differential beat us.

Music section will be back next week, 1990 was a monster year! And I didn’t have as much time to research this week, being out of town then starting a new job.

Ok, last minute change of subject, where does our pitching stand? Our three best pitchers by BB/9 are Riley O’Brien, Michael McGreevy, and Dustin May. I think those guys will be all right. I would like to see Liberatore, Leahy, Pallante, and Graceffo improve their control. The problem is a big one though: Soriano, Svanson, Bruihl, and Stanek are all walking over 5 batters per 9 innings. That’s bad. Bruihl and Stanek in particular need to control their stuff, although Stanek can get away with it more than Bruihl with his 12 K/9.

I think I trust in Michael McGreevy more than any of our starting rotation, even though I’m a big fan of Dustin May, I just think McG is going to be the most reliable guy out there. I like that he has his walks under control. I like his xFIP. The xERA is worrisome but, whatever, I gotta trust somebody in the rotation. Maybe I’ll trust May more if he strikes out more batters.

Liberatore on the mound tonight, we will have to wait until 8:40 at night again. JT Ginn takes the rubber for the Athletics. Fangraphs gives a 41.7% chance of winning to the Cardinals. We’ll take it. I think I don’t mind Liberatore in this particular matchup, especially if he pitches like he has in the month of May as opposed to how he pitched in April.

Real Madrid have published a statement regarding the concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid C. F. announces that the Third Section of the Provincial Court of Madrid has issued a ruling, notified today, which fully upholds the appeals filed by José Ángel Sánchez Periáñez and Real Madrid Estadio S. L., to which the Public Prosecutor’s Office adhered, against the Order of January 15, 2026, issued by the Investigating Court No. 53 of Madrid in Preliminary Proceedings 2034/2024, which ordered the continuation of the aforementioned proceedings through the abbreviated procedure.

The aforementioned judicial resolution clearly and categorically concludes that neither José Ángel Sánchez Periáñez, the club’s general director and member of its Board of Directors, nor Real Madrid Estadio S. L. are responsible for any criminal offense in relation to the concerts held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. It agrees, as requested by both and with the conformity of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, to the unconditional dismissal of the proceedings regarding them, thereby definitively ending the criminal process.

The Provincial Court also concludes that the responsibility for ensuring compliance with the decibel limits for ambient sound transmission, as stipulated by the Municipal Ordinance on Protection against Acoustic and Thermal Pollution of February 25, 2011, lies with the promoter companies leasing the stadium, as they are the ones who promote, organize, develop, and execute each event. It further adds that the mere violation of a general administrative provision for environmental protection does not, in itself, warrant the intervention of criminal law.

Real Madrid expresses its satisfaction with this judicial resolution, which confirms the absolutely unfounded and instrumental nature of the complaint filed by the Neighborhood Association of Those Affected by the Bernabéu and six other neighbors against José Ángel Sánchez Periáñez and Real Madrid Estadio S. L.

Real Madrid reiterates its full confidence in the administration of justice and will continue to collaborate with the competent authorities in all necessary matters.

It is important to note that this doesn’t mean that concerts will be allowed from now on, given that the promoter companies will need to meet the requirements of the law, something that can’t happen if the Santiago Bernabéu doesn’t undergo more renovations.

When Max Verstappen hustles his Winward team's Mercedes GT3 car around the Nordschleife this weekend in his quest to win the Nurburgring 24 Hours, record numbers of fans are expected to watch on, either at the sold-out event or via the broadcast. Among them will likely be a number of his F1 colleagues, and some of them might even be tinged with envy.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri got a taste of the Nordschleife as recently as a couple of weeks ago, when the pair dovetailed a tyre test at the Nurburgring with a Nordschleife excursion in a McLaren 750S.

"It was the most fun I've had all year to be honest," Norris said in Miami. "It's a circuit I've driven on Gran Turismo and iRacing. It's one of those tracks that everyone just wants to drive. Whether you're a racing driver or not it's just always cool to go and do that because it's so unique. I felt I was lucky.

"I feel like you can do it in any car and probably have a lot of fun. In the McLaren it's scary and fun. But it was cool that I got to do one of those things. As much as I've been in Formula 1 for years and been to the Nurburgring countless times, it was my first opportunity to actually go on the Nordschleife and drive."

