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Manchester City Star Rodri has insisted that winning with Spain is a more special experience than winning with his club.

AS reports on an interview with the midfielder today after appearing on DAZN’s Revelado program. In this, the 29-year-old player was seen focusing on his career.

spain success

The Spanish midfielder has enjoyed a trophy-filled career so far, winning 19 major club and international trophies so far.

His honors include one UEFA Champions League title, four Premier League titles and one UEFA European Championship title with Spain. He has also won the UEFA Nations League with his country and was the UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

He now has his sights set on winning the World Cup with Spain this summer and says winning with Luis de la Fuente’s team is more special than winning with Manchester City.

Regarding a photo of himself with the European Championship trophy, he said, “The most beautiful moment of my career. It is more special to achieve my dreams with my country than with my club.”

“It’s amazing how the tournament started, how the team won it. We weren’t the favorites, and what we did… it ended up being a special, unique year. Maybe we weren’t considered contenders, and that made us stronger.

“That confidence is something you keep within yourself. We knew we were the best, but we had to prove it. And that’s what we did. That European Championship speaks volumes about the ambition of the national team. The rivals we beat. We prevailed strongly; we won every match in the tournament. It speaks volumes about what was in store for us.”

manchester city trophy win

That doesn’t mean Rodri is completely disregarding his success at the Etihad. That will be difficult after winning 11 major trophies with Manchester City, including four Premier League titles.

The last of those, was won through his own strike and he admits it was a special moment in a big year for him.

He added, “It was probably the most fulfilling year I’ve ever had.”

“In terms of goals, I was in incredible physical condition. I helped the team win its fourth title in a row. It was an extremely difficult, complicated year. Like every year when you’re aiming for everything. To finish it with that goal was special.”

The club’s first Champions League success in 2023 is also hard to ignore, but that success has different memories for everyone else.

“A very special day because of what the Champions League means to the club, what that iconic goal means to me personally, but what I remember most is the team,” he concluded.

“Our ability to recover from the last years, I think, to not win the title that we deserved, but which was taken away from us. I remember that moment I spoke to Pep about how difficult it was. Moments of pure joy.”

tourism gunlugu has revealed that a special chartered flight will bring Hull City Turkish fans for Saturday’s clash with Middlesbrough.

Following Southampton’s elimination from the Championship play-off final, Boro took their place. Saints lost their appeal last night after being accused of spying on other clubs throughout the season.

Hull City Major Questions Final

However, Hull City owners Ekun Ilikali has been interrogated Should the Tigers now be automatically promoted to the Premier League?

“Under normal circumstances, two teams would have reached the final and one would have been disqualified. Our lawyers are of the opinion that we should go straight to the Premier League, but they are investigating it right now. We can’t say anything for sure. It’s a bit of a messy situation.” Ilikali said.

The Hull City chief added: “We were preparing for Southampton for 10 days. All the planning, analysis and work was focused on them. Now, with a few days left for the final, the opponent has changed. Tomorrow the players are on holiday, Thursday is the last serious training session. We will prepare for the new opponent with a training session.”

Despite his comments the final will take place this weekend, and Corendon Airlines will bring fans from Istanbul and Antalya. The Turkish Airlines Company has sponsored the championship side for the last five years.

Tigers fans will arrive tomorrow

According to Tourism Günlag the flight will take off from Antalya tomorrow morning and then land at Istanbul Airport to pick up the remaining fans.

The flight is expected to arrive at Gatwick at Friday lunchtime before fans return to Türkiye on Saturday night.

The hope is that flying Hull City fans from Türkiye can provide stronger support for the club and create bonds.

Hull City reached the final after an impressive win over Millwall in the semi-finals and will look to gain promotion to the Premier League after a five-year absence.

The NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway was going to feel fresh and different. Instead, it did the opposite, boring and confusing many fans, making it drag on for hours, and sparking debate over whether or not the format change actually worked.

NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck joined the race on The Teardown Podcast, and to be honest, his reaction pretty much matched the mood of a lot of viewers.

He said, “This can’t happen again. It’s not right. It needs to be sent into the sun and burned with fire. This wasn’t the right track for this. This wasn’t the right format for this. From the time they started and about four hours to the time they ended, the format was completely wrong, starting with putting people who were open with people who were closed.”

And he also explained what he thought was the bigger issue: “Ultimately, the way the rules were today, because of the wrecks and all these things, you had nine guys involved. I think they came at the expense of real All-Stars who had already made their way into it and weren’t even able to get into the All-Star race.”

His disappointment was mainly over identity and the idea that the All-Star Race should highlight the best of the sport, not be swallowed up by a hybrid format that changed the feel of the whole thing.

Fans call it “the worst All-Star Race ever”

If Gluck was disappointed, fans were even more direct.

Social media reaction during and after the race was brutal, with many calling it one of the weakest All-Star events in years.

One fan said, “That was the worst All-Star race we’ve ever had. I don’t understand why Nascar has to make it so hard.”

Another reaction expressed the anger even more clearly: “Worst format ever!! Worst All Star Race I have ever seen!! It was just a short non points race. No excitement!! 0!!”

There were also some more reflective remarks, some of which pointed out how prize money still feels stuck in the past compared to how much the sport has grown economically.

Running didn’t help at all. A huge early upset took out some of the biggest names in the field, including Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Larson managed to get back out after repairs, but Elliott’s race was basically over on the spot.

From there, it turned into a long, chaotic afternoon that lasted much longer than expected, with confusion compounded by changes in strategy and constant resets.

In the end, Denny Hamlin still did what he does at Dover, he won. But even that seemed like a footnote compared to everything else that happened.

Because by the time it was over, most of the conversation wasn’t about who won. It was about whether NASCAR’s experiment had gone completely awry.

My love for motorsports began as a child watching races with my family in Tunisia. Fast forward to today… more about Farah Ben Gamra

The results of NASCAR’s 2026 All-Star Race at Dover didn’t stop at just the “boring” format. Another debate quickly erupted on social media over the weekend: Is the race still paying enough to feel truly special?

As for the winner, the answer for a lot of fans seems to be ‘no.’

The NASCAR All-Star Race winner still takes home $1 million, the same top prize the event has offered since 2003. And while that number once seemed huge, many fans now feel it no longer matches the scale, money and publicity of modern NASCAR.

Fans feel the “Jackpot” feeling is gone

For years, the All-Star Race has felt like drivers are risking everything for a life-changing test.

But in 2026, many fans feel that edge is gone. Part of this comes from inflation. A $1 million prize in 2003 would be worth about $1.81 million today, meaning the value of the prize has quietly diminished over time.

And after Dover’s chaotic race weekend, fans began to openly question whether NASCAR needed to seriously reconsider pay.

Some argue that if the sport really wants to make the race feel like a major event again then the winner should now get something closer to $5 million.

Especially now that NASCAR is working under a massive television rights deal worth $7.7 billion through 2031.

One fan on Reddit said nostalgically: “This used to be a really huge cash prize, so all the best drivers were tempted to buy a purse you wouldn’t normally see (outside of the Daytona 500). If you want people to do nothing again, make the prize $5 million.”

Now let’s be clear, and put the demonstrative outrage aside: $1 million is a lot of money, no question about it. It’s just putting that figure in context for the fans’ entertainment. The logic behind this is simple: If NASCAR wants drivers to race aggressively in a non-points exhibition full of wreck risks and experimental formats, the reward must also be huge. Because, to put things in perspective, the top NASCAR Cup Series drivers earn base salaries ranging from $5 million to more than $15 million per season.

When you add up race winnings, performance bonuses and sponsorship deals, the total annual earnings of the sport’s biggest stars often exceed $10 million to $17 million annually. So this means that they will not risk any aggressive moves for a race in which they may not get any points.

RELATED: Fans and analysts criticize NASCAR Dover All-Star Race

Not all fans think money solves problems

At the same time, not everyone believes that throwing more money into the race will suddenly solve everything.

Some fans admitted that they don’t care about the millionaire drivers becoming even richer. “I think the novelty of the big prize has also worn off for most people. Why should we care if a millionaire wins more money?”

For them, the issue is more about the breed losing its identity over the years. And to be honest, this feeling continued to emerge after Dover.

A lot of the reaction focused on nostalgia, fans missing when the All-Star Race was simpler, shorter, more aggressive and truly different from a regular Cup Series event.

Instead, many viewers felt that the 2026 edition became overly complicated due to segment changes, inversions, and a format that ran too long.

This is where the division is actually taking place. Some fans believe that a much larger purse, perhaps even $5 million, could bring back excitement and motivate drivers to race harder.

Others think the event has “lost its soul” and that fixing the format makes more sense than raising checks.

The drivers themselves have started taking the conversation forward

Driver fans agree. Bubba Wallace recently said that the $3 million prize would probably change the way drivers race aggressively.

Denny Hamlin also acknowledged that the current payout “doesn’t move the needle the way it once did.” He said: “I’m just going to spend $1 million on parts and pieces? We haven’t developed anything yet,” Hamlin said. “So, to change all these things piecemeal, we’re going to make changes, we’re going to spend a lot of money. And it’s only paid $1 million to win. It’s paid $1 million to win for 30 years. It’s not that good anymore. Even if one of my cars won, I don’t even remotely see it as a break-even proposition.”

And when drivers are also openly and freely saying they want “more” money, it seems like maybe they do.

My love for motorsports began as a child watching races with my family in Tunisia. Fast forward to today… more about Farah Ben Gamra

Sevilla fans have now started begging newcastle united Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos will remain at the club beyond the summer.

L. Desmarck reports on the situation today. He explains that a group of Sevilla fans made their feelings clear to him at a recent meeting.

want transfer to sevilla

The newspaper reports that Odysseas Vlachodimos faces its last game at Sanchez-Pizjuan on Sunday. His loan deal with Newcastle expires at the end of the season and he is expected to return to England.

It would be a huge disappointment for Sevilla, where he has established himself as a hero in a difficult season. According to El Desmarck, he is ‘the best player in the team’.

Without him, Sevilla would have been in a much more precarious position, and he is greatly liked among Sevilla fans.

And they’re willing to make their feelings about it clear. This Saturday, Sevilla fans made their wishes known to the Newcastle loanee as he left training. “Please stop, please stop,” Vlachodimos appealed as he left the training ground.

Whether that happens remains to be seen. Vlachodimos has made it clear on more than one occasion that he would like to stay. He and the fans are together on this front. The question is whether Newcastle will be able to make it happen.

Newcastle’s demands are vague

ABC Seville also reports Today on the Greek goalkeeper. He says Newcastle ‘paid a huge sum’ for the 32-year-old and ‘will not let him go easily’.

Sport Witness covered a report last month It is being said that Newcastle want €10 million for Odysseus Vlachodimos this summer. However, given that he paid €23.6m in 2024, this seems a bit low.

Even if that is the asking price, it will likely be too expensive for Sevilla. The Spanish side is in financial trouble and doesn’t have that much money to spend on signings.

They are likely hoping for another loan deal this summer, which would leave Vlachodimos in the last year of his deal in 2027. But given that he has impressed in Spain, it is difficult to see Newcastle wanting to make any concessions, even if Sevilla fans keep begging.

Stephanie Wacker is reportedly coming back to WWE television, as PWInsider reports that the former Women’s World Champion is expected to return to screens soon.

This update is a change from what was reported in the weeks after Wacker’s injury was confirmed. WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select previously reported that Wacker was on the shelf for the foreseeable future, with no widely known return timetable within the company, and internal rumblings pointing to at least a six-week absence, with optimism but no guarantees that she would return for SummerSlam.

Wecker’s injury was legitimized by Bryan Alvarez after the Raw angle, in which Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Pérez, working with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, attacked Wecker backstage. After Pérez drove a tool box into Wacker’s shoulder during the segment, Michael Cole announced on commentary that she suffered a second-degree AC sprain and would be out for some time.

The exact cause of the injury was never confirmed, leaving open the possibility that it predated the Raw angle and the attack was used to get her off television so that it could be addressed as per the storyline upon her return.

The timing of the injury made it difficult from a creative point of view. Wacker recently lost the Women’s World Championship to Morgan at WrestleMania 42 Night 1 in a match that BodySlam reported was kept shorter than planned due to both performers already dealing with physical problems heading into the show.

Second-degree AC sprains – which involve a partial tear of the acromioclavicular ligament – ​​typically require several weeks to a few months for recovery depending on the severity, making PWInsider’s report of an imminent return a positive update for both Wacker and the women’s division.

New York Knicks fans got some great news when it came to OG Anunoby’s availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

With all the momentum the Knicks have had over the past two weeks, they head into the 2026 edition of the East Finals with only one obvious question: When will forward OG Anunoby be available to play? He missed the final two games of their four-game sweep over the Philadelphia 76ers. But they will definitely need him for their upcoming series against the Detroit Pistons or Cleveland Cavaliers.

Well, fans got an update on his availability on Wednesday, and it’s very positive. During a press conference with the NYC media, Knicks head coach Mike Brown revealed that Anunoby participated in “parts” of practice today.

