Category: Sports

The Atlanta Braves organization confirmed Saturday that Bobby Cox, the Hall of Fame manager who guided the team through its most successful era, has passed away at 84 years old.

Cox transformed the Braves into a baseball dynasty throughout the 1990s, culminating in the franchise’s sole World Series title in 1995. His managerial career with Atlanta concluded following the 2010 season, capping off decades of excellence on the diamond.

The veteran skipper became synonymous with Braves baseball during an unprecedented run of success that made Atlanta a perennial contender and household name across the sport.

The Houston Astros have sidelined left-handed pitcher Bennett Sousa for at least two weeks due to an elbow injury, the team announced Saturday. The club has brought up right-handed reliever Jayden Murray from their Triple-A Sugar Land affiliate to take his place on the roster.

Sousa is suffering from inflammation in his left elbow, with his placement on the injured list dating back to Wednesday of this week.

The 31-year-old reliever has struggled this season, posting an 8.10 earned run average across five appearances out of the bullpen. Over his four-year major league career spanning three different organizations, Sousa holds an 8-1 record with a 4.54 ERA. He joined the Astros organization in 2023.

Murray, who is 29 years old, appeared in four relief outings earlier this season and recorded a 6.00 ERA during that stint. Since breaking into the majors last year, he has compiled a 3.06 ERA over 13 total games, including one start.

In additional roster moves, Houston acquired outfielder Rhylan Thomas through waivers from the Seattle Mariners and immediately assigned him to Sugar Land. To create space on their 40-man roster, the Astros moved right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown to the 60-day injured list due to a shoulder issue.

Chicago has added veteran wide receiver Scotty Miller to their roster as a free agent, according to confirmation from his agents on Saturday.

Representatives Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey verified the signing to ESPN but did not reveal contract details for the 28-year-old player.

During the previous season with Pittsburgh, Miller recorded nine receptions for 62 yards across 13 appearances, though he did not start any games or score touchdowns.

Throughout his NFL career spanning 93 games with nine starts, Miller has accumulated 99 receptions for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns while playing for Tampa Bay (2019-22), Atlanta (2023), and Pittsburgh (2024-25).

Tampa Bay selected Miller in the 2019 sixth round of the draft, and he contributed to their Super Bowl championship during the following season.

Chicago’s current wide receiver roster features Rome Odunze and 2026 third-round selection Zavion Thomas among others.

Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Taj Bradley was added to the 15-day injured list Saturday due to inflammation affecting his right pectoral muscle.

The roster move was made retroactive to Wednesday, which came one day after Bradley delivered a strong performance against Washington, striking out eight hitters across six innings in an 11-3 Twins victory.

The 25-year-old pitcher has posted a 4-1 record with a 2.87 ERA across eight starts this season. In 47 innings of work, he has recorded 52 strikeouts while issuing 17 walks.

Throughout his major league career, Bradley holds a 23-28 record with a 4.64 ERA over 83 games, including 81 starts. He previously played for Tampa Bay from 2023-25 before Minnesota acquired him in a trade deadline deal that sent right-hander Griffin Jax to the Rays.

To fill Bradley’s spot on the 26-man roster, the Twins brought up right-hander Travis Adams from their Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul.

Adams, 26, has appeared in five relief outings this season for St. Paul, compiling a 3-0 record with a 9.00 ERA.

CHICAGO — This Sunday’s NBA draft lottery could deliver top picks to teams that spent the season deliberately losing games, with Washington guaranteed a top-five selection and Brooklyn and Utah positioned for premium picks after enduring some of the worst seasons in franchise history.

The lottery process involves drawing four ping-pong balls from a secured container, witnessed by team representatives and select media members in a private room. These balls create a numerical combination that corresponds to one assigned to participating teams, determining who receives the first overall pick in next month’s draft.

“June 23rd, I’ll know where I’m at,” said AJ Dybantsa, the BYU standout who declared for the draft after leading college basketball in scoring this past season.

Dybantsa will likely learn his destination Sunday, as he joins Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer among the projected top three selections.

Washington, Brooklyn, and Indiana each hold identical 14% chances of securing the number one pick — though those remain relatively modest odds.

The Wizards compiled a dismal 3-26 record following the All-Star break, including allowing Miami’s Bam Adebayo to score 83 points in a single contest. Washington cannot drop below fifth position and faces essentially even odds of landing exactly there, with a 52.1% probability of a top-four selection versus 47.9% for fifth place.

“This was going to be a season of development and opportunity,” said Wizards coach Brian Keefe during his end-of-season press conference. “And that is something that we really focused on all the way up to Game 82.”

Washington anticipates significant improvement next season after acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis through trades, making another basement finish unlikely with a potential top pick added to the roster.

Accusations of tanking — intentionally losing to improve draft position — have surrounded Washington, Brooklyn, and Utah this season.

Brooklyn suffered their worst point differential in franchise history, being outscored by 975 points and losing 43 games by double digits. Utah endured their own historic low, getting outscored by 858 points with 41 double-digit defeats.

Nets owner Joe Tsai acknowledged the rebuilding approach before the season began.

“We hope to get a good pick,” Tsai stated at the All-In Summit last fall. “So, you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”

The league fined Utah $500,000 during the season for benching top players in fourth quarters, though the Jazz still managed to win one such game in Miami. Their poor finish secured a top-eight pick that otherwise might have transferred to Oklahoma City.

Remaining lottery odds for the top selection include Utah and Sacramento at 11.5%, Atlanta at 9.8%, Memphis at 9%, Dallas at 6.7%, Chicago at 4.5%, Golden State at 2%, Oklahoma City at 1.5%, Miami at 1%, and Charlotte at 0.5%.

Atlanta’s percentage combines two separate scenarios that could deliver them the first pick.

In a potentially controversial outcome, the defending champion Thunder could claim the top pick despite their success. If the position typically belonging to the Clippers wins the lottery, it transfers to Oklahoma City through the trade that brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Thunder.

The Clippers maintain a 48% chance of moving up if Indiana lands in fifth or sixth position, as those picks would convey to Los Angeles rather than staying with the Pacers.

“Call it a coin-flip chance of getting a high, high lottery pick in a loaded draft,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

The NBA expects to implement a revised lottery system next season, with framework established last month to further discourage tanking behavior. The Board of Governors will likely approve these changes in coming weeks, following Tuesday’s general manager meeting in Chicago.

This season featured an unprecedented race to lose, with five teams — Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis, and Brooklyn — posting sub-.180 winning percentages after the All-Star break, marking the first time in league history so many franchises performed this poorly in the season’s final stretch.

“The incentives are not necessarily matched here,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in February regarding teams with the worst records receiving the best lottery odds. “I think the tradition in sports where the worst-performing team receives the first pick from their partners, when any economist comes and looks at our system, they always point out you have the incentives backwards there. That doesn’t necessarily make sense.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Cleveland has acquired two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey from San Francisco in a Saturday trade that addresses both teams’ catching situations.

San Francisco received minor league southpaw Matt Wilkinson and Cleveland’s 29th selection in the 2026 amateur draft as compensation for Bailey.

To create roster space for Bailey, Cleveland sent Bo Naylor down to Triple-A Columbus. Naylor had served as the Guardians’ primary catcher since the 2023 season.

Since his major league debut in 2023, Bailey has established himself among baseball’s premier defensive backstops, particularly excelling at pitch framing. Over the past two-plus seasons, he leads all major leaguers with 69 catcher framing runs and 42 defensive runs saved.

However, Bailey’s offensive production has been problematic and reached new lows this year. Through 89 plate appearances, he was hitting .146 with just one home run and five RBIs. Among 286 players with at least 75 plate appearances this season, his .396 OPS ranked dead last.

San Francisco could afford to move Bailey with Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez positioned to share catching responsibilities, along with Eric Haase available as depth. These alternatives have delivered significantly better offensive production for the Giants, who entered Saturday averaging just 3.16 runs per game — worst in baseball — and sharing the National League’s poorest record with New York.

Bailey, who celebrates his 27th birthday later this month, captured Gold Glove honors in both 2024 and 2025. Throughout his career, he maintains a .224 batting average with a .611 OPS.

Naylor posted a .237 average during his 2023 rookie campaign but has battled offensive struggles over the subsequent two-plus seasons. His .143 batting average this year ranks last among the 29 catchers with at least 90 plate appearances.

Since 2024, his .192 batting average places him second-worst among catchers who have played in at least 200 games.

Cleveland entered Saturday with a 21-19 record atop the AL Central standings. Bailey was scheduled to join the club before Saturday night’s game against Minnesota. Austin Hedges has also received consistent playing time at catcher.

The 23-year-old Wilkinson represented Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic. This season at Double-A Akron, he has compiled a 1-2 record with a 1.59 ERA across six starts, striking out 36 batters in 28 1/3 innings.

Robert Griffin III has stepped away from Team USA’s flag football program as the sport gears up for its first-ever Olympic appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The former NFL signal-caller, now 36, made the announcement Friday through social media, revealing he was pulling out of USA Football’s 2026 selection process because of a timing issue.

“A commitment honoring our military veterans is preventing me from attending training camp and that’s not fair to the other 23 guys competing for a spot this year,” Griffin posted. “Looking forward to seeing the squad go to Germany and win Gold and still excited for LA28.”

Griffin had been selected in March as one of four quarterbacks for the 24-player training camp roster. The upcoming camp is set for May 21-24 in Chula Vista, California.

From that group, coaches will trim the roster to 12 players who will compete for the United States at the 16-nation International Federation of American Flag Football World Championships. Those games will take place August 27-30 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Griffin hasn’t suited up in the NFL since the 2020 campaign and currently serves as a football commentator for ESPN and Fox Sports.

Washington selected Griffin as the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft following his standout career at Baylor. He captured NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year recognition and earned a Pro Bowl selection in his debut season. Throughout his professional career spanning 56 games with 42 starts, Griffin accumulated 9,271 passing yards along with 43 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions while playing for Washington (2012-14), Cleveland Browns (2016), and Baltimore Ravens (2018-20). He also contributed 1,809 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger made his return to the active roster Saturday after spending time on the 10-day injured list, while the team sent rookie Yohendrick Pinango down to their Triple-A Buffalo affiliate.

The 26-year-old Barger had been sidelined since April 5 due to ankle sprains affecting both feet. His season got off to a rough start with just one hit in 19 at-bats across eight games, a stark contrast to his strong 2023 campaign where he connected for 21 home runs and drove in 74 runs over 135 games. He followed that regular season performance with an impressive postseason showing, posting a .367 batting average along with three homers and nine RBIs in 17 playoff contests.

For Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Angels at home, Barger was slotted into the starting lineup in right field, hitting in the second spot in the batting order.

Looking at his overall major league statistics since breaking into the big leagues in 2024, Barger carries a .224 career batting average with 28 home runs and 104 RBIs across 212 games in a Blue Jays uniform.

The corresponding roster move involved sending down Pinango, the 24-year-old who earned his first major league call-up on April 26. During his brief stint with Toronto, he posted impressive numbers with a .423 batting average, one double, and four RBIs over 10 games.

Tennessee has completed contract negotiations with their top 2026 draft selection, wide receiver Carnell Tate, securing him on a four-year rookie deal.

The Ohio State product, selected fourth overall in this year’s draft, will earn $51.1 million in guaranteed compensation, which features a $33.6 million signing bonus. Friday’s announcement revealed the agreement also contains a fifth-year team option for the young receiver.

With Tate’s contract finalized, Tennessee can now focus on completing deals with their remaining unsigned rookies: edge rusher Keldric Faulk from Auburn (selected 31st overall) and linebacker Anthony Hill from Texas (second-round selection).

During his final collegiate season, the 21-year-old Tate recorded 51 receptions for 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns across 11 games for the Buckeyes. Throughout his three-year career at Ohio State, he accumulated 121 catches for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns over 39 total games.

The Cleveland Guardians made a major roster move Saturday, trading with the San Francisco Giants to acquire defensive specialist Patrick Bailey, a catcher who has earned Gold Glove recognition in consecutive seasons.

Cleveland sent their 29th overall selection in this year’s draft along with left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson to San Francisco in return for the 26-year-old Bailey. The move strengthens Cleveland’s catching corps, which already includes Austin Hedges and Bo Naylor, though the team immediately sent Naylor down to their Triple-A affiliate in Columbus.

While Bailey’s offensive numbers have struggled this season – posting a .146 batting average with just one home run and five RBIs across 30 games – his defensive prowess has been consistently elite. Over his entire major league career spanning 383 games with San Francisco, he has compiled a .224 batting average while contributing 22 home runs and 154 RBIs.

The Giants expressed their appreciation for Bailey’s contributions in a social media post, stating: “From unbelievable defense to unforgettable walk-off home runs, we thank you, Patrick, and wish you good luck.”

In return, San Francisco receives Wilkinson, a 23-year-old southpaw who was Cleveland’s 10th-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. This season at Double-A Akron, Wilkinson has posted impressive numbers with a 1-2 record and 1.59 ERA through six starts.

Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski delivered a masterful performance on the mound Friday night, recording 11 strikeouts during six shutout innings to lead the Brewers past the New York Yankees 6-0 in the opening game of their three-game series.

The powerful right-hander Misiorowski (3-2) dominated throughout his 95-pitch appearance, surrendering only two singles while issuing two walks. His velocity was particularly impressive early, as all 10 of his first-inning pitches exceeded 102 mph. The 24-year-old’s previous outing saw him throw 5 1/3 no-hit innings before leaving due to a hamstring cramp.

Rookie reliever Shane Drohan completed the shutout for Milwaukee, giving up just one hit during the final three frames to earn his first major league save. Brandon Lockridge contributed offensively with two hits and two RBIs before suffering an injury that required him to be carted off the field in the fourth inning due to a severe cut on his right knee.

The Yankees managed only three hits total, with Jose Caballero accounting for two of them. New York entered the contest having won six of their last seven games. Milwaukee broke the game open with a four-run second inning, during which their first five batters all reached base against Yankees starter Max Fried (4-2).

In other Friday action around Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 7-1 victory over Texas. Seiya Suzuki launched a two-run homer while Michael Busch drove in three with a double. Ian Happ’s RBI single extended his on-base streak to 29 games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past Atlanta 3-1, with Shohei Ohtani delivering the go-ahead single in the fifth inning and Freddie Freeman homering against his former team in the sixth. Freeman’s blast ended a 26-game homerless drought.

Houston blanked Cincinnati 10-0, handing the Reds their eighth consecutive defeat. Zach Cole capped the scoring with a three-run homer during a five-run ninth inning, while Mike Burrows threw seven strong innings for the Astros.

Toronto ended their four-game skid by shutting out the Los Angeles Angels 2-0, as Dylan Cease struck out 10 batters over seven innings. Seattle powered past Chicago 12-8 behind Luke Raley’s grand slam and three-run homer, giving him seven RBIs on the night.

St. Louis pitchers combined for a one-hitter in a 6-0 victory over San Diego, while Colorado defeated Philadelphia 9-7 in 11 innings on Troy Johnston’s pinch-hit RBI double. The New York Mets edged Arizona 3-1 in 10 innings, and Oakland beat Baltimore 4-3 on Nick Kurtz’s two-run triple.

Boston’s pitching staff recorded their major league-leading sixth shutout in a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay, snapping the Rays’ seven-game winning streak. Cleveland topped Minnesota 6-4 behind rookie Travis Bazzana’s first major league homer, while Kansas City walked off against Detroit 4-3 on Kyle Isbel’s ninth-inning single.

Washington defeated Miami 3-2, San Francisco beat Pittsburgh 5-2, and several other games completed Friday’s full slate of action across the majors.

MINNEAPOLIS — Despite his smooth movements and natural grace on the basketball court, Victor Wembanyama’s battle-scarred arms told the real story of his dominant performance for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

The fresh marks and bruises covering his lengthy limbs revealed the physical toll of battling in the paint all evening against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the 7-foot-4 star compiled an impressive 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in San Antonio’s 115-108 Game 3 triumph that put the Spurs ahead 2-1 in their second-round playoff matchup.

“It’s going to happen,” Wembanyama said. “They’re Wolves, after all.”

San Antonio maintained their perfect road record in this year’s postseason while capturing their first victory in a tight contest, following four first-round wins against Portland that were decided by margins ranging from 12 to 21 points.

“They just continue showing growth,” coach Mitch Johnson said.

Leading that development is Wembanyama himself. The 22-year-old French sensation, competing in his inaugural NBA playoffs, has appeared in just seven postseason contests but is already establishing an impressive historical mark.

Throughout NBA playoff history, only Hall of Fame centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal had previously achieved the combination of 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a single playoff contest. Wembanyama became the first to accomplish this feat while shooting above 70 percent from the field, connecting on 13 of 18 attempts and making 10 of 12 free throws.

“It’s good to be along with the big fellas,” said Wembanyama, who gave credit to Olajuwon for teaching him a spin fadeaway move that he successfully executed over his former mentor Rudy Gobert during a crucial 16-point fourth quarter.

Wembanyama achieved this performance despite receiving his fifth foul with 6:18 remaining, spending only about one minute on the bench during crunch time as he helped San Antonio pull away whenever Minnesota closed within striking distance.

“Just staying calm, getting my senses back,” Wembanyama said. “Our coaches tell us what to do. They give us the recipe, so as long as we stay steady and we trust our process we’re going to be all right.”

After establishing an NBA playoff record with 12 blocked shots in the series opener, Wembanyama expressed disappointment with his offensive contribution following Monday’s 104-102 defeat to Minnesota. He responded emphatically in Game 2 by immediately establishing control on both sides of the court, leading San Antonio to a commanding 133-95 victory on Wednesday, and maintained that momentum despite traveling to Minnesota.

Beginning with two spectacular dunks off alley-oop passes, including a reverse finish, Wembanyama tallied San Antonio’s first seven points as they jumped to an early 18-3 advantage. His defensive presence proved even more impactful, as he patrolled the lane and consistently forced Minnesota players to modify their close-range shots to avoid potential blocks.

“He’s a world-class defender. You’re always aware of him,” Wolves guard Ayo Dosunmu said. “Yeah, he’s a gift at that end of the court.”

Mitch Marner delivered a career-defining performance Friday night, recording his first playoff hat trick in a dominant four-point showing that powered the Vegas Golden Knights to a commanding 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup.

The win puts Vegas ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series as they look to advance deeper into the postseason.

“There’s a lot of work to still go,” Marner said. “It’s always nice to contribute, but we just want to do what we can to try and win hockey games.”