Norris, who previously competed in the 2018 Daytona 24 Hours, albeit in LMP2, said he had followed Verstappen's previous NLS exploits to help bolster his virtual knowledge of the revered 20.8km loop.

"I've also been watching all of the onboards," he said. "I knew the track by heart already, but I've been watching all the GT races that Max has been doing. I have quite a few of my friends in GT racing. I've watched it for years. So, it's nice to get my own view of the circuit and I think it certainly lives up to all the expectations and the things that people say about it."

"I'll be watching maybe not the whole 24 hours, but as much as possible and spotting Max because he's a guy that I respect a lot. I've enjoyed watching him and Christopher Haase racing the last few weeks."

Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli have expressed an interest in following in Max Verstappen's GT racing footsteps.

Haas driver Oliver Bearman was also a member of the NLS series' growing online audience as Verstappen qualified for the 24 Hours, and said he "will definitely be tuning in and watching it", while Mercedes frontrunner George Russell is another F1 driver with designs on competing at the Ring at some point in the future. But his request to team boss Toto Wolff to run an F1 car around there, which was last done by Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull in 2023, has yet to be granted.

"I did watch Max's race in the Nordschleife," Russell said. "I'd love to do it, without a doubt. I have driven it before; I've driven hundreds of laps on the sim around the Nordschleife. I don't know when the day will be.

"I did once try having a conversation with Toto about putting the F1 car around there and breaking the all-time lap record. Right now, I'm focused on trying to win a F1 world championship and hopefully, when I've got four under my belt, I'll go and race the Nordschleife and during my F1 season too..."

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon

Of all active F1 drivers, perhaps Russell's team-mate and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli seems the closest to actually making it there. Antonelli previously tested and raced a Mercedes GT3 through his father Marco, who runs a successful GT team in Italy, and as a 16-year-old Antonelli even took an Italian GT sprint win on his debut. And rather than just hoping to head to the Ring at some point in the future, Antonelli hinted at already plotting a path to obtaining a Nordschleife A-permit.

“I would love to do an endurance race with Max together,” Antonelli said earlier this year. “I think that would be pretty awesome. It's cool because we both have passion for GTs. On my side it came from my dad with the GT team. Occasionally, I go and test when I can.

“I think it would be a really cool pairing and a really cool experience, but it's something that I've been considering as well. I've already asked for a test at the Nordschleife, for example, because it's a track that I love, and I would love to be able to try it in the real world as well.”

Driving under the Verstappen.com Racing banner, Verstappen will share the Winward-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Lucas Auer. The race gets under way on Saturday at 3pm, with livestreams available on YouTube.

Max Verstappen’s biggest rivals in the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours

Every other F1 driver to race the Nurburgring 24 Hours before Max Verstappen

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Manuel Neuer has reached a complete agreement to extend his contract at Bayern Munich until 2027, according to Sky Germany.

The 40-year-old, who earns a reported salary of up to €20m per year, will receive a reduced salary while Bayern’s No.2, Jonas Urbig, is also expected to receive more playing time than his 13 Bundesliga appearances in 2025/26.

After wrapping up his 13^th Bundesliga title, Neuer equalled Thomas Müller’s haul while another season in Germany’s top flight could see him surpass Oliver Kahn in all-time appearances.

Could Manuel Neuer play at the World Cup?

Not only that, Neuer could yet feature for Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite retiring from international football in August 2024.

There are increasing discussions at the DFB that Bayern’s custodian could be named in Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament.

GGFN | News Desk

There are 29 days left until the World Cup. The tournament is getting closer, and at OneFootball we challenge you to put your knowledge of the competition to the test with our quiz. 

Access it here.

Ten questions about World Cups to show how much you know about this tournament. 

Yesterday, many people got a perfect 10/10. Will it happen again today?

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

Los Angeles is gearing up for the World Cup, with transportation and food provisions firmly in place, yet the crucial playing surface at SoFi Stadium remains a work in progress just 30 days before its inaugural match.

The US men's team is scheduled to open their campaign against Paraguay on 12 June at the venue, which will be known as Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, hosting eight matches in total.

