Romanya Futbol Federasyonunun açıklamasında, vefat eden Mircea Lucescu'dan boşalan teknik direktörlük görevi için Hagi ile anlaşma sağlandığı belirtildi.
Açıklamada görüşüne yer verilen Hagi, "Futbolculuk zamanımda yaptığım gibi Romanya'yı bir kez daha temsil etmek büyük bir onur ve sorumluluk. Bunu bir antrenör olarak da yapmayı umuyorum çünkü önemli olan performans sergilemek, başarılı olmak. Milli takıma bu yüzden geldim. Güzel şeyler başarabileceğimize inanıyorum. Futbolculuğumda ortaya koyduğum performansı, bir antrenör olarak da sergilemeyi umuyorum. En iyisi olabileceğimize inanıyorum." ifadelerini kullandı.
Başarılarla dolu futbolculuk kariyerine Galatasaray'da son veren Hagi, ilk olarak 2001'de Romanya Milli Takımı'nın başına geçti.
Sarı-kırmızılılarda teknik direktörlük de yapan 61 yaşındaki Rumen teknik adam, daha sonra Bursaspor, Steaua Bükreş, Viitorul ve Farul gibi takımları çalıştırdı.
Galatasaray, 26 Nisan'da Fenerbahçe'yi Ali Sami Yen'de ağırlayacak. Teknik Direktör Okan Buruk'un, Alman yıldız Leroy Sane'yle özel bir görüşme yaptığı öğrenildi.
Leroy Sane, sezonun ilk yarısındaki 1-1'lik Fenerbahçe maçında takımının tek golünü atmıştı. Alman Yıldız ayrıca Beşiktaş deplasmanındaki 1-0'lık galibiyette de asist üretti. Sonrasında kırmızı kartla oyun dışında kalmıştı. Sane, 26 Nisan'daki Fenerbahçe derbisinde de takımı adına belirleyici bir rol üstlenebilir.
ŞUT ÇEKMEKTEN ÇEKİNME
Galatasaray Teknik Direktörü Okan Buruk'un, 30 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusuyla özel bir görüşme gerçekleştirdiği belirtildi. Başarılı çalıştırıcının, Sane'den kaleyi gördüğü anda şut çekmesini istediği öğrenildi. 1.83 boyundaki futbolcu bu sezon Sarı-Kırmızılı formayla 24 lig maçına çıktı.
ÇOK ÖNEMLİ GÖRÜYOR
Sahada toplam 1.997 dakika kalan tecrübeli oyuncu, 7 gol ve 5 asist üretti. Leroy Sane, karakter olarak maçlardaki stres ortamından pek etkilenmiyor. Onun soğukkanlılığı, Galatasaray açısından bir avantaj olabilir. Okan Buruk açısından Sane'nin varlığı, Fenerbahçe'ye karşı çok önemli görülüyor...
Galatasaray'ın kiralık olarak tekrar kadrosuna kattığı Sacha Boey, izin gününde tesislere geldi. Fransız sağ bek, kişisel çalışmalarını sürdürdü. Takımdaki geleceği ise belirsiz.
Galatasaray, 2024'ün Ocak ayında 30 milyon euroya Bayern Münih'e sattığı Sacha Boey'i bu sezonun devre arasında kiralık olarak döndürmüştü. Fransız sağ bekin sözleşmesinde 15 milyon euroluk satın alma opsiyonu bulunuyor. Sarı-Kırmızılılar bu rakamı öderse, 25 yaşındaki oyuncunun tapusunu da alabilecek.
PLANLAMADA DÜŞÜNÜLMÜYOR
Şu anda konuyla ilgili resmi bir temas yok. Fransız futbolcunun Bayern Münih'teki sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar sürüyor. Alman devinin gelecek sezon planlamasında Boey yok... 1.78 boyundaki oyuncu, Galatasaray'daki çalışmalarını sürdürüyor. Hatta izin gününde bile...
SEZON SONUNA DOĞRU
Fransız yıldız, arkadaşları izinliyken tek başına tesislere gelerek kişisel programlarını yaptı. Sacha Boey, devre arasında geldiği Galatasaray'da 9 Süper Lig maçına çıktı. Sahada 476 dakika kaldı. 1 gol kaydetti. Bonservisiyle ilgili durumun, sezon sonuna doğru netleşmesi bekleniyor.
Başkent Tiran'daki Feti Borova Spor Salonu'nda grekoromen stil müsabakalarıyla başlayan organizasyonun ilk gününde gündüz seansı tamamlandı. Grekoromen stil 55, 63, 77, 87 ve 130 kiloda elemeler ve çeyrek final müsabakaları yapıldı.
Türkiye'yi 130 kiloda temsil eden Rıza Kayaalp, son 16 turunda Ermeni Albert Vardanyan'ı 4-0 öndeyken 78 saniyede tuşla yenerek çeyrek finale çıktı.
Rıza'nın, Dünya Güreş Birliği (UWW) takımında yer alan Rus Marat Kamparov ile yaptığı çeyrek final müsabakası 1-1 bitti. Mili güreşçi, ilk puanı aldığı için adını yarı finale yazdırdı.
Rıza Kayaalp, finale kalması durumunda yarın "rekor "için mindere çıkacak. Rıza, 13'üncü Avrupa şampiyonluğuna ulaşması halinde, Rus Aleksandr Karelin ile paylaştığı rekorun tek sahibi olacak ve güreş tarihine adını "altın" harflerle yazdıracak.
Kerem ve Ömer Halis de yarı finalde
63 kiloda mindere çıkan Kerem Kamal, Ukrayna adına güreşen Maksym Liu'yu elemelerde 10-0 teknik üstünlükle yenerek çeyrek finale çıktı.
Çeyrek finalde de Azerbaycanlı Ziya Babashov'u 8-0 teknik üstünlükle geçen son Avrupa şampiyonu Kerem, yarı finale yükseldi.
Şampiyonaya çeyrek finalden başlayan Ömer Halis Recep de 55 kiloda İtalyan Adalberto Minazzi'yi 10-0 teknik üstünlükle mağlup ederek yarı finale çıktı.
77 kiloda mücadele eden ve ilk maçında Finlandiya'dan Akseli Elias Yli-Hannuksela'yı 4-0 yenen dünya üçüncüsü Ahmet Yılmaz, çeyrek finalde Moldovalı Alexandrin Gutu'ya 10-2 teknik üstünlükle mağlup oldu.
87 kilo son 16 turunda Macar Istvan Takacs'ı 6-1'le geçen Doğan Kaya da son olimpiyat şampiyonu Bulgar Semen Novikov'a çeyrek finalde 8-0 teknik üstünlükle yenildi.
Bu sıkletlerde yarı final müsabakaları, bugün akşam seansında gerçekleştirilecek.
Türkiye'nin 30 sporcuyla katıldığı 2026 Avrupa Güreş Şampiyonası, 26 Nisan Pazar günü sona erecek.
Fenerbahçe'nin Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde yarın deplasmanda karşı karşıya geleceği Konyaspor maçı kadrosu belli oldu. Dorgeles Nene, Marco Asensio ve Edson Alvarez, Konyaspor maçının kafilesinde yer almadı.
Futbolda Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde yarın TÜMOSAN Konyaspor ile deplasmanda karşılaşacak Fenerbahçe'de kamp kadrosu belli oldu.
Sarı-lacivertli kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre kamp kadrosunda Edson Alvarez, Marco Asensio ve Dorgeles Nene yer almadı.
Fenerbahçe'nin Konyaspor maçı kamp kadrosunda bulunan oyuncular şöyle:
Ederson Moraes, Mert Günok, Tarık Çetin, Mert Müldür, Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Jayden Oosterwolde, Çağlar Söyüncü, Yiğit Efe Demir, Kamil Efe Üregen, Archie Brown, Levent Mercan, İsmail Yüksek, Matteo Guendouzi, N'Golo Kante, Fred Rodrigues, Oğuz Aydın, Anthony Musaba, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Anderson Talisca, Sidiki Cherif.
TÜMOSAN Konyaspor ile Fenerbahçe arasında MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadı'nda yapılacak müsabaka, saat 20.30'da başlayacak.
Fulham'ın Nijeryalı kanat oyuncusu Alex Iwobi, katıldığı bir yayında vatandaşı Victor Osimhen'in nasıl bir karaktere sahip olduğunu anlattı. Onun kazanma zihniyetinin benzersiz olduğunu söyledi.
'Beast Mode On' adlı podcast yayınına katılan Alex Iwobi, Galatasaray'ın yıldızı Osimhen'le ilgili çarpıcı ifadeler kullandı. Nijeryalı futbolcu, "Osimhen tam bir savaşçı... Antrenmanlarda sakatlanma pahasına her topa kafasını sokardı. Belki bu tarzı acemice bulunabilir ama sadece çalışkanlığıyla bile tek başına maçın kaderini değiştirecek pozisyonlar yaratır" dedi.
ASLA GERİ ADIM ATMAZ
Fulham forması giyen sol kanat oyuncusu, "Osimhen, rakibi ister Van Dijk, ister amatör biri olsun, asla geri adım atmaz. Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni de mahalle maçını da aynı kazanma hırsıyla oynar. Hatta bazen antrenmanda kazanmak için hile yapacak kadar ileri gider. Bu müthiş bir kazanma zihniyeti. O gerçek bir Nijeryalı" yorumunu yaptı.
BULUNDUĞU YERİ HAK EDİYOR
Iwobi ayrıca, "Bu kazanma zihniyetiyle şu anda bulunduğu yerde olmasına şaşırmıyorum. Her maçta kendisine 5 pozisyon yaratır. Onun mantalitesi inanılmaz bir şey... Bu çok acayip bir şey" ifadelerini de kullandı. İkili, Nijerya Milli Takımı'nda birlikte forma giyiyor. Bu sebeple Iwobi, Osimhen hakkında çok şey biliyor.
Türkiye Kupası'ndaki Konyaspor-Fenerbahçe maçını hakem Ozan Ergün yönetecek.
Futbolda Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde yarın oynanacak TÜMOSAN Konyaspor-Fenerbahçe maçında hakem Ozan Ergün görev yapacak.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Merkez Hakem Kurulunun (MHK) açıklamasına göre Ozan Ergün'ün yardımcılıklarını, Murat Altan ve Mustafa Savranlar üstlenecek.
MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadı'ndaki karşılaşma, yarın saat 20.30'da başlayacak.
Galatasaray, Real Madrid'in satış listesine koyduğu Eduardo Camavinga konusunda şartları zorlamayı düşünüyordu. Ancak Premier Lig ekibi Arsenal'den 60 milyon euroluk hamle gelebilir.
Arsenal, Real Madrid'in orta saha oyuncusu Eduardo Camavinga'yı gözüne kestirdi. İngiliz basınında çıkan haberlere göre; Premier Lig ekibi, Real Madrid'e 60 milyon euroluk bir teklif sunmayı planlıyor. Real Madrid, yaz aylarında Fransız orta saha oyuncusu için gelecek teklifleri değerlendirmeyi düşünüyor.
O SEVİYEYE ÇIKMAYACAK
Galatasaray, yaz döneminde orta sahasını kesinlikle güçlendirecek. Listede Eduardo Camavinga da bulunuyordu. Sarı-Kırmızılılar'da bu ihtimal düşük olsa da şartlar zorlanacaktı. Fakat Arsenal'in planladığı 60 milyon euroluk teklif seviyesine kesinlikle çıkılmayacak.
31 MİLYONA ALDILAR
Yani Arsenal, bu teklifini resmi olarak masaya koyarsa her şey bitecek. Real Madrid, 23 yaşındaki futbolcuyu 2021 yazında Rennes Kulübü'nden transfer etmişti. 31 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödediler. Eduardo Camavinga'nın 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor. Fakat gelecek sezon planlamasında düşünülmüyor.
“Koventri Siti”yə rəhbərlik edən Frenk Lempard İngiltərə Çempionşipində 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün ən yaxşı baş məşqçisi seçilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə turnirin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
Lempardın baş məşqçisi olduğu “Koventri Siti” 2026/2027-ci illər mövsümü üçün İngiltərə Premyer Liqasına vəsiqəni vaxtından əvvəl təmin edib. Sözügedən komanda 2000/2001-ci illər mövsümündən sonra ilk dəfə elitada mübarizə aparacaq. Koventri təmsilçisinin cari mövsümü çempion kimi bitirməsi ehtimalı da yüksəkdir.
Xatırladaq ki, daha əvvəl “Çelsi” və “Everton”da işləmiş İngiltərə millisinin sabiq futbolçusu 2024-cü ilin noyabrında “Koventri Siti”nin uğurları üçün çalışır. Frenk Lempard Koventri təmsilçisini indiyə qədər 79 oyuna çıxarıb, bu görüşlərdə 43 qələbə, 16 heç-heçə və 20 məğlubiyyət görüb. “Koventri Siti”nin top fərqi də cəlbedicidir – 137:90.
Mercedes'in Britanyalı pilotu George Russell, FIA yönetimi ile pilotlar ve takımlar arasında 2026 kuralları için bir noktada anlaşma sağlanacağını ifade etti.
Beşiktaş, Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde Corendon Alanyaspor ile oynayacağı maçın hazırlıklarına başlarken, sakatlığı geçen Wilfred Ndidi de takımla çalışmalara katıldı.
Fenerbahçe ve Beşiktaş'ın transfer gündeminde yer alan Romelu Lukaku ile alakalı sıcak gelişmeler yaşanıyor. Belçikalı yıldızın Napoli'deki geleceği bugün belli olacak. İşte detaylar... (Son Dakika Transfer...Devamı için tıklayınız
Trendyol Süper Lig'de bitime 3 hafta kala şampiyonluk yarışı devam ediyor. Euro Club Index'de Süper Lig'i şampiyon tamamlayacak takımı ve takımların sezonu bitireceği puanlar tahmin edildi. İşte detaylar......Devamı için tıklayınız
Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde TÜMOSAN Konyaspor ile deplasmanda karşılaşacak olan Fenerbahçe, kamp kadrosunu açıkladı. İşte detaylar... | Son dakika Fenerbahçe haberleriDevamı için tıklayınız
İspanya La Liga’nın 33. haftasında oynanacak Real Madrid–Deportivo Alavés maçı öncesinde düzenlenen basın toplantısında, Alvaro Arbeloa genç futbolcu Arda Güler’den övgüyle bahsetti. İşte öne çıkan detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Milli sporcu Muhammed Furkan Özbek, Avrupa Halter Şampiyonası erkekler 65 kiloda 143 kilo koparma ve 180 kilo silkme ile rekor kırarak toplamda 323 kilo ile Avrupa Şampiyonu oldu.Devamı için tıklayınız
Beşiktaş galibiyetinin ardından Samsunspor, 23 Nisan Perşembe günü Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde Trabzonspor ile oynayacağı kritik maçın hazırlıklarına başladı. İşte detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Ziraat Türkiye Kupası Çeyrek Finali'nde salı günü oynanacak Tümosan Konyaspor - Fenerbahçe maçının hakemi belli oldu. İşte detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek finalinde 23 Nisan Perşembe günü sahasında Corendon Alanyaspor ile karşılaşacak Beşiktaş, hazırlıklarına başladı.Devamı için tıklayınız
Samsunspor taraftar grupları, Trabzonspor maçı sonrası rakip takım otobüsünün taşlanması olayında açığa alınan 3 polis memuru için İçişleri Bakanı'na çağrıda bulundu. İşte detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Fenerbahçe, Ziraat Türkiye Kupası çeyrek final maçında 21 Nisan Salı günü deplasmanda Tümosan Konyaspor ile oynayacağı maçın hazırlıklarını tamamladı. İşte ayrıntılar... | Son dakika Fenerbahçe haberleri...Devamı için tıklayınız
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Back in December, Google began showing read more links on some of the search result snippets within Google Search. Today, Google published new documentation around best practices on how to show Read more links in the Google search results.
The best practices. The new documentation was posted over here in the snippets section and it lists three best practices:
Make sure content is immediately visible on the page to a human (and not hidden behind an expandable section or tabbed interface, for example).
Avoid using JavaScript to control the user’s scroll position on page load (for example, don’t force the user’s scroll position to the top of the page).
If you make history API calls or window.location.hash modifications on page load, make sure you don’t remove the hash fragment from the URL, as this breaks deep linking behavior.
What it looks like. Google also posted an illustration of these links, here it is:
Here is an example of how they look:
Why we care. These read more links do add an additional eye-catching link to the search result snippets. Hopefully, this leads to encouraging more clicks to websites and no less.
More clicks to websites is a good thing, so make sure to review the best practices to encourage more clicks to your site.
Rand Fishkin didn’t get into SEO because he saw the future.
He got into it because he had no choice.
In the early 2000s, Fishkin helped run a small web business with his mom in Seattle. They hired another company to do SEO until they couldn’t afford to pay them anymore.
That moment pushed him into search marketing. More than 20 years later, Fishkin has become one of the best-known voices in SEO — and one of Google’s biggest critics.
In this interview, he looks back at how search has changed, what went wrong, and what may happen next.
Early SEO was wild
SEO today can feel messy. But in the early days, it was even more chaotic.
“There was no social media,” is how Fishkin described that era, where forums like WebmasterWorld and Search Engine Watch were the center of the industry.
People shared tactics openly. Many of those tactics were risky. Buying links was common — and effective.
Fishkin did it, too. Then Google’s Matt Cutts called him out in public.
That moment changed how he approached SEO. He spent years focusing on “white hat” practices and following Google’s guidelines.
Looking back, though, Fishkin now questions whether that shift went too far. He believes Google’s own behavior over time has made those guidelines harder to trust.
The early industry wasn’t just chaotic — it was also full of strange and memorable moments. Fishkin recalled massive conference parties with huge budgets and over-the-top ideas, including a staged “retirement” of the Ask Jeeves mascot.
But what stood out most to him wasn’t the tactics or the parties.
“My favorite thing… is people,” he said, pointing to the relationships and friendships built over decades in search.
When Google stopped sending traffic
Many people think AI is the big turning point in search.
Fishkin says the shift started much earlier — around 2011.
That’s when the idea of “zero-click search” first appeared. Google began answering more queries directly on the results page instead of sending users to websites.
At first, it was small features like weather boxes and calculators.
Then it grew:
Around 2016–2017: nearly half of searches ended without a click
By 2018: more than half
Today: more than two-thirds
Fishkin emphasized that this trend didn’t start with AI — it has been building for more than a decade.
Publishers had a chance — and missed it
Fishkin believes publishers could have taken action early — but didn’t.
“The time to fight back… was 15 or 20 years ago,” he said.
In his view, large media companies should have worked together to push back against Google’s growing control. They could have demanded payment for content or limited how Google used it.
Instead, they allowed Google to crawl and use their content freely.
At the same time, Google expanded its influence through lobbying and policy.
“Publishers just missed that opportunity,” Fishkin said.
Now, he argues, the focus has to shift to adapting:
Build subscription businesses
Monetize attention, not just traffic
Learn how to operate within platform ecosystems
Some companies have already made that shift. Fishkin pointed to The New York Times as an example of a business evolving beyond traditional news consumption.
Did Google change?
Fishkin does not believe Google has become worse for users.
“If it was easier or better to search on Bing… people would go to those places,” he said.
But he does believe Google has become much harder for publishers and creators.
The change, he said, was gradual. As Google grew, went public, and aligned with investor expectations, its priorities shifted toward growth and revenue.
“They became the people that they spent time with,” Fishkin said.
The biggest AI mistake people make
Fishkin says most people misunderstand how AI works.
They treat AI answers like search results — consistent and reliable.
But they aren’t.
If you ask the same question multiple times, the answers can vary widely.
“You will get completely different answers. And if you do that 10 times, you will get 10 incredibly unique different answers,” he said.
His advice is simple: don’t rely on a single response. Ask multiple times and look for patterns. If the same answer shows up consistently, it’s more likely to be trustworthy.
This matters most for important decisions, like health or finance, where relying on one answer could be risky.
What he misses about the early days of SEO
Fishkin doesn’t miss a specific tactic or tool.
He misses the level of opportunity that existed in the early web.
Back then, smaller creators and independent sites had a better chance to succeed. Traffic was more evenly distributed.
“The world of clicks and traffic… was so… flat compared to… today,” he said.
What’s next?
Fishkin believes the future of media and search may look more like the past.
He expects a smaller number of powerful platforms to control most of the flow of information.
At the same time, individual creators will still produce much of the content — but within those systems.
“Google just killed every excuse for not running video ads.”
“Total game changer! You don’t need a production budget anymore.”
“Upload a few product images and get campaign-ready video in minutes.”
From Google Ads > Tools > Asset Studio, you can build, manage, and scale images and videos across ad formats.
The recent addition of Veo (Google’s AI video generation model) and Nano Banana Pro means you can now turn a handful of product images into full-motion video ads, for free, in no time.
Apparently, video creative is no longer a constraint. But does Asset Studio actually change the game? Read on to find out if it’s worth your time.
A tale of two Veos
Google is its own biggest cheerleader for the power of its AI images and video.
A recent Think with Google article showcases AI-generated ads for Cosmorama, a Greek travel agency. The videos are genuinely imaginative: think a flamenco dancer in the clouds, not just close-ups of headphones and sneakers.
As part of learning Asset Studio, I set out to reverse-engineer their approach. I wasn’t trying to match the quality. I just wanted a proof of concept using Nano Banana and Veo.
What I got instead was a series of dead ends.
No scene-level control: I’d read that prompting plays a major role in video output. But there’s actually no prompt function for scenes in Asset Studio. You select an image from your Asset Library, and that’s it. Google decides how to animate it. There’s no way to direct motion, pacing, or narrative.
Human performer restrictions: Video generation repeatedly failed with errors about “specific individuals.” I assumed that meant celebrities or real people. In practice, anything that resembled a human face — even AI-generated — triggered issues. The only assets that consistently worked were tightly cropped: hands, partial torsos, and abstract scenes.
No real audio control: The Cosmorama video featured cinematic music. In Asset Studio, you’re limited to a small set of preloaded audio. There’s no way to upload custom music or meaningfully shape the sound layer.
After so many false starts, I returned to the article. It mentioned Nano Banana and Veo by name. It never said they were used inside Asset Studio.
When Veo 3 became available in Asset Studio, I didn’t realize how many limitations it would have, resulting in a completely different experience from the stand-alone version.
Capability
Veo (Full Version)
Veo (Asset Studio)
Control level
Advanced control (API, model tiers, audio support)
Simplified UI with fixed constraints
Text-to-video prompting
Full prompt control: – Scene – Camera movement – Lighting – Style – Subject/action
None
Use cases
Production-ready pipelines
Lightweight asset generation
Scene stitching
Multi-scene / narrative workflows (stitching and extensions)
None
Human generation
Support (with policy constraints)
Limited / often restricted
What’s available may still help you create some great 10-second motion ads, but don’t go into it expecting flamenco dancing.
For years, paid search managers had one move for visual assets: push back.
“I need a vertical version.”
“The first five seconds need to be more engaging.”
“Can you remove the text overlay?”
Creative’s been a constraint, but always someone else’s constraint to solve. Asset Studio changes that. You can edit, adapt, and post YouTube video ads, even without access to the brand’s YouTube channel.
But the constraint doesn’t disappear. It just changes hands.
Managing creative strategy and production — even within Asset Studio — takes more time than not owning that role.
Using Asset Studio, I’ve manually adapted logos to new aspect ratios, generated variations that need further edits, and written voiceover scripts I never would have been involved in creating before.
And since production can’t exist without a strategy, I’m spending more time on that too. This is definitely game-changer territory, but maybe not the way you’d hoped:
If you’re a brand that would otherwise need a production team: This is likely faster and more affordable than the alternative, satisfying the velocity mandate.
If you’re an agency absorbing this work on top of an existing scope: You’re likely taking on a new responsibility that wasn’t priced in.
It removes a bottleneck and replaces it with ownership. If that shifts what your role actually covers, it’s worth revisiting your contract scope.
Will this get me in trouble? AI ad compliance explained
No federal laws in the U.S. prohibit the use of AI in ads. But that’s starting to change.
New York recently passed a law requiring advertisers to clearly disclose when an ad includes a “synthetic performer,” and it’s set to take effect in June 2026. (Hat tip to Sam Tomlinson for his LinkedIn post flagging this.)
Asset Studio doesn’t generate a visible watermark (such as the Gemini sparkle), and there’s no way to add an AI disclosure in Google Ads.
A couple of things worth knowing if you’re using Asset Studio specifically:
You’re likely covered for now. Asset Studio can’t generate content with human performers. As mentioned above, anything resembling a face consistently triggers errors. That means the New York law’s “synthetic performer” provision wouldn’t apply to what Asset Studio actually produces today.
There’s a watermarking layer. Google uses SynthID to invisibly tag AI-generated images. If disclosure requirements become more explicit, that infrastructure already exists to support it.
Asset Studio’s limitations may actually insulate you from the most immediate compliance concerns, but if you want to proactively disclose AI use for ethical reasons, there’s no built-in way to do that.
Josh Spanier, Google’s VP of AI and Marketing Strategy, has this advice for marketers running AI-generated ads:
“Stop fearing ‘AI slop.’ Humans made bad ads long before robots.”
Interesting suggestion, but not all of our clients and stakeholders will be quite so enthusiastic about paying to run AI slop ads.
Fortunately, tight control of Asset Studio images and video is easier than you might think. Unlike AI Max, where AI-generated assets can run before you’ve reviewed them, Asset Studio output isn’t automatically published. From your Asset Library, you choose which assets to run. The rest never see the light of day.
What you can produce in Asset Studio is somewhat limited, but here are some of the non-sloppy features I’m most excited about.
Image fidelity: Product images that actually look like your product
Asset Studio’s Nano Banana 2 is built specifically for product integrity. Unlike general-purpose AI image tools like Midjourney, it lets you add up to five reference images and effectively “locks” the product. Only the surrounding environment is up for reinterpretation.
Trim: Cut right to the action
Client-produced video is rarely built for YouTube. Long intros and slow builds lose viewers before the message lands. Trim lets you jump straight to the action, without going back to the client for a new cut.
Voiceovers and templates: Sleeper tools
For a tool suite that promises to replace a production department, Asset Studio’s constrained voiceover and template options may seem underwhelming. Voiceover only works with audio ads or pre-existing video, and templates feel like glorified slide decks.
But the more I reviewed the landscape of YouTube video ads, the more I realized: most companies struggle with messaging more than production quality. Low budget isn’t limiting sales, but bad scripts and concepts are.
Templates and voice-overs let you test the right words faster than waiting for a new creative brief and a published video.
In one campaign I’m running, an Asset Studio video I built in under 30 minutes using a template is already showing 10x the CTR of the client’s best-performing video.
Beating the control may not be the highest bar to clear, but it’s a start.
Is Asset Studio a game changer? Not yet. But I’m not sure it needs to be.
Positioning it as real competition against global creative brands sets everyone up for disappointment.
The more useful frame: it’s a tool suite that makes creative faster and more accessible for accounts that couldn’t justify a production budget before.
It does shift some of that strategy and production work onto the paid search manager who didn’t traditionally live in that role.
But the bigger question is: what does any of this actually lead to? The point of digital marketing creative isn’t to produce more assets. It’s to drive conversions and sales. That’s still what needs to be proven.
Tests are running now. I’ll share what holds up, and what doesn’t.
Pi Network’s Protocol 22 upgrade deadline is just days away, and millions of Pi holders are hoping that Pi coin price will see a pump before the deadline.
As of now, Pi Coin (PI) is currently trading around $0.17, showing only a small gain as rising US–Iran tensions continue to hurt investor sentiment and keep trading cautious.
Protocol 22 Upgrade Deadline Approaches April 27
According to the official confirmation from Pi Network developers, all node operators must complete the mandatory upgrade to Protocol 22.1 by April 27, 2026.
Nodes that fail to transition from version 21.2 will face automatic disconnection from the network.
This is more than just a routine update. It prepares the network for the upcoming Protocol 23 upgrade in May, which is expected to introduce full smart contract functionality.
Geopolitical Tensions Are Keeping PI Price Suppressed For Now
Despite the upgrade excitement, Pi Coin’s price is still under pressure due to global market weakness. Rising US–Iran tensions, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, have triggered a broader risk-off sentiment.
The situation worsened after Iran refused to resume peace talks unless the US lifts its blockade, followed by the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. This has added more uncertainty to the markets.
This “risk-off” environment is limiting buying activity in smaller tokens like Pi, and even Bitcoin is struggling to break above $76K.
Will Pi Token Price Pump?
Historically, major network upgrades have acted as short-term price catalysts for the Pi token. At the time of the second migration event on March 28 triggered a 3.8% rally, and ahead of Pi Day, the token surged nearly 15%.
With the upgrade deadline now closed, similar pre-event buying activity could return. In fact, early signs are already visible.
A large outflow of over 1.7 million PI tokens from OKX suggests that some holders are moving their coins off exchanges, often seen as a sign that they are not planning to sell anytime soon.
Any bullish rally will test Pi day’s high price of $0.22, which will set the stage for further rally.
April has been one of the most turbulent months for the crypto markets, with over $600M lost across 12 exploits, exposing repeated failures in bridges, access controls, and governance—including the recent AAVE-linked disruption. But beyond these technical breakdowns, a different kind of risk is now coming into focus. Memecore (M), with its concentrated supply and low float, is raising structural concerns that feel familiar.
If exploits show how systems fail, what happens when the structure itself becomes the risk, and could this begin to resemble the path RAVE DAO took?
$6M+ Lost Across 12 Exploits—But Two Incidents Dominated the Damage
Crypto markets saw a wave of exploits this month, with 12 separate incidents exposing persistent weaknesses across DeFi, wallets, and infrastructure. However, the distribution of losses wasn’t even — two exploits alone accounted for nearly 95% of the total damage, highlighting how a single vulnerability at scale can outweigh multiple smaller failures combined.
The 12 Exploits This Month
Kelp DAO — $293M (Apr 18)
Drift Protocol — $285M (Apr 1)
Fake Ledger App — $9.5M+
Grinex Exchange — $13–15M (Apr 16)
Rhea Finance — $7.6M (Apr 16)
Hyperbridge — $2.5M (Apr 12)
BSC TMM — $1.67M (Apr 4)
Silo V2 — $392K (Apr 3)
Aethir — $423K (Apr 9)
Dango — $410K (Apr 13)
MONA — $61K (Apr 13)
SubQuery — $60K (Apr 12)
Zerion Wallet — $100K (Apr 14)
What stands out isn’t just the scale — it’s the repetition. Every single exploit this month falls into well-known attack categories, not unknown vulnerabilities. This suggests the issue isn’t innovation from attackers but persistent gaps in execution and security practices.
The main takeaway is clear: these were not unpredictable attacks, but they were preventable failures.
Crash Alert: Is Memecore the Next RAVE of the Crypto Market?
While exploits continue to expose technical weaknesses, another risk is quietly building on the market structure side. Memecore (M) price is now under scrutiny after on-chain investigator ZachXBT raised concerns over its high insider concentration, with reports suggesting more than 90% of the supply may be controlled by a small group.
Factors
Memecore (M)
Rave DAO (RAVE)
Supply Concentration
Reportedly, more than 90% held by insiders
Reportedly, more than 98% held by a few wallets
Float vs FDV
Low float, FDV (~$17B to $30B)
Low float, inflated valuation before the crash
Liquidity Depth
Thin relative to valuation
Thin liquidity before collapse
Price Support Mechanism
Insider control can defend the price in the short term
Price held artificially before breakdown
Market Behaviour
Prone to sharp moves on either side
Saw extreme volatility before the collapse
This creates a familiar setup. A low circulating float combined with a high fully diluted valuation ($17B–$30B) introduces structural inefficiencies, where price discovery becomes distorted. Similar conditions were seen in tokens like RAVE, which experienced a 95–99% drawdown after scrutiny increased and liquidity failed to support the valuation.
However, this isn’t a straightforward bearish case. Markets with tight supply and high insider control often behave differently. Limited float can artificially support price in the short term while also creating conditions for sharp short squeezes when liquidity is thin. At current levels, with the Memecore price at $3.3 to $3.4 and volume around $25 to $27 million, the gap between the circulating and total supply is pretty wide.
Hence, this suggests Memecore is a controlled environment where the price can move aggressively in either direction.
Key Signals to Watch Next!
After experiencing massive losses this month, here are the signals that matter next as the M price set-up is structure-driven and if a breakdown triggers, it would be a massive one.
Exchange inflow spikes → Large transfers (especially from insider wallets) signal potential distribution and incoming sell pressure
Price drop with rising volume → Indicates real selling, not just volatility; demand failing to absorb supply
Failure at key psychological levels (e.g., $3) → Loss of confidence triggers stops and accelerates downside
Thin liquidity vs high valuation → Weak order books + high market cap create unstable price conditions
Shift in narrative/sentiment → From “strong treasury” → “sustainability concerns” signals confidence breakdown
Insider wallet movements → Early holders reducing exposure can trigger broader market exits
Wrapping it Up: Is Memecore the next Rave Dao?
Memecore (M) price is showing structural similarities that can’t be ignored—concentrated supply, thin liquidity, and narrative-driven support. But it hasn’t reached the breakdown phase yet. For now, the setup remains stable on the surface, fragile underneath.
So the real question is: is Memecore the next RAVE DAO — or just another controlled market that hasn’t cracked yet?
The RaveDAO (RAVE) token has recorded one of the sharpest reversals in recent cryptocurrency trading, plunging more than 100% within 48 hours after a rapid surge, wiping out billions of dollars in market value.
The token had climbed steeply toward the $27 level before reversing course in an equally aggressive sell-off. Liquidity thinned quickly during the downturn, with prices cascading lower as bids evaporated, according to market data.
The abrupt move has drawn industry attention, with major exchanges including Binance, Bitget, and Gate.io now under scrutiny over trading activity around the peak.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleged that insiders may have used large exchanges to engineer a short squeeze, driving prices sharply higher before exiting near the top. The claims have intensified calls for transparency as analysts examine trading patterns during the rally.
Executives at the exchanges acknowledged the situation and said reviews are underway.
Bitget’s managing director, Gracy Chen, said the platform launched an internal investigation shortly after the crash. Binance CEO Richard Teng stated the exchange is reviewing activity and would take action against any “market misconduct.” Gate.io representatives said user protection remains a priority as inquiries continue.
RaveDAO has denied involvement in any coordinated activity. Meanwhile, ZachXBT has reportedly offered a $25,000 bounty for whistleblowers, suggesting further disclosures could emerge.
RaveDAO (RAVE) Price Analysis: Parabolic Rally Ends in a Liquidity Collapse
Market participants said RAVE’s price structure resembled a textbook blow-off top. The token surged rapidly on momentum-driven inflows, reaching the $25–$27 range before reversing within hours.
Once the rally stalled, liquidity deteriorated sharply. The lack of buy-side support triggered a cascade-style sell-off, pushing the token back toward sub-$1 levels.
Analysts note that significant overhead supply now remains. Any short-term recovery could face resistance between $3 and $5, with stronger barriers near $8–$10 where previous trading activity was concentrated.
On the downside, holding above $1 is seen as critical. A sustained break below that level could push the token into deeper illiquid territory.
Multiple factors behind the collapse
Post-crash analysis suggests the move was driven by a combination of factors rather than a single trigger.
The rally appeared to be fueled by low float and speculative inflows, creating conditions for a short squeeze that forced bearish traders to cover positions. However, once upward momentum faded, long positions began unwinding, triggering a reverse liquidation cycle.
This feedback loop, combined with thin liquidity, amplified the speed and scale of the decline.
Market Impact and Outlook: Confidence Shaken, Uncertainty Remains
The episode has raised broader concerns about market integrity in low-liquidity tokens, particularly given the speed of the move and allegations of manipulation.
With exchanges continuing to review trading activity, sentiment remains cautious. Analysts say any near-term price rebounds are likely to be corrective unless key resistance levels are reclaimed with strong volume.
For now, uncertainty dominates the outlook, with both price action and the results of ongoing investigations expected to shape the token’s next move.
Michael Saylor’s Strategy has acquired 34,164 BTC for about $2.54B at an average price of $74,395 per Bitcoin. This latest purchase brings its total holdings to 815,061 BTC, accumulated for roughly $61.56B at an average cost of $75,527. The firm also reports a 9.5% BTC yield year-to-date in 2026. The move highlights Strategy’s continued aggressive accumulation approach, reinforcing its long-term conviction in Bitcoin despite ongoing market volatility.
The asset could reach a high of $6100 by the end of 2026.
The price of Ethereum could reach a high of $15,575 by 2030.
Since its launch in 2015, Ethereum has evolved from a pioneering smart-contract platform into the primary settlement layer for the global digital economy. What began as a space for experimental decentralized applications (dApps) has now transformed into a robust ecosystem attracting significant institutional interest. This shift is largely driven by Ethereum’s “Business Ready” infrastructure, which is designed to support high-assurance financial applications and large-scale tokenization initiatives.
The successful rollout of the Pectra and Fusaka upgrades has significantly improved Ethereum’s scalability and fee efficiency. These upgrades addressed long-standing network bottlenecks, making the platform more practical and cost-effective for enterprise adoption and high-volume blockchain activity.
As the ecosystem progresses through 2026, the narrative surrounding Ethereum has shifted from simple utility to institutional-grade resilience and infrastructure. With a well-defined roadmap emphasizing censorship resistance, modular scalability, and long-term sustainability, Ethereum is increasingly positioned to support the next generation of decentralized finance (DeFi) and global capital markets.
In this Ethereum price prediction for 2026–2030, we examine whether these structural improvements, combined with evolving macroeconomic conditions, could push ETH toward new valuation milestones over the coming years.
In the first quarter of the year, the price of Ethereum faced significant challenges, dropping from the $2,800 support level to a low of $1,750 in early February. Fortunately, February brought some stabilization, and March saw a promising rise to $2,370. However, by late March, ETH dipped below $2,000.
In April, the ETH price attempted to retest the $2,390 level, briefly reaching as high as $2,460 in mid-April. Currently, it is facing bearish pressure after taking liquidity above $2,390. The price is holding at the 50-day EMA band; if it drops below this level, a revisit to $2,000 is likely. However, if the 50-day EMA holds, there could be a strong upside breakout above $2,390 in the remaining days of April.
Ethereum Price Prediction 2026
The Ethereum price currently exhibits a compelling long-term technical structure on the monthly timeframe, anchored by a multi-year 45-degree ascending trendline that has guided price action since 2020.
Historically, this trendline has served as a critical pivot point, with the market oscillating between periods of aggressive upward expansion above the line and phases of strategic consolidation below it.
Notably, when ETH trades beneath this trendline, it often forms a secondary short-term ascending channel lasting a few months. These channels act as accumulation zones, where price fluctuates until sufficient demand builds, eventually leading to a high-momentum breakout once bullish conditions are met.
In the current 2026 market environment, Ethereum appears to be following a familiar structural pattern, albeit with increased volatility and a broader trading range. The ongoing ascending channel, which began in 2025, aligns with the multi-year trendline but is significantly wider compared to previous cycles. While the price action indicates recovery potential, the market has not yet reached the specific demand threshold required to trigger a definitive vertical surge.
Overall, Ethereum’s multi-year trendline combined with the current ascending channel suggests a measured accumulation phase, setting the stage for a potential strong bullish breakout in the months ahead.
From a volume perspective, the anchored volume profile suggests that Ethereum (ETH) is finding significant support around key high-volume zones. These areas, particularly the ranges between $1,700–$1,900 and $1,200–$1,400, have historically attracted institutional interest, creating a solid floor that bears are unlikely to easily break.
If buyer demand strengthens at these levels, ETH could follow a recovery trajectory with an initial target near $2,878. A successful breach of this level would then pave the way for a retest of the $4,076 psychological resistance, signaling renewed bullish momentum.
However, a cautious approach remains warranted. If the market fails to generate sufficient demand at these support zones, the current consolidation phase below the multi-year trendline is likely to continue. In this bearish scenario, ETH would remain trading within its 2025 ascending channel, extending the accumulation period before a decisive trend emerges.
The interplay between this short-term ascending channel and the long-term trendline will ultimately determine whether Ethereum’s next move is a bullish continuation or a prolonged sideways consolidation.
ETH On-Chain Analysis
Ethereum’s price is currently stabilizing and 30-days On-chain data shows major whale transaction counts beyond $1 million has been rising in past 30-days. This is signaling “smart money” accumulation near the $2,000 support.
Moreover, the fundamentals of the network are growing. Since January 2025, the value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on the blockchain has reached $20.4 billion. The Ethereum ecosystem now has 146 active Layer 2 networks, with a total value of $38.2 billion locked in these networks. Together, Ethereum’s mainnet and Layer 2 networks show that stablecoins account for over 60% of the market share, totaling about $179 billion.
This indicates a significant amount of liquidity in the ecosystem. Additionally, the number of ETH tokens on centralized exchanges is falling, meaning fewer ETH tokens are less available on CEX platforms meaning bullish pressure increasing.
Ethereum Price Prediction 2027-2030
Year
Potential Low ($)
Potential Average ($)
Potential High ($)
2027
7,071.08
14,142.16
21,213.24
2028
10,606.62
21,213.24
31,819.86
2029
15,909.93
31,819.86
47,729.79
2030
23,864.90
47,729.79
71,594.69
Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction 2027
The Ethereum 2027 forecast expects the ETH coin price to make a new all-time high at $21,213.24. However, a correction based on market shortcomings may drive the ETH crypto to $7,071.08, with an average of $14,142.16.
ETH Price Prediction 2028
In 2028, the chances of Ethereum dominating the crypto market rise as the ETH price potentially makes a new high at $31,819.86. On the other hand, the altcoin might fall to $10,606.62, making an average of $21,213.24.
Ethereum Price Forecast 2029
Approaching its all-time high of $47,729.79 in 2029, the Ethereum price is expected to surpass the psychological barrier of $40,000. In case of a correction, $ETH may reach a low of $15,909.93, with an average price of $31,819.86.
Ethereum Price Prediction 2030
As per our Ethereum Price Prediction 2030, the ETH crypto price is projected to reach a new all-time high of $71,594.69 in 2030, with a potential low of $23,864.90 and an average price of $47,729.79.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?
Year
2026
2027
2030
Changelly
$5,800
$7,500
$25,000
CoinCodex
$6,300
$7,850
$28,200
WalletInvestor
$5,940
$7,450
$21,500
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
FAQs
What is the Ethereum price prediction for 2026?
Ethereum could reach $6,200 in 2026 if accumulation strengthens and demand at key support levels increases.
What will be the price of Ethereum in 2027?
ETH may hit around $21,200 in 2027, with potential lows near $7,071 depending on market conditions.
How much will 1 Ethereum be worth in 2030?
By 2030, 1 ETH could reach a new all-time high of $71,500 under strong adoption and network growth.
Could Ethereum reach $100,000 by 2040?
If adoption and blockchain integration continue rising, Ethereum could theoretically approach $100,000 by 2040.
How high will Ethereum go in 2050?
Long‑term, Ethereum could exceed $150,000–$200,000 by 2050 with widespread global adoption, DeFi and tokenization.
Is Ethereum a good investment?
Ethereum remains a strong long-term investment due to growing DeFi use, Layer 2 adoption, and rising institutional interest.
Expanding exchange-ecosystem demand could lift BNB price toward $2000 by the end of this year.
Long-term network usage growth may extend BNB price toward $10,000.
Binance Coin (BNB) suggests a fundamental shift in how the asset responds to broader market dynamics. In 2026, the token’s performance increasingly reflects on-chain utility and ecosystem liquidity rather than mere speculative volatility. This transition from reactive price swings to a more structured price action indicates a maturing market environment.
As the ecosystem stabilizes, the technical narrative centers on long-term accumulation and the absorption of supply within established demand zones. Sustained network activity across the Binance Smart Chain provides a foundational backdrop for this consolidation, potentially setting the stage for a period of extended price discovery. By focusing on fundamental network health and institutional integration, the outlook for the next several years leans toward organic growth and structural resilience within the global digital asset landscape.
So, what’s next for the BNB price in the rest of 2026 and beyond? What can be the future price movements? Let’s get into the Binance Coin (BNB) Price Prediction 2026–2030.
In the third quarter of 2025, we witnessed an impressive rally, soaring 125% from the $600 support level to an exhilarating $1,375. However, by the fourth quarter of 2025 and into the first quarter of 2026, the BNB price retreated back to the $600 demand zone, erasing those remarkable gains.
Since February, we have observed a steady accumulation around this vital $600 level, a trend that has continued into March, so Q1 was tough. But, as Q2 began with April, this level appears to have solidified as a robust support point, suggesting that bullish momentum could very well resume this month.
Despite prevailing market challenges, the price has demonstrated remarkable resilience, remaining above $600 throughout Most of April. Should bullish pressure intensify in remaining days of April, we may see a potential retest of $750; otherwise, further consolidation may continue throughout the month.
Recent News/ Opinions
On April 1, 2026, Binance Earn launched new Yield Arena offers, providing limited-time opportunities to earn up to 35% APR. This weekly update spans across multiple products, including Simple Earn, ETH and SOL Staking, and Dual Investment.
On March 27, 2026, binance shared that equity and commodity perpetual futures on Binance surpassed $150 billion in cumulative trading volume. This milestone was supported by an immense processing of over 110 billion trades in one quarter, highlighting the growing crossover between traditional finance and digital markets.
A recent ruling news on March 7th came from the US federal court that it has positively dismissed all anti-terrorism claims against Binance, alleviating a significant legal burden. In the Southern District of New York, a judge concluded that the plaintiffs, comprising 535 individuals citing 64 attacks from 2017 to 2024, did not establish sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Binance had assisted or conspired with terrorist organizations. This decision marks a commendable step forward for Binance, affirming its commitment to compliance and integrity.
Binance Coin (BNB) Price Prediction 2026
Based on the technical structure of the BNB/USD weekly chart, the price action reflects a long-term ascending channel (or wedge) that has defined the asset’s trajectory since the massive demand surge from the $40 level in early 2021. This multi-year uptrend culminated in a new all-time high of approximately $1,375 in late 2025, validating the token’s utility and its position within the Binance ecosystem. Currently, the market is witnessing a convergence of horizontal price levels with channel’s dynamic trendline support, which reinforces the technical significance of the current price zone.
As of Q1 2026, BNB price is testing a critical turning support zone around the $600 horizontal support, which aligns precisely with the lower boundary of the primary ascending channel. This area is currently serving as a consolidation floor, suggesting a period of institutional accumulation. Historical precedent highlights the importance of this trendline; a similar touchpoint in late 2023 at the $200 range served as the launchpad for a massive rally, though it took roughly 238 days to reach the channel’s median line.
Looking ahead through 2026, the primary bullish thesis anticipates a recovery toward the $1,000 psychological level. If the recovery pace mirrors previous cycles, BNB/USD could reach the channel’s middle band by Q3 2026. However, if consolidation extends further into the year, the recovery might be more gradual, stretching toward the year-end.
Conversely, a decisive break below the $600 footing would invalidate the current setup, significantly increasing the probability of a deeper correction toward the major $200 demand zone.
BNB On-Chain Analysis
Recent on-chain data highlights the network’s resilience, with daily transactions stabilizing at 15 million in Q1 2026 despite market fluctuations. This sustained utility, paired with total unique addresses nearing the 800 million mark, signals a consistent rise in global adoption. These fundamental metrics suggest a robust foundation for long-term ecosystem growth and structural asset valuation.
Binance Coin Crypto Price Prediction 2027 – 2030
Year
Potential Low ($)
Potential Average ($
Potential High ($)
2027
1200
1420
1800
2028
1600
1950
2300
2029
2100
3250
3900
2030
2500
3800
4500
Binance Coin Price Prediction 2027
As per the Binance Coin Price Prediction 2027, Binance Coin may see a potential low price of $1200. The potential high for Binance Coin price in 2027 is estimated to reach $1800.
BNB Price Prediction 2028
In 2028, Binance Coin price is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $1600 and a high price of $2300.
Binance Coin Price Forecast 2029
Thereafter, the Binance Coin (Binance Coin) price for the year 2029 could range between $2100 and $3900.
Binance (BNB) Coin Price Prediction 2030
Finally, in 2030, the price of Binance Coin is predicted to remain steadily positive. It may trade between $2500 and $4500.
The long-term projection assumes Binance Coin sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
FAQs
What is the BNB price prediction for 2026?
BNB could recover toward $1,000 in 2026 if the $600 support holds and Binance ecosystem demand grows, supported by rising network usage and liquidity.
What will be the BNB price in 2030?
BNB could trade between $2,500 and $4,500 by 2030 if blockchain adoption grows and the Binance ecosystem maintains strong network activity.
How high can BNB price go by 2040?
Long-term projections suggest BNB could reach $13,000–$38,000 by 2040 if the network expands globally and maintains strong adoption across DeFi and Web3.
What factors influence Binance Coin’s price?
Price depends on exchange network usage, liquidity, adoption trends, historical support/resistance zones, and institutional participation.
Is Binance Coin (BNB) a good long-term investment?
BNB is often viewed as a strong long-term asset due to exchange utility, token burns, and ecosystem growth, though crypto investments always carry risk.
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Braziliyalı qapıçı Ederson “Fənərbağça”dan ayrılmaq istəyir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Türkiyə mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Qolkiper agentinə ona yeni klub tapmasını bildirib.
Ederson “Fənərbağça”nın “Rizespor”la oyununda son dəqiqədə çıxışda səhv edib və komandası qələbəni əldən verib. Bundan sonra qolkiper sosial şəbəkələrdə azarkeşlər tərəfindən ciddi tənqidlərə məruz qalıb.
Braziliyalı qapıçı bu mövsüm Super Liqada 23 oyunda 23 qol buraxıb.
Hücumçu Robert Levandovskinin meneceri Piri Zahavi “Barselona”nın nümayəndələri ilə görüşəcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, agent klubla yeni müqavilə danışıqlarını yekunlaşdırmaq niyyətindədir. Bu barədə “Mundo Deportivo” nəşri məlumat yayıb.
“Yuventus” və bir neçə Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı klubu Levandovskinin xidmətində maraqlıdır. Zahavi müştərisinin “Barselona”dakı taleyini dəqiqləşdirmək və yeni müqavilə olmayacağı halda, digər variantlar üzərində çalışmaq istəyir.
Polşalı futbolçu bu mövsüm 25 oyunda 12 qol vurub. Onun müqaviləsi mövsümün sonunda başa çatır.
Azərbaycan millisinin futbolçusu Vüsal İsgəndərlinin formasını geyindiyi “Partizani” Albaniya çempionatında növbəti oyuna çıxıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda XXXII turda “Bilis”lə qarşılaşıb. Matç 1:1 hesabıyla bitib.
Vüsal oyuna start heyətdə başlayıb və 75-ci dəqiqədə əvəzlənib. İsgəndərli matçda komandasının yeganə qoluna imza atıb. O, 19-cu dəqiqədə penaltidən fərqlənib.
“Partizani” çempionatda 32 turdan sonra 45 xalla 5-ci sıradadır.
“Barselona”nın hücumçusu Robert Levandovskinin maraqlarını təmsil edən agent Pini Zahavi Kataloniya klubu ilə müqavilənin müddətinin uzadılmasını müzakirə etmək niyyətindədir. Msport.az […]
Roberto Mancini was back at Coverciano on Monday to accept an award from the Unione Stampa Sportiva Italiana (Italian Union of the Sports Press), but refused to speak about the reports linking him with a potential return to the Italy national team set-up: ‘Next question?’
Mancini on Italy disappointment, promising youngsters and return rumours
The former Italy national team head coach, currently in Qatar with Al-Sadd, had been among the first few names linked with a move to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team. Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri are the current frontrunners for the vacant CT role.
Mancini was back on home soil on Monday to accept an award at the ‘Inside the Sport 2026’ event at Coverciano, and took a few moments to answer questions from journalists regarding his future, the future of the Italy set-up and the disappointment of the recent failure to qualify for the World Cup.
“It’s a pleasure to return to Coverciano, I grew up here. I came here for the first time when I was 15. It’s definitely a special feeling,” said Mancini (via TMW). “I’m pleased to receive this award, even if my career will still be quite long yet.”
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 07: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli of Italy pause for the camera before to the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Netherlands and Italy at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 7, 2020 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
The topic of discussion quickly turned to the Italy national team and their loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final at the end of March.
“There are times when things go well and we’re all happy, but this is part of sport. You win some and you lose some,” said Mancini, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup while he was in charge of the Nazionale.
“Sometimes incredible things happen. That’s football. We need to roll up our sleeves and continue working.
“If you read what Kimmich said about Germany, Italy has won more than them in the last 10 years. We had done good things. Our national team will have good players in the future to get back on its feet. The same goes for club teams.”
Mancini refused to answer, though, when asked if he is interested in a potential return to the Italy set-up: “I’m here to accept this award, not to talk about anything else. Next question?”
Mancini was then asked which Italy youngsters have impressed him the most this season.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
He said: “The one who has impressed me the most is Palestra. Cancellieri also has great qualities, not much is said about him. There are good players.”
And when asked again about his next career steps once his time with Al-Sadd comes to an end, Mancini replied: “I have to finish the season with Al-Sadd. Sometimes the phone rings. Usually it’s my children who call me.”
According to Mundo Deportivo, Italy international Alessandro Bastoni will only consider two options in the summer: staying at Inter or joining Barcelona, despite interest from Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.
Inter star Bastoni is keen to move to Barcelona, and according to several sources, informal talks between the Italian centre-back’s camp and the Catalans are already underway.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Italian defender will only consider two options in the summer: staying at Inter, where he’s under contract to 2028, or moving to Barcelona.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano controls the ball whilst under pressure from Santiago Pierotti of US Lecce during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Bastoni is said to be fascinated by the Blaugrana and the city of Barcelona, but this doesn’t mean he’ll push to leave Inter.
Mundo Deportivo confirms that Bastoni is Barcelona’s priority target to strengthen their defence in 2026-27, even if coach Hansi Flick has yet to give his final green light before club-to-club talks begin.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Inter are unwilling to sell Bastoni on the cheap, and there have been mixed reports about the Nerazzurri’s asking price, which is not expected to be below €60m.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Nerazzurri’s demands will be even higher at €70m-80m.
Napoli striker Lukaku has returned to Belgium after a meeting with club directors, according to Italian sources, including Repubblica.
Lukaku returns to Belgium again
Lukaku had remained in Belgium without his club’s consent during the March break, receiving a fine and being frozen out of the team.
He returned to Naples on Sunday after more than two weeks abroad and, according to Repubblica, met with the club’s directors on Monday morning.
CASTEL DI SANGRO, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli lies on the pitch after being injured during the pre-season friendly match between Napoli and Olympiacos at Stadio Teofilo Patini on August 14, 2025 in Castel di Sangro, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
According to the report, the meeting between the two parties was amicable and resulted in the striker receiving the green light to return to Belgium for individual training sessions.
Lukaku’s 2025-26 campaign was marred by a severe muscle injury suffered during the pre-season, which forced him to the sidelines for the first part of the campaign.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Romelu Lukaku of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Lukaku spent seven months on the sidelines, starting no games with the Partenopei this season and scoring just one goal.
According to Italian reporter Nicolò Schira, Lukaku will be available again for Napoli in two weeks.
Massimo Ambrosini sees a positive environment around Jonathan David at Juventus, but no ‘ruthlessness’ from the Canada international, while Weston McKennie ‘has the ability to position himself wherever he’s needed.’
David scored the opening goal in the first half, while McKennie provided the assist for Kehphren Thuram’s strike after the break: “I think David was more involved in other games than in this one, but he’s well-liked by the group, and his teammates defended him,” Ambrosini told DAZN via Tuttosport.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“Spalletti has said he needs a striker who can do different things, but he has improved. I don’t see in him the ruthlessness of a penalty-box killer, something he had before arriving here. He’s always done it throughout his career, but he hasn’t shown it here yet.”
McKennie has become a key player under Spalletti, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in 32 appearances.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Weston McKennie of Juventus is challenged by Simon Sohm of Bologna during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“In Spalletti’s fluid style of football, McKennie has the ability to position himself wherever he’s needed,” noted Ambrosini.
“In the penalty area, he’s more present than the strikers. He plays as a right winger, but in possession, he doesn’t stay there; he acts as an attacking midfielder or box-to-box, even as a forward.”
Ibrahima Konate revealed he is close to signing a new contract with Liverpool. The defender’s current deal is set to expire at the end of June, and reports earlier in the season suggested Real Madrid were interested in signing him on a free transfer this summer. Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £35m ahead […]
Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal to keep pushing in “the best part of the season” following their defeat to title rivals Manchester City. The Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, meaning City could go top of the Premier League on goal difference if they beat Burnley on Wednesday. Arsenal produced […]
The New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 NFL Draft with some very interesting options at their disposal in the first few rounds.
Picking eighth overall, the Saints will likely be able to land a solid defender or one of the top wide receivers in the draft class. And down the board in Round 2, there should be plenty of intriguing players still available as well. But the Saints could make a trade, too.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is some buzz surrounding one of the Saints quarterbacks, specifically their 1,586-yard passer Spencer Rattler, who could be traded during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Saints' Spencer Rattler expected to draw trade interest
"Those who could gain interest include Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Titans quarterback Will Levis, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler..." Schefter reports.
These three quarterbacks were all mentioned right after Schefter called out the "plenty more who could be dealt during the upcoming draft."
Rattler's name has been floating in trade rumors often this offseason, and for good reason. Tyler Shough is the answer at quarterback, and Rattler would be better off being traded to a new team than sitting as the backup for a year.
He's more valuable to the Saints as a draft pick or player compensation, especially since he is one of the better quarterbacks who could still be on the move this offseason.
The other two QBs mentioned have some significant issues. Levis played very poorly the last time he was seen as the starter for the Tennessee Titans, back in 2024, and Richardson's struggles over the last few years, with health and consistency being red flags.
Rattler, while his 1,586 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions this past season weren't the most impressive performance, there was a bit more intrigue about his play than the other QBs Schefter noted could be on the move.
Saints fans should be keeping an eye out for any Rattler rumors leading up to and during the NFL Draft. They might be trading their backup QB away, which would make a lot of sense to surround Shough with better talent on offense or bolster the revamped defense.
The college football offseason's biggest stories are annually the transfer portal, the coaching carousel, and the layout of the coming season's schedule. This year, the college football offseason has added a spicy and unexpected plot twist. USA TODAY Sports college football writer John Brice has more:
"After the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee on March 19 adopted what the special teams community has called a “drastic rule change,” the measure that restricts player movement for “two adjacent linemen on either side of the snapper” faced objections from coaches.
"However, those objections didn't stop the NCAA football rules subcommittee from upholding the change in a call held Thursday, April 9, a person with knowledge of the vote told USA TODAY Sports. The call was held after coaches had made public their frustration with the rule change and its process.
"Six coaches familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports that Steve Shaw, the NCAA’s national coordinator of officials, recently held a Zoom meeting for FBS special teams coordinators that featured more than 50 coaches. The coaches requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
"We didn’t have a chance for answers,” a current Power conference special teams coordinator from a College Football Playoff participant told USA TODAY Sports. “Some people basically were already done with spring football when this was passed. I can’t do it or teach it in the summer, because that’s cheating and then I’d get fired.”
You can read the rest of the story for more details and quotes from coaches, but here's the crazy and central part of the whole saga: The rule is almost unanimously opposed by coaches, and yet it passed. That's how messed up the whole process was. Will the rule be rescinded before the season begins? We shall see.
The NFL Draft is just three days away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t know who will be their quarterback in 2026. The Steelers have not received word from Aaron Rodgers on his future, and there is no expectation of a final decision prior to the NFL Draft, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The Steelers open Monday’s bonus minicamp with Will Howard as the starting quarterback, with Rodgers’ decision likely still weeks away.
“Aaron Rodgers has been in regular communication with Steelers officials, including Mike McCarthy who he knows very well from his days with the Packers. They’ve talked plenty about life, as well as football. Rodgers has also been training when he’s been at home back in California. But to this point, he has not told the Steelers affirmatively that he’s going to be back in Pittsburgh for a 22nd NFL season,” Pelissero said onGood Morning Football.
The Boston Bruins suffered a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series.
Boston went on the road against Buffalo, in what was an electric atmosphere as playoff hockey returned to Buffalo for the first time in 14 years. However, the Bruins did a good job early silencing the crowd, as the Bruins led 1-0 after the first and second periods.