Supporting Marner’s explosive offensive display, Shea Theodore and Brett Howden each contributed a goal and assist, while Brayden McNabb also found the back of the net for the Golden Knights. Goaltender Carter Hart was stellar between the pipes, turning away 31 shots to secure the victory.

Vegas coach John Tortorella was pleased with his team’s performance after two challenging games to start the series.

“I thought we entered the series tonight,” Tortorella said.

The Golden Knights will attempt to seize control of the series when they face off against Anaheim in Game 4 on Sunday.

For the Ducks, Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider managed to light the lamp in the losing effort. Anaheim’s goaltending struggled early, as starter Lukas Dostal was pulled after allowing three goals on just eight shots in the opening period. Relief goalie Ville Husso performed better, making 17 saves on 19 attempts.

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville acknowledged his team needs to elevate their play moving forward.

“I think there’s a lesson to take out of today’s game,” Quenneville said. “It’s only gonna get harder every single game, not gonna get any easier. So let’s get ready to go to war.

“They played like an experienced bunch and they know what’s necessary as you progress in a series. They got our attention.”

Vegas wasted no time establishing control after offensive struggles in the series opener. Theodore struck first, joining a rush and converting from the slot just 66 seconds into the contest.

McNabb extended the lead to 2-0 with a short-handed marker at the 12:13 mark, beating Dostal from the left faceoff circle after collecting a drop pass from Marner. The goal marked Vegas’s third short-handed tally of the playoffs.

Marner capped off a dominant first period with a power-play goal, cleaning up a loose puck beside the net with just 4.6 seconds left on the clock to make it 3-0.

The second period belonged to Marner as well. He netted his second goal near the midway point when Theodore found him with a perfect pass as he drove to the net, allowing him to tuck the puck inside the post.

Marner’s hat trick was completed when his sharp-angle attempt found its way past Husso with 2:04 remaining in the middle frame.

Anaheim finally broke through in the third period when Sennecke pushed a loose puck across the goal line at 6:30. Kreider added another Ducks goal with 4:41 left, firing quickly from the low slot to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Howden sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of play.

The triumph came with a concerning development for Vegas, as captain Mark Stone exited the game after the first period with an apparent injury suffered while backchecking. Stone did not return for the remainder of the contest.

Tortorella offered no details about Stone’s condition following the game.

Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant performance with 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup Friday night in Minneapolis.

The towering star shot an impressive 13-of-18 from the field and connected on three of five three-point attempts, propelling San Antonio to a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven playoff series.

“I’ve really been waiting since I’ve been in the league to live those moments, those high-stakes games,” Wembanyama said postgame on Prime Video. “That’s what I love. … I’m built for this. I love this more than anything else.”

Supporting Wembanyama’s stellar effort, De’Aaron Fox contributed 17 points while Stephon Castle recorded 13 points and distributed 12 assists for the Spurs.

When asked about what fans are witnessing from Wembanyama during his inaugural postseason run, Fox didn’t mince words.

“Greatness,” Fox said. “We all know that. We see him every day. We see the work and the time that he puts into his game and his body, knowing that teams are going to come out here and try to be physical with him.”

“He fights through that. He doesn’t complain. He knows what he’s going to endure, and he comes out here and he produces.”

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards paced the scoring with 32 points while collecting 14 rebounds. Naz Reid provided a spark off the bench with 18 points and nine boards, while Jaden McDaniels chipped in 17 points.

Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu acknowledged his team allowed San Antonio too much offensive freedom throughout the contest.

“I don’t think our point-of-attack (defense) was where it needed to be,” Dosunmu said. “There were too many times that we made a shot and then they came right back and got a good look. So we’ve got to do a better job of matching up and do a better job of controlling the point of attack and not letting them just live off attacking us.”

The series continues with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday evening in Minneapolis.

Minnesota, which fell behind by 15 points during the opening quarter, managed to close the gap to 106-103 with 3:27 left on the clock when Reid sank a three-pointer.

Wembanyama answered immediately on San Antonio’s following possession, draining his third long-range shot of the night. Late free throws from both Wembanyama and Dylan Harper in the final minute helped secure the win for the Spurs.

The Spurs held an 86-79 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Tensions flared during the third period when Harper became entangled with McDaniels and struck his head while falling to the floor. As Harper remained down, Castle approached McDaniels, sparking a brief confrontation before officials intervened to restore order.

Both Castle and McDaniels were assessed technical fouls, while Harper was able to continue playing.

The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 51-51.

San Antonio opened the game with an explosive 18-3 run, fueled largely by Wembanyama’s early dominance as he tallied nine of the Spurs’ initial 11 points. Minnesota struggled mightily out of the gate, missing their opening 13 field goal attempts.

Edwards eventually found his rhythm as the Timberwolves closed the first quarter with a 19-5 surge, trimming their deficit to just one point. Minnesota’s early rally reached its peak when Edwards connected on a spectacular 31-foot buzzer-beater, bringing the score to 23-22 at the end of the first period.

The Chicago Cubs have accomplished something that hasn’t been seen in nearly 90 years, securing their second 10-game winning streak of the season following a commanding 7-1 victory against the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Friday evening.

Michael Busch delivered a crucial three-run double while Ian Happ continued his impressive on-base streak, now at 29 consecutive games, as Chicago reached this historic milestone. Not since 1935 has the franchise recorded two separate 10-game winning streaks within a single season.

“That means you’re doing something that’s pretty rare, and I think we realize that,” said manager Craig Counsell.

The achievement places the Cubs in exclusive company. According to Sportradar, the last major league team to accomplish two 10-game winning streaks within their first 39 games was the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, who did so in just 24 games. The Cubs’ only better performance came in 1906 when they managed four such streaks.

Second baseman Nico Hoerner reflected on the rarity of the accomplishment: “Baseball is a game of a ridiculous amount of stats and things to look up, so anytime you have to go that far back, it is obviously a good sign, especially on a positive like that. We’re just going to keep it rolling.”

The speed at which Chicago achieved this feat is particularly noteworthy, completing both 10-game streaks by May 8. “That’s a crazy sentence,” Hoerner remarked.

Currently sitting at 27-12, the Cubs have captured 20 victories in their past 23 contests, with only three consecutive defeats separating their two extended winning runs. Last season, Milwaukee accomplished a similar feat with two 10-game streaks en route to claiming the NL Central division title, finishing five games ahead of Chicago.

“If you break it to small things, it’s just come and play a good game today, and we played a really good game today, a really well-rounded, well-pitched for sure, with some pressure a lot in a bunch of innings,” Counsell explained. “It’s been the recipe for a lot of wins.”

The last time the Cubs achieved multiple 10-game winning streaks was during their remarkable 1935 campaign, when Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett earned NL MVP honors under manager Charlie Grimm as the team won 100 games. The franchise has reached that 100-win mark only once since then, during their historic 2016 World Series championship season with 103 regular season victories.

Pitcher Ben Brown, who tossed four hitless innings in his first start of the season after 12 relief appearances, expressed amazement at the team’s achievement. “Two double-digit winning streaks in a season, that sounds pretty wild to me,” he said.

“That’s kudos to all the guys in the clubhouse, all the coaches, all the trainers, the sports staff,” Brown continued. “That is some goosebumps to think about how talented this team is. It’s special to be a part of, it’s special to witness, it’s special to watch.”

Jalen Brunson delivered a dominant 33-point performance, propelling the New York Knicks to a commanding 108-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup. The triumph puts New York on the brink of advancing to the conference finals, holding a decisive 3-0 series advantage heading into Sunday’s Game 4 in Philadelphia.

Brunson sealed the victory with crucial baskets in the closing minutes, energizing the traveling Knicks supporters who made their presence felt at the Wells Fargo Center. Supporting Brunson’s stellar effort, Josh Hart contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges chipped in 23 points. The victory moves first-year head coach Mike Brown’s squad within one win of reaching their second consecutive conference championship series.

For Philadelphia, Joel Embiid returned to action after sitting out Game 2 due to injuries, managing 18 points in the losing effort. Despite his presence, the 76ers couldn’t generate enough offense to keep pace with the surging Knicks.

In other sports news, the NFL and its referees’ union reached agreement on a new seven-year collective bargaining deal, preventing a potential work stoppage that could have lasted through the 2032 season. League officials had begun preparing replacement referees last month as negotiations stalled, but the new agreement makes those contingency plans unnecessary. The resolution avoids a repeat of the 2012 situation when a 110-day lockout forced the league to use substitute officials.

The New York Jets secured their star running back for the long term, agreeing to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension with Breece Hall, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The deal, finalized Friday, makes Hall the NFL’s third-highest paid running back at $15.25 million annually. Hall had been playing under the franchise tag before the new agreement was reached. Last season, he rushed for a career-best 1,065 yards despite missing the final game with a knee injury.

Golf star Rory McIlroy has softened his stance on LIV Golf players potentially rejoining the PGA Tour, though he questions whether those players actually want to return. McIlroy believes the answer may depend on LIV’s financial stability after Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund recently ended future funding for the breakaway circuit. The tour had attracted top players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau with guaranteed contracts, but their long-term commitment now appears uncertain. McIlroy called welcoming back quality players “good business practice” for strengthening the PGA Tour.

Celebrity fans Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet were among the Knicks supporters who made the trip to Philadelphia for Game 3, despite the 76ers’ attempts to limit visiting fans through restricted ticket sales. Some creative fans like Brooklyn resident Lenny Rakhmanov found ways around the restrictions, while Philadelphia countered by donating tickets to local community organizations to maintain home-court atmosphere.

College basketball received a financial boost with March Madness expansion bringing $300 million in additional revenue through new alcohol sponsorships, providing temporary relief from ongoing challenges facing collegiate athletics. However, concerns persist as programs like Arkansas tennis face elimination, while conferences like the Big 12 and schools like Duke scramble for new revenue sources. The industry’s regulatory body, the College Sports Commission, continues dealing with structural issues. The expanded 76-team tournament format debuts next year.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell will make his season debut Saturday against Atlanta after teammate Tyler Glasnow was placed on the 15-day injured list with lower back spasms. The two-time Cy Young Award winner returns earlier than expected from left shoulder fatigue that had sidelined him since late March. Originally scheduled for another minor league rehabilitation appearance, Snell instead gets the call to face the Braves at Dodger Stadium. The team recalled right-hander Paul Gervase from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the roster spot.

Miami Marlins prospect Robby Snelling made his major league debut Friday in a 3-2 loss to Washington, with young fans already seeking his autograph before the game. The left-handed pitcher, who was the organization’s second-ranked prospect, earned his call-up from Triple-A Jacksonville this week. Originally drafted 39th overall by San Diego in 2022, Snelling came to Miami in a 2024 trade that sent Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the Padres.

Baltimore Orioles fans lined up early at Camden Yards for a unique Tupac Shakur bobblehead giveaway, with the rap legend’s sister throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The promotion honored Shakur’s connection to Baltimore, where he was raised before relocating to California’s Bay Area in the late 1980s. Friday’s matchup against Oakland made for fitting timing, with “California Love” playing during the Athletics’ lineup introductions. The visiting A’s, who departed Oakland before last season, defeated Baltimore 4-3.

Rory McIlroy surged into contention at the Truist Championship in Charlotte, firing a 4-under 67 in his second round to move within four shots of leader Sungjae Im. The world’s second-ranked player, competing for the first time since his Masters victory on April 12, struggled early but caught fire on the back nine with a 32. After sitting eight shots back at the turn, McIlroy’s strong finish positioned him for a potential fifth victory at Quail Hollow.

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has modified his position regarding LIV Golf players potentially returning to the PGA Tour, stating Friday that welcoming back these golfers could benefit the traditional circuit.

McIlroy’s comments came amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s future, as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has announced plans to withdraw financial support following the current season. When questioned about how this development might affect the PGA Tour, the Northern Irish golfer offered a more welcoming perspective than he has previously expressed.

“It’s a question if (players) do want to come back,” McIlroy stated following his second round at the Truist Championship in Charlotte, where he finished tied for eighth. “Obviously we have seen the quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it seems like … it all depends on what happens to LIV.”

The four-time major champion continued: “But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice.”

McIlroy also reflected on his previous criticism of the Saudi-backed league, acknowledging his earlier harsh stance. “I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf. I don’t think I need to rehash any of that. It’s never been for me and, look, it doesn’t mean that LIV is going to go away. They’re going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like.”

He added a pointed observation about the financial implications: “But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you’re too expensive for them, that sort of says something.”

The PGA Tour has already established precedent for player returns through its Returning Member Program. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka successfully rejoined the tour earlier this year after meeting specific requirements that included “heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earning that we believe properly holds returning members accountable for substantial compensation earned elsewhere.”

This program targets golfers who captured major championships including the Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or Open Championship between 2022-25. Other eligible players under these guidelines include Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.

Reflecting on his evolution regarding LIV players, McIlroy admitted Friday: “I was probably too judgmental with the guys that went because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view. But again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.”

He suggested alternative pathways for returning players: “Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe. If that’s a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that’s my home Tour, at the end of the day.”

Despite his more accommodating tone, McIlroy maintained his belief in the PGA Tour’s superiority: “But … if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, (the PGA Tour) is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”

The Women’s National Basketball Association made history Friday evening as the Toronto Tempo launched their debut season, marking the league’s first expansion beyond American borders.

A capacity crowd of 8,210 enthusiastic supporters packed Coca-Cola Coliseum to witness the Tempo face off against the Washington Mystics in their historic home opener. Spectators of all ages donned the team’s signature bordeaux and borealis blue colors, creating an atmosphere of excitement throughout the venue.

The evening began with tremendous energy as fans erupted in celebration following the Toronto Children’s Choir’s performance of “O Canada.” During game breaks, young girls wearing Tempo merchandise were featured on the arena’s large screen, entertaining the crowd with their spirited dance moves.

While Canadian player Kia Nurse received warm applause during team introductions, soccer legend Christine Sinclair generated some of the evening’s most enthusiastic and sustained ovations when she appeared on the video board.

This milestone represents a significant development for both the WNBA and Canada, as the country previously had no opportunity for women to compete in elite professional basketball within their homeland.

For 30-year-old Nurse, who was raised in the Toronto suburbs, this moment fulfills a long-held dream.

“It’s really special and it’s kind of a full-circle moment,” Nurse commented earlier this week, expressing that she’s “grateful for the opportunity to be on this stage and to be given this platform for growing women’s basketball in Canada.”

The city demonstrated its enthusiasm for professional women’s basketball in 2023 when an exhibition matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky attracted nearly 20,000 fans to Scotiabank Arena, the home venue of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

Team members noticed the mounting anticipation even before taking the court, as devoted local supporters expressed their commitment in the days preceding the season opener.

According to Tempo center Temi Fágbénlé, who experienced a similar launch with the Golden State Valkyries last season, such enthusiasm typically accompanies being “the new thing in town.”

“But it’s more than just a new thing,” Fágbénlé explained. “It’s supporting women’s sports. So many young girls [and] older women as well haven’t seen this in Canada.”

Nurse anticipates this increased exposure will strengthen the national team program, predicting that eventually “you’ll be able to field an entire (Canadian) Olympic roster from WNBA players because these will be Tempo-influenced players.”

The veteran guard has also stressed to her fellow players that they carry the support of an entire nation.

Embracing their identity as “Canada’s team,” the Tempo will host two regular-season contests each in Montreal and Vancouver this year. Nurse believes these appearances will foster connection among fans and aspiring players nationwide.

“(Sports is) a place where you belong,” Nurse stated. “It’s a place where you can look out on the court and see somebody that looks like you and resonate with them, resonate with their story.”

“To be able to do that across Canada is truly special.”

Head coach Sandy Brondello, like her players, views the franchise as evidence of women’s basketball’s continued expansion.

With 27 years of WNBA experience and two championship titles, Brondello has witnessed the league’s transformation through franchise additions, corporate partnerships, and growing fan interest in women’s professional basketball.

She believes the Tempo’s arrival will sustain this positive trajectory, particularly throughout Canada.

“We are creating history,” Brondello declared. “But we want to make history, too.”

A heavyweight fighter’s disruptive behavior stole the spotlight from the UFC’s historic White House event during Friday’s press conference for UFC Freedom 250.

The promotional event took place in Newark, New Jersey, where UFC 328 was scheduled for Saturday. However, attention centered on the groundbreaking Washington fight card, with all 14 scheduled competitors present for traditional staredowns.

Undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit, set to battle Derrick Lewis, transformed the gathering into his own theatrical performance.

Wearing a black robe, sunglasses, American flag gloves and bandana, Hokit delivered wrestling-style rants targeting not only Lewis but also Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria before UFC security escorted him out. His profanity-filled speeches attempted to rhyme and consistently concluded with “Am I right, New Jersey?”

Hokit referred to Lewis as “the Black Pillsbury Doughboy” and hurled multiple offensive slurs at other competitors. Most fighters avoided responding until Topuria rose to protect Pereira, who lacks English fluency and seemed confused by Hokit’s verbal attacks.

Topuria hurled a small object at Hokit before security removed the 28-year-old Californian from the venue.

The former college football player and wrestler maintained his perfect 9-0 mixed martial arts record after defeating Curtis Blaydes by unanimous decision at UFC 327 last month.

Separately, UFC CEO Dana White intervened during Mauricio Ruffy’s staredown with Michael Chandler when Ruffy extended his arms and touched Chandler’s chin with his fist. Other confrontations proceeded without problems.

White explained Friday why the UFC would distribute 85,000 free tickets for public viewing at Ellipse Park across from the White House, where fans will watch on large screens rather than attending the South Lawn directly.

“It’s on federal land,” White explained. “We’re (paying) the bill for this whole fight. And I can’t sell a hot dog, a T-shirt or a ticket. Nothing can be sold on federal land.”

White revealed approximately 4,000 people will attend the South Lawn where the octagon will be constructed. President Donald Trump will receive 1,000 tickets, while White and TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel will each get 200, with remaining seats distributed among military branches.

Although Trump didn’t attend Friday’s press conference, he welcomed several UFC fighters at the White House on Wednesday and unveiled octagon renderings featuring the presidential residence as backdrop.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Brandon Lockridge sustained a leg injury Friday evening and required a cart to leave the field during his team’s home matchup against the New York Yankees.

The incident occurred in the fourth inning when Lockridge dove unsuccessfully for Cody Bellinger’s foul pop-up, colliding with the outfield barrier. The player appeared to make contact with the concrete beneath the wall padding at a corner where the barrier extends outward.