Does this mean he’ll be in uniform for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals? not necessarily. But prospects continue to improve. Anunoby suffered a hamstring strain late in Game 2 of the 76ers series. However, after being evaluated, reports emerged that New York was optimistic he could return to face Philly.

But because the Knicks played so well in Game 3, they decided to be cautious again and sat him in Game 4 as well. As fans know, it all worked out, and they didn’t need Anunoby to blast through Philly and into the Conference Finals.

The series between the Cavaliers and Pistons is tied at 2-2. Knicks supporters won’t mind if the series lasts seven games and the East Finals begin next week. This will give Anunoby more time to rest and make his availability in Game 1 much more likely.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, ESPN personality Stephen A. There has been serious internal discussion about Smith coming to WWE.

The report adds to the ongoing conversation about TKO’s impact on WWE programming, with Meltzer stating that those who were critical of Pat McAfee’s involvement in the build-up to WrestleMania 42 are among those favorable to Smith internally.

Meltzer addressed the topic by discussing Kevin Nash’s recent comments urging TKO to stay away from WWE creative. He said that TKO’s intervention happens occasionally but its timing is bad.

Meltzer said, “They don’t really do it a lot, but from what I was told, they don’t do it a lot, but they always seem to do it at the most inopportune times.” “It happened at WrestleMania this year, it definitely happened, yes. We haven’t seen anyone put pressure on them.

“I mean, we haven’t seen anything with Stephen A. Smith — yet, boy, that name has been talked about. And I know it’s serious discussion. To put it this way, a lot of people who weren’t really happy with Pat McAfee are on Stephen A.’s side, as far as internally.”

Smith himself addressed the possibility last month, confirming that WWE President Nick Khan had spoken to him about the on-screen role. The 58-year-old said he was not interested in any physical involvement, but did not completely rule out an appearance. Given his respect for old school heel managers like Bobby Heenan, if Smith were to move forward a managerial character would be the most natural fit for him.

WWE’s relationship with ESPN has grown significantly since the two parties reached a PLE deal in September 2025, with WWE receiving prominent daytime coverage during WrestleMania week and stars such as Dannhausen and Seth Rollins making appearances on ESPN in the Backlash build. This relationship makes Smith a more natural crossover candidate than most celebrity names coming forward for WWE roles.

Sammy Zayn isn’t revealing how much time he has left, but the 41-year-old is under no illusions about where he is in his career.

Speaking with Witty Whittier this week, Zayn expressed his gratitude for still being in the position he is in, while admitting that the end of his in-ring run is closer than the beginning.

“I remember being on a European tour several years ago and thinking, ‘I don’t know how many more of these there really are.’ When you’re in it, you feel like it’s going to go on forever,” Zain said. “It’s like when you’re in high school, you feel like those years are going to last forever. But then, when you’re an adult, and you’re 10-15 years out of high school, you’re like, ‘Man, high school was nothing.’ This is a shock in your life.

“So I’ve been fortunate that my time in WWE and this business has been more than a blip. But I realize this time will probably end in the next — I don’t want to put too many years on it, but definitely closer to the end than the beginning. So I’m still very, very grateful to be a part of it. It’s not meaningless to me. It’s not meaningless to me. It’s great.”

Sami Zayn calls WrestleMania 42 ‘weird’

Zayn also reflected on WrestleMania 42, describing the event as a “weird” atmosphere for several reasons. His character was in an unusual place on the show, with fan reactions beginning to turn negative, making his position less defined than it usually was at the time of WrestleMania. He lost the United States Championship to Trick Williams at the event.

Zayn said, “At the time of WrestleMania my character was a little more undefined than it had been in years.” “Normally, I go into Mania, and I know exactly where I am and what I’m doing. This year, it’s like this character shift and this big change going on at the same time with the tricks kind of increasing and I’m getting these – I would say polarizing reactions, but now it’s started to veer in the other direction where I don’t like.

“And I’m like a character saying, ‘What did I do here? Why is this happening?’ And all that kind of stuff. Week-to-week, audience-to-audience are all different, so it felt a little less reassuring,” he said. “Then the atmosphere around WrestleMania this year was a little strange, like the last minute addition of Pat McAfee. There were a lot of things that felt a little strange about this year’s WrestleMania.”

On Saturday night, the MMA world leaders return to Paramount+ for their latest mega event, UFC 328. The card inside New Jersey’s Prudential Center will feature 13 fights and a pair of championship matchups.

In the main event, middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev defends his title for the first time when he faces the challenge of former champion Sean Strickland. In the co-headlining, new UFC flyweight champion Joshua Vann takes on the challenge of top contender Tatsuro Taira.

Bookies will have a lot of bets for Saturday’s matches. But which has the best chance of a big payout? We look at six potential upsets at UFC 328 to waste your hard-earned money.

Jeremy Stephens defeats King Green

One bout that has Fight of the Night potential is the bout between MMA greybeards King Green and Jeremy Stephens. With both men turning 40 this year, they are far from their prime, and have a combined 39 losses on their cage fighting resumes. That means this fight is completely unpredictable and can go either way.

Green is a big favorite among bookmakers for good reason. Stephens has not won an MMA fight in four years, and Green is on a two-fight win streak. However, they both have a lot of fight on their chin. However, “Lil Heathen” still has reset-button power in his hands, which could be a problem for weak chins.

Green will outlast Stephens, but there is a huge risk of pressing the restart button.

Jim Miller defeated Jared Gordon

UFC 328 features a matchup of tri-state graybeards when 42-year-old Jim Miller takes on 37-year-old Jared Gordon. New York native Gordon is a solid favorite as his New Jersey opponent is trying to squeeze whatever is left out of his body as a professional athlete.

Miller’s win over Damon Jackson in 2024 shows he is still dangerous. And only eight of Gordon’s 21 wins being knockouts is another big plus for Miller’s aging chin. Although he may struggle in Round 1, hopefully Miller will ultimately use his wrestling and pull off an upset victory in front of his home state fans.

Roman Kopylov defeated Marco Tullio Silva

Roman Kopylov is a sleeper underdog to keep an eye on at UFC 328. He has lost his last two and faces a dangerous striker in Marco Tullio Silva, who had scored four consecutive KO wins before a surprise defeat in November. Also, Silva is four years younger.

However, the devil is in the details, and Kopylov’s defeat came against high-level competition in Gregory Rodriguez and Paulo Costa. The Russian is also a very skilled striker with legitimate knockout talent. Look for him to use it and get back in the win column on Saturday.

William Gomis defeated Pat Sabbatini

Talented wrestler Pat Sabbatini returns to action at UFC 328 on Saturday and is the heavy favorite against France’s William Gomis. We all know how Western European talent struggles with wrestlers and maybe that’s why the Americans are the favorites.

However, Sabbatini will turn 36 later this year, and age catches up quickly on fighters, especially in the lower weight classes. Gomis is a skilled striker and good athlete who will do enough to avoid takedowns and earn a decision victory in New Jersey.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeated Alexander Volkov

One of the bigger bouts at UFC 328 – in terms of relevance and sheer size – is the heavyweight bout between top contender Alexander Volkov and red-hot Dominican Waldo Cortes-Acosta. A case could be made that the winner should be next in line for a title fight if Tom Aspinall doesn’t yet have his sights set on a return in the fall.

Volkov’s height is always a big problem for his opponents and he knows how to use it well. However, Cortes-Acosta is a slight underdog as he has scored three consecutive KO wins and is a much better athlete than he looks. Volkov should win due to his length and experience, but we are seeing an upset due to “Salsa Boy’s” speed and athleticism advantages.

Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev

All eyes will be on Saturday’s main event bout between Strickland and Chimaev at UFC 328 as they present huge tests for each other. Can the American be the first to slow down and stop Chimaev’s wrestling attack? What will he do if “Borz” can’t wrestle to victory and has to go into the deep end of the pool with the guy who has the best gas tank in the division?

What’s interesting about this matchup is that they have trained together, so Strickland has a feel for Chimaev’s strengths and techniques. This is a huge benefit for him. Don’t be surprised if the former champion loses the first three rounds, but his gas tank and output turned the tide in the second half of the fight, and he ultimately overpowered Chimaev to score a shocking TKO victory in the fifth round.

Chimaev is a big favorite and should win, but there are some unique elements to this fight that make it a worthwhile risk to bet against him.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The lawsuit between Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Gebhardt and Spire Motorsports has turned into a NASCAR civil war, and fans are choosing sides. At this point, it seems like half of NASCAR fans are arguing about it online every day.

It all started when JGR accused their former competition director, Gabehart, of taking confidential competition data and trade secrets before leaving for Spire Motorsports. He also refused to share sensitive information with the team. The case already involves claims of deleted messages, forensic examination of devices, cease-and-desist orders and public firings from both sides.

And when Carson Hocevar led Speer to a shocking Talladega win, the debate reached a whole other level.

Joe Gibbs Racing threw a curveball by amending its lawsuit to imply that Spire’s sudden jump was due to Gabehart stealing confidential data and trade secrets from the organization. And to rub it in, JGR took aim at Spire’s social media posts celebrating his win and said in court papers that the team was basically ridiculing the allegations.

Around the same time, Denny Hamlin publicly criticized Spire owner Jeff Dickerson online, accusing the team of “hiring someone who stole information worth millions.” Those comments, along with JGR’s repeated claims that Spire’s rise was linked to inaccurate data, prompted fans to take sides almost immediately.

Now, NASCAR fans are divided. Some fans think that JGR is completely justified and is protecting its “secret sauce”. Others feel the team is going after a weak team that has finally started winning.

A lot of fans didn’t like the timing

One thing that immediately rubbed people the wrong way was the fact that JGR was placing more emphasis on the lawsuit right after Spire’s win at Talladega.

For many fans, the timing seemed emotional. Chaos happens almost every year at Talladega, so a lot of people didn’t like the idea that a superspeedway win suddenly proved that Spire had some massive technical advantage.

On Reddit, one fan said that JGR had “definitely crazy ex-feelings”. Another called the whole thing “absolutely sour grapes.”

Fans also pointed out that several Gibbs cars crashed or made mistakes during the race, which led some to find the allegations even weaker.

Is Spier winning because of Gabhart or because he’s just good?

Everyone keeps coming back to this argument.

A lot of fans think that Gabehart bested Spier simply because he is one of the smartest competitors in the garage.

People kept repeating versions of the same point online: You can’t expect someone to “wipe their brains out” when they leave a race team.

Others questioned how useful six-month-old setup data is even in the next-gen era, where teams are constantly changing things from week to week.

Some fans also think that Joe Gibbs Racing is more interested in making an example of Gebhardt than proving actual damage.

However many fans think that if the files were actually taken then JGR has every right to keep their information safe. One Reddit user wrote, “If there is proof that Gabhart stole IP from them, JGR is 100% justified.”

Another fan compared it to corporate espionage and said that his company would “destroy” any competitor if it was caught carrying internal data.

Spire suddenly became a fan favorite

For a surprising number of fans, Spire has become the underdog in all this.

Jeff Dickerson’s public comments incensed people, especially when he claimed that “the process is the punishment” and insisted that Spier “took no shortcuts.”

Even court cases have become online entertainment.

Now the legal dispute between Joe Gibbs Racing and former employee Chris Gabehart has taken another important turn when a judge has officially scheduled the case for trial in January 2027.

According to reports from the latest hearing, both sides insisted on very different timelines before the court reached a compromise decision.

As RACER.com writer Kelly Crandall reported on social media, “Judge Susan Rodriguez has ordered that the Chris Gabehardt/Spire Motorsports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing trial move to January 2027. Both sides argued for their proposed dates in a telephonic hearing yesterday (Gibbs wanted November and Spire/Gabehart wanted May 2027).”

The January 2027 date effectively split the difference.

My love for motorsports began as a child watching races with my family in Tunisia. Fast forward to today… more about Farah Ben Gamra

A new report suggests that Joel Embiid’s worst nightmare will come true as New York Knicks fans are set to come to Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4 of their series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Yes, the Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since the early 70s. And since that time, they have faced many difficult seasons. However, despite the poor treatment their fan base has endured over the past 40 years, there are no better, more loyal fans than Knicks fans – and they travel.

New York is one of the few teams where fans of the franchise can be found in almost every city, and in some places, they take over the field. Cities like Washington, DC, Miami, Atlanta and Philadelphia can be like second homes for Knicks players. That’s why Joel Embiid implored Sixers fans not to allow the NYC Fanatics to take over their home arena as they did during the playoffs two years ago.

Data shows huge number of tickets sold from New York for Games 3 and 4 of Knicks vs. 76ers

Well, it seems his appeal for domestic support didn’t work. According to third-party ticket seller TickPick, 59% of tickets purchased on their site for Game 3 have come from New York and New Jersey, while 22% have come from Pennsylvania. The data for Game 4 is even worse, with 66% coming from New York and New Jersey.

It should be noted that there is a large number of 76ers fans in New Jersey as Philadelphia is on the border of NJ and PA. Plus, it’s not strange to think that there are Philly fans in Gotham. However, it can also be said that the Knicks have a good number of fans in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Spectators won’t really know whether Knicks fans will take over Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4 until Friday and Sunday. However, based on these numbers, past history, and the 76ers being down 2-0 in the series, it doesn’t bode well for Embiid and his teammates this week.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

liverpoolAlexis McAllister has not had his best campaign with the Premier League this season.