Boston then took a 2-0 lead just 68 seconds into the third period, before the Sabres scored four-straight goals in just over six-and-a-half minutes. Although David Pastrnak did score with eight seconds left, it was a disappointing loss for the Bruins, as head coach Marco Sturm felt like the team was in the perfect spot to steal Game 1.
“I thought we were in the perfect spot,” Sturm said postgame on Sunday. “We were exactly where we wanted to play. Being in that position, five, six minutes left in the game. You could tell, they got a little bit frustrated and made pretty much two mistakes to let them tie up the game.
“It is a long series, and we’re prepared. We want to come here to Buffalo and get a win. We didn’t get it today, so we’re going to try our best to get it next game.”
It was a frustrating loss for the Bruins, who dropped Game 1, but there are some positives to take away heading into Game 2.
Boston will return to the ice on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET for Game 2 against Buffalo.
As the 2026 NFL draft commences on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, the New York Giants enter with significant momentum following their trade of All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick.
Equipped with two selections in the top 10 (Nos. 5 and 10) and a total of eight picks, head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen possess substantial resources to accelerate the rebuild around quarterback Jaxson Dart.
With the final seconds finally ticking off the clock, Giants Wire presents its final mock draft of the 2026 offseason.
We used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator for this exercise and left all settings on default, including the big board being set to PFF's rankings. We controlled only the New York Giants and projected all seven rounds.
Here is how things played out.
Round 1 (No. 5): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
While there were trade options available, most of them would have pushed the Giants outside of the top 12, leaving them with precious few prospects with first-round grades (roughly 13-15 in this draft). With a second first-round pick now in tow, the Giants stay at No. 5 and land the versatile off-ball Sonny Styles, who can also pitch in at safety.
A three-year starter at Ohio State, Styles played weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s 4-2-5 base scheme (and wore the green dot in 2025). After playing multiple safety roles for two seasons, he transitioned to linebacker as a junior and then became an All-American as a senior, combining for 182 tackles over his final two seasons. He was awarded the “Block O” jersey in 2025 and voted a senior captain (receiving the most votes on the team).
Styles is a freaky height/weight/speed athlete with fluid change of direction and the playmaking range to cover every blade of grass. He processes quickly and delivers pop at contact as a downhill player, rarely missing tackles thanks to his ability to violently overwhelm the ball carrier. Though he plays with terrific reaction quickness, the next step in his development is to improve his anticipation, especially in coverage, so he can make more plays on the football.
Round 1 (No. 10): Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Again, there were trade proposals, but with Francis Mauigoa still on the board, the decision felt simple. While the Giants will still go pickless in Round 3, they add a second Day 1 starter in Mauigoa, who is willing, capable, and likely to shift inside to right guard, solving that issue for Big Blue.
A three-year starter at Miami, Mauigoa was a mainstay at right tackle in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced scheme. A former five-star recruit, he earned a starting role from day one and started all 42 games the past three seasons (he led the Hurricanes in snaps played in both 2024 and 2025). A consensus All-American his final season, he was a pivotal part of Miami’s run to the 2025 national title game and became the first Miami player since 2005 (Eric Winston) to earn the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s top blocker.
A wide-bodied blocker and “Freaks List” alum, Mauigoa carries his weight well. He doesn’t have elite length or foot quickness, but he plays with a relaxed feel in space to mirror and put rushers in a vise. He stays centered in pass sets and has a sturdy anchor to make defenders pay for trying to go through him. He gets in trouble lunging in the run game but plays stout through his extension to seal inside/outside run lanes.
Round 2 (No. 37): Peter Woods, iDL, Clemson
Once a surefire top-5 pick, Peter Woods slides down the draft boards a bit following an inconsistent 2025 season. That ends up benefiting the Giants, who land their Dexter Lawrence replacement. He will likely have some rookie struggles, but with the right coaching and development, Woods can transform into a long-time starter and potential Pro Bowl talent.
A two-and-a-half-year starter at Clemson, Woods shuffled up and down the line in defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s four-man front. After earning Freshman All-American honors in 2023, he received All-ACC honors in each of the last two seasons. He was tabbed as a potential top-five draft pick entering his junior season, but he struggled to match that hype in 2025, posting up-and-down tape and poor production (14 pressures, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks over 12 games).
Draft projections for Woods will depend on a team’s willingness to grade to his flashes. He moves with big-man twitch and has the foot quickness to elude blocks in tight quarters. However, for a player with his explosive traits, he doesn’t have many quick wins on his tape and needs to learn how to diversify his rush approach. But he consistently saw four hands from blockers each snap and produced enough splash plays to believe he will be a more stable player in the future.
Round 4 (No. 105): Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
The Giants have taken a broad approach at wide receiver, replacing the departed Wan'Dale Robinson with a multitude of low-risk, high-reward players. They add to that group here, selecting the 6-foot-4 Malachi Fields, who gives Big Blue a legitimate red zone threat.
A one-year starter at Notre Dame (and three-year starter overall), Fields was the boundary receiver in offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s scheme. A high school quarterback, he transitioned well to receiver at Virginia before transferring to the Irish for his final season in 2025. His targets and production took a nosedive with a freshman at quarterback (he didn’t record a 100-yard receiving game in 2025), although he produced several memorable plays.
Fields flashes both build-up speed and short-area juice, along with a go-and-get-it gear when the ball is in the air. He displays impressive reflexes at the catch point and deftly takes advantage of every inch of his frame to reel in throws. NFL coaches will like the way he uses his hands and feet to gain a step of separation out of breaks, although they will want to see him expand his route proficiency (there is a healthy amount of hitches and go routes all over his tape).
Round 5 (No. 145): Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
The Giants sniffed around running backs throughout the offseason and are said to be very high on Jeremiyah Love, but didn't get to call his name in Round 1. They add to the room with Emmett Johnson in the fifth round, which is unlikely to happen come the actual draft (Round 3/Round 4 projection). But hey, we can only play the hands we're dealt in these simulations, so the sure-handed Johnson joins Big Blue.
A two-year starter at Nebraska, Johnson lined up primarily offset in offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s version of the Air Raid. After two seasons in a running back rotation, he had a breakout 2025 season as the only FBS player to average more than 150 scrimmage yards per game. He led the Big Ten with 1,451 rushing yards and became the first running back in Nebraska history to record 100-plus yards both rushing and receiving in the same game.
With his agile cutting skills, Johnson is explosive laterally and has sharp footwork and shifty body movements to give defenders the slip. His feet can get a little bounce happy at times, but he makes it work for him by pressing the line and setting up open-field defenders. Though he runs with determination, his average power will be more noticeable when dealing with NFL contact.
Round 6 (No. 186): Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina
Injuries likely cost Thaddeus Dixon an earlier pick despite the strong endorsements from the Belichicks. The Giants take a flier on the 24-year-old, who can play multiple positions in the secondary and is strong against the run -- a John Harbaugh favorite. He does have ball location issues similar to Deonte Banks, which fans won't want to hear, but as a sixth-round pick, it's worth the gamble.
A one-year starter at North Carolina, Dixon followed the opponent’s No. 1 receiver in defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s scheme, aligning both inside and outside (Bill Belichick: “He could probably play any position in the secondary.”). With few options out of high school, he earned his way from the juco level to Washington, and then to the Tar Heels, although his final season was marred by injury.
Dixon is a high-energy cover man and carries himself with maturity, both on and off the field. He doesn’t usually jam at the line but trails routes and disrupts catch points. He is more likely to face guard than find the football, which hinders his interception opportunities. He also relies more on physicality than pure speed to recover, which can be an asset versus the run but will get him in trouble when facing NFL athletes.
Round 7 (No. 192): VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
There is no chance VJ Payne is available this late in the draft, but once again, we can only go with what PFF gives us. Projected to go as high as Round 4, the Giants get another absolute steal here with a safety who can likely contribute to a rotation as a rookie.
A starter for three-and-a-half years at Kansas State, Payne played free safety, strong safety and big nickel in former defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman’s scheme. He posted consistent production the past three seasons and earned All-Big 12 honors as both a junior and senior.
Payne offers a rare combination of rangy size and long-striding speed to make plays near the line or at the sideline. He is at his best as a matchup player against big, dynamic tight ends, using his nimble quickness and body length to influence the catch point. Despite his starting experience, he is still a tad green and can be more reactive than proactive keying run/pass or reading routes. He is a physical tackler but often guilty of stopping his feet instead of running through his target.
Round 7 (No. 193): Eli Heidenreich, FB, Navy
Eli Heidenreich remains our favorite mock selection in these projections, and we'd pick him even earlier if we knew there was a risk of him being gone (which is likely in the actual draft). A true versatile threat, he can play fullback, running back, outside receiver, or slot receiver. He's a do-it-all talent that will fit nicely on a Harbaugh-coached roster.
A starter for two-and-a-half years at Navy, Heidenreich played the “Snipe Z” position in the Midshipmen’s modern triple-option offense, which includes aggressive pass concepts (play action, verticals, etc.). He split his 2025 snaps between the backfield (44.4 percent), wide (35.4), slot (14.7) and inline (5.5), and he accounted for a sky-high 45.7 percent target share. He set Navy records for career receiving yards (1,994), single-season receiving yards (941) and single-game receiving yards (243). Heidenreich and Tavon Austin are the only FBS players since 1956 with 925-plus receiving yards and 475-plus rushing yards in the same season.
Heidenreich is a versatile all-purpose athlete with acceleration and body control as both a route runner and ball carrier. More quick than explosive, he has mismatch-creating potential out of the slot and catches everything thrown his way, regardless of placement or positioning. He is unproven in pass protection, although there are no questions about his competitive toughness.
Pro Football Focus grade: A-
Payne getting a B- grade and Heidenreich getting a C+ grade in Round 6 remains amusing to us. PFF's board is very different from the consensus big board, especially the deeper you go in these mock drafts.
Florida State baseball completed its fourth series sweep of the season, outscoring the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 26-11 over three games at Dick Howser Stadium from April 17 to 19. Solid at-bats sparked the Seminoles’ weekend dominance, capped by a four-run seventh-inning rally in the 6-4 finale.
The win moves FSU to 28-11 overall and 12-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, helping the ’Noles bounce back after their first conference series loss of the year to Georgia Tech the previous weekend. This sweep of head coach Link Jarrett’s former team marks the Garnet and Gold’s fifth series win in six conference weekends.
Dominant pitching and power bats fuel game one shutout
Junior pitcher Wes Mendes set the tone for the weekend, starting on the mound in game one and quickly retiring the Fighting Irish in order in the first inning. Florida State’s offense followed suit in the bottom half as junior outfielder Brayden Dowd led off with a double up the middle. Junior outfielder Chase Williams and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns added consecutive singles before redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla hit a double to deep left field, giving the Seminoles an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning with runners on first and third, a fielding error on Williams’ sacrifice bunt allowed Dowd and senior infielder Carter McCulley to score. The play extended FSU’s lead to 4-0. The ’Noles’ offense exploded in the sixth inning, as separate three-run home runs by freshman outfielder John Stuetzer and redshirt senior infielder Eli Putnam gave the Garnet and Gold a commanding 11-0 lead.
IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 08: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks lines up on defense during a college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 08, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Sitting at No. 31 in the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots might be looking at limited options in the first round. However, they are not afraid to make a move up the board either if an opportunity presents itself. Obviously, that opportunity would be closely tied to which players are available; there are only so many worth trading up for.
Would Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman fall into that category? Let’s look at what he brings to the table.
Career statistics: 39 games (39 starts) | 2,417 defensive snaps, 379 special teams snaps, 5 offensive snaps | 306 tackles, 40 missed tackles (13.1%), 10 TFLs, 2 FFs | 12 QB pressures (2 sacks, 4 hits, 6 hurries) | 68 targets, 44 catches surrendered (64.7%), 494 yards, 6 TDs, 8 INTs, 16 PBUs | 10 special teams tackles, 1 missed special teams tackle (9.1%) | 9 punt returns, 67 yards (7.4/return) | 2 penalties (incl. 0 declined/offsetting)
Accolades: First-team All-Big Ten (2025), Second-team All-American (2025), Honorable mention All-Big Ten (2024), Freshman All-American (2023), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2023)
An impact player since his high school days, Thieneman was a four-year varsity starter at Westfield, ID, and eventually rated a three-star recruit. He received multiple offers from across the FBS landscape, but family ties prevailed and he joined Purdue in 2023. He immediately earned a starting role as a true freshman and over the next two seasons played 24 games for the Boilermakers. In those games, he registered 210 tackles as well as six interceptions and received multiple individual accolades even as his team went a combined 5-19.
That lack of success led to Purdue firing head coach Ryan Walters, which in turn prompted Thieneman to enter the transfer portal after his sophomore campaign. A four-star prospect, he was a hot commodity before opting to join Oregon. He ended up spending only one season with the Ducks before declaring for the draft, but did manage to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors after picking up 96 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Strengths: Thieneman is a fantastic athlete whose straight line speed (97th-percentile 40-yard dash) is accompanied by natural fluidity. He can be trusted as a single-high safety due to his tremendous range and fast processor as well as his instincts; he reacts in an instant to attack the ball and has the closing speed in pursuit and coverage to make big plays in the backend. His skills are not limited to playing space, though, and he also can move to different spots in the lineup. He is a stout tackler who is not afraid of contact and bursts into run lanes.
He also took on a leadership role at Oregon, being named a game captain on four occasions in 2025 despite being in his first year in the program. In addition, he was a reliable player at both of his college stops, starting all 39 possible games without any time missed due to injury.
11. S Dillon Thieneman – Oregon
Thieneman has as much proven versatility as anyone in this class & has been making a case for SAF2 down the stretch. Elite tackler, tone-setter in run support, sticky in man coverage, & has 2 years of exp at FS in a single-high scheme pic.twitter.com/JoYTxfZOY5
Weaknesses: Thieneman is not the biggest player, with his lack of height (39th percentile) and weight (27th percentile) limiting him when taking on tight ends in coverage or run support. In general and despite his natural versatility, he can look out of place the closer he gets to the line of scrimmage and gets lost in traffic on occasion. He also is not immune to taking some questionable angles when coming downhill. Finally, he failed to match his freshman ball production in subsequent seasons, going from six interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles in Year 1 to a combined two INTs over his final 27 games.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? Even though the Patriots have two starter-caliber safeties on their roster and rarely rotated into three-safety looks in 2025, they would find a way to get Thieneman on the field as a third option to complement Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson. While he might be used more in nickel and dime packages early on, he should be able to get reps in base looks as well given his abilities as a scheme- and package-agnostic player in the secondary. Further down the line, he would likely be tabbed to succeed Byard as the starting free safety.
Does he have positional versatility? As mentioned above, Thieneman is not limited by scheme or position. He can play man as well as zone, can line up in split safety or single-high looks, and move closer to the line or into the slot if need be. He also played 100-plus special teams snaps in all three of his college seasons, seeing action on five units (kickoff and punt coverage, kickoff and punt return, field goal/extra point block). In addition, he aligned as a running back for five snaps during his freshman campaign at Purdue.
What is his growth potential? Not turning 22 until training camp, Thieneman is still a developing player despite his immense college experience and an NFL-caliber athletic profile. If he can improve his angles and tackling technique, and make the necessary adjustments from college to pro level, he should become an impact player fairly quickly in his career and has all the tools to turn into a multi-year starter.
Why the Patriots? New England may have more pressing needs than safety to address in the first round, but as Eliot Wolf stated last week the draft is about more than short-term considerations. And with Kevin Byard turning 33 in August and on a one-year deal, Thieneman would be well-suited as a long-term replacement. In fact, given where they are positioned, the Patriots probably would not find a better prospect.
Why not the Patriots? There is a chance that Thieneman will not fall in the Patriots’ range, even if they are willing to move up the board in the first round. Furthermore, they simply might want to address other spots first before targeting a position with two starters in place.
One-sentence verdict: Thieneman is as good a safety as there is in the draft, and under the right circumstances — i.e. him still being around in the high 20s — would be a tremendous addition to a Patriots defense that prides itself in being versatile.
For more information about Dillon Thieneman and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
Also, what do you think about Thienemanas a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
In what's shaping up to be one of the deepest wide receiver classes in recent memory, the 2026 NFL Draft presents the Pittsburgh Steelers with plenty of prospects — including projected Day 2 wideout Ted Hurst of Georgia State — to keep a close eye on.
Here's a look at Hurst's scouting report, containing information on his bio, strengths, concerns, stats, and highlights.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Height: 6 feet 3 7/8 inches
Weight: 206 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds
Projection: Second- to third-round
Strengths
Finds soft spots in zones with ease
Builds speed through routes
Incredible red zone target
Can find a second gear in his speed
Concerns
Average contested catch ability despite length advantage
Davison Igbinosun came into Ohio State as a top recruit. His first three seasons at Ohio State were solid enough, but they did not quite live up to the high expectations coming in. He was always a strong corner and able to keep tight coverage, but he got flagged for pass interference way too much as he had a tendency to grab after getting beat on cuts. He cut down on the penalties a ton his senior season, which gives him serious consideration as a top cornerback in this year's draft class.
Davison Igbinosun, Cornerback
Draft Projection: Rounds 2-5
I don't expect Igbinosun to get as high as the second round. He's a strong corner with huge potential, but he hasn't put it together enough in college to really earn the risk of a high draft pick.
There are a lot of pretty good corners in this year's draft class, but there are very few elite ones. Where does that leave NFL teams looking at Igbinosun? If he can get his penalty problem fully under control, he's a strong multi-year starter at the NFL level. If he can't quite stay with elite receivers making cuts, then he'll be a serviceable cover back for the second or third receiver. How much will NFL teams be willing to look to put into Igbinosun? That will decide whether a team wants to take him as high as early in the third round or as low as late in the fifth.
Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.
Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.
From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at quarterback Connor Barry for the 2026 season.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
Height: 6-1
Weight: 206
Class in 2026: Senior
Recruiting Rankings
Class of 2025: Composite zero-star recruit
Barry was not heavily recruited out of high school, although he was one of the successful QBs in Virginia High School history.
Career Stats
Connor Barry previously played for Appalachian State in his freshman season, before transferring to D-III Christopher Newport. In his career, he has passed for 5,561 yards, 55 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. Last season, not only did he break CNU's single-season passing yards and touchdowns records, but he also led D-III in passing efficiency.
Depth Chart Overview
Barry should be projected to land the QB2 role, although he may have to battle for it with redshirt freshman transfer Alex Manske. Still, his experience, even at the D-III level, could lend itself to a potential battle. He could see some early playing time in the early stages of Penn State's schedule, but may not start unless an emergency occurs.
Random Fact
Barry is the first southpaw quarterback to potentially play for Penn State in over 20 years.
The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.
The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of BYU.
Joe Nelson - wing
Draft year and position: fifth round (eighth pick, 56th overall), 1948 BAA Draft
Seasons at BYU: three
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
Jim Eakins - center
Draft year and position: fifth round (7th pick, 57th overall), 1968 NBA Draft
Seasons at BYU: three
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 24: A general view of the stage during the Green Bay Packers pick during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s officially Draft Week!
The 2026 NFL Draft starts in just three days, as Pittsburgh plays host to the event for the second time in its history and the first in more than 70 years. Whether you love or hate mock drafts, they’re finally about to come to an end, but not before a final blitz of them come through over the next 72 or so hours.
The first big shakeup affecting the first round happened over the weekend as the Cincinnati Bengals acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants. Cincinnati sent the #10 overall pick to the Giants in the deal, giving them two selections in the top ten heading into John Harbaugh’s first year as their head coach.
That likely will not affect the Green Bay Packers, who will wait until #52 to make their first selection (barring a move up). Of course, what the board looks like at that time is anyone’s guess, and that will make the wait on Friday evening a long and nerve-wracking one for fans of the Green and Gold.
Meanwhile, today also marks the first day of the Packers’ offseason workout program as players are back in the building. Expect a few bits of business to take place over the course of the day.
Here’s a look at what’s going on around the Packers and the NFL with just a few days to go before the Draft.
All-Packers Mock Draft Based Purely on Their 30 Visits | SI.com More interesting than the mock draft is the news that there’s a secret quarterback visitor whose name the team refuses to share with the public. Perhaps they’re trying to avoid a similar situation to 2023, when they had Sean Clifford in for a visit and then had to scramble to draft him in the fifth round after a run at the position?
Talent? On this defense? Yes, despite what Matt Eberflus failed to do with it, the Cowboys’ defense does have some pieces to work with. Some of them are new arrivals from free agency, and we expect several more to come from the upcoming 2026 draft. As we continue this series of articles looking at how Dallas’ talent rates, and how it could impact the draft, the focus turns to the defense and specifically the front-seven positions in the defensive line and linebacker corps.
In the modern NFL, the term “front seven” is almost antiquated. With nickel now the dominant scheme, the majority of snaps have a combination of six defensive linemen and linebackers playing with five defensive backs. That’s good for a Cowboys team which is sorely lacking up front, and especially at linebacker.
As we’ve done with the other articles in this series, we’re looking at each player based on his perceived talent and the role he’s expected to fill in 2026. That means some backups will be rated higher than projected starters, but only because they currently feel more qualified for their spots on the depth chart.
The Elite
DL Quinnen Williams
Even in a transition from his midseason trade, Williams remained one of the league’s top interior linemen. While Dallas’ defense had too many holes for Williams’ arrival to raise all ships, his individual dominance was routinely on display. The hope going forward is that Christian Parker’s work to improve other defensive positions will take some of the pressure and attention off of Williams, allowing him to do even more to personally impact games.
Sadly, none of Dallas’ other front-seven defenders qualify for this top level. We have hopes for what good health could mean for DeMarvion Overshown, but we won’t know until December just how that goes.
Very Good
N/A
Williams not only stands alone on the elite tier, but there’s a huge gap between him and the rest of the defense. In the front seven, who right now can you say you feel all that great about? Many would consider DeMarvion Overshown the next-most talented, but he has massive availability concerns. We hope that Donovan Ezeiruaku is going to break out in his second season, but we need to see it first. Other guys are at least solid in their projected roles, which we’ll get to next, but no DL, EDGE, or LB outside of Quinnen Williams feels like a clear strength right now.
Good Enough
DL Kenny Clark DL Otito Ogbonnia DL Jonathan Bullard EDGE Rashan Gary EDGE James Houston
Remember, we’re looking at players’ value relative to their respective role. We’re not saying James Houston is a better player than Donovan Ezeiruaku (next tier), but he’s got lower expectations as a rotation piece versus someone the team is counting on for bigger things. With 5.5 sacks last year coming off the bench, he’s perfectly adequate for the same role. The same goes for new arrival Rashan Gary, who should be a capable starter as long as we’re not asking him to be the team’s top pass rusher.
Dallas has nearly renovated the defensive line, with Jay Toia now the only guy remaining from the start of last season. The new veteran core of Clark, Bullard, and Ogbonnia probably aren’t pushing for Pro Bowl spots this year, but they all feel like solid fits for what Parker plans to do. Like Williams, they’re hoping for more effective play around them to create more opportunities. But more than anything, their jobs will be to dictate terms up front and allow the linebackers to be the playmakers.
Causes for Concern
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Marist Liufau EDGE Sam Williams EDGE Tyrus Wheat DL Jay Toia LB DeMarvion Overshown LB Shemar James LB Justin Barron
And now we get to the not-so-fun part. The linebackers are riddled with issues and question marks, which is why ILB and EDGE have been at the forefront of many mock drafts. Even a guy we have high hopes for in his second year, Ezeiruaku, is going to need to take a pretty big leap to be the productive pass rusher that Dallas needs. He’d be “Good Enough” if he was just a wingman or rotation guy, and maybe he will be depending on how the draft goes, but without any new additions there is a lot of pressure on Ezeiruaku to perform.
The rest of the EDGE rotation is suspect even for depth. Liufau has reportedly been moved there after two years inside, and it doesn’t bode well. He’s undersized for the role and will be a huge liability against the run, which will limit his snaps. Your third season is a time to blossom in an existing role, not find a new one, and this move is more likely to result in Liufau not finishing out his rookie contract. As for Sam Williams, he could find new life in this scheme but has to show it on the field. If his best plays are only on special teams like in 2025, this one-year deal is probably his last. Tyrus Wheat returns after a one-year sojourn in Detroit, but he’s just a body right now until proven otherwise.
As bleak as some of that sounds, it’s still a better situation than inside linebacker. As already mentioned, Overshown has clear star potential but needs his body to cooperate. If healthy, Overshown can be a great chess piece for Parker with versatile abilities. You can line him up in several different ways and leave offenses guessing about what he might do. But if his knee doesn’t finally hold up, it will all be for naught.
Shemar James was able to get a lot more playing time last year than expected, but we saw all of the rawness that made him just a Day 3 pick. The physical traits are all there, but his diagnostic skills need to improve. As for Justin Barron, a year on the practice squad means we don’t really know what he has to offer. But the former safety should have the coverage skills to play 3-4 LB, especially on passing downs, and will be interesting to watch this summer.
Surprise, surprise: the linebacker position, inside and edge rushers, is a massive need going into the draft. It’s why many think Dallas could trade up on Thursday night, hoping to land a premier EDGE like David Bailey or the top ILB, Sonny Styles. If the Cowboys do move into the top-10, it’s probably for one of these guys. We could also see Arvell Reese in the mix if he falls a little, or Rueben Bain if the other top defenders go early.
However, moving up means only getting one guy early. Given how big the needs are at both spots, you can understand why many would prefer Dallas to stand pat at the 12th and 20th picks. They may not get an elite prospect, but they can cover two bases instead of one. This would bring other pass rushers like Akheem Mesidor and Keldric Faulk into play, plus ILB prospects C.J. Allen and Jacob Rodriguez. Still, not trading up also makes it more likely that the top talents on the board will be defensive backs, or maybe offensive tackles.
More than any other positions, EDGE and ILB will hang over this draft. Not getting one on Thursday night will keep a spotlight on it in the subsequent rounds. And without a significant addition from the rookie class, many will be looking for Dallas to turn to free agency or even a trade immediately following the draft. This will be especially true for ILB, which has no reliable starter from among the current talent.
GREENSBORO, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Michael Sansone #18 of Fairfield University pitches the ball during a game between Fairfield and UNC Greensboro at UNCG Baseball Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox farm, unlike the Major League team, actually enjoyed solid pitching all the way around on Sunday. Worcester’s shutout performance in Nashville (Brewers AAA) was courtesy of Michael Sansone. The 26-year-old Connecticut native may well end up putting together some innings on the Major League squad in 26; he lacks any sort of velocity but gets by with control. He allowed just two hits in six innings; Nate Eaton beat that on his own, including his 2nd home run of the series in the midst of his three-hit afternoon. This one, with Sansone’s great start, was never really in doubt, but the WooSox may have benefitted from a bit more offense. Still, you can’t look a gift horse that is a 4-2 win in the mouth, especially when it comes at the heels of five straight losses and a total of five runs in three games combined.
Hayden Mullins, the former Auburn Tiger and 2022 12th round draft pick, had perhaps the best outing of his professional career. Mullins has more velocity and less control than Sansone, but the latter didn’t seem to be the case in Altoona (Pirates AA), as he rolled through eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and just one walk. That’s not to say he was constantly throwing strikes; 30 of his 76 pitches were outside the strike zone, but the strikes came at the right times. He’s been struggling so far to start 2026, so this was nice.
Day off for Franklin Arias, and in his absence the team had its three top slots in the lineup each strike out multiple times. In fact, the Sea Dogs only had one extra base hit on Sunday from Miguel Bleis. Even still, they strung together a W.
The only problem with Marcus Phillips’ start on Sunday against Bowling Green (Rays High-A) was that it didn’t go super long. It lasted just 58 pitches, but he amassed seven strikeouts, and then things went south in the bullpen after Phillips was pulled in the fourth. But, things didn’t go SO well for the Hot Rods that the Drive couldn’t take the lead back in the bottom of the eighth with a Natanael Yuten RBI single, which had a .268 WPA. As the entire arm emerged victorious, this win was also not pretty, but it was a win!
The RidgeYaks break their five-game losing streak holding a total run differential of -18 with a defense-first win. They got to scoring runs on Hickory (Rangers A) early, holding a 4-0 lead, peaking with Starlyn Nunez’ RBI triple, and the bullpen held their own following a short, but good, start by Kansas native Barrett Morgan. Prior to this game, the Crawdads had hung a total of 8.8 runs a game on Salem, so this was a refreshing display of effective pitching by committee!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Michael Taaffe #DB51 of Texas participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Arizona Cardinals are in need of another safety. Jalen Thompson unfortunately left in free agency and the team signed Andrew Wingard away from the Philadelphia Eagles. But every defensive backfield needs three capable safeties.
Currently in the safety room are Pro Bowler Budda Baker, Kitan Crawford, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, and Joey Blount.
In the meantime, does the safety room need another capable body?
Michael Taaffe is also a highly-regarded safety. He is a smart kid with good awareness on the field, most likely at strong safety. He is a guy who can come in and instantly compete for the open starting job next to Delpit.
Defensive backs coach Cristian Garcis hasconsistently valued instinctive, physical defensive backs who can operate in multiple roles. All of this represents Taaffe.
S Michael Taaffe
Draft projection: Round 5
Cardinals pick: #143
—————————————————————————-
Specifics:
College: Texas
Height: 6’-0”
Weight: 189 pounds
40-time: 4.5
Career Tackles: 222
Career Forced Fumbles: 1
Career Sacks: 3
Career Tackles for Loss: 9.5
Interceptions: 7
Career Pass Defenses: 14
Career games: 53
Accolades: First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, Second Team All-American (2024), Wuerffel Trophy winner
Positives:
Tremendous coverage skills
Great anticipation rather than being physical
Natural ball tracking
Seven career picks, so he knows how to find the ball
Versatility in that he can play box, free safety, and in the slot
Genuine coachability
Superior special teams guy
Leader
Shows up in big games
Negatives:
Athletic limitations
Bit undersized
Bigger tight ends an issue
Not able to take on offensive linemen
Too many missed tackles
Will overrun pursuit angles
Limited recovery speed
Expert Draft Site Analysis
Bucs Wire
Taaffe brings a unique and experienced profile to this draft class, appearing in over 50 career games while developing into a key contributor in Texas’ secondary. A former walk-on who earned his role, Taaffe steadily worked his way into a starting position and became one of the more reliable defensive backs on the roster. Taaffe continued to contribute, making plays across multiple phases of the defense, including interceptions, tackles for loss, and consistent involvement in the run game before dealing with injury late in the season. Across his career, Taaffe has consistently shown the ability to produce in big moments, including interceptions in key games and strong performances against high-level competition.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant writes that McKenzie Gore’s subpar road trip shows that he’s not yet at the level that the Texas Rangers hope that he can achieve.
Kennedi Landry writes that Gore allowed three home runs in a start for the first time since 2023 in the series finale loss to Seattle.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: Henri Veesaar #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dunks the ball against Nyk Lewis #1 of the VCU Rams during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Henri Veesaar had a season for UNC that few saw coming. Veesaar elevated his three-point percentage in his senior season from 32.7% to 42.6%, posting an effective field goal percentage of .677. For the season, Henri averaged 17 points, 8.7 boards, and 2.1 assists, using his time in Chapel Hill to elevate his status from bench player in Tucson to potential NBA first round pick. (Side note: fans who love to point out players who shot better away from Chapel Hill seem to forget guys like Veesaar and Manek, who posted career bests here).
Towards that end, NBA draft talk projects Veesaar anywhere from back end of the first round to middle of the second round. ESPN mocks see Veesaar landing anywhere from 36-44. The Athletic has him at 32. Rookie Scale, which blends its own player analysis with estimates from other sources, puts Henri at 35. The NBA advisory board reportedly did not give Henri a consensus first round grade.
The positioning creates a real question for Veesaar. Last season, the NBA started guaranteeing two years for players at the top of the 2nd round, which increases their chance to put down roots in the league. However, the money starts to drop off considerably beyond pick 30. In 2025, being picked 30th guaranteed two years totaling $5.6 million, with team options for years three and four totaling an additional $8.5 million. Pick 40 last season signed a contract for two years guaranteed for $3.4 million, with years three and four a team option at an additional $5 million. Pick 50 got a one-year deal at $475,000, with two more years as a team option totaling $2 million.
With crazy portal numbers for proven big men rumored to be in excess of $4 million, Veesaar clearly stands to make more money for one season by remaining at UNC, assuming UNC pays market rate. Towards the higher end of Veesaar’s draft predictions, Veesaar can make that money back if he puts down roots and if he gets to a lucrative second contract one year faster. Towards the back end of his predictions, Veesaar would be leaving multiple millions on the table.
Throw in this: if the NCAA passes the “five years eligibility” rule, Veesaar could be looking at making as much in the next two years of college ball as he would in four NBA years at pick 40. That’s how rapidly NIL and the financial arms race in college sports has escalated value at Henri’s position and skill level.
That’s a tough decision for Henri, and Henri’s decision leaves us with a troubling question of our own: what would be the ceiling for UNC next season if Veesaar declares?
Louisville and Duke have been throwing money at next season’s roster, with some suggesting Louisville may end up with the most expensive roster in college basketball. Virginia returns everyone and adds a couple of new pieces. Malone will be instituting a new culture with a remade roster and no one available in the portal nearly as proven as Veesaar, or even with the potential Veesaar flashed at Arizona. Would UNC be starting the season hoping for fourth best in the ACC? Or do you see room for more optimism?
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Roger McCreary #21 of the Tennessee Titans defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keep in mind, this isn’t just a ranking of the players or their projected 2026 contributions. These rankings blend projected role, current ability, future upside, contract value, the broader free agency landscape, and a layer of intangible impact.
Dive in below for the Lions’ top free agent signings (Nos. 9–1), as this class quietly positions the organization well heading into this week’s draft, where they currently hold nine selections.
No. 9 — Wide receiver / Returner Greg Dortch | Age 27.8 | $1.40M / 1 year ($1.075M guaranteed)
Greg Dortch serves as a stylistic parallel to Kalif Raymond, but the Lions got much younger at the position, as Raymond enters his age-32 season.
Dortch shares a lot of similar characteristics with Raymond: an undersized undrafted free agent who bounced around multiple rosters and practice squads before eventually finding a more stable home in Arizona, while also providing value as a punt returner.
He also comes from Arizona, where he has familiarity with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Similar to Raymond, Dortch offers a scrappy, dependable presence in the passing game, and since 2022 has posted a 75.5% catch rate (third among receivers), a 2.1% drop rate (seventh), and 6.6 yards after catch per reception (fifth), underscoring his efficiency and reliability after the catch.
No. 8 — Safety Avonte Maddox | Age 30 | N/A
Avonte Maddox, much like Rock Ya-Sin, emerged as one of the most consistent and valuable members of the Lions’ defense last season, particularly in a chaotic defensive backfield. After seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Maddox delivered one of his most productive years, taking on more responsibility as a post safety and thriving in that expanded role.
He graded out as a top-10 safety per PFF and consistently showed up in key moments, including standout performances in wins over the Cowboys and Bears, where his range and instincts helped stabilize the back end.
It was a necessary reunion with the Detroit native, even with the additional pieces added to the defensive back room. His familiarity with the system and versatility give him a clear path to playing time, particularly in the opening stretch of the season.
No. 7 — Guard Ben Bartch | Age 27.7 | N/A
Ben Bartch enters a true Super Smash Brothers free-for-all battle at left guard, with the winner of the role having clearly earned it as a key piece of what should be the Lions’ deepest offensive line under Hank Fraley’s guidance.
Bartch’s contract details are not yet known, but it is assumed to be a low-risk free agent flier on a player who is still only six seasons removed from being a Division III left tackle—and eight years removed from playing tight end at the DIII level—while continuing to settle into the nuances and consistency required at NFL guard.
He brings a fitting amount of size and physicality to the interior, coming off encouraging play in four starts at left guard for the San Francisco 49ers the past two seasons. He now enters a heated competition with Christian Mahogany and Miles Frazier for the starting job in Detroit.
No. 6 — Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez | Age 27 | $2.75M / 1 year ($2.70M guaranteed)
Malcolm Rodriguez’s 2025 season was largely defined by his recovery from a 2024 Thanksgiving Day ACL injury, and once he returned, he was a limited player who didn’t resemble his pre-injury impact to earn playing time. A wasted season. In many ways, that would have been an underwhelming and premature endpoint to his time in Detroit—but not a fitting one for a player who has been a locker room fit since Day 1.
A true program player, Rodriguez earned a modest pay bump and the opportunity to rebound with the Detroit Lions, competing for the third linebacker role in a system that continues to value his run defense and energy.
In 2024, before the injury, Rodriguez was playing the best football of his career. He looked more comfortable in coverage—handling more man assignments—while processing run fits faster than in his first two seasons and consistently detonating downhill with clean tackling form. That version of him was an ascending, higher-impact role player in the front seven especially after Alex Anzalone went down.
If he can regain that form with another year removed from injury, Rodriguez projects as a plus starter alongside Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes. In that scenario, he would easily outplay the value of his contract and position himself for a stronger free agent market next offseason.
No. 5 — Defensive back Christian Izien | Age 25.8 | $2.00M / 1 year ($1.00M Total Guaranteed)
Christian Izien fits the type of player Dan Campbell has subtly referenced when talking about adding more competition and ferocity to practice and training camp. Like many of the Lions’ external additions, Izien is a hungry, junkyard-dog competitor with the right demeanor to elevate the overall intensity of the room while ensuring nothing in the building is taken for granted and every role has to be earned.
One of the more successful undrafted defensive backs of the past few years, Izien has carved out a legitimate role through sheer volume and consistency. His 1,582 defensive snaps over the last three seasons rank fifth among all UDFAs within their first three years in that span, while his 165 total tackles rank sixth in that same group.
He brings clear value on a bargain contract, offering the ability to play across the defensive backfield while also contributing on special teams. His game shows a blend of zone coverage experience from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and man coverage traits dating back to college at Rutgers. The result is a versatile, assignment-ready defensive back who can be deployed in multiple roles depending on need—while consistently flying around the football and filling up the stat sheet with active production.
That flexibility matters in Detroit, where he can factor in at safety amid uncertainty around Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, while also providing insurance and depth at nickel. Durability is another calling card—he’s played in 93.7% of possible games across his college and NFL career over the past seven seasons, reinforcing his profile as a dependable, ready-to-roll depth piece.
No. 4 — Right tackle Larry Borom | Age 27 | $5.00M / 1 year ($4.90M guaranteed)
Larry Borom didn’t have the most stable start to his career with the Chicago Bears, but he still exceeded expectations as a fifth-round pick, making 27 starts across four different spots on the offensive line. Notably, he hadn’t seen consistent work at right tackle—his natural position—since midway through the 2022 season.
That changed in a resurgent second act last year with the Miami Dolphins, where he found real runway with 11 starts on the right side and played some of his best football. From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Borom posted a 70.3 PFF overall grade (35th among 92 qualifying tackles), while his 82.1 pass-blocking grade ranked sixth among all offensive tackles in that span.
Brad Holmes clearly valued that stretch of proven production and upside at a premium position, moving to secure Borom at the 48th-highest paid offensive tackle in football (tied with fellow free agents Braxton Jones and Jawaan Taylor). While his 3.71% pressure rate last season ranked sixth-best among right tackles. Borom brings a stable floor in pass protection with the ability to contribute in the run game as he continues to settle into his natural position.
With the possibility of Penei Sewell shifting to left tackle, Borom could pair with Tate Ratledge to form a physical, ascending right side of the offensive line—potentially giving the Lions enough stability there to avoid immediately addressing an early draft pick at tackle.
No. 3 — Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin | Age 29.8 | $3.20M / 1 year ($2.64M guaranteed)
Rock Ya-Sin proved to be a massively underrated signing for the Lions’ front office last season. Despite toggling between cornerback and safety during training camp, he ultimately settled in at corner and played all 17 games with six starts amid a wave of secondary injuries. The result was a career-resurgence season: a career-high 47 tackles and nine passes defended, along with several clutch plays that helped stabilize the position group in key victories.
He also delivered strong value on special teams, finishing as the Lions’ highest-graded special teamer per PFF (85.1, 22nd among all NFL players). One of the better tackling outside corners in football, Ya-Sin is a high-effort competitor who played his best ball down the stretch, posting a 70.0 coverage grade from Weeks 11–18 (33rd among 113 cornerbacks).
While his $3.2M deal is the most he’s earned since joining the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 ($4M for one year), he still ranks only 59th among NFL cornerbacks in salary—despite producing like a much higher-paid starter in stretches last season. In many rooms, he would be more than just depth.
He now projects as a steady floor piece behind starters D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, giving the Lions a reliable rotational option with starting-caliber snaps when needed.
No. 2 — Defensive back Roger McCreary | Age 26.1 | $1.40M / 1 year ($0.987M guaranteed)
A clear replacement for the recently paid Amik Robertson, Roger McCreary brings a similar scrappy demeanor, positional versatility, durability, and play style—despite overcoming historically short arms (28 7/8″). Not long ago, he was a second-round investment by the Tennessee Titans and later deemed worth acquiring by the Los Angeles Rams at last year’s trade deadline as they looked to bolster a postseason push.
His 2023 campaign—his second in the league—remains his most complete season to date. In his first year transitioning to the nickel, McCreary finished as PFF’s 12th-highest graded slot defender (71.3), while showcasing his run defense and tackling ability with 33 defensive stops (seventh among all cornerbacks). He also posted career highs in tackles (86) and tackles for loss (6), while adding six passes defended. That version of McCreary is what the Lions are betting on rediscovering.
He also offers outside flexibility, dating back to his time at Auburn, as a rookie, and flashing again in a brief stint with the Rams—particularly during the playoffs. That versatility ties into a broader theme across the Lions’ defensive back additions: optionality. New defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard now has the ability to mix and match personnel, contributing to what may be the deepest secondary of the Detroit Lions era under Dan Campbell—with room to add more in the draft.
McCreary will now be playing under his sixth defensive coordinator in eight football seasons, underscoring the instability he’s navigated early in his career. Still, at just 26, this is a classic low-risk, high-reward swing. He brings stout play strength and a physical edge that can make him an irritable presence for opposing receivers, giving the Lions another tone-setter in the secondary.
No. 1 — Center Cade Mays | Age 26.9 | $25.0M / 3 years ($14.0M guaranteed)
Mays made 21 starts over the past two seasons, including 12 last year, helping stabilize Bryce Young’s pocket while opening rushing lanes for Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard during Carolina Panthers’ first postseason run since 2017. His path hasn’t been linear—three regimes in four years, a brief stint on the New York Giants’ practice squad, and positional movement between fullback and both guard spots—but he’s finally settled in at center and found his footing.
In 2024, Mays led all centers with an 87.5 PFF gap-blocking grade—the third-highest mark at the position since 2018. Across his 21 starts at center over the past two seasons, he didn’t allow a single sack and posted just a 3.0% pressure rate (t-eighth among centers).
Mays brings a burly, physical presence to the position and represents the Lions’ most cost-effective solution at center. His AAV came in well below his projected $12.3M and far beneath Tyler Linderbaum’s $27M mark. He should help fortify the interior, easing the burden on the guards, providing stability for Jared Goff coming off a war-torn 2025 season full of dirty pockets, and creating more interior runway for Jahmyr Gibbs.
For new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, it’s a plug-and-play upgrade that allows the offense to hit the ground running. More broadly, Mays represents the kind of needle-threading move this front office prioritized—landing a long-term answer at center in an inflated market, without forcing the issue in a draft class that may not offer a top-75-caliber option at the position. In doing so, they’ve stabilized a spot left unsettled since the early-career exit of franchise pillar Frank Ragnow.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 21: Michael Olise of FC Bayern München celebrates his 1-0 goal with Harry Kane of FC Bayern München during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena on March 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Harry Kane and Michael Olise have one of the most amazing partnerships in world football right now. The Bayern Munich duo have registered over a hundred goal contributions combined, and show no signs of slowing down. Against Real Madrid it took two goals and an assist by Kane, as well as a goal and assist from Olise over 180 minutes to win the tie.
Speaking to the media after the game, Harry Kane expressed an opinion that only FC Barcelona fans would disagree with. “I’d say he [Olise] is currently the best winger in the world,” said Kane (DAZN via @iMiaSanMia). “He creates a lot of chances and isn’t afraid to dribble. I think he’s one of our main players, along with Luis Díaz.”
Kane is probably right about that. Stats-wise, the two players are pretty even, but Olise has now fired his team into a Champions League semi-final. That should give him the edge.
🇪🇸🔴 Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, 18) 🇫🇷🔵 Michael Olise (Bayern, 24)
Now, what about the Ballon d’Or? If Olise wins a Champions League but Yamal wins the World Cup, then in a year like this Yamal would probably win the thing. But it’s all up in the air right now. Bayern Munich fans will swear up and down that Olise is the better player, and Harry Kane agrees with us. That’s what matters.
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…
HOOVER, AL - MAY 23: Texas A&M pitcher Clayton Freshcorn (25) pitches the ball during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between LSU Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies on May 23, 2025, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For the third time in program history, Aggie baseball came away with a road sweep of the LSU Tigers and the first since 1978. Behind stellar pitching, consistent offense, and a will to win and in front of a nationally televised audience, #10 Texas A&M (31-7, 12-5) also secured their fourth straight conference series victory. The squad is in a winning rhythm, having won 11 of their last 12 SEC contests and holding a current six-game win streak.
Jorian Wilson’s first collegiate multi-homer day catapulted No. 10 Texas A&M to a 10-4 series opening win over LSU on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. The freshman blasted a pair of two-run homers to pace the Aggie offense’s eighth double-digit output in conference play this season.
Ice was broken by Texas A&M (29-7, 10-5) in the third inning with a Caden Sorrell RBI groundout. The junior’s productive at-bat was set up by a walk and single that set up runners on the corners with less than two outs. LSU (23-16, 6-10) would tie things up one inning later on Steven Milam’s solo shot.
From that point, it was mostly Maroon and White. A three-run fifth gave A&M the 4-1 lead off Chris Hacopian’s run-scoring single and a Jake Duer two-run base hit up the middle. The Tigers did respond with an RBI single in the bottom half, but the bats went quiet for the hosts until the eighth.
The longball power was on display in the sixth, as Wilson launched his first homer of the night to left center. Gavin Grahovac piled on with a solo shot to right center to really extend the Aggie advantage to 7-2.
While the offense was hard at work, the pitching was also solid. Shane Sdao worked into the fifth, allowed two earned runs, and struck out four across 4.2 innings of work. Gavin Lyons took the baton from the lefty and also punched out four in his 2.1 innings.
A wild pitch in the eighth scored another A&M run before LSU grabbed two runs in the bottom half on an error and a sacrifice fly to close the gap to 8-4. Wilson called game with his second longball of the night in the ninth, while Ethan Darden closed out his second scoreless inning of work to finish the victory for A&M.
Something of note: Hacopian took a 93-mph fastball to the face in the eighth inning on Friday. He did play in both remaining games this weekend, showing off his power on Sunday.
A seven-inning outing from Aidan Sims paced Texas A&M (30-7, 11-5) to a 7-2 road victory over LSU at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. The 30th Aggie win of the season also secured a fourth straight conference series win and their first in Louisiana in four years.
Five runs between the second and third innings provided more than enough run support for Sims. In his second start since being moved off Sundays, the sophomore shoved. He struck out the side to start the contest and punched out six across his first three frames.
As for the Aggie offense, they went back to work. They made Tiger (23-17, 6-11) pitching work overtime. A wild pitch gave Jorian Wilson another RBI opportunity, driving home the game’s first run with a single. Bear Harrison cashed in three pitches later, launching his sixth homer of the year to left to give A&M a 3-0 lead.
Steven Milam hit his second homer in as many days, another solo shot, to put LSU on the board and provide an immediate response. That was Sims’ only true blemish on an otherwise stellar outing. Gavin Grahovac got the run back in the next half inning, punishing the second pitch of the third to left for a 4-1 advantage. Jake Duer later brought home the fifth Aggie run on a sacrifice fly.
Teams traded single scores in the fifth, as Chris Hacopian picked up an RBI after getting plunked in the face in game one. LSU used a fielder’s choice in the bottom half to get the score to 6-2.
Grahovac collected another RBI in the sixth, which proved to be enough offense on Saturday night. Sims (7-0) took held the Tigers off the board in his final two innings of work, completing seven frames of two-run baseball. The sophomore retired nine of the final 10 Tigers he faced, paving the way for Clayton Freshcorn.
Freshcorn got some help from his defense in the eighth and worked around a ninth-inning single, posting two zeros to secure the Saturday win for the Maroon and White.
No. 10 Texas A&M’s early offensive attack was enough to hold off LSU’s bats as the Aggies took the series finale 5-2 at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. The visitors only scored in the first four frames but held the Tigers scoreless in eight of the nine innings to polish off a second consecutive SEC sweep.
It didn’t take long for the Aggies (31-7, 12-5) to get going, as Caden Sorrell sliced the eighth pitch of the day through the north wind into the right field stands to go up 1-0.
Bear Harrison’s sacrifice fly in the second doubled the lead going to the third. Chris Hacopian provided the big blow, depositing a two-run laser into left field to grow the advantage to 4-0. The Maryland transfer last homered in the second game on April 3 vs. Vanderbilt, nearly 16 days ago.
Speaking of 16 days ago, starter Weston Moss finally got to take the bump again. The junior struck out three over his first three scoreless innings of work, allowing two baserunners via the walk.
Gavin Grahovac picked up an RBI in the fourth with his single into left to push the lead to 5-0. After 3.2 innings of no-hit baseball, Moss gave up his first knock, a single, in the fourth. Consecutive singles, followed by a strikeout, ended his outing in the fifth, as he finished with 4.2 shutout frames and five punchouts.
The focus for the Aggies shifted to the mound, as Gavin Lyons and Clayton Freshcorn took over. Lyons posted 2.2 innings of scoreless ball, working around three baserunners without giving up a hit.
Freshcorn allowed a solo shot to Cade Arrambide on the first pitch of his afternoon outing but settled in. The junior struck out three, sandwiched around two singles and a passed ball that scored a second Tiger run in the eighth. Up 5-2 in the ninth, Freshcorn got two quick outs. A first-pitch single proved to be no issue, as the right-hander punched out Arrambide to complete the three-game sweep and push the Aggies’ win streak to six games.
This weekend’s efforts helped A&M to their fourth ever sweep of LSU (1910, 1916, 1978) and third away from College Station (1910, 1978). This is Texas A&M’s third SEC series win at Alex Box Stadium out of six total played between the two schools.
Up next for Aggie baseball is an afternoon midweek game against UTSA (27-13, 10-5 American) on Aggie Muster (Tuesday, Apr. 21) at 3:00 p.m. in Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. Then, the SEC gauntlet continues away from home with a three-game set versus Florida in Gainesville, Fla., next weekend (Friday, Apr. 24 – Sunday, Apr. 26).
Mountain West Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez speaks with the Las Vegas Review-Journal at Mountain West Media Days on July 16, 2025, at Circa Las Vegas. (Liv Paggiarino/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
It’s Monday, and although basketball is over, college baseball and softball are still going strong. But our coverage is still going strong. Check out our original coverage and what we can find from the World Wide Web below.
The Oversight Committee has been busy so far this spring, with the latest report coming out at the end of last week. This is looking at changing the FBS football calendar to have everyone start the year on what is currently Week 0, the weekend before Labor Day. The regular season would still end Thanksgiving weekend, making the two bye-week schedule that happens every so often permanent. The hope is that this creates more flexibility in the CFB schedule, including the potential for changes to the playoffs. It will now be discussed in June, and if approved, it will go into effect for the 2027 season.
Chris Murray takes a look at the top returning players in the Mountain West Conference for next season. Jake Hall tops the list after his reaffirmation to New Mexico. Nevada’s Elijah Price and UNLV’s Tyrin Jones come next, as both are major retainments for their schools. Wyoming has three of the remaining seven players, while Grand Canyon has two of its own. Plus, Nevada and New Mexico have another on the list, too.
Jim Mora called the spring practices successful for the Rams, with a lot of progress. They ended the spring with 24 players missing due to injury, so the top concern is getting healthier. It sounds like they could have some incoming transfers if the five-for-five rule goes into effect. Mora declined to release a depth chart, saying no player has cemented their spot at this time.
Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez sat down and shared her thoughts on the conference and how quickly they were to fill the spots of the departing members. About the lawsuits, she is standing by the bylaws and the position of the policies that were adopted by all members at that time. Some interesting notes in the post, the Grant of Rights has no minimum collection from the lawsuits, making it binding even if they lose the lawsuit. Also, in her opinion, Nevarez said 12 football teams is the ideal number, but they are stable enough where they can be more selective now.
Bowl Games staying the same.
Bowl Season has announced that the conference tie-ins for the 2026 season will match their format in 2025 while they await a long-term Playoff format.
Notably this implies that former Pac-12 teams will still be tied to ancestral Pac-12 tie-ins and not their new conferences. pic.twitter.com/qkxYyynaPP
Five Things Learned: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Manchester City edged a breathless, high-stakes contest 2-1 against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in a result that could prove decisive in the Premier League title race.
Rayan Cherki gave City the lead with a piece of individual brilliance, gliding past Gabriel and Declan Rice before calmly finishing into the far corner. Arsenal responded immediately, taking advantage of a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose heavy touch allowed Kai Havertz to pounce and equalise.
The second half was a battle of tactics and strength, with both teams gaining and losing momentum as the game went on. Arsenal came close to taking the lead via Eberechi Eze and Havertz, while Manchester City threatened via Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo.
But just after the hour mark, Donnarumma was at the centre of more positive things for his side, as the Italian started a sweeping move that led to Nico O’Reilly driving forward and Haaland finishing it off flawlessly.
Late drama followed as Gabriel hit the post via a deflection and Havertz missed a clear chance in stoppage time, but Manchester City held on to their lead to move to within just three points of Arsenal with a game in hand.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
1. City’s transitional efficiency proved decisive
This game was not defined by who controlled possession, but about decisive moments. Manchester City executed theirs with greater clarity and confidence, and deservedly won the contest.
The winning goal highlighted the importance of teamwork. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s pass bypassed Arsenal’s press and released Nico O’Reilly in space. Jeremy Doku stretched Arsenal’s defensive shape before the decisive cross from O’Reilly found Erling Haaland.
The pace and tempo at which Manchester City progressed the ball stood out, moving from their defensive third to the final third in a matter of seconds, taking advantage of weaknesses in Arsenal’s offensive positioning.
On the other hand, Arsenal created chances by building up in a structured way, but they weren’t as clinical in key moments. Eberechi Eze’s shot that hit the post and Kai Havertz’s missed chances revealed the difference.
In games of this magnitude, efficiency is often more important than volume. City highlighted that fact precisely.
2. Cherki continues to provide unpredictability in tight games
Rayan Cherki’s initial strike wasn’t just an early breakthrough – it showed a growing tactical asset in Pep Guardiola’s system.
Manchester City needed individual creativity to break through Arsenal’s tightly organised defence. The France international did just that. He was able to get around several defenders in one move by rapidly shifting his balance and direction in tight spaces.
His presence made Arsenal change their defensive focus beyond the goal. Gabriel, who usually does well in one-on-one situations, had to play reactively, and Rice had to move out of position to try to stop Cherki’s movement.
This unpredictability is becoming more and more useful. In games where structured play is neutralised, players who can create incisively and ingeniously become crucial.
Rayan Cherki gave the game that spark when Manchester City desperately needed some ingenuity.
3. Donnarumma’s duality remains a key variable
This was one of the few performances that really showed the contrasting facets of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s game.
His mistake that led to Arsenal’s equaliser was costly and could have been avoided. He tried to play under pressure, but his heavy touch allowed Kai Havertz to get the ball and score the equaliser, which changed the game’s momentum and could have destabilised City’s control.
But the response that the Italy international provided was just as important. In the second half, he made a key save to keep Havertz from scoring and to keep the score level at a crucial moment. A few moments later, he developed the play that led to the winning goal by quickly finding O’Reilly.
This duality, which shows vulnerability under pressure but excellence in shot-stopping and ball distribution, remains crucial to Manchester City’s risk-reward balance.
Guardiola’s insistence on building from the back has its risks. Donnarumma shows both the risks and the benefits of that style of play.
4. Haaland’s and Gabriel’s duel defined the physical narrative
Erling Haaland versus Gabriel Magalhães has been one of the most significant individual battles in recent matches between these two teams.
This meeting followed that same pattern and turned into a constant physical fight. At first, Gabriel seemed to be in control, making it hard for Haaland to get involved by marking him closely and making aggressive challenges. The Norway international had little impact, and his touches did not lead to any critical chances.
But what sets elite forwards apart is their relentless ability to keep going. Haaland stayed involved, keeping both William Saliba and Gabriel busy and stretching the defensive line. When the decisive moment arrived with O’Reilly crossing in the box, Arsenal’s focus shifted toward Rodri, leaving Haaland with the space he required.
The finish was brilliant, but the timing of the run was what made it important. Haaland faced a tough battle, but he still scored the crucial goal at a key moment.
The fight, both physical and mental, showed how close these games can be.
5. City’s resilience under pressure signals title readiness
This was not a controlled performance of old by Manchester City. It was chaotic at times; there were obvious swings in momentum as the game went on.
Arsenal had opportunities to assert their control in the match. Havertz’s late header, Gabriel’s deflected effort, and Eze’s effort all highlighted moments where the match could have gone Arsenal’s way.
What separated City was their response to those phases. They absorbed the pressure, remained structurally compact, and capitalised on the next opportunity.
Teams that are in the final stretch of a title race often show this kind of resilience, as exemplified by Pep Guardiola’s previous title-winning teams themselves. They don’t need to be in charge all the time; instead, they find ways to deal with momentum swings and know how to capitalise decisively on key chances.
This resilience mattered because everyone across the team shared it. Everyone on the team made contributions, as highlighted by Cherki’s creativity, O’Reilly’s driving runs, Haaland’s finishing, and Donnarumma’s recovery moments.
City didn’t control every part of the game. They controlled the outcome.
Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal was determined by small margins, decisive individual contributions, and strategic details.
The performance was not outstanding. Defensive weaknesses, mistakes in distribution, and times when Arsenal put City under pressure revealed areas that need improvement. But those flaws also showed the traits that make a title challenge successful: being flexible, effective, and strong.
Above all, City showed that they could win even when they didn’t have full control, which is an attribute that often sets contenders apart from champions.
Now that the game is over and the momentum has changed, the bigger picture is now clear. The title race, which was once leaning heavily in Arsenal’s favour, has now shifted towards City.
And Manchester City, as they so often are at this stage of the season, are firmly in pursuit.
Pep Guardiola issues Rodri injury update after worrying Arsenal substitution
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 04: New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough (6) drops back to pass during the NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons on January 4th, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the 2026 NFL Draft slated to begin this week, players across the league are ramping up their offseason workouts and conditioning, including members of the New Orleans Saints. Following a Tulane Green Wave scrimmage over the past weekend, Yulman Stadium hosted Saints QB Tyler Shough and several of the team’s current pass catchers for an organized practice.
Among those in attendance were three tight ends and three wide receivers currently on New Orleans’ roster. The workout included both veterans and newcomers to the Big Easy, most notably TE Juwan Johnson, who seemingly developed a strong connection with Shough during the QB’s rookie campaign a season ago.
The Saints will head into this year’s draft with strong needs at both WR and TE. Although options will be available for both when New Orleans is on the clock at number eight, it has been heavily speculated that the team may decide to lean toward a defensive playmaker in the first round instead.
Which position do you think the Saints should target in the first round of this year’s draft? Is there a particular player that you are hoping to see rock the black and gold this season? Let us know in the comments below!
Apr 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter (24) reacts after being removed from the game against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Phillies just suffered their worst homestand in quite a while. They didn’t hit well, they didn’t field well, they (honestly) didn’t pitch very well either. It’s not good baseball to watch, it’s not good baseball to analyze right now. Is there anything going right for the team at this moment?
Bryce Harper has been hot of late. That’s been cool.
Brad Keller has been better lately as well after his season got off to a rocky start.
Cristopher Sanchez is awesome again. There are some good things happening for the team; they’re just hidden under about ten feet of garbage.
The question for today is: of all the things that are going wrong for the Phillies at the moment, which is likeliest to turnaround quickly for them? Some of the hitters are hitting so badly at the moment, the laws of averages seem to be in their favor at some point that they’ll bounce back. The fielding can’t be this bad (can it?). At some point soon, there has to be positive regression with something…..but what?
