Bu gün futbol üzrə Avropa Liqasında (Avroliqa) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 1/4 final mərhələsinə start verilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə bir qarşılaşma baş tutub.

İspaniya təmsilçisi “Betis” Portuqaliyada “Braqa”nın qonağı olub. “Estadio Municipal de Braga”da keçirilmiş oyunda qalib müəyyənləşməyib – 1:1. Ev sahiblərinin heyətində Florian Qrilliç (5) fərqlənib. Qonaq komandanın qolunu isə penaltidən Xuan Kamilo Ernandes (62) vurub.

Avroliqanın 1/4 final mərhələsinin digər ilk oyunları sabah – aprelin 9-da keçiriləcək. Bu mərhələnin cavab qarşılaşmaları isə gələn həftə – aprelin 16-da baş tutacaq.

Avropa Liqası
1/4 final mərhələsinin ilk oyunları
8 aprel

Braqa (Portuqaliya) – Betis (İspaniya) 1:1
Qollar: Florian Qrilliç, 5 – Xuan Kamilo Ernandes, 62-pen.

9 aprel

23:00. Bolonya (İtaliya) – Aston Villa (İngiltərə)
23:00. Portu (Portuqaliya) – Nottingem Forest (İngiltərə)
23:00. Fraybuq (Almaniya) – Selta (İspaniya)

AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədri Rəhim Həsənov Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 26-cı turundakı mübahisəli epizodlara şərh verib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, komitə sədri ənənəyə uyğun olaraq, 26-cı turun oyunlarında qeydə alınmış mübahisəli epizodlarla da bağlı fikirlərini bildirib.

Rəhim Həsənov ümumilikdə 5 matçda qeydə alınmış 14 mübahisəli epizodu dəyərləndirib. O, hakimlərin əksər vəziyyətlər zamanı düzgün qərarlar verdiyini bildirib. Yalnız iki görüşdə hakim səhvi qeydə alınıb. Bunlar “Sumqayıt” – “Neftçi” və “Zirə” – “Şamaxı” matçlarındakı mübahisəli epizodlardır.

Qeyd edək ki, 26-cı turun “Araz-Naxçıvan” – “Sabah” matçında 5, “Sumqayıt” – “Neftçi” oyununda 4, “Zirə” – “Şamaxı” qarşılaşmasında 3, “Kəpəz” – “Qəbələ” və “Qarabağ” – “Karvan” matçlarında isə 1 mübahisəli epizod var.

AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədrinin Premyer Liqanın son oyunlarındakı mübahisəli epizodları təhlil etdiyi həmin videonu təqdim edirik:

Bitcoin faces a future quantum threat, but Bernstein analysts say risks are concentrated in older wallets and exposed keys, and unlikely to cause existential disruption.

The proposed rule would direct payment stablecoin issuers to establish AML/CFT and sanctions compliance programs, and be able to “block, freeze, and reject” certain transactions.

Bitcoin’s relief rally is facing selling pressure near $72,000, but technical charts suggest a bullish bias. Will altcoins follow in BTC’s footsteps?

Bitcoin gained momentum as data showed buyers are starting to dominate volumes on Binance, with a $90,000 BTC price target on their radar.

Bitcoin buy-side activity in the spot and futures markets supports the current rally toward $72,000, while short-term holders eased up on selling, increasing the chances of bulls taking control of BTC's price direction.

Empty tankers will reportedly be permitted to pass through the waterway under the US-Iran deal, but certain ships will need to pay a tariff of $1 per barrel of oil in Bitcoin.

Aprelin 8-də Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyi və Azərbaycan Şahmat Federasiyasının birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə dövlət qurumlarının əməkdaşları arasında şahmat yarışı keçirilib

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Respublika Şahmat Mərkəzində təşkil olunan tədbirdə 19 dövlət qurumundan 49 əməkdaş İştirak edib.

Qadınlar arasında Afaq Xudaverdiyeva (Mərkəzi Bank) birinci olub. Qəndab Əzizova (“Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları” QSC) yarışı ikinci, Fizzə İsmayılova (Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsi) üçüncü pillədə başa vurublar.

Kişilər arasında Sənan Quliyev (“Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları” QSC) birinci, Murad Quliyev (Mərkəzi Bank) ikinci, Ədalət Umudov (Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyi) isə üçüncü yeri tutublar.

Türkiyə Super Liqasında XXVII turun təxirə salınmış matçı keçirilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Qalatasaray” səfərdə “Göztəpə” ilə qarşılaşıb.

Oyun İstanbul nəhənginin 3:1 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.

Hazırda “Qalatasaray” 67 xalla turnir cədvəlində liderdir. 63 xala sahib “Fənərbaxça” və “Trabzonspor” isə ikinci və üçüncü pillələri bölüşürlər.

Stend atıcılığı üzrə Federasiya Kubokunun qalibləri müəyyənləşib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Bakı Atıcılıq Mərkəzində səngər stendi (trap) və dairəvi stend (skeet) növləri üzrə təşkil olunan yarışda idmançılar öz dəqiqlik və bacarıqlarını nümayiş etdiriblər.

Yarışların mükafatçılarını təqdim edirik:

Dairəvi stend:

1. Fuad Qurbanov

2. Əli Mustafayev

3. Niyaz Ağazadə

Dairəvi stend (U21):

1. Məhəmməd Teyubov

2. İslam Əjdərli

3. Murad Allahverdiyev

Səngər stendi:

1. Mirmömin Ağazadə

2. Tamerlan Məmmədov

3. Mürtəza Novruzlu

Səngər stendi (U21):

1. Mürtəza Novruzlu

2. Nərmin Cəfərova

3. Osman Əliyev

Yarışların nəticələri qüvvədə olan yeni ISSF qaydalarına uyğun olaraq müəyyənləşdirilib.

Portuqaliyada keçirilən gimnastika üzrə Avropa Çempionatı davam edir.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarışda Azərbaycanı təmsil edən idmançılar mərhələ adlayıblar.

Batut gimnastikası üzrə milli komandamızın üzvləri Ammar Baxşalıyev, Ömər Qasımlı, Muhamməd Həsənli, Fərhad Mustafayev komanda hesabında final mərhələsinə, ikili-mini batut üzrə isə Ammar Baxşalıyev və Fərhad Mustafayev yarımfinal mərhələsinə yüksəliblər.

UEFA Avropa Liqasında 1/4 final mərhələsinə start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə İspaniya klubu “Betis” Portuqaliyada “Braqa”nın qonağı olub.

“Estadio Municipal de Braga”da baş tutan oyunda 1:1 hesablı “sülh” qeydə alınıb.

Meydan sahiblərinin heyətində 5-ci dəqiqədə Florian Qrilliç fərqlənib. Qonaq komandanın cavab qolunu isə 62-ci dəqiqədə Xuan Kamilo Ernandes 11 metrlik cərimə zərbəsindən vurub.

Raundun digər qarşılaşmaları 9 apreldə keçiriləcək.

Fransa “Liqa 1” təmsilçisi “Olimpik Marsel” azarkeşlərini təəccübləndirən addım atıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Marsel klubu 22 ildən sonra loqosunu dəyişmək qərarına gəlib.

​Yenilənmiş dizaynda klubun ənənəvi “O” və “M” hərflərinin iç-icə keçdiyi klassik forma qorunub saxlanılsa da, daha müasir və minimalist üsluba üstünlük verilib. Loqonun rəng tonlarında və xətt kəsimlərində edilən vizual toxunuşlar klubun yeni dövrə keçidini simvolizə edir.

Klubun ikonik şüarı olan “Droit au But” (Doğrudan hədəfə/qapıya) ifadəsi yeni loqoda da öz yerini qoruyub.

2004-cü ildən bəri istifadə edilən əvvəlki loqonun yerini alan bu yeni dizayn, klubun həm keçmişinə sadiqliyini, həm də gələcəyə baxışını əks etdirir.

“Barselona” yayda yoldaşlıq oyunu keçirmək üçün Cənubi Koreyadan təklif alıb.

Futbolpress.az xarici mətbuata istinadən xəbər verir ki, katalonlar bu oyundan 9-10 milyon avro gəlir əldə edə bilər.

Lakin “Barselona” hazırda Asiya turu əvəzinə yay hazırlığını İngiltərədə keçirməyi planlaşdırır.

Komanda hazırda La Liqada 76 xalla liderdir və əzəli rəqibi “Real”ı 7 xal qabaqlayır.

Benjamin Pavard’s loan spell at Marseille is set to end without a permanent transfer, with RMC Sport reporting that the French club have decided against triggering their purchase option for the World Cup winner.

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The Frenchman returned to his home country last summer on loan from Inter with considerable fanfare, expected to bring experience, leadership and defensive reliability to a Marseille side with genuine ambitions.

Instead, his campaign has fallen well short of expectations on multiple fronts.

According to reports from France, via FCInter1908, Pavard has failed to meet the standards demanded of him in terms of both performance and attitude, becoming, in the eyes of many supporters, a symbol of the club’s broader frustrations this season.

Marseille rule out permanent move for Inter owned Pavard

The situation has deteriorated to the point where Marseille have apparently ruled out a permanent move even at a reduced fee, despite having the option to negotiate a lower buyout figure with Inter.

The final decision may ultimately rest with incoming leadership at the club, but the current direction of travel leaves little room for doubt.

Pavard will therefore return to Inter at the end of the season, where his future will need to be resolved.

With the Nerazzurri already planning a significant summer overhaul, including changes in defence following the expected departures of several out-of-contract players, where Pavard fits into Cristian Chivu’s plans, if at all, remains an open question.

Another loan move looks the most likely outcome, though finding a club willing to take on a player whose stock has fallen considerably during his time in Ligue 1 may prove more difficult than anticipated.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and defender Matty Cash faced the media on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, with both manager and player showing considerable respect for a Bologna side they have faced before, and know better than to underestimate.

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Emery arrived in Bologna with his squad boosted by the returns of John McGinn and Youri Tielemans from injury, providing additional options for a tie the Spaniard described as one of the most difficult Villa could face at this stage of the competition.

The extended break following the international window has been used productively, though Emery acknowledged the challenge of resetting players mentally after time away with their national teams.

Jadon Sancho remains sidelined and will not feature, with the manager hopeful of his return within a fortnight.

Bologna vs Aston Villa – Emery: ‘Bologna aggressive, great respect for them’

On Bologna themselves, the Aston Villa coach’s admiration was genuine and detailed.

“They beat Roma and Vincenzo Italiano has played three finals in the last three years,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He is very good in knockout matches, he reached two European finals with Fiorentina and won the Coppa Italia. I have great respect for Bologna and I know very well what the difficulties will be.”

He also credited the continuity of the club’s footballing identity, noting that quality football has been a constant at the Dall’Ara from the Thiago Motta era through to the present day.

On the tactical challenge of facing Bologna’s aggressive man-marking system, Emery was pragmatic.

“In Italy many teams play this way, Atalanta were among the first,” he said. “It will be very important for us to adapt to their aggression while maintaining our own style. The qualification chances are 50-50. We must be resilient when they press us and patient when we don’t have the ball.”

Cash, speaking separately, offered a more concise but equally respectful assessment. The Polish international noted his personal connection to the opposition, having spoken with his compatriot Skorupski despite the goalkeeper’s injury absence.

“They are an excellent team, after we beat them they did not lose again,” Cash said, via TMW. “So it will not be easy.”

His message for the tie itself was straightforward. “There are 180 minutes and anything can happen. Our objective is to win and put ourselves in an advantageous position for the second leg.”

Paolo Vanoli held his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park, and the Fiorentina head coach was candid on multiple fronts, confirming Moise Kean’s fitness setback, acknowledging Crystal Palace’s status as favourites, and expressing his pride at the scale of the occasion despite a lengthy injury list.

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Kean has been nursing a long-standing shin problem, and Vanoli confirmed the striker was unable to train on Wednesday after reporting pain in the affected area.

“Moise has been carrying this shin issue for a very long time,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“After yesterday’s training he felt pain and today he was not able to make it.”

The news is a blow for a Fiorentina side already managing several absences ahead of what Vanoli himself described as one of the most demanding spells of the season.

On the injury situation more broadly, Vanoli pushed back against any narrative of crisis.

“I would have liked to arrive here with a full squad because against opponents like this I need everyone,” he said. “But the word ’emergency’ is not in my DNA. It must be an opportunity for those who have played less and for the younger players. If we play as a team we will achieve great results.”

Vanoli has done his homework on Crystal Palace and their manager Oliver Glasner, whom he has followed closely for some time. “Glasner has already proven himself in Europe, his team is organised and you can see his footballing ideas trace back to his days at Salzburg,” he said.

“Now he is managing in the Premier League, the strongest league in the world. I experienced it personally with Chelsea. This must be a source of pride for us after the whole season we have had.”

Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Vanoli: ‘They are favourites, we must play with character’

He was equally respectful of the venue itself, describing Selhurst Park as an intimate, atmospheric ground where Palace have built their successes, with 25,000 supporters packed tightly around the pitch.

Asked directly whether he considers Palace favourites, Vanoli did not hesitate.

“Yes, I think so, they are coming off an FA Cup victory.” But he was equally clear that Fiorentina belong on the same stage. “We must play with personality and lucidity. It is a beautiful test and we will measure our growth as a team.”

He also offered an encouraging update on Albert Gudmundsson, noting the Icelandic forward’s growing defensive discipline and competitive reaction to his own mistakes at Verona.

“These reactions are small but important details,” Vanoli said. “We are all growing.”

With the second leg to follow in Florence, Vanoli’s message was clear, the tie is far from over before it has even begun, and Fiorentina intend to make their mark on the European stage.

The Atlanta Falcons received shocking news on Wednesday, as longtime starting right tackle Kaleb McGary announced his retirement through his agent, Collin Roberts. McGary, 31, started nearly every game for the Falcons since being drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He suffered a significant season-ending injury prior the 2025 NFL season, shortly after signing an extension through 2027.

McGary was a stalwart on what had been a very good offensive line in Atlanta over the previous two seasons. His presence on the right side was dearly missed in 2025, with the Falcons forced to turn to reserve guard Elijah Wilkinson for the entirety of the season. Swing tackle Storm Norton also wound up missing the entirety of the season with an injury sustained in the summer.

The Falcons were expecting Kaleb McGary back for training camp to once again bolster the right side of the offensive line. In McGary’s absence, the Falcons now have a desperate need for a starting right tackle. With Wilkinson departing in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals, the job now rests in the hands of Storm Norton once again. Norton has filled in admirably when called upon, but stepping in as a full-time starter has gone poorly for him throughout his career.

Offensive tackle immediately rockets to the top of Atlanta’s offseason needs. With free agency behind us and no first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Falcons options for replacing McGary are extremely limited. It’s likely a temporary solution will be needed for the season, and I’d expect the team to look closely at available free agents and veterans on the trade market.

Join us in wishing McGary well in the next stage of his career.

Time for Part 2 of this brief series on early season data points, I was hoping there might be more positives to take away from yesterdays game but alas the beat or baseball season goes on.

Today I will be taking a look at a group of lefty hitters where half of them are off to pretty good starts!! The other two however have been major letdowns.

Andres Gimenez 268/318/463 – 127 WRC+

Gimenez much like the start of last season has started this season hot and he currently leads the Jays in slugging which is good for him but anytime Gimenez leads the team in slugging is likely to bad for the Jays.

For Gimenez the big data point over this small sample is him absolutely crushing right handed pitching, against RHP he is hitting 346/393/654!!!!

Yes unfortunately there is some over performance based on balls in play and quality of contact and he is highly unlikely to maintain this kind of batting line against RHP for the whole season but if you break his splits against RHP by all months where he has seen at least 150 pitches so far this month would rank 2nd in expected batting average, 3rd in expected slugging, 2nd in xWOBA and 2nd in barrel rate.

This month still has lots of time left so not really a fair comparison but so far the first 11 games of the season has been one of the better 11 game hitting stretches against RHP of his career.

Daulton Varsho 171/275/229 47 WRC+

Varsho is clearly off to a rough start especially after being so hot during Spring Training, during the Spring Varsho was doing a great job pairing his new found hard contact from last season with much more contact.

Since the start of the regular season he has so far done a good job maintaining the contact and has raised his contact% all the way up to 82.7% from last seasons 71.7% which has cut his K rate from 28.4% to 15% and he has paired this with a much higher line drive rate of 31% compared to last seasons 16.9%.

Way less Ks and more line drives you would expect this to be a good thing but unfortunately the quality of contact has really fallen off with his hard hit rate dropping from 40.3% to 24.12% and his average exit velocity currently down 7.8 MPH.

It is early but if Varsho can find a happy medium between the all power high K hitter he was last season and the low K line drive guy he has been this season he should be able to help this Jays roster score some runs.

Jesus Sanchez 286/375/429 141 WRC+

I will keep this one pretty short because the Jays have to be happy with what they have received from Sanchez in the batting lineup this season and based on quality of contact he has actually underperformed his expected batted ball stats!!!

A 47.6% hard hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate to go with a 21.9% K rate is a pretty great start to his Blue Jays career.

Addison Barger 053/174/105 – Minus 11 WRC+

Ahhh yeah not a great start to the season for Barger and he is of course now on the IL with an injury.

Even Barger’s 1 hit on the season was a ball that should have been a HR but the RF brought it back and dropped the ball so he was able to get a double but Barger is one dropped HR robbery from still having a 000 batting average.

Digging thru Barger’s data and honestly I don’t have much positives to take away, he is making more contact on both in zone and out of zone pitches so if he gets back to last season’s chase rate he could make some real progress on his K rate

He has still been hitting the ball hard with a 50% hard hit rate so hopefully the IL stint allows him to reset and come back with a better approach and he can combine the new contact rates with his regular quality of contact and get on a roll.

Two Former Red Sox Players Added To NL Team's Minor-League Roster originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A pair of former Boston Red Sox players took another step toward a possible return to MLB action on Wednesday.

"Today, in Florida State League transactions: The St. Lucie Mets have added RHP Craig Kimbrel and OF Tommy Pham to their roster from the Syracuse development list," MLB Pipeline reporter Sam Dykstra posted on Bluesky.

Longtime All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel signed with the New York Mets in January, and it was reported in March that the 37-year-old right-hander wouldn't be making the team's Opening Day roster.

Kimbrel spent three seasons in Boston from 2016 to 2018, making All-Star teams each year and helping the Red Sox win their most recent World Series title during his final campaign with the club.

The 2011 NL Rookie of the Year ranks second on MLB's saves list (440) among active players, trailing only fellow former Boston closer Kenley Jansen (477).

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham signed a minor league contract with the Mets in late March.

Pham has appeared in 1,241 career regular season MLB games with 10 franchises, including 53 contests with the Red Sox during the 2022 campaign.

More MLB: Red Sox Pitcher Reveals Reaction To Surprise MLB Promotion

Cameron Boozer isn't the only five-star Duke freshman who will likely be moving on this offseason.

On Wednesday, forward Nik Khamenia revealed that he will enter the transfer portal after one season with the Blue Devils, as was first reported by DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony. Khamenia, a top-20 prospect in the 2025 class from Studio City, California, made 38 appearances with five starts this season.

He averaged 19.8 minutes per game, but the 6-foot-8 small forward averaged just 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds. He shot 34% from three-point range on 103 total attempts.

Khamenia scored in double figures six times, notching his season high of 14 points on three different occasions, most recently against Clemson in the ACC tournament semifinal. However, he averaged just five points per game for Duke in the NCAA tournament.

NEWS: Duke's Nik Khamenia will enter the transfer portal, his agency, Excel Sports, told DraftExpress.

The 6'8 wing was a top-15 recruit in the class of 2025 and a key rotation player this season, averaging 5.7 points in 20 minutes. Will have a huge line of P5 suitors. pic.twitter.com/ZgNfJkni0o

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 8, 2026

A versatile player with a high-level recruiting pedigree, Khamenia will certainly draw quite a bit of attention in the transfer portal market.

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

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Transfer Portal: Duke loses 5-star true freshman Nik Khamenia

Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary will reportedly retire at age 31, according to his agent Collin Roberts. McGary missed the entire 2025-2026 season after suffering a significant leg injury last August.

While Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski did not give an update about his current status, he was reportedly expecting to get McGary back before training camp.

This story will continue to be updated.

We know who the Indianapolis Colts are playing during the 2026 NFL season and whether or not those games will be home or away. However, what we do not yet know is what the Colts' exact schedule looks like.

So, when will we know the full extent of the Colts' 2026 schedule?

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the schedule will be released about a month from now.

When will 2026 NFL schedule be released?

“Circle your calendars for the week of May 11th, which usually is the time that the NFL schedule comes out,” said Schefter on Wednesday, via Sports Illustrated. “... I would think that we’ll get a schedule release announcement sometime around May 12th, May 13th, May 14th. Somewhere between Tuesday the 12th and Thursday the 14th.”

This year’s NFL schedule release could be coming sometime between Tuesday May 12 and Thursday May 14.

More with @tyschmit:

🎧 https://t.co/OsX3Skenhgpic.twitter.com/bTSco1WNPD

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 8, 2026

The difficulty of the Colts' schedule will primarily be impacted by who they play. By 2025 win percentage figures, the Colts have one of the easier schedules in football this upcoming season.

But given how the schedule shakes out, that too can affect how a season unfolds. Beyond who the Colts are playing on the field, some other elements to be on the lookout for when it comes to the schedule include any extended home or road stretches, any cross-country trips that are close together, any stretches of games against top-tier opponents, and when the bye week is.

Indianapolis Colts 2026 home opponents

• Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tennessee Titans
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants
• Miami Dolphins

Indianapolis Colts 2026 road opponents

• Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tennessee Titans
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Cleveland Browns
• Washington Commanders
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Minnesota Vikings

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL season: When will official schedule be released?

The NCAA committee is expected to meet next week to discuss major changes to new college sports eligibility rules that have been discussed over the past couple of weeks.

The committee will explore a new age standard for athlete eligibility that has been discussed at the high-level conferences and by their administrators.