As of Tuesday, the pitch was still an expanse of dirt. However, this is set to change dramatically on Wednesday, when fresh sod, transported 1,600 miles in refrigerated lorries from Washington state, begins its two-day installation process.

Otto Benedict, SoFi Stadium’s senior vice president of facilities and campus operations, underscored its importance, stating: "This surface is the players’ stage".

Construction on the field commenced on 13 April, following a Monster Jam event that saw 12,000-pound trucks compete.

The stadium, home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, underwent a two-phase modification, including the removal of corner seats to create wider dimensions and auxiliary space, meeting FIFA specifications, alongside the installation of a sophisticated irrigation system.

"To be the place where the energy first ignites, where the home crowd gets to set the tone for the rest of the tournament is a responsibility we don’t take lightly,” Benedict said.

Construction, landscape, grass and engineering crews were applauded by local World Cup organizers and community ambassador Magic Johnson, who pointed out his suite where he'll be watching.

"When you think about the financial impact it's going to have on Los Angeles, it's going to be amazing”, said Johnson, who is a co-owner of LAFC in Major League Soccer and the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League.

Already coming down was signage advertising the stadium's usual sponsors.

Tours of the stadium during the tournament are being sold for $86.50. Still available are premium seating, suites and hospitality packages.

Fans can choose from a variety of food and drink options. Among the items on display Tuesday was salsa verde aguachile with lime marinated shrimp, kettle cooked crispy pickles, stone fruit panzanella, spiced lamb rack, smoked salmon mousse, petite beef burgers, tune poke and aged ribeye cap with bordelaise and mashed potatoes.

Desserts include a World Cup trophy made of chocolate mousse, raspberry, chocolate crunch and chocolate sponge and a soccer ball filled with vanilla mousse, peach, strawberry crunch and vanilla sponge.

Metro debuted special edition TAP cards featuring three FIFA-themed designs, 17 country-specific designs, four FIFA collector cards, including a light-up card, and a collector's box.

“We want to provide a system that is safe, fast and fun”, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said.

Metro is working with 11 other transit lines in the region to offer direct-to-stadium bus service for $3.75 roundtrip from 15 park-and-ride lots in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Reserved parking lots range in price from $55 to more than $100. Fans can access 300 dedicated buses to every match in an effort to avoid disrupting service to Metro's regular riders.

The official FIFA Fan Festival will be held June 11-14 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with big screens showing games. Ten fan zones around Los Angeles County will host activities and watch parties.

Crystal Palace head to the Etihad this evening to take on title-chasing Manchester City.

Oliver Glasner’s side have endured an underwhelming Premier League campaign, but progress to the Europa Conference League final has given their season something to savour.

After beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup last season, the South Londoners have their sights set on only a second-ever major trophy, and another European campaign next term.

With a place in the club’s Conference League final team at stake, the Palace players will be eager to impress.

Crystal Palace team news

Oliver Glasner remains without longer-term absentees in Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure, who remain sidelined.

There’s better news on Evan Guessand and Borna Sosa, who have each returned to training. However, tonight’s clash could come too soon for the pair with Palace set to take a cautious approach.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored off the bench in the 2-2 draw with Everton and is pushing for a recall, ahead of January recruit Jorgen Strand Larsen. He could join Ismaila Sarr in attack. The latter became the first Palace player since 2004/05 to score 20 goals in all competitions in a top-flight season at the weekend.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup

Possible Crystal Palace starting XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Riad; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Pino, Sarr; Mateta.

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8:00pm BST on Wednesday, 13th May.

How to watch Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

UK viewers can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 7pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

Read – The Premier League managerial carousel: Predicting who goes where

See more – The longest active unbeaten runs across Europe’s top leagues

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Rangers welcome Hibernian to the Ibrox Stadium in a Scottish Premiership matchday 37 clash on Wednesday.

Rangers vs Hibernian – Match preview and team news

• Date: Wednesday, 13th May.
• Kick-off: 8pm BST.
• Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow.

Rangers team news

Rangers manager Danny Röhl faces critical squad decisions ahead of the clash at Ibrox following a disappointing Old Firm derby defeat.

Rangers are still missing Bailey Rice as he is sidelined through injury.