It’s draft week and the Texans are on the clock in just over 72 hours. It’s the calm before the storm that is Nick Caserio’s draft-day antics. Will he move out of the first round for the third straight draft, or will he leverage the additional draft capital he has to trade up in the first round? Will they build for the future by adding depth at key positions, or will they try to ‘win now’ and go all-in for stars that can contribute right away?
As the kids say, it’s going to be ‘cinema.’”
Over the past fifteen years, only four trades have occurred with the 28th pick in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for those hoping the Texans move up, it’s only occurred one time in the past decade and a half.
Each trade presents a different scenario that the Houston Texans can emulate this week. Considering the Texans complete an AVERAGE of five trades per draft, there’s reason to believe Caserio will make a move with his first pick in this class.
2024 seventh-round pick (No. 221); (from Tennessee): Travis Clayton, OT
Of these trades, I would be happiest with the redo-ing the Bills trade back. Moving back four spots earned them a 38-pick move up from their fourth round pick and 27 pick improvement in the seventh round. The Bills appear to have lost this trade however, as Worthy and Jaden Hicks have proven to be solid picks for the Chiefs.
The most intriguing pick is by far the 2016 trade. Considering With the 38th pick only 10 spots away, Houston can afford to trade out of the first round. Stockpiling a 2027 first-rounder in a loaded class is a savvy long-term play to offset the massive contracts soon hitting the books.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 25: The Las Vegas Raiders choose Georgia Tight End Brock Bowers thirteenth overall during Day 1 of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024 at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, MI. (Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams will have the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, their highest selection since the 2016 draft. Recent history favors the Rams’ draft position, with a mix of All-Pro talent and a Super Bowl champ going in that spot.
Some of the league’s greatest players and franchise stalwarts have been chosen with the 13th pick. According to the L.A. Rams’ official website, Hall of Famers Bob Lily, Franco Harris, Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez were taken at No. 13. Same for 15-year veteran John Abraham and two-time Super Bowl champ Brandon Graham.
Plus, the last time the Rams had the 13th overall pick, they took Aaron Donald, and that selection seemed to pan out okay. Here’s a look at the most recent No. 13 selections from the last five NFL drafts.
2021: Rashawn Slater (Chargers)
Being selected immediately after Micah Parsons is a little unfair, but the Northwestern star proved up to the task.
Slater has been a staple on the Chargers’ offensive line, serving as a full-time starter protecting Justin Herbert. He was a second-team All-Pro during his rookie campaign, and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Slater for a solid chunk of his career, and he is coming off a torn patellar tendon which cost him the entire 2025 season.
2022: Jordan Davis (Eagles)
Like most picks Howie Roseman and the Eagles have made in recent years, the Jordan Davis selection was a home run.
The former Georgia star is a key anchor of Philly’s defensive line and is coming off a season where he set career highs in combined tackles (72), sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9). Davis was also a pivotal part of the Eagles’ second Super Bowl win during the 2024 season.
He’s also got some sneaky good wheels — Rams fans might wanna look away before watching the clip below.
Davis signed a three-year, $78 million extension this offseason to solidify his future in Philadelphia for years to come.
2023: Lukas Van Ness (Packers)
Man, did the Packers whiff on this pick.
In a draft where Green Bay could’ve boldly started its new era with Jordan Love by giving him some help like Jaxson Smith-Njigba, the team opted for Van Ness. He’s mostly been a rotational player, with only two starts to his name in 43 games played.
The Ex-Hawkeye hasn’t played 50% of his team’s stats on defense in any of his first three seasons. He’s only the latest entry on a LONG list of Packers defensive draft picks who have stunk it up in the pros.
2024: Brock Bowers (Raiders)
Perhaps the best of this grouping of the No. 13 pick club.
Bowers was a revelation in Year 1, earning first-team All-Pro honors and setting an NFL record for most receptions by a rookie (112), a mark set the previous season by the Rams’ Puka Nacua. He additionally set the league record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end (1,194), shattering Hall of Famer Mike Ditka’s 1961 record.
Injuries limited him to 12 games in ’25, but every time he took the field, he instantly made an impact, even though the silver and black were godawful.
Incoming Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going to love lobbing passes to his new security blanket.
2025: Kenneth Grant (Dolphins)
Grant was the most recent No. 13 pick in the NFL draft. He played in all 17 games during his rookie campaign, starting five, finishing with 33 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks and five QB hits. A slow start was cast aside by his strong finish to the year.
While his numbers were largely underwhelming on paper, there’s a strong chance he could flourish under Miami’s new defensive-minded head coach, Jeff Hafley. With fellow youngsters like Chop Robinson and Jonah Savaiinaea playing alongside Grant on the defensive line, the Dolphins might have enough pieces to field a competent D in 2026.
Given the state of the team’s bare bones roster, especially on offense, they can use all the help they can get.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Josh Hokit reacts after a victory against Curtis Blaydes in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
Jon Anik is fascinated by Josh Hokit, especially after what he accomplished at UFC 327.
Hokit stole the show in Miami with an incredibly gritty, all-time battle against Curtis Blaydes, winning a unanimous decision and throwing himself into the top-10 rankings in just his third UFC fight. The Fight of the Year contender helped earn Hokit two post-event bonuses, an extra $200,000, and a fight on the UFC White House card on June 14 for his efforts.
Ahead of the fight, Hokit leaned into his bizarre character, and was getting go-away heat from the vast majority of the MMA community — even Dana White wasn’t a fan of his antics. But after Hokit’s outing, Anik recounts the UFC 327 fight week experience with “The Incredible Hok.”
“Well hopefully a lot of people have gone back and watched the lead horse Mark Hunt and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, December 2023 in Brisbane, Australia, because this is the fight that people are comparing this to just in terms of its heavyweight greatness all time in the UFC,” Anik told MMA Fighting. “So Henry Cejudo, for all of his cringe and for as much adoration as I have for him, he never made me laugh out loud. And even though Josh Hokit is cringy at times, and our fighter meeting was completely fruitless. This dude makes me laugh out loud, right?
“Even though I’m sort of put off by some of the antics, he got me in the fighter meeting to laugh out loud, and at the official weigh-in, got me again, So I do think there’s some merit to what he’s doing, maybe more than some of his contemporaries that have tried with a shtick like this. But bro, You just can’t even make it up, and that’s why I think mixed martial arts is the greatest sport in the world and why it truly is the most unpredictable theater in live sport, because President [Donald] Trump has always wanted Derrick Lewis on the card, and Joe Rogan’s been talking about a 7th fight and Rogan starts pining for Hokit to find his way on the card, and the next thing you know, everything comes together and they booked the fight. Bro, I mean, like of all of Josh Hokit’s dreams, right?
“Like if you would have said to him on Friday, ‘Hey man, you can manifest this, you can get a double bonus, greatest heavyweight fight of all time in the UFC, and they’re going to book you on the already filled up White House card on June 14th.’ Yeah, man, walking the walk doesn’t even begin to describe it. So congrats to Josh Hokit.”
Anik mentioned the fighter meeting during UFC 327, saying Hokit was in character the entire time he was in the room with the broadcast team. But Anik said there was a moment where he made the longtime UFC play-by-play voice lose it a little bit in laughter — and again later in the week.
“So I don’t know exactly what the utterance was,” Anik said. “Maybe he said to Daniel Cormier at some time, like, ‘Now you’re playing along,’ or something. Like at one point he broke character and said to DC, ‘Now you’re playing along,’ or ‘Thanks for playing along,’ or whatever it was.
“And just the body language at the morning weigh-in got me, right? With all his sort of timidity and everything else. But yeah, I mean, when Dana White says that’s not my thing, largely that’s my thesis statement too. If they assigned me a one-on-one with him leading up to the White House show, an interview, how much can I extract from him? Is he going to be right? Because our first fighter meeting with him was not that, right? It was a lot different, you know, so yeah, we’ll see.”
Hokit is still undefeated, and now sits at 3-0 in the UFC. The Bellator veteran has gotten opportunities he couldn’t get with the now defunct MMA promotion, and a move to the UFC was always what the doctor ordered, according to Hokit in an interview with MMA Fighting this past May.
“I was like, why am I even fighting in the first place? I’m not fighting to be PFL champion,” Hokit said about his decision to leave the company. “I’m fighting to be UFC champion. So that’s the goal of mine is I want to be in the UFC.”
Hokit is not only in the UFC and making a dent, but has become an intriguing fighter to watch and ask questions about as his breakout campaign continues on.
“I just don’t know how good he is yet,” Anik explained. “I think we’re all curious to see just how far he can take it athletically. The pedigree is there, but how good can he be? How good a puncher can he be? I don’t know. …
“A guy accomplishing more in a third UFC appearance in UFC history certainly hasn’t happened, and it’s just going to be fascinating to see how he fares in some of these fights. He might get to a title fight before he fights someone like Sergei Pavlovich, but how do you fight a guy like that, or an Alexander Volkov? These guys, who have been there and done that, haven’t realized a UFC world title, but how does Hokti match up against those guys?
“I think it’s going to be absolutely fascinating to find out. I mean, he certainly is a dog. He’s got Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn in his goddamn corner, which is an interesting juxtaposition. We’ll see.”
Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys in the Back react to everything after another jam-packed combat sports weekend. Monday's rundown can be seen below.
1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang kick things off by reacting to the weekend that was.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ingle now has a ridiculous 1.403 OPS to begin the season. It’s one of the hottest start of any prospect in all of minor league baseball.
Crazy as it sounds, Ingle was just one of three different Clippers who had three hits. Nolan Jones went 3-for-4 with a walk while Milan Tolentino went 3-for-5 with a home run and a triple.
Kahlil Waton also impressed, going 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, a stolen base and three runs scored while Kody Huff went 2-for-4 with a home run and a hit by pitch. Stuart Fairchild also went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
With that kind of offense, Columbus didn’t need much pitching to win … and they didn’t get much pitching. Starting pitcher Pedro Avila allowed five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 5.0 innings. Koby Allard allowed another three runs in his lone inning of work.
The big standout was Daniel Espino, who again tossed a scoreless inning to close out the win while striking out two. He’s getting closer folks.
What an impressive turn from the Akron pitching staff, led by none other than Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson. Wilkinson was flat out sensational in this game, throwing 5.0 perfect innings with six strikeouts. He was pulled after throwing 70 pitches.
While the bullpen wasn’t able to keep the perfect game going, it did preserve the no-hitter. Matt Jachech pitched a scoreless frame with one walk. Magnus Ellerts walked two and struck out two in a scoreless inning. Jay Driver walked one in his scoreless frame and then Carey closed out the combined no-hitter after walking a pair of batters.
RUBBERDUCKS NO-HITTER 🚨
Matt Wilkinson, Matt Jachec, Magnus Ellerts, Jay Driver, and Jack Carey combine to throw the club’s first 9-inning no-no since 2017 👀#Guardianspic.twitter.com/Qj96EKu9YX
Offensively, Alfonsin Rosario left the game after a first-inning RBI double. I hope he’s OK.
Wuilfredo Antunez homered, Jake Fox walked twice, Angel Genao doubled and Jose Devers went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Nick Mitchell also walked and was hit by a pitch.
Lake County spoiled another excellent start from Franklin Gomez. Gomez allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and just one walk in 5.0 innings.
Unfortunately, piggy-back partner Michael Kennedy got blistered for six runs on six hits in his 2.0 innings of work to take the loss.
On offense, Jace LaViolette was given an opportunity to lead off and he responded by blasting his second home run of the season, also walking.
No one had a multi-hit game, but Aaron Walton impressively went 1-for-2 with two walks. Bennett Thompson and Anthony Silva also both reached base safely twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk apiece and Dean Curley doubled.
For his second straight start, Chase Mobley dominated opposing hitters, this time tossing 3.2 no-hit shutout innings with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Petty immediately followed by giving up three runs on six hits in his 3.0 innings of work. The game was still within reach until Keegan Zinn took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied 3-3 and quickly gave up a two-run walk-off home run.
Outfield prospect Robert Arias continued his scorching streak, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and a stolen base. Dauri Fernandez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base and Anthony Martinez went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Apr 19, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) walks to the dugout following the final out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the 10th inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
After a difficult two-week stretch, it was nice for the Yankees to have a laugher series against the Royals. They swept their first series since the opener against the Giants, the pitching staff bouncing back to limit Kansas City to six runs across the three games while Aaron Judge and Ben Rice are really finding their power strokes to lead an offensive awakening. They enter a well-deserved offday atop the standings in the AL East.
Many of their AL rivals were also in action on Sunday, so let’s recap the events of those games.
Houston Astros (8-15) 5, St. Louis Cardinals (13-8) 7
The Cardinals thoroughly outclassed the Astros in this series, scoring 23 runs in three games to continue their surprising start to the campaign just a half-game back of first. Matthew Liberatore gave St. Louis six strong innings, limiting Houston to a run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts, the lone damage coming in the form of a Carlos Correa sac fly in the third after Taylor Trammel reached on a one-out triple. The Cardinals then ambushed starter Mike Burrows for four runs in the fifth. Masyn Winn and Pedro Pagés singled around Nathan Church walk to load the bases with two outs. Victor Scott II walked to force home the first run, JJ Wetherholt singled home the next two, and Iván Herrera singled home the fourth.
Houston wouldn’t go quietly, responding with three runs in the eighth to level the scores. Yordan Alvarez became the first in MLB to ten home runs with a two-out solo shot. Jose Altuve singled, Christian Walker walked, and a wild pitch advanced the pair to scoring position allowing both to come home on an Isaac Paredes game-tying, two-run single.
That sent the game to extra-innings, where a crucial error by Brice Matthews at third gifted St. Louis the win. His misplay of a Jordan Walker grounder followed by a Ramón Urías HBP loaded the bases, and Winn won the game with a bases-clearing triple. Houston would attempt to rally, an Altuve RBI single cutting the deficit to two, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their 13th loss in their last 16 games.
Bryan Woo gave the Mariners seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk along with six strikeouts. He clearly ran out of steam in that seventh inning, allowing a Corey Seager leadoff walk, Wyatt Langford single, and Joc Pederson HBP to load the bases, followed by a Josh Jung sac fly and Evan Carter RBI double. Offseason trade acquisition MacKenzie Gore was nowhere near as sharp for Texas, yielding five runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings.
All five of Seattle’s runs came vie three home runs off Gore. Rob Refsnyder led off the first with a solo shot, his first hit in a Mariners uniform. J.P Crawford struck with a two run bomb in the second after Mitch Garver drew a leadoff walk. Randy Arozarena capped off the trio with a two-run blast of his own after Julio Rodríguez kept the fifth inning alive with a two out single.
Toronto Blue Jays (8-13) 10, Arizona Diamondbacks (13-9) 4
On the verge of being swept for the second time this season, the Blue Jays bats broke out for double digit runs to salvage a win. Eight of the ten came in the first inning to tie a franchise record against starter Ryne Nelson, who managed to record just one out after allowing eight hits and a walk. In fact, the first eight Blue Jays reached safely as they sent an eventual 12 batters to the plate. Doubles from Kazuma Okamoto and Nathan Lukes were the big blows in the inning, Toronto scoring all their runs despite the ball not leaving the yard in the frame.
Okamoto would later add a solo home run to lead off the third while Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each contributed three-hit afternoons. Kevin Gausman has been one of the best starters in baseball to open the season, so spotting him an eight-run first inning lead pretty much meant the game was over before Arizona had even come to bat. He pitched six innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits and a walk against four strikeouts. The Diamondbacks scored consolation runs in second and sixth, the lone bright spot a pinch-hit, two run home run by Jorge Barrosa in the seventh.
Detroit Tigers (12-10) 6, Boston Red Sox (8-13) 2
Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet entered the season as the consensus favorites in the AL Cy Young race. Skubal lived up to that billing with six innings of one-run ball and ten strikeouts to silence Boston on Saturday, but Crochet couldn’t return serve. Coming off his worst start with the Red Sox — 11 runs in 1.2 innings against the Twins — Crochet allowed five runs on seven hits including a pair of homers in five innings against Detroit. It’s the third of his five starts in which he has allowed at least five runs, the southpaw left with a 7.88 ERA after departing. On the otherside, Framber Valdez authored another stellar start for the team that signed him to a three-year, $115 million deal over the offseason. He held Boston to a run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings, meaning he has allowed one or fewer earned runs while lasting at least six innings in four of his five starts with the Tigers.
The two sides traded runs in the first, Dillon Dingler opening the scoring with and RBI double before Willson Contreras answered in the bottom half with a solo home run. But then Detroit struck for four runs in the fifth, all with two outs after Crochet struck out the first two batters of the frame. Jahmai Jones crushed a solo blast followed by a walk from Gleyber Torres and single from Matt Vierling to set up a three run wall scraper from Dingler, giving the starlet catcher four RBIs on the day.
There would be no more scoring until the ninth, when again the teams traded runs. Torres collected an RBI single in the top half and Caleb Durbin an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to bring us to our final score, 6-2.
It was the José Ramírez show in Cleveland, the future Hall of Famer slugging a pair of solo home runs as the Guardians tagged Orioles Opening Day starter Trevor Rogers for six runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. Taylor Ward crushed a three-run blast in the Orioles’ four-run fifth to make this a one-run game, but Cleveland restored their cushion by scoring a pair in the eighth. Rookie Juan Brito hit a two-run double and Brayan Rocchio collected three hits and three RBIs batting ninth.
The scientific method has been long established. Unfortunately, when it comes to human endeavors experiments are a bit messy. The first step in the scientific method is to actually observe what is going on. This is where things get a bit tricky. The human mind is a peculiar thing and that is particularly true when it comes to memory. We often remember what we want to remember and forget what we want to forget. Other factors color that memory and sometimes alter it. Criminal justice experts constantly tell us that eyewitness testimony is extremely unreliable.
This is why the lab exists in the first place. There is nothing more emotional than following your favorite sports team. Millions of people form their mood and rate their day based on what their favorite team does. In that universe it is easy to bypass facts and go with feelings. I may seem like a cold, unfeeling analyst but I am a fan too. I have emotional reactions to what I see. The numbers insulate me from that. That’s why the lab exists.
So, we get to the question of slow starts. Before we can analyze why we have slow starts we have to establish the fact that the slow starts have been patterns. If we go through the annals of this current run we can split the Astros dynastic period into two relatively equal parts. There are the A.J. Hinch Astros and the Dusty Baker/Joe Espada Astros. We eliminate 2020 because there was no April. So, we are splitting it to 2015 to 2019 and then 2021 to 2026. We will throw in March into April when it is applicable.
2015-2019
Wins
Losses
2015
15
7
2016
7
17
2017
16
9
2018
20
10
2019
18
12
Total
76
55
If we look at the winning percentage we see .580 winning percentage. That would be equivalent to a 94-68 record in a 162 game schedule. Obviously, 2016 is an outlier and it is the only season in that run where the team did not make the playoffs. In fact, it was the only season before 2025 where the Astros did not make the playoffs. If we remove that season then the winning percentage shoots up to .645. That would be equivalent to a 104-58 record. So, if it felt like those Astros teams got off to fast starts it is because they did.
2021-2026
Wuns
Losses
2021
14
12
2022
11
10
2023
15
13
2024
10
19
2025
16
14
2026
8
15
Total
74
88
Obviously, I don’t need to translate this to a 162 game record. Given that this team went to the playoffs in four of the five seasons and came within one game of the playoffs in the other one, these starts are pretty significant. So, the first step of the scientific method is complete. There is in fact a difference between these two eras. We now move onto the next step in the process. This is where we come up with a hypothesis we can test. Unfortunately for us this will be the last step in the process. I can think of two possibilities and I will leave the reading audience to determine which one they think is more plausible.
Hypothesis One: Finding the sweet spot
One of the things you will notice when looking at the records above is that they seem to get progressively worse as we get closer to the present. When the Baker era began, the entire dynasty was intact. With each passing year, one more brick was kicked out of the wall. First it was George Springer. Then it was Carlos Correa. We then moved on to Justin Verlander (a couple of times), and finally Framber Valdez.
Each manager has their own style. Joe McCarthy might have been the best manager in baseball history record wise (.627 with the Yankees). He plugged in the same lineup every day and sat in a rocking chair. That’s easy to do when you have Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Earle Combs, and Tony Lazzeri. Baker will be a Hall of Fame manager someday and his style was wholly different. Espada seems to have taken on that style in the interim, so it makes sense to lump them together.
The Astros have used a different lineup every game this season. It wasn’t quite that bad in seasons past, but the pattern is still there. Of course, necessity is the mother of invention. When you don’t have thoroughbreds you have to do some experimenting. So, both Baker and Espada spent the early months figuring out what players could do and when they could do them. That meant how to shape platoons, what the batting order should be, and which relievers we could trust.
One old baseball adage is that Memorial Day is the day when performance stops being a trend and become something resembling reality. Unfortunately, that means another month of flailing around. Some of that is due to the “back of the baseball card” mentality. Yet, some of that is genuine small sample size issues. This is particularly true when looking at relievers. Obviously, Espada in particular has come under fire for how he uses his relievers. Either way, by the end of May this team finds its level based on figuring out who they can trust that particular season.
Hypothesis Two: It’s a training issue
My podcast partner and I (“Born on the Bayou Sports”) raised this issue earlier this year. We were wondering why certain pitchers weren’t building up innings this spring. Suddenly, you have four starting pitchers on injured reserve. Luck? Possily. Coincidence? Maybe. However, when you add that to the total number of injuries the team has faced in recent seasons in the early going.
Obviously, the change in trainers this offseason put that in the spotlight. Last season, the Astros had the most injuries in baseball and they are currently in the lead in that department. Is it an aging roster? That could be one explanation. Maybe it is just bad luck. The team was extremely healthy in 2022 when they won the World Series. Some seasons just go that way. Yet, when you have two consecutive seasons of players going down at a record pace it is difficult to chalk that up to chance.
This leaves us with two possibilities (of which both can be true). Either there are still issues with the day to day treatment of aches and pains. There are still issues with how often those are happening, how often they keep players from playing, and possibly their return to play. The second possibility comes back to Spring Training itself. Are these players ramping up in the right way during Spring Training? Are they getting ready?
Putting it all together
Of course, both is a possibility. Neither is a possibility. We are not in a position to test these hypotheses yet. That will have to come later. It would involve breaking down how the other 29 teams do business and determining how the Astros are different if at all. My own hypothesis is that both are true in part. A fungible roster demands time to figure out exactly who can do what. There are also probably some things the team could do differently to remain more healthy and start faster out of Spring Training. What do you think?
SYRACUSE, NY - JANUARY 18: Guard Shy Hawkins #14 of the Syracuse Orange brings the ball up court during the second half of play of a women's college basketball game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Syracuse Orange on January 18, 2026, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. Syracuse Orange beat the Stanford Cardinal 69-58 (Photo by Orry Perce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s been an active transfer portal period for the Syracuse Orange, but the team is getting back one player who initially appeared to be departing.
Wing Shy Hawkins — who played in 32 games for the Orange in 2025-26, including 17 as a starter — announced in a post on social media that she is coming back to the program for her junior year.
Hawkins had previously entered the transfer portal earlier this month. The former four-star from the class of 2024 averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.
Hawkins’ return is notable considering Syracuse is losing a lot of names from its 2025-26 team, which made it to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
So far, Syracuse has secured a commitment from former Oregon forward Sarah Rambus. Syracuse is also returning star center Uche Izoje, plus Angelica Velez, Olivia Schmitt, Keira Scott, recruit Madison Howard, and now Hawkins.
NCAA Gymnastics season is officially over, and a new reigning champion, the Oklahoma Sooners, has been crowned. Congrats to KJ Kindler & Co., as they were the best team on the day. How do we know that? Oh, maybe because they were the only team of the four competing who had every routine shown?
Oklahoma head coach KJ Kindler told her team “you can break due to adversity… or you can break records” in regards to Addison Fatta’s last minute hand injury and Faith Torrez being out of most lineups the majority of season.
Before we get to the Mizzou all of it all, which is why you are here, let’s give a moment for who I’d like to call America’s Team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who came into the postseason a true underdog, ranked no. 13 in RTN standings with no single apparatus ranked inside the top 10 (#12 beam, #14 floor, #15 vault, #17 bars), and the lowest ranked team to make it to the national championship finals since 2014. How did ABC/ESPN prepare for this momentous occasion? Just how they did for Mizzou last year, you guys! With erasure from the broadcast!!! [she says sarcastically… and truthfully]. But seriously, college gymnastics watchers knew the potential was there for greatness, having finished the season as a top 10 team four times since 2020. Mizzou, conversely, has done this twice in that same timeframe (no. 3 in 2025 and no. 5 in 2022).
The Golden Gophers remind me a lot of the Tigers, and they definitely made a fan of me. One— the state of Minnesota has been through A LOT and I want nothing but the best for them, and two— they are just a super fun team to root for, from their A-plus social media game to the magnetic performances from athletes like freshmen Arianna Ostrum, Lacey Saltzmann and Emma Slevin, who hails from Ireland. And lest you forget, former Gopher gymnast-turned assistant coach Mya Hooton was an honorary Tiger last year when she rotated with them at the national semis.
This Minnesota team showed some inconsistencies this season, scoring an unfathomable 195.075 on the road at Nebraska on January 24 to go along with a 195.475 in the opener and five 196 scores (Mizzou had 4). But this same team also knocked off preseason darling Arkansas at home on January 10 —apparently something Gymbacks head coach Jordyn Wieber forgot about when she failed to mention the Gophers as competition in her press conference — and had multiple high 197 scores in March, including a 197.700 on March 1 and a 197.825 in their final regular season meet of the season on March 15. Both of those scores, by the way, were higher than anything Mizzou was able to put together this season, so yes, whether or not you realized it, Minnesota is a very good team. After a third place finish and a bit of a balance beam situation at the Big 10 Championships, Minny was placed in the Corvallis, Oregon regional, or what I’d fondly call the Region of Death. With a 196.975, the Gophers came from behind after a subpar first two rotations to overtake Iowa in the waning moments to advance to the Regional Finals, then had to hold off Utah, who had NEVER MISSED A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE IN 49 YEARS, no. 4 UCLA, and no. 5 Alabama to get to the national championships. Like I said, the Region of Death.
Minnesota put together their third highest score of the season, a 197.625, and beat out Utah, who finished in third and just 0.125 behind them, as well as Alabama, who was in a distant fourth with a 197.175 to reach the national semifinals. My gym travel partner, Ben Hartong, and I watched this meet on my iPad on the way back to CoMo from Lexington — well, I watched and narrated and he drove — and the Golden Gophers shined, earning top three finishes from freshman Arianna Ostrum (VLT— 9.95, 1st/ FX— 9.95, 2nd), junior Jordan Lyden (UB— 9.95, 1st / BB— 9.95, 1st / FX— 9.925, 3rd), and senior Brooklyn Rowray (BB- 9.925, 2nd).
It was IMPRESSIVE, and just like we all predicted, eh?
They, like Mizzou the year before, earned their first ever Four on the Floor bid on Friday evening with a 197.4625, beating out a UCLA (197.275) team that many thought could win the whole damn thing, the same way that our fair Tigers (197.300) beat out Florida (197.200) last year. It was an electric performance by the Gophers, earning the second highest scores of the session behind OU on bars (49.3875), their weakest apparatus this season and beam (49.3875). Again, just like we all predicted.
The similarities don’t end there. The Golden Gophers also crowned an individual national champion in senior Brooklyn Rowray, who scored a 9.9625 on beam to take the victory single-handedly. Mizzou’s Helen Hu did the same thing a year before, on the same apparatus, earning a 9.9875. #Memories
On Sunday, Minnesota’s season came to an end with a fourth place finish and super solid 197.375, and had they gotten a bit more favorable scoring— how exactly does one beam judge score Brooklyn Rowray a 10 and another a 9.85, exactly? — it could have been even closer (Florida finished third with a 197.6875). Alas, the Gophers have made a fan outta me, and I’m sure between this performance and their practice facility facelift, it’ll do wonders for their recruiting, and I’m looking forward to watching them next season.
Coach Hansen in 2026:
-Led Minnesota to first Final Four ever -No. 4 final WCGA Ranking -Program-record 30 wins -Lowest seed to ever make a Final Four -Big 4 Champs -Victories over No. 4, No. 5 (2x), No. 9, No. 10 (2x), No. 11, No. 12 -Ended a program’s 49-year nationals… pic.twitter.com/7aQKIB6ZvK
Mizzou’s final competitor in 2026 was none other than junior Hannah Horton, who won a whopping 19 event titles for the Tigers this season. H2 rotated with Arkansas at the national semifinals on Friday evening, and did a phenomenal job on bars, earning a 9.8875 (4x 9.90, 1x 9.85, 1x 9.80) and an overall 16th place finish out of total 56 competitors spread out among two semifinals.
Gymnastics superstar writer (and my friend) Nate Salsman was on site in Fort Worth for Inside Gymnastics and was able to grab a quote. “She wants to do the work. She knows that that wasn’t maybe her strongest event coming in, but she loves bars and she loves the challenge,” bars coach Whitney Snowden told him.
When asked about expectation for her senior season, she said, “Hannah can do anything she puts her mind to. We’re on 10.0 watch on multiple events.”
Per the aforementioned Nate (the Great), Shannon Welker and Whitney Snowden told him to keep an eye on the portal, so that’s exactly what we will do, and the team put out this terrific video from two of its All-American transfers to talk about their experiences at The Zou.
Side Note: Keep your eyes peeled for something really special from me and an unspecified Tiger gymnast in the next week or two.
The Tigers have some vacancies available for the next great portal additions. If Makayla and Addi have, in fact, wrapped up their respective gymnastics careers — they both have a year of eligibility remaining — that leaves three holes to fill as the roster limit is set at 21.
Let’s review where we stand.
STATUS
Senior
Grace Anne Davis | Makayla Green* | Addison Lawrence* | Lauren Macpherson | Elise Tisler | Sara Wabi | Amy Wier
Addison Anderson | Ashtyn Conley | Coco Haynes | Raegan McCarty | Kendall Morgan | Imani White
Not Returning (Portal)
Lisa Szeibert
We also, of course, will also be keeping a close eye on the future, as a trio of baby Tigers in the nation’s no. 6 recruiting class earned regional titles at meets around the country last weekend, including Raegan McCarty, who won a floor title in her Region 5 meet with a 9.775, Dakota (Coco) Haynes, who won a Region 6 bars title with a 9.750, and Imani White, who won a Region 8 beam title with an astonishing 9.90 (watch the routine at the link).
Imani also earned a 9.875 on vault with her Yurchenko 1.5 (which looks an awful lot like a 10 in NCAA), a 9.825 on bars and a 38.925 in the all-around. Raegan earned a 9.675 on vault.
For their performance, the trio earned a trip to Level 10 DP Nationals, which will take place May 6-10 in Oklahoma City, alongside teammate Kendall Morgan, who finished fourth in the all-around and second on both vault (9.725) and beam (9.575) in her session of the Region 8 meet.
Per assistant coach Jackie Terpak, the top seven finishers in each age group earn spots at DP Nationals, so the Tigers will be well-represented in OKC in a few weeks and I’m sure we’ll have plenty of results and videos to share.
“I actually, I think every event we have is going to get stronger next year,” Shannon told us after the Regional Final. “I know we’re losing a couple of routines here and there, but what we’re going to develop along with what’s walking in the door, I think people are going to be really impressed with. If they like this year and last year, I think next year is going to be pretty impressive.”
Cannot wait. How long ‘til we start seeing training videos?
Jordan Lee is now a South Carolina Gamecock. | Getty Images
After officially opening the day after the national championship game, Monday, April 6, the transfer portal doors shut two weeks later, closing Monday, April 20 at midnight.
While players will no longer be permitted to enter the portal, those who already are in can still take time to make their decision. Per On3’s Talia Goodman latest accounting, over 1,500 players have entered the portal, with less than 400 having announced their commitment.
However, among those commitments are some of the stars most likely to shape the 2026-27 women’s college basketball season. These five transfer portal superlatives capture some of of the most significant moves so far.
1. Jordan Lee’s jump to South Carolina could swing the SEC
For South Carolina, laiming the commitment of Jordan Lee, a rising junior guard who is one of the nation’s most well-rounded players, is transfer portal coup in and of itself.
Signing Lee away from your biggest in-conference rival? That’s a consequential coup! Texas head coach Vic Schaefer’s loss is a huge win for South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.
When assessing the 2026-27 outlook for Texas and South Carolina after their losses in the Final Four and national championship game, respectively, I posited that Texas had more promising national title prospects, while a lack of shooting could prove to sink South Carolina.
The Longhorns, reeling not only from the departure of Lee but also the exits of Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Crump, now look less formidable, while Lee pairs with Tessa Johnson to form one of the best shooting duos in the nation.
Critically, Lee, like Johnson, isn’t just a shooter, even if she is elite from long range. Lee has become increasingly adept at finding shots for herself off the dribble, in addition to refining her savvy cutting skills. And, she’ll have no problem fullfilling Staley’s defensive prerequisites.
Jordan Lee already bumped her points up from 5.8 as a freshman to 13.2 as a sophomore, but she still has plenty more room to go
She’s flashed some serious upside, especially as a shot-creator
A starting-caliber primary ball handler still stands as a potential weak point for South Carolina. Yet, the arrival of Lee, on top of the returns of Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, plus another heralded recruiting class, inspires confidence in the Gamecocks’ chances of, yet again, being great a title bet.
2. Coach Yo and the Rebels have reloaded
There is no one way to build a winning program in women’s college basketball, especially in a landscape that is still shifting and settling in the NIL era.
At Ole Miss, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has established her niche: She has the portal paved to Oxford.
Often not in contention for top recruits that tend to flock to SEC foes, Coach Yo is there when they decided to find a second (or third) home.
Last season, Cotie McMahon moved from Ohio State to Ole Miss. This year, Coach Yo’s biggest gets came from within the SEC, as she secured the commitments of Talaysia Cooper and Jaida Civil from Tennessee and Jada Richard from LSU. That trio headlines a transfer class that currently includes eight players.
Cooper, who will be a fifth-year senior, is the headliner, suited to fill the star-level role vacated by McMahon. More empowered outside of Tennessee’s egalitarian system, Cooper should have the opportunity to show off the full extent of her self-created scoring package. Richard, a rising junior, is ready to assume starting point guard duties, having run The Show for head coach Kim Mulkey and LSU. Civil, however, might really thrive for the Rebels. As a freshman at Tennessee, her elite athleticism popped, as she eagerly applied her physical advantages to play with the kind of defensive intensity demanded by Coach Yo.
Could this be the group that helps Ole Miss finally break through and truly contend with the SEC’s titans?
3. Audi Crooks and Liv McGill are going to put Oklahoma State on the map
On Sunday, April 19, the women’s college basketball world received the most significant news of this portal cycle, as Audi Crooks announced that she is taking her talents to Stillwater and Oklahoma State for her final season
The Cowgirls and head coach Jaci Hoyt already had scored a major portal win, earning the commitment Liv McGill, who departed Florida after two seasons in the wake of the program’s turnover. The two top a transfer class that currently includes five players, and a reportedly hefty price tag.
Already an high-octane offense, Oklahoma State is poised to really lean into that end of the floor next season.
Crooks and McGill could be the highest-scoring duo in the sport. Crooks’ offensive exploits are well known, as she cranks out games of 30 or more, and even 40 or more, points with high efficiency, helping her average almost 26 points per game, the second-most in Division I during the 2025-26 season.
McGill also is prolific on the offensive end, posting 22.5 points per game, which ranked 11th nationally. Her style, however, has trended toward volume over efficiency.
How the offensive balance shakes out between these two will be fun to watch. It certainly will help that both will be operating in a favorable offensive environment, as, under Hoyt, the Cowgirls have prioritized 3-point shooting and offensive spacing.
Things could be as simple as throwing the ball to Crooks and letting her go to work. McGill, however, can inject another dynamic element into the OSU attack.
No longer expected to serve the lone offensive creator, as she often was at Florida, McGill should be able to clean up her shot selection and hone her scoring efficiency, taking advantage of the all the attention on Crooks. She likewise can polish her playmaking; while she averaged over six assists per game last season, she also gave the ball away more than five times per game.
And then there’s the other end of the floor.
Can Oklahoma State cook up a scheme that protects Crooks? McGill gets after it on the defensive end, with her 2.6 steals per game as a sophomore serving as evidence of her eagerness on the perimeter. Yet, unsuccessful gambles could have severe ramifications due to Crooks’ paint protection deficiencies.
Giddy up! Stillwater is now on the women’s college basketball map.
Blow for Real Madrid as key target confirms renewal with Liverpool is ‘close’
Real Madrid are looking to strengthen their defence ahead of the 2026/27 season, but their potential targets appear to be gradually moving out of reach.
First it was Dayot Upamecano, who signed a new contract with Bayern Munich, bringing an end to the speculations of a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, after the match against Everton this past weekend, the Frenchman provided an update on the status of his negotiations with Liverpool, which dealt a blow to Real Madrid’s hopes.
Konate set to renew with Liverpool. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“My future? The truth is that many things have been said, but we have been talking with the club for some time and we are close to an agreement,” he declared, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“We’ve all wanted this for a long time, and we’re on the right track. There’s definitely a good chance I’ll be here next season. This is what I’ve always wanted,” he added.
Clearly frustrated by ongoing speculation, he continued: “I’m waiting for the contract to be sorted out.
But when everything is ready, they’ll have to ask Richard (Liverpool’s sporting director) what I told him in September and November, and I’m sure he’ll say something to shut everyone up.”
“It’s been a tough year, and if everyone knew exactly what happened to me, they would understand many things, the sacrifices I’ve made for this club. Right now, we’re focused on the end of the season and securing Champions League qualification,” he concluded.
20,000 tickets sold for semi-final against Barcelona
The countdown is on as FC Bayern Women’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona at the Allianz Arena draws ever nearer. And there will again be a big crowd, with over 20,000 tickets already sold for the game on Saturday, 25 April (18:15 CEST).
🎟️ Get your tickets for the semi-final at the Allianz Arena here!
Eriksson: “Anticipation huge for everyone’
Magdalena Eriksson and her Bayern teammates are already excited for the first leg in Munich: “Champions League nights at the Allianz Arena always have a very special atmosphere – and for many days now, the anticipation has been huge for everyone, for me just as much as for the whole team. The fact that so many fans are coming to our semi-final against Barcelona on Saturday evening means a great deal to us. It is they who make these matches so extraordinary for us. We face a huge challenge against Barcelona, but we also know the energy that comes from the stands and how important that support will be. We want to play with courage, give it our all and, together with our fans, ensure that this evening at the Allianz Arena becomes yet another very special highlight.”
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Ticket information
Tickets are available from Bayern’s online ticket shop and come in several price categories:
Category 1: €50 (concession €45
Category 3: €35 (concession €30)
Category 4: €25 (concession €20)
Category 5: €15 (concession €10)
Business Seats Gold: €300
Concessions apply to FC Bayern members, students, school pupils, children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and season ticket holders for the Allianz Arena and FC Bayern Women.
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn ImagesTimothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
The Avalanche got their first win in their first game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres were back in the postseason for the first time in 15 years and put on a show for their fans. Also, Jurah Slafkovsky recorded a hat trick and the Habs snagged a road win.
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — April 20.
Colorado Hockey Now
We’re only two days into the Stanley Cup playoffs, and we’ve already seen late-game heroics, comebacks, overtime, and exciting one goal games. The four games on Sunday were all wildly entertaining. I’ll get into the others below.
The Avalanche took a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Kings. There weren’t a lot of goals in this one, but goalie Scott Wedgewood did his part to ensure Colorado got the win.
At the other end, Anton Forsberg was strong, too. He had to weather quite the attack from the Avs at times.
The game winner came from Logan O’Connor, who, like last season, is finding his offensive stride in playoff games.
Please consider donating to the Colorado Hockey Now Playoff Travel Fund via PAYPAL BY CLICKING HERE or VENMO BY CLICKING HERE to help our beat writer provide coverage from road games.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Recap
Game 1 Recap — Canadiens at Lightning — (MTL leads 1-0)
In a game that had five power-play goals, the Montreal Canadiens came out on top in overtime thanks to Juraj Slavkovsky. The young forward completed a hat trick in OT and all three of his goals came on the PP.
Tampa Bay has the better goaltending, but Andrei Vasilevskiy made just 15 saves in this one. He’ll need to be a lot better to avoid shifting the series to Montreal down 2-0.
Game 1 Recap — Bruins at Sabres — (BUF leads 1-0)
The game of the night.
Boston led 2-0 for the majority of the evening. But with 7:58 remaining, Tage Thompson scored to pull the Sabres within one. Suddenly, just 3:42 later, Thompson got another to even the score. Not bad for his playoff debut.
The Sabres had more up their sleeves. Just 52 seconds after the tying goal, Mattias Samuelsson got the puck in the slot and put it past Jeremy Swayman to put the Sabres ahead. And that was it. They added an empty netter before a late goal from Boston made it a one-goal game.
The pop from the crowd when Buffalo scored was insane.
Game 1 Recap — Mammoth at Golden Knights — (VGK leads 1-0)
At T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights came away with a 4-2 after scoring three times in the third to complete the comeback. Carter Hart made 31 saves for the Knights, while Karel Vejmelka stopped 27 at the other end. The Mammoth led for more than a period before Mark Stone and Nic Down tallied goals 1:47 apart early in the third period to put Vegas ahead.
Tonight’s Schedule
Game 2: Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (5 pm MT on ESPN)
Game 2: Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes (5:30 pm MT on ESPN 2)
Game 2: Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars (7:30 pm MT on ESPN)
Game 1: Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers (8 pm MT on ESPN 2)
Around The NHL
Montreal Hockey Now: Recapping the epic performance from Slafkovsky.
Boston Hockey Now: It was quite the collapse for the Bruins late in the third.
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - APRIL 18: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Mike Malott in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Canada Life Centre on April 18, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Winnipeg went down last Saturday night (April 18, 2026) inside inside Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Mandel Nallo, who suffered a first-round knockout at the hands of Jai Herbert in his UFC debut (see it again here).
And Dennis Buzukja, who was flat-lined by UFC newcomer, Marcio Barbosa, in just 80 seconds (relive it again here). But which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?
Gilbert Burns.
Coming into the event, Burns was riding a career high four-fight losing streak with his last win coming three years ago. While he did lose to some heavy hitters along the way, such as Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Morales, just to name a few, “Durinho’s” slump was as bad as it gets. His goal was to turn things around and get back in the win column to not only convince UFC officials to keep him, but to also prove to himself that he could still compete at the highest level.
Unfortunately, he was unable to do so.
Burns was never able to get much going throughout the fight. Malott won the striking exchanges throughout for as long as the fight lasted, and it all culminated in a third-round technical knockout (TKO), leaving the Brazilian bomber battered, bruised and retired.
Indeed, an emotional Burns put his gloves down on the canvas, and was joined by his family and then confirmed his retirement from the fight game after five straight losses on the post-fight show.
“I was crazy confident I was going to get the win,” Burns said (via MMA Fighting). “I was 1,000 percent confident that I was going to win. I knew if something goes wrong, I don’t want to do this no more. Not because of anyone. Because I’m not showing my 100 percent. Maybe the age or whatever but I feel a little stuck. The fire is still there but I’m still a little stuck. I cannot let go.
“If I cannot win, if I cannot show everything that I have, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to get just a paycheck. I try and I gave everything and if I cannot do it, then I cannot do it. It’s fine. We move on. I’ve still got a lot of challenges that I want to go through.”
Soon to be 40, perhaps walking away from the fight game is the best thing for the man they call “Durinho,” but I do foresee him returning to active competition or another, as there are plenty of avenues a fighter can go down that doesn’t involve getting punched or kicked in the face — though taking a tumble off a stage isn’t out of the ordinary.
While he didn’t exactly have a Hall of Fame career, Burns can walk away with his head held high knowing he gave it his all, and even gave current UFC Middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, his toughest test to date.
What will you remember most about his lengthy combat career?
For complete UFC Winnipeg results, highlights and discussion click here.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 16: Leody Taveras #30 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a single during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 16, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Orioles 4-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles had a bad week. They lost two series, and went a combined 2-5 in that span. Neither win was particularly easy, the first requiring them to climb out of a 7-1 hole and the second seeing them take until the eighth inning to score at all. It’s just the latest development in what has been a challenging start to the 2026 campaign. Despite these struggles, could there still be reason for optimism with these Orioles?
Let’s start with the obvious, these Orioles were only “supposed” to good, not great, anyway. Think back to pre-season predications across the industry. Most outlets had the O’s pegged for 85 or so wins. Some more, some less. That represents a step up from 2025, certainly, but nowhere near elite contender status. If things went right for them, maybe they get t0 90 wins and snag the AL East crown. If they crater, they might not even be a .500 squad.
Well, with the season less than a month old, you would have to say their luck has been more bad than good.
Injuries have, yet again, been a problem. Before the season even started they lost Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, their projected starting second and third basemen, respectively, to the IL. Andrew Kittredge, potentially the team’s set up man, and Keegan Akin, an important middle-inning option, joined them on the shelf later in spring. Since the regular season has begin, they’ve added starting catcher Adley Rutschman, starting right fielder Tyler O’Neill, rotation piece Zach Eflin, bench bat Ryan Moutcastle, and left-handed reliever Dietrich Enns to the infirmary report. It has been a blood bath.
As a result, new manager Craig Albernaz has had less flexibility to adjust a lineup that has failed to meet expectations early.
Samuel Basallo is still getting his feet under him and carries a meager 49 wRC+ in his first full season. He’s starting behind the plate most days anyway, because the other option is Sam Huff, a fringy backstop with limited offensive upside.
Coby Mayo isn’t having the turnaround he hoped for at the plate, though his improvement in the field has been much appreciated. His 36 wRC+ is the worst on the team, and yet he is getting in the lineup regularly because injuries have eaten away the infield depth the team once had.
The outfield is a work in progress. Taylor Ward (143 wRC+) and Leody Taveras (190 wRC+) are adjusting just fine to their new team. But finding that third reliable member has been tough. Colton Cowser (39 wRC+) and Dylan Beavers (74 wRC+) have been slow out of the gate, and both are left-handed. Blaze Alexander, a righty, is getting into the mix now, though that feels like a band-aid given his lack of experience in the role, and his bat has cooled significantly the last week or two anyway.
But you probably already know about this negative stuff. Let’s talk about why the sky is not, in fact, falling.
Start with the schedule. Many folks pointed to the Orioles “soft” start to the season a reason why they needed to come out of the gate on fire. So to have a 10-12 record is disappointing. But the reality is that those perceptions were based on 2025, not 2026. The teams the Orioles have played aren’t all that bad. Ten of their 22 games have been against teams with .500 records or better. No one else in the AL East has played more than six games against teams with winning records. Obviously, you need to beat good teams in order to be a good team yourself, but the Orioles are not losing to a bunch of cellar dwellers here.
Back to the injuries. It sounds like things are improving, ever so slightly, on that front.
Rutschman is eligible to return on Tuesday, though he may play in a rehab game or two first. He is with the team on the road trip and has been participating in all of the baseball activities. Bringing him back will allow the Orioles to improve their defense behind the plate and give their offense a boost, since he was one of their top hitters when he went out.
Holliday has restarted his rehab after being pulled off of it briefly with wrist soreness. That doesn’t mean he will be ready to play at the big league level immediately, but it is a good sign. His return likely pushes Mayo back down to Triple-A. In turn, that will allow Jeremiah Jackson, who leads the team in RBI, to move over to third base. Perhaps that is an overall downgrade defensively, but it should help the lineup.
O’Neill’s return is more ambiguous since he is dealing with a concussion, which can linger. But reports have been fairly positive, and he is eligible to get back on the field any day now. Once he is back on the roster, it should be simple enough for the Orioles to DFA one of Jonathan Rodríguez or Weston Wilson, though they may instead option Cowser or Beavers if they think it would help them long term.
The point here is that the depth should be getting back to the level the team hoped for coming into the season. Depth alone doesn’t get you wins, but it does allow Albernaz to cycle through players and play the hot hand. The players coming back have a batter chance of actually getting hot than many of the names they would be replacing.
On top of that, there is some data you could, admittedly, cherry pick, to tell you that a few key players should start to see their season’s turn around.
Starting in the lineup, we are yet to get the absolute best from Gunnar Henderson or Pete Alonso. Henderson has just a .211 BABIP despite having a hard-hit rate that sits in the 88th percentile of MLB. That should balance out at some point, yielding a higher batting average, present stolen base opportunities, and create offense for the O’s. Alonso has one of the highest average exit velocities (94.7 mph, 96th percentile) and hard hit rates (57.7%, 95th percentile) in the sport. He needs to get the ball in the air more, and his career pedigree says he will. Once that happens, with runners on in front of him, the Orioles are going to score a lot more runs.
Right now, the Orioles are tied for 19th in runs scored in MLB. That is only slightly better than where they finished (24th) in a disappointing 2025. In order for this team to compete for a playoff spot, they need to be a top 10 lineup. The talent that was accumulated this offseason feels like it should be able to accomplished that. But it needs its best players to perform to their ability, and they need to get healthier overall.
It’s a similar story in the rotation, where the Orioles need more out of their absolute best players: Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Shane Baz. None of them have performed to their ability, but the top line numbers obscure some good things. Rogers, for example, has a 4.08 ERA on the season, but his xERA is just 2.46 and his FIP is 3.69. Bradish looked much better in his most recent start, and that is reflected in the peripherals. His 5.49 ERA is massive compared to his 3.06 xERA and 3.18 FIP. The difference for Baz is not as stark, but it is there. He has a 4.91 ERA but a 4.21 xERA and 3.95 FIP. It’s not unrealistic to think each of them could lower their ERAs by up to a run in the next month. That would transform the team’s outlook.
On the whole, the Orioles’ pitching staff is right about where they need to be. They are 13th in ERA (3.91), 9th in xERA (3.60), and 13th in FIP (3.98). A middle-of-the-road pack of pitchers and a high-end lineup seemed to be the O’s path to success this year. But those numbers include their bullpen playing to a rather high level. A performance, by the way, that is largely backed up by solid peripherals. The rotation, on the other hand, has underperformed and has room to grow. That’s not a bad spot to be in if you believe in the Orioles’ ability to actually tap into those underlying numbers and get them to emerge on the field.
Of course, you can point out players that might go in the other direction too. Will guys like Jackson or Taveras keep hitting like all-stars? Probably not. Will the entire bullpen continue to pitch at such a high level? Eh, don’t bet on it. But getting more out of your stars, who are positioned at intentional spots in your lineup or rotation, should more than outweigh the dip in performance from the players coming out of nowhere to give you a temporary boost.
Things are not as bad as they have felt this last week. Given everything that has happened to the Orioles so far, they simply need to keep their head above water and give time for their talent to rise to the top. It is possible it won’t ever come to fruition, but it’s really all they can do at this point.
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos general manager George Paton speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Broncos Country, it’s officially NFL Draft Week and you know what that means. Our annual Mile High Report NFL Draft Roundtable discussions are back! For our first installment, I wanted to check the pulse on where the staff and community was relative to position groups the Denver Broncos should target in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Without first and third round selections, the Broncos are a light on early round picks once again, marking the third time in General Manager George Paton’s tenure that the team will be without a top pick. On the bright side, the team’s roster is pretty deep with few significant needs.
With that in mind I asked the staff “What position groups should the Broncos target in this year’s draft?”
Taylor Kothe
The Broncos have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL but it’s quickly approaching the inevitable point of having significant turnover in starters, and you don’t keep a strength as a strength if you don’t keep investing in it. I’d love to see a Day 2 pick spent on an offensive lineman.
Tim Lynch
For me, ILB, TE, and RB in that order. This inside linebacker classes aligns strongly with the type of players that George Paton and Sean Payton tend to target, so I would be absolutely shocked if they don’t get one of those guys in this draft. There are fewer tight ends and running backs in that tendency list, but most of those are in that 2nd-4th round range too. I just like where the Broncos are to address some key needs despite having so little draft capital this year.
Ross Allen
I’m right there with Taylor. While they might not need to seek a day two pick for the offensive line, they need to look for a prospect that can wait a year or two and take over one of the spots up front. Ideally it would be an offensive tackle.
The big two positions of need for me are ILB and RB. Tight end is in play, and I could see them trying to find a swing OT/OG as well. Beyond that we are looking at taking the gems that the scouts have found in the late rounds for development.
Christopher Hart
Without a first and third round pick, this seems like a draft where the Broncos are going to be eyeing talent that have traits and the ability to become future starters with their top three selections. Outside of their top pick in the second round, it’s hard to imagine any other prospect the draft coming in right away and being a difference maker.
A dream scenario would be the Broncos’ brass finding a way to snag one of this year’s top inside linebacker prospects with their first pick. Despite bringing back Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, I still see it as one of the biggest long-term needs the franchise has. That’s what I’d like to see them address first.
Adding a versatile offensive lineman capable of playing tackle and guard would be wise for them to consider as well. Keeping the foundations strong is smart team-building strategy. I think there will be good value here at the top of the fourth round where they currently have two selections.
Outside of that, they could use depth at tight end, running back, and should consider a defensive back. Keep in mind that Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Brandon Jones, and J.L. Skinner are all scheduled to hit free agency after the end of the 2026 season. They need to add someone to that room, and Paton has drafted at least one defensive back since he has been GM of the Broncos. I expect that to happen against this year.
What do you think, Broncos Country?
What position groups do you think the Broncos should target with their slate of picks int he 2026 NFL Draft? Let me know what you think in the comments section.
The running battle between Erling Haaland and Gabriel was a theme of the title showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal.
The Norway forward had already had his undershirt partially ripped in one physical tussle during City's 2-1 win on Sunday.
It was the kind of scrap fans love to see in big games, and referee Anthony Taylor had allowed both players some latitude.
However, things boiled over in the 83rd minute after Haaland and Gabriel competed in an aerial duel.
Following a push by the City striker, the two men squared up to each other, with foreheads pressed together.
What happened next could easily have resulted in a red card for the Brazil centre-half, who pushed his head towards Haaland's face.
The Arsenal defender escaped with a yellow card. But should this not be seen as violent conduct?
Why did the VAR not get involved?
Gabriel would have been suspended for three matches if he had been sent off for violent conduct [Getty Images]
What exactly is a headbutt?
The laws of the game do not specifically reference it, so it is wrapped up in the description of violent conduct.
That requires a player to have used or attempted to use "excessive force or brutality".
It opens up a level of subjectivity where pushing your head towards another player might not be seen as violent.
For the video assistant referee (VAR), what the refereeing team say they saw is crucial.
On Sunday, it was the assistant referee who said the incident was "not excessively aggressive or violent".
Referee Taylor took this advice on board and chose to book both players for their aggressive attitudes.
VAR John Brooks first has to consider that the incident has clearly been seen by the assistant.
Could Brooks really say Gabriel's actions definitely were excessively aggressive or violent? That would be required for a VAR red card.
Even if the VAR thinks a red card is the better decision, it is difficult to get involved if an official has had a decent view and provided a supportable explanation.
So what came into that judgement?
It was felt that because Gabriel pushed with his head rather than struck - he did not pull his head back first and create space before driving it forward - a yellow card was supportable.
But many were likely expecting a VAR review for a red card.
So why did Martinez get sent off for hair pull?
The VAR's decision to stay out of it will probably leave Manchester United fans a bit miffed.
Just six days earlier, Brooks was in the VAR chair when Lisandro Martinez was sent off against Leeds United.
The Argentina defender had briefly grasped the ponytail of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and was shown a red card after referee Paul Tierney was sent to the screen.
Is a small grab of someone's hair more violent than dragging your forehead across an opponent's face?
Manchester United fans may well say it is not. Yet it was Martinez who saw red and was banned for three games, with Red Devils manager Michael Carrick calling it "one of the worst" decisions he has seen.
If Gabriel had been sent off, he would have been suspended for three of the Gunners' last five matches. Instead he will be available for the fixtures against Newcastle, Fulham and West Ham.
There can be no retrospective action as VAR has effectively made it obsolete in the Premier League. If an incident has been assessed by the on-field team or the VAR, then the Football Association is unable to seek a charge.
How could Brooks, who is one of the most trusted VARs and regularly appointed to some of the biggest fixtures, make such different decisions?
It is primarily about the hair pull not being identified by the on-field team.
That meant the VAR had no initial description to go off - so there was no bar for the clear and obvious mistake.
And that makes it far more straightforward for the VAR to intervene.
Gabriel has a lot to thank Haaland for. Had the striker gone down, embellishing the level of contact, a VAR review feels like it would have been a certainty.
This is often the problem. A VAR is looking for evidence of impact to convince them there has been a mistake.
If a player does not react, be that to a headbutt or a trip or a push, it is far more difficult to be sure there has been an offence.
Yet that only encourages players to play up for the cameras to make sure they get the decision they want.
For instance, had Calvert-Lewin not gone down holding his hair would Brooks have even picked up on that potential red card?
And we have a perfect example for comparison.
In November 2020, Taylor was in charge of Leeds against Arsenal when, with the referee's back turned, Nicolas Pepe walked up to Ezgjan Alioski and placed his forehead into the face of the North Macedonia international.
The level of contact does not seem too much different to Gabriel and Haaland's clash, yet Alioski fell to the ground holding his face.
Pepe was sent off after a VAR review, with Gunners boss Mike Arteta saying at the time that his actions were "unacceptable".
One problem the Premier League has is the high threshold for VAR intervention, which often means the most logical decisions are not reached.
It is why there are far more missed interventions (15) so far this season compared to incorrect ones (three), a trend which has been there throughout all seven seasons with video reviews.
Yet in an era where players seem eager to throw themselves to the ground, it is refreshing that Haaland did not over-react.
"If I go down like any other guy, it's a red card," Haaland said after the game.
"It's not something I would do. My father taught me to stay on your feet.
"Should I have gone down? Maybe. Then it would've been easier."
City boss Pep Guardiola will be hoping it does not come back to haunt his team if Gabriel proves to be a match-winner for Arsenal over the next three games.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama scored 14 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter of a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in San Antonio. Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA
April 20 (UPI) -- Victor Wembanyama totaled a San Antonio Spurs playoff debut record 35 points to spark a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Spurs center logged 14 in the fourth quarter of the triumph Sunday in San Antonio. He made 13 of his 21 shot attempts, including a 5 of 6 clip from 3-point range. Wembanyama also recorded five rebounds, two blocks and an assist.
"We've been really good in the regular season, so we had no reason to act differently," Wembanyama told reporters.
The Spurs outshot the Blazers 47.6% to 42.9%, including a 45.5% to 26.3% edge in 3-point shooting. They also hedl advantages of 48-42 in points in the paint and 20-11 in points off fast breaks. The Spurs led by as many as 21 in the series opener, which featured six lead changes.
Wembanyama, an MVP contender, is the first player in NBA history to log at least 35 points, while making at least five 3-point attempts in a postseason debut.
"There's an approach that we all have in terms of expectation of a heightened level of preparation, detail, nuance, competitiveness, physicality, everything," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "There's a real desire for that young man to participate in that.
"This was his first playoff game, and he has lofty expectations and goals for himself."
The Spurs and Blazers exchanged the lead several times through the opening four minutes. Wembanyama's Spurs then went on a 15-3 run, carried a 30-21 edge into the second quarter and never trailed again.
Wembanyama poured in a dozen points over the first dozen minutes. The Spurs outscored the visitors 29-28 in the second quarter and led 59-49 at the break.
The Blazers scored the first eight points of the second half to trim the deficit to two, but never got closer. They were outscored 52-49 over the final two quarters of the loss.
Spurs guards De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle scored 17 points apiece in the win. Forward Devin Vassell chipped in with 15 points. Blazers forward Deni Avdija totaled 30 points, including 19 in the first half. He also logged 10 rebounds and five assists.
The Spurs will host the Blazers in Game 2 at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in San Antonio. Game 3 of the best-of-seven game series will be Friday in Portland.
You probably already knew that though. What you may not know is how far along an individual runner is in New England's most famous race.
If you want to track the progress of a marathon runner today, there are a couple of ways to do that, but the Boston Athletic Association recommends their app.
From Hopkinton to Copley Square, how you can track a runner's progress during the Boston Marathon.
How to track progress with Boston Athletic Association App
The BAA Racing App is available in both the Apple and Android store.