The proposal was given to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger under an anonymous name. Here’s what was discussed:

Under the new concept, NCAA athletes will be given five full years of eligibility from the time of their 19th birthday or their high school graduation, whichever comes first. There will be hardly any exceptions to waiver requests or redshirts. A small amount may be permitted for purposes such as maternity leave, military service, or religious missions.

The NCAA cabinet will review this proposal early next week. The timeline is very unclear about whether approval could take weeks or months, but it’s an urgent matter to fix college sports before the Fall 2026 academic year.

This new policy would hopefully bring stability to college athletics, something that has been needed for quite some time. This isn’t the exact plan President Donald Trump had in mind, but it does align with some of his ideas. Trump was very prominent in a five-year window for all college athletes.

All of this talk has come as the NCAA fights dozens of lawsuits from players seeking more eligibility. This new-age rule will be a big leap forward, avoiding costly legal challenges.

Something to note in this proposal is that it will eliminate athletes’ ability to regain seasons of eligibility through redshirts and waivers. These have specifically complicated the eligibility system and led to numerous legal battles.

This would be a game-changer for college sports. However, a big lingering question is whether it would affect current seniors who’ve run out of eligibility, or if it won’t start until next season. A lot of players like Denzel Aberdeen are hoping it’s the former and allows them to play one more season of college basketball.

The San Francisco Giants wrap up this series against the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon from Oracle Park.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters today’s game with a 7.00 ERA, 5.04 FIP, with nine strikeouts to three walks in nine innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 10-3 loss to the New York Mets on Friday, in which he allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

He’ll be facing off against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who enters today’s game with a 3.18 ERA, 3.42 FIP, with 16 strikeouts to three walks in 11.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Phillies’ 10-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday, in which he allowed one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk in six and a third innings. One run allowed at Coors Field is practically a no-hitter, so that’s pretty impressive.

Game #13

Who: San Francisco Giants (4-8) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (6-5)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 12:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Nottingham Forest will lock horns with Porto at the Estadio do Drago this Thursday night as they look to secure a good result in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal clash. The Midlands club managed to earn an impressive 3-0 win away at Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, so they would be full of confidence going into this game.

Nuno Espirito Santo will opt for the 4-2-3-1 formation and is expected to make some tweaks to his first XI for this clash. Nicolas Dominguez, Luca Netz and Dan Ndoye could all play from the start of this game.

4-2-3-1 Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineup To Face Porto

Defence

Matz Sels will feature in between the sticks for Nottingham after keeping a clean sheet in his last outing. Nikola Milenkovic will function alongside Murillo at the heart of Nuno Espirito Santo’s backline as they look to keep things solid at the back during the 90 minutes.

Nico Williams will fill in as the right-back, while Luca Netz hopes to prove his worth on the other flank as the left-back. Both of them will have to pick and choose their moments to join in on the attack.

Morato will offer cover for the centre-back positions on the bench.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 22: Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Midfield

Ibrahim Sangare and Nicolas Dominguez will anchor the midfield for the Midlands club as they try to make life tough for the opposition at the centre of the park.

The talented trio of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye will play just ahead of them as part of the Nottingham attack. All three of them need to be at their best if Nottingham are to secure a positive result in midweek.

Ryan Yates will have to settle for a spot on the bench as he waits for his chance to shine in the second 45 minutes if needed. However, Elliot Anderson is suspended for this game.

Attack

Igor Jesus will lead the line for Nottingham up top. He has to find a way to be a real menace on the offensive end of the pitch.

Taiwo Awoniyi will be named on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the latter stages if Nottingham are in need of a goal by then.

Under the technical leadership of Fernando Gago, Universidad de Chile has already mapped out its roadmap for the June transfer window. Azul Azul’s absolute priority is to sign a foreign forward (striker or winger) who can bring freshness to the attack, given Eduardo Vargas’ veteran status and the constant injury problems in the offensive line.

The foreign-player slot and Salomoni’s departure

To complete this signing, the club will make a key move: Felipe Salomoni will leave at the end of the semester. His departure will free up the spot needed for the new foreign reinforcement, while maintaining balance in a squad that includes players such as Franco Calderón and Lucas Romero.

Full backing for Octavio Rivero

Despite his lengthy recovery following knee surgery, the club’s leadership decided to keep Octavio Rivero registered. The Uruguayan will remain in the squad, and his return to action is expected in August, ruling out any contract termination. With this plan, Gago aims to protect his current structure while strengthening the team in the title race.

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

The Aaron Rodgers waiting game has polarized the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base, as some argue the team should move on while others believe he’s more than worth the wait. Well, Steelers legend Jerome Bettis has made his stance clear.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Bettis addressed the Rodgers-sized elephant in Pittsburgh — the Steelers have very little choice but to wait on the veteran quarterback.

“When you have no alternative, then you have no choice,” Jerome Bettis said. “And I think there's some players that are afforded a little bit more latitude than others, and Aaron Rodgers is one of them, especially when you are limited from a quarterback perspective in terms of depth and experience, right?”

Bettis hit the nail right on the head, as the Steelers’ quarterback room is currently down to 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard and veteran backup Mason Rudolph. While the team could opt to give Howard a starting opportunity, allowing him to develop under Rodgers for another year in 2026 seems like the far better move to make.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers have 'no choice' but to wait on Aaron Rodgers, per Bettis

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Our NBA player prop projections have been hard at work crunching the numbers for tonight's key Western Conference clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Before you finalize your Thunder vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, April 8, see what our computer has to say about Jalen Williams, Derrick Jones Jr, and more.

Thunder vs Clippers computer picks for April 8

Thunder	Clippers
Williams o15.5 points  -120	Jones Jr. o7.5 points  -112
Holmgren o14.5 points -130	Dunn o5.5 points -111
SGA o3.5 rebounds  -150	Leonard u27.5 points  -120

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Thunder computer picks

Jalen Williams Over 15.5 points (-120)

Projection: 17.4 points

This is our computer's top-rated Oklahoma City Thunder player prop for tonight, clocking in with a 17.9% EV edge.

Jalen Williams has hit 16+ points in five of his last eight overall, and his ability to get to the foul line can help him here.

"This year, opposing starting PFs have attempted 4.1 free throws per game (9th-highest in the NBA) vs. the LA Clippers, succeeding in their efforts to get to the free-throw line."

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Chet Holmgren Over 14.5 points (-130)

Projection: 15.4 points

Chet Holmgren has reached the 15-point plateau in six of his last 10 and 13 of his last 20 overall. He's cleared this line in five of his last six on the road, including a 15-piece vs. the Lakers last night.

The system sees Holmgren hitting the Over once more tonight, with projections at an 11.4% EV edge.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 3.5 rebounds (-150)

Projection: 4.3 rebounds

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is known more for his scoring than his rebounding, but our computer sees SGA pulling in at least four boards tonight, making this a three-star play.

Gilgeous-Alexander takes on a Los Angeles Clippers defense that's allowed the sixth-most rebounds to opposing point guards this season.

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---

Clippers computer picks

Derrick Jones Jr. Over 7.5 points (-112)

Projection: 9.3 points

Our computer's top pick for tonight with a 22.6% EV edge is Derrick Jones Jr. Over 7.5 points. His scoring projection is 9.3 points, well above his posted line, due to his projected foul shot total.

"This year when [the Clippers] are at home, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 4.9 foul shots per game (7th-most in the league) vs. the Thunder, easily managing to get to the foul line."

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Kris Dunn Over 5.5 points (-111)

Projection: 7.0 points

Our system sees Kris Dunn clearing a very low scoring bar tonight, and doing so rather easily. There's a 21% EV edge associated with this prop.

The Clippers are the sixth-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 25 games, and opportunities should be there vs. a traveling Thunder team that just played last night.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Dunn Now at bet365!/span

Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 points (-120)

Projection: 25.5 points

Kawhi Leonard's production is decreasing slightly as the season wears on. He's fallen below 27.5 points in six of his last 10 overall, and our computer believes he'll come up two full points shy tonight, making this a four-star wager.

"Opposing team's starting SFs have averaged 25.5% on threes (2nd-weakest in the NBA) vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, branding this as a tough matchup. The LA Clippers have played at the 3rd-slowest pace-of-play in the league this year."

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How to watch Thunder vs Clippers tonight

Location	Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date	Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	FDSN Oklahoma, FDSN Southern California

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Comedian Kevin Hart captured the mood of the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National when he showed up as Bryson DeChambeau's caddie — and sounded ready to take over the rest of the operation if need be.

“We'll see how the day goes. I think it depends on how he's putting," Hart said. “Naturally if he's not doing what I ask or require, then I step in and I do the job myself.”

While Hart was on the bag for DeChambeau on Wednesday, ex-NFL lineman Jason Kelce was guiding Akshay Bhatia around the short course in this low-key event the day before the start of the Masters. Other players had family members alongside them, including young children.

“This is about having fun and showing what this great game can do for the world of golf," DeChambeau said while mic'd up on the broadcast. "I'm super excited to have Kevin out here. He's only been playing for about seven months, so to get him out here and experiencing what Augusta National has to offer and the Masters has to offer, it's pretty special for the Par 3 Contest.”

At first, Kelce's main contribution seemed to be cleaning Bhatia's clubs as they walked toward one hole. But eventually he started lying on his stomach in a dramatic attempt to help read a putt.

“Just give it a little tush push and it'll be on, I promise you," Kelce said.

___

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

Los Angeles Dodgers great Davey Lopes has died at the age of 80.

“The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80,” the team announced Wednesday morning. “Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”

Lopes played for the Dodgers from 1972 to 1981, and he served as a coach for the team from 2011 to 2015.

He also played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.

Furthermore, he managed the Milwaukee Brewers for three seasons and coached for six other teams, including the Dodgers.

With the Boys in Blue, he was a four-time All-Star, two-time National League steals winner and one-time Gold Glove winner. He also won the 1981 World Series.

He won another World Series as a coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.

What Was Davey Lopes Like as a Player?

Over his 16-year career, Lopes hit .263/.349/.388 with 155 home runs and 614 RBIs.

Perhaps his best skill, though, was stealing bases. He led the National League twice in that category with 77 in 1975 and 63 in 1976, but that was just part of a seven-year streak in which he finished in the top six of the NL in steals each season, per Baseball Savant.

Over the course of his career, he stole 557 bases, the bulk of them for the Dodgers.

“Lopes established himself as one of the most prolific base stealers to wear a Dodger uniform,” the team said in a news release. “He stole 418 bases as a Dodger, the second-highest career total in franchise history behind Maury Wills (490). Lopes holds the franchise record with an 83.1 percent career success rate (minimum 100 steals).”

Lopes also tied the NL record for most steals in a single game with give against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 245, 1974.

He also scored more than 100 runs in a season twice and more than 90 in two other years.

The team added that Lopes was “known as one of the best baserunning coaches in the game.”

He is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and four sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

Davey Lopes, the best second baseman in Los Angeles Dodgers history, died on Wednesday at age 80, the team announced.

Lopes was the oldest member of the Dodgers’ famed infield — the quartet of Lopes, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell were regulars for 8 1/2 years, the longest-running infield in major league history — and the latest of the four to debut, but Lopes remained a force atop the Dodgers lineup and one of the best leadoff men in the sport during the 1970s.

“If we weren’t the best infield of all time, we were the most successful,” Cey wrote in his autobiography ‘Penguin Power,’ written with Ken Gurnick. “Every member was a multi-year All-Star, we appeared in more World Series than any infield, and we won a world championship.”

In Lopes’ first seven seasons, from 1973-79, he ranked sixth in the majors in runs scored (639, averaging 91 per season) and was second in stolen bases (371, only two behind Lou Brock; averaging 53 steals per year). He led the majors with 77 steals in 1975, and paced the National League with 63 steals in 1976.

Lopes even stole 47 bases in 1985 with the Astros in the year he turned 40, still the record for any major league player that old in one season, 10 more than Rickey Henderson. Lopes and Henderson are the only players to steal more than 26 bases in a season at age 40 or older. And when Lopes stole 47 bases in 1985, he was only caught four times.

Efficiency was the name of the game for Lopes, too, stealing bases at an 83-percent clip throughout his career, the 12th-best in MLB history for anyone with at least 200 attempts. His 418 stolen bases with the Dodgers are second only to Maury Wills, and Lopes’ 83.1-percent success rate in tops in franchise history.

“A guy that’s a base stealer, he disrupts the crowd, he disrupts the team that he’s playing against, and he can set the tone for the game,” Lopes said in an interview with MASN Sports in 2017 when he coached for the Nationals. “I studied it, from the standpoint of picking up on idiosyncrasies that the pitcher had when he threw to first compared to when he threw to home. The sooner you can pick that up, the quicker you can get out of the box.

“I always talk about quickness, and as soon as I say that most people think of a body movement, but it’s not. It’s what you can recognize with your eyes. The quicker you can recognize a key, the first key that a pitcher is telling you he’s coming over to first or going home, the bigger the jump you’re going to get.”

That wisdom served Lopes well in his three decades of coaching after his playing career ended in 1987. He managed the Brewers from 2000-02, but was otherwise a first base coach from 1988 through 2017 for the Rangers, Orioles, Padres, Nationals, Phillies, and Dodgers, including multiple stints in San Diego and Washington.

In addition to coaching first base, Lopes would often be in charge of coaching baserunning, as he did with the Dodgers from 2011-15, including tutoring a young Dee Gordon. In his first year back in Los Angeles in 2011, the Dodgers stole bases at a 75.9-percent clip, at the time the second-highest clip in franchise history. Three of Lopes’ five years on the Dodgers coaching staff (2011, 2013-14) produced top-14 stolen base success rates in club history.

Lopes was never shy about speaking his mind, both as a player and coach, sometimes in blunt fashion, and suffered no fools. He is the last Dodger to hold official captain status, doing so in 1978 and into 1979, when he resigned from the position midseason as the two-time-defending pennant winners were mired under .500.

“I felt [resigning as captain] was the best thing for myself and the team,” Lopes told Associated Press in June 1979. “This way, we’re all equal. I have no title. Nothing more will be expected of me than anyone else.”

Lopes in 1979 had his best season at the plate, hitting .265/.372/.464, setting career highs in runs scored (109), runs batted in (73), slugging percentage, OPS (.836), and wRC+ (133). His 28 home runs that season were 11 more than he hit in any other year, and coupled with his 44 stolen bases Lopes delivered the first season in Dodgers history with at least 22 home runs and 22 steals.

Those 28 home runs in 1979 still stand as a record by a Dodgers second baseman in a season, tied with Jeff Kent’s 2005 campaign.

In 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Lopes was a part of four pennant-winning teams, and started at second base and batted leadoff in all 45 postseason games for Los Angeles during that stretch. He hit .242/.332/.393 and scored 28 runs in those 45 games, a 101-run pace over a full year. Lopes’ 19 stolen bases still stand as the Dodgers postseason record.

Lopes made four All-Star teams, the last coming in 1981, when the team finally broke through to beat the Yankees in the World Series. But that was his age-36 season, and with second baseman Steve Sax the most ready among the next crop of Dodgers prospects, Lopes was the first member of The Infield to depart. The Dodgers traded Lopes for 20-year-old minor league infielder Lance Hudson in February 1982.

“I think a lot of individuals would like to get through their whole career and stay with one team,” Lopes said after the trade, per the Los Angeles Times. “But there’ll be a time in their careers when everyone is rejected.”

Three quarters of The Infield started their careers at different positions, including Lopes and Russell in the outfield to start their professional careers. Lopes was part of the Dodgers’ legendary 1968 draft hall, long considered the best draft year by a team in major league history. Lopes was taken in the second round of the January draft, and spent the first three-plus seasons in the minors in the outfield before switching to second base.

His 1,150 games at second base are the most in Dodgers franchise history.

Lopes after leaving the Dodgers found new life as a utility man, mixing in time at all three outfield positions in a addition to third base aside from his duties at second. That allowed him to play through his age-42 season for the A’s, Cubs, and Astros. He posted above-average years offensively in each of his last five seasons, and overall hit .265/.348/.410 with a 112 wRC+ after leaving Los Angeles.

In addition to his 30 years of coaching, Lopes played 16 years in the majors, the first 10 of which were with the Dodgers. He hit .263/.349/.388 with 155 home runs, a 111 wRC+, 557 stolen bases, and scored 1,023 runs.

The Dodgers say Lopes is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and four sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

What seemed like Juan Pablo “Tatay” Torres’ guaranteed return to Atlético Nacional has taken an uncertain turn. Although the green club is planning a deep overhaul for the second half of the year, the spectacular form of the 21-year-old midfielder at Deportes Tolima has changed the rules of the game.

Success in Ibagué and sporting priority

Under Lucas González’s management, Torres has fully unleashed his potential: he has recorded seven goals and four assists this season. People close to him have stated that the player’s intention is to remain at Tolima, where he enjoys a leading role and regular playing time that would not be guaranteed in Medellín. In addition, the “Vinotinto y Oro” side’s participation in international tournaments offers a showcase that Nacional lost after its early elimination.

Nacional’s plan

Despite the player’s wishes, the club’s board sees him as a key piece to replace leaders such as Edwin Cardona. The club wants to increase his value for a future move abroad, but the final decision remains open and will depend on intense negotiations in the coming weeks.

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

With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, everyone and their mother is putting out (too many) mock drafts. Fear not – we are almost done hearing those two words for the better part of nine months. Except, of course, those who put out a “Way too early 2027 mock’ the second after Night One concludes because nothing in our world is sacred.

Since every mock draft is practically the same, I decided to put a twist on this one and take a look at what the worst possible outcome would be for the Steelers in the first three rounds. Enjoy.

Round 1, Pick 21: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Not to throw any sort of shade at Peter Schrager, but he had the Steelers selecting Parker in his mock draft, and, frankly, that would be the worst possible outcome. The Steelers already have four quality edge rushers. That position is last on their list of needs. Taking one in the first round, or first three rounds, for that matter, would make zero sense.

Round 2, Pick 53: OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

I can hear the arguments about Pittsburgh taking a tackle early on. Broderick Jones is coming off a neck injury, and general manager Omar Khan wasn’t exactly committal about him being ready for training camp. Additionally, the Steelers are almost certainly not picking up his fifth-year option. That said, picking Tiernan in this spot instead of a wide receiver or safety would be a bad choice.

Round 3, Pick 76: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Nussmeier had a bad year in 2025, throwing just 12 touchdowns in nine starts before being benched against Alabama. However, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear his name called by the Steelers, considering that his father, Doug, worked under McCarthy as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach from 2020-22. The Steelers should draft a quarterback, but not this one.

Round 3, Pick 85: TE Max Klare, Ohio State

With Jonnu Smith being released and Connor Heyward not being re-signed, the Steelers have two tight ends on their roster. Sure, they should draft one… in the sixth or seventh round. Not on Day Two.

Round 3, Pick 99: WR Kevin Coleman, Missouri

If the Steelers waited this long to take a receiver, it would be a disaster. Coleman isn’t very fast (4.49 40-time) and isn’t a physical guy who profiles as a potential No. 1 target in an offense.

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

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The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are adding a new collaborative beer to VyStar Ballpark. The Jumbo Shrimp teamed up with Aardwolf Brewing Company to unveil the new “Big Shrimpin’” lager. The new lager will be available during their game against the Charlotte Knights on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:05 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp describe the new collaborative beer as “Bursting with bright orange zest, a smooth touch of honey sweetness,” and packed with bold flavor for an easy finish.

“Crustacean Nation, this pint’s for you,” said Aardwolf Brewing Company owner Preben Olsen. “We’re proud to partner with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to bring Big Shrimpin’ Lager to the ballpark. This beer celebrates the fun, flavor, and community that make every game day unforgettable. Looking forward to raising a toast with all of you!”

As part of the celebration, the team is announcing a special “Big Shrimpin’ ticket package.” The package includes four dugout reserved tickets, a replica 2025 Triple-A National Championship ring, and a Big Shrimpin’ beer or soda/water per person for just $40. The ticket package is only valid for the game on April 15.

You can buy the ticket package on the Jumbo Shrimp website.

Big Shrimpin’ will be at every concession stand and bar at VyStar Ballpark, as well as Aardwolf Brewing Company’s taproom on Hendricks Ave.

Big Shrimpin’ will also be available during the Jumbo Shrimp’s “Bark and Brew” pre-game event on April 19. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas revealed on Instagram that his father, Miguel Rojas Sr., died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 7.

The Dodgers are currently playing a series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the team they beat in last year's World Series. Rojas played a starring role in the decisive Game 7 by hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning.

After missing Tuesday's game, Rojas is back in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in Toronto, playing shortstop and batting ninth.

“To feel like he can go out there and play in a big league ball game, whether it's a distraction, doing it in honor of his father, whatever reason, I heard that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters before the game.

Roberts said Rojas would likely take a leave of absence, but he wanted to play today.

Rojas, 37, broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2014, was traded to the Miami Marlins at the end of the season before returning to L.A. in another trade in 2023. He re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this offseason.

Rojas has a career slash line of .260/.313/.362 with 57 home runs and 67 stolen bases in 13 major league seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miguel Rojas in Dodgers lineup, day after father's unexpected death

NEED TO KNOW

• Ilia Malinin tells PEOPLE exclusively about the new "therapy" he introduced this figure skating season, which included the 2026 Winter Olympics and wrapped with the World Figure Skating Championships in March
• The gold medalist opens up about the "ups and downs" he faced and how he bounced back
• Malinin also tells PEOPLE what he's looking forward to most in the offseason

Ilia Malinin is prioritizing his well-being.

The professional figure skater, 21, opens up to PEOPLE exclusively about what keeps his spirits high through the "ups and downs" of the competition season, which, this year, included his Olympic debut and third-consecutive world title win.

Malinin, who's famously known as the "Quad God," reflected on his whirlwind year shortly after topping the podium at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in March. The victory came just six weeks after a disappointing eighth-place individual finish at the Milan Cortina Winter Games following the Team USA gold-medal win.

"It's been a few days to really process it all now that everything has kind of come to an end for the season," he tells PEOPLE exclusively. "It's been a long, stressful season, with a lot of ups and downs. So just the fact that being able to be done, I'm really proud of that."