Prior to his exit, Lockridge was having an outstanding offensive performance, going 2-for-2 with one run scored. He contributed significantly to Milwaukee’s early lead with an RBI hit during a four-run rally in the second inning against pitcher Max Fried, then drove in another run with a single in the third frame that extended the Brewers’ advantage to 5-0.

The outfielder entered the contest with a .277 batting average, zero home runs, and 10 runs batted in for the season. Milwaukee officials have not yet provided an update regarding Lockridge’s condition or the extent of his injury.

Two NHL powerhouses are rewriting the playoff record books with their dominant performances this postseason.

Both the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche have maintained perfect records through their current playoff runs, showcasing the championship-caliber play that made them the league’s top regular season teams. These squads, whose weather-themed names match their destructive play on ice, have yet to taste defeat in this year’s postseason.

Carolina’s 4-1 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday night pushed their series lead to 3-0 and marked their seventh consecutive playoff triumph. This achievement places the Hurricanes among just 13 teams in NHL history to open a postseason with seven straight victories. Notably, eight of the previous 12 teams to accomplish this feat went on to capture the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes will rely on red-hot netminder Frederik Andersen in Saturday’s Game 4 as they attempt to eliminate the Flyers. A victory would make Carolina only the fourth team since 1985 to begin the playoffs with an 8-0 record.

“I would anticipate we’re going to give it our best, because we’re going to need to,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We’re not going to win if we don’t put our best foot forward.”

While only three NHL teams have ever rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to win, many clubs have managed to extend their series to at least five games.

“The fourth one is the hardest one to win. No one wants to go home,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “It’s going to be a brand-new challenge.”

In the Western Conference, Colorado sits just one victory away from matching Carolina’s historic start. The Avalanche have already lit up Minnesota for 14 goals in their semifinal matchup and could join the Hurricanes at 7-0 with a Game 3 victory Saturday night. The NHL scheduled a three-day break between games to align all four ongoing series.

“For our team, the energy and pace that we want to play with on a nightly basis that helps us have success, it doesn’t hurt,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It doesn’t hurt to be rested and recovered and still get a little practice time in to go out and feel good about your puck touches and your systems and everything. Meetings don’t have to get crammed in. You can take your time and get feedback from the guys.”

Under Brind’Amour’s leadership, Carolina has reached the playoffs in all eight seasons. Last year’s Eastern Conference finals loss to eventual champion Florida serves as motivation for this year’s run. Should the Hurricanes defeat Philadelphia on Saturday, they would tie for the 10th-longest winning streak in a single NHL postseason. Historical data shows that 18 of the 23 teams to win eight or more consecutive playoff games in one year claimed the Stanley Cup.

The 1992 Chicago Blackhawks stand as a cautionary tale, however. They matched the all-time record with 11 straight playoff wins but fell short of the championship. That same spring, the Pittsburgh Penguins also reached 11 consecutive victories while completing their Stanley Cup Final sweep.

Colorado hopes to mirror Carolina’s ability to silence hostile crowds, as the Hurricanes demonstrated in their Game 3 road victory in Philadelphia. Minnesota hasn’t hosted a playoff game this deep into the postseason since 2015.

“It will be a rockin’ environment,” Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood said. “That’s what makes playoff so fun, right?”

Philadelphia faces elimination Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT, with coverage on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. The Flyers have managed only three goals across three games against Carolina’s suffocating defensive system. Their regular season struggles on the power play continue, converting just once in 12 opportunities this series and three times in 29 chances over nine playoff contests.

The Colorado-Minnesota series resumes Saturday at 9 p.m. EDT on the same networks, with the Avalanche holding a 2-0 advantage. Minnesota has used the extended break to address penalty kill issues, particularly challenging given injuries to center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin. After controlling play at even strength against Dallas in round one, the Wild have struggled to contain Colorado’s explosive forwards in 5-on-5 situations. Minnesota may turn back to rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt after Filip Gustavsson’s 5-2 loss in Game 2.

LOS ANGELES — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will take the mound Saturday for his first appearance of the season when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves in a showdown between National League division leaders.

The veteran left-hander’s return to the rotation comes earlier than expected following Tyler Glasnow’s departure from Wednesday’s game due to back issues. Los Angeles placed Glasnow on the 15-day injured list Friday with low back spasms and brought up right-hander Paul Gervase from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

A shoulder injury sidelined Snell for most of the 2025 regular season, limiting him to just 11 starts despite signing a five-year, $182 million deal in November 2024. However, the southpaw delivered when it mattered most, posting a 3-2 record across six postseason appearances as the Dodgers captured their second straight World Series championship.

Since late March, Snell has been dealing with left shoulder fatigue that landed him on the injured list. While originally scheduled for another minor league rehabilitation outing with Class A Ontario on Saturday, he’ll instead face Atlanta at Dodger Stadium.

Glasnow departed Wednesday’s contest against Houston after just one inning. Following an MRI examination, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday before the series opener against Atlanta that the results showed “nothing really significant.”

The 32-year-old Glasnow has compiled a 3-0 record with a 2.72 ERA through seven starts this season.

The towering 6-foot-10 Gervase, age 25, brings a 2-0 record and 3.65 ERA from nine appearances with Oklahoma City this year. His major league experience includes one outing with Los Angeles last season, where he recorded two strikeouts over two innings, plus five games with Tampa Bay that resulted in a 4.26 ERA.

Baseball fans arrived early at Camden Yards on Friday evening, eager to receive commemorative Tupac Shakur bobbleheads before the Baltimore Orioles game began.

“I grabbed three of them,” said Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.

The legendary rapper spent his childhood years in New York and Baltimore before relocating to California’s San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1980s. His time living in Oakland in the early 1990s made Friday’s game between the Orioles and the Athletics a fitting occasion to celebrate the music icon, who died in 1996. During the A’s lineup announcement, the recognizable opening of “California Love” echoed through the stadium as a tribute to the team that departed Oakland after the previous season.

When discussing his preferred Tupac track, Albernaz referenced “Pain.”

“This is back on — I’m dating myself — Napster or LimeWire, trying to download that,” Albernaz explained.

The manager also noted that “All Eyez On Me” perfectly represents the current Baltimore squad.

Since every player on the Orioles’ current roster was born in 1989 or after, it remained uncertain whether the team members knew Shakur’s musical catalog.

“I hope so,” Albernaz commented. “I probably should ask around about that.”

Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, the rapper’s sister, delivered the ceremonial opening pitch for the evening.

Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, ranked second in the world, has established a commanding three-stroke advantage after Friday’s second round as she seeks to defend her title at the Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, New Jersey.

The 23-year-old champion from last year’s tournament at Liberty National Golf Club fired a 3-under-par 69 on Friday, bringing her total to 8-under 136 at the relocated Mountain Ridge Country Club. Jennifer Kupcho sits in second place at 5-under after matching Thitikul’s 69, while Brooke Matthews holds third place alone at 4-under following a 72.

Thitikul’s second round featured plenty of action after beginning play on the back nine. From holes 17 through 4, she recorded four birdies alongside two bogeys, then closed out her round with strong birdies on the par-5 sixth and eighth holes to reach 8-under.

“I didn’t (play) well when the wind really picking up in the beginning,” Thitikul explained. “I mean, luckily we don’t have much wind on the back nine after the rain came and then the wind just like shut down. Then we just lucky. If we got the breeze the front nine, I don’t think my number is going to be that low for sure.”

The defending champion, who captured her eighth LPGA victory in February on home soil in Thailand, said her coach advised maintaining her normal approach.

“Just prepare things the same routine,” she noted. “I mean, just let golf be golf and let me be me. … So I think it’s just maybe stick to that process that just another day at the office and then whatever it’s turn out to be that turn out to be, and then you figure it out.”

Kupcho, who has not recorded a top-10 result this season, positioned herself well with Friday’s performance. She came close to matching Thitikul’s pace after recording four birdies on her opening nine holes and adding another at the 13th to reach 7-under, but dropped shots at holes 14 and 17 during her closing stretch.

“Like 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, all of those hole pin placements were on the sides of a hill,” Kupcho observed after completing her morning round. “For the wind and the speed we’re playing the greens, I don’t know that they’re going to be playable this afternoon, to be quite honest. It’s a really hard golf course.”

The day’s lowest score was 4-under 68, achieved by just two competitors: France’s Celine Boutier, who advanced to fourth place alone at 3-under, and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who joined a seven-player group tied for fifth at 2-under.

Former major winner Boutier echoed the widespread view that the course presented significant challenges, with wind conditions adding complexity.

“I feel like because I was first off this morning, I was able to take advantage of the first few holes that were less windy and then it started picking up in the middle of my front nine,” Boutier said.

“Yeah, I’m definitely glad to be done right now because it’s picked up even more. And I feel like it’s a course where you have to be really strong from the tee to green, so I think you have to be a very complete game to be able to score well.”

First-round leader Andrea Lee, who opened with a 66, struggled significantly in round two with a 79 that dropped her to 1-over for the tournament.

Several prominent players face elimination with the cut line set at 3-over par, including South Korea’s Sei Young Kim (5-over), Lexi Thompson (5-over), Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson (5-over), Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (5-over after an 80), Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (6-over following an 80), England’s Lottie Woad (13-over) and Michelle Wie West (18-over).

Wie West posted rounds of 82-80 in her first LPGA competition in three years as she prepares for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open.

FIFA revealed Friday its plans to conduct individual opening ceremonies in each of the three nations hosting the upcoming World Cup, marking an unprecedented approach for the international soccer tournament spanning Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

The historic tournament begins June 11 in Mexico City, featuring Grammy-winning Mexican pop group Mana alongside performers Alejandro Fernandez and Belinda, according to FIFA’s announcement on social media platform X.

Sources indicate that Toronto will host its ceremony on June 12 before Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in group stage play, with Canadian artists Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, and Alessia Cara taking the stage, joined by Los Angeles-based DJ Sanjoy, who is of Bangladeshi American heritage.

That same day in Los Angeles, pop superstar Katy Perry will anchor the U.S. opening ceremony before the American squad takes on Paraguay, with Atlanta rapper Future (Nayvadius Wilburn) also slated to perform, according to sources.

The 2026 tournament represents only the second instance of multiple nations jointly hosting the World Cup. The previous co-hosted event occurred in 2002 when South Korea and Japan shared hosting duties, though South Korea handled the sole opening ceremony at that time.

The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed back their All-Star center Joel Embiid for Friday night’s Game 3 matchup against the New York Knicks, after the big man was forced to sit out the second game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series due to injuries to his right hip and ankle.

The dominant center had previously sparked Philadelphia’s remarkable turnaround against Boston in the opening round, despite missing the series’ first three contests following appendix surgery on April 9. With Embiid back in the lineup, the 76ers captured all three remaining games against the Celtics, culminating in a Game 7 performance where he tallied 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

In the current series opener, Embiid contributed 14 points during Philadelphia’s lopsided 137-98 defeat at Madison Square Garden, then was absent from the sidelines as his team suffered a closer 108-102 setback in the second contest, allowing New York to grab a commanding 2-0 series advantage.

The Knicks, however, will be without forward OG Anunoby, who injured his right hamstring during Game 2 after posting 24 points across 37 minutes of play. New York head coach Mike Brown confirmed Anunoby’s absence during his pre-game media session on Friday.

Throughout this playoff run, Anunoby has been a key contributor for the Knicks, posting impressive numbers of 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while connecting on an outstanding 61.9% of his field goal attempts.

English golfer Aaron Rai shot a 4-under-par 67 during Friday’s second round to capture a one-shot advantage heading into the weekend at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina.

Rai stands among the few players in this alternate tournament – running opposite to this week’s Truist Championship – who has already secured a spot in next week’s PGA Championship. The tournament victor will receive automatic qualification for the major championship if they haven’t already earned their way in.

Beginning his round at the 10th tee, the English player managed just 1-under on his opening nine holes before catching fire on the front side. He recorded four birdies across his first seven holes on the front nine before closing with consecutive pars to reach 10-under 132 for the tournament.

Despite holding the highest world ranking among competitors at No. 42, Rai emphasized the importance of not taking anything for granted at Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

“Everyone starts at the same playing field on Thursday, and everyone who is in this field is good enough to win. No one has any rights to walk in and play well and compete,” Rai said. “Just try to approach it as I would any tournament. Prepare as well as I can and, yeah, just run through as many good routines as I can during the week.”

Trailing by a single shot at 9-under are Brandt Snedeker, who posted a bogey-free 66, and Mark Hubbard, who carded a 67. Snedeker’s round featured five birdies without a blemish, while Hubbard battled through an uneven front nine with three bogeys and three birdies before surging with four birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back birdies on holes 9-12.

“Overall just found something in my putting,” Hubbard said. “I wasn’t really feeling that great early with it. Then just kind of found a little setup cue that turned things around and gained some confidence from there.”

Kevin Roy (66) and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout (67) complete the top five at 8-under par.

Scotland’s Martin Laird, who held the first-round lead, struggled to a 4-over 75 on Friday and dropped into a tie for 30th place at 3-under.

Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who played alongside Rai during both opening rounds, managed a 1-under second round and enters the weekend tied for 22nd at 4-under par.

Australian golfer Lucas Herbert delivered an outstanding second-round performance at LIV Golf Virginia on Friday, shooting a flawless 9-under 63 to build a commanding six-stroke lead at Trump National DC in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

Herbert’s exceptional round improved on his already impressive opening day by one stroke, putting him at 17-under par for the tournament. Spain’s Sergio Garcia sits in second place at 11-under after shooting a 67, while England’s Richard Bland claimed third position at 7-under following the day’s second-best round of 66.

The 30-year-old Australian carded nine birdies without a single mistake during his round. His most impressive stretch came between holes 6-12, where he recorded six birdies in seven holes, before closing out his day with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes.

“It was kind of one of those days — probably 36 holes, two of those days — of things that probably just come easy in some respects,” Herbert explained after his round. “To be honest, I probably tried to enjoy it a little bit out there because I was able to in the moment see that that was happening and kind of just be able to sit back and appreciate it a little bit and understand this is pretty not normal. You don’t know how many times as a golfer you’re going to get to experience that kind of feeling.”

Herbert, who has claimed victories on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour, is still chasing his maiden LIV title in his third season with the breakaway league.

The tournament leader revealed he spent Thursday evening with his wife and her family, deliberately avoiding thoughts about his first-round advantage.

“It was kind of good to get away from the fact that I was sitting on a two-shot lead there and think about something else for a while,” Herbert noted. “I think we might be doing something pretty similar the way it worked out overnight.”

Herbert’s outstanding play has also propelled his all-Australian team, Ripper GC, to a six-shot lead in the team standings at 21-under par. The squad, which includes Marc Leishman, Elvis Smylie, and captain Cameron Smith, holds a comfortable margin over both Crushers GC and Cleeks Golf Club.

Garcia mounted a strong finish to his round, collecting birdies on holes 14, 16, 17, and 18. His late surge included impressive putts of 19 feet and 14 feet on the par-3 14th and 16th holes respectively.

“I felt like, if I could shoot 3 under, it would be a really nice round and stuff. I managed to shoot 5, and I’m still far away from the lead,” Garcia commented. “Yeah, it was a good day. Obviously tricky with the wind and everything and the greens getting firmer, but very, very happy with the way I handled it.”

Bland, at 53 years old, is also pursuing his first LIV championship. He started strong with three birdies in his opening five holes, then added three more on his back nine while avoiding any bogeys.

The veteran English golfer discussed his approaching retirement plans, indicating his competitive days are numbered.

“I kind of earmarked next year would probably be my last year of playing full-time, as I do right now. Then going forward, really kind of scattered, but play where I want to play… So, yeah, semi-retirement, it’s getting a lot nearer — and that’s fine. I’m OK with that. I’ve had one helluva ride out here and the best decision I ever made.”

Notable players Bryson DeChambeau and Spain’s Jon Rahm both struggled with 70s on Friday, leaving them tied for seventh at 5-under par as they prepare for next week’s PGA Championship.

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid was back on the court Friday night for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, returning after sitting out the second matchup due to a sprained right ankle and hip soreness.

The All-Star big man had a difficult outing in the series opener, where New York dominated with a 137-98 victory. Embiid managed only 14 points while shooting poorly at 3-of-11 from the field before coaches pulled the starting lineup as the contest became a rout.

Despite being marked as probable for that first game, the Knicks exploited Embiid’s limited movement throughout the night, consistently finding open scoring opportunities.

While many anticipated his participation in the second game, team officials made the decision to hold him out just hours before tipoff.

The veteran center underwent an appendectomy during the final stretch of the regular season. He made his comeback in the fourth game of Philadelphia’s opening playoff round against Boston, playing a crucial role as the 76ers mounted a historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to knock out the Celtics.

Ben Crane carded eight birdies during Friday’s opening round to grab the lead at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club in Texas.

The veteran golfer’s 7-under-par 65 put him one stroke ahead of a group including Shane Bertsch, Boo Weekley, Richard Green of Australia, and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

Sitting two shots behind Crane at 5-under 67 were New Zealand’s Steven Alker, South Africa’s Ernie Els, Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, and South Korean players Charlie Wi and Y.E. Yang.

The five-time PGA Tour winner celebrated his 50th birthday in March and continues his quest for a maiden Champions Tour victory. Crane came close with a second-place finish at last month’s Senior PGA Championship.

Crane’s hot start included six birdies over his opening 10 holes before his round slowed down. Following his only dropped shot at the par-3 14th hole, where his tee shot missed the green, Crane bounced back with birdies on the following two holes, capping it off with a long putt at the par-3 16th.

Bertsch, 56, captured his lone Champions Tour title in 2020 and hopes to return to victory lane. The golfer entered this week’s tournament as the second alternate.

“I’ve been in this position this year, unfortunately, just because of, you know, I’m not the greatest player last year, so I’ve been hanging around as first alternate a couple weeks,” Bertsch said. “… You could have a chance to get in and be out all of a sudden if you’re not around (at the course). So it’s kind of nerve-wracking. But it was nice to get in.”

Starting on the back nine, Bertsch posted four birdies against one bogey before reaching the green in two shots on the par-5 first hole for an eagle that boosted his position. He closed with another birdie at the par-5 sixth hole.

Defending champion Stewart Cink, who has won the season’s first two major championships, posted an opening-round 4-under 68.

South Korean golfer Sungjae Im captured the halfway lead at the Truist Championship on Friday, carding three back-nine birdies during his round at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.