"The app features live tracking for all B.A.A. events, interactive course maps, athlete leaderboards, fundraising totals, social media integrations, info pages and more," the association said.
To use the app, all you need is the runner's name or their bib number and they should come up when you enter that info onto the search bar. You can also search by city or team.
If apps aren't your thing, there is another way.
How to track a Boston Marathon runner's progress online
If you have a runner's bib number or name you can follow their race and see the results at the finish line.
Just click the tracking tab on the webpage and search for the runner you want to track by "last name, first name" or by their bib number, and you should be able to select them to see how they're doing. You can also select multiple runners.
How to track a runner's progress on TV
If you prefer to go old school, you could watch marathon live on television or stream it, though that might make it harder to follow an individual.
WCVB Channel 5 (ABC) will be covering the Boston Marathon live for all Boston-area viewers beginning at 4 a.m. on Marathon Monday.
It will be simulcast regionally on its sister stations: WMUR News 9 ABC (Manchester, NH), WMTW Channel 8 ABC (Portland/Auburn, ME), and WPTZ NBC5 (Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY).
Local viewers can also live stream the marathon on the Very Local app.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.
The Waters mother-daughter duo made it a 3-peat in Naples, winning the Women's Pro Doubles title.
Franklin US Open
The 10th annual US Open of Pickleball was held last weekend on the grounds of the newly-branded USOP National Pickleball Center (formerly known as East Naples Community Park) in Naples, Florida. This center is the largest pickleball facility in the world with 65 lighted courts, and is home to an 8,000-strong club of players.
This year’s US Open featured a brand new title sponsor in Franklin Sports, who continues their push of being affiliated with the biggest assets in the sport.
For most of the last decade, the US Open laid claim as the biggest pickleball tournament (by participation) in the land, and the event continues to max out at nearly 3,500 participants, limited only by the number of courts they have at their avail. The demand for this tournament leads to thousands of applicants being turned away, and this tournament continues to be one of the most important events on the calendar for amateurs, pros, and senior pros alike. I caught up with a representative of new title sponsor Franklin at the Pickleball Slam event held last week, who intimated that the event is exploring ways to capture this demand going forward, along with a possible change in its relationship with the PPA that could clear the way for a return of the UPA contracted pros. Something to possibly look forward to in next year’s iteration.
First off, whoever did the seeding in this event should probably reconsider whatever methodology they’re using, since the semi finals were comprised of the following for seeds: 9, 20, 3, and 18. The 20 seed in particular, Ryler DeHeart, seems the most ridiculous, given that he’s ranked 4th on the APP.
In the final, No. 9 Dusty Boyer (who had vanquished the top seed Ronan Camron in an epic 15-13 game three win in the quarters) crushed Jay Devilliers 4,2 for the title.
Gold: Dusty Boyer. Silver: Jay Devilliers. Bronze: Richard Livornese, Jr.
Women’s Pro Singles Recap
Kat Stewart adds a US Open gold to her trophy case.
US Open
One may have thought the final in Women’s singles was a forgone conclusion, based on how many times the two top seeds (Kat Stewart at No. 1 and Sofia Sewing at No. 2) have met recently, but a couple of names in the draw had other ideas. Namely, top Australian No. 5 Roos van Reek and No. 3 seed Seone Mendez, who took the APP’s 2025 Tour Finals event last December.
Sure enough, the semis featured all four players and fans in Naples were treated to an exciting back half of the event. Stewart squeaked by Van Reek in one semi, while Mendez crushed Sewing in the other before Stewart laid down a statement win 4,1 in the final.
Gold: Kat Stewart. Silver: Seone Mendez. Bronze: Roos van Reek.
Mixed Pro Doubles Recap
It took 16 tries, but Waters & Devilliers eventually won the gold medal.
Franklin US Open
Anna Leigh Waters, who has historically attended the US Open despite it not being sanctioned by the PPA, got a big boost this year when Jay Devilliers was also granted an exception by the UPA into this event, and they formed the top seed. Waters played in this event last year with Andre Agassi but fell early; this year they had much higher expectations. The pair cruised into the finals without being challenged, topping last year’s Mixed gold winner Jack Munro (playing with van Reek) in the semis.
In the finals, they met the No. 2 seeded team of Casey Diamond & Sofia Sewing, a pair that’s had plenty of success as of late. They won 2025’s USA Pickleball Nationals mixed title and they took the first APP International event of 2026 in Malaysia. The pair beat a tough team of Fudge & Livornese in the semis before facing off against the GOAT GOAT in the finals.
Sewing & Diamond more than held their own against Waters & Devilliers, beating them 12-10 in game one before getting washed in game two 11-2 to send the match to the deciding third game. There a thrilling match was eventually taken by the PPA pros 11-9, however it took Waters & Devilliers an unbelievable SIXTEEN (16) attempts at match point to close out the win, in an amazing display of grit and defensive pickleball from Sewing & Diamond.
Unfortunately the match’s most viral moment was a disputed line call that Sewing called out but which Waters heavily disputed. Replays seemed to support the “out” call, but tensions were high on the court for sure.
Devilliers teamed with the PPA-exiled Ryan Fu and netted the top seed in the draw, but were upset in the semis by the criminally under-seeded No. 13 Ryler DeHeart & Kyle Koszuta (who did DeHeart upset in the seeding department to earn a 13-seed in Doubles and a 20-seed in singles?) They lost in the final to No 2 Jack Munro & Richard Livornese, giving Munro his 2nd US Open title in a row.
Anna Leigh and her mother Leigh Waters entered the event as the two-time defending US Open champions and were fittingly given the top seed. However, the pair were pressed early and went a game down in the semis to No. 5 Roos van Reek & Shelby Bates before rebounding and cruising into the final. There, they met the No. 3 seeds Bobbi Oshiro & Kat Stewart, who ousted the No. 2 pair in the semis. The APP pros could not do much with the Waters’ in the final, losing 5,6 to give Anna Leigh and her mom a 3-peat in this event.
Notable: with the bronze, Roos van Reek finished off a three-medal weekend at the US Open, capturing Bronze in singles, mixed, and gender doubles.
The US Open is famous for its Split-Age divisions, where pros and senior pros get to team up and get some early week competition. Here’s some quick recaps of those split-age draws.
Men’s Split-Age Pro: To little surprise, the No. 1 seeded split-age men’s team of Jack Munro & Jamie Oncins, who individually are each (arguably) the best of their respective age groups in Naples, took the split-age title. They topped No. 3 Brandon Lane & Jose Derisi in the final.
Women’s Split-Age Pro: Eugenia Carolina Lopez Ascarate & Simone Jardim outlasted the field and took the title as the No. 2 seeds.
Mixed Split-Age Pro: Ronan Camron & Eugenia Carolina Lopez Ascarate came out on top of a loaded field as the No. 8 seed, winning the title over 10th seeded Eva Welsher & Richard Livornese Jr.
A few notes on the senior divisions at the US Open, which continue to be the gold standard of the senior pro game. Even though the US Open isn’t technically affiliated with the APP, it has adopted the APP monikers for its two senior pro divisions, a change from past years which just featured a 50+ Senior Pro division. These competitions are some of the most stacked senior pro draws I’ve ever seen, and the draws were a “Who’s Who” of the current senior pickleball pro game.
Champions Pro Competition Quick Recap
Men’s Champions Pro Singles: Last year’s APP No. 1 Youssef Bouzidi took out the fast-rising Blake Arrant in the semis, then beat the No. 1 seed and defending champ Marcello Jardim in the final for his first US Open gold.
Women’s Champions Pro Singles: Karin Ptaszek-Kochis become the 3-time defending US Open champion by topping the Champions division newcomer Lopez in the final.
Men’s Champions Pro Doubles: Dave Weinbach & Dayne Gingrich took the title as the top seed, outlasting No. 2 Jardim & Oncins in the final.
Women’s Champions Pro Doubles: Lee Whitwell & Eugenia Carolina Lopez took the 1-vs-2 final over Molly Carter & Sheri Courter.
Mixed Champions Pro Doubles: The top seeds were shocked in the 16s, opening a pathway for No. 2 Lee Whitwell / Jaime Oncins to take the title.
Masters Pro Competition Quick Recap
Men’s Masters Pro Singles: Dana Treister took out No. 1 David Spearman in a battle of the two top seeds.
Women’s Masters Pro Singles: Karen Seguso took the small Masters singles draw.
Men’s Masters Pro Doubles: Martin Reist / Dan Granot cruised to the title as the top seed.
Women’s Masters Pro Doubles: Sophie Amiach / Anna Shirley dominated the final, winning gold 11-0, 11-1.
Mixed Masters Pro Doubles: Anna Shirley / Lee Sponaugle took the gold in Mixed Masters pro.
The Pro Pickleball Medal Tracker spreadsheets have now been updated with these results. Click here for the Pro-only Medal Tracker, and click here for the Senior Pro Medal Tracker. These spreadsheets hold Medal winners for every pro event going back to the beginnings of the tours.
For US Open results, click on the tab in these spreadsheets that says “Non PPA-APP” or “NonSanc” to show the events in major tournaments that remain unaffiliated with either pro tour.
Next up on the Pickleball Calendar? According to my Master Pickleball Schedule, we get a bit of a break next week with just an Australian event on the major books, then the first weekend in May features the APP’s Sacramento open and the PPA’s Atlanta Slam, the final event before the PPA’s tour finals.
Any Head to Head or career match stats quoted in this article are courtesy of PickleWave. Visit picklewave.com for the premier source of Pro Pickleball data, including match replays, highlights, stats, and discussion. PickleWave has more than 31,000 matches in its database across all the pro tours, and has started a fantastic new Bracket Challenge feature for Fantasy-style sports fans to try out.
Other resources I use frequently to cover Pickleball include:
Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum competes in the preliminaries of the men’s 1,500 meters on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11, 2025, at Hayward Field in Eugene. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Boston Marathon is a time-honored annual tradition, not only for Boston, but many of the surrounding cities and towns. The race itself passes through 26 miles of Eastern Massachusetts, including eight total cities and towns.
For those looking to catch a piece of the action, there are many opportunities to find a space and watch the runners pass through. The majority of locations are also available via public transit.
There is a lot for locals and visitors alike to know ahead of the race's start, from road closures and detours to the best places to catch a piece of the action.
Here's everything to know if you're in Massachusetts on Monday.
The Boston Marathon route starts in Hopkinton and ends in the city of Boston itself. Along the way, the runners pass through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline.
This route stretches the full 26 miles of the race, with all cities and towns besides Hopkinton being accessible by Boston's MBTA public transportation system.
Boston Athletic Association
How long is a marathon?
A marathon is 26.2 miles. The Boston Marathon specifically stretches through eight cities and towns.
Boston Marathon course details
This race stretches across eight towns, with Boston Athletic Association providing recommended places to watch as well as times that the runners are most likely coming through the town. The longest stretch in one town is in Newton, where runners will spend 5.42 miles of the race.
Starting point
The marathon begins in Hopkinton, where runners will spend the first 1.9 miles of the race before moving on to Ashland.
What towns does the race pass through?
The race passes through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and Boston.
Finish line
The finish line is in Boston, specifically the Back Bay neighborhood. It's located on Boylston street, near the Boston Public Library.
To maintain marathon safety, several roads will be closed at specific times on Marathon Monday. Any road that makes up the marathon, touches the marathon road or is adjacent to it will be closed.
Below are the times which these roads will be closed in each town along the route.
City/town
Road closing time (ET)
Estimated reopening time (ET)
Hopkinton
7:00 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
Ashland
7:00 a.m.
1:45 p.m.
Framingham
7:45 a.m.
2:15 p.m.
Natick
8:30 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Wellesley
8:30 a.m.
4:15 p.m.
Newton
8:00 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
Brookline
9:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
Boston
9:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
When is the Boston Marathon?
The start times vary based on which event the runners are participating in. The first group will start the route at 9:06 a.m. ET.
The first game of the Alex Golesh era is behind us, and Auburn's new head coach was blown away by what he saw.
Golesh led his team onto the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the annual A-Day game on Saturday, capping off his first spring practice session since being hired in late November. He got to display what his team has worked on this spring and showcase several unknown players who could become big-time contributors to the team this fall.
Outside of coaching in the game, Golesh got to take in a gameday atmosphere at Jordan-Hare, which included over 34,000 fans in the stands, the pregame Tiger Walk, and the Auburn University Marching Band performing its traditional stand tunes. To say the least, he was excited to finally experience his first home game and "first win" of his tenure as Auburn's head coach.
"First of all, I'm beyond grateful for what that Tiger Walk crowd was for our kids," Golesh said postgame. "Like for me to get off the bus, and it looked like that was incredible. I don't know how many people were here, but it was really, really cool. It was great to get a game-day environment. I can only imagine what it's going to be like with 88,000 (in Jordan-Hare Stadium)."
Not only did Golesh compete in his first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but he also concluded his first spring practice session. He says he looks forward to giving his team a few weeks off following a grueling 15 practices, and to spending time on the road recruiting with his staff this week. Before the downtime away from the field, he reflected on the spring session and how he felt his team had progressed.
"I do love this group; they're intentional and what they do," Golesh said. "They've worked some highs, some lows, through spring. They've answered the bell in the regard that every time I've asked them to do something, they've done it. We've asked to turn it up. They've turned it up. We've asked for more attention to detail. They've paid more attention to detail up until this point; they've done what we've asked them to do. We got a huge, huge summer ahead of us."
Next up for Auburn is a busy summer of workouts and recruiting. All of it leads to Auburn football's first game, set for Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Tigers face Baylor in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Indian athletes must now meet tougher anti-doping requirements after their federation was placed in the highest-risk category of World Athletics, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has said.
India was elevated on Monday to a list of nations where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.
Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.
The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.
“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.
“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.
“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”
The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.
India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.
In the latest doping case in Indian athletics, Asian Games gold medallist archer Prathamesh Jawkar has been banned for two years.
He accepted the punishment for a whereabouts failure and will miss the Asian Games in September-October in Japan.
However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.
AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said the federation was working with the AIU, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the National Anti-Doping Agency to address the issue.
“AFI has got a strong plan , and we are all for criminalising doping in this country,” Sumariwalla, also a World Athletics vice president, told the Reuters news agency.
“There’s nothing wrong in more scrutiny. More athletes are getting caught in India because more tests are being conducted.
“We are fighting it tooth and nail. The crooks and criminals doing it should be stopped by police. We are not police, our job is to create a policy, and the government is helping.”
When an Indian delegation visited the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, last year, they were told to curb the doping menace to boost their Olympic bid.
ASRock has a unique solution to the DDR5 shortage ASRock has an interesting new solution to the DDR5 shortage. On Intel 600/700/800 series motherboards, HUDIMM memory support is now available. These new memory modules use only one of the DDR5 standard’s two 32-bit memory channels, enabling the production of more affordable modules. With DDR5 memory […]
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NVIDIA has developed a new algorithm for path tracing that will make it 2-3 times faster, deliver better visual quality, and improve the robustness of real-time path tracing. Scheduled for a technology demo at the ACM conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in May, NVIDIA has found a way to make real-time path tracing a fully realistic rendering process, moving beyond the usual emulation, software denoising, upscaling, and other techniques we use today. Since real-time path tracing is extremely compute-intensive, modern GPUs are still not powerful enough to execute the full path tracing technology in all its potential. Instead, we currently rely on emulations in modern games, implemented across many titles to address this computational demand. Below is the abstract described on NVIDIA's paper page, though the paper itself is not yet available as its publication is scheduled for May. However, note that the technology is still in development, and we have to wait more for it to hit commercial games.
NVIDAAlgorithms leveraging ReSTIR-style spatiotemporal reuse have recently proliferated, hugely increasing effective sample count for light transport in real-time ray and path tracers. Many papers have explored novel theoretical improvements, but algorithmic improvements and engineering insights toward optimal implementation have largely been neglected. We demonstrate enhancements to ReSTIR PT that make it 2-3x faster, decrease both visual and numerical error, and improve its robustness, making it closer to production-ready. We halve the spatial reuse cost by reciprocal neighbor selection, robustify shift mappings with new footprint-based reconnection criteria, and reduce spatiotemporal correlation with duplication maps. We further improve both performance and quality by extensive optimization, unifying direct and global illumination into the same reservoirs, and utilizing existing techniques for color noise and disocclusion noise reduction.
AMD is planning a significant return to establishing new manufacturing ties with its former silicon manufacturing venture, which it sold back in 2008. According to recent reports, AMD intends to collaborate with GlobalFoundries for new Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) for the next-generation Instinct MI500 series of AI accelerators. CPO technology will help AMD remain competitive in the AI data center space, where signal transfer is limited by traditional copper-based wiring. By harnessing the power and speed of light, CPO technology will enable data transfer between multiple nodes, and even multiple facilities, without the speed loss and increased latency associated with copper-based connections. Consequently, AMD is investing considerable effort to secure Photonics Integrated Circuit (PIC) manufacturing with its former partner, GlobalFoundries, which will handle PIC manufacturing, while the actual packaging will be managed by ASE to finalize the CPO design. This approach allows AMD to leverage the strengths of both companies, likely resulting in the best solution for its systems next year.
The Instinct MI500 series of AI accelerators is scheduled for release in 2027, as this year's lineup focuses on the Instinct MI400 series, which includes multiple SKUs for AI and HPC workloads. While these designs are already among the industry's leading AI accelerators, AMD aims to enhance performance further with the 2027 release using CPO technology. This will significantly contribute to delivering a solution that uses less power and offers much higher overall bandwidth compared to traditional copper data transfers. However, AMD is not alone in this CPO push. NVIDIA is also collaborating with semiconductor makers to develop a CPO system for "Vera Rubin," particularly the "Rubin Ultra" variant.
Current systems emphasize sight and sound, with some progress in haptics. Smell remains largely absent, despite its unusually strong connection to memory and emotion.
Not just Samsung and SK Hynix, the third major memory maker, Miron, has also joined the race in producing the high capacity GDDR7 memory. Micron Starts Sampling 24 Gb (3 GB) GDDR7 Memory Modules Rated At 28 GT/s and 32 GT/s As Spotted on the Official Website Finally, the third major memory maker has also started working on its own 24 GB or 3 GB GDDR7 (we will use 3 GB instead of 24 GB throughout the article for making it simple) memory modules. Micron, which recently exited the consumer market as it aimed to focus more on the data […]
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Hurtigruten has highlighted seaweed as a sustainable ingredient used in various products onboard. The cruise line said in a press release that the ingredient, which is deeply rooted in Nordic food, is featured in many dishes, beverages such as gin, beer and tea, as well as bath and body products. “Seaweed has become an exciting expression of modern Norwegian cuisine – flavorful, versatile, and deeply connected to...
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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta 3 update for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 introduces new AI tools and everyday fixes that users will actually notice.
One UI 8.5 officially debuted with the Galaxy S26 series earlier this year. Samsung has provided the final Beta update to the Galaxy S25 series. Now, the Stable rollout is being planned, with the distribution beginning on April 30.
Users of the Galaxy S25 series are first in line to have the Stable update. May 4 would mark the first expansion, covering S25 models outside Korea. We may see May filled with One UI 8.5 rollouts for a plethora of Galaxy devices.
2024 foldables get a new One UI 8.5 Beta
The highlight is the addition of AI features like Call Screening, Photo Assist with text prompts, Creative Studio, and Audio Eraser that can reduce background noise in real time across apps like YouTube and Instagram.
In addition, Samsung has cleaned up a few annoying bugs.
The screen flicker when hitting the back key is gone, the lock screen clock now stays in the right place, and the taskbar issue has been sorted. Media playback should also sound better now, with less unwanted noise.
The ZZDD software is available for download in South Korea. It should soon be available in more countries where Samsung brought the Beta. You can get it through Settings > Software update > Download and install.
The DRAM crisis is reportedly causing problems at Apple, as the company is said to be postponing the launch of the long-awaited MacBook Pro with tandem OLED display, and the next-generation Mac Studio is also said to be coming onto the market later than expected.
Huawei has announced a new luxury smartwatch that doubles as a piece of high-end jewelry. Marketed at women, the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design Diamond Edition also boasts premium features and a heavy price tag to match.
The Huawei MateBook 14 HarmonyOS edition is now official in China. This new MacBook Air rival weighs around 2.86 pounds, measures 14.5mm at its thinnest, and sports a 14.2-inch OLED display. The starting price is around $968.
The Yidimu is a new high-resolution 3D printer designed to stand out with its ability to produce highly detailed models. It also boasts a range of compelling features and is currently available at a significant discount.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 and Watch Fit 5 Pro smartwatches have been launched in China. These two models offer several upgrades compared to their predecessors, including a micro-stretching function and more accurate heart rate monitoring. Plus, they are described by the brand as lightweight and ultra-thin.
Casio will launch its new G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-B1000MG-1A9 magma-inspired watch in Europe. A recent product listing at a French retailer shares new images of the product, as well as some specifications and details about its release.
Brad new leaked reports indicate Oppo is developing a new pocket gimbal camera, codenamed "Fuyao," to compete with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and Insta360 Luna Ultra. Expected in the end of 2026, this 3-axis stabilized device marks Oppo's entry into dedicated vlogging hardware alongside the upcoming Insta360 Luna series.
Apple introduced the iPhone 17e in March as a direct follow-up to the iPhone 16e. Exterior-wise, the iPhone 17e remains practically unchanged, with the same display, camera, battery, and so on. As such, JerryRigEverything shows that the iPhone 17e and the iPhone 16e have many interchangeable parts.
Deal | En Garde! combines fast-paced swordplay, a charmingly exaggerated world and a protagonist with plenty of personality. The action-adventure is available on Steam with a 90% discount until May 3, bringing the price down to just under $2.
The Govee Table Lamp Classic is now available in North America and Europe. This portable smart light has a simple design, with a multi-segment LED light source delivering dimmable white and colored lighting effects. Plus, it supports the Matter smart home protocol for a broad range of integrations.
No fewer than six My Neighbor Totoro set concepts have crossed the 10,000-supporter threshold on LEGO Ideas. Past examples suggest, however, that even strong interest offers no guarantee they will ever become official sets.
Microsoft has released emergency out-of-band updates KB5091157 and KB5091575 to fix LSASS crashes and domain controller reboot loops caused by the April 2026 KB5082063 update.
Which Harry Potter film is Daniel Radcliffe’s favorite? In a tournament-style ranking, the actor ends up choosing a film that few fans would likely have expected. But it’s not just the winner that has sparked discussion among fans.
Tecno announced the latest member in its Pop series – the Pop X 5G. It brings a fresh new design with a horizontal camera visor on the back alongside a 6,500mAh battery with 45W wired charging and a MediaTek Dimensity 6400 chipset at the helm.
Tecno Pop X 5G
Pop X 5G is built around a 6.78-inch IPS LCD with HD+ resolution (720 x 1,576px) and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel is rated at 560 nits peak brightness and features a punch hole cutout for the 8MP front-facing camera.
Tecno Pop X 5G key specs
Around the back, we have a single 13MP main camera accompanied by an LED...
Following his unanimous decision defeat to last Saturday, has considered how a clash between ‘The Destroyer’ and might unfold. The two-time world champion faced Benn on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov, announcing his retirement shortly after losing their contest at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fighting at a catchweight of 150lbs, this was […]
Osimhen'in gazeteci arkadaşı Buchi Laba, Galatasaray'ın Uğurcan Çakır'a %100 olmasa bile sağlam bir zam yapacağını açıkladı. Ayrıca milli kalecinin satılma ihtimalinin de zor olduğunu belirtti.
Galatasaray, sezon başında Trabzonspor'dan Uğurcan Çakır'ı kadrosuna katmıştı. Milli kalecinin mukavelesinde şu rakamlar yazıyor:
2025-2026 sezonu: Net 110.000.000 TL maaş
2026-2027 sezonu: Net 120.000.000 TL maaş
2027-2028 sezonu: Net 130.000.000 TL maaş
2028-2029 sezonu: Net 140.000.000 TL maaş
2029-2030 sezonu: Net 150.000.000 TL maaş
CİDDİ BİR ARTIŞ
Victor Osimhen'in gazeteci arkadaşı Buchi Laba, Galatasaray Yönetimi'nin Uğurcan'a %100 oranında olmasa bile ciddi bir zam yapacağını açıkladı. Laba ayrıca çok astronomik bir teklif gelmediği sürece milli eldivenin kesinlikle satılmayacağını da belirtti.
AVRUPA TAKİP EDİYOR
Buchi Laba, Avrupa'nın en önemli kulüplerinin, Uğurcan Çakır'ı izlediğini söyledi. Fernando Muslera'nın ayrılığı sonrasında Galatasaray birçok yabancı kaleci için teklif sunmuştu. Günün sonunda ise Trabzonspor'dan Uğurcan geldi. Milli file bekçisinin bonservis bedeli çok konuşuluyordu. Ancak performansıyla birlikte bu tartışmaları bitirdi.
Real Madrid teknik direktörü Alvaro Arbeloa, Arda Güler'le ilgili açıklamalarda bulundu.
Real Madrid, LaLiga'nın 33. haftasında yarın Alaves'i konuk edecek. Karşılaşma öncesinde konuşan Real Madrid Teknik Direktörü Alvaro Arbeloa, milli futbolcu Arda Güler hakkında dikkat çeken açıklamalarda bulundu.
Alvaro Arbelo'nın açıklamaları şöyle:
“Arda Güler’i bu son üç ayda nasıl gözlemlediniz? Ve sizce gelecekte Real Madrid’i taşıyabilecek oyunculardan biri olabilir mi?”
-Arda ile bu son üç ay gerçekten çok yoğun geçti. Birlikte pek çok şey yaşadığımız için aramızda güçlü bir bağ kurduğumuzu düşünüyorum. Buraya ilk geldiğimde, Arda’nın büyük maçlarda ya da yüksek tempolu karşılaşmalarda oynayamayacağına dair çok fazla konuşma vardı. Ama Bayern Münih’e karşı oynanan eleme turlarındaki performansına ve Manchester City karşısındaki oyununa bakmak yeterli.
-Benim açımdan, onunla çalışmaya başladığım ilk andan itibaren her zaman yeteneğini, arzusunu ve fedakârlık yapma isteğini gördüm. Bu, onun gibi bir oyuncunun gerçekten sahip olduğu önemli bir özellik. O, ne bağlılık ne de çalışma disiplini konusunda eksik bir oyuncu.
-Bu da tamamen onun kendi emeği. Çünkü süreç içinde yaptığımız hatalardan, iniş çıkışlardan, doğru yaptığı şeylerden ve eksik kalan yönlerinden ders çıkarmayı başardı.
-Ve bence Arda Güler’in bu sezon ortaya koyduğu performans büyük bir ödül niteliğinde. Bu, onun sadece gelecekte önemli olması beklenen bir oyuncu olmadığını, aynı zamanda şu anda da önemli bir oyuncu olduğunu kanıtlıyor.
Fenerbahçe devre arasında Everton Kulübü'nün golcüsü Beto için devreye girmişti. Ancak kulüpler anlaşma sağlayamadı. Kanarya'nın ilgisi devam ederken, 28 yaşındaki futbolcu son 3 Premier Lig maçında 4 gol buldu.
Ara transferde elindeki golcüleri gönderen Fenerbahçe, yıldız bir forvet konusunda da çaba harcamıştı. O süreçte teklif götürülen isimlerden biri de Everton forması giyen Beto'ydu... 28 yaşındaki futbolcu için İngiliz ekibiyle bonservis üzerinden anlaşma sağlanamadı. Kanarya'nın tek santrfor hamlesi, Sidiki Cherif'le bitti...
BOŞA ÇIKMA İHTİMALİ
Fenerbahçe'nin, Beto'dan vazgeçmediği belirtildi. 1.94 boyundaki futbolcunun mukavelesi 30 Haziran 2027'de bitiyor. Yani 2026 yazında kontratının son senesine girecek. Gine-Bissaulu futbolcu, kendisine yapılan yeni sözleşme tekliflerini geri çevirdi. Everton onu yazın satmazsa, önümüzdeki sezonun ardından oyuncu boşa çıkacak.
UYGUN BİR BEDELLE
Fenerbahçe'nin de bu durumu değerlendirerek, uygun bir bonservis bedeliyle işi bitirmeye çalışacağı konuşuluyor. Beto'nun son dönemdeki performansı da yükseldi. Yıldız isim, son 3 Premier Lig sınavında rakip ağları 4 kez salladı:
Fenerbahçe'nin forvet adayları arasında bulunan Tolu Arokodare'nın, West Ham yenilgisinin ardından takım arkadaşı Mateus Mane ile soyunma odasında kavga ettiği ortaya çıktı. Wolverhampton, Nijeryalı futbolcuyu satış listesine koydu.
Önümüzdeki sezon Championship'te mücadele etmeye hazırlanan Wolverhampton'da işler iyice karıştı. Nijeryalı forvet Tolu Arokodare'nin, West Ham yenilgisi sonrasında soyunma odasında takım arkadaşı Mateus Mane'ye saldırdığı belirtildi. 25 yaşındaki futbolcu bir türlü sakinleştirilemedi.
26 MİLYON EURO ÖDEDİLER
Bu gelişme üzerine Wolverhampton Yönetimi, onu satış listesine koydu. 1.97 boyundaki santrfor, Fenerbahçe'nin de forvet adayları arasında bulunuyor. İngiliz ekibi, oyuncuyu bu sezon başında Genk Kulübü'nden transfer etmişti. 26 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödediler. Tolu Arokodare, Premier Lig'de 28 maça çıktı. Sahada 1.256 dakika kaldı. 3 gol ve 1 asist üretti.
HAYLİ YÜKSEK OLACAK
Wolverhampton Yönetimi, Nijeryalı futbolcuyu 26 milyon eurodan daha düşük bir bedel karşılığında bırakmaya hazır. Kavga olayı sonrasında ayrılık da kolaylaştı. Fenerbahçe'nin santrforda alternatifleri mevcut. Fakat Tolu Arokodare'ye giderlerse, oyuncu alma ihtimalleri hayli yüksek olacak.
Çağlar Söyüncü'nün Fenerbahçe'yle mukavelesi 30 Haziran 2027 tarihinde bitecek. Oyuncu satış listesinde. Ancak aldığı maaşı karşılamayı kabul edecek bir takım çıkacak mı, bilinmiyor...
Fenerbahçe'ye geldiği günden beri tartışmaların merkezinde bulunan Çağlar Söyüncü'nün sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2027'de bitecek. Yani önümüzdeki sezonun ardından boşa çıkacak. 29 yaşındaki stoper satış listesinde. Yönetimin, muhtemel bonservis teklifleri konusunda gerekli tüm kolaylığı sağlaması bekleniyor.
HER ŞEY DAHİL
Ancak ortada başka bir sorun var: Oyuncunun senelik maaşı... "capology" sitesinin verilerine göre; Çağlar, Sarı-Lacivertli ekipten her şey dahil senelik 3.1 milyon euro ücret alıyor... 1.85 boyundaki savunmacıyı bir Avrupa ekibi isterse, vergiler sebebiyle oyuncuya inanılmaz bir maaş ödemek zorunda kalacak.
HENÜZ TEKLİF YOK
Bu riski göze alacak bir talip çıkacak mı, henüz bilinmiyor. Suudi Arabistan pazarı bu konuda daha rahat. Ancak şu ana kadar Çağlar Söyüncü için hiçbir resmi teklif yapılmadı. Eğer Fenerbahçe'de kalırsa, önümüzdeki sezon da doğal olarak maaşını alacak. Ardından da kulübe bedelsiz olarak veda edecek.
Futbol üzrə İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının 33-cü turunda “Everton”u 2:1 hesabı ilə məğlub etmiş “Liverpul” tarixi nailiyyətə imza atıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Mersisayd təmsilçisi turnir tarixində 60 fərqli stadionda qələbə qazanmış ilk komanda olub.
“Hill Dikinson” stadionunda baş tutmuş Mersisayd derbisində qazanılmış bu uğurdan sonra “qırmızılar” xallarının sayını 55-ə çatdıraraq turnir cədvəlinin 5-ci pilləsində qərarlaşıblar. 47 xalı olan “Everton” isə onuncudur.
Xatırladaq ki, “Liverpul” ötən mövsüm İngiltərə çempionu olsa da, cari mövsümdə qeyri-sabit çıxışı ilə diqqət mərkəzindədir. Arne Slotun rəhbərlik etdiyi komanda keçirdiyi 33 oyunda 16 qələbə qazanıb, 7 heç-heçə edib, 10 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb. Rəqib qapılarından 54 top keçirmiş “qırmızılar” 43 qol buraxıblar.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan Kubokunda 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün yarımfinal mərhələsinin cavab oyunlarının təyinatları açıqlanıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının (PFL) rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.
Qeyd edək ki, Azərbaycan Kubokunda yarımfinalın cavab görüşləri aprelin 21-də və 22-də keçiriləcək. “Zirə” “Turan Tovuz”u, “Sabah” “Qarabağ”ı qəbul edəcək.
Azərbaycan Kuboku Yarımfinalın cavab oyunları 21 aprel
“Zirə” – “Turan Tovuz” Hakimlər: Əli Əliyev, Namiq Hüseynov, Rahil Ramazanov, Rəşad Əhmədov. VAR: Rauf Cabbarov. AVAR: Elşad Abdullayev. Hakim-inspektor: Şahin Cəfərov. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Seymur Səlimli. Zirə İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 19:00. İlk oyun – 2:0.
22 aprel
“Sabah” – “Qarabağ” Hakimlər: Rəvan Həmzəzadə, Cəmil Quliyev, Şirmamed Mamedov, Kamal Umudlu. VAR: Kamranbəy Rəhimov. AVAR: Rəhman İmami. Hakim-inspektor: Rəhim Həsənov. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Eldəniz Musayev. “Masazır Arena”, 20:00. İlk oyun – 2:2.
Belçika Kumar Komisyonu'nun Eden Hazard'ın lisansı olmayan (yasa dışı) küresel kripto tabanlı çevrimiçi bahis ve kumar sitesi ile bağlantılı tanıtım faaliyetlerini incelediği haberi ortaya çıktığında, ilk bakışta bu yine tanıdık bir hikaye gibi göründü.
Bir dönem NBA'de aynı takımlar yıllarca şampiyon olurdu. Artık her sezon farklı bir isim kupayı kaldırıyor — üst üste yedi yıldır. Buna "parity" diyorlar: ligin bu denli dengeli olduğu, tek bir takımın hükmedemediği dönem. Ve bu dönem kural değişiklikleriyle bilinçli olarak yaratıldı.
Dünya Kupası tarihinde önemli bir değişiklik yapılacak. FIFA, 2026 finalinde maçın devre arasında müzik şovu düzenleneceğini açıkladı. Daha önce sadece açılış ve kapanış seremonileriyle sınırlı kalan eğlence unsurları, ilk kez maçın içine dahil edilecek. Bu karar, futbolun formatının değişmeye başladığını gösteriyor.
2026 Dünya Kupası öncesinde en dikkat çeken gelişmelerden biri İran milli takımının turnuvaya katılımı oldu. FIFA Başkanı Gianni Infantino, İran'ın turnuvada yer alacağını net şekilde açıklasa da, ABD ile İran arasındaki siyasi gerilim bu süreci belirsiz hale getiriyor. Özellikle iki ülke arasındaki ateşkesin sona erme ihtimali, turnuvaya katılımı doğrudan etkileyebilir. Bu nedenle İran konusu sadece spor değil, aynı zamanda uluslararası bir kriz başlığı haline gelmiş durumda.
Liverpool'da yeni sözleşme haberleri gündeme gelen Dominik Szoboszlai, bu konuda gerçekçi bir ilerleme olmadığını ancak Liverpool'da mutlu olduğunu söyledi.
Galatasaray, mevcut stadyumunun yanı başına yapılacak olan 'Aslantepe Kapalı Spor Salonları ve Kamp Tesisi' için temel atma merasimi 23 Nisan Perşembe günü yapılacak.
Romanya Futbol Federasyonu, geçtiğimiz günlerde vefat eden Romanya Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Mircea Lucescu'nun yerine göreve Gheorghe Hagi'yi getirdi.
Golden State Warriors oyuncusu Kristaps Porzingis, takımının Play-In turnuvasında elenmesinden memnun olmasa da sezonun son bölümünde sergilediği performanstan olumlu çıkarımlar yaptığını ifade etti.
Portland Trail Blazers, geçici başantrenör Tiago Splitter yönetiminde beş yıl sonra ilk kez playofflara kalmasına rağmen yeni bir teknik direktör arayışına girebilir.
Milli futbolcu Merih Demiral'ın formasını giydiği Al-Ahli, AFC Şampiyonlar Ligi yarı finalinde TSİ 19.15'te Japon temsilcisi Vissel Kobe ile karşılaşacak.
NBA yıldızları Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic ve Victor Wembanyama, 2025-26 sezonu NBA En Değerli Oyuncu (MVP) ödülünün resmi finalistleri olarak açıklandı.
Crypto investment products recorded $1.4 billion in inflows last week as Bitcoin almost touched $78,000, with assets under management rising to $154.8 billion.
BIS general manager Pablo Hernández de Cos says US dollar stablecoins could pose risks to financial stability and urges stronger global coordination on regulation.
You’ve audited your client’s website and compiled performance data. You’ve identified what’s working, what can be improved, and your recommendations for future strategies. But how do you turn that data into a presentation that’s easy to explain and builds trust?
Start with stories. Storytelling isn’t just for entertainment. It’s how people make sense of information. That’s what makes it so effective for data presentation.
One of the simplest ways to structure that story is the three-act structure. It’s a familiar framework used everywhere, from Aristotle’s Poetics to Star Wars.
What is the three-act structure?
The three-act structure is a simple framework that shows how a story moves from beginning to middle to end. It shows how a protagonist moves from their starting point to a meaningful change.
Applied to data storytelling, it helps you organize your insights, position your client as the main character (the protagonist), and clearly show what happens next.
While similar to the five-point narrative arc, this framework is organized into three manageable sections: what the story is about, what happens when the main character is introduced to conflict, and how that conflict is resolved.
This is where the protagonist’s norm and conflict — the issue the main character is meant to face, also known as the antagonist — are established. The protagonist wants something, and the conflict is holding them back from what they want.
An event or circumstance occurs that incites the protagonist into action. The background is established, the goals are defined, and the audience is invested in the protagonist’s success.
Act 2: The middle
The story is developed, and tension builds. The protagonist experiences roadblocks caused by the conflict/antagonist that hinder them from their ultimate goal. Conflict arises until it can no longer be ignored, causing a pivotal moment that leads into the final act.
Act 3: The end
The narrative is affected by the change in Act 2, bringing the story to a final showdown between the protagonist and the conflict/antagonist, ultimately resulting in a resolution. The protagonist may find closure or know what path lies ahead (this may set the stage for a sequel).
The three-act structure helps you understand website data on a deeper level. It also prepares the data to be presented to your client in a way that places them at the center of the story.
Using the three-act structure to identify your data’s narrative
Why bother using the three-act structure as a framework for strategy analysis? It builds trust, showing your client that you’re going on a journey alongside them.
You and your client are on the same team, with the same destination in mind: their success, even if the data isn’t communicating immediate results.
The application of the three-act structure to data storytelling happens in three steps.
Step 1: Briefly recap the existing strategies, establish previous wins, and identify the challenge currently affecting performance. This sets the baseline of Act 1.
Step 2: Explain the roadblocks and how they stand in the way of the overall strategy’s success. This parallels the growing conflict found in the structure’s Act 2.
Step 3: Recommend the next steps and how you plan to address the conflict. Show what success looks like by providing examples of how your recommendations fit the narrative of your client’s goals. This is Act 3, the resolution of the structure.
Where is your client’s story in the three-act structure?
Your client is the protagonist of their story. To work more effectively together, you need to communicate to your client that you’re invested in the story of their success.
At the heart of each data set is the story of how your client is impacted. When you communicate what the data is saying, position yourself as the guide who helps the main character get where they need to go.
An example of applying the three-act structure framework to data analysis and presenting the data’s narrative would look like this:
Act
Goal
Scenario
Approach
1
Set the stage, center your client as the protagonist while introducing the challenge as the antagonist.
Your client’s website has received a substantial increase in organic traffic as a result of your most recent strategy, but is experiencing a high bounce rate on select pages.
Recap the strategy that led to the traffic increase and summarize the outcome from a high-level perspective.
2
Identify the conflict, potential roadblocks, and related stakes.
The high bounce rate is preventing your website from experiencing consistent traffic flow.
Explain why a high bounce rate is detrimental to overall performance, and connect the affected pages to the overall strategy.
3
Recommend strategies and outline next steps.
Your client’s high bounce rate indicates low page speed due to large images that take a long time to load.
Help the client visualize how best practices lead to better outcomes. Recommend image compression as a next step.
The conclusion doesn’t always mean the end of the story
Finding the story in your data — and communicating it clearly — is how you build trust with clients.
Clients don’t want industry jargon. They want to feel seen, understood, and that they’ve entrusted their digital marketing success to the right person. Stories, and the connections they form, get them there.
Reaching the conclusion of your data’s narrative isn’t the end, but the beginning: the start of strategy implementation, of collaborative partnerships, and of greater results.
When looking at data, you and your client are on a journey together. A downward trend in your data doesn’t mean your story is over, and an upward trend doesn’t mean there’s no hope for a sequel. In either case, a new journey (your next strategy) can begin.
AI has quickly become the most overconfident line item in the modern marketing roadmap.
Budgets are shifting. Teams are being restructured. Vendors are being evaluated almost exclusively through the lens of how “AI-powered” they appear. There is a growing assumption that once the right models are in place, performance will follow. Better targeting. Smarter segmentation. Higher conversion. More efficient spend.
It sounds almost inevitable.
But there is a quieter reality beneath the momentum. One that rarely makes it into boardroom conversations or conference keynotes.
Most organizations are not struggling to use AI. They are struggling to feed it.
And what they are feeding it is far less reliable than they think.
The uncomfortable truth about inputs
AI does not create truth. It scales whatever it is given.
If the underlying data is fragmented, outdated or manipulated, the model does not correct it. It operationalizes it. At speed. At scale. With confidence.
This is where the gap begins.
Marketers have spent years investing in data infrastructure, pipelines and orchestration layers. On paper, the foundation looks strong. There is more data available than ever before. There are more signals, more touchpoints, more attributes tied to every customer.
The assumption is that this abundance translates into readiness. But volume is not the same as validity.
A customer profile built from five disconnected identifiers is not a unified identity. An email address that exists in a CRM is not necessarily active, reachable or even tied to a real person. Engagement signals that appear recent may be the result of automated activity, privacy shielding or bot interaction.
AI models are not designed to question these inputs. They are designed to find patterns within them.
So, when the inputs are flawed, the outputs become convincingly wrong.
Identity is the fault line
At the center of this problem is identity.
Every AI-driven use case in marketing depends on the assumption that you know who you are analyzing, targeting or predicting. Whether it is propensity modeling, churn prediction, audience creation or personalization, identity is the anchor.
Yet identity remains one of the least stable components of the data stack.
Consumers move across devices, channels and environments constantly. They use different email addresses. They share accounts. They create new profiles. They disengage and re-engage in ways that are difficult to track cleanly. Over time, what appears to be a single customer often becomes a composite of partial truths.
Even within authenticated environments, identity degrades. Touchpoints go inactive. Behavioral signals lose relevance. Records persist long after the underlying reality has shifted.
Most systems are not built to continuously reconcile these changes. They capture identity at a moment in time and treat it as durable.
And AI inherits that assumption.
Which means many models are making decisions based on identities that no longer exist in the way they are represented.
The hidden impact of fraud and synthetic activity
Another layer omplicates the picture further. Not all data is simply outdated. Some of it is intentionally misleading.
Fraud is evolving alongside marketing technology. The barriers to creating accounts, generating engagement, or exploiting promotional systems have decreased significantly. Automated tools and AI itself have made it easier to simulate legitimate behavior at scale.
Fake accounts are not always obvious. They can pass basic validation checks. They can engage with content. They can move through funnels in ways that resemble real users.
From a model’s perspective, they are indistinguishable unless additional context is applied.
This creates a subtle but meaningful distortion.
Acquisition models begin to optimize toward patterns that include fraudulent behavior. Lifecycle strategies adapt to engagement that is not human. Performance metrics improve on the surface while underlying efficiency erodes.
The result is a feedback loop where AI reinforces the very issues it should be helping to solve.
And because the outputs look sophisticated, the problem becomes harder to detect.
Why traditional data strategies fall short
Most organizations are aware that data quality matters. Significant effort goes into cleansing, deduplication and normalization. Records are standardized. Fields are filled. Duplicates are merged.
These steps are necessary, but they are not sufficient. Clean data is not the same as accurate data.
A perfectly formatted email address can still be inactive. A deduplicated profile can still represent multiple individuals. A normalized dataset can still be missing critical context about behavior, risk or authenticity.
Traditional data practices tend to focus on structure. AI requires substance.
It requires an understanding of whether an identity is real, whether it is active, whether it is behaving in ways that align with genuine consumer patterns.
Without that layer, even the most sophisticated models are operating on incomplete information.
The illusion of readiness
This is how the mirage takes shape.
Dashboards show high match rates. Databases contain millions of records. Models produce outputs that appear precise. Campaigns are executed with increasing automation.
From the outside, it looks like progress.
But underneath, there are unresolved questions.
How many of those identities are actually reachable today?
How many represent real individuals versus synthetic or low-quality accounts?
How often are behavioral signals refreshed and validated?
How much of the model’s learning is influenced by noise?
These are no longer rare. They are foundational.
And yet they are often overlooked because they sit below the level where most AI initiatives begin.
A different way to think about AI readiness
True AI readiness does not start with model selection. It starts with input integrity.
It requires a shift in focus from how much data you have to how much of it you can trust.
That trust is built on a few critical dimensions.
First, identity accuracy. Not just the ability to match records, but to ensure that those records reflect real, current individuals. This includes understanding when identities change, when they become inactive and when they should no longer be used as the basis for decisioning.
Second, activity validation. Knowing that a signal occurred is not enough. You need confidence that it represents meaningful human behavior. This is where distinguishing between genuine engagement and automated or manipulated activity becomes essential.
Third, risk awareness. Every dataset contains some level of fraud or abuse. The question is whether it is visible and accounted for. Without that visibility, models will absorb and propagate those patterns.
When these elements are in place, AI begins to operate on a different plane. Predictions become more reliable. Segments become more actionable. Optimization aligns more closely with real outcomes.
Where this creates advantage
Organizations that address these foundational issues are creating a structural advantage.
They are able to suppress low-value or risky identities before they enter the modeling process. They can prioritize outreach to individuals who are both reachable and likely to engage. They can detect and mitigate fraudulent behavior before it distorts performance metrics.
Over time, this compounds.
Models trained on higher-quality inputs learn faster and generalize better. Campaigns become more efficient. Measurement becomes more trustworthy.
Perhaps most importantly, decision-making becomes more grounded in reality.
This is where AI begins to deliver on its promise.
The path forward
There is no question that AI will continue to reshape marketing. The capabilities are real, and the pace of innovation is not slowing down.
But the idea that AI alone will solve underlying data challenges is a misconception. If anything, it raises the stakes.
Because AI does not just expose weaknesses in your data. It amplifies them.
The organizations that recognize this early are taking a more deliberate approach. They are investing in understanding their identity layer. They are prioritizing the validation of activity and the detection of risk. They are treating data not as a static asset, but as a dynamic system that requires continuous refinement.
They are not asking, “How do we apply AI to our data?”
They are asking, “Is our data worthy of AI?”
It is a more difficult question. It requires a deeper level of introspection. It challenges assumptions that have been in place for years.
But it is also the question that separates real readiness from the illusion of it.
And in a landscape where everyone is accelerating toward AI, clarity at the foundation is what ultimately determines who moves forward, and who simply moves faster in the wrong direction.
Bitcoin fell below $74,000 after weekend gains faded, following rising US-Iran tensions after a reported cargo ship seizure and retaliation threats. The price is now moving between key levels, with $74,000 as support and $76,000–$77,000 as resistance, while traders also watch a possible CME gap and liquidity zones. Sentiment remains divided between bullish continuation and deeper pullback, as geopolitical risks and high leverage continue to drive short-term volatility in the market.
A user on X posted what appears to be a demonstration of buying XRP directly inside WhatsApp using a Solana-based AI agent, and the post has turned heads, including a reaction from Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko.
The user, posting under the handle nxxn, shared what they described as a swap of 0.1 SOL for 5.99 wXRP executed entirely within the WhatsApp messaging app. The instruction given to the bot was straightforward: “buy 0.1 SOL worth of wXRP.”
“I just bought XRP on Solana through WhatsApp,” the user wrote. “Solana is officially ready for boomers.”
The swap was reportedly carried out through @solanaclawagent, an AI-powered trading agent that appears to have integrated with WhatsApp as a conversational interface for on-chain activity.
Yakovenko’s response to the post gave it visibility well beyond what a typical product experiment would receive. When one of the architects of the Solana blockchain publicly acknowledges a use case, the community treats it as a signal of legitimacy rather than a novelty.
For the unversed, Hex Trust and LayerZero launched wrapped XRP on the Solana blockchain in December 2025 with over $100 million in liquidity. Adoption since then has been more measured than some expected, with the majority of wrapped XRP supply still sitting on Ethereum rather than migrating to Solana’s higher-throughput ecosystem.
The demo touches on something the crypto industry has discussed for years without delivering: making on-chain transactions accessible through interfaces that mainstream users already use daily. A WhatsApp interface for executing swaps could change that dynamic by reaching users who would never navigate a traditional DeFi front end.
Community reaction ranged from genuine excitement to playful scepticism. Whether the integration scales beyond a demo or remains a proof of concept is unclear.
The CLARITY Act has more institutional support behind it than at any point in its history.
The White House is pushing hard. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who blocked it twice, now backs it. Senator Lummis calls it now or never. And across crypto Twitter, the narrative that Trump will sign it soon is spreading fast.
But spend time in the Reddit threads and X reply sections where real XRP holders are actually talking, and you find something more complicated. Three distinct camps have formed.
The structural believers who think legal permanence changes everything for institutional adoption. The sell-the-news traders who think the market has already moved and late buyers will get burned.
And the exhausted long-term holders who have watched every catalyst produce a brief pop and then fade, and are not sure this one will be any different.
We went across Reddit and Twitter to find out what real XRP traders and investors are actually saying.
What Happens to XRP the Day the CLARITY Act Becomes Law
The structural case for the CLARITY Act is specific and it is strong.
Right now, XRP’s commodity classification is a regulatory opinion jointly issued by the SEC and CFTC in March. A future administration could reverse it without a single vote in Congress. Banks and asset managers with serious compliance obligations know this, and their legal teams will not greenlight large XRP allocations on the basis of guidance that could be undone.
The CLARITY Act converts that opinion into permanent federal statute.
The capital implications are significant. Standard Chartered projects $4 to $8 billion in XRP ETF inflows if the bill passes.
A banking industry professional on Reddit this week explained the mechanism: “Banks have a strong aversion to risk with large legal departments. Once there is codified legal clarity banks can begin adoption. It may not happen as a surge – it might be a slow trickle.”
Institutional adoption driven by legal permanence is structural. It does not arrive in one day and it does not get priced in overnight.
The CLARITY Act Has Not Even Had a Committee Vote Yet
Before the optimism runs too far ahead, the procedural reality deserves a clear read.
The CLARITY Act markup is targeted for late April but has not been formally scheduled. The bill still needs a Senate Banking Committee markup, a 60-vote Senate floor vote, reconciliation with the House version, and presidential signature. Four steps remain.
Realistically the earliest Trump signs anything is summer. Polymarket currently prices 2026 passage at 50%, down from 82% in February.
Senator Cynthia Lummis said it plainly:“This is our last chance to pass the Clarity Act until at least 2030.”
The Community Has Heard This Before
The skeptics are not arguing the bill is bad for XRP. They are arguing the market has already moved on the expectation of it passing, and that the actual vote will be the moment long-term holders finally exit.
The Bitcoin ETF comparison is everywhere in community threads. BTC ran 164% on ETF rumours. Then flatlined after approval. The traders who won were positioned before the confirmation, not after it.
The exhausted holders are a third camp entirely. These are people who bought at $0.28, held through the SEC lawsuit, watched XRP hit $3.65 in July 2025, and have since watched it drift back below $1.50 despite a string of genuine regulatory wins.
Garlinghouse has reportedly moved his CLARITY Act deadline three times. February he said 80% odds by end of April. April is about to end, and the markup has not been scheduled. The community has learned to discount every deadline.
“Nothing happens. Nothing ever happens to XRP except it drops,” reads one widely upvoted comment this week. It was not posted by someone who has given up on XRP. It was posted by someone who has been holding for years and is tired of being told the moment is finally here.
The bill has never had more support. The community has never been more worn down. In crypto, those two things have a habit of arriving at exactly the same time.
Coinbase has launched crypto-backed USDC loans for UK users, powered by the Morpho protocol on Base. The feature lets users borrow USDC against BTC, ETH, and cbETH, with limits up to $5M for Bitcoin and $1M for Ethereum. Loans have flexible repayment with no fixed schedules, but require monitoring of loan-to-value ratios to avoid liquidation risk. The move expands Coinbase’s 2025 US rollout, blending DeFi infrastructure with regulated access, aiming to boost liquidity while highlighting volatility and collateral risks.
Aave price has stabilized after its recent shock, but the real problem may still be unresolved. While price has attempted a recovery, deeper signals suggest the market is still dealing with the aftermath, not moving past it. The key question now isn’t just whether AAVE can bounce but who ultimately bears the brunt of the damage and whether this recovery can hold.
Exchange Inflows Spike — Are Holders Preparing to Exit?
AAVE is seeing a sharp surge in exchange inflows, with data showing nearly $21 million in tokens moving to Binance. This shift is significant, especially coming right after a period of heightened volatility. Exchange inflows typically rise when holders prepare to sell, and the timing suggests that participants may be positioning for exits rather than accumulation.
Souce: Cryptoquant
What makes this more notable is the behavior change. Earlier phases of the decline saw relatively muted inflows, indicating a willingness to hold through uncertainty. Now, that pattern appears to be shifting. While inflows alone don’t confirm immediate selling, they often act as a leading signal — particularly when they appear during weak recovery attempts. This raises a key risk: the recent bounce could be facing overhead supply waiting to be offloaded.
Weak Reclaim Raises Bull Trap Risk
AAVE’s recent price action adds to this concern. The bounce attempted to reclaim the $100 level but failed to hold, with the price quickly rejecting back below the resistance. This zone, which previously acted as support, is now functioning as supply—a classic role reversal that typically signals continued weakness.
The rejection was accompanied by a spike in volume, suggesting the move higher was met with active selling rather than sustained buying. Price is now hovering near the $90–$92 region, with $85.80 acting as the next key support. Momentum indicators reinforce this view. RSI remains below neutral, and MACD is already flattening after a brief bullish crossover, indicating that upside momentum is fading.
Key Levels to Watch
$100 — Immediate Resistance / Invalidation Level
$95 — First Reaction Zone
$88–$92 — Critical Support Zone
$85.8 — Breakdown Trigger
$80 — Next Downside Target
The Bottom Line: What Comes Next
AAVE is now at a decisive point. The $88–$92 range remains the immediate zone to watch. A break below this level could expose the $85 region, with further downside toward $80 if selling accelerates. On the upside, bulls need a strong reclaim of $100, followed by sustained acceptance above that level, to shift momentum and invalidate the current bearish structure.
Until then, the trend remains fragile. The bounce has not confirmed strength — it has only tested resistance. The initial shock may be over, but the market is still adjusting to its consequences. Exchange inflows suggest potential sell pressure, while price action shows that buyers have yet to regain control. This leaves AAVE in a transition phase — caught between recovery and continuation.
Access to liquidity has become a core part of crypto portfolio management, and speed has become a defining factor. Markets move continuously, and access to liquidity often determines whether an opportunity is captured or missed.
Borrowing against crypto has evolved to match that pace. What used to take hours—or even days—on traditional platforms is now executed in minutes, sometimes seconds. But “instant” in this context does not mean fast payouts; it reflects a different loan structure altogether.
How to Borrow Against Crypto Instantly
Borrowing against crypto has split into two distinct models: traditional loans and crypto credit lines.
A traditional crypto loan works like a bank loan. You choose an amount, submit a request, wait for approval, receive funds, and start paying interest on the full balance. Even if you do not use all the capital, the cost begins immediately.
A crypto credit line works differently. Instead of borrowing once, you unlock a revolving limit backed by your collateral. You can draw funds at any time, repay partially or fully, and reuse the same limit again. Interest applies only to the amount actually used, while unused credit remains free.
This is the model used by Clapp.finance, a regulated crypto investment platform that offers a flexible credit line, allowing users to access their available limit at any time once collateral is deposited. It supports multi-collateral lending, which means you can borrow fiat against BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and more than 19 cryptocurrencies within a single account.
Once the credit line is set up, there is no need to reapply. Liquidity is continuously available, which is what makes borrowing effectively instant.
How Borrowing Against Crypto Works
The flow is straightforward but important to understand precisely.
Step 1: Lock Collateral
You deposit assets such as BTC or ETH into the platform. These assets remain yours but are locked as collateral.
Step 2: Receive a Credit Limit
The platform assigns a borrowing capacity based on a loan-to-value ratio (LTV). For example, depositing $10,000 in BTC might unlock a $2,000–$5,000 credit line depending on risk parameters.
Step 3: Withdraw Funds Instantly
Once the credit line is active, you can draw funds at any time—without reapplying or waiting.
On platforms like Clapp, this process is designed as a continuous system:
Repaid amounts restore available credit immediately
This is what makes the experience instant. The loan is effectively pre-approved at all times.
Continuous Liquidity Instead of One-Time Borrowing
The impact of this structure becomes clear once it is used. A user depositing BTC worth $20,000 may receive a credit line of $6,000. Instead of withdrawing the full amount, they can draw only what is needed—say $1,000—while the rest remains untouched and free of cost.
If part of the borrowed amount is repaid, the available limit increases again. No reapplication is required. The cycle continues as long as the collateral remains in place.
Risks That Come With Speed
Instant borrowing simplifies access, but it does not reduce risk. It shifts responsibility to the user.
Loan-to-value remains the central factor. Higher LTV increases exposure to liquidation if the market drops, while lower LTV provides a buffer.
Market volatility also plays a direct role. Crypto prices can move sharply, affecting collateral value and borrowing capacity in real time.
Cost structure is another variable. Some platforms still apply interest to the full loan amount or rely on tiered systems. In a credit line model, efficiency comes from paying only for what is used and avoiding costs on idle capital.
Where Instant Crypto Loans Fit
This model is increasingly used for:
Liquidity without selling — access cash while keeping BTC exposure
Trading strategies — deploy capital quickly without exiting positions
Short-term cash needs — avoid liquidation of long-term holdings
Portfolio optimization — use idle assets as collateral
It aligns with how crypto portfolios are managed today: dynamically, across multiple use cases.
The Bottom Line
Borrowing against crypto instantly is not just about faster loans. It reflects a structural shift from fixed borrowing to continuous access to liquidity.
The key components are:
Collateral-backed credit limits
No approval delays
Pay-as-you-use interest
24/7 withdrawals
Clapp exemplifies this model through its credit line structure, where liquidity is always available, and borrowing becomes an ongoing capability rather than a one-time event.
For users, the decision is less about speed and more about structure. Instant access is only valuable if it remains efficient, predictable, and under your control.
The altcoin market is once again making headlines, with analysts split between collapse and comeback narratives. According to Michaël van de Poppe, the current shakeout is not only expected, but it’s also necessary.
“I think that it’s fully deserved that 99% of the altcoins are going to zero,” he said, drawing parallels to the Dot-com bubble, where most projects failed but laid the foundation for stronger innovation later.
Despite the harsh outlook, he remains highly positive: “There’s not been a moment… where I’ve been so bullish about the future of crypto.”
“99% Will Die — But That’s the Point.”
He says altcoins are quietly gaining strength, with “great momentum” lately as macro stays supportive, low VIX, strong equities, and Bitcoin holding up. He points to Arbitrum as a buy-the-dip setup, eyeing $0.16 if it pulls back. Overall, he compares this phase to early 2020, with signs like rising volume, bullish divergence, and key levels being reclaimed, usually a setup before a bigger rally.