A major talking point is the availability of key defender John Souttar. He sat out the weekend derby and faces a late fifty-fifty fitness test to determine if he can anchor the backline.

On a positive note, forward Ryan Naderi has returned to full fitness after overcoming a lingering muscle issue that kept him out of the previous match.

Additionally, left-back Tuur Rommens is fully recovered and played the last match against Celtic. He is ready for selection once again.

Jack Butland will start in goal, protected by Nasser Djiga, and Valery Fernandez at the centre-back.

The midfield will rely on Mads Chukwuani, Connor Barron, and Mohamed Diomandé, supporting an attacking trio of Oliver Antman, Jaden Moore, and Youssef Chermiti.

Hibernian team news

The squad receives a massive psychological and tactical boost with the return of Josh Mulligan.

The midfielder is set to re-enter the matchday squad after spending nearly four months on the sidelines with a severe ankle injury though he might start from the bench.

Rocky Bushiri is also expected to be available after successfully shaking off a minor hamstring complaint.

However, Hibs remain short-handed in key areas, as Jamie McGrath continues to serve out his suspension and young Rudi Molotnikov remains completely ruled out with an ongoing ankle problem.

In terms of tactics, Hibs are projected to deploy a robust three-five-two formation. Josef Sallinger will start in goal behind a back three of Warren O’Hora, Grant Hanley, and Tom Iredale.

Felix Passlack, Dan Barlaser, Jordan Obita, and Allan Campbell will control the midfield, alongiwith Miguel Chaiwa creating chances for Martin Boyle and James Elding upfront.

Form

Rangers

Rangers’ title charge has collapsed after a miserable run of form, losing three consecutive post-split matches. Danny Röhl’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat against Motherwell, a 2-1 loss to Hearts, and a decisive 3-1 Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic. Despite earlier high-scoring wins over Falkirk and Dundee United, this severe dip has locked the Glasgow club into third place with 69 points, entirely out of contention for the Scottish Premiership crown.

Hibernian

Hibernian enter the fixture with mixed momentum but are buoyed by a 1-3 away victory over Falkirk. That critical win snapped a damaging three-game losing streak, which included narrow 1-2 losses to Celtic and Hearts, alongside a 2-0 defeat against Aberdeen. Currently sitting fifth with 54 points, David Gray’s squad remains highly motivated as they aggressively chase Motherwell to secure a fourth-place finish and European qualification.

Predicted lineups

Rangers: Butland; Sterling, Djiga, Fernandez, Rommens; Barron, Chukwuani; Aasgaard, Miovski, Moore; Chermiti

Hibernian: Sallinger; O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale; Passlack, Chaiwa, Barlaser, Obita; Campbell; Elding, Boyle

How to watch Rangers vs Hibernian?

In the UK, the match is not being broadcast but fans can listen to full live audio commentary of the game by subscribing directly to Hibs TV.

Read Also – PSG XI vs Lens – Predicted lineup and team news

See More – Lens vs PSG – Match preview and team news

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After Bayern Munich’s failure to advance past Paris Saint-Germain, SC Freiburg will now be the sole team represented in a European final this season. They’ve done so in massively impressive fashion, turning around a tie against Braga this past week in beautiful scenes which saw Freiburg reach their first ever European final.

Photos and videos captured of the special fan moments after the victory have gone viral, and for good reason. SC Freiburg’s tale is a great sports story of a tale that is massively outperforming its size and budget. A club with minimal historical success has become a mainstay in the Bundesliga in recent years and have been putting in European bids now for a good stretch of time. Kompany recently chimed in on the club’s success.

“Everything about Freiburg is positive. A small club that builds everything from its own resources. They have a philosophy, a vision. Julian (Schuster) deserves a lot of respect – but so does the entire team that makes the decisions with him. It’s fantastic for German football, a really good example for many other clubs. We hope they win this trophy for German football, too,” Kompany said about Freiburg reaching the Europa League final, as captured by @iMiaSanMia.

All of Germany will certainly be cheering for Freiburg to win it all in Istanbul on May 20th, and more prize winnings for a German football usually means more money invested, better players, better competition, which only benefits the league.

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…

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Rangers host Hibernian at Ibrox on Wednesday in a Scottish Premiership matchday 37 fixture.