Im’s consistent 69 brought him to 9-under 133 for the tournament, giving him a narrow one-stroke advantage over England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who recorded his second consecutive 67. Justin Thomas and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick share third place at 7-under after both shot 68s on Friday.

The South Korean professional is chasing what would be the most significant triumph of his career. While Im has captured two PGA Tour victories, his last came in October 2021, though he did claim a win on the Korean Tour earlier this year.

Thursday’s opening round of the $20 million signature event faced weather delays, forcing 20 players to finish their first rounds Friday morning. Im had just recorded an eagle to reach 7-under when play was suspended, completing his opening round with two pars on Friday.

Starting his second round, Im recorded nine consecutive pars before making birdie on the 10th hole and dropping a shot at the 12th. He drew even with then-leader Matt McCarty at 8-under by birdieing the short par-4 14th hole, then moved to 9-under with a skillfully executed birdie on the par-5 15th.

McCarty, who established the first-round lead with a 63, struggled in his second round and was 2-over with one hole remaining late Friday.

Alex Fitzpatrick holds a nine-shot advantage over his older brother Matt Fitzpatrick, who ranks third in the world but shot 70 on Friday to sit at 2-over for the tournament. The younger Fitzpatrick earned his PGA Tour credentials and entry into remaining signature events after he and his brother captured the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team competition last month.

PHILADELPHIA — New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will miss Friday night’s Game 3 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a right hamstring strain, though the injury doesn’t appear to be severe and he’s being evaluated daily for the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The injury occurred during the final moments of Game 2, where Anunoby had contributed 24 points to his team’s effort.

New York currently leads the best-of-seven playoff series 2-0.

During Wednesday’s contest, Anunoby was performing well before he appeared to experience leg discomfort and signaled to exit the game. He departed for the locker room and didn’t rejoin his teammates on the sideline before New York secured their 108-102 win.

Throughout this postseason, Anunoby has been averaging 21.4 points per contest while maintaining impressive shooting percentages of 61.9% from the floor and 53.8% beyond the three-point arc.

The 6-foot-7 player, regarded as New York’s premier defensive specialist, previously dealt with a hamstring issue two seasons ago during the second round when the Knicks held a 2-0 advantage over Indiana. That injury forced him to sit out four consecutive games, and he managed only limited minutes in Game 7 as Indiana mounted a comeback to claim the series.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced Friday they have selected Mike Schmitz as their new general manager, bringing the Portland Trail Blazers’ assistant GM into the role just three days following the appointment of Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor.

Schmitz now assumes the position previously occupied by Nico Harrison, who was dismissed in November. Harrison’s firing came nine months after he orchestrated the trade sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a decision that proved disastrous for the franchise.

According to the team’s announcement, Schmitz will be responsible for supervising daily operations and ensuring strategic coordination within the basketball operations department.

The hiring leaves questions unanswered regarding the future of Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, who were appointed as co-interim general managers following Harrison’s departure. The duo successfully completed the trade sending Anthony Davis, who was the primary asset obtained in the Doncic transaction, to Washington.

Both Schmitz and Ujiri, who was born in Nigeria, share connections to African basketball development. Schmitz has contributed to youth basketball programs in Ujiri’s native country and has worked as an assistant coach for Uganda’s national team.

Before joining Portland in 2022, Schmitz worked for five years analyzing draft prospects at ESPN.

“I have tremendous respect for Masai, this ownership group and the vision they have for the future of the franchise,” Schmitz said. “I’m excited to get to work alongside the talented people already in place and help build a championship-caliber organization.”

The National Football League and its officials union have successfully negotiated a seven-year labor agreement, preventing any disruption to game officiating through the 2032 season. The NFL Referees Association deal eliminates the need for replacement officials that the league had begun preparing last month when talks stalled. This agreement helps avoid a repeat of the 2012 situation when a 110-day lockout forced the use of substitute referees.

In New York, the Jets have secured running back Breece Hall with a three-year extension valued at $45.75 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The Friday agreement makes Hall the NFL’s third-highest compensated running back at $15.25 million annually. The Jets had previously placed the franchise tag on Hall before finalizing this new deal. Hall achieved a career-best 1,065 rushing yards last season, though he missed the final game due to a knee injury. The source requested anonymity since the Jets have not officially announced the extension.

The Philadelphia 76ers are giving away 500 tickets for each remaining home playoff game in the second round to community organizations. This strategy aims to maintain a strong home crowd presence and counter the influx of New York Knicks supporters. The team had earlier attempted to restrict ticket sales through Ticketmaster to Philadelphia-area residents only. Friday’s Game 3 featured 250 healthcare workers and 250 local teachers as guests, while Sunday’s Game 4 will host 500 mothers and children from various community groups. With the Knicks holding a 2-0 series advantage, Joel Embiid has appealed to 76ers fans to keep their tickets rather than selling to opposing supporters.

This year’s Major League Baseball newcomers are demonstrating exceptional performance in the season’s opening weeks. Standout rookie hitters including Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, and JJ Wetherholt have excelled during the first six weeks of play. Young pitchers Nolan McLean and Parker Messick have also shown promise among the primarily offensive-minded rookie standouts. Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo noted that today’s young players arrive better equipped for major league competition than previous generations.

Miami’s second-ranked pitching prospect Robby Snelling is preparing for his major league debut against the Washington Nationals. The left-handed pitcher was already signing autographs for young Marlins supporters a day before his scheduled first start. Snelling was promoted this week from Triple-A Jacksonville after being acquired from San Diego in 2024 as part of a trade package that sent Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the Padres. The Padres originally selected Snelling 39th overall in the 2022 amateur draft.

Tennis veteran Novak Djokovic suffered an upset loss to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open in Rome. The 20-year-old Prizmic defeated the 24-time Grand Slam winner 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, clinching victory with an ace on match point. This marked Djokovic’s return after a two-month absence due to a right shoulder injury, his first competition since falling to Jack Draper in Indian Wells during March. The 38-year-old Serbian player wore visible shoulder taping that became apparent when he changed shirts between sets.

Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt has seen his misdemeanor domestic battery charges dismissed without prejudice. The dismissal comes less than three weeks after the 54-year-old Merritt pleaded not guilty and was released from Johnson County, Kansas jail. Merritt has served with the Chiefs since 2019 and contributed to five Super Bowl victories, including his previous tenure with the Giants. He took part in the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp last weekend. Head coach Andy Reid stated Saturday that Merritt has been transparent about the situation and stressed allowing law enforcement to handle the matter.

Formula 1 officials have approved engine modifications for the 2027 season that will boost internal combustion power output. The sport began this year with significant changes including equal power distribution between traditional engines and onboard battery systems. However, drivers immediately voiced concerns about the new configuration. The governing FIA conducted an online meeting Friday with teams and F1 representatives, reaching agreement in principle on the upcoming changes.

Lionel Messi’s remarkable journey toward a potential sixth World Cup appearance traces back to the Grandoli youth club in Rosario, Argentina. The 38-year-old star’s career began in 1992 when his grandmother brought 5-year-old Lionel to watch his older brother compete for the Grandoli team in Argentina’s third-largest city. The story of how young Messi ended up playing that day has become legendary at the club, whose members will be watching their former player on soccer’s grandest stage.

Palestinian runner Mohamad Al-Assi marked a personal milestone by finishing second in a West Bank marathon, just six months after resuming training following his release from Israeli detention. The 27-year-old from Dheisheh refugee camp was among thousands who participated in Friday’s race through the Bethlehem area, including sections along the barrier separating Israel from the occupied West Bank. Al-Assi had spent 32 months in Israeli custody before returning to competitive running. Race organizers emphasized how the marathon showcases the challenges facing the territory, where military checkpoints disrupt daily travel and expanding Israeli settlements continue claiming land.

Saturday’s WNBA season opener brings together the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s championship series.

The Aces enter the 2026 season having captured their third title in four years, powered by superstar A’ja Wilson, who just completed her record-breaking fourth MVP season.

Wilson made history by overtaking WNBA legends Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Lauren Jackson for most MVP awards in league history. This season, she has the opportunity to become the first player to earn the honor three years in a row.

As the WNBA welcomes an influx of emerging talent, Wilson begins her ninth professional season determined to maintain her position as the league’s premier player, according to her comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“I like proving people wrong,” Wilson said. “I like to let people just burn because me and my team are doing great, or they never could have imagined it could have been me in this situation or my team in this situation.”

Wilson’s 2025 campaign featured averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, along with a career-high 3.1 assists. She earned Finals MVP honors after a dominant postseason where she scored 26.8 points per game — the highest mark across her seven playoff appearances — while adding 10 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.1 steals.

The Aces completed a four-game championship series sweep over Phoenix, with Wilson delivering back-to-back performances of 34 and 31 points in the final two contests, ultimately ending the Mercury’s unexpected playoff journey.

Phoenix surprised many by reaching the Finals as the fourth seed, defeating top-seeded Minnesota 3-1 in the semifinals. Ten-year veteran Kahleah Copper contributed 17.8 points per game throughout the postseason.

Veteran leadership proved crucial for the Mercury, as 18-year league veteran DeWanna Bonner recorded two double-doubles in the Finals, while 12-year veteran Alyssa Thomas notched three Finals double-doubles and a triple-double in the series finale.

Though the experienced trio helped Phoenix reach the championship round, Thomas acknowledged during Wednesday’s media day that the playoff experience served as valuable education for the team’s younger players.

“We had a lot of people on our team who were … first time going through playoffs,” Thomas said. “I don’t think you can prepare people enough for how hard playoffs is.”

The Mercury’s young core includes Monique Akoa Makani, who started throughout her rookie campaign last season.

Makani and Phoenix’s backcourt will face the challenge of containing Las Vegas’ talented perimeter group featuring Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and new addition Chennedy Carter.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets have locked up their offensive centerpiece after reaching a lucrative contract extension with star running back Breece Hall on Friday.

Hall and the organization finalized a three-year deal valued at $45.75 million, a source with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press. The franchise had previously placed the franchise tag on Hall, and his new agreement averaging $15.25 million annually positions him as the NFL’s third-highest compensated running back.

The source requested anonymity since the Jets have not yet made an official announcement regarding the extension.

“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL,” Hall shared on X, referencing his devastating rookie season injury in 2022. “This day really hit different for me man.”

Hall’s yearly earnings trail only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley at $20.6 million and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey at $19 million in terms of average annual value. His compensation edges out Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, who earns $15 million per season.

The 24-year-old back achieved a personal milestone last season, accumulating 1,065 rushing yards despite sitting out the final contest due to a knee issue. This performance marked the first time a Jets player had surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a single campaign since Chris Ivory accomplished the feat in 2015. Hall has now recorded three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage, joining just five other players in franchise history to reach this benchmark.

Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft from Iowa State, Hall will celebrate his 25th birthday on May 31. Unlike first-round teammates Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, who received extensions last offseason, Hall’s future with the team remained uncertain. Trade speculation surrounded the dynamic back leading up to last year’s deadline.

However, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey consistently expressed their desire to retain Hall’s services.

“He’s a playmaker and we want to keep playmakers around on both sides of the ball,” Mougey stated during February’s NFL combine. “He’s a proven playmaker and a good player, a good person, so want to find a way to keep Breece around.”

The Jets initially envisioned a three-back rotation featuring Hall alongside Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis last season. However, Allen’s knee injury that placed him on injured reserve left Davis as Hall’s primary backup.

With offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterback Geno Smith bringing new leadership to the unit, New York opted to franchise tag Hall, providing additional time for contract negotiations during the offseason.

The deadline for reaching an agreement was July 15, after which Hall would have been required to play under the one-year franchise tag worth $14.3 million.

Following the draft two weeks prior, Mougey suggested contract discussions would intensify. The organization completed the deal several weeks before voluntary organized team activities commence and well ahead of their mandatory minicamp.

New York’s restructured offense anticipates improved production this season after struggling with Smith at quarterback. The unit should benefit from Wilson’s return to full health following a knee injury that limited him to seven games, plus the addition of rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., both first-round selections.

Hall’s versatility as both a runner and receiver made securing his services beyond this season a top organizational priority for the Jets.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has secured his financial future with a substantial three-year contract extension valued at $45.75 million, multiple sources confirmed Friday.

The lucrative agreement pays Hall an average of $15.25 million per year, positioning him as the NFL’s third-highest compensated running back. Only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million annually) and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey ($19 million per year) earn more at the position.

Hall, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on May 31, confirmed the news on social media platform X by sharing the announcement and adding: “Shoutout everyone in my corner. Lot of work left to do. God Bless.”

The contract resolution comes after the Jets placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Hall in early March, though team officials expressed their preference for negotiating a long-term deal.

Under the franchise tag terms, Hall would have earned a guaranteed $14.293 million for 2026 while retaining the ability to negotiate with other franchises. A transition tag would have provided $11.323 million for one season but potentially made him more appealing to competing teams.

“Ideally, we’d find a way to get a deal done and keep Breece around,” Jets General Manager Darren Mougey stated during the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. “I think I’ve said that for the last year since I’ve got here. Breece is a good player. We want to find a way to keep him around.”

Since New York selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft from Iowa State, Hall has accumulated 3,398 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns across four seasons.

The 2025 campaign marked a career milestone when Hall reached 1,065 rushing yards, making him the first Jets player to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards since Chris Ivory accomplished the feat in 2015.

Hall’s versatility extends beyond rushing, as he has contributed 188 catches for 1,642 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through 56 NFL appearances, including 50 starts.

PHOENIX (AP) — Twenty-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates sensation Konnor Griffin approached home plate Tuesday evening facing the Arizona Diamondbacks and launched a scorching 110.1 mph line drive that ricocheted off Chase Field’s center field wall, allowing him to coast into second base with a double.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo watched in amazement from the dugout.

“Twenty years old and driving the ball off the center field wall,” Lovullo remarked. “Let’s go back to being 20 years old. I was just getting hair under my armpits, and this guy’s in a big-league baseball game. It’s impressive.”

Griffin — who celebrated his 20th birthday just weeks ago — represents a Major League Baseball freshman class that has delivered immediate results as spring transitions into May. His current statistics include a .256 batting average, two home runs, 16 runs batted in, and a perfect 8-for-8 stolen base record, all while excelling defensively at shortstop for Pittsburgh’s 21-17 squad.

The Pirates’ confidence in Griffin became evident when they offered him a nine-year, $140 million contract in April.

Lovullo, who has managed Arizona for a decade, observes a significant improvement in young players’ preparedness upon reaching the majors.

Statistical analysis supports this observation. According to Wins Above Replacement measurements, three of the top five most effective rookie batting classes since 1950 have emerged within the last four seasons: 2023 (67.5 WAR), 2022 (53.7), and 2024 (49). Current projections suggest this year’s group is tracking toward 47 WAR, which would place them fifth historically.

The 2025 rookie class, while less deep overall, still produced players capable of rapid major league success. Nick Kurtz accumulated only 210 minor league at-bats before joining Oakland, then posted a .290 average with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs across 117 games to capture American League Rookie of the Year honors.

“Everything is fast-forwarded now, everything’s on speed dial, everything happens really quick,” Lovullo explained. “These kids are developing. It’s the same message I send to our group about player development. We aren’t going to be the L.A. Dodgers or the Padres. Spots won’t be filled by Player ‘X’ coming off of free agency. Spots will be filled by someone in this clubhouse.”

Additional standout rookies have emerged throughout the season’s opening six weeks:

This 21-year-old secured his roster spot through excellent spring training performance and continues delivering results with a .299 batting average, two homers, 16 RBIs and an .845 OPS while alternating between shortstop and third base. He has arguably been Detroit’s top performer on an otherwise disappointing team, prompting the organization to secure him with an eight-year, $150 million deal in April.

Selected seventh overall in the 2024 draft from West Virginia, this highly-touted prospect has connected for seven home runs with a surprisingly competitive Cardinals squad in the National League Central. His performance suggests long-term stability in St. Louis.

DeLauter achieved the rare distinction of making his major league debut during last season’s playoffs, becoming one of few players in baseball history to receive their first call-up during postseason play. This spring has validated Cleveland’s decision to promote him for those high-pressure situations, as he maintains a .306 average with six homers and 23 RBIs.

The experienced Japanese power hitter has translated his success immediately to American baseball, smashing 14 home runs in just 37 contests. While strikeouts remain an issue and consistent batting averages may prove elusive, his power potential is undeniable at age 26.

At 29, this player is the oldest among featured rookies and initially struggled adapting from Japanese baseball. Recent weeks have shown improvement, bringing his numbers to .246 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs.

After making a positive impression during limited action last season, this 22-year-old has maintained his hitting success in expanded opportunities this spring. Operating primarily at first base, he shows a .245 average with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs.

While New York has disappointed overall, McLean provides a rare bright spot. Following an impressive eight-start introduction last season, the 24-year-old has continued his strong pitching in 2026 with a 2.97 ERA and 51 strikeouts across 39 1/3 innings through seven starts.

The former Florida State standout ranks among the American League’s top pitchers this season, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.40 ERA through seven outings. This left-handed pitcher has been instrumental in Cleveland’s current position atop the AL Central standings.

The National Football League has successfully avoided potential chaos for the upcoming 2026 season after finalizing a seven-year collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association on Friday. The new contract extends through the 2032 season.

Union members and the NFLRA board of directors approved the new collective bargaining agreement during a Thursday vote. The previous contract was scheduled to end on May 31.

Specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, though the NFL stated the new deal addresses “economics, performance and accountability.”

“This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating,” stated Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “It also speaks to the game officials’ relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game.”

The successful negotiations eliminate the possibility of using substitute referees when the 2026 season kicks off September 9, with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the season opener.

The league previously experienced significant controversy with replacement officials during a 2012 matchup between Green Bay and Seattle. In that game, substitute referees awarded Seattle a victory on a final-play touchdown despite what appeared to be simultaneous possession by both teams. The NFL subsequently acknowledged missing a pass interference call against Seattle that should have resulted in a Green Bay win.

Following two weeks of replacement officials in 2012, the league resolved its referee lockout just two days after the controversial Packers-Seahawks contest.

“We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better,” commented NFLRA president Carl Cheffers on Friday. “It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season.”

The path to this agreement involved extended discussions between both parties.

After two years of negotiations resulted in a deadlock last winter, the NFL had begun preparing for the possibility of using replacement referees for the 2026 season. Reports indicated the league started identifying potential substitutes from lower-level college officiating ranks and planned to begin their training this month.

Both the NFL Players Association and the referees union expressed safety concerns regarding the use of replacement officials.