"And, honestly, I feel like this is one of the best seasons I've had just because I got cats," Malinin shares of his pets, Mysti and Miu Miu. "Like, they really turned my life around. Genuinely, I feel like they're my therapy now."

He explains, "When I don't feel good or need to just relax and feel comfortable, I'll always find them and hang out with them, so it's really a game changer."

Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more — right to your mailbox.

Malinin, who has previously attributed his "mistakes" during his Olympics free skate finals performance on Feb. 13 to immense mental pressure and noise, tells PEOPLE that his comeback program at Worlds was incomparable to the Winter Games in Milan.

"Honestly, it didn't feel the same," he shares with PEOPLE. "For me, the World Championships really felt like more of, 'This is the last competition season. Let's just skate it over with.' It wasn't so much high stake, high pressure."

He adds, "It was really the fact that I had to come in with a different mindset, as well, after the Olympics happened — and then also just trying to enjoy why I love the sport so much."

Malinin took a new mental approach to worlds, which is why he believes he performed so well.

"Honestly, just not worrying about people's expectations or the pressure that people put on you," he says, adding, "Really just doing it for yourself."

Being back on the podium "felt good," says the decorated medalist. "It felt really relieving — but at the same time, it taught me that sometimes medals aren't everything."

Although the figure skating season is over, Malinin has a few more shows to perform. Then, it's downtime with his favorite roommates.

"Right now, I have shows for a few months," he shares. "So after that, I will definitely be going home and really spending time with my cats, because that's my favorite, favorite, favorite thing to do."

Read the original article on People

Phillies have a major lefty pitching problem amid bleak .138 average originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to win it all this season, and yet, they're currently struggling in one area that might be their downfall.

Through the opening two weeks of the MLB season, the Phillies are 6-5 and have a decent chance to win the division. But there's one major issue still plaguing the team right now.

As Matt Gelb of The Athletic notes, the Phillies have some major issues facing left-handed pitching. With a .138 batting average against lefties so far, the Phillies' offense is a massive liability against lefties.

Phillies have major lefty pitching problem

"Two weeks into this season, the club's most evident weakness appears whenever they face a lefty," Gelb writes. "It's not just Kemp or Sosa, who are platoon players deployed only when a lefty pitches. The Phillies, as a team, have hit .138/.242/.213 against left-handed starters."

This is a massive issue for the Phillies. They're hitting just .138 against left-handed starting pitchers. There are some reasons for this, but the platoon isn't the only reason.

Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa have struggled at times this season, even though Sosa had a clutch game-tying hit in the ninth inning this season.

But it's not just those platoon players. Bryce Harper (1-11), Trea Turner (2-11), Alec Bohm (0-7), and Adolis Garcia (1-8) are all struggling against lefty pitching.

To put these struggles into perspective, last season, the Phillies had a .723 OPS against left-handed starting pitchers (12th in MLB). This season, they're ranked 29th with a brutal .455 OPS.

More: Marlins suggested to sign Max Kepler after Phillies’ OF was suspended for 80 games

It's not just their lefty hitters, either; the right-handed hitters who are supposed to have the advantage over these lefty starters are also struggling.

These are struggles that will keep the Phillies from making any headway in the regular season, let alone the postseason.

Philadelphia hitters need to figure this out ASAP; otherwise, they're not going to have much success this season with some of the best pitchers in MLB being lefties.

This issue needs to be resolved, and fast. Hopefully, these struggles will be looked back on as an early-season blip on the radar and not a warning sign for the disaster looming for the season.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• How Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto is connected to Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Bo Bichette – 3B
3. Jorge Polanco – DH
4. Luis Robert – CF
5. Brett Baty – RF
6. Mark Vientos – 1B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Carson Benge – LF
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

SP: David Peterson – LHP

Diamondbacks lineup

1. Ketel Marte – DH
2. Corbin Carroll – RF
3. Geraldo Perdomo – SS
4. Gabriel Moreno – C
5. Nolan Arenado – 3B
6. Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
7. Jose Fernandez – 1B
8. Tim Tawa – LF
9. Jorge Barrosa – CF

SP: Ryne Nelson – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 4:10 PM ET
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

J.D. Martinez wrapped up his 14-year playing career in 2024 with the Mets. 

The two sides have kept in close contact since then, though, and New York’s higher-ups began pitching the idea of him joining reuniting with them in a front office role as early as this winter. 

Martinez had other offers, but after evaluating his options he decided that this was where he wanted to be.

The slugger signed on as a special advisor to baseball operations last week.

“I’ve always built a good relationship with everybody here,” he said Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field. “It was just one of those things where I was like you know what, this could be fun.

“I like what they are doing here. I like the team they’ve built here. I had a great experience here with the front office, the ownership, the clubhouse, everything -- it was just a really fun place to come so I said why not, let’s do it.”

Martinez is only planning on attending home games here and there as he eases back into baseball, but plans on being in contact with players and the front office consistently.

With all of his knowledge and experience, he’s just looking to be a resource for this group. 

“I had quite a roller coaster throughout my career," Martinez said. "From getting released, to being a top prospect, to my rise, then going and retiring -- I think there’s a lot of things I’ve experienced where I can relate to a lot of the guys.

“So it's just my knowledge and just helping in anyway I can -- anything I see whether it’s the offense, whether it’s the strategy, whether it’s the mentorship, I’m just here to help them out in anyway that I can.”

As far as this year’s Mets team, Martinez sees a really talented group. 

He even went as far as saying this team is by far more talented than the 2024 squad that went on a miraculous run before falling to the Dodgers in six games in the NLCS. 

“It’s a really good group,” Martinez said. “I’ve played with and against a lot of these guys, I have a ton of respect from them -- Bo [Bichette], Marcus [Semien], and Juan [Soto], bringing those guys over, those are big bats and difference-makers.

“At the beginning of the year they weren’t really scoring, they are starting to score more now. Adding Freddy [Peralta] too is huge with the pitching staff they’ve added -- they’re a threat,  this is a really good baseball team.”

Les Snead and Sean McVay both confirmed that the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles discussed a potential trade involving A.J. Brown. The Rams explored trading for him – and subsequently, trading away Davante Adams – but a deal never came to fruition.

It was previously reported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic that the Rams and Patriots both made “strong pushes” for Brown, but on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter went a step further.

He reported that the Rams and Eagles were “further along at one point than people realized,” an indication of just how close Los Angeles came to striking a deal for Brown. Schefter was even waiting to report it because he thought it was going to get done.

“The way I do my job is I weigh in when there are things that matter and when there’s news,” Schefter said on 97.5 The Fanatic. “There have been plenty of trade talks that have gone on that I’ve known about. Let’s put it this way, how about this? The Eagles and Rams were further along at one point than people realized. Was that out there? Was that out there? Was Dianna on that? Were other people on that? I don’t know, but it was and at one point, I remember thinking, ‘Boy, there’s a chance it’s gonna get done with the Rams.’ And I was waiting to report it, and it didn’t get done.”

Dianni Russini Has Continuously Reported On AJ Brown, But ESPN's Adam Schefter States That Brown Was Close To Being An LA Ram 👀 #FlyEaglesFly@ConnorThomas975 & @JohnKincade 🎙️

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images 📸 pic.twitter.com/2kOJJO7EMX

— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) April 8, 2026

Had the Rams acquired Brown from the Eagles, they would’ve moved on from Adams. It would’ve been a shocking sequence of moves, to say the least, but the Rams are always looking for ways to improve.

After considering it, they decided against swapping out Adams for Brown, believing they’re a better team with Adams on the roster than without him. After his $6 million bonus became guaranteed last month, the Rams are bound to keep Adams through 2026 rather than trading him away after just one season. And thus, they've moved on from the Brown sweepstakes, too.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams and Eagles were close to A.J. Brown trade, per Adam Schefter

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani made a classy nod to Miguel Rojas’ father, who recently passed away.

Miguel “Mickey Rojas” Rojas Sr. died of a heart attack on Tuesday, April 7, according to the Dodgers’ veteran. It happened while on his way to the hospital, prompting a call to the player that his father had passed away.

According to Rojas, his father was looking forward to watching the Dodgers game on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The shortstop got the call 40 minutes before the game, prompting the team to give him the day off despite being in the lineup.

Hyeseong Kim slotted in at shortstop in his absence, though Rojas did want to play despite hearing the news, but he was overruled by the team’s leaders.

“I wanted to play yesterday, but Freddie and Doc took it out of my hands, ’cause they knew it was gonna be difficult to stay in the game and have my head there,” Rojas said.

“… I always say, they raised me up and they give up everything in their life for me to be a baseball player.”

Shohei Ohtani pays homage

Miguel Rojas is back in the lineup on Wednesday, with the infielder requesting to play and the team granting his wish.

Rojas is in at shortstop with Mookie Betts out with an injury.

During the pre-game, Rojas was seen fielding ground balls, getting himself ready like the professional that he is, and playing with a heavy heart.

Ohtani, during his preparation for his start against the Blue Jays, wrote the letters “MR” on the side of his hat.

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Ohtani is regarded as one of the best teammates in baseball for his kind heart and support for his teammates, especially during tough times.

It is no surprise that Ohtani would do the gesture in honor of Rojas’ father, who meant a lot to the shortstop. In fact, the entire Dodgers team was donning the letters in support of Rojas.

Rojas’ father’s funeral is taking place on the same day as the game, and while the Dodgers expect Rojas to go on bereavement, there is no exact timeline that has been issued before the game.

The Kentucky Wildcats have made a lot of news since the transfer portal window opened as they try and build their roster in a key year for coach Mark Pope. Adding a guard who can consistently shoot and score is a focus, and Terrence Hill Jr. could be exactly what they're looking for.

Most fans will remember Hill for what he did during this year's March Madness. Playing for VCU, he scored 34 points in their upset win over North Carolina. The Tarheels knew he was getting the ball, and still could do nothing to stop him.

Hill was a lightly recruited guard out of Oregon who ended up at VCU. As a freshman, he didn't log many minutes, but in year two, he took off. Last season, he averaged 15 points per game and made 37% of his three-point attempts. He also, as everyone witnessed, had no trouble performing under the brightest lights.

Kentucky has made contact with Hill via a Zoom meeting, and are definitely interested. They can use a scoring two-guard, but so can a lot of other high profile schools. The list of teams to contact him is long and full of top names. We will continue to update this story.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball targets postseason hero Terrence Hill Jr.

In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Chelsea are in the running to land Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall. It has been claimed that the Blues would have to rival Manchester City and Arsenal in the race to land the English defender this summer.

Hall’s Impressive Form In English Football

Hall is having a decent campaign at the Tyneside club after he put in a run of impressive displays on the left side of their backline. The 21-year-old has found the back of the net once and earned two assists in 41 matches for Newcastle this season across multiple competitions.

The English talent is currently among the best full-backs in the Premier League. Therefore, the Blues would do well to get a deal done for him this off-season.

His current contract at St. James’ Park will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it tough for Chelsea to sign him on the cheap this summer.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Lewis Hall of England during the international friendly match between England and Japan at Wembley Stadium on March 31, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Should Chelsea Boss Liam Rosenior Move In For Hall?

Hall is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when required and can create the odd chance for his teammates from the left flank.

The English sensation is primarily a left-back but can also function as a left-sided wide player or as a box-to-box midfielder if told to do so. He is already quite familiar with the Premier League and won’t take much time to settle into life at the West London club.

We can expect Hall to add more quality and depth to Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior’s defence. He has what it takes to nail down a regular first-team spot at Stamford Bridge in the coming years.

At 21, Hall has got the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. Hence, it makes sense for the Blues to move in for him in the upcoming transfer window as long as they can get him for a reasonable fee. Hall will also help the Blues challenge across all competitions in the future. Therefore, Rosenior should focus on going all out to lure him to Stamford Bridge later this year.

Juventus have reportedly reached a major decision regarding Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte amidst the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Possible exit

Ugarte is looking increasingly likely to leave United this summer, amidst his struggle to make an impact at the club.

Since joining the Red Devils in the summer of 2024, he has failed to nail down a regular starting berth under all three managers he has played under.

His limited minutes have persisted under Michael Carrick, who has demonstrated a clear preference for a midfield pivot of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Ugarte is also understood to be unhappy with his situation and would consider an exit, in an effort to get his career back on track.

A number of potential transfer destinations have emerged for the Uruguayan. He continues to be linked to the likes of Juventus, while a recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Sunderland are also admirers of him.

Galatasaray are also said to be keeping close tabs on his situation.

It was previously stated that Juventus are only prepared to pursue an initial loan agreement for Ugarte, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of next season. Furthermore, they are unwilling to assume his entire wage bill, leaving two alternatives: Ugarte accepts a reduction in salary, or United contribute to the cost of the loan.

However, Tuttomercatoweb have now made a completely different claim, writing that Juventus are prepared to offer around €40m (£35m) for Ugarte.

Ugarte transfer update

TMW say that Juventus’s €40 m (£35m) proposal would allow United to recoup most of what they paid to secure Ugarte’s services two years ago.

However, Juventus sanctioning a swoop for the combative midfielder is dependent on securing Champions League football. The Bianconeri currently sit in fifth place in the standings, one point below Como in fourth.

If they don’t get into the Champions League, Juventus are unlikely to afford Ugarte. The Serie A giants’ transfer is also complicated by Monaco’s interest in the player.

Fabrizio Romano notes that “movements have started” around Ugarte and talks about the fee and deal structure are set to follow.

United return to action on April 13 when they face Leeds United at Old Trafford.

Featured image Richard Pelham via Getty Images

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Real Betis fought back to earn a 1-1 draw in their Europa League quarter-final first leg at Braga on Wednesday.

Florian Grillitsch gave the hosts an early lead with a deft near-post backheel before Cucho Hernandez levelled from the spot for Betis in the second half to leave the tie delicately poised ahead of next Thursday's return leg in Seville.

In the round of 16, both sides produced four-goal performances in the second legs of their respective ties to come from behind and qualify.

Braga seized the advantage at their picturesque Estadio Municipal home in the fifth minute as Austrian Grillitsch darted to the front post from a low corner and turned a slick backheel past Pau Lopez in the Betis net.

At the other end, Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek was in excellent form as he produced fine saves to deny Marc Bartra, Abde Ezzalzouli and Hernandez in the first period.

The Czech's resistance was broken on 61 minutes, however, as Colombian Hernandez sent him the wrong way from the spot after Jean-Baptiste Gorby had scythed down Ezzalzouli in the box.

The other quarter-final first legs take place on Thursday with Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest making the trip to Portugal to take on Porto.

Aston Villa visit Coppa Italia winners Bologna and Freiburg welcome Celta Vigo.

nf/mw

Brad Stevens Explains Celtics' Season-Altering Jayson Tatum Decision originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Last May, Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon against the New York Knicks during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Less than 10 months later, he was miraculously back on the court and playing at a high level, way ahead of schedule.

The Celtics could have played it safe with Tatum and shut him down for the season. He worked hard to come back early, however, and the front office supported him every step of the way, ultimately activating him on March 6.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Boston's president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, explained the organization's bold and somewhat risky decision to bring Tatum back early.

"I just think what we said was always the case. Until he was 110 percent and met every threshold, had fully reconditioned and he felt good, we weren't even gonna entertain the thought of him coming back," Stevens told CLNS reporter Bobby Manning.

Asked Brad about the process of bringing Tatum back: “It became clear probably around the trade deadline, that early February time that he was in a pretty good spot physically … then it’s a matter of re-conditioning and getting your confidence back.” pic.twitter.com/e6j2AiBZtg

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 8, 2026

"It became clear probably around the trade deadline, that early February time, that he was in a pretty good spot physically from the standpoint of the strength, then it’s just a matter of re-conditioning and getting your confidence back in a lot of ways and playing and being back on the court," Stevens continued.

Stevens also said he became encouraged by Tatum's optimism and impressive progress as his return date approached.

"You could see that not only was he gonna come along pretty quickly, but you could also see that he was getting more eager to play," Stevens added. "It was a really well-thought-out process...and followed to strictly by Jayson. And everybody involved with that gets a lot of credit... It was pretty incredible to watch up close."

While he was understandably a bit rusty at first, Tatum is already starting to look like himself again just one month after coming back. With six straight 20-point games under his belt, he's looking more comfortable and confident with the playoffs approaching next week.

If Tatum and the Celtics make a deep run or end up winning the title, it will be because they refused to throw in the towel this season and did everything they could to get him back on the court.

More NBA: Jaylen Brown Praises Potential Playoff Opponent With Flattering Comparison

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas revealed first baseman Freddie Freeman played a role in his removal from Tuesday’s lineup.

The Dodgers originally had Rojas playing shortstop and batting eighth, but scratched him just before first pitch and replaced him with Hyeseong Kim. Wednesday morning, Rojas revealed the reason was his father’s death.

“With immense pain on the part of the whole Rojas family, today I have to let you know everyone who had the opportunity to meet and share with my father Miguel Rojas ‘Micky’ who yesterday April 7 died suddenly in the afternoon hours,” Rojas wrote in Spanish. “I want to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out to me and my entire family to show their love and let us know how loved my dad was throughout his life. May God receive him in his glory and rest in peace ?”

What Did Freddie Freeman Do To Remove Rojas From of the Lineup?

Ahead of Wednesday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, Rojas said Freeman, as well as manager Dave Roberts, were the ones who pushed for his exclusion from the game.

“I wanted to play yesterday, but Freddie and Doc took it out of my hands, ’cause they knew it was gonna be difficult to stay in the game and have my head there,” Rojas said, per the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett.

Plunkett also reported Rojas didn’t know whether he’d step away from the Dodgers periodically to be with his family.

“I always say, they raised me up and they give up everything in their life for me to be a baseball player,” Rojas said. “This is what they want me to do. They know how much pride I take in showing up every day, and not letting my teammates down.”

Is Rojas Playing Against the Blue Jays on Wednesday?

Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Rojas, he will start for the Dodgers in their series finale against the Blue Jays. He will bat ninth and play shortstop as the Dodgers look for a second consecutive series sweep on the road.

Rojas is receiving more playing time at shortstop—his natural position—due to Mookie Betts’ placement on the injured list.

Betts left Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the first inning, and an MRI revealed he had strained his right oblique. His exact timetable isn’t yet known, but the average recovery time for this kind of injury is 4-6 weeks.

Rojas and Freeland will play in the middle infield for the series finale, but if Rojas needs to step away the Dodgers will still have Kim to make up for his absence.

Our thoughts are with Rojas and his family.

Tyson Fury admits there are concerns about whether time away from the ring might catch up with him this weekend.

The Gypsy King will return to action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, facing Russian knockout specialist Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night.

Now 37, Fury hasn’t fought since back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, with his last appearance coming in December 2024.

Tyson Fury reflects on Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora

Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora shared the ring again, giving fans an entertaining 12-round contest.

But for all the action, it was clear both men had lost a step, with the fight lacking the sharpness of their earlier years.

Fury has a history with both men, having fought Wilder three times and Chisora twice. Watching them struggle served as a reminder of how time eventually catches up to every fighter.

Now preparing for his return against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury is thinking about what he might look like after more than a year out of action.

“By the time the fight comes around on Saturday, I’ll have been out of the ring 16 months,” he told the Inside Ring Show. “At 37 years old, 16 months is a long time. So I have a little bit of stuff to do and to think about in my own mind, and see how I am.”

“After watching Deontay and Chisora the other night fight, it was hard to watch for me. It was sad, it was heartbreaking. And I’d never seen two men slide as much as them two in my life.”

“I’m thinking ‘Am I f—ng next? Is this me?’ So I said to the boys if I’m even ten percent as bad as those guys in my fight take me out to field and shoot me.”

Tyson Fury’s future in boxing: What’s still out there?

Throughout his time in the ring, Tyson Fury has managed to collect every major title available in the heavyweight division.

There isn’t much left for him to accomplish in a sport that’s been part of his life since he was a kid.

Still, one unfinished piece remains: a long-standing rivalry with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua.

The two have spent years circling each other, yet despite plenty of talk, they’ve never actually shared the ring.

Rumours are swirling that the fight could finally happen this September at Croke Park in Dublin.

Eddie Hearn recently pushed back on those claims. Joshua’s promoter says no deal has been signed and that they’re still considering their options. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Turki Alalshikh about a potential summer matchup with Fury.

If Fury comes through his return fight without any hiccups, talks around the Joshua bout could start moving quickly.

Read more:

Earning consistent playing time under Joe Mazzulla is not easy. In his first few seasons as head coach of the Boston Celtics, he maintained strict rotations. Especially for playoff rotations, he largely stuck with eight-man groups.

However, following several departures from the 2024 championship core, opportunities for minutes have become more plentiful. But even when a player earns those chances, it does not guarantee a permanent spot in the rotation. Mazzulla remains unforgiving toward prominent mental errors and lapses in effort. On the other hand, he is more willing to give players opportunities to prove themselves.

This tactic remains prevalent even in the final week of the regular season. The latest player to benefit from this is Jordan Walsh. 

After logging zero minutes across six straight games in March, Walsh is back in the mix. He is averaging 20.0 minutes per game over Boston’s last seven contests. Against the red-hot Charlotte Hornets on April 7, he made his biggest impact of that stretch yet.

Walsh’s never-ending motor and defensive intensity embody Boston’s hyper-competitive team culture. He and the rest of the ‘stay ready squad’ are why the Celtics are as dangerous as ever.

Impact Against Charlotte

The Hornets, a surging team since January, arrived at TD Garden under the bright lights of national television. LaMelo Ball rose to the occasion early, hitting circus shot after circus shot on his way to 34 points in the game’s first 28.5 minutes.

Despite looking unguardable for much of the night, Ball’s showcase came to a screeching halt in the third quarter — when Walsh checked in.

“Some big minutes right here from Jordan Walsh,” said NBC Sports Boston analyst Brian Scalabrine, as Walsh entered at the 7:31 mark. “He’s in there with one assignment: stop LaMelo Ball.”

And that he did. Ball did not make another field goal for the remainder of the game.

On his second defensive possession after checking back in, Walsh fought through two screens, stripped Ball, and ignited a fastbreak that resulted in a Jaylen Brown layup.