The Reds began their title defense with five consecutive wins. Since then, they have won 12 of their last 30 league matches.

Liverpool are now fourth in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Aston Villa and will finish trophy-less this season.

Last month, Paris Saint-Germain ousted the English club from the Champions League. After abolition, the Argentina international said He is unhappy because he was expecting a successful campaign for Liverpool.

McAllister has been one of the players to come under criticism and it has led to suggestions that his future at Anfield is uncertain.

Agent sends message to Liverpool fans

winwin Alexis met with McAllister’s father Carlos, who is also the Liverpool man’s agent.

The representative says there have been no talks with any other club over a possible transfer of the 27-year-old player. He also revealed that Arne Slot’s side have not contacted him to talk about a new contract.

He said: “Alexis’s contract runs until June 2028, and so far, we have not been in public talks with any other club.

“We believe the club’s fans deserve that level of respect from the player. To date, the club has not negotiated with us regarding a contract renewal.”

The World Cup winner graduated from Boca Juniors’ youth system. He spent three years with them before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2019.

two months ago, The Reds player said He would “love” to return to River Plate at some point in the future.

What next for Mac Allister and Liverpool?

The English club’s immediate focus is securing Champions League qualification and then working on rebuilding their squad over the summer.

Alexis McAllister will be looking to finish with a stellar performance and then join the Argentina squad for the World Cup.

His contract expires in 2028, and transfer market He is worth €80 million. If the Reds plan to extend his contract, it is unlikely to be discussed until after the World Cup.

The South American has played 52 matches this season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists.

Andrea Dossena’s time liverpool Wasn’t the most impressive but he has positive memories of it.

The Italian arrived at the Anfield club at the age of 26, joining from Udinese in 2008. He was brought in to replace John Arne Riise, who had joined Roma on a permanent deal after a successful stint on Merseyside.

Dossena spent one and a half seasons at Liverpool. Even though he couldn’t match up to the player he replaced, the defender had some memorable moments of his own.

I have talked to him transfer market about magic, and was particularly influenced by Enfield.

anfield experience

Dossena was asked what impact the song You’ll Never Walk Alone made on him.

Speaking in glowing terms he replied: “Very emotional, even more so when there were Champions League matches: tuxedos were worn in the stadium. When you stand in the middle line before the match starts, hearing the whole stadium singing gives you an incredible boost.”

Dossena revealed that adapting to life at Liverpool was not easy but playing at Anfield made up for it.

“It was a city that was not easy to adapt to, especially given the constant rain and windy environment. But those two hours inside the stadium outweighed the difficulties outside.”

Spanish connection helped

Dossena explained that having Spaniards in Liverpool helped him a lot because of the similarity with Italian culture.

Speaking about his closest companions, he said: “Xabi Alonso and Pepe Reina; the Spanish culture is very similar to ours.

“Gerard often kept to himself, Egger was cold-blooded, and many of them went to play golf, but since I don’t like it, I had less opportunities to hang out with them.”

The former defender also praised Rafa Benitez’s football-minded approach to coaching.

“Very precise and precise. He only talked about football; that was his world.”

Dossena also seemed grateful to Benítez for changing his position and said: “The week of goals against Manchester United and Real Madrid. Benitez moved me into midfield, and in that role I scored those two goals in a few days.”

Manchester United AC Milan target Rafael Leao has deleted his social media after receiving backlash from fans.

o jogo aaj report on winger Because he is considering taking his career in a different direction next season.

fan criticism

The newspaper reports that Rafael Leao has managed only one goal and one assist in the last seven matches and has been criticized by his own fans.

This is pushing his departure this summer. The criticism and grief has reached such an extent that the 26-year-old has decided to deactivate her Instagram.

The decision came after a flood of critical comments regarding his performance in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Juventus. The winger has been going through a barren phase and is often being criticized by his own fans.

This is strengthening the arguments for him leaving at the end of the season. Reports have continuously linked him to several football legends.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been credited with interest. Sport Witness covered a report from Jorge Mendes today There could be a move to Old Trafford for the winger this summer. Manchester United had reportedly initiated contacts about a move.

There is a possibility of transfer

Milan, for their part, would be willing to make a deal worth around €50-70m, with each report having a different figure. It is unclear whether Manchester United or any other English club will pay that amount.

But all indications are that Rafael Leao is headed for the exit. He continues to face criticism from Milan fans, who are not impressed with his current performances.

In fact, the criticism has reached such an extent that Forward has now started deleting its social media. That’s never a good sign, especially with transfer rumors flying around.

Manchester United definitely have an opportunity in front of them and Leao is preparing at the grassroots level.

Houston Rockets And Kevin Durant has a tough task ahead of him Los Angeles Lakers City are coming in and trying to take a commanding 3-0 lead over them in their first round playoff series. So, all eyes will be on Durant and how he responds after one of the worst stretches of his NBA career.

LeBron James has dominated his way into this series, but the Lakers have got excellent, timely performances from Luke Kennard (27 points in Game 1) and Marcus Smart (25 points in Game 2).

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant only played in Game 2 and while he finished with a strong line in the contest, he had one of his worst outings leading to the Rockets’ second straight loss.

The two-time NBA champion finished Game 2 with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting 7 of 12 from the field. But he had a career high with nine turnovers in the game, scoring only three points with five turnovers in the entire second half.

This was because the Lakers repeatedly used the tactic of double-teaming him, testing his decision-making abilities while forcing his Houston teammates to try to beat them.

But before Game 3, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was asked how the team can help Durant get involved offensively as he sees more and more double-teaming in the half-court. However, Smith’s reaction to his partner’s distress was quite surprising.

Jabari Smith Jr. gives surprising advice to Durant’s double-teaming trap

Responding to reporters who asked him what could be done to assist Kevin Durant in light of facing double teams, Smith Jr. said:

“They try to stop him and other guys have to be aggressive, so we have to be aggressive with that.”

“We’ve got to study it right, make the right decisions. And it’s on him to find ways to get himself involved and get to his spots without getting double-teamed.”

But then, Jabari Smith Jr. essentially seemed to tell Durant to come up with a solution himself, causing fans to lose their minds on social media.

“Just because he’s getting double-teamed, we still need him to be his KD, you know? There’s still ways around it, and we’ve got some solutions [the trapping of Durant]And we’ll get better the next two games,” Smith Jr. said.

Basketball fans react to Smith Jr.’s KD advice

His comments brought a ton of reactions from fans, many of whom were reminded of Durant’s recent chat about Jabari Smith.

“Kevin Durant you were the right guy,” one fan said along with crying emojis and a screenshot of Durant’s burner account DMs that surfaced during the NBA All-Star break.

Another fan said, “KD heard Jabari call him that and suddenly ankle injury pops up out of thin air lmao bro if you feel like that I’m leaving all y’all boys to die.”

Reactions varied widely, with some opining that KD could not be blamed when his teammates were absent in action.

NBA reporter Brett Siegel said, “Not sure why Kevin Durant has a problem when his teammates can’t catch the ball.”

One fan commented, “Open shots bro. Fuck everything else.”

Another fan wrote, “The chemistry on that team is worse than the Lakers in 2004.”

Another fan said, “These guys’ chemistry is in the gutter.”

However, it will be interesting to see how Kevin Durant Finds a solution to avoid these double teams. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night at 5 PM PST, and it will be the Rockets’ last stand before the series wraps up.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

While there has been much discussion about the Dallas Cowboys trading up in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, owner and general manager Jerry Jones has poured cold water on the idea.

In the first round of the 2026 draft tonight, there has been an unusual amount of trade discussion. This year’s class is weak at quarterback, so teams ranked in the top 10 seem to be more open to the idea of ​​moving down to get more draft assets this year or next.

This bodes well for a team like the Cowboys as they have two selections in the top 20 of this year’s event. Furthermore, Jones has always shown a willingness to take bold steps during his reign. So trading up for players like Texas Tech’s David Bailey, or Ohio State’s Arvel Reese and Sonny Styles in the top three or five seems plausible as they could help fill the void left by last year’s Micah Parsons trade.

Jerry Jones won’t call for trade in NFL Draft

However, it doesn’t seem like Jones has any intention of being as aggressive in completing a trade as speculation has suggested. In a recent interview (h/t Pro Football Talk), Jones revealed that although he has been getting calls about a trade, he is in no rush to pick up the phone and make a deal to go after Bailey, Reese or Styles.

But why would he choose not to be aggressive enough to make a move? Well, it seems Jones now believes the Cowboys would be better off being patient. “[Trade offers are] It’s generally better to come in than out, obviously. The results are better for us,” Jones said.

This is a pretty surprising opinion from a man who has never been afraid to take risks when it comes to adding potential stars or impactful players. Although Cowboys fans are hoping the team will move to get an elite pass rusher, it seems like Jones is okay with keeping his picks at Nos. 12 and 20, respectively, if he doesn’t like the trade up offers he receives.

It also can’t be ruled out that Jones is hesitant in the hopes that the current offers get better in Round 1 tonight.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new report suggests that WWE fans’ outcry about the company’s excessive use of celebrities has scared Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll out of taking part in a planned match next month.

While the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania 42 will be celebrated as a classic, the Night 1 headliner was controversial for many WWE fans. A few weeks before the event, occasional announcer and wrestler Pat McAfee was involved in a storyline between Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. TKO CEO Ari Emanuel reportedly made the random move in an effort to boost sluggish ticket sales for the two-night event.

McAfee’s surprise addition was loudly condemned by WWE fans. However, one reason for the backlash was audiences becoming tired of the company’s excessive use of celebrities at WrestleMania 42. Country music star Jelly Roll made a splash over the past month, and rapper Lil Yachty has been heavily used over the past few weeks.

Pat McAfee faces defeat in the face of WWE fan protests

Well, that loud disappointment has been heard loud and clear, and it looks like WWE fans won’t be seeing McAfee or Jelly Roll again for a very long time. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, McAfee has refused to be the focus of the Night 1 main event and is planning a Rhodes-Jelly Roll vs. Orton-McAfee tag match at Backlash in May.

Meltzer claimed, “The thing is, they were both very aware of what was said about celebrities in wrestling.” “They both love wrestling, and I think they realized there was a lot of negative sentiment about it.”

So if you were one of those passionate fans loudly protesting WWE’s overuse of celebrities, the campaign was successful, and celebrities will be away from the company’s content for a while.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

WrestleMania 42 kicked off at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night, and for a few moments, the entire WWE Universe decided to treat ESPN’s loudest mouth like it was the biggest heel in a bad-guy battle.

Stephen A. Smith, at ring side and living his best celebrity life, came to the big screen and was completely ridiculed. Not the polite golf clap. Not scattered sneers. Full-throated, “you suck” level heat that made the pyrotechnics look cool by comparison.

In classic Stephen A. fashion, the man didn’t hesitate. Instead, he leaned back, closed his eyes, spread his arms and soaked it up with a big smile. Brother, if that’s not a heel turn I don’t know what is.

Wild: Stephen A. Wilde by WWE fans at WrestleMania Smith was highly criticized.

We have never seen anything like this.

💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/k3sjghNbxf

– Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) 19 April 2026

Just a few weeks ago, Smith was claiming that a group of alleged enemies were out to get him. Maybe he should have kept his eye on one person in particular.

The real villain’s origin story started a day earlier take firstWhen the one and only Danhausen came forward to curse Stephan A for… well, being rude and perhaps being too loud on television. In fact this is complete nonsense from Smith.

Danhausen has just cursed Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/eFJgitu5Bh

– Inside the Dome (@inside_the_dome) 17 April 2026

Denhausen’s Curse Come True: Stephen A. Smith goes full heel at WrestleMania 42

It seems the curse worked. One day you’re screaming about LeBron on national TV, the next you’re being heckled by 50,000 wrestling fans who probably feel like your hot shots hit louder than a steel chair.

However, it is to Smith’s credit – he did not hide from criticism. He took it on like a pro, proving that even when the crowd attacks you, the amount of reaction counts as a W in the attention game.

Stephen A. is a natural heel. While other celebs got polite golf applause, the SAS got the nuclear treatment – ​​and walked away smiling as if he’d just won the Universal Championship.

Dannhausen is probably very happy, shouting in the third person: “Danhausen is too good, too bad.”

Smith recently claimed that WWE had approached him for the role of on-air personality. But he refuses because he is not as brave as Pat McAfee. He was addressing McAfee’s involvement in the Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton affair.

“I love it. I love it, and I want to commend Pat McAfee for it, because let me tell you something. They were talking about — I go back to the old days of Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan and guys like that,” Smith said. “I really wanted to do that.”

“Your man Nick Khan talked to me about it. See, the difference is, I’m not as adventurous as Pat McAfee. I’m not at all trying to bump into one of them big boys!” He added. “I don’t want any part of it, but I like that stuff because I think the game needs it.”

The closest SAS came to running into a big man was when he had a fight with LeBron. Given his documented boxing training, it probably wouldn’t have been good for him either.