His Altcoin Take
Bitcoin: expects more upside, eyeing new highs near $77K
Ethereum: still in a bull trend, “buy the dip” unless it loses key levels
Aave / DeFi: short-term pain from the KelpDAO hack, but stronger long-term
Overall, he is not bullish on all alts, just the strong ones like BTC, ETH, and major DeFi players.
Base Formation Before the Next Move
According to him, markets are currently in a base-building phase following the Q4 2025 capitulation. This phase typically lasts 2–4 months before a breakout. He also noted that Bitcoin itself has been building a base for about 2.5 months, suggesting the market may be nearing a transition point.
Historically, once breakouts begin, altcoins can deliver sharp moves, often ranging between 150% and 400% from their lows.
Good time to buy altcoins?
Not all analysts agree on jumping in now. Our Crypto Talk argues it’s still too early, saying “the simple answer is NO” when asked if it’s time to buy altcoins. Their framework is clear: a true altseason only begins when price moves above the 20 SMA and the 20 SMA crosses above the 50 SMA.
Right now, both conditions are missing, with Bitcoin still below key averages and dominance sitting around 57%. In their view, this is a “red zone” where markets tend to bleed rather than rally, meaning patience and waiting for structure confirmation is key.
Meanwhile, analyst Ted Pillows warns that rising Bitcoin dominance is “not a good sign for alts.”
For now, the market sits in a split phase, where weak projects continue fading, but stronger altcoins may be quietly preparing for the next big move.
BNB price has once again entered a “boring zone”- a phase where price slows down and momentum fades, but this is exactly where its biggest rallies have started in the past. Currently trading near the $630 level, BNB is moving sideways after a correction, showing stability rather than weakness. At the same time, supply is tightening following a $1 billion token burn, while on-chain data points to continued accumulation.
In previous cycles, similar phases have preceded sharp upside expansions, making the current setup critical. The key question now is whether this quiet consolidation is once again setting the stage for a breakout toward $900, or if BNB price will remain stuck in this range.
Analyst Insight: Why This ‘Boring Zone’ Matters for BNB
A recent analysis from crypto analyst highlights a pattern that many traders often overlook. In the previous cycle, BNB price moved sideways for a long period before suddenly rallying over 1,444%, a move that began when market interest was still low.
The idea is simple. During these quiet phases, price does not move much, which makes it look weak. But in reality, this is where buying happens slowly in the background, while sellers get exhausted. Analyst shows a similar structure forming again. BNB is currently trading in a tight range around $600–$650, holding support and showing no major breakdown despite low momentum.
This type of setup usually means the market is building a base, not topping out. Once enough supply is absorbed, price tends to move sharply as demand returns. In that context, the current “boring zone” is not a sign of weakness, it may be the phase where BNB prepares for its next strong move, just like it did in the past cycle.
BNB Supply Dynamics Strengthen: Burn and Outflows Support the Base
BNB’s ability to hold firmly near the $600 support zone is being reinforced by underlying supply trends. The network recently completed its 35th quarterly burn, removing around 1.57 million BNB worth over $1 billion from circulation. This has reduced total supply to nearly 134.79 million BNB, continuing its long-term deflationary path toward 100 million tokens.
At the same time, on-chain data shows consistent negative spot netflows, meaning more BNB is being withdrawn from exchanges than deposited. This typically reflects investor accumulation, as assets are moved into holding rather than being prepared for selling.
Even during recent consolidation, outflows have remained steady, indicating that buyers are actively absorbing supply rather than exiting positions. Together, these dynamics, shrinking supply and reduced exchange liquidity, help explain why BNB continues to hold its base, while also supporting the case for a stronger move once demand returns.
Key Levels to Watch: Structure Holds, Breakout Zone Near
BNB price continues to trade within a tight $600–$650 consolidation range, holding firm above its key demand zone while volatility remains compressed. The price action suggests a base formation, where downside attempts are being absorbed and buyers are gradually stepping in.
On the upside, a move above $700 would signal early strength, while a confirmed breakout above $740 could accelerate momentum toward $850–$900. On the downside, the $600 level remains critical. A breakdown below this zone would weaken the structure and may push price back toward the $560–$520 range, delaying any bullish continuation.
With this setup, BNB price can remain range-bound in the near term, but a breakout above resistance is likely to trigger a stronger upside move if momentum follows through.
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned over the rapid growth of US dollar-backed stablecoins, raising concerns about liquidity stress and systemic risk. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC remain near $1, but their rapid growth and structural risks are driving policy concern.
This indicates rising pressure for stricter global regulation as stablecoins move closer to mainstream finance.
Stablecoins Growing Faster Than Regulation
Speaking in April 2026 in Tokyo, BIS General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos said these digital tokens could have “material consequences” for financial stability if they grow large enough to compete with traditional money.
Stablecoins like USDT and USDC have become widely used for payments, trading, and cross-border transfers. Their appeal lies in speed and ease of use.
He noted that while stablecoins offer innovation, they still fall short as a true form of money. Instead, he said they behave more like financial products.
“In this respect, they currently operate more like exchange-traded funds than like money.”
This means their value can sometimes move away from $1, especially during market stress, raising concerns for users.
G20 central bankers are pushing for urgent regulatory action as they warn dollar-pegged stablecoins could destabilize emerging economies. These assets risk accelerating uncontrolled dollarization and providing new channels for criminal activity across global markets. pic.twitter.com/mYuuXZaBJM
One of the biggest warnings from BIS is about sudden withdrawals.
Stablecoin issuers hold reserves in short-term government bonds and bank deposits. If users rush to withdraw funds during a crisis, issuers may be forced to sell these assets quickly. This could create pressure across financial markets and even affect banks.
De Cos warned that such “runs” could spread risk across the system.
“Runs on stablecoins could trigger market stress,” he said, adding that proper safeguards are still missing.
Concerns Around Regulation and Illicit Use
Another major issue is regulation.
Because many stablecoins operate on public blockchains and use private wallets, a large part of activity happens outside traditional monitoring systems. This creates challenges for anti-money laundering controls.
The BIS is now urging stronger global coordination to manage these risks and prevent misuse.
Europe and Global Regulators Step In
Governments are already responding. In Europe, officials are pushing for tighter rules on non-euro stablecoins. The European Central Bank has also raised concerns about liquidity risks.
In the UK, lawmakers have questioned whether stablecoins could drain bank deposits or trigger bank-like crises.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has started testing regulated stablecoins within controlled environments.
What Happens Next?
The next phase will likely bring tighter control. De Cos suggested that risks could be reduced if stablecoin issuers had access to systems like deposit insurance or central bank support.
He also pointed out that limiting interest payments on stablecoins could reduce their appeal compared to bank deposits.
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After months of waiting, all eight episodes of new crime drama Mint are streaming on BBC iPlayer — and it might be the best creative risk the service has ever taken.
“Real”ın baş məşqçisi Alvaro Arbeloa açıqlama verib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, İspaniya mətbuatına danışan mütəxəssis klubdakı gələcəyindən söz açıb:
“Real”da qalıb-qalmamağımla bağlı qərarı rəhbərlik verəcək. Mənim diqqətim oyunlardadır. Qarşıda 7 matç var və hər biri önəmlidir. Qalan məsələlər rəhbərliyin işidir”.
İspaniya mətbuatı Arbeloanın yaxın zamanda istefaya göndəriləcəyini iddia edir.
Komanda La Liqada ikinci sıradadır və lider “Barselona”dan 9 xal geri qalır.
“Kəpəz” Misli Premyer Liqasında ardıcıl üç oyundur, qələbə qazana bilmir. Azər Bağırovun yetirmələri “Qarabağ”a qalib gəldikdən sonra autsayder “Karvan-Yevlax”a, “Qəbələ”yə və “İmişli”yə minimal fərqlə məğlub olub.
Liqada qalmaq uğrunda əsas rəqiblərlə oyunlarda itirilən xallar komandada narahatlıq yarada bilər. “Kəpəz” üçün müsbət məqam odur ki, xal itirdiyi turda ən yaxın izləyicisi “Qəbələ” də xalsız qaldı. Bölgə təmsilçisi dünən “Sumqayıt”a qalib gəlsəydi, gəncəlilər bir pillə geriləyəcək və pley-off zonasına düşəcəkdi.
İkinci dövrədə ən çox xal toplayan “Kəpəz”in bu cür ani ani enişi gözlənilmirdi. Rəhbərliyin baş məşqçi Azər Bağırovla yayda vidalaşacağı xəbərlərinin çıxması da sanki nəticələrə təsirsiz ötüşmür. Bundan başqa, komandada sanki arxayınlıq yaranıb. “Turan Tovuz”la heç-heçə, “Qarabağ” üzərində qələbə “sarı-göylər”i necə eyforiyaya salıbsa, hələ çıxmaq mümkün olmayıb. İndiki məqamda məğlubiyyətlərə səbəb iki variant var: ya komanda hələ də eyforiyadadır, arxayınlıq yaranıb, ya da baş məşqçi ilə bağlı dolaşan söz-söhbətlər komandaya təsir edir.
Son turlarda autsayderlər zonasında qərarlaşan komandaların oyunlarına baxsaq, məhz ən zəif performansı “Kəpəz”in göstərdiyini demək olar. “Karvan-Yevlax” artırıb, ardıcıl iki qələbə… “Qəbələ” isə yaxşı oynayır, xal itirir. Komandanın oyunu ümid verir. “İmişli” ardıcıl iki qələbə ilə demək olar, liqadakı yerini təmin etdi.
“Kəpəz” isə bu fonda artıq narahat olmağa başlamalıdır. “Qəbələ” ilə xal fərqi iki, “Karvan-Yevlax”la isə yeddidir. Sonuncu yevlaxlılarla fərq böyükdür, ancaq pley-off riskindən yayınmaq üçün qarşıdakı turlarda xal ehtiyatını artırmaq vacibdir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, həlledici görüşdə “Alkmaar” və “Neymegen” komandaları üz-üzə gəlib. 6 qolun vurulduğu matç “Alkmaar”ın qələbəsiylə başa çatıb – 5:1.
“Alkmaar” kuboku qazanmaqla yeni mövsüm Avropa Liqasında iştirak hüququ əldə edib.
“Qalatasaray”ın futbolçusu Qabriel Sara yayda klubu tərk edə bilər.
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Bir qrup azərbaycanlı azarkeş ABŞ təmsilçisi “Kolumbus Kryu”da çıxış edən Nəriman Axundzadəyə tribunadan maraqlı təklif göndərib.
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Diego Coppola, Ciro Immobile and Luca Koleosho started in Paris FC’s win over Metz on Sunday, prompting the Parisiens’ coach, Antoine Kombouaré, to claim: ‘ There are more Italians here than there are Juventus or Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.’
Paris FC coach taunts the Azzurri: ‘There are more Italians here…’
Three Italian players, Coppola, Koloesho and Immobile started in Paris FC’s 3-1 away victory at Metz on Sunday.
Immobile and Coppola contributed to the victory with one assist each, while Koleosho, on loan from Burnley, has scored twice in 12 appearances since moving to Paris in the January window.
Official: Diego Coppola joins Paris FC from Brighton & Hove Albion (@Diegocoppolass via Instagram)
Paris FC’s coach Kombouaré sarcastically commented on his team’s victory, saying (via GFNF): “Today, there are more Italians playing for Paris FC than there are at Juventus or AC Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.”
Italy have not qualified for the World Cup for the third time in a row, making their last appearance in the competition in 2014.
FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY – OCTOBER 06: Antoine Kombouare, Head coach of FC Nantes reacts during the UEFA Europa League group G match between Sport-Club Freiburg and FC Nantes at Stadion am Wolfswinkel on October 06, 2022 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)
Furthermore, the Azzurri have not played in the knockout phase of the competition since 2006, when they went on to lift the cup after beating France on penalties in the final.
Les Blues have won the World Cup twice in their history, compared to Italy’s four, but have reached the Final in the last two editions.
Coach Antoine Kombouaré, en roue libre, en pleine forme avec ses trois italiens titulaires ! pic.twitter.com/WFKym1RocJ
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis insists Giovanni Malagò is the most-suited candidate to become the FIGC President and ‘rebuild’ Italian football, while Giancarlo Abete ‘is a dear friend, but is not a good fit.’
Malagò and Abete are expected to be the only two candidates at the FIGC Presidential election taking place on June 22, 2026.
Malagò, a former CONI President, is the candidate picked by Lega Serie A, and today representatives of clubs in Italy’s top flight will meet the 67-year-old to outline their project.
Abete, on the other hand, already served as the FIGC President from 2007 to 2014 and is backed by Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND), which accounts for 34% of the vote, compared to Serie A’s 18%.
Any candidate, however, needs to secure 51% of the vote to be elected, so Malagò and Abete need to win over other members of the voting panel to win the election.
Napoli President De Laurentiis once again backed Malagò just before the beginning of the Lega Serie A meeting in Milan today.
NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli President during the UEFA Champions League match between SCC Napoli and SC Braga at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
“I called Malagò, telling him to take charge of the situation because no one can do this better than him,” De Laurentiis said via TMW.
“He’s an entrepreneur and a sportsman with plenty of experience. The only flaw is that he’s in love with Roma, but we’ll put up with that, too,” he added, smiling.
“We are tired of being led by people who have institutional roles just for personal prestige. The most important thing in life is to work, but to do that, you need knowledge. Nobody more than an entrepreneur who does business can fix things that don’t work. From my perspective, Mr Malagò is welcome.
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Giancarlo Abete President of LND poses during the FIGC DCPS press conference at Europa Experience on December 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“Abete is a dear friend and a person I truly respect. His brother is a business partner in one of my companies, but he’s not a good fit for this job,” De Laurentiis continued.
“Perhaps, he’ll be upset, but we are accustomed to expressing our thoughts in a democracy, even if Italians, by nature, are cowards.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 15: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 delivers a speech during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games closing ceremony at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“We wait for Malagò and hope his ideas match ours. Football in Italy has to be rebuilt. They say I’m a visionary, but I came from the world of cinema in 2004, and I’ve been annoyingly saying since then that everything’s old and that kids wouldn’t watch matches anymore. But nobody is there to listen because everyone is just thinking about their seats.”
Dominik Szoboszlai has once again found himself at the center of attention at Liverpool but this time, it’s not just about his performances on the pitch.
The Hungarian captain has addressed speculation surrounding a potential new contract at Anfield, making it clear that while discussions are ongoing behind the scenes, his main focus remains firmly on football.
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Speaking after Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Everton in the latest Merseyside derby, the 25-year-old midfielder admitted there has been little visible progress in negotiations so far.
However, his tone suggested calm rather than concern. With his current deal running until summer 2028, Liverpool are under no immediate pressure, but the club is believed to be keen to secure the long-term future of one of their most influential players.
Szoboszlai has been the star for Liverpool this season
Szoboszlai has been one of Liverpool’s brightest sparks in what has otherwise been a frustrating season for the defending Premier League champions.
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While the team’s title defense has fallen short of expectations, the Hungarian midfielder has consistently delivered strong performances, contributing goals, assists, and energy from midfield.
The midfielder said on his future, as reported by Sky Sports:
“There has been no real progression, so I cannot say anything new about my contract situation. “We have a lot of games to go and I am focusing on that.
“Of course I see myself here in the long term but, as I say, it is not really in my hands any more.
“I love being here, as I said many times. I’m completely relaxed.
“We have five games to go, then I am going to rest – a big one – after my international break. Then we will see.”
Reds are confident of keeping the midfielder at Anfield
His relaxed attitude is hardly surprising. With multiple years left on his contract, Liverpool hold a strong negotiating position.
Any new deal would likely focus on improving terms and reflecting his growing importance within the squad rather than resolving an urgent contractual issue.
Liverpool’s long-term planning also plays a role here. The club has been gradually reshaping its midfield over the past few seasons, bringing in younger, dynamic players to maintain competitiveness.
Ricard Artero returns to a call-up with the first team
At Girona FC, we celebrate the return of Ricard Artero to the first team's squad. The 23-year-old midfielder is back on the list after a long period affected by injuries, although he has been training regularly with the group since the beginning of this year.
Artero had not been included in a first-team squad since the 2022-23 season. His last official match was on May 23, 2023, against Celta, and since then, he has endured a true ordeal marked by injuries.
Born in La Bisbal d’Empordà, Ricard Artero was one of the great promises of Girona's youth football. His effort, hard work, and quality led him to debut with the first team on November 4, 2021, in the Second Division, in a match against Alcorcón under the management of Míchel Sánchez. Later, in February 2023, he made his debut in the First Division against Almería.
Although injuries have not allowed him to maintain continuity, his mental strength and positive attitude have been constant throughout the recovery process.
So far, Artero has played 24 official matches with the first team: 11 in the Second Division, seven in the First Division, five in the Copa del Rey, and one in the promotion play-offs. His return to the squad is excellent news for the coaching staff, the locker room, and the fans, who are eager to see him compete on the pitch again.
Míchel, in particular, highlighted the importance of Artero's return to the squad: "He has made it into the squad, and it’s great news. He truly deserves it. He is a player in whom both the club and I have always had high hopes. He has a very high technical level, he has the game in his mind, and his return is very important for him and also for us." Míchel also emphasized the human aspect of the moment: "He is a player who has suffered a lot over the last two or three years, and we need to give him this joy that he deserves. We are very happy for him and also for the team."
Míchel demands a "great match" from Girona against Betis
The Girona FC coach, Míchel Sánchez, appeared ahead of tomorrow's match at Montilivi against Real Betis, a game he considers demanding and key to continuing progress toward the season's objectives.
The coach began by highlighting positive news for the squad: “I think we have great news, which is the return of Ricard Artero. We have high hopes for him. He has suffered a lot in recent years, and now it's time for him to be rewarded by coming back.”
Regarding the team's current form, Míchel assessed the improvement this year: “In 2026, the team is doing things well. We are the third team that has conceded the fewest goals this year. But we need to make up for the poor start to the season. Tomorrow, we need to play a great match against a very tough opponent. They are a team fighting for European spots with standout players.”
The coach also made a call to the fans, despite the match's timing: “I know it's not a good time at half-past nine at night, but tomorrow we really need our people. It's a very balanced league, and every point is a struggle.”
True to his usual message, Míchel insisted on focusing on their own performance: “I always focus on our path. I don't look much at the standings. I'm concerned that we do things well.”
Finally, he analyzed the opponent, warning of their potential despite not yet achieving the expected results: “Betis has a lot of quality in all areas, but at the moment, they haven't achieved the results they wanted. We have to be able to control the ball, keeping in mind that Betis is very good at transitions.”
A quick reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2026.
That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.
1. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners
2026 stats: 18 G, .258/.362/.421, 2 HR, 6 SB, 8 BB, 19 SO at Triple-A Tacoma.
Emerson’s numbers still don’t look like those of a top prospect, but he did pick up his second homer of the season Saturday versus Triple-A Sacramento. He also stole two bases in that contest, and he’s starting to run on a more consistent basis with four swipes last week. Most encouraging of all, Emerson at this point last week carried an ugly 17/2 K/BB. He’s drawn walks in five of his last six games, and he struck out just once in the final four games against the River Cats. It’s also worth noting that Brendan Donovan is dealing with tightness in his surgically-repaired hip. Emerson has all of the tools to be a quality fantasy option, and it’d be more surprising than not if he wasn’t helping fantasy rosters and the Mariners in the coming weeks.
2. Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers
2026 stats: 19 G, .351/.416/.519, 1 HR, 6 SB, 10 BB, 10 SO at Triple-A Toledo.
Clark makes the jump up from the five spot to second, and that’s partially due to how good he’s been over these first three weeks, and partially due to some less-than-spectacular results from some of the other options in Triple-A. He went 1-for-8 over his final two games against Louisville, but that came after a 4-for-5 effort that saw him hit his first homer of the season. The third-overall pick of the 2023 draft has a chance to have plus tools in every category but power, and it wouldn’t be a huge upset if he was a 20-plus homer player as he continues to build strength. It’s a little risky to consider rostering Clark right now because there’s simply no guarantee he’s up soon, but you could make the argument he’s the most talented player in the minors right now.
3. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, San Francisco Giants
2026 stats: 19 G, .315/.425/.479, 2 HR, 0 SB, 11 BB, 27 SO at Triple-A Sacramento.
In a battle of two of the best prospects in the sport, Emerson ended up having more success than Eldridge over the weekend. The first baseman did have a 2-for-5 effort Friday with a double, but he went hitless in three of the four games while striking out twice in those last three contests. To be fair to Eldridge, he was due for some regression, but you see why there are some concerns about his floor to go along with the enthusiasm about his ceiling. He still has a great chance to be a fantasy contributor this year, but the Giants will likely want him back at his best before giving him that promotion. That’s usually how it works, anyway.
4. Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies
2026 stats: 15 G, .322/.452/.559, 4 HR, 2 SB, 12 BB, 13 SO at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Condon has been outstanding to begin the 2026 campaign, and it’s been beneficial to the sanity of prospect aficionados (including yours truly) who were such big fans of the 23-year-old coming out of the 2024 draft. He’s shown the plus hit- and power-tool that was on display at Georgia, and while he isn’t likely to be a significant source of stolen bases, he’s athletic enough to provide a handful or two of swipes. Condon has split time between first base and right field to begin the year, but it’s worth noting that four of his last five starts have come in the outfield. Be it at the cold corner or a couple hundred feet behind it, Condon doesn’t seem long for the minors, and he’s absolutely worth an addition whenever Colorado makes that call.
5. Peyton Tolle, LHP, Boston Red Sox
2026 stats: 3 G, 15 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0 HR, 4 BB, 19 SO at Triple-A Worcester.
Tolle was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday, but it wasn’t injury related; the Red Sox wanted him to be available in case he was needed for a doubleheader. The left-hander has fanned at least six in each of his three starts -- more impressive considering he hasn’t gone deeper than six innings in those outings -- and he continues to show a 97 mph fastball with three solid secondary offerings. Tolle’s ready to go, and it seems much more likely than not that he’s going to get a chance to help the Boston rotation -- and fantasy managers, in turn -- before the end of the summer.
Also considered: Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins; JR Ritchie, RHP, Atlanta; Robby Snelling, LHP, Miami Marlins; Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Around the minors:
There are several prospects who have gotten off to good -- but not elite -- starts to the season. One player who has definitely gotten off to the latter is Franklin Arias. Even after going hitless Saturday, he’s still hitting .467/.564/.833 on the season with three homers and a steal for Double-A Portland. Those three homers came in back-to-back-to-back games prior to that hitless affair, And the 20-year-old appears to be tapping into his raw power after hitting just eight homers in 2025. There’s never been a question about Arias’s hit tool -- it could end up plus-plus or 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale -- and there’s enough speed to suggest 20-plus stolen base seasons. Arias seems more likely to be a 2027 play than a 2026 one, but there’s no denying he’s one of the best shortstop prospects in the sport; one who could be a fantasy stalwart in the coming years.
The 2025 MLB Draft class has a chance to produce a plethora of frontline fantasy starters, but the one with the highest upside is Seth Hernandez. The 19-year-old was dominant once again with Low-A Bradenton on Friday with five no-hit innings and seven strikeouts against Low-A Tampa. In his three starts with the Marauders, he’s allowed just three hits -- zero in those last two outings -- with a 23/3 K/BB ratio and 0.75 ERA. It’s rare that a teenager is clearly too good for a level, but Hernandez is an exception. Assuming good health and he continues to progress with his command, there’s a better chance that he ends up being an ace than vice versa.
Speaking of the 2025 draft, the first player selected in last year’s class is starting to put things together in his first full season. Eli Willits is still hitting just was hitting just .139/.244/.194 on April 12, but he’s seen that slash improve to .217/356/.417 after picking up two hits in his last two games and homering in back-to-back contests just before the weekend. The 18-year-old has a smooth, line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate, and while he doesn’t possess elite power, there’s enough strength to believe 20 homer seasons are a realistic possibility. Willits won’t likely see the majors for another few seasons, but a chance to help in five categories gives him a chance to be a fantasy superstar by the end of the decade.
AZ Alkmaar captain wants Leeroy Echteld to stay on as head coach following KNVB Cup win
AZ Alkmaar romped to a 5-1 victory in Sunday’s cup final. The side made up for last seasons disappointing final defeat to Go Ahead Eagles by taking full advantage of an NEC Nijmegen side that were pushing to get back into the game. AZ Alkmaar hit the side on the break a number of times to cement their hold on the game and end up lifting their fifth KNVB Cup.
Head coach Leeroy Echteld could not have imagined this happening at the start of the season. The interim head coach took over just three months ago after Maarten Martens was sacked. While Echteld was only given a contract until the end of the season, his cup win has seen calls for him to extend his stay. It appears that conversations between the club and head coach are now taking place, and as reported by ESPN, AZ Alkmaar captain Jordy Clasie would like to see Echteld stay.
Following the cup win, Clasie said ‘I think this coach has brought a certain spirit and energy back into the group…I say he should stay. But ultimately, it’s not up to me’.
While the trophy is the most important thing, AZ Alkmaar can also now look forward to a return to European football without having to go through the play-offs. The side are currently sitting in sixth place, a finish that would have seen them having to win the play-offs. Now that that has been avoided, they could try and push for an improved ticket by closing the gap on Feyenoord and NEC, although this seems unlikely.
For more on how the cup final will effect the distribution of European tickets in the Eredivisie, we put together an article here.
Now, though, it appears that they have been offered a chance to sign a European champion from PSG.
Bradley Barcola offers himself to Barcelona
Indeed, according to SPORT, PSG winger Bradley Barcola has offered himself to Barcelona through his agent, Moussa Sissoko.
Approximately one year ago, the 23-year-old chose to end his relationship with Jorge Mendes. The influential Portuguese superagent was replaced by Moussa Sissoko, who also represents PSG superstar and former Barça ace Ousmane Dembele.
With Sissoko now managing his affairs, there have been several disagreements with PSG’s sporting management during the current season.
PSG have made initial approaches to discuss a new contract for Barcola, but although his current deal runs until 2028, Sissoko’s response suggests that negotiations may not progress smoothly or reach a favourable conclusion.
Barcola could be on the move from PSG. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Europe’s leading clubs, all seeking attacking reinforcements, are monitoring the situation closely. Sissoko remains open to contacts and willing to listen to offers, leaving the door open for a potential transfer.
The Frenchman’s agent has also taken the opportunity to remind clubs that a move for Barcola is possible if they are capable of financing a significant deal. This includes Barcelona.
Barcelona’s stance
Within Barcelona’s offices, there is no particularly positive memory of dealings with Sissoko following Dembele’s departure, but opportunities in the market remain under consideration.
Another question is whether Barcola’s agent is using Barcelona’s name to stimulate the market and apply pressure on PSG during contract negotiations.
For now, Barcola is one of the players being evaluated by Deco.
Two key questions remain unresolved: firstly, whether Barcelona’s sporting director considers the French forward to be a suitable high-level addition to the attack next season; and secondly, whether the club possesses the financial capacity to complete such a signing.
After all, any deal would require a fee of at least €80 million, provided PSG do agree to part ways with the 23-year-old.
Maestro responds to queries about new ambassador role
Paul McStay has provided more details on his new role Ambassador role for Willie Haughey’s new Season Ticket Alliance Trust as Celtic gets set to issue season ticket renewal details to supporters…
Paul McStay carries the Scottish Premiership Trophy up the Celtic Way as the Celtic team arrive ahead of the Celtic v St Mirren match. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Posting on his Instagram account the former Celtic captain has given these details to proved details to supporters as those with season tickets get ready to make their decision whether to join in the Haughey plan that could see £10m given to the Alliance Trust to purchase a sizeable shareholding in the club IF 50,000 Celtic season ticket holders register for the initiative.
Paul McStay lives in Australia and has had some feedback from the Celtic supporters there particularly on the overseas support seemingly being excluded from the plan – at this stage anyway – yet they will feel just as committed to the Celtic cause as anyone going to Paradise each week. Indeed through their subscriptions to Celtic TV overseas supporters feel that is is their own season ticket an their merchandise buys are well known to the club as they are posting these purchases out to fans in Australia and around the world.
A flare is lit among Celtic fans during the Sydney Super Cup match between Celtic and Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on November 17, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Surely it would be an easy alteration to add Overseas Celtic TV subscribers to Alliance at the earliest possible moment and with Paul McStay himself being an Australian based Celtic supporter who presumably will watch the matches via Celtic TV, this is something he understands perfectly well.
Here’s Paul McStay’s latest update….
Paul McStay arrives at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Last week Paul McStay had this to say via Go Radio about the Alliance and his role in the project that is the initiative of Willie Haughey, who The Maestro has been friends with for 40 years.
“It’s a very important initiative, I’m delighted to be part of it, so whatever is required I’m willing to give up my time to maybe help in a little way to make things better and to be part of a group of Celtic fans that might have a voice going forward and be able to give their thoughts to the club.
“Again, that word unity, everybody just wants the same thing at Celtic. Everybody’s got different opinions but the key thing is that come a Saturday, they’re all there together getting behind the team and supporting them.
Celtic v Hibernian – Premier Sports Cup – Celtic Park Lord Willie Haughey in the stands before the Premier Sports Cup match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Sunday August 18, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh, IMAGO/PA Images
“I’ve been friends with Willie for about 40 years and I know where his heart is. He just wants the best for Celtic and that happened last year as well when I was back.
“I met up with the board, the directors at games, then I met up with various supporters clubs from the association, the registered clubs, met up with season ticket holders. Every single person just wanted the best for Celtic and I think that’s where at now.
“We’ve come through a difficult time, a lot of people upset with what’s been happening round about. I think things like this can bring back unity at the club and get us all working together.
Former Celtic captain Paul McStay walks out the tunnel before raising the Scottish Premiership flag. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
“I think we’ve all got different opinions but there’s only one common interest that really matters and that’s that everyone wants the best for Celtic. They want a successful team on the park, a team that entertains and I think hopefully this initiative and one or two others will help that”.
“I’m delighted to be involved and it’s an honour. When Willie asked me and explained what the initiative was about, I thought it was excellent. I believe that the 54,000 season ticket holders that go along each week put a lot of money into the club and support it financially and more importantly vocally at the games.
“But there’s a lot of those season ticket holders who are not shareholders so it’s difficult to voice their opinion at times so I think this is a great vehicle for them to sign up and be a part of something which allows them to give their opinions and be part of something that as a group can put their opinions forward to the club.
Former Celtic captain Paul McStay carries the Scottish Premiership Trophy up the Celtic Way as the Celtic team arrive ahead of the Celtic v St Mirren match. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
“The strength of the organisation will come from the number of season ticket holders that sign up and commit to it, and Willie will then help finance the purchase of shares. The more shares you have, obviously as people know, the more power there is to your voice. I think as a club the fans are the foundation of it.
“This one’s different. This is taking me back to my roots as a young Celtic fan and even back then, when you got your first scarf or strip you became an ambassador then. Anybody involved with Celtic, a fan, is an ambassador for the club at all times.
“To me, this was something I felt I could really support with all my heart and I believe it’s the right thing too to give some of the fans a voice and give their opinion as a group to the club happen.”
Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…
LSU baseball was swept by Texas A&M over the weekend. It marked LSU's second-straight weekend coming out on the wrong end of an SEC sweep after Ole Miss got the best of LSU before the Aggies did. LSU has dropped seven of its last eight games, and LSU is facing significant pressure down the stretch.
If the NCAA Tournament started today, LSU would probably be sitting at home. That's far below LSU's program standard, especially for a team that was ranked No. 2 in most major polls when the season began.
Texas A&M was the more complete team and outplayed LSU in every facet of the game. A&M's lineup is the best in the SEC and the Aggies flexed their muscles in Baton Rouge. In all three games, Texas A&M jumped on LSU early and the Tigers didn't have an answer.
Let's take a look at the weekend through the eyes of LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson. Here are some of his comments that stood out after all three games.
Derek Curiel is still LSU's best player
After batting consistently in the leadoff spot last year, Curiel bounced around the lineup throughout 2026 as Johnson attempts to figure out what works best.
"He's the best player on our team, so putting him in the right spot to be successful for our team to be successful is really all I'm trying to get out of that and he'll hit wherever I tell him to hit. That's one player that I don't ever have to worry about."
"The cleanup thing helped us a little bit. We'll look back at that, but we also left him on the deck at least a couple away late in some games and that's the risk that you run. For a while, we were able to get some big swings that you would risk that, because we were cashing in. It depends on the game. It depends on the pitcher.
"He can hit anywhere, he's not going to go any lower than 4, at least playing for me."
The fifth inning loomed large in Friday's loss
"We were like two outs, two strikes, like three or four times that inning, and didn't get off the field. [Chris] Hocopian just kind of stayed on a slider and muscled it out there to take the lead and then they moved up to second and third and [Jake] Duer punched one up the middle."
"That's what good teams do. Two out hitting, it's going to make the difference in the game. We had a couple chances. We had one in the first popped up. We had one, it was after [Steven Milam's] home run, and hit a ground ball to the shortstop.
"That's a glaring difference in the game. I know it was a six-run spread, but, you know, we're putting in different pitchers if we're not chasing runs, and it's not a six-run spread. They took advantage of those."
Growing pains and learning
After Saturday's loss, Johnson talked about the growing pains we're seeing from some of the young pitchers.
"It's a job interview for all of them every day. And I'm not talking about just LSU. Like, the guys we bring in, they want to play beyond this. And it's all tracked now. You know, everybody can see everything," Johnson said.
"There's still some growing pains that happen this time of year. And, you know, I don't think it's exclusive to us. Not that I really care about anybody else. But, you know, flip on the TV and see some things that, you know, maybe not be the best baseball, you know, happen in another game. But got to learn from it. Like I said last night, we have to get value out of this struggle. You know, otherwise it's just painful, you know, and you got to get some value out of it. And so we're going to try to continue to do that," Johnson said.
Jay Johnson talks development of Marcos Paz
"He's got everything you need to be great. And, again, like, he hadn't pitched in 18 months prior to this season starting. It was very minimal, you know, in the fall," Johnson said.
"I think he's going to be the best pitcher in the program. I really believe that. And I think he's moving in that direction," Johnson said.
On defensive struggles and wild pitches
After Saturday's game, Jay Johnson talked about the continued struggles of the defense, which includes wild pitches and passed balls.
"We'd still had three or four wild pitches or pass balls today. I don't know how they're categorized. But that's a bad sign. You want to look at struggle, literally look at those two stats, and it'll show you a team that's either playing clean or struggling. And I'm not blaming the pitcher. I'm not blaming Cade. That's not where I'm going with it," Johnson said.
"But I know we had two or three. I know one resulted in the first run of the game. Single, you know, from Wilson after they had moved up. We had two outs. I believe two strikes and a man on first, and they were able to move up, and then he got a single. So, you know, that would be the one thing I might pick at in this game. But, yeah, it was better. I think it's technically a zero in the air column. I don't know how many guys we struck out tonight or not. But, you know, again, like the bullpen, we'll take that as a positive."
The offensive slump continued on Sunday
"I thought we missed some pitches that we should hit. I thought we expanded the zone a couple times. I thought we struck out looking a couple times at very inopportune moments," Johnson said.
"And then I thought there was a stretch. We did hit five balls well and had really nothing to show for it. I've mentioned this before, hit a ball hard, bad result, maybe get a hit. And then a bat at bat, you never get any sustainable rhythm or chances to score. Probably a combination of all that."
The morale of the team
"That's not a question for me. That's a question for each individual player, and you might get different answers with the guys. But we're all in charge of that. You know, I'm in charge of the attitude, you know, of myself, my coaches, and what we translate to the team. And, you know, we had one small stretch like this before, you know, and I made a decision at that time, like I'm not going to go sour on them. I'm going to show up to work. It may not get us where we want to go. It may not. But, you know, I want them to keep going, so our coaching staff has to keep going. You know, I'm very honest, you know, in assessments and improvement that's needed, but also showing up is a big part of it. And, you know, two of the last three years it's been a lot of fun to show up here. It's not as fun right now, but you still have to. That's my job, and it's my coach's job, and, you know, it's these players' lives. Like this is the most important thing to them, you know, so, you know, we owe that to them."
The major roster-building event is approaching for Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers. With eight picks, including six on Day 3, the Packers have an opportunity to add rookie contributors and long-term building blocks during the 2026 NFL draft.
How does the offseason roster look with most of free agency in the rear-view mirror and the draft now only days away? The Packers currently have 73 players under contract, leaving 17 open spots for draft picks or undrafted free agent signings.
Let's nail down where help is required. Here’s a look at the roster, position by position, after free agency and with the 2026 draft nearly here:
Quarterback
On the roster: Jordan Love, Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord
Added: McCord (signed to futures deal)
Lost: Malik Willis (MIA)
Unsigned: Clayton Tune (released)
Adding a developmental quarterback through the draft makes sense, especially on Day 3, but the real question is this: Do the Packers trust Ridder (18 starts with Falcons) as the expected backup, or will they dip into the veteran market following the draft?
Running back
On the roster: Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez
Added: None
Lost: Emanuel Wilson (SEA)
Unsigned: None
The departure of Wilson in free agency and the unreliability of Lloyd after two pro seasons opens the door for the Packers to reinvest in a running back through the draft, especially given Josh Jacobs' age and contract status past 2026. There is room for a rookie contributor and/or future starter.
Wide receiver
On the roster: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Jakobie Keeney-James, Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor
Added: Moore (signed to one-year deal)
Lost: Romeo Doubs (NE), Dontayvion Wicks (traded to PHI)
Unsigned: None
Doubs' leaving in free agency freed up Golden to be a starter and full-time player in 2026, while trading Wicks -- who was unlikely to be re-signed past next year -- opened up an opportunity for the Packers to take a receiver in this year's draft. Green Bay hosted several receivers on pre-draft visits, so the stage could be set for a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick at receiver.
Tight end
On the roster: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Josh Whyle, Messiah Swinson, Drake Dabney
Added: None
Lost: McCallan Castles (released)
Unsigned: John FitzPatrick
There isn't a tight end signed past 2026, although Kraft is likely to receive a lucrative extension at some point in 2026. Musgrave's future in Green Bay is far less certain, so adding long-term stability behind Kraft is possible in this year's draft.
Offensive line
On the roster: Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton, Zach Tom, Darian Kinnard, Jacob Monk, Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Dalton Cooper, Brant Banks, Karsen Barnhart
Despite losing two starters, the Packers still have five starters in place, with Morgan replacing Walker at left tackle and Rhyan replacing Jenkins at center. Depth and competition behind the starters could still be improved, and the Packers should have a contingency plan in place in case things go sideways at guard or center. A draft pick with interior versatility makes sense at any point in the draft.
Interior defensive line
On the roster: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse, Jonathan Ford, Jordon Riley, James Ester, Jaden Crumedy, Dante Barnett, Anthony Campbell
Added: Hargrave (signed to two-year deal)
Lost: Colby Wooden (traded to IND)
Unsigned: None
Nose tackle looks like the biggest hole on the roster, especially with the switch to a 3-4 coming. Stackhouse and Ford are unlikely starting options. Finding a big guy who can play on the nose in the base is a likely priority in this draft, but the Packers could also be on the hunt for another 3-tech disruptor. This is a position where Green Bay could double up.
Edge rusher
On the roster: Micah Parsons, Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr, Arron Mosby
Added: None
Lost: Rashan Gary (traded to DAL), Kingsley Enagbare (NYJ)
Unsigned: None
Losing Gary and Enagbare, who played over 1,000 snaps combined last season, opens up opportunities for young players and gives the Packers freedom to make a big investment if the right player is available. You can never have enough edge rushers.
Linebacker
On the roster: Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann, Kristian Welch
Added: Franklin (traded with IND)
Lost: Quay Walker (LV), Jamon Johnson (released)
Unsigned: None
Functionally, swapping Walker for Franklin doesn't change much. The top six here is probably good enough to start the regular season, although Franklin's deal is set up to be one-year-and-we'll-see, and Hopper hasn't developed into a starter yet.
Cornerback
On the roster: Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Javon Bullard (slot), Benjamin St-Juste, Kamal Hadden, Shemar Bartholomew, Jaylin Simpson
Added: St-Juste (signed to two-year deal)
Lost: Nate Hobbs (released, SF)
Unsigned: Trevon Diggs
St-Juste provides competition on the perimeter and special teams value but does little to affect the long-term question marks. Nixon and Valentine are both entering contract years. The Packers are likely to draft at least one cornerback, and a double dip is possible. A rookie could play right away even though the Packers retained all three starters from 2025.
Safety
On the roster: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Johnathan Baldwin, Mark Perry
Added: None
Lost: Zayne Anderson (MIA)
Unsigned: None
It's possible Bullard playing in the slot and Anderson departing in free agency could convince the Packers an investment is needed at safety, but this is a low-need position.
Special teams
On the roster: Brandon McManus (K), Daniel Whelan (P), Matt Orzech (LS), Lucas Havrisik (K)
Added: None
Lost: None
Unsigned: None
No need at punter or long snapper, and it looks like McManus will battle Havrisik at kicker this summer. A draft pick doesn't look likely, although adding competition at kicker after the draft is possible.
IndyCar had another push to pass software failure during Sunday's Grand Prix of Long Beach, the series announced.
During the Lap 61 restart, push to pass -- which gives drivers an additional 50 horsepower for short bursts -- was available to all drivers when it should have been disabled. Here is Rule 14.19.16:
"Race Starts and any Race Restart that occurs before the lap prior to the white flag or prior to three minutes remaining in a timed Race Event will have the Push to Pass system disabled and will be enabled for a given Car once that Car reaches the alternate Start/Finish line."
According to a news release, IndyCar is responsible for making sure the softball is running properly and there were no driver or team infractions.
Twelve cars used push to pass prior to the alternate start-finish line, according to the news release. IndyCar further said only Marcus Armstrong benefitted from the error, passing Santino Ferrucci, but the two drivers used nearly equal amounts of push to pass and IndyCar Officiating will not make any changes to the official results.
"IndyCar and IndyCar Officiating will continue to evaluate the system failure and will implement additional protective measures to keep it from happening again at future events," the release said.
In April 2024, Josef Newgarden was stripped of his season-opening win at St. Petersburg for using push to pass when it wasn't allowed three times; it has never been allowed on starts or re-starts by the series during Newgarden's career. The Team Penske driver had access to it due to an illegal line of code in the software that had been added during testing of IndyCar's hybrid system.
“I know what happened. I know why it happened, and I don’t think it’s very believable, even when I try to tell the story back. I don’t think any of us believe it will be believable to somebody. But it’s the truth,” Newgarden said in explaining that he thought the series had made Push to Pass legal on starts and restarts. “The facts are that I used it illegally. I wasn’t allowed to. I can’t change that. Whatever I say going forward will not change those facts."
Newgarden was IndyCar's first disqualified race-winner since 1995. His racing for Team Penske, with owner Roger Penske also owning the series, shined and even brighter light on the incident. Scott McLaughlin was also disqualified for using push to pass and Will Power was docked 10 points -- he had access to push to pass but did not use it -- and the team was fined $75,000.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 15: Former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz greets Boston Marathon personnel during a finish line dedication ceremony in recognition of the ten-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings and One Boston Day on April 15, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello and happy Monday, folks.
Happy Marathon Monday, to be specific.
A huge shoutout to all of those who will be running in the marathon today, and another huge shoutout taking the time to go out and cheer everybody on. Patriots Day is a special day here in the Bay State—go on and have a good time with it.
The Sox play today as well; I have no clue whether this post is gonna be posted before the first pitch at 11:10 a.m.
Drop your favorite Marathon Monday memories in the chat below.
No. 8 seed Orlando defeated No. 1 seed Detroit, 112-101, Sunday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs first round at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Former Tennessee basketball player Tobias Harris totaled 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 36 minutes for the Pistons. He converted 5-of-15 field goal attempts, 1-of-7 three-point attempts and 6-of-7 free throw attempts.
Harris played for the Vols from 2010-11 under head coach Bruce Pearl. In his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 assists per game. Harris was a Second-Team All-SEC performer and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. He received Second-Team Freshman All-America honors by the USBWA.
The former Vol was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft (No. 19 overall) by the Bobcats.
In his NBA career, Harris has played for Milwaukee (2011-13), Orlando (2013-16), Detroit (2016-18, 2024-26), the Clippers (2018-19) and Philadelphia (2019-24).
Former Vol and rookie Chaz Lanier did not play for the Pistons in Game 1 due to a coach's decision.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT at Little Caesars Arena. ESPN will televise the contest.
The Notre Dame women’s basketball team didn’t see as large of an exodus as it did last year, but there were still a few holes to fill and Anaya Hardy started off the movement by committing early this weekend.
The Irish weren’t done adding, as on Sunday former Princeton guard Madison St. Rose committed to the Irish as reported by On3’s Talia Goodman. The 5-foot, 10-inch transfer had a very good year for the Tigers, scoring 15.8-points with 4.5-rebounds and 2.2 assists.
St. Rose will complement star guard Hannah Hidalgo in the backcourt, as Cassandre Prosper will now play in the WNBA. With the women’s game being driven by great guard play, Notre Dame will now have a pair that will be able to make big impacts.
This is a great addition for the Irish, as they look to return to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight season, and break through to get back to the Final 4 for the first time since 2018-19.
BREAKING: Princeton transfer Madison St. Rose has committed to Notre Dame, sources told @On3.
The 5-10 senior averaged 15.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 1.1 spg this season.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Texas A&M's basketball program is in good hands under now second-year coach Bucky McMillan, who, entering his first full offseason, has already landed three transfer portal commits, led by former Kansas Star guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game last season.
Former Radford guard Lukas Walls and Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips provide immediate depth in the back and front courts, while returning talent, including forward Zach Clemence and Jamie Vinson, will compete for starting jobs next fall, but more help is needed to replace star big man Rashaun Agee and the guard depth that got the Aggies through the 2025-2026 season.
Before the portal closes, plenty of talent remains available, including former LSU guard Jalen Reece, who scored 17 points against the Aggies last month and was considered a rising star in the program after averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 assists, while shooting 35% from the field.
Those numbers are expected to improve after his freshman season, and after watching Reece play against the Aggies, his speed and fast-paced style fit perfectly into McMillan's scheme. According to On3's Joe Tipton, McMillan is interested in the Florida native, as the Aggie coach reportedly visited Reece this weekend.
Tipton further stated the Missouri coach Dennis Gates will also visit Reece, but given the Aggies' desperate need for reliable guard depth, I wouldn't be surprised if Texas A&M comes out on top. Time will tell.
Source: Texas A&M’s Bucky McMillan was in to see LSU transfer guard Jalen Reece today, and Missouri head coach Dennis Gates is expected to see him tomorrow.
Reece is also receiving interest from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Dayton, Saint Louis, Seton Hall, Charlotte, Villanova,… https://t.co/W0tggST619
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Nebraska softball (36-6, 17-1) concluded its series in Minnesota (14-30, 6-12) on Sunday. The Huskers got the sweep, picking up an 11-2 six-inning win. The team outscored their opponent 32-4 in the series.
Minnesota did take the lead in the bottom of the first, going up 2-1 over Nebraska. But the Huskers quickly responded in the second, taking a 3-2 lead. Nebraska pulled away in the final three innings, scoring a combined eight runs.
The Huskers tallied 15 hits in the win and held the Golden Gophers to three, two coming in the first inning. Jesse Farrell drove in a team-high three RBIs in the win after batting 3-for-4. She hit an RBI single, a two-run home run and a double.
Jordy Frahm (13-4) hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs, delivering a two-run home run in the fourth. She also earned the win in the circle after pitching the final 4.0 innings. Frahm fired six strikeouts and allowed no hits, no walks and no runs.
The Huskers return to the state but will visit Omaha for a Tuesday night clash with the Mavericks. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on Nebraska Public Media and B1G+.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
Four Ohio State Buckeyes are in the top ten picks of many mock NFL Drafts, and we've already profiled three of them (Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Carnell Tate). The fourth is safety Caleb Downs. Downs transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after his freshman season, and he became a Buckeye legend by helping lead the team to its National Championship after the 2024 season. But how will that transfer to the NFL? Why are all of the NFL scouts so high on Downs, and just how high can he go in the draft?
Caleb Downs, Safety
Draft Projection: high first round
Ohio State's own website says that Downs is regarded by many as the best defensive player in the country, and it's hard to argue with that. Sure, he's probably going to be the third Buckeye defender off the board on Thursday, but that's because of how absurdly good the linebacking corps was this past year. Downs could definitely go in the top five of the draft, but he also could fall to just outside of the top ten.
With Downs' speed, strength, and football instincts, he is already a potential elite defensive back in the NFL. And with his clear leadership abilities that he showed on the field, even as an underclassman in 2024, he is exactly the type of top player that NFL teams are looking for--and the type of player that sometimes gets drafted higher than expected (not that Downs has much higher to go above expectations). Downs will almost certainly be the first defensive back taken in this year's draft, and it would not be a shock to see him jump a few spots. It would, however, be a shock to see him slide any lower than midway through the first round. He's just that good.
The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and it's shaping up to be another exciting, unexpected first round to kick things off in Pittsburgh. For the first time in four years, the Chicago Bears won't need selecting in the Top 10, as they're slated to pick 25th overall.
We've been sharing our weekly mock drafts throughout this pre-draft process, where we've tried to pin down realistic scenarios. But everyone's thought process when it comes into assembling mocks is different, which makes it exciting with any given week. So we're trying something new, letting the computer make the picks.
In this exercise, we let Grok do the selecting in the first round, and the results were expected and surprising in these projections after the New York Giants traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Here were the first round results:
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Grok: The Raiders have been stuck in QB purgatory for years. Mendoza (6-5, elite arm talent, high accuracy, and mobility) is the consensus No. 1 prospect and a clean schematic fit for their offense. He gives them a long-term franchise cornerstone with starter upside from Day 1.
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Grok: New York ranked near the bottom in sacks and pressure rate last season. Bailey is an explosive, high-motor edge rusher who can win with speed and power immediately opposite existing pieces. He’s a plug-and-play difference-maker for a defense that desperately needs juice.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State
Grok: Arizona’s front seven was a major weakness. Reese offers rare versatility (off-ball LB or edge) with a sky-high ceiling, explosiveness, and 6.5+ sacks last season. He pairs perfectly as a pass-rush threat in a tough NFC West.
Grok: Love is a special talent (vision, burst, receiving chops, and home-run ability) who can transform the offense around their young QB. He’s worth the early investment as a three-down weapon who elevates the entire run game and passing attack.
5. New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Grok: With two top-10 picks, the Giants can afford to be aggressive. Downs is the premier safety prospect with outstanding range, instincts, tackling, and ball skills—addressing secondary needs immediately. Alternative: Mauigoa as a massive, athletic tackle to protect their QB investment long-term. Many mocks see them targeting a high-upside defender or trench piece here.
6. Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Grok: Cleveland invested heavily in the O-line this offseason but left tackle remains a question mark. Mauigoa is a massive, athletic bookend with Pro Bowl upside who can anchor the left side for years.
7. Washington Commanders – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Grok: Tate is a polished route-runner with reliable hands and big-play ability. Pairing him with Terry McLaurin gives the Commanders a true No. 1 receiver duo and instantly upgrades the passing game.
8. New Orleans Saints – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Grok: Bain brings power, explosion, and a deep pass-rush toolbox despite shorter arms. He’s exactly the disruptive force the Saints’ front needs to generate pressure and support their scheme.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Grok: Tyson is a contested-catch monster with strong hands and yards-after-catch ability. He gives Patrick Mahomes another high-upside weapon to stretch the field and create explosive plays.
10. New York Giants (from CIN) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Grok: The Giants' second top-10 selection is a major win from the Lawrence deal. Delane stands out with length, technical soundness, and elite ball production (plenty of PBUs and INTs). He shores up the secondary and creates turnovers. With two early picks, New York can mix best player available with scheme fits—potentially another defender, offensive lineman, or skill player here.
11. Miami Dolphins – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Grok: Styles is explosive, rangy, and productive. Miami’s defense needs athleticism at linebacker; Styles provides immediate impact in coverage and against the run while offering scheme versatility.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Grok: The Cowboys’ offensive line needs reinforcement. Proctor is a powerful, technically sound left-tackle prospect who can stabilize the unit and protect their investment at quarterback.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Grok: Lemon is a tough, reliable slot/inside receiver with sure hands. He complements their existing weapons and adds another layer to an already explosive offense chasing another Super Bowl.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Grok: Fano didn’t allow a sack last season and brings elite pass-protection skills. The Ravens continue fortifying their O-line to keep Lamar Jackson upright and running lanes open.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Grok: Sadiq was a combine standout (4.39 40, 43½" vertical) and the clear top tight end. He adds a dynamic receiving threat and after-the-catch ability to their offense.
16. New York Jets (via IND) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Grok: The Jets still lack depth at receiver. Cooper (nearly 1,000 yards + 13 TDs last season) is a big-play threat who gives their QB a legitimate second option alongside Garrett Wilson.
17. Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Grok: Freeling is a ready-made left-tackle replacement with length and athleticism. He helps keep the Lions’ elite offense protected and competitive in the NFC.
Grok: McNeil-Warren’s production (5 INTs + 10 forced fumbles) jumps off the page. He brings turnover-creating instincts to a defense that needs more takeaways.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Grok: Boston is a reliable, strong-handed outside receiver with red-zone prowess. He adds depth and competition to the Cowboys’ receiving corps.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Vega Ioane (Olaivavega Ioane), G, Penn State
Grok: Ioane is a powerful, athletic interior lineman. He steps in immediately as a starter and upgrades the run game and protection.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Grok: Woods is a strong, disruptive 3-technique tackle who can stop the run and develop as a pass rusher. He plugs a key interior gap.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Grok: Miller has massive starting experience at right tackle. He provides depth and competition while maintaining the Eagles’ elite O-line standard.
Grok: Hood is long, physical, and productive in coverage. He adds depth and competition to the Chiefs’ secondary.
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Grok: Simpson is accurate, mobile, and decisive with limited starting experience but high upside. He provides a high-ceiling backup/developmental piece behind Tua.
31. New England Patriots – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Grok: Mesidor (12.5 sacks, 58 pressures) is a high-motor pass rusher. He injects youth and explosiveness into the Patriots’ edge group.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Grok: Seattle grabs late-round value at tackle or edge. An athletic offensive lineman here continues their O-line rebuild and adds depth for Sam Darnold.
Despite not having a first round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes there is a prospect to keep an eye on if you're the Denver Broncos.
"Keep an eye, if (the Broncos) stay at [pick] 62, and they take their pick; just keep an eye on Josiah Trotter out of Missouri," Baldinger said during an appearance on DNVR Broncos last week. "His dad (Jeremiah Trotter) was in Philly when (now-Broncos head coach) Sean (Payton) came to Philly (in 1997)... just keep an eye on that and that connection right there."
Trotter has been a player linked to Denver in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft by severaloutlets, and could provide adequate depth behind starting linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.
Trotter (6-2, 237 pounds) was a redshirt sophomore who played at both West Virginia and Missouri, making 176 total tackles (79 solo, 97 assisted), 17 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and three pass deflections. Trotter's NFL combine profile likens him to the Kansas City Chiefs' Nick Bolton, who Denver faces twice a year.
The NFL draft is just days away. Who will the Broncos ultimately choose? Keep an eye on Trotter.
The week of April 12-18 saw boys track and field athletes from the Ames area make one last push to qualify for the Drake Relays, which will be held this week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Several male athletes from the area delivered outstanding individual performances in track and field. There were also some exciting boys soccer games and tennis matches featuring Ames-area teams as well as standout performances in boys golf.
There were a number of male athletes from the area that stood out individually.
Here are the Ames Tribune male Athlete of the Week nominees for the week of April 12-18. AmesTrib.com readers vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Jack Angell, Colo-NESCO
Angell won both individual boys hurdle races for the Colo-NESCO boys track and field team at the Baxter Bolt Co-ed Relays on April 14 at Baxter.
Angell placed first in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 15.84 seconds. He won the 400 hurdles in 57.10 seconds.
Johnathan Bouska, Gilbert
Bouska shot the top 18-hole score among Class 3A boys golfers in the state so far in the boys spring golf season during the Bondurant-Farrar Invitational on April 13 at the Terrace Hills Golf Course in Altoona.
Bouska shot an outstanding 7-under par score of 64 to win the meet by an incredible 8-stroke margin. His score ties Grundy Center's Judd Jirovsky for the top score among all boys spring golfers in Iowa according to Varsity Bound.
Jamin Colvin, Ballard
Colvin tied for first at the Woodward-Granger Invite, and he was the outright medalist for the Ballard boys golf team during a triangular dual win over Boone and Carroll during the week.
Colvin carded a 2-under par score of 68 over 18 holes at the Woodward-Granger Invite to match North Polk's Ty Haisman for the top score. He helped Ballard win the team title at the event with a score of 279.
Colvin shot a 2 over round of 34 over nine holes to take home medalist honors during the Bombers' triangular dual with Boone and Carroll on April 13 at the Carroll National Golf Club in Carroll. He helped Ballard shoot a 154 as a team, beating Boone by one stroke for first place.
Ethan Wang, Ames
Wang scored a dominant win in the No. 1 singles match and he was also part of a decisive doubles win in helping the Ames boys tennis team cruise to an 11-0 victory over Fort Dodge on April
Wang defeated Fort Dodge's Corbin McHone in straight sets with a pair of 6-0 shutouts during the No. 1 singles match. He later teamed with Anirudh Manimaran to take down the Dodgers' Aidan Recker and Jaxon Price in the No. 1 doubles match by scores of 6-1 and 6-0.
Connery Varsa, Nevada
Varsa helped the Nevada boys tennis team go to 4-0 on the season with a 9-0 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden on April 14 in Iowa Falls.
Varsa dominated the No. 1 singles match for the Cubs by scoring an 8-0 shutout over IFA's Carter Zollar. Varsa then joined up with Noah Johnson to score another 8-0 victory in the No. 1 doubles match as the Cub duo defeated the Cadets' team of Zollar and Ivan Klimesh.
The week of April 12-18 saw several girls track and field athletes from the Ames area make their final drive to qualify for the Drake Relays, which will be held this week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Female track and field athletes from stepped up to the plate on multiple occasions during the week. There were also some thrilling girls soccer games standout performances in girls golf.
There were several female athletes from the area that stood out individually.
Here are the Ames Tribune female Athlete of the Week nominees for the week of April 12-18. AmesTrib.com readers vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Emma Stanley, Ames
Stanley won the 1,500-meter run for the Ames girls track and field team during the Jim Duea Relays on April 14 at Ames.
Stanley ran a time of four minutes, 43.69 seconds to win the event by over three seconds over Waukee Northwest's Piper Vander Ley. That time ranks 10th among all runners in Class 4A.
Stanley also anchored Ames to a third-place finish in the 4x800 with a time of 9:24.50.
Ava Lohrbach, Gilbert
Lohrbach tied for first at the Jaguar Invitational in Ankeny and she was individual medalist during a Gilbert girls golf dual win over Adel-Desoto-Minburn.
Lohrbach carded a 1-under par round of 72 to tie Pleasant Valley's Ella Sherrick for the top score over 18 holes during the Jaguar Invitational at the Briarwood Club of Ankeny on April 13. Lohrbach shot an even par 35 over nine holes during Gilbert's 158-198 dual win over ADM on April 14 at the Ames Golf and Country Club in Ames
Makiya Culbertson, Ballard
Culbertson won the 100-meter hurdles, and she helped Ballard claim a win in the sprint medley relay during the Ogden Invitational girls track and field meet on April 16 at Ogden.
Culbertson won the 100 hurdles with a PR time of 16.36 seconds. She ran the second leg on a Bomber sprint medley team that placed first in 1:58.01.
Brinley Carlson, Roland-Story
Carlson placed first in two 9-hole dual meets for the Roland-Story girls golf team during the week.
Carlson shot a 2-over par 36 to earn medalist honors and lead Roland-Story to a triangular victory over Greene County and South Hamilton by 29 strokes on April 13 with a score of 167 at The Hill Golf Course in Grand Junction. Carlson carded a 3-over round of 39 to take the top spot individually during a Norse triangular win over West Marshall and South Hamilton on April 16 at the Jewell Golf and Country Club in Jewell.
Roland-Story shot a 172 as a team at Jewell to easily beat West Marshall (213) and South Hamilton (219) for first.
Allie Goodman, Ames
Goodman totaled three goals for the Class 3A No. 13 Ames girls soccer team during wins over Ottumwa and Marshalltown during the week.