Walsh’s defense, along with timely scoring — including a go-ahead basket for Boston’s first lead of the second half — was key in turning the tide. His efforts contributed to a 13-3 Boston run, giving the Celtics the lead entering the fourth quarter

Although Walsh didn’t play in the fourth, Mazzulla still credited him with shifting the energy to spark the comeback.

“I thought he started that for us,” Mazzulla said. “He understands that when he’s at his best defensively is impacting the other team’s best players — creating turnovers, making things difficult. I thought he did a good job of that.”

The Value of Staying Ready

Later in his postgame press conference, Mazzulla explained how Walsh is an example of the team’s overarching mindset when navigating playing-time fluctuation.

“I think the story of our season is we got 14, 15 guys who can impact winning,” Mazzulla said. “When it’s not your turn, what’s your mindset, and what’s your consistency? Are you still chipping away at the workouts? How serious are you taking film?… It starts with Jordan’s mindset. If you’re not playing, how are you getting better? He continues to do that and I think that’s why he can pick up where he left off.”

Jaylen Brown echoed Mazzulla’s urge for players to stay locked in and believe in the process.

“I think he’s still continuing to get better,” Brown said. “He’s got to continue to have the right mindset and right approach, and have faith that everything will work itself out.”

The buy-in across the roster has allowed several Celtics — many of whom have minimal NBA experience in prominent roles — to contribute meaningfully to another 54-plus win season. Boston has 14 different players who’ve logged over 250 minutes this season — the most of any season under Mazzulla.

Ready for the Playoffs?

Boston’s newfound depth gives them lineup versatility unlike any recent iteration of the Celtics.

Walsh is having a career season and should have the necessary experience to be ready for a postseason test. Brown, who Walsh referred to as his top mentor, believes in him to make an impact if needed.

“Jordan has the ability to change games,” Brown added in his post-Charlotte presser. “His athleticism has the ability to change games. That’s something that in the playoffs or in the future, certain matchups we’ll definitely need. Just continuing to urge him to have discipline, make the right plays out there, and bring energy to our group.”

Predicting the postseason rotation is a tough task given how the regular season played out. But whether it’s Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, or anyone else from the bench unit who has given good minutes this season, Joe Mazzulla is equipped with more tools at his disposal than ever before.

The post Jordan Walsh Embodies Celtics’ ‘Stay Ready’ Mindset appeared first on The Lead.

Tom Brady Conducted Pre-Draft Interviews For Raiders originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Understanding the relationship between Tom Brady, the quarterback who won six Super Bowls for the New England Patriots, and the Las Vegas Raiders, the team in which he owns a five percent stake, has been the white whale of the NFL media. 

Analysts and fans alike are obsessed with understanding how much influence the future Hall of Famer has over the football operations in Las Vegas. Sometimes it seems even the Raiders themselves are not positive.

Tuesday evening, fans were offered a little insight when multiple insiders reported that the seven-time Super Bowl champion would not only be in the building for pre-draft interviews, but would also be conducting them himself. Albert Breer broke the news to draft expert Todd McShay on “The Todd McShay Show.”

“What I would really be interested to hear about – which I don’t know – in that face-to-face interview with Brady yesterday,” Breer said.

“That was yesterday?” McShay interrupted, shocked. 

“Yeah, that was yesterday,” Breer said. “How do the personalities mesh with Brady and (Fernando) Mendoza. 

“I think for Tom, he’s acutely aware of how important the locker room is – and the makeup of the locker room and how the quarterback fits in the locker room. Nobody knows more about that than Tom Brady… I think that would be the final box to check.”

This is an interesting insight because it insinuates that the Raiders front office feels more than capable in their ability to scout talent and know what kind of football players they want to bring in. But when it comes to getting the right guys in the locker room, they pull out their ace in the hole.

Could Tom Brady be serving as the pseudo “Expert on Player Personnel”? It is important to note that he is not technically employed by the Raiders. 

Several questions have been raised about the conflict of interest his relationship with the team may carry in relation to his current profession. So does his appearance at the first week of Raiders camp provide clarity or just more questions?

More NFL: Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Respond To Controversial Hotel Photos

Davey Lopes, the no-nonsense, base-swiping second baseman on a historic Dodgers infield that played together for a record 8½ seasons, died Wednesday at age 80, the Dodgers announced.

The first 10 years of Lopes' 16-year major league career were spent with the Dodgers, and he returned to the organization in 2011 to serve as first-base coach for five years. Lopes was a four-time All-Star who won two stolen base titles, one Gold Glove and helped the Dodgers to four World Series, including the championship in 1981.

Taken in the second round of a 1968 Dodgers draft haul considered the most talented in baseball history, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Lopes rose from a rough-and-tumble Rhode Island upbringing to become the team's everyday second baseman and leadoff batter by 1973.

Lopes played outfield in the minor leagues but became part of a bold move by Dodgers manager Walter Alston before the 1973 season: Lopes would move to second base, Bill Russell from center field to shortstop and Steve Garvey from third to first base. Ron Cey would be installed at third. The Dodgers moved longtime coach and scout Monty Basgall — known as an exceptional infield instructor — from the front office to the field to help the players adjust to their new roles.

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto dazzles in his Toronto return as Dodgers extend their win streak

The quartet took the infield together for the first time in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in a sold-out Dodger Stadium on June 23, 1973. They stuck together through their 1981 World Series championship season, after which Lopes was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Lance Hudson, a utility player who never made the major leagues.

Lopes continued to play well, not retiring until 1987 at age 42. He stole 557 bases and was successful in 83% of his attempts, one of the best rates in major league history. He also displayed power for a leadoff batter, hitting 155 home runs, including a career high of 28 for the Dodgers in 1979.

Although Lopes' lifetime batting average was .263, he had an excellent eye, walking nearly as many times as he struck out and logging an excellent .349 on-base percentage. He scored 1,023 runs in 1,812 career games.

As games progressed, Lopes typically batted after the pitcher, who was at the bottom of the order. He became adept at stalling tactics that gave pitchers ample rest if they'd just returned to the dugout after running the bases.

Times assistant sports editor Houston Mitchell, a lifelong Dodgers follower, described what happened next: "Lopes was a magician at wasting time to give the pitcher a chance to towel off and cool down a bit. Especially if there were two out. Lopes would spend an extra moment or two in the on-deck circle. He'd take his time getting the round weight off his bat. Then he would slowly walk to the batter’s box."

Read more:1981 Dodgers say they never doubted they would beat the Yankees, win the World Series

David Earl Lopes was born May 3, 1945, and raised in East Providence, R.I., a town of Irish, Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrants seeking jobs in factories and along the waterfront. One of 12 children, Lopes was a toddler when his father died. Lopes’ mother, Mary Rose, worked as a domestic.

Lopes often described his upbringing as difficult, referring to his neighborhood as a "ghetto" and describing it to Times columnist Jim Murray as “roaches, rats, poor living conditions, drugs as prevalent as candy."

“If it hadn’t been for sports, there’s no telling what I’d be or where I’d be,” Lopes told The Times' Ross Newhan in 1973. “All I had to do is step off the porch to a choice of all the things you associate with a ghetto."

Long before he became an accomplished base stealer, Lopes said he became an expert at shoplifting. “I never stole anything major, just clothes and baseballs and bats,” he told Murray.

Lopes needed an adult role model and one came along in the coach at an opposing high school, Mike Sarkesian, who grew up in a Providence tenement but became the basketball coach and athletic director at Iowa Wesleyan College the year Lopes graduated from high school.

“Whatever I missed by having not really had a father, Sarkesian provided,” Lopes told Newhan. “He could relate to my problems, my environment. The drive, the determination, not to give in to the ghetto, to make something of my life, stems from my relations with him.”

Sarkesian recruited Lopes to play baseball at Iowa Wesleyan. Two years later, Sarkesian became athletic director at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., Lopes went with him. Lopes was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round of the 1967 MLB draft but opted to return to Washburn, where he played baseball and basketball well enough to be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1987.

The Dodgers drafted him in the second round a year later and Lopes signed for $10,000. He skipped spring training his first two minor league seasons to complete his classes at Washburn and graduated in 1969 with a degree in elementary education.

Lopes spent the 1968 and 1969 seasons at Class-A Daytona Beach, and married Linda Lee Vandover during his first season. The night before the wedding he broke up no-hitters in both games of a doubleheader with late-inning hits.

A promotion to triple-A Spokane came in 1970. His manager was Tommy Lasorda and the team was exceptional, posting a record of 94-52. Among his teammates were Garvey and Russell as well as other future major leaguers Bill Buckner, Bobby Valentine and Tom Paciorek.

Lasorda recalled Lopes as so shy he wouldn't speak to anyone. “It took two years, but he finally came around,” Lasorda said. “[He] finally got to the point where he felt he belonged.”

Read more:Remembering Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda

Lopes showed improvement at the plate his second year at Spokane, batting .306 with Cey as a teammate. The Dodgers moved their triple-A affiliate to Albuquerque in 1972 and in his third season at that level Lopes exhibited the blend of power and speed that would be his calling card, posting a slugging percentage of .476 while stealing 48 bases.

Five years in the minor leagues after having attended college meant Lopes was 27 when he made his major league debut that September. He was the opening day second baseman the following year and turned 28 a month into the season.

Lopes quickly made up for lost time, his stolen base totals increasing in each of his first three full seasons from 36 to 59 to 77. On Aug. 24, 1974, he stole five bases in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the first NL player to do so since 1904.

It wasn't long before the best catcher in baseball, the Reds' Johnny Bench, lauded Lopes, saying, "He’s the best there is at stealing. Lopes not only has the knowledge and speed, but also the quick acceleration. He has everything.”

The once reticent Lopes also showed leadership qualities as early as 1976, when a throw by new Dodgers outfielder Dusty Baker had missed the cutoff man.

“We don’t play that way,” Lopes told Baker.

"Hey, I almost threw him out.” the Dodgers newcomer replied.

“We don’t play that way,” Lopes emphasized.

"I’d never had a player get in my face like that, and I didn’t like it too much,” Baker recalled of the incident. “I looked up and the whole team was coming over to back up Davey.”

Lopes was popular with fans as well. In 1980, he received 3,862,403 votes to lead all MLB players and start at second base in the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. That was his third of four consecutive All-Star appearances.

The Dodgers were consistent winners with Lopes, Garvey, Russell and Cey anchoring the infield, but lost the World Series in 1974 to the Athletics and in 1977 and '78 to the Yankees. In 1981, however, they broke through, winning the Fall Classic for the first time since 1966 by defeating the Yankees in six games.

“They can do anything they want with us now," said Lopes, who set a record by stealing 10 bases in 10 attempts that postseason. "I've got the ring. They can't take that away from me."

Youngster Steve Sax, however, did take his job. Lopes, 36, was traded to the A's during the offseason. He was hardly through, playing another six seasons and even stealing 47 bases in 99 games in 1985 for the Chicago Cubs to become the first 40-year-old player to steal more bases than his age.

Read more:Dodgers Dugout: Davey Lopes calls it a career

Lopes retired after the 1987 season and spent the next four years as a coach under Valentine with the Texas Rangers. Next he coached for three years under another former teammate, Baltimore Orioles manager Johnny Oates, and for four years with the San Diego Padres under Bruce Bochy.

In 2000, Lopes got his shot at managing, signing a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, who posted losing records in his first two seasons. When the Brewers won only three of their first 15 games in 2002, Lopes was fired.

“A lot of people discouraged me from taking [the Brewers job] because they thought I was just setting myself up for failure,” Lopes told The Times' Ross Newhan, sensing the odds were catching up to him, “but I was determined to show them I could do it.”

Lopes returned to the Padres as a first-base coach from 2003-2005. He spent one season as the Washington Nationals’ first-base coach and baserunning adviser, and he served in the same capacity for the Phillies from 2007 to 2010.

The Phillies led the major leagues in stolen base percentage three times during his tenure and won the 2008 World Series championship, but that season began with a serious health issue for Lopes. Days before spring training, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was in remission by opening day.

In 2011, Times columnist Bill Plaschke lobbied for the Dodgers to add Lopes to the coaching staff. General manager Ned Colletti did just that. Lopes displayed an empathy for young players, saying, "I’ve been there, I know what it’s like when you’re young and you need to know somebody is covering your back. Sometimes you feel lost, and you need a coach or manager to alleviate that.”

Read more:Getting Davey Lopes back with the Dodgers would be a steal

Lopes served as Dodgers first-base coach for five years — immediately improving the team's base-stealing prowess — before closing out his five-decade baseball career in 2017 as a coach for the Nationals under his old teammate Baker.

“I’m not doing much. I’m retired, taking it easy,” Lopes said about retirement on a podcast. “It was not a difficult decision to make, but one I was kind of hesitant to make. But it all works out.

"I got the opportunity to play, manage or coach for a long, long time. I’m extremely thankful. I was one of the lucky ones in the big leagues for 45 straight years. That’s a long time. I have no complaints.”

Lopes is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and four sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

OXFORD – Former Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper – the Lady Volunteers’ leading scorer each of the last two seasons – has committed to Ole Miss, she announced on social media Wednesday.

Cooper averaged 16.3 points per game in her two seasons at Tennessee and was a second-team All-SEC pick in 2025-26. She began her career at South Carolina and was a five-star recruit in the 2022 class. Cooper is rated as the third-best player in the transfer portal by CBS Sports. She will be a redshirt senior.

Cooper scored 20 or more points in seven games last season, including a season-high 30 in a loss at Ole Miss. She scored 10 points or more in all but four games last season.

The Rebels are coming off their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin but will lose several key pieces in the offseason, including first-team All-SEC forward Cotie McMahon, forward Christeen Iwuala, forward Latasha Lattimore and guard/forward Debreasha Powe. Ole Miss defeated Gonzaga in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament before falling to Minnesota in the Round of 32.

Win McNamee via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that franchise icon and longtime MLB coach Davey Lopes died on Wednesday. He was 80 years old.

Lopes is one of the greatest second basemen in Dodgers history. He was a four-time All-Star from 1978-81, an impressive run that started with a Gold Glove Award and culminated in a World Series ring.

He won another World Series as a coach for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. Altogether, between playing and then coaching, Lopes spent 45 years in the majors.

Despite standing only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, Lopes brought oomph to the plate, where he set a Dodgers record for homers by a second baseman. He was also swift on the base path, twice finishing as the NL's stolen base leader in the '70s.

After helping the Dodgers come back from a 0-2 deficit and beat the New York Yankees in six games during the 1981 World Series, Lopes was traded to the Athletics. He spent 1982-84 with the A's, 1984-86 with the Chicago Cubs and 1986-87 with the Houston Astros to round out his playing career.

The East Providence, Rhode Island, native was hired by the Texas Rangers to join manager Bobby Valentine's staff the next year. That jumpstarted Lopes' coaching career, which touched four different decades.

He got his shot as a manager with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000. The Brewers didn't record better than a third-place NL Central finish during his two-plus seasons running the clubhouse. But it wasn't long before Lopes was back coaching, returning to the show as the San Diego Padres' first-base coach in 2003. 

Lopes' stay with the Phillies, spanning 2007-10, saw him give the club a boost on the base path as a baserunning advisor. Philadelphia claimed the NL East crown all four years, including in 2008 when it won the World Series.

He wrapped up his coaching career with the Dodgers (2011-15) and Washington Nationals (2016-17). 

The Texans are continuing to have an active offseason: KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson has just reported that Houston is exercising the fifth-year option on QB CJ Stroud and DE Will Anderson:

Under these options, CJ Stroud will be due $25.904 million and Will Anderson will be due $21.512 million in 2027. As of the 2026 league year, these contracts would make Stroud the 17th highest-paid QB (right above Malik Willis, right below Baker Mayfield) and Will Anderson the 17th highest-paid edge rusher (right above John Franklin-Myers, right below George Karlaftis).

These come as expected moves since both Stroud and Anderson will demand extremely large, lucrative contracts that will require plenty of time to successfully negotiate between parties. Both players won offensive rookie and defensive rookie-of-the-year honors, respectively, in 2023, and Will Anderson just nabbed a First Team All-Pro selection in 2025. This fifth-year option, only offered to first-round selections, gives the Texans front office and the players time to work out a second contract while also guaranteeing both players a solid salary in the event a contract is not finalized by the 2027 league year.

While this provides some needed security to all parties involved, it certainly doesn’t pour cold water on the prospect of either player receiving a record-breaking contract soon. Aaron Wilson seems to expect an extension for Anderson in the coming months, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he becomes the NFL highest-paid edge rusher after it’s all said and done. CJ Stroud, on the other hand, has seen his stock fall as of late and may welcome this fifth-year option as a way of punting on extension details until later on. There’s no doubt that he’ll be betting on himself in 2026, and if he’s able to get back to his rookie form, then he’ll be next in line for a monster extension.

What do you think of these moves, though? Was Houston right to get these options taken care of, or should they have pushed the issue with CJ Stroud or Will Anderson this offseason? Will general manager Nick Caserio end up getting caught between two gigantic contracts in 2026/2027, or will his front office succeed in paying the stars while keeping cap space open in the future? Heck, how big do you think these contracts will be once they’re finalized? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Ontario Christian named The Sporting News 2025-26 high school girls basketball national champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It doesn't always take perfection to be crowned a national champion.

Sometimes, "merely" a season for the ages will do it.

Led by Kaleena Smith, the nation's top junior, Ontario Christian finished what it started in previous seasons, following up the first CIF-Southern Section Open Division title in program history a year ago with its first Open Division state championship and national title in 2025-26. All in Aundre Cummings' first two seasons at the helm.

The Knights went 34-2 against arguably the nation's toughest schedule and finished in style with a nail-biting 56-49 victory over No. 3 Archbishop Mitty in California's state finals. Cementing their historic season with a state championship proved to be the sole determining factor for Ontario Christian, which eliminated Mitty itself and benefitted from No. 11 Bullis' 62-50 upset over No. 2 Bishop McNamara in Maryland's private school championship game.

SN NATIONAL TOP 25:California schools dominante final season-end rankings

Throughout the course of the regular season, Ontario Christian was never ranked lower than second and took down eight teams that finished ranked in either SN's or MaxPreps' season-end top 50. They were No. 3 Archbishop Mitty (2OT), No. 5 St. John Vianney, No. 6 Incarnate Word Academy, No. 9 Long Island Lutheran, No. 29 Lancaster, No. 42 Ryan, Summer Creek, and O'Connor. Five of those games were blowouts.

However, it appeared for nearly two months that Ontario Christian was going to have to wait another season or more for its first national title. The Knights led for most of their Jan. 16 matchup with Bishop McNamara, which was fresh off a Nike TOC championship, but the Mustangs rallied late for a 57-55 that ejected California's top contenders from the driver's seat of the national title race for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Suddenly deflated, Ontario Christian had no time to worry about the ramifications. Its next two games were against another two of the premier programs on the East Coast, St. John Vianney and Long Island Lutheran. And Ontario Christian pulled out single-digit wins over both to stay in the national title hunt.

MORE HIGH SCHOOL: CIA-Bella Vista crowed SN boys basketball national champion

Bishop McNamara continued its tour de force, winning 28 straight after a 1-2 start and going undefeated in Washington Catholic play for the second year in a row. And time almost ran out on the Knights, despite their renewed dominance after returning from their cross-country trip.

The situation got even more tenuous for Ontario Christian as its only other loss of the season came at an inopportune time – the CIF-SS Open Division championship.

Nancy Ziebell/Ontario Christian

They opened the playoffs by demolishing some highly-ranked Southern California competition – Rancho Christian, JSerra, Fairmont Prep, and No. 15 Sage Hill – to enter the title game against No. 7 Sierra Canyon with a full head of steam. Like in the Bishop McNamara loss, the Knights maintained a small lead all game but went cold on offense in the final moments. Sierra Canyon stormed ahead in the middle of the fourth quarter and didn't look back, denying the Knights' repeat bid as Southern Section champion with a 69-62 upset. All while Bishop McNamara was three more wins away from running away with what would've most likely been a unanimous national title.

When Bishop McNamara fell to Bullis in the state championship, Ontario Christian's national championship pursuit still had a long way to go. The Knights were once again tasked with immediately bouncing back a pair of top-15 opponents, No. 13 Etiwanda and, for the second time in two weeks, a Sage Hill foe that had just pulled off a shocker itself by stunning Sierra Canyon in the teams' state playoff openers. Ontario Christian seized the moment with wins of 80-66 and 73-51 to punch its ticket to Sacramento for a date with five-time reigning NorCal champion Mitty. California's Open Division state championship was once again a true national title bout.

MORE:Five takeaways from 2026 Chipotle Nationals

The Knights found themselves with their backs against the wall as Archbishop Mitty took a 23-15 lead in the second quarter while Ontario Christian – a team that lacks only for depth – grappled with the absence of star freshman Chloe Jenkins. She was in the concussion protocol and the Knights were down about 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists per game plus a formidable and versatile defensive presence.

For all of Ontario Christian's otherworldly offensive firepower – Smith (31.5 points, 6.9 assists per game), top-ranked sophomore Tati Griffin (21.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists), and 4-star junior Dani Robinson (15.9 points, 3.9 assists per game) – the Knights also managed to have one of the nation's premier defenses with a rotation that went between five and seven players deep. Even missing a crucial personnel, that defense held up against a dynamic and remarkably efficient Mitty offense, holding the Monarchs to a season-low 49 points. And the Knights clinched a state and national title even while scoring a season-low in points themselves with 56 of them.

While the stat line in fact lowered her gaudy season averages, Smith delivered a state finals performance that holds up against the best in recent memory with 24 points and five assists on 8-17 shooting. And junior forward Skylah Archer, usually the team's sixth man, stepped up when the lights were at their brightest with season-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds shooting 5-7 from the field.

Despite playing a national schedule, Ontario Christian finished with lofty team averages that blow almost all college teams out of the water. The Knights scored an average of 89.6 points per game and shot 49.3% from the field, 56.5% from inside the arc, 37% from three on 916 attempts (339 makes), and 79.9% from the charity stripe.