LeBron just posted this on IG pic.twitter.com/IJUwJFXVsg

– NBCCentral (@TheDunkCentral) 27 March 2025

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

While New York Giants fans and players are thrilled that John Harbaugh is their new head coach, one of their former stars the Baltimore Ravens is very happy to see him go.

After three poor seasons with Brian Daboll leading the roster, Big Blue fans are excited about the team’s potential with Harbaugh overseeing the veterans. And for good reason. He has a career record of 180–113, led the Ravens to the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons, and has a Super Bowl victory on his resume (2012).

Due to his impressive success, it would be understandable if some players in Baltimore were disappointed with Harbaugh’s firing and were fearful about maintaining the standard he set. However, don’t count Jay Flowers out of that group as the two-time Pro Bowler blames the coach for the team’s injury problems in 2025.

Zay Flowers calls John Harbaugh the reason for the Baltimore Ravens’ injury problems in 2025

“Full pads all the time,” Flowers said. Fourth and South Podcast about practices under Harbaugh. “There are any number of practices you can get in pads (in the NFL), every single one. Week 17, we’re practicing one-on-one, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going… That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy.”

The Ravens faced a surprising amount of injuries in 2025, with season-ending illnesses to Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr. and top star Lamar Jackson missing several weeks. In an era where players compete in 17 games and are getting injured more than ever, it is concerning that Harbaugh is still practicing hard at the end of the season.

This approach may have worked 10 years ago, but it may not be suitable for current players. With Harbaugh having so much control in New York, it’s unlikely he’ll be forced to part with his favorite habits in a year. If the Giants have injury problems in 2026, Flowers may have provided an early warning.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Crystal Palace’s Florence’s trip may have started with riot police and extra security at the monuments, but it ended with their players dancing in the streets with their fans.

Firenze Viola and Fiorentina News report on the Crystal Palace squad in Florence today. The party atmosphere throughout the night allayed any fear of trouble.

florence viola Kick things off, reporting that there was ‘celebration’ in the Crystal Palace camp as they reached the semi-finals.

That success, his first, caused celebration in both London and Florence. The latter includes the Crystal Palace players who were given the night off by Oliver Glassner.

As a result, as shown in various videos on social media, Dean Henderson, Jeremy Pino and other Eagles players ‘took to the streets’ in central Florence to celebrate. The trio also joined in with fans they met on the way.

In the video below, he can be seen singing in Piazza Strozzi.

fiorentina newsMeanwhile, Crystal Palace players are reported to have ‘immediately gathered’ in the center of Florence to join in the celebrations.

According to the outlet, the streets of the Tuscan capital were filled with “dancing, chanting and revelry” late into the night. At present, there is no report of any clash or any kind of incident between the fans.

Crystal Palace fans have not only behaved but made a very positive impression on their Italian hosts.

Italian overreaction unnecessary

Sport Witness reported yesterday Florence essentially went into lockdown ahead of the arrival of the Crystal Palace travel group.

To ensure there was no trouble, police were put in riot gear, monuments were closed and the sale of liquor was limited. By mid-afternoon yesterday, it all seemed like a huge overreaction.

Instead of any trouble, Police was saying ‘no foul play’ While Crystal Palace fans roamed the streets in shirts, scarves and other items. There was no sign of any kind of problem.

It appears that this continued through the night. Their progress to the European semi-finals has led to street parties rather than fights and more mocking of the lengths to which Florence has reached this week.

crystal Palace Fans have mocked Florence’s city-wide lockdown despite no problems being reported ahead of the clash with Fiorentina.

Firenze Viola reports on the situation in Florence todayWhich includes photos of various Crystal Palace fans enjoying a visit to the Italian city.

Florence under lockdown

Sport Witness covered the report yesterday How Florence essentially went into lockdown before Crystal Palace fans arrived.

1,300 Crystal Palace fans have traveled for the Europa Conference League tie, and the Italians were taking no chances.

The authorities had taken various top measures for the arrival, with the work being carried out under tight security since this morning.

The plans include police in anti-riot preparedness, while municipal teams have set up anti-ram barriers around various monuments in the city.

This security will be in effect from Wednesday 8 am to Thursday midnight. The plan is to create a secure perimeter designed to prevent vandalism or accidental damage. For 48 hours, Florence is acting as a ‘fortified city’.

Crystal Palace fans behave

However, these fears are completely baseless. Firenze Viola reports Crystal Palace fans have added nothing but color to Florence since yesterday.

They have decorated the area around Santa Maria Novella in their club’s colours, chanting and reveling in high spirits. It’s all a lot of fun, as it should be.

The police have also confirmed this and said that ‘there has been no disturbance of any kind’ due to their presence. A few Crystal Palace fans have also been seen wandering around, some alone, proudly wearing shirts and scarves.

Overall, it seems the atmosphere is positive.

Crystal Palace fans are enjoying their European adventure and the opportunity to visit one of Italy’s best cities. He appeared to have no intention of causing any trouble, perhaps surprising the Italian authorities.

newcastle united The fans have been accused of causing “significant disruption” in Barcelona, ​​leading to sweeping changes to how such crowds are dealt with in the future.

El Periodico reports that Barcelona is studying a plan To control ‘goons’ as local residents complain about the impact it has on their lives.

New crowd control plans

Barcelona City Council yesterday approved the development of a plan to ensure safety and ‘harmonious coexistence’ in public spaces, as well as minimize the harm caused by the arrival of large groups of ‘fanatic fans’ to sporting events.

The focus is particularly on Barcelona and their European games at the Camp Nou. The new proposal presented by Barcelona en Comú aims to create a ‘preventive protocol’ for such occasions.

“Barcelona has sporting events that put pressure on the city, and often, the city has to bear the brunt of the consequences,” *Communes* observed party councilman Jordi Rabasa.

Newcastle United in the firing line

Newcastle United travel to Barcelona on the 18th^th The march has been presented as a prime example of why change is necessary.

10,000 Newcastle fans arrived in the city for that game, causing unrest and disruption, which Rabassa wanted to prevent.

“Most people arrived without tickets, resulting in exceptionally high concentrations of people in the areas around Plaça Real and La Rambla,” The councilman noted.

“In affected neighbourhoods, this means an inability to relax, streets and squares are overcrowded and extremely dirty, and residents have great difficulty moving around normally.

“Residents are fed up with people urinating at the entrances of their building. They can no longer tolerate the shouting and filth. This is what happens whenever an incident like this happens.” Rabasa expressed his condolences.

measures against goons

He was supported by Jordi Martí. He drew attention to the persistent issues surrounding the Camp Nou. Newcastle United fans have again found themselves in the crosshairs.

“Following the serious disruption caused by Newcastle supporters, we asked how many fines had been issued under the new Citizenship Ordinance. The response we received was that they had done everything *but* enforce the ordinance,” He said.

Now various plans are being made for the future. These include traffic flow measures, widening footpaths and agreements with local bars not to sell drinks in glass bottles.

There may also be a focus on businesses running ‘special promotions’ on match days. Rabasa then raised the topic of ‘goons’ and called for the need to “move towards a more preventive approach”.

Overall, he wants a sense of shared responsibility between the city and the club.

common european complaints

From the outside the complaints seem a bit ridiculous.

It seems Barcelona are happy to build a 105,000-seat stadium to accommodate rival fans. They are happy with the money they bring in, but also don’t want the consequences.

While it is fair that local people and councilors may be tired, they may also want to think deeply about the long-term benefits of treating every fan like a criminal, all the time.

That seems to be the tone of Rabasa and company here, and it won’t work well for long.

The Detroit Tigers have made a surprise shutout of a rising star in MLB. The Tigers and infielder Kevin McGonigal have finalized an eight-year, $150 million contract extension, the team announced. McGonigle, who made his MLB debut in March, could make up to $160 million with a contract escalator for the final three seasons.

The 21-year-old infielder’s contract covers the 2027 to 2034 MLB seasons. This covers McGonigal’s five seasons of club control and his first three years of free agency. The new contract essentially guarantees McGonigle an additional season of service. This will take him until his 30th birthday.

The lifespan of a baseball player usually ranges from 26 to 29 years.

Details of Kevin McGonigal’s contract with the Detroit Tigers

To start the 2026 MLB season, McGonagle is batting .311 with one home run and eight runs batted in in 17 games. The 21-year-old also has a .908 on-base percentage with eight strikeouts and 11 walks. McGonigle was known for his elite plate discipline in the minor leagues, and this has translated to MLB.

This is a shocking development for Detroit. Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris shut down McGonigal before he began producing consistently at the elite level. Entering the 2026 MLB season, McGonagall was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball, behind Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Connor Griffin.

McGonigal will make $1 million in 2027, $7 million in 2028, $16 million in 2029, $21 million in 2030, $22 million in 2031, and $23 million from 2032 to 2034. Escalators could increase his 2032 salary by $25 million, his 2033 salary by $26 million and his 2034 salary by $26 million. $28 million.

The Tigers knew McGonigal’s potential, and they stepped up. Now, Detroit has locked up McGonigle during his prime years in MLB.

READ MORE: Why Kevin McGonigle is the Detroit Tigers’ X-factor after historic MLB debut

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Florence may be known as the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’, a city of art, beauty and invention, but when crystal Palace Fans arriving on Thursday will find a city of security.

With more than 1,300 Crystal Palace fans expected in the city for tomorrow’s Conference League clash with Fiorentina, authorities have activated a full-scale plan to protect both public order and the city’s priceless monuments.

Florence is on alert regarding the Crystal Palace

La Nazione reports on variousAnd very extreme security measures are being taken for the game.

Firstly, Florence will operate under tight security from early in the morning. There will be barriers around the Duomo, Biancone (Neptune Fountain), Loggia dei Lanzi and other sites. This is due to concerns about English fans gathering in the historic centre.

Police, Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza units, some of whom are in riot gear, will patrol the city throughout the day. Their mission is clear; Prevent skirmishes, keep the wings separated and protect the busiest and most delicate areas of Florence.

Monument under special protection

The city’s artistic treasures are being given unprecedented attention.

Following orders from the Prefecture and Questura, municipal teams have set up anti-ram barriers around various monuments in the city.

This security will be in effect from Wednesday 8 am to Thursday midnight. The plan is to create a secure perimeter designed to prevent vandalism or accidental damage.

There are also parking restrictions in place in the historic centre. Any vehicle abandoned inside the protected area, unless a handicapped permit is displayed, will be towed and impounded. The goal is complete visibility and control for the police.

action on alcohol

As is often the case in fixtures deemed high-risk, Florence has also banned off-premise alcohol sales for the entire match day. The hope is that this will reduce the likelihood of disorder or rowdy behaviour.

Florence will act as a ‘fortified city’ for 48 hours. He is very focused on protecting his legacy.

This would involve Crystal Palace traveling parties taking buses directly to the away leg. The plan is to prevent roaming groups and reduce the risk of collision.

So, while Crystal Palace are heading into Italy feeling safe with their 3-0 win in the first leg, they will be entering a city that is also safe.

Maybe a little more. But then again, English fans should be used to criticism from top officials at this point.

If the spring game is any indicator, the Deion Sanders hype machine that once electrified Folsom Field appears to be winding down.

Colorado’s 2026 spring game had a very low turnout, with independent estimates placing actual attendance at about 17,000–18,000 fans, while the school claimed to have 27,772 “claimed tickets” for the free event.

This marks a steep decline from 47,277 in Sanders’ first spring run in 2023. And it also indicates a continuous decline to 28,424 in 2024 and 20,430 in 2025.

colorado spring football

How It Started (2023) vs. How It’s Going (2026) pic.twitter.com/lWiSJmiJBi

– Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) 13 April 2026

From packed stands to empty seats: How Deion Sanders’ Colorado campaign has faltered

The numbers reflect widespread change in Boulder. After a promising 9–4 season in 2024 on the strength of stars like Shadure Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes fell to a disappointing 3–9 record in 2025.

The program responded with a massive roster overhaul via the transfer portal – bringing in over 40 new transfers and nearly 60 freshmen overall – leaving only 22 scholarship players from last year’s team.

Students have openly noted that the “honeymoon phase” is over, with one telling reporters that the program “is no longer about anything new and shiny.”

We’re really going to see what Neon Dion becomes this season. A former Buffaloes player recently delivered a brutal public criticism of the head coach, accusing him of prioritizing style over substance. He may be right.

Christian Fauria, former tight end for Colorado and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots from 1990–1994, appears zach gelb show And he didn’t hold back in his assessment of Sanders’ tenure leading Buffalo.

“I’m not a fan of Coach. I’ll never be a fan of Coach,” Fauria said. “I like the school. It’s not me picking on Deion Sanders – I pick on Joe Gibbs, too. I just don’t like the way he coaches football.”

“I don’t think he’s very talented. I don’t think he can manage the game. I think there’s a lot of flashes, but I don’t think there’s any substance to it.”

Heading into his important fourth season, Coach Prime emphasized that the program is moving forward with a new coaching staff and a new offensive scheme under Brennan Marion. Sanders also has some new energy after dealing with blood clots earlier this spring.

Yet the empty seats and fading buzz raise an obvious question: Has the magic of prime time in Colorado finally reached its peak?