Goodman put two goals into the net during the Little Cyclones' 3-0 victory over Ottumwa on April 13 at Ames. She put another score on the board during a 4-0 victory at Marshalltown on April 17.
It's a challenge to find a team better set up entering the NFL draft than the Los Angeles Rams. They already have a roster capable of winning a Super Bowl, led by arguably the best coach in football. And after some savvy offseason moves, they have no glaring weaknesses heading into the draft.
With seven total picks, the Rams still have the ability to add rookies who could contribute right away – particularly at some of the following positions. Wide receiver will be at the forefront, as will linebacker and several other spots.
Here are the Rams' biggest positions of need right now.
Wide receiver
Wide receiver has been the Rams' biggest need since they checked off cornerback with the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. They have yet to add a wideout this offseason and they lost Tutu Atwell in free agency.
Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield could conceivably compete to be the No. 3 receiver but more likely, the Rams will draft someone relatively early to battle for that spot. Based on mock drafts, analysts believe Los Angeles could take someone like Makai Lemon or Jordyn Tyson at No. 13, but waiting until the second or third rounds is also possible. Trading back and taking a wideout like Omar Cooper Jr. or Denzel Boston is an option, too.
Inside linebacker
ESPN's Matt Miller reported that the Rams could target an inside linebacker with one of their first few picks in the draft, most likely in the second round. Josaiah Trotter was mentioned as a viable option if he's on the board, and the Rams also met with Cincinnati's Jake Golday – another second-round prospect.
Nate Landman and Omar Speights were the Rams' top two linebackers last season but they're similar in style. Los Angeles could use a rangy defender in the second level who can cover and stop outside runs, complementing the downhill mentality of Landman.
Offensive tackle
The Rams do already have Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr. as their penciled-in starters at tackle, but that shouldn't preclude them from adding another tackle in the draft. Not only could they use a swing tackle, but it's important for them to have a viable replacement in the event that McClendon doesn't work out as a full-time starter in 2026.
Or, at the very least, they should have a good right tackle behind him as leverage in contract negotiations, should McClendon play well. Look for the Rams to take an offensive tackle at some point in the draft, potentially even with their first pick at 13.
Cornerback
Similar to offensive tackle and wide receiver, cornerback is also a position of strength. However, depth is needed behind Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is a decent third option but that's a spot the Rams can upgrade.
Adding a cornerback who can cover the slot will also give the Rams more flexibility with Quentin Lake, allowing them to move him back to safety when needed, rather than making him a full-time slot defender – as good as he is there. If Mansoor Delane is there at 13, the Rams could consider him. Or, they could potentially trade back and take someone like Colton Hood or Chris Johnson later in the first.
Backup QB
Most people probably thought the Rams would've had a backup quarterback by now, but with just over a week until the draft, they still don't have a QB2 on the roster. Stetson Bennett is the only signal caller behind Matthew Stafford at the moment, which puts quarterback higher on the list of needs entering the draft.
Even if Los Angeles does sign Jimmy Garoppolo or another veteran, it still could use a young successor who can potentially take the reins from Stafford in 2027. It's hardly certain the Rams will draft someone this year but it's still on the table.
Edge rusher
Jared Verse and Byron Young look like they'll once again be the Rams' starting edge rushers in 2026, but after this coming season, that's not so certain. Young will be a pending free agent in 2027 and he's not guaranteed to sign a long-term deal with the team. Josaiah Stewart is a great option to replace Young, should he leave, but like many other positions, depth should be a priority.
Sean McVay said it himself: you can never have too many pass rushers. Even if it's just a mid-round pick, it would be smart for the Rams to add another edge rusher.
Guard/center
Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila are both entering the final year of their contracts, as is Coleman Shelton, which means they will be free agents in 2027 if they're not extended before then. Justin Dedich and Beaux Limmer are quality backups but the Rams should still add some competition to that position group.
Plus, it's always good to have a replacement in waiting along the offensive line. Injuries happen and can seriously derail an offense if there isn't enough quality depth.
Return specialist
The Rams kept Xavier Smith as an exclusive rights free agent but that hardly solves their need for a return specialist. The draft is a perfect place to find one in the late rounds, adding someone who can also contribute at a position like wide receiver.
Iowa's Kaden Wetjen would be an ideal prospect for the Rams on Day 3, as would LSU's Zavion Thomas.
“He’s doing the same” – Alan Shearer gives honest assessment of Liam Rosenior
Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer says that he can understand why Liam Rosenior is struggling as Chelsea manager.
Shearer, like all of us, saw Chelsea lose yet another Premier League game in the fight for a Champions League spot on Saturday evening, pushing their hopes of playing in Europe’s most prestigious competition to near impossible now.
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Chelsea are closer to 14th place in the Premier League than they are to 5th place, which is the Champions League spots.
Things have gone from bad to worse for head coach Liam Rosenior, and Shearer blames him as well as the Chelsea owners.
Shearer on Chelsea
Alan Shearer on Match of the Day. (Photo: Screenshot from BBC)
On NBC Sports, Shearer was asked who is to blame our of Rosenior and the owners:
“A bit of both. I think the system Chelsea have adopted and chosen to do is very difficult for whoever goes in there. We’ve seen many managers go in there and struggle. He’s doing the same,” Shearer said.
“It’s difficult to get young players and get them to compete, week after week, and then try to turn it into a huge profit. That’s a difficult job for any manager, let alone a young manager. I blame a bit of both.”
In other news today
Liam Delap has said Chelsea have the belief they can finish in the top five and win the FA Cup despite their struggles this season. I’d like some of his positivity!
And on Delap, we are already hearing the excuses about why he has not been playing well in a Chelsea shirt since arriving in the summer. We’re all tired of excuses to be honest.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Manchester City fan dubbed ‘bottle man’ goes viral for a second time after Arsenal win
The Manchester City fan who went viral during the 0-3 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has again revelled in the moment after the 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
In a high-stakes encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City tightened the Premier League title race by securing a dramatic victory over leaders Arsenal.
The contest ignited when Rayan Cherki – who had earlier rattled the woodwork – unlocked the Gunners’ defence with dazzling footwork to fire Manchester City ahead, only for Kai Havertz to pounce on a Gianluigi Donnarumma error to level the scores just 107 seconds later.
Following a tense exchange where both Erling Haaland and Eberechi Eze struck the post, and Donnarumma redeemed himself with a vital save against Havertz, Haaland eventually delivered the decisive blow with a predatory close-range finish.
Despite late pressure that saw a Gabriel header deflected onto the post and Havertz miss a clear opportunity around the six-yard box, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who held firm to move within three points of the summit with a game in hand.
What has the viral Man City ‘bottle man’ fan done now?
Now, the lifelong Manchester City fan Tal Rehman has gone viral once again, revelling in his club’s mammoth 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday alongside fellow supporters on the concourse.
Dancing along to the tune of ‘Where’s your bottle gone’ aimed at the Gunners, Rehman has been captured mimicking the pouring of tears into his Arsenal-branded bottle, which first went viral at Stamford Bridge last time out.
How did this all start?
Rehman became an overnight sensation during City’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea on April 12, after television cameras captured him mockingly drinking from an Arsenal-branded water bottle at Stamford Bridge.
The gesture is a pointed jab at the Gunners, poking fun at the narrative that Mikel Arteta’s side are beginning to ‘lose their bottle’ in the race for the Premier League trophy, first following a shock defeat to Bournemouth.
Occurring as City cruised to victory courtesy of goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guéhi, and Jeremy Doku, the moment perfectly captured the apparent shift in momentum that saw Pep Guardiola’s side cut the gap at the summit to just six points.
Rehman later revealed in media interviews that the bottle was a souvenir from a previous clash at the Etihad Stadium, but his opportunistic ‘banter’ has quickly turned him into a viral meme, symbolising a growing sense of inevitability surrounding City’s latest top-flight title charge.
CHICAGO — Shortly after the Mets arrived in Chicago in the midst of a long losing streak, president of baseball operations David Stearns gave a vote of confidence to his embattled manager, Carlos Mendoza.
“I think Mendy is doing a good job,” Stearns said Friday in the Wrigley Field dugout. “I think Mendy is putting players in positions to succeed, and we need to go out and play better.”
The Mets have yet to play better. They were swept by the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, extending their losing streak to 11 games. It’s the longest such streak for the Mets since 2004, and if they lose the next game, scheduled for Tuesday night at Citi Field, they’ll match their 2002 streak.
It’s fair to question the job the manager is doing during a losing streak, which is why Mendoza all but expected to have to face it Sunday afternoon, after the Mets lost 2-1 to the Cubs in 10 innings.
“I know questions like this are going to come up, but I’m spending my energy on continuing to manage,” Mendoza said. “Continue to lead, continue to coach, continue to support. That’s what I’m doing right now — spending my energy on the things that I can control.”
It does not appear that Mendoza has lost the clubhouse.
“Mendy is our guy,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor, a key clubhouse leader. “He’s our leader. He’s in control, and he’s done a tremendous job. We just haven’t executed.”
Closer Devin Williams seemed almost offended that he was asked about the management of the third-year skipper. When asked about Mendoza, the right-hander was emphatic in his message: This is not the manager’s fault.
“He doesn’t swing a bat and he doesn’t throw a baseball,” Williams said. “We’ve been in a lot of these games. They’ve been close. I mean, him or somebody else is not affecting that.”
Mendoza can only do so much with the roster built by Stearns and the front office. The roster isn’t going to change drastically anytime soon, so if you ask the guys in the clubhouse, another voice isn’t going to get any more out of the team than Mendoza’s.
“If we’re not getting the job done, somebody else isn’t going to just magically flip a switch and we’re going to get it done,” Williams said. “He’s putting guys in good positions. We’re not performing.”
Williams could have an issue with how he’s being used, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Without a natural place to slot him in, Williams has pitched only twice in the last week, and had eight days of rest before pitching Wednesday in a loss to the Dodgers. The results haven’t been great: In seven games this season, he has a 7.11 ERA with two saves and one blown save.
Still, Williams isn’t entertaining any arguments about his usage.
“My job is to be there, be prepared and finish games when they get me the ball,” he said. “I didn’t do that today.”
In today’s game, many in-game decisions aren’t even dictated by the manager, though it’s generally believed that Mendoza has a fair amount of autonomy in the dugout. Every decision is going to be scrutinized in New York, win or lose, regardless of who is making them.
The decision to have Craig Kimbrel pitch to Nico Hoerner in the 10th, instead of walking him to set up a double play, could have been made by the analytics team. Or, it could have been made by a manager who can’t trust his middle infielders to turn one right now.
If they had walked Hoerner and the next hitter, Michael Busch, it would have loaded the bases and set up a force-out at home. The Mets haven’t been adept at those plays this season.
Ultimately, this seems to fall on Stearns. He’s the architect of the roster coached and managed by his handpicked staff. In his third season running the baseball operations department, he has effectively put his stamp on the team, doing so without emotion or an attachment to players of teams past.
Now, the Mets are playing in a similar fashion — without emotion, or Grimace, or OMG, or anything remotely fun. The Mets aren’t supposed to be this buttoned up and corporate, yet the team on the field is playing like a group of co-workers who barely know each other and can’t wait for their next Teams meeting to end.
Fans are losing their emotional attachment. Why would they want to show up for games when this is the product on the field? Where is the entertainment value? Who are the heroes they’re supposed to root for?
There is no lack of talent, but the Mets are lacking quite a bit. They’re lacking an identity and chemistry on the field. The manager can’t provide those attributes; he can only help the team find them on their own.
“It’s all of us,” said left-hander David Peterson. “We’re in this together. Everyone has a part in this, and we’ve got to stick together. Everyone has to take responsibility and accountability. We all need to look in the mirror and see what we can do better to help this team move in the right direction.”
Scott Wood, left, and Raul Salazar, owners of the new Richard's Under Main, stand next to chalkboard art by Devin McGlone at the newly renovated space. The pair have relaunched the once-popular underground bar on Main Street in Peoria.
A word on the future of Off Tackle Empire, a couple hundred words on the Big Ten and how Iowa are dirty cheaters, and then 1,000 more on a delicious sandwich.
The premise is simple: there’s been a lot going on in the wide, wide world of Big Ten football! You, however, are a good-looking connossieur of football and all things internet with nary enough time to read them all.
We would like to fix that—BUT!—more importantly, we would like to fill your belly, too.
Introducing: A Horseshoe in Every Pot; or, Your 2026 B1G Football Check-In
Bringing this about was the wise, wise move of the state of Illinois to finally fix a longstanding historical inequity last week, making the Italian beef the state’s official sandwich and—in a sot, we assume, to the downstate vote—making the horseshoe the state’s official open-faced sandwich.
The Illinois House votes 106-0-2 to pass a bill designating the Italian beef as the official state sandwich and the horseshoe as the official state open-faced sandwich. Heads to the Senate. #twillhttps://t.co/jQJA1C4jTe
Now. Is the horseshoe the superior of these two sandwiches?
Of course.
[PLEASE NOTE: if you would like to debate whether or not an open-faced sandwich is a sandwich, feel free to do so in the comments. I would personally hate it if the reason that we looked appealing to the Sheinhardt Wig Company and/or German porn channel about to buy SBNation was because we had a 700-comment flame war on whether a not a horseshoe was, in fact, a sandwich. Under no circumstances should you have a strong opinion about this; however, if you do, feel free to let us know down in the comment section. SBNation: the Year of the Commenter!]
But that’s simply not the point right now, damnit! You were LURED in here by the promise of a horseshoe in your pot, or the picture of Tricky Dick’s Late-Nite Saloon in Peoria, or perhaps my crafty search engine optimization tools that convinced you to click on this THINKING it was going to be chock-full of Big Ten football updates.
With your whistle wetted from that oasis of #content in the off-season desert, let’s get to filling your belly with the metaphorical meal of Having Opinions on Food.
What’s the Big Idea?
What are you, in my Museums and Methods class? Thanks, Bev Serrell.
For the rest of you, the idea is simple: Invent a horseshoe sandwich for every Big Ten school.
A Horseshoe?
In case you didn’t click the link above or need a refresher, here’s a little overview on the pride of Springfield, the horseshoe sandwich:
Springfield offers up one of the most filling sandwiches in the Midwest.
This unique open-faced sandwich is definitely a must!! Just know, it will blow your diet…but, it is so worth it!
Start off with two thick slices of toasted Texas Toast, topped with your choice of meat, then cover that with a heaping pile of crispy French fries and drench with homemade cheese sauce!! WOW!! This signature dish can be found at most local restaurants who serve pub & American-style food.
So what’s the deal with Tricky Dick’s Late-Nite Steakhouse in Peoria?
You never forget your first, and my first horseshoe came when I was approximately .25 BAC on a cool evening in Peoria, Illinois, in about 2013. We were visiting a friend in grad school, had been out drinking, and wanted a late-night meal.
But now, thanks to the state of Illinois, I’ve got horseshoes—and Big Ten football, of course—on my mind once again. So, approximately two times a week until (1) I’m fired, (2) the blog is shuttered, (3) I run out of energy, or (4) the dictat comes down to begin posting only listicles/wig reviews/recaps of German pornography, I or one of the other—nonexistent, at this point—Off Tackle Empire staffers will post the following:
An update on a Big Ten team—perhaps a Spring Game, a transfer portal update, or this absolutely reprehensible Pat Fitzgerald tongue-bath from a USA Today reporter who should honestly be ashamed and quit the profession—and
A recipe or concept of a horseshoe sandwich for that team.
Which will be more important and/or prominent?
Don’t be fucking stupid. Of course it’s the horseshoe.
What are the required components? I’m thinking I’d like to write for OTE.
A passing knowledge of college football
The ability to write in completeapproximate things vaguely resembling sentences
I meant for the horseshoe, you dunce.
YES! Right. The horseshoe. All horseshoes should consist, approximately, of the following:
A bread. It need not be Texas toast! Perhaps a San Francisco sourdough, if Stanford and/or Cal were in the Big Ten (they are not, as of this writing, but who knows). Make it culturally or regionally appropriate.
A meatlike substance. Is Minnesota’s going to be SPAM? WHO’S TO SAY! (I like the idea, but let’s not pretend I have a plan here!) “Choice of meat” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. We’ll see where it goes.
A starchlike substance. Preferably a potato, but who knows! It should make sense and, preferably, be fried and unhealthy.
A liquid-adjacent viscous topping. Cheese sauce? SURE! Lingonberry jam? MAYBE! A gallon of XXX Root Beer? WHY NOT! The main qualifier here will be a liquid-based substance of relative viscosity. (Maybe root beer would be out for this one. Get back to me.)
It’s important to note: these will not just be reconstructions of a school’s, city’s, or state’s iconic dish but in horseshoe format. We’re not flattening a steamed hot dog bun, covering it in wieners, topping said wieners with fried onion strings, and then dousing it in chili and calling it a Coneyshoe—okay fuck that does sound amazing.
Do you see why we’re doing this article series?
OK. More on this in the coming days. Maybe as early as tomorrow! Probably not, though. Much like I didn’t do when I ate Coneys from both Lafayette and American in the span of 10 minutes when I was in Detroit last month, it’s a good idea to pace yourself.
Gana Gueye goes flying after yet another Liverpool foul
(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Well, the bad thing happened. And it happened in typically heartbreaking fashion — Virgil van Dijk cropping up with a header in the 100th minute to ensure Liverpool took the bragging rights from the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
A 2-1 loss in this fashion, to them, is gut-wrenching, but here are three things we learned from Sunday’s defeat.
EVERTON ARE CURSED
Getting this one out of the way early. While we should not wallow in self-defeatism or derby misery, it is hard not to think that this simply would not have happened against pretty much any other club in the Premier League.
Hill Dickinson Stadium was rocking in the early afternoon sunshine, and the Toffees were the better side right up until the moment Mohamed Salah opened the scoring — that goal coming only a couple of minutes after wild celebrations for Iliman Ndiaye’s goal had been cut short by a VAR check, which deemed Jake O’Brien to have been offside in the build-up.
The Toffees were not brilliant, but their performance definitely merited at least a point. They had battled hard to get back into it through Beto’s equaliser.
But when it comes to facing Liverpool, even when the respective form of the clubs seems to suggest that this might just be the Toffees’ time to shine, Everton just seem to be cursed.
EVERTON NEED BETTER
Thierno Barry and Tyrique George came on to try and swing the game in Everton’s favour — albeit, the former substitution was enforced by Beto taking a knock to the head — but ultimately, neither attacking change made the desired impact.
Barry failed to provide a platform to build off, while George, fresh from a bright cameo against Brentford last week, could not get into the game, and was not swift enough to release the ball when he had it to feet.
If Everton are to get to a level where they can really take advantage when they go into games like derbies, then simply put, the club need to start being bullish in the transfer market.
Last year, Everton spent plenty of money on players to fill out the squad, but bar Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish, none of them have made a real impact, with Barry at least scoring some important goals. That is simply not good enough, and this coming transfer window must be different. BRANTHWAITE’S ISSUES PILING UP
It looks like Jarrad Branthwaite’s season could be over.
He was having an excellent game, but as the match ended its closing stages, he went down after a bad slip while trying to muscle Cody Gakpo out of play.
The centre-back’s right hamstring appeared to pull immediately, and after receiving treatment, Branthwaite had to be taken off on a stretcher. It was in the time added on because of that stoppage that Liverpool got their winner.
But we now know for certain that Branthwaite needs fixing. If Everton are to get the best out of him, then they need to solve his injury issues. If not, he may not fulfil his immense potential, and the Toffees will be worse off for it.
Anthony Gordon at Bayern would be a match made in heaven. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is one of Europe’s hottest transfer prospects right now.
With Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool in the mix for his signature, and multiple other clubs rumored to be linked with the star winger, this was always going to be a brawl.
Until now…maybe.
Bayern Munich might be in the driver’s seat, if the news from transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri is true. Tavolieri (via @iMiaSanMia) is reporting that Gordon is open to a move to Bayern Munich and additional talks between the German power and the English attacker’s camp are being planned:
Anthony Gordon has told his entourage that he would be open to a move to FC Bayern. The Englishman sees a move to Munich as a logical step up in his career, inspired by Michael Olise’s success, who left the Premier League for Germany and quickly managed to adapt and perform. Bayern are planning further meetings with Gordon’s representatives in the coming weeks in order to discuss personal terms. Newcastle expect Gordon to leave and are already looking for a replacement. At the moment, no potential transfer fee has been mentioned – the discussions are still at an early stage regarding that aspect of the deal.
BFW Commentary
It is wonderful to note that the player is hungry for success and feels ready to take the next step. Furthermore, it seems as if Gordon wishes to emulate the incredible Michael Olise, who could be a top three Ballon d’Or candidate in the eyes of most people with a lick of football IQ.
With players like Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz serving as a blueprint for players from the Premier League succeeding in the Bundesliga, Anthony Gordon might fancy his chances at playing at the highest level and competing for a treble every season at Bayern.
Per some reports, Bayern has already had talks with Gordon’s representatives and per Tavolieri, additional meetings are being planned. If Newcastle in the hunt for a replacement, this might soon become reality.
Of course, there might be the tiny issue of the transfer fee, which no doubt can be expected to be massive, but if Bayern is committed, if the scouts believe in his abilities, and if he is keen to move to Bavaria…
GET IT DONE!
Also, sliding this stat in there: Anthony Gordon has 10 goals and 2 assists in 12 Champions League appearances this season. You want a big game player? Thou mightst him have.
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…
It should come as no surprise that Brandel Chamblee found a way to criticise Jon Rahm after his win at LIV Golf Mexico City on Sunday.
Chamblee has been one of LIV Golf’s biggest critics since their inception in 2022.
Rahm is the best player on LIV Golf; there is no doubt about that.
However, Brandel Chamblee found a way to diminish Jon Rahm‘s latest LIV Golf victory and it must be said, it’s hard to argue against his point.
Photo by Simon Bruty/Augusta National/Getty Images
Chamblee predicted the end of LIV Golf after the bombshell news emerged on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia’s PIF could be prepared to stop funding the league.
Quite what the future holds for LIV, and indeed Rahm, remains to be seen.
However, Chamblee believes it’s all immaterial anyway.
Brandel Chamblee posts stinging message to Jon Rahm after LIV Golf Mexico win
Rahm raced away with the win in Mexico on Sunday, defeating his countryman, David Puig, by a whopping six shots.
It was Rahm’s second victory on LIV Golf in 2026.
Incredibly, he hasn’t finished outside the top five so far this season.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
However, the general consensus is that all of his achievements on LIV are fairly meaningless, due to his poor performances in the majors.
“He beat players who sacrificed their careers to play on a tour that was hotter cooked than eaten,“ Chamblee said.
What the former PGA Tour player means by that is that the idea of LIV Golf was better in conception than it is in its final form.
And that’s a fair stance to take from Chamblee.
Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf gamble fails miserably
Rahm took a gamble that his move to LIV Golf would be the tipping point regarding unification with the PGA Tour.
However, since the Spaniard joined the Saudi-backed league, the PGA Tour has gone from strength to strength, while LIV continues to struggle.
LIV Golf simply doesn’t resonate with the vast majority of golf fans.
The lack of jeopardy and non existent strength in depth in their fields mean there is little interest in their events.
Add to that their lack of history and tradition and it’s easy to see why LIV Golf has been a failure up to this point.
Jon Rahm won’t admit it, but he must be regretting his decision to leave the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf back in 2023.
He has damaged his legacy with that decision and it could be argued that he will never be able to repair that damage, regardless of what happens in the future.
A.J. Brown is still with the Philadelphia Eagles but the clock may already be ticking on his tenure in Philadelphia.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brown is “likely” to be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1, a move driven largely by salary cap strategy rather than on-field performance.
The financial reasoning is straightforward but significant. The Eagles are facing a $40 million cap hit tied to Brown’s contract. If they trade him before June 1, that entire amount would count against their 2026 salary cap. By waiting until after June 1, they can split the hit between 2026 and 2027—creating much-needed flexibility as they reshape their roster.
What makes the situation more notable is Brown’s continued production. In the 2025 season, he recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, marking yet another 1,000-yard campaign in a career defined by consistency and explosiveness. His ability to generate big plays and command defensive attention has made him one of the league’s premier wide receivers.
Cap strategy drives potential Brown trade as Patriots eye No. 1 receiver upgrade
Despite that production, Philadelphia appears to be weighing long-term roster balance over short-term star power. With significant financial commitments across the roster, moving Brown would allow the Eagles to reallocate resources while maintaining flexibility in future seasons.
For New England, the potential trade would represent a major offensive upgrade. The Patriots have lacked a true No. 1 receiver in recent years, and Brown’s physicality, route-running, and playmaking ability would immediately elevate their passing game.
Still, several factors remain unresolved. Trade compensation, timing, and final cap considerations will all influence whether a deal is completed. The Eagles are expected to seek a significant return, reflecting Brown’s status as one of the NFL’s top wideouts.
For now, Brown remains an Eagle. But with June 1 approaching and financial realities looming, one of the league’s most productive receivers could soon be on the move—reshaping both franchises in the process.
Wolverhampton Wanderers could be relegated from the Premier League on Monday, 20 April.
Rob Edwards' side are bottom of the table having picked up just 17 points from 33 matches, leaving Wolves 15 points from safety with just five games to go.
Wolves can only reach a maximum of 32 points this season and that would require them winning each of their final five matches.
After a 3-0 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, as well as a victory for Nottingham Forest against fellow strugglers Burnley, Wolves can only catch three teams mathematically.
However, with 17th-placed West Ham on 32 points, the Hammers need just a single point to confirm the Old Gold's relegation.
The Hammers play London rivals Crystal Palace on Monday night, where a win or draw for Nuno Espirito Santo's side will confirm a return to the Championship for Wolves.
Failing that, Wolves will remain in the division mathematically until at least Saturday, 25 April, when they face Tottenham Hotspur at home while West Ham host Everton.
If West Ham avoid defeat or Edwards' side fail to win this weekend, Wolves will be relegated.
Opta's supercomputer gives Wolves a 100% chance of being relegated.
What is the earliest a team has been relegated?
Wolves' eight-season stay in the Premier League is set to come to an end ahead of the 2026-27 season [Getty Images]
Wolves have already avoided becoming the earliest team to be relegated from the top-flight and also bettered the Premier League's record lowest points tally.
Derby County hold both records after Paul Jewell's side were relegated on 29 March 2008 - earning just 11 points in the process.
Southampton suffered the earliest Premier League relegation in terms of the number of games played in 2024-25. Ivan Juric's side went down with seven games spare and finished on a meagre 12 points.
These are the records Wolves have managed to avoid:
Derby County (2007-08): 29 March
Huddersfield Town (2018-19): 30 March
Fulham (2018-19): 2 April
Leicester City (2001-02): 6 April
Southampton (2024-25): 6 April
Portsmouth (2009-10): 10 April
Sunderland (2002-03): 12 April
Leicester City (1994-95): 13 April
Ipswich Town (1994-95): 14 April
Sunderland (2005-06): 14 April
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
But it’s also a net-downhill course, meaning if you play your cards right, it's easier than some others to set a personal record.
The 2026 marathon is set to host over 30,000 competitors from almost 130 countries, with entrants from all 50 states in the country predicted to participate, the Boston Athletic Association said. There are sure to be a lot of competitors setting their own personal records at the race as well.
From Main Street to Copley Square, here’s what you need to know about the Boston Marathon course.
What is the Boston Marathon route? See map
The Boston Marathon starts on Main Street in Hopkinton.
Runners will then follow Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley to where Route 135 turns into Route 16.
The course goes along Route 16 until the fire station at Commonwealth Avenue, where runners will take a right and begin the stretch of Newton Hills. After Heartbreak Hill from mile 20 to 21, runners will pass the Chestnut Hill Reservoir before turning left on to Beacon Street.
At this point, runners will have just about four miles to go. They will continue through Brookline, Kenmore Square, and under Massachusetts Avenue.
Finally, the famous turns come at the end: right onto Hereford Street and left onto Boylston Street for the final sprint.
The Marathon ends near the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
Leicester City must win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation to League One when they host play-off chasing Hull City on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).
The Foxes are eight points adrift of safety with three games remaining after a run of just one win in their past 17 matches (D7 L9).
Even victory will not be enough for Gary Rowett's side to stay up if Charlton Athletic avoid defeat and both West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers win in midweek.
The Tigers are sixth, two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham, and need a win to guarantee they keep their play-off hopes in their own hands, though Sergej Jakirovic's side have gone four games without victory (D3 L1).
Leicester have lost just one of their past six home league games against Hull (W3 D2), though it was the last time they hosted them in September 2023 (0-1).
Hull are looking to complete the league double over Leicester for the first time since 2007-08, when the Tigers were promoted to the top-flight for the first time.
Only Sheffield Wednesday have collected fewer points at home in the Championship in 2026 than Leicester City (7 – W2 D1 L6); indeed, their six defeats in their past eight are as many as in their previous 28 home matches in the second tier (W17 D5).
Hull have lost three of their past five away league games (W1 D1), as many as in their previous 14 matches on their travels (W9 D2).
Hull's Oliver McBurnie has four goal involvements across his previous eight away league starts (2 goals, 2 assists), netting most recently at former side Sheffield United.
Revealed – When Inter Milan Star Defender Could Return From Injury
Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni will miss Tuesday’s Coppa Italia clash against Como due to injury.
According to Corriere della Sera via FCInter1908, Cristian Chivu won’t force the 26-year-old’s premature return to action.
Alessandro Bastoni missed Friday’s 3-0 home rout of Serie A minnows Cagliari after sustaining a minor leg injury.
Furthermore, he won’t be at Chivu’s disposal for tomorrow night’s ‘make or break’ showdown against Como.
Inter held the Lariani to a scoreless draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie last month, leaving the contest evenly poised ahead of the return fixture.
When Inter Milan Star Alessandro Bastoni Could Return from Injury
With Bastoni unavailable for selection, Chivu will likely turn to Carlos Augusto to fill the vacant spot at the back.
Meanwhile, the Italian center-back is reportedly at risk of missing Inter’s upcoming Serie A clash against Torino.
Indeed, he is more likely to make his long-awaited return against Parma at San Siro the following weekend.
In the meantime, rumors surrounding his future are gaining momentum, with Barcelona keen to lure him to the Camp Nou this summer.
Despite the player’s desire to stay at Inter, his unbearable situation in Serie A could force his summer exit.
De Laurentiis: Abete ‘not a good fit’ for FIGC President role, Malagò has just one ‘flaw’
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis insists Giovanni Malagò is the most-suited candidate to become the FIGC President and ‘rebuild’ Italian football, while Giancarlo Abete ‘is a dear friend, but is not a good fit.’
Malagò and Abete are expected to be the only two candidates at the FIGC Presidential election taking place on June 22, 2026.
Malagò, a former CONI President, is the candidate picked by Lega Serie A, and today representatives of clubs in Italy’s top flight will meet the 67-year-old to outline their project.
Abete, on the other hand, already served as the FIGC President from 2007 to 2014 and is backed by Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND), which accounts for 34% of the vote, compared to Serie A’s 18%.
Any candidate, however, needs to secure 51% of the vote to be elected, so Malagò and Abete need to win over other members of the voting panel to win the election.
Napoli President De Laurentiis once again backed Malagò just before the beginning of the Lega Serie A meeting in Milan today.
NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli President during the UEFA Champions League match between SCC Napoli and SC Braga at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
“I called Malagò, telling him to take charge of the situation because no one can do this better than him,” De Laurentiis said via TMW.
“He’s an entrepreneur and a sportsman with plenty of experience. The only flaw is that he’s in love with Roma, but we’ll put up with that, too,” he added, smiling.
“We are tired of being led by people who have institutional roles just for personal prestige. The most important thing in life is to work, but to do that, you need knowledge. Nobody more than an entrepreneur who does business can fix things that don’t work. From my perspective, Mr Malagò is welcome.
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Giancarlo Abete President of LND poses during the FIGC DCPS press conference at Europa Experience on December 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“Abete is a dear friend and a person I truly respect. His brother is a business partner in one of my companies, but he’s not a good fit for this job,” De Laurentiis continued.
“Perhaps, he’ll be upset, but we are accustomed to expressing our thoughts in a democracy, even if Italians, by nature, are cowards.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 15: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 delivers a speech during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games closing ceremony at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“We wait for Malagò and hope his ideas match ours. Football in Italy has to be rebuilt. They say I’m a visionary, but I came from the world of cinema in 2004, and I’ve been annoyingly saying since then that everything’s old and that kids wouldn’t watch matches anymore. But nobody is there to listen because everyone is just thinking about their seats.”
Official – Simone Sozza To Referee Inter Milan Vs Como Coppa Italia Semi-Final Second Leg
Referee Simone Sozza will be in charge of Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final clash between Inter Milan and Como.
The Lega Serie A have announced the complete list of officials for the upcoming semi-finals, via FCInterNews. Daniele Doveri will be on VAR duty for the match.
Inter Milan and Como shared the spoils in a dull 0-0 draw in the first leg at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia last month.
Therefore, both sides will have everything to play for when they renew hostilities at San Siro tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Cristian Chivu is vying for a place in the Coppa Italia final, looking to complete a coveted domestic double.
Indeed, Inter eased past Cagliari on Friday, moving 12 points clear of Serie A runners-up Napoli.
Simone Sozza to Referee Inter Milan vs Como Coppa Italia Clash – Doveri On VAR
The referee for Friday’s game will be Simone Sozza.
Assisting Sozza in his duties will be Alessio Berti and Dario Cecconi.
The role of the fourth official, meanwhile, will fall to Matteo Marcenaro.
In the VAR booth, Daniele Doveri will oversee the match to correct any errors made by the on-pitch officials.
Assisting Doveri in his duties will be Daniele Paterna.
After falling victim to disastrous officiating in several matches this season, Inter will hope to avoid further controversy in this fixture.
Paris FC coach’s World Cup jab: ‘More Italians’ here than Juventus or Milan
Diego Coppola, Ciro Immobile and Luca Koleosho started in Paris FC’s win over Metz on Sunday, prompting the Parisiens’ coach, Antoine Kombouaré, to claim: ‘ There are more Italians here than there are Juventus or Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.’
Paris FC coach taunts the Azzurri: ‘There are more Italians here…’
Three Italian players, Coppola, Koloesho and Immobile started in Paris FC’s 3-1 away victory at Metz on Sunday.
Immobile and Coppola contributed to the victory with one assist each, while Koleosho, on loan from Burnley, has scored twice in 12 appearances since moving to Paris in the January window.
Official: Diego Coppola joins Paris FC from Brighton & Hove Albion (@Diegocoppolass via Instagram)
Paris FC’s coach Kombouaré sarcastically commented on his team’s victory, saying (via GFNF): “Today, there are more Italians playing for Paris FC than there are at Juventus or AC Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.”
Italy have not qualified for the World Cup for the third time in a row, making their last appearance in the competition in 2014.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Ciro Immobile of Bologna FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Furthermore, the Azzurri have not played in the knockout phase of the competition since 2006, when they went on to lift the cup after beating France on penalties in the final.
Les Blues have won the World Cup twice in their history, compared to Italy’s four, but have reached the Final in the last two editions.
😂 Coach Antoine Kombouaré, en roue libre, en pleine forme avec ses trois italiens titulaires ! pic.twitter.com/WFKym1RocJ
LAS VEGAS — WrestleMania 42 just wrapped up, so now its time to ask: When and where is the next one?
The entire WWE calendar revolves around WrestleMania, since it's where the top stars compete for the top prizes, and after what unfolded in Las Vegas, fans are already looking ahead to what happens next year. Given the status of the show, its a highly sought event to host for cities, bringing in tourists around the world as it becomes the wrestling capital of the world.
Next year's WrestleMania site has already been determined. WrestleMania 43 will be a controversial yet historic one, as it will be the first one to take place outside of North America. So, where is WWE taking its grand event? Here is what to know about WrestleMania 43 in 2027:
Cork-born midfielder Denise O'Sullivan could play at Pairc Ui Chaoimh for a third time in June [Getty Images]
The Republic of Ireland will play their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier with the Netherlands at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.
The qualifier on 5 June will be the third time the Republic of Ireland have played at the home of gaelic games in Cork.
The Republic of Ireland defeated France in a memorable 3-1 win in front of 18,400 fans in 2024, and Carla Ward's side picked up a 1-0 win against Slovenia last year.
Ward said that her squad "love" playing in Cork and they will look to extend their unbeaten run at the stadium against the Netherlands in their final home qualifier of the campaign, before a final fixture in France.
"The team has won both matches at Pairc Ui Chaoimh so far, and we will be aiming to continue that run against the Netherlands," Ward said.
"I've no doubt that our supporters will come out in their numbers to back the team as we aim to move closer to securing a place at the World Cup."
The Republic of Ireland are third in League A2 and picked up six points against Poland in April's double-header.
Ward's side lost their opening qualifier to France at Tallaght Stadium, and were narrowly defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in Utrecht in March.
More than 30,000 runners are set to make the 26.2-mile trek to the race’s iconic finish line on Boylston Street in Boston’s Copley Square.
Organizers say the race has its strongest field ever, with seven of the top men’s finishers from last year and eight women with personal bests that would have beaten the Boston course record until last year.
Reigning men’s and women’s champions, John Korir and Sharon Lokedi, both of Kenya, lead the packed field of runners.
Eight-time wheelchair champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland is going for another victory, while defending women’s wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni is expecting a baby in August and not racing.
Follow along below for live race updates:
7 a.m.
Men’s and women’s wheelchair racers are on their way to Hopkinton. They begin the Marathon at 9:06 a.m. and 9:09 a.m., respectively.
Boston 25 Meteorologist Tucker Antico confirms a tailwind is expected to help the runners.
Chilly for spectators, not too bad for runners today!
After you've scraped the frost off your windshield, look forward to mid-upper 40s in the afternoon. A breezy west (tail) wind later on too! 🟦🟨 pic.twitter.com/y81yorIbhz
MassDOT reminds the public that highway ramp closures will be in place to support Marathon operations.
Today in #Boston#Newton Daytime ramp closures of I-90 EB, I-95, and Route 16. Closures will be in place Monday, April 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to support @bostonmarathon operations.
Race Director Dave McGillivray sent a group of about 50Massachusetts National Guard members across the Boston Marathon start line, officially launching the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.
Bayern planning meetings with Anthony Gordon's representatives
As reported by several outlets earlier this month, Bayern Munich are lining up a move for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon.
According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, writing for the Swiss edition of Sky, the England international has told those close to him that he is open to a move to the German champions at the end of the season.
To advance their pursuit, Bayern are planning to meet Gordon’s representatives in the coming weeks, as per the report.
Before potentially approaching Newcastle, who are said to be open to negotiations, Bayern want to ensure common ground can be reached with the 25-year-old’s camp.
Gordon has scored 17 goals and provided five assists in 46 appearances across all competitions this season.
The Chiefs were on the losing side – Fin Smith dancing around England team-mate Immanuel Feyi -Waboso on the final play of the game for the winning score – but a superb toe-to-toe contest in front of a sun-bathed, 12,000-strong crowd was prime sporting 'product'.
Northampton caught the mood as well.
Henry Pollock unveiled a new try celebration, lobbing the ball in the air before 'shooting' it down with a mimed rifle. Number eight Callum Chick showed a fine bit of slipper, landing a 50:22. Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson seemed to motion to ask the home fans to find the knock-on in Smith's game-winning score after the visitors had had an earlier try ruled out.
Tom Litchfield's performance at outside centre will give Dowson more reason to smile.
The 24-year-old made the most metres of any of the Saints backline in their win over Saracens at Tottenham Stadium last time out in the league and was a muscular, intelligent presence once again.
The result, combined with Bristol's win over Gloucester on Friday night, adds some much-needed intrigue to the top-four conundrum.
The Bears are four points off Exeter.
Northampton sit top of the pile still, but the fixture list will test their grip on the summit.
They host second-placed Bath next (albeit the visitors seem set to rest some stars with a looming Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles), before travelling to in-form Leicester and then hosting Bristol.
Friday night's rematch went the way of the older man however.
Genge went looking for Fasogbon after Bristol won a scrum penalty, shouting the odds. As the teams trooped off at half-time, the pair were at the heart of a sudden tunnel tussle.
And when Fasogbon was replaced a couple of minutes before Genge, the Ashton Gate crowd waved him on his way.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't take it personally a few years back when he waved at me when I was walking off the pitch," Genge said on TNT Sports.
"I'm sometimes tarnished as a hothead, but I think the animosity and violence in rugby is what people crave and we should embody it, not shy away from it.
"He is a young talent and I'm sure he will have me again at some point, but I am buzzing with our tight five. We won that battle."
The two could be on the same side this summer.
With Will Stuart and Trevor Davison recovering from Achilles tendon and knee injuries respectively, England's tight-head options behind Joe Heyes are a little sparse for England's summer fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
Genge's Bristol team-mate George Kloska, picked to start at three ahead of Fasogbon for England A earlier this year, might have something to say about that too though.
Martin back in the mix
George Martin's most recent game before this weekend's win over Newcastle was an appearance for England against France in February 2025 [Getty Images]
Billy Searle was lining up a gimme conversion after Gabriel Hamer-Webb had strolled in for an alarmingly easy fourth try of the afternoon, when some late intrigue was injected into the final quarter of Leicester's 62-3 win over Newcastle.
George Martin, who has been sidelined since Febuary 2025 with various shoulder and knee injuries took to a rugby field once more.
The second row has spent some of his rehabilitation signing for Saracens for next season, but was still greeted warmly by the Tigers faithful.
It was a perfect game to be reintroduced into top-flight rugby.
Newcastle has long since given up the ghost. Martin trucked up a couple of balls just outside his 22m, had a nibble at a breakdown, took a couple of lineouts and showed some smart hands to drop it out the back to Orlando Bailey.
England boss Steve Borthwick will have been watching every bit intently. During Martin's time out, England have faithfully included his name at the bottom of every squad announcement as one of those in their thoughts, but out of fitness.
After such a long absence, are five rounds of regular-season matches, potentially another two beyond, enough to propel him into contention to face South Africa, who he so memorably tore into in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finals?
The wing was the one bright spot in Sale's afternoon, taking the fight to Saracens with spirit and wit. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, packing down on his less accustomed loosehead side, had some nice fast-twitch moments and George Ford continued playing flat and fast.
Other than that it was as grim for Sale against Saracens as an 85-19 scoreline suggests.
They were desperately short of incision and invention in attack, but the most glaring void in their game was in defence.
Saracens made 14 entries into the home 22m and came away with a try from all but one of those visits.
Sale actually shaded the territory battle (57% to 43%), but their defence was so lacking in conviction and organisation, Saracens strolled them as through it was a semi-structured training session.
There are plenty of candidates for the most egregious example, but perhaps the worst was the way that Fergus Burke, not the most noted running threat from fly-half, slapped aside tackles to saunter through and set up his side's ninth try and Noah Caluori's fourth.
Byron McGuigan orchestrated that, but the then-defence coach has since departed to England and seemingly taken some of the heart out of Sale's rearguard with him.
A big summer lies ahead for the Sharks, who made the play-offs in four of their five previous seasons but have won only three of 13 league matches this season.
A big future lies ahead for Caluori, who dominated opposite number Tom Roebuck in the air and beat the cover with one-handed dunk dives for two of his tries.
The spelling on the back of his shirt may have been awry, but whoever is in charge will get plenty of practice in getting it right in the years to come.
Caluori has scored 17 tries this season, seven more than his nearest rival in the Prem [Getty Images]
Dombrandt and Kenningham battle amid Quins wreckage
Dombrandt has showed up well in a difficult season for Quins [Rex Features]
The most important signing that Harlequins might make this summer could be in their medical department.
They had 27 players out through injury before heading to Bath on Saturday, with head coach Jason Gilmore saying that emergency short-term front-row signings were needed so there were enough bodies in to fulfil fixtures and keep training viable.
Then, once they got to the Recreation Ground, it got worse. Luke Northmore pulled out before kick-off. Nick David and Cadan Murley were injured on 20 minutes. Fly-half Jarrod Evans copped another shoulder knock on 56 minutes.
Gilmore has spoken about robustness being one of the key qualities he wants his squad to develop over the summer.
Alex Dombrandt has shown plenty of that, providing precious go-forward against the champions. Jack Kenningham, in the league-wide top 10 for both tackles made and turnover won, has too.
But Harlequins, who have signed Northampton skipper George Furbank and Bristol second row James Dun for next season, need more of the same from more of their squad.
Daryl Dike has scored 10 goals in 65 appearances for West Brom [Getty Images]
West Bromwich Albion forward Daryl Dike wants to keep his scoring momentum "rolling" after ending his season-long goal drought on Saturday.
The American scored the decisive second goal in the Baggies' 2-0 win at Preston, just seven minutes after coming off the bench.
It was his first goal since netting on the final day of last season in a 5-3 win over Luton on 3 May.
"I'm just so happy," Dike told BBC Radio WM. "I've worked really hard for this and to contribute to the team, and being on the scoresheet is a great thing.
"Naturally as a striker you always want to score and to contribute, so working hard and seeing the products of your work on the pitch is a good feeling."
Dike admitted to "many lows" this season before scoring in his 22nd appearance of the campaign and thanked supporters who "have always believed in me".
"As a striker every single game I sit there and think, 'OK, today's going to be the day I'm going to score,'" he added.
"It's all you can think about, really, every single day, so finally it's like a little breath of fresh air.
"But now I'll be frustrated on Tuesday if I don't score again, so I'm just going to try and keep it rolling."
Rejuvenated under interim boss James Morrison, Albion are unbeaten in eight matches since a 2-1 defeat to relegation rivals on 28 February, picking up 14 points.
The run has left them five points above the drop zone with three games to play, starting with a home match against mid-table Watford on Tuesday (19:45 BST).
"Now we step into every single game thinking we can get a result, winning away to a tough Preston, and now we are at home; we have the support, the motivation, the camaraderie," said Dike.
"So going into Tuesday, why can't we win? We go into every single game now thinking that we can."
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki has struggled with his command this season, resulting in poor starts. Sasaki’s struggles continued in the Dodgers' second straight loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Even though Sasaki didn't get through five innings, manager Dave Roberts did see some improvement from his young right-hander, which Sasaki can build off of.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts feels Roki Sasaki was “more efficient” against the Colorado Rockies
“I thought he [Sasaki] was more efficient. I thought he got ground balls when he needed to, got some quick fly balls,” Roberts said postgame to SportsNet LA. “And I really wanted him to get through that fifth inning. But with [TJ] Rumfield up, I felt, you know, Alex was going to give us a better chance to kind of keep the game there, but overall, better, better outing.“
Despite his “efficient” outing, Sasaki didn’t get through five innings, as he allowed seven hits, two walks, and three earned runs on 78 pitches (43 strikes). The 24-year-old’s previous two starts were much of the same, totaling eight earned runs, eight walks, and 11 strikeouts in nine innings.
The problem with Sasaki this season has been his walks (12 walks in 17.2 innings), but his four-seam fastball has not been effective. In 21 at-bats (109 pitches) against his fastball, opposing hitters are hitting .381 with a .714 slugging percentage and have hit two home runs off the pitch.
A reason for the change in the effectiveness of his fastball could be the fact that Sasaki has changed his arm angle. In 2025, Sasaki’s arm angle was 45 degrees; this season, it’s increased to 50 degrees.
Changing this up and being more on top of the baseball should be a focus in Sasaki’s bullpens to get him back on track.
Pittsburgh is approaching the draft with the kind of problem that many front offices wouldn't hesitate to trade a pick for.
They have three starting-quality edge rushers, T.J. Watt locked in on a $41 million-a-year extension, Alex Highsmith paid like a cornerstone, and Nick Herbig running hot behind the curtain.
Both Highsmith and Herbig are reportedly drawing calls from rival front offices, but per Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, only one of them is really close to the door.
The contract math and Jack Sawyer's rookie tape point the same way
Highsmith, who turns 29 in August, still has two years remaining on the four-year, $68 million extension he signed back in 2023.
He is owed $14.5 million in 2026 and $15.5 million in 2027, with cap hits above $20 million in both seasons.
He led the Steelers with 9.5 sacks last season, but he has not reached double digits for about three straight years.
Also, Herbig, who is 24, is cheaper and arguably more productive at this moment. In a rotational role this past season, he earned an 87.1 PFF pass-rush grade and produced 47 total pressures with eight sacks.
“Highsmith’s name, along with fellow edge Nick Herbig are definitely floating around front offices as the draft approaches. It seems that any trade would be a one-but-not-both scenario, with Highsmith the likelier candidate to get moved...With Herbig waiting in the wings and having been very productive while rotating with Highsmith and T.J. Watt, the Steelers are expected to take some calls on Highsmith if the phone rings."
As one high-level personnel executive said, 'I think they will trade one of them. [between Highsmith and Herbig].' While Herbig's name has come up in conversations with teams about potential trade targets, it feels like the more acquirable player at this point would be Highsmith." Robinson wrote.
Pittsburgh drafted Jack Sawyer in 2025, and he forced a strip-sack on Houston in the Wild Card loss. That gives Omar Khan real cover to move on.
None of this guarantees a trade. Phones go silent all the time at this stage.
But looking at the shape of the room, the money, Sawyer's emergence, and a cheaper, younger Herbig in line for real minutes makes it easy to see why rival teams believe Highsmith is the one moving if the right offer lands.
CHICAGO — When bench coach Kai Correa walked through the Mets' clubhouse in his street clothes shortly after Sunday’s devastating walk-off loss to the Cubs, it was quiet.
The only noise emanating from the room was the splashing sound of running water coming from the bathroom with the occasional squeak from shower shoes. Some players sat in silence at their lockers.
The Mets lost their 11th straight loss in heartbreaking fashion at Wrigley Field. Everything they do seems to go against them. They now have one of the worst records in baseball.
Yet, Correa has been here before — and not long ago.
Just last summer, Correa made that same stroll through the visiting clubhouse in Chicago after the Guardians got swept by the Cubs en route to a 10-game losing streak of their own. He was Cleveland’s field coordinator at the time.
In the finale of that series, the Guardians also lost on a walk-off sacrifice fly with one out in the 10th inning.
“This is all oddly familiar for me,” Correa told NJ.com before loss No. 11 on Sunday.
All teams are different, but Correa’s experience with Cleveland is relevant to this year’s Mets because of what the Guardians did after they snapped their losing streak.
That team bounced back in a big way, washing away their losing streak to storm back into contention and make the playoffs. Cleveland is one of only four teams in MLB history to lose 10-plus games and still earn a trip to the postseason. That’s what the Mets are now setting out to accomplish in 2026 after this catastrophic start to the season — New York has the worst record in Major League Baseball over these first three weeks of games (7-15), tied with the lowly Royals.
“That was even more difficult with that team,” Correa said, “because it was a younger team in a lot of ways. We had guys who hadn’t experienced anything like that. And also we had some of the off-field things that are pretty well documented that went on that were going on simultaneously. That’s what makes this uniquely different, where we don’t have any of that.”
Correa was referring to the Guardians’ scandal that featured pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz rigging pitches as part of a sports betting scheme. Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on the same day of that series sweep in Chicago last July, the Guardians’ seventh loss in a row. Clase then joined him on the sidelines a few weeks later and both right-handers haven’t pitched in the big leagues ever since.
The fact that Cleveland was able to turn that disastrous summer with an inexperienced roster — that was in the national news for all the wrong reasons — into a division title is proof to Correa that nobody should be giving up on the Mets just yet. After all, that’s why teams play 162 games. A singular game or window of 10 losses isn’t representative of the level of preparation or a team’s culture behind closed doors, the bench coach explained.
“This is a clubhouse that has a ton of cohesion and there’s no wedge between this group,” Correa said. “If that young group with those substantive, off-the-field things could rise from that, it makes this group equally as adept to be able to do that too.”
Mets players and execs have insisted of late that the Mets are capable of breaking out of this rut and getting back on track because of the talent they have on this roster and the work ethic they’ve seen behind the scenes.
Correa agreed, reiterating that the Mets are seasoned across their roster, particularly with the new players who were acquired this past offseason. He also noted that this team is self aware when it comes to their play to this point. That accountability can go a long way as the losses continue to pile up as well.
“We have a variety of players here who have been in different organizations and had different low points in their career before,” Correa said. “They know how it feels to be in it and they know how it feels to get out of it. ... I think guys recognize that their performance needs to improve as well.”
What’s most important, from Correa’s standpoint, is that the Mets continue to show up to the ballpark without losing belief. Maintaining the same level of preparedness is pivotal.
“When you see teams deviate from their routine,” Correa said. “When they abandon ship and stop attending meetings, stop talking to each other, stop preparing. That’s when you see that holes become insurmountable. So, at this point with this team, I continue to see guys go about their business and prepare like professionals.”
Correa added: “I haven’t lost belief in the preparation these guys are going through. My hope is that we’ll continue and stick with those processes and the tide will change. Nothing is guaranteed in this game, but I can tell you that abandoning ship is what doesn’t work.”
Camera catches Declan Rice’s message to Odegaard after Arsenal loses
Declan Rice was caught on camera encouraging Martin Odegaard after Arsenal’s 2-1 loss against Manchester City yesterday, as the Gunners once again failed to win a key game. The moment reflected the squad’s disappointment, but also their determination to keep fighting in the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s side worked tirelessly throughout the match, yet it was not enough as City secured victory in front of their own supporters. The result means the Citizens could move to the top of the table if they win their next fixture.
Arsenal Face Important Response
For much of this campaign, Arsenal have been the best team in the Premier League. The Gunners have consistently won matches many expected them to win, showing maturity, quality and resilience across a demanding season.
However, the defeat to City now presents a huge test of character. Arsenal must recover quickly from the setback and win their remaining league matches if they are to keep serious pressure on their rivals in the closing weeks.
The players were clearly hurt by the result and looked frustrated as they prepared to leave the pitch. After giving so much in such an important contest, the emotional reaction was understandable.
Rice Shows Leadership Qualities
Despite the disappointment, Rice demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the group’s leaders. In difficult moments, strong personalities often become most important, and the midfielder appeared eager to lift those around him.
As reported by the Daily Mail, he was caught on camera telling a dejected Odegaard, “it’s not done” as Arsenal prepare to continue the fight until the very end of the season.
Those words may prove significant because they capture the mindset Arsenal need now. The title race has become more difficult, but there is still football to be played, and pressure can still shift quickly.
Rice has earned praise throughout the season for both his performances and mentality. His influence extends beyond what he offers on the pitch, and moments like this underline why he has become such an important figure at the club.
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Mohamed Toure – A £2.4m striker Celtic could easily have signed
Mohamed Toure is a player who could have easily been recruited. He was available for £2.4 million, yet we were willing to pay much more for Joel Mvuka…
Our much publicised failings in the transfer market are one of the leading causes for our current woes on the park, if not the leading cause altogether.
During the last few transfer windows we have failed to bring in any one of any real quality, especially when it comes to the centre forward position. It’s an area in the team that’s been severely neglected, and a major reason as to why we’ve had to endure such a turbulent campaign.
Last summer Celtic failed to bring in a centre forward capable of scoring goals as we missed out on names such as Kasper Dolberg, David Sterlec, and Mathias Kvistgaarden. Players who would have undoubtedly improved our powderpuff frontline.
In the end we reacted by bringing in free agent Kelechi Iheanacho, who despite doing his best, has had his campaign interrupted by injury, and clearly isn’t one hundred percent fit. His two goals at Hampden yesterday shows that the Nigerian striker has the quality, his problem is fitness related and if he can stay fit for the last half-dozen games he could end up as a
Celtic hero.
Alex Gogic of St Mirren battles with Tomas Cvancara of Celtic during the ScottishPremiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
The January transfer window was the time to make amends, but alas we failed miserably once again, as we were forced into bringing in a trio of loan players, such as Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, and Joel Mvuka. All three were available for yesterday’s Scottish Cup semi-final yet none of them even made it onto the Celtic bench.
All three have failed to make an impression, or in the case of Adamu and Joel Mvuka, aren’t even considered good enough for a place in recent squads.
Joel Mvuka of Celtic Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Cup, Fifth Round, Celtic Park, 07 February 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/ Shutterstock
There were much better options open to us, if we had any competence on the recruitment front. There were better options affordable to us, and more importantly options who would have added quality that could have seen us sitting in a much better place in the Scottish Premiership at this moment in time.
One such option as a potential signing was Mohamed Toure, an Australian international who was starring for Randers in the Danish top flight.
Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Championship match between Oxford United and Norwich City at Kassam Stadium on February 10, 2026 (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Just 22, Toure is described as a striker with great physical strength as well as possessing terrific natural pace. Whilst he wasn’t exactly a proven experienced striker, or had a great goalscoring ratio, he had undoubted potential, something he was proving by starring in an average Randers side.
Norwich City scouts had done their homework properly and The Canaries swooped to sign the then promising 21 year old Australian international for the relatively low fee of just £2.4 million.
The results? Toure to date has scored eight goals and registered three assists in nine games for the English Championship side, including a hat-trick against Bristol City at the weekend, as Norwich look to keep in the hunt for a play off spot, just months after being stuck in the relegation zone.
Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates scoring their third goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
So Toure was available for just £2.4 million had we done our homework. The fact that we were willing to pay £3.5 million for Joel Mvuka yet again highlights the incompetence that plaques the recruitment side of things within Celtic Football Club.
How is it going to get any better this summer? There will be a new manager coming in but what will he have left from this current squad to work with? Will he be happy with the current recruitment operation that has been tried and tested and shown to be inadequate in the extreme.
Photo Vagelis Georgariou
I’m not saying that Mohamed Toure could have been as good as Kyogo in his prime but he’d certainly have done more than our January or indeed most of our summer recruits. A low bar maybe but yesterday showed what Martin O’Neill thinks of Celtic’s ill-considered January signings, essentially panic buys after the Wilfried Nancy experiment crashed and burned after just 33 days.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…
Spalletti hails Juventus display: “This can change careers, we deserve the Champions League”
Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti only had words of praise for his players, who produced a stellar performance against Bologna on Sunday.
The Bianconeri pushed forward with intent right off the bat, and it only took them 90 seconds to break through the deadlock through Jonathan David, who headed home Pierre Kalulu’s cross.
The home side had several chances to kill off the contest in the first half, but they had to wait until Khephren Thuram’s second-half introduction to open up a two-goal cushion. The French midfielder rose above his marker to nod home Weston McKennie’s sublime cross.
Luciano Spalletti explains the importance of the win over Bologna
After the contest, Spalletti lauded the importance of tackling the match with the right attitude, while explaining that this can be considered a career-defining performancefor some of his players.
“What became crucial for us was not getting the attitude wrong in this game. I would have been disappointed if, tomorrow morning, while analysing the match, I had to comment on the attitude,” said the 67-year-old in one of his post-match interviews via JuventusNews24.
“That didn’t happen because from the very first moment, they immediately decided to take control of the game. We talked about keeping a high tempo, also because Bologna—as Italiano rightly said—had played three matches this week.
“The players deserved to take home this important win, because this is the kind of match that can truly change careers. Careers don’t change based on the number of games, but on the decisions made in key moments of certain matches, and on the focus and intent you manage to maintain.”
The manager also cherishes the solid bond between his Juventus players, who enjoy celebrating together, as illustrated by the second goal.
“Friendship, relationships, enjoying being together—these are things that can improve the team, because you’re no longer playing as eleven individuals, but as a unit built on shared ideas and team concepts.
“I don’t know what they came up with, but seeing them all celebrate together like that is the most important thing.
“It’s even better to see the goalscorer call his teammates over to share the moment, because everything comes from relationships and connections.”
Spalletti praises Juventus squad but seeks reinforcement
With this victory, Juventus solidified their fourth place in the table, putting five points between them and Como and Roma, while also reducing the gap with Milan and Napoli to just three points.
Spalletti believes his team is proving that they fully deserve to play in the Champions League next season.
“We showed that we have players who deserve to play in the Champions League. We had an opportunity tonight that couldn’t be wasted, and we made the most of it.”
The Tuscan tactician feels that this squad boasts players of high calibre, but they were a bit too timid at times.
“I was curious to see them up close because you could sense they were a group of good guys, who sometimes were too nice, even a bit timid.
“They needed to free themselves from others’ opinions—they had to break away from being seen as too ordinary. They’ve shown they are of real quality and level.”
That being said, Spalletti admitted that Juventus is still lacking some quality among the ranks, in what could be an implicit message to the management.