Before factoring in transfers and injuries, Ontario Christian will be a heavy favorite in 2026-27 to repeat as national champion. The Knights would also be the second Inland Empire team in a row to win back-to-back national titles after Etiwanda was named a national champion in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Despite graduating multiple rotation members, Ontario Christian projects to return the nation's top nucleus if Smith, Griffin, Robinson, Jenkins, and Archer stay together.

Ontario Christian's schedule and path to SN's 2026 national title

Here's a full look at Ontario Christian's run to SN's national title along with how the Knights progressed week by week in our national rankings.

NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Famer Sue Bird watched the W NBA on NBC growing up and now she'll be part of the network's broadcasts of the league.

The four-time WNBA champion will be a studio analyst and also host a series of feature stories on NBC and Peacock throughout the league's 30th season which begins on May 8.

“I’ve been circling broadcasting for a long time now,” Bird told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday. “Given NBC’s history and legacy and where the WNBA is now, I am excited to be part of it.

"It needed to be the right fit, the right people, the right network."

The NBC broadcasts will also feature a version of “Roundball Rock” — John Tesh’s iconic theme song that was the soundtrack of the network’s coverage of the WNBA from 1997 until 2002. It had been used on NBA broadcasts on the network from 1990-2002 before being brought back this year when NBC took over broadcasting games again.

NBC Sports has more than 20 games across the regular season, playoffs and WNBA Finals this year.

“Anytime anyone hears it, whether you're a basketball fan or not, it's really recognizable,” Bird said. “Turn the TV on as a spectator or fan on the couch, if that’s the first thing you hear there’s an excitement that comes with it.”

Bird’s rookie season in Seattle in 2002 was NBC’s last with the WNBA until now.

“There is no more accomplished player in the history of the WNBA and arguably in all of women’s sports than Sue Bird,” said Betsy Riley, Senior Vice President and WNBA Coordinating Producer of NBC Sports. “Sue’s knowledge of the game is unmatched and will bring fans closer to the sport they love, both through analysis and storytelling.”

Portions of Bird's features, which will be a behind-the-scenes- look at the league that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, will air on TV with the extended versions available digitally.

Bird has hosted podcasts for the past few years and also was on ESPN for six years providing an alt-cast with Diana Taurasi for the women's Final Four and championship games.

“I really enjoy telling stories as it’s something that comes naturally to me,” Bird said. “I cut my teeth on the podcasts I’m involved in — ‘Bird’s Eye View.’ My goal was to tell the stories of these players. Those are the features I’m doing with NBC as well.”

Bird won four WNBA championships in Seattle, where she played her entire 19-year career. She earned 13 All-Star selections and was the league's all-time leader in assists (3,234), starts (580) and minutes played (18,080). Bird was the No. 1 pick by Seattle in 2002 after leading UConn to two national championships in her time at the school.

She was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. Bird also had a decorated international career, winning five Olympic gold medals.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Celavii helps brands and agencies find creators, manage outreach, and run campaigns from one place. It maps creator networks as a graph, showing audience overlap, bridge creators, and where your budget reaches new people.

Instead of clicking through filters, you ask questions in plain English and AI agents handle discovery, CRM, campaign tracking, and video generation. It works from your dashboard, WhatsApp, Slack, or Discord and starts at $49/month with no annual contracts. It was built because other tools required $2,000+/month and a yearly commitment just to search a database.

View startup

BayPoint AI is an all-in-one platform for eBay sellers who want to run their business smarter. The flagship Preflight app analyzes qualitative aspects of your listings — title strength, description quality, photo guidance, and keyword relevance — and gives you AI-generated improvements before you publish. Supporting apps cover shipment tracking, buyer feedback management, sales analytics, and marketplace intelligence, all working together from a single dashboard.

Our AI assistant, Riley, is available in every app. Riley analyzes your actual listing and sales data. Morgan answers eBay strategy questions in real time. No more guessing — just a clear picture of what to fix and why.

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Samsung is expected to outclass NVIDIA in profits next year despite a smaller market cap. The company just posted earnings guidance for Q1 2026, estimating operating profit of nearly $42 billion in a single quarter. That’s a 755% jump over the same period last year.

We just reported that Samsung made more money in one quarter of 2026 than it did in the entire year of 2025. The memory chip market has been building toward something like this for a while; HBM demand exploded and AI infrastructure build-outs accelerated.

Every hyperscaler on the planet needed more memory, faster, and Samsung is the company that makes the stuff the entire industry runs on. KB Securities (via Jukan) projects Samsung’s full-year operating profit at $221 billion in 2026, and the 2027 projection sits at $330 billion.

KB Securities’ 2027 forecast for NVIDIA falls below $330 billion. If Samsung hits that target, it becomes the most profitable company on the planet by operating income, and it would do it while carrying a market capitalization that’s roughly 19% of NVIDIA’s.

Analysts tracking the memory cycle believe it hasn’t peaked. We’re sitting at the midpoint, with prices still having room to climb. Samsung’s own guidance suggests the company knows it.

The most profitable company in the world might not be the one building the AI future. It might be the one quietly selling the memory it runs on, and that should make Big Tech a little uncomfortable.

Bookmark this. KB Securities expects Samsung to make more money than Nvidia next year. pic.twitter.com/KNlDOG3gEd

— Jukan (@jukan05) April 8, 2026

The post Samsung is printing so much money it could beat NVIDIA next appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung and Minted have announced a partnership expansion to bring new artworks from independent artists around the globe to the Samsung Art Store.

These artworks are coming from the first-ever “Frame It” art challenge winners. The contest was co-hosted by both brands in December 2025. These artworks will be available through 2026 to bring new art styles to Samsung users. The company has shared the winners:

• Autumn River by Wendy Keller (first prize winner)
• Winter’s Quiet Return by Carol C. Young (second prize winner)
• County Line Up by Kamala Nahas (third prize winner)
• Apple Tree by Wendy Keller (fourth prize winner)
• Misty Valley by Melanie Severin (fifth prize winner)

Autumn River by Wendy Keller (Source – Samsung)

Minted arts have been available for Samsung Art Store users since 2019, but the new Frame It competition has enabled new creations that are specifically targeting Samsung Frame series TVs. As an outcome, 180 artworks by 98 independent artists will be available on the Art Store.

Both partners are also supporting these independent artists with prizes ranging from $2,000 to $750, and an Editor’s pick of $150, as well as a commission on net sales.

Furthermore, new Samsung x Minted artworks will be available through seasonal themes to vary their appearances and user experience.

The post Samsung and Minted are bringing independent artworks to the Art Store appeared first on Sammy Fans.

After delivering an imposing performance against Atalanta, PSG face Liverpool in the 2025–26 Champions League quarterfinals first leg, looking to land a decisive blow. Given their current form, the French side emerges as the clear favorite to take the win. However, the Reds could pull off a surprise, as they have proven to be quite competitive in the tournament, with Mohamed Salah capable of making the difference today.

Liverpool are not having their best season, struggling notably in the Premier League and other domestic competitions. Nevertheless, coach Arne Slot has managed to keep the team highly competitive in the Champions League, finishing among the top sides in the league phase. With it being the only competition they can still win, they could come into today’s match highly motivated.

They not only rely on Salah, but Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai could also make the difference offensively. However, they will face the tough challenge of performing defensively, as Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté are not at their best and could struggle against Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué. Because of this, the contributions of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister could prove decisive.

Unlike Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain arrive established as one of the best teams in the world. They not only shine offensively but are also solid defensively. In addition, coach Luis Enrique has managed to build a brilliant midfield that dominates and controls the game at will. Alongside this, Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are expected to be decisive in attack, bringing them closer to victory.

FC Barcelona host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, April 8, in the first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie at Spotify Camp Nou. Stay with us for every moment of this thrilling matchup as we bring you live minute-by-minute coverage throughout the game.

Barcelona head into the match on the back of a 2-1 La Liga victory over these same opponents last Saturday, a result that kept them at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten run to nine games. After falling short against the Colchoneros in the Copa del Rey semifinals, the Blaugrana will be determined to get the better of Atletico in this far more consequential occasion.

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, are badly out of form after three consecutive defeats against Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Despite the losing streak, the Colchoneros arrive with a point to prove, still fuming over the refereeing decisions in the last meeting, with the club’s CEO going as far as filing a formal complaint over VAR’s handling of a potential red card for Gerard Martin.

The 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu left Real Madrid on the brink of elimination in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Vinicius Junior came under heavy criticism after the match from Rafael van der Vaart.

“Vinicius is horrible,” the former Dutch midfielder said during an appearance on Ziggo Sport following Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain. “He annoys me to no end when I see him.”

Van der Vaart went on to explain the reasons behind his criticism of the Brazilian winger. “As soon as he gets a little push, he throws himself down, hoping to see a red card for the opponent, and then gets up as if nothing happened,” he said.

However, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player did not hesitate to acknowledge Vinicius’ talent on the field. In fact, he emphasized how that behavior detracts from his ability: “That’s the part that I find sad about him. I find it incredibly sad because he’s a fantastic player.”

Vinicius’ performances this season

Criticism of Vinicius is common, and in most cases it is not related to his performances on the field or his ability on the ball, but rather to his behavior. The 25-year-old winger has often drawn the frustration of opponents, who believe he does not always conduct himself with respect.

However, Vinicius’ on-field production is beyond question, and that is reflected in his numbers. Even in a season in which Real Madrid have posted disappointing results and gone through a coaching change, the Brazilian has stood out: Vinicius has recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances.

Van der Vaart knows what he’s talking about

Criticism of Vinicius Junior coming from Rafael van der Vaart carries added weight compared to most opinions. The former Dutch international speaks from experience, having played for Real Madrid and understanding the club’s culture and its fanbase.

Van der Vaart began his professional career at Ajax in 1999 before moving to Hamburger SV six years later, where his performances prompted Real Madrid to pay around $15 million for him. In Spain, he spent two seasons with the club between 2008 and 2010, making 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals, and winning one title.

Match Overview

After opening their LigaPro campaign in strong form, Deportivo Cuenca now turns its attention to a high-profile continental test, reciving Brazilian giants Santos FC for a must-watch group stage showdown. The Ecuadorian side will look to capitalize on home-field advantage in what shapes up as a challenging first outing against one of South America’s most decorated clubs.

Meanwhile, Santos FC return to international competition eager to bounce back from two underwhelming seasons, with Neymar Jr. leading the charge and aiming to reestablish the club as a legitimate title contender. With both teams bringing momentum and urgency into this opener, expect a tightly contested battle you won’t want to miss.

The post Bitcoin Enters Hormuz Standoff as Iran Explores Sanctions Workarounds appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Iran’s reported plan to charge oil tankers a fee in Bitcoin or Chinese yuan to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is drawing global attention, as it mixes geopolitics with cryptocurrency in a way rarely seen before.

According to messages sent to ships in the region, tankers may need to pay between about $0.50 and $1.50 per barrel of oil to pass through the narrow waterway. For large ships, that could mean paying millions of dollars per trip.

The warning was clear. Ships must pay quickly to get approval. Those that try to pass without permission could face serious consequences. Right now, hundreds of vessels are said to be waiting near the Gulf, unsure how the situation will play out.

Why Bitcoin?

The idea behind this move is simple. By asking for Bitcoin or yuan, Iran could avoid the traditional banking system, which is heavily controlled by Western countries and often used to enforce sanctions.

Instead of using dollars and bank transfers, payments would move through alternative systems. In this case, that could mean direct crypto transfers or non-dollar settlement channels.

Social media fuels big numbers

The story has quickly spread online, especially in crypto circles.

One user on X claimed that if Iran charges around $2 million per ship, that would equal about 27 Bitcoin at current prices. If around 130 ships pass daily, as they did before tensions rose, that could mean over 3,600 Bitcoin in daily payments.

For comparison, only about 450 Bitcoins are mined each day.

The user suggested this could allow Iran to build a large Bitcoin reserve over time. But these estimates are based on assumptions, and there is no proof this level of activity is happening.

Is this actually happening?

There are reports that some ships may already be using non-dollar payments to pass through the region, but details are limited.

It’s still unclear:

• How many ships would agree to pay
• Whether insurers would allow it
• How governments would respond

Because of these unknowns, the plan may not scale easily.

has had his say on the claims that is injured heading into their fight this weekend. Benn and Prograis collide in a 150lb catchweight bout in the co-main event of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. It sees Benn back in action for the first time since […]

The post Conor Benn responds to reports Regis Prograis is ‘badly injured’ for their fight appeared first on Boxing News.

Süper Lig'de şampiyonluk yarışı kızışırken, rakamlar ezber bozdu! Fenerbahçe camiası, ortaya çıkan dev istatistik farklarının ardından tek ses oldu: "Galatasaray'dan daha çok hak ediyoruz!" Şut sayısından ikili mücadeleye, kornerden hücum aksiyonlarına kadar birçok kalemde zirveye ambargo koyan Fenerbahçe'de cephesi "Adalet" çığlıkları atıyor.

Fenerbahçe, istatistiklerdeki üstünlüğünü puan tablosuna yansımadığını iddia ederek isyan bayrağını çekti. Süper Lig’de şampiyonluk yarışı nefes kesen bir rekabete sahne olurken, sarı-lacivertli camia sahadaki verilerin şampiyonluk yarışındaki adaletsizliği gözler önüne serdiğini savunarak; "Galatasaray'dan daha çok hak ediyoruz" seslerini yükseltmeye başladı.

Fenerbahçe cephesinde şampiyonluğun daha çok hak edildiğine dair öne sürülen temel argümanlar, oyunun hem hücum hem de savunma sertliği yönündeki baskınlığına dayanıyor.

Fenerbahçe, maç başına 17.3 şut ve 6.2 isabet oranıyla ligin en çok kaleyi yoklayan ve isabet bulan takımı konumunda. Özellikle korner sayılarındaki 7.2'ye 5.6'lık üstünlük, sarı-lacivertlilerin rakip kalede kurduğu sürekli baskının bir kanıtı olarak görülüyor.

İstatistikler, Fenerbahçe'nin ikili mücadelelerde (%53.8) ve top çalmada (18.3) rakibinden daha agresif ve dirençli olduğunu gösteriyor. Taraftarlar, "Daha çok savaşan taraf biziz" diyerek bu verilere dikkat çekiyor.

Fenerbahçe'nin 43 kontratak ile ligin en hızlı hücuma çıkan takımlarından biri olması ve ceza sahası dışından bulduğu 7 gol, oyun çeşitliliğini kanıtlıyor.

Galatasaray’ın maç başına yediği 0.7 gol ortalamasına karşılık, Fenerbahçeliler kendi takımlarının daha çok "ürettiğini" ancak kritik anlarda şanssızlıklar yaşadığını savunuyor. Özellikle Galatasaray'ın gördüğü 4 kırmızı karta karşılık, Fenerbahçe'nin sezonu sadece 1 kırmızı kartla götürmesi, sarı-lacivertli ekibin saha içindeki disiplinini ve oyun odaklı kalışını simgeliyor.

21 maç sadece 3 gol: Fenerbahçe emin mi?

Beşiktaş'ta Hyeon-gyu Oh transferi "bile bile lades" hikayesine dönüştü. İlk geldiği dönemde parlayıp derbilerde susan Korelinin yerine düşünülen forvetler için en az 20 milyon Euro'lar konuşuluyor. Camia şu can yakıcı soruyu soruyor: 14 milyon Oh'a, 20 milyon da yeniye... 30-35 milyon Euro'ya Sörloth ya da Guirassy gibi bir dünya yıldızı daha iyi olmaz mıydı?

Beşiktaş’ta Hyeon-gyu Oh transferi fiyaskoya dönüşmek üzere. Siyah-beyazlı yönetim, büyük umutlarla ve rekor bir bedelle kadroya kattığı Güney Koreli forvet konusunda "bile bile lades" dedi. Gelinen noktada ne ödenen rakam ne de sahadaki performans camiayı tatmin etmiyor.

Hyeon-gyu Oh transferi gündeme geldiği ilk günden itibaren uzmanlar, form grafiği ve istikrarsızlığı konusunda defalarca uyardı. Beşiktaş'a gelmeden önce Genk'te bile forma şansı bulmakta zorlanan, maç eksiği bulunan Koreli için 14 milyon Euro verilmesinin "risk" olduğu haberleri yapıldı.

''Oh diyeceğim diye ah deme'' Beşiktaş dikkat

Koreli, Beşiktaş kariyerinin ilk döneminde "yeni bir yıldız doğuyor" dedirten gollere imza attı.Fakat o günler geride kaldı. Son haftalarda sahada hiçbir varlık gösteremeyen, derbilerde görünmeyen, ikili mücadelelerde ezilen ve oyunun tamamen dışında kalan bir Oh izleniyor. 14 milyon Euro’luk yatırım "gelecek sezon santrfor almalıyız" dedirtiyor.

Hyeon-gyu Oh'un beklentilerin altında kalmasıyla Beşiktaş yönetimi yeniden transfer piyasasına girdi. Hücum hattındaki sorunu kökten çözmek isteyen yönetimin kapısını çaldığı adaylar için konuşulan rakamlar en az 20 milyon Euro seviyesinden başlıyor. Bu durum, kulübün mali planlamasındaki hatayı bir kez daha gözler önüne seriyor.

Taraftar soruyor: Oh’a ödenen 14 milyon Euro ile bu yaz harcanması planlanan 20 milyon Euro birleştirilseydi; 30-35 milyon Euro bandında çok daha kaliteli, Avrupa çapında bir forvet alınamaz mıydı?

Bugün Alexander Sörloth veya Serhou Guirassy gibi isimlerin bu bütçelerle transfer edilebildiği bir piyasada, Beşiktaş’ın iki orta halli hamle yerine bir "dünya yıldızı" almaması, yönetim bazında stratejik bir hata olarak değerlendiriliyor.

Beşiktaş'ta beklentilerin çok uzağında kalan Vaclav Cerny, Kadıköy'deki etkisiz futbolu ve Sergen Yalçın ile yaşadığı kriz sonrası gözden çıkarıldı. Son 12 maçta sadece 2 gole katkı veren oyuncu için ayrılık çanları çalıyor. Gelen bilgilere göre de sezon sonunda teklif getiren Cerny'yi alır götürür.

Beşiktaş’ın çok şey beklediği Vaclav Cerny, Kadıköy’de sergilediği performansla beklentilerin çok uzağında kaldı. Fenerbahçe karşısında adeta sahada kaybolan 27 yaşındaki Çekyalı, sergilediği istatistiklerle siyah-beyazlı camiada şimdiden tartışma konusu oldu.

İKİLİ MÜCADELE KAZANAMADI

Fenerbahçe savunması karşısında hiçbir varlık gösteremeyen Cerny, ikili mücadelelerde %0 başarı oranıyla maçı tamamladı. İşte oyuncunun Saracoğlu'ndaki "hayal kırıklığı" yaratan karnesi:

İkili Mücadele: 6 / 0 (Girdiği hiçbir mücadeleyi kazanamadı)

Şut İsabeti: 3 / 0

Orta İsabeti: 2 / 0 (Hiç isabetli orta yapamadı)

Top Sürme: 1 / 0 (Başarısız)

Top Kaybı: 9

Maç boyunca 34 kez topla buluşan Çek yıldız, 0.26 xG (Gol Beklentisi) üretmesine rağmen çerçeveyi bulamadı. Sadece 1 kilit pas verebilen oyuncu, savunma tarafında da (1 geri kazanma) etkisiz kaldı.

Saha içindeki formsuzluk, saha dışındaki gerginlikle birleşti. Cerny'nin, Galatasaray derbisinin ardından teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'ı sosyal medya hesabından takibi bırakması, ikili arasındaki bağların koptuğu şeklinde yorumlandı.

Cerny'nin son dönemdeki düşüşü rakamlara şöyle yansıdı:

Son 11 maçtır karşılaşmaları 90 dakika tamamlayamıyor.

Son 12 resmi maçta sadece 1 gol ve 1 asist yapabildi.

Tam 8 maçtır ağları sarsamıyor.

Cerny’nin hem saha içindeki formsuzluğu hem de teknik heyetle yaşadığı gerilim, ayrılık iddialarını beraberinde getirdi. Siyah-beyazlı camiada tartışılmaya başlanan Çek oyuncu için yönetimin tavrı da netleşmeye başladı.

Beklentilerin çok uzağında kalan Cerny için, sezon sonunda tatmin edici bir teklif gelmesi halinde yolların ayrılmasına kesin gözüyle bakılıyor.

Süper Lig hedefiyle yoluna devam eden Amedspor, transferde dev hamleler için düğmeye bastı. Bundesliga tecrübesiyle dikkat çeken Mahmoud Dahoud ile kurulan temasların ardından, Avrupa devlerinin peşinde olduğu U21 Milli Takım yıldızı Livan Burcu'dan da "Süper Lig" sözü alındı. İşte Amedspor'un ses getirecek transfer operasyonunun detayları.

TFF 1. Lig’de şampiyonluk mücadelesini sürdüren ve Süper Lig hedefine adım adım yaklaşan Amedspor, gelecek sezonun planlamasını erkenden başlattı. Süper Lige çıkılması durumunda iddialı bir kadro kurmak isteyen yönetim, rotayı yurt dışında forma giyen Kürt asıllı yıldızlara çevirdi.

Alman Milli Takım yıldızı Amedspor’da oynama sözü verdi

Amedspor yönetiminin listesindeki en heyecan verici isimlerin başında dünyaca ünlü orta saha oyuncusu Mahmoud Dahoud geliyor. Geçtiğimiz günlerde gazetemz, tecrübeli oyuncuyla ilk temaslar kurulduğunu yazdı. Süper Lig biletinin alınması halinde Dahoud, Amedspor forması giymeye sıcak bakıyor. Taraflar büyük ölçüde el sıkıştı.

Transfer çalışmalarını titizlikle yürüten yönetimin bir diğer önemli hedefi de Türk U21 Milli Takımı’nın parlayan yıldızı Livan Burcu. Torino ve Strasbourg gibi ekiplerin radarına girmesine rağmen, Augsburg forması giyen genç yetenek tercihini Amedspor’dan yana kullanmaya yakın.