The 2026 season will provide the answer.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Veteran play-by-play announcer Joe Buck has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to call MLB postseason games from ESPN last fall.

Longtime broadcaster, who joined the network in 2022 primarily as the voice of The decision was revealed during a recent appearance at Sports Media with Richard Dietsch podcast.

ESPN, which previously had a major rights package including playoff baseball before renegotiating a lighter slate of regular season games, approached Buck for season-opening duties.

However, the scheduling proved incompatible with his NFL commitments.

“As you and I sit here right now on April 10, I don’t even know who got to the postseason,” Buck said. “I assume ESPN has a game, maybe they don’t… Well, there you go – NBC has the wild card, so I’m not going to do that.”

He added, “It was on the discussion table last year if it was something I wanted to do.” “When ESPN played its games early on, it was poorly timed.”

Joe Buck reveals he’s stopped calling MLB postseason games for ESPN https://t.co/0Ldz8NT5Lg

– Awful Announcement (@awfulaannouncement) 13 April 2026

Joe Buck says he turned down ESPN’s offer to call MLB postseason games

The 56-year-old, who has won a record 24 World Series during his career, said he no longer feels the need to pursue that chapter of his broadcasting career.

Buck added, “And believe me, I’m the luckiest man in the world; I wrote a book about it, that I got to do any of it.” “But I feel like it’s really a chapter in my life, it’s an itch that doesn’t need to be scratched anymore. I’ve done all that.”

There was a mixed reaction from fans on this news on social media.

“I wish he had the same mentality for football,” one fan wrote, possibly hinting that he hopes that changes. He Bend down too.

“Thank God,” said another. “The man is unbearable.”

Still, others consider Buck’s contributions to MLB irreplaceable.

“This really hurts my soul. I understand where Joe is coming from, but still,” one person lamented.

Another reacted to the news: “Shame. He was loved by the fans in baseball.”

Over the years, Joe Buck has been the voice behind some of sports’ most memorable moments, from World Series games to Super Bowls.

However, this high-profile position also made him the target of criticism, which intensified with the advent of social media. Countless memes emerge every year about fans buying expensive playoff tickets so they can avoid hearing the Bucks.

And while she found the whole affair annoying, she also took it to heart. Although he suggests ignoring comments on social media to other people in his field, Joe admits he hasn’t always heeded his own advice. Mainly because he was a leading figure during the rise of internet trolls.

“Always, I was the only guy playing national baseball during the social media era, and I got my socks off. And it exhausted me,” Buck said in an interview. michael’s show. “I can sit here and say, ‘Oh, that thing didn’t bother me.’ It upset me.”

“If you’re a human being who cares about what other people think and do, and you try to be a good person and you try to do a good job, and then you read how worthless you are or ‘You’re lucky you had a famous dad’ and ‘You hate my team’ and all that other stuff,” he lamented.

Kylie Kelce, on her husband Jason Kelce’s late night flop, they call it late nightDiscussed the reasons behind Philadelphia fans’ dislike of Joe Buck.

“I was raised in a household where I was taught to dislike Joe Buck,” he said.

“My dad taught me this,” Kylie continued. “I recognized very well the pattern in which it always seemed [Buck] Was cheering for the other team.”

When the former Eagles center asked if he had any specific examples of the Bucks being biased, he replied, “Absolutely not.”

Buck is the son of famous sportscaster Jack Buck.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

WWE is planning a celebrity tag team match for Backlash, which fans are sure to be eyeing given the inclusion of Pat McAfee in the company’s WrestleMania 42 plans.

According to Dave Meltzer in Friday’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the current plan for PLE is Randy Orton and Pat McAfee vs. Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll, with multiple sources confirming that plans were still in place at press time.

Meltzer wrote, “McAfee will team with Orton against Rhodes and Jelly Roll coming off WrestleMania and have an important match at the Backlash PPV on 5/9, at least those are the plans that were confirmed to us by multiple people and were still in play at press time.”

Jelly Roll’s pairing with Rhodes is notable considering the country star’s current relationship with WWE. Jelly Roll has appeared at WWE events before and has a connection to the fanbase, making him a better fit for the WrestleMania season storyline than any casual celebrity. It also fits since Jelly is coming to the aid of a fellow babyface.

McAfee’s involvement in the story has not been without controversy. Reports earlier this week indicated that WWE has scaled back on parts of its creative plans following the negative reaction to McAfee being revealed as Orton’s ally.

Fightful reported that CM Punk’s comments on Raw reflected a change in direction that was not part of the plan since Friday McAfee was recently introduced into the angle. WWE is adjusting its approach to the storyline in real time, and the Backlash match reflects where these adjustments are currently pointing.

This angle is set to continue this Friday on SmackDown from San Jose. WWE has been advertising that Rhodes will answer to McAfee on the show, and McAfee revealed on Thursday that he will have a “big surprise” for the broadcast.

A new report reveals the possibility that the Miami Dolphins have the top pick in this month’s NFL Draft, and it’s sure to disappoint the team’s fans.

It’s been a very busy offseason for the Dolphins. After a 7–10 finish, ownership decided to dismantle the team’s leadership and brought in a new regime led by John-Eric Sullivan as general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach. But that was just the beginning.

Over the past few weeks, the team has adopted a strategy of additions and subtractions by trading Jaylen Waddle and Minkah Fitzpatrick and cutting Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. This is a big change that comes with a lot of dead cap and serious limitations to fill those holes. That’s why the 2026 draft will be so important for Sullivan and Hafley in the first year. Especially his selection at 11th overall.

The team has been linked with a variety of players at that position. As we get closer to the event, projected top-five talents Carnell Tate and Caleb Downs are becoming realistic options for the Dolphins at 11. Anyone can fill the spots left by Hill, Waddle or Fitzpatrick. However, the new leadership of the team has a different player they would love to have.

Spencer Fano is the Miami Dolphins’ dream pick at No. 11 in the NFL Draft

ESPN’s Jordan Reed reports, “Sources tell me the Dolphins are big fans of Utah lineman Spencer Fano and will take him at No. 11 overall.” “The team likes his versatility, believing he can play any interior position or be a plug-and-play starter at right tackle.

“Austin Jackson is entering a contract year, and there are a lot of question marks about his durability. The new front office is leaning on selecting an offensive lineman to start his tenure, so this pairing makes a lot of sense,” he said.

Although getting an offensive lineman won’t get Dolphins fans excited – especially if Downs and Tate are still on the board at that point – Fano is an attractive prospect. He doesn’t look like it, but he is an impressive athlete for his position and was impressive during his tenure with the Utes. Additionally, he can play the two guard and tackle spots at a high level, and he took snaps as a center during the combine.

Taking Fano at No. 11 won’t garner wild cheers from Dolphins fans, but he could easily become a key building block for contending teams for years to come.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Most people assume the NBA will do something to stop the massive tanking going on at the bottom of the standings. However, a new report suggests there isn’t much traction in the league for potential reforms.

Tanking is nothing new in the NBA. However, the 2026 NBA Draft is projected to be one of the best prospect classes in years, with nearly a dozen teams fully embracing the strategy in the final two minutes of the season. It’s gotten to the point where teams like the Utah Jazz have even inserted healthy impact players in the fourth quarter to ensure a loss.

This has disappointed NBA fans and infuriated Commissioner Adam Silver. Now, preventing the 2026 fight from happening in future seasons is a top priority for the governors, and late last month, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed three ideas to be presented at the next governors meeting in an effort to end the practice.

All three proposals expand the lottery to 18 teams and level the NBA lottery odds to varying degrees, and include other elements. Nevertheless, the trio of ideas is not gaining popularity in the game. “None of them have been embraced very warmly around the league,” sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.

General Manager explains why tanking works, even though it’s ugly

Slater’s new report details the current tanking drama and shows why many people associated with the idea hate the practice. This also includes coaches and players who want to improve their value before entering NBA free agency. However, while this practice is an ugly one, there are many around the game who feel it is a working formula, including one Western Conference general manager.

“These teams are doing a whole lot of work: sitting guys on fourth down, playing bad lineups analytically, setting up plays for bad shots,” the West GM told Slater. “Creativity is impressive, and I don’t blame them. It’s the best strategy for getting better.”

“Look at all the most promising teams in the league: the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, the Detroit Pistons, the Houston Rockets, the Charlotte Hornets. After years of being bad and building on high picks. It’s painful but worthwhile.”

For NBA fans and those inside the league who hate the growing practice of tanking, it certainly doesn’t seem like there’s much momentum behind making serious improvements any time soon.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Boston Red Sox came into the season with aspirations of winning the AL East, and some in baseball saw them as World Series contenders. Hours after the series loss to the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park, fans were criticizing the team and chanting “sell the team”, with at least one fan-favorite echoing the frustration to some extent.

Speaking to reports after Sunday’s loss to the Padres, outfielder Roman Anthony criticized the team’s energy and made it clear that the way everyone is playing is unacceptable.

“We need to find a way to bring more energy and be better. This is unacceptable. This is unacceptable to the fans. This is unacceptable to the standard we set for ourselves.”

Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox after Sunday’s loss to the San Diego Padres

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 1, see where the BOS Red Sox stand

What went wrong for the Red Sox?

Things looked promising on opening day. Boston opened the season with a 3–0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Anthony went 3-for-4, Trevor Story had an RBI single, Jaren Duran went 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI, Marcelo Meyer went 2-for-2 off the bench with two runs scored, and Sedan Rafaela went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Since then it has been largely downhill.

In eight games played from March 28 to April 5, the Red Sox lineup has collectively posted a .211/.286/.374 triple-slash line. According to FanGraphs, during that span Boston ranked 25th in runs scored (27), 25th in walk rate (8.5 percent) and 18th in OPS (.659), along with the second-highest strikeout rate in baseball (29.2 percent).

Anthony has been part of the problem after his stint with Team USA. He got off to a strong start on Opening Day, but has since posted a .167/.242/.333 triple-slash line with a 36.4 percent strikeout rate in 33 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Meyer (.136/.200/.364), Story (.108/.108/.216), and Duran (.160 batting average) have also been disappointing since their season-opening win.

Pitching has also been a problem for Boston. Top free-agent signee Ranger Suarez has given up 13 hits and eight earned runs in 8.1 innings in his first two starts, Brian Bello (eight hits and five earned runs) was rough in his first start of the season, and Conley Early’s command was an issue Saturday.

As Fenway Sports Group continues to ask fans to pay more at the ballpark, the product on the field is deteriorating. Given everything that’s happened so far, it’s no surprise that fans chanted “Sell the team” at Fenway Park on Sunday, and we’ll hear more of that in Boston down the road.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Carmelo Hayes has spoken out about WWE NXT fans, saying that the crowd that helped make him one of the brand’s top stars is ultimately loyal to no one.

Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Hayes reflected on his time in NXT from 2021 to 2024 and gave an unfiltered perspective on the nature of that audience and what it takes to survive in that environment.

“That crowd is still the same today,” Hayes said. “They’re never yours. They’re hot right now, and I knew it and I understood it and it was one of those things where I even did a promo with Trick Williams where it’s like they love you and then when the next guy’s turn comes, they’ll switch on you, and it’s true. That crowd, they’ll build you up but they’ll also break you down.”

During his NXT run, Hayes built one of the most decorated resumes in the recent history of the brand. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament in 2021, captured the NXT Cruiserweight Championship – becoming the last holder of that title – and held the NXT North American Championship twice before winning the NXT Championship. Despite that level of success, Hayes was clear-eyed about crowd loyalty throughout.

The reference to Trick Williams is particularly notable and will be remembered by longtime NXT fans. Hayes and Williams were closely associated during their NXT run, with their partnership and eventual rivalry becoming one of the brand’s best storylines. Hayes saw firsthand how the NXT crowd changed their love, which gave him an understanding of how quickly audiences can move on.

Hayes has been on the main roster as a member of the SmackDown brand since April 2024. He recently completed a run as United States champion. As for Williams, he has been a bright spot on the SmackDown roster and will challenge Sami Zayn for the US Title at WrestleMania.

Chael Sonnen doesn’t believe fans will ever see a third fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.

Speaking with MMA Junkie, Sonnen assessed the current status of one of MMA’s most anticipated trilogies for nearly a decade and concluded that the rubber match is never going to be possible due to the circumstances surrounding both fighters.

The talks follow Diaz’s recent revelation that he was in talks with the UFC about a return, with a trilogy fight against McGregor being the centerpiece of those discussions. Diaz passed up the opportunity, saying he wanted to fight Charles Oliveira for the BMF title instead, and eventually accepted a fight against Mike Perry on May 16 on Netflix.

Diaz said that his reason for leaving McGregor was that he only wanted a trilogy when both men were moving forward, not when one of them was on the way out.

Chael Sonnen says Nate Diaz isn’t cheating

Sonnen said, “Nate Diaz lives by a code, and you won’t be able to escape it.” “You won’t bribe him, you won’t pressure him. He lives by a code. It just gets complicated, but that’s not his negotiating strategy. He’s serious when he says, ‘I don’t want to fight Conor, Conor has been out for five years, and by the way, he’s got a leg injury. Let him come back, get a win and then I’ll come in.’