Just one month ago, league insiders informed ESPN that team owners were “alarmed” by the status of negotiations with the NFLRA. One source suggested it would require “an act of God” to resolve the financial disagreements between the parties before the contract expired.

The league had previously proposed a six-year contract featuring an average annual salary increase of 6.45%, according to ESPN. The typical NFL official earned $385,000 during the 2025 season.

The National Football League and its referees union reached a labor agreement on Friday that prevents a potential work stoppage and eliminates the need for substitute officials through the 2032 season.

The seven-year contract received approval from the NFL Referees Association’s executive board and was confirmed through a membership vote.

“We see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make our game better. It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season,” union President Carl Cheffers said.

Contract talks between the league and referees union started during summer 2024, with the previous agreement scheduled to end on May 31.

Last month, the NFL started recruiting substitute officials as contract discussions stalled, but those backup plans are no longer needed.

Both organizations released a joint statement explaining the contract addresses multiple areas including financial terms, job performance standards, and accountability measures.

“This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “It also speaks to the game officials’ relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game.”

Specific contract details remain confidential.

However, sources familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press in March that the NFL had proposed a 6.45% yearly increase in referee pay over a six-year contract.

Back in 2012, contract negotiations broke down, leading to a 110-day lockout that forced the league to use substitute referees.

The replacement officials made numerous high-profile blunders, most notably the infamous “Fail Mary” incident when Russell Wilson threw a last-second touchdown pass to Golden Tate, giving Seattle a Monday night victory over Green Bay. Tate committed offensive pass interference that went uncalled and appeared to steal the ball from a Packers defender, yet officials still awarded him the touchdown catch despite conflicting calls on the field.

The league also deployed replacement officials during one preseason week and the 2001 season opener before resolving that labor dispute shortly after September 11th, allowing regular officials to return when play resumed after a one-week hiatus. That situation produced fewer notable officiating errors.

MIAMI — Before even throwing his first major league pitch, Robby Snelling found himself signing autographs for eager Miami Marlins fans a full day ahead of his anticipated debut.

The organization is hoping this scene becomes commonplace for their second-ranked pitching prospect, who earned a promotion from Triple-A Jacksonville this week to start Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Snelling shared from Miami’s clubhouse Thursday, moments before heading to the dugout where supporters called out for his autograph. “Still trying to just kind of soak it in and get acclimated with all the guys again that I was around in spring and really take it all in and not let the moment get too big.”

The southpaw pitcher, who was chosen 39th overall by San Diego in the 2022 amateur draft, came to Miami as part of a 2024 trade that sent relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the Padres.

Despite showing promise during spring training, Snelling failed to secure a spot on the Marlins’ opening day 40-man roster. He described the setback as both disappointing and inspiring.

“I was upset and not necessarily at anybody in general,” Snelling explained. “Just being told that you’re not going to get to do what you really had wanted to do as early as you wanted to do is a tough pill to swallow.

“But then you kind of come back down to earth and realize, ‘Alright, what do I need to do to get to that point where I want to be?’”

His response involved focusing on reducing his walk totals, particularly by throwing more first-pitch strikes. Through six outings with Triple-A Jacksonville this year, Snelling compiled a 3-1 record alongside the second-lowest ERA (1.86) among qualified hurlers. He issued more than three walks in just two of those six appearances.

“It’s exciting because Robby’s a great competitor,” commented Marlins skipper Clayton McCullough. “He’s worked really hard. He’s performing in a manner that he’s very deserving of this opportunity.”

Snelling’s opportunity arose when the team designated struggling starter Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday.

The veteran Paddack, 30, had signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Miami during the offseason with expectations of filling a back-end rotation role. However, Paddack faltered through seven starts, recording an 0-5 mark with a 7.63 ERA while lasting six innings just once.

While Miami had other veteran alternatives available, including southpaw Braxton Garrett, Snelling’s impressive recent work convinced the organization he had earned the chance.

“Coming into it we were certainly very high on Robby,” McCullough noted. “He performed incredibly well last year. This spring, he came into it in competition potentially for a spot in our rotation. Robby’s done well down there and continued to perform.”

Following the Jumbo Shrimp’s walk-off victory Wednesday, Snelling received word of his call-up. Triple-A manager David Carpenter summoned him to his office afterward, commending his concentration throughout the week despite uncertainty about whether his big league opportunity would materialize.

“I was like, ‘Man, it’s really hard to keep my sanity knowing that potentially it was an option for me to go up,’” Snelling remembered telling Carpenter, who responded with a casual inquiry.

“He’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re still good to go on Friday right?’” Carpenter said, referring to Snelling’s scheduled Triple-A start. “I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And he goes, ‘Well, you’re going to be throwing in Miami.’”

Snelling characterized the recent days as a reunion with teammates he bonded with during spring training, including catcher Joe Mack, another top prospect who also received a promotion this week. Mack crossed home plate with the game-winning run on a throwing mistake during Thursday’s ninth-inning victory over Baltimore.

The experience has also given Snelling appreciation for his path to the majors.

“It was always fun competing with those guys (in the minors),” he reflected. “It didn’t really matter where I was in my mind. Obviously this is the goal — being up here and staying up here is the goal.”

NEW YORK — New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón reflected on the severity of his elbow problems from the previous season.

“I couldn’t really bend my arm. I couldn’t button a shirt,” the left-handed pitcher explained. “I couldn’t scratch my face. I couldn’t take a drink of water. … I could definitely never comb my hair.”

After seven months of recovery following elbow surgery, the 33-year-old athlete is scheduled to take the mound this Sunday when the Yankees face the Milwaukee Brewers. Though he’s feeling significantly better, Rodón acknowledges his arm isn’t what it was when he first entered the majors with Chicago a decade ago.

“That’s almost a virgin arm then,” he joked.

Throughout his 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, Rodón has compiled a 93-72 record with a 3.73 ERA. Since joining the Yankees on a six-year, $162 million deal in December 2023, he’s posted a 37-26 record.

Despite his arm troubles, Rodón managed an 18-9 record with a 3.09 ERA during last season. His four-seam fastball speed, which averaged 95.3 mph during his initial Yankees campaign, decreased to 94.4 mph in the first half of last year before falling further to 93.8 mph in the season’s latter half.

“He was great last year. So, just had to do it a different way. He didn’t have the range of motion,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented. “But I think if you talk to major league pitchers, especially ones that have done it for a while, you’re kind of always dealing with different stuff. So credit to him for being able to navigate it last year and with excellence.”

During his Division Series appearance against Toronto, Rodón’s fastball velocity fell to 93.4 mph as he surrendered six runs in just 2 1/3 innings.

“They were mending to him every day to get him to post,” pitching coach Matt Blake noted.

According to Rodón, his elbow problems developed gradually over three to four years. Despite the discomfort, he chose to push through last season rather than step away.

“Did it hurt? Sometimes sure, pitching, but I’d rather go out there and compete,” he stated. “I was throwing well, so I couldn’t just say, ‘Oh, I can’t pitch,’ but it was manageable.”

On October 15, Rodón underwent surgery to extract loose debris from his left elbow and smooth down a bone spur. His recovery hit a snag in late March when he experienced hamstring tightness while training at the Yankees’ Florida facility.

His rehabilitation process included two platelet-rich plasma treatments.

“The first one was early. I really remember it because it was vivid because my arm felt like it got ran over by a bus,” he recalled.

When spring training began, Rodón weighed in the mid-to-upper 250s, roughly 10 pounds over his ideal weight, though he expected to shed the extra pounds as he prepared for his comeback.

“I guess a happy offseason,” he said with a laugh. “I enjoy food.”

Starting April 24, Rodón completed three minor league rehabilitation starts, posting a 3.38 ERA with 16 strikeouts against three walks and three home runs across 16 innings.

His final rehab outing saw him throw 83 pitches, and he’ll face a similar limit when he takes on the Brewers.

“Not as daunting as Tommy John’s surgery,” said Rodón, who had UCL repair surgery in 2019. “You never want to go under the knife, for sure, but it’s good to be at the end of the road.”

Blake has observed improvements in Rodón’s pitching mechanics following the surgery.

“You can see there’s just a little more freedom of motion in the arm action,” he explained. “It looks a little easier. It’s not as much body creating the power.”

However, with his improved range of motion, Rodón must work to regain his pitching precision.

“I’m happy with the recovery,” he said. “So just keep going.”

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah faces another full season away from football after the team officially placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Friday, marking his second consecutive year on the sidelines.

The 26-year-old defender has been recovering from a severe neck injury sustained on October 27, 2024, during a devastating collision with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. The impact occurred when Henry’s right shoulder struck Owusu-Koramoah’s head and neck region during a 10-yard rushing play, forcing medical personnel to cart the linebacker off the field.

Following the frightening incident, Owusu-Koramoah spent one night in the hospital before doctors cleared him for release the following day, confirming he retained full movement in all extremities.

Prior to suffering the injury, Owusu-Koramoah had been a cornerstone of Cleveland’s defense, starting every game through the first eight weeks of the 2024 season. His impressive performance included leading the team with 61 tackles while recording three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Browns demonstrated their confidence in the linebacker by signing him to a three-year contract extension valued at up to $39 million in August 2024.

Cleveland originally selected Owusu-Koramoah during the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft following his collegiate career at Notre Dame. His exceptional play earned him Pro Bowl recognition in 2023.

Throughout his professional career spanning 49 games with 41 starts, Owusu-Koramoah has compiled 308 total tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

PHILADELPHIA — In an effort to maintain home-court advantage and prevent visiting fans from taking over their arena, the Philadelphia 76ers announced they will provide 500 free tickets to local community organizations for each of their remaining second-round playoff home games.

This latest move comes after the team’s earlier attempt to limit ticket sales through Ticketmaster by restricting purchases to buyers in the Philadelphia metropolitan region, aimed at keeping New York Knicks supporters away.

For Friday night’s Game 3, the organization will welcome 250 healthcare workers from the front lines at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, along with 250 educators chosen through Learn Fresh, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, and school districts in both Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey.

Sunday’s Game 4 will see 500 mothers and children attending as guests, selected by organizations including the Uplift Center for Grieving Children, Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, and La Liga del Barrio.

Currently, the Knicks hold a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven playoff series.

During their first-round matchup two seasons ago, visiting New York fans flooded the Philadelphia venue, prompting Sixers star center Joel Embiid to make an urgent appeal to home supporters before this current series began.

“Last time we played the Knicks it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need the support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need all of it.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Following a disappointing 125-107 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff and players expressed strong displeasure with the game’s officiating.

Head coach JJ Redick took issue with how referees handle calls involving LeBron James, while guard Austin Reaves felt he was treated inappropriately by the officiating crew. Multiple Lakers players approached the referees at center court following the contest, with Reaves directly addressing crew chief John Goble about an incident during a jump ball situation.

“At the end of the day, we’re grown men and I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that,” Reaves said. “I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would’ve gotten a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn’t get a tech was because he knew he was in the wrong. I felt disrespected.”

The foul trouble was evident for Los Angeles, with Reaves, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes each accumulating five personal fouls. Oklahoma City attempted 26 free throws compared to 21 for the Lakers. The defeat puts Los Angeles in a challenging 2-0 series hole as they return home for Saturday’s Game 3.

Redick expressed frustration that a top-seeded team led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appears to receive favorable treatment from officials.

“They’re hard enough to play,” Redick said. “They’re hard to play, and you’ve got to be able to just call them. They foul. They do foul.”

Despite his continued ability to drive to the basket at 41 years old, James has only attempted five free throws through the first two games of the series.

“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them,” Redick said. “They get clobbered, and he got clobbered again tonight a bunch.”

Throughout the game, Lakers players showed visible frustration with both calls and non-calls from the officiating crew. Meanwhile, Thunder players maintained their composure, which Redick believes may work in their favor.

“I think some of the reason that they’re officiated the way they are is because they don’t show emotion,” Redick said. “And that’s a credit to them. I mean, they really take the emotion out of the game. They’re super tight-knit. They don’t complain to the officials, and maybe they’re the beneficiaries of that, I don’t know.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Prosecutors in Johnson County, Kansas have dropped domestic battery charges against Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt without prejudice, just under three weeks after the veteran NFL coach pleaded not guilty and was freed from custody.

Merritt, 54, previously played linebacker in the National Football League before establishing himself as one of the top defensive backs coaches in professional football. Since joining Kansas City in 2019, and during his earlier tenure with the New York Giants, he has been part of coaching staffs that captured five Super Bowl championships.

The coach participated in Kansas City’s rookie minicamp this past weekend.

“Dave’s been very up-front with everything,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid commented on Saturday. “We’re still going through that whole procedure. In this case, you always let the law enforcement part take care of itself and work its way out.”

NFL quarterback Taylor Heinicke has called an end to his professional football career, announcing his retirement Thursday after seven seasons in the league.

The 33-year-old signal-caller shared his farewell message on social media, expressing gratitude to fans who supported him throughout his journey with seven different teams, including Minnesota, New England, Houston, Carolina, Atlanta, Washington, and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Heinicke’s most notable chapter came during his stint with Washington, where he compiled a 7-8 record across 15 starting appearances in 2021. His remarkable story began in December 2020 when Washington brought him onto their practice squad as a COVID-19 safety measure, keeping him isolated from the other quarterbacks on the roster.

At the time of Washington’s call, Heinicke was living on his sister’s couch in Atlanta while completing his degree through online courses at Old Dominion University. His most recent football experience had been serving as a backup in the XFL during 2019.

Just one month after joining Washington’s practice squad, Heinicke found himself starting in a playoff game against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the 31-23 defeat, his impressive performance – 306 passing yards, one touchdown throw, and one rushing score – secured him a starting role for the 2021 season.

“Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold,” Heinicke wrote. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life. … Excited for this next chapter of my life.”

Following his Washington years, Heinicke spent a season with Atlanta before joining Los Angeles for the 2024 campaign. The Chargers cut him last August, and he remained without a team for the rest of the season. During his brief 2024 appearance with the Chargers, he participated in four games with just five pass attempts.

Throughout his NFL journey, Heinicke started 30 games, including that memorable playoff appearance, accumulating 6,969 passing yards with 40 touchdown passes and 29 interceptions. He also contributed three rushing touchdowns to his career statistics.

Cleveland Browns management completed contract negotiations with eight of their 2026 draft selections on Friday, headlined by offensive lineman Spencer Fano who inked his rookie deal.

The Utah product, selected ninth overall in this year’s draft, secured a four-year contract worth $32.2 million in guaranteed compensation, featuring a $19.9 million signing bonus. The agreement includes a fifth-year option that remains under team control.

During his collegiate career, Fano appeared in 37 contests with 36 starts across three seasons, demonstrating versatility by playing both left and right tackle positions. His outstanding performance earned him the 2025 Outland Trophy, recognizing the nation’s top interior lineman.

The Browns simultaneously finalized deals with seven additional draft picks: Washington receiver Denzel Brown (second round), Florida tackle Austin Barber (third round), Alabama center Parker Brailsford (fifth round), Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson (fifth round), Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer (fifth round), Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (sixth round), and BYU tight end Carsen Ryan (seventh round).

Two selections remain unsigned: Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion (first round) and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (second round).

BURGAS, Bulgaria – French cyclist Paul Magnier from the Soudal Quick-Step team claimed victory in Friday’s opening stage of the prestigious Giro d’Italia, narrowly defeating Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen in a dramatic sprint finish that was disrupted by a late-race accident.

The collision occurred approximately 600 meters before the finish line, significantly reducing the number of competitors able to contest the final sprint to fewer than 10 riders. Despite the chaos, Magnier managed to stay clear of trouble and edged past the Danish cyclist at the line to secure his first-ever Grand Tour stage win. British rider Ethan Vernon rounded out the podium in third place.

The stage took place in Burgas, Bulgaria, marking an international start for one of cycling’s three major tours. The dramatic finish sets an exciting tone for the remainder of the three-week race through Europe.

Washington has officially locked in their top 2026 draft selection, finalizing a four-year deal with linebacker Sonny Styles on Friday.

The Ohio State product, selected seventh overall in this year’s draft, secured a lucrative contract worth $37.2 million in guaranteed compensation, featuring a $23.5 million signing bonus. Washington also holds a fifth-year option on the agreement.

The franchise completed their rookie signings by inking deals with their remaining draft selections: wide receiver Antonio Williams from Clemson (third round), defensive end Joshua Josephs from Tennessee (fifth round), running back Kaytron Allen from Penn State (sixth round), center Matt Gulbin from Michigan State (sixth round), and quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis from Rutgers (seventh round).

Originally a safety before transitioning to linebacker, Styles dominated during his final collegiate campaign, posting 82 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss across 14 games while earning first-team All-American honors at Ohio State.

Throughout his time with the Buckeyes, the defensive standout compiled impressive numbers over 53 games: 244 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, nine quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

Oklahoma City Thunder stars Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each put up 22 points Thursday night, leading their team to a commanding 125-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at home and securing a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference second-round playoff matchup.

The Thunder continue their flawless postseason run as the best-of-seven series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 this Saturday.

Oklahoma City managed to dominate despite Gilgeous-Alexander struggling with foul issues throughout the contest, which restricted his playing time to just 28 minutes.

“I’ve got the utmost confidence in our whole team,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault commented regarding playing without Gilgeous-Alexander. “We’ve shown that during the year. … We’ve tried to train that muscle and we’ve got guys that are competitors. They see the challenges of the game as opportunities and they attack them.”

During the opening moments of the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander received a flagrant-1 offensive foul call while Austin Reaves was defending him.

With four fouls accumulated, Gilgeous-Alexander was forced to the sideline as Los Angeles gained a five-point advantage.

Nevertheless, even without their star player on the court, Oklahoma City responded with an impressive 25-7 scoring streak that gave them a 13-point cushion late in the period.

“Guys stepped in and made confident plays up and down,” Daigneault noted.

The momentum shift featured Jaylin Williams converting a four-point play that pushed Oklahoma City ahead 85-74 with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Holmgren initiated the sequence by stealing the ball from Reaves near the basket on the defensive end.

Oklahoma City capitalized on Los Angeles’ seven third-quarter mistakes for 11 points and finished the game with 26 points generated from the Lakers’ 21 total turnovers.

Los Angeles managed to narrow the gap to five points early in the final quarter, but Holmgren responded with five straight points to restore the double-digit margin.

Approximately four minutes into the fourth quarter, both Gilgeous-Alexander and Lakers superstar LeBron James fell during the same sequence after Reaves fouled Gilgeous-Alexander.