“In terms of evaluation, we might lack certain characteristics that would complete us at the same level, but we have strong players.
“It’s not that they were lacking quality—we just needed different attributes to round out the squad. They show it through their qualities, and even if we’re missing some elements that would complete the team, they’ve always behaved perfectly.”
‘Absolute greats’ – Carragher praises Salah and Van Dijk after derby win
It’s moments like this which remind us exactly why certain players define eras at Liverpool, and Jamie Carragher didn’t hesitate to underline that after our dramatic derby win.
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A 100th-minute winner from Virgil van Dijk sealed a 2-1 victory over Everton, with Mo Salah once again playing a decisive role in the game, and it’s those two names which dominated the post-match reaction.
Carragher highlights Liverpool’s match-winners
Speaking on Sky Sports after the final whistle, Jamie Carragher was clear just how significant the result could be in the wider context of the season.
He said: “The result is absolutely huge for Liverpool when you consider the Chelsea result yesterday.
“When that board went up for eleven minutes [added time], I’d have shaken hands with anyone and taken the points from a Liverpool point of view.”
The former defender admitted that, late on, the game looked like it might slip away from us, with Everton arguably the more threatening side in the closing stages.
Carragher added: “Everton were probably more the team that you thought were creating any chances and really probably looked a little bit more threatening than Liverpool towards the end of that game.”
But ultimately, it came down to quality and experience in the biggest moment.
Salah and Van Dijk prove their importance again
The 48-year-old summed it up perfectly when he pointed to the players who decided the game, describing them as figures who continue to deliver when it matters most.
He said: “When you think about how Liverpool have won this game, two of the absolute legends of the club have done it… as I said, two of the absolute greats, and that man [Mo Salah] has done it again… you can always rely upon him.”
That reliability is something we’ve seen time and time again, especially in fixtures like this, where emotions are high and margins are fine.
When you combine those perspectives, it becomes clear that even in a season where consistency hasn’t always been there, having players of this calibre still gives us a decisive edge, and once again, they proved it when it mattered most.
“Not my responsibility” – Alvaro Arbeloa addresses Real Madrid future amid Jose Mourinho links
Real Madrid return to action on Tuesday as they host Alaves at the Bernabeu, their first match since exiting the Champions League. A victory would see them close to within six points of Barcelona, but with only seven matchdays to go of the 2025-26 season, it will be a tall order for Los Blancos to win La Liga.
There was a lot of disappointment at Real Madrid following their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, but head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is confident that his side will bounce back against Alaves, as per Diario AS.
“I consider myself a person with a lot of strength and energy. I have felt the pride that Real Madrid has for the game that the team played on Wednesday. I look forward to a Bernabéu tomorrow with my family, united and proud of how the team played. The feeling on the street is that they deprived us of being in the semi-finals. That’s what I’ve been able to feel.”
Arbeloa reacts to future speculation – “I’m not worried”
In the aftermath of last week’s Bayern defeat, there has been significant speculation on Arbeloa’s future, with a number of reports linking manager’s to his position – with Jose Mourinho among them. However, he is focused on the task at hand, that being the final seven matches of the season.
“It is a decision that is not my responsibility. I’m not worried about my future at all. I’m worried about these seven games, and especially tomorrow’s. I have direct communication every week with the club and I have a great relationship, but the only future that worries me is tomorrow. There are seven games more important than they may seem. We have to prove it tomorrow.”
Arbeloa: Real Madrid fans are with the team
On a number of occasions this season, the Real Madrid supporters inside the Bernabeu have whistled the players, but Arbeloa does not expect that to happen against Alaves, despite it being the club’s first match since exiting the Champions League.
“It doesn’t worry me, because I’ve felt on the street that Real Madrid is with the team. We have to play a good game tomorrow, play well and earn the applause at the Bernabéu. We have to go out for the game, show it from the moment the match starts.”
Intel to showcase next-generation PC gaming handhelds at Computex 2026 According to “information obtained by Videocardz“, Intel plans to debut new “ARC G3” and “ARC G3 Extreme” handhelds at Computex 2026. These new PC handhelds should utilise Intel’s Panther Lake silicon and Intel Xe3 graphics. It has been reported that Intel’s ARC G3 and ARC […]
SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has begun mass production of the 192 GB SOCAMM2, a next-generation memory module standard based on the 1cnm process (sixth-generation of the 10-nanometer technology) LPDDR5X low-power DRAM.
SOCAMM2 is a module that adapts low-power memory - which was previously used mainly in mobile products like smartphones - for server environments. It is designed to be a primary memory solution for next-generation AI servers.
Four years on, we revisit the Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs Core i9-12900K with modern games and DDR4 vs DDR5 configs. The result: still neck and neck, but memory choice now makes a real difference.
Silicon Valley startup Sabi is the latest entrant to suggest using the brain as an interface device. The company is developing a noninvasive device that translates internal speech into text. Rather than relying on implanted hardware, Sabi is building a wearable device – initially in the form of a beanie,...
Intel is working with partners to release a cost-effective DDR5 memory design called HUDIMM, but it will lead to much lower performance. DDR5 HUDIMM Memory May Look Great For Budget Builders, But The Performance Impact Is So Huge, It Makes DDR4 Look Better Last week, Intel introduced a new DDR5 memory standard, along with its partners, called HUDIMM. The HUDIMM standard stands for Half-UDIMM & what it does is switch from two 32-bit channels that are featured on normal memory modules to just one 32-bit channel. This should allow memory makers to build cost-effective memory by populating half of the […]
Shuhei Yoshida is among the most recognizable figures in the video games industry. Having been at Sony for decades, working as a producer on many beloved PlayStation games like Gran Turismo, Ape Escape, and The Legend of Dragoon, Yoshida-san eventually became the head of PlayStation Studios in 2008, stepping down in 2019 to Hermen Hulst (now one of the two SIE CEOs). However, this transition was rocky, as Yoshida-san confirmed during the 2026 edition of Australian games festival ALT: GAMES to have been fired from the role because he didn't listen to then CEO Jim Ryan. As reported by This Week in Video Games, Yoshida-san didn't mince words on the matter, […]
Sanan Optoelectronics, China's largest LED chipmaker, has abandoned its $239 million bid to acquire Dutch lighting firm Lumileds after CFIUS blocked it.
The Tokyo District Court has ruled that "spoiler articles" that describe the plot of a movie/show in detail now count as copyright infringement. The prosecution argued that these articles are "adaptations" made without permission, and that they earn ad revenue, further taking away fair compensation for IP holders.
NASA's JPL turned off one instrument aboard the Voyager 1 space probe after it experienced an unexpected drop in power levels. Scientists are working on a fix to swap onboard powered devices with low-power alternatives to make the spacecraft last longer.
Synthetic You builds a custom AI mentor prompt based on your psychology. In about 15 to 20 minutes, you answer six short assessments covering MBTI, Enneagram, Saboteurs, Human Design, Attachment, and Love Languages. Then you get your profile and a calibrated system prompt to use with ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Use it without an account and pay once with no subscription, so your AI stops guessing and starts coaching you the way you respond best.
Adamo delivers a low-latency teleoperation platform for mission-critical robotics. It connects to humanoids, autonomous vehicles, and robot arms to enable real-time remote control with about 40ms glass-to-glass latency and 99.5% uptime. A robust SDK with ROS and ROS2 support integrates quickly, while multi-path bonding and end-to-end encryption keep sessions stable and secure.
Adamo also provides a 24/7 global operator network and records synchronized video, telemetry, and commands, turning interventions into high-quality training data for imitation learning and model improvement.
Sustainable travel has reached a turning point, with new global research showing that eco-conscious choices are no longer confined to a single generation, income bracket or traveler type, but are reshaping how people of all […]
Demand for sustainability-certified hotel accommodation has reached a significant milestone, with travelers booking 100 million room nights at third-party certified properties on Booking.com in 2025, as green stays shift from niche preference to mainstream travel […]
Growing concerns about overtourism and climate discomfort are driving a measurable shift in global travel behavior, with more travelers than ever actively choosing quieter destinations and off-peak timing for their trips in 2026. The trend […]
Extreme weather is actively reshaping how and where people travel, with nearly a third of global travelers canceling or changing trip plans in the past 12 months due to climate-related disruptions, according to new research […]
Registrations for the Gay Games Valencia 2026 have exceeded 8,500 participants with 67 days remaining before the event begins on June 27, organisers said. The twelfth edition of the international sporting event, which celebrates sexual […]
Valencia’s Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas is drawing growing attention from visitors as one of the city’s most distinctive historic landmarks, combining centuries of history with elaborate rococo design. The palace, located in the […]
Catalonia’s airports handled more than 1.7 million international passengers in March, a 5.7% increase compared with the same month a year earlier, according to data released by Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The region […]
Tourism bookings to Italy are declining in April 2026, with fewer reservations from American travellers and rising cancellations reported by industry groups, as geopolitical tensions and higher travel costs weigh on demand ahead of the […]
Older travelers are significantly more likely to take practical steps toward sustainable travel than their younger counterparts, despite expressing lower overall intentions to do so, according to new research from Booking.com. The finding is part […]
Southern Chinese cruise hubs Xiamen and Guangzhou have launched new 2026 sailings as Xiamen launched its new season, including a themed voyage, while Guangzhou concluded a winter/spring season and is preparing for a newbuild to arrive. In Xiamen, the 2026 cruise homeport season officially started on April 1 with the Adora Mediterranea departing from the...
Ambassador Cruise Line has announced a new three-year partnership with England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf in England, naming Ambassador as the organization’s Official Cruise Line Partner, effective from April 1, 2026. The partnership will see Ambassador receive brand and marketing exposure across England Golf’s digital ecosystem, including its website, social media channels,...
Greece Enhances Wellness Tourism with Upgraded Medical Springs, Renowned for Their Healing Properties, Offering New Relaxation and Rejuvenation for the...
Samsung’s now releasing One UI 8.5 Beta 4 to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, with the firmware featuring new AI features from the latest flagships along with fixes for some specific problems reported by Beta testers.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 users on One UI 8.5 Beta can now download Beta 4, which can be identified via PDA build version ZZDD (via TarunVats). This release feels more like a refinement update than a major feature drop.
The highlight is a fresh set of AI tools.
You now get Call Screening to filter unknown callers, Photo Assist that lets you edit images using simple text prompts, Creative Studio for more advanced content tweaks, and an upgraded Audio Eraser that can remove background noise in real time.
These aren’t entirely new if you’ve been following the Galaxy S25 Beta program, but it’s good to see them expanding to foldables.
It also focuses heavily on fixing annoyances.
Samsung has addressed a slow upload issue that showed up when retaking scans in the Camera’s Add Scan feature. Routines that weren’t triggering properly should now behave as expected.
The Now Bar color glitch, where it changed every time you turned on the screen, has also been fixed. Automatic language detection is working again, and a crash affecting the Settings Intelligence service has been resolved.
If you’ve already seen the Galaxy S25 series getting its 10th beta with similar changes, this rollout puts Samsung’s foldables more or less in sync.
Galaxy S26’s best AI features are now rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy S25 FE as part of the 3rd One UI 8.5 Beta update.
Samsung’s latest One UI 8.5 Beta ZZD8 update isn’t flashy, but it focuses on cleaning up a bunch of annoying day-to-day issues while quietly adding a few new AI features.
Owners of the Galaxy S24 series are getting the 3rd Beta update in Korea and India (via TarunVats), whereas the Galaxy S25 FE users are receiving it in Korea. An expansion will follow soon, covering Beta participants in Global markets.
On the AI side, Samsung is clearly expanding its toolkit.
You now get Call Screening, which helps filter unknown calls more intelligently. Photo Assist has been upgraded with text prompt input, letting you tweak images in a more flexible, almost generative way.
There’s also Creative Studio, aimed at giving users more control over content creation, and an Enhanced Audio Eraser that can reduce background noise in real time across apps like YouTube, Instagram, and Netflix.
Samsung is also tightening up the core experience.
Incoming call delays and black screen issues have been fixed, and the proximity sensor during calls should now behave more reliably. Camera bugs, especially the green line issue in 4K HDR recording on third-party apps, have also been addressed.
Bluetooth stability has been improved, and there’s a fix for multi-touch glitches that could show up after using accessibility zoom features.
The fact that the same changelog is now showing up on the Galaxy S25 series with its 10th Beta suggests the company is getting serious about polishing things before a stable rollout.
With a powerful 50 MP periscope telephoto camera, an LTPO AMOLED display and a 6,500 mAh battery in a particularly thin body, the Huawei Pura 90 is set to achieve a strong price-performance ratio.
With the couch gag, one of The Simpsons’ most recognizable trademarks is disappearing. Showrunner Matt Selman has defended the decision by citing limited runtime, changing streaming habits and the additional animation work involved. Many fans, however, see it as the loss of a key part of the show’s DNA and suspect cost-cutting and a lack of creativity instead.
Fresh new Sony Xperia 1 VIII leaks have surfaced, providing further evidence of a major design shift for the 2026 flagship. A second case design corroborates rumors of a square camera island that replaces the series' signature vertical strip. Additionally, a leak from Vietnam suggests a new red color variant is in development. The Xperia VIII launch is rumored for May 2026. The phone should get a triple 48MP camera.
We recently got the opportunity to check out the brand-new Ryzen AI 7 445 with Radeon 840M while reviewing the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7a. Read on to find out why our experience was somewhat underwhelming.
The Huawei Watch Buds 2 is not only a high-quality smartwatch with a 3,000 nits bright AMOLED display and titanium bezel, but also houses completely wireless earbuds so that they are always available.
Oppo continues teasing the Find X9 Ultra’s global launch on April 21, revealing an 8-lens Hasselblad camera system. Featuring dual 200MP sensors and a 460mm "optical quality" zoom, it marks a new milestone for mobile photography. The focal lengths stretch from 14mm to 460mm, but the Find X9 Ultra only was 4 cameras - is this marketing trick too similar to what Apple did with the iPhone?
In addition to a brand new foldable, the Pura X Max, Huawei has announced two new colors for the 2025 Pura X. The new colors are trendy and bring the available color options to seven.
Samsung SDI has signed its first EV battery deal with Mercedes-Benz. The multi-year agreement will see batteries from the former powering next-generation electric vehicles from the former.
OnePlus has several smartphone launches lined up in the coming weeks. After confirming the Ace 6 Ultra’s launch date in China, the company has now announced when the Nord CE6 and Nord CE6 Lite will debut in India.
In an official post on X, OnePlus confirmed that the new Nord CE6 series will be unveiled on May 7. Alongside the launch date, the company has also revealed several key specifications of the handsets.
The Nord CE6 will be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC, paired with a Touch Reflex chip. It will also pack an 8,000mAh battery with support for 27W reverse wired...
Huawei is an early mover in foldable phone technology and it is experimenting with new form factors like the Pura X – the so-called wide foldable. It’s an intermediate size between flip and book-style foldables. But what if the X got bigger? Today the company answers that question.
Huawei Pura X Max
The Huawei Pura X Max features a 5.4” cover and 7.7” internal display. Below you can see how it compares with the original X in terms of size. The Max is a newer generation folding design that is much thinner.
Pura X
Pura X Max
Cover display
3.5”
...
believes there is only one correct answer when it comes to the greatest of all time. The debate over the best ever fighter is one that has raged on for decades, with Leonard’s name often mentioned by fans due to the incredible achievements from his own career. He won three titles in five divisions, and […]
is in search for a July opponent in order to best prepare him for a proposed showdown with in November. Fury returned to the heavyweight scene after a 16-month layoff, outboxing Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov in a decision win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to score a first victory since 2023. In the aftermath, ‘The Gypsy […]
Beşiktaş Gedson Fernandes'i 21 milyon euro karşılığında Spartak Moskova'ya satmıştı. Rafa Silva ise 5 milyon euroya Benfica'nın yolunu tuttu. Aslında bu iki futbolcudan Siyah-Beyazlılar sadece 10 milyon euro kazandı.
Takımda bazı problemler yaşayan Gedson Fernandes, Rus ekibi Spartak Moskova'nın yolunu tutmuştu. Beşiktaş'a 21 milyon euro ödendi. Kartal, Portekizli futbolcu için Benfica'ya 16 milyon euro vermişti (tüm hakları dahil). Yani buradan sadece +5 milyon euroluk bir bonservis geliri elde edildi (bonus maddeleri dışında).
ESKİ TAKIMINA DÖNDÜ
2024 yazında Benfica'dan bedelsiz şekilde Beşiktaş'a katılan Rafa Silva ise 5 milyon euro karşılığında eski takımına döndü (bonuslar hariç). Yani kağıt üzerinde iki üst düzey orta saha oyuncusundan sadece 10 milyon euroluk bir bonservis kazancı sağlandı...
DÜNYANIN PARASI
Şu anda Gedson Fernandes ve Rafa Silva ayarında iki orta saha oyuncusunun piyasa değerleri son derece yüksek... Beşiktaş yaz döneminde orta alana en az 1 takviye gerçekleştirecek. Gedson'un da kiralık olarak dönebileceği konuşuluyor. Yani çok konuşulacak gelişmeler yaşanabilir.
Fulham Yönetimi, mukavelesi sezon sonunda bitecek olan Harry Wilson'a yeni kontrat önerdi. 29 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusu, bunu geri çevirdi. İnanılmaz bir sezon geçiren Galli yıldız, hem Fenerbahçe hem de Beşiktaş'ın gündeminde bulunuyor.
Harry Wilson, Fulham formasıyla bu sezon 31 Premier Lig maçına çıktı. Sahada 2.449 dakika kaldı. 10 gol ve 6 asist üretti. 29 yaşındaki sağ kanat oyuncusunun sözleşmesi 30 Haziran'da bitecek. Fulham Yönetimi, kendisine yeni bir mukavele önerdi. Fakat Ada basınındaki haberlere göre; Wilson bunu reddetti.
TALİPLERİ BOL
1.73 boyundaki futbolcu, boşa çıkmaya hazırlanıyor. Galli yıldızla hem Fenerbahçe hem de Beşiktaş ilgileniyor. Fakat devrede sadece İstanbul ekipleri yok. Şu takımlar da oyuncuya teklif sunmaya hazırlanıyor:
Brentford
Everton
Aston Villa
Wrexham
Harry Wilson, maaş dışında imza parası da talep edecek.
MİLLİ TAKIMIN PARÇASI
Harry Wilson, Galler Milli Takımı'nın da önemli bir parçası... Bugüne kadar ülkesi adına 69 kez sahaya çıktı ve 17 gol üretti. Fenerbahçe ve Beşiktaş'ın, oyuncuyu ikna etmesi için yüksek maaş dışında güzel bir imza parası da önermesi gerekecek. Konuyla ilgili sezon sonuna doğru hareketliliğin artması bekleniyor.
Galatasaray'ın ara transfer döneminde Napoli'den kiralık olarak kadrosuna kattığı Noa Lang'ın sezon sonunda ayrılması bekleniyor.
Süper Lig'de son haftalar yaklaşırken Galatasaray zirvedeki yerine koruyor. Önündeki bütün engelleri aşara bu sene de şampiyonluğu kazanmak isteyen sarı-kırmızılılarda sezon sonu öneml ayrılıklar yaşanması bekleniyor. Sözleşmesi bitecek olan ve kiralık olarak kadroda yer alan oyuncuların durumu masaya yatırılacak.
NOA LANG GİDEBİLİR
Ayrılması gündeme gelen isimlerden biri de Noa Lang. Galatasaray'ın Napoli'den ara transfer döneminde kiralık olarak kadrosuna kattığı Noa Lang ile ilgili önemli bir gelişme yaşandı.
Calcio Napoli 24'te yer alan habere göre; Galatasaray, Noa Lang'ın opsiyonu kullanmayacak ve oyuncu sezon bitiminde Napoli'ye geri dönecek. Yine aynı haberde Galatasaray'ın Hollandalı oyuncunun bonservisini almaması; Napoli tarafında sürpriz bir karar olarak karşılandığı belirtildi.
Okan Buruk'un tam da istediği gibi savunma disiplinine sahip Jonathan Rowe için Galatasaray'ın ilk hamlesini yaptığı iddia edildi.
Galatasaray, Jonathan Rowe ile ilgilendiği iddia edildi. Noa Lang'la gelecek sezon devam edilmeyeceğinin netleştiği ortamda Marcus Rashford'dan sonra adı gündeme gelen ikinci oyuncu Bologna'nın 22 yaşındaki Jamaikalı kanat oyuncusu oldu.
HENÜZ 22 YAŞINDA
Sol kanatta oynadığında sağ ayağıyla kaleye yönelmeyi ve uzak köşeye vuruş yapmayı seven Rowe, Okan Buruk'un en çok üzerinde durduğu kanat oyuncularından beklenen savunma disiplinine sahip. Önde baskı ve rakibi karşılama konusunda hareketli bir oyuncu. Klasik bir çizgide bekleyen kanat oyuncusundan ziyade, bir "yardımcı forvet" gibi ceza sahası içine girmeyi tercih eder.
Türkiye Milli Takımı Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella, İtalya'da Sky Calcio Club'a kariyerine dair önemli açıklamalarda bulundu.
Milli Takım teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella, İtalya'da Sky Calcio Club'a verdiği röportajda Türkiye'yi seçme nedenini açıkladı.
Montella'nın açıklamaları şöyle:
-Türkiye'de bir takım oluşturduk; bana daha önce takımda yeterince istikrar olmadığını söylüyorlardı. Taktiksel bir düzen getirdik; onlara birkaç temel kavram öğrettim, ancak bunlarla hepsini tek bir yöne yönlendirmeye çalıştım. Milli takımda zaman yok, maç stratejisi, çalışma yöntemi ve süreklilik sağlamaya çalışmalısın. Bu, kulüplerdeki yakınına yakın olmalı. Türkiye'de oynayanları tanıdığım için yurtdışında oynayanları incelemek zorunda kaldım. Takım, sadece teknik nitelikleri sayesinde değil, tesadüfen Dünya Kupası'na gelmedi.
KENAN YILDIZ
-Her zaman kendini geliştirmek istiyordu, dengeliydi. Bunu hemen fark etmesini sağlayan bazı işaretler var. ‘Hocam, bana başka bir şey yaptır’, sahadan hiç ayrılmazdı, erken gelirdi. Ve bence daha da gelişmeye mahkumdur.
"KENDİMİ KANITLAMAK İÇİN TÜRKİYE'YE GİTTİM"
-Bir buçuk yıl boyunca İtalya'dan hiçbir teklif almadım. Kendimi kanıtlamak için Türkiye'ye gittim çünkü İtalya'dan hiçbir teklif almadım.
-Artık antrenörlük yapmamayı, bırakmayı bile düşündüm, çünkü bir şansım yoktu, sonra koronavirüs geldi, evdeydim ve iyiydim. Sonra hoşuma gitmeyen birkaç teklif geldi. Ve sonra sıfırdan başlayıp yeniden başlamak için karar verdim.
"İTALYA DÜNYA KUPASINI HAK ETMİŞTİ"
-İtalyan futbolunda her şey o kadar da kötü değil. En güçlü birkaç takım hariç tutulursa, İtalya rekabetçi bir ülke. Şu anda Dünya Kupası'na katılamamış olmanın yarattığı bir gerginlik var ama bu takım, teknik açıdan da oraya gitmeyi hak etmişti. Ben o kadar karamsar olmazdım.
Galatasaray'da kadroda kendisine yer bulamayan bu nedene sezo başında Hellas Verona'ya kiralanan Victor Nellsson kariyerine dair açıklama yaptı.
Galatasaray'da sezon başında Hellas Verona'ya kiralanan Victor Nelsson, geleceğine dair dikkat çeken açıklamalarda bulundu. Danimarkalı stoper, hafta sonu oynadıkları Milan maçı snrası yaptığı açıklamada kariyerine dair de önemli ifadeler kullandı.
Nelsson, "Gelecek yıl Verona'da kalacak mısın?" sorusuna şu cevabı verdi:
-Dürüst olmak gerekirse bilmiyorum, geleceği düşünmüyorum. Geleceğim hakkında hiçbir şey söylemek istemiyorum. Şu anda bunu düşünmüyorum.
Danimarkalı oyuncu, bu sezon İtalyan ekibinde 33 maçta 2,866 dakika süre alırken 4 kez sarı kart gördü. Victor Nelsson'un, Galatasaray ile sözleşmesi 2028 yılına kadar devam ediyor.
17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası (U-17) bu gündən aprelin 23-dək təlim-məşq toplanışında olacaq.
Arena.az AFFA-nın rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir ki, komandamız Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək.
U-17 aprelin 24-dən mayın 1-nə qədər Qazaxıstanın Çimkənd şəhərində UEFA İnkişaf Turnirində iştirak edəcək. Aqil Nəbiyevin yetirmələri turnir çərçivəsində Rusiya, Qazaxıstan və Pakistanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandaları ilə qarşılaşacaq.
Milli komandanın 26 nəfərlik ilkin siyahısı bəlli olub. 20 futbolçudan ibarət yekun heyət Qazaxıstan səfəri öncəsi müəyyənləşəcək.
Azərbaycan millisinə dəvət edilən futbolçuların adlarını və oyunların təqvimini nəzərinizə çatdırırıq:
Ülvi Abbaslı – Sumqayıt
Oqtay Mehrəliyev – Qarabağ
Əkbər Əhmədov – Sabah
Qüdrət Qarayev – Kəpəz
Ruslan Quliyev – Neftçi
Vaqif Nəbiyev – Qarabağ
Əbubəkir Abdullayev – Sabah
Roman Fərzəli – Qarabağ
Arda Əzizli – Qarabağ
Vaqif Məmmədli – Sabah
Tunar Bayramov – Qarabağ
Nazim Əliyev – Srvena Zvezda (Serbiya)
Əhəd Hacızadə – Qarabağ
Yusif Orucəliyev – Qarabağ
Nihad Hüseynzadə – Sabah
Şikar Şikar – Neftçi
Firdovsi Şeydayev – Sabah
Nicat Əhmədzadə – Marset (İspaniya)
Rəsul Balakişiyev – Marset (İspaniya)
Ümid Əliyev – Hueska (İspaniya)
Amin İmanverdiyev – Osense (İspaniya)
Tunar Əsgərzadə – Qarabağ
Ömər Kosayev – Sumqayıt
Yusif Quliyev – Marset (İspaniya)
Ruslan Əbilov – Sabah
Hikmət Mirzə – Nastik İdman Akademiyası (İspaniya)
25 aprel 14:30. Rusiya – Azərbaycan “Namıs” stadionu, BIIK İdman Kompleksi.
27 aprel 14:30. Azərbaycan – Qazaxıstan “Namıs” stadionu, BIIK İdman Kompleksi.
30 aprel 09:30. Pakistan – Azərbaycan “Namıs” stadionu, BIIK İdman Kompleksi.
Qeyd: Oyunların başlanma saatı Bakı vaxtı ilə göstərilib.
Portekiz Ligi'nin 30. haftasında Benfica, Sporting'i Rafa Silva'nın 90+3. dakikadaki golüyle 2-1 mağlup etti. Maçın ardından Jose Mourinho dikkat çeken bir hareket yaptı.
Real Madrid, iki yıllık yeni sözleşme isteyen Antonio Rüdiger'e bir yıllık sözleşme teklif etti. Kulüp, 33 yaşındaki savunma oyuncusunun bu teklifi kabul edeceğini düşünüyor.
Spartak Moskova, Akhmat Grozny'i 3-1 yenerken Gedson Fernandes de gol attı; teknik direktör Juan Carlos Carcedo maç sonrası Gedson'un golünü değerlendirdi.
Vakıfbank'ın tecrübeli voleybolcusu Ayça Aykaç, "Tüm takım arkadaşlarımı, teknik ekibi tebrik ediyorum. Gerçekten çok mutluyuz. Sezonun tamamı gerçekten çok güzel geçti. 1 veya 2 mağlubiyetimiz vardı. Final serisinin zor olacağını biliyorduk. Fenerbahçe çok güçlü bir takım. Ama serinin sonunda kupayla ayrılıyoruz" dedi.
Beşiktaş Gain ile Cosea JL Bourg arasında, 22 Nisan Çarşamba günü saat 20.00'de Beşiktaş Gain Spor Kompleksi'nde oynanacak EuroCup final serisi ilk maçının biletleri, 1.000 TL'den başlayan fiyatlarla satışa çıktı.
1'inci Lig ekiplerinden Eminevim Ümraniyespor'un 30 yaşındaki deneyimli savunma oyuncusu Burak Öksüz, sezonun son haftalarına girilirken hem takımın ligdeki gidişatını hem de bireysel performansını değerlendirdi. Tecrübeli savunmacı, 6 Şubat 2023'teki Kahramanmaraş merkezli 11 ili etkileyen depremde yaşadıklarına dair ilk kez konuştu.
Arsenal, Manchester City'ye 2-1 yenilirken Mikel Arteta, kaçan fırsatların maçı belirlediğini, yoğun fikstüre rağmen seviyelerine güvendiklerini ve kalan 5 maçta şampiyonluk için her şeyin hâlâ kendi ellerinde olduğunu söyledi.
Vakıfbank forması giyen Derya Cebecioğlu, "Sahada inanılmaz inanmış bir VakıfBank vardı. Bu 5 maçlık Fenerbahçe serisinin en zor maçlarından birisini oynadık. Aslında tamam veya devam maçıydı. Bu sahada bu formayla oynadığım son maçımdı. Bu şekilde veda ettiğim, taçlandırdığım için çok mutlu ve gururluyum" dedi.
Vakıfbank'ın 22 yaşındaki voleybolcusu Berka Buse Özden, "İnanılmaz savaşçılarla aynı takımda oynuyorum. Kimin gözünün içine baksam o hırsı görebiliyordum. Böyle bir takımla kupayı kaldırdığımız için inanılmaz mutluyum. Herkesle gurur duyuyorum" dedi.
Vakıfbank kaptanı Zehra Güneş, "Zorlu ve çok uzun bir sezondu. Şampiyon olarak bitirdiğimiz için çok mutluyum. Fenerbahçe gibi çok iyi bir takıma karşı 5 maçlık seri oynamak bence rekabetin ve voleybol seyir zevkinin çok üstlerde yaşandığı günlerdi. Günün sonunda sezonu şampiyon olarak kapattığımız için çok mutluyum. Takımımız ve staffla gurur duyuyorum" dedi.
Fluminense'ye evinde 3-2'lik skorla kaybeden Santos'ta taraftarlar kulüp efsanesi Neymar'ı yuhaladı. Neymar kulaklarını tıkayarak sahayı terk ederken sosyal medyadan mesaj yayınladı.
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Most Bitcoin price predictions are just numbers. Scaramucci just made an argument.
In a tweet that is circulating widely, SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci laid out why he believes Bitcoin does not just compete with gold, but outclasses it.
“A dollar bill is made of linen and cotton. But we accept it because we trust it. Over 16 years Bitcoin has built its own trust system – decentralized, no central authority, no single point of failure,” Scaramucci wrote.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Validate the Bitcoin Thesis
Scaramucci pointed to Morgan Stanley entering the Bitcoin market and Goldman Sachs filing for a Bitcoin ETF as evidence the thesis is playing out in real time in the product lineups of the two most powerful investment banks in the world.
These are firms that move slowly, carefully, and only when the institutional case is bulletproof. When they show up, the conversation changes.
Scaramucci says Bitcoin is now part of “the model portfolio for individuals and institutions worldwide.” A year ago that sentence would have raised eyebrows. Today it is just a description of what is happening.
Why $1 Million Bitcoin Produces a $21 Trillion Market Cap
There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin. If each coin reaches $1 million, the total market cap hits $21 trillion – still below the estimated value of all gold ever mined, but in Scaramucci’s words, “faster to move and easier to store.”
Scaramucci pointed his followers to Niall Ferguson’s The Ascent of Money.
Ferguson’s book’s central argument is that money has never derived its value from the material it is made of. It derives value from trust – collective belief in a system. The Renaissance was funded by Italian bankers who invented credit. The French Revolution was triggered by a stock market bubble. Finance, Ferguson argues, is the backbone of every major event in human history.
Scaramucci’s point is that Bitcoin has spent 16 years building exactly what Ferguson describes – a trust system – and it did so without a central authority or a government guarantee.
“Every characteristic that has defined money throughout human history – Bitcoin checks every single box,” Scaramucci wrote. “That’s why I’m bullish.”
Scaramucci Has 70% of His Wealth in Bitcoin
Scaramucci is not a neutral observer here. SkyBridge Capital has previously set a $1 million Bitcoin target by 2032, tied to the 2028 halving cycle. He has disclosed that 70% of his personal wealth sits in Bitcoin and has been actively buying during the current drawdown.
Not everyone buys the argument. Economist Tony Annett has pushed back directly, arguing Bitcoin still fails the three classical tests for money – medium of exchange, unit of account, and reliable store of value.
But the combination of a serious monetary theory argument, two Wall Street giants moving into the space simultaneously, and a fixed supply of 21 million coins is exactly the kind of setup Scaramucci has been building his thesis around for years.
When will the price catch up – that’s something only the markets and time can answer.
Australian lawmakers passed the Corporations Amendment Bill, creating a new category of Public Digital Token Infrastructure (PDTI).
Now, any firm that offers Real World Assets (RWAs) in a decentralized manner (non-custodial, no user funds in control, no private keys to withhold), can operate without a settlement license.
And while firms will now scramble to hire the technical resources to go completely non-custodial, Redbelly is already facilitating.
Accelerating the AUD 24 Billion Additional Market Value
An estimate by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) puts an annual AUD 24 billion in RWA market growth.
This is good news for the industry and the economy. However, this value injection comes at a cost. Firms seeking to offer tokenized assets must comply with regulations, requiring strict standards to adhere to.
The new amendment, however, gives corporations an easier path: no settlement licensing required, as long as the tokenized assets are in full control of users.
Easier Said than Done
A no-license path is a boon for the tokenization market. However, building a non-custodial system has its own baggage. The infrastructure cost, not to mention the resources required, can be not only expensive but also tough for firms that don’t have the tokenization experience.
More than that, there is a risk of future non-compliance. An update in the regulation may mean the onboarding service or the blockchain in question can suddenly be in breach of rules. The only way out of this would be to shift to another blockchain or exit the tokenization race.
Neither is viable. Redbelly ensures that this doesn’t happen, ever.
Compliance is in Redbelly’s DNA
Unlike traditional blockchains that often treat regulation as an afterthought, Redbelly was engineered with a compliance-first philosophy. It operates with the transparency and security of a decentralized, non-custodial network while maintaining the accountability required by institutional finance.
At its core, Redbelly solves the identity paradox of DeFi. While users maintain full control of their private keys and assets (satisfying the PDTI requirements), the network ensures that every participant is known. By integrating identity verification directly into the protocol layer, Redbelly allows issuers to enforce proper permissions and restricted access.
Two Sides of the Token: Averer and Tokenizer
To bridge the gap between complex legal frameworks and seamless blockchain execution, Redbelly utilizes two distinct, specialized roles: Averers and Tokenizers.
Averers are responsible for verifying the real-world identity and credentials of users off-chain and recording that information onto the blockchain. This creates a verifiable digital identity that follows the user across the ecosystem, ensuring that only eligible investors can interact with specific assets.
The Tokenizer role handles the technical minting and management of the RWAs. Because Redbelly’s infrastructure is built specifically for RWAs, the Tokenizer can define the legal and financial rules of an asset (such as dividend rights or transfer restrictions) directly within the smart contract.
Together, these roles ensure that every transaction is not just technically valid, but legally compliant from the moment of inception.
Stay Ahead with Redbelly
As the Australian market prepares for the projected surge in RWAs, the first-mover advantage will belong to those who can deploy quickly without cutting corners on compliance.
Redbelly is the perfect partner for this transition. Instead of spending months building proprietary non-custodial stacks or risking future regulatory breaches on anonymous public chains, firms can plug into a network designed specifically for the regulated economy.
With Redbelly, you aren’t just adopting a blockchain; you are adopting a future-proof legal framework.
XRP hasn’t had the smoothest run recently. The token is down around 22% year-to-date, hovering near the $1.40–$1.43 range after a prolonged downtrend. While the broader market has shown signs of recovery, XRP is still trying to break out of its consolidation phase. However, despite the downtrend, the Motley Fool, an American advisory firm, has highlighted XRP as a token worth watching over the next few years, even as its price remains under pressure in 2026.
That said, analysts say this slow movement could actually be a setup phase rather than weakness.
Reason 1: Regulatory Clarity Is Finally Here
One of the biggest overhangs on XRP is now gone. The long-running battle between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple was settled in 2025, with appeals dismissed later that year.
This has substantially improved the regulatory outlook in the U.S.
According to the firm, this clarity could unlock institutional participation, especially if upcoming frameworks like the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act come into play. With fewer legal risks, institutions may feel more comfortable using XRP for cross-border payments, which could boost adoption heading into 2027.
Reason 2: Ripple Is Expanding Beyond Payments
The second big shift is Ripple’s strategy. Instead of focusing only on fast transactions, the company is now building a broader financial ecosystem.
This includes stablecoins, tokenized assets like U.S. Treasuries, and lending infrastructure, making XRP more relevant for real-world financial use. That kind of utility is what institutional players typically look for.
Institutional Demand Is Already Showing
Supporting this view, Crypto trader Vlad Anderson noted that XRP is already seeing early institutional inflows. Spot ETFs recently recorded around $17 million in a single day, with firms like Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and 21Shares driving demand.
Price action remains steady, not explosive, something he sees as accumulation. If inflows continue, XRP could grind higher, though resistance around $1.9–$2.2 remains key.
For now, the case for XRP isn’t hype; it’s about slow, steady positioning for the next cycle.
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All the ways to watch Boston Marathon 2026 live streams online – including for FREE – with Sharon Lokedi and John Korir returning to defend their titles.
Vyanadakı Azərbaycan Mədəniyyət Mərkəzi və ölkəmizin Slovakiyadakı səfirliyinin təşkilatçılığıyla qadınlar arasında şahmat üzrə Azərbaycan çempionu, beynəlxalq usta Ülviyya Fətəliyeva Vyana və Bratislavada şahmatçılar üçün seans keçirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Azərbaycan çempionu eyni vaxtda 15 iştirakçıya qarşı mübarizə aparıb. Ülviyyə Fətəliyeva şahmatçılarla görüşdən məmnun olduğunu və turnirin keçirilməsi üçün yaradılmış şəraitə görə minnətdarılığını bildirib.
Xatırladaq ki,Azərbaycan çempionu olan Ülviyyə Fətəliyeva 2024-cü ildə Yunanıstanın Rodos şəhərində keçirilən qadınlar arasında şəxsi Avropa çempionatının qalibidir. Bu ilin mart ayında 8 ölkədən 10 şahmatçının qatıldığı turnirdə 9 turda 6,5 xal toplayaraq “IV Women’s Chess Championship”də birincilik qazanıb.
“Mançester Siti”nin futbolçusu Erlinq Haaland Premyer Liqada “Arsenal”a qələbə qazandıqları oyundan sonra maraqlı açıqlama ilə diqqət çəkib.
Futbolpress.az “ViaPlay”a istinadən xəbər verir ki, norveçli hücumçu 2:1 hesablı qələbədən sonra çempionluq şansları ilə bağlı verilən sualı belə cavablandırıb:
“Yalnız onu deyə bilərəm ki, addım-addım gedəcəyik. Qarşıda oyunlar var. Bilirəm, siz manşet axtarırsınız, amma mən də ağıllıyam”.
“Mançester Siti” çempionatda 67 xalla ikincidir və lider “Arsenal”dan üç xal geri qalır.
“Qəbələ” Misli Premyer Liqasının XXVIII turunda “Sumqayıt”a uduzub – 0:1.
Matçdan sonra “qırmızı-qaralar”ın futbolçusu Eşqin Əhmədov “Futbolpress.az“a oyunla bağlı fikirlərini bölüşdü:
“Üstünlüyümüzlə keçən oyun oldu. Qələbə qazanmaq istəyirdik. Bu tur turnir cədvəlində bizdən geridə olan “Karvan-Yevlax” da qalib gəlib bizə yaxınlaşdı. Növbəti oyunlara hazırlaşacağıq”.
Cinah futbolçusu matçın nəticəsinin ədalətli olmadığını bildirdi:
“Məğlubiyyəti ədalətli nəticə hesab etmirəm. Çox qol fürsəti yaratdıq, vura bilmədik. Əksinə, “Sumqayıt” az şansdan yararlanıb, qələbə qazandı. Ən azı 1 xalı haqq edirdik. Turnir cədvəlində mövqeyimiz yaxşı deyil. Çoxlu qol vurmalıyıq. Növbəti turda rəqibimiz “Araz-Naxçıvan”dır. Çətin oyun olacaq. Mütləq qələbə qazanmalıyıq, başqa yolumuz yoxdur. Oyun baxımından Premyer Liqadakı komandalardan geri qalmırıq. Elitanı tərk etməyi ağlımıza belə gətirmirik. Qəbələyə futbol yaraşır”.
“Mançester Siti” İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının XXXIII turunda “Arsenal”ı məğlub edib – 2:1.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “şəhərlilər”in futbolçusu Rayan Şerki bu görüşdə bir qolla yadda qalıb. O, matçın birinci hissəsində hesabı açıb.
Şerki bu mövsüm çempionatda 10 qol vurub, 13 məhsuldar ötürmə edib. Fransalı futbolçu Premyer Liqada debüt mövsümündə 10-dan çox qol vura və məhsuldar ötürmə edə bilən ilk oyunçu adını qazanıb.
“Real”ın baş məşqçisi Alvaro Arbeloa UEFA Çempionlar Liqasından mübarizənin dayandırılmasından sonra komanda toplantısı keçirib. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, “Bavariya”ya qarşı 1/4 […]
“Barselona”nın gənc vingeri Lamin Yamalın göstərdiyi oyun futbol dünyasının ən böyük əfsanələrini belə təəccübləndirməkdə davam edir. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, […]
İngiltərə Çempionşipində mövsümün ən yaxşı baş məşqçisi bəlli olub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, “Koventri”nin çalışdırıcısı Frenk Lempard bu ada sahib […]
Manuel Akanji has admitted that he could have joined Milan instead of Inter during the summer transfer window, but says that he is pleased with the decision he made and has now set his eyes firmly on a cup double this season: ‘It would be incredible to win two titles in my first year’.
Akanji and his Nerazzurri teammates have a 12-point advantage at the top of the Serie A table with just five matches of the season remaining, and could potentially secure the Scudetto this coming weekend.
Before that, though, they will face Como in San Siro in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, currently level at 0-0 at the halfway stage of the tie, as Inter look to pull off an impressive cup double in Cristian Chivu’s first full season as a head coach.
Akanji feels that it is a matter of ‘if and when we win these trophies’, but admits that getting past Como in the semi-final of the cup will be no easy task, even with a home advantage.
Akanji on decision to join Inter, impressive Chivu and cup double ambitions
Speaking in a feature interview with Sport Mediaset ahead of Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, Akanji spoke about his decision to join Inter instead of Milan from Manchester City over the summer.
“The team and coach made it very easy for me to fit in,” he said. “I feel very good playing here in both positions, either in the middle or on the right of the back three. I’ve had a really good season and we’ll try to finish on a high note.
“I spoke with Milan in the summer, but I thought Inter was a more suitable destination for me, and I would say that my choice has worked out. My agent negotiated with the club and it was better for me to come here.”
Manuel Akanji’s first interview as an Inter player.
Akanji is technically on loan at Inter with an option to buy, but some reports indicate that this will become an obligation to buy in the event that Inter win the Scudetto. The player himself is not giving anything away at this stage, though.
“If and when we win these trophies, the time will also come to sit down at the table and decide how to move forwards. I feel good here, but I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about it. It will come soon, but I’m focussed on playing well at the moment.”
Akanji is impressed by the work that Chivu has done in his first season in charge of Inter. The Romanian only picked up his first senior head coach role, with Parma, in February last year.
“Whether you’re a player or a coach, there’s always something to learn. I think Chivu has managed this season brilliantly, he’s always brought a positive atmosphere and has tried to help us through the difficult moments.
“It’s not easy at all in a season like this, where there are so many obstacles you can encounter. He’s fought hard with us and has always been on our side.”
Akanji was also asked for his opinions on teammate Alessandro Bastoni, who continues to be linked with a summer move to Barcelona.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I understand he’s a big topic in Italy. In every interview I do they ask me about Bastoni. Maybe it would be better to ask him about his future. All I can say is that I get on very well with him. He’s a great teammate and I’d be happy if he stayed.”
Inter are on the verge of sealing their 21st league title, and could potentially have it mathematically wrapped up this weekend. If not, they will still have another four chances to get the job done.
“We have a good advantage in Serie A, 12 points over Milan and Napoli with only five games left. It’s a great situation, but the Coppa Italia is another thing,” said Akanji.
“We don’t start with any advantage expect from maybe playing at home. It’s a semi-final and Como will come to Milan convinced, trying to do their best. But we want to get to the final and put in our best performance.”
Akanji feels that Inter have had three entirely different experiences when playing against Como so far this season.
COMO, ITALY – APRIL 12: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores their team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I’m always a bit sure as to what to expect. We want to get to the final and put in our best performance because you never know.
“Playing against Como is always complicated. The three games we’ve had against them have always been different. The first was a great performance for us, we won 4-0 at home. In the second, the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, neither side wanted to take risks, while in the last game against Como in the league, it was an open game where we ended up 2-0 down and it didn’t seem like an easy situation.
“We managed to recover and scored four goals in a row, then they scored a penalty and had a great opportunity to equalise. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
“It would be incredible to win two titles in my first year. We’re trying to do the Coppa Italia double. Obviously we hoped to go further in the Champions League. We tried, but it would still be great to win these two titles.”
Vincenzo Montella was full of praise for Juventus and head coach Luciano Spalletti following their 2-0 win over Bologna on Sunday evening, but jokingly warned the Bianconeri tactician: ‘From here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Yildiz’.
Montella, head coach of Turkiye, was a guest analyst on Sky Sport’s Serie A coverage on Sunday evening and spoke in-depth about his role, his relationship with Yildiz and his previous experiences working under Spalletti.
Montella on Turkiye role and Italy disappointment: ‘It’s not all negative’
It has been over six years since Montella last worked in Italy, joining Adana Demirspor in 2021 before being appointed as head coach of the Turkiye national team in 2023.
He explained to Sky Sport viewers why he decided to make the move to Turkiye five years ago: “I didn’t have any interviews in Italy for a year and a half. I went to Turkiye to get back into the game because there weren’t any interviews coming my way here, no chance,” (via Tuttosport).
“I also thought about stopping coaching because there were no chances, then COVID arrived. I was fine at home. Then some teams that I didn’t like came along. Then I decided to go and work my way up in Turkiye and start again.”
And on the difficulties that face Turkiye heading into the 2026 World Cup, he added: “We don’t have a recognised striker, so it becomes important for us to come in with players of great quality, strength and speed, especially in attack. We’ve gathered talent, I’ve brought them together under this banner, we’ve given them a bit of tactical organisation.”
As we all know, Italy will not be competing at the 2026 World Cup following their third consecutive defeat in the World Cup play-offs back at the end of March.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy shows reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
“It’s not all negative,” Montella insisted. “Italy, taking away some of the strongest teams, is competitive. There’s a bit of tension with the non-participation in the World Cup, but this team deserved to go because of its technical values. I wouldn’t be so defeatist.”
Montella on Juventus, Spalletti and Yildiz: ‘He’s always been a genius’
Montella and Spalletti’s paths have crossed several times throughout their careers, first as players at Empoli, and later as player and coach respectively at Sampdoria and Roma.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“We played together in ‘92. I was at the beginning of my career and he was almost at the end of his. Then he coached me at Empoli, Sampdoria and I saw him again at Roma. He’s always been a genius because he invents, studies, develops and his teams always play well,” said Montella.
During his time in charge of Milan, Montella also coached a young Manuel Locatelli: “I’m pleased to see him all grown up and the captain of Juve,” he said.
Montella feels that Juventus could have done with the services of Dusan Vlahovic heading into the final stretch of Serie A fixtures, though: “I’m sorry he’s injured because I think he could have made a big contribution.”
And on Yildiz, Montella said: “He always wants to improve, he’s balanced. There are signs that make you notice him immediately. ‘Mister, let me do something else’. He never comes off the pitch, he arrives earlier than anyone else and still does. And in my opinion, he’s destined to improve even more.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“He’s devastating in one-on-ones, the opponents can barely get the ball off him. I like to play him on the left with Turkiye for our organisation, but he also has to come inside and play.”
And if there’s one piece of advice that Montella can offer Spalletti: “If I have one suggestion, from here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Kenan, please.”
Paolo Di Canio has warned Milan and Napoli that Juventus are currently the best equipped side to finish the 2025-26 Serie A season in second place now that they have just a three-point deficit to make up heading into the final five matches of the campaign.
Di Canio predicts Juventus will overtake Milan and Napoli before the end of the season
Paolo Di Canio
Juventus solidified their position in fourth place over the weekend following their 2-0 win over Bologna on Sunday night. That result means that they are now five points clear of both Como and Roma in fifth and sixth place respectively and now only three points behind Milan and Napoli in second and third.
It has been a particularly impressive run of form under head coach Luciano Spalletti, who has now picked up 16 points from his last six matches in the league.
Di Canio, speaking as an analyst on Sky Sport on Sunday evening, explained that Spalletti is perhaps Juventus’s ‘best signing’ of the last five years and feels that he is the main reason why the Bianconeri could finish the season in second place.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Khephren Thuram of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“They’re the team that is best off, more than Napoli and Milan in terms of what we’ve seen over the last few games,” Di Canio said. “They look to me like a group that wants to express themselves, who follow their coach with conviction.
“Spalletti has conveyed a clear message: No excessive pressure, but awareness of the importance of the shirt and the path that needs to be built.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“He’s the best arrival over the last five years. He’s made a clear imprint, not just from a tactical point of view, but most importantly in terms of mentality.”
Reports in Italy indicate that Gian Piero Gasperini is keen to stay on as Roma head coach despite a troubling last week and a public war of words with senior advisor Claudio Ranieri, but there are four key conditions that the coach wants in order to remain at the Stadio Olimpico for 2026-27.
There has been plenty of speculation over Gasperini’s future in charge of Roma recently, despite the fact that the former Atalanta tactician was appointed less than a year ago.
Roma currently find themselves in sixth place in the Serie A table, now highly unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League after Juventus moved five points clear in fourth place on Sunday evening. Gasperini has also been involved in a public back-and-forth with senior advisor Ranieri, who claimed that the coach was not even in the club’s top three candidates to fill the role at the end of last season.
Some reports claimed that Gasperini and Ranieri were effectively ignoring each other at the club’s training ground at the beginning of last week, and multiple outlets in Italy claim that the situation has already become untenable.
What needs to happen for Gasperini to stay on with Roma?
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 18: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
According to Monday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ranieri leaving the Giallorossi set-up is one of the key conditions for Gasperini to stay on as Roma head coach next season.
Additionally, Gasperini is not particularly keen to continue working with sporting director Ricky Massara either. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the relationship between the two members of the Roma management never really kicked off and that they continue to disagree over decisions on the transfer market.
WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Frederic Massara, Sporting Director of AS Roma, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Gasperini is also said to want more ‘control’ over Roma as a whole. La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Gasperini would excel in an old-school style ‘English manager’, with more of a say in transfers and other decisions within the club, such as the appointment of new medical staff, an issue that the coach has regularly brought up throughout the 2025-26 season.
Lastly, Gasperini wants guarantees on the transfer market and reassurances that there will be a significant budget to invest on new players after what he feels were two transfer windows of disappointment.
Manchester United’s search for defensive reinforcements appears to be gathering momentum, with Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu emerging as a potential target ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to reports from Tuttosport, United have recently sent scouts to closely monitor the French centre-back as they evaluate options to strengthen their back line.
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The club’s recruitment team is believed to be exploring both experienced defenders and versatile players capable of adapting to different tactical setups, and Kalulu fits that description perfectly.
Kalulu has caught the attention of Man United scouts
Kalulu has steadily built a reputation as a reliable and adaptable defender since arriving in Serie A.
While he initially gained recognition during his time with AC Milan earlier in his career, his development at Juventus has further strengthened his profile as a modern centre-back.
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Man United’s interest reflects their ongoing need to reinforce the defensive unit.
Over recent seasons, the club has faced recurring issues with injuries to key defenders, forcing frequent changes in personnel.
Kalulu’s pace and positional awareness are two qualities that stand out when scouts analyse his performances.
He has shown the ability to defend against quick attackers while also maintaining composure under pressure, an attribute highly valued in the Premier League, where speed and intensity are crucial.
Juventus are not willing to let the Frenchman leave the club
Juventus are not sitting idle. Italian reports suggest the club are preparing to open contract discussions with the 25-year-old, who still has three years remaining on his current deal.
By initiating talks early, Juventus hope to secure his long-term future and discourage interest from Premier League clubs.
This strategy has been used frequently by top European sides to protect valuable assets and maintain squad stability.
Competition could also emerge from elsewhere if Kalulu continues to perform at a high level.
Arsenal are stepping up their plans to strengthen the attack this summer, and Julián Álvarez has emerged as one of the standout names on their radar.
According to TEAMtalk, the Gunners hold a strong interest in the Atlético Madrid forward, but face stiff competition from Barcelona, who are believed to be the Argentine’s preferred destination if he decides to move.
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With the club aiming to maintain their push at the top of the Premier League and compete deep into European competitions, bringing in a versatile, high-level forward is seen as a key objective.
Álvarez fits the attacking vision at Arsenal
Álvarez has built a reputation as one of the most adaptable forwards in Europe. Whether operating as a central striker, second forward, or drifting into wider positions, the Argentine has consistently delivered goals and work rate.
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His time at Manchester City earlier in his career showcased his ability to thrive in a high-intensity system, and his move to Atlético Madrid allowed him to develop further as a leading attacking figure.
Under Diego Simeone, Álvarez has added tactical discipline and physical resilience to his natural attacking instincts.
That development makes him particularly appealing to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose tactical setups rely heavily on intelligent movement, pressing, and positional flexibility.
Secondly, the interest in Álvarez shows that Arteta is not happy with the performances of both Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, who have lead the attack for Arsenal this season.
Gunners face competition from La Liga giants Barcelona
Barcelona’s involvement in the race adds an extra layer of complexity.
The Catalan club see Álvarez as a long-term attacking solution capable of leading the line or partnering with other forwards.
Their interest could give them an edge, especially if the player favours a move to La Liga’s style of play and environment.
Financially, a deal would likely require a significant investment. Atlético Madrid are known to be tough negotiators, and Álvarez’s value has risen due to his consistent performances and international pedigree with Argentina.
Manchester United are looking to make attacking additions in the summer transfer window and one of their targets is interested in a move to Old Trafford.
According to Football Insider, Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi is ready for a move away from the club, with both Manchester United and Liverpool closely tracking the young attacker.
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Kroupi has seamlessly adapted to the relentless pace and physicality of the Premier League, bagging 10 league goals in a stellar debut campaign.
Man United target Bournemouth star Eli Kroupi
Michael Carrick’s side is reportedly looking to add to their ranks.
Kroupi isn’t the only Bournemouth player turning heads in Manchester. The Red Devils are also reportedly keeping close tabs on midfield dynamo Alex Scott and Argentine center-back Marcos Senesi.
Raiding the Vitality Stadium seems to be a genuine, multi-player strategy for United’s hierarchy as they look to inject fresh, proven Premier League talent into their squad.
Should the Red Devils target a young attacker like Eli Kroupi?
A £60 million fee is an undeniably huge gamble for a 19-year-old, but in today’s heavily inflated market, securing a top-tier talent early can pay massive dividends down the line.
However, what Man United need the most right now is experience. Their attack right now consists of players like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
All of them are talented and have done well this season, particularly in the second half of the season, but they need more experience in the team.
They need a leader who can lead their attack and has an experience of winning trophies.
With Bruno Fernandes playing the best football of his career right now, Man United should reward him with an attacker who is ready made and somebody who is going to make an instant impact.
Eli Kroupi is still young and a move to Man United at this early stage in his career could put more pressure on him rather than making him a world beater.
Chelsea’s hunt for defensive reinforcements looks set to intensify this summer, with Sporting CP centre-back Gonçalo Inácio emerging as one of the latest names linked to Stamford Bridge.
According to a source on X, the Blues are keeping a close eye on the Portuguese international ahead of what could be another busy transfer window.
The 24-year-old defender is currently protected by a €60 million release clause in his Sporting CP contract, a figure that could become a key factor in any negotiations.
Inácio has quietly built a strong reputation in Portugal and across Europe over the past few seasons.
A product of Sporting CP’s academy, he has developed into a composed, ball-playing centre-back known for his intelligent positioning and confidence in possession.
His ability to step into midfield and distribute the ball from the back has made him particularly valuable in modern tactical systems that rely on defenders initiating attacks.
Chelsea’s interest in Inácio makes sense when viewed alongside their recent defensive challenges.
Injuries, inconsistency, and rotation in the back line have forced the club to reassess their options.
While the Blues have invested heavily in young defenders in recent transfer windows, there is still a clear need for leadership, tactical awareness, and consistency, qualities Inácio has demonstrated regularly in both domestic competitions and European matches.
Attribute
Details
Full Name
Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio
Date of Birth / Age
August 25, 2001 (24 years old)
Place of Birth
Almada, Portugal
Nationality
Portugal
Height
1.86 m (6′ 1″)
Position
Defender (Centre-Back)
Preferred Foot
Left
Current Club
Sporting CP
Contract Expiry
June 30, 2030
Release Clause
€60.00m
Estimated Market Value
~€40.70m
Player Agent
AS1
Youth Clubs
Almada AC (2010–2012), Sporting CP (2012–2020)
Key Career Honours
3x Primeira Liga (2020/21, 2023/24, 2024/25), UEFA Nations League (2024/25), Taça de Portugal (2024/25), 2x League Cup (2020/21, 2021/22)
Clubs from Spain and Germany have also been mentioned as admirers, meaning Chelsea could face competition if they decide to trigger the release clause.
Another factor working in Inácio’s favor is his international experience with Portugal.
Although he has often competed with established names for a starting spot, his involvement at the international level has boosted his profile and shown that he can perform under pressure against top opposition.
For Chelsea, adding a defender with both youth and experience matches with their strategy of building a squad capable of competing in the Premier League and Europe over the long term.
If Chelsea’s hierarchy can fend off their Premier League rivals and convince the Portuguese star that Stamford Bridge is the best place for his prime years, this could be the cornerstone signing Rosenior needs to properly rebuild his defense.
Looking to skyrocket their way into the European spots on Tuesday night, Brighton will welcome a struggling Chelsea to the Amex. While some in Brighton’s camp might have been disappointed over the weekend as they had to settle for a single point in the capital, Tuesday’s hosts have continued to impress on either side of […]
AZ Alkmaar were imperious in the cup final this weekend as they hammered NEC Nijmegen 5-1. In a game many expected to be a closely fought contest between AZ Alkmaar and this years Eredivisie surprise package NEC, it was the side returning to the cup final for the second seasons in a row who proved to have too much for their opponents. However, the score line did not tell the full story of a game that was, for over an hour at least, pretty close.
However, the opening goal of the game only came after the half-hour mark. Some great work out wide from Ro-Zangelo Daal eventually led to Mees de Wit opening the scoring. It remained 1-0 until after the hour mark, when Kees Smit was sent free on the counter, finding the marauding Sven Mijnans to make it 2-0. In pushing for a way back into the game, NEC left themselves exposed on the counter, with Peer Koopmeiners breaking free to make it 3-0 with a wonderful finish. With just 15 or so minutes left in the game, it was clear that the cup was heading to Alkmaar.
Yet, just a few minutes later, NEC did get back into the game through substitute Koki Ogawa. However, AZ were clinical on the counter. After Mijans second was chalked off for offside, Smit chipped Jasper Cillessen in stoppage time to make it 4-1 before Troy Parrott got himself on the scoresheet with a deflected strike. By then, NEC had thrown caution to the wind and left themselves completly exposed at the back.
AZ, who had lost in dramatic fashion against Go Ahead Eagles last year, made sure they picked up their fifth cup in, making it five wins and four defeats in cup finals in their history. The side are also now guaranteed a European ticket, while NEC are still in a good position to earn one through the Eredivisie. The side will hopefully complete what has been a fantastic season as they remain in contention to finish in the top four.