He said, “He wants to fight Charles Oliveira. Nobody wants to fight Charles Oliveira. Nate is serious.” “And it’s not just about Charles. It’s not just a jiu-jitsu fight. It’s the belt that escaped him. That BMF belt means something to him, and Charles is the guy to wear it. Nate is honest. Could he lose that fight to Mike Perry? Could the UFC lose interest in him over time? Of course. But that’s not going to change Nate’s mind.”

Diaz and McGregor split their two-fight series in 2016, with Diaz handing McGregor his first UFC defeat at UFC 196, before losing the rematch via majority decision at UFC 202. The unresolved nature of that rivalry has kept speculation about a third fight alive for the better part of a decade, but both men’s timelines are pulling in opposite directions.

Chael Sonnen predicts Conor McGregor has one UFC fight left

On the McGregor side of the equation, there is momentum building behind a return fight at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, which will take place almost exactly five years after he last competed against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 and suffered a broken leg.

Max Holloway has emerged as a potential opponent for that return. McGregor currently has two fights remaining on his deal, barring a new contract, putting him on a timeline that may not align with Diaz’s leadership. Sonnen thinks McGregor has a limited runway left, no matter what he says publicly.

“My guess on Conor is we’re going to get him another one, and I think we can really enjoy it,” Sonnen said. “Now, if you talk to Conor, and I did, you’ll get him at least three more times. He’ll make some fights and box. I think we’re going to get Conor for one more fight. I think we’ll probably miss the trilogy. Sadly.”

Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium may not be like Goodison Park yet, but it’s getting there. The 3-0 win over Chelsea last weekend proved that.

After months of uncertainty about their new stadium, Everton fans have finally made it their home. A loud, bouncy and almost hostile win over Chelsea was proof of this.

A cursory glance at social media will confirm this. Ax was overwhelmed by the number of Everton fans admitting after the game that it finally felt like Hill Dickinson was at home. And this has not gone unnoticed elsewhere.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo Today is the latest international publication to highlight Everton’s rebirth, with Hill Dickinson’s now famous “Blue Wall” hailed as the heartbeat of a potential new era for the Toffees.

Sunshine, smoke and a statement of victory

With a capacity of 53,000, Hill Dickinson has transformed match days at the Mersey. But it’s the 13,000-strong single tier South Stand, steep, deafening and fearlessly blue, that stands out.

Mundo is certainly impressed, and says it’s Everton’s answer to the Kop at Anfield or Borussia Dortmund’s yellow wall.

According to the newspaper it reflects the spirit of Goodison’s Gwladys Street while creating something distinctively modern. For visiting teams, it’s an intimidating sight, as Chelsea found out. For Everton fans, it is a symbol of resilience.

Mundo says an example of this is the Everton Way, a walkway of 36,000 engraved stones telling the Evertonian story.

An inscription reads: “We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is the only option we have.”

According to Mundo, it perfectly reflects the mood of the reborn club.

to establish, to move forward

The last few years have been tough for Everton fans, including having to leave their famous and beloved old home Goodison Park.

But March 20th^th Starting with the scenes before the game against Chelsea, it felt symbolic. The rare Liverpool sunshine that morning was taken as a sign.

Hours before kick-off fans lined the streets to welcome the Everton coach, Everton Way was buzzing with life and blue smoke filled the air as supporters escorted Everton to their new home.

The payoff was clear as Chelsea succumbed and Everton secured their first back-to-back wins at their new home. mundo called it a ‘Acoustic Weapon’ And ‘Electrification’. It seems that a tired fan has woken up.

focus on Europe

The focus now turns to a late push for Europe, with Everton just three points behind Liverpool in fifth. The Champions League may be long, but the Europa League or Conference League are there for the taking.

According to Mundo, ‘Finally the sun also came out’ For them. Backed by the Friedkin Group, at least for the Spanish newspaper the belief is that they are now in a position ‘A period of renewal in every sense’.

In fact, he argues that Everton should never have done this ‘Abandoned reputation’ In first place. Now they’ve got it back in a spectacular new stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront.

With the fans now also settled, it has become a situation ‘Incredible atmosphere’ supported by ‘Violent’ south stand he ‘kill immediately’ They are on their journey. He is at least impressed by Everton, their fans and the stadium that finally feels like home.

The New York Knicks have been on the rise lately, currently sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, but have a real chance to unseat the Boston Celtics for second place. The Knicks have played the last portion of the schedule without Miles McBride, who is sidelined after sports hernia surgery.

Recently, Knicks insider James L. Edwards III provided an update on McBride’s status, which should get New York fans excited.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Deuce McBride returns Sunday against OKC,” Edwards III, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter.

It will certainly be a welcome sight for Knicks fans to have McBride back in the lineup as soon as possible. When healthy, the former West Virginia star provides New York with elite outside shooting, solid on-ball defense and the ability to facilitate play for his teammates.

The Knicks have largely been operating without a consistent backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson in recent weeks, as Tyler Kolek hasn’t seen much playing time after a midseason bounce. However, McBride is projected to return to his normal workload before the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin next month.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have a big game on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday evening. The Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past few months, emerging from NBA purgatory and looking like a real threat to scare a potential playoff opponent, should they reach that stage.

New York, led by rookie standout Kon Nueppel and former All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, will have to do its best to guard the Hornets’ range of three-point shooters.

Tipoff between the Knicks and Hornets is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from Charlotte.

It seems that hunger and a tough slice of steak cost WWE fans the chance to see the unexpected alliance between bitter rivals Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels.

During the 2000s, there was very little light for WWE. However, one of the best spots was the rivalry between Jericho and Michaels. Its first peak came with a match at WrestleMania 19 which was later won, but then he received a low blow from his opponent. Then, when Jericho won the World Heavyweight Title in 2008.

The pair of current and future Hall of Famers created magic together. Be it a war of words or in the ring. Without a doubt, they were some of each other’s greatest rivals during their legendary careers. However, a few years later, Jericho actually advocated for hated enemies to become allies to solve a shared problem.

“The idea was a storyline involving Bray Wyatt and Shawn Michaels,” Jericho told Game Hub. “The premise was that the Wyatt Family would attack me, and the only person I could call that was crazy enough to have my back was Shawn — even after our rivalry.

“He comes back to confront me, and just as we were about to go at him, the Wyatt Family attacks both of us. Now you don’t know if Shawn was going to accept my offer or not, but he’s in it,” he said. “With the SummerSlam match in mind, it would be Jericho and HBK against The Wyatt Family. That was a really solid pitch.”

Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels never teamed up because of bad steaks?

This idea sounds like fun and would definitely benefit the Wyatt Family as they look to establish themselves on the main roster. However, the idea was turned down by then-WWE boss Vince McMahon. Jericho claims that the pitch failed because he spoke to the company’s founder at the worst possible time. during lunch.

Jericho claimed, “When Vince is eating, he’s not paying attention to anything else.” “…Vince was sitting there eating his steak, and when I finished, he said, ‘Bad cow.’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘Bad cow – the steak is tough.’ I said, what do you think about my pitch?

“He says, ‘What else do you have?’ The steak destroyed the entire angle. But that’s the nature of working for Vince – if he doesn’t like it, you’re done. To some extent, it is the same with Tony. You have to please your boss.”

So Hunger and a “Bad Guy” ended the chance for WWE fans to see Jericho and Michaels unite against the Wyatt Family.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Wednesday’s thrilling game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets was marred by controversy after Naz Reed was ejected in overtime.

Reed was ejected with 4:13 remaining in the extension after arguing with referee Scott Foster following an offensive foul call. Reid was whistled for a violation against Alpern Sengun, but the Timberwolves challenged it. The review upheld the decision, prompting Reed to say something. However, Foster was not having it and threw Reed out.

The Timberwolves were trailing, 100–95. That time. They eventually won the game 110–108. Naz Reed finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Naz Reed gets a technical foul and is ejected in overtime vs. Houston. pic.twitter.com/gZHdMafpFZ

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 26 March 2026

Ax fans became angry at Foster, who also heard his controversial decision from the crowd at the Target Center.

@akwolvesfan said, “Scott Foster nailed it for this team. Sengun was still moving his left foot (not set) while Naz was in his shooting pace.”

@christ_finch said, “I feel true hatred for Sengun and Scott Foster. I don’t have the slightest respect for either of them. It feels so good to beat both of them.”

“Scott Foster deserves to go to jail,” @minnyshow19 wrote.

@Td00392420 commented, “Scott Foster is a kid.”

@imonlymason posted, “I’m afraid Julius Randle’s hatred for Scott Foster will completely conquer me again.”

@ravenluke said, “Even Tim Donaghy thinks Scott Foster is embarrassing.”

Chris Paul tried to warn us.

This isn’t the first time that Foster has been slammed by fans for his questionable actions. He is one of the most experienced referees in the NBA.

His relationship with Donaghy, the disgraced referee convicted of game-fixing, was questioned a few years ago.

Minnesota won four of its last five assignments to move to 45–28, while Houston fell to 43–29.

Joel Embiid has earned an unfortunate reputation throughout his career. Although he is one of the best centers of his generation, the Philadelphia 76ers star often finds himself on the sidelines. Injuries have been a sadly common theme for the star centre, as his body has suffered a number of injuries throughout his career.

The same can be said this season also. Embiid has already missed more than half the season after undergoing knee surgery earlier this season. The 76ers center played his first game since suffering an oblique strain this past Wednesday. After the win over the Chicago Bulls, Embiid talked about his injury and why his oblique injury is “harder” to recover from than a knee injury.

“My knees haven’t been a problem for a long time,” Embiid explained. “That’s a thing of the past for me. The slant was very tricky, and it’s still tricky. You can’t really do anything about it, you have to let it play out and hope it doesn’t get worse.”

Before the game against the Bulls, Embiid had missed the previous 13 games due to an oblique strain. However, before that injury, the 76ers star missed a large portion of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The surgery was performed after the 2024-25 season and was intended to alleviate the problems Embiid has suffered over the past few years.

Embiid’s return comes at the right time for the 76ers. Star point guard Tyrese Maxey is still out with a finger injury and could be out for a few more games. With Philadelphia firmly in the playoff race, the team needs every player on its roster to make one last effort.

The 76ers will get another big boost for home expansion. Paul George, who was suspended for 25 games earlier this season for violating the NBA’s drug use policy, returned against the Bulls. George finished the game with 28 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Embiid was dominant with 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists and one block.

The 76ers are in seventh place with a 40-33 record, just a half-game behind the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray got bored on Thursday and decided to mess around against the Dallas Mavericks.

Murray led the Nuggets past the Mavericks 142–135 at Ball Arena, dropping a season-high 53 points. He made 19 of 28 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from long range. He also had six rebounds and four assists.

Fatigue wasn’t a problem for the prolific playmaker, even with a gutsy win over the Phoenix Suns, 125-123, at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday.

Fans are furious after Murray’s latest outburst.

“Jamal Murray is different in scorer mode,” @rickky01 said.

@firetimbanks said, “Bro, I thought Jamal Murray destroyed his ankle a few weeks ago and he’s 53.”

“Jamal Murray has been very impressive for the Nuggets this season,” @odinakach22 said.

@TheZReport_ said, “When Jamal Murray is drilling right elbows consistently, you know he’s totally dialed-in.”

@NAJJEEBB posted, “Jamal shows no signs of slowing down. This is an amazing talent.”

It seemed as if the 29-year-old Murray was in constant heat-check mode, as he scored from almost everywhere on the floor. Even against good defenders like Max Christie, Najee Marshall and Brandon Williams, he was able to get his shot in with ease.

He reached 50 points for the sixth time in his career, including playoffs.

The Nuggets extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 46–28. The Mavericks, on the other hand, fell to 23–50.

Oh, by the way, Nikola Jokic added a triple-double of 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists.

Denver faces the Utah Jazz on Friday.

Veteran Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry may rarely see action in the 2025-26 NBA season, but on a special night on Wednesday, he was allowed to take the field against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

After all, Wednesday is his day, as he celebrates his 40th birthday.

With the 76ers victory literally in the bag, Lowry entered the contest, sending fans into a frenzy inside the building and online.

It got even worse when the six-time NBA All-Star drained a 3-pointer to tie the game with just 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

happy birthday kyle lowry pic.twitter.com/qMvzPeD90c

– J🐐 (@sixersjustin) 26 March 2026

And here are some of the reactions from fans on social media to Lowry’s appearance at the game — and his 3-pointer during the Sixers’ 157-137 win.

“Kyle Lowry three pointer on his 40th birthday 🔥 Good night!” one fan said.

Another social media user commented, “Kyle Lowry buried three on his 40th birthday and everyone went crazy. Forgot how much fun nights out are in this area.”

A separate comment said, “I can’t help but get excited when Kyle Lowry checks in to the game.”

Via another commentator: “Okay, seeing the bench celebrating with Kyle Lowry after the 3 warmed my heart.”

Lowry is on a one-year, $3.63 million contract with the 76ers.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid and Paul George lead the way for Philadelphia. Returning from an injury absence, Embiid dropped 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting with seven assists and six rebounds, while George, returning from a 25-game suspension, scored 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting with six 3-pointers, six rebounds and four assists.