James, attempting to block the shot from behind, tried to jump over Gilgeous-Alexander along the baseline but couldn’t prevent contact with the Thunder player.

Both players went down, with James clutching his right wrist after hitting the floor while Gilgeous-Alexander briefly showed signs of discomfort.

Neither Gilgeous-Alexander nor James left the contest following the incident.

Reaves, who managed only 3 of 16 shots in the series opener, performed significantly better Thursday evening, leading all scorers with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

“I thought he (Reaves) did a good job touching the paint,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick observed. “Those touch shots were there tonight, got some good looks from three. He played a solid game.”

James contributed 23 points for Los Angeles, which shot 50% from the field as a team.

Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell provided 20 points in support. Holmgren connected on 7 of 11 field goal attempts while recording nine rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots.

Jared McCain delivered 18 points coming off the bench for the Thunder, whose substitute players outproduced the Lakers’ reserves 48-20.

The Minnesota Vikings have bolstered their wide receiver group by signing former San Francisco 49ers pass-catcher Jauan Jennings to a contract on Thursday.

While Minnesota has not revealed contract specifics, reports from The Athletic indicate the agreement is for one season with an $8 million base value that could reach $13 million through performance bonuses.

The 28-year-old Jennings was selected by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2020 draft and developed into a key offensive weapon. His standout 2024 campaign featured 975 receiving yards and six scoring catches on 77 receptions, while he paced all 49ers receivers with 643 yards the previous year and hauled in a personal-best nine touchdown passes.

Throughout his five-year tenure in San Francisco, Jennings accumulated 210 receptions for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns.

With the 49ers choosing not to retain him during the offseason, Minnesota was able to enhance what is already considered one of the NFL’s top receiving units as Jennings will team up with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

This talented receiving trio will provide excellent targets for whichever quarterback emerges from Minnesota’s competition between 2024 first-round selection J.J. McCarthy and newly-acquired free agent Kyler Murray.

Most universities in the Big 12 Conference are passing on a groundbreaking private equity loan program that could have provided each school with as much as $30 million in credit, according to a Thursday report from Front Office Sports.

The financing arrangement with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital received approval from conference university presidents in late April. Under the program’s structure, participating schools would repay the loans through reduced annual revenue payments from the Big 12.

The investment firms had prepared to distribute up to $500 million total if every school participated, but numerous universities have already announced they won’t join the program. Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Colorado directly told Front Office Sports they’re declining the offer. Local media reports indicate TCU, Cincinnati, Baylor, West Virginia, UCF, Houston, and Kansas State have also decided against participating.

Schools have a full year to decide whether to join the program, and RedBird Capital Partners emphasized this won’t be their only opportunity.

“This partnership is much bigger than just capital to schools — it’s a commercial partnership where RedBird and Weatherford are delivering commercial revenue to the Big 12,” RedBird Capital Partners told Front Office Sports. “We are playing the long game where schools have one year to opt in for when the landscape becomes clearer for the ecosystem and individual needs. It’s not intended to be a one-time offer, it’s a long-term feature of a broader agreement for the Big 12 and their member schools.”

While this marks the first conference-wide private equity agreement in collegiate athletics, similar arrangements have been attempted before. The Big Ten Conference came close to finalizing an investment partnership with UC Investments, the University of California system’s pension fund, in the previous year, but abandoned the plan after several member schools objected.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will stay away from this summer’s World Cup soccer matches in Miami, according to organizing committee leadership.

Miami host committee co-chair Rodney Barreto said Thursday he has received guarantees from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE will not have a presence at the international soccer tournament.

“ICE is not going to be at the stadium,” Barreto said in an interview with The Athletic. “This is not going to turn into some ’round them up’ type of thing. That’s not the purpose of this.”

Barreto expressed optimism about the event’s success, stating: “It’ll be a great experience for everybody. I think that we’re lucky that we do have a president who loves sports and has given us the resources to reimburse the cities for their police protection.”

The committee co-chair also discussed passport processing for international visitors, saying: “I spoke to Marco and, first of all, he’s going to make sure that the passports get processed and people can get here and there is an orderly process so people won’t be held up. It’s going to be a major undertaking by the federal government to do that. We feel very comfortable that we’re going to be in good hands.”

Immigration enforcement operations have expanded under President Donald Trump’s second administration, creating nationwide political tensions around the issue.

Miami’s selection as a World Cup venue comes after security problems during the 2024 Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where ticketless fans broke through barriers, causing injuries and delaying the Argentina-Colombia championship match.

Reflecting on those incidents, Barreto explained: “(The Miami World Cup organizing committee) took the position that we didn’t want to be critical of the planners of that event. It wasn’t our event. But now that time has passed, I would tell you that where the failure was, which was that there were no perimeters.”

He continued: “People without tickets should have been nowhere near the entrance ways of that stadium. It didn’t take much to overrun an entrance. But listen, you learn from all these events, and you learn to do it better and come up with different scenarios which mitigate this from happening in the future. So that’s where we’re at.”

Professional hockey teams will be allowed to spend a record-breaking $104 million on player salaries during the 2026-27 season, according to a Thursday announcement from the National Hockey League and its Players Association.

The new spending limit represents an $8.5 million boost, marking an 8.9% jump from the current 2025-26 ceiling.

Teams must spend at least $76.9 million on player contracts, with the midpoint set at $90.4 million. The league’s explosive financial growth is evident when considering that today’s minimum spending requirement surpasses what teams were allowed to spend as recently as 2018.

According to PuckPedia data, seven franchises went beyond the spending cap during 2025-26, with the Vegas Golden Knights leading at $107.49 million. Organizations can exceed these limits without facing penalties by utilizing salaries of players on long-term injured reserve.

The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks invested $82.35 million in player salaries, which remained well above the required minimum spending threshold.

Broadcasting partnerships with ESPN and TNT Sports are projected to push league revenues beyond $7 billion in combined currencies this season. The NHL recently achieved unprecedented television ratings during the opening round of Stanley Cup playoff action.

“It’s a really good time, and we don’t even have the biggest markets (involved in the playoffs),” league commissioner Gary Bettman said recently in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “This is about how good the hockey is.”

Individual players will be eligible to earn up to $20.8 million during the 2026-27 campaign.

Early forecasts suggest an even more dramatic increase for 2027-28, with projections showing a potential $9.5 million rise to $113.5 million.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The intensity of Stanley Cup playoff hockey has a way of transforming teams. The elevated stakes and electric atmosphere push players who can rise to the occasion toward new heights of determination, skill and excellence.

The Anaheim Ducks represent the newest young squad flourishing under their inaugural experience with postseason intensity.

While breaking their organization’s seven-year absence from the playoffs, the Ducks struggled defensively throughout the regular season, frequently accepting lackluster defensive coverage and inconsistent goaltending that often went unpunished due to their scoring prowess. Anaheim gave up the fourth-highest goal total in the NHL, by far the worst among playoff qualifiers, then allowed 21 goals against the equally offensive-minded Edmonton in round one.

However, when the Ducks needed to preserve a 2-0 advantage against the experienced Vegas Golden Knights with under seven minutes remaining in Wednesday’s Game 2 of the second round, they demonstrated the postseason’s transformative power.

In one chaotic sequence near the goal, three short-handed Ducks threw themselves onto the ice to stop multiple shots — Mikael Granlund even used an extended toe to make one block — while netminder Lukas Dostal scrambled frantically from post to post, later joking he was “playing more soccer goalie than hockey goalie out there.”

The additional playoff intensity was unmistakable, and their bench teammates jumped up in celebration. Anaheim held on for a 3-1 victory, tying the series and building another layer of crucial experience for a young roster planning to compete for Stanley Cups for years ahead.

“A lot of us are going through it together for the first time … and the whole experience is just bringing us closer together,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said Thursday. “I think what you’re seeing, we can feel in our room, just how much we’re coming together at this time of year. Whether it’s a blocked shot, a goal, whatever it is, you can feel the closeness. All of us have just been so hungry for this opportunity. We were all well aware of what it would take to be successful in the playoffs, but you never really know until you get in these positions.”

Postseason action continues Friday with the Montreal Canadiens traveling to face the Buffalo Sabres before Anaheim welcomes Vegas for Game 3.

Most of the Golden Knights’ veteran core has played together for several seasons, developing the chemistry and responsibility needed for peak postseason performance.

This represents uncharted territory for the Ducks, and they’re welcoming the challenge. Anaheim has surrendered just four goals across two contests against Vegas, including an empty-net goal in Game 1 and an inconsequential power-play score with 5.6 seconds remaining in Game 2.

“I know this team had some growing pains we had to go through, but all year long we said, ‘I just can’t wait to get to the playoffs so we can see just how good these guys can be,’” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Across the board, I would have to say for sure we’re playing the best hockey we’ve shown all year.”

Anaheim posted a perfect 3-0 record at Honda Center during the opening round versus the Oilers. Orange County supporters haven’t witnessed May hockey since 2017, when the Ducks reached the Western Conference finals.

When/Where to Watch: Game 2, Friday, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT, HBO MAX).

Following some mistakes, the Buffalo Sabres executed their fast-paced, aggressive offensive style in capturing Game 1 against Montreal.

Now the Canadiens must rediscover their approach while adjusting to a contrasting opponent after Wednesday’s 4-2 defeat.

Despite Montreal’s resilience and skill in the opening round during their seven-game victory over the slower, more physical and defensively-focused Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canadiens must adjust their strategy against Buffalo.

“I can’t say that I learned anything yesterday, but I will tell you that I know we can play with them,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We’re just going to have to do some things a bit better.”

An improved beginning would benefit them, as the Sabres established a 2-0 first-period advantage. Though Montreal outshot Buffalo 11-1 in the final period, most attempts came from outside scoring areas.

Beyond that, the result — from Montreal’s viewpoint — was determined by several unlucky bounces.

Defenseman Lane Hutson lost his footing and lost possession in a turnover that created Buffalo’s first goal. Mike Matheson’s clearing pass was then deflected by Buffalo’s Ryan McLeod, leading to Bowen Byram’s goal that extended the lead to 4-1 during the second period.

“It’s a little bit different, but we know what to expect now,” forward Cole Caufield said when contrasting Tampa and Buffalo.

Following his team-high 51 regular season goals, Caufield focused on rediscovering his scoring ability during a four-game scoreless stretch.

“As a whole, not where I want it to be. I expect more out of myself, and my teammates do too,” he said. “Just trying to get better every game and just trying to make a difference.”

Montreal has avoided consecutive wins or losses this postseason, coming off a Tampa Bay series where all seven contests were decided by single goals — with four settled in regulation.

The Sabres also recognize room for improvement after managing just 16 shots, their lowest playoff total.

“Some of our puck decisions, I thought, weren’t up to the level that we had,” coach Lindy Ruff said, suggesting their four-day layoff may have contributed.

“I hate to say rust — but you haven’t been up and running, your game tempo isn’t quite there,” he added. “Some of our puck decisions led to opportunities, what I call giving up free offense. It wasn’t from lack of effort.”

Australia’s Lucas Herbert delivered a stunning opening round performance, shooting 8-under-par 64 to claim a two-shot advantage after Thursday’s first round of LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National DC in Potomac Falls, Virginia. The highlight of Herbert’s round came with an eagle on the par-5 second hole.

The 30-year-old golfer has claimed victories across multiple professional tours including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour, but remains in pursuit of his inaugural LIV Golf championship during his third season with the circuit.

Herbert admitted he was genuinely shocked by his exceptional first-day showing.

“I don’t know that my expectations could have been any lower than what they were today, having not seen the golf course, feeling pretty under the weather and struggling with a back issue for a couple of weeks and struggling with my game definitely the last few events,” Herbert explained.

“I think over the last 12 months I’ve developed some habits that I wasn’t happy with, and I’m just sort of starting to get my teeth into fixing those. Yeah, I think my goal was to try and feel like I made some progress on those this week. Strangely, here I am sitting here in front of you with a two-shot lead after the first round.”

Starting at the 15th hole due to LIV’s shotgun format, Herbert recorded birdies on holes 16 and 17 before reaching the second green in two shots. He then sank a 15-foot putt for eagle.

Herbert’s momentum continued with an impressive stretch where he collected five birdies across six holes (numbers 6-11), solidifying his position atop the standings.

Though many LIV competitors are gearing up for next week’s PGA Championship, Herbert won’t be participating in that major. Nevertheless, he could earn entry into the U.S. Open by maintaining his position this week, as a victory would likely place him among the top three in individual season rankings by May 18, earning automatic U.S. Open qualification.

“For about two seconds, I wondered whether a win would be enough to do that,” Herbert noted. “Other than that, no. I got to where I am today pretty much not really caring where I was on the leaderboard, just trying to make progress in my game and my golf swing and being in a good frame of mind hitting shots.”

Four players share second place at 6-under 66: England’s Tyrrell Hatton, Australia’s Marc Leishman, Spain’s Sergio Garcia, and Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz. Hatton appears to be peaking at an ideal time, coming off a third-place finish at last month’s Masters Tournament.

“I think my major record has been horrific, to be honest, with the amount of majors I’ve played,” Hatton acknowledged. “It’s good to play well, and hopefully I can finish well here this week and take momentum into next week.”

The strong performances by Herbert and Leishman have positioned their all-Australian squad Ripper GC at the top of team competition standings after round one. At 15-under par, they hold a four-stroke advantage over Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun,” commented Leishman, whose Cameron Smith-captained team currently leads the season-long team standings by fewer than two points. “Obviously, the start we got off to was pretty pleasing as a team. Certainly excited for the rest of the season. I think all the boys are playing well. We’ve bonded really well as a team. We have a lot of fun together off the golf course. We’re really competitive on the course.”

The Boston Red Sox have sidelined left fielder Roman Anthony for at least 10 days after he suffered a right hand injury, with the move officially dated back to Tuesday.

The 21-year-old player hurt himself during Monday’s contest against Detroit. While the organization initially described it as a wrist injury, Anthony provided more specific details on Thursday, explaining that he had sprained a ligament beneath his right ring finger.

This season, Anthony has appeared in 30 games with a batting average of .229, an on-base percentage of .354, and a slugging percentage of .321. He has recorded one home run and driven in five runs.

To fill the roster spot, Boston brought up 30-year-old Mickey Gasper from their Triple-A affiliate in Worcester. The versatile catcher and infielder, who joined Team Italy for the World Baseball Classic in March, has been performing well in the minors with a .296 batting average, six homers, and 27 RBIs across 28 games.

Manager Alex Cora plans to shift Masataka Yoshida into the designated hitter role to replace Anthony in the starting nine. The outfield duties will be handled by Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu.

Anthony could potentially return as early as May 15, when Boston begins a road series in Atlanta. The young outfielder expressed confidence about meeting that timeline based on guidance from the team’s medical personnel.

“It kind of heals on its own,” Anthony told reporters before Thursday’s game. “So, it’s one of those things, when you feel like you’re able to go, you’re good to go.”

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck believes his challenging college journey will serve him well as he transitions to the NFL.

The 24-year-old signal-caller was selected in the third round of this year’s draft by first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, who appreciated Beck’s experience navigating difficult situations during his six seasons in college football.

Beck could emerge as Arizona’s new starting quarterback following the end of the Kyler Murray era, which concluded poorly last season. During his introduction at the team’s practice facility Thursday, Beck discussed how his struggles — including three seasons as a backup and a serious elbow injury — might benefit his professional career.

“I think going through things and facing adversity helps you — if you respond to it the correct way,” Beck explained. “Just going through stuff doesn’t give me a leg up on anyone if I don’t use that or respond to it the correct way.

“Yes, I’ve faced a lot of adversity in my career. It’s never been perfect. There’s been ups, there’s been downs, there’s been really good moments and really low moments. All that has accumulated and created who I am today as a quarterback.”

The quarterback competition in Arizona features several veterans but lacks high-potential candidates. Jacoby Brissett, 33, took over the starting role for the final 12 games last season after Murray’s foot injury, posting impressive statistics but managing only one victory in 11 starts. The veteran has started 65 games across 10 NFL seasons.

Gardner Minshew, who turns 30 this month, represents the other experienced option. He’s played for five different franchises over seven seasons. Together, Brissett and Minshew have compiled a 37-75 record as NFL starters.

Beck brings extensive college experience, having started 43 games between Georgia and Miami. He guided the Bulldogs to an SEC title in 2024 and led the Hurricanes to a College Football Playoff runner-up finish last season.

Despite Beck’s credentials, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort emphasized a measured approach to the rookie’s development.

“We just want to get him in the building here, show him where the cafeteria is, where the locker room is and get him fitted for his gear,” Ossenfort said in April. “We’re excited to add him. There will be great competition in that room and we’ll see how it shakes out.”

Beck acknowledged his immediate focus isn’t on securing a starting role. Instead, he plans to concentrate on mastering the playbook, adapting to professional football, and absorbing any valuable insights from teammates and coaches.

“Everybody wants to play football, especially at the position of quarterback,” Beck noted. “You want to be the guy out there. It’s such an interesting position. That’s why I think it’s the best position on Earth — there’s only one guy out there.”

The quarterback is approximately 18 months removed from major elbow surgery following a December 2024 injury. This setback prevented him from practicing extensively during his transfer from Georgia to Miami, forcing him to focus on studying film and learning the Hurricanes’ offensive system mentally.

He believes this experience will help him adapt to Arizona’s scheme.

“You come in, you put your hard hat on and you go to work,” Beck said.

Beck represents the Cardinals’ highest quarterback draft selection since Murray was chosen first overall in 2019. Murray arrived with enormous expectations after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, earning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and two Pro Bowl selections. However, he struggled with injuries and inconsistent performance.

Murray finished his Arizona tenure with a 38-48-1 record as a starter over seven seasons, leading the team to just one playoff appearance in 2021. He now plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Cardinals’ 3-14 record last season resulted in the dismissal of third-year coach Jonathan Gannon. LaFleur, brother of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, was hired after three seasons coordinating the Los Angeles Rams offense.

Beck feels physically prepared for the challenge ahead.

“My arm is as strong as it’s ever been,” Beck said. “I feel like I’ve been throwing the ball really well. Obviously, finally having an offseason to train and work and lock in … making sure the mechanics are 100% exactly where I want them to be. I think that will really help.”

NEW YORK — New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby is dealing with a right hamstring strain but appears to have dodged a major injury after exiting during the final moments of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

According to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, Anunoby’s status for Friday’s Game 3 matchup in Philadelphia remains uncertain, with team officials listing him as questionable. The injury will be monitored on a day-to-day basis.