Livan Burcu ile yapılan görüşmelerde olumlu sonuç alan Amedspor yönetimi, genç oyuncudan "Süper Lig'e çıkılması durumunda imza atarım" sözünü aldı.

Trabzonspor yönetimi "veliaht" operasyonu için düğmeye bastı! Paul Onuachu'nun fiziksel gücünün rakipler üstündeki baskısını yerli bir isimle sürdürmek isteyen Fırtına, Ankaragücü'nün 1.91'lik genç devi Atakan Güner'i radarına aldı.

Trabzonspor’un hücum hattında aradığı fiziksel güç, Başkent semalarında parlıyor! Paul Onuachu’nun durdurulamaz çıkışı bordo-mavi yönetimi "veliaht" operasyonu için zorladı. Ankaragücü’nün 1.91 boyundaki 2005 doğumlu golcüsü Atakan Güner, oyun stiliyle Onuachu’yu andıran bir profil çizince Ertuğrul Doğan yönetimi de çok güvendiği scout ekibinin raporuyla harekete geçti.

Sadece boyuyla değil, hava toplarındaki hakimiyeti ve sırtı dönük oyunuyla dikkat çeken genç Atakan, teknik heyetin "gelecekte Onuachu’nun yerini doldurur" dediği isim haline geldi.

20 yaşındaki genç yetenek, Onuachu’nun yarattığı fiziksel tehdidi yerli statüsünde sahaya yansıtabilecek nadir isimlerden biri olarak görülüyor. Ayrıca Türk Milli Takımının aradığı dev golcü boşluğunu doldurabileceği de savunuldu.

Trabzonspor scout ekiplerinin hazırladığı raporda Atakan için, "Rakipleri fiziksel olarak domine eden, kale önünde bitirici ve Onuachu gibi hava hakimiyeti de iyi" ifadeleri kullanıldı.

Bordo-mavili yönetimin, Ankaragücü ile pazarlık masasına oturarak bu transferi kısa sürede bitirmesi bekleniyor.

Paul Onuachu’nun saha içindeki "uzun menzilli" etkisini sürdürmek isteyen Fırtına, Atakan Güner transferi ile hem geleceğe yatırım yapacak hem de hücum hattını bir "kule" ile sağlama alacak.

Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. hafta erteleme maçında Göztepe'ye konuk oluyor. Zorlu mücadele öncesi sarı kırmızılılarda teknik direktör Okan Buruk ilk 11 tercihi hakkında konuştu.

Galatasaray, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. hafta erteleme maçında deplasmanda Göztepe karşı karşıya geliyor. Zorlu mücadele öncesi sarı kırmızılıların teknik direktörü Okan Buruk açıklamalarda bulundu.

İŞTE BURUK'UN SÖZLERİ;

Okan Buruk: "Dünya futbolu için değerli, önemli bir teknik adamı kaybettik. İlk geldiği sezon Lucescu ile çalışmıştım. Lucescu futbolla yaşayan biriydi. Kader onu son maçına Türkiye'de çıkarttı. Allah'tan rahmet diliyorum."

"YUNUS, SARA, TORREIRA VE LANG..."

Çok önemli bir maça çıkacağız. Cumartesi kaybettik, çok hızlı toparlanmalıydık. O maçtan kalan bazı sakatlıklar oldu. Yunus'un ağrıları vardı, Torreira'nın ağrısı vardı, Sara'nın Brezilya'dan dönüşünde sakatlığı vardı, Noa Lang'ın elinde bir sorunu var, temaslı bir oyun olacağı için bugün zorlanabileceğini düşünerek başlatmadık.

"GEÇEN HAFTA GEÇİŞ YEDİK"

"İyi başlayacak, devam edecek, iyi bitirecek bir kadroya sahibiz. Barış'ın hızı ve hareketliliği önemli. Son maç ön alan baskısı yapmadılar ama geçen seneye bakınca yüzde yüz çıktılar, geçen hafta kendi sahalarında beklediler. Oyunun gidişatına göre göreceğiz. Top bizdeyken sahaya doğru yayılamamamız, güvenli olmamamız Trabzon'da kötü sonuca neden oldu. Top kaybı yapmamak gerekiyor. Geçen hafta çok fazla geçiş yedik. Göztepe de çok iyi geçiş yapıyor, direkt oyun oynuyor. Bunu yapmamamız gerekiyor. Topa daha doğru sahip olursak pozisyon bulacağımızı biliyorum."

Qadın voleybolçular arasında keçirilən Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) bu gün yarımfinal mərhələsinə start verilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, raundun hər iki qarşılaşması eyni gündə baş tutub.

Görüşlər Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyinin Voleybol Mərkəzində keçirilib.

İlk olaraq “Gəncə” “Turan”la üz-üzə gəlib. Qarşılaşma Tovuz təmsilçisinin 3:0 (25:22, 25:12, 25:13) hesablı qələbəsi ilə bitib. “Milli Aviasiya Akademiyası”nın “DH Volley” ilə oyununda isə ikincilər qələbə qazanıblar – 3:0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:19).

Tərəflər arasında ikinci görüşlər aprelin 11-i və 13-də baş tutacaq.

Qeyd edək ki, reqlamentə əsasən, yarımfinal mərhələsi ev və səfər prinsipi ilə iki oyundan ibarət olacaq. Nəticəyə əsasən komandaların qələbə sayı bərabər olarsa, qalibi müəyyənləşdirmək üçün “qızıl set” oynanılacaq.

Bürünc və qızıl medal uğrunda həlledici qarşılaşmalar isə cəmi bir oyundan ibarət olacaq.

Yüksək Liqa
Yarımfinalın ilk oyunları
8 aprel

“Gəncə” – “Turan” 0:3 (22:25, 12:25, 13:25)
“Milli Aviasiya Akademiyası” – “DH Volley” 0:3 (22:25, 19:25, 19:25)

Bu gün Azərbaycan basketbolunda yeni tarix yazılıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Sabah”ın gənc basketbolçuları Bosniya və Herseqovinanın Laktasi şəhərində keçirilən Gənclər Çempionlar Liqasında ilk qələbəsini qazanıb.

“Sabah”ın U-18 komandası “B” qrupunun ikinci turunda Almaniyanın “Porşe BBA Lyudviqsburq” klubunu 72:61 hesabı ilə məğlub edib.

Xatırladaq ki, reqlamentə əsasən, qrup qalibləri yarımfinala vəsiqə qazanacaq. İkinci yeri tutanlar 5-8, sonuncu yerin sahibləri isə 9-12-ci yerlər uğrunda mübarizə aparacaqlar.

Çempionlar Liqasının 1/4 finalında keçiriləcək “Barselona” – “Atletiko Madrid” matçı öncəsi Dieqo Simeonenin gizli strategiyası üzə çıxıb.

Futbolpress.az xarici mətbuata istinadən xəbər verir ki, mütəxəssis Kataloniya klubunun gənc ulduzu Lamin Yamalı dayandırmaq üçün aqressiv üsullara əl atacaq.

​İspaniyanın “Sport” qəzetinin yaydığı məlumata görə, Simeone futbolçularına Yamala qarşı yalnız taktiki deyil, həm də ciddi fiziki və psixoloji təzyiq göstərməyi tapşırıb.

Simeonenin planının əsas məqsədi 18 yaşlı futbolçunu özündən çıxarmaq və ona sarı vərəqə aldırmaqdır. Hazırda limitdə olan Yamal sarı vərəqə görəcəyi təqdirdə, aprelin 14-də Madriddə keçiriləcək cavab qarşılaşmasında iştirak edə bilməyəcək. Bu səbəbdən “Atletiko” futbolçularına matçın ilk dəqiqələrindən rəqibə qarşı sərt müdaxilələr etmək və onu səhvə vadar etmək tapşırılıb.

​”Barselona”nın ən böyük silahlarından biri olan Yamal bu mövsüm keçirdiyi 41 rəsmi oyunda 21 qol və 16 asistlə yadda qalıb.

Mingəçevirdə Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyi, Azərbaycan Üzgüçülük Federasiyasının birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə “Üzməyi Öyrənək” layihəsində çalışacaq məşqçilər üçün seminara start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, respublikanın müxtəlif bölgələrini təmsil edən 57 məşqçinin iştirakı ilə keçirilən seminarı üzgüçülük üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının baş məşqçisi, isveçrəli mütəxəssis Luka Qabrilo aparır.

Təlim proqramını uğurla başa vuran məşqçilər layihə çərçivəsində məktəblilərə üzgüçülük dərsləri keçəcəklər.

Layihənin məqsədi uşaqlarda üzgüçülük bacarıqları, su təhlükəsizliyi vərdişləri və özünəinam formalaşdırmaqdır.

​”Yuventus” rəhbərliyi komandada “yenidənqurma” layihəsinin memarı hesab olunan Luçano Spaletti ilə yola davam etmək qərarına gəlib.

​Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ötən ilin oktyabrında İqor Tudoru əvəzləyən 67 yaşlı mütəxəssis qısa müddətdə “qoca sinyora”ya sabitlik gətirməyi bacarıb.

Çempionlar Liqası zonasına daxil olmaq üçün mübarizə aparan Turin təmsilçisi təcrübəli məşqçini yeni müqavilə ilə mükafatlandırmağa hazırlaşır.

İtaliya mətbuatının yaydığı məlumata görə, tərəflər 2028-ci ilin iyununa qədər qüvvədə olacaq yeni müqavilə üzərində razılığa gəliblər. Spalettinin hazırkı müqaviləsi 2026-cı ildə başa çatsa da, yeni razılaşma həm müddət, həm də maliyyə baxımından daha üstündür.

Onun yeni maaşı bonuslar da daxil olmaqla illik təxminən 5-6 milyon avro təşkil edəcək. Müddət isə 2028-ci ilin yayına qədər olacaq.

Məqsəd aprelin 11-də səfərdə keçiriləcək “Atalanta” matçından öncə rəsmi imzaları atmaq və komandanın diqqətini tamamilə oyuna yönəltməkdir.

Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı Pro Liqasının 28-ci turunda keçiriləcək “Əl-Əxdud” – “Əl-Nəsr” matçında maraqlı anlar yaşanacaq.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, meydan sahiblərinin azarkeşləri rəqib komandanın kapitanı Kriştiano Ronaldo üçün xüsusi sürpriz hazırlayıblar.

​Səudiyyənin “Okaz” qəzetinin yaydığı məlumata görə, “Əl-Əxdud” azarkeşləri qarşıdakı şənbə günü keçiriləcək oyunun 7-ci dəqiqəsində ayağa qalxaraq portuqaliyalı ulduzun adını xorla səsləndirəcəklər.

Azarkeşlər bu addımla Ronaldonun Səudiyyə futboluna verdiyi böyük töhfələrə və ölkəyə nümayiş etdirdiyi sevgiyə görə ona təşəkkür etmək istəyirlər.

Kriştiano Ronaldo hazırda 23 qolla bombardirlər siyahısında 3-cü pillədə qərarlaşıb. O, liderlər – İvan Toni (“Əl-Əhli”) və Xulian Kinonisdən (“Əl-Qadisiya”) 3 qol geri qalır.

Weston McKennie has reflected on a remarkable personal journey that has taken him from being cast aside at Juventus to becoming one of Luciano Spalletti’s most trusted and indispensable midfielders, and with a home World Cup on the horizon with the United States, life could hardly look more different from the darkest moments of his career.

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The American, who recently signed a contract renewal at Juventus after establishing himself as a key figure under Spalletti, spoke candidly to Goal about self-doubt, humility and the importance of staying grounded despite achieving things he once considered impossible.

His honesty about the fragility of his early career is striking for a player now operating at the very highest level.

“When I was in the USA youth teams I never would have thought something like this could happen to me,” McKennie said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.

“As a child you get discouraged easily, and every time I was left out of the squad I thought there was no way I could ever make it. I would go back to Dallas, to my family and to FC Dallas, and there they relaunched me, believing in me day after day. That pushed me to improve more and more, to push beyond what I thought was possible. I am grateful for the journey I have taken to get here, I never would have imagined reaching this level.”

McKennie: ‘I’m a human being like everyone else’

That journey has not only shaped him as a footballer but as a public figure, one acutely conscious of the responsibility that comes with being a role model for young American players trying to follow a similar path.

“It is an extraordinary feeling but also a responsibility,” he said. “Back then social media was not so common and my role models were people I saw on TV or in magazines. Today there is much more responsibility.”

What McKennie is most eager for people to take from his story, however, is something more personal than the goals and assists. “I am a good footballer, but above all I am a human being like everyone else,” he said.

“I try to always be faithful to my values and my roots. I wish people saw me as humble, you need to remain humble and follow your dream, finding your own path.”

Away from football, McKennie painted a picture of a man who values simplicity above all else. Barbecues with family, a drink with friends, time with his dogs, the kind of ordinary pleasures that keep him anchored to who he was before the fame.

“I like to enjoy life to the fullest,” he said. “The last six to eight months have been pretty positive, in family life, with friends, and with my dogs.”

Danilo has opened up on one of the most emotional moments of his career, the day his closest friend and long-time teammate Alex Sandro left Juventus, in a heartfelt documentary produced by Flamengo TV ahead of the new Copa Libertadores campaign.

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The Brazilian defender spent several years alongside Alex Sandro at the Turin club, having previously shared dressing rooms at Santos and Porto.

Their bond, forged across three different countries and multiple trophy wins, runs far deeper than football, and Danilo’s words made that abundantly clear.

Danilo reflects on Alex Sandro bond & Juventus exit

“When Alex left Juventus it made me cry on the pitch, because we had fought so many battles together,” Danilo said, with quotes via the Corriere dello Sport.

“When he left I didn’t think it would be that difficult. It was then that I truly felt his absence. Understanding how much we have supported each other during our careers and in difficult moments is something that makes me very satisfied, because it has extended to our personal lives and our families.”

Alex Sandro, speaking in the same documentary, was equally emotional in his tribute to a friendship he describes as lifelong. “We talk every day and share feelings that few people can imagine,” he said.

“For me he has always been a mirror, someone I have always admired enormously. Our story as brothers, friends and teammates will last a lifetime, it won’t end here at Flamengo.”

The two are now reunited once more at the Rio club, with Danilo having returned to Flamengo, the club where he grew up, after his time in Europe. He admitted that winning the Libertadores last season and scoring in the final against Palmeiras would have been the perfect moment to retire at 34, adding that only the unfulfilled dream of a World Cup with Brazil kept him going.

On that front, Danilo had warm words for Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose path has crossed his own in unexpected ways. “When I was at Porto and moved to Real Madrid, it was practically Ancelotti who bought me, and then when I arrived, he had already been sacked,” he said with a smile. “The game is like that. But we found each other again more than ten years later in the national team. It is an enormous privilege to work with him.”

Antonio Conte’s candid declaration of interest in the Italy job following Sunday’s Napoli-Milan match has set in motion a fascinating chain of events that could reshape the managerial landscape across Serie A this summer.

Conte was clear on Sunday evening that he would need to speak with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis before any decision could be made, given that he still has a year remaining on his contract at the club.

The acknowledgement that he has put himself forward for the national team role makes it difficult to envision him continuing at Napoli beyond this season, though in football, stranger things have happened.

What has emerged in the wake of Conte’s comments is that Napoli had already been quietly exploring their options.

De Zerbi & Italiano among Napoli targets as Conte open to Italy

According to Alfredo Pedulla, the club held conversations with Roberto De Zerbi about a potential move to the Maradona, only for Tottenham to move faster and secure the Brighton manager for themselves.

It is a significant revelation that suggests De Laurentiis had already begun contingency planning well before Conte made his position public.

Vincenzo Italiano remains a name high on Napoli’s list, a long-standing target of De Laurentiis, while Gian Piero Gasperini, despite recent signs of tension at Roma, is tied to the capital club for another two years, making any move complicated.

At Roma, the suggestion that Gasperini could be vulnerable raises wider questions about the club’s direction.

As Pedulla’s report pointedly notes, Roma cannot continue to treat the manager as the primary problem when the issues clearly run deeper, particularly around transfer market strategy and internal alignment, concerns that have been present since at least December.

Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, continues to be mentioned as a potential Italy candidate despite recent denials, a situation that could become clearer once Milan’s season reaches its conclusion.

Pascal Struijk could be on his way out of Leeds United at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old central defender has a contract with the Premier League club until 2027, and he could be available for a reasonable amount of money in the summer.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are planning to submit an offer for the Netherlands defender in the summer. Tottenham and Newcastle are lurking in the background as well, and they could look to make a move.

It remains to be seen where the 26-year-old central defender ends up. He has shown his quality in the Premier League, and he could prove a very useful addition to all three clubs. The opportunity to join Aston Villa, Tottenham or Newcastle will be attractive for him. It would be a step up in his career. 

Aston Villa is pushing for Champions League qualification and will look to add more quality and depth to the team if they finish in the top four. Adding more defensive depth could be ideal for them. They have a competitive team and a quality manager. Struijk will certainly fancy the opportunity of playing for them next season. 

On the other hand, Tottenham had a disappointing season, and they will look to bounce back strongly next year. They need quality additions in the summer to tighten up at the back. Struijk could help them defensively if he joins the club. 

As for Newcastle, they need long-term replacements for Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. The Netherlands defender could be the ideal acquisition for them. He is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to take the next step. 

The post Aston Villa prepare offer as Tottenham and Newcastle circle for 26-year-old Dutchman appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months.

According to FussballDaten, Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly interested in securing his signature. The German International midfielder has a contract with Stuttgart until 2028 and includes a €40 million release clause.

However, they have an option to remove the release clause by paying €2 million, and the German club could demand around €65 million for the midfielder in the summer, if they manage to remove his release clause over the next few weeks. Stuttgart view the player as “untouchable”.

The two Premier League clubs are closely monitoring the player and hoping to secure his signature in the summer. Manchester United need a quality replacement for Casemiro, and the 24-year-old German International could be ideal for them. He is excellent at protecting the back four and winning the ball back for his team. He will allow the creative players to operate with more freedom. In addition to his defensive qualities, he is quite accomplished on the ball and has been compared to Toni Kroos. 

It will be interesting to see if Manchester United is willing to break the Bank for him. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool could use more quality and depth in the middle of the park as well. They need a reliable defensive midfielder, and Stiller would be an excellent addition. His arrival will allow Ryan Gravenberch to operate in his natural role. The Netherlands International has been used as a defensive midfielder, but he has struggled in that role. 

Both Premier League clubs could be exciting destinations for the midfielder. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. 

The player is reportedly looking for a salary of around €7-9 million per season. The two Premier League clubs have the financial muscle to accept his demands. It remains to be seen whether they come forward with an official offer in the summer. 

The post Man United & Liverpool chase “untouchable” Bundesliga star, clause twist could complicate deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

If you shelved your inbound strategy this past year, you can shelve your Inbound conference mugs and swag with it.

HubSpot renamed its annual Inbound conference in Boston this September to Unbound. A note on the event site explains the thinking:

• “This evolution is our response to that reality. INBOUND is becoming UNBOUND because growth no longer fits within a single framework or function. Today, it covers marketing, sales, service, and operations across the full customer journey in an AI-driven environment. UNBOUND reflects that expanded reality and the mindset required to lead through it.” 

Inbound is outbound. HubSpot pioneered inbound marketing, which uses content and search rankings to attract visitors, then convert them on-site.

Recent Google core updates appeared to hurt the HubSpot blog, possibly because its content drifted from core topics like CRM, sales, and marketing into broader business areas like interview tips.

Inbound strategy has declined as search shifts from platforms like Google to LLMs like ChatGPT, which drive fewer clicks to websites.

From inbound to loop marketing. In 2025, HubSpot introduced its Loop marketing strategy to replace inbound. Loop focuses educating consumers in an AI-driven world.

The conference rebrand acknowledges that no single framework works for you in today’s marketing landscape.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a frontrunner to be crowned the Premier League’s Player of the Year – and this incredible statistic proves exactly why he deserves the award.

The Heartbeat of the Team

The Red Devils look set to emerge from a chaotic season with a pivotal return to Europe’s elite competition next year, despite that prospect having seemed remote over a brutal winter period at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim‘s tumultuous tenure came to an abrupt end at the start of January after a complete breakdown in his relationship with the INEOS executive structure, though murmurings of discontent had been bubbling beneath the surface for weeks before.

A explosive meeting with sporting director Jason Wilcox after being held to a draw by an abject Wolverhampton Wanderers side on 30 December signalled the beginning of the end for the Portuguese tactician’s time in England.

Less than a week later, Amorim took aim at the club’s hierarchy in a bombastic interview at Elland Road, levelling veiled accusations at Wilcox and recruitment director Christopher Vivell after another disappointing stalemate with Leeds United. It proved his death knell.

Within 24 hours, the former Sporting manager had been sacked, replaced by under-18s coach Darren Fletcher on a temporary basis before Michael Carrick was handed the reins as caretaker until the end of the season. The transformation Carrick has overseen over the last three months has exposed Amorim, however, with United having climbed to third in the table, picking up seven wins, two draws and just one loss in 10 games – the best form amongst any side in the league.

At the heart of this remarkable upturn has been Fernandes, restored to his rightful throne as the team’s No.10. The Portugal international has returned three goals and eight assists in this more familiar role. There is a strong chance of breaking the Premier League’s record for the latter, which stands at 20 – he is currently on 16 with seven games to go.

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season

However, truth be told, Fernandes’ form across the entire turbulent campaign has been imperious, ranking highly across both offensive and defensive metrics, given Amorim’s baffling decision to permanently redeploy him as a box-to-box midfielder, playing as close to his own box as the opposition’s.

In an interview last summer, Casemiro – another player to be reborn under Carrick’s tutelage, alongside his partner in crime, Kobbie Mainoo – described Fernandes as the “heartbeat” of the team. It’s little exaggeration to say United would have flatlined without their talismanic leader this season.

A League of His Own

While it’s unusual for a footballer to be awarded Player of the Season when their team fails to win, or at least meaningfully compete, for major honours, Fernandes has made as convincing an argument as possible to be the exception which proves the rule.

The 31-year-old’s stellar leadership and unrelenting work-rate off the ball are as good as anyone else in the Premier League. But his creativity in possession puts him in a world of his own – as a statistic by Statman Dave proves.