The Los Angeles Lakers look to get back to their winning ways in Wednesday night’s game with the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers had their nine-game winning streak snapped by the East-leading Detroit Pistons, 113-110, on Monday night.

Sitting at 16-56, the Pacers gave a great opportunity to make a comeback. Los Angeles took advantage of that opportunity and took a 29-point lead in the third quarter. Despite a late rally, Los Angeles prevailed 137–130.

In the win, several bench players received considerable time on the field. This includes LeBron James, son, Bronny James.

In 13 minutes of action, the young James scored four points. One of his two baskets was a rim-rattling dunk. James cut down the baseline and caught a no-look bounce pass from Luke Kennard and went up for a one-handed layup.

Later, James wagging his tongue Towards the Indiana crowd.

Bronny is trolling the Pacers after the dunk 😭 pic.twitter.com/u0aNHYx5yH

– BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) 26 March 2026

It was far from the only highlight of the night from the Lakers.

Luka Doncic led all scorers with 43 points on 15-30 shooting. He added seven assists and six rebounds in the win.

Bronny’s father LeBron also had a good all-round game. He fell just short of another triple-double, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds and nine assists.

Los Angeles improved to 47–26 on the season. They are two games ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed in the abbreviated Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets are close behind, but the Lakers hold the tie-breaker over all three teams.

A new report about a potential Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft target is bad news for fans hoping for the return of longtime team great Tyreek Hill.

The Chiefs did not want to lose Hill after the 2021 season. After making him the 165th pick in the 2016 draft, the speedster developed into one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the NFL. And during his six seasons in Kansas City, Hill was a Pro Bowler every year and posted four seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving.

However, with great success also comes big paydays, and having the highest-paid pass catcher in the game did not help the team’s roster construction. So they decided to send him to the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2022 season for an impressive return of five draft picks, including a first-rounder.

Still, the Chiefs’ passing attack has never been the same since Hill left. That’s why, when he was cut by the Dolphins this offseason, many longtime KC fans expected the return of the greatest receiver in team history. But a new report on Wednesday suggests the franchise could be looking for a WR1 in the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs meet Carnell Tate

Top wide receiver prospect Carnell Tate has upcoming meetings scheduled with the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported Wednesday.

The Chiefs have the ninth overall pick in April, and there’s a real possibility they land the Ohio State pass catcher. The junior had a breakout year in 2025 as he had 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. For many draft experts, he is the best player at his position in 2026.

If the Chiefs select Tate next month, it would be highly unlikely they would sign Hill in NFL free agency.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

There has recently been discussion in the NBA of a 65-game rule that does not allow players to receive any awards at the end of the season if they do not meet the criteria. Cade Cunningham is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a bad lung, keeping him from making the All-NBA team despite the season he spent for the Detroit Pistons.

There are some who are in favor of the 65-game rule, while others believe the rule should be stricter. Jaylen Brown believes in the latter, but he also doesn’t believe people should back down from the former stance after Cunningham’s injury.

“When it first became the 65-game rule, everyone was in support of it,” Brown said on his Twitch stream. “At the time, people were talking about people who were load managing, and there were a lot of complaints about load management. There were a lot of complaints about superstars not playing. Now they move the norm to 65, and now it seems like the popular opinion is that it’s time to get rid of 65.”

Jaylen Brown talks about the 65 Game criteria on his live stream and asks fans to change their opinion on it 👀

“Everyone was supporting it, because people were doing load management, now suddenly people don’t want it.” pic.twitter.com/98ntmaR023

– 𝓖𝓪𝓮𝓮 🍀 (@gabe_blessed) 25 March 2026

Brown said he wished it were 62 games instead of 65, but he had no problem with the norm.

“It was the opposite of what I thought at first, that guys would play 40 or 50 games and then be drafted to All-NBA teams,” Brown said. They’ll play half the season, and their numbers will be better because they’ve only played half the games compared to someone who played 70, 68, or 72 games. That’s a big difference.”

The rules allow for awards to players who have played most of the season, but it is unfortunate when someone like Cunningham is lost late in the season and does not win the award he deserves. It’s uncertain whether the league will make any rule changes, but it wouldn’t be a surprise.

The Orlando Magic are in a free fall right now, as their losing streak is now six games after a 136-131 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. From being in contention for the fifth or sixth seed, they have now dropped to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, as they could not find a way to end their bleeding against the Cavs.

It’s not that the Magic are playing terribly. Sure, two of their last six losses came by double digits, 12 losses to the Atlanta Hawks and 19 losses to the Charlotte Hornets. But his other losses have been close; They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by just five after their bench struggled, they lost a Luke Kennard game-winner, and they suffered consecutive losses to the Indiana Pacers and Cavs by a total of seven points.

Still, the Magic are showing worrisome signs on the hardwood, and fans, as a result, are not very confident about head coach Jamahl Mosley and his ability to lead the team to where they want to be at the end of the season.

Magic fans vote of no confidence in head coach Jamahl Mosley

The loss to the Pacers has already left many Magic fans mentally disturbed, and another loss doesn’t help matters, causing more panic on social media.

“Why is Mosley still employed?” X user @Lblax31 wrote.

@MoGMD01 said, “Mosley is arguably the worst coach in the NBA.”

@finnfromny added, “Loved it, but Mosley should be on a commercial flight out of Cleveland.”

@TheChadIsGreat3 wrote, “Please fire Moseley! We know DeVos lives by the Bible; tell him firing a terrible head coach is the 11th commandment.”

“F**k you Jamal Mosley,” @LosMagicARG emphatically expressed.

The Charlotte Hornets won their fourth consecutive game after defeating the Sacramento Kings 134-90 at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday. The Hornets improved to 38-34 and are in a three-way tie with the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte drained 26 three-pointers against Sacramento to tie the franchise record. Coby White and LaMelo Ball each had six three-pointers.

White finished with a team-high 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting, including 6 of 12 from three-point range, and five rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench.

The Hornets have continued to perform well since the All-Star break. They are 12-3 in their last 15 games. After defeating the kings, White issued a subtle warning For the rest of the NBA.

“I’ve never been on a dangerous team,” White said.

“It can be a back-and-forth game, and then you hit a run, and then you look up, and you’re up by 20, and then you’re up by 30. The main thing for me is that we’re explosive, but we’re starting to maintain those leads when we get them and continue to build on them. That’s the impressive thing to me, too.”

🎙️ Coby White: “I’ve never been on a dangerous team.”

“It can be a back-and-forth game and then you hit a run, and then you look up and you’re up by 20, and then you’re up by 30. The main thing for me is that we’re explosive, but when we get leads we start maintaining those leads… pic.twitter.com/vYT553cRAd

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets led by 46 points against the Kings.

Charlotte acquired the 26-year-old White via trade with the Chicago Bulls in February. He has provided immediate offense to the second unit and stayed on the floor in closing situations.

In 12 games with the Hornets, the former North Carolina standout is averaging 15.9 points on a career-best 40.3% shooting from beyond the arc, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in less than 20 minutes.

Charlotte has a strong chance to finally return to the playoffs after a nine-year absence.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the winning streak of 12 straight games after Monday night’s comfortable road win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City officials are preparing for when the Thunder move to a new arena a few seasons from now.

On Tuesday, the Thunder released a video of what the new arena, to be called the Continental Coliseum, will look like.

The OKC Thunder’s new arena, ‘Continental Coliseum’ looks amazing 🔥

The arena will open in the 2028–29 season.

(via @OKSeaThunder)pic.twitter.com/ENS0Aa90gT

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

The Thunder have been playing at the Paycom Center since its inception nearly two decades ago, through its various name changes, and it was the site of their first NBA championship, capping their historic 2025–26 season.

Thankfully for Thunder fans, the team will have two more years to make more memories at that historic venue before the new arena opens for the 2028-29 campaign. It remains to be seen what the inside of the Continental Coliseum will look like, and how it compares to its current home in Oklahoma City.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are giving fans plenty to cheer on the court this season, as the team is still firmly holding on to the number one seed in the Western Conference despite dreadful play from the San Antonio Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks set to take home his second consecutive league MVP award, and Oklahoma City is viewed by most pundits as the favorite to win another NBA championship this season, although they will have some stiff competition in the form of San Antonio.

As mentioned earlier, the Thunder are currently on a 12-game winning streak, four wins away from a 16-game winning streak they had earlier this season.

Oklahoma City will look to make it 13 consecutive wins when they take the field for a tough road game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening.

It appeared as if the Indiana Pacers would suffer their 17th consecutive loss of the season on Monday night when they visited the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The Magic may not be the toughest competitive team out there, but they have a winning record and are in the running for a spot in the Eastern Conference standings – pushing hard for the sixth seed and a direct playoff berth.

But the Pacers were bound to win one of these days; They had so much talent on the roster that they couldn’t have gotten a win with at least a little luck. On Monday night, they finally broke their cold spell, pulling off a 128-126 upset win over the Magic thanks to a 37-point performance from Pascal Siakam.

While Indiana has all the incentive in the world to lose the game, as finishing with the worst record in the NBA increases their chances of being a top-four pick in the first round this year, it would be very disappointing for a locker room full of winners to suffer consecutive losses.

At least, Pacers fans on social media were excited to end their bleeding.

Pacers fans in party mode on X

This season has been a complete nightmare for the Pacers. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and fans are at least happy to see a glimmer of hope on Monday night. However, as happy as fans are after this win, they want their team to lose here so that they can keep their 2026 first-round pick.

“We may lose again but I needed a man, thank you all so much,” wrote ex user @leviteight.

“Monthly win quota. Get ready to lose your last 10 games 😈,” @PacersID added.

“Great W lose now, please,” @ddter23 added.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse had a positive update to share about Paul George as the veteran star returns from suspension this season.

George has been on the sidelines for the second half of the season due to a 25-game suspension. The NBA suspended the star forward for failing a drug test, forcing Philadelphia to play without one of its key players.

George has not played a game since January 29, which suggests he has been out for almost two months. Nurse provided an update on George’s activity, revealing when fans can expect his eventual return this season.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any ramp-up problems at all,” Nurse said.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any kind of rush.”

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse on Paul George’s return to action on Wednesday following his 25-match suspension.

(via @NBCPhilly)pic.twitter.com/9TvqD0l70c

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026

What’s next for 76-year-old Nick Nurse?

Nick Nurse and the 76ers will look to the return of Paul George this week, especially on Wednesday. The team is 16-11 with him and 23-22 without him. In the 25 games he missed due to suspension, Philadelphia went 13–12.

George remains strong as a veteran star as he goes through the 16th season of his career, his second with the 76ers. In the 27 games he is playing, he is averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He is shooting 42.4% from the field, including 38.2% from beyond the arc, and 85.5% from the free-throw line.

Philadelphia fell to a 39–33 record on the season, and finished seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.

After their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the 76ers will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Chicago Bulls as tip-off takes place on March 25 at 7 PM ET.

LeBron James is actually the best scorer in NBA history, as he is the league’s all-time leading scorer in the regular season and playoffs. But there are no such things as certainties in the game of basketball. Even the Los Angeles Lakers star has a vacation from time to time, especially now that he’s 41 years old. And Monday night was looking like one such night.

On Monday, the Lakers faced a ferocious Detroit Pistons team and kept going at each other all night long. But James was obviously calm during the first half of the game. According to ESPN Insights on

Now, the good news is that James is no longer the alpha of the Lakers, he has handed over the offensive reins to the superstar that is Luka Doncic. But if the Lakers want to beat a tough Pistons team on the road, they will need to unlock more of James’ scoring.

James scored five points in the third quarter and now has seven at the time of writing with about eight minutes left in the final frame.

Lakers want to extend the winning streak to double digits

The Lakers have had tremendous performances over the past few weeks, as a result of which Doncic has raised his game and his team is following suit. They have won nine in a row heading into their game against the Pistons on Monday, and they have a golden opportunity to take that streak even further, given that Cade Cunningham is recovering from a lung injury.

The Lakers have to play one more game on their current road trip before returning home on Friday.

No San Antonio Spurs player is more qualified than De’Aaron Fox to speak out on the moment that went viral because it offended Hispanic fans.

After a woman messaged him during a game at Frost Bank Center about “crazy Hispanic fans” asking how they could afford to attend home games, Fox commented on the incident following a 134–119 win against the Indiana Pacers.

When asked about the incident, Fox responded, “My high school was 60 percent Hispanic. I’m from Texas.”

Although Fox was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he grew up near San Antonio.

“I’m from Houston, man. I think it’s the most diverse city in the country,” the two-time NBA All-Star said. “What do you expect? It’s like going to Boston and complaining that there are a bunch of white people there. What kind of sense is that [make,] Like, it doesn’t make any sense.”

This made me really angry…😡 pic.twitter.com/dU5FLo8PjN

– 5⭐️ The Birdhouse Tailgate (@TheBirdHouseTG) 20 March 2026

De’Aaron Fox calls on family to speak out about a fan’s message

Responding further on the video above, Fox talked about her family dynamics.