Rangers’ hopes of a title challenge have faded after a poor run of form. They have lost all three of their post-split matches, going down 3-2 to Motherwell, 2-1 to Hearts, and 3-1 to Celtic in the Old Firm derby.

Earlier wins against Falkirk and Dundee United had raised expectations, but this slump has left Danny Röhl’s side stuck in third place on 69 points, with no chance of winning the title.

Rangers team news

Röhl now has several selection decisions to make ahead of this game. Bailey Rice remains unavailable due to injury, while John Souttar is a doubt after missing the derby and will need to pass a late fitness test.

There is some positive news, as Ryan Naderi has recovered from a muscle problem and is back in contention.

Tuur Rommens is also fit and available after featuring in the match against Celtic. Jack Butland is expected to start in goal, with Nasser Djiga and Valery Fernandez likely to form the centre-back pairing.

In midfield, Mads Chukwuani, Connor Barron, and Mohamed Diomandé should feature, while Oliver Antman, Jaden Moore, and Youssef Chermiti are set to lead the attack.

Rangers predicted lineup

Possible Rangers starting XI: Butland; Sterling, Djiga, Fernandez, Rommens; Barron, Chukwuani; Aasgaard, Miovski, Moore; Chermiti

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, 13th May.

How to watch Rangers vs Hibernian?

The match will not be shown live on TV in the UK, but supporters can follow it through live audio commentary on Hibs TV with a subscription.

Read Also – PSG XI vs Lens – Predicted lineup and team news

See More – Lens vs PSG – Match preview and team news

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Manchester City host Crystal Palace in the Premier League tonight aiming to keep their title dream alive.

Anything but maximum points will leave Pep Guardiola’s side up against it, with Arsenal currently five points clear, having played a game more. With just three games left for the Cityzens, every result matters as the club look to put the pressure on the league leaders.

City enter the game in good form and are unbeaten in 13 Premier League games. Their unbeaten run at the Etihad stretches back even further, with their last league loss on home soil in August.

Manchester City team news

Abdukodir Khusanov missed the weekend win over Brentford and remains a doubt, with Guardiola admitting pre-match that he will make a late call on the defender and Rodri.

Nathan Ake replaced Khusanov at the weekend and has been praised by the City coach this week after an excellent performance against the Bees. The Dutch defender could partner Marc Guehi, who left Crystal Palace for the Etihad in January.

Jeremy Doku will want to continue his impressive recent form. The Belgium winger has three goals in his last two Premier League appearances.

Manchester City predicted lineup

Possible Manchester City starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8:00pm BST on Wednesday, 13th May.

How to watch Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

UK viewers can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 7pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

Read – The Premier League managerial carousel: Predicting who goes where

See more – The longest active unbeaten runs across Europe’s top leagues

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Diego Coppola’s (22) loan spell at Paris FC will not be made permanent, as per a report from Le Parisien. The Italian is set to return to parent club Brighton and Hove Albion at the end of the season.

It has been a successful loan spell for Coppola, who joined Les Parisiens in the January transfer window. He has started 13 games in all competitions, including 12 in Ligue 1. He has helped the club climb out of relegation trouble. With two games remaining, the club’s safety in the top-flight has been assured. His performances also earned him a call-up to the Italy squad back in March.

There had been reports of talks about making the loan move permanent. However, Coppola’s entourage have now told Le Parisien that there is a “99% chance” that he will return to the AMEX Stadium for next season. The defender’s contract with Brighton runs until 2030.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

• Pep says Man City are better with Rodri but that Kovacic, Nico & Bernardo as capable deputies
• Man City boss insists 2024-25 woes weren’t solely down to Rodri’s absence
• Catalan is confident Rodri will be fit for the FIFA World Cup this summer

Pep Guardiola has addressed Manchester City’s midfield options in Rodri’s continued absence, insisting the squad has enough quality to cope without the Ballon d’Or winner.

Rodri has been managing a calf issue sustained in the closing stages of April’s 2-1 win over Arsenal and has been absent from City’s last four matchday squads.

With the Premier League title race entering its final lap and the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on the horizon, the 29-year-old’s availability has become one of the defining questions of the season’s climax.