Tweet: “If you exclude set-pieces for Bruno Fernandes but include them for everybody else, he still has the most chances created in the Premier League this season (66).”

Set-pieces have dominated England’s top division this season, with Arsenal on course to win their first title in 23 years largely down to their prowess from corners and free-kicks. The fact that Fernandes is still the most productive creator in the country while ignoring his contributions from dead ball situations almost beggars belief – and is the best piece of evidence available to confirm he is the Premier League’s best player.

When the other contenders for the award are considered, such as Arsenal’s defensive lynchpins Gabriel Magalhães or Declan Rice, there can be only be one winner.

Final Thoughts

United are blessed to have a prodigious talent like Fernandes as their leader, with every member of the Old Trafford faithful praying he remains in Manchester past the summer as rumours swirl over a bombshell exit.

And while success for the Red Devils this season will simply constitute securing Champions League football, the Portuguese deserves more. He must be recognised as England’s finest footballer, with the cherry on top of that well-deserved cake being to break the Premier League’s assist record. He just needs his teammates to assist him over the line for the latter, while his peers elsewhere in the country vote en masse for the former.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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

College basketball hasn't been the same without Dick Vitale regularly working games on TV. But after being declared cancer free last year, the 86-year-old legendary announcer made his return to broadcasting last season — and even worked the First Four with Charles Barkley.

His latest health update, though, might put his broadcasting return on pause once again.

In a statement through ESPN PR exec Josh Krulewitz, Vitale revealed that doctors identified areas of concern in his latest scans and ordered a biopsy for additional testing. Vitale had battled multiple cancer diagnoses over the past few years and was declared cancer free in 2025.

A health update from @DickieV that he asked me to share pic.twitter.com/N7W6UzLfVX

— Josh Krulewitz (@jksports) April 8, 2026

College basketball fans responded to the news by wishing the best for Vitale.

Like so many others, sending positive thoughts and wishing the best for @DickieV. ❤️ https://t.co/vQOdZOW9CN

— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) April 8, 2026

Keep fighting, @DickieV! https://t.co/OEspKTbteh

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) April 8, 2026

Sending you love and prayers @DickieVhttps://t.co/yRmy1qVWcL

— Andrew Javier (@AndrewJav13r) April 8, 2026

Best wishes go out to Dick Vitale.

You've been through it all @DickieV and you've always come out a winner. I know you'll get through this and host your Gala on May 1. You got this! 🙏 https://t.co/OXUv88n0r6

— Owen VA & PBP 🎙 (@OwenOVAPBP) April 8, 2026

Get well soon @DickieVhttps://t.co/Mt8u6ZASSB

— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) April 8, 2026

Still fighting the fight. God bless him. https://t.co/lOgIPF9JkQ

— JJK (@MCHamr2) April 8, 2026

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fans offered support for Dick Vitale after concerning health update

The Philadelphia Eagles have never shied away from investing in the secondary. If recent draft evaluations are any indication, they may have another intriguing option on their radar. Chris Johnson, the 2025 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Mountain West selection, is quickly gaining traction as one of the more versatile cornerback prospects in this year's class. His rise has been fueled not just by production but also by the kind of evaluation that tends to turn heads in NFL front offices.

Per the report, Philadelphia hosted Johnson for a virtual meeting ahead of the NFL Draft.

The #Eagles had a virtual meeting with San Diego State CB Chris Johnson, per @JustinM_NFL.

The projected 2nd round pick would be an elite option as an outside corner for Philly. pic.twitter.com/c4FeUw6htv

— James Simone (@JamesSimoneNFL) April 6, 2026

Lance Zierlein compares Chris Johnson to Byron Murphy.

In his draft profile, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com offered a notable comparison, linking Johnson's game to Byron Murphy, a former second-round pick who developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

“Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside.. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks… He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays.”

That type of versatility is exactly what Philadelphia has prioritized in recent years. Defensive schemes continue to evolve, and corners who can move between boundary and slot responsibilities without sacrificing effectiveness carry added value. Johnson checks those boxes. While he may not possess elite size, his discipline, technique, and willingness to play physically give him a strong foundation to contribute early at the next level.

For a team like the Eagles, which has shown a willingness to develop young defensive backs while competing, that profile fits. The comparison to Murphy doesn't guarantee anything, but it does set a tone, and if Johnson's trajectory continues upward, he could find himself firmly in the Eagles' conversation when draft weekend arrives.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles held a virtual meeting with San Diego State CB Chris Johnson

Between the excitement of the 2026 Winter Olympics, a thrilling NHL wild-card race, and the meteoric rise of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the sport of hockey is experiencing an undeniable cultural surge. 

As interest in the sport peaks, Upper Deck is looking to welcome a new generation of fans into the sports card hobby. On Saturday, April 11, the manufacturer will host its 17th annual National Hockey Card Day. The premise is simple: visit a participating local hobby shop, and you will receive a free pack of Upper Deck hockey trading cards, while supplies last.

It’s an initiative designed to lower the barrier of entry for beginners and return collecting to its grassroots origins.

“We’re committed to the hobby channel, we’re committed to making our products accessible to them,” Paul Zickler, Director of Sports Brands at The Upper Deck Company, noted during a recent interview. “And I think that that’s another avenue that we’re starting to see some interest now from collectors typically collecting other sports.”

The PWHL Effect

One of the most significant evolutions in this year’s National Hockey Card Day is the official debut of the PWHL.

Following an incredibly entertaining Olympic tournament that featured physical play, overtime thrillers, and massive impacts from college-aged rookies, the women’s game is capturing a brand new demographic of fans. To honor this, Upper Deck has included the “PWHL Powerhouses” insert in this year’s free packs, marking the league’s debut in the NHCD set.

For shop owners like Ryan Holland, who operates three Real Sports Cards locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin, the impact of the PWHL on the local community is highly visible.

“PWHL is another one that is absolutely on fire,” Ryan said. “Anecdotally we had in our suburb, 64 eight-and-under girls come out for hockey… that just tells you how much excitement there is to get out there and play hockey.” Ryan also pointed out that the accessibility of PWHL athletes, such as Minnesota Frost players who graduated from high schools in the area and remain active in the local community, is driving unique excitement.

The Chase: What’s in the Packs?

While the core goal of National Hockey Card Day is accessibility, Upper Deck hasn’t skimped on the chase elements that veteran collectors love. The 2026 base set spans the entire history of the game, featuring prominent rookies, current superstars like Connor McDavid, and historic legends like Wayne Gretzky.

Upper Deck is keeping the product fresh by introducing a “Mascot Mannerisms” insert set, which includes the debut card of Tusky.

For collectors looking for premium hits, there are also unannounced autographs hidden inside the free packs. Upper Deck confirmed that Trevor Zegras and Jack Hughes are on the autograph checklist, alongside a teased Montreal Canadiens player.

Furthermore, collectors who spend $10 on Upper Deck products at participating shops will receive a special Ivan Demidov “Rookie Moments” card (#31), which highlights his first NHL goal from the end of last season.

Championing the Brick-and-Mortar Community

In an era where sports cards are largely consumed via online live-streaming, Upper Deck is using National Hockey Card Day to intentionally push fans back into physical stores.

“The growth and where the hobby all started was connecting like-minded sports fans and collectors in the community to share in the hobby,” Paul stated. “Whether you’re just wanting to buy your first hockey pack and get into collecting, or whether you’re a seasoned collector that wants to connect and have a fun day… that’s really what it’s at.”

Local shops serve as an educational hub for new fans trying to navigate the complex world of modern trading cards. “There’s a lot to learn in this industry,” Ryan explained. “Sometimes being able to go into a card shop that knows what they’re talking about that can help you navigate the many choices that there are… is really important.”

Beyond hobby shops, Canadian fans can pick up commemorative 9-card sheets at retailers like the Hockey Hall of Fame, London Drugs, and EB Games, while U.S. fans can find them at Pure Hockey locations. Several NHL teams are also joining the fun, with the Islanders handing out promo packs to the first 10,000 fans on April 11, and the Senators and Sharks offering sheets at their pop-up shops.

To cap it all off, Upper Deck is encouraging collectors to post their pack pulls on social media on April 11, using the #NHCD hashtag, tagging the brand and their local shop to win unique prizes —including a hand-drawn card of Mark Comb, sketched by top prospect Matthew Schaefer, and signed by Comb himself.

“The one testament that never grows old is opening up a pack of physical cards and finding your favorite player or your favorite team,” Paul concluded. “When you’re able to do that with other people in your local community… it just makes the experience that much more special.”

For more information on National Hockey Card Day visit the Upper Deck website. 

Texas women's basketball coach Vic Schaefer is going to have to reload his roster.

After making their second consecutive run to the Final Four, Texas is losing a handful of key players to the transfer portal. Three people with direct access to the transfer portal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday that Jordan Lee, Aaliyah Crump, Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Moore are in the transfer portal.

Lee and Carlton were regular starters for the Longhorns, which won the SEC Tournament title this season for the first time in program history. Crump was sixth on the team in minutes played this season, while Moore — who missed this season with a knee injury — is a former All-Big 12 selection who averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 90 games for the Longhorns.

Coupled with the fact that Rori Harmon, Kyla Oldacre and Teya Sidberry have exhausted their eligibility and are set to graduate, Texas is losing six of its top eight players from its Final Four squad.

Three-time All-American Madison Booker and junior starting forward Breya Cunningham are still expected to return, but Schaefer has holes to fill around them.

Lee is perhaps the loss that stings the most for the Longhorns. Widely viewed as the glue of the team, she was named to the All-Region team in Fort Worth 3 in this year’s NCAA Tournament for her performances in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, where she piled up 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals while also providing strong defense. A sophomore, Lee averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from the floor, 34% from 3-point land and 75% from the free throw line.

Carlton — a sophomore who was selected to the All-SEC Tournament Team — averaged 8.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4% from 3-point range. A freshman, Crump averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Texas is bringing a strong recruiting class, headlined by Addison Bjorn and Brihanna Crittendon, who are both ranked inside ESPN’s top 10 for the 2026 class. Bjorn was the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and helped Team USA win the U19 World Cup last summer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Glue player Jordan Lee headlines wave of Texas departures to transfer portal

On Tuesday, tight end and defensive lineman Troy Walson announced on X that he will continue his football career at UConn this fall. Alongside Connecticut, the Fordham Rams and Virginia Military Institute scouted the versatile player.

In Walson’s final year with Bruton High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, he participated in 10 games, hauling in seven receptions for 121 yards, just over 17 yards per catch. As a junior, he registered 13 catches for 200 receiving yards in 12 games and notched an 18-yard touchdown. As of now, Walson’s primary position is at tight end, but he is not new to taking snaps defensively.

In 10 appearances, Walson racked up 23 total tackles (9 solo, 12 assisted) and recovered a fumble as a defensive lineman. Heading into this fall, he’ll be focused on developing with the Huskies.

Watson also played basketball for the Panthers. In 19 games his senior year, the future Husky contributed 4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per outing.

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball team is losing a seventh player to the NCAA transfer portal. Georgia forward Jaden Newell announced his plans to transfer the day the portal opened on Tuesday, April 7.

Newell is a former walk-on and is the older brother of former Georgia star Asa Newell, who was a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft and helped Georgia make the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Asa Newell was an elite recruit and having his brother on Georgia's team helped the Bulldogs land him. The older Newell will graduate from Georgia with a degree in biology.

Jaden Newell's decision to enter the transfer portal makes sense. He is getting his degree from Georgia, but has not earned much playing time. He likely wants a larger role at his transfer destination.

Newell played just 12 minutes across nine games during the 2025-2026 college basketball season. He scored two points in his limited time on the floor, but was a glue-guy for the Georgia team. Newell helped Georgia make back-to-back NCAA Tournaments during his final two seasons at Georgia. He grew from a walk-on player to a scholarship player.

During the 2025-2026 season, Georgia had 14 players played at least one minute. Half of those players now are expected to leave via the transfer portal. Two of the 14 players are out of eligibility (Justin Bailey and Justin Abson). Three players have announced their returns for next season while two players have not announced their plans.

Jaden Newell thanks Georgia basketball

View this post on Instagram

"After much prayer and careful consideration, I have made the decision to continue that growth by entering the transfer portal," Newell said in a thoughtful message via social media. "Thank you, Georgia. I will always bleed red and black. Go Dawgs!"

Georgia Bulldogs in the transfer portal

• Forward Jaden Newell
• Forward Dylan James
• Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson
• Center Somto Cyril
• Center Jackson McVey
• Guard Jordan Ross
• Forward Jake Wilkins

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia basketball coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Seventh Georgia Bulldogs basketball player to transfer

The Atlanta Falcons are still dealing with the aftermath of James Pearce Jr.'s offseason arrest. The former first-round pick is facing three felony charges due to a stalking incident involving his ex-girlfriend. As expected, Pearce did not appear at the team's voluntary workouts.

"I will tell you guys that James Pearce is not here," said Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski. "We've been in constant communication with his representation."

Stefanski failed to provide much context and the team has said very little regarding Pearce's arrest and potential future in Atlanta. The expectation is that the NFL will suspend Pearce once his legal troubles are sorted out.

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was asked about Pearce during his Wednesday press conference. Robinson said he hasn't spoken to Pearce since the incident, but that he's praying for his teammate.

"I'm praying for my brother," Robinson said of Pearce. "He's my teammate, I know the coaches have a plan and everything. If he's here in the building, I'm gonna make sure he's all the way focused, all the way ready to go."

Robinson was practically oozing excitement for the upcoming season and sounds like he's itching to get to work.

"I really feel like this is the best I've felt in my whole time being here," said Robinson. "Last year was a cool year, but this year I want to be even better."

The dual-threat back topped 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2025, and he's only just getting started. Over his first three NFL seasons, Robinson has rushed for 3,910 yards and 25 touchdowns, while adding 198 receptions for 1,738 receiving yards.

The Falcons let Robinson's backup, Tyler Allgeier, walk in free agency, but they signed veteran Brian Robinson Jr. as a replacement. Bijan praised both his former and current backfield mates.

"I'm very happy for him and what he's about to do in Arizona," Robinson said of Allgeier's new contact with the Cardinals.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson comments on James Pearce Jr.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Part of the beauty of Augusta National is how a familiar course can play slightly different year to year. Greens will be reworked, tee boxes moved slightly, trees added or removed—to present a new challenge.

RELATED: Masters 2026: A comprehensive history of every change to Augusta National

The 90th edition of the Masters will offer a dynamic we rarely see to this degree: A completely firm-and-fast test without any rain in the forecast.

One of the biggest storylines of the week is the weather, but for good reason. Patrons, volunteers, players … everybody’s excited to see Augusta National in those conditions. Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler said it’s the best weather conditions he’s seen for a Masters Tournament in his career. 

RELATED: Masters 2026: I found a weird stat that could predict the Masters winner

So how will the course change exactly?

Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion, talked about the difference in how a firm-and-fast Augusta will challenge players.

“It's going to be probably a more challenging green-in-regulation year,” Spieth said. “So it's going to be important to be coming out of the fairway just because it's going to be hard to get it to stay on some of the greens if you're not. And then it's going to probably get brown and crusty. Just with the weather coming, it's going to be so nice that I think they're going to let it go a little bit.”

Of course, most golf fans are probably aware of Augusta National’s Sub-Air system and how it can control its turf. Most of the time, the club will use its control mechanisms to reduce the moisture after rainfall to reduce how soft the course will play. This year, the club might deploy it to add some moisture if the putting surfaces are too firm. That’d be the best situation to have.

RELATED: Masters 2026: Man arrested after trying to sneak into Augusta National

Sure, firmness in the fairways means more distance on tee shots, potentially benefitting shorter hitters. But most important is the premium it will put on controlling your ball—particularly into and around the greens when they’re so bouncy.

“The chipping is going to be really tough,” said Akshay Bhatia. “You’ll just have to have some more creativity … It just makes your landing zones a lot smaller. You have to be very precise and miss in the right spot. Definitely makes it trickier.”

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The most recent best parallel to this year’s expected conditions would be the 2021 Masters, when the course dried out and got crispy even early in the week. Walking around on Wednesday, it was quite windy and crisp—adding to how dried out the turf should be, making it an ideal challenge.

Adding the need to be more precise around these greens will likely make this year’s Masters even more of a complete examination than it normally is. That’s what has people so excited. The best player will be identified by the extra challenge Augusta National presents.

RELATED: Masters 2026: There's a legend about a writer sneaking onto Augusta National and making an albatross. The truth is richer

“I'm excited to see how it plays this week,” Scheffler said. “We might get a little bit of wind and that increases the challenge. When it gets firm and fast, you're going to have some shorter clubs in, but it's going to be firmer, so you've got to kind of manage your way around.”

The two-time Masters champ has done a pretty good job of that.

RELATED: Masters 2026: Can the Masters be everything for everyone without losing what it is?

Shane Smith, the South Siders’ 2026 Opening Day starter, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. Smith’s demotion comes after his start on Wednesday, where he flashed some of that nasty swing-and-miss stuff we saw for stretches last season.

Smith was still erratic, however. He walked five Orioles, plunked a sixth, and burned through 99 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. Despite failing to end the fourth inning, Wednesday was still Smith’s longest outing of the year. That kinda says everything you need to know right there.

The issues are easy to diagnose. Smith has completely lost the ability to spot his fastball. Compare his 2025 heat map to 2026:

At his best, Smith features one of the liveliest four-seam fastballs in baseball. The pitch can overpower hitters even when they are sitting on it. Smith also added 1.3 inches of rise to his four-seamer early in 2026, which could help generate more swings and misses in the strike zone. None of this does a pitcher any good, however, when he’s constantly missing wide of the zone.

James Fegan got Smith and some of the White Sox development staff to talk about the fastball issues on Monday, and I was struck by this quote by Brian Bannister:

“He lost some of the qualities that made him unique,” Bannister said. “He had this unique little step forward that threw hitters off on their timing, and then he would speed up right after that to go slow, fast. You get some visual deception in a way that Tarik Skubal does.”

This isn’t the first time Bannister has talked about “visual deception” this season. Bannister is one of those guys who is always looking for the next big thing; in 2024 and 2025, he bet on the kick changeup and was correct. He’s now wagering on “funky,” a concept that has long been a staple of Japanese baseball culture but has grown more en vogue recently in MLB, from the more obvious (Nestor Cortes’s double leg kick) to the more subtle, like Shane Smith’s herky-jerky tempo from last year. The organization even has a term for them: “residuals.”

Smith took it upon himself over the offseason to regulate his windup tempo — we’re left to infer that Bannister hadn’t communicated his philosophy of funk to his pitchers before the offseason — and in doing so, he took away a piece of what made him a budding star last year. It’s like taking the loud parts out of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”—now the song is just some mumbly guy playing two notes over and over.

While an early-season demotion does not seem so bleak after last year’s extended Spring Training, where Colson Montgomery got his groove back, it also doesn’t instill much confidence in a ballclub when the Opening Day starter can’t make it to Tax Day. It’ll be up to the White Sox brain trust to get Smith back to the funk.

Wisconsin's recent NCAA Tournament foe, High Point, is one of the programs interested in former Badger guard Daniel Freitag, according to a report.

Dylan Lutey took to X on Wednesday to share that Freitag, who spent the 2024-25 season at Wisconsin before transferring to Buffalo, has heard from Ole Miss, Creighton, Cal, Grand Canyon, Washington, Penn State, Portland, Oregon State and High Point since entering the portal. Freitag later reposted the news.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native appeared in 14 games as a true freshman with the Badgers in 2024-25, totaling 29 minutes, two points, four rebounds and three assists. He later blossomed as a sophomore at Buffalo in 2025-26, averaging 33.2 minutes, 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 23 appearances.

247Sports currently ranks Freitag as the No. 123 overall player and No. 26 point guard in the transfer portal.

Buffalo guard Daniel Freitag (@DanielFreitag_) has heard from the following he tells me:

Ole Miss
Creighton
Cal
GCU
Washington
Penn State
High Point
Portland
Oregon St

After transferring from Wisconsin the 6-2 guard had a monster year averaging 19.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3… pic.twitter.com/PpazFsAB6k

— Rising Ballers Network (@dylan_lutey) April 8, 2026

Freitag's Big Ten interest is notable, as he may soon be back competing in the Badgers' conference. It's also a minor note that High Point, which recently eliminated the Badgers from the NCAA Tournament, was among the programs listed.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball transfer Daniel Freitag interest list High Point

Are the Boston Celtics interested in trading for Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? Or is Giannis trying to find his way to a better situation with a dash of what the Athletic's Sam Amick calls "reverse tampering"?

Recently, the Bucks star had high praise for the Celtics and Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla, pointing out how the Celtics made a contender this season despite the loss of several key players from their 2024 title core to injury, free agency, or trades. The subtext, of course, is a shot at the team he's been playing for since he was drafted in 2013 for not doing the same. Now, Amick reports that Boston "who have the ‘Two Jays’ back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to be interested and discussed in league circles as potential suitors."

At first, a Celtics fan would have their hackles raised by such a statement, given that any move to bring on Giannis would require shipping out one of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Derrick White and a large chunk of Boston's rotation players. And given the recent health and age (31) of the Greek forward, that does not sound like the boon it might have been as recently as a season or two ago.

Asked about the conversation Antetokounmpo cited regarding Boston's success this season and his role in it, Mazzulla replied (via Boston Dot Com reporter Khari A. Thompson), "He’s a great player, but I think my reaction is that you can’t do anything unless you have the players to be able to do it."

"It’s just that simple. I think the greatest gift you can have as a coach, especially in the NBA, is to have a group of players that have a high competitive character, care about winning and want to get better," noted the Celtics coach, reiterating his position in said conversation that it is less about him and more about the collective of people that have been assembled by the team's front office, and what they each bring to the table.

"I think it starts there."

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Report: Celtics 'known to be interested' in Giannis Antetokounmpo

Dustin Johnson returns to The Masters this year with his stunning 20-under record still intact.

Johnson carded the lowest winning score at The Masters back in 2020, carding a 20-under 268 at Augusta National.