The former Sacramento King added, “My kids are one-quarter Mexican, so they’ll have to get used to it.” “My wife’s father’s side of the family is all black. My wife’s mother’s side is all Mexican. My mother-in-law was born in Mexico, so my kids are used to seeing that. All of her uncles are black, all of her uncles are Mexican.”

The video at the center of the controversy appears to be from during the Spurs game versus the Phoenix Suns. After two nights against the Pacers, many San Antonio had already turned the message into a rallying cry. Fans in the stands wore shirts that read, “Crazy Hispanic Fans.” Others in the crowd were waving Mexican flags to show their pride.

An inspiration through a huge business since February 2025, Fox has already integrated himself into the local community. On several occasions, he has organized programs for needy people in his new home. Asked about the importance of diversity to the city, team and community, Fox didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts about an area where people of Hispanic origin make up about 64% of the population.

Fox said, “For someone to complain about it, especially being in San Antonio, I don’t know why you would do that, why it would make any sense. It should be normalized.” “You’re going to see people who aren’t like you, who don’t look like you, who maybe have a different accent than you. And it’s not just a different accent as far as ethnicity is concerned. You go to California, you’re going to hear a different [accent,] Or you go to L.A., you’re going to hear a different accent than somebody from Dallas, or somebody from Boston, or somebody from Miami, somebody from Chicago. You’ll hear different accents. So at this point, you would think it would be normal, but it’s everyone’s own thing.”

After weeks of low-key teasers, from vacation flicks to offseason party cameos, Patrick Mahomes stopped playing timid and addressed the biggest question hanging over Kansas City. Throughout the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs—and their fans—were stuck on one thing: Will Mahomes be ready come Week 1? Now, we’ve got our answer.

Mahomes just hit IG. And Chiefs’ Kingdom is reading between the lines.

Could Patrick Mahomes be ready by September?

QB1 dropped a new post on Instagram featuring in-game shots, rocking number 15, a Chiefs hoodie, signature Adidas cleats, and tunnel walk energy. caption? Just a ⏰ (clock emoji). And if you know Mahomes, you know the clock means only one thing – he’s gearing up.

Mahomes is still rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season. He went under the knife on December 15, with an expected recovery window of 9-12 months – so we’re looking at September at the earliest.

In February, Andy Reid said that Mahomes was grinding. Logging seven-hour rehabilitation days at the facility. Classic QB1 behavior. But let’s be real: ACL recovery is not a straightforward path. There are outages, failures, and occasional audible noises. Mahomes probably has his sights set on Week 1, but nothing has been decided yet.

And the Chiefs are playing it smart. He made a move on March 16, trading with the Jets for Justin Fields. That’s your insurance policy; QB2 on paper, but he’s more than capable of holding down Mahomes if he doesn’t get the clearance.

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson has been on a roll, and his early impressions say a lot about the team and the atmosphere in Dallas. The relationship between Thompson and the Mavericks is already taking shape, driven by energy, momentum and fan support that never fades.

In an interview with AB Jones of DLLS Sports, Thompson gave candid and real feedback on what he has experienced so far. “Dallas is the best,” he said. “They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” That kind of praise carries weight. This coming from a player who has seen packed arenas and championship runs. Yet Dallas is still different.

Klay Thompson at fan support in Dallas, Texas.

“Dallas is the best. They’re very loyal. Not just to the Mavericks, but to every team.” pic.twitter.com/uaWLWmPrJ6

– Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) 19 March 2026

That loyalty shows up in real time. Mavericks fans are on everything. Noise is generated with every swing pass, every drive, every shot. When Thompson gets up for three runs, the field tilts. Then there is an explosion. This is the Mavericks’ best fan support, and it’s already becoming part of their rhythm.

The feeling of connectedness is also increasing. Not forcefully. There was no haste. Absolutely natural.

Mavericks find a perfect fit with Klay Thompson

It seems like this is more than a simple adjustment period. This feels like alignment. Thompson brings blankness, experience and the ability to make cool decisions. The Mavericks bring confidence, identity and a crowd that fuels the momentum.

The numbers support that role. In 60 games this season, Thompson is averaging 11.9 points in 21.9 minutes while shooting 38.0 percent from three. Efficiency still matters. Gravity still exists. Even when the box score looks paltry, the defense remains connected, allowing the Mavericks offense to continue to gain an advantage.

This is where its value is seen. Complex. steady. Game-shifting.

Undoubtedly, expectations will come. They always do this. But right now the foundation looks strong. The energy feels real. The Mavericks partnership is being formed with purpose, not coercion.

So as the season unfolds, a question arises. If this bond between Klay Thompson and Mavericks fans continues to grow, how much can Dallas hold on when it matters most?

Luka Doncic continued his high-scoring onslaught over the past few days, exploding 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Doncic was coming off a breakout season of 40 points in their win over the Houston Rockets, 124-116, at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, but the busy schedule hasn’t stopped him from getting frantic again.

He was efficient against the Heat, shooting 18 of 30 from the field, including 9 of 17 shots from long range. He made 15 of 19 shots from the free-throw stripe.

After Doncic’s heroic performance, which was the second-highest output of his career, fans couldn’t help but bring up, or should we say, put down, Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game against the Washington Wizards.

“The Lakers’ Luka Doncic’s 60-point competitive game was far more impressive than the Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s 83 points in a meaningless game. Imagine if Luka had made 13 more field goals, five of them threes, and 24 more free throws? Come on,” @das_187 said.

@Gunsmoke__Q echoed, “Bam Adebayo scores 83 on Wizards, Luka scores 60 on Heat.”

@TomBrady80 said, “If Adebayo had shot as efficiently as Luka, he would have had 100+ points.”

“Luka just showed Adebayo what it was like,” @_SayParlay_ posted.

@BallinKP8 commented, “Luka Bam showing Adebayo how to properly put up a significant amount of points straight in his face. #thatsforkobe.”

The hate train continues for Adebayo to have a career night. Recall, he made 23 of 43 shots from the field, including 7 of 22 from long distance. He went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line. The Heat won 150–129.

Many, including Michael Jordan, congratulated Adebayo for his historic performance.

But on Thursday, he was on the receiving end of Doncic’s outstanding performance, and of course, Adebayo, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds, respected it.

As the Washington Wizards cruised through the final three weeks of the NBA regular season, college basketball began March Madness, also known as the NCAA Tournament. Like last year, there are several prospects heading into the tournament that the Wizards could take with their lottery picks in this summer’s draft.

In 2025, freshman guard Trey Johnson had a team-high 23 points (6-14 FG, 4-7 3-points), six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes for Texas in an 86–80 First Four loss to Xavier. That game ended the collegiate career of the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, and Washington drafted him No. 6 overall in June. Now, his 36.7% three-point clip ranks fourth among NBA rookies with at least four attempts per game (minimum 40 games played). He also ranks fifth with an average of 5.3 attempts.

This year, the obvious draft targets for the Wizards are BYU forward AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas guard Darrin Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. All three will be playing in the tournament, as No. 1 Duke plays No. 16 Siena in the East Region on Thursday, No. 6 BYU takes on No. 11 Texas in the West Region on Thursday, and No. 4 Kansas takes on No. 13 California Baptist in the East Region on Friday. If Duke and Kansas each win their first two games, they will play each other in the Sweet Sixteen.

Any one of those players could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. DiBuntsa leads the nation with 25.3 points per game on 51.3% shooting (34% 3-point) and can score any type of basket, Peterson ruins games for the opponent even in limited minutes (for example, he scored 23 points in 18 minutes in an 81–69 win over Oklahoma State on February 18), and Boozer is a double-double machine (22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds). Season) who also creates shots for his teammates. Most recently, the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder dished out eight assists in the Blue Devils’ 74-70 ACC Tournament final win over Virginia on Saturday.

If the Wizards get a top-three pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery, they will likely get one of these three players. If they get the No. 4 pick, they could acquire North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, the only freshman in school history other than Tyler Hansbrough to earn All-American honors. The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder won’t play in the tournament as he recovers from thumb surgery (per ESPN), but he averaged a near double-double (19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) on 57.8% shooting and can switch to any position defensively.

However, there is a possibility that Washington’s lottery selection could fall outside the top four again. Entering Thursday night’s home matchup with the Detroit Pistons, the team has the NBA’s second-worst record (16-52), having finished in the same place last season. The second-worst record guarantees a top-six selection, and the Wizards were unlucky to get the lowest selection they could get last year.

Washington fans should be familiar with the consensus prospects outside the top four if the team selects the No. 5 or No. 6 pick in May. Luckily for the Wizards, several potential stars will likely be available in that range as well.

Here are four of those players:

G Kingston Flemings, Houston

Flemings was named the Cougars’ “best freshman” by Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, and with good reason. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder blends efficient shooting with playmaking as a point guard while limiting turnovers. He is averaging 16.4 points per game with 5.3 assists on 47.5% shooting (39.2% 3-point shooting), while committing only 1.9 turnovers in 31.7 minutes. He also leads the team with 1.6 steals.

Additionally, the Flemings move on to bigger games. For example, the San Antonio native scored 21 points (6-14 FG, 3-4 3-point) with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 32 minutes in Houston’s 69-47 win over Peterson and Kansas in Friday’s Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

No. 2 Houston will face No. 15 Idaho in the South Region on Thursday night.

G Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Acuff may be the hottest player in college basketball, coming off a 30-point, 11-assist performance in the Razorbacks’ 85-76 win over Vanderbilt in Sunday’s SEC Tournament final. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has five 30-plus-point games this season, including a 49-point breakout in a 117-115 double overtime win over Alabama on Feb. 18.

Acuff is also more efficient than Flemings in high shooting volume, as he ranks seventh in the country with 22.9 points on 48.6% shooting (44.5% 3-point) while averaging 16.2 field goal attempts (5.8 3-point). Flemings is averaging 12.8 attempts (three 3-pointers).

Acuff is averaging 6.5 assists against 2.2 turnovers in 35.1 minutes. The 2026 SEC Player and Rookie of the Year could be the long-term version of Washington’s Trae Young, just an inch shorter. The latter has a $49 million player option this summer, so there’s no guarantee he’ll remain there after next season.

No. 4 Arkansas will play No. 13 Hawaii in the West Region on Thursday.

G Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Wagler is another freshman sniper, as he shoots 40.2% from long range on an average of 5.8 attempts. However, the Kansas native also has the size at 6 feet 6 inches and his scoring prowess is similar to what Flemings and Acuff have displayed in their careers. 46 point performance in 88-82 win over Purdue on Jan. 24.

PTS: 46
FG: 13-17
3pt: 9-11

Revitalize Every Basket @ilinimbb Star Keaton Wagler @bigten Freshman record 4️⃣6️⃣-point performance 👇 pic.twitter.com/dNcila5QJc

– Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) 24 January 2026

Wagler is the biggest surprise on this list, as he was a three-star recruit before winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors this season. Nonetheless, the combo guard is now unquestionably one of the best players in this class.

No. 3 Illinois will face No. 14 Pennsylvania in the South Region on Thursday.

Fort Ament, Tennessee

Ament is not as efficient as the above players, as he is averaging 17.5 points on 40.5% shooting (33.1% 3-point) in 30.2 minutes. However, the freshman at 6-foot-10, 207 pounds has great defensive tools and potential as a big man in the NBA. Some of his standout performances this season include 29-point performances against Oklahoma, Kentucky and Alabama on February 18, February 7 and January 24, respectively. The Volunteers also won 89–66, lost 74–71 and won 79–73, respectively.

No. 6 Tennessee will face No. 11 Miami (OH) in the Midwest Region on Friday.

It doesn’t take much to get Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic excited. Even the smallest pinch can increase his competitiveness. Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzzelis will testify to this.

With no prompt or not, Doncic went off again on Wednesday. He dropped 40 points on 12 of 25 shooting, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Lakers past the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The six-time All-Star cheered the crowd throughout the game, especially after one long bomb after another In the fourth quarter, that killed the Rockets.

Luca is unreal!

Luka Doncic dances with his defender and practices a crazy step three 🎯

pic.twitter.com/jiWPexAKs3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

He continued interacting with fans after the final buzzer. In the post-game conference, Doncic revealed what was said to him-Like.

“Some guy was talking crazy. Showing me his, uh, no problem,” said Doncic, who also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.

“(My answer) was in English. I made sure he understood it.”

At the end of the game Luka was talking trash with the fans:

“Some guy was talking crazy. Was showing me his thing…uh, never mind. It was in English, I made sure he understood” ??? pic.twitter.com/sZ2Isx5Lmr

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

Doncic, 27, is known for running his mouth on the hardwood, so it wasn’t a surprise that he exchanged sweet nothings with fans.

The Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win, with Doncic averaging close to 39.0 points.

Los Angeles shot 61% from the field, including 47% from long range. The team also held Rockets forward Kevin Durant to just 18 points on 11 attempts.

Doncic received plenty of support from running mate LeBron James, who finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, DeAndre Ayton and Austin Reeves combined for 30 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks.

Doncic will look to continue his hot streak when they visit the Miami Heat on Thursday. Fans can only hope that the Purple and Gold will not suffer fatigue amid their heavy schedule.