The source requested anonymity since no official team announcement had been made regarding Anunoby’s condition. ESPN initially broke the news of his injury status.

During Wednesday’s contest, Anunoby was delivering another solid performance when he appeared to injure his leg and signaled to be substituted out of the game. He departed for the locker room and never returned to the sideline as the Knicks secured a 108-102 win, extending their series advantage to 2-0.

The talented forward contributed 24 points in that victory and has been exceptional throughout the playoffs, posting averages of 21.4 points per game while connecting on an impressive 61.9% of his field goal attempts and 53.8% from beyond the three-point arc.

The 6-foot-7 Anunoby, who serves as New York’s premier defensive player, previously dealt with a hamstring issue during the second round two seasons ago when the Knicks held a 2-0 series lead against Indiana. That injury sidelined him for four consecutive games, and he managed only limited minutes in Game 7 as the Pacers mounted a comeback to eliminate New York from the playoffs.

A Triple-A baseball manager for the Detroit Tigers organization has been dismissed from his position after acknowledging he sent an inappropriate text message to a female coworker.

Detroit’s front office announced on Tuesday that Gabe Alvarez was terminated due to what officials described as a “violation of club policy,” though they declined to provide specific details about the infraction.

Speaking to ESPN on Wednesday, Alvarez explained that he had sent “a single text message to a colleague that I intended as a lighthearted joke.”

“Shortly after sending it, I recognized that the message was inappropriate and did not reflect the values and judgment I strive to uphold, and I immediately reached out to clarify my intent,” Alvarez stated.

“I never intended to cause discomfort or offense, and I regret that the message created this situation. This was an isolated incident and not reflective of my long-standing record of professionalism, respect for colleagues, and conduct over the course of my career.”

The 52-year-old Alvarez spent portions of three major league seasons playing third base for Detroit and the San Diego Padres before transitioning to coaching at USC. Detroit brought him aboard as a minor league hitting coordinator in 2021, where he managed Double-A Erie starting in 2022 before his recent promotion to oversee Triple-A Toledo in 2025.

This dismissal comes amid broader concerns within the Tigers organization regarding workplace conduct. Last September, The Athletic published findings showing that Detroit had at least eight staff members facing allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women during a two-year period. That investigation spanned from April 2025 and involved interviews with 45 current and former personnel, plus examination of emails, HR files, text communications and legal documents.

According to the report, six of the eight men allegedly involved in harassment and abuse were either fired or not offered contract renewals, while another received a suspension following The Athletic’s inquiry about the accusations.

At the time, the organization released a statement emphasizing its “commitment to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion.”

With Alvarez’s departure, hitting coach Mike Hessman has stepped into the interim manager role. Speaking to media in Toledo on Tuesday, Hessman indicated the team’s focus remains on baseball despite the recent upheaval.

“There will be questions, we don’t have a lot of answers,” Hessman remarked. “Main message is getting back to baseball. Things happen throughout a season. … One hurdle we’ll jump over.”

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees dominated the Texas Rangers with a 9-2 victory on Thursday, extending their impressive streak to 16 victories in their last 19 contests, though the win came at a cost when outfielder Jasson Domínguez sustained an injury.

Domínguez was carted off the field after colliding with the outfield wall while making a catch on Brandon Nimmo’s fly ball to start the game. Following the contest, team officials announced that Domínguez suffered a minor AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and will be placed on the injured list. Initial concussion evaluations came back negative.

Trent Grisham delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double during a decisive six-run rally in the sixth inning, helping the American League-leading Yankees capture their sixth consecutive series victory while the Rangers dropped their seventh game in their past 10 outings.

The Yankees faced an early challenge when scheduled starter Ryan Weathers was ruled out due to illness. Paul Blackburn took the mound for the opening frame, while 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Brendan Beck made his major league debut, surrendering two runs on two hits and three walks across three-plus innings.

Brent Headrick earned his third victory of the season by throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Both Grisham and Cody Bellinger collected three hits apiece in the offensive showcase.

Max Schuemann made his season debut at shortstop and recorded his first Yankees hit and RBI with a double in the seventh frame.

Texas right fielder Joc Pederson, making his first outfield appearance since 2023, contributed to the Yankees achieving a rare feat – recording two triples in the opening inning for the first time since Carlos Beltrán and Chase Headley accomplished it on April 22, 2015.

The Rangers struggled with difficult sun conditions throughout the afternoon, mishandling four separate plays. Pederson and center fielder Evan Carter both pursued Paul Goldschmidt’s opening drive off MacKenzie Gore (2-3), allowing the ball to carom into center field for a triple. Pederson later attempted a diving backhand catch on Bellinger’s liner, but the ball bounced to the wall as Goldschmidt crossed home plate.

Additional defensive miscues plagued Texas when Grisham’s fourth-inning popup landed on the infield grass in front of shortstop Corey Seager after third baseman Josh Jung retreated. Later, following Bellinger’s sixth-inning walk, left fielder Alejandro Osuna initially broke backward on Amed Rosario’s routine fly ball and couldn’t adjust as it dropped for a single.

After Ryan McMahon drew a walk, Grisham connected on an opposite-field double that reached the left-center wall, giving the Yankees a 4-2 advantage. J.C. Escarra, Aaron Judge, and Bellinger then delivered consecutive RBI singles against the Rangers’ relief pitching.

Ezequiel Durán provided Texas with two RBIs, highlighted by a third-inning home run. Rangers right-hander Peyton Gray exited the game after taking a line drive from McMahon off his pitching hand in the eighth inning.

Looking ahead, the Rangers will send RHP Kumar Rocker (1-3, 4.71) to the mound Friday night at home against the Chicago Cubs, while the Yankees will start LHP Max Fried (4-1, 2.39) in Friday night’s series opener at Milwaukee against RHP Jacob Misiorowski (2-2, 2.84).

College basketball’s biggest tournament is getting bigger. The NCAA revealed that March Madness will feature 76 teams in both men’s and women’s brackets beginning next season, adding eight additional spots to each tournament.

The expanded format will include 12 preliminary games featuring 24 teams during the opening week, with victorious squads advancing to join the traditional 64-team field. Men’s games will begin on Thursday, while women’s competition starts Friday. Officials expect most of the additional berths to benefit major conference programs.

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid is making a desperate appeal to 76ers supporters not to sell their playoff seats to New York Knicks fans. With the Knicks holding a commanding 2-0 series advantage, Games 3 and 4 will take place in Philadelphia on Friday and Sunday.

The 2023 NBA MVP missed the second game due to injury concerns, leaving his team in a precarious position. Despite Philadelphia’s attempts to restrict ticket sales to area residents using geographic restrictions, secondary market platforms continue to make seats available to visiting fans. The true test of this strategy will be visible in the arena’s crowd composition Friday evening.

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez suffered a left shoulder sprain during Thursday’s contest against Texas after colliding with the outfield wall while making a spectacular catch on Brandon Nimmo’s first-inning line drive. The team confirmed Domínguez sustained a minor AC joint sprain and will be placed on the injured list, though concussion evaluations came back clear.

Playing left field for just his second appearance this season, Domínguez sprinted 81 feet to snare Nimmo’s 101 mph blast, making the grab 375 feet from home plate before his shoulder struck the video board. The impact sent him tumbling to the warning track, prompting manager Aaron Boone and trainer Tim Lentych to rush onto the field.

Despite the injury concern, New York dominated the Rangers 9-2, with Trent Grisham delivering a crucial three-run double during a six-run sixth inning rally. The victory marked the Yankees’ 16th win in their last 19 games and extended their winning streak to six consecutive series.

Soccer’s upcoming World Cup faces potential star power shortages as injuries pile up just five weeks before kickoff. French superstar Kylian Mbappe is currently dealing with a hamstring problem, while Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal and Brazilian talent Estevao are both sidelined for the remainder of their club seasons.

While Mbappe is anticipated to return for Real Madrid this month with no indication the injury threatens his World Cup participation, any setback to France’s premier player raises concerns. Yamal, recovering from a leg muscle strain, is also expected to make Spain’s roster for his debut World Cup appearance.

Tennis players are escalating their fight for increased prize money at major tournaments, with world number one Jannik Sinner joining calls for better compensation at the French Open and beyond. Fellow top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka suggested earlier this week that athletes might consider boycotting tournaments.

“It’s more about respect. Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back,” Sinner explained, though he stopped short of committing to a boycott. “I think in the next couple of weeks we know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon. We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, U.S. Open.”

The WNBA’s groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement is establishing new benchmarks for women’s professional sports, providing a template for emerging leagues including the WPBL, PWHL and WER. The historic deal features revenue sharing arrangements, significant salary cap increases, and enhanced travel and healthcare benefits.

These improvements reflect years of player activism and the league’s growing commercial success. Leaders of newer women’s leagues are closely examining these achievements, particularly how player solidarity drove meaningful change, though they acknowledge that differences in funding and organizational maturity mean similar progress will require time and sustained investment.

Detroit Tigers Triple-A manager Gabe Alvarez revealed he was terminated this week following what he described as sending an “inappropriate” text message to a female coworker. While the Tigers announced Tuesday that Alvarez was dismissed for violating team policy without providing specifics, the 52-year-old told ESPN he sent “a single text message to a colleague that I intended as a lighthearted joke.”

Alvarez, who played three major league seasons with Detroit and San Diego, joined the Tigers organization as a minor league hitting coordinator in 2021 before managing Double-A Erie in 2022 and earning promotion to Triple-A Toledo this season.

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with a strained right hamstring and is listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 in Philadelphia, according to a source familiar with the situation. The injury appears minor, with Anunoby considered day-to-day after leaving late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd underwent surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear in his left knee that occurred while playing with his children on Wednesday. Manager Craig Counsell expects the 35-year-old left-hander to miss approximately six weeks, adding to an injured list that already includes starters Cade Horton, Justin Steele and Jordan Wicks.

Three decades of former Ohio State football players, including several who went on to NFL careers, have decided to become part of a federal legal action against the university regarding sexual abuse committed by a team physician years ago, according to an attorney involved in the case who spoke Thursday.

Attorney Rocky Ratliff explained during an interview that these men decided to step forward approximately eight years following the initial filing of the lawsuit because they had to work through feelings of shame about disclosing their sexual abuse by another male and concerns about publicly challenging the university.

The former players are “tearful and living with it,” Ratliff explained. “But as this case progresses on, they see how Ohio State’s treating athletes from the university and I think they want people to know it’s OK, even if it is male to male (sexual abuse), to come forward.”

Since 2018, Ohio State has been defending against federal court cases brought by former student athletes regarding the university’s inability to prevent abuse committed by Dr. Richard Strauss. Hundreds of individuals claim they experienced abuse from Strauss, who served at the institution between 1978 and 1998. Strauss passed away in 2005.

According to Ratliff, the men have executed agreement letters to become part of a legal case filed by other student-athletes who identify as Strauss victims.

Among the 30 individuals, just three have consented to public identification, Ratliff noted. These individuals are Al Washington, Ray Ellis and Keith Ferguson. All three were part of the 1980 Rose Bowl squad and were brought to the team by and competed under famous coach Woody Hayes. The Associated Press maintains a policy of not naming individuals who report being sexual abuse victims unless they voluntarily make their identities known.

According to Ratliff, some additional former football players have reached confidential settlement agreements with the institution that maintained their anonymity.

Ohio State issued a statement saying it has “sincerely and persistently tried to reconcile with survivors, including former football student-athletes, through monetary and non-monetary means, including settlements, counseling services and other medical treatment.”

Through April 15, the university has reached settlements with 317 survivors totaling over $61 million, and continues active participation in mediation processes, the institution stated.

During an interview, Washington described the difficulty of discussing his abuse experience and remembered enduring “unlawful” physical examinations from Strauss when he was 18 or 19 years old. He and fellow players attempted to cope by making light of the situation and joking among themselves.

“But it was really uncomfortable,” Washington, who is now 67, stated.

He avoided discussing the matter with others for decades, but viewing the 2025 documentary “Surviving Ohio State” brought the memories back to the forefront.

“As a matter of fact, I couldn’t make it through that movie,” Washington explained. “The pain and anguish that I saw, I just couldn’t take it.”

Strauss served on Ohio State’s faculty and medical team. He stepped down in 1998 with emeritus recognition. University trustees removed that honorary designation three years ago.

The New York Jets selected Washington in the 1981 draft, and he competed for one season with the franchise. Ellis, who played defensive back, enjoyed a seven-year NFL career spanning 1981 to 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. Ferguson, a former defensive end, competed in the NFL from 1981 to 1990, including time with the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions.

Basketball committees for both men’s and women’s Division I programs gave unanimous backing Thursday to grow the NCAA tournaments from their current 68-team format to 76 teams, according to reports from several media outlets.

The decision came during what sources described as an urgent joint session between the two committees.

Before the changes can take effect, the proposal must still receive approval from basketball oversight committees for both tournaments, the Division I cabinet, and ultimately the NCAA Board of Governors.

According to ESPN’s Wednesday reporting, discussions about tournament growth have been ongoing for more than twelve months, and with media partnership agreements for the men’s competition nearing finalization in late April, the remaining approval steps are anticipated to proceed without major obstacles.

Reports from last month indicate the NCAA’s plan would place 52 teams directly into the main tournament bracket, while the remaining 24 teams would compete in a dozen matchups scheduled for the Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday. The victorious teams from these contests would then complete the Round of 64 field.

The current “First Four” designation will be retired under the new format, with officials planning to use “opening round” for the preliminary games and “first round” for what is now known as the Round of 64.

The dozen opening round contests are planned for Dayton, Ohio, which currently hosts the First Four, along with an additional location that has not yet been announced.

The women’s tournament currently holds its First Four games as individual contests at college campus venues.

This would represent the tournament’s first growth since 2011, when the field expanded from 65 to 68 teams through the introduction of the First Four format. Prior to that change, the tournament had maintained either 64 or 65 teams since 1985.

Yahoo Sports reported in April that the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference had been the primary advocates pushing for tournament expansion. NCAA president Charlie Baker has also publicly endorsed the idea.

“I said all along that I think there are some very good reasons to expand the tournament,” Baker told ESPN in February. “So, I would like to see it expand.”

Transportation officials in New Jersey announced Thursday they are cutting round-trip ticket prices for World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium from $150 to $105, according to local news outlets, following pushback from FIFA over the original pricing.

Despite the reduction, the new fare remains dramatically higher than the under-$15 cost for the same journey on regular days and surpasses the $80 round-trip price for FIFA’s dedicated shuttle to the 82,500-capacity venue. MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host eight World Cup contests, culminating with the championship match on July 19.

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri previously defended the elevated pricing last month, pointing to enhanced security requirements and anticipated passenger volume increases resulting from restricted public parking near the stadium.

Reuters reached out to NJ Transit seeking additional details about the fare adjustment.

Heimo Schirgi, Chief Operating Officer for the 2026 World Cup, had criticized the initial $150 cost, stating it would have “a chilling effect” on supporters.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill had earlier argued that FIFA should cover transportation expenses, noting that NJ Transit faced being “stuck with a $48 million bill” to guarantee fan security.

NEW YORK — Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez was transported by cart to NewYork-Presbyterian hospital Thursday after a dramatic collision with the left field wall during the team’s matchup with Texas.

The incident occurred in the opening inning when Domínguez sprinted 81 feet to snag Brandon Nimmo’s blistering 101 mph line drive. While successfully making the catch 375 feet from home plate, Domínguez’s shoulder slammed forcefully into the video advertising board along the wall.

The impact sent Domínguez tumbling to the warning track, landing chest-first as his sunglasses were knocked off. Center fielder Trent Grisham quickly rushed over while manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees’ medical staff — including head trainer Tim Lentych, assistant trainer Jimmy Downam, and sports medicine director Michael Schuk — hurried onto the field.

After approximately one minute on the ground, Domínguez sat up while holding his head in his glove. He gestured toward his shoulder and moved his neck during the medical examination before walking independently to the cart that transported him off the field.

Medical staff took Domínguez for an MRI of his left shoulder, and he was placed in Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol as a precautionary measure.

The Yankees adjusted their defensive alignment following Domínguez’s departure, shifting Cody Bellinger from right field to left field, moving Amed Rosario from third base to right field, and bringing Ryan McMahon into the game at third base. This marked only Domínguez’s second appearance in the outfield this season for New York.

IndyCar officials have pulled a promotional T-shirt from their online store following customer complaints that the garment’s wording could be viewed as racially insensitive.

The controversial merchandise was created to advertise the upcoming August Freedom 250 race in Washington, featuring an illustration of President Abraham Lincoln donning a racing helmet. The design included the text “ONE NATION” positioned above Lincoln’s image and “ONE RACE” printed below it.

Critics argued the phrasing might carry racist implications, sparking heated discussions across social media platforms during the shirt’s short time for sale.

“A shirt was removed from IndyCar’s online store following feedback from customers,” IndyCar officials said in their response. “We understand that some individuals found its phrasing concerning and therefore have remedied the situation.”

The Washington racing event carries a patriotic focus as part of commemorating America’s upcoming 250th independence anniversary. President Donald Trump has praised the competition as a key component of the White House’s “Freedom 250” festivities.

During the race, IndyCar drivers will navigate a course that passes by significant Washington monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, which appears to have inspired the T-shirt’s design. Lincoln remains celebrated primarily for his leadership during the Civil War, which ultimately abolished slavery throughout the United States.

The NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament moves forward with second and third round competition scheduled to take place. Teams across the nation are preparing for the next phase of championship play as the field narrows toward the final rounds.

The tournament bracket continues to unfold as collegiate lacrosse programs battle for positioning in the quest for a national title. Second round matchups will determine which teams advance to face additional competition in the third round of play.

Championship action represents the culmination of the college lacrosse season, with participating teams having earned their spots through regular season performance and conference tournament results. The elimination format ensures only the strongest programs continue their pursuit of the national championship.

While Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby battles to maintain his college playing status, multiple NFL franchises are reportedly considering him as a potential pick in the supplemental draft if his collegiate career comes to an end.

The signal-caller joined the Red Raiders from Cincinnati during the off-season and took part in spring workouts, but his regular season participation remains uncertain as the NCAA examines gambling allegations. NCAA regulations strictly forbid student-athletes and staff members from placing bets on any NCAA championship events, including football.