Pep Guardiola press conference: Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov fitness updates for Crystal Palace clash

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s home meeting with Crystal Palace, Guardiola offered a detailed assessment yet of how the Blues are managing without one of their most important players.

Rodri is the best in his position when fit, admits Guardiola

Asked how he approaches setting up City without Rodri, Guardiola pointed to several players who have stepped up in the Spaniard’s absence.

“Rodri, as I said many times, has been almost one year and a half without him, and he’s the best player in his position when he’s fit,” Guardiola said. “The team feels better with him, but now Kova (Mateo Kovacic) is coming back and Nico Gonzalez help us a lot.

“Sometimes you require these type of players or this type of things in some players to do what you have to do. And we have Bernardo (Silva) playing the last game; he was exceptional, really, really exceptional the game we played against Brentford, him. And I’m really pleased with that.”

Pep: 2024-25 woes weren’t solely down to Rodri’s absence

Pressed on whether deploying two midfielders in place of Rodri has a knock-on impact further up the pitch, Guardiola pushed back on the wider narrative that his absence is the defining factor in City’s form.

Revealed: Manchester City stance on Rodri contract talks amid Real Madrid interest

“Sometimes we’ll play two, sometimes we’ll play just one, sometimes they rotate – it depends. We have really good players in that position,” the Catalan added.

“Last season, Rodri was not there but I said many times, it was not just him, people believe it’s him, no. This season has been three quarters of the season without him and look how good it has been.

“There were many, many other reasons, nothing in particular, especially if we didn’t have many injuries and other subjects. Of course, the team is better with him, that is an obvious reason, but when you are not there we cannot sit and wait for him to come back, you have to move on and we have done it and that is really good.”

Guardiola: We’ll take care of Rodri for the FIFA World Cup

On whether Rodri could miss the FIFA World Cup this summer, Guardiola offered a typically dry response before clarifying his position.

“No. Well, yeah, there is a chance with (Luis) de La Fuente – if he doesn’t select him. That is a chance. But I think we’ll take care incredibly well of him to be in the World Cup,” the 55-year-old said.

The reassurance will be welcomed by Spain supporters as much as City’s own. Rodri was the standout player of Spain‘s 2024 UEFA European Championship triumph and will be central to the plans heading into north and central America this summer.

“No player would turn down Real Madrid” – Pep Guardiola reveals his one wish for Rodri amid transfer uncertainty

Guardiola’s confidence that the 29-year-old will be available for the tournament suggests the current calf issue, while frustrating in the context of the run-in, is not expected to have any long-term consequences.

This RC Lens versus Paris Saint-Germain fixture was billed as a potential title-decider. However, initially scheduled to take place in April, it was postponed in order to aid PSG’s UEFA Champions League preparations. Whilst Les Sang et Or still have a mathematical chance of winning the Ligue 1 title, their challenge is all but over with two games to go, with Les Parisiens six points ahead and with a superior goal difference of +15.

Lens’ focus will now be on the Coupe de France, whilst PSG’s is on the UCL final against Arsenal. Nonetheless, Pierre Sage will name a first-choice XI. However, that will be without the suspended Saud Abdulhamid. It will be Ruben Aguilar who will play in his place at the Stade Bollaert tonight. 

Lens likely line-up v PSG

Robin Risser; Malang Sarr, Samson Baidoo, Ismaelo Ganiou; Matthieu Udol, Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Ruben Aguilar; Wesley Said, Odsonne Édouard, Florian Thauvin. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has joined his local non-league club Marine FC to help out in an advisory capacity.

Bootle-born Carragher lives near the club's Rossett Park in Crosby in north Liverpool and the TV pundit has followed their rise to the sixth-tier National League North.

Marine, who finished the 2025-26 season in 12th, 11 points outside the play-offs, are keen to use his extensive contacts within the game to continue growing the club.

"Marine is a proper community football club with good people involved and a clear vision for where it wants to go," Carragher told the club website.

"I've enjoyed watching the progress the club has made over recent years and I'm pleased to be able to support the club in an advisory capacity going forward."

• Bootle 'back on its feet' ahead of culture bid

Marine have enjoyed two promotions in the last five years and raised more than £300,000 in virtual ticket sales when they played Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round during the second Covid lockdown in January 2021.