For more on how the cup final will impact the European tickets in the Eredivisie, we put together an article that can be found here.
Arsenal's loss means only one Premier League team yet to suffer back-to-back defeats
Arsenal's damaging defeat to Manchester City on Sunday means that now only one team in the Premier League has not suffered back-to-back defeats this season.
The Gunners 2-1 defeat to title challengers City came fresh off of the 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth earlier this month as Mikel Arteta's April difficulties continue.
It also means that only one team has avoided back-to-back defeats in the Premier League this season: Manchester United.
The Red Devils have lost seven times in total in the league so far and have bounced back each time with six wins and one draw following defeats – including victory over Chelsea last time out after losing to Leeds United previously.
Indeed, the last time United were defeated twice in a row in the Premier League was May last year when West Ham United and Chelsea won – a part of three-game losing streak with Brentford defeating Ruben Amorim's side before that.
Local rivals Manchester City lost back-to-back games as recently as August when they lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur (how times have changed) and away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Looking at the top four tiers, only five other teams are yet to lose two league games in a row. While no team in the Championship has yet to do that this season, in League One, Bolton Wanderers and leaders Lincoln City are yet to suffer two losses.
Down in League Two, there are three teams yet to suffer back-to-back losses: already-promoted Bromley, Cambridge United, and Chesterfield.
Manchester United look to Champions League rivals in manager search
Man Utd Track Emery as Aston Villa Braced for Summer Interest
Emery Rise Commands European Respect
Unai Emery’s work at Aston Villa has been one of the Premier League’s most compelling managerial stories. Since his arrival in 2022, he has driven the club into consistent European contention, restoring belief and tactical clarity.
Photo IMAGO
TeamTalk note that his “performance at Aston Villa has not gone unnoticed across Europe.” That feels like an understatement. Emery has imposed structure, discipline and ambition, lifting Villa into the top seven in every full season under his guidance. Another top five finish now looks within reach, with Champions League qualification a realistic reward.
Such progress inevitably attracts attention. His pedigree, strengthened by spells at Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain, adds further weight to his candidacy for elite roles.
Man Utd Monitoring Managerial Options
At Manchester United, the search for long term direction continues. TeamTalk reports that intermediaries have been “actively promoting Emery’s availability to top clubs,” with United among those approached.
Photo IMAGO
The situation remains fluid. Interim manager Michael Carrick has impressed, with sources stating that “no manager has achieved more Premier League points since his appointment.” That record has placed him firmly in contention for the permanent role.
Photo IMAGO
Yet United are casting a wide net. Alongside Emery, names such as Julian Nagelsmann and Andoni Iraola have been discussed. This reflects a club still weighing identity and style, seeking a figure capable of restoring sustained competitiveness.
Real Madrid Interest Adds Pressure
Interest is not confined to England. Real Madrid are also monitoring Emery’s situation following their separation from Xabi Alonso. With Alvaro Arbeloa currently in charge, uncertainty remains over their long term direction.
TeamTalk emphasise that “Emery’s work at Villa has caught their attention,” placing him among a shortlist that includes some of Europe’s most respected coaches. Madrid’s preference may lie elsewhere, but admiration for Emery’s achievements is clear.
Photo IMAGO
For Villa, this represents a familiar challenge. Success brings scrutiny, and sustained performance elevates individuals into global conversations.
Villa Confidence Faces Summer Test
Despite the noise, Villa remain calm. Emery is contracted until 2029, and the club insist he is staying. Their upward trajectory, combined with the prospect of regular Champions League football, strengthens their position.
Still, the dynamics of elite football rarely remain static. TeamTalk underline that “Villa are aware of the growing interest but remain confident of retaining their manager.” Confidence, however, will be tested if formal approaches materialise.
For Manchester United, the situation offers opportunity and complexity in equal measure. Emery represents proven quality, yet extracting him from a thriving project would require significant persuasion.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
For Manchester United supporters, this report will spark genuine debate. Emery’s credentials are undeniable. He has rebuilt Aston Villa into a disciplined, tactically astute side capable of competing with the Premier League’s strongest teams. That level of organisation is something United have lacked.
There is admiration for what he has achieved. Taking Villa into European contention consistently demands clarity, authority and adaptability. Those qualities would appeal to supporters craving stability.
At the same time, there is hesitation. United’s identity has long been tied to progressive, attacking football. Emery’s approach, while effective, leans heavily on structure and control. Some fans may question whether it aligns with the club’s traditions.
Carrick’s emergence complicates matters further. His results have been impressive, and there is a growing belief that continuity could be the smarter path. “No manager has achieved more Premier League points since his appointment” carries weight among supporters.
Ultimately, the decision will define United’s next chapter. Emery offers experience and reliability. Carrick represents continuity and potential. For fans, the priority remains clear, a return to consistent success at the highest level.
NEW DELHI: When we think of pitch invaders during a cricket match, what usually comes to mind? A fan - either a girl or a boy - jumping the fence, sprinting across the field, touching their favourite cricketer’s feet, hugging them, or trying to click a quick selfie before being escorted away by security officials. Right? But a recent incident saw a completely different kind of pitch invasion - when a tractor drove into a stadium and vandalised the pitch.
Shocking, right? But it actually happened.
The incident took place on April 12 during the final of the MLA Trophy cricket tournament in Dharangaon (over 400 km from Mumbai), when a tractor barged onto the field and churned up the entire pitch.
So, what led to this chaos?
According to officials, as quoted by PTI, a local politician allegedly drove the tractor onto the pitch and damaged it after being upset about not being invited to the tournament.
Officials said the leader - who serves as the Dharangaon municipal council president - was angry with the organisers for not inviting him to the event.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, shows the man driving the tractor across the playing field, tearing up the surface and leaving the pitch unplayable. Players, organisers, and spectators were left stunned as the situation quickly spiralled.
— gharkekalesh (@gharkekalesh)
"The council president acted in a fit of rage," an official said on Sunday.
The match was immediately called off due to unsafe playing conditions, raising concerns over security arrangements for teams from Dharangaon and nearby villages.
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Local police reached the spot promptly and brought the situation under control, the official added.
No formal complaint was filed, as organisers chose not to escalate the matter further, the official said.
MONACO (AP) — Track and field investigators have classed India as an “extremely high” risk for doping and imposed stricter testing on athletes from Botswana including a stellar men’s sprint team ahead of the 2027 world championships.
“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping program is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” the AIU’s chairman David Howman said in a statement.
India has produced the most positive doping tests in track and field since 2024, the AIU said, and now will be subjected to stricter “minimum testing requirements for their national team athletes.”
The list of highest-risk countries that India joins also included in 2025 Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine.
Botswana, Cuba and Peru are classed as second-tier risks by the AIU and their athletes must now give at least three no-notice samples in training to be eligible for upcoming major events, including the worlds next year in Beijing.
Botswana runners also face increased testing before the country hosts the World Relays in Gaborone next month.
This was imposed because of “an inadequate response to repeated warnings about low testing levels, and an increase in performance at international level,” Howman said.
Botswana won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2025 worlds in Tokyo, all by men’s 400 meters runners in the individual and relay events.
Cuba won a gold medal and two bronzes in Tokyo after having “the highest percentage of athletes with zero out-of-competition tests among the top 40 nations,” the AIU said.
Bahrain’s high-risk was downgraded and the country was praised by Howman for a “vast improvement of the anti-doping situation.”
The AIU operates independently from the World Athletics governing body and since 2019 has held member federations accountable for anti-doping programs operating in their nation.
Report – Inter Milan Defensive Mainstay Makes Up His Mind On His Future Amid Barcelona Links
Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni has reportedly made a final decision on his future amid intense interest from Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo via FCInter1908, the 26-year-old is enthusiastic about joining the Catalan club in the summer.
Despite his household status at San Siro, Alessandro Bastoni could wave goodbye to his homeland in the coming months.
Indeed, Bastoni’s reputation has taken several hits since the start of the calendar year.
In addition to his Derby d’Italia shenanigans, the Italian defender emerged as one of the main culprits for the Azzurri’s fiasco in the FIFA World Cup playoffs.
Therefore, his future at Inter is hanging by a thread, with Barcelona ready to offer him an escape route from Serie A at the end of the season.
Inter Milan Star Alessandro Bastoni Makes Decision on His Future Amid Barcelona Rumors
Kept in high esteem by head coach Cristian Chivu, Bastoni is reportedly open to staying at San Siro.
Moreover, it is his priority. However, his life in Serie A has become unbearable due to mounting criticism and constant boos from opposing fans.
Therefore, the former Atalanta man would reportedly embrace a move to Barcelona in the summer.
Meanwhile, he has already informed the club of his intention to stay. Furthermore, he is reluctant to continue his career in the Premier League.
As such, he’ll either stay at Inter next season or join the Blaugrana.
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 19: Belmont Bruins forward Drew Scharnowski (11) shoots a floater over Lipscomb Bisons forward Cole Middleton (24) during a game between the Belmont Bruins and Lipscomb Bisons, November 19, 2025, at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Drew Scharnowski announced on Sunday that he’s transferring to Duke from Belmont, which has led a lot of people to ask: who is Drew Scharnowski?
When you watch this video, you’ll see a guy who is big, athletic, and smart.
He is a capable defender, and a willing one, who could pick up some of Maliq Brown’s responsibilities. Statistically, he played about 22 minutes, averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks. He shot 68.1% overall, but just 20% from deep, and free throws are a significant weakness at just 43.6% on a team that finished around 70 in KenPom.
So he probably won’t spend a lot of time on the perimeter. However, when you watch the linked video, you’ll notice that he has an unusual intelligence for passing. This guy makes some pretty great passes. In particular, he has a knack for getting the ball to teammates who are moving through traffic to the basket. Not everyone can do that.
He seems like a good fit for what Scheyer has looked for in big guys.
If you have not seen Drew Scharnowski play a ton then you are in for a surprise
Certified demon, lanky high energy forward, great defender, super aggressive. Not afraid to let people know either, such a classic *Duke* fit in the best way possible pic.twitter.com/PJA8lEcvVohttps://t.co/iaNnNoqj5r
20th April – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day
Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting in 1907…
David Potter’s Celtic Books
David’s bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything completely sold out in print but is available on Amazon kindle, with all the photographs of the hardback edition, for HALF PRICEat just £3.49…
Peter Somers scored twice
ONE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1907 – Celtic beat Hearts 3-0 in a Scottish Cup Final to show the world what a great side they are, for they are at the top of the Scottish League as well as Scottish Cup winners for the 5th time. The game is a little one-sided, and although Hearts moan about a few refereeing decisions, the 50,000 crowd see a great Celtic display with two goals from the ever-inventive Peter Somers and a penalty scored by Willie Orr.
Andy McAtee scored
TWO – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1912 – The League season ends in a whimper with a 1-1 draw against Raith Rovers in front of a meagre crowd of 4,000. The Scottish Cup is safely in the bag, but the Scottish League has been lost once again. But there are some good youngsters appearing, one of them being Andy McAtee from Croy who scored today. The main topic of conversation, however, is the extent of the disaster in the North Atlantic involving the “unsinkable” HMS Titanic
Bobby Lennox scored
THREE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1968 – Desperation time at Celtic Park as Bobby Lennox scores (with his shin!) the scrappiest goal of his life, but it keeps Celtic at the top of the Scottish League on goal average with only one game to be played. Earlier Willie Wallace had scored, but Morton had equalised, and looked like holding out for a draw. That same Morton had been the team who had drawn with Rangers on Wednesday to equal to allow Celtic to draw level in the League race. Parkhead celebrated as if the League had been won.
WATCH THIS…20th April 1974, Bobby Lennox scores this goal in a 2:0 win over Aberdeen.
FOUR – WEDNESDAY 20th APRIL 1983 –The death wish continues as Celtic, having lost to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday, now blow up at home to Dundee United to imperil their chances of winning the League and everyone can predict that they will now go to Pittodrie on Saturday and lose again. Not without cause are fingers pointed at Charlie Nicholas who was mysteriously missing on Saturday, but restored tonight. Although he scores a penalty in the 2-3 defeat, he fails to produce the victory that Celtic needed. Celtic Park is a dark, ominous, brooding sort of place tonight.
Andy Thom scored twice
FIVE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1996 – Celtic are finishing strongly, today defeating Falkirk 4-0 at Parkhead, but Rangers are still ahead. It is generally agreed that Celtic have played the better football, but it looks as if they will finish second. However, the new stadium is making progress and 35,692 see Andy Thom score twice, Simon Donnelly once and Jorge Cadete once as Falkirk are put to the sword.
Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…
‘If I fell on the floor, maybe it would be a red card’ – Erling Haaland on his battle with Gabriel and head to head incident
Erling Haaland suggested that had he gone to ground after his head to head with Gabriel, then it would have been more likely that the Arsenal defender was sent off.
“I think if I fell on the floor there which I would not do unless someone really attacks me, I think maybe it would be a red card, I’m not sure,” Haaland told Sky Sports after the game.
“I haven’t seen the situation (back) to be honest but it is what it is. I will not fall on the floor easy like this.
Haaland scored the all important winner for his side in the second half and reflecting on his battle with Arsenal’s two centre-backs, he said: “I scored the goal, so of course I won that battle in the decisive moment.
“It was a good cross, the ball came, and the finish was perfect. I think it was a great goal and the decisive moment.”
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The Top Performers in the EFL: weekend's key statistics
It has been another action-packed weekend across 'The 72' and Playmaker is here to run you through some of the outstanding performers and statistics from the EFL.
From the slickest passers enroute to the most tenacious tacklers via the busiest goalkeepers, we have all the headline stats you need to know from this afternoon.
Jari-Matti Latvala guided Toyota’s new GR Corolla Rally RC2 to its first American Rally Association National Championship win at the Olympus Rally.
The 18-time World Rally Championship event winner headed a Toyota 1-2 after emerging from a 98-car field at the Washington-based event, which previously hosted the WRC from 1985-1988.
After being beaten on the opening stage by four-time American champion Brandon Semenuk, Latvala hit the front from stage two. Semenuk’s challenge was short-lived as a rear differential issue on his Ford Fiesta Rally2 ended his victory hopes.
Latvala went on to win the following 15 stages, held across three days, to clinch his first win on American soil, and his first in a modern rally car for three years. The Finn took the win by seven minutes from Toyota team-mate Seth Quintero. The final place on the podium was filled by Lia Block, the daughter of the late Ken Block, after guiding her Hyundai i20 N Rally to a well-deserved third, 2m50.2s adrift of Quintero.
“The final day went well. We had no issues, and we completed eight stages, so it was quite a long day,” said Latvala.
“With nearly 300 stage kilometres in total, it was comparable to a WRC rally. It’s been great to see such a long event.
“It’s been enjoyable to drive here. The atmosphere has been surprisingly relaxed, and the stages are fantastic There are very good roads here. Of course, there are still things that can be improved on the organisational side.”
Toyota's GR Corolla is longer than the GR Yaris raced in WRC
Toyota's GR Corolla is longer than the GR Yaris raced in WRC
Latvala secured the victory by winning the Mason Lake stage, a test that had previously been conquered by Juha Kankkunen, driving a Group B Peugeot 205 T16 in 1986.
“On our first pass, we were 17 seconds faster compared to the Group B time,” Latvala added.
“These cars have clearly evolved. Back then there was more power, but it couldn’t be used effectively due to the suspension. Tyres have also improved significantly."
Latvala, who has been involved in the development and testing of the Toyota GR Corolla, admitted there are still areas for improvement in the car.
“The Corolla has a longer wheelbase, which makes it very stable and enjoyable on fast sections,” he explained.
“The body is heavier than the Yaris and the longer wheelbase means that in slower, tighter corners it tends to understeer slightly. That’s an area we need to improve.
“If we could make the car a little lighter, that would also be beneficial.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Jorrel Hato of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. JORREL HATO (6.8)
It was another game in which there wasn’t much to be happy about, but young Jorrel Hato continues to catch the eye with some solid performances at the back — once again deployed out of position, at center back.
Not many players have shown improvement since Liam Rosenior’s appointment, but Hato is one of the few exceptions, and that’s certainly nice to see. His future isn’t at center back, but that sort of versatility can only help.
2. MARC CUCURELLA (5.9)
Speaking of left backs, Cucurella seems to be rounding into some decent individual form, which is also good, though it also isn’t too likely to ever be game-changing.
3. ENZO FERNÁNDEZ (5.6)
Enzo does have the capacity to be game-changing on a regular basis, but luck was not on his side this time. Perhaps in a different narrative he scores his big chance and we get a meaningful celebration. Instead, he’s forced off with a cramp late on, with only the cynical narratives prevailing.
vs. MANCHESTER UNITED (PL, H, L 0-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Hato (6.8)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Cucurella (5.9), Enzo (5.6), Caicedo (5.5), Sánchez (5.5)
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to begin their nine-week offseason workout program on Monday. Here's a full look at the current 72-man roster, highlighting returning stars, key additions, and early roster battles to watch as OTAs approach. The NFL just announced its nine-week off-season workout routine for all 32 teams. The training programs are divided into three phases: one mandatory minicamp for the entire roster and one rookie minicamp for each group.
Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program, during which activities are limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program and includes on-field workouts, which may involve individual or group instruction.
Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program, during which teams may conduct ten days of organized team practice activities, or “OTAs.”
No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.
Eagles' first day:
April 20
OTA Offseason Workouts:
May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4
Mandatory Minicamp:
June 9-10
73 man roster ahead of NFL Draft
Quarterback
#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee#16 Andy Dalton
Jalen Hurts will shortly begin on-field work with Sean Mannion. Hurts will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, while the Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolina to acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
Running back
#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele
#36 Cameron Latu (FB/TE)
Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.
Wide receiver
#11 A.J. Brown#6 DeVonta Smith#0 Hollywood Brown#80 Darius Cooper#89 Johnny Wilson#86 Quez Watkins#82 Danny Gray
#18 Britain Covey
#13 Elijah Moore -signed March 24
Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade
DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season. Only five Eagles have three 1,000+ yard receiving seasons – Brown (four), Smith, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Quick. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.
Tight end
#88 Dallas Goedert#83 Johnny Mundt#81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. JenkinsN/A Jaheim Bell
#36 Cameron Latu
Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra played in 62 games with 22 starts. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role. Cameron Latu will assume the role of fullback. In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.
Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.
Offensive line
LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson
The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach. The Vikings didn't retain Kuper after four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season, versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.
Defensive line
#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young#96 Gabe Hall
Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.
Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.
Edge rusher
#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie
N/A Joe Tryon-Shoyinka#43 Jose Ramirez
N/A Ta'Quon Graham
Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.
Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.
Cornerback
# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#32 Jonathan Jones#22 Mac McWilliams#41 Tariq Castro-FieldsN/A Ambry Thomas
After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded after landing Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.
The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia and Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas the Seahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.
Safety
#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps#48 J.T. Gray#31 Andre' Sam#49 Brandon Johnson
Before last Friday, Philadelphia had Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre Sam, and Brandon Johnson on the roster. On Friday afternoon, the Eagles traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.
Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles don't have a long snapper under contract.
🚨 Breaking: Lookman and Sørloth injured after the cup final
Atlético de Madrid have reported on the injuries of Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth.
The club statement
"Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sørloth finished the Copa del Rey final with discomfort. The club’s medical staff carried out tests which recommend the utmost caution to avoid the risk of injury, so they will follow an individualized plan over the coming days, training separately from the group. The progress of this discomfort will determine their return to training with their teammates."
The draw kept them within two points of AFC Wimbledon as the Grecians try to move out of the final League One relegation spot.
Niskanen, whose contract runs out in the summer, has provided 13 assists and scored two goals this season.
"He's huge and he typifies the character of the group," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.
"He's not perfect in any way; there's certain moments in the game, but he just runs and runs and runs.
"He never says a word, but he's a leader within the group; people just follow him in terms of his actions.
"I want and need more of them and the team needs more of them, but he's an inspirational figure and I think he's had the reward of his best season to date in terms of goal contributions."
Foxborough, MA - July 24: New England Patriots QB Drake Maye walks out onto the practice field. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The New England Patriots are about to begin their preparation for the 2026 season. On Monday, players are invited to Gillette Stadium to begin the offseason workout program.
The first phase will focus exclusively on strength and conditioning work and like most of the program is voluntary to attend. Nonetheless, the expectation is that a significant portion of the roster will participate. Among the players set to arrive at the Patriots’ facility on Monday are starting quarterback Drake Maye as well as most if not all of the team’s leaders and free agency signings.
The offseason workout program consists of three phases, and will run for almost two months. As stipulated by Article 21 of the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, all of it with the exception of mandatory minicamp in mid-June is voluntary.
The first phase, as mentioned above, will focus on strength and conditioning. Players are allowed to spend 90 minutes on the field each day and two hours in total at the club facility under team supervision. Patriots director of sports performance Frank Piraino, who arrived alongside head coach Mike Vrabel last year, will lead the charge.
After two weeks, the Patriots will transition to Phase 2. Over a three-week period, they will be permitted to hold individual and group drills. Additionally, offensive players will be allowed to line up across from other offensive players, and defensive players will be permitted to do the same on their side of the ball. No full-speed or full team drills are permitted at that point in time.
The third and final phase will start in late May and cover the last four weeks of the program. The Patriots will be able to hold 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but neither live contact nor full pads are permitted. Phase 3 will also feature 10 days of organized team activities as well as the aforementioned mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.
St. John head baseball coach Stephen Laurent knew what the Eagle program needed even before he accepted the job.
It was a matter of crossing thresholds.
“This is a school where I had been trying to get a job a couple of times over the years,” the first-year head coach said. “I knew coming into it that was a lot of potential here and a lot of love and support from the community.”
He also knew the community wanted him to help the players fulfill their potential.
After leading the Eagles to their first district championship in several years, he accomplished his biggest first-season goal.
The students and the community already knew what they wanted from Laurent. They wanted the Eagles to beat Ascension Catholic, a school that has been a thorn in St. John’s side for years.
“I heard it from my first day here,” Laurent said. “It wasn’t just the students, either — it was people throughout this community, along with the parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents, so it’s become our main goal.”
The accomplishment was profound, yet bittersweet.
Ascension Catholic and St. John will not be in the same district next year, which marks a break in tradition that goes back decades.
“We knew this was our last crack at beating them in district play,” he said.
It’s not the only change for the program.
Laurent eliminated weaker opponents on the schedule in favor of bigger schools that could test Eagles to their full abilities.
The Eagles started the season 0-5.
Frustration is a natural emotion during a losing streak, but Laurent urged the players not to dwell on the record.
“I kept preaching to the players that we’ve got to go out and play the game,” he said.
It meant the Eagles had to look past the team and not dwell on an opponent’s record.
“I emphasized that we had to go out every day and play to the best of our ability as a team,” Laurent said. “It took a while, and I told them it would not happen overnight.”
For Laurent, it has been more than the standard approach of wins and losses.
He knew his team needed confidence before they could compete against the larger schools.
“We went straight to the gauntlet, find our team identity and give some guys their first start on the mound so they could get those butterflies out,” Laurent said.
He now gets calls from other coaches, who have one question for him. They want to know how he managed to turn around the Eagle baseball program his first year at St. John.
It was not a complex issue.
“We simply out there with the goal to compete and grow,” Laurent said. “I’ve had seniors who have been the heartbeat of the team, and they really stepped up, which also strengthened their leadership.”
It’s all been about execution and creating a sense of urgency.
The team also had to put the losses behind them and look ahead.
“Whether we win or lose, we must learn from it,” he said. “Our objective this season has been to play the game, learn from it and move on.”
Some of the players have said the win against Ascension Catholic gave the Eagles the sense of confidence they needed, but it’s not one win or one team that helps a program turn the corner, Laurent said.
“I’ve had to teach our players they should go into a game expecting to lose,” he said, “The goal has been to go out and play team-baseball — and that’s where our success has come from.”
Now that he has crossed the threshold to get into the Eagle program — literally and figuratively — Laurent intends to make this year’s success merely the starting point for the future of the program.
He wants to establish a feeder program and bring players in by eight grade to learn what is expected from the St. John baseball program.
Even as coach, he does not see himself as the catalyst for the program’s current or future success.
“I tell our players about them,” he said. “Right now, they have a chance to change everything.”
Montella praises Juventus and Spalletti but warns ‘don’t take any risks with Yildiz’
Vincenzo Montella was full of praise for Juventus and head coach Luciano Spalletti following their 2-0 win over Bologna on Sunday evening, but jokingly warned the Bianconeri tactician: ‘From here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Yildiz’.
Montella, head coach of Turkiye, was a guest analyst on Sky Sport’s Serie A coverage on Sunday evening and spoke in-depth about his role, his relationship with Yildiz and his previous experiences working under Spalletti.
Montella on Turkiye role and Italy disappointment: ‘It’s not all negative’
It has been over six years since Montella last worked in Italy, joining Adana Demirspor in 2021 before being appointed as head coach of the Turkiye national team in 2023.
He explained to Sky Sport viewers why he decided to make the move to Turkiye five years ago: “I didn’t have any interviews in Italy for a year and a half. I went to Turkiye to get back into the game because there weren’t any interviews coming my way here, no chance,” (via Tuttosport).
“I also thought about stopping coaching because there were no chances, then COVID arrived. I was fine at home. Then some teams that I didn’t like came along. Then I decided to go and work my way up in Turkiye and start again.”
And on the difficulties that face Turkiye heading into the 2026 World Cup, he added: “We don’t have a recognised striker, so it becomes important for us to come in with players of great quality, strength and speed, especially in attack. We’ve gathered talent, I’ve brought them together under this banner, we’ve given them a bit of tactical organisation.”
As we all know, Italy will not be competing at the 2026 World Cup following their third consecutive defeat in the World Cup play-offs back at the end of March.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy shows reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
“It’s not all negative,” Montella insisted. “Italy, taking away some of the strongest teams, is competitive. There’s a bit of tension with the non-participation in the World Cup, but this team deserved to go because of its technical values. I wouldn’t be so defeatist.”
Montella on Juventus, Spalletti and Yildiz: ‘He’s always been a genius’
Montella and Spalletti’s paths have crossed several times throughout their careers, first as players at Empoli, and later as player and coach respectively at Sampdoria and Roma.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“We played together in ‘92. I was at the beginning of my career and he was almost at the end of his. Then he coached me at Empoli, Sampdoria and I saw him again at Roma. He’s always been a genius because he invents, studies, develops and his teams always play well,” said Montella.
During his time in charge of Milan, Montella also coached a young Manuel Locatelli: “I’m pleased to see him all grown up and the captain of Juve,” he said.
Montella feels that Juventus could have done with the services of Dusan Vlahovic heading into the final stretch of Serie A fixtures, though: “I’m sorry he’s injured because I think he could have made a big contribution.”
And on Yildiz, Montella said: “He always wants to improve, he’s balanced. There are signs that make you notice him immediately. ‘Mister, let me do something else’. He never comes off the pitch, he arrives earlier than anyone else and still does. And in my opinion, he’s destined to improve even more.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“He’s devastating in one-on-ones, the opponents can barely get the ball off him. I like to play him on the left with Turkiye for our organisation, but he also has to come inside and play.”
And if there’s one piece of advice that Montella can offer Spalletti: “If I have one suggestion, from here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Kenan, please.”
Washington Commanders fans, I understand many of you are frustrated and questioning the job GM Adam Peters has done in his two NFL drafts. However, Washington fans, how do you think the Commanders' future would be in the hands of Duke Tobin?
Tobin handles the roster and drafts of the Cincinnati Bengals, though his title is actually "Director of Player Personnel." The Bengals were in a very similar situation to the Commanders until Saturday night. The Commanders finished 5-12 and the Bengals 6-11 in 2025. Thus, the Commanders have the No. 7 pick and the Bengals had the No. 10 selection. The Bengals have one of the better quarterbacks in the game, Joe Burrow, as do the Commanders with Jayden Daniels.
The Bengals have had trouble protecting Burrow from taking many hard hits each season. In fact last season, Burrow was only able to play in eight games due to Burrow's injury. It shouldn't be overlooked that in 2020 and 2023 Burrow was only able to play in ten games those seasons due to injury as well.
Saturday night, the Bengals traded their No. 10 selection to the New York Giants for their 340-pound nose tackle, Dexter Lawrence. The Bengals gave up the No. 10 selection in this draft for a nose tackle who was drafted eight years ago!
Get this: the Bengals could have selected one of the several offensive linemen expected to be drafted in the first round at No. 10 to help keep Burrow standing and playing in more games next season. They could have drafted the highest player on their board at No. 10 regardless of position to help their team, and that player would have been on a rookie contract the next four seasons.
But no, Tobin chose to trade that valuable pick to the Giants for a nose tackle that will turn 29 in November and pay him a one-year extension of $28M. This means they will only have Lawrence through the 2028 season, whereas the draft choice would be through the 2029 season, and if you exercise the fifth-year option, he would be with you through the 2030 season.
Fourthly, the Bengals had lost pass-rushing defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency. At No. 10, the Bengals could have taken the best defensive player on their board. In Tobin's defense, I get it that the Bengals were 31st in yards surrendered in 2025. Lawrence is a good nose tackle, and I can see a contender picking anywhere from 25-32, considering making such a trade. But what was Tobin doing trading the No. 10 pick overall for a nose tackle?
If he wanted to address losing his top pass rusher, he doesn't know who is going to be still available at No. 10. It could be such defensive prospects as Safety Caleb Downs, DE Rueben Bain Jr, second-rated corner of the class Jermod McCoy, perhaps even the highest rated corner Mansoor Delane.
Surely, no one else was offering the Giants anywhere close to the No. 10 selection for Lawrence. Does Tobin not waiting to see who is available at No. 10, Thursday night, suggest Tobin was impatient and prematurely jumped the gun?
Yes, Commanders fans, several players in the 2024 Commanders draft have not yet had breakout seasons, but neither can they be considered 'busts' either. Thus, is Peters due all the criticism he has received? In addition, don't be upset if he trades back Thursday night, receiving good value in an attempt to rebuild this roster.
Lastly, remember how much worse it was, MUCH worse. Consider Ron Rivera's production from his four FIRST- round selections during his tenure when he had final say on all drafting: Chase Young (2020), Jamin Davis (2021), Jahan Dotson (2022) and Emmanuel Forbes (2023).
Peters' first-round choices Jayden Daniels (No. 2) and Josh Conerly (No. 29) have both already proven to be much better.
The NFL draft is just three days away, and the smokescreens are rising across the league in what could be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory.
The Tennessee Titans will be on the clock early, and at this point, there are way too many variables to truly decipher what they will do with this all-important haul. While they have some holes to fill, they are in a better place than when they kicked off the offseason.
With the next group of rookies preparing to come to Nashville, Bryan DeArdo took a look back at the past 25 drafts and found the best and worst of the Titans' draft classes since the year 2000.
Tennessee TitansBest pick: RB Derrick Henry (No. 45 overall, 2016)
After a quiet first two seasons in Nashville, Henry quickly became one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He won back-to-back rushing titles with the Titans, which included a season that saw him become the eighth player to run beyond 2,000 yards in a season. With the Ravens, Henry had the greatest season in NFL history by a running back over the age of 30 in 2024 when he ran for 1,921 yards.
In 2026, Henry could conceivably pass four running backs to move into sixth place on the NFL's all-time career rushing list.
Worst pick: OT Isaiah Wilson (No. 29 overall, 2020)
Barring injury, not many first-round picks end up playing in just one regular-season NFL game. Discipline issues, however, led to Wilson's career amounting to just one game. He was traded to the Dolphins for a seventh-round pick in 2021 but was released just three days later after showing up late for his physical and missing two workouts.
Landing King Henry in the second round was a homerun. A rare combination of size and speed, he was not only the face of the franchise, but he has also proven to be one of the most dominant backs of his generation.
As durable and impactful as Henry was, Wilson was the polar opposite, and his selection definitely started the Titans' downward spiral. Wilson flamed out before the Titans even struck the match, and they cannot afford another miss of that caliber.
Advantage Union St Gilloise after victory over Club Brugge
Union St Gilloise appear to have taken a decisive step in their bid to win back to back Belgian Pro League titles. The side won 2-1 against Club Brugge in a brutal encounter in Brussels, with January signings Mateo Biondic and Besfort Zeneli helping the side come back from 1-0 down. It looked like Kevin Rodriguez had given Union St Gilloise the lead, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Almost immediately, Brandon Mechele gave Club Brugge the lead from a corner. Kjell Scherpen did not cover himself in glory with how he tried to keep the ball out, but the 26-year-old goalkeeper more than made up for it with an incredible save late on to deny Aleksandar Stankovic from a corner.
It was fitting that once again, Union St Gilloise’s ability to recruit talent helped them get over the line agaist Club Brugge. Biondic signed from the German regional leagues and scored his second goal for the side. It was a well taken finish from the striker. Zeneli was hardly a surprising signing from Elfsborg, but his finish oozed with class and was worthy of winning any game.
In the race for the title, Union St Gilloise are now fully in control. They still have to travel to Brugge for the reverse fixture, but currently have a four point lead over their title rivals. Given the disparity between both Union St Gilloise and Club Brugge compared to the rest of the sides in the play-offs, this game felt like Club’s best chance to deny Union St Gilloise another title. Both sides should have enough to win their remaining games against the other teams in the play-offs, although Club will now be praying that someone else can do them a favour ahead of the return fixture.
For now, it appears that title number 20 for Club Brugge will have to wait. Instead, the trophy appears to be staying in Brussels for another year.
Anaheim (Calif.) Western quarterback Chance Thomas picked up a big offer over the weekend that could be a game changer in his recruitment.
We’ve seen Thomas multiple times this off-season and noted he’s a ‘trend up’ quarterback in our eyes. He was a top performer at Elite 11 Regional Camp and the Under Armour Camp and has a nice combination of size, arm talent and athleticism.
Kansas has been recruiting Thomas harder than anyone and he has an official visit locked in for June 5. He visited Stanford over the weekend and the Cardinal have now offered as well.
“This was my second time visiting Stanford and I had a great trip,” Thomas said. “I would say the highlight for me was watching the team practice and seeing the new offense installed.
“They had a scrimmage and that was interesting to watch as well. Of course getting the offer was great too and Stanford is 100% in the running right now.”
Thomas said the offer came towards the end of the trip and he was able to meet with multiple members of the staff.
“I talked with Tavita Pritchard, Andrew Luck and the general manager, Albert Garcia,” Thomas said. “It was towards the of the visit and I was very excited.
“Being able to have an opportunity to attend a school that caliber of Stanford is truly a blessing. I have high interest right now but I’m not ready to make a quick decision. I still want to take my official visits and then I’ll make a commitment.”
Thomas locked in an official visit to Stanford for May 29 and is talking with a few other schools as well.
“I’ve been talking with Utah for awhile and Iowa State recently started to reach out as well,” Thomas said. “I had an offer from Washington State and now that staff is over at Iowa State so there’s a connection there.
“I have great relationship with the Kansas staff and have already been up there once and really liked it a lot. It’s a good all around fit and they have been aggressive in recruiting me so they are definitely one of my favorites.”
Maverick Vinales will sit out this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, with the Tech3 MotoGP rider yet to make a full recovery from a shoulder surgery.
Vinales withdrew from last month’s US Grand Prix to return to Europe and undergo an operation to recover a displaced screw from his left shoulder.
The Spaniard had been hoping to take advantage of an extended break in the MotoGP calendar to complete his rehabilitation and make a comeback at his home race in Jerez.
But on Monday, Tech3 said in a statement that Vinales will not be fit in time for the first Spanish race of 2025 on 24-26 April.
The 31-year-old is now hoping to rejoin the grid at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans on 10 May.
"It’s obviously disappointing not to be racing at Jerez this weekend,” Vinales said. “It’s a huge event for me and the first of my home races this season.
“I know my body well though and right now the priority is to recover properly and make sure I can come back in the best possible condition for the rest of the season. Everything is moving in the right direction, and the target is to be ready for Le Mans.”
Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Vinales had high expectations from his second season aboard KTM machinery after signing five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo as his rider coach.
While pre-season testing suggested no signs of lingering effects from his Sachsenring crash in 2025, Vinales struggled for performance across the opening two races at Buriram and Goiania and eventually withdrew from the third round in Austin due to severe pain.
Scans showed that a screw that was fitted to his shoulder in the aftermath of his German GP crash had become loose - and required surgery. Tech3 was initially planning to announce test rider Pol Espargaro as Vinales’ replacement for Jerez, but the 34-year-old is also unfit after sustaining a hand injury in the build-up to the race.
As such, the KTM satellite squad will contest the race with a single bike for Enea Bastianini, who returned to the podium in the sprint race at Austin.
Guenther Steiner, Red Bull KTM Tech3 CEO said: “I don’t ask for these situations, but somehow they keep turning up anyway. Of course, there’s a bit of irony in it, but the reality is that this is not how we wanted to arrive in Jerez.
“First Maverick is recovering, then Pol injures his hand, and suddenly the plan changes very quickly. We have looked at the alternatives, but we also must make sensible decisions that are right for the team and for the wider project.
“The positive is that Enea comes into this weekend with good momentum after Austin, and that gives us something strong to build on as we head into the European leg of the season.”
It was a nightmare 45 minutes for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. Not only did Olympique Lyonnais race into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Endrick and Afonso Moreira, but they also lost key midfielder Vitinha (26) to injury.
The Portugal international seemingly injured his right ankle when landing during a duel with Real Madrid loanee Endrick. He was subsequently taken off by Luis Enrique and replaced by Warren Zaire-Emery, who, for the first time in 40 matches, did not start for Les Parisiens.
Vitinha went straight down the tunnel, took off his boot and was seen hobbling back to the dressing room. With a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich coming up, it was a concerning image for PSG.
As per a report from L’Équipe, the midfielder will undergo an MRI on the ankle injury on Monday. The good news on Sunday, despite the 2-1 defeat, came in the form of Fabián Ruiz’s return, following a three-month absence.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has issued a defiant rallying cry, insisting the Premier League title race remains "all to play for" despite rivals Manchester City seizing control.
Should City secure a victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, Arsenal’s 200-day reign at the summit would conclude with just five matches remaining.
However, even in that scenario, Mikel Arteta's side would still be level on points with the reigning champions, prompting Odegaard to urge his teammates to deliver a crucial win against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday.
"We have to keep going," Odegaard stated, reflecting on the intense battle. "It was always going to go all the way to the end so we have to keep going, keep working hard and sticking together. We just look forward to the next game now and bounce back.
“We created a few big, big chances (against City) so there are some positives to take. It is frustrating at the moment but we’ll analyse it, move onto the next one, and it’s all to play for. This is the best part of the season so we will just look forward to the next game."
Erling Haaland scored the winner as Man City beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday (Getty)
Sunday’s loss marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive domestic defeat, following their Carabao Cup final loss (also to City), a shock FA Cup exit against Southampton, and a crushing home defeat by Bournemouth.
This recent slump has fuelled a narrative of "bottling" their trophy ambitions as the season approaches its climax, with the Emirates Stadium experiencing palpable anxiety and even boos from sections of the crowd after the Cherries defeat.
While City will be engaged in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend, Arsenal's home fixture against Eddie Howe’s struggling Newcastle presents an immediate opportunity to reclaim momentum.
Amid this high-stakes period, former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has called for Arsenal fans to throw their full support behind Arteta’s title-chasing squad.
Speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he remarked: "The Arsenal fans need to be better. I saw them boo the team off the other day. Arsenal have been brilliant all season, they are in a bad run of form, and they need to understand how much the fan support means to the players and how much it can help you.
“Those players would have put so much hard work into being in a position where they are now so to lose a game and get booed off, that would have hurt the players, 100 per cent.
“For Arsenal to win the league, the fans need to play their part. They need to get behind the team. They want to win the league, and they are desperate to do that, but they have a role to play."
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: Wilber Dotel #66 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes his MLB debut as he pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park on April 19, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a depleted group of relievers, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted one of their top prospects ahead of their Sunday contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
23-year-old Wilber Dotel got the call to pitch for Pittsburgh while on a road trip with Triple-A Indianapolis. Originally slated to start for the Indians on Saturday evening, Dotel instead found himself making his MLB debut with the Pirates, helping to close out their victory over the Rays.
The Dominican Republic native was called upon in the ninth inning, and said he was filled with emotion coming out of the bullpen.
“On my way to the mound, I wanted to get there as fast as possible just to get on the mound and start throwing my pitches,” Dotel said.
Dotel first faced Junior Caminero and gave up a homer, but remained poised during the rest of his outing. The next three batters were retired with no more hits or runs allowed, and Dotel had eight pitches registered at more than 98 mph. He would pick up his first big league strikeout against Jonathan Aranda.
Pirates’ manager Don Kelly was pleased with Dotel’s performance.
“That was impressive,” Kelly said, “Especially for a guy making his debut in the ninth inning with a lead and give up a homer and then come back with triple digits and stay in the zone. That was phenomenal.”
Dotel was signed by the Pirates in 2020 as an international free-agent at 18-years-old. Known for blazing fastballs, Dotel has quietly but effectively moved up the Minor League ranks, and has been a real fixture in the Pirates’ farm system since 2023. 2025 was Dotel’s best season to date. With Double-A Altoona the righty had a 7-9 record with a 4.15 ERA over 125.2 innings. His 131 strikeouts ranked third in the Eastern League, while he had a career low in walk rate (3.1 BB/9) and a career high for strikeout rate (9.4/9). Dotel made just three starts in Indianapolis before being promoted.
Despite not having played in relief in three seasons, it is the spot that Dotel is most valuable right now and figures to be where he is used at this season with Pittsburgh. He did pitch two innings out of the bullpen for the Buccos in Spring Training, so he’s optimistic that the transition will not be that difficult. Time will tell if Dotel is a full time reliever for the Pirates, but it is a group that could use some fresh blood as it has struggled in 2026.
Wilber Dotel is the Pirates’ 12th ranked prospect.
NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians have received a timely boost ahead of their crucial IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans on Monday at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, but the big question still remains — will Rohit Sharma take the field?
MI’s campaign has hit a rough patch after four consecutive defeats, and Rohit’s fitness has become central to their hopes of revival. The former captain had suffered a hamstring injury during the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and subsequently missed the clash against Punjab Kings.
MI coach offers positive update
Providing the latest update, MI bowling coach Paras Mhambrey struck an optimistic tone but stopped short of confirming Rohit’s availability for the match.
“Both [Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Santner] are fit. In fact, if you are just walking by the nets out here, if you just look at Rohit's batting. So yeah, he is working on it. Santner is fit. So, unfortunately, we missed him (Santner) in the last game, picked up a bug. Not something that we could do. But both are fit, yeah,” Mhambrey said during the pre-match press conference on Sunday.
The update suggests that Rohit has recovered well enough to resume batting and is actively preparing, while Mitchell Santner has also shaken off illness that ruled him out previously. However, the franchise is yet to make a final call on Rohit’s participation, with the decision likely to be taken closer to match time.
— mipaltan (@mipaltan)
Rohit Sharma back in nets, MI remain cautious
Rohit’s return to the nets in Ahmedabad has certainly lifted spirits in the MI camp. The veteran opener looked comfortable during his session, indicating progress in recovery. Yet, with hamstring injuries often tricky, the management is unwilling to rush him back prematurely.
A team statement confirmed that Rohit “continues to be evaluated by the medical team and head coach Mahela Jayawardene,” underlining the cautious approach.
His presence could be crucial for a side struggling for consistency. MI are currently at the bottom of the table, and Rohit’s experience at the top of the order could provide much-needed stability.
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In his absence, the team reshuffled their combination, bringing in Quinton de Kock, whose century offered a glimpse of what the top order can deliver. Still, Rohit’s leadership and ability in big moments remain irreplaceable.
For now, the signs are encouraging but not definitive. Rohit Sharma is back batting, the coach has declared him fit, but whether he walks out against Gujarat Titans will depend on a final fitness clearance.
The arrival of Dexter Lawrence with the Cincinnati Bengals via blockbuster trade is a move the team hopes can change the landscape of both the AFC North and the broader NFL.
For now, it’s just going to massively change the Bengals’ depth chart and NFL draft outlook.
Lawrence’s position of interior defensive lineman was a heavily scrutinized one for the Bengals this offseason before his arrival. BJ Hill was coming off a down season due to injury and TJ Slaton had a ho-hum season, firmly planting him as a cut candidate.
The Bengals signed Jonanthan Allen this offseason to aid the rotation, putting even more pressure on recent draft picks Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson.
There are only so many roster spots to go around, so two names are now back to full-blown cut candidate status.
Bengals cut candidates after Dexter Lawrence trade
The two names should be obvious at this point:
TJ Slaton
McKinnley Jackson
Slaton is a fine run defender but wasn’t one of the guys Bengals brass were going to bat for at the combine and other appearances. He’s a $6.6 million cap savings as a pre-June 1 cut, so the Bengals could look to make that happen, especially once we know more about Lawrence’s new contract details.
The Bengals aren’t going to be ready to give up on Jenkins, though. He’s a former second-round pick and could gain much by learning from guys like Lawrence and Allen, never mind Hill.
Jackson, though, might be on the way out. He asked for a trade or release in the middle of last season while being unable to crack the active roster. While a third-round pick from the same draft as Jenkins, things were well headed to cut territory before the Lawrence trade.
Given the cap savings potential, Slaton would happen before Lawrence. But Jackson could be on the hot seat all summer. Jenkins has the potential to join him if they add more names and/or he struggles, too.
Bengals updated depth chart after Dexter Lawrence trade
DE: Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson, Isaiah Foskey
DL: Dexter Lawrence, T.J. Slaton, Kris Jenkins, Jordan Jefferson
DL: B.J. Hill, Jonathan Allen, McKinnley Jackson, Howard Cross
DE: Boye Mafe, Shemar Stewart, Antwaun Powell-Ryland
The Bengals will obviously go with a multiple defense on a likely per-opponent basis, kicking edges inside and going with odd and even fronts. This is merely aimed at giving a loose look at the current makeup of the roster in this area before the draft.
It is easy to forget now, looking back through the lens of promotion, that Frank Lampard was not universally popular when he first arrived at Coventry City. It was less to do with his mixed managerial record and more because Coventry fans, and many players, felt it was their destiny to reach the top flight under the guidance of Mark Robins. Supporters were “devastated” and “sickened” when he was sacked in November 2024.
Robins had almost single-handedly revived the club from their darkest days in League Two, earning two promotions and reaching the Championship play-off final in 2023, where Coventry lost to Luton at Wembley. He had come so close, giving blood, sweat and tears over seven years, and surely it was his right to take the final step.
But Coventry’s new owner, the businessman Doug King, felt the dressing room needed a new voice and he made a bold, risky decision. Perhaps he also sensed a commercial opportunity in appointing one of the world’s most famous footballers as manager.
On his first day at the club, Lampard gathered everyone in the gym – players, staff, chefs, cleaners – and told them to start believing the sky is the limit for Coventry. The club has not looked back, and 18 months later they are heading back to the Premier League.
One staff member told The Independent Lampard’s “relentless drive” has been at the heart of Coventry’s promotion season. His determination was a trait of his playing career and the stories of him staying behind as a young player to work on his speed and finishing are well worn. So perhaps it is no surprise that the word “standards” is used repeatedly by people at the club to describe his impact.
Lampard salutes the Coventry fans after confirming promotion at Ewood Park (Getty)
Few have had a better view of Lampard’s impact than Harry Colledge, a fifth-generation Coventry fan who swapped his season ticket for a payslip when he started working in the club’s kit department three years ago, which he now runs.
“We are in the dressing room at half-time and full-time,” Colledge says. “He motivates me! He makes me want to do a few laps. He’s brought a winning mentality to the club.
“He does talk a lot about his experience and how it relates to situations in-game for us, and where things can change. And just the way he views a game of football is incredible, especially to someone who’s obviously not played the game. Working in this environment, it makes someone who’s not played the game feel like you don’t know much about football.”
Does Lampard ever need to scream and shout to get his point across? “I don’t think there’s been many occasions when he has,” says Colledge. “He is quite a calm character, but he’s very direct and to the point.”
Colledge lays out kit each morning for Lampard, who commutes up the M1 from his home in London and often stays the night in the city. Lampard is hands-on in training and will often be directing and marshalling his players on the grass, alongside assistant Joe Edwards.
One of Lampard’s most significant achievements has been to unlock the potential of key players, such as left-back Jay Da Silva and midfielder Jack Rudoni, who shows shades of Lampard in the way he arrives by stealth in the final third. The manager has got the best out of striker Haji Wright, too, who has stood up in certain moments, like his hat-trick against promotion rivals Middlesbrough last month.
Jack Rudoni and Haji Wright have been important figures in the club's promotion season (Getty)
Lampard has been supported by the owner, King, who brought the club’s training ground into the 21st century with a much-needed redevelopment in 2024. Recruitment has been more hit than miss, particularly in goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, signed on loan from Brighton last summer, and midfielder Frank Onyeka, who signed on loan from Brentford in January to inject quality at a crucial moment in the season when Coventry went off the boil.
But the most important signing has been Matt Grimes, the captain, who arrived from Swansea for £3.5m in January 2025. Lampard has trusted Grimes as his de facto manager on the pitch and off it, giving him freedom to lead with the help of senior players. There are parallels with Lampard’s own career when he and John Terry ran the Chelsea dressing room.
“Grimsey had been a great captain,” says Colledge. “He’s a perfect figure for the dressing room, a true leader who can have the crack with the lads too.”
A lesser known signing is Claire-Marie Roberts, a former swimmer and footballer who joined Coventry as performance director several months before Lampard arrived. Roberts is a chartered psychologist and she is credited inside the club for developing a high-class approach to a raft of areas including injury prevention, recovery and recruitment.
Roberts works closely with the sports science department and Lampard’s experienced first-team coach Chris Jones, who has served Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho, Anotonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel in the past. “She’s overseen a lot of change,” Colledge says. “Recovery and performance has been a key thing we’ve tried to improve.”
She has also been working with the recruitment team to make sure new signings have the right psychological profile for the squad, using what she described to the Coventry Telegraphas a “gold standard psychometric instrument” to measure a player’s character and predict their personality. Lampard has repeatedly credited the unity and attitude in his dressing room for Coventry’s overperformance above their mid-table wage budget.
Lampard has built a rapport with Coventry fans (PA)
It has not all gone swimmingly this season. A downturn in results during the winter saw Coventry blow their lead at the top, and Middlesbrough briefly usurped them as Championship leaders. But the club stuck together through the slump – “there was never any panic” in the dressing room, says Colledge – and the 3-1 win over Boro at the CBS Arena sparked fresh belief that they could go and seal promotion.
Throughout his spell, Lampard has sought to build a rapport with fans. This was one of the factors that attracted him to the club: a large, dedicated fan base made him feel he was a sleeping giant, or perhaps a stirring one after Robins’ tenure.
Lampard wasn’t entirely comfortable dishing out his now customary fist pumps after wins, but he knew it was an important way of connecting with supporters. “The fans love him, and I think he shows he loves the fans too,” says Colledge. Lampard was supportive of the idea of having The Enemy play live at the stadium before the game against Sheffield United earlier this season, and their song “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” has become the anthem to Coventry’s rise.
Coventry fans have been through more than their fair share of torment in the past 25 years since they last played in the Premier League. A journey of groundshares, relegations, points deductions and administration brought the club to its knees and turned the fanbase on the club’s former owners, Sisu. Now Coventry are going back to the top flight after King’s managerial gamble paid off.
“It’ll be fantastic,” says Colledge. “It’s been a 25-year wait, I’m very excited.” And it might make his job a little easier. “I’m hoping some of the away dressing rooms might be a bit bigger than the Championship. That’ll help us out quite a lot.”
The Atlanta Falcons are counting down the days until the 2026 NFL Draft, but due to the team's lack of draft capital, there's only so much first-year general manager Ian Cunningham can do. The Falcons' first selection won't come until Day 2 (pick No. 48 overall), and they have just five total picks.
The quarterback position is one that fans will be watching closely in 2026. The team signed veterans Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Siemian in free agency to add competition and depth to the QB room, which includes former top-10 pick Michael Penix Jr.
Since the 2026 NFL Draft is just a few days away, we're breaking down each position group on the roster. Today, we're looking at quarterbacks, including potential draft targets and free-agent options.
Falcons current QBs (3)
Michael Penix Jr.
Tua Tagovailoa
Trevor Siemian
Penix and Tagovailoa are supposed to have an open competition for Atlanta's starting quarterback job. Since Penix is recovering from ACL surgery, Tagovailoa may have the early advantage. The former top-five pick was released by the Miami Dolphins and is looking for a fresh start.
However, Penix believes he will be good to go by the time training camp rolls around. The Falcons are only paying Tagovailoa $1.3 million, so they can truly afford to go with the QB that performs best in camp. Siemian is not a lock to make the roster, though, so the team could add another QB in the draft.
The Falcons met with both King and Strand on pre-draft visits. Both players are late-round prospects and could be options for Atlanta on Day 3 or as undrafted free agents. Kansas Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels is another potential late-round QB prospects for Atlanta. Other notable options include former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck and Clemson's Cade Klubnik.
Remaining free agent QBs
Russell Wilson
Easton Stick
Tyrod Taylor
The Falcons are unlikely to sign another quarterback in free agency, but for the sake of this article, we examined the remaining options. Wilson and Taylor are both experienced veterans who would likely prefer to go somewhere with less competition.
One potential option could be Easton Stick, who played well for the Falcons in the preseason last year. Veteran Aaron Rodgers is among the other notable free-agent quarterbacks, although he will likely sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers if he plays this season.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET.
No. 7 Texas A&M (31-7, 12-5 SEC) is by far one of the hottest teams in the country after earning its fourth consecutive SEC series, sweeping the LSU Tigers for the first time since 1978, while the Aggies are the first SEC team to sweep the Tigers in Alex Box Stadium since 2022.
Over the first two games, Texas A&M only trailed once during the Friday night opener before the offense exploded late in the game, winning 10-4, led by freshman outfielder Jorian Wilson's two home runs, while Saturday's 7-2 Game 2 victory was much of the same, as sophomore pitcher Aiden Sims dominated to reach 7-0 on the year with six strikeouts and just two earned runs.
Entering Sunday, it was assumed that LSU coach Jay Johnson would go to the bullpen early to give his team a chance, and after Caden Sorrell's 18th home run of the season, combined with Maryland transfer Chris Hacopian's two-run home run an inning later, Johnson did just that, leading to LSU pitcher Deven Sheerin shutting out the Aggies after Gavin Grahovac's RBI single.
Even though the Aggies failed to score after the fourth inning, Aiden Sims, Gavin Lyons, and reliever Clayton Freshcorn continued to provide stability, while Texas A&M stays undefeated on the year after scoring at least six runs, which is quite the stat if the pitching rotation stays steady the rest of the season.
After the sweep, Texas A&M is now in sole second place in the SEC after sweeping rival Texas last weekend, and will now host a talented UTSA team on Tuesday night before facing Florida on the road, starting on Friday night.
Updated SEC Standings
Georgia (32-9, 13-5 SEC)
Texas A&M (31-7, 12-5 SEC)
Texas (30-8, 11-6 SEC)
Mississippi State (30-10, 10-8 SEC)
Ole Miss (29-12, 10-8 SEC)
Auburn (27-12, 10-8 SEC)
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8 SEC)
Florida (28-13, 10-8 SEC)
Alabama (28-13, 9-9 SEC)
Arkansas (26-15, 9-9 SEC)
Vanderbilt (24-17, 9-9 SEC)
Kentucky (26-12, 8-10 SEC)
Tennessee (26-14, 8-10 SEC)
LSU (23-18, 6-12 SEC)
South Carolina (19-22, 5-13 SEC)
Missouri (20-20, 3-15 SEC)
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Wisconsin did not go into the transfer portal to find a polished backcourt star. It sought a higher-ceiling guard, and Addie Deal fits that bill. The 6-foot guard's flashes during her freshman year at Iowa only hint at what her pedigree suggests is coming.
Deal arrived from Iowa after a 2025-26 freshman season that brought All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors and two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. She averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game, shooting 39.4% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point range, and 68.0% at the free-throw line. Her résumé also included a career-high 20 points against Ohio State, two five-assist games (Ohio State and Western Illinois), and a four-3s outing against Oregon, the kind of single-game spikes that hint at more responsibility down the road.
Deal’s size and skill are hard to teach, as is the recruiting profile that preceded them. She was the No. 9 overall recruit in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports, starred at Mater Dei, and was rated the top player in California entering college. She also arrives as a program first, the first player in Wisconsin history who was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, and that kind of talent level is designed to scale with opportunity.
Done DEAL ✅
2025 McDonald’s All-American, former five-star recruit, and All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection Addie Deal is a Badger! 🦡 pic.twitter.com/5EFWtQCIer
— Wisconsin Women’s Basketball (@BadgerWBB) April 15, 2026
The question is consistency. Deal’s 29.7% mark from deep and 68.0% at the line show she is not yet a reliable perimeter shot-maker, and her 1.6 assists against 1.7 turnovers per game underscore that her decision-making is still developing. This addition focuses more on upside and growth than immediate, all-around production.
With three seasons left after her freshman year, Deal gives Wisconsin time to develop her into a bigger offensive piece. Next to watch is how quickly she earns a larger role and whether improved shooting and cleaner ball security turn those flashes and that résumé into nightly impact.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Boston Red Sox top prospect Payton Tolle recently joined T&G sports reporter Tommy Cassell on “Cassell’s Corner” podcast.
The two talked about Tolle’s rise through the Red Sox farm system last year, which concluded with his first call up to the big leagues, and his start with Triple-A Worcester this season.
A 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher with a penchant for a good quote, Tolle also touched on the passing of his mother before he was drafted by the Red Sox, how he started growing his infamous mustache and why he keeps quoting bananas and monkeys when he talks to the press.
Oh, and Tolle, who recently got engaged, discusses how he popped the big question to his now fiancée.
— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. Follow along throughout the year, when Cassell will record weekly video podcasts with members of the Worcester Red Sox, and other prominent sports figures from across Central Mass.
The 2025 NFL draft is just hours away, and thanks to Jimmy Johnson, Gil Brandt, and Rich Hill, even the most inexperienced general manager can manage most draft-day trades. Every team in the NFL has a trade value chart based on the one devised by the former Cowboys head coach and enhanced by Hill. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is among the best in the league at moving up and down draft boards. Baltimore will certainly be among the teams utilizing the chart to restock a championship roster.
The details of any trade can be found in the value of the moves, using the NFL’s trade value chart.
What is the 'trade value chart?
Back when he was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and building a dynasty, Jimmy Johnson developed a value chart that assigned every draft pick a specific point value. This made it easier for him and front-office types to compare the relative value of draft picks in different rounds.
A system formulated by personnel guru Gil Brandt and the former Cowboys head coach in the 1990s, the chart helps measure the value of draft assets and helps negotiate trades. Known as the "Dallas Draft Picks Value Chart," Johnson's grading system for picks is used by executives across the league and consulted before making final decisions on trade proposals or offers.
Draft capital
Using the trade value chart from DraftTek, Baltimore has the 12th-most draft capital among NFL teams and the third-best draft capital in the AFC North
2026 draft value based on Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart
Jimmy Johnson created the original NFL Draft value chart during his time with the Cowboys in the early 1990s. With the guidance of Gil Brandt, the Cowboys assigned numerical values to each draft pick to evaluate their worth for potential trades. The draft value trade chart was created by assigning the highest value to the first pick, which was 3,000 points. After that, each pick lost value, and at its core, Dallas enjoyed a competitive advantage until the rest of the NFL caught on.
In case you're unfamiliar with the old-school Jimmy Johnson trade chart, here's how the Ravens value charts out courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
Round 1 pick 14 (overall value 1100)
Round 2 pick 45 (overall value 450)
Round 3 pick 80 (overall value 190)
Round 4 pick 115 (overall value 64)
Round 5 pick 154 (overall value 30)
Round 6 Pick 162 (overall value 27)
Round 6 Pick 173 (overall value 22)
Round 6 Pick 174 (overall value 22)
Round 7 pick 211 (overall value 7)
Rich Hill Trade Chart
Because the addition of compensatory picks impacts the value of other selections, Rich Hill (Pats Pulpit) updated the chart in recent years to reflect their trade value.
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Coach Antoine Kombouaré, en roue libre, en pleine forme avec ses trois italiens titulaires ! 
Gana Gueye goes flying after yet another Liverpool foul
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