The superb score – 65-70-65-68 – helped secure a five-shot victory over Im Sung-jae and Cameron Smith.

Johnson has now returned to Georgia for his 16th start at The Masters, with his only other major championship win having arrived at the US Open in 2016.

The American, who missed the cut last year, has now predicted whether his record could be broken this time around.

Dustin Johnson thinks his 20-under record at The Masters is safe

Johnson was asked if he thinks his 20-under record at The Masters is safe, to which he replied simply: “I think it is.”

And when questioned why, the two-time major winner responded: “Because the course keeps getting harder every year.”

He was then asked if the time of year played a part, with Johnson saying: “I mean, the year before was what, 19?

“You know, Tiger [Woods], and I think and I finished at 18. So it’s all conditions.

“I mean, both those years it played fairly soft and it’s a completely different course this year. “Starting to bounce a little bit. Makes it a little bit more difficult.”

His 268 is two clear of the previous record, with Woods and Jordan Spieth both finishing on 270 in 1997 and 2015 respectively.

Dustin Johnson highlights ‘fantastic’ Augusta National condition for The Masters

Johnson delved further into the course itself and the conditions in Georgia, where he’s made 11 cuts from 15 starts.

Sharing if his approach to Amen Corner, which comprises holes 11-13, has changed over the years, he said: “It would be the same.

“I mean, obviously 13 is a little bit different. That would be the only hole that’s really… I mean 11 is a little bit longer but it’s always been a tough hole.

“12 is just exact same hole.

“But yeah, 13 is the only one that’s really a big change I would say. Just longer and a little bit tougher tee ball.”

And when asked how they are going to play this week amid the current conditions, he noted: “However they want it.

“I mean, the weather is perfect, so I think whatever they want to do with the golf course they’ll be able to.

“Course is in fantastic condition, and yeah, I think the weather is going to cooperate. However they want it to play that’s how it’ll play.”

It’s an important week for the LIV Golf star, who followed his missed cut at The Masters in 2025 by suffering the same fate at the PGA Championship and the US Open.

The 41-year-old can, however, take some form of confidence from finishing that major season with a T23 at The Open Championship.

It will be intriguing to see how the American deals with the greens this week, having struggled in that area of late, particularly compared to his solid efforts off the tee.

Read more:

Min Woo Lee suggests how the wind at Augusta this year could impact his game for The Masters

Collin Morikawa update as ‘notable info’ emerges from Augusta National range ahead of The Masters

How Scottie Scheffler really feels about his game ahead of The Masters compared to previous years

Chelsea have been outrun in every game they’ve played in the league this season, and clearly want to do something about it.

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Chelsea’s last Premier League game was a disaster. The Blues needed a win over Everton, and instead they got beaten handily 3-0.

It put them into the international break on a real negative, and even a big win against Port Vale last weekend hasn’t fully erased that. One of the notable stats from the game was how Chelsea had been outrun in the game – and in fact had been outrun in every game this season. There was a big debate about how bad this actually was, and Liam Rosenior addressed it in his press conference after the game.

Chelsea get stuck into physical preparation for Man City

Cole Palmer runs in Chelsea training.

Maybe it’s no coincidence, then, that the social media accounts at the club are very focused on the physical preparation for Man City this weekend. There’s been a slew of videos and photos on the club’s Twitter page pointing out how much running they’re doing.

Of course, it takes more than hard running to win in the Premier League, especially against a top team like City. But you’re not going to win without it either, so it’s nice to see the criticism has been taken on board.

In other news…

Jacobo Ramon is another player we’ve seen get linked to Chelsea a lot – but it seems like we might have a major rival for his signature.

Enzo Fernandez got in trouble for his comments during the international break, and Ben Jacobs was asked what he thought Chelsea’s position on them was.

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Caleb Williams has opened up about the figures who shaped his business mindset, highlighting a mix of personal influence and some of the biggest names in sports.

The Chicago Bears quarterback has consistently spoken about thinking beyond football, and that approach is rooted in both his upbringing and the examples set by elite athletes who built successful ventures off the field.

That combination of personal and professional influence defines how he sees his future. It also explains why his role models span different areas.

Caleb Williams says his father was his first business role model

Williams discussed his influences in a conversation with Front Office Sports News, where he was asked about the people who shaped his business thinking.

He made it clear that his earliest inspiration came from close to home rather than from sport.

Williams said, “Yeah, I think first and he’s not an athlete, is my father. He’s been a businessman my whole life. He showed me hard work and what it takes.

“So, I would definitely say, it started with him at a young age, going to his meetings.”

The answer highlights how his entrepreneurial mindset developed long before his rise in football.

Caleb Williams names Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and more as business role models from the sports world

Williams then pointed to several iconic athletes who have successfully transitioned into business.

He said, “I mean, MJ [Michael Jordan] has been the model. Magic Johnson has been the model. Kobe [Bryant], has been a model for all their foundation and all their businesses.

“How’s that been, for them and then, Steph Curry, the new age. I know, he’s on the latter part of his career.”

The list reflects a clear pattern: players who built lasting impact beyond their playing days.

For Williams, those examples serve as a blueprint for what his own post-NFL journey could look like.

Read more:

The Central Division and Metropolitan Division title races have been settled but the other two NHL division races are tight.

After games on Tuesday, April 7, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are tied atop the Atlantic Division with 102 points each. In the Pacific Division race, the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are tied with 88 points and the Anaheim Ducks are one point back at 87.

So which team has the edge for the division title and which would finish second and have home-ice advantage in the second round?

That comes down to tiebreakers.

Here's an explanation of NHL tiebreakers and how they will affect the 2026 playoff races:

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Atlantic Division race

The Lightning and Sabres entered Wednesday's game tied with 39 regulation wins, so that would go to the second tiebreaker. Tampa Bay leads 44 to 42 in ROW, giving it the division lead. The Canadiens have only 32 regulation wins and can't catch the other two teams in that category, so they'd have to finish ahead of the Lightning and Sabres in points to finish first or second in the division.

Buffalo plays on Wednesday and Thursday, April 9, while Tampa Bay visits Montreal on Thursday.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Pacific Division race

Edmonton leads Vegas 30-28 in regulation wins and in ROW 39-35, so the Golden Knights will have to finish with more points or regulation wins than the Oilers to win the division. Anaheim has only 24 regulation wins.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the race for the Eastern Conference top seed

The Carolina Hurricanes have 106 points, but if the Lightning or Sabres can catch them, they have three more regulation wins than the Hurricanes.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Eastern Conference wild-card race

The Boston Bruins (96 points) and Ottawa Senators (92) hold the two spots, with four other teams within five points of Ottawa. The Senators have the most regulation wins in that group (35) with only the Washington Capitals (33) able to catch them in that category, but they're five points back. Ottawa would take the first wild-card slot if they and Boston are tied in points at season's end.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Western Conference wild-card race

The Utah Mammoth (88 points) are trending toward finishing with the first wild-card spot. The Nashville Predators (84) are sitting in the second wild-card spot, but they have played one or two more games than their closest pursuers: the Los Angeles Kings (83), San Jose Sharks (81), Winnipeg Jets (80) and St. Louis Blues (78).

The Kings currently have only 19 regulation wins, so they'd lose out in the event of a tie. The Predators have 27, the Sharks have 25, the Jets have 27 and the Blues have 29. The Sharks have the most ROW at 35 if it comes down to a second tiebreaker.

Nashville and Winnipeg are currently tied in regulation wins and ROW, but the Predators have three more total wins. If it comes down to a fourth tiebreaker between those teams. the Jets have the edge in the season series.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the second seed in the Central Division

The Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild first-round series is the only one that is set, but home-ice advantage hasn't been determined. The Stars lead by two points and by an insurmountable five regulation wins, so the Wild can't win a tiebreaker. They would get home ice only if they finish with more points.

The teams play in Dallas on Thursday, April 9.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How NHL tiebreakers could affect 2026 playoff bracket, standings

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is often in the crosshairs of fans.

Some argue that Kimmich does not handle an aggressive press well enough to be a top flight midfielder, while others think that he might hold too much political power within the club.

However, there is one thing that you cannot argue — Kimmich is incredibly important to what Bayern Munich does with its attack. During the team’s 2-1 win in the Champions League on Tuesday, Kimmich had 19 successful final third entries to help push the attack forward:

Kimmich’s role at Bayern Munich has evolved over the years, but no matter what position he plays, the 31-year-old has always been a vital part of the team and what it wants to do offensively. Kimmich’s connection with the attacking group is a large reason why the squad has been so effective this season in scoring goals.

Can Kimmich have the same impact next week in leg two vs. Real Madrid?

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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The Referee’s Committee (CTA) have acknowledged that Atletico Madrid’s outrage on Saturday night was justified, as they protested the decision to remove Gerard Martin’s red card at the Metropolitano. The incident occurred just minutes into the second half, and shaped the game.

Los Colchoneros were already down to 10 themselves after Nicolas Gonzalez had been dismissed in first-half stoppage time for taking down Lamine Yamal as he went into the box. Yet just two minutes into the second half, Martin cleared the ball, but his follow through caught Thiago Almada in a nasty manner. Initially, the referee brought out a red card. However after a VAR review, it was downgraded to a yellow card.

CTA: Martin should have been sent off

In their weekly review program, the CTA have concluded that the VAR was incorrect in intervening in the referee’s initial decision. The following is the explanation given.

“A dispute ensues over a 50/50 ball, clearly within reach of both players. The visiting player gets there first and strikes the ball. However, in the continuation of the play, his studs make contact with the side of the opponent’s leg, just above the ankle, causing a twisting of the joint. The referee, in real time, assesses the intensity, the area of ​​impact, and the consequences of the tackle and issues a red card for serious foul play.”

“The fact he touches the ball first does not negate subsequent reckless, dangerous, or rough play. The incidents in the Atletico Madrid-Barcelona match, as well as the Betis-Rayo Vallecano match already analysed during the review period of matchday 22 on February 24th, fall into this category.”

Diego Simeone and Robin Le Normand vented fury

After the match, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said that it was a clear sending off, and there was not much more to say, even referencing the review that is cited by the CTA. Barcelona counterpart Hansi Flick said that he did not feel it was a red card, to which Robin Le Normand responded that ‘Of course he would say that’. The Spain international went on to claim that he would have been sent off in the same situation.

In the run-up to the draft, we’ve been breaking down all of the players added by the Jets during free agency and in the legal tampering window. We continue today with offensive lineman Dylan Parham.

The 26-year old Parham is listed at 6’3” and 311 pounds and was a third round pick out of Memphis in 2022. Parham started 63 games during his first four seasons with the Raiders.

Background

Parham was only a two-star recruit out of high school and was originally listed as a defensive end prospect, although he started off as a tight end at Memphis, where he redshirted his first season in 2017.

Ahead of his redshirt freshman season, Parham switched onto the offensive line and became a four-year starter and then entered the 2022 draft, whereupon he was selected by the Raiders in the third round.

During his Tigers career, he was an all-AAC honorable mention in 2019 and first-teamer in 2021.

He’s been a four-year starter with the Raiders too, starting every game in his first two years and 29 of 34 games in the past two seasons.

2024 was his most consistent season but he struggled badly at the start of last year and there were calls for him to be benched, although he did settle down over the course of the season.

Parham was signed by the Jets in free agency on a two-year deal with a reported maximum value of $20 million.

Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Parham brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.

Measurables/Athleticism

Parham’s listed weight corresponds to what he weighed during the pre-draft process, but he was actually listed at 332 with the Raiders last season.

To add to the confusion, the Raiders had listed him at just 285 in the previous season, but that was apparently his weight back in his junior year in 2020. He bulked up to 304 that offseason and has obviously bulked up further from the 310 range to around 330 since entering the league.

Parham has average length but his athletic numbers are solid. He ran a 4.93 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and posted 25 bench press reps at his pro day. His explosiveness and agility numbers at the combine were also solid.

Usage

Parham has displayed excellent versatility during his career so far. At the NFL level, he has mostly played left guard, but he started at right guard in 2024 – his most consistent pro season – and has filled in as the starting center three times.

In college, he played both guard positions and was going to be the starting center in 2020 but ended up starting every game at right tackle instead.

In high school, he also played linebacker, defensive end and tight end.

Pass Blocking

Parham looked to have made good progress in 2024 as he only allowed one sack, having previously given up a total of 11 in his first two NFL seasons. However, he was part of a badly overmatched starting unit last season and ended up getting beaten for six sacks even though his rate of pressure allowed was quite low.

In college, he gave up eight sacks in his first two seasons, but then gave up just one in his last two seasons.

Parham can be moved off his spot or struggle to stay in front of his man at times.

Run Blocking

Parham’s run blocking grades from analytical sites such as Pro Football Focus were excellent in college and have typically been above average to good at the NFL level.

He displays good strength and power at the point of attack and can use his size to drive his man back.

However, he can be beaten by quickness at the snap, enabling opposing players to shoot gaps.

He has shown an ability to move from one assignment to another and has an understanding of angles.

While his skill-set is more suited to zone blocking assignments, he has enough athletic ability to get out on the move and can find a man to block in space.

Short Yardage

The Raiders were not very successful in short yardage situations last season. In fact, they didn’t have a one or two-yard touchdown run all season.

In previous years, they have fared better in such situations and Parham is a big body that can play his part in that.

Screen Blocking

Parham has displayed the athleticism and agility to get out in front of screen passes, which were a big part of the Raiders offense last year.

Footwork/Technique

Parham has struggled against the bull rush in the past, with his base too narrow and his pad level too high at times. However, this is an area where he has been seeing improved technique and results.

He moves his feet well and, despite only having average length, uses his hands and upper body strength well to buy himself time.

Penalties

Parham’s on-field discipline has generally been very good. He hasn’t had more than five penalties in any season at the college or pro level since he was a redshirt freshman at Memphis.

Where he has been penalized at the NFL level, the majority have been for offensive holding.

Special Teams

Parham’s only role on special teams at the NFL level has been blocking on the placekicking unit and he has no mistakes or penalties within that role.

This was also the case in college, although he did have a few snaps rushing kicks or blocking in punt protection.

Instincts/Intelligence

It’s difficult to judge who is at fault when there are as many breakdowns as there were on the Raiders’ line last year but it did seem clear that Parham’s awareness was lacking at times.

You would like to think that this, along with his occasional inability to diagnose stunts and games, would be an area where he improves with experience and on a unit that doesn’t keep losing key personnel.

There was also a game in 2024 when the Raiders could have beaten the Chiefs but Parham signalled for the ball to be snapped too early, leading to a costly fumbled snap.

He has had three pre-snap penalties at the NFL level, all of them on false starts.

In college, he was a three-time selection for the AAC’s all-academic team and was also on the Dean’s List in the 2018 fall semester.

Attitude

Parham is regarded as quiet, although he noted that he needed to become more vocal towards the end of his Memphis career as one of the few elder statesmen on offense.

As noted, his on-field discipline has been solid with just one personal foul for unnecessary roughness.

He does show a nasty streak at times, regularly displaying aggression in situations where he can go “looking for work”.

Injuries

Parham didn’t miss any time during his college career, or in his first two seasons with the Raiders, but he missed two games with a foot injury in 2024 and the last two games of 2025 due to illness.

He has also been listed on the injury report with injuries to his back, Achilles, calf and knee during his career but without missing any games due to these issues.

Scheme Fit

Parham looks set to slot into the starting lineup for the Jets at left guard and hopefully has similar traits to the outgoing John Simpson.

The Jets might draft a potential starter for the offensive interior as well, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that Parham would go to the bench. Joe Tippmann or even Parham himself could end up as the starting center, as some Raiders analysts felt that could be Parham’s best position and he didn’t give up a sack in his three starts there. There had been speculation that other teams were looking at Parham as a center option too.

He has been a teammate of current Jets players Geno Smith, Chris Smith and Mykal Walker while he with the Raiders.

Conclusions

After allowing both Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to walk, the Jets had to fill one of their starting spots in a group that otherwise has good continuity.

Parham being a couple of years younger than Simpson makes him an attractive option and, while it may be a concern that the Raiders’ offensive line looked so bad last season, the hope would be that this had more to do with the players around Parham than anything he himself had control over. That being the case, slotting into a more stable unit could be the best case scenario for him.

You can expect the Jets to add some youth in the draft and perhaps look to extend Tippmann soon. Either way, the addition of Parham seems to consolidate the group nicely.

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The men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament is set to return on March 16, 2027 when the First Four tips off.

Our college basketball experts will guide you through the March Madness bracket with March Madness expert picks, matchup breakdowns, and betting analysis for every game, right through to the National Championship.

Bookmark this page and return ahead of the 2027 tourney for their college basketball picks.

March Madness betting 101

Single elimination changes everything. One cold shooting night or foul trouble can end a season, so aim for good prices and smart risk, not “can’t-miss” takes.

Start with the basics

Spread: In point spread betting, you’re wagering on how close the game stays. In the tournament, late-game fouling can turn a tight cover into a bad beat (or vice versa).

Moneyline:Moneyline betting is often the cleanest way to play a true March Madness upset, but you risk losing more frequently if you wager just on underdogs.

Total: Pace and shot quality matter in Over/Under betting, but so do tournament quirks like neutral rims, tight legs, and whistle changes.

Neutral-site mindset

Games aren’t played in familiar gyms, and crowds can be split. Travel, time zones, and quick turnarounds can matter, especially for teams that rely heavily on energy, depth, or shooting rhythm. When in doubt, lean on repeatable traits: defense, rebounding, and turnover control.

Why single elimination matters

Underdogs can be live because favorites feel pressure and have less room to “play through” a bad stretch. But favorites can also separate late when depth and free throws matter. Think in game scripts:

• Take the underdog + points if they can control tempo, defend without fouling, and protect the ball.
• Sprinkle a unit on the moneyline if they have a clear matchup advantage (e.g., elite 3-point volume vs weak perimeter D).
• Bet on the favorite if they can force turnovers, dominate the glass, or punish inside.

First half vs full game betting

Early nerves and unfamiliar sightlines can create slow starts. If you expect a tactical feel-out period, 1H Unders or 1H underdog spreads can be sharper than full game.

Overtime and endgame chaos

OT is usually included in spreads/totals, and late fouling can add 10–20 “free” points. Totals can swing wildly in the final minute, but don’t panic if you’re on the right side of pace and shot quality.

Still need help? Our Covers hoops analysts are here to provide you with March Madness expert picks from the First Four to the National Championship Game.

Popular March Madness betting markets

March Madness is a betting buffet - the key is picking the right market for your edge.

Futures: Futures are best when you’re early or disagree with the bracket. Conference tourney week and Selection Sunday can create mispriced numbers on title, Final Four odds, March Madness MVP odds, and region winner odds. Shop prices, and remember: a “good team” isn’t always a good futures bet if the path is brutal.

Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread and butter once the bracket starts. Neutral courts, quick turnarounds, and unfamiliar sightlines can impact shooting (and totals) especially early. If you have a strong pace or matchup read, consider team totals or 1st half bets to isolate the edge.

Props:March Madness props shine when roles are stable and matchups are clear: usage, minutes, foul risk, and opponent style (rim protection, pace, rebounding). Ladders and alt lines can be powerful, but keep stakes smaller.

Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.

And be sure to check out our expert NCAA bracket picks before the action begins!

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Cardinals predicted to cut ties with, put .300 AVG breakout slugger on trade block after MVP-level start to 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rather weird start to 2026, as they were planning on starting their rebuild, yet they find themselves with an above .500 record of 6-5. This success is mostly in part to Jordan Walker, who is finally having his breakout season.

MORE: Proposed Cubs trade sees Chicago land $64.5 million 2.89 ERA star pitcher to act as emergency replacement due to Cade Horton's season-ending injury

However, just because they are seeing short-term success with Walker, doesn’t mean they should try to continue on with it. FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes so as well, and urges the Cards to put Walker on the trade block while his stock is at an all-time high.

“Jordan Walker was 20 years old when he made his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023. After a strong rookie season, he put together back-to-back negative fWAR campaigns and started to feel like a lost cause. And yet, he's still 23 years old, younger than a lot of top prospects puttering around the Minor Leagues. It would appear that St. Louis' patience — their reluctance to trade or abandon ship — has paid off…Walker always had the tools for stardom. He's a preposterous athlete, with a body builder's physique and a track star's speed. If he's suddenly using those tools to their full capacity, St. Louis might have its franchise cornerstone. And yet, there's so much baked-in distrust with Walker at this point, which means this could be the last time his trade value peaks in a meaningful way. Walker was basically a toxic asset a year ago. If the swing flattens and his home run power vanishes, St. Louis will regret not taking advantage of this brief (if not necessarily sustainable) renaissance,” Kline wrote.

So far this season, Walker is slashing .300/364/.650/1.014 with two doubles, four home runs, and 11 RBI in 11 games. Combine that with the fact he still has multiple years of team control, and he could fetch a pretty penny for the Cardinals.

MORE: Proposed Cubs trade sees Chicago land former Rookie of the Year as replacement starter for injured Cade Horton

If the Cardinals are truly committed to rebuilding, then it might really be time to shop Walker. If they can land multiple top prospects for a guy that has been shaky for years, it would be a major win.

MORE MLB NEWS

Proposed Cubs signing sees Chicago land $61 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate to replace injured Cade Horton

Diamondbacks predicted to sign $5.2 million World Series champion closer, would be upgrade over Paul Sewald

Braves predicted to finally sign $61 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate to get Chris Sale some help in the starting rotation

The transfer portal is officially open for college basketball, and the Oregon Ducks have lost another important piece of their rotation. Ducks guard Wei Lin announced his entrance into the transfer portal on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

A Chinese national, Lin joined the Ducks as a sophomore for the 2025-26 season after playing three seasons with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association. Before coming to Eugene, Lin averaged 21 points, five assists and 1.4 steals per game with the Monkey Kings in the 2024-25 season.

Unfortunately, that level of success didn't translate to the college game, where Lin primarily came off the bench. Lin played in 30 games for the Ducks last season and made nine starts, averaging 6.6 points and 1.7 assists per game. He shot 34.4% from the field, but only connected on 29.5% of his shots from 3-point range. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining at the collegiate level.