The club want to move from their 3,000-capacity Rossett Park to a new ground and hope to submit a planning application to the local council in September.

"This is a brilliant moment for Marine Football Club," said CEO James Leary.

"Jamie is someone who genuinely cares about football and the local community and he's followed closely what we've been building here over the last few years.

"His experience and relationships will be a huge help to the club as we continue moving Marine forward over the coming years."

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Manuel Neuer has reportedly agreed to extend his expiring contract with FC Bayern Munich by a further year.

According to Sky Germany, the parties have reached a full agreement on a contract extension until 2027.

The deal is expected to be signed before Bayern’s final game of the season at home against 1. FC Köln on Saturday.

As part of the extension, the 40-year-old goalkeeper has agreed to take a pay cut, with his current salary estimated at around €20 million per year.

Having made 21 appearances this season, Jonas Urbig will remain Bayern’s second-choice goalkeeper and is expected to feature even more next season as the club prepare him to eventually succeed Neuer.

Sven Ulreich is likely to stay on as the third-choice option.

Whilst Luis Enrique is expected to field a largely weakened side when Paris Saint-Germain face RC Lens on Wednesday night, the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are, nonetheless, expected to start. 

A draw will secure a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title for PSG. However, their attention has already turned to their UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal at the end of the month. Even if they lose against Lens and then again against Paris FC on the final day of the season (Sunday), it is almost impossible for Pierre Sage’s side to catch Les Parisiens. Lens have a -15 goal difference to overcome, as well as a six-point deficit, in just two games.

In defence and midfield, there is expected to be a great degree of rotation, but not in the forward line.

PSG likely line-up v Lens

Matvey Safonov; Lucas Hernández, Lucas Beraldo, Illia Zabarnyi, Senny Mayulu; Dro Fernández, Vitinha, João Neves; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Manuel Neuer retired from the German national team in August 2024, but there are increasing signs that Bayern Munich’s custodian could play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to Kicker, despite Neuer (40) reiterating that he’s retired from international duty, there continues to be internal discussions regarding whether Julian Nagelsmann is reconsidering his initial decision regarding Germany’s No.1 jersey, which currently belongs to Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann.

On Monday, the DFB had to submit a preliminary squad list consisting of 55 players to FIFA, of which five of them must be goalkeepers. Per Kicker, while it doesn’t have to be made public, it can be assumed that Neuer’s name is on that list alongside Alexander Nübel, Finn Dahmen and Jonas Urbig. Whether Neuer will be named in Germany’s squad come 2 June, remains to be seen.

GGFN | News Desk

The future of Alessandro Bastoni continues to dominate headlines in Italy, and now another legendary figure from Inter Milan has stepped forward to share his thoughts on the defender’s situation amid links with Barcelona.

Only hours after former striker Christian Vieri advised Bastoni to make a decision “with his heart and his head”, former Inter and Italy defender Marco Materazzi has now delivered an even clearer message to the centre-back.

Speaking during the Lega Serie A charity gala dinner, Materazzi did not hide his feelings when asked about the growing speculation surrounding Bastoni’s future.

What did he say?

The former defender, who won every major trophy with both Inter Milan and the Italy national football team during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, urged the current defender to remain loyal to the current project.

“What would I say to him? To stay at Inter, because we know how passionate he is about the club,” he began, as per SPORT.

Materazzi also made it clear that, despite a difficult season in certain moments, Bastoni remains one of the most important players at the club.

Bastoni has been urged to stay. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The former Inter icon acknowledged the pressure surrounding the current campaign but insisted there is no doubt regarding the defender’s quality or influence inside the squad.

“It’s been a somewhat unusual and difficult year, but his worth is beyond doubt.

“So, it’s up to him to make certain decisions that would motivate me, but knowing his character, perhaps they’ll motivate him too,” he added.

Regarding his links with Barcelona, although no official negotiations have taken place so far between Barcelona and Inter Milan, Bastoni’s name continues to appear on the radar at Camp Nou.

For now, though, Bastoni remains focused on finishing the season strongly with Inter.

After already helping the club secure the Serie A title, the defender is now aiming to complete a historic domestic double by winning the Coppa Italia final against Lazio.