According to reports from ESPN and Cleveland.com, professional teams are conducting evaluations to assess Sorsby’s potential value should he decide to enter the supplemental draft before the June 30 cutoff date.

The investigation centers on Sorsby’s alleged wagering activities involving Major League Baseball and college football contests, including reported bets on Indiana football during his 2022 redshirt season with the Hoosiers.

Despite the controversy, Sorsby demonstrated strong performance on the field. During his redshirt freshman campaign at Indiana in 2023, he recorded 15 touchdown passes. Across his three seasons with both the Hoosiers and Bearcats (2024-25), he accumulated 82 total touchdowns, including 22 rushing scores, while throwing 17 interceptions.

His most recent season at Cincinnati saw him throw 27 touchdown passes against just five interceptions.

The NFL last conducted a supplemental draft in 2019. Established in 1977, this special draft was designed to provide opportunities for players experiencing “sudden eligibility changes” to transition from college to professional football. The league will likely conduct a thorough review of Sorsby’s situation before deciding whether to proceed with a July supplemental draft.

Texas Tech announced that Sorsby would participate in a gambling addiction treatment program and take an indefinite break from team activities. The university has retained Jeffrey Kessler, a prominent sports attorney, to fight for Sorsby’s eligibility restoration. Kessler served as the lead counsel in the House vs. NCAA settlement approved in June 2025, which established revenue sharing in college sports. This agreement allows schools to distribute $20.5 million annually to athletes, with yearly increases built in.

Kessler has previously represented the NFL Players Association in cases involving high-profile players including Tom Brady, Ezekiel Elliott, Adrian Peterson, and Ray Rice.

An On3 report indicates that Sorsby has placed over 10,000 sports bets since 2022, averaging up to 20 daily wagers across various sportsbook applications in multiple states.

Notable players who entered the NFL through the supplemental draft include former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar (1985), Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter (1987), and wide receiver Rob Moore (1990), who played for the Jets and Cardinals.

The University of Georgia and Florida State University have canceled their planned two-game football series that was set for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Both universities cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for scrapping the matchup after the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference each expanded to nine-game conference schedules.

The scheduling change leaves little flexibility for both programs, as the Seminoles and Bulldogs each maintain important non-conference rivalry matchups with in-state opponents – Florida State faces Florida annually while Georgia plays Georgia Tech. These commitments mean both teams already face 10 Power 4 conference opponents each season.

Despite canceling the home-and-home arrangement, the possibility remains for the teams to meet at a neutral venue. Florida State’s athletic director Michael Alford expressed he was “optimistic” about arranging such a matchup, according to ESPN.

Historically, Georgia holds the advantage in the series between these programs with a 7-4-1 record against Florida State. Their last encounter was a decisive 63-3 victory by the Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl on December 30, 2023.

Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd underwent surgical repair on Thursday for a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that occurred while he was playing with his children on Wednesday.

Cubs skipper Craig Counsell anticipates the 35-year-old pitcher will be out of action for roughly six weeks following the procedure.

“It’s kind of the minor meniscus surgery so we know he’s going to miss a month, six weeks,” Counsell explained before his team faced the Cincinnati Reds. “Probably closer to six weeks with getting it ramped back up. That’s what we’re hopeful for. Obviously, we’ll see how it all goes and I think the important thing is how much time do we miss throwing. That’s probably the biggest thing right here. The knee is going to recover pretty quickly, but how much throwing down time do we have to take?”

Boyd’s injury adds to Chicago’s growing list of sidelined starting pitchers, joining Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Jordan Wicks on the disabled list. Horton faces a season-ending elbow injury, while Steele’s elbow problem will keep him out until the second half of the season.

With Boyd (2-1, 6.00 ERA) scheduled to start Friday against the Texas Rangers, Counsell has not yet determined his replacement. Both Javier Assad and Ben Brown are being considered as potential rotation fill-ins.

“We’re just trying to think about the innings puzzle moving forward here,” Counsell noted. “And then you’re also just trying to consider what’s next. You have to play that game, unfortunately. You always have to play that game: What do we do if something else happens? We just have to make sure we’re covered there. … I don’t think we have anybody completely stretched out as a starter right now. So that’s what I’m talking about, the puzzle. We’re just going to have to put that together. We’ll just see what we get there on that day and what that means.”

The Cubs made roster adjustments this week, bringing up reliever Trent Thornton from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. On Thursday, they called up Gavin Hollowell while releasing Corbin Martin.

Martin’s departure came after surrendering three runs in Wednesday’s ninth inning, allowing the Reds to erase Chicago’s 4-2 advantage. The Cubs eventually prevailed 7-6 on a walk-off walk in extra innings, marking their third consecutive walk-off victory, 14th straight home win, and eighth victory in a row. Martin posted a 10.80 ERA across seven outings.

Thornton earned the victory in his Cubs debut by throwing a clean 10th inning.

The 28-year-old Hollowell recorded a 2.25 ERA in six games at Iowa before his call-up.

Chicago wraps up their four-game series with Cincinnati on Thursday, with Shota Imanaga (3-2, 2.40) taking the mound against Rhett Lowder (3-2, 5.09).

The National Hockey League announced Thursday that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has earned his sixth straight nomination for the league’s top defensive honor.

Makar, who has claimed the prestigious award twice previously in 2021-22 and 2024-25, will compete against Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Columbus Blue Jackets standout Zach Werenski for this year’s recognition.

The honor recognizes the league’s top defenseman as determined by votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association. League officials will reveal the winner at a future date.

The 27-year-old Makar compiled 79 points this season, including 20 goals and 59 assists, while posting a plus-32 rating across 75 games.

Dahlin, 26, achieved personal bests with 74 points on 19 goals and 55 assists, along with a plus-18 rating in 77 games. This marks his first nomination for the award, and a victory would make him the first Sabres player to earn the distinction.

At 28, Werenski has now earned back-to-back nominations for the honor. He accumulated 81 points through 22 goals and 59 assists over 75 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

Two major figures from the Boston Celtics organization have entered the competition to acquire the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, according to a Thursday report from Sportico.

Steel industry executive Aditya Mittal, who holds a stake in the Celtics, along with former Celtics primary owner Wyc Grousbeck, have formally submitted their interest to Allen & Company, the investment firm managing the team’s sale on behalf of late owner Paul Allen’s estate.

The Seahawks entered the market officially on February 18, just over a week following their second franchise championship victory at Super Bowl LX.

The duo joins other high-profile potential buyers, including technology leaders Mark Zuckerberg from Meta and Apple’s Tim Cook, who reportedly showed interest in acquiring the franchise last week according to Front Office Sports.

At age 50, Mittal serves as chief executive of Luxembourg-based steel corporation ArcelorMittal. According to Sportico, he invested approximately $1 billion as part of Bill Chisholm’s investment group that acquired the Celtics from the Grousbeck family in 2025.

Grousbeck, now 64, established the ownership consortium that purchased the Celtics in 2002 and is expected to maintain his role with the basketball team until 2028 to ensure a seamless ownership transition.

According to the Sportico investigation, “since Mittal lives in London, Grousbeck would reside in Seattle part-time and effectively operate the franchise.”

Microsoft co-founder Allen acquired the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million before his death in 2018.

While Forbes valued the franchise at $6.7 billion in its latest assessment, industry analysts anticipate the final purchase price could range between $8 billion and $11 billion. The current NFL sale record stands at $6.05 billion, set by the Washington Commanders transaction in 2023.

A motorcycle racer lost his life Thursday during qualifying sessions at the North West 200 racing event in Northern Ireland, according to event organizers.

Officials have not released the rider’s identity, honoring the family’s request for privacy. The family has also given their consent for the racing event to proceed as scheduled, organizers stated.

“The session was immediately red flagged and emergency services attended the scene but unfortunately the rider succumbed to his injuries,” organizers said in their official statement.

The North West 200 began in 1929 as a handicap competition, originally covering 200 miles through northwestern Ireland. Today’s racers navigate closed public roadways during the event.

This marks the 21st death in the event’s history. The previous fatality occurred in 2016 when British rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas was killed during competition.

Chicago Cubs southpaw Matthew Boyd has started his recovery process after undergoing surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that happened while he was playing with his children at home.

The Cubs added Boyd to their 15-day injured list Wednesday, and while the team hasn’t provided an exact timeline for his comeback, he’s expected to resume mound work in early June if no complications arise.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the injury as harmless but “kind of unexplainable.”

In a related roster move, the Cubs cut ties with Corbin Martin on Thursday following his blown save opportunity against Cincinnati on Wednesday. The team brought up towering right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. The 27-year-old Hollowell, who stands 6-foot-7, appeared in seven games for Chicago last year, giving up five earned runs across 9 1/3 innings while recording 10 strikeouts and seven walks.

The 35-year-old Boyd had already spent time on the injured list this season from April 2-21 due to a strained left biceps. Through five starts this year, he carries a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA, walking six batters and striking out 31 across 24 innings of work.

Boyd earned All-Star recognition with Chicago in 2025 and brings a career record of 62-78 with a 4.61 ERA across 218 major league appearances, including 204 starts. His career has taken him through Toronto (2015), Detroit (2015-21, 2023), Seattle (2022), Cleveland (2024), and now Chicago.

With Boyd’s absence expected to last at least a month, the Cubs now have three starting pitchers on the injured list. He joins Justin Steele, who’s dealing with a left elbow issue, and Cade Horton, who has a right elbow problem.

Martin, age 30, struggled in his final three appearances, giving up hits and runs while facing just 11 total batters. During that stretch, he allowed four hits, issued four walks, and surrendered two home runs. His season ERA sits at 10.80 through seven relief outings without recording a decision.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that traditional summer sports will not be included in the 2030 Winter Olympics scheduled for the French Alps, though officials left the door open for such additions in future competitions.

Olympic officials have spent the past year examining various aspects of the Games, including the possibility of adding conventional warm-weather sports to the winter competition to enhance viewership and athlete participation levels.

Such additions could also provide medal opportunities for nations without established winter sports programs. Officials had previously discussed incorporating events like cycling and running combined with cross-country skiing or snow-based competitions.

“For 2030 we have taken the decision, no crossover sports, no summer sports,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry announced during a press conference.

Coventry indicated that any modifications would impact competitions beginning in 2034 and beyond. Salt Lake City is scheduled to host the 2034 Winter Games.

“The Olympic programme commission… will look at all avenues, and that would potentially lend itself to 2034,” she explained.

Winter sports organizations have resisted these proposals, arguing that incorporating summer events would weaken the Winter Olympics brand identity.

Adding popular competitions like track and field or cycling to the Winter Games would also require current winter sports federations to divide revenue streams with additional sporting organizations.

The bitter split between professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau and the PGA Tour may still be causing lingering resentment that could prevent any future reconciliation.

The 32-year-old golfer acknowledges that ongoing hostility from tour players, rather than new leadership under CEO Brian Rolapp, represents the biggest obstacle to any possible comeback. However, DeChambeau maintains he remains open to finding common ground through negotiation.

Speaking on Thursday’s Beyond the Clubhouse podcast, DeChambeau explained his position: “I think that there’s a way to solve any problem. It’s really about if the membership wants me back. If they want me back, that’s really what it’s about. It’s not anybody, I don’t think it’s even Brian Rolapp or anybody at the top that’s an executive. It’s about the players — if they want me back — and, if not, I understand that.”

Financial uncertainty now looms for DeChambeau and other golfers who switched to LIV Golf for lucrative contracts. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will cease funding the league and its tournaments after the 2026 season concludes. When asked about receiving remaining contract payments beyond this season, DeChambeau admitted this week that “your guess is as good as mine.”

This financial question mark has prompted DeChambeau to explore alternative options should LIV Golf cease operations.

Beyond player acceptance issues, DeChambeau expressed concern about possible disciplinary measures from the PGA Tour for his departure, calling such penalties “quite unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could do for them.”

“The egos need to get dropped,” DeChambeau stated. “Everybody needs to come in with a level-headed playing field, with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf. That’s why I came over here. That’s why I do what I do on YouTube.”

Australian golfer Cameron Smith, formerly ranked second in the world, says league officials have provided him with complete confidence that LIV Golf will operate beyond 2026, even as the organization seeks new financial backing.

Last month, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund revealed it would end its financial backing of the golf league after the current season concludes. Smith joined the alternative tour in 2022 under a deal valued at approximately $140 million according to reports.

The golfer also leads Ripper GC, the league’s Australian squad. Speaking with Australia’s 10 News, Smith expressed that organizers are committed to bringing LIV Golf’s Adelaide tournament back in 2027, calling it one of the circuit’s most well-attended events.

Earlier this year, Smith declined an opportunity to rejoin the PGA Tour alongside other LIV players Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. In January, he declared: “I am here to stay, I’m here to support LIV.”

LIV Golf’s chief executive Scott O’Neil has expressed optimism that the league will continue operating under a structure involving multiple financial partners. The specifics of such arrangements and their potential effects on the league’s structure remain unclear.

“Since joining LIV, I’ve learned to live with, you know, speculation,” Smith remarked, chuckling when asked about potential retirement if the league disbanded. “I’m 32, so I’ve got a while yet.”

Smith’s performance has declined since joining LIV Golf. He failed to make the cut at last month’s Masters Tournament, marking his sixth straight missed cut at major championships. Though LIV players began receiving world ranking points for the first time in 2026, Smith has dropped to 235th place globally, managing just two top-10 results in the season’s opening six tournaments.

Nevertheless, Smith maintains his competitive drive as he prepares for LIV Golf Virginia before next week’s PGA Championship.

“I want to win tournaments, I want to win majors,” Smith stated. “It’s been a while since I’ve been, you know, truly competitive at the top of the leaderboard. So, the fire is really burning at the moment.

“It feels like I’m getting a lot of confidence back out in the golf once again, which I’ve struggled with.”

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has made an urgent appeal to home fans after witnessing New York Knicks supporters dominate their arena during recent matchups.

“Don’t sell your tickets,” Embiid urged. “This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

However, what the 76ers need most urgently is their injured superstar back on the court.

The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player sat out Wednesday’s Game 2 against New York due to a sprained right ankle and sore right hip. Philadelphia showed significant improvement compared to their devastating 137-98 defeat in the series opener, but still fell short with a 108-102 loss. The Knicks now command a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals as the action moves to Philadelphia for Friday’s Game 3 and Sunday’s Game 4.

Historical patterns suggest New York fans will feel comfortable when they arrive in Philadelphia.

Thanks to convenient train access, more affordable ticket prices than Madison Square Garden, and passionate support for players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks supporters have consistently invaded Philadelphia and created a road advantage for what many consider a legitimate championship contender.

Philadelphia’s defensive strategy involved implementing geographic restrictions through Ticketmaster to limit ticket purchases.

This approach, known as geo-fencing in the ticketing industry, involved specific limitations.

A weekend message on their website stated: “Xfinity Mobile Arena is located in Philadelphia, PA. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Greater Philadelphia area. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside Greater Philadelphia area will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”

The 76ers — along with other professional sports organizations that implement similar regional restrictions — essentially secure their primary entrance while leaving numerous alternative access points available. Multiple resale platforms offer countless workarounds that require no Philadelphia residency verification, making the strategy appear minimally effective.

What generated attention for one news cycle could become a harsh reality check come Friday evening — wealthy Knicks supporters can still purchase from Philadelphia season ticket holders willing to sell.

“I think they’re soft,” commented Knicks supporter Bryan Reinah from Queens during Game 2. “They’re afraid of the Knicks takeover. I think last time we played them it was 47% Knicks fans. Everybody hops on the trains and goes right down. Tickets are cheaper and the Knicks fans travel well. They’re afraid of it.”

The 76ers’ strategy generated widespread media coverage despite being neither innovative nor unusual in professional sports.

The reasoning behind such efforts: why not attempt every possible solution?

Similar examples include the Detroit Pistons implementing identical restrictions during last year’s playoffs, limiting Ticketmaster sales to Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario, Canada residents. The Carolina Hurricanes employed the same approach against New York Rangers fans during both the 2024 and 2022 NHL playoffs.

Perhaps these cities simply harbor negative feelings toward New Yorkers!

Actually, enforcement of such policies has extended far beyond the five boroughs throughout the years.

Consider 2001, when Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, formerly a senior America Online executive, developed software that prevented Pittsburgh residents from purchasing tickets through the Capitals’ website.

“Pretty cool, isn’t it?” Leonsis remarked in 2001. “I got a lot of emails from Pittsburgh saying I was mean-spirited and unfair. I don’t care. I’m going to keep doing it.”

The 76ers explained this season’s initiative aimed to guarantee tickets remained with local supporters who have backed the team throughout the campaign.

Neither Philadelphia nor Ticketmaster revealed how many face-value tickets became available Sunday.

Ticketmaster released a statement explaining their geo-fencing approach through an upbeat social media video.

“Who gets to buy tickets to sports games? Let us break it down,” the video explained. “Sometimes, sports teams put limits on who can buy tickets for big, in-demand matchups. This is a way to give local fans the best shot at attending the event and to limit scalpers who are located hundreds of miles away, who are trying to flip to the tickets just for a profit.”

Ticketmaster confirmed these policies originate directly from individual teams.

During the Knicks’ 2024 first-round Game 6 appearance in Philadelphia, 76ers ownership including Josh Harris, David Blitzer, David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin collaborated to purchase over 2,000 tickets for distribution to Philadelphia community members.

Thursday’s StubHub pricing for Game 3 showed upper-level seats beginning around $220 each, with lower-bowl options exceeding $1,000.

Whether supporting Philadelphia or New York, those represent substantial financial commitments.

Friday night’s crowd composition — specifically the volume of blue-and-orange attire and Brunson jerseys — will ultimately determine whether 76ers fans heeded Embiid’s request to retain tickets locally.

The University of Kansas basketball program received a major boost Thursday when Dennis Parker Jr., a prolific scoring guard from Radford University, committed to transfer to the Jayhawks.

The 6-foot-6 player revealed his choice to join head coach Bill Self’s program in an announcement to The Field of 68.

During his time with the Highlanders this past season, Parker put up impressive numbers with an 18.3 points per game average. His most memorable performance came in a December 14 matchup against Coppin State, where he exploded for 53 points. In that dominant 107-77 victory, Parker connected on 19 of his 24 field goal attempts and was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc, sinking 10 of 14 three-point shots.

The Virginia native from Richmond originally started his college basketball journey at North Carolina State. Throughout his collegiate career spanning 88 games with 44 starts between the Wolfpack from 2023-25 and Radford, Parker has compiled career statistics